Another day, another dollar...or not.

[noelle]

It was late at night; about 11:00 p.m. A girl of college age briskly strode out of the Hospital. She was skinny, and of an average height. Straight, black hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, her bangs straight on her forehead, and she wore lime-green glasses. Her eyes were blue, her skin smooth and somewhat fair, and she was dressed in straight-cut black jeans and a red t-shirt, with a black-and-white checkered herringbone vest zipped up over the top of it. A gold bandanna was tied around her head. She looked, needless to say, like a nerd.

That nerd was me.

I blinked fiercely; tears shimmered in my eyes, threatening to slip out. I sat, hard, on a bench outside the hospital, drawing in deep breaths and slowly, shakily, releasing them. I pushed my glasses up my nose, and tipped my head back to look up at the sky.

"The stars...I haven't seen them in so long." Bianca had sighed, her blue eyes dreamy. She had been laying back amid white pillows and sheets on her hospital bed, her black curls trailing out across her pillow. Her slender, translucent hand had slowly moved over to rest on mine. "Promise you'll look at them for me tonight." Bianca had stated. I had complied, naturally; what else could I do for my twin sister, afflicted with a case of probably fatal leukemia?

I steadied myself, and slowly pushed myself to my feet. I would look at the stars when I was in my dorm room. I slowly trudged down the street, not really in a hurry. I passed an ally, and glanced down it. A small fire was lit, and a bunch of teen guys were laughing and talking boisterously. With a shudder, I realized they must be drunk and sped up a little.

Relief washed over me when I passed it; but dread drowned me when I heard quiet voices and footsteps behind me. I attempted to be casual, glancing over my shoulder. Two guys were slowly sauntering along behind me, undoubtedly from the ally party.

My heart raced in alarm, and I turned my head back around and gradually began to pick up the pace. Oh, god...oh, god, oh, god... I thought, glancing behind me. With terror and shock I realized they were about a mere fifteen feet or so behind me.

I spied a nearby coffee shop, and broke into a run. I burst along the sidewalk, rushing towards the shop.

Suddenly, rough hands grabbed my arms. I let out the loudest scream I could manage, but I wasn't really the strongest girl in the world. I kicked and screamed and hollered until a hand clamped over my mouth. I bit it roughly and felt a heavy blow slam into my side, knocking the air out of me as I was dragged into an alley next to the coffee shop.

I couldn't breathe, I could call for help. I could only pray. Please help me! I pleaded inwardly, gasping for breath and twisting, struggling, like a wildcat.

[isaac clarke]

( GUNS FOR A SHOW, KNIVES FOR A PRO )
STRING ME ANOTHER LINE AS YOUR KNIFE SEVERS MY SPINE.

[/font][/size]

For once, Isaac Clarke was actually having a normal night. He wasn't out getting shit faced, picking up women he would sleep with once and discard or making terrible decisions. He was sober, sitting alone in a quiet coffee shop on the opposite side of town from his apartment. Sitting at a table by the window, Isaac sipped on a cup of tea while he continued writing, headphones placed over his ears to drain out the horrible music the coffee shop played. His headphones were actually rather large, Isaac personally hating the earbuds and having this massive over the ear industrial headphones that drowned out almost every sound around him. Thick frame black glasses resided on his face as he scratched down words on paper, poems and other miscellaneous things. Doodles lined the outside of the paper, Isaac growing more and more eager to do something as the night went on.

Having to get up early tomorrow morning Isaac was trying his best not to go out and get himself into go knows what. He actually had to work in his parent's shop tomorrow because his mother was sick, which meant he was going to be doing all the flower arrangements. The thought was comforting though, Isaac always enjoyed working in the shop. he didn't have to deal with any of the pain-in-the-ass customers and he was able to let his creativity bloom (ha, punny). Isaac's eyes wondered around the coffee shop, people starting to stagger in for their late night fix of Joe. Isaac personally wasn't a fan of coffee, that and it wasn't really good for his voice. So he stayed away from the highly caffeinated beverage. But for the most part the dimly lit cafe was empty. His eyes drifted off to the window, catching tie sight of something .. interesting across the street. Isaac took off his headphones and placed them down on the table as he watched.

For whatever reason this girl was running at the cafe, a look of pure terror on her face while two guys ran after her, grabbing her and dragging her into a back alley, but not before she was able to let out a terrifying scream. A few heads in the coffee shop turned, but before Isaac even knew what was happening he was running out the door, leaving everything he had with the cashier at the coffee shop. He was a regular there, they knew he'd be back eventually to get his things. But he didn't have time to worry about that - someone was either getting mugged or raped or something along those lines. The thought made Isaac see red. He hates society. As he ran across the street and into the alley he saw the girl, pinned against the wall defenseless as these two men wailed on her mercilessly. They were laughing as if it was some kind of game. That sent Isaac over the edge. He was never much of a fighter but he has gotten into a few scraps here and there because of his mouth. Not to mention the bar fight he got in once - oh that was fun. Needless to say Isaac can defend himself and her.

Thunk

Isaac came at the first guy with a running punch, nailing him right in the jaw. He staggered, Isaac turning to the other man behind him just in time to catch his punch. Isaac shut his eyes, staggering a bit himself before punching him back, trying his best to fight off both of them. Luckily for him the first guy he hit he nailed good, for he was still getting up off the ground when Issac was brawling with the other guy. Isaac took a few more hits, one to the stomach and a few to the face before he realized he wasn't superman. He wasn't going to be able to really fight them off with just his bare hands alone. When he got a free moment he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rather large knife that he carried on him at all times for things such as this. Isaac grew up in this town, so he knew what kind of people lingered in the back alleys. once he pulled out the knife the guys ran, Isaac putting it away immediately.

"Fucking tits man," he said angrily, spitting out blood from his mouth onto the ground. He wiped his jaw with his arm, looking to the girl. "Didn't your parents ever teach you to carry pepper spray or some shit like that? I'm not always going to be here to save your sorry ass," Isaac said in a frustrated tone, taking a few damaging hits in the fight. None the less he knew that it must have been traumatic for her as well considering she didn't know if someone was going to come to her rescue or not. He sighed. "C'mon, I'll walk you to where ever it is your going."

_______________________

`status; done! ahah C:
` lyrics - guns for a show, knives for a pro - parkway drive

[/center]

[noelle]

Suddenly, the poking, teasing hands were ripped away from me. I ceased screaming, and stared with wide eyes as a tall guy began beating the snot out of the two assaulters. He took a few hits himself, and I scrambled back to get out of the way. What was wrong with me?! Why couldn't I help him?

Because I was a weak girl, a stinking girl.

Suddenly, moonlight glinted off a knife. I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands...who's knife was it? My saviour's, apparently. The two bullies rushed off, and the guy put it away.

I stared at the guy, wide-eyed as he lectured me briefly. I was even more surprised when he offered to take me home. Or rather, told me he would walk me home.

"Sorry..." I muttered, my voice shaky and high-pitched. I cleared it, pushing away from the wall. "I...never had to...carry around something to protect myself with back home. And the principal took my baseball bat away from me at grade school." I shook my head; NOW what was wrong with me? Adding a joke at a time like this? I refrained from snapping at him to stop cussing.

"Thanks." I mumbled, and gestured vaguely down the street. "I'm at Luxford. And...my name is Noelle." I extended a hand for him to shake, out of habit. Yes, nerd I most certainly was. And proud of it.

[isaac clarke]

LOVER LOVER ON THE FENCE BAT YOUR EYES BALL A FIST AND
( SWING SWING SWING BEFORE YOU LEAVE )

By Nature, Isaac wasn't a violent person. Having burned out hippies as parents they were always preaching about the power of love and how violence isn't the answer. As much as he hated to disagree with parents some times violence is the only answer, and it was apparent that this was one of those occasions. Isaac sighed, feeling slightly like he betrayed his parents for the stunt he just pulled but at the same time glad he came to her rescue. God knows what he would have seen in the paper the next day - Isaac hates depressing news with his tea.

Isaac took in her appearance, immediately noticing that she didn't dress like everyone else around here. To be honest he kind of liked it, it was a welcome change from the whores that normally walked the streets. Still, she keeled over the moment he started to scold her for not having the means to protect herself. He sighed, running a hand through his messy mop of dark hair. "See? That's why you were so defenseless. Can't even stand up for yourself against me," he told her, pointing out flaw number one. Isaac had a feeling that this girl wasn't going to like him much, but he didn't really care. He always pointed out people's flaws and the things about them they probably didn't want to accept, but as far as Isaac was concerned if you weren't ok with who you were than you weren't living. "You're also bad at jokes," he told her, shaking her hand. He could at the very least be polite.

"Isaac, Balston University," he told her, introducing himself. She did get the privilege of knowing the name of the guy who just saved her. He didn't say much more after that, merely continue to spit out more blood from his mouth. But it was getting better the more he got out the less there seemed to be. Once he didn't see bright red coming from his spit he felt a little bit better, a little bit calmer. He started to walk out of the alley slowly, his hands finding their way into his back pockets. "You coming?" he asked, offering the first an actual smile since this entire fiasco happened. There was still a little bit of blood on his chin, scuff marks on his cheeks and jaw line but over all, he was just fine.

"What are you doing out at this time anyways?"

_______________________

`status; Don't mind Isaac, he is obnoxiously truthful.
` lyrics ; Swing - Taking Back Sunday

[noelle]

I narrowed my eyes. "Hello! I had two guys actually grab me and take me into an ally. You're the first guy I've met who's assumed I should have been able to defend myself." I snapped. "Most guys would just...accept it. But I suppose it's nice having someone who cares enough to run it into the ground." I tilted my head to the side with a touch - or a heavy dosage - of sarcasticness.

The guy did, at least, shake my hand. So, his name was Isaac. I stored it away in my mind to would remember it later...if there was a later.

"Well, I try." I sighed, watching him spit blood out of his mouth. "Thanks for risking your physical appearance to...uh...save me." I hugged herself tightly, in embarrassment. "Most guys would've just...enjoyed seeing the incident reported on the news. At least...from my experience..." I trailed off, mentally slapping myself; what the hell was I saying?

"...Yeah." I hesitantly smiled back at him. He had a really cute smile. It was then that I realized that, overall, he was really cute. "Ahm...if you want...I can get you some...bandaids or something." I closed my blue eyes briefly, thinking, Really, Noelle? Really? BANDAIDS?! Hell, let's face it...I never was that good around guys. Or anybody, in fact.

My sheepish grin disappeared when he asked what I had been doing. "What was I doing." I stated, sighing, and glanced down at the pavement as I walked alongside him. "It's a long story...but I was visiting my twin sister in the hospital." I wondered if he would ask further about her; most people didn't. And sometimes, I just wanted to tell everyone what an amazing person Bianca was. How she deserved to live. How she shouldn't have to be counting down the days until she would die. I felt tears threatening to come out at the back of my eyes again, and blinked fiercely, refraining from growling like some immature little kid. Stupid emotions.

[isaac clarke]

( DON'T BE A FLY IN MY MARTINI BABY )
COME ON DOWN, THAT ROOF IS HIGH AND I'M NOT CLIMBN' TONIGHT.

Isaac was very thrilled when he got a ride out of Noelle. As soon as she snapped at him Isaac laughed, placing his hand on his stomach as he did so. "Oh you are so cute when you try to be all mad and sarcastic," he poked fun at her, his laughing dying down a bit as they started to exit the alley and make their way down the street. "You're about as intimidating as a mouse, especially with those glasses and bandana," Isaac said, grinning devilishly at her. He hoped he didn't take his stab at her outfit as too much of insult, he did like it. But when snapping at someone it hardly makes them shake in their boots. "I like you, you're funny," Isaac finished, his hands finding their way back into his pockets.

When she apologized for him taking the hits he appreciated it. "It's just a flesh wound," he said, quoting one of his favorite movies of all time. His eyes remained forward, a few people passing the two on the street for the shot amount they had been on it. As time made the night get later the more and more people started to emerge from their homes and apartments to get themselves in all kinds of trouble. When the passed the coffee shop that Isaac had been at when he spotted her get dragged into the alley he made a mental note to head back there and get his stuff tomorrow. He needed his glasses. "Band-Aids wouldn't do anything anyways," he admitted, knowing that her efforts were in vain. He offered her a smile as a form of a thank you considering he didn't actually feel like saying the actual words.

"Twin sister? That's hot," he blurted out, realizing that something like that was very inappropriate considering she was in the hospital. He laughed off his rude behavior scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, that wasn't appropriate. Is she dying or some shit like that or is it just some minor thing?" Isaac asked, not sugar coating anything. He probably could have gone about saying that in a little bit more sentimental tone, for her sake, but Isaac didn't like to give false hope. If se was dying then she was dying. There was no pretty word for it, no way to make it sound less horrible then it was. Death was death, the only way to really accept it is to be able to talk about it freely.

COME DOWN AND I'LL GIVE YOU
SOMETHING - HEY! - TO CRY ABOUT.

_______________________

`status; C: <3 sorry it's kinda short :c
` lyrics ; martini - incubus

[/justify]

[noelle]

"Cute?!" My attentions snapped right back to Isaac. I was more bewildered than anything; no one had ever called me cute before. Not even in a teasing way. "Maybe that's why I can't get drunk guys to leave me alone." I self-consciously moved my hand up to touch my bandanna. It was special to me; a gift from Bianca. We both wore matching ones.

"Well...thanks...I guess I like you too." I muttered, my words almost inaudible. Again. I wasn't much of a social person, and never really knew the right things to say.

Then, I grinned. Ihad, in fact, heard that quote somewhere. "Hahah...'stupid bastard, you have no arms left!'" I replied, indicating I had seen the movie before.

"Hot?" I snorted. "You have no idea." I muttered. We were twins; but heck, Bianca was the prettiest girl I knew.

I was perfectly fine about most things. I tended to be somewhat blunt myself; rather sarcastic, pushy, and overall not very pleasant. However, when it came to Bianca...I was a different person.

"Yeah." I muttered, scuffing the ground as I walked. "She has a really bad case of...leukemia. Fatal." I blinked hard, the tears finally receding. God. It was so hard, trying to be firm and strong, not breaking down when you were listening to your dying sister being all optimistic.

[isaac clarke]

( DON'T BE A FLY IN MY MARTINI BABY )
COME ON DOWN, THAT ROOF IS HIGH AND I'M NOT CLIMBN' TONIGHT.

Isaac was expecting this walk to be the worst idea ever, but the more he and Noelle chit chatted about things the more he was starting to enjoy himself. She didn't react like a lot of other girls did when he told them how he felt about their different personality quirks. As he walked, hands in his pockets and eyes shifting from the area in front of them back to Noelle when she reacted to him calling her cute. "I assure you I'm sober. Though I kind of wish I was at the moment," he told her, knowing this entire walk would be more pleasurable with a beer in his hand. He didn't feel the need to be drinking right this second, but when he first ran out of the cafe like a bat out of hell he wished he was. It would make his battle wounds hurt less.

He smirked when she got his Monty Python joke, giving her a nod of acceptance. "I shouldn't be surprised that you got that. I mean look at you, you just scream nerdy girl. Along with Virgin, but that isn't a topic of discussion," Isaac said, taking in her basic appearance. It was true. Isaac was just speaking what was on everyone else's mind, he was sure. Those guys were probably thinking the same thing. "It's not a bad image," he tried, attempting to make the comments seem a little nicer. He flashed her a a smile, hoping that it made her feel a little bit better. He didn't want to scare off his new potential buddy.

When she told Isaac about her sister he kind of pouted a bit, eyes looking back to the streets that were getting more and more busy. "Well that sucks," He said for lack of better words. Death wasn't something he had too much experience with. He actually never knew anyone who died before, actually. He kept silent for a moment. "Well I wish I could say she'll get better but I don't want to lie to you," Isaac told her, not needing to sugar coat anything. One thing he loved about his personality : Brutal honesty never requires thinking. It was just .. instantaneous. "But who knows. Sometimes things turn around for no reason what so ever," he added, knowing that sometimes freak accidents happen. He didn't think that Noelle's sister was anything different or more tragic than anyone else living the way she was, but strange things happen to people you wouldn't expect.

COME DOWN AND I'LL GIVE YOU
SOMETHING - HEY! - TO CRY ABOUT.

_______________________

`status; Bleh! couldn't find lyrics haha <3
` lyrics ; martini - incubus

[/justify]

[noelle]

OOC: switching to third person, I can write better that way. XD

Noelle didn't answer when he mentioned that he would kind of like to be drunk. She didn't understand why people would want to get drunk; then again, she'd never had the want or need to.

Well... She recalled her stresses about Bianca. Maybe I have. She glanced over at Isaac, shrugging diplomatically. "I've never understood why someone would want to drink. Most people I know say it's so they can forget about life, but mostly their friends and family for a while. I wouldn't understand why people would want to disrespect their relations and gift of life that way." Sure, she was kooky. But she liked herself.

"I know, I know." Noelle shrugged again, feeling more relaxed around Isaac. She discovered she liked how straight forward he was; no use sugar coating something, indeed. "But I like who I am. I don't feel I need to change...yet. As for the whole "virgin" thing..." She uncomfortably shifted her arm to a better position, remembering they were folded across her chest. "....yes." She muttered. After all, what guy wanted to love a girl for who she was inside, rather than outside? She had yet to meet him.

"Thanks, it's okay." Noelle quickly replied, recovering from her self-consciousness. She smiled tentatively back at him; he had such a nice smile, and it made her feel better already about everything. Bianca...her appearance...the fact she was a virgin...She smirked at herself.

"You can say that again." She sighed, glancing up at the stars upon remembering Bianca had asked her to look at them for her. "No use sugar-coating it." Noelle shrugged, trying to sound cool about it....even though she really wasn't. "Well, I hope and pray to God...if there is a God...that things will turn around. She deserves to live." She flatly commented.

There was a silence, before Noelle finally blurted out what had been boiling inside her. "She's just so...freaking calm about it." She snapped, mostly at Bianca for being sick. Even though it really wasn't her sister's fault. How could fate just try to rip Bianca away from her? "Bianca just...accepts it. She doesn't feel upset, like she's missing out on anything. Even though her lifelong dream was to attend college, get married, have kids, draw professionally....you know." Noelle blurted, her eyes narrowed as she glared down at the sidewalk in front of her. "It makes me feel like a weak person. A person who's weak in emotional strength. Bianca...when the doctors told her...just...sat there. Like the little angel she is. She didn't cry. She didn't whine. You know what she did? I'll tell you what the hell she did. She smiled. She smiled." Breathing harder, Noelle furiously clenched her fingers. "She didn't say anything, but she smiled. Like she was happy she was going to...to die."

There. She said it. It was all out. Noelle tentatively glanced over at Isaac, wondering how he was taking her randomly blurting out to him.

"Sorry...." She mumbled, ducking her head to glance down at the sidewalk. "I just...needed to get that out...and no one else really listens to me. There I go again...." Noelle unfolded her arms, pressing one hand to her forehead. She felt like an idiot.

[isaac clarke]

( LOVE IS WATCHING SOMEONE DIE )
SO WHO'S GOING TO WATCH YOU DIE?

Hands in his pockets, eyes focused on the streets in front of them Isaac was no longer concerned about where exactly the two were going. He was kind of leading the way, but at the same time Noelle was the one giving direction. Still, the destination was no longer important to the Junior whose face was still throbbing from the fight that happened not too long ago for the girl he was currently walking with. She was interesting and this was just way too fun for him to pass up. When she mentioned alcohol and why she didn't understand it Isaac gave an almost shocked expression. He loved his alcohol, and though he wouldn't openly admit it he did have a bit of a problem. But no one mentioned it to him before, nor was it one that kept him from performing simple tasks. Still, hearing her hating on alcohol as she did forced him to speak up. "We're going to have to change that point of view. You don't have fun much do you? I can tell," he said, arching his eyebrow, as he grinned slightly. What a bad influence he was.

When she commented on her being a virgin Isaac couldn't help but burst out into laughing. In retrospect, it probably made her extremely uncomfortable and self conscious, but Isaac didn't really give a crap. It was just the kind of guy he was, and the fact that she actually openly admitted to his suspicion - and the fact that he was right - made this entire engagement even more hysterical to him. The laughing made his stomach hurt a little, from where the impact of a few punches landed and no doubt left a few bruises. Collecting himself afterward he lifted up his arm and dropped it around her shoulders, pulling her a little bit closer to him in the act - what a flirt. "Sorry, that was just .. too perfect. But it's nothing to be ashamed of. Hold onto that part of you it's important," he nodded, a devilish look coming over his face. "Of course, we can fix that problem too," he teased lightly, poking his tongue out playfully at her so she knew that though slightly serious, he was mostly joking. He wasn't that much of a jack ass.

When conversation got back to her sister Isaac let his arm stay wrapped around her as she got more and more emotional about the entire situation. He got the impression that she didn't have many people to talk to about this, if anyone at all. From his study and watch on human behavior he kind of knew when people were on the point of exploding. He wrote an essay on it once, Isaac watching her closely as she started to talk about it again. "God? I wouldn't waste my time, honestly," he told her, his honest behavior never failing to come through, even when it isn't what the person needs to hear right now. "The only thing that is going to make her better is god old fashion medicine. If anything, pray for advancement in Cancer research," Isaac told her with a slight shrug. He wasn't the religious type, and by the looks of thing Noelle wasn't the biggest bible freak either, which was nice. He knew that miracles happen every once in a while, but he has never witnessed one. But it happens.

Finally, Noelle exploded. He listened to what she had to say, their feet walking in step with each other as they made their way down the somewhat busy streets to a still unknown destination. From the sounds of it, it appeared as though she was more upset about her sister dying then her sister was about dying. It was only made more apparent when he listened in to what she had to say. He let his arm fall from her shoulders as his hands found their way back into his pockets, Isaac unsure what to say. To be honest he had a hard time finding words because he really didn't care about her dying sister, her frustration with Bianca for not being more upset about her condition, and Noelle's just over all frustration with life in general. It wasn't anything personal, Isaac was like this with every single person he knew really, except for Chess - but that was a different story entirely. So as they walked, he listened in trying to find some part of him that care, but he failed. miserably. When she was done he merely nodded, "It's fine," he told her, not really caring that she blurted out her entire life story to him. For whatever reason it seems to happen a lot - but this is the first time it happened to him where there was no alcohol involved.

Still, walking in silence after such information is revealed would make this awkward. And Isaac was having a good time so he had to say something. "She's come to terms with death. It's nothing no one can really do anything about ..." he shrugged. "She's had this since birth right? She knew someday she was going to die, whether it be far or soon. She prepared herself for it, it sounds to me like you're the one who is unprepared," he told her, shrugging slightly. "If she is content with her life then so be it. But if there is anything she really wants to do - then make it happen. But for the time being I think you need to stop worrying so much about her and work on your own fear of death" he offered, unsure of what else to say. For having no experience in the field of death and lacking proper motivation, Isaac was impressed with himself. Maybe he'd write an essay on this.
_______________________

`status; sorry for the wait! ;___;
` lyrics ; what sarah said - death cab for cutie

[/justify]