01<@Ardweden> [Day: Saturday, September 25. Time: 12:47.] 01<@Ardweden> [Tiffany wakes up in her own room, head filled with dreams. The sun *tries* to make it in, but her curtains are too goddamn dark. At least it's not a school day... she thinks.] 01<@Ardweden> [Start!] 06* Tiffany squints groggily and stirs, not so much with a start, but with determination. Her hand automatically goes for her hip and grabs empty air before looking down and frowning, hand to her bangs. "...right." 01<@Ardweden> [The clock switches to 12:48 accusingly.] 06* Tiffany pushes aside the sheets, head still down. Her movements are unusually sluggish, even for her. Blankets, covers...elbows go onto her knees as she holds the sides of her head, squinting, as if trying to make the light (or lack thereof) go away. Shut up, clock. 01<@Ardweden> [12:50!] 06* Tiffany goes to rub over her--Oh god, shut *up* clock--arms gently as she wakes up now, dropping them slowly, then pausing to look down at the familiar scratch marks. She reaches for her night stand for her arm warmers and starts to slip them on, first thing, then glances over at the small silver locket by the mirror. Just staring. 06* Tiffany breathes, scooting over a little bit, then reaches to carefully snatch the locket, popping it open and glancing at the picture for a little bit. Her mouth goes through several emotions before she settles on just slipping chain around her neck, stepping up, and nudging the curtains open. 01<@Ardweden> [A bright, clear day greets Tiffany. Looks like a great day for a walk!] 06* Tiffany shields herself from the blinding light and then pauses, turning around and going up to the door. She goes to open it just a crack, listening as she starts to move out. Any sounds of people around from downstairs? 01<@Ardweden> [There are! Both parents are downstairs, talking about... something. Probably her. She hears her name a couple of times, since she's so in tune with it. Her mother sounds distressed.] 06* Tiffany sighs lightly under her breath, almost whispering, "Perfect." She goes to get her shoulder bag and gets dressed quickly before edging the window open and sitting on the sill. She's slipping out. And no one can stop her! 06* Tiffany reaches out for the tree, nudging the window closed with her foot, then clings to the branches and trunk like she's done so many times before. An oof and she lands, dusting off her faded, torn up jeans and sucking on her lip ring. She looks down the street and tugs her pack. Lovely day for a walk indeed! She's gone! 01<@Ardweden> [She is! Tiffany walks, leaving her house behind! Where could she be going?] 06* Tiffany isn't sure really! After a moment, she glances at the house, then her phone beeps. She curses mildly and pulls it out of her pocket, flipping it open. Appointment reminder. *Great*. Just what she needs right now. Snapping it back closed, she looks down the road. "Figures it would be today..." 01<@Ardweden> [It is a Saturday!] 06* Tiffany slides the phone back in her pocket as she twists the ring with her tongue. "...guess I could go...it's such bullshit though..." She goes back and forth, contemplating. Not gonna solve anything like this. She goes back to wandering aimlessly down the road. 06* Tiffany flips her phone back up and dials up Christina. At least she can talk to someone while she walks. A shift in her bag brings it more to the front as she lets it ring, cradling it between her cheek and shoulder. 01<@Ardweden> [The phone rings and rings, and rings some more. Eventually Christina picks up. "Hello?"] 06* Tiffany tries to keep her voice even. Little distant. "Hey. You doing anything today?" 01<@Ardweden> ["Oh, hi!" Like Christina doesn't have caller ID. "I'm kind of busy right now. We're working on a play that-" Annnd then Tiffany gets another call incoming.] 06* Tiffany glances at the caller ID for a moment, lips frowning. 01<@Ardweden> [It's Tyler!] 01<@Ardweden> [Christina's still talking though. "... but Nate's here! If Javy shows up, I'll let you know!"] 06* Tiffany *squints* at the number now. Did she...she *must* have given him her number at some point? She pulls the phone back up to her ear, responding, "That's cool. Uh...tomorrow? Tomorrow's good for me." 01<@Ardweden> ["Talk to you then!" Christina chirps. She's cheery today. And then she hangs up.] 06* Tiffany looks at her phone again, as if it's possessed by the Devil. Or at least an Imp. And then, finally, she brings it up to her ear, hitting the button. "What," she snaps. 06* Tyler lets out a happy cheer. "Tiffany? Please be you." 06* Tiffany squints ahead as she takes out a pair of fingerless gloves from her pack, then pinches the bridge of her nose. "What? What the fuck are you on about, Tyler?" Look you know that girl you were going to hook me up with? Things have changed. Big time. I don't care about homecoming. I need a date next Sturday. 4:30. Black tie charity. This is more important than homecoming. I don't know what I did to make you made, but... can I make it up to you and we talk about that and maybe the girl and how Sydney isn't horrible? 06* Tiffany stops her walking, her glove tugging, her everything and just waits for everything Tyler just said sink in. After letting the moment pass, "...I'm gonna hang the fuck up on you now, okay?" 06* Tyler just deflates. "I..." he sighs looking at the phone silent for a good couple seconds. "That's okay. Look. I'm sorry. I want to say sorry. Can you gather folks at the park in an hour? They will listen to you." 06* Tiffany pinches her nose again. Ugh. Whyyyy. "Look, Tyler...it's...no...this isn't about *you*. Not everything's about *you*, okay?" 06* Tiffany then hears what Tyler's saying now and raises her head. "They'll..." She almost croaks. "...what? No they won't, Tyler. What planet are you on...?" 06* Tyler sighs. "Look, they care about you, they don't care about me. We both know it. You're part of the team, you sit at their table, you talk to them every day. They will listen to you. I'll bring folks lunch." 06* Tiffany ughs. Tyleeeeeer. Why do you make this so haaaard? "I...*look*. I'll...I'll do the girl thing. I'm...I'm gonna talk with Christina tomorrow. See if she knows anybody. Alright? But I *can't* talk to them now. I've...I've got an appointment soon." 06* Tyler lets out a little happy sigh. "Thank you. Next Saturday. 4:30. Has to be a girl." 06* Tiffany is about to hang up, but waits for a second at that. "...why would I get someone who isn't a girl?" 06* Tyler laughs. "Steve would have me dating a pizza and can you think of what Josh would hook me up with?" 06* Tiffany makes a face, though Tyler can't see it. "Don't wanna. Um. Alright. Gotta go. Uh, you *can* call them, Tyler. I'm sure they'll meet up with you if you ask." 06* Tyler sounds so relieved. "Black tie. IF she needs a dress I'll take her shopping. Just.. Thank you. I'll let you go. Bye." 06* Tiffany hangs up, then stares at the phone for a moment. "...a polite Tyler? Now I've seen fucking everything..." She puts the phone away and sighs, tugging at her bag again and making for the direction of her appointment. Now she *really* needs it. 01<@Ardweden> [Tiffany heads for her appointment! The walk really wasn't *that* long, and even with her dallying, she's only a few minutes late. She checks in with the receptionist, and before too long she's in Ms. Abrams' office!] 01<@Ardweden> [It looks pretty much the same that it did last time. Ms. Abrams is obviously pleased to see her. "Good afternoon," she says, thankfully still less cheery than Christina. "How've you been?"] 06* Tiffany is the best patient. And she shows it by plunking down on the couch, crossing her arms and not responding at all. Her expression tells it all really. 01<@Ardweden> [Ms. Abrams sits across from her and lets Tiffany have a few minutes of silence before she asks, "Do you want to talk about anything?"] 06* Tiffany shifts in the chair, elbow going on the arm rest, turning it so Ms. Abrams gets a full view of her cheek and arm warmer. "Anything's a big topic, Doc." At least she's talking! 01<@Ardweden> [Ms. Abrams nods, folding her hands. She's not a doctor, but she lets that slide. "Anything in specific, then? School? Your family? Dreams?"] 06* Tiffany doesn't bite this time. She's just staring off into the distance, deep in thought now. Such a pretty wall. 01<@Ardweden> [Abrams waits. She can be patient.] 01<@Ardweden> [She is watching Tiffany, though.] 06* Tiffany clicks her tongue a couple of times against her upper lip, playing with her lip ring again. Black nails tap lightly against her cheek. She can do the waiting game too. 01<@Ardweden> [Tiffany waits and waits, and Abrams does as well. Every time Tiffany glances her way, she's looking at her. It's pretty nerve- wracking. And then Tiffany's phone rings.] 01<@Ardweden> [Abrams glances at Tiffany's pocket, because yes. That's her phone ringing.] 06* Tiffany starts as her phone rings, jumping out of her chair and pulling it out, fumbling it over a couple of times in the air as she looks at it. Could have been a circus act. "Ah! Jesus *fuck*." 06* Tiffany totes drops her phone. Stupid phone. Who even is it? 01<@Ardweden> [It's her mom.] 06* Tiffany frowns at the phone and frowns hard. She picks it up and presses the button to answer it....then immediately presses the button to hang up on her. 01<@Ardweden> ["Who was it?" Abrams asks mildly.] 06* Tiffany is still looking down at her phone. "Why the fuck do *you* care?" With a sigh, she takes the phone and pockets it slowly, then frowns, half at herself. "...sorry." 01<@Ardweden> ["Apology accepted," she says. "Are we going to have a session today? We can talk about anything you want."] 06* Tiffany frowns a bit and puts her hands in between her legs, gloved fingers locked together as she tilts her head down, knees spread. "Well. You *wanted* me to come, right?" 01<@Ardweden> ["It's hard to do my job properly if you don't."] 06* Tiffany pauses, thinking of that. She seems to have so many words she *wants* to say to that. But instead, she chooses, "...can we throw tissue boxes again?" 01<@Ardweden> [Abrams manages to keep herself from laughing. "It's a start," she says, though her eyes twinkle.] 01<@Ardweden> [She gets up and goes to her desk, opens a drawer, and pulls out a stack of tissue boxes: the thin ones that are usually seen in offices, not the larger boxes of Kleenex or Puffs for home use. Actually, *stacks* of tissues. At least ten.] 06* Tiffany hesitantly, sheepishly reaches for the tissue box, head hanging down. She's only missing the convenient hair drooping in front of her face bit. She looks at it for a moment, stands up slowly and then suddenly her expression turns to rage before she's hurdling it at the nearest wall as strong as she can. "*Agh*!" 01<@Ardweden> [The box hits the wall with a satisfying thunk, crumpling in the middle. Abrams hands Tiffany another box.] 06* Tiffany pulls it and flings it in another direction as hard as she can. Definitely not caring *where*. 06* Tiffany starts to pick up a third one and gets ready to hurdle it and then just...shakes. She turns and clutches it tight, flopping back into the chair and breathes in short hard breaths, just staring at the floor. 01<@Ardweden> [And we'll pick up from there.] 01<@Ardweden> [End!]