Re: The Story Begins Here: NYU School Campus

[JulietsCurse]

Alexis elbowed Seth in the stomach, enough to get the point across but not enough to knock the air out of him. "Sorry- but I'll leave that for Luke."

[Tiger-Lily]

He laughed and let go, rubbing his side. "Knee-jerk reaction. You say whip, I say kinky."

[JulietsCurse]

"Go figure."Alexis smirked just slightly, rolling her eyes as she ran her fingers through her hair.

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth pushed open the doors to the lobby of their dorm. As he held them open for Alexis behind him, he asked, "So what will you do now? You have anywhere else to go?"

[JulietsCurse]

"No.. I don't but I'll figure out something. Get a taxi to a hotel or.."Alexis sighed, knowing she was screwed more then likely as she headed in, nodding in thanks to him as she did.

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth frowned and then tilted his dark head, thinking. "Hey, I know a girl dorming in this very building," he said suddenly, blue eyes lighting up. "She's more a friend of Jake's, but she'd probably help you out."

[[reply at dorms]]

[[Seth and Alexis to Dorms]]

[Guest]

[[FF to next day James from classes]]

James came out of his last class for the day, although he hated nothing more then having to wake up early in the morning he was kind of glad he had the whole day to kill.

He crossed the quad and finding an empty bench he sat down, breathing out as he sat, it all began to slowly sink in to him. Him and Evelyn were actually meeting to somehow be more civil towards each other, and after this discussion that everything between them, any feelings should be gone, that they were slowly moving on and maybe after this they could possibly be friends.

Would it be weird? Would he be able to act around her like he does with Ashlee? If anything James never really had any real friends who were girls, and he considered Ashlee more like a sister to him, like he did Haley, and he hardly even knew Alexis to call her one of his "best friends." So really Ashlee was the only real girl friend of his he had that he had never dated, or heck even made out with.

James sighed, trying to be calmer, but he couldn't help being nervous.

[Tiger-Lily]

[[from Dorms]]

Evelyn had left the suite early that morning, just in case Alexis returned for her stuff. She'd gone to class early, and was now late to meet James.

Because she'd lost her student ID. She was positive it was somewhere on the fifth floor of her dorm, but she wasn't sure where.

She couldn't recall the last time she'd brought it out.

Evelyn ran a frustrated hand through her hair and got her fingers stuck in it. She remembered James had liked her hair down. So she wore it up in a simple ponytai. She was also dressed in a simple blue dress shirt, collar slightly unbuttoned, and denim jeans over Converse.

Nothing fancy. She knew where she wanted to stand with him. She'd stayed up all night thinking over it after Ashlee had gone to sleep.

Evelyn swallowed as she neared the subway station. She could make out James in the distance and all of a sudden, her rehearsed speech died away.

What should she say to break the ice again? Some stupid joke. Evelyn frowned. She hated lame jokes. James would know something was up.

Her tongue went dry and she slowed down. She suddenly felt sick. Funny how the guy who had once made her blush like mad with one smile was now making her wish she'd brought a sick bag. And he hadn't even aimed those eyes at her yet.

She clenched her hands together, not wanting him to see them shaking. She had a sudden urge to run back to her room. But that wouldn't solve anything.

Because regardless of how much she wanted her and James to be on neutral, friendly grounds, she honestly didn't think she'd ever be able to be friends with him.

It just couldn't happen. She hated herself for coming to this realization. But she'd been lying to everyone around her, including herself. "James" and "platonic" were incompatible to her and no amount of talking to him was going to change that.

[Guest]

He wondered if she decided not to show up, he thought checking his watch again, seeing she had been ten minutes late.

He tried to reassure himself by telling himself that maybe her class got out late, or something to that extent.

Calm down you idiot

James looked up instinctively as if he knew she was nearby , his instincts had proved him right when he saw her approaching.

James took her in, she was dressed so simple, yet to him Evelyn was still beauitful.

She looked so pretty, but did he tell her that? Did he smile or wave?

Is this what Luke feels like around girls he likes??

That thought crossed his mind. If James was good at one thing it was being able to talk around girls.

Did he wave, smile, do anything? Or wait for Evelyn to say something.

Why was he so nervous? It was just Evelyn, its not like he was proposing to her.

Do I sit or do I stand... Oh my god what's wrong with me!

James decided he should stay seated, as he saw her approach he felt his heart beating, and he felt almost sick.

He took a deep breath and gave a small smile up at her, "Hey."

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn nodded back at him, not willing to flash another fake smile. She felt like she'd been handing out those too often. She walked over, standing a good three feet away, her expressionless lawyer face on as she caught James' eyes.

"Been waiting long? I misplaced my student ID. Had a mini panic attack so I got sidetracked," she said, injecting everything she had to ensure her voice didn't waver. Who knew how James might take it? He'd probably think she was terrified or something.

Well, she was, but she wasn't about to let him have more ammo. The whole Jake-mess was James' fault, even if he didn't know it.

[Guest]

I thought you wouldn't show...

James shook his head, "Nah, just like ten minutes or whatever. Um do you want to get going?" He asked standing up.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn nodded silently. She wondered what the hell had happened to her tongue. It kept freezing at the most awkward moments.

She walked past James, ensuring she gave him a good three-feet berth around him, and headed down to the subway station, clutching her backpack. She brushed back loose strands of blondish hair when she neared the bottom, and paused, uncertain. "Um...do you know where to go...?" she asked James over her shoulder, a faint flush rising in her cheeks.

[Guest]

James looked at Evelyn and nearly lost his breath, "Uh it shouldn't be too hard, they announce when you're there don't they?" He asked her, if anything Evelyn had probably been slightly more city savvy than he was, he only lived in Chicago when he was a baby, so he obviously couldn't navigate himself that well around a city.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn nodded, sincerely hoping that the disembodied subway Voice would be specific. She wasn't sure what the subway stop was called that they needed to get off at.

Shrugging it off, she made her way down another set of stairs, followed by James, towards a southbound train, crossing her fingers at him with a grimace.

"Here's hoping," she muttered, leading the way onboard the stopped train.

[[James and Evelyn to...God-Knows-Where/Central Park]]

[Tiger-Lily]

[[from Dorms]]

Seth whistled a soft tune under his breath as he lounged against the back of a metal bench by the subway stairs. He glanced at his Rolex, and then up at the pretty blond leaning against the subway railing across from him.

12:47 PM

She sent him a small smile. Seth flashed a grin back.

12:52 PM

Seth stored "Nikki's" number in his phone, with a promise to call her, and then waved her off as her "guy friend" approached. Her words, not his.

Seth leaned back against the bench again, checking his watch.

[JulietsCurse]

Alexis tugged at the end of her ponytail as she headed over to Seth once there, seeing the pretty blond walk away from him and rolled her eyes with a slight smirk. She threw an acorn she had gotten while going past the trees to get to the street and threw it at Seth's forehead. "Hey Pixie."

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth shook his head and then gave her a once-over. "You're looking better," he said appreciatively. "Are you wearing make-up for me? I'm flattered, but natural is fine." He straightened as he spoke, tucking his hands into his pockets again and began leading hte way down the subway steps.

[JulietsCurse]

"Myself, actually."Alexis said, rubbing at her neck as it was a little tense as she followed behind Seth. "Because I looked like crap without it."

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth snorted but decided not to argue with a girl about make-up. He reached the platform headed south, to SoHo.

He turned so he was walking backwards, facing Alexis with a grin. "Fifty," he said emphatically. "I'd say more. I'm confident."

[JulietsCurse]

"Of course you would."Alexis smirked, raising her eyebrow at him. "I'm still staying with thirty. I don't know James all that well, so."

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth shrugged. "I saw Luke's jaw. That was beautiful, if I may say so. James might just hold up. But I know Sal." Seth's eyes danced mischievously. "Now I just have to do my part right..."

He winked at Alexis as the subway pulled in just in time. "Should I post it on Youtube?"

He walked facing her till he was about a foot from the train and then turned to step onto it with practiced ease. "Or would that ensure Sal killed me? Probably the latter. And I still have to fogure out how to word this right so James says something."

[JulietsCurse]

"It'd be a hit on Youtube."Alexis agreed, nodding some. "Say something about Evelyn or .. I dunno- see how his mood is that night and go with it. Be as annoying as you can. I'm sure you know how."She grinned sarcastically at him, stepping on after him.

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth grabbed a seat and patted the one next to it to indicate she should sit down. "Well, anyways, we'll see what happens. I don't think James will be easy to provoke; the way he was talking about Red indicated he couldn't give a fuck. So I might have to rile Jake. Which is hard since he's, as you know, not on good terms with her."

[JulietsCurse]

"If I knew him better I would tell you more, but I don't. I only know him through Ashlee, Evelyn, and Luke. Only reason I stuck up for him is because she..nevermind. Not going there."Alexis said as she sat down by Seth, leaning her head back to stare at the subway ceiling.

[Tiger-Lily]

He glanced sideways at her and nodded to hsow he got what she'd meant to say. He lifted his eyes to examine a poster of some girl in a strange pose. A Cover Girl ad. Seth thought she looked like somebody had hair-sprayed her face into an expression of pain and he mentioned this out loud to Alexis, adding, "and see, her leg is twisted kinda strangely. How do you girls walk in those shoes?"

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