Noah
Noah Landers opened the door when his cab stopped. He lent over and paid the driver before getting out of the car and closing the door again.
Looking around, he saw the msuic shop basically in front of him.
"Hmm... Amp, amp." Noah began walking over to the shop, not really watching anything around him.
He'd made the trip out to OKC for basically one reason. He needed a new amp for his guitar, and if he didn't get one, he would be really angry. They hadn't had the one he wanted in Tulsa, but the shop assistant recommended a shop in OKC, so Noah managed to get the money from his father to come out.
As he stepped into the shop, he perused around for a while, before getting down to business and heading for the amp section.
AJ
AJ wandered aimlessly down the street. She knew her father hated her being out alone, but he wasn't at the hotel so there was nothing he could do to stop her.
Pursing her lips, she began towards what looked like an old music shop on the corner. She was missing her guitar at home, and hey, who knows? Maybe they'd have a cheap drum set?
As she stepped through the door, the first thing she spotted were keyboards. Screwing her face up, she spotted a nearby drum set, and headed straight for it with a grin on her face.
Noah
Noah looked around at the amps and decided he's better ask a shop assistant. As he headed for the front, he saw some a drum kit and remembered a friend of his was looking for drums, so he changed direction and walked over there, bumping into someone as he did so.
"Oh crap, sorry."
Noah stepped back and saw he'd run into a girl.
AJ
"Hey," AJ said, stumbling backwards, then chuckled at herself.
"No worries. Shoulda been watching out for ya."
She looked him over. He wasn't too bad.
"Ya in a rush or sumthin'?"
Noah
Noah caught her arm to steady her balance. "Not really. Just wanted to check out the drums. Which by an educated guess, you'd be doing the same?"
Noah looked the girl up and down. Nice.
"I'm Noah, by the way. And I don't usually make a habit out of running into people."
AJ
"Yeah, I'm checkin' out the drums," she nodded, taking her arm away from him, "I'm meant to be a drummer, even though I don't own a drum set."
She grinned.
"Name's AJ, and I don't normally bump into people either. It's normally easy to avoid them."
She hesitated, grinding her teeth. She wasn't used to meeting people.
"So... you a drummer?"
Noah
"No, strangely enough seeing as I'm checking out the drums. I play guitar and sing. A friend of mine plays and hes looking into getting a new set."
Noah smiled a winning smile at AJ. "So, you live around here?"
AJ
AJ kicked herself. Damn, he wasn't a drummer.
"Nah. I thought you could tell by the accent," she grinned.
"I live in the most isolated city in the world, if you can guess what that is. You probably can't."
She ran her fingers over the drums.
"Dad's here on business and dragged me along. I was in the Philli airport when the blast went off though. Ended up in hospital for a while."
Noah
"Never know, you could've moved here from Australia. I don't know which part though." Noah smiled back at her.
"My dad's here on business, but when he's not travelling around, we live in Tulsa. Generally, I stay at home though. Business trips with my dad are not fun. I'm never allowed to do anything and he hardly ever lets me take the guitar."
Noah looked around. "Wanna go for coffee or something?"
AJ
"Well I didn't bring Ronnie with me... big mistake."
Then she grinned.
"Ronnie's my acoustic by the way. Lucida Classic."
After eyeing off the drums one last time, she slowly began to nod.
"Ok. But no coffee. Coffee, yuck. Soft drink for this time of day - good. Know any good places?"
Noah
"Not completely familiar with here. I live in Tulsa, and I mostly don't leave there except for when I have to. But there's bound to be a place somewhere. Feel like wandering for a bit?"
Noah led AJ outside and turned once more to glance at the shop. "Wanna go back later? I need to check out some amps and you look like you wanna stare at the drums some more."
AJ
"Oh yeah," she grinned, "I could sit an' stare at a drum set all day long. Just for the sake of it."
She sighed.
"Just like a bike or certain car."
She grinned again.
"An'... I've been wanderin' all mornin', so as soon as you spot a place let me know, cos I wanna sit."
Noah
"I'll take an educated guess and say that there's probably some places in there to grab some drinks. Maybe a bite to eat."
Noah led AJ into the corwded pavilion and found a little juice bar.
"Here good?"
AJ
"Good enough," she shrugged, as they got in line.
Pouting a little, she looked around at all the people.
"It's so weird being the only one with an Aussie accent," she chuckled, "I guess I'll just be reminding everyone of Steve Irwin if I'm not careful. And I would absolutely hate that, cos he's a complete moron."
She gave him a warning glance.
"Don't even think about telling me how much you love him, cos I might just have ta' hit ya."
Noah
"He's funny. But I don't love him."
Noah paused. "Do you wanna get something to eat as well?"
He reached over and played with the salt shaker, rolling it around in his hands. He stopped, feeling a little silly and began tapping on the table.
"Sorry, I can never sit still."
AJ
AJ rubbed her stomach.
"Yeah, kinda gettin' hungry."
She looked the menu over and tapped her chin.
"Gotta go for somethin' plain. I'm too fussy a' eater. Chips and a hot dog or somethin'."
She chuckled again.
"And don't worry, I can't sit still either. You'll notice my leg shaking... I need to do something energetic. But food first. Then letting the food settle. Then doing something."
Noah
Noah grinned at her. He was beginning to like her. The waiter approached them and asked to take their orders. Noah looked at AJ who was still deciding so he went first.
"I'll just have a burger and fries, with a coke, thanks."
The waiter turned to AJ. "And for you?"
AJ
"Ummm... hot dog thanks. And chips too. And... a coke. Haven't had one for absolutely ages."
Then she stopped, noticing the look the waiter was giving her.
"Nice accent."
AJ held back an insult, thinking they might not get their food if she went ahead with it.
"Thanks," she said through her teeth, and waited for him to leave.
Then she turned to Noah.
"So, ya heading back to Tulsa soon?"
Noah
"Guess so. Dad's not gonna be home anyway, he's staying here tonight at some hotel. Some sort of meeting on apparently."
Noah paused for a second. "Where are you staying? If I have to, I'll come back to pick up my amp. I know how to get here, so I can drive next time I come."
AJ
"That big fancy white marble hotel a few blocks away. Dad's at a meeting too."
She rolled her eyes. Apart from meeting Noah the last few days had been so boring.
She chuckled to herself, knowing Tulsa was where her favourite band lived...
"So your Dad doesn't know you're here? Heh. Mine doesn't know I am. He's all 'stay put'. Reckons something would happen to me. He's a bit paranoid since Philli airport."
Noah
"I think that's where Dad's at. Oh he doesn't me going off... probably won't like that I've been fraternising with strangers." Noah flashed AJ another smile as their food was put down in front of them.
"So you're being naughty, hey?"
AJ
"Depends on what you mean by naughty," she raised her eyebrows, eating some chips and waving at the waiter.
"Disobeyin' Dad, yes. Although that's kinda old."
She looked around. The street looked so boring.
"I need some money. Seriously. I shoulda grabbed some of Dad's before I left so I could get meself somethiin'. As in musically."
She fiddled with the hot dog, getting ready to eat it.
"Although I'm not much of a muso. Just pretty interested. I'm eclectic by the way, but I still can't stand pop."
Noah
"I'm in a band. I guess you'd call us that. Personally, I think we're just a disorganised rabble."
Noah frowned then shook some salt onto his fries.
"You should get yourself a harmonica. They're mad fun to play."
He paused, and picked up his burger and took a bite. He chewed, then swallowed before talking again. "We mostly play punk stuff... depending on what you want to classify as punk. There's all sorts of debates going on about that at the moment. I'm steering clear. You should come see us play sometime. If you can escape again."
AJ
"I love harmonicas," AJ closed her eyes, "just can't play 'em. I'm meant to be in a band soon actually, we've just gotta get organized."
She continued to eat thoughtfully.
"I guess alot of our stuff that I write will either be pop, hard rock, or just depressing ballads."
She grinned.
"I can't wait to see my other band members' faces when they see what I'm capable of writing. Music on the other hand, not so good. I know what it sounds like, just can't make it or write it down," she looked him over again when he wasn't looking, "drummer byt he way. Guessing your the guitarist? It's kinda weird being a drummer when I only own a guitar, tambourine and little keyboard."
Noah
"Guitarist and lead singer. That's me. Singing is not that good, but my guitar skills aren't too bad, I guess. Drums look fun, and I really would like to give them ago."
Noah caught her looking at him but pretended not to notice.
"Do you wanna hang out for a bit after this?"
AJ
"Our keyboardist wants me to sing, but all I can sing in Linkin Park," AJ admitted, finishing off her hot dog, "otherwise, no good. I'd love to be able to pull off In The End though, and so would he."
She leant on the table and waved her finger at him.
"I want to meet your drummer. I need all the help I can get."
Then she sat back again.
"And seeing as you're the only person I've met in this... state so far, then sure. I'm dying to get out of the hotel."
She eyed off some skateboarders as they ran past the window, heading for the nearest skate park. She grinned and eyed Noah.
"You skate?"
Noah
"Not lately. And not very well." He admitted, downing the rest of his drink, a glint in his eyes.
"I am however, excellent at stacking it."
AJ
AJ got up, almost knocking her drink over.
She used her control over gravity to quickly steady it, then grabbed it for one last drink so no one would notice.
Setting it down, she nodded towards the door.
"Let's check it out. Might be able to con some kid into letting me have his board for a sec," she grinned.
Then she headed for the door.
Noah
Noah noticed her glass falling then standing up again. Thinking he must be seeing things, he let it go and left some money on the table, leading AJ outside.
They saw some kids skating and they approached them. Noah didn't know if he should skate or not, but if he chose too, he didn't have to borrow a board, he could just create one. But in this situation, he should borrow.
AJ
"Hey kid!" AJ called out to about a ten year old, holding onto his skateboard for dear life and eyeing off some older kids nearby that seemed to be giving him a hard time.
The kid looked up scared.
"Hey, don't worry. I need a favour."
She sat down next to him, feeling Noah standing behind her. She didn't care if she got into a fight in America... no one knew her anyway. Plus, those kids were years younger. Nothing she couldn't handle.
"Listen. What's your name?"
"Stefan."
"Ok Stefan. You look like you're in a bit of trouble. I'm from Australia, hence the accent," she grinned, trying to lighten him up, "I just came down for a bit of a skate, but I don't have a board. Can I borrow yours?"
Stefan looked around nervously.
"Don't worry, I won't steal it," she said in her most trustworthy voice, "and seeing as I'm alot bigger than those guys, if you let me have a go I'll see them off for you. Deal?"
Stefan considered, looking between her, the board, and the group of youths. He slowly began to nod.
"Can you see them off first?" he asked shakily.
"No problem kiddo."
She stood up and began to make her way over.
Noah
Noah followed behind AJ, marvelling at her. She was unlike any other girl he'd ever met and it was kinda cool.
The older kids ran off after AJ said something and Noah watched as she started to skate. Noah sat on a bench, watching her, deciding skating was best left to those who could.
AJ
AJ saw Stefan smiling and grinned. She guessed it'd be a while before those kids came back... unless they came with reinforcements. That's what kids usually did back home.
She flew over a couple of jumps and did a few ollies and pints before deciding it was too boring doing it alone. As it was about lunchtime, some younger kids were beginning to come into the park - now the older ones had gone.
She flipped the board up without using her power, and began to make her way back over to Noah and Stefan. Stefan was watching some other kids, but seemed torn between staying with AJ and Noah or going to play. AJ handed him the board.
"Thanks kid," she said, ruffling his hair, "do you normally come down here?"
Stefan shook his head.
"Ok then. Might see you around."
"Bye!" he called, before running off to join a group.
AJ grinned, then sat down next to Noah and sighed.
"Get's boring after a while, but I guess you'd be more bored than me just watching," she raised her eyebrows.
Noah
"I don't mind, you're not half bad. At skating too." Noah grinned cheekily and gestured back to the music shop.
"You wanna check those drums out again?"
AJ
AJ rolled her eyes. It had been ages since a guy had been flirting with her. Well, apart from Marco...
The thought of Marco stopped her in her tracks. He'd been flirting with her something bad, but she hadn't given him much of a chance to get close to her. She hadn't been interested in him in that way after all... she thought he was just messing around.
Shaking the thought away, she glanced at the shop.
"Yeah, definately. Might just grab the stool and sit and stare at them for a while," she grinned.
She got up and nodded toward it.
"Let's go."
Noah
Noah and AJ went back into the shop and AJ headed straight for the drums.
"I'm gonna talk to someone about those amps, I'll meet ya in a second, unless you wanna come along for the ride."
Noah nodded and left to find a shop assistant who directed him to the amp he was looking for and he bought it, lugging it back to where AJ was.
"Hi. Having fun?"
AJ
"Mhmmmm..." she grinned, just staring at the drum set.
She closed her eyes for a moment and swayed to Chad Kroeger on the radio.
"Oh damn I love this song. Santana and Chad Kroeger together... wowzer."
Then she looked up at him and chuckled.
"So you're gonna put that thing in a taxi? Is it gonna fit?" she raised an eyebrow.
Noah
"Hmm, I don't know yet. I could leave it here, taxi home and drive back here. Then it could fit in my car. Well, dad's van. My little car maybe not."
Noah smiled at AJ. "Having fun?"
AJ
"You just asked me that so, yeah."
She stood and patted her knees.
"I'd offer you dad's little thing he's hired while he's in OKC, but he'd only let me drive it and I've never driven in America yet. Don't even have a license here I guess."
"How soon do you wanna leave? Or do you wanna go back to the hotel?" she grinned, "Dad'd flip if he saw you, but I'd put money on the fact that he won't be back til way after dinner."
Noah
"May as well go now, I guess. What if your dad comes home, he's not going to attack me with a shot gun, is he?"
Noah laughed nervously, waiting for her answer, picking up his amp again.
AJ
"Nah, he doesn't own one. He'd prolly just send me home if he had time. Otherwise he'd threaten me with something and forget about it as soon as his phone rings again," AJ shrugged.
She eyed the amp.
"You gonna be able to walk to the hotel with that? There's a bit of a shop a block away... we could steal a trolley or something for it if you can make it that far," she offered.
Noah
"Good idea. Hold on, I'll go get one."
Noah ducked around a corner and created a trolley quickly, looking around constantly so as to not get caught. He came back smiling cheerfully.
"Hi, got one." He loaded his amp into the trolley and smiled at AJ.
"Shall me?"
AJ
"That was quick," she raised her eyebrows as they left the store and began toward the hotel, the trolley making a racket on the bitumen on the way.
"Was there one around the corner or something?"
She couldn't help but feel he wasn't telling her seomthing, but decided to blow it off. She had her secrets, and he probably had his.
Noah
Noah cursed under his breath. "Yeah, one in the alley. Good luck, hey?"
Noah stumbled slightly with the trolley as it got stuck in a ditch and the trolley almost fell but he steadied it. "Damn."
AJ
AJ saw the amp about to tip over, and steadied it meantally before her hands flew to steady it physically.
She glanced around hoping no one noticed, but there was luckily no one around. And she guessed Noah would have just thought he was seeing things. That's how it normally worked.
"Yeah, luck. Not much of it's around me, so you're lucky you went alone," she chuckled, "hotel's just around the corner now."
Noah
As they rounded the corner, Noah snuck a glance at AJ. There was definitely something weird happening. But then again, maybe there wasn't and he was imagining things. He had a feeling that she wasn't being honest with him. But he wasn't exactly being honest with her, so it was alright.
"Oh ok, cool. Thanks, by the way."
AJ
She waved him off.
"No problem man," she said in a Jamaican accent then laughed.
They made it to the hotel.
"Now I don't think we can take the trolley inside. Here..."
She helped him lift it out of the trolley, although she kinda cheated to make it lighter...
She let him carry it inside to the elevator, then pressed for her floor. There were a few other people in the elevator, so they didn't talk on the way up. They got to her floor, and managed to push the amp out the door.
"Room 569. Right down the end," she grinned, "need some help?"
Noah
"Nah, I got it." Noah replied, struggling a bit, then adjusting it so it was more comfortable.
Noah followed AJ down the end of the hall and waiting patiently while she opened the door.
AJ
AJ unlocked the door and let him through, then followed him and closed it behind her.
"Just chuck it by the door. You can leave it there and pick it up tomorrow if you want."
She made her way in and threw the set of keys on the small coffee table. Then she collapsed on the couch and sighed, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.
"You can watch TV if you want. I'm stuffed," she waved.
AJ
Noah carefully put his amp down and joined her on the couch, closing his eyes.
"I'm so gone man." He let out a laugh and looked over at AJ, who seemed to be asleep.
"AJ?" Receiving no answer, he realised she was actually asleep, so he conjured up a blanket and pillow and put the pillow under her head and the blanket on top of her. He moved to the other couch and lay down, and feeling himself fall asleep, he shook himself awake, deciding maybe he should go.
Noah went over and knelt down next to AJ, shaking her gently. He put his mouth to her ear and gently whispered. "AJ, I'm gonna go." A brief thought in his mind was that if anoyone walked in, this couldn't look good.
AJ
AJ shot awake at the sound of his voice whispering her ear. She leant up and yawned, fiddling with her ear.
"Damn alien whispers," she cursed under her breath, then blinked getting used to the light again.
"Sorry, must have nodded off. But I'm a light sleeper," she chuckled.
She checked her watch.
"Wasn't long anyhow. What did you say?"
Noah
"I was just gonna go coz you were asleep." Noah replied, thinking he'd heard her say something about aliens.
"If you wanna sleep, I'll go, if you want." Noah sat down next to her, still deciding whether to go or stay.
AJ
"Doesn't matter," Aj waved him off, suddenly eyeing the blanket and pillow.
She glanced at him sideways before throwing the blanket off and putting the pillow on top.
"I won't be getting back to sleep, but if you have to go don't think I'm stoppin' ya."
Noah
Noah smiled. "Nah, I'll stay. Tell me if you get tired though."
He looked around. "Nice place."
AJ
"Boring to me," AJ pulled a few threads out of the couch unintentionally.
She turned the TV on and yawned.
"Has a nice view though," she raised her eyebrows.
Then they heard voices from the door, and a set of keys rattling. AJ's head shot up, guessing it was her father. But there was another voice with him...
She glanced at Noah.
Noah
Noah froze like a deer trapped in headlights as the door opened. He saw a man he didn't know walk in along with... his father.
"Dad." He stood up in confusion as he and AJ both earned stares from their fathers.
AJ
"Noah?" his father looked surprised.
AJ's father gave them both looks.
"You know Noah?" he asked finally.
"Well... umm..." she hesitated, looking at him, "well yeah. We knew each other from the net."
She crossed her fingers, hoping he wouldn't pick up.
"Well, this is Mr. Landers... Noah's father. I guess you would knows they're also aliens."
Noah
Noah looked at AJ in shock. So she was an alien.
"Dad, what are you doing here?"
"Just got invited back for a drink. What are you doing here?"
"Had to pick up the amp, and by coincidence, and uh... ran into AJ and we hung out today."
AJ
AJ eyed Noah off. Alien. No wonder.
"Yeah," she agreed, "well, we won't keep you."
She indicated for Noah to follow her from the room, as her dad and Noah's father went into the kitchen area.
Noah
Noah followed AJ and as soon as they were alone he faced her.
"Ok, so what's your power?"
AJ
A deep grin spread across her face.
"You sure you wanna know?"
She waited for his nod, then lifted her hand.
"Hang on to yourself," she warned, before changing his gravity.
As her hand lifted he shot towards the roof, but stopped just before. She held her hand up in a stop signal as she steadied him and grinned.
"It's not telekinesis," she informed him, "more control over gravity."
Noah
"Alright let me fall." Noah said.
Noah created a mattress below him and fell onto it. "Creation." He spotted some flowers dying on the window sill so he walked over to it, placed his hands above it and brought them back to life.
AJ
"Nice," AJ nodded, "but I bet it's a pain if you can't destroy nuthin' too."
She looked him over again, but held herself back from saying anything flattering.
"Bet you've created things you wish you didn't. I've made people fly I wish I hadn't."
She shrugged.
"Never mind. What time you gonna be here tomorra?"
Noah
"Dad's here so I think he'll take the amp. But why not..." Noah created a watch and put it on the table. "Why don't I leave my watch here and have to come get it? We could go to the movies or something tomorrow?"
AJ
AJ grinned.
"He'd probably tell you to create a new one. Unless you say your power isn't working for some reason. But hey, nice try."
She scratched her chin.
"Heck, if your Dad's working with mine he'll probably be gone by 5am anyway. Go for it. What time?"
Noah
"Say, I leave at 10? God willing, should be here by 11:30 at the latest. That's if I don't get lost."
Noah smiled at AJ, warming up to her very quickly.
AJ
"Sounds cool. You can choose the movie, cos I have absolutely no idea of what's on over here," she rolled her eyes.
"Wanna go out and join the oldies?" she raised an eyebrow, pointing her thumb over her shoulder.
Noah
Noah led AJ out of the room and back to their fathers. They both sat down next to their respective fathers, so as not to cause any suspicion.
"You have an early meeting tomorrow again, Dad?" Noah asked.
"Yeah, leaving at around 5. We better get going soon then, and I'll take the amp so you don't have to come back for it."
Noah caught AJ's eye and smiled. "Yeah sure thing."