.its not like us to dance with ghosts

[Samai Deza]

"Okay Kourt and I'm sorry-"

"Yeah I know, the 80th time-"

"Yeah well I'm on my way now, I just lost track of time."

"Look I'll be right there," Assuring her best friend before hanging up the call.

"Jesus christ, Kourt. Just chew my head off, why don't you." Yet again, Kourtney was probably not impressed with Samai's timing, and the fact that she was like thirty minutes late. As the reader, you have to understand that it wasn't her fault. It totally wasn't. Exams were right around the corner and Samai had to juggle studying, cheer, work, Security Squad and a social life. Which was a lot coming from her seeing how just a few years ago, she only had to juggle like three of five. Not to mention, Samai took a nap only to wake up to her sleeping over her alarm clock.

Sad to say, she was usually the one always late for their coffee dates and had her roommate not already been downtown, they probably could've just sufficed with making lattes at home. You know, since they were roommates and all.

Samai popped her lolli back in her mouth as her blue eyes glanced down at her phone. She hurried as best as she could but her little legs could only get her so far... not to mention she didn't want to go into full beast mode... or even half. The last thing she needed was trouble or people from that weird AMA group following her.

The mutant quickly looked up in time to move out of the way of a lady she nearly bumped into... only to bump into someone else on the sidewalk. "Ugh," She grunted, making sure her phone was still in one piece. "Sorry, I should really pay attent-" Samai would have completed her sentence but the sight of the person in front of her had a way of stopping her in her tracks.

.tag: Lorenzo Frijas
.outfit: here

[Lorenzo Frijas]

Headaches.

All Lorenzo had were headaches. Heightened senses was terrible. He hated it. For now, he hated it. His eyes burned, ears rang, and his nose unbearably sensitive. The boy would probably learn to find it useful once he got used to it. But for now, he hated it. Everything was brighter and more vibrant. The only plus side Enzo saw was the reflexes. He thoroughly enjoyed being a ninja. He snickered at the thought.

The only reason he could explain what the virus had done to him was in how he felt after changing back; before the epidemic. That little time period where he felt amazing, but didn't have to deal with it all 24/7. For now at least. Sometimes, Lorenzo thought he could feel himself lower the sensitivity if he focus on something else. Now he was stuck with it and his body was rejecting everything. SO in other words, his entire being hurt like a bitch.

He had been napping all day. They said it was because of his new partial ursine physiology that he would now have some bear-like tendencies. He hate that part as well. Hey, atlas he wasn't extra hairy and had claws.

Anyways, there was a drug store downtown. He had to actually go out or his head would explode. He had put on mostly all black and a beanie. His same old sunglasses that he'd had since freshman year of high school, covered his eyes. There was not need, it was cloudy. His eyes were just too sensitive. Plus, people around town knew him from what he did a couple years ago. Enzo hadn't shown his ace much around town since. Sometimes he would shift into his little red panda form and wander around. He didn't remember much from the shift these days. He consciousness was constantly fighting for it's place. However, that was one thing that was better about the whole virus thing. He was able to change quickly and painless at will. No more breaking bones and shifting insides. The virus enhanced the process. Plus he had been able to almost fight it as long as before. Still not the same. The urge to let go was stronger. 

Back to the drug store. 

Lorenzo had picked up a shit load of eye drops, aspirin, beers and every other sensory deterrent that he could find. Don't even get me started on his alcohol intake now that he's newly twenty one. 

Just after paying Enzo had taken, dripped, and drank a sip, drip, or pill of everything he had purchased. Still completely sober though. Thanks to his heightened abilities his tolerance had gone way up. Now three beers and a couple shots got him fairly buzzed. Irritated by the whole thing, Enzo walked across the street and on the side walk looking down and now paying a bit of attention to where he was going. 

Of course, just like his shitty past couple years of bad luck, he bumped into a fellow pedestrian. "Shit." he murmured droopy the bag and shattered the beers he had bought. Now he was just straight up pissed at the world. The kid was on the edge of deep depression. The kid didn't even look up but quickly bent down and rummaged through his bag to empty the shards of glass and liquid out of his bag. 

___________


He looked like SHIT. FYI

[Samai Deza]

"Look I'm so sorry." Almost pausing again once she heard the low murmur.

Her pause was random... or maybe it wasn't? As usual, the feline shifter picked up slight hostility and a scent that was right in front of her. Everyone had their own scent, everyone but this one was so familiar, it felt altered but still just so familiar. She couldn't even get a good look at the guy and instead of just standing there, Samai snapped out of it and quickly bent down and tried to help. It was a shame that she had been the caused of his alcohol shattering but it was the least she could do. Maybe offering a few drinks on her would suffice?

"Crap." The blonde ended up pricking a finger on one of the broken pieces, only to stand back up. She put her finger against her lips in case she started bleeding. Then it registered... it finally sort of clicked and right then she kind of hoped it hadn't.

Taking a deep inhale of the crisp fall air, she tried to pull her jacket sleeves back some. Sometimes wearing an over-sized bomber jacket was annoying, it hid her hands all too often. Her lips pressed together as she continued to watch but felt the need to hold back. What if she called out his name and it wasn't him?

Or what if it was? This couldn't have been the best place to bump into each other. At not least here and not when the guy seemed pissed enough as it was. He hadn't said anything back to her and maybe it was just best that she kept walking but for some reason she didn't want to.

"Lorenzo?" Her brows slightly furrowed, almost regretting that she said anything. She just hoped that it wasn't him. Please. If anything, just... let it not be him. Or at least if he told her to 'fuck off' that would have given her a reason to just walk away.

[Lorenzo Frijas]

Lorenzo's dispostion couldn't help but feel guilty from being shot with the stranger. Especially so, after she pricked her finger helping him. "No it's all good, happens." He said to her as she bent down.

Still, he didn't bother looking up. Being noticed wasn't what he wanted at all. Just a quick run out and then back to being copped up where he felt safe. Loneliness was eating away at him but ever since the virus, he wasn't feeling too social. I mean, then again, he didn't have anyone to want to be social with. Except Thomas, of course, but he was off doing who knows what and Enzo was left alone. Again. It wasn't Thom's fault. With his new powers Enzo was moody and irritable. Loud noises, bright lights and colors, and quick motions ached him as a whole. 

Anyways, Enzo saw she pricked herself and the smell of blood filled his nose and a strange feeling came over him. Some of his bear physiology acted up around blood. He didn't lust after it though. It was more of a pack type mentality as far as people went, even if he didn't know them. Or at least he thought he didn't know the girl. He stood up quickly, pushing the shards of the sidewalk and into the street with his foot. "Oh shoot. You okay?" He looked at her finger and back up at her. He sincerely didn't recognize Samai. How could he? Enzo hadn't seen anyone since the virus. This was probably his seance interaction with someone beside Thomas in the past three weeks. 

At first, he thought it was a tourist or one of the new settlers who had heard about him. The word had spread quickly and they used Enzo as an excuse as to why mutants were no good. There were many lectures after that whole ordeal that he had to painfully sit through and apologize, time after time. 

He spit out the words like rapid fire and turned to walk away. "I'm sorry. I think your mistaken." Lorenzo Frijas was about to book it down main street when he caught a whiff of the girl. He stopped and turned around. Something was oddly familiar there. A tangy perfume was all he could make off. His new nose was hard to figure out sometimes. He took a deep breath and enjoyed it for a split second before asking. "Do I know you?" The poor kid couldn't put it together but it was worth a shot. If he was wrong, the second he knew, back to Bellefonte he went. 

[Samai Deza]

He said it was okay but Samai couldn't help but to feel bad, because apparently that's what she tended to do best... feel bad for what she did (and what she didn't do).

It was just so weird... his voice, it just clicked and Samai had no idea on how to go about it and - and it was just weird. Had Kourtney been here, her friend would know exactly what to do and what was going on with her but she wasn't here and - and, Samai was just stuck. Samai watched him look up at her and she quickly retracted her hand, keeping her finger in her mouth until it stopped bleeding. "I'm fine."

He didn't recognize her. At all.

That or maybe he was just playing some dumb game that guys played out of spite? Three years couldn't have done that much of a change, could it? Then again, had it not been for his scent... No, no - she'd be able to tell either way. Right?

Her blue eyes glanced down towards the ground before looking back up at him. She was blinking away tears, as if emotions just started to flood the feline shifter out of no where. This was so stupid. Why didn't he just walk away? What exactly was it that stopped him? He was trying so hard not to be seen but she was sure it was hi-

"Do I know you?"

He really didn't know. She tried to force something of a smile as she blinked back as many tears as she could. She didn't need to look weak in front of someone that couldn't even recognize her anymore. "Enzo... it's me," Her hands covered in her jacket's sleeves rested against her chest. She fought the urge to tell him no and that she had him mistaken for someone else, but a feeling told her that there was something wrong here. "It's Samai."

Or maybe everything was just fine and he truly forgot about her. Time seemed to do that to a lot of people.

[Lorenzo Frijas]

He pulled the glasses off to reveal the tired, caramel eyes that hid behind them. He watched her such on the finger and she watched through the shaded glasses carefully. The smell of her perfume and the blood, mixed, and flooded his nostrils. His emotions were heightened now. Everything was more vibrant and intense. The bloody looked to him as a fatal wound. He looked up and examined her carefully. She was pretty. Enzo though he should better make good use of this interaction, suddenly feeling a bit more interested.

Her scent was hard for him to recognize. Her feline side was coated in perfumes and other artificial scents. He didn't know it was feline but it was definitely something off. His sense of smell wasn't trained enough to picked out the smells he wanted so he didn't have to focus on the others.  

When he was about to take another subtle whiff, she spoke. "Samai? How do I not recognize you? Something's different." The poor boy felt like an idiot as he couldn't figure out what was up. She looked natural. Less fake. He liked the change but wasn't about to say it aloud. "No more contacts?" He asked her as the memories of her came flooding back. "Blonde?" He paused. "It looks good." Those were as many compliments as he could muster out. Since he was sort of a dick, might as well try to play it off. 

Though, what did she expect? Of course he didn't recognize her. Guys ad terrible memories, didn't she know that? All the shit he had been through the pat year had made remembering small, little, summertime crushes not the main priority. 

Maybe he was being a little harsh. But hey, it was nice to see a pretty face. 

[Samai Deza]

Samai had been a bit taken back once she got a good look at him. His eyes were available for her to see and it wasn't that he was ugly, not even. It just looked like he had been through some things... like life had taken a toll on him or something. Now she couldn't help but to wonder what had been going on with him for the past couple of years.

He pointed out her hair, causing her to reach to the ends of her locks as she took a glance at her own hair. Her new look was still kind of new to her, so it was a habit to check it out as if it was. She had been a brunette with brown hair all of her life... only to fake the funk with contacts and bleach hair products. It was kind of weird how mutation worked. She blinked, trying to find the right words. He even complimented her but for some reason she still couldn't get over the fact that it was him... out of all people.

"Uh - yeah. I um... Sorry." A flashback of the same compliment tried to surface but Samai quickly shook it away. She let out a embarrassed chuckle trying to get her mind back on track. "The whole SPRITE thing... I don't know if it affected you but I thought I lost my powers for good, only to wake up shifting into a cat, the whole golden fur and blue eyes kind. After I shifted back it just didn't go away."

Samai adjusted her mini leather backpack as she gestured towards him. "I mean, you look... you look..." She took a deep breath as her brows furrowed. "What happened to you? It's like you disappeared for three years and next I'm bumping into you, breaking your alcohol and - and you look horrible. Okay? I said it, you look horrible - tired, and I know it's probably not the best place or time to talk about this but once upon a time I tried contacting you... and nothing."

It was just so stupid to be so strung up on something that had probably meant nothing to him but more to her and Samai couldn't help it. It was just who she was. "What happened to you?"

[Lorenzo Frijas]

As she apologized again he shook his head. "Really, it's fine. I think I'm starting to get a beer gut anyways." As he spoke, Lorenzo walk over to a bench and gestured for her to join him. There were obviously going to talk and she apparently wanted to catch up. The middle of the moving sidewalk wasn't exactly the best place to have a conversation. 

He rubbed his tired eyes and listened carefully. "I wish I would've just turned blonde." He felt a little rude saying it but it was true. If and new and improved look was what he had to deal with, he still might be sane. Or slightly more sane than before. He honestly didn't feel like explaining himself but she was asking so... 

"No yeah don't worry about. I'm sure I look like just as much of a zombie and I feel I feel like one. The whole SPRITE thing tore me apart. Almost literally. I'm you remember my little incident awhile back. I know everyone heard about it. Honestly, I was just irritated with the world for some reason. Hormones raging and all. Anyways, I uh - got pretty sick when it hit and had to be moved into a cell and strapped down to a giant metal table. I was shifting back and forth uncontrollably. Usually I have my human mind in tact but not then. I guess the virus disconnected the cord that kept my sane in bear form. IT was pretty bad and I don't remember much expect being poked with needles and the content's pain of transforming my body back and forth." He paused, almost, taking a breath.


"I had to go to some kind of rehab or something and now I gotta go to the stupid shrink twice a week." He rolled his eyes heavily. "BUT they said I'm making progress so - I'm hoping that I can get the hell out of that whole bind itself." 

He then went on to explain how he kind of went of the grid the whole year and that he was sorry for not getting a hold of her. He knew she would understand. 

[Samai Deza]

As much as she wanted to find the humor in it, Samai chuckled anyway as she simply looked at him. Her eyes watched as he gestured for her to join him but she hesitated for a few seconds, and not because she didn't want to, it was just that her mind had the best timing when it came to having flashbacks.

She made her way to the bench, taking a seat anyway as she took off her backpack just so she could sit properly. Chuckling, she rolled her eyes. "Turning blonde isn't the most drastic thing I've had to deal with." But of course, they had their own separate issues when it came to their abilities. Something she didn't really want to get further deep into but she was all ears when it came to him.

A part of her felt bad for saying what was on her mind but Samai sort of couldn't help it. When it came to the people she cared about, or even used to care about... holding things back was hard because it was like lying. It was like she could feel her heart drop a few times, making it difficult to look Enzo in the face as he explained what had been going on with him for the past couple of years.

Her blue eyes looked towards the ground for a moment, "Enzo... I had no idea." Her lips turned into a pout as she looked back up towards him. "I never really thought that the news and rumors then were about you. I mean, I guess I never thought something like that could happen to you." She offered a small smile, "You always did seem like you had everything together." Samai nodded, "But like, progress is good, right?" Her smile brightened as she tried being optimistic. It just sucked seeing Enzo like this... out of all people, she just never thought or even hoped that he'd have a downfall because of SPRITE. "I'm just glad to know that you're not dead."

When he explained and apologized, Samai shook her head as she chuckled... feeling like a total ass for feeling upset when she had no reason to. Nothing that she went through came close to his situation. "No, you don't have to apologize." She thought about it as her fingers moved to push a few strands out of her face. "You've been through a lot and I-um... I worry way too much sometimes but it's good to know my instincts still work."

Her brows furrowed slightly as her eyes met his own. "I guess - I just missed you, you know."

[Lorenzo Frijas]

"Oh yeah I know. Everyone has been thorough some sort of bullshit with this thing." He used and shook his had almost like he was disappointed. "Then again. I heard of kids who are completely fine and unaffected. No power change or anything." He stared off for a moment with a longing expression plastered on his face. "What I would give to have been immune." Enzo listened and shook his head with a blank expression. "Yeah that was me. Tempered little bastard, I am. Couldn't freakin' control myself." He looked at her hoping that she would remember and understand. "I mean you remember how I got, before turning. All heated and shit. Probably embarrassingly horny. Before and after shifting every emotion just ablaze. Thankfully it was only for a short while but now - "

The boy gestured to his sunglasses for a moment and then to the wet, plastic bag on the ground. "Thats why I got these babies. I feel like how I did before. Except it's all the time now." He rubbed his eyes and then make his way around his neck to his ears. "It hurts like a bitch." He tired to not sound like a pity party because he knew what that showed. 

He laughed when she said that he always seemed like he had it all together. "Obviously my shit is not together. Thank you though." He said gesturing to himself. He scoffed again. "Yeah progress. Whatever the hell they call progress. I just try to give it to them. Yeah I'm glad I'm not dead either. Virus nearly had me kicking the bucket though." 

He gave her a warm smile. She really cared about him. There wasn't much of that around. Enzo was going to soak all of it in that he could. "I missed you too. Trust me." Lorenzo wanted to reach for her hand, but he held himself back. Way too soon.

[Samai Deza]

Sighing, the blonde glanced the other way as she mouthed the words, "Tell me about it..." While Samai didn't mind the shift in her abilities, she still hated that something like a virus could effect them so easily... and so abruptly. For a minute, Samai actually believed she lost her abilities and while that might have been heaven to a few people... she nearly freaked. Being a mutant had helped Samai become way more dependent on herself.

Looking back towards Lorenzo, Samai couldn't help but to chuckle at the humor of it all. "Oh I remember, alright..." Not that she could really judge him. Samai even found herself super... "heated" when she was in her feral mode. She pouted slightly. Honestly, she couldn't help it. Just the way he looked when he rubbed his eyes, it kind of stung. Samai had never seen him like this before and even though minutes passed, she still couldn't get used to it. He was in pain and for some reason, it shook her the wrong way.

Her blue eyes then glanced over at the wet bag on the ground from before, "There's gotta be a better way..."

Nodding, she let out a light chuckle as she looked down towards her shoes. "Yeah, no problem. I guess no one really has their shit together." The warm smile was assuring, even though she tried not to dwell on thoughts of him actually dying. Even now, Samai wasn't sure if she could handle something like that but when he mentioned missing her too, her eyes lit up, causing her to give him a semi-bashful smile. "Well... were you planning on going back to the academy? I was on my way to meet my bestie but I'm pretty sure by now she left the Cafe spot. She kind of hates when I'm late." Giving a sheepish smile as she glanced down at her phone, realizing that she had no new texts.

"If you want, I could like... make you tea at my place? I mean - unless you're not a tea person and you rather drown your pain in alcohol... that's perfectly fine because me and my roomie stock up on alcohol too. Not - Not that I'm trying to be weird or judge you or anything... It was just an idea and I thought maybe we could catch up." Closing her eyes, she chuckled as she stopped herself, realizing that she was now rambling. "Or never mind."

[Lorenzo Frijas]

He couldn't help but laughed at her. "HaHa, I know how it is, I'm always late." Lorenzo shrugged and kind of frowned. "I don't really have much to be late for now-a-days, but - " He admitted with a pouty smirk. She made him a sweet offer. He didn't really like the sympathy but she was being down to earth and he wasn't an asshole. At least not with her. Standing up abruptly he turned himself directly in front of her and offered up both of his hands to pull her up. "Tea at your place sounds great." 

She said in a soft, kind way but he couldn't help but roll his eyes. "I don't DROWN my sorrows." He paused, pretending to be offended and then shrugged with a sheepish smile. "Just a little alcohol takes the edge off, that's all." He grabbed her hands that were on her lap and as he pulled her up he added. "I would love to catch up."

His mood changed pretty quickly as now he had something to do. Especially hanging out with Samai, once again. The morale boost helped but he was cold and it was chilly outside. The best way to get inside and to drink something warm was to be forward. Especially with Samai who seemed to be unsure about the whole thing. "A hermit like me. There was a three percent chance I was going to say no to hot drinks and hanging with you."

[Samai Deza]

Nodding, she laughed with him. It was kind of bad to say but Samai kind of sort of ended up being just as late as she remembered him to be. It was like she took over his job once she lost communication with him. Smiling bright, her eyes looked towards him. "Oh I could always start giving you things to be late for, if you want." Which reminded her of how easy it was for him to lose track of time back when they really became close.

She watched him get up and a bit relieved that he didn't find her rambling a put off, which was what she did now a days. Especially when Samai had no idea how to go about certain situations. He agreed! Cool! Her smile stayed until Enzo spoke again, "I guess that's not too bad... just promise me it won't ever get to that point." Not minding him helping her get back on her feet. Not to mention it had been quite some time since she last had an idea of what his hands felt like. Not lingering on it any longer than she had to, she quickly adjusted her mini leather backpack before taking a quick glance at her phone.

Giggling, she eyed him as she maneuvered around the bench and back onto the sidewalk. It was kind of crazy how quickly emotions could surface by just a few words. Samai couldn't help but to feel glad, in a way. "Three percent, huh? Damn, I guess I'm not that persuasive." Joking as she she waited before starting to walk again but this time towards her place. "I don't live far, just down the street. Didn't really think about wasting gas. Look at me being all "eco-friendly". She gestured out the quotations with her fingers, smiling as she looked up at him.

Now that she thought of it, driving probably would've been the best bet seeing how her boots weren't the most comfortable. When heels were added to the equation, that was usually the case for Samai but she wore them anyway. Well, she'd be okay for now. They weren't too far off. "So do still dorm at the Academy? Or would you be okay enough to live on your own?"

[Lorenzo Frijas]

As they got up to walk he winced as the sun shone directly into his eyes. It was cloudy but the little bastard had found an opening in the fog. He put his sunglasses back on and blinked away his blurred vision back to over 20/20. He smiled at her and almost winked but didn't. "I need things to be late for." Enzo then shrugged acting like he was contemplating it. "Then again, we could be late together. Then are we really late?" He scoffed at his own words and continued to walk.

"Your quite the big girl now aren't cha?" He smiled and stuffed his handing in his pockets but still gestured down the street. "Big girl apartment out there. Big girl job to pay for it I'm assuming." It kind of made him feel bad about himself. He had none of that. Heck, Enzo didn't even know what he wanted to do with his life. When it came to that kind of stuff, nothing really struck a passion. He didn't think about it too much longer and just smirked, again. "Your pretty persuasive - " He paused and gave and extraverted unsure expression with a shrug. " - I mean from what I've seen, that is." 

He chuckled at she said she was being eco friendly by not driving. "Haha yeah. I try to keep a green thumb." He pulled up a shrug and finished. "Well, I am a frickin' bear after all." 

When she asked about his living situation he scoffed. "Yeah, same dorm. Thomas moved in with me. I don't know if you remember him. I think you guys met at that party we went two way back when." He scratched his head trying to recall that night. "Hell I don't know. We were ass drunk that night. Who knows what we couldn't done together." He paused after knowing what that sort of implied. "Like our group n' stuff. We couldn't trashed the whole house and not remembered. 

He got back on track and continued. "Yeah... I've been trying to get out of there and into the big bad world but I've been having trouble getting back in my feet. No one really wants to hire a urine mutant with a temper, ya' know?"