ALONE IN A CROWD

[pixie]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i41.tinypic.com/e15cvl.png); width: 450px; height: 700px; background-repeat: repeat-y;]

Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone Just the one-two of us, who's counting on That never happens I guess I'm dreaming again Let's be more than this If you want to play it like a game Well, come on, come on, let's play Cause I'd rather waste my life pretending Than have to forget you for one whole minute They taped over your mouth

PIXIE CHEWED ON THE END OF HER BIC PEN AND HER BROW DREW DOWN IN CONSTERNATION AS SHE TAPPED HER OXFORD-CLAD FOOT ON THE CEMENT GROUND. THE BLUE AND WHITE FLOWERED JACKET WHICH WASN'T REQUIRED IN THE DRY, HOT AIR OF CALIFORNIA HUNG ON THE BACK OF THE PLASTIC CHAIR WHERE SHE SAT WHILE SHE FINISHED HER HOMEWORK. WHY WASN'T SHE AT HOME IN THE COZY LOFT APARTMENT SHE SHARED WITH HER BOYFRIEND OF EIGHT YEARS? SHE COULDN'T CONSCIOUSLY ADMIT TO HERSELF WHY, BUT SHE JUST COULDN'T BE THERE RIGHT NOW. HER PARENTS, IN THEIR ALL-KNOWING, SOUTHERN VOICES, WOULD SAY IT WAS BECAUSE SHE NEEDED TO GET OUT AND MEET NEW PEOPLE INSTEAD OF ALWAYS SPENDING TIME AROUND THE ONES SHE'D KNOWN SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. PIXIE, OF COURSE, DENIED THIS. SHE LOVED KORY, AND SHE HAD FOR EIGHT YEARS. JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH NOW TWENTY YEARS OLD DIDN'T CHANGE THAT. SHE WOULDN'T HAVE MOVED IN WITH HIM IF SHE DIDN'T LOVE HIM. HE WOULDN'T HAVE FOLLOWED HER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE WEST COAST IF HE DIDN'T FEEL THE SAME. THEY'D BEEN TOGETHER THROUGH A LOT, AND SHE COULDN'T JUST PUSH THAT ALL ASIDE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T IN HIGH SCHOOL ANYMORE, NO MATTER WHAT HER PARENTS THOUGHT. THEY THOUGHT SHE NEEDED MORE EXPERIENCE DATING OTHER PEOPLE, BUT SHE THOUGHT OTHERWISE. WHY DID SHE NEED ANY 'EXPERIENCE' IF SHE ALREADY HAD WHAT SHE WANTED? AND SHE'D PROVE IT TO THEM ON THIS LITTLE RETREAT THEY WERE PRESSURING HER TO GO ON. SHE WOULD GO TO MONTANA OF HER OWN FREE WILL, AND SHE WOULD PROVE TO THEM HOW VERY WRONG THEY WERE IN THINKING SHE NEEDED ANYTHING OTHER THAN KORY IN HER LIFE.

SO THERE.

YES, SHE WAS CONTRARY. IT WAS ONE OF HER STRONGEST PERSONALITY TRAITS, AND SOMETHING HER MOTHER HAD CHIDED HER FOR SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS TIME, THOUGH, SHE WOULD PROVE TO THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT SHE WASN'T JUST BEING POINTLESSLY IRRITABLE. SHE LOVED KORY; SHE WAS DEVOTED TO HIM MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE, AND SHE VOWED SHE ALWAYS WOULD BE. THEY WEREN'T ACTUALLY ENGAGED - YET - BUT THEY MAY AS WELL BE. SHE'D FIGHT TO THE DEATH ANYONE WHO ARGUED WITH HER. IT WAS THE SOUTHERNER IN HER, AND SHE KNEW IT, BUT SHE TOOK PRIDE IN HER HERITAGE.

SIGHING TO HERSELF, SHE TRIED TO FOCUS BACK ON HER HOMEWORK. SHE HAD ANOTHER TWO DAYS BEFORE IT WAS DUE, BUT THAT DIDN'T MATTER. SHE NEEDED SOMETHING TO TAKE HER MIND OFF OF AGREEING TO TAKE THE RETREAT HER PARENTS HAD BEEN PRESSURING HER TO DO FOR MONTHS. SHE STILL HADN'T TOLD KORY SHE WAS GOING, BUT SHE HAD A GOOD MONTH TO WORK UP TO TELLING HIM. HE WOULDN'T BE UPSET, SHE KNEW, BUT SHE STILL DREADED IT. HE KNEW HOW HER PARENTS FELT, AND SHE KNEW IT HURT HIS FEELINGS TO HEAR THE THINGS THEY SAID TO HER. THE LAST THING SHE WANTED TO DO WAS SEE THAT LOOK OF PAIN ON HIS FACE.

REACHING UP TO HER TEMPLE, SHE TWIRLED ONE OF THE SHORT STRANDS OF HER NEWLY-BOBBED HAIR AROUND HER INDEX FINGER. IT WAS HOPELESS TO TRY TO CONCENTRATE NOW. SHE HAD TOO MUCH GOING THROUGH HER MIND. AS A SHADOW PASSED OVER HER PAPER, SHE GLANCED UP AT THE FIGURE, BLINKING AS THE SUN SHONE BRIGHTLY FROM BEHIND THE APPROACHING FIGURE AND SHE COULDN'T EVEN TELL IF IT WAS A MALE OR FEMALE. "I'M SORRY, I CAN MOVE IF I'M TAKING UP YOUR TABLE..." SHE BEGAN TO APOLOGIZE, MOVING TO GATHER HER THINGS SO SHE COULD MOVE.

open!, 604, clothes, anyone? 8)

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_{STYLED BY ROYALSTANDARD.}[/center]

[flynn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 360px; border-left: 20px solid #7a9aa9; background-color:d5d5d5; padding-left: 10px; padding-bottom: 20px;] Bulletproof Heart, I got a bulletproof heart You got a hollow-point smile Me and your runaway scars Got a photograph dream on the getaway mile Let's blow a hole in this town Too much talking with a laser beam Gunning out of this place in a bullet's embrace - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dexter wasn’t one of those cool guys who carried his guitar around with him at all times, but he did have it with him today. For good reason mind you, he’d just come from a music class. Otherwise known as a wonderful jam session to him, the class was very open to creativity and finding a sound. I was what most people would call a “progressive” class, basically the teacher gave them assignments to work over in the group, but the rest was up to them, what kind of sound they had composition. In his mind it was just a whole bunch of creative kids getting to play music with a couple guidelines. Though his earlier creative writing class wasn’t as fun or inspiring as his last, suddenly Dex’s teacher decided to tell him that he had no idea who he was and masked it by wearing his individuality as a shield. What prompted this one may ask, he was asked to sum himself up in a word. So of course he said it’s simply impossible to sum up a person in a word, something his teacher disagreed with whole heartedly, he told him “if you can’t define yourself you can’t define a character” then he asked him to leave and not come back until he could “define himself”. It was ridiculous, he never liked to label himself or others. Was it possible to label someone with one word, yes. His years of high school had taught him that quite clearly. Geek, slut, bitch, cheerleader, jock, however were these accurate description of the people around him? No. Because people are by definition complex and multi-faceted. One word cannot explain an entire personality only a small miniscule part of one. His music class had calmed the burn of his creative writing class and had as usual put him in better spirits. One thing in particular though still stuck with him, his teacher had asked him where he was going and in all honesty he didn’t know what he’d do when he finished college. He only had a year left, but the past three years he felt like he finally belonged somewhere, somehow he found a place beyond the high school hierarchies, where nerd could have friends that were popular and it didn’t matter anymore. Either that or he’d suddenly became part of the popular crowd, which was a laughable thought. As the boy knew about psychology he could easily self-diagnose himself with a case of Peter Pan syndrome – he was afraid of growing up. As a grown up people would expect him to be all mature and not hum or sing Disney songs that seemed to fit that occasion. Not to say that grownups didn’t enjoy him, often he got complements on his youthful innocence and optimism and he would much rather stay the way he was instead of hanging up his proverbial hat and go on to become a cynical paper salesmen or something equally as terrifying. But he didn’t want to think about that now, instead he’d hum the melody his group had come up with in class and try to think of brilliant lyrics he’d never remember long enough to write down. Though, another distraction from growing up would arise in a matter of moments as his hazel eye fell on a small blonde pixie, funny how she matched her name in appearance and attitude so well. He walked in large strides to make up distance and then simply skipped the final gap “Hello miss would you happen to have the time?” he stood with a goofy grin on his lips as both his hands held on to his guitar case behind his back. Dexter had a talent that most men had of being able to make himself appear as if her were just a cute little five year old all over again. He honestly didn’t need the time, he wore a watch of his own and everyone knew he was never without one, but of often felt compelled to talk as if he were in an old movie. Setting down his guitar case, he plopped himself in a chair across from her “you’re looking like a minx today” he said with a teasing tone and a dapper grin. FOR PIXIE, 719, outfit, lalalalala

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TEMPLATE BY KHRISTIAN OF CAUTION 2.0, LYRICS BY MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE[/center]

[pixie]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i41.tinypic.com/e15cvl.png); width: 450px; height: 700px; background-repeat: repeat-y;]

Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone Just the one-two of us, who's counting on That never happens I guess I'm dreaming again Let's be more than this If you want to play it like a game Well, come on, come on, let's play Cause I'd rather waste my life pretending Than have to forget you for one whole minute They taped over your mouth

AS SHE STOOD, SHE CAME FACE-TO-FACE WITH A FACE SHE RECOGNIZED, AND SHE INSTANTLY REALIZED SHE'D BEEN MISTAKEN IN THINKING SHE'D BEEN HOGGING SOMEONE'S TABLE. AN EASY SMILE SPREAD ACROSS HER FACE AS SHE SAW DEXTER, ONE OF HER BEST FRIENDS AND CONFIDANTS. NEXT TO SAVANNAH, HE WAS HER CLOSEST FRIEND, AND SHE LIKED HAVING THAT MALE POINT OF VIEW TO BOUNCE THINGS OFF OF EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. ANOTHER GIRL WAS NICE TO TALK TO WHEN YOU WANTED TO GRIPE ABOUT MEN, BUT A GUY COULD TELL YOU WHAT YOU WERE DOING WRONG AND HOW TO FIX IT. KORY WAS CLOSE TO HER, OBVIOUSLY, BUT HE WAS HER BOYFRIEND AND SHE JUST COULDN'T TALK TO HIM THE WAY SHE TALKED TO DEXTER. BESIDES, KORY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT DEX. NOT THAT HE WOULD BE JEALOUS, SHE DIDN'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT, SHE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE IMPRESSION HE WOULD PARTICULARLY LIKE THE FACT THAT SHE TOLD ANOTHER GUY THINGS SHE WOULD NEVER TELL HIM. INWARDLY, SHE FELT A BIT GUILTY FOR THIS DOUBLE STANDARD, BUT OUTWARDLY SHE DIDN'T SHOW IT. SHE ADORED DEXTER LIKE ONE OF HER MULTIPLE BROTHERS, LIKE A TWIN SHE'D NEVER HAD. HE WAS, IN ESSENCE, HER OTHER HALF IN A VERY NON-ROMANTIC WAY. TO PIXIE, YOU COULD HAVE THOSE FRIENDS THAT COMPLETED YOU WITHOUT HAVING TO MUSS IT UP WITH SEXUAL TENSION OR ROMANCE. TO HER RELIEF, DEXTER WAS ONE OF THOSE FRIENDS. NOT THAT SHE WASN'T ATTRACTED TO HIM IN THAT 'POPULAR GIRL SECRETLY THINKS THE NERD IS CUTE' KIND OF WAY, BUT SHE JUST KNEW THEY'D NEVER GO THERE. IT WAS NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE 'SAFE' IN HER LIFE. AND, ON THAT NOTE, HER PARENTS WOULD ALSO NEVER KNOW ABOUT HIM.

IF HER PARENTS HEARD SHE HAD A MALE FRIEND, AND IT WASN'T KORY, THEY WOULD FREAK. THEY'D INSTANTLY TELL HER TO TRY TO DATE HIM OR 'MAYBE YOU NEED SOME TIME AWAY FROM KORY?', AND SHE'D JUST GET MAD. SO, DEX WAS HER ONE ESCAPE FROM ALL OF IT: GOOD AND BAD. AND SHE NEEDED HIM RIGHT NOW.

PLOPPING BACK DOWN IN HER CHAIR, SHE SETTLED HER BOOKS BACK ON THE TABLE AND BRUSHED A STRAND OF HER SHORT BLOND HAIR BEHIND HER EAR. SHYLY CROSSING HER LEGS AND SWINGING ONE OXFORD-HEEL-CLAD FOOT IN THE AIR, SHE WAVED OFF HIS COMPLIMENT. "I JUST FELT LIKE DRESSING UP TODAY," SHE COMMENTED OFFHANDEDLY WHILE THINKING TO HERSELF THAT SHE KNEW WHY. THIS OUTFIT MADE HER STAND OUT BECAUSE IT WAS HER USUAL OLD-FASHIONED STYLE WHICH EVERYONE WAS BEGINNING TO LOVE, AND BECAUSE SHE FELT CONFIDENT WHEN SHE WORE IT. WHEN HER PARENTS HOUNDED HER ABOUT HER 'FOOLISHNESS', SHE ALWAYS FELT MEEK, AND THIS OUTFIT CONFOUNDED THOSE FEELINGS. LIFTING HER CHIN, SHE OFFERED HER FRIEND AND WINNING GRIN AND POINTED AT THE GUITAR STRAPPED ONTO HIS BACK. "ARE YOU GOING TO SERENADE ME, MINSTREL?" SHE LOVED BEING FOOLISH WITH HIM; HE MADE HER FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN. SOMETIMES SHE WORRIED FAR TOO MUCH, AND LOSING HERSELF IN CHILDISH ABANDON WAS SUCH A RELIEF. ADMITTEDLY, SHE LOVED SINGING WITH DEXTER SINCE SHE'D NEVER REALLY BEEN INTO SINGING IN HIGH SCHOOL. SHE'D BEEN BUSY WITH HONOR ROLL AND HER COLLEGE-LEVEL CLASSES TO DO MUCH OUTSIDE OF ACADEMICS AND DATING KORY, SO SHE'D NEVER ENJOYED CHORUS OR THE BAND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. CHEERLEADING TOOK UP ALL OF HER FREE TIME OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND HER LONG-TIME BOYFRIEND. WHEN SHE'D GOTTEN TO COLLEGE AND MET DEX, SHE'D REALIZED SHE COULD ACTUALLY SING PRETTY WELL, AND SHE LOVED SINGING WITH HIM. HE COULD ENTERTAIN HER LIKE NO ONE ELSE COULD.

dexter <3, 602, clothes, they're gonna be adorable besties!

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_{STYLED BY ROYALSTANDARD.}[/center]

[flynn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 360px; border-left: 20px solid #7a9aa9; background-color:d5d5d5; padding-left: 10px; padding-bottom: 20px;] Bulletproof Heart, I got a bulletproof heart You got a hollow-point smile Me and your runaway scars Got a photograph dream on the getaway mile Let's blow a hole in this town Too much talking with a laser beam Gunning out of this place in a bullet's embrace - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If Dexter had known that Pixie kept their friendship a secret from her boyfriend and her parents he may have thought it was a bit weird, but at the same time it wouldn’t really surprise him. They weren’t doing anything wrong, but he could see her having to explain that to her jock boyfriend and why she would hang out with a nerd like him. Granted Dexter had never met Kory, but he’d known of him, seen him around in high school. Kory was never mean to him, but Dexter was good at keeping his nose clean and out of the jocks way. Maybe Dex wasn’t giving Kory a fair shake, but how could he, he’d never met him or talked to him more than a simple hello here and their when they passed each other in the halls of school, be it high school or otherwise. He didn’t label people, but maybe he was a bit of a hypocrite when it came to Kory. Maybe Dex was wrong, maybe some people could be summed up in a stereotypical word, but Pixie wasn’t what he thought she was in high school and if there was nothing else to say for the guy, he made Pixie happy to be with him and that would be enough for Dexter to feel he deserve a little bit of an open mind. Because she wasn’t what he thought she was maybe Kory wasn’t either, but the fact that Pixie hadn’t introduced the two had given him the feeling that maybe she feared for Dex’s safety if Kory found out he was hanging around “his girl”. Course Dexter took boxing for years and probably could kick Kory’s ass, but mindless theoretical testosterone comparisons weren’t what Dexter wasted his time on. It did seem strange that Pixie had never introduced him to Kory now that the thought had crossed his mind. However the though quickly dissipated as the blonde began to speak. “mmhimh, well you look like a stunna doll” he said mimicking that old Hollywood voice as he grabbed the imaginary cigar out of his mouth. The boy had a thing for old Hollywood; there was something in that time that just isn’t around anymore. An air of charm that’s been choked out by consumerism and pollution, he was glad that not everyone smoked anymore though. His eyes fell on his guitar case when her next question arose, he looked back to her with his eyebrow raised “don’t tempt me” he said with a sly smile. People often found his occasional creative outburst embarrassing “I just had the best musical experience” he couldn’t help feel giddy about it, he slumped in his chair to get more comfortable and rested his elbows on the arm rest as he jiggled his black converse clad feet, he needed all of his energy to calm down and stop feeling like an electric current keeping him from sitting still. Since he was a kid he had a hard time sitting still, he seemed to always need something to occupy his hands when he was in one of his creative states “now I have to wait a whole hour before I go to play rehearsal” he sighed in exasperation. “but it does give me time with my pixie stick” he allowed his brows to furrow “that came out sounding a lot dirtier than I intended” he laughed “but yeah” he shook his head. Dexter wasn’t known for having a dirty humor and maybe his head was in the gutter, but that comment was far more suggestive sounding than he meant it to be, in fact he hadn’t meant for it to have a suggestion in it. Never the less Dex had learned to shake off embarrassment for the most part, he’d had to. If he started getting embarrassed of himself he’d may as well crawl under the covers and never leave the house. FOR PIXIE, 652, outfit, adorbs -nods-

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TEMPLATE BY KHRISTIAN OF CAUTION 2.0, LYRICS BY MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE[/center]

[pixie]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i41.tinypic.com/e15cvl.png); width: 450px; height: 700px; background-repeat: repeat-y;]

Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone Just the one-two of us, who's counting on That never happens I guess I'm dreaming again Let's be more than this If you want to play it like a game Well, come on, come on, let's play Cause I'd rather waste my life pretending Than have to forget you for one whole minute They taped over your mouth

SEEING DEXTER'S SMILING FACE - HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE SMILING EVEN WHEN HE WASN'T - ALWAYS MADE HER FEEL AT EASE. SHE COULDN'T HELP SMILING WHEN HE WAS, EVERYTHING ABOUT HIS GOOD MOODS WAS CONTAGIOUS. WHEN HE TOLD HER NOT TO TEMPT HIM ABOUT SINGING TO HER, SHE WRINKLED HER NOSE AND SMILED. HE EXPLAINED ABOUT HIS MUSIC CLASS WHICH SHE KNEW HE LOVED MORE THAN MOST THINGS AROUND THIS SCHOOL. SHE COULDN'T BLAME HIM: HE WAS GOOD AT IT. IF SHE FOUND SOMETHING SHE WAS GENUINELY WONDERFUL AT, SHE WOULD WANT TO DO IT ALL THE TIME TOO. "WELL, I DON'T MIND IF YOU HUM UNTIL THEN," SHE JOKED, STANDING FROM THE TABLE, GATHERING HER BOOKS WITH ONE ARM AND LACING HER ELBOW THROUGH DEXTER'S ELBOW WITH THE FREE ARM. SHE TUGGED HIM ALONG AFTER HER, LEADING HIM TO THE COFFEE SHOP INSIDE THE MAIN AREA OF THE UNIVERSITY.

PIXIE'S SENSE OF HUMOR WAS OFTEN RATHER GUILELESS, AND SHE DIDN'T CATCH PERVERTED REFERENCES AS QUICKLY AS OTHERS. HER FAMILY HAD NEVER BEEN REALLY KEEN ON DIRTY JOKES, AND SHE HADN'T BEEN EXPOSED TO THEM A WHOLE LOT IN HER LIFE, EVEN SINCE BECOMING AN ADULT. SOMETIMES SHE REALLY DID COME ACROSS AS A BLOND WHEN SOMEONE TOLD A DIRTY JOKE AND SHE WAS THE LAST TO LAUGH. SO WHEN DEXTER MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT HIS PIXIE STICK, SHE SMILED AND THEN BLUSHED WHEN HE STATED THAT IT SOUNDED MORE PERVERTED THAN HE'D INTENDED. GIGGLING, SHE HUGGED HIS ARM CLOSER TO HER AND PATTED HIS WRIST. "I KNEW WHAT YOU MEANT," SHE COMMENTED, SMILING. "THAT'S WHAT KORY CALLS ME SOMETIMES TOO," SHE ADDED, REALIZING NOW SHE NEEDED TO CLARIFY AS WELL. WITH A LAUGH, SHE SHOOK HER HEAD, "AND NOT IN A PERVERTED WAY."

FINALLY, THEY REACHED THE COFFEE SHOP AND SHE GLANCED UP AT THE MENU. SHE GOT THE SAME PEPPERMINT CAPPUCCINO EVERY TIME SHE VISITED THE SHOP AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR. UNLIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE SHE KNEW, PIXIE LOVED PEPPERMINT AND SHE LOVED CINNAMON. DRINKS AND FOODS WITH THEM INSIDE WERE HER FAVORITE. STEPPING UP TO THE COUNTER, SHE ORDERED HER DRINK AND GLANCED BACK AT DEXTER. "YOU GONNA GET SOMETHING?" AFTER A FEW MINUTES, HER DRINK WAS READY, AND SHE TOOK IT FROM THE BARISTA. HER FIRST SIP WAS ALWAYS HER FAVORITE, AND SHE BLEW IN THROUGH THE HOLE IN THE LID TO COOL IT OFF SO SHE COULD ENJOY THAT SPICY TASTE. SMILING AND SIGHING WITH PLEASURE AT THE TASTE, SHE NODDED APPRECIATIVELY AND FOUND A TABLE WHERE THEY COULD SIT IN THE WARMER COFFEE SHOP. PLACING HER BOOKS ON THE FLOOR, SHE PRETENDED TO ENJOY HER DRINK SO SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BROACH THE TOPIC ON HER MIND.

HER PARENTS HAD GOTTEN HER TO AGREE ON THEIR RETREAT TRIP IDEA, AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TELL KORY. SHE COULDN'T TELL HIM. HE KNEW HER PARENTS WERE TRYING TO BREAK THEM UP, AND HER AGREEING TO IT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE HIM THINK SHE WAS BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THEM. OF COURSE SHE WASN'T, AND SHE'D ONLY AGREED TO GO TO PROVE TO THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT THEIR IDEAS WERE INCORRECT, BUT SHE COULD SEE THE LOOK ON HIS FACE ALREADY WHEN SHE TOLD HIM. HE WOULD FEEL BETRAYED AND HURT, AND SHE NEVER WANTED HIM TO FEEL THOSE EMOTIONS. ESPECIALLY NOT BECAUSE OF HER. TAPPING HER SLENDER FINGERS ON THE SIDES OF THE COFFEE CUP, SHE BIT HER BOTTOM LIP AND THEN DECIDED TO JUST SAY WHAT SHE WAS THINKING.

"I AGREED TO GO TO MONTANA ON THAT TRIP MY PARENTS WANT ME TO TAKE," SHE BLURTED, LOOKING UP AT HER FRIEND IN EXPECTATION OF HIS REACTION. HE KNEW AS MUCH ABOUT WHAT HAD BEEN GOING ON WITH HER PARENTS AND HER AND KORY AS SAVANNAH DID, AND SHE LIKED HAVING A GUY'S OPINION ABOUT THE SITUATION. SAVANNAH WAS AWESOME AT TELLING HER SHE SHOULD JUST TELL HER PARENTS TO GO TO HELL AND DO WHAT SHE WANTED, BUT DEXTER WAS GOOD AT TELLING HER HOW KORY MAY FEEL ABOUT THE WHOLE DEAL. NONE OF THEM UNDERSTOOD WHY SHE DIDN'T JUST TAKE SAVANNAH'S ADVICE AND TELL HER PARENTS TO GO AWAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME. EVEN WHEN THEY TREATED HER LIKE CRAP, PIXIE STILL LOVED THEM. THEY WERE HER FAMILY, AND THEY ALWAYS WOULD BE. SHE WANTED TO FIND A MORE PEACEFUL WAY TO SOLVE EVERYTHING INSTEAD OF HAVING TO CUT ANYONE (HER PARENTS OR KORY) OUT OF HER LIFE. THERE HAD TO BE A WAY. IF GOING TO MONTANA PROVED TO THEM, FINALLY, THAT SHE WAS SERIOUS IN HER FEELINGS FOR HER BOYFRIEND, THEN THAT WAS WHAT SHE WOULD DO.

dexter <3, 780, clothes, hope it's ok she led him to the coffee shop hee hee

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_{STYLED BY ROYALSTANDARD.}[/center]

[flynn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 360px; border-left: 20px solid #7a9aa9; background-color:d5d5d5; padding-left: 10px; padding-bottom: 20px;] Bulletproof Heart, I got a bulletproof heart You got a hollow-point smile Me and your runaway scars Got a photograph dream on the getaway mile Let's blow a hole in this town Too much talking with a laser beam Gunning out of this place in a bullet's embrace - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If he had to choose only one thing he could do for the rest of his life, Dexter would chose making people laugh or smile. He loved leaving people happier than he found them and actually it was his lifelong goal. Sometimes changing someone’s life was as easy as a smile, that’s what he believed and it was one of the only subjects he wouldn’t allow people to argue with him about. Not that he’d shut them down, people were entitled to their own opinions, he just knew they wouldn’t be able to present an argument that changed his mind. Pixie had an obviously cute smile – infectious even. Some people said the same about him, but he was far to humble to get a big head about it. Maybe a better word would be self-deprecation, but humble just sounded so much nicer. Most wouldn’t guess even if his humor was self-deprecating, that Dexter actually didn’t like himself much, he didn’t consider himself special and instead wanted to surround himself with special people so that he could remind them they were when they began to doubt themselves. Of course he didn’t always succeed in his endeavors, no one is perfect, he made plenty of mistakes in his life and rarely forgot them. He allowed his mistakes to scar him and in turn change how he looked at things. The most obvious was giving his heart away to be broken – he didn’t want to ever do that again, he considered it a lesson learned. Yet, as long as it wasn’t a romantic relationship he was more than happy to give his heart away, he was a bit of a contradiction in that sense. Though, he’d seen too much love die to still believe it could last, he watched his mother’s heart break, plenty of his friends and of course felt his own. He allowed Pixie to pull him from his seat with a small groan of protest snatching his guitar case from the floor, but quickly perked up when he realized they were heading in the direction of the coffee stand and could probably convince Pixie to allow him a coffee beverage, if that wasn’t already her intent. He laughed as she reassured him she knew what he meant “good that could have been a friendship ender” he teased. “how are you two love birds anyway?” Dexter often used what people would consider old people terminology, but that could be because he spent a lot of time with old people volunteering at the home. He didn’t ask about her relationship enough, he knew that, probably because he never liked Kory in high school. Kory was never mean to him; he just ignored his existence completely, which was perfectly fine. Just feeling invisible sometimes hurt more than words to Dexter. Not that he was one of those people who needed attention to survive in fact he hated attention, but he didn’t want to be non-existent either. People liked talking about their relationships and he’d always allow her to talk about hers with him, even if he internally didn’t believe it would last, not because of either party, but simply because no love lasts in his mind. He never let her know that though, she had enough people making her feel like crap about her relationship. Reaching the coffee stand cause him to smile from ear to ear, he was a coffee fan to say the least. Pixie ordered her usual coffee order, which yes Dexter knew, he made it a point of knowing all his friends coffee orders. As she asked him if he was going to get anything he looked at her with an are you crazy face “of course!” turning to the kid behind the counter he asked “can I get a peppermint bark mocha latte please?” peppermint bark and coffee was a magical combination for him, the only problem was in was seasonal. “don’t argue” he said as he paid for both their drinks, for some reason he often felt the need to pay for things. The boy always had an excuse to shoot back if they started to argue, Pixie for example had the added expense of rent, whereas he lived at home with his mother rent free, earning his keep by babysitting instead. A smile spread across his lips as he received his drink and he followed Pixie to the table, finding a place for his guitar and settling into his seat. Her next words threw her a bit “really?” he said a bit shocked, but without an ounce of condemnation. “how’s Kory taking the news?” he asked, as much as he didn’t really care how Kory felt he wanted to make sure he wasn’t giving Pixie too hard of a time. Dexter knew her parents were controlling and pushy types and he himself didn’t believe he would have lasted as long as she had. His parents never pushed him to do anything, his father just called him a fruitcake when he was around him and didn’t care what he did with the rest of his life. His mother was always supportive and let him do his own thing as long as he stayed out of trouble of the felony degree. . FOR PIXIE, 873, outfit, oh yes, dex loves coffee more than life haha

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TEMPLATE BY KHRISTIAN OF CAUTION 2.0, LYRICS BY MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE[/center]

[pixie]

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Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone Just the one-two of us, who's counting on That never happens I guess I'm dreaming again Let's be more than this If you want to play it like a game Well, come on, come on, let's play Cause I'd rather waste my life pretending Than have to forget you for one whole minute They taped over your mouth

SHE KNEW SHE SHOULD HAVE SNUCK THE CASHIER A TWENTY WHEN DEXTER WASN'T LOOKING, BUT SHE FOLLOWED HIS INSTRUCTIONS WITH A SMILE AND DIDN'T ARGUE WITH HIM. HE LIKED TO MAKE HIMSELF A PERFECT GENTLEMAN FROM TIME TO TIME, AND SHE KNEW BY NOW SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STOP HIM EVEN IF SHE'D WANTED TO. HE WAS LIKE A STEAMROLLER WHEN IT CAME TO DOING AND GETTING WHAT HE WANTED. WHILE HE WASN'T CUTTHROAT LIKE SOME PEOPLE, HE WAS HARDHEADED. PERHAPS THAT WAS WHY THEY WERE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS; SHE WAS MUCH THE SAME WAY. PIXIE GIGGLED AS DEXTER FIXED HER WITH HIS 'ARE-YOU-INSANE' FACE AFTER SHE ASKED HIM IF HE WAS GOING TO GET A COFFEE. SOMETIMES, SHE BECAME SO WRAPPED UP IN HER PROBLEMS WITH HER PARENTS SHE FORGOT ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD: LIKE HER BEST FRIEND'S PENCHANT FOR CAFFEINE. ALTHOUGH HE MANAGED TO ENTERTAIN HER AND MAKE HER KNOW HE WASN'T UPSET FOR HER FORGETTING SOMETHING SO VITAL TO HIS M.O., SHE STILL FELT GUILTY THAT SHE'D BEEN TOO SELF-ABSORBED TO NOTICE THE WORLD AROUND HER... AGAIN. BUT ALL SHE COULD THINK ABOUT WAS WONDERING HOW KORY WAS GOING TO TAKE THE NEWS OF HER AGREEMENT TO GO TO MONTANA.

SO WHEN DEXTER ASKED HER HOW THINGS WERE GOING BETWEEN HER AND KORY, SHE WAS MOMENTARILY CAUGHT OFF GUARD AS IF HE'D BEEN READING HER MIND. SHE TOOK A SLOW SIP FROM HER COFFEE BEFORE WRAPPING HER HANDS AROUND IT TO SOAK THE WARMTH INTO HER FINGERTIPS. "THINGS ARE ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD BETWEEN US, IT'S JUST MY PARENTS. THEY'RE THE PROBLEM," SHE ADMITTED WITH A SIGH BEFORE TAKING ANOTHER SLOW DRAUGHT FROM THE HOT CUP. "AND NO, TELLING THEM TO KISS MY ASS IS, REGRETTABLY, NOT AN OPTION," SHE ADDED WITH A RAISED EYEBROW AND A SMILE AS SHE SAW THE LOOK ON DEX'S FACE. SHE KNEW HE THOUGHT SHE'D PUT UP WITH ENOUGH ALREADY, BUT SHE JUST COULDN'T FIND THE BALANCE. "YEAH, I FIGURE IF I GO TO MONTANA AND PROVE TO THEM WE CAN HAVE SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN US AND STILL BE IN LOVE, THEY'LL FINALLY LEAVE US ALONE..." WHEN HE ASKED HOW KORY WAS TAKING IT, SHE GLANCED UP AT HIM OUT OF THE TOPS OF HER EYES AND SMILED A GUILTY SMILE. "I HAVEN'T TOLD HIM YET?"

HOLDING UP A HAND AS SHE CONTINUED SPEAKING, KNOWING HOW HER BESTIE WOULD FREAK AT HER LACK OF HONESTY, SHE EXPLAINED, "I'M GOING TO! I JUST NEED THE RIGHT MOMENT, AND I DON'T WANT HIM TO GET MAD, SO I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO EXPLAIN IT TO HIM SO HE KNOWS IT'S NOT LIKE I'M RUNNING OFF TO GET MARRIED TO SOMEONE ELSE OR SOMETHING." SHE STARED DOWN AT HER COFFEE FOR A MOMENT, LISTENING TO DEXTER'S WORDS AS SHE WALLOWED TEMPORARILY IN HER OWN SELF-PITY. WHEN HE WAS DONE SPEAKING, SHE LOOKED UP AT HIM WITH ALL SINCERITY IN HER FACE. "I REALLY DO LOVE HIM, DEX. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT.. THEM." SHE MEANT HER PARENTS. SHE COULDN'T BEAR TO WRITE THEM OUT OF HER LIFE COMPLETELY, ALTHOUGH THEY CERTAINLY HAD DESERVED IT WITH SOME OF THEIR BEHAVIOR. THEY WERE HER PARENTS. BLOOD MEANT MORE TO HER THAN ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE, BUT SHE ALSO KNEW SHE COULDN'T ALLOW THEM TO BREAK HER UP FROM KORY. NEXT TO THEM, HE WAS WHAT SHE NEEDED MOST.

dexter <3, 570, clothes, so short i am ashamed lol

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_{STYLED BY ROYALSTANDARD.}[/center]

[flynn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 360px; border-left: 20px solid #7a9aa9; background-color:d5d5d5; padding-left: 10px; padding-bottom: 20px;] Bulletproof Heart, I got a bulletproof heart You got a hollow-point smile Me and your runaway scars Got a photograph dream on the getaway mile Let's blow a hole in this town Too much talking with a laser beam Gunning out of this place in a bullet's embrace - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - He may have and would never admit it, but he had a crush on Pixie. However that wasn’t the reason he was paying for her drink, he wasn’t trying to make their simple hang out a date or anything. Dexter wasn’t nearly that conniving or… weird. The fact that she had a boyfriend that she’d been with since high school wasn’t lost on him and it wasn’t like he was going to try and break them up or anything. No, he was simply too nice to do that, besides he was pretty sure in a fight between looks the pretty blonde boy would win. Dexter’s eye brows were too bushy, his eyes too hazel, his nose to big, his hair was too curly. In all honestly he could come up with one thousand reasons he wasn’t attractive, but why would he want to focus on that when there was fun to be had? No, the boy wouldn’t waste his time making himself self-conscious, he did enough of that in high school and no one should move backwards. In any case he didn’t even believe it would last. Relationships never lasted in Dex’s mind, no, friendships lasted. Even if sometime he got the urge to pull a girl into his arms and kiss her, he knew it was better to fight it. There was no point giving in. If he gave in he risked his heart. Besides he didn’t really expect that whatever girl involved would be too happy with him, after all it wouldn’t be a very gentlemanly thing to do. Nope he’d save that one for the occasional stage kiss he had to do. Course stage kissing was a lot different that actually kissing, he knew that much about the whole subject. And just cause he’s a virgin doesn’t mean he’s stupid about intimacy like most people assumed. He wasn’t sheltered or anything, he just never did… it. Course that hadn’t stopped his high school girlfriend from doing it with every guy on the football team... okay so it was one football player, but it made him better to think of her as a mega whore, rather than just a little one. Dexter nodded as Pixie said all was well, he was happy for her, he was just afraid of when he didn’t get to be happy for her anymore. The day she and Kory inevitably broke up. He wouldn’t say I told you so though, because honestly he never did and also that would be a really dick-ish thing to do and he knew that. “good, sorry ‘bout your parents though, that’s a bummer” he said genuinely. He didn’t know what it was like to have overbearing parents, but he could understand the need to please your parents and he could imagine having them constantly disapprove of your relationship would put a strain on it. “sounds like a plan” he nodded taking a sip of his coffee “what if it doesn’t work that way though?” he said simply he wasn’t being antagonistic or self-serving, simply, posing a question as if to prepare her for the possibility she may feel different away from Kory. He raised his eyebrows as she said she hadn’t told Kory yet and nodded at her reasoning “that’s risky Pix” he said clicking his tongue against his teeth. Pixie tended to look to him for an honest male opinion and from his experience men in general never liked being the last to know about something. “I understand you want to be able to give him a game plan, but try to tell him as soon as possible, the longer he doesn’t know the worse it will probably be” he was trying to be helpful regardless of the statistics of relationships. He wanted her to be happy and avoid unnecessary confrontations. FOR PIXIE, 635, outfit, it's no problem, i'm sorry i took so long to reply.

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TEMPLATE BY KHRISTIAN OF CAUTION 2.0, LYRICS BY MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE[/center]