Down Time (Open.)

[Jalen August]

Between History and Physical Training, Jalen had a spare. Using it wisely usually didn't happen. She had a lot of homework that could have been getting done at this very moment, but what kind of teenager didn't procrastinate once in a while? Her hair was down to cover her hideous scar behind her ear, and white headphone cords could be seen trailing down the front of her black lace shirt. No skin could be seen of course, as a black shirt was underneath the skimpier one.

The blonde was sitting on one of the couches in the student lounge, sitting back into it's plushy goodness. She wasn't actually listening to anything, but this way it was less likely that anyone would bother her. Jalen knew that if she really wanted privacy, the public student lounge wasn't the place to go. Yet, people watching could be amusing once in a while. A pad of paper in one hand, and a pen in the other, she was obnoxiously tapping the writing utensil on the paper, keeping a beat to her "music".

Concentrating hard, Jalen focused on drowning out every noise around her, manipulating the sound waves away from her own ears, thus not affecting the noise for anyone else. It would be successfully annoying. She stopped paying attention to those around her, wondering what to do with the hour she had to spare. Originally she wanted to write another song, but nothing was inspiring her. Not yet anyways.

Jalen's bright brown eyes scanned the room. There was no one else there that she could see, and she wasn't listening to anything. For her, it was like she was trapped in a soundproof room, and she couldn't even hear her own breathing. It was nice to do this once in a while, it gave her mind and ears a break, something that was worth doing more than homework.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac doesn’t really frequent the student lounge that much these past few days years. Same reasoning as his avoidance of the pond really – too crowded, too noisy, too cliché. It also didn’t help that he had almost all the amenities in the lounge has to offer, he also has in the privacy of his own room. From the comfortable sofas to the flat-screen TV, he could easily enjoy such comforts without the unwanted trade-off one would gain from staying in the lounge. (It also doesn’t help that you have to share the remote when you’re in the lounge, and heaven knows that sharing isn’t exactly what Zac does best). If anything, he’d be in the lounge for the arcade.

As it was though, it wasn’t the reason why the self-proclaimed Hammel prince wound up in the said room. Today is one of those special days when the boy gets the chance to go off early, with his academic classes ending early and him needing no further training anyway (he was scheduled thrice a week when the school year began; now he’s at four times a month). And while he would’ve been like most sensible teens partying at his early dismissal under normal circumstances, he unfortunately has a swim team practice to go to within the next hour or so (the big meet’s close, after all) and he figures it’s a waste walking all the way to the dorms just to rest and going back down again towards the gym when there’s the option of staying in the lounge for a while (long story short, he’s just feeling lazy).

All plans to sit idly in the room and wait until it’s time to leave for practice was lost when he saw a familiar looking blond near the corner of the room however, his mind suddenly remembering the rumor he’s heard that he wants to confirm with the said girl. He slowly walked towards the said girl, smug grin planted firmly on his face. “Hey Jalen is it true that you’re hooking up with a certain speedster?” asked the boy rather bluntly, unaware that there’s a large possibility the blonde’s still removing all the sound around her.

ooc:
Sorry it took so long Bre. D;
- Jam[/justify][/font]

[Jalen August]

It would have been easy to stay in her dorm, it would mean sidestepping the business that usually occurred within the student body, but it wasn't like it was dinner time, so the traffic shouldn't be that high. Sometimes seeing movement was all someone needed to really disengage from the stresses of everyday life. Jalen didn't expect anyone to really understand this, but it wasn't like she needed to explain it to anyone. So what if there was a girl killing time, sitting on the couch? No one would know what she was really doing, unless they were reading her mind, which was totally possible at this school.

Not many students were in here today, which was unusual. Sure everyone had a different schedule, but there was usually a few people in here playing board games or watching TV or... something. So much for people watching, that would be impossible to do if there wasn't any people. Jalen sighed, crossing her legs underneath her tall body, one of her knees was now touching the side of an armrest, the other reached into the allotted space beside her where someone else could sit.

It was then that Jalen noticed Zac, the self-proclaimed king of Hammel, who was really only the kind in his own eyes. It seemed to her that money could have that effect on a person, and it was rather unfortunate. She didn't make eye contact with the boy, as she thought he was just passing through, perhaps meeting someone. Jalen neither hated nor liked Mr. LaRousee, he didn't spend much time talking to her before, so it seemed awkward that he would start now. In fact, the only time she could recall him, was when he decided to show his own brand of affection by flirtation.

The blonde had zoned out for a moment, not noticing that Zac really had come up to her. His sauntering was wasted on her, which may have been effective if she had been paying attention. Jalen's big heart was easily trampled on. It was only when she felt that burning feeling that one received that someone else was obviously looking at them, did Jalen look up into the brown eyes of Zachary LaRousse. She smiled for a moment, finding her own shenanigans amusing, and took her ear buds out, causing every sound to return to normal, even though it had nothing to do with the buds.

"Can I help you?" Jalen asked with a grin, wondering why he had finally found interest in her. Her voice was slightly standoffish, but that was besides the point. Her face was tilted upwards and full of intrigue, her fingers playing with the white ear buds in her hand.

(OOC: No worries! XD)

[Zachary LaRousse]

Indeed, Zac is definitely not close enough to ask the blonde such an intimate question (in such a manner, no less). As far as he knew, their rapport started and ended with occasional hi’s and hello’s in the hall. He knew her and she him, that’s it. How it came to be though, he was quite at a loss. He tried raking his brain and thought back to how they might’ve been acquainted through schoolwork – a class here, a group project there – but came up blank. He was definitely sure she wasn’t friends with some of the people he hangs out with, so it only meant one thing.

He must’ve flirted with her sometime before.

His eyes quickly scanned the girl, and well, he couldn’t deny that JD has taste (thereby making his flirted-with-in-the-past hypothesis even stronger). Apparently he’s been flirting too much that he’s lost track; an achievement really. (Hopefully the sarcasm got through fairly easily). His only consolation was that it seemed like it went well (well here means nothing substantial happened); she wasn’t grumbling to herself at the sight of his shadow anyway.

Briefly shaking his head in amusement at his unusual memory lapse, he then crossed his arms as he waited for Jalen to respond to his inquiry. An impatient teen by nature, his feet started tapping unconsciously as a few precious split-seconds have past and still no response. Not even a simple ‘back off’ glare or something. Was her writing even more important than he was? (More likely than not, yes).

Not acceptable.

He had just leaned down to take the ear buds himself when Jalen removed them, Zac’s hands mere inches from her ear. “Good Lord. I never thought you’d take those darn things off,” grumbled Zac, rolling his eyes to show his slight irritation. Though he was wondering why she couldn’t hear him, as the music from the said earpieces doesn’t seem too loud (he considers anything ‘loud’ if he could hear it even if it’s connected to a pair of headphones already). But enough about that; he still has to ask about JD after all.

“So I hear you’ve been flirting with a certain speedster lately. Any truths to this? Just curious, that’s all.” He added a cheeky grin in the end, hoping it would make his outrageous question seem innocent. I highly doubt it would work though.

ooc:
Rather crappy. My apologies. -bowsinshame-
- Jam[/justify][/font]

[Jalen August]

The boy's fingertips had been awfully close to her face. Was he trying to touch her hair or something? Jalen could feel her face turn a little red, what if he had seen her scar? It wasn't a pretty sight, and it hadn't healed up well. It was a scar that ran from behind her left ear to her neck, and it bubbled up into a pink crack. It was anything but attractive, and Jalen prayed to God everyday, hoping that no would will ever come across it.

The blonde's grin only widened though. "Oh, sorry to keep you waiting. Next time, make an appointment," she said with a shrug, holding onto her headphones. Whatever the boy had to say, it would be quick and she could get back to her "music".

Leaning forward onto her knees with her elbows, Jalen grinned. "Are you jealous or something?" She sassed right back, searching the other's eyes. "I haven't stepped on anyone's toes have I? I mean, I'm not trying to steal him away from anyone." She continued, sitting back into the couch now. This statement wasn't meant to upset Zac, or even insinuate that she thought they were a couple. Zac seemed like too much of a playboy for that anyways.

Then she decided to go on anyways, because it wasn't as if her and JD had done anything wrong. "I broke some glass, he helped me clean it up," she started to explain, the truth for once, "is there any harm in that really?" Jalen was surprised really that Zac had even begun to talk to her. Why would he care?

"You and JD friends or something? Or is that just an excuse to talk to me?" She asked, weaving the white ear bud cords between her fingers. The blonde quickly glanced up at the other with a wide, charming grin. "Has he been talking about me?" She asked.

(OOC: It's all good! I liked the reply :3)

[Zachary LaRousse]

The concept of personal space has never really taken root in the boy’s mind, choosing to ignore such a common courtesy ever since his ego inflated into unimaginable proportions. Apparently the boy thinks he’s just that good-looking that he virtually owns the world, trampling any known social norm as he pleases. Teach him a lesson please?

Jalen’s blush, faint as it is, didn’t escape the boy’s prying eyes. He didn’t have any idea as to why it might be, however. Not that it would stop him from using such an opening to start teasing the blonde. “Gosh Jalen, you flatter me too much,” he chuckled, promptly sitting beside the girl. He leaned back in a rather cocky manner, chin held up high, with a smug look on his face as his arms spread over the back of the chair. “I’m no pyrokinetic but I made you look flushed? Awesome. I really am that hot, am I?” Head meet desk. Repeatedly.

What would’ve been a scoff (a response to the sound manipulator’s appointment-setting remark) quickly turned into a snort when Jalen asked why he seemed so invested in the speedster. “Oh yeah. I’m very very jealous,” he grinned, speaking with such sarcasm that it can even penetrate lead. “JD’s mine and mine only. You should know that.” Thank goodness he wasn’t drinking anything earlier; it would’ve gone out his nostrils already. Disgusting, painful and extremely embarrassing.

“Well, if you stepped on the glass, there might be.” The mimic flinched just thinking about it. He may not seem like it, but he’s mighty queasy, squirming inwardly whenever extremely gory scenes roll in while watching certain movies.

Jalen’s next question stumped the Prince, if only for a while. So she’s in the dark about that? Should he tell the truth or make his story a whole lot more colorful? “It’s complicated,” nodded the boy, hoping he’d sound rather sincere, “You know what Lex Luthor was to Superman? We’re something along those lines.” To an extent they were, but not so much anymore. They’ve reached an understanding that Zac’s so much more of a man than JD, at least according to Zac anyway. “I’m just curious that he seemed to be able to get something I failed to grab before,” added the teen, sending a haughty wink to the blonde beside him.

“Him talking about you? Is that a trick question?”

ooc:
Zomg. I never posted on time, did I? I am so so sorry. I'm usually not like this. D;. Haha. Sorry Bre. The last two days of the week had just been unusually crappy for me that I had no time to post. D;. I'll try not to be as late next time.^^.
- Jam[/justify][/font]

[Cole Kessler]

OOC: Hope y'all don't mind me joining in, but out of boredom I feel likie posting.

Cole had not slept in thirty-six hours. The last time his eyes were shut yesterday afternoon before he'd gotten up, dressed, and gone to work. The roar of the crowd still rang through his cerebellum. He had parked his car at Taeyeon's and walked to the dorm like always. He had walked into the building and headed straight for the elevator when he'd heard the voices from the lounge.

One, that of LaRousse, he recognized immediately. His mind briefly flashed back to the last time the two of them were in the lounge and the fun they had after they'd gone to Sam's. Put it shortly? Two 30-packs and some Rum will always make the night more fun. He walked into the room and noticed the young blonde girl sitting at the table.

He had an opening when Zac made his comment, and between the two of them, or involving the girl, whichever, this conversation was going to go downhill fairly quick. Cole walked fully in and went to the vending machine and got his usual soda before speaking, "No, Zac, you're not. She saw me come in the room. That's what got her all red in the face." He chuckled before taking a drink of his Dew.

He walked over to the twwo of them and offered the girl his hand in introduction, "I don't believe we've met. I'm Cole. Cole Kessler."

[Jalen August]

(OOC: Don't worry about timing Jam, just post whenever you can cx. Hi Cole! Welcome to the thread, I dig your profile!)

If there was anything Jalen didn’t mind, it was cute boys in proximity. Take JD for example, he was well built and knew where the line was. Zac, however cute he may think he was, didn’t know when to take a step back and realize that he didn’t own the people around him. Jalen was ultimately confused by how she was apparently flattering the boy. He must have been seeing things that weren’t there. His next line however, caused Jalen’s confused face to break into a smile, and then laughter. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I don’t think you could dig yourself into a deeper hole than the one you’re in right now.”

Personal space breached, Jalen wasn’t fazed. Zac could sit on her lap for all she cared, it would just remind her even more of what a child acted like. “I’ll have to talk to him about your abnormally possessive behaviour,” she said, patting Zac’s knee in a motherly gesture. “I’m sure he can find help for you somewhere on campus.” Admittedly, she had no idea where this conversation was going, and she doubted it would go anywhere serious, but maybe it would be good for Zac to realize how easy it was to mess with him.

“Don’t worry,” Jalen said, sitting back into the couch, shoulder to shoulder with Zac, her knee practically in his lap, “no one was hurt. A little glass shattered, no big deal.” It was true, and what was more, it wasn’t his business. “If you and JD are so close, wouldn’t you know the story already?” She inquired, putting him on the spot instead. She wasn’t going to share with him how she thought JD’s smile was attractive, or that he was, in her very own words, “refreshing”. She supposed that since Zac knew nothing about her from JD, that he hadn’t really been talking about her. She had been excited for nothing. It was better just to ignore Zac’s questioning about her questioning.

The blonde smirked. “Funny, I would think that if you were that important to him, he would have mentioned you,” She said. Of course, this wasn’t necessarily true, but it wouldn’t hurt the self-proclaimed prince to be brought down a few notches. “All I can really gather from that, is that you have some kind of evil intentions in mind,” she said, mock worry in her voice. She could care less about why Zac was harassing her now.

But then the girl’s eyebrows furrowed. Had JD been talking about her after all? “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said bluntly, not wanting to press the matter. Honestly, she was getting tired of Zac’s running around in the dark. If he had something to say, he should come right out with it, because in Jalen’s mind, he was acting like a child – in so many ways. In this particular instant, it was because he seemed to ‘want’ something his friend ‘had’. “I don’t see why you’re interested in getting anything now.” She added, emphasizing the word. Whether or not he had been striving to push her buttons was beside the point – he had managed to tick her off.

Instead of leaving like she wanted to, another had joined them. Apparently he had been listening in on their whole conversation. Perfect. It was these boys like these who made JD so intriguing to Jalen – he wasn’t full of himself. The blonde took Cole’s hand in a gentle grip. “Lovely, I’m Jalen,” she said, her slender fingers momentarily wrapped around his hand before she let go, “and I’m glad to have your company.” It could have been taken sarcastically, but as Jalen glanced over at Zac, she was glad it wasn’t just the two of them anymore. Who knew what kind of moves he would want to pull. Looking back at Cole, Jalen offered him a warm smile. Now that her momentary hatred of Zac had passed, she had noticed Cole’s dress style, which seemed to compliment hers quite well. She hoped they would get along marvellously.

“Now, if you don’t mind Cole,” Jalen said, reaching over Zac to pat the empty spot still left on the couch next to him, “please take a seat, and tell me everything you know about our residence prince. Don’t leave out the dirty details.” Hopefully this tactic would take the heat of her, and she figured that Zac would love nothing more than to be put in the spotlight. It might even make him forget why he had begun to harass her in the first place. If it hadn’t been for Cole walking up to them right now, there wouldn’t be anything keeping her from wringing Zac’s scrawny neck.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Being called out on a mistake doesn’t faze Zac out much anymore. At least on the outside it doesn’t. Over the years, he’s learned how to use that enormous ego of his to cover up his mistakes and make it seem like despite the numerous insults people hurl at him, he’s still there standing strong. Call it wise or utterly foolish but he’s managed to somehow make it seem like he’s twisted how he perceives derisive comments and transform them into compliments.

“Oh he’s tried. Time and time again. And he’s failed. Miserably,” replied the smug teen as he tried to indulge the blonde girl, “ I’m fairly sure he could do nothing new right now, even if his (soon-to-be) princess consort would be the one to ask him of such a favor.”Yes, now that he’s confirmed that something indeed had happened between the two (thank goodness the rumors were true then), he’d start phase two of his plan: tease both parties until they’re sick of him. Which, with the way he’s acting, isn’t really hard to do, is it?

He laughed loudly as she went on and patted his knee. “Oh. Skinship,” he said with bug-eyed amusement, “If you weren’t with DeeDee already, I’d say you’re coping a feel for my toned legs. I don’t blame you, they’re just too awesome. I can’t help but touch them from time to time too.” He sent another impish grin towards the blonde, copying how Jalen patted his own. (And yes, he just told her his embarrassing pet name for the speedster. Hopefully JD won’t be angry at him or anything). “But you’ve already felt his rock hard thighs, hadn’t you? When you two locked yourselves in an abandoned classroom? Or was it when you took off for the nearby woods and wasn’t seen again at least for the next half hour or so?” You just have to love idle gossip.

“He just doesn’t want you to get any wrong ideas at that time. You know, jealousy and all. After all, it is but common knowledge that when people are faced with a choice between me and another thing, they choose me 100% of the time.” It was a bit obscure, but hopefully Jalen can deconstruct it properly. Or if not, just discard it like all the other trash Zac’s been spewing since the moment he started opening that mouth of his.

Him not being in the loop when it comes to JD’s personal escapades isn’t something new. After all, he doesn’t really try to drag the speedster on things he’s personally invested in (like his situation with Ann before, and now with L.C.). If he wants in, fine, if he doesn’t, even better. Probably because even though they consider each other the other’s best friend, their friendship is built more along the lines of trying to best each other continually (read: pride) than mutual interests and likes. Sappy stories just aren’t readily shared between the two of them.

“I’m a spoiled brat. I don’t need a reason why I want to get something. I just do.” To clarify though, he isn’t really looking to wrap the girl around his dirty pinky. He’s already tried once and he was unbelievably shot down. And her possibly seeing his teddy bear only tells him to stay away from her even more (at least in that manner).

He was just about to say something more when Cole came in, and with such an airy entrance at that. Wonderful. “Pfft. Says who Cole, says who?” The mimic would like to defend himself by saying that JD’s mighty egotistic too (if not even more), though he doesn’t show it as much as Zac (and Cole) does. At least according to him, that is. “Why are you in the lounge anyway? Can’t get enough of the Adonis that is me that you just have to come see me once more?”

While he doesn’t really mind Cole joining him, Jalen’s question made him somewhat on the edge. Should Jalen had asked the said question, say, three weeks ago, he wouldn’t care so much. He doesn’t really hang out with the electrokinetic on a regular basis, so he could care less. But since he had been friendly with the boy lately, he’s unwillingly revealed facets of himself he’d rather no one know. His lightweight-ness, for example. He could just hope that the boy would keep his trap shut.

He’s dead.

ooc:
I for one do not mind having the awesome Cole Kessler around.^^. XD
- Jam[/justify][/font]

[Cole Kessler]

Cole took a seat in the chair just across from the two of them. Jalen's request caught him by surprise. What could he say? He'd only socialized with Zac twice, maybe three times at the most. True, Cole did know a few things, courtesy of the night they drank together, but he didn't know enough to indulge her curiousity the way she'd asked. He thought for a bit and then spoke, "Well, Jalen, I'm not sure what to say here. Zac and I have only 'hung out' once or twice. Granted, one of those two instances we were heavily intoxicated, but still..., I don't really know all that much about him."

Cole took a drink of the soda he'd carried in with him, "And when I say we were intoxicated, I mean he was. I was just a lil bit tipsy." Cole slurred his words with that last sentence to emphasize on it. Zac's lightweightedness made Cole seem like a light drinker. It was funny, Cole drank regularly, never too much, but just enough to get a head change, Zac on the other hand wasn't really a "just a few beers" kind of guy. "I can tell you this, sweetheart," he said with a county twang in his voice, "The boy's one helluva lightweight when it comes to drinking."

Then Zac spoke up. Cole loved that he and Zac were damn near identical in their making up people's reasons for being places, "Well, LaRousse, if you must know..., I just got off work not two hours ago. I haven't slept in a day and a half. That's where I was heading when I overheard your unmistakable voice, man. And me being......, ya know, me, I just had to come in and say something to you. I had to at least try and bring you down a notch."

He laughed and looked back to the to the young woman, "And by the way, Jalen, if you do ever decide to drink with the Prince: Be prepared to try and keep clothes on a man who clearly wants them off."

[Jalen August]

Jalen’s eyes turned to slits. If Zac didn’t shut his mouth soon, she would shut it for him. “I am nobody’s princess,” she said harshly, finding the statement insulting. It was going to be hard to be around JD if this as the type of friends he had. Then it dawned on her – maybe this was the fiend Jonah had warned her about. Zac certainly fit the description of an annoying monkey, although that was her own view of the supposed friend that could never get off JD’s back. She was very much so regretting ever running into him...

Glancing at Cole, she grinned. Maybe he didn’t know much, but the fact that Zac was a drinker could play out to her benefit at some point in the future. “Thanks for that morsel of truth,” she said with a satisfied grin. How would the millionaire react to a couple spiked drinks? Or more importantly, how would he react to waking up the next morning in an unknown area? It didn’t seem like anyone really knew anything about Zac, he seemed to play up his appearances. She doubted anyone even knew what his favourite color was, or what he was even most afraid of – how sad.

Her ears turning red with anger, she wondered just how many buttons the rich idiot was going to press before she exploded. If Cody hadn’t been there, she would have left by now. Secretly, she decided her nickname for JD was much better than DeeDee which, frankly, sounded stupid.. “I won’t make the mistake of ever touching you again,” she said, and with that, moved herself from sitting next to the slime, to sitting on the arm of the couch. Some people just didn’t know where the line was, or that they had crossed it some time ago. Or maybe, Zac was just out to be as obnoxious as possible to the girl his friend had been spending some time with. Jalen would trade Zac for JD a hundred times over.

Somewhere deep inside, the blonde knew that people would begin talking about her and JD – nobody had anything better to do it seemed. “Glad to see someone listens to all the gossip around this place...” She murmured, glancing down at her fingers which were still clinging onto her iPod headphones. It was doing this that gave her the inspiration to use her powers to her advantage. There was no point in arguing the tiny Asian, who she could pummel right now if she wanted to. Now that would be a rumour worth telling.

Drowning out the sound of Zac’s voice, Jalen focused only on Cole, willing to ignore Zac until he left.

A smirk rose to Jalen’s lips, and she was glad for Cole’s presence. She seriously doubted either of them could bring Zac down even an inch, but maybe that wasn’t up for them to do. Honestly, Zac was just another brick in the wall here at Hammel. She leaned onto her knees and held her smirk, “Funny, I thought that was the case regardless of alcohol,” she said, raising an eyebrow at Zac. “I’m surprised he doesn’t just parade around in the nude and be done with it,” she said, holding Zac’s eyes with her dark brown ones, “I mean, if you’re really so amazing Zac, you’d really have no problem or shame in showing off just how wonderfully amazing you are.” Her tone was sarcastic.

Zac’s superpower must have had something to do with bringing out the worst in everyone.

[Zachary LaRousse]

“Say what Jalen?” The smug teen was actually surprised with the harsh tone the blonde replied to him with. While his tone may have been a bit too cocky when he said those things, he definitely isn’t trying to be sarcastic back then. And would he know that him being his annoying self around Jalen would affect his best friend’s chances, he would’ve stopped right there and then. He definitely does not wish to incur the speedster’s anger, especially since he has weird feeling that all hell will be unleashed upon him should JD learn that he was the cause of their fallout. Theoretically speaking of course. (Heaven knows Zac won’t let it happen.)

But, as it was, he has other things to worry about at the moment. Namely, Cole divulging information regarding his dismal poor drinking habits. Not good.

“HEY. I resent that,” protested the mimic, chuckling as he did to show that he’s doing it in good faith, “It’s not my fault I’m not a drunkard like Cole.” Again, another harmless (at least in his eyes) tease. Not that he thinks Cole would take it personally. True, he’s only hung around the boy lately, but despite that short period, he knows it isn’t in Cole’s personality to take jabs like that seriously. Probably why he still bothers to stick around Zac really. “I’m a good boy really, despite my rough exterior. No vices. Good grades. Not to mention insanely rich. The perfect boyfriend, am I not?”

It was only when Jalen moved away from him did he sense that, well, he might be going way over the line already. (He apparently dismissed her snarky retort back then as simple irritation or something along those lines). Unfortunately for Jalen though, an apology does not come out easy from Zac. If anything, he’d simply tone his rudeness down. Or divert it. Which isn’t really hard to do, considering there’s Cole just beside them for him to annoy to death.
(He would just like to add that DeeDee was made to specifically annoy the snot out of JD; it just stuck on Zac’s head so hard that it became his own stupid petname for the boy).

“You work? Where?” Now that was something new. He’s only heard of a few students in Hammel working in Pilot Ridge – like Ann’s Dwarf for example, who took his order when he went to Kali’s a few weeks back – so he’d say he’s rather noteworthy. Maybe he should really dig more into Cole’s background or something. “Aww Cole. Choosing me over sleep? I’m touched, truly touched.” He said in a(n obviously) fake flattered voice, complete with a couple of exaggerated gestures (such as the whole touch-my-heart-and-nod-slowly one). “Unfortunately, even if you and I were both single, we still can’t be together. You just don’t have a chance in hell.”

At the blonde’s muttering, Zac simply grinned. “Well, it isn’t much of a gossip anymore once it’s true, ain’t it?” As it was, in Zac’s world, gossip ceases to be gossip once it becomes fact. “And besides, JayJay, I don’t gossip. I research. I have several informants all around campus. So rarely do I go wrong with stuff.” Perhaps we should all be thankful the boy didn’t turn out to be a telepath like his mother then (not that his mother would advocate such a blatant misuse of power, but still).
(Also he argues that he is in no way tiny. He may not be at six feet, but being an inch – or less, he insists – below it doesn’t make him small by anyone’s standards, he says).

Well at least Cole didn’t tell Jalen of his other noteworthy mannerisms when drunk. “Well, I think there’s something called decency dear, if you don’t know what that means. I may be egotistic, but I’m not stupid like Verax,” he smirked, trying his hardest not to sound snide, “And if I parade around naked, I assure you, everyone would feel mighty ashamed of their own body, girl or boy alike. I wouldn’t want to crush people’s self-esteems, don’t I?” Well he does (says they’re easier to manipulate that way), but he has other ways to achieve that goal.

ooc:
Sorry if it's looooong. I might've rambled a bit too much. D;
- Jam[/justify][/font]

[Cole Kessler]

Cole laughed at Zac's comments, "I wouldn't say perfect, my friend. I can see one or two flaws that would kill your chances at being perfect: One? You look too much like a girl. Two?" Cole paused, "Well I haven't figured that out yet." he laughed.

"And I would like to go on record that I resent being called a drunkard. So now that we've got that covered," Cole paused again as his phone let out a small jingle. He pulled it from his pocket and read the text without unlocking it. A small sigh escaped him as he took in what the message read. Balls of water formed in his eyes, but he held them back. He wasn't about to cry in front of Zac, though it wouldn't be the first time.

He texted back one word and put his phone away. He looked iover at the two people in the lounge with him. Zac, a great friend who enjoyed drinking as much as Cole did, though not as often. Jalen, a young woman who reminded him so much of his best friend, Sam Mercer. He took in a deep breath and finally spoke again, "Well, it uh....., it looks like I'm single again."

[Jalen August]

Jalen couldn't help but crack a grin. A drunkard like Cole hey? "Bet I could outdrink the both of you," she said with a sly grin, wondering if they would really believe that she was a tank when it came to alcohol, although she seriously doubted that either of them would take her up on that offer. "I agree - you look like a girl, and unless you're going after a lesbian, I doubt that you're appealing to anybody," she said, her tone of voice slowly softening. Now she was joking, even though it was a bit harsh. "Besides, if you were such a catch, wouldn't you have a significant other?" The blonde asked, a playful smirk on her face.

It was like Zac had never worked a day in his life, judging by his reaction. So what if Cole had a job? Jalen's eyebrows furrowed as the blonde boy kept on ranting about singleness - she really couldn't begin to follow his thought process. There seemed to be a lack of such anyways. Jalen' followed Cole's gaze to his phone and immediately sensed something was wrong. His body went stiff for a second and her quickly replied. Her eyes rested on him until he looked up.

"Unless you've seen it with your own eyes, it's gossip," she said bluntly, still focused on the other boy. What happened? "I really hope you don't plan on calling me that beyond this encounter," she said, turning to face Zac, "JayJay and DeeDee would sound horrible together." It was a joke, but somehow she knew that the brat would want to take it a few steps farther than it needed to go. "Would girls be jealous of you because of your wonderfully feminine body? Or...?" Jalen asked, going along with the conversation.

Then Cole spoke up, and her attention was back on him. Again? It sounded like this guy went through women like he did kleenex. "She broke up with you over a text?" Jalen asked, throwing personal boundaries and other such cautionaries to the wind. She was never a timid person, and like to get to know people, but with Jalen, some lines were crossed more often than others. She barely knew Cole, and it never occurred to her that maybe he wouldn't want to disclose such personal information. Then again, if he didn't want to talk about it, he shouldn't have brought it up.

It took the heat off of her for a moment anyways.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac’s face turned just a tad bit sour when Cole pointed out that he looks a little too feminine for his own good, a joke Jalen wasted no time pouncing onto and using to antagonize the pompous jerk even more. “Haha. Very funny you guys,” said the boy, sarcasm flowing out of his mouth like a raging waterfall, “You know what they say, haters gonna hate.” As much as he’d like to act like such a joke didn’t faze him out, it actually did. It’s one of the few things that could actually rock that impervious ego boat of his, especially since he’s strived so hard to achieve a body like his (not that he’d actually admit that anyway). “Is it just me, or is this just an elaborate ploy of yours to have be strip so you can ogle at my body?” he grinned, trying to think of a decent comeback, “Unfortunately JayJay, DeeDee doesn’t have quite the body as me. Don’t be too harsh on him, ok?”

“Whoever told you I don’t have a girlfriend anyway?” added the mimic as he sent another haughty wink towards Jalen. He’s still working on it, but he’s fairly sure he’s got it in the bag already. And no, he’s definitely not exaggerating this time. Because heaven knows being so conceited and self-assured over/around L.C. could only take you so far. (Those spikes are PAINFUL!).

The prince didn’t immediately notice the sudden change in Cole’s demeanor, as he was focusing more at Jalen’s reaction at that time, especially when he said something about Cole and working. Honestly, he was surprised. After all, his question’s rather innocent really; it may sound rather offensive (in his ears it didn’t, but hey), but it’s more about asking Cole about what he does than, well, looking down at someone who makes an honest living. “You don’t like JayJay? Fine. You’ll be Vajayjay from now on.” JD would so kill him right now.

It was only when he turned to him to ask him more about his job (he was sincerely curious, as Cole doesn’t seem the type to work in retail or in the restaurant business) did he saw the attitude shift. “What do you mean single again?” he asked, quite confused with the sudden progression of events. Then he saw him tuck his phone away and bam it hit him. “Oh,” was all he could say.

He was utterly lost. How was he supposed to react now? He barely knew the right words to say when JD broke up with his last girlfriend. While Cole wasn’t just a normal acquaintance anymore, he’s not that a friend yet in Zac’s eyes. Or is he? “Err, wanna drink that out then dude?” he smiled, still debating on whether he should give the boy a pat on the back or not.

ooc:
Crappy, crappy and crappy. I'm so sorry. I've redone this waaay too many times but it just isn't improving. My muse is apparently on strike, much like Canada Post is. I'm sorreh. D;
- Jam[/justify]