Me? A Model? [Leon and Sigr]

[Sigr]

Alaia Jennet slowly clopped through the high school corridors, no hurry or energy in her steps. She had already used plenty of her reservoir of enthusiasm that morning, not wanting to add to her parent's concerns with a surly attitude that would betray her mood, so now she was acting downcast as usual. Wearing demure clothes that covered her whole body, Alaia wanted to pass as unnoticed as possible, but for a centaur among humans, it was impossible. Not only was she taller, but also longer and heavier, so her efforts were for nothing. No matter how bland the blue custom skirt that covered most of her body was, as there was no way of making her hindquarters disappear. The other main part of Alaia's outfit was a boring white blouse over a bra that was as charming as the cloth covering it, but the abundance of her assets in that department made it attention grabbing nonetheless.

As her hooves clattered on the floor adding to her conspicuousness, she was at least glad that classes were over for the day. As she got out to the playground, she could see other students getting ready for their sport clubs and such. The athletic one tried to recruit her, thinking that she would give them advantage in competitions, but when they learned that she wouldn't be able to take part due to regulations they turned their backs on her, showing what they really cared about. The only one that cared, that really cared... he had to be out there somewhere, but Alaia didn't want to linger too much. There was already a suspicious looking guy with a camera hanging from the neck at the school entrance, so she choose to go around the main building to leave through the back.

It had been a mistake.

Smoking and loitering in the back of the building were half a dozen of students, the usual suspects when it came to bullying and general delinquency. Most of them male but a couple of no-good girlfriends with them, they were precisely the kind of people Alaia wanted to avoid. When she managed to react and turn around it was already too late, as her path was already closed by one of them and their stupid silly smirk. Sure, with the power of her stride and her weight Alaia could run them over, her superior physique allowing her to cut a path with ease, but she wasn't the kind of girl so sure of herself that allowed her such behavior. In the end, the only thing that crossed her mind was to comply and hope that they didn't want to insult her too much.

 

[Leon]

The locker room was in full bustle, each student moving laughing as they removed their normal clothes in order to equip their sports attire. Some did this rather fast, not wasting a drop of time or sweat in doing so. Others on the other hand were not as diligent and found this the perfect time to let off all of the pent up energy sitting in classrooms all day gave. A spiky blonde haired youth would wind up a towel in his hands and with a flick of the wrist, a crack would usually echo in the room, followed by a yip and the roar of laughter.

The players would begin to exit the locker room, slapping each other on the backs, helmets swinging in each of their hands. Blue uniforms with broad shoulders donned on each one of them. The school American football team was full of many different body types but their uniforms gave them all a larger appearance than normal. Among them was a young man that, standing just a few inches short of six feet. Lionel Wright seemed rather focused as he made his way out to the side of the football field with the rest of the group.

While the coach of the team was off speaking with a teacher, Lionel would look across the field in search of something, someone. She was usually so easy to spot but he couldn't seem to find her. He didn't think that he had taken that long to change but then again, the boys were usually rowdy after class to get their testosterone out in any way they could. He didn't like not seeing her off on days like today when he had practice but it was just that, practice. The team, while seemingly unorganized off the field, were quite the group when things got serious.

Lionel would move past a few of his teammates, looking to see if she maybe had gone to grab something to drink of maybe she was simply out of his sight. He really didn't like the way that the majority of the students treated Alaia due to her unique features but he rarely saw her that way. She was just a girl to him, a close friend that he had known for years.

 

[Sigr]

"Please... I was just..." Alaia muttered, wanting to flee that situation but unable to do so. Her hooves thud on the floor as she nervously shifted around, not finding a way to escape that circle. Alaia's arms were protectively crossed in front of her ample chest, not wearing a traditional backpack but saddlebags on her equine half, as it was more comfortable that way.

"Hey, calm down... no need to be scared, you are among friends now" one of the dudes said, a broad and stocky boy whose words weren't just outright lies, but never even had the pretense of sounding true.

"Yeah, we are your friends, right miss horsie?" the one that closed her way out, a tall and lanky guy that may as well be the leader of those delinquents for all she knew, approached her from behind, caressing her flank.

"No- don't-" she shuffled, scared of his touch and trying to avoid bumping into him, something that would only get him angry.

"Don't touch her, or you will smell like a stable for days" one of the girls mocked, an obvious and ignorant lie.

"Yeah, we don't want you smelling like horse pussy" the other girl commented, taking pleasure in voicing such a crude obscenity. Alaia's cheeks gained some embarrassed color, so naive that just the word made her self-conscious.

"I won't tell anyone that you were smoking, please..." Alaia begged, looking around the corner of the building and finding no help, the busy sounds of sport practices in the distance.

"Oh, so you were planning on telling on us before?" the lanky guy was grinning, taking a drag from his cigarette and puffing the smoke into her face, making Alaia cough.

"I didn't mean it like that, I truly didn't-" she waved her hands in the air, flustered.

"Maybe we should do something so you wouldn't forget" the broad dude took her wrists forcefully, even if he had to raise his arms quite a lot to compensate the height difference.

"I have an idea" the lanky guy echoed, moving towards her backside. A ruffling of fabric later, Alaia was frozen in panic, as he had raised her skirt, revealing the sort of boxer briefs she wore covering her hindquarters. "Don't they mark horses with red hot iron?" he asked, his voice dripping with cruelty as he hold his cigarette high. Alaia was white as a paper, panicking yet unable to move. She couldn't do anything, and yet her body answered by itself, kicking back the lanky bully and sending him to the ground, screaming loudly.

"I don't... I didn't want..." she mumbled, unable to release her arms from her other captor while the rest of the bullies approached her.

 

[Leon]

Lionel would turn his attention to his teammates as a couple of them were starting to use their helmets to fence one another, trying to hit each other with them. It wasn't something he was against though he felt that so long as he wore that jersey, he tended to lean toward a far more serious nature that would carry onto the field. He watched as the couch would start back toward them, clipboard in one hand and a whistle bouncing off his chest.

"All right girls, our next game is a week away so we are going to start light with the usual. Practice your passes, they were garbage against Timiko High and get your formation together!" The majority of the team had quit their messing around with Lionel seemingly preoccupied. "You gonna find the answer out there mister Wright?" Lionel would hear his last name and turn to the coach. "No sir." The coach would shake his head and place the whistle in his mouth and upon blowing it, the team would break up, beginning their training with Lionel still standing there, looking around.

"Lionel!" His name would be called out and as he turned to see what it was, his hands shot up to catch a football in his hands. He would stare at the tip of the football, slowly lowering it down before looking back at the teammate that had called his name. Lionel would pull the football back, holding out his free hand but stopped as he heard a scream. A brow would raise, looking around for the source. It could just be some of the other students getting rowdy. He would raise his hand up "I got to go to the bathroom." And without an actual confirmation, Lionel would walk off the field, football still in hand.

He would like to call Alaia but his phone was in the locker room and coach locked it up until practice was over to keep the team more focused. The school wasn't really friendly toward Alaia and he felt that when he wasn't looking, someone was always trying something and it pissed him off. He didn't understand what made people do these things to her. She was different but so what? He couldn't even see her as anything but a girl, why was it so hard for anyone else to do the same? He would continue to walk around, slapping the football into his hand, over and over to try and preoccupy himself.

 

[Sigr]

"You donkey faced bitch..." the girl's voices dripped poison as they tended to the downed ringleader of that bullying bunch, but the rest of those hooligans weren't easily intimidated by his fall and intended to make her pay off for her resistance. Alaia kept struggling, but her arms weren't nowhere near as strong as her lower part, so it wasn't enough to get rid of the stocky aggressor.

"Let me go!" she begged, tears flowing from her eyes. "I've done nothing! You can't-" she protested, sobbing and dragging her assailant back with her, soon stopped by another two bullies on her flanks. They had learned the lesson of not approaching her from the back, and facing three boys there was nothing she could do.

"I've never seen a horse with tits such as these..." one of them said, ogling her in a way that made Alaia feel awful. "Maybe she's not a horse, she's a cow..." the other guffawed, his voice sounding every beat as disgusting as the very words he uttered.

"Tear her clothes! Embarrass her!" the girls demanded, still trying to help their downed leader, who was still doubled over himself, having taken a shot to his ribs.

"A pleasure..." the goons echoed, excited to peek under the clothes of the very person they despised, making Alaia feel even more terrible, doubling her efforts to no avail.

"I don't like her outfit either, but that's no reason to undress a beautiful woman" a new voice protested, sounding unhappy yet somewhat youthful. Coming from the back exit, a very young man appeared, his juvenile features making him look almost their school age, although there was something about how he conducted himself that made clear he had a few years over that high school bunch. He had quite some photographic equipment with him, and Alaia soon identified him as the weird looking one that was on the entrance not so long ago.

Who was that man? What did he want? He didn't seem he was with the bullies, but how he approached the scene was a bit unsettling, yet maybe her only chance to get out of that predicament. "Fuck off faggot, this is none of your business-" the stocky bully crudely warned, clearly meaning nothing good for the newcomer and seemingly emboldened at the chance of being the new alpha jerk of that pack.

Alaia, using the chance that he was a bit distracted, opted out for releasing a scream at the top of her lungs, a high pitched call for help that no doubt startled a good chunk of the school, before one of the bullies at her flanks reached high to forcefully cover her mouth with his disgusting hands.

 

[Leon]

The american football player would continue to trek forward, his eyes seemingly in a constant state of anger but this was not really the case. This was simply his resting face for the majority of the time he was staring and usually lead to larger misunderstandings when he never intended too. He was usually a silent young man, not really going out of his way to talk to others but the male populace would flock around him due to his sports accolades and while he never looked, he had hear whispers that he had a small fanbase that included some of the female body of the school but if it didn't remove around the sport, Lionel tended to try and not think about it.

School itself had starting to become a problem in this regard as Lionel was not the sharpest tool in the shed when it came to a couple subjects and if it wasn't for a certain someone, even that would be in danger. It was in the middle of this train of thought that a sound reached his eyes that stopped him in his tracks. The look in his eyes shifted into that of a quick rage, the large man would lean forward and would kick off, taking himself forward to the end of the school building in just a few seconds. As he turned the corner, his cleats would dig into the ground and his head would shift to see it.

His posture would straighten, the air about him radiating with a seething animosity as he would drop the football to the ground to replace it with a well packed fist. "Get. The. Fuck. Off. Her." There were a group of them but around half of them were women though the one's that took the brunt of his newly acquired anger were the two that held onto Alaia. His switched flipped as his body moved of its own accord, reflexes as in moments, his shoulder would come into contact with one of the men holding Alaia, tearing past the 'Alpha'. The way he moved would seem like monster on a mission, its fangs bared and want for blood seemingly on the rise.

There were usually only two occasions in which Lionel was more focused than ever. Either when he was in the midst of a game where the field was open to him and hurting another person was encouraged. The other was when it came to Alaia, be it talked with her or safeguarding her from the barrage of discrimination that came her way when he was around. He was violent person himself but when you are given a weapon and the ability to use it, it became second nature.

 

[Sigr]

"Lionel!" Alaia shouted at the sight of her friend, her only friend. As he tore through the bullies, making them more interested in him than anything else, Alaia managed to squirm away from them, stopping to be in the middle of the struggle. Scattered and scared, the bullies were mostly frozen in the spot, as that tank of a person laid waste to them. They all were the same age, some of the bullies may even be repeat students and thus older, but they all looked just like boys next to the man Lionel was. It wasn't just the height or the bulk, augmented by the football gear, it was how he usually conducted himself, his seriousness.

Alaia admired him, envying his mettle and fortitude, but she had a distaste for violence, even when it was infringed upon her bullies, so she turned her back to the action, not wanting to behold any of the struggle. It was also the side she less admired of Lionel, something that not only was unbefitting of him, but also made her feel horrible since he was just violent because of her. From the day they met, when he helped her in that playground despite not being able to win the fight, the only times when Lionel had hurt anyone was to defend her. He wouldn't have to be like that if it wasn't for her, and yet, he was the only friend she had, so it was impossible to let him go.

The girl realized that during the struggle to get away her skirt got a couple of rips and she was missing a couple buttons from the top of her shirt. For most girls it wouldn't be nothing too revealing, a hint of leg here, a bit of cleavage there, but for Alaia it was mortifying. It wasn't like she was a particularly demure person, or more specifically the source of her conservative clothing wasn't just that, but wanting to hide that body she hated so much. The body that was different from everyone else's. The body that got her bullied.

Blaming herself for both Lionel's bouts of violence and the very shape of her body, Alaia waited until her friend had scared the bullies away, looking at the young photographer from the corner of her eye. What was he doing there? What were his intentions? He seemed to be just waiting on Lionel as she was, although his body language made him appear as inoffensive and detached from the current drama as possible, wanting none of the treatment the bullies were getting.

 

[Leon]

Lionel had little remorse or any amnesty for those that had wronged Alaia. This had all started when they were young and had blossomed into this brutal flower. The sole target that had taken the full force of the linebacker was on the ground, Lionel standing over the now gasping and heaving miscreant whom was clutching his chest in a manner that sounded like he was dying but this was surely more from the fact that he had never been struck with such force.

Though, the ballplayer was not done as he found that with each confrontation he came into, it was always a point to drive home that repeating the mistake was not acceptable in the future. His hand would reach down as if he were going to pull a weed from underfoot. Taking a firm grasp of the collar of the shirt. "You are going to leave her alone." Not waiting for a reply that seemed to almost making it from his lips, Lionel would bring a clenched fist straight down, slamming into his jaw and stopping as his arm would stretch downward, blood following as a small spit from the momentum.

He would draw his fist back once more and throw another strike in the same motion, more blood. Once more and he would release the bully from his grip after the hit struck home yet again. Lionel would pull himself up into his full posture once more, turning his attention to the young group of girls as the remaining boys. "Next time, I'm not going to stop." He would turn then to the appearance of another young man. He didn't dress the part of the group or even seemed to put himself in with the lot as they would grab the beaten and bruised bully and drag him off.

Lionel would shake his hand that he used to strike the boy, using the thumb of his free hand to press into the palm, as if trying to loosen it. He would walk over to Alaia slowly while his focus was on the other man but when he got within touching distance of Alaia, he would stand between her and the cameraman, letting his hands hover just over her. "Alaia, are you hurt? Do you need to see the nurse?"

 

[Sigr]

Even if she had turned her back and averted her eyes, Alaia still heard the noises, Lionel's voice almost sounding that of someone else's. Once he was done and the bullies were scampering away, her view of the photographer was clouded with her friend and his worried stare, his always respectful distance. He looked as good as always, his face now back to the serious and gentle boy she knew, and not the one capable of harming people to protect her. Feeling guilty of forcing Lionel to show his worst side, Alaia teared and cried freely, that culpability mixed with the relief she felt now he was there.

She couldn't help but remember that first day once again. She was young and naive, having lived her short life so far in a town where the majority of people were like her, but eager to make new human friends. What she found was fear, hate, abuse, things that not only would hurt anyone, but also surprised the young centauress. Guessing that she was the one at fault, that she had made some slight she didn't understand, Alaia had taken the abuse until another brave young kid came to her help. He was severely beaten and outnumbered, and yet he got up each and every time he was sent down, so relentless that the ones abusing them ended up running away. He had twisted an ankle in the process, and yet he didn't cry in front of her, showing a contagious courage. When introducing herself, offering to carry him home on her back and ask for her name, the boy hesitated voicing it for reason's she didn't know, but that was when his nickname only she used was born.

"Lion!" Alaia chanted, approaching her friend and hugging him close. Even with his prodigious physique she was still a bit taller given her race, so she always leaned a bit down to avoid embarrassing the both of them by smothering him with those breasts of her. Her brave boy, her courageous defender, her Lion. Alaia was sorry to tarnish his nobility as he had to lower himself to behave like that, giving him trouble. "No, I'm fine..." she said, although her wrists were a bit marked from where the thug had grabbed her with those meaty fingers. "They didn't get to do anything to me, thanks to you once more..." she sobbed, slowly recovering her calm now that she was on the arms of her friend.

"I'm sorry, I made you skip training" Alaia apologized. "I wasn't planning to go through here, but I saw someone weird at the door and-" she remembered. "It was you! Wasn't it?" she asked to the photographer, that had seemingly been calmly and distantly waiting there, clearly knowing that intruding would be reckless.

"Me? Oh, yeah I was waiting by the door, but as the one that I was waiting for didn't come I decided to sneak in and stumbled upon the scene" he said. "I'm very sorry I inadvertently played a hand on this, very, very sorry" he apologized, not sounding exactly scared of Lionel, but just sincere. "I'm a fashion photographer, have a good eye for talent even if I shouldn't say it myself, and was looking for someone specific" he explained his purpose there.

"Oh... It's fine, it wasn't your fault, I was imprudent" Alaia was quick on the forgiving, taking the blame of that dangerous detour herself. "If you are looking for Samantha, she should be on the auditory, drama club. Linda should be with the cheerleaders-" she tried to be of help, thinking of the prettiest girls of the school from the top of her head, interrupting herself as she saw that the photographer shook his head and showed an amused smile.

"No, no. I'm here for you" he said, making Alaia freeze in disbelief.

 

[Leon]

A point. It was what it always drove down too. The harder the point, the longer it would stay fresh. There would always be more, there were always more. More idiots that tried to push that point, to find ways around it but he would not let it. Lionel would not let Alaia be pushed around when he was there and hell hath no greater wrath than he when it involved her. She was always so pure in her actions and when he had first seen her being picked on, it seemed like a crime against nature. He hated it and in his efforts to protect her, he was beaten. Again and again till he could barely stand. A human crash dummy. But she was still there. She was always there since the start when he didn't have anything going for him. She could have simply left him there with a smile and a thank you but she didn't.

He took that beating and held it close to his chest and it was what caused him to pursue his high school american football career. It was in this that he found the strength he needed to keep an eye on Alaia so that the kid she helped would never just be a burden. He would hear the nickname that would always turn him back into that small kid though. A name that, when she said it, gave a unique ring to it that he didn't mind at all. He would let his arms wrap around her, the size difference was something he had grown accustomed too and it was one of the reasons he really liked her. While others saw her as some sort of monster, he saw her as a friend, a sister even that could do things no one else could. She was so cool to him as a kid.

She would tell him that she had no need for a nurse and that the damage wasn't anything to get worried over. He would take in a deep breath as he would kick himself for not coming sooner. "It isn't a problem Alaia, really. They were scum that had it coming." She would then apologize about his training to which he would shake his head. "They'll get over it." She would then talk about why she was out this way anyway and point toward the perpetrator. Lionel would turn his own gaze toward the cameraman, throwing daggers in the form of glares. He would apologize for being a factor in the events that had just occurred. Alaia would forgive the young man and while Lionel wouldn't, it was not his call.

The cameraman said something about being a fashion photographer and he was looking for a particular person. Alaia would begin to go through girls that the whole school knew, even he did. But the photographer would then point out that it was Alaia of whom he was looking for. Lionel would hold an arm out in front of her. "If you think that you're going to try and parade her about, you've got another thing coming." His fist had already started to tighten as he was ready to start another brawl if it was pushed just further to the point. He wasn't going to let her be abused in any form, not so long as he could advert it.

 

[Sigr]

"F-For me?" Alaia whispered, embarrassed and in disbelief. Lionel soon stepped in front of her, Alaia's protective knight, but as she saw him tense she reacted, not wanting more fights for the day. "Wait" Alaia pleaded, reaching for Lionel and touching his extended arm. "He's just talking nonsense, maybe even a cruel joke... but more violence won't solve it" she said, unable to believe that his words were true.

"Nonsense? Maybe, at least for now, but not a joke about that, never" the photographer said, his young face looking serious all of a sudden, even if it was a fleeting moment and he soon returned to his friendly self. "Winston Broadchurch" he finally introduced himself, retrieving a couple business cards for the students in front of him.

Alaia grabbed one of the cards, looking at his name imprinted on the expensive looking piece of cardboard with the words "freelance photographer" on it and pocketed it. "So maybe you are the real deal, but I'm sorry if I can't really believe what you are talking about..." Alaia voiced, always kind even if still uncomfortable.

"I do a lot of work for hire, I've a good reputation if I can say so myself" he smiled, clearly proud of his work. "As I don't belong to any particular agency, I have wriggle room to try out new stuff, to broaden horizons so to speak" Winston added. "And if my eyes don't betray me and they rarely do, I think we could do something good. Well, and profitable" he shrugged, seemingly unconcerned about that part of his work, but still mentioning it just in case. "What just happened was awful, and I don't want to agitate you more, but I'd love if we could talk at some other moment, my phone number is on the card" he said, getting ready to leave them be, as he knew when he wasn't welcomed.

"I... I'll think about it" Alaia whispered, maybe unheard, curious about what was going on. "Lion, I don't want to take you away from practice for too long. It's fine if I watch you train and then we can go home together?" she asked, wanting to talk with him about that but also needing some time to calm herself.

 

[Leon]

Lionel's actions tended to lean one way or the other, rarely did he find room for a middle ground. It was only at Alaia's discretion that he would seriously consider changing his mind from what he thought was right. She was a dear friend and he tried to protect that friendship in the only way that he knew how, with his own strength and fortitude. But, with her telling him to wait and the feel of her hand on his arm which, to him, was stronger than he could ever be. Lionel would look to her hand and slowly, let his arm come down, his hands loosening. He didn't like the idea of anyone making her the butt of any joke. He already had to put down one set of delinquents and if this photographer pushed his luck, Lionel would not forget it. "Okay."

The photographer would introduce himself as a one, Winston Broadchurch and offer the two cards. Lionel taking the card and looking it over, it felt expensive if a simple card could feel such a way. Alaia's voice had always felt unsure when speaking about most things, it was just how she was, even as kids. Strangers were always a wildcard and with the things she had to endue, he never blamed her for it. The young man would go on to speak that because he was a freelance worker, he had the 'opportunity' to go outside the norm in order to find his work. Vulture was the only word that came to mind.

Lionel would turn around to face Alaia as she would worry about him again. "I'll walk you to the bleachers and then get back. We're just doing practice runs anyway. It shouldn't take too long." He would walk with her back to the field, keeping pace at her side. He needed the time for himself but for different reasons. He needed to hit someone and that was what the sport was for, especially for a lineman. When he made sure she was as comfortable as one could be given the area and the not so comfortable seating, especially for her. He would run back onto the field where the practice had already begun, Lionel rushing over to a not so pleased coach. She would be able to see him simply standing there as the arms of the man would flail about, though Lionel seemed less than phased with it all.

The coach would throw his hands out toward the field, Lionel pulling a helmet off the sideline and pulling it down onto his head as he got into line. The practice was just that, practice but with the previous going on, he would hit like a truck. Lionel was by no means perfect but when he got agitated, that fire would keep burning till he felt satisfied. This was to the unlucky fortune of his teammates today that stood on the other side of the field. The match last shorter than most days as the coach didn't want to strain his players with a game not to far away. Lionel would finally feel like he had done his part, his breathing heavy and labored as he would pull his helmet off as he would wave at Alaia on his way to the locker room. The shower was short as he pushed through the turf burns and scrubbed all the necessary places, ignoring the joking and laughing going on around him.

He would be one of the firsts to exit the locker room, a duffel bag behind one arm and a hoodie over his body now, a pair of gloves still wrapped around his hands. Lionel had calmed down quite a bit as he looked around for Alaia.

 

[Sigr]

"Thanks" Alaia whispered when Lionel agreed to let the photographer talk, trying to be as civil as possible. She knew it was her fault that he got so zealous of her safety, but as long as it came down to words, Alaia never bothered him. She endured even the most cruel insults, as telling Lionel about them would only make him angrier, more violent, so he only had to intervene if things got physical, like minutes ago. It turned out that the photographer seemed harmless enough, but even naive Alaia was wary enough to require time to think things over. She had to make sure she wasn't being lead into a prank, as it wouldn't be the first time, nothing that elaborate though.

As Winston went away, knowing that insisting on it would do no good after what happened, Alaia focused on Lionel. "Take your time, I can do homework while you train, and you know I like watching you play" she said, managing to show a natural smile. Seeing Lionel play was watching the other side of the coin of his physical prowess. It was still active and somewhat violent, but what in fights was oriented only to cause harm, in football it had... a language, like poetry. It gave Lionel's fire a purpose, a way to vent, and if she knew him well, today's practice was going to have him specially riled up after what happened.

Alaia sat on the grass besides the bleachers, as those seats weren't made for someone like her and the grass was still more comfortable, as she wasn't the only one resting on it around the playground. "Go, I'll be fine" she instructed, not wanting to delay his practice more, reaching for her bags to retrieve her notebooks. For all the problems Alaia had in high school, she had no trouble with studies, having a sharp head on her shoulders. Homework was promptly dealt with, even getting distracted watching Lionel play once in a while, so soon she found herself idle. Handling her smartphone, she decided to check on that Winston Broadchurch guy, to see if what he said was true.

He was a photographer, no doubt, as there weren't just a couple of publications that had news and interviews about him, so it seemed that he was a rising star the one that got interested on her. Alaia thought that such choice was the first flunk of Winston's promising career, but she tapped the Google link to his portfolio, wanting to see what kinds of pictures he took. His fashion focused mind was clear, as the few that weren't related were relegated to a corner of his web page, showcasing the ones that were fashion shots. Some were street fashion pictures, but most of them were studio ones that looked gorgeous. She knew that counting makeup, hairdressers, lightning, photoshop... those kind of shots had lots of tricks, but she couldn't help but admire them.

Alaia had never been interested on fashion, as getting clothes made for her was usually hard and expensive, most of her outfits either imported or homemade. She also dressed for coverage, not for beauty, so her outlook on things couldn't be more different. Watching those women, she couldn't help but wonder though, could she look like them? No, there was no way she could, right? Winston must be crazy, or just experimenting, she couldn't look that pretty, it was impossible. Alaia lost track of time daydreaming, so she barely noticed the practice being over and Lionel getting out of the showers already. Storing her things on her bags and getting up, she quickly approached him, slowing down as she got closer. "There was no need to hurry so much, you still have the hair a bit wet..." she giggled, ruffling his black hair a bit.

 

[Leon]

Lionel had always enjoyed football, even before Alaia came into his life. It was just so physical and while power always played a part, it was a team sport. It was a game where if you did not trust the man to your side, the entire thing would fall apart. That was a special type of sport, a sport that literally put your well being in anothers hands and vice versa. It was only in middle school that he really began to up his game in order to keep himself in shape, for Alaia's sake as well as his own. When clubs became open for him, he dove at the chance to become part of something he loved. The almost therapeutic smashing of bodies would drown out any and all distractions. He had to stop the people in front of him, simplicity at its finest.

Well, most of the time. There were a few minor set backs when he first started but those were soon put to rest. At least, on the field. Fights off the field rarely made their way back to any higher officials. Though, Lionel was pretty sure that even if it came to the coach, he may turn a blind eye if the attack had some sort of merit but Lionel had never really tested this and wasn't about too. Most students and hooligans he dealt with would rather call the loss rather than have to explain themselves as to why the fight started. Alaia was his only childhood friend and he had to protect that.

He would come back to the here and now as he would see her coming toward him, slowing down before telling him that there was no point in rushing and pointing out that his hair was still damp. He couldn't help but let the corner of his lip pull upward into a half smile. She always had that way about her when it came to him that just pulled his guard down in an instant with seemingly no effort what so ever. "I like to let it air dry. It builds character ya'know, it's a new training technique, very hush-hush." He'd joke while he readjusted the duffel bag. "So, you ready to head out?"

 

[Sigr]

Alaia giggled with Lionel's joke, mostly glad that things were feeling normal back again. "Yeah, I managed to do all the homework" she answered, sounding somewhat proud. Alaia wouldn't acknowledge it, but she had a good head on her shoulders and a gift to get through school without much trouble, helping Lionel if he needed it. Walking next to Lionel, Alaia unconsciously matched her step to his as usual, effortlessly strolling by his side, enjoying just that he was there.

"I've been-" Alaia started, interrupting herself. Was it a topic that she wanted to bring out? "Nevermind" she shook her head, although Lionel's look made her go forward with it after a sigh. "I've been checking on the photographer, Winston" she commented, gauging Lionel¡s reactions as she talked. "I'm not saying that I should... but just wanted you to know that he's the real deal, he's pretty famous within those circles it seems" she shared. "That he wasn't mean intended made me relax, honestly" she paused, as the day had been pretty crazy by itself and it didn't need any more negative influences.

"I still don't think I could be a model, I mean, I don't look the part..." she said, having quite the poor self esteem about her looks. "All those pretty women in his pictures look better than me" Alaia said. "Not to mention that I don't like... showing off" she said, always the shy one. "But it made me feel curious. What did he saw on me?" she wondered, not really expecting a positive answer from Lionel, but at least she got it out of her chest.

 

[Leon]

That was one thing that she always had going for her, Alaia was always leagues above him when it came down to studies. There were many a night that he had to ask for study lessons. He couldn't afford to let his grades slip or else his after school sports activities would suffer along with them. The way that she worded things for him tended to make more sense than when he would hear them in a classroom. He simply figured that it was just because they had known each other for so long that it would make it into his head easier. He never questioned it and he had reason ever to do so.

They would walk together at a similar pace which at this point, he never questioned it. He knew that originally, they had a bit of a problem with her taking longer strides due to her structure but as they got older, they had found a nice middle ground unconsciously. There were even days where he would want to workout and they would find time to run a bit. Trying to keep up with her was difficult when she really wanted to get moving but that is what he wanted, the push to get better. He came back to them walking as she would start talking about the photographer. He didn't really like the guy but that wasn't new. "Oh." He automatically didn't like most people that came into her life. They all just seemed...wrong. There were so many dishonest people that had come into their life that he just assumed they wanted to hurt her.

"Yeah, I guess that he didn't seem all that bad." But that didn't mean much in his eyes. He would listen as she began to put herself down as she would tend to do though the idea was stupid in its entirety, Lionel would kick a rock that crossed his path. "Alaia, you're great just like you are. You don't need anyone to tell you that. It's like people say..." He would pause as he tried to remember the words exactly. "Beauty is in the hand...no, beauty is in the....eye of the...beholder?" He would look off to the side as if to really think of the words.

"Yeah, that sounds about right. Anyway, besides the point, I just don't want you to go swan diving off some deep end."

 

[Sigr]

"Thank you" Alaia smiled wide as Lionel complimented her, staying silent while he tried to find the proper expression. It was a bit amusing, not that he struggled of course, but how he looked away thoughtfully to find the proper words, looking somewhat cute. "You nailed it" she encouraged. Was she going to pursue that road? To think further about that eventful encounter? "The thing is that I don't see myself beautiful" she admitted, "and I love your compliments but... it would feel nice to be acknowledged as such from someone that isn't my best friend or my parents" Alaia continued. "I guess that I'd find some strength in that, you know?" she tried to explain.

"What's the worst it can happen? That they call me ugly? I'm accustomed to that" she said, looking down. It could be somewhat true, but it still hurt, each and every time. "And if it works? Even if it's just a small picture..." Alaia continued. "That would make me feel better..." she said, defending her case. It wasn't like the decision depended on Lionel, but she wanted his support, she wanted him by her side if she was to reach for Winston and ask what did he had in mind. "Can I count on you if I decide to reach the photographer to see what he's thinking about?" she asked, getting closer to Lionel and looking at him.

"I'm not going to decide now though" she warned. "I want to sleep over it. Tomorrow is Saturday so I have a free day to do whatever" Alaia said, stretching her arms over her head, a gesture that pushed her generous bosom a bit. "My back is a bit stiff-" she whined. "If you have any game or practice I'll go watch it, of course. Maybe we could go to the drive-in theater if you are free" she suggested. Alaia loved that place, as most normal movie theaters weren't adapted for someone like her, while she could go to the drive-in in her own adapted car or comfortably ride the back of a pickup.

 

[Leon]

Lionel couldn't help but give himself a small little arm pump as she told him that he had gotten it correct. He took his victories where he could find them and getting praised from his parents, his coach and Alaia meant the world to him. He would slowly let his arm come back down to his side as she would continue on about not seeing herself as what people would consider beautiful and while he always tried to keep her in brighter spirits, hearing it from someone else would mean a bit more. He thought about it and she was right. Being told the same thing by the same person would surely start to grow stale, maybe even lose its luster. Being told he was doing great by his parents only got him so far, it was when his coach started to praise him and his team that he actually felt as thought he was making actual progress.

"Yeah. I think that I do understand. Getting that kind of recognition can help a lot." He was starting to poke more holes in his argument by himself. When she talked about them calling her ugly, his instinctively balled a fist. "And that can get ready to eat those camera's for lunch." Her will to want this to work could be seen, ever so slightly in her eye. He would think about seeing a pocket sized photo of her. "Well..." She would then bring up the want for him to be there if she did in fact want to get up with the photographer. He would turn to look at her and it was almost criminal as he would scratch the back of his head before replying.

"If you do, I want the first photo. Autographed and signed. So when you become a big star, I'll have proof that I was your biggest fan." He would then watch her stretch, her chest seemingly almost to the point of bursting from her top. "It might have something to do with..." He would pause "...the way you carry yourself. And unless I get called in for practice, I should have the weekend off. I heard there were some really good movies out this month too. We could russian roulette and go to whatever is showing when we get there. I'd be fun, we can make a day of it." He liked the idea of just relaxing for a day, no need to rush anywhere. Just have a nice time, surely that wouldn't be so much to ask for.

 

[Sigr]

"My brave knight..." Alaia smiled when Lionel reassured her that she would be safe from even words, as he wasn't going anywhere. "It could even be a positive influence on other... different girls maybe?" she voiced, even if it was a far fetched idea. A bullied freak couldn't be an example for anyone, but maybe, just maybe... "Ah, of course you'll have the first photo" Alaia nodded, being rescued from drifting into dark thoughts by Lionel's amusing commentary. "Do you imagine? Me? A star" she laughed, as the notion was ridiculous, but it was still fun to dream from the safety of Lionel's side. Unaware of the effect her chest had, as Alaia was so deluded by abuse that she didn't even think that something about her could be attractive, she just pondered about Lionel's elusive words. She carried herself just normally, or so she thought, so she had no idea what was he talking about.

Distracted by Lionel's positive reaction to the movie plan, Alaia just cheered, leaning to plant a kiss on his cheek. "I like the idea a lot, some resting and homework Saturday morning, but then we can enjoy ourselves for the afternoon and evening" she was beaming, wanting to do something fun and kind of improvised. "Take out food, a movie..." she said dreamy, it was a lovely idea. They were approaching her home, closer to school than Lionel's even if both were in the area, not far from the playground where they met for the first time. It was a big one storied house, adapted to the needs of her family, and quite pretty. It wasn't like Alaia or her parent's couldn't climb stairs, she had gotten quite good at it in fact, but it was still a nuisance so they opted for a wider, single story family house.

"So you have the morning free to train or anything" Alaia said, stopping in front of her house entrance, not wanting to say goodbye to Lionel yet. Of course, he was always welcome on her house, as he had been plenty of times. "If you need help with your homework, you know where I live, so maybe we'll meet tomorrow morning. If not, just hop by sometime after lunch and we can get on our way to the movie plan" she said with a beaming smile.

 

[Leon]

Wanting to be something for someone else to look up too. Lionel could see how that ideal would become appealing and for a good reason no less. "A role model if ever there was one." He would think of himself at the moment, he knew the things he had done were not what would be considered saint like but he felt that even he had his heart in the right place when everything was said and done. That was all that matter for him, was that he could sleep at night and Alaia could live a life that wasn't surrounded by enemies.

As she laughed at the idea of being a star, Lionel would chime in. "I can actually. All the lights and glitter, the fame and glory. Who better than you to live such a fabulous life? Alaia, I can see the name posted on every billboard around the word! In every langue I can't read!" He would nudge her with his elbow lightly in jest.

He would feel the kiss planted on his cheek which would cause his smile to come round in full. "Always hitting the books, even on the weekend." He could hear her change in tone over the idea of such a simple day out and it was warranted, simple wasn't always bad. They came to her house and he wondered if her parents were home. He would usually come over quite often when he didn't have practice to see if she was doing anything of note. It was a large home and just being inside made him feel like he was in some sort of mansion that had a floor sliced off and dropped right there.

"I'll more than likely just jog this way and do some small things here and there throughout the day and that'll be my practice." When she brought up if he needed any help with his homework to which he would pat the side of his back. "Always. I just don't know how you can do it. I just can't keep it in my head." He always did like seeing that smile, the one that seemed to be surrounded by nothing but pure joy. It made him want to smile all the more, almost contagious.

 

[Sigr]

Done for the day, Alaia said her goodbyes to Lionel and entered her house with renewed strength. The days that she returned home after a bullying incident she always felt moping around, without the will to do anything, but that day was different. Not only had she met someone that thought she could be a model, but also had a date with Lionel the next day. As the word 'date' crossed her mind, Alaia blushed wildly, shaking it off her head. No, they were just friends, Lionel and her could never be together, could they? No, it was not possible, even if he wanted to, something unthinkable as she didn't thought she could be attractive, it would be wrong, it would give the bullies and haters even more ammunition... No. She couldn't be with him that way, she had to keep Lionel as just a friend even if it was to protect him from sharing her fate.

The rest of the afternoon and evening was pretty normal, homework, cooking dinner before her parents got home and having a friendly dinner with them. Alaia always had to reassure them that she was going fine, that there was nothing to worry about as they had their own troubles themselves, but that day it was easier than others as she was content. Alaia didn't share the news of the photographer, but warned them that she was going to be absent half of the next day since she had a movie and dinner plan of sorts with Lionel, something that pleased her parents. Going to sleep in what resembled more of a giant puff than a human bed, Alaia didn't have trouble resting, her dreams more full of sweet than bitter moments for a night.

---

The next morning, Alaia was eager for the afternoon to arrive, so she dealt with her homework quickly as if that would make the time go faster. As always that she was home, she didn't put that much care on covering herself as she did on the streets. Her lower half was always naked, since her fluffy blonde tail covered her more than enough so she wasn't wearing anything. Instead of her usual stuffy shirts, Alaia wore a loose camisole with her shoulders in the open and little restraint on her chest, allowing her to be comfortable. Calm on her room, she was making time reading a book, getting absorbed into it.

(OOC: Feel free to either hop by Alaia's home to get homework help or just let the morning skip to get into the afternoon movie plan, I'm fine with either)

 

[Leon]

Lionel would wave his goodbye to Alaia as she would soon disappear into her home, leaving him to make his way back to his own. He figured that he could jog around the block to get himself tired a bit more and tack on a bit more exercise to boot. It wouldn't take him long at all in order to get to his own home, even if he did pass it once in order to feel like he did some sort of progress.

Upon entering, he could hear the sounds of the television, his father surely watching some game show whilst his mother was readying the table just as he passed to head to his room. He would exchange greetings and go and change into loose clothing that he wore in order to feel at home. He would eat a filling meal with his family and while he usually found himself doing some sort of workout, tonight he felt rather at peace with himself.

He rested on his back, hands behind his head and eyes on the ceiling. The day had its ups and its downs but tomorrow was looking up. He would remember the kiss on his cheek and it brought a smile to his face. Though, he saw her as a dear friend, a sister at times, the years had changed and he with them. Though he would never admit it, he didn't want to ruin what they had built. He was sure that she saw him more the same way at any rate.

Lionel would rub his thumb over his cheek, his smile still there. He could dream at least and he was sure to do just that as the moments went by, his vision turned to darkness and he was off to dream.

_____________________________________________________________

The following sunrise, Lionel's alarm would sound and his day would begin. He wondered just what kind of plans the day would actually have and was excited to meet them, head on as always. After getting dressed, he would wave goodbye to his father whom was usually the first up. Lionel figured that a light run wouldn't hurt anything, so long as he didn't push himself too hard, he wouldn't have to worry about any unwanted smells.

His brisk pace was almost relaxing, the wind against his face was always welcomed. It did not take him long in order to make it to Alaia's house at his pace. He found himself at the door, knocking as he often did as he awaited an answer.

 

[Sigr]

Alaia was barely aware of the knock on the door, too absorbed on her book, the width of the house sometimes making hard to listen to such things. Luckily she wasn't listening to music as well and she was more than accustomed to that firm way of knocking at her door, so not only she noticed the sound but she already knew who was behind the door. Leaving her book aside, Alaia clopped on the slightly spongy soft wood that formed the floor of most of her house, a surface that wasn't just comfortable but also dulled their otherwise loud steps. "Lion!" she greeted cheery, opening the door.

Alaia's blonde hair caressed her naked shoulders, and the loose camisole covered just her forearms and those bountiful braless breasts, her smile so bright that it could blind people to the rest of her assets. She was never aware of how revealing such an outfit could be, not to mention the nakedness of her equine half, as she didn't see herself as a person worth of admiration, so her choices of attire when she was home were usually made around the idea of comfort instead of Alaia's usual prudish coverage. If she wasn't so reserved due to the abuse and accustomed to Lionel to hop by her home often, she would probably wander around the house naked, although she wasn't that far from it that warm morning.

A quick and tight hug bridged the space, and soon Alaia backed inside her house leaving space for Lionel to come in. "In the end you came by on the morning, come, come, have at least something to drink..." she said happy to see her friend. "Water? Orange juice?" she asked. "My parents are doing some shopping on the mall, so unless you stay for long you won't be able to greet them" Alaia commented nonchalantly. "I don't see any books, so you are doing great without my help. Some morning jogging?" she wondered, tapping her chin with her finger.

 

[Leon]

Lionel had let his breathing become a bit more under control as he waited, always enjoying a good run when given the chance. The fresh air as it brushed past him as he ran felt as though he could outrun anything if he pushed himself just a little bit further every time. Though, the idea of sweat on his time out with Alaia today kept him from doing just that, not wanting to be one of those kinds of guys. He knew plenty of them on the team, the kinds that simply date whomever was popular or they could get their hands on for the time and care more about the reputation of the other students than the relationship. He would find this unjust if the women didn't do it just as much, plotting and scheming to rise on the ever so tall social ladder.

He was looking along the side of the door, a lizard or bug of some sort catching his eye in a nearby bush but as he heard his name, his head would turn quickly as Alaia would open the door to greet him. "Me!" He would hold his hands out as if he was some sort of surprise present. He would let his eyes wonder to see her attire and though he had seen her many times before in similar attire, it always was a bit of a double edged sword. He would keep his composure but in his mind, he couldn't keep his mind from wondering though he would usually think of plays from practice to keep his attention off it.

He would accept her hug with his own, the braless chest pressing him just a bit further back as if to make sure he didn't get too close to her. It felt almost like a guard he would wear during his games though nowhere near as hard. He would follow her inside, looking around the walls as if to see something different but of course, everything was the same. Pictures of her family and various stages of ones life between the three. Lionel would look back to her as she asked what he would like to have for his thirst. "Orange juice actually, thanks."

She would inform him that her parents were away and that unless they planned on staying long, he wouldn't have the chance to greet them as per the usual. "We'll see." But as she brought up the fact that he didn't have any books a hand would quickly raise to slap himself on the forehead, tilting it to face the ceiling. "I knew I forgot something! I was so ready to get over here that I kinda just bolted." He would look back to her, his hand sliding down his face. "Do you have Misses Clarke's English notes? I have a quiz on monday and I just can't get half the stuff."

 

[Sigr]

"Orange juice it is then" Alaia said, happy to be of help. The Jennet household wasn't very different from any other house, but it just took a few minutes in to start noticing the weird differences here and there. The softness of the wooden floor could go ignored, but soon anyone would see how wide the spaces were as designed to maneuver with ease, how the cupboards and shelves were a bit higher than the norm, and even if the house had normal chairs for those sparse and unlikely visits, there was a lack of seating spaces that weren't puffs akin to what Alaia has as bed, just smaller. As she clopped around the kitchen, Alaia grabbed a big glass and a pitcher of orange juice from the fridge, knowing well how thirsty Lionel could get with exercise. Her emotions were quite transparent as usual, since as she turned her back to him, Lionel could see her tail happily swinging side to side. It was still so dense and fluffy that it covered her backside perfectly, but it was still a notion most people wouldn't get accustomed to.

As she returned with the drink after wondering about the nature of her visit, she was in time to see Lionel slapping himself in the forehead, looking up to the ceiling. "Ohh Lion..." she sighed with the familiar tone of patience and understanding she always had when teaching him. "I swear that sometimes I think you could even play without a helmet" she said, getting close to him and inspecting the reddened skin of her slapped forehead, not the first time she had made that comment about how thickheaded Lionel could be. It was of course made with such a loving tone and all her understanding that it didn't feel offensive, specially since she never gave up on him the same he never gave up on her. "I have them" Alaia affirmed, leaning to land a small warm kiss on Lionel's reddened forehead, as if that helped with a smacking that didn't really hurt him. Their familiarity and ease to touch each other came from long and didn't got interrupted after puberty, but it was admittedly Alaia the one that most casually touched him than the other way around, her Lion always respectful.

"Come to my room, we can study there" Alaia said, leaving Lionel with his orange juice glass to follow her. Alaia's room held no surprise to Lionel, as he had been there plenty of times, but even then every time he got there changed a bit, as it was her safest space and was thus permeable to how her feeling came and went. The computer atop a desk in the corner showed a few fashion pictures opened in a browser, a clear sign that she had been furthering her research of not only Winston but the fashion world in general, something that was completely alien to her as she had never been concerned by it. Leaving her ample bathroom and wardrobe aside, her puff-like bed had a book next to it, showing that she had been reading some fantasy fiction minutes ago.

Besides shelves full of books, Alaia had a corkboard in a wall close to her bed, always plagued with pictures that contained either Lionel or her family next to her, Alaia's support. The pictures changed once in a while, when new ones were made or if she felt nostalgic of her homeland it appeared plagued of childhood pictures from before they moved there. On said pictures, some of them still in the corkboard, Lionel could see a small, cute and happy Alaia wandering the woods next to her old home, not a worry in her face, before she even suspected the world could be such a cruel place.

"Here, sit next to me" Alaia said grabbing Lionel's attention and sinking on her bed after retrieving her English notes, the puff itself so big that it could accommodate both of them without trouble.