Braiden
Legacy Name: Braiden

she's barely twenty six when she finds herself at the doors to the small elementary school. it was her second year here besides of course being a student here in her youth and the woman gives a small chuckle and a laugh as she walks into the building. schools looked extremely different when you were a child to when you were an adult and this was no different for her now. the halls are still lined with doors to classrooms but everything was clean, no student having stepped into the small building that would be their home away from home for the next ten months.

theres a quiet clicking of heels against the wooden floors and she stops when the empty building echoes her steps back to her. hands raise to her chest and the woman can only frown, eyes falling to the floor. this didn't feel right at all, but ... this was where she was now. she didn't know what didn't feel right though which was one of her bigger issues at the moment. she can only shake her head, pick up her bag and continue on towards what knew would be her classroom for the year.

when she gets there its lined with cubby holes and she can't help the small giggle that escapes her lips. she was teaching the kindergarden class, she knew that, but to see all the young smiling faces in a few days perks her up, her bag getting placed beside the small wooden desk at the front of the class. her dress is dusted off and the woman busies herself as she set up the classroom to how she needs to.

it's a quiet few hours and she stops, sitting on one of the few desks pushed into the corner with a thoughtful hum. this was all good and fun but it just wasn't the same until the kids came in. there's a quiet shake of her head and she stands, a glance towards the clock. she was safe to go out and grab something to eat today no doubt. the door to her class is closed and locked up, other teachers who had come by a bit later than her give a small nod as they head back to their classrooms and she can't help but to furrow her brows and frown, gaze on the ground as she walks out of the building.

its a few streets down on her way back from a cafe that she's not paying attention, mind elsewhere as it usually was. there's a collision and the book in her hand goes flying as she hits the ground.

' oh, sorry about that miss !! ' she's not quite paying attention when she sees the hand offered out to her and hears the others voice before she does.

' she should have been paying attention to where she was going. ' its gruff with an edge to it, something bitter she didn't enjoy.

the hand is still there when she looks up though and tentatively she takes it, coming to her feet in the face of a few well dressed men. while both brunet the one who had offered his hand is smiling, bright blue eyes on her before they flick over to his friend, a bitter looking man with green.

' you're not hurt are you ?? ' he asks and she just shakes her head, a nervous smile on her lips. ' that's good !! what's your name ?? care to join us on our walk ?? ' there's a disgusted noise from the other and the woman looks between them with the same weak smile.

' i have to return to work. but thank you for the offer. my name is b̶̨͍̪͍̻̪͔̳̝̘͕̗͉̼͕̲̯͖̀͗̆̑̀͆͒͑̓͐̀̈́̎̔̂͂͘͝r̴̡̬̤͉̩̳̰̠̯̼̖̻̝̳̐͋̐̈́̐̓̔̉̓̚̕͜͠͠͝ͅͅe̴̛͎̼̯̙̦͂̿̋͛̎̇̒̆̏̆̔̕͘͝ň̷̢͉̝͚̟̝̜͙̖̍̔̎d̴̛͍͂̆̌̊̍̾̈̌̾̏́͘̚ą̴̮͉͉͖̐͝ and i work at the elementary school. perhaps another time ?? ' her dress is gently brushed off before the kinder gentleman picks her book up off the ground for her, offering it over with a smile.

' that sounds good !! i'm korey, i'll see you around !! ' he gives a wave and the woman is left standing there, a pain in her chest that only seemed to grow the longer she stood there. she shakes it off though, ignores it. she had work to do after all, and she's sure that wouldn't be the last time she seen the two men. korey, she thinks, hopefully she would at least see him again.

he's found with his head propped in hand, leaning in a run down lawn chair as he stares blankly off into this distance. a hand is waved in front of his face and braiden just swats it away, a muffled yawn as he shifts in his seat and looks upwards towards the other. ryan stands above him, the concern on his face isn't very heavy, but braiden knows that ryan hides more emotion than he puts out into the world.

' what ?? ' braiden asks, shifting to finally stand up.

there's a rough huff from ryan, arms now folded across his chest and braiden can only roll his eyes as he waves his own hands in front of ryans face.

' what is it, ryan ?? '

' you've been missing a lot lately. ' his words are short and curt, to the point as he watches braidens expression fall flat, confused.

' i haven't missed anything, ' he states, hands shoved into his pockets now, starting to walk to the other side of the building to slip inside.

' thats a lie and you know it, braiden. its not just things you're just ... out of it. '

pausing, braiden now blinks, glancing towards ryan and watching him as he walks away, broader shoulders than braiden could ever dream of having. he wasn't built like that after all, ryan was lucky to have been born with a bigger build than braiden. no amount of hormones could change that and braiden knew it.

he doesn't speak as they head back into the building, the apartment old and run down but they were both used to it. braiden had moved into there years ago now, when he had picked up a library job after he finished college. it was quiet in west haven, secure. the farms surrounding it made it feel like home, like someone could be free there no matter the state of their mind or conscience. braiden doesn't need to unlock his apartment, leaving it unlocked and trusting those around him. so he pushes the door open and lets ryan in.

they don't talk immediately, both settling on the run down couch in the silence of the apartment -- but then there's a crash next door and ryan only raises an eyebrow in braidens direction before braiden gets up off the couch and heads out of the apartment, the rabbits panicking in their cages as he passes them outward.

the door to his neighbors apartment is open. which is odd as he was sure just yesterday that was entirely empty and there were no new tenants yet ... or moving trucks. or just trucks in general ( god knows braiden was moved in via three truckloads even if he barely has anything ). so its strange when he pokes his head in and sees ... a man. he doesn't look much older than braiden, chin scruffy and braiden wouldn't deny wanting to run fingers through that hair right off the bat -- it looked ridiculously soft and fluffy. but no, no no no, that was not why they were here.

' do you need help ?? ' he calls in, careful not to overstep any boundaries the other would have about their home space.

but when his neighbor looks up and sees him -- he lights right up. braiden of course is confused, and the other must have caught it because hes waving hands around and the stupid grin on his face shifts enough that it no longer is as bright but still prominent.

' no no -- uh, i'm okay i promise !! just dropped a box a little earlier. do you -- do you live next door ?? '

braiden gives a small nod before tucking his hands behind his back and introducing himself -- and his neighbor lights up again, like something amazing had just been confirmed between them that braiden was entirely blind to and unknowing of.

' i'm korey !! i'll be your neighbor from now on. i hope we can be friends. '

braiden has to muffle the small laugh that escapes, but he smiles softly and nods.

' nice to meet you, uh, i have a friend over right now though ... so if you need me just knock, okay ?? '

a quick nod from korey before braiden returns to his own apartment, ryan laughing when he enters. theres a short period of teasing braiden for how awkward he was with social interactions, and by the end of three rounds of smash brothers braiden is the victor and ryan has quieted his teasing.

there isn't a knock on the door that night.

THREE. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

FOUR. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

FIVE. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

SIX. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

SEVEN. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

EIGHT. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.