"Worlds intertwining" (Ozzy/Goliath)

[Goliath Coldan]

Ahh Main Street, that's where a lot of the people from campus spent their time when not doing school work. There was one place in particular Garth liked to frequent when not working at Tony's or on campus doing school work or taking care of the few friends he had. He loved going to the book store called Prince in Disguise and look through all the books and hide himself in his very own fantasy world. He may have acted all tough in school but that was a front. He was truly a lonely soul. Aside from Al and Dory he didn't have any friends. He was very selective in who he let past his shell. Al and Dory were like him, they were alone, Al's father was in prison and his mother was dead, Dory's traumatic past made her forget everything on a pretty regular basis making the world a pretty scary place. To Goliath, they were family and he would keep them safe as if they shared blood.

When he did need to get away however he ran for books and left his tragic world behind and joined the world of Prince's, magical creatures and monsters that needed slaying. Goliath loved fairy tales because they were a world that always had a happy ending. Goliath got up bright and early leaving his campus dorm wearing Black Jeans torn at the knees, black and red sneakers, a black tank top and his leather jacket. Unlike most days when he just let his hair hang down, he tied it back in a tight pony tail a few hairs hanging in his face. Once he grabbed a chocolate and cinimon flavored coffee he headed into the store and walked back toward the fantasy section and began to look for something he hadn't read before. As he searched he looked at the isle next to him which was murder mysteries and scowled. He hated those books and swore to never pick one up. As he plucked out a book that was a big collection of old fairy tale books from all over the world, he spotted someone he knew. He spotted Ozzy, formally called Oswald. Goliath had a class with him and knew that he worked for the paper at the school and was on the basket ball team. Aside from that he didn't know much about the quite boy. Goliath had world wars class and Astronamy with him and kind of saw him as a kindred spirit. Goliath slowly walked up, book under his left arm and coffee in left hand and put a gentle smile on his face.

"Your Ozzy right? We have two classes together, World wars and Astronamy, oh and lunch. What brings you here? I come here a lot and don't see you around. If you need help I can help you find something. I might as well work here i'm here enough."

That was Goliath's subtle attempt of asking Ozzy if he would like to hang out and get to know one another. Goliath sometimes saw a lonely look in Ozzy's eyes, a look he saw in his own eyes a lot of the time. He wanted to help that look fade the best he could.

[Ozzy White]

Ozzy had gotten up early this morning. Well more like he'd been up before the sun had. He was exhausted but for some reason his body had decided that last night was not a night for solid sleep and anyone could tell he needed it. Nonetheless he had dragged himself out of bed and thrown on a black tshirt, dark blue jeans, black converse and his worn out old black denim jacket. He threw what he would need into his pockets, pulled his sunglasses down over his eyes, strolled passed his unconscious roommate, and closed the door behind him, heading towards town.

Ozzy wandered for a bit but found nothing all that exciting at any of the places he went into and so he eventually ended up in one of the few places he knew he could always find something to entertain him no matter how tired he was, the book store! Ozzy entered 'Prince in Disguise', smiling a bit as he took in the cheerful and inviting ting of the bell over the door. This was like home... well maybe not HIS home but what home was supposed to feel like. Or at least what Ozzy thought home should feel like.

As Ozzy walked past the register, he tilted his head so as to say hello to the cashier as he made his way towards the stacks of books in which he would hide for a bit. He had been coming here so long that no one here accused him of shoplifting or loitering. Ozzy was almost part of the furniture and they had a mutual understanding that he wasn't here to cause any trouble, only to enjoy what the store had to offer.

As Ozzy browsed the shelves looking for that one book that would call out to him, his train fo thought got interrupted by a kid from school. Jeeze what do they want now! I swear if they want me to put them in the stupid paper... Ozzy's thoughts trailed off as he turned and saw Goliath standing in front of him. He had seen the kid around campus and in a few classes they shared. He was harmless so long as you weren't trying to fight him or mock him... or look at him the wrong way. Well He seemed alright in Ozzy's book even if he was a bit short fused. Nonetheless Ozzy had just wanted to be invisible like he usually was. Why had this kid picked now to notice him?

HI... yea. You're Goliath. I recognize you... Ozzy trailed off. He had never really been one for long conversations unless he REALLY knew the person. This kid was just another body he shared the school with to him. He knew almost nothing about him and he sure as hell didn't feel like chatting with this guy. But he knew this kid wasn't going to leave so easily and so he sighed a bit and continued. I come here a lot. It's my... home away from school I guess. I usually find a dark, quiet section and just let the book suck me in.

Ozzy couldn't help but smirk when Goliath offered him help if he needed it. It was a nice gesture but amusing to Ozzy when he spent so much time here. No... I think I'm good with finding my way around. I almost think I know my way around here better than the workers OR the owner... SO... whatcha reading?

Ozzy had just said more to a practical stranger than he had said to most people he really KNEW in ages. He had needed to find a way to get the attention pointed away from him. Asking about the book seemed like the easiest way. Hopefully this guy would just talk on and on for a bit until Ozzy could make some excuse to leave or just get bored and leave on his own. Either way, Ozzy would be back in his comfort zone and back in his quiet solitary world.

[Goliath Coldan]

Goliath couldn't help but smile as the almost always silent Ozzy began to make small talk with him. Ozzy was almost always quiet, or at least that was what Goliath observed. It made the normally stoic Goliath a bit sad. Goliath just quietly listened as the schools lead newspaper worker began sharing his own feelings instead of those of others in the written word. Goliath felt the same way when it came to books. Books helped Goliath forget what happened to him and made him feel like he had a brand new life separate from the one he was forced to endure.

When Ozzy asked what he was reading, Goliath just gently held out the book of fairy tales looking down at the cover himself. Goliath figured that Ozzy would think he was weird or something but truthfully Goliath..no..Garth no longer cared. He just smiled down at the book and then directed the small smile up at his class mate. It was one of those smiles that told more then any book ever could. It was mostly a mask, something to hide behind just like a book could be for some.

"It's a book of fairy tales, I know that seems out of character for someone like me, the big angry brute. I came to replace my old copy. It's getting kind of worn out ya know? I wanna retire it and just sort of display it. This book reminds me of a better time, a time when I really had a life to go back to instead of the dark corners at the end of every day. I have seen your paper Ozzy, you're a good writer. Ya know Ozzy, I can tell your not much for conversation and that I'm probably holding ya up. If you really do find yourself in need of someone to chat with though, I'll be at the table and chairs near the fantasy section."

Goliath just gave a small bow of his head and turned to walk back toward his spot with his beverage and book but felt the sudden pull in his chest like he had when he met Dory and Al and quickly spun back to face Ozzy and bite his lip for a second. He sighed and just tapped the book against his leg and let out a deep breath.

"It's Garth by the way. My real names Garth. Books aren't the only things we use as masks Ozzy. A name can be both a mask and a shield. I use my appearance and name to keep people away, but I find myself letting said mask slip a little more, for people like us, Dory and Aladdin are the only other people who use my real name, but you can if you want. Like I said, if you ever wanna chat of your own free will, just look for a dark corner and you will most likely find me."

Goliath then bowed his head again gently and spun on his heels away from Ozzy and began to walk back toward the fantasy section. Once he reached his destination he sat down in a Purple colored chair and sat his cup down on the table that was in front of him. He then gently, as if touching a babies skin opened up his book of fairy tales and flipped to the story of Rumpelstiltskin. People saw him as a monster just like they did Garth but sometimes maybe what turns a monster back into a man is just having someone who shared pain as a friend, someone to talk to and even though he thought it was unlikely, Garth hoped Ozzy would be one of those people.