"What's in a name?"

[NAYELI ROY]

A light pink laptop hummed, producing a bluish-green glow. A word document was pulled up. Blue eyes stared intently at the blinking dashed like, waiting for her to begin.

After about a twenty minute pause, her thin brows furrowed.

This was not going the way she planned..

She slowly typed her full name onto the top of the page.

Nayeli Carita Roy.

She stared at it for a while, lost in thought.

Nayeli.

Well, that was certainly a conversation starter when meeting new people. Everyone was pretty interested in her first name.

She grimaced. She hated when people asked her about it. She hated explaining how "Nayeli" was the Zapotec word for "love". She also hated the weird looks they gave her. With her light blonde hair and big blue eyes, she was anything but Native American.

Which is why she insisted that her friends call her Elle. But it was Elle, pronounced Ellie. Which also bugged her, as people pronounced it "El". She didn't like it, since it either meant "he" or "the" in Spanish.

Which lead to her middle name. It was nearly as bad. It was the name of some obscure Mexican poet that Elle's mother had met in her youth. Carita, honestly.. Why couldn't her parents have given her a normal name? Like Sarah Elizabeth or Emily Anne? Why name her with two words from two different languages, which had absolutely no connection with her life in any way?

Damn hippies..

She looked back at the screen. Roy. The only normal part of her name. The part she was looking forward to changing.
She erased "Roy".

Nayeli Carita Williams

As long as she had had dreams of this name becoming her own, she now looked away from the screen, a light film of moisture forming over her pupils.

It meant nothing anymore. She admitted, she had been in too deep, too fast. But he was the boy she'd loved since fifth grade, the boy who said he loved her too.

Apparently, she was looking too much into it.

How was she to know? She'd had no experience with love beforehand. She'd learned one thing from the the ordeal and that was this: She fell hard and fast. And as determined as she was to not let it happen again, it was inevitable. She would always fall for them.

The main issue was that "them" was the bad boys. Druggies, bad students, trouble makers, rebels, man-whores. You name it, she's chased it.

Why couldn't she fall for a sweet, intelligent, loving guy? Or at the bare minimum, a normal guy. One that didn't only talk to her when he was drunk. One that wouldn't cheat. One that wouldn't hit her. One that wouldn't think heroin was more important than she was. One that wouldn't lie.

She gave a hollow chuckle. Oh that was a laugh. All men were liars. Of course, so were women. Sneaking, gossiping, blackmailing. You couldn't really trust anyone.

Nayeli sighed. She hated being social with no one to trust. She needed someone to talk to, ideally a guy. Who could keep up an intelligent conversation. And could dance.

Oh, who was she kidding? There weren't any princes, any Romeos out there.

Fairytales aren't real, she thought sadly.

She looked back at the humming laptop, then let her fingers move fluidly over the keys.

Why I Hate Life: An Opinionated Narrative
By: Elle Roy

[BRAXTON NIBS]

"I wonder if you're lonesome tonight.
You know someone said that the worlds a stage,
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart."
__________________________________________________________________

Braxton felt his cellphone vibrate and shoved his hand into his jeans to retrieve it.

He frowned at the message in his hand. How vastly disappointing.
At 1:30 in the morning, what else did he have better to do than to keep Elle company? This wouldn't do at all.

His thumbs replied back a quick message before he slipped on his favorite slippers and pocketed his phone. She would just have to deal with his company whether she was busy writing or not. He wouldn't be a nusiance, not really; Elle just didn't realize she wanted his company yet - but she would and he'd already be there at her dorm so she wouldn't have to miss him any. In a way, he was being thoughtful of her situation and was just saving her from begging him to come sneak over in the dead of night.

Braxton had always been fond of Elle. They just clicked. There was something about her that he rather found interesting; like a mystery novel he couldn't put down, he had to figure her out and she always seemed to surprise him. Tonight was his turn to surprise her though.

Something about her fascinated him. He always looked for something in a person that he could marvel at, and with Elle, well Braxton couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe he liked her because she was beautiful, or a senior girl at the academy, or maybe it was just her odd name that caught his attention and held it.

Nayeli. It was certainly an odd name. Unique, but beautiful nonetheless. She should thank her parents for such a treasure unlike some of the horrendous names that kids are handed like "Ladashah." He would have to remember to ask Elle how her parents chose that name - even if she would just laugh at him.

The air was still a bit chilly from the long winter. The sky looked like it could rain, but Braxton knew it was just the NYC pollution that kept it overcast at night instead. A twinge of homesickness hit him as he realized no stars could shine through the overcast of the night lights and smog. Back home in Texas, Braxton spent his nights walking under the mood and gazing up at the innummerable stars burning brightly above him for millions, billions of light years away.

He sighed, his breath just visible, in his haste to surprise Elle he had forgotten his jacket. He quickened his pace as he walked through the courtyard to get to the wing where her dorm was. When he got there he pulled out his phone and waited impatiently.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Connected.

"Hey, it's Brax. I'm freezing - Let me in!" he smiled and waved at her through the window. Nothing like a surprise and good company to brighten up a moonless night.

_______________________________________________________________________
"Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?"

[/font]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NHLsrWAw9k&NR=1
[/center]

[NAYELI ROY]

Elle sighed and reached behind here to grab a pillow off her sheets. She stared at the computer momentarily, before beating it lightly with the pillow.

How frustrating!

With merely a paragraph to go, her computer decided to be a smart-ass and freeze.

Just her luck.

She shot a glare that could have shattered glass at the laptop screen and groaned.

As soon as the groan left Elle's mouth, a ring echoed in the dark room. Surprised and frightened, she jumped. This small quick motion put her off balance and she toppled off her bed.

"Hey, it's Brax. I'm freezing - Let me in!"

She looked up to see her Junior friend, Braxton, smiling at her through the window.

Very smooth, Elle. Quite nonchalant, really..

But hey, could he blame her for being surprised? It was 1:30 am, after all. Not many people were out for a stroll around this hour.

Elle rushed to the door, suddenly realizing how much trouble he would be in if he was discovered. She yanked it open and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him inside before he could say anything.

"Braxton! What are you doing here, you bastard!? It's 1:30 am! What if you got caught?" Despite her exasperation at his random carelessness, she pulled him into a hug, huddled against his chest. Contrary to what he had said about being cold, she found him very warm. Although, she was cold all the time. Her hands were always like ice. Dead, almost..

She looked up into the familiar face and couldn't help but smile.

There was something almost childlike about Braxton. Perhaps it was his slight arrogance, his excitement or impulsiveness. Or perhaps it was the big smile he had ready for everyone.

Either way, they got along splendidly and had a lot of fun hanging out and teasing each other.

She grinned up at him. That silly boy was going to get himself into a lot of trouble one of these days..

"Brax, what am I going to do with you? If you were any younger than me, I'd be putting you on time out right away. I can't believe you're out so late. Why ARE you out so late?"



(meh, short.. lo siento..)

[BRAXTON NIBS]

"I wonder if you're lonesome tonight.
You know someone said that the worlds a stage,
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart."
________________________________________________________________________________

The Jeopardy! song started playing inside Braxton's mind as he cooly waited outside her door. Any moment now Elle. Really, let's not keep me waiting in the chill. Finally, Elle rushed to the door, yanked it open and he found himself tumbling insider her dorm faster than he could say "Cowboy on a saddle."

"Braxton! What are you doing here, you bastard!? It's 1:30 am! What if you got caught?"

Despite her exasperation (and nails digging into his chest), Braxton started chuckling and wrapped his arms tighter to spin her around into a circle. He snuggled his face against her neck and could smell the light scent from her shampoo.

She smelt fantastic compared to his dingy dorm room - which at the moment was cluttered with soiled laundry lying around his floor because he couldn't find anything clean that morning...Course Elle didn't need to know that. Braxton always looked completely put together and helplessly messy so no one really knew about his avoidance of doing the laundry other than him.

He set her down onto her feet and placed his hands on his hips in his "al-naturàl sweep-a-girl-off-her-feet" stance.

"Brax, what am I going to do with you? If you were any younger than me, I'd be putting you on time out right away. I can't believe you're out so late. Why ARE you out so late?"

"Well maybe if you let me get a word in, I'd tell you missy. Why would I get caught?" he said with a wink and then went on to explain his plight of boredom and unwillingness to clean up.
"Time out? Is that some sort of kinky motive you want to try out, Elle? 'Cos I got all night before I have to be back if that's what you want to play."

Braxton gave her a big goofy grin so she knew he was only teasing - to some extent anyways. He walked over to her bed and flopped down onto it making himself comfortable. "Awwh shucks Elle, you know why I'm here. I just missed you too much, and pretty girls don't deserve to be lonely."

______________________________________________________________________
"Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?"

[/font]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NHLsrWAw9k&NR=1
[/center]

[NAYELI ROY]

"Well maybe if you let me get a word in, I'd tell you missy. Why would I get caught?" he said with a wink and then went on to explain his plight of boredom and unwillingness to clean up.

Elle rolled her eyes. How like a boy. 'I'm just gonna invade because I'm bored.'

"Time out? Is that some sort of kinky motive you want to try out, Elle? 'Cos I got all night before I have to be back if that's what you want to play."

Elle turned pink for a few seconds, before giggling, "Hardly, Brax. Besides, I'm almost definitely too tired for that kind of rough-housing."

"Awwh shucks Elle, you know why I'm here. I just missed you too much, and pretty girls don't deserve to be lonely."

Way to tug at the heartstrings, Nibbs.

Despite his slightly juvenile nature, the boy could be rather charming at times. And what dangerous times those were..

"Oh, shut up, Brax, you suck up," she said, watching her friend get comfortable on her bed. Oddly enough, it didn't bother her the way it bothered her when other people did such things. But maybe it was because this was Braxton. It was just the way he was. Oh, the things her family would say if they were here. A boy sneaking to her room at 1:30 am and laying on her bed as if it was his own. Her father would have a hernia..

She sat down on her bed next to him, carefully making certain not to touch him. That must be her father in her subconscious, telling her not to have a boy in her room..

[BRAXTON NIBS]

"I wonder if you're lonesome tonight.
You know someone said that the worlds a stage,
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart."
________________________________________________________________________________

"Hardly, Brax. Besides, I'm almost definitely too tired for that kind of rough-housing."

"What? Ya tuckered out for?"

The lines of his mouth pulled into a slight frown as if to say, "what a shame," like a kicked puppy that got into trouble for wanting to play. Right quick, the smug playful look was back in his eys and he was picking up her laptop. She done told him she was writing somethin'er when he got on his way on over.

"What's this here?" he joked and pretended to start reading the open document. " 'Why I Hate Life', heh? Well isn't that a bit misanthropic, Elle. Maybe you should try somethin' lighter and not so pessimistic."

Keeping the laptop outt'er reach that she would have to crawl over his lap if she wanted to get it back from him. Grinnin' like a possum, Brax kept scannin through the lines, pretending to read her essay. Well if she was all tuckered out, he'd just have to wake her up again. It was as simple as that.

______________________________________________________________________
"Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?"

[/font]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NHLsrWAw9k&NR=1
[/center]

[NAYELI ROY]

"What's this here? 'Why I Hate Life', heh? Well isn't that a bit misanthropic, Elle. Maybe you should try somethin' lighter and not so pessimistic."

Elle rolled her eyes.
Did no one understand?
Life was pessimistic.

"What am I supposed to write about? It's the middle of the night, I'm alone in the dark, no roommate and bored. It's supposed to be a bit depressing. Now give it back."

Braxton moved the laptop nonchalantly out of her reach.

Her eyes narrowed.
So thats how he wanted to play it, huh?

She felt that it was sort of a dangerous move on his part. She was one who would not hesitate to use any means necessary to remove her computer from his clutches. Even if it meant slapping him silly. Of course, she wouldn't do that. He was her friend. But she was scary when she was angry. And pretty rash too.

She got onto her hands and knees on the bed, inching closer to him, waiting for the right moment to pounce for the laptop, if necessary.

"Braxton," she said, her voice soft and dangerously sweet, "If you don't give me back my computer, you'll be very sorry in the morning.."

[BRAXTON NIBS]

"I wonder if you're lonesome tonight.
You know someone said that the worlds a stage,
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart."
________________________________________________________________________________

Braxton had started laughin' almost before she had even replied back to him or his teasing.

"What am I supposed to write about? It's the middle of the night, I'm alone in the dark, no roommate and bored. It's supposed to be a bit depressing. Now give it back."

"Something less forlorn, perhaps. That stuff will turn your soul more sour'n' all git out." he offered smugly. Smiling like a crocodile with his teeth gleaming in the pale light streaming through her window, Braxton lifted the laptop even further out of reach so it was impossible to grab from him without some serious effort on her part.

"Ha! What would be the fun in that, Elle?" he asked while gesturing with the laptop in his opposite hand from her, he moved it closer than father, closer, farther just to make his point clearer.

This here wasn't his first rodeo. But she was gonna be the first to make a move if he wasn't as full as a corn-eating horse. After all, it takes two to tango.

"Braxton..." Her voice called out as sweet as peach cobbler, and he tried not to notice her leaning in closer and closer towards his crotch as she got on all fours like a cat-in-heat. "If you don't give me back my computer, you'll be very sorry in the morning.." Oh sweet Jesus..

She was keepin' at it. Pawing closer to him and soon their faces were going to be nearly cheek to cheek. I could make you very sore in the morning. Did she know she was gettin' into his personal space -- gettin' him all worked up? He hoped not. To be on the safe side, Brax quickly manueverd a pillow and placed it in between them so he could hold his ground firmly while she stalked her prey like a thin, sexy, hell-cat.
"Ahem..." Braxton whispered low and breathily into her ear as she started reaching across his chest for the laptop. "Your hand is on my groin." he winced and shifted his eyes away from her to try regaining his focus.

______________________________________________________________________
"Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?"

[/font]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NHLsrWAw9k&NR=1
[/center]

[NAYELI ROY]

Success. She almost had it.

Nayeli was right next to him, leaning around him for the computer.

Only a little farther.

Just as she was about to make the final move and grab it, his voice stopped her.

"Ahem.."

So close.
Apparently, he thought so too.

"Your hand is on my groin."

She looked down and slowly removed her hand, not daring to look up as she felt her face burning.

"Uhm.. I-I... I uh.. S-sorry.. I wasn't t-trying to, uh..."

Elle dared a glance up at his face then looked away quickly.

How completely embarrassing. That was just like her. Having a friend around, then making something totally innocent into something entirely awkward. She would never live this down.

Frustrated with her obvious stupidity and flustered by the sheer utter embarrassment, she scooted off the bed and stood, looking away from her friend. She wiped her eyes, knowing there would be moisture building up.

If there was one thing Elle hated about herself, it was definitely that she would cry if she was angry, frustrated or embarrassed. And now she was all three, even though the feelings were directed towards herself. She tried to stop it, but it just sort of happened. She couldn't really control it, but she tried to shake off the awkward feeling so that Braxton wouldn't think she was crying over him. Because she wouldn't, because that was stupid. They were friends and she didn't feel that way for him, so she hoped he wouldn't take it wrong.

"So, I, uh.. I'm sorry about that. Didn't mean to, um... Yeah.. Well anyway, if you could give me my laptop, I feel like we could just not go through that process again and forget about what just happened and.."
Was she rambling?
"And uh.. yeah."

[BRAXTON NIBS]

"I wonder if you're lonesome tonight.
You know someone said that the worlds a stage,
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart."
________________________________________________________________________________

After that hard encounter (pun intended), Braxton didn't really know what to do with himself. Sure they were friends and all, but hey - even strangers have the decency to buy them a drink first, right? And how exactly do you come back from that kind of experience with one of your friends - strictly friends, with no potential of becoming anything more because of one reason or another - once that line is crossed?

Braxton scrambled to his feet quickly as a bright red color rose in his face, and something else rose in his pants. One look at the both of them would've typically put him into a giggle fit, but he was mortified, and confused, and turned-on.

"So, I, uh.. I'm sorry about that. Didn't mean to, um... Yeah.. Well anyway, if you could give me my laptop, I feel like we could just not go through that process again and forget about what just happened and.. And uh.. yeah."

He blushed deeper as she apologized to him. Why did she have to cry? She looked so needy and adorable when she got all flustered.. It made Braxton want to lean back over and rub her back as she cried into his shoulder, but that was probably the least thing she felt like doing after well... that.

"Oh goll, Elle..." he said soothingly. "No need to worry your pretty head with cryin'; it's fine - more than fine." He took a chance and looked at her to see if that helped; and nope, he made it worse since her lip begun quivering harder. "It didn' even happ'n. Oh, and here's this..." he said trying to make her feel better as best he could and set the laptop down next to here where he had been sitting previously.

"Although...You could've at least bought me a drink first." Offering her a smile, albeit a very nervous, crooked smile at that; and quickly said the first thing that came to mind to change the subject. "Hey - Are you hungry? Let's have dinner! My treat, buckaroo."

Braxton jumped energetically over the couch and into her kitchen area to check out what supplies she had stocked in the fridge. Frowning into the icebox, he realized he would have to get creative to make anything decent.
At least that was something he was good at - getting out of sticky situations and finding the silver lining. If he couldn't make the best of something; there wasn't anything good to make from either way.

______________________________________________________________________
"Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?"

[/font]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NHLsrWAw9k&NR=1
[/center]

[NAYELI ROY]

"Oh goll, Elle...No need to worry your pretty head with cryin'; it's fine - more than fine."

"Oh, no. No, I'm fine. Really, I-I.. I'm okay, don't worry about it."

Oh, god. He thought she was crying. Well, she was.. but only because she was frustrated. She kind of wanted to curl up into a ball and cry from embarrassment. But that was not a ladylike thing to do. She had to push it down and pretend it never happened and hold her head high.

"It didn' even happ'n. Oh, and here's this..."

Thank the lord.. She took the computer from him, turning to put it down on a desk, wiping her tears before she turned back. No use in worrying him further.

"Although...You could've at least bought me a drink first."

Elle cracked a small smile. Good thing he could make a joke out of the situation.

"Yeah, and get you drunk first? No, thanks.." She said, smiling and tossing her hair over her shoulder, avoiding his eyes.

"Hey - Are you hungry? Let's have dinner! My treat, buckaroo."

That was a bit of a mood swing. She watched as he eagerly jumped over the couch into the kitchen area. She didn't blame him for wanting to put as much space as he could between both of them.

"I don't really think I have anything edible here. Not yet at least. And I think it's kind of late for dinner, Brax."

[BRAXTON NIBS]

"I wonder if you're lonesome tonight.
You know someone said that the worlds a stage,
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart."
________________________________________________________________________________

Well if she wasn't hungry, it was too late for that, since he had already drug every sort of ingredient he could find out onto the counter top. Ok. Show me what we're workin' with...
Eggs. Flour. Milk. Raisins. Butter. Heavy cream. Whipped cream. Strawberries. Brown Sugar. Rice. Baking soda. Baking powder. Various Spices. Some kind of meat. Cheese. Vanilla extract.
Was that it? he asked himself as he crossed his arms and looked at the pile of food in front of him. Not much, but it'll do.

"Yeah, and get you drunk first? No, thanks.."

Sticking his head back out of the now empty-refridgerator and closing it with his foot as he opened drawers looking for mixing bowls and a fry pan, Braxton chuckled, "Wut? Dun care to see my wilder side? Probably right. I'd get into more trouble than a...Ump!" he said smacking his head real good against the cabinent.

"I don't really think I have anything edible here. Not yet at least. And I think it's kind of late for dinner, Brax."

Braxton rubbed his head and got back to work. Hopefully she didn't see or /hear/ that...
He would show her what his Southern charm and hospitality could whoop up in no time flat. Hell, this was a steal compared to some nights on the herding trail where all they had was beans, soup, potatoes, and if they were lucky - 'wurts' or sausage.

It's never too late to eat. I hope ya'll got an appetite for well....your refridgerator there, cause I'm cleaning you out." He called from the stove as he poured on the mixed batter onto the fry-pan. A dash of this. A pinch of this. Sprinkle this in. "No worries -- I'll be goin' to the store tom'r'ow."

A few minutes later he turned off the stove and piled the food together onto a plate. Adding a few slices of various fruit he protruded from their hiding place in the vegetable drawer and two cups of sweet milk, the meal was complete. "Your table is ready, my princess." He announced from the door way. Homemade flapjacks with sweet raisins, and drizzeled honey, and brown sugar. It was morning afterall, no big deal.

______________________________________________________________________
"Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?"

[/font]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NHLsrWAw9k&NR=1
[/center]

[NAYELI ROY]

"Wut? Dun care to see my wilder side? Probably right. I'd get into more trouble than a...Ump!"

Elle tried not to let him see her snickering as he bumped his head hard on the counter. Silly guy.. He looked a bit embarrassed though, so she pushed down the laugh.

"It's never too late to eat. I hope ya'll got an appetite for well....your refridgerator there, cause I'm cleaning you out."

Oh.. Well alright then..

"Okay, good thing I eat like my older brother." She smiled, then her smile faded, as she realized that she basically just said that she eats like a pig. Ah, well. Braxton wouldn't care, right?

"No worries -- I'll be goin' to the store tom'r'ow."

"Oh, no, no. Brax, you don't have to-" But of course, there was really no arguing with Braxon Nibbs when his mind was made up. All sorts of food was now over the small counter and stove.

Why did she even have that? Since when did she have so much food? And since when was Brax able to create a real meal out of the entire contents of her refrigerator?

"Your table is ready, my princess."

Stunning.

This boy was really quite the guy.
She would never have thought Braxton was one to cook. Or to be such a lovely gentleman while making food for her.

"Braxton! You're so sweet! You didn't need to go to all this trouble. After all, it's my room, I should be makeing food for you.." Nayeli smiled at him. What a sweetie!

And how was it that she was lucky enough to have him with her, filling in the space that would be her utter boredom. Actually, she'd be asleep by now. Why wasn't she tired yet?

Thinking about it actually made her tired.

Was she keeping him up? Maybe he should sleep.. He could sleep here, Elle had the room, since she had no roommate yet.

She felt guilty that he was being so kind to her, even though she had created quite an awkward night, when he felt obligated to make it better.

"Brax, can I get YOU anything? Like are you hungry or tired or..?"

[BRAXTON NIBS]

"I wonder if you're lonesome tonight.
You know someone said that the worlds a stage,
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart."
________________________________________________________________________________

"Braxton! You're so sweet! You didn't need to go to all this trouble. After all, it's my room, I should be makeing food for you.."

3:11 in the 'am,* and who would've believed clean-out-your-refridgerator flapjacks could taste so good? Braxton leaned back in the chair and stretched his arms out above his head with a contently - and bloatedy - full stomach.

"It was my pleasure.. Sorry about the mess." he replied looking past her shoulder to the sink full of dirty dishes and stove caked with flour.

A yawn escaped from his mouth and it was all down hill from there. His eye-lids drooped, his lips begun to pout with drowsiness, and he couldn't turn off the yawning. Brushing through his already messy hair and rubbing at his temples, he managed to achieve the appearance of a sleepy toddler just before nap-time with his light-brown hair sticking up from different angles.*

"Brax, can I get YOU anything? Like are you hungry or tired or..?"

Or tired of playing games and hungry for something more? Or hungry for sleep because he was tired? Or the farthest thing from hungry and the farthest thing from tired?

That didn't make any sense.
He wasn't hungry - Oh Lordie, no more food, please! - and he wasn't exactly tired enough to fall asleep yet either.

"I'm fine." he managed to mumble while propping his elbow against the table to lean his head down with his hand tangled in his locks for a quick second...or a minute... He was awake. S'all good.

Well maybe gettin' some rest wouldn't be a bad i'dear* afterall. It was late, or early, however you wanted to take that. He had class in the morning and Nayeli would definitely be needing sleep more than he would if she had an essay to write.

"Heh... Maybe some shut eye wouldn't be so bad? Think I could crash here tonight..this mornin', just for this once?" he asked with another yawn. Darnit. Stay awake long enough to let the girl make up her mind, you o'l tom-of-a-fool-cat.. "You can have your bed, I just need a pillow to crash on the floor."


NOTES **
1. yes, "'am " is meant to rhyme with yam, jam, lamb?. Not like "A"|"M" the usual way. Haha..
2. " i'dear " pronounced as "eye-deer."
3. i really should take a break from roleplaying braxton for awhile.. at least until i get my own accent back. No minnesotan should take on a texan drawl. it's baaaad, you hear.
4. braxton's messy i-need-bedtime-hair-do: www.lukegrimes.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=72&pos=10

______________________________________________________________________
"Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?"

[/font]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NHLsrWAw9k&NR=1
[/center]

[NAYELI ROY]

"It was my pleasure.. Sorry about the mess."

Elle just shook her head. It really wasn't a problem. It would give her something to do in the morning.
She shrugged and put the dishes into the sink and wiped up the loose flour. She would tackle the harder stuff tomorrow.

"I'm fine."

She glanced over and saw straight through his facade. Elle smiled at Braxton's appearance. He looked so sweet! Just like a little boy who was just about to fall asleep where he sat. How adorable..

"Heh... Maybe some shut eye wouldn't be so bad? Think I could crash here tonight..this mornin', just for this once?"

"Why, of course you can. Make yourself at home!" She went over to where he was sitting and guided him up by his arms. He didn't really look fit to walk around alone in his state.

"You can have your bed, I just need a pillow to crash on the floor."

Nayeli rolled her eyes and steered him towards the bed, sitting him down on it, "No, Braxton, you can have the bed, I'll be just fine on the couch. Now rest up, you look like you could use a good night's sleep. Don't you ever sleep over in your dorm?"

She looked him over for a moment. If she were to turn her back, she was afraid he would keel over right onto the floor. His hair was all mussed up and his eyes kept closing and reopening frantically, like a child's when they were afraid to sleep and miss something.
She giggled. He was so cute when he was sleepy.