crazyleacaine

[crazyleacaine]

"Oh," Lea said, surprised by the question. She didn't hear it very often. "Yeah. My family owns the library." She shrugged her shoulders, a chill going down her spine as she felt somebody brush past her. She turned her head, eyeing the space where somebody had just touched her, looking for anything from a shadow to a human being, and seeing nothing. Frowning, she took a deep breath. The other woman probably hadn't felt it, which meant that she was acting crazy again.

"This place is really weird," Lea said, turning back to June. "Everything feels creepy here, like somebody's watching me. I hate this."

SOS || JUNE & LEA

"Lea Caine. Like the library."

June nodded with a wide smile. "I spend a ton of time there. If you don’t mind my asking, what’s your family’s connection to it?" She was certain it was an inherited thing much like the funeral home was to the Elliot family. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t quite bothered to research Bentley’s history in all the time she’d been here. She’d been preoccupied with dredging up bodies (so to speak) of evidence regarding whatever curse Bentley had been under, she assumed. With a slight huff she breathed out and continued on the path. 

"Sorry, I just like history. It’s fascinating." She offered a tranquil smile and adjusted her bag on her shoulder. 

[crazyleacaine]

Lea nodded her head, uncomfortable with the situation, with their location, with the carnival in general. Her skin crawled and the lights flickered. She reached for Claudia, gripping her sister's arm hard in her hand as she turned toward the door and blinked. Fear made her heart pound. "Did you see that?" she asked suddenly. Something floated just outside of her vision on the right side. "Over there. Can you see it?" If it wasn't real, Claudia would be the first to tell her.

Can You Hear That? || Open

Acknowledging the fact that her sister brushed off her heart felt apology Claudia took a small step back. Of course Claudia regretted not spending time with Lea while she was going through her physiological breakdown but her sister had no right to hold it against her. While Lea was suffering with her own world closing in around her so was she. During the majority of the antics with Lea she was grieving over Criag, being that it was so recent and the one person she wanted to be comforted by the most wasn’t there for her. What Lea didn’t understand is although Claudia may have called her crazy at a point in time it wasn’t when she was in her right mind. The love of her life had just died and she was hurt, and it seemed like noone in her family gave a damn about how much pain she was dealing with. There on out she resorted to using her chemistry skills to start up her drug making to escape her family. Instead of dragging it out and making a big deal Claudia decided to just let it go, at the end of the day she knew how much she cared for her sister and  even if she did miss her tons Lea would come around eventually.  Nonetheless the young girl shifted as a damp wind blew through her hair. "Yeah.. weird is an understatement." At this point her  plan to rekindle their relationship had failed and Claudia just wanted to find their way out. "I - uh think the doors this way." she murmured seeing a flickering light at the end of the corridor.

[crazyleacaine]

Lea stiffened just a bit in the embrace. She'd never been close to Claudia, and her two younger siblings hadn't been the most forgiving of her breakdown in the cemetery. Spencer had been there for her, and he'd not only helped to pick up the pieces of her shattered psyche. He wasn't always clear and he didn't always make sense to her, but he was there for her and that meant something. Claudia, on the other hand, had always thought she was crzzy. To hear otherwise surprised Lea, but she finally hugged back. "This place is weird," she muttered. That was saying something, coming from Lea!

Can You Hear That? || Open

Thankful to hear her sisters voice Claudia turned quickly and hugged her older sibling tightly. “Oh god thank god it’s you Lea.” she gave her sister a tight squeeze before slowly releasing and backing up a step. It had been ages since she last hugged her sister like that. Through all of Lea’s antics Claudia had distanced herself the most. Of course she loved her sister through it all, and believed she wasn’t in fact crazy but.. in all honesty she didn’t know what to say to her. She didn’t know how to approach her after everything. Claudia had felt terrible for not being there for her but a recent eye opening experience made her thankful she had Lea still. Holding Lea’s hand she looked into what she could see to be her sisters eyes. "It’s fine.. I’m just glad it was you..I’ve been better but.." she smiled through the darkness. Now probably wasn’t the best time to apologize but she had to say it before something happened to change her mind. "Lea I’m sorry- that I wasn’t there for you. I know you’re not crazy your.. your super smart and cool and I miss hanging out with my big sister. I love you, and I just hope you can forgive me. I just didn’t know what to say- I still don’t’.." she hugged her again. " I just.. I really missed you."

[crazyleacaine]

People got nervous around Lea all the time, so June's nervous energy didn't bother the twenty year-old at all. It was typical, and though often disappointing, it didn't mark any change from what was ordinary for her any more than the feeling of being watched was anything that she hadn't grown accustomed to over the time since her nervous breakdown. Sometimes things saw her and sometimes she saw things, but it was always uncomfortable. "I wish I'd brought my camera," she muttered. Odd to have left it behind at a time like this, when she could most have done with having its comfort, but now she couldn't think of how she'd wound up in this place. 

That, too, was typical. Uncomfortable, but at least typical.

"Lea," she replied, surprised she hadn't been recognized. "Lea Caine. Like the library," she added hastily.

SOS || JUNE & LEA

"Yeah, you and me both, I guess," June tried to rub the feeling of discomfort out of her arms, but it wasn’t the familiar buzzing she’d grown so accustomed to. This was an inexplicable ache as if she were coming down with something. "I’m uh…" she breathed out. "I’m sorry I grabbed you like that. I’m not staying in here though. If you want we can buddy system it out of here. I think I’ve seen enough of this place." June gave an involuntary shiver. She no longer felt any curiosity about the circus or what was in any of these tents. She was more inclined to book it and head for Betsey’s for a cup of tea.

"I’m June, by the way." She clenched her hands into fists and unclenched them, digging them into the pockets of her shorts. "There wasn’t time for an introduction before, or I would’ve…" she trailed off, inching her way toward the tent’s entrance. She’d had more than enough of this circus and in her opinion, it was time to go. The awkwardness of the situation was beginning to make her feel uncharacteristically self-conscious, but she couldn’t figure out why.

[crazyleacaine]

"It's just me!" Lea called out to her sister. "Some guy was following me. Or at least I think..." She frowned and turned over her shoulder. It was easier to talk to Spencer about these things than it was to Claudia, but she didn't bring that up. It had been ages since she'd seen her sister or Noah for that matter, and she'd rather not make the moment miserable if she could avoid it. "I'm sorry I scared you. It's just... How are you?" she asked. Things had been rough for Claudia since Craig's death, and Lea hadn't been there much to help her sister out. 

"Is everything okay?"

Can You Hear That? || Open

Never one to follow the rules, Character A sneaks into the Tunnel of Love through a maintenance entrance. Instead of watching festival-goers, Character A explores the inside of the tent until Character B (a solo rider) sees them. In a split second decision, Character B climbs out of their boat and tries to find Character A. Could something paranormal have brought them together?

The door was practically calling her name, a wooden wedge stuck in just a tiny bit so not even workers if passing by would tell that it’s open. Taking in her surroundings Claudia jumped at the opportunity to really explore this place. And not like everyone else.. from the inside. Stealthily she tucked into the entrance. Distant moans and groans were heard from afar. Only making her curious Claudia deiced to go closer to the ongoing attraction.

The sensation of being watched was something she was used to by now.. and the grounds made her feel as though being followed was a priority. Turning down a dimly lit hallway she got the view she’d been searching for. Boats slowly making their way down the shadowed path for her viewing pleasure.A familiar face or two caught her eye before she heard it.. it was like a whaling in her eye drum. Turning quickly in attempt to escape the noise she walked down different corridors and hallways in effort to find the source of the noise..As her own foot steps stopped so did another, making her question reality. "Whose there?" she called into the darkness, hesitant for a response.

[crazyleacaine]

Most of the time, Lea was the watcher, traveling through her life with her eyes fixed on the periphery, looking for something that other people couldn't see. Pressure had driven her to the carnival in spite of a myriad of insecuritie. The crowds alone were enough to send Lea into a frenzy, and by the time that she had approached the freak show (a show she felt fit to be part of herself), she was positively shaking with nerves.

Somebody had been following her. Since she came through the gates, somebody was following her. She couldn't see the person who had picked up and started to chase her down through the passageways and the paths, but she knew that he was there as sure as she knew that her name was Lea Caine. Unfortunately she wasn't altogether sure about that, either. Shivering in spite of the summer heat, she turned to look over her shoulder, scanning the crowd for the source of her discomfort. Instead, she got a face full of tall, blonde woman who smelled faintly of something Lea couldn't quite identify and wasn't sure she liked.

Swept up with the crowd, she followed the new arrival until the feeling of being followed had disappeared. Who had the man been following? The new woman, or Lea? Now she wasn't so sure. "I'm being paranoid," she muttered to herself. "Somebody was following me, too. I don't think I need a funnel cake. I need a Xanax."

SOS || JUNE & LEA

June was no stranger to the feeling of being watched, which is why she thought little of it when the feeling seized her. In these such occasions, she’d learned how to swallow the discomfort from the situation by striking up cordial conversation, regardless of whether or not the onlooker was among the living. But when she turned this time she noticed someone who gave her a feeling of unease so distinct it forced her to turn around, take a deep breath and walk away as normally as possible. Even as she walked the feeling did not fade, and instead she finally turned and scowled a little before turning again and continuing to…where?

She had no idea, but she kept walking, feeling a hushed voice in her head remind her he was getting closer. She didn’t peer over her shoulder again, but instead walked briskly into the nearest tent and grabbed the shoulder of someone nearby whom she thought it appeared would be more grateful for company than insulting. "Play along, okay." she whispered at first. The man followed, as she expected he would. June threw her arms wide and convincingly around the person she’d only just met. With a grin she began cheerfully. "There you are! I thought I’d never find you, didn’t you get my text? Let’s go look over here, I heard something interesting about a fire breather." She linked an arm with this newfound “friend” and dragged them off to a corner, grateful that the man had not followed.

"Sorry, I know that was awkward. Some creep was following me and I needed a cover. Can I buy you a funnel cake to make up for it?"

[crazyleacaine]

Yes, I am. I just love that shade of lipstick. Mine keeps going missing. Where do you buy yours?

Are you staring at me?

[crazyleacaine]

Girls are bitches.

I'm doing it so that you stop hurting my eyes with that color explosion.

Well… yes… but why are you doing this? If you think we’re going to be best friends, you’re wrong because I literally don’t understand the whole girl friendship thing.

[crazyleacaine]

I think I can work with that. We need to get you some boots. You look like grunge might be your thing, with an update. Does that sound right?

A nineties Barbie? I think I’m kind of flattered in a weird way… My colors? Um, black probably.

[crazyleacaine]

Well right now you look like nineties Barbie, so I'm sure that we can come up with something better. What are your colors?

Don’t be nice. It’s weird. Fine, you can ‘make me over,’ but if I end up looking like a fucking Barbie doll, I swear to god I’ll hurt you.

[crazyleacaine]

Absolutely not. You can do so much better than that. Look at your beautiful hair. Come on, we'll make you over.

Only if we go to WalMart.

[crazyleacaine]

Maybe it's time for an update then. I could take you shopping, if you want?

She probably just shops out of town to avoid stalkers like you.

1991 actually, but good guess.

[crazyleacaine]

I didn't say anything about her clothes, though I did mention her choice in shopping locations. 

Though now that you mention it, you look like 1989 threw up all over you.

It’s even weirder that you’re making fun of someone’s clothes when you decided to dress like that.

[crazyleacaine]

I'm just saying. Like there's no Wal*mart in Bentley, so you'd have to go out of your way to shop there, you know?

Even less believable: Someone caring enough about it to gossip about it.

[crazyleacaine]

She bought it at WALMART, would you believe it? Who travels that far to shop at Wal*mart?

[crazyleacaine]

Headcanon Challenge Entry

The face was familiar. Lea blinked, her eyes focusing on the eyes for a moment. So unusual, the bright green mingling with the bright blue. Her brow furrowed, knitting together. He was younger than she was by a few years, perhaps four or five, and he stood with a slouch to his shoulders, head down as though hoping not to be recognized. Where had she seen him before? Others seemed unperturbed. Ethan -- the Bentley boy who was always tossing money around like it grew on trees -- looked nervous, his foot tapping, the cup of coffee in front of him untouched. A man with a collar too high for the weather sat in a corner looking over a medical journal and probably sweating into his own cup of coffee. Around Lea, the world went on as though nothing strange were happening, and yet she knew this boy.

She'd been gone for a while, and they didn't talk about where she'd gone during those months she'd been locked up at the hospital. A daily routine of pills and therapy had hardly cured her, but fortunately for Lea, she always had somebody to bail her out of a rough situation. Spencer, her brother, her hero, her savior, had pulled her out before she'd gone well and truly crazy. Even if her sister did believe she was a lunatic, and if their other brother refused to speak to her, she had Spencer, loyal and true. He believed in her, and he protected her from things she need not see. Except, it would appear, for this boy who shifted nervously from one foot to the other.

Why should she know him? What made this boy... It hit her suddenly, Lea's brown eyes going wide as she blinked. She'd seen him before, at the house, not long after she'd come home from the hospital. He'd been with her sister, Claudia, holding her hand and talking and laughing about things. Not long after, she'd noticed that a pendant she wore had gone missing, and she'd always believed the boy was responsible for it. What was his name? Craig. Craig Elliot, that was his name! He had been, at one time, Claudia's boyfriend. Then they had broken up.

No, that wasn't right. Lea frowned deeply, cocking her head to the side and away from him as she gazed around the crowded gym. Bentley looked nervous, and she could hardly blame him for his nerves. A serial killer was on the loose in Bentley, New York, and the last they'd heard, someone had been murdered inside the school where they'd all been gathered at the behest of the local law enforcement. Lea had long ago accepted the inevitability of her own death. Sometimes she wasn't sure that she still lived at all any more. Everything had changed since that night in the cemetery, the night she'd first begun to see the shadows.

It occurred to her all at once, not in a slow and steady realization. She came to herself without time to process the understanding. No, it happened too fast, another change to Lea's fragile world. This couldn't be him, the boy who had come to visit her sister shortly after she'd come home from the hospital. It had to be somebody else entirely, didn't it? But those eyes! How many people had eyes so unusual?

"Craig," Lea said, her voice low enough not to attract the attention of the surrounding people. The boy's head raised too quickly before he caught himself, and their eyes met. "Craig Elliot," she murmured, lips hardly moving. He stood near her, a panicked expression on his face like a rabbit about to run, and Lea took a deep breath.

This couldn't be real. They'd found Craig Elliot dead in the woods in October. He'd been murdered. The death had been ruled a vehicular homicide. Others behaved as though nothing unusual had happened, though the man with the high collar eyed her from across the room. He didn't seem uncomfortable, showed no sign that the gym was too stuffy for his strange and outdated appearance. The medical journal was a new one, more recent, but her eyes scanned over him, and for the briefest of moments, she saw past the collar of his shirt to what lay beneath.

Lea gasped, her mouth dropping open. Beneath his shirt the man bore not the scar of a knife which had sliced open his throat, but the open and gaping wound that had led to... To what? To his death? That was impossible.

Reaching for her bag, Lea scrambled or her medication. Her hands shook as she struggled with the cap on the bottle. She should have listened to Claudia and taken the medication. Spencer was wrong! He was wrong about everything. He had to be wrong about everything! Hands slipping, the pills skittered across the floor, drawing more attention in her direction. The Elliot boy with the strange eyes had vanished into the crowd, and she remembered in an odd moment that he had left behind a twin sister and two older sisters who could have been her friends if she'd not been so busy being a horrible human being before...

Two pills rolled away, striking the Bentley boy's foot. The man in the corner, with the medical journal and the death masque rose to his feet and began to approach. Was he a doctor? No, no. He was a figment of her imagination. Only he felt oh! so solid when he caught her before she could fall and crack her head on the gym floor.