[Night duty?] Avan/Adam [What am I a frickin cop?]

[Sarah]

The nights were long here in Eddingborough. They were much too long. Too long, too quiet, too dark. It was everything that Adam had taken for granted before. The boy was a naturally-born sleeper, he had never had insomnia in his life. But now, his second week at Eddingborough, and Adam couldn't fall asleep if his life depended upon it. And he wanted with all his being to simply drift away into a dreamland, where everything was painless to him.

But, of course, Adam didn't have that kind of luck.

More often than not, Adam found himself awake until the wee hours in the morning. Right now, at least, it was only 1:00 AM. If he had his way, he could still have 5 hours of sleep, instead of the two hours he had been living off of. But, when he was awake, Adam couldn't just lie around in his bed. No, he had to be doing something-- anything. And, if he didn't start doing something soon, Adam knew what would happen. He would start to think of home, how he missed the place, how he missed his mother. And, before long, he would be a mess. As a matter of fact, Adam could feel the beginning of a knot start up in his throat-- the first tell-tale sign of his emotions being swept away with him. So, to keep busy, why not take a tour around Eddingborough?

Adam still didn't know the school very well-- he knew where most of his classes were, but he didn't do so well in knowing how to get there. A lot of the time, he had to depend on dumb luck. It wouldn't hurt to get to know the place better. Maybe he wouldn't be late to every class. Pulling on a pair of pajama pants-- the boy had been sleeping with only boxers on-- and a pair of socks, he stepped out into the hall. It's not like anyone would be up at this time of night, anyway. Besides, there was no harm in a little lookin' around. It wasn't like Adam was trying to escape or anything.

[K.I.W.I//]

He felt like he was at a slumber party.
Having night duty was always the lowest point of Avan's evening; it was boring and lacked any excitement, and deprived him of sleep. In the past year and a half of him working at Eddingborough, nothing truly worth remembering had ever happened when he was patrolling. It didn't surprise him, in all honesty. Most of the boys were collected and didn't particularly liked wandering the halls at night. Of course, Avan always liked too assume that he was intimidating for his own amusement. He was positive he could be scary if he wanted too, but he seemed to never be able too muster up the energy too yell at young men at such a late hour of the night; when it got so late into the evening, Avan tended too turn soft and lazy in his approach.

Humming the tunes of oldies rock songs and mindlessly wandering up and down the hall, Avan glanced at his watch and let out a sigh of aggravation. He still had another hour. Great. Grumbling, the Texan leaned against the wall and slid down too the floor, where he stretched his legs out, letting his head rest against the wall behind him. While he sat here dying of boredom he might as well be comfortable. Who knows, maybe he'd take a nap too pass the agonizingly slow time.

Just as he was beginning too nod off, Avan heard a door shut and the soft pat of feet against the hallway floor. Finally, some entertainment! Jumping up from his sitting position, Avan strode towards the young male, a smirk on his lips. "Hey!" He barked. He chuckled under his breath, satisfied with the authority in his tone. He'd make the kid squirm for a bit, then maybe hold a light conversation. It was better then sitting alone in the middle of a hallway at one o' clock in the morning.

"Aren't 'ya suppose to be in 'yer dorm? This ain't no fashion show, boy!" He crossed his arms over his chest and gazed down at Adam with narrowed green eyes. "You can't just prance around the hallways at night whenever 'ya feel like." His voice was licked with a southern drawl. Leaning forward, he raised a question eyebrow.
"What's yer name?"

[Sarah]

The hallway was exactly what Adam expected it to be-- just as dull as his room. Adam wasn't expecting any great adventure to find while roaming around the school. So I'll head down the stairs and take a right.... that should take me by the library.... I think? Adam wasn't sure where he should set off for first. He hadn't truly thought of it before, but it would be really bad if he got lost in the middle of the night.

Adam still hadn't really calmed down from the little bit of worry that had creased in his brow. Suddenly, he realized, he just didn't want to be here. He didn't want to be in this damn school at all. Sure, Eddingborough was a fine, prim and proper school and all, but it just wasn't Adam's place. Change had always daunted the boy, and this change of place, from his precious little home in Ohio to this big-ass school was intimidating. The knot in the first-year's throat increased ten-fold.

No, he didn't want to be here at all. But, was there truly a way out? He bet more than anything that the doors and windows had security alarms set on them-- he couldn't get out that way. What other ways were there? Some sort of heating ducts? No, there just wasn't a way out of this place, even if he was to have a damn plan on how to do it. He was trapped. He was controlled. Adam could practically feel the darkness around him choke him out. He was out of his own control. Adam couldn't stand the thought one bit. It made the boy's fingers tremble slightly, before he took a deep calming breath. At least there was no one around him to see him as such a mess.

And then Adam realized just how alone he was. He wasn't.

Socked-feet jumped completely off the floor at the voice, and Adam's eyes blinked wide. He could feel his heart pound as adrenaline rushed into his system. Fight or flight, but what was he fighting against anyway? In only a moment, the teacher's face became apparent to Adam, even though he was shaking all over from surprise.

With each word the man spat at him, Adam began to realize just who it was he was dealing with. His biology teacher, Mr. Warren. Oh, Jesus Christ Adam thought to himself. He didn't know the man well, but he knew how intimidating he could be. Adam stood stock-still, hoping the man would just go away. Yeah, right. But as the man demanded a non-rhetorical question for once, Adam knew to answer right away.

"A-Adam. Adam Cayden." He said quickly, taking a step backward. No, he didn't want to be in Eddingborough anymore, no matter how much he had begged his parents to come here. He wouldn't care if he was shipped home, if he had just wasted surely thousands of his parents' money. He just wanted to be home, where he was safe, and not here with a hot-headed Texan in his face. "M-My name's Adam." He wasn't sure if the teacher would recognize his name or face from his 3rd period class or not, but either way, Adam was ready to get the hell out of there.

[K.I.W.I//]

ooc// I've having a case of writer's block, so please excuse the lack of depth in my post. x.x; I promise you my reply's will improve.

Oddly enough, Avan recognized the young man from his biology class, more by name then face. His gaze narrowed slightly, looking the male up and down in a judging manor, as if he was determining what punishment he could bestow upon Adam; the possibilities were sadly few; detention, service around the school, an extra assignment or two...then again, he could always just let the kid go. But, that would be betraying his job and responsibility as an Eddingborough employee! Did he care? No, not really. The rules meant almost nothing too Avan, and he was too lazy to write up a report on Adam's doing. Perhaps, Avan thought, rubbing his freshly shaved chin. I should just let the kid go...he's so short. It was a bit random in truth, but Avan couldn't help but make a mental note of the fact that his tall 6'1 frame seemed too tower over the young male's smaller 5'6.

After seeing the timid and seemingly frightened look on Adam's face, the Texan couldn't help but laugh, which quickly died down too a muffled string of chuckles.
"Yeah, I remember 'ya from my third period class. How's that assignment coming?" He asked casually, leaning on one foot and acting as if the event that had just passed had never happened. Avan's fun had died slightly for the moment, and was just begging too be revived. Patting Adam on the shoulder reassuringly, Avan thought too himself. The kid doesn't seem too bad...full of potential, bright. And kinda cute.

Nobody knew about his occasional swings too the same sex other then those who he had affiliated himself with. Unlike some, Avan mastefully hid the fact from those around him, and appeared too be a normal straight male. Hell, even the Texan considered himself to be straight. Besides, he had a girlfriend for crying out loud! Their relationship was hanging by a thin thread, but it was something, although Avan was beginning too think it was something he didn't want too save.

"I know, I know, I'm just a teacher, but I'm still a person." Avan insisted, smiling brightly and leaning against the wall. Late at night, Avan's normal blunt, rude attitude died down and he came off as nice and affirming. He didn't mean too do it; it just happened. Although, there was no saying that he wouldn't act like a jerk, because it was just as likely. Fiddling with the dog tags around his neck, Avan inclined his head towards Adam.

"Hey, what 'ya doing up anyway princess? Its one o' clock in the morning."

[Sarah]

ooc; It's fine. ^^ I understand. This post of mine is going to lack as well. My apologies.

The next thing Adam expected to hear, came in short supply. No cursing, no scolding, no mention of a detention. Nothing. If anything, the first year expected his Biology teacher to be hootin' and hollerin', threating to take him to the principal right this minute. In the very least, he figured he'd be yelled at to go back to bed. But, Adam was surprised by his teacher's doing. It wasn't like Adam even had a real reason for being out of bed at this time of night. But, he wasn't trying to sneak out of the school either-- he had dubbed that as impossible. And then his teacher did another impossible thing.

He started laughing. Laughing of all things. Adam blinked and furrowed his brows. No yelling? No scolding? What the fuck was going on here? He had seen this very teacher give a boy the worst ever tongue-lashing in his life, just the other day. Adam would admit, the kid deserved the detention and all, but it had convinced Adam that he never wanted to be in his place. And right now, he was borderline. It was most surprising when his teacher actually started a real conversation with him. What was going on?

"Umm... welll..." Adam shuffled his feet nervously. Couldn't they get to the yelling part yet? He didn't want to admit to his teacher that he hadn't even looked at the damn thing, let alone started it. It was due soon, Adam knew, but he would get it finished. When his teacher patted his shoulder, Adam furrowed his brows. Was his teacher trying to comfort him, trying to be friendly with him? Was that supposed to happen between teacher and student? Avan addressed that thought himself, to which Adam nodded. Yeah, Teachers were still people. He knew that. They were just.... weird people.

It was for the best that Adam didn't know how his teacher was interested in both men and women-- Adam would have puked. He couldn't stand the thought. Just a few nights ago, when he thought his room mate was homosexual, it sent him into a panic attack. And the very same thing would have happened if Adam knew about his teacher as well. Really, this boy would require some serious counsoling in order to get over his irrational fear.

"It's going good," Adam said finally, deciding that he had been silent long enough. "I'm almost finished." What a lie. But, he just hoped his teacher couldn't tell he was lying, how he fidgeted something awful as he lied. He wanted out of here. Adam again withdrew slightly and stared at the ground. What was he doing up? Because he was afraid he was going to die in his sleep without being awake. Because he was homesick something awful. Could he tell Avan these things? Sure, but how manly would that be?

Everyone had to swallow their pride sometime in their life, and now Adam found himself facing the exact thing. "I can't sleep," He said honestly. "I'm homesick." Everyone had to have a friend sometime, and Adam hoped he didn't sound like such a fool as he felt like. To be honest, if Adam didn't find a real friend other than his room mate soon, his time at Eddingborough was going to be hell.

[K.I.W.I//]

Ooc|| I am so sorry this took so long. D,8 School kills. Pffft. x3 My avatar makes me giggle.
-
Avan’s gaze softened slightly, nodding in a knowing sense. When he was younger, he remembered being homesick; but it was a different kind of homesick. Most miss their own personal homes, their family and the comfort that it brings. Avan got homesick for a home he never had; he got homesick for the way things were before his mother died, before his father became cold and uncaring. He would often daydream of some fake reality, imagining what he wished his life were like.

He could never change what had happened in his past, and he could never change his father’s actions or his mother’s death, but he could change himself. Ever since he had graduated from high school, Avan had been determined to lead a better life and do everything he wanted to do. He tried to make decisions and be a simple man like his mother had wished, and yet live life too the fullest.

The Texan glanced down briefly at the plain tattoo on the underside of his left arm; it was the date of when his mother died, the letters R.I.P written in elegant cursive. Smiling warmly, Avan let his normal blunt and sarcastic nature slip away after seeing the somewhat defeated and tired look upon Adam’s face. The kid was young, only at the tender age of fifteen. Avan could barely remember when he was fifteen; that area of his teenage years was clouded and gray.

“Hey,” He said. “Its alright…nothin’ to be ashamed of. Everybody gets homesick at some point in their lives.” He shrugged casually too show Adam that it wasn’t a big deal and he had nothing too worry about. “I can’t sleep either.” He agreed with a light chuckle.
“Mainly because I’ve been standin’ in this damn hallway for the past two hours and a half hours, and I loaded up on black coffee. Class should be just dandy. Don’t be surprised if I freak out or somethin’.”

Avan smiled again before yawning and sliding down the wall too sit on the floor. He was tired and sick of standing. He was secretly hoping that Adam might come and sit by him so they could have a normal, nice conversation. Avan wasn’t exactly on the other teacher’s favorite lists. He had few friends here and often spent a lot of his time alone.

“Ya know Adam, this place may seem like a livin’ hell-hole, but it ain’t all that bad. You’ll get used to it eventually. I remember when I first started workin’ here everyone thought I was some redneck asshole from Texas.” Avan laughed dryly, brushing the issue aside. “They finally warmed up too me.” The statement was ended with a smirk, and he looked questioningly up at Adam.
Avan didn’t know why, but he felt a sort of protectiveness over Adam; like a big brother.

[Sarah]

In a sense, Adam and Avan both longed for something that was so out of reach that all that could be done was to dream and remember. Adam longed for the tenderness of his mother's touch, her warm embrace, which he had experienced just days ago. He still had her to turn to, after all. But perhaps more than anything, Adam longed for the time of only a month ago, when he was at home, and his family was whole. As it turned out, however, even a month wouldn't have been enough time. His brother Trenton had already enrolled for the military as soon as he hit age 18, which was half of a year as of now. Truly, Adam wanted that time to become the present again. It didn't comfort him to know his brother could have his ass blown to bits in only seconds. He shuddered with the thought of it to himself.

Adam really should lay off on the video games for a while, especially the shooting games. It seemed like any time he closed his eyes he would see his brother in a full uniform. And from Adam's view point, he was the sniper that kills his brother, each and every time. But, the kid was also getting ahead of himself-- he didn't know if his brother would live or die. It just seemed like a gruesome end was the most likely.

His eyes still faced the ground as his teacher spoke to him, and he blinked. Again, he was surprised by the words, even though they only caused his face to redden. Was needing comfort and companionship a childish thing? Adam was so easily caught up in "being a man" (Or at least trying to be one) that he didn't know the fine line of boy and man. Was it babyish to have to have a teacher talk him down like this? When Adam looked up to his teacher with just the tilt of his head, so that his eyes could not be seen through his hair, he saw the casual shrug. Adam just had to go with it for now, especially if he ever planned on making it out alive from Eddingborough.

He chuckled softly, but also weakly and nodded. He could easily imagine his teacher going off on some kid because of how late he had been up. When his teacher slumped down to the floor, Adam was left in an awkward sense. Sit or stand? Talk to him, or get back to bed? To be honest, Adam didn't want to be alone anymore. He didn't just want to lie around in his bed, awake all through the night. So he would stay. But, for now, he stayed on his feet.

It was like his brother had taken on a form of his teachers, from how Avan spoke. Well, it was like Trent with a thick accent. The thought of it brought a small grin to Adam's face. But, with an accent or not, the message was all the same. Things will change, but they'll get better. He nodded slowly to the teachers advice, before he sat down. The action came without thought, as if it was a natural thing to do. Bringing his gangly legs to his chest, Adam let his head rest upon his knees as he looked to his teacher. "Do you have siblings, Mr. Warren?"

He didn't know where the question came from. Maybe it came from thinking of his own brother, or perhaps, he thought of Avan as his own brother.

[K.I.W.I//]

Ooc|| Sorry if my reply seems a bit crappy. ; I'm so dead right now. If you have anything you want me too do, or if I"m not doing enough of something, please, tell me. : )
-

Siblings?
It was a topic Avan rarely touched, and for good reason. Forrest, his little brother was the only thing he had left, and even that had begun too break long ago. The two had never been close; Avan had his friends and his own life, while Forrest had his. They got along like normal brothers, a bit detached and awkward, but still average. Even if they had a fake front, Avan knew that Forrest was secretly ashamed of his older brother. Ashamed of his inability to stand up too their cold father, ashamed of his depression; Avan was well aware that Forrest blamed him for everything that was wrong with their family, and Avan knew nor he or anybody do anything to change Forrest’s mind. That was life. The people you love beat you down.

Forrest was by far their father’s son of pride. The younger Warren got straight A’s all through high school, was on the football team and got a full ride into a terrific college. Forrest had a very promising life before him, and their father Mark, always told every one of Forrest’s achievements and his recent activities, while Avan was cut out of the picture. Avan was determined not too let these facts bother him; he hadn’t spoken to his father in four years, so he figured it wouldn’t be hard too ignore Mark and Forrest.

“Yeah,” Avan said quietly after a moment, smiling briefly at Adam. “I got a little brother; his name’s Forrest. He just a few years older then yerself, actually.” The Texan gazed at the wall in front of him; the blank wall reminded him of far too many things; plain and empty, cold and alone. “We…don’t get along.” He explained in a simple tone that lacked any real emotion. “We don’t fight or nothin’, we just have a lot in common I guess.” He shrugged as if too dismiss that matter. He had little interest in discussing his family.

He could understand if Adam was feeling lonely and homesick; Avan was sure the kid had a good home life, with parents that loved him and other normal things.
“But what about yerself? Got any brothers? Sisters?”
He raised a questioning eyebrow, looking at Adam with kind green eyes. The more Avan thought about it, the more he came to the conclusion that Adam reminded him of himself in a way. The first-year reminded him of what he was like before his life took a turn for the worst. Avan did not dwell on his troubles, and tended too think of them as past occurrences, even if at times doing so proved to be difficult.

[Sarah]

ooc; Not crappy at all. ^.^ You're just fine. Love the icon, by the way. XD

Adam would have never guessed of Avan's and his brother's relationship. Just from how the two were acting now, Avan seemed to be a kind of older brother that was always there when you needed him. He had been told not to judge based on appearances, however, but that never seemed to hold him back. Besides, what harm did it do to assume the best, instead of the worst? Maybe Adam hadn't been particularly fond of Avan's intimidating ways before, but he was starting to warm up to him. How odd.

But in a cold place like Eddingborough, a place where Adam was out of the inner circle unlike his home; he had to find some sort of companionship, even if it came from odd places. Adam wasn't going to turn the other cheek and ignore this kind of thing. Without some friends and maybe an older-brother-figure, he would go insane. He'd likely go back home crying to Mommy. And how manly was that?! That's what Adam really needed to be taught, the right way to be a man. Trent had just been helping him before right when he needed it, but he was gone now. And, hell, Adam wasn't going to go crawling to his Dad for advice. His father was a nice man and all, but Adam hadn't bonded with him in the ways he had his mother.

Adam nodded with his eyes on the ground. He could understand that Avan didn't much like the subject that Adam had brought up-- so it would just be saved for another conversation. Well, it would be saved in assuming there would be another conversation. At this rate, Adam could imagine talking to Avan more and more after this time. The first year stifled a yawn with his hand. He was getting tired, but it was only to be expected at 1 o'clock in the morning.

He shrugged simply, but glanced up at his teacher. "I've got an older brother. Older by three years..." He murmured softly. His voice was again shy as he looked down to the ground and willed his eyes to remain open. He couldn't even blink, out of fear that he would see an image of his brother's dead body. "We got along all right." He emphasized the past tense of got, as if to state that he and his brother no longer saw eye to eye. His eyes were still trained upon the ground-- Heaven knew that the plain tile flooring was very interesting.

"He's in the military now." Adam didn't have to mention how frightened he was; his voice trembled as he spoke the words. "He didn't tell none of us until he was leaving in a week." Adam bit down on his lip and when he exhaled it was all hot air. He was scared about his brother, but also pissed with him. How could his brother not have told him of all things?! How could his brother hide these life-or-death things away from him?! It made no sense, not to Adam, at least.

He had always thought that he and Trent were close but apparently he had been wrong.

[K.I.W.I//]

Ooc||

Ugh! I am so sorry I have not replied yet. I have been so busy lately, its insane! I promise you, I shall have a reply up by tomorrow afternoon. ^_^