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Post by RIPLEY "TRAMP" GWYNN on Feb 9, 2012 14:16:50 GMT -5
 Okay, so weirder things had happened. Wait. No. No they hadn't, actually. Tramp was busy glaring at her own reflection in the bathroom mirror while her cousin Rose twisted a bar of metal through her hair making the blonde strands fall into fat waves. Rose's hands sculpted Tramp's hair, molding it with hairspray and a careful touch. This was ridiculously stupid. Tramp crossed her arms over her chest, and let out a long sigh.
Xander had called her, told her to wear something nice and meet him at Central Park around five. Had anyone else told Tramp to dress nice--she would have told them to shove it, and showed up in Tramp garb. Actually--Jeny had tried that once for the barbeque, and Tramp meandered about in a bikini in the middle of autumn. Tramp did not take that shit, but somehow--she found herself doing as Xander had asked. Though, she had her suspicions. He was up to something, and thanks to Rose--she had discovered it was a date of some sorts.
But what the hell could Xander have planned that she had to dress like this? Rose's hands fell away, and Tramp took herself in in the mirror. She looked fucking stupid. A striped beige sweater hung loose around her, falling past her hips. The jeans were new--never worn; she didn't like the feel of jeans or pants. Even in the winter she wore dresses and skirts with stockings. And furthermore, the sleeves on the sweater felt just as weird. Her legs were encased in a pair of boots she had been given last christmas, but also never worn because they weren't black. All things considered, Tramp looked like a normal person. She didn't look like Tramp. She looked like Ripley Eleanor Gwynn. A straight-A student who was going to acheive wonderful things. Not the sloppy little pothead that enjoyed pissing people off, getting into fights, and screwing her way through Baum Academy.
No, Tramp looked normal, and it made her uncomfortable. Hopefully this is what Xander meant by nice, but if he got any ideas... This wasn't who she was, this wasn't her style. It wasn't her and if he was trying to make her out to be the person that was staring back at her from the mirror--then he wasn't worth the time. That simple thought gave Tramp a weird pang in her chest, and she stared up at her very pregnant cousin while Rose painted Tramp's red lips on. At least there was some familiarity there. "This is dumb." [/b] She muttered while Rose moved to give Tramp her usual smokey eyes. Rose only smiled, and once she was done, she stuffed a coat into Tramp's hands and all but shoved her out the door. With another loud, obnoxious sigh, Tramp made her way down the sidewalk and headed for the park. It was getting dark, so it was getting a little colder. She opened up her coat and slipped it on over her shoulders, buttoning it up as she headed into the trees of the park and pulled her phone out of her back pocket, texting Xander. I'm here. Look for the doofus in jeans and a black hoodie. This better be good, I look like a moron.[/blockquote]
Tags:
[/color] Hedgie / Xander / Olley / Tramp Notes:[/color] She be so uncomfortable. Lemme know if I need to fix anything. Outfit:[/color] A normal person![/size][/left] |
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Post by XANDER SYKES on Feb 20, 2012 18:00:37 GMT -5
 Xander wasn't sure why he was doing this, but if anyone asked, he would say that someone dared him to do it. And that he didn't remember who. Right. Though, it was just something he wanted to do, regardless of what anyone would say. Fuck what people say. The only person who mattered that night had the name name of Ripley Gwynn, and he was pretty sure she was going to be the only person who matter for the rest of forever.
Because Xander might have been a little bit on the edge of thinking maybe that he sort of kind of was slightly in love with her. Yes, it was shocking, and Xander didn't know what the fuck his problem was, and its not like he was going to ever say anything out loud unless he was asked or something. And that was kind of the point of this date sort of thing. It could possibly be brought up in conversation. Though this was Tramp, and she might take it the wrong way or something. What if she never talked to him again? What if Wes and Angel didn't talk to him either?
What if she ended up with Cash?
Oh god, the thought paralyzed him. He hadn't been taught much about love by actual people, only dumb romantic comedies one of his nannies made him watch all the goddamn time. Which was why he had set up a table and a few chairs in the middles of central park. Funny, the candles were the only thing he had ever lit that wasn't a cigarette or a joint or the like. Those candles and a bouquet of black roses stood as the centerpiece of the tableset he had dragged all the way from the store he bought them in, which was right outside Central Park, to here, nearly dead center. It wasn't easy, and he grudgingly had to enlist the help of some random hobo for a few bucks (he had made sure he only carried the heavy things he couldn't take off with), but after it was done, everything was set up perfectly, so he thought.
He really didn't know what the hell he was doing.
He had even gotten dinner. Xander just picked something up along the way. Granted, it was pizza and a two liter of Dr. Pepper with plastic cups and paper plates to serve, but it would do.
While he was standing there, admiring his work, his phone vibrated in his pocket. She was here. Oh god she was here. As he searched for her through the trees, he had enough second thoughts to stop a few marriages and a suicide. What was this even? Ugh, he shouldn't have done thi-
And that's when he saw her.
If anyone else had changed so drastically, he wouldn't have recognized them. But no, he knew her. He could pick her out of a crowd if he wanted to. Her usually messy hair was in gentle waves, and she was... was she not wearing black? And long sleeves and jeans? It was chilly, but not that chilly. And honestly, Xander didn't think she would really listen to him.
The doofus in jeans in a black hoodie? More like the beauty in... well, in whatever the hell she was in at any point in time.
"Hey," he said casually, trying not to sound like a nervous prick, and motioned for her to follow him. Or walk in front of him. Whatever she did best. |
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Post by RIPLEY "TRAMP" GWYNN on Feb 21, 2012 4:06:33 GMT -5
Xander always did this strange thing to Tramp whenever she saw him. He sent a thrill through her and made her heart slam almost painfully into her chest. She smiled in her way of showing no teeth, but that was always her best smile. "Hey yourself." God, she felt awkward. Strange. Not herself. Her hands rested awkwardly in her hoodie pockets while she fell in step with Xander. Slowly, she pulled her left hand and reached out, lacing her fingers with his. It was a silent walk for a moment, before she finally took notice of his jacket. So, she wasn't the only one dressed like an idiot. It was...cute in an odd way.
"So, what's all this abo--" She cut off when she actually saw it. A table in the grass, chairs, roses on the table, and the faint scent of pizza in the air. She stopped walking for a moment and lifted a brow before turning to look up at her tall bo--...her tall companion. Tramp did not have relationships--come to think of it, she never had one before. She glanced to the left, then to the right, then up towards the trees. Almost looking for a camera crew, or even the other two in their ring of friends. But there was no one; just her and Xander. Now holding his hand felt really...really strange.
Tramp released his hand and took a few steps forward, staring at the table. She then paused, and looked back at him with an almost confused expression on her face. Questions raced through her mind while she reached out to touch the dyed black roses. How the hell did he get this all out here? Her fingers moved from the roses to the table, which didn't appear to be a cheap fold out. How was he able to afford it? And why in the hell was he doing this?
"So..." The nice clothes he asked her to wear, the jacket he had on, the candles--it all clicked horribly fast in her head. The pizza smelled great, but she also felt like her stomach was going to come spilling out of her mouth. Casual. Stay casual. She was between puking and laughing. She tilted her head down to hide the small smile on her face. This was laughable, hilarious, really. "Should we eat, then?" She asked, sitting in one of the chairs and opening one of the boxes to pull out a slice of pizza. "What's been up?" She asked after swallowing her first bite. Casual. Casual. Just two friends hanging out. Nothing to see here.
Yeah, right. And Tramp was a holy rolling virgin.
Tags:
[/color] Hedgie / Xander / Olley / Tramp Notes:[/color] Awkward turtle that's n ot a turtle. Outfit:[/color] A normal person![/size][/left] |
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Post by XANDER SYKES on Mar 7, 2012 7:55:55 GMT -5
There was a glimmer of hope shining inside Xander when she grabbed his hand. That mixed with the frush it gave him seemed to block out the doubt and made hime forget that he could have just ruined everything he had so far. But they were still there, of course. She hadn't seen what they were doing yet. He told himself not to worry about it, just relax while they walked through Central Park. Wasn't that shit supposed to be romantic? It was almost a cliché, really. A romantic walk in the park to a candlelit dinner table. Okay, yeah, it was definitely a cliché. Whatever. No, not whatever. This was important. It was how he felt.
So why did he feel so... out of place? He could almost taste it in the atmosphere.
And then the walk ended.
It was almost a good thing she didn't finish her question at first, because Xander wouldn't have been able to answer it without a load of bull and a beating around the bush. But it made his heart race, because he couldn't tell what she was thinking. It didn't help when she turned around, looking just as confused as he was. He smiled awkwardly, attempting to be reassuring, but only managing a really bad poker face, like in those one rage face things that one chick Andie Read showed him in some class. Which was another thing. If she flipped whenever he just talked to a girl, then she had to feel the same way, right? Especially since, really, he knew that she flipped when a girl looked at him the wrong way. Not that he really cared about other girls in the same way. Yeah, so maybe Charlie Blitzer was fun to party with and Andie Read was one of two girls he knew that could beat him badly in Modern Warfare 3, but they were just friends. Besides, he knew Charlie liked that Brandon kid and Andie had that one boat guy. Like they kinda sorta knew Xander had Ripley Gwynn.
"So?" His tone was looking for approval in a way. And then he noticed that smile just before she tilted her head down. Maybe he was just seeing things. Oh god, she was going to laugh at him. Xander's already faltering pride could not take her laughing at him. Hell no. Not that he would cry, because Xander didn't cry, man.
Okay. She was He could take stalling. "Yeah, let's eat."
Xander sat down across from her and took a bite of pizza, praying he wouldn't throw it up. Yeah, nice way to realize how fucking nervous he was. "Uh, nothing apart from the usual. I guess." Bull. Shit. There was no way in hell that this was any sort of 'usual'. "You?" Pleasedon'tlaughpleasedon'tlaughpleasedon'tfuckinglaugh.
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Post by RIPLEY "TRAMP" GWYNN on Mar 7, 2012 15:59:09 GMT -5
Eating, that she could do. Just a few bites into her own slice of pizza, she really couldn’t handle it anymore. Xander wasn’t treating this like a date, and he was trying to treat is casually. Like this was something they did all the time. Which they didn’t. Tramp swallowed her bite down, and set the pizza back on the paper plate and lowered her hands to her lap for a moment, wiping her hands on the jeans. “Okay, okay…really…what’s this about?” She finally lifted those green eyes at him, brows raised up and a grin starting to play on her lips. “Cause this, this is a date. And we don’t do that kind of thing.” She leaned on the arm of the chair, and crossed one leg over the other.
“Like, I wouldn’t be surprised if some mariachi band or something to start come out and playing, or a violinist with Moonlight Sonata or something cheesy like that. You’re not about to drop down to one knee, right? Really Xander—what the hell are you doing?” Tramp snorted, and couldn’t hide the laughter that was wrapping around her voice while she stared across the table at Xander. Breaking the illusion that the hair and clothes gave her, Tramp was still Tramp, even beneath it all.
Tramp went to break the rest of the illusion by running her hands through her hair, undoing the gently style that rose had done, letting her hair look messy and tousled as usual. It still had the smooth waves, but it was fluffier, more disarrayed like usual. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes, packing it in her hand before she leaned over to one of the candles and lit her cigarette off of it and leaned back in her chair and stared at Xander expectantly. Tramp sunk down into her seat with her usual ease that she maintained in class. Her lips twitched while she pressed them together, using the cigarette to puff on to prevent the laughter that the giggles in her throat were trying to bubble up to. “Spill it, dude. What’s with the sudden cheese that has nothing to do with the pizza?”
Tags:
[/color] Hedgie / Xander / Olley / Tramp Notes:[/color] Awkward turtle that's n ot a turtle. Outfit:[/color] A normal person![/size][/left] |
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Post by XANDER SYKES on Mar 15, 2012 7:20:46 GMT -5
Okay, pizza. Pizza was good. He ate one of the two slices on his plate, taking huge and almost urgent bites. Like he would starve to death if he didn't eat it as quickly as possible. Which wasn't brought on by the nervousness; he was a teenage boy, this was how he always ate. Those oreos they had when they were playing Modern Warfare 3? He ate each with a single bite. That Dr. Pepper from when they met? Chugged it, like he did with the can he had in his hand right now. Though he almost spit it out when she spoke.
Fuck. FUCK.
Xander knew this was a horrible idea. He should have just not even done any of this. Jesus Christ, what was he doing? This was insane. This was crazy. This was just dumb as hell. But whatever, he had stupidly already done it, and now she was laughing at him. His face was red in anger and hurt pride, but the former was mainly directly at himself and not at the blonde across from him. Well, it was done now. There was no playing this off as a joke. He couldn't even pull off that goofy smile he did whenever he was joking.
He took a deep breath. It would come out, but he would stall it as long as possible.
"No, no Mariachi band or any of that." Suddenly feeling very warm despite the chilly weather, he took his jacket off and hung it on his chair. This was it. Stalling. Improvisation. He could do this. Well, he could do this while looking at everything but her face.
Honestly I don't even know what the hell I'm doing. Truth is, I never really do know what I'm doing, especially around you." Shrugging, he took the last drink of his Dr. Pepper. Casual. Yeah. "I don't think I've ever really met anyone like you. And I have no idea how the fuck I'm supposed to handle that. I mean, who else would trust some weird-ass pajama'd guy with big hair on a rooftop in the middle of the night, sort-of high or not? Who else could destroy me in Modern Warfare on my own Xbox?" That list was actually pretty long and included a few girls like Andie Read, but whatever. Not important. "Who else could scream and be heard by a three-year-old over an obnoxious crowd, when the girl's own brother was incapable and a total dumbass? Who else could drag a guy's ass out to the courtyard and make him into a sweet transvestite? No one. At least, no one as important as you. And yeah, maybe this is the cheesiest thing I've done- not counting the pizza- but what else was I supposed to do? I've never had to deal with this before. "
He breathed again, preparing to make the point that was probably obvious by that whole speech he just kinda made.
Looking at her face- because that was the only way this could happen, right?- he said in the most normal tone and volume he could handle, "Truth is, Ripley Gwynn, I really fucking love you, and I didn't know how I could ever say that without all this," he motioned to the table,
[/b]"cheese."[/b] He awaited her reaction, expecting the worst.[/blockquote][/justify] notes; ....as soon as I finished this post, Heart-Shaped Box came on. O_______O |
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Post by RIPLEY "TRAMP" GWYNN on Mar 17, 2012 0:04:40 GMT -5
Tramp eyed Xander expectantly, waiting for him to explain. She leaned back in her chair, watching him remove the jacket while she idly tugged on a strand of her newly mussed hair; one brow raising up as she waited. It took most of her will to keep from tapping on the ground while Xander openly procrastinated saying whatever he was going to say. But as he began, Tramp was pretty sure the wind was sucked out of her. Her mouth quickly ran dry as she stared at him over the table, the humor fading from her eyes. Each word he spoke brought in a flood of memories.
That first time she saw him, and she decided in her very, very high state that she liked his hair. That she kinda like the way he was scrawny, but he seemed to have a nice flow to his shape. The fact that she would go over to his room and lay across his lap like he were a couch, and proceed to beat him at his own game. Occasionally, she’d let him win. Just so he didn’t get entirely bored with her. The way he genuinely loved his little so much, and the look of panic that had been on his face when Nahnie got away from him. The simple joy, and laughter she had sparked when she gave Wes her makeover. Through all of these memories, her expression didn’t change. She didn’t crack a smile, she didn’t frown, she just stared across the table while her heart pounded in her chest, attempting to burst from her ribcage.
But what was the point of all of that? All of those things he mentioned? What did he not have to deal with? Unless…unless. Tramp’s head twitched to the side a bit, looking at Xander slightly sideways, her fingers no longer pulling on her hair while her brows furrowed over her eyes. Unless. She turned her face back onto him fully when his eyes held hers, staring right into his face. The moment he said it, several things happened at once. It felt like her heart was bursting out of her chest, finally. Exploding in tingling waves all the way from her scalp to her toes. It made the color rush into her face, and made her want to start shivering. She felt warm, and cold all at the same time. She could feel the slight twitch in her cheek where she wanted to smile, to laugh. But her expression remained steady, solid.
All the while, the air sucked out of her body. It felt like she had been punched in the gut, and her stomach felt like it was sinking down to the ground. And while all of that was going on, it felt like her hearing had been completely shot, and left her ears ringing. However, she heard one thing over the ringing, and the deafening silence. ”Ripley Gwynn, I really fucking love you.” Over, and over. It took the third or fourth time of it repeating in her head to realize he hadn’t called her Tramp. He called her Ripley. The only people to call her Ripley were her family, and Angel. So for anyone else to call her that—things were serious.
Things were serious, and oh god, Xander wasn’t joking. If he was joking, whatsoever, he would have called her Tramp. With the sudden realization that he was indeed telling the truth—all hell finally broke loose. Tramp’s arms encircled her own waist, and she gave way to a grin while laughter fell finally from her lips. No giggles, no chuckles—pure, unbridled laughter poured out of her mouth while she slumped down in her chair, gasping for air. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew this was the horribly wrong response for this scenario. But nevertheless, she gasped desperately for air while more laughter pushed itself forward.
Tags:
[/color] Hedgie / Xander / Olley / Tramp Notes:[/color] Awkward turtle that's n ot a turtle. Outfit:[/color] A normal person![/size][/left] |
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Post by XANDER SYKES on Apr 27, 2012 10:56:08 GMT -5
Xander had noticed her face turning red, though not the facial twitch. He didn't react because he had been on such a roll and was trying not to get totally off topic. Honestly, he had no idea what the fuck he was doing, so really getting off topic might have been a good thing. Waited a little bit before giving this whole spheal. Though she might have gotten frustrated with him for not answering the question...
Well, whatever, he said what he said and he knew that he couldn't play it off as a joke. His indecisive self instantly wished otherwise, like he was still going back and forth when he first had this idea and all the way until now. But he couldn't take it back, and it sucked. God, he was an idiot.
It wad silent for what felt like one big awkward hour, and he waited for her to respond. Fuck, he had no idea what she was going to say, or do. He was attempting to brace himself for anything. A punch in the face. An abrupt exit. A similar response. Another piece of pizza, for all he knew. Anything he could think of, he expected.
In no way did he think or expect this.
Xander Sykes, who gave not a fuck what people said to him, who laughed off insults or gave them right back, who even managed to play off physical injury as funny and not painful, looked legitimately hurt. No one had managed to see this face except maybe the nannies and houseworkers who saw him after he called his parents after getting in all that trouble, and even then, he had hid his face the best he could. He wasn't gonna cry, of course, because even in a situation like this, he would never cry. But as for the expression on his face? He may as well have been.
While she laughed in his face, he had no idea what to say. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he finally just stopped and looked at her shaking body and that messy hair and her doubled over figure. He didn't move except to breathe and blink. He didn't know how to move or speak. His stomach churned and he hoped to whatevrr God that he didn't throw up, though it was unlikely. It was just a psychological thing, right? Yeah.
So he just sat there, waiting for her to be done. Wondering if she would ever be done.
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Post by RIPLEY "TRAMP" GWYNN on Jul 12, 2012 16:06:07 GMT -5
Tramp continued to laugh, before catching sight of Xander’s face. He wasn’t laughing. He wasn’t brushing it off as a bad joke. Oh God, he was serious. All that is good and holy—he was serious. Her laughter died down, and she used the back of her hand and wiped carefully at her eyes to make sure she didn’t smear her make-up. It felt like forever that she was sitting on the other side of the table, staring at him while he face fell blank again. He loved her—was he sure? She wasn’t about to be some dumb girl who asked, who countered every compliment with an insult at herself. In her own mind, she was awesome and perfect. Apparently, Xander was seeing it the same.
She drew in a slow, careful breath, and then let it out. What should she say to that? Did she love him back? Her head turned to the side slightly, “You’re serious?” She asked incredulously. Mostly to delay while she thought it over. She had a physical attraction to Xander that made everyone pale in comparison; even down to his personality. He fit in with the ragtag group she was a part of, and she liked everything about him. His silly laughter, the way he worried, the way he thought he was hiding his love for science. But did she love him?
Well—duh. But she had been pretty sure he knew about it. They were in a strange limbo, where they were a pair, but not even really together. Most people regarded them as being together, because Tramp made no qualms about starting fights with any girl who looked sideways at him. The same way she’d do for Wes—Wes belonged with Angel. They were a pair, even if they themselves didn’t see it that way. Was it the same way with her and Xander?
“Really? You dragged me out here in the middle of the night, to a—“ Cue air quotations, “Romantic,” End air quotes, “Dinner of pizza and soda, just to tell me you love me?” Her brows lifted over her green eyes, one just a bit higher than the other. Another snort came from her nose, and she covered her mouth and nose with her hand. She could not burst into laughter again—but the whole thing was rather ridiculous. Actually, it was cheesy, lame in that rom-com sort of way. And boy, did Tramp hate rom-coms. But still, Xander was laying his emotions, and heart on the line like this, and all she wanted to do was fall out of her chair laughing at him.
Was he stupid? Did she have to say it back? She really shouldn’t have to—he should have known, by now. Cash had been a ploy to see if he’d respond at all—all that happened were a few arguments, and Xander being far too stubborn for his own good. Apparently, the boy was a bit slow, which just made it funnier. Despite her efforts, her hand pressed harder to her mouth while her eyes squinted closed while she did her best to stifle more ugly laughter that started spilling between her fingertips.
Tags:
[/color] Hedgie / Xander / Olley / Tramp Notes:[/color] Awkward turtle that's n ot a turtle. Outfit:[/color] A normal person![/size][/left] |
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