the (not) date (carla)

[CARLA KATIE CROSS]

Quiet, something that normally did not bug Carla, it was something she liked so much. Only this time around, it was like life was slowly drawing out. Seconds felt like hours a minute felt like a year, and it only made Carla stare into her drink. They had been doing so well, getting along rather well. Maybe it was just met to be, that Carla was to never again get along with humans. Peeking up fright her brown bangs she noticed he too was feeling off. She sight, and pushed back in her seat to look out the window.

With the passing of the cop car she was finally able to look back at him and speak, soon after he replied. Maybe, if she tried, really hard for once, she could pull this off. Placing her elbows on the table she laced her fingers together, her chin resting on the back of her hands. “Mhm, it’s almost like our town has turned into the worst place to be in America, shame really. Lived here all my life, and I can’t really recall a good thing about this place. Sad isn’t it?” She said before sighing glancing towards the window once more, it was just a flicker but it showed her side of sadness for just a moment before she looked back at Sam.

“Anyways, are you wanting to just chit chat here, or go any cool?” She asked trying to bring a nicer topic into play. When she had been on her way here she really didn’t have a plan. Did he know she was gay? Or did he think it was some kind of date? She really hoped not. What if he was gay. . . he really didn’t seem like it, but then again anyone could surprise you know a days. Pressing her lips into a thin line for a moment she made a popping sound getting a small idea. “I know this cute little playground near here, they’ve got some swings, and it looks like it’s not too hot out right now.” She said glancing out the window again before picking up her tea only to find it empty. With a small frown she stared into the bottom of the mug before placing it back down and grabbing her muffin. It was almost done too. If she really took bits into it rather then pick at it, they could easily leave soon.

“I’m up for anything really, I’d thought I’d just throw some ideas up.”


OCC: No it's totally okay, some characters just don't hit it off.

[SAMUEL ROY HAWTHORNE]

The silence wasn’t terribly difficult to deal with, but his insides feeling as they did was a different story entirely. Samuel felt like there was a black hole inside him that was throwing everything around. Not quite like a black hole per say, but more like a twister. The feeling was enough to make the usually perky boy very down, tired looking, and pale. As Carla so kindly pointed out, he looked sick. Not quite sure what to do about this, he brushed it off. At first, anyway. There wasn’t anything he could really do about it right then, so he played it off as nothing.

As they two started to talk about how the city was, it brought his attention for a few moments away from himself. That man, that cop, that had not only helped him out, but kept him from having to spend too long in jail for loitering. This was very much unlike any other cop had ever done. Most cops simply spotted him sleeping in the park and threw him in jail for weeks on end for disturbing the peace or some crock pot theory like that. Smiling towards Carla, he felt bad for being like he was when she was so obviously trying to keep their conversation going. Maybe he was ruining their time. Or maybe it was already ruined.

Looking up, he tipped his head and blinked slowly trying to grasp what she was saying. It wasn’t that what she was saying was all that difficult to grasp, but more like his mind was shutting down. So much that a simple statement of ‘chit chat’ threw him off so far that he couldn’t grasp the rest of the question for a few moments. He just blinked at her for a few seconds and looked at his empty plate as he pondered his answer. She went on to explain about some place that she knew which was near by, and he quickly knew where she was speaking of. Cute little park wasn’t all that common in the city, and he could also remember sleeping in that tube like slide one especially warm summer night. “Well, yeah, we could swing for a while and talk about whatever comes to mind,” he offered lamely, but just rubbed at his right eye with a small yawn. Maybe he was simply tired. It had been a while since he’d last had a full stomach and a full night’s sleep.

[CARLA KATIE CROSS]

He was so quiet. It was almost hard to deal with. Quiet was normally something Carla enjoyed greatly. Only right now in her mind it was full of awkwardness and this whole thing was turning into one big mess. Finishing off her muffin trying to get her mind off the quietness at the table Carla let her gaze away from Sam. Was it her that did this? They seemed to get along so well before hand. Or maybe it was just today. Today was the first time they did something like lunch. It was weird normally the two would make sure he didn’t go into anything out of his element. This was slightly frustration on her part. She was trying so hard but it was just failing. She thought she had a grasp on it but then it seemed to run through her fingers like water she was trying to cup in her hands. Nothing was working.

Soon the waitress came back and asked if they wanted anything else. Carla shook her head and within minutes the bill was at the table. Smiling up weakly at Sam she spoke. “I’m sure will find something. At least your full now.” She said softly well shifting through her bag for his wallet before pulling out a ten and a five and putting them on the table. Hopefully this was better than using her card. She didn’t want Sam to get all huffy about her trying to help him again. She wasn’t doing it for him because he was homeless she was doing it because she cared. She never really talked to guys so when they first met it was taking a huge risk. She was even more awkward then, then she was now. Which is really saying a lot.

As Carla looked at him she started to stand up, stretching her arms above her head as she let out a yawn. Sitting in the nice warm shop was making her slightly sleepy. Only as she looked at Sam she frowned slightly. “Sam you really do look pale. Are you sure you’re feeling okay? You know I could always let you sleep somewhere with a bed until your feeling better. Like my brother’s car shop has a pull out couch in the back for one things are slow he usually falls asleep there but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you staying here for a night or two. You really do look sick.” Carla said slightly ranting in her own awkwardness and worry for this boy in front of her. She didn’t want him out on the streets at all but she wasn’t about to take him in, but at least if he was sick she could give him a bed till he’s better.

Throwing her bag over her shoulder and turning away from the table she looked over her shoulder. “Well what do you think about it? I’m sure you could use a night long good sleep.”

[SAMUEL ROY HAWTHORNE]

|complete|649|sorry for my absence|

His mind was becoming foggy. It kind of reminded Samuel of a time in his life when he was very young, experimenting with a few things. That wasn’t new to him. A bunch of his friends in middle school had done it long before he did. They’d all swore it would make him feel better, make him feel more alive. Especially his best friend, ex best friend who swore it would make him feel powerful, strong, and able to do anything in the world. Yeah, he remembered where that had gotten him. Step by step he’d went farther down. Gotten in a fight with a guy around the corner. Almost got hit by a bus, then got hit by a car. Hustled by a few cops, which could not comprehend. Finally, he ended up getting put in jail for accepting drugs from an undercover officer. Yeah, some high that had been. Getting chewed out by his parents for following dumb shit boys was just what he needed in his not fully aware state.

Blinking slowly, he wondered for a few moments why exactly Carla was looking up to the side of the table. Was there someone there she knew? He could’ve bet she’d wished she came with whoever she saw. Looking up to see who it was, he blinked in confusion at the sight of the waitress. Carla wanted to be out for lunch with the waitress? No. That wasn’t right. Looking down, he almost hit himself on the forehead when he finally noted the bill sitting there innocently staring back at him. Of course, she’d been talking to the waitress. She’d probably asked for the check. Smiling at her as best he could in that moment, he debated curling up under the table. The waitress wouldn’t like that, but it was just so warm in there. So much better than the tree he knew he’d be sleeping in. What a life.

Looking up again, he momentarily lost his train of thought. Actually, he drew a complete blank when she stood up and began stretching. Were they going somewhere? Was she planning to run or do some sort of exercise now? Standing up as well, he shoved his hands in his pockets on instinct. Noting her frown, he looked at her in pure curiosity. Was there something on his face? Was his clothes that bad looking? Did he look like he felt? She spoke up then, and he blinked slowly at he tried to catch it all. He needed to understand everything that she was saying. Something in him was screaming at him to tell her no, tell her he was fine, and to just go to his tree like a good little homeless boy. That little voice inside him was very soft, unnamable, and hard to understand. Why should he turn down a good place to sleep? He could work for his keep, Carla would help him do that. She would understand his need to earn his stay. She had to understand that.

Looking back up again, he took a few unsteady steps towards her, gaining his footing back, and nodded to her. “Yeah, I really could. A warm couch, a blanket, and nice hot shower. Heaven on earth, Carla. It‘ll be like nothing I‘ve had in months. And don‘t you worry, I‘ll work for my keep. You gotta know that I have to work to earn my bed, even if it is a couch. I‘ll do whatever your brother wants. Clean up the shop at night, file paper work, cook for guys, play music to entertain the workers….anything! You gotta know that. You know that right?,” he rambled on to her until he ran out of things to say. Looking up at her, he blinked tiredly, but he just had to know that she knew that he would work for his keep. She had to know.