well then, i'm better off without__open

[mackenzie byrd wintringham]

Please wear the face where you smile
S O M U C H T I M E D E S P I T E M Y E M P T Y M O U T H T H E W O R D S A R E I N M Y M I N D
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as college got closer and closer and graduation was only a few more months away, byrd was getting more and more annoyed with her high school and the time that she had to spend there. most of the time she would much rather just stay home than to seriously get up and go to school. she just wanted to get away from the place already and head off to college to get some kind of feeling like she was actually getting somewhere with her life. it wasn’t so much the high school as it were the people that were in it with her. for some reason byrd had never fitted in with them and since she had gotten back from the winter break it had just gotten worse. it just seemed like they were all still in their freshmen year even though most of them should have gotten past that point by now. they were so stuck in their own little worlds of hair and boyfriends, it was like they didn’t even care about anything else anymore. byrd was stuck in a world full of other things and no matter how bad that world got she would never long to be like the other girls in her class.

byrd shoved the door to starbucks open. the cool indie music playing on the radio filled her ears, and saturated her with harmony. why was it that, somehow, she could find a life's worth of contentedness in such a simple thing. maybe it was because she enjoyed listening to other peoples' cryptic life stories that they spoke out loud through their songs. their was a different message to each angle of each song, depending on how it was looked at. maybe one day her music would become clear, and her life would untangle itself from the mess it had provoked. the unpredictable indie beats pounded into her ear from the speakers above, as she walked towards the counter. she opened her lips to speak. "caramel cappuccino, extra cream, extra caramel, grande." she said without a thought. the male cashier who took her order, raised an eyebrow at her, but placed her order, nevertheless. grabbing a table to seat two by the window, she waited impatiently for her cappuccino. her phone vibed in her back pocket, as she pulled it out, shooting a text back at a friend she'd known from michigan. finally, a woman barked out a finished order, and byrd went to retrieve it. "thanks." she muttered, moving back to her table, and pulling out her laptop.

[hailey rayne mcallister]

Hailey headed towards Pete's Internet Cafe. She was angry. About as angry as she could get. Why? Because her mother was stupid. They had gotten into an argument over Hailey. She had come home to another principal's call. This time, she was being threatened with suspension. Her mother had yelled at her for being too stubborn and independent.
“Well what the hell does she want me to be?” Hailey whispered to herself. Her mother was weak and was easily pushed around. Is that what she wanted for her daughter? That was why her mother had been stuck with her father for far too long.
Hailey walked into the café and was instantly assaulted by the smells of coffee. She felt herself relax slightly. Hailey walked to the counter and ordered some sort of concoction that had coffee, chocolate, and mint. It sounded good enough.
After getting her coffee, Hailey searched for a comfy chair. She finally found one in a darker corner of the café and settled herself in there. Hailey turned up the music on her iPod. She couldn’t sit still though. She bounced in the chair a few times until she decided that this wasn’t going to work. Hailey scanned the café, trying to find something to do. Finally, her eyes settled on a girl she vaguely knew. School maybe? Hailey headed that way and sat down across from the girl.
“Hey.”

[mackenzie byrd wintringham]

Please wear the face where you smile
S O M U C H T I M E D E S P I T E M Y E M P T Y M O U T H T H E W O R D S A R E I N M Y M I N D
______________________________________________________

why was it that for every good thought mac had, she found to bad ones to follow? she wasn't always like this, she used to be trusting, and open, and happy, and she didn't have a care in the world. some days, it felt like she was whole again, and other days, it felt like her heart was scattered across oceans. maybe if her mom, the woman whole always told her that she was perfect, and unchangeable, hadn't been in the car accident, things would be different. actually, this would, without a doubt, be different. all of her siblings, who could not even comprehend what she was going through, as they had not been in the car when it twisted itself into a pretzel around a tree trunk, would not stare her down. each of those stormy colored eyes would look at her like they used to, they smiling, flooding their entire faces. mac wouldn't want to scream and cry at her siblings, who loved her so much, about how their lives were perfect, and quiet. but that was then, and this is now, the past could not be changed. only the future was capable of being subjective.

live in the present. never think about the future, and forget to linger on the past. mac drummed her fingertips on the fabric of her jeans, the mute tapping noise as loud of a jackhammer buzzing in her ear. a man sipped his coffee, to sound like a whirlpool of suction. a woman rubs her pregnant stomach, patting it, to sound like a wire brush on a rub. all these noises, magnified one thousand times, all present to make mac understand that there was more to life then just herself. linger on other peoples' pasts, presents, and futures. she told herself. get caught up in their tragic sob stories, and find someone more lifeless then yourself. so perfect, so easy to do. her own thoughts reminded herself that, no matter how tragic her life may seem, there was always someone else out there who had it worse, many times over. mac switched to different thoughts, better, sunnier. thank god her mind was subjective, and changeable, despite what her mother had once said.

mac looked up from whatever she had been focusing on, to grab her coffee, taking a sip to create the whirlpool vacuum sound. she looked around, seventy-five percent of the rooms population were on cell phones, and blackberries. fake lovers were making out across the room. they were kidding themselves if they were saying they were madly in love. other people were easy to figure out, but her own self, was proving to be impossible. a girl close to her age was walking towards her. the corner of mac's mouth twitched. of course, the seat in front of her was the only seat available in the cafe. the girl had flaming orange hair. she looked familiar. she'd probably seen her around school. they might have even talked before, as she recalled. she looked nice enough. mac kept her expression light, as the girl walked up to her. "hi," she greeted, before gesturing to the seat in front of her. "go for it." she said, using few words, but she could tell that they were both on the same lines. she crossed her legs, which were concealed by black tights.

word count: fivehundred&&fourtynine
outfit: XX

[hailey rayne mcallister]

"I know I've seen you before. Who are you?" Hailey said, jumping right to the point. It was going to bother her until she knew where she had seen this girl before and Hailey wasn't one to beat around the bush. She crossed her one leg over top of the other. Hailey's foot bounced up and down. To anyone who didn't know her, they'd think she was nervous. However, Hailey just didn't sit still very well. Hailey began to tap a song on her knee, causing her charm bracelet to jingle musically.

Hailey could see a song forming in her head. Her fingers itched for a pencil and she looked around for paper. This song would be gone if she didn’t write it down. It was just how Hailey’s mind worked. She started to hum, the rhythm she was tapping. Finally, she figured out where to write her song. She ripped the cardboard sleeve off of her drink, figuring it’d make a good temporary piece of paper. Hailey scanned the room, looking for something to write with. The pregnant lady? No, she looked like someone who would have crayons. The couple over there? They were too engrossed with each other. Ah, there. There was a young man sitting at a table alone. He was writing notes or something. Hailey got up and walked over to the table. She took the pencil out of the guy’s hand. “Thanks,” she said, before walking back over to her table. Hailey began writing a string of notes, humming as she went. Now if only she could think of lyrics, she’d be good to go. A decent piece of paper would be nice, but at the moment, at least she had something to write on.

Hailey stopped suddenly, dropping the pencil and running her hands through her hair. The charm bracelet jingled and got slightly tangled. The song she had been trying so desperately to not lose was lost. Of course. Hailey balled up the stupid piece of cardboard and threw it on the ground, letting out a frustrated grunt. She rarely got a full song out. Hailey had been told by multiple people that she could be famous if she ever finished anything. But unfortunately, Hailey rarely did and it was just one of her personality flaws. She returned the pen to the guy she had borrowed it from and then turned back to the girl who was sitting across from her as if nothing had happened.

[mackenzie byrd wintringham]

Please wear the face where you smile
S O M U C H T I M E D E S P I T E M Y E M P T Y M O U T H T H E W O R D S A R E I N M Y M I N D
______________________________________________________

mac stared with a puzzled expression at this new person. she certainly understood how to use creative release, didn't she. she sipped at her coffee, walking to the counter to place another order, to get a second one. she automatically tried to slide her hands into her pockets, only finding none, when she remembered that she was wearing a dress. why? only god knows. after minutes and minutes of waiting in line, her cappuccino was finally finished, and she swiped it off the counter, returning back her table. mac's eyes were still glued to this new girls activity, staring, in question. she sipped at her new drink, looking back down at her computer screen, beginning to write a new paragraph to her book. every day for the past two years, she would come to the internet cafe, and only find it in herself to write one paragraph. never more, never less. she could never find it in herself to write more. she sighed, wondering when her neighbor would return, if at all. finally, it appeared that she was angrily bunching up a piece of cardboard, tossing it away, before returning to their table. mackenzie bit her lip, thinking about what she was about to say, before she said it. she accepted the words that were sinking out. "you shouldn't throw that away, you know." she said, pressing her lips together in a non-threatening, almost friendly way. "you'll finish it one day." she said, ducking her head a few times into a nod, as if agreeing with herself. "i'm mackenzie. mac." she said. "you?" she blinked, running a finger through her hair. mac felt like she was coming off as a weird, stuck up girl to this new person. she hoped that wasn't the impression she was giving off, as it wasn't her intention.

word count: threehundred&&three
outfit: XX[/quote]

[hailey rayne mcallister]

Hailey flashed a brilliant smile. It had been one that she used as a kid when people asked if she was alright. She had gotten so used to using it that it had become her normal, natural smile. It didn’t even look fake anymore. "There's no use in saving it. I won't finish it. Ever." Hailey ran her hand through her hair again. "You see, once I forget something, it’s gone. That is just one of many unfinished works.” Already, Hailey had completely lost the tune she had been humming a few seconds ago. She wouldn’t even try to remember it. She had found out long ago that that only led to headaches and frustration. “I’m Hailey.” She stuck out her hand for Mac to shake. “I recognize your name, I think. But where?”

Hailey fingered her charm bracelet. The microphone on it was her favorite charm. Her mother had given it to her for one of her birthday presents. Actually, Hailey always got a charm from her mother on her birthday. Last years had been a mask, to symbolize Hailey’s love of theater. The year before that had been the microphone. Hailey’s mind briefly wandered into thinking about what this year’s charm would be. Who knows? It’d probably be something stupid or unexpected. Or maybe there wouldn’t be one at all, because her mother had been becoming more forgetful everyday. It was simple things, but Hailey was afraid it’d progress into something worse. The counselor said she was ok, and that she was just trying to sort things through. She was at a stressful place in her life. And who could blame her? She was a single mother raising a teenage daughter and just barely making a comfortable amount of money. But now was not the time to think about family problems. Instead, Hailey focused her attention back on Mac.

[mackenzie byrd wintringham]

Please wear the face where you smile
S O M U C H T I M E D E S P I T E M Y E M P T Y M O U T H T H E W O R D S A R E I N M Y M I N D
______________________________________________________

mac raised her eyebrows as hailey sat back down, to introduce herself. this girl was a bit of a nut, but at least she wasn't a bitch. "charmed." mac said lightly in response to the girl's introduction. she switched leg, crossing one of the other once more, as she twiddled her thumbs nervously. "you've probably seen me around school. i go to ann arbor prep." she explained, biting her lip tentatively. reaching down, she took a sip of her coffee, draining it of its contents. she checked her watch. surprised at what time it was. "oh!" she exclaimed, her eyebrows raising up once more. "i'm sorry, i need to go." her expression was apologetic. it would have been nice to meet one more person. "look me up on the school email." she said with a nod. "i think i'm the only mackenzie..." she said thoughtfully. "we should get together for a coffee again sometime." she offered, hoping that they had potential as friends. she packed up her computer, saving the paragraph she had written. "i'll see you around." she smiled once more, before exiting the cafe, the music fading out behind her.

ooc|sorry to cut this thread short, my muse was draining. should i put it to bed? or do you want to post one last post?

[hailey rayne mcallister]

"I do too! That'd be where I know you from then." Hailey nodded as if agreeing with herself. "Coffee again would be nice." Hailey waved as Mac left. She stayed at the table for a few seconds, staring at her drink. She was trying to plan out what to do next. She wasn’t ready to go home and argue with her mother again. Definitely not. That wasn’t an option. Hailey could go to the movies maybe, but where would the fun in that be? Besides, she never sat through one anyway. It was a big waste of money. She scanned the café, looking to see if she could find anyone else she might possibly know. Hailey received a glare from the guy who she borrowed a pen from. He probably thought she was going to take something else. Maybe his laptop this time. Hailey smiled at the thought. That would certainly be interesting. Other than that guy though, Hailey didn’t see anyone she wanted to talk to, so she decided to go wander instead.

ooc|I decided to just finish it off. It's a little short but I figured it didn't matter all that much because no one was going to reply. But yeah.[/size]