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Post by Charles Landen on Apr 9, 2007 11:53:31 GMT 7
"...There are a few common ones."
He decided it would be best if that aspect of their conversation ended there. Sure, it would have been fun to say something offensive. It would have. But he'd had his fair share of offensive comments for the day. He'd learned his lesson. For the day at least. There would be no more of that. Though, as aforementioned, only for the day. It didn't usually play out like this though, usually.
He didn't typically hear something and have that reaction. The, 'it would be fun to say something insulting right now' reaction. He usually felt compelled to enlighten people. That's what it was. People would be chatting away about their generic brand cereal or whatever, and he'd butt in. And he'd say something. And it's more than likely upset the party he was interrupting.
"I have one class on Thursday. In the morning. The rest of the day is mine."
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Post by Alexia DeMarco on Apr 9, 2007 20:49:52 GMT 7
A little jump in her blood pressure, and a dark look from her eyes, shows how Lexi felt about Chuck's remark. Maybe he didn't intend it to be that way, but it felt very callous, and condescending. What was it about him that was driving her crazy? "I didn't think art history was that common, Chuck. You must know a lot of art history majors." She had never seen him before, her sarcasm was starting to run it's way through her head, and she takes a deep breath.
This must have been the way it was for the other guy, the one he punched. Chuck said something to him, and the guy started pounding on his face. If she weren't careful, she was going to do the same, exact thing. And she knew she was just upset about the whole hospital situation.
Nodding slightly, as she looks away, she could care less what Chuck did on his day off. But she didn't want to answer questions abut herself, and she needed to ask him something else, to distract him. Looking back at him, feeling a little more calm, she says, "What do you on your day off? Just hang out, homework, watch TV, or something else?"
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Post by Charles Landen on Apr 10, 2007 1:07:52 GMT 7
"I mostly hang around the city."
Thursday's schedule looked something like this: • 6:30 - 7:30 - class. • 7:30 - 7:45 - throw a few extra things in his briefcase. • 7:45 - onward: 'explore' NYC. • 8:00 P.M. - Tuberculosis -- "Seize the Day"
It was a form of meditation. If he had more time, he would have been going every night. A wonderful door would have been opened. "Hope" a bimonthly sickle cell circle. Free and clear, a blood parasites group. TB was a treat though. He'd go, and he wouldn't say anything. Because he didn't say anything people always assumed the worst. They would cry harder, then he would cry harder. He didn't really have tuberculosis. But Thursday nights were the best nights of his life. When he'd swing into those motels, after the pay per view movie, it would be the best sleep he had all week. If one group had that power, imagine a whole host of groups.
"Mostly."
Her question made him wonder. What could something else be? She seemed like she was fishing for something. He should have said 'play tennis'. Everyone played tennis. For some reason, he had a feeling she was looking for an eccentric answer. An answer that would blow her away. An answer that would make her wish she had never stepped foot into that hospital. Going to the city seemed good enough though. And it was the truth, he did go to the city on Thursdays.
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Post by Alexia DeMarco on Apr 10, 2007 8:31:11 GMT 7
There was something going on inside of that head of his, something that Chuck wasn't about to share with her. That was the only explanation for his simplistic answers to her questions. Maybe he was the one who didn't want to talk, and maybe Lexi shouldn't try to get him to speak more about himself. It was just a defense on her part, and she was not going to answer pointed questions from him. It was none of his business anyway.
And that thought, plus the pain in her wrist, and all of the waiting, made Lexi snap a little. Turing her dark eyes to gaze into his, a slight fire smoldering behind them, she doesn't feel very happy. "Okay, well, that's nice. There are a lot of things to do around the city. But if you want to have a normal, social conversation with someone, you need to share a little more about yourself, Chuck. Unless you don't want me to talk to you. Do you want me to stop asking questions, Chuck? Yes or no will do." She holds her gaze on him for a little while, wondering if she was making any kind of impression on him. She then turns away, looking at the TV again, as she tries to think who she could reach on her cell phone speed dial.
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Post by Charles Landen on Apr 10, 2007 9:06:01 GMT 7
She sounded a little like a teacher. Or a frustrated attendee at a mental institute.
"Alright, I'm sorry -- let me try that again. I wake up early in the morning. How early is early, you ask? Six, six fifteen. I go to class. After class is over, unless you want me to divulge which class and what the lectures are usually like -- it's a class on advanced corporate financial management by the way, what can I say about the classroom? It's like stepping into an oven except you don't have the good fortune of actually burning alive. After class is done I hop on a train. The train takes me to Brooklyn. From Brooklyn I take a subway to Manhattan. In Manhattan I go around the city. Maybe I'll go get lunch. Maybe I'll shop. Sometimes I even go and see a movie. Every now and then I'll see a broadway show but I don't always have it in me to sit through three hours of singing and dancing. I guess it's a tolerance thing. When the day is through I'll stop at Starbucks, where I order a vente Carmel Macchiato. I have my fill for caffiene for the day. Between the hours of eight P.M. and nine thirty I'm socializing. It's fun. I meet people. They usually AREN'T punching me out, sorry for confusing you earlier. I didn't mean what I said literally. Nine forty-five rolls around and I'm sitting on a bus. I hate public transportation. Sometimes there isn't enough room. So I stand. The bus drops me off at a motel. If I have enough money, a hotel. I sleep there. Five thirty, I wake up and I'm back to New Jersey."
"But what about you Lexi DeMarco? What do you do? What classes do you take? What's your schedule? What are your fears? How are you liking Rutherford? How are you liking New Jersey? Or do you not like New Jersey? Why are you in the city today? Brunch, luncheon, wedding, funeral, just a day to yourself? Here to shop, see a show, go to the museum - bee tee dubs, I forgot to mention if I feel like it I'll go to the museum. If a museum, any particular exhibit? You know, to have a normal, social conversation Lexi, you're going to have to do more than just ask me questions and leave me guessing. Do you want to stop talking? Yes or no will do, Lexi."
He had a feeling she was going to storm out. The fact of the matter was, they were both being sort of nondescript. And they probably both had their reasons.
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Post by Alexia DeMarco on Apr 10, 2007 10:29:46 GMT 7
((I love the way that Charles insults Lexi in his mind, and she has no clue what is going on! xD))
Her head turns slowly away from the television, and Lexi fixes her dark smoldering gaze on Charles. Maybe she shouldn't have pushed him like that, but her frustration had grown to a point that she couldn't take it anymore. And now, she was getting a lot more than she ever bargained from him. He was giving her intimate details of his mundane life, and it was kind of sad, in a way. But her anger was getting the best of her, and he was challenging her.
As he starts to barrage her with questions, her breathing deepens, and her cheeks begin to flush. What an annoying guy he was turning out to be, and she was beginning to regret the whole thing. Okay, Chuck, guess what? I'm going to answer your questions, and then, I'm going to walk over there, and find out what is taking so long. And I hope you will be happy!" She meant every word she said, and she was just ready to be over the whole thing.
"What do I do? That's easy, I go to class, I go to soccer practice, I study, do my homework, and when I have some time I hang out with my friends, go to the occasional party, and ride my motorcycle. I take Advanced Algebra, Western Civ, Appreciation of Art, Human Relations, and a work-study course with the Metropolitan Museum here in the city. My schedule doesn't really concern you. I fear having to deal with annoying people all day long, and not seeing my friends. I like Rutherford very much, New Jersey is okay, it's not that bad. I had a meeting at the Met this afternoon, that is why I'm here in the city. And since the Met is closed for renovations, there are no exhibits up right now. There, I answered your questions! Have a nice life, Chuck, people don't usually die from bloody noses."
She gets up, giving him one more hard glare, and then turns away. Holding her wrist with her good hand, she makes her way over to the front desk, and she starts asking about being seen as soon as possible. She doesn't look back, she really thinks she doesn't care anymore, and she is ready to leave, if no one will see her right then.
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