Stumbling in the Dark -Open

[SHAYLA ELIZABETH FREEMARK]

It was early in the morning when Shayla woke up. If she ever really fell asleep, she wasn't sure. She couldn't remember anything that seemed like a dream. Either way the hands on the clock had moved, and time had passed. She'd tried to lay in bed, and go back to sleep. Things where happening inside of her mind though, so much to the point that she couldn't sleep. She sighed, sitting in her bed still even though she was awake. She'd spent the night in her apartment, for once. Her grandmother had told her she should at least be here one night a week, and she'd been spending to much time at the beach house. Now back in her own home, she didn't feel at home. The place was queit and cold, there was no one and nothing else alive here to keep her company. Shayla secretly wished her little sister would come and live with her. Piper would bring some energy into this place. Even if that would only help Piper to keep up with her delision, that Shayla was her mother instead of her older sister. Sometimes Shayla wished she could be her mother, so she could disown there mother, it would make there lives less complicated.

Thinking about these things made Shayla feel jittery, as if she should be doing something. So Shayla pulled herself out of bed, and got out of bed. She looked around her tidy apartment, she smirked. The fact it was so clean, was a sign that she didn't really spend much time her. Shayla moved around the apartment, touching somethings as she walked. She decided she was sick of her apartment, and didn't care if it was still dark outside. She moved to her closet, and shed her nightgown. She quickly pulled on some clothes. They where light so she knew she'd be cold for now, but once the sun was up that wouldn't be the case. She didn't think about putting shoes on, she just opened her door left, closing the door and the emptiness behind her.

Shayla stumbled around for a little bit, not doing anything really. Just walking around. It was about three am, so not many people where out and about. Shayla still kept walking, never stopping for anything. She just kept moving, around the city. Looking around in the dark, wondering about all the people and different things. She sighed, and kept walking. She was just starting to think about going back home, and back to bed when she ran into something. At first Shayla thought it was a wall or something she hadn't seen, but when she put her hands on it, she noticed it was a person. "Oh," she said. Looking up to see who she'd run into.

[JASON CHARLES KENNETH]

Jason couldn't sleep. He'd crawled into bed at midnight, and just tossed and turned for two hours. The night wasn't too hot, which was good, and he was tired but his mind just didn't want to shut off and let him sleep. By 2 am he'd had enough. The blond male pushed himself up and looked around the little apartment. The place was small, one room for a bedroom, livingroom, kitchen. The only thing that was seperate was the bathroom. He could definitely be livign somewhere better for the same price, but this building was the closest to the beach. Jason didn't have anyone here with him in Barcelona, but as long as he had the ocean he would keep his sanity.

He turned his head toward the open balcony door and smiled. Jason could hear the waves from here, it was perfect. If he stood out on his balcony, the breeze would even bring the scent of saltwater, and the sound of seagles during the day.

The boy had done all of his studying for one day, and it was just too late for him to injest any more information. So he pulled on a dark blue wifebeater, a pair of shorts, and running shoes. He ran a hand through his hair and grinned at himself in the mirror. A run would do him good, and maybe by the time he finished his body would be too exhausted to kee him up. So he grabbed his i-pod, changed the settings to shuffle then headed out.

For the first half hour he ran randomly, not really paying attention to where he was going. But it was fine, if he got lost he could simply ask someone how he could get back to his home. Jason had originally come here for a one year spanish program offered by his university, and then had decided to stay. He spoke the language damn good, so he wasn't worried. As he ran, all of the tension he didn't know he'd been holding in slowly left his body, slipping from him and melting into the pavement.

He left his thoughts long enough to look around. With a smile he realized that he'd taken himself to that nice little place inside the city. It was damn quiet here, and if he couldn't see the taller buildings off in the distance, he'd think he'd entered a village. This part of Barcelona seemed almost as if it had stopped evolving along with the rest of the city. Gardens were scattered everywhere, and the buildings looked much older. Jason loved it here. There was a place not too far off that made the best gelato. He wondered if they were closed at this hour. He turned a corner and found himself coliding with something.

Good thing his run had slowed to a jog, because he would have knocked her over otherwise. Jason automatically started speaking in Spanish, "Oh, I'm very sorry! I didn't see you..." A worried look crossed his bright blue eyes, "Are you hurt?"

[SHAYLA ELIZABETH FREEMARK]

Barcelona, was a city that in the day time was full of life. Everyone was running around, and things where always being done. There was always music and color and life around the city, in the day time. In the night though, the city changed, or so Shayla was thinking. There was no music now, no people running about, the colors where all lit by the moon and in doing so poorly shown. The heat was also missing, it was there of course a little bit. But it was nothing like the blistering days that Shayla had come to know and love around the city. It was colder then she was used to. As Shayla walked around she was wishing she'd thought to throw on first some shoes, and possibly some longer shorts. Still she wasn't about to go back now that she was walking she was enjoying it to much for that.

The night time, was something of a rare treat for Shayla. She was normally to tired by the end of her day, to last until nightfall. So to have the dark around her was something special she felt like she was getting a gift. She sighed, and smiled a little bit. It wasn't cold enough for her to see her breath. It would never be that cold in Barcelona she thought a little bit of sadness in her voice. She couldn't very much miss what she'd never known. It was thoughts like that, that made her mind go off somewhere else that was the reason she walked into the person, she was now noticing was male. Shayla had bumped into him, and blinking, and put her hands on his chest, trying to catch her balance. Now she had her balance, and herd what he was saying. She was glad that she knew Spanish, so she could understand. She looked at him, and shook her head, "I'm fine," she said in English, wondering if he knew the language. She knew Spanish enough to understand what was said, speaking was another thing though.

Shayla realized she'd been holding onto his shirt for a few moments past awkward now. She blinked, and let go. "Oh I'm sorry," she said looking at him. She looked at him from top to bottom, so he was out running at this time? She wondered, but didn't say anything. "I was just going to beach, I'm sorry for running into you," she told him, not really sure why.

[JASON CHARLES KENNETH]

The second thing he noticed after seeing that she was female was that she was very pretty. In fact gorgeous. She spoke in english that she was alright, and his expression went from concern to charm. "Well...I didn't expect to hear English at 3 am in Barcelona..."

Of cours Blaine spoke english, but the other male wasn't crazy enough to be up at 3 am. Wait, that was a lie. Blaine was probably awake right now, so his words were a bit of a lie. Ah well, it wasn't a purposeful lie nor was it a big one, so he didn't bother taking the words back. Though his body was pumping adrenaline like mad from his run and then the shock of bumping into another human body, he'd felt how she held on to his shirt. And he realized just how long it'd been since he'd had anyone touch him. He was so close to graduating, and training was tougher than ever. Jason hadn't had time for any lovers.

He gave her his lop-sided, "california-boy" smile and absently ran a hand through his messy blond hair.

"How about I escort you to the beach...to make it up to you..." He wasn't trying to pick her up, though that would be a bonus, but he was just being nice. Maybe if the ice cream place was open they could both get some ice cream too. "I was headed for a little ice cream shop close to here, checking if it's open at this hour, could we go there and then I could take you to the beach?"

He was done his run and the beach was right by his house, it was convenient and he'd have the company of a beautiful young girl! His night had sure turned for the better!

[SHAYLA ELIZABETH FREEMARK]

Shalya looked at him, when he spoke. She blushed for a second, and gave a little laugh. She was smiling though, it was just her nerves. "I didn't think I'd see anyone out this late," she said looking at him. She hadn't really seen anyone else while she'd been walking around. It'd been nice in an artys way, but now she realized it made her feel lonely. She watched him, he was cute no doubt about that she thought. "Sorry I'd offer to speak spanish, but my accent is horrible." she tried to make a joke out of the truth. She wasn't someone who was sure how this sort of stuff worked. So she just stood there, with a smile on her face, hoping her blush would fade. Maybe it was to dark to see it,m but she knew there was enough light around to tell he was a blond, there probably was.

"Well," she said biting her lip when he offered to take her to the beach. She looked around, would it be safe? "I guess it couldn't hurt," she said looking at him. "With no one else around, this is quiet lonely," she said looking at him. She wouldn't mind having someone new it her. Besides she got good vibes off of him. She looked at him, "It's a little late for ice cream don't you think?" she asked, she wasn't saying no though. She was just trying to poke a little bit of fun at him. Truthfully she was glad to have someone walking with her, "I'm Shayla, by the way." she said looking at him. She turned herself so she was by his side instead of them staring at each other. "Now which way are we going?" she asked him, blushing a little bit she felt awkward and stupid.

[JASON CHARLES KENNETH]

"It's never too late for ice cream!" He said and laughed softly. He didn't want to wake any of the families sleeping nearby. Even in November most of the city's citizens kept their windows open. And it was true, Jason could have ice cream at any time of the day. When she asked where they were going, he smiled and motioned with his chin before starting to walk alongside her.

"It's nice to meet you Shayla. I'm Jason

[/color]" He turned his body slightly and walked sideways while offering her his hand to shake. He was still pumped with adrenaline, therefore he seemed a little more excited than he situation called for. Jason didn't care. He was being friendly, and if she didn't like his company she could always leave.

They reached the shop and he grinned when finding that the lights were on. A couple of boys were seated at one of the round tables outside the shop, feeding each other ice cream. Jason smirked then averted his gaze. He motioned for her to go into the shop first, then followed behind. What sort of ice cream did he want? He'd planned on deciding on his way here, but he'd been distracted by his encounter with Shayla. He doubted they would have the 'super kid' ice cream, so he'd have to go with the coffee flavour. But damn he had to stop calling it ice cream, it was gelato, and gelato was different.

"Did you want any? And if so what flavour?"

He planned on paying and would disregard any argument against it. Jason was a gentleman, and he wanted to make up for running into her. Neither of them had been paying attention, but Jason had always been careful with the ladies. When it came to guys he was quite different. Jason was quick to start conflicts, and he could jump to insults quite quickly. [/size][/blockquote]

[SHAYLA ELIZABETH FREEMARK]

Shayla looked at him, she smiled, "Well I suppose you have a point," she said with a smile. The night while it was cold to her, it wasn't cold. In fact it was quiet warm. Barcelona never really cooled down enough to be cold. She smiled, as he started to walk she started to follow him. Walking by his side, she had to pay attention to where they were since she wasn't sure where they where going. She relaxed a little bit, when she learned his name. "Jason that's very American," she said as she walked along side him. Not that Shayla was any better, in fact her name wasn't really anything other than American she thought.

Shayla paused at the door, nervous, before she noticed he was behind her. She stepped into the store, it was very cute or so she thought. She noticed the couple in the shop, she smiled at it. They where cute together she thought, it was sweet. She wasn't someone who cared about that, Love was all that matter. She was snapped out of her thoughts when Jason asked her. "Umm, I think, Strawberry," she said with a small smile. She loved strawberries. She started to think about the money, she had a little bit of some in her pocket. She started to pull it out, she wasn't going to ask him to buy her ice cream when they'd just met.

"Here you go," she said handing him the money she had in her pocket. "I hope it's enough, if not I could run home and get some," she said blushing with nerves. She was so silly, she couldn't even talk to a boy, she sighed and looked at him. But she couldn't do that for wrong, and ended up looking down at the floor.

[JASON CHARLES KENNETH]

He chuckled at her comment, blowing some stray blond hairs out of his eyes, "Well I'm a very American guy!" He had to force himself to think about something else to keep from remembering California and missing him. Jason had been doing that a lot lately, just sitting there and moping, missing everything.

"Are you from the States?"

They were in the shop and she said she wanted the strawberry. When she mentioned money, Jason's brows pulled together slightly. He gently pushed away the hand holding the money, trying to be polite and not offensive in any way, "I'll pay. Don't worry about it." His lips curved into that lop-sided boyish grin again and before she could say anything he turned to the person behind the counter and ordered coffee for himself and strawberry for her. He then snatched a bill from the pocket of his shorts and handed it to the middle aged man. Jason then commented with a grin on how great it was that they were open this late. He could switch so quick from english to spanish, that he sometimes failed to notice.

The man handed him the gelato and Jason thanked him, grinning again, "Here you go m'lady" His tone was playful, almost enthusiastic as he handed her the strawberry gelato in a cup with a little plastic spoon. He figured she didn't want to sit around, so he lead the way outside and then down the street toward where he lived. Luckily he knew where this neighbourhood was in comparison to where he lived, so he could get them to the beach quite easily.

"I hope you don't mind that we didn't sit...I figured you had to be on your way...and I have work in the morning..."