A night at the Devin f a m i l y Diner, ----Taaaaag: Naomi Is It!

[Jason Allen]

It was an odd balance that Jason had reached in his life. His jock friends pretended to not know that he acted in plays and usually just ignored it -- Freshman year he'd gotten hell for it, until he'd finally lost his temper and knocked the kid talking shit out, after that no one mentioned it. He was pretty sure the fact that he was one of the best athletes had something to do with that as well. Or just the fact that it had spread pretty quickly that he knew martial arts. And while for a while he'd gotten shit for not going out with girls, when he hit his growth spurt and they started flocking to him it was kind of hard to give him shit for that. So his jock friends and teammates just ignored the fact that at any given time he was probably practicing for a play.

The drama department had originally given him hell too. What was a jock doing auditioning for their precious play? And he wanted a lead role too? That was just pure arrogance! Everyone knew that jocks were muscle bound idiots who couldn't think, let alone act. And still from them he occasionally got hell when he couldn't make a rehearsal due to practice or ended up limping while reading the lines because he'd pulled something. But generally speaking, after they'd seen him on the stage, when he completely transformed from himself into the character, they ignored the fact that he was a 'jock', and he was just part of the cast.

He liked both parts of his life. Obviously or he wouldn't be doing this insanity. And at times it really was insanity. Straight from one practice to another, shower if he had time, stripping as he jogged from a field to a stage or vice versa. But sometimes he wished that his jock friends would go to see him perform, or his theater friends would go cheer him on at a game. But it wasn't like he'd ask anyone too. That'd just be fucking pathetic.

In any case, he'd get over it or ignore it soon enough, it was just bothering him at that moment since he'd gone straight to rehearsal after school, then to practice, took a shower and was just now managing to grab something to eat. A number of somethings to eat in fact. He wasn't worried about weight gain or anything like that, which was very good as he started on his second burger. Having already polished off the first as well as a plateful of fries. Hey, he'd been working all day and acting and soccer were both hard work. Give the boy a break.

[Naomi Blake]

As with most of her endeavors, there was no rhyme or reason for Naomi to be at the diner. She wasn't all that hungry, and even if she was, she was broke anyway. But she was bored, and it generally housed a crowd of hungry students, and hungry students meant people to talk to. Assuming they could stop eating long enough to talk to her. Which, technically, gave her a reason for actually being there, except that Naomi wasn't exactly seeking human contact out. She just had nothing better to do.

It wasn't hard, either, for her to encounter that human contact. While she certainly wasn't the queen bee at Belleville, it was undeniable that Naomi was a well known girl. Moreover, she was a well liked girl. She never really set out with the intent of making friends, but it always seemed to happen. For whatever reason, Naomi had a harder time being mean to people (or at least being mean while they were aware of what she was doing) than she did being nice.

She of course had certain friends she hung out with regularly. Well, she had at least one friend she hung out with regularly. But she did hang out with other people, from her soccer team, or in one of her classes, or from the drama crew. Rarely did she get the overwhelming feeling she might know just a few too many people, but it was a fact nonetheless. Being the type of girl who tried almost anything - even if she was absolutely horrible at it - Naomi knew all sorts of people. And one of those many people just happened to be in the diner at that very moment.

Grinning at her luck (which technically was a bad way to put it, because the diner was a popular student hangout) of someone she knew being there, she waltzed over to where he was sitting. Gloomy place it was, too, all the way in the corner next to the wall. Without bothering to say hello, Naomi helped herself to a few of his french fries as she gave herself an invitation to sit.

"Didn't know you'd be here, though I can't say I'm disappointed." The small blonde grinned cheekily at him. "You don't mind sparing a few fries, right? Besides, you eat all of those and you'll get fat. And then, your career would be over. Both of them, because you definitely can't play soccer when you're fat, and no one wants to watch a fat actor unless the character is supposed to be fat. And really, how many good roles are fat?" Pausing only to steal another fry, Naomi added briefly, "Not that many, exactly."

[Jason Allen]

Company hadn't been expected, but considering that the Devin Family Diner was a cheap place for a good burger it was always filled with students of some nature or another and a few families. When he was little his parents had taken him there a lot actually. Sophia was friends with the owner, they were in a book club together he was fairly sure. And he had seen two people he knew, on a date, when he'd walked in, so he really couldn't be too surprised with company plopping itself down at his table, stealing a few of his fries and insulting him.

And even with all that he couldn't say he was particularly disappointed in the company. Him and Noami were, well, the only way he could think to phrase it would be as lazy friends with benefits. They'd had a fling in the past and weren't opposed to messing around. Not, of course, that he was looking to mess around right then. But the perky blond was always entertaining to have around. Not to mention if she wanted something she'd have no problem flat out telling him, which saved some time.

Although, all things considered, he couldn't help but resent her slightly. She too was both in soccer and the drama club, but being a girl she'd gotten none of the hell he had. Which was a little frustrating. Not normally, but he was dwelling on those things at the moment so it was obviously what he'd think of when looking at people.

He dragged himself out of his thoughts, and couldn't help snorting -- casual grin in place -- at Naomi asked if she could have the fries she'd already consumed. "And what would you do if I said I couldn't spare any of the fries, Mimi?" He was doubting that regurgitation would be the answer. Taking another bite of his burger he rolled his eyes at the fat comment. They both knew his metabolism was too good and he worked out far too much for that to ever happen, and he didn't see much point in defending himself -- or bringing up fat roles. Instead he just ignored her. Seemed like the wiser of the two options.

[Naomi Blake]

Naomi gave him half a scoff, more for the nickname than the actual comment. She couldn't recall exactly when the nickname came around, but she guessed it was some time after their sort-of fling. It was more of a half assed relationship than anything, but that was okay. They were still friends, and besides, Jason was in nearly the same situation as her. What, with the acting and soccer. But it was funnier when he did it, because he was a guy. A particularly hot guy. The soccer made sense, but the acting? Well, it was funny.

Smirking as she took another fry, she pointed it at him and arched an eyebrow, "Tough shit, Allie. You're not getting them back."

She doubted he actually wanted them back, but even if he did, there was no real way for her to return them. And she sure as hell wasn't going to buy more when he had a perfectly good plate sitting in front him. Not to mention he still had half a burger (that she was guessing wasn't his first) left.

Offering only a small pout as he ignored her fat comment, she recovered quickly with a few more fries. It just wasn't any fun to babble on if she didn't get a response. She knew he wasn't actually going to get fat, but he could have humored her. At least a little bit. But Naomi wasn't going to openly complain, after all, she'd find some other way to achieve her amusement quickly enough anyway. She didn't bother to continue on the topic, he'd obviously opted for staying out of that one, instead she brought up a new one.

"So what're you up to today? Any practice left, or are you finished?" As far as she knew, rehearsals were over for the day, but she could be mistaken. She only showed up when she was absolutely needed, because she rarely bothered with trying to score a lead role. She had, once, and it'd been fun, but she didn't deem it important enough to bother fighting everyone else who was trying to get the lead. Instead, she just tried out for lesser, but still somewhat important roles in the plays she liked. Those were just as much fun, and she had more time for other things, too.

[Jason Allen]

He knew she wasn't completely fond of the nick name. Which was why he used it as often as he possibly could. He would've said it was him flirting with her, but that would be a little far from the truth. The truth of the matter was that they both just kind of liked hassling each other. It kept life interesting. And it wasn't like he ever actually set out to make her mad. He wasn't one of the guys who thought girls looked hottest when they were pissed. In fact, he thought that was fucking stupid. If your way of hitting on a girl ended up with her so mad she wanted to try to pummel you, then you had some serious issues and just needed to give up. Keeping that going wouldn't be worth it for anyone involved.

But hassling Naomi was second nature. And neither of them actually got mad about it. Teasing would probably be the better word for it in fact. Yeah. Teasing worked. And of course, if he teased her she was bound to tease him. Which was why he was being called Allie. He was of the opinion she should've tried to make Jason feminine, but she never had the drive or creativity to do so.

"Never asked for them back, Mimi. Was just asking a simple question." Some guys would've probably been bothered by being called Allie. But considering what he and Naomi would still sometimes do, the name didn't hurt his ego at all. It was like guys who couldn't wear pink shirts. They were ultra paranoid and not confident enough in their own masculinity. He was. He had to be to be an actor and a soccer player.

"I'm done for the day. Was considering going and swimming a few laps but I haven't decided on that yet. You've got your part memorized already?" Since he rarely saw her at rehearsal -- Even when she was there they were rarely in scenes together and he'd be off to the side doing something else -- he wasn't sure how her part was coming along. Though she'd never done a bad job yet. Well, the cat fight he'd witnessed had been a bad job, but beyond that, no.