[CT] things were awkward

[Elizabeth Edison]

Giving the English girl a warm smile, she waited until she was given the number before her eyes widened at the received text. The little message bubble that appeared on her screen was an unknown number with a message that is was from Zoe. She gave the other girl a smile and saved the number before sending her a reply of a smile.

"Ah. Well, there's no fixed thing you gotta do here. At least you're doing something!" Elizabeth grinned and nodded. She was beginning to feel light headed so she went back to a sitting position just as the question was turned on her.

"I got caught by Mr. K our first night here." She chuckled lightly, running her fingers through her hair. "I was actually just drawing though. Up in a tree. Admittedly it was past curfew but Mr. Konrad let me continue for an hour and then I had to go." She chuckled lightly.

"And then my boyfriend and I went...swimming after fishing. I actually caught a gigantic fish we ended up eating after so that was definitely fun." She said before realising not everyone actually thought fishing was synonymous to fun. Of course, the fun part hadn't just been the fishing. Not that the blonde would actually reveal that.

"Tomorrow though, will you doing the capture the flag thing?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe couldn't help but relax slightly as Elizabeth seemed more than willing to take what Zoe had done as being a good use of her time. Though even as Zoe relaxed, she couldn't help but wonder why she'd been so tense in the first place. Elizabeth had been perfectly cordial after all.

"Mr. K?" repeated Zoe, blinking. She didn't have the faintest--oh! Mr. Konrad. Zoe smiled at the mention of his name, easily picturing the burly man both catching Elizabeth and letting her off easy, just a slight slap on the wrist and everything. Naturally Elizabeth's adventures hadn't stopped there: they included fishing, which must've been exciting, though it certainly wasn't something that Zoe wanted to do personally.

"Um," she said in immediate response to the question, fidgeting again. "Probably not. I'm not--- I don't really like those sort of things," she explained, shrugging. "I wouldn't be very good at it... well," she laughed a little, "I guess I'm good at being quiet. What about you?" she looked up at Elizabeth. "Are you planning on doing it? Oh," she seemed to realize something, and brightened slightly, "maybe I could take a few pictures of it? That is, if people were okay with it..."

[Elizabeth Edison]

Elizabeth nodded distractedly at Zoe's query regarding Mr. Konrad's nickname as she wnet through her story-telling. She would realise it was pretty rude a bit later and would sheepishly apologise for it.

"Oh." Elizabeth elongated the word as she nodded, giving her a sympathetic smile when she told Elizabeth what she was good at. The blonde was so sure that was not all the other girl was good at. Just look at her pictures! Which only made the pyrokinetic perk up even more at her suggestion. "Oh yes. Yes definitely yes! Maybe you could put them in your portfolio or gallery because I am so sure some of us are gonna be using our powers despite the rules obviously. So you get a whole slew of mutants using their powers as your subject!"

Without thinking, she slid off the bed and squeezed the other girl's hands tightly.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Elizabeth's excitement over the idea proved infections, with Zoe soon smiling wide, thrilled at the prospect of having someone else support her. The situation that Elizabeth painted sounded quite splendid as well. All the people using their powers, trying to act normal, just like teenagers who happened to be slightly differently gifted than the more "average" one. It sounded like exactly the sort of experience that Zoe wanted to capture on film.

Her excitement turned into momentary dread as Elizabeth grabbed her hands. At least Zoe had managed to shove those gloves onto her hands earlier. Still, she couldn't help but stiffen a little at the touch, stiffen and take a few nearly panicked breaths. She could.... but nothing was happening. No stiffening, no freaking out, well, outside of Zoe's reaction. She stared at the hands for a few moments as though expecting the gloves to fail. Really, she should know better by now.

Laughing a little, the nerves still leaking into the noise, Zoe gave Elizabeth's hands a little squeeze, even that slight gesture filled with disbelief.

[Elizabeth Edison]

When she realised that her hand holding caused even the slightest of grief, Elizabeth wanted to pull back but the other girl squeezed back. She felt slightly bad though so she only offered a small smile before pulling her hand out, patting Zoe's before apologising.

"I...am very handsy." She chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. "I seldom realise that not everyone likes to be touched. Least of all you. So...I'm very very sorry." She jumped back up into bed and leaned back against the wall.

"So you're graduating this year, right?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe could understand handsy. She'd met a few people who were like that, who wanted to communicate as much via touch as anything else. Zoe even supposed that some powers probably lent themselves to that more than others. Hearing an apology from someone else made Zoe smile, smile and nod, eagerly accepting it. It even sounded like Liz understood.

"I'm used to--" Zoe began. Soon her lips closed, her teeth coming out as she nibbled them slightly. "Um, I'm... no, I'm not," she fidgeted, then took a breath. Wasn't like she hadn't had to admit this one a few times: "I'll actually be repeating my senior year, or, well, at least half of it, probably all. I, well, my power came in right at the end of my semester exams, and I missed the beginning of last semester. So I've got a bit to make up."

Zoe shifted again, taking another breath, steeling herself: "But it's alright. Really. I've made a few friends, and I don't mind staying at the Academy another year. I'd probably have to anyway because, well, um," she raised her hand, moving her fingers slightly. This seemed to make her realize that she was doing precisely that, so she pulled them back, holding them against her body and looking down shyly yet again.

[Elizabeth Edison]

Hearing that Zoe was being held back because of her powers made Elizabeth pout sympathetically. "Aw." She cooed with a sigh.

The fact that Zoe didn't find it too much of a burden on her lifted Elizabeth's spirits up a little. "Oh that's great. Well, I'm staying here too. College and all." The pyrokinetic gave the other girl a wide tight-lipped smile that seemed to disappear up to her eyes.

"Hey, if you need some help in studying and all, I could help. I mean I do tutor some."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

So Liz wasn't technically leaving either. That actually was something of a relief for Zoe: she wasn't going to meet someone just to have her torn away. The thought nearly made her shiver, and she had to remind herself that it was just that: a thought, not a future reality waiting to unfold or anything as unpleasant as that. Just a thought, and Zoe could move past hat. Plus, Liz soon followed with another thought, one that actually made Zoe giggle, the noise almost overly girlish.

"I'm sorry," she said, flushing and covering her mouth, "I didn't... well, it's just... I'm actually quite good at studies, especially with art..." Zoe trailed off. She supposed that should be obvious, and she wasn't entirely sure that art should really count toward her studies. It had technically been an elective so far, though Zoe intended to change that as she moved forward.

"I could always use someone to study with though," Zoe volunteered, smiling a little. "Though I do have some friends and such, and I do know several people who will be seniors as well," Devyn immediately came to mind, though things had been awkward there. Zoe looked back at the photos, sighed, and moved to put them away for now. She should go out, focus on making new memories and creating new photos, not sit her wiling away the hours. She'd just... avoid people or something. Or maybe go with Liz...

[Elizabeth Edison]

"Oh! Well then." Elizabeth chuckled with a shrug. She wished she knew Zoe well enough to have known that beforehand but she was now given the opportunity to so she was definitely going to milk it for all it was worth.

She did know, obvious as it was, that Zoe was inclined to the arts. Elizabeth was as well. Hence the music and the drawings and the photography. She knew she could make a career out of any one of them easily, fortunately enough.

"I'd gladly lend a hand if you need one." She offered once more with a wide smile. Though she now knew that Zoe didn't need any help, it was always nice to have any excuse to hang out with a friend. Especially one she just made.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe actually laughed a little at the chuckle, though nerves made the noise sound a little odd for her. She brought a hand up to cover her mouth a little, though the curve of her smile still showed out from the sides. It lit up those expressive brown eyes of hers as well, making them practically twinkle with mischief.

Zoe nodded again, before saying: "I'm sure there's something," though Zoe's grades used to be quite excellent. They'd suffered of late, considering everything she'd gone through. most of her teachers had been quite understanding, and she'd been set right on course to graduate in the upcoming year. For that matter, Zoe would be taking some classes at the college level as well; the credits being quite transferable and all.

Schoolwork lay in some distance for Zoe now though. She gathered up the last of her photos, rearranging them and setting. That finished, Zoe rose to her feet, dusting herself off. She took a deep breath, then nodded. "I think I'm going to take a walk," she said. She paused, fidgeting. "Um, I'd, uh, like some time alone... not that I don't like you or anything... I just.. well, it's so quiet and peaceful here..." and no one would jump out of the woods and shoot her...

[Elizabeth Edison]

Elizabeth looked at Zoe, her head tilted to the side, wondering why she was covering up her laugh. "Why do you do that? Cover your mouth when you laugh I mean?" She asked, a small smile on her own lips.

Nodding with a wide smile, Elizabeth was glad the other girl was considering it.

When Zoe started standing up, the blonde sat upright, her legs already unfolding. Instinct told her that she should follow but when Zoe said she wanted to go alone, Elizabeth nodded. "Okay!" She responded with a big smile to hide her disappointment. "Take lots of pictures!" She waved the girl off before settling into her bed, wondering what else she could do now.

[Wrap!]