Tuesday January 17th
2:00 PM
Video Rental Shop

Josh was new in town, and he didn't really know what he was doing. His parents had oh so unceremoniously forced him to come here, to enter the Vow system and work on getting a wife. He didn't want to settle down, he didn't want to get married and be with one person for the rest of his life, but his parents had given him an ultimatum that didn't leave him with any choice. It was this or lose all of the money from his trust fund, and he just didn't know how to get a job, how to actually work for a living. He didn't know how to make an honest living and he had no interest in learning.

He didn't belong here, in a town like this, that much had been clear to him the second he had set foot in Evergreen. He didn't know how long he would make it here, without the wild parties and social life of New York. This was a white picket town and he was NOT a white picket man. He couldn't picture himself staying here and he hoped to god that he could prove to his parents that this was a mistake, that they would let him come home without him having to do anything too intense...like going to work for his father, something he had no desire to do.

In the mean time, he was going to waste his time in any way that he could. He wanted to live his life the way he had, and as a result, he was going to be lazy like he had always been. He went into the video rental shop and headed straight for the horror section. He was more into thriller horror than torture porn, after all, he had undergone enough personal torture for a life time. He just wanted something that would take his mind off this fresh, neighborly hell he had found himself in.

Sayra Banks sauntered into the movie rental store. She was itching for the new horror films that came out the last couple months. And she was dying to see Rose Red again. It was one of her favorites. Sure she was only twelve, but Sayra had one twisted little mind. And very much wiser beyond her ears some would say. She's been through a lot already. Had watched her mother die a slow painful death of brain cancer. Had run away six months later to find the father that she'd never met and succeeded, after being on her own for over six months. Now, her dad was busy with work and research and other things, and her step mom was a big head chef at a local food joint. So she was on her own a lot. But she didn't mind. She had her own money and her own phone. Her dad had made sure of that. At least she was with them.. for now, til her dad found a way to get her back to Kansas or California where her mother's family lived. He promised not to just forget her. But she wasn't holding her breath. She was just getting to know him while she could.

Sayra looked at the clock on the wall over the register. It was a couple minutes after two in the afternoon. It was Tuesday. She should be in school. But she had P.E. and AP Biology for her last two classes of the day. Both of which she had and A. She was a whiz with science.

She smiled and giggled a bit to herself in a giddy sort of way as she pounced over to the horror section. She went right to the R's and looked for Rose Red.

Josh had no idea what he wanted, so he allowed himself to just sort of grab a few here and there, of course checking discreetly to make sure that none would upset him. His image was important to him, and he didn't want anyone to know that he was afraid of kidnap/torture films. He decided on The Last Exorcism - Exorcism movie were always good for him, because he didn't believe in that sort of thing, meaning that he was unphased by them, even if they were terrifying. He got the thrill and that was all that mattered to him when it came to horror films. He didn't need plot or intense development. He just wanted to feel alive.

He frowned slightly as his eyes fell upon a younger girl. She looked like she should definitely be in school right now, and he didn't know why she was here instead of in class. He instantly felt stupid for asking that question. Before his "incident" he had skipped class with such frequency that it was practically expected of him by his teachers and classmates, and his parents didn't care enough to really enforce it...though the nanny gave him an earful about it on several occasions. He had no right to judge this girl, he did, however, take issue with her parents.

What kind of parents didn't know where there children were? They probably thought she was safely at school, not in a dangerous place by herself. Sure, the video store wasn't really dangerous, but it was the fact that she was alone. He had been alone and vulnerable once, and it had ruined his life forever. He sighed, walking over to the girl. "Shouldn't you be in school?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

Sayra glanced over sideways at the guy talking to her. She rose her thin blonde brow and smirked smuggly. You know you could get arrested for even getting to close to and underage girl, right? Don't worry, I won't scream... yet. she giggled softly and turned to face him fully as she hugged the movie to her chest and crossed her arms. So what if I'm not in school. I have straight A's. I'm not missing much in my advanced classes. she smiled wider now and tilted her head to the left a bit. Don't you have a job you should be attending to? she shot back at him.

yeah. Sayra was one smart ass little girl. She could hold her own in almost any verbal battle. She acted tough. But she couldn't fight. So she did hope she didn't have to scream for help from this guy.

Josh was instantly taken aback at her comment. She was forward, rude, and sadly reminded him a bit of himself. He took a few steps back, frowning at her. He would never hurt another human being, at least not physically, and he had a feeling that she was just messing with him, meaning that he wouldn't rush into a defense, not right now. He had to be careful, underage girls could be dangerous, even if you meant them no harm. However, they were in a public place, and it would be hard for her to accuse him of something he didn't do in such a location.

"I don't work," he stated. He had money in another way, and while he was far from a good person, he was above rubbing that into this girl's place. "But it's legal for me not to have a job, it can't be legal for someone your age to be ditching school. Besides, you won't keep those A's if you skip. I would know." He shrugged. He had ditched enough to ruin his GPA...that combined with his failure to do pretty much any work that wasn't required for passing, at any rate.

Sayra shrugged. I don't skip enough for that to matter. Just like once a month. When i need a break. She uncrossed her arms and and held Rose Red down at her side as she slowly walked along the wall looking at the new releases. She glanced back to see if the guy was following. He seemed almost concerned that she was alone. She smiled back at him. So... you got a name? she asked him in a light friendly voice.

She picked up a few random movies that caught her eye and skimmed the pics and description on the backs.

Josh couldn't argue with that. He understood needing a break...more than most people he knew. He knew what it felt like to need to get out of somewhere and be by yourself. Instead of encouraging her skipping, though, he just kept his mouth shut, looking for movies. He thought that she would walk away, but was surprised when she didn't. Maybe she was lonely or something...or maybe she needed someone over the age of 17 to rent R rated movies for her.

"I'm Josh," he stated. "You?" He frowned slightly at her selection. She couldn't be more than 14, should she really be watching movies like that? Then again, it was far from his place to judge. He was not her father, and if he had it his way, he was never going to be anyone's father. He didn't think he could be responsible for children, so why try and take responsibility for this one?

Sayra smiled when he didn't give a last name. Smart not giving a last name. Josh is a common name. Must be at least fifty in this town. she smirked and stopped walking, turning to face him properly and held out her hand as she spoke again. My name is Sayra. she said in a very grown up sounding way.

So what's your favorite horror movie.?[/b] she asked him. She held up the one she was holding. Mine's Rose Red. It's so great. I love the ones that are based on real life stories. Really makes you think. Gives you chills. she grinned big and laughed lightly.

Josh was glad for his common name. If he had a less common name, googling him would bring up police records, the ones that hadn't been sealed, from his 13 day disappearance seven years ago. "That's an interesting name," he quipped, tilting his head to the side. He didn't usually talk to children, but he had time to waste, and as long as he was here, he might as well be polite. He didn't like being mean to people, especially not children.

"I like movies with exorcisms." He shrugged. "Are you old enough to be watching those movies?" he asked, looking at the title she had picked out. There was no way he would let his children watch these movies. "Never seen that one, I'm getting this." He raised his own choice, wondering if she had seen it. "I heard they filmed it documentary style, I'm curious."

She laughed when he said exorcisms. Yeah. Those are great. Unless you don't believe in that kind of thing, then they're just funny. she laughed a bit harder, til he asked about her age. she rose a sharp brow and looked him over. I traveled nearly from one side of the country to the other... by myself. I watched my mother die a slow death from brain cancer. I've seen people having sex on buses. I saw a guy being held at gun point in an alley in Las Vegas while following a lead to find my birth father. I think I'm old enough to watch a few bimbos getting killed by fictional monsters. she cocked her head to the side again and crossed her arms over her chest, jutting out her hip to the right.

"Oh." Josh's eyes widened, but he didn't know what to say. He was from New York, he had seen things too, hell, he had even lived them, but not at the age of 12. He didn't know what to say to this girl, so he kept quiet, pretending to be incredibly involved in the back of a DVD case. This girl was blunt, she was to the point, and it was clear that she was very, very mature for her age. He knew that she would do just fine in life, but it wasn't his place to tell her that. "Well, um, but will they let you rent that stuff? Isn't there like a hold on accounts for kids your age?" He didn't know if he was insulting her, but he was curious. He had seen underage kids try to rent R rated movies before, and it had never ended in their favor.

Sayra smiled wide and triumphantly when he didn't seem to have a come back. Then he asked about the rules on kids getting r rated movies. She shrugged. I have my ways. How do you think i got here from California on my own? she smirked. She wasn't going to just out right tell the guy she had a fake ID. She'd gotten it before she'd left LA. It says that she's 17. Its part of the reason she tried to dress a bit older than she is. So people will believe it. Course most of the people she uses it on are stupid teenagers themselves. So they don't pay that close attention. Or just don't care.

Josh raised an eyebrow, but honestly wasn't that surprised. There were ways around pretty much everything these days, and he had no problem with most of it. He had had a fake ID starting at 14, so he was he to judge anyone? "I'm guessing by ways, you mean fake identification?" He nodded. "I remember those days." He sighed. His ID had been used to get into clubs and parties both before and after his "incident" and he was glad for it. It had gotten him through the roughest of times, right after his physical healing had completed when all he wanted to do was party until he passed out in bed with some random girl, which in New York, had never been hard. "Don't worry, I won't tell."

Sayra smiled. An adult that wasn't going to rat her out. You know, you're okay. she said nodding a bit and smiling more easily. So.. .why are you here in the middle of the day on a week day, alone... picking out movies that you'll most likely be watching alone? And before you answer. Don't worry, I'm so NOT hitting on you. I'm 12. Never had a boyfriend. And honestly not real sure I want one.

She smirked and turned back to the new releases on the wall and picked out a couple more movies.

This girl really did not beat around the bush. She didn't waste any time in saying what she meant and she didn't sugarcoat things. A part of him liked that about her, and a part of him didn't - all of him, however, was glad that she wasn't hitting on him. He was a little offended that she could tell right off the bat that he didn't have any friends, but objecting would be pointless - she had hit the nail on the head.

"I just..." he shrugged. "I"m new here, I haven't really had time to make any friends yet." That seemed as good of a thing to say as any, especially because it was primarily true. However, he didn't have much of a desire TO make friends. Letting people inside was not something that he was interested in. "And why not watch movies? It's something to do." he shrugged.