* I'M JUST A STEP AWAY

[victoria hope jean]

Hope nodded as he talked, listening. She knew that he'd loved swimming, as they had talked about it before. But when he said that he wasn't all that interesting, she shook her head with a frown, "No, Kobby, I think you're very interesting. Everyone has something interesting about them, even if they don't know it yet," she said, looking over at him with a smile. She didn't want him to think he wasn't interesting, she didn't even want to hear those words. That's just how she was, she always tried to tell people that.

When the conversation had taken a dark turn, she looked back over at him with a frown. She kind of figured that he wouldn't always be as kind as he was right now, especially with the episodes he had described to her, but she didn't care. She always looked for the good in people, and never gave up on trying to find that unless she absolutely had to. Kind of like with Alex, she gave up on him after he'd ruined her life. She stopped walking and put a hand to his shoulder , "Kobby, I kind of figured that much, but I still think you can be a wonderful friend. No matter what, and I'm pretty stubborn, so I'm not going to stop thinking that."

[xxtaintedxx]

When Hope stopped abruptly, he was slightly taken aback by her. She had this sense of authority about her, and Kobby stopped walking when he felt her hand on his shoulder even though it would be more then easy for him to keep walking without her. She geniuly seemed to care, and it didn't really make sense to Kobby because they didn't know eachother. though he would like to know her a lot better, they didn't yet. And the fact that she was already trying to prove something was good about him, made him smile.

He grinned at her, and took her hand before he started to walk again. "Alright Hope" he agreed, with a small shake of his head as he laughed again. "I'll take your word for it"

[victoria hope jean]

Hope smiled at him and nodded her head, "Good, you should." When they started walking again, she let out a breath. She was glad that he decided to believe her. She didn't know what was in store, but she figured that she could handle it after all that she'd been through. Besides, she wasn't one to give up. The only time that she'd given up on anything was when she decided to give up on Alex and her life. But she was trying to get over that, and so far it had been working.

She looked down when she realized that he'd grabbed her hand before they started walking, but it didn't bother her. She looked ahead of her, so she knew where they were going before speaking again, "So, how long have you been here, exactly?" She asked, not knowing what else to say.

[xxtaintedxx]

Shen she didn't pull her hand from his, Kobby entwined their fingers toghether. He guessed that was rather risky, seeing as he didn't know if she had a boyfriend or anything. But, he didn't care either. He fingured that if she did have a boyfriend, and that guy came after him, that Kobby would be able to handle it. He was pretty big guy, and as far as he could tell so far, not many were bigger then him.

"About 2 years or so" he commented, with a slight grinn down at her. He continued to walk in the same direction, which wasn't really anywhere but walking felt nice. He watched his speed, making it easy for Hope to walk beside him. He sometimes had a habit of walking to fast, but holding her hand was helping him.

[victoria hope jean]

Hope looked back down at their hands when he entwined their fingers together before smiling a little bit. She liked that he was taking to risk, not knowing if she had a boyfriend or not, but thankfully she didn't. She looked forward again, taking in Hawthorne. Being here wasn't all that bad, the people that said that just didn't want to be here. They didn't want to get better.

"It's not as bad as everyone lets it to be, is it?" she asked him, having not been here all that long. She was still trying to get the feel for Hawthorne, but so far she didn't see anything so bad. Besides having fucked up kids under the same roof, and them having as much freedom as they did. Other than that, she liked it here. She didn't have to worry about anything, to a certain extent. She didn't know anyone, and that's why she loved it so much; no one knew what had happened.

[xxtaintedxx]

Kobby saw her grinn at their hands, but wasn't going to comment on it. Somethings were just better if you let them be instead of trying to influence them. Maybe she liked the feeling of him holding her hand, or perhaps she was just glad to have someone to talk to. So instead of asking why she grinned at them holding hands, he smiled inside of himself. It had been a long time sense Kobby had made a girl smile. Not that he hadn't wanted to before this, he just hadn't been able to.

"Depends on the day Hope" He muttered, still walking. "Some days you won't even want to get out of bed, but then you have days like today and the thought of going to bed doesn't even hit you" He smiled gently at her for a moment, then looked forward again

[victoria hope jean]

When he said that it depended on the day, she frowned. She doesn't want to have days like back home, when she didn't even want to leave her room. But she knew that it was going to happen, mainly because it already had a couple of times being here. But today, she loved today. She met a new friend, a friend in which she felt a great relationship ahead of them, even if he didn't think so. She looked over at him with a smile and nodded, "I just wish everyday could be like this," She said with a sigh, "You know, having nothing to worry about? Then, everyone would be happy."

Hope bit her bottom lip in thought. She knew that God did this to people for a reason, maybe to make others stronger? She doubted it. He was punishing her for something by all the things that had happened to her back home. She'd lost all faith in God after all of that; how could someone that was supposed to be so good make people feel so bad? She looked at the trees and smiled slightly, she loved just admiring the beauty the earth had before looking forward again, so she wouldn't trip over anything. Her luck, she'd fall flat on her face. "Have you ever just stopped and admired the beauty the earth has?" She asked, randomly. She knew that it was very random, but it was one of her favorite things to do. She cold just walk around and admire the beauty of earth anytime.

notes: sorry, it's not that good.

[xxtaintedxx]

"Well, I'm certainly admiring beauty Hope and though it's totally natural beauty I'm thinking it doesn't have much to do with the earth" Kobby didn't look at her when he said it, but continued to watch where they were walking instead. He didn't want to look at her after saying that, and it was probably stupid. Kobby didn't actually really have a problem with girls, but he always thought he did. He could never tell if they liked the things he said or if they were just kidding. Making phone of him.

But he grinned to himself anyway, happy that she would know that she was pretty. It was good that people knew those kinds of things. It helped them feel good and Kobby was all for making people feel good.

Note: Mine was so much worse. lol

[victoria hope jean]

Hope looked over at Kobby for a moment, before smiling, a light blush appearing on her cheeks. She wasn't expecting him to say something like that at all. She was just commenting on the nature, but then she gets a compliment? She didn't know what to say to him when he said that, mainly because she didn't know how to take a compliment. She was so used to being put down constantly, that when she actually got a compliment, she usually just blushed and went silent. Eventually, she got the nerve to break that silence, "I don't know what to say to that, Kobby," she said, quietly, a light smile on her lips, "It's not often someone says something like that to me."

She actually felt good about herself, for a little bit anyway. It had been so long since she'd gotten a compliment. Usually, anything close to a compliment to her would have been, 'Heard you're good in bed, from some sick guy from her old school. She was so glad to get away from that. She bit her bottom lip for a moment, trying to wipe the smile off of her lips. It wasn't working.

[xxtaintedxx]

"Well hopefully you'll get use to things like that and next time you'll know how" He grinned at her, squeezing her fingers gently. They were still walking, but not going anywhere. He didn't mind though, walking felt nice and even though it was a little chilly outside it was better then sitting inside and doing nothing. Even Kobby could get bored of the school.

He sighed to himself for a moment and ran his empty hand through his hair. Her guitar was still on his back, and he remembered when he had tried to learn how to play. "You know, I tried guitar once. But I couldn't get it. My hands dont bend that way I guess" he laughed gently, and looked at her again.

[victoria hope jean]

Hope really didn't know what to say; she knew that she wouldn't be getting used to that any time soon. She just didn't know how to take a compliment, all she could do is blush, but she nodded, anyway, and smiled at him. She didn't care what he said, he was one of the sweetest people that she'd ever met. As far as she knew. She bit her bottom lip, and let out a breath. It was cold, but she didn't really care. She was having a good time.

She looked up at him with a smile and laughed for a moment, "Really? I'm sure you could if you really tried," She said, politely. She didn't think that she could ever play guitar, she just wanted to stay at the piano; but she just fell inlove with the guitar after the first time she held her brother's in her hands.

[xxtaintedxx]

"Thats nice of you to say Hope, thank you" He muttered to her as he slowly swung his hand back and forth. And being that he was holding her hand still, hers swung along with it. He did a bit more then a normal person would, making a joke out of it trying to get her to laugh. Kobby was flirting, and if she asked him he wouldn't denie it. Why shouldn't he flirt with her? She was cute and funny and even though she had been through alot the girl was still trying to make the best of life. Thats the type of people Kobby wanted to surround himself with. His life would be happier than and even though he loved his brother, Gavin wasn't the best for company at all times.

It was really nice of her to say something like that, even if he thought she was only saying it to be nice. the thought was nice. Kobby didn't mind much that he couldn't play guitar though, because he found something else that he was good at. Everyone was good at something and he grinned at her as he started to skip.

"But as nice as it is for you to say that, I don't mind so much that I can't play. I like to swim, and I'm good at it. Just as you like to play and your good at it. Everyone has there own thing"

[victoria hope jean]

Hope smiled softly at him for a moment, before looking away. She let him swing their hands, happy that he was happy. It was silly, however, and a light laugh escaped her lips. Kobby was a pretty fun person to be around, she had to admit. She hadn't smiled this much, or laughed this much, in a while. The fact that he warned her about himself made her frown. She'd neber hung around the best of people, though, so she knew that she could handle him. No matter what he said.

She couldn't help but let out a loud laugh when he started to skip, and had no other choice but to join him. Especially if she wanted to keep up with him, to talk to him. She smiled and nodded her head in agreement as he said that everyone had their own thing, "I know that, I was just saying. Words of encouragement! I'm going to have to see you swim, sometime. To see if you're really as good as you say you are," she said, as she looked over at him with a soft smile.

[xxtaintedxx]

"Liar, your just trying to sneak a peak" he teased when she mentioned that she had to see him swim something. But really, it would be cool for someone to watch him. Though they didn't have a swim team or anything here, he could still swim like he use to when on the team though it was odd at first to just race and not have anyone racing against him. He grinned a little bit, and slowed down his pace when she tried to keep up. He didn't want to tire her out.. he wasn't sure if she had a lot of energy or not with the fact that she probably didn't eat all that much.

"But it would be cool if you watched me. My parents were never into it, so it would be sweet to have someone besides Gavin know I'm any good. I was always that kid who won the trophy, but ended up walking home by myself after the meet"

[victoria hope jean]

Hope couldn't help but that at that and shook her head, "Yeah, that's it," She said, going along with what he had said. She was used to going along with teasing like that, it was easy since she always hung out with her brother back home. He would always tease about things, making her smile. She hadn't really smiled since she stopped hanging around her brother, until now. This is the most that she had laughed or smiled in a long time.

She knew how it felt to not have your parents there to support you through things. When she was in her schools choir, they never came to any of the concerts, even when she had a solo. Her dad always worked overtime, almost everyday, and her mother would be stuck watching her little sister, who didn't want to go. She smiled warmly over at Kobby, "Well, I'll always be here to support you." And that was true, she always supported her friends, especially if she knew that someone wasn't there to root for them.