left right straight ahead. [open.]

[Salem Oldwood]

Salem sighed, walking amongst the overgrown bushes and flowers. His boots crunched faintly against the gravel underfoot in time with the music piping in through the large headphones as he wound his way through the almost labyrinthine insides of the overgrown garden.

Every so often, one would see a small sign and a rather clean patch of vegetables or flowers: the student's attempt at taming their own small part of the once relaxing and clean place. Now, where was it? There. A bush of gorgeous dark blue roses. Salem smiled, picking up a watering can that was hidden behind a hedge. It was already full, of course, enchanted for the benefit of anybody who wished to try and tame the jungle that lurked on the school grounds.

It didn't take long to get the ground wet, as it still retained some of the water from last week's downpours. Done with his task, Salem sat on a near-by bench, wincing as he did so. He had woken up this morning to bloodstained bedsheets, and a carpet that was similar... with no memory of how he had gotten this way. Not to mention the rather nasty looking side wounds. Rather then try to explain anything to anybody, he merely washed his sheets when everybody else was at class, and then came out here. The nature around him seemed to calm him down, reduce his agitations.

And best of all, it was quiet. So very wonderfully quiet.

[Antosha Cobb]

Antosha smiled, pulling back the string of his bow just a bit further back. "Salem, move it!" he yelled, grinning as the boy was in the way of his shot. He shut one of his eyes to aim better then released, the arrow hitting a tree trunk at the level Salem's head was at. He grinned again, jumping from his position in an adjacent tree. Sure, maybe he had been aiming at Salem but they guy wasn't dead so it was all good. Mayu had talked to him again last night, screaming something about blood and dead bodies, for the most part he had ignored her. But something did look off about Salem today.

[Salem Oldwood]

Salem twitched as the arrow flew by, his pupils shrinking within seconds as the sharp object hit the trunk with a thump.

"Jeezus christ!" he yelped, glaring at the boy. One of the other various gay boys that hung out around the school, though they hadn't spoke much, save for the occasional Potions project. "You coulda killed me!"

Normally, Salem would've laughed and joked along (obviously, the guy wasn't trying to kill him) but he did still feel a bit off. Running a hand through his hair, he pulled down the headphones so they sat around his neck, music still able to be faintly heard.

"Isn't there an archery range?" he mused, raising an eyebrow. "You could always use that, 'stead of my head."

[Antosha Cobb]

"Hey now, you aren't dead are you?" Antosha told him, still grinning happily. Not that he had a grudge for Salem, oh it wasn't like that at all, but the boy could be rather strange at times. "I could use the archery range if I wanted to, but I don't. So I aimed for your head. Yah moved didn't you? So stop complaining." he gave the other boy one of his gayest waves possible, really trying to sell the act. Antosha smiled to himself as he pulled the arrow out of the tree, not concerned when he found it stuck. The barbs must be working then. Which somehow reminded him to text Diane. "Outside, the Garden. Salem seems mad, help?" he sent, smiling as he knew that he couldn't stay pissed at her for calling him Annie.

[Salem Oldwood]

Salem sighed, muttered something in German and flopped over onto the bench, staring up at Ant.

"One of those convenient targets, eh?" he mused, giving a small smirk. "Nobody'll miss Salem if he's gone!"

Watching the boy attempt to remove his arrow from the tree, he reached over and lightly tapped the trunk with his fist. The arrow snapped free immediately with a tiny cracking sound.

"Mmm, as long as you don't shoot down anybody's prized begonias, I'll pretend to not mind."

Still chuckling, he returned to lying down on the bench, though he left his headphones lying around his neck.

[Diane McLain]

She grabbed her phone, seeing the lights flashing up and telling her of her wonderful new text. She was in the library, chilling out with some friends that she rarely saw, and she texted him back, 'Annie, I really don't want to rock the boat with Melville and Mayu anymore then I already have. Can't you take care of it?'

[Antosha Cobb]

Antosha smiled, grabbing the arrow carefully with one hand. Still holding the bow and arrow he climbed up the tree, looking rather like a squirrel. "I'm sure someone would miss you." he said, moving to a branch just above Salem. He was laying down, pretending to shoot a butterfly (invisible of course) as the message from Diane rolled in. 'Nope.' he replied, adding a small smiley face at the end.

[Salem Oldwood]

"I doubt it."

Salem raised an eyebrow as he watched the other boy climb above him. He was pretty sure the guy was gonna fall...
Good. He needed a laugh.

"I mean, I'm sure some of the people here think I'm funny, but there's not really anybody I'm good friends with."

He shrugged and gently waved his hand. One of the roses detached itself from the bush and floated into his hand where he could examine it. It was a beautiful blue, like the sky above.

"'S not a big deal, though."

[Antosha Cobb]

"Your quiet depressing." Antosha noted, jumping off the spot and towards the bench beside Salem. It was true, without even trying Salem had managed to bring down Anto's spirit. Crushing it like that blue rose, though it was much to pretty to be crushed.

[Salem Oldwood]

Salem paused, then stuck out a foot, in the hopes of convincing Anto to keep some distance.

"Yeah, my bad. I'm just real tired for some reason... body hurts... my two friends seem to be avoiding me like the plague."

He gave a small smile. "You can cheer up. You got, err, whatshisface. The other guy."

Salem didn't really keep track of names, though he did keep track of gossip.

"He's pretty cute... you're lucky."

[Antosha Cobb]

"He's just my friend. Yeah I heard all about that, with your friends I mean." Antosha stated, getting the message from Salem loud and clear. He smiled, sitting down on the ground rather then the bench. He was used to being told to back away, many people have homophobia.

[Salem Oldwood]

Salem sighed, tucking his hands behind his head.

"I just have that feeling like life's being drained out of me... I dunno, it's an odd feeling. I mean, I'm used to being alone, but-"

Salem paused, wondering why he was spilling his feelings to somebody he had only meant once or twice. He bit his lip and shut up, closing his eyes.
It was warm out, surprising for so late in the year. Salem enjoyed this nice weather.

"Global warming strikes again..." he muttered quietly under his breath.

[Antosha Cobb]

"Earth conscious?" Antosha asked, leaning against his arms to remain upward. He pretended not to notice Salem's rant, he probably hadn't meant to anyway. He looked at the sky, trying to see past the clouds. There was a greater god out there, so why couldn't he ever show himself?

[Salem Oldwood]

"Well, I guess so. I recycle when I can."

Salem thought it over a bit.

"I mean, I don't do a lot of things that waste energy... I guess I'm just used to living a simple life."

He glanced over to Ant again, giving an awkward smile.

"Man, I can't shut up today."

[Antosha Cobb]

"It's alright. Got a lot on your chest, it's natural to want to release the pressure." Antosha said, not really giving his full attention to his words. Yeah, eh might listen really well but when it came to talking he was terrible.