Loners Unite

Who: Chance and Taylor
When: Evening
Where: W. Washington St./Harlow Park

Chance had finally figured it out. Why he had ditched in Lower Harbor Park in front of Kaysen. The sun had been up. Of course, that sort of excuse would have only gotten him a roll of the eyes from her, but Chance was beginning to think it was the truth. Since the summer began, he'd always felt a bit more lethargic in the sun. His energy seemed to come after sunset and he rode his skateboard with renewed vigor now through Washington Street toward Harlow Park, grinding along the curb, swerving around people walking by him. At the moment, he felt like he could have pulled off Kaysen's tricks blindfolded. But he resisted going to her house to drag her back to the park to show her. He figured it would have come across as a bit too desperate.

Chance sped up, maneuvering his board toward the entrance of Harlow Park. He had only closed his eyes briefly against the breeze, but when he opened them, he spotted the red haired girl a bit too late. Cursing, Chance stepped to the back of his board to stop before he ran into her, but he was going far too fast. He grabbed her arm to push her out of the way and found himself stumbling forward, crashing to the ground. Falling flat on his ass in front of a girl twice in a day had to be a record of some kind.

Taylor was finally making her way home, hoping she had missed dinner. Dealing with her parents in that setting never boded well for her mood. She was so wrapped in her own thoughts, she was oblivious to the guy hurtling towards her on a skateboard until she felt herself being uncerimoniously shoved sideways. I thought I was gonna be able to avoid this shit till school started back up she thought to herself with a scowl as she turned to see who pushed her.

Confronted with the sight of a guy sprawled on the floor with a skateboard near by, she relaxed slightly. Okay, so chivalrous shove out of the way as opposed to malevolent shoving. She could live with that.

"Nice maneuver," she said dryly, walking over and offering him a hand up. Sure she could have got angry and hurled a load of abuse at the guy but she was actually in a fairly good mood following her chat with Maddie and quite frankly couldn't be bothered with the agravation. Her therapist would so proud.

"You think so?" Chance asked, wincing as he took her hand and pulled himself to his feet. "Believe it or not, it took me a long time to perfect the art of falling on my ass."

Releasing her hand, he wiped his dirty palms against his jeans. At least he hadn't shredded any layers of skin off. Glancing at her, he recognized her briefly from school.

"Sorry for pushing you like that. I figured it might be less painful than a head on collision."

"Oh yeah, I can tell. A fall like that takes skill" Taylor replied with a smirk. She gave him a critical glance as he dusted himself down, she vaguely recognized him from school but couldn't place a name. "Don't worry about it, I'm all for avoiding concussion."

"I know you from school don't I?"

Chance shot her a glance and readjusted his hoodie. "You'd be surprised at the kind of skill it takes to fall like that without killing yourself. After awhile you learn to balance and prepare as not to break anymore bones." Shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets, Chance studied her briefly. "Yeah, I think so. What're you, a sophomore this year?"

Taylor smiled at they guy's comment. "I'll take your word for it" she replied, zipping up her jacket as she spoke. She shook her head at his question, most people tended to think she was younger than she was. "Junior, I'm seventeen in January. You've gotta be a senior."

"Ah, sorry. I've seen you around school, and you look young so..." He paused and then backtracked quickly. "Not, like, in a bad way or anything." He turned to grab his board from the ground and slipped it under his arm. "And yeah, I'm a senior. One more year and I'm out of that hellhole, if I can make it that long." He dropped his board to the ground with a loud clap and stepped onto it.

Introductions always felt awkward and forced to him, but given he practically shoved her a few moments ago, he felt one was somewhat necessary. Grinning, he held out his hand. "Chance."

"It happens, no need to apologize" Taylor said with a shrug. Taking the offered hand, she gave a wry smile of amusement. "Taylor" she replied, shifting her bag from one shoulder to the other. Now she had a name to go with the face, something clicked in Taylor's brain and she raised an eyebrow in suprise. Chance Reed. Like her, he had a sizeable reputation. In fact, it was highly probable she'd seen him while waiting to see the principal.

"Taylor." Chance grinned and replaced his hand inside of his pocket. "Mortimer, right? I was wondering why you looked familiar to me." It probably wasn't under the best circumstances that he recognized her now, given her reputation, and his own. "You like to draw right?" Best to touch upon things he's observed rather than why he actually knew of her.

Taylor blinked at Chance's assertation and took a step back. "Ah, the joys of a reputation. Yeah that's right" she replied, pushing her hair back behind her ears. At his question, she tilted her head, a curious expression on her face. "Draw, paint, sculpt. Art's kinda my thing. How'd you know?"

"I don't mean any offense by it," he told her, rolling his board back and forth under his foot. "I'm not exactly known around school for my dashingly good looks myself, believe it or not."

Chance shrugged at her next question. "I thought I've seen you with sketchpads before. Or maybe I've heard the art teacher talk about you when I took art last year to get my credit taken care of." Of course, as with Kaysen, no matter what he said, or how he knew things about the kids he went to school with, observation was usually mistaken for stalking. "I wasn't very good at the sculpting thing, or the drawing thing. My final project got me sent to the principal's office, that's how bad I was at it," he told her with a proud smile.

"I make a point of not listening to school gossip. Nearly everything you hear is either exaggeration or a complete lie" Taylor said with a pointed look. At Chance's explanation, she gave a small nod of understanding before laughing at his final comment.

"Congratulations. I've been in similar situations myself, though its usually due to my distinct lack of attendance."

"And sometimes it's the honest to God truth, depending on the source," Chance replied. "I can attest to the lack of attendance, although I spend most of my Saturdays during the year making up for the classes I miss." He laughed briefly. "I guess I shouldn't sound so proud of my delinquencies. It sort of confirms what a loser I am."

Taylor made a dismissive noise before replying. "Loser is such a bullshit label, I mean you seem alright to me. Not that my opinion counts for shit in most places what with being a psycho-bitch."

Giving Chance an appraising look, she smiled. "It's nice to know I'm not the only juvenile deliquent running around school"

He gave a small shrug, but returned her smile. "It's a label I give myself from time to time. I've never heard psycho-bitch before, but I think I might strive for that this year. Can guys be psycho-bitches?" he mused. "Psycho-bastard maybe."

Popping his board up from under his foot, he glanced up into the dark sky before looking at her. "I know you're psycho-bitch and all, and you can probably take care of yourself, but do you want me to walk you home?" It seemed like the polite thing to do, considering what lurked about at night.

"I'm sure you could be a psycho-bitch if you tried hard enough. Gotta warn you though, you have to put in a lot of and the benefits package? Don't even get me started" Taylor replied with a smile. Look at me with the social interactions. Two pleasant conversations in one day and one of them was with someone with a pulse. Go me.

Chance's offer threw her slightly and it took a moment before she got herself together enough to raise an eyebrow and respond. "Why not? Maybe my parents will cut me some slack if I arrive home with actual human company."

He chuckled at that and fell into step beside her. "I don't know if I'm the best company to arrive home with, but we can take that chance." He kept waiting for her to look at him like he was actually a psycho, or insane. Or call him insane. But he had a feeling those terms of affection were Kaysen's only. "At least I know I'll have a new partner in crime to ditch with when it comes to that. Do you skate?" he asked, motioning toward the board under his arm.

Taylor smiled at Chance's comment and absent-mindedly chewed one of her nails. "'Fraid not. I'm not the most physically co-ordinated person in thw world and didn't want to risk damaging my hands" she said, waggling her fingers by way of clarification. "If I couldn't draw I'd probably loose what little sanity I've got left."

"Are you any good on that thing? Gotta say, I wasn't entirely impressed by your earlier demonstration."

"You could always wear protective gloves," he suggested, shooting her a sidelong look. "It's really not that hard to learn. You'd probably do well at the basics. And if I tell you, yes, I'm good, then I'll sound like I'm bragging." He grinned widely. "The only reason I fell was because I didn't want a full on collision. I have a feeling you may not have been so forgiving had I broken one of your wrists."

"Don't worry, you're a shining example of modesty" Taylor replied as they walked along. At his explanation of his fall, she gave a small snort of amusement. "Probably not" she agreeded, with a small tilt of her head. "I fractured my left one at the beginning of the year and it drove me up the wall not being able to use it."

"Modesty only takes you so far. It's killing me not to completely show off," he joked before glancing at her wrist. "I'm guessing that's your drawing hand?"

Taylor turned and crossed her arms, giving a Chance an 'oh really?' look. "Don't not show off on my account, be my guest" she said with a wry smile. "And yeah it is. Still, as suck-tastic as it was fracturing it, I don't regret it happening."

"Maybe next time," he told her, though he was itching to get back on his board. "Lately it seems whenever I try to show off, I end up looking like a moron." Chance considered her words briefly. "So what did you do then? Obviously if was something worthwhile if you don't regret hurting yourself."

"Ego taken enough bashing for the time being I take it?" she asked with a sympathetic smile. At Chance's question, Taylor frowned slightly and resumed walking next to him.

"Laid into Victoria Cassidy when she decided to make a comment about my brother, my wrist ended up slamming into a locker. She came off worse though so I can't complain."

Chance's eyes widened in surprise and he turned toward her. "Holy shit, that was you?" He'd heard about Victoria Cassidy getting her ass kicked, but the details he hadn't paid much attention too. "I have to say I'm impressed, though I shouldn't be praising that kind of thing. But she was a bitch."

"Don't tell me, you expected someone taller" she said dryly, giving Chance a humourless smile. "And thanks for the approval, she'd been making my life hell for years. What she said was just the final straw I guess."

"I came to realize that once you fought back, they usually leave you alone. Not all the time, but most of it. I guess that's a benefit of being perceived as insane, or whatever. People are less likely to mess with you. Then again, other people won't talk to you either, so..." He trailed off. "What did she say?"

Taylor gave a small nod of agreement before her stomach clenched at Chance's question. It had been almost six months since her run in with Victoria but she could still hear the words running through her head, clear as glass. Taking a deep breath, she turned to look at the path ahead of them. "She said my brother was better off dead because now he wouldn't have to put up with having a sideshow freak for a sister."

Yeah, he'd always known Victoria was a bitch. Knowing nothing he could say would make what had happened better, so instead he waited a moment before murmuring, "I'm sorry. I would say a complete ass kicking would have been justified then. I don't think people realize when they start talking shit that not everyone is going to just shut up and take it."

"I wish more people shared your viewpoint, unfortunately as far as the majority are concerned I jumped her for no good reason. Go figure" Taylor said, her voice laced with bitterness. After a couple of minutes silence, she turned to look at him. "Had more than your fair share of trash talk flung at you too?"

"Yeah, but you know the reason," Chance said, as if that was all that really mattered. And then he looked at her, wondering if by some miracle, she hadn't heard about his "reputation" in school. "I had my fair share, sure. I still do, every now and then, but that usually ends up with me in the principal's office for kicking the shit out of someone who deserved it. The talk doesn't bother me so much, but it gives me a reason to hit someone who's been asking for it. Which makes me sound kind of sick, actually."

"I know you have a rep for getting into fights, didn't know the reason why you get into them" Taylor pointed out. "I mean you could just be a grade A ass-hole but in my experience assholes don't apologise for knocking people over then walk them home."

"And your reasoning sounds good to me, but then I'm hardly a paradigm of sound mental health."

"I could tell you that I'm misunderstood, but then I'd be spouting bullshit and I'm not really one for bullshit." Chance shifted his board to his other arm. "I can be an asshole, sure. But I like to think I'm only an asshole to people who deserve it. And as for your mental health, you seem pretty stable to me. But I've only just met you," he added with a grin.

Taylor laughed at Chance's comments and smiled. "I've gotta say Chance, you're the most genuine person I've spoken to in a long time". Well, living person anyway she added mentally. "And thanks for the vote of confidence. Alas I'm stuck with weekly therapy sessions for the time being. Part of the deal I got for staying in school."

"Genuine?" he asked lightly. "I have to say that's the first time I've ever heard that word to describe me, but thanks." It took everything in him not to laugh at her next words. "Wow, so you got the therapy deal too, huh? Monday mornings at nine o'clock for me, Tuesdays at six in the evening once school starts. I think my grades are the only reason why they're putting up with me." Chance couldn't help but chuckle then. "Is it twisted to say I'm glad I'm not the only one?"

"No shit! Thursdays at seven for me" Taylor replied with a grin. "If it wasn't for my art tutor, they would have had me out faster than you can spit." At his question she let out a small laugh. "Not in the slightest. Hey, maybe we should get tee-shirts? Give people something new to talk about."

"I guess there's something to be said for teachers who believe in you. You have to have some kind of talent, right? Grades, art, music, whatever. If I had been just some kid with a C-average and no prescriptions listed in my records, I would have been gone too." Dropping his board on the ground, he stepped onto it and began to roll slowly beside her. "I'm up for t-shirts. Everyone will need something to talk about before homecoming."

"T-shirts aside, I'm pretty sure we'll cause a scandal just by being seen in each others company." Scuffing her foot against the pavement, she gave Chance an ironic smile. "Give it a week and we'' be recruiting for a cult or something equally ridiculous."

Chance shrugged nonchalantly, unfazed by the idea. "So, let them. Might make the rest of the summer more interesting than it has been." It was refreshing to meet someone who didn't give a fuck either. "I know you like to draw, and all that stuff, but I can teach you how to skateboard if you want. That way when we ditch this year, you can make a speedy getaway with me."

Taylor tilted her head, giving Chance an indescribable look before a smile crept onto her face. "Sure, I'll take you up on the offer. I'll have to get some gloves first." Looking thoughtful for a moment, she fixed her eyes on him carefully.

"I've got one condition though, you have to let me draw you sometime" she said, watching for his reaction.

"Ahh." He shot her a wary look, while debating. It was an odd request, certainly unexpected. He had to resist hiding his face when Kaysen took pictures of him. Still, she had been agreeable to his suggestion, so he felt it only fair to agree to hers. "All right. As long as it's none of that nudity shit."

"No offence Chance but I have no desire to get you naked for the purposes of art or otherwise" Taylor replied with a smile, glad that he agreed to her proposition. "You've got an interesting look about you, and besides I don't exactly have a surplus of people willing to pose for me."

Chance released a short laugh, full of surprise and amusement. "Well, good! Glad we got that out of the way," he told her, still laughing. "You got a deal. You want to meet me tomorrow at Harlow Park?"

Taylor let out a giggle, it was good to state where they stood with each other. Chance was nice enough as boys went but even if she did swing that way, he really wasn't her type. "Sure thing, what sort of time's good for you?" she asked as they turned onto her street.

"I dunno, say, after dinner?" Chance asked, coming to a stop on his board. "Six or whatever?" As he realized earlier, he tended to skate better after the sun started to go down. "If it rains, bring a hoodie...and knee pads because you'll probably fall more often."

"Sounds good to me" Taylor replied as she thought about where to get a set of knee pads from. "I'll draw you another time, I'm not putting much faith in tomorrow's weather being goo drawing conditions." Arriving outside her house, she turned to face Chance and smiled. "Thanks for the walk home. I've enjoyed having an actual conversation with someone."

"I did too. And you're welcome," Chance told her. He began to roll backward on his board, with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow, then." Turning, he pushed off on the sidewalk and headed home.