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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Silence was actually a little daunting, because for once Carter was waiting for someone else to make a definite choice about his own life. In the end, starting any kind of relationship applied its own pressure. It was clear that she was wrestling with something internally, but he didn't try to ask.
It wasn't his place. Not yet, anyway.
And then he offered a genuine smile to the response she finally gave. She deserved so much for giving both of them the chance. "I'm eternally grateful." He declared, excited to see how things could progress from here.
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Regret was deep the second he'd opened his mouth. Carter knew he'd hook the similar boy with such a small statement; it carried a heavier sentiment that wouldn't be easily forgotten.
He pursed his lips and lost his smile as he watched Isaac sit down again. Clearly, he was willing to take this all seriously.
"Her name is McKenna, and she's a dancer." He started, rolling his shoulders back as he leaned with the motion; "She works at that questionable club downtown; the Green Fairy."
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Trying to wipe a negative slate clean was never easy. The older, arguably wiser Carter knew that better than anyone. He had his shortcomings and he knew that was to be expected, but the fact that he tried on any level was surely commendable. Easily, he sought the same for her.
"And what part of you is it that you've left behind? What's so different?" Though he could assume the obvious, her actions when they last met wouldn't meet the assumption, so he had to ask.
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Carter shrugged his shoulders. Truth be told, she wasn't wrong. He knew he'd asked her a difficult question, but the fact that she was willing to even try to answer him was worthwhile. It was a testament to how much she cared.
"I mean, no one ever really understands themselves, let alone another person." He explained, the corner of his mouth pulling to a reassuring smile. "But wouldn't it be a little easier if we tried to learn together> I'm new to all this too, but I doubt that surprises you."
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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It must have seemed rare for Carter to ever admit that anywhere was as good as his home country. In high school he had always been so sure of how much he wanted to return home, yet there he was, standing on the street with her without a second thought for Paris.
He had to smile for the fact that she clearly appreciated his answer. She openly shared he sentiment further as she continued talking. It was hard not to get lost in it. "And Stagfort is home for you? That's quite the strong connection."
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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It was a genuine surprise to hear that Luxanna hadn't minded the way Carter had approached her all those years ago. When he recalled he memories he knew there were times where he crossed the line, but it was good to know she didn't take that all negatively. There was comfort in that.
It was a little funny to talk about being friends considering their prior conversations. Staying at her home was just what friends did, but the word had never quite fit them.
"You're not wrong." He admitted. In his mind, there was plenty of time; "But what is it you don't understand?"
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Apr 10, 2018 12:09:05 GMT
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Though Carter wasn't entirely sure if he'd actually come up with a plan good enough to execute, he would take a compliment where it was given.
His mind quickly built the image of the person they were talking about.
"Actually... I do have one friend. She's more like a sister-type, really." He admitted, despite how it was clear that Isaac was on his way out. He wondered if that little snippet of information was enough to make him stay.
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Oh, she was so clever when she wanted to show such a card. Even Carter had to laugh at that, because she wasn't wrong; he hadn't bothered to ask. And when she agreed with him, he realised the poison of his own prior attitude. At least she found it all to be something worth smiling over.
When she handed him the power of this conversation, he felt a little unsure. More to the point, he hovered in silence with his arms folded over his chest. Then he shrugged.
"I'm not interested in pushing you by any means. I used to do that to you, and that wasn't fair." In his time away, he'd learned a lot about himself. Showcasing it now wasn't the worst thing. "If you want to share something on the matter, the floor is yours."
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Though Carter knew his tone was light and a little humoured, he also knew there was obvious truth to what he said. He wouldn't usually be the type to open up, but Isaac carried a similar kind of reputation. He was probably the only person Carter knew who would understand exactly what he was saying. His silence made that clear enough.
"I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find a few non-friends to join us." Carter mused then, genuinely considering the ideas proposed as opposed to just shooting them down as he had. "I mean, if you pick a holiday weekend, you can probably find people who are also camping. We could merge camps."
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Carter shrugged his shoulders at the idea of a cabin. He couldn't care either way, but that was definitely something he could go for. But at the question of his lack of friendship, he had to laugh, wondering if he expected a real, thoughtful answer.
"Because I moved away from here. And they mostly graduated and left." Or perhaps they were never really friends to begin with. He knew he didn't need to say that though. He glanced at him then, wondering what sort of reaction that honesty might give. "I also have a bad reputation. No one believes I want to be their friends. And the one other person I regularly talk to is someone I don't want to be friends with."
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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When she let his hand go, Carter thought nothing of it. His hands filtered along the side of his face to ease the water away. Then they moved up to his hair. it was bound to be flat for a while now, so his fingers ran through it to slick it all back as best he could.
"It feels simple." He replied honestly. It went without saying that anything would feel simple coming out of the life he led, "I think that's what I missed the most about the idea of this place."
He shrugged his shoulders, because it felt so easy. "What about you?"
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Challenging was the ultimate word to describe just about every encounter with Luxanna. At least, it was that way when it got a little more serious. Carter had previously been very good at keeping things light and free, but this was different. And it was his fault.
"I do this, too. Obviously." He added quickly, gesturing towards the half-finished nature of just about every canvas in that room.
"You didn't even tell me what you think, or how you feel." Carter gracelessly continued, "You didn't reciprocate my level of sharing. Is this what it used to be like to deal with me?"
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Small things were everything Carter looked for in an interaction. It wasn't so like him at all to just give power up, and it was even less like him to admit he was doing it. yet there he was, being forward and honest and open. He could see the way it changed her, even if only for a second.
A slight tug of his hand and his steps weren't fighting the movement she asked for. Moving was her decision to make, after all, so he was giving into it. True to his word.
"I appreciate the sentiment. The care." He replied finally, his tone soft to match the little curve of his mouth upwards.
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Carter watched the difference, however subtle. He could tell without much reason that there was something she wanted to say, but she didn't. That was fine, he supposed; there were a lot of people in this world wishing to hold cards close to their chest. He had always been like that.
"I read." He replied quickly, doing his best to both answer and dismiss her change of subject in a single swing.
"Leave it at what?"
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Bellefonte College Student
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Apr 21, 2018 10:19:35 GMT
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Carter had to laugh at his inability to prepare for his own events. Of course, anyone could go out a source a tent in a second, but he didn't have one, so it must have been a spur of the moment thought.
"No, but if I'm being honest, I wouldn't need one." Though it felt incredibly tomb-like, he knew he could build something to sleep in with a lot more ease than most. "I could make you a pretty decent fortress on the fly, if you'd like."
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