Is It Still Awkward?

[Alexandra Lawson]

In no small way Alex worried that she'd been talking with her ex-boyfriend, Artemis James without bringing it to the attention of her current boyfriend, Ezra.  She had no intent on rekindling her previous relationship, regardless of how it had ended and it was very clear the two of them were merely clinging desperately to the last vestiges of a friendship gone awry.  In truth it was nothing more than two people who'd lost touch over the years looking to reconnect, no more no less.  Ezra was surely smart enough and confident enough in his relationship with Alex, which had now passed the three year mark, to not feel jealousy or concern that she would be doing anything behind his back, and yet that still didn't keep the guilt from keeping the communication hidden.

Shrugging these thoughts aside, Alex zipped up her heavy snow jacket before pulling on the thick, wool beanie that completed her ensemble.  She was, as usual around this time, ridiculously over dressed.  She'd agreed to meet Art after work and even though it was hardly among the coldest evenings Montana would see this year the California born waitress wasn't having the frigid, night air.  After wrapping a scar around her neck she ventured out to find the young man she was to meet.

"Hey!"  Alex said upon catching Art waiting patiently near the front of the club.  She shuffled over to him, her gait hindered by the layers of cold weather attire.  There was genuine happiness  to be found in her bright, expressive gaze as she drew closer even if, once she reached him she balked, hesitating for an awkward moment as she failed to figure out the best way to greet him and, after a bit, settled on a slightly disjointed, uncertain hug.  "Good to see you up and about."  She said with a nod.  Her eyes caught his and for a brief moment she was transported back to a time when the vivid pools of blue shone with an adoration that made her heart soar.  She quickly dropped her gaze and cleared her throat.  "You, um."  She stuttered quietly.  "You had me worried."

[Artemis James]

The icy touch of the cold, although no where near as harsh as Montana could muster during the winter months, was enough to chill Artemis. The boy's body was making it fairly obvious that despite himself he still had a long road of recovery ahead of him, having given up trying to prevent the uncontrollable shaking the cold had forced upon him. He took a deep breath, sighing, before hurriedly stepping out of the way of some of the patrons heading into the bar.
He looked completely out of place... A boy, whom three years had done nothing to mature his rounded, young face, wrapped up in a thick second hand coat, a thick, lopsided scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face. His wide, bright blue eyes looked out over the fabric, watching the Sliverlight's entrance.

He was nervous... His stomach felt as though some unseen force had it locked in a tight grip, the resulting heavy feeling of sickness was threatening to bring him close to another panic attack; he furrowed his brows, bowing his head slightly as he stared down at the cold pavement. He couldn't let that happen... The last thing he needed was to break down in front of her... She wasn't the reason for it, but he knew she'd likely think she was. Deep, calm breaths were taken now, and for a moment the boy closed his eyes.
Alex Lawson had been the only person Artemis had ever fallen for, and while it had been some years ago that they'd broken up,
she still was the only one to gain that title. He had long come to terms with no longer being by her side, but knowing it did little to stem the uneasy beat of his thudding heart. There was still time... To message her. Make up some lie, say fatigue had afflicted him and he needed to rest... He cou-

He then violently flinched at the sound of someone addressing him, his gaze snapping open and looking over to the young woman, wrapped up tightly to ward off the cold. His heart could have hit the icy cold pavement. "... H-Hey!" He replied brightly, giving her a half wave, before allowing his arm to fall back to his side. She approuched him, and with clear awkwardness, offered him an embrace. Artemis returned it, flinching slightly as he did so, and ending it quickly. She met his gaze, her eyes as stunning as he'd remembered. "... I'm f-fine," He lied, giving her a smile, the stutter to his voice a mixture of nerves and the harsh touch of the weather, his voice slightly muffled due to the scarf. "... How was your shift? Good?"

[Alexandra Lawson]

Alex peered up to her ex boyfriend with a hint of sadness in her gaze. It wasn't for their own love lost before it had a chance to flourish but rather for the obvious hardship someone she still cared so deeply for and endured. She put on a comforting smile and patted him lightly on the shoulder. "You always were a horrible liar, Art." She commented, her tone low. Alex had no intention on putting him on the spot, though she could easily tell when he wasn't being completely truthful for her. She wasn't sure whether he was referring to his physical or emotional health or which would be worse but she couldn't allow them both to dwell on either. Instead, she slipped her arm into his and started pulling him away from the club. "And are shifts as a waitress ever good? Most of the time they're just tolerable."

"You never got the chance to tell me about Japan." Alex said, her voice still quiet. While her exterior was calmer than normal (she would blame the winter for her sluggishness), Alex's mind was racing. There were so many things she wanted to say, so many question and latent thoughts that drifted around her brain, all itching to be released. Artemis represented a certain 'what if' was of thinking. She had fallen for him quickly and vice versa but life, it seemed, had other plans. She didn't know where she would be at the moment, even so many years removed from her relationship with Art, if not for Ezra. If she wasn't hopelessly in love with the tall, lanky paramedic would she be clamoring for a second chance with the young man she was now walking alongside? "I want to hear all about it." She added, turning her gaze upward and offering Art a bright smile to go along with the words.

[Artemis James]

Artemis fought back another flinch at Alex's touch of his shoulder, his heart sinking as she effortlessly picked up on his less then truthful statement. He blinked at her, the panic he'd been so valiantly trying to battle twisting round in his stomach; However thankfully, Alex didn't seem to want him to justify his lie, changing the subject quickly. The young man breathed out a small stuttered sigh of relief, which was muffled by the scarf's fabric.

He'd wanted to see her. He'd been so eager to see her as soon as he was discharged... But now it felt more like a trial by fire then
the warm, friendly meeting he'd hoped for. The redhead then slipped her arm round his own, and began pulling him away from the sounds of the club, Artemis allowing her to do so; He offered little resistance, although her touch was further stirring his uneasiness. He gave her a small smile at her comment regarding her work, although this was obscured by the tightly wrapped piece of knit around the lower half of his face. "At least you're in work," He spoke, his tone as light hearted as he could muster. "No one wants to employ someone just out of hospital." He gave a weak chuckle, before it was silenced abruptly by the young woman's next question.
Japan was a confusing mixture of emotions, that Artemis hadn't fully begun to unravel. Japan symbolised what he could describe as being the happiest part of his life... He'd been immersed in a thrilling, vibrant culture, where he could develop his skills within
a nurturing, kind cocoon of people who were as passionate as he was. But there was another hand to his time spent on the other side of the world.

Japan had been a central factor to Alex breaking up with him. Japan was where he'd been when mutants had been revealed to the world, where he'd endured weeks of fear as attacks in the city increased, terrified the people he'd come to call friends would turn on him. Japan was where he'd had to make an emergency trip from to try and fix the very broken state of his family, which ended in his mother disowning him. Japan... Was where he'd begun to feel unwell. Where his mutation had started to poison him.
"... Japan was great!" He replied brightly, keeping his gaze focused on the pavement ahead rather then on the young woman beside him. The streets were surprisingly busy for the time of night, but given the time of year, it was to be expected; A number of shops and businesses were already blaring decorative lights. "... I improved a lot... Everyone was so supportive. The orchestra felt like a family by the time I had to come home."

He risked a glance at her; He had missed her, despite everything. "How has everything been here?" He blinked up at the streetlamps, which were each sporting star shaped white lights along the top of them, an effort by the town's council to try and get into the festive spirit. "Kalispell has grown a lot, huh?"

[Alexandra Lawson]

"I'm a waitress." Alex replied with a faint shrug of her shoulders. "It's nothing to brag about." Indeed, Alex carried no pride, rather a certain sense of shame for where she worked. It might have been different if she'd graduated and simply hadn't managed to find a career path in her chosen career field but she hadn't even tried. It had been applying at the Silverlight a couple weeks after graduation and that's where she'd remained for the last year. She didn't know why she was so reluctant to do anything more but it didn't stop it from bothering her.

Alex's eyes turned up to Art as she listened to his abbreviated recounting of his time in Japan. Her arm was still hooked around his, though it had shifted from her pulling him along more to him simply escorting her in an old fashioned way. "Where do you go from here?" She asked curiously. "Aren't there orchestras in America you can apply for? Why come back here?"

[Artemis James]

Artemis picked up on Alex's lack of pride in her words, and his forced smile fell quickly; Again, he was thankful for the woven scarf which obscured his lips. "You make a great waitress though," He replied, conviction in his tone. Alex's bright, generally upbeat attitude suited the field of a customer service role, although Artemis did not expect her to remain within on that career path for the rest of her life... He had always had faith in her that she would achieve her goals. "... Sometimes... Sometimes it takes a little while to find your footing after college. You'll get there." He glanced to her, mustering up some warmth in his eyes, before averting his gaze back to the pavement. He'd become aware that her leading him had become him escorting her, and while her closeness made him a touch uneasy, he was thankful for the familiar company.

Alex's question brought a slight furrowing of his brow as he thought on her question; Sometimes he wondered that himself, why he came back. It was a mixture of reasons... His family situation, his desire to go to college... The want to be in a place that had felt like home. "... I... I wanted to go to college," He spoke thoughtfully. "The orchestra want to offer me a formal position when I finish." That was reason enough... Artemis didn't want to bring up his family issues, not when this was supposed to be a light hearted, friendly catch up. His siblings didn't have their mother anymore... Not really... And Lucy had long cut off all contact with their brothers and sister. They needed him, they needed Artemis to be close by. He may be in another state, but it was far better then being in another country. For now... Artemis needed to remain here; He wasn't even certain he would take the offer from the Japanese orchestra. "... S-So, where do you go from here? Do you know what you want to do?" He quickly rounded the conversation's focus back to Alex, glancing to her.

[Alexandra Lawson]

Bright, expressive brown eyes lifted up to Artemis as he spoke. Alex wasn't sure, at first if he was being serious or not though she shouldn't have doubted his positivity and supportive nature. She supposed he was right. She'd yet to field a complaint from anyone and there was something about the social nature of her position was appealing. Alex didn't dislike her job, but it was just that, a job. She couldn't see herself doing it for long but hadn't taken steps to move on to anything larger. "I guess, yeah." She said with a resigned shrug even though she couldn't help a smile from escaping as she look to Artemis. "I feel like I want to do something... Bigger but I don't know what."

Alex nodded faintly as she listened intently. Artemis seemed nearly ad confused as she was, which she'd have to admit was something that felt oddly comforting. She may not have had the same feelings about him as before but Alex was glad Artemis was back. "Does this?" She asked. "Feel like home, I mean." She peered up to him curiously.