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Current Time: 06:19 am EDT
Let's not be too hasty
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Chase Cooper
"Gotta keep - one jump, ahead of the breadline."
The boy can't sing. He knows it. Everyone that can hear him knows it. But Chase considers himself a modern-day Aladdin. It isn't a choice, but instead a necessity. Despite it all, he would appear to the world a normal young man. Barely nineteen years of age, he maintains himself if only to force the world to turn him a blind eye. He simply does not fit the mold, and it is a choice.
Homeless, he doesn't appear to be so. Clean clothes adorn him, clean hair lays atop his head, and a fresh face greets each day.
"One swing ahead of the sword!"
The village he resides in now is small, mere kilometers from home. Home is barely what one could call it, but when the only person you care about is there - that really just
it home. He would be there with her. He was, for years. But he can't. Though he plans to. Biding his time, Chase does what he must to survive.
Which is why, as he stuffs a reusable green bag full of apples from a stand in the local supermarket, he strolls about the place before heading for the door. This is normal. This is how things are done. With no money, he has little choice in the matter.
"I steal only what I can't afford."
"Hey! Kid! You gotta pay fer that!"
"Shít. That's everything!"
Without a second though, he bolts, scampering out of the market and into the sleepy parking lot where someone just
to be driving right where he needs to be walking. But he is skilled in the art of escape, and it is without even a thought that he jumps up and vaults himself over the hood, landing in a tumble before taking off once more.
They don't bother to chase him. What are they going to do, anyway? Nothing. The only problem is that he can't go back, and will have to find somewhere else too get his food.
could be problematic, considering the closest place is exactly where he needs to not be. He can't go there.
Not yet.
It's fine. He has time. He can make this bounty last a few days while he comes up with a solution that will, surely, be an even worse idea than literally shoplifting from the store itself.
So, as breaks away from the sleepy civilization and approaches the abandoned farmhouse that is near expiration, he finds himself humming once more as he slips inside and places the sack upon the crudely kept table. Three legs. It only has three legs, and the only thing keeping it from collapse is the wall upon which it leans.
There is no electricity, and no running water. Chase depends upon the well out in the field, and even then, it is hit or miss. He is no expert on these things, and thus often finds himself with a pail full of muddied water. So, when in town, he gets his hydration from the garden hoses of the homes of working citizens. They would likely never notice, and really, it is a victimless crime.
A single apple is plucked from the bag, and a resounding crunch makes his presence known through the tiny home as he bites into it. Wordlessly, he makes his way through the kitchen and up the stairs, carefully skipping those that have begun to rot. The bedroom is his office, or at least, that is what he would call it.
It is there, upon the wall, that he has drawn a map of everything he knows about the facility where home currently resides. Dead markers adorn the floor, mixed in with the good, and it takes him several minutes to find one that functions before he turns to the wall.
Chase spends hours here, trying to recall details from those fuzzy moments of clarity. Anything that would help. His goal is clear in his mind, yet there is one fine detail he simply cannot wrap his head around. The only place he has never seen. The one place that
Her room.
"Okay.. so.. I follow the signs.. and uh... get to the girl's dormitory. And then I just unlock all the doors until... someone bites my nose off and I get caught. Stupid."
The marker is dropped, the apple bit once again, and he retreats from the wall.
Down the stairs.
Up to the musty, dirty couch.
And into the softly mildewy cushions with a groan.
It's there, that Chase would doze off, picking up where he left off.
"I can take a hint," he yawns. "Gotta face the facts."
His eyes slip closed.
"You're my only friend.."
June 11, 2018 03:38 pm
Maya Hall
Pees!!.. MMM Mmm-mm Psss
Her muffled words are, of course, disregarded, but she still tries to lock her jaw against their prying fingers. There would be bruises on her face, arms, and legs in the coming hours, reminders of battles constantly fought and constantly lost. Finally, she goes slack, allowing them to plop the pills into the back of her throat where she has no choice but to swallow them.
Maya wont cry. Not in front of them.
Hell come back for me..
No he wont. He abandoned you.
He didnt Hell come back
But her positivity is fading, along with her control. So many downers
The only thing worse than when they force the medications on her is when they dont. Shed be locked in solitary, no contact, and one meal a day. Not that she could eat; shed spend the majority of her time vomiting and shaking, and the rest screaming into the silence, just so she could hear something.
For now, as she waits for the medication to fully dissolve, she curls into the fetal position and pulls his face to memory. That goofy grin those shining eyes, always alight with mischief
Her eyes drift shut, and she smiles
When she comes to, shes being forcibly dragged from the bed. She has no strength to fight it, though, and instead lets herself be led by the arm, feet dragging. Out in the hall, the lights are blinding, and she shuts her eyes against the harsh glare.
They take her to the girls common area, where many other drugged out patients await. Oh, is it time to socialize us? The words form in her mind, but her tongue pushes them out in a jumble and its barely coherent. With a scoff and a snort, the aid shoves her onto one of the couches next to a teenage girl who was rocking back and forth.
Maya finds that if she looks around too quickly, her vision blurs, forming all shapes into one massive object. Painfully, her stomach churns, and she instinctively wraps her arms around her abdomen and groans. Its hard to say if its hunger or something else entirely, but either way, she stifles herself. Whatever the problem, the solution is too much to bear.
Gotta keep one jump ahead of the breadline
Her gaze shoots up, causing her head to spin, but she pushes through. The familiar childrens movie plays on the old-as-sh!t television set, having been a favorite of theirs growing up. No, she mutters, watching the scene unfold before her,
The memories are too painful, a reminder that the only person that matters left her.
The room around her is filled with a loud screaming, and it takes her entirely too long to realize the culprit of the disturbance is herself. Three nurses are on her at once, but she fights, kicking and biting and clawing. Her nails find purchase in flesh and she tears as hard as she can, but its a fruitless endeavor.
As shes dragged off to solitary, her yells fill the institute.
June 11, 2018 04:19 pm
Chase Cooper
"Alright, Chase. You just gotta do it."
He'd woken up after yet another restless nap. It had been a fight to sleep, just as it always is. Real sleep is rare. Actual rest only comes when his mind is too exhausted to assault him with nightmares of white uniforms, firm grips, and bleary eyes that would barely see him.
"Listen, mate. You're gonna get bit. It's just a fact of life. You know them. They're not bad. They're just not themselves."
Staring into the mirror at himself, he ignores the dark circles beneath his tired eyes. There is no need to look at his map again. Chase made it. It is engrained into his memory, and there would be no forgetting the details.
"And they're going to see you. It's a fact. But you can run. You know you can. So you just run. And you find her. And then you get out."
Of all the things he could do, pep talks were always his specialty. Realistic, yet oddly optimistic. Even when they made piss poor decisions, Chase had been blessed with a colorful mind. Often, he would put on full blown disertations on various subjects like global warming, the Prime Minister, London's South End, or how there should be no borders, anywhere.
There would be no more hyping himself up tonight, though. Instead, Chase would only give himself a nod before walking out the decrepit door of the farmhouse and through the field. Half an hour and two miles later, the winded young man would find himself outside the very place he never wanted to see again.
But he
There is no light that circles the property, no guards, nothing. Just a tall, iron fence that Chase would climb with ease. He ignores the protest his body puts up in the face of hunger, unrest, and physical exersion. That same fence, on the inside, he would scale alongside until he reached the back of the building.
Please, don't leave me here...
And, low to the ground, he would move across the grassy space until he reached a heavy metal door. His ear pressed to it firmly, he listens, and then pushes inside. A groan escapes him, quiet but still too loud, as it creaks with new life. And, heart pounding in his ears, he begins his journey through a familiar maze of hallways and rooms.
More than once, he has to fast find a place to hide as uniforms do their nightly patrol. More than once, he is so sure he has been seen or heard, as their footsteps cease and a flashlight roams in search for
. He would never understand why the halls are always dark at night, when none are allowed to roam free.
And, as he turns a corner, so sure that the silence indicates a clear path - he finds himself face to face with a familiar caretaker.
"Fück, man..."
Don't. Move.
He pauses, still as wide eyes stare on. And then, he leans into the wall beside him.
"Don't. Move." He mocks, childish and sure.
A glint catches his eye, a needle waiting just for him, and before he can think, he's turned around and running in the other direction into unchartered territory. Dodging around another corner, he waits for the man to pass.
It would be the most feral minutes of his life as he jumped upon the man's back and struggled to obtain the needle, sinking it into his shoulder.
"Shhh.. everything is
just fine
Only then does he turn around, retracing his steps and continuing on the path to find
June 11, 2018 05:35 pm
Maya Hall
Maya would do anything to get back to Chase.
Which is why, after weeks without his return, she finds herself in the laundry room with a man at least ten years her senior, a crazy glint in his eye. You know what I want, pretty little bird. Putting up a hand to stop him from reiterating, she takes in a soothing breath, her heart aflutter in her chest. There is no sense of pride left for the young woman; she simply does what she must.
When hes finished with her, he casts her aside and pulls his pants back up around himself. That wasnt so bad now, was it? She grits her teeth and sets her jaw, letting the shame go with a roll of her shoulders.
Ill take my payment now.
A shiv is tossed at her feet, and it takes a moment for her fog-addled mind to catch up.
Oi! My uppers?
A snort escapes the man before her as he turns to go. Maybe tomorrow night, aye?
Wrong answer.
Something inside her snaps, and before she knows it, the shiv is handle-deep in his neck. Warily, she glances up toward the camera in the corner, but everyone knows they arent in service
Later that night, just before bed, the place is abuzz with the news of the patients death. There are clumps of staff members down the lengths of the halls, whispering their own conspiracy theories about who it couldve been and yelling threats toward the prisoners if they ambled too close to eavesdrop. Maya is careful to not draw attention to herself as she makes her way to her room with gingerly veiled discomfort.
Casting a look from left to right as she enters to make sure no one seems to be taking too much concern with her, she hurries within and shoves a hand down her pants to retrieve her treasure. After a very gentle extraction, she stows the weapon and pills under her mattress. She only has one chance at this, and she could only hope it goes smoother than last time.
An hour later, and the place is deathly quiet, not a light to be found in the halls or within the patients rooms. Another patrol for her hallway is due anytime, and her eyes search for the invading light hungrily. Upon seeing it, she firmly grasps the handle of the shiv and rolls out of bed. With a thud, she lands audibly on the ground and rises to her knees. The weapon pressed against her abdomen in a feigning display of nausea, she shoves fingers down her throat to throw up the medication shed been forced to take not ten minutes ago.
Ey! Whats going on in there?
A satisfying click of the lock indicates his solo entrance into her room. With determination, she forces her weakened body into motion as he kneels beside her. Maya draws the blade messily across his throat, no remorse in her eyes. He drops to the ground, gurgling loudly, as she downs the uppers and makes her escape.
Hoping the new medication would beat back the fogginess in her mind, she moves silently through the halls. More than once, she has to dodge into an open door to avoid the patrol, and if she didnt know better, she would think some universal force was on her side. No one seems alerted to her escape, or the murdered staff member.
Just as shes thanking her lucky stars, she hears movement from ahead. Almost before she can duck out of sight, someone comes running past, followed closely by one of those white-clothed demons. Unable to help herself, shes drawn into the outcome, and she can hardly believe her own eyes when the guy jumps on the assailants back.
Shhh everything is
just fine.
Maya almost screams, but manages to clamp a hand over her own mouth. Fighting back tears, she wonders if this is just a product of her drugged up mind. Could it really be him?
As he sneaks by, she reaches a hand out the door and pulls him silently into the room with her. Her eyes rove over his face, but the darkness is so absolute that she cant make out the familiar features. Breathlessly, she can only hope.
June 11, 2018 06:56 pm
Chase Cooper
He doesn't get far before Chase feels the grip upon his arm and the strong yank that pulls at him. It takes him by surprise; he hadn't heard anyone else. He bites down on his lip hard, suppressing his instincts to scream out as he had so many times before when he found himself tossed around. The staff here are unforgiving in the name of recovery, and would abuse their patients. A rare day would see someone released from their care, and he is still the only person that has escaped - that he has heard of.
Still, a mind clear of drugs and more drugs allow him this, and the only thing he can do is go along for the ride.
Prepared for another fight, defenses up, what greets him is the sweetest voice he has ever known. Chase is forced to blink several times to bring her into focus through the darkness, until it registers in his mind that this might have just been
too easy
Chalk it up to the power of a bond.
Before he can think of their immediate danger, he's scooped her up, arms tightly fashioned around her in an overdue embrace. She smells of cheap soap, sweat, vomit, and copper. Her clothes are loose upon her thin frame, moreso than he remembers. None of that matters.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, Maya."
There is an overwhelming amount of emotion, and as Chase burrows his face into her mane of hair, he can feel himself break. Tears dampen her dark locks as he mutters over and over again how sorry he is. "I thought you were with me. You were right behind me. You were
right there
and then you were gone."
He pulls back barely enough, sniffing, to look at the one face that he's known his entire life to be true. The one person he has always been able to count on, the one who never seemed to doubt him. His only friend. Those same shaking hands release her if only to cradle her face, and dread instantly fills him.
"You're alone... Maya... what happened?"
Questions. There are so many questions. Between the two of them, she had always had it worse. They did that, to the girls. It just made things far more complicated for them as they tried desperately to plan their escape in the first place. He had always been clearer, but barely.
Before he can finish uttering her name, a loud noise pierces the air around them.
Strong and low and demanding, alerting the hospital as a whole that something is
. The patients, no doubt, would immediately become crazed in their enclosures. The guards and staff would be running toward disaster as it reached them over their radios.
The search would begin in the girl's dormitories, and spread out through the hospital. Chase knows this. It is exactly what happened last time.
"We gotta go."
Already, his ear is to the door, listening for what he knows would be coming sooner rather than later. A glance back, a hand reached out, and he whispers. "Don't let go."
June 11, 2018 07:31 pm
Maya Hall
The irony of the situation is almost too much as he wraps his own thin arms around her. Burying her face into the crook of his neck, she lets the tears flow freely as her shame from earlier that day permeates her minds eye. Maya shakes her head to his whispered apologies, as she could never fully accept that he left her there on purpose. They were inseparable and theyd just gotten unlucky.
And he had come back.
His inquiries cause her to hang her head in despair. Part of her hesitates to tell him the truth of her escape, as she knows he will blame himself. But they had promised each other long ago that there would be no secrets between them, and she cant bring herself to lie. So, she opens her mouth to spill her guts, only to be interrupted by the telltale sounds of their demise.
She freezes. Forcefully thrown back into the memory of the last time shed heard those sirens, its as if it were yesterday.. She had been
just behind
him when the arms wrapped around her waist. Before she could call out, a hand was pressed to her mouth and a needle inserted in her neck. Blackness naturally ensued
We gotta go.
Shes already reaching for his hand when he mimics the gesture, and their fingers tangle in a vice grip. Im right behind you, she whispers, her voice catching in her throat with the aspect of getting caught again.
Chase leads them expertly through the halls while Maya makes sure to watch their backs. Occasionally, she would wordlessly pull him back just as a beam of light shot past them, narrowly missing illuminating their forms. Mayas head is swimming with the effect of the drugs in her system, but she presses on, only to come to a startling epiphany as they pass the utility room door.
Pulling him to a stop, she fumbles for the keys shed filched off the staff member whod checked on her earlier. An alarming amount of keys were shakily shoved into the lock until one managed to activate the tumbler. Quickly, she ushered them inside, only managing to close the door mere seconds before they wouldve been found.
Once sure they werent being followed, she turns to her dearest friend in the entire world and gives him an apologetic stare.
Were going to have to go through the sewers. Its the only way we wont get caught.
June 11, 2018 07:53 pm
Chase Cooper
We're going to have to go through the sewers.
He presses his lips together in attempt to hide his grimace. Maya knows him better than anyone, and she knows how much he hates to get dirty. It is something he has struggled with since childhood, and never conquered. Chase is unable, still, to tell where it had come from. All he remembers is her will to climb trees, and his refusal, instead standing below ready to catch her should she fall.
It's the only way we won't get caught.
Pale, he nods, trusting and knowing that she is right. Chase squeezes her hand, taking from her the strength to carry on, as he leads the way to the manhole that would ultimately lead to his optimum discomfort. Stubbornness with him as he refuses to release his grip on her, he prys it open with a wrench and sits upon the ground, pushing it off with the sheer force of his legs.
"Maya..." voice unsteady, he can feel his stomach recoil as the stench hits him like a ton of bricks. One glance up at her, one shouted word from the hallway, and he looks down into the slimy depth.
"All you gotta do is jump."
A groan escapes him as he releases her hand, immediately ushering her to the ladder that leads down. After one failed attempt, he would be damned if it wasn't him that got caught this time around. She
to get out.
And he is right behind her.
There is no time to struggle with the sewer's cover, and they are barely ten feet in when he finds himself choking back bile. Each step brings a new gag, and he longs for a shower and fresh clothes.
Finally, he croaks out the one important piece of information. "I don't know where we're going."
June 11, 2018 08:14 pm
Maya Hall
Adrenaline mixed with their reuniting - and, of course, the f*cking drugs - has her head in a spin, and she suddenly realizes that she is laughing hoarsely. Its a dizzying sensation, but his expression struck something in her and, in hysterics, her body responded.
Still, the shout from the hallway helps her straighten up quickly, and she nods in encouragement as he leads them to their escape route. As he unbars the entrance, she casts a wary glance over her shoulder toward the sound of footsteps collecting outside the door. With their way clear and a few exchanged words of rally, she falls into the pit of despair.
Instantly, she pukes, the acid burning all the way up. Theres no time to dwell, however, and she wipes her mouth with the back of one hand as the other grabs Chase and pulls him along. We just go until we cant anymore. Ever the more laid back of the two, Maya is more inclined to go with the flow rather than have a set game plan. And in this case, they didnt have any other option.
Now leading, she is running as fast as her nutrient-deprived body will allow her. The sewers are slippery and damp, and she finds herself losing her footing easily, only to have Chase quickly pull her up and set her on her way again. The sounds of staff members giving chase could be heard meters behind them, and its sheer b*tch force that pushes her now. There would be no third chance; its freedom or death, in her mind.
Theres no telling how long they run for, but when she finally comes to a stop under another manhole entrance, she is breathless and lethargic. Glancing above them, she gently pushes him toward the latter. Come on, we have to go! She notes the reproachful expression as he hesitates, and she pushes him harder with a hiss in her tone. Im not strong enough to move the cover, now go! Im right behind you.
June 11, 2018 10:45 pm
Chase Cooper
This is not at all what he had imagined breaking her out would be. Chase envisioned himself as a white knight, coming in with his battle ax ready, whisking the girl away from the confinement of her ivory tower and into the night, where safety would have them. Instead, they are wading through actual
, and he is not sure if he should be happy or sickened. Double that with the fact, that the uniforms have actually
them into the sewer, and he is sure that this might have been the worst plan in history.
If he had made an actual plan, that is.
The things you do for love.
Everything is a blur until she gives him a push toward a ladder, insisting they go. But Chase, with their last attempt at escape still horrificly fresh in his mind, casts a look in her direction that makes clear his unwillingness to allow her to go
without him
. It doesn't work, and instead he finds himself getting pushed harder toward the metal apparatus.
Jaw set in annoyance, he reaches up and grabs onto a metal step, hoisting himself. "If you aren't on my heels..."
It's an idle threat, but not at all. If she isn't with him, he goes nowhere. Chase would turn around and offer himself up, unwilling to leave her behind again. So, as he pulls and slips his way up, the heavy cover is met with the sheer force of adrenaline as he grunts his way through it.
Naturally, the clattering above as he makes the final effort would call further attention, and he realizes that they have come up upon a street. No time to waste, he pulls himself up and instantly leans back into, sweaty hands gripping tightly to her arm as he hurriedly pulls her with him.
The face below would never be forgotten, least of all as it came closer and wrapped his own around Maya's ankle.
"No! No. No, no, no, no, no."
There is no time wasted as he vaults himself back in, sliding down until his body is a human shield. "Go!"
It would be the last word their tormentor would hear, as the bottom of his shít soaked shoe comes crashing down into his face. Without remorse, he watches as they crash down into the waste. He doesn't even wait to see the wreckage before he begins pushing her up and out, following, and shoving the cover back on as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
Once more, despite the messes that they are, his arms wrap around the girl.
"Fück me..."
June 12, 2018 06:29 pm
Maya Hall
Fingers wrap around her ankle and she cant help it - she screams. Kicking with all shes worth, she hardly notices the assault from above. Her mind only catches up with her as shes forcefully shoved out of the manhole and onto the street, skinning her knobbly knee as she goes.
Theres no time for her to process before hes encased her in his embrace again. A truly remarkable endeavor for her friend, considering Maya harbors human waste on her form from all the slipping and sliding shed done.
As she returns the hug, however, she doesnt miss the the sneaking eyes and looming people that had just witnessed the two kids that had emerged from the sewers. They dont look innocent, and already she can see them whisper behind their hands. Sticking her tongue out in the direction of the nearest group of oglers, she lets out a softened laugh before shes pulling him along to exact their escape.
When they are far enough into the countryside, she slows, tasting the air that freedom allowed. Maya could cry tears of joy, and she surely would at some point, but for now, shes euphoric. Hooting and hollering with their victory, she only stops when her stomach gurgles ominously. For a moment, a crestfallen look graces her features; she hadnt stopped to grab anything to make her withdrawals bearable.
But she cant stand her happiness being dampened so quickly, so she pushes it from her mind, a problem for future Maya. For now, she would celebrate.
Well? Whereve you been shacking up lately? And tell me now if you have any broads waiting for you. Id prefer to not greet your latest beau smelling like a f*cking slum sl*t.
June 12, 2018 06:48 pm
Chase Cooper
Away from society, Chase allows himself to shrivel up in the weight of pure waste. The filth he currently stews in makes him itchy, and it isn't long before he is shedding clothes - starting with his pants. Running around in nothing but his boxers in front of Maya is nothing new, and even if it were, he would have no shame.
"Farmhouse. About a quarter mile, otherside of that field," he nods forward, indicating their destination. Glancing at her, he smirks. God, he
"You smell like that, anyway. Fückin' Streetrat."
A bare shoulder would move to bump hers before he thinks twice, glancing her over like the slum slüt she is, and taking a pointed two steps sideways. He can smell her. He can smell
. And it is goddamn rotten. Instinctively, he scratches at the inside of elbow, and old habit that would die hard.
"No one else is there."
She knows better, though Chase still admits it quietly. Outside of meeting his personal needs, or bargaining for their gain, he never has found himself attached to anyone else. Just him and Maya. Friends forever.
friends forever. Where she is concerned, Chase is like a lost puppy. Always nearby, always wanting attention,
watching. He follows where she leads, ready to jump into the fray.
As they cross the last of the field, cutting through the thin line of trees that run along it's edge and separate the properties, the house comes into view as a simple silhouette. Dark, tired looking and worn down.
"It's not much. Just for, you know, until you got out. We can find some place good. There's no water, but there's a well. And a little lake. I've been sneaking into the local gym for showers."
June 12, 2018 08:21 pm
Maya Hall
Maya moves to playfully punch the shoulder that he bumps into hers, but before she can land it, hes moving away from her and pulling a face. Her own expression melts into one of indignation and before she knows it, shes rolling her eyes and stripping down to her underwear.
No, there had never been any shame between them.
Upon arrival, she demands - nicely, of course - that he take her to the showers. While much less of a clean freak than her counterpart, she also doesnt enjoy smelling like human sh!t. However, due to her time trapped in that hell hole, she takes her leisurely time and has to get chased out, casting expletives and rude gestures behind her the whole way.
Back at the farmhouse, she can feel the drugs wearing off, and shes left feeling defeated and so, so tired. The coming hours would prove to be very difficult for her, but its a song and dance shes done many times. Her only real concern is for Chase, and how he would cope with it.
Seated on the couch, she holds a brush shed managed to sneak out of a bag at the gym. She wills herself to lift it to her untamed mane, but her arms dont possess the strength. With a sigh, she casts a woeful look toward him, before holding it out. Please? There had been many times hed brushed her hair for her; more often than not, she found it to be too much work. But theres also something about having your hair brushed that makes life more bearable.
Chase sets to work, always careful to not pull too hard, and an involuntary shiver rolls through her entire body. Shutting her eyes for a moment, she yanks the blanket closer around her slim form as the telltale signs start to set in.
Where are we gonna go, Chase?
June 13, 2018 08:50 pm
Chase Cooper
The trip to the showers is hellish. The two rush through in nothing but their skivvies, getting looks from those present in the gym. Chase doesn't care. The only thing he can think of is the fact that they will be washed clean of waste, and everything else that has plagued them for ages now. And, pink from the heat of the water, Chase finds his way around in a towel, going through open lockers and plucking clothes from various bags. He is sure Maya is doing just the same in the women's.
It is when they escape to the house that things begin to turn. He can see it in her, and has seen it in her many times. Maya has done just the same for him. So, when she holds the brush out, she barely has to ask before he is taking it and moving to sit behind her.
It is like they were never apart.
Slowly, as gently as he can, he begins to work out the knots starting at the very bottom. And there it is, the shiver. The first of many things she would suffer without the drugs they had hooked her on. She pulls her blanket all the closer, and Chase mentally prepares himself for a long, long night.
Where are we gonna go, Chase?
There are several minutes pause before he finally speaks up. "London. We can go to London. Or maybe Cambridge. We could even go see about Scotland, if you wanted. Get a flat, a real class place. Chipper will be right across the street."
Her hair is a mess, and despite it all, he
how soothing this is for her. But how can it possibly soothe her when it is so knotted, it can hardly be something enjoyed? Now is the time to talk. She needs to be distracted, as much as she can be.
"We'll have shít neighbors too, so we will always have something to complain about. And someone to yell at. We can bang on the wall when they're too loud, and make'em wish we never moved in."
He only stops talking when the shivers become more frequent, brush pausing mid-stroke before he carries on again. He can only hope this is not nearly as violent with company, as it had been alone.
"What are we gonna do?" He muses. They can't live here. Too close, too dangerous, and simply not survivable. They would end up at rock bottom. Again.
June 13, 2018 09:30 pm
Maya Hall
She knows what hes doing in trying to distract her, and shes more than grateful. Back in the institution, shed always done this alone, which is enough to drive even the lightest addict insane. But Chase is her knight in shining armor, as classless and unwavering as they come.
The shivering becomes more frequent, and she feels like there is no warmth left in the world for her. Maya can feel the bile begin to burn in the back of her throat, but she swallows it down, fighting back the withdrawal as much as she can. Instead, she focuses on his voice and the careful way with which he detangles her hair. A grin pulls at her features, in spite of her condition, and she finds herself laughing weakly in light of his vision for them.
Things take a turn for the worse, and before she can stop him, she pitches forward and vomits gloriously into the waste basket hed set before her. Gingerly, she rubs at the back of her head where the brush had surely yanked some hair out with her sudden movement, and a sob that has nothing to do with the pain wracks her lithe frame.
He has so many plans for them, so many glorious scenarios, and all she can think of is how they turned her into the monster they framed her to be. Yes, she had been a junkie street rat, but she hadnt been a murderer. At least, not until they refused to let her go when she turned eighteen, and she had to take matters into her own hands. All she could think of in that moment was getting back to her
, not how it would permanently affect them thereafter.
She stops him mid-stroke and takes his hand. Her honey colored eyes find his, and the tears well and fall freely. What if we go to America? What if we put an ocean between us and this godforsaken hell hole? Another sob, another bout of vomit, and she is shaking like a leaf. I killed two people, I f*cking killed them. She stares at her own hands and sees the blood that isnt there before the digits curl, her nails digging into her palms until they draw real, tangible lifesource from her veins.
Im so sorry. I f*cked up, I f*cked up so bad, but I just... I just wanted to come home.
June 14, 2018 01:31 pm
Chase Cooper
Chase really should have seen that coming. As she lunges forward, he is left with the brush in hand, too slow to react and ripping a large knot of hair from her head. His grimace says it all, and he tries to hide it if only to save her from seeing it. Girls are attached to their hair. While he would never understand it, he certainly wouldn't attempt to undermine that obsession.
And then, as she touches to where it had once been, she lets out a
"Hey... hey, Maya. It's okay."
It's all he can do to carry on with her wishes, but she stops him and takes his hand. What comes next, he blames on withdrawal. Go to America? How could they possibly get there while on the run? How would they get the
to get there? And identification? What if the authorities caught them? What if security screened and detected them? They have
I killed two people, I f*cking killed them.
Swallowing, he stares, eyes wide and heavily troubled. Chase is having trouble determining if this is real or her imagination, but it seems real. She is so sure. Not only did they pay for a murder they didn't commit, but she would pay for
she had.
I just wanted to come home.
It is sudden as he moves around her, scooting himself so that he may grab her hands and force his own fingers between nail and palm. He can feel the warmth of blood upon his flesh, but he doesn't worry about it. Not right now.
"We are going to get out of here, okay? Just let me worry about that. I'll take care of it. I'm gonna get us as far away as I can."
Mouth dry, he is stopping himself from asking for details. But that fücked up part of him
them. His mind even argues that he needs to know. How far had she gone? How did she manage to do that? She might be tasteless, just like him, but she'd never been one to cause harm.
It's the drugs. It has to be the drugs.
"...Will they know it was you?"
June 14, 2018 06:28 pm
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I've been known to make 'that snarly face' when people say they love the Autumn season. I can't help it if everything around us right now just reminds me that dreaded winter and ungodly temperatures are coming. To me, the season is accompanied by one long loop of creepy ambient horror film music. Yet, I am making an honest effort this year to try and see the beauty and not the illness that is Fall ... no really, ... read more
This past weekend was Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for. We surrounded absolutely delicious food, my twins in dress-up {Bo Peep and Elsa} because well, they're them. My oldest set the table and made name places from post-its. So obviously these needed to put on the forehead, for most of the dinner and by everyone, adults included. I'm thankful for many reasons, yet also for incredible fun, silliness, ... read more
Off the Grid
This last weekend we spent some time off the grid. We attended a wedding in British Columbia set at a gorgeous mountain resort, so it was a fine excuse to do some exploring in the area that we had been 13 years prior, on our honeymoon. This is the view from my cabin porch one morning, I immensely enjoyed the peace and beauty of Kootenay National Park, over a cup of french pressed coffee. More about our trip to ... read more
It Wasn't Me
Lately I've been finding letters, words and pictures written with PEN on walls and furniture. PEN! I'm super frustrated but adding to that chaos is the response that I get from all girls at once, 'It wasn't me!'. Sometimes you have to resort to trickery to find out who the culprit is. Yet usually ... So, Katelyn, you didn't do this then? Yeah .... right. . ... read more
A Glowing Game
This past weekend we did a little glow bowling, entirely fun and something we really should do more often. Do you bowl? . ... read more
The Last Hurrah
If there's one thing I can say about Summer 2014, is that we truly made the most. Our season was filled with fun activities, events and travel - which is why I can't help but to be blessed yet sad at the same time. Summer was fantastic. These are some of the last shots of our Summer. Sun, grass, smiles and friends. Park, play, ride & camping. We were right in ... read more
Back to School for the Twins Plus One
Today is Back to School! My oldest is now in Grade 5 and the twins just started Grade 1. Myself? I have my days free, a first in 10 years. Yes, there were a few teary moments and it was hectic to get 3 kids settled into 3 different classes in only a matter of minutes. Yet, they are there and I am here. The house is quiet. It's just me and my coffee, and the sounds of the keys as I type. I miss you summer ... read more
This is Gross
We were recently hit with quite the storm, completely out of nowhere on a beautiful hot day. The storm blew in faster than I could shut the windows. The fierce wind picked up much dirt and covered everything in the house. Gross. Most of my tall aspen trees couldn't fight against the wind and uprooted. Ugh. Then. The hail started. We didn't get it as bad as some, causing damage to cars ... read more
Long Weekending
Part of our long weekend was spent at the creek property. Running free ... and riding bikes. Yet, in Katie's case, she rode until her pedal broke off. I just blogged about the twins learning to ride bikes, so this is timely. I told ya these girls were working hard! ;) . . . ... read more
My Twins are Six!
This past weekend we did some celebrating - my twins turned Six! Six is a pretty big number, it's like overnight they turn into school-age children. Taller, stronger, more independent and mature ... Hold me! I'll post more about their birthday soon, yet truth is, I haven't even had time to even go through their photos yet. *someone* {me} decided it would be a good week to do an impromptu bedroom renovation. ... read more
Westerner Days 2014
This past week was Westerner Days in our city. The first day of the week-long celebration included a parade. My oldest was in it with cheer, so that means we were out the door pretty much when the sun rose. Then, we took in the Westerner Days Fair right after. I was surprised at my oldest, taking on the biggest rides for the first time. She literally could not get enough {of everything that made me dizzy just to ... read more
Fireworks {Kind of} Captured
We spent a few days at our creek property last week, and celebrated Canada Day there. It was an incredible camping trip, and for a very specific reasons {but, more on that later}. Of course, the highlight after the sun fully set, was the fireworks! Not long at all and it wasn't an intense and dramatic show - but they were one of the best ever. A family chose them, invited neighbours and we ... read more
HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE! {said with so much excitement I could burst} We had a remarkable weekend and a wonderful start to summer 2014! Friday was the twins last day of Kindergarten {sniff}, so after some morning festivities at the school we went to 'Food Truck Fridays' downtown with some friends and ate lunch in the park. Some of the best food is served out the side of a truck. Just ... read more
Making s'mores over the weekend. Is there a more perfect end to the day? . . . ... read more
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Bethany Stuart reviews Curtains Down at the Bike Shed Theatre on January 21st as part of the From Devon with Love Festival.
Curtain Down is a one-act play, written and directed by local playwright Rachel Feeny-Williams, which spotlights the bittersweet realities of a career in the arts, focusing on what happens when a star's light unceremoniously goes out and the unlikelihood of it lighting in the first place. The audience meets a struggling drama graduate, Natalie, after her flight from the stages of Butlin's Christmas performance, and tracks her interaction with the other characters in the Curtain Down pub – something of a theatrical graveyard.
Cecile Charles – or "Si Si" – a washed up leading lady turned land lady opens the play with a scene reminiscing about her former glory against the very fitting backdrop of the low-lit and well-worn Bike Shed Theatre, giving the scene an appropriate intimacy as we delve into the character's past. Feeny-Williams creates some genuinely interesting characters to depict the differing struggles of a life in the performing arts; Ashleigh is the sharp-tongued exotic dancer whose failures catalyse an aggressively defensive streak which comes to the fore several times throughout the play; Maxwell Kensington is the quintessentially bearded Shakespearean actor with a complex about performing anything less than the work of the Bard, and then there's Bill who simply responds "I'm a tree" – suffering the inevitable psychological effects of long term exposure to physical theatre.
There is much in the play's fabric then that has the potential for a captivating and melancholy exploration of what happens off-stage when the audience have gone and the lights are out. However, there was something ever so slightly stilted and uncomfortable in the characters' interaction on stage for me that hindered the play's true capturing of the downheartedly ironic tone that would have made it a more striking piece and which I think was endeavouring to come out of the script. The dialogue was well-written and witty, creating a positive response from the audience, particularly when delivered with the cutting edge of the actress who played Ashleigh, but again in places took away from the necessary tension.
A one act play has its inevitable challenges, needing to engage with its audience from the outset, fill every scene with something meaningful and take us on a journey in a very short space of time. Whilst I applaud Feeny-Williams for creating all the potential for this to be a success, I was left somewhat underwhelmed by its execution.
Bethany Stuart
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We have recently started working with some new clients who want to transform their new house, which is in desperate need of an update, into a stylish family home. However there's a lot of work to do so a tight budget is critical for each room. However we're quietly confident we can help them create somewhere beautiful for less than you'd think.
A real trouble area for them is the bathroom. The current dated bathroom does not reflect the taste of this modern family and it's lack of storage means that they are not utilising the available space effectively.
Our first suggestion was to open up the bathroom a bit and take up a bit of space from their oddly capacious hallway. A small structural change like this isn't hugely expensive and will dramatically improve the layout of the space.
We are opting for a simple monochrome look in the bathroom, it is neither overtly masculine or feminine and will not date. We love the idea of having a black shower unit against bright white tiles. Black and white taps and shower heads are now pretty widely available and are not as expensive as you might first think.
As they now have a small toddler in tow storage space throughout the house will be invaluable. It is extremely frustrating to spend time and money creating a gorgeous space to find that it ends up littered with bathroom paraphernalia because there is no where practical to store anything.
So, we have suggested having a vanity unit custom built to make maximum storage space from the small room. This will then hold a stylish and simple square sink in place.
We love the idea of having a simple floating shelf above the sink to display their favourite paintings or prints. Why shouldn't you have something nice to look at whist relaxing in the tub?
Our clients are very keen on having a hexagonal tile, a nice variation to the metro tile which seems to be the tile of choice these days. In keeping with our monochromatic look we have suggested going for a large black hexagonal tile on the floor and smaller white hexagonal tiles on the walls – both with the same charcoal grouting.
We hope that gives you an insight into the initial planning and ideas stage of this bathroom, we will keep you updated as the project progresses.
What do you think? Do you have any top money saving tips for bathroom design?


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hint: Archer's out here with me, and the sounds coming out of his room are super cute!
Find out tomorrow on my personal blog {it is Army related…sorta}.
hint: Archer's out here with me, and the sounds coming out of his room are super cute!
Find out tomorrow on my personal blog {it is Army related…sorta}.
Since the last time I wrote – pondering whether or not to continue this blog – I've received so many nice comments from people saying that they are reading! I've heard from a few new Army WAGS; this is so exciting, but it's also a lot of pressure! I feel more pressure to write now that I know there are people reading and even looking to me for advice (haha, I'm as clueless as all of you are – just trying to take it one day at a time).
I suppose the point of all my rambling is to say thank you to those who are reading, and especially to those of you who have sent me such lovely comments! I know I don't post much, but it's honestly because I don't have much to say…
At a certain point, this unusual like, that at the beginning was so foreign, becomes normal. Suddenly there's nothing really to write about because all I would have to say is, "another day of playing with Archer, then J came home, we had dinner, and went to bed". This in itself is an Army Wife Lesson I suppose – that life does return to normal!
When J goes away, it takes a day or two for me to create a new normal, and then suddenly, we're just living life. Then he comes home, and again, it takes a few days to redefine normal, but we always do, and before we know it, things are boring again.
So my message to you ladies who told me that you're partners have just left for basic training is this: things will go back to normal for you. You will be 'bored' with your life again soon. For now, make this your normal, because in the end, normal is really relative – and up to you!


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Westside Children's Educational Programs is now
Santa Monica Bay Music Foundation
We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enriching communities through music education and performance.
Music Programs
After-school music ensembles and classes. Children play 2 concerts
Music Camps
Music sleepaway and day camps for children ages 4-14. All Experience levels welcome
Field Trips
Fun and interactive presentations, and workshops for classrooms


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Apartment Painting Ideas; Feel Living At Your Own Home
Creative painting can take an apartment from being common and uninteresting to being a fascinating space that is the expression of its residents. The actual process of painting an apartment is simple. Planning the colors and areas to be painted is also not difficult. It is usually best to talk with the apartment manager or owner before repainting an apartment. In most cases, as long as you agree to repaint the apartment to neutral colors, they will allow painting of the apartment to your taste. However, the first thing you should do after getting the permit is you should get the best apartment painting ideas that suit on your needs.
Apartment Interior with Wall Painting Ideas
One central color scheme is one of apartment painting ideas. You can make your space seem larger by choosing one color, or variations on the same color, for use in all your rooms. For example, choose a soft spruce green color and use it everywhere; living room, bath, guest room, kitchen, master bath. The "universality" of the color will trick the eye into expanding the space. Alternatively, use slight variations of the same color in each room: darker spruce in the living room, a lighter tone in the master bedroom, a pastel tone in the bathroom. Painting every room in your apartment a different color will "cut up" the space visually and make it seem smaller.
Luxury Apartment Painting Ideas
The other idea for painting your apartment is using neutral colors. Neutral wall colors like cappuccino, coffee, ash gray and steel gray are very trendy and perfect for apartment dwellers. Many property owners will quickly approve your plans to paint in neutral colors because these tones often don't need to be painted over when your lease is up. Neutral colors offer additional benefits too: They are easy on the eyes, fit in with most major furniture groupings and drapes and become "boring" less quickly.
Marvelous Apartment Painting Color Ideas
If you love your apartment looks bold, cozy red is perfect apartment painting idea for you. While the idea may go against the "rule" of using bold colors only in larger rooms, red is an exception. It can be used in nearly any size of space. You can make a small room seem very cozy by painting it a bold but warm red. Red can be a particularly good color for a bedroom. Be sure to use a warm tone, like tomato red, not a purplish red.
Red Painting Ideas for Apartment
Trim colors are good ideas for making your apartment looks larger. If your apartment is small, consider painting the trims the same color as the walls. This will make the trims, especially around doors, blend in and won't make the space feel smaller and "cut up." Just be sure you have permission to paint trims before you start. Painting trim can be very time consuming, and your property owner may object to this proposal unless you are willing to paint the trim back to "neutral" or remove the paint from natural woods.
Color Theory for Apartment Painting Ideas
Small Apartment Bold Colors Painting Ideas
Color Theory: Dimension
Paint colors have the ability to change the apparent dimensions of a room. Light colors will appear to push the walls back, away from the viewer, while dark colors will draw the walls in on the viewer. If your bedroom is small, for example, paint it with a light color like butter-cream or a very pastel blue. If your living room is huge, consider using a chocolate, navy or hunter green color to "shrink" the space visually.
Small Apartment Painting Color Ideas
Color Theory: Temperature
Colors also have the ability to either "warm up" or "cool down" a room. Apartments that have windows facing the south or west are considered "warm" so use cooler colors like blues and greens here. Apartments with windows that face east or north are "cool" so use warm colors like red, yellows and oranges to warm the space visually. A neutral color, like white, tends to be "warm." Black and gray tend to be "cool."
White Balance Apartment Painting Ideas
Color Theory: Mood
Paint colors impart mood to a room as well. If you want to set a sunny, happy mood in your apartment kitchen, use warm colors like red, yellow and orange. If you want to create a relaxed mood in a bedroom or bath, choose a cool, calming blue or a green with blue tones in it. You can make a room feel exciting by using colors to jangle the senses, like vertical stripes or diagonals. You can calm a room down by using horizontal bands of color.
Painting your apartment is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to update the look and make a rented space feel like home. Things that you should consider about apartment painting ideas; understanding some basic color theory and painting techniques, they will help you create a look that's fresh, inviting and completely yours.