sometimes she falls down /open/

[Sinclair]

It was another insignificant day at the Bayville High School. Each hour ticked by, some dragging on, some ending much too soon for each of the students. Not even lunch held much promise for variance, which meant that many students were milling around absent-mindedly, trying desperately to think of something to do. Not Tasmine. Tasmine was with several of the girls from the cheerleading squad, a group she had little trouble being added to even on such short notice. She'd been at the school hardly a week and already the dance and cheer instructor was, quite simply, infatuated with her latest star. Tasmine took it in stride, glad to be immersed into a familiar world, and reluctant to be thrown so quickly into the spotlight. She wasn't sure how the others would react. So far they were treating her like the newest craze which was fine with Tasmine. At least, that was to say she knew it could be worse.

"Alright, let's try this,"A senior Tasmine hardly knew called out. The girls were standing in the formation that the last routine had ended in, but they were more relaxed, waiting for instruction from someone. Taz was just doing her best to keep up at the moment. The girl she didn't know went on to say something about a certain routine with variation. Since Taz really didn't know the routine in the first place, she found herself just waiting for the girls to lead. She would watch, then she would mimic the moves- it was all she could do, anyway. They practiced the routine several times, determined to stomp out even the smallest of mistakes, before deciding to call it good with ten minutes of lunch to spare. Ten minutes for lunch wasn't ideal for Taz, especially since she had wanted her lunch period to be a time for getting to know others and for spending time with her brother.

Tasmine picked up her things, slinging her backpack over her shoulder before rushing out of the gym. She was still in her cheerleading outfit, but it didn't make her feel too out of place. Cheerleading wasn't her ideal pass-time, but it was close enough to dance that she didn't mind. Besides, she needed something to fill her time, and her class spots too. She had to hurry through the halls in order to get through the main building to buy lunch before they stopped serving it. She'd be content with an apple or something simple- next time, she silently reminded herself, pack food.

It was while Tasmine was rushing that she found herself not paying attention to the world around her. When she felt herself run into something solid that sent her to the floor, her pink pen she'd been clutching suddenly lost among the throng of others who were on their way somewhere just as quickly, she was definitely back with reality. She placed her hands down at her sides to brace herself, as if worried that she'd fall over from her sitting position if she wasn't careful. She then tilted her head to looked up toward the thing or person that she'd hit with subtle curiosity, silently hoping that it wasn't a teacher or a door. Both were equally embarrassing in her mind. That was why she didn't rush to say sorry- if it was a door, she'd look silly if she rushed out a heart-felt apology.

[Embers]

It had been nearly a week since Anika had arrived at the strange town of Bayville, she had been able to find a small apartment that she could afford and was applying at places around town for a job. The next step was to check out the school. She arrived their around midday hoping that in the lunch rush no one would notice an extra slightly out of place student. So far she was in luck, the rustic looking building was nearly ten times the size of her old school and it appeared to hold nearly twelve times the people. “Great now all I have to do is find the office in this overcrowded maze” she thought in despair.


As she wandered the halls memories of her old school came to her, Lance pie-ing the jerk who was making fun of her new hair cut the day before. Lance setting fire to the only oven in the home-economics. /cosmetology room causing her to look over an accidently cut two inches too much of her partner’s hair….. Lance she wished he was here he had been Den’s best friend and crush since grade one. An image of his laughing face danced across her mind. Then like one of those movies with the old film style flash backs, she began to see him with her growing up, the good times the bad times, he was there for them all.


Like a broken record Dens imagination film flash back was smashed, as a petit cheerleader and herself collided. Den had never really been one for keeping balance or reacting quickly, so coming out of her trance and colliding with someone sent her plummeting to the floor. It took her a second to realize that her even falling wasn’t part of her Lance-a-thon memory, so she sat there with a stupid grin thinking Lance would laugh at her and help her up, but as the brunette in a uniform looked up at her she jolted her to reality, and she rushed to apologize.


“I’m sorry so sorry, are you okay I’m sorry. I totally wasn’t looking where I was going… sorry.” Lance had always complained that she said sorry too much.

[Sinclair]

Tasmine got to her feet with a friendly smile, absently tucking her short brown hair behind her ear before brushing at her skirt- it was a casual way to make sure that the skirt wasn't snagged or raised, she really didn't think she'd gotten it dirty.

"No, no, I wasn't paying attention- I was in such a hurry, it was my fault. I'm sorry."Tasmine replied, her voice kind in nature,"I'm alright."

In general, Tasmine liked meeting new people. This moment, this girl, was no exception. It could have started out better, but Tasmine wasn't going to complain. To help her feel more comfortable, and for Tasmine's own comfort as well, Tasmine decided to introduce herself. Despite her own name being rather uncommon, she felt more comfortable talking with people who were on a first name basis.

"I'm Tasmine,"Taz offered, extending a hand out to the stranger in a trusting gesture- Zachary would have insisted she be more careful with all the mutants around, but Tasmine didn't seem to feel much need to listen.. She hadn't seen this girl in front of her before, but that wasn't uncommon for Tasmine. She hadn't been in the school long herself. So it seemed unnatural for her to state that the girl was a new face.

[Embers]

Den was glad the girl seemed to be okay and not upset, Den wouldn’t have know what to do if the girl had gotten upset. Even more Tasmine had introduced herself, one of the nicest gestures Den had experienced since her arrival in Bayville. Quickly with a lack of any grace she hopped to her feet, took the extended hand and replied, “Tasmine weird name, but a good weird I mean” a nervous laugh escaped her as she continued. “My names Anika, but you can call me Den.”
Anika was a bit more relaxed after she gave her name, it was nice to know someone here and to be known herself. Her inner self gave her a mini applause, and she gave a heartfelt smile to Tasmine. At that point Den looked and found that she was still shaking Tasmine’s hand. Quickly she let go and went to fix her lucky tie tugging at it, hoping that her new acquaintance didn’t think she was creepy, or maybe didn’t notice that she had held her hand shake for nearly a minuet.
A large ringing sound sounded and Anika assumed it as a warning bell for class or something, and she didn’t want to make Tasmine late so she went to leave. “Um well nice to meet you”, she set of with a mock salute that she loved doing, but then she realized that she still had no idea where the office was and this was the perfect opportunity to ask. With a quick back trace of steps that almost made her fall she took the opportunity “… actually I’m trying to find the office, I’m kinda new here, would you point me in the right direction? My old school is like a tenth the size of this place and it’s a shock so I’m a little lost” Her hands followed her speaking as she tried to illustrate the size difference and then finished in a questioning pose. Speaking with her hands was a habit she was trying to break, but she always forgot and one time she read that it was actually supposed to improve your memory so she figured she could use the help because she forgot a lot.

[Sinclair]

Tasmine didn't mind Den saying her name was weird; it was, no need to be offended by the truth, even if it was a hard truth to handle. As for Den holding her hand for so long, well, Tasmine didn't mind that much. She noticed, but she didn't have any objection to it, it didn't affect her in any way.

Tasmine's expression slipped when the bell rang. She looked up toward the ceiling- that was where the sound was coming from, from the way it sounded. And she'd so been looking forward to getting something to eat before she went to class! Oh well. When she looked back at Den, she was backing away, it seemed. Tasmine tilted her head slightly, a gesture of curiousity.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, too, Den."Tasmine gave a small nod of affirmation as she spoke. She couldn't understand how the name 'Den' was an abreviation of Anika, but the question of why she should be calling her Den in the first place wasn't one Tasmine was overly eager to ask. She could wait until she knew the girl better, or at very least, until she'd said more than the few words that had passed between them already. And the salute from the girl made her smile warmly, but it was a bit unusual. Not that unusual habits were out of place in a town like Bayville. . .

"Oh! I can do you one better- rather than giving you a million unfollowable directions, I can show you, if you don't mind that is."Tasmine offered,"I'm supposed to be in gym by the next bell, but I think they'll make it without me. Besides, I still have to get something to eat. There's actually a vending machine on the way to the office."

[Embers]

(I'm sorry it took me this long to reply I kinda got grounded lol)

Thank God. Anika thought she really wasn’t one for following directions, and it would be nice to not have to wander looking for the office. “I totally don’t mind, it would be awesome if you would. Thanks.” As she began to walk down a hallway with Tasmine she felt somewhat lighter, by her recent standards she was having a good day, she had made a “acquaintance/friend” she had caused one mirage of Lance and she only fell down once, plus the one time wasn’t down the stairs at her apartment. She made a mental note to talk to the landlord about those, slippery buggers.

Not wanting to be impolite Den left her mental wanderings for later, and decided to ask a local about Bayville, maybe she would know something about mutants and could help her. Still Den wanted to be careful she had heard about and seen some mutant hatred in action and she didn’t want to set of the wrong person. “So what’s it like her in Bayville? I’ve heard it’s kinda weird, like mutants or aliens or something?”

[Sinclair]

{No problem.}

Tasmine giggled unintentionally at the thought of the mutants being aliens. She figured that since Den referred to them as such, surely she wasn't one herself. Had Taz know the truth she probably would have let on that she was one, too."Not aliens, no. Just people with powers. Really, they're nothing to worry about. They stay at the Corporation and the Institute, they really don't interfere with other people too much. But if I were you, I would steer clear of the Corporation if you don't know much about the mutants."Tasmine explained.

"But Bayville really is a nice place to live. If you'd be need someone to show you around the town, I'd be happy to."Tasmine added helpfully."I really like it here. There's a theater that typically shows some great movies, a few places to eat, and a beautiful park."

Tasmine didn't make too much of a show about it, but she did gesture down a hallway they were approaching - it was still a few doors away, but it seemed simpler to mention it now than to wait. To clarify, Tasmine offered a short explanation of her gesture.

"We turn up here at this hallway."she stated softly, absently looking around the closed doorways of the classrooms while taking note of how vacant it was- relative to how many people were in the school, of course. As any high school there were a few stragglers- some who had permission to be there, most that didn't.

[Embers]

So it was true, Lance was right there were mutants in Bayville. The thought of it filled Anika with a renewed determination, and fear. She needed to find them, she didn’t entirely know why, she enough control over her power, and she didn’t want to find a way to get rid of it. As she considered it she probably needed to find others like herself, so she didn’t feel so singled out in the world.

As Tasmine mentioned showing her around the town Den felt almost burdening to her, but she really wanted to have a friend her and what better time to push the limit.. “If you wouldn’t mind showing me around that would be cool, but don’t feel like you have too. Thought if you want to I heard that there is this epic movie coming out something like an old remake of this old vampire movie, about this guy named Van Helsing, it looks cool”
As they continued walking Den noticed Tasmine gesturing her hands to the side. Apparently there’s a turn ahead, she thought and her assumption was confirmed as Tasmine verbalized the movement. Around the corner Den was amazed by the size of the hallways, in her old school she would have to navigate through people because the halls were built for two and used by five, but here the hallway was nearly as wide as her apartment, and it hardly had anyone in it as they continued she saw less and less people. It wasn’t really a sticking thought though and as she noticed a few art projects displayed on the wall the thought simply moved to the back of the void Den liked to call her mind. Den decided it would probably be a good time to make conversation “So… are you from here?” That would be good conversation, Den thought, wait maybe to personal. “ How’d you get your name?” Oh no that’s worse wait I think I said she was weird earlier I should probably apologize. “Earlier when I said it was weird I meant cool weird, you know unique. Sorry if I sounded condescending.”

[Sinclair]

"I would enjoy going to a movie,"Tasmine agreed though she had not heard of the movie Den was refering to. In fact, if she was being honest, she would have had to admit that she wasn't really interested in movies. She tended to get bored, no matter how engaging the movie was, so she limited her visits to the theater. It could still be fun, and there were worse things in the world than spending time with a new friend. And if this friend wanted to do it, Tasmine was not going to object.

"No, I'm not from here,"Tasmine began, logically answering the first question before she went on to the second."I got my name from my father. His mother was named Jasmine, and he claims he used to know a girl named Tasmine, so he thought it fit. I've never met anyone else with my name."

"Don't worry about it, I don't think you sounded condescending at all."Taz added as she reached the office, smiling and offering a slight wave toward the secretaries behind the desk. They were pretty nice, and they'd helped her out when she had to find her way through the school. They didn't even seem to mind that she wasn't in class, even though they obviously knew class was in session. She would have said her goodbyes and walked to her class, but she was already late and she concluded that Den might still need help finding her classes. Besides, Tasmine could give her a tour if she reanted since no one was there to say either of them had to hurry to class.

[Embers]

“Dido” Anika responded to Tasmine never knowing anyone with the same name. As Tasmine finished her explanation for her name and they reached the office, Den began to feel like being a little mischievous. She had hoped that Tasmine would stay, and when she didn’t say goodbye or move to leave, Den assumed that she would wait. She blinked changing her naturally chocolate brown eyes blue as she approached the secretary. The lady sitting behind the desk seemed to be a bright person, her somewhat chubby cheeks were welcoming, and for a moment Den felt like she shouldn’t mess with her, but on second thought she wasn’t really doing any harm so she continued. “Hello, Susan” Den read from the nametag on Susan’s vest. “I’m Anika, I’m here to enroll.” Den put her most welcoming and happy smile on as she blinked again changing her eyes to a glowing red.

“Alright.” replied the secretary returning the smile, appreciating the girl learning her name, but her smile vanished as Anika’s eyes changed red. As soon as Den got her reaction she blinked again changing her eyes back to blue, then putting a concerned expression on as if Susan was reacting to nothing and Den was curious why. “Umm…” Susan stumbled to recover, as she turned to a drawer ruffling through some papers until she pulled out two sheets stapled together, placing them in front of Den. “Just fill these out please and then we’ll schedule you an appointment with our councilor to get your classes set up.” At that Susan turned around to her screen to continue work, hoping to forget the creepy eyes that she couldn’t believe she imagined.

Den slid the sheets closer to her and took the pen on a chain that was on the front counter. She felt guilty about freaking out Susan, she hadn’t done anything to hurt her, but Susan had been nothing but nice. With a quick shake of her head she shook out those thoughts she could feel bad later she needed to fill out these forms or whatever. Ok name, Anika Rees Age 15 Grade finished: 10, Den sighed this was boring she didn’t like filling things out, especially boring things she complained mentally. The moment she finished her thought she felt something coming towards her, and as she turned to see what a young middle school kid caring binders rushed around the corner of the counter colliding with her sending her screaming sprawling to ground. Out of sudden panic Anika released her abilities sending microwaves at the boy as he fell, luckily Anika realized what she had done before the waves gave the boy the worst burn of his life and she redirected them so the struck his binder. Unfortunately the binder began to heat up and suddenly burst into flames, causing both the boy and Den to scream, as well as setting the fire alarms off.

As Anika stopped screaming and stood up she looked around, the boys binders were all on fire, the floors cheep carpeting was melting giving off a horrible smell and the fire alarms were sounding. Well at least no one noticed that it was me who started it, and it couldn’t get any worse. The moment she thought this Den wished she hadn’t, and as if on cue the sprinklers released their watery wrath all over the office soaking Den. Awe Damnations Den screamed inwardly as soaking hair dripped in her face.

[Sinclair]

Tasmine didn't notice what had the secretary so worked up, and honestly she didn't care. She wasn't looking forward to waiting for her to finish all that paperwork, but it seemed she was stuck at this point. So she looked around for something to pass the time. And then the middle school boy made Den scream and Tasmine's gaze was back to the office and her new friend. The screaming even drew a bit of a crowd- well, two or there stragglers. And then there were flames- the binders.

Tasmine found that odd, there was no question. That shouldn't have happened. She began to move toward the office, to help Den- perhaps the middle school kid was a mutant, or, it was possible that Den was. Or it could have been a bystander nearby that wanted to mess with Den. It wouldn't be out of place, no matter what it was. If nothing else, she could get Den out of the direct stream of water. But as any school, this localized 'fire' was bound to get a big reaction. There'd be a troublesome drill, everyone would leave class and gather outside until they were told it was safe. Even though Taz hadn't been here long, she'd gathered that such an occurance was fairly routine in Bayville.

"Come on,"Tasmine urged as she reached Den. She regretted it- she didn't want her clothes all wet, but she pulled Den along, anyway. It wasn't that Taz thought she was in much danger- that fire wasn't really life threatening at this point. Oh well. She did her best to draw Den out of the office and, ultimately, toward the nearest exit. Maybe this would give Den a chance to meet new people, even. It was one way to turn a negative into a positive.

The alarm had begun to send the nearby students out of the classrooms so they could file out into the open area of the campus. It grew chaotic in what seemed to be mere seconds.

[Embers]

(sorry this isnt much)

This was a disaster, she had managed to inflict pandemonium and she wasn’t even enrolled yet. Anika was nearly ready to just sit back down and wallow in self pity and fire alarm water, when Tasmine called out to her and began to lead her down series of hallways that eventually led to the exit. As they reached the doors the alarm to evacuate the school kicked in and a flood of people washed by. Great just great, all I need is to be seen in front of the whole student body soaking wet. Den nearly lost Tasmine in the rush of people and the unfamiliar terrain, but fortunately she caught sight of her just ahead and ran to catch up.

“I’m so sorry, you got all wet getting me out of there, but thanks that was kinda freaky.” As Den said it she new it sounded a bit lame but she was really serious she hated crowds of people she didn’t know and if Tasmine wouldn’t have gotten her she would’ve had to evacuate alone and then she would be stuck out here with a bunch of strangers. It never really occurred to her that she could just leave and come back another day, so she stood there waiting to see what happened, hoping that Tasmine didn’t hate her, and that no one knew that she started the fire.

[Sinclair]

"Don't worry about it, it's not your fault. And stuff like this, it's not that uncommon. Bayville is full of surprises."Tasmine stated."It's easier to go with the flow in a town like this."

"At least it's not raining out here or anything,"Tasmine stated cheerfully. She would prefer to look on the bright side. But after glancing over at all the students and then at Den, she decided to suggest what Den had yet to think of- and that was that perhaps they could leave. The school was crazy at the moment, and plenty of kids were already making their way off campus. No one seemed there to stop them, anyway. No one bothered.

"Hey, the day's almost through anyway. If you want, we can just leave. I mean, I think I'm going to go get something to eat- I missed lunch, and after something like this, people are usually a bit shaken trying to figure out what happened, If you're hungry, I'd love for you to come with me." or what mutant is to blame Tasmine thought. If Den stayed, Tasmine was worried that they'd interrogate her, and with Tasmine sure she wasn't a mutant, that could be a bad thing. Besides, she did want to go get something to eat, whether Den wanted to join her or not.

[Embers]

Tasmine was right it wasn’t raining out here and Den was drying off faster than she expected, but still not fast enough. She quickly began to manipulate the color rays around her to make it look like she was drying nearly twice as fast, and by the time Tasmine had mentioned they leave the school and go for lunch Den’s cloths looked nearly spotlessly dry and her hair was almost the same. In reality he cloths weren’t far behind what they looked, but her hair on the other hand was dripping, it never dried fast. “Actually ya I would like to get out of here this is way to hectic for me.” Den thanked God that Tasmine didn’t seem mad and she did feel somewhat famished. “I heard that there was this restaurant in the train station or bus station with really good milk shakes if you wanna go there” She hadn’t really heard that, but she had seen a few when she walked by looking at the really cute waiter. “and lunch is on me, cause it was my fault you missed yours.” And also my fault the school is evacuated she thought silently. [/i]