Shapster's Game of Life 2.0 [Closed-Started]

[Aqualung]

"Y-Yeah," Nathan stammered as Tori hit the gas and he shook hands with the newcomer. "Wait, Tori- I still haven't talked to Jenna since the party. What the hell am I supposed to say?"

Releasing Joshua's hand, he reclined back against his seat, sprawled lazily. The touch of warm sunlight made him sleepy this time of year.

Spoiler: OOC

Posting from my iPod... Gotta hit the hay. G'Night!

 

[CounterAttack]

Spoiler: Aqualung

Keep in mind that Tori doesn't know what went on between us. So far, only Lyla and Micah know because Jenna's told them.

 

[Shapsters]

"Absolutely, we'll be there in a few minutes." Tori glanced back at Nathan then back to the road, she squinted as the sun hit her eyes, "Talked to Jenna? About what?"

A shocked look spread across Tori's face a Nathan explained the situation, after he finished she reached back and smacked him on the knee,

"She told you how she felt, and you didn't contact her for three days!? Jesus Nate, this sure is going to be an awkward lunch!" Tori sped into the parking lot of the wing place and slammed the brakes on as she entered a parking spot, "Here we are, I apologize in advance for the awkwardness this lunch is going to cause Josh, but Nate deserves it!"

She shot Nathan a look as she walked toward the restaurant.

 

[Lost In The Void]

As Tori walked into the restaurant Josh held back to talk to Nate, "Alright, I don't know what you have done, I barely know who you are, but based off of what I've heard, you are in for a hell of a lunch. Let me give you some advice, cause you look like you're about to pass out. First, act casual, let her know that its not killing you, but flick back to her every so often to let her know you haven't forgotten. Second, relax, this isn't gonna kill ya," Josh laughed and clapped him on the back, moving into the restaurant himself.

 

[CounterAttack]

Jenna looked up in surprise as a car door slammed nearby. Tori was walking over with a strange look on her face, almost as if she was annoyed with something. Jenna waved, but Tori didn't wave back. Odd, she thought.

Getting out of Tori's car were two others; someone she didn't recognize and...

"Nate?! Oh my God, what am I gonna say, what do I do?" Jenna looked at Micah and Lyla, panic in her eyes. In a flash she had her hair twirled around her finger, her usual sign of nervousness.

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

"That does sound like Tori." Micah said in response to the comment about her getting drunk. "Anyway, I'm glad you didn't get hurt."

The waitress came back and brought the group's drinks, and asked if they'd like any appetizers.

"Hmm... Maybe a large order of onion rings?" Micah asked the waitress. "The rest of our group is still coming, so could you give us a minute?"

Micah sipped from his Shirley Temple, and saw Tori drive into the parking lot, parking with a heavy foot on the break.

"Here she is... That must be the new guy." Micah noticed. "And... That's Nate."

Micah looked at Jenna, and saw that she was beginning to freak out. She was twirling her hair, which Micah knew she did when nervous.

"Just relax, Jenna." Micah tried to get her to calm down. "It's going to be awkward, I know. But Nathan's going to be feeling just as uncomfortable as you, trust me. Just stay away from the subject, and just make nice with him."

Micah waved down Tori, Nathan, and the new guy from the patio.

"Hey! Tori, over here!" Micah waved them over. He looked the new guy up and down a couple of time. He was, like everyone but Lyla, taller than Micah was. His clothes concealed a rippling body of muscle. This boy was good-looking... If a bit more muscular than Micah liked.

 

[CounterAttack]

Jenna nervously took a drink from her glass, not taking her eyes off the approaching group. The taste of lemon, lime and bitters always gave her heart a kick, and she felt it twice as strong now as Nate approached. She looked away, and tried to slow her breathing down to its regular speed, closing her eyes briefly and taking even, deep breaths.

Jenna, relax, she ordered herself. Nothing bad's gonna happen today. You promised yourself that much as soon as you walked out the door to Micah's car.

 

[Aqualung]

Nathan could feel the tips of his fingers seat and his heart began to thud as he stepped out of the vehicle. This feels worse than most soccer finals... Fuck. He looked over to Tori and Josh, who seemed perfectly at ease as they walked over to the group. He followed hesitantly.

The group met in a collision of warm hellos and happy smiles. Nate smiled and casually raised a hand in greeting toward the group, hoping he would go relatively unnoticed. Probably not. He had his suspicions that everyone seated was already aware of his and Jenna's tensions. Taking a calming breath to relax his shoulders, he seated himself next to Micah with Jenna on his other side.

Why do I let people drag me into these things?

 

[ae86gamer]

Lyla looked up as Tori, Nate, and someone new headed over to the table. She saw Jenna get neverous and tried to help her calm down. "It'll be okay Jenna. Just try and stay calm." When the trio finally arrived she waved and said hello.

She cleared her throat, trying to break the awkward silence. "So.. Um.." I really wish I was better at starting conversations. Think of something Lyla. You can do it!

"So this is awkward.. Crap, that's not what I wanted to say. I just made everything worse. I'm sorry. Uh.. I'm just gonna shut up now." Lyla immediately started fidgeting with her bracelets. She couldn't help but blush at her own foolishness.

 

[Lost In The Void]

Josh couldn't help but smile at the one girl's awkward start to a conversation and the bright red colour she turned when she realized what she had said Confidence is an act, one that you have to be good at he thought to himself and went to speak, trying to cover up the girl's embarrassment a little bit, "Well I guess I should introduce myself then," he stood up offering his hand to whoever took it, "My name is Joshua Richardson and it is good to meet you all. I just moved here from New York and am glad that everyone was willing to meet me already," he flashed a quick smile before sitting down again.

Realizing that they were sitting on a patio, he pulled out his carton of smokes, "Does anyone mind if I had one, I will admit I was worried about meeting you all."

 

[Shapsters]

Tori made a face, if she wasn't holding back it would have come off as disgusted, but she managed to control it a bit and it merely came off as shocked,

"Erm, sorry Josh but I actually do mind, I'll spare you a lecture but I really hate smoking..." she didn't want to be rude, but she couldn't stand the smell of cigarettes, she grew up with it from her father and was more than tired of the smell and smoke, "Now that Josh kind of broke the silence, I am just going to say what needs to be said, clearly you two-" she pointed and Nate and Jenna, "Need to have a talk, but it is not going to be here so lets just have a nice lunch alright?"

 

[CounterAttack]

Jenna kept quiet, and avoided eye contact with everyone as Tori spoke, embarrassed.

Well, now she's gone and announced it to everyone, she thought as she took another sip of her drink, more because it was something to do with her hands than because she needed it. I'd hoped to keep this quiet until I had the chance to talk to Nate alone...

Spoiler: OOC

Be back later, university and all that.

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

"It's nice to meet you, Josh. Do you mind if I call you Josh?" Micah asked. "I'm Micah Miller. I'm from Texas originally, but I moved here when I started middle-school."

Josh asked if he could smoke, to which Tori objected rather forcefully.

"Sorry, man. She's always hated cigarettes... Not that I blame her, though." Micah remarked. He looked over at Jenna and Nate, and saw that the two of them were still uneasy. Luckily, the waitress came back over to take the drink orders of everyone who had just arrived, and also came back with the onion rings.

"So, Josh." Micah said, starting a conversation. "You look like a pretty fit guy. Do you work out, or are you just one of those lucky bastards who can maintain a figure like that with very little effort?"

 

[ae86gamer]

"Oh, hi Josh. I'm Lyla Carter. It's nice to meet you." Lyla took a sip of her lemonade and continued to fidget around with her bracelets. This is still kinda awkward.. At least Micah is trying to talk.

"So, have you guys heard of any parties that might be going on?"

 

[Shapsters]

Tori grabbed an onion ring, it was hot and crispy and the thick batter crunched and she bit into it, she reached for her lemonade and washed the greasy onion own with the cool beverage,

"Actually, I heard a rumour there might be a beach party going down sometime soon, that should be fun." Tori took another sip, Jenna and Nathan were still saying fairly silent, "And if I just made that up, maybe I will host it..."

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

"Oh good." Micah said in response to Tori's comment about a beach party. "Finally, I'll be able to get some sun on my pasty, white, self. I haven't had a day at the beach yet, so don't flake out on me, Tori."

Micah took another sip of his Shirley Temple, as the waitress came back with Tori's, Nate's, and Josh's drinks.

"I think we're ready to order now..." Micah looked to his friends for reinforcement of this. "Are you guys ready to order?"

 

[Aqualung]

Nathan had spent the conversation reclined in his plastic chair, running his pointer finger up and down the cool, dripping glass of water he had ordered. Its contents were still full, brimming to the top with rigid ice cubes. He raised the glass and finally took a small sip.

The discomfort was growing near unbearable levels; Nate could feel eyes from the group flick regularly in his and Jenna's directions. ...She doesn't deserve this. I have to do something.

As the waitress returned, he stood. "Yeah, I'll take a ham and swiss sandwich? Thanks. I'll be right back, guys. Washroom." Placing his glass back down on the table, he left for the inside part of the restaurant. Once he reached the door, he turned and looked back to Jenna and made a subtle motion for her to follow. Confident that she had seen, he slipped inside and leaned against the deserted bar by the door.

 

[Nexus424]

The ride to the store was anything but silent. The booming rap music made sure of that. Drake looked over as Devaughn stayed laid back with his dart shades trying to look as cool as ever. Smirking to himself he felt Devaughn was the only person he could really be himself near. Rather than the sheltered snarky kid. He liked cracking bad jokes as much as the next person. With a laugh he spoke loudly towards Devaughn.

"Could that music get any louder kid?"

Devaughn, a wise guy himself, answered accordingly by turning it up, the base booming as they stopped at a traffic light. The music, blasting loud mixed lyrics and crossing flow was causing everything around the car to shake. The intersection was near a food area across from a local wing restaurant. Drake looked over as a few of the denizens trying to enjoy their food were looking over to them like they were crazy.

"Come on man turn that crap down!" Drake had to yell though the smile on his face easily contradicted what he was saying.

"Come on man, you know you wanna nod your head. Give in!" Devaughn said with a loud laugh. Comically bobbing his head, the fitted cap bouncing along with his head movements.

Drake had the next phrase in his head and knew he had to say it, "Could you be anymore black right now!"

Devaughn turned up the bass causing the booming to get louder as the light still hadn't changed. "You tell me sucka!"

Drake could only shake his head with a wide smile as the car and, by context, their surroundings boomed with the urban beat, people staring at the midnight blue corvette with black streaks along the side. Drake prayed for the light to change before someone walked up and complained as he thought he had heard some expressed annoyance nearby. His prayers answered as the light changed and they sped off to the store to restock Drakes apartment.

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

"Right..." Micah said, ignoring Nathan's sudden leave. "Can I get an order of twenty-four mild, for the table to share. And I'll have for myself a sixer of medium, please."

The waitress wrote down the order, and went to take those of the others.

 

[CounterAttack]

As soon as Nathan turned around, out of sight of the others, Jenna noticed the gesture that obviously meant "follow me". This is it, Jen. Now or never. She got up.

"'Scuse me a moment, guys," she said, turning to the waitress. "I'll order when I get back."
"No problem." Jenna quickly hurried after Nathan into the restaurant.