Erosion of Shadows (closed for Jenn1982)

[HisPureLust]

(This story will contain a character struggling with mental illness and may be too disturbing or hit too close to home for some. Reader discretion is advised.)

"Its difficult to explain."

Cane shrugged as he looked around the classroom. It was emptying out and the pockets of empty seating had started to create a slight sense of apprehension as if he needed to go or he would be left behind.

"Well, can you try?" The adult sitting in the chair across from him asked. Her long slender legs crossed in a very professional way though unbeknownst to her, he could see a sliver of her panties from between her thighs and above the seat itself. She didn't exactly struggle to fit in the chair being as how it was designed to fit adolescents... near adults... but neither was she comfortable at the moment.

Cane assumed her discomfort had nothing to do with her current posture as he continued... growing tired of this and letting out a small sigh in resignation...

"What is the point? You won't understand. My therapist didn't so why would you?"

He didn't mean for the statement to come out quite so condescending but it had.

"I would just like to understand, that's all..." His teacher leaned forward, her large breasts shifting and making the pocket of her tits seem to fill out the opening of her low cut blouse more than it had before. Her hair fell away from her shoulder and spilled forward to swing out and towards the empty isle between them, wafting its sweet scent in his direction.

He ignored these things of course.

She then reached out and before she could place a hand on his knee he sprung up immediately, stepping out of the seat and hoisting his backpack along his back in one smooth practiced motion.

"You won't, no one will..." Cane started for the classroom door "...I'll go ahead and speak to Miss Kliene as scheduled... god forbid I miss another pointless session of therapy, but there isn't anything further for us to talk about. You asked for an assignment and I completed it. You didn't like the context but I fulfilled all the criteria you set for the task. Its that simple."

"You know that its not Cane," Mrs. Spooner responded "...but we can talk about it more tomorrow. I want you here a little earlier than everyone else. Ok?"

He nodded and fled the warmth of the classroom to the comforting chill of the hallway outside. Exhaling a sigh of relief now that he was done for that, at least for the time being. Walking down a bit to his locker he then began to enter the combination to gain access.

It was all so pointless, he thought... you couldn't treat the adults in this institution like adults and simply speak your mind or attempt to be an intellectual. If you posed questions that broke their fragile little psyche's they would brand you a lunatic, or depressive. In truth he knew his report would raise some concerns but he was merely dipping his toe in the proverbial water so to speak, to see how bad it would be. He considered it a fun experiment but garnered much more aggravation form the exercise than he had hoped for.

There would be no next time. He would simply keep this part of himself... to himself... as he had planned to long long ago.

As Cane opened his locker... he glanced several spaces down and saw another student. She was struggling to open her own locker and making quite a show of it. Inwardly he rolled his eyes but outwardly he stared at her. In that way that one does when you end up making someone very uncomfortable.

It was not intentional... it was simply Cane's way.

She was very attractive and he hadn't seen her before, which meant he had not cataloged her as he had done with every other female in school in his spare time as was his hobby.

He would need to gather some information, he decided. Couldn't have an incomplete record. What would the point of that be? The idea was as absurd as not completing his meal schedule for the week. What would he eat then? Exactly. No, he needed to at least begin an entry and then he could go on with his day.

He approached her.

"Your wasting your time...," He began in a dry monotone voice. It was deep and seemed to pierce through the mania of everyone rushing to leave school"...the more frantically you spin the higher the chance of you passing one of the numbers and thus having to start over again. The issue is not the combination but how sensitive the locks are. You need to go slow..."

Cane seized the lock from her suddenly, accidentally scratching her finger like a pissy cat reacting to something it doesn't like.

"What's the combination?" He demanded without looking at her and focusing on the lock.

She smelled nice and he felt it happening again. He struggled hard to focus.

But he knew this wouldn't end here.

 

[Jenn1982]

Mia stuffed the last few bites of toast into her mouth as she rushed out the door. A few minutes later she got to the bus stop just as the school bus pulled up. She boarded and found an empty seat as she caught her breath. The sounds of the other students were soon drowned out by a pulsating beat as music began playing through her earbuds. Unfortunately the trip didn’t take long and soon enough she was walking down one of the many halls trying to find the right classroom.

It was already four weeks into the school year but she and her father had just moved to the base a week ago. Her father’s military career had caused them to move more times than she could count and she was used to starting over in a new school mid-year. She was just grateful that this was her senior year and hopefully the last time she would have to start at a new school, at least until she went to college. She still wasn’t even sure what she wanted to do. She knew that deep down her Dad would like her to follow in his footsteps and join the military. He would never voice that though, instead he pushed for her to go to college like he knew her Mom would’ve wanted. Mia wasn’t necessarily opposed to either option but she adrift when it came to her future. She had grown up faster than a lot of kids because of her mother’s death when she was one. Her father loved her and was a great dad but his work left her to take care of herself more than normal. She realized that it was because of this that she was as independent as she was. She didn’t mind being on her own, she had learned to think before making choices, and she was self-assured. Still, she somehow felt like she wasn’t sure who she was and that left her unsure of what she wanted to do once she was an adult…well more like once she graduated high school since she had technically already become an adult in February when she’d turned 18. She wasn’t sure how other kids her age figured out what they were going to do after high school. Because they’d moved around so much she’d stopped trying to make friends years ago so she didn’t have any peers she could ask. During her junior year they’d moved twice so she hadn’t had time to make much of a plan for her future with the advisors at school. Her dad’s connections would make it easy for her to have a successful military career and her lack of social life had left her with a 4.0 GPA so getting into a college wasn’t a concern either. Hopefully she’d remain at this school the rest of her senior year and would be able to figure out what to do with the advisor’s help.

Mia spent the rest of the day navigating the building as she went from class to class. Luckily only a few of the teachers insisted she introduce herself. She spent her lunch studying in the library and other than a few glances she was left alone. In her last class she tried to focus but kept hearing the two girls behind her whispering and giggling. She couldn’t hear most of what they were saying but she’d been able to catch enough of the conversation to know they were talking about her. Apparently her dark clothes combined with her black hair and pale skin constituted her as emo as far as they were concerned. Normally she could ignore things like that but it seemed like they spent the majority of the class focusing on her and the attention made her squirm. The last bell rang and she headed towards her locker with relief. It had been years since she’d been embarrassed at being the new kid at school and she had forgotten how much she hated it. She cursed as she messed up her locker combination for the third time in a row. She felt a presence before she noticed the boy standing next to her.

"Your wasting your time...the more frantically you spin the higher the chance of you passing one of the numbers and thus having to start over again. The issue is not the combination but how sensitive the locks are. You need to go slow..."

Before she could say anything he reached over and grabbed the lock, scraping her finger in the process. She frowned at his pushiness but he didn’t seem to notice, mostly because he didn’t seem like he was really paying any attention to her.

"What's the combination?"

Normally she would have told him to fuck off…in a somewhat nicer way but she felt emotionally exhausted and just wanted to get home.

“It’s 18, 31, 8.”

 

[HisPureLust]

Cane entered the combination with a practiced speed, as if he had handled that very lock a number of times.

He opened it, handing the lock to her without turning and lifting the locker handle before popping it open with the same loud rattle that most of these kinds make... the vibrations echoing softly throughout the others till about half way down the row.

He looked at her finally, his cold steel eyes blank... seemingly void of humanity. He shook his head in annoyance, his semi spikey blonde hair keeping the majority of its shape.

"578" He uttered, albeit quietly, before hoisting his pack over his shoulder once more.

"Remember, go slow. You lose more time doing it over again, then you do doing it only once the RIGHT way."

He seemed annoyed but wasn't.

It was simply Cane's way.

"What's your name?" He asked as suddenly as he did flatly. His posture changing as he took another step towards her.

 

[Jenn1982]

The guy entered the combination she’d given him and a few seconds later she heard the familiar metallic clang as he opened it. His gaze remained on her locked even as he handed her the padlock so she spent a few moments studying him. She was just shy of 5’9” and he was still tall to her meaning he was probably 6’3” or 6’4”. He looked like the quintessential all-American jock complete with the blonde hair styled in the current trend, muscles that weren’t too small or too big, and an air of disregard for everyone else.

She heard him mutter some numbers and she was pulled from her own thoughts. She chided herself for starting to assume anything about him based on his looks and the tiny interaction they’d had so far. He did come over to help her after all.

"Remember, go slow. You lose more time doing it over again, then you do doing it only once the RIGHT way."

“Yeah, I was just in a rush to get home,” she said in a slightly irritated tone.

“Sorry…I didn’t mean to snap. Thank you for the help.”

"What's your name?”

He moved a step closer to her as he asked and she suddenly realized how close he’d already been to her.

“I’m Mia…you?”

The almost bored tone of voice he kept using made her feel like he wanted to leave yet here he was still talking to her. She wasn’t sure what to make of him but he had helped her and while she didn’t usually waste time socializing with people since she’d usually move in a matter of months she figured it wouldn’t hurt to attempt to make a friend.

 

[HisPureLust]

“Yeah, I was just in a rush to get home."

Cane rolled eyes.

"When we rush is when we make mistakes." He said quickly in response as he had many times before.

“Sorry…I didn’t mean to snap. Thank you for the help.”

He arced a brow.

"Did you snap?" He asked flatly "I hadn't noticed." He felt awkward suddenly... as if there was something he wasn't quite getting. Cane hated that, and had now had an overwhelming urge to flee this situation.

He didn't realize but he was closer to her than one would normally be if respecting personal space.

“I’m Mia…you?”

He liked her name... it was only 3 letters, but 2 syllables. It was cute but professional. Unique but not obscure.

"My name is Cane. C.. A.. N.. E. Not like the Cane in the bible or the Kane who used to wrestle."

It was a dumb comparison. Why had he made it?

He realized she was prettier than he had even first realized. She was more friendly than a e-girl but kinda looked like one. He liked this duality.

"Your very beautiful... and attractive. I want to tell you that... since people are rarely brave enough to say such things. Bravery isn't a problem i have."

He turned around and started to walk away, heading towards the building's exit. He had enough information for a new entry... he opened a little notebook and wrote something down.

#578... Mia.

 

[Jenn1982]

Mia wasn’t sure what was up with the guy. He’d been helpful but he also seemed irritated that she’d had a problem in the first place.

"My name is Cane. C.. A.. N.. E. Not like the Cain in the bible or the Kane who used to wrestle."

She couldn’t help but smile at the comparisons and how needless they were since he’d already spelled his name for her. She decided maybe he was just not great at social situations, which was weird since she’d pegged him as a typical jock and they were usually part of the popular crowd. She was about to tell him it was nice to meet him when he spoke again.

"Your very beautiful... and attractive. I want to tell you that... since people are rarely brave enough to say such things. Bravery isn't a problem i have."

It was such an out of the blue statement that Mia was frozen. Not to mention the statement was not one that was usually made in the first five minutes of meeting someone…well unless it was some arrogant creep who was sure any girl would automatically fall to her knees to suck his cock if he deigned to compliment her looks. This guy definitely did not seem to fit that description so far. And he had said it in a matter of fact way not a flirty way.

Before she could even reply he had turned around and started walking away. She still was torn on if she should respond or what she would say if she did. Not only did she normally avoid socializing with her peers she was still baffled by this guy so she was left wholly unprepared on the best way to react. A few seconds later she told herself, fuck it, and ran after him. He’d stopped and she noticed him putting away a notebook as she caught up to him.

“I wanted to say it was nice to meet you, Cane, and thanks again for helping me with my padlock….and for the compliment, it was really nice.”

“I’m not sure if we have any classes together but if we do maybe we could sit by each other. Since I’m new I haven’t made any friends yet so maybe we could get to know each other.”

 

[HisPureLust]

As he stuffed his list of all students within his back pants pocket, Cane heard someone rushing up behind him. He turned apprehensively ready to defend himself, in time to see Mia, her long black hair flowing behind her as she hurried to greet him...

“I wanted to say it was nice to meet you, Cane, and thanks again for helping me with my padlock….and for the compliment, it was really nice.”
Cane began to grow nervous. It was the second time within ten minutes and he did not like it. What was it about this new girl that made him so uncomfortable? She was very pretty but Warner High had its fair share of those. Still she made him uneasy, It was mild but any change in how he normally felt was a big deal to him. It wasn't ok. Not at all.

Knowing enough to realize it would be unfair to blame this on her, he tried to curb his reaction. Cane had been known to be a bit much. He didn't agree with that assessment but it was what he had been told.... constantly and in many different ways by many different people.

"Your welcome. I was happy to help." He looked her over head to toe, her dark apparel, pale skin and pitch black hair. Her face was perfectly symmetrical, her lips were full and her eyes were bright. She wore a kindness on her face that conflicted with grim attire he had initially used to jump to a conclusion.

In truth he didn't have many... well, any friends and while he had grown to enjoy his solitude, even require it. The idea of at least knowing that there was someone who didn't think he was a freak, appealed to him. A lot. The concept was like a revelation.

“I’m not sure if we have any classes together but if we do maybe we could sit by each other. Since I’m new I haven’t made any friends yet so maybe we could get to know each other.”
Get to know each other? He panicked. Inches closer to the school's front exit as he spoke...

"We might, I assume you got your schedule today? Let me see it." He commanded more than asked. He wasn't trying to be pushy... it was simply...

Cane's way.

After receiving a copy of all the classes Mia was in this semester he waited for her to finish getting things out of her locker before telling her his findings.

The tall 18 year old's palms were sweaty, he was happy to see their schedules shared more than a few of the same classes and was eager to share this information with her.

 

[Jenn1982]

"Your welcome. I was happy to help.”

Cane’s tone of voice seemed less irritated than it had before and Mia smiled. He still didn’t seem like he wanted to be talking to her even though he took a few moments to look her up and down. She wasn’t used to someone, particularly a guy, look her over so obviously. When she mentioned getting to know each other better he looked concerned and she wondered if he was just shy maybe.

"We might, I assume you got your schedule today? Let me see it."

His curt, to the point response threw her off and she again wondered if he was trying to get her to realize he didn’t want to talk to her. Still she pulled her phone out and opened the school app pulling up her schedule before handing him her phone.

“While you check I’m going to go grab the rest of my stuff from my locker.”

It only took her a minute or two to go back to her locker and get her things. She walked back over to Cane and smiled.

“Well, do we have some classes together?”

 

[HisPureLust]

“Well, do we have some classes together?”

He found her inquisitive response "cute" and it made him all the more happier to tell her what he had learned...

"We do in fact. We have 3 classes together. English Literature. Biology and apparently we share a Physical Education class as well."

Cane handed her phone back to her his fingers brushing against hers briefly. It was at this moment he was reminded of how nice she smelled, sweet but not in a candy or even floral sort of way. It began happening to him again and he tried to slow himself down.

"It appears we will get to know one another regardless if that's something we wish for or not."

That didn't quite come out how he had planned. He grimaced and shook his head looking towards his feet and feeling foolish. He was tired of this interaction and simply wanted to convey that he was glad they had classes together.

He scanned her face for signs that he hadn't gone as far off the mark as it seemed he had.

 

[Jenn1982]

"We do in fact. We have 3 classes together. English Literature. Biology and apparently we share a Physical Education class as well."

He handed her phone back to her and his fingers brushed hers. She would have barely noticed the brief touch but Cane seemed to almost freeze and so the insignificant moment turned into something more.

"It appears we will get to know one another regardless if that's something we wish for or not."

It was Mia’s turn to be caught off guard and she stood there speechless for a few seconds. At first she started to think that Cane was trying to make it clear he really didn’t want to hang out but then she noticed how embarrassed he seemed. The mixed signals made it hard for her to know how to respond so she kept her response evenhanded.

“I’m glad we have some classes together. It’ll be nice to have a familiar face in a few classes at least, even if we don’t really know each other,” she said with a smile.

“I guess I should probably start heading home. Thanks again for the help with my locker. Maybe we can hang out sometime.”

 

[HisPureLust]

“I guess I should probably start heading home. Thanks again for the help with my locker. Maybe we can hang out sometime.”

In absolute horror, Cane heard himself blurt out as she turned to leave...

"I should walk you home."

The suggestion hung in the air like a threat, loud and insistent. He turned his head downward and away from her, his eyes however never leaving hers.

"Its not safe, I mean. Have you heard about the attacks?"

It was true... he should know. She fell in the very same demographic of young women that had disappeared lately. Whoever was responsible had a proclivity for young women who attended this school. The very topic was the focus of his most recent paper, the same one that had inspired another more recent mandate for him to return to therapy....

As he stood there lost in thought he realized she had not yet said anything.

Cane knew he had an issue with understanding people. Truly understanding them. He often said things that were outside of modern convention and that made other's "uncomfortable". He didn't see the need for such "boundaries". He felt they stood in the way of true communication. But his understanding or lack thereof WAS the problem, after all... so he couldn't rely on his personal assessment of the situation and unfortunately needed to consider the guidance of others.

"I mean... unless you want to be alone or something."

 

[Jenn1982]

Mia didn’t get a chance to start walking away before Cane spoke up.

"I should walk you home."

She was surprised at the suggestion considering how eager it had seemed like he was to get away from her just a few moments ago. Of course he again seemed embarrassed almost as soon as the words left his mouth. Mia was reconsidering her earlier assessment of him being the typical popular jock. In particular her assumption that he had a stuck-up disregard for everyone else. She was pretty sure it was more like he was socially awkward. She could commiserate with that, at least to a degree. She wasn’t socially awkward in the way that she didn’t know how to act around others. It was more that she was always the “new kid” and so it seemed like she was always the odd one out. She had given up on trying to make friends a few years because it wasn’t worth the trouble or the sadness when they inevitably moved to a new place.

"Its not safe, I mean. Have you heard about the attacks?"

She had not in fact heard about any attacks but she’d only been in town for a week. Still, she would’ve thought it would have been something her dad or someone would’ve told her about. Then again maybe they had just happened or something. It was barely past 3pm though and the sun wouldn’t be setting for a few hours at least so it wasn’t as if she would be walking home in the dark. Were there really people being attacked in broad daylight on the street?

"I mean... unless you want to be alone or something."

She was starting to really think she was spot on with her speculation that he was actually just shy and socially awkward.

“No, I’d love the company. I live on the base, if that’s too far or out of your way though it’s okay,” she said with a warm smile, hoping he’d start to feel more comfortable.

“If you don’t mind walking me home maybe you can tell me about these attacks. We just got here a week ago so I don’t know anything about any attacks.”

 

[HisPureLust]

“No, I’d love the company. I live on the base, if that’s too far or out of your way though it’s okay. If you don’t mind walking me home maybe you can tell me about these attacks. We just got here a week ago so I don’t know anything about any attacks.”

Cane couldn't tell if he had successfully avoided Mia from realizing he simply wanted to still be around her, with his skill of subterfuge or not. But the effect was the same either way so it mattered little to him.

Pleased with her admission that she both was ok with him walking her home and she was interested in knowing more about the recent violent news, he nodded and once more affixed his backpack onto his shoulders in preparation of the long journey ahead of them.

"I don't mind. Lets go." The large young man said plainly and with a bit of authority as he began his way down the steps of the main entrance and out the large double glass doors leading to outside.

As the two fled the confines of the quickly emptying school, both their footsteps could be heard in the initial moments of their awkward silence... until finally Cane spoke without warning.

"Does it suck being a military brat? That's what they call it, right? 'Military brat?' The term sounds like an insult but I'm sure that's what its called." He spoke in one smooth continuous utterance, the cadence and flow void of any discernable nuance or social convention. "I've never known anyone who lived on a base before, has your dad killed anyone? Like in the service?" His interest was apparent as his tempo of speech quickened.

What wasn't apparent was that Cane's interest was not simply in her father's activities in the military.

He realized he hadn't told her about the murders recently, and considered this a good segway, though he hadn't considered how off putting and out of place the segway was coming off.

 

[Jenn1982]

"I don't mind. Lets go.”

Cane started heading towards the door as soon as he finished speaking and Mia hurried after him. By the time they’d reached the sidewalk Mia decided that Cane probably didn’t walk with other people often. His height meant he took strides nearly twice as large as her own and she had to keep a brisk pace in order to stay beside him.

As they walked in silence she took a moment to study him a little more. She was undeniably not off in her initial impression of him looking like the typical popular, hot jock, even if he didn’t act like one. He was definitely fit, she thought, as her eyes traveled over his toned arms. She had been keeping her head down since she started here and so it was possible that he was part of the popular group despite their awkward encounter thus far. She had witnessed how being hot and athletic could atone for social deficiencies, at least in high school.

"Does it suck being a military brat? That's what they call it, right? 'Military brat?' The term sounds like an insult but I'm sure that's what its called."

His words pulled her from her own thoughts but before she could reply he continued on.

"I've never known anyone who lived on a base before, has your dad killed anyone? Like in the service?"

“Uh well yeah he has…it’s not something he and I have really talked at length about though, he doesn’t really like to talk about it. And yes, the term is military brat. It’s kind of an insult but I think it’s so widely used that it can also just be like a description without any malice, despite the “brat” part.”

She didn’t give much pause at his question about her Dad, it was actually a pretty common thing people, especially dudes, asked when they found out her Dad was in the military.

“So what are these attacks you were talking about? Like animal attacks or something?”

 

[HisPureLust]

“So what are these attacks you were talking about? Like animal attacks or something?”

Cane considered lying to her, but to what end? In fact, he WANTED to have this conversation with her. It afforded him two things. The first was practice at sounding a particular way while discussing something that mattered to him. Something he had tried to do with his report in class earlier this week, which turned out into a disaster and now had him speaking to a therapist at school. It was an error on his part. He had gone with his emotional desire and excitement rather than logic. He had known better. But with Mia it would more than likely not go any further, and he could use this opportunity to do what he intended in the first place... and it excited him... he wanted to talk about it... and had no one to talk about it with...

The second was much less important, at least that's what he told himself. It would allow him to gauge her response and even possibly gain a position of caregiver over her... if he feigned concern... then maybe she would like him... maybe they could talk about something he actually knew a thing or two about and she'd find him interesting...

Cane realized he had been walking in silence as he thought, and the question still hung out there, unanswered.

"No. Not exactly."

He took a deep breath and made his best attempt to not seem too excited.

"It was a few students. Girls specifically. Pretty girls. They were hanging our or something, i dunno... and somebody killed them. It was pretty brutal too... from what i heard. So everyone is a bit on edge lately... I'm surprised your dad or mom hadn't heard about it..."

As he spoke he seemed almost "normal". The words he was saying contradicted their tone, he could have been talking about a book he read or a movie he really liked, and it would of sounded the same. He looked over his shoulder, a semi grin on his face, his handsome features and sky blue eyes looking at hers directly for maybe the first time since they were talking by the lockers. He was looking for a reaction, a twinge, fear, anticipation, curiosity... anything. Any indication that she felt any kind of way about what he had just told her.

"That's why I'm glad I'm walking you home... Your...."

He looked straight ahead, his demeanor returning to one of somebody pretending everything they say instead of being genuine...

"...very pretty."

 

[Jenn1982]

As the silence dragged on after her question Mia started to think maybe Cane was trying to build suspense…but the silence continued to grow. She was beginning to think he was going to ignore the question even though he’d been the one to bring up the attacks in the first place.

"No. Not exactly."

Mia almost let out a sigh of relief once he finally answered. Whether by design or not she was even more interested in what he was going to say about these attacks than she had been.

"It was a few students. Girls specifically. Pretty girls. They were hanging our or something, i dunno... and somebody killed them. It was pretty brutal too... from what i heard. So everyone is a bit on edge lately... I'm surprised your dad or mom hadn't heard about it..."

To say she was stunned by the story was maybe an exaggeration but not by much. It wasn’t as if there hadn’t been crime in all the other towns and cities they’d lived in but she couldn’t remember something like this ever happening. Multiple girls from her school brutally murdered, that was definitely not what she’d expected when he said there had been attacks. She realized Cane had turned to look at her after delivering the news. She realized he had a slight smile on his face that was at odds with what they were talking about. Maybe it was his attempt to put her at ease after the awful story.

"That's why I'm glad I'm walking you home... Your....very pretty."

He turned away from her as he spoke and continued walking.

“Seriously? That’s crazy! How many girls was it? Was it like all at the same time or this has been happening over months or something? They don’t have any idea who did it?”

She noticed that during her barrage of questions she had unconsciously picked up her pace so that she could walk closer to him.

“Sorry…I didn’t mean to bombard you with questions. I’m glad you’re walking me home too, especially now that I know about what happened.”

She wondered why her Dad hadn’t said anything but she supposed it was possible he didn’t know. She was pretty sure if he did he would’ve told her, if only to remind her to be careful. That thought led her down a different path and she looked at Cane with a concerned expression.

“Hey, I’m really sorry if you were friends or anything with any of the victims.”

 

[HisPureLust]

“Seriously? That’s crazy! How many girls was it? Was it like all at the same time or this has been happening over months or something? They don’t have any idea who did it?”

He flinched inwardly and possibly outwardly. He had offered her a compliment and she said nothing. She was SUPPOSED to say thank you and she was SUPPOSED to be flattered. He grew upset and began to grind his teeth slightly.

She was now right next to him, and it gave him the opportunity to get a good look at her once more... She was curvy, which he liked... it meant she was soft, and would be nice to hug, he bet. He was taller than her but not by a lot, her jeans were tight, accentuating her backside and thighs and the shirt she wore was pretty cute on her. It was a black short sleeved button down but only starting from about the third or forth button, he could see some cleavage but it wasn't excessive, like most of the whores around school.

"I'm unsure of the count." He lied "...but it was significant enough for there to be the idea of a curfew discussed for the town. Again... I'm surprised your parents aren't aware of this. Maybe they hadn't heard. Tell them. Today." He ordered.

“Sorry…I didn’t mean to bombard you with questions. I’m glad you’re walking me home too, especially now that I know about what happened.”

"Its fine. like I said. You need to be careful around here... but..." He paused "I can walk you home EVERY day... I mean, if you want."

“Hey, I’m really sorry if you were friends or anything with any of the victims.” Her sympathy seemed genuine.

"Nothing to be sorry about. They were all pretty much a bunch of cunts." It has just came out... his distain for the victims. It was honest but Cane new enough about what he wasn't supposed to say, versus what he was, that this was one of the former not the latter. "I wasn't friends with any of them, but I knew them all... Thank you though." He feigned a smile for her, to reward her kindness. Its what he was supposed do.

They continued walking and soon there were less and less trees, less and less residences and more fields... more empty space. A radio tower of some sort was the first prominent thing he saw on the horizon, then a fence line in the distance and the small trucks which currently looked like Matchbox cars zipping around inside it. Surrounding and on the outside of the fence line was a small residential community... They were close.

 

[Jenn1982]

"I'm unsure of the count...but it was significant enough for there to be the idea of a curfew discussed for the town. Again... I'm surprised your parents aren't aware of this. Maybe they hadn't heard. Tell them. Today."

Mia realized he didn’t know her mom was dead…of course, how could he. Still, it was weird to hear someone talking about her parents as if they both were alive. She definitely planned on talking to her dad about it, partly because she wanted to know if he had known and not told her for some reason.

"Its fine. like I said. You need to be careful around here... but....I can walk you home EVERY day... I mean, if you want."

He hadn’t answered the question about whether they knew who did it but she assumed if he was saying she still needed to be careful that they hadn’t. She probably wouldn’t have asked but since he offered she decided she might as well take him up on the offer of walking her home just to be safe. Plus it would make the long walk a little less boring.

"Nothing to be sorry about. They were all pretty much a bunch of cunts. I wasn't friends with any of them, but I knew them all... Thank you though."

Mia almost stopped dead in her tracks at his words. Not only was it not something she heard many guys call women nowadays, at least in mixed company but he was saying it about a bunch of girls who got murdered. Even on all those shows about real life murders the people they talked to always talked about the victim as if they were a saint. Granted, she realized no one was really like that, well maybe a few people but still, clearly most of these people being interviewed were lying at worst, exaggerating at best. But it was one thing if someone said, oh yeah it’s sad they got killed but they were pretty big bullies in highschool, versus calling them all cunts. She had grown up on military bases though, around soldiers and while they were always respectful in her presence she still had overheard some of the shit they said and cunt was part of the long list of things she heard. She had no idea what to say to that since it was still a pretty strange thing to say about people who’d been murdered within the last month. They walked in silent for a couple of minutes before she finally spoke.

“I’m glad you weren’t really close to any of them, you know since that would’ve been really hard to go through. Uh, so what do you do for fun? I haven’t done anything other than go to school or the grocery store since we moved here.”

 

[HisPureLust]

Cane assumed he said something 'out of place' or just flat out rude. It happened. Frequently. He was used to it. But in this instance it pissed him off. He didn't want to offend her... he didn't really understand why, other than the fact that he liked being with her and thought maybe she wouldn't let him walk her home in the future if he made her mad.

But should he apologize? What was an apology worth if you didn't mean it? If you didn't know WHY you were apologizing!? What if she asked? No, that wouldn't work. He could change the subject. Yes. He should say something funny to her... but he wasn't very comedic. Most of his jokes just went over people's heads.

He was about to open his mouth... as the homes outside the military base grew larger and larger... when she spoke, breaking the unbearable silence.

“I’m glad you weren’t really close to any of them, you know since that would’ve been really hard to go through. Uh, so what do you do for fun? I haven’t done anything other than go to school or the grocery store since we moved here.”

He struggled to answer. His idea of fun was not what other people usually did. He had learned that long ago. He didn't want to sound like a geek or some loser... or... worse....

"Yes, thank you. I'm glad I wasn't close to them either. Uhm not a lot. I used to play sports... i was pretty good... but then I stopped."

It sounded so dumb, and pointless but he continued...

"I mostly, study... things. And read... I like a lot of horror." He kicked a small rock as it blocked his path. "It sounds like you've been bored here so far. Maybe..."

They were just ten or fifteen feet from the community now.

"... maybe we should hang out. I could show you some stuff to do around here. Not today of course, I mean like, another... day. Or whatever. I don't care either way."

Oh for fucks sakes, he thought. Why do i bother.

 

[Jenn1982]

"Yes, thank you. I'm glad I wasn't close to them either. Uhm not a lot. I used to play sports... i was pretty good... but then I stopped."

At least she hadn’t been totally off with the assumption of him being a jock. Then again he could’ve done little league as a little kid and hadn’t played since then, she decided she’d ask him later what he’d played.

"I mostly, study... things. And read... I like a lot of horror. It sounds like you've been bored here so far. Maybe... maybe we should hang out. I could show you some stuff to do around here. Not today of course, I mean like, another... day. Or whatever. I don't care either way."

She smiled at the way he ended the suggestion. He clearly was worried she’d turn him down and wanted to save face in case that was the case. It was actually pretty cute and endearing.

“Oh I love to read. I don’t read a lot of horror…mostly mysteries. I’d love it if you would show me around sometime, when you’re free.”

They’d reached the entrance to the base and she turned to Kane.

“Thank you again for walking me home, it was really nice of you. I’ll see you tomorrow at school. Oh! Let me give you my number so you can text me when you figure out when you might have time to show me around…or if you’re bored,” she said before reciting her cell number. She gave him a small wave and headed onto base towards her house.

 

[HisPureLust]

"Oh I love to read. I don’t read a lot of horror…mostly mysteries."

Cane's heart skipped a beat at the mention of horror coupled with mysteries... his favorite two genres. Cane loved figuring things out almost as much as he loved dark twisted stories about the darker side of the human psyche.

"I’d love it if you would show me around sometime, when you’re free.”

"Yeah? For real? Ok... cool."

He felt like there was a catch, or a gag here... as he waited for the other shoe to drop he saw in her face no sign of deception... not that he was good at reading people... quite the opposite really...

“Thank you again for walking me home, it was really nice of you. I’ll see you tomorrow at school. Oh! Let me give you my number so you can text me when you figure out when you might have time to show me around…or if you’re bored." She said sweetly.

He entered her number in his phone as she spoke it... then she was gone. Walking down the winding road which led between several houses. The area looked nice, there wasn't much out here... least on this side from what he saw and he made note of that. It would be hard for someone to hide and not be spotted, especially with the guard towers the base had further in, past the gate. Directly behind some of the residences there was a tree line leading to a wooded area. Cane bet one could go the long way around and never be spotted until you were practically on someone's doorstep.

Yup. He thought to himself as he watched her disappear inside a house. He made a mental note of which one and looked at his phone, staring at her number. After a few moments of standing still he began writing her a text msg...

"Hey its me. It was nice walking you home... I'm sending you this so you have my number too. Text me anytime. I have trouble sleeping most days... so you wouldn't be waking me up..."

He stared at the msg for a bit longer, almost tapping send but then re-writing it...

"Hey... its me. Your really cute. I uhm..."

He erased it once more... and ended up sending something else;

"Hey its me. This way you have my number. I don't sleep much. So feel free to msg me or whatever. Night."

After sending it he shoved the smartphone in his pocket and looked around once more before brushing his spikey blonde hair back and turning around... his long legs taking full strides on his way back towards school.

In truth walking her home was extremely out of his way... he would get home in maybe two hours if he was lucky... but it was worth it.

"578" He said aloud as he walked home slowly and whistled.

 

[Jenn1982]

Mia had just walked into her house when the text alert on her phone went off. She checked her texts and smiled at what was obviously a text from Cane. She saved his number and replied, Thanks! You can text me whenever too

Mia changed and then made dinner for her and her dad. Some days he had to work late so she would make dinner on those days. They always tried to eat dinner together and talk about their day. Once they finished eating she gave her dad a kiss on the cheek and went to her room to finish her homework before bed.

The next morning Mia got to school a little earlier than normal and after she put her stuff away in her locker she looked around, wondering if Cane was here yet.

 

[HisPureLust]

Cane spent the night as he always had.

He took out the contents of his backpack, placing them on a desk in his room. Each item having its own place and position on the desktop. He ironed his clothes for school tomorrow, then ate the dinner that was left for him outside his room by his father. Afterwards he took a bath, and dressed for bed in his favorite t-shirt depicting a cartoon character he had enjoyed since youth, and a comfortable pair of shorts.

The end of his night consisted of him browsing the internet, listening to industrial music while doing research as usual, but the subject on this night was unique.

He got into the security system at school and into the digital recordings the camera's had made for the day. He began tracking through until he paused the playback.

After finding the image he sought. He printed it out and cut the small square out of its larger white surroundings. Taking great care to not cut too far into the photo itself. He tacked it above his wall... near the pictures of the others but sort of off to the side... which is something he had never done before... He looked at it and smiled. It made him happy.

He shut the light off and Mia's picture went dark. No longer illuminated by the light from his bedroom lamp. It wasn't the greatest but it would have to do for now. He hadn't taken one while they were hanging out. He would consider doing so tomorrow.

The night was quiet but he couldn't sleep. Instead he thought of her. How soft she looked and how nice she smelled. How her voice sounded something like his mom's. Not in timber but in how kind it always was... even when he wasn't the best with socializing she hadn't been mean to him... not once. Yeah, they just met but it didn't take most people long before they either called him names or tried to be dirty with him... the latter usually ending once they got to know him.

She had done neither, and he liked that.

Eventually Cane drifted into sleep, but not before tossing in bed for several more hours. Wrestling with his own demons.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the morning he wore a tighter T-shirt. It was black with a pink text emblazoned on it from a rock band he liked. He hoped showing off how strong he was would impress her. His pants were the normal jeans he wore, some rips in them but that was as much due to Cane's not caring as much as it was a fashion choice. His spikey blonde hair was a mess, he hadn't realized he didn't comb this morning until it was too late.... that NEVER happened.

Cane knew Mia was affecting him in ways no one else had... and it worried him.

He found her near her lockers looking around, with a mildly disappointed look on her face.

He frowned... she must of wanted to be left alone. And now that she saw him was regretting being his friend.

Cane grimaced, his brows furrowing and his expression one of near anguish. He knew it was too good to be true. He decided to walk up to her anyway and at least get his photo. After all... He'd still need one, right?

"Hey." He said plainly. A look of abandonment on his face.

 

[Jenn1982]

Mia glanced at her phone for the 5th time. The bell was going to ring in like 5 minutes and she still hadn’t seen Cane. As she looked back up she finally saw him walking towards her and she started to give him a big smile before she noticed his expression. He looked…upset and she wondered if it was because she was clearly standing there waiting for him like a weird stalker.

“Hey.”

She smiled at him but it was a little more restrained than it would have been.

“Hi, Cane! I was hoping I’d get to see you before class started. I was going to tell you I talked to my dad about the murders last night at dinner. But I mean I know the bell is going to ring soon and you might have stuff to do, I can tell you about it later or whatever.”

 

[HisPureLust]

“Hi, Cane! I was hoping I’d get to see you before class started. I was going to tell you I talked to my dad about the murders last night at dinner. But I mean I know the bell is going to ring soon and you might have stuff to do, I can tell you about it later or whatever.”

"Did you forget we have Bio together? Its out first class, Mr. Henrickson couldn't care less where we sit... so you can just tell me then." Relief washed over him, now that he knew the reason she was upset wasn't because of his approach.

"Can I take your picture?" He asked plainly taking his phone out making it clear he was not waiting for permission.

He snapped a few shots of her, none of which were good pictures due to the abrupt nature in which they where taken. He began examining them as he spoke without looking up from it...

"C'mon, its upstairs. I'll show you."