InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "do anything...be anything"

Ethan Holmes (holmesboy) wrote in mckinley_high,
@ 2010-10-08 06:03:00

Entry tags:

! thread, # character: ethan holmes, # character: quinn fabray, * status: complete

Who: Ethan and ~~OPEN~~ Quinn
What: Eating lunch/reading like a nerd
Where: Cafeteria
When: Friday at lunchtime
Rating: SFW

Ethan had taken up a spot at a lone table for lunch. He tended to gravitate towards a different group every day, but today he was too preoccupied with the book in his hands to even think of being sociable. He'd not so carefully meandered through the lunch room, tray in one hand and open book in the other. He'd successfully managed to reach the table without knocking into anybody, and was now sat mostly ignoring his food as he continued to read. Sure, it was a dorky thing to be seen doing. Ethan hadn't cared about what people had thought about him for a long time, so the thought that he was being a terrific nerd hadn't even crossed his mind.

He was so preoccupied with the words in front of him that he completely failed to notice somebody join him at the table, and only looked up when he heard somebody address him.

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holmesboy
2010-10-08 06:22 am UTC (link)

Ethan's eyes moved from Quinn to the floor, where he caught sight of his backpack. It was in the aisle and therefore in the way, but it was an honest mistake. He really hadn't been paying much attention. Leaning over, he gripped the bag by the strap and pulled it under the table, so to prevent anybody else tripping over it. Then he returned his gaze to Quinn, just as she scolded him on folding down the edge of his page.

"I'm sorry," he apologised awkwardly, unsure whether or not he would be met with another annoyed outburst.

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thequinnbee
2010-10-08 06:30 am UTC (link)

The awkward vibes she was receiving from the other boy was making her feel uncomfortable. How did people even live like that? "Well don't let it happen again," she said curtly as she spun her apple idly on the table. "You look kind of familiar, by the way. Have we ever... talked before?" That was sort of a polite way of asking if she had ever made fun of him, right?

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holmesboy
2010-10-08 06:35 am UTC (link)

Nodding at her instruction, Ethan held his hands up and shrugged a little. It was his non-verbal way of agreeing that he wouldn't intentionally leave his possessions where other people could trip over them. Granted, this time was an accident, but he wasn't about to get into an argument over details.

Ethan hadn't expected Quinn Fabray to know who he was. He was a lesser calibre of mortal next to her, or that was the impression he'd always gotten from her. Queen Quinn was far too important to take note of commoners like him. "I play guitar in the accompaniment band for the Glee club." And you've made fun of me more times that I can count.

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	thequinnbee 2010-10-08 06:52 am UTC (link)
	Quinn gave a satisfied nod as she started twisting the stem on her apple now. Heaven forbid she actually look engaged in a conversation. Though at his mention of him being in the accompaniment band for Glee, she looked at him for carefully, almost calculatingly. "Yeah, I knew I recognized you from something. Um... what's your name?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

holmesboy
2010-10-08 06:57 am UTC (link)

Ethan almost squirmed under her stare, not sure what to do with himself. He looked away from her and focussed on the tray of food in front of him. Picking up one half of his sandwich whilst still trying to look engaged in the conversation, he took a bite as she asked his name.

Holding one finger up to signal that he was chewing, he swallowed before replying, "Ethan. Ethan Holmes." As usual when he said his own name, the tinge of his French background shone through more prominently. The vowels were drawn out more and he sounded a little nasally, and he hoped that he hadn't just added another thing to her list of things to mock him for.

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thequinnbee
2010-10-08 07:08 am UTC (link)

Quite honestly, at first Quinn thought he was trying to be all mysterious and suave and do a 'Bond, James Bond' type of impersonation, but that clearly wasn't the case here. He did have an unusual accent however. "Where are you from? I mean, you clearly haven't always gone to school here." She didn't even both introducing herself back because hello he should know who she was.

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holmesboy
2010-10-08 07:12 am UTC (link)

Putting his sandwich back down before folding his arms and resting them on the table, Ethan smiled awkwardly at her before replying. "I'm from, well, everywhere."

That sounded rather silly, but it was true. Ethan hadn't had a proper home until he was ten, what with spending his childhood growing up on a tour bus. "I mean, my dad is from here and ma mere is from Paris. So I'm a bit of a mix, really."

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thequinnbee
2010-10-08 07:37 am UTC (link)

"That's ... weird," Quinn said slowly. How could someone not have a home? "So, did you ever live in Paris? Because that would be kind of cool. And I guess it explains your weird accent."

Oddly drawn into this conversation, she decided to start eating her apple because it would really suck if lunch ended and she hadn't done that yet. Nothing was worse than a hungry, cranky Cheerio. Taking a small bite, she waited for him to answer.

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holmesboy
2010-10-08 07:44 am UTC (link)

Weird was right. Ethan wouldn't have wanted it any other way though. True, he'd grown up somewhat distanced from other kids which tended to make him a little awkward. It had also conditioned him to be non-judgemental though, something which he viewed as a distinct advantage over his peers.

"I've lived there for a few months on several occasions and we visit frequently. My grandparents live there." Out of all of the places he'd visited, France felt the most like home to him. Lima was a very close second, but nothing could beat Paris in his eyes.

Feeling as though this was quickly turning into a one-way conversation, Ethan pushed his luck and decided to return a question. "And you? Have you always lived here?"

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	thequinnbee 2010-10-08 08:02 am UTC (link)
	"That's actually kind of cool. I've always wanted to go to Europe. Maybe when I'm in college I can study abroad or something," she said before taking another bite of her apple. "I've lived here my whole life, and like, why would you ever go from living in Paris to Lima, Ohio?" She said, wrinkling her nose as she said the name. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

holmesboy
2010-10-08 08:07 am UTC (link)

Ethan chuckled a little at the look on Quinn's face. It had taken him a while to get used to Lima, it was true. There didn't seem to be anything special about the town and he was only really here because it was his dad's hometown and it was where his parents had decided to settle.

"It wasn't really up to me," he replied with a small smile. "My dad stopped touring and came back to his hometown, and he brought me and ma mere with him. We've been here ever since I was ten."

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thequinnbee
2010-10-08 08:46 am UTC (link)

Why was he laughing? This was just... uncool. She narrowed her eyes at him until he stopped and snappishly took another bite her apple.

"You've lived here since you were 10 and I never--" She promptly cut herself off from finishing that sentence. She was probably just going to say something like 'never made fun of you' or something equally incriminating and it was best just to say nothing. "Well... I see," she finished lamely instead.

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holmesboy
2010-10-08 09:05 am UTC (link)

Raising an eyebrow as Quinn cut herself off, Ethan once again picked up his sandwich and continued eating. She was a strange one, that was certain. He'd never really said more than a sentence to her, and anything she'd said to him hadn't been pleasant. For her to still be sitting there and not tearing him to pieces was a new and extremely odd experience for Ethan.

There was silence for a little while whilst Ethan finished off his sandwich. He was a little surprised to see Quinn still sat there once he was done. Forcing a small smile her way, he tried to make small talk. "So, what class do you have after lunch?"

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thequinnbee
2010-10-08 09:44 pm UTC (link)

Quinn really didn't even know why she was still sitting here. She was Head Cheerio again. She could sit at the popular table and people would hang on her every word and it would be just like old times. Maybe after certain events as of late she just needed some alone time though. It was nice to be alone. Well, sort of alone. This Ethan kid was here with her, but she figured he was too weirded out by her to actually really talk to her and try to find out secrets that he could use to destroy her. Friendships with popular people were so strange.

She continued eating her apple, chewing quietly and sort of just zoning out when he asked her a question. "Oh. Um. Honors Chem," she said distastefully. No need to advertise that she was actually kind of a nerd. Uh, you?"

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holmesboy
2010-10-08 10:22 pm UTC (link)

Ethan was still a little surprised that Quinn was sitting with him. Okay, he hadn't exactly been the main focus of her aggression, but he'd endured small snippets of it over the years. He was more than certain that she didn't even recognise him. He definitely wasn't about to remind her either.

"Oh, study hall," he replied, rather confused as to why she'd returned the question. Surely she didn't care for what he was saying? It was polite conversation, that was all. He didn't expect to get along with her.

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thequinnbee
2010-10-08 10:31 pm UTC (link)

Eating an apple was such a messy job. She much preferred her apples sliced but when they sat out they got brown and that wasn't an attractive quality for food at all. When she got to the point where she couldn't eat anymore without getting her face all sticky she decided this little bout of friendliness was over. Picking the rind up delicately she stood up then glanced down at Ethan. "I have to go," she said simply then turned around and walked away. Well that had been... weird.

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holmesboy
2010-10-08 10:49 pm UTC (link)

Ethan knew that their conversation was coming to an end. After all, what more was there to say to one another? She'd scolded him, he'd apologised, then they'd made small talk. He hadn't expected Quinn to stick around and he wasn't particularly phased when she stood up and left. Watching her go, he raised a hand and waved slightly, well aware that she wouldn't see him. After that, he went back to reading his book as though nothing had happened.

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