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Tweak says, "You're taller than you look."

Honey Mae Dillon (dreamgirlkc) wrote in islingtonschool,
@ 2017-09-03 19:27:00

Entry tags:

alexander ingram, kelly carlene buchanan

Who: KC Buchanan and Alex Ingram
What: A run-in on move-in day
When: Sunday, September 3, 2017, morning
Where: Islington School
Rating: Low
Warnings: None

One of the first things KC felt when she arrived at Islington was misery. It didn't show on her face, of course. She was still smiling even as she waved goodbye to John, her mom's driver, and Marsha, the house help who dropped her off to school. But deep inside she felt miserable as she entered the building. She wheeled her suitcase filled with clothes and tried to find her dorm room, and looked around shyly for anyone who could help her with her bags. Thankfully there was a nice girl who helped her carry her heavy suitcase up the stairs after her long explanation of the workings of the human heart.

She was with her mom early that morning and she had been very distracted all through out the ride to her office in London. The plan was to drop off her mom at the London office and continue on the journey to Berkshire with John and Marsha. KC could tell her mother was worried. It was the first time KC would be gone for a while to live someplace else and what kind of a mother would not be worried for their sickly daughter? Her mom made a fuss about her constant sneezing and her cold and even made her carry a box of tissues everywhere she went. She said she hated that she couldn't accompany KC during move-in day because of her important business meetings but that she already felt happy and proud that her daughter's about to enter Islington.

Perhaps that was why she felt at peace while walking around despite the looming misery. It wasn't such a bad place to be in, although she felt so small in the midst of the academic crowd she was bound to partake in this school year. She didn't know anybody, but maybe that was for the best. If her mother believed that being in Islington was the best for her, then KC would have to make do with what she had. She gazed at the trees above her, tiny doses of sunlight streaming through the leaves. As she walked along the pathways of the courtyard KC's misery was slowly replaced with wonder. She wondered what her life here would be like. She wondered if she could make it through the school year. Before she could start thinking about death again, she decided to look around, hoping her eyes would adjust to the scene around her.

It was then that she saw a familiar face among the crowds of students walking in the courtyard just like her. He was tall and handsome so he was definitely hard to miss. KC let out a small gasp. She was sure she saw that face not too long ago. She decided to brave the uncertainty and come up to the boy. "Excuse me..." She said timidy, her voice sounding more nasal because of her cold. Her tiny fingers held on to the ends of her light blue sweater's sleeves, and blinked up at the boy who stopped to look down at her. "Hi, I'm KC. I think we met over the summer? You're Alex, right?" She asked, smiling warmly, her dimple popping on her left cheek.

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dreamgirlkc
2017-09-05 09:30 am UTC (link)

KC nodded, perhaps too enthusiastically for someone who's about to embark into the unknown. When Alex spoke about the experience being potentially daunting for her, KC's smile faded. "It is, a little."It wasn't just a little. "But I'm doing my best to be positive about it. My mother graduated from Islington and she said I'll be in good hands here." She pulled the corners of her lips upwards again, repeating the words in her own head. I'll be alright.

Another nod and then KC tilted her head to the side. She listened to Alex talk about the clubs and games he's in, impressed by his proactive approach to school. She giggled when he told her to come out to a game. "Of course I'll come out and watch you play! I probably wouldn't be able to scream or jump like everyone else but I'll try." She said, her nasal voice sounding sweet. Her grandmother would probably oppose to her coming out to a game. Her body might not be able to take the strain of adrenaline rush it took to just watch a game. She wasn't even allowed to watch one on TV because she easily got excited. But her cardiologist said that her heart is getting stronger, tougher as she aged due to her diligence. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to cheer for a friend.

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_alex
2017-09-05 10:00 pm UTC (link)

"You are definitely in good hands here," Alex said. "Islington, well..." he spread his hands out to indicate everything around them. "It's pretty top notch with small classes and lots of individual attention," he explained to her. "I came here when I was thirteen, before that I was in Sunningdale. So boarding school really is all I've known."

The giggle was cute and it made him smile. "Great!" He exclaimed. "The more people we get cheering for us, the better. Not that the team isn't already great, but we love to have our fans," he grinned. "So what will you be doing with the horses? Do you just...ride them or is there something else involved?"

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dreamgirlkc
2017-09-07 12:14 pm UTC (link)

It fascinated KC how Alex is seemingly blending so well in this kind of environment. He seemed to be a bright, friendly kid, his full potential probably waiting to be unleashed. In some sense, KC felt a bit envious. That Alex could play sports and go to boarding school like most normal kid was enough to make KC quietly listen, nodding every once in a while. She wondered what it would have been like, growing up like Alex.

She smiled when Alex spoke about getting more people to cheer for his team. "Well consider me a new fan, then!" Doesn't really matter that she's never even seen him play. It was enough to know she had a friend in a strange place like this. "Well equestrian is pretty easy to understand. It's basically horse riding but it involves a lot of discipline. You need to practice how to ride properly and how to race and how to jump hurdles... You know, the works..." KC gesticulated wildly as she spoke about the only physical activity she was allowed to do until she grew shy for talking too much.

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_alex
2017-09-09 07:15 pm UTC (link)

It was hard for Alex to 'fit in'. He'd been doing it from a young age. The issue with him was that it was all fake for him. Or most of it was. He didn't have close friends, he didn't even have a relationship with his parents, and as of yet he'd had no romantic relationships. He did, basically, what was expected of him.

"Maybe I'll come see you ride one day," he suggested. "Horses don't like me, so no riding for me, but I am sure I can bring myself to watch you ride and jump hurdles or whatever," he smiled.

"What hall did you get put in? I'm in Westhaven, if you ever need anything."

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dreamgirlkc
2017-09-16 05:33 pm UTC (link)

"Aaawww, that's nice of you!" KC said when Alex mentioned his willingness to see her ride. She missed riding horses, missed the feeling of wind through her hair. It was the fastest she could go without exerting too much effort physically, and so she absolutely loved the said activity. She giggled when Alex went about horses not liking him, but that he could still watch her. "Well you're not missing much anyway. If you can run or ride a bike or ride a pennyboard it's the same kind of feeling... I guess?" She didn't know what it was like doing any of those, but she thought the same exhilaration would apply.

"Oh okay, I'm in Pankhurst. I'll be there if you need anything too," She said, touching his arm and removing her hand quickly. She just wanted Alex to feel like this wasn't a one way street. KC wanted, more than anything, to have someone to talk to, someone who'd understand. For some reason she could feel a tinge of sadness radiating through his eyes and through his smile and she couldn't quite put a finger on it. "I mean... I probably won't be able to help much because of my condition but I can listen and talk." She said, smiling brightly at him.

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_alex
2017-09-18 10:17 pm UTC (link)

"For some odd reason I think riding a horse would be much more than a bike ride or pennyboard or anything like that," Alex commented back. "Those are inanimate objects that you can control. A horse has a mind of it's own and if it decides it's not going to let you control it..." he trailed off, sure she got his point.

KC was apparently a toucher. He didn't mind it, it was just something he'd noticed in their brief conversation. "I'm not much of a talker," he shrugged. "But, yeah, sure, if I feel like I need someone to talk to," he gave her a warm smile. "I guess I better get on my way, I need to get to debate and see my mum and get the information so I can start on research. I like to be ahead."

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dreamgirlkc
2017-09-26 03:58 pm UTC (link)

"I guess you're right," KC said, shrugging a little with her head tilted sideways. "But to be honest, I wouldn't know because I haven't tried riding a pennyboard or a bike..." She giggled shyly, wondering what Alex would think of her for saying that. She wasn't allowed activities that required a lot of energy so she had to make do with imagining what she read about in books.

KC was indeed a toucher, and it was a bit hard for her to realize that some people aren't like her grandmothers or her mom who smothered people all the time. "I see..." She responded meekly when Alex said he wasn't much of a talker. She couldn't tell him that she was very limited in terms of the things that she could do, but she was willing to try anything anyway. New school, new life, or whatever. She nodded enthusiastically when Alex affirmed he'd come find her if he needed her and she returned the warm smile with her girly grin. "Okay then, it's been very chatting to yah!" She said waving at him before he walked away. She wondered what he meant when he said he needed to see his mum. Maybe his mum worked in Islington too?

KC resolved she should learn more about her new friend while she walked to the opposite direction, back to where she came from. She was getting hungry and tired, two things she didn't want to be on her first day at the new school.

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