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The Park - Sunday morning - 9/28

Just because he had nothing to do on Sunday mornings anymore didn't mean that he slept any later. His body was used to an early wake up and by the Nameless Name, that was what he got. As such, not much in the mood to clatter around in the kitchen and disturb anyone else's rest, Liir made his way to the Park with his ball. A bit of flour down and the two plastic tubs on the grass gave him a good practice yard which he put to use with great pleasure.

Not that he would mind anyone joining in...

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Andrew wasn't skulking about in the trees. Really. He just found them to be a much more peaceful place to take a walk. So he would have no reason to feel guilty if Liir happened to look over and notice that he was being watched by someone standing behind a few scraggly branches.

Liir took a few minutes to notice, bopping the ball up with his head once, twice, and finally a third time before letting it drop and sending it into the bucket with a spinning kick. His brain off the ball, he glanced around absently and that was when he saw Andrew.

Something caught in his chest and he paused, finally giving Andrew a wave that got more enthusiastic and inviting the longer it went on.

Andrew shoved his hands into his pants pockets and casually strolled on out to greet Liir, taking a few deep breaths on the way.

"What ya playing?" he asked, looking more at the ball and the buckets than at the boy in front of him.

"Gooseball," he said as he went to retrieve the ball from the basket. It had rolled out somewhat, but he still had to reach his foot in to get it.

"Supposedly, it's like soccer only more simple. I used to play it before I came here, in the field near the soldier's barracks. They'd give us treats and food for winning so..." he ducked his head, "even I got rather good at it."

He nudged the ball towards Andrew.

"Care to play with me?"

The courage had to be coming from the soccer ball. Had to. Or perhaps his conversation with Altra the other night had made him more comfortable with things.

"Gooseball," Andrew repeated to himself as he walked up and kicked the ball towards the closest bucket. It went wide, very wide, but thankfully not very far.

He scratched the back of his head. "I've never been very good at kicking things," he apologized.

Liir jogged over and brought the ball back, kicking it between his feet.

"Probably because you're hitting it with your toes," he said thoughtfully. "Try turning your foot to use the flat, like this."

He swung his foot back and forth in front of the ball without touching it, showing the sideways motion.

"You'll have more control. I made the same mistake myself when I started."

Andrew laughed, wondering if Liir had any idea how hopeless his instructions were going to be. "Like this?" he asked, trying to copy the motion Liir was making. It looked fine, but Andrew knew that as soon as a ball was introduced back into the mix, he would screw it up. It's just what happens.

He nodded briskly.

"Just so."

He nudged the ball back to Andrew.

"Take your time and swing your foot just like that. You don't have to kick it far. Just see that you hit the ball."

Andrew did as he was instructed, his foot just lightly bumping the ball causing it to roll away just a few inches. Emboldened, he hopped forward to do it again, this time with a little more force. He seemed to forget his technique though, and the ball went almost straight up.

Andrew tossed his arms up over his head and squealed.

And Liir reached up to catch the ball before it could fall on his head.

"Good," he told Andrew, hoping he hadn't scared him off with all this "just remember to keep your foot straight even when you put a little more force behind it."

He stuck it under his arm.

"See, this is usually the point in gym class where I would ask if I could just walk laps, and the teacher, fearing for everyone's safety, would just nod and shake his head in disappointment. I was totally fine with that." He stuck his hands back in his pockets.

He swung the ball around behind him.

"Oh. Well, um," and the courage had disappeared, "you don't have to. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Beat.

"Not that I fear for anyone's safety. You really didn't do that badly."

Andrew looked down at his feet. "I just wasn't created for sports," he stated with a nod.

He glanced up at Liir. "Don't let me stop you from practicing, though."

He shrugged.

"It was just something to do. It doesn't really serve any purpose here, after all."

He looked around curiously for a moment before turning back to Andrew.

"What brings you by, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I was just out for a walk -- got a few things on my mind," he replied.

Now he was really uncomfortable. How would Liir react if he told him he was out trying to sort out his emotions because he had kissed another boy last night? And why, now that he was standing here, did that make him feel guilty?

"You know, just stuff."

"I can certainly understand. I've been... rather preoccupied of late myself," he admitted, looking sideways for a moment.

"And pushing things off. But-"

And he looked at Andrew now, green eyes faintly worried.

"Things are well, yes? You're well?"

Yes, he still worried after Andrew.

Andrew nodded. "I'm okay," he replied, not very convincingly. "I, um, I h-have a, ah... a date."

He took a breath and held it, watching Liir.

He blinked.

Breathed in.

Made sure to do both of these things and do them separately so as not to foul them up right this moment.

"Oh."

He nodded as well, which he considered an achievement.

"That's" and he had to swallow, even if he meant it, "that's nice. I'm glad you're--"

Leaving me behind for good.

Giving up on me.

Going to be happy with someone.

"--doing so well as that. Planning anything in particular?"

He was rather disappointed with himself for being proud of himself for not reacting. Yes, yes, his emotional growth was progressing swimmingly.

Nameless name.

Andrew was glad his hands were in his pockets, so Liir couldn't see how much they were shaking.

"Nothing in particular, no," he said, forcing himself to look at Liir and not look away.

"How about you? Met anyone?" He knew it probably wasn't the best thing to ask, but it felt like a conversation they need to have. It's not that Andrew needed permission, but he so did.

He shook his head.

"There was... a mistake. A one-night mistake."

Trism was still a friend. Amber... seemed content to have him as a friend as well. And that made up the entirety of his possible romantic anything, to be honest.

"Otherwise, no. I've kept to myself."

There was a moment as he looked over everything that'd happened over the summer and then coming back for the fall.

"Probably for the best."

"You had a one night stand?" The question kind of blurted out; he had been caught off guard. Mostly because it just seemed so... un-Liir to him. Andrew didn't sound angry, just slightly confused.

His cheeks flushed with red and he wouldn't, couldn't meet Andrew's eyes.

"Yes, I s-suppose I did," he said, hot shame in his words.

"Like I said, it was a mistake. I... I thought it would be something it wasn't."

"Wow," he said softly, feeling strangely numb. He felt the need to say something comforting, let Liir know that it was okay, but he couldn't, because, in a way, it wasn't.

"I kissed a boy last night." The statement shot out, an admission he hoped would make Liir feel... better?

It didn't. He sunk into himself, his shoulders rising as his head ducked a little farther.

"The one you h-have a date with?" he asked, because what else could he say?

"Yeah," he replied. His mind was still whirling.

"Was it someone here?" he asked.

"You don't have to answer that. It's none of my business." The why was he starting to feel so upset about it? People have one night stands. It happens. And they're no longer together.

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