Carson laughed. "Swim is pretty great, I know. But my brother did track at his old school and… I dunno, I just felt like he'd be proud if he knew I was doing this for him." she shrugged and started to wring her hands under the table, feeling a little embarrassed that she'd mentioned her brother in front of the three standing sitting around her.
It was pretty much common knowledge that Carson's older brother had died in a boating accident two years ago, and she didn't like to talk about it. But something about track made her open up; maybe because it was something he'd love so much for so long.
"Uh, anyways… why swim?" she asked Vince, trying to change the subject.
"Well, that's a simple story, " He winked, placing his elbows on the table and resting his chin on his hands. " On a Family beach trip My sister got pulled in and I couldn't get to her, I felt pretty bad about it so I joined the Middle school swim team and I've been swimming ever sense." He grinned then added, "Also I can cry in the middle of practice and no one will know, Our coach is pretty amazing too."
Azami shuddered. "I'm never gonna do swimming," she said, resting her chin on the table. "Don't like water."
"You could always join soccer" Alydia suggested. "We're still down players after last year and our new coach isn't the best" she said. It was no secret why the soccer team had a new coach. The previous coach had been arrested for embezzlement of team funds, and the incident had done severe damage to the reputation of the team. "I've seen you fight before too. You've got a lot of power. We could use someone who likes kicking people's balls."
"Oh wow. I was a lifeguard for a couple summers, and the craziest thing I ever had to do was clean some kids poop out of the shallow end." Carson said. Then after thinking for a moment, she started laughing again. "Wait, you cry at practice?"
"I never said I did, only that I could." He said jokingly with a grin, "That being said, yes, I have cried at practice. I'm captain, I can't just not show up if life decides to shoot me in the feels." He added. Vincent looked over to Alydia, " I heard the team's been suffering lately, How have tryout's gone? Our team was so good, I'd hate to see the whole program go belly up because of one idiot."
"Well turns out that one idiot had a pretty large fan club. After he got sacked, a bunch of our players left. Turns out they liked his looks better than the game" Alydia replied. "I'm not too worried though, with my experience, I'll probably make varsity captain. Hopefully I will be able to crack down on some of the slackers before we start playing regulation" she paused, temporarily distracted by another thought barreling through her mind. "Hey did you guys hear that the principal is under investigation for what happened at the winter formal?" Alydia asked, her voice filled with an oddly unpleasant undertone.
(Do you guys mind if we use my principal for inspiration? He "resigned" after he was caught making out (maybe more) with his girlfriend at a school dance.)
(I don't mind but I'm not in charge of this RP so it's kinda up to @German_Boats )
"We could be Captain buddies!" Vincent exclaimed, "And yah, I figured he would be. To think adults believe we're the ones with uncontrollable urges." He added, shaking his head slightly. He pulled a plastic container out of his bag and began eating one of the four sandwiches inside of it. If one chose to investigate they would see the massive water bottle tucked inside of his bag before he zipped it up.
(yeah, thats okay. You guys can do whatever you want as long as you ask me first)
"We have just about the worst principal in the state." Carson growled. The man had seen her get shoved around, chased, and verbally harassed without doing a thing. "My Dad loves the guy."
(clap clap plz don't let this die)
"Oof, that stinks. I'm really sorry that your dad is like that, I know that can be hard" Alydia replied. She paused, clearly overwhelmed by thoughts of her own father and what he had done. "The good news is that you only have a year until you move out, only one more year with him."
(should the scene change to their classes or something)
(Yeah, I was about to get to that.)
Carson's insides churned, but she nodded stiffly. "Right," she said quietly. Thankfully, the bell rang, and she was saved from anymore talk of her father.
"Well! I have to go!" she said quickly, grabbing her books and leaving the table quickly.
Vincent grabbed his bag and started to walk off, He didn't give a farewell, he had grown accustom to not needing to. It was an understanding most of the seniors and juniors had, when that bell rang social life no longer existed. He made his way to Mrs. Pollen's class room 211 second floor of building A.
(I might have to drop out of this-)
Alydia sat it the bathroom stall, desperately trying to compose herself. Why did I bring it up?! she asked herself furiously. Why did I pretend this wouldn't happen? It ALWAYS happens. She had barely made it to her study hall without breaking down. Not that anyone knew, of course. Mrs. Woods probably just thought she was taken so long because of her period or something. She took several deep breathes, slowly pushing down the memories of her father and what he had done. Once she was sure that her eyes were no longer swollen and her expression controlled, Alydia stood and left the bathroom, returning to yet another boring class.
(That's okay, do whatever you need)
Carson worked furiously at her desk, trying to finish as much work as possible before the period was over. The teacher droned on about whatever at the front of the class, but Carson wasn't listening.
The hairs on the back of her neck were standing up, and her entire body was stiff. Behind her, she could almost sense him. Lex, the goon from the game, hadn't taken his eyes off her all day. This was the one class that they had together, and it just so happened that he was closer to her than anybody else. She prayed desperately that today wasn't a day for group projects.
When class was over, she quickly walked out into the hall, but Lex just followed.
"Hey, where are you going pretty girl?" he asked, reaching for her wrist. She jerked it away and walked faster, but he followed. "C'mon," he sneered as he sped to keep up with her. "You don't think I'm going to let you get away with what you pulled the other night, do you?" Carson tried to ignore him, but then he stepped in front of her.
"You know you can't ignore me, Carson. I own you." his breath smelled like booze, and Carson fought back a gag.
"What do you want?" she asked angrily. Lex smiled.
"You." he answered. Carson felt like she was going to throw up.
"No," she said uneasily. "That won't happen."
"It can if I want it to," he mused. "Because I know what you did."
"Blackmail Lex? Come now that's not how you get on a ladies good side now is it." Vincent commented casually, side stepping between the two. It just so happened that Carson's math teacher was his Calculus teacher. "Carson, I do believe your class is that away, would you mind if I escorted you? I have some business in the office to attend to." He was overly dramatic with his words going as far as to give Carson a slight bow.
"I mean, come on, who has parties on Tuesdays? I don't think she realizes some of us are actually planning on getting a job and not just marrying rich" Bella said. Alydia nodded along, not really listening to her "friend". She had never cared for gossip, rather she was interested in information, secrets. The crowded hallway parted as Lex stalked Carson, his walk revealing what he drank with his lunch. As the pair approached her locker, Alydia began to hear snippets of his unpleasant words.
"I can if I want it to, I know what you did" Lex leered, leaning into Carson.
Alydia raised her lip in disgust. Before she could take action, Vincent appeared at Carson's side, a knight in shining armor. Reacting in a much more polite way than she would, Vincent escorted Carson away from the pig they called Lex, leaving him temporarily diffused. As Alydia replayed the conversation mentally, she resolved to do two things:
- Take down Lex once and for all
- Find out what secret Carson was hiding
Carson's insides were on fire. She was going to murder Lex one day.
"I didn't need you to save me," she said bitterly. "But.. thanks."
She was completely embarrassed, because this was the second time Vince had to help her. She was afraid he would think she was weak, and she was not weak. She was going to figure out a way to get Lex off her back; she was going to free herself. Except now, she was also afraid for Vince. By getting himself involved, there was a lot more trouble in store for him than he realized.
Vincent glanced over at Carson, "Consider it payment for letting me use your pen, besides what kind of a knight doesn't step in to save a lovely lass in need." He replied with a wink before starting toward the office. He had a free sixth period so he could help set up at the pool. They didn't have their own pool on campus and the team had to put the lane lines in them selves.
Carson blinked in shock, standing in the hallway like a dunce while Vince walked away. She shook her head quickly, and walked into class before anyone caught her staring.
The rest of the day went by pretty quickly, and Carson left the school building as fast as possible. She didn't have practice that afternoon, but she wanted to avoid going home for as long as possible. Getting in her car, she started to drive towards her favorite hangout spot in all of town; The Oakleigh Trace. The Trace was a big cemented trail that when straight forward for dozens of miles, with little trails off to the side. Her brother used to run there all the time, and Carson liked doing things he used to like to do.
Once she got to the Trace, she changed into her running clothes in the backseat and began her workout. It was a beautiful day, and she was glad to have some time to herself, away from all of the crazy things happening at school. Running always helped her clear her head; and it reminded her of what she loved. If it weren't for running… Carson wasn't sure she'd still be alive.
Dark flashes infiltrated her memory- of her brothers funeral, her father, and even Lex. She saw the knife sitting on her bedside table, and she could almost smell the blood dripping from her arms.
She shook her head hard, picking up the pace so the pain in her body would outdo the pain in her mind.
