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Post by natalie on May 10, 2009 13:47:04 GMT 2
The wind was chilly, and Matti shivered inside her loose, over sized hoodie. Her ripped jeans weren't helping keep the warmth in, the battered old sneakers covering her small, pale, thinly sock clad feet. Sitting alone on a park bench, Matilda watched the other people in the park. Families, mothers and fathers playing with their children, laughing and enjoying life.
Matti had always wanted a family like that. Growing up relatively poor in a rundown old house in Swan View, Perth, the capital of Western Australia, her parents, Evan and Debbie were always working, and she didn't have any cousins or siblings to play with. When Evan died, Matti had become the head of the family, taking care of her distraught mother for five long years, sacrificing her own life to make Debbie happy. Then, around the time of her fifteenth birthday, Matilda came home to find her mother dead from a drug overdose on her bedroom floor.
For the next two years, the young girl was shuffled from home to home, eventually being taken in by a perverted old business man from America, who insisted that Matti come and live with him, far away from everything she had ever known. Upon her arrival at the airport, Matilda collected her small bag and ran away, taking a bus to anywhere. Three days later she arrived in Westin. That was three days ago.
Another cold breeze sent violent shivers down Matilda's spine, her stomach rumbling. She hadn't eaten in nearly a week. Wrapping a thin blanket, one of the ones they give away on a plane that she had 'acquired', around herself, Matti lay down on the hard wood of the bench, her backpack as a pillow. Tremors and hunger pangs racked her small frame, tears rolling down her pale cheeks as she drifted into a restless, uncomfortable sleep, dreams filled with images of a happy, normal family back in Australia.
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Post by Justin Adylin on May 10, 2009 15:50:18 GMT 2
Word Count: 290
Status: Complete
Lyrics: Far Away by Nickelback
Justin was holding a pack of cigarettes in his hands, eyeing it as he tossed it back and forth in his hands. It was the Camel brand and in black letters with a gold background, it warned him that smoking was dangerous and could lead to cancer. Alright, so he knew that, why didn't it scare him into quitting? 'Cuz they had to make them so damn addictive with rat poison, tar and god knows what else. Justin pulled his fingers through his hair, which had grown a heck of a lot over the past two weeks. It was at the point where it nearly covered his forehead, and had to be styled to the side to prevent it from getting in his eyes. He flicked his head to the side, muttering profanities. He stuffed the pack into his back pocket, finally looking up.
This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore
On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know
Justin had to pass through the playground to get to his grandmothers house and he jogged acroos the road, jumped onto the pavement and skimmed the little fence that was used to keep pre-schoolers from running into the road. In a long-sleeved, button-up maroon shirt and normal denims, Justin looked pretty neat. He didn't look quite as rough-looking as he usually did with a leather jacket and dark jeans. He had his Police sunglasses on, but when he came across a huddle of blankets, he took off his sunglasses to get a better look. Oh shit. He eyed the girl with tear-stained cheeks and a blanket with the airliner logo sticking out. Justin wasn't the kindest guy around, but no one else was giving this girl any attention.
Uh, you awake?
He asked, kneeling down a good way from the bench, in case she freaked out. |
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Post by natalie on May 10, 2009 16:09:33 GMT 2
Matti was just drifting off, when a deep, male voice startled her awake.
"I am now." she said, frustration marring her thickly accented tone. Sure, the bench wasn't the most comfortable or warmest place to sleep, but it was all she had.
Blinking her bleary, sleep deprived eyes, Matilda saw the handsome man kneeling down in front of her. He was blonde, with strong features, wearing a shirt and jeans. Wiping the remnants of tears from her face, she sat up on the bench, the blanket around her shoulders.
"Um...I don't mean to sound rude but...who are you?" Matti's voice shook, quiet and nervous, her stomach growling painfully. "Sorry. I haven't eaten in a while." she admitted sheepishly, twirling a lock of blonde hair around her pale finger. Matilda shivered, wrapping the thin blanket tighter around her, the material scratching her skin. "I'm Matilda. But I like Matti." she felt rude not introducing herself, even to a stranger.
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Post by Justin Adylin on May 10, 2009 16:46:07 GMT 2
Word Count: 278
Status: Complete
The first thing that Justin knew about this girl was that she was an Australian. The accent pretty much gave her away. It was quite heavy, so she couldn't have been in the U.S. for very long. The stranger sat up with the blanket around her shoulders. He couldn't understand why she was wrapped up in it if it was in the afternoon, with the sun shining so brightly. He himself was beginning to feel a little 'stuffy' in his long-sleeved shirt.
Along came the girls first question, but before he had had a chance to reply she was going off with a few other words. Her stomach had growled rather loudly, like she hadn't eaten in a week or something. JT had no idea how right he was. Picking up strays already. It probably would have offended her if he said that out loud. He should have - he didn't plan on staying long enough in Westin to get a reputation. This was a once-off, and he meant it. Justin was strong-willed and rebellious. He was here for Raine and no one else. Anybody else didn't matter and he was sure that they couldn't change his opinion.
He put a finger to his lips, which was a polite way of saying 'stop talking'.
You'll give yourself a hernia.
He said, standing up from his crouching position.
Why don't you eat if you're so hungry?
Justin didn't offer her his name, nor could he understand a poor lifestyle. He had never been poor, nor lacking in money and had only ever associated himself with people who were rolling in cash. How was he supposed to understand her situation? |
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Post by natalie on May 11, 2009 8:34:17 GMT 2
Matilda was about to say something else, when the man put a finger to his lips. Oh, right. She had to stop talking. A hernia? From talking? Well, anything was possible. Why not that? Stranger things had happened, that was for sure. She pulled her thin legs up onto the bench to her chest. The children's size skinny jeans hung from her like a blanket. Matti was too thin, and she knew it. But there was really nothing she could so about it. Let them make their anorexia jokes. She didn't care.
He stood, show casing his height. Wow, this guy, who had managed to avoid giving his name, was really tall. And from the sound of his question, either incredibly insensitive or not used to talking to a poor foreigner. Matti was going to go with the latter. He was probably born into money, living a life the young girl had only ever dreamed of. Friends, a nice house, a happy family. Sure it was a bit text-book, but that's what dreams were. Just dreams. Matilda knew she had more chance of being struck by lightening than say, winning the lottery.
She blushed and averted her eyes. "I...I don't have any money. I'm not a theif, so I'm not going to steal food. The last thing I ate was a sandwich at a service station about..." Matilda trailed off, frowning. Had it really been five days? "I guess it was longer ago than I thought." she shrugged, smirking sadly, "Maybe I'm just too used to being hungry." The joke came out half-hearted and marred with unhappiness. Two years in foster care and Matti had all but lost her sense of humor.
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Post by Justin Adylin on May 12, 2009 17:28:28 GMT 2
Word Count: 251
Status: Complete
Lyrics: Snuff by Slipknot
Justin was holding his sunglasses in one hand, whilst the other rubbed the nape of his neck. With his weight distributed onto both legs, feet braced apart, he looked more like he was posing for the cover of a magazine than standing in front of an apparently homeless girl. His eyes had narrowed a bit against the light, but that didn't hide what he was seeing. He folded up his glasses, hanging them on his shirt. She looked like she had the potential to look very pretty, small-town looks that could charm even the fiercest of men. They also looked slightly dull, her cheeks sunken and some bones protruding in an unhealthy way. Even though Justin could walk away, he knew his conscience would prove stronger tonight when he was trying to sleep.
Bury all your secrets in my skin
Come away with innocence
And leave me with my sins
The air around me still feels like a cage
And love is just a camouflage
For what resembles rage again
So if you love me let me go
And run away before I know
My heart is just too dark to care
I cant destroy what isn't there
Deliver me into my fate
If I'm alone I cannot hate
I don't deserve to have you
My smile was taken long ago
If I can change I hope I never know
Time to change that, then, don't you think?
Justin's voice sounded a little bit hostile, despite his efforts. He did not crack a charming smile, nor did he offer her any jokes. He looked a bit concerned, not worried, nor was it sympathy. Through his parents charity work and his sisters efforts with homeless children, Justin had learnt one or two things. If he was going to help her, then she couldn't stuff her face full of food. She had to eat gradually, and with basic foods. He just wasn't going to take her home, right?
There's a diner down the road.
He hinted, watching her. She looked rather small, making him feel all too large and intimidating. |
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Post by natalie on May 26, 2009 1:05:40 GMT 2
Time to change that, then, don't you think?
Matti started. Change? Just like that? It wasn't so easy. There was an odd mix of hostility and concern in his voice. Sure he'd think it was easy; changing when you have the money is always easy, but being poor and homeless meant there wasn't any made it all the more difficult. Did he know the pain of severe hunger?
He was willing to feed her? Was that what he was getting at? There had to be strings. People didn't just do that for nothing.
"What's the catch?" Matti asked, suspicion in her fragile voice. Dehydration was starting to grate on her vocal cords. Never a good sign. Was there a water fountain around anywhere? Hell, a lake even? As the old adage goes; 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water, 3 minutes without air. She'd gone almost one week without food and her last drink had been from a bottle of unopened, stale water she kept hidden in her backpack, which was now just a plastic bottle.
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Post by Justin Adylin on May 28, 2009 16:45:34 GMT 2
Word Count: 212
Status: Complete
No catch.
It sounded a little too easy, Justin had to admit, so maybe a joke would have been better.
What am I going to do? Kidnap you and put you in the boot of my car? Which I don't even have because I walked here. Plus, Westin is a tiny town with plenty of heroes willing to save you if I turn out to be some kind of sick pervert.
...not the most suttle approach.
Convinced?
He asked. Justin held out his hand to her, still with a cool air about him. Besides his bold way of speaking, he seemed pretty normal.
The diner's waiting.
He smiled a little bit to encourage her. He didn't consider her a piece of charity work. Somehow Justin was acting sympathetic and reaching out a hand to someone who needed it. Before, back in LA, he'd give a hamburger to a homeless guy if he walked past one. Otherwise you wouldn't really see him doing this kind of thing at all. You'd call him the selfish city guy who had one night stands every night, got drunk every night and never gave a shit about how he affected other people. Well, turns out that wasn't...all...quite correct. Maybe some of it, but not all of it. |
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Post by natalie on May 29, 2009 9:46:00 GMT 2
She had to admit, he had a point. There were too many people around to even attempt a kidnapping, and if he did anyway he was stupid beyond all reason. And something about him didn't scream 'sick pervert'. Nobody else had been willing to help, even though Matilda had been directly in their eye line. Some had even stared pityingly at her, but didn't move to help.
The mention of the diner again, and the images that flooded Matti's head; hot chips, burgers, milkshakes, cake, hell even soup; made her mouth water! Her whole life she'd had to struggle for a meal, and now it was being offered to her freely with no strings attached. Some might think 'too good to be true', but Matilda was never one to look a free meal in the mouth.
Somewhat hesitantly, Matti put her hand in his, standing. She pulled her flat backpack and blanket into her other hand, nawing on her lip. Still unsure about this guy, who looked more like a clubber than a helper, Matti waited for him to lead them away.
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Post by Justin Adylin on May 29, 2009 18:30:47 GMT 2
Word Count: 235
Status: Complete
When the stranger put held his hand, Justin couldn't help but feel how cold she really was. He couldn't blame her for having wrapped that blanket so tightly around herself. Maybe he really was doing a good thing by helping her. Justin himself was dressed in a long sleeve shirt but the weather wasn't anything dramatic, nothing that meant you needed a jacket or anything. Maybe he should have payed more attention in health class, well at least with the important things. The most attention he ever payed was in "Sex 101", which wasn't that great looking back on it now with a little more experience.
Justin combed his fingers through his hair, having let her hand go. He had waited a little bit then presumed walking. Originally he had been going to his grandmother's house, but after taking a detour through the park, his plan had changed.
Are you from Australia?
He asked, looking over at her over his shoulder. He was walking rather slow to make sure she could keep up. How fast could you walk if you'd been starved for god knows how long?
The accent gave you away.
Finally Justin smiled a genuine smile, encouraging a little bit of conversation. He could rattle off about anything, going into a whole long, fantastically wierd description and with great enthusiasm. With a few drinks knocked into the back of his throat of course. |
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Post by natalie on Jun 1, 2009 10:25:41 GMT 2
There it was. The question she'd been waiting for him to ask.
"Yeah. I'm from Western Australia; Perth to be more precise." Bring on the onslaught of bad jokes; Crocodile Dundee references, 'put another shrimp on the Barbie', 'g'day mate', and all that stuff. It wasn't Australia's fault they had no definable culture outside the images of the outback and drovers herding cows on horseback.
"It always does," Matti joked, easily keeping up with the man's slow pace. Was he going this speed just so she could keep up? That was...sweet of him. No man in Australia, at least any she had ever known, would ever be such a gentleman. They were all American wannabes, which their hats and over sized jumpers, and stupid slang copied from MTV, the rap music blasting from their phones and iPods. All they cared about were their images. Pathetic cretins. You couldn't hold a conversation with one, every last teenage male was an idiot. They only understood things like television and America's Next Top Model. Not for the shows intellectual content, or rather lack there of, but for the skinny bitches in bikinis and fake tans.
"So...have you always lived in Westin, Mr Nameless?" It was kind of a joke, but Matti was really desperate to learn the name of her Saviour, so she could track him down and somehow eventually pay him back for all he was doing for her. Sneaky monetary donations of the unsuspected kind. Or maybe a basket of food, ever Matilda ever found enough money for either.
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Post by Justin Adylin on Jun 1, 2009 17:13:18 GMT 2
Word Count: 503
Status: Complete
At least you escaped the heat. This place is a bitch in summer.
Justin had thought that Los Angeles was bad when it got hot, but he soon discovered coming into Westin in summer, that it was far worse. Out in the open with little shade in a desert-like terrain killed. Maybe he was just a drama queen, but Justin preferred freezing his good-looking ass off than baking on the sidewalk in the sun. At least now he didn't have to worry about the heat, what with Autumn having settled in. Soon it would be winter - all the better.
When she called him 'Mr. Nameless', Justin immediately gave her a sideways glance with his eyebrows raised. He laughed instead of giving her his name. For some reason, he was avoiding it.
Hell no.
He spoke with enthusiasm, showing slight bemusement on his face, expressing his disliking towards the town. It hadn't grown on him yet and he was set on going back to Los Angeles as soon as his sister was alright.
Born and bred in Los Angeles.
With this statement, he sounded more proud, as if there was supposed to be something attached to it.
Honestly, I'm bored. Running errands for my gran wasn't in the plan.
He ran his hand over his hair once, dropping both his arms to his side. They had reached the street and there was no on coming traffic, so he went on to cross the road, looking back on her.
Guess not everything turns out how we want it to be.
Justin shrugged, but he didn't hold much in common with her in terms of their positions. She had run away from foster homes and Justin was running from the fact that his parents were dead and being unable to follow what he had planned on becoming. He wasn't exactly a spoiled rich kid, but he was a rich kid. He had never been poor and what with the insurance paying out soon, he'd be even richer. Then the inheritance that would come from his grandmother too. Justin and Raine were pretty much set for life, but both of them still wanted to work.
The diner wasn't attached to the shops lined up on the sidewalk. It was on its own separate area, just across another road which Justin crossed. He even stopped, putting his hand on the small of her back and guiding the both of them safely across the road. It was an immediate thing to do for him, so he didn't think anything of it. Then, finally coming upon the diner, he approached the door, just a step ahead of her. Justin opened the door for his female companion. The way he stood leaning against the door, with his boyish looks with some mature features, and strong arms, he did look like the typical city-type. And next to the old rock and roll theme inside the diner, he looked a bit out of place. No wonder he wanted to go back 'home'.
OOC: time to move this to the Dandy Garage and Diner, if you would like to reply in that board. =] |
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