Anything you can do I can do better!!

[loekie]

James sighed lazily turning a page. He yawned stretching his exhausted aching body. Summer had taken it out of the blond. He lit a cigarette inhaling deeply. His eyes flickered to the book again, but was unable to stay focussed on the story. Images of the summer flooded back to him. When he had first met the new addition to the family. He had been in the kitchen making diner when a voice had bellowed from the hall.

“JAMES”

He closed his eyes and mentally prepared himself before turning around and heading into the hallway. He had stopped dead in his tracks when he’d seen the blond girl... he had seen the satisfaction on the man’s face and he had grit his teeth. “This is Amy” the girl was introduced “She’s the new addition to our little family” he smiled “Take her to the spare room” came the command and James sighed nodding slowly, lifting the suitcases and headed up the stairs hardly waiting for the girl to follow. He opened the door and lead her inside. She had looked so small, vulnerable and scared that he had knelt down before her and offered her a rarely seen smile “Tis alright princess” he had tried and assure “You just start getting settled and I’ll call you when diner is ready”
She had offered him the tiniest of smiles and he had left her. When after diner he knew he had apparently done something wrong once again he had growled at her to get upstairs. He had once again seen the fear in her eyes, but he had needed for her to comply in order to spare her what was coming.

There had been a few upsides to the summer as well. Sneaking out of the house hanging with his friends getting completely wasted. They had started experimenting a few years ago and it had paid dividence. He smiled at the mere memory as the door opened and another boy entered. He took him in. Man did that guy have a stick up his ass. The other placed his stuff neatly on the bed and then left for the kitchen. James looked at his own bags dumped on the floor, then simply shrugged ‘so anti-social then’ he smirked inwardly. This was goig to be one interesting year.

Ah well. As long as the other stayed out of his way, they’d be fine. He was a loner, always had been really and mostly, people annoyed the blond to no end. Most of them were ignorant, uptight and overall just getting in his way. That was not to say he would not attend a party or two or even start one himself just to let loose. He was always looking for ways to distract his mind and keep busy. Whether it be with parties, girls, booze and drugs. Now that was at school, he was going to take full advantage and recharge before Christmas would come along. He was not bothered with schoolwork since even without studying he would usually end up at the top of the class and so he just used this time to relax...
-----------------------------

((Sorry this took so long and is sooo crap...
I hope it isn’t too bad)

[loekie]

I have to go for now, but will be back first thing tomorrow!

[ifightwithink]

oops.... I totally didn't realize there was a page 2.... that's why I haven't responded sorry!!!
I'll have to respond tomorrow though, because I have to go to bed soon, and I don't have time to type that much.
I totally could have responded about a billion hours ago, but I totally didn't know there was a page two. I feel like an idiot...
So I'll respond tomorrow and it'll probably be like... 10 or 11 at night for you actually....
yikes...
Sorry again, I'm a twit!!

[loekie]

*smiles*
don't worry about it!
it's totally fine!
See you later!
*waves*

[ifightwithink]

As Caden entered the kitchen he surveyed the little room. There was a living room with a beige sofa, and a flat screen t.v. A bedroom with two beds, one small bathroom, and a kitchen with a small area where a table was set up. Then there was a recreational room with a pool table, a computer, and a bookshelf with a two seater couch besides it. All in all it wasn't the best of quarters, since it was rather small, but it would do. Now for that roommate of his...

Opening up the fridge Caden let out a sigh. Every year the staff packed it full of food, they always wanted to keep the boys of the school happy, since their parents payed the schools so much. Unfortunately they packed it with mostly carbohydrates and junk food. Sifting through the shelves of the cupboards he was chips, cereals, sugar oatmeals, pastries, everything.... and all stuff he couldn't eat. Casting his mind back to his father's orders on what he should eat, when he should eat, and how much he should eat he sighed... seemed like he would have to go shopping for groceries soon.

Closing all of the cupboards Caden leaned against the counter and stared at the green, creme tiled floors. His eyes dulled and as emotionless as ever his mind robotically relayed his father's instructions in his mind. No meat, no sweets, only a certain amount of carbohydrates a day. Go to bed at 8, get up at 3, run 20 miles, go to class, study, do homework, train until it's time for bed. Also fit in as many books in different languages as he can. At least three a week.

Caden knew that he was away from his father, and no one was making him do this stuff while he was away, but he knew better than to defy his father's direct order. He knew his father would know from just a glance, that he looked weaker, too happy, not "smart" enough. He would know he hadn't done something. If he'd missed one exercise, eaten one bowl of captain crunch. His father would know.

So engrained were the instructions and the routine he'd learned since he was little, that it was nearly impossible to stop. His father would be dead, he could be all by himself completely free, and Caden would still follow his routine, feeling haunted by his father's ghost if he did anything wrong.

Sighing and running a hand through his hair, he moved back into his room and started to neatly fold all of his clothes and put them away. He took out his books and placed them in alphabetical order on the shelf. He uploaded all of his study files, and school files and notes onto the computer, before grabbing a book and laying down on his bed. He looked as his watch and the numbers 4:14 flashed across it. He would read for an hour, hopefully finish the book, and then start on his exercises.

Without even a glance or word towards his roommate, Caden cracked his book, Reasonable Doubts, by the Italian author Gianrico Carofiglio, and started to read at his normal fast pace, whipping through the pages, which were in Italian, like they were nothing. The whole time he was reading, his face remained expressionless. He was merely soaking in and memorizing the material, not enjoying it, like a person who read as much as he might enjoy a book.

[loekie]

James heard the other rumage around in the kitchen. He folded his arms behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. He sighed closing his eyes...

The young teen woke to pounding on his door.

“JAMES” came the low growl from outside his bedroom door jiggled “JAMES you open this door now!”

“Whadda you want?” the blonde boy groaned out as he slowly opened his eyes to greet a new day.

“You unlock this door now boy, or I’ll break it down” came the threat “Leave me alone!” the boy sighed annoyed. “James Ford, if you don’t come out now, I swear ta God, you’ll regret it.”. The blonde groaned sitting up swinging his legs out from under the blankets and headed to the door unlocking it. Before he could open it though, the door swung open against his wrist, snapping it. The blonde however showed nothing as he simply glared at the big guy before him “Yeah?” the boy questioned raising an eyebrow. The only answer was a hard smack in the face his head swinging to the side at the impact. The blonde narrowed his eyes as he slowly turned his head back “Ya done?” he bit out. He might be acting all tough, but make no mistake, this guy scared the shit out of him. He just couldn’t let the older man see that, cause the day he did, might just be the day he died. He just was so tired of the man’s anger. James had his own Ford-temper to deal with, and that was more then enough.

Then he was grabbed by his arm and dragged to the living-room “Trust me Jamie, we ain’t done by a long shot” Sean growled shoving the teen against the wall.

“You mind telling me what this is all about?” the youngster asked his eyes blazing, but mentally searching for escape-routes for if things really got out of hand.

“The police called me this morning” he started meaningfully and when the boy stayed quiet he narrowed his eyes “Well boy, ain’t ya gonna tell me what ya did?” he asked, but the blonde stayed quiet again until he was punched in the face again “well??” he demanded.

“Whadda ya want me to say?” he asked ignoring the pain that had shot through him at the hit. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t used to it after all.

“Tell me what ya did” the guy ordered and the blonde bit back a ‘what’s the point if you already know?’ and broke eye contact for a split second. This was a mistake. It showed the older male that his tactics were working, and that James was intimidated…as much as he often refused to show it.

The boy found himself being grabbed by the collar and he was pulled forward threateningly “Don’t you make me ask again” the older man hissed.

“I didn’t do nothin’” the boy insisted.

This earned him another punch in the face. Blood was dripping down his chin and he just wiped it away.
“They said you and yer friends were out joyridin last night, you in particular all liquored up” he clarified.

The blonde shrugged “and?” the boy asked.

“And they’re chargin me a fine! If ya think I’m gonna spend on you and your foolishness, you’ve got another thing coming” he got in the boys face “You’re just good for nothing sack of shit” he growled in a dangerously low tone “I knew you where going to end up like your dead beat daddy”

The blondes face contorted in anger “Shut up!” he growled almost spitting fire taking a threatening step forward about to punch the bastard in the gut. His arm was grabbed though and before James could even register what was happening, a fist connected with his stomach, knocking the wind out of him, and then another with the side of his head. After a few more blows, darkness seemed to pass over his vision and he fell unconscious. He woke up an hour later, lying on his bed in his room. His whole body ached, as he painfully sat up and assessed his most recent injuries. Suddenly, his anger was gone and a sense of despair and hopelessness washed over him. He absolutely refused to let the tears that burned behind his eyes fall though and he took a few deep breaths..

When he woke up again a small girl stood near his bed eyeing him carefully.

“You shouldn’t get in trouble…” she whispered climbing on the bed. The boy groaned slightly as his head was still pounding but he offered the girl a small smile “No worries sugar-pop” he assured “I’m just fine” he shrugged as there was a shout from downstairs. He sighed. Time to face yet another day in this fucking hell.

James reopened his eyes and shook himself out of the memory. Things really had changed about 8 years ago, and where yes, the blond had soon learned his father had had one hell of a temper that the then small boy had often been on the other end of, it was still so much better then living with that fucked up family. He sighed running a hand through his hair as he looked up when his ‘roomie’ entered the room again, neatly folding his cloths. James smirked ‘neat freak’ he thought... then he room-mate got out a book as well and started to read. How anybody could enjoy reading that fast was beyond him... but then again... he probably wasn’t. He then decided to get up and get something to eat and so he walked into the kitchen and got out some crisps looking around. It may be small, but it was a lot better then his room back home.

The teen casually leaned against the kitchen counter and checked his watch before returning to the room flopping down on his bed closing his eyes. Maybe he could get a few hours of sleep before nightfall. There would be a few parties in other rooms that he intended on attending....

((sooo sorry this is crap....
* sigh*
I’ll try and have some contact in the next post. I just figured since they were both loners and doing their own thing that neither of them would really initiate contact unless they have too.... lol)

[loekie]

(hey hun... I was thinking maybe having James come back from the party when your character has just woken up...
What do you think?)

[ifightwithink]

(I like the party idea. Here let me post really quick, sorry it took so long!)

[ifightwithink]

Caden barely registered that his roommate had reentered the room. He was too busy reading the Italian book. When he was about three fourths of the way through it, he heard a loud noise. Jerking his head up, alert as always, he looked around, wondering what, or who, was making such a noise. As it sounded out again, to his left, he looked over, to see his roommate sprawled across the bed, snoring. Normally someone would have chuckled, or felt amused, or even bothered, considering they'd been interrupted reading, but not Caden. Caden merely glanced expressionlessly at him, then turned back to his book. His mind took him back to when he was little, when he used to snore so carelessly...
***

It had been a long day of running around with his father. When he was little, he'd loved his father... He'd never had to do the intense training he had to do now. He almost believed that his father loved him too.... But of course, he didn't, he merely loved what he was creating, a killing machine. When Caden had returned happily to his room, to finally get some well needed rest, he forgot to lock the door, like his father had told him to always do. With only childish thoughts of cool things he'd done that day, and how fantastic his Dad was, he'd fallen into a deep sleep, so deep, that he'd contentedly started to snore... quite loudly...

Now most parents, would find this to be cute. Their adorable son, sleeping peacefully after a long day of hard good work, but not Caden's father.

It was probably close to two in the morning, possibly two hours after Caden had to happily fallen onto his bed, when he was suddenly woken up, by somebody throwing him against the wall. His eyes having by this time flown open, were wildly looking around for the unknown attacker, as he coughed forcefully, the wind having been knocked out of him. While his eyes were adjusting to the dark, a blow hit the side of his jaw, causing blood to fill his mouth.

Laying vulnerably on his side, Caden looked up to see a looming figure standing over him. Trying to remember his training, but being to tired to do so, he was kicked repeatedly in the side, until he heard an all too familiar growl.

"What did I tell you?" His father hissed at him, "Always lock your door, you fucking idiot!" Gasping Caden grabbed the edge of his desk and pulled himself up, before his father grabbed his shirt and rammed him once more against the wall, his feet inches above the ground. "If I was a real assassin, you would be dead by now!" he threw him back onto the ground and spit into his face. "And what were you doing snoring like a damn fool, who's too stupid to realize that sleeping deeply, even for just a couple of minutes, could kill him! I am to never hear you snoring again, nor am I to see you sleeping so deeply, I want to see you sleep with one eye open!! And-" His father grabbed his wrist, and gripped it so tightly, that Caden had to bite his lip to not cry out, like the wimp his father believed him to be... "if you leave your door unlocked one more time, you will wish you were never born." A father's cold blue eyes, stared into a son's deep green ones, before he threw his wrist down in disgust and delivered one more kick to his side. "I already wish you weren't." He spit out.

Caden watched his father leave for a second before he slowly stood up and forced himself over to the door. Raising a shaking hand to it, he switched the lock into place, and stood there staring at the door, for what might have been hours. When the maids knocked on his door to wake him up, they never could have known. If they'd been able to come in, they would have seen a little boy, sitting next to his bed, in his windowless little room, with a vacant expression on his face, and purple bags under his eyes, from a very sleepless night. That didn't stop him from training though. He became so expressionless, so vacant, so void of passion, that people wondered where the happy little boy who followed his father with puppy dog like airs was. Only his father could have guessed what had happened to the boy, but he was the only one who didn't care...

Every since that night, that sweet little boy, has barely gotten a wink of sleep, turning quickly into a forced insomniac.

***

Caden shut his book with a slight air of finality. His eyes were a dark green, and his face was shadowed by his hair. He wasn't tired, he was never tired anymore... at least, not from lack of sleep. Sighing he got up quietly, and went to put his book back onto the shelf, keeping it alphabetical and organized, just like his father had taught him.

He knew that his change was unhealthy. That a boy his age shouldn't be treated how he was, that he should tell someone.... He also knew that his father was authorized by the government to do what he did, and they would close their eyes, just as long as he provided the best force of assassins in the world.... and he did.

With no hint of sadness, no hint of despair, or even hopelessness, Caden merely looked resigned. His posture straight, and not a thing out of place, he picked out another book his father had assigned, and walked back to his room to read, for the remainder of the night....


((A little more info. on his hateful father.... .who I still hate... But his father's deep dark past is yet to be revealed!! MWHAHA! lol))

[loekie]

James’ sleep wasn’t as peaceful as it might seem to someone looking on from the outside. His dreams were plagued by nightmares and reminders of memories he’d rather forget.

A small 5 year old boy pushing himself from the wooden floor he’d found himself on looking up at the man he’d learn to fear so quickly. He however knew to never ever show that fear, as doing so might be deadly. He knew it wasn’t his father’s fault, and as his father slowly got out his belt, he knew it was his own fault. He should have known better then to get in his father’s way. His intense sea-colored eyes never left his father as if to say ‘you’ll never break me’ and well, he’d been able to keep that promise since well, the old man just had not had enough time. His mother had always tried to make him feel better though and the blond knew that was what got him through...

The dream then turned into the memory of a seven year old James lying in bed in his pitch dark room, wide-awake, his eyes staring up at the ceiling biting his bottom lip slightly as shouts could be heard from downstairs. The blond sighed slightly. They were at it again? Would it ever stop? He got out of bed and tip-toed towards his door and onto the landing to try and figure out what it was they were fighting about. The blond thought really hard but could not think of something he had done wrong. As he stood there on top of the stairs and listening to his parents fighting. He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his head on his knees. He was immersed in his thoughts he had not heard the heavy footsteps up the stairs, that was until he was grabbed by the back of his his shirt and pulled up-right “Eavesdropping Jimmy?” his father hissed and James simply glared up at his father defiantly. Never would he let his old man have the satisfaction of hearing him scream, beg, or look scared. His mother was now there as well, yelling at his father to let him go. It was futile though and James was dragged to his room where he got them ripped, but again the boy simply pushed himself from the floor brushing himself of as he clenched his jaw giving the door his father had just disappeared through a look that might have unnerved most people.

Then it shifted to images of the first night he found himself in his new home when he was 8. He was immediately put to work and he soon found that he was nothing more then a slave for these people. Then at night he’d woken up by footsteps on the stairs. Footsteps that seemed to stop in front of his door. He had slowly lifted his head and frowned confused when the doorknob slowly turned and the door creaked open he saw the woman of his family smiling at him in the now opened doorway. He had sat up and was still confused as to what it could be she wanted. She then made her way to the bed and sat down close to him and she had ...

He woke up in his new bed and brushed some hair out of his face. He really could have done without reliving that particular memory. No-one would be able to tell though that his sleep had been anything but pleasant. As a young boy he’d quickly learned how to keep everything inside. First because of his father and later because of that family. He’d learned how to lie when school nurses asked him where the injuries had come from and it appeared he was a natural. Not that he really gave a damn, as long as they were being kept in the dark, he was happy...

The blond now glanced at the time as his room-mate was immersed in another book. The blond smirked inwardly... He shrugged picking up his own book, thinking he’d read some more, then grab something to eat before heading out to meet up with some ‘friends’ if one could call them that. He flipped a page and read until he had finished the book and he headed into the kitchen to get something to eat. Meanwhile it had become time to go out and start the new year properly. He smiled as he headed out the door and met up with the others. He lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag as he greeted the other boys. They gathered in Nick’s room where beers were handed out James smiled as he leaned back in his seat. Oh yeah, this was definitely what he needed as he laughed and listened to the ‘summer stories’ of the others he started telling them the whole ‘joyriding’ incident in detail, minus, of course, what had happened afterwards.

The boys laughed at the stories. “Ain’t you the real outlaw” Dean smirked and James shrugged “You know me” he simply responded folding his hands behind his head as he dug into his pocket retrieving a small bag with a few white sticks. The other boys smiled and they sat around patiently waiting for the Southerner to light up and he soon did taking a few deep drags of the calming smoke himself before passing the joint around taking a swig of his second beer. Yep, he would make sure to have fun tonight. It wasn’t that he used drugs that often... at school that is, and well, he’d only just returned. Marijuana wasn’t his drug of choice either, but hey, one had to make do with what he was handed right? Besides, it would do for now.

They stayed down there for quit some time, laughing, drinking, smoking. Then they all walked... or rather stumbled to another room where the party had already gotten started. They hung out here for the rest of the night and early morning. Eventually most of them had decided to call it a night and James and his friends parted ways and the blond smiled his mind blissfully hazed. He slowly made his way back to his room composing himself as best he could. Yes, even drunk or high, James usually managed to stay reasonably level-headed. Maybe it was practice? Or maybe it was just how he was, it didn’t really matter and it was something that had at times come in handy... He closed his eyes smiling before opening the door to his room and entering....

[ifightwithink]

Caden stopped mid sentence as his roommate woke up. Hearing the bed springs creak as his roommate stretched he loosened the muscles he hadn't even known were clenched. His father had taught him well... Any noise he now heard was a threat, every person was not to be trusted. Out of her peripheral vision he saw the boy grab a book a flip through it. having been taught to take note of every detail, Caden subconsciously noted the dog eared pages, the ripped cover, and the stains on the pages. His roommate wasn't very careful with his things, that much Caden could tell.

As he heard the boy stumble around the kitchen, Caden had no name to put with his face, but he was to uncaring to ask. So far the boy hadn't bothered him, hadn't spoken, barely seemed to be there honestly, and that's all that mattered to Caden. When he heard the door slam, Caden realized he hadn't read a page, so in tune was he with whatever his roommate was doing. Despite his better judgment, Caden was curious. He'd never had a roommate, his father made sure of that, and now that someone actually shared a dorm with him, let alone a room with him, Caden was curious as to how normal people acted. Those that didn't train everyday, those that weren't mentally and physically beaten to be their best. So far, this boy seemed to be the same as him, quiet, and untrusting.

Putting away his book, having lost his concentration, and knowing he was already ahead of schedule, he walked into the kitchen and belatedly remembered that there was nothing to eat... or at least nothing his father would allow him to eat. Sighing Caden hopped into the shower and then quickly got dressed, not even bothering to dry his hair, like always. His hair was the only thing his father didn't yell at him about. So Caden took full advantage of keeping it as messy as possible, and long too. Not too long of course, that much his father made sure of, because it could disrupt his training by him constantly swiping it out of his eyes.

Grabbing his keys Caden left his dorm, wallet in pocket. Walking down the stairs, he ignored all the other people around him, like always. He heard some whispers follow him, his ears always listening. He heard how people called him cold, said he had no heart, that he acted like he was in the military, and spoke with no one, he didn't even answer when the teacher's called on him. Once, they said, one teacher tried to defy him, always called on him, and was going to fail him, despite his high test and homework scores. A large foreboding man came to school that day and marched straight to the office, scaring those who saw him. The next day the teacher was gone, Caden passed the class with high marks, and the man left. This whole time Caden was expressionless to the remarks that were shot at him, or to anything that was going on. He'd never seemed to care he was going to fail, and cared less when he passed, with the highest score in class.... Many people thought he wasn't human...

These rumors and stories circulated around him as he walked, his face as stoic as always. He'd heard all these stories before, some were true, some were ridiculous, as rumors could be. His father had shot worse at him though, so he wasn't fazed.

Having reached the parking lot, he walked up to his black car, and jumped in, ignoring the envious glares he received. If they knew that he got this car from the government for killing a man that was threatening some sleaze bag, that frankly deserved to die, and was taxing away their parents for all they had, he was sure they wouldn't be so envious anymore.

Driving to the grocery store, he sat in the car for a second, enjoying the cool air that was currently blowing on his face. Sighing he turned the car off and opened the door, getting out. He hated interacting with people, but it was necessary at times.... Grabbing a basket as he stepped past the automatic doors, he walked towards the fruit aisle, when he was younger he would have pretended he was the only one in the store, but now he was too old for childish games, so he merely ignored everyone.

About twenty minutes later, he had all he wanted, and he walked towards the shortest check out line, he wanted out of this place, the music blasting from the speakers was giving him a headache. Placing his things on the automatic belt, he started to take out his wallet. While stifling through it for his credit card, he heard a shrill annoying voice.

"Hey handsome!" It chirped. Looking up he spotted a blond girl, with rather large boobs, a fake tan, and a heavily made up face. Gazing into the dull, stupid eyes of the girl, he internally groaned.... These girls would be the death of him. No matter how many times he denied them, or gave them the cold shoulder, they were just turned on more. Of course, he gave a couple what they wanted, he was a man after all, but sometimes that just made them more needy and annoying. Unfortunately this girl fell under that category...

As he went back to his wallet, and finally found the card he was looking for, he needed to organize his wallet so he could fine stuff faster... that way he could leave faster... He swiped the card through and entered his pin number.

"Oh, playing hard to get I see!" The girl, he didn't bother to even try to remember her name, what was the use, she was just another jabbering tool, was and idiot. Playing hard to get? Him? Had she not heard about him? His incessant ways? The hearts he broke, the way he cared about nothing!? And she thought, that he was playing hard to get.... with her....

As she bagged some more groceries, bending over quite a bit as she did, she continued to talk, "So why haven't you answered my calls? I mean that night we spent together was amazing. You, were amazing." Her attempt at a sexy sultry voice almost made him sick, and when she looked up at him through her eyelashes, he held back a glare of disgust.. Instead of ignoring her, like he did to most girls, he decided to just shoot her down and leave.

"Because you're an annoying bitch who I loathe. There were only two reasons I slept with you that night. One, I was bored, two, so you would shut up and get off my back." All this said in a nonchalant voice, he started to pick up his groceries, ignoring her dropped jaw and hurt expression. "Obviously that hasn't worked." Looking back at her and wanting to vent some of his frustration on someone, as he often did, he winked at her, acting like a player would, while internally feeling nothing, he was just manipulating her now. "and I know I was amazing, in fact if you want some more, call me." Letting out a hallow, cold laugh, he left the store, hating himself, hating the girl, hating the world... He always hurt people, it was a way to vent and punish himself, his father did the same thing, but that was because his father enjoyed it.... Caden didn't.

Placing the groceries in his back seat, he jumped into the car, seeing the girl crying in the store as he glanced through the window. She was bagging groceries at a much slower pace, and wiping her eyes, as some man tried to comfort her. Caden could see his intentions, and knew the girl would end up used and heartbroken by the end of the day. Sighing at what he'd done, he started the car and backed out. The world was a screwed up place.

***
Opening up his dorm room, he brought the groceries in and placed them on the counter. He put them away and made himself something to eat before heading back to his room to exercise. For the rest of the day he did push ups, sit ups, he ran laps, and did other work outs, by himself.... always by himself.

It was late at night when he returned home, and he saw no sign of his roommate, it was almost as if he was living by himself, and Caden ignored the feeling of lonliness, he was used to it. After taking a shower, Caden went back to his room, and grabbed his book back up, determined to finish learning about greek culture before morning. He had a feeling his father would have someone send him an email (he never made direct contact with Caden unless it was to punish him), with a list of questions about the books he'd read, and his father would no doubt check to make sure he got every one of them right... or he would be punished severely.

Sighing Caden stopped mid page turn as he heard the door to the door slam. Looking over at the clock the number 3:47 flashed and he listened as his roommate stumbled around the living room. Realizing that he was probably drunk or stoned, possibly even both, Caden sighed in annoyance. Of course, his quiet roommate just had to be a partier.... Life had to throw him a curve ball, because it just didn't suck enough... Wondering if there was someone out there just waiting for him to break under the pressure and turmoil of his life, the door to his room suddenly swung open, and there stood the blond, with bloodshot eyes, and a wobbling stance. He looked as blissful as he had been when he'd been sleeping, but Caden knew that some sort of hell was about to break loose.

His face unreadable, Caden, "Someone had fun tonight." He said dryly. His father had raised him not to drink or do drugs, because it affected how you reacted to things, and made you stupid, and weak. Lots of times Caden wished he could get wasted, to be able to feel no pain... The unseen force that prevented him from doing anything his father told him to not do, kept him back though... He hated it and felt weak because of it. Caden had gotten close to drinking, getting so far as putting the bottle to his lips... but his father's face would always pop up in his mind and he would throw the bottle down, disgusted by himself. He just wanted that dead feeling... that's all... He wanted it so much, that he even envied the swaying boy at his doorway, envied him and his blissful expression. Who was he to act so carefree?

As these thoughts circulated around his mind, Caden kept his expression uncaring, cold, vacant. Only his world-weary, calculating eyes showed that there was life in the stiff, guarded body, lying on the bed. Watching his roommate, he didn't move a muscle, wondering if the boy was even coherent enough to understand a word that was coming out of his mouth.

"You been getting wasted all day?" Even from the bed, Caden could smell the liquor and the drugs, wrinkling his nose he snorted. "It sure smells likes it." He muttered, not caring the boy could hear. Why bother being kind to a boy that was currently drunk out of his mind?

((Well I sort of blathered on there.... Haha, sorry, but I wasn't quite sure how to end it, so I kind of just kept randomly talking... hehe))

[loekie]

James sighed as he closed the door. He winced as it banged shut. ‘Oops...’ the boy thought smirking. Not that he really cared. He smiled to himself shaking his head. Okay maybe he really shouldn’t have had those last few shots... But hey, first day back after that grueling summer he really needed the distraction. The blond had been lucky to survive, or so the doctors had told him. He had ended up in the hospital when he’d passed out when he was grocery shopping. Apparently one of his broken ribs had punctured his lung and he’d spent a few days in the hospital. He had hated it. The only thing worse, to the blond, then that place, was being cooped up in a hospital room. Besides, he had hated leaving the girl now alone in that place.

She had asked if she could join him. She had taken to the troubled teen after a short time. She had to admit that yes, at first she had been scared of the tall older boy. Especially the first day. He had looked... so angry... and when he had growled that she had to go upstairs. She hadn’t understood what she’d done wrong. Soon though she’d heard the noise from downstairs. Yelling, screaming, things falling to the floor. She had realized he hadn’t meant any harm and that he had only been trying to help her and she loved the nicknames he had for her... Princess, sweetheart, sugar pop.... they made her giggle and feel special. She knew that he never really called anyone by their names and she had figured it was to keep people at a distance. It probably made it easier to keep them at bay and also made it easier for him to detach himself from whomever it was he was dealing with. It didn’t bother her

She had been skipping beside the blond holding onto his hand chattering on about school and friends and what things she’d want to do over the holiday. She looked up at her new found friend as he simply smiled at her simply listening to her babble on. Usually it would have irritated the boy to no end, but from this girl, he found it fairly pleasant. It saved him the trouble of having to keep up the conversation. He smiled shaking his head “That great sweetheart” he had smiled and ignored the iron blood-taste that had made it’s way into his mouth and the sharp pain that shot through his chest. It had been there for the last few days anyway and he had put it down to bruised ribs.

He moved to collect something from a top shelf when the had suddenly got worse and he had doubled over his hand resting on his knee and he closed his eyes to try and catch his breath. Amy looked over concerned “James?” her soft voice questioned “What’s wrong?” she asked her blue eyes on his. He shook his head “Nothing princess” he assured her as he forced a smile getting up forcing himself further along the isle. He would just have to bit through.... his didn’t seem to want to cooperate though and as his legs buckled out from underneath him everything went black.

Amy had clasped a hand over her mouth rushing over and kneeling down the fallen boy shaking his shoulder desperately calling his name over, and over again as a crowd formed around the young teen. One of the bystanders called for an ambulance as an other checked him over. The small girl clutching his hand as if her life depended on it. The paramedics had to almost drag her away from him so that they could take him back to the ambulance.

It hadn’t been the first time he’d been hospitalized though and he had gotten used to the way thing went. His ‘caregivers’ would always arrive quickly both oooh so concerned and they would convince the doctors to let him come home early with the promise to look after him. He had often wanted to laugh in their faces, looking after him? They never ever even lifted a finger around the house, since well, that was his job. He hadn’t really minded though since it meant he got to get out of this place.

He had often thought about just saving them the trouble... to just throw the towel in the ring and call it quits, congratulating those people on their win, but really he was too much of a coward to actually follow through on that thought.

The teen shook his head clear, okay maybe he hadn’t had enough after all since these thoughts still went through his mind. He headed to the door to his room fully intent to just go to bed and try and have a reasonable night sleep. The gods really did seem to hate him though as he room-mate apparently was still awake. Reading ... again. He smirked inwardly. Okay, so yeah, he read a lot himself, and he had to admit, he enjoyed it, but it was like this kid didn’t know how to do anything else, and as he had previously thought, it seemed that the other boy, in contrast to him, did not enjoy it. It wasn’t any of his business though as he slowly made his way to his bed.

“Someone had fun tonight” came from the other bed and James smiled “Sure did” he shrugged his intense sea-colored taking in the boy on the other bed “One of us has to, soldier boy” he smirked and kicked of his shoes “And since you probably don’t even know the meaning of the word, I’ve had to have fun for the both of us” he added as afterthought.

James had never been one for rumors and gossip but he was perceptive and quick to pick up things. He had heard about the other boy’s father being a military man, and just the behaviour told him his roomie was just an uptight little pawn. The way his face was pulled in an expressionless mask... Not that James’ ever showed anything besides maybe anger and defiance. He shrugged at the boy’s question “Pretty much” he simply commented and let himself fall onto the bed. He simply raised an eyebrow as the other added something muttered under his breath but then again what could he really say? He supposed the other was right and well, he guessed he should really take a shower... but that would just have to wait until he’d have to wake up. He stared up at the ceiling... even now he had trouble falling asleep.

‘Man this is pathetic’ the boy berated himself... he couldn’t help though but hated sleeping. He hated the dreams that he for some reason could not seem to get rid of. He realized it was sadly pathetic and that it was about freaking time he grew up and got over it wasn’t it. The blond just laid there sadly finding his buzz quickly disappearing. He sighed running a hand through his hair briefly wondering why the other boy had even still been awake. Perhaps he too had trouble sleeping? Well, maybe he’d find out since well, they were room-mates. His mind now wandered to home... He hoped Amy was doing alright and that they would leave her alone. She was still so young and he knew all too well how these people could completely someone, and he had found her to already be fragile. He closed his eyes for a moment. He banned these thoughts from his mind and refocussed his attention on the ceiling....
===============

(Not as long as yours... sorry about the suckiness of the post... I hope you don’t hate me too much because of it...
oh and if you like the nickname Çaptain America better pretend James used that... (I couldn’t choose between the two.... lol)

[ifightwithink]

((I like soldier boy better, it's very fitting!... Hmm if mine was a girl I'd call yours the "blond wonder," but it's Caden, and Caden isn't one to give nicknames... just insults haha)

Caden watched as the boy stared emptily at the ceiling. What, was the calm sleeper from the night before gone? He didn't understand this kid that well, first he seemed quiet and reserved, no trouble at all, and a peaceful sleeper, but now he was a partier, who was on drugs and seemed to troubled to speak. Caden, for once, couldn't make heads or tails of the situation.

He was a little irked that the kid had called him soldier boy, but he knew it was true. From the outside looking in, Caden was a boy who followed daddy's every order, he was always tidy, always working out, never speaking, always thinking. A younger version of his military father... But on the inside... on the inside that's just who he was also. He was always calculating, always thinking of what his father said, what his father wanted him to do, how to please his father. But there was something beneath the surface too, an emotion in fact. That emotion was hate.

Caden hated his father, hated him so much that Caden was surprised the man didn't burst into flames whenever he saw him. His father probably knew he hated him, but of course the unfeeling bastard didn't care. He probably wanted Caden to hate him, so that way he would work harder. Maybe he hoped that Caden would try to kill him one day, just to see that his son really had turned into the unfeeling man he wanted him to be.

Thinking these hateful thoughts Caden sighed and ran a hand through his hair, slightly frustrated. He'd had these thoughts before of course, but he'd always kept up the mask. He couldn't disappoint the rumors that circulated around him of course. Had to keep up his reputation.

Still thinking of his father, Caden felt slightly rebellious. Here he was alone, he glanced at his roommate, practically, and he was reading a book his father, who was currently hundreds of miles away, wanted him to read, one that he didn't even like! If the book was about something other than culture or facts, something that actually had a meaning, it might not be bad. But no, as his father said, books were for information, not silly fantasies that invade your mind.

Disgusted Caden threw the book into the drawer by his bed, and shut it tightly. Surprised at himself Caden glanced at the drawer before sitting back against his bed. It may not seem like much, but being so used to following everything his father said, this was a step, albeit a very very small step, towards maybe being... free?

Caden shook his head before he turned towards his roommate, the one who'd pretty much said that Caden didn't have fun, which he, of course, didn't. Curiousity overpowered him as he wondered, what was fun? Now he suddenly wanted to ask his roommate, what it was, as stupid as the question was, but instead what came out of his mouth was,

"What's your name?" Caden's voice was slightly quiet, and very emotionless. Maybe it was because he was so used to not talking, but Caden didn't know. Wondering where his question came from he merely stared at his roommate, who he knew was still awake. Caden didn't listen to rumors or gossip, therefore he had no clue who this boy was, and he knew nothing about him, even though they were living together now. Caden supposed he sort of had a right to know the boy's name so he could stop saying, kid, boy, or roommate in reference to him. Still... Caden wondered why he even cared...

[loekie]

James stared at the ceiling trying to keep his mind occupied and busy. He was however fighting a loosing battle. He forced his mind blank as he had learned so long ago. He had always pushed people away. It was a necessity in his life. If the school-nurse would ask questions he had learned to lie through his teeth. He would use nicknames and sarcasm to keep people from getting close. Also when it came to girls, he would simply give them one of his dimpled smiles, a bit of sweet-talking, and he’d be in. They didn’t even seem to mind him discarding them the next morning. It was a game of sorts to the young boy. He had been having seks ever since he was forced to live with that woman 8 years ago and really seks held no meaning for the teen. It was pretty much all about control for the blond boy. He knew how to work the female body and it always surprised him how easily he could get the girl to tremble under his touch...

He turned his head slightly as there was a ‘bang’ of a book hitting a drawer. He raised an eyebrow as the boy simply said back at the bed. The blond wondered if this had been the first act of defiance from the other boy and he smirked inwardly. He himself lived for defiance. He had tried to be the ‘good little boy’ do as he was told. It just never seemed to make any difference and so he had just though ‘fuck it’ and figured that if it didn’t matter he would as well just spent his free time having as much fun as possible and keep himself entertained and keep his mind of off othe things.

“What’s your name?” now came the question and he figured if they were going to be stuck here this this year, he might as well be civil... “James” he replied wondering what had caused the other boy to ask the question in the first place. It seemed curiosity had gotten the best of the other boy or maybe it was just the fact they would be roomed together for the rest of the year. “It’s Caden, right?” he asked his eyes on the other boy “You know, you should really get out sometime” he smirked “It might loosen that stick up your ass” he shrugged and folded his hands behind his head. Maybe this year wasn’t going to be the drag he though it would be. Maybe some fun could be had this year.

He didn’t know why he had even said what he’d said. What did he care if the boy loosened up or not? It could propose a problem though if at some point his room-mate would get annoyed with his partying and might rat him out at some point. Then it would be easier if he could just get the other to come with him. He would just have to see what he could do... The blond sighed inwarldy as the other still stared at him. He had always hated being stared at... he knew it was foolish... but the after that woman had... He forced it out of his mind though and simply waited for the other’s response. It didn’t really matter anyone and it were all trivial matters anyway and he should just get over them already.

Of course he had made sure his expression remained it’s usual blank slate and betrayed nothing of the inner turmoils of the Southerner hazed mind as he lay on the bed seemingly calm, collected and relaxed.