Ray Liverstock's Story

Ray puled up to the cabin in his pick up, and breathed in the warm summer air. Then he sighed it back out and honked his horn. The horn made a little "Meep meep!" noise and he took his keys out. His key chain was of him and his ex girlfriend, and his cat patches photo shoped onto his ex's head. That is what she got for cheating on him, and using him. Of course, he had a ton of bags, that was just the guy he was. The type of teen who would break his back doing whatever he could to make sure his writing stuff is okay. On the passengers side, was beer cans, lots of them, they were his favourite, laker. Also beside him he had the box set of books he had been reading, the Hunger Games series.
He got out of his truck and went over to his compartment, and took down four bags, witch were just comic books, and two more bags witch were his clothes, and about two more filled with movies, his xbox, his play station, and his games, plus beans and soup. He needed to find a way to get every thing inside, pllus the four boxs of beer he brang. "Any one order a daily dose of nerd?" He shouted to every one.

Ray smiled as Kate laughed. "Thats great to hear the nerd is wanted here." He started to drag his things inside, stacked ontop of each other, and the beer in his other hand. His left the beer, the right his luggage.
Ray looked at amazment at the cabin. "This is not a cabin man, this is like professor x's freaking academy for mutants." Ray was wide eyed and jaw dropped. He scanned the area for an easy way up. "Uhhh, is there any elivators around here?" He let out, just as Kate left not knowing she was gone.
Shruggin his shoulders and droping his rightt hand and his right hand baggage, he went over to the kitchen and put the Laker packs in there. "Geez man, I love this place already." He laughed, grabbing some sticky notes and writing down 'Laker for every one, only after 9pm, that is when the party actually begins, you know, the party that is summer. Officialy." He could not help being akward. That is just who he is. He was lucky Kate was his friend, or else he would have none. He did not beleive he had good looks, because he knew he dident. he was a simple nerd. Ray posted his note on the Laker stacks, and closed the fridge.
Ray emerged from the door into the pool area. "This IS huge!" He preactiacaly shouted to the air. He dragged his comic book bag out of the cabin and dropped it onto the deck area. "Hmm, there must be a nice place to sit." He looked around for some where to sit, nice and shady, but not so much that it would block his view of the books.

Kate came up from the water surprised as she saw and heard Damien. She smiled softly as she heard him complement her swimming. "Thanks, I am certainly not swim team material...like you are." Kate complimented him truthfully. "I went to a couple of your swim meets and you were great."

"Compared to you what I do is merely recreation. Which I mean it is...I do enjoy swimming a lot, and I would join the team if I thought I could make the team." Katelynn said shrugging. "But dance is my passion. Everything else I am only decent at in comparison." Kate had participated in every school and private dance recital she had ever been invited to perform in, and always got amazing responses. Also when she went into a solo competition she came out with first place for her age group, the very thing that lead to her successful Julliard audition.

"Wish I could give my sister this kind of life, but she would probably be much like yourself. Never figured you for one to care about all the money, just as long as your heart is set free like a wild mere then you can be free to do what you want truly." Damien said sitting with one knee to the ground, the other bent at the knee with his right arm draped over the knee.

She smiled as she remembered the one time she had met his sister. It was after graduation and she saw his mother looking for him amongst the sea of red and white caps and gowns, when the little girl took it upon herself to say "hello" with the cutest smile, leaving his mother to introduce the two of them. "Yes your little sister. I met her when your mother came to graduation with her. She's adorable." She said with approval. "And seems quiet smart too."

Kate shook her head as she continued her with what was on her mind after hearing his statement. "You don't wish your sister had this kind of life. I wouldn't wish it on anyone." She said looking at him seriously. "Yes the nice things are there and the easy of having money....but there are so many people that just want to be friends with you let alone in the same area with you just because you have money." She said her voice taking on a disappointed tint. "Then add in the fact that you have to always look your best, be on your best behavior...be the best in general. There's a lot of pressure...so your right I do enjoy the time I get to just....be me. Not, Laura and Trevor Madison's daughter. Thanks for noticing" She said sincerely.

Katelynn smoothed her hair back. "But, if you really think she would enjoy all the things here. I think you should bring her up here for a day or so. Let her enjoy the house. It will be like a small fun adventure for her. I wouldn't mind at all, if she did." She said smiling at him. "I know when I was her age I pretended this place was my castle."

Just as she said that a wave of water hit her making her hair rush over her face. Kate moved it out of the way only to see Piper looking at her Alex and Damien apologetically as she got them wet. "It's no problem Piper really. Its just a little water." She said lifting her body out of the pool from the edge next to Damien and walked over to the table with fresh towels on it, next to Ray and Izzie, grabbing one.

"Rereading them again huh, Ray?" Kate said teasingly as she made her way over to Damien handing him a towel to dry himself if he wished because unlike everyone else he was on the edge of the pool. "Here you go." She's said giving him it before making a clean swan dive into the pool without splashing. Kate swam back up to the surface gracefully.

Ray looked over at Piper. Most of these people he did not know, but she was kinda cute, and he wanted to meet new people. Ray got up, and walked over to Piper, not in a cool way, but his normal nerdish way. He put his book down and came to Damien and looked at the car he was inspecting. "Need help?" He asked, looking at it. "I know a bit of cars and stuff."

Kate sighed Phillip walked away from her. "Better prepare myself for a night of glares." She muttered to herself. Last time she had tried to connect with Tina over a nice dinner, Tina glared at her every time Phillip made Kate laugh or vice versa. That wasn't to say they weren't keeping her included in the conversation but she just appeared to be against any other conversation occurring between Katelynn and Phillip.

She turned back around to seeing Damien gone calling out that he was going to fix Piper's car, which was nice of him. Just then she saw Alex coming over, as she was climbing out to sit on the edge drying her hair.

"Have to say, this is a really nice place," Alex spoke sincerely. "Thanks a lot for inviting me out here."

She shook her head. "Its no problem really. I much rather spend summer out here with friends than go on a 5th trip to Europe. Its getting kind of ridiculous." Kate said rolling her eyes. "So thank you for coming."

Looking at Alex I saw his eyes shifting back and forth to the chair where Izzie was. "You should come with me to the kitchen." She said standing up. "I need to figure out what we are eating and go shower, get changed." She said offering him a hand and helping him out of the water.

They both walked to the main kitchen where Izzie was at drinking her beer. Kate looked in the fridge seeing the fresh produce the help had put in there. "I guess...we could do the grilling out tonight." She said pulling out the Steaks, Burgers, Tofu Burgers and Hot Dogs. Turning to Alex she spoke again. "I should shower and go talk to the others about what they might want." She said purposefully leaving Izzie and him alone to solve the little tiff they had with one another. "Feel free to meet me out there guys. Also whenever Phillip and Tina make it down can you tell them or ask them what the want." She said not really wanting to deal with him at all

Kate went upstairs to her bedroom on the west wing of the house, quickly hoping into the shower to rise off the chlorine before getting out and putting on her summer dress . She walked downstairs to the entrance of the cabin, before walking down to the main road where Ray, Piper and Damien were with her car; enjoying her walk along the way.

Kate finally came upon where Pipers car hard stopped seeing Ray, Piper and Damien along with his Charger. "Wow...her car broke down far away." She said softly to herself. She saw Damien listen to Piper engine as she tried to turn on the car. Ray was over on the side working with some car part.

She walked over to Damien, smiling seeing him in his element. It was something she loved seeing with people...the intense concentration on their face when they were doing something they were talented and skilled in. Their eyes would light up with Joy or Passion but their face would be one of complete concentration. She imagined that's how she looked when she danced.

"Piper, you should have called me. Your car broke down pretty far away...I mean the walks not that far but with bags it must not have been pleasant. I would have came and picked you up in my car" Kate said feeling bad that she had to walk up to the house with her luggage. Kate walked around to the hood to see how Damien was doing.

"I walked down here to see if you guys were good with us grilling out for dinner tonight...but since I am here." She turned to Damien before glancing back under the hood briefly. "What's the prognosis?"

"Well, I am here to help." Ray said, with a smile, glancing at the tools. He did not use tools alot, but he did collect them. He loved wrenches, and hammers and every thing inbetween. "Uh, well, I am going inside for a beer, you want one while I am in there?" He asked just in general, looking at the sky. It was a nice summer day, and he loved the summer. He called this weather, a nerds best friend. He loved when people called him a nerd, but he hated when people picked on him for it. They were all dinks for that. But he started to like Damien. He just seemed like a rude guy at first, but then he turned out pretty nice.

"I need you to turn on the engine," Damien told Piper. She nodded,and turned the key in the ignition.
"Uh, well, I am going inside for a beer, you want one while I am in there?" Ray asked. "Yeah, sure, I'll take one," Damien replied, too engrossed in the car too look up. "Piper, you should have called me. Your car broke down pretty far away... I mean the walks not far but with ags it must not have been pleasant. I would have come and picked you up in my car," Piper looked over at Kate, who must have followed them down. Piper rolled her eyes. "It wasn't that far away," she responded. "Besides, I could use some exercise," she joked.

"I walked down here to see if you guys were good with us grilling out for dinner tonight... but since I am here," Kate continued, walking over to Damien. "What's the prognosis?" "It's the carb, the external linkages are sticky," Damien replied. " I'm about to take it apart and clean it. I just want to check and see if there is an internal problem. When I take the the air cleaner and let it run--I might have to have her rev the engine until she forces the choke plates shut until it almost stalls. If that's the case then I'll just have her idle and adjust the mixture screws." Piper sighed inwardly, realizing that she had no idea what he had just said.

Just then, Ray came outside again, carrying two beers in his hand. "Sorry, got lost there. Big house," Ray commented, handing a beer to Damien. He then whispered something to Damien, and Piper heard her name. She rolled down the window. "What about me?" she asked, her eyebrows raised.

Rose grinned in triumph. She had done it again1 At the thought, she laughed and playfully threw another grape, just for the heck of it. It was pretty fun. "Hey, Kris, open up." she chirped, wanting to see if she could throw one in his mouth. Then, Ray entered, and she grinned with a friendly wave. "Hi Ray!" she chirped happily, still up on the island. It was pretty comfortable up there.

The energetic girl ran a hand through her hair and hummed , eating a few grapes herself. Hey, they were tempting.


(Horrible writers block >.<)

Kazu kept talking and talking.

Rosie didn't want to be rude or anything by telling him to give her a second to actually speak, but frankly, she knew her way around here just as well as he did. Although, yes she had been here countless times throughout her past two years livng in the United States, because she becamw pretty much best friends with Kate the next cuople of days after she had arrived.

How should she put it? She kind of wanted today to be a day of just hanging out around the house, maye go down to the lake, and not run around anywhere. "Well, I don't really know my way around here that well..." she began to say, her voice musical and upliftng, showing no signs of anything other than her ususal persona what so ever. She opened her mouth to speak once more, but Kazuya beat her to it.

"If you want we can also ask others to accompany us. It'll be fine with me, it's just that my sister packed me several of clean clothes and a lot of dirty clothes for this trip. I don't think the clean ones will last for my whole stay here and so I'm thinking of having those laundered."

So, more people could come? Hm, maybe a group of them coiuld go with him, and then head into the little town she passed on the way here. So, Rosemary had a change in thought.

"Okay!" she decided with a bright smile. "But, I think some more people should come that know this place better, because, honestly mate, I am just as lost as you are." also slipped from her lips. Bright blue eyes darted around to everybody else in the room.

"Anybody else up for some exploring?" she chirped in a voice that almost nobody could say no to. Rosemary didn't try to make it that way, it was jsut natural and she didn't even realize it. Then again, she didn't realize half the things she did. Like for instance, she was now on the ground, sitting on the floor, back resting against the cabinets clsoest to the ground. Since when did she get down from the island? The thought made her laugh quietly.

Rosie frowned at first when Izzie said no. Well, she honestly could care less if she came. Once again, Izzie was her exact opposite pretty much. But, then, unfortunately, Alex seemed to talk her into it. Rose didn't care who came, and Alex was fine, but, Izzie on the other hand... she shook her head clear. Play nice... she told herself, and then, gave a tight smile directed at the cursing-happy Izzie.

"Cool." she simply said, in her musical voice, although, it wasn't as musical. Then, she looked back at the rest.

"Hey, Ray!" she called into the living room, where he seemed to escape to, flopping down on the couch.

"Is that a yes, or a no! You coming mate?!" she called over, not feeling the motivation to get up and walk over there. Hey, what's wrong with the shortcut?

"Well, I don't really know my way around here that well..." Rosemary started to say and Kazuya found his hope dropping into nothing. He knew what will be the next statement after that. He may not socialize with others that much, still he knew enough when someone is aiming for a 'nice' way to reject an invitation. He was still cursing his luck inwardly, having gone through most of the Japanese curse words that he knew and now he is going over the recent American ones that he learned on his stay at the States.

He actually knew next to nothing about cursing. Aside from the usual 'shit' and other 'mild' ones, the black-haired man doesn't usually curse. It wasn't that he aimed to be the all around nice boy, someone weak and totally unknowing of how the society works. But he can't help it. His mother's never ending preachings and reminders had been instilled into his very soul that he just grew used to it without ever thinking anything else.

Still, inwardly blaming and belittling himself for ever opening his mouth and asking that dreaded question, Kazu stared at Rosemary in utter surprise when he heard her reply. "Okay!" She had stated, smiling widely before adding, "But, I think some more people should come that know this place better, because, honestly mate, I am just as lost as you are."

He noticed her looking around, apparently searching for someone else to come along. He wished to all the Shinto Priests he can find to not have Kris Sanders accompany them. Anyone else can come, even the 'scary' antisocial Izzie, or the other nerdy guy in the group, Ray. But never Kris. He might just endlessly annoy him with his unwanted and sometimes useless comments.

When he heard Philip volunteering to guide them for the exploration, Kazu is actually torn between feeling relieved or stressed. This is another guy he never had a decent conversation with. After that, Izzie and Alex have both decided to join and the boy had felt the control of the situation slipping out of his hold. He wasn't a social person first and foremost. The only reason he was here with them was because of Rosemary and Katelynn. Though Kazumi repeatedly reminded him to make some friends along the way, Kazu actually care not much about that. His main concern for joining them was to 'confess' to Rosemary. It was his way of closure. He has had this feeling ever since he met Rosemary and got to know her better and being a man of logicality and rationality, Kazuya would rather rid of this romance thingy instead of pursuing it.

It wasn't in his character to do so, he never imagined or planned himself into the scenario where Rosemary and him would become more than what they are right now. Call him pessimistic or a loser, like what Kazumi always never failed to tell him, Kazuya is not the type of person to fall in love and sail in the sunset type of guy.

"Is that a yes, or a no! You coming mate?!" He then heard the blond-haired girl's musical voice calling towards Ray, who he didn't know when he came in the kitchen. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he failed to notice certain things about his surroundings. He had actually been mildly surprised when Philip suddenly piped up before.

He held back an incoming sigh, with the way Rosemary is inviting everyone who is currently in the kitchen, he's quite sure that in one way or another, Kris would undoubtedly accompany them. If he didn't need this, and if he didn't have a blasted problem with reading the map or looking for the right directions, things would not progress into this. Don't misunderstand him; he does not hate any of them. Besides Rosemary who he knew for quite a while, the others are total strangers to him. Yes, they usually meet at the campus grounds. Once or twice he can see them at the cafeteria during lunch time. But as far as novelty and the cliché go, he doesn’t know anything about them.

He just hope that he wouldn't end up regretting ever asking that question more than he currently does. A week's worth of clean clothes and some time with Rosemary might not be worth the stress that would soon to follow now that the whole entourage seems to be coming with them. He groaned inwardly with his anti-social thoughts and instead cleared his mind. Yes, it would be stressing to be with these people longer than he normally wanted to, but at least he will have his change of clothes. He may not like how the circumstances came to be, but at least, Rosemary will be with them.

All throughout the exchange, Kazuya kept a passive face. He didn't look happy but he never showed himself being disappointed or anything of the like. His expression looked passive, and he tried to paint a small smile in his face to cover whatever turmoil he felt inside. This people may not deserve all the negativity he has for them. Though naturally not-social by nature, still Kazu tries to pave his way to ensure that his judgment about others will not be purely tainted and based on initial impressions.

He pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose and stared at Philip, giving him a somewhat grateful nod.