Falls On Me

[everambient]

Characters: Alex, Jay, Sean, Angel
Date&Time: August 23/afternoon [backdated]; after this.
Setting: Cumberland, Kentucky
Summary: So I heard you were getting married...
Rating: tbd
Status: open to Sean, Angel, and Jay. (idk if Angel and Sean want to stand back for the moment and watch the awkward in a different comment thread to start?)

Comments

[theguthries]

It was only chance that Jay was at her 'home' on this particular day. It had taken her almost a week to gather up the courage to call her mother, and a full day to get herself around to stopping by. For while marriage may not have been Lucinda's first hop for Jay, the fact that she was no longer so suicidal or lost made the arrangement one that she could agree to. They were still home from that breakfast, the house buzzing from not only her visit, but mail from Sam.

The eldest Guthrie had left the home years ago when he was just seventeen, taking on a job as a security guard for some big-wigs out west. He sent home checks to help cover the mortgage, but far less common was a letter detailing his new life. Just that piece of paper was enough to hold a small party, but with Jay's engagement? With the prospect of yet another Guthrie growing up and spreading her metaphorical wings? More than a small dinner and music would be needed. Johnny Cash blared out the open windows and two small children- not more than eight or nine chased each other from behind the house. They stopped abruptly at the sight of the car, strangers rarely welcome on the property.

Inside pots and pans clashed, voices spoke over each other and more running could be heard. A young girl opened the door, she too was young, not more than thirteen or so with long, braided brunette hair. She was built slight, just as Jay was and even as she stood in the doorway, it would be easy to imagine her rising up into the air with a good wind at her back.

"Who're you?" Melodie asked between smacks of her gum. He didn't look like any police officer; or a Calbot. He was too blond for one of Lizzie's boyfriends and too clean for someone from the town. If he had been wearing a suit, the girl would have associated him with the men who first took Sam, and it was that thought that caused her to reach for the rifle sitting next to the coat rack, just in case.

"Ken I help you?"

[everambient]

Alex took a step back away from the door. He hadn't expected Melodie to answer the door. For a moment he just sort of stared at her, unsure of how to react because his instincts still told him that she was a Guthrie--an enemy, one of the family members of Lorna's killer.

"Hi..I'm looking for Jay," he stammered, trying his best to recover from the shock.

[theguthries]

"You didn't answer my question. Who're you?" Melodie replied defensibly, he should at least have a badge- everyone had badges when they came looking for people. Casting a glance over her shoulder, the girl checked to see who was at her back should it be needed.

Two faces appeared in the window, answering the call, a black boy stared out with wide eyes, soon followed by his similar age'd counterpart. Ray Jr. and Jeb watched him as well, and began to debate with each other next to the screens if they could take him down.

The final word was a yes.

[everambient]

Oh god, there were more of them. Alex had to actively fight the urge to power up. Even so, he consciously gathered cosmic energy that could be converted in a moments notice, he just kept from letting it manifest in a glow that gave it away. For now.

"I'm Ha--" he paused, a bit troubled by the reply he'd very nearly given her without even meaning to. "Alex Summers," he corrected, staring back at Melodie. "I know her from...school."

[theguthries]

"Which one? Mr. Ha-Lex Summers?" Melodie asked, crossing her arms in defiance. You weren't getting to her big sister that easily, already she was learning how to protect the others, an important skill as each of her siblings grew up and left home.

"She don't even live here no more, and I dunno if Manuelo would want weird boys chasing her all the way out here. He's protective like."

[everambient]

"The mutant one," he replied quietly, glancing at the window before looking back at her. "Listen, I've recently been through hell, okay? So if you all want to chaperon or whatever that's fine, but I really need to see her."

[onceflewicarus]

"Fine. Alright." Melodie shrugged, and opened the door the rest of the way to let him in. The inside was just as alive as the outside, a blond, fifteen year old Elizabeth Guthrie sat on the couch with her current beau, pausing their not-makeout session only long enough to watch Alex as he was led into the the kitchen. Jeb and Ray Jr. followed as well, practically nipping at the stranger's heels. Jeb had questions for Alex about the 'mutant school', and what they were learning, if he could go- but for the moment he stayed quiet.

In fact, everyone became quiet as he walked past, all unsure of this intruder. It was only Jay in the kitchen, bouncing around the various baking pans and pots with a sheet of paper in hand, phone perched on her ear.

"Yeah, Sammy said he'd be coming home for the holidays, that he misses us. No, I haven't told him yet, I haven't even written-" She stopped, seeing Alex in the doorway. She didn't even allow a 'goodbye' to her friend on the phone, setting the receiver down without a word.

"Jessica? This is Alex Summers. He's from the 'mutant' school." Melodie introduced as she made her way over to a stool, perching herself to watch the show unfold. Whatever was going on, this was better than comics.

"I know who he is Mels. Go and... take Jeb to go do something, okay?" Jay retorted, her eyes never leaving Alex. Not even for a moment.

[everambient]

He eyed Lizzie warily but said nothing. They weren't the same people in this universe, they couldn't be. But he was never going to be completely comfortable around Jay's family now.

But when he saw her, it calmed him a little bit. "It's me," Alex promised her quietly. "I'm sorry for whatever he said or did, and I'm even more sorry for acting like a jackass when I found you and Sean together."

[onceflewicarus]

"What are you doing here?" Jay asked, keeping her distance just in case. Even if this was 'her' Alex, did that even matter?

"you could have said that over the phone." Back north, away from her.

[everambient]

"I could have just called," he agreed, "but I missed you."

I had to fucking bury you.

"You have no idea what it was like over there, Red..." Alex whispered, looking at her now as if he were afraid she would turn him away. "Sean and Jay are outside," he added. "We're all worried about you."

[onceflewicarus]

"Well don't be. I'm fine. I'm back where people care about me." Jay responded, obviously still hurt. She did turn her back to him, stirring the noodles solemnly.

"they need me here. Manny wants me here. Not someone else. Me"

*Angel NOT Jay in the last thread xD

[everambient]

It hurt. Her words hurt, but even more so the way she turned away from him. "Really?" Alex asked her. "We're going to have this conversation again? You know I care about you, but you told me to move on. How was I supposed to know you didn't really want me to?"

suuuuuuure

[onceflewicarus]

"You don't get it Alex, so am I." Jay still did not turn, unsure if she would cry or hit him or hug him.

"I've found someone who cares about me, who thinks I'm neat and isn't complicated. It was a fun ride at the mansion, but I know where I belong."

[everambient]

"No, you've found someone who wants to take you away from all of this, away from your family and away from the people who care too damn much about you to settle for a fucking phone call," he snapped. "The Jay I...know, wouldn't let that happen, wouldn't drop her own expectations just to please someone else." He'd been about to say 'the Jay I love' but oh god, wouldn't admitting that make things even more complicated?

[onceflewicarus]

Finally Jay turned back to face him. It was a small miracle that her siblings hadn't crept back in, but were indisputably hiding out the door or under the open window, listening in. Her expression would be easy to read, hurt and confusion both taking their turns.

"you don't know him! Also what would you have me do? Go back and be happy to be second best?"

[everambient]

He took a step forward to stand in front of her without backing down. "Don't you fucking dare try that," Alex told her. "I know you, I know you won't let your entire life revolve around me like that. But if you marry him? If you give up everything to run away with him, you will be. We both know this isn't what you want, it's just a quick fix for a broken heart."

"I came all this way to apologize to you, to try to work towards fixing this, because I do care about you," Alex told her. "I trust you more than anyone, Jay, but if you do this? Well that's going to ruin any chance of ever fixing us, isn't it? So are you going to take the easy way out, or are you going to be the brave girl I missed and realize what you're doing here will ruin your life?"