Can’t Slow Down [OPEN]

[alyssaberger]

a. Alyssa stood on the track, literally bouncing from foot to foot as she prepared to run. The young girl had only just gotten out of classes for the afternoon, and as soon as the bell run, she’d dashed from History class to change from her uniform into shorts t-shit and running shoes. She needed to move, she made it through the days alright, but by the time the last bell rang, she was always vibrating with so much pent up energy that she practically rocketed out of the class room.

The track was empty. So far at least. There were a few students who would make use of it, but Aly always got there first. Probably because a normal person didn’t feel the need to run everywhere at top speeds. Aly on the other hand could rarely stand to walk at a reasonable pace. Which is why, every afternoon, she needed explode out all that energy so she would be able to sit around and do normal things, like homework, eating dinner, and chatting with people.

Feeling limbered up, she started around the track. She made it about half way around at a nice warm up pace, before picking up the speed, her coltish legs moving in a blur as she sprinted. She made it around the track twice before she slowed to a jog and eventually a walk. Her breath was coming out in short little bursts, and sweat was beginning to bead on her forehead. That was better.

She walked to the edge of the track where she’d dumped her bag, and pulled out a water bottle, taking a few deep gulps while she waited to catch her breath before going for another couple of laps.[/size]

[tommy]

Tom had to admit he'd been glad when classes had finished for the afternoon. He was still adjusting to the new school, and it wasn't as easy as he'd expected. Gathering his things, he'd left his class, and headed out to the track. He didn't plan to run, and as such, hadn't changed out of his uniform. No, he just wanted somewhere he could read in peace, and he wasn't quite sure his dorm was the place. The library was out, too, because he wasn't sure he'd be able to find his way around it. Getting lost wasn't on his list of things to do, after all.

When he reached the track, there was a girl running, but he didn't pay much attention to her. He didn't know her, and she seemed really immersed in her run. And, of course, he didn't know how to talk to girls. Whenever he tried, his hands got clammy, and he just didn't know how to talk... Though, that happened with just about everyone. He wasn't the best at talking to people. Which is why he always carried a book. If things got too awkward, people would generally ask about his book, and Tom knew he could talk about that. Even if he hadn't read it yet, he'd know what it was about, which would be a bit help.

Today's book was one that he was rereading. It was a six hundred plus page history of the military exploits of the Ottoman Empire, in detail. Tom wasn't quite sure why the former Turkish nation was so fascinating to him, but it was. He'd read multiple books on it, as well as online articles, journals, and even novels taking place in the nation. Even if it was in the more recent centuries, he enjoyed it. The more logical part of his mind suggested that he liked it because it was so unlike anywhere he'd been; the less logical part, the childish bit, would say that it was magical, and that was why he liked it.

As he sat by the edge of the track, quickly getting immersed in the book, he noticed the girl coming over. Looking up at her, a light blush settled over his cheeks. Ignoring her would be rude, wouldn't it? Clearing his throat a bit, he smiled as politely as he could, though it probably seemed a little awkward. "Hello."

[alyssaberger]

Aly swallowed a big gulp of water, and nearly choked when someone spoke to her. She looked around, her eyes settling on a blonde guy, who looked about her age, sitting with a book by the track. She'd been so focused, a rare thing that usually only occurred during physical activity, that she hadn't noticed there was anyone else there. She smiled widely at the boy, who's face seemed to be going red, weird, but totally cute. She tossed her water bottle back on top of her bag and walked over, eager as always to meet someone new.

“ Hi. I didn't even see you sitting over here. I'm Alyssa, well, everyone just calls me Aly, so you can too. Do you have an accent? It totally sounded like you had an accent. So cool. I wish I was English, that would be a million times better than a stupid American accent. You know, it's weird, our English teacher here is in fact, English. How funny is that? I haven't seen you around before, are you new? I just started myself a few weeks ago, so I know I haven't seen, like, everyone yet, but you look like you're probably a freshman too, so I would think we'd have a class or two together. What's your name?” she said brightly, her voice going in it's normal mile a minute pace.

Aly had been told more than once that she came on a little strong, that she needed to take a few breaths between sentences and let someone else get a word in. Needless to say, she never really quite got the hang of it, and the first few minutes of any interaction with her were usually spent with Aly peppily yammering away while the other person just looked shell shocked. “ Sorry, I tend to ramble on for like ages, feel free to tell me to just shut up, most people do at some point. What are you reading? It looks pretty big. I never actually have the attention span to get through most books, that one looks interesting though” she said happily, her big smile never wavering.[/size]

[tommy]

Still blushing, Tom avoided looking at the girl. She was clearly energetic, and kinda pretty, though he wouldn't say anything. That would be weird, wouldn't it? He didn't want her to think he was weird. Well, any weirder than she was bound to think he was for reading a book about the Ottoman Empire for fun. Oh, she was talking. Okay, he needed to listen now, and not think about how she probably thinks he's some kind of weirdo. Oh, wait, did she say she likes his accent? Even after four years in America, it hadn't faded, had it? Well, at least it might be good for something, right?

"Hello. I imagine I must be rather hard to see. Especially when you're focused. I'm Tom. Well, actually, Thomas, but no one calls me that except my mum, and she only does it when she's angry." Pausing, he wanted to smack himself. Well, he was just brilliant at this, wasn't he? Rambling like some kind of idiot, just because she was paying attention to him. "I do have an accent! I like yours, though. I've been in America for four years, and I still stand out because of it. And you're talking about Mr. Baker, right? He seems all right, a bit posh, though. I am new, by the way. Just started a few days ago. I am a freshman, though, and we might have a class together." This was a bit better, though he was still rambling a bit.

Tom had to say that he liked how much she was talking, though. It was nice, having her take charge of the conversation. It put him more at ease. While it was a little odd to be so overwhelmed by her energy, he couldn't dislike it. She was too happy, too bright, for him to feel anything but the same. Was she some kind of angel? Or perhaps some otherworldly creature, who spread joy and light. "It's okay, I ramble too. Besides, I like it. I'm not very talkative, so you make up for it. And it's a book about the military exploits and history of the Ottoman Empire. It really is interesting. Lots of battles, and heroes. It's almost like a great adventure novel, except all of it really happened." And that was why he loved history, wasn't it?

[alyssaberger]

Aly smiled, taking the fact that he was talking to her as an open invitation. She couldn't figure out why he was blushing so much. Maybe he had heat stroke, or some weird glandular problem. But the boy wasn't seeming to pay much attention to it, so neither would she. She dropped onto the ground next to him, and pulled her hair out of the tight pony tail she kept it in while she was running. She looped the elastic around her wrist and shifted to face him. “Well, it's super nice to meet you Tom. I totally get what you mean, my parents are the only ones who call me Alyssa, and if I hear that, man do I know I'm in deep trouble. So you've been here for 4 years? Why'd you move? Are you from London? I admit, that's really the only place in England I know anything about, but I so want to go there, I mean it's just such a cool looking city, you know? Well I guess that's a dumb question, of course you'd know. I really don't think I have much of an accent, but I guess to you I would. And I have no idea what a Posh accent is. I pretty much know the difference between an English one and an Irish one, that's it. Totally useless, I know. ” she finished, taking a deep breath, that one was a hard one to get out in one go.

Aly let out a light chuckle, “ I do love a good rambler. It's always nice, I like hearing what other people have to say and sometimes you don't getr to hear enough of that when they just say like, simple one word answers. I would definitely always take the ramble if given the choice.” she nodded her head emphatically.

She smiled widely as Tom talked about his book. She liked him. How many people could make a book about the history of some weird, hard to pronounce empire sound so cool? Plus he was friendly and talkative and nice. All bonuses in Aly's books. And it was always nice to talk to someone her own age, and who didn't seem overly violent like the other people she'd been befriending. Not that there was anything wrong with that, Aly liked people, and made a point not to judge them on what they'd done. If she did that, she'd never have any friends. But it was a nice change of pace to have someone to talk too who at least seemed a little more like her.

She shifted closer to him, looking at the book interestedly. “ That actually sounds really cool. I've never thought of history that way before, heck, I don't even actually know what the Otterman, or whatever, empire is, but it sounds wicked interesting. Especially when you put it that way. Why don't they teach history like that? I mean I like history and all, but if they taught it like that I would so retain more of it. Do you read a lot of books like this? Or just a lot in general? She smiled, leaning back on her hands.[/size]