One Tree Hill highschool!

((Yes, it would be.))

Nadine laughed. "Go ahead, boast all you want. I can tell you're holding it in."

James grinned, caught red-handed, "Well, yeah, I was holding it in, but I'm not going to. I know, it's annoying."

"Not really. I'm used to hearing people brag and boast and talk about themselves. That's what happens when you're quiet. You hear a lot..."

"I know what you mean," James agreed, reaching out a hand to help Nadine onto the rocking raft, "I think it's harder hearing stuff about you though. Have you ever gotten that?"

Nadine took his hand and stepped onto the raft. "Oh yeah. I try to keep to myself and stay out of everyone's way but still I have people saying I'm a whore and a bitch and a slut." said Nadine. "I've also heard rumors that I cut myself. Probably those started when I started dressing darker and wearing these," Nadine pointed to the black wristband on her right hand and the red one on her left. "They probably think I wear them to hide the scars."

"I'm sorry," James took her hand in both of his own, "I know how much that one hurts. And I know you don't cut yourself. You're far too sweet for that."

"Anymore," Nadine said quietly, looking down. "I don't cut myself anymore." She pulled off her wristbands to reveal the faint scars on her wrists. "That rumor is one year too late, but it's true."

((That was a random depressing thing there. I could've just been like yeah, no I don't, and thanks, you're sweet too, blah blah blah, smile. But I felt like being depressing and shocking. xD I don't actually cut myself, as you know, but I've contemplated it.))

James was a bit speechless. He wanted to say something, but his mouth opened and closed a few times, with no sound coming out. He felt particularly like a goldfish. Finally, he shook his head, and hugged her.
"Nadine, I am so so sorry," he whispered, his voice just barely distinguishable over the wind rustling the leaves on the trees, "I had no idea."

((Oh whoa, nice character twist there!))

((Yeah.))

(( ))

"How could you have known?" said Nadine. And although ususally she despised sympathy, this time she was grateful.

"I could have met you before now... Broken away from my separate world, and come to join you in yours. I could have saved you from this," he gestured to her wrists, "And from getting heartbroken from Ryan..." he sighed, then corrected himself, "Well, no, maybe not, but I would have been there, at least."

Nadine smiled. "But you are here. And you're making me happy in a time where I might've resorted to cutting once again. So for that, I thank you." She gently kissed him on the cheek.

James felt the spot where her lips had just barely touched burn. Color went up in his face, "I'm glad I could help. You might have not guessed it, either, but you kept me from a suicide attempt... I was planning on just this weekend, and I thank you for that." He kissed her back.

((Wow. These characters really don't like there lives do they?))

((Whooaa! Didn't see that coming!))

Nadine's jaw dropped. "Oh, my God..." she whispered. "You were really going to try to.. oh my..." Nadine hugged him tight, at a loss for words.

((Hehe, James felt boring after that. )

"I was going to..." James sighed, fingering her hair, "But my life seemed to turn around after I met you. I knew there had to be someone out there who could give me the hope I needed to go on."

((Aw, okay, that was a massive character twist...))

((Cha man. ))

((Yes...))

(( Nice one. ))

((I love how he's always fingering her hair, that's so cute. Idk why, it just is. ^.^ ))

Nadine pulled back from the hug but still kept her arms around him. She gently reached her hand up and brushed it against his cheek, and then pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "It truly amazes me that I'm that person."

((I'm not sure either, but it is adorable. ^.^))

James, who was dazed by the kiss, couldn't really speak, "I-I-I... I don't g-get what it is about... you, but... it's definitely you." James felt the sudden urge to laugh out loud.

(( ))

Nadine smiled and leaned her forehead against his. Their lips were barely an inch apart and she wanted to kiss him again but she held herself back. They weren't a couple, and she was supposed to be waiting and thinking this over... but something about this just felt so right.

James exhaled slowly as he held himself back. It wasn't easy to restrain himself from this. They were so close. All it would take was a little nudge forward, and it would be all. It was everything James had to keep himself back. He was supposed to be thinking, not wanting this with everything he had. Just keep it together, James told himself, She'll move away eventually...
But what if you don't want her to move away? the other little voice in his head challenged.
You do. Of course you do. You're not together with her or anything. Just friends. Probably all you'll ever be. Even friends is an overstatement. You just met her yesterday.
But you've already kissed her!
Yes, yes, I understand.
So you DON'T want her to stop.
Well, no, but it's the right thing to think in this situation! James found himself mentally chiding himself. He drug himself back to reality when he realized that he was probably getting a very strange stare.

Nadine exhaled slowly, grinning. She felt his warm breath on her face, and his lashes fluttering slowly against hers as their eyes moved slightly, slowing this moment down, both, surely, wanting this to last for infinity...