one life to lead [drew]

[Hayley Cameron Kessler]

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[classy=overture][classy=paradox]Sometimes when she closed her eyes, she could hear all his words resonating in her mind. He was always patiently urging her to change her mind about the whole system of cliques that dominated Manchester Prep, but he was always careful not to push too far. He would take tiny baby steps each time he talked, and sometimes she believed that if he was around her enough, she might really start to buy into the things he said. Maybe she should have maintained distance to make sure her beliefs stayed intact. After all, why would she want to doubt the very system that gave her a sense of superiority and grouped her among the best of the best? It would make sense if a reject were to protest against the social hierarchy; it could easily be excused as the losers at the bottom faking protest because they weren't happy with where they stood. But Hayley Kessler was a head cheerleader, and there was no reason for her to be dissatisfied. It was true that she couldn't hang out with anyone she wanted lest she taint her perfectly pristine reputation, but that was supposed to be a small price to pay in return for friendship rights with the most popular and privileged. She should have been happy that she was benefiting, and to a certain extent, she was. Honestly, the main reason she worked her way into the popular crowd stemmed from her personal desire to always be among the top with the finest. Though Drew always made a reasonable point when he stated that cliques were silly and pointless, Hayley didn't like to think that all her hard work had been for naught. He probably thought it was petty and shallow that she so wholeheartedly believed that it was right to split teenagers into specially labelled groups. She could have claimed otherwise, but she didn't want him to think he was right. Besides, sometimes the things he said were amusing. He seemed so genuine when he shared his thoughts with her, and hearing him was a breathe of fresh air considering most of her peers were deceitful and lied through their teeth to get what they wanted. While she was used to doubting what many of her supposed friends told her, even she got tired of all the dishonesty and sincerity every once in a while. That was likely why she enjoyed his company. It was true that Drew was a nerd and didn't fit quite right into her social circle, but it was easy to forget. He certainly didn't look like a nerd, and his outgoing nature made him seem more like a social butterfly, though he did have moments when he would hide away with a book and study, ignoring the rest of the world. In the end, he wasn't the type of guy that Hayley could tote around and show off to the rest of the world. She wasn't even sure they were friends even if they did get along well and talk on semi daily basis. There was always the option of directly asking what they were, but doing so seemed pathetic. Her gaze drifted to the pocket where she had placed her phone. Seeing as she had his number, she supposed she could always text him and ask him to hang out. If they weren't friends, then he would obviously turn down the invitation, right? People didn't normally sit back and relax with mere acquaintances. Before she started to think too deeply about it, she pulled out her phone and typed a quick message. Her finger lingered over the send button for a moment as she reread what she had written and reconsidered seeking his company. Finally, she hit a spot on the touch screen and watched as the text was sent, placing the phone back in its original location While the blonde waited for him to arrive, she chose a large tree that grew near the park entrance to stay near. It was an easy place to locate her at, and there was a perfect shade that appealed to her. Sitting down with her legs stretched out and crossed over one another, she tugged at her shorts and tank top before leaning with her back against the trunk. In her head, the message she had sent to him repeated itself. 'Meet me at the park? I think it would be nice to have some company right now. I'll be near the entrance.'[/classy][/classy]

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[drew xavier ross]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,10,true][atrb=style, background-color: #fff; width: 450px, bTable] [style=background-color: #ffffff; text-align: center; font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; height: 50px;] NOTES woo! hope it's okay WORDS 982 [/style] The alarm on Drew's phone sang at him for the fifth time, yet the kid could not bring himself to get out of bed. He was laying on his stomach his blankets all over the place--he tended to move around a lot in his sleep. Drew reached a hand toward the night stand where his phone sat making a racket and tapped at the screen a few times trying to make it stop. Unfortunately, it wasn't working. With a groan of frustration, Andrew turned his head to see why it wasn't working. The screen was black because he had let the tune carry out for so long. He firmly grasped the iPhone, pressed the button, and watched the screen light up. He then touched the screen to shut off the alarm. With that, there was complete silence. Drew smiled, set the phone down, and plopped his head back down into his pillow. He hadn't even looked at what time it could possibly be. For some reason, Drew had been sleeping in a lot lately. Probably because he was constantly up late thinking. Yes, just thinking. It was like his brain wouldn't shut off, no matter how tired he was, it always managed to keep him up. Every night though it ended on the same person: Hayley Kessler. Like him, she was a student at Manchester Prep, but they were from two totally different cliques. Although, being a head cheerleader, her popularity is kind of a given. Yes, it seems weird for a nerd like himself to know a girl like a Hayley, but he does. Were they friends? Possibly. But in all honestly, Drew didn't know, which was why he was constantly thinking about their... relationship. They talked, hung out on occasion--never at school--flirted somewhat, but what with the clique system at their school, how much could they really consider what they are friends? Not to mention, their different intakes on the previously mentioned clique system. Since he first started talking to Hayley, Drew has been trying to get her to realize that it's a bunch of crap. He kept trying to explain to her that it didn't matter who they hung out with, but she doesn't listen. It's obvious she likes her place and that's where she wants to stay, but Drew can't stand it. Why? He likes her. Well, at least he likes being around her and all. Except when she's such a firm believer in the clique-ness, and he's, well, not, hanging around her isn't exactly easy for him. The brown-eyed boy slowly rolled over, the covers wrapping around the lower half of his body. He rested one arm over his head and the other on his bare chest as he stared up at the ceiling. A sigh escaped from his lips. Why did high school have to be so complicated? Drew couldn't wait until it was over. Thankfully, he was a senior, so it wouldn't be long. The seventeen-year-old let out a yawn and closed his eyes. His breathing started to slow as he began to drift back into sleep. Suddenly, his phone buzzed, alerting him that he received a text. He figured it was probably his mom asking if he had gotten out of bed yet so he could start the laundry or something. When he saw the name on the screen, he stared at it for a long time until it went black. Oddly enough, it was Hayley. Drew clicked the button and swiped his thumb across the screen to reveal the text message. It read: 'Meet me at the park? I think it would be nice to have some company right now. I'll be near the entrance.' A smile appeared on his face. At first he started typing a message back, but then deleted it. The boy set his phone down on the bed stand, sat up, and quickly got himself ready. Once he was finished, he walked over to where he left his phone, picked it up, and went back to the text from Hayley. He then responded: Are you asking me or telling me? I'm confused so I'm on my way to find out (: With that, he shoved his phone in the front pocket of his jeans and exited his bedroom. He jogged down the stairs into the living room where he found his little sister sprawled out on the couch in front of the television. "Hey, Kels, I'm going out. Don't spend all day in front of that thing, it'll rot your brain," Andrew told her. She turned her head toward him and stuck out her tongue. "Have fun with that," she told him, waving him off. The sandy brunette rolled his eyes and made his way out the door. For Drew, the park wasn't very far so he walked. It was a place he visited a lot since he moved here after his mom received a new job here in Ocean City. It was a beautiful place and was full of inspiration. At least it was for him. Plus, he found it relaxing. As he trekked to the park, he wondered what this girl could possibly want from him. Why would she ask for his company when she could definitely get it from anyone she pleased? Someone more in her social status. Whatever the case, Drew didn't mind. Actually, he was glad she wanted to hang out. Well, if that was what she wanted anyways. When he made it to the park, Drew remembered her saying she would be near the entrance. He searched for her, hoping he hadn't taken too long or that she hadn't left or anything. Then, he spotted the blonde seated at the base of a large tree in shorts and a tank top. Drew smiled and headed toward her. "Hey there beautiful. You were in need of my company?" Drew greeted Hayley, taking a seat beside her.

[Hayley Cameron Kessler]

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[classy=overture][classy=paradox]It wasn't often that Hayley had time to simply sit around and relax. Most of the time, she found something to keep her preoccupied whether it be schoolwork, cheerleading, or hanging out with people that she was supposed to be friends with. She was the type of girl who constantly had to have something to keep her busy, and because of that, the proper setting for her likely should have been the city that never slept. Alas, she was still stuck in Ocean City, and it would have to do until life someday took her elsewhere. Because of her choice of lifestyle, she never had the time to sit around at the park, enjoying the subtle details of mother nature untouched by destructive human hands that destroyed to create paved roads and towering buildings. The soft, melodic songs of birds and eager chattering of squirrels were muffled by the sounds of chatty teens who spoke a thousand words a minute as if they had been deprived of gossip for months and months. Cool breezes and warm sunlight were lost to her, and it was almost sad how much she managed to miss. But this was the twenty-first century, which meant that life was all about moving and advancing and getting to places instead of sitting around like a deadbeat loser. She couldn't possibly sit around because the most successful people in the world didn't get to where they were by daydreaming and lazing about. But however determined she was to lead a good life, she was still a human who needed a break every one in a while, and that was how she got to sitting with her back against a tree, waiting for Drew to arrive. Now, to be perfectly honest, Drew wasn't always her first choice of company, but there were certain benefits to being acquainted with him. That wasn't to say she was completely using him, but she would never be the first to announce that they hung out occasionally (and she was even more reluctant to confess that they flirted once in a while). It was nothing personal, but what would her friends say if they found out? She might get teased, and there was something wrong about the image of a head cheerleader getting picked on; she was supposed to be the one spitting out venomous insults, not the other way around. It was why she was so careful about who saw her with him. On the other hand, she sometimes felt like he was trustworthy. The popular people would be quick to toss her to the wolves if the opportunity presented itself in the form of perceived vulnerability and misplaced trust, but he likely wouldn't betray her like that. On a more logical level, it was because he didn't have much to gain from watching her fall from grace. Wrecking her reputation wouldn't boost his, and he never seemed interested in leaving his spot on the social ladder anyway. On a more emotional level, she just felt a certain type of attachment to him. His willingness to keep their questionable relationship status a secret and his genuine efforts to change her mind were touching in a sort of way, and he had grown on her. She felt comfortable enough to occasionally relax and unwind instead of constantly looking over her shoulder for someone eager to blackmail her or to spread around a twisted version of her secrets through the rumour mill. At the moment, hanging out with him was just what she needed. Besides being good company, she wouldn't have to worry about keeping up appearances. A soft vibration was emitted from her phone and shook in her pocket, informing her that she had received a text. Squirming around slightly, Hayley retrieved the device from her pocket, smiling when she saw that it was a response from Drew. Her eyes scanned over the tiny, digital letters, and a soft chuckle escaped her lips. Rather than typing a reply, she decided she would save it for when he arrived and placed her phone back in her pocket. It would be a shame if they had an entire conversation through texting and were left with nothing to talk about when he arrived, though she doubted they were ever be stuck with any sort of awkward, heavy silence that was begging to be broken. He was just the sort of guy who always had something to say, and she was the type who socialised enough that talking about even the most random of topics came easily to her. Besides, there was always the chance that he would renew his efforts to convince her that Manchester Prep's social hierarchy was ridiculous, and listening to him was always an amusement within itself. The minutes ticked by, and Hayley wondered how much longer he would take. She wasn't feeling impatience settle in, but she was curious if he lived close by the park or if he had to hop in a car to get here. She didn't mean to serve as an inconvenience by spontaneously asking him out, but it was too late to retract her invitation now that he had accepted. Besides, if he agreed to show up, then surely that meant he wanted to come and that she didn't get in the way of any of his plans, right? Before she pondered much longer, she was greeted by the sight of a smiling brunette with tousled hair. "Hey there beautiful. You were in need of my company?"

[/i]

Laughing softly, she replied, "You wish. I was just bored, so I figured we could hang out since it's been a while. By the way, when I was texting you, it was more telling than asking." She kept her tone light so it was obvious that she was joking around even though Drew probably already knew. When he sat down, she inched closer and rested her head on his shoulder, commenting, "You know, you make a pretty good pillow." The action might have seemed intimate to the typical passerby, but she was rather certain that they had a good understanding that they were friends (if they even reached that point yet) and nothing more.
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[drew xavier ross]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,10,true][atrb=style, background-color: #fff; width: 450px, bTable] [style=background-color: #ffffff; text-align: center; font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; height: 50px;] NOTES sorry about the wait and sorry this completely sucks! WORDS 712 [/style] Drew didn't judge anyone and he got along well with pretty much anybody, unless they gave him reason not to. However, because Manchester Prep's social ladder, a lot of people were difficult for Drew to get along with. He couldn't hang out with so and so because he was a jock, he couldn't talk to what's her face because she didn't want to be seen communicating with someone of a lower status than hers. He hated to sound stereotypical, but they were all the same. Yes, there were a select few that were kind and didn't mind being friends. Since Andrew was the type of guy that didn't care about where he stood on the ladder, he could not grasp the concept as to why anybody else would. It mostly mattered to the people at the top or the bottom--heaven forbid a royal lose her spot as queen bee, or maybe if I do this I could finally get my chance to make it to the top. It was always the same thing. Then there were people like Hayley. She was one who fully believed in the clique system at school, and yet she still made time for someone like Drew. Why? He couldn't figure it out, but he wasn't complaining at all. The brunette liked to believe that it was because he was nice to her and he was trustworthy--unlike most of the popular crowd who would stab a friend in the back if it meant holding onto their spot at the top for at least one more day. And even though Hayley felt so strongly about the clique system, she still hung out with him. Of course, it was all in secret because this cheerleader would never be caught dead hanging out with a nerd, but he liked to believe he was making her see things differently. He liked her, so he was especially persistent on getting her to see that the cliques were just a load of shit. Well, at least he liked her and wanted to be her friend, a real one. He wasn't sure exactly how much he liked her though to be completely honest. The two flirted a bit--he couldn't help it, that was just the type of person he was, not to mention she is gorgeous--but other than that, he wasn't sure. All he was sure of was that he didn't like being "secret friends." He only did it because he was a nice guy and it was the only way he got to spend time with her. He rarely asked her to hang out; he always waited for her. If he ever asked, he felt he would only be shot down. Today, the walk seemed longer to the park than it usually was. It was probably because he was distracted by his thoughts and still a bit groggy from sleep. He hopped she would still be there when he arrived. Drew probably should have told her he lived nearby and was going to walk over and that it would take about ten minutes for him to get there, but at this point it was worthless to tell her. After spotting Hayley by the tree and greeting her, he smiled at her response. He was always glad when he could get a laugh out of someone. "Yeah bored and in a situation where you could've got ahold of absolutely anyone, but you wanted me," he joked, winking at her as he took his seat beside her. "And yeah, I figured. You're not really an asking type of person." Drew loved how he could joke around with her so easily. Then, the blonde slid closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. The move didn't phase him at all, they were always like that with each other. Or wait. What was that? In his stomach? Butterflies? He shook the thought from his mind. It was too faint, if it was butterflies he would know for certain. 'You know, you make a pretty good pillow' Hayley's words repeated in his head. Drew cleared his throat and answered, "Yeah, I try my best." With that he rested his head on top of hers, forgetting about the small feeling--whatever it was--that he had in his stomach.