Casey

The mind churns, the heart yearns

2007-09-21T02:28:27Z

(occ in reference to He'll be gone in an instant. also, title of this entry = (c) to RENT and Jonathan Larson. Who was a genius.)

Casey sat on the railing outside, clutching a letter and a dog tag to her heart. Tears shimmied down her face. Her nails were digging into her palms as she held everything back. Sparklesparkle glittered on her ring finger, almost in a mournful manner.

Almost a month later and the tear-stained letter still crushed her. She had hardly slept at all. Every time she closed her eyes, she was haunted, so better to keep them open.

And the ring. Sparklesparkle. Hadn't left her finger since.

Casey had no idea what to do...

occ

2007-03-13T23:51:25Z

I know I haven't been on lately and I apologize. I've been busy with school and college and stuff.

Firstly, I think I have a solid plan for next term: I think I'm going to get an apartment with a friend, and I'll go to UNOmaha for the first year so I can save up some money and then shoot for Tulane again.

Secondly, I have finals tomorrow, and then this weekend is pretty busy too, but it's also pretty long. Maybe I'll be able to post some more after tomorrow, we'll see. It all depends on whether or not classes get easier. Hmm.

Thirdly, Today, Tuesday, March 13, 2007, I, Casey *last name* am Eighteen Years of Age. Hoorah. I'm legally able to go to a strip club, to vote, and to buy cigarettes. Hecks yes.

very photogenic

2007-01-28T04:25:52Z

Camera in hand, baggy but very pocketed pants, film of varying speeds filling each pocket to the brim, Casey is on a mission.

A mission to capture, a mission to smile, a mission to enjoy.

A long needed artistic get away.

Only she isn't getting too far away.

jcwth89 @ 2007-01-06T01:00:00

2007-01-06T07:06:41Z

I don't know what I'm doing.

I'm only 17, only two months til 18. My parents, my friends, they all think I'm in college. Half a year earlier than anyone had expected. Half a year before I told College that I would be there.

All my old friends, my family, my life support are so far away and I need help getting to them.
My new friends don't know me too well.
My old old friends are probably dead, or completely different from what I knew of them.
And my fiancee is fighting a worthless war.

What does one do when one can't find a reason to go on? Its hard to breathe when I don't know what I'm breathing for. Am I doing it for the mastery of my power, or lack-there-of? For a future husband who might be dead the next day? For the friends who left me? For the friends I left?

What? Why?

And how do I figure it out?

jcwth89 @ 2007-01-03T22:00:00

2007-01-04T04:01:40Z

Today I learned that Romance novels are stupid but ever-so-addicting.

But that doesn't mean I'll ever pick one up.

I had a sort of lengthy conversation with Orion. Which inevitably ended.
But it kept my mind off of other...things. Yeah. Things. Objects, persons, events.

Hmmm.

Prompts 3 and 48

2007-01-03T16:23:50Z

Title: 20:23:54:13
Characters: Casey (16), other United Crew
Prompt: Ends, 3
Word Count: 173
Rating: G..ish. I don't remember maybe PG.
Summary: The storm lets up.
Author's Notes: During United; also, final chapter in (1) and (2)

It had been a while since her mind had been going haywire. In fact, the crazy weather manipulating part of her mind had given up all hope after a few days of being locked in at the airport. But the magnitude and strength of the attack was what kept this storm brewing.

Passengers were pissed, to tell the truth. Most had missed very important Businiess Calls, and couldn't even leave for home. Some tried to go out, and most of those some were killed. A blizzard in June. Who'd'a thunk it?

It had been three weeks since the trouble started. Three long, boring weeks. Melly had read every book in the little shop, including the 2004 Roadmap for Chicago.

Casey stood in the same spot Frank had been when it started. She, too, was watching the brew. Only this time it was more of an unbrew.

For the first time in 21 days, sunshine poked through the heavens, and water began to slowly drip down the glass.

Casey smiled. They were almost free.

Title: The losing battle
Characters: Casey (17), Sparklesparkle (3 mo)
Prompt: Diamond, 48
Word Count: 210
Rating: G
Summary: It's hard to decide when something can be so taunting.
Author's Notes: Sparklesparkle was presented in Early September. It's now Early January; Casey has been Nexus-fied for almost a month; Casey and Sparklesparkle have been together but without Austin for two months, due at first to bootcamp but now to the War in Iraq.

Her room still remained bare. Casey imagines that if she were in college, her dorm wouldn't last a week before being devoured by Scotch Tape. But now, she had other things on her mind.

Hussein had been alive only a week ago, but now lies under dirt. Casey fears the same fate for her sailor.

Since after Christmas, it has remained upon her bare and empty dresser, taunting her everso. She wishes it would leave her be for just once. At night, the moonlight catches it, especially at full, but even when new. And it would go Sparklesparkle at her. It drove her mad. So she put blanets over all cracks of light, with little effect.

They say old habits die hard. She now understands that. She thought she had been properly weened of her emotional bottle. But it has not been lathered in honey, tempting her, begging her to suckle it, to keep her real feelings locked inside.

So far, Bottle and Sparklesparkle are winning.

"I should just wear it again," she tells herself, picking Sparklesparkle up and sliding it on her finger. She almost makes it out the door before Sparklesparkle is back n the dresser.

"You win, yet again." Casey spits.

And it says to her, "Sparklesparkle."

jcwth89 @ 2007-01-02T23:58:00

2007-01-03T06:04:29Z

I got a pretty purple butterfly jewelry box from Melly for Christmas.
I feel kind of bad because I was too preoccupied back home to get her anything. But I'll get her something soon.

Oh and yesterday I got the look of a thousand looks, for being happy. I still don't quite understand it, but will I ever? Anyways. Is it really my fault for not understanding Alec's culture too well? I should think not but apparently so. Can't wait til that season's over with though. I don't want to be hated or anything.

And I reminisced with Melly, about The United. That was fun. Until we both realized how much we miss everyone and then insto-depresso, like some magician's trick. Haha. But its ok. There's always that chance out there that we'll meet them all again. I mean, hell. I never thought me and Melly would meet again. It was. Amazing. To say the least. Though I can't quite say the same for Frank since we kind of kept contact afterwards. But that's a complicated back-story that just confused the fuck out of me. Hooray confudlement.

Hmm.

Hope everyone had a good Christmas and a terrific new year. Many blessings and yada yada.

Prompts 1, 2, 14

2007-01-02T19:39:12Z

Title: Losing Control
Characters: Casey (16), other United Crew
Prompt: Beginings, 1
Word Count: 236
Rating: G..ish. I don't remember maybe PG.
Summary: The crew tries to escape but find that it's quite impossible.
Author's Notes: During United.

"Come on Frankie! We're gonna miss the plane!" Melly said, tugging upon his sleeve. He stayed put, staring out of the gianormous glass windows.

"I don't think that's going to matter," he replied, pointing to the sky where a large winter stormcloud was developing. It was June.

"Uh, oh." Melly gasped. "Where's Casey?"

The girl in question was a few yards ahead with Fash and Mia, Guido trailing shortly behind. Suddenly she stops dead in her tracks, as the other three continue on. Guido remarkably managed to avoid crashing into her.

"Casey? What's wrong?" He asked her. Her eyes were large, pupils dialated, and her jaw clenched. Guido snaps his fingers infront of her face. She doesn't budge.

The lights flicker as the wind started howling outside. A voice calls over the intercom that all flights have now been canceled due to quite unpredictable weather.

Melly and Frankie finally find Casey, startled at the look on her face.

"How long has she been like that?"

"I dunno, a few seconds, maybe thirty at the most. Fash! Come back here!"

"What? What's going on...oh."

She blinks. A tear runs down her face, she doesn't know exactly what happened, but she knows it will be big. An arm wraps around her and she lays her head on whoever's shoulder it may be, as more tears start flowing.

"T-thomas Pale," was all she said. All she needed to say.

Title: Flooding
Characters: Casey (16), other United Crew
Prompt: Middles, 2
Word Count: 385
Rating: G
Summary: Casey finds a way to entertain herself.
Author's Notes: During United

It had been a week so far, and the storm showed no signs of letting up. Everyone was trapped in the airport, all roads were blocked in every direction. The teens were getting bored, restless. They had a couple rooms in the hotel, so weren't sleeping on the floor.

They had to entertain themselves somehow. Melly took to the bookstore, Mia took to the boys. Guido was studying planes with the pilots, and Frankie was studying all the pets forced into cages for travel. Fash stayed mostly as Starbucks, and Casey couldn't stay anywhere. She knew the airport like the back of her hand, more than any of her friends knew.

It was her knowledge that intrigued her. She had to do something daring, something fun. And she knew just what it was.

There was a Kinkos in one of the wings. She made a sign and printed off a couple dozen, while the clerk wasn't watching. Then she went up to her room in the hotel and emptied her luggage bag, placing the flyers in a pocket, and dragging it behind her.

Her first step was the closest Ladies' Restroom; Casey waited to makesure no one was around, before walking in, taping a sign to the door and locking it. Once secure, she took all the rolls of toilet paper from the stalls, stuffing them in her bag and walking out. Once outside, she replaced the first sign with another: "Out of Supplies." Casey did the same in the men's restroom, over and over again until her luggage was full.

Enter Phase Two. Casey found the most used potty-room and loaded the sinks and bowls with the tissue, turned on the water and commenced to flush. Then she stealthily ran out as if she had nothing to do with it. The rest of her signs went on various doors, whether they be restroom or not.

Quiet as a Ninja, she took her empty bag back to the room, went to Starbucks to get a latte, and then went to find Melly.

With a smug look on her face, she sat down across from the younger girl, who looked up.

"What have you been up to?" Melly asked.

"Nothing..."

Right about then, a page for janatorial assistance rang out, and Casey's grin only got bigger.

Title: Pink
Characters: Casey (17), Megan (23)
Prompt: Green, 14
Word Count: 192
Rating: G
Summary: The day after Christmas presents some wonderful pressents.
Author's Notes: Casey went back home because her family was traveling to see the Grandparents. She had her powers binded, or something, so that she didn't destroy anything on accident.

It had been a fun night and chatter was dwindling down. Gramma and Grampa decided that it was about time to leave, so they passed off their gifts to Her. Then Casey passed her gifts and She passed a few to Casey. She unwrapped hers first, oohing at the candle and awwing at the 3-year old Graduation bear.

Then Casey started tearing at the red patterned paper. First was a jar, golden lid with green stuff in it. Pear scented body butter, it was. Next, another red wrapped cylyndrical item, only taller. A bottle of pear-scented body mist. The third she had trouble opening. She had wrapped it pretty tightly.

Casey was so excited to even be eating with Her, for the first time in probably ten years, the gifts didn't even matter. She ws, after all, Casey's sister. Nothing was stronger than a sisterly bond, even when they've never really memorably met.

The final gift had to be the best, and to this day the most useful.

A pair of pajama bottoms, "Pink" across the butt, a pink satin belt, and stars everywhere, contrasting imensely with the fabric's base color: Green.

jcwth89 @ 2006-12-31T16:58:00

2006-12-31T23:07:20Z

Mmm.

Picture.

Of the Real Me.

And my Sis.

Hoorah.

^.^
It makes me all bubbly inside.

Christmas was quite the letdown.

2006-12-29T01:33:23Z

I travled back home for the holiday, seeing as how my family went to visit dad's family in hilbillyville.

Never have gotten to hang out with my sister, had a chance and I was stood up. By my own sister in case you missed the first memo.

It hurt.

I'll get over it.

But its good to be back in the Nexus. I missed you guys.

[[occ-ok i'm not really back home yet, was just stood up today, and will be returning on sunday]]

lost lost LOST

2006-12-15T03:54:20Z

>.<

Frick.

I lost like 500 words from my already-far-enough-behind NaNoWriMo. I only have about 3k before and now I'm dead.
I wanted to try and finish it before NaNoEdMo but how can I do that if i LOST words?!

>.<

Caseymun hates technology. So does Casey. Gahh.

Prompt 30

2006-12-13T04:33:50Z

Title: Afternoon Delight
Characters: Casey (13)
Prompt: Death, 30
Word Count: 336
Rating: G
Summary: A surprise you never saw coming.
Author's Notes:Another paradox/universe/alternate. Whatever you want to say. *shrug*

Casey walked in the door, after a long day at school, exhausted and ready for a nap.

When she paused in the living room to drop all her stuff off, she looked around. There had to have been at least ten people in the room, most of them grim-looking.

Blair say in a corner, reading Goosebumps, oblivious to whatever was going on. Her mother and father sat on the couch, holding each other like it would make everything OK. Her grandparents sat next to them, looking afraid, as if someone had pulled a gun on them. Aunts and uncles stood all around, either offering words of comfort or staying quiet, unable to think of the right thing to say.

No one even noticed her entrance, and it was quite loud. She though the worse: Gramma has cancer? Uncle Jimmy was in a motorcycle accident? Her mom had been pregnant but had a miscarriage? What?

"Mama?" Casey asked slowly. No one looked up. She walked closer to the group. What was going on?

The news was on, quietly braodcasting the breaking coverage of some terrible shooting. Casey paused to listen.

"Shots were fired today, around 1:15 PM, at Monroe Middle School. The alleged shooter was believed to be an unknown danger, but we have just found out he was a student. Eighth grader Alec Komerove was said to have stolen the gun from his father..." Casey thought for a moment. The couldn't have. It didn't. She listened for more.

"...Five victims in all, including three students, a teacher, and Komerove." On the screen appeared four pictures; Casey assumed they had already shown Alec's. Just as the newscaster had said, there were three students and a teacher.

"Hey, that's...oh, God, Ms Parks!" casey shouted. She had forgotten about everyone else in the room, but they still didn't notice her. "And..that's Jake. Jake Leer. I dunno that kid...but..." Caseys eyes opened wide.

Everything came rushing back, the day, the shooting, everything.

The last photo on the screen...

Was her.

jcwth89 @ 2006-12-11T22:13:00

2006-12-12T04:13:01Z

Hmm.

I've made a new friend today.

*big grin*

---

[[occ: working a 5.5 hour shift when you're only supposed to be there for 4 hours, AND doing something you've never done before is not fun. be warned.]]

Prompt 47

2006-12-10T15:49:39Z

Title: For you, my love, I will
Characters: Casey (17), Austin (18)
Prompt: Heart, 47
Word Count: 498
Rating: G
Summary: Through pain and suffering, something good will pop through.
Author's Notes: Before Broken, and therefore before The Nexus, but after The United.

It was a sunny day, a good day to have a picnic. Dogs were running amok in the park, kids were shouting joyously, Casey was smiling brightly as she rumaged through the basket.

"Hey, Austin, did you bring the sodas?" she asked curiously. He smacked his forhead and sat up.

"No," he sighed. "Should I go buy some?" Casey shook her head, laying down next to him on the traditional red and white checkered blanket.

"Don't worry about it, I'll survive," she said, putting her head on his shoulder. In an instant, Austin jumped up as if he had been bitten, letting Casey just fall back.

"What's wrong?" she asked, confused and kind of hurt. All day he had been trying to avoid her touch and she didn't get it.

"I...forgot to grab something from the car. I'll be right back," he explained quickly before running away.

"Wait, Austin! I said I don't need any pop!" It was no use, he was too far away. Casey sighed, laying back down. She was starting to get scared that they were done.

For the next ten minutes, she contemplated what she would do if he came back and broke up with her. Or what if he didn't come back at all?

It was bad enough that he was unofficially going to the military, but now this? What was going on with him?

When he finally came bac, Casey was thoroughly annoyed. She stood up, crossed her arms across her chest, and gave him The Look. He winced.

"Austin, what's gotten into you? You've been avoiding me practically all day, which I don't understand how since we're hanging out together. You're being rude to me, and you just rushed out on me like you had to go meet some other girl. What's up?"

"Well," he started nervously. "To tell the truth, I did go to meet someone else." If looks could kill; "No, its not like that. I promise. Casey, you know I would never. I just had to get something from Rachael, just hear me out ok?"

Casey continued glaring at him. What could he have possibly needed to get from her best friend?

"You know I love you, right?" Casey nodded reluctantly. "We've been together for over two years. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for you, an dI am more than willing to be there for you to the end of time. Casey, my love," he said, bending down on one knee and reaching into his pocket for something. Casey gasped. She couldn't believe what was happening.

"Will you marry me?"

Her jaw dropped, she didn't know what to say. Or, rather, how to say it. All vocal abilities had been lost. Casey nodded slowly. "Of course I will," she sputtered at last.

Austin smiled as he jumped up and gave her an almost suffocating hug.

"Sorry I seemed like such an ass," he whispered. "I was just nervouc."

Casey grinned and kissed him. "I love you."

jcwth89 @ 2006-12-05T22:06:00

2006-12-06T04:06:44Z

End of the quarter, the game. Its a close score, Benson 66 to Bryan 68. I'm at the top of the stands with the girls, screaming, cheering, hating the piss-yellow shirt we had to wear but glad I'm there.

And like instant replay, everything goes slow. Tyrell at the 3-point, jumps, pushes the ball, release.

The clock ticks down, slowly.

The crowd goes silent.

We stand there, watch the ball, we feel it, it's going to make it.

Five.

The ball creeps closer.

Four.

The crowd watches impatiently.

Three.

We start to jump, ready to cheer.

Two. We know its going in. Closer. Closer. Closer.

One.

The buzzer goes off. The ball is still in the air, inches from the basket.

An immense hush falls over everyone. Not even a breath can be heard in the crowd.

The ball hits the rim.

It circles.

It swoops.

It falls.

Past the net.

The crowd falls apart.

The ball missed; while past it did not fall through.

Everyone is devestated.

They lost the game.

And then I woke up. (And I found five dollars!)

Prompt 90

2006-12-05T01:09:19Z

Title: Everything is alright
Characters: Casey (17)
Prompt: Home, 90
Word Count: 180
Rating: G
Summary: The waves crash down.
Author's Notes: About a month after her arrival to The Nexus.

"I... close my eyes, and I smile, knowing that everything is alright..." she was belting out the words along witht he music. Blue October, one of Casey's favorite and most comforting bands.

It was nearing Christmas, and Casey had been gone for almost a full month.

"So what, so long, so sad, I wanna be strong. don't try to take this from me, I've already spent my life living half undone."

Out of no where, her world crashed. Tears flowed freely; she missed her family. The last thing she had said to them was about Tulane, how they were being tyrants because she couldn't go. The guilt had been tugging at her ever since, especially since the arrival at the Inn.

She missed her friends; they were always there when she needed them, and now they were no where to be found. Yeah, she now had Mel and Frank, but they weren't the same. They weren't worse or anything, but they weren't the same. They didn't know her like the others did.

Most of all she just missed her home.

[Credit] Lyrics from Blue October (Foiled) "18th Floor Balcony" and the secret song on the end of that track. (c)2006? Or 2005, I'm not sure.

jcwth89 @ 2006-12-02T21:28:00

2006-12-03T03:28:05Z

Hmm. Casey had a long day. She doesn't quite know why she's writing in Third Person but she is and so she asks that you, her loving friends, get over it.

She hasn't been sleeping well and really misses her family and friends.

But mostly she just misses Austin, who she would miss whether here or back home.

Erm. And. Yeah. Casey thinks she needs a hug. And a fluffy teddy bear. With a red bow in his or her hair.

I guess the excitement of seeing Mel and Frank has worn off finally.

Prompt 50

2006-11-30T03:59:59Z

Title: The Winning Hand
Characters: Casey, Melly, Frank, Fash
Prompt: Spade, 50
Word Count: 367
Rating: G, maybe PG for gambling
Summary: The gang sit down for a game of poker, while awaiting food from the others.
Author's Notes: Durring the United, before the big fight at the end. Before the Nexus.

The hand was tight, and everyone had thrown in their all: money, buttons, fuzz, even their future slice of pizza, which should have been at the room by now.

Casey, Fash, Fankie, and Melly sat on one of the full-sized hotel beds, each with five cards in their hands, blank looks on their faces, and a glimmer of hope -for the win- in their eyes.

The Chicago Cityscape deck of cards had been snagged from the tiny giftshop; nobody really wanted to pay $5 for a pack of 52 cards with shapes and numbers on them, plus two jokers. The four kids were on their twenty-seventh hand, so intent on the game that they didn't notice the too-long absense of their friends.

"I'll...throw in this pair of socks," Casey laughed, quickly turning the innocent game into a game of mock stip poker. She took off her shoes to reveal a pair of Pink Panther socks. Melly giggled.

"Alright, I'm out," Frank says, tossing his cards down.

Melly tossed in her purple star socks and Fash went with a rabbit foot keychain, since she didn't have any bet-worthy socks.

The three remaining players agreed the pot was large enough to show face. While they decided who would go first, Frank got up to get a glass of water. Through Rock-Paper-Scissors, it was decided that Fash would throw down first, folled by Melly, and finally Casey.

Fash winced as she layed the cards out: two diamonds -a kind and queen-, a club -a measely deuce-, and the queen of hearts. Just a single pair.

Melly smirked happily. Her cards read as two threes -a heart, and a club- and three sevens -spade, diamond, heart.

Before Casey even had a change to show the other two, Frank came back into the room, a scared look upon his face.

"Guys...how long have Mia and Guido been gone?"

Melly's eyes lit up with terror as everyone jumped off the bed, ready to frantically search the entire city for their friends, hoping desperately that the food was just taking forever and a year to finish cooking.

On the bed layed Casey's five cards: Ace, King, queen, Jack, Ten. All five of them spades.

jcwth89 @ 2006-11-29T17:55:00

2006-11-29T23:55:39Z

Wow. Quite an eventful day.

I ran into Frank. Well, it was more like he ran into me. I can't even express how much I've missed him.

Even if he's not the Frank I know.

And, wonderous news, Mel is going to try and get me a job. This is great news. And thusfar I am not missing home.

I wonder how long this ecstacy will last before I realize what's gone.

Prompt 45

2006-11-29T23:21:09Z

Title: Camping
Characters: Casey (31), Austin (32), Melinda (4)
Prompt: Moon, 45
Word Count: 328
Rating: [negative] G for uber cuteness
Summary: What child hasn't questioned the moon in the sky?
Author's Notes: This is another world, Earth, where He'll be gone in an instant never happened, Casey and Austin got married, Casey never knew about The Nexus or The United, and she never had any significant powers. In NexusCasey's eyes, this is paradise.

Melinda looked up into the sky. Her father was a few yards off, at the dock, fishing peacefully while she and mommy were getting dinner ready.

"Mommy, look at that cloud!" Melinda shouted, pointing towards the sky. "It's so round. Like a...umm...a circle?" She was learning her shapes quickly.

Casey looked into the sky and smiled, remembering that she had said the same thing to her mother, quite a long time ago. Like mother, like daughter. "Mel, darlin', that's not a cloud."

"Yeshuh, it is too a cloud, mommy!" Melinda said proudly, quite sure of herself.

"Nope. It's the moon, I promise."

"It can't be, mommy! The moon only comes out at night, after the sun leaves," the young girl said matter-of-factly.

"You don't believe me? Alright, fine. Go ask daddy, he'll tell you." Casey nudged Melinda towards the dock. "Be careful, don't run!" Of course Melinda didn't listen.

"Daddy, daddy," Melinda squealed, running up to him and giving him a big hug. "Mommy says that could there," she pointed to it, "isn't really a cloud. But it is, it is!"

Austin laughed, put his pole down, and picked his babygirl up. "Which cloud, hunny? That funny lookin' one up there, the round one?" Melinda nodded, eyes as bright as can be. "Well, then, what does mommy say it is?"

"The moon," she said, emphasized and all, as if to say 'Isn't she crazy?'

"Ah. Well, between you and me, we'll say it is a cloud, but don't tell mommy, ok? It's our secret."

Melinda smiled triumphantly. "Ok! I won't tell."

"Alright, now you go help with dinner. Tell her I caught a couple more fish if she wants to grill them." Austin set Melinda down, who rushed to land and towards the camper.

"Mommy, daddy's gots a lot more fishes if you want to eat em." She shouted, and then dropped her voice to a whisper. "And he said it is a cloud, not a silly moon."

Prompt 71

2006-11-28T22:58:54Z

Title: He'll be gone in an instant
Characters: Casey (17, 18), Austin (18)
Prompt: Broken, 71
Word Count: 264
Rating: G
Summary: It's almost a Dear Johnny thing, only much worse.
Author's Notes: Before The Nexus but after The United. Austin is Casey's boyfriend for almost two years (since a little bit before TU). After the break, Casey's already in the Nexus.

"Casey? What's wrong, babe?" He looked into her eyes; tears were building up, preparing to fall. "Come on, tell me," he prompted.

"It's-...you-...no. It's nothing." Casey said, turning her head away. She couldn't tell him. He was leaving, her Austin was leaving her behind.

"Honey, we're not gonna get past anything if you don't talk to me," Austin said, pulling her face back.

"It's just that...you're leaving me! And...I don't know. It's stupid. Nevermind."

"What's stupid? Do you think I'm not coming back?" He looked into her eyes again as her lips start to quiver. "Look, of course I'm coming back, babe. If only for you; I promise." He kissed her ever o gently, making her smile at long last.
---
That was last September. It is now August of the next year, Casey has been in the Nexus, keeping busy mostly at the Inn, for eight months now. She gets monthly updates on her old home, checking in every once in a while. Everyone there just thinks that she is at college.

Her latest check has thusfar proved to be the most devastating.

She came back to the Inn, total and complete shock washed all over her.

After his training, Austin had been sent directly to Iraq. And all the comfort in the world couldn't soothe Casey's newly crushed heart.

Warm arms wrapped around her, a shoulder to cry on.

"Mel...he's...they..."

Mel just shushed her, rubbing her back. "I know. I know; it'll be ok."

Tears flooding. Everything went wrong. He was supposed to come back. Come back and everything would be ok.

OOC: And let us hope this never happens, hope that I don't seriously have to go through that with my Cowboy. (Who isn't really my boyfriend but boyfriend, best friend, same difference)

Prompts 12, 61, 70 finished

2006-11-28T13:04:21Z

Title: Sweet Sixteen
Characters: Casey (16), friends (no real part), family
Prompt: Orange, 12
Word Count: 147
Rating: G
Summary: Its her sweet sixteen, and Casey gets something she least expected.
Author's Notes: Only a few weeks before the United.

"...Happy birthday, dear Casey, happy birthday to you!" Shouts, hoo-hahs, and the blowing out of candles. It was her 16th birthday, but she wasn't expecting much.

"So what did you wish for?" her twelve year-old brother, Blair, asked curriously.

"Nunya, brother." Casey said, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Hmm," he pondered, analyzing her answer. "She wants a boy." And in a split second, her face went beet red.

"Alright, alright, enough," her father scolded. "Are you ready for our pressent?"

Casey nodded, and he wrapped a blindfold around her eyes.

Casey stumbled out the front door, guided by her father and followed by all the guests. She felt the cold, March air on her face, and gasped as the blindfold was removed.

In the driveway was a bright, ugly, orange car. But it was a car, who cared? Casey smiled.

"I'll name her Jessy! Thanks dad."

Title: Snowdays
Characters: Casey (8), Blair (4)
Prompt: Winter, 61
Word Count: 122
Rating: G
Summary: The [Omaha] October Snowstorm of '97.
Author's Notes: Before the Nexus and United. Way before.

It was a cold night, but no one knew why until the sun was shining down.

The kids were downstairs, shouting about not having school. Their parents were outside, viewing the damage.

The power, gas, everything was out, and it was freezing. Both Casey and Blair were shivering, but neither of them minded. It was like the storm of the century had passed as they slept peacefully, like Jack Frost had come early, like Christmas was here.

And it was only October.

And it meant snowdays for a week, snowmen for two weeks, and with enough strength in the walls, snowforts for a straight month, cold permitting.

Casey could feel it in her bones- this was going to be a great winter.

Title: Hangover from Hell
Characters: Casey (17), Rachael (18), Jeremy (21)
Prompt: Storm, 70
Word Count: 541
Rating: PG for swearing, *possibly* PG 13 for massive drinking but it's only in one bit.
Summary: Its the night before finals, but Casey doesn't seem to mind.
Author's Notes: After The United, her reason for coming to The Nexus. Also, may not be completely typed when you read this...school's soon so I'll have to leave but I'll try to finish.

"Don't you walk out that door, you have finals tomorrow!" Casey completely ignored the command, digging around her purse for the keys to her crap-mobile.

"Alright, Jessy, let's roll," she told the car, patting the dashboard and starting the car. She found Jessy works better in the winter when talked to, odd as it may be.

Fifteen minutes later, Casey and Jessy rolled noisily into a parking spot outside one of Omaha's most famous downtown clubs, and suddenly her cell started to sing "Hips Don't Lie." She answered, it was Rachael.

"Hey, you here yet?" Casey heard from the reciever.

"Yeah, I just pulle dup. Where are you at?"

"By the entrance. Hurry, before they close the doors!"

An hour later, Casey, Rachael, and this cutie named Jeremy were busy slamming down shot after shot of tequila, and anything else they could get their hands on, and so went the rest of the night until the club closed. Rachael went home with her cousin, "the safe driver," while Casey walked around the Old Market with Jeremy, to try and wear off the huge buzz they both had.

It wasn't until four AM that Casey walked in the door, soaking wet and freezing cold from the steady shower of rain, and went to sleep. Not two hours later, she was awake again with the hangover-from-hell, slowly getting ready for school. Maybe a night on the town wasn't a good idea for a Wednesday, after all.

When Casey finally arrived to school, it was 7:48, she was later for her first class. Worse yet, she was late for her first final: English. That's when it started.

Quite suddenly, and unpredictably, it started to thunder outside, as a single cloud seemed to make like rabbits and multiply, before exploding like an atomic bomb.

Casey paid no attention to it as she struggled to stay awake and finish the test. so much for an A.

Next test, Government. a harder, longer, and more sleep-worthy test than the last set Casey into a panic. The rain got harder, the wind blew faster, and the sky got darker. Halfway through class, the intercom came on and Casey winced at the noice.

"Excuse the interuption; Teachers, please escort you classes to the nearest tornado shelter. Warnings hve been issued, and sightings have been reported. Thank you." And it clicked off. Kids groaned, and the teacher ushered them out.

"Emerald City, here we come," Rachael said, causing the class to laugh nervously.

In the boy's locker room, everything seemed to be calm. But Casey knew better, and there was nothing she chould do about it. Once the beast was out, it was hard to get back. She just hoped nothing bad happened.

As chance would go, hoping for nothing bad to happen was a dead weight for the ftes to send something terrible your way. Not thirty minutes after everyone was safe, a tornado landed close to the building's East side, where the basement was. Oh, shit. They're screwed.

At the end of the day, the storm had calmed, and about thirty people had been rushed to the hospital. It was all too much for casey.

The next day she went to the tabloids, to find a way out.

mm mm mmm.

2006-11-28T03:50:10Z

Yeah. So I decided I'd kill my boredom at school and work on these. ^.^

001.	Beginnings.	002.	Middles.	003.	Ends.	004.	Insides.	005.	Outsides.
006.	Hours.	007.	Days.	008.	Weeks.	009.	Months.	010.	Years.
011.	Red.	012.	Orange.	013.	Yellow.	014.	Green.	015.	Blue.
016.	Purple.	017.	Brown.	018.	Black.	019.	White.	020.	Colourless.
021.	Friends.	022.	Enemies.	023.	Lovers.	024.	Family.	025.	Strangers.
026.	Teammates.	027.	Parents.	028.	Children.	029.	Birth.	030.	Death.
031.	Sunrise.	032.	Sunset.	033.	Too Much.	034.	Not Enough.	035.	Sixth Sense.
036.	Smell.	037.	Sound.	038.	Touch.	039.	Taste.	040.	Sight.
041.	Shapes.	042.	Triangle.	043.	Square.	044.	Circle.	045.	Moon.
046.	Star.	047.	Heart.	048.	Diamond.	049.	Club.	050.	Spade.
051.	Water.	052.	Fire.	053.	Earth.	054.	Air.	055.	Spirit.
056.	Breakfast.	057.	Lunch.	058.	Dinner.	059.	Food.	060.	Drink.
061.	Winter.	062.	Spring.	063.	Summer.	064.	Fall.	065.	Passing.
066.	Rain.	067.	Snow.	068.	Lightening.	069.	Thunder.	070.	Storm.
071.	Broken.	072.	Fixed.	073.	Light.	074.	Dark.	075.	Shade.
076.	Who?	077.	What?	078.	Where?	079.	When?	080.	Why?
081.	How?	082.	If.	083.	And.	084.	He.	085.	She.
086.	Choices.	087.	Life.	088.	School.	089.	Work.	090.	Home.
091.	Birthday.	092.	Christmas.	093.	Thanksgiving.	094.	Independence.	095.	New Year.
096.	Writer‘s Choice.	097.	Writer‘s Choice.	098.	Writer‘s Choice.	099.	Writer‘s Choice.	100.	Writer‘s Choice.

hooray.

Oh joyous day!

2006-11-28T01:40:43Z

I just landed at the inn. Found Melly and I couldn't be happier.

Unfortunately in order to land here, I had to turn down the aceptance to my dream college back on earth (Tulane University in New Orleans, LA***), but thats ok, because I don't want to cause something catastrophic, they've been through enough with Katrina, which was not me, by the way. Good old true mother nature right there, thank the gods.

Well. Truth be told, I'm still a little confused. It still feels like home...sort of. So I'm wondering if this Komarov guy really did what he said he could, or if I'm just insane and it's all different from home, and who am I kidding? Melly has a dragon, this can't be home.

I'm gonna miss everyone back there.

OOC:***I really did get accepted there. And I couldn't be happier. ^.^

leaving

2006-11-26T15:48:25Z

It wasn't as hard to leave as she had expected. After two unexpected adventures with what they all called The United -including Melly, Frank, Neko-or Mia-, Jace, and Guido- Casey really didn't fit in her old life anymore.

The last escapade hadn't ended well, but when she returned, it all just seemed a dream. Everyone had died, as far as she could remember, herself included. But that couldn't be, because she had returned.

She wasn't so sure about the rest, however. Everyone lost contact after the incident, but eventually Frank found that contact again. But the rest seemed to be nothing more than mere acquaintances.

But this had happened t least two years ago, although it seemed like a lifetime. And despite the dream-like sense it gave, Casey couldn't deny what she came back with; it now rains when she's sad, the sun shines when she's happy, and let's not even talk about what happens when she's perturbed. She can practically control the weather.

It was easier in the other world. There's no doubt about that. But now, after two years of trying to balance her new and strange power with a social life, Casey felt she had everything under control.

That is, until Finals came in her senior year of high school.

She had stayed out the night before the day of all her big tests -English, Government, and Spanish. Needless to say, she didn't get a second of studying done. When she finally realized how horrible a choice that was, Casey freaked. It was the middle of December, and Omaha was having tornado warnings as if it was April.

One of the vortexes had unfortunately landed directly on the building, as unlikely as it sounds. Casualties were abundant, but no fingers were pointed.

This is what prompted Casey to leave Earth. But first she needed to find someone who could help, without thinking she was completely insane. This someone came easily, through those crazy newsstand papers with alien babies and what-not. A man named Alexandar Komarov assisted her, if you could cal shoving her into a dark abyss assisting.

The abyss seemed to last forever, and Casey really had no idea what to do. Considering the last abyss she had been in had resulted horribly, it was safe to say she wasn't pleased with her current location. If abysmal placed had the capacity to contain weather, there would be no more abyss.