Playing Pretend

[Japanator]

My dreams faded from my mind as the sunlight pouring through my window welcomed me to the land of the conscious. For a moment I felt like I was home in Colorado as I stretched and sat up. With a sigh, I let my arms drop and tried to remember where I was. It looked like a hotel room. Images from my trip to Paris flashed through my mind and I closed my eyes. Was I still in Paris? More images came, of disaster and news reporters, my view from the plane home. I inhaled sharply and opened my eyes to shove the memories aside. Right- I left Colorado and came to California. This was a refugee camp.

I slid my covers aside and let my feet hit the carpeted floor. The sunlight suddenly seemed less pleasant, as if the world should be dark. Why was it so bright? Didn't it know what happened? I ran a hand through my hair and then stood and went to my dresser. How did a person think about what to wear these days? Feeling a little like a zombie, I grabbed a light colored top and a pair of my favorite jeans and got dressed. I put on a necklace and a pair of earrings and left my room.

Downstairs it was controlled chaos. The lobby had people on makeshift stretchers or tables, some on mattresses on the floor. I looked away as quickly as I'd seen them and headed for the ballroom at the back. I chided myself for taking the main stairs when I should have just gone the back way. I reached the ballroom and saw that there were a few people eating breakfast. I made my way to the 'buffet' table and scrounged up a breakfast of cereal, yogurt, and strawberry milk. Most of the food at the hotel was still good, but I knew as well as everyone else that eventually it would run out or spoil.

I spotted a table near the back of the room and sat down. The big round table seemed like overkill for just me, but there were no small tables in the ballroom, and the others were being used in the lobby. I focused on eating my meal rather than try and make small talk. As much as I wanted company, I preferred not to talk about the devastation, as seemed to be everyone's favorite topic.

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[/color]

words; 407
muse; Kissed You, Gloriana
outfit; Here.
credits; zie @ CAUTION!
lyrics by coldplay!

[/center]

[nouveauchevall]

I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling. If I wanted to kid myself, I would pretend I was asleep. Nope. I took a deep breath and pulled myself up to a sitting position. I scanned the room. Your typical hotel room. Bland tan walls, crazy, heavy curtains, matching bedspread, and a corner-of-your-eye wardrobe. I swung my feet over the side of the bed and yawned. A night of no sleep kind of does that to you. Memories had played on the backs of my eyelids instead of dreams. Good and bad. Unfortunately it's the bad ones that tend to stick with me instead of the good. I shoved off from the bed and got to my feet.

I wandered down the hallways, really looking for the first time. Last night when I got here, I just bee-lined for my assigned bedroom and crashed, overwhelmed by everything. Today it looked so... mundane. So undamaged. It seemed alien in the chaotic environment.

I made it out to the lobby, and cringed at the wounded bodies in front of me. "Where do I get food around here?" I asked an official looking person. He pointed vaguely around a corner. I nodded and walked in the direction he pointed. The ballroom. That's where they kept the food. I followed my nose after the directions ran out, and eventually found the ballroom. I got some cereal and yogurt and looked for a table. A young girl sat alone at a big table. She looked around nervously, like she was afraid to talk to anyone. Obviously, the first thing I did was walk over to her. "Hey," I said, a little offhand. I sat down at the table with my tray and glanced at her breakfast. "Ha, we're not very unique." In fact, I think everyone in the room had generally the same breakfast.

[Japanator]

I vaguely noticed when another person entered the room. But people were coming and going often and I didn't notice anything different about this person. Just another hungry refugee. However, I did notice when he started walking towards my table. Well, I guess it wasn't my table. Free country right? Oh wait...

I swallowed what I had just taken a bite of and looked up as he said hello. "Hey." As I'd feared, he sat down. I don't know why I was so unexcited to talk to someone. I should have been happy to have some conversation. But if he decided to talk about the war and the aliens, I'd probably just get up and leave. No, I probably wouldn't. But I'd be entitled to.

Instead of saying something like 'so how about those aliens' or 'it's a nice place to go when you have no home, huh' he simply looked down at my tray and chuckled about unoriginality. I looked at our trays and for some reason, maybe relief, maybe nervousness, I laughed. "Right. Well, I think having a meal sort of beats wanting to be unique with your meals." I raised an eyebrow and smiled politely. Then I took a bite of my yogurt. When I'd swallowed, I stuck my hand out over the table. "I'm Skylar Taylor."

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[/color]

words; 220
muse; C3 Live Feed music haha
outfit; Here.
credits; zie @ CAUTION!
lyrics by coldplay!

[/center]

[nouveauchevall]

Right. Well, I think having a meal sort of beats wanting to be unique with your meals. I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, well..." I trailed off. Oops. Awkward moment.The girl raised her eyebrow and smiled. I gave her an impish smile. She offered me her hand over the table. "Skylar," I said, "My name is Kyle. Hyssop. Kind of a weird last name, but hey-- It's all I got." I added a chuckle to the end of that sentence to let her know I was kidding around.

I glanced around at all the people eating their food solemnly. "It's funny, people seem to think that we can't have a little fun anymore. 'It's not proper after an event such as this,'" I said, the last sentence in a mocking tone. I shook my head at the lot of them. "In all seriousness though, irony intended, would you like to tell me a little about yourself?" I said, trying to keep convorsation. This chick was alright. Better company than the rest of the grim reapers around here.

[Japanator]

Kyle had a nice smile, one that was comforting and mood-lightening. Which, around here, smiles like that were few and far between. It was a relief to find someone who wasn't plotting suicide or acting like we lived in a funeral home. I laughed with him about his last name and shrugged. "At least yours doesn't sort of rhyme." I finished off my yogurt and rested my elbows on the table.

He spoke about the lack of enthusiasm around the camp and I nodded. Finally! Someone understood. "Exactly. I mean, for goodness sake, we survived. Let's act like it." I paused, thinking of the attacks themselves, the images flashing strongly in my memory. I blinked and looked down at my food. "I mean, don't get me wrong. I understand the severity of the situation...but what if something else happens. And we've just been sitting around depressed, welcoming death."

He asked me to tell him about myself and I shrugged. "Oh, well...I lived in Denver, before. Colorado. I'm a chef; well almost. I was studying to be. Um, I love fried foods, like fried chicken, apple pie...mmm." Suddenly I had a craving for homemade apple pie and vanilla icrecream and I sort of understood the depressed atmosphere. "I'm an only child, I haven't dated since highschool, and I was in Paris when the attacks started. Oh, and I love horses and the ocean." I smiled and then waved my hand towards him. "Your turn."

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[/color]

words; eh, too lazy to count.
muse; Hillsong
outfit; Here.
credits; zie @ CAUTION!
lyrics by coldplay!

[/center]

[nouveauchevall]

I smiled and looked at the table when she mentioned her name rhyming. "I was thinking that, but I wasn't going to say anything," I laughed.

I nodded politely when she was talking about herself. Then she told me it was my turn. I shifted in my seat. "Well, I was born and raised in Washington. Seattle. Um, I was a musician--am a musician. I sing and play the guitar." I paused for moment, deciding if I should tell her about my sister. I looked up into her green eyes, and they drew the words out of me.

"I had a sister. Her name was Charlie. She was my world. Beautiful little girl; always had her hair in pigtails. She had blonde hair, like my mother. She was 12, when the attacks happened. 9 years younger than me. I loved her since the day my parents brought her home from the hospital, and showed her to me. She reached up and grabbed my hand." I made a small grabbing motion with my own hand. "I'd always wanted a brother, and I was kind of disappointed when they told me that they were having a girl. But all that went away when I grew up taking care of her, teaching her how to play the guitar. We used to sing together. I'd take her to the park and we'd sit on the swings and sing our favorite songs. She had a beautiful voice. So pure and innocent." I stopped, because I realized I had tears welling up at my eyelids. I coughed and wiped them away, hoping she hadn't noticed.

"But yeah. She, um.. she was killed in the attacks. Also, my mom was. But my dad is still out there... somewhere. He's called me, and we've talked. He hasn't said where he is, but he's alive." I sniffed, and looked up at her face, trying to get rid of the gruff in my voice, and the emotion that riddle my features.

[Japanator]

I rolled my eyes but chuckled despite his comment about my name. "Honestly, it doesn't sound so bad if you put my middle name in there. In fact I used to wonder if I should just go by Elaine." He listened to my story with polite interest and when I turned the tables, he shifted. I wondered if he didn't like being in the spotlight. Then he told me he was a musician and I changed my theory. Maybe he just liked singing and playing music more than talking about himself.

Then he told me about his sister. The emotion in his voice completely pulled me in and I couldn't help but feel heartbreak for his loss, and feel sad that I would never know Charlie. When the tears welled up in his own eyes, I felt the sting of my own threatening to do the same. I blinked them away quickly. He'd lost his mother and his sister, whom he had obviously loved more than anything or anyone else. "I'm so sorry..." I said. What else could you say to that? But I put what I was feeling into my words, the truth that I could physically feel his pain.

Our stories weren't that similiar, but I wanted to give a little more anyway. "I told you I'm an only child, so I can't really empathize. My parents though, as far as I know they're still alive, but I left Colorado as soon I landed from Paris, so I'm not even sure if they left." I shrugged a shoulder and looked at my plate, no longer hungry. Wasn't this what I had tried to avoid? Talking about the attacks? I wondered briefly when my time would finally come. I'd cheated death after all. Death wouldn't like that. But what about Kyle? Was the same true for him; was death after him too? I didn't like the thought of that. Not that I was happy about my impending death either...

I took a deep breath and forced a sad smile. "Do you want to get out of here? I'm suddenly feeling kind of claustrophobic." I looked at his plate. "If you're done..."

[nouveauchevall]

I smiled when she mentioned her middle name. "No, I like Skylar. I mean your name," I added, for clarity. I smiled and winked at her. I shook my head and looked at the table, laughing, to let her know I was joking.

I went on my little reverie, and she was completely absorbed. She apologized at the end of my rant. "I am too." I shrugged. I didn't know what else to say. She shared a bit more. An only child? Sad. To never know the companionship, the love of a sibling. I shook my head slightly. At least she didn't have one to lose. She sat for a moment, appearing deep in thought. Then her eyes cleared and focused on me. A small smiled played across her lips. Do you want to get out of here? I'm suddenly feeling kind of claustrophobic. Her eyes then focused on my plate. If you're done... I smiled. "I thought you'd never ask."

I pushed my plate away, not hungry anymore. I stood up, walked around to her side, and offered my hand, like a gentleman.

[Japanator]

I chuckled when he said he like my first name. "Thanks," I glanced down.

When I apologized for his loss, he responded by saying he was sorry too. The brief silence probably felt longer than it was, though for me it wasn't awkward. We were probably both in thought. Or maybe that was just me... He seemed eager enough to go allong with my plan, whatever it may be. Honestly I was sort of making it up as I went.

Kyle came around the table to where I was sitting and offered his hand. I was a bit taken abadk. As far as I had known, gentlemen just didn't exist anymore. It was a welcome surprise. I hoped he didn't see the blush in my cheeks as I smiled and took his hand. It was bigger than mine, and felt strong. My own hand felt tiny and fragile in comparison. I wasn't sure how I felt about that just yet.

When I was on my feet I let my hand linger in his for just a moment so I didn't come across rude or uncomfortable. Then I leaned my head towards the doorway that had led us into the ballroom to begin with. "Shall we?" My first thought was to go for a walk, but I wasn't sure if that would be enough to get my mind off of death, or his off of his sister. I wanted to do something safely adventurous, something fun.

I went straight for the front doors of the hotel and resisted the urge to take a deep breath as we stepped outside. There was still soot lingering in the air, and probably all other sorts of debris. I didn't know how a normal breath was better than a deep one in that situation, but it felt like a good idea. "Do you want to go to the beach?" I asked Kyle.

[nouveauchevall]

Skylar let her hand linger in mine for a moment after she stood up. She probably did it just to be polite, but it still made my face feel hot. I smiled and dropped her hand. She leaned her head towards the door. Shall we? I nodded, and started walking after her. She asked about the beach.

I can't say I wasn't immediately opposed to the idea. The beach was kind of a touchy subject with most people. The water has taken over so much land since the attacks. Who knows what would be floating in the water now. Still... it would be nice. "Sure," I said, trying to sound optimistic and up beat. We walked towards the water.

Not hard to find it, when it takes up so much of the country, as well as the state. You could see the beach from the hotel.

As soon as my feet hit the sand, I was captured. Being from Seattle, I never saw the ocean. Just the harbor that surrounds... er... surrounded Seattle. I never took that trip to the coastline.

The water swelled up on the tan, grainy sand. The sea stretched out infinitely beyond the horizon. The sun was high in the east, signalling the start of the day. I sighed, and breathed in the air. Smelled (all pun intended) alien to me. The California beaches? Nah. Not for this Washington native. I was always more of the cower-under-an-umbrella-and-hope-the-rain-lessens type. Never hope it stops. Not in Washington. It'll never happen. But basking under the sun, laying out on the rocks like a seal? Tanning? Not in question. I grabbed a piece of beach and sat down, patting the sand next to me for Skylar.

[Japanator]

My suggestion seemed to be fine with Kyle, and he agreed as we stepped outside. The water tried it's best to crash against the shore, but the waves were greatly reduced in size as they approached, ducking around the wreckage and debris. What actually made it to the shore was a fractional glimpse of what it was on the horizon. My sandals hit the sand in no time - the beach stretched out just beyond the hotel - and sand spilled over the top and onto my feet. It was warm from baking in the sun, and I knew it would only get hotter as the day went on. Better to enjoy it before it got to hot outside.

Despite having traveled outside of Denver, Paris wasn't known for beaches and I had never actually seen one in real life. "You said you're from Washington, right?" I asked, looking at him as he sat down on the sand. I sat down next to him and pulled my knees to my chest and looked at him again. "Don't suppose you go to the beach much in Seattle?" I looked out at the ocean again and wrapped my arms around my legs. "I've never been to the beach before."

This was my first time at the beach. All around us there was debris and signs of something having gone very wrong. I should have felt sad; this was my very first beach experience? But I wasn't. I felt...happy. "It's so pretty..." I said, without thinking. I sat up straighter and looked at Kyle. "I mean, if you look past all the junk..I imagine it could be very pretty." I looked around again.

[nouveauchevall]

Skylar sat down, and asked me about my home again. "Yeah, I'm from Seattle. Um, it's kind of an isthmus, really. The whole of Seattle is surrounded by Lake Washington, and the Puget Sound, so not a beach in sight. No, you have to go west the the coast to see the beach, and I was always busy with gigs and stuff. Too busy for the beach." I studied her face. She'd never been the beach before, either. "What a first impression, huh?" I motioned to the wreckage in the water.

It's so pretty... She said. I nodded. Even with the wreckage it was beautiful. She twisted uncomfortably. I mean, if you look past all the junk..I imagine it could be very pretty. I laughed, and nodded again. "Yeah," I chuckled. She looked over at me, and in the morning sun, laying out on the beach, she looked like a million dollars. I stammered. "Uh, um." I smiled crookedly. "So, uhm, you like swimming?" I pointed to a deep tide pool, completely void of all forms of trash or wreckage.

It sparkled blue in the sun; completely inviting. I was already wearing come tan cargo shorts, and she was wearing denim shorts. "You could put my shirt over yours. It's kind of thin..." I murmured, uncomfortable. I glanced back over at the tide pool, and then back at her, eyes wide and excited. I gave her my best sad-little-puppy-dog look.

Outfit --- Here!!
OOC= By the way, I find it really awkward writing in character... about another woman.

[Japanator]

"What a first impression, huh?" he asked. I nodded glumly as I admitted to myself that it did look rather pathetic and sad in some places...most places. Kyle nodded, however, when I said that is was pretty. As I added that it could be if you looked past the junk, he laughed, but nodded again. It made me feel more comfortable that he agreed with me. He gave me a crooked smile and I smiled back, noticing how adorable his smile was when he did that.

He asked if I liked swimming and I nodded, thinking however about the state of the water. But he motioned to a tide pool that I hadn't noticed. It was crystal clear, and looked incredible inviting in the California summer heat. I could just imagine how wonderful the water must feel. "That sounds perfect." I laughed once.

Kyle asked if I wanted to wear his shirt and I hesitated. That sounded like something someone in a relationship would do... However, he did have a point; my shirt was a tad thin. And it was light. And a mishap such as a white shirt getting wet would be much more embarrassing than wearing his shirt. "Yeah...that's probably a good idea." Besides, he looked terribly excited about swimming and I couldn't resist the puppy-dog expression he wore on his face. I returned his smile.


ooc: hahaha I know how you feel. I just think of it like I'm writing a script or book.

[nouveauchevall]

I could tell that she was uncomfortable initially with the thought of wearing my shirt. I opened my mouth, to tell her that we didn't have to go swimming if she didn't want to, but she spoke. Yeah...that's probably a good idea. I nodded, and got up, offering her my hand. I then pulled my shirt off, a little self-conscious at first, but then I looked back at the tide pool.

I ran over to it, wanting to dive in, but it didn't look quite deep enough for that. I waded in, apprehensive at first -- expecting cold. But warm water (probably upwards of 80 degrees Fahrenheit) embraced me like an old friend. A sigh rose up my throat. I sank deeper into the pool, until it came halfway up my chest. "Ahhhhh." I turned to Skylar. "You gotta get in," I said in a dreamy voice.

What with all the major bodies of water combining, the water wasn't as salty as ocean water normally is. In fact, it was quite diluted. I waded around a little, and then leaned back and let the water catch me. I arched my back a bit, taking in a deep breath, and let my arms float out straight. My body's natural buoyancy held me aloft in the water. This was just what I needed.

[Japanator]

Kyle seemed terribly excited as he ran towards the tide pool. I laughed once and then looked down at his shirt in my hand. I slipped it on, noting the smell. Kyle waded in as I walked toward the pool. I raised a brow at him as he sighed and turned to me. His voice proved how much he was enjoying the water. I laughed again, pausing as if to think about it. "Hmm..." I put on hand on my hip. Finally I shrugged and put a foot in.

As I stepped in completely and started to wander further in, Kyle started floating on top of the water. I grinned watching him and let my feet come out behind me so I was resting on my knees. Then I lifted my hand and dragged it across the water in a wave that would splash him. I ducked then, sinking as far as I could under the water.

I waited, wondering how long it would be before he, if he'd intended to splash me back, gave up. But alas, I needed air. I came up with a gasp and turned to face Kyle again.