Trying to Get You Alone: Junayd Chronicles 2

[Alain]

"So then she smiled at me and she said," Junayd paused dramatically before going on," 'that's very nice Junayd,' " he presented proudly before finishing another knot in the net he was making. They were sitting on some rocks a bit down the beach from the docks with their feet trailing in the water beneath them. The sun was up and the day had just enough clouds to provide passing shade every once and a while as the sea breeze pushed the clouds across the sky. It was a weekend so school was out but that didn't mean they had nothing to do. There were always nets to mend or buildings to repair or fruit to gather.

Alain always swung by the work station in the mornings to see what small chore he would sign up for that day and this time he'd run into Junayd. The experience wasn't quite as nerve wearing as it used to be but he'd been a bit dismayed when Junayd had signed up for the same chore right after watching Alain write his name down. Now they were both repairing fishing nets and Junayd had been talking his ear off about Suji for at least the last hour.

Alain nodded, his head bent towards his task. He wasn't as good with the nets as Junayd who had a background in such things and he had to pay more attention to what he was doing to get it right. He looked up after a moment to see Junayd still smiling at him, waiting for some type of verbal response.

"Yeah, that sounds great," he said, not sure what else he could say to what was a story about a pretty average run in with the history teacher as far as he could tell.

Junayd shook his head as if Alain had missed the entire point. "I am telling you Alain," Junayd said in noticeably accented English, "she likes me. There is a future here. Literature and History, they are a natural mix." Alain couldn't even bring himself to nod along this time. He just got a 'hmm' expression on his face before turning back to his nets.

There was really no point in trying to talk Junayd out of his conclusions. It was obvious he had a crush on Suji and even the best of people lost their ability to think completely clearly when their emotions were involved. Junayd would just continue to talk about Suji and Alain would have to listen. The thing was he actually didn't mind talking about the other teacher that much and Junayd just allowed him to do it without feeling guilty or examining his own interest that deeply.

"Are you going to ask her out?" Alain asked since it seemed the next logical progression of the conversation even though he knew Junayd not only had very little chance, but also that he'd never get up the courage to ask. Not that Alain could blame him.

"Maybe," Junayd answered, sounding a lot less sure of himself than he had a moment before. "Have to wait for the right time you know. Romance is a delicate thing Alain," he said in an almost lecturing voice. Alain chuckled and looked past Junayd's shoulder.

"Hmm, but fortune favors the brave Junayd," Alain responded. "Give it a try," he said motioning towards the figure making her way down the beach towards them.

[Suji]

Suji saw the two now-familiar figures hunkered down with their respective nets. They were sitting at the edge of one of the docks, not far out at all. She walked through the sand, not even bothering with flip-flops in the daylight. Beneath her feet the sand was hot enough to be uncomfortable, sliding loosely. It was a bright morning already, promising a hot afternoon. That was generally break time though, and she'd already been awake for a while, organizing one of the tool sheds. She'd left it in a much better state than she'd found it, though she knew that over time disarray would settle back in, color-coded box labels or not. Chaos bred in places like that.

She carried a simple back over her shoulder, and nodded to them as she walked up onto the docks. Careful not to step onto their nets, she sat down on the flat top of one of the end pillars. "Hello gentlemen," she offered with a smile, wincing as she turned away from the sun. "Hungry?" Suji pulled out two foil-wrapped sandwiches, holding one out to each of them. One had a J on it, and the other, an A. Next she pulled out two bottles of Alain's beer: one of each of their favorites. Details like that had never been hard for Suji to remember. "I don't know how you feel about drinking before noon, but someone took all the water bottles from the fridge without refilling them. They were the only thing that was cold."

[Alain]

Alain took the sandwich and the beer held out to him with a thank you. "Beer doesn't really count as alcohol unless you have too many," Alain responded as he opened his. Only alcoholics really got drunk off beer and that was because they would drink one after the other. They were like chain smokers. When enjoyed properly beer was just a drink, like wine.

Next to him Junayd was unwrapping his sandwich. He shot a look at Alain as if to say, 'see, I told you she liked me,' and there was a secretive smile on his face. Alain couldn't help but chuckle as he took a refreshing mouthful of his favorite number 2. He would have to think of a better name than that, he decided as he savored it. Even beers with numbers had interesting names like Magic Hat #9.

"What do you all think I should name my beer?" he asked, looking out over the ocean with a thoughtful expression on his face.

[Suji]

Suji fished out her own sandwich and an Ale #4. As she sat on the pillar, she pulled her feet, sitting cross-legged. It took a small amount of balance, but after a moment she was resting comfortably. She had a mouthful of sandwich tucked away when Alain asked about naming his beer. Junayd seemed to think about it very seriously, and Suji took a healthy swig of her drink.

"Why name it?" She asked, genuinely questioning. "Half the fun is that it's experimental. Keep the numbers." Looking over at Alain, Suji offered him a brief smile, tilting the bottle towards him. "At least until we can upgrade to glass." Finished gesturing with the bottle, she put it back to her lips and took another drink. Suji tried to imagine what it would be like to have an actual soda again: probably disgustingly sweet.

Realizing she was still looking at Alain, she looked back towards Junayd, then out at the water. Quickly she looked back to both of them again. The sun was already glinting off the waves, blinding. "So, you guys want to go to a party tonight?" She was still squinting, the sun's glare imprinted on her vision, and she couldn't make out their reactions.

Maybe inviting Junayd to a party wasn't the best idea, but she was inviting them both. For that matter, just inviting Alain seemed weirder. And Junayd had grown on her: as much as she tried to discourage his delusions, she couldn't bring herself to shut him down as thoroughly as he apparently needed.

[Alain]

Alain looked up when Suji responded to his question and he kept looking even after she'd finished. She gave him an excuse and he could just pretend he was thinking about what she'd said so he did. He only looked away after he noticed Junayd looking at him. He looked back out at the ocean after that and tried to appear harmless. The last thing he needed was a fight with Junayd. And really, should he be indulging his feelings in this anyway?

Could he honestly say that his attraction had nothing to do with the fact that she was the Animorph most closely associated with Dallas. Maybe this was just guilt and he wanted to make up for Dallas somehow.

The derisive tone of his inner commentary was the norm since he'd been freed. But, for the first time, he felt like the dark motivations he assigned himself were the comforting lie instead of the other way around. He brushed a few crumbs from his lap as he chewed on his sandwich.

"Party?" Junayd asked with renewed interest, any suspicion he may have had wiped away by the fact that his crush had just asked him out without him needing to do it. "Yeah, I'll go," he said quickly. He looked over at Alain and Alain could tell Junayd wanted him to say he wouldn't and Alain was inclined to do what he wanted to avoid what was becoming a confusing situation. Of course, that would mean subjecting Suji to a night of Junayd's company but if there was anyone that could take care of themselves it was probably her.

"I think I had some papers to grade tonight," Alain said without looking up.

[Suji]

Suji kept her expression neutral with practiced ease, though her stomach immediately felt like she'd eaten too much of something sour when Alain said that he had other plans. She looked over at him, and wasn't surprised to find him not making eye contact. This is how you repay me? She wanted to ask, finding herself longing for the convenience and security of private thought-speech.

"Grade them tomorrow, you square. It's Saturday." Hoping she had applied the right amount of peer pressure without sounding completely desperate, Suji took another swig of her beer. "Besides. You owe me."

"He owes you for what?" Junayd quickly asked, looking between them.

"For helping him out the other night. When we went for the ride on your boat," Suji answered, as lightly as possible.

"Oh, yeah. That makes sense. But really, then he owes me." Junayd said with a nod, grinning at Alain.

Suji smiled with one corner of her mouth. "I guess he does," she said smoothly, looking back down towards Alain. "You didn't even hear the best part. There's going to be live music. And not a student's band, either."

[Alain]

"Oh, that is hard to resist," Alain said, looking up at Suji. But Junayd was still throwing him meaningful glances. If he didn't watch it Suji would notice in a minute, if she hadn't already. Alain looked back and forth between the two of them and had to resist the urge to laugh. Junayd obviously wanted to get Suji alone and Suji just as obviously didn't want to be alone with him but neither were quite willing to say it out loud. A mischievous streak in him couldn't really resist the chance to mess with Suji, especially when it helped him avoid a situation he wasn't sure how he was going to deal with yet anyway.

He smiled, the only concession to his inner amusement, and shook his head. "Sorry. I'm a really slow reader. If I don't start them tonight there is no way I'd finish them tomorrow and then what example would I be setting for our student?"

[Suji]

Suji narrowed her eyes slightly at Alain. Though her mouth kept smiling, it lost some of its warmth. Betrayal, the look said, and the truth was, she was more than a little hurt. It had seemed like a fun enough event, and she had thought Alain would enjoy it. That he was ducking out to grade papers, especially given that she'd "rescued" him from a night with Junayd not long ago, didn't help matters.

"Right," Suji responded, refusing to let the coolness she felt sneak into her tone. Her pride was wounded, and the worst thing to do with a wounded pride was to make a big deal out of it. "Well then Junayd, looks like its you and me. I think it starts at like 7-ish, down at the pavilion center. I'll meet you there," Suji quickly added, cutting off any potential 'Sure I'll pick you up at your place' responses.

"Okay, great!" Junayd said, beaming at her. Suji did smile a little more genuinely at his eagerness to spend time with her, even if she knew it had the potential to end badly.

"Yeah. Enjoy lunch, guys." She hadn't even unwrapped her sandwich, and let it drop back into her bag. Holding her beer by the bottle's neck, she hopped off of her perch.

"But you just got here?" Junayd asked, a little bit of a whine in his voice. "You should eat with us!"

"Nah," Suji responded, brushing him off. "Alain's right. Papers to grade. See you two." She headed back down the dock, resisting the very strong urge to shove the tall guy into the water as she went.

[Alain]

Alain pulled the messenger bag around his body until the carrying pouch rested on the small of his back. The bag wasn't exactly heavy but it was still more comfortable to move it instead of letting it bounce against his thigh every time he took a step.

He was on his way back from a trip to the school to pick up the papers he'd claimed he had to grade. He honestly did have to grade them though he'd planned on being lazy and not starting on them until the next day. He'd wanted to wake up really early and plow through them and it probably would have been possible despite what he'd told Suji. But if he was going to hide behind them anyway he might as well actually get some of them done.

He climbed the stairs to his apartment and let himself in. He probably should lock the door. People were always people and there would always be thieves in the world. But the crime rate around here was actually at an all time low, especially things like theft. They had a few more violent fights that went too far now that people carried guns and knives regularly. But theft wasn't so much of a problem. Maybe because no one had much that someone else wanted. Or maybe it just went unreported. He didn't know. But, either way, he never locked his door.

He closed it behind him and collapsed onto his couch in the small public area of his living space. He had to pull the bag out from under him when he sat on it and heard all the papers inside creak in protest. He took them out and sighed as he saw the stack of scrawled, cramped writing. Maybe he should have gone to the party after all.

[Suji]

With more than a little dread, Suji watched as the hands of her wall clock closed in on 7PM. "Might as well get this over with," she said to herself. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a clean tank top, brushed her hair for a minute, then tied it back into a ponytail. The only accessory she owned was Rian's vulture necklace, and she slipped that on as a force of habit.

After locking her door, Suji quickly scaled the wooden stairs outside her apartment. The night was about as muggy as usual, and her bamboo-weaved flip-flops clacked against her heels. She made her way over to the pavilion; the sky was darkening but the sun hadn't set yet. It wasn't long before she could hear the sound of people. The music wasn't starting yet, but it sounded like there was a decent crowd gathered.

The pavilion was mostly open-air, set up with a couple tents and a lot of different benches, tables, and chairs. A barbecue was cooking in the corner, and even from here Suji could smell the fish that was cooking. Fish and fruit were pretty much a staples of the diet, and she wasn't about to complain. Anything freshly caught or harvested was by far preferable to what she'd been living on for the past few years.

Suji stopped Junayd not far away. He was standing off to the side, looking a little longingly into the crowd. She walked up to him, waving. "Hey there."

[Alain]

"Hi Suji," Junayd said, turning gratefully as the other teacher walked up. For a second there didn't seem to be anything else to say and he stood there smiling at Suji and looking around at the crowd.

"Uh, do you want food or anything?" he finally asked as his eye fixed on the barbecue with gratitude. "I'll get you food," Junayd said before practically bolting in that direction.

Alain watched him go before making his approach. He was pretty sure Junayd would not welcome his presence but he hadn't been able to face a night alone with the scrawls of teenagers.

"Hey," Alain said, coming up behind Suji.

[Suji]

Before she could stop him, Junayd went rushing off. She was already imagining the heaping pile of whatever he'd return with... he'd probably get a bit of everything for her. Or maybe he'd get her favorites, after watching her during their lunch hour, which was a significantly creepier thought. Suji was trying to figure out which situation would be most uncomfortable and brace herself for it, when she heard Alain's voice behind her.

She started, looking over her shoulder. Her mood was instantly brightened; and then she remembered why she'd been angry with him. It seemed petty, and it probably was. Her ability to get upset over little things, though, felt like a positive move in the direction of becoming a regular human being again. Suji satisfied her anger by giving him a long, calculating once-over. Then she let it go.

"Hey. Dog eat your homework?"

[Alain]

"I wish. It would probably be an improvement," Alain said, glad that there wasn't much of an awkward moment. "I partially came here to yell at Junayd. It's his job to ensure our students learn how to write legibly. According to the stack of papers on my desk he is failing," Alain said with a sad shake of his head. "I hate to turn on a fellow teacher but..." he shrugged as if to say, 'what can I do.' He smiled but he wiped it away quickly when he saw Junayd coming back.

He didn't know how serious Junayd was about his infatuation and Alain had sworn to live a simple and carefree existence the moment he'd gotten here. That included staying out of trouble when it came to co-workers. Something he was struggling to remember and stay loyal too all around.

[Suji]

"That's why all my tests are multiple choice," Suji joked. She almost never did anything multiple choice, but she did have a lot of oral reports. As Alain's expression changed abruptly, Suji turned to see Junayd walking back. He was carefully balancing two plates, with two cups pressed against his body. From this distance she could quite make out the contents of either, but given the settings, she was betting that the drinks were sangria. And the folks around here made killer sangria.

Junayd didn't look too happy to see Alain, but he didn't seem ready to cause a scene over it. And just thinking that, Suji wanted to leave. A scene. The fact that she could imagine there being a scene meant she shouldn't be around Junayd in a setting that could in any way be interpreted as a date. It wasn't fair to him, and it was stressing her out.

Normal stress, though. The type of stress someone her age was supposed to have. Sometimes that thought was comforting, but it wasn't doing the trick right at the moment. Junayd's little crush was one thing; acting like Alain was at fault for anything was different. Was Suji just expected to not spend time with anyone else, especially young men?

You know it's a little more than that.

No. She didn't. She and Alain got along well, at least partly because Alain wasn't a creepy awkward poetry-reciting stalker. She blamed whatever romance novels Junayd had read that'd convinced him that persistence eventually won over any lady's heart.

"Oh, hey Alain." Junayd said, as if confused. "Finished grading already?" He carefully handed Suji a plate, as well as a cup of dark red sangria. "Here, I know this is your favorite." Junayd smiled widely at her. Suji felt her anger fracture, crumbling substantially.

"Thanks Junayd."

[Alain]

"No, I gave in to temptation," Alain said with a smile, trying to project the male camaraderie vibe that seemed to placated Junayd so easily most times. It had an effect and even if Junayd still looked slightly bummed out not to have a night to fantasize about all the ways he could take advantage of the night he was wasting by fantasizing, he didn't look angry.

"I'm gonna get some of that sangria," Alain said, running a hand through his hair. "I'll be back," he said before starting to push his way through the crowd that was slowly growing bit by bit. Alain wouldn't have claimed to be a follower of the scene here but he hadn't believed this many people even lived here, let alone could be convinced to come out to an event like this. Then again, how often did they have events like this. In the old world this would have been standard and easily passed over. Here and now it was rare and a gift sure to draw a large crowd.

Alain poured himself a cup of sangria and tried not to think about how many flies had visited the bowl of sweet liquid that night. He picked up some food and brought it all back to Suji and Junayd. He was chewing on half an egg roll when he walked back over to them.

"So when is this supposed to start?"