Post by Jared Howard. on Jan 22, 2009 13:35:40 GMT -5
Jared felt like he was wearing an old and familiar skin. He hadn't been himself for a long while, hadn't been able to refer to himself by his real name in fear of a lot of things. As Vice Reed, there was no need for fear, and he had worn that name at every circumstance and opportunity. Jared 'Red' Howard was dead and long gone, and he had suppressed the guilt just like he had suppressed the subsequent joy at being able to be a son, a brother and a man again. His return wasn't based on pure intentions though, but he tried hard not to think about it most of the time.
Peyton's absolute delight threatened to make him fold; he had missed her, had missed all his brothers, even Nick, but seeing her had reminded him of just how much. The past years were inexcusable but she hadn't thought of any of that for a moment before jumping on him from the seventh step on a staircase from the front hall. He had laughed and she had pretended she wasn't fighting back tears, and suddenly, they were reverted to children again, and he wondered if what he was doing was worth it, that if it came to it, if he would he be able to turn his own sister in.
Those thoughts had been banished though, and he let her drag him around the school in search of her friends (just one, he noted in amusement) and allowed her to continue on about a boy she couldn't stand, having to duck into an impossible crevice and subsequent shortcut, when he rounded the corner they were about to take. The mentally challenged girl had left him hours later, and he knew she'd be up to no good, but that was okay, because he had gone on to find solace in the corridors. Well, not just solace, hopefully students less intelligent and heartwarming as Peyton, so he would be able to ensnare them in his impossible charm and good-looks.
Peyton's absolute delight threatened to make him fold; he had missed her, had missed all his brothers, even Nick, but seeing her had reminded him of just how much. The past years were inexcusable but she hadn't thought of any of that for a moment before jumping on him from the seventh step on a staircase from the front hall. He had laughed and she had pretended she wasn't fighting back tears, and suddenly, they were reverted to children again, and he wondered if what he was doing was worth it, that if it came to it, if he would he be able to turn his own sister in.
Those thoughts had been banished though, and he let her drag him around the school in search of her friends (just one, he noted in amusement) and allowed her to continue on about a boy she couldn't stand, having to duck into an impossible crevice and subsequent shortcut, when he rounded the corner they were about to take. The mentally challenged girl had left him hours later, and he knew she'd be up to no good, but that was okay, because he had gone on to find solace in the corridors. Well, not just solace, hopefully students less intelligent and heartwarming as Peyton, so he would be able to ensnare them in his impossible charm and good-looks.
