Jackson Barhiggams (anthologist) wrote in allegro,
@ 2009-02-01 19:38:00

WHO JACKSON AND CLAIRE
WHERE PRACTICE ROOMS
WHEN SUNDAY NIGHT

He swore, it wasn't called stalking.

All Jackson had done was heard her practicing piano, something that he didn't catch her doing that often, and he was drawn to her. He stared into the window of the door to the practice room, not even realizing how weird he was being. But they hadn't talked a lot lately, and he missed her. Missed her so much that he would do almost anything, just to see her again.

Robert hadn't been so supportive of that. He knew that they had rather made up a little bit and everything, but things were still awkward and Jackson still felt a little awkward talking to Claire, ever.

Once she had ended her piece, Jackson sighed to himself and opened the door quietly, smiling in greeting.

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creation
2009-02-02 02:59 am UTC (link)

Claire's lips parted a little with surprise, both because she wasn't expecting to be seen practicing, and because she wasn't expecting to be seen practicing by Jackson. "Oh," she exhaled, a soft breathy little noise. "Oh hi, you. Um. Am I. Taking your room? Nobody was using it, so I thought I'd just steal it for a little. Just a little. It's nothing, really. I'm done."

She nodded frantically, suddenly very nervous around her friend. She'd missed him so much lately, and now the fact that he was making her shy only made her sad. It used to never be like this. "I'm done babbling too," she promised, giggling softly at her own social ineptitude.

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anthologist
2009-02-02 03:10 am UTC (link)

"No, no, you're fine, I just-- I figured I'd just--" he babbled at the same time as her.

Awkwardly, he rubbed the back of his neck as he waited for her to finish. "Ah, yeah, I just, um. I saw you and I just heard you practicing and I-- I just wanted to tell you that you sound pretty good. I mean, I haven't heard you a lot and-- well. Yeah. Okay I'm done." He snorted.

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	creation 2009-02-02 03:16 am UTC (link)
	"Okay," Claire agreed with a sharp nervous nod of her head. "We're both done babbling." For the moment, at least. "Yeah, no, though, you're right. It's sort of silly to practice if I'm just theory. But sometimes it's fun when I don't have anything else to do." She twisted her fingers in her lap, quietly shy. "What've you been up to lately?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

anthologist
2009-02-02 03:20 am UTC (link)

He shook his head. "I don't think it's a silly idea. Anything to keep your musicality up is a very good thing, Claire," Jackson told her truthfully. "I think it's really good that you still practice, even if you're not required to."

At her question, Jackson shrugged. "Not a whole lot, to be honest. A ton of practicing and schoolwork. Other than that, I've been pretty antisocial. You?"

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	creation 2009-02-02 03:26 am UTC (link)
	Claire shrugged, still focused shyly on her hands as she sat at the piano bench. "Same, I guess. Homework and sleeping and trying to convince my daddy not to make me get a job." She smiled sheepishly. "Can't wait for spring break, I guess. I miss home." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 03:32 am UTC (link)
	He nodded his head in understanding. "I know what you mean. I can't wait for break either." Jackson sighed. "But I don't think I'll be going home." Jackson never went home for holidays. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 03:37 am UTC (link)
	"Why not?" Claire asked, shocked. She couldn't imagine anyone not wanting to be home as much as they could. She was ridiculously homesick most of the time, and could hardly imagine how anyone else could not be. "Are you that swamped?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 03:38 am UTC (link)
	He flinched. "Well, it may seem like it sometimes, but no. I just... you know." Jackson sighed. "I never go home." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 03:45 am UTC (link)
	"What?" Claire asked again, eyes wide. "Why not? What about last summer? Why not?" It didn't even occur to her that maybe it was none of her business. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 03:49 am UTC (link)
	He shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, I stayed last summer, but I was thinking of getting an apartment here over the summer and getting a job or something until school started. It's just a thought." He didn't want to talk about it too much. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 03:53 am UTC (link)
	"Oh," Claire said quietly, picking up on his reluctance. She didn't mean to pry, and opened her mouth to apologize for it, but instead ended up asking, "So you're just going to be here all spring break all by yourself? No adventures with coeds in Cancun? Really?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 03:55 am UTC (link)
	"Well, why not?" he asked. "I mean, I'd get a lot more done here, wouldn't I?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 03:58 am UTC (link)
	"Oh." Claire nodded and blushed and looked at her fingers again, picking at her cuticles. "Oh yeah that's true. I mean. I was just going to say that if you really wanted to, you could probably come to Idaho with me. But you're right, you'd probably be more productive here. That's important too." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 04:03 am UTC (link)
	"What?" he asked. "Oh, well, I probably wouldn't get a ton done here and I could always take my violin places with me and-- well. It's fine." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 04:07 am UTC (link)
	Her heart did a funny little wiggle dance, but Claire bit down on her bottom lip to contain it. "Fine you'll come or fine no thanks?" she asked, just to be clear. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 04:12 am UTC (link)
	He blinked. "Well. Do you. I mean. Do you want me to come?" Jackson asked quickly. "Because I mean, if you do, I would totally be up for it. I kind of. Well, this spring is going to be pretty lame if I just stay here, and I definitely don't want to go back home." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 04:15 am UTC (link)
	"I want you to come!" Claire promised, grinning a little as she got more excited about the idea. "I definitely definitely want you to come! My mom's always telling me to bring friends home, she wants to meet them. Do you really want to?" It wasn't that Claire didn't believe him, just that she wanted to hear it said again. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 04:21 am UTC (link)
	"Of course I do!" he said quickly, caught up in the moment. But then, a second later, it hit him like a ton of bricks. "But. What about Rob?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 04:28 am UTC (link)
	"I'm allowed to bring a friend home!" Claire protested, frowning already at the thought. "I don't care it's none of his business and Jackson I miss you." Her voice was beginning to turn into a childish whine, but all the words were true. "I miss you and that's not fair." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 04:32 am UTC (link)
	He looked at her reassuringly. "Are you sure?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 04:39 am UTC (link)
	Claire just nodded silently, eyes wide and serious. "Unless. Unless it bothers you. I know you guys are getting along again I don't want to make things bad." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 04:45 am UTC (link)
	"What? No, it doesn't bother me, it's just. I'm worried that he'll. I don't know." He shrugged awkwardly. "You know?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 04:58 am UTC (link)
	Claire fidgeted. "Yeah, I know," she admitted, looking up at him through her eyelashes. "But I don't want us to be like. Not talking again. I haven't seen you in ages, Jack." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anthologist 2009-02-02 05:08 am UTC (link)
	"I don't want us to be like that either," he said. "I hate being like that. And Rob knows it. He should at least let us be friends again." Jackson sighed. "I'm coming with you this spring break." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	creation 2009-02-02 05:12 am UTC (link)
	"It'll be great!" Claire promises with a big smile, that only fades a moment later when a thought occurs. "Um. I mean. Can we be friends again? Without it. Um. I don't want to. I mean. If you. I don't. I don't want things to be awkward. After all that." Her words stop making sense even to her, and so Claire bites them off. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)