Black and White In the middle of the sunlit hallway two students faced each other down amid the halted tide of onlookers. A thin bespectacled boy with short brown hair that stuck out in a mess and a girl with light brown hair held in place with several clips and unrelenting almost electric blue eyes. “No, I don’t want to go with you. Get it through your thick head already.†The girl shouted fiercely stamping her foot as she did so. She looked on the verge of hauling off and attacking the meek looking boy opposite her but she did not. She merely gesticulated with agitation and anger causing her short black skirt to flip about and sweep over her legs beneath her pale carnation pink shoulderless sweater. “Come on, weren’t we--†Pleaded the boy, though it was clear that he had no chance of winning any arguments with his voice shaking like it was. “No more of this ‘we’ stuff. I don’t even want to look at you, Needy.†The girl continued her invective without missing a beat or showing the slightest bit of remorse or pity. “But--But Erica!†The boy cried out as he began to sob. He reached out and caught hold of her sleeve only to have his hand forcefully removed with a quick swipe of hers. “Don’t use my name anymore you clingy freak!†Her voice was sharp and almost chilling as her eyes as she glared at him intensely. Suddenly she turned and began shoving people out of her way as she left the boy crying on the floor. “Erica!†He wailed pitiably after her as she pushed through the bewildered crowd as harshly and roughly as she‘d put down the pathetic creature behind her. “Loser.†She muttered to herself as she walked on. Soon the crowd was left behind her some still in shock at the turn of events, some just lacking of a better activity to turn to at the end of the school day. Either way it went Erica just kept on walking, anything to distance her from the pile of emotional rags that once called itself her boyfriend. She pushed open the heavy institutional metal doors and walked into the sunbathed walk between the two sides of the campus. “Come on, I go out with these guys like twice and they think that they actually mean something to me. Then they keep acting like they made a connection and I wasn’t just in it to get something out of them.†Suddenly a familiar voice pulled the girl from her internal monologue. “Hey--†A girl wearing a tasteful sky blue sundress and sporting electric blue hair appeared from behind one of the concrete pillars lining the outdoor walkway. “Not interested, just came off a bad breakup.†Erica replied sarcastically. “Stop lying. You love hurting those boys.†Said the blue haired girl with a winning smile. She skipped along beside her companion for several moments before she got a response. “I can’t say it isn’t funny, but in the end I have a reason Fred.†“Lemme guess, “He’s not the guy that’ll get me all the stuff I want.�†Frederica chuckled. “No…†Erica muttered distractedly. “Whatever Ere. I’ve got practice, I’ll be seeing you later.†Frederica bid her farewells rather ostentatiously before making an equally showy exit. “Later Fred.†Erica waved lukewarmly. Several seconds later she couldn’t help but burst out, “Damn, Frederica’s such a hypocrite, going and telling me that there’s something wrong with me when she does practically the same thing. Jeez.†A familiar ring tone called her attention away from her fuming and to the device resting in her pocket. “Hello.†The voice on the other end was cool and deep, probably an older male in his forties. Erica did not respond to the strange voice and merely kept her breath stilled and listened closely until the voice continued without losing a step. “I assure this is neither a prank nor a solicitation. We are calling you to inform you that you’ve won the chance of a lifetime--†The phone snapped shut and returned to its place in her pocket. “This is bull.†Erica grumbled to herself. She continued walking in the warm afternoon sun. There was another call not two seconds later. Eric answered with the same silent caution. “Come claim your prize at the following location--†It was cut off again when Erica realized it was the same voice. “Who’d actually go?†-------- “Hi.†Erica’s mother was in the earliest part of her forties and lived separate and estranged from her legal husband with whom she’d been married for seventeen years. The two had separated earlier that year and moved to different cities in order to stay away from each other. Her father moved miles and miles away, the only reason Erica knew he was still alive was the check he sent every month to cover what he felt was necessary to replace him. Her mother moved to the closest city, not more than ten miles from their old house and set up there like nothing had happened, like she’d always been a single mother. Erica never knew the exact reasons, she only knew that she was with her mother because her father didn’t put up a fight when she expressed a desire to stay in the same school. Every time that she met either of them Erica couldn’t help but feel that they had only married and were only separated because neither one had the slightest bit of a sense of self control. The upshot f it all to her was that it was why she went from living in a large house in the suburbs to a small apartment in the city. “Hey Mom.†“You’re back early.†The brown haired woman observed. “I have nothing better to do, sorry to disappoint.†Erica bantered as she watched her mother looking over bills through a pair of new reading glasses. “It’s nice to see you sometimes.†The woman replied without looking up. “I’ll only be around during those then.†Erica answered with a scoff and with that she was off to the kitchen where she found a dismal lack of nourishment. She looked over at the woman she’d been living with and started violently when she suddenly picked up the thread of conversation again. “You know what I mean.†“I assure you I don’t if I said anything wrong before.†Erica almost made a face but managed to suppress the urge and sat down at the table with a chair between herself and her mother. “Sure.†Her mother replied sarcastically as she threw a sneaky look out of the corner of her eye. “So you need anything?†Erica asked. “You could get the clothes washed while you’re being such a dutiful child.†The woman said without hesitation. “So now that we finally have quality time to spend with each other you‘d rather send me out on some errand?†Erica argued knowing what was to come already. “You’ll have to grow up eventually and I have to be going myself so you need something to keep yourself occupied with.†With those final words the reading glasses were off and so was her mother. IN less than five seconds the brown haired woman was out the door. “Got it.†Erica said to the closed door as she sat leaning on the table. -------- Erica finally decided to get all of her chores and obligations cleared before her mother came home early the next morning. First she carried all of the laundry down the street to the Laundromat, washed and dried it and began her burdened walk home several hours later. It wasn’t until this return trip that she encountered any complications in her schedule. Just as she turned the corner and entered the last block back to her home she saw a familiar and unwelcome face. The face was an attractive one framed by raven hair and accented with golden brown eyes and it belonged to the last boy that Erica had broken up with before that morning. “Hey did you…†He started to speak but trailed off when he saw Erica lugging around a sack full of clothes. She dropped the bag where she was and jabbed her finger in his face and scowled angrily. “Get out of my face, first Needy now Creepy, what did I do to deserve all this crap?†She practically shouted at him from only a few inches away. “You were the one who accepted--†When he began to speak again Erica clicked her tongue in agitation and grasped his collar firmly. “Then I deliberately and very clearly and rudely crushed all hopes of more interaction between us. Or did I mess that up?†She said, bringing her face closer and raising her voice louder with every word. He didn't answer, he merely turned his head away and made an agitated sounding noise. “Let’s make this as painfully clear as possible. I hate you. I never liked you, I only ever wanted to go out with you because you were popular and free. Now that I’ve had that fleeting wish fulfilled I never want to see your face again.†She suddenly let him go, or rather, she pushed him away and turned to pick up her load. “You’re gonna die alone if you treat everyone like this.†The boy replied as spitefully as he could manage. He looked to be on the verge of tears even as he spoke. “I’ve lived alone, that is all that follows. Now away before I call the police or something.†She said shooing him like he was an insect. “Whatever, have a nice life alone.†Once she was sure he was out of earshot Erica spoke again. “I’ll be sure to do that.†-------- “Live alone?†The smooth firm voice sounded familiar, but Erica couldn’t place the face that went along with it at all. The man that was speaking to her looked to be in his thirties or forties and dressed himself in a pure black suit with the characteristic butler’s coattails. He surely wasn’t anyone she’d met, but it was someone she’d heard. Either way he was standing between her and the path to her home and Erica didn’t like that, his sudden question or anything about him. “I‘ll scream.†She threatened as she backed away with her grip on the grocery bags loosened, ready to ditch and run. “We.†He said, disregarding her and advancing further. “Mean anything to you?†“Might as well mean you.†Erica scowled and readied herself to kick the man as hard as possible when suddenly he hopped back, shifted his gaze to the half moon above them and began speaking dramatically. “We are all but cells within a single body and yet we all aspire to be greater than the sum of it’s parts.†He stole a glance back at the girl with dazzled eyes and a slightly breathless sigh. In response she continued to scowl. “Not interested.†Erica insisted, still ready to fight. The man simply laughed and withdrew a single object from his lapel pocket, it was small and coin shaped, hardly distinguishable from any ordinary quarter at that distance. “But you are, I assure you, which is why I present you with this Emblematic Token. Do with it as you choose, the time limit, though, is seven days, now then I shall take my leave as a representative of the Netherworld Casino and Hotel.†Erica fingered the poker chip she’d been handed. It was smooth and cool on one face but on the other face it was warm as if it had been lying on a stove and had an engraving of some grotesque devil across its surface. It inspired a certain feeling, no, it impressed itself upon her being more as a sensibility than a distinct feeling, like something acquired over a period of time that only becomes clear and visible when put under the right light. Whatever it was it wasn’t good, that much she could be sure of. Still she couldn’t bring herself to just hurl the disc back at the man. “Not interested…†She said even though she knew the strange man had left long ago. Erica walked soberly the rest of the way back to her apartment after the incident. She wasn’t sure what had happened or what she could do about it, it had unsettled her down to her very core. It made her nervous and anxious just to think of it. Just as she reached her front door she ran into the worst possible person. “Oh hey. Erica, it’s been awhile.†It was another boy, the only perceivable difference was that being near this one always gave her headaches. Just seeing him looking down at her from seven inches up through his amber eyes was enough to make her sick. “I’ve been busy, Hughes, and I suppose you have been too.†Erica dropped her eyes to the side and bowed her head slightly, anyone else may have seen this as somewhat shy, maybe even demure, but her neighbor simply smiled and played along. “How formal of you. Still, I can’t say you’re wrong. So how has the being busy thing been going for you?†As he spoke he leaned down to her side to get a look at her face, which by this point was beginning to get red. “As well as can be expected.†She said continuing to avoid eye contact as he got closer. Suddenly she jerked away and stepped back, her head was pounding, her throat felt dry, everything was going wrong this time. “Are you alright?†He took a step back himself and tried his best to sound soothing. “I’d better be getting inside.†She held up her grocery bags, both as an excuse and a way to cover her face. “Ill see you later, I guess.†She was already gone but he stood next to the closed door just long enough to say, “Yeah, we should meet up sometime. Erica.†As she stood listening with her ear pressed up against the door Erica breathed a single word, “No.†This is basically a one shot deal since I don't intend on writing anymore, I was just bored and having trouble thinking of anything else to write. If this is to continue you'll understand the title but I really doubt it will so whatever. I'm not really happy with what I have here but I feel like it's not really worth the effort fixing.
*Sighs* You clearly have a very exaggerated view on wimpy guys; no matter how wimpy, he won't be crawling back to a girl. the world-views on male and female can attribute to my point. I myself feel this read was smooth, but can't help but almost feel like this is my style of writing, and that some parts look way similar to something I'd write. I think this would go in a nice direction if continued. Only one grammar error. Not much to nitpick at, except perhaps that it's not woven with so much style.
That's an opinion that comes from different experience. I've personally seen people try their damnedest to stay in self destructive relationships because of hopeless naivety. Also, things can't attribute to points, that's not how those words are properly used so I really don't understand what you're trying to say. Either way, it's an exaggeration because it's fiction, but it's no where near as black and white wrong as you make it out to be. I don't see what you mean here at all. The two things are different in pretty much every conceivable way that I can measure from structure down to diction. But if you see it that way you and I got totally different impressions from this. Don't mean to sound totally savage and offensive but I'm too tired to really filter anything too much. Overall I just disagree with everything you posted pretty much. I may change my mind as I am apt to do depending on my mood but as things are this is how they stand.
I'm pretty much used to your attitude by now, so no biggie there. I myself just think that a person with a scrap of dignity wouldn't start that a fight in the middle of a hallway...that's just pathetic.
