)
He kept his hands in his pockets and his arms close to his sides. His wings were tucked in tight, crushed against his back. He made sure to keep out of everybody’s way this time; he couldn’t afford to piss anyone off today.
He climbed the two steps and raised his fist to knock on the aluminum door. Leo stumbled back off the steps as the door swung open.
“Oop, sorry.” Jonah apologized as he closed the door behind him and hopped down the steps, clipboard in hand. “Uhh…” Jonah furrowed his brow and snapped his fingers twice. “Leo! Right?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool. Hey, come with me. I was just about to check on a few things anyway.” Jonah started off in the direction of a couple of machine-truck looking things. Leo followed.
“These are called forwarders. They carry the logs to the landing.”
“Landing?”
Jonah threw his head in the direction of an area close to the road. “It’s where all the logs that are ready get loaded on trucks. The trucks take ‘em to the mill.” Leo nodded. Jonah spoke with one of the men in the forwarders, then scratched a few things on his clipboard.
Leo focused on everything Jonah told him and noted what the men were doing as they traveled around the site. Jonah would stop at a certain job, give a quick explanation of what was going on and talk to who ever he needed. Leo soaked everything up. He hadn’t been lying. He was a fast learner. Harvesters felled the tree, delimbed and bucked it. The logs got placed in bunks and then were brought to the landing.
Some of the loggers eyed him warily, but others were friendly or indifferent. He prayed for indifferent.
“Hey, Hank.” An old leathery face looked up from a saw and nodded at Jonah's greeting. Jonah turned to Leo “This is where you’ll be helping out.” He waved a hand over a couple saws slicing there way down a long thick trunk. Leo fished through his new information and identified it as “bucking”.
“Hank, this is Leo Kosky. He’ll be around here for a while.” Hank's head shot up, Jonah raised an eyebrow and gave him a look. Leo didn’t catch what it said. Hank looked over at Leo with narrowed eyes. Then dropped his head back to his work and bobbed it in what seemed like some form of consent. Jonah’s eyebrow settled and he dropped back into his usual bright self.
Another man came over then. He was much younger then Hank, probably around 23, and big. His sleeves were rolled up and strained around his large tan biceps. He had short dark brown hair and wore a huge grin on his face. Leo’s eyebrows went up and he stiffened as the grinning man approached him in long sure strides. He stopped just far enough away to stick out his long muscular arm to offer a handshake. Leo pulled his hand from his pocket and it was caught up in a big warm grasp. “Hi! I hear your gonna be joining the team.” He boomed. He released Leo and reached down to plant a pat on Hank’s shoulder. “He’s not as bad as he seems.” He confided load enough for Hank to hear. Hank just grunted and the grinning man gave a load chuckle at that. Jonah smiled.
“This is Abel.” Abel’s grin widened and he nodded. Leo gave a half smirk.
“Hey.” Leo said as he slipped his hand back into his pocket. A voice called Abel to the end of the log.
“Guess I better get back to work.” Jonah smiled at Leo reassuringly.
“Abel will make you feel right at home.” He said. Leo had no doubt he wouldn’t.
“Hank here has been in the logging industry for years. If you got any questions, he’ll be able to answer them.” Jonah leaned down to Hank. “Hank, you don’t mind taking your break and showing Leo here how to get started.” Hank bobbed his head. Jonah straightened back up and nodded once at Leo, then turned on his heel and left with a wave over his head. Hank cut his saw and stood up. His unfriendly face eyed Leo with suspicion and disgust.
“You better come with me then.” He finally grumbled and stalked off. Leo stumbled to follow him.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Ch. 3: Part 1
Ouch. That last slap stung. Good. Leo delivered smack after smack to his warm cheeks. “Wake up, Leo. C’mon.”
6 AM was early. Leo pulled on the red hoodie over his worn T-shirt as pink crept up over the edge of horizon. Leo’s yawn was muffled by the bright red fabric as it went down over his face.
He hoped the manager’s attitude toward him hadn’t taken a turn for the worst. He was afraid he might change his mind. Leo slid his arms into his coat. He squeezed his eyes and silently prayed that no one would notice his wings.
He mentally prepared himself as he made his way down the side of the highway toward the site. He could hear the loggers shouting over the trucks and machines and going about their work. “Guess it’s not early for them.” Leo muttered.
He winced remembering what happened on this same highway last night. He shook his head to clear it. He couldn’t stay focused on stuff like that. This was how his life was going to be and he just needed to accept that. He let out a sigh and slumped his shoulders. His palm came up and smacked him hard in the forehead. “Accept it, damn it!” He furrowed his eyebrows and huffed at himself. He shoved his fists into his pockets and stalked the rest of the way to the site.
6 AM was early. Leo pulled on the red hoodie over his worn T-shirt as pink crept up over the edge of horizon. Leo’s yawn was muffled by the bright red fabric as it went down over his face.
He hoped the manager’s attitude toward him hadn’t taken a turn for the worst. He was afraid he might change his mind. Leo slid his arms into his coat. He squeezed his eyes and silently prayed that no one would notice his wings.
He mentally prepared himself as he made his way down the side of the highway toward the site. He could hear the loggers shouting over the trucks and machines and going about their work. “Guess it’s not early for them.” Leo muttered.
He winced remembering what happened on this same highway last night. He shook his head to clear it. He couldn’t stay focused on stuff like that. This was how his life was going to be and he just needed to accept that. He let out a sigh and slumped his shoulders. His palm came up and smacked him hard in the forehead. “Accept it, damn it!” He furrowed his eyebrows and huffed at himself. He shoved his fists into his pockets and stalked the rest of the way to the site.
Sidebar
Hey!
As you can see, I have added a "Fave quote" space. I will be posting my current favorite quotes from the story up there. If you want me to post any of your fave quotes, let me know in a comment and I'll be sure to do that.
Also, if you find some awesome artwork (related to the story) and you want me to feature it, then send it to me via email (visit my profile for contact info). Thnx ^_^
As you can see, I have added a "Fave quote" space. I will be posting my current favorite quotes from the story up there. If you want me to post any of your fave quotes, let me know in a comment and I'll be sure to do that.
Also, if you find some awesome artwork (related to the story) and you want me to feature it, then send it to me via email (visit my profile for contact info). Thnx ^_^
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Lana's Car
83 Honda Civic
Just thought I'd post a pic of Lana's car. Just picture it rusty. i may do some drawings of Lana, but don't get your hopes up. Thanks for reading. Your comments make me squeal and bounce in my seat. ^_^
Friday, February 13, 2009
Ch. 2: Part 3
“What are we doing?” He asked, later, on their way to her house.
“Sit back and relax. It’s a surprise.”
“It’s your birthday. Why do I have a surprise?” He said with a smirk.
“Exactly. It is my birthday. So, I should be able to do whatever I want.”
He sat back, defeated and amused. A little while later, they pulled up to her trailer. “You can come in if you want.” She said as she unbuckled her seatbelt. Leo got out of the car and followed her up to the door. She unlocked it and bumped it with her hip as she turned the knob.
“It sticks.” She explained.
Her house wasn’t what he had been expecting. He didn’t really know what he’d been expecting. There was a low brown corduroy couch and big black TV on the floor across from it.
“Here’s the living room.” She said throwing up her hands. She kicked a basket of laundry out of the way and stepped onto the linoleum that adjoined the right side of the living room. “And here’s the kitchen.”
There was a dark, wood paneled bar with an off-white counter top that divided the kitchen from the living room. The corduroy couch was shoved up against it so that the counter was level with the head of anyone who sat on it’s stained cushions. An end table was placed on the other end of the couch. It held a lamp and a stack of magazines. The other table in sight was a teal card table set up in the kitchen. He assumed it was used for dining.
He looked over to where she was raiding her fridge. She put a six pack on the counter and popped a grape in her mouth as she shut the door. Leo stood by the front door as she dashed through the doorway on the left side of the living room which opened into what seemed to be a hallway.
His eyes wandered around. There was only one picture in the room. The frame was on the far end of the couch, lying on the cushion. It looked to be a younger version of Lana with a man of about forty. They looked close. Her dad? For some reason, that didn’t seem likely.
She popped back through the doorway with a big plaid wool blanket over her arm and a large grey hoodie over her thin frame. Her head jerked around as she assessed everything she had gathered, then her eyes found Leo.
“Do you need anything? You know, like, do you need to use the bathroom or something?”
“Uh, no. I’m fine. Ready?” She nodded.
Leo crossed the room and leaned over the bar to reach the beer.
“You want me to get these?”
“Yeah, thanks.” She locked the door behind them and they climbed in the car. She took the six-pack from Leo and threw it and the blanket in the trunk behind the seat.
“Do I get to know now?” Leo asked when they were on the road again.
“No.” He gave an animated sigh. She was easy to tease with. He’d still be staring at the floorboard with anyone else.
They sped down the pine surrounded highway until they came to a dirt turnoff. His eyes perked with interest. At the end of the winding path was the top of a large hill. They came up on the more even side of it and on the other was a steep drop.
“This is it.” She said with a satisfied smile. She grabbed the blanket from behind the seat and pulled herself out of the car. Leo stayed in his seat and with curious eyes watched as she spread the blanket on the hood of the car. She motion for him to come with a wave of her hand. He got out of the car and came around to the front. She lifted herself onto the hood and plopped down on the wool blanket. She patted the spot next to her. He plopped down too, mimicking her movement. She gave a smile and leaned back against the windshield. He laid back too as she exhaled.
The car’s inside lights went out and he was suddenly aware of how close she was. He intertwined his fingers over his stomach and looked over at her. Her eyes were lifted up towards the sky. He looked too. Billions of tiny diamonds winked back at him. His jaw fell slack. He jumped when he heard her giggle.
“They’re somethin’. Aren’t they?”
“Yeah.” He breathed. She smiled with her eyes again and his heart skipped a beat.
She held his gaze for a moment and then he diverted his eyes. He looked back at the stars. He felt a strange static between them. He swallowed and kept his eyes on the sky.
“You want a drink?” She asked a little too loud for the quiet night.
“No, thanks.” He didn’t tell her he was under age. Not that that had ever stopped him before but he wanted to be sober in case she wasn’t, when they left.
She hopped off the front of the car and came back with the cans. She popped the lid, took a sip and put the drinks on the ground beside the car and hopped up, resuming her former position.
“Thanks for celebrating with me.” She whispered. Leo turned to look at her. She had a deep look of gratitude on her face. He looked away, embarrassed.
“No problem.” But he couldn’t keep his eyes away very long and they found their way back to her face again. She was staring at the stars with a serious expression, but she turned when she felt his eyes on her and her face transformed into a grin.
He didn’t take his eyes off her this time. Her face turned impish. He froze as she leaned into him, her breath warm on his face.
Her lips were thin but soft and hooked around his with ease. His heart thumped jaggedly. He closed his eyes as she parted his lips and the kiss grew deeper. His breathing sped and he reached a hand up to cradle her head. Her hands moved to his hips, pulling herself closer. He nearly couldn’t stop himself but he quickly pulled away. His breathing was ragged.
“Wo.” He gasped. She grinned and leaned in again but he held her shoulders. She raised an eyebrow.
“Just, hang on a minute. Uh…” He was having trouble forming coherent thoughts. “I don’t, I don’t think this is such a great idea.”
“Why?” She didn’t understand. She didn’t see any reason why she couldn’t carry on like there was no tomorrow. Like he was normal. She had no idea that either of them could make a wrong move and she would stumble upon a pair of ivory wings. She’d already been way too close.
“It just isn’t a good idea.” He couldn’t think of a good reason to give her. Not a good reason he could give her. She scowled.
“What’s you’re problem?” She was offended. He could tell she was covering her embarrassment with anger. He sighed.
“I’m sorry.” It was her birthday. He felt like a jerk. He couldn’t believe he’d allowed this to happen. “I just, I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t think I can do this right now. I’m sorry.” She started to get red. He didn’t know if it was with anger or embarrassment. But then something changed in her face and she let out a long sigh.
“Ok.” She whispered. Relief flooded through his body. He could have kissed her but that probably wouldn’t have helped things. He smiled tentatively. She rolled onto her back and sighed again.
“I guess I should take you home.”
“If you want.” He was sorry he had ruined things for her. He really did like her. Damn wings.
They both hopped off the car and she pulled the blanket off the hood. She stashed the cans and the blanket back in the trunk.
“I still don’t know where to take you.” She said apologetically and he knew she wasn’t apologizing for her lack of directions.
“Sorry. Just take me back to town if you could. It’s not far from there.”
“Ok.” It was a quiet ride back. She had lost most of her charisma. He grimaced out the window. This had gone horribly wrong. She probably hated him. She wouldn’t want to see him again. She exhaled when they pulled into town.
“Well, I guess I’ll seeya.”
“Yeah. Seeya.” He echoed. He gave a smirk and patted the top of the car lamely before it sped off.
He wouldn’t be looking forward to much sleep tonight even though that’s exactly what he needed right now. He started his way back to the dark lonely camp.
“Sit back and relax. It’s a surprise.”
“It’s your birthday. Why do I have a surprise?” He said with a smirk.
“Exactly. It is my birthday. So, I should be able to do whatever I want.”
He sat back, defeated and amused. A little while later, they pulled up to her trailer. “You can come in if you want.” She said as she unbuckled her seatbelt. Leo got out of the car and followed her up to the door. She unlocked it and bumped it with her hip as she turned the knob.
“It sticks.” She explained.
Her house wasn’t what he had been expecting. He didn’t really know what he’d been expecting. There was a low brown corduroy couch and big black TV on the floor across from it.
“Here’s the living room.” She said throwing up her hands. She kicked a basket of laundry out of the way and stepped onto the linoleum that adjoined the right side of the living room. “And here’s the kitchen.”
There was a dark, wood paneled bar with an off-white counter top that divided the kitchen from the living room. The corduroy couch was shoved up against it so that the counter was level with the head of anyone who sat on it’s stained cushions. An end table was placed on the other end of the couch. It held a lamp and a stack of magazines. The other table in sight was a teal card table set up in the kitchen. He assumed it was used for dining.
He looked over to where she was raiding her fridge. She put a six pack on the counter and popped a grape in her mouth as she shut the door. Leo stood by the front door as she dashed through the doorway on the left side of the living room which opened into what seemed to be a hallway.
His eyes wandered around. There was only one picture in the room. The frame was on the far end of the couch, lying on the cushion. It looked to be a younger version of Lana with a man of about forty. They looked close. Her dad? For some reason, that didn’t seem likely.
She popped back through the doorway with a big plaid wool blanket over her arm and a large grey hoodie over her thin frame. Her head jerked around as she assessed everything she had gathered, then her eyes found Leo.
“Do you need anything? You know, like, do you need to use the bathroom or something?”
“Uh, no. I’m fine. Ready?” She nodded.
Leo crossed the room and leaned over the bar to reach the beer.
“You want me to get these?”
“Yeah, thanks.” She locked the door behind them and they climbed in the car. She took the six-pack from Leo and threw it and the blanket in the trunk behind the seat.
“Do I get to know now?” Leo asked when they were on the road again.
“No.” He gave an animated sigh. She was easy to tease with. He’d still be staring at the floorboard with anyone else.
They sped down the pine surrounded highway until they came to a dirt turnoff. His eyes perked with interest. At the end of the winding path was the top of a large hill. They came up on the more even side of it and on the other was a steep drop.
“This is it.” She said with a satisfied smile. She grabbed the blanket from behind the seat and pulled herself out of the car. Leo stayed in his seat and with curious eyes watched as she spread the blanket on the hood of the car. She motion for him to come with a wave of her hand. He got out of the car and came around to the front. She lifted herself onto the hood and plopped down on the wool blanket. She patted the spot next to her. He plopped down too, mimicking her movement. She gave a smile and leaned back against the windshield. He laid back too as she exhaled.
The car’s inside lights went out and he was suddenly aware of how close she was. He intertwined his fingers over his stomach and looked over at her. Her eyes were lifted up towards the sky. He looked too. Billions of tiny diamonds winked back at him. His jaw fell slack. He jumped when he heard her giggle.
“They’re somethin’. Aren’t they?”
“Yeah.” He breathed. She smiled with her eyes again and his heart skipped a beat.
She held his gaze for a moment and then he diverted his eyes. He looked back at the stars. He felt a strange static between them. He swallowed and kept his eyes on the sky.
“You want a drink?” She asked a little too loud for the quiet night.
“No, thanks.” He didn’t tell her he was under age. Not that that had ever stopped him before but he wanted to be sober in case she wasn’t, when they left.
She hopped off the front of the car and came back with the cans. She popped the lid, took a sip and put the drinks on the ground beside the car and hopped up, resuming her former position.
“Thanks for celebrating with me.” She whispered. Leo turned to look at her. She had a deep look of gratitude on her face. He looked away, embarrassed.
“No problem.” But he couldn’t keep his eyes away very long and they found their way back to her face again. She was staring at the stars with a serious expression, but she turned when she felt his eyes on her and her face transformed into a grin.
He didn’t take his eyes off her this time. Her face turned impish. He froze as she leaned into him, her breath warm on his face.
Her lips were thin but soft and hooked around his with ease. His heart thumped jaggedly. He closed his eyes as she parted his lips and the kiss grew deeper. His breathing sped and he reached a hand up to cradle her head. Her hands moved to his hips, pulling herself closer. He nearly couldn’t stop himself but he quickly pulled away. His breathing was ragged.
“Wo.” He gasped. She grinned and leaned in again but he held her shoulders. She raised an eyebrow.
“Just, hang on a minute. Uh…” He was having trouble forming coherent thoughts. “I don’t, I don’t think this is such a great idea.”
“Why?” She didn’t understand. She didn’t see any reason why she couldn’t carry on like there was no tomorrow. Like he was normal. She had no idea that either of them could make a wrong move and she would stumble upon a pair of ivory wings. She’d already been way too close.
“It just isn’t a good idea.” He couldn’t think of a good reason to give her. Not a good reason he could give her. She scowled.
“What’s you’re problem?” She was offended. He could tell she was covering her embarrassment with anger. He sighed.
“I’m sorry.” It was her birthday. He felt like a jerk. He couldn’t believe he’d allowed this to happen. “I just, I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t think I can do this right now. I’m sorry.” She started to get red. He didn’t know if it was with anger or embarrassment. But then something changed in her face and she let out a long sigh.
“Ok.” She whispered. Relief flooded through his body. He could have kissed her but that probably wouldn’t have helped things. He smiled tentatively. She rolled onto her back and sighed again.
“I guess I should take you home.”
“If you want.” He was sorry he had ruined things for her. He really did like her. Damn wings.
They both hopped off the car and she pulled the blanket off the hood. She stashed the cans and the blanket back in the trunk.
“I still don’t know where to take you.” She said apologetically and he knew she wasn’t apologizing for her lack of directions.
“Sorry. Just take me back to town if you could. It’s not far from there.”
“Ok.” It was a quiet ride back. She had lost most of her charisma. He grimaced out the window. This had gone horribly wrong. She probably hated him. She wouldn’t want to see him again. She exhaled when they pulled into town.
“Well, I guess I’ll seeya.”
“Yeah. Seeya.” He echoed. He gave a smirk and patted the top of the car lamely before it sped off.
He wouldn’t be looking forward to much sleep tonight even though that’s exactly what he needed right now. He started his way back to the dark lonely camp.
The votes are in!
Hey everybody!
Option 2 it is. I'm about to post some more, but I'm gonna be hiding out for a few days. This next part is somewhat of a turning point. I'm gonna need to get down to business so don't be mad at me if there's not a new post for a while.
Please, give me some feedback for Valentine's Day! It would be a wonderful gift! Reviews are always appreciated. Thanks for reading!
Option 2 it is. I'm about to post some more, but I'm gonna be hiding out for a few days. This next part is somewhat of a turning point. I'm gonna need to get down to business so don't be mad at me if there's not a new post for a while.
Please, give me some feedback for Valentine's Day! It would be a wonderful gift! Reviews are always appreciated. Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Option 2
“Yeah. I do.” Her eyes smiled at him again and he was glad he’d said yes.
“Get in. I gotta pick up a few things.”
“Where are we going?” Leo asked as he rounded the car to the passenger side.
“My place.”
“Are you having friends over?” He asked the question that had formed earlier.
“No.” She said looking puzzled as he ducked into the car. “What makes you think that?” She was difficult to figure out.
“I don’t know. I figured since it’s your birthday you’d have plans with someone.”
“I do. With you.” She said with a playful smile around the corners of her mouth. He grinned
“Ok.” He said agreeably. Butterflies started flitting around in his stomach.
“Get in. I gotta pick up a few things.”
“Where are we going?” Leo asked as he rounded the car to the passenger side.
“My place.”
“Are you having friends over?” He asked the question that had formed earlier.
“No.” She said looking puzzled as he ducked into the car. “What makes you think that?” She was difficult to figure out.
“I don’t know. I figured since it’s your birthday you’d have plans with someone.”
“I do. With you.” She said with a playful smile around the corners of her mouth. He grinned
“Ok.” He said agreeably. Butterflies started flitting around in his stomach.
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