Post by Lori on Jun 10, 2017 3:33:46 GMT
Lark Aiello
Nicknames
None. There's literally no way to shorten her name.
Age/Birthday
She turned 17 on March 3
Zodiac
Pisces
Reputation
Though it would be a stretch to call her the school slut, even though she isn't one, some people really can be that mean. For part of her freshman and sophomore years she was with a student named Shane who happened to end up getting transferred to Metric. It turned out that Shane had a girlfriend and he was seeing Lark behind her back. It ended up in Lark getting pregnant, ending with adoption. The fact that she 'broke up a relationship' and got pregnant by the guy didn't exactly bode well with some of the student body, some going so far as to think that she's one of the reasons Salem High has the reputation that it does. After all what is Salem compared to Metric? And why should Lark bother trying to find someone at her own high school when there was someone so much better at Metric?
Job
Student
Class
Junior at Salem High
Grades
Lark's sophomore year hadn't been easy on her and she ended up taking classes in summer school to keep on track. Even after everything that happened, her grades are good enough to keep her on the soccer team but she could stand to use a little help. Her focus is not always where it needs to be.
Friends
The closest thing Lark has to a friend, that may actually be a friend, is Stella Barrowman. Although Lark wouldn't go so far as to call her a slut, it is admittedly more accurate with Stella compared to the one guy Lark was with. Lark not getting along with the popular crowd, it's a bit of a surprise that she actually is friends with Stella. Lark had found out Stella was having a pregnancy scare and, unfortunately, Lark knew the feeling all too well. She's kept the secret for Stella and has no intention of speaking of it to anyone else. However, Lark is preparing herself for Stella not to stick around too long. If the scare turns out to just be a scare, there'll be nothing holding the two girls together and Stella will more than likely go back to her own life.
Enemies
Lark doesn't particularly have a big friend group at the moment, though there are probably more people that don't like her than the other way around.
Shane Collins was the guy she was hooking up with and ultimately got pregnant by. Although it wasn't his body or his say, he did choose not to be involved with the adoption process or to keep in contact with their son or the adoptive family. Whatever he had going on in his life, how hard could it have been to do the very basics instead of pretending as though it all never happened? Not to mention he actually got the opportunity to go to Metric; Lark had to turn down a chance to go to that high school due to the pregnancy.
Lark doesn't get on with any of the populars at all, but Victor Bonnaeu is always the worst. Every time he sees her he doesn't hesitate to open his mouth and bring up what Lark wishes people would just drop already. She already knows what she did, she's reminded of it all the time. She doesn't need Vic in her face about it. It makes matters worse that he was friendly with Shane before he started at Metric, so that makes dealing with him all the more uncomfortable.
Interested in
Lark currently identifies as asexual. She feels she experienced everything there needs to be when it comes to intimacy, or at least more than she can handle. While she's not opposed to being in a relationship if the time and person is right she doesn't want the intimacies that's expected. She is unsure if she will change her mind or if she will only do anything to reproduce and have an actual family of her own. But in the meantime, she is done with all of that and she wishes that people would stop acting as though that's all she wants.
Relationship Status
Single
Clubs/Organizations
Lark is a striker on Salem High's soccer team.
Body
Lark is on the short side, just under 5'2. She's not sure if she's going to get any taller than that; she's been about the same shoe size for the last year so if that hasn't changed she's pretty sure little else will. Being interracial her skin tone is a little on the lighter side. There's not much as far as curves go, although she'd say she has great legs. She could probably thank soccer for that. Lark works out and has a fast metabolism so her weight is more than likely just around 100 pounds.
Eye Color
Brown
Hair
Lark's hair is dark brown and has a slight wave to it, which is most present after a shower or her hair's been up for a while. Although she considers herself a tomboy, Lark doesn't mind putting her hair in different styles. Buns, braids, pigtails, ponytails; she's willing to give anything a try. It's dependent on how she's feeling and what she's doing. If she's wearing a hat, however, she's typically either leave it down or put it in a ponytail.
Style
Sweatjackets, jeans, sneakers, hats, t-shirts and the like are normal attire for Lark. Hats are more occasional; even she'll wear one on a bad hair day. Lark wouldn't go so far as to describe her style as a complete tomboy, but rather more of a jock look. She would prefer to avoid dresses, skirts and heels - especially heels as it's near impossible for her to run around in them - but will dress up when the occasion requires. Makeup is non-existent save for foundation to cover any zits or chap stick/lip gloss. If she can find the latter in a Snapple or Nutella flavor she will more than likely go for it.
Ethnicity
Mexican African American
Playby
Aliyah Moulden
Positives
Athletic; Outspoken; Stubborn; Flexible; Competitive; Strong; Alert; Doesn't take crap from others
Negatives
Guarded; Stubborn; Cautious; Distrusting' Competitive; Hesitant
Likes
Nutella; Soccer; 90's TV; Bagels; Snapple; Blankets; Fall; Alicia Keys; Finding the prize in cereal; Singing; Getting letters; Listening to her iPod; Playing soccer
Dislikes
Stereotypes; Video games; Playboys; Users; PDA; Skinny jeans; Doing laundry; Reality tv (particularly 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom); Coconuts; Nickelodeon post-2000; Name calling; Explaining/defending herself; Remakes (have you seen the newer versions of Powerpuff Girls and Scooby Doo???)
Family
Father - Aaron Vaughn Aiello, Postman - Aaron is the peacekeeper in the family, a position he's used to. Being the oldest of five kids he often had to keep things calm in the household growing up. He didn't completely expect to continue that role. Oh, he didn't have to at first. Basic family or sibling squabbles, sure. But when Lark ended up pregnant he really had to step up his game. No one really expected it from her and Gianna was especially disappointed. Aaron had no intention of shutting out his daughter and she was going to need support from somewhere during the difficult time. The father wasn't going to do anything and Gianna couldn't seem to trust her after that, so it had to come from Aaron. He had no problem with it; Lark was always closer to him growing up anyway. They would stay up late watching cartoons from the 90's on the weekends. He would play guitar and Lark would sing along, a hobby she actually became interested in afterwards. Lark has shared so much with her father growing up that it's difficult not to turn to him when she needs anything.
Mother - Gianna Aiello, Hair Stylist - Gianna has always been one of those people that would keep a straight face through anything - except when it came to something she loved. In her case, she was a teen in the 90's obsessed with the show Saved by the Bell. She had her heart set on naming all of her kids after the actors or characters. Of course there was the minor detail of her husband agreeing on the names. He easily agreed to Mark for their first child, although needed some convincing with Lark. When she was pregnant with her third child, Gianna was convinced the entire nine months she was having a girl and had her heart set on the name Tiffani. Aaron was more under the impression that they were going with a theme and suggested Clark for a boy. Sure that wasn't going to happen, Gianna agree as long as his middle name could be Berkley, still satisfying her desire. Although Gianna is half Mexican, she never pressured her children into following the culture or getting too involved. However when Lark started dating a boy named Shane, Gianna had her guard up, believing she had reason not to trust them. Her instincts were right when she found out Lark was pregnant. She had a difficult time trusting her daughter after that and their relationship has been strained since. She has no desire in keeping up with the life of her grandchild and has been as strict as possible with Lark ever since.
Brother - Mark Aiello, College Student - Mark was the first born and especially being a boy had the added pressure of growing up to the man of the house. He had to get a job to chip in for a car when he got his license, he had to watch out for his siblings, do extra chores.... It was a lot of work for him. As a result he is unsure with what he wants to do in life and is attending community college to earn his Associates degree. Mark is hoping that aside from taking the generic classes the electives he'll take will help him figure out what he wants to major in and be able to use those credits at another college to earn his Bachelor's. To make things more difficult for Mark, he's been in the closet since middle school. After everything that happened with Lark the year before he'd hate to disappoint his parents with the news that their oldest child is gay.
Brother - Clark Berkley Aiello, Student - Clark is the youngest, originally thought to be a girl. He'll more than likely never hear the end of what would have happened if he was born Tiffani. Since Clark is the only child his parents couldn't completely agree on a name for he is the only one with a middle name. Currently in sixth grade, Clark is actually the age of most fifth graders. He skipped ahead due to his boredom in school and not being challenged enough. Due to his smarts, kids typically call him Brain at school. Clark spends most of the time in his own world, more oblivious to what's happening around him as opposed to not caring. He is the only one who actually asks questions about why or how things happen the way they do when something changes.
Backstory
From the time Lark was born two months early, she was a fighter. She fought to get stronger in the NICU. She would pick fights with her brothers, be they for attention or because of simple sibling rivalry. She would pick fights when she lost games. She would fight to speak her mind when people looked down on her. Even now she continues to fight to prove herself, whether it's at school or with her own family.
Lark was always on the competitive side. She had a lot of energy as a child, which her parents hoped to channel into cheerleading. She started in second grade and continued through elementary school, although she was also involved in a junior soccer league. Her competitive streak continued, especially when cheerleading she seemed more interested in the games then her routines. Gianna attempted to wean Lark off of soccer and focus on cheerleading completely, but it only made Lark more restless. She didn't get on well with the girls on the squad and would much rather be part of winning a game than merely being on the sidelines. It was the first of two major acts of rebellion. She would do whatever she could to avoid the girls and not have to cheer with them or listen to their gossip. It wasn't until middle school that her desire to play only soccer would come to pass.
When she started sixth grade, Lark was only doing cheerleading. Gianna insisted it was best for her and Aaron stood behind her, although he thought she had so much potential with soccer. It was proven to be true when Lark's best class turned out to be gym. She excelled in most sports they played, particularly when it came to soccer, softball and cross country. Soccer still remained her favorite. The gym teacher recommended that she try out for the soccer team in seventh grade. Lark followed through and, when she made the team, she quit cheerleading completely. She was one of only two girls on the team, creating a much different atmosphere from cheerleading. Originally she felt so much better on the field, but things became a bit more difficult when she began high school.
Although the workload became heavier, Lark was encouraged to pursue extracurricular activities other than soccer. The sport was only for the fall season and now that she was out of cheerleading there was nothing else to occupy her time. She toyed with the idea of joining another team, maybe trying out for softball, but Gianna insisted soccer was more than enough. She didn't need her daughter picking fights with kids on other teams because she was acting like a sore loser. If she wasn't going to go back to cheerleading, then an after school club would be the better choice. During her freshman year after soccer season ended, Lark began attending meetings for a music club. She had always loved music, growing up with Aaron playing the guitar, and had a nice singing voice for herself. However she didn't have much desire to perform in a choir nor did she want to sit through an extra class to improve her technique when she didn't even know how much music would be in her future. She loved listening to it and she enjoyed singing, but would it be a life for her?
It turned out that listening to music and discussing it with others was not the only thing she enjoyed. Sometimes a boy named Shane Collins would attend the meetings. He was kind of new to the area, but didn't really talk much about his life or family. But he did like having an excuse to stay out and he would suggest some interesting rock songs to listen to. He never seemed much into the club specifically, but he did end up taking an interest in Lark. It started where he played a song by Aerosmith; Lark was interested and attempted to sing it for herself. Shane would laugh at her attempts and somehow always follow her into the music room afterwards when she tried to practice on her own. The more she saw him, the more Lark was catching feelings for him. They did end up getting together, despite the fact that Shane had a girlfriend from his last school. It was the second of Lark's major rebellions, as Gianna did not get a good feeling about Shane. She tried to tell her daughter not to see him, but Lark wasn't too interested in hearing about it. What could happen anyway?
Shortly after starting sophomore year, Lark got her answer. She hadn't been feeling well during class and had a hard time focusing. She attempted to ignore it, but when it came time to practice plays with the soccer team she could barely stand straight let alone run after a ball. She went home with a fever that afternoon and stayed home the next couple of days with an upset stomach that wouldn't go away. She went in that Friday, only to throw up during third period. All it took after that was for one student to say 'I bet she's pregnant' and it caught on that weekend. By that Monday, everyone at school knew even though Lark was in denial. She attempted to tell everyone they were wrong and she had a bad cold or something that wouldn't go away. When she went to soccer practice that afternoon, a girl came up to her claiming to be Shane's girlfriend. She accused Lark of wanting him so bad that she got pregnant on purpose and said she could have him. Lark had no idea what the girl was talking about; she barely knew anything about the topic herself. But a doctor's appointment revealed shortly after that she was pregnant.
Gianna was heartbroken and disappointed in her daughter. She originally suggested that Lark get an abortion so they could be rid of the problem. Aaron stayed out of the topic to an extent, only suggesting she let Shane know before going through with anything. When Lark eventually did contact him, Shane was pissed. His girlfriend broke up with him because of this and he had no intention of being a parent. He said that Lark was ruining his already crapped up life and he didn't want to deal with her anymore. He avoided her ever since.
Not wanting to be a single parent and knowing nothing about babies, Lark did consider going through with an abortion at her mother's request. She went to a doctor during that Thanksgiving break to find out more and got an ultrasound, discovering she was about two months along. But even though it was technically only a bunch of cells in her body, Lark felt like she had a connection to them. They were her cells and she didn't want to get rid of them. So she started looking into adoption. Aaron thought it was a great idea, although no matter what choice Lark would have made Gianna hasn't looked at her the same since.
Although Lark had to spend her sophomore year walking around the halls of Salem High getting bigger day by day, she knew it would be worth it when they found a good family. She felt more confident in her choice when she heard there was a chance she could get into Metric for her junior year. Figuring that would be her way to decide if she'd have anything to do with music, Lark prepared a song to audition and then applied for the prestigious high school. She covered her growing bump at the time and sang her song. With decent grades to back her up and a position on the soccer team, Lark found out she made it into the school; they were even willing to offer her a housing discount - something Gianna was against, as she barely wanted her daughter out of her sight again. The family was able to negotiate a small scholarship instead and Lark would begin next fall. Shortly after earning her acceptance letter, she not only found out she was having a boy but also found an adoptive family that would be perfect. They lived in Salem and were looking for a semi-open adoption so their future child would know where they came from and have access to a full medical history. It helped a lot that she hit it off with them when they met; they even agree on the name Dawson for the baby. Everything seemed to fall into place.
Except not at home where she had stricter rules because of her 'mistakes' and not at school where people began to look at and treat her differently. Lark would occasionally hear people talking behind her back and calling her names. She couldn't participate as much in gym class. When the soccer team would get together and practice, even though the season was over, they didn't want her around. Some of the popular kids who detested Metric would go so far as to blame Lark because girls like her were ruining Salem High's reputation. To make matters worse, word got out that she had hooked up with a kid from Metric. Lark had no idea how that rumor got started; turned out, however, that it wasn't much of a rumor. Shane also got into Metric and would start there his junior year. Lark was hoping to get a new start at a new high school, but that was going to prove much more difficult now. Between that and the bullying, Lark had a difficult time focusing on her grades and keeping them up. To make matters worse, despite the fact that she was due to give birth at the end of June, she went into labor during the first week of May. There were no complications, fortunately, but after spending three days in the hospital and then Dawson having to spend two weeks in the NICU, Lark couldn't just go back to school as though nothing happened. It wasn't like anyone wanted her there anyway. And by that time, it made no difference. She missed too much school and would have to make up the time during the summer. The end of the summer session collided with starting at Metric and they couldn't let Lark start there if she didn't finish her sophomore year. She had no choice but to turn the school down, one of the hardest things she ever had to do.
She returned to Salem High for her junior year, even though it proved to be difficult to be back. It wasn't like anyone still wanted her there. Sure, she remained on the soccer team. But outside of the games where they have to include her? Lark can barely call the sport fun or a distraction anymore. She's not always able to participate in practices if few people will pass the ball to her, and when they win games she doesn't join them for victory pizza or anything afterwards. In general, Lark has started keeping her guard up. If people are going to continue to treat her different or as though she's such a terrible person then that's their business. It doesn't mean she has to put up with it. After all she already lost her friends, her relationship, her scholarship, her parents' trust...what else is there to lose? All she can do at this point is swallow her pride and try to make it through her last couple of years. And maybe, just maybe, she can apply to Metric College come senior year and actually do something worthwhile. She would love to enjoy playing soccer again, but she also wants to make sure that no one else gets treated the way she has. At least until then she has two things to keep her going - letters from Dawson and music.
Random
▒ Lark and both of her brothers are named after Saved by the Bell actors; Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Lark Voorhies and Elizabeth Berkley; had Clark been a girl his name was going to be Tiffani, after Tiffani-Amber Thiessen. Their dad originally thought they were going with a theme, hence the rhyming names, but did agree to Berkley as a middle name.
▒ She suggested the name Dawson to the adoptive family; they ended up liking it and chose his middle name, Sage.
▒ Although Lark was typically a happy and spunky girl growing up, she absolutely detested cheerleading. The only reason she ever rebelled was to get out of it and focus on soccer as her extracurricular, which finally happened in middle school.
▒ Her mother was a teen in the 90's and an avid Saved by the Bell watcher while her father simply thought TV in the 90's was better than when Lark was little, explaining her love of shows from that decade.
▒ Lark's mother Gianna is half Mexican.
▒ She has a semi open adoption with Dawson's family. They live in uptown Salem and send Lark emails and letters whenever something happens or Dawson hits a milestone. The current plan is for her to see him once a year while all other communication is done through letters and email.
▒ After everything that happened in her sophomore year, Lark has become much more guarded and closed off. She is aware that people look at her differently now and is less likely to open to someone. If she did become close with someone she would most likely reveal the active and perky personality she exhibited growing up.
▒ Lark and her family live in a one story home on the edge of Downtown Salem. Her room is behind the kitchen while her brothers share a room next to her with a bunk bed; it makes her a bit jealous because she would like to sleep in a top bunk.
▒ Lark has hopes of attending Metric College and entering their home economics program. She hopes to become a teacher, preferably something to do with music, and work with troubled or underprivileged kids. She almost had to give up school but does not want to see anyone to go through that and would rather they have the support and essentials they need to graduate.
Music
▒ Baby Mine - Dumbo
▒ Warrior - Demi Lovato
▒ Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
▒ Wide Awake - Katy Perry
▒ Gone Gone Gone - Phil Phillips
▒ Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
▒ Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar