01<@Ardweden> [Day: Thursday, September 16. Time: fifth period lunch.] 01<@Ardweden> [Last night, you met Penelope, custodian of Lunatic Fringe during the half moon. She answered a number of your questions, though she was hardly happy about it by the end. Tyler stormed out into the rain before you were all through, Tiffany didn't get to buy the glass snake coiling around a lantern that she wanted, and Hank found out that they don't *have* to work for the Raven at all.] 01<@Ardweden> [At least, according to Penelope.] 01<@Ardweden> [Now is lunch time. Why? Because you gotta eat sometime! On the menu today: tacos, both the crunchy and soft kind, in beef, chicken, or vegetarian (black beans). Sides of rice and chips, and all of your standard taco toppings.] 01<@Ardweden> [Session Start!] 06* @Tyler is near the front of the line, like normal, he's staring at the tacos from his spot. A stare of disgust. He knows they had them recently. This time it has to be left overs from earlier and they look even worse now. 06* Tiffany stands a bit behind Tyler in line, waiting patiently and reluctantly in line for taco-based byproducts. She's looking around a bit just to note of any potential threats or obstacles that might be around. 06* Javy gets into line a few people behind Tiffany, and looks around as usual to spot his usual sorts of people. 01<@Ardweden> [Steve's already sitting down, crumpling what looks like taco shells into an oversized bowl of soup. Next up in line is Tony, and he orders two crunchy beef tacos and a soft chicken one, throwing all manner of toppings on them. He gets them and goes to sit down!] 01<@Ardweden> [Javy hears Leah behind him! "Hi, Javy."] 06* @Tyler will make it to the line and just order a few soft chicken ones. He's not sure about this topping thing. 06* Javy starts a little and turns around enough to look at her. "Hey Leah. Uh. How... how's it going?" 01<@Ardweden> [Tyler gets chicken tacos. Toppings include: lettuce, shredded cheese, cheese sauce, tomatoes, salsa, black olives, onions, black beans, refried beans.] 06* @Tyler just grabs the lettuce and cheese sauce, nice and safe like. 01<@Ardweden> [She shifts a little. "Good. Um, this is my friend, Natalie," she says, introducing the girl who Javy's seen with Leah pretty much every lunch period: short, wearing jeans and a bright t-shirt, with chin-length black hair and brown eyes.] 01<@Ardweden> [Natalie grins and holds out her hand. "Hi! Nice to officially meet you." To which Leah does a small half-a-glare at her.] 06* Javy nods to her. "Hi, Natalie. Yeah, uh, good to meet you, too." He looks somewhat curious at that exchange, and shakes Natalie's hand. 01<@Ardweden> [Tyler gets what he orders! Along with rice and beans if he wants. Get a drink? Y/N] 06* Hank doesn't arrive til after most of the other students, taking a space at the end of the line. 01<@Ardweden> [It's the END OF THE LINE for Hank!] 06* @Tyler will of course get a drink. Soda or milk depending on what they have and what's safe. 01<@Ardweden> [They have both, and they're both safe!] 06* Tiffany gets near the front of the line, and glances Tyler-ward. She gets her tray ready for ordering. When she can order, she'll get two crunchy chicken tacos with lettus, cheese, salsa, and olives, with a side of beans and rice. With water for drinkages. 06* @Tyler will grab soda and head for his table. 01<@Ardweden> [Tyler gets to his table! He sees Tony eating a taco and Steve watching him mournfully, crumpling more taco shells into his soup - looks like chicken soup of some kind, but with no chicken chunks in it.] 06* @Tyler looks sadly at Steve's soup. "Er.. I could get you some salsa?" 01<@Ardweden> ["Leah's told me all about you," Natalie says enthusiastically. "You play the oboe, right?"] 01<@Ardweden> ["Nooooo," Steve says, then adopts his shrill 'mom voice': "The doctor says don't upset your stomach."] 06* Javy nods, coloring across his cheekbones. "Uh, yeah. I play oboe." 01<@Ardweden> [Natalie turns to Leah. "He really *does* blush a lot." To which Leah gets a slight blush and says, "Natalie!"] <@Tyler> how long man? 06* Tiffany glances away from the lunch line, tray in hand and surveys the rest of the cafeteria, looking back at Javy with his newfound entourage of females. Her expression is neutral. She may also notice Hank all the ways at the back. 06* Javy blushes a whole lot more at that, and mumbles something incoherent. 01<@Ardweden> ["I dunno," Steve says. "Maybe another coupla days."] 01<@Ardweden> [Tony swallows a mouthful of taco and says, "When it's over, we should go celebrate."] <@Tyler> We should. 01<@Ardweden> [Natalie giggles, and Leah rolls her eyes. "Ignore her. She's just being an idiot."] 06* Javy looks between the two of them, and mumbles something that resolves into "... the tacos again. It's... maybe they'll be better this time." 01<@Ardweden> ["Ugh," Leah says, wrinkling her nose. "Yeah."] 01<@Ardweden> ["They can be pretty gross," Natalie agrees.] 06* Javy nods, still blushing pretty severely. "Um... it's... ah. I. Mine are better. Um. And my mom's! They're, uh. They're even better than that." 01<@Ardweden> ["Does your mom make tacos a lot?" Natalie asks, her grin giving away that she *totally* notices the blushing.] 01<@Ardweden> ["Where do you wanna go?" Tony asks Steve. "When you're better."] <@Tyler> Anywhere dude. I'll pay 06* Tiffany gets her food, and then glances at the usual table, then around the cafeteria for a moment. She stands in place a few steps away from the cashier/whatnot and looks around, just to notice whether she's being observed or spied on or plotted on or not. 06* Javy finds that doesn't help with the blushing. "Sometimes. Uh. She... you, ah, she makes a lot. Of things. Like, not just that, or other food like that." 01<@Ardweden> [At that, Steve perks up. "Oh, man. We could get pizza. Or burgers. Or fajitas. Or steak... I haven't had steak in like two weeks... or pasta. STEAK PASTA."] <@Tyler> I think we could find a place that does that. 01<@Ardweden> [Hank's cell phone rings.] 06* Hank answers it! 01<@Ardweden> ["Hi, Hank?" It's Susanna, and she sounds kind of upset. "Um... are you free?"] Sus? Yeah. I'm free. 01<@Ardweden> ["With capers and cream sauce!" Steve decides enthusiastically. Tony just shakes his head.] 06* Tiffany steels herself a bit, looking at everyone in line and then looks at the free table one last time. She wipes all expression from her face and makes her way confidently over towards Tyler's table. 01<@Ardweden> ["Okay. Can you meet me outside?"] 06* Hank is already moving. "On my way." 01<@Ardweden> ["By the giant tree. Okay, thanks." She hangs up.] <@Tyler> I don't know if we can do that but we'll find someth............. 06* @Tyler cuts off and just stares at Tiffany coming his way. 01<@Ardweden> [Tyler's stare makes Tony look up, and he says, "Freak alert," which gets Steve to pay attention.] 06* Tiffany sits down at Tyler's table without a word as he stares at her and picks up her taco, looking at it calmly while taking a bite. 06* @Tyler looks Tiffany in the face. "What do you want, Tiff-tiff?" 01 ["That sounds awesome," Natalie says, and she genuinely means it. "My mom's not that good a cook."] 01 [Javy reaches the end of the line!] 06* Tiffany sets down her taco and wipes her mouth, glancing over at Tyler for a moment and deadpans evenly. "You mean I'm not invited to your little party? I'm shocked." <@Tyler> No, I said what do you want. What makes you assume I want anything, Tyler? I thought you wanted to hang out more. 01 ["Hey," Steve decides to say, taco shell in his mouth, "You guys friends or something?" Tony lets out a snort-laugh sort of thing.] I mean, you've been coming over to *our* table, haven't you? 06* Tiffany gives Tyler a small smile. Her eyes have daggers in them. 06* Javy nods. "Uh... it's... mine is. Um." He turns to order, and gets the vegetarian one with salsa, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and onions. And an iced tea, to boot. 01 [Javy ends up with three tacos unless he demands otherwise!] 06* @Tyler glares at Steve. "Some one thought it would be fun if we worked on a project together. What do you want, Tiff-tiff?" 06* Hank leaves. The cafeteria! 01 [Steve doesn't seem to get it, whatever it is. He takes that explanation at face value and slurps soup quite noisily. Tony, meanwhile, seems to think this is hilarious; he's paying more attention to this exchange than he has to anything over the past couple of days.] 06* Tiffany sighs and turns back to her taco. "You used to be more creative with the nicknames, y'know." She glances at Tony for a moment, gauging his reaction. She only notices Steve out of the corner of her eye. 06* Javy will take the three tacos, then. Why not? Hopefully they won't be too terrible. 01 [If they are, you can always throw them out!] 06* @Tyler shrugs. "The effort is wasted on you." 06* Tiffany tilts her head, not looking at Tyler, but at Tony. "What do you think? Hasn't he come up with more creative things for me before? Come on now." 06* Javy turns back to Leah. "So, uh... I'll, I, uh, I guess I'll see you. At Mrs. Collins." 01 ["Um... yeah," Leah says with a shy smile. Natalie waves cheerfully.] 01 [Tony, now put on the spot, shrugs. "What's that got to do with anything?"] Why does it have to have anything to do with anything? 06* Tiffany smiles slightly and swirls her finger in her water. "I think you're just too embarrassed to say it to my face." 01 [Now that Javy isn't in line anymore, he can see that Nate is near the middle of said line.] 06* Javy nods to her, blushing a bit more again, and makes his way out into table land. He doesn't see Tiffany at his usual table, and then slows when he sees where she actually is. 06* @Tyler shrugs more. "If you really want it I'll call you Art Deco, cause you're tacky and traded off like an unwanted present. I mean your fake boyfriend finally told you he was doing it for kicks?" Tyler's heart isn't in it right now, but he's giving it the ol' college try. I don't have a fake boyfriend, Tyler. I thought we agreed that's all you. 01 ["I thought you were her fake boyfriend," Tony says to Tyler, at which Steve manages to get soup ALL OVER THE TABLE.] 06* Tiffany looks at Tony and cracks a grin before letting out an abrupt laugh. <@Tyler> Oh FUCK no. Texasqueer is leading her on. 06* Tiffany then suddenly stops and glances at Tyler, curious. "Texaswho?" <@Tyler> The muscle bound lug you follow around like a puppy. 01 [As Javy leaves, he hears the following exchange. Natalie: "You should've asked him to sit with us!" Leah: "No way! The guys at our table are *way* too immature."] 06* Tiffany continues swirling her finger in her drink, looking down at it now. "Yeah. Rumors don't suit you, Tyler. You should leave that stuff up to the professionals. Like the bitch squad." 06* Javy blushes more again, and looks down at his tray, before trying to spot who's at the swim table, too. 01 ["Aww, man," Steve says, cleaning up after himself. Tony, laughing at the mess he made Steve make, hands him napkins.] 06* Tiffany looks up at Tony. "Actually, what do you think? You really think Hank and I are going out?" <@Tyler> Bitch squad's pretty pissed. Queen slut wants to grab the steer by the horns and ride the cowboy. I don't have to do shit to you to watch this misery play out 01 [At that bit of news, Tony calms down and says, "Yeah, you'd better watch it if the Queen's after him. She's dirty."] 06* Tiffany snorts. "You think I don't know that? I've been on the end of *her* firing squad too." She looks down at her drink. "Y'know...if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were worried about me." <@Tyler> oh fuck, you really are clueless aren't you tiff-tiff? Shut up, Tyler. Your friend's got enough balls to talk to me himself. 01 [Tony just rolls his eyes. "Okay, honestly?"] Yeah. Honestly. 06* Javy decides to just grab a seat at the regular table and wait for Nate, since it's still free. He sits facing the Tyler and Tiffany table, so he can see if anything explodes. 01 ["You're not too bad when you're not eating mulch." He glances at Tyler, then continues, "But the thing is, Jason's got it in for you and the Bulk's not helping."] 06* Tiffany blinks a little bit. Part of it may be registering the "you're not too bad" comment, but she recovers. "Wait, Jason? Which Jason?" 01 [The whole group is at the swimmer's table: Cole, Zack, Kit, and Jonah.] 01 [Tony nods. "'xactly." He sighs, then says, "So, we're gonna have to fuck up your day before it's over." He sips his soda. "Hope you got gym next, or can just do it before lunch is out."] 06* @Tyler shrugs. "Jason Jason." He glances back at Tony. "Bulk's not helping, though art freak and redface aren't bad. Problem's really Jason. Course he's usually the problem." 01 [Tony nods.] 06* Tiffany sighs. "Look...I *know* he's not helping, but he's a good guy. Hell if I can stop him from jumping in though..." She shakes her head and frowns. "Will you quit talking in damned code? Who the fuck's Jason?" 01 [Nate emerges from the line victorious, with three tacos in a row! He heads over to Javy's table. "Hey!" he says, in a pretty good mood. "Where is everybody?" <@Tyler> Hey, she's smarter then I thought. Got it in two. 06* Javy doesn't think he feels social enough after that to try the swim club. He tries his tacos, and they're... well, they're about what he expected. He looks up at Nate as he settles in. "Hey. Uh... I don't know. There's Tiffany, though. Over, uh, there." He points off towards Tyler's table. 01 [Tony laughs. "Yeah." And Steve, looking up from his soup-filled soup, says, "The one from the movies, right?"] Smarter than you, Tyler. I know when to keep my damned fool mouth shut. 06* Tiffany then just *stares* at Steve. Really? 01 [Steve shrugs at the stare. "That's how he got the name." And he goes back to souping.] 01 [Nate looks at that table. "Really?" He blinks, adjusting his glasses. "Wild. Maybe talking to Tyler actually worked."] 06* Javy looks at him, surprised. "You did that?" 06* @Tyler is avoiding the topic Tiff is avoiding. That of ruining her day. "Hell, Redface makes you harmless to queen bitch. Just suck up to him more and less to Bulk." 01 ["Yeah? Everybody else left yesterday."] Will you get off it? I haven't done a goddamned thing for Hank to like me. He just *does*. And hell if he wants to go out with me. And you're *still* talking in fucking code talk. 06* @Tyler shrugs. "You're a smart girl. You can figure it out." So I'm gonna ask you one last time. Who the fuck is Jason? 01 ["C'mon," Tony says, "you *know* who he is."] I... 06* Tiffany narrows her eyes at Tony as it dawns on her. "Josh." 06* @Tyler shrugs. "Who knows. Could be. As I said you're smart." Why the fuck does Josh have it out for me anyway? 01 ["It's Jason, anyway," Tony says. "Josh is our buddy."] 01 ["And if you say one more thing about him, we're *really* going to have to fuck up your day."] 06* Tiffany sighs and gets up, picking up her tray. "I knew this was a waste of time." <@Tyler> Glad to waste yours. 01 ["Don't let the door knock you over on the way out," Tony says helpfully.] 06* Javy blinks, and looks impressed. "And you, what, you got him, to, to, to, like... take her over there?" 06* Tiffany doesn't look at Tyler for a moment, but responds to him. "Hank's thinking about kicking you off the team. And I agree with him." 06* @Tyler looks very angry for a second, and then does a bad job of covering it up. "What ever. It's just a dumb project anyway. It's not like I've really even tried or cared about it ever." Yeah. You've shown it in every little thing you do. If you're gonna work with us, you're gonna have to start treating us like human beings, Tyler. Whether you like it or not. I'm willing to bury the hatchet. Hell, I'll even make you guys a deal. 01 ["Nnnnoooo," Nate says, slowly. "I just... I dunno, Tyler's not as stupid as he looks."] 01 [Tony's looking at Tiffany, then Tyler, then Tiffany. He's frowning now.] 06* Javy bites into a taco, thinks for a beat, and nods. "You... well. I think I agree with you. When he's alone, he's... well, he's okay." 01 ["I know, right? But he still shoved me into a locker. It's *weird*."] 06* @Tyler isn't saying anything, he's frowning glaring at his tacos. They are a safe outlet for his anger right now. 06* Javy frowns. "Was that... was that yesterday, too? Or just that time a while ago?" 01 ["A while ago," Nate says, taking a bite out of his taco and chewing it, before swallowing. "I thought it was part of that dream for a while."] 06* Tiffany sighs and brushes her hair. "I don't give a damned what goes on behind my back. Hell, if Matt and Josh and even this Jason want to kick the crap out of me, that's fine. It's this school and I'm used to it." She glances off to the side at Tyler for a moment. "But as long as I'm going to have to work with you. And as long as you're hanging out with these two most of the time, and you think I'm cool, I'm not gonna take that crap from you." But... Also, whatever the hell you think, I'm not Hank's owner and he's not a damned dog. I don't hold his leash and I'm not gonna try to. If you want to keep him from beating the crap out of you and your friends, that's up to *you*, not me. 06* Javy lowers his voice. "But we don't really look like ourselves, there. Right? I... were the others there, too? Not just me?" 06* @Tyler shoves the plate of untouched tacos away, towards Steve, then suddenly grabs the plate back. 01 [Tony keeps frowning. He glances back at Tyler before he stands. He walks over to Tiffany and hisses in her ear, "Come with me," before grabbing her by the arm and dragging her maybe-painfully out of the cafeteria.] 06* Tiffany gets yanked for a second, wide-eyed. "Alright! Just let me set down my damned tray, okay?" 01 [Tony knocks Tiffany's tray out of her hand without even really looking, still pulling her out of the cafeteria. He's, uh, a little scary right now would be the way to put it.] 01 [Back at the ranch, Steve's dropped his spoon in his soup and is staring kind of open mouthed.] 06* Tiffany hisses out. "Ow! Fuck." But she still gets dragged. 01 [Nate shakes his head. "Nah. You don't look... what's going on?" as he's distracted by Tony pulling Tiffany who knows where.] 06* @Tyler watches them go, a bit numb, he then turns back to the food, slamming his fist repeatedly into the poor defenseless tacos. 06* Javy looks up from his tacos, and blinks. "I, uh... what. That's... I... what is with people? I... two days in a row, with her. So... should I go?" 01 [That gets Steve's attention. "Aw, dude," he says, not unsympathetically, but tacos. ;_;] 01 ["I, uh... her food's all over the floor," Nate says, also trying to make sense of what's going on.] 06* Javy nods, seeing that. "It's... and why Tony? I... I mean, she can take care of herself, but... maybe I should go?" 01 [Nate wordlessly points at Tyler, who's smashing his tacos into pulp.] 06* Javy nods at that, and stands up. "Yeah... I'll go. At least, uh, I should check. Watch my stuff?" 01 [He nods. "Sure."] 06* Javy thanks Nate, and then goes out by the line so it's not as obvious he's following. He hopes. 01 [Javy heads out! Is Tyler still smashing tacos?] 06* @Tyler will finally get up and head for the door. "I'll be back." 01 [Steve nods, still kind of dumbfounded, first by Tony, then by tacos.] 01 [Javy gets into the hallway! He doesn't see Tony or Tiffany. This is followed shortly by Tyler.] 06* Javy walks out a little ways to see if he can hear anything before he pays any attention to Tyler. 01 [Javy hears voices - not sure whose - down the hall away from the entrance and towards the stairs.] 01 [Tyler, meanwhile, sees Javy go that way, so he goes the opposite way! Or maybe he just figures they're the opposite way, as he heads outside.] 06* Javy does indeed head that way. It's worth a try. 01 [Javy heads that way, and as he gets closer, he can make out a guy's and a girl's - probably Tiffany's? voice, though they're still a little too quiet for him to make out exactly what they're saying.] 06* Javy keeps heading that way, but it doesn't sound like they're fighting. 01 [That is, until he's getting fairly close to the stairway and hears the guy saying, "See you 'round, Tiff. Glad we had this little chat." Tiffany says something back, but it's too quiet for Javy to make out.] 06* Javy slows down, then. So it's done? So she's probably okay, then. 01 [And then Javy sees Tony heading out from a small alcove under the stairs, hands in his pockets. He sees Javy and says, "You can have your girlfriend back now," as he moves to pass him, heading back towards the cafeteria.] 06* Javy is too busy changing gears to really respond to that, and watches him walk off. 06* Tiffany doesn't come out from beneath the stairs, but Javy probably hears her breathing under there by now. 06* Javy goes over there after a few beats, then. "Tiffany?" 06* Tiffany still doesn't come out, but there's a soft. "Yeah?" that comes from under the stairs. Whether Javy sees her or not depends on whether he goes under to look at her or not. 06* Javy is waiting to hear about this before he goes to look in on her. "Are you... are you okay?" 06* Tiffany lets out a deep long sigh and deep breath. Her voice sounds very controlled. "Yeah. I'm fine." Just... before, in the cafeteria. It's... um. If you're fine... uh. Do you mind? If I come over there? 06* Tiffany 's very quiet for a bit. It seems to take her a while to answer. She then lets out her voice again, though it comes off as kind of a harsh whisper even if it's not intended to be. "No. Not really." 06* Javy pauses, and then heads around under the stairs slowly, as if not to spook her. 06* Tiffany 's underneath there, amongst all the empty cans and wrappers. It's kind of a mess down here, and Tiffany's managing to mostly not be sitting on anything. She's got her head somewhat buried into her knees and her right hand is grasping her wrist tightly. So tight that the knuckles are a bit white from it, actually. 06* Javy looks at her for a beat, and crouches down opposite her. "You... you, uh. Sure you're okay?" 06* Tiffany raises her head a little. She grins at him and it's actually pretty hard to tell whether it's forced or genuine. "What? You haven't seen me worse than this?" 06* Javy starts to say something, stops, and tries, "Uh... but, but that doesn't mean, you know. That it's okay. Now, I mean." 06* Tiffany sighs and shakes her head. "Her grip releases a little bit but only to thump the wall meekly with her fist. "I'm fine. Why the fuck doesn't anyone *believe* me when I say that?" 06* Javy pales, and mumbles something. He leans against the wall, and tries, "Because... uh. Just... you, you know. Right now, it's... you don't look so okay. And... I, if, I can help, with anything..." 06* Tiffany glares at Javy. "No. You *can't* help with anything. No one can help with anything unless Hank gets off his fuckin' high horse and stops trying to protect people who aren't even asking for his help." 06* Javy looks cowed, but he doesn't move. "I... so that, uh, that's what... it was about?" 06* Tiffany sighs and runs her fingers through her hair. She actually seems to have calmed down considerably. Especially considering that Javy's kind of standing his ground here. "Yes and no. Not exactly. Look, it's complicated, alright?" 06* Javy nods slowly. "I... look, I, uh... it's..." He trails off, and then says, "Listen, if... you know, just, if you want to tell me, I'm... you know. I'll listen." 06* Tiffany lets out a long sigh. She turns to look at Javy. She looks rather exhausted. "Really? You'll listen?" 06* Javy nods, and looks like he's weighing something before he says, "Yeah. Uh. You know, I'm better at that. Listening." 06* Tiffany rolls her eyes and holds her legs. She closes her eyes and sighs. "People think I'm going out with Hank." 06* Javy blushes slightly, and quickly touches his cross, thanks for her having her eyes closed. "But you're... you're not." 06* Tiffany looks at Javy, then runs her hand over her face. "God, Javy. I..." She sighs. "Sometimes, I swear we went to totally different schools." 06* Javy looks at her quizzically, and doesn't try responding to that one. People don't care about the truth here. They care about what's juicy. And someone who's on the bottom of the totem pole like I am and the new kid like Hank is *perfect* fodder for that. 06* Tiffany looks at him. "It means that if Hank doesn't stop stepping in, he's gonna start getting the same shit treatment that I am, Javy. You *know* how Hank's gonna react to that...Hank doesn't deserve that." And...fuck, I told him this was gonna happen. No one ever *listens* to me. 06* Tiffany slams her hand against the wall. Then winces, shaking it. "Ow!" 06* Javy looks at her hand, concerned. "Don't do that. Don't... um. Don't hurt yourself. It's..." He tries to work out what he wants to say. 06* Tiffany looks at Javy for a moment and shakes her hand. Then she tilts her head slightly to the side, looking at him. "I'm better with pain than you think, really." 06* Javy glances at her face. "That... you know, it's... that doesn't make it better. To do that." 06* Tiffany sighs and looks at Javy, a bit of hurt and anger in her eyes. "And what the fuck do you really know about me, Javy? Seriously." Did you think being my goddamned friend was gonna be easy? The school *hates* me. 06* Javy shakes his head. "But... I don't. I... and you know. I, it's not, I mean, I don't always have it easy. I... it's not like you, but, it's... I mean. I've got like two friends. And one's my sister. I, it's." He fingers his cross again. "Not..." He sounds frustrated. "I... I don't fit in here, either." 06* Tiffany sighs and huddles again, though she's peeking at Javy. "You're a goddamned jock. Nobody hates you. You're on the swim team, you don't piss people off, you don't choose to look like a freak, like I do." 06* Javy looks down. "But... I mean, I. You're right, I think, I mean, it's... nobody hates me. At least. They, they don't say it. I...sorry." He stops, and says in a lower tone, "I... I stick out, my own way. Like this. It's... you know? How I look. Not... I mean, it's not a choice, but. It, you know. It happens. Sometimes." 06* Tiffany sighs deeply and buries her head into her knees, arms around them. Her voice comes out muffled. "Javy?" 06* Javy barely glances back up at her. "Yeah?" 06* Tiffany mumbles. "Why do you even like me, anyway?" 06* Javy blushes, and definitely says something, but no amount of Javy training's going to let anyone pick meaning out of that mumble. 06* Tiffany kicks him with her foot. It's not quite a nudge, but Tiffany's not exactly a Hank-level kicker here either. "You're not getting out of this with that. Tell me." 06* Javy looks half up at her, and leans more on the wall for support. "You... oh, Jesus. It's... I... you're. You're, you're smart, and you take charge, and... you, you know, it's... you're willing, oh..." He squeezes his eyes shut. "... to be you. Whatever. Whatever that means." 06* Tiffany blinks a moment and just stares at Javy. "You...to be like me? You want to *be* like me?" 06* Javy shakes his head, keeping his eyes closed. "No, I... I want to be like, like me. Like. Oh... you. Ah. Do... you really want, you want to hear this?" 06* Tiffany glares at Javy. "Javy. I'm about *this* close to smacking you. Spit it out." 06* Javy takes his cross out from under his shirt and holds it tightly, gathering his resolve. "I... you, you know. You don't know me either. I... I do all these things, and, and no one knows. Only Nate knows, and... I want, I want all this, to do... it's... I. I don't, I can't put any of it out there, I, I, it's just, it's... it's hard enough just to *talk*." He pauses for a second. 06* Javy closes his eyes tighter, and the words flow out in a rush. "I... I don't want to be like you, not, like, how you dress or what you do, and I know, it's just not like it's your choice, but some of it is, and I wish to Jesus Christ I had anything like that courage to do it, I do, I swear it, I just... it's, I don't know where it is in me, at all..." 06* Tiffany listens very carefully to Javy. Her earlier frustration and rage seems to be going out of herself and she keeps quiet, curiously, until he stops. 06* Javy swallows a couple of times. "It's... I, I don't know, like, I don't know why it's not okay to see, to see any of that in you, and, I mean, I... outside of school, like, with all this, too, and I... I can't even, I don't even know how to approach it, and everything comes apart and I can't... I don't know how you do any of it, here or there." He stops, and then adds in a low tone, "And... and you're also pretty, there, I said it, and that doesn't hurt, and... and..." He sighs softly, and rests back on his heels. 06* Tiffany looks at Javy for a moment. Watching him to make sure he's done. Then drapes her arms over his shoulder, or around, as best as she can and gives him a tight hug, her cheek pressed against his shoulder, burying her head. 06* Tiffany starts crying into his shoulder, voice muffled from pressing against him. She manages to mumble out. "Javy, you don't want me. I'm messed up." She sniffles. 06* Javy lets out a sound that's almost a sob, drops the cross back to his chest, and hugs her back, his face hot. 01 [The bell rings, signaling an end to fifth period.] 06* Tiffany clutches onto Javy tightly, sobbing into his shoulder. She doesn't seem to have really heard the bell. 06* Javy swallows a couple of times, trying not to get swept away, and holds her for a couple of beats. beyond that. "I... but. I... I still do," he mumbles back. 01 [Javy's phone beeps; it's a text.] 06* Tiffany sniffles a bit and she looks up at Javy, holding onto his shirt/coat/whatever's on the outside with a tight grip, eyes still watered. 06* Javy looks back at her for a beat, before he can't take it anymore and has to check the phone for an excuse to look somewhere else. 01 [Nathan: Find Tiffany?] 06* Tiffany turns his chin back towards her and gets up on her tiptoes, giving him a kiss on the lips. Her lip ring's a little cold though. 06* Javy is too stunned to really respond, but he looks happy about this. He opens his mouth, closes it, and then mumbles something too softly to really be heard. 06* Tiffany watches Javy for a moment, then lowers herself back down and lets go of his clothes. She glances at him for a moment, then steps back. Then runs towards her locker. 06* Javy watches her go for a beat, and then texts back, "Yeah. Found her." 01 [Nathan: Where are you? I have your stuff. Tiffany's, too.] By the stairs now. Come by the lockers, I'll go there. She's there now, too. 01 [Nathan: Okay.] 06* Javy runs a hand over his face, tucks his cross back under his shirt, tries to compose himself, and heads for his locker. 01 [Session End!]