Tick-Tick-Tick

[Kitten King]

He should have just stayed in the library. He could have been safe there, huddled in a little corner, surrounded by books. It would be just like it had been two years ago, in his nice rich family's private little library of their own, where he would study the most random and fascinating things.. but even that wouldn't be the same. Would it? His memories were so blurred and fuzzy, it felt like. As if he were looking at them through someone else's eyes. He didn't recognize himself, did he? Worse, maybe he did...

He glanced around nervously at the other people around, whining lowly to himself as he checked his pocket-watch again. 5:37. He clicked it shut and let his hand fall to his side, where he clicked and unclicked it twice more before putting the silver object back into his pocket. He glanced around some more, watching people around him as they went about their fun and business. Two younger boys were chatting about something in two of the chairs, while a small group had gathered around the pool table on the other side of the room. Laughter rang out barely over the chatter - or perhaps it only seemed that way to Travis. His head jerked over to the corner, where a couple of students older than him stood, a winged boy leaned against the wall casually as the girl laughed at something he had said. Travis looked at her. He checked his watch again - 5:38.

He felt sick to his stomach already.

[Coconut]

She didn't like reading. It wasn't the physical process of translating markings on paper to comprehensible words in her mind that annoyed the girl so, but rather it was the fact that she'd have to handle books made out of paper and sometimes forms of cardboard that put her so off to the idea. After all, paper was made from wood. And wood was made from dead trees. And Ash had made a point to avoid anything that would put her in contact with nature as much as possible.

Actually, come to think of it, maybe she shouldn't despise books so much. After all, they were made from DEAD trees, so shouldn't she instead rejoice in the murder rather then scorn it? ... Naw. She didn't want to touch trees. They might still have some tree life still left in their pages and then she'd feel stupid for hours afterwards for coming into contact with plants. Stupid plants. Stupid green. Why the fuck did SHE have to be landed with such a stupid, stupid power? If those hippies and shit found out, she'd be screwed.

So what does this all have to do in relation to Ash's being in the sitting room this very moment? Well, she was looking for a classmate, of course! Any classmate would do, she wasn't picky, as long as he or she was in her English class and planned on doing the assigned reading. Hey, there was one now!

Decked out in a dark maroon top and skinny black jeans, the girl with long dark hair partly hiding her eyes walked quietly towards the skittish-looking boy, reaching out, slowly, and... touched his shoulder. "Hey. I saw you in my English class. I'm Ash, what's your name, kid?"

Way to address someone who was probably older then you, kid.

[Kitten King]

To say that Travis was startled when Ash touched him was an understatement. Rather, he flinched quite violently, whipping his head around to stare at her with wide eyes like some doe in the headlights. He'd been looking the other direction, focused on that pair of boys again - one had become quite animated in his conversation - and hadn't noticed her approach at all. He stuttered on air for a moment, completely unsure of what to do or where to go. A sharp, unnaturally quiet voice hissed at him in the corner of his mind. Breathe!

He did, taking a deep breath, and then another, calming himself down. It only took a couple seconds for the personal mayhem to take place, and it took only a few seconds for him to correct it. He scratched the back of his head, cleared his throat, and checked his watch. 5:42. Okay…

"U-um…" He didn't question his being called 'kid' - in the little town he came from, that was practically his name, it seemed like. When you were always tagging along with someone older, he guessed that must've usually been the case. Was it? "Travis." He ran a finger down the body of the small, simple silver cross that hung around his neck. People were terrifying - not because of anything they could do to him, was it? No, no… it was the other way around, he thought. He was positive that was it. Maybe he didn't need to worry, with all the kids around here and their powers. Maybe he did. He didn't know anymore, and that terrified him… that terrified him. Was that was he was so scared of?

[Coconut]

The slightest bit of a smirk twitched at the edge of her mouth at the sight of the boy's rather extreme reaction to her just touching his shoulder. Honestly, she'd been hoping for a reaction like that. Waiting for it. Why else would she even approach people that way? It would have been easier on him if she'd called out to him or something, but no. She had wanted to play miss creepy. She liked it.

Ash's smile disappeared once his eyes were on her. Instead, her face shifted back into that blank, somewhat impatient look that it always wore as she pretended to drill holes in his forehead with her gaze. She had way too much time on her hands. He didn't seem to have enough time in the world. What was with that damn watch?

"Are you going to be reading that book, Travis?" She was being rude. She knew she was being rude. That last word, his name, she'd said it with the slightest bit of emphasis, not enough to be openly mocking him, but enough to make fun of him without calling much damage to herself. She could always claim that she had just been teasing, after all. Playing with him. Flirting. Not that she'd ever use a disgusting word to describe a conversation. Stupid preps.

Her victim seemed afraid of something, but Ash couldn't claim to know what it was. He was a nervous sort of person in general, she observed, having seen him throughout class and here before her now. What sort of place could make a creature like him? She suddenly found herself wondering what he was, not that she really cared. All the little monsters in this building were nothing but freaks, herself included, and knowing what tricks they were capable of didn't help her in any way, shape, or form.

She just wished she didn't have to be here.

[Kitten King]

She made him uncomfortable. He wasn't sure what exactly it was about him that made him uncomfortable - the look she gave him, the way she spoke to him? Maybe. He wasn't so sure it was obvious as that. There was just something about her. He heard a low, echoing growl behind his left ear, and he swallowed. Nervous. He jerked his hand back in a quick swat at the air, and the growl dissipated. He hoped it just looked like a nervous twitch.

"Uhm, er... book?" It took him a second, but not long enough for the girl to say anything else. It was only a moments pause, and then he understood. "Oh, the book. Er, yes, o-of course..." He'd already started, in fact. Back in the library, where it had been quiet and warm and safe. Safer than here, at least... no where was really safe. Anything could happen anywhere and anytime. He wasn't unreasonably anxious - he just had plenty of good reasons to worry. "W-wh-why do you ask?" His voice grew smaller then, more quiet. Was she.. just being friendly with him? He hadn't had anyone like that before. People usually turned him away, with his nervous habits and his little ticks and the never-ceasing stutter to his voice. It would be.. nice. To have someone be nice.

[Coconut]

She was starting to think that this was a bad idea. He seemed like a nervous kind of guy, really nervous, and any sort of information she'd get out of him would be hard-won. She'd totally prefer just looking up quick notes of the book instead of pumping her classmates for information, but there was no better way to get a feel for the story then to have someone you can ask questions after they've given their first hand account.

Ash shrugged, toning down the sarcasm in her voice and face to try and get him to stop acting so god-damn jumpy. She should just go find someone else from her class. It'd be so much EASIER that way. God, why had she spotted him first?

"Oh, it's no big deal. I just don't really like reading so I was looking for someone who could tell me what the books are about so that I can at least say I know what I'm supposed to be reading. I also thought it'd be a good way to, you know, get to know some people at this school." The girl shrugged and looked away, surveying the room with a casual air. "But if you don't want to, that's alright, too." She smiled. "I guess it wouldn't kill me to read the book myself."

Maybe that would work.

[Kitten King]

Oh, she was leaving after all? …oh, she was LEAVING after all. Wait, waitiwaitwait. Did he want her to leave? Yes, but no. He wanted her to leave now, but.. but… he did want a friend. Maybe. He wasn't entirely sure but he did know that he should probably say something. Right about now would be good. He didn't have any clue what he was going to say, but - he better say it now, that was for sure. Oh god, uhh.... UHHH....

"N-no! No!" He shook his head quickly as it buzzed with frantic little thoughts, zapping here to there like the fireflies he'd once chased back home. "No, I can t-tell you, I can! I-I don't mind, really. It won't be a p-problem.." It was just one little session of telling her something. Nothing had to happen - and it probably wouldn't. Hell, if he wanted, he could even leave her a note. Yes, a nice little note about the book... stained around the edges with red. Why did that suddenly come to mind? The two images had nothing to do with one another.. he was too stressed out, that was it. Too much had happened today, and he needed to go home. He needed to find somewhere alone - that was home.

Did he like home?

[Coconut]

Triumph. The girl hide her grin under a happy, friendly smile as he folded to her desires. She wasn't really manipulating him, at least, not all that badly, but she was still thrilled when her backing off created the desired effect. True, he seemed a little panicked and I guess that made her feel a bit bad for making a guy go through that, but he seemed like he was used to it. And, hey, it's not like she was hurting him. She just wanted to pass English.

"Thank you!" She said with that same smile, sounding grateful. "So, uh, I guess we can meet in the library, since it's quieter." A slight frown, a glance around the room to assess the volume as if she didn't already know how loud the chatting kids and teachers could get in here. She then looked back at him, a bit of her smile back just to really sell it. "How about... after lunch? The day before the reading is due?"

God, she'd have to give her cheeks a massage to recover from all this stupid smiling. She really hoped that this kid wouldn't be a freaked-out jumpy mess all the time, otherwise the effort of milking him for information just wouldn't be worth it anymore. She was tired of pretending to be friendly.