Catcher in the...what?

[likewooh]

The cafeteria. The cafe. The caf. There were so many variations of that single word that it made Layden very sick for some reason. Yes, it was a very petty thing for him to be sick over, in fact he knew he was being a little feminine and childish, but he just couldn't take the fact that everything had another word that mean or stood for the same thing. It made absolutely no sense for there to be two other words associated with one, when people just cut off chunks of the word to satisfy their laziness. Him, on other hand would go that far as to pronounce the whole word.

In his hand he carried a tattered Pride and Prejudice, which he considered to be one of the greatest novels even to this day. Call him a nut case, or a hopeless soul, but you couldn't push him away from a great read. The first time he'd read one of Jane Austen's books, he'd stared at the book afterward and said "What the heck does that mean?" He hadn't understood a thing Jane Austen had been conveying, but after about five times reading Pride and Prejudice, he finally understood the whole premise of the book. It was kind of strange that he hadn't understood it the first time - the meaning of the whole book was simple - it was about falling in love and some other things he'd failed to mention.

He had the book tucked under his arm, as he navigated his way through the cafeteria, not paying to the things that were going on around him. He didn't pay enough attention to things now a days. Hence the reason why he missed out on almost everything and never really made a lot of friends in the first place, plus he wasn't very good in the social department. His whole thought process was a drag, so - well that didn't leave room for social stuff. He just wasn't interested, in less he'd known you for a good while. Don't get him wrong, he's a polite kind, but he's one of few words.

It was 6:15 in the evening and this was the first time he'd been in here today. He'd forgotten lunch was only an hour and each time have come late. Sighing, he got a tray of food and found an empty table in the back - seclusion was key. He didn't necessarily want to draw attention on his person, let alone cause himself to be pushed into the centre of attention. No, he rather just sit here, all alone, reading and attempting to eat. He settled down into his seat, looking around the semi-crowded room, then turned his back on the room, only hearing the noises not caring to see what was actually going on. He bowed his head over, the book opened to his side and his tray in front of him, but he wasn't eating. He couldn't; he had twenty more pages and he'd be done reading. It distracted him from thinking he was actually a loner in this place. Everyone thought he was weird, regardless of how normal he came off. It was probably because of the black paint he wore under his eye. It was a gentle single stroke; like what he'd see an Egytian woman would put under her eyes.

He desperately wished he'd brought his binoculars because then he could watch people, freak them out a bit even though he tuned himself out and like it that way. He only carried it around in order to scare people away and today he'd forgotten it - stupid idiotic boy he was.

tag, tis open :]
notes, sorry i babbled

[Sarah]

[This has stayed open long enough without a reply. I was giving other's a chance, but now, it's fair game. But, I would like to point out that you intimidate me. xD Haha, so I'll try to make this a good post.]


For being an upper-quality school, I'd bet money there's shit in this food... Pesticides or something.. A blonde boy thought idly as he picked up a harmless-seeming tuna sandwich. He didn't even enjoy the fishy flavor that came with the meal-- he hated it, actually. It was like cat food. Caleb wrinkled his nose as he set that aside as well. He wasn't one to eat like a feline.

"Welcome to Eddingborough," the boy whispered under his breath, picking up a red apple and a can of coke. It wasn't much of a meal, but it would hold him over until the next morning. "Where you can be shipped off, away from your friends and family, and learn how to be a snob from the best, certified teachers. And, at meal times, it is more than customary to wonder what you're eating-- the chefs always throw in certain surprises!" Caleb rolled his eyes, picking up his apple and looking at it closely. A crisp sound was made as his teeth sunk into the crimson skin, its juice gathering to the wound. He didn't mind the fact that he hadn't paid for the fruit-- he was just going to eat it anyway, and it wasn't like he planned on stealing an apple above all things.

However, seeing the stern look of a personel, 3 dollars and fifty cents were pressed down on the table where he selected his food. Thus more, he walked away, biting again into his surprisingly tasty treat.

Eyes lingered upon the rows of tables where boys sat. His ears picked up hints of conversation here and there, but the entire cafeteria seemed to talk as a whole with it's seperate discussions amongst others. Simply, it was nothing he could make out-- and nothing to hold his attention.

Caleb had learned long ago that no matter the most obvious, boring, or innocent-seeming something was, it always possessed the power to be otherwise. So, for some reason or another, when Caleb caught sight of a boy reading more than he ate, he started in that direction. He wasn't social, particularly, but there were a couple things about this kid. First, the fact that he was sitting alone and reading, rather tahn feeding himself. Secondly being the marks under his eyes, which Caleb discovered as he ventured closer. Already, the boy seemed more than capable of being an interesting character, indeed.

The perspiring can of cola touched the table first, it's clear watery film already starting to form a ring around it's new house of a table. More driplets only fell forward along with others, making the can slippery to the touch. A chair was pulled back, and the boy sat down all in one fluid motion. In his hand, he still held the succulent fruit. "Mind if I sit here?" He asked the other, but it did look like he was rather comfortable-- Caleb would be hard to shake off. He could be oblivious to boot, and convincing him to leave his cozy spot would be hard to do without screaming at him.

In another moment, the blonde had his chair facing the other way, his chest leaning against the back of it and the seat of the chair between his legs. He looked at the other curiously, head tilting slightly as he tried to catch sight of what he read. Caleb himself loved books, but only if it could hold his attention. He had attempted famous novels in the past-- you know, the old English like Shakespeare and such-- but the wording confused him. Naturally, he clung on to books that were generally meant for a younger audience at about age 13 and 14. But, he did know a good book when he read it. "Whatcha reading?" He added after becoming too bored with trying to find out for himself.

Yes, the other opposite of him had great possibilities of being interesting. Who else other than football players or warriors wore black stripes under their eyes? That alone had Caleb curious.

[likewooh]

OOC// Me? Intimidate you? You're post was amazing!

"Mind if I sit here?" Confusion - confusion, all over the place. He didn't know if he was dreaming this or if it was real. There obviously was a boy in front of him, but he was really fighting the urge to stab the boy in the arm - not for violent reasons of course, but to simply prove that he'd become delusional like everyone else and was now imagining dead people that looked considerably real and wanted to sit with him - Layden Warrington. Layden tossed the question around in his head, turning his head to face away from the boy - he was one of few limited words and since the boy would probably choose for himself whether he wanted to sit or not, it really wasn't in his great interest to talk. Was the boy trying to mock him, by sitting here with him?; To show him just how lonely he looked and probably was.

Layden risked raising his head, turning his head to look at the boy who was already looking at him as if he was a specimen that needed to be disected - the boy looked curious, as if he was interested in what Layden was doing. Now, really, Layden was considering that this was all a joke and if it was a joke then he would leave without causing a seen. Layden wasn't popular enough to be the center of attention, nor did he ever want to be popular but if he wanted to survive in this gosh forsaken place, then he wanted nothing to do with the joke of some kid. Looking at the boy with a grim frown, he kept his eyes on the boy for a few seconds before lowering his eyes. He had better things to do than stare at a boy who was doing the same; staring.

Wasn't that rude anyways? Staring at a person. And the way the boy was sitting, as if he was comfortable being in the weirdo's presence. Layden realized it was him he was talking about; he was the weirdo and this boys sole purpose was probably to make him realize that. Layden took a fleeting glance toward the boy, then around the cafeteria, trying to see if anyone else was watching. Biting the inside of his mouth, he turned back around, his eyes falling back on his book. He hadn't read long before the boy asked him another question. So now the ghost was asking him questions. How would he look talking to nobody at all; a person his mind had fabricated. "I..wh..." he started off, a confused look setting across his features. For a moment there, he was genuinely confused. He had no clue what the boy was saying to him.

He cleared his throat, letting the boys words roll around in his head before he gave him an answer. "Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen." he said simply. He placed his book to the side, taking the fork into his hand. He stared up at the boy, his own curiosity setting in. He began waving his hand back and forth like a man or woman directing an orchestra, until his fork flipped out of his hand - and he watched it slowly but without pausing fly through the air and land with a light touch on the boys chest before falling. He watched it fall and - well that meant the boy was real and that he looked like a crazy idiot. "Sorry." he said, bowing his head - now he didn't have a fork, but he never ate the crap that they served here. He moved his plate to the side, replacing it with the presence of his book. "I thought you were a fabrication of my imagination. Like you know..an imaginary..well." Layden finished off weakly, his head sinking lower and his confidence following.

Gah, why couldn't he be normal? He ruffled his hair, aimlessly, a smile curling on his face as he remembered the black paint underneath his eyes. Well, at least the boy wasn't acting overly - feminine about the matter and questioning why exactly he had it under his eyes. To be honest, he probably would avoid that question. With that, he flipped the page, his attention back onto finishing the book.

[Sarah]

[Lol, yes, you. ^^ Thanks.]

If only Caleb would have had the time to devise such a plan of mockery. Truly, if he would have thought of it honestly before hand, he might have done it. It had happened to him in the past when he had sat by himself all alone with his brown-bagged lunch. At the time, it hadn't made sense how something so innocent could cause such a scene. Back then, to the bullies, he had definitely held the ability to be interesting-- or rather, held the ability to be manipulated. It had only gone through Caleb's mind to sit down, and find out maybe a little more about this kid.

Caleb liked to think that he was a scientist sometimes. He liked to think that instead of stereotyping and pre-judging people, that really, he was just forming hypothesis's about them. And, he would go up and meet them, just to see if he was right. So far, it seemed like he had been correct about his roommate, whom he had promptly labled as both stuck up and gay. He had no real evidence that he was right, but he felt like he was right.

That was where Layden stuck out again. Sure, Caleb could lable him as the quiet-weirdo kid and call it quits, but he wanted more than that. Besides, it was much too easy to call someone that. He could call anyone he wanted in the world a quiet-weirdo kid. But, clearly that wasn't fitting for all of humanity. So, he needed to know exactly how this boy worked, and find out if he had another one of limited allies, or another countless enemy in the boy.

The other boy of course didn't know what to expect out of him either, but he had more difficulty hiding it. Caleb at least attempted to make it look like he knew even the slightest of what was going on. But, it was another clue that lead to who the boy was also, and caleb stashed the fact away. Slowly, the blonde boy nodded his head towards the title. "Never heard of it." Or had he? He couldn't remember, and didn't care frankly. It sounded like a old-person book.

The movements that the boy seemed to mimic now left Caleb confused, but he recognized them. He'd been in orchestra in his hometown before he was sent to this place, and that was how the conductors counted time-- something he failed at epically. However, normally the little wand that the directors used never seemed to fly out of their hands to poke him flatly on the chest, Caleb blinked, and tried to catch the fork before it could fall. Another note to make: Flings silverwear.

And yet, the boy came to admit exactly what he had done. And, it wasn't something simple either. A fabrication of his imagination? Blue eyes blinked again, and blonde brows rose. "Oh," he said simply. He wasn't too sure of this boy again. "Sorry to dissapoint you."

Because, well, Caleb knew he'd be rather embarrassed if he flung his fork at a ghost, and it turned out to be a totally fleshed-out stranger. But then again, he wouldn't want to throw cutlery at a paranormal force-- they'd throw it back.

It hadn't dawned on him on the fact that he hadn't introduced himself until now. "I'm Caleb Beakly." he added, biting again into his apple. He set it down and reached for the own silverwear he'd been given, surprising himself that he thought of it. He plucked out the fork, and slid it across the table. "You can have mine." he added, taking a louder and more obnoxious bite from the fruit before he sat it down. He reached for his cold drink, and cracked the pop tab off it, taking a long swig.

[likewooh]

OOC//sorry this took so long. i no longer have internet at home so i have to rely on the library :S

Clearing his throat often helped him clear his mind, but not today. His mind was completely clouded and no matter what he did to clear his throat, his efforts came to no prevail. He knew what the boy thought of him - but he wanted to hear from the boys own mouth what he thought of him. It was a self conscious thing. That was what he hated about himself; his lack of caring about what others thought of him. He knew he presented himself like a weirdo - knew that people would interpret it as him being a loner but he constantly just wanted to know what people saw him as even though he had a pretty vivid picture of what they thought. He didn't think this boy or any other boy in this school would judge him any different. It was probably the black paint underneath his eye. He wished, the way he acted wasn't an oddity but you couldn't exactly get what you want each time and he failed at conforming. It just wasn't in him to do that.

He stared at the boy blankly, waiting for an onslaught of hurtful names that would penetrate him deeper than he showed. He waited and anticipated but nothing came, strangely. The boy didn't even make fun of the book he was reading, but he probably had no clue what this book was and the whole premise of the book, which is why he couldn't exactly say anything but he hadn't read it. Layden took a deep exhale, a look of relief on his face. He shrugged his shoulder, his eyes trailing back to the book before resting on the word: The. "Not many people have." he said blankly. It was an old book, from the late early 1800's; he didn't expect a lot of people to want to pick up a book such as this one at an all boys school, especially since what Jane Austen was writing about. Some boys, just wouldn't be interested. So, he kept his comment simple and to the point, no need to brag about his expansive book list.

He noticed the boy seemed to be going between facial expressions of confusion and bigger confusion. Maybe he was trying to figure him out. At that thought, Layden clammed up, feeling the invisible drips of sweat forming underneath his uniform. He coughed a few times, before dropping the book onto the table. Why? Why did it matter how the boy looked at him? But, Layden knew why. It was because he was the most self conscious person and every look was interpreted as something bad. Layden couldn't help it. And yet the boy seemed to be interpreting his fabrication of his imagination in the wrong way. "No..no, I'm not disappointed..I was just - saying..that..." he gulped, the sound low and timid - if that was possible. He chanced a glance at the boy, his eyes pained. He felt like an idiot and the boy wasn't even remotely being mean to him.

Layden was sure that it was the fact that this particular boy was actually being sort of nice to him that made him nervous. He was outside of his comfort zone. He was so use to being teased and prodded that this was something new, but of course Layden didn't know if this was an act or not - so he was basically in the dark. He wasn't even being as observant either which was weird. "I was just saying that...I'm not use to..this." he said waving his hand a little at the boy before dropping it into his own lap. He gave a slight shrug, and looked away from the boy.

He noticed distantly that he was giving the boy more ammunition to fire at him in the future if they were ever to meet again.

"I'm Caleb Beakly." His name kept repeating in his head. Caleb. Caleb. He put his hand against his forehead and began rubbing it up and down. He was sure he was going to have a melt down, he didn't know why but this was all just to much. "Why is he being nice to me?" he asked himself out loud. A second later he noticed that he'd said it out loud and that Caleb would hear it. He gulped, collecting himself and rushing into an introduction. "I'm Layden Warrington!" he said, a little bit to loud.

He scratched his head absently, biting his bottom lip. Glancing at the boy, he took the fork, a timid smile plastered on his face. "Thanks" completely ignoring the sound the boy made from simply biting down on an apple. He sighed inwardly, and looked at the wall. The wall was the only thing that couldn't talk back to him. It was a refreshing thing about sitting here.

[Sarah]

ooc: It's just fine. I understand.

If the blonde would have known exactly how much pressure he had put on the other, he would have given himself a pat on the back. It wasn't his target now, but normally, Caleb was all about making people uncomfortable. He thought doing so was a talented skill-- not all people could be annoying 24/7. But, even the rare time in which he was trying to be friendly, he put the other boy into unease.

Impressive.

The way Caleb kept himself guarded when vulnerable or shy was simply through annoyance. Who would want to talk to him, if he had the reputation of being this insane, bouncing-off-the-walls, annoying kid? Sure, he formed more enemies that way, but it also made it so that his friends were more genuine and real.

And, if anyone knew how hurtful words could be, it was certainly Caleb. Though they may never have been directed to his face, he knew what he was called. He knew they were just words, but words could bring forth actions and with actions came pain. Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Such a lie.

That thought struck up another, and it made Caleb smile grimly on the outside. It was ironic hilarity or how people claimed to understand one another. How everyone was picked on and hurt by someone else-- and yet, they also had hurt another person in a scenario close to their own. It was just proof of how selfish humans could be. It was a rare sight to find someone who really understood him, and wouldn't hurt him in the end. The one person he had to rely on was himself.

Towards the comment of the book-- again flashing into the real world-- Caleb's smile faded, and he nodded. It sounded like maybe one of his older sisters had to have read it before. The title sounded familiar. Maybe it was a book Charity had to read for one of her Honor's English classes.... Really, Caleb had no clue.

It was the slightest bits of unease that Caleb picked up on in the other boy, and his brows furrowed. Truly, he wasn't attempting to put the other on the spot. But, he was trying to work him out. Luckily enough for the other, Caleb didn't find Layden's gulp and other nervous acts to be amusing. Later on if he got to know the other better, then it would certainly become humorous, and quickly.

But, when Caleb did grin, from hearing the other boy's question that was clearly meant to stay within his head, it was friendly. He chuckled slightly, and shrugged, so as to answer the question. "It doesn't look like you'll bite to me-- good enough." He picked up his apple again to take another bite of the fruit before it could brown. He jumped slightly, and even chuckled, as the boy announced his own name. "Hi, Layden." he said casually, his own tone lower.

And, of course, most of the room turned to look at the pair. Caleb smirked quietly, taking another drink from his Coke. This was exactly what he had been picturing, Layden's ability to be interesting had announced itself to the entire cafeteria.

[likewooh]

The worst thing to deal with was for a person to hear what you'd rather keep in your head. It was embarrassing and that's all Layden seemed to do; embarrass himself without trying. He was known to get nervous but he knew he could blame it on the fact that he thought that people were always looking at him and judging his every move. One person could glance at him and he'd rush to the bathroom and wonder what was on his pants, his clothes and even attempt to look at his back. You could call it compulsive behavior because even as the boy sat in front of him, things about the way he looked popped into his head. He wondered why the boy looked so observant, as if he was trying to extract something from him without actually trying - like he was waiting for the perfect moment.

Knowing himself, he knew sooner or later that he would say something that he would regret. It always happened and even as much times as he told himself that he wouldn't say too much he always did. He was sure the boy could obviously see that it didn't take much for him to become scared and nervous. Although he tried to come off and cool and collect - confident, it never worked because he always had thoughts in the back of his mind that he was doing something wrong. If all of his thoughts suddenly stopped, he'd be able to turn off and not observe everything and not think about the pointless things such as the way people perceived him.

The boy just seemed carefree, and Layden was very aware that the boy was everything he wasn't. His thoughts mostly crowded around with that fact - everyone he was around was everything he would never be. "Yeah..okay." Layden said, looking at the boy with a confused expression before shrugging all together. Layden never understood why people said if they didn't bite, that was good enough or I don't bite. Mostly, he just thought it was a stupid thing to say, especially in a situation like this, but to each their own. He had his weird statements and so did every other person. He might as well accept it.

He watched the boy jump, an amused look crossing his face for once today. Well, he had to admit, he'd been a tad to loud, but he didn't expect the boy to act in this way. The boy was just full of mystery but Layden wasn't exactly trying to figure out more than the boy told about himself.

Staring, as the boy said Hi very casually, he shrugged again. He thought they were passed the introduction and such. Personally he hated introducing himself or saying hi or bye to anyone. It sounded awkward on his tongue and further more when he said their name, it also seemed strange on his tongue. It was one of those tendencies that he would never break, so he gave a simple nod.

Layden turned around slowly; most of the cafeteria had hushed and turned to them. Layden stared back blankly, his face coloring a light pink that rose in his cheeks. He bit his bottom lip, before his mouth opened against his will. He said against his will because this was a moment when his mind ceased to think. "Sorry about that! I thought everyone was..loud enough. I didn't think you guys would hear me..." he said trailing off and turning back around, a scared look on his face as he realized what he'd done. Now he knew he'd baited himself. Wow, it was a good way for him to start of the year; really.

He chanced a look at the boy. He'd always remember that carefree smirk that he had on his face, like he was being mocked. "Go ahead. Laugh." He said, his head bowed. He shrugged, and began for the first time today to pick at his food. Food that he would not eat; he never ate it anyways.

[Sarah]

Everything happened for a reason, Caleb was a strong believer of that saying. But, it was funny how sometimes he could reflect down to the nitty-gritty and mention how it played out later, though it was a miniscule happening at that time. Like, if he hadn't been so finicky of his food, or if there had been an open seat elsewhere. Well then, his attention would have never been attracted to the strange boy with war paint under his eyes. And then, maybe Layden wouldn't be so paranoid either.

That very fact was starting to sink into Caleb's subconcious, and his smirk increased in width cruelly. It was his old ways seeping into him again. Oh, look how he could make the other boy squirm. Delicious. It wasn't that Caleb was necessarily a bully, he could be sometimes, but the thoughts that ran through his head were ordinary to him. He was the youngest at his house, and to get what he wanted, he was annoying until he got it. He was an outcast at school, to get any morsel of attention, he was annoying until he got it. He knew it was the wrong way to go about it, but if it works, it works. Simplicity harbored with necessity in Caleb's mind.

While Layden was able to with hold some of his curiousity, it was clearly displayed on the blonde's face. His head tilted, and his chin was held in his right hand where he had propped his elbow. It was very clear that he was trying to figure the other out. Though his personality may not always present it, he hungered for knowledge. With knowledge came responsibility. With responsibility came power. Normally, he screwed up on the responsibility part, though. That was one of his weak spots.

The other boy was oddly silent, wasn't he? Caleb was a chatter-box, and so such a personlity he didn't tend to relate himself with. Even as he spoke once more, the other boy just nodded his head. Obviously, there was no need for conversation, or to the other boy there wasn't. Often times, Caleb was like most of the world's population-- he'd talk to fill a silence. Some people he also knew though, spoke not to fill a void, but to hear their own voice. Sometimes, he was that person.

But, that was when the unusual happened. Whereas Caleb kept quiet, only smirking slightly as everyone turned their way, Layden spoke. His smirk only broadened at his words, glancing at everyone around. Eventually, in small little pairs, they gradually turned around. Only this time, much of their conversations were hushed. Oh, lovely. Rumors starting up about his unfortunate companion already. Poor guy. Still, Caleb's smile was tight. At least he knew that the boy could speak more than a couple words per sentence.

His brows lifted as he heard the other boy. His blue eyes blinked, and his smirk gradually softened. He shrugged slightly, taking another sip from his drink. "Ha ha." He said, then chuckled once for the sake of it. Hey, the kid was in the hot seat already and well, Caleb knew the feeling. But, he would admit, it was a little funny.

[likewooh]

His eyes were now on the boy. He was an observant fellow, and although the boy made no move to attack him emotionally ,or verbally, it was just the way his smile widened that got him the most. It wasn't a happy happy smile, like the ones you make when you saw a pretty girl you liked, it was a cruel smile that you made when you were planning to do something bad. Layden trusted no one, and that especially applied in a school full of boys who's main purpose was to exploit as much people as possible in the year to make themselves happy. Now, he thought no different of this boy because that smile seemed to say it all. He could be nice when he wanted to, and he could be cruel when he wanted to. Layden regretted ever coming to lunch - dinner, whatever this was today. He could have skipped it and woken up early for breakfast.

That would have been enough, but he couldn't just...leave. Of course, he could leave, but he'd been here first and normally he stayed until everyone cleared out. He hated the way people looked at him as if he was some strange creature and not human at all. It annoyed him to no end, and he was always left fumbling with his tray and trying to fix the way he walked or held his tray, because he wanted to be like the rest of them: normal.

Now, what he expected after his little talk with the cafeteria was for the other boy to laugh until he couldn't breath so he could look good in everyone else eyes and not look as if he was warning up to the weirdo who always sat alone in the corner. All he got was a 'ha ha' and a chuckle that lasted only three seconds. How not so satisfying. Although, Layden knew he should be glad that the boy hadn't laughed and pointed at him until he fell off his chair, there was a part of him that said it was what he always got and gradually that was what he wanted whenever he embarrassed himself. It just made sense to have that frame of mind when you were mocked since you entered the building just for being different.

"I know..you kind of answered this already," Layden began slowly, picking at the food on his plate with the borrowed fork. "But, why are you sitting with me? Don't you have friends?" Layden asked. He wasn't trying to be mean, but the question arouse whenever someone sat with him which wasn't often. The person either wanted to bother him or had absolutely nobody they could call friend, so they sat at a table where they couldn't be labeled loner. Layden had no problem with sitting alone and there was plenty of room in the cafeteria - empty tables in fact, and the boy had chosen. Surely there was a different reason for him to be sitting. Now that he thought of it, he hadn't asked the boy that, he'd only had a one sided conversation in his head with the boy, coming up with replies of his own.

The hushed silence seemed to last forever. It frustrated him actually that they couldn't get over what he'd done five minutes ago. Layden bowed his head, burying his face into the center of the book, moving his tray across the table where it would stay until he was ready to leave. "I mean, am I some specimen that you're trying to figure out, so you can tell your buddies that the loner, is truly a weirdo? Is that it?" This came with being opinionated, and blunt. He was, and he wasn't always silent. It was just his nerves that prevented him from keeping a conversation going, and it was always his bluntness that bounced him right back on the weirdo scale.