Graceful People For The Win

Who: Thom and Leija
When: afternoon
Where: Woodridge Ave, and around

Leija was bound and determined to learn this town before school started. She was going to do it, whether her father really wanted her wandering around or not. She was a valkyrie, for fuck's sake, she got called to the most dangerous corners of the world almost daily, she thought she could handle what Marquette had to throw at her. Nevermind that no one could see her when she was in those places. That wasn't the point. She had wings of fire. So, after an argument that kind of went nowhere, she'd huffed out of the house, earbuds firmly in her ears. She shouldn't be mad at him, really, he just worried about her, but it was so stifling. Even after the adventure (ha) she'd had with Caleb the night before, she felt like she was suffocating. So Leija just started to walk, glowering at the sidewalk in front of her and not paying the least bit of attention to where she was really going.

Thom was heading home, guitar in its case slung over his shoulder. And today he was making a point to avoid anywhere that Kaysen could possibly be. A damn point! That involved him taking a completely different way home and no he wasn't going to just happen to turn down there. Because that wouldn't be avoiding, that would be happening to go in precisely the right direction, dammit! In disgust with himself, he determinedly turned round and walked the other way, knowing it would take him twice as long to get home - but he wouldn't see Kaysen! Result! Of course, he didn't actually expect his sudden turn to mean that he walked headlong into the girl coming the other way, but...

Leija saw a split second of shoes before she was running forehead-first into something warm and yeilding and taller than her. The rest of her body followed milliseconds after and she made a little "mmph" sound into the chest that had just seconds ago been empty air. One of her earbuds popped out. She bounced back rather quickly -- as was the thing to do when you'd suddenly upped your Male Proximity Experience by a thousand -- and looked up at who she'd run into with wide blank eyes. Her cheeks immediately flushed pink, bringing her freckles out into sharp relief. Oh god. Oh god, stupid stupid -- "I'm sorry," she said quickly, reaching up to pull the other tiny music-pumping device out of her left ear.

Thom was, by this point, already apologising, his words overlaying her. "Are you alright?" he asked her - again, once his words weren't being lost in hers. "I'm sorry - I wasn't looking where I was going." Which had been the point, really - he'd been trying to go a different way. He just hadn't intended to walk into someone else doing it!

He looked like a Beatle, but ohmygodcute and she'd literally just plowed right into him like a rude bitch. Leija blushed harder and shook her head, waving off his apologies. "No, it's okay. I mean, yes, I'm alright, it's okay, I wasn't looking either, no big deal," she rambled. Then laughed in a nervous sort of stupid way. God, she was going to have to find a crack in the sidewalk to sink into and disappear. "Are you?"

He watched as she babbled and flailed a little, vaguely amused. "Yeah - I'm fine. Really. Totally my fault," he reassured her. He paused and decided that he needed to cut through all of this. "I'm Thom by the way," he said - introductions! Great way of getting over embarrassment.

It was something of a relief, she had to admit. She made a move to tuck some red hair that was already tucked behind her ear and instantly hated herself. Gawd, he was going to think she was totally brainless. And with zero depth perception. "I'm Leija," she said with a nod. "Yes, like the Star Wars princess, but no, spelled differently. Hi."

"And without the buns for hair, right?" Thom joked, and then inwardly cringed. Bad, bad, terrible joke. He should be taken out and shock. Really he should - god, what on earth would she think?

She pretty much thought that she brought that on herself for mentioning it in the first place. But Leija smiled through it and reached up to pat the sides of her head. Thusly probably adding to the dorkitude of the situation. "Nope, no buns," she confirmed. "Though they would possibly come in handy if one didn't have time for breakfast." Yup. Totally not ever coming out of her room again. At least it would made dad happy.

He laughed almost with relief at that - at least she was with him on the bad joke thing. "I guess you hear that kind of thing all the time, eh?" he asked, reaching up to heft his guitar back onto his shoulder - it had slipped slightly when they'd walked into one another.

"Unfortunately, yeah," she agreed with a little chuckle. She glanced as he moved, not even having noticed that he was carrying a guitar. Now he really looked like a Beatle. "It's okay though, at least people don't forget it easy. Are you a wandering minstrel?" she asked, nodding to the shoulder she could see part of the guitar over.

"A wandering minstrel?" he asked, then caught on to what she was saying. "Oh - the guitar? No - not so much. I was in the park - met some friends there. And the guitar helps pass the time. I spend most of my time there during the summer, actually." Home was boring - his mom was out and there was only so much tv a guy could watch before going insane. As much as he couldn't believe that it would come to this, Thom was actually almost looking forward to going back to school.

She smiled just a touch as he was confused, and concluded from what he said that he probably always had his guitar with him. She'd known some people like that. She should probably be apologizing again and heading around him and on her way to go brood, but she was not. "That's cool," she said. "Maybe I should bring my violin sometime, we could compete for quarters." Leija -- most definitely feeling like a dork -- gave him a little grin.

"You play the violin?" Thom asked, blinking slightly - and suddenly looking a hell of a lot more interested. Anything to do with music generally successfully got Thom's attention. "How long have you been playing for?" he added.

Leija looked vaguely surprised at his change in demeanor and nodded. Yes, she played. "Since I was about seven," she said with a little nose-wrinkle. Not that she didn't love it, it was just one of those things she'd been strongarmed into when she was little. "So ten years. How long have you been playing?"

"Piano since I was six, guitar I picked up about seven years ago," he shrugged. Piano had been his mom's idea, the guitar was solely his. "And my friends and I have had a band for about a year now - so these days I do more with the guitar than piano." Though, that said, if they were going to get regular gigs, then maybe he could start bringing in his keyboard more - that always added a nice sound to some of the numbers, but right now, when they were just playing small parties, it hardly seemed worth it - and usually they didn't have the space. It was definitely worth bringing up...

One eyebrow lifted as Leija listened. "I've played piano just as long as violin," she informed him, without an ounce of snobbery. "I kind of prefer it, actually, it's just not nearly as portable. What kind of music does your band play?" Because if there was something good to listen to? Count her in. Concerts were probably the only function she'd willingly go to.

"All sorts - our own stuff, mostly." By which he meant 'always, unless we get really pushy requests', but Thom tended towards modesty, even though his tone was definitely proud. "Actually, we're gonna be playing a party that's coming up..." He realised that he didn't actually know where. Or when - Isaac had been particularly vague on that front. "Soon - this weekend or early next week. Do you know David Blair?" he asked, figuring that she might do, since she was around the same age as he was, even though he didn't recognise her. Though Thom didn't know everyone. Most people, sure - but not everyone.

She smirked a bit, as he didn't really answer. They could be a bluegrass band for all Leija knew. But that was okay, because he launched into something that kind of sounded not quite like an invitation because there was no way in hell that it really was. She shook her head, and then successfully tucked some hair behind her ear that had escaped. "No, I just moved in like ... two days ago," she informed him. "I know all of one person so far."

Thom raised an eyebrow - that would be why he didn't recognise her then. Heh. "Okay, so you're not gonna know David Blair then," he allowed with a slight smile. "You going to be starting at the high school this semester?" he asked her.

Leija nodded and smiled slightly. "Junior. Do you still go?" she asked back. 'Cause honestly? Just something about the way he carried himself did not scream out High School Dude to her. But. She could be wrong; he still looked kind of young in the face. Aside from being very cute. In the face. And everywhere else she wasn't looking at. Dammit.

Thom chuckled a little. "Yeah, I'll be starting in my senior year," he told her. "So, you should come to the party - if you're new in town, it should be a great way of getting to know people." Of course, it didn't help at all that Thom hadn't the first clue when, or even where it was. Not that that prevented him from inviting her anyway.

She blushed lightly. Again. Either her luck had absolutely changed in this new town or ... well, the other foot was going to drop really soon. Two invites to social gatherings in as many days. Both by guys. How could she really say no to those? It was enough to give a girl an ulcer. "Okay," she said quietly. "When and where?"

Wasn't that the question? Shit - he had no idea. None at all. "Hold on!" he told her, taking out his cell phone and dialling Isaac's number - only to find it went straight to answerphone. Damn. And he didn't have David Blair's number either. He turned back to Leija a little sheepishly. "I dunno," he admitted. "But - look, give me your number and I'll call you when I do know. If you want, that is," he offered.

Leija stared at him for a beat. It's just for a party, stupid. He just wants people to come and hear his band, don't be an idiot. She cleared her throat and told him her phone number. "I don't have a cell here yet, that's my house phone. If my dad picks up, just ... try not to sound like a psycho killer, or he'll totally lock me in my room all year." She offered a faint smile.

Thom raised an eyebrow. "Do I sound like a psycho killer so far?" he asked, his eyes dancing slightly. "Just so I know whether I have to put on an act or not, of course. I wouldn't like to get you grounded."

She couldn't help but smirk a little. "You could just be a terribly clever psycho-killer. So who knows, right?" She was a little surprised to find that she'd entirely forgotten about the anger she'd been brooding on when she'd stepped out of a house. Looking like a clumsy idiot did that to a person, she guessed. Leija glanced behind herself, in the way he'd been going. "Guess I'm in your way still, huh?" she said quietly.

He shrugged. "I didn't really have a way, so you couldn't be in it," he assured her. "I was... avoiding someone. Finding a new route home," he explained.

Wow, and now it seemed that everyone in this town had a mortal enemy too. Or something. She wondered briefly if it was the same girl. "Psycho ex-girlfriend?" she suggested with an arched eyebrow, looking amused.

"No, the psycho ex-girlfriend actually moved on a while ago. Best friend's annoying little sister," he offered instead - which was the truth, but not necessarily the whole truth. Kaysen was his best friend's little sister. And she was annoying. But that wasn't why he was avoiding her.

Well, at least he hadn't gotten all huffy or anything. Leija chuckled softly. "Well, good luck, I guess. Though in my experience, annoying little sisters tend to find you no matter where you are. Even if they belong to somebody else. 'Cause I don't have one, but cousins are pretty close. I was just ... wandering I guess." Not that he asked what you were doing, dummy.

"Wandering's good - there's not really a whole lot else to do round here," Thom told her. "So. You said that you'd only been here a few days? Does that mean you don't know your way around then?" he asked.

"I'm learning," she said with a small shoulder-shrug. "But I don't really know where anything is. Except for the park. And the school, we drove by it." And once Leija saw where something was, she remembered it forever. It was one of those tiny doesn't-even-make-up-for-all-the-shitty-stuff perks.

"Well - would you like a bit of a tour?" Thom asked. Because, really? Talking like this was doing an awesome job of stopping his feet finding Kaysen. Truly fabulous. "I mean, not the whole town, but some of it? Maybe?"

There was another one of those hesitant beats in which she stared at him. Then she laughed a little and re-tucked her hair. Ugh, she had to stop doing that. "Um, sure," she said, nodding a bit. She tucked her ipod earbuds into her pocket and gave him a smile. "Anything and everything would be helpful."

"Great," Thom told her with a smile. "Do you have time now? From your busy schedule of wandering, that is? We could head over to the college campus, then maybe loop round and back. There's not a whole lot of town to see, but I'll attempt to make it vaguely interesting."

"I think I can pencil you in," she joked. Oh yeah. Hella-cute smile. "I'll just have to push back some other wandering. So make it good." Leija grinned a touch and waited for him to lead the way. Maybe today wouldn't suck terribly afterall. Stranger things had happened.

Thom started them down the street, walking at a casual pace as he mentally mapped out the route they'd take, just to make sure it was Kaysen proof. Just in case. "So, where've you moved here from then?" he asked her, glancing across at her as they walked. She was pretty, in a kinda quirky way.

Leija followed along with him, glad she'd at least worn sneakers this time. The bottom of her foot hurt a little from the splinter she'd picked up the night before, but she didn't really care much. Or any, honestly. "From a small crap-ass town in Pennsylvania," she said, shooting him a wry little smile. "It's called Wilkes-Barre. I had -- have -- family there. Have you lived here forever?"

"Ever and a day - born here, knowing my luck I'll die here," Thom shrugged, ignoring the little voice in the back of his head that whispered that that all depended on Kaysen's ambitions. He did not even want to think what would happen if she decided to leave. And he had to follow her. Nightmare, total screaming nightmare. "I've never been to Pennsylvania - what's it like there? And what brought you here?" he asked. Look at him, being all question guy - made a change from his usual silence, at least.

"Ah, it's cold," she offered with a soft laugh. Though it was supposedly even more cold here, so that wasn't going to be impressive. Not that anything could be impressive about good 'ole W-B, PA. Nope. "There's lots of coal mines. The mountains are pretty, but most of the people are assholes. That's what happens when you live in a little bitty valley your entire life, I guess." She shrugged a shoulder, casting him another glance. "Do you like it here? Not that ... you've got a lot of comparison, but ... "

"Cold? You haven't seen cold until you've been here over winter," Thom laughed. "By next April you will never want to hear the term 'lake effect' ever ever again," he added. "But yeah, it's not bad - quiet and pretty. You've probably noticed the 'pretty' by now though. Don't have a whole lot of much but scenery."

Leija had definitely noticed the scenery. ... which made her all but snicker out loud. She didn't, just smiled and nodded. "Well it'll kinda be like ... a more hellish version of home, then," she said lightly. "The Pocono mountains were pretty too. Just a less-lakey kind of pretty." She was certainly looking around, though, making note of every street they crossed.

"So, you've basically swapped one middle of nowhere for a slightly wetter middle of nowhere - with worse winters then?" he suggested. "On the upside - the people are probably nicer round here. So, why did you move?"

"That's pretty much it, yeah. And they have been so far," she commented, because it was true. Two people inviting her to stuff in less than 24 hours? She hadn't had many friends back 'home', just a slew of cousins to hang around with when she decided she could stand them. "My dad got a job offer over here. He teaches music, 16th century classical, to be precise, so ... he's going to be a professor at the university." She rolled her eyes a touch.

"Really? Wow - that's really kinda cool," Thom said - apparently missing the whole eye-rolling thing. Lesson number one about Thom - if it had the word 'music' in it, he was interested. It was a sliding scale that started at 'paying attention' and ended at 'overly geeking' - right now, he was somewhere towards the lower end, but that could quickly change. "So, music runs in your family then?" he asked her. "With you playing violin and piano and all?"

"On my dad's side," she said, sure to put that in there. Her mother had been more of the literary type, from what Leija could gather from her journals. Some of the imagry in there was ... beautiful. She, however, had seemed to lean more towards the musical end of everything. "My grandmother played concert cello. That was where she met my grandfather, he was a conductor." Yup, the Music Geek in her blood ran deep. She neglected to mention that she wrote as well as played. Because then he might ask to hear it or something equally humiliating.

"Wow - your house much have been a great place to grow up," Thom said, his mind wandering off on a day dream of musical evenings and everybody playing and a household where success was judged in notes rather than grades and 'professional musician' was actually a realistic career choice. He practically sighed, though he managed to stop himself at the last minute. "If anyone in my family's musical, it's not my mom's side. And I never knew my dad, so..."

Leija was looking up at him and saw that glassy-eyed dreamy look on his face. She wasn't sure if she should be amused or not, but she was. Her life? Anything but glamorous. "I never knew my mom either," she answered quietly. Since he'd admitted to it first, sort of. There was an empathy amongst those who'd lost a parent, whichever way it had happened. She was quiet for a moment. "And granddaddy was dead by the time I was born, so ... I didn't really get to learn much from him."

"I'm sorry," he said, the conversation suddenly seeming to have turned serious. "So, it's just you and your dad then?" he asked her. "It's just been me and mom since, well, ever since I can remember really. Her parents died when I was still a kid. I have some cousins, but they're like the other side of the country or something - hardly ever see them." Thom was of the opinion that was because his mom's protected was still around here. She couldn't talk about it, of course, but he figured that half the time when she said she was working late, she was doing nothing of the sort. There was just simply no way to find out - and he wasn't going to push, or try. She was the only family he had, after all.

"Yeah, just me and my dad," she echoed. Her mother was there in spirit, somehow, but ... she was completely unreachable to Leija. There was no one there to comfort or answer the questions that hadn't been even posed in the journals. There was so much about herself that she didn't know, and everything was still so new and so raw ... Leija blinked hard and smoothed her features over. She would steadfastly not think about all that bullshit right now. "But that's okay, we usually get along okay. All my cousins are back in PA, and it's really pretty much a relief to be away from them for a while." She chuckled.

Thom watched her, suddenly realising he'd hit a sore spot. And so he did what any teenaged guy would do - he changed the subject. "So, there's not a whole lot to do in town, but it sounds like you're used to that kind of thing," he said as they walked along the edge of the college campus. "So, here we have NMU - my aim for this year is to get the band playing here. Which would be so cool." For so many reasons - not least of which was that even Thom got excited about the idea of getting a foot in the door at college parties. Though not many people would know it to look at him.

Leija was fine with a subject change. Subject changes were for the good, especially when the subject being changed was family. She looked at the part of campus they were passing, nodding. She would probably learn it fairly well, if her dad was going to teach here. Once he was engrossed in work -- god, she couldn't wait for that to start -- he sometimes forgot to eat and stuff. So. She could foresee herself bringing food to him a lot. "It looks nice, she commented, then glanced up at him again. "Do you plan to go when you graduate?" It was a dumb getting-to-know-you question, but she was still pretty new to this whole ... talking to people thing.

"That all depends. On who wins - me or my mom. She's always wanted me to go away to college. I have this fund thing, and I have the grades, so... But, I dunno - I have a feeling that I'm gonna end up here," he shrugged. He was a lot more certain of that now. Telling his mother that he couldn't leave Marquette for at least another three years, if he toned it just right, the conversation would be over before it began. It was strange - he'd never wanted to go away, but now that he was faced with the fact that very possibly he couldn't go? He was starting to feel the missed opportunity.

"Hm," she said. That sounded a little backwards to her; didn't mothers always want their children close by? Not that ... she knew or anything. Yeah. "Well, whatever floats your boat I guess," she said amiably. He'd stated that he liked it here, after all. Maybe some people were just small-towners all their lives. "I want to travel, myself, but ... this doesn't seem like too bad of a place to come back to." She paused. "Daddy kind of wants me to go to music school, but I dunno. It's all still up in the air, y'know?"

"Music school?" Thom asked her. "You that good?" He'd never considered it, not seriously - he'd always read music school as being for classical types, which, whilst interesting and diverting, wasn't where his real passion lay. In all honesty, he'd be quite happy skipping college altogether and just trying to make it in the music business - and that required talent that didn't need a degree attached to it.

"Ech, I don't think so," Leija said with a shrug. "He does, but ... it doesn't really feel like what I want to do, y'know? I can't see myself standing around for the rest of my life, teaching music theory or history or being stuck in some stuffy orchestra." Not to mention, that might draw far too much attention to her. Leija needed a low profile, honestly, in order to fulfill what she had to do. And bailing in the middle of a lecture would not be keeping a low profile.

"So, what do you see yourself doing then?" He asked as he turned them away from campus and down to loop round and back to the park. The day was hot and sticky and he could feel his guitar beginning to rub against his shoulders.

Robbing museums with Caleb, she thought with an internal chuckle. "Honestly, right now, I haven't the foggiest," she said with a quiet laugh. Aside from flying all around the earth to watch people die. That was going to be a constant. And it wasn't like -- from what her mother had written -- she didn't have a lot of time to figure herself out. Leija blinked at the still-startling revelation that this guy would be an old old man (if he lived that long) and she would probably still look about 25. It was very hard to wrap one's head around. "You?"

"Wishes or reality?" Thom asked, echoing her laugh. Because for him the two would be very different things. Which was something he'd known, but never really stopped to appreciate until the last couple of days. He'd never get to do the things he wanted to do - he could have his life, but it had to be within limitations and his dreams just didn't fit within those. Not the way he wanted them to, anyway.

"Both?" Leija suggested, looking over at him. She seemed more interested in his face now than the scenery. "Give me wishes first, they're usually more important."

Thom looked across at her, then nodded. "Okay - I'd like to actually make it with my band. Like properly - with real gigs that actually pay in money and that involves recording studios and tours and... Y'know, where the reality isn't just playing at the party of some guy from school and ambition is more than the open slot at the House of Muses, or to play for the college crowd rather than the high school crowd. We're good enough, I know we are," Thom added with feeling. "But, yeah - not gonna happen. Hence: wishes."

Okay, so she'd found the subject he felt strongly about. Score one. She raised one light-colored eyebrow at him. "So why isn't it going to happen?" she asked. "All bands have to come from somewhere, and if you guys are good ... ?" she trailed off suggestively. "Why not go for it?" She was of the opinion that -- barring certain things that could absolutely not be changed -- if you wanted something? You had every right to pursue it.

Because I have to stay here and watch over someone who's never going to want me around and is probably going to resent my interference. Or worse - she's going to think I'm crushing on her, and then her brother is either going to think it's great - which is going to seriously be Wrong in so many ways - or he's going to kill me for the very concept. In any event, the likelihood of her ever wanted to go on tour with her big brother's band is nil, so there goes my dreams. None of which he could actually say. So, instead, he slipped back into the 'brooding loner' persona he wore so well and shrugged a little sullenly. "It's not gonna happen so... I should just be realistic and go for reality. But I don't actually know what reality's gonna be yet. I've got as far as staying here for college, but after that. No clue."

Leija gave him a Look (as though she had rights to do that already). 'Cause yeah, none of what he said had a reason in there why it shouldn't happen. Well, way to give up already, Mr. Optimism, she thought at him, but actually managed to stop herself from saying. For once. "It won't happen unless you make it happen," she settled on. That wasn't nearly so bitchy, was it? She shouldn't be bitchy to people she just met and were cute and already invited her to a party. "That's what everybody tells me, at least. But really, if you guys are good? And I'll be able to give you a very informed and elitist opinion once I see you play --" she smiled a bit, "-- then really. Might be worth it to try. If it's what you love."

He couldn't help but smile at her when she put it like that. And the way she said it, just for a moment, he could actually believe that it was possible. Because if he was any normal person, she might actually be right. And it was what he loved. If nothing else, she made him feel a tiny bit better. "We're good - and you will. Be able to give me your opinion - informed and elitist as it may be." He frowned. "As soon as I work out when the party is. You're gonna come, aren't you? I mean, you mentioned a potentially scary father-" At least, that's the way it had sounded to him. "He's not gonna, I dunno, say you can't go or anything, is he?"

Oh was that a flutter of nerves? She thought it probably was. Sure, he was probably just ... recruiting people to come and see his band, it wasn't anything, like ... personal. But what Caleb invited her to had been, and it was pretty much weirding her out. She didn't let it show however, shaking her head and giving him a little smile back. "No, he won't say no. He's caught in this weird paradox of knowing I can take care of myself and still worrying over me all the time. I guess it's a dad thing. But with a bunch of people there, it won't be a problem. But yeah, I'll come if you let me know where and when."

"Great," Thom said, looking honestly pleased by this. "I should know what's going on by tonight, tomorrow at the latest. And Isaac said that it'd be like this weekend, or early next week. Soon anyway, y'know, just to be totally vague at you. And David's parties are usually good - gets quite a crowd, so you'll meet some more people as well. Cos it occurs to me that you said you don't really know anyone and I just totally invited you toa party where I'm gonna be spending most of the night in a corner playing guitar," he said, cringing slightly as he realised that.

The idea of a big crowd really kind of turned her stomach. She had a feeling that she maybe wasn't going to like this. Leija just ... generally didn't go to stuff like that. He would of course have no idea, but she was making a big exception. "Well I'll bounce around near the corner and scream and throw bras at you," she said to cover her own nerves up. She grinned at him, bringing out the dimples. "I can fangirl with the best of them. That would make a good impression, huh?"

Thom blinked at her, then laughed, hiding the mental image that popped clearly into his head of... okay, he was going to blush if he kept on that line of thought. Or stare. Staring was definitely possible and witness him not dropping his eyes at all at the talk of throwing bras. Nope, no, his mental flailing was hidden for the most part behind a stoic wall of Thom. He was poised, composed - see, really he was. But he couldn't help but chuckle. "I don't think I've ever had fangirls before." Lie, total lie - but he'd never had fangirls he'd actually talked to and wanted to spend time with, rather than attempt to avoid until they got bored and crushed on Isaac instead, since at least he'd flirt back.

"Well there's a first time for everything," she said amiably, oblivious to his flailing. At least he'd laughed and not like ... run away or something. Maybe she really should bring a bra to throw, since he probably wouldn't really be expecting it. Was that weird? It probably was. She noted they were getting close to the park again. She was familiar with this street at least. Leija felt a teensy bit disappointed; this had been kind of ... really nice.

Thom had noticed the approaching park as well and it comforted his inner-flailing, but at the same time, he'd really enjoying this. Surprisingly, since he wasn't big on the whole 'talking to girls he didn't know' thing. He slowed unconsciously, dragging out the last few minutes.

Leija slowed with him, since they'd been walking side-by-side and all. She groped for something else to say that might spark another avenue of conversation, but kept coming up blank. She didn't really get this whole ... guys-talking-to-her pattern that was emerging, but so far it had been weirdly good. "So you think you'll know tonight?" she asked, unnecessarily. Ugh, lame. Bad choice.

Didn't I already say that? Thom thought suddenly. He thought he had - maybe he hadn't. Maybe he just thought that he'd said it and... "Yeah. Hopefully. I... So, when's too late to call?" he asked, going for 'casual'. "Assuming I find out tonight, that is," he added as they stopped by the entrance to the park.

"Um." Leija frowned a touch and thought about that. "Probably ten?" It was something that had never come up between her and her dad, as nobody used to call her at home. But, well ... ten sounded safe enough. "Really just whenever, it's summer, hell. I'll be awake, and if he bitches, he bitches." She smiled just a little.

"Ahh, yeah - but I'm trying to pull off my 'not a psycho serial killer' routine, aren't I?" Thom pointed out, his brown eyes dancing with mirth. "You warned me about that - and I always take parental warnings seriously." Was he flirting? Possibly, yes, he actually was.

She laughed, in a light sort of way. Was he flirting? She couldn't tell, really. She didn't mind it much, though. "Probably a wise philosophy," she said, amused. "As long as you don't breathe all heavy into the phone, I'm sure you'll be okay." She said that like she wouldn't be sitting next to the blasted thing, waiting for either him or Caleb to call. He just didn't need to know that.

"No heavy breathing - okay, I'll remember that. Make sure I don't call you when I just get in from my 10 mile run," he joked. Obviously a joke, because Thom? Didn't look like the kind of guy who ran. He didn't even really look like the kind of guy who worked out - he had the build of someone who was naturally slim and was just going to stay that way. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Leija," he said, a little awkwardly, since he'd realised that they'd been standing in the same spot for the last few minutes and he really had no other excuses for not leaving.

Leija was in somewhat the same predicament. She laughed, because he really didn't look like a runner at all. What was the normal-girl thing to do to leave? No hugs, even if he wanted one, it was too soon for her for that kind of thing. Even though they'd pretty much made full-body contact alre-- ... yeah, she wasn't going there. "Nice meeting you too," she responded, not sure what to do with her hands. "Thanks for ... the tour and the invite and stuff. I'll talk to you later, I guess. Sometime."

Okay, they'd said goodbyes. Kinda. Right. And she'd said that she'd speak to him soon. Oh, god - was this the point he was meant to say that he'd call her? Was that what came next? Thom flailed - he had no idea. Would that sound pushy - or, inversely, too keen. Was he keen? He'd only known her five minutes - Thom wasn't used to having to think these things through on such a short acquaintance. He was, officially, out of his depth right now.

What showed on his face and in his body language though was a few moments of hesitation. "Sure - that'd be good," he said, finally. "And I'll let you know about the party," he added. See, there, safe. Middle of the road, not gonna make a fool of yourself. Safe.

As Leija was just staring at him, she noticed the hesitation. She told herself not to react to it at all, to immediately put it out of her mind, 'cause all other signs he'd given pointed to yes, he'd call. But it instantly and quite suddenly made her doubt. It didn't show, however, as she dimpled at him again. "Sounds good," she said. She started to back up some, since one of them had to move sometime. Leija gave him a little wave -- and immediately chided herself for it. "Take care." Then she was turning her back to meander back toward the house. Her cheeks felt on fire, dear God this had been a bizarre couple of days already.