Red Handed

[kyle]

Her name was Melanie.. or Mallory.. hell, it could be Mary. But, I did know that the petite brunette had accompanied me into the locker room that was just outside the gym. One tanned arm was wrapped around my neck while the hand of her other arm was down my pants. My right forearm braced me against the painted cinder block wall while my left hand was on her ass.
My grey and white America Eagle shirt was long ago unbuttoned to reveal my abs. Things were heating up, and I took her bottom lip between my teeth. Her blue eyes opened and she retracted her hand to lay it on the button of my khaki shorts when the locker room door blew open.
"Get off my girlfriend!" the short, squat guy bellowed as he took in the situation. Focusing on me, he stepped forward and aimed a punch to my face. I sidestepped and kicked him in the back so that he went sprawling onto the dirty tile floor. I glare at the brunette before making my escape into the hallway. I easily jog down it, the flaps of my shirt billowing out behind me like a cape.
I slow as I reach the gym lobby and start buttoning my shirt back u, face tilted downward as I focus. Once the buttons were done, I run a hand through my blonde hair and pull open the heavy gym door to step in, my blue eyes analyzing the crowd that had showed up for the End of Year Dance. I start over towards the drink table, fishing a Dr. Pepper out of the cooler before taking a seat on the bleachers to take a sip and scope out the girls that were in the room.

[kenzie]

This wasn't really my thing. I didn't even know why I was here; I had nobody to come with, I didn't like dancing, so why had I come again? Oh yeah, to try to find some new people to befriend and interact with outside of the people I normally am with.

Having a group of friends and people to be close to is nice, but it's always nice to find new friends and add to that group, or find another group to befriend. Just so far, this wasn't working. I couldn't find anyone to talk to or anything.

I found myself just walking around and watching more than anything else, just dressed for the dance and walking around with nothing to do and nobody to talk to yet.

[kyle]

After a couple more sips of my soda, my blue eyes land on a blonde in a grey dress. She was pretty, I had to admit. I might've seen her around, though I wasn't sure. I take another swig of my Dr. Pepper before standing. I grab a Sierra Mist Natural from the cooler. I start over towards her, pasting a grin on my face.
"Hey. you looked lonely so I thought I'd come over, got you a soda." I say, offering her the can. Smooth, Kyle, smooth. The Sierra Mist was a safe bet- I didn't know if the girl would be on a diet, or just not like soda in general, but I'd noticed that they usually went for either Sierra Mist or Sprite.
"I'm Kyle, by the way." I add casually with a glance out the corner of my eye at her.

[kenzie]

I turned when I heard someone talking to me, and gave him a small smile out of politeness, "McKenzie," I told him, "Um...thanks, but I don't drink soda," I said. I hadn't had soda in about two years, and had switched to mostly water. It's not that I didn't like soda, it's that I hated drinking it because it was bad for the drinker.

I wasn't exactly an overly health-minded person, I didn't exercise at all, but still, I did what I could. That meant not drinking soda. I looked back out at the gym instead of looking at Kyle, and then after a sweep of view I turned back to him, "I don't think I've seen you around before," I commented. I might have, but he didn't look familiar. I had heard the name "Kyle" before, but that didn't mean it was this guy, besides, it was always just in passing, so that didn't tell me anything.

[kyle]

Damn. Soda plan totally just took a nosedive. "Huh. Well, it's the thought that counts." I reply easily, glancing around. I twist around to set the Sierra Mist on a nearby table top- someone would get to it eventually. Her eyes leave me to rove around the gym and I take a sip of my Dr. Pepper. What to say, how to start a conversation?
"Really? You don't seem familiar, either, but I guess we're changing our whole 'stranger' status right now." I say, shrugging my shoulders slightly. "You moved here, didn't you?" I ask suddenly. New students always attracted a buzz in Ramad, and I thought I remembered something about a new girl named McKenzie.
Start with histories, move to how she likes it here. Then from there go to the topic of friends, relationships, then move on from there. I had a mental map in my head of how this whole encounter would play out.

[kenzie]

"Oh, um, yeah, I did," I said. "It's only my second year here." I thought about what he had said, talking about removing the stranger status. Well, I was here to try to meet new people, and this was a new person. I guess this was the start of what I came here for.

"How long have you been here?" I asked. I'd might as well ask the same question back, more or less. It would give me some information, just like he was getting from me. But if he asked more about my moving here, I wasn't going to give him a lot of information. My family stuff was private; that was just for me to know, not for someone I just met. It's too painful for me to think about, and especially to tell to someone who's almost a complete stranger to me. Maybe at some point, but that point isn't now.

[kyle]

I nod as she replies that she had moved here, feigning interest. It was a good way to earn trust, but I didn't have any intention of being McKenzie's friend- maybe get into her pants, but not anything long term. "I moved here when I was seven." I answer, shrugging my shoulders slightly. Information. She obviously wanted some more back ground info on me.
"My mom filed for divorce, took me and left. I barely get to see my dad." I continue, focusing my blue gaze at my feet. Pity. Maybe pity would work. But, I didn't mention my dad had already remarried and had three kids. My mom had remarried, too, but didn't want anymore kids. "How do you like it here?" I ask, raising my eyes to McKenzie's face as if snapping out of a reverie.

[kenzie]

I was going to say something to him, but then he asked me how I liked it here, so my focus was on responding to that first, "I'm liking it," I said, smiling a little, "It's a good school, and I've met good people here." I had. The friends I had I would never trade for anything. They were good people, and some of the most important things I had in my life.

"I'm sorry about your parents," I told him, "I can kind of understand how you feel." I didn't explain anything else. He'd probably assume, but that was fine. I just didn't want to tell him the truth of the matter. It was too private. I looked away from him after saying that, looking out at the gym as a whole. I'd rather not have looked at him, in case my face betrayed something that I didn't want to be seen.

[kyle]

I nod with a lopsided grin as McKenzie replies that she liked it in Ramad, that she'd met good people. Did I count among that number? She probably hadn't quite figured me out yet, and that was normal. I take another sip of my Dr. Pepper, keeping my blue eyes trained on her face. "Don't be." I reply, shaking my head with a small grimace. It wasn't her fault, but why not play it up a bit? "I mean, I barely see my dad, but its.. whatever." I add, looking down at my feet before raising my gaze back up to her face. I mentally frown as she keeps her eyes away from my face. Not going as planned. "Do you wanna sit down?" I ask, gesturing with my free hand towards the bleachers.

[kenzie]

I looked at him and where he was gesturing, but I shook my head. "No thanks," I told him. "I'm fine standing." I laughed a little, "I find myself more at ease standing. It's weird, but I do." I thought about the people I'd met, the good people I had met here. At this moment, Kyle didn't count in that number. I barely knew him, so I couldn't put him in it. I had to actually know them better than just a few minutes conversation. Face value and depth were two different things; I needed depth.

I scanned the crowd and saw a few friends. I wondered if I should join them for at least some time, but chose not to. Not yet, anyway. I was here to meet new people after all, and I was meeting a new person. No; I was better off staying here.

"So," I said, looking back at Kyle, "Is there anything else you want to tell me?" I was going to give him an opening to talk about anything.