All The World's a Stage

[James Underwood]

The rest of the day passed by quickly. There was two other classes he and Jayleen were in together, but not a word passed between the two other than a simple "Hi," and "Bye." James took Rebekah, Jessica, Jesse, and Portia back to their houses at the end of the day. Macy rode home with her mother, while Ray and Chris were going to a football game.

This is weird. he finally decided. Is she avoiding me now?... Or am I avoiding her?

James looked down at his watch, the green numbers glowed 5:35 pm. He had been sitting in his car for at least 15 minutes now, thinking. Maybe I should stop by... James started up his car again and backed out of the garage.

"Wait a minute!" his mother shouted from the front door. "Where are you going now? You just got home!"

"Music store."

"Why?"

"Jayleen's there."

"Oh, I thought you two broke up?"

"Who told you that?"

His mother smiled and looked back into the house. "Word get's around,"

James rolled his eyes and started backing out again. My sister, who else! The car started to speed up. The needle on the spedomiter touched 45...50...55 miles per hour. He made a sharp turn to the left and then came to a screeching stop in front of a neon green-signed store.

MUSIC POD - THE STORE THAT'S GOT IT ALL

The sign made him smile, bring back past memories. Jayleen was walking around with a box, placing various CD's here and there. James pushed open the door, a bell above him man a soft tinkling noise as he walked in. She paid no attention and went along with another stack of CD's.

Rock music was playing in the background, changing to pop, and then classical, soon changing to metal. A couple guys and girls were standing near a black box attached to the wall, fighting over which music should be playing.

"So I take it you didn't want a ride home?" James laughed lightly, taking a Panic! at the Disco CD and looking over the back. "Why'd you leave so soon? Did I do something wrong?" he looked up and their eyes met. "Do you really dislike me that much?" James managed a chuckle.

Portia-

Portia sat on the couch pretending to read Persuasion. In reality she was thinking. No one bothered her much when they thought she was reading so she used the book as a cover. If she just sat on the couch thinking it would only be a matter of time before someone interupted her. She was thinking about Mick, the only boy at school who wouldn't leave her alone. She brushed it off as annoying but she didn't mind having someone to talk to. No one ever talked to her at school, it was almost like they were afraid of her.
She took one hand and pulled all of her long black hair around to one shoulder and looked up out the window.
"Portia." Her mother called. She snapped her focus on the book.
"Mother I'm reading!" she said in flawed exasperation.
"No you're not." She said with a laugh in her voice as she added ingredients to their dinner.
"And how do you know?"
"Because you are my daughter, and your book is upside down." It was, Portia sighed and leaned her head back on the couch. Then she stood and headed for the stairs leading to her room.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Her mother asked as she got her foot on the first step.
"Talk about what?" She asked curtly as she looked over her shoulder.
"What ever is on your mind."
"No." Then she raced up her stairs to her room and closed the door.

Is it too late to Join?

[ I dodn't think it's too late. We need more people. Particuarly since we haven't filled out all the character slots yet.]

~Katherine~

She watched her daughter run up the stairs, and sighed. She sat doen on the couch. That certainly didn't go well.

Portia worried her more than any of her other children. Sure Jesse and the other girls had thier own troubles, but they at least knew what they wanted from life. Portia though, as an eleven year old, seemed to be having a small identity crisis. At least, that's how Katherine saw it.

She missed the days when she could make everything better with a few kind words, but all of her children where growing up. There were problems now that couldn't be solved in the course of a conversation.

Well, that wouldn't stop her from trying. Katherine marched upstars and tentivly taped on Portia's door.

Rebekah

She rapped on the door and waited impatiently in the cold wind for someone to answer. She quickly smoothed her hair in case it was Jesse. And it was.

"Hey Beck, how's it goin' pretty lady?" Jesse said grinning a wide, goofy grin at her.

"Hey Jesse, um, Jessy--"

Jesse interrupted her quickly. "Let me guess, Jessy invited you to dinner and movie," he said, looking at her like their plans were the most obvious thing if all time. "and that movie wouldn't happen to be 'Phantom of the Opera' for the fiftieth time, would it?" he said, cutting her off once more.

Rebekah closed her mouth slowly and noddded.

"Well, don't stand in the cold, come in side," he laughed, gesturing her into the house.

Portia-

She pulled her earphones on once she was safely in her room. She sighed and layed back against her pillows, then she heard the knock.
"Portia?" he mother's voice called. She could hear it through her earphones but decided to ignore it. She didn't want to talk.
There was another knock and then the door opened. Portia closed her eyes hoping her mother would just go away.

~Katherine~

"I know you want to be left alone, but are you sure there's nothing you want to talk about?"

It didn't looked like she would get anywhere, but there was always a chance. If she was rejected again, Kathrine resovleved to leave Portia alone. It could be that she really did want to be alone.

[James Underwood]

Jayleen didn't answer. Just then, the bell of above the door jingled. A group of girls walked in, all hudling for warmth.

"It's cold out there! Can't we do this later?" asked a familiar, small voice.

James tensed and stared down at the CD's below him, hoping he was wrong. The bell rang again and someone else walked in. The noise from the chatting teens started to cover the backgroung music.

"James?"

His body went rigid as he turned around, swiveling on his heels. Ray, Macy, and two other girls were standing in a group. James smiled awkwardly and hoped he didn't look as freaked out as he thought he did.

"W-what are you guys doing here?" he asked, leaning away from the group and onto the CD's behind him.

One of the girls beside Macy rolled her eyes. "Lookin' at music, duh."

"How 'bout you come sight seein' with us? Macy needs a tour around town." Ray patted her shoulder.

"Come on James, it'll be... fun." Macy's face blushed a little.

"Er... I don't think-" James turned back to Jayleen and took in a deep breath. He stood there for a moment and tried to think of something to say.

Ray grabbed his arm and started dragging him out of the store. "Don't be a party pooper, let's go!"

"I- I'll call you later, okay!" James shouted out before he was forced out of the building. Even though he was fast, it didn't mean he was as strong. Talk about bad timing...

*Oh yeah! I almost forgot to say, but I'm leaving to Indonesia on June 8th and won't be able to come to YWS for about 2 months, so... You can push my character around and use him if you want to, or just make him move away and forget about him. Just a heads up that I won't be here starting next week.*

*If Macy is going to be a big character in the story book I can be her too...I don't mind being two characters.*

Portia-

Her immediate reaction was to yell at her mother to get out and leave her alone. She hesitated.
"I.."
"Yes?" Her mother encouraged.
She sighed,"Mom I..." she sighed again. There were so many things she wanted to say to her mom, to anyone, just to say it and get it off her chest. Years of repressed feelings and words that were willing to escape. She didn't know where to start. Who was she to think anyone would even care what she said, she was hardly noticed anyways, "I'm just tired that's all."

*Sure Rory, I was hoping someone would would be her. It'll be funner since I won't know what she'll do next! *

Jayleen

Jayleen watched silently as James got pushed out of the store. She wasn't sure what was going on with him. Or was it her? They had been fine this morning, it wasn't like it was the first time they'd broken up.

Anyway, she thought, he's gone now. If he wants to talk, he can come back here, I don't really care.

Jayleen finished up her work and signed out. The others were right, it was freezing outside. Hugging her thin jacket to her body, Jayleen started the long walk home.

"Hey, Jayleen, need a ride?"

Jayleen turned. There was an old ute next to her with Ray at the drivers seat. Macy was sitting next to him, and a bunch of others were piled in the back. One of those others was James.

Jayleen considered it. "Umm..."

Here is a profile

Name: Macy
Age: 16
Appearance: slender, athletic build, green eyes and black hair that reaches the base of her neck.
Personality: She knows what she wants and will do just about anything to get it. She is good at hiding things she doesn't want people to know, especially about her past.
History: Moved from Seatlle
---------------------------------------------------------------
Macy-

Macy watched as Jayleen climbed into the car and had to hide her disappointment. Soon they were off speeding down the road. Everyone was dropped off and soon Macy was on the front step of her new house alone, not wanting to go inside but begining to freeze.

*sorry all I got for now

~Katherine~

She smiled forlornly. It was a start. She hadn't been propelled out of the room.

"Alright, come down if you feel better later. I'll make a plate of dinner for you."

Katherine went over and kissed her daughter on the forhead, and left before she could object.

[James Underwood]

He hopped out of the back a few seconds before Ray actually stopped the car. Everyone leaned out of the windows, asking him if he was okay. James smiled, and then shrugged.

"Just fine," he chuckled. "Why are so shocked to see me do that?"

"Hey, see ya later, okay?" Ray stuck his hand out the window and waved.

Truthfully, James didn't think it was that cold. Mostly because he ran the rest of the way home like a mad man. A few people stopped and watched, looking behind him to see if there was something chasing him. James came to a skidding halt in front of a random house and took out his cell phone.

7:14 PM

"Seriously bad timing." he mumbled as he punched in numbers.

The name JAYLEEN popped up in bold, lime-green numbers. James put the phone up to his ear tentatively, but closed it back up as soon as the second ring.

Maybe I'll text instead? he decided.

hey Jayleen, it's me, James. Call bak ASAP. c u then.

A cool blast of air forced him to start running again, hurrying to get home. The day was getting later, the night time sky slowly engulfing the pink and orange. James sped up, eyes half-way closed already. Then... THUD!

"Ow..." he rubbed his head and tried to get vision to focus. [i]Hey, I'm sorry. I-I wasn't really watching where I- Macy?"