<div class="floatleft">(https://data.whicdn.com/images/56206783/original.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: monotype corsiva;"><strong>Mackenzie Aayana White</strong></span></span><br/><strong>Blessed By::</strong>Hecate<br/><strong>Location::</strong>Training Grounds<br/><strong>Company::</strong>Veronica, Emil, Open {Tagging: Emil}<br/><strong>Date/Time::</strong>June 20th, Between events<br/><strong>Mood::</strong>Um...What?<br/><strong>Wearing::</strong><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spiked leather jacket (worn open)</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSkxWT4H54sPlsjB9xeHslpNIjb5eD7w8rMeJMjv8bUQ6hVgr4NGvAElJrcrNc&amp;usqp=CAc)</div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Torn grey tank</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/24/4e/0e/244e0e6cd3ea92d1e923575c950d5571.jpg)</div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">torn black jeans</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://media.dollskill.com/media/DqxPHl1e0UoL8ujHKFlPzy8rxoVQPX4N-34.jpg)</div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">black, leather, knee-high boots</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://di2ponv0v5otw.cloudfront.net/posts/2018/08/17/5b777193bb761586335cb9b4/m_5b7771b65bbb8091e68d816a.jpg)</div></div>with<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">fully charged magic amulet (fully dark blue matching ring)</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://www.dhresource.com/0x0/f2/albu/g4/M01/66/58/rBVaEVfNYmSAG5VTAAJ6RrBbdjo220.jpg)</div></div>and<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">fully charged magic ring (fully dark blue)</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/813uFj-L9FL._SY500_.jpg)</div></div><br/><strong>TRIGGER WARNINGS::</strong>None<br/><br/><br/><hr/>When they reached the pool, Kenzie lingered for a moment, watching the reflective light of the cool, blue water.  Roni had been right.  It was one hell of a hot day, perfect for a nice swim.  She might have chosen to go in, but then she saw Nick.  He did not seem like a happy camper today and Kenzie did not want to be awkward and just go in by herself, possibly bothering Nick if he wanted to be alone.  Instead, she quickly averted her eyes, staring off towards the direction Veronica had gone.<br/><br/>In the training grounds, Kenzie caught only a few moves at the end of Emil’s practice before he pulled himself together and directed his attention to her roommate.  When Kenzie noticed the two preparing to spar, she slowly drifted closer.  She hadn’t known her roommate to fight, but Emil…she thought she had heard something about Emil being a guard or something…and she was pretty sure she’d seen him out on a few of her nightly workouts a time or two.  According to all of Kenzie’s limited knowledge, this should have been a quick fight and the winner should have been obvious from the start.<br/><br/>As soon as Kenzie reached an area where she could comfortably watch the spar, she sat in the grass, twisting her legs around behind her and leaning on one arm.  She had been right on one account.  Though there were points where Kenzie clenched her eyes shut or looked away, the fight was short-lived.  However, Kenzie definitely hadn’t expected her roommate to win.  Did Roni know more about fighting than Kenzie was aware?<br/><br/>After the spar, Kenzie had expected Roni to head over so they could head back to their house or go for a run or whatever.  The blue-haired girl even started walking towards her sister in magic when Roni turned towards her and gave a little wave.  It wasn’t until that point that Kenz even glanced back in the direction of Emil who just so happened to be walking towards her.  ‘Oh shit.’  Kenzie thought to herself, starting to play with the ends of her jacket’s sleeves as her mind sifted through what was going on.<br/><br/>First, she considered trying to catch up to Roni, but taking a second look, she saw her roommate was already on her way.  Besides, Emil had obviously seen Kenzie see him.  There was no avoiding that.  Next, she started looking around to see if he had maybe left anything near where she was.  After all, just because it looked like he was headed straight at her didn’t mean he was actually trying to make his way to her, right?  Nope.  Unless she had missed something, he didn’t seem to have anything over by her.  ‘Okay, so he was coming over towards her and he must have wanted something…  But what was it?’  Kenzie started wondering.  Certainly, he wasn’t looking for another spar after he just lost to Roni, was he?<br/><br/>Before she had much time to figure out what was going on, Emil was standing in front of her, talking about his spar and dates and parties.  Mackenzie had to take a minute in order to comprehend what he was even saying.  She hoped she didn’t actually seem as flustered as she felt.  She just didn’t talk to many people and tended to get nervous in new situations or with not as familiar people.  Sure, she’d seen Emil around before but still, it wasn’t like they really<em>knew</em>each other.  And Kenz definitely got nervous about the whole dating thing, not that she didn’t want to date.  She just hadn’t had one in over four years and there was a lot of anxiety that came with that kind of thing for this girl.<br/><br/>Then he started talking about the purification ceremony Kenzie had held earlier that morning and the girl was given a foothold to start communicating back.  She didn’t stop playing with the hems of her jacket and tank top, but she was at least able to start talking.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: monotype corsiva;">“Hey, don’t worry about it.”</span></span>Kenzie started, shrugging a shoulder.<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: monotype corsiva;">“It was my first time in front of such a large group.  I was so nervous, and I made so many mistakes.  But next time.  Next time will be better.”</span></span>‘I hope.’  She finished in her head.<br/><br/>After a short pause, Kenzie remembered Emil had had other reasons that he came over to talk to her than the purification ceremony.<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: monotype corsiva;">“Oh!  Uh…yea…the Ball!  Roni was right.  No one has asked me…until now, I mean.  Usually, we just spend the night together.  Me and Kenzie, I mean.  I mean Roni!  Me and Roni usually spend the nights of the Balls together.”</span></span>Kenzie started, tripping over her words and mentally facepalming herself.  Gods, how she must sound right now!<br/><br/>Looking over Emil’s shoulder, off into the distance, Kenzie took a deep breath then tried to start over.<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: monotype corsiva;">“Yes, Emil.  Of course, I’ll go to the Ball with you.”</span></span>Kenzie started, carefully going through each word.<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: monotype corsiva;"> “That is, as long as you don’t mind Roni tagging along.  I would hate to leave her all on her own.”</span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: monotype corsiva;">“Oh!  And I swear I’m not usually this awkward.”</span></span>Kenzie started before squinting her eyes tightly together.<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: monotype corsiva;">“Okay well maybe I <em>am</em> usually this awkward…but I’ll try to be less awkward at the Ball.”</span></span>