&welcome back. [open]

[bizz]

He leaned against the cool stone of the counter top, five fingers drumming lazily, the other five curled into a fist under his chin. His eyes watched as his lower hand moved slowly, then swung around the empty room. The boy let out a small sigh, then turned. His gaze fell to the students that moved around outside the glass box that was the front room of the main office. They were dressed in jeans and tee-shirts, sweatpants and tank tops-- clean and heading to breakfast. Vincent looked down at himself, horse snot and dirt fresh on his white polo and rust breeches. Another sigh, and he threw himself into a big leather chair in the corner of the room.

As he watched the clock tick above what was supposed to be a room that was bustling with activity Vincent became aware that this main office might not be open right now. It was nearly seven o'clock in the morning, and he knew something about not being open before breakfast. Unable to think back to his "handbook" that he had lost in the middle of freshman year, V decided just to wait it out. Didn't the administration understand that farm life started at five o'clock? He'd been awake for two hours, showered, moved his mare, groomed her, and had seen her fed. This was his stop before breakfast-- but now it was becoming obvious that he might have to skip breakfast in order to wait until this place showed any signs of life.

V leaned forward in the chair, the leather making noises as he shifted, and propped his elbows on his knees, then his head on this palms. His eyes, fixed on the ground as he became lost in his inward ramblings. You see, Vincent was rather upset. He was only here to change his class list. It had him under a sophomore math, and a number of classes he had never signed up for. Being a senior he had expected senior privileges in classes, meaning that he'd basically get whatever he had chosen. And then the mix up between then math classes was completely embarrassing, signed up for a class that he had taken two years ago. These thoughts flooded his brain as he stared at the stop on the floor.

After what seemed like an eternity Vincent had to move. He stretched his long legs on, and twisted his back-- satisfying pops erupted from his spine as he twisted and released the air that had built up in the joints. Shaking his shoulders he settled back in his chair and pulled one foot up over his knee. His blue eyes now examined this in his own scrutinizing way. His thumb and forefinger picked where the soles of his tall boot was falling away from the leather. His thick bottom lip slipping between his teeth as he concentrated on picking at his boot.

"I need to clean my tack"

Was the final consensus on his life, as Vincent replaced his boot to the floor a little worse for wear. His mind flipped through halters, bridles and saddles that needed a good go over with leather soap. And as he thought in the dim office, Vincent could only become more aggravated. His boney fingers rushing through his shaggy blonde hair then rubbing over his face. He turned to watch the hall way outside of the office, trying to judge what was going on and why no one was working in the office.

His head rolled back, and his eyes closed, five fingers drummed against his knee and the other five curled into a fist over the arm of the chair; waiting.

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[Onzyy]

Bella had just come from the headmaster's office, a big grin on her face. There wasn't much that she could do about her current situation, but it had been made better for the fact that soon she would be seeing her dad. Mentally she counted the tasks that still lay ahead of her. Homework, training and sleeping. Though she knew what came with sleeping.

Entering the main part of the office she thought she saw a familiar figure at the desk. He had grown taller yes, but it was still Vince. One of her best friends, though she hadn't seen him in a while. Being out of the circuit for more than a year did that, and for once she regretted not competing after her accident. Well, that would be as soon as she was healed enough.

Show days had always been fun, and the boredom of waiting for a class to start had seriously been abated by having company. Cautiously she approached the desk, noticing that Vince had his eyes closed. Long time no see stranger, she said, a friendly smile on her face.

Tag: Bizz
Words: I'm not gonna count
Notes: Will get better. I promise.
Outfit: Here
Credit: This template was created by DAN at CAUTION 2.0

[bizz]

He hadn't heard footstep, or even a door open-- but sudden a voice was pulling him back to reality. His arms stretched up above his head, and fingers laced together as he attempted to ease the cramp in his back from sitting in the same position for so long. Hands again rubbed hair to face, then back again, a groggy sigh pushing its way into the world.

Obviously he'd been napping.

A soft smile lit his features as the boy instantly recognized the girl that stood above him. He stood, arms open to embrace Bella before returning her greeting.

"Hey, long time no see"

His smile grew, then dropped as he kicked himself for repeating what she had just said... Couldn't he have said something else? Like "how are you?", "haven't seen you all summer, you look great!"... Any amount of things would have been better then reiterating what had just been said. Instantly he tried to save himself. Tried to try and pull back what he had just said, and spit something new into the air.

"Didn't see you in Ocala this year."

Had he ever seen her in Ocala after they grew out of ponies? He couldn't remember. He knew she got a greenie to train, and he hadn't seen her on the A circuit much after that. Had he ever seen her horse except for at school? He was floundering, feeling awkward, and making a fool of himself.

"How's your boy?"

That seemed like a safe enough question.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Onzyy]

Bella watched as Vince came out his slumber. Apparently sleeping was a favourite past time of most people at the Academy. It was a hard life combining school and horses. Specially those who were the advanced riders, such as Vince and herself. There wasn't anyone else in the office to witness the obvious uncomfortable position she had caught Vince in. Well, she couldn't remember to clearly, but had he always been like this.

I decided to skip the circuit this year, she explained when he asked about Ocala. With the accident and getting my newbie, was the further explanation. The accident had caused a huge disruption in her life, including her showing one. Though she had chosen not to compete, her father had also expressly forbid it, fearing another head injury. Recalling memories of those hazy days after she had woken up after her a coma, Bella couldn't remember if Vince had visited her not. Many things were still fuzzy from that time.

Bella snapped back to attention when she heard his voice again. Pan is doing well. He's actually jumping better than ever. Star, my baby, is coming along, but Bella didn't mention the times that she had been thrown into the dirt, knowing that Vince was like her brother, Andrew. Overprotective, and would have Andrew over at the Academy in a heartbeat if he felt like it.

I also got another boy from the Auction about two weeks ago. I called him Synergy, and he's got amazing power. Bella loved talking horses, and knowing someone like Vince made it so much easier. All shyness disappeared when she was around him. I forgot to mention that he's just made horse size, but he can jump! She knew that she was getting carried away, but she honestly couldn't help herself.

And how are your ones? How was the circuit this year? Bella asked the questions out of true interest, but she didn't want to mention that she had followed Vince as he rode at the various shows.

Tag: Bizz
Words: I'm not gonna count
Notes: Said it would get better. =]
Outfit: Here
Credit: This template was created by DAN at CAUTION 2.0

[bizz]

Vince nodded as Bella told him what he had missed, how he hadn't noticed that she had been absent from showing on the whole circuit... And this accident. He remembered hearing about it, some backhanded stories of the bright rider who had had a bad fall.

He wanted to say something, something nice, something encouraging. Of course nothing came to mind, nothing without a ring that sounded practiced or cliche. So he just shook his head. his brain trying to figure out some way to help, get her back in the show ring.

Bella mentioned Pan and his interest was perked again, his mind turned away from from finding a method to help and to listening. A smile crossed his feature again as she spoke about him jumping better. And about her new horse Star . He was genuinely pleased for her, happy that she was doing well and that things were working out. He nodded as she kept going, encouraging her to keep talking about her horses. He liked to hear about her triumphs.

"Oh uhm... good?"

He floundered again, trying to search for something to say again. The thought over the past events of the show season. Ribbons and trophies, zones and regionals, falls and trips to the dry cleaners.

"Mary is coming along, we did the greens this year. And the Goose Animal was-- well he was the Goose. "

He shrugged, not knowing what else to say. His horses had been themselves. Mary wasn't settling, and Fortunado was perfect as usual. He could talk about the time he spent in the ground, or the time he had gotten Mary into the jumper ring. But he'd rather hear about Bella's year.

"What is your class list like?"

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Onzyy]

Bella knew that Vince was hiding something from her, but knowing how he was, she didn't address the topic further. Seemingly her mind went back to the accident. The way a simple drunk driver ended her way of life for so long. For Bella she was just happy that one of her friens had arrived at the place she called home. Bella knew about Vince's past was in some parts shady, but she knew that he lost his father at a young age. What he knew about her was complete.

Bella smiled at the comment about Goose. He had always been a reliable one, almost like Pan was to her. There was nothing much else to say about horses, so the topic was switched to school. Well, I have the usual. Science, History, English, Music. That's basically all actually. Bella never really crowded her timetable with mass amounts of subjects. She liked to keep life simple. It would've been stupid to ask what subjects Vince had, as it was obvious that he hadn't checked in yet.

What subjects are you thinking of taking? once again tying to draw the attention away from herself. For Bella, she had always felt a small attraction that went further than friends with Vince, but they had never crossed the thick boundry line that was called friendship. So Bella kept the feelings to herself.

Tag: Bizz
Words: I'm not gonna count
Notes: Said it would get better. =]
Outfit: Here
Credit: This template was created by DAN at CAUTION 2.0

[bizz]

Vince smiled as she listed off her classes. The regular, just whatever. Classes to fill the year. He nodded as she listed off academics. He thought about his own messed up list. The classes that obviously been chosen with out his senior priority in mind.

"I have my class list-- but it's screwed"

He held up the sheet of paper that was folded into quarters. It listed classes he had taken as a sophomore and other classes that had had already filled credits for. Although he wouldn't mind taking sophomore english again, the simplicity of writing five-paragraph essays and not twelve page papers. He handed it over to show her what the school had mailed him.

"I wasn't supposed to be back for first semester-- but here I am."

Mom had originally gotten him excused from his first semester of senior year to work in a barn that his family dealt with in Germany. The idea what been that Vincent would help train and show their new eventers, and help them get prepared for some of the qualifiers for the Herman olympic team. Their rider had taken a fall in the middle of her first jump round at the first show. Mom had decided that it made no sense for Vincent to be there if the riders bones wouldn't set until after the qualifiers so she shipped him back to America.

Vince's lips pressed into a smile as he thought back to the training barn, he had plenty of stories-- but now really wasn't the time to tell them. A hand reached out and gently touched Bella's elbow. His chest clenched and his smile widened, his blue eyes searched her face suddenly then looped around the dark room.

"Do you want to go grab some breakfast? I'm starved."

It was pointless to stand here waiting. He'd rather eat. He'd rather hang out with Bella. They'd known each other for awhile, and they'd always been friends. While Vincent did have those itching feeling, that flutter in his chest, the nerves he used to feel when he was little and about to go into the ring. He felt those around Bella. These were new feelings but still going unnoticed by the girl who forced this stir of emotion. And for her sake Vincent hoped that they would never be noticed. He had been a relationships before-- they never lasted long and they never ended well.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Onzyy]

Bella knew instinctively that Vince was only telling part of the story. Your timetable can't be that bad, she told him, but honestly, sometimes everything just messed themselves up. Taking the paper, she looked it over. Okay, I was wrong. This is screwed up. She herself was taking advanced English, but it had proven to be one heck of a challenge.

When he reached out, and took her by the elbow, Bella's heart went into a frenzied beating. Thankfully, he couldn't hear her. Breakfast? Uh, sure. Do you wanna go to the cafeteria or someplace in town? Staying at the school would provide them a place to talk, but there was always a chance that they would be overheard, and gossip spread like wild fire. The town was a time away, but some students were never there this time of the day. They were usually in class, someplace that Bella should have been.

Knowing that the principal was in his office, Bella quickly changed positions so that she was holding Vince's hand, and she dragged him out of the office. It wouldn't look so good if Mr.Rees were to catch her bunking out of class, even if it was lunch.

Tag: Bizz
Words: I'm not gonna count
Notes: Said it would get better. =]
Outfit: Here
Credit: This template was created by DAN at CAUTION 2.0

[bizz]

A steady little chuckle slipped out of V as she tried to tell him that his class list wasn't a mess of random classes they had thrown together. As he handed the paper off and watched the expression on Bella's face change and shift in surprise the chuckle exploded into a large laugh then disappeared. He nodded, and reached out to take the paper with two fingers. He folded it slowly and put it back into his pocket.

Vincent's shoulders pulled up in a shrug as she asked him where they were going to eat. Then all of the sudden he was being dragged by the hand. He followed slowly, allowing her to pull him by his wrist, trying not resist the urge to lace his fingers into hers. He backed away from her when they got outside. Vincent backed up against the wall of the office and looked Bella up and down.

It took him a second to remember the question that she had posed a moment ago. Breakfast, thats night. His head swung from side to side. One way lead to the cafeteria and the other off campus. More students tumbled through the halls in their pajamas as Vincent and Bella stood idle. A moment ago the little hole-in-the-wall breakfast place had been calling his name. But as he watched students move like zombies to the cafe Vincent craved a more immediate fix to his hunger.

"Do you mind eating in the cafeteria?"

He moved towards the cafe, looking over his shoulder to see if Bella was following him. He pulled absently on the hem on his polo, straightening it over his chest. His lips pursed together then stretched into a smile. Two fingers beckoned Bella to his waiting arm. He held it out crooked so that she could loop her own arm into his and they could walk together.

"You coming or what?"

ooc.
Do you want to keep this going on this board or switch to the cafeteria?

[Onzyy]

Bella laughed along with Vince. She hooked her arm into his and together they walked to the cafeteria. Most of the students looked they would still be in bed. Bella smiled to herself. Being this close to Vince was almost like a disaster to happen. She fought every impulse not to just whirl around and tell him how she felt. How she always felt about him.

The cafeteria was actually quiet, as most of the students looked like...well like zombies. Early mornings obviously didn't agree with them. They didn't agree with Bella either, but she had to see the principal, and she had to at least look decent. Most of the tables were full, but she one in a quiet spot that was empty. You go get breakfast and I'll find a seat. Bella pointed him in the direction where the food was, and quickly walked over to the bench.

Tag: Bizz
Words: I'm not gonna count
Notes: Done::Let's just keep it here =] =]
Outfit: Here
Credit: This template was created by DAN at CAUTION 2.0

[bizz]

Vincent didn't ask Bella what she wanted, he just left her to find a table. He made his want to the breakfast line, where he stood behind a group of younger girls, that chatted about classes and ponies, boys and upcoming shows. He could have fallen asleep waiting, standing their against the cold wall as he waited for the line to move. Of course the nasal ring of their high pitch voices kept bringing him back to reality. He followed them in line, begging the people in front of them to move faster so that he wouldn't have to take anymore of his torture. After what seemed like hours Vince was at the edge of the slider that would hold the trays. He picked up two trays and began to slide them on the metal.

He blocked out the preteens in front of him as he made decisions. He grabbed a carton of milk for himself, and apple juice for Bella. As he moved through apples, and lucky charms were moved from large silver containers to the plastic trays that slid before him. In a last minute addition he grabbed two plain bagels. After the trays were filled he lifted them up, and over his head to avoid collisions with other students so early in the morning. He ducked past the preteens, past the younger kids full of energy, and the older students that shuffled across the floor. He spotted Bella and made his way over, putting her tray down in front of her, and then sliding into the seat across from her, putting down his own tray.

He smiled at her from across the table, comfortable in the silence that rested over their table as the rest of the cafeteria erupted in noise. He took a bite of his apple then set it back down, to open up his cereal. He emptied half of the milk into the plastic container that the Lucky Charms came in, then swirled it around with his spoon, letting the marshmallows rise to the top. He did his best to eat around them, trying to save the pockets of sugar for later.

"so how are uhm--" he hesitated "-- guys?"

It seemed like a reasonable thing to ask. A friendly thing to ask, something you ask someone that you aren't interested in. But of course he was only asking because even though he wanted to appear uninterested, he wanted to know if she was seeing anyone. He didn't want her to be seeing anyone, no one. He looked up at Bella from his cereal, then back at his food. He lifted the apple from his tray and took another large bite, focusing anywhere but on Bella.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Onzyy]

Bella watched Vince enter into the queue, and could laugh at the frustrated flashes that crossed his face. She had a really good friend in him, and wondered. Wondered how life would have been without Vince. Well, shows would've been boring she thought. That was actually true. The duration of the circuit was long enough if one didn't have company. Bella's thoughts then took another direction. One that led back to Chase. She hadn't seen the handsome one in ages, and emotions were in conflict. Which one? Vince or Chase? Did Vince even know she liked him? Did he even like her?

Bella snapped out of it as soon as Vince came to the table with the trays. She first took the bagel and broke it into smaller pieces. It was what she always did. Next was opening the apple juice. Slowly she chewed on the bagel. Bella grinned as she saw how he saved the marshmellows for last. Then he just jumped into the deep end. Guys?! Well , she had to say something. The truth was the option that wasn't going to hurt.

There was when I first arrived, but in the singular. Andrew wasn't too impressed, and I really didn't like him that much. Bella wondered if Vince remembered her twin, but that was a conversation for later. Her mind however screamed at her. LIAR!! You know you liked Chase. was pretty much her thought pattern. And you? Any romantic interest? she asked. Bella was feeling jealous all of a sudden. And she knew why. She liked Vince. A lot.

Tag: Bizz
Words: I'm not gonna count
Notes: Done::Let's just keep it here =] =]
Outfit: Here
Credit: This template was created by DAN at CAUTION 2.0

[bizz]

Vince registered Bella's words slowly. There was, but not anymore. And Andrew? It took him a second before he realized that she was talking about her brother. He slightly remembered him, but not really, they had never been as close as he and Bella had been. He put the apple back down as she paused between sentence and question, and filled his spoon with marshmallows and milk. As her question escaped into the air he had a mouthful of sugar and vitamin D. He thought for a second; things swirled inside of him as he moved the disintegrating blobs of sugar around inside his mouth. As he swallowed his first impulse was to tell the truth. Do not lie, the words flashed on the back of his eye lids as he blinked a few times. Do not lie.

He shifted in his seat and hurriedly took another bite of sloppy sugar. He held up a finger in that "one moment my mouth is full" gesture, and offered a tight lip smile in apology. He swallowed again, finding that he simply couldn't say no to Bella. That wasn't the truth... not even close to it.

"Uh..."

The equivalent of a zero was the first thing that came out of Vincent's mouth as he tried to find the correct words. He wasn't going to flat out profess his love for her over breakfast. That was no way to approach a girl. He didn't want to offend her either. She'd been there for a couple of his girl friends. She knew his type-- messy, down trodden, helpless girls that needed something fixed in their lives; wether it was their confidence or their hair color. She knew that Vincent was really only drawn into relationships by the need of the other person. She'd heard bits and pieces about his complex, a thing he didn't even really understand.

"Yeah-- kinda."

He looked away from her, trying to find a familiar face, someone that could come sit down and change the topic. He searched the sea of faces, looking for someone-- anyone... He couldn't find a friend among the masses. He did want to tell Bella-- eventually-- somehow. He wanted to explain that he really did like her, truly like her. She wasn't something that he needed to fix, she was someone that he felt passionately about, not about fixing. His face suddenly flushed, his tan skin turned a soft shade of pink.

"How's Andrew anyway?"

The question came out fast, and even startled Vincent. He wanted to get off their current topic as fast as possible, get into safer waters and away from the storm that was clearly approaching.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Onzyy]

Bella was frustrated, but she didn't show it. Vince was definitely keeping something from her, but she wouldn't push. Pushing never worked, especially with Vince. Kinda what kind of answer was that. At least she had been honest. Oh boy, Bella sure was hormonal today. Chill she told herself. Being jealous never helped anyone, but then again neither did half answers.

She slowly finished her bagel, and then started on her apple. Small bites proved to be the order of the day, as for some reason she wasn't feeling hungry. When Vince asked about Andrew, she was slightly surprised. He actually remembered her twin? That was only slightly shocked. Andrew is being Andrew. He keeps up contact when he feels like it. Then again that had been her whole family. In the months that she had been at the Academy, she heard about once from her mother. Her father kept up emails when he could.

Then a flash of an image crossed her mind. Bella hadn't exactly told anyone that she had tried to take her life about a week ago. There was no reason to now. She had Vince with her, but how? How would she tell him that she liked him? How she hated these emotions.

Tag: Bizz
Words: I'm not gonna count
Notes: Done::Let's just keep it here =] =]
Outfit: Here
Credit: This template was created by DAN at CAUTION 2.0

[bizz]

]

He could feel the question formulating of the tip of his tongue. It was there, and then suddenly coming out of the air before he could make it stop.

"So you aren't dating anyone then?"

He looked down, biting the inside of his lip. His hands awkwardly rested on the sides of his food tray. He looked at them, laying there awkwardly as his question hung there, out in front of him. He tried desperately to think of something to say to erase the words that had just spilled out of his mouth. Instead of trying to retract the words, after the longest five seconds in Vincent's life, he picked up his bagel. He opened his mouth wide, and took a large bite. He chewed and swallowed slowly, trying to make himself took busy, even though they were obviously out at breakfast together. It wasn't like he could walk away from Bella, he had invited her here.

ooc. ahhhh! no muse. so sorry!
I'm so brain dead. I WILL MAKE THIS UP TO YOU SOMEHOW!

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