Post by honeybee on Jan 9, 2021 17:18:03 GMT -6
Faith Savell moved down the hallway without even a cursory glance, expecting anyone walking into her path to move out of her way. Which was exactly what anyone who saw her approaching did. As she walked and snapped her ‘friends’ she wore a more genuine smile than those that she usually would. Dressed in a pair of tight blue jeans and a cute winter sweater, she clearly wasn’t headed for training. As she reached the door that opened onto the small seated outside area most saw as the ‘quad’, Faith slipped her phone into her pocket and looked around.
The cool winter air whipped her hair about and she pushed it back behind her ears, looking around for whoever it was she was meeting. In one hand she held a small red gift bag. Despite not celebrating Christmas she had still purchased gifts for a few people who did and she was ready to deliver the last one… and catch up on all the gossip that was circling around the academy.
”Princess!” Came the voice of her best friend Olly. Faith looked around, trying to identify where his voice was coming from. But Oliver was nowhere in sight, not on the basketball court where they met so many times, not on the small, more private patio on the right. ”Up here!” He called again. Faith bent her head backwards, finally spotting her friend sitting on the fire escape.
Black jeans, a blue navy ”The Academy” sweatshirt with the hood pulled up to cover his tousled hair, Olly smiled down at Faith, inviting her to join him. ”I’m pretty sure this is the only blind spot of the entire building. We should be safe from the Big Brother here.”
With a grin, Faith makes her way up to sit beside her best friend, when she reaches him, both arms go around his shoulders before she hugs him tight, a rare intimate moment between the two.
”I’m so glad you’re back. It wasn’t the same around here without my best friend to keep me company.” She gives him a little pout and pushes out her bottom lip. ”But did you have fun? You better have had some fun, even I wasn’t all work during the break…”
”It was… something.” He comments as his mind travels back to the week spent with the MWE Lockdown champion Hammerstein and his family at Los Olivos. ”I spent the first two days resting and healing up from my match at Coup De Grâce, trained some, relaxed… it was fun and.. weird, in a good way. It was the first time I felt like I was part of something, you know?” His lips curl into a smile, those few days spent with Jacob and Holly definitely had a positive impact on the young man. ”I really didn’t miss the Academy, if I’m being honest. I missed you though, but you already know that.”
She smiles and nods leaning in to him. ”I think it’s great that you have that, a feeling of belonging means you always have somewhere to go.” Her smile melts into a playful smirk. ”But of course, you have to find your place with people who are a… little out there.”
She lifts the bag and places it gently in his lap. ”Do you want to open your gift first or, do you want to hear all about my latest venture into making friends?”
”You, making friends? Now that sounds like an interesting story…” After giving the present a quick but careful look, trying to guess what the cutely wrapped gift was hiding, Olly placed the bag to his side, tilting his head to find Faith’s eyes with his. ”So, how did that go? Who’s the lucky one?”
Faith looks back into his eyes for a long pause before she smiles again. ”So, you know the oh so impressive and amazing Tiffany? The one everyone has been falling over themselves to be around?” Faith pretends for a second to look a little shy as if what she’s about to tell him is some shameful secret. ”Well, I introduced myself and I made sure it was understood that I’m the star around here and she has to learn to accept that.”
”Wait, wait… You did what?” Olly couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. ”God, I wish I was there to see it… I talked to her a couple of times before she joined, she struck me as… weak. I can’t believe she was champion for over a year.” Certainly the first couple of weeks at The Academy haven’t been the easiest for Tiff, and you can tell Olly was far from impressed by her.
Faith breaks out into giggles and places a hand on his shoulder, leaning in to divulge more details. ”I can’t STAND weak bitches who people throw respect at just cause, I kicked her out of my seat and made sure she knew that she’s nothing to me but another body in the way.” A quick inhale and it was obvious she was proud of her little mean girls act.
”I wish you’d been there though, she CRIED. Who does that? You get pushed around so you cry? It’s no wonder we’re so dominant around here when that’s what people look up to.”
”Wow, really?” He shakes his head, almost in disbelief. But then again, knowing Faith he had no reasons to doubt her words. ”And we’re supposed to make the best of this great opportunity to work with a world class wrestler?” Oliver does his best Gian’s impression as he speaks those words, the same words the principal used the day he informed the students that the former Cloud Gate champion was joining the Academy. The news was received with enthusiasm by most of the students, but he didn’t share the same reaction. Not after that short exchange with the former champion. ”She’s the shade of who she used to be, a broken shell. She’s here for a desperate attempt to reignite her career, but if what you told me is true? She’s wasting her and our time.”
”Gian is always trying to save someone, meanwhile he’s ignoring the real issue here in the Ali family… maybe he’s finally learned his lesson though. He’s been pretty quiet since you beat his ass.” Faith grins at her best friend. ”Have I told you lately how that’s the best thing I’ve ever seen? Because it still is.” Sitting up again she points to the present and claps her hands a little in excitement.
”Now open your gift! It’s nothing too fancy, but I hope you love it. It’s always hard to pick out Christmas gifts because I’ve never actually celebrated it, BUT, I think I really got it with this one…”
With a wide smile plastered on his face, Olly reaches out and picks up his present. ”I hope he did. I hope Coup De Grâce knocked him down a notch or two… The MVP of the Academy my ass…” He was taking his time to open the gift, carefully unwrapping the paper surrounding a small box. He paws at it, twisting it between his fingers before finally clicking it open. A look of pure surprise appears on his face as he sees the gold necklace in it. He slowly picks it up, giving a closer look at the medal on it. ”Faith… It’s beautiful.. You really shouldn’t have…” He softly says to his best friend, his eyes moving from the chain to her and then back to the gift. He wasn’t sure who the figure depicted on it was, but he immediately recognized the date engraved on the back. That was the date he joined the Academy.
Her fingers touch the back of his as she points to the figure depicted on the front of the pendant. ”That’s St. Juda, he’s the patron saint of the lost. The day you joined the academy is when you found your place, so you’re not really lost anymore. But he watches over you all the same. Gold coins with saints are given for luck, to ward off any evil that is coming your way.” She smiles as she meets his eyes ”And with how popular you are around here… you could probably use the extra protection.”
He smiles at Faith, clutching his hand around the pendant. ”Ha! I guess it really can’t hurt, right?” Olly pulls down the hood, the cold Chicago wind blowing through his black hair, grown longer since his last appearance at the December PPV. He brings the chain to his neck, trying to close the clasp and wear it. But perhaps it’s because his hands are almost numb with cold, or maybe it’s just a movement he’s not used to, but the task seems to be too difficult. ”Can you…?” He asks, glancing at the Gold Star.
”Of course.” Faith shifts a little to move behind him, her fingers making quick work if fastening the clasp, as she rests the chain against the back of his neck she ruffles his hair with a small laugh. ”Maybe I should’ve gotten you a haircut for Christmas?” She moves again to sit back beside him, her finger gently touching the pendant that rests against his chest. ”This suits you though, my mother has one similar. You remind me of her in some ways.” Her smile is soft and genuine, one she rarely shows on camera.
”Wow…” He looks at a loss for words, which is probably a first for the young man. ”That’s quite the compliment.” His eyes, until now cast down on the pendant, or rather on Faith’s fingers toying with it, move back to his friend sitting next to him. ”And now I feel bad for the present I bought you. It’s pretty lame compared to… this.” Almost embarrassed, he handles his present to Faith. You can tell he’s nervous, feeling that his gift could never live up to the necklace she just gave him.
Faith is just as careful unwrapping her gift as he was unwrapping his, she takes her time to place the paper beside her and when she unveils the gift, tears immediately spring to her eyes. A perfect replica of her dog back home, Faith buries her face in the soft fur of the toy, hugging it tight to her chest. ”This is the best gift anyone has ever given me!” Her voice is a little muffled against the toy and she takes a moment to hug it tightly before she finally lifts her head to look back at her best friend, tears still shimmering on her eyes in danger of falling.
”This… this is exactly what I meant. Anyone else sees me and they think I need to be spoiled or impressed with flashy nonsense but you, you Really see me Olly.” She looks back at her gift, holding it in her lap and petting it as though it were her dog for real. ”Thank you.” Leaning over she kisses his cheek and smiles so close she almost brushes his cheek a second time. ”I’m glad you’re back, it’s really not the same here without you.”
”I’m glad to be back too.” He gives her his softest smile, an honest one for a change. Turning his head, he stares at his best friend, his only friend at the Academy, petting the stuffed husky he bought her. It’s cold there, as cold as only a Chicago winter can be. But it doesn’t seem to bother him, or her for what it’s worth. Olly pulls the hoodie back up on his head, extending his right arm and draping it around her shoulder. With the left hand he reaches for the pendant.
Saint Jude, the Patron Saint Of The Lost.
But today, maybe for the first time in his life, he wasn’t feeling lost.
The cool winter air whipped her hair about and she pushed it back behind her ears, looking around for whoever it was she was meeting. In one hand she held a small red gift bag. Despite not celebrating Christmas she had still purchased gifts for a few people who did and she was ready to deliver the last one… and catch up on all the gossip that was circling around the academy.
”Princess!” Came the voice of her best friend Olly. Faith looked around, trying to identify where his voice was coming from. But Oliver was nowhere in sight, not on the basketball court where they met so many times, not on the small, more private patio on the right. ”Up here!” He called again. Faith bent her head backwards, finally spotting her friend sitting on the fire escape.
Black jeans, a blue navy ”The Academy” sweatshirt with the hood pulled up to cover his tousled hair, Olly smiled down at Faith, inviting her to join him. ”I’m pretty sure this is the only blind spot of the entire building. We should be safe from the Big Brother here.”
With a grin, Faith makes her way up to sit beside her best friend, when she reaches him, both arms go around his shoulders before she hugs him tight, a rare intimate moment between the two.
”I’m so glad you’re back. It wasn’t the same around here without my best friend to keep me company.” She gives him a little pout and pushes out her bottom lip. ”But did you have fun? You better have had some fun, even I wasn’t all work during the break…”
”It was… something.” He comments as his mind travels back to the week spent with the MWE Lockdown champion Hammerstein and his family at Los Olivos. ”I spent the first two days resting and healing up from my match at Coup De Grâce, trained some, relaxed… it was fun and.. weird, in a good way. It was the first time I felt like I was part of something, you know?” His lips curl into a smile, those few days spent with Jacob and Holly definitely had a positive impact on the young man. ”I really didn’t miss the Academy, if I’m being honest. I missed you though, but you already know that.”
She smiles and nods leaning in to him. ”I think it’s great that you have that, a feeling of belonging means you always have somewhere to go.” Her smile melts into a playful smirk. ”But of course, you have to find your place with people who are a… little out there.”
She lifts the bag and places it gently in his lap. ”Do you want to open your gift first or, do you want to hear all about my latest venture into making friends?”
”You, making friends? Now that sounds like an interesting story…” After giving the present a quick but careful look, trying to guess what the cutely wrapped gift was hiding, Olly placed the bag to his side, tilting his head to find Faith’s eyes with his. ”So, how did that go? Who’s the lucky one?”
Faith looks back into his eyes for a long pause before she smiles again. ”So, you know the oh so impressive and amazing Tiffany? The one everyone has been falling over themselves to be around?” Faith pretends for a second to look a little shy as if what she’s about to tell him is some shameful secret. ”Well, I introduced myself and I made sure it was understood that I’m the star around here and she has to learn to accept that.”
”Wait, wait… You did what?” Olly couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. ”God, I wish I was there to see it… I talked to her a couple of times before she joined, she struck me as… weak. I can’t believe she was champion for over a year.” Certainly the first couple of weeks at The Academy haven’t been the easiest for Tiff, and you can tell Olly was far from impressed by her.
Faith breaks out into giggles and places a hand on his shoulder, leaning in to divulge more details. ”I can’t STAND weak bitches who people throw respect at just cause, I kicked her out of my seat and made sure she knew that she’s nothing to me but another body in the way.” A quick inhale and it was obvious she was proud of her little mean girls act.
”I wish you’d been there though, she CRIED. Who does that? You get pushed around so you cry? It’s no wonder we’re so dominant around here when that’s what people look up to.”
”Wow, really?” He shakes his head, almost in disbelief. But then again, knowing Faith he had no reasons to doubt her words. ”And we’re supposed to make the best of this great opportunity to work with a world class wrestler?” Oliver does his best Gian’s impression as he speaks those words, the same words the principal used the day he informed the students that the former Cloud Gate champion was joining the Academy. The news was received with enthusiasm by most of the students, but he didn’t share the same reaction. Not after that short exchange with the former champion. ”She’s the shade of who she used to be, a broken shell. She’s here for a desperate attempt to reignite her career, but if what you told me is true? She’s wasting her and our time.”
”Gian is always trying to save someone, meanwhile he’s ignoring the real issue here in the Ali family… maybe he’s finally learned his lesson though. He’s been pretty quiet since you beat his ass.” Faith grins at her best friend. ”Have I told you lately how that’s the best thing I’ve ever seen? Because it still is.” Sitting up again she points to the present and claps her hands a little in excitement.
”Now open your gift! It’s nothing too fancy, but I hope you love it. It’s always hard to pick out Christmas gifts because I’ve never actually celebrated it, BUT, I think I really got it with this one…”
With a wide smile plastered on his face, Olly reaches out and picks up his present. ”I hope he did. I hope Coup De Grâce knocked him down a notch or two… The MVP of the Academy my ass…” He was taking his time to open the gift, carefully unwrapping the paper surrounding a small box. He paws at it, twisting it between his fingers before finally clicking it open. A look of pure surprise appears on his face as he sees the gold necklace in it. He slowly picks it up, giving a closer look at the medal on it. ”Faith… It’s beautiful.. You really shouldn’t have…” He softly says to his best friend, his eyes moving from the chain to her and then back to the gift. He wasn’t sure who the figure depicted on it was, but he immediately recognized the date engraved on the back. That was the date he joined the Academy.
Her fingers touch the back of his as she points to the figure depicted on the front of the pendant. ”That’s St. Juda, he’s the patron saint of the lost. The day you joined the academy is when you found your place, so you’re not really lost anymore. But he watches over you all the same. Gold coins with saints are given for luck, to ward off any evil that is coming your way.” She smiles as she meets his eyes ”And with how popular you are around here… you could probably use the extra protection.”
He smiles at Faith, clutching his hand around the pendant. ”Ha! I guess it really can’t hurt, right?” Olly pulls down the hood, the cold Chicago wind blowing through his black hair, grown longer since his last appearance at the December PPV. He brings the chain to his neck, trying to close the clasp and wear it. But perhaps it’s because his hands are almost numb with cold, or maybe it’s just a movement he’s not used to, but the task seems to be too difficult. ”Can you…?” He asks, glancing at the Gold Star.
”Of course.” Faith shifts a little to move behind him, her fingers making quick work if fastening the clasp, as she rests the chain against the back of his neck she ruffles his hair with a small laugh. ”Maybe I should’ve gotten you a haircut for Christmas?” She moves again to sit back beside him, her finger gently touching the pendant that rests against his chest. ”This suits you though, my mother has one similar. You remind me of her in some ways.” Her smile is soft and genuine, one she rarely shows on camera.
”Wow…” He looks at a loss for words, which is probably a first for the young man. ”That’s quite the compliment.” His eyes, until now cast down on the pendant, or rather on Faith’s fingers toying with it, move back to his friend sitting next to him. ”And now I feel bad for the present I bought you. It’s pretty lame compared to… this.” Almost embarrassed, he handles his present to Faith. You can tell he’s nervous, feeling that his gift could never live up to the necklace she just gave him.
Faith is just as careful unwrapping her gift as he was unwrapping his, she takes her time to place the paper beside her and when she unveils the gift, tears immediately spring to her eyes. A perfect replica of her dog back home, Faith buries her face in the soft fur of the toy, hugging it tight to her chest. ”This is the best gift anyone has ever given me!” Her voice is a little muffled against the toy and she takes a moment to hug it tightly before she finally lifts her head to look back at her best friend, tears still shimmering on her eyes in danger of falling.
”This… this is exactly what I meant. Anyone else sees me and they think I need to be spoiled or impressed with flashy nonsense but you, you Really see me Olly.” She looks back at her gift, holding it in her lap and petting it as though it were her dog for real. ”Thank you.” Leaning over she kisses his cheek and smiles so close she almost brushes his cheek a second time. ”I’m glad you’re back, it’s really not the same here without you.”
”I’m glad to be back too.” He gives her his softest smile, an honest one for a change. Turning his head, he stares at his best friend, his only friend at the Academy, petting the stuffed husky he bought her. It’s cold there, as cold as only a Chicago winter can be. But it doesn’t seem to bother him, or her for what it’s worth. Olly pulls the hoodie back up on his head, extending his right arm and draping it around her shoulder. With the left hand he reaches for the pendant.
Saint Jude, the Patron Saint Of The Lost.
But today, maybe for the first time in his life, he wasn’t feeling lost.