Moments Between Sleep`ELLA!

[JOSHUA ISSAC EASTWOOD]

WITH MY FATE, MY THOUGHTS ERASE
MY HEADS A BLUR, THE PICTURE FADES

• • • • • • •

Librarys. Josh’s worst enemy. There were just so many rows and shelves and carts and stacks of books and they were freaking old and dusty and it was just a pain to sort through them to find the books that you needed. That was however long and done, Josh had been in the library since the early afternoon, so he had all ready gathered all the books that he needed and was now at the task of actually reading the books and highlighting the useful information. Which was a task all in itself, he didn’t have any cash on him so he actually had to hand write all of the important information, instead of photocopying the pages he needed and then highlighting it from there; his normal approach to any project that demanded book sources. That was the problem, Josh thought, now everyone wanted a freaking book source because the internet was ‘too easy’ or ‘too unreliable’. Bullshit. Teachers and parents were just pissed that google wasn’t around while they were in school, so they figure why the hell should my kid have it easy? He should have to tough it out like I did, like having to walk to school in fifty feet of snow, uphill both ways, type of thing. Or at least that’s what Josh had managed to convince himself over the past couple of years, seeing as he wasn’t really a fan of parental units. Especially his own mother, but that was a whole other topic he would rather not get into at any point in time.

Josh shook his head, letting out a small aggravated sigh as he looked up from the book on the romantic era. Now he was just getting off track, he was reading the words but he was not absorbing any of the information; so there really was not any point in continuing his work right now. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the desolate library, it was late and it appeared that everyone else had all ready left, leaving him to his own devices. He flicked his tired gaze to his phone, noting that it was way later than he had thought and he had been sitting in that library for way too many hours, reading about the stupid romantic era artists; not by his choice of course. It was time for yet another time consuming paper that was due in his history class and naturally he got stuck with the romantic era, probably one of the most popular and over done eras. “Fuckin’ romantics.” He muttered while shutting the book and shoving it into his bag, along with the three others he had picked up as he decided that it was now time to go home.

Josh stood up and stretched his tense muscles, instantly feeling his muscles loosen up and sigh with relief. He glanced around, shuddering lightly at how quiet this place actually was, especially now that there were no hushed murmurs creeping around book cases to cut through the white noise; the creepy shadows playing against the book cases didn’t help the situation either. Josh shook his head as if to clear all the creepy thoughts away, before a slightly amusing thought crossed his mind. He could walk through a dark alleyway in the middle of the night and not be scared, but being alone in a library with only books caused him to get goose flesh. “You’re fucked man.” He said to himself while navigating from a secluded corner of the library towards the front, eager to go anywhere else but the library or home, as neither place appealed to him.

Both brought out a huge sense of dread in him, he felt trapped and forced to be something that he was not. At school he had to be the kid that thought he was the shit, for his own sake, which meant that he couldn’t put much effort into anything and he needed to have as many friends as he could; which honestly wasn’t really working out. Sure, the boy had friends but not as many as he would like to have, or as many close friends that really understood him. Then again, this was only high school and after he graduates he highly doubts if he’ll even remain in contact with any of the people from this forsaken town. This is, no matter how contradictive, exactly how he hopes it is when he leaves, especially when he leaves home. That place was almost as bad as the school; he hated it just as much, if not more and despised having to go home at night and fake pleasantries with his family.

Pure thoughts of trepidation had plagued his mind so much that he hadn’t been paying attention to where he was walking and ended up bumping right into a table, eliciting a curse from his mouth. “motherfucker.” He spat while rubbing his thigh tenderly, where it had come in contact with the pointed edge of the table. His thoughts had also consumed him so much that until he turned his brown gaze back to the table he failed to notice the girl sitting there, more specifically the short-haired Ella that had an apparent dislike for him. Straightening up he allowed a small smirk to pull at the corner of his lips ever so slightly. “Sup, babe?” he asked while staring at her, a small devious twinkle in his eyes. He was entirely convinced that she was just playing hard to get and she would eventually cave and accept the fact that she wanted to like him; or rather that’s what his self-esteem depended on. Though he acted like he didn’t give a shit if you liked him or not, with that whole ‘I’m going to make you like me eventually attitude’, he knew that it stemmed from the insecurities his mother caused him, even if he has them on lock, hidden away, they seem to influence his persona greatly.

EYES, THEY KEEP ON SHUTTING DOWN
CAN'T SEE WHY YOU WONT FIGURE ME OUT

• • • • • • •

• Word Count:997
  
• Status: Complete!
  
• Tag: ELLA!
  
• Notes: I figure since she likes to read, this would be a good place.
  
• Music:
  
• Clothes

[LOVELLA ELAINE GALAN]

The book smell was her favorite, could you tell? Well, not the old dusty books that leave you coughing once you flip through a few pages, but the smell of printed paper waiting to be moved. That smell always enticed Ella. Of course, books filled with knowledge weren't quite in her list of favorite books, but if she had to read them, she did. Originally, that was her only reason for coming to the library. A book about Langston Hughes was originally all that she needed. But when entering a library, whatever may have been originally planned was discarded very quickly. It was something that always happened with Ella. She would get what she needed and suddenly find something that distracted her from what she needed to get done. All the books that her school library offered basically threw studying in there out the window.

It had been mid-afternoon when she first entered. Walking in, she had to restrain herself from turning down a few of her favorite aisles. Eyes on the prize, Ella, she thought to herself, fixating her eyes on the section she knew the books about Langston Hughes would be. Most students had no idea where to find books and would spend hours looking, but Ella knew where everything was - even if she'd only been here since the beginning of her sophmore year. She was a senior now and had the entire library mapped out in her mind. Not only the school library, but she had the local book stores mapped out, too, along with all the latest releases on Barns N' Noble's website. Of course she would - she was a bookworm after all, and one of the worst kind, too.

After quickly picking out a book about Langston Hughes, she checked it out, deciding to do some copies of the pages she needed after analyzing the book. The moment the book was checked out, she shoved it into her gray messenger bag and quickly headed toward where she wanted to be - surrounded by books worth reading. Picking out three of them, she checked them out as well and went to a table. After getting situated, she texted her dad and Bobby where she was and began reading the shortest book she picked out, The Giver. It was a book she'd had to read for school a long time ago back in elementary, but she adored the book, and re-reading was something she always liked to do. You could always find something new that you didn't notice before, or so she said.

Now, way later, she had already begun a dent in the second book, The Lost Hero. Being the little geek she sometimes was, she was in love with the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and this book was the first of the sequel series. She hadn't read it yet and she wanted to before the second book came out. Having just started the book, she was so confused as to what was happened. Jason? Who? And he can't remember anything about his past? She had just started the book and with all these questions running through her head, she wanted to keep reading until at least a couple things she could figure out on her own. Then again, lately it didn't seem like anything would go Ella's way. Something or someone always had to cause an interruption.

It was easy to hear footsteps approaching since the library had pretty much cleared out, but Ella wasn't thinking much of it. She was too sucked into her book. It wasn't until the table suddenly shifted and a curse word was let loose (even if it was quietly) that Ella finally brought her attention out of the book. Giving a quick look to the table to make sure The Giver and The Perks of Being a Wallflower hadn't fallen off, she then brought her eyes to the boy that had hit the table. They widened with surprise at the face of the one jerk who had tried to impress her at lunch one day. What was the name again? Oh. Right. Josh. The word ran across her mind like she was hissing the word heathen.

As she wondered what some jerk like Josh was doing here in a library, she noticed how he straightened up a smirk was brought out of his face. The look in his eyes changed slightly to go with it. Ella's eyes narrowed in response and her lips pressed together as she seethed that his presence was even in here. Sup, babe? he said, trying to be cool and staring at her while doing so. Looking him up and down in a quick motion, Ella proceeded to respond with an 'uck' noise before bringing her eyes back to her book. It was hard to read with that unnerving stare, though, and Ella was sure that she would have to just leave the library in order to get away. She'd probably even have to go into the bloody bathroom just to get away.

An exasperated sigh escaped her lips as she brought her attention away from her book again to Josh. Her eyes were still narrowed. "Who let you into the library?" she spat, hoping he got the hint that she didn't want to talk to him. Talk to a boy once and suddenly they think no means yes. She glanced up at his hat in disapproval. It obviously didn't match his shoes or shirt and weren't hats against dress code any way? Just everything about this boy bothered her and she could only hope that he would take a hint for once.

nine hundred thirty-six

notes: ahaha, this should be fun x3 outfit [click]

[JOSHUA ISSAC EASTWOOD]

WITH MY FATE, MY THOUGHTS ERASE
MY HEADS A BLUR, THE PICTURE FADES

• • • • • • •

As subtly as Josh could he looked the girl, Ella, over once, admiring her ever so slightly before flicking his gaze back to the girls face. Though, as a disapproving ‘uck’ noise seemed to drop from her lips like acid he flicked his gaze away from her, a sense of regret starting to wash over him as he regarded the books on the table. The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Giver, he had never heard of them; or was one of them supposed to be a movie soon? He did not know and did not particularly care, he was not fond of books and not particularly fond of movies that did not have at least one car chase, or badass scene that caused someone to end up in a hospital; but that was just him. Though he did admire, no envy, people that could sit there and read book after book, it was something that he knew enriched your life, but he simply could not sit there and read when there was so much out in the world to do; and he wanted to have his hand in everything.

As he slid his gaze back to Ella he couldn’t help but scuff his shoes against the carpeted floor lightly, trying to work out the nervousness that had followed with the regret of even thinking of bothering her; he knew that she was not fond of him. Though, perhaps he was not as subtle as he thought and she was just not fond of his blatant action to check her out, which was possible seeing as that he had been told that he was not subtle in anything that he did. He was blunt and people knew it and never forgot about it, except for him apparently. Then again it was more likely that she just did not like him and simply wished for him to leave all ready so that she could resume her reading.

While Josh stood at the end of the table, observing the girl waiting for her to make a move to determine how this conversation was going to he noted that she seemed to almost be glowering at the book; no doubt because Josh had yet to leave. As if her stiff body movements, narrowed eyes and lack of response to his questions weren’t enough for him to get the hint, which they were and he was just being too stubborn to leave the girl alone, an exasperated sigh and venomous comment soon followed. Of course Josh would have had to have been a complete idiot to not get the hint that she wanted him to leave, which he was not a complete idiot, just a bit of a stubborn asshole at times; like right now. He was not going anywhere, until she decided to get up and leave to get away from him, if it came to that point. Which by the way she was acting towards him, and his decision to not leave, well it was probably going to happen.

“Ohh, why so mean Ella?” he asked as he feigned hurt, his smirk leaving his lips and settling into a frown that didn’t reach his playful eyes. ”It really hurts me when you say such things.” He continued as he slapped his hand over his heart, squeezing his shirt slightly before dropping his hand to his side as a small chuckle fell from his lips but soon ended as he caught her disapproving look. His tongue darted out from between his lips, sweeping over them nervously as he flicked his gaze from Ella’s face to the floor and then back as he regained his composure. It was unnerving how one look from the redhead could through him off his game completely for a moment or two. Josh rolled his shoulders back, fixing his slightly hunched position back into the upright, confident position; he was not going to let her looks, so similar to that of his mothers, bother him.

After his brief moment of loss of his confidence, he realized that if he did not say something else he was probably going to lose his nerve. He extended his hand and picked up The Perks Of Being a Wallflower, thumbing through the pages, pretending to be interested. “So, who let you into the library?” he asked, his tone ever so slightly mocking as he flicked his gaze up from the book to meet her eyes before looking back to the book. As he thumbed through the book, reading little tidbits, trying to gather what this book was about he couldn’t fully concentrate, he was too worried about how this conversation was going to go. That was his major flaw; he got too concerned with making the right move, or saying the right thing to make sure there was an optimum outcome that he just ended up over thinking everything and looking like a complete tool. Josh did not even know how he got to the point where he obsessed over every little thing being said or done, but it seemed impossible to forget now that he was actively aware of it, which only made the situation worse; he actually felt compelled to over analyze everything now. If he did not think things over, all the while trying to be as cool as possible he felt uneasy and acted even weirder; sometimes he wondered if he had OCD or was bipolar.

Josh shook his head slightly as he put the book down before fixing his hat on his head and returning his gaze back to Ella, after realizing that he wasn’t really saying much to her, or paying attention. He was too busy pretending to be cool and trying to figure out how to work this conversation so that it ended in his favor; which right now clearly was not working. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, sighing lightly as he tried to think of something to say, but failing miserably as he just stared at her, waiting for her to do something. He was socially awkward at times and this was definitely one of them.

EYES, THEY KEEP ON SHUTTING DOWN
CAN'T SEE WHY YOU WONT FIGURE ME OUT

• • • • • • •

• Word Count:1026
  
• Status: Complete!
  
• Tag: ELLA!
  
• Notes: ahh a little rambly, sorry xD Also, do you mind posting at this length? because I know some people don't but do it anyway.
  
• Music:versaemerge
  
• Clothes

[LOVELLA ELAINE GALAN]

Don't you just loathe when someone interrupts your reading when it's getting good? Then they won't leave and so you can't concentrate anymore? That's just about how Ella felt. Right now she loathed Josh for interrupting a good book. All she wanted to do was take a wand out of the world of Harry Potter, flick her wrist, say a spell, and watch him turn into a pig. The library was her domain and she wouldn't leave even if he paid her. He probably didn't even like to read like most people here. Everyone was so caught up in their own lives they couldn't just sit back and read a book about someone else's life. She almost wished Bobby and her dad were here to give the kid a lecture on fashion. Maybe then he'd leave.

"Ohh, why so mean, Ella?" he asked while he feigned a look of hurt, completely over-acting. Ella wrinkled her nose in annoyance. "It really hurts me when you say such things." And with that he laid a hand over his heart and clutched at it, making Ella just glare his way. Why was he so annoying? Couldn't he just be normal and try to hold a somewhat intelligent conversation? When he noticed her look, he seemed to loose that irritating confidence he always had. Even if it was just for a moment, she caught the lick of his lips and the quick look down, but she turned her face back to her book before he could look back up. Do I make him nervous or something? she asked herself, almost dreading that. When boys get nervous don't they usually like the girl in books? Ew. Gross. No thanks. And that thought flew out the window before it had a chance to be thought about deeper.

She rolled her eyes and tried reading her book again. Somewhere in the back of her mind told her that attempt was going to fail, but it's worth a try right? No point in giving up just yet. Ella was born in early May. May 11th to be exact. That made her zodiac sign a Taurus and she loved to read up on her astrological sign and check her horoscope often, even if it might be bullshit. She was the most stubborn of all the zodiac signs. If she didn't want to do something, she would do whatever she could to make sure it didn't happen. Ella just hoped Josh wasn't stubborn like she was, otherwise they'd both end up locked in the library all night and though Ella wouldn't mind being surrounded by books all night, being stuck with him would probably kill her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him pick up The Perks of Being a Wallflower and she made a little noise as she tried to snatch it from him before it got away. Of course, she was too late, though. She huffed and looked away. Whatever. If you want to read it, go ahead. If you actually do, maybe I'll be shocked into a coma... she hoped to herself. "So, who let you in the library?" he said in a mocking tone. Oh, you wanna play that game, Joshua? she thought to herself before looking at him with a shocked expression. She took drama her first two years of high school - but of course she would. What avid reader didn't like to read plays? The shocked turned to hurt and that's when she started being over-dramatic, copying the words he'd used himself. "Awh, why so mean, Joshua?" she questioned just like he did, but adding a sniffing sound. Ella hoped he didn't like being called by what she presumed his full name was. Josh was always Joshua when it was full, right? It wasn't like Chris where it could be Christian or Christopher.

"It really hurts me when you say such things," she mocked right back at him, emphasizing the word 'me.' Ella gave him her most over-dramatic and best pouty look before wrinkled her nose and glowering his way. She finished it off by rolling her eyes and trying once again to read. It irritated her that she was on the same sentence she'd been on for the past five minutes. She'd be on the next chapter if he hadn't noticed her and bumped into her table. What a nuisance. Finally getting a couple more sentences in, she stopped once again to look out of her peripherals and see if he was still there.

Of course he was.

She watched him put the book down and fix his hat and she returned to her book, actually reading a couple lines. Maybe now he was going to go away. Oh, wouldn't that be a treat. But he wasn't. He was still standing there and she heard a small sigh. Normally she may not have heard it, but they were in a library. It was quiet and everyone was gone. She wasn't even sure if the librarian was still here. In one of those normal times, it wouldn't have mattered, but it was just plain annoying now.

Ella slammed her book shut, making a loud thud with the pages. Still holding it between both hands, she looked over at him with a light glare, not an angry one like before. She figured if he was still here, he must want something. It was another option - find out what he wants and then maybe he'll leave like she wanted. "What do you want anyway?" she snapped at him.

nine hundred twenty

notes: I don't mind at all! But I gotta admit I can't constantly post that much xD sometimes it'll drop, but post however long you want! c: oh and I saw that he was stubborn and I was like "Ella too!! xD" outfit [click]

[JOSHUA ISSAC EASTWOOD]

WITH MY FATE, MY THOUGHTS ERASE
MY HEADS A BLUR, THE PICTURE FADES

• • • • • • •

Thus far into their relationship, if the way they dealt with one another could even be classified under any relationship of some sort, he was not really sure what he was doing. They weren’t friends, nor were they on their way to becoming friends, but that didn’t necessarily mean they were enemies either, yet anyway. Before this chance meeting in the library he had only really had the chance to talk to her that day in the cafeteria, when he thought he was being a gentleman by getting her a seat; though all that meeting proved to do was make her dislike him. The second time around he didn’t appear to be doing any better of a job, which was not surprising. Josh often made a bad impression the first time around and sealed his fate, as being a typical douche bag, the second time around when he tried to act cool. One would think that the blonde boy would learn after all his mistakes and failed friendships, apparently not. All he really knew now that here with Ella he was walking on thin ice and that with every ill-witted comment he came closer to breaking through. What would happen when he did break though the metaphorical ice was what really intrigued him.

As far as Josh could tell, from how she was acting now, well she’d probably be even more inhospitable towards his company if he kept this shit up. So basically it was either keep being a dick or apologize and actually try to hold an intelligent conversation, not just one where he is mimicking and mocking her words; and vice versa. After all that was what children did and he was always trying to proclaim that he was no longer a child and could handle himself, but his actions, like right now, often proved him wrong. Though there was that small part of him that was actually enjoying this, it was a small way to get his frustrations of the day out without getting his ass kicked. See if he ever did this to some guy that was bigger than him, or his mom he would most definitely regret it later when he was nursing a sore cheek or a busted lip. Though with Ella, all she could do, or rather what she figured she would do is attack him verbally, which didn’t really matter. After all, sticks and stones and all that good stuff.

Josh had to raise an eyebrow at her comeback; it was exactly the same as his, which now after hearing it from someone else was annoying. At the sound of his full name rolling off her tongue he scrunched his face up in distaste, his lips curling into a grimace as he narrowed his eyes slightly. He absolutely loathed his full name, for more than one reason, mostly because no one but his mother called him that and it just made him sound like some pompous douche bag; even if he did act like one at times. “It’s Josh.” He stated his tone no longer playful. It was amazing how fast a situation could turn around, especially at the hands of someone who looked like they were nothing but a timid book worm. Apparently he wasn’t going to walk out of this library unscathed, Ella was feisty and he would applaud her for that, well not out loud that was. IT just goes to show what happens when you judge someone before you actually get to know them, he was getting as good as he was giving and it was slightly surprising seeing as how he never would have expected it from the redhead in front of him that was still trying to read as though his presence was nothing more than an annoyance; like a pesky fly that just won’t buzz off.

Josh answered her second response with a roll of his brown eyes, not pleased with her mimicry that was over the top in theatrics. “Sticks and stones, love.” He responded. It looked like he was going to continuing learning things about the girl seated in front of him, things that he should probably have surmised on his own. After all most book worms and nerd types, as Josh had so stereotypically classified her as, often took an art medium throughout high school. Clearly hers was drama because she was doing a fine job of going from annoyed, to mimicking him and then back to scowling at him. He’d say it was a series of characteristics that he frequently brought out among a select group of people and by golly was he ever getting good at on. He’d only said a handful of words to the girl this time but he’d all ready seen a wide variety of looks on her, it must have been a personal record of his.

The loud thud from her book against the table startled him out of his thoughts, bringing his full attention to her as she spoke. Ella’s question caught him off guard, leaving him to stand there was a dumbfounded look on his face as he opened his mouth and then closed it, willing words to form on his tongue. What did he want? He hadn’t actually asked himself that, so logically he didn’t know the answer to the question. “Uhh I-I….uhm.” He muttered unintelligibly as he scuffed his shoe against the carpet once more, trying to bide his time. He knew that a part of him was just doing this to kill time, because the less time he spent at home the better. Another part of him, he knew, was just looking for a new companionship, but he’d be damned if he would find it in Ella. Josh realized that he had been standing there, probably for a few minutes with his mouth open as he visibly failed at forming an intelligible sentence, so naturally he just blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. “Your number?” The statement itself was more a question and a surprise to him, so much so that it was clearly written on his face by the way that his eyebrows drew closer to his eyes and his lip was set into an uncertain frown. He had no clue why he asked her for her number, he would have no use for it, because it was not like he was actually trying to wheel this girl or anything, but that’s what happens when he gets put on the spot, he just blurts out the first thing that comes to his mind; of course after standing there like an idiot for a while.

EYES, THEY KEEP ON SHUTTING DOWN
CAN'T SEE WHY YOU WONT FIGURE ME OUT

• • • • • • •

• Word Count:1108
  
• Status: Complete!
  
• Tag: ELLA!
  
• Notes:Aha okay, it's just cuz I know some people feel obligated to do it, even though they dislike it. Aha awesome, stubborn characters are fun to play. I also have no clue where him asking her for her number came from, but I'm looking forward to the response xD
  
• Music:DISNEY!
  
• Clothes