Skylar~

The game drags on and I spend the entire time just talking with Vanessa about the dumbest things or watching the game. By the time the game is near done, I am much more awake despite still very much lacking sleep. I keep messing with my hair some, trying to get it to calm down, but eventually give up. The best I could get it to do was lie flat near the top but stick out nearly everywhere else. 

Before I know it, the game is ending and people are slowly making their way out of the gym. Moving to the side, I wait impatiently for people to finish leaving. Why can't these slowpokes take their conversations outside? I wonder to myself, not in the mood to wait much longer.

Finally, the gym is empty and I stretch before turning to Vanessa slightly. "Alright shortie, you go clean the bleachers while I take care of the booth." She gives me a look before answering. "Ohhh, okay so that's why you wanted to close up the booth. Give me the trash work." she says with a touch of sarcasm."I can do both if you really detest trash." I watch as Vanessa's eyebrow goes up as she gives me a questioning look. "You're being very uncharacteristically nice," comes her remark as her arms fold across her body. Smirking some, I shrug again, not having a huge reason for uncharacteristic behavior.

"Can't always be flirting, sometimes just being nice helps in getting people to like you. Don't get used to it," I answer with a shrug. "Am I supposed to like you now, then?" comes a playful response from the annoying not so annoying priss. Raising an eyebrow, I eye her for a moment. "Is it working?" Her gaze drops from mine as Vanessa shifts her weight back and forth between her feet. "Go clean the booth, stop stalling."

Just giving a smirk, I turn and walk off to clean up the ticket booth. Entering, I flip on the light and hum to myself as I look around. Picking up the trash, I start to thoroughly clean it out. It was beyond dirty and while I could've easily just left it alone, I felt that I might as well do a good job for once before going back to wrecking the school. Taking about 20 minutes to clean up, I wander off to wash my hands before returning to the gym.

Walking through the doorway, I call out, "Done! How're you doing?" Looking around, I find Vanessa sitting on the floor in front of the closed up bleachers. "About time. Did you get lost going two feet out the door?" Holding her hand out, she just looks at me expectantly. "Oh shut up, it was annoyingly dirty in there." I just look at her for a moment before grabbing her hand and pulling her up. "Lazy bones, come on." With the light sarcasm, she takes my hand to get up. "Sorry, my bones got kind of stiff sitting in here for fifty years waiting on you."

I roll my eyes some, letting go of her hand once she was up. I look around the gym, tilting my head slightly in question. "So, what's left?" Vanessa smiles as she answers me. "Anything a janitor would do. Clean the floors, put away any left out equipment, cry in the closet. You know, the usual." I make a slight face at this, more so because I didn't want to do anything else than actually having to clean the floors.

"Geez, glad to know we got assigned such an amazing job for the day," I grumble, not very pleased about this news. "Told you." She remarks in an annoyed tone that didn't really sound that annoyed. "I used to make fun of the people who had to do this job a couple years ago." Wandering away from the bleachers, I survey the gym to see what was left. "Well, now you know they work hard jobs." I murmur distracted. "'Walk a mile in someone else's shoes' much?" she remarks, following me for whatever reason. "Uh sure?" I'm not exactly versed in random sayings and such.

Vanessa just sighs "Okay, let's get this over with, so I can go back to sleep." Grinning, I hold up a hand as I lift my foot and lightly rest it on top of a basketball. "Not so fast, you still have to shoot a few." Flicking the ball up with my foot, I catch it and spin it in my hands. "Oh, right!" Vanessa smiles and raises her arms. "Okay, pass me it." Tossing it over, I bend over to snatch up another, dribbling that a bit. "Good luck," I muse watching the shorter girl.

Giving a half laugh she says, "I'll need it," before walking off. Pausing, she turns her head back to me, adding, "at first." Giving a wink, she turns around and keeps walking off, leaving me standing there in surprise. A small smile works its way onto my face as I watch her for a moment."Is that another challenge I hear?"

Without bothering to face me, she answers me. "Maybe." Stopping in front of the basket, she speaks again. "Now where do I stand?" Walking over next to her, I point to the free throw line, smirking some. "Stand there and uh well, good luck." Stepping back, I give her some space to shoot. 

"That's the second time you've wished me luck, do you not have faith in me?" Vanessa asks in mock offense. Grinning, I keep playing with the ball in my hands as I answer. "Not at all shortstack."

I watch as her eyes narrow in concentration. "Well then, let's see how wrong you are." Turning around, she throws the ball at the net, sending it way under the rim. Turning and looking at me instantly, she raises a finger. "That didn't count."

Chuckling some, I toss over the ball in my hands. "Take as many shots as you want sweetheart, I'll just clean up," I reply rather amused by this. Walking to the equipment closets, I open it and grab a couple brooms and start half heartedly cleaning up as I watch Vanessa take a few more shots at the basket. The next one hits the backboard and flies off, the one after that flies way over the entire back board.

Unable to help myself, I call out to her teasingly. "You missed again!" She shoots me a glare before throwing another at the basket. This one hits the rim and rolls around slowly before falling off the wrong side. Shooting another and this one falls in. Letting out a scream, I watch as Vanessa jumps up and down in excitement. "Ha! I got one!"

After cringing at the irritatingly loud sound, I can't help but give her a smile. "Huh, you did it. I'm shocked, only took like ten tries."
"Excuse me! That was like three!"
"Five."
"Okay, maybe. BUT the point here is that I made it."
"Can you sink three in a row?"
"That wasn't our deal."
"Try it anyway, unless it's to hard."
"Please."

I raise an eyebrow at her overly sarcastic and sure of herself tone and watch as she turns and tosses another shot. Rolling around the rim, I watch as it falls in slowly. "There's two."
"Uh no, that was one."
She sighs, "Fine." Throwing another, she misses but simply grabs another and shoots again. And again. They somehow both go in. "Okay, now there's two."
"This is newsworthy, I'm amazed," I tease spinning a ball in my hand as she prepares for another shot. "Don't patronize me, it's distracting." Hesitating, she takes a moment before shooting and once again, it falls through the net.

"Told you!!!" Vanessa hollers overly excited about this accomplishment. "Never underestimate the one, the only Vanessa Wellington!" I just roll my eyes, sinking my own basket. "Ugh, beginners luck."
"You're just bitter. You can't accept that I could actually do it."
"Maybe, maybe not. Bet you couldn't shoot if I were defending"
"You can't stand losing a challenge, can you?" Crossing her arms, she leans to one side as she studies me some.

Turning my head to the side, I just scowl some. "No, it's just fun to give challenges."
"Mhmm, okay. You still owe me a shopping spree, no matter how many more challenges you come up with."
"Damn, I was hoping you'd forget about that"
"I never forget about shopping."
"Clearly. Oh well, I still think shopping is boring"
"Because you haven't gone shopping with me yet. You'll love it. Or you'll hate it. Either way, you're going" she says with sarcastic know-it-all look. Rolling my eyes, I just tease her back. "Ugh, you're terrible. I'd rather sit in detention with you instead."
"Mm, that's unfortunate."
"Oh shut up, go clean the floor"
"Why me?"
"I didn't say you'd be alone, here." Handing her a broom, I smile and walk off to clean off the court.
"Thanks," comes her sarcastic smile as she drawls out her answer. "You're so very welcome," I muse sarcastically.

Cleaning the floors swiftly, we moved about to put things away. There really wasn't that much to clean up really and with two people the job got done a lot faster. By the time we finished everything and closed the gym up it was a bit after 5. Walking outside, we walk in the general direction of the other buildings in the fading light.

"Okay, so I take back what I said yesterday. This wasn't the worst way to spend a Saturday." Vanessa says, breaking the silence first. I eye her for a moment but find nothing but a genuine and relaxed attitude.  Giving a smile in return, reaching up to rub the back of my neck some. "Didn't think I'd ever say this, but I kind of have to agree with you there." She smiles at this,"Okay, don't get too touchy-feely. You hungry?"

Rolling my eyes, I slip my hands into my pockets. "Oh shut up, I hardly said anything. And I am." Giving half an eyeball, she checks her watch before turning to me. "Okay, okay. Well, are you sick of me yet, or do you want to go get something to eat?"

Blinking, I just look at her for a moment, surprised to hear such a request coming from her. "You aren't planning to kill me are you?" I ask with mock suspicion. "Well..." she pauses briefly, her tone becoming more playful. "Now that you mention it..." Pretending to think for a moment, she gives a smile."No, I'm not going to kill you. Besides, who would I cause chaos with if you were dead?" She decides, nudging my arm slightly. I only scoff, oh if only she knew. "I'm sure you'd find someone else in no time." She looks surprised at this but continues to tease me. "Oh? I thought you had more annoying self confidence than that."

Chuckling, I give her a side look. "You'd be surprised Wellington, you've barely hit the tip of the iceberg." I murmur with a slight shrug. Not wanting to delve into that especially with the girl next to me, I switch topics."But anyway, food. I'm hungry, yeah?
Green eyes narrow as she looks at me, not relaxing until a long moment later. "Right, we're almost there."
"Are your little friends going to be joining?" I ask, a bit wary.
Vanessa just starts to laugh at this. "Sorry, I'm not used to people calling them my friends," she explains, her laugh dying out some. "No, they won't be."
Just raising an eyebrow, I opt to just open the door for her. "After you then."
"Why thank you." she says walking in with a joking manner.

Somehow, our chat over dinner remains normal and we don't bicker very much if at all. I listen to Vanessa talk about her nanny, a woman whose name is Maria. I find out that she's really sweet and is overall a very happy type person. I find this bit of information rather amusing considering Vanessa isn't like that at all. I wonder, as she talks, how her nanny dealt with this problematic child.

Apparently there were two cats, Tom and Jerry which I found to be highly amusing. They were both Maria's cats but it seemed Vanessa saw them as her own as a child before getting sent off to school. Just resting my chin in the palm of my hand, I listen to the brown haired beauty chat away, not saying much for once. It's a strange feeling, to just be sitting and talking with someone with no motives of getting them into my bed. It is slightly nostalgic if anything.

As conversation slowly died out, I rise and toss out the trash, falling in step with Vanessa as we walk back to the dorms. Without saying much, we walk in silence again. It isn't uncomfortable which I find a little weird, usually silences are uncomfortable for me but it isn't to bad. As we make it to our building, I open the door, letting Vanessa enter before following after.

Walking up first flight of stairs, I stop at the first landing and turn towards Miss Popular The First, my hands shoved into my pockets. Jerking an elbow to the right, I shuffle in the direction some. "Alright, well, I usually go this way than up the stairs. S'pose I'll catch you Monday." Vanessa just shrugs, "I'll walk with you." Stopping abruptly, I twist my body in surprise as I look at her in surely disbelief. "You-what?"

I watch as she just stands there confidently, speaking to me in such causal terms. Since when did our interactions become so casual? I wonder silently as she answers. "Why not? I barely ever wear comfortable shoes, so it wouldn't hurt to take a few extra steps."

"I...just wasn't expecting that offer." Spinning around, I walk off, leaving her to follow. I don't notice her smile as she falls in step with me. "Don't get used to it." I half scoff, half snort and glance over. "I most certainly will not"
"Good. Can't let you get the idea that I'm a nice person or something outrageous like that," she jokes.
"I'll certainly mock you for it later"
"I'm sure you will."

It doesn't take long for us to make to the top of the stairs and we exit near my room. Shifting over to my door, I look over at Vanessa, feeling vaguely awkward for once. "Well, I guess I've enjoyed your company. Thanks?" She smiles in return, "You weren't the worst to hang out with either, even if you made me throw a basketball around for an hour. Which I totally rocked, just by the way." I laugh, nodding my head in agreement, "Yeah, yeah, I know you did."

"And don't you forget it," she says playfully before shifting to a calmer demeanor. I relax in response to Vanessa's demeanor shifting. "Alright, well let's not do the whole lingering at the door thing. I'll see you later." I say with a smile. "Pfft, like you'd let me. Anyhow yeah, bye?"  Vanessa smiles once again before turning and walking off normally.

I watch as she walks off, disappearing around the corner before I disappear into my own room. Kicking off my shoes, I walk over to my bed and flop down, looking up at the ceiling. Well, today was quite interesting. I think to myself.

To see a completely different side of the school's Miss Popular girl isn't something I encounter everyday. To me, it seems even when she was with the underclassmen, she didn't come off as carefree as she had today. Tapping my foot, I thought about that for a short while. Too tired to really try and think things out, not that I was much of that kinda person in the first place, I sat up.

"Guess she's not too shabby when she isn't being annoying." I say aloud. Standing, I pull off my shirt and walk into the bathroom, stripping down to shower. I spend the rest of the evening unpacking some more, sorting things and getting rid of more boxes. I made a note to get a TV in here along with a couch tomorrow.