xp_logs | Three conversations with Angelo, all on more or less the same subject

Set after these emails

Angelo was sitting in his room, waiting for Sam to show up, since he'd told him to find him there. He was just hoping Sam wasn't *too* mad, and currently wondering if he shouldn't have suggested somewhere more public...

Sam's thoughts were tumbling over each other in his head, and he couldn't quite seem to puts all the sentences he was thinking together into something he could say to Angelo without sounding hypocritical, hyperprotective, or some other less-than-flattering adjective. He knocked slowly, a small scowl on his face from concentration.

Angelo looked up, hesitated, then called out, "Come in..." Had to face Sam sometime, after all...

Sam pushes open the door, trying to keep his face neutral as he spots Angelo, looking slightly anxious, sitting there. "Hey, Angelo..."

Angelo looks up at him. "Hey, Sam..." he says nervously. "Come on in, sit down..."

"Don't mind if ah do," Sam half-mumbled, taking the proffered seat. He stared uncomfortably at the floor for a moment, then met Angelo's eyes with a semblance of stubbornness.

Angelo looked back at him, warily, unsure whether or not it would be a good idea to begin this particular conversation.

Sam blinked, visibly uncomfortable and irritated. Taking a deep breath, he finally decided to just get the damn thing over with. "Angelo, I think you're a great guy. I really do. But I ain't above doing some drastic things where Paige is concerned and I just. Wanted ya to know that I care a lot about her, and. Well, I don't want anythin' to happen to her, an' I don't want her doin' anythin' she's not ready to do. Y'hear?"

Angelo blinked and took a slow breath. That had gone better than he'd expected, even if it was only the start. "I hear you. And I want you to know I'd never, ever force her into anything. She means a lot to me too..."

Sam nodded slowly, looking at the floor. "She's just. Well, I don' know. She doesn't tell me much, apparently. I thought she was still in love with Jono, and now this happens, and...Ang, she's young and confused and so are you, and it's a big deal. She's never had t'deal with this kinda stuff before, y'know? So...take it real slow and think about stuff. A lot."

Angelo nodded in turn. "I will. I mean, we are."

Sam shrugged, not really knowing what else to say. "I don't really get mad too easily, but I'm real protective, so. It's kinda like a warning. But a friendly-type warning." Sam smiles in spite of himself, looking at Angelo who is obviously very sincere.

Angelo managed a nervous smile in return. "I'd never hurt her, Sam."

"You won't mean to, I'm sure. But things happen that you don't want to happen, sometimes." His eyes were serious, though his smile didn't fade.

Angelo's smile did fade now, as he remembered one thing he'd never wanted to happen. "I swear, if there's any way I can stop that happening, I will." He took a deep breath. "I love her, Sam. I'd do anything to stop her being hurt."

Sam laughs a little, standing. "I know, Ang. And I also know that I can't stop either of you. So, just. Remember this." He hold out his hand to Angelo, an 'I-did-my-best' sort of look in his eyes.

Angelo stood up in his turn, shaking Sam's hand to seal whatever deal they've just made. "I will. Promise."

Sam, rather than dropping Angelo's hand, pulls him into a strong but brief embrace. "Good. See you." He turns with a curt wave, not waiting for words from the other boy, and leaves, shutting the door softly behind him.

Shinobi was good at hiding when he was nervous from most people, keeping it out of his body language and voice - but he still needed to exorcise it somehow. His nerves have brought him once again out to the mansion's front porch, a heavy black trenchcoat thrown on over his white dress shirt and slacks that were picked up on his shopping excursion with Emma and company, a cigarette perched between his lips that will soon be added to the small pile of spent filters next to his foot.

That's where Angelo finds him, having intended to go for a wander around the grounds and get some fresh air and a break from homework. He stops on seeing Shinobi, and says quietly, "Hey."

Blinking once, Shinobi looks over towards the familiar voice, reaching up to pluck the cigarette from between his lips so that he can flash a winning grin. Nothing to see here, really! "Hey."

Angelo grins back, then glances down at the pile of cigarette ends at Shinobi's feet. Surprised and a little concerned, he asks, "How long have you been out here, man?"

"Haven't really been keeping track," Shinobi admits, lifting a shoulder in a shrug. He casts a quick look down to the filters at his feet, then the one between his fingers, doing a bit of mental math. "Hour, hour and fifteen, maybe?"

Angelo blinks, his concern growing. "In this cold? Mind if I ask why?"

He lifts his free hand to tug at his jacket's collar, to point out its existance. "I'm not all that cold, Angelo, and they don't appreciate smoking indoors. I haven't had much chance to catch a smoke in the last few days, so I'm making up for the lack. Quotas to meet, you know."

Angelo chuckles. "Could I snag one?"

"Don't see why not.." Cigartette is replaced between his lips, and Shinobi reaches into his pocket so that he can pull out his cigarette case and lighter, offering both out towards his roomate. "Knock yourself out."

Angelo reaches out to take them, pulling out a cigarette, lighting it, and taking a deep draw before handing them back. "Thanks. I'm supposed to be giving up, but... cutting back's a start, right?"

"Sure, tell me *after* I let you light up," Shinobi snorts, grinning wryly and tucking the case and lighter away. "At least I know for future reference, now.. and yes, cutting back's a start, I suppose."

Angelo laughs. "Why do you think I didn't tell you before? Anyway, this is a social smoke." He nods firmly, as if that settles the question.

Shinobi seems to agree that it's settled, inclining his head and leaning comfortably back against the wall, tucking his hands into his pockets. "So what's got you in need of a smoke when you're supposed to be quitting, anyway? Hayseed's big brother got you spooked or something?"

Angelo eyes him wryly. "Only a little bit. I think he was trying to be nice about it..."

"Well, of course he was," Shinobi nods, offering Angelo an amused grin. "Paige would kick his teeth in if he scared you off."

Angelo grins in response. "True. But still, he was doing the big brother thing..." He shrugs.

"Of course he was. He's a big brother. It's in the bylaws somewhere." He shrugs.

Angelo chuckles, then hesitates before saying cautiously, "You and Sarah seem to be getting on very well these days."

To his credit, Shinobi keeps his annoyance out of his voice. Mostly. "It's my understanding that friends have a tendency to get along well, Angelo. Did I miss a memo?"

Angelo raises his hands innocently. "Hey, I never said it was anything else. I think it's great - Sarah could do with a few more friends, whatever she says."

"I don't know, she seems pretty happy with her social life as it stands now." Shinobi shrugs a shoulder, flicking his cigarette out into the snow.

Angelo shrugs in turn, letting the subject drop. He hardly knows Sarah, after all. In companionable silence, he takes a last draw on his cigarette and drops it, stamping it out.

After a moment's consideration, Shinobi reaches into his jacket for a fresh cigarette and his lighter, apparently content to let the silence hang. It was certainly more comfortable than the previous topic of choice, after all.

Angelo eyes Shinobi's cigarette case, but doesn't ask for another one. After a while, he breaks the silence with, "You enjoy Piotr's party, then?"

"Yes and no," Shinobi replies after a moment, tucking the case and lighter away without a moment's hesitation. Angelo had asked for one, and one was what he got. "I'm not much of a partier."

"Yeah, so you said. Still, as long as you didn't hate every minute of it..."

"I didn't *hate* any of it," he counters, giving Angelo a dryly amused look.

Angelo grins unrepentantly. "Well, good!"

"That doesn't mean I intend on repeating the performance next year," Shinobi points out, blinking twice at Angelo's exuberance.

Angelo nods. "Fair enough, if you're not much one for parties." He doesn't mention Shinobi's reaction to his... bounciness.

Eyeing Angelo a moment longer, Shinobi returns his attention to the grounds, shrugging to himself.

Angelo was sitting in the student kitchen, having some breakfast. Not really expecting to see anyone, he concentrated on his food, and thus didn't hear the door open when it did.

The slamming of a cupboard door attracted his attention and he looked up to see Warren holding a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Warren sighed. "Where's Bobby when you need him?" He sat down next to Angelo. "How are you this morning?"

Angelo smiled. "I'm just fine. How about you? Feeling better than yesterday morning, I hope..." he added teasingly.

"Well, I don't see how I could feel much worse than that." Warren laughed. He turned and looked Angelo up and down. "I see Sam hasn't broken your bones to bits yet. I told you there was nothing to be scared of."

Angelo grinned slightly. "Sam's cool. He had some... things to say, but it went really well."

Warren nodded. "Yeah, Sam's not a bad guy. Of course, now you have me to deal with." He turned to face Angelo with what he thought was a "serious" face.

Angelo blinked, then looked wary. "Yeah?"

A grin broke out on Warren's face. "Yeah. So, you and Paige, huh? Classic case of best friends falling in love?"

Angelo grinned, relieved. "Yeah, although it's a bit more complicated than your usual classic case of anything..."

Warren raised his eyebrows. "Is that so? And how's that?"

Angelo's grin faded, and he answered with the single word, "Jono."

Warren frowned. "Jono?"

Angelo glanced up, surprised. "You didn't know? Thought she'd have told you, you two being friends and all..." He sighed. "Jono... is a factor. For Paige."

"Well, I hadn't had much of a chance to talk to her since the night I witnessed the two of you sucking face, so I'd thought he was out of the picture now..." Warren looked worried. "So what's going to happen now, then?"

Angelo shrugged, looking unhappy. "I don't know. All I know is... she loves him too."

"Oh." Warren took a long sip of his soda. "Um... I'm sorry." He glanced over at Angelo sympathetically.

Angelo sighed, with another shrug. "Hey, she loves me. I'm lucky, right? Just... gotta live with the Jono thing."

"Well, seeing as how all of you keep saying you don't want to hurt each other... I'm sure it'll all work out somehow," Warren said reassuringly. His expression turned wry. "You might as well work it out now, seeing as how you're grounded now and won't have anything better to do."

Angelo pulled a face. "Yeah. Should have seen that one coming. Still, at least it's only a week..."

"Only a week? I somehow get the feeling it won't feel like only a week after Mr. Marko's through with us." Waren groaned. "I thought yesterday's hangover should've been more than enough punishment, but noooo..."

Angelo laughed. "Don't suppose hiding'll work on Mister Marko. Ah well."

Warren drained the last of his soda and stood. "Yeah... Listen, I've got some stuff to finish up in my room, but it was good talking to you." He paused. "Um, let me know if you ever want to talk. About Paige, or anything."

Angelo nodded. "Thanks, man. Will do."

"See you on Marko duty later," Warren called over his shoulder as he exited.