no way to breathe easy, no time to be young

[edgeofyourseat]

It's something like the second week of school, and something like the second month that the Hammond family (father, mother, son, assorted house staff) has lived in Sunnydale.

He expected Dad would hear about it, and he expected he'd catch hell, and both of those things happened. What he didn't expect was the part where they packed up and moved to a tiny California town (with a really surprising number of unoccupied mansions for its population). Delaney Hammond Sr didn't even explain his reasoning, not that his wayward son was dumb enough to ask. Somehow, though, moving to the opposite corner of the country is supposed to make all of Delaney Jr's problems disappear.



Yeah, it's not working that way.



Right now, for example, he is meant to be in class. He doesn't even know what class. Where he is is outside in the schoolyard, leaning against a tree, watching the afternoon sun through the leaves and playing with a lighter in his lap. Flick, flick. It's relaxing.

Comments

[edgeofyourseat]

"Most of the stuff they try'n teach us is only good for one thing," he says, holding up the lighter and flicking it open, then shut.

Reflectively: "Hamlet wasn't bad, though."

[trickswithsticks]

"Hamlet's fuckin' aces you see it performed," Leah opines. "Ain't gonna bloody pick it apart for symbolism. Makes it boring as fuck."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Really? I've never been. Maybe I'll check it out."

Senior would probably shit himself with joy at the thought of his son getting a little culture. Makes it easy to arrange.

[trickswithsticks]

She shrugs. "Saw it in London last year. Guess you could rent the movie."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Yeah, or something."

Nope. Definitely gonna see the play. Why not, after all? He can.

[trickswithsticks]

Leah shrugs. She's looked at him a couple times this conversations; quick, pointed glances that cover his face, his outfit, the way he's sitting, that lighter. Never really holding on him for very long.

She hasn't made up her mind about this school yet. And she's definitely not sure about boys.

[edgeofyourseat]

"I'll probably just bug Dad until he takes me to see it," he says lightly. "Gotta be on somewhere in this country, right, a famous play like that?"

[trickswithsticks]

"It's a big country."

Yes, it's probably showing somewhere, but also - that could be a long way to go for a play.
And seriously? Just ask Daddy and he'll take you? Kids at this fucking school.

Leah is still getting used to having an actual parent she can actually ask things from. The book is one of Bill's.

[edgeofyourseat]

He grins. "Don't I know it."

[trickswithsticks]

Leah rolls her eyes briefly.

"Hope it's a good one."

[edgeofyourseat]

Quite without irony: "Thanks."

[trickswithsticks]

The bell rings then, and Leah's head jerks up. She probably shouldn't miss all her classes today, because she's not out to cause trouble or draw attention to herself as the Bad Girl. So she jumps off the wall and grabs her bag.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Have fun," he says amicably.

[trickswithsticks]

She snorts in acknowledgement and passes him on the way into class.

She gives him space as she does. But well, she does that to everyone.

[edgeofyourseat]

He gives her another little wave as she passes by, and then goes back to playing with his lighter.