The great thing about living on an island? Beautiful sunsets are an everyday occurrence for the most part. It might take a while to walk to a nice isolated spot, but that's what legs are for, right? Walking.
Jamie exited the compound with a spring in his step. He was wearing his trench coat over a pair of jeans and a green t-shirt that the clothes box had been good enough to provide. The clothes box had been surprisingly nice as of late. He suspected it had to do with the Speedo Incident, but didn't complain.
Spotting Ace not far from the Compound entrance reading a book, Jamie made his way over.
"Just the person I was looking for." She didn't smile much, closing her book as she thought about getting to her feet, but descided to wait. You're just hoping he won't see you.
"I just wanted to let you know I've moved. In case... I mean,I don't know why you'd need to find me, but just in case."
She looked down at her toes, swallowing hard. "The treehouse where the Doctor lives. I have my own room and everything." She tried to sound up-beat, even though this was pretty much as good as it got, at the moment.
She was miserable.
"Not bad, right? I mean, my chem set's there, and all that." She looked tired. She looked tired and the only time recently she'd looked worse was when she'd woken up with the hangover from hell last week.
She didn't hit him, mostly because she didn't hit her friends. "Not much. Jack just wanted House to move in with him." And I was in the way. And either I was an utter idiot and he lied-
"So I just moved." She looked over at him, and she bit the inside of her lip. When you're feeling better, you can move back home. "I guess- I guess it just didn't go well."
That got a response, her looking at the grass, her voice dropping until it was barely audible. "I don't know." Not really a good answer, but still. "Originally, he- he wanted me to move in with him. Said that it'd be good for both of us, that he really wanted me to move in with him and live with me, and all that. And now, suddenly it's all 'When your legs are better, you can move back home.'" She still wasn't looking at him.
"It's just- I guess I'm not as important, as all. Makes sense. Told him I was fine and left." Even though she wasn't fine, and wasn't entirely sure how she was going to stand up, but... "Not going to stay where someone's trying to get rid of me."
He looked at Ace intently, the wheels in his head clearly turning very quickly.
And I thought my life was complicated.
"But he didn't actually say that you're not important or kicked you out?" he asked. He frowned slightly before he continued, "Look, I'm not pretending to know the situation or anything, far from it, actually. But you and...Jack...are close right? Friends? Are you sure that's what he meant?"
A diagram and a timeline could come in handy, I think.
She pulled into herself, her hands in her lap. "He said that he asked House to move in with him, so when I'm feeling better I can move back home." She looked over at Jamie, then back down quickly. "It- I thought that it was... home. He didn't invite me because of my legs, I thought-" She shook her head. "I was wrong. Am wrong. Whatever."
She was hurting, that was plain to see. "It's not a big deal. It's fine." She swallowed, and tried to look... better. Because looking like shit was not the way to get him to believe her.
Y'know, if I ever get back home? There will be a dupe sent out to learn how to be good at this. Consoling, I mean. Because I? Can see both sides of the equation. I agree with both sides of the equation. That doesn't always equal good friendship, though.
He awkwardly reached over to pat her on the back.
"It's...okay to cry, you know," he said. "If you're upset." Which you are.
She looked back over at him, making a face. "I'm fine. I'm not upset, and I'm not going to-" She moved to stand up, and the color drained from her face, her face the color of milk.
Christ, that hurt.
"I- I'm okay-" Of course she was okay. Her legs didn't hurt, and she wasn't hurting and upset.
Her lips pressed into a tight line. "He wanted me out, and so I left. That's it, alright?" She was angry- was... was hurting.
"Good enough? I left, and I did it myself because I needed it done, and I didn't need help." Even though her eyes were watering, and she swayed once she actually managed to get to her feet.
Jamie quickly found himself on his feet and held out his hands as if trying to mentally will her to stay standing. The mental eyeroll would come later.
"You were bit by a dinosaur, Ace," said Jamie. "You might not need help, but I'm sure your legs don't appreciate trekking across the island with all your wordly possessions."
"Actually, one stood on me." She actually reached for his hand, biting her lip. "I- It was two months ago, Jaime." She looked up at him, her eyes wet. "It shouldn't still hurt." Her shoulders were tight, and she bit the inside of her lip.
"It... it does, though." It was quiet, almost a whisper, her head bent. "Don't tell Jack. Promise me?"
Jamie exited the compound with a spring in his step. He was wearing his trench coat over a pair of jeans and a green t-shirt that the clothes box had been good enough to provide. The clothes box had been surprisingly nice as of late. He suspected it had to do with the Speedo Incident, but didn't complain.
Spotting Ace not far from the Compound entrance reading a book, Jamie made his way over.
"Hey there," he greeted.
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"I just wanted to let you know I've moved. In case... I mean,I don't know why you'd need to find me, but just in case."
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"Oh?" he said, eyebrows furrowed. "Where to?"
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She was miserable.
"Not bad, right? I mean, my chem set's there, and all that." She looked tired. She looked tired and the only time recently she'd looked worse was when she'd woken up with the hangover from hell last week.
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"I'm not sure how to put this delicately," he said slowly, "but...you look like crap. What's really going on?"
He winced in anticipation of the slap that he was certain was soon to follow.
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"So I just moved." She looked over at him, and she bit the inside of her lip. When you're feeling better, you can move back home. "I guess- I guess it just didn't go well."
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"Did he actually kick you out, then?"
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"It's just- I guess I'm not as important, as all. Makes sense. Told him I was fine and left." Even though she wasn't fine, and wasn't entirely sure how she was going to stand up, but... "Not going to stay where someone's trying to get rid of me."
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And I thought my life was complicated.
"But he didn't actually say that you're not important or kicked you out?" he asked. He frowned slightly before he continued, "Look, I'm not pretending to know the situation or anything, far from it, actually. But you and...Jack...are close right? Friends? Are you sure that's what he meant?"
A diagram and a timeline could come in handy, I think.
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She was hurting, that was plain to see. "It's not a big deal. It's fine." She swallowed, and tried to look... better. Because looking like shit was not the way to get him to believe her.
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He awkwardly reached over to pat her on the back.
"It's...okay to cry, you know," he said. "If you're upset." Which you are.
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Christ, that hurt.
"I- I'm okay-" Of course she was okay. Her legs didn't hurt, and she wasn't hurting and upset.
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"You moved yourself didn't you?" he said, eyes narrowed. "What were you thinking?"
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"Good enough? I left, and I did it myself because I needed it done, and I didn't need help." Even though her eyes were watering, and she swayed once she actually managed to get to her feet.
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"You were bit by a dinosaur, Ace," said Jamie. "You might not need help, but I'm sure your legs don't appreciate trekking across the island with all your wordly possessions."
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"It... it does, though." It was quiet, almost a whisper, her head bent. "Don't tell Jack. Promise me?"
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