Anti-Ball [Jalon]

[Admin Sydnee]

It was snowing. Now how perfect was that for the Veritas Spiritus Snow Ball? So perfect that Jade scoffed at it. She and Talon agreed on meeting at the pool office at 7 p.m. All the students would be at the ball and they'd be taking over the office with their own sort of party. They were trying to think of a place to go and neither wanted to deal with their roommates potentially coming back. That and Jade was polite enough not to smoke in the dorm room. She liked her roommates. They'd been nothing but great. They'd thrown out places until Talon suggested the pool office, which meant they weren't supposed to be there. It also meant picking the lock. And they would be away from everybody. It was perfect.

She'd just walked out of her dorm room, shutting it behind her and slinging her black bag over her shoulder. Inside were countless CDs, a pack of cigarettes and her cell phone. If Rafi texted her, she wanted to be able to talk with him.

Her black hair was down and pin-straight and charcoal eyeliner rimmed her eyes. She'd thrown on a dress she'd found in the back of her closet. It was vintage looking, short and ruffled with a very light pink lace and black details. Her favorite pair of lace up combat boots were on her feet and she'd made sure to have bobby pins in her hair, two of them crisscrossing into an x and holding back nothing. They had another purpose.

She smelled the chlorine before she got there and it smelled like home to her. She bent down, kneeling at the door as she took a bobby pin out of her hair and worked on the lock. She wasn't worried about getting caught. Besides, it wasn't like they were stealing anything. Might as well do something useful while waiting for Talon.

[Admin Courtney]

Talon was actually looking forward to the night of the ball. The anti-Snow Ball he and Jade had planned was the first thing in a while he had looked forward to. While his dorm mates were getting ready for the ball, he gathered up a few things to bring to the pool office with him. It had surprised him that Dakota was going to the ball. But he had not said anything about it; he only gave Dakota a look that suggested he thought his roommate was crazy, that was all.
He had to admit, Dakota looked great all dressed up for the ball, but Talon was trying his best to get over his roommate. Plus he realised he would rather have an anti-ball with Jade than go to the ball with Dakota -- even though the thought of the ball with Dakota had crossed his mind. Briefly. And then he had had a smoke, disgusted with himself for actually thinking about going to a ball, and angry at himself for thinking about Dakota that way again.

He passed by all the students going to the ball and veered down the school halls until he reached the pool. He wore his favourite pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, the hood drawn up as he walked. He had sneakers on, but did not plan on wearing them for long. Over his shoulder was slung his backpack. It had been easy to fill with a few of his favourite CDs (mostly ones he had burned a mix of his favourite songs onto), his iPod and iPod player and mini boom box. There had not been any books in the bag to take out, because he did not exactly try in his classes. Although he would have to start if he wanted to re-join the swim team.

He spotted Jade across the pool and walked over to her.
"Crap," he said when he saw her picking the lock. "That's the one thing I forgot; something to pick the lock with." He grinned down at her while she worked her magic on the lock, and realised she was dressed up. She was not as fancy as most of the girls dressed for the ball were, but in his opinion, she looked way better. The boots she had worn with the dress were his favourite part of her outfit. That, and the dark eyeliner. She looked hot.

[Admin Sydnee]

The voice behind Jade startled her briefly before she recognized it. She'd almost dropped the pin in her hand. "Shit, it's just you," she said, sighing in relief before concentrating on the lock again. "And no worries, I've got it covered." She heard a click and grinned. "Aha, see?" She stood up and smoothed out her dress before putting the pin back in her hair. "Crafty, huh? Who knew hair pins could be so useful?" She sent him a devious grin before pushing the door open. "Our anti-ball awaits us."

She set her bag down on the desk and turned to Talon as he walked inside, leaning against the desk which was kind of messy. "Coach really needs to clean up in here," she observed, looking over at him in his hoodie and jeans. Any other girl would have felt stupidly overdressed. Jade was used to it. She always dressed up. It wasn't just an occasion thing.

[Admin Courtney]

Talon almost laughed when Jade dropped the pin. It had been a while since he had actually laughed, so really he just smirked slightly more than usual and exhaled sharply through his nose. "Who'd you think I was, the coach?" he asked, amused. He smiled as well when the lock clicked open, and followed her inside.

"Breaking into an office during the ball is the perfect way to start off our anti-ball, I think," Talon said, closing the door behind them and dropping his bag onto the floor. The CD cases clashed together and he flinched, forgetting that there was some actual breakable stuff in his bag that he actually cared about for once, and he bent down to inspect the damage. Nothing was broken, but one of the CD cases had a crack. Nothing he minded.

"I don't know," Talon said. "I kind of like the mess." He sat himself on the floor and pushed his hood off, then dumped his bag upside down to reveal the music he had brought.

[Admin Sydnee]

"The thought crossed my mind in my moment of panic," Jade admitted. "You're quite sneaky, you know. I didn't even hear you." It was nice to hear him laugh. It was a pleasant sound and made her smile. It was crazy how something like depression could color him gray when he had such a bright smile.

"Perfect way to start our anti-ball," she agreed, watching as he sat down and emptied out his CDs. She took a seat on top of the desk, amongst the mess and emptied out her CDs onto the table as well. "Now we just have to decide what to listen to first." She spread out her CDs. "My Chemical Romance, Simple Plan, Three Days Grace, The Cab...what have you got?" She'd only named a few, but wanted to hear something from his selection. "And did you bring a stereo?"

Picking a CD to listen to was a very important choice. She looked over at him from where she sat up on the desk, her legs crossed, her boots dangling.

[Admin Courtney]

Talon shrugged. "I guess my shoes are quiet. I promise you I was not trying to sneak up on your or anything, though if I had known how funny it would be, I might have considered it," he admitted with a grin from his spot on the floor.

He listened as she listed off the albums she brought, nodding as she named each band. Yes, she definitely had a good taste in music. "I've got some Green Day, Mayday Parade, All-American Rejects," he listed, sorting through his pile of CDs. "Some mix CDs as well. But did you say you have The Cab? If you have their second album, put that one on. I love Angel with a Shotgun." He reached into his back and pulled out the small stereo he had brought with him.
"I have this," he said. "I think the batteries in it are good, so it should work fine. I lost the plug," he told her, turning it on and opening the cd slot.

He glared up at the light in the room. "That needs to go," he said. "Is there a small lamp in here or something that we can stick in a corner to dim the room? Bright lights for an anti-ball don't really work." He looked around the room from where he sat, though the desk was in his way and blocked everything behind it.

[Admin Sydnee]

"Well, I'm glad you're being honest, but maybe I was just a little paranoid," Jade told him as she continued sifting through her CDs. When he listed off some of his, she grinned. Yes, he definitely had awesome taste in music. "I saw Mayday Parade live once. I miss going to concerts." They'd definitely not be fighting to change the music. "I have both albums," she told him, holding them up but selected the second album and handed it to him. "And good choice. Probably the best song on the album. Although I like all of the songs."

She followed his gaze to the ceiling and the bright light. "You're right. A little too bright in here. Reminds me of being in classrooms when the teachers have the lights so bright it gives you a headache." She wrinkled her nose and pushed off of the desk, walking around it and finding a lamp on a side table by a file cabinet. "Aha, this should work." She made sure it was plugged in and flipped it on before crossing the room to flip the light switch. "There." It was simple. A small room with good music, but it was all she needed. She didn't need an elaborate ball. This was just perfect.

Her eyes met his when she adjusted to the light. The shadows on his face made him look even more attractive. She wondered if Talon knew how good looking he actually was. She made her way over to him, sitting down on the floor cross-legged across from him as the music filled the room.

[Admin Courtney]

"Yeah, I'd say youu were paranoid," Talon said with a teasing smile. He did not blame her; they would get in a lot of trouble for being in the pool area after hours, much less in the coach's office. He could pretty much get away with anything nowadays, however, because of his suicide attempt. He had even been exempt from a few of his first term finals. Except that he was failing those classes and needed the finals to bring his grades back up, so he opted to just write them, anyway.

"You saw them in concert? That's awesome. I've never been to any concerts," he admitted. Concerts were expensive, and his family just did not have the money to spend on one. He had always wanted to go, of course, but tried making up for it by playing his music loudly.

"Once I went to class early because I couldn't sleep, so I figured why the hell not," Talon said, remembering the story as they talked about the light. "And I left the lights off in the classroom, and then the teacher walked in and turned every single one of the lights on, and I left. It was too bright too early in the morning. Can't people learn to conserve energy and just keep lights off? The dark is so much better."

He nodded, satsfied with the lamp Jade found. Now the room was bearable and their anti-ball could truly begin. He relaxed when the music began to play. He bobbed his head slightly with the beat, singing along with the song in his head. When Jade sat in front of him, he smiled at her. This was the best anti-ball he'd ever been to, that was for sure.
"Thanks for suggesting this, by the way," he said to her over the music. With the lights low and the music blasting, it was like their own little world. The air smelled of chlorine, which only added to the greatness of everything. "This is way better than being at the ball."

[Admin Sydnee]

"Well, it's not as if I'm an alien to breaking rules, but I'm still paranoid of getting caught," Jade told him. She knew they could get in a lot of trouble, but it was unlikely that they would be found here. Everyone was at the snow ball and she was sure the coach hadn't stuck around. "I don't think we have to worry though. Coach should be long gone." She smiled over at him. She'd get him back on the swim team. Maybe as an apology for saving him when he hadn't wanted to be saved, even if the idea seemed odd.

"Really? I saved up money to go from my job and would blow it on concerts in the summer." She grinned at the memories, of being in the front row and losing herself in the music. She missed that feeling, of letting go and feeling the bass. "You haven't lived until you've gone. I'm making it my goal to make sure that you go to a concert, okay?"

"Agreed. I can't concentrate in blinding light. It only gives me horrible headaches." She hated classrooms in general. She sort of felt trapped. She was smart enough, she did well enough in classes, but she had distractions involving spirits. It was tough, but she managed.

"You're welcome," she said, with a tilt of her head. "Maybe this will satisfy Lanie. I didn't exactly ask you to the ball, but rather the anti-ball." She wondered where her sister was off to anyway. She hadn't made an appearance to tell her not to break in places or to make comments about Talon being cute. She must have been visiting their parents. She did that often. "Anyway, I would probably be doing something like this on my own tonight anyway, so it's nice to have company. I mean, company I actually want." She smiled back at him and then closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the music.

The dimmed lights, the good music, the company. She took it in for a long moment before exhaling and looking back at Talon. "So," she said as some sort of transition. A smirk played upon her lips.

[Admin Courtney]

Talon raised his eyebrows. "That's a really selfless goal," he commented. "Or is it selfish, because you'll be at the concert as well?" he teased. He liked the idea of going to a concert. He had always wanted to go; he just never had the chance. He supposed that would be the one thing he would not mind prolonging his death for. Maybe it was not so bad that Jade had saved him that night.

"Your sister sure is an interesting character," he said with a smile. "I don't know why she's so intent on setting us up, though. I'm nothing special. She should be trying to set you up with someone who doesn't have a therapist, for one. Maybe a celebrity. Like, uhh..." He racked his brain for someone, but was not into pop culture at all, and came up with only, "Leonardo DiCaprio or someone like that. She could haunt him until he said yes," he joked.

"It is nice to have company," he agreed, and then admitted, "I think you're the only company I could stand right now. I can't think of anyone else I might want to hang out with, except maybe my roommate Dakota, but he's at the ball, and it's better if I leave him be, anyway. I don't think he likes me much." Even though Dakota had only rejected his love, and even though they had reconciled, it still hurt Talon to hang out with Dakota for long. He knew they would never work, but pain like that -- pain deep enough to make him try to kill himself -- did not go away so easily. He tried not to think about it. Being with Jade helped.

"So?" he repeated questioningly, raising his eyebrows. "Oh shit, you know what we're missing?" He dug into his sweater pocket and pulled out his cigarettes and his lighter. He took a cigarette out and then tossed the pack to Jade. He didn't ever share, but he seemed to break a lot of his own rules around Jade. 'Don't let yourself get close to anyone' being rule number one, but there he was sitting with her in a dimly lit room while they bonded over good music and dead siblings.

[Admin Sydnee]

"Depends on how you look at it," Jade said with a grin. "I think it's both at the same time, but seriously, you have to go to a concert. I have a lot of odd personal goals. You know...saving your life, getting you back on the swim team, taking you to a concert. Damn, the list is getting long."

"Yeah, well that's Lanie for you. She's persistent and full of life. Younger siblings are annoying, but I'm glad I still get to see her. Your sister seems like a sweetheart." She reached over and shoved him at the mention of Leonardo DiCaprio. "You think he's my type?" she asked curiously. "I'm not so sure. I like my guys a little bit more rugged."

"Well, I'm glad to be the only person you can stand at the moment. Funny how that works out, huh? You hated me for saving your life a few weeks ago." She gave him a look that prompted him to explain more when he mentioned his roommate. "Why? What's up with your roommate? Is he messy? Annoying? Hates your smoking? I'm running out of guesses over here."

And then he'd taken out a pack of his cigarettes and tossed it to her after taking one for himself. She stared at the package for a moment. And now he was offering her a cigarette? Wow. For some reason, the gesture meant more to her than he probably thought. It was as if he'd finally accepted her, that she didn't mean anything personal when she'd saved his life. She dug out her lighter from her bag and lit up her cigarette. "Thanks," she told him, tossing the pack back into his lap.

She settled back, leaning up against the desk. "So, what's up with this Dakota guy?"

[Admin Courtney]

Talon chuckled. "Your personal goals sound more like Talon's life intrusion goals," he teased. "I'm touched to know you had me on your personal list before you even knew me. At least now I know the truth about how you really found me in the bathroom. You're my stalker angel or something."

He smiled sadly when she said Leah seemed sweet. "She was," he said quietly. "Or she is. I don't even know. She was that innocent younger sister, you know? The one I was going to grow up taking care of. I'd beat up anyone who hurt her and always keep her safe." He stopped talking, his throat feeling tight. He had wanted to be the protective older brother, but his sister was hurt by something he could not protect her from. He had failed as an older brother.

"Rugged, huh?" He shook his head. "Sorry, I can't think of any famous actors for you, in that case. You'll have to leave it for Lanie, then."
He shifted uncomfortable where he sat when Jade began shooting questions at him about Dakota. He took his time lighting his cigarette, stalling for time before he answered.

"It's... complicated," he admitted. "Unrequited love, you could say." He looked at the bandage wrapped around his wrist where he had cut himself. "It got a little out of hand, but I'm healing." He cracked a smile and brought his cigarette to his lips, inhaling as much as he could as slow as he could before closing his eyes and exhaling the smoke. His intentions when he continued smoking after Leah's death were to give himself the same cancer she had died from, but now his reasons had multiplied. He was addicted, but the cigarettes helped him to de-stress. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't stop smoking now.

[Admin Sydnee]

Jade laughed. "Stalker angel? That's quite the title you've given me. Let's hope it doesn't go to my head." But she really did just want to be there for him, get him to experience the things in life that made it bearable. That's what she'd needed after all. It made her rethink everything.

He nodded to his response about Leah. "Sorry, I didn't mean to...hit a sore spot. I talk so freely about the dead sometimes that other people get freaked out. It's like...they're alive to me, you know? I wish you could see her. I really do." The solemn moment was odd for the party they were having and in the small moment of silence, The Cab played in the background. "And I'm sure Lanie will have a fine time picking out suitors for me. She already has two." She shook her head at her sister.

She raised an eyebrow. Unrequited love? "Oh, did you guys....have a thing or something?" The words came out all jumbled. A thing? Really, Jade? Was that why she'd found him in the bathroom? Had this guy pushed him over the edge? "He didn't use you or anything, right?" She exhaled smoke and watched it spiral into the air, looking at Talon. "Don't mind me being blunt, but does this mean you're gay? Are girls everywhere going to suffer even more now?" They were already suffering because Rafi was gay.

[Admin Courtney]

Talon shook his head, dismissing her apology. "It's fine. It helps, sort of, to talk about it. You're the only person I've wanted to talk about it to, though," he admitted. He refused to speak to his family about it, and he had to talk to Summer about it, so he didn't want to do that. But he felt a connection with Jade. She understood; she had lost her sister, also.
"I kind of wish I could see her, too. But in a way, I'm glad I can't. I don't know if I could handle it. She's dead," he said, his blue eyes dulling to a depressing grey shade.

"I don't know what to call it. I thought we had something going on," he said, slumping back against the wall and letting himself sink slightly. The wall pulled his sweatshirt so it rose up a bit over his pants, revealing some of his skin on his stomach. "We made out a bit, and I guess I fell pretty hard." He kept his eyes closed, shaking his head at himself. "He didn't use me. I felt like he had, but he was just confused. About his sexuality, you know? I think I'm the only guy he's ever kissed." He took another drag of his cigarette and found himself smiling slightly at Jade's next comment.
"Nah, the girls are fine. I'm bi-sexual. Guys, girls..." He shrugged and opened his eyes to smile at her. "I guess I'm just not picky."

[Admin Sydnee]

"It's hard to talk about it because there's always this big wall between you and other people, you know? Like anything you say won't get through to them because the only thing they'll feel is bad for you. There's a very big difference between sympathy and empathy." Jade thought if anybody could understand what she was talking about, it was Talon. She nodded at him, understanding how he felt about seeing his sister. "I guess....I guess it's different for me. Lanie was only dead for a few days before I saw her. The thing was, I didn't start seeing spirits until she died. I don't understand it..." She took another drag of the cigarette before speaking again. "I think she wishes you could see her though. She misses you."

"Sexuality is confusing," she commented at the end of his story. "But you want to know what I think?" She shifted, crossing her legs at her ankles, her combat boots clunking on the floor. "I don't think sexuality exists. I mean, I think humans are all...sexual beings, but I don't think we fall in love with a certain gender. I think we fall in love with people, with who they are. I dunno...tell me if you think I'm spewing bullshit, okay?" She smiled in his direction. "Hopefully he'll come around. He didn't mean to hurt you, but I could see how it did."

She then chuckled slightly at his comment. "Not picky, huh? Not such a bad thing." She looked over at him. "I'm not picky either."