[open] -- one less traveled by

[Lauralee McKie]

"Lauralee, honey...are you up?" a woman called up the stairs, her voice expressing the fact the two of them were indeed late for the day. Her skirt flowed around her knees, made of silk and a bit of lace. She waved her arm about as she spoke, the light jingling of gold bracelets carrying through the vaulted staircase. The air around her smelled of sweet flowers, those Forget Me Not's she always got for her birthday from her husband. Her hair was wrapped around what looked like a pair of chopsticks atop her her head, still dampened from the morning's shower. "Lauralee...?" she called again as she began to ascend the stairs.

As if on queue, Lauralee had popped her head out of the bathroom door across the hall from her own bedroom. "Uh-huh, almost ready. Sorry, I was in the shower and didn't hear you call the first time." Her hair was wet and sticking to her forehead, but she was dressed. She took a piece of wet hair in her hand, twisting it gently around her index finger absently as she spoke. Her mother laughed, crossing her arms over her chest. "All right, sweet heart, just get a move on." and she then turned on her heel to start a pot of coffee.

Lauralee took this time to brush out her hair as well as blow it dry, long and straight. Her bangs were left lying on her forehead, only now they were dry and looked a lot lighter than before. She took a round brush to them, lifting and forcing a bit of volume in them before grabbing her book bag and gym bag filled with her dance gear. She slipped her socked feet into shoes which were already tied of the skate variety and with that she smelled the coffee as she descended the staircase. "Mmmm, that smells delicious!" she said with a tone of want her voice. She filled her travel mug to the brim, twisted the cap on and gave her mother a peck on the cheek as she waved goodbye.

It was crisp and cool outside, Lauralee noticed as she zipped her jacket up to her throat. She pulled the fabric close, stretching the material over her chest. Her car was parked in the large driveway next to her father's, the squeeze between the two being tight, but she managed every morning. The vehicle wasn't much, but it got her from point A to point B, and she didn't mind it's appearances much. She just barely had room to shimmy into the driver's seat, leaving her bags on the concrete driveway until she pulled out onto the street so she had room to open the back door.

With this, she was off onto the road heading to the school. She was only late by her own routine standards, being that she liked to enter the school a whole hour earlier than she really needed to be there so she could get in a bit of rehearsal time before homeroom. She didn't mind, however, losing that time this morning because she had been up half the night before practicing her positioning. The ride to school was filled with soft, classical music she was currently working on choreographing a solo piece to perform for the recruiters of the local dance studio she was hoping to attend after high school. Yes, she did have an entire year left, but she liked being prepared...really prepared.

Her moves danced in her head as she drove, pulling into the parking lot designated for the Junior class. This lot was indicated in purple, both on the curbs and the maps they handed out to the new Freshman. She thought for a moment how she didn't really care for purple, but chose a space to park anyway. She turned the engine off and pulled her key out of the ignition. The car purred to sleep, falling silent in the morning dew. She pulled her bags onto either arm, locking the doors behind her. "Another morning; another adventure."

[Dusk Alderic]

beep, beep, beep

The teenager wrapped up in the sheets of a rather large queen sized bed groaned. The alarmed blared on, as he attempted to ignore its obnoxious sound. Groping about, Dusk finally found the alarm clock and gave it a good whack. The alarm stopped, but he was already groaning as those amber eyes peered through. The curtains were drawn open, as a female smiled over to him and walked over. “Wakie, wakie.” she spoke softly, running a hand through Dusk’s thick hair. He groaned again, hiding under his quilt as if to hide from the cold. Laura chuckled, and in one swift movement, ripped the qulit from over Dusk’s face, exposing him to the bright sunlight. “Argh, mom.” he whined, covering his eyes from the light. “C’mon, you got school, lazy head.” she responded, pulling the blankets off him so the cold would do their job in waking him up as well. Dusk muttered under his breath, sitting up slightly. His pale, delicate body was dressed in only a pair of long-leg pajama pants, which made it easy for the cold to bite at his skin. “I’m up, I’m up!” he grumbled, glaring at his mother playfully. Laura just stuck her tongue out, and walked out of the room. “Breakfast in ten minutes.” she announced, closing the door behind her.

Dusk rolled his eyes slightly, but a smile adorned his lips. Standing up from his bed, those 3inch scars on his back was clearly visible. It was the only mark on his body that stood out. Taking a brush to his hair, Dusk made it look more tamed then the wild bed-hair look almost everybody seemed to get when waking up in the mornings. His room was spacious, as his mother always loved the big houses. Dusk somewhat hated it when it came to cleaning his room, which was why he developed an Obsessive Compulsive disorder. Everything was organized. His brushes were lined up in neat rows, his drawers all holding different cloths, and his closet ….well, lets just say everything is paired up. Walking into his bathroom, Dusk did the usual thing he had to do; bathe, brush his teeth, and he’s one of those rare teens that would actually take the time to floss their teeth. Every habit of which he gained from his mother, for his father was never really there. Matter of fact, he wouldn’t see his father in 30 years, for he refused to visit him in Rikers Island and Dusk wasn’t entirely sure he’d see him right after that.

Dusk walked back out from the bathroom, running a hand through his black locks of hair. He was glad that the walls of his room were going to be painted a jet black soon, for the white was making the sun’s glare blind him. He walked over to his closet, and began to look through his collection of dark clothing. Dusk held a love for the punk/gothic fashion, but it didn’t entirely mean he was gothic. Pulling out a pair of black jeans, a red Green-Day T-shirt, and a pair of fish-net gloves, Dusk tossed them onto his bed. Just as he was taking off his pajama pants, the door opened. Alexis, Dusk’s little brother, walked in rubbing his eyes. “Breakfast is ready, Duskie.” he said, blinking softly. Dusk pulled back up his pants quickly, and glared at his little brother slightly. “Tell mom I’ll be there in a few, Alex…and please knock before entering.” Dusk replied, attempting not to be too hard on his brother. Alexis missed their father, and Dusk understood that, he only wished Alexis didn’t have to watch Laura remove their father from on top of him.

Alexis nodded, but quickly ran over and wrapped his small arms around Dusk’s waist. The teen smiled softly, and patted him on the head before giving him a kiss on the forehead. “You okay?” he asked in a hushed voice, and the boy nodded in response with a smile. Dusk wasn’t sure what went on in Alexis head. Since their father was taken away, he was having a small problem adjusting but Dusk was always there to help him. He watched as his little brother left the room, closing the door behind him. After a moments thought, Dusk snapped himself out and got dressed before his mother got a bit impatient, and decided to come and get him herself…again. Dusk walked over to his dresser, picking up a well-used eyeliner and began to apply the black around his eyes. It was basically a trademark to Dusk, as everybody in school knew him as the only boy who wears eyeliner. Although nobody complained much, because Dusk looked good with eyeliner.

Fixing on a pair of black puma-sneakers, Dusk walked out of his bedroom with a backpack at hand and his cellphone in another. He walked down the spiral stairs, looking through his backed up messages till he got into the kitchen. Laura was just preparing a plate for him when he sat down and looked up at her. “So…there is no way I can convince you to …like, let me stay home?” Dusk grinned, knowing the answer would be no, but he always asked just to get a conversation started on some mornings. “Nope. C’mon, you’re getting good grades.” Laura responded, with a smile as she placed his breakfast in front of him. “But the teachers are boring…and I’m tired of smelling smoke.” Dusk whined playfully, as he began to eat the eggs and bacon breakfast. Eating rather quickly when he caught sight of the time, Dusk gulped down his orange juice and stood up. “I’m so gonna be late!” Dusk grumbled, placing a kiss on his mother’s and brother’s cheek before heading out of the door. Alexis simply chuckled, finishing his fruit-loop cereal. Dusk hopped onto his Kawasaki-black motorcycle, and revved the engine to life. Fixing his backpack on, and zipping up his leather jacket, Dusk was off into the streets. Of course, he placed show that he was careful as he left the high-class block, but instantly began to dodge cars and zip through traffic like a boy with a death wish.

Dusk drove into the parking lot of the public school, and turned off the engine. A grin formed over his lips at seeing two guys walk from the school, his eyes scanning over their bodies, before paying attention to the task at hand. He chained up his bike really well. He worked hard for it, and wasn’t about to allow the New York gangs to steal it, especially when he knew he wasn’t going to get a second one for a long time. Fixing his backpack, Dusk looked up to the school building…that usual devious grin dressing his lips. “Another day, a new hell.” he joked, scanning the parking-lot for anything interesting before heading into class.

((Oi I wrote a lot o.o))