LukeGrump
Fledgling Dragon Cuties
Freaking gosh dang!
Posts: 1,646
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Post by LukeGrump on Aug 10, 2014 10:03:09 GMT -8
Kit decided that he couldn't give his neighbors are more misleading first impression.
The car he was driving had been passed down from his aunt, and he adored it, but the car was his opposite in every possible way. It was loud. The engine spluttered and roared, the unconventional orange color seemed to demand attention, and it was caked with grime and rust. Kit wondered if his neighbors would expect someone equally as loud and attention grabbing to emerge from the vehicle, and with a sigh, pulled into the driveway and parked. Time to shatter their expectations.
Kit cut the engine and loped around to the trunk. As he opened it up, he winced at its metallic groan. He hadn't packed much. There were a few boxes of clothes and knickknacks, and two little suitcases that he filled with knitted things that he had outgrown and old journals. He lifted a few boxes and walked up the path to the front door.
He cussed under his breath as he fumbled with his keys, having to shift his boxes to one arm as he forced his key into the lock. He gently pushed the door open with his foot and walked inside, glanced around, then let the boxes fall to the dark wood floors with a quiet thump.
He walked out to gather the rest of his things.
As he reached into the trunk, he was surprised to see his hands trembling. You’re not a child anymore, he silently admonished. It’s only a house. Your house. Exactly the same as it always was.
Maybe that was the problem: the house hadn't changed. Though the furniture was covered in yellowing sheets and a blanket of dust was draped over every surface, nothing had been touched. It was like falling back in time, a time where he was smaller and more fragile, a time where the house was both his prison and his sanctuary, a time where sickness clung to the walls and death was a perpetual promise.
Kit shook his head, causing his wispy blonde waves to tickle his cheek. You’re not a child anymore, his thoughts echoed. Kit picked up another box and walked back up the path, his heart anxiously fluttering in his chest. There's no reason to be afraid. Grow up.
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Post by Bakery on Aug 11, 2014 18:03:34 GMT -8
Westen watched as the new- old- neighbor moved in, his glowing green eyes lit up with interest. It was strange, he could have sworn this guy hadn't change much- but it might have been his imagination seeing the boy wince at his car. He still appeared the same- a shy exterior that projected around his skin, his body sending signs of a haste to be made- and maybe even an anxiousness.
Deciding to step out and give a hello- Westen walked away from the window and to his porch, stuffing his free hand in his pocket casually as he approached the boy.
"Hey, you used to live here right? Nice to see you again." He said smoothly with a small, polite and harmless smile.
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LukeGrump
Fledgling Dragon Cuties
Freaking gosh dang!
Posts: 1,646
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Post by LukeGrump on Aug 12, 2014 17:29:40 GMT -8
Kit blinked up at his neighbor, turning without quite moving his feet so his torso faced towards his front door and his head tilted back. Because his hands still clung to the box, he shrugged his shoulder against his cheek to move the lock of hair that fell against it. He couldn't place the boy's voice, but there was something familiar in the intense green shade of his eyes. Kit frowned as he tried to remember the boy's name, feeling as though there was something he was missing, or maybe he was forgetting. This elusive thought, combined with the strain in his arms from the box and the irritating tickle of his hair against his cheek made Kit turn around and walk into his house so he could drop the box and tuck his hair behind his ear.
By the time he walked back out onto the porch, Kit realized he hadn't responded to the boy's greeting; Kit had barely even acknowledged him. He hastily tried to make up for his abstraction. "It's nice to..." Kit trailed off as he approached the boy, unable to finish it with "see you again'. He was embarrassed, but it would be easier for Kit to confess he didn't know the boy than pretend he did. "...meet you," Kit finished apologetically, trying to ignore the warmth in his cheeks. "I'm Kit."
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Post by Bakery on Aug 13, 2014 20:09:52 GMT -8
When Kit had walked inside without a word to Westen, he couldn't help but freeze in place, unsure if Kit was blowing him off or just as quiet as he had been when he was a kid...He thought. They never really played- Westen would ask but Kit had never come out to play..Still, Westen was never one to give up on something. He was persistent and polite, as well as kind- but he had hated to leave anyone out of anything and Kit was never a social boy..
Or so he remembered. Then again, Westen had a terrible memory. For all he knew- this could possibly not even be the boy he had tried to coax out of this very house all those years ago and he could have just made the worst neighbor impression in the history of such impressions.
Still, he was a bit relieved when Kit returned. He was about to turn around and head back into his own house- but seeing the other male return prevented him from leaving. Westen had wanted to see what the boy had to say- even if it was just to tell him to get off of his lawn and calling him nuts.
"Oh. You don't remember me. Well, I guess that makes sense. I'm Westen- I used to live next to you. Well-" Westen cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head nervously as he slid his gaze away from Kit. "I've always lived here, I mean. You haven't because you moved-"
Westen. Stop talking. He already thinks you're weird for babbling on like an idiot. Just shut up. Stop the words from forming. Stop your lips from moving.
Idiot.
"Let me restart that." Westen cleared his throat and took in a breath, "I'm Westen. It's nice to meet you, Kit." he held out his hand to shake Kit's.
It really was a New Beginning...
Westen just wished he hadn't made it so awkward.
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LukeGrump
Fledgling Dragon Cuties
Freaking gosh dang!
Posts: 1,646
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Post by LukeGrump on Aug 13, 2014 20:49:25 GMT -8
As Kit grasped Westen's hand, his eyes widened and an inaudible Oh.. slipped through his lips. Fragments of a memory pierced behind his eyelids; Kit as a child, always keeping the curtains open but the window shut as he waited for the boy, Kit a little older, leaving the note behind for the boy to find, how could he have forgotten?
"I remember you. I'm glad to finally meet you, Westen." This time, the greeting was warmer and genuine, and Kit smiled up at his neighbor. He hadn't lost the nervousness about meeting new people, but he was much better about interacting with them than he was in the past. A light blush stained his cheeks, and even though a small, childish part of him wanted him to fall silent, Kit continued to speak. "I'm surprised to see you. What made you decide to stay in the same place for so long?"
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Post by Bakery on Aug 14, 2014 13:19:49 GMT -8
Westen beamed once he was told he was remembered. "Oh, that great! For a minute I thought I just creeped you out, haha." he nodded in response, "Yeah, it's nice to finally put a face and voice with the boy next door I was curious about for years. How have you been? Are you excited to be back here?"
"Me? I don't know, really. I just..Kind of never left. My folks did, but I saw no reason to dig up my roots and move along so I just stayed. I'm glad I did. Hey, if you're not busy, you could come over for dinner tonight- I mean, if you don't have anything planned. You might have plans or food in your house- but the offer is open." Westen shrugged and gave a big welcoming smile.
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LukeGrump
Fledgling Dragon Cuties
Freaking gosh dang!
Posts: 1,646
|
Post by LukeGrump on Aug 14, 2014 17:08:07 GMT -8
"I'd love to." Kit surprised himself by accepting the offer immediately, and once his thoughts caught up to his words, he almost wished he could take them back. How would he be able to make conversation with someone he barely knew? He couldn't even keep track of the questions Westen had asked, so he didn't have any answers. He had only spent a few minutes with Westen, and already Kit could feel himself running out of words.
But the alternative to dinner at Westen's house would be dinner inside his own home, and Kit was dreading spending his first night alone. Maybe this was just his way of putting the moment off as long as possible. Or maybe Westen just seemed like a very warm, welcoming person. Whatever the reason, Kit had accepted. So it must have been something he wanted.
"I just need to finish moving these into the house," Kit gestured to the trunk of his car. "It won't take long. What time should I come over?"
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Post by Bakery on Aug 14, 2014 19:32:13 GMT -8
"Oh, do you need help? I can help if you want." Westen offered and his lips were pulled up into another polite smile. "But, uhm, if you don't want me to I guess you could just swing on by whenever you're done. What would you prefer to eat? I can make some simple things- but it's up to you, really."
He hoped that didn't sound creepy.
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LukeGrump
Fledgling Dragon Cuties
Freaking gosh dang!
Posts: 1,646
|
Post by LukeGrump on Aug 14, 2014 20:02:35 GMT -8
Kit smiled up at Westen in relief. "That one's too heavy for me," he pointed at the largest box in the trunk. "I could use your help, thank you." He reached into the trunk for the two smaller boxes that were left, and began walking up to his front door.
Knowing that there was someone behind him made passing through the door less surreal. He wasn't suddenly a child again, he wasn't trapped. He wasn't alone. It was just four walls and a door, and a lot of dust. Kit dropped his boxes and smiled. He was going to have to redecorate it. All of it. Maybe now, this would truly become his home.
Then Kit remembered that there was an actual person behind him, one that needed to be answered. He turned to Westen and looked up at him hopefully. "Why don't I cook for you?" He didn't mean in his house- he didn't even want to think what might be living inside his refrigerator- but he wanted to do something to thank Westen for being so welcoming. "What do you like?"
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Post by Bakery on Aug 14, 2014 22:19:50 GMT -8
Westen grabbed the box, picking it up with ease and carried it in behind Kit. Once he was inside, he took a quick glance around and set the box a little out of the way, so it wouldn't be any trouble to Kit later on.
He glanced around more this time, studying the dusty covered furniture with some interest.
"You know..." he spoke carefully, a smile on his face. "I haven't really ever been in here..."
At the mention of Kit making food, he raised an eyebrow. "You sure? I mean, I'd be fine with it...Anything you cook is sure to be good- but I guess it more depends on what I've got that you can use to make something..."
He motioned out the door and gave a polite smile, "You can come check out what I have now then. If you'd like. You don't have to- we can always order in or something..."
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