Forums » General Roleplay » Paradise Harbour (Open)

The lad didn't waste anytime hearing the answer he had hoped for, Eli wouldn't have taken no for an answer anyway. No on denies Eli of what he wants. He would get it one way or another. He quickly escorted Kim through the halls, ignoring the stares of the student body as they disbelieved the pairing. He knew just about all the dirt there was to know about everyone but Kim's past still mystified him. He knew her parents weren't the most liked but was fuzzy on the details. He would get this out of Kim over lunch. He entered the Paradise Harbour cafe and held the door open for his study partner. Inside he locked eyes with Colin whom he recognised immediately. He smirked at the boy shaking his head in pity. [Our worlds are so different. It's nice to get a reminder of just how superior I really am] He viewed Colin as an outcast, a nobody. Nothing but bad luck. He remembered seeing Kim with him earlier, he would rub this in especially when given the chance.

Kimberly looked at the sign as they entered. Looking around, she kept her mouth shut and tried to calm down. The cafe looked as though it had been busy all day.

Kim sat in a small table with Eli, placing the math book in her lap nervously.

This is crazy..why am i doing this....?
She noticed Eli looking at her and smiled weakly.

Colin stepped out from the back as he heard the bell, that meant more customers. About this point of lunchtime many of the patrons have already had their main courses, now merely mingling or sharing a drink or two. He stepped over to the table where Kim and Eli sat and smiled towards the familiar face. "Hello again, what can I get you two?" He thought to himself of course, she was different but seeing that she went to Paradise Harbour college it wouldn't be too far and idea that she were part of the elite there. He'd recognised Eli as a regular, though not appreciating his attitude he'd always kept that opinion to himself. He wondered if this was Kim's boyfriend without trying to think too much, the question popped out naturally. He took his notepad out waiting to take the order, trying to keep himself from staring too intently at Kim. He shifted his gaze towards Eli awaiting for his usual jerk dialogue to come out.

Eli sat with Kim, pulling a seat in front of the uncomfortable girl. He smiled with a mild chuckle as she returned his gaze. "I come here a lot in-between classes. Mostly a good crowd." He noticed Colin looking over them waiting for the order. "But you do get some exceptions. I'll have the usual. What about you..say, you never did introduce yourself." He set the books aside making more room on the table as he briefly grasped the girls small hands, caressing them lightly.

Kim looked happily up at Colin but didnt get to say anything, for Eli took her hands again. She almost yelped at this sudden gesture.

Why is he being so touchy...?
Kim stared at the table nervously, forcing out a reply.

"K-Kimberly..."

She glanced at the menu... Not in any mood to eat.

Colin could feel Kim wasn't entirely comfortable with the situation but being the person that he was, he wouldn't come in-between something like this. He instead took a few notes down on his notepad suggesting to Kim in a warm tone despite Eli's presence "Strawberry short-cake is on today's specials, it's selling out fast. How about a slice?" Colin's eyes squinted slightly as he looked at the two wondering just what the hell was going on but then he saw books on the table supposing it was some sort of study arrangement. He folded his apron up and scribbled on his notepad waiting the girl's reply.

When Colin mentioned "strawberry", she almost instantly looked at him. How did he know..? Kimberly absolutely loved strawberries. Maybe it was the decorated pencil or the hair clip.

"that sounds really good..!"
She looked at Eli. "it's not too much, is it..?"

Eli released his grasp, smirking at Kim. He wouldn't make a scene in public and would not have others gossiping about an incident at the cafe. Eli sat up and turned his gaze to Colin. He did not approve of the rapport the two shared. Eli witnessed the two just meet but saw more going on with their stares. "I think you should come back Stowe and give the girl some time to think. Go back to what you do best, cleaning the mess and serving the worthy." He spoke so firmly and coldly, not losing eye contact with Colin as he put him in his place.

Kim caught her breath as she saw the hostility between the two. She would have stood up for Colin again, if it wasnt Eli. But because it was him, she remained silent.

Her eyes were full of fear and pain, a mix of both.

Eli is so mean to him...why are they all so mean...

Colin smirked at Eli as Kim beat him to it, the boy ignored the slander and nodded with a pleasant smile towards Kim "No problemo" Colin was glad he got something right. He for one wanted a slice of it himself but knew the boss would have his head. He quickly hopped behind the counter and served the cake with a dash of cream and real strawberries. He couldn't help but be envious of Eli's position, Colin would have jumped at the chance to talk with Kim more. What she said earlier intrigued and as he saw more of her, he found himself drawn to the girl. His heart beat slightly faster and he could feel a churning in his stomach as he prepared Eli's usual latte. No sugar and extra strong. Fitting for person as bitter as him. Colin was no fan of the Ginifers, they'd always made life hard for him growing up and been rivals with his father for business supremacy.

"The Ginifers established Paradise Harbour's commercial success about a couple of hundred or so years back. This popular holiday and residential destination was nothing more than a stop over town until my ancestors invested their smarts and money into setting up some businesses franchises and hospitals to open employment. Then the Blackwell and Harrison families united their livelihoods to further strengthen Paradise Harbour's stake in the market, many of the leading stocks are in some way affiliated to the families I've just mentioned, mine of course leading the way."

Eli spoke with such confidence and calculation, like a text book with public relation skills he was. He tapped on the table impatiently as he caught Kim up with the 'facts' of Paradise Harbour's past. The truth was there was more to it than that for he hadn't mentioned the Stowe's involvement with the town's commercial success. No one knew the story that way.

Kimberly had taken out a notebook and wrote as much as she could, listening intently.

Maybe this will actually help....

She looked at the clock. Twenty minutes left...

Colin returned to their table hastily, serving the coffee and cake with quick hands. He knew how impatient Eli was and every time Colin still apologised, hoping he could somehow close the rift between the two. He hardly knew the guy but felt so much tension each time they encounter one another. "Here you are, sorry for the wait." He smiled briefly at Kim before adding, "I'll let you two get to it, let me know if there's anything else you need." He returned to the register and began rolling up the dockets, roughly estimating how much the cafe has made for the day. Colin wasn't too bad at math and had little use for a calculator.

Eli ranted for a while longer, further detailing the success of his family to Kim, intending to make himself seem more superior by the minute. The attention fuelled him, his confidence even more. The boy for once ignored Colin and kept talking til he took a sip of coffee to quench his dry mouth. He stopped for a moment and asked Kim, "Is this all too much for you? Maybe we can leave it there, how about you tell me more about your family? I seem to know everything there is to know about everyone, except you...." Eli took another sip and paid closer attention to what the girl had to say

"eh?" Kim looked up from her notebook and thanked Colin for the cake.

"my...family...?" something clouded her eyes, and she looked a little lost in sadness for a brief moment.

"i..dont have one. It's just my two brothers and I."

She took a small berry off the cake and ate it, blocking the memories.

Eli glanced at Kim as she answered his questions and listened intently. He remained quiet for a moment taking another sip of coffee and shook his head in disbelief. "We all have family, they may not be with us at the present but we never truly lose them. What's the story with your parents?" He wanted more than anything to find out about her roots. Something with this girl didn't sit right in his head and heart.

Colin finished his business by the registers and wiped the surfaces clean, nothing less was expected of him. He began making his rounds, table to table, picking up as many plates and glasses as he could to get the job done quicker. He couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversation shared by his two guests. Many of the patrons have already left and he could hear the conversation from a couple of tables away. He too wanted to know these answers. He didn't know when he'd meet Kim let alone speak to her again. He stayed a fair distance away carrying on with his work.

Kimberly shifted uncomfortably.

"t-they "disapeared" when i was seven..and people started a rumor that they ran away together because they were discusted by the towns people."

She looked at the cake, to upset to take another bite. Her eyes had that look again, and she shivered slightly.

"but that's not true... I watched him drown my mother..."

Eli wiped the smirk off his face, the words he heard from the girl were not light. He was no fan of conspiracy theories but didn't truly believe the girl was making this up. He circled his finger around the rim of his empty coffee glass. "You're a smart girl, not believe everything you hear. Did your parents have enemies? Anyone who wanted the worst for them?" Eli who was always in the know never felt this curious ever. He'd almost hit himself that moment, asking such questions, he'd never shown this amount of concern for anyone. He looked at the time however and they needed to be heading back. "Well will you look at the time... I guess I owe you another lunch so we can finish what we started here.."

Colin approached Kim and Eli's table slowly, not wanting to abruptly get in-between what the two were discussing. He heard bits and pieces but definitely knew he and Kim shared similar fates. He held his intrigue within and offered the uneasy girl a smile "I'll take those for you, hope to see you again.. Kim" He cleaned up what was left of the plates and quickly returned them to the dish washer. Business would usually die about this time as many of the patrons would be heading back to work and students back to school. There was only a couple of hours left in his shift, he spent the rest of the time wiping surfaces and serving the few people who came in.