Dandy and his bike (AFTER SCHOOL, MON)

[Cres]

Dandy stopped his bike on the school yard, as he had in the morning, and then he remained there to wait for his little sister. He was quite antsy for some reason. Well, he knew the reason well enough. He had been fighting with his old man again over a the schedule. He'd need to talk with Chip about that. But not today. He was too tired and too wound up for that.

When the motor died, he got off from the bike and left it standing as he walked around, rubbing his hands together and stretching his fingers to get the blood circulating again. The wind had got chilly somehow as he had driven around the town, and he had forgotten his gloves at home. As he walked in circles, he glanced every now and then towards the school doors and the bike. He wished Sweets would come soon so he'd get off. He wasn't feeling sociable and he was afraid some high school girls would come chatting when they saw him. Or worse yet, some guys would come picking a fight. Dan was used to situations like that. Somehow, it seemed, he just had that kind of a look about him that made girls interested and guys hostile. Or that's how the folks over at his university had behaved, anyway.

[Cres]

[[I'll have Chip come down in this thread, since he'll be passing by Dan in any case.]]

Chip came down from his office with a cheerful whistle on his lips, and headed towards the main door. As he entered the hallway, however, his eye caught on a familiar shape to his left by the lockers. A smile spread on his face and he approached the small group.

"Hullo," he said in an amiable manner to Ace and the two girls. Then he turned his eyes to Ace. "Well met, I'd say. I believe we had a date of sorts for tonight."

[Kat]

Ace had been getting his English textbook out of his locker as he'd been listening to Holland complain about some kid in her English Lit class, who had decided to sit next to her and hit on her. As he was zipping up his bag he heard footsteps approach him, looking to his left and smiling as he saw Chip. He shut his locker, twirling the combination lock and leaned up against it. "Oh, so it's a date, is it? I thought it was simply a viewing of what you have to offer me." He smiled seductively at Chip, in a very playful mood after gym class.


Holland had stopped talking immediately when Chip came up, looking a little shocked upon hearing his comments to Ace. She looked at Princess, who smirked and pulled her to the side. "The new computer guy I told you about at lunch." Holland nodded and looked amused, watching as Ace addressed Chip.

[Cres]

Chip smiled, taking note of Holland's expression with some care. What, no sense of humour? Though after Princess's talking to her she seemed more amused, and he began to wonder a little nervously what kind of rumours he'd managed to get moving around the school.

"Well, no matter what we call it," he said with a smile, "I suppose all that matters is what we make of it." He figured that was ambiguous enough, then shrugged. "I just thought to ask where we're going to meet. Seeing as we both have our own cars, I can't offer you a lift."

[Kat]

(Just a note, not sure if you saw the updated map or not but I put his studio on there, the address would be 1220 Bloor St, just as a technicality;)

"Well, where is your studio, what's the address?" Ace had mentioned the studio to Princess during gym class, who had been quite excited at the prospect of Chip being a photographer. Apparently she'd also mentioned it to Holland, given the expression on the younger girl's face.

[Cres]

[[thankee kindly, I did in fact notice it on the map but I don't think I spotted the exact address.]]

Chip smiled, forgetting to pay attention to the two girls. He found himself doing that regrettably often with Ace.

"1220 Bloor St," he answered. "I'll be going there pretty much right away."

[Kat]

Ace looked slightly surprised for a moment. "1220 Bloor? That's actually just two blocks up from my condo, I live at 1200 Queen. Pretty nice that it's so close. I guess I'll walk up and meet you there then, I'll just go home first and drop my stuff off. Sound good to you?" He pushed himself up off his locker, slinging his bag around his back. The day just kept giving him a ton of great surprises.

[Cres]

Chip was pleased to hear he lived so close. Because it meant he also lived very close to Dan, and this idea gave him a push towards accepting Dan's offer of moving in with him.

"Yeah, that sounds great," he said and nodded as he turned to start walking out. "I'll see you there, then. I'm on the third floor and the elevator's broken, but I'm sure you won't have a problem with the stairs." He grinned. "Just look for the door that has a cardboard sign hanging on it that says Chip. I've got this leftover studio and I haven't had the time to get a decent sign there yet."

[Kat]

Ace laughed at Chip's description, shaking his head. "The stairs definitely won't be a problem for me, every now and then I actually take the stairs in our building, and we live on the 20th floor." He turned his head to look at Princess, who had laughed when he made the comment. "Find something funny?"

"Oh sweetheart," Princess stood beside him, putting an arm around his shoulder, "you are retarded, you know that? Twenty freaking flights of stairs?"

"I'm not retarded, you're just lazy." Ace grinned, pinching her side.

"No she's right, you're retarded. Twenty flights is a lot! I'd draw the limit at ten." Holland winked at Ace, looking back at Princess. "You're right about one thing, though. She is lazy." Holland moved just in time before Princess' hand made contact with her arm.

"I am not lazy! The two of you are just more physically active than me. That's all. Besides, you should know I'm not lazy." Princess looked back at Ace, winking at him.

"Well, of course you weren't lazy at that time. You were with me after all." Ace winked back, before looking back at Chip and grinning. "So you'll be at the studio right away? That's good, I shouldn't be too long. I'll just not stop to check the mail, otherwise Guy, our security guard, will probably talk my ear off like he normally tries to do."

[Cres]

Chip listened to the bantering with an amused smile. The three seemed to be good friends, to talk like that to one another. He still wondered about the nature of Ace's and Princess's relationship. Casual sex? That seemed the most likely option.

"That's good, I'll keep an ear open for you then," Chip said. "You don't have to bother to knock, but I'd suggest you're careful with the door. It tends to... get sticky."

Then he nodded to them.

"Bye then," he said and started off, out of the main doors. There his eye caught on Dan and he raised a hand in greeting to him.

Dan only nodded back, continuing to pace. As Chip saw he wasn't in the mood for chatting and as he wanted to his studio as soon as possible, he headed away and towards the parking lot and his car.

[Kat]

Ace watched as Chip left, feeling quite eager to get out to his car and head home. He looked over to Princess and Holland. "Is Chase giving you a lift home, Holli, or do you want me to drive you?" Before she could answer he looked at Princess. "You, however, are walking. If you asked for a drive it would just confirm that you are, indeed, lazy."

"Oh shut up! Besides, I have to wait for Tuneful, we have band practice tonight, so she's coming over to my place right away. So even if you offered to drive me, I'd turn you down." She winked at him, removing her arm from his shoulder.

"As much as I'd love a drive from you, Chase is actually taking me out for shopping and supper tonight, goody! Not sure what I did to deserve that, but who am I to refuse?" She smiled, nudging Princess out of the way as she stood beside Ace, wrapping her arms around him for a hug. "Have fun on your date tonight."

Ace smirked, wrapping his own arms around her, kissing her on the cheek. "Thanks, Holli. I'll let you guys know how it goes." He glanced at Princess, seeing her glaring at Holland.

"Moving in on my territory are you, Holland?" Hands on her hips, Princess kept a look of annoyance on her face as Holland turned around, an innocent smile on her face.

"I love you Rinceypoo?" Holland threw herself against Princess, plastering a kiss to her cheek. Princess couldn't help but laugh, punching her lightly on the arm.

"You whore, I wanted to stay mad at you. Well then, we should let you get going on your way, darling. Be sure to call tonight to let me know how it goes! And do everything I would do." She winked before hugging Ace, getting her own kiss from him.

"Well then darlings, I should get going. I'll call you for sure later, and depending on when I get home I might call you too. Don't want to call too late and invoke the wrath of your mom though." Ace winked at Holland before turning around and walking out to the parking lot, sliding into his car and taking off.


(moving elsewhere!)

[Cres]

Sweetheart walked out of the main doors, a happy smile on her lips. She was happy to have made a connection to Teddy again. Maybe... maybe he might still want to give it another try? Maybe... her head was filled with dreams as she walked out of the doors, hardly even noticing her brother.

Dan noticed Sweetheart, however, and walked to her when he noticed she was going to walk right past him.

"Hey, Sweets!" he said as he touched her on the shoulder. "Where are you going?"

Sweetheart was startled. When she recognised her brother, she blushed a little and smiled uncertainly.

"Oh, Dan... I'm sorry, I forgot you were going to pick me up."

Dan shrugged.

"It doesn't matter. Come on, hop on, I..."

"Oh, no, Dan, I'm not coming with you," she said hurriedly and touched her on the arm. "I'm going with Teddy."

Dan's expression grew darker and he examined her with his eyes thoroughly.

"With Teddy?" he asked suspiciously. "Why?"

Sweetheart was a little at a loss as to what to answer to that. What did he mean, "why"?

"Oh, well... I... I haven't seen him in a long time," she said. "And... I don't need to explain it to you, do I?" She was suddenly a little huffed, and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm going with Teddy, and I'll see you at dinner tonight. Is that quite all right?"

Dan glowered at her still, not very pleased.

"I suppose so," he said grumpily. He was worried over her, and the way he remembered Teddy, he wasn't sure if he wanted to let her go with him. But he couldn't tell her no, he wasn't her father. Just an older brother, and though she listened to him he knew he couldn't control her. "But I'll wait with you until he gets here."

Sweetheart rolled her eyes.

"If you insist," she said.

[Sharise]

Teddy walked out of the school, relieved that the first day back was over. Oh how he loathed school.

Blue eyes immediately fell upon Sweetheart, and who he remembered to be her brother, Dandy. Realizing that the two were obviously waiting for him, Teddy quickened his pace slightly; enough to not waste time, but still slow enough to seem laid back.

As he approached the two, he smiled down at the girl. "Sorry to keep you waiting." Looking back up at Dandy, he smiled once more and held out his hand. "Hello, Dandy. It's been awhile."

[Cres]

Sweetheart's expression turned to one big smile when she saw Teddy.

"Oh, no matter," she said. "I was talking with Dan."

Dandy's remained suspicious, though he took the offered hand.

"You've grown up," he said a bit gruffly. To himself he added: Hopefully also otherwise than physically.

[Sharise]

Dandy's gruff tone didn't phase the teen. Worse things had been said to, and about, him in the past. By this point close to nothing could upset him.

Teddy's smile had faded from his lips, but the expression still lingered in his eyes. "Fortunately, yes." He had a way of coming off as confident, without being cocky. Relaxed, without being aloof. It was a talent he had come to possess. He just hoped it would ease the older man's nerves.