Third floor common room, Saturday around noon

[lovemykilt]

Malcolm had spent the morning wandering around, boggling. Harken had never looked like this before! They must have remodeled the whole dorm! Of course, that meant he kept getting lost -- Malcolm wasn't that great at finding his way around on a good day. But there were all these new people around! It was his duty as a long-standing Harken student to meet them, right?

He just wished he could find Jake or Zoe or even Mr. Felcher. They'd know what was going on. . . .

He finally settled into one of the large common rooms and sat perched on the couch. Maybe someone would come by who could tell him what was going on.

[ooc: open! I have to run to work in a few hours and am greedy and want to get some play in. *grumbles at stupid work scheduling me all weekend*]

Comments

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"Hi, Tom. I'm Peyton Sawyer." She smiled back at him. "You do look remarkably alike. Just one of those weird flukey things, I guess."

"So... you just woke up in a strange place this morning, too?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Tom said and the relief at not being alone in that was evident in his voice. "I don't have any idea how I got here. Last I remember, I was... in a really bad place." Yeah, no need to scare the pretty blonde with tales of mines and psycho killers.

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"I don't either," she admitted and moved a little closer, sensing that relief and feeling oddly comforted by it. "I think maybe my guardian brought me here - gave me sleeping pills or something and brought me here while I slept."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"That's... kinda twisted, actually."

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

She gave him a small sad smile. "Yeah, well... Dan Scott. He always finds a way to get what he wants."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like my Dad," Tom said.

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"Then I'm very sorry for you," Peyton said with feeling.

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Thanks. He's dead," Tom blurted. "So, y'know, I don't have to deal with it anymore."

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Tom," she said softly and reached out to put a hand lightly on his arm. "I'm so sorry. Even if things were bad between you it still has to be tough."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Tom gave a half shrug, tensing a little when she touched him. People didn't touch him very much. Except Sarah... and she was... was... He shook his head and focused back on the here and now. "I hadn't seen him in years."

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"I lost both my parents a while ago," Peyton admitted.

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry," Tom said. "No one should have to lose someone close to them."

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"You look like you know a little something about loss yourself," Peyton said softly.

She shrugged. "I suppose I should be grateful there's someone to look out for me, but Dan... he wants to control every second of my life. He won't let men court me. My whole life has been planned and safe. But for once I want to make my own choices."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"I can relate," Tom said. "I've had the family's mine hanging around my neck like an albatross my whole life. I just want it to go away and let me live my life, you know?"

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"Yes!" Peyton said, glad to find someone who understood. "Even if I get hurt or get my heart broken. I want to be free to try my own things."