All Confused and Shit (OPEN)

[vinnie]

Despite the drama with Brooke, Vinnie had an overall nice time at the dance. Well, besides the awkwardness of being there with Viola and seeing his crush, Faye, show up with one of his best friends, it was ok. There was a small problem though; Vinnie was having girl problems. He knew he really liked Faye, he had for quite some time now, and now there was this girl he had met at the skating rink name, Zanna, who he was starting to like, but also he found himself starting to think more and more about Viola. He kept going over the three in his head and couldn't come to a stable conclusion. It seemed like Faye was out of the question since she obviously had a thing for Garrett, but he still couldn't help but like her. He really didn't know this Zanna girl, but he really wanted to! And then there was Viola, the one that seemed to slip in under the radar who Vinnie thought he only saw as a friend, but now he wasn't sure.

Where did Vinnie go when he was confused and needed some time to relax? Starbucks of course! He was able to get the new Frapaccino flavor for fall; Pumpkin Spice. He sat alone at his little table and sipped on the drink. He usually had a book to read or some home work to do, but today he was just staring off into space with a blank look on his face, the straw from his drink never leaving his mouth even when he wasn't drinking.

[Faye Prewett]

((ooc- I know the timing for this is a little bit off... I'm not sure if this should be before or after she meets up with Garrett in the park. It would help if Liz was on, so I knew how the park thing was going to end up... whatever.))

Faye needed a place to hide out for a while. She had gotten into a huge fight with her parents over what she saw as a pretty simple decision, but what they saw as a dangerous minefield disaster. Of course, the situation she was referring to was that of her possible relationship with Garrett Speelers. She liked him. And then had kissed. Oh, also, his dad had pushed her, causing her to fall onto concrete, cut open her arm, rip her dress, and break a heel. Her parents hadn't taken too kindly to their daughter's appearance after she had come home from the dance disheveled.

Brooke had tried to lie at first, saying she fell. She had never been able to lie to her father, though, and soon enough the truth came out. Her parents decided that Garrett came from a bad household and that she shouldn't see him any more, but she knew that he was different. She could tell. He just needed someone to love and support him, since he obviously wasn't getting it from his father. And so she defended herself and Garrett, which only caused a fight to break out between her and her parents. It ended with her storming out of the house with no where to really go. She ended up at Starbuck's, which suited her just fine. A nice coffee might help to calm her down...

Once inside, she ordered her drink and turned around to face the table with the sugars and such. It was then that she spotted Vinnie, sitting alone off to the side. He seemed a little out of it, but she smiled and waved, sugar packets flapping from side to side, seeing if he noticed her. She wasn't about to interrupt his own personal time, but wouldn't be against sitting down if he asked.

[vinnie]

Vinnie was out of it, sure, but not out of it enough not to notice Faye Prewett walk in. How could he not immediately notice the girl he's had a crush on since Freshman year? Of all the times for them to randomly meet up, it had to be the time when Vinnie was contemplating his girl problems. Vinnie felt his stomach do a flip flop when she waved to him. It wasn't as if this was a rare occurrence; Vinnie had some type of social interaction with Faye everyday at school, but still each time his stomach felt like it was doing a somersault. Vinnie hastily waved back.

"Hi, Faye." he said, trying to sound casual, "You can join me if you like." For the first time ever, Vinnie was disappointed that Faye had already purchased a drink. Normally when girls sat with him he offered to buy a drink. Sure it was cutting into his spending money, but he found it to be both a bit annoying and polite. He would have loved to be able to buy Faye a drink.

[Faye Prewett]

Glad for the invitation, Faye grabbed an extra packet of sugar and made her way over to the open seat across from Vinnie. She had known him for what seemed like forever. They were in the same grade at the same school, so they had their fair share of classes together, not to mention all of the times she had seen him outside of classes. She saw them as pretty good friends, despite the fact that they had never really became close, or got to know each other too well.

"Thanks," she said, sitting down. She began to speak as she ripped open a sugar packet and dumped it into her drink. She was glad for the distraction... Faye was pretty sure that she couldn't go home just yet. Not with the way she had left things with her parents. No, she needed to lay low for a little while longer so things could cool down.

"So, how're things with you?" she asked, picking the most general topic starter.

[vinnie]

When Faye joined him it made him both very happy and very nervous. Happy, for obvious reasons; his crush was sitting with him a Starbucks, but nervous because his crush was sitting with him at Starbucks. There was also the fact that there was a rumor that Faye and Garrett were an item now and Garrett was Vinnie's friend. He'd never told Garrett about his crush so being mad at him would be unreasonable. Being jealous, however, was a different story.

"Oh, things are pretty good I guess." said Vinnie, squirming nervously in his seat. Should he bring up his girl problems? She was a girl after all and may be able to offer some advise, but she was also a part of his girl problem. "Um, how are you? Well I hope."

[Faye Prewett]

"Oh, things are pretty good I guess."

"That's good to hear," she said, genuinely glad that at least someone's life wasn't completely messed up. Luckily for Vinnie, she was still a little distracted by the events that were going on in her life at that moment. She didn't notice that he was fidgeting, or nervous at all. She was paying enough attention to know when she was being addressed, however.

"Um, how are you? Well I hope."

Faye stalled by taking a sip of her latte. She was fine, but things were not well... but should she really tell Vinnie? It wasn't his problem, and the last thing she needed was someone else worrying about her. Plus, she wasn't sure what things were going to be like with Garrett, so what could she really tell him?

"I've been better, but I suppose things could always be worse, right?" she said, hoping that she came across as trying to be positive rather than cynical.

[vinnie]

Vinnie could tell that something was bothering Faye. His concern was amplified because of his feeling for her so he could help but politely push the matter.

"Is everything all right?" Vinnie asked gently, "If you need to talk about something, I'm here." Vinnie felt hypocritical asking Faye about her problems when he was so unwilling to discuss his own. He also couldn't help but hope that Faye's problem was that her relationship with Garrett wasn't working out and that he'd be the guy to help her through it. He felt extremely bad for thinking this since Garrett was his friend, but he couldn't help having a crush on Faye. Faye's distress had even distracted him from his thoughts about Viola and Zanna.

[Faye Prewett]

Faye was angry with herself for letting her preoccupation show. Now she was stuck. If she told Vinnie, he might tell Garrett, and Garrett might get mad at her. On the other hand, if she didn't tell him, then Vinnie would think she didn't trust him and then he'd be angry with her.

With no real solution, she decided to settle on a happy medium.

"Thanks. It's nothing really... I just got into a fight with my parents. Which is a stupid thing to be upset about, I guess, because doesn't everyone get into fights with their parents? It's just weird, since my family and I usually get along rather well..."

[vinnie]

"Oh." said Vinnie. He wished he could come up with some ground breaking advise for Faye, but he never really had an argument with is parents. His mother died when he was eight and his father was almost always working. The only time he really saw much of his father was on the week ends and Vinnie had very done anything to displease him.

"It does happen all the time." said Vinnie, trying to sound comforting. "And look at it this way; your father probably argued with you because he cares. Would you rather him just let you run amok? Not that you would!" Vinnie added hastily, "I'm just saying . . . you know?"

Vinnie wondered what Faye and her father had argues about, but he thought it best not to push the matter. If Faye wanted to talk to him about it she would.

[Faye Prewett]

Faye was comforted by Vinnie's reassuring words. She knew that she wasn't alone in the fact that she was fighting with her parents, and that helped ease her mind a little. Of course, she hated to think of the trouble she'd be in for walking out in the middle of their argument... but that was something she didn't have to worry about until later.

"And look at it this way; your father probably argued with you because he cares. Would you rather him just let you run amok? Not that you would! I'm just saying . . . you know?"

This caused Faye to laugh, and she was glad for it. Of course she knew that Vinnie didn't mean to imply anything about her.

"Of course I wouldn't, but I get your point. They're just trying to protect me... I s'pose." Faye paused. "But enough about me! I'm sure I'm just boring you with my teenage angst," she said, shaking her head and taking another sip of her coffee.

"How're things with you? And band? How's that going? Anything new and exciting in your life?" Faye was so involved with planning committees for various school events that she never really felt she had the time to join the band. She loved to watch them, though.

[vinnie]

They had barely gotten to the root of Faye's problems when she suddenly began bombarding him with questions about everything. Clearly she was uncomfortable talking to Vinnie about all her problems. He understood, but it still made him a little sad. He wasn't Garrett after all. . .

"Well, I-I-" Vinnie began uncertainly, "I'm doing well. . . I guess." Vinnie felt very hypocritical for not being honest about his problems, but he wasn't about to tell Faye he'd had a crush on her since ninth grade or the fact that he was extremely lonely. "Yeah. . . Band is going well. I haven't had to flip out on the trumpets yet this year so that's a good sign." Vinnie had no idea what to say; his mind always drew a blank when he was talking to girls, especially Faye.

[Faye Prewett]

Faye wondered if she should just talk to Vinnie. He was Garrett's friend, after all. Maybe he could help her shed some light onto her dilemma. She decided against it, however - at least until she met with Vinnie later that day to talk things over. If she hadn't resolved her issues by then, well, there probably wouldn't be much helping her situation, but at least she could try.

She listened to Vinnie talk about band for a while, which was a nice change in conversation. A lot more positive, at least.

"Yeah, I saw the show at the last game. You guys were amazing! I've never seen the crowd so excited over the band before. Very impressive! I've always wanted to learn how to play an instrument... my parents tried to force the piano on me when I was younger, but I never really took to it very well," she said, holding up her hands. "Tiny hands. I could never reach half the chords I needed to, and it got rather irritating." She laughed, knowing that this was a stupid reason to quit playing the piano. It had been her reasoning, however.

[vinnie]

Vinnie laughed a little at her 'tiny hands' excuse. "Well let me see." he said and without thinking he gently grabbed her hand that was resting on the table and compared it to his own. "Heh, it is a bit small." Then Vinnie realized what he was doing. His face turned a deep shade of scarlet and he let go of Faye's hand. He mumbled a 'sorry' then quickly changed the subject.

"Well, this Friday is the last football game." Vinnie said a little louder than necessary, "Yeah, I'm pretty upset about it. I'm gonna miss band, you know? Not that it's the last time we'll every perform, but it's the last foot ball game. I heard a rumor that the band is going to Disney World in the spring. I really hope that's true because I've never been there and there's a new roller coaster so that should be cool." Vinnie began to ramble uncontrollable. One thought just started running into the next and he couldn't stop himself! He thought that if he just kept talking Faye wouldn't have a chance to get made at him about the hand thing. That and Vinnie wanted to hid the excitement that was brewing inside him because he had just held her hand.

"Yeah, Disney would be a great way to end the marching year. I'm looking forward to seeing all the people in costumes there. Hey, Halloween in on Wednesday! I've been so busy with band that I haven't had the chance to go to any Hayrides or haunted houses or tours or anything like that. I think Desmond said he wanted us to all go trick or treating. I have to admit I'll never get sick of trick or treating no matter how childish it is. I'm still decide ding whether I want to go as Sirius Black, Rocky Balboa, or Jimi Hendrix. What are you going to go as."

Vinnie had no idea how the fuck the conversation started at band and ended up on Halloween, but it was a good change of subject after his fuck up.

[Faye Prewett]

As Vinnie took Faye's hand in her own she couldn't help but feel a little awkward about it. She knew that it had been an innocent gesture, that he was just commenting on her tiny hands statement, but she couldn't help but feel as though there was something more there. It may have been the way he blushed and apologized... if he was sorry for holding her hand that meant he thought she didn't want him to, which implied that he did want to. Right? She wasn't sure. Maybe she was just reading too much into the whole thing. It was just an innocent motion.

She was glad for the topic change. "Isn't it weird being a Senior?" she asked, knowing that neither of them were going to comment on her hands ever again. "I mean, everything is 'the last' now. We had our last Homecoming Dance. Our last first days of high school... everything seems so final now."

Vinnie found some transition between band and Halloween, which was fine by her. Faye's face broke into a wide grin at the prospect of trick-or-treating.

"Oooh, Sirius Black, definitely," she said, thinking to her own costume. "I"m not sure yet... I know, I know, I'm really waiting until the last minute on this one. But I was just at the costume store, and I'm debating between Judy Jetson, Belle, or... something else. But I'm really liking Judy Jetson."

[vinnie]

Vinnie was thankful that Faye had ignore the hand situation. It would have made things very awkward, especially since Garrett was one of Vinnie's best friends. He really needed to tell Garrett how he felt. . . No, that was gay. He'd get Desmond to do it for him.
"Yeah, being a senior is crazy." said Vinnie. "I can't believe how fast the year is going by too. I mean, it's almost Halloween already! Pretty soon it'll be prom." Vinnie trailed off. He knew Faye was probably going to end up going with Garrett to Prom. He also knew there was no way that Viola would go with Vinnie after he was such an asshole at Home Coming. Luckily he subject to Halloween was continued.

"Yeah, I was leaning toward Sirius Black." said Vinnie with a nod and a smile. He had begun to fiddle awkwardly with a sugar packet he found on the table, "Desmond will be happy with that decision; he loved Harry Potter. Sirius is my favorite character. I named my black Austrian Shepard after him because Sirius can turn into a black dog you know?" Vinnie had named his dog when he was in seventh grade and was never ashamed to admit he named him after a Harry Potter character.

"Judy Jetson is a great idea!" said Vinnie. It took him a second to remember with one was Judy. He was pretty sure she was the white haired daughter. "but I think you'd make a better Belle." Vinnie pictured Faye in a beautiful yellow dress next to her in white wig and a crazy red outfit. The princess won in his head. "If you ask him I'm sure Desmond would love to make you a dress."

[Faye Prewett]

Prom!? She hadn't even been thinking about that, but he was right. It was their senior year, which meant that Prom would be the highlight as well as the grand finale of their high school experience. She wondered how things would be like that far down the road, and who she would end up going with.

Her thoughts were jarred as the subject of Halloween was quickly pursued. She didn't feel like dwelling on things that were so far in the future anyway. "I love Harry Potter. I was debating using my Hogwarts uniform again this year, but I've done that for two years now, so I figured it'd be getting old by now. Time for a change, you know?"

"but I think you'd make a better Belle."

Faye had more or less expected Vinnie to just agree with her Judy Jetson idea, since most people probably didn't care what she wore for Halloween. She was surprised when he commented on how he liked her second idea better.

"Really? You think?" she repeated, thinking it over in her head. Every girl loved to think of themselves as a princess, after all, and she had always loved Belle the most. "Maybe... I mean, I was just going to go to the store to buy a costume. It's a little last-minute to bother Desmond and all, but..."

Faye pictured both in her mind, and wondered. She didn't have anything for her Judy costume yet, and the wig would be a ton of money, at least if she wanted a decent one. She already had brown hair...

"Yeah... you're right. I think I'll do Belle instead."

[vinnie]

"Yeah! You'd make a great Belle!" said Vinnie earnestly, "You already have the hair for it and everything. I guess it is a bit last minute to ask Desmond, but if you need a costume adjusted or anything I'm sure he could help. I know it doesn't take him very long to do stuff like that and I'm sure he'd like the distraction."

Vinnie was delighted that Faye had decided to go with his choice of costume. She really was very pretty. And she had perfect skin, there wasn't any pimples or anything. . . and her hair was very shiny and silky looking. . . wait, weren't they talking about Halloween? Vinnie had to get himself together. He was talking to one of his friends girlfriends! Well, almost girlfriend.

"I love Halloween." said Vinnie with a smile, "It's the only time of the year where a man can dress up like a woman and not be called gay. Unless you're Desmond. . . who is always gay." Vinnie hoped Faye didn't think he was making fun of Desmond. Desmond was one of his best friends and saying he was gay wasn't mean, it was just a fact.

[Faye Prewett]

Faye nodded. "How is Desmond doing anyway? I mean, I haven't talked to him a whole lot since he sent Garrett and me in as spies for the Christian Alliance... I've been trying to keep my distance so that I don't know anything that can be used against you guys," she said, shrugging.

"I love Halloween too... not for the dressing like a woman bit, but definitely for the dressing up bit." Faye ignored the gay comment about Desmond. After all, Vinnie was one of Garrett's best friends, so the two of them were obviously close enough to make jokes like that. "I'll probably be the only one next year at college who still wants to go trick-or-treating..."

[vinnie]

"Oh, Desmond, he's doing well." said Vinnie. He wasn't sure how much he should tell Faye. Desmond was doing fine for a while, almost back to normal, but a few weeks ago Desmond's boyfriend broke up with him. Desmond was pretty upset at first, but he seemed to be getting better rather quickly. "He's just had it really rough you know? Poor kid has a lot going on, but I think he's handling it all very well. He really keeps it together very well."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Vinnie said in response to Faye's trick or treating comment. "My brother is in his senior year at Pitt and he's friends go trick or treating every year. He said most of the kids do, but they go door to door in the dorms. And there's always plenty of parties."

[Faye Prewett]

"Yeah... I know that he'll be able to pull through, though. I mean, have you seen the fliers for the drag show? He's doing so much for the GSA... I can only hope that the little bit I'm doing will help just a little..." she said, hoping that she could help. The poor kid had gone through so much recently.

"I can see myself trick-or-treating in college. Although I'm not too huge on parties, I'm sure it'll be a blast! I mean... depending on where I go to college, that is. I still haven't really put too much thought about that yet. I mean, I've applied to five different schools, but..."

[vinnie]

"Yeah, I've applied to a bunch of schools as well." said Vinnie, "The problem is a really don't want to go to school in Pittsburgh, but if I go away I won't be around if my dad needs me." Vinnie's father worked all the time so it was up to Vinnie and his sister to make sure all the house work got done. At least next year Vinnie wouldn't have to worry about giving Lena rides every where; she'd be old enough to drive then He still couldn't leave all the house work to her, though. It was tough.

"I've been looking into a lot of schools in Philadelphia." he said, "My dad's not to trilled about it, but I just don't really like any where in Pittsburgh. It's not enough of a change, you know? When I go to college I at least want to be some where different."

[Faye Prewett]

"Yeah, I know what you mean. A fresh start, somewhere new. Somewhere where no one knows who you are or anything about your past. You can literally re-create your whole image." This was exactly what Faye planned on doing. "I've applied everywhere from Virginia, to Ohio, to New York," she said, with a slight smile. "And the obvious choices of Pitt and PSU, of course," she added. "But staying here seems... I don't know. Kind of like cheating. The whole point of college is to do new things, meet new people, and learn to live on your own, sort of."

She shrugged, knowing that it didn't really matter until it happened anyway. "A change would be good, though..."

[vinnie]

"I know what you mean. . ." said Vinnie. "I really want to get out of Pittsburgh, so do Desmond and Audrey, but I don't know. I think it would be easier for them." Desmond and Audrey didn't have to worry taking care of their families. Audrey was an only child and Vinnie was sure her fathers could take are of themselves and he was sure they could handle her being far away. Desmond was the youngest of four so his parents were used to their kids leaving. . But Vinnie didn't think his father could handle him being far away. When his brother Tony, spent a semester abroad in Italy when his father wasn't working he was calling Tony to make sure he was alright, and Tony was staying with family! Not to mention he was sure Lena would be able to handle it. Wait a second, oh fuck Lena! Vinnie check his watch; it was 5: 20.

"I got to go!" said Vinnie, springing up suddenly, "I'm sorry, but I promised I'd help my sister make dinner to night because my father is actually leaving work early!" Once every few months Vinnie's father left work early enough to have dinner with Vinnie and his sister. Tony was even coming over too. "It was nice talking to you, Faye!" Vinnie quickly gathered his things and left the copy shop. Once out side he took a deep breath; he'd just spent almost an hour talking to Faye alone and she was fucking taken. . .