when I arrive I bring the fire [[rave&devon]]

[Juliet Graves]

I just saw Haley's comet, she waved and said "why you always running in place?"

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July 20th

A lot had changed in Juliet's life since leaving Hadley's. She hadn't kept in frequent touch with Devon and Rave like she promised, only sending an email or two to check in on them. She had changed, and she was glad their lives were getting along...and from the emails they seemed happy. Juliet's life however, had fallen into shambles. Her father had committed suicide, and she was all alone.

Since his death, she had been drifting from place to place. She spent some time on her own in the Alaskan wilderness. Not too long of course, because she'd seen Into the Wild - she didn't want to die. But it was good. She discovered a lot about herself, and had centered herself a little.

That was, until she came back to civilization, checked her emails and discovered an email from Devon asking her to come stay for a few weeks. It was an opportunity she couldn't miss out on. She'd missed them both, especially Rave - she missed the special bond they shared and she wondered if it was still there. Had they changed as much as she had? Would they be happy to see her, or mad that she hadn't kept in touch?

Needless to say she sent Devon an email, telling him she'd be on the next flight over (because his email had been sent about two weeks earlier, she hoped the offer was still on the table) and without hesitation - she flew over to their little city.

Here she was, standing outside their door - her heart racing as she ran a hand through her hair. She'd redyed it after Alaska to the weird red she was sure they expected it to be, and she bit her lip nervously. Would they still want anything to do with her? Would things be the same? No...probably not.

She wore a pleated grey tartan skirt with chains dangling across it, and a red singlet with a big black skull and crossbones across the front. A batman necklace hung around her neck, and she fiddled with it awkwardly as she rested her tattered, and considerably small suitcase on the ground, knocking quickly three times - their secret knock.

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[Devon Eckes]

"Hold on!" Devon called, pulling on a t-shirt as he crossed the room barefooted. Now that he had his own place he found he liked wandering around in just his jeans...no shirt, no shoes...and July in Oregon was hot enough to let him get away with it. But not knowing who was on the other side of the door...

What if it was girl scouts selling cookies? Wait, wasn't that in February? He couldn't remember for sure, but it was the principal of the thing anyway.

When he opened the door he found Juliet's familiar slight frame, topped with a new shade of red, her case at her feet.

"Well well!" He smiled hugely, his dimples cutting into his cheeks. "Look what the cat dragged in!" He said enveloping her in a hug.

"Looks like we both had a style change." He grinned, running his hand over his newly close shaven head. "I asked for a trim and I guess the guy thought I needed to go from long haired hippie to army grunt. Come in, come in!"

He opened the door wide to show a bright and sunny apartment with equally bright furnishings including a zebra stripped lounger. Being Devon and Rave lived here of course there was musical instruments and music sheets everywhere, so the overall effect wasn't dirty per say as much as 'creatively disorganized".

"It's so good to see you, I got your email, but you said soonest, and I didn't know what day that was actually going to be since I wasn't sure where you were coming from." He grabbed her case for her and set it inside the door. "Can I get you a coke, or beer or something? It's too hot for coffee, but if you insist..."

[Juliet Graves]

I just saw Haley's comet, she waved and said "why you always running in place?"

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Waves of nostalgia washed over Juliet at the sight of Devon. His hair was shorter now, but it suited him. Personally she preferred his long hair, but the short was probably better suited to the weather here. It was only now that she realised just how much she had really missed one of her best friends. His arms wrapped around her and she tensed considerably. It had seemed like forever since she'd been hugged. Enthusiastically, she practically leapt at Devon, capturing him in a crushing hug. Yes, she really had missed him.

I asked for a trim and I guess the guy thought I needed to go from long haired hippie to army grunt. Come in, come in

Juliet laughed for the first time since her father's death, and it sounded hollow and fake to her ears. Oh well.

"Can you give me his name so I know where never to get my hair cut?"

[/color] she teased, looking up at him and taking in the details of his face that she had seemingly forgotten. Juliet was clearly changed, the bright spark long gone from her eyes. She was paler than she should be, and over all she looked a little unhealthy. Spending some alone time in ALaska will do that to you. She also seemed to have aged a lot, although it hadn't really been all that long.

Stepping into the apartment, she looked around at the mess and a soft, warm smile graced her lips. Looks like her boys hadn't changed all that much. And although she was ecstatic to see Devon, she wondered where her fellow angry friend was. Had he changed much? She hoped not too much.

"Is Rave hanging around here somewhere, hiding?"[/color] she asked, chuckling lightly as her eyes found a guitar that was obviously Rave's.

It's so good to see you, I got your email, but you said soonest, and I didn't know what day that was actually going to be since I wasn't sure where you were coming from

Juliet shrugged and rested her suitcase on a 'clean' spot on the floor and leant against the kitchen counter.

"Been all over the place since Hadley's. I got your email at a truckie stop just outside of the Alaskan woods."[/color] she replied. "Then I had to hitch hike to the nearest town, then hitch hike from there to the nearest airport. So, sorry it's taken me so long to get here."[/color] she apologised. "It's really great to see you too...I've missed you and Rave a lot."[/color] she admitted, pulling the boy into another tight hug.

Can I get you a coke, or beer or something? It's too hot for coffee, but if you insist...

Juliet let him go, taking in his handsome face again.

"A coke would be great..."[/color] she admitted, affectionately mussing up his hair. "How have things been going here? Are you and Rave well?"[/color] she asked, desperately wanting ot hear about how her boys had been doing, and praying they were better than she was.

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[Devon Eckes]

Devon held the warm live girl in his arms, enjoying the scent of her, even though she felt thinner and looked worn out, she was still one of the best friends he'd made at Hadley. He kissed the top of her fiery red head before she let him go.

"Don't worry, the barber is clear back in Eugene, you're safe." He teased as he kicked the door shut with his foot. "Alaska, huh? That explains the lack of a tan. Rave's at the store, he started smoking again like three seconds after he passed the school gates. He doesn't smoke in here there, he knows I don't like it."

"We have our ups and downs." Devon admitted, heading for the kitchen to get them a couple of cans out of the fridge. For Juliet he also got a glass and filled it with ice. Handing it to her he leaned against the counter, arms crossed across his chest, ankles crossed. "My parents are getting a divorce, so my education fund is tied up for so many years but this year is paid for. Rave's dad hired him to do some scouting around the country, but, instead he 'borrowed' a chunk of change from the company account and his laying low. We both have jobs, I'm a waiter and he sells musical instruments on commission. School starts in two months...Um..." He rolled his eyes upward, thinking. "I guess that's it." He said before taking a drink.

Of course, with these two boys it was never 'it'. Both of them had a lot more going on under the surface than their demeanors showed; Devon with his nice boy persona and Rave with his hard rocker.

"Sorry to hear about your Dad though, I know he was your rock." Devon added, his brown eyes showing tenderness as well as his touch when he pushed back a strand of brilliant red hair off her face.


adminnote:Admin Note: no ooc in ic rooms

[Juliet Graves]

I just saw Haley's comet, she waved and said "why you always running in place?"

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The gentle kiss to the top of her head made the girl smile a little. A part of her wanted to just curl up in his arms and forget everything that had happened since she left Hadley's. It seemed that she was safer and happier there than she had ever been in her life. That thought alone was incredibly depressing. Juliet, more than ever just wanted to collapse into her friends arms. But instead, she pulled away and gave them both distance.

Alaska, huh? That explains the lack of a tan. Rave's at the store, he started smoking again like three seconds after he passed the school gates. He doesn't smoke in here there, he knows I don't like it.

Juliet smiled fondly and felt butterflies flutter in her belly at the memory of Rave.

"So I see you two are still getting along like an old married couple then?"

[/color] she teased, pouring the coke into a glass and taking a hearty sip. Ah. It bubbled down her throat and settled into her stomach. Mm. She'd needed that coke alll day.

My parents are getting a divorce, so my education fund is tied up for so many years but this year is paid for. Rave's dad hired him to do some scouting around the country, but, instead he 'borrowed' a chunk of change from the company account and his laying low. We both have jobs, I'm a waiter and he sells musical instruments on commission. School starts in two months...Um...

Juliet's pretty face fell and she rubbed his shoulder supportively.

"I'm sorry to hear about your folks...but it's good to hear you and Rave are at least firmly on your feet. How's Rave doing with the bullshit with his dad? "[/color] she replied, tensing considerably at the mention of Rave's dad. If he came within 200 miles of Rave, Juliet would destroy him - it was as simple as that. It was obvious that she was quite bristled by the mention of him, the man that had tried to bring down Rave.

Sipping the coke in thought, her fingers closed in on the glass in a white-knuckle grip at the mention of the death of her father. Clearing her throat, she nodded solemnly and shakily took another sip.

"Well, clearly I wasn't his."[/color] she replied bitterly, before tensing uncharacteristically when Devon brushed a strand of hair out of her face. Looking away from Devon, she glared out the window, forcing the angry feelings back deep down inside of her. Taking a deep breath, she let it out in a heavy sigh before looking back up at Devon with a weary smile.

"I hope you realise we're going out drinking tonight. I need to get smashed with you two and catch up - it's been a while."[/color] she laughed, but it had a desperate edge to it. The past few months had been terrible to her, and she absently scratched at her neck, a nervous habit she had developed.
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[Devon Eckes]

"I'm sorry to hear about your folks...but it's good to hear you and Rave are at least firmly on your feet. How's Rave doing with the bullshit with his dad? " Jules said, rubbing his shoulder.

"Oh, it's all good. They were never suited for each other, it was more of a business arrangement than anything else for them, right out of college. They knew married couples got more advancements at work than singles." He shrugged off the loveless marriage that produced him like a piece of lint. "His father got him a H-1B Visa good for three years, but after that he's illegal. The arrangement they had was that Rave would stay in the US and they'd keep away from each other...but... I'm not sure what's going to happen now that Rave screwed his dad over like that." Devon ran his hand over head. "I mean, the man seriously needs screwing over, but, he cut Rave a break in a way and instead of just leaving, he stole from him and I don't think a man like that will take that laying down...."

He took a drink of his own coke. "So, Rave's laying super low, off the books. He doesn't even get a paycheck, so his dad can't find him."

Seeing her reaction to mentioning her father Devon pushed himself away from the counter and held her again. "The one thing I've learned from all of this," He murmured into her hair. "Is that no matter how much we love something or someone else, when our sickness gets a hold of us, that's all there is. I don't think he meant to leave you alone, Jules, I think he just wanted out of his pain and he didn't pull out of it in time."

She gave a sigh and a sad smile.

"I hope you realize we're going out drinking tonight. I need to get smashed with you two and catch up - it's been a while."

He chuckled and gave her some space. "Do you have ID? I made Rave two years younger than me on his, just to piss him off." He winked.

[Juliet Graves]

I just saw Haley's comet, she waved and said "why you always running in place?"

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His father got him a H-1B Visa good for three years, but after that he's illegal. The arrangement they had was that Rave would stay in the US and they'd keep away from each other...but... I'm not sure what's going to happen now that Rave screwed his dad over like that.

Juliet scowled.

"I'll tell you what's going to happen. Rave is finally going to get on with his life, without that bastard of his dad fucking around with him. And if his dad comes within a hundred miles of Rave, I'll fucking bury him. It's not like anyone is going to miss the son of a bitch."

[/color] she snarled, the fire returning to her eyes with vigor. She didn't look quite like an animated corpse anymore. No, she looked more like the Juliet the boys would remember. Taking a deep breath, she sighed and shook her head. "Sorry, kind of lost my temper a bit there...I just, I fucking hate his dad so much.."[/color] she added, taking a second to relax and taking another sip of cold coke to try and cool her down a little.

And then...Devon wrapped his arms around her and began talking into her hair. Immediately, Juliet felt terror grip her. She couldn't do this. She shouldn't have come here. She should have just kept travelling on her own. This was too hard, to get close to people again. Devon and Rave were reminders of that time when things had been going well. She had hope back then that things were turning around, that her life was heading in a positive direction. But things had gone horribly wrong. And she couldn't....it hurt to remember those times when she'd been so naively full of hope, and she'd felt..whole.

Is that no matter how much we love something or someone else, when our sickness gets a hold of us, that's all there is. I don't think he meant to leave you alone, Jules, I think he just wanted out of his pain and he didn't pull out of it in time.

Juliet shook her head and squirmed a little in his grasp, gently pushing against his chest to let him know she needed her space right now. She couldn't think about her dad too much, or she might just break down. And that was teh very last thing she wanted to do.

"I really, really don't want to talk about it."[/color] she replied, stiffly grabbing her coke and taking another sip.

Ahh.

A change of topic.

Wonderful.

"Yeah, I got a really good one in New York. They practically have vendors over there."[/color] she laughed. "Although I love your company Bacon, do you know when Rave's due back?"[/color] she asked, clearly dying to see her bleach-blond musician friend.

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[Devon Eckes]

"He should be here soon." He said, turning away to apparently retrieve his coke, but really so she wouldn't see this shadow of disappointment on his face. Was he the only one moving on? Letting go of the things that twist and tear and shape them into monsters?

He turned back, smile back on his face. "Why don't you take my room, you know how Rave is about his stuff and I'll bunk on the couch or with Rave. Unless, you and he ...." He raised his eyebrows and made and side to side motion with this hand. "Make other arrangements... but store it in there anyway for now. It's that door over there." He gestured with the can.

[Juliet Graves]

I just saw Haley's comet, she waved and said "why you always running in place?"

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Why don't you take my room, you know how Rave is about his stuff and I'll bunk on the couch or with Rave. Unless, you and he ....

A slight blush crept into Juliet's cheeks, and she scratched her neck, reaching down to grab her suitcase. Heh. Maybe her and Rave would 'make other arrangements', but she doubted it. Surely Rave had moved on, got a girlfriend or something. I mean, look at the guy. In Juliet's opinion, he couldn't stay single for very long. But then again, why would Devon joke if he had a girlfriend? And wouldn't she have come up by now?

Ugh.

Juliet felt like she was chasing ghosts.

Giving Devon a weary smile, she lifted her suitcase with ease.

"I'll be the one on the couch Dev, it looks damn comfy. But I'll put my stuff out of the way."

[/color] she compromised, heading into his room and resting her things at the end of his bed.

Returning back into the living room, she took a seat on the kitchen counter, absently swinging her legs. Looking closely at her friend, she gave him a slow smile.

"I didn't really realise how much I missed this. Just...hanging out with you."[/color] she said quietly, her pretty eyes travelling to the window to look out at the city. Yes...she had missed this. The simple comfort of human company.

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[Aiden "Rave" Hamilton]

Rave had been down to the store to buy some smokes and of course, on the way he took the chance to get into the pizza place and ordered the largest pizza they had and it took some time to make.

While waiting he also took a smoke outside while watching people move about in their daily life. It was strange that he never really felt a part of that running about and hurrying to different locations. He always felt like he was just an observer in the middle of it and, maybe he was in a way.

He tapped the smoke and let the ash fall to the ground before he inhaled a new drag from it, watching a mother with two children, one walking and one sitting in a baby carriage. The older of the children was whining and crying because he wanted to play more in the sand box while the mother argued with him about going home to get dinner.

Was that really the life Devon wanted? Kids? ... A part of him would have ran so far that he possibly could from that idea but, somehow Devon had managed to plant a thought in his head about getting his act together and the new anger management group really helped too. Rave had started to open up a bit even if it was a little but it was at least more than before.

Kids, yeah... maybe one day, just maybe but not yet and not by a long shot but the thought of having a kid on your own to show the world how it should be would be something, wouldn't it?

Rave smiled to himself and killed what was left of the smoke on the sole of his boot before tossing it to the side and went back inside the pizza place to get what he'd ordered. He payed cash of course, always cash.

It smelled delicious and he was hungry like a wolf! He basically flew up the stairs to their apartment and walked right up to the door and backed inside to make the pizza fit in the door while opening the door with his back.

"Yo, Dev! I go' 'ungreh so I bought a big ass pizza while at it."

He said and turned around and stopped in his tracks while the door fell shut behind him. He just stared at the woman sitting there as if he asked himself if it was really true or if it was a mirage.

"...flame?"

He asked just before lighting up in a smile and walked towards her, dumping the pizza on the table.

"W-wha' are yoah doin' 'ere!?"

He asked in a happy surprise.

[Juliet Graves]

I just saw Haley's comet, she waved and said "why you always running in place?"

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Before anything else could happen, the door opened and the familiar yet foreign accent filled the room. It sent gooseflesh rising on Juliet's arms. It was Rave. She was almost too scared to look back at him, worried that he had changed, terrified that he wasn't exactly how she remembered him. But as she faced her fear and turned around, her face lit up and she became something of herself again. Her two friends were here, and they were safe and happy - what more could she want?

The pizza did smell nice though.

Ignoring it on the table, she practically leapt from her perch and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly and grinning.

W-wha' are yoah doin' 'ere!?

Juliet laughed.

"You ain't happy to see me, slick? Man, it's been so long."

[/color] she grinned, her arms still around his neck, but she backed off a bit to get a good look at his face. Yes. He was still as gorgeous as she remembered.

"Devs invited me over for a few weeks, and I thought it would be a good time to hang out with you two again..."[/color]

Their time at Hadley's had only been bearable with eachother's company, and she wasn't sure she would have been able to make it without them. They'd all had a special bond, the three of them. And it had been formed almost instantly too. Of course, there was something different with Juliet and Rave, a little bit of something extra in their bond. Juliet had always had feelings for Rave. But she'd never felt the time, or place or words right to say it.

Maybe this would give them another chance to rekindle something of the flame they'd shared at Hadleys.

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[Aiden "Rave" Hamilton]

"wha'? no no.. I am! bu' ... I didn't know yoah were comin'!"

He said and glanced up at Devon just as Juliet jumped on him, she almost knocked the wind out of him when she did, wrapping her arms around his neck.

It took a moment before his arms wrapped around her lithe form but he did return the hug that he wasn't prepared to get to begin with, let alone finding Juliet in the apartment he now lived in with his best friend.

"Oh 'e did, did 'e?"

Rave said and yet again looked up at Devon from looking into Juliet's sparkling eyes. Something was different about her but he just couldn't tell what at the moment but something was a bit... off.

" 'ey, Dev.. go get me a coke too will yoah?"

He asked. He was going to ask for beer but he noted both of them had coke in their hands so he actually didn't want to start with the beer right away, that was for later.

"I 'ope yoah 'ungry?"

He asked and after she let him go from the tight hug, he lead her back to the couch and flopped himself down on the side of it, her in the middle and made sure Devon'd have a place on the other side of her.

"So... 'ow've yoah been?"

He asked and placed the pizza in her lap and opened the box before he leaned back, put his feet on the table and grabbed a piece of it and instantly put the middle part of it in his mouth .

[Devon Eckes]

"Slave labor, that's I am you to." Devon rolled his eyes and headed out to the kitchen. Over his shoulder he called back. "Yes, I invited her and I didn't ask you. It's a sign of my rebellion against even dyed haired over lords everywhere."

He came back and tossed Rave the can before opening up the pizza box. "Ummm, good." He said, taking two slices and folding them together to make a sandwich. He was getting a weird vibe that she wasn't 100% happy to be here and neither was Rave.

He wondered why, but then shrugged. It's all work out one way or another. He plopped down in the zebra chair and munched on his food. "Yeah, Jules, do tell."

[Juliet Graves]

I just saw Haley's comet, she waved and said "why you always running in place?"

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Rave's strong, warm arms wrapped around her and for that moment - she felt completely centered. She didn't feel angry, and the hole inside of her that seemed to be gnawing painfully at her insides constantly seemed to settle momentarily. She wasn't thinking about her dad and all the painful emotions linked to him. She wasn't thinking about her near death in the Alaskan wilderness. No. For one moment, she wasn't thinking or feeling anything. It was surreal, and brilliant. For that one moment, she lost herself blissfully.

But then, they had to let go and she smiled up at him, making her way over to the couch with him and scooting closer so Devon could fit too. It was hard to explain how wonderful it was to sit here with both of them. She felt stupid for ever leaving them, but Juliet knew deep down that she needed that time on her own or she might just have gone crazy.

I 'ope yoah 'ungry?

Juliet laughed and grabbed a slice, enjoying the warmth of it on her lap.

"I'm starved, haven't had a decent meal in two months."

[/color] she laughed, taking a bite of the mouth-watering pizza and feeling the greasy food satiate her hunger already. Mmm.

Yeah, Jules, do tell

With the prompting of her two boys, she shrugged.

"After dad died.."[/color] she visibly flinched, clearly uncomfortable at the very thought of it. "Just...went travelling. Ended up in Alaska. It's a pretty intense place out there. Turns out, I get all the way out there four hours from any kind of civilisation and I'm pretty much fucked. Fucking hunters killed just about everything so there wasn't nearly as much food as I was expecting. Anyway, long story short I ate the wrong kind of berry and was completely messed up for about a week before finally dragging myself right the hell out of there and back into town. That's when I got the email from bacon here telling me to come over."[/color] she replied, affectionately tussling Devon's now much shorter hair.

Juliet was very different to the girl they would remember from Hadley's, the energetic, easily excitable sort of girl. No. Now she was quieter, much more mature and she'd also developed a drinking problem. All in all, she was a much darker person. But maybe, with the help of the two most important people in her life, she could become something of herself again.

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[Devon Eckes]

"Pretty somber news all around." Devon nodded. "I would have eaten the wrong kind of everything and would have been in the same boat, or worse. Not a big camper... and according to some people....I smell like bacon."

He mock pondered. "Don't bears like bacon?"

He hoped he could lighten the mood just a bit, just for now. There'd be plenty of time for sad talk about sad things, but he wanted their reunion to be somewhat joyful.

"I, myself, have decided to take Music history as my major and business as my minor so I can be you're guys manager and suck off 15% of your gross earnings for the rest of your musical careers." He announced. "I'm no where near as talented as you guys, I mean, I'm OK, but...no in your leagues. So, I'll put my talent to other uses and manage you guys. What do you say?"

He smiled at them both broadly and held up his can. "To a bright future from a dim and shady past!" He toasted.