[FF] you can't take pictures of fireworks

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

You can't take pictures of fireworks. Zoe knew that, even as she wound her camera and aimed it at the sky. The fireworks technically hadn't started just yet: Zoe was getting some views and figuring out a good spot and all. She actually figured/hoped that Alice would be willing to watch them with her, though she was perfectly willing to spend some time away from her. Maybe they should get together with all their friends. Liz and Maelea had to be around here, and Beau surely had to be around. Zoe could go to them.

As she was adjusting her camera, however, she noticed someone else moving, likely looking for someone of their own. The girl looked familiar: pretty, in a sort of rough manner. She looked like someone who could handle herself, someone that Devyn would...

"Oh," said Zoe, lowering her camera. "Vera." she swallowed, remembering the girl who Devyn had chosen over her. A pang of sadness blossomed in her chest for a moment, but she quickly realized that this was as good an opportunity to talk to the girl as any. Zoe's friends weren't that far away, and she really was happy.

So Zoe took a deep breath and hurried up to the other girl, tapping her on the shoulder, glad that at least their winter clothing would stop her power from acting odd. "Um, hello?" she tried, swallowing. "It's... me." As though Vera would definitely recognize her. Zoe was already turning scarlet (which Vera was very likely to remember, actually).

[Vera M. Solway]

She had no real idea as to why she wanted to experience the fireworks. Vera enjoyed a lot of festivities but fireworks was possibly the one that she could do without. They were beautiful, and colorful, yeah but they were also pretty damn loud, and explosive and that reminded her of her powers. Honestly, anything loud and explosive kind of made her uneasy, gave her flashbacks that she could do without... but for the most part, were a tad bit annoying.

Yet, she was here and so she'd have to deal for now. She couldn't deny the fact that it was still a pretty amazing showing. Stuffing her hands inside her jacket pockets, she took a deep breath of cold air. Only before feeling a tap against her shoulder.

"Um, hello?" Turning around, she noticed the last person Vera had ever expected to come up to her. Which gave Vera somewhat of an uneasy feeling, but still managed to flash a smile regardless. "Oh hey... Zoe." Her brows slightly furrowed, "Didn't expect you of all people to say hi." She shook her head, "Not that I don't want you to- whatever, anyway. What's up? How you been?"

That was the usual thing to start off a conversation, right? Vera had her own way of saying hi but when it came to Zoe, she wasn't too sure if that would've been the right way to go. They didn't exactly leave off on a good note. Which at this point was all Vera could think about right now. 

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Why had Zoe come up and talked to Vera? Oh, right, because Vera deserved it. Devyn hadn't, yet Devyn had actually gotten it. Besides, Zoe knew she needed to actually talk to the pretty girl, else she'd never really get over what had happened. Plus, Vera didn't seem too put out, a little surprised, which she outright admitted and all, but not really put out.

"I know," admitted Zoe, flushing again. "We didn't---but, um, right. I'm, uh, doing... good?" she fidgeted, rubbing at her arm and looking away. C'mon, you can do this. It's just Vera, she wasn't going to bite or anything. Probably. If she did, Zoe's power would just kick in anyway. She took another breath.

"I'm, uh, enjoying the trip and all," pause, "I'm actually here with some friends," blush, and fidget, "well, we all are but, well, I'm... here with them and, ah, my new girlfriend," she pointed in the near distance, where everyone else had gathered and fidgeted once more, this time looking up at Vera as if trying to silently convey what she really meant when she said "new girlfriend." Which was probably a lot of things, most of them jumbled up and worked together.

[Vera M. Solway]

If you had asked Vera why she thought Zoe would come up to her, she wouldn't be able to answer that. Hopefully it wasn't for anything bad, not that she would expect Zoe to come up to her only to bash her. That sort of thing was what someone like Ellen Banks did and those two were completely different.

Pressing her lips together out of habit, her eyes simply focused on Zoe as she spoke. "That's great; Great to hear." Vera nodded, almost at a loss of what to say next but Zoe continued and that kind of saved her. She wasn't really sure where she stood with the girl, so it didn't make it easy to continue a conversation. Her short lived smile brightened at the mention of a girlfriend. "Wow, new girlfriend huh?" In a way, Vera was kind of... proud of Zoe. It sounded weird but to think that she could move on and find someone new was kind of cute. Her eyes looked towards the crowd she pointed to before glancing back at Zoe. "Good for you, Zoe." Vera gave her a playful nudge.

It was nice to know that almost everyone at the school were cuddling up with someone else... while Vera was still in the situation she was in. She couldn't help but to feel envious. "Hope she's being good to you. You know, but I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that." She flashed her a smile, "I'm sure you can handle yourself." For some reason, Vera wanted to ask exactly how their sex lives were but she figured that was a bit too much. Yeah, she could leave that question out.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe took another deep breath, trying to force herself to relax still further as Vera spoke. Vera almost looked as nervous about this exchange as Zoe herself. That did make sense, given how their last real conversation had gone. Now though, Vera brightened, clearly enjoying Zoe's accomplishment. The "good for you" had her blushing and looking down. If she knew Vera's thoughts, how the girl wanted to consider Zoe's current, ah, sex life, then things would have gotten considerably worse.

"Oh, she's really good," insisted Zoe, nodding. "It's... different than it was with... with Devyn," Zoe bit her lip, looking away. "That's--it... it wasn't fair, to put you between us. Things... I don't... things were complicated, really," she shuffled, looked down, took another deep breath. "I just... I really hope you're not blaming yourself or anything and--and I don't blame you. Honest. I... it was rough and... and yeah," she bit her lip and looked away for a moment, but took a deep breath.

"But I'm with Alice now," she said, licking her lip. She paused for a moment, looked to Vera. "Is... is Devyn... okay? She didn't seem too... good when I saw her last. She.. kept... well, it doesn't matter, I guess," and more lip chewing and looking shyly away.

[Vera M. Solway]

Vera thought it was kind of cute seeing Zoe in the situation that she was in, instead of it being some sort of horrible situation, this one was actually pretty good. She wasn't too sure of what Zoe's relationship with her new girlfriend consisted of but it must have been something. This glow coming from Zoe had shown Vera that much.

Not to mention the girl still had a difficult time with fully saying what she needed to say.

Folding her arms, she smiled slightly. Had Zoe came up to her to apologize? If so, it was pretty cool to think she'd take some of her time to do so. Honestly, Vera had beaten herself up pretty bad about Zoe and Devyn's whole break up. Wrecking "homes", or breaking a couple up... that wasn't the type of person she was, despite the rumors. Sometimes she just a bad way of doing things, especially drunk. "Thanks," She chuckled, "I appreciate you telling me this, actually.. you know- It means a lot. I would never fault you for ever blaming me if you did but if it makes you feel better I've gotten over it." She gave Zoe a pat against her arm, "So don't worry about it."

The name Alice sounded familiar. Had it been that one girl she met last summer in the courtyard. The really bronze one that Vera had to question countless times if she was Latin in any way shape of form. Actually, now that she thought about it.. that girl was pretty hot. Apparently Zoe had way more game than Vera thought. "From what I've seen, she's doing okay..." Vera hadn't known what Zoe meant from that last bit and now she was curious. "I think she just needs to cope with, you know - Everything. I mean, are you guys still communicating? Then again not sure if that's the best thing to do in a new relationship."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

It was just that Zoe couldn't stand thinking that something she'd done had caused someone pain. She'd spent a few weeks blaming Vera right along with Devyn, considering her the person who'd come between them. But she'd come to the same conclusions and, well, she knew that were their positions somehow reversed, she'd want Vera to come and explain things to Zoe.

Vera spoke; Zoe nodded, smiling, feeling the relief come. The pat on the arm actually made her stiffen for a moment: a long built reflex that she still couldn't quite suppress. Though Vera looked almost amused for a moment: perhaps she'd met Alice before? The thought did make Zoe blush: Vera looked a lot more like someone who should be with Alice. They were both... sexy, something which Zoe certainly... wasn't.

Though the next comments addressed Devyn. Doing okay, and Zoe felt a little more relief pour into her. Coping: "She... we don't, not really," she said, chewing her lip. "Devyn tried... she... she didn't really give me much space after I... ended it," she looked away for a moment, taking another deep breath. "So I told her she... that we couldn't talk, not while, not while I was starting things with Alice..." she chewed her lip for a moment, shifting again. "That's why... I figured that you might... sorry," she flushed, looking away for a moment. Zoe licked her lips. "I really just want things to get... better, for everyone." Which sounded almost silly, but Zoe couldn't help it; she couldn't help the way she felt.

[Vera M. Solway]

By now, Vera kind of knew how to piece Zoe's words together. Not that the girl didn't make sense, she made more sense than Vera did on a sober night. It was just that sometimes she got the impression that Zoe never really wanted to out right say what she wanted to say. "Right..." She nodded as she agreed, a bit disappointed in Devyn for a moment. She chuckled, "Why am I not surprised?" Devyn wasn't really the type to give you the space you needed but it was only because she wanted to fix things so abruptly, like right after the damage had been done. It showed passion, yeah but it was also super suffocating.

"I think... you of all people deserve that. You know? Like, you deserve space to grow. I guess, even if that's with someone else." It wasn't like Vera to pick sides, and she wasn't. She loved Devyn a lot but also respected what Zoe felt she deserved at the same time. Despite what everyone else may have thought, they were both really good people, they just showed it in their own way. "Besides, I wouldn't want my boyfriend or girlfriend chillin' with their ex anyway. Then again, I'm just 'the jealous bitch' type." She laughed.

Vera smiled softly, as if what Zoe said had touched her. It did, it was a sweet gesture. You know, the whole wanting everyone to be happy. Only thing was, Vera only believed a certain few deserved it but Zoe and Devyn were among the few who did. "I totally get you. I just think that, some people will never realize what they have or what they need until life gets shitty for them." She flashed a quick smile as she shrugged, "Then maybe things will get better."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe pursed her lips for a moment and lowered her eyes as Vera didn't act even the slightest bit surprised at Devyn's lack of understanding of personal boundaries. At least Zoe now knew that it wasn't just something that pertained to her, which had been something of a concern of hers up until this moment.

Soon enough, she was nodding again, as Vera said that she deserved some space. It felt good to hear that again, and it was nice that Vera was at least trying to understand. It wasn't like Zoe was trying to get Vera on her side or anything: she really just wished they could get through this and get something back to, well, something at least somewhat close to normal. She even laughed a little when Vera did, though she immediately snapped her mouth shut, not sure if she really should.

"I hope that things do," she said, shifting. "Get better, I mean. I... I always hope for that, I guess," Zoe shrugged, flushing again. She looked around and smiled. "They're certainly nice now, aren't they?" Zoe took another breath, looked around for a moment, and nodded. "Uh, I'm guessing you're probably here with someone too?" she looked about for a bit, feeling like she should be apologizing again for disrupting Vera's day and taking her away from... whoever.

[Vera M. Solway]

As far as Vera was concerned, she was okay if Zoe laughed with her... Heck, if she felt the need to laugh at her, she could have a go at it. Her life was nothing but one crazy obstacle after another. And her love life was in complete flames, so right now all she could laugh at was examples of her jealous nature and 'what if's'.

"Yeah... they are." Her brows raised at the question. Almost trying to remember if she did come with anyone. "OH. Me? No-Nope." Of course, had she truly been here with someone else, they must not have been important enough for her to remember. "Just me." She chuckled, combing her fingers through her hair. Almost trying to keep the cool. She was upset, about a current situation but it wasn't something she needed to show all over her face. As far as she was concerned, being alone during the fireworks was a good thing. She didn't need anyone else.

Anyway, change of subject. "Hey, look." Placing a friendly hand on Zoe's jacket. "I don't want to take anymore of your time away from your girlfriend. You guys should be enjoying every second of this together... Even the really shitty fireworks that fail."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe's eyes widened slightly. Vera didn't have anyone to...? That was somewhat disheartening, and Zoe could almost feel the pang in her heart at the situation. Vera seemed to be bothered by it and, well, Zoe really didn't think it was her place to pry and try to figure out what was going on there. So instead she just let it go.

There was a touch, which had Zoe stiffening, though she quickly fought it down. Those were old reactions, and she was doing better at handling them. As she finished, she heard Vera's words, which brought a smile and a nod to her face. "Yes, I, um, definitely will," she said. she turned to look, considering. "I... I hope you can find someone to, um, do this with. Maybe next year. Or. um, something," she offered. Zoe flushed, again wondering if she'd stepped over some line.

Flushed and took a hesitant step away. She didn't want to bother Vera any further than she already had, after all, though at the same time, she didn't want to be rude if Vera wanted or needed to talk more.

[Vera M. Solway]

With the way Zoe looked at her, if there was going to be any kind of sympathy or sympathetic words to come out of her mouth, Vera was going to cringe. She was just fine with being alone. There was nothing wrong with enjoying fireworks by yourself. You don't always need to someone in order for you to enjoy the finer things in life; Like simple fireworks.

Okay so, the more she thought about it, the shittier it made her feel but realizing that she was in complete denial with herself... eh, that didn't really help. But hey, this was way better than having to spend it with someone who probably didn't deserve her company in the first place. She chuckled, "Yeah, maybe next year." Ha. Vera sounded and felt like that one girl who tried her hardest but just didn't make the cut for the cheer squad.. Sad and yet somewhat optimistic.

"It's okay," When she noticed Zoe hesitantly stepping away, she laughed. "I'm not gonna go emo and commit suicide because I had to watch fireworks alone. Go enjoy yourself." Zoe had proven to be such a sweetheart, to the point where she almost felt sorry for taking away her time, when it was really Zoe that came up to her in the first place. Maybe she'd take her leave anyway. She was sure an illegal beer or two would be calling her name soon.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Next year: strange to think of planning that far ahead with all these people. But hadn't nine months or so already passed? It all had gone so quickly... and there was something in Vera's voice that made Zoe consider the time spent even sadder. It made her want to say or do something to help, maybe offer some consideration or...

...or perhaps it would be best just to leave Vera alone. It seemed like she wanted to have some alone time, maybe figure things out to herself or not be pitied or something like that. Zoe wanted to assure Vera of that, that she wasn't pitying, really, that she just... just didn't want someone to feel alone or neglected or anything. Her mouth opened to say as much, but she closed it, again reminding herself that Vera probably didn't want the reassurances.

So Zoe simply nodded. She simply smiled. Then she simply turned and left, heading back to her friends.