&&farawayfromtheMEMORIES [Tory!]

[admin && kaelie [2]]

Hold you in my arms
I just wanted to hold
You in my arms

My life
You electrify my life
Let's conspire to re-ignite
All the souls that would die just to feel alive

But I'll never let you go
If you promised not to fade away
Never fade away

Ky smiled to herself as she signed off of instant messenger and turned her computer's screen off. Stretching her arms above her head, she yawned widely, feeling her muscles loosen. The girl pushed herself away from her desk, casting a rueful glance at her stack of homework. Well, there's always later. She thought, knowing full well that she was going to regret this decision later. Shaking her head to try to forget about it, Ky walked over to her closet, pulling the doors open. Why was she going out on a Sunday when she had mountains of homework left to do? Easy, Tory. Or more specifically, she had just made plans to hang out with Tory. Well, and his little sister, whom she would be helping babysit, but that was only a minor detail. Ky sighed quietly, feeling silly and yet happy at the same time. See, she had recently realized that she had fallen for her best friend, and now whenever she thought about him some weird thing made her feel all light and fluttery. Laughing quietly, the girl scanned her rack of clothes quickly, searching for something to wear. It was times like these that she wished she wasn't such a jock. Nothing resembling cute caught her eye at first, and she grimaced slightly, going through the hangers more carefully. She had to remind herself that she was only going skating, and if she wore anything totally out of character it wouldn't only feel weird, it would look weird, and Tory might wonder if something was going on. Deciding to just be simple and wear a hoodie and shirt, Ky grabbed them and swiftly changed. Flipping her head upside down, Ky pulled her hair into a ponytail, not wanting to have to worry about it at the rink. She pushed a headband on, grabbed her wallet, phone, and keys, and practically skipped out the door. Even though she felt a bit rushed, it couldn't stop her excitement, and Ky was growing more hyper by the minute. This was going to be interesting if nothing else.

The rink was close enough to walk to, but Ky decided to be lazy for a little longer. She reached her car within a few minutes, and started off to the rink. Calm down Ky, it's not like any life changing events are going to happen. She told herself, breathing evenly and deeply. She had a bad habit of getting really worked up about small things, and then either being disappointed, or having a sort of spazzy fit. And she didn't want either one to happen today. Whatever happened happened though, and Ky didn't have any more time to try and control her hyperness. Turning into the rink's parking lot, Ky found a spot rather easily, and hopped out. The girl glanced around, but didn't see anyone familiar. She walked into the rink and grinned as the cool air blasted her. It might be fall in Florida, but that didn't mean it was much cooler. Air conditioning was still a blessing, especially when you were wearing a hoodie. Shrugging it off, Ky walked up to the counter and paid for her skates and the pass you needed to actually skate. Walking back to a bench, the girl sat down with a grateful sigh. Another reason this was a bad idea. A small part of her said, but she brushed it off. She was still a bit sore from practice this morning, so? Skating would just help her loosen up, and it would be fun. Still, it would probably be a good idea to take an Advil or two before I go to bed. She thought, smiling wryly.

As she laced up her skates, Ky retreated into her mind to think. She wasn't really sure what was going on with the whole Tory situation. The only thing she knew for sure was that she liked him. From there on it got a little complicated. Whenever they talked or spent time together, Ky could swear that there was something there. It was buried beneath their friendship and all that, but unless she was going crazy, she definitely thought she felt something that went past their closeness as friends. Of course it was hard to tell since they were both just affectionate people. Ky was very teasing and playful with her friends, and with her guys friends she could be a bit of a flirt. Not in the normal seductive way, but in a friendly and fun way. Like she called people dear, love, and hun a lot. The thing was, Tory was like that too. So they hugged a lot and flirted, but Ky couldn't tell if it meant something or if it was just how their personalities mixed. Why is everything so freaking complicated? She complained silently, knowing in the back of her head that she would be bored if things weren't as complicated as they were. Ky laughed softly at herself, straightening up as she finished tying off the laces. Leaning against the glass, the girl tried to push all those thoughts away for another time. Preferably one where the subject of her confusion wasn't probably pulling up at that second. Ky sighed and opened her eyes, glancing around the room in case Tory and Alia had come while she was thinking.

[Done.]

[tory]

XXXX

I wonder what it's like to be loved by you
I wonder what its like to be whole
And I don't walk when there's a stone in my shoe
All I know, that in time I'll be fine

I wonder what it's like to fly so high
Or to breathe under the sea
I wonder if someday I'll be good with goodbyes
But I'll be okay if you come along with me

Torn smiled, waving at his mom, Alianne gripping his hand tightly. He had just signed off of AIM and agreed to meet Ky at the ice rink. He mentioned it casually to his mom and she had been happy about him getting out and Alia learning to skate. Alianne, grant it, could hardly pronounce ice skating, never mind learn how to in the short time Torn believed it would take her to get bored with the exercise.

Closing the door and picking up his niece, Torn grinned, "Ready to meet Ky?" At Alia's enthusiastic nods and happy giggles, he chuckled, "Should I change? Or do you think this is okay?" He had absentmindedly walked over to the mirror, examining his appearance. He wanted to look nice, he couldn't really deny that he had a small crush on his best friend, but he didn't want to look like he tried too hard. That would be embarrassing to explain, besides, Alia would take most of her attention.

"Towwy...we go see Ky now?" Alianne, for all of her cuteness, had patience equal to the attention span of a gnat. AKA. none. Torn chuckled, "Yeah, Ali, we're going..." Now to get that car seat in the car... The bane of his existence at this moment. Carting around a three year old meant that he needed a car seat, but because his car was extremely small, he couldn't keep it in all the time, so he had to put it in when he had Alia, and take it out when he didn't.

After only about five minutes of grumbling and Alianne giggling, Tory managed to wrestle the stubborn seat into place and buckle in his charge. Turning on the radio softly, a CD that he'd put together of...more appropriate music for rides with Alianne, he sang along as they drove to the rink. He knew Ky would be there already, she was habitually early or exactly on time when they went out like this. Tory had gotten used to it, but after knowing her for so long, it seemed almost out of character. Not that he would dwell on it, trying to figure her out, or anything...

Alianne squealed in the backseat when she spotted Kyden's car, characterised by a small stuffed animal in the back window, in the parking lot of the ice rink. Torn chuckled, parking next to her and walking around to extract his niece from her car seat. "Now to find you skates, booger." Alia squeaked indignantly, sticking out her tongue at him and shaking her head. "Ky! Where Ky?"

"She's inside, love." Torn smiled softly, "I bet I find her before you do." Alianne giggled, grabbing his hand and racing forward, well, as fast as she could go on short legs and attached to his hand. Shrugging his shoulders a bit in his loose blue teeshirt and white zip-up hoodie, Tory followed after Alia, keeping a sharp eye on her pink jumper through his glasses. HIS GLASSES! He'd completely forgotten about them! Usually he was one for contacts, hating how he looked in glasses. How could he have forgotten?!

Too late now... Shoving his free hand into the pocket of his jeans as he approached the counter, he got two pairs of skates and two passes, watching Alia run over to where he'd spotted Kyden sitting. Smiling, he made his way over slowly, setting the skates on the bench and sitting down next to Kyden. "How goes it, m'dear?" he grinned cheekily, "Did you have practice earlier?" she did look a bit off, probably because she was sore. He felt a bit bad too, for bringing her out when she should be resting. But she insisted of course, and Tory could never deny Kyden anything.

"Ky! I won!" Alia giggled, bouncing in place, her tiny sock-clad feet tapping the probably wet carpet. "Yep you did, now lets put on your skates, love." Tory smiled, picking up the bouncy toddler and holding her in his lap so he could tie the skates properly, his already on his feet, though untied.

[admin && kaelie [2]]

Do it on your own
It makes no difference to me
What you leave behind
What you choose to be
And whatever they say
Your souls unbreakable

During the struggle
They will pull us down
But please, please
Let's use this chance
To turn things around
And tonight
We can truly say
Together we're invincible
Together we're invincible

A shriek made Kyden's head swing around, searching for the face that belonged to the voice. She grinned widely when she saw Alia running towards her as fast as her little legs could go. "Hey Alia!" Ky exclaimed, returning the toddler's enthusiastic hug. She picked the smaller girl up and easily placed her on the bench. Ky listened to the little girl's excited giggles and laughter with one half of her mind, and with the other she listened for Tory's approach. So she was being a bit obsessive, that was fine. She was a teenage girl after all, and she had enough hormones running around in her to make her a little bit boy crazy. Still, she thought she was doing quite well, at least she wasn't sighing over everything he said. Yet. Yeah I don't sigh over everything, just nintey percent or so. Ky chuckled, turning more of her attention over to Alia to make sure she didn't bounce right off the bench. The girl was looking more awake than usual, which wasn't exactly a good thing. Alia was a handful even when she was half asleep, at a time likes this you could easily compare her to a rocket ready to shoot for the stars. Tory's going to be glad I came to help him, without me Alia would wear him down within an hour. Together we should last, what, maybe two? Kyden couldn't help giggling again, picturing the two of them slumped over from exhaustion with Alia skating circles around them. It wasn't totally improbable, unlike a lot of people, Alia didn't lose her hyperness after a little while, she just gained steam as time went on.

The girl was brought out of her amusing daydream when Tory sat down next to her, greeting her in his usual teasing manner. Ky made a face at him, pretending to be offended. Of course the charade didn't last long, and Ky giggled after only about ten seconds. Either Alia's high was rubbing off on her or she was softer than she had thought. "It goes well, love. And yes, I did have practice this morning. Two actually." She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead, trying to be as melodramatic as possible. "I think I'll live though, you and Alia will just have to keep me going." Ky said, grinning. She was definitely a jock. Not many people could even get through one of the practices she had had this morning, much less be alive enough to go ice skating afterwards. Ky didn't think much of it though, probably because she had been doing the practices for so long. If people who understood swimming talk heard what her practices were, they would call her crazy for doing them, and would insist that she check herself into a mental asylum if they heard what she did after them. But Ky didn't really care, if being herself meant being crazy, she was all for it.

Alia's excited squeal made Ky laugh, and she smiled down at the girl. "Good job! What'd you beat him in this time, Alia?" She asked, giggling again. Hanging out with Tory and Alia was pretty much the best. They kept her laughing her head off, and she always had good memories from their time together. Of course recently she had begun to covet time with them even more, but that was beside the point. Ky watched admiringly as Tory deftly helped Alia into her skates. She could keep the girl out of trouble, and that was about it. Anything else was pretty much beyond her, Alia was almost too energetic for Ky to handle, and that was saying something. It wasn't that Alia didn't like Ky, she actually liked her a lot, the toddler was just a very large handful, to say the least. Ky recovered quickly enough to realize that Tory had finished, and she scooped the girl up, balancing her on her hip. "You wanna learn how to skate now dear?" Ky asked the girl, unable to wipe the grin off her face. Just before she started to move off, Ky remembered that Tory wasn't ready yet, and turned around. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at the boy, she was going to have fun with this. "Come on Tory dear, Alia's never going to learn to skate if you take forever to tie your laces." Ky teased, bouncing Alia slightly to keep her happy. It's a good thing he knows how to skate, or I'd be so screwed. She thought, feeling slightly thankful. If she had to look after two people someone would definitely get hurt. But Tory was pretty good on the ice, so they could both concentrate on keeping Alia unhurt.

[Gah it's crappy, sorry.]

[tory]

XXXX

People marching to the drums,
Everybody's having fun to the sound of love,
Ugly is the world we're on
If I'm right then prove me wrong
I'm stunned {to find a place we belong}

Torn chuckled, "Two practices? If you can somehow transfer energy from her, please show me how. I need it." Shaking his head, he grabbed Alia from where she was trying to scramble off his lap, "You're insane, Ky."

"She got to you first, the little cheater. I had to get our skates" Tory smiled, "We were going to race to see who could find you first." He shrugged, setting Alianne on her feet and standing up, holding out a hand to Kyden and taking Alia with his other, "Shall we?"

Now Tory didn't really want to admit it, but he'd only been ice skating twice before. Both times he'd made a complete fool of himself by falling all over the ice, and went home wet and shivering. He wasn't very keen on repeating that experience, but since Alianne and Kyden were so into it, he didn't want to spoil their fun either. He figured he could at least use Alia as an excuse to stick to the edge and go v e r y slow.

"Lets get this over with," he muttered to himself, leading Alianne to the ice as she giggled and waved at everyone who looked at her. He himself got some funny looks, but he shook them off. Anyone who mattered knew that Alia wasn't actually his daughter, and anyone who cared knew that she would be, eventually. He did know that he'd be asked about the 'funny looks' later.

Che. Interogated more like it.

Alianne was the most perceptive little girl that Tory had ever known. One day, just before school restarted, she had asked him about the picture of his brother, her father, that he was packing up. Unable to give her a straight answer, even after going over with his mom what they would say when the time came that she asked about her parents, Tory dodged her questions for a full half an hour, when his mom finally came to pick Alia up. The conversation was perpetually on his mind ever since, how exactly did you tell a little girl that both of her parents were dead and you were her legal guardian, when you turned eighteen, that is.

Its terribly short, I know, but if I cut myself off here, you won't wait forever.....sorry. I'll be better about this next time.

[admin && kaelie [2]]

I've been awake for a while now
You've got me feelin' like a child now
'Cause every time I see your bubbly face
I get the tingles in a silly place

And it starts in my toes
And I crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes
I always know
That you make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Wherever you go

The rain is falling on my window pane
But we are hiding in a safer place
Under covers staying dry and warm
You give me feelings that I adore

Ky couldn't help but grin at Tory's words. She didn't bother denying them either, because it was pretty much true, and anyways, she had already lost this argument before. "This is true, but at least it keeps me busy." The girl replied, smiling lazily. It was just so easy to relax around him, she didn't have to pretend to be something she wasn't with him. Even though it would be kind of pointless to - since he knew her inside and out - it was nice that she wasn't ever tempted to. A giggle escaped her lips as she watched Tory basically wrestle with his young charge. It was entertaining, and cute. Ky knew all about Alia and her history, or at least most of it. The big thing was that Tory was going to be Alia's legal guardian when he was old enough, which was next year. It made her both proud of her friend, and sort of jealous at the same time. She knew it was ridiculous to feel that way since Alia was only a toddler, and related to Tory no less, but she couldn't stop herself. She knew that next year things were going to change - a lot - and it saddened her. Even if she wasn't going to have to go to college [she wanted to go to USF to be close to home, but her parents wanted her to go to UVA] Tory would have much less time to hang out because he would be looking after Alia. Still, they would find a way to spend time together, Ky knew that. And plus, this isn't a time for brooding on the future, it's for having fun right now. Ky reminded herself, feeling her happiness [and no little amount of hyperness] rise back up. She was going to enjoy this little adventure, she could save being upset for later.

Laughter broke free from the girl, and she just couldn't wipe off the wide smile that was planted on her face. "You're learning Alia!" Ky was aware that she wasn't exactly the picture perfect role model, but it didn't matter that much. Alia wasn't going to turn out bad just because she heard a couple of jokes when she was a toddler. When Tory reached out his hand towards her, Ky took it gently, working very hard not to look like an idiot. Whatever she did, she wasn't going to act any differently around him. Though Ky was the perceptive one of them, he wasn't a block of wood - or anywhere close - and he would pick up on differences in her actions. So she made herself be calm and normal, not letting on to how much the little contact excited her. Man was she falling hard. "We most certainly shall." She said, relaxing a bit. Her eye was caught by Alia's enthusiastic waves, greeting every stranger they came across. Ky knew full well what they looked like, but it didn't bother her that much. She had talked to Tory about this before, and she was in complete agreement with him: whatever some idiots thought didn't matter, because it wasn't the truth. With that the girl pushed the thoughts out of her head, concentrating instead on remembering how to skate. She knew how of course, and she was pretty good at it, but she hadn't been on the ice in awhile, and she didn't want to screw up. A muttered comment from Tory caught her attention, but she let it go. If he had wanted her to hear, he would've spoken louder.

As they stepped into the area surrounding the rink, shouts and squeals and laughter greeted Ky's ears. She grinned, feeling any apprehension leave her. Doing any sort of sport made her feel confident and sure, making her more comfortable than she might normally be. Skating was no exception, even though it was far from her best sport. She could still have fun with it, and it would be a good warm down from this morning. She let her hand slide slowly out of Tory's, freeing herself to step out on the ice. The first step was always the trickiest for her, she had to find her balance, and then she was set. A small push sent her gliding away from the entrance, and she grinned at the feeling: it was like she was flying. Remembering Tory and Alia, Ky turned, leaning more weight on her left foot to bring herself back to them. "You ready?" She asked both of them, her eyes already glittering with excitement. She was ready to race and leap and spin, but she knew she would have to take it slow. Alia didn't have any experience with this, and Tory was probably rusty. Ky held out a hand for both of them, feeling confident enough to trust her balance to her feet. The ice was pretty clean too, so that would help. There weren't any rough patches yet, so it would be easier to skate. Come on, come on, let's get started! She thought, egging them on silently.

[Done, kind of sucky, sorry.]

[tory]

XXXX

Don't wake me up
Baby I'm in love
And I'm dreaming so much
But I don't ever wanna stop
Don't wake me up

Tory smiled, he could control his blush easier now that Ky was no longer holding his hand. Not that he didn't miss the contact, but it would be awkward trying to explain why all of a sudden he was beet red and flustered. Grinning as he watched Ky glide over the ice, he urged Alia forward, intent on following her. Alia herself may have had other plans, though, because as soon as they stepped onto the ice, she latched onto his leg with a death grip he knew he'd have trouble breaking. Something was wrong, and he didn't like it.

Waving to Ky to go ahead without them, he didn't want to bother her if she enjoyed skating, after all, it was her idea. "What's wrong love?" He reached out and pulled his niece to him, kneeling at the edge of the ice, out of the way, "What's happened?" Waiting for her answer, he glanced around, looking for what could be the source of the problem. Not finding anything, he looked back to Alia, but she wasn't talking. In fact, the little girl looked absolutely petrified, staring out onto the ice.

Turning around, trying to figure out what the heck she could be looking at, he sighed. Shaking his head, he reaching over to tap Alianne on the nose, "We're sticking to the wall, you goose. No tricks like that. Not yet." Alia had a surprisingly horrible fear of falling. She could run and skip and all those other activities, but as soon as it came to the monkey bars or something a little more dramatic, she was shy and apprehensive. It was odd, but forgivable, as the young girl had had no major accidents to trigger such a response.

Smiling a little, he leaned in to whisper into her ear, "If it makes you feel better, Uncle Tory falls a lot when he skates. In fact, he's almost as new at it as you are." Hopefully his words would have the right affect on her and she would be a little more cheerful. He would consider anything that tore her eyes away from the two skaters doing all sorts of leaps and flips and spins a victory.

Anything but that clown.

As if his luck couldn't get any worse today. He hated clowns. With a passion. And Alia was positively terrified of them. This was just perfect. He had to keep her occupied and figure out how to get Ky to keep the clown away from them. A screaming, crying toddler wasn't something he had planned to deal with today, especially if he himself was dealing with his fear dislike of clowns.

eek, more short and lateness. sowwy!