Welcome to Gaia! ::

Griffin began the drive home from Dru's house after dropping her off. What a time that was, he thought. I can't believe we actually spent all night in that cove... His mind wnadered freely for a while as his subconcious kept him on the road home. He thought about how long it had been since he had actually enjoyed being at home. It'd been a good while... ever since his mom had gotten her new travel agent job. Griffin hated the job. It kept her away so much he hardly knew his mom anymore. He hadn't seen her in over a month. "Ah, but life goes on..." he sighed to himself. He slowed down as he neared his shabby, 100-year old house. His mom's car was, as usual, asbsent from the garage. "Okay, mom." he said to himself. "If you're not going to stay at home, then neither am I." With that he pulled away from the driveway and headed back towards town. Where was there to go? He had about 100 bucks to blow on something and nothing to blow it on. I could always go chill at the mall... Nah... I don't like that mall. Hmm... His mind went in circles. Food? Not hungry... Arcade? Not much for video games anymore... Movie theatre? Maybe... What was playing, though? Griffin Bryant decided he didn't care, turned a street corner and headed in the direction of the theatre.

Dru carefully began to walk down to her room, the family was out the back so it would be too easy to sneak passed. Or so she thought. A dark shadow appeared over her, Dru turned around expecting the worst.
"Dru Elizabeth Sommers,"Her mother shouted,"Where on earth have you been?" Dru went to explain that she had been out, like she told her but her mother butted in.
"I have been worried sick. You said you'd be here when the family arrived, but you werent. How are you going to explain yourself?" Dru thought for a moment.
"I was out. I told you last night when I left. I told you that I was going out and I didnt know what time I'd be home."Dru said sharply,"I didnt expect you to take any notice." Her mothers eyes grew wide.
"Well then, you'll be thinking twice about it now."Her mother shouted angrily,"Dru, you're grounded for two weeks."
Dru couldnt take it anymore, she could feel the anger gushing out.
"No mom, I'm not grounded. You cant punish me for something you did."Dru said wildly,"I'm going for a walk."
"No Dru, you are staying here with your family."Her mother shouted at her as she went out the door. Dru stopped and turned around again.
"I may as well be dead. You and dad dont take any notice of me at all."Dru huffed,"Why should they?"

With that she turned and walked down the street towards the main street. Dru was so hungry, so she made quick work of the bacon and egg roll that she bought on her way to the cinema. The old cinema had always helped her to relax. Perfect way to spend my time, she thought happily as she walked through its old wooden doors and towards the ticket booth.

Griffin hit the door lock button on the Nissan's mini-remote and heard the familiar chirp meaning the doors were secured. He pocketed the keys and headed towards the theatre's front opening. It was then that he spotted none other than Dru walking through the double-doors. What? She had that thing with her family, didn't she? Hmm... maybe she skipped out on it. His mind tossed the idea around in his head. Dru was a regular rebel. Griffin grinned as he stuck his hands in his jeans pockets and quickened his pace.

((Whee! Sorry for not posting; I got sidetracked with reshaping the disaster zone that was my room. I totally did not expect that many posts so quickly. The RP liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivesss!))

Jeremy had used his wicked little-brother powers to manipulate their mother into letting him go out. "But Meeelllll isssssss," had been foremost inhis argument. Pushing all the right buttons, he was soon out and on his way to the theater.
Mel was probably going to that sappy chick flick, he inflected. So, Jeremy would make sure to avoid her, while staying pertinantly close. He had been in heated debate about his future and education with his mother when Mel's date had come, so he was all aquivver to know just who it was that was taking her out. And, of course, should he DO anything to Mel... Jeremy wanted to be there to throw a brick at said date. Or maybe root, should the occasion not call for it.

------

John arrived, groomed, and looking rather sleek. His clothes were loose and casual (he had tried to not look his very best, but it didn't work out that way.). It's casual, it's casual!, he told himself again and again while he primped.
He rang the doorbell, before wondering if he should have knocked. He always rang the doorbell for the hot blondes, etc. that insited on going out with him. He was never nervous going out with any of them, so how was Mel any different? He knew the answer ran along quite a lot of different lines, but the most pertinent of these was (he insisted) that she was his friend.
He should have told himself 'It's not a date' a lot before he got there.

Because when Mel opened the door, he had a very, very difficult time telling himself it wasn't.

"Oh, wow." John started. Mel gave him a sweet smile, and pushed his jaw back up. What is this, you're acting like a teenager! he scolded.

"Ha. Haha. Er, it looks like you're ready to go. Shall we?"

"Um, okay. I think I've got everything on me that I need," Mel said. John wondered what she was thinking.

"Okay. How about we walk? The theater isn't more than five blocks, and it's really nice out today."

Dru walked over to the ticket booth when she saw Griffin walking towards the doors. She turned away from him. Oh my god, I hope he didnt see me, Dru thought nervously, He's gonna think I blew him off.

Dru tried to look interested in the showtimes or at least look like she cared about what was on. She didnt care what was on, she came here to relax and if she was with Griffin then that was fine by her too.

Don't blush. Don't blush. Don't blush. I'm starting to blush. Oh God I'm blushing. Mel was on her doorstep freaking out. He's just a friend, it's not a date. You're in a skirt, of course it's a date. Oh s**t. Nice going.

"Um, sure! Walking sounds good." Her voice sounded slightly nervous but it was barely noticeable, though to her it felt like she had already completely lost her cool.

They headed down the sidewalk, Mel felt like she should almost grab John lightly by the arm and lean into him a little. Instead she put her hands behind her back and clasped them together. The "thuk-thuk" of her flip-flops against the cement was deafening.

"It's so nice out tonight." She smiled and did a little twirl in the warm evening air heavy with the scent of lilac. "Don't you think?" Mel smiled genuinely, forgetting her nervousness and the to-be-or-not-to-be date for a moment. It was summer, everything felt great.

John nodded slightly and made a sound of agreement. Mel thought she saw him smile back at her. "I just love the summer. It makes me feel so content, like nothing bad can happen."

For the first time since she found out John was leaving Mel did feel content and just happy to be with John, date or no date.

((But that happiness was not to last.... DUN DUN DUN!!! Sorry, I had to throw in that stupid dramatic irony, it's fun!))

Griffin disappeared into a jostling crowd for cover and then slipped out right behind Dru, who was currently staring intently at the movie listings. He put on a deep, throaty voice and said very softly "Excuse me, Miss."

((Oh--Dammit. See, that's the problem with going on Gaia at midnight and expecting yourself to be half-way coherent.))

Eileen gave a quick nod, glaring at the popcorn. Urgh.

"Heh, I'm okay Lee. I've just never done anything like this before."

Taking a couple of deep breaths, and readying herself to actually ENJOY herself, she asked, "Um, Lee, what movie are we watching?"

Lee looked stunned, "You pulled me in here..."

Eileen hoped to God that it wasn't a kiddy movie. Or an overly dirty movie! Or a bad comedy! Sinking glumly in her seat, she figured it'd be at least one of them, knowing her luck. Then, she saw Ani!

Now, Ani. She was cool, and was a rocker, and didn't care what no one thought. That was Eileen's impression, although she couldn't say that she agreed with her on most things. However, she figured that, hey, whatever movie Ani's going to can't be anything too embarassing.