Cloud Nine

[François Laffont]

Sometimes, it really wasn’t easy to be an empath. It was already hard to be a teenager, with everything being so strongly felt and every experience, no matter how insignificant, being important. If you add on top of that the ability to feel the emotions of all the other teenagers around you, well that was sometimes pretty intense.

Franck was naturally someone who expressed his emotions. He also liked being surrounded by happy people, even if he had to make them happy first. Still, if one looked at him, calm might more be the term used to describe him emotionally. Or kind-hearted. The happy one was another Frank. Though, lately, this one might be giving her some competition.

It was not as noticeable but Franck did seem happier. He was. He was also mentally stronger, not letting people treat him like a doormat so much. Some people grew oblivious to their surroundings while in love. This one grew happier. Couldn’t see any wrong in that. Franck had a contagious smile anyway, so it really was something everyone could enjoy.

The lounge was kind of quiet today. Franck had went there earlier and he only now realised he left one of his notebook in there so he returned to pick it up. After placing it neatly in his bag, he noticed someone who, he was sure, had not been there when he was earlier. He was certain because he would have walked to her to say hello. This time, he did. He didn’t want to bother her too long, just to say hi and perhaps catch up if she wanted to. He walked to her. He didn’t mean to remain quiet but he still studied her for a moment, his smile on, before actually saying anything. “Hi Heather Sutherland. How are you doing?”

[Heather Sutherland]

Heather was recently doing a little trick she had picked up when she was younger and not in a good mood for a long period of time for whatever reason, or just down. Where she stopped focusing on her own feelings, and dropped her mental walls to other's emotions, just letting them wash over her. It was a kind of way of 'cheating' an empath's own feelings, just skipping them.

The girl was in the process of heartache. Which for someone who could feel how everyone else felt, especially those that were in love all of the time, every second of every single day. Was near unbearable. She had been quietly relaxing in the student lounge, sitting with a book she hadn't opened yet, just relaxing and reaching out to those around her, inspecting their emotions. 

That was when Franck entered the room, she immediately picked up a surge of emotion from him, having focused on him due to their friendship and then she froze. She was kind of hoping he didn't notice her to be honest, her current state wasn't really something she was sure she was up to discussing, and if she wasn't' careful, he'd be able to tell what was up rather quickly. 

She smiled as he walked over, forcing it softly. She was glad to see him it was just... She wasn't. "Hello there, Franck!" She chirped. She forced another smile. "I'm doing alright I guess, and yourself?"

[François Laffont]

It might seem sort of pointless for an empath to ask another empath how they felt. They knew. But they also knew how easy it was to pick up other people’s feelings and sometimes have them stick. How often did Franck end up crying for no reason or looking overly happy when he would say being just fine? It could just as easily happen to Heather. Besides, it became some sort of habit of his to ask people, despite knowing the truth. Because he found out they generally preferred to be asked than to have someone tell them what they know.

What he expected of Heather however was that she would not lie, since she was aware more than anyone else how easily he could tell. He frowned. She could be alright, he supposed, but he still picked something up, something he thought might be too deep to be only something she got from a third party. Immediately, he got concerned. Maybe it was nothing but it never took much for the boy to worry, especially when someone he considered a friend was involved.

He tried not think about it and painted a smile on his face too. “I’m doing fine. I’m sorry, I’m not disturbing you, am I?” he asked as he pointed towards her book. “I just wanted to say hello,” he admitted, his smile now growing genuine.