|
Post by Hannah on May 30, 2007 12:41:06 GMT -5
Hannah paused outside the door marked with a number four. She entered the room, setting her ratty bag at the end of the bed. Leaving the door open-- she hadn't seen anybody else around yet, and was curious about the other lodgers-- she began to unpack the bag.
She withdrew a small framed portrait, studying the familiar picture for a moment. It was old, from about five years ago. The four faces in the frame were stiff, instructed into their poses by what Hannah rememberd to be a rather rude gentleman.
Hannah smiled slightly, remembering the excitement of that day. Things had changed since then. Her family had left for the west almost 6 months ago. When she'd told her father that she wouldn't be going with them. That she wanted to stay in New York... he'd exploded. He'd been so angry with her, for 'breaking up the family'.
She'd recieved a letter from her sister, Beth Anne, letting her know that they'd arrived in Montana. after that, she hadn't really heard from her family. Beth Anne would sneak a note out to her every once in a while, just to let her know they were okay, but that was the only contact she had with the family she had once been so close with.
A loud bang sounded from somewhere down the hall, startling Hannah, and she jumped, the small portrait slipping from her fingers with the motion, and sliding out the open door to come to rest in the middle of the hallway.
|
|
Ellie
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by Ellie on May 30, 2007 12:56:01 GMT -5
Ellie panted heavily, her hands clutching her chest as she tried to calm herself down. She had thought that she saw a mouse in the hall and, as a reaction, she dropped her bag in fright.
She took in a deep breath and looked around the hall, her forehead wrinkling when she saw the picture frame laying in the still-vacant hall. Slowly, she walked over to it and picked it up -- surely it had to be someone's.
She held it carefully as she walked into the nearest room to search for the picture's owner. Softly, she knocked on the doorframe. "I'm sorry to bother you," she apologized, her voice soft, "but is this yours?"
|
|
|
Post by Hannah on May 30, 2007 15:35:36 GMT -5
Hannah smiled shyly, embarrassed that she had practically thrown the object into the hall.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I was startled, and I dropped it." Hannah reached out, taking the picture back from the girl and placing it on the small bedside table.
"I'm Hannah, by the way. I just arrived today... have you been here long?"
|
|
Ellie
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by Ellie on May 30, 2007 23:58:16 GMT -5
Ellie slowly shook her head slowly, her eyes averting instinctively before she introduced herself to the girl. "No," she replied softly, "I've just arrived. I'm just giving the house a look-around. My name's Ellie. Ellie Banks."
Slowly, she lifted her head up, a polite smile coming across her face. "It. . . it was a nice picture. I'm sorry to have startled you."
|
|
|
Post by Hannah on May 31, 2007 8:50:03 GMT -5
"Was that you making that noise out in the hall?" Hannah shook her head, not allowing the other girl time to answer before she continued, "No matter. It probably wouldn't have startled me if I hadn't been daydreaming like I was.
"I just arrived here today, but it seems like a nice place so far. Find anything interesting on your tour so far?"
|
|
Ellie
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by Ellie on May 31, 2007 8:56:05 GMT -5
"All I've seen so far is that mouse that scared me," she replied bashfully, a slightly red tinge coming to her cheeks. "Well, at least I think that's what it was."
She paused, her shoulders shrugging slightly as she walked over to an apparently empty bed and gently sat down on it. "So, you've only just arrived, too?"
|
|
|
Post by Hannah on May 31, 2007 9:37:36 GMT -5
"Yes. I was just unpacking, actually. But that can wait, I'll be glad to know another face in the house." Hannah sat down on her own bed, facing Ellie as she offered the other girl a smile, "Have you been in New York for long? I mean, if you don't mind me asking..."
|
|
Ellie
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by Ellie on May 31, 2007 9:46:41 GMT -5
Slowly, Ellie shook her head as a look of sadness came over her face. "No," she responded politely. "I've only been here for a few days. My brother wasn't at the piers to meet me."
She glanced up at the girl again and tucked a piece of hair back behind her ear. "Have you been here for long, Hannah?"
|
|
|
Post by Hannah on May 31, 2007 10:04:43 GMT -5
"Oh, that must have been terrible. I don't know what I'd do if I traveled to a new country, and the person I was supposed to be meeting wasn't there. You must have been terrified," Hannah breathed, concern for the other girl showing in her eyes.
"I've lived in New York all my life... with my parents, and my sister. But they don't live here any more," she replied, glancing back at the picture once more as she spoke.
|
|
Ellie
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by Ellie on May 31, 2007 10:14:54 GMT -5
"That's sad," she remarked, a hint of sadness in her voice. She sighed softly and glanced down at her hands, which were now quietly wringing in her lap. She knew exactly how this other girl felt, and it was a terrible feeling.
"You sound like you were close to them," she observed, her hands finally resting still again. "I'm sorry that you're no longer with them."
|
|
|
Post by Hannah on May 31, 2007 12:01:33 GMT -5
Hannah forced a smile, not wanting to bring her family issues down on the other girls shoulders, "What about you? Are you going to try to find your brother?"
|
|
Ellie
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by Ellie on May 31, 2007 12:09:25 GMT -5
"I'm going to try," she assured the other girl with a small node, a determined smile coming across her face. "I don't know where to look, but I'm going to try to find him." She paused, her face darkening again. "I don't even know if my sister, Amelia, knows."
|
|
|
Post by Hannah on May 31, 2007 21:04:03 GMT -5
"Do you have an address to look for?" Hannah shook her head at her question, answering it herself, "No, I guess that's silly of me to ask. If you had an address, I'm sure you'd have looked there already. Is there anything I can do to help you?"
|
|
Ellie
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by Ellie on May 31, 2007 23:53:17 GMT -5
Ellie chuckled softly as she finally began to feel more relaxed around her new housemate. "I'm not sure just yet," she answered softly. "I think I'm going to try to see if I can find where he works, but if I need any help I'll be sure to keep you in mind."
She paused briefly, a slightly guilty feeling coming over her. "Is. . . Is there anything I can do for you?"
|
|