- - -iNTo THe NiGHT- - - RESERVED

[LESLIE KODY FORREST]

- - - Word Count ;; 1382 - - -
- - - Status ;; [Reserved] for L E X

To the blaring chimes of his impatient alarm clock, Kody awoke. Groaning and stifling a yawn the lad reached over and - slightly more brutally than called for - hit the button on the top of the clock that made the blasted thing shut up. He sat up, grimly rubbing his eyes before eying the clock, an annoyed grimace on his face. 10 30. It took him a moment to remember what he had to do today. The young adult really wasn't a morning person, and considered anything before twelve to early to bother waking up. Kody threw back the thick covers on his twin sized mattress slipping out of the comfortable warmth of his bed, and into the chilly air of his apartment. Grumbling audibly he walked into the hall and cut up the heat. His boxers really did nothing to keep him warm. The boy walked into his kitchen to grab some breakfast. Random tidbits - like scissors, loose papers, and sharpies - were strewn across the counter in untidy stacks and piles. He was definitely a clutter bug, and the only two rooms in the house that weren't covered in a top layer of clutter were the bathroom and his bedroom.

Kody grabbed a couple of breakfast bars and padded back into his room. By now the temperature of the house had increased dramatically, and though his boxers were adequate for the temperature, he wasn't one to go around half dressed all day. Kody opened his small closet, humming quietly to himself as he sifted through a small assortment of shirts and jeans. Finally seeing something that caught his eye the boy pulled out a light gray-blue shirt and a pare of dark Grey jeans and slipped them only. He wasn't in a hurry, but he still moved fast out of habit. When he was finished pulling his clothes on, Kody slipped into the bathroom. He brushed both his hair and his teeth before heading back into his bedroom and grabbing his black and white converses and a pair of socks. He glanced at the clock. Almost twelve. Now he was border lining in a rush. Cursing under his breath he hurried to the door grabbing both his thick blue hoodie, his black mp3 player, and his pale brown guitar on his way out. He slipped on his hoodie, juggling his guitar and mp3 player as he struggled to open the door. Finally released from his house, he slipped his guitar strap over one shoulder and stuck his mp3 player in his hoodie pocket while jogging up the sidewalk. He knew if he missed another driver's ed class he'd probably just forget it and never get his license back. Kody didn't see what all the fuss was about. All he had done was ran a stop sign. The cop had been hiding just out of sight and pulled him over quickly, but it had been the very outskirts of town, and no one had been coming. Kody skittered along the sidewalk, heading to the bus stop closest to his house. It would take about two hours to get to the class on the bus - since it stopped everywhere - and he needed to be there by two forty five. Silently he longed for the motorcycle sitting in the shed attached to his house, patiently gathering dust as it waited for him to get his license fixed. He continued jogging until he reached the bus stop, snarling loudly as the bus he was suppose to be on pulled off just as he came in sight of the black bench that marked the bus stop. Looked like he was walking. Knowing he'd never make it on time, Kody pondered what to do. Grunting he pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number to his class. "Hello, this is Leslie Forrest, I'm going to be a little late for my class, I need to bump the time from two forty five to four thirty." There was a slight mumble from the other end as the secretary told him four thirty was booked but they could fill him in at three forty five, the patron of that time had canceled. Kody thanked the lady and hung up, continuing on his walk to driver's ed.

After driver's ed, which went smoothly and without mishap or incident, Kody wandered along the city. He itched to play his guitar after the stress of driver's ed. Unconsciously he headed toward the lake shore, a place that was almost certainly abandoned because of the cold weather. The edge of the frigid lake was in sight in about thirty minutes, and Kody slowed to a brisk saunter. Already the sun was getting low in the sky, and he guessed it was about fiveish. The temperature was a few degrees above freezing, and though dark clouds threatened ominously on the horizon, he didn't think it would snow. When Kody reached the edge of the water he stood staring across the wide expanse. Trees and bushes surrounded the lake loosely, along with a few man made beaches and swim shacks. Buildings were visible across the lake, even through the light fog that had rooted itself just above the surface of the water, giving the murky expanse a morbid appearance.

Kody stepped along the edge of the water, his progress slow due to his dreamy demeanor. Finding a suitable place to sit (which happened to be a tall flat rock) he sat down and pulled his guitar around to the front. For a moment he sat silently, and totally still except for the slight rise and fall of his shoulders as he puffed oxygen in and out of his body. The wind had a slight bite to it as it twisted down his throat and into his lungs, but Kody barely noticed. The cold had long since lost its horrible grip on him. After the moments pause to intake some inspiration and artisticness, Kody started strumming out a few chords trying to decide what tone he wanted to play. After a couple of minutes he started to come into himself, and his music became a steady soothing lullaby. He didn't begin singing like he normally would, but kept strumming, humming peacefully along with the tune, his eyes closed and the whisper of a smile on his full lips.

Kody played for a good hour and a half, barely acknowledging the disappearance of the sun and the rising of the moon. Suddenly he stopped, his fingers playing a few exit chords and then going still. He twisted out of the strap of his guitar and set it beside him, a peaceful look plastered to his facade. His eyes went out over the freezing waters, and on impulse began stripping. He knew the impulse was stupid, and he knew it, but he still continued. When he was fully undressed he tossed his clothes onto the rock and walked to the very edge of the water. He hesitated, knowing he was going to freeze his ass off - which he was already doing standing in frigid weather completely nude - if he stepped into that water. Quickly he edged into the water, his teeth clenching as he yelped softly. The water was twice as cold as he expected. Almost immediately his teeth began chattering and his body began to shake violently. He realized just how stupid the impulse had been, and started walking back to shore in the waste deep water. He drug himself out, shaking almost to violently to move as he stagger to the rock and collapsed. Kody pulled himself into a ball, trying to warm his self back up. The task was impossible, and he lay there shivering. The thought that he needed to get dressed again registered in his mind, and he numbly reached for his clothes. Progress was slow as he clothed himself, but he felt much better when it was done. His teeth were still chattering, and he was still shaking, but he knew he would warm up soon. All but his legs and waist, which were still wet and beyond numb. He knew he should get home, but something kept him from standing up and grabbing his guitar and mp3 player and leaving.