Sunday 4/20/08 Who: Jacob and Raquel When: midday/early afternoon Where: the grounds What: hanging out N.B. Raquel's turn.
Jacob just knew that he would get into trouble, or at least it was a sneaking suspicion in the back of his mind. If he wouldn't stay outside for that long, then there'd be a smaller chance of him getting caught. Being out on the grounds with Raquel was much better than staying in his room and watching the same movies he'd seen ten times. Without even shutting his laptop, as soon as he said "Go" on IM to her, Jacob rushed out of his room, and slammed the door behind him. His long legs carried him out of the boys' dormitory and down the hallway at a fast pace. They hadn't agreed on a prize to whoever won the race to the grounds - that didn't matter.
He was still going to win. Rushing towards the door that led to the grounds, he hoped no one had saw him and opened it to dash outside and wait for her. Jacob figured he wouldn't have to wait long at all. He exhaled in order to return his breathing to normal and remembered that he still had his glasses on from when he used his laptop. It wasn't very often that he used them, since he worried other people might see him. Oh, he forgot to put on a jacket or a sweater too and the pale hairs on his arms stood on end slightly. There was always a heating spell or he might be running around too much to stay cold for long at all.
---
Raquel had foolishly written "gone!" before she had made to run out so naturally Jacob had a great chance of winning from that point alone. Not to mention that she had to find her camera first just because she wanted to try something different and, being the clumsy cow that she was, managed to trip over her shoes and stumble into a door by the time she'd managed to reach outside. When she saw Jacob standing outside, back to her, she growled to herself.
"Bastard!" she shouted, storming up to him at a trot and only slowing down when she realised there was no point in still trying to win the race. Of course as soon as he turned and she saw the glasses on his face she paused. Maybe the prize for winning should have been a kiss because those glasses... did he know her fetish was glasses on men? And tattoos, actually. But mainly glasses! She stopped in her tracks then thwapped him on his arm. "When did you get glasses?!"
---
Since he had won now, a smug smile crossed his face. She'd just been too slow, what with getting her camera and running too slowly or whatever. He ran his hand through his hair and slipped his hands into his pockets. "I win," said Jacob. "Do I get a prize?" Oh, she seemed to be more focused on his reading glasses. Embarrassing. He reached up to take them off his face and hold them, looking at them in his hand.
"Use them for reading text on the computer sometimes," he explained. "I forgot to take them off." He looked around at the grounds, wondering what kind of activities they would want to try on a day like this. At least it was getting warmer. "What do you want to do? I didn't actually bring anything so I will have to rely on magic if we decide on whatever."
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Raquel didn't even concentrate on his question. She was more interested in his answer. The glasses, which she didn't want him to take off, were suddenly in his hands and she pouted. If she'd had her wits about her she'd have covered up her obvious gawping but unfortunately she was unable to do it. Prize or no prize maybe she could work something out which....
"Huh? Oh. Put 'em back on!" she demanded. "Do whatever just wear those!"
---
She seemed to have forgotten all about what they were going to do out here and focused on his glasses instead, which bemused him. He was positive that he would be teased for wearing them, that people wouldn't like them (especially girls). What could they do? It'd been years since he'd been outside with another person and nothing else, no kind of equipment or games with which to entertain them.
If she wanted it, Jacob could put his glasses back on his face for a little while. They wouldn't hurt his eyes too much like that, he hoped. "Okay," he said, nonchalant and slightly amused. He wore them once more, placed a hand on his hip and gave a haughty pose. "So, nerd me says we should explore a little. Sound good?" Maybe he'd lose her entirely because of his glasses, and then he would never let her live it down.
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It was only once she'd said it that she'd realised how weird she might have sounded. A friend, who had seen him naked and who had also been exposed down to her panties, was now demanding him to wear his glasses to appease her geek fetish. Yeah their friendship just got weirder and weirder.
Embarassed Raquel actually paid attention this time, nodding at his question. "Exploring good. Pictures good also. Aaand...." She looked around at the surroundings. "Where first? I mean I have no idea what these grounds have to offer but we gotta start somewhere. Maybe there's a shed."
---
He had not done much travelling on the grounds either, though he'd seen some of it around the treehouse and from below when he was on his flying carpet. When she asked where to go to next, he pondered that for a moment. A shed was okay, he guessed. "How about the small lake?" he asked. "Oh, but you probably hate water, right?" Jacob needed to think of something else. "We could always hang by the trees so no one sees us." Unfortunately, he didn't have any snacks so they'd have to rely on conversation to entertain them for the meanwhile.
They could just wander. He shrugged before he started to walk more into the open, onto the grass, reaching whatever destination when it just felt right. If she had another plan, that was fine by him. It was strange for him to walk with no leather jacket on, like a piece of himself had been missing. A good arsensal was in that jacket and now he had nothing but himself; he needed to rely on himself. To anyone that would be scary, he bet.
---
Why did Rocky suddenly feel like she was on a date? Maybe it was because he looked slightly different with those glasses and she wasn't used to it. He was like a different person, even his voice sounded different - possibly due to the fact he wasn't drunk. Or declaring that she was about to lose badly and have to strip, something along those lines. For a moment it took her by surprise but she got used to this new Jacob and started walking with him.
"I don't mind water as much as my brother. I can't swim in it for long but I can paddle and shit. Won't harm me to sit next to it." She sighed, strolling with her hands behind her back. "We could climb a few trees. Definitely need to hide you from the hordes in case they wanna whip your ass." The fact he appeared to be slightly humble today hadn't escaped her notice: there was a vulnerable quality about him today. Just made him cuter and she wanted to hug him.
---
Taken out of the normal circumstances in which they spent time and placed into a new situation and location, it was somewhat interesting to note how this was different. It felt more low-key, just walking with her like this. He slid his hands into his pocket and considered whether or not they should go to the small man-made lake. Why not? "So let's sit for a while and then hide me from the horde," he said. He had become much better in talking to people without the need of alcohol or becoming so stressed, which was one of the few benefits in coming to TJS. (Besides having friends and getting access to more magical texts, of course.)
The lake was not far away and Jacob continued to walk until he reached the edge of it. Sitting down on the grass, he took off his socks and shoes, dipping his feet into the water. "It is nice to be outside, I guess," he said. "Away from the fucking people who screwed you over. No, now you're just with a messed up freak who likes red licorise a little too much." Jacob shot her a small smile.
---
With Raquel there wasn't much pressure for Jacob to impress. She was kinda easy to satisfy friend-wise, so long as Jacob maintained a pleasant sort of aura and wasn't ripping her to pieces she was pretty easy going. It was certainly the first time they were talking without either of them being drunk. When he decided what they were doing Raquel nodded an okay. Jacob was too sweet a guy to be stuck indoors - yeah so he might have destroyed a sofa. He was stressed! What guy wasn't destructive in nature?
Rocky rolled up the legs of her jeans, taking off her shoes before joining him in dipping her feet. The lake was sort of cold but it was still refreshing. "It's nice to be outside with a messed up freak who likes red licorice," she countered, looking to him then offering a warm smile of her own. "Especially one who can just sit with me and... make sweet gladiator sandals from candy." She paused. "And who's sorta got a nice dick, from a visual point of view."
---
So far people were dumping him like flies, or that's how it felt anyway, and it hurt to stay in his room to be reminded of Lyle and subsequently the people who were linked to him. He didn't need the vampire anymore, he told himself, and tried to think of the people he still had in his life. Honestly he did not expect someone as cool as Raquel to be spending time with him, but then he could have said the same about a few people he knew. Very weird how life worked.
He exhaled a slow, quiet brief as he leaned back on his hands, listening to her speak. Her first comment kept the small smile on his face as he felt warm. Being complimented was more addicting and nice than he thought. "Heh. I barely remember doing that," Jacob admitted, because he had been spectacularly drunk. "I really needed more than one packet." Her next sentence threw him because he hadn't expected her to say that again, and Jacob's face flooded with embarrassment. "Friends can have no clothes on in front of each other without being weird, right? Or is that just something Dizzy believes?" In the treehouse, they were drunk and it didn't count. Okay, she remembered more than he did, but that was all right because it'd blow over or something.
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Jacob was absolutely adorable when he was embarassed. If Rocky could freeze-frame that expression she would. Oh wait, she had a camera! But he was speaking before she could reach around and fish it out to do her damage. Shame. She'd just make a mental note to try and make him blush more often. It was better than sullen and without humour for definite.
She considered his question a moment. "Sure they can," she shrugged. "I don't see why not. I mean it's more common with opposite sexes if the guy's gay or something, probably, but... I mean I haven't ever been naked or had a guy naked in the vacinity and not... done something with him. And I never even kissed you. Not that you're not kissable, I mean you are, you're very.... I mean... I didn't feel like I had to bone you to make you like me or justify us being naked. Apart from when you were... never mind. I made my point."
Now it was her turn to blush.
---
She might try to make him blush a dozen times during the time they spent and he would be embarrassed each time. He was easily flustered. Also, he had no idea why she brought a camera, though he had learned a couple things from spending time with his sister. "May I borrow your camera?" he asked, holding out his hand. "Candid pictures are great."
He looked at her and heard her stumble over her words for the first time in the period he'd known her. Maybe it was an odd question to ask people, which wouldn't be the first time he'd done it. Jacob tried to listen and understand what she was saying. Okay, she had never done the platonic naked thing. "Oh," he said. "Guess there's a first for everything. Even if it was blurry." He turned on her camera, pointed it at her and snapped a picture. Looking through the viewfinder and then back at her was unsettling for his eyes and finally he took off his glasses. "Fuck, my eyes."