The Richards Home

[Samuel Richards]

"Because dear Valerie, after I was created, the mold broke." Sam answered rather wisely but completely joking. He couldn't comprehend why Valerie thought he was such an amazing person. There was really no explanation as to why he was different than most guys. The only one would be that he was raised differently. His parents were quite amazing, too. They were incredibly intelligent and pretty awesome people. Sam then looked to her before smiling, "You're really different too. A great friend, a decent girl and you're not wild and overbearing as some girls. You're a very tame one." he joked before scooting closer.

-

Gene looked surprised. He released her hands gently before touching both sides of her face softly. "You don't?" he asked her, looking down to her and smiling gently. "I just thought that since everyone at your school is with their own boyfriends and girlfriends you'd like the opportunity to be like that." Gene didn't want her missing out on that but if she said it didn't matter, then well, he couldn't argue. "Are you sure?" he asked her, once again.

[Valerie Samuels]

Valerie raised an eyebrow and cocked her head to the side, "I don't know, I can get pretty out of control," she winked, playfully, then laughed at herself, shaking her head. "but really, thank you." she shrugged, "I try," Valerie, unlike her sister, and many other ladies at the school, was far from promiscuous, or outspoken. She was just never into that sort of lifestyle, always so careful of herself, her actions, making sure people took her seriously, perceived her the right way. It wasn't her image she was concerned about, really, just her well-being, not ending up like her mom like how she was sure Lacey was becoming. "I just wish we could rush past all of this," she shook her head, "school and all, I mean. It's tiring, really, with all the people."

-

Estelle looked up at Gene, "I..." she bit her lip, then nodded. Did she want this? Of course. She'd been spending countless time wondering what the hell she'd done for them to break up, only to realize there wasn't any real reason other than his concern, "Yes," she assured, "look, Raine and Elliot, so, maybe they don't have an age difference -- but they're apart and they're making it work. I see how much they care for each other, and," she glanced down, "they'd do anything to be together, the distance between them is hard, but it doesn't seem to matter," she paused, "and neither should our age, to us, no matter how our relationship may have to be acted about."

[Samuel Richards]

"You're more than welcome. What are friends for?" Sam rhetorically asked with such a joyful tone before smiling closed and shifting his eyes down. School wasn't exactly his cup of tea but his parents did pay the tuition money for his classes the least he could do is do his best - or at least act like doing so. It wasn't very difficult. However, Valerie was right. "Oh..." he ts'ked before shaking his head, "Most of the load there give me such a headache. Except you, of course. Did you know you're the first person I want to see and maybe the last too." Sam laughed, it was true. The only people he knew from school was Tamera, but she was his sister and his cousin Esme, but she was his cousin and anyway they hardly spoke to each other. "I wish we could do that. I don't want to go through another year of this torture, but we can get through it together." Sam put a firm hand on her shoulder to assure her that they would be getting this over and that everything was going to be fine. It was hard and he didn't understand how other people went through it like they had no conscience. Yes, they may say that 'live young and free' but some of the things these students do actually keep them from the freedom they have in their teenage years. "I wonder how high this swing will go..." Sam asked while a mischievous look crossed his face.

-

Gene looked to Estelle and smiled softly. He didn't want to lose Estelle, she was one in a million. He didn't know what would be of him if she said it was completely over. When he broke up, he knew it wasn't all gone. Something was still there inside of him. Of course there was. He did it against his own will. Gene leaned forward to press his lips gently to her forehead. "It's odd, I broke up with you against my will. My own will, but I never wanted to be away from you. Estelle..." he didn't know if it was too soon to tell her but he wanted to be completely honest. "I love you."

[Valerie Samuels]

"Aww," Valerie smiled, scooting close enough so that their arms were touching so she could lightly nudge him again, "You are officially my favorite person," she nodded, matter-a-factly, then giggling, "You're the one person that makes everything else the least bit bearable for me in this place," she sighed. There were so many people at this school that just made her feel out of place, all the kids were so outspoken, judgmental... she hated it. Valerie always stuck to the sidelines, so having Sam there with her definitely brought a smile to her face. Raising her eyebrows when he brought up the swing, she glanced down at it, smiling slightly, "You wouldn't..."

--

I love you.

Estelle's heart sunk into her chest when she heard those words slip out of his mouth -- did he really? She looked at Gene, searching his eyes. The last time someone said those words to her, it hadn't been real... and each time the girl would hear it, it was hard to believe. Gene was there to pick up the pieces, gained her trust... Estelle bit her lip, trying to get the words out, cautious to say them, wondering if things would be different once they were in the open. "I love you too..."

[Samuel Richards]

Sam smiled brightly when Valerie said that he was her favorite person. He then nodded, "You're my favorite person too in the whole wide world." he declared. As exaggerated as it sounded, Valerie was a pretty great person. Sam then nodded quickly, "Yup, I would." he laughed before swinging. He didn't think the chair went so high but it was fun. "Watch it break though." his eyes widened once the swing began going unnaturally up.

-

Gene's green eyes were kept firmly on Estelle's blue ones. He couldn't really hide any feelings from her except the ones that were voluntarily coming out of his mouth. His smile grew larger when she returned the words, however, he didn't know what to do now. What they had to do. "I know that I should know what to do now but I don't..." Gene confessed with a laugh.

[Tamera Richards]

"What if he doesn't find our home?" Tamera asked anxiously as she looked down to her bare wrist as if there was a watch on it. She glanced to the actual clock on the microwave before sighing. She was never really the type of person to show her anxiety or any type of nervousness around anyone but her family.

"Oh, right... Hello!?" her brother Sam waved his hand around while in his other arm was the puppy border collie the family had adopted. "Big yellow house the color of Big Bird? He surely can't miss it." he stated rather lightheartedly.

Tamera was used to having her brothers surveying what they believed were dates with boys. It wasn't even a date. Tamera thought Roderick, who she called Roddy, was an incredibly fun person and she in no way thought of him as anything more than a great compadre. Well, he was really cute and Tammy did find herself shamelessly giggling at everything and anything he did. Alright, so she had a slight crush on him. Nothing obvious enough for her two hooligans for brothers to figure out.
"Right, right, totally right. I'm just, nervous. I guess." Tamera said after taking a deep breath she then glanced down to her outfit.

"Ha... Since when does Tamera ever double check what she is wearing?" Gene asked suddenly after catching his sister's hesitation in the corner of his eye. Really, Sam and Gene only teased because they wanted what was best for their little sister. What more could they want for her? They wished she was for always in a safe place and having fun, but more safety than fun. It wasn't that Vivien and Frank paid little attention to them but their parents trusted them far too much.

Tamera looked at Gene as if he ought to be minding his own business before shaking her head quickly and saying, "I don't want surprise visits from you guys and please don't ask him for his social security number!" she almost pleaded.

A big smile crossed Sam's face as he rose his eyebrows almost to the ceiling. He laughed, "That was gold. Seriously, he looked so suspicious and he even started crying." he snickered.

Never mind that, homecoming was coming. Tamera wasn't really all that shy asking guys out. They were just guys, different gender.

( www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=70780214 )

[Roderick Hastings]

Roderick stepped out of the black car and thanked his driver briefly, wishing him a safe drive home before shutting the car door. He rarely ever asked Joseph the chauffeur to take him places, preferring public transportation like a normal teenager rather than showing off his family's wealth. However, Tamera had invited him over, so he wanted to look presentable. Also, Roderick didn't want to be too sweaty upon arrival, either.

He began walking towards the front door, glancing around and studying his surroundings. It was a gorgeous estate. The yellow house was an unconventional choice of color, but it worked. Roderick smiled to himself as he pictured Tamera opening the door with a huge smile, the kind that made her eyes smile too. She was a fantastic friend to have, always listening and always supportive but also witty and not to mention funny. And that accent? To die for.

He tugged at the front of his gray jacket, just thin enough to wear in October, and pulled the hem of his white t-shirt down to cover his Batman belt. His dark blue jeans were a tad too long and they bunched up a bit around his red Nikes. There was no mirror for him to see his reflection, so there could've been a booger hanging out of his left nostril and he wouldn't have known, but Roderick rang the doorbell anyway.

[Tamera Richards]

When the doorbell sounded off throughout the house, Tamera was the first to power walk out of the kitchen and to the front door. She looked over her shoulder to check that her brothers weren't standing behind her before moving her hand up to her hair and sweeping away a few strands that blocked her eyes. Her hand then reached the door knob to open the door.

"Hey Roddy! Come on in and make yourself at home." she greeted with a gushing smile after opening the door all the way and moving out of his way so he could actually enter the house. "You can probably see the house all the way from Florida. My mum's choice in colour, she just loves anything bright and happy." she explained as she led him toward the living room.

Tamera hadn't told Roderick about what had happened with Luke and Lacey. She didn't think he needed to know right away but she did want someone to talk to. Samuel had very little to say concerning he was best friends with Lacey's sister. Tammy felt that Roddy would give her an honest answer as to what she should do to stop all this misunderstanding.

"Roderick?" Samuel asked after walking out of the kitchen with the puppy in his arms. He then looked to Tamera before looking to his friend who he had no idea was friends with his sister and good friends at best. "Are you my new and improved brother-in-law?" he asked, all too excited for any reason at all.

Tamera was more embarrassed than surprised. She brought a palm to her forehead and acted rather calmly. "Small world... Too small..."

"Actually dear sister, small school." Sam answered cleverly.

[Roderick Hastings]

Just as he thought. If Tamera didn't have a pretty smile and beautiful personality to match, Roderick didn't know what beautiful was. He quickly stepped inside so their air conditioning wasn't going to waste (not that it even mattered) before following her into the living room. "I like it," he nodded. "The color, I mean. If your home can't be a happy place, what can, right?" he chuckled. It sounded a lot less lame in his head, but it was too late now. Why was he so awkward all of a sudden? It wasn't as if he'd just learned English last night.

At the mention of his name, Roderick turned to face none other than his best friend. "Sam?" he said in surprise. Tamera and Sam were related? Of course! The accent, the fancy home, how could he have missed it? In his defense however, they'd only met several days ago, so Roderick hadn't quite caught her last name just yet. At least he didn't have to ask her anymore. "Er..." He couldn't quite answer the second question.

He laughed at his friend being clever as usual. It was only a surprise at first, but now it was actually a relief that Tamera and Sam were siblings. Roderick wasn't as nervous as he was before. In fact, he even encouraged the jokes. "What number candidate am I, 379?" he asked, taking a seat on the couch.

[Tamera Richards]

"It's so very difficult to believe that we're siblings but when you look closely, it's obvious." Tamera played along, she felt safe around her brothers and she knew they would never do anything to harm her. She then shrugged slightly almost to herself. She looked to Roderick with a flattered look on her face before shaking her head and holding up two fingers.

"To be quite frank with you, Rod, my brother Gene and I, we drive all of them away." Samuel confessed before looking to Roderick, "But because we're friends, I'll let you go without the all time favorite questionnaire but I do advise you to be nice to her..." Sam took a few steps out to the door frame that divided the kitchen and living room. "Or else..." he playfully ran a thumb across his neck. Afterwards he cackled sinisterly and exited with the pup in arms.

Tamera laughed before looking to Roderick, she moved her hands as if saying, 'There you have it'. "And you met my other brother, Eugene. He's around here somewhere too but I hope Sam didn't scare you."

Tamera took a seat next to Roderick on the couch. She sat with her body shifted to face him and her elbow on top of the back rest. "He wouldn't hurt a fly." she said after a few seconds of silence. Tammy looked to him and continued smiling before she remembered that it was very bad education not offering him something to drink. "How rude of me." she put a hand to cover her eyes, "Would you like something to drink? Water, juice... Can of soda?" she offered while moving to stand up once more.