forum Like An Open Book (OxO) CLOSED

Started December 22, 2020 by @Elder-God-Jacks347

tune

(Not at all, it's fine! Personally, I like having something to wake up to)
Kyran's morning started better than yesterday. His alarm actually went off so now he could go for his morning run. He changed into a black tank top and a pair of running shorts along with his running shoes. He pushed in his earbuds as he headed outside, taking a deep breath of the cool morning air.

Tua was suitably less cranky now. The sky was beginning to turn pink over the campus, hinting at the beginnings of the sunrise. The fall leaves crunched a little underfoot as she ran on the sidewalk.
Well, the Universe knew best, she supposed. It was a beautiful morning.
She stopped and crashed on a bench nearby, taking a swig from her water bottle. That campus looked so picturesque like this, in the dim purple lights contrasting with the deep darks and greens of the forest beyond the campus. She really should do a painting of this at some point. Tua took out one of her earbuds to better enjoy the silence of the early morning, taking another drink from her water.
She frowned and paused her music completely… Had she just heard footsteps? Another early morning runner??
Just in case, she fingered her pepper spray.
Yep, it was definitely another student runner. Tua relaxed a little as a figure approached on the sidewalk, barely visible in the dim light.

Kyran stayed on his track, watching the sunrise as he ran. Since he'd slept in yesterday, he was going twice as far to make up for it. His earbuds were blasting his music and his breaths were heavy as he wiped sweat from his forehead.
Yep, Kyran was unintentionally gorgeous, like he always was. Though it's not like he knew or acknowledged it.

Tua was almost done with her little rest.
She kinda wanted to say hi to whatever other brave soul was running this early. Maybe they could be friends and go running together sometime, that would be fun. All her other friends hated any form of exercise with a passion (Savannah claimed it was against her religion whenever Tua asked), having a running buddy would be fun.
She waved enthusiastically from her place on the bench, and then stopped, squinting at the figure.
Was that…? It was. No wonder she had been woken up a little earlier than normal.
The Universe CLEARLY wanted good things for her, there was no other explanation- maybe this was good karma from her campaign to save the manatees earlier that year?
"Good morning!!" She called brightly, standing up on the path as Kyran got closer.

Kyran slowed to a stop begrudgingly, breathing heavily and taking the opportunity to wipe his face.
"What are you doing up so early? Usually I'm the only one out here at such an hour." His mood was clearly better than yesterday but his tone was still slightly irritated because that's just who Kyran is.
He swept his hair back, the muscles in his arms twitching as they rested, looking her over with a frown.

Was he… Talking to her?? Huh, that was new. He didn't even look like he was considering throwing her out the nearest window. Maybe it was because there were no windows around?
"My neighbor is a psycho, so I woke up a little early," Tua replied cheerfully. "Besides, I like running before people are out and about. It's pretty. How about you?"
WHY was he gorgeous while he was running. By what witchcraft. NO ONE looked good running??? It was way too early in the morning for her heart to be doing things, whyyyy.

"I always go running in the mornings. Helps me wake up. Besides, it's always so peaceful out here before everyone is awake. I find it quite calming. Although I can't say I ever took you for a runner." His face deadpanned.
"Then again, I didn't take you as much of anything other than a thorn in my side so there's that."

Ah, there we go. She had been getting a little concerned.
"Why, been thinking about me?" She asked cheekily, throwing in some finger guns for maximum effect.

He rolled his eyes with a snort.
"Please, don't flatter yourself. It's more likely that you've been thinking about me rather than the other way around." A slightly smug smirk crossed his lips as he raised an eyebrow at her.
"What do you think? Am I on the right track?"

"Something like that," Tua said thoughtfully. "That's your fault, not mine, though. And if you wanted me to flatter you instead, all you had to do was ask!"

He rolled his eyes again, this girl was impossible.
"Please don't, I got enough of that back in high school, thank you very much."

"Too many compliments? The horror," Tua shook her head with what she hoped was a properly sympathetic expression. "I, too, often struggle with legions of admirers. See, we have so much in common!"

He didn't dare encourage her antics with an answer, just shaking his head in disappointment. She could really be too much sometimes.

Tua grinned even wider.
"Sooooo, I've still got a lap or two or three to go, buddy system?"
He hadn't walked away yet, so hey. That was something.

Kyran contemplated it for a minute. Sure, he despised the girl and everything she stood for but he'd hate himself if he let her go alone and later find out something happened to her. Dammit, how did she always manage to weasel her way back into his life?
He sighed in defeat. "I guess. Can't have you getting murdered by someone that isn't me, can I?"

….What. He agreed? Was she talking to a Doppelganger right now???? Tua was pretty sure seeing a person's Doppelganger was an omen of that person's death, that would be bad. Kyran was too pretty to die.
Tua's face was hurting from smiling.
"Wait, seriously? I mean, that sounds awesome!!" Tua paused, running what he had said back through her head. "Murdered? That seems a little extreme. Besides, consider all the joy I bring you on a daily basis. Who would be your hype-person if I died??"
They set off side by side at an easy jog. Her legs were really starting to hurt, she usually ran for about an hour and then called it a day.
Eh, worth it.

He quickly followed after her with a huff.
"I don't need some hyperactive chipmunk to follow me around, I've already got one of those by the name of Seth. I would get rid of him but I've known him for too long. And I don't know what you're definition of joy is but it's certainly different from mine."

Seth? Huh- Ohhh that must be the kid he sat next to in Music Tech! Good on Seth, she supposed.
"Chipmunk? I'll have you know I identify as a hyperactive goddess of infinite wisdom. As for the joy thing, if I need to step up my game I'm totally cool with that!" She paused for a moment to get a lungful of air. At least they weren't going too fast. "How'd you meet Seth?"

"Middle school. He, much like yourself, just bothered me until I acknowledged him. But he's also much more relaxed than you are so he succeeded while I still want to push you out a 5 story building."
He shot her a side eyed glare before looking back at the path ahead of them.

"So I'm on the right track, then," Tua said smugly. As smugly as she could when she was having trouble getting air to her lungs. "It's cool that you -wheeze, could we slow down a little-stayed friends this long though. I didn't know anybody my Freshman year."

"First, you're never going to get stronger if you can't even keep up with this slow of a pace. Second, don't count your chickens before they hatch, you don't have anything on Seth and his methodology."

"Um, ouch, but okay. Fair. " Tua took a few more minutes to breathe steadily before she spoke up again. "You're better at this than me, wow. How- how long 've you been running?"
So many missed pick up lines in that sentences. Wasted opportunities. Curse her lung capacity.

"I used to do track and cross country in high school so it's safe to say I've built up a lot of endurance. Thank God I did, it's taught me how to stay patient with your annoying ass." He gave her a quick side glance, wiping his face of sweat again.

"I have a fantastic ass, I beg your pardon," Tua said in a tone of genuine offense. "Do you run for the cross country team here now or do you just do it for fun and to-" she took a few breaths of air "-to stay in shape."
The sun was on the rise in front of them, the first few rays streaming through the trees to light up the sidewalk. She was going to have to head back to her dorm to shower and get ready for her early philosophy class soon.

"No, I just do it to keep myself in shape. The cross country team is too scared of me to let me in." He rolled his eyes with a shrug. "Not like it's anything new for me. People being scared."

“Well, you do kinda have an…aura, I guess,” Tua reflected. “I mean, I don’t mind it, don’t get me wrong. But. Yeah. Do you just really not like people? Because that’s fair,” Tua gasped for air. “My roommate- she’s like that. Says cats are better.” Hollyyyy crap she was DYING.

(I'm sorry, the what now? I didn't even know that was a thing! It's good to hear you're okay! And don't worry about answering, I've been kinda busy myself so it's all good!)
"I guess you could call it that." Why the hell was he even entertaining this woman's nonsense rambling? Usually he would've peeled off by now but for some reason, he was keeping her company today. Something had to be wrong with him.

Tua stopped in her tracks, panting for breath, and let out the verbal equivalent of a keyboard smash to the best of her ability.
"I-hahh, I think I'm dying-Ahem. Sorry. I meant to say I probably need to head back and get ready for the day." As in fifteen minutes ago. "This was fun though, thanks! See you later!" Tua hesitated before she ran off. She hadn't even asked him out yet. It felt rude at this point to leave without at least one rejected date. "Also you should definitely go out with me sometime."
Not her most creative line, yes. She was dying from lack of oxygen, sue her. It was the principle of the thing.