Description: Sometimes Alexis doesn't pay attention to where she's going. Sometimes she runs into people. Sometimes these people turn out to surprise (and annoy) her. But how exactly is the gymnast going to handle the fact that her twin has arrived and seems to be enrolling in classes at Pacific High?
A bell rings.
Students begin pouring out of Pacific High as another school day comes to a close. Most head toward the dormitories, though a few packs break off going to various other areas on the campus -- the field, the auditorium, the cafeteria. Others peel to the side and begin heading off campus to enjoy a few hours at the mall or the beach before curfew.
Alexis, already out of uniform, is racing across the quad in an attempt to get to the new gymnastics facility her trainer has her working in now that the weather has been getting cooler. Normally she would just set up in the gymnasium, but this facility is fairly large, holds a trampoline, and her ticket to getting a gold medal at the next Olympics!
Riiiiiiing.
The first full day is now complete, even though the first day basically consisted of next to no work and getting to know the layout of the school. The tricky part has been walking around in the open and not being spotted, even though it seems to be going fairly well. The next obsticle is to avoid giving his last name, but as with all good things, this hiding will have to come to an end.
Besides, it'll be fine once he actually gives his sister a heart attack.
Lucas has no idea where Alexis is, currently, and is simply walking about campus. There is no better way to learn the layout than to get lost. Repeatedly. A piece of paper with his schedule and a map of the campus are in his hand, although he isn't using them. People watching is so much more interesting.
Clueless. Absolutely clueless. That, and it was pure luck that the duo hasn't wound up with at least one shared class.
Zipping down the pathway, quick as can be, the little gymnast pays absolutely no heed to where she's going. People have learned to avoid her when she gets in that daydreamy mindset that has her moving at alarming speeds while her brain is drifting off onto bigger and better things.
Unfortunately for the boy who's trying to hide who he is, Alexis is on a direct collision course with him.
There are many differences between this particular young man and the rest that can be found on campus. He actually is very well versed in dealing with his flighty little sister. If anyone is properly prepared to deal with her, it's Lucas.
It isn't until a few off handed comments from those passing by that he even spots her. There's honestly no place to hide at this point, since she's going out of her way to greet him. Obviously that must be what she's doing.
Obviously.
Instead of stepping out of the way, the hockey jock instead braces himself for contact. "I know, I would miss me that much, too."
WHACK.
KERBOUNCE.
Only by her own agile grace is Alexis able to stop herself from winding up on her rear-end in the middle of the path. Arms windmill out at her sides and she manages to stay standing.
Then, her peridot eyes grow HUGE. Almost comically so.
"I... you... but..." Blinking several times in rapid succession she gives her head a shake. Woah! Did she totally hit a pole or something? Is she seeing things? Both fists come up to rub at her eyes and she blinks again.
"Luke!?!"
There's a moment where he's convinced that he is going to have to scrape his sister off of the ground, the way she knocks into him. The force is enough to cause him to move, ever slightly, but he remains standing tall. His sister is greeted with a large grin before it quickly fades. Public is no place to act like he cares, after all.
"Possibly." As if he can deny it by this point.
The urge to offer her a hug is there. For a moment like this, he might almost let her hug him. In public. "How's it going, Al?"
Squeaking, she rushes at him again in order to very literally kerpounce at him with a great big hug -- a nigh impossible thing to do, what with their size differences.
"How did you... when did you... what're you doing here?!"
Releasing him from the mini-monster hug, Alexis takes a moment to make a face at him. "Ewwww! Don't call me /that/! No one calls me that here!" Her lower lip juts out in a teensy pout, but it's quickly replaced with a smile. "If ya gotta use a nickname at all, I go by Lexi now." Stoutnod.
In all honesty, he doesn't mind the hug. Allowing her to know that, however, is against his better principles. One arm wraps around his smaller sister in a loose hug before he promptly drops it. He can always twirl her around later, when there isn't the chance that a hot girl might see him.
Running a hand through his moppy hair, Lucas merely laughs. "Well, first I took an airplane. Then I took a car. Then I walked to where I am now, and that is when you ran into me. It's simple, really." Yes, he's helpful. "It could be that I missed you and wanted to spend time with you... but it's more likely that Mom wouldn't leave me alone about moving closer."
Her reaction is monitored closely with high amusement. "Lexi? That sounds like a car. Al suits you." A playful jab is aimed at her shoulder.
"Ohhh, you're sooooooo much help."
Sticking her tongue out at him, Alexis makes a little 'hmph' noise and puts her hands on her hips. "You came all the way from Russia to check up on me?" Parents. Can't live with'em, can't live without'em. "Mother /sent/ you?" Peridot eyes narrow a little bit as she taps her index finger against the side of her cheek. "/Why/?"
The playful jab is carefully sidestepped, and she whips her arm out in order to push is hand off and away from her. "/Lex-us/ is the car. I /like/ Lexi, now stop callin' me Al, or I'll have to like, pummel you or something."
"That's what I'm here for, sis." If only she knew the real reason that he finally relented to relocation. "No. Mother sent -for- me. She's been nagging me to move since they did. I finally got sick of hearing it. Besides, I heard that the chicks here are hot."
Right.
Impressed with her response to his jab, the grin returns. "It looks like someone has been taking lessons from the television again. I hate to break it to ya, Al, but watching people fight does not make you an actual fighter. It takes practice. And someone who isn't the size of a peanut."
"'course they are. I'm here, aren't I?" Giving her brother her best, tooth-pingingest smile, the little gymnast strikes a pose. Giggling, she shakes her head, then shoves at his chest. "Seriously, I don't have a whole lot'a female friends. I mean, there's Vanka, but you already know /her/." Pausing, she makes another face then sighs. "I guess I could count Himeko, but like, there was all this drama, so I don't think we're friends any more." Shoulders shrug upward.
Then he goes and calls her Al again.
"Do I /look/ like I've got boy-bits? C'mon! I know it's like, your brotherly duty to tease me and all, but stop making me sound like that creepy old guy from Quantum Leap!" Jutting out her lower lip in the cutest pout she can manage, she rams her arms forward and shoves at him.
"I'm /so/ an actual fighter! I've been in sanctioned fights and uh..." Oh crap. She just told him that. "I mean, well it was for a pageant, right? And... well I won the pageant." Pause. "So did'ja transfer here?"
She can shove at his chest all she pleases; he still isn't moving. "Right. Well, I'll be looking for some girls that are actually cute. Although I seem to recall that Vanka was a looker." Not in the least, or at least not in his mind. She's off limits, but today is a day to tease his sister. "See, you know you are addicted to fighting when you can count your female friends on one finger. How is this supposed to help me get a date?"
Oh, no. Here comes the cuteness attack. "Quantum Leap? I hadn't even thought of that. I was more thinking of that scene in Aladin where the Genie keeps calling him names. Ladin doesn't have the same ring to it, Al." Although the Quantum Leap comment will be saved for later.
So she -is- a fighter. "Busted, sis." There's trouble to be had later. "Maybe I should tell Mom. Although I can tell her it shouldn't be so bad, since you're not any good at it." Shaking his head, Lukas shrugs. "Nope. I didn't transfer here. I'm just here for you to run in to."
He's only not moving, because he's a big brute. If he were more her size, Alexis'd totally pummel him! "Vanka only has a thing for cute fighter guys, y'know, so you don't meet her criteria." Sticking her tongue out at her brother she thhhhpts it at him and then folds her arms over her chest. "I'm not helping you get a date." Especially since she can't even get her /own/ date lately, being as both guys she was interested in went off globe trotting without so much as a word.
"Whatever. I'm still not Aladdin either, y'know! I'd still need boy-bits to be Aladdin, and I've not got those." She begins to slide her hands out of their crossed position, when he busts her.
Color draining from her face, the little gymnast eeks. "N-no! You'd better not tell mother, or I'll totally snitch 'bout those magazines!" Arms flail out at her sides, "Luke, c'mon, she /freaked/ when she found out there was fighting in that pageant. She'll like, make me go back to Tokyo!"
Which will likely happen /anyhow/ once she does what she's planning on doing in a few weeks.
"Oh, good. 'cuz I don't want my annoying brother here, bugging me every day."
He's not a big brute. He's more of a tiny brute, honestly. Besides, she's just jealous. "Well, it's a good thing that I'm a cute fighter guy." Lucas takes this moment to flex, more to be annoying than to be serious. "Eh, it's okay. I don't need your help, anyway. In fact, I think being seen around you may hurt my image. What do you think?"
Boy bits. "Al? There's something disturbing about me picturing my sister with 'boy bits'. Please stop talking about it. I think I may get sick." There are certain parts of his sister's body he doesn't need to see. Or think about. Ever.
But oh, the humor is back in full force. "Seriously, Alexis. If you don't want Mom to know about something, why do it? It's not like she's just going to go away. Ducking and diving around corners and being something you're not isn't any way to live." It's part of the reason he enjoyed being on his own for as long as he was. "Besides, I ordered those magazines in your name. I don't think that's much of a threat."
What is in a few weeks? Lucas is totally clueless. "Well, if that's the case, maybe I should go in and enroll right now."
All a matter of perspective! To the tiny little gymnast, her brother is a big brute.
"Pfft! You /wish/ you were a cute fighter guy! You're not /anything/ like those guys in the Neo League, or Saturday Night Fight or anything like that. All you do is play hockey and /pretend/ you can fight when you toss your gloves down!" Wait, wait... did he just insult her? "It probably /will/ hurt your image, 'cuz people won't be able to take their eyes off'a my hotness to even bother glancing at you. I'm Miss Teen Southtown after all!"
After a pause she snickers. "C'mon, Luke! If you stop calling me /Al/, I'll stop talking about boy-bits. Al is a /guy's/ name, and it's not my name at all."
Hands come up to wipe down over her face as Alexis exhales a sigh of exasperation. "Why do it? 'cuz it's part'a who I am. Not /my/ fault mother thinks that such things aren't 'proper' or 'girly' enough for the daughter of an Ambassador." Part of why she's seriously been considering Yurika's offer. If it'll get her mother off her back, then it'll be worth it.
"I double-dog dare you to enroll right now."
If she's trying to get a rise out of him, it isn't really working. Not that she can see. Yet underneath that calm exterior the older twin is already plotting retorts. "Of course not. I'm better looking and far more talented." A hand rubs at his forehead as he groans. "I have a hard time believing that. I think you just bribed the judges to win."
"Al is not a boy's name. Al is -your- name. It always has been." And it always will be, especially when they're in public. "So why should I stop? Because you think you're too cool for your older brother?"
Touching. That's exactly the reaction she may be able to read on his face. Deep down, however, he does feel for his sister. It's not her fault that he's the favorite. "I still think that you'd get further with them if you'd just be upfront. We're not children anymore. Besides, I could speak up for you. If you paid me enough."
Loud laughter comes at her dare. "And what, dear sister, would you give me if I did enroll right now?"
Bribe? Bribe the judges? Nuh-uh! No way! Not her! Alexis did it all on her own merits, and she's really proud of that! "I'll show you the tapes later if you want." Pausing she wrinkles her nose a little. "I think all'a the other girls went to that Seijyun school. The one I've been invited to and stuff. They seem nice, if not a little odd there." All girl's school, meant for preparing the girls to be good housewives or something. Their mother would love it.
"Al is /so/ not my name. M'not a boy, and I'm /totally/ too cool for my /twin/ brother." Older by what? A second or two? Pfft.
"Oh, well, daddy likely wouldn't care. He /did/ see me fight someone in Hawaii a few months ago." It was playfighting of sorts, but still fighting. "Mother on the other hand..." Is an evil, evil woman who just wants her to marry some prince or something.
"Well, if you went and enrolled right now? I'd have my other best friend back!"
"I think I'd have some sort of mental condition if I wanted to sit around and watch tapes of my sister in some sort of girly... thing." No, he's not going to do it. At all. The mention of the other school gets no physical reaction from him, but it's all he can do not to twitch. "You're right. They're odd. You should remember that. I mean, you're odd, but you're not as odd as they are."
Older by a few minutes, thankyouverymuch. "Right. I'll keep that in mind, Lexus."
"What about mother?" Go ahead and say it, Lexi. He may be a Mama's Boy, but he knows what their mother is like. Hearing it us much more fun, though. "I think you're not giving her enough credit. It could be that she'll learn to respect your independence." Or not, but it's worth trying.
Lucas shakes his head. "No, I asked what you would give to me if I enrolled. This isn't all about you, Miss Selfish Pants."
"Duh. S'not just me in the tapes! Sakura Kasugano is in them too, and she's like a really good fighter and all that!" Alexis' attention seems to drift for a moment, her mind fluttering off to daydream land as she ponders which fighter she can get an autograph from next. Definitely not her brother though! He's not a /real/ fighter.
"Mother is overbearing, and she wants me to be perfect. I /am/ perfect, just not her idea of it." With a tiny hmph, she raises her nose to the air "Mother would never respect my independence."
Oh, so he did ask her what she'd give him. The gymnast's cheeks color a little and she laughs. "Ohh... well see, I was thinking 'bout fighting and... uhh... I'll give you a tour of the village! I'll introduce you to a few people..." Probably a nice big hug too, but he doesn't need to know /that/.
He is a fighter, but he isn't one of -those- fighters. "I'm not that impressed. Besides, if I wanted to watch a hot chick, I wouldn't want my sister on the tape. That is just weird. What are you trying to imply about me?" She's getting that look in her eyes again. This is never good. At least he's used to ignoring it.
Lucas shakes his head yet again. "And just what makes you perfect, Sis? I'm being serious here, for once. Think about it and give me an honest answer. Why would you define yourself as perfect?" It's the game of get his little car, er, little sister to think.
A loud groan comes at her answers. "Lamesauce." Well, it's true. There's no money or torment involved in that. "Although, I suppose I could use a hand getting used to this place. I can deal with you being my personal slave for a while." Before she can even argue, the class schedule in his hand is dangled down in front of her face.
Right. He's not a /real/ fighter! The ones that make her all fangirly. "I'm trying to imply that as my brother you should be proud of my accomplishments. Don't be so... gross." Alexis sticks her tongue out at him, and yanks the class schedule from his hands. Once she's got hold of it, she uses it to swat at him.
"What makes me perfect is that I get good grades, I do what mother asks, and I can be the most prim and proper young lady /ever/ when I put my mind to it." She doesn't have to think about it at all, it just is what it is.
Swatting at him with the papers again, she makes a face. "I'm /so/ not putting on a harem girl outfit for you! Ugh!" The swatting stops and she grins. "But I'll definitely show you around the campus and the village. 'least I can do for my annoying brother."
He'd rather be a real hockey player. A strong arm reaches out to try and tug his sister about the shoulders, as a full out hug is not called for. "That's just it, Alexis. I -am- proud of you. You just don't know why." And going to that other school will only make things worse. The schedule is then swatted away as it hits him. "And it's true. If I'm looking for cute girls, having you around sort of ruins that."
Wrong answer. His displeasure is noticeable, but he doesn't actually scold her. "If that's what you think makes you perfect, then you aren't perfect and Mother is right. Think about it." He's not going to say his sister is perfect, as it is nothing but wrong to do so, but her independence is her strong point.
This time he simply allows the papers to strike him. "Ow." Not really. "Seriously, don't even try to put those images in my mind. I won't mind seeing Vanka in one of those outfits, though." A step back is taken as he prepares for the next blow. "I'm just doing my job, Sis. But seriously, I won't pass up the help. This is a different place than what I'm used to."
"'cuz I'm your sister, and you have to be," Alexis replies, completely straight-faced. Just like parents are supposed to love their children. It's one of those things. "Well, how 'bout you reign in your hormones for a bit so I can show you around, then you can wander off on your own and find a date." Rolling her eyes she waves the papers at him, trying to get him to take them back.
"You /would/ say Mother is right." He usually does say things like that, always taking their mother's side of things. Good thing she's got their father on her side.
"Okay, ew! Vanka probably wouldn't wear that for you, even though she's got a crush." Nodding her head, she turns to pirouette past him and points in the direction she was heading. "C'mon then. I've got training to get to. I can show you some things on the way... and then after my session... we can go grab dinner at this little cafe at the mall."
"Right. As always." Not even close, but hey, why hurt her ego even further? "I wouldn't have to worry about my hormones if I had a rink to go chill in. Show me one of those and I might even forget that you exist. I bet you'd like that." The papers are taken, and gladly. They are all he has for now.
Lucas groans. "Mother is right because you're making her right. You're head is so far up in the clouds to see what I'm talking about. You'll get it someday." Standing back he examines his sister. "Maybe."
Score. Mission accomplished. "We'll see. If I get her to, you owe me." If she does, he'd cringe. She's basically a sister to him at this point. Shrugging in defeat, Lucas starts walking. "Fine, fine. Dinner is on you, though."
Log created on 20:19:35 09/23/2008 by Alexis, and last modified on 22:23:12 09/24/2008.