[IC] On the Streets

[KatherinWinter]

@LiegeLord
"You are wrong about that. It takes a lot to get my attention and even more to keep it. I have others behave the way you did today but they weren't able to keep my attention. The minute I saw you I knew that something was different. I didn't know what though. I am still not sure what it is. Other then you aren't like other street teens." Roxy tilted her head as he explained that they worked together. She didn't think that was all that there was to it.

[LiegeLord]

@KatherinWinter

Jared
"You're right, I ain't like other teens... but that doesn't mean-" *He quickly turns around at a voice behind him, looking at Rebecca as she looks at the two of them. Jared looking at her, then at Roxy and then back to her as he thinks* "Uhh..."

Rebecca
"Brought home a girl already? Wow we haven't even been here for a week and already-" *She stops as Jared looks at her cold, giggling a bit but then coughing hard. Jared getting the canteen and medicine, squatting down to her level as he hands her the water and such. Letting her take it and the water before standing up* "Thanks Jared. Who's your friend?" *She looks at Roxy with a warm smile, she seems to be the friendlier side of the two people here*

Jared
"I wouldn't say friend, and I don't know her name. She didn't say that." *He looks at her, sighing as he sits by the wall. But still cautious about the random girl in the house, he didn't trust her and she would know it. Carving a bit into the floor as Rebecca speaks up* "Just don't hurt her. I don't think she means trouble or she would have already done something." *She coughs hard in between words as he just grunts a bit in response*

[Carlsberg]

@Rusalka

Jen hummed to herself a little, swaying her head to a tune in her head. She stopped walking for a second when she realised that the tune wasn't in her head anymore. She looked down the street and saw a familiar girl playing a guitar. She snuck up closer, hiding in an alley next to her, content to listen to the tune being played without disturbing her.

[Rusalka]

@Carlsberg

She kept playing...

But with every note, every string she strummed, she could feel the pain inside her growing worse, like knives buried in her flesh and ripping her apart. It even showed in her music.

She knew. She knew she was standing there, but Liz didn't pay her any mind. Her guitar was her main focus it seemed. And...it wasn't because she hated Jen. Liz just didn't want her seeing her face.

[Carlsberg]

@Rusalka

Jen frowned a little as the music took a sad turn. She had been enjoying the upbeat part of the song. She exited the alley and headed over to Liz, sitting down next to her.
"Hey! That was really good!" She said, smiling at the girl.
She could tell something was wrong, but she didn't want to point it out.

[KatherinWinter]

@LiegeLord Roxy watched the two curiously. They weren't siblings. And she didn't think they were lovers. So why did Jared care about this girl? It made no sense to her. People didn't take care of others without a reason. She doubted that the girl was paying the boy. She frowned. Why did they care about each other? "I am no one important. Just a curious passerby. Your friend caught my attention. I will be getting back to my day."

[LiegeLord]

@KatherinWinter

Rebecca
*She nods and looks at Roxy* "Alright. Well I guess we won't be staying here for long, don't worry. We'll be moving again to find somewhere else." *She looks at Jerad as he shakes his head, stabbing the floor. Digging a couple centimeters in as he tries to pull it out slowly* "We will find another place, even it takes a long time..." *He shakes his head and heads into another part of the house, crossing his arms as he leans against a wall and looks out the door* "Sorry about him, he doesn't like people. I can understand with his past... he's used to fighting and... scares me, but he is used to being able to kill people without remorse or pity. At least I'm on his good side." *She looks over at him as she takes another drink against from the canteen before sitting up better*

[Rusalka]

@Carlsberg

Even as the girl came close and sat beside her, Liz didn't look at her, still looking at the ground, still playing her guitar without a pause. "I guess..." She muttered under her breath before deciding to set the guitar aside with a bitter sigh. Her empty stare moved from the ground, the cracked and sullen concrete under her aching feet, towards the sky, hazy, mostly from the smog.

"I hate this place... Why the fuck does anyone wanna live here? You can't even see the sunrise in the morning, because there's so many stupid buildings and shit in the way...." Closer she curled into herself, her eyes seeming to grow dark as they misted over. Then...unfortunately before she could stop it, a small tear streamed down her cheek.

"You know, before I ended up here, I used to hitchhike everywhere. It was dangerous, yeah, and maybe stupid, but...I saw so much..

youtube.com/watch?v=ZK4EszQpEI4

"There was this one time... I was stuck in some little town in New Mexico. I didn't have any money, and some jackasses stole my car with half my stuff in it a few towns back. The only place I had to sleep was this old barn in the middle of the desert."

A slight chuckle she gave, her face lightening a little.

"To be honest, it smelled like dead animals and musty ass hay. It really sucked, but.... every morning I would wake up and see the sun rise over the desert, see the light cascading across the sky and painting it so many beautiful colors, feel the warmth on my skin after such a cold night. I always felt like... I was close to something. I don't know if it was God or nature or whatever...but I felt...happy.

Then...her smile faded, her face buried deeper in the crevice between her knees.

"I don't really feel that here... At least...I thought I did, but just like everything else in this city, it's a fake joy. Like drugs, you get that one high and everything's great, but then it goes away and you're left feeling like shit. You try to get it back, but the more and more you push yourself...you don't realize the damage you're causing....

So... enough about me. Did you have fun last night?"

And after that... Liz spoke no more.

[KatherinWinter]

@LiegeLord
"You can stay here. This isn't a bad city. It has a lot to offer. I don't know why your here. Can't say I care. If you want a better place then this there are a few places I can show you." Roxy said as she headed to the door. She doubted that they would take her up on the offer. Few did. She wasn't a people person but she knew what it was like to be in a new city and not know where was safe.

[LiegeLord]

@KatherinWinter

*Rebecca looked over at Roxy as she was about to leave* "What places would you be talking about?" *Jerad looks over, not looking happy about being led by some stranger. Rebecca looks at him before speaking up* "Jerad, we need a better place to operate from then this..." *She coughs a bit before taking a drink, looking over at Roxy* "But I have one question, why help us with finding a place?"

[KatherinWinter]

@LiegeLord
Roxy shrugged. "I offer my help from time to time when someone catches my interest. Most don't take it. Life on the streets makes you jaded pretty fast. I know a few good places. Abandoned but in good shape. If you want to see a few places I will show you. If you want to wing it I won't be insulted. I know how hard it is to trust someone you know nothing about. She had done her part the rest was up to them. Her curiosity was the only thing kept her here this long.

[Carlsberg]

@Rusalka

Jen smiled a little at the description of the barn.
"That sounds really nice. I wish I had the chance to live somewhere like that," she said.
She frowned at the last question.
"What do you mean by that?" She asked cautiously, "You know its my job."

[Rusalka]

@Carlsberg

"I know... Just asking." Liz shrugged, a slight, cynical edge to her voice. As if it wasn't obvious enough what bothered her, what kept buzzing in her ear like a pesky mosquito. Try as she may to swat it away...it just kept coming back, irritating her without quarter.

[LiegeLord]

@KatherinWinter

*Rebecca looks over at Jerad as Roxy would put her offer forward, speaking up so he can hear her* "How about you go with her. Wouldn't hurt to see, and if anything is promising then you can tell me what you found." *Jerad looks at her for a moment before sighing and getting up* "I know you can take care of yourself out there, why I'm asking. But still be safe." *He shakes his head and follows Roxy out after looking at Rebecca and speaking* "Alright, but take care of yourself now. Rather not come back to you in worst condition." *She nods as she watches the two leave, her laying back down to close her eyes*

[Carlsberg]

@Rusalka

Jens eyes widened slightly.
"Are you jealous? Do you really think that I enjoy what I do?" She asked, amazed that Liz would think that.
She'd been doing this for three years now. Two nights ago was the first time that she had actually enjoyed sex. And if Liz was thinking the way she suspected, then Jen wasn't sure how she would react.

[Rusalka]

@Carlsberg

"What? No I'm not jealous!" Liz replied defensively, finally making eye contact with her after such harrowing minutes...practically giving Jen the cold shoulder. Her eyes, the cold ice flecked by veins of red and dark circles. She looked like she hadn't slept in over a month.

In truth, yes, she was jealous, bitterly jealous. "And I never said you did enjoy it! But fuck Jen!" She paused with a sigh, her hardened features softening. Her anger faded...now leaving remorse. "I just...I'm sorry...that night we spent together...I don't know what it was about you. You were different compared to any other girl I've been with..."

[Carlsberg]

@Rusalka

Jen was mad now. She'd thought that Liz would understand, but apparently she didn't.
"Do have any idea what its like? Every single night for the past few years, I've gone home with some random chick and been hers for the night. Every damn night. Except when I was with you. So no Liz, I didn't enjoy last night, even though it was nearly the 900th time."
She sighed and looked away.
"Yeah, it was different," she said quietly.

[Rusalka]

@Carlsberg

Liz... what did she do...

She was wrong. Wrong about Jen. Wrong about everything. But even so...it didn't stop her from nearly alienating Jennifer. She sighed, her voice quiet and shaky, eyes stinging with the possibility of a few tears being shed.

So...Liz wasn't just some random chick Jen slept with. "W-what?" She answered back surprised a little. God...she felt like a such a bitch now. "Jen...I didn't know, okay? I'm sorry. I saw you with her at the club last night and it...it fucking flew all over me. I know you were just doing your job and shit. ..but...it still pissed me off, and I don't know why..."

[Carlsberg]

@Rusalka

"No, you didn't know. You just assumed. Didn't you feel what was between us? You just thought that happened with every girl I've slept with?" She snapped, standing up, "I don't know why I'm surprised. I should have known this would happen."
She turned away and started to walk away from Liz, sniffing a little and wiping her face as she did.

[Rusalka]

@Carlsberg

"Jen! Jen wait!" Liz ran after her. Then...it hit her... All at once the tears began to fall, the pain in her heart ripping her to pieces inside. She grabbed the girl by her arm, pulling her back, her whole body shaking with every hurtful whimper as she wrapped her arms around Jen from behind. "I fucked up, okay! I fucked up! I was wrong about you! I shouldn't have been jealous in the first place...but....dammit! You mean so much to me, Jen. That's why...I didn't want to lose you. I didn't want some other girl taking you away from me. I was so afraid...and...it got the best of me."

Her arms slipped away from the girl, Liz taking a few steps back and sliding against the wall to the ground. She sniffled a bit, wiping her tears off on her sleeve and curling her knees back into her body. "If you're pissed off at me.... I understand. I'll just...I'll leave you alone for now..." The strength she once had, it had felt as if it was sapped from her. Her legs wobbled and buckled as she staggered to her feet, a slow, torturous gait walking away from Jennifer. She figured...after that tirade, after all the shit she pointed towards Jennifer..... it was over...

God....how she hated this city so much...