#agingtinkerbell

Over the course of Screen's time working at a bakery it was time for her to start decorating. She couldn’t even draw a stick man correctly with a pencil, what made her think she could draw creations with frosting? Putting out her cupcakes for display was an embarrassment. Next to all the newly baked goods made from professionals, her's looked sloppy. Anyone could tell whoever made the cupcakes had a shaking hand. Out of all the others her's were the only ones that had not made a sell. She was a writer not a decorator. Sighing in defeat, she continued working. Stepping into the bakery, Evan closed his eyes, breathed in deep, and smiled. It smelt amazing in here. Like frosting and bread and happiness. Making his way over to the counter, he peered over as he watched her work. "Those look delicious." he announced. Screen yelped, jumped, and almost smacked into the wall in the process. Smooth. “Oh, uh, w-welcome! Uh, which ones?” she asked in an attempt to regain any dignity. “The ones you're making.” Evan answered and then frowned in concern. “Are you alright? I didn't frighten you, did I?” “O-oh, these?” Someone actually liked them? "Oh, no! No! I’m naturally just jumpy." Screen laughed slightly. "Ah, anyway… These cupcakes… Are you sure?" "Pretty positive." He laughed. "How long have you been decorating cakes and stuff?" "Uh, how long? Let’s see… Um… About a day!" Screen giggled. "They aren’t the neatest, my hands keep shaking. I never realized how hard it actually was." "You’re doing better than I would." He admitted, leaning a bit further in order to see. "That’s a…caterpillar right?" Screen looked down at her work and then looked back up with a stoic expression. With a flat voice she said. “It’s a butterfly.” "Ooohh…" Evan brought a hand up to rub the back of his neck in his awkward. He felt foolish. "I mean, obviously. It was just hard to tell from this angle. Yes, that’s definitely a butterfly." he nodded seriously. "Definitely. No mistaking it. In fact, it’s the best butterfly I have ever seen and it would be a crime if anyone else purchased it so I’ll take it." He flicked his wrist and made a five dollar bill appear from seemingly nowhere between his fingers. "Ring me up, please?" Screen laughed, she decided that she liked this guy. He did seem genuine about liking her cupcake. And it was her first sale; she felt grateful. “Gladly, sir!” She grabbed her butterfly cupcake and carefully placed it in a paper bag. “Magician, huh?” She asked taking the five dollar bill and jamming a popsicle stick in the register so it would open. "I try." he gave a half shrug. "I’m not nearly as good as I would like but I’m learning and patience is key…Or something like that." he gave a chuckled. "Name’s Evan." "Well, I think you’ll get there one day. It’s not a talent that everyone has." Counting the coins in her hand she stuck her hand out. "That’s your change. It’s nice to meet you, Evan. I’m Screen." "It’s a pleasure, Screen." he grinned before a frown. "Sorry, but you have something…May I?" leaning forward, he reached behind her ear and pulled out a daisy. He handed it to her with a smile. "Thanks for the cupcake, Screen. Have a lovely day." Giving a wave, he left the store with bag in hand. --- Seven flights of stairs. Seven flights. When Evan had heard he would be living on the seventh floor he had cringed over the knowledge of height but had hoped that the number seven would bring luck to his first semester of college. As he was moving in he found the elevators packed with seniors moving out for the holidays—which forced him to take the stairs. It got old quick. Bringing up his last box; the bag from the bakery balancing atop it, he couldn't help but smile as the stairway door proclaimed '7' and he opened it to his floor. Chikago was a melting pot of the strange, atrocities, races, genders and—with that variety—it was impossible to prepare different residences for each group least the campus be completely made up of dormitories. For that reason, the building was co-ed and so it was no surprise to see a girl on the floor. What was a surprise was the fact her clothing was akin to the movie Grease and she was lightly banging her head against the wall next to Evan's door so that the soft reverberation of THUMP THUMP THUMP could be heard down the hall. The action caused him to raise a brow in concern as he made his way over. “Um?” He managed as he braced the box against his hip to retrieve his keys. “Sorry if I'm interrupting something...important...but are you alright?” Slowly rolling her head to the side, blue eyes opened to stare at him before painted red lips finally spoke in a thick Jersey accent. “Yeah, I'll be just peachy. Just gotta find the R.A, to get my stupid door open. Gah, I can't believe I did that.” the last comment was said more to herself before her eyes lit up in realization. “Hey...you wouldn't happen to be next door, would you?” Having retrieved his keys, Evan tossed them up lightly and recought them so as to grab the right key. "I would be, actually." he nodded. He placed the key in the lock and pushed the door open. "Why? Is that important?" The girl moved slightly closer; making the distance between them almost uncomfortable but her hope eagerly displayed in her eyes. “Outside your room is a fire escape. I know. I noticed it when I looked out my window earlier. Its really close and I am sure that I could lean over the railing and crawl through my window. Please, sugar? Can I please just try?” “Um...” Evan glanced from the girl to his darkened dorm room. Honestly, heights had always made him terribly uncomfortable. They posed as a deep seeded fear of which he wasn't sure from what it had spawned nor was he overly interested in doing away with it. The thought of her leaning over the railing of the fire escape in hopes of slipping through a window caused images of a seven foot drop to play in his mind and he swallowed hard. Still, to say no when she seemed so hopeful was a bit rude... Evan looked back at her and smiled. “Yeah, sure. No problem.” Opening the door wider, he stepped in and turned on the light. Evan wasn't sharing a dorm with anyone. He had 'gotten lucky' and received a single when his roommate had family problems arise and was forced to take the semester off. Truthfully, he didn't really consider that 'lucky' when the phrase 'family problems' was used. He hoped everything was alright. Since Evan was alone, he had pushed the beds together to make one large one and the desks against the far wall to provide extra space: space that was currently full of boxes and bags he had brought up from his car. “Sorry about the mess.” Looking out the glass of the door to the fire escape, he frowned as he sat the box in his hand down. “Are you sure you can manage that? I mean, I'm happy to sit with you until the RA comes up...” “That could take forever with everyone moving in. I'm sure I'll be fine. Besides,” she added with a smirk. “It's not the height that kills you. It's the fall. As long as I don't fall, I'm fine.” Feeling uneasy, Evan nodded and kept his distance as he watched her open the door and step out. The sound of beings and cars outside drifted up the seven flights to reside in his ears. For a moment, a breeze picked up causing the girls auburn hair to move. He watched her lean over the rail, a foot coming up as she went on tip the tip of her high heels with the other in an effort to reach. “Maybe you should wait.” Evan called. “The RA can't be—OH MY GODS!” It had only taken a second for her to tumble forward. The distance was not one she had planned and a shriek resounded through his room and turned his blood cold. Despite his fear, he ran to where she had been in hopes of finding her within reach so that she could be pulled up. But she wasn't. Nor was she on the ground seven flights below. Confused and utterly frightened, Evan dashed back into his room and out his door to bang on her own. He prayed she was inside. “Miss? Miss are you in there?” He felt as if he would cry, his heart pounding a mile a minute. “Miss? Please, if--” The door opened to reveal a hooded anonymous, behind which, an eyeless being sat on the bed playing video games. This didn't make sense. “I am so sorry but there was a girl and--” “Oh, Her?” The anonymous nodded, it's gray hood moving so that a mouth could be seen. “She's a ghost, dude. Relives her death and shit.” “O-oh?” Evan blinked, still concerned. “You mean the girl with--” “Red hair, blue eyes, and dresses like she's about to sing Grease Lightening? Yeah, that's her. Stan and I have had this room for three years. She shows up like clockwork, falls off the fire escape, and some dude is screaming.” “Last year someone piddled.” Stan snorted. “Straight up pissed their pants. You ain't a pants pisser, are ya?” “No, I'm just...I'm just gonna go now...”Evan managed, his legs turning to slight jello. “You guys have a nice day.” The anonymous gave a salute before closing the door and Evan shakingly made his way back into his dorm room. Terrified walnut colored eyes went to the open back door and the fire escape the girl had been standing on just moments before. He whimpered in his newly confirmed fear before gathering gumption and setting to work. “Nope.” he shook his head; diving into a box and grabbing a tapestry his friend Azizah had given him. “Nope.” he found a box of push pins. “Nope.” closing the back door, he moved a chair over and set about covering it with the tapestry; pinning it in place so that it gave the impression of not being there at all. Once finished, he sat down, opened the bag with his cupake, and attempted to find energy as his adrenaline crashed. --- Two Days Later and across the city... Christmas had once been a pleasant holiday. filled with the warmth of family, and the love they shared. As did the excitement of opening presents and home made blue berry waffles. When Nolan was younger, he enjoyed those moments of peace after all the wrapping paper had been thrown away and he couldn’t decide which toy to play with first. Those were simpler times. Getting older changed things. No longer did he feel the thrill that would wash through him as he’d count down the minutes when school would let out. Instead, he rolled his eyes, stared at hundreds of E-mails from his students filled with possibly terribly written final papers and sighed.

At 32 years old, Nolan could honestly say he was content. To some degree. He had no substantial amount of debt to worry about. No real worries concerning money at all, and while he could have pursued any other occupation, education was one that he had thought was something he’d find a passion in. Instead, he found himself feeling mostly indifferent. No one really spoke much to him. Very few students came to him with questions about his lessons and with just a few faculty bothering with him at all.

He liked that.

5. Do you have carpet, tile, or wood floors in your house?

Uhh okay.. Let's see. The downstairs is all marble flooring, and the upstairs is is polished wood square flooring. The bathrooms are tiled.

6. What hoodie do you wear most often?

It's pretty old, like seven years old, I think. But it's like the only one I ever wear, I love it ^_^

7. What’s your favorite flavor of chip/crisps?

Sour cream and onions >:D Or cheese

8. Do you use a comb or a brush?

It varies. Usually a brush. 

9. How many hats do you have?

Uhh five. Three of which I never have and never will use, one which is a rare fashion statement and lastly, the beanie that I use everywhere (and I can turn it inside out too, it has another pattern inside)

10. Do you have any posters?

...At this point, I realize that my walls are still covered with Avril Lavigne. And

NOT SURE WHY THIS IS STILL UP IT IS DECADES OLD OHMYGOD

DON'T JUDGE ME

11. What’s your favorite sandwich?

Cheese sandwich :D

Also teriyaki chicken with lettuce, tomatoes and lots of olives goddamn

MY TURN

1. Are you the proud owner of an awesome black jacket (leather or otherwise)?

2. Ever had an embarrassing obsession with a band member while you were a teenager?

3. Do you honestly feel yourself drawn more to a person's personality or their looks, when you first meet someone?

4. What does your laptop look like? (colour/does it have a cover/ did you cover it in stickers )

5. What's the predominant colour you see in your room? (ignoring your walls)

6. What physical feature of yours do you like best?

7. Do you have a habit of assigning your best friends nicknames, and if so, share one?

8. What was one of the shows you remember watching when you were thirteen?

9. Which was your favourite birthday and what happened?

10. Would you date someone much younger than you, or older?

11. What do you take pictures most of?