Spotlight [Jess.]

[allison nicole moore]

"So that's what you think of me..? And all along I thought you were the one dumping boys on their asses night after night."

My jaw dropped in shock. Did he honestly think I was some whore? Well, in my defense, I was nothing like him. Nothing. I've dated plenty, yes, and several have tried getting me under the covers. But I refused. I was still a virgin, too.

I was about to defend myself by screaming in his face again when he told me that he was inexperienced. That he really hadn't ever had sex. My jaw felt like dropping again, but I didn't, knowing that would look stupid, even if he could hardly see me.

"You what?!" I exclaimed, the bizarre truth invading my thoughts. "So you lied. You lied to everyone, it was just for the crowd, I knew it, I knew---" I cut off, feeling his hand on my shoulder. Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable, a gut feeling rotting in my stomach. "W-what are you doing?" I forced out. I felt his breath on my cheek, and then his lips were brushing against mine. My breath stuttered to a halt.

No, no, no. This was wrong. This wasn't supposed to happen. My muscles screamed and burned to push him away, or to just move my neck so my lips would be away from his. But I was frozen. I couldn't move at all. This was all too surreal. I felt his tongue start to trace my lips and I shuddered. This was Danny we were talking about. Danny and I, in a closet, kissing. No...

Suddenly, his body was pulling on mine as he fell to the ground. Danny crashed into shelves and fell the the ground, with me on top of him. I gasped, stunned, as some few extra buckets fell around us, luckily empty.

"Well I think you put us in quite a dangerous and curious situation here Allie. You should think before you act."

"Excuse me?!" I exploded. "You are the one who kissed me. Kissed me! What the hell are you thinking? What was that for? It was totally uncalled for. And why? You could've just told me you haven't had your first kiss. God, you are so stupid!" As I hissed and ranted, I hardly noticed that I was still laying on top of him, his mouth dangerously close again.

[LindsayCarol♥]

Well this was a start.

At least I knew she wasn't mad enough to hurt me. The best I could do now was ignore my lust and embarressment and play along. "Well you didn't exactly help the cause by shoving us in a small, dark place together did you?" My voice rose in desperation, but I kept my face straight with all my self control. I wanted to get up and run. Why couldn't I just run?! Oh ya, maybe because Allison's weight was crushing me. My cock twitched and I felt like slapping it. "Allison..." I groaned, signaling her to get off me.

I just prayed it didn't sound sexual. Sexual...and Allison. I felt like gagging. How did I put myself in this situation with my most hated enemy...the more time that went past, the more corny everything seemed!

[allison nicole moore]

Wrinkling my nose and growling with resentment, I muttered, "I can feel your erection. That's disgusting." I rolled over and I laid next to him for a minute, considering all that had happened. I raised trembling fingers to my lips and brushed them, still remembering his warmth.

I stood up with difficulty, jolting out of that little, stupid fantasy, and shoved a few empty buckets to the side so I wouldn't trip over them. I glanced down at Danny, squinting in the darkness. Then I looked away, heat and anger flushing my face.

"I don't want to go out there with your friends still lurking around... And you still didn't answer my question." I said, irritation seeping into my voice. "Why'd you kiss me?" I thought about that kiss, an unexpected yearning meeting the memory. I shook my head, my dark locks falling around my face.

[LindsayCarol♥]

I tried to convince myself I had misheard Allison's remark, but there was no mistaking the word erection in my mind. Boys automatically picked those sort of words out in a sentence..."Hey, you should be flattered that it's for you. Jeez, it's not my fault that my body is driven by hormones and we're alone in a closet in a compromising position..." I winced in realization and tried to fill the gap I had created in what was meant to be a clever, teasing retort. "Well..it's partly my fault..."

I spread my legs and arms awkwardly as Allison stood in digust. I realized my position looked...suggestive, but I was too busy trying to come up with an answer to Allison's question to bother fixing it. How on earth was I supposed to know why I kissed her?! I was just as confused as she was, and it was my lips that had made the move! My only choice was to trust whatever came to mind, which hadn't been such a reliable plan lately...obviously.

"Because...I guess I did it...because...I always feel the need to prove myself around you! I mean, I've been attempting-and succeeding-in upstaging you since we met practically! It's just a competetive thing..." My reply couldn't be further from the truth and yet it couldn't be closer to getting me into what I should have said. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure that out, and what I had said wasn't exactly kind, yet alone romantic. Not that I was trying to be romantic! Right?

[allison nicole moore]

At his first couple comments, my cheeks burned furiously. And I thanked God it was dark. He was right, though. Why did I pick a closet for my choice of hiding? Well, let's just say making out with Danny wasn't the first thing that came to mind.

"Comprising position...?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow in question. "Maybe for you, but not for me... Now get up, you're making this awkward." I glanced down at him, shaking my head at his awkward position. Was he trying to look suggestive?

"Because...I guess I did it...because...I always feel the need to prove myself around you! I mean, I've been attempting-and succeeding-in upstaging you since we met practically! It's just a competetive thing..."

That stopped me short. A competetive thing? Did he even have a heart, or brains, or empathy? And succeeding? Says the guys who got punched in the jaw back there. "Succeeding? And what? That makes you proud? You disgust me. And if you've been succeeding then why would you need to prove yourself?! I think you've overdone it a thousand times over, Danny!"

My eyes were blazing and the blood in my veins was boiling again. "Ugh, everything you say! You just make me so mad! I hate you!" I started randomly yelling at him, my hands balled into fists, trembling with rage.

Once I stopped, out of words, I realized I'd called him Danny. What was up with that? I suddenly felt mollified.

[LindsayCarol♥]

I pondered Allison's request in disapproval. If my position was making her uncomfortable, why not peeve her off some more? I struck a cord of sympathy, however, and sat up slightly off balance and a bit too quickly to be considered normal. Everything I was doing was thrown off a beat and I couldn't get back into step. Not until this was settled that is. I did my best to keep my anger on the down low throughout the brunette's speech and tightened my typical mask over a genuine smile I always saved up for emergencies.

Oddly, I found the smile coming far too easily. Shaking the feeling of shock out of my system, I pulled a cliche smooth move like only I knew how, and took hold of Allison's balled up fists. "Hate you too Allie," I cooed. My one chance for forgiveness. And I was stalling. With charm? I had officially lost all dignity.

[allison nicole moore]

Surprisingly, he obeyed me, and sat up. I felt relief wash over me, and also wonder. I thought he wouldn't've moved just because he liked to piss me off all the time. And look where that got him? I bruised face and hiding in a closet with a pissed off female. Whom was which must be on her period soon because she was so irritable.

Danny reached forward unexpectedly and I didn't move, frozen by curiousity and confusion, until he took me hand. "I hate you, too, Allison." Horrorified, I stood shocked, still immobile. He said it in the sickeningly sweet voice, as if he didn't hate me at all. But I knew better.

I pulled my hand away, frowning. "You're a good actor," I said, heavy sarcasm dripping from every word. "But it doesn't work on me, Danny." This time, I caught myself, but I was still too late. I clapped a hand over my mouth and felt my cheeks burning again.

But I didn't say anything. I didn't want to be given away. The hand over my mouth didn't help that, though. I probably wasn't lucky enough to have him not notice that.

[LindsayCarol♥]

It was all in her hands now. I was giving her all control.

If Allison was really so mad at me, then why on earth did the pet name "Danny" drip from her lips more times then it had ever crossed her mind in the past? I smirked as one of her hands threw mine off at lightning speed and clamped over her mouth. It was time to let her do the decision making; no more fooling around. She could choose to forgive me, or walk out right now. As much as it seemed that she would leave without so much as a glance over her shoulder, I was beginning to think otherwise. She had been given the chance to leave almost every second we had been in this closet aside from the moment I acted on a stupid whim and kissed her. Even then, she could have fought me off...

My own hand fled to my mouth at a speed fast enough to rival Allison's and I hadn't even spoken a word. Still, though my mind often moved a little slow when it came to attraction to girls, I had put the puzzle pieces together just now and the picture on them, was so wrong that it had to be from an alternate universe. I was still missing a few no doubt, but I had just found one vital piece of the puzzle. Allison, had allowed me to kiss her, however breif it was. I met her eyes with my startled coffee-colored ones that seemed to be blurring everything out of focus. This was it. There was a choice to be made, and it was not mine.

I knew what I wanted: forgiveness. But what did Allie want? Yes, by the way you keep endearlingly calling me Danny, it's very clear you hate me too." I began slowly and clearly from behind my hand, my voice drifting from a teasing tone to a humble and serious one. "But if you want to go so badly, then by all means do it. I can't make you forgive me." Just to prove my point to her, I stood up with my palms layed flat in front of me, showing her I had no say in the situation...as of yet.

[allison nicole moore]

Frowning, I crossed my arms loosely across my stomach, while a realization dawned on me. Exactly why did he want me to forgive him so badly? He continued to ask and ask, bringing it up for me to forgive him. What was up with that? Did he want me to forgive him for everything? Or just what had happened today?

I chewed on my lip, skimming over all the possibilities, the impossible possibilities. It was surreal, unrealistic. This was Danny we were talking about. And me. Me. I didn't fit into this picture. Even though he had -- strangely -- told me his secret, that he was a virgin, I still couldn't help but think that he deserved to be in here with some slutty blonde, making out, ripping at each other's clothes. I couldn't push the image.

"Yes, by the way you keep endearlingly calling me Danny, it's very clear you hate me too."

Blue eyes wide, I stared at him. Have I really been calling him Danny? I bit on my tongue, infuriated with myself. "Well, you've been calling me Allie," I muttered with a scowl. "And why do you want me to forgive you so bad? What's in it for you?"

[LindsayCarol♥]

Damn her. Why did she have to question everything?

I chewed the inside of my lip thoughfully, a childish habit I had never really cared to correct. I guess I wanted Allison to forgive me out of guilt. Things had finally gone too far beyond my control, my swelling jawline was evidence enough to that. I suppose I was used to being the hero and had decided to throw in the towel and give in to her. Better that then end up being killed by her in another epic mall showdown. My reply to Allison, however, came out totally different. It was like I had thought of life a certain way the entire time, but never really knew how to explain it. I was speaking foreign words, but I couldn't stop.

"What if I don't know the reason Allie? Things aren't always going to be written in black and white. This is one of those grey areas where I guess you just have either jump back to one of the black or white sides, or take a risk and open your eyes. Once you decide not to be colorblind anymore, there's a million colors to choose. I've already picked a new color to start on, I just don't know what it is. Will you just forgive me and join me?"

I felt like a weight was off my chest, but knew it would be short-lived because Allie had already added to that weight several times today and would probably bask in the idea of throwing all of it back on me. I looked up at her with my regular look of malice I just naturally held for her, but there was something different about it. I could almost feel a little glitter of light trying to get through in my eyes to her and I prayed she could see it. I inwardly urged Allison to forgive me. I really did want to start over, but if she asked another question I would end up strangling her with a janitor's mop.

[allison nicole moore]

His huge, grand speech didn't do me any good at all, 'cause I didn't know what the hell he was talking about. But should I take the bait, forgive him? I was dying to ask more questions, demanding answers, intimidating him so he would tell me everything that went through his sick, twisted mind.

I pursed my lips, my arms hanging limp at my sides, as I stared up at him. Damn, he was so tall. He towered over me. It didn't really help my intimidating act. This was a total fail moment for me. My eyes hardened, however, and I regained my composure.

My motionless arms broke out of their trance and came folded up against my stomach. I did that maybe too much, but it was my act of defiance. It gave my opponent a clue at how I was feeling.

I've come to realize that thinking too much is dangerous. Because you look at the opposing persons side and that was a flat out 'do not' in my case. But I couldn't help it. Maybe I should give him a chance. I mean, whenever I thought about that kiss it gave me chills. And he seemed pretty decent right now.

But what if he just went ahead and turned his back on me, acting like this never happened? Then where would I be? I'd end up looking like a fool. And he would never tell anyone the truth about being a virgin, so his dumbass friends would make up stories about how I gave in to his body and he knocked me up. He wouldn't do anything to stop them, to ruin his reputation.

"Well, what if I do forgive you? I still don't trust you. So you're gonna have to prove that I can. What if you turn your back on me, act like this never happened? What if..." The questions just couldn't stop. I felt like I was wearing my heart on my sleeve with all these confusing, never ending questions. This was dangerous, my emotions getting so wildly out of control.

[Siren Lucas Torres]

ooc; I'm going to redo his speaking color and the text size so it looks neater and is easier to read Also, Kenz kind of made the site lazier since there's only a few people left on it, so we can use whatever faceclaim we want without having to actually claim it, and we don't have to create a seperate account for each charrie. Just so you know!

In all seriousness, I was definately considering the strangling option right now. Maybe not with a janitor's mop-because I didn't think I could manage that-but I was intently searching for a thick piece of rope as Alison spoke. Prove myself? How?! This was the most ridiculous proposition that I had ever been given, but I couldn't back out now. I really did want her to forgive me, for whatever sick reason that my mind had deemed as reasonable, and I wasn't one who gave up on someone easily. But honestly, we were in a dark closet and a group of my poser friends were wandering around the mall as we spoke. Proving myself was going to be kind of difficult.

I clenched my hands into fists until there were small crescent-moon markings on my palms from my digging fingernails, but I slipped my best fake smile on anyway as I turned to Alison again. "Alright then. If you want me to prove that I'm trying to get past our burning hatred, then I will be more than happy too. But I expect you to do the same." I smirked in what I made sure was a charming and friendly matter. I hoped against hope that I wasn't just being wishful and that this might actually work in the end. I couldn't imagine Allie and I as good friends, but it sounded nicer than what we were now. My arm stretched forward to seal my pact with the devil. If she took my hand, I would actually have to keep my side in this, and I wasn't so sure I would be successful. But if she didn't, then I might just find myself with more than a throbbing jaw next time. My decision was made.

"Deal?"

[allison nicole moore]

the sudden turn of events is wearing me down. i sag against the wall, my tightly folded arms dropping to my side. i look him up and down, a dim form only moving slightly in the darkness. that meant he couldn't see the defeat in my expression, though.

i pause at that thought. no, not defeat. just the weariness, the exhaustion. at this moment, i just want to curl up in my bed and dream and good dream, opposing to this nightmare. but maybe this isn't turning out to be such a nightmare afterall?

after speaking, he raises his hand to me, offering me to shake. i am hesitant, although i can feel my fingers itching to touch his warm skin. my stomach rolls at those feelings. is that really what i wanted? i don't know.

but i am met with a choice. a split in the road. my tongue dries up at the urge to one more question. he is probably so annoyed with me right now.

i take a deep breath. "and your friends?" i nearly whisper. "don't you care about your reputation?" i do my best to keep the malice out of my voice. i think i almost succeed, and press my lips together. i've said so much already.

[Siren Lucas Torres]

I felt like I was in a cartoon and that steam was going to be coming out of my ears soon. I suddenly remembered one reason why I hated Alison. She was one of the most unagreeable people on the whole damn planet! My hand didn't drop instantly, but it started to tremble with the effort to calmly remain there. My voice, however, was a whole booming notch louder and gruffer in impatience. She would definately be able to tell that I had run out of things to say and was so close to walking out and locking her in the closet by herself.

"Would you listen to yourself, Allie?! Of course I'd miss my freaking hard-earned reputation! I freaking live to be someone who's respected and is actually going to be listened to. I don't freaking care what the people at the bottom of the food chain think I am like. And because I am so well respected, I was actually planning on proving to you that I was serious by taking you out there and getting them to start respecting you. I wasn't just saying I would be friendlier to you so we could continue having this long, glorious discussion over tea!"

I raised an eyebrow at her and waved my offering hand in front of her to emphasise my point. She had now or never to accept.

I once again paused to internally question why I was insisting on this friendship being formed, but that nagging realization was quickly brushed off. It had already been established that I was sexually attracted to Allie, but that was neither here nor there. I guess this really was just about getting her to cave and give in to my offer. It would be such a satisfying win, and then I would never have to worry about her annoying insults again. I would actually have a pretty interesting and witty ally with me.

[allison nicole moore]

holding my breath, i wait for him to say something. and when he does, i flinch, hugging the wall. his voice is booming and scary, and i lose my pride. at first, i'm afraid he'll hit me. he certainly wasn't too afraid to shove me in his circle of friends. but he just continues on yelling, and even though i'm afraid someone will hear and come looking, i forget about that and grow angrier by the second.

disgust rumbles in my belly. why was i attracted to him? he may have the looks, but his personality... he's so shallow! my lip curls, and i feel my steam building up. my unsaid words are piling up on each other. and then the unexpected part comes.

i was actually planning on proving to you that i was serious by taking you out there and getting them to start respecting you.

when his words come to a close, my shock meets his silence. by my question, i had simply meant that would i ruin his reputation since i was the entertainment for his crowd. but he means to get them to respect me?

a glimmer of hope rises like a warm bubble in my chest. all the teasing, the glares, the shoves. gone. with the help of daniel. it would definitely be a plus to life. it didn't mean people had to like me, it just meant that they didn't have to take it out on me. i stare at his outstretched hand again, and this time, i'm not so hesitant.

i take his hand without a word.