He's Nice To You!? (Carleigh)

[Deleted]

It wasn't all that often that Phoenix resorted to the vending machines on the first floor of the dorms anymore. Ever since he got his job, he made frequent trips to the bakery on the way home to keep a stock of danishes for Oriel in their room; he could afford it now, and it made his boyfriend happy. But somehow, he'd miscalculated their current stock, and they'd shared the last one the night previous. Since Phoenix didn't work today, and it was pouring outside at the moment, even he was hesitant to go out and get some of the fresh baked goods when he could get the preserved kind here in the machines. They weren't as good, but they'd suffice. And Oriel had survived on them for long enough.

What he didn't anticipate was how difficult it would be to get the damn things.

The machine refused to take his money, for starters. He tried stuffing in his dollar in every way imaginable, but it had taken at least a half-dozen tries to get it in. And then, when it finally accepted the money... Nothing happened! Phoenix tried pushing various buttons, tried getting his money back, but the dumb thing had taken his money and refused to give him anything in return.

So Phoenix stood there, in his too-big sweatshirt and heart-spotted pajama bottoms, staring dejectedly at that plastic-wrapped danish behind the wall of plastic.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh bounded down the stairs to the first floor of the dormitory building, a thermos full of creamy coffee. She hummed under her breath, determined to get some snacks from the infamous vending machine to make for a better study session. The only way to do homework was with a pile of junk food to keep you company, right? Carleigh narrowed her eyes slightly, wondering if her thighs were getting bigger... She made a mental note to hit the gym more often than once a week. Carleigh took a cautious sip of coffee, stepping behind another student and waiting for her turn to gorge on snacks. Pretzels and gummy bears were her planned purchases.

She reached into the pocket of her pink striped pj shorts, pulling out a few bills. Carleigh watched as the student in front of her struggled with the vending machine, sounding frustrated. It had a history of taking kid's money and offering nothing in return. Buying here was a gamble. As soon as the boy began frantically pushing buttons, Carleigh knew that he was just another victim.

Coming around, Carleigh looked between the boy and the vending machine with a gentle smile. "Take your money huh?" she said, taking one of her bills and slipping it into the machine. It was effortlessly accepted. "There you are!" The blonde had pretty good luck when she made her occasional purchase. She smiled at the boy, stepping aside to let him make his decision.

[Deleted]

Phoenix had been so caught up in trying to get his Squishy his much needed sugary treat that he hadn't even realized there was someone waiting behind him. Had he known, he would have been even more embarrassed... And it showed once he became aware that there was someone there. He jumped when the pretty blonde girl came into his vision, eyes wide and cheeks quickly flushing. He tugged subconsciously at the ends of his too-long sleeves, wondering how long she'd seen him struggling with the damn thing.

"Uh... Y-yeah," he managed to mumble, turning his attention back to the machine. She was too pretty for Phen to look at without feeling like a complete loser. "I h-haven't had this problem before..." Then again, Oriel used to use it more than he did. Phoenix didn't realize what the girl was doing until the bill had slipped into the machine, and he gawked, too late to protest. "Th-th-thank you!" he squeaked, fumbling to press the right button in his shock. "Y... You didn't have t'do that..." Phen hit the correct number and watched the machine come to life, sending the stranger a shy, grateful smile. "You're really nice," he said quietly. "I... Don't think we've met..." He leaned down to take out the plastic-wrapped food before offering a slightly trembling hand. "I'm Ph... Phoenix."

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh giggled slightly at the flustered boy, managing to stifle her laughs after a moment. She wasn't laughing at him, no. Just at his reaction. It was cute and the blonde couldn't help herself. Carleigh leaned against the vending machine, tilting her head slightly to face him. "I've heard a lot about this vending machine since coming here. Has a pretty bad rep. Guess it's kind of a gamble coming here."

She smiled, shrugging. "I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to." Carleigh assured the stranger. "It's really no problem." She watched him select the danish, watching it fall from the metal rings of the machine. Afterwards, Carleigh slipped in another bill and selected her gummy bears. Again, the machine accepted her money with no problems. The packaging hit the bottom, and she retrieved it with a laugh. "I've never had problems with the machine. Maybe it likes us."

Carleigh tucked the bag of gummy bears in her pocket, the bag half hanging out of her shorts as she took his hand with a beaming smile. "Aww, I try!" She exclaimed, taking his hand in her own. "Yeah, can't say that we've met either." Which was unusual. The blonde thought she knew a lot of people at Hammel but apparently not. "Nice to meetcha Phoenix!" He seemed like a really sweet guy. "I'm Carleigh."

[Deleted]

Phoenix gave a wavering smile at the blonde girl. He was always nervous meeting new women, especially pretty, intimidating ones, but this one seemed alright, like she was a sweetheart. And those kind made Phoenix act like a helpless five-year-old. "Y-yeah, my boyfriend's had trouble with it before, I guess... I didn't realize, I don't really use it t-too often." And hopefully wouldn't for a while, since he had to go to work tomorrow and would pick up a box of fresh danishes anyway.

He clung to the packaged good while the girl made her own selection, biting his lip. "Can I... Make it up t'you somehow?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head uncertainly. Phen felt like he should do something. "Huh... It looks that way," he giggled lightly along with her. "Maybe it knows how nice you are." Yeah, because vending machines had feelings. Good going, Phoenix.

Phen shook her hand delicately when she took his, blushing towards the ground self-consciously. "Well, I'm g-glad we're meetin' now," he replied meekly, shooting a shy smile up at her. "N-nice t'meet you too." Phoenix wavered uncertainly, wanting to go back up and give Oriel his food, but also wanting to strengthen this new potential friendship a little more. "So... You come here often?"

Oh, wow. Oh. No. Why did he say that?

[Carleigh Davidson]

"Oh, who is your boyfriend?" Carleigh asked, out of curiosity. She was just trying to place names to faces; the blonde felt like she should know Phoenix from somewhere... but she couldn't remember. "Yeah, I treat myself occasionally. There's always a kid or two struggling each day." She said. Carleigh frequented the dorm first floor as well as the student lounge a lot due to her insomnia and saw a lot of angry kids who wanted sugar at midnight. She chuckled at the thought.

"Oh no, don't worry about it, my treat." Carleigh said with a sweet smile. It was only a dollar, afterall. She wasn't too concerned. She got her gummy bears and Phoenix got his danish. It was a happy ending in her books. She giggled, pretending to pat the front of the vending machine affectionately. Carleigh could tell that the boy was getting flustered, but ignored it. Not only was it rude to point out, but it happened a lot. She realized it was a vain way of thinking but the majority of the time it was the truth.

"I feel like I've heard your name around here, just never had the chance to meet face to face!" Carleigh took another sip of her coffee, finishing off the mug. "But yeah, me too. It's always nice to meet more friendly faces here." She beamed. Again, Carleigh giggled. "Guess I've been here often enough now. Four years at Hammel." She whistled under her breath. Sometimes, it was hard to believe that it had been such a long time. "What about you?" Carleigh had completely forgotten all about her homework and studying, instead focusing on the conversation between her and Phoenix.

[Deleted]

Phen blinked, unused to people actually showing interest in his relationship. "Um, Oriel? Oriel Vanguard?" He didn't know who didn't know Oriel by now, considering the boy's reputation, so he wasn't sure how Carleigh would react to this information. "We've been together about... Four months now, I think," he added a little proudly, but unnecessarily. He didn't make a habit of measuring the time, but he just... Thought it was nice that he could claim it. "Huh.... Maybe it's time for someone t'get a new vendin' machine," he chuckled, glancing at the stubborn thing again. "If that many people have trouble with it..." It seemed silly that a school full of metas would have trouble with such a thing.

"If you're sure," he said softly with a meek smile. "Thank you... Again. I'll be sure to tell Sq- Oriel how nice you were." Knowing Oriel, he'd likely be too busy munching on the danish to hear or care, but it was all he could think of to offer. Phen giggled lightly as Carleigh patted the machine, toying with the hem of his sweatshirt for something to do. She definitely seemed like someone he could be friends with.

He laughed a little nervously. "Ah, yeah, well... It's not really a common name," he replied, tugging on his sleeve. Phen just hoped it wasn't something she'd heard back when he'd still been high on his dust all the time. He was appreciative of Carleigh's easy reply to his stupid question. "Uhm, let's see... I think almost five years for me," he mused. He was supposed to have graduated last year, but that hadn't happened by a long shot. "I really need t'get out more," he chuckled. "I hardly know anyone here after all that time." Thanks to his almost constant hallucinations... "Um, I'm not keepin' you from anythin', am I....?" he asked after a moment, suddenly realizing he'd been talking more than he meant to.

[Carleigh Davidson]

"Oh! Oriel!" Carleigh said with a smile. "Seen him around a few times. He seems like a pretty nice guy." She said, without an ounce of sarcasm detected in her voice. Unlike most kids, she had a good opinion on Oriel. Carleigh smiled at Phen. They sounded like a cute couple. Maybe they could all meet! "And yes, I insist, my treat." She beamed at the cute asian. "We've met before, I think we're on pretty good terms." She said, nodding to herself. "We're working together in English class for an assignment."

"No kidding. You'd think with its reputation they would get a new one. Or find someone to fix it." Carleigh agreed, chuckling. Then again, maybe the school kept it as an ongoing joke.

Carleigh hadn't heard anything bad about Phoenix, just neutral sort of things in fleeting conversation. "Five years, wow." Guess that was the typical time spent in a high school. Then again, they were all away from home and the years just seemed like a long time. "It'll be my fifth next year. Time just flies huh?" She chuckled.

"Sometimes I think I'm out too much. All I do is talk to people." Carleigh joked, giggling. The blonde smiled at Phen. "Well, I'd be more than happy to hang out with you sometime!" she offered, if he was inclined to accept it. She shook her head, brushing off his concern with a shake of her hand. "Nah, just studying and homework. And I don't sleep so I got lots of time for that. Am I keeping you from something?"

[Deleted]

Whoa. Wait. What? Phoenix stared at Carleigh for a few moments after she spoke, totally shocked by her assessment about Oriel's character. While he, of course, thought his boyfriend was wonderful, he was used to hearing complaints about him from other people. "Y-yeah!" he finally replied, face brightening. "He is. He's really great." Phoenix could gush about him for days, but he figured Carleigh would get bored. The fact that they were working together on a project made Phen even happier. "How's that goin'?" he asked pleasantly. "Oriel's really smart, he just... Takes a little pushin' sometimes." And his reading disability didn't help, but that was something they were working on together.

"You'd think so," he agreed with a little laugh. "Maybe someone just needs t'complain about it or somethin'." Phoenix wasn't going to, he was too shy to approach an adult over something like this. He nodded when she repeated the time, rubbing self-consciously on his arm. "Yeah... I should've been out of here last year, but..." He shrugged, looking down. He didn't want to tell such a sweet girl that he'd been a dust-addicted asshole for the last couple of years and that school had been the last thing on his mind.

He gave a small giggle. "Sounds like somethin' we don't have in common," Phen replied meekly. "Sometimes I wish I was more outgoin', but... It just isn't my style." He did brighten considerably at her offer. "That would be really nice," he breathed. "You can come over t'me and Oriel's place sometime, an' we can hang out or somethin'!" Oriel would like that, right? Phoenix didn't know why he wouldn't. He was glad he wasn't keeping Carleigh from anything, though. "Oh, um... Not really, Oriel just gets kinda nervous when I say I'm not gonna be gone for very long and I get distracted," he admitted with a blush and a chuckle. "It's okay though." Oriel should be fine... Hopefully.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh noticed Phoenix's shocked expression, smiling at it. She knew the rumours and Oriel's unfavourable reputation. Hell, she considered herself lucky that herself and Oriel were on good terms and got along pretty well, despite the noticeable differences in their personalities. "I don't think a lot of people see the nice side of him." She said, smiling wider. "It's going good actually! It got... well, don't tell him I told you this in case he didn't want me to tell you." Then again, Phen was Oriel's boyfriend and Carleigh doubted that he would mind. She continued on. "Anyway, I think he was having some trouble with past issues that might have been brought up, unintentionally, when we were finding a subject to talk about. Otherwise, it was good. He does seem pretty smart, he's doing better in chemistry than me." She chuckled.

"Things happen right?" Carleigh finished for him, her smiling softening. It was none of her business, afterall, and she didn't want to make Phoenix feel awkward.

"All good!" The blonde beamed, smiling at Phen. Not everyone could be outgoing. "There's a line. Honestly, I think I intimidate some people when we first meet cause I talk a lot and some people aren't as extroverted.." she rambled, closing her mouth when she realized the irony of the situation. Carleigh grinned. "That would be nice!" she exclaimed, giddy. "You guys roommates?" She loved meeting new people and making new friends. Phoenix seemed like a sweet boy and probably softened Oriel up a little. She wouldn't mind spending an afternoon or something with the two!

"Oh, well if you're sure then..." Carleigh trailed off. She didn't want impede him or anything. "If not, we can meet up another time?" she suggested, leaving the decision up to Phoenix. Either way, Carleigh was a-okay with the result.

[Deleted]

Phoenix could have swooned from amazement that there was someone besides him that was complimenting Oriel genuinely. "I agree!" he squeaked, latching onto this conversation like a lifeline. "He can come across gruff and cold but... There's more to him than he let's a lotta people see." He wondered how on earth Carleigh got to see this better side. She didn't seem like someone that would have slept with him, like Tak, one of the few other people that seemed to know Oriel had a good side. Phen's head tilted curiously as she spoke, and when the explanation came, he gave a small 'ahh' and nodded knowingly. "Yeah, he's... He's been through a lot," Phoenix agreed, keeping the details that he knew vague. Even he didn't know the entirety of Oriel's story, though. "He really is smart though. He doesn't think so, but he is." Hell, Phoenix could talk his boyfriend up all day.

He chuckled at the blonde's admission, somehow feeling more comfortable now that she'd said it out loud. "It's alright, I'm intimidated easily," he replied with a shy smile and downcast eyes. Ironic, considering he was dating probably one of the most intimidating boys at Hammel. Phen was glad she seemed interested though, and straightened up again. "Um, well, I have my own room, but I kinda moved in with him," he told her with another quiet laugh. And didn't want to move out if he graduated this year... Sighh.

But, now Phoenix was feeling the conversation was coming to a close, and he wavered a little, thinking maybe it would be best to get the danish up to his Squishy and make him happy before he tromped down to see what was taking so long. "Um, maybe another time would be good," he agreed, glancing up the stairs. "I'll let Oriel know we bumped into each other and figure out sometime for us to hang out!" With a burst of affection, he swooped in and gave the sweet girl a hug for a long moment before heading upstairs. "See you later!"