At the Park

Having just awoken from a nap, Rae trudged onward in a groggy fashion. His blue shoes weren't tied and they flopped audibly with every step he took. His laces drug across the ground in his wake, leaving gentle markings in the dirt. His eyelids were heavy, still trying to shed their waking-weight and recover from the all the adventures their backsides had seen in the land of dreams.

Naturally, a trail of poisonous cigarette smoke also trailed the pierced up academy student and the most beautiful of flowers seemed to wilt upon his passing. His lips were partially dry and his tongue emerged from the darkness of its cave periodically, in an attempt to remedy the cracked surfaces. He hadn't brushed his teeth yet this morning and having already left his dorm, it was unlikely he would return to do so.

Dressed in his usual attire, with the legs of his black jeans rolled up just below the knee and his dark grey sweatshirt working to hide the mysterious of his inked up torso from the universe; Rae looked more like he had just woken up in a dumpster, than a dorm bed. He felt rested enough, but the bags under his mostly-closed eyes might offer a different story.

For now, he wasn't in any rush to wake himself, but instead chose to engage in his usual, casual routine. He had been fond of the academy's Courtyard, ever since the first time he had gone there. The large fountain that existed there always seemed to bring the utmost joy to fellow students and their pokemon. Rae himself had never so much as touched the water, but he could recall a certain fire-fox whom had even found the liquid enticing enough to take a dip.

Rae's eyes lazily drifted toward the bench nearest the fountain. It was the one he had grown accustomed to sitting on while here, enjoying his cancer sticks. It was the bench where he had first met Dawn and the beloved Mr. Marco. Each time he came here, he wondered if he might meet someone new, sitting in the same spot. Or, perhaps he would find it empty and claim it temporarily, for himself.

Today however, Rae's eyes were tempted away from the bench. An orangish-haired creature was currently playing in the fountain. Rae's eyes danced between his desired seat and the fountain and of the occasional splashes of water that bridged the gap between the two. He hadn't showered yet today either, and though it was tempting, at the moment he didn't feel like taking the pokemon up on the offer of a free bath.

What was more, there was a girl whom Rae had never seen before, standing beside the fountain. From the manner in which the pokemon engaged the female, Rae could deduce that she may very well be its trainer. The girl's rather flattering-attire, hair color and visible tattoo all beckoned the smoker forth, begging him to make an introduction. But alas, he declined for the moment, opting for a different bench; this one a little farther away from the fountain and well out of splash-range.

Groaning, he took a seat and adjusted his body until he had found an equal balance between comfort and stability. Pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over the top of his head, he smoked on his ciggy and looked on as the seal-like beast continued to play in the fountain. The weather was surprisingly warm, and though he had already slept through most of it; Rae decided it was a pretty nice day.

Rae had been enjoying his peaceful moment on the bench, right up until the girl he had noticed before, came charging over with a fiery look in her eye. He inhaled slowly through his nostrils as she approached with some weird, green-thing in her hand. Some kinda vegetable perhaps? Rae was a little hungry, but he hadn't remembered asking her for any snacks. Maybe it was physically obvious that he was malnourished and she was just trying to be poli...

The lit cigarette was suddenly whacked right out of Rae's lips. His thoughts about her being kind or generous were immediately severed and he blinked, as he looked up at her. "Mmm?" He throated, his eyes roaming over her figure. He had noticed her from afar when he first arrived in the courtyard, but he had to say; she looked even better up close. Her hair was awfully long, but he could dig the pigtails for sure.

Directing his pursed lips to one side, he expelled the last smokey breath he had stored in his lungs. Even though this chick had come up and rudely removed his cancer stick from its perch, he still decided to show her the courtesy of not blowing his smoke directly in her face. Had she not been so cute, he wouldn't have given it a second thought...

She mentioned that he was ruining the garden's scent. Rae sniffed in response, but due to his endless chain-smoking, his nasal passage was void of any real world odors whatsoever. All he could ever smell, or taste, were cigarettes. Speaking of cigarettes... His eyes drifted slowly away from the teal-haired stranger and fell upon his still-lit cigarette, laying on the ground a few feet away. His eyes followed the trail of smoke upward as the tobacco leaves and paper continued to burn.

His eyes slowly returned to the girl's face and he finally spoke.

"Do I, know you?"

Rae listened closely to the rant, but couldn't make out much of what the girl was saying. Clearly, she was not happy with him. He wasn't exactly sure why though. Maybe they had gone on a date in the past and he had forgotten to call her back? He shrugged, unsure. His eyes kept watch over the vegetable thing in her hand, as she swung it passionately amid her speech. It was heartfelt and Rae decided she must be some sort of ex-lover scorned. Otherwise, why on earth would she act this way to a complete stranger?

Finally, she suggested he leave the school grounds. Rae's right eyebrow ascended slightly and he looked her over. He definitely liked her boots and the tie was a nice touch too. He wondered if he indeed had gone out with her in the past, and if so, had he enjoyed it? He was on the fence for now, torn between wanting to drown her in the fountain and wanting to kiss her. It was an odd contrast, but he couldn't help the way he felt.

Perhaps this was all just some sort of foreplay? Maybe the leek she was whipping around was just innuendo and her lecturing was just some sort of authoritarian role-play that she relied on, when trying to pick up on cute guys? Maybe she was just asking him out in a strange, round-about sort of way? Itching his nose, Rae decided he might as well accept since he had nothing better to do...

"Alright, where you wanna' go?"

"Call me," Rae said, as he turned and watched the girl storm off.

His eyes examined her figure one last time and the bobbing of her pigtails. He shrugged and rubbed his face, figuring that in time, her temper would subside and she'd come around. For now... where was I? he thought, before it came to him. ...ah yes...

Looking toward the ground, he spotted the faint lofting of smoke and he scooted to the edge of the bench. Leaning out, he extended his arm and fingers and was just able to reach it. Pinching the still-lit ciggy between his middle and ring fingers, he lifted it from the grass and brought it back toward his mouth. Adjusting his hold on it and blowing off some of the added dirt, Rae finally welcomed his old friend back home and took a long, deep drag to celebrate.

Closing his eyes, he leaned back against the bench, relaxing. Maybe he'd do well to return to bed soon? Perhaps he never should've left it in the first place...