Murder She Cried [R/M] {Wolfy}

[Tayssi]

http://www.wall321.com/thumbnails/detail/20120311/vocaloid%20megurine%20luka%201600x1200%20wallpaper_www.wall321.com_51.jpg


Her fingers gripped onto the cloth of her sister's sleeve, trembling in fear as she stared out the crack of the closet. Her blue eyes were wide as she watched the man drop her father's body and blood pooled around him, soaking into his clothes. His eyes were wide with fear and it made Ebony squirm and shift further behind her older sister for protection. Somehow, however, she managed to stay quiet, instead she cowered and chewed on her own tongue to keep herself from screaming. Suddenly, through the crack in the closet, she saw her mother slowly making her way to the man covered in black, knife in hand, her hands shaking so badly, it looked like she would drop it at any second. Ebony's mind raced, wondering what was going to happen to her mother. So far, the man hadn't seen her, he was still looking at her father's still form. Ebony's eyes darted to the side when she saw a light which was suddenly dimmed and noticed her sister had managed to pry her phone from her jeans without making much noise. She watched as she dialled for the police. They answered and asked what the emergency was. Ebony tensed, wondering if the man would hear it, but he seemed completely oblivious. "There's a man in our house," she whispered into the phone, panic lacing her tone, "and he's killed our Dad.. We're hiding in the closet, but our Mum's out there still," the police quickly asked where they lived and to stay on the phone. Ebony's sister gave their address as soon as possible and kept the phone against her ear, fingers tight and almost white.

Ebony peered through the crack again as a scream shattered her ears and she saw her mother being held at gun point as he whispered something into her ears. Her eyes went wide and she fought against the large man, but her eyes darted towards the closet as the man pulled the trigger and shot her in the head. Blood sprayed the walls and her eye's went vacant and hollow as she fell to the floor, the knife falling from her dead fingers and clattering to the floor. Ebony would have screamed if it wasn't for her biting her tongue and her sister clamping a hand over her mouth with a glare.The man stared down at the bodies he killed before he peeled off his mask and took a deep breath. He seemed no older than 32 and he had a 5o'clock shadow. His hair was short and black and as he looked around, Ebony noticed he had the coldest grey eyes she had ever seen. Shuddering at the image of the man, she watched as he started ransacking the place, throwing stuff everywhere and only taking expensive items. However, he started coming towards the closet after about 5 minutes, probably to see if there was something worth taking in there. Ebony grunted when her sister shoved her into the furthest corner, out of sight if someone opened the doors. Moment later, the doors were open and Ebony watched in horror as her sister lunged at the man with growled in surprise, before shoving her backwards into the closet and she hit her head on the wall.

Ebony's eyes widened even further as she saw blood on the wall as her sister slumped towards the ground, but somehow, she managed to open her eyes and moved, her movements jiggered and slow. Ebony heard the sirens of police, and the man must've too because he paused from reaching towards her sister and instead pointed his gun at her, and the sounds of a gun going off rung in Ebony's ears as the man fired twice before he turned and bolted with his stolen goods. Ebony stayed where she was, staring at the bloodied mess of her sister, her ears starting to gain their hearing, but the ringing was excruciating.. But she couldn't move.. Her body had frozen, as had her voice. Her tears had dried and all she could do was stare at her sister, shaking. She barely registered as the police pulled up in front of their house and came storming into the house. She heard them calling out for someone, even heard the woman on the other side of her sister's phone which was just outside the closet. She listened as people searched the house and tried to find anyone who was alive, but she was unable to speak. It was like her voice was locked away in a box, never to return. The only way the police found her was when they inspected her sister's body and saw Ebony's shoes. They pushed aside the clothes and other bits which blocked their view and stared down at her in surprise. She was quivering and her face streaked with tears, eyes bloodshot and blood seeping from her mouth from biting her tongue. They reached towards her, talking in soft, soothing voices as they picked her up and carried her out to one of their cars. They placed her in the back seat and a female officer slid in the other side, wrapping an arm around her in a comforting gesture. Another officer got into the driver's side and shut the door before driving off, leaving her home forever.

They arrived at the police station where they tried to ask her questions, but she couldn't speak. After a while, they gave up and let her be, trying to organise what to do with her. "Ebony Ageha, 10 years old. No other family to take her in," she heard one man say. Her blue eyes glanced upwards for a moment before lowering to stare at her lap again. She didn't know how long passed before they drove her somewhere and then took her to a building, the female officer from earlier guiding her towards it. Other kids stopped and looked at her and Ebony wondered where she was. They entered building and sat on a seat as the officer went off to talk to someone. She sat there for about 2 hours before the officer came back and told her she would be safe here and explaining it was an orphanage. Ebony watched as a lady dressed in a black and white dress approached them and knelt down in front of her. "Hello, Ebony," the woman said kindly and the young girl just stared at her. "Well, alright, Sweetie, i'll take you to your room." she said and Ebony stood, letting the woman lead her away. She glanced back at the officer who simply nodded before turning and leaving. She was taken to a room with another girl her age who smiled sweetly at her.

Ebony didn't go down for dinner that night and once she was finally alone, she cried and cried, until all her tears were drained.

~~~~7 years later~~~

Ebony opened her eyes only slightly, squinting against the bright sun. Her mahogany red hair fell down her shoulders and bits stuck up in all direction in the classic looks of bed hair. Groaning, she swung herself from bed and opened her door, pulling down the shirt of her pyjamas to cover her stomach as she walked down the hall and walked through the 4th down on the right. She stared at the mirror and sighed before she grabbed her brush and brushed her hair until it was no longer messy. Once she was done, she grabbed her toothbrush and cleaned her teeth. Glancing at the door when she heard it open, she looked at Brian, the blonde haired blue eyed 9 year old boy who had been here for about 2 years. She gave a smile to the droopy eyed boy and he just yawned before cleaning his teeth. Stepping out of the bathroom, she made her way back to her room and changed into some clothes. She changed into a black dress with a red star above her right breast.

For 2 years when she first got here, she hadn't uttered a single word. But after 2 years, she had started to speak. It was very rare that she spoke, but on occasion she would say a few words. Running a hand through her hair, she walked out of the orphanage, giving a small wave to Mother Hanna. She smiled back and Ebony walked down the street with a sigh, her blue eyes looking around the street. Even after 7 years, her family's murderer had never been found, but she figured he wasn't looking for her. He had come to steal stuff, not murder people, so, although she was scared nearly all the time, she wasn't letting it ruled her life.. Not really, anyway. Ebony looked up and saw a park and she walked through it, looking at all the birds and dogs being walked, though she steered clear of going near most people. Walking up a hill in the park, Ebony sat down under a tree in the shade and watched everything around her.


(Looking for an older guy., like 20, but doesn't have to be.. Imagine what you like for him :)He needs to be persistent and patient though. As you can imagine, Ebony isn't trusting of anyone, so it's going to take some time for her to open up to anyone. She's not shy, just doesn't speak very much. She's very sensitive about her family.)

[Wolfy]

Kellin groaned irritably as his phone went off on the nightstand, 'Harvester of Sorrow' rousing him from the first peaceful sleep he had had in weeks. Sighing softly, he grabbed the device and shut off the alarm, glaring at the digital numbers that read '7:00'. He swung his feet over the side of the bed, tossing his phone aside and standing. Mentally calculating how many cups of coffee it would take to wake him up, Kellin sorted through his closet, picking out his customary black T-shirt and jeans. Normally mornings were his thing. He would always be up and around, perfectly awake without even a sip of coffee. However, after several weeks of less than four hours of sleep a night, the effects were starting to wear on him. He made his way towards his bathroom, silently praying that a cold shower would improve his morning. 

Four cups of coffee and an unpleasant shower later, Kellin's mood had lifted very little, but at least he didn't feel like a zombie anymore. He stuffed his phone into the pocket of his coat, laced up his boots and left his house before he gave in to the strong impulse to lie around all day. His eyes darkened as he headed up the sidewalk, dodging people who failed to watch they where they were going, and after a while of doing it, he finally let one of the oblivious teenagers run into him, laughing softly as they stumbled backwards, muttering quiet apologies before  continuing on past him. Can't believe I used to be like them... Kellin glanced over his shoulder at them, winking when he met the eyes of the teenager doing the same thing. Smiling to himself, Kellin shoved his hands in his pocket, and returned to stepping dodging the walking hazards.

He bent over the bar of a local starbucks, subtly flirting with the waitress as her co worked prepared his drink in the back. She giggled obnoxiously at something he hadn't meant to be humorous, and his interest instantly dimmed. The man handed the plastic cup to the girl, rolling his eyes when she made a show of writing her number on it and flirtatiously handing it to Kellin. Thanking her quietly, Kellin quickly exited the building, finishing his drink and tossing it in a bin without a second thought. He had no intent to call her. His thoughts switched to other things as he reached a crosswalk, and Kellin considered his options carefully. His current route would get him to the tattoo parlor faster, but he wasn't in a rush and his other option, the park, had scenery and took quite a bit longer. The decision was easy, and he jogged across the street towards the park. A large dog nearly plowed into him, and Kellin resisted the urge to sneer. He had forgotten about the fact that where there was a park, there were dogs. Sighing, Kelling kept walking, doing his best to avoid stepping in anything. 

A flash of red hair caught his eye, and Kellin turned, eyes settling on a girl sitting beneath a tree. He tilted his head, curiosity sparking in his eyes. Slowly, he made his way towards her, smiling in attempt to not appear creepy or threatening. Once he was about five feet away, he crouched down, elbows resting on his knees and his hands hanging freely. "You alright, miss?" Kellin asked, head still tilted as he studied her. Hanging out in the middle of a dog park wasn't his idea of a good time, but then again, not everyone shared his disliking for dogs.

[Tayssi]

Ebony looked to the side as a Saint Bernard tried to keep up with a Whippet which pretty much ran laps around the burly, clumsy oaf. The ghost of smile played on her lips as she watched them. But then a Siberian Husky bowled right through them and the three dogs fell to the ground. She sat up a little straighter as the Husky and Saint Bernard snapped at each other, ready for a fight before the owners scurried over and grabbed their collars. The owner clipped the lead onto the husky and quickly walked off after apologising. A minute later, after the Husky was completely gone from the park, the Saint Bernard was running around with the same little Whippet again. After they became tired and laid down, she looked down at her lap, grabbing a strand of hair and pulling it over her shoulder. Playing with the ends of her hair, she wondered when she should go back to the orphanage.. To be honest, she didn't really want to go back. She never wanted to go back there. But, she didn't really have a choice until she was 18. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she thought about when she'd have to go back to her quiet room where she's all alone. No family to come see her ever again. Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, she shook her head and cleared her thoughts. Dropping her hair as she opened her eyes, she leaned back, moving to press her palms against the dirt behind her, supporting her weight on her hands. Tilting her head backwards, ends of her mahogany red hair brushing against the ground, she stared into the leaves of the tree and through to the peeking blue of the sky. Her fringe tickled the sides of her eyes and she swiftly brushed it to the side before placing her hand on the ground again.

Closing her eyes, she tried to keep her thoughts on the present, but they - like always - wandered back to the day when her family was murdered. The sight of blood filled her head when she remembered her mother being shot. Her eyes snapped open and she quickly leaned forward, elbows on her legs, head bent forward, breathing laboured and she tried to calm her breathing and slow her heart rate. Once she was calm enough, she brushed the dirt that stuck to her palms as her hair fell over her shoulders, creating a curtain on either side, blocking her view of the park. She heard someone walking up the hill, however, she didn't take any notice of it, figuring that no one would be approaching her. She didn't know anyone expect the people from the orphanage, and non of the children were old enough to go anywhere by themselves. And the people who looked after the children, rarely ever brought the children outside. Only on occasion. Hearing the footsteps stop, she figured the person my have been a child and jumped down the hill. Or maybe they went to the other side of the tree to sit down. However, a voice suddenly spoke, masculine but kind of gentle, and it spoke directly to her. She jumped slightly and she sat back, blue eyes widening as her gaze darted momentarily before they rested upon the man. He had black hair and dark brown eyes, with multiple piercings in his ears. Walking past him on the street, many might think he was some kind of thug. She studied him for a short moment, noting the dark clothing before his words really sunk in. 'You alright, miss?' she blinked a few times and then glanced to each side of her, seeing if there was anyone next to her. but, no, she was the only one around. So he was definitely talking to her.

Resting her gaze back upon the man, she gave a slight nod of her head and then thought for a moment. She never had people approach her so it didn't occur to her for a second that he hadn't met her before so he had no clue she didn't like to talk. He might think she was rude if she didn't utter a single word to him. So she gave another ghost of a smile and nodded again, "I'm.. Fine, thank you for asking," she said quietly, semi lying.. She had never been completely fine since that day 7 years ago. She watched the man, glancing down at his hands which hung freely as his elbows rested against his knees whilst he crouched to be closer to her level. She idly wondered where he had been heading to before he had approached her. She took note of the tilt of his head and the smile on his face, probably trying not to seem intimidating. Which he probably would be if he was frowning. To be honest, despite her reluctance to admit it, the man was rather attractive. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet and brushed herself off before she straightened her black dress. She felt kind of rude sitting there, making him crouch, so she stood, allowing him to stand as well so his legs wouldn't get sore. Pushing her mahogany hair behind her ears, her fringe slipped free from its hold before it fell slightly over her eyes but didn't block her vision at all.

(Hope this was alright haha)

[Wolfy]

Kellin couldn't help but chuckle when she jumped, and his eyes quickly shot to the ground in a show of mock remorse. He watched her carefully, slightly amused by her confused actions. She didn't seem all that used to people approaching her. When she nodded, he offered her a small smile in return, as if he was relieved that she was alright. Truthfully, it wasn't at the top of his list of concerns, but she was a pretty girl who seemed interesting, and so Kellin felt compelled to care just a little bit. His smile widened when she spoke, and he nodded, acknowledging her response. "You're sure? Girls like you don't normally hang around in dog parks... alone." Kellin questioned, his grin faltering when he realized how that could be taken the wrong way. "Mind you, I'm not trying to be creepy," He started, the last thing he wanted was for the girl to feel the urge to start screaming, "I'm just a bit concerned, is all." Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, Kellin redirected his eyes to the ground between his feet. Naturally, he rarely ever got nervous, but he didn't feel like being made a public spectacle if the girl decided he was a threat; after all, he wasn't exactly the 'boy next door' that everybody seemed to trust. His hand brushing against the dangling cross in his ear once again reminded him of that, and his conscious quickly reminded him that he didn't care. 

Confusion flashed in his chocolate colored eyes as she began to stand, and he started to speak, wanting to assure her he wasn't going to hurt her. His eyes followed her as she rose, his mouth slightly agape, threatening to finish the incomplete words. When she made no move to do anything drastic, Kellin sighed, and stood as well, humor replacing his momentary confusion. "I'm not going to hurt you," He jested, a smirk playing on his features, hoping to lighten the mood a bit. "My name is Kellin, by the way." He added. A sharp bark caught his attention, and Kellin jerked his head around in time to see one of the larger dogs barreling towards him. Cursing quietly, he stepped backwards quickly, narrowly avoiding being knocked over by the brute. "So well mannered.." Kellin muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes and shoving his hands in his coat pockets. His phone vibrated, and he removed it, quickly silencing it and shoving it back to its original hiding place. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you out here all alone?" He let genuine concern lace through his tone, and he took a half step forward, shooting another small smile her way. Kellin brushed his hair out of his eyes, blinking slowly, almost like a cat. The small part of his mind that still hadn't matured past a acne ridden 15 year old wondered if he was asking too many questions, or being too weird, and naturally, the rest of his conscious stepped in and drove the thoughts into the dirt. 

-Can't think of anything else so backstory time-

16 years ago

Kellin winced as a beer bottle shattered against the wall, spraying the remaining liquid over the young boy. He tried to back further into the corner, burying his face in his hands in a desperate attempt  to avoid eye contact with the furious man in front of him. Tears were streaming down his face, stinging the fresh laceration on his cheekbone. A rough, calloused hand seized his skinny arm, yanking him to his feet and nearly throwing him into a dirty recliner. Kellin regained his balance quickly, using the filthy cushion to steady himself. Hesitantly, Kellin turned, looking up into the cold, angry eyes of his father. "Please, Daddy, no.." He whimpered, backing up until the backs of his knees hit the recliner. Pain exploded in the side of his head, sending him sprawling on the floor, the tears flowing freely. Kellin looked back at his father, the man's fist was still raised, his chest heaving. His anger seemed spent, and Kellin's father slumped in the recliner, leaving Kellin to crawl off to his room. He buried himself underneath the covers, sniffling and trying his hardest to stifle his crying, not wanting to anger his father anymore. It would happen again tomorrow. His father would apologize and say it would never happen again, but he always came home and beat his son, anyway. A choked sob escaped at the thought, and Kellin tried to muffle with his comforter, clutching it tightly as he cried. 

[This was short. I apolgize]

[Tayssi]

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he bowed his head in mock remorse and she noticed the slightly amused look in his eyes. A small smile played on his lips after she had nodded at him and she tilted her head in surprise. Which heightened even further when he it widened as she spoke. When he responded to her, pausing before he said alone, she tensed slightly, unsure of what he was insinuating with that statement but he soon corrected himself, saying he wasn't trying to be creepy towards her. She exhaled a sigh of relief and she watched as his hand brushed against the cross earring before she had pushed herself off the ground to stand. Ebony noticed the confusion flashing through his eyes and amusement flickered through her. She blinked in surprise. she wasn't used to feeling amused. Not any more. It was foreign to her now. Running a hand through her hair, she watched him as he seemed to want to say something to her. But he seemed to decide against what ever it was he wanted to say and stayed silent.

He soon pushed himself to his feet before he told her he wasn't going to hurt her. She gave him a light smile in response and nodded her head gently in response. He introduced himself as Kellin and she was about to say something but a dog came ploughing up the hill and almost ran right into the man. If he hadn't stepped aside, he would have been knocked over by the massive dog. Once the dog had ran right past them and ran down the other side of the hill, she looked back up at the man as he commented about the dog's manners. She gave a small smile at his words as she looked back over at where the dog was now running around with another large dog. When she looked back at him, his hands were shoved in the pockets of his coat and then his phone went off and he pulled it out and silenced it before he put it away again. At least he was polite and not checking his phone whilst talking to some one. That gave him bonus point in her books. And a moment later, he asked her what she was doing here alone. She noted the concern in his voice and she watched as he pushed his hair from his eyes, blinking slowly. The action reminded her of a cat.

She glanced away, not really wanting to say anything, but knowing she'd come across as rude. "Not so many people here," she said quietly and I could see if that man was coming for me she added silently in her head. "I don't like staying there" she said, referring to the orphanage. She couldn't call that place home. She had been there for 7 years but she could never call it home. Her only home had been sitting there, empty for 7 years, waiting until she was 18 so she could move in there again. But to be honest, even as much as she wanted to live there again, she wasn't sure if she could. The memories which already taunted her would crush her sanity if she moved in to the very house it had happened in. Sighing, she shook her head to clear her thoughts and finally looked back at Kellin. "And.." she said softly, "I'm Ebony," she offered him a slight, gentle smile as her fingers played with the hem of the skirt of her dress.

[Wolfy]

Kellin glanced around as she spoke, noting that what she said was true. The few people were quite spread out, either carefully watching their dogs or totally ignoring them. Nodding in agreement, looking back at the girl as she continued. Curiosity sparked in his eyes when she said 'there' and he instantly tilted his head again, wondering if she was going to explain. His lips parted, prepared to ask what the location she spoke of was. "And... I'm Ebony." The corners of his mouth lifted, transforming into a smile when she stated her name. Pushing his former question away for the time being, Kellin dipped his head, politely responding, "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Ebony." He slipped his hand from his pocket to gently rub along his jawline, contemplating the best way to ask his next question. A heavy sigh escaped him, and he sent her an apologetic glance before opening his mouth to speak once more. "What exactly is 'there'?" Kellin asked her, his voice a bit quieter, fearing that it could be a sensitive subject. "And why don't you want to go back?" His voice grew even quieter, afraid he was pushing the boundaries a bit too much. He bit his lip, his natural politeness warning him that he was in fact asking questions that he shouldn't be. 

Regret wasn't an emotion he felt all that often, and Kellin was genuinely surprised when he felt in seep in through the barrier that he kept it behind. "I-if you don't mind me asking." Kellin's eyes widened. Had he really just stuttered? Muttering something that sounded distinctly like "Bloody hell" beneath his breath, Kellin backed up a few steps, shaking his head. "Well, since you don't want to return to this place, could I do something to prolong your time away from it?" He asked, and pinched the bridge of his nose, wishing the things he said would stop sounding a bit creepy. "Again, I'm not trying to be weird, I swear to God." Kellin grumbled in a rush of breath, sounding absolutely exasperated with himself. "A book store, not too far from here. I can buy you a book, if you like." He suggested, dark eyes flitting up to her, a smile returning to his lips. "If you're allowed, that is." His phone buzzed again, and Kellin clenched his jaw, irritation flashing over his features for a moment as he jerked it out of his pocket and silenced it. He paused in putting it away, staring down at it, a smirk slowly forming on his face. Kellin looked up, chuckling softly. "If you want to call the police, you can use this." Slowly, he held it out to her, the confident smirk fading into a playful smile. 

[I'm sorry this is a paragraph shorter than it should be, but I really wanted to get a reply out. I have a rather big quiz to study for, and I can't afford to fail it, so please excuse the slightly shorter reply :/  ]

[Tayssi]

Ebony noticed the curiosity in his eyes and she knew he wanted to ask what she meant when he tilted his head to the side in question. But she didn't really want to explain. Not yet, she didn't even know the guy and she knew what people thought of orphans. They either thought that their parents had abandoned them or they had lost their parents. The latter was correct for her, but she hated seeing the sympathetic looks people gave the kids who had told them. She had seen it too often. But Kellin seemed to drop the subject after she had introduced herself and she couldn't help when the relief flooded through her. She gave a weak smile at his words and then watched as he ran a hand over his jaw, obviously contemplating something. Her brows furrowed when he sent her an apologetic glance and then he asked her what she meant by there. His voice was quieter, she noticed and then he asked why she didn't want to go back, his voice got even quieter still. She watched him bite his lip and she knew that he knew he was stepping on a sensitive subject.  But she couldn't help but wonder why he even asked if he could sense it was sensitive to her.

She blinked in surprise when he spoke again, stuttering over his words. Most people would say sorry for asking and then still expect an answer. But this man seemed like he'd understand if she didn't say anything, though probably disappointed she didn't say anything. She thought he heard him mutter something under his breath, but she couldn't quite make out the words. He spoke again, asking if she wanted to go with him to prolong her time away from that place, not that he had any clue what that place was. She tensed slightly at his words, but she soon relaxed when she saw him pinch the bridge of his nose, realising he was trying not to be creepy. She confirmed her suspicions and she shook her head lightly with a small grin. By his tone, she could tell he was exasperated with himself.

When he continued talking about a book shop, her eyes widened slightly and wondered where this book shop was. He looked back up at her and a smile spread across his features and she cocked her head to side slightly before he asked if she was allowed to. She sighed and looked at his phone as it went off again and he silenced it before he offered her the phone, saying she could call the police with it if she wanted to. She blinked in surprise before she shook her head. "No, it's fine," she said lightly and then said, "I'll go, and I don't need to ask anyone.." she paused before she considered telling him and then sighed once again, "That place," she said, "Is the orphanage... Now where is this book shop?" she continued quickly, trying to change the subject as she looked away, not really wanting to see his reaction.


(It's fine, don't worry about it )

[Wolfy]

Kellin held his phone out for a few seconds more after she declined it, casually shrugging and tucking it back into his pocket. "Suit yourself." He chuckled, amused by her reaction. The grin vanished from his face when she told him about the orphanage, transforming into a slight frown. His eyes shot to the ground, narrowed as he processed what she had just said. Relief flooded through him when she changed the subject, and he made a small gesture with his hand in the direction of the book store, offering her another smile, this one a bit kinder. "Not too far. Fifteen minutes, maybe? It's on Hillrise." Kellin informed her, and started to turn, trusting that she would follow on her own. He still glanced back as he started walking, though, half expecting the girl to bolt. His dark hair fell into his eyes, and Kellin huffed irritably, brushing it out of the way with a quick sweep of his hand. "You can get two or three books, if you like. It doesn't really matter to me. It isn't like my income is limited in anyway, " He began, speaking quickly so the girl had no room to object. "Just go crazy, alright?" Kellin looked slyly over his shoulder at her, dark eyes slightly mischievous. 

He sighed happily when his boots hit the pavement with a sharp click, and he easily settled into the rhythm of the slight noise as he walked. Kellin squinted up at the sky, unsure if black had been the wisest choice of clothing that day as the sun started to seep through the thin coat he had brought. Rolling his eyes, he slipped the jacket from his body, leaving only the black T-shirt. He hung the coat over his arm, and his eyes flicked back to Ebony, checking for any signs of fear or uncertainty. "So, what kind of books do you like?" Kellin inquired, watching her for a few moments longer before watching the street in front of him again. He stepped aside for a seemingly oblivious couple, nearly bumping into Ebony in the process, but quickly stepped back before he could accidentally knock the girl over. 

It had taken them a grand total of 17 minutes to reach the book shop; a small brick building with a dark green awning and the business's name on the window. It had a homey aura around it, and Kellin couldn't help but feel a tiny prick of excitement from introducing someone to one of his favorite locations. Moving quickly, he reached to open the door, releasing the strong scent of coffee and the ring of a bell as he did so. "After you, madam." He told her, putting on a slightly posh English accent as he did so.

[Tayssi]

Ebony cast a swift glance at the man, her curiousity getting the better of her. It was the first time she had told anyone, so she was curious to find out herself what the reaction was. She was rather happily surprised by his expression, however. He didn't look sympathetic or see the horror in his eyes she had been expecting. He looked like he was concentrating, trying to process what she had said. That made her give in inward sigh of relief. Then he gestured in the direction of the book store and then smiled at her, saying it was only about fifteen minutes away, saying it was on Hillrise. She nodded briefly, and watched as he turned and started to walk. She paused momentarily before she followed him. He could very well be leading her to her demise, but today, she decided, she was going to try to be a bit more trusting of people. So she ignored the constant nagging in her head to turn and bolt to the hills she always had when ever someone approached her. Every other time when she was alone, she'd listen to it and she would leave without so much as a word why. She blinked in surprise at the man's words about him getting her books. She began to protest, to say she hadn't come along for him to get her anything, but he continued, leaving her no room to say anything. With a heavy sigh, Ebony dropped the subject. For now.

They were soon walking on the path instead of the grass and she watched as he pulled off his coat after only a few minutes. She noticed he looked back at her, but she kept her gaze lowered, at his hands, where he held his coat. However, when he spoke, asking what kind of books she liked, she finally looked back up at him. She gave a gentle shrug and thought for a moment. Out of no where, he stepped to the side, almost bumping into her but he stepped back, narrowly avoiding her. "All sorts," she replied quietly, "I really like Historical fiction.. But I can barely find them," she brushed her hair behind her ear as the breeze picked up a bit, blowing it across her face.

Arriving at the book store, Ebony looked at the brick building with awe. She hadn't ever ventured this way before. Though she didn't like staying at the orphanage, she never strayed too far in case something happened to one of the other children. And she never had the courage to leave the familiarity of the park and surrounding area by herself. She had always been paranoid she'd run into that man. However, here she was, and she couldn't hide the look of excitement that passed over her features. She looked back at Kellin when he held open the door and spoke in a posh English accent and she gave a light smile and shook her head, "Thank you," she said, stepping inside, liking the scent of coffee. She liked the smell of coffee but had never liked the taste of it. She glanced back at Kellin, watching him for a moment before she vanished, walking down the aisles, her finger trailing along the spines. There were so many books and she had no idea where to start. There were very few books at the orphanage for someone her age and what they did have, she had read multiple times already.

[Wolfy]

"Quite welcome," He responded, stepping inside after her and gently shutting the door behind them. Kellin inhaled deeply, eyelids lowering slightly as he relaxed and looked over the comforting interior of the store. Historical fiction, hmm? That's a bit uncommon for girls her age. He thought to himself, watching her disappear amongst the many shelves of books. Chuckling softly to himself, Kellin tore his eyes away from the spot she had disappeared as a familiar voice greeted him. "Kellin! I was wondering when you were going to return!" He turned, dark eyes settling on the attendant, and his smile widened. "I wouldn't abandon you." He retorted with a soft laugh, looking down at the girl with amusement. Her long, dark hair was styled in a messy bun, a few strands having escaped to dangle in her face, her bright green eyes slightly squinted as she laughed. The pair had been friends for a very long time, and though she was attractive, he had never regarded her as anything more than a friend. "So, who's your friend?" The girl, [who's name was Sandra] asked, her grin a bit too suggestive for his tastes. "Finally found someone, Kel?"
 The man held back a fit of laughter at her comment, shaking his head furiously as he put together an explanation. 

"My friend," He started, rolling his eyes as Sandra leaned forward with interest, gazing at him expectantly, "IS Ebony, I know for a fact she isn't 18 yet, and," Kellin glanced around the room before leaning in to finish his sentence, "She's from the orphanage. Brought her here for a treat, you know? Contrary to popular belief, I am capable of kindness." 

Sandra nodded, obviously examining his explanation for any flaws. "Why does her age matter?" She cocked her head, smirking as Kellin shifted uncomfortably.
 
"Cause you know damn well that I haven't ever had a serious relationship and I don't think I'd start with an underage girl who lives in an orphanage." He hissed, in a hurry to get off the topic.

 Sandra huffed, and backed off, switching the conversation to his job instead. Visibly relieved, Kellin filled her in on the recent happenings of graphic design and tattooing people. A small group of people interrupted their conversation, and Sandra bid him a temporary goodbye as she went to ring up the books. Not interested in waiting, Kellin headed off to find Ebony, flinging his coat over an empty chair before navigating his way through the aisles. After a few minutes of searching, prolonged due to his interest in several books, he found the girl, and he approached her quickly, offering a small smile. "Don't forget, you can get as many as you like. My credit card has a very high limit." Kellin jested, turning to examine the books on the shelf beside them, carefully removing one that looked interesting and glancing over the summary as he awaited her reply.

[Tayssi]

Ebony wandered through the aisles, picking out some books which caught her eye and reading the summary before putting it back soon after. She was feeling hesitant about letting someone buy her something. And basically a stranger at that. She sighed and went to the next aisle, where she could vaguely hear Kellin and someone talking. But she could only really make out the words 'Ebony' and 'she isn't 18 yet.' she huffed and quickly turned around, not wanting to hear anymore. It was rude to eavesdrop, anyway. She could care less why Kellin had decided to bring her here, or if he decided to talk about her. That as his business, not hers. Looking through the books, she found one that caught her attention. The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson. She scanned the summary and was instantly interested, so she kept a hold of it. If Kellin really wanted to get her something, then, even if she didn't fancy the idea, she would let him get her something.

Ebony walked through the aisle, wanting to ask Kellin if it was fine if she got the book. However, she stopped short when he heard him still talking to that girl. She heard his last sentence about never being in a serious relationship and not starting with an underage girl from an orphanage. Her eyes widened slightly and she caught a glimpse of Kellin and the young woman around the corner of the shelves before she quickly turned again and walked back through the aisle. She soon stopped and took a deep breath. She hadn't expected or wanted - even imagined - him being interested in her. That part didn't surprise her. But the way he had said 'I don't think I'd start with an underage girl who lives in an orphanage' made her chest tighten. He had said it like the idea repulsed him and she instantly figured it was because she lived in an orphanage. She looked down at the book in her hands, almost tempted to put it back and go back to the park, however, she decided against the idea. She wasn't going to be a child about it. That was his own opinion. It wasn't her problem. And if he really didn't like her, he wouldn't have asked her to come with him.

She sealed off her wandering thoughts and she focused on the book in front of her, her finger resting on top of one as she saw Kellin coming towards her, offering a small smile, which she weakly returned. When he spoke, she looked down at the book she had been in the middle of pulling out and once he finished talking, she pulled the book out of its spot and read the summary and smiled slightly. It was Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. A book she normally wouldn't read too often, but it sounded interesting. She looked at Kellin and offered a hesitant smile. "May I get these two?" she asked him, lifting the two books which now sat on top of each other slightly.

[Wolfy]

Kellin looked at her without moving his head, his eyes meeting her's for a moment before he nodded. "Of course." He told her, placing the book he had had in his hand back on the shelf, losing interest in it. "C'mon, lets get checked out and then I'll take you home. Sound good?" Kellin asked, this time fully facing her, looking for her approval. Sandra swung around the corner of the shelf, walking with a slight bounce to Kellin's side. "Hey, you're Ebony, right?" She asked, not really waiting for an answer before flashing a reassuring smile and motioning for the girl to follow her. "I'll get you rung up. Kellin, I assume you're paying?" His wallet was already out of his pocket, and he handed his credit card to her, chuckling softly. "Ebony, that's Sandra. She'll try and comfort to you death if you aren't careful." That earned him a glare, and Sandra disappeared around the shelf, gesturing for Ebony to follow her once more. Almost instantly, Sandra started to speak, her voice soft as she took her position behind the cash register. "You alright? Kellin doesn't normally do things like this." She patted the counter, silently telling Ebony to set her books down. "He's an alright guy, so you don't have to worry, alright?" Sandra quietly assured her, worried that the girl was scared out of her wits. Kellin appeared from behind the shelf, approaching the two at a leisurely pace. Sandra glanced quickly between Ebony and her friend, wondering just how scared the girl was. She looked him over quickly, impressed that the girl had even come here with him. At 6'1, dressed all in black with what Sandra thought was way too many piercings, Kellin wasn't someone you would feel very eager to accompany anywhere. 

After the two had left him standing alone behind the bookcase, Kellin realized how truly foolish his actions were. He ran his hands through his hair, successfully messing it up and making a few pieces stick up at odd angles. He'd probably scared the girl out of her wits, and to make things worse, he had most likely gotten her in trouble with whoever looked after her in the orphanage. Did she have an allowance? If she didn't, how would she explain the books? Oh, a man with piercings and all black clothing took me to a book store and bought them for me! Yeah, cause that would settle well with them. His troubled thoughts drifted back to his conversation with Sandra, and he shook his head, wondering what could have possessed his friend to provoke him like that. It was true that he had never had a steady or serious relationship. All he had was a long list of one night stands. Sandra knew that. Besides, Ebony hardly seemed like the type who could handle him when he was angry, or in any other mood, for that matter. Rolling his eyes in disgust with himself, Kellin smoothed down his hair the best he could, and with a mental sigh, he started walking.

Sandra realized her mistake when she saw the tense look in his eyes. He had a bad habit of over thinking things, and guilt swept over her when she realized her comments were the cause of this. He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall behind Sandra, noting he still had an hour left to get to the tattoo parlor. Temptation to ask Sandra to walk Ebony back gnawed at him, but he didn't want to make it seem like he had grown tired of the girl, which of course, he hadn't. He focused on Sandra ringing up the books, swiping the card and then holding it out for him to take. Kellin looked at it for a moment, before slowly accepting it and tucking it safely away into his wallet. "I- Ebony, how are you going to explain how you got the books? I don't want to cause any trouble for you..." He asked her quietly. Maybe you should have thought of that before, dumb ass. 

[Tayssi]

Ebony gave a weak smile as Kellin said 'Of course' and put back the book he had been looking at before speaking again, saying he'd take her home after he bought the books. She hesitated for a moment, thinking about going back to the orphanage so early, but she nodded anyway, not wanting to upset him. She looked at him for a moment before her eyes darted over to the woman that swung around the corner, talking to her. The girl tensed slightly before she recognised the woman as the one Kellin had spoken to earlier as she spoke to him when she stopped beside him. Watching as he handed a card to the woman before addressing her, telling her that her name was Sandra and she gave a light nod, looking back at her, following her when she gestured for her to follow her. She watched her as she took her position behind the counter as she spoke, asking if she was alright and telling her that Kellin was an alright guy. She placed the two books on the counter as she was told and the girl went on to try and reassure her that Kellin was an alright guy. Ebony gave a soft nod, "I'm fine," she told the woman quietly, "and don't worry.. If I was that concerned he was going to do something.. I would have ignored him when he approached me," she told Sandra and then glanced back at Kellin as he approached the two.

Ebony would be lying if she said he didn't intimidate her, however, she hadn't gotten any sort of malicious vibe off of him when he had come up to her. So she figured he would be alright to talk to a bit. She studied him for a moment, noticing the slightly messy look to his hair, indicating he had probably ran his hand through it. Then she noticed the tense look in his eyes and she wondered what was wrong. Had she done something to upset him? Maybe he had just told her he'd get her books but honestly didn't want to spend his money on her. That was totally called for. After all, he didn't even know her properly. She suddenly felt like a fool. After 7 years of having barely any human interaction, she had forgotten how to read signs they presented her with. She gave an inward groan and glanced at Sandra for a moment before focusing on Kellin again.

She gingerly took the bag the books were now in and looked up at Kellin in surprise when he asked how she was going to explain how she got them. But it didn't take her long before she shrugged and looked off to the side, her blue eyes hesitant to meet his gaze. "I won't get into any trouble," she said softly, "I have barely ever spoken to anyone since I've been there, so they'll just figure I found them somewhere." She returned her gaze to Kellin's and she gave a small reassuring smile his way, "It's fine, really. And thank you.. For the books, and getting me away for a while," she told him lightly, running a hand through her red hair. To be honest, it felt good to get away and to finally speak to someone. She would thank Kellin for that, too if it wasn't for the fact that he probably wouldn't understand.

[Wolfy]

Kellin stared at the ground for a moment, eyelids half lowered as he felt the uncertainty about her situation disappear. The tension that had gathered in his broad shoulders slowly dissipated, and he slouched forward a bit, eyes slowly sliding back up to meet Ebony's. "No problem." He said, flashing her a bright smile, hoping his slight irritation hadn't been noticed by her. Sandra chuckled softly, watching Kellin with an amused expression. A sudden realization flashed in her eyes, and she rushed off towards the section of the book store where coffee and other things were served. Kellin tilted his head, glancing over at Ebony occasionally as Sandra conversed with the man working behind the counter. "I think she likes you." He told her quietly, squinting slightly as the man handed Sandra something, the small bundle of white moving too quickly for him to see it properly. Sandra almost bounced over to them, and as soon as his bad eyesight permitted, Kellin was able to see that she was holding something wrapped in several napkins, and he opened his mouth to question her actions. "Shut it, Kel." She muttered, and extended her arm to hand the bundle to Ebony. The napkins fell open slightly, revealing what they hid, and Kellin laughed. In the napkin were a total of three cookies, each a different kind. "Honestly, Sandra, you're the most motherly person I've ever met." She shot him a glare, rolling her eyes and pulling her hand back after giving them to Ebony. "What?! Look how skinny the girl is! And that, is exactly why you aren't getting any." Sandra teased, crossing her arms over her chest and sticking her tongue out at him. "That's fine. I'm trying to watch my girlish figure anyway!" Kellin retorted.

Reluctantly, Kellin began to turn for the door, eyes narrowing when they settled on it. "Ebony, is there anywhere else you want to go?" He asked, looking at her over his shoulder. "Anywhere you want, it doesn't really matter to me." Kellin added quietly, watching the people passing by the window. Sandra shifted her weight uncomfortably, but started forward, gently ushering Ebony forward. "He doesn't make offers like that very often, hun, I'd think of something quick if I were you." She muttered quietly in the girl's ear, stepping back after a few moments. Kellin opened the door, the bell jingling merrily, and he turned half way, watching Ebony expectantly. It was such a relief to finally talk to someone besides Sandra who wasn't an ignorant airhead. She didn't giggle obnoxiously, make a show of herself or any of the other things he detested, and Kellin had already made the subconscious decision that the girl would become his friend. If she doesn't report you to the police first, he thought with a wry smile. His phone rang, the classic rock coming from his coat startling him. Sandra rushed over to the chair he had nearly forgotten his coat on, and tossed it to him. He only had one contact in his phone that actually had the privilege of having an actual ringtone instead of a weak vibration, and he quickly accepted the call, mouthing "Sorry" to Sandra and Ebony as he moved away from the door, letting it swing shut slowly. "I'm a bit busy at the moment, Nivan. Can this wait?" Kellin asked in a rushed whisper, worry creasing his brow. "Okay, yeah, that can wait. I think I can afford to be an hour late, you know?" He chuckled, saying a quick goodbye and ending the call. "I'm sorry, again. He's just panicking because he couldn't find his red hair dye." Kellin rolled his eyes, and his eyes rested on Ebony, causing him to flinch, knowing she was probably confused. "Nivan is a college friend of mine. Normally his calls are actually important." He explained, opening the door once more. "Alright, madam, where to?" He asked using the same posh accent as when they had arrived.

[Tayssi]

Ebony watched as he slowly slouched forward and she tilted her head to the side in confusion. But she quickly straightened when he rose his eyes to hers and spoke, a bright smile gracing his features. Hearing Sandra chuckle, she focused her attention on her and blinked in surprise when she suddenly turned around and hurried off. Her brows furrowed in confusion and watched her as she spoke to a man. Kellin said that the woman liked her and she looked at the man. "...Really?" she asked and then looked at Sandra again as she bounced over to them, telling Kellin to shut up. She looked at the napkins in question as the woman handed them to her and she took them after a moments hesitation and then she looked down as the napkins fell open slightly, revealing three different cookies. Choc Chip, chocolate & white choc chip. She gave a light smile and then glanced at Kellin as he spoke to Sandra, who quickly went on to say that she was too skinny. Ebony's eyes widened slightly and a light blush coloured her cheeks. At Kellin's comment, Ebony couldn't help but give a soft chuckle.

She watched as he turned towards the door and then asked if there was anywhere she wanted to go. Was he being serious? She thought he had wanted to get rid of her by now. Not many could deal with the quiet person. Her gaze flicked to Sandra as she stepped forward and ushered her forward, saying that Kellin didn't make offers like that very often and she should think of something quickly. But to be honest, Ebony had no idea where to go. She didn't know good places to go to and it would sound rude if she said she didn't want to go anywhere. Sandra stepped back and she focused on Kellin again as he opened the door, holding it open for her. But before she could make a move, his phone went off and she looked over at his coat as Sandra rushed over to it and threw it over to Kellin. The man pulled out his phone and mouthed 'sorry' to them before answering. She watched the man for a short moment before she lowered her eyes to the ground, trying to think of a place to go.

Kellin finished the call before she could think of anywhere and she looked up, startled when he spoke towards her and Sandra. She had no clue what he was talking about. His gaze rested on her and she noticed him flinch before he explained and she gave him a light nod of understanding, now understanding what he meant. He opened the door and then spoke to her and she glanced at Sandra before she walked towards the door. "Umm.. I'm not sure," she said and then thought how rude that could be taken and she looked up at him apologetically, "I'm sorry.. I don't usually go to far from the orphanage so I don't know the area well," she explained in a rush. She stepped through the doorway and was nearly bowled over by a seemingly oblivious couple and she stumbled back, narrowly missing being knocked over, and her back bumped into Kellin. She quickly stepped forward, turning to face him, wide eyed. "I'm sorry!" she said quickly, now rather flustered.

[Wolfy]

Kellin began to reach out and pull her back before she was trampled, but he was too late, and the girl had already stumbled back into him. He almost grasped her shoulder to steady her, but she jerked away before he could. A wolfish grin made its way onto his features, and he glanced at the ground, laughing softy. "Don't worry about it. I'm not bleeding all that badly." He teased, giving his abdomen a mock examination, still chuckling at the flustered way in which she acted. Kellin looked back up at her through his lashes, shoulders still slightly shaking though he had been silent for several moments. 

His smirk faded into a kinder and more understanding smile, and he leaned up against the door in favor of holding it open awkwardly. "I- you don't have to be specific. Anything you want to do really..." Kellin spoke slowly as he thought, staring out at the street as he desperately tried to come up with something. "There's an icecream parlor not too far from here, or I could take you to the mall to see if anything strikes your interest?" He bit his lip, glancing over at Ebony, hoping she had an idea, seeing as he was fresh out. "I know we're a bit limited because I don't want to get you in trouble, but... if you like clothing that's always an option, I suppose, as long as it doesn't put you in a difficult situation." Sandra shot him a look that warned him he was starting to babble, and Kellin instantly returned a look that said Why don't you help me you were her age once you know what girs her age like, right? She shook her head, turning away and leaving him on his own to come up with something. "Is there anything you've been really wanting to do? Or see?" 

Sighing softly, he motioned for her to follow, and he headed out of the book store, heading up the street with a determined gleam in his eyes. After a few moments of walking, he whirled, stopping straight in front of her, standing close and looking straight down at her. "You see a shop that looks interesting, you tell me, alright? Jewelry, food, clothing, anything! You've got to tell me. Don't hesitate, don't think about it, you like it, we go in." Kellin told her sternly. He had noticed her reluctance to let him buy her the books, and he wanted to push that idea out of her head and let her relax a bit. "I can't send you into space, but I can most certainly buy you a necklace or a dress, if it's what you want." After looking down at her in silence for a few more moments, he backed up, smiling kindly, spinning on the heels of his boots and heading up the sidewalk again.

[Tayssi]

Ebony saw the wolfish grin spread across his face before he spoke and her eyes widened slightly when he spoke, checking his abdomen, taking him seriously for a quick moment before she noticed his shoulders shaking slightly and she sighed in relief before she shook her head softly. His smile becam kinder and understanding and she watched as he leaned against the door before he spoke. Her gaze lowered for a moment, suddenly feeling bad for not being able to think of anywhere to go. But Kellin sugest an ice cream palor or the mall and she glanced back up at him as he bit his lip then looked at her in question before he continued again. He asked her if there was anywhere she wanted to see or do and she couldn't help but feel useless. Kellin was trying to be nice and here she was, not able to think of anything. It was frustrating her.

She turned and followed the man as he motioned for her to follow and she absentmindedly looking down at the napkins with cookies she still held. When Kellin stopped and whirled around to face her, she stopped short, thankful she didn't run into him again. She seemed to be clumsy today, so she was glad she didn't have to make herself even more embarrassed. She craned her neck slightly to look up at him and noticed he was staring straight down at her before he started to speak. She was slightly surprised that he had just stopped in the middle of the street to tell her that if she saw something interesting, to tell him. However, when he said he couldn't take her up into space, she couldn't help but chuckle softly before she realised and she silenced herself. But she gave him a light nod of understanding, watching as he turned around and started walking again.

She gave a light smile as she studied the back of Kellin. Despite his appearance, he seemed like a nice person. She didn't feel threatened around him, which didn't happen very often for her. Not anymore. She looked around as they walked, deciding she may as well decide on something that caught her attention. After a few of minutes she saw a shop with arts and craft pieces along with paintings and little quotes in frames. "Um, Kellin?" she said lightly, looking up at him for a moment, "I'd like to have a look in there," she told him, "if you don't mind," she added quickly. She wanted to have a look at the framed quotes and insperational messages. Even if some people bought those kinds of things because they thought they were cute or pretty, Ebony liked them for the message they told. She didn't just look at the words. They helped her when she saw them, even if it did sound weird or stupid to some.

[Wolfy]

Kellin hadn't really expected her to speak up, and was pleasantly surprised when she did. He turned slightly to see what had caught her interest, and his smile grew a bit wider. "You are full of surprises, aren't you?" He chuckled, covering the distant between him and the door to the shop in two long strides and politely opened the door for her, brown eyes flicking from her to inside the store, almost anxious to see what else the girl had in store. Kellin was actually enjoying spending time with a total stranger, and though it surprised him in some ways, it didn't in others. Instead of running to nearest jewelry store, she had chosen this one, and Kellin couldn't help but be a bit impressed by that. He entered the building after her, looking around with interest at the quotes and messages, and wondering how out of place he looked in a store like this. 

He headed off away from Ebony, leaving her on her own to choose a few things, and started to wander. Quickly consumed by his thoughts, Kellin resigned to subconsciously walking through the aisles as if he were actually reading. Though he did have a job to attend in less than an hour, Kellin had elected not to care, and focused more on when Nivan was going to ambush him next or when Sandra would magically be able to get into his house despite it being locked. Chuckling at the thought, he pulled himself from his thoughts to glance around quickly, seeing if Ebony was anywhere near. He noted he was alone in the small aisle, and that he hadn't moved for the past several minutes. Narrowing his eyes, he moved forward slowly, not really wanting to look like an idiot standing and staring into nothingness. 

The casual wandering grew boring quickly, and he went on a small search for Ebony, finding her rather quickly. "I am rather impressed by taste in stores, Ebony." He commented, looking over at her with a small smile. Kellin's dark eyes drifted up to the ceiling, and stayed there for awhile as he tried to come up with something to say. "So, what have you found so far that you liked?" He asked, chewing the inside of his lip anxiously. 

[This was short :/]

[Tayssi]

Ebony couldn't help the small smile which graced her features at his comment and watched as he walked towards the building and held open the door. She gave him a nod of appreciation and stepped inside, looking around. She hadn't actually found a shop with the framed quotes before. Many arts and crafts store, but not many with such variety of things. She glanced at Kellin as he wandered off through the store and she went the other way.. The soft, gentle music in the air helped her relax slightly and she looked around, reading the quotes and looking at the pictures and paintings. However, one caught her eye and she paused and peered at it. In cursive font were the words, 'It's All About Family'. She stared at it for a long, long moment and in her head she saw herself when she was 8 with her parents and older sister in a park, sitting on a laid out blanket with empty plastic plates and cups and the crusts of sandwiches thrown out around them, the birds coming in and eating them. But then she remembered her mother's terrified eyes as she looked at the cupboard Ebony and her sister had hid in that day. Jerking back, away from the framed quote, she squeezed her eyes shut momentarily, shaking her head before she turned and walked off. It wasn't exactly what she had wanted to think about today. Not now.

Sighing, Ebony glanced to the side and saw another, in a small black frame and a white background with thin straight text saying, 'Pain makes People Change' and she couldn't help but think that was true. Actually, she knew it was true, at least for herself. Despite not having come in here for something such as that, she couldn't help but pick it up. She stared down at it for a moment before she walked off, though she kept a hold of it. For some reason, she wanted it, and it even went beyond her comprehension as to why. Within a minute, she found another with a thin light blue frame and a white background and bold, elegant text in the same blue saying, 'Stay Strong" and she slowly picked it up. She didn't want Kellin spending too much on her; to be honest, she wanted to find a way to pay him back when she could.

Staring down at the two she had chosen, her gaze kept going back to the one with the black frame. She closed her eyes, trying to close off her mind from the memories which pushed to pounce on her. She shuddered slightly at the thought of it. However, she heard Kellin speak and she jumped in surprise and spun to stare at him, wide eyed before she sighed and told herself to relax. She gave a sheepish, almost nervous grin to his comment and her behaviour and watched as he looked up at the ceiling. When he looked back at her and asked what she had found, she hesitated for a moment before holding them out towards him to see. "Just these two," she said quietly, her gaze diverting to the floor for an instant before she looked back up at him, slightly curious as to what his reaction would be.

(No it's fine, mine isn't much better )

[Wolfy]

Kellin tilted his head, staring down at her choices curiously. His expression didn't change until he read 'Pain Makes People Change'. His smile faded slightly, and he glanced away for a moment to hide the flash of emotion before redirecting his gaze to meet hers. "Good choice." Kellin praised. "Are there anymore you want?" He asked, examining the shelf beside them carefully to see if anything stood out. Disappointment caused his shoulders to slouch a bit when he found nothing that stood out to him, and with a dismissive, subtle shake of his head, Kellin looked back at Ebony. His phone buzzed, causing him to jump, and he quickly dug it out of his pocket, skimming over the message quickly, and muttering a curse under his breath when he finished. His fingers quickly typed out a reply, sending it and shoving the phone back in his pocket. "Here," He fished his wallet out of his back pocket, removing a fifty and handing it to her, "If you find anymore, or you're happy with those, I'm sure you can handle the cashier." Kellin told her, sounding a bit exasperated. "I just need to step outside for a moment, come out when you're ready." He backed away, vanishing around the corner, his official departure announced by the sound of a door closing. 

Fuck, Marcin, this better be worth it! I shouldn't have to do that to Ebony, Kellin thought with irritation, leaning up against the side of the building, crossing one leg over the other and waiting for his 'friend' to arrive in silence. It didn't take long for the familiar roar of Marcin's motorcycle to reach Kellin's ears, and he wondered how his friend had gotten here so fast without a speeding ticket. A quick once-over assured Kellin that the man still held no concern for safety; no helmet, or anything that would protect a person if they crashed. Marcin's hair was a bit mussed from the wind, but the black mohawk he sported seemed to only be improved by that. Rolling his eyes, Kellin straightened, striding forward to meet Marcin. "You have the worst timing possible, Marcin." Kellin greeted, his tone showing that he was irritated. "I don't know, Kel, I think I could have interrupted something a bit more important." Marcin retorted, eyes flashing dangerously. The two stopped a few feet from each other, Kellin looking down on the man, shoulders tense and hands clenched into fists. "So what was so important that it couldn't have waited?" Kellin growled, quickly changing the subject. "Your job. Your online job. It's actually rather urgent, and we need to get it sorted out." Marcin explained, smirking smugly. The man, unfortunately, was Marcin's business partner, and the more tech savvy out of the two of them. Their job consisted of designing all sorts of online things for 'important' people, and though it wasn't favorable, it paid well. "Well, I don't have time for it, at the moment. It can wait." Kellin responded, obviously not in the mood to argue. His eyes had darkened considerably, and Marcin backed up a bit, even though he was angry as well. 

"Sosuddenly you're more interested in framed quotes than your job?" Marcin snapped, sneering with distaste. "No, but I'm not going to be called like a dog for something I know you can fix on your own!" His pitch had lowered slightly, hinting at barely restrained anger. The two clashed horribly, and how they ever got things done, Kellin would never understand. Taking a deep breath, Kellin pushed down his pride, and hoped a compromise would get Marcin out of his hair. "How about I skip work at the tattoo parlor today, and after I drop off a friend, I'll see what I can do?" Neither of them really liked the idea, but it was better than continuing to fight over it. "Alright. I'll be at your place at 3." Marcin muttered, and headed back to his motorcycle.

Kellin rushed back inside the store, looking around almost frantically for Ebony. He sighed in relief when he spotted her. "I'm really sorry about that, Ebony. I should have just ignored him, but.." He trailed off, narrowing his eyes. Apologizing wasn't his thing, not in the least, and it seemed that he had nearly forgotten how to do it properly. "I thought it would be important. It wasn't, and I'm sorry." Kellin sighed softly, shaking his head and trying not to babble. 

[MOST UN NECESSARY THING EVER but I had absolutely nothing else to say so I introduced a potentially important charrie. I apologize. Marcin - Full credit to XKyoux ]

[Tayssi]

Ebony noticed him glance away for a short moment after he had seen what she picked out. Her gaze instantly lowered to the ground and she tensed, basically waiting for him to criticize her about her choices. However, it never came and instead, he praised them. Blinking in surprise, she looked back up at the man and shook her head when he asked if there was anything else she wanted. Kellin seemed to be looking at what was around them just before his phone went off and she watched as he jumped before pulling it out and typing a quick reply. Seconds later, he fished his wallet out and handed her a 50. She hesitated before taking it as he spoke to her, telling her she could get more if she wanted, or to just pay for them. She stood there, rather surprised and watched as he backed away, the sound of the door opening and closing telling her he had exited the store. Standing there, her gaze lowered to stare at the 50. She couldn't remember when she had actually had a 50 in her hand. She probably never had. And she knew she hadn't once she had gone to the orphanage. Yet, fairly soon, she'd be able to leave the orphanage. The house she had grown up in would be her only available place to stay. Yet, she didn't want to go back there. Not yet. She wasn't ready. And she wasn't sure if she ever would be.

Sighing, Ebony turned and walked through the store, looking around idly for a few moments. She glanced outside and saw Kellin and some other man with a Mohawk, and they both looked angry about something. Curiosity welled up in her but she quickly stamped it down. She didn't have any sort of right to pry into Kellin's life. Jeez, she had only met him today. Running a hand through her hair, she walked over to the cashier and paid for the two items. Holding the bag in one hand and the change in the other, she slowly made her way towards where the door was. However, she was in no rush. She didn't feel like walking in the middle of what ever it was Kellin and that man was doing. Neither had looked too happy. However, the door soon open and when she looked up at the sound of foot steps and a sigh, she saw Kellin walking towards her.

He started to speak, trying to apologize and the way he sounded; awkward, like he never did it, made her smile ever so slightly. He soon trailed off before he spoke again, apologizing once more. Ebony shook her head slightly. "N-no, it's fine," she replied and then handed the change out to him, "here, and, um.. thank you," she said, glancing away for a moment before looking up at him again. Not long after that, they left the store and Ebony watched Kellin for a moment before looking away. This man confused her. He had been nothing but nice to her and yet with that man, his expression had kind of frightened her if she was honest. When ever some one was mad, especially towards her, she thought of that day. She always shied away from emotions such as anger, but she wished that was different. She didn't like being so weak. when she thought about it, Kellin was the complete opposite of her. He was open and from what she could tell, didn't back down from a confrontation. sighing, Ebony glanced up at Kellin again, thinking about him and that man and she couldn't help but ask, "are you alright?" her eyes widened slightly when she realized what she had asked and she looked to the ground, "oh, um, no, nevermind.. sorry."


(no it's fine.. Sorry about the major delay >.< )

[Wolfy]

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, not entirely convinced by her answer. As they exited the shop, his usual confident demeanor slipped back into place, the corner of his mouth tipping upwards in the beginning of a smirk. His expression momentarily faltered at her words. "No, no, it's perfectly alright. Ask what you like, it won't bother me. And yes, everything is fine. My co worker is just an ass." Kellin assured her, offering a kind smile to prove his words. His eyes widened in realization, and he quickly retrieved the change she had returned to him. The frames hadn't cost much, and so quite a bit of the money remained. "Take it." It wasn't so much as an offer as it was a demand, and after a few seconds of waiting, he just slipped it into her bag instead. "In case you need new books, or something." Kellin said. He stepped away, not wanting to give her the opportunity to give it back. "So," He began, eyes slowly making their way to the ground, "I suppose, I'd better get you back.."  Kellin didn't even try to mask the disappointment in his tone. "But we can always do this again. Anytime." He added, losing the grim expression he had momentarily adopted. Sighing softly, Kellin looked up again, not wanting to run into anybody. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, and started to wonder what he had gotten himself into.

-Time Skip- 

Sighing heavily, Kellin cut the engine of his car. The orphanage loomed above him, the grey skies and drizzling rain making it appear even more grim and depressing than it usually did. Today was the day. He was going to help Ebony move and settle into her house. He hadn't been able to get a good gauge on how the girl felt about leaving the orphanage; whether or not she was looking forward to it or if she was reluctant. It was frustrating. Shaking his head to dismiss the thoughts, Kellin climbed out of the car, quickly locking the Chevy Camaro and striding up to the orphanage door. They knew who he was by now, and though he didn't have their full trust, it wasn't as suspicious as if he was just now announcing who he was and why he was there. 

The man couldn't help but grimace as he entered the building, feeling mildly sorry that Ebony had had to grow up in such a place. Having lived in luxury for the majority of his life, the shabby interior of the orphanage was both foreign and concerning. A woman behind a wooden desk watched him with an unamused expression as he gave the interior his routine once-over of disapproval. Rolling his eyes, Kellin made his way towards her, putting on a polite smile. "I'm here for Ebony." He stated, absent mindedly reaching up to brush his hair from his eyes. "I trust she hasn't decided to run away right before she was released?" He added in response to the woman's blank stare. His eyes drifted to the ancient computer that sat on the desk, furrowing his brows in disapproval. How does that even still work?? He internally questioned. It certainly fit in with the rest of the room's "vintage" appearance. From the unappealing wallpaper to the woman in front of him, everything in the room made him feel as if he had gone back 10 years. 

Kellin was brought back to the task on hand when the woman reluctantly moved to her feet, and up a flight of creaking stairs, leaving Kellin alone. Huffing softly, he leaned up against the desk, awaiting her return.

[Tayssi]

A few months had passed since her first meeting with Kellin. And not the only time after that. At first, Ebony had thought she'd never see him again. But around a week after, she saw him again.. Actually, more to the point that she had walked straight into him. Literally. She had left early that morning, and instead of just going to the park like she usually did, she had wandered through the streets. A bit of an idiotic move, but she had stayed on the back streets, trying to stay away from too many people. And because she had been looking at the ground, not paying attention to where she was going, she had walked straight into a broad chest. She had gasped in surprise and taken a few steps back before she looked up to see Kellin standing before her, looking down at her, his phone against his ear, obviously in the middle of a conversation. But before she could apologise and leave him to whoever he may have been speaking to, he had said goodbye and hung up.. And just like that, she had yet again spent a couple of hours with him - after answering his questions of why she was by herself in back streets of course. Not that he had seemed too impressed with her answer of just taking a walk and not wanting to be around many people. After that day, Ebony had run into Kellin a few more times before they had formed something Ebony could only describe as what must've been a friendship of sorts and they had started organising days to meet up - Kellin stating it was much easier to hang out that way then just coincidentally running into each other.

And now the day Ebony had been dreading came. The day to leave the orphanage and move into her old house. The house that brought memories she didn't want to remember. She had been looking forward to finally leaving, but the closer the day came, the stronger the realization came that she would have to face what had happened. But Kellin had offered to help her move in - to drive her there, really. He had no idea about her past, she had always managed to weave around that subject somehow, so he didn't know the impact moving into that house would have on her. But she had no choice. It was the only place she had. She stared down at the bag and suitcase sitting beside the bed she had slept in for so many years.. She didn't have many things. A few books, some clothes, photos & framed quotes - most of those which Kellin had bought her actually. But she didn't even have many clothes. Most were hand-me-downs the orphanage lent her for her stay, which were then passed down to other kids once she out grew them.. She only had a few articles of clothing. A couple jeans, some shirts, underwear & bras.. She had one set of shorts which she had never actually worn - pale blue denim shorts. She also had a pretty red dress which the people in the orphanage had bought for her 18th. She doubted she would ever wear it. After all, Ebony wasn't the type for such dresses. Though she was wearing the same black dressed with the small red star above her right breast that she wore the first day she met Kellin. Though, much unlike her usual style of keeping her hair down, it was tied back in a high pony tail, the only part free was her fringe.

There was a knock at her door and she opened it and the reception lady told her, obvious irritation laced in her tone, that 'that gloomy dark guy' as she called Kellin, was here for her. Nodding lightly, she turned as the lady stalked back down to the reception, probably not even to tell Kellin she was coming. Ebony slung her bag over one shoulder and grabbed the suitcase before she made her way down the hall and then down the stairs. It didn't take long before she spotted Kellin - with his height, standing taller than basically everyone else and his dark clothing. She gave him a small smile and a wave as she hit the bottom of the stairs before she walked over to him. "Hi," she said, her blue eyes bright as she tried to keep herself together, hoping that she wouldn't fall to pieces in front of Kellin as soon as she got to her house.. "Are you sure you're still all right with taking me today?" She inquired, head tilting slightly.

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