Frustrated Girl {open}

[Skye Malizia]

Aaron hadn't called. Skye had plenty of boys to occupy her time, but it was Aaron who she was thinking of today.

He said he would call, and he hadn't. Skye even went looking for him one day because she hadn't seen him in ages. But the responses she received from the students she inquired to were 'Aaron who?' and 'Nope, haven't seen him around in a while', neither of which were useful.

She didn't like the fact she didn't have his number. Even if she did though, Skye had a rule about calling boys first, and that was 'Don't'. Regardless, she still felt like she was lacking in a vital resource, because if she had it she would also have the comfort in knowing she could contact him if she needed. She reached up and touched the ribbon he gave her, which still caught and reflected and played with the light around it. It just made her more depressed. She didn't like not seeing her friends, and Aaron had been such a promising friend. It felt wrong to the socially blessed girl to be missing someone.

She was sitting at a table by herself, not feeling particularly social this lunch time. The girl stabbed a curly noodle off her plate in frustration. It was the pasta that reminded her of Aaron. He had promised to take her to an Italian restaurant, and her acceptance was starting to expire.

[Eiji Almasy.]

He couldn't take his car on runs like this anymore, not when she was awake because that meant that she would need him some times without a moments notice. He had to be there, either in the bedroom or somewhere within hearing distance. Eiji hardly ever saw his friends anymore, except for those times he dropped off particular car parts to Tristan, and Kellan's birthday, no matter how brief those hours had felt. Draco was outside the room door today, and their phones were on the ready in case he needed to be back straight away, but for the first time in a month, Eiji felt something very close to relief that he was somewhere else.

Closed blinds except for rainy days, empty wine bottles and unwashed glasses of martinis with dry olives remaining; the staleness of permanently closed doors and the emptiness of only two presences weren't his choice of living. He felt less like a boyfriend and more like, like something else. Something he wouldn't name because he knew that in the end, it was only his frustration and worry talking. None of this was to say that he didn't like her, that he didn't want to be there for her; everything about them spoke of all the ways he would never leave her, but then, it wasn't to say that he didn't wish he could cut through the mourning and make her a little whole again.

Elliot didn't eat lunch, and so it was a good time to come to the Academy and get her the things she asked for him. War and Peace was still on her nightstand, and it wasn't until that morning that she had remembered and urged him to save it for her. Other things like clothes had been on the list, the odd sweatshirt and other books that suddenly came to mind. He could have sent someone else, but he simply hadn't. Knowing that there wouldn't be any food in his room when he got back, it was a split second decision to briefly stop by the dining hall.

He wouldn't have recognized Skye, if not for Eve once pointing her out to him and mentioning her as that cute Italian both she and Elliot liked. He almost laughed at her expression, but didn't, only smiling wryly; he supposed he could've looked like that some days.
"You know, your face can stay like that forever if the wind changes," he told her, taking the seat opposite.

[Skye Malizia]

"What?" Skye looked past the noodle she'd pierced with her fork at the newcomer at her table. Her face could be like this forever?

"You say that like it would be bad to look like this forever," Skye joked, although she was still a little down in her mood. She put her fork down, not particularly hungry, and scrutinized the boy. "You are familiar," she commented, unable to put her finger on it. Maybe if she wasn't so preoccupied with her own thoughts, she might've been able to identify him as the boy Elliot liked - she'd briefly passed photos of the couple and their friends when she'd visited Elliot's room a while back. As it was, Eiji was a stranger to her.

"You are the face police?" Skye asked, scrunching her nose at him in a way that solidified Elliot's and Eve's description of her. She really was cute, even when she was blue, but she tried to make the best of it. After all, she was still trying to make friends, and she wasn't about to let one boy like Aaron ruin that for her. Besides, this stranger was very handsome - and what cheered a girl up more than a pretty boy?

She popped the cooled pasta into her mouth and grimaced at it, making another face that she probably wouldn't want to be stuck with for the rest of eternity. She could really use that Italian restaurant right about now - their food had to be better than this! Skye put her fork back onto the plate so she could invest more time in this new conversation, and she chose to swallow the icky food rather than spit it into a napkin. That might seem a little... rude, in front of a potential new friend.

[Eiji Almasy.]

He couldn't help it; he laughed. She was funny, and while he didn't take to most people immediately, he could see why the other two girls' had taken to her without too much thought. Skye was refreshing, if he really had to put his finger on it, and he supposed that that was what made her appealing in the first place.

"No, I'm not the face police," he denied, good-humored, or perhaps it was just because she had made him smile; "but I wouldn't say looking like you is a bad thing at all."
She was pretty, but then again, he would have been hard pressed to find a hideous person within the school. She was a different kind of pretty though, his kind of pretty, if he had to say; all model like, like he and his friends. He grinned again, watching her nuances, and wondered if there was always so much to say around a girl like her.

"I'm Eiji, Eve's a really good friend of mine and Elliot's fond of you," he explained, realizing that perhaps he should mention to her what was going on with the girl right now, but that could be saved for later.
"And Noah, he might've said something once or twice. You seem to know a lot of my friends."

[Skye Malizia]

Eve and Elliot! Skye clicked in pretty quickly after his mention of the two girls, and she beamed at him with a much more welcoming light. Not that she'd been shunning him before, but the recognition warmed her. Not to mention that his comment about Elliot liking her made her feel really, really good.

"How are they? I feel like I haven't seen them in forever!" To Skye, it was more than forever since she saw them. The girl shoved aside her disgusting dish so she could spread her arms on the table in front of her, clearly settling in for a much longer conversation. And when Eiji mentioned Noah, her cheeks pinkened slightly and her smile pulled wider.

"Yes, is a wonder we have not met," Skye agreed, figuring it was about time they had. She appreciated him asserting himself - Skye wouldn't've had the courage to introduce herself to the extremely attractive boy, at least not accompanied by one of her girlfriends. Maybe Eiji was the heart of their group of friends. If they got along, maybe Skye would be invited to their parties so she could meet more people. The socialite tapped the table in front of them, a habit she had from trying to speak above many talkative Italians. Even though she knew she had Eiji's attention already, it was just something she did to ensure it.

"I don't see you here much. You live outside?" 'Outside' obviously meant the city, as opposed to perhaps a tent on the grounds as some people may associate with the word. Skye was still studying her English-Italian dictionary for the nouns she had not learned in school. She had the verbs and pronouns and adjectives fairly well memorized, but her nouns and tenses were slowing her down just a bit. She was just extremely thankful that everyone seemed to understand her. She also spoke with her body, so her hand gestures could usually portray what it was her words failed to convey.

[Eiji Almasy.]

Eiji tried not to acknowledge just how much he must have been craving human interaction. While he didn't see too much of anyone, he did manage to see each of them often but mostly when they were able to come to his door, or he to theirs. It still stood that he could have chosen to spend his very, very little free time with anyone else, friends he knew better or people he knew at all. Skye was a break though, his break; she didn't know yet, and so he wouldn't have to be faced with the pitying and knowing looks. More than anything, he figured that was his motivation for engaging her to begin with.

"Eve's good, it's her birthday soon. She doesn't seem to mind the move too much, but then, we all tend to follow each other, so none of this really matters, does it?"
He fiddled with the folded sweatshirt, placed on top of two paper backs, to his side. He looked like every other student, books in hand and the stray article of clothing, and he wondered whether she was just perceptive or had known something previously to ask otherwise.

"I graduated last year," he said, as if that was the answer to everything, "and I suppose. A few of us have been staying at the Four Seasons, but if we're here any longer, we'll probably look to buy something permanent."

It occurred to him that he hadn't mentioned Elliot, and while it hadn't been intentional at the time, it proved to be something difficult to go back on. He appeared conflicted for a moment, his first before her.
"I don't come here much, except to see, like, two friends. Today's only because Elliot asked me to." Eiji made a small shrugging motion, suddenly nonchalant, but not reluctant like he would have thought himself to be.

[Skye Malizia]

"Eve has birthday soon?" Skye smiled, thinking how nice it would be to surprise her Italian friend with a small gift. "Do you plan a party for her?" The lovely brunette smiled sweetly, hoping maybe to get an invite if the party was to take place.

His answer made her think for a moment. Elliot was dating an older boy. Skye had actually thought he might be older, if just a little, but never thought too much about it. She figured he was either a badass that skipped classes, or was a year ahead of them and therefore did not share their classes. Learning now he was a graduate made more sense. She also made a mental note about the Four Seasons. She had been at the Sheraton when she was looking. She would look into the Four Seasons and see if their prices were better.

"You will say 'hello' to Elliot for me, if I do not see her soon?" Skye asked, wondering if he was just leaving from seeing Elliot or on his way to see her now. The books confused her. Maybe they were for Elliot, or they were a bit of light reading he kept on his person. Regardless, she thought it rude to ask and stayed silent.

[Eiji Almasy.]

"Eve's too old for parties," he said, almost automatically from habit of teasing his friend. If she had been there, he probably would have gotten whacked and scolded for sending out the wrong idea, on top of calling her old. He grinned a little at the thought of the other Italian and he appear all together too laid-back to have been serious.
"I don't know, we don't really plan these things," he told her after. They didn't plan birthdays, but they did plan parties, or great, big events that were always excessive in grandeur; the only trouble being then, was that he didn't know if Eve would be having a party, or if she wanted one at all.

"They'll probably do something," Eiji went to assure her though, as if she had heard what he was thinking, "I'm sure they'll send word, even if it's something small." He didn't let on how much it sucked for him not to know these answers readily. He couldn't even guess if Eve would be spending her whole time with the boyfriend, his best friend, or not; or if she would be having a small gathering, and where, and who would be invited and would it be near enough that he could pop in for a bit even if Elliot didn't want to come? He wasn't a bad friend, in fact, he liked to think that he was wonderful but his sudden crisis couldn't take place in front of Skye; she most likely wouldn't understand unless he told her, and he wasn't willing to do that yet.

"Oh yeah, of course," he agreed, offhand, and then, almost a little timidly, as if he was hedging out the plan as he went along and he wasn't in the least bit sure of any of it; "maybe," he paused, "maybe you could come visit? If she wants to see you, I mean."
He didn't mention how he would try and talk the blonde into wanting to see Skye; she needed someone other than him around sometimes.
"Elliot's going through some -, she's having a difficult time; she could use a friend."

[Skye Malizia]

Skye nodded, understanding that their get-togethers weren't pre-made affairs. It was much the same in Italy; whenever, wherever. But she smiled to show she wasn't put-out with the lack of an immediate invitation, because she was happy with his assurances.

"Elliot?" Skye repeated. The gorgeous girl had it all - looks, a great boyfriend, fantastic friends. Maybe it was a family problem. It was all Skye could really justify for the girl having a 'difficult' time. Her expression filled with concern and she gave Eiji an imploring look.

"Is there something I can do?" The Italian girl didn't want to fail in her American friend duties already! She thought Elliot was just having so much fun being Elliot, that she hadn't called Skye recently. But now she felt guilty for not visiting the girl sooner. She stared at her hands as though they might offer her a solution. "Can I see her today? Is she okay?" Skye would bring a gift, just a small thing to show that she cared and something that would cheer her up.

"What food is her favorite?" Skye asked suddenly. The boyfriend had to know.

[Eiji Almasy.]

Eiji heard Skye say Elliot, and despite the sweetness of her nature and all that he knew of her already, he couldn't help but relate her tone of voice to 'Elliot, that poor girl,' and all the other things that were said about his girlfriend. The pitying quality in all their notes, and the way they would assume to understand or care, and all they had to say was, 'how tragic,' 'how awful,' when really, they hadn't the slightest idea.

He wondered when he had gotten so cynical; when he had began to adopt the outlook that everybody else just wasn't good enough anymore. It was probably borne from the knowledge that bad things happened to good people indiscriminately; fatal accidents and the permanent image of his girl crying silently, a bottle in hand, the better days playing on repeat before her, the blinds drawn shut. Could she see her today? Well, he would probably go home first to check if she was awake and in the mood for anything, let alone company.

"I don't know," he hedged, quite sure now that he had made a mistake in his suggestion, but the simple prospect of letting Skye see and know; to dabble in the possibility that the Italian girl could rouse something familiar in the blonde, was too tempting, and most likely too good to be true. But if nothing else, he had to try.
"I'll have to let her know first and then get back to you," he answered her, an apologetic tinge to his words; jumping through hoops always sounded terrible, especially when it sounded like she didn't want to see Skye at all.

There was a pause, and his expression stayed calm, even as he warred for amendment inside.
"She likes Chinese?" he offered, hoping the girl would get what he meant by those three words.

[Skye Malizia]

Oh dear. It sounded like Elliot really was having a tough time. However, Skye, being the forward girl she was, believed that she alone could cheer the girl up, regardless of the short amount of time they'd known each other.

"Chinese food," Skye nodded. She wasn't a fan of the fattening food herself, however she could afford to indulge if it meant spending some time with Elliot. "Here, I will give you my number. You call me when I can come over, yes?" Skye took out a pen from her purse, and was looking for a piece of paper. All she could find was the coupon book she'd taken from the Sheraton hotel, and she ripped out a 2 for 1 ice cream coupon. Scrolling her number down on the paper, the Italian pushed it across the table to Eiji.

"I will not be happy if an ice cream man calls my number," Skye added with that smile of hers, looking more than a little cheeky, "unless he is pretty. You can use this paper if the ice cream man is attractive..." she thought about this for a couple more seconds before correcting himself, "...maybe not. He will think you are gay. Maybe you should keep the paper."

She sounded happy and carefree, two things she didn't think she'd be today. Eiji had cheered her up just by giving her a chance to talk to someone, and all thoughts of the boy who didn't call were pushed out of her previously troubled mind.

[Eiji Almasy.]

His smile was slight compared to hers, and he looked less relieved than she looked happy, but he took her number all the same and slipped it inside the middle of one of the books. He didn't know what made him think Skye could succeed where others had failed, but he was all too willing to try because, well, he cared too much not to.

His quirk grew a bit at her last lines, and he couldn't help the small snort of laughter. This girl was either frank, or it was just her way of speaking English, and he was struck by sudden, but certain, humor at the prospect of her sitting in on an evening with him and the rest of the boys. Making an unintentional pass at an ice cream man would be the last thing she suspected him of doing. He missed that, he realized; his friends, everything, but as he was prone to do, he didn't dwell on it much.

"You should smile more," he said to her, seemingly randomly, but he looked sincere like he meant it, like he had put thought in it.
"Can't have you looking upset if you're going to be hanging out with us soon," he added, perhaps ambiguously although he had every intention of introducing her to the rest of the party.

[Skye Malizia]

"Smile..." Skye began to repeat, and was about to ask why when it clicked in. He liked her smile, and it made that smile of hers grow. The Italian wasn't a classical beauty by any means, but she knew what looks were best for her. She personally thought she could pull off 'sultry' better than 'happy', but Eiji's compliment left her wondering. Skye was usually in a good mood, and after her lovely conversation with Eiji, she would most likely be smiling the rest of the day. Her boy troubles were long forgotten, and his subtle promise to call her made her warm and fuzzy inside.

"I will be happy, see?" Her smile blossomed into something silly, but her eyes glowed with her own promise, "You are very good at making people happy, yes?"

She could see Eiji was a good person. Everyone had their struggles, their hardships, and different methods when it came to coping with them. Skye hoped she could be an asset to help him and Elliot through whatever troubles they faced, however small a part they allowed her. Be it Chinese at midnight, or challenging everyone to a shot-for-shot contest at their next get-together (despite the fact she was a light weight).

[Eiji Almasy.]

It was strange to see him take a compliment in anything less than good grace, but he looked off to the side to avoid her gaze, not clearly uncomfortable, more like he'd forgotten how to be indifferent in front of someone like Skye. He looked at her not a moment later, grinning.

"It's nothing," he told her, shrugging; refusing to confirm or deny her happy conclusion.
He glanced down, looking like he was trying to find an out, and it was true; he'd said all he'd needed to say, and she'd done something, at least, however small, and managed to make him less weary. Anything more and it'd probably be painful for him to keep up the lightheartedness.

"I'd better go," he announced, quieter now, and as the effort he'd put into appearing buoyant faded, he looked a little more genuine; not resigned but just is.
"Thanks for talking. I'll call you, maybe tonight, I don't know. Soon, though." The grin reappeared, slight, but big enough that it was enough to suggest that he'd be good on his word and call her soon, and that maybe she could see Elliot too, even if it wasn't right away.

[Skye Malizia]

Skye returned his smile, although her lips spread easily across her face rather than the semi-forced one he offered her.

"Okay, I talk to you soon," She offered as her departing words, then added, "Say hello to Elliot for me. I do miss her much."

The brunette made a little wave with her fingers, that typical Italian gesture that could almost make her more adorable. Skye then leaned back in her chair, feeling considerably happier than before Eiji took a seat next to her. Aaron's missing phone call was the furthest thing from her mind, and instead she was looking forward to having a night out with Eiji and his friends.

It was always the littlest things that could make her smile.