Game On.

An unwilling explanation

She got to the home later that night, mentally preparing herself for a war torn house but it was surprisingly quiet. 

“Jo? Jo, what’s happened?”

“Nothing, that’s the problem, we were sure they would bite. They always do.”

“So why haven’t they?”

“We don’t know, Nyree. We just don’t know” she sighs wearily, rubbing her unseeing eyes wearily. “Tell me something good about your day, do please.”

“Nope.”

“Does anything good ever happen to you?”

“Nope” 

“Do please broaden your vocabulary.”

“Sure, sure.”

“Oh, just get out of my sight.” This was quite ironic, you see, as Jo couldn’t see at all

“I met a nice boy.”

“There is no such thing as a nice boy.”

“Okay then, I won’t make friends. I’m going to eat.”

“Nyree! I haven’t seen you in forever!” Lennie, her closest friend, careens toward her in full speed. If there were ever two friends more different it was these two. Lennie had blonde hair to Nyree’s black. She was loud and a follower while Nyree was withdrawn and a protestor. But this was the closest person Nyree had to a friend, 

“Hey, Len, how’re things?”

“Have you seen the new guy? Calix, I think his name was. Or was it Calcic?”

“Calix,” Nyree corrected without thinking. 

“And how do you know? If I didn’t know you better, I’d wonder about your sexuality. You never notice guys.”

“Well, Len, this one’s kind of hard not to notice. He walked home with me.”

“What?! You know where he lives?”

“Yeah, I guess I do. I’ll go get the door.” It seemed no one else would and it was ringing like crazy. She opened the door to find Calix, 

“Hey.” He greeted as though there was nothing unusual about him showing up here. He took a quick look behind her and his eyes widened at the chaos. She knew he was seeing over one hundred people in organised chaos of all ages and sizes. Some were polishing guns, others making out in dark corners and the kids were running around like monkeys. Lennie was staring without humiliation. This was going to take some explaining, especially as one of her guy friends come over and slap her ass. 

“Let’s go for a walk, shall we?” she asks. 

“Sure.”

They walk in silence for a while on a little street lined with dark green palm trees. 

“So, was that like a party or something?” he finally asks. 

“No” she sighs “that was my house. The house, I should say. There are about two hundred people who call it home. It’s a main centre for lots of things, and it’s heaven for orphans who don’t want to live in hell. That’s me. It also happens to be a very convenient drug selling place. And the guns probably need some explaining, too. We’re at war. I suppose you could call it a gang war, Capulet and Montague style. We’re the Capulet’s and the Players are the Montague’s.” Calix had been very quiet during this long explanation and she was beginning to worry that she had frightened him. But then he suddenly laces his fingers through hers and pulls her to a stop. At first she moves to tug her hand away but she quickly realises something scary; she didn’t want to let go. She stares into his amazing eyes and asks herself if this is real

“And the guy?” he whispers

“A friend. Just a friend.”

“Right.”

“Fine, I don’t need you to believe me

“I think you do.”

“I don’t.”

And with that she turned on her heel and stormed back to the house, leaving Calix gaping an wondering if she was even there in the first place.

“Nyree, what happened?” Lennie looks up from her latest book, wherein the main character is called, wait for it, Lennie! The real Lennie looked concerned as she questioned her best friend. 

“Nothing. We talked.”

“Talked?”

“Yes, we talked.”

“You walked away. I thought you said it was hard not to notice him.”

“Doesn’t mean I like him.” Nyree grumbled, stalking away.