Dance Like No One Is Watching -OpEn-

[Rachel Stone]

Theres a difference between doing something and pushing yourself to do something. Whats the difference you ask? Well, when doing something, you do it spontaniously and without second guessing yourself. When you push yourself to do something on the other hand, it meant that you second guessed yourself and wondered whether or not it was the right time, the right place or if its even the right thing to be doing.

Dancing was categorized under both of these for Rachel Stone. It was a passion of hers, which caused her to do it anywhere or at anytime, when ever she felt it would suit. But having been standing out on the lawn of Crystal High School for the past half hour, Rachel was pushing herself to dance right then and there.

She'd always lived by the saying, 'Dance like no one is watching,' as well as 'talk like no one is listening,' 'act like no one care,' and a few others she had made up for herself, but dancing was the one thing that seemed to have its limits. It was the one thing she strived to do perfectly, to be acknowledged for, and one day, or so she dreamed, that she would be acknowledged for her talent.

The bell had rung a mere 20 minutes ago, but Rach had waited till all or at least most of her fellow peers had left the grounds. Thats when she began to dance to her own music. Everyone had always told her that practice made perfect, and since the gym had been locked for the night, and the dance studio was in use in town, the lawn was the only other place where there was enough room to do what she pleased.

Only problem was...How could you dance like no one is watching, when, when you least realize it...You actually have an audience?

[Craig Scott]

Craig was trying to avoid Haley at all costs, and it just happened to be her shift straight after school. Which kinda meant he couldn't go home.. could it? So, he had planned on going to the gym to shoot some hopps but it just happened that it was all locked up for the night. Great.

So dressed in his faded jeans and yellow shirt he wandered the school, with his metalic blue i-pod echoing in his ear. Not both, just one, just incase he happened to stuble into conversation with anybody. Walking along one of the cobbled paths that lead into the lawns, he didn't realise that someone was their..dancing. Until he looked up and saw the familiar blonde headed figure.

He chuckled lightly, realising she didn't know he was their... perfect. Hitching himself up onto one of the picnic benches he watched her. How hard she was concentrating and how her body changed into variying body positions. She was good, obviously. Craigg didn't know to much about dance and that, but he knew enough to tell she was good at what she did.

[Rachel Stone]

It wasn't long before Rachel was entranced by the sounds of her own music playing through her mind. Rather than on the few passing students who seemed to pay little attention to her, Rachel's mind was set on doing her own thing. Everything around her seemed to drown out, as she dropped from reality into her own little world.

Dancing brought out the best in her. When she was dancing she felt on top of the world, like she was free as a bird. With everything pushed to the back of her mind...For now, the only thing that could put the girl in an unexpected position was the peircing eyes of an onlooker. One who just happened to have plunked himself on a nearby picnic table.

At first Rachel hadn't noticed anyone watching her, but in the last few twists she had done, something had caught her eye. The figure of a friend, all too familiar to her. The blonde hair, the piercing blue eyes, everything about Craig made it easy for her to pick him out of a crowd, on this occassion...A crowd of one.

As she came to a stop, Rachel's eyes played tricks on her, first going crosseyed from all the spins she had done and then landing on the figure in front of her. Opening her mouth to say something, she focused her eyes on her ex boyfriend, and narrowed her eyes, "Do you find it ammusing to stare at cute curly haired blondes, or do you have other business here?" She asked, in a sarcastic tone, a peachy grin coming over her pink lips.

[Craig Scott]

Reaching in his pocket, he switched of his i-pod and took his earphones out. Then he just wtached her dance and laughed lightly as she came to a halt. Well, she stood as still as she could- the girl was pretty dizzy. The girl who just happened to be his former girlfriend and now one of his best friends.

Standing up, he walking towards her with a cheeky grin smothered across his features, that matched her peachy one.
"I like to watch cute curly haired blondes dance yes. I hope that's not a problem Miss.Stone?" Rach loved to dance, that much was obvious. Everyone had one of those hobbies that they could loose themselves in. For him it was muisic, if it was the right kind of course.

"So, dinner at my mums place..? When are you up for it because I made her reserve our table all today, yesterday and tomorrow... for old time's sake." For old times sake. Back in the day, Craig had first taken rach to his motehr's cafe for dinner. Their first date together, not very romantic but they were in middle school. Nothing ever is!

[Rachel Stone]

Craig had always been one to make Rachel laugh, smile, or go completely goo goo for gaga....But that was 'back in the day.' Now it was everything but that. Being best friends with the guy had its limits, especially when his current girlfriend was also a friend. After all, they had decided that friends was...Better. Which it was in a way, considering they had become closer than they were before anything had happened.

"No...Now you see Mr. Scott," Rachel began, starting up with her own nicknames as he had her, "I was specifically talking about cute little curly haired blondes named Rachel...There aren't very many but there is one that would love to go to dinner for 'old times sake' as you and I both like to call it."

She had caught her balance, once her eyes had gotten used to everything around her, and she was soon making her way over to one of the few trees located on school grounds, where she had layed her bag earlier, before their little encounter.

"Tonight sound good?" She continued to question, in her usual girly tone, scooping up her belonging from the ground.

Going back to the cafe for dinner didn't come as a regular thing for the two, but they did it on occassion, when they both seemed to be looking for that little reminder of how things used to be. Sometimes Rachel enjoyed it, others she didn't, but it was Craig. What wasn't there to enjoy?

[Craig Scott]

"Ahh, specificaly cute girls with blonde hair who's name just happens to be Rachel Stone? Well, then. that just setttles it, definetly! Dinner? It depends which Rachel Stone it is, because Im afraid cutie, if it's you Im not so sure!" He grinned at her cheekily.

He watched her pick up her bag and couldn't help but wonder what would have become of the two if they'd stayed together. But what was the point in thinking about that, when he had a girlfriend and she'd moved on to bigger and better things. But of course, there would always be "what i's"...

"Deal, Goldielocks. A treck back in time!" He walked towards her and put an arm around her shoulder in a friendly manor. "So Miss.Stone, got anything planned right here, right now? As I have nothing to do and Im not going back to the cafe for atleast..." he glanced down at his rolex watch. "25 minutes."f

[Rachel Stone]

Having picked her things off the ground and made her way over to the picnic bench in which Craig had been sitting on earlier, Rachel walked up beside him and nudged him in the side with her elbow, "Well I dont know who else would bother going to dinner with such a guy as you, but im sure this Rachel Stone could make an exception." Her peachy grin stayed glued on her features .

She'd had nothing planned for the rest of her afternoon, so there was no turning down dinner with a close friend or hanging out for a mere twenty-five minutes. "Your pushing it with the hangout time, but I think I may be able to spare my good friend twenty-five minutes..." Rachel replied a kidding tone.

There weren't many times in which she turned down any chance to hang out, and with Craig it was no exception. When she wasn't with Haley, Essie, or on the odd occassion, Beth, she was with Craig. Doing whatever, wherever as long as it was something to keep the two occupied.

As he slipped his arm around her shoulder, unlike with Luke, she had stayed in position, this position not feeling the slightest bit awkward to her, "So whats the plan?" She questioned as she pulled her bag onto her free shoulder.

[Craig Scott]

"Oh yea, Im not so popular with the ladies these day's. Unlike some little blonde cutie who's talked about in the locker rooms alot." He winked at her playfully, it was interesting to hear what the guys had to say about some f Craig's friends. But it wasn't often he told them what was said about them though. "But Im happy, Miss.Stoe is making this exception for me, I feel so hounered!" He teased.

He was avoiding Haley purposfully, sure that would proberly make things worse in the long run, but he'd just had Histroy. With all the blood and stuff he really couldn't handle a full on confrontation with Haley. You see, Craig had a thing about blood. Sure he didn't mind, a little cut now and again, but just when people described it and when he saw video's... Ugg, it gave him the heeby jeebies. (maha, heebie jeebies )

"Good friends? Damn Rach, i thought we were bestest friends!" He grinned at her cheekily, it weasn't often the two of them hung out. Although craig found whenever they did, they hung out for a long time and actually enhjoyed themselves. Their was never a dull moment with rae around, that was for sure. "The Plan? The plan is too uhh... keep me company?" He batted his eyelashes at her like a little kid, hopiing she would cave.

[Rachel Stone]

Rachel may have been popular with her friends, but had never and never would take the time to get caught up in all the attention. It just wasn't her. She was a simple girl with simple interests. As far as you could get from a material girl. So, pointing a finger at Craig, as if trying to remember the name of someone, Rachel shifted her feet so she was facing Craig slightly, "Ah yes, that Danielle Drubsky is quite a hit in the locker rooms...So i've heard!" The senior joked, knowing fair well that Craig had been talking about her.

What was it about those puppy dog eyes that people gave you that made them irresistable? Rachel was a sap for that kind of stuff, and Craig knew her all too well, so when he batted his eyelashes at her, obviously hoping to make her give in to his pleas, she had no choice but to agree, "Fine fine!" She exclaimed with a laugh, as she walked along next to him, "I will spend twenty-five minutes with my best friend, so that he will have some company!" She had put emphasis on the word 'friend' as to make it clear that she was only joking when she had said 'good friend' before.

[Craig Scott]

Craig dropped his arm, that had once been round rach, to his side. It was comfier that way.
"Ahh yea, hit the nale on the head their Rae. That Danielle Drubsky!" Craig joined in with her laughing, knowing fully well what Rachel was like - proberly the modest girl he knew.

Craig fluttered his lashes, and made his crystal eyes as large as possible. Then grinned broadly when she gave in.
"Good, because we are the bestest of friends little Rae! And, Crystal Fall's would be nothing without the famous Bonnie & Clyde duo. So, Miss.Stone, got your eye's set on anyone? I know a fai few of guys droling over you!"

[Rachel Stone]

"Now lets get this straight Mr. Clyde..." Rachel began in an almost teasing tone to his question about whether she had her eye on someone, "Just because your my best friend doesn't mean that I'm gonna let you in on every litle secret of mine..." She raised a well manicured eyebrow to him, almost as if she was being serious and to the point.

Rachel wasn't much of a secret keeper, and her friends knew how to get her to cave whether it be sooner or later. Sure people trusted her with secrets, but if she was under pressure, there was no holding back. Sometimes a serious character flaw of hers.

Before long, Rachel's before, serious looking face, had now morphed itself into a questioning expression, as if deciding whether she really did have feelings for someone in Crystal Falls. Lifting her hands to the side of her cheek, Rachel began twirling her hair between her fingers, a habit of hers. "There are some things I have to keep from your big elephant ears you know..." She finally spoke, with a smirk of her own, "but just for your ears only...No...No apple of my eye." She was almost hesitant with her answer, and had lied right through her teeth, but Craig was easy to mess with. (ehe)

[Craig Scott]

He grinned, and rubbed his chin before dropping his hand to his side.
"Alright Miss.Bonnie! But you know i am gonna crack you eventually!" He returned in an equally teasing tone. He ignored the serious expression, even though it looked quite real. In the back of his mind, he'd just say rae was a good actor. That'd work.

Craig couldn't help but watch her as she changed expressions. Her quizical face, that looked cute as her eyebrows raised and her eyes grew slightly larger and the way she played with her hair. Then her brightening smile, that always seemed to cheer him up.
"My ear's only, promise to keep it a secret!" Placing out his little finger indicating he was making abinding promsie. It was a childhood tradition, that the kids around crystal fall's seemed to use and well... it had just stuck!

"So Rachel, I need some advice. As your a girl and that! I tried to go to my mother, but she got all angry and touchy because she knows Hale's so well. But I know how close you and Haley are, so if you don't want to keep a secret from her I understand." It was obvious he was serious, his expression had returned to it's broody form.

(easy to mess with... Only you would think that up Steph )

[Rachel Stone]

"Eventually Craig...Eventually.." Rachel agreed with a laugh. She might as well have told Craig who had been on her mind seeing as he kept his promises and would find out over time, but for the time being, some things were just best kept a secret. Secrets weren't exactly considered a rare thing in Crystal Falls, because everyone had them. So as Craig held out his pinky finger, as to pinky swear to her that he would keep her secret, when she revealed it, Rachel took the chance to make the pact, linking her finger with his.

"Craig...If you can keep a secret, than so can I.." Rachel promised. Or at least she'd try as hard as she could to. Haley and Rachel had been friends since sophomore year or so, and just like Craig, when Rachel was hiding something, Haley knew and found it the easiest thing in the world to get it out of her. "So whats this you need advice on?" The girl questioned as they walked aimlessly across the school grounds.

[Craig Scott]

He locked his finger with his, and smiled at her. Locking eye contact for a brief moment before he placed his hand in his jean pocket. How was he supposed to explain the mess he'd got himself into? If he said the wrong thing, he'd sound like a complete jerk. Although, he was kinda seeing as this was how he was feeling. He wouldn't tell rae everything though, in time certainly but not yet. He couldn't do that to Haley.

"Ok thanks but just don't hit me or anything half way through ok?" He grinned at her before continuing. "Well, the thing is, Im not sure about Haley and I anymore. As friends heck yea but just not anything more than that. It's just she told me she loved me and I didn't feel anything... No happines or excitment like your meant to feel just nothing. So I didn't say anything in return and we had a huge argument. I just don't know what's to become of us anymore Rae.."

[Rachel Stone]

Rach could tell when Craig meant something. When he was so serious about something that the light from his face fell to a dull shine and his eyes held that sort of saddness Rachel wished she'd never have to see again. Putting her own to hands in her back pockets Rachel nodded, "I promise I promise. Besides, its not like I can take sides." She stated fairly. After all, she was friends with both of them.

Hearing about his fading feelings for Haley, haden't exactly came as a shock to her, because it did happen to people. It in fact had happened to Rachel one to many times. But the idea that Haley would be hurt in the process, didn't exactly make Rachel a fan of the idea either.

The first thing to come from Rachel's lips was a mere, "Love doesn't last forever Craig..." Without thinking, she had said it. It'd been on her mind before, so it was the only thing she could think of too say before he got further into the story. She didn't want bring up the 'just friends' idea because she wasn't sure how he'd reacte, so instead she just waited to see what he would say to her first comment.