Shift Through the Sawdust

[Rebekka Knight]

Rebekka wasn’t one to be contained by societal norms. That or to do anything anyone else expected her to do. Not unless she wanted to. Which was exactly why she was out here. Carving. With a chainsaw. Because if Rebkka was going to care, she was going to do things her way. Besides, she was actually good at it. A surprising fact she normally kept to herself. That and the people she sold to.

She trimmed off a few more pieces carefully. Sawdust and wooden chips were everywhere. She was almost done. Somehow she’d started making an eagle. Once the image was there, she couldn’t help but finish. It was coming out well enough. With a last careful cut, she stepped back and turned off the machine. It was good but rough and in need of the finishing touches. Rebekka grinned around the cigarette in her mouth. “Groovy.”

[Andrew Corbin]

Quiet. That was why he was out there. Quiet. Peace. Relaxation. After the roof incident, he avoided it. At least now and then. It was the easiest to access. But he didn’t want to run into her again. Yet, at the same time part of him almost did. Almost. their conversation had taken a strange turn. And unexpected twist. Things had almost be civil between them. And this was her Andrew was thinking about.

He wandered. He walked. Finally he came to the lake. Yet he could hear something. A chainsaw? Was someone cutting down a tree? He found himself wandering towards the noise. Then he saw. Her. And was that an eagle carving? Had she done that with a chainsaw. Andrew stared. And stared. Finally he spoke. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

[Rebekka Knight]

Someone piped up. Rebekka turned her head. Then immediately grinned. “Corbin? if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were stalking me.” It was a joke. She highly doubted he would be stalking her. too much effort for him. besides, she wasn’t a smart person to stalk. “Not wise to stalk someone with a chainsaw.” She added, waving the tool towards him before setting it down. Much as she enjoyed tormenting the boy, she still wanted to finish her sculpture.

She got her smaller tools out and knelt down next to the carved block. the finer detail always took more time. But she liked it. it was calming somehow. Soothing. that wasn’t something she got to experience often. She took it where she could get it. but she didn’t forget about him. She glanced over her shoulder for a second. Then back to her work. “What brings you out here Corbin? I thought the roof was your little brood hole.”

[Andrew Corbin]

She noticed him. Andrew flinched. Grit his teeth. She was grinning again. Claimed he was stalking. Andrew frowned deeply. She knew he would never do something like that. Especially not to her. She added a comment. The stupidity of stalking someone with a chainsaw. “I’m not stalking you.” He said, firm. She’d likely make fun of him anyway.

Yet she turned around. Almost seemed to ignore him. The reverse of roles was uncanny. It piqued Andrew’s interest. For some reason, he found himself coming closer. Observing. looking over the carving she made. It was good. If unfinished. Which she seemed to be attempting to do. She spoke. A question. Why was he here and not the roof? Andrew frowned again at the last remark. “I was avoiding you.” He replied. It was blunt. Not that he cared with her.

[Rebekka Knight]

He defended himself. Again he went for the bait. it made Rebekka’s grin grow. Turn cheekier. More devilish if anything. “That’s what they all say." She loved sending jabs Andrew’s way. Seeing how long she could go before he fought back. Last time had surprised her. She hadn’t expected his dry humor. Or dry humor at all.

But she had work to do. A sculpture to finish. She was nothing if not determined. At least once she sent her mind to something. Still, the conversation with Andrew was too good to pass up. Especially when he gave his answer. He was avoiding her. Rebekka had to laugh. It was half genuine. the rest was teasing. “Avoiding me? Corbin you wound me so.” She mocked drily, carving out detail.

[Andrew Corbin]

That’s what they all said. More bait. This time he grumbled. Shook his head in exasperation. he didn’t get it. Didn’t get why she enjoyed it. But she did. She was a twisted little thing. Although she was older. Which made it even stranger. Why not pester someone her own age. Why him of all people? He didn’t understand. Yet he found himself wanting to. If only to get her to stop.

He found himself interested. Intrigued. He’d never seen something like this before. He certainly didn’t expect it from her. Although he felt he should. She was proving herself an oddity. While others ignored, she only gave more attention. It was odd. Different. Andrew was fairly sure he disliked it. She laughed. It sounded off, yet similarly honest. He wounded her. It was mocking. Made him roll his eyes. “Not enough.”

[Rebekka Knight]

Once again, despite his apparent hatred of her quips, Andrew stayed. Watched her even. She could feel his eyes over her work. He must’ve been curious. She could understand why. It wasn’t like this happened all that often around here. Although with Rebekka, one never knew. She did what she wanted and that was final.

Not enough, or so he claimed. Only it hadn’t taken him all that long to start retorting to her remarks rather than insist she leave him alone. Or outright ignore her. Rebekka glanced back. There was a gleam in her eye. She was amused. Happy even, if she admitted. She enjoyed these interactions, even if Corbin did not. “Not enough?” She repeated. “Corbin how could you? And here I thought we were friends!”

[Andrew Corbin]

She didn’t seem to mind his watching. He was glad she didn’t comment on it. He’d expected that. But again, she’d surprised him. Gone a different path. Done something he hadn’t seen. He normally hated that. With her it was only a minor annoyance. Or nothing at all. He wasn’t getting used to it. Not yet he believed. Not fully.

But he was getting used to her getting under his skin. It was like an ability. She could do it so easily. Yet for all the frustration he remained. Why? She went on with her performance. It was all fake. Andrew knew. Even he could see that. It irked him again. Yet oddly enough entertained him? there was another feeling he wasn’t sure of. “We aren’t friends.” He insisted.

[Rebekka Knight]

He was getting irritated again. Rebekka didn’t even need to turn around. She could feel it in the air. Hear it in his works, few as they were. He really didn’t talk all that much, did he? Although neither did she in most cases. it depended mainly on her mood, or who she was talking to. Andrew usually got the short end of her conversations. But she enjoyed them all the same.

He instead again. They weren’t friends. It made her chuckle. Made her reflect. they weren’t friends. Or at least even if they were, they weren’t normal friends. There was something tying them together despite their feelings towards each other. Maybe a mutual fascination? Andrew had certainly shocked her back on the roof with some tidbit of knowledge. Not that it would make her act any different. “Yet you’re always hanging around me, Corbin. People are going to start whispering.”

[Andrew Corbin]

She didn’t turn around to admire her handiwork. To see Andrew’s reaction. He was stunned once again. Confused. Curious. Irritated. Those three seemed the most common around her. Yet she could pull something else out. She nearly made him smile. Her. the one Andrew was almost certain he despised. Almost.

She pointed something out. They were together often. people would start whispering. Andrew scrunched up his face. He didn’t know what they would even whisper about. “I try to avoid you.” He pointed out. “And what would they whisper? Barely anyone knows me.” He wasn’t social. He had no friends to speak of. Even with the one who jokingly claimed to be just that.

[Rebekka Knight]

He mentioned avoiding her again. As if that could refute everything. Rebekka actually rolled her eyes. Actually halted long enough to face him. To give him a look. To arch a questioning, disappointed brow. What would they whisper? Andrew seemed to think himself immune to the rumor mill. All due to his social ineptitude. Rebekka laughed again. This time is was all harsh and all taunt.

“You really think that matters?” She asked in turn. “Rumors don’t need much, Corbin. They hardly need a name to start.” She said with a sardonic smirk. She went back to her work. Chipped away careful while she spoke. “People will start thinking we’re friends Or even worse, lovers.” She threw him a look, all tease. She knew that one would displease him.

[Andrew Corbin]

She halted her carving. Turned around. Gave him a look. She almost seemed disappointed. Why, Andrew didn’t know. He typically wouldn’t have cared. Yet this was her. He had no idea what that emotion would mean with her. What he’d done to earn it. Why he was strangely caring. Even if it was the faintest amount.

Another question. Did he think that mattered? According to her, no. No it did not. A rumor did not need his name. Or at least not really. She smirked again. It was sarcastic. Sharp. Meant to prick him. It succeeded once again. People would think they were friends. or worse, lovers. That made him frown. Made him scowl. Fold his arms over his chest and glare. “You’re an academy staff member, and I’m a student. We are not lovers. Or friends.”

[Rebekka Knight]

He looked confused. That seemed to be a reaction she could easily get from him. Still, it made her smile. Although in this case it was a smirk. A smirk at the way he was getting more drawn into the conversation. She bet he hadn’t even noticed. His face was, for once, alive with emotion. Negative, but still emotion all the same.

She got the reaction she expected. The horrible scowl. The folded arms over his chest. Claiming friendship was already entertaining enough, but this was the icing on the cake. Never had his face come so alive. He responded. They weren’t lovers or friends. But Rebekka only laughed once more. “We might know that Corbin, but no one else does. And hey, it’s forbidden love! People gobble that up as fast as dessert."