What's A Lost Boy To Do? (open)

[Clark Dupont]

Clark smiled lazily to himself as he kicked a rock across the path he was walking on. Although he wasn’t at all happy about his move away from Manhattan, he thought he could get used to the California weather. He didn’t like it when it was too hot, but the mild heat was something he could certainly warm to. He shook out his slightly stringy blond hair as he looked for a place to sit. He still needed to get his bearings around the school, and he figured that sitting down would allow him to regain the energy to continue on his trek. He looked down at his aching feet and felt a quiet yearning for the New York City subway system. He wished that he could just hop a 4 to his dormitory.

He finally found a worn park bench, which he gratefully collapsed on. He was in some sort of garden, which he found to be quite agreeable. He had always enjoyed nature, and had even attempted to grow flowers boxes off the fire escape of his apartment. He guessed that foliage was just another perk of being in California, although he would still trade it all for a good walk through Central Park. He was going to painfully miss his park. He had spent so many days bumming around with his friends, playing guitar on Sheep’s Meadow, and making sarcastic jabs at the street performers in Bethesda Terrace and the tourists who watched their shows. He could just hear the harmonizing shouts now… “White people, you have nothing to be afraid of…”

He absentmindedly began to beat out a simple rhythm upon his lap. It was nothing more than a paradiddle, but he was starting to get rather into it. The beat turned into a drum line, and the drum line turned into a song. He quickly decided to slap on a pair of headphones and lost himself in a sea of music. He didn’t want to actually admit that he was lost. It was the New York in him, he could be out of his mind lost but he simply couldn’t bring himself to approach strangers for directions. He had sent too many tourists in the wrong direction, and he figured karma wouldn’t be kind or in his favor. Instead he sat upon his bench listening to song, after beautiful song, passively hoping that some kind soul would direct him upon the right path to his dormitory.

[bianca]

Bianca enjoyed walking through Castle Hill's gardens. They were full of exotic and enhancing flowers, ones she'd never seen before in her life. Her curly, brown hair poured over her shoulders with each move her body made, her grey summer dress flowing out behind her when the breeze caught it. She glanced around the garden, a satisfied smile enlightening her facial features. This was one of the places she enjoyed relaxing in, especially when school got hectic. The stress seemed to pour out of her, mellowness filling the empty space. It was like being high; the healthy way.

Her silver flats echoed the silence with every gentle step she took. She didn't like breaking the silence, she felt she was disturbing the nature. As far as she could see, no one was here, but she was only in the front of the garden. She strolled down the cobble path, her eyes wondering between various plants. A few benches came in sight, and it seemed a boy was occupying one. Narrowing her eyes, she looked harder; to see it was one of the Dupont's. She grinned; amused. It was the only Dupont she liked; Clark. Although she disliked his sister passionately, she didn't let that get in the way. Why should she? It wasn't his problem.

Bianca caught a glimpse of the headphones covering his ears, reckoning he probably didn't know she was there. Suddenly, dread hit her system. If he was at Castle Hill, then so was his sister. She clenched her fists, thinking of the nuisance she'd have to put up with this year. And to make it worse, they were in the same year, so they may actually have classes together. Bianca just hoped Lydia was at Westfield, and hopefully she was. She took a few steps closer, not wanting to disturb him. Clark was probably lost, knowing what he was like. She tilted her head, trying not to giggle. It was entertaining to watch people when they didn't know you were they're, watching them too.

[Clark Dupont]

Clark closed his eyes as he held his headphones so that the speakers were completely pressed over his ears. He allowed himself to drown in the music, and have it take over. Music had always been a passion of his, even from an early age. He had grown up listening to the smooth sounds of Jamaican Rasta rock, thanks to his many nannies, along with the classic rock staples like The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. His mother infused a knowledge of classical and Jazz into his musical education, while his sister added modern independent. His first instrument had been the saxophone, which he began playing in the fifth grade. After two years of suffering through his school’s orchestra, he introduced himself to the guitar, and well, the rest was history. He taught himself how to read and write musical notes, and began to create his own melodies. After fully mastering the guitar in his freshman year, he had decided to teach himself the drums. He was slowly getting better, though his true love would always lie with his guitar. He had been in a pretty decent band back in the city, and they had even begun to book gigs at some of the major music pubs on the Lower East Side. He was crushed when he learnt he was going to have to leave it all behind.

Clark was rocking ever so slightly in time to his music, letting all of his stress about his move flow out through is body as his song hit a crescendo. One of the reasons he was able to keep such a cool demeanor was because of his music. It consistently proved to be a release for him, and once he committed something that bothered him down on paper or in song it no longer bothered him. It would be a stretch to say that nothing bothered him, but he just seemed to possesses one of those personalities that wasn’t disturbed by the small things. He smiled sadly to himself as he thought of his sister. Back when he had still known her, she had allowed even a slightly uneven shoelace to ruin her day. He hadn’t spoken much to her in the past couple of years, but from what he gathered she was still exactly the same.

Clark’s song ended and he slowly opened his eyes. He was quite startled to find a pair of brown eyes blinking back at him in amusement. His characteristic lazily crooked smile spread across his lips. He was looking at a familiar face. Her name was Bianca, and she had been one of Lydia’s more tolerable friends from back home. “Hey,” he said hesitantly as if he was making sure she wasn’t a mirage. He carefully took off his headphones, swirled the cord around his iPod, and set them in his lap. “What are you doing so far away from home?” He was sure that he had heard something about her leaving, but he wasn’t quite sure if she had, in fact, actually left the city. He never really paid much attention to gossip, he found it repulsive, and a disgusting waste of time.

[bianca]

Bianca was relieved to see Clark hadn't changed much since the last time she'd seen him, back in NYC. He never really changed anyways; no matter where he was or what he was doing. Another thing Bianca really liked about this guy. "Hey!" Bianca exclaimed, padding over. She placed herself on the bench beside him, pulling her dress underneath her and wiping the brown curls from her eyes. She smiled enthusiastically, glad to see an old friend. "What are you doing so far away from home?" She had a feeling that question was coming, not that she minded answering it. There wasn't really much of an answer, not more than she wanted education. She'd heard a lot about the two schools, and knew a lot of elites from The Upper East Side ended up here.

"Education, I guess. Not much more than that." Bianca shrugged, creasing her brow. That was the best answer she could come up with at the moment, so it would do. "Why are you so far away, and where's.. Lydia?" Bianca tried to hide the disgust in her tone when she mentioned his sister's name, trying her best not to be rude. It had failed though, she wasn't the best at masking her feelings, she preferred not to anyways.

Bianca had picked this school really, because if it's high education program. She'd always been at the top of the class, and involved in clubs and such. She was a really social person, and wanted to show everyone. She loved the small private school she went to. It was classy, rich, and beautiful. A pang of home sickness hit her chest at all the fabulous memories back in NYC, and how much she missed the bright lights of the city. The quote, 'The city never sleeps' was most definitely true, but the sounds of the city relaxed her at night, helping her drift off. There was also no colors in California, only sun, sun, sun. Whatever happened to Fall? It was Bianca's favorite season. She loved watching the leaves fall off the trees.

[Clark Dupont]

His lazy smile widened when Bianca sat down. He carefully removed his headphones from his lap and gently placed them next to him as he turned slightly so that he could face her. He had been hoping that someone would join him, though not to the extent of actually taking the initiative to ask anyone to join him. He was an independent boy, but he simply adored the company of others, and even the most independent people got lonely sometimes—right? He ran a hand through his hair as he tossed his stringy strands around. It was a nervous habit of his.

Education, I guess. Not much more than that.

He chuckled softly at her rather literal response. “Right on,” he said as his hands once again began to pat out the paradiddle he had been working on earlier. “Yeah, I guess that would be the reason everyone is trapped here, right? Education. Or so they like to call it…” His voice trailed off. He hadn’t been at the school very long, only a few hours, but he could already tell that Castle Prep wasn’t really a very simulating school, not like the schools he was used to anyway. Most of the people seemed to be inconsolably vapid, and he doubted that they were spending their time there in order to simulate their intellectual side. He had problems with the idea of boarding schools in general. It made him feel rather trapped, as if he was a biogenically enhanced lab right locked in a box with your everyday field mice.

Why are you so far away

Clark’s eyes illuminated with mirth at Bianca’s question. “Oh why, haven’t you heard?” he asked with a conflicting note of enthusiasm and sarcasm. “Dear old Clarrissa has served herself her own walking papers. All thanks to dear old dad,” there was bitterness in Clark’s voice that was unknowingly similar to his little sister’s. He was rather shocked that Bianca hadn’t heard about his father’s scandal. It had been plastered all over the New York papers and society pages, then again, he didn’t know exactly how long he had been gone from the city for. Though she was Lydia’s friend, wasn’t she? Didn’t friends talk about things as serious as father’s getting chucked in the clink?

, and where's.. Lydia?

“Lydia?” he questioned as he tried to remember the last time he had seen his sister. She has specifically scheduled them on separate planes. He couldn’t help but smile slightly. No one knew how to hold a grudge like his sister. “No idea, she is probably recruiting new vultures over at the other school. They might have found a carcass by now, I would recommend that you join them, but I don’t think it’s such a good idea to poke them while they’re feeding.” He ran his hand through his hair again as he laughed to himself. He didn’t really care what Lydia was up to, he just hoped that his mother hadn’t damaged her as much as he suspected she had. “Hey,” he asked slowly, “Shouldn’t you know the answer to that? You’re her friend after all.” He kicked a rock out from under the bench.

[bianca]

"Yeah, I guess that would be the reason everyone is trapped here, right? Education. Or so they like to call it.." Bianca cracked a grin at his response, she didn't really remember him being into school so very much, or so she recalled. "They have some awesome extra curricular activities too," Bianca replied, trying to sound as smart as she could. Instead, she sounded like some geeky nerd that couldn't wait for school to start so they could pile up at their desks and do homework all night. Even though Bianca was very interested in some of the clubs that were going on, she'd never admit it. The last thing she wanted was others to take her too seriously, when actually, she's an easy going person. Or so she thought.

"Oh why, haven’t you heard? Dear old Clarrissa has served herself her own walking papers. All thanks to dear old dad," The first thing that surprised him was that he referred to his mother as Clarrissa. She found that rather intriguing, but would never ask why. Maybe their was a specific reason, or a story behind it all, which lead to the second thing. She'd never heard much about the Dupont's, and certainly not heard about the latest news. Ever since the tension between the two families have started, she'd felt totally out of it. Of course she'd never read the paper, she didn't want to hear about the negative part of the city, she tried to look for the positive side. But what was so surprising was, she'd never heard of this. Surely all the elites were talking about it, but was everyone trying to exclude the Marcello's? The thought rattled her core.

"Lydia? No idea, she is probably recruiting new vultures over at the other school. They might have found a carcass by now, I would recommend that you join them, but I don’t think it’s such a good idea to poke them while they’re feeding." Bianca couldn't resist giggling. The reason it was so amusing was, that it was partially true, and a very good description. Although it was rude, there was no problem getting a kick out of it, was there? "Hey, shouldn’t you know the answer to that? You’re her friend after all." Busted. It was surprising that Clark didn't yet know about the hatred between the two girls, if it was not obvious already. He wouldn't ask such a question if he did know, so chances were, he didn't. Bianca froze, thinking of an excuse to make. She was completely lost, speechless. Crap. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap. She thought to herself over and over. What was she going to say? Whatever came out of her mouth, I suppose. If anything ever came out. "Urm, well, We don't really talk now, urm, I lost her number too." Bianca stuttered, unsure of her answer.

[Clark Dupont]

Clark studied the girl sitting in front of him. She was rather pretty, he supposed, but she had the sort of shiny designer persona and coldness that he had associated with his sister. He raised a brow at her as he slowly remembered the last time they had met. It was all coming back to him, the two of them had ended up together after one of his shows. The pair of them had been rather inebriated, and Bianca had been awfully insistent. The sound of her voice broke his concentration. They have some awesome extra curricular activities too “Yeah?” he asked rather passively, though he truly was interested in the types of activities the school had to offer. His grand passion was music, and he was willing to join whatever form of musical programs they offered. “Like what?” a devilish smile spread over his face as he added, “What makes the grand Bianca Marcello tick?” There was a slight hint of mockery in his voice, though it was virtually undetectable. He flashed her his charming lopsided smile as if to imply that he was just messing around with her, though he genuinely was interested in hearing what she did to occupy her precious free time. He could always use some more friends.

He watched her face and realized that she wasn’t just playing with him, and that she seriously had absolutely no idea what had happened to his father. He ran his hand through his hair as he looked her straight in the eye and asked, “What? You really don’t know?” He shook his head and chuckled to himself, “Well Clarrissa would be real satisfied, I guess.”

Urm, well, We don't really talk now, urm, I lost her number too.

Clark nodded his head. “I gotcha,” he said solemnly, “Lydia’s real good at ‘loosing peoples’ numbers’,” he said rather indignantly. Lydia had hurt him when they were younger by completely cutting him off and forcing all of his Interschool friends to disown him. He hadn’t quite gotten over the pain of loosing everyone he cared for in a single day, and mostly blamed Lydia for it. “What’d she do to you?” he asked quizzically as he raised a sarcastic brow in her direction, “Did you wake up with a horse’s head in your bed?” Maybe he had misjudged her, though he couldn’t help but think that the only reason Bianca was talking to him was to try and get back at Lydia for whatever had happened between them. Lydia’s people were good at that—using people.

[bianca]

“What makes the grand Bianca Marcello tick?” She grinned smugly at the sarcasm in his tone, then crossing her arms questioningly. She raised her eyebrows and laughed inwardly, remembering he was quite the sarcastic type. "Well, I guess the social committee, or the school government. Those kind of things," She replied excitedly. Bianca loved organizing events for the school, even though not a lot of students took interest in them, unless it included partying and some kind of booze. Bianca was rather dominant, and liked to be in charge; helping people. "And what kind of things does Master Dupont take interest in?" She implied, using the same tone of mockery he had previously used with her.

“What? You really don’t know? Well Clarrissa would be real satisfied, I guess.” Bianca smiled, not really knowing what he was talking about. It bewildered her on how much she'd really missed out on, even though it had been in front of her face the whole time. Bianca was loosing her social skills; and fast. Was the Upper East Side finally turning her down, and tuning her out? She hoped to God that they weren't, but who can really trust the Elites? If they could make gossip out of something, they would go as far as they could to make the most of it.

“I gotcha, Lydia’s real good at ‘loosing peoples’ numbers’,” All of a sudden, Bianca felt bad. Was it really her fault that she'd befriended her? Bianca still didn't understand the situation entirely, just that Lydia disliked her with a strong passion. Bianca just wanted to leave it at that, and forget the whole situation entirely, and the fact that she was such a push over, didn't help her at all. Her family could be so immature at times, and she feared they were turning into every rich, elite family that lives in Upper East Side. Especially her little sister. Her dear, angelic, little sister. She was delicate, it hurt Bianca to think what her sister's future could turn into. She just hoped Ruby would follow Bianca's example and go to school, and be a good girl. Even though Bianca wasn't following that plot line entirely. "Well, I did loose hers too, during the move here," Bianca murmured under her breath, the reply barely audible.

The teenager hoped he wouldn't answer the question she'd dreaded, but unfortunately, he did. “What’d she do to you?” She knew it was unavoidable, but honestly, she had no true answer to his curiosity. It was partially her fault, partially her parent's fault. "Well, honestly, I don't have a lot of information to give you. Friends fight, fall out, and money gets to your head. I would say it was my mom's fault, but I couldn't say that was true," Bianca frowned at what she had just said, figuring it wouldn't make sense. It barely made sense to her, but it was too late to take it back now. She just wished this whole thing would go away forever, or she could hide under a rock.

[Clark Dupont]

Well, I guess the social committee, or the school government. Those kind of things,

He wrinkled his nose at her and shook his head as he chuckled softly. “So you’re the man?” he asked as he teased her slightly. He had never been too involved in school activities himself, other than orchestra anyway. He just didn’t see the point in staying after school for something that didn’t interest him. Unlike most of the other Interschool purebreds, like his sister, he didn’t really care too much about the college application process. Sure he was smart, but he would much rather pursue his interests than stack up a huge amount of extra circulars to impress the Ivies. He, believe it or not, wasn’t all that interested in the Ivies. He would be much happier at Columbia, or somewhere urban where he could challenge himself with music. His trust fund took care of most of his money issues, so really there was nothing stopping him from pursuing a music career. “School government though, that’s pretty rich there,” he was reminded once more of how Bianca and his sister had been friends, “I’m sure you gave Lydia a run for her money.” Although he wished he hadn’t said that, if he had remembered correctly Lydia had swept MSSG, and was the head of her year at Trinity. “But yeah I guess Trinity is good with that stuff. I was head of Chocolate Club, if you don’t remember,” he smiled widely at her. If there was one thing he missed about Trinity, it was the student made clubs. They were basically a joke, but almost always included free chocolate. And what kind of things does Master Dupont take interest in? “Music,” he said simply and seriously, “have I not got that point across, I thought I was being painfully obvious…” he noted with an air of self-deprecating humor.

Well, honestly, I don't have a lot of information to give you. Friends fight, fall out, and money gets to your head. I would say it was my mom's fault, but I couldn't say that was true,

“That’s true,” he said as he shook his head, “though I’m sure Laurence and Clarissa have a lot to do with it.” His nonchalant voice suddenly grew rather melancholy, “They really fucked her up, you know? Well I’m sure you’ve pretty much grasped that one, you’ve met them.” He really did blame his parents for Lydia and the monster she had let herself become. His sister was a worrier, and had an acute case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the pressure that his mother placed upon her was just enough to break her completely. He frowned slightly as Bianca mentioned how money got to people’s head. “No,” he said slowly, “that doesn’t really sound like Lydia. I haven’t spoken to her in a while, but she never cared for money much. I dunno though, I guess people change. Sad.”

He ran his hand through his stringy dirty-blond hair, a nervous habit of his. He was beginning to get jittery, and was craving one of the cigarettes he had nestled away in his back pocket. He didn’t reach for it though, he didn’t want to give into temptation just yet, it was much more satisfactory to give in once the craving had completely taken over. “Hey,” he asked as he looked up towards the sky, “you have any idea where my dorm is?” He slipped her a piece of paper with the address.

[bianca]

“So you’re the man?”

"Well, I'd prefer to be the leading lady, but the man sounds cool too," Bianca cracked a grin, swinging her legs back and forth. She wriggled in the dress she was wearing, as it kept rubbing against her skin. Mom and her stupid taste. Bianca was usually mistaken for being a prissy for school government, or a suck-up for that matter. But truth was, she was got bored very easily, and school government took up a lot of time, and that would easily amuse her. Bianca didn't want to go to college; now or ever. She wanted to fly solo for a couple of years and travel around the world with her sister, but that would be impossible with Ruby in school. Maybe she could go by herself, because one thing was for certain; her mom was definitely not coming. That would be like foreign suicide for her, and shopping wonderland for her mom. Adelina had changed completely when she had moved to New York. She used to be so carefree and happy, but now; reputation meant everything, more than your own daughter's feelings.

“School government though, that’s pretty rich there,”

"Maybe so, but the money doesn't go to waste, that's for sure," Bianca corrected him. "It's spent on things for the school, including education and the music program." She'd been doing her research recently. If she wanted a chance, then she had to know as much as she could, of course. “I’m sure you gave Lydia a run for her money.” Ouch, that hit hard. "I hope you know I'm not trying to compete against your sister," Bianca replied flatly. She smiled slightly, but it was more fake than anything. She didn't really hear the rest of what he was saying, but simply replied with nods and uh-huhs. Even though she wasn't keen on Lydia, that was awfully disrespectful of him, in her point of view. She'd never seen someone talk the way he did about his sister.

“You have any idea where my dorm is?”

Bianca was released from her thoughts when she heard him ask the question. She shook her head and blinked rapidly. "Sorry, what?" She asked sheepishly. She then slid her a piece of paper, that looked similar to a sheet she got earlier, in the dormitories. "Oh, your dorm." It read, 'Castle hill Dorm Listings: Boys. Clark Dupont - Dorm two. "Oh yeah, I know where that is. Would you like to go now?" She asked, jumping to her feet. She pushed the ringlets from her forehead, also fixing the itchy dress that clung to her stomach.