Opening my eyes just in time {open}

[Aren Haight]

Aren watched Aren's sudden change of mood curiously. She walked out the door and pushed the rock away so that the door could close. She leaned over slightly so that the ducks in her arms didn't get too wet and looked around to see where Kyle went. The rain was cold, and it seemed to soak right through her dark blue t-shirt. She shivered, wishing she had brought a jacket or something. She hurried and caught up with Kyle and tried, and failed, the smooth away the bangs that were now plastered to her forehead and were hanging in from of her eyes. Aren had a feeling that Kyle was hiding something, but she already suspected that he would. He seemed like a person who kept a lot of secrets, kind of like herself. The only other people who knew about her parents and her past were Luna and Luna's step-mother.

Aren was about to ask what was wrong, but decided against it. She decided that Kyle just needed to be alone with his thoughts. Her eyelids were beginning to droop, and she yawned again. She tightened her grip on her ducklings to remind herself not to fall asleep right then and there. Her long braid felt like it was glued to her neck and she shook her head to free it. She didn't mind the rain, in fact, she preferred a rainy day to a hot, sunny day. It was just one of her many quirks. Fuzz and Bubbles were getting wet, but they didn't even squirm. Aren felt like she was going to have to wring out her shirt soon if the rain started to fall harder. She looked up at the gloomy sky and saw a blinding flash of lightning. She jumped, startled, and wiped the water out of her eyes.

[Kyle Smithe]

Kyle looked back under his wet bangs, it almost looked like a glare but wasn't. He didn't wipe the frown from his face or scowl if you will. Kyle pulled out his keys and pushed  the unlock button, and a black Ford 4x4 pick up's lights blinked and sounded. He had to admit he loved the truck even if it wasn't the best. Kyle hopped over a low rail that separated the parking lot from the grass and path to the barn. He opened the passenger door before walking to the other side of the truck and getting in the driver seat. He leaned against the seat with his eyes closed as he waited for Aren to get in. Kyle wasn't so tired anymore so much as frustrated with everything.

He stared out the windshield into the rain, watching the lightning streak across the sky. Kyle turned on the heat and windshield wipers, hoping Aren would hurry and get in. He didn't want wait around right now, and didn't notice his sleeve was showing most of his wrist along with some of the red irritated looking markings. Kyle didn't care anymore, people would eventually find out anyway, why not someone he seemed to trust already? He watched as the lightning again danced across the sky like a ballet, between the raindrops and lighting the sounds and smells. So where exactly is your apartment? Kyle barely whispered and hoping she heard him over the engine, though it wasn't really all that loud. He checked his pocket quick and made sure his inhaler was there, which it was.

[Aren Haight]

Aren hurried and quickly got into the warm, dry truck. she closed the door and strapped on her seat belt. She hoped Kyle didn't mind her getting his car seat wet. She pulled her braid over her shoulder so that it didn't drip on the back of the car seat, and kept the ducks in her lap. Uh just take me to the Inn down the road.

[/color] she said. Sleeping on her apartment floor didn't sound so great anymore, and at least she could get food at the Inn along with a nice warm bed. She noticed that there were red marks on his arm where the sleeve wasn't covering it. She didn't say anything, but guessed that they were cause by life issues. She used to hurt herself when she was younger, but stopped when her friend found out and helped her to break the habit.

Aren looked through the raindrops on the windshield and at the lightning that splayed across the sky. She sighed, remembering the time she went to a ballet where her friend and others had played the lightning in it. She could feel her eyelids starting to droop, and she hoped she didn't fall asleep on the way to the Inn. She rested her head against the head rest on the back of her car seat and stroked her ducklings until she could feel them starting to dry. She wouldn't want them to get sick. She was just so tired, and she could feel herself starting to slip away. The lightning was mesmerizing, and the rain that was pounding the outside of the truck sounded so comforting...[/center]

[Kyle Smithe]

Kyle vaguely remembered driving past the Inn on the way to the Stables and pulled out of the drive. He drove down the road lost in thought, about alot of things. Dixie and her bathroom issue, the couch, The Storm, and most importantly paying attention to driving. Kyle watched the lines on the road driving kinda slowly, hearing the passing cars who probably thought he was some lost tourist which he was, and let him off without and commotion. He saw the sign to the Inn, and didn't see the white Sedan pulling out, Kyle slammed on the breaks, but it was too late. Kyle hit the front of the Sedan and his truck went off the road into the ditch. He hit the steering wheel hard, the airbags on his side failed, Aren's worked fine another stupid thing was he wasn't wearing a seatbelt. Kyle looked frantically at the other car, and the condition of his truck, which seemed to be fine and a few dents. He was more worried about if Aren and her ducks were okay. Yes the Ducks, even if this was a minor Accident. Kyle didn't notice he was crying until he finally caught his breath having to use his inhaler.

Kyle panted though, still finding it hard to breathe. He saw the driver from the other car come up and tap the window, which he rolled down. After exchanging a few words everything was settled. The owner of the Sedan wasn't pressing charges due to Kyle not knowing the place and the fact that it was his fault for pulling out dangerously. He leaned his head against the driver seat, thankful that the ditch wasn't that deep he could drive out of it. Kyle waited though to see if Aren just wanted to walk to the Inn a few yards away, which he wouldn't blame her. Oh my god... I'm sorry I never saw them pull out.. Kyle noticed even his words were strangled and out of place.

[Aren Haight]

Aren let out a startled yelp on impact with the Sedan and had a mini panic attack out of confusion. She had just began to start nodding off when they hit. Her ducks were awake and were ruffling their wings anxiously, but they seemed fine. When she realized what had happened, she calmed down. The airbag deflated and she could breathe again. She took a few deep breathes to slow her frantically beating heart. She looked at Kyle, who looked like she was crying. She also noted that his airbag didn't go off. Oh jeez are you okay??

[/color] she asked, her heart starting to get faster again. She didn't notice her own injuries, like the cuts where her seat belt strap had cut into her skin. She didn't know that they were bleeding and staining her shirt as the blood traveled through the water from the rain. No, she didn't register any of her pain, she didn't care if she was hurt, she only cared about the others. The thought of walking to the Inn didn't even pass through her mind. Aren didn't notice that she was trembling, due to the fact that she had been in a car wreck only once before when she was around four years old.

Fuzz and Bubbles seemed frightened, basing their feelings off the emotional waves coming from their master. They burrowed into her shirt, and the girl wrapped her arms around them. Her arms, too, were scratched and bruised from the airbag due to protecting her ducks. She gently calmed them down with calm strokes from her hand. [/center][/color]

[Kyle Smithe]

Kyle looked at her she seemed totally fine apart from small minor Injuries thank god. He shook his head at the first question and almost started laughing but stopped himself because it would hurt. Kyle was completely exhausted and yet he had to go to the apartment and let Dixie out. He sighed knowing he had to answer her question. No not really. I wasn't wearing my seat belt and hit the wheel pretty hard. And just a bit frustrated that I have to go to the apartment to let Dixie out. Kyle felt like crap, his torso was throbbing and that was about it. Probably the impact of the wheel is what caused it. He should probably go to the hospital but with the minor crash there was no point. He started the truck again and drove out of the little ditch and into the parking lot of the Inn.

Look I'm really sorry about that. It looks like I scared you half to death. I understand if you just want to go and be on your own a bit. I'm gunna try and make it to my apartment and if I cant call the landlord to let Dixie out. Kyle was still leaning against the seat, it hurt to lean forward so he thought best to just stay like this. He stared at the ceiling of his truck then looked at the front end of the truck which had only minor dents luckily. Kyle couldn't think of anything else to say so he kept his mouth shut. He could hear a few sirens in the distance and sighed again.

[Aren Haight]

Aren was going to say "don't worry about it" but couldn't get the words out of her mouth. She sighed and thought back to what she had said earlier..."you'll be alright." This couldn't get more ironic, she thought. She shook her head at the last part. Being on my own would just make things worse...

[/color] she said softly and looked down at her ducklings, who had calmed down by now and were starting to nod off again. She had stopped trembling and could feel the stings of her cuts. What she said was true, though. She got careless about her own injuries when she was alone. Most times she didn't do anything about them, unless they were annoying and prevented her from doing things.

The girl noticed that Kyle was in a lot more pain than herself. She would have asked to drive if they weren't so close to the Inn. She watched the lightning flash outside the window and by now could here he thunder as the storm passed closer overhead. She sighed and was now looking forward to a hot meal and a warm bed. Aren guessed that Dixie was Kyle's pet, but probably a more traditional pet, like a dog, rather than a duck like she had.  It just wasn't a lucky day for Kyle today, it seemed. Life sure could be cruel. Aren shifted her legs around and found the one of her knees felt bruised, but she didn't really care. Just little minor cuts and things were nothing compared to what Kyle had.[/center]

[Kyle Smithe]

Kyle sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Of course leaving her alone would be the worst idea, him driving alone wasn't such a hot idea either. He was lost, not knowing whether to ask her to join him going to his apartment or to call and stay at the Inn. Kyle knew he should probably try and get home to let Dixie out himself, the beagle wasn't too fond of strangers and would probably put up a fight. He decided to just ask her if she wanted to come with him to let his dog out. I mean she could stay the night if she wanted, he'd sleep on the floor. Uh, well I know I can't just leave you here alone. But I also can't go to the Inn, I have to try and get back to the apartment. If you don't mind coming if you don't want to go in there alone? I wouldn't care if you had to spend the night either I have a couch and whatever...

Kyle didn't want her to think he was trying to get her in bed with him. That was the last thing on his mind. He was just trying to be his old self even if it was hard. Kyle thought about driving back alone with the risk of him passing out at the wheel was pretty bad.  That would be his idea of worse case scenario. His torso was still throbbing, and wouldn't be surprised if he had internal bleeding of some sort. Kyle shrugged off the thought, it was a better idea that she was with him in case something else happened.

[Aren Haight]

Aren was thinking along the same lines. She couldn't guarentee that she'd be able to stay awake the entire time, but she could at least try to keep Kyle from passing out at the wheel. Sure, I wouldn't mind. That is, if you don't mind that the ducks might upset your dog,

[/color] she said. She could get a box or something to put Fuzz and Bubbles in so that Dixie didn't try to eat them or something, though the ducks were pretty comfortable around dogs themselves. At this point she didn't think she'd be able to even stay awake to pay for the Inn, anyway. If she was lucky, she and Kyle were in the same apartment complex. She wiped away the blood on her neck with her shirt and her duckis seemed to be falling asleep again. Maybe Kyle's floor wouldn't be a bad sleeping place, after all.

The only bad part of Kyle's plan was that she wouldn't be able to go through her own stretches to loosen up her muscles, but that was the least of her problems. That he didn't mind if she spent the night was really kind of him. Having her over might help him out a bit, especially if he forgot his inhaler again, or something like that. Hopefully there wouldn't be any need for that. Aren relaxed herself as she trusted Kyle enough to not do anything, he seemed like a trustworthy kind of guy. The girl covered her mouth as she yawned, and leaned back against the seat. The rain seemed to be lightening up, but the lightning was still streaking across the sky. It so beauiful, yet so deadly. Again, it reminded her of her friend, Luna. She could kick anyone's butt and look pretty doing it, even if she didn't think so. Aren smiled slightly at wondering what her friend would say to her situation. She'd probably drop everything she was doing just to get her to her apartment, like the good friend she was. Of course, Aren would do the same for her. Now she was wondering, would she do the same for Kyle? She probably would, even if they had just met.[/center]

[Kyle Smithe]

Kyle waved it off about Dixie. The dog loved animals no matter what they were and often tried to play and be friends with every animal she saw. He started out of the Inn's parking lot pulling out slowly and he headed toward town. Kyle didn't feel the need to speed up any, the rain was still pelting his windshield. He could see through it but couldn't tell if the blur was from the rain or something else. Uh, not Dixie should be fine with them. She'll probably try and get them to sleep in her bed with her. Then she'll go in my closet and grab one of my towels and cover them up. Kyle wasn't joking but he smiled at the thought of the squirrel Dixie had done that to.

He pulled onto a back road heading to his apartment, the big sign flashed by him and he turned right into the lot. Kyle circled around before finding his spot he stopped the car and unbuckled his belt. He opened and the door and got out, standing in the rain was like pins and needles. Everything still hurt. Kyle leaned against his now closed door waiting for Aren while watching the lightning dance above the sandy brown apartment complex. He looked up again studying the complex, he was on the fourth floor room 412 and he could see his balcony. Kyle sighed wishing he was already there in his apartment and in better condition. Aren might like it there thankfully.

[Aren Haight]

Aren smiled, she could just imagine the fit her ducks would have if they were covered up. Fuzz and bubbles were fine with dogs, they had a ton of dogs back home. She got out of the truck, being careful of her ducks. She did her best to prevent them from getting any wetter than they already were, she wasn't going to risk getting them sick, even if she got sick herself. Aren recognized the apartment complex, she lived here, too. Hey, I live on the other side of this complex, she pointed out. She lived somewhere in the 100's. She wondered what floor Kyle lived on, hopefully it wasn't the bottom floor. Some people could get really noisy and stomp around, which really annoyed her. Luckily she lived on the top floor, at least that's what her friend said. She hadn't been there yet, and at the moment it was full of boxes, but she knew that her friend also lived right next to her, so that was good.

Kyle was really in pain, Aren could tell by the expression on his face. It really made her want to help him, to do something for him, but she didn't know what. She let him lead the way to his apartment, quickly, so that they could both get out of the rain as soon as possible. The rain was cold, but she was moving quickly enough to keep herself warm. She wondered what Kyle's dog was like. Fuzz and Bubbles woke up and quacked irritably due to the rain. She shushed them and she made it under the cover of the above balconies. She and Kyle climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, where his apartment was.