Long time no see. (Jack Newport)

[jessica]

^{Shane stepped into the secluded library. The library was placid enough to hear a pin drop. He stepped into a shadow and peered around the minute area. It smelt dingy, he felt his face retorting in disgust. The Library was nearly void. He watched as a grey figure quite portly, with long char colored hair and thick rimmed glasses approached him.
"May I help you son?"
He looked at her for a moment. Observing her, she seemed frazzled. She had scanty beads of sweat rolling down her strained forhead.
"Yeah, my teacher sent me here, said I needed a book."
She sighed and motioned for him to depart from the dismal corner. He walked at slow pace. He had no intention of reading some damn book, curse it he thought. But it was above returning to the fautiged classroom. He walked threw a row of dust infested books and caught a suspicous figure looming in the corner, then relized the figure was peering at him. After awhile he watched as the capacious figure approached him with caution. He didn't back up, it didn't concern him until the figure was no other then Jack Newport. He grimaced with disgust and watched his fingers curl into a fist in response.
"Long time no see." He said bitterly but watched a sligh smile slip on his face as Jack's body slithered from the shadows.}

[kristin]

Jack didn't like the library. He didn't like the way it looked-- rows and rows of shelves full of books. He didn't like the way it smelled-- a mixture of old and new paper, cloth, wood, and dust. He didn't even like the way it sounded-- silence. But here he was anyway, because if he hadn't come, he wouldn't pass the upcoming science test. And if he didn't pass the science test, his dad, the Dean From Hell, might not let him go out with Sophie, if they ever got that far.

He was scanning the shelves for a book on major wars throughout the U.S. history. He didn't really know what he was looking for, though, so he had had no luck so far. His mind kept wandering to other things. Chase, his friend, that he hadn't seen in a while; his sister, who he was secretly worried about, the way she had become so very *friendly* personty when they moved; Sophie and her gorgeous eyes; and Shane, who he hadn't talked to in forever. That was fine. Shane and Jack just didn't click anymore. He missed Shane, but Royals were forbidden to be close friends with Rebels.

"Long time no see." Speak of the devil. Here Shane was. Jack found talking with Shane awkward now, especially because Shane hated him so much. He tried to act friendly. "Hey, Shane."

[jessica]

^{He examined Jack. He had definately gotten more parsimonious. He saw his reflection for a moment, his eyes were ice cold. He had no duration for Jack. He felt the tips of his nails knawing into his skin, ripping away in search of blood. He wanted to raise his fist in vexation, and watch it collide into his flesh, hear the crack of his stout bones, watch him bellow in misery. But he held his tongue. Shane had a reputation for pounding skulls, but he had some poise. Shane had completely evaporated Jack from his vacant world. Shane began to propp himself up aganst an mutable shelfcase. He felt it loosing slack, but only tested it and added more weight."Yeah." he said flatley. Jack looked timorous, he wouldn't peer at him. He watched as he continued to leer at the unflorished white walls. Shane almost hoped he pissed himself. The air continued to lay dead. "So what have you been up to?" He eyeballed him, studying him. Almost waiting to pounce like a scavenger searching for prey exsept Shane had already found his kill.}

[kristin]

Jack looked at Shane, examining him. He was different. It hadn't even been a year yet, but he was different. Jack thought maybe that was what being a Rebel did to someone. It must be stressful, plotting out revenge ideas against the Royals. He didn't care much for Rebels, but he did kind of miss Shane. Poor kid. He had trouble controlling his temper. Jack wondered if Shane had made any new friends as close as he and Jack had been.

Shane looked stressed. Really stressed. Behind his eyes, Jack could see a lot of anger. But Jack was willing to try to be nice. That was what Royals were known for-- being nice to someone's face, and backstabbing when that someone wasn't looking. At least, the girls were. Mostly. Not Sophie. But Jack had never been one for backstabbing. He kind of regretted that Shane had never made an effort to be part of the Royals.

"Not much. The usual. Soccer, friends, girls. No time for homework!" It was a little something in an attempt to lighten the mood. Shane had always teased Jack for his stubborn unwillingness to work. "What have you been up to?"