jupiter {alec}

[Clarissa Swanson]

Clarissa rolled her eyes and playfully nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. "I have five older siblings, all of them being boys. Since Texas became a state, my family has been living as farmers there. My fate was decided before I was even born," she sighed, frowning. "I was supposed to be a boy. To grow up working on the ranch and take care of Ma and Pa until they passed away. Then I was supposed to marry and become a farmer. Unfortunately for them, I was the first girl to be born in three generations. So I'll just have to make do with being a poor farmer's wife." She sighed and closed her eyes. "What about you? Any 'tradition'?"

[Alec Bryant]

Alec smirked as she nudged him in the ribs. "Oh okay..." he said with a small laugh. "Why not do what you want?" he asked puzzled. "Break the rules when it comes to something you want most, I would, as a matter of fact I do." he said chuckling. "No tradition here, my parents met after a 'wild' party in College. I came along, and was or am basically a rebel. So they gave up on me in high school, and I guess sent me out here for a break. I contact them often though, they apparently miss me." he said with a shrug,"Nothing special here. Just do as I want."

He grinned,"It's cool to have a tradition though. I envy that." He looked down the hallway, a few people were walking to classes. He smirked as a person looked his way before turning down a small hallway. He looked back at her,"So do you plan on following that tradition?" he asked. He was generally curious, whether or not she was, he just wanted to know. He wasn't planning on 'making' her or 'forcing' her to do anything, and he hoped she didn't think he had been trying to. [/font]

[Clarissa Swanson]

Clarissa listened and wondered if it would really be that easy. She'd always followed her parent's rules. She'd always followed everyone's rules. Then something clicked into view in her mind. She sat up. "You know what? I think I will," she said, smiling. "But... I don't know what to do. That was kind of anticlimactic." She stopped to let him talk then shook her head. "To hell with their tradition. I mean, I love my family, but I'm not going to live the rest of my life plowing dirt and planting seeds." She suddenly envied his freedom. She'd lived her whole life on a farm with no friends but she brothers and nowhere to go but outside. Clarissa sighed and wondered what life in a big city was like. Probably more exciting. A new adventure everyday.

[Alec Bryant]

Alec smirked,"Let's see how far you get.." he started laughing. "Basically you just prove them wrong...About the whole marriage thing, I have no idea. Other than that just tell them you won't follow the tradition." he shrugged. "Should be easy somewhat, unless you hate people angry at you." he gave a small frown.

He chuckled,"Just remember, going against some things are hard. I wouldn't want anyone to follow me as an example, it no longer affects me like it used to, that is the only reason I can bare some things I have done." he said. "Some things your parents tell you, should be done, like don't drink, don't smoke, don't do wild and ridiculous parties. Don't crumble under peer pressure..." he would have continued but it was just a lecture. "I'm not one to talk though, I've done just about all the things in the book." he wasn't proud of saying that, it showed in his voice and facial expression. [/font]

[Clarissa Swanson]

Clarissa listened, but noticed it was starting to turn more into a lecture. She a smirk, she rested her head on his shoulder again. "My arm feels better," she muttered. "You'll have to help me figure out what I should do. And of course I won't drink. Or smoke. Or whatever else people do around here." She tilted her head up so she could see his face again and frowned. "Something wrong?" she asked, worried. She worried too much.

The could barely feel the towel on her arm anymore, and the stinging had reduced to a mere tingling. It probably look weird - the two of them sitting here, a cloth on her arm, her head on his shoulder. What a sight.

[Alec Bryant]

Alec smirked,"No, I'm okay." he said turning to her and smiling. "And it's good that you won't. Only causes trouble in the long run." he said with a smirk. "Your arm is gonna take one hell of a band aid." he said chuckling.

He watched her for a second,"You are seriously planning to go against the Tradition aren't you?" he said raising an eyebrow. "If it's about me, don't waste any effort." he said smiling. He looked away and gazed around again. He didn't want her to change her opinion on something because of him, unless it was a smart choice. He wasn't sure how her parents would react to her change in opinion. "Just be careful about it..." he said warning her. [/font]

[Clarissa Swanson]

Clarissa grinned. "Sure, sure," she sighed, rolling her eyes. "But really, I'm in college now. What are they going to do? Pop in unexpectedly?" She stopped and thought for a second. "Wait, scratch that. They might." She gritted her teeth. Her mother was probably worrying about her daughter every day that she was gone. Clarissa wondered how long it would be before she sent one of her brothers to the university to spy on her.

She glanced at the door. The sun was setting and the hallway was glowing a deep orange, bouncing off the white walls and into her eyes. How much time had passed, anyways? Clarissa looked around for a clock. Perhaps it was better not knowing what time it was. She could sit here forever. Or maybe not - her stomach growled and she blushed.

[Alec Bryant]

Alec laughed at her sarcasm. "Heh, yeah, they probably would." he said agreeing with her. He pulled out his phone, it was around five. He stood up,"Wow. Time passes fast..." he muttered. He looked up at her when her stomach growled. He smirked,"Your free to go." he said. He looked down the hall as a few people walked towards him, he moved out of their way and pressed himself back against the wall.

None of them made any movement to get out of his way and he narrowed his eyes as they walked out the door. He ran his fingers through his hair and bit his lip. "So how can I keep in contact with you?" he asked Clarissa, he looked at her. He smiled as he watched her, he didn't want to just 'invite' himself to follow her. He'd spent most of the day with her, she probably wanted time alone. [/font]

[Clarissa Swanson]

Five? Already?! Clarissa tried to count backwards. She'd woken up at nine. Finished breakfast at ten-thirty. Had walked to the science center at twelve-thirty. So she'd probably been with him for about four hours now. It had all seemed to take place in one hour. She laughed and stood up the same time he did. Drops of water rolled down her arm as she did so and the towel slid down a little. The friction made her arm sting.

"Um... well, I have a cell phone, but I don't really keep it on me at all times," Clarissa replied. She didn't even have it now. She stood there awkwardly for a moment, than realized that it was probably a good idea to give him her number. "Um... I don't have a piece of paper, but I can give you my number." She bit her lower lip. She wasn't one to give other people her number. She'd just passed her phone around the room and told people to put their numbers in.

[Alec Bryant]

Alec pulled out his cellphone,"Alright.." he said. He looked at her,"By the way, you have any plans tonight or afternoon?" he said raising an eyebrow. He wasn't going to suggest anything, he was just curious.

He flicked the hair from his face, and looked down the hall again. A lot of people were leaving the building. He smiled and turned back to watch her. She seemed hesitant about something, or shy. One or the other, he smirked. It was amusing to watch her at times, she had a nice personality and apparently was not used to being 'straight forward'. [/font]

[Clarissa Swanson]

Clarissa smiled. "Alright, um... 505... 555... 1216," she said slowly, making sure he got all of it. She promised herself she wouldn't check her phone every hour to see if he'd called. It was silly. She barely knew him! Yet... she really liked him... she hoped he didn't think she was to eager. "Nope. No plans," she sighed, rolling her eyes - she did that a lot. her nights were really boring at times. Just like they had been back home.

A group of Sophomores pushed past her and Clarissa had to move forward to make room for the large, obnoxious crowd. Closer to Alec. Why didn't they make these hallways bigger? she wondered.

[Alec Bryant]

Alec typed the numbers in his phone. He set his phone back in his pocket and grabbed his book before some Sophomores came by. He watched them walk past, they watched him as well. He raised an eyebrow,"No plans? That has got to be boring." he said with a smirk.

He noticed she had moved forward, he didn't move. He pondered his options, dorm, cafeteria, or go out. He bit his lip in thought, maybe he should invite her. "Would you like to go out to eat or stay on campus?" he asked her turning his head to one side. 'Smooth...' he told himself. He wished he hadn't asked, he was wasting all her time. [/font]

[Clarissa Swanson]

"Yeah, it is," she muttered. She needed a group of friends to go out with, to see a movie with or go shopping, but it was hard to suddenly start changing her way of life after living in a place where the closest neighbors were two miles away. She was lost in her own thoughts, but his next question caught her attention. Did she imagine him saying that? Clarissa's heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah, sure, I'd love to," she breathed, not being able to control herself. Stupid! Don't sound so eager! she thought, scolding herself. "Well... I haven't been off campus since last week..." She laughed, embarrassed. She needed to get out more. She hadn't even explored half the town yet!

[Alec Bryant]

Alec smiled,"Cool. I've gotta grab my keys from the dorm unless you want to walk, your pick." he said with a shrug. He leaned back against the wall, waiting for her response. He enjoyed the fact she seemed to try and stay calm, it was funny to watch. He smirked as he thought about it.

He flipped the pages of the book while thinking, skipping time to study with her was totally worth it. He'd catch back up during his spare time. Whenever he'd get a chance and not be thinking about her. He looked to his left as a door opened, more students were walking out. "Holy hell, they never stop..." he muttered to himself, not realizing he said it out loud. He laughed when he realized he did, shaking his head. [/font]

[Clarissa Swanson]

Clarissa laughed and watched the students walk out the door. A cool breeze rolled in as the door opened and closed and she realized she was cold. "Well, I've gotta change into something... warmer," she said, gesturing towards her shorts and t-shirt with her right hand. She also had to take off the towel and replace it with a bandage. "So how about you grab your keys and I'll meet you somewhere?" She bit her lip, hoping he'd be okay with it. She'd never actually been on a date before, probably because there was no one to date where she lived - if you didn't count her stuffed teddy bear whom she'd proclaimed as her 'husband for life' when she was three. Clarissa wondered if she was doing it right, and chewed on her bottom lip.