I Hate Group Work

Saylin · Jul 31, 2017

Riley was internally cursing himself at this moment for letting something like that slip. She thought good of him, now-- that was bad. He needed to compensate, somehow. "W-well! I, uh.. I only know from this random book," He stammered, face still flustered as he attempted to play stupid. "Think it was something the Clubbernet is part of. Or was is Clambernet?" He internally winced over saying it this way, but hey, if it bumped down his apparent IQ it was good, right?

He honestly would genuinely question why any mom in their right mind would name their kid Trill, but he didn't even know why his mom named him what she did. He didn't even know if Riley was his actual name, now that he thought about it. "I'm just gonna call her T.T.. T.T. for tiny tits," he finally said on the matter, sneering. Hopefully he could at least get Trill to hate his guts, even if he couldn't get this one to do so.

He would usually be surprised his partner displayed no displeasure whatsoever over his lack of paying attention, but by this point he wondered if Lyria even had the capacity to get angry. Maybe Trill was just the angry side and it made it so Lyria was always positive. It was a theory to test, at least, and considering making people hate Riley was his life agenda- he was going to find the answer one way or another.

"Mm," He hummed in agreement, choosing for now to try to simply focus on his text book. He'd resort to other history books after, for now he wanted to try and get some of the 'basics' from their main class materials. However, curiosity continued to gnaw on him, the more he read. There was so much.. confusion, regarding two people sharing a body.

After some uncomfortable shifting, he finally caved to his own desires with a sigh. "Okay, I'm not gonna be able to let this go until I ask. How does this even work? Can Trill see what you see? Can you share senses? Are there any memory gaps? How does being in the back feel- is there even a back, or are you constantly suspended in the main front of the body?" It was a barrage of questions, more than anything, Riley clearly interested in learning as much about this process as possible. Even if he ended up forgetting the conversation, perhaps he could retain this information for later studies on the subject.

@Ketrix

Ketrix · Jul 31, 2017

Lyria gave him a small knowing smile. She didn't believe his "random book" excuse for a second, but if he wanted to pretend he had never said that then she would pretend she didn't hear it. It was his choice and she didn't comment on it again. The nickname made her giggle a bit though.

"That's a funny nickname for her, although I don't think Trill herself will be too fond of it." True to her word, Lyria could feel Trill fuming at the name. She really wanted to punch Riley already, but she would hold back on any physical violence during their first meeting later.

While she was working, she heard a sigh from Riley. Before she could look over at him though, he started spewing out random questions about her and Trill's predicament. Lyria turned to him in surprise and a bit of awe, before another grin broke out on her face.

"Those are some good questions! I'm happy you're so curious about our situation!" Lyria was genuinely happy that he had asked her about it, of course most people do when they find out, but coming from Riley made it a little more special since he made it clear he didn't care about either of them in the first place. "To answer your questions, when one of us is already in control, let's take me as an example, Trill has two options that she can choose from. She can either stay in a mental "room" of sorts, which is basically an area in the back of our mind where we can do whatever we want, or she can experience everything I'm experiencing by, as you put it, coming to the front. Keep in mind that she can still hear when she is in the room, but she can't use any other senses while back there. She also can't control any part of the body while I'm in control."

"The back feels, well, it feels like whatever you want. We can make anything we imagine appear there, so if we wanted to be in a meadow, we could imagine a meadow. If we wanted a dog, we could imagine a dog, but it wouldn't be real. It would have to behave how we imagined it. The memory gap thing? Hmm, the only way we would have something like that is if one of us fell asleep in the back, but we don't really need sleep so that rarely happens, or if we just decided to not pay attention to what was going on with the body."

Lyria smiled at him again, explaining her situation was a bit repetitive by now but she didn't mind doing it, God knows Trill wouldn't even bother to. "So, anymore questions? I'll be happy to answer them."

@Saylin

Saylin · Jul 31, 2017

Lyria was so.. pleasant. Nothing Riley said dampened her mood, not even jabs at her twin- it was endearing, in a way, but it also made him question the teacher's sanity. What sane person would put someone as sweet as her with a jerk like him? It made no sense! This teacher was clearly a sadist! He made a mental note to make a written reminder to himself to mess with this teacher later, as punishment.

Not that he'd tell her that, though. "Yeah, well, that bitch is gonna learn to like it," He said with a firm, snarky tone. After all, he was a master of self-fulfilling prophecies. Why stop now?

... That said, he would take a break to learn more about them. Which is exactly what followed as Lyria answered his questions rather generously. It was a plethora of information Riley could write about later to ensure he'd remember- and thus, he hung onto every word as if it were his last, the excitement obvious in his eyes despite his otherwise hardened, bored looking features.

"Huh," he mused in a softer tone than before, "So your mind works just like a lucid dream.." It was a fascinating concept. Simply sitting in the mind with full control of how you felt, but no control of the body was interesting beyond belief. In some ways, he almost wished he could do that. It'd give him time to run away from the world at points. Alas, he didn't have a cursed twin he knew of.

"No, that's.. it for now. Thank you," he said quietly as he returned to his book. "You're never alone, then... you're lucky you know. You probably have your moments you hate it, but.. appreciate it. Some people would kill to have what you do with your sister." A pang of loneliness echoed within him as he spoke, but it was quickly shoved aside. After all, he couldn't dwell on such things.

"Least I didn't end up looking like an ugly bitch like you. Even if I'm alone."

@Ketrix

Ketrix · Jul 31, 2017

Lyria loved how excited he looked as she answered his questions, even if everything but his eyes said otherwise. Like usual, she brushed off his comment about Trill, Trill would input her opinion on it later, she was sure. At his lucid dream conclusion though, Lyria looked up in thought, thinking about the similarities between the two, she had never really thought of it that way. "I suppose you could explain it that way, yes."

Since Lyria and Trill were vampires, they didn't have any need to sleep since they got turned at eighteen, thus they didn't have many chances to experience any lucid dreams. Even if they did get some before their vampirism, they forgot them a long time ago; regular dreams were already extremely easy to forget in the first place.

This made Lyria wonder, what would happen if both her and Trill went to sleep now? Would they have two different dreams? The same dream? Would it be the same as both of them staying in the back of their minds? Were they even able to dream? She would have to test this later on.

Lyria was taken aback when Riley started talking quietly with a hint of, loneliness? Then he started telling her that she should appreciate her and Trill's...what? Curse? Gift? She didn't even know what to call it anymore if Riley of all people was the person to tell her she was lucky to have it.

At his last statement, Lyria's smile washed off her face, not because of his ugly bitch comment, no, she brushed that off as soon as he had said it. It was when he said that he was alone that her face dropped into a mixture of emotions. Worry, concern, sadness among others. She immediately hid her face by looking down, she didn't want him to hate her even more for looking at him like that than he was already going to after what she was about to tell him.

"Hey, Riley?" Lyria said, almost as quietly as he had spoken before, her face still hidden from view by her fallen hair. Her project notes and textbook laid off to the side, a half finished sentence from when Riley had interrupted her with his questions decorated the bottom of the existing notes, though the rest of what she was going to write had been long forgotten along with the project entirely. All of her focus was on her next few words which she was sure Riley wasn't going to like.

"I-I know that you've been trying to push me away the entire time we've been working together and that I've probably been annoying you this whole time, but I think you're a really cool person. I don't exactly have any friends at this school yet since I just recently arrived and when we got paired up I was hoping you would be my first one. You're funny and smart and confident, even if you don't like showing it, and those are the things I love about you. You don't seem like the type of person that likes to talk about yourself so I won't ask and you probably see me as more of a nuisance than a friend, but if you ever need someone to talk to I can be there. You don't have to be alone anymore."

Lyria kept her head down the entire time she was talking, she didn't want to see the look of disgust or anger he probably had. She didn't think he took too well to sympathy, most likely the reason he insulted everyone in the first place. By now she was trying to hold back tears, just the thought of him hating her was enough to make her cry, even if they just met. Trill always said she was too emotional.

"If you don't want to do the project with me now, that's fine." She murmured. "Trill and I can work on our part then put it with yours at the end. No talking involved." Lyria genuinely thought Riley wouldn't like her now. She thought he would be angry that someone he just met felt concern for him, it wouldn't be the first time it's happened. She wasn't going to apologize though, she meant every word she said and she wasn't going to apologize for having feelings.

@Saylin

Saylin · Jul 31, 2017

Riley had learned to expect many things from people, in his time around. Sure, he didn't outright remember them by any means, but there were these inklings of imprints. Things he'd expect based solely on either the notes he'd taken, or something tugging in his heart, telling him, 'This is what's going to happen now.' It wasn't ever completely accurate, but he usually had a ballpark of what someone was going to do when he said certain things.

Within a few words, Lyria had completely blown those inklings to smithereens. The senior couldn't help but simply stare at this woman as she spoke, his eyes as wide as saucers. It was so gentle, her words. So pure, so kind. There was a a warmth to them that filled the crevices of his heart, as she went on, leaving him speechless. It felt so good, to hear such things, like a loving embrace.

However, this is what also brought him much pain. Her words hurt- not because they were insults, but because to Riley, this was a kindness he never deserved. He'd written in his journal countless times on how he wasn't a good person, how he would only cause people pain. Even now, he'd done nothing but insult these twins before him. Yet Lyria wasn't mad at him, she didn't see him as bad. She thought he was cool. She thought he was funny. Here this person who had only just recently learned of his name was, offering him someone to confide in: herself.

Without realizing, he'd begun to cry.

"... Why?" He finally said- albeit in a hushed tone- after a long pause of silence and clustered thoughts, "Why are you so.. nice? All I've done is shit on you! I have shit on you and treated you like garbage this entire time! You--..." He could have yelled in that moment. He almost wanted to, but he knew better than to make a scene in public.

So instead, he took a sigh to calm himself, furiously rubbing at his face as he murmured, "... You don't get it. I'm not a good person... We can do this project. But for your own good, stay away from me. Don't get so attached. You are going to get hurt if you don't. I push people away for a reason, and.. you won't get it, I don't think you ever will- but you have to believe me."

It was a depressing reality to Riley, that he had to keep this woman away from him. She was a good person- but that's exactly why he had to keep her away. He needed to protect her from himself. "So.. I'm sorry, but please.. stop right there, before it goes too far."

@Ketrix

Ketrix · Jul 31, 2017

It was strange. He was supposed to hate her, wasn't he? She gave her unwanted concern and now she was supposed to be hated. She didn't understand! That's what happened last time so what was so different about now! She knew there was a possibility he wouldn't, which is why she said it in the first place, but she never would have thought it would have actually happened!

"You don't hate me...?"

She looked up at him for the first time since her speech and with a jolt realized he was crying.

Riley was crying.

Lyria couldn't wrap her head around it and started to let her own tears fall. He was pushing her away for her sake, not his. He pushed everyone away and that's why he was so lonely. And he had his reasons, maybe she could've understood them if he took the time to explain but for now, Lyria decided. She wasn't going to leave Riley alone again, she was his friend - Yes, she already considered herself his friend, even if he didn't want her to - and she was going to act like it.

Lyria quickly wiped away her tears and a determined look settled on her face. "Riley, I-" Just as she started speaking, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. She turned back to Riley when it finished, "I'm not giving up on you."

With that, Lyria gathered her things into her bag and made her way to the door. Before she exited though, she glanced back at Riley. "And besides, I already live with a not so good person constantly, " She said, trying to end their meeting on a lighter note. "I think I'm used to it by now." She gave him a small smile and left the classroom.

@Saylin

Saylin · Aug 1, 2017

"You don't hate me?"

It was such an innocent question, so.. pure. He could smash her heart right then and there if he wanted, tell her he did hate her. By all means, he probably should, it'd stop things from going more out of control than they already had. The words, however, simply weren't coming. They'd lodged themselves in his throat.

Instead, he ended up simply staring at Lyria with a emotionally exhausted defeated look. She had so much faith in him, this.. determination to help. However, Riley had given up on such willpower a long time ago. After all, if he simply laid low and expected failure, there'd be far less disappointment when things didn't get better. He could only hope his partner would learn to do the same, over the course of this project. At least in regards to him.

There was obvious relief, when the bell rang. "Lyria," he finally murmured, his gaze locked on her, "You'll just.. see, but it's different. I'm sorry in advance." He didn't know why he was apologizing, but the words had slipped from him before he could really think about what he was saying. Regardless, he continued with, "See you," Before he all too swiftly exited after her- mainly to a bathroom so he could properly wash his face before anyone made comments on the fact that he'd been crying.

-

It was a new day- a particularly warm and muggy one at that- and Riley was absolutely miserable. Mainly due to History class being next, on his schedule. For some reason he felt a hesitation over going, today in the form of this hard to describe ball forming in the pit of his stomach. It'd left him unable to stomach much- not that he ate much to begin with- due to the growing nerves.

He didn't know much, save for the fact that there was a group project going on. It'd somehow led to him having this bizarre accumulation of knowledge on twin souls, as well- but it could have been a mere craving for research as he typically had in the later hours.

He really did hate group work, but odds are, he'd made the person dislike him already. Moving forward from this point wouldn't be an issue, so long as that was the case. Though this odd feeling in his gut made him question how effective he'd really been in his endeavors..

For now, he'd simply enter class and begin his research once more. If one looked, he'd taken a lot of notes the night before already, and had moved from his text book to other history books on the island.

Maybe his partner was already there, or maybe he was early. He really didn't care either way.

@Ketrix

Ketrix · Aug 1, 2017

Lyria had just stepped foot into the classroom when the late bell rang, earning her a warning look from the teacher. She simply smiled back at them.

Normally she was quite early to all her classes, the fact that she didn't need to sleep meant that she wouldn't wake up late for her first class and she usually had all of her work neatly packed in her bag before the next bell rang in any of her other classes.

Today, however, was not a normal day. Lyria had tried to finish a week's worth of project work the night prior so she could use her remaining time to befriend Riley. If he would let her, that is. She ended up using some of her class time in her previous classes to finish what she wasn't able to the night before, which is why she didn't have time to pack back up before the bell rang and was almost late to History class.

She looked around the room and spotted Riley in the place they were in yesterday. She didn't really know how she should approach him, though. Should she talk about what happened yesterday? Should she not? Was he going to confront her about it or would he pretend it never happened? She decided to let him choose and she would greet him like she usually would.

"Hello again, Riley!" She smiled brightly at him, sliding back into the seat she sat in yesterday. "I finished the majority of my work yesterday so I just need to put it with yours at the end. Unfortunately, I couldn't get Trill to do any of hers so she'll still be working on it, and since she'll be needing to read a textbook I'll have to be looking at one for her to do that, but I can still talk to you normally. I explained how it works yesterday."

Riley never said he hated her yesterday, in fact, he even said he would see her later. This meant that he accepted her, right? Even if it was just a tiny bit. Him saying that further hardened her resolve to be his friend.

@Saylin

Saylin · Aug 2, 2017

As Riley sat there, the passing period for class growing shorter and shorter, it left him thinking he'd perhaps gone too far in scaring off his partner. If he had, anyway, he had no idea. It just seemed horribly suspicious that they weren't present, yet. Perhaps they were skipping? Maybe they'd already arrived and were ignoring him. He shouldn't think about it, but he did at least need them to help work on this project. He wanted to pass, after all.

Of course, these concerns were shoved aside as a women came to sit next to him. She was a cute one- and based on how she was greeting him, she was his partner. And on top of that, she was happy to see him. This disappointed the senior, and it clearly reflected in his eyes as he gave a sigh. He'd clearly not tried hard enough to push her away.

Oh well. He could do it better, this time. "Hi bitch," He muttered as he offered a sneer in greeting, "Good to know you're pulling your weight. I'm about a third of the way done with my portion. Don't slow me down with your stupid, and we'll be good." As if to conclude this little zinger he'd done, he gave a nod of confirmation to his own words.

One thing she'd said had not made sense to him, though.. why would someone named Trill be involved in this? After all, this was a two-person project. The confusion was quite prominent on his features as he murmured, "Trill, huh..?"

It left him thinking it perhaps had something to do with the two souls in one body information he now had. Perhaps, just perhaps, Trill was a soul in Lyria's body. It'd also explain why she had to explain things yesterday, even if Riley forgot that conversation.

Thankful for his quick thinking, he gave a sneer to quickly safe face. "Trill sounds like a dumb bitch, hope I never have to see her. So long as she isn't talking to me, I don't really care. Even you shouldn't be talking to me. Why are you even still here? Didn't I piss you off enough yesterday?" It was a genuine question, really. Why hadn't his insults been enough? There was no way he would've gone nice on this woman.

@Ketrix

Ketrix · Aug 3, 2017

The way Riley looked at her when she sat down, he was...disappointed? She supposed that was because she was still hanging around him when he told her not to, but she already told him she wasn't going to do that yesterday, he should've been expecting it.

Lyria was also a bit confused at his insults, he started using her actual name yesterday as well as even giving up his attempt at pushing her away with insults when he noticed that she wasn't offended by it, at least that's what she assumed when he stopped calling her names.

His way of addressing Trill was confusing too. He seemed confused when she mentioned her, but Lyria already introduced her to him yesterday. And didn't he say he was going to call her T.T.? While that very well could have just been a jab at her and Trill, she thought he would actually use it. Not to mention his last two sentences. Why would she be pissed off at him? He knew that she wasn't affected by his insults and she especially wouldn't be affected by them now after what he had said yesterday, so why was he acting like that?

There was something really strange about Riley today. Lyria would've thought he was trying to pretend the whole thing never happened like she thought before, but he's acting like the entire day didn't happen as well. He wouldn't go that far, she knew, so why was he?

A thought suddenly struck her. He was apologizing in advance for something, something he knew would happen, something he pushed people away for, and something she would get hurt by. Did he....

Forget her?

"Riley..." She said slowly. "What's my name?"

She hadn't unpacked any of her papers yet, and her name was nowhere else that could be seen in the classroom. The only way for him to know her name is if he remembered it from yesterday.

@Saylin

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I Hate Group Work

Saylin

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Ketrix

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Saylin

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Ketrix

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Saylin

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Ketrix

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Saylin

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Ketrix

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Saylin

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Ketrix

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