Kale Ivy Institute discussion

~RP

Whoa. Yeah, that was pretty much Hadley's first thought upon seeing Kale's rather fancy pool. But that really shouldn't have come as a surprise: The whole school was pretty high class. Adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, she raked her short blonde hair back away from her face. How in the world had she even ended up here? Seriously, her intention had been to find the art room. So how she winded up standing in front of water was beyond her. Turns out?

Yeah, they weren't kidding when they said Kale Institute was a big ass school.

Eh. The pool was just as good of a place as any to start sketching, right? Why not? Well. The logical part of her was screaming, maybe because of the presence water, dumb butt. But it was long too late- She'd already decided. Slipping off her Vans, as well as her socks, she padded over to the side of the monstrous-sized pool. The inking on the arch of her foot flashed, black and white of the soccer ball catching the light before she crouched down, slipping her feet into the water. Setting her bag to the side, she unzipped it and pulled out her sketchbook as well as a pencil. Pulling up on bared leg -thanks to her shorts, of course- to balance the pad of paper, she flipped to a clean page. Graphite beginning to appear on the paper, pencil scratching away.

Every morning before classes started, Pierce always came to the pool to take a quick swim. It sort of helped wake him up for the rest of the day. Yes, he could just take a cold shower, but swimming required actual movement, which would also help him stretch out a bit before his hockey practice after school. As usual he texted his twin to have a lovely morning and that he would see her later. Probably. Most likely. As if he could go through the day without seeing her at some point to tease her and whatnot.

Pierce walked into the large room that housed the school's pool, which was large and normally occupied by the school's swim team --a team Pierce was actually on as well. No surprise there. However he expected it to be empty, yet when he walked in he noticed a girl already there. Raising a brow, he wondered who she was since he's never actually seen her around before. New kid probably. Not on his team either. Pierce actually met with most of the newbs that were part of Blue Torches this year. She wasn't one of them. Unless he missed her by accident.

With her feet in the pool and her back mainly to him, all he could really see was her side profile, which wasn't telling him much other than she was a...she and she was pretty. He wouldn't really know what team she was unless he said something though, so as he walked by her he said, "Good morning." Was she holding a sketch pad? Why did she have that?

By the point when she had company, Hadley was so far gone, she didn't even notice. She was in the zone now, all but completely emerged in with the task. That was the thing about drawing: it helped. Unbelievably so. When she wasn't able to be outdoors and breathe in fresh air? Somehow, scratching the tip of a pencil away against paper was able to distract her from the way it took consciousness to force herself to inhale and exhale. That it -breathing, that is- wasn't quite as effortless as it was for most people. So yeah, while somewhere vague, she was thinking about breathing, the other seventy-five percent of her was emerged in drawing.

Absent mindedly, she brushed her hand across her forehead to push her hair away. And of course, since she was a leftie, it left a smudge of graphite behind in the process. Pulling back a little, she realized -as if from a daze- that she had left all but the irises. The most exciting part, actually. Finally noticing she wasn't alone, Had blinked and looked over at the source of a voice. "Hey, good morning." Dipping her foot that was still in the water, the one with the tattoo, across the surface of the pool, Hadley smiled up at the guy. He was quite attractive- Too bad she couldn't see his eyes.

"Would you mind coming here for a moment?" Realizing the request no doubt sounded odd -if the situation were reverse, she'd probably think he planned on shoving her in the water- she grinned and held up her sketchbook. "Not the beginning of a pickup line, I swear. Real eyes help me with the irises, though." Well. Didn't that sound kind of creepy? Flushing, she laughed. "You know what? Never mind. I'll just use my reflection."

Dressed in a simple sweatshirt with the school's logo on front and his swim trunks, Pierce was more than happy to walk past the girl to dive into the pool. He was curious about her but when he glanced down at his watch, Pierce realized he didn't have too much time to swim a lap, shower, then change for his class. Nonetheless, when the girl acknowledged his presence and called out to him, his feet already changed direction and was walking over to her. While what she said was strange to him, Pierce was fine with strange. Strange wasn't a bad thing, though there was a line somewhere that he wouldn't even cross. "Real eyes? What're you doing there?" he asked curiously as he approached her. Somehow he got the feeling that she wasn't going to hurt him.

"If it is a pick-up line, don't worry, I've heard worse," he teased with a grin. Once Pierce reached her side and looked down, he realized what she was doing. Drawing. Though why at a pool and not the art room confused him, but he shrugged it off. This was Kale, nothing was really all that normal here. "Woah. Now you have some talent there." Casually he took a seat beside this girl he didn't know, though it felt as if he was doing this for the hundredth time, almost felt natural sitting next to her, which was odd but he decided not to think about it. "Well here are my eyes, so um...what do you need them for again?" he asked, smiling easily over at her.

When he settled down beside Hadley, she twisted around to face him. Blindly searching her bag for her pouch filled with an assortment of colored pencils, her brown gray eyes locking with his. Well hello there, Mr. Green Gaze. The color was startlingly beautiful, almost as vibrant as lively grass. Seriously the perfect eyes to draw. Glancing back down at her paper, she erased a bit of the eyelashes,re-sketching them to look a bit more masculine. "Your participation is very much appreciated." The words were said with a wink when she finally pulled her pencil pouch out, choosing a few colors from the bunch. Pretty much every color but green, because when you used the actual color itself, it somehow diminished everything.

It was artificial.

Lightly drawing in the irises after regarding his for a moment, she smudged in a few shadows with her finger. Suddenly recalling his compliment, she looked back up at him and wrinkled her nose with a smile. "And nah, I'm not that great. But it's relaxing." Realizing he probably wanted to get to what he came here for, she flushed again. Since when did Hadley flush? "If I can get your name, I think I can let you go. Since I'm assuming you didn't come to the pool to serve as an eye model." She shot him a playful smile. It was too bad, though- Having him there, just sitting beside her, somehow felt. . . Right. She had never met this guy with the pretty eyes before, but it somehow didn't feel that way. As cliche as that probably sounded.

"I took a few college art classes over the summer, so trust me when I say that you are an amazing artist." Pierce really wasn't trying to hit on her, just speaking the truth, but he could see it being taken the wrong way. It was a little amusing though since he still didn't know what team she was from, but sitting next to her and watching her draw was rather nice that he didn't seem to care in that particular moment. "Ah, I'm Pierce Jeffery. Sometimes, if you're in the hallway, you'll hear people call me Roman, or The Roman." He shrugged, flushing slightly himself as he told her the nickname his teammates have given him because of how he was like on the field. Yet he didn't explain that bit to her, figuring she would find out on her own eventually.

"What's your name, if you don't mind me asking?" Yeah so he was pretty curious about this girl. After all, she was knew, it was only natural to be curious about new people in the school. Freshmeat. It wasn't that he wasn't used to new kids, but they always piqued his interest, especially when they turned out to be as pretty as this one. Though with a grin, he added jokingly, "Nah, I always come here to serve as an eye model." He was teasing of course, deciding it wouldn't hurt to have a little fun --never mind the fact he couldn't help himself from saying it.

Glancing down at the watch around his wrist, Pierce suddenly got up, quickly excusing himself. "Ah, looks like I'll have to learn your name another time, sweetheart." He winked at her. "Gotta run. See ya around."

After a painstakingly hour of sitting through his second period class Matthew was finally free to do whatever he wished. FINALLY! Any longer in that class and he would have gauge out his eyes with his pen just for fun. He was soooooooooooooo bored sitting in his desk and trying to listen to teacher teach. Matthew hated going to class because he was never in the mood to do any actual work. He`s to lazy to do anything work related unless someone pressure him into doing it and even then he did it halfheartedly until he just pass out in frustration. Now that he was free from the hell hole he decided to hit the pool. Since his third period was open to him doing any physical related training.

Coming out the locker room he stretch out popping his joints and taking in the chloride smell in the air. "Ahhh what a wonderful but burning smell." Matthew said happily. Usually during this time he would hit the machines and built up his core, but then he would have to go taking a shower and he hated doing that in the boy`s locker room. He wasn`t shy or anything its the fact that their a bunch of gross things that grows in the locker room. With a towel over one bare shoulder, a smile on his face, and some swim trunks he padded on the side of the pool making his way to the diving boards.

Fiona had decided to hit the pool for a much needed tanning session. She stopped at her room to change into her bathing suit and grab a towel before heading over to the pool. She had just finished pulling her long hair up into a ponytail and was making her way towards a rather comfortable looking deck chair when she spotted Matthew up ahead. He had his back to her and was climbing up to the top of one of the diving boards. Not wanting to miss this golden opportunity, Fiona set her things down and sneaked up the ladder behind him. She waited until he was at the end of the board before standing up, running across, and pushing him into the water below. She lost her balance as well and toppled over after him.

Luckily, and due in part to Matthew's flailing limbs, they didn't fall on top of each other. Fiona surfaced a moment later, laughing hysterically. It was a wonder she didn't drown, she was laughing so hard. "Surprise," she said brightly, swimming over to him.

A poor unexpected Matthew was a victim to a very cruel prank by his one and only foe: Fiona. He was unaware to the fact that his best friend was at the same place at the same time. If he would have known she was here he would be the one tossing her butt into the pool but this time he was on the other side. On the very edge of the diving board he was getting ready to do a proper dive off the 10 foot diving board but then he was shove off. "Oh Shit!!!!" Matthew shouted in fear. To busy failing around like he can suddenly fly he forgot to at least to land in the water in a less painful way.

He belly flop. Ouch.

Matthew surface on his back and he groan in pain then he heard a very familiar laughter. "As I live and breath, Fiona!!!" He roll over and look right at her with a buh smile on his face. "What rock did you crawl out of!?!?"

It took Fiona a minute to compose herself enough to form coherent sentences. Her laughter eventually died out and she was able to speak normally again. "Man," she said, floating on her back, "I wish I'd just crawled out of a rock. Anything would be better than an hour of Econ. I mean seriously, if that man is so dull he couldn't cut through whipped cream if he tried." She swam closer to Matthew and splashed him lightly. "I figured I deserved a nice long tanning session, but then I saw you about to dive and well, I couldn't miss such a prime opportunity to mess with you," she told him with a shrug. Pulling pranks was one of Fiona's favorite pastimes, but being such close friends meant that Matt already knew most of her tricks. He was surprisingly hard to surprise, which meant that pushing him off the diving board was the chance of a lifetime. It was pure luck that he hadn't noticed her.

"By the way, next time someone shoves you into a pool, don't land on your stomach," Fiona said, rolling her eyes. "So, what brings you out to the pool on this fine afternoon?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I know what you mean I was this close to gauge out my eye with my pen to entertain myself during U.S History." Matthew said and shield his eyes from the pool water. Man, he can`t believe how the hell he didn`t see Fiona! He usually was well aware of his surrounding and he had this six sense when it came with her. Literally, the hair on the back of his neck will raise and he automatically go to defend mode. Matthew made it his life mission not to fall victim to Fiona pranks. Splashing right back her right back. "Tan anymore and you will turn your lovely skin orange, like a carrot. . . .hmm I think you make a great carrot if you think about it."

Rolling his eyes he went back on to his back again and his stomach was stain red with the sign of belly flopping into the pool no thanks to Fiona. "Oh nothing really, I thought I could ride my bike while I do my homework." Matthew sarcastically said.

Fiona scowled at him. "I would not look good as a carrot, although I bet I'd make a pretty cute stick of celery. Or maybe one of those mini tomatoes," she mused, swimming in circles around him as she spoke. He did have a point though, tanning was like an addiction to her. Her mother was constantly warning her that she was going to get skin cancer, but Fiona had a tendency not to listen to sound advice. Unless it was Matthew's. She trusted him more than anyone else, sometimes even more than her own family.

And it was the fact that Fiona trusted him so much that made it so much fun to mess with him. "Riding your bike in the pool while you do your homework doesn't sound like a very good idea," she said in a mock scolding tone. "And I don't appreciate the sarcasm," she added, poking him in the stomach. "I am never ever sarcastic and I never kid. And I also never make a fool of myself in public by, oh I don't know, belly flopping into a pool," she said with a refined air. She flipped her wet hair haughtily over her shoulder.

"Hmm ask body type yes. You make a darn great celery Fi." Matthew glance at her direction and pointedly at her body. "As skin color well green is not your color nor red if you didn't plan to slap on some fun block. I don't want to smell like aloe vera." He wrinkle his nose at the memory of having to rub it on her back when she once pass out on the beach to her back to the sun. It was the most funniest thing he ever seen and couldn't stop laughing at her. The rest of that day he yell out the lobster back at her.

"Sorry love forget me and my little attitude." Matthew thrust out his lower lip in a pout and gave her his beat puppy dog eyes. Then he wince when she point him in the tummy. "No thanks to you! Anyways it was a lucky shot you made so you should be happy about it." Then he splash her again in the face. "If you need to know I came to the pool to splash around and check out the view."

Fiona knew exactly what he was talking about. She'd woken up and her back had been so burnt she could barely move. And Matthew wasn't even there, he'd been down by the water. She'd had to yell his name for five minutes straight before he finally he heard her and came over. "Oh, I thought you loved the smell of aloe vera," she teased.

Fiona smiled when he gave her his puppy dog face. "Fine, I forgive you," she said. "And yes, that was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Just think of it this way. The pain of you belly flopping into the pool made me really happy. It was all for a good cause," she said perkily. She raised an eyebrow. "You were going to splash around in the pool by yourself? That's a little weird. So anyway, how has your first week of school been?" she asked.

"For you I will fall in love with the smell." Matthew teasingly said placing a hand on his chest like he`s trying to hold back the love he currently fell for aloe vera. Rolling his eyes he got off his back to properly look at Fiona before he his neck become stiff as he crane it to look over at her sideways.

Matthew grin brightly at Fiona forgiveness knowing she can`t stay mad at so long. He was cute, charming, and just badass to be angry at for such a long time. "Of course a good cause for the infinite prankster!" Matthew made an grand gesture and box slightly to her. He frown slightly at her opinion about splashing around in the pool. "Only weird to you that is but it been boring. Expect that day when Mrs. Strange, the government teacher, chase after me all over the campus to get me into her classroom."

Fiona laughed. "I can't imagine why anyone would want you in their classroom that badly," she said. "Then again, I've always suspected that Mrs. Strange had the hots for you. The way she looks longingly over her spectacles at you when she thinks you're not looking." Mrs. Strange really wasn't as old as Fiona was making her sound, and she wore regular glasses, not spectacles. And as far as she knew, their government teacher had absolutely no interest in Matthew. "I bet she's thinking of you when she reads so seductively from that textbook," she said with an earnest nod.

"But hey, if you want to splash around by yourself and think about Mrs. Strange, I can leave," she offered.

"I wouldn`t have a slightest clue either." Matthew was a lazy bum in class. You know that guy that sits in the back with his head on the desk and pretty much dead to the world. Yeah that guy that the teacher has to tell his neighbor to wake up by kicking the leg of the desk. That was Matthew so really it didn`t make sense, but the picture Fiona was painting made Matthew snort and roll his eyes. "Oh yes! She does! And she`s not the only one who is thinking of all of this." He gesture to his body and wiggle his eyebrows at her direction. "I know you think about this every waking hour, Fiona." Matthew said with a mischievous grin and pull her closer to him. "I much rather have you with me while I splash around in the pool."

Fiona raised an eyebrow as he pulled her closer. "You Matthew, you are so right. I can't help thinking about you night and day," she said in an exaggerated tone of voice. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in- before forcefully dunking his head under the water. Laughing, she swam away so that he couldn't pull her down with him. When he resurfaced, she yelled, "Yeah right! I am way out of your league and you know it." She was only kidding of course, they had never liked each other like that, that's probably why they got along so well: there was none of that awkward relationship nonsense.

Of course Matthew was only kidding around with Fiona and have no romantic interest in his best friend. Sure, she was beautiful and all ,but he`s pretty much immune to Fiona sexiness. Pff if she had any in the first place that is. Anyways nice to fool around with her knowing there will never be anything between them. No awkwardness or discomfort if they do one little weird thing. Like right now that she was leaning to close for comfort,but Matthew smile foolish at her with her problem with her closeness. "I told you." He chuckle before he was dunk head first into the pool once again by his best friend. Matthew knew she will skim away so he swim closer to her before resurfacing with his hands pressing against his chest. "Of course you are sexiness! I can`t dare to dream such a thing." Then he dramatically threw his arm across his forehead then he laughs. "So how was your first week been? I haven`t seen you nor your pranks lingering around campus. Where have you been hiding from me?"

Fiona shrugged. "I'm just biding my time. There's no use just jumping right in and having one of my little pranks backfire, is there?" she said. She was the kind of girl who was competitive, but didn't really care about the big picture. Sure, it would be nice if the Raves won this year, but she didn't understand why people got so invested in the battles between the teams. Fiona much preferred to fly under the radar, playing tricks and pranking unsuspecting individuals. To her, that was much more satisfying. And it didn't matter what team they were on, if someone ticked her off or even if she was just bored, she would find a way to get entertainment out of their embarrassment. Of course it was all in the spirit of fun. She wasn't malicious and wasn't in the practice of holding grudges. "I've been kicking back, watching the rivalries between teams warm up and take shape. It should be an interesting year," Fiona said.

"True, but its very unlike you not to prank someone on the first day of school." Matthew argue back. He remember last year the flour bomb incident where not one, not two, not three, but four girls were covered head to toe with pure flour and honey. IT was met for one person, but it ended up four and it was pretty funny to watch the pure anger on there faces. Ha! Got a lot of attention from people, teams, mostly maybe that`s why she stop doing a pranks on the first day? Maybe. "I think so to. . . I have this strange feeling that there will be a lot of drama and gossip. A lot more then normal." Matthew muse and mess with his lip ring. Seeing that he heard some rumors of what the initiations would possibly be this year. . . which reminds him. Cara. Cara was joining KII this year! He needs to find her sooner then he have with Fiona. Glancing over at her he had a sadness flash in his green eyes before it disappear. Things have been a little distressful for Matthew. With his sister cancer and stuff.

"Each year's drama is always worse than the last," Fiona said with a roll of her eyes. Drama wasn't her thing. She was a pretty straightforward people and wasn't a fan of rumors and lies and all of that crap. All it did was separate people. She was about to ask Matthew why he had suddenly become so quiet when she caught the look of sadness in his eyes. She had seen it there before, especially throughout the last year or so. He didn't have the easiest life, which was proof that, unlike most people at this school seemed to think, having money didn't make you invincible.

"Hey," Fiona said, swimming a little closer to him, concern apparent on her face. "Are you okay?" she asked. She knew about his sister's situation, but he hadn't given her any updates recently and she hoped everything was alright. Of course, if anything serious had happened, she knew he would tell her. He just seemed to have a lot on his mind at the moment, which was understandable.

Just like Fiona he wasn`t much fond of rumors that fly about school like annoying little fruit flies. He actually carried, once, a flyswatter and when he hears a rumor passing the lips of his friends he pull the baby out and swat the air trying to kill the lie. It was a hilarious sight to see Matthew run about with the hot pink flyswatter in his hands. Matthew has his own drama to deal with in his personal life and not need to add another one on his shoulders.

For the sadness he felt was both the fact of this little episode his sis had and missing Fiona very bubbly personality. Matthew green eyes flicker back at Fiona face and he force a smile to play on his lips. "Yeah! Everything is fine,luv." Even before Matthew got to finish that sentence he knew it was the worst lie he ever made in his entire life. A deaf kid can tell it was a lie.

Fiona stared at him disapprovingly. "Matt, you should know better than to lie to me," she said, not at all joking. It was a little insulting actually, firstly because he expected her to believe that and secondly because he was keeping something from her. "If there is something going on, I want to know about it." She cracked a smile. "How am I supposed to help if you don't tell me?"

It wasn't like Fiona could actually provide much help. She couldn't cure his sister's Autism or Leukemia and couldn't, but she could be there for support and was an expert at cheering him up. Not having been through what he was going through, she couldn't be empathetic, but she had no problem being sympathetic.

Matthew duck his head a little and flash a shaking smile at her direction. "I know, but I`m actually afraid I will start bawling like a wee little baby. I have a image to hold up you know." He told her quietly attempting to keep up his joking/ teasing way to the bitter end. It was a true fact that Matthew hated to seem weak in front of anyone, anyone which does include his besties. He rather drown right here right now before he ever allow a single tear to slip out and run down his cheek.

Being a true friend Fiona push a little to get him talking and it was very much appreciated. "I assume your right. . .lets sit on a dryer place? Shall we?" Matthew gesture to the edge of the pool.

Fiona did have to admire his strength of will. In all the years she'd known him, she'd never seen him cry. He had seen her cry countless times due to the fact that he was usually the person she ran crying to. She could tell that he wasn't completely kidding about breaking down. It hurt her to see him hurting and if their was anything at all she could do the ease his pain, then she would do it.

Fiona smiled softly at him. "Of course I'm right. I always am," she replied, swimming back towards the edge of the pool. He pulled herself out of the water and sat on the warm cement, legs dangling over the side. She patted the ground next to her, indicating that he should sit beside her. "Come on. Tell me what's going on."

The reason behind Matthew such wonderful will power not to shed tears in front of others were mostly his parents doing. They taught him that tears were met for there pillows and not in the public eyes. Crying, sadness, depression, and anything else that falls under that category was pure weakness of that person shows weakness and they didn`t want there only 'normal' child to be weak. Of course this may sound harsh on there part, but can you blame them? Both of his parents were raise by equally strict parents who beat out any fun out of them before they reach grade school. Wanting them to grown up to be successful in life and the best of the best in their career. His father was a big shot business man and his mother was a top notch lawyer. A LAWYER FOR PETE SAKE! They`re are famous for having a flawless poker face and being cut throat. His parents want the same for their son since he`s only one who really had a chance in a normal life. Caroline didn`t have that option with the piling high problems she has. Forgetting her Leukemia for a moment her Autism was on the scale between moderate and mild case of it. With there luck they can only hope she doesn`t evolve completely to a severe case of Autism. She`s only ten thought and there room for her to become even worst if only she can kick cancer ass to the curve.

"Of course you are." Matthew said with a small smile before he swam over to the edge of the pool and pull himself right next to her. "The normal stuffs." He said with a heavy sigh. Which includes: parents haven`t visit Caroline for the last month, she isn`t get any better (view spoiler)[to him 'better' means getting rid of the cancer (hide spoiler)], the poison they call meds being pump into her body, being very sick, and seeing more then 10 doctor each day but these isn`t exactly why he was sad. "My sister had a horrible episode during the Welcome Back Dance." He said as he calmly look forward away from Fiona. "Do you remember me telling you how Caroline has her day plan out to the every second of the day and how she reacts when those routines are broke in the slightest?"

Fiona listened quietly to Matthew as he spoke. She tensed when he told her that his parents hadn't visited Caroline in a month. What kind of parents would do that to their child? Her parents had proudly raised four children and never complained about it. Fiona wasn't exact fond of Matthews parents, but she figured now want the time to voice that opinion. "I'm so sorry Matthew," she said, putting her hand over his. She had met Caroline a couple of times and knew what a sweet girl she was, even with the all of the illness she had to endure. And it was clear that she was the most important thing in Matthew's life. "Yeah, I remember you telling me about that. She doesn't like it when things are disorderly," she said in response to his question.

((sorry for the crappy post. My sister is being a spazz :P she keeps saying stupid things and making me laugh. It took me like ten minutes to write the first sentence))

"No, she doesn`t. Caroline does everything on time. She wakes up at 8 in the morning, she goes to the bathroom to pee at 8:05, she get back in bed at 8:10, and it goes on from there." Matthew made a hand gesture meaning so on so forth. Caroline loves her routines, more like the constantly of it because its easier for her to deal with the world around her. Anything that change her routine at the slightest will send her world into chaos and she have no clue what to do in that situation. Like she was a girl whose step off a dirt path in the woods and got lost. Matthew quietly weave their fingers together and gave her hand a light squeeze like he was trying to comfort her rather himself. Ugh, he just hate showing such weakness to anyone. Frowning slightly he went on. "It took forever to get her to change her schedule so she can Skype with me on a laptop and once you tweet her routine you have to stick to it. Yesterday at 9:00 pm she gets on the computer to hear me speak to her and coax her to interact. Because of the stupid Dance I couldn`t get on and Caroline had a violent meltdown that lasted a solid 10 minutes. Then afterward she just stared at the wall, the nurses could get her to move at all or even react to anything. Like she was a video place on permanent pause."

((It`s fine! lol))

Fiona gave his hand a reassuring squeeze back. She knew it couldn't be easy for him to talk about this with her, but he appreciated the fact that he felt close enough to. "That sounds rough," she said quietly. She wished he didn't have to go through this alone. Of course she would do whatever she could, but she still wasn't family. His parents should be there for him and his sister emotionally, not just throwing money at the problem. No teenager should have to deal with this kind of thing by themselves. It just wasn't right. "Things will get better, I know they will," Fiona said confidently, not wanting him to lose hope. "Did you visit her a lot over summer?"

Going against Fiona initial thought she was like family to him. Someone he can rely on unlike his parents who much rather throw money at the problem rather then dealing with it. How can they deal with the fact that there youngest has mental issues? That there child will never smile or laugh or even speak two words to them. No money in the word can fix that problem. Emotionally his parents are just not there and they avoid issues that has anything to do with emotions. Even Fiona, who not even family, have seen Caroline more then his parents have in the last year. Sometimes he wonder how the hell he manage to stay emotional as he was all these years.

Matthew tilt his head to the side and look right at her with a are-you-kidding-me look. "Oh pleaseeeee I practically live in that Hospital that I think I need to start paying rent because I`m there so much, Fiona." He flash a true smile that reach into his eyes.

Fiona couldn't help laughing at that. It was true though. If he wasn't at school, or hanging out with her or Cara, then he was at the hospital. He was on a first name basis with practically all of the staff and even some of the long term patients. Caroline was lucky to have a brother like him, even if she was unaware of all that he did for her. Fiona wondered what her three brothers would do if she was seriously ill. Probably the same thing that Matthew was doing. Being the youngest, she had always been in the receiving end of all of that protection and attention. She didn't have much experience with caring for other people.

"Well at least you pay for your own food while you're there, that's a start," Fiona said. It was a wonder he didn't collapse under the weight of all the responsibility he carried. Without warning, she leaned over and gave him a hug. It was a little awkward since they were both facing the pool, but she didn't care. "Just stay strong, okay?" she said quietly before letting go of him.

Matthew grin foolishly at Fiona nice laughter, it almost wanted to make him laugh himself. Truly he should start looking through his options of becoming something in the medical field. He knew the language of the doctors that he could translate there horribly long vocabulary to simpler terms that normal can understand. But he also good with children in the term ill wing of the Hospital. Matthew pretty much adopted everyone as his little sisters or brothers and him as there big brother. Maybe he will figure something out when he visit Caroline once more.

Matthew was caught off guard from Fiona little hug that he stiffen up and held his hands up in defend like she going to smack him or something. It was a instinct reaction for him to do. "I`m always strong Fi. Strong like an ox." When she pulled away he shove her back into the pool water. REVENGE! For dunking his head into the pool. For the responsibility he apparently has to carry he was doing a pretty good job not breaking down very often. He got use to it, after all his parents raised him to be very independent and self providing.

As Fiona could manage was a surprised gasp as she fell into the pool. She resurfaced, coughing a little. "Ew, I swallow pool water," she said, making a face. "But I have to admit, I didn't see that coming at all. I think we're even now," she said, smiling up at him. Fiona's definition of even merely meant that it was her turn to prank him. She knew she'd have to bide her time though and come up with something that would catch him off guard. "So, how's Cara? Have you guys gotten a chance to hang out since school started?" she asked. She knew that her, Caroline, and Cara were the three girls he was closest to in his life. "I wonder what she thinks of Kale so far. I know I hated it for the first couple of months, but that was just me being a brat," she said with a shrug.

Matthew burst out laughing at the sight of a sputtering Fiona. She look like a wet grumpy cat who was cruelly toss into a puddle or something. "For now. I know you thinking up another mischievous idea to get me back. I can see it in your lovely eyes." Matthew pointed to his own eyes not daring to point out at her before she decide to grab him by the wrist and jerk him in. Matthew was glad with the topic change since he was close to do some heavy water works. "No, like you I have not seen her since school started at all. I wonder if they murder her during initiation or something." Matthew thought out loud with a curious expression on his face then break into a evil smile. Cara being murder would be funny. . .JK! LOL He loves her and would cry if she disappear from his world. Along with Fiona and his sister. They`re his perfect girls in his entire world. Matthew cared about them more then he did with my own parents. "Your not being a brat! I hated this school also and wanted to hang myself with my bed sheet. . .hope that didn`t sound melodramatic." Then he shrug also. "I need to text her and find out where she is."

Fiona gave him an innocent look. "Me? Mischievous? I'm sure I don't know what you mean," she said, floating leisurely on her back. "Oh gosh, I can't imagine what they did to her at initiation. I was think about going to the Raves' initiation, but actually sleeping seemed more appealing," she said. "And yes, I was a brat. Still am, but I suppose no one really likes the first couple months of school," she said with a shrug. Fiona swam back to the edge of the pool and hauled herself out of the water. "You two should hang out. It'll be good for her to have a couple of friends at a new school. While you text her, I'm going to dry off and actually start what I came here to do: tan," she said, braiding her wet hair. Fiona stretched out on one of the deck chairs with a contented sigh. "Hey Matty, wanna rub some sun screen on my back?" she asked, untying the strings on her bikini top. To anyone else this would seem like a rather blunt, desperate way of flirting, but to her, it was simply a favor from a friend.

"Pff don`t give me that kind of bullshit Fiona." Matthew told her with a roll of eyes and a laugh. She was as mischievous as a cat with catnip or a dog with a bone or even a fox with a fresh kill. "Ditto, I would have gone to, but then Cara would give me the daggers thinking its my own doing. Like I have any control of what the counsel do with the newbies." He inform her. Its always Cara who like to blame him for everything like he was god or something. God? Hmm sound nice on his tongue. "That and I would have busted my ass laughing at her pain and embarrassment. Call me evil, but it was true like you did to me, Fiona. Laugh at me all sleepy eyed and standing in my boxer`s in a row of victims-I mean newbies." Matthew help Fiona get her butt out of pool before getting up himself and go retrieve his stuff. Throwing his towel over his shoulder and with his phone in his hands, he text Cara. "Do I have a choice? You will end up sunburning your back if I don`t." After sending his text he put his stuff to the side and settle down on her deck chair. Matthew was well aware of the looks they were getting from the others in the pool area. He also knew it was rather sexual command from Fiona, but it was pretty harmless. Plus if he tried to take a peek of her breast it would be the last thing he will ever see because she will kill him right here right now if he did. He rub some sunblock on his hands before he rub it up on her back.

Fiona closed her eyes as he rubbed sunscreen on her back. The warmth of the sun was already making her drowsy. At least if she fell asleep she wouldn't have Matthew calling her "Lobster Back" for the rest of the day this time. Nope, she was well prepared. While he was rubbing, she grabbed her phone and set an alarm so that she wouldn't roast for too long. "That feels good. You should forget going into the medical field and just become a massage therapist," she said. When he was done, she gave him a mischievous smile and asked, "Do you wanna do the front too?" Of course she was only kidding, but Fiona enjoyed making him as uncomfortable as possible. She could see the strange looks she was getting from the few other people who were at the pool. "Really though. You should go find Cara. Maybe when I'm done tanning we can all meet up later and hang out?" she suggested.

Matthew hoped that Fiona learned her last from last time she tanned and didn`t end up burning herself up. He was serious when he said he hated the smell of aloe vera. He had to rub a lot of that on himself and mostly Fiona. "And you will be my first customer wouldn`t you." Matthew said teasingly as he peek over at her phone to see what she was doing. Thank god she was doing that because he wasn`t going to stay long. He has to go back to class and he rather not tan. He already had a good tan and he didn`t want to get any darker then he was. Matthew couldn`t help but look at her with an utter shock on his face for a few seconds before he smirk. He was half sure she was lying but the other half. . .not so much. "Only if you don`t gauge my eyes out afterward then show me those twins you got." Some more looks they gotten from Matthew reply and he couldn`t help but laughs. There soooooo screw if some spread a rumor if they were friends with benefits. "I know, I`m going to meet up with her later and we can go out a group to something. Cara isn`t in a quite a good mood so I text you when she`s better." The last thing Matthew needed was Fiona and Cara to get into a nasty cat fight. Of course he love cat fights but when its between you two besties its a pain in the ass to fix.