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Post by Tj Kerr on Aug 26, 2009 21:43:11 GMT -5
Tj walked through the park, wearing baggy dark blue jeans and a plain, faded black t-shirt. His rainbow belt was the only thing on him that stood out against the night. He was trying to find something to do. He didn't feel like being at home with his bitchy sister, unpacking more stuff. He needed to get away and do something, be with someone other than his family. More importantly, he needed a drink. Before he'd left the house, he'd filled up a bottle mixed with rum & coke, hopefully enough to make him go numb, but not enough to make him completely stupid.
Every little while, he'd take a swig from the bottle. He saw a swing set, the metal and shiny paint glowing in the moonlight. It was a beautiful in that light. He'd remembered going on swings when he was little, and he missed that. Those really pure and innocent days, before things got so messy. He took a long drink from the bottle, and sat down on a swing, pumping his legs slowly, trying not to remember. The past belongs in the past, there was no use remembering how things used to be.
He didn't want to be alone, but he didn't want to be with his family. He wanted a friend in this town. He just didn't know how to meet anyone. "There's gotta be someone else in this park...someone with an idea for an adventure."[/color] he said to himself, the alcohol beginning to hit him. He felt lighter, and less miserable. Sure, he'd crash later on into an even worse sadness, he always did after drinking, but right now he felt great. He reached his legs as far out as they'd go, and threw his head back, looking at the stars that filled up the sky, pretending that he could fly.[/size] |
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Post by Alexxis Rodriguez on Aug 27, 2009 6:19:59 GMT -5
Throwing the covers off of her the bed and lying on top of it, staring up at the dark ceiling, Alexxis Rodriguez sighed and rubbed her eyes viciously with a slender hand. This was the third time in the night that she had woken up and she'd only gone to bed a few hours ago. It just simply would not do. The brunette stretched her arms; touching the cold wall with her fingertips as she wondered about what to do, since it was fairly obvious that she wasn't going to get to sleep now. It was a mean cycle of life and she hated not being able to sleep - it's what she got for moving house.
Entangling a hand into her long hair, Alexxis slid her feet over the side of the bed and sat up, looking around the dark room, wondering vaguely if she could get out without being seen and/or heard. She would take her chances.
Standing up, she crossed to her dresser and pulled out some clothes, getting changed into them out of her pajama's quickly and quietly, before sliding on her Converse and brushing sparkling blue eye shadow across her eyes. It wasn't like she was going to meet anyone outside at this time of the night, but she rarely left the house without eye shadow.
Brown eyes scanned the mess of her room and came to rest on a camera. Night shots were pretty awesome. Alexxis moved over to her camera and slipped it around her neck before moving to her window and opening it quietly. Luckily there was a tree just outside her window and whilst she hadn't been in Fairview very long, she knew how to climb down the tree without letting people know she was 'escaping'.
About ten minutes later, Alexxis was at Whitman park; the camera held up to her eye, looking through the lens at everything. There didn't seem to be that much activity at this time of the night, but she didn't care. Sometimes being alone was the best thing. Well, she thought that she was alone until she noticed a figure on the swing set, he seemed to be having a good time and it was such a nice shot... could she possibly get a picture of him playing on the swing without him noticing? It was worth a shot, or she could just go and ask him if she could.
Or not, Alexxis wasn't one for talking, unless she was singing with the band. However, she made her way over the male slowly, still holding the camera up to her eye. The glow from the moonlight, topped against the metallic swing set was amazing, adding the male swinging just made the scene a whole lot more mesmerising. As she got closer her finger hovered over the button.
A tree branch made her stumble and she accidentally pressed the button, releasing the shutter and taking the picture - the flash had been on, it was such a bright flash, even she ended up having a little difficulty focusing on what was in front of her after it.
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Post by Tj Kerr on Aug 27, 2009 16:05:48 GMT -5
Suddenly, he heard a noise, either human or animal, and his head quickly turned to find the source. He heard the click of a camera, and saw the blinding flash. He flinched at the sight of the light in what had been darkness only seconds before, and blinked to try to regain proper eyesight.
Tj normally didn't mind his picture being taken, as long as he knew it was happening. He was slightly mad that some random person was taking his picture without even telling him, but then he realized that maybe, whoever it was, was just as shy as he was. He jumped off the swing, landing on his feet and dropping his bottle. His eyesight had gone normal again, and he ran over to the source of the flash.
He saw the girl standing there, looking as blinded as he'd been. He wondered what she was doing out in the park at that time and why she was trying to take his picture. More importantly, he wondered if maybe she was the friend he'd been trying to find. He suddenly wondered if he looked okay, and if his breath smelt okay.
"Okay Tj...just say something. You're never going to make a friend unless you talk to people, and here's the perfect chance.[/i] "If you wanted a picture, you could have just asked."[/b] he said, grinning. "What're you doing out here at this time? I've got a feeling you had more on your mind than taking pictures."[/b][/size] |
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Post by Alexxis Rodriguez on Aug 27, 2009 18:51:12 GMT -5
A thought suddenly occured to Alexxis as she stumbled backwards after having accidentally taken the picture. What if he was one of those people that didn't like having their picture taken? What if he got all confrontational and defensive about it and tried to start a fight with her. She'd seen the bottle and had little doubt as to what kind of liquid he was drinking, was he a bad drunk? Was he violent and carefree. What was going to happen now?
Alexxis was making herself panic, she took a couple more steps backwards and looked down at the floor, still trying to work her vision back to it's normal-ness. Holding the camera tightly in one hand, the brunette used her other hand to rub her eyes, trying to get them back to normal.
If you wanted a picture, you could have just asked. He was grinning at her, was that a good sign? Or maybe it was a bad sign? Alexxis was never good with telling the difference between signs that people gave off. She hoped it was good.
What're you doing out here at this time? I've got a feeling you had more on your mind than taking pictures.
Mumbling something about 'not being able to sleep', Alexxis shuffled her feet on the floor and pulled her head up a little more so that she was looking at him, trying to work out if he would do anything... funny. But so far he didn't seem to be trying anything, so that definitely was a plus. That and the fact that he looked like the kind of person who would get it over and done with in the same moment, so to speak.
Nervously, she stood awkwardly, chewing on the inside of her lip and fighting the urge to wrap a strand of hair around her finger and play with it; as was per usual with her being anxious.
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Post by Tj Kerr on Aug 27, 2009 21:24:55 GMT -5
Tj noticed the girl backing away from him. He didn't think he'd done anything threatening...but he guessed she'd seen his bottle and thought something worse. "Sh*t...do I look that scary? I hope she doesn't run...please don't let her run."[/i] he thought, getting nervous. Scaring a girl away wouldn't exactly make a great impression on the town. Plus, he really wanted a friend, and this girl seemed really sweet. He put his hands up in the air, smiling shyly. "Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm not that kind of drunk. Hell, I'm barely even drunk."[/b] He hoped that she would believe him. He'd never hurt a girl, especially some random girl who hadn't at all wronged him. He glanced around the park, seeing everything illuminated by the moon and the stars. The stars were so beautiful here, you couldn't even see them most days in his old town. They looked like splattered white paint on a dark blue canvas. "You know, some of those stars, even the really bright ones, they're so far away that they're just the last reflections. They've already burned out but we still see them."[/b] he said, remembering when he learned that. He had a tendency of blurting out random things at night. He realized he hadn't even told her his name. Maybe that'd help her feel more at ease? He wasn't sure. He never quite knew what to say to help in a tense situation, but that didn't mean he couldn't at least try. "I'm sorry, I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Tj. I just moved to town a few weeks ago."[/b] he said softly, trying to make himself appear as harmless as possible. "Who're you?"[/b][/size]
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Post by Alexxis Rodriguez on Aug 28, 2009 14:50:56 GMT -5
Alexxis didn't really mean to back away from the boy, it was just an instinctive habit that she had whenever she was around new people. Something about meeting new people seemed to always make her anxious and nervous, so worried about what their impressions of her would be.
The boy put his hands up in the air and smiled shyly. Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm not that kinda of drunk. Hell, I'm barely even drunk.
Well, that was reassuring for Alexxis, and she actually meant that in all honesty. She could tell that he was getting her to believe the truth; which was what he was saying, so she moved forwards a couple of steps, closer to where he was now. Her brown hair fell around her face as she dipped her head forwards, nodding.
You know, some of those stars, even the really bright ones, they're so far away that they're just the last reflections. They've already burned out but we still see them.
What an interesting fact. He really did seem like a good person, she shouldn't be too wary around him anymore. Wait, was she even in the first place? Just nervous and getting anxious. Alexxis offered him a small smile and looked up at the stars, the faint smile lingering on her lips as she watched the stars continue to burn (reflect) in the night sky.
I'm sorry, I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Tj. I just moved to town a few weeks ago. Who're you?
Ah, that would probably explain why she didn't really recognise him... that and the fact that she'd also been in the neighbor for one solid week and hadn't really had the chance to go out and explore Fairview, as it were.
Now, anyone that knew Alexxis knew that she wasn't much of a talker, her usual amount of words in one day was spent - only around five to ten, but rarely more than that. Unless of course, she was on her cell phone to her step-mother or father. However, she chose to answer him as she thought that he'd deem it rude of her to not tell him her name when he had offered his up.
"I'm Alexxis." She mumbled, quietly.
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Post by Tj Kerr on Aug 28, 2009 20:08:28 GMT -5
    "Hey, I think you're cute, would you like to be my new best friend?"[/color][/center] Tj saw the girl come a bit closer. And when he mentioned the thing about stars, he noticed her smile. So, he'd made some progress. Still..she didn't seem very keen on talking. Maybe she just had no desire to talk to random guys in the park at night. He didn't exactly blame her. How was she supposed to know he wasn't some creep? He wasn't sure how to prove it to her.
"I'm Alexxis."
Ahh, so he got a name, too. Even more progress. Still, she didn't seem to want to talk. Maybe she was just really shy? He was pretty bad at reading people, and he knew that if he asked "Hey, do you wanna talk to me or would you rather not?" she would probably say she wanted to talk just to prevent seeming rude. He tried to think of some other random fact to share with her, something to make her smile again. She had a really pretty smile and he wished she would share it more.
He glanced up at the night sky again, thinking. What could he possibly say to this girl to get her to open up? He could make up some lame excuse and go home, but then where would he be? Bored and friendless, still. No, he had to try to talk to her.
His eyes scanned the heavens. Didn't he know any more interesting things about stars, or the moon, or something? Everything he thought of was something he was sure she wouldn't find interesting. Would she really care about the oldest star known to man? Or how stars get different colors? No, he doubted it. He was barely interested in that. Then, he saw movement out of the corner of his eyes.
"Look! A shooting star. Make a wish, maybe it'll come true." [/b] he pointed up at it, smiling. He'd only seen a few shooting stars in his life, but he remembered scanning the night sky for hours, laying on the roof at his old house, trying to find them. He'd wanted as many wishes as he could collect, wishing again and again for the same thing: to be happy. He thought if he just kept wishing for the same thing over and over, he'd eventually get it. So he hadn't gotten lucky yet, but seventeen years into his life, he was still making the same wish. [Note; quote from Hey by Backseat Goodbye][/color][/blockquote] [/size] |
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Post by Alexxis Rodriguez on Aug 28, 2009 20:24:27 GMT -5
Alexxis studied the boy as they both stood there in the night, she felt slightly uncomfortable, but that was to be expected about someone meeting a new person, right? He would just get some time to warm up to, or not, depending on if he made any attempts at getting her; in a few ways that Alexxis wouldn't care to explain. Then again, her assumption at this could be wrong, maybe he was a genuine nice guy. Sure he hadn't tried anything funny on her yet, but he still had his alcohol and if he were to get drunk then something might happen, yes?
The brunette looked at the male a little sheepishly, she had to admit that his smile was pretty darn cute and she was starting to warm up to him, though it was taking a while. He couldn't be as bad as some of the other people in the world, so maybe she should give him a chance, or several. Besides, she had liked the random fact about the stars and he had made her smile, and it hadn't been a cheap smile, either. It had been a genuine smile; not that many people could say in their lives that they got Alexxis Rodriguez to smile, not even her father anymore. She watched him carefully with large brown eyes, trying to fathom out certain things, but got nowhere.
Though it was complete and utter silence now, Alexxis didn't like it. Normally she did, but this was a little tacky, she wished that either of them could say something, anything. It was awkward.
Look! Okay, so she hadn't been paying much attention to him at that particular moment in time, so when he shouted out, Alexxis jumped.
A shooting star. Make a wish, maybe it'll come true.
She followed his hand upwards and looked at the shooting star across the sky, it really was a beautiful site. Having never seen a shooting star before made it all that much more beautiful. Alexxis was smiling again, but this time with her eyes closed and her head up to the sky. A wish formed in her head, but she knew that it would never happen and instead made another. A few seconds later she opened her eyes and looked over at Tj.
"It's beautiful."
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Post by Tj Kerr on Aug 28, 2009 21:15:11 GMT -5
"Hey, I think you're cute, would you like to be my new best friend?" [/color][/center] Tj saw Alexxis smile again, with her eyes closed, facing the sky. If he'd been the one with a camera, he'd have taken her picture. But some things, he figured, where meant to be unphotographable. Ephemeral, fleeting moments. He was happy to get her to smile again. Maybe he wasn't so bad at this whole talking to people thing.
"It's beautiful."
He smiled at her again, something he seemed to do quite a bit. "What'd you wish for?" [/b] he asked, genuinely curious. He wondered if she was one of the many people who thought wishes couldn't come true if they were shared with others. He didn't believe that at all, because he'd seen people share wishes and have them come true. He'd also seen people cling on to their wishes like umbrellas in downpours, refusing to share, and still have them not come true. He figured it was all in how important your wish. was to you. And how possible it was for it to come true. He realized he knew almost nothing about Alexxis, basically as little as she knew about him. He wondered what her story was; where she'd come from, how long she'd lived here, and who she was. All he really knew was her name, that she was shy, and that she liked to take pictures. Oh, and that she had an adorable smile, but that went without saying. "So..tell me about yourself. I mean, if you want to. You don't have to if you don't want to, I won't think you're rude."[/b] he managed to say, very awkwardly. He hoped she wouldn't feel pressured to tell him anything she didn't want to. Once again, he worried about scaring her off, asking her too much too soon. [note; quote from Hey by Backseat Goodbye][/i] [/size][/blockquote] |
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Post by Alexxis Rodriguez on Aug 28, 2009 21:30:05 GMT -5
What'd you wish for?
Sometimes, things were best left unsaid, however Alexxis knew in her heart that telling him what she had wished for wasn't such a bad thing to do. She didn't believe that sharing wishes with other people would render her wish useless, in fact she was quite the opposite. Though did insist on keeping a few of her wishes a complete secret, until she was ready to divulge them. However, this wish was a simple one and she was pretty sure that it had already come true.
Alexxis smiled over a Tj and brushed a strand of her brown hair out of her eyes. "A new friend." she admitted. It was probably a silly wish, but she did not care. "It would be nice." Alexxis smiled sheepishly and fidgeted around on the spot for a moment, head lowering so that her brown hair moved across her face and covered it all up. "And you?"
Aha, this was a miracle in the making. Normally you couldn't get this many words out of Alexxis in a day, yet here she was, standing with a guy she barely knew, talking about the stars, sharing wishes and smiling.
So..tell me about yourself. I mean, if you want to. You don't have to if you don't want to, I won't think you're rude.
She smiled again, faintly this time as she brought her head back up to it's natural position and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "I... haven't been here very long," she started, deciding to change her position and moved over to the swing-set, setting herself down on one. "I'm in a band and I like taking pictures." Her voice wasn't a whisper anymore, in fact it was normal pitch. "And, how about you, Tj?" she asked, pushing her legs into the bouncy ground and moving backwards on the swing gently.
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Post by Tj Kerr on Aug 28, 2009 22:16:01 GMT -5
"How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?" [/color][/center] "A new friend. It would be nice."
He turned towards her, looking at her in the eye for a moment before answering. "That's a good wish. Maybe it's already come true?" [/b] he said, grinning. He hoped she thought so, because she seemed like the answer to his hopes. "And you?"He blushed, suddenly thinking his wish was dumb, too simple. He'd been wishing for the same thing as long as he could remember yet it still hadn't quite come true. Sure, he got small snatches of happiness. Like now, or when he was drunk, in the center of a party. He didn't think they really counted though. He wanted something more, and he felt greedy for that. "To be happy. Stupid, right?"[/b] he said, laughing slightly. "I... haven't been here very long."So she was new here too. They could be new and completely lost together! He couldn't imagine it working out more perfectly. He followed her to the swingset. He stood behind her gently pushing her, so she wouldn't have to pump her legs. "I'm in a band and I like taking pictures.""What band? What position are you?" Hmm...a band. That sounded pretty interesting. He wanted to know more about her, but didn't want to pry. "And, how about you, Tj?"Hmm...he could be as horribly cryptic and undetailed as she was, or he could write a biography. He decided to go in between. Well, I used to live in Staten Island, New York. Former home of the giant dump. I like to try new things. He pointed to the empty bottle on the ground. "I've been into that since I was thirteen, I'm seventeen now."[/b] [note; quote from Simon Bolivar][/size][/blockquote] |
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Post by Alexxis Rodriguez on Aug 28, 2009 22:40:55 GMT -5
That's a good wish. Maybe it's already come true? Tj looked into her eyes for a brief moment before offering her a grin. Something sparkled in Alexxis' eye as she smiled wider and nodded her head, a blush creeping across her tanned face after he had spoken those words. "I would like to think so, yes." It was true, her wish had come true and all within a couple of seconds. So, there was a God and he wasn't ignorant of certain people.
To be happy. Stupid, right?
Tj laughed a little at his own wish, Alexxis just shook her head. "No, I don't think it's stupid. Everyone has the right to be happy." As she spoke, her voice became a little clearer and louder. It seems she was warming up to Tj a lot more than she had earlier.
Alexxis moved over to the swing-set, Tj following her, standing behind her and pushing her on the swing gently. She smiled and relaxed her legs, falling into the mould of his hands the more she relaxed as he pushed her. It felt nice to have someone have her back for a change, normally she was all on her own, left to fall at her own pace and fail.
What band? What position are you?
"Yours Untruly and I play bass." Another smiled crept across her features as she pushed her head back and looked up to the sky, watching the stars. Each time she went backwards she saw Tj's face, the moonlight spilling around it. He was pretty handsome, she had to admit and he had a real charming smile.
Well, I used to live in Staten Island, New York. Former home of the giant dump. I like to try new things. Tj pointed to the liquor bottle. I've been into that since I was thirteen, I'm seventeen now.
Alexxis nodded. "I used to live in Manhattan," twitching her nose to one side, the brunette dug her heels into the bouncy stuff on the floor, stopped the swing, set her camera down on the floor and then resumed her position once again. "and, I'm also seventeen. Just turned, two weeks ago."
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Post by Tj Kerr on Aug 29, 2009 16:14:27 GMT -5
"How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?" [/color][/center] "I would like to think so, yes." He saw Alexxis nod, and his grin grew wider. Someone else to explore this town with; he wouldn't have to do it alone.
"No, I don't think it's stupid. Everyone has the right to be happy." He blushed again at her reply. "Just because everyone has the right to doesn't mean it's possible for everyone. I gave up believing in happy endings." [/b] There was a hint of bitterness is in voice. He remembered the less then four years ago Tj, the one who believed in a happily ever after. How could so much have changed in just a few years? It was unbelievable that he was the same person. And he wished he could go back to being the little kid of the past. "Sorry."[/b] he said softly. He shouldn't launch into all that depressing sh*t in front of her. He didn't want to upset her. "Yours Untruly and I play bass.""When'd you learn to play?"[/b] he asked, regaining his normal, calmer tone of voice. "I used to live in Manhattan""Ahh, Manhattan. Did you like it there? Most people seem to have a love/hate relationship going on with that crazy city. And I mean crazy city in, of course, the most endearing way possible."[/b] Tj loved Manhattan, the busy streets, the pretzel guys on every corner, all of it. He missed his visits to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, listening to the slam poets. "and, I'm also seventeen. Just turned, two weeks ago."It really didn't get more perfect. They were even the same age! "Happy belated. I'm turning eighteen in a few weeks."[/b] [note; quote from Simon Bolivar][/color][/size][/blockquote] |
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Post by Alexxis Rodriguez on Aug 29, 2009 16:35:49 GMT -5
Just because everyone has the right to doesn't mean it's possible for everyone. I gave up believing in happy endings.
Alexxis sensed a bit of bitterness in Tj's tone as he spoke of her comment about how everyone had the right to be happy. The inside of her lip was suddenly pulled backwards, between her teeth and she chewed on it a little nervously, still swinging as Tj pushed her. His comment about some people not finding it possible to find happiness made her think of her current life situation. There, she could agree, but would avoid it.
Sorry. She shook her head. "Don't be."
When'd you learn to play? "Fourteen years ago." Alexxis remembered the day her father had brought home a bass guitar and had set her down in the middle of the floor and attempted to teach her three year old self, how to play this, big, red, shiny bass guitar. She smiled faintly.
Ahh, Manhattan. Did you like it there? The brunette shook her head. Most people seem to have a love/hate relationship going on with that crazy city. And I mean crazy city in, of course, the most endearing way possible.
"When I say 'used to', I mean that in a sense of 'used to, for all of three weeks', father moved around a lot."
Happy belated. I'm turning eighteen in a few weeks.
Wow, that was actually kind of awesome to hear. Alexxis smiled and shook her hair out of her eyes, not wanting to use her hands for fear of falling off the swing backwards and getting hurt. "Thank you, and remind me to get you a card, yeah?" Mentally, she added and a present.
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Post by Tj Kerr on Aug 31, 2009 20:14:43 GMT -5
"How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?" [/color][/center] Tj noticed the girl pull her lip in, and felt worse. He shouldn't have said that, he shouldn't have been so negative. So what if that was a part of him? She could find about that part of him later; there'd be plenty of time for that later.
"Don't be."
How could he not be? "Too late... [/b] He looked down, letting his hair fall into his eyes. "Fourteen years ago.""Wow...she must be really good," he thought, looking down at her. "Thats a long time..I don't think I'd be able to stick with something so long. I get bored too easily. Who taught you?"[/b] He wondered what her band was like. He knew all the stories of rock and roll...sex and drugs, and who knows what else. But she didn't seem like that. He saw Alexxis smile faintly, with that faraway look in her eyes. He wondered what she was thinking about, what she was remembering. "When I say 'used to', I mean that in a sense of 'used to, for all of three weeks', father moved around a lot.""Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Did you like moving around?"[/b] Although most people, as kids, would hate moving around so much, thats what Tj wanted a lot when he was little. He liked travelling, and he didn't think he'd have minded moving around. So you can't make friends; he didn't need friends when he was younger. He had his parents, and at the time, that had been enough. He saw Alexxis trying to shake the hair out of her face, and he gently pushed it back for her. "Thank you, and remind me to get you a card, yeah?"Tj blushed and shook his head. He hated getting cards and gifts and whatnot on his birthday. In fact, he just hated his birthday in general. Why celebrate getting a year closer to being old? "You don't have to do that. You don't need to make a big deal or anything. 'Cause it's not one.[/b] He shouldn't have even told her, because nobody ever believed him. They all thought he was just being shy or something. [note; quote from Simon Bolivar][/color][/size][/blockquote] |
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