xp_logs | Alex and Angelo (Reply)

Angelo made his way through the halls towards the kitchen for lunch, head bent, thoughts and fears of his upcoming trip home weighing heavily on him.

Alex too had his head bent, his thoughts completely on the journal entry he had to write for Samson some time tonight. Describe himself on the journal system, could Samson have picked a worse torture?

It was almost inevitable that the two boys, neither looking where he was going, would find themselves on a collision course. Angelo smacked straight into Alex before he even knew he was there, and stumbled back a step.

Alex had been in mid step and hadn't had as much balance as Angelo and ended up on his butt on the floor. Shaking his head, he looked up through blonde bangs to see who he'd smacked into. Seeing Angelo, he frowned slightly as he stood up again. "Hey."

Angelo offered him a hand to help him back to his feet. "Hey, Alex. Sorry 'bout that."

Shrugging, Alex dusted off the back of his clothes. "No problem dude." He said softly, not meeting the other boy's eyes, even when he had helped Alex up.

Angelo frowned, picking up on the tension but not understanding. "You goin' to lunch?" he asked, trying to lighten things.

Alex nodded. "Yeah, just stopped at the library to check up on the journals..." He hugged his books to his chest, looking at his feet as he walked toward the lunch room again.

Angelo followed him, confused. "Alex? You okay?"

The blonde stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned to face Angelo for the first time since they bumped into each other. HIs manner was very grave as he spoke. "Why do you treat running away so lightly?"

Angelo blinked. "Lightly? Alex, I meant every word. I don't wanna go... but..." He trailed off, shrugging helplessly. "Well, you read the post."

"You think I did Angelo? You think it's easy for all of us to live here?" Alex's expression didn't change, his voice more soft then harsh.

Angelo bowed his head. "I know you didn't. Guess you had more willpower than me. I don't belong here, I never really have. But look at me, can't leave, 'cause it'd hurt people - an' I just gotta hope my leavin' would hurt them more than my stayin', at the end of the day."

Alex just shook his head. "Don't talk to me about belonging here...you belong here more then I ever could and ever will. Lorna and Shiro would both have a fit if they heard me right now, but I still think it's true." His voice softened a bit now and he turned away. "Look Angelo...leaving is the worst thing you can do, I learned that the hard way. You think it's helping...but in fact you just make it worse. But your gone and you can't do anything about it..." Alex looked back at Angelo, a small smile on his face. "I'm babbling and making no sense, aren't I?"

Angelo smiled back. "Only a little bit." His smile faded, and he had another shot at explaining. "It's just... goin' home. Only it's not home. This isn't my world, Alex, this whole... mansion an' boardin' school an' all that. But LA isn't, either, not anymore. So where is?"

"I don't know Angelo, but would help to tell you I feel the same way?"

Angelo nodded. "Little bit... Thanks."

Alex nods. "Your welcome. And I'm sorry...I guess, you, the whole running away thing is still a bit of a sensitive issue with me, ya know?" He started walking again with the flow of students towards food.

Angelo nodded, keeping pace with Alex. "Yeah, I should've thought of that 'fore I started goin' on about it. Sorry."

Alex returned the nod. "So now that that's out of the way how about more pleasent conversation? What's been up with you, dude?" He smiled, to lighten the mood some.