I Hate Boys (open)

[Kiri Honeywater]

She was actually mad. Cute. Caring. Perky, Kiri was mad. Her drawings for the day involved dark twisted trees, crows, and storms. Her hair was pulled back in a low pony tail and she wore her most unattractive clothes of bagging comfy pants and a grey hoodie. Sitting in a corner she ignored everyone who came in and out of the common room. No one had actually seen the fae angry before, and honestly it freaked most of them out. She didn't rage, she didn't cry, she didn't do anything but draw. Her charcoal pencil sped across the page as she drew a black wolf attacking a lamb.

Usually whenever she felt unhappy emotions she hid herself from the world so people would always think she was happy. She thought if people thought she was always happy then they might find a reason to be happy too. Or maybe they wouldn't worry about her. She hated making others feel negative emotions because of what she happened to feel. But today, today she felt like the whole world should be just as unhappy as she was.

And why was this charming angel upset? Simple. Boys. Were. Stupid.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke Francis Herald, child genius. In this school, even without his gift, he might have been the smartest person in the entire school. And he knew it, a boy with the ability to change the world.

It was the worlds way of keeping him in check that he had such horrendous luck.

It had become almost common for him to show up at the Wingrose dorm, looking for his student. So much so that the girls (and the few boys) stopped asking him why he was there, and just admitted him with a smile, that stupid happy go lucky smile.

Today, however, when the door opened there were no smiles, instead there was a rather sour looking boy standing there. At seeing Locke his eyes betrayed something, was that fear? Wonderment? Warning? Locke couldn't tell and just arched his eyebrow at the boy, who had not yet stepped out of the doorway.

"Um...Excuse me?" he said, moving his hand to the side to indicate that the boy blocked his path. The boy nodded wordlessly and moved to the side, allowing Locke in. Locke theorized that Kiri was not in the common room, because the blinds were shut, not allowing sunlight to penetrate the room. In addition there was a sense of oppression from the room in general, as some one was sitting in a shadow in the corner. The other boy had made his escape when Locke had come in, leaving Locke and this unknown in the room alone. To say he was a little intimidated was an understatement, who knew a Wingrose could have such a serious emotion. They were all bubbly and fluff headed, so he had thought.

It was only the sketchpad she was drawing in that made it dawn on him. And the size and shape of the figure only served to promote the thesis.

"Kiri?" He asked questioningly. "Is that you? What's wrong?"

He was hoping she wouldn't play coy like most girls and say 'Nothing was wrong'.

Like most of the Wingrose house, she wore her emotions on her sleeve. And she looked mad.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Someone had come into the common room but she didn't look up from her drawing putting in the details of the wolf's face. Stupid Kennedy just had to bring up her love life. Yeah, she had pretty much acted perky the rest of the time with him. But now the very next day she woke up just wanting to, to, well do unnice things. She wasn't sure what those things were because she didn't think unnicely very often. Not really hearing any conversation about her she didn't know Locke was the someone who'd entered the common room until he'd spoken her name directly.

He was not the person she wanted to see right now. She didn't want to see anyone honestly, but he was at the top of the list. Right above Kennedy. Kiri glared at him then went back to her drawing not wanting to say anything overly mean. It wasn't his fault that she was confused and frustrated with her love life. It wasn't his fault Kennedy had to completely confuse her. It wasn't-

"Argh, I hate boys!" She slammed her sketchbook down beside her and stood going to the window and opening it. Maybe some fresh air would help. The sunshine and birds flying about outside only proved to upset her more. Kiri hated being upset, and usually did anything to make herself happy. That's why she had started drawing but it didn't work. Why was she so emotional? Boys, came and went. That's the thing. They came and went. She wanted what other people had. She wanted someone that would be there, and hug her. She wanted her first kiss darnit!

"Sorry, Locke. I'm not in the mood for studying today." Shutting the window she went back to her corner and sat down picking up her sketchbook again. She felt the first bubblings of butterflies inher stomach like she often got around Locke, and she groaned burying her head into her arms. Sixteen year olds don't like thirteen year olds!

[Locke F. Herald]

When Kiri glared at him, he felt his blood run cold. Ok, that was creepy, how did someone so warm, soft and bubbly like Kiri intimidate him that much? She seemed as if she was about to burst, and then.

"Argh, I hate boys!"

Locke could only blink as she walked over the window and threw it open. Scowling even more so as she closed it moments later, while explaining the obvious. Of course she didn't want to study, that much was obvious in her mental state. She then returned to the corner, and commenced to bury her head in her hands.

Locke was stunned, what on earth could have happened to Kiri to make her act like this? It was a side of her he was not used to, and it most assuredly caught him off guard. Still though, Kiri was fragile, or so he thought. Maybe a boy had broken her heart? After all, girls were creatures ruled by their emotions, and Fae were even more so with all the naivety that comes with eternal youth.

"Don't worry about studying now then." He said, finding her more intimidating then Eve was. "Feel like telling me what my gender did to make you so upset?" He inquired. To him, it seemed the most perilous of dangers to talk to Kiri right now, but he had to admit he was curious.

What could have gotten under that Fae's thick skin for hardship to cause this reaction?

[Kiri Honeywater]

Feeling rather silly she buried her head even farther into her arms. She never expected Locke to come to her common room while she was being an emotional girl raging against the world. Well, actually she wasn't raging outside but inside, oh the rage! Okay, so the fae wasn't really capable of rage but she was rather upset at the moment. Kiri sniffled not too surprised to find she was crying. Another thing she hated doing. It made you wet without the perk of getting cleaner or having fun swimming, and it made you ugly.

"No, I don't feel like telling you because you'd just tell me how tri- tri-" She slapped her feet against the stone in frustration at not remembering the word then tried again, "tell me how I shouldn't worry about such things. That it will all come in time and sound so educated and perfect and mature and-" Now she broke into sobs which only served to make her feel even more miserable.

"Oh, festering fungi! Go away! You're only making it worse!" The young fae lifted her head her eyes leaking tears like a broken faucet, but being a fae there was no redness of the eyes she just happened to have salt water streaming from them. Part of her really, really wanted him to leave because she never wanted him to see her like this. She didn't want any of her friends to see her like this, and now regretted ever sitting in the shadow of the common room to draw. The other part that she was currently mad at wanted him to stay.

"Stupid boys, stupid, stupid boys, and really stupid, Queen of stupid Kiri." Grumbling she buried her face again hoping that this fit of tears and sadness was just a dream. That she'd wake up in her sunny room with butterflies and birdies to sing her to another perky happy day. The problem was, she wasn't waking up.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke was stunned, about a number of things. First of all Kiri, gentle and friendly Kiri, was crying. That was almost unheard of. Secondly, she lashed out at him, and she used a verbal release, Locke's code word for anything people happened to shout in frustration, even if it wasn't necessarily a bad word. People seemed to have a lot of them.

She wanted him to leave, and the left side of his brain said that he should do as she requested. But the small, considerate part of Locke's being said that wasn't the right thing to do.

"Never let a girl cry."

But what could he do? He was completely foreign to the idea of dealing with someones emotional state. Add to that, the whole situation just screamed awkward, but he could worry about that later, for now he'd be concerned with dealing with Kiri. Something was seriously very wrong, and his presence was making it worse. So shouldn't he find out what the problem was so he didn't make it again?

Nodding to himself Locke wondered what he should be doing here, with a crying girl in the corner.

What can I do? Someone help me here...I...don't know what to do here...

For Locke, the idea of not knowing something, nor knowing where to find it, was terrifying. And finally he had one thing pull into his head.

Since he didn't have friends, there were only two people he was close to that he could pull any acts of compassion and understanding from, and only one of them happened to be female.

But still...that was...far too personal for Locke to do! He might die of embarrassment if Kiri decided to be her usual happy-go-lucky self anytime soon. The price for this was high.

As he looked at the sobbing girl his heart clenched, and he decided it was worth it.

Without another thought to the contrary he walked over to the girl, with her head buried in her arms, and sat down next to her. He raised a shaking hand and laid it on her shaking head, running it through her soft blond hair. He was so embarrassed to do something so familiar, but this is the only thing he could of thought of, and it had worked when he was a child. He could only hope it would work now.

"Shhh. Don't cry, it'll be all right. You'll see." Locke spoke, calling on all his willpower to keep his voice steady. It was important to appear strong, she needed it right now. "Now come on, dry your tears and lets see a smile now." He said, trying to make his voice sound as kind as possible. As he did this one thought raced through his head.

Mom...thanks...

[Kiri Honeywater]

It was so quiet for so long she had thought he had taken her advice and left. This made her feel horribly guilty for actually yelling at a friend. She honestly didn't think she'd ever yelled at a friend, and hardly ever yelled at people in general. Negative emotions were very tiring, draining, and usually easily avoided with a happy thought. The thing was that all her happy thoughts only made her more unhappy, the exact opposite of what usually happened. This confused and frustrated her even more not understanding it at all. As she was just about to grab her sketchbook and leave a hand touch her head. A hand began stroking her hair, this was then followed by such kind words she lifted her head. He'd...never acted like this before.

Sniffling she stared at him in shock and complete confusion. At least it had stopped the tears though for reasons he probably wasn't aiming for. She used her sleave to wipe her face dry those words gluing themselves to her mind for eternity.

"Locke..." She didn't know what to say or do because she was afraid that he'd pull away. That'd he was just doing this because of the tears...he was just doing it because of the tears. Kiri went over the words again and choked on a sob. "You sound like my mother!"

Again her face was buried wishing that boys didn't exist and that she could just have her animal friends and be happy.

"Why do things have to be so confusing? I was just fine before stupid Kennedy had to open his stupid mouth." Kiri's voice was muffled slightly by her body as she hid her face from Locke. "I was just fine! But nooo! Now I'm all messed up." Her grip on her legs tightened as she hugged herself trying to hold in her tears, but failing.

[Locke F. Herald]

When she said he sounded like her mother Locke smiled. It had worked, so he wasn't so clueless in matters of emotion either. A great triumph for him!

Oh wait! feel proud later, crying girl now!

"Kennedy?" He echoed. Did she mean Cavan? That was the only Kennedy he and Kiri both knew, so he presumed that must have been it. Part of him wanted to know what is was Kennedy had said, but he didn't want her to react the way she did the last time he asked her about what had made her so upset.

Kennedy...what the hell did you do?

"You aren't messed up Kiri." Locke said, still keeping his hand running through her hair, it seemed to comfort her, so he would oblige her. "Everyone is sad and confused sometimes, it's not anything you alone have been through...I..."

Should he? It might work...but he'd never told this to anyone...

"You think everything you knew is backwards, and everything isn't the way it should be. And you just want to hide away from it until it gets better on it's own, so life can be the way it was...but life can never be the way it was, that's just life."

He paused, well, now or never. "When I was younger, I didn't realize what brand I wore. I was too young to understand the whispers of the adults behind my back, but even naive young me could understand the bullies. And slowly I came to realize how people viewed me..." He seemed to have some tears choke his throat for a moment, but he repressed them quite admirably. "Monster, Freak, Stray...I finally began to understand what these words meant...what people said about me. I often wished I could go back to being foolish, and not knowing what these words meant but..."

He just stayed silent for a moment. "It's...not possible to make things the way they were. And I locked myself up and waited for them to change...and the world didn't change, the only thing that did was me...I stopped talking, I stopped caring...because if you don't open up, bad people can't get in..."

Locke was surprised he opened up to her like this, something about this situation just felt...right.

"Kiri, don't be like me...you are loved because of who you are."

[Kiri Honeywater]

"Yes, Kennedy! That nosy, nosy, nosy-OOOHHHH!" She screamed into her arms knowing that if he asked he'd know and if he knew...He could not know.

Kiri fell silent as he talked it was like he knew exactly what she was feeling. Everything she knew about her heart was wrong. Everything about what people should and shouldn't feel about each other. That she wasn't as happy as she thought. As he told his story her sobbing slowed to a stop, her sniffles grew more and more infrequent. By the time he'd finished she was peering at him from over her arm.

She glanced at his ears then to his eyes. Kiri saw nothing wrong with his ears. Nothing at all. She loved his ears, and that other people...would say such things about him...made her extremely angry.

"You're not a freak! Or a monster! You're an amazing person, including your ears." Now her head was lifted and she just wanted to hug him because now she was more worried about him than her sadness.

"Please don't stop caring. I will do everything I can to never ever, ever, ever hurt you! To make you smile, to, to, to make you forget those nasty people who should be turned into toads!" Then Kiri caught a word that made her freeze, but before she could read to much into it she went still and bow her head. He didn't mean it the way she wanted him to mean it. She knew he didn't. He was just saying that people cared about her so don't be sad, and to not change who she was. Nothing more. Like she knew what to do with love anyway.

"People...love me like a little, hyper sister they don't know what to do with. But at least I'm loved right?" The smile was back but she didn't feel it. Kiri giggled softly her arms losening from around her knees her hands limp at her sides. Crying was very tiring, and she sat her chin on her knees staring at the empty room astonished that she was able to clear out a room with her just being moody.

"Sorry you had to see me like this...and thank you for telling me about that part of you." Kiri turned to smile at him warmly slowly shoving her negative emotions deep inside doing her best to be her regular uplifting, happy self. Nothing was solved but she had to be happy because he didn't seem to be.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke couldn't help but smile that the fiercest insult Kiri knew was turning someone into a toad. It was so like her, and it made him happy to see her back to a little of her former self.

"T-Thanks Kiri..." He said awkwardly. That she said something so sweet to him, made him believe that some people could actually be real friends...He had always thought it was just for the naive or picture books, that true friends didn't exist, they were always out for themselves.

Was that why he sought out Kiri? Did knowing her do something to aide him? Even he didn't know, but he wanted to.

Love? What was that? Why did he even speak of it, not like he knew anything of it. "You don't like being loved as a little sister? I always imagined it would be nice to have a sibling to look after..." He said, pondering. "I mean, I got called 'cute' all the time back home. But it wasn't 'boy cute', it was more like 'kitty-cat' cute. And it would drive me nuts. People just don't seem to like us for what we are. They see me as a cute little boy with adorable ears, and you as a sweet, energetic girl with a love of flowers and animals. People don't stop to consider that there is something beneath the surface. There is more to me then these ears, and there is more to you then what people see."

He sighed. "Don't worry about it Kiri, everyone feels down sometimes. You are only human...well you know what I meant."

[Kiri Honeywater]

He smiled! Kiri smiled sunshiny and bright thinking he was so cute when he smiled. Blinking she bit her tongue and bowed her head again. Bad, Kiri! Stop thinking like that! Her expression was most likely quite funny to see her tongue sticking out with her biting it her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed as she mentally chastised herself.

When he stuttered she giggled releasing her poor tongue, uplifting her shoulders and tilting her head as she smiled. "No, problem! If you ever need compliments I've got 'em!"

His next question made her smile falter slightly, but remained quiet until he was done talking. But it was taking him so long to stop talking! She was about to explode.

"Yes, I like being liked as a sister but for once I wish people loved me for me, and loved me like-" Snapping her mouth shut her cheeks flamed and she went on to the other thing she wanted to say. "I don't think you're just kitty cat cute. You're like cute all over." To make that not in a way that could be taken as a flirtaticious comment she giggled making a cute face.

"We're just born cute. It's hard for people to figure out why, so they lable us wrong." Us. She smiled like a robin welcoming the spring. "I've always known there was more to you than just ears the minute I heard you talk. You're just so smart! And you looked rather bored with life that first day I saw you in class." Not to mention she thought he was utterly adorable.

Kiri glanced at him then away to the closed window thinking of the closed window in her heart. That window would never open...would it. "Yeah, people get sad, but Kiri isn't supposed to. Kiri is supposed to be chipper like chipmunks when they found a stash of nuts, or birds during nesting time." No, Kiris were never supposed to show negative emotions, then they just weren't Kiris anymore. They were...She giggled shaking her head.

"Let's not talk sad anymore. 'Kay?" Light and chipper that's the Kiri way.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke's expression was quizzical when she suddenly stopped talking. Was she mad at him, did he do something wrong? And her cheeks were bright red, had she said something she didn't mean to?

And then it was his turn to blush furiously. She called him cute...Normally he would hate that, especially from a girl, but Kiri made it a good thing. How did she affect him so strongly, it's like he was a piece of yarn being twisted about her fingers. Why did he care so much what she thought?

He remembered that first class, with her. How she was so happy and all smiles. And he was sitting in the second row, right behind her, being the superior know-it-all he was. He knew everything back then, the world could show nothing to him. Kiri broke that.

"Yeah...the world can always throw something new at you...You showed me that..."

At her comment that Kiri's were not allowed to be sad Locke was a little annoyed, though he didn't show it as such.

"Why can't you be sad? My father once told me, that only people who have felt sad really live, because they then value the good times so much more. So yes, let's not talk sad anymore, let's enjoy the good times now." he said nodding.

"After all. We...are friends...right? So that means we should be happy when we do things, right?"

Now Locke was uncomfortable here. Because he was starting to remember all the things he said in the heat of the moment. That and he felt so helpless.

Kiri...what is it you want from me?

[Kiri Honeywater]

Now Kiri's lovely smile never seemed to leave just like a regular Wingrose house girl should. She stretched out her legs wiggling her bare toes she leaned against the wall smiling at him. This was how it was supposed to be, her happy, and him, him- well that was still confusing.

"I try to make things interesting. New stuff is fun, right?" He sounded so serious. It was throwing her off, well he always sounded serious but this was a diferent type of serious. To hide any hope she might show she turned to stare at the closed window some more tapping her barefeet together.

"If I'm sad other people might feel sad. Other people might worry about me. I don't want people to feel negative just because I do." Kiri turned to him smiling strongly. "So I'm happy. Then they might find a reason to be happy and then they won't worry about me." That was one of the first times she'd ever shared that with someone. It basically said, I'm only happy because that's what people need, and I'm only happy because that's what I let people see.

"That's why I feel bad that you saw me cry." The fae giggled and leaned to bump him at his comment.

"Of course we're friends! Silly! And friends do fun things together." Why did he sound so hesitant? He was really throwing her off today. Acting completely out of his character with the hair stroking the kind words, not that he was ever cruel he just didn't act all sympathic often. Of course she was also acting out of character with the depressed corner and tears. But when he had said friends she couldn't lie to herself that a part of her clenched and her heart whispered 'I told you so...' The chipper fae ignored it and hopped to her feet.

"And because friends are happy when we do things we should do something happy." Okay she didn't ask him to do things other than study like ever. She always figured he'd say no, and go read a book.

"No studying! I vote we, me," She pointed at herself, "and you," she pointed at Locke, " Should go do something fun! We never do FUN stuff! Please?" Kiri pouted her bottom lip but ended in giggles. She bent over and held out her hand a smile of eternal sunshine in place, while her heart felt like the clouds would never go away.

Can he see me? Or does he just see what everyone else does? Does he see through the sun and smiles? My life is such a lie...

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke had managed to understand what Kiri said, and it disturbed him. If you couldn't be honest with your emotions, what could you be honest with? She hid her pain for the good of all, no matter how much she suffered she thought of other people first. Locke's eyes caught something in the room, something that made such sense.

A portrait of Wingrose herself, standing majestically in her unearthly beauty. Of course with one arm missing, as she was depicted. And as Locke recalled why she had that depiction, he looked to Kiri again.

"Ignore yourself for the good of others..." He said out loud, not entirely conscious of what he was saying. "Kiri...you..."

What could he say? What point would it make? What good would it do?

"She...would be proud of you. But..."

What was he trying to say? That he didn't want her to suffer for his sake? That he didn't want her to pretend to be happy? But that was her choice, what right did he have to tell her not to do it?

"Aggh! I hate this!" Locke exclaimed frustrated, slamming his fists on his knees. "What can I do? I don't want you to pretend to be happy! I want you to be happy! Nobody should have to pretend to be happy when they aren't, it's wrong on the face of it!"

He didn't want to make Kiri cry, really he didn't. But he was so confused. She was going to cry without tears, cry without sadness, cry with a smile on her face. And everyone else was ok with this? Was Kennedy ok with this? Did nobody see it except him that this girl was going to be miserable to make everyone else happy?! And the worst part was...

It was her choice...so what right did he have to stop it?

"Kiri...I...don't want you to be a liar to make other people happy. Not for me, not for anyone. I want Kiri to be who she really is, with all the good and bad that comes with it."

What more could be done? What more could be said? Nothing, once again it was up to her, but he couldn't just leave it at that.

"Please."

His face, he imagined must have looked so pathetic right about now. He didn't even know what he looked like, but he felt worse then he had felt in years. This was sadness he couldn't deal with, because there was nothing he could do about it. And he hated the idea of not being able to fix it.

Please...

[Kiri Honeywater]

Kiri titled her head sideways a little confused on who he was talking about. Who would be proud of her? She turned trying to follow his gaze, but not being the most observant of people she missed the giant painting of Wingrose. The painting that basically told the world that Kiri really belonged in this house. She grinned and turned back to him to ask him when he yelled and hit himself. Jumping she held her hands close to her chest eyes wide not knowing what she had done or said.

"What do you hate? What did I-" Kiri's voice was desperate and she took a step forward a hand reaching out for him, but when he continued she jerked it back. She shouldn't have said anything. She should have kept her mouth shut. The exact opposite of what she wanted was happening. He was upset because of her. Kiri bit her lip tears welling up as she listened and watched him, so angry about her lies.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said anything!" Stamping her foot she yelled; shaking her head sending her blond locks flying everywhere. This is what happened when she was unhappy, other people got upset. Her face covered by her hands, her shoulders shook as she cried, she wanted to run away, to go to her animals. Instead she fell to her knees and cried.

He wanted her to be her. He didn't want lies, and happy smiles all the time. But it was because he was a good friend, and any truly good friend would say that. Kiri wiped at her face over and over angry at the tears.

"I was being happy! We could have done happy things! Why did you ask questions?" Her hands shook as she curled over her knees not wanting him to see her. "No else minds that I'm happy. Or at least they never say anything. No one else...no one."

Her hair fell over her like a curtain as she cried. "Why does it always have to be you that messes with my head!" She slammed her hands on the floor then froze, jerking her head up she stared at him. That hadn't meant to come out.

"I-I-I am not mad at you." Kiri sniffled afraid that he'd leave. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I'm a horrible friend who lies, and cries, and says horrible things." Horrible things that could betray her heart to him. Things she wasn't ready for him to know. He'd reject her, they were just friends.