Michigan Marvels - IC Thread
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Devil's Advocate on 02-01-2013, 23:44:01</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>02-01-2013, 23:44:01</strong>
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				Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 6:30 a.m.<br><br>Two men in blue uniforms walked down the mostly empty halls of Neptune High School towards the front doors.&nbsp; They had walkie-talkies at their sides and a belt full of equipment.&nbsp; Badges on their chest and on their caps made them look official; however, the insignia read, Trident Security Service, betraying the rest of the uniform.&nbsp; Neither had a name tag.&nbsp; The first man was Caucasian and of slight build, but was older, as evidenced by his grey hair and slower stride.&nbsp; His co-worker was an African American, middle aged and bald.&nbsp; His stomach made it clear that he never missed a meal.&nbsp; <br><br>As they walked down the halls, they passed several open doors with room numbers.&nbsp; Between them were several lockers, double stacked for as far as the eye could see.&nbsp; Each had a lock with a combination.&nbsp; One, that they passed had the lock removed, which caused the African American man to stifle a giggle.&nbsp; He turned to his companion and asked, "Hey, Mike, what do you think the stats are going to be this year?"<br><br>"I hadn't thought about it, Charlie.&nbsp; You got any guesses?"<br><br>"Yeah, I say a dozen student deaths, three on school grounds, thirty drug busts, about half on school grounds.&nbsp; At least four dozen assaults on school grounds."<br><br>Mike laughed.&nbsp; "You're getting generous in your old age."<br><br>"You think it will be higher?"<br><br>"Oh, of course.&nbsp; Depends how many drop out in their junior year, though.&nbsp; Always does.&nbsp; Also depends on how many gang members stay around.&nbsp; I give it at least a plus five on all of those."<br><br>"Care to put a wager on it?&nbsp; Closest wins?"<br><br>"Sure, I'll put five bucks in on that."<br><br>Charlie stuck out his hand which Mike shook.&nbsp; "I hear that there might be a chance that football will break .500 this year.&nbsp; Soccer is already a third of their way through their the season.&nbsp; The boys have been mercied only half of their games."<br><br>"Yeah?&nbsp; Good for them.&nbsp; Not like they have a chance against all the other schools with their kids having gone to all those fancy travel soccer programs.&nbsp; Have you seen the cheerleaders this year?"<br><br>"Oh, yeah!&nbsp; They're loud and obnoxious as usual - think their shit don't stink.&nbsp; Want to bet if any get pregnant this year?"<br><br>Mike shook his head in the negative.&nbsp; "Every year there are some pregnancies.&nbsp; The cheerleaders are better about hiding it.&nbsp; Not sure whether they get some back alley abortion or go to a clinic but you got to know it happens.&nbsp; I'd swear I've seen some tummies bulge a little with a few of them."<br><br>"Never see it on that Ashley Avery.&nbsp; She's quite the thing, isn't she?&nbsp; Head cheerleader this year, dating the quarterback.&nbsp; Bet she's banking on him getting in college and following him."<br><br>"Maybe but bet they'll be Homecoming King and Queen."<br><br>"Yeah, little doubt on that."<br><br>"So, should we open the doors now?"<br><br>"Yeah, what the hell?&nbsp; Let another school year begin."&nbsp; Charlie took two metal detector wands from a hidden area and passed one to Mike before taking a key to the door and unlocking it for the general public.<br><br>tag - everyone (Welcome to Neptune High)
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				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>03-01-2013, 02:14:34</strong>
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				Tuesday, September 4,2012 6:30 a.m.<br><br>Isabella had managed to wake up and get dressed early so she could get her class schedule and figure out where the hell they are. <em>ohh yay we moved just in time for the new year, at least I won't have a chance of getting the same teacher right???</em> she was wearing her usual cloths, leggings, short skirt, black tshirt and hoodie. <div class="floatright">(http://25.media.tumblr.com/0c7da2520244a4e361189f2f7a6845c5/tumblr_mfeq43eizm1rlhfn5o1_1280.jpg)</div> all she had with her was a backpack and that had a few notebooks and pencils. She walked through the now open doors, handed her bag to one guard turned and assumed the position. <br>"Sorry to disappoint boys, left all my knives and guns in storage." She teased as.. Mike according to his name tag thoroughly scanned her. When the scanner didn't beep, she was handed her bag and walked over to&nbsp; the main office. Her records landed her a personal audience with the head of this fine establishment, yay for her. She walked into the office, and was allowed to see principle Douglas. As she walked to the office she saw another, rather tall girl walk out of the office. <br>"Next" called the principle, that was Isabella's que to enter the office. "I'm principle Douglas, and you must be Isabella Heartnet.<br>"Yes, I'm here because u wanted to see me... And I need my class list." She said sitting down in a chair that faced him from across the desk.<br>"Yes, I've seen your records. I wanted to let you know that fighting, vandalism, anything else like that will not be tolerated here. Your a smart pretty young girl, so act like one. Here is your class list, secretary mrs.evan for a guide to help you." He said, then simply waved his hand lightly dismissing her.<br>She read over her classes <br><em>1st period: AP studio art (RM:505)<br>2nd period: algebra II (RM:10,001<br>3rd period: lunch<br>4th period: anatomy(RM: 1,004)<br>5th period: civics(RM: 10,010)<br>6th period: AP Creative writing(RM: 1,106)<br>7th period: fashion and design 3(RM:508)</em><br>At least she got all the electives she wanted. "Mrs.evans, I'm supposed to speak to you???" <br>"Honey did you want a guide since your new, she could help you find your classes and help you make friends."<br>"Ahhh, no thanks I can take care of it all myself." Isabella simply walked away, as she walked around the large indoor school she realised the halls to the right increased as she went down and the left did the reverse. First floor was 100s 2nd floor 1000's and&nbsp; 3rd floor 10,000's her first class was room 505. The 500's were all an art wing and so she assumed each wing had a specific subject uncommon and number placement. 10 was the highest in the ones place the numbers went to before the 100s place changed. She walked around for a while, she had time before the bell would ring.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>03-01-2013, 14:27:08</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://25.media.tumblr.com/f30104898b4d0b5e5615320b562c8889/tumblr_mfo86fNmaS1rlxy60o1_500.jpg)</div><br>Helen Poston - Tuesday 4 September 2012 06:30 - Bus Drop Off<br><br>The yellow bus opened its doors and vomited forth students.&nbsp; Helen was among them, looking like an especially young Freshman because of her slight stature and still babyish face.&nbsp; The only reason you noticed her was the red hair stood out among the other students.&nbsp; Not flashy, just different.&nbsp; It was especially different when looked at in the context of the bus riding population.&nbsp; Neptune was still, just barely, a majority white town, but most of the students coming off the bus were black with a smaller group of Hispanic and a sprinkle of white kids like Helen.&nbsp; They all had one thing in common though; poverty.&nbsp; If you didn't live near the school, and your family had two working parents or only one car or none, and you lived below that invisible ceiling called the poverty line, you were bussed in.&nbsp; Helen was one of those kids.&nbsp; <br><br>It also meant you were probably on free or reduced price breakfast and lunch and it might be that your only two decent meals of the day were what more privileged kids considered gross.&nbsp; A few split off from the crowd, but most of them, Helen included, headed into the school cafeteria.&nbsp; It was typically noisy and starting to get crowded as buses continued to discharge their human cargo.&nbsp; Helen joined the line and emerged with a small paper basket of French toast sticks, a cup of syrup and a plastic bottle of strawberry milk.&nbsp; <br><br>They were doing schedule pickup in the cafeteria.&nbsp; That line wasn't too long yet.&nbsp; Most kids were going to wait until the end of breakfast then use the excuse of picking up their schedule to be late to homeroom before First Period.&nbsp; Not Helen.&nbsp; Between Daddy and Coach and Mommy, you weren't late.&nbsp; Not if you had any way to not be late.&nbsp; She got in the M-S line and ate her French toast dry as it moved forward.<br><br>"Oh, nice to see you, Helen."&nbsp; That was Ms. Trowbridge, one of the secretaries in the counseling office.&nbsp; She was a middle-aged black woman, already going doughy and wearing comfortable shoes, but she was super sweet.&nbsp; A lot of times if you needed something from your counselor, Ms. T took care of it for you.&nbsp; The counselors were always in meetings or off campus at a training or wandering down to the lounge to get some more birthday cake or PTSA goodies.&nbsp; Not Ms. T.&nbsp; She manned that front desk and took care of her babies as she called them.&nbsp; You just liked Miss T and she never forgot a name.<br><br>"Hi, Miss T," she said and smiled.&nbsp; "I was hoping you were still here."<br><br>"Child, I ain't going nowhere.&nbsp; Who'd take care of all my babies?"&nbsp; Experienced fingers flipped through the stack of schedules and pulled Helen's out.&nbsp; "That all you having for breakfast?"<br><br>"Yes, ma'am."<br><br>"Best eat some more, girl.&nbsp; You need to hit that growth spurt," she examined Helen's schedule, looking for any holes in it, then handed it over.&nbsp; "You have Mr. Baker for Algebra II," she said and looked apologetic.<br><br>"He's such a -"<br><br>"Uh uh," Ms. T interrupted and wagged a finger.&nbsp; "You go along and get along, Helen.&nbsp; You hear me?"<br><br>"Yes, ma'am," she said and sighed. <br><br>"Good.&nbsp; Now go on and finish your breakfast, honey.&nbsp; Drink that milk," she admonished but with a smile and sent Helen on her way.<br><br>Great, Algebra II with Mr. Baker.&nbsp; He was such a jerk, a real tight ass.&nbsp; He'd been Helen's Algebra I teacher when she was a fish and she'd almost failed every six weeks.&nbsp; He was hard, and mean and picked on the kids he didn't like.&nbsp; Funny how he never picked on the pretty girls or the boys already bigger than him.&nbsp; But if you weren't pretty, or not big, or didn't just get math you were in his sights.&nbsp; Helen qualified on all three and she hated his class.&nbsp; She skimmed the rest of her schedule but didn't see anything half as bad.<br><br>Period 1 English 3<br>Period 2 Algebra II - Baker<br>Period 3 Lunch<br>Period 4 Family Science<br>Period 5 Earth Science<br>Period 6 World History<br>Period 7 PE / Competitive Athletics<br><br>At least gymnastics was at the end of the day.&nbsp; They didn't really have any decent equipment, most of it was broken, but they could do some floor routines.&nbsp; It was also when she worked with the cheerleaders when they told her to come help. Not asked.&nbsp; Told.&nbsp; Their coach bullied her school team's coach and was always borrowing mats or girls to help with the cheer squad. Her real gym coach, the one after school, wouldn't have put up with any of that.&nbsp; She'd have put the cheer coach in her place and sent her off pale under her spray on tan.&nbsp; But it was still good.&nbsp; Helen wouldnt have to change twice into her leo every day.&nbsp; Just throw on some sweats or shorts and go to the real gym where the equipment was quality and so was the coaching.<br><br>Helen sat down at one of the tables and ate her last French toast stick, no syrup, then drank her absurdly pink milk.<br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>03-01-2013, 22:50:46</strong>
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				(Principal Stone/Isi) Tuesday, September 4, 2012 7:00 a.m. Mornings are a most delicate time - Enter the Isi. <br><br><br>First days at new schools had in the past universally sucked.<br><br>Isi had been to English schools, Canadian schools, Welsh schools and Scottish schools while her dad was around and still in the RAF. Most of them forces schools on the bases themselves.<br><br>Now they had a chance of putting down roots. After the accident they had stayed in the states and moved in with a family friend for a while in Stockbridge, Michigan.<br><br>She had finished middle school in Stockbridge, and had been attending high schools there till the incident. One of the boys had taken too much of a liking to Isi and despite her brothers intervention and warnings had continued to bother her. One thing lead to another, Isi was forced into a situation where she felt she had to defend herself from him and it had all gone too far. Isi had been expelled.<br><br>The family had moved to a nice house in nearby Neptune. The RAF had paid out well on the accident and they were able to buy the house outright. The town was far from perfect, yet it had several things going for it. Chief among them being it wasn't an air force base of any description. Property was cheap and though work wasn't plentiful Isi's father's pension ensured the family didn't need to seek work unless they wanted it as long as they lived reasonably and not outside of their means.<br><br>Thus she found herself at a new school shortly before midterms, hoping that news of her beating up a boy a year older than her, even if he had kind of started it and was certainly asking for it, hadn't traveled to Neptune.<br><br>It was a slightly longer bus journey and it would have meant rising earlier if Isi wasn't one of those disturbing teens who tended to haul themselves out of bed well before it was strictly necessary. Partly because she liked to have the drop on the morning, yet mostly because she did her homework in the morning before she left.<br><br>She clambered out of her bed, made it, brushed her teeth, showered, dressed in dark purple jeans a loggers shirt and sat down at her computer for a while. New school. No homework. More time to her that particular morning.<br><br>Shortly before the bus was due past the house she had her lunch prepared, something she did herself, hoisted her shoulder bag and headed out to the curb to wait.<br><br>Sitting on her own near the back of the bus, her music on, Isi discretely tried to study those around her on the bus, and those who boarded along the way.<br><br>She was a tall girl, a hair over six feet, and rail thin, with angular features and light red hair, and so really stood not chance whatsoever of not standing out, especially as she was coming into the school partway through the year. Looking at her, with her short hair, lack of make-up, big work boots and almost total lack of a chest it was kind of hard to tell if she was a girl or a really feminine looking guy. She wore gold rimmed round thin framed spectacles which shaded dark blue eyes. Her skin was about as pale as it was possible to be naturally, which went well with her light red hair, which itself had blonde streaks in it.<br><br>The headphones she was wearing were not the tiny in ear things that most people would use, they were a set of the lightweight full sized headphones that cover and completely conceal the ears. On such a tall thin frame the large headphones looked maybe a little ridiculous, yet they gave much better sound than little tinny in ear things and Isi was not one to be bothered by small concerns like looking good when the alternative was music that sounded amazing.<br><br>Waiting till the bus had cleared out Isi headed into her new educational establishment, her face an impassive mask to try to hide her nerves. She had been instructed that she was to report to the principal on arrival. Report, the word brought her out in goose bumps. She didn't like the undertones there, not one little bit. If the letter she had been sent on her approval had read, 'chat' instead of 'report' it would have been a vast improvement in her opinion.<br><br>She arrived at the office, met the secretary, showed her the letter, was told she was expected and was asked to wait.&nbsp; Isi nodded, took a seat and took out a book to read while she waited to be given the bad news, whatever it was going to be.<br><br>Mrs. Evans a large black woman eyed the girl critically wondering it was a boy or a girl? They sure do look strange nowadays. Why can't kids just dress normal...jeez.&nbsp; She went back to her computer work as the door behind her opened.<br><br>A man in a gray suit, white shirt and blue tie came out. His hair was dark with a little gray. "Hello you're...Isi is it?" The man walked over. "I'm Principal Glen Stone. Please come in."<br><br>The girl in question stood up and nodded, trying to keep her expression neutral. She now knew two things, that her mother had told the principle during her interview with him that she liked to be called Isi and that he remembered things like that. This could be a good thing.<br><br>Glen let her into his office and shut the door looking at the tall and rather masculine looking girl. "Have a seat." He moved around to his desk and looked at his computer then a file on his desk. "So, I guess I don't have to tell you that fighting here is a no no. It happens, but we don’t allow it, so it's best not to put yourself in such situations so you can avoid it."<br><br>"I was trying not to be in that situation before." Isi protested, "Really. I wasn't left with much choice." She sounded a little bitter about it. "I don't like fighting. I didn't want things to happen the way they did." There was genuine contrition in her voice. She knew this was going to have to come up and she had thought about what to say, then when the moment arrived that had all gone out the window, she hated sounding whiny and was trying to avoid that, yet it was hard to steer around that completely. It hadn't so much been a fight anyway, she reflected, the guy had tried to slap her and she had reacted, using an aggressive parry, which lead to a wrist lock. It had been intended to simply and easily diffuse the situation, only she hadn't executed it quite right and had caught two of his fingers instead of his wrist. By the time she had noticed it was too late. The damage had already been done, in more ways than one.<br><br>Isi found herself reflecting on things again, "I will do my best to avoid trouble." she didn't add that she felt that trouble had a habit of finding her, seeking her out and jumping on her back. Trouble was an old, old, well, not friend exactly, more one of those acquaintances that hangs around whether you want it to or not. "Thank you for having me." Isi caught on too late to how that could possibly be interpreted and added a little too hurriedly, "Here at the school."<br><br>"You're welcome." Stone looked at her for a moment then back at the computer. "Your class schedule you can get from Mrs. Evans out there. I'm sure the guidance counselor will want to meet with you as well. Are you interested in any sports or academic teams?"<br><br>"Sports are not really so much my thing. I do like running." She almost chimed in how she enjoyed boxing and other martial arts, yet that really didn't seem appropriate right then. "Academic teams could be good." The mention of a guidance counselor she wasn't fond of. Isi guarded her feelings well and didn't trust the idea of opening up to people trained in psychology. This was likely in large part due to the Irish half of her father’s ancestry.<br><br>"We have a list of them; you can pick that up and see what interests you." Ray handed her two papers that were stapled, "Rules of the school. We have metal detectors at the entrance, as you saw when you came in. Neptune unfortunately isn't the best town, so we do get some bad elements. We're trying to weed them out, but it takes time. So, don't bring anything to school that looks like or is a weapon. That constitutes an automatic suspension for something simple and an expulsion if you're caught with something really dangerous."<br><br>Isi found herself thinking that anything could be used as a weapon with just the minimum of ingenuity, yet once again kept her own council on this. "Right. No weapons. Shouldn't be an issue."<br><br>"Excellent."&nbsp; Glen glanced at her for a second then spoke softly. "Do you have any personal questions or issues you need to discuss or get out of the way now? I find students that do like to get it done and over with before they bottle it up inside." he gave Isi his full attention now. "I know that some feel more comfortable doing it here rather than visiting a counselor and being seen by any friends they have."<br><br>"I don't have to worry there, no friends here yet." Isi smiled a little at that, though it came out slightly lopsided, "I think I'm good," which was all he was going to get whether she was or she wasn't. She didn't know this man and no matter how nice he seemed she had learned young to be careful who you trust thanks to having to move schools so often and living on base most of the time. "I will do my best to stay out of trouble, really. I am not a fan of trouble." She mentally added that trouble nevertheless always seemed to find her somehow, that it appeared to be a fan of her, however she personally felt about things which reminded her of Stockbridge and broken fingers, which caused a twang of regret to pass across her face in a micro-expression before she found her way back to her neutral mask again. "Thank you for taking a chance on me."<br><br>"You're very welcome young lady. I guess that's it then for now. Hopefully I'll just see you now and then in the halls or when needed and not for any disciplinary matters. You can get your schedule and anything else you need with the secretary. Some students like it when we provide them with a mentor the first couple of days to help them get situated. Let Mrs. Evans know if you want that." He stood and smiled before moving to the door to his office and opening it. "Welcome to Neptune High."<br><br>"Thank you." Isi said again, the word seeming more than a little redundant for the repetition. "Ah, have a good day?" She added, which would have sounded better if it hadn't come out so speculative.<br><br>"And you as well." Stone nodded and shut the door leaving Isi to Mrs. Evans.<br><br>The secretary looked at the girl a moment then sighed as if she was an irritation. "Come over here and get your class schedule and information. Do you plan to pay for school lunches or bring your own?<br><br>"Bring my own. Thank-you." Isi was going to be making a habit of that word today it seemed.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 03:18:32</strong>
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				Tuesday, September 4, 2012 Of classes and other embuggerances. (Tag World History kids)<br><br>Isolde flagged down a passing student, "Hello, would you mind telling me to find room, ah," she consulted the piece of paper in her hand, "Three oh five?"<br><br>She was directed, the aid of the map she had, to virtually the other side of the school. Great, she was going to be late.<br><br>Still, it was her first day right, no, wait the girl was saying something else to her. Something about a homeroom.<br><br>"Ah, oh! Yeah, I remember now." Isi nodded, "Sorry."<br><br>"You are from England?" The girl asked.<br><br>"Yeah, originally, been all over though. My dad was RAF, kept moving him around." Isi explained.<br><br>"Here, let me see that paper. Oh, you are in my homeroom! Look at that." The girl handed the paper back, "Follow me." She was off down the corridor with Isi in tow, maybe today wouldn't be such a bad deal after all...<br><br><hr><br>German had been uneventful. She hadn't let on that her mum was German and she was born in Germany as she didn't actually know all that much German and most of what she did were swear words. This was due mostly to her mum's habit of now and again loosing it and swearing like a trooper in her native language. It was always deeply funny.<br><br>Statistics had been dull as ditch-water, which is what she had been expecting.<br><br>Lunch had been a perfunctory affair with her sitting alone at one end of a table with her very modest packed lunch she had made herself that morning.<br><br>English had been halfway interesting, though the book they had been assigned to read was a yawn fest that she had read two years ago at another school.<br><br>Theatre had been fun, they had played murder in the dark and trust games before a big 'getting to know you' thing.<br><br>World History.<br><br>Isi arrived early before most everyone else and took a seat in the class near the window somewhere in the middle of the pack and pulled out her notebook and proceeded to doodle while she waited.<br><br>(Tag history goers)
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				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 05:18:07</strong>
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				James opened his eyes. It was quiet in his room. As usual. His parents didn't have to wake him up. He pretty much woke up before they did anyway. Mick was a bit of a bum, staying up late at nights, playing the odd game or talking to friends. The tyke was more lovable than James had ever been, but the older bro never begrudged him the fact. He loved the kiddo, and more than once the two had watched each other's backs when needed, either against the evils of parents, or teachers. He woke up, and stretched. It was good to finally have the cast off, he though, giving his crutches a glare. Getting injured was a common occurrence, he knew, but it didn't make him like it any better. He knew that... well, he had heard that chicks dug scars, but he never really liked getting hurt just to show off his mannishness. If he got hurt, he took it was best he could, but he tried not to to so at all costs. Well, if that was true, he wouldn't be doing parkour. <br><br>He got up, loving how he was able to do regular pushups again, and quickly moved outside. He changed his clothes, and grabbing a quick something to eat, he began running to school. It was 6:00 AM, and the icy air still bit like a knife. He didn't mind it none. It was a good 30 minute jog to the school, and with the Fall cold in the air, it would keep him fresh all the way there. Some might call him a health freak, which wasn't true since he ate in a fashion that was considered unhealthy, too much of the wrong stuff, and too little of the right, or they thought him to be all about the girls. That was... well, more true than the previous accusation, but still not quite as true as they thought it was. He just liked the feeling of pushing his body to the extreme. He felt a bit bad, since his injury kept him from going through his regular haunts at night. <br><br>The cast had left his leg looking a bit odd and pale, so he wore pants to school until he got better. He was a bit vain that way, but then he was a teenager. His legs pumped him easily, and his breath fogged in the morning air. The sun wasn't quite up in the sky yet, and he smiled. He loved the morning time. He chuckled a bit at the thought of Mick again, who was most definitely not! He increased his pace, noting that he was starting to fall behind. He ran at a regular pace, watching as a few of the mroe early riser began to get up, and drive off to work, or something like that. He ignored a chorus of small dogs barking at him, and kept running.<br><br>He reached the school just as the doors were opening. He checked his watch. 6:35. He scowled. He was out of shape, and five minutes late besides. He would forget this running day, he knew. He went down to the basketball locker room, where he kept his uniform, and put it on after a quick shower. He moved up to the cafeteria, snagging a bit of coffee, and seeing Helen there, already eating. She was atalking to a teacher. Dammit, he thought. He had forgotten to get his schedule. He scowled a bit, and sat down near his friend.<br><br>"Morning sunshine," He said with a small grin.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 05:35:19</strong>
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				Helen Poston - Tuesday 4 September 2012 06:50 - Cafeteria w/ James O'Neil Jr.&nbsp; [Open]<br><br>"Hey," she said and wiped off a pale pink strawberry milk mustache with a napkin.&nbsp; It was always strawberry, never chocolate or white.&nbsp; Always.&nbsp; If it couldn't be strawberry milk, she skipped it and had water.&nbsp; <br><br>James looked like he'd worked out already.&nbsp; His hair was still damp from a shower, but his skin had that slightly flushed glow when your blood had been up.&nbsp; Probably something cardio she figured.&nbsp; He was really strong in his upper body, but she knew his sport, that Parkour stuff, needed a lot of wind.&nbsp; James was so serious about it.&nbsp; Jennifer had been too, until she figured out that the one brief touch of her fingers inside the waist of James' pants had been all she'd ever get.&nbsp; And that was okay.&nbsp; James wanted to be friends with Helen, and Jennifer wanted to date him.&nbsp; No way that would have worked.&nbsp; No.&nbsp; Way.&nbsp; But now it was cool.&nbsp; James and her hung out from time to time, nothing romantic like, and the gymnastics girls were family again.<br><br>Dysfunctional but family.<br><br>"I have Mr. Baker again for Algebra II," Helen said glumly.&nbsp; "He's such an asshole.&nbsp; I had him when I was a freshman and his class just sucked.&nbsp; God, I don't want to go through another year of his constant picking on me."&nbsp; Helen capped her empty milk bottle and pushed it across the table to James.&nbsp; "Make the three pointer, Mr. Basketball," she said and nodded towards a big, grey, open-topped trashcan about 25 feet away.<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 14:19:47</strong>
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				Helen Poston - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History with the Scooby Gang [Open]<br><br>The first day of school was always a fashion showcase of new clothes.&nbsp; Everyone wanted to wear something new and cool and pretty, be it their fancy new Jordans their mom had pulled some other mom's weave out to get to first when the store opened or that just so flirty skirt from A&amp;F.&nbsp; Because of having to pay for gymnastics and the fact her dad and uncle's wrecker needed a new winch motor, there hadn't been much money at all for back to school clothes.&nbsp; Helen and her mom had hit the thrift stores and had managed to do okay even though the hipsters had been there before them.&nbsp; Helen wore a new to her pair of jeans from American Eagle, her best pair of old but clean tennis shoes and a really cute pink and light blue plaid button down shirt worn loose over a tank top.&nbsp; She thought she looked pretty nice, even if everything was old or had been picked up on the cheap.<br><br>There was a really tall, like volleyball tall, girl already in World History.&nbsp; She had cute hair, sort of boyish, sort of pixiesh.&nbsp; It wasn't as read as Heather's but had some cool looking blonde streaks in it.&nbsp; Her face was kind of cool too, not something Helen had ever seen before.&nbsp; Like...different.&nbsp; Not American.&nbsp; Maybe she was an exchange student.&nbsp; That would be cool.&nbsp; They were always so much fun and had neat things to tell you about where they lived.&nbsp; Plus Helen could hide behind her.<br><br>When she walked past, Helen saw the girl was doodling or sketching in her notebook.&nbsp; When Helen sat, it was perfect!&nbsp; She could see the board but just a little scoot to the left and she'd be completely hidden by the girl in front of her.&nbsp; Maybe the teacher wouldn't call on her very often.&nbsp; "Hey," she said to Isolde.&nbsp; "Your hair looks cool."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 15:19:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>James O'Neil Jr. - Tuesday, 4th of September, 2012, 6:52 - Cafeteria w/ Helen Posten (open)</em><br><br>James took up the milk bottle with a small grin. He had always been big enough to stay out of Mr. Baker's bad side, as well as reasonably good with math. He was the typical average student, who could end up being very smart if he wanted to, and applied himself. But he wasn't much for applying himself to school. He got and average of B's all around, and was good enough at everything to avoid being selected to be taken off of privileges like sports, and never good enough to be appointed as the 'star' of his class. He was average, and liked it. In school, anyway. In everything else, he pressed and tried and overcame to be, if not the best, than among the best anyway. He was a master at parkour, capoeira too. He even was trying his hand at cooking, even if Mick was the only one that would taste his food, since he only cooked when both parents were out, and the kid would have eat mud cakes, and declared them worthy of a French chef. <br><br>James lifted his elbow, and calculated the distance from the table at which he sat to the trash, and snapped his fore arm upwards, underthrowing the bottle. It sailed through the air, twirling crazily as it did so, before taking a more downward trajectory, and clashing into the can. He smiled, and raised an arm in the air, feigning a roar of the crowd, which admittedly sounded a bit more like something that would come out of a zombie than a hundred or so fans. He chuckled a bit, and turned back to the problem at hand," Mr. Baker is an ass, but he is a smart ass," He nodded, not realizing until a few seconds later that something resembling a pun was there," Avoid trouble, and report him if he gets too abusive. Better, call me, and I will have a couple words with him," He grinned. It wasn't likely that he would intimidate a but if she asked him to, he would do his damnedest, even though it would probably get him suspended.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 16:00:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://24.media.tumblr.com/43ee44c341c5206fe0fb569526d8bf58/tumblr_mg3wb6bvkt1rlxy60o1_500.jpg)</div>Helen Poston - Tuesday, 4th of September, 2012, 6:52 - Cafeteria w/ James O'Neil Jr. [Open]<br><br>Helen gave a slow golf clap.&nbsp; "The MBNBA is going to scout you hard for college.&nbsp; Milk Bottle National Basketball Association," she explained and gave a brief smile.&nbsp; There were a few kids who had looked over when the plastic bottle swished into the can, mainly girls.&nbsp; Some of them were giving Helen looks, trying to figure out why James was sitting with her.&nbsp; One of them, Kaylee, walked up behind James and hugged him, arms wrapping around his neck so she could shove her breasts in his back.<br><br>"Hey, James," she said, making it sound like her mom trying to be sexy on Skype.&nbsp; Kaylee was blond, pretty and had just gotten her braces off last year.&nbsp; Her teeth were perfect and white and she showed them off all the time.&nbsp; "I didn't know it was bring your little sister to school day.&nbsp; That's so cute," she said and laughed.&nbsp; "Do you have her blankie in your bag?"<br><br>Kaylee swiveled so she could sit on the bench beside James, but with her back to the table.&nbsp; It effectively cut Helen out of the picture and let her, and her breasts, look James straight on.&nbsp; She kept her hand on his arm.&nbsp; "Do you have your schedule yet?&nbsp; I hope we have some classes together."<br><br>Helen rolled her eyes but didn't say anything.&nbsp; She shook her head at James, hoping he'd leave her out of it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 21:36:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isolde Black - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History and the history of, like the whole world man! [Open]<br><br><br>Isi noticed someone coming in and glanced up, then went back to doodling till the girl spoke to her, she turned around and smiled, "Thanks. Ah, I'm Isolde. Isi for short." She offered a hand, which she seemed to feel awkward about as she frowned at it and shook her head, dropping it again. Her accent was English, though it had other things in it, like she had been all over and soaked up the sounds by osmosis.<br><br>"New here, is this a good choice? Or did I choose poorly and am about to regret not choosing something else for the next little while?" Isi asked. "I mean, if you wind up with a good teacher most anything can be good and fun, but the boring ones just kill it for you right?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 21:50:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Helen Poston - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History with the Scooby Gang [Open]<br><br>"I'm Helen," she replied, and was sorting herself out to give Isolde her hand when the other girl dropped it.&nbsp; They both ended up doing a hesitative, awkward action and it made Helen smile a little bit.&nbsp; "Are you an exchange student?&nbsp; I mean, your name is what, Isol...Isolde?&nbsp; And you have an accent.&nbsp; It's pretty though," Helen reassured her.&nbsp; <br><br>"I don't know the teacher," she said and bent down to get her single spiral from her satchel.&nbsp; Bits of her red hair, already untidy, spilled over the desk then flowed back up like spiderling's parachutes when she straightened.&nbsp; "Mr. Baker does, that's for sure," she agreed with Isolde.&nbsp; "Like, I had him when I was a fish, you know?&nbsp; And every day, every day he was like all on me about messing things up.&nbsp; Making fun of me.&nbsp; Of how I looked like an elementary school kid and did math like one too."&nbsp; Helen paused to run both hands backwards a few times through her hair, gathering it up at the back of her head.&nbsp; She began to twist it up.&nbsp; "Then I got him again this year.&nbsp; I saw him looking at me all period today, like he couldn't wait to start it again.&nbsp; He even told me to come by after school today for tutoring.&nbsp; We haven't even done anything yet but a stupid worksheet."&nbsp; <br><br>Helen shoved a pencil into her impromptu bun, which almost immediately began to fall apart.&nbsp; "I mean, like, this stuff."&nbsp; She pulled out a worksheet from her Algebra II class, mostly Algebra I and Geometry review material, most of which Helen had skipped or had done wrong.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 21:59:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isolde Black - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History and the history of, like the whole world man! [Open]<br><br>"Hate algebra. Its real world applications are virtually non-existent and its not even any good for figuring out sudoku." Isi sympathised, "Oh, wait, B is ten there. X is.. Ah, three on that one..." She glanced up, "I can help with this if you like." Isi offered before she could stop herself. It was a universal rule of military life 'Never Volunteer' and she had heard it said over and over again growing up. Though it hadn't really stuck as well it likely could have done as it turned out. "And for the record? Your teacher sounds like a right bag of old shit." She caught herself, "Ah, sorry. Was on military bases a lot. I'm not an exchange student, I am here for good. My dad was RAF and we were living on Nelis for a while, then, well, my dad died and we had permanent resident status and decided to stay in the US." And Isi was telling a complete stranger a potted history of her life, her heart sank in her chest as she thought of her dad and it showed in her face, she tried to bounce back, "Really, I can help I think. You can come over to my place or I can stick around after school."<br><br>There was a beat, just a beat, then, "Ifyouwanttoofcourse." Isi blushed.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 22:15:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Helen Poston - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History with the Scooby Gang [Open]<br><br>The pencil moved where Isolde pointed, flipping eraser for point for eraser until a little pile of pink rubber, like the dead skin shed by bubble gum, was all over her desk.&nbsp; Helen didn't know why the problems were wrong.&nbsp; Math had never come to her.&nbsp; Never.&nbsp; It was like the numbers and concepts were in a different language or something.&nbsp; "Thanks, Isolde," she said and wrote in the last answer Isolde provided.&nbsp; Her hand scattered the eraser bits to the floor, making a smell like old trees and car tires.<br><br>She looked up, making eye contact with Isolde when she spoke about her life.&nbsp; None of it made sense.&nbsp; What was the RAF and Nellis?&nbsp; It wasn't clear, even in context, but it was clear something about the story upset Isolde.&nbsp; A lot.&nbsp; She looked like something bad had just come over her mind, darkened it and not in the kind of good dark like Helen liked.&nbsp; This was bad dark.&nbsp; Dark that hurt people.&nbsp; Without thinking about it, Helen reached out and put her hand around Isolde's wrist and squeezed it.&nbsp; She didn't let go, but her grip did ease up so her fingers were just resting on Isolde's skin.<br><br>"You really don't mind?&nbsp; I mean, really?&nbsp; I have to go see Mr. Baker today, he like insisted on it, but I'll ditch him as soon as I can.&nbsp; I don't have gym after school today and could meet you somewhere.&nbsp; Will you be here?&nbsp; I don't have a car so I can't go to your house unless it's close."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 22:44:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isolde Black - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History and the history of, like the whole world man! [Open]<br><br>The hand on her arm was, nice, welcome and Isi wasn't about to move it, she tried not to overtly notice it for fear that it might leave if she did.<br><br>"I... My house is way out in the boonies to the north. I don't have a car no. My brother does though, he could bring you home afterwards if you come with me on the bus?" She didn't sound too hopeful that this would work out to be fair, "Or I could come to your place?" She offered, "I don't mind walking back if I have to, though its likely Geoff can come grab me later... Oh, I could come see this Mr. Baker with you if you like and tell him I will help?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 22:58:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Helen Poston - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History with the Scooby Gang [Open]<br><br>"Mr. Baker doesn't let kids in his room that aren't his for after school tutoring. He says he's not paid to help just anyone, only his students.&nbsp; Like he wants to help us anyway.&nbsp; Every time I went for it last year his door was shut and he said he was working one on one with a student.&nbsp; Usually Felicity.&nbsp; He used to get real worked up and yell if I knocked on his door."&nbsp; Helen shrugged her shoulders, the movement causing her hand to move slightly on Isolde's wrist.&nbsp; "Oh, sorry," she said and pulled it back.&nbsp; "You just looked like you needed a wrist hug, right?"<br><br>"Not my house.&nbsp; My dad and uncle have the wrecker up in the front yard all torn up, and they'll be drinking beer and cussing a lot.&nbsp; That's hard to study in."&nbsp; And why she usually went to her closet.&nbsp; They weren't bad men, would in fact stop on the side of the road in a rainstorm to help a lady change a flat and not even take a tip for it, but they got loud when they were drinking.&nbsp; Plus, well, her house was embarrassing.&nbsp; <br><br>"Tell you what.&nbsp; How about I go see Mr. Baker and let him yell at me then promise I'll go home and get it right.&nbsp; You can hang out, maybe in the library?&nbsp; I'll come get you and we can ride the tutorial bus to your house.&nbsp; I'll figure out a way to get home later if your brother, Jeff?, can't take me.&nbsp; Cool?" she asked, looking at Isolde and noticing how pretty her eyes were.&nbsp; They had little circles of grey around them, and flecks of orange.&nbsp; Super pretty.&nbsp; Helen leaned forward a little bit to get a better view.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 23:05:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isolde Black - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History and the history of, like the whole world man! [Open]<br><br>The hand left and Isi felt its passing deep in her belly, which was fun and thrilling and kinda sad all at the same time. A wrist hug? She stared at that spot a little too long before glancing up and nodding along for a bit about the dad and the uncle. Isi's face brightened considerably at the thought of this girl, whose name she didn't know yet going home with her.<br><br>"Library? I can do that. I can sit there and read. I do that a lot really. My mum claims I read too much, but I am firmly of the opinion that this is not possible." Her arm was tingling still, she glanced down at it and when she looked up back up the girl was leaning in closer, Isi's chest started to tighten, there was a tingling in her legs, her lower lip found its way to being nibbled on. She just sat and stared into Helen's eyes for a few moments, trying not to look as scared and excited as she was suddenly, and quite unaccountably, feeling.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>05-01-2013, 00:05:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>James O'Neil Jr. - Tuesday, 4th of September, 2012, 6:52 - Cafeteria w/ Helen Posten (open)</em><br><br>The young man grinned at the comment. He had a dead aim, one that pro basketball player would kill for, if that would do any good. But he had a severe lack of interest in following the rules. He was hot-headed, and since he was, as a rule, bigger than the other guys on the team, if not in height, then in build, most of the guys were cowed thoroughly by him, whether he liked it or not. He didn't, but it turned out that he befriended a couple of them, and he generally played in the basketball still to hang out with them. They weren't his regular kind of friends, but more the upper class. They wouldn't have hung out with James otherwise, if they didn't know him first anyway, and he liked the way that he was better than them at just about everything, except money. They seemed to have the aplenty. But still, he preferred his other friends, one that he didn't feel at about the size of an ant when they talked about traveling to Switzerland for their winter vacations, or that their parents had promised them nice cars when they got their driver's licences. In conversations like these his face would mask over. He knew they weren't trying to make him feel bad, and that was why he hid it. They were just a bit insensitive, and he forgave them that. It still hurt though.<br><br>He was brought out of his reverie with the arrival of Kaylee, and he looked around, tuning into what she was saying. He regretted it, because it made him flush. Not in embarrassment, but in repressed anger. It was gone quickly, however, and his eyes, previously hot with indignation, now went as cold as ice. The feeling of her breasts on his back was nice and distracting, but he didn't change his mind. People didn't treat him that way, and most especially not his friends, and get away with it unscathed. Not like he was going to hit her, though. He was gentlemanly enough for that. But he would give her a stinging retort as soon as he could think one up. For now, he tossed her a smile, one that didn't reach his eyes by the proverbial long-shot, as he looked at her, pointedly avoiding to look at her rather intrusive breasts.<br><br>"Kaylee," He said with feigned enthusiasm," Well, aren't you a sight for tired eyes. No, she don't have one. I have yours, though. You never know, after all, when you're gonna need it. Monsters in the lockers might come out at any time, as you well know. No, wait... I think I gave it to you daddy, and he put it back on your bed. Because that's where the monsters really are" He feigned a serious look, or tried, and then grinned, winked, and offered Helen a fist pump. He was getting rather good at offending girls, he knew, from his experience with Jennifer. <br><br><em>James O'Neil Jr. - Tuesday, 4th of September, 2012 - World history class (almost)</em><br><br>James rushed along the halls. He had lived here for long enough, so he knew the school like the back of hsi hand. Knowledge that didn't keep him from being late, after all, and his watch was telling him harshly that he was, in fact, late. He wiped a bit of sweat from his brow, scowling. He didn't like being late. No one did, not at school anyway. James didn't tend to be late, but it was usual for this time of year, when kids were still getting used to the new schedules. He still didn't like it, and entered the history class grumbling a bit. His face lit up at seeing his friend, and he sat as near her as he could. He liked being around her. He looked over to the girl that she seemed to be engrossed in talking to. She seemed new, and only a tad out of place. He nudged Helen a bit," Hey," He said with a smile," long time no see," He grinned, joking of course. He waved to the other girl," Hi, I'm James. Not her boyfriend," He grinned, and offered his hand.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>05-01-2013, 03:30:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Helen Poston - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History with the Scooby Gang [Open]<br><br>James' arrival broke the spell, if that's what it was, between the two girls.&nbsp; Helen looked away first, slumping back into her seat with the image of ghostly grey rings in her head.&nbsp; The dark approved and moved inside of her, causing a sudden stirring in her tummy.&nbsp; It wasn't queasy feeling, it just felt different.&nbsp; It spread slowly, growing warm, like when Mommy gave her sugar and molasses mixed with Daddy's Jack Daniels to quiet a cough.<br><br>"Hey," she said quietly, then bent her head and picked at a few left over pieces of eraser trash on her desk.&nbsp; "He's not," she said suddenly and looked up with just her eyes, only able to see as high up as Isolde's neck.&nbsp; "My boyfriend.&nbsp; I don't have one."<br><br>And why was that important?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>05-01-2013, 04:01:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isolde Black - Tuesday 4 September 2012 6th Period - World History and the history of, like the whole world man! [Open]<br><br>Isi glanced over as Helen did, if a split second behind her, saw the big guy coming in, watched him locate a chair and sit down and then her attention turned back to her study date as she started to speak again.<br><br>"Oh. He's not mine either. I am also boyfriendless." Isolde smiled a little lopsidedly, "Though my brother claims that I should marry books and the Internet as I spend so much time with them." She glanced down at her hands, the left one, the one that Helen had grabbed looked smaller somehow all of a sudden, just for a moment. It was odd it looked like it was smaller and not quite her own, different shaped fingers and them, then she blinked and it looked normal again. Her gaze flicked back up.<br><br>"So, ah, I wait in the library for... Did you just say this teacher gives girls one on one study and shouts at anyone that tries to come in? If I told my mum someone was doing that here she would wig out and come down here in a Teutonic fury and insist on chaperones. And quite rightly. I am coming with you to this study session and if he doesn't like it he can explain to me just why."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>05-01-2013, 05:53:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Chloe awoke to her phone vibrating on the pillow next to her head, She clicked the button and peeked at the screen with half an open eye but decided it was too bright and gave up, Pulling the blanket up over her head she grumbled and snuggled closer into her pillow with a ‘just not yet’ sigh. She drifted off back to sleep for a few minutes when there was loud banging on her bedroom door, a mixture of hands and feet working in unison. She could feel her blood begin to boil. She knew her sister was a demon reincarnated and put on this earth with the pure goal to just harass her, but surely she could hold off until 7am! Emerging from the comforts of her bed Chloe was already in bitch mode, throwing the blankets off her in one swift flick of her arm and stomping her feet down heavily on the ground “Piss off Mary-anne before I skin you!” Chloe growled launching towards the door but Mary-Anne was already half way down the stairs “Muuuuuuuum!” She squealed and Chloe slammed the door and huffed as she started to collect her things up for a shower. <br><br>But before she could make it to the hot steamy refuge that was her favorite morning ritual her mother was already shouting from the kitchen “Chloe! You get down here and apologize to your sister!” Alison shouted from the kitchen “I should have given your father the boys he wanted!” Chloe could hear her mother mutter. It was something that came up a lot. Chloe rolled her eyes “I didn’t do anything!” she yelled back and rushed into the bathroom and locked the door firmly behind her before her mother had a chance to reply.<br><br>The whole process took around an hour: shampooing her hair twice, leaving the conditioner in her hair for a good 10 minutes, shaving all the important should be hair free areas, soaping up everything a good few times and rinsing it off. Then came the three step cleanse tone and moisturize routine she had to keep her skin flawless, brushing her teeth, moisturizing her limbs, blow drying her hair, getting dressed, and finally applying a little make up and perfume. And, finally she was ready to face the day. Chloe emerged from the densely fogged up bathroom in her brand new perfectly snug pale blue skinny jeans, white plain t-shirt and a light sweater in her favorite color lilac.<br><br>Returning to her room to grab her bag she found Mary-Anne sitting cross legged on her bed, Chloe’s pink rhinestone encrusted cell phone in her demon like little hands. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Chloe snapped, lunging for her phone, not sure what secrets she had been talking to Susan about before she had fallen asleep. Mary-Anne started to giggle. “It says here,” she chirped dodging Chloe’s assault by ducking down off the opposite side of the bed. “That you” and then she switched to her high pitch, “I am mocking you” tone of voice, “absolutely can not wait to see Scott again.”&nbsp; She then tossed the phone towards Chloe who snatched it up and chased her annoying 12 year old sister out of the room. <br><br>“I wasn’t kidding” Chloe hissed, trying to keep her voice low so her mother didn’t hear. “I will get you back you little toad.” Mary-Anne did not care about the threat in the slightest, poking her tongue out and skipped back down the stairs singing in a tell tale voice “Chloe and Scott sitting in a tree.....”<br><br>Returning to her room Chloe quickly scanned her messages to make sure there was nothing else more damning that Mary-Anne could have found. Satisfied with her findings, she slipped the phone into her front pocket and begun to shake out her bedding to make her bed. A tinkling noise came from her sheets and she inspected the noise knowing exactly what she would find: a small pile of the jewelry she had been wearing the day before. She looked at her hands.&nbsp; She hadn’t even noticed they were bare this morning with all the rush. Her hands went to her ears and her throat. Nothing. She picked up her rings and started to slide them back on her fingers with a confused expression on her face. This was the third time in just over a week this had happened to her. It was creepy. Her necklaces were still linked together at the back, too small to pull over her head without at least unlinking them. Chloe only ever removed her jewelry for practice and sometimes not even then. She pulled out her phone and quickly tapped out a text to Susan. <br><br><strong>It happened again</strong><br><br>Chloe pocketed the phone again and went back to making her bed, once it was done she read her reply from Susan.<br><br><strong>Creepy. You must be haunted.</strong><br><br>Chloe scoffed and put the phone away but in the back of her mind the idea lingered for a little longer then it should of. Maybe she was haunted? Her morning already shot to hell she made her way down stairs with her school bag hanging off one of her shoulders and started to pace the living room. She couldn’t walk around on the first day of school alone, what would people think? She quickly tapped out a mass text inquiring where all her favourite people would be this morning. <br><br>Katie Marsh, a white five foot four girl with a wide face, light brown eyes and curly shoulder length medium brown hair, immediately texted back.&nbsp; Her personality was completely effervescent.&nbsp; But, amongst the cheerleaders, her reputation was somewhat poor as she tended to treat everyone in the school equally, not buying into the implied caste system.&nbsp; <br><br><strong>Hey!&nbsp; All the cheerleaders are meeting early before the school at the steps.&nbsp; Didn’t Suz tell you?</strong><br><br>Another text came in from Ashley Avery, the new Varsity cheerleader Captain.&nbsp; She had straight blond hair that reached nearly to her bra strap, blue eyes and stood about five feet, six inches tall.&nbsp; Her nose was a tad hawkish and everyone knew that crossing her was an incredibly bad idea.&nbsp; <br><br><strong>Is Susan going to be with you?</strong><br><br>As soon as Chloe read the text, her front door opened and in pranced the lady of the hour: Susan Murray. She had long blonde hair that fell perfectly every single day without any effort on her part whatsoever.&nbsp; Her smile was wider than usual because she was amped about the first day of school as only a true social butterfly would be. “You look wonderful!” Susan exclaimed making her way over to give Chloe the first hug of the day. <br><br>“Morning,” Chloe said tapping out a reply to Ashley behind Susan’s back as they embraced.<br><br><strong>Yes, Be there soon.</strong> <br><br>It was always a wise option to have Susan around. Not only did she do most of the talking, but she was the well liked one. Chloe still hadn’t made any other true friends amongst the cheer squad yet and wasn’t entirely sure they had fully accepted her yet. “Shall we get going then? There’s so much to do and not much time to get it done!” Susan said, her eyes twinkling with the kind of excitement that Chloe could only wish she could muster. <br><br>Chloe’s mum drove the girls to school, or at least as close as the girls would allow her to get before they got out and walked. They quickly did a presentation check in the reflection of the car window and linked their arms together, making their way slowly to the front steps where a ‘gaggle’ of girls were forming, watching the students as they arrived and passing judgment on their attire. The ring leader of those girls was Ashley, who Susan immediately set her sights on. Susan spread her arms out as she approached, ditching Chloe, and gave the queen a hug. “Ashley! Don’t you just look stunning” Susan said. <br><br>Chloe stood their kind of awkwardly putting on her best ‘nice to see you again smile’ to the other girls.<br><br>Ashley was wearing a pair of silver earrings with a heart inside a crescent moon.&nbsp; Her fingernails were polished green.&nbsp; She wore a blue varsity jacket with the trident symbol on it.&nbsp; Underneath that was a pink shirt that had the word "princess" arched on the front in varying colors and glitters.&nbsp; She wore blue jean shorts and blue croc shoes to complete the outfit.&nbsp; &nbsp;She gave Susan a generous hug back.&nbsp; Then, she noticed Chloe and gave her a slightly less than enthusiastic hug.&nbsp; “Hey, Chloe.”<br><br>Katie, however, rushed over to Chloe and squealed, “Oh, my God!&nbsp; You are so adorable today!” and before Chloe could object, she embraced her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.&nbsp; She was wearing a varsity jacket that matched Ashley’s, a plain light blue t-shirt underneath, and a light blue skirt with a frill at its bottom.&nbsp; She wore some short matching blue pumps.&nbsp; “So great to see you, Chloe!&nbsp; Got your eyes on any guys this year?”<br><br>Chloe felt her cheeks flush a little as she relived her sister’s song this morning. She glanced at her feet as she dug&nbsp; around for a come back that would not make her look like an idiot. “No, well, not yet,” she lied, looking over to Susan for assistance but she was too busy gossiping with Ashley. “Cute skirt,” Chloe said trying to recover from her lack of conversational skills. “How about you? Any one you have your eyes on?”<br><br>Katie melted a bit as she squealed, “Thanks!&nbsp; Well, you know, I think that I could go for Matt Miles.&nbsp; Have you seen his chest?&nbsp; It is so ripped and his six pack....&nbsp; Ass is pretty tight, too,” she verbally drooled.&nbsp; “I just don’t know if he likes me back, though, not to mention that I’m sure everyone wants him and you know....”<br><br>At that point, Jessica Domke appeared and stood next to Katie.&nbsp; She was the captain of the junior varsity team.&nbsp; She probably had the talent to be on Varsity but her attitude was commonly a source of concern for staff and students alike.&nbsp; Her short, straight blond hair was parted to the left and hung dangerously over her left eye. Her hazel eyes were warm and yet somehow distant, almost begging someone to ask about her history.&nbsp; She told Katie, “Hey Bubbles.”&nbsp; <br><br>Jessie&nbsp; then switched her glance over at Susan and wrinkled her nose before turning to Chloe and asking, “Lose something?” referring to her Chloe’s best friend, Susan.<br><br>Chloe had never had a comfortable moment near Jessie in the entire time she had known her. She was difficult to say the least. It infuriated Chloe to no end because you just had to take it on the chin or else she would personally orchestrate your fall from grace. The disgusted little wrinkle of her nose as she looked at Susan made Chloe’s blood boil and she had to physically bite down on her tongue to stop herself from saying something she would regret. Taking in what she hoped would be a calming breath she looked up to meet evil in the eye&nbsp; “Nice to see you again, Jessie,” Chloe lied.<br><br>Susan doing what Susan did best, smelled the fear that was associated with the presence of Jessie. Politely excusing herself from her chit chat session with Ashley, she moved to Chloe’s group so could take some of the heat off Chloe. Jessie was known to swallow girls whole and just spit out the bones. “Jessie! Katie!” Susan said, sounding pleased as punch to see them as she approached, giving them both a quick squeeze before linking her arm with Chloe’s. “Doesn’t she just look too cute in that skirt?!” Susan said with a general hand wave over Katie’s attire.<br><br>Chloe nodded, more confident now her bestie was by her side. Giving Katie a&nbsp; genuine ‘I agree, but you already know that’ smile while trying her best not to look at Jessie again because she knew the expression on her perfectly flawless face was not going to be a pleasant one.<br><br>Jessie knew the lie for what it was.&nbsp; She did not appreciate it and it crashed her slim hope that Chloe might turn into a semi-decent human being.&nbsp; She simply rolled her eyes and told Chloe, “You’re a horrible liar.”&nbsp; <br><br>When Susan arrived and hugged Jessie, Jessie stiffened and responded, “And here’s Ashley’s pet....”&nbsp; She gave a depressed sigh and told Katie, “When you’re done with all the candied shits, I’ll be inside.”<br><br>Katie gave a broad smile at Jessie and told her, “Be there soon.&nbsp; K?”&nbsp; Katie knew that Jessie had an undeserved reputation as a slut but the girls around school insisted on reminding both her and Jessie whenever an opportunity arose.&nbsp; Returning her gaze back to Susan and Chloe, Katie bubbled, “So, ready for the first home game on Friday?&nbsp; I can hardly wait!&nbsp; What about you?”<br><br>Before Chloe had a chance to open her mouth, Susan was already bouncing on her toes like a popcorn kernel ready to pop. “So excited! Aren’t we?” she asked nudging Chloe forward a bit.<br><br>Chloe smiled and pushed the loose hair around her face behind her ear. “Super excited,” she nodded. “We have been training hard, I can’t wait for practise.” She eyed up the other girls, no one had accidently let themselves go over the summer or returned with a bump stashed under their shirts. “The team’s looking good.&nbsp; We may even be better than last year,” Chloe said. <br><br>Katie thought to herself, <em> I can hear Jess saying, “Like that would take much.”&nbsp; I so need to work on her spirit. </em>&nbsp; She then laughed and said, “Of course we will be!&nbsp; And if we can help by raising their spirits or being so super sexy so that the opponents get distracted, all the better!&nbsp; We have to show our spirit!&nbsp; So, what’s your class schedule look like, you two?&nbsp; Do we have anything together?”<br><br>Chloe tugged her schedule out of the pocket on her back pack. She had already highlighted her classes that she shared with Susan in a bright pink. Teeny little hearts were decorated around the end of day PE session to signify it was the best part of her day. She held it out so everyone could compare.<br><br>Physics / English3 / Lunch / Algebra2 / Theatre / Worldhistory / PE-Cheerleading<br><br>Susan sighed in relief as she finally dug hers out from the bottom of her bag. “I thought I had misplaced it for a second there,” she said holding hers up alongside the others, using the moment to show off her perfectly manicured nails. <br><br>Spanish2 / English3 / Lunch / Chemistry / World History / Choir / PE-Cheerleading<br><br>Katie squealed delightedly and hugged Chloe.&nbsp; “We have four classes together!&nbsp; How cool is that?&nbsp; English, Algebra 2, history and PE-Cheerleading!”&nbsp; She jumped up and down.&nbsp; “And Susan, that sucks that we will only have two!&nbsp; But we still have cheer after school....”<br><br>Chloe smiled broadly as she hugged the ecstatic cheerleader. “I can’t wait!” she said folding her schedule up neatly and tucking it back into her pocket. Susan still looked pleased, as if a few classes without her friends would dampen her spirits. “I will hopefully have some classes with Ashley too. Don’t worry about me!” she replied hauling her bag back over her shoulder and flipping her wrist to check her watch. “We should probably get going.” <br><br>Chloe checked her phone. The girls were not exactly late. She eyed Susan suspiciously. “Who are you in a hurry to meet?” Chloe asked with smirk spreading across her face. It had to be a boy. Susan would only be early to class if it meant she got to stare at a boy. “Who is he?!” Chloe demanded. “Who is in your first class?” <br><br>Susan started to laugh and kissed her bestie on the cheek. “I will tell you in English,” she said. “Both of you.” She turned her attention to Katie for a farewell hug before skipping off merrily with her secret intact. <br><br>Katie laughed as Susan hugged her.&nbsp; She advised Susan, “Have fun and don’t forget to tell Chloe and I about it!”&nbsp; Turning to Chloe she asked, “Catch you in English?”<br><br>“Absolutely.” Chloe nodded giving Katie a farewell hug. “Good luck with your first class!” Chloe said as she begun to casually stroll off towards her home room. <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>06-01-2013, 06:18:13</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Helen Poston and Isolde Black (JP by The Effervescent and Stupendous <span class="bbc_u">Branwen</span> and that Strange Mess of a Girl <span class="bbc_u">mayovagn</span>)<br>Tuesday 4 September 2012<br>Mr. Baker's Classroom Latter Part of 7th Period through to lazing about in the basement of the Black House in Isi's room.</strong><br><br><br><hr><br>Helen hadn't waited on Isolde.&nbsp; <br><br>She'd thought about her though.&nbsp; Thought about her all through World History and later in last period gymnastics.&nbsp; Thought about how she looked and how nice she had been to help Helen with her math worksheet.&nbsp; Thought about those eyes with the beauitful grey rings and how Isolde had blushed, just a little bit, when she invited Helen to come over to her house to help Helen some more.&nbsp; Thought about her hair.&nbsp; A lot about her hair.&nbsp; It was the one thing Helen had been able to stare at all period long without it looking weird.&nbsp; Isolde's hair was just pretty, like layers of different colors that sometimes held firm and sometimes tangle around one another and made a muddy beautiful new color.&nbsp; Once, when no one was paying attention to her, Helen had reached out and pulled a short piece of it where it lay abandoned on the back of Isolde's blouse.&nbsp; Helen rubbed it between her fingers until she dropped it by accident.&nbsp; What would her full head of hair feel like?&nbsp; Was it soft?<br><br>"Helen!"<br><br>The shout made her look up just in time to reach out and help Jennifer from over rotating on the dismount&nbsp; She was supposed to be spotting, not daydreaming.&nbsp; Jennifer teetered, weight too far forward, and Helen's hand was too low on her belly, below the moment.&nbsp; Jennifer went over the hand and landed awkwardly on the mat.&nbsp; <br><br>"Oh my god.&nbsp; Jennifer, I'm so sorry," Helen said and bent down to help her team mate up.<br><br>"I'm okay," Jennifer said and pulled herself up via Helen's arm.&nbsp; "What happened?&nbsp; I looked up and you were just zoning out instead of watching for me."&nbsp; It wasn't an accusation, but there was serious concern behind the question.&nbsp; With the crappy school coach they had, Helen and Jennifer and the other girls who competed on the out of school squad had to more or less run practice themselves.&nbsp; That included spotting and safety.&nbsp; <br><br>"I... I don't know.&nbsp; I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something I guess."&nbsp; About someone, Helen's mind corrected.<br><br>Jennifer put her arm on her friend's shoulder and shook her a little bit, making Helen look over at her.&nbsp; "What's got you so worried?"<br><br>"Mr. Baker," Helen lied with a facility that surprised her.&nbsp; <br><br>"Yeah.&nbsp; That sucks you got him again. Still, look at Felicity.&nbsp; That girl had more boobs than brains and she managed to get an A in his class."&nbsp; Jennifer walked with Helen over to the next exercise.<br><br>"He did a lot of tutoring with her.&nbsp; He wants me to come by after school today and get some help.&nbsp; Like, he really insisted on it."&nbsp; Helen and Jennifer waited in line for their turn to vault.&nbsp; "I don't know though.&nbsp; I mean, Felicity was in there every day.&nbsp; And she never looked happy whenever someone mentioned how much he was helping her."<br><br>"Yeah," Jennifer agreed.&nbsp; "But she got an A.&nbsp; I guess it's like gymnastics.&nbsp; You have to work for it if you want it.&nbsp; Anyway, Felicity moved, remember?&nbsp; Her parents sent her off to some private school."&nbsp; Jennifer got ready to run down the lane.&nbsp; "You should go in for help," she said then took off, ponytail flying behind her.<br><br><hr><br>Helen had ditched the last fifteen minutes of gym to go to Mr. Baker's room.&nbsp; She was still in her leo and shorts in fact, and her grips dangled loose about her wrists.&nbsp; There was chalk all over her and she was barefoot.&nbsp; Helen figured if anyone asked her for a pass, she could say she just went to get a drink, or go to the nurse for girl stuff, especially if it was one of the male guards.&nbsp; That freaked them right out, like they couldn't wait to send you on your way, pass or no pass.<br><br>Mr. Baker's door was open and he didn't have a class. Cool!&nbsp; It had been her plan to just talk to him real quick in the middle of his class and say she'd gotten help from a friend and maybe get excused from tutoring.&nbsp; But now she would be able to get help before 7th period ended and not have Isolde there, waiting or maybe making Mr. Baker upset.&nbsp; She also worried about what Isolde would say to him.&nbsp; She was so... so upfront about things.&nbsp; Like she didn't care about arguing with adults.&nbsp; The best part though was they could go right to her house!<br><br>"Mr. Baker?&nbsp; It's Helen?"&nbsp; She stood just inside his doorway.<br><br>He held up a finger to signal her to wait, then finished typing an email and looked up at her.&nbsp; The merest tug of something that might be mistaken for a smile made his lips twitch.&nbsp; "Hello, Helen.&nbsp; I've been waiting for you.&nbsp; And you're early.&nbsp; Good.&nbsp; Come in and shut the door behind you so we won't be distracted by noise in the hallway."<br><br>The darkness inside her roiled in uncertainty.&nbsp; Helen just felt suddenly a little bit like being at the top of a swing and starting to come down on, that moment of everything dropping out from underneath you.&nbsp; It passed and she shut the door.&nbsp; Mr. Baker had papered over the little window in it with a picture of a graphing calculator.&nbsp; "I came by for tutoring," she said and walked towards the desks.&nbsp; "I thought, since like gym was so slow today, we could do it now?&nbsp; Is that okay?"<br><br>"Sit here instead," he said and pointed to a short stool beside his chair on his side of the desk.&nbsp; "I like to work with students at my desk where i have everything I need."&nbsp; He nudged the stool a little bit away from his chair.&nbsp; "And I'm very glad you came in early. That gives me more time with you.&nbsp; Good work, Helen," he smiled warmly.<br><br>"Oh, okay," Helen said and smiled.&nbsp; Mr. Baker was being nice!&nbsp; That never happened.&nbsp; She took the stool beside his desk.&nbsp; It was awful close to him, so close she could smell the slightly sour scent of his armpits and the Old Spice aftershave he wore.&nbsp; "So, like, I got some of the problems right, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Another student said so."<br><br>"Good," he said and patted her on the shoulder.&nbsp; "I'm proud of you for that.&nbsp; Now, let's start with some review."&nbsp; For the next ten minutes he led her through the steps, working problems and being very liberal with his praise.&nbsp; <br><br>Helen started to smile, then started to feel really comfortable with him. Mr. Baker was being so nice!&nbsp; It was not at all like freshman year. He even kept giving her little pats on the shoulder, the arm, even a hug or two. "This is really helping me, Mr. Baker," she said and looked over at him with a beaming smile.&nbsp; "Like, way more than you helped me freshman year."<br><br>"Well, you've grown up a lot since then, Helen.&nbsp; You were just a flat chested little girl then. Now, look at you," he said and nodded towards where the leotard was cupping her breasts.&nbsp; It flattened them down a lot, and she wasn't especially big, but they were breasts.&nbsp; "All grown up," he said again and put his arm clear across her back and held onto her opposite shoulder.&nbsp; "Helen, do you want it to be like freshman year?&nbsp; Or do you want it to be like this, just the two of us working and having fun and maybe you can make an A this time.&nbsp; Won't your parents like that?"<br><br>"Um...yeah?"&nbsp; She felt more than a little uncomfortable but it was okay.&nbsp; He was a teacher, right?&nbsp; And he'd really helped Felicity.&nbsp; "They would be really proud of me."<br><br>"Well, then we have to spend a lot of time together," Mr. Baker said and squeezed her shoulder.&nbsp; "A lot of time.&nbsp; Now, work the next problem."&nbsp; <br><br>"Okay. Mr. Baker."&nbsp; He didn't let go, even when Helen started to write.&nbsp; She was frowning in concentration when he put his hand on her thigh.&nbsp; Helen stopped, pencil poised over the paper.&nbsp; "Mis...Mister Baker?"<br><br>"Shh," he whispered and leaned in close to her.&nbsp; His hand squeezed her thigh, the bare skin totally exposed beneath where her leotard ended.&nbsp; "Keep working," he admonished. "Strive for that A.&nbsp; You do want an A, right?&nbsp; Right?" he asked again, a little roughly.<br><br>Helen nodded.&nbsp; The pencil in her hand shook.<br><br>"Good.&nbsp; Now, keep working," he directed and pinched the soft, sensitive flesh of her inner thigh.&nbsp; He didn't let go either, just kept pinching.<br><br>Helen tried.&nbsp; She tried to ignore the feeling of his hand, of the painful pinch.&nbsp; Tears welled up in her eyes and clouded her work so she couldn't see.&nbsp; The more she tried, tried so he'd quit, the worse it got.&nbsp; The pencil lead snapped and she dropped the #2 onto the worksheet.<br><br>"That's not very good at all, Helen."&nbsp; Mr. Baker let go of her skin and began to rub it in circles.&nbsp; "Does that feel better?"&nbsp; <br><br>Helen just sat there, petrified, and the tears threatened to spill over.&nbsp; She wanted to throw up.<br><br>"Does it?" He asked again harder.<br><br>"Yes," she whispered.<br><br>"So which do you prefer?&nbsp; This?" he pinched her quite hard making Helen jump but his arm across her shoulder held her down.&nbsp; "Or this?"&nbsp; Mr. Baker began to rub her thigh again.<br><br>"Please, Mr Baker. Please, I..."<br><br>"Answer me," he said and poised his fingers to pinch again.&nbsp; "Pinch or rub?&nbsp; You decide, Helen."<br><br>"Rub."<br><br>"No.&nbsp; Say 'Please rub me, Mr. Baker. Please make it feel good.'"<br><br>"Please ru- ru- rub mmmm me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Pppppplease make it feel good."&nbsp; The darkness inside screamed to be let out, but the room was too bright, the distraction too much.<br><br>"Of course, Helen.&nbsp; And remember, you asked me to."&nbsp; He started to rub her thigh, hand moving up higher and higher towards her center.&nbsp; Mr. Baker started to breath heavier.&nbsp; His fingers brushed the crotch of her leotard.<br><br>The bell rang, startling both of them, and Heather bolted.&nbsp; The stool fell over with a crack and she fumbled hard at the door.&nbsp; Just as it opened, Mr. Baker's hand slammed into it, shutting it and he held it with his weight.&nbsp; "Shhh," he said and stroked her hair.&nbsp; When Helen tried to move, he grabbed the back of her neck and spun her to face him.&nbsp; "You asked me to, remember?&nbsp; If you tell anyone, I'll tell them what you asked me to do, Helen.&nbsp; What bad things you wanted me to do.&nbsp; What you asked for," he repeated.&nbsp; "You don't want that.&nbsp; No.&nbsp; You want to be a good little girl and keep your mouth shut, right?"<br><br>She nodded, breath coming in shivery little gasps.<br><br>Mr. Baker let go and opened the door.&nbsp; "See you tomorrow, Helen," he called out in a normal voice.&nbsp; "Good job today in tutoring."<br><br>Just like Felicity before her, Helen didn't look happy leaving tutoring.&nbsp; She walked down the hallway towards the gym, arms wrapped around herself.<br><br>Isi was glad.<br><br>She was glad that she had met someone she could talk to. She was glad that someone had accepted an invite of help with maths, no, wait, they called it math over here... With math homework. What was that about anyway? You didn't just do it once, you did it repeatedly, it was quite clearly maths. Silly and lazy north Americans. Dropping all the 'U's out fo the good words and calling things by the wrong names. She was glad that she had remembered to find out Helen's name too. That could have been awkward the longer it went. Three years down the line seeing each other in the street and having to admit that the entire time they were friends in high school she never knew the girl's name...<br><br>No, Helen seemed nice and interesting and fun and there had been that look that went on too long and felt electric and incredible and Isi hadn't minded at all...<br><br>And there was Helen looking miserable and...<br><br>Wait... Back up...<br><br>Isi stopped, her face hitting a look of concern almost instantly, her heckles very much up she raced over to Helen, "Are you okay? What's wrong? What happened?"<br><br>"Nothing happened!"&nbsp; The words were shouted, completely at odds with her tiny form.&nbsp; Inside Helen the darkness seethed, roiling in a thick, angry fog that demanded to be let out but was imprisoned as surely as if her arms wrapped around her body held it in. "Just leave me alone," she said and spun to the left, twirling completely around and past any possible chance Isolde might have had of grabbing her.&nbsp; Several students nearby looked over, hoping for a fight, but when one wasn't forthcoming they went back to hanging out against the walls.<br><br>She walked quickly away.&nbsp; Not from Isolde.&nbsp; From that room.&nbsp; From him.<br><br><em>He did a lot of tutoring with her.<br><br>She never looked happy...<br><br>Her parents sent her off..</em><br><br>Now she knew why.&nbsp; Now she understood.&nbsp; Felicity had been just like her.&nbsp; She was just like Felicity.&nbsp; But why did she get sent away?<br><br><em>Shhh.&nbsp; <br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>Remember.&nbsp; You asked me to.</em><br><br>"No, it wasn't like that," she whispered to herself.&nbsp; "No.&nbsp; No no no."<br><br><em>If you tell anyone, I'll tell them what you asked me to do, Helen.&nbsp; <br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>...tell them what you asked me to do.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>...tell them what you asked me to do.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>You want to be a good little girl and keep your mouth shut.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>..be a good little girl and keep your mouth shut.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>..be a good little girl and keep your mouth shut.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>...keep your mouth shut.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>...keep your mouth shut.</em><br><br>Helen ran into the bathroom and fell onto her knees inside the stall.&nbsp; The black plastic of the seat was cold on her hands as she clung to it, then vomited what little lunch she'd had.&nbsp; She kept retching, over and over, even when there was nothing else to get out of her tummy.<br><br>What was in her refused to come out.<br><br>Isi looked even more concerned and slightly taken aback at Helen's outburst, then followed her through the crowd and slipped quietly into the bathroom behind her. Lifted herself up and sat on the sink block and studied her fingers which were looking odd again, too short, too small. The sound of Helen's distress was too much though and she stalked over to the door, knocking on it quietly.<br><br>"Hey. I know you told me to go away, but... I want to help. I have to offer to come in there and give you a hug, because if I don't my heart is going to jump out of my chest and choke me till I do it. I don't want that." There was hurt and care and worry all rolled up in the English girls voice, "Please, if I can, I want to help. Really."<br><br>"Don't come in," Helen pleaded.&nbsp; "I'm...I just don't feel good," she lied then rested her head against the wall of the stall.&nbsp; It felt so good.&nbsp; So cold and hard and like it would protect her.&nbsp; Protect her from him.&nbsp; Helen's stomach churned and she heaved again.&nbsp; Heaved until her belly cramped and she could barely breathe.<br><br>"Bad fish sticks," she called out to Isolde, then flushed the toilet after wiping her mouth with a wad of toilet paper.&nbsp; Helen stood up and pulled the door inward, not looking at Isolde.&nbsp; At the sink she began to wash her hands.&nbsp; When she looked up into the mirror, her face was pale, freckles standing out in stark relief.&nbsp; "I'm sorry," she said to the girl in the mirror, but likely Isolde would think it was meant for her.<br><br>Isi looked a little different, still the same girl wearing the same clothes but her eyes were a lighter blue and she had a lot more freckles all of sudden, in a pattern almost exactly like Helen's own. Not that Isi herself seemed to have spotted anything wrong.<br><br>She watched Helen sweep past and arrive at the sinks, watched her start to wash up, her hands opening and closing a few times, "I... Don't think it was bad food. Only I don't want to force you to talk to me or tell me anything, I just met you, how can you trust me?" Her voice wasn't as English as it was before, a little north American twang had crept into it somehow, this Isi herself did find odd, but she couldn't stop now, had to plough on through. "I do want to help though. However I can. Whatever you need." She looked down at her boots for a few moments, sucking on her lower lip, noticed her hands again, too small, fingers too short, was it a trick of her mind? It had been happening all day, ever since History class. Come to that, her chest was looking, well, fuller than normal, felt heavier. Normally she had practically nothing, now it looked, at least through the heavy cotton boy work shirt she had on, like she had at least an A cup.<br><br>"I..." What. The. Haemorrhaging fuck? "I didn't have these earlier..?" She glanced up at herself in the mirror, her face went a little slack she leaned in, "Freckles... What..."<br><br>"There's nothing to tell," she shook her head at her reflection.&nbsp; "Nothing happened," she lied, though every time it came out, the lie became closer to the truth.&nbsp; Nothing had happened, nothing she hadn't asked him for anyway.&nbsp; It was all her fault.&nbsp; She shouldn't have done it, made him do it.&nbsp; And she had to keep her mouth shut.&nbsp; "It was bad milk."<br><br>Helen shook her hands dry then tried to drown out the voice in her head with the screeching hissing blow of the hand dryer.&nbsp; She hit it again when it stopped.&nbsp; Then a third time, hands long since dry but the noise making thinking and talking hard.&nbsp; She didn't want to think.&nbsp; "You want to help me?&nbsp; Help me with math.&nbsp; Make me understand it," she said, almost angry.&nbsp; Helen turned around, about to say something else, but stopped.&nbsp; She looked at Isolde, then at herself in the mirror, then at Isolde again.&nbsp; Helen came to stand beside her.&nbsp; <br><br>"Bend down," she said and put her hand on Isolde's arm, pulling on it.&nbsp; "Lower."&nbsp; She didn't stop pulling until their heads were at equal height.&nbsp; Helen stared at Helen and...almost-Helen staring back at her from the mirror.&nbsp; Her hand reached out to touch the mirror, finding it cold and glass as expected and her hand met its twin on the glass.&nbsp; "I thought your eyes were grey," she said.&nbsp; "But they're the same color as mine.&nbsp; And were you wearing concealer earlier?&nbsp; I don't remember freckles."<br><br>"My..." Isi looked in the mirror, pulling away from Heather in the process, her face was normal, her eyes were dark blue with grey circles, even her chest was... Flat. Okay, that was a disappointment. Her hands were normal again too. "I think... I think I might be going insane. I had, like, tits, just a moment ago. Little ones, but tits. Now... Nothing. I don't... Normally I have nothing." Isi glanced at Heather in the mirror, back down at her own chest. "Hangon..." She turned her back on Helen, undid the buttons on the cream heavy cotton work shirt. Opened it up and checked out her chest, unaware seemingly that the mirror gave Helen a view of her nipples. "That's normal. So why did it look..." She buttoned things back up, put a hand to her forehead. "Maths. I was going to teach you maths."<br><br>Helen looked uncertain, but everything was back to normal now.&nbsp; Right?<br><br><em>You’ll never be normal again.&nbsp; Please rub me, Mr. Ba-</em><br><br>“Shut up,” she whispered.&nbsp; &nbsp; “Just, shut up.”<br><br>“Sorry.” Isi shook her head, “I just... Why would I think...” She put her hands on her chest, felt around, normal. “Sorry.” she said again. “Going insane. Plus, I came in here to help you, not to go stark raving bloody mad.”<br><br>“What?”&nbsp; Helen looked away from her inner conflict and saw Isolde.&nbsp; Really saw here.&nbsp; The real Isolde, not the...that hadn’t happened.&nbsp; Just like Mr. Baker hadn’t happened.&nbsp; “Isolde?&nbsp; Can we just go?&nbsp; I mean, just go to your house?”&nbsp; She wasn’t even thinking about her school satchel and clothes still in her locker in the gym.<br><br>“Of course, yes. Right away.” Isi fidgeted with her messenger bag, gave Helen the best smile she could which was somewhat disappointingly lopsided right then. She nodded again and headed for the door to the ladies. “Ah, I am not very good at finding my way about here yet. Could you lead please?”<br><br>“Yeah,” she said and took Isolde’s hand.&nbsp; Helen's hand was small and very clean in Isolde’s, and she’d velcroed her grips up out of the way.&nbsp; “Come on.”&nbsp; All the way through the building she kept hold of Helen’s hand.&nbsp; When they had to pass back by Mr. Baker’s room, Helen’s grip became frantically tight and her palm was all cold sweat.&nbsp; The fingers began to relax as they moved away until she was just holding it normally again.&nbsp; Only when they were filing onto the bus did she let go.<br><br>The tall, green vinyl seat swallowed her up and Helen scooted to inside, but immediately moved back over once Isolde was seated. Her bare thigh and calf touched Isolde’s leg.&nbsp; There was already a large bruise forming on the inside of her left thigh, high up near where Helen’s leotard ended.<br><br>“Should you have changed?” Isi whispered, “Not that you have to. My mum won’t mind. Geoff might stare of course... He does that. Boys.” She had enjoyed the hand holding, the squeeze past that one door had been somewhat odd. But the hand holding in general had been really nice, it was it seemed wont to cause strange sensations in Isi’s belly and chest.<br><br>“I just wanted to get out of there,” she said, voice pitched low because Isolde was talking quiet.&nbsp; Not like anyone could hear them over the noise of the diesel, the blaring CB radio or the other kids.&nbsp; “I’ll get my stuff tomorrow.&nbsp; Maybe you have like a t-shirt or something I can borrow?&nbsp; Or something you’ve outgrown?”&nbsp; Helen scooted closer, as if trying to push herself into Isolde.&nbsp; Then she squirmed some more and put her arm up under Isoldes and took her hand again.&nbsp; “I’m sorry I threw up.”<br><br>“No. Not allowed. No apologising for throwing up. You were... Upset.” Isi ventured, “I think we can steal something from my sister? She isn’t very b... She is smaller. Most of my stuff you would swim in.” The hand holding again. And leaning. Well, almost leaning. This was doing things to Isi, little fireworks were happening in her head. “I’m... We live on the outskirts. Its quite a nice house. You’ll like it.”<br><br>And that sounded lame. She ruined it. Whatever it was, whatever was going on she had opened her mouth and said something stupid and ruined it. And now she had that song going through her head, the ‘Something Stupid’ song. Good song. But not what she needed right then. Isi sucked on her lips and glanced down at their hands. Her hand was looking small again. Her breath caught. There was a freckle and she had seen it before. On Helen’s other hand. Isi didn’t have one there, or fingers that short and pretty. Hers were long and thing and some of them curved a bit to the left or right, hand dependent. It was her arm alright, but the hand was... A blink and the effect was gone again.<br><br>Isolde’s hand felt...right.&nbsp; Like it was one of her own she was holding.&nbsp; Helen rubbed her thumb across the back of it.&nbsp; It just fit, was just the right size.&nbsp; Weird, because Isolde was so much taller.&nbsp; You’d think she would have bigger hands.&nbsp; Helen kept rubbing little circles, not really sure why, only knowing that it still felt like the right thing to do.&nbsp; It made her feel better.&nbsp; Safer.&nbsp; “You have a little sister?&nbsp; What’s her name?&nbsp; Is she pretty like you?”&nbsp; Now Isolde’s hand felt like someone else’s, and that was okay too.&nbsp; Because it was Isolde’s.&nbsp; Isolde.&nbsp; Isolde.&nbsp; The name echoed in her head like a mantra.<br><br>“Helen.” Isi said, then caught herself, her face going to ‘oh shit’ mode, eyes wide, “Oh, er, no, Heide. Yeah. The girls wound up with German names, the boy with a British one. Our mum is German. She has the accent and everything, though she speaks better English than I do. Except when she’s mad. Then you can’t move for German. Mostly swear words though.” Isi smiled a little at that thought, then frowned, “She hasn’t been the same lately.”<br><br>“Everyone in your family has such, I don’t know, exotic?&nbsp; Exotic names.&nbsp; Like you’re all actors or something.&nbsp; Yours is the prettiest.&nbsp; Isolde.&nbsp; Isolde,” she repeated, drawing it out.&nbsp; “Not like Helen.&nbsp; I mean, what did a Helen ever do?”<br><br><em>Should we tell them?</em><br><br>Helen banished the voice with a shake of her head.&nbsp; Her hand slipped from Isolde’s grasp and the shorter girl wrapped her arms around herself again.&nbsp; She looked down into her lap, to where the bruise was.<br><br><em>I made that happen.&nbsp; I’m not good.</em><br><br>Isi’s eyes shot down to where the hand had been. She felt its loss, she wanted to put an arm around Helen, tell her it was okay, that everything was going to be alright, only she didn’t really have the right words. “My mum’s name is Rosamund.” Isi mused, “That’s fairly pretty. Thanks though.” She felt like she was blushing fit to burst, her chest was tight, it was just a name, she hadn’t said that Isi was pretty. Nearly though, and that was so... Nice. And sorta dangerous, but in such a great and wonderful way. Something had the potential to be happening here, but Isi wasn’t sure if it was or could or even should. Helen was hurting, badly, she needed help and... It was up to Isi.<br><br>It took a good five seconds of good hard lower lip gnawing, the kind that brings pain and concentration and steels you for the task ahead before the English girl reached out and put an arm around Helen’s shoulders. Pulling her into a simple one armed hug.<br><br>As soon as Isolde touched her, Helen squirmed.&nbsp; But not to get away.&nbsp; Rather she turned so her back was pressed into Isolde’s side and Helen drew her legs up onto the seat, while at the same time taking Isolde’s hand and drawing it, and her arm, around and in front so she ended up cradled inside the circle of it.&nbsp; It felt safe.&nbsp; It felt happy, and Helen rested her chin on Isolde’s arm the rest of the trip.<br><br>The bus was all but empty when it pulled into a really long driveway, paved and not dirt or crushed stone.&nbsp; Helen noticed by the change in the noise the tires made.&nbsp; When the bus stopped and she felt Isolde’s change in posture, Helen spoke.&nbsp; “That’s your house?&nbsp; Wow.&nbsp; It’s really nice.”&nbsp; She reluctantly let go of Isolde’s arm and stood up to follow her off the bus.<br><br>“We... Sort of won it in a government auction. It needs some work and whoever had it before? They decorated it in ‘Early maniac’ everything is gold and garish. We have a lot of fittings to replace.”<br><br>She offered her hand to Helen to lead her off the bus and towards the house. The vintage English racing green MG convertible sat in front of the garage told her Geoff was home. Isi took off her jacket and handed it to Helen, “Here, put this on. Its long and will help. Don’t want too much big brother ogling going on.”<br><br>The jacket was warm and smelled of Isolde.&nbsp; It was the most comforting thing in the world, even if the sleeves flapped loose way past her hands.&nbsp; It smelled like her and it was warm from her and she’d given it to Helen.&nbsp; She wrapped it around herself, head almost lost in the neck, and looked like a little Raggedy Ann doll someone had stuffed into a toddler’s coat.&nbsp; The first thing she did was snake a hand out and reclaim Isolde’s.&nbsp; “Thank you, Isolde.&nbsp; It’s really soft.”<br><br>She took in the house, every bit of it.&nbsp; It was huge!&nbsp; Isolde said she didn’t like the decorating, but everything looked expensive and classy to Helen’s firmly blue collar eyes.&nbsp; What would it be like to live in a house like this, instead of one where you could hear everything going on outside and the windows leaked air around the bottom edges?&nbsp; <br><br>“Are we going to go to your room or the kitchen table?”<br><br>“My room.” Isi said firmly. “Fewer Geoff’s there.” She took Helen in via the back door next to the garage, not really a back door per-say as it wasn’t at the back of the house, but the closest they had in the Black household. The corridor inside revealed a laundry room a door to the garage and the door to the cellar. It was the latter that Isolde took. The stairs were really wide a strange feature that had come with the house. The carpet was a garish yellow currently, though that would likely change by the sound of things. They passed a family room and Isi lead the way to her bedroom.<br><br>It was. Big. Bigger than a bedroom likely had any right to be. With a kingsize bed and a three seater sofa, a large computer desk with a pair of large monitors on it that looked old but serviceable. There were little clues all over the room to Isolde’s general state of mind.<br><br>She had girl stuff like stuffed animals, yet also there was a shelf above her computer desk with classic Generation one Transformers re-issues and even a few original un-boxed ones. She had a fully built original European issue of Redhorn the Terrible and a number of other smaller wind up reds, which was incredibly rare in North America as Zoids weren't officially released there at that time. She had an action man wearing barbie clothes holding a spatula holding hands with a Barbie doll wearing action man clothes holding an assault rifle. Someone had taken the time to re-cut the clothes, even adding fabric in the case of the action man, to make them fit right. She had posters on the walls, all in frames, all for films.<br><br>Reservoir Dogs, Unforgiven, The Breakfast Club, The Killer, Twelve Monkeys, Brazil, The Iron Giant, Metropolis (original Fritz Lang), Hellraiser, Evil Dead II, Alien, Fight Club and last but not least Monty Python's Life of Brian. Her computer desk was tidy, though the full size resin model of the Lament Configuration puzzle cube next to her mouse looked almost real. Yet sat the other side of it was a book of stickers of little cartoon kittens. The whole room was like this, a seemingly mismatched jumble of boy and girl stuff.<br><br>Isi wandered in and sat on the sofa, putting her messenger bag to one side, she smiled, “Home. Well, kinda. Not really sunk in that we own the place yet. Government auctions are cheap, but you wind up getting what you get. We got this.”<br><br>Helen didn’t sit, not immediately.&nbsp; She walked around the room, hem of Isolde’s jacket reaching down to mid calf, and just looked at things.&nbsp; She pulled out the kitten sticker book and went through it, smiling a few times, then put it back.&nbsp; Often she looked over, making sure Isolde was still there and smiling when she was.&nbsp; <br><br>“This is so cool.&nbsp; You have so many nice things.”&nbsp; Helen walked back over and stood in front of Isolde.&nbsp; “I bet it gets dark down here, huh?&nbsp; Like, really dark.&nbsp; Does it?”<br><br>“It does. With no windows down here and all. There are two in the bathroom, but they don’t let in a lot of light anyway, being small.” Isi smiled, “You want me to turn the lights off?”<br><br>“Yeah,” Helen said, sounding very interested.&nbsp; “I do.&nbsp; I want to see how dark it is down here with everything off.”&nbsp; She swiveled side to side, suddenly excited looking and happy, then looked around.&nbsp; “Okay if I sit on the edge of your bed?”<br><br>“Oh, of course, you can lay on the bed if you like.” Isi nodded, stood and walked over to the door to the bathroom, vanished inside, there was the sound of blinds being drawn down. She was back out a moment later and closed the door. She then headed out and turned the lights off in the family room and stairs down from the floor above. Finally coming back into her room and closing the door before turning off the lights.<br><br>It was pitch black. “How’s that?” A voice in the dark.<br><br>“Perfect,” she said breathily.&nbsp; “Just perfect.&nbsp; Oh my gosh, this is so nice!”&nbsp; It felt way different than the closet.&nbsp; Bigger.&nbsp; Open.&nbsp; More space to play around in and more dark to be wrapped in.&nbsp; Helen hugged herself, sleeves flapping loudly in the black room.&nbsp; “I wish I lived here.&nbsp; That this was my bed in this wonderful dark room.&nbsp; I bet you sleep so good!&nbsp; No light to bug you.”&nbsp; There was the sound of bedding rustling as Helen laid back on it.&nbsp; Her feet didn’t quite touch the floor where they dangled from the end of the bed.<br><br>“Isolde? Can we leave them off for a minute?&nbsp; I just want to relax.”<br><br>“Of course we can.” Isi blinked, then again, she could almost... There was just the hint of... That was weird. Like a warm body showing up against the dark. Almost there but not. Then as she started to examine it, really think about it, she lost it again.<br><br>Isi shuffled across the room, hand reaching out to feel for the edge of the bed. She found it. With her leg. Topping forward she fell face first on the large soft but firm mattress.<br><br>“Are you okay?”&nbsp; Helen pulled her legs up onto the bed and got onto her knees.&nbsp; She took the two shuffling moves necessary and felt her knees brush into the side of Isolde.&nbsp; Floppy hands, all covered in cloth, reached out and patted to determine just where Isolde lay.&nbsp; “So, maybe not the best idea, but I still like it.”&nbsp; And she did.&nbsp; Already Helen felt calmer, like what had happened were no longer something that could hurt her.&nbsp; She was safe in the dark, at home in it.&nbsp; Just like always.&nbsp; “Get the rest of you on the bed,” Helen urged and mock tugged on each side of Isolde’s ribs.&nbsp; “Then we can stretch out and not worry about tripping over anything.”<br><br>Isi climbed up onto the large bed and laid herself down next to Helen. “You are a fan of the dark then.” A statement not a question. “I like it too. Its nice sometimes. Gives you that floaty feeling.” Isi was quiet for a few moments, “So, did I tell you about my dad?”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AribethAmkiir</strong> on <strong>06-01-2013, 10:21:47</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j480/Erion2451/lyndsy-fonseca.jpg)</div>Rebecca "Becca" Hall<br>September 4, 2012<br><br>The first day of school, joy!&nbsp; Becca didn't want to admit that she was enough of a nerd that she was actually looking forward to going back to school.&nbsp; It wasn't that summer vacation had been all bad.&nbsp; The family reunion had been enjoyable and she'd spent the normal two weeks with her mom's sister's family.&nbsp; It had been two weeks of freedom.&nbsp; Two weeks without her father breathing down her neck, and checking to see if she was still in her bed three times a night.&nbsp; He had still called three times a day, but her aunt had been able to run interference.&nbsp; Becca had wondered what it'd be like to live with her relatives permanently, but she figured she'd miss her dad, eventually.&nbsp; Still, her aunt was the closest thing she had to a mom and she'd been able to talk to someone, finally, about things that were impossible to talk with her dad about.<br><br>The first day of her junior year.&nbsp; She was looking forward to catching up with some people she hadn't seen during the summer, and returning to her normal routine.&nbsp; The year promised to be a good one for the photography club, if they weren't robbed again.&nbsp; Art and English would be enjoyable, though she had Mr. Baker for Algebra II.&nbsp; She had decided to take theater, as well, and figured she'd help with the stage decorations.&nbsp; She didn't have the confidence to be up on stage, in front of everyone.&nbsp; She didn't believe she had any talent for that sort of thing either.&nbsp; World history was a waste of a period, not quite as bad as gym, but close.&nbsp; Chemistry was going to be her science for the year and she already had images of burning herself on the Bunsen burners or, worse, blowing something up.&nbsp; Maybe she'd get lucky and be partnered with someone who knew what they were doing.&nbsp; That could possibly prevent any unnecessary trip to the emergency room.<br><br>Neptune's city blocks passed by as Becca pressed her forehead to the glass window.&nbsp; Dad was taking her to school again.&nbsp; She’d offered to walk.&nbsp; They lived only six blocks from the high school and she was more than capable of walking, but when her dad had begun quoting the crime rate and the number of murders, rapes, and kidnappings that had occurred within the state last year, Rebecca simply slipped into the passenger seat of their old Dodge truck and waited for her dad to start the ignition.&nbsp; The seats were worn and the dashboard was falling apart, but it ran and got her dad to work each day.&nbsp; That’s what counted.<br><br>There wasn’t much to look at through the window but it was a convenient excuse for not talking to her father.&nbsp; It was the same old sights.&nbsp; The same broken down vehicles sat in the same spots for as long as she could remember.&nbsp; The same weed filled yards in front of homes that had been abandoned for years.&nbsp; To some these things may’ve been depressing, but to Rebecca they were simply home.<br><br>They pulled in front of the high school and Rebecca reached for the handle.<br><br><strong>”Pick you up at four,”</strong> her dad said.<br><br><strong>”I can get a ride, dad,”</strong> Rebecca began but was cut off.<br><br><strong>”I’ll be here at four, we’ll talk about your day.&nbsp; You remember your lunch?”</strong> <br><br>Becca nodded, <strong>”P.B. and J.&nbsp; Did you remember yours?”</strong><br><br>Her dad simply chuckled.&nbsp; <strong>”Have a good day, sweetheart.&nbsp; I love you.”</strong><br><br><strong>”Love you too,”</strong> Becca said before opening the door and shutting it carefully behind her.<br><br>She avoided any eye contact on her way to the front doors of the school.&nbsp; She didn’t want to acknowledge that she’d just been dropped off at the front of the school by her dad at the age of sixteen.&nbsp; There were worse things, though, few were as uncool.&nbsp; It didn’t really matter.&nbsp; Rebecca wasn’t Ms. Popular, never had been.&nbsp; It didn’t help that she didn’t understand, much less, get along with the popular girls.&nbsp; She was at least not high on their bully radar; unless it was gym, which thankfully she wasn’t taking this year.&nbsp; <br><br>Becca climbed the stairs and crossed the quad to the line that had formed to pass through the metal detectors and into the school.&nbsp; She at least had new clothes.&nbsp; Well, new to her.&nbsp; They’d been her cousin's, who hadn’t wanted them, only worn them once, if that, and decided that Rebecca looked much better in them.&nbsp; She had to admit she liked how they looked on her, even if it was just blue jeans and a simple long sleeved, blue and white, striped shirt.&nbsp; The jeans fit a bit snugly over the hips she'd received over the last year.&nbsp; Her aunt had said she’d “bloomed” nicely, and Becca still didn’t quite recognize her reflection in the mirror in the morning.&nbsp; Her tennis shoes were the same she’d owned since eighth grade; luckily her feet hadn’t grown in the past three years.&nbsp; They were scuffed and worn, and she’d had to replace the shoelaces twice, but the soles were still intact.&nbsp; She’d just have to be careful to avoid snowdrifts when winter came.<br><br>She was already rather self-conscious by the time the security guard was waving a wand in front of her.&nbsp; Some of the guys had been staring while she’d been waiting in line but now, with her arms spread wide to her sides, she felt as if there was a spotlight shining on her.&nbsp; Her breath caught in her chest as the wand passing behind her dipped below her waist.&nbsp; The school should’ve had some female guards.&nbsp; The last thing the district could afford was a law suit and there were likely plenty of families looking to get ahead in this economy.<br><br>The moment passed, Rebecca was handed her bag back, and she entered the school.&nbsp; She passed her locker and was pleased to see that the ghost outline of an “L” was barely visible.&nbsp; The lock on the locker next to hers was missing.&nbsp; Rebecca didn’t really know the girl, but she’d been the intended recipient of the graffiti.&nbsp; The once bright red “U” was just as ghostlike as the letter that had been upon Becca’s locker, as were the “S” and “T” that completed the word.&nbsp; Apparently it had been necessary to cover four lockers with the four letters.&nbsp; Her artistic eye had failed to see any skill in the disfigurement the year before and it didn’t seem that her absence from the piece had given her any new perspective.<br><br>She didn’t open the locker.&nbsp; Who knew what had crawled in there and died over the summer.&nbsp; Her backpack was mostly empty; she hadn’t received her text books, yet.&nbsp; The pack only held the summer reading assignments for her English class.&nbsp; &nbsp; So she simply bypassed her locker and made for the art room.&nbsp; It just wouldn’t be school if she wasn’t wearing pencil rubbings on the heel of her left hand for half of the day.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>07-01-2013, 03:08:37</strong>
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				<strong>Chloe. <br>Making her way into homeroom</strong><br><br>Chloe made her way to homeroom. The door was open and kids were already starting to claim seats. As far as she was aware she didn't share her homeroom with any of her friends so Chloe played it safe and claimed a seat near the back corner. She popped her bag on the desk and sat down, hanging one leg over the other and sliding down low in her seat so she could text in private. Pulling her phone out she started to tap out a message to Susan. <br><br><strong>An hour is far too long, Just tell me now!</strong><br><br>She had just sent the message when Chloe felt eyes watching her. Looking up she saw Abby Stone. Smiling, God Chloe hated it when she smiled, due to her abnormally large mouth and braces it was like coming face to face with a MAC truck grill. And Chloe knew for a fact, thanks to her dad working in the local animal welfare shelter, that Abby’s mother inbred her Chihuahuas. One was even born with five legs. Chloe couldn't help but wrinkle her nose as she tossed her school bag off the table in front of her and into the seat beside her. “This seats taken” Chloe snarled and turned her attentions back to her cell phone in hopes the tragic girl would leave. Chloe attempted to tap out another message to Susan about the incident when the harsh sound of some clearing their throat drew her attention back up.<br><br>It was Mrs Woolard in all her glory. The older woman stood at 5 ft 8 and had a mass of curly dark hair that fell to her prominent bum chin. Her skin was old, weathered and showed she had been a teacher for far too long. She had little dark eyes that were framed in large gold glasses and right now they were glowing with annoyance. “Do we have a problem here?” Mrs Woolard asked as Chloe jolted up straight in her chair, sneakily tucking her phone under her thigh out of the teachers view. “No problem here” Chloe smiled tucking some of her hair behind her ear and plastering on a bright and fake smile.&nbsp; “Abby needs a seat” Mrs Woolard said turning her attentions on the bag Chloe had used to block the annoying girl. “I’m saving this one” Chloe said in a matter of fact voice craning her head around the teacher trying to spot another free spot. “Kindly remove your back pack so we can start” Mrs Woolard said and stood there staring until Chloe did as she was told “This is not fair!” Chloe said snatching her bag off the seat and dumping it grumpily on the table in front of her. “I will have that phone as well please Miss Saines” The teacher said placing her hand out in front of Chloe’s face. “Seriously!” Chloe snapped “Class has not even started yet here I am being forced to sit next to inbred AND you are taking my phone! No way! This is not fair!” Chloe fumed refusing to hand over her phone. Mrs Woolard did not speak instead she returned to her desk at the front of the class and started to fill in a detention slip.<br><br>&nbsp;Chloe knew it was coming and groaned glaring at Abby like this was all her fault as she sat down cautiously next to Chloe obviously regretting her decision to taddle. Mrs Woolard returned with two slips “Hand over the phone and you will only receive a lunch time, Keep the phone and you will get an after school. It would be such a shame to miss out on all that practice time before the home game this weekend” She said calmly placing her hand out again for the phone. Chloe gave one last evil glare to Abby and pulled the phone out from beneath her thigh, switching it off and giving it one last loving look before placing it in the teachers hand. “You can collect this at the end of the day” Mrs Woolard said but Chloe didn't dare risk a reply, instead she bit down hard on her tongue and crossed her arms across her chest and counted down the minutes till she could meet Susan and Katie in English. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>07-01-2013, 16:37:38</strong>
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				<strong>James, at his Basketball</strong><br><br>James sprinted, cut to the left and suddenly banked backwards, only to dash forward again. He was a skilled dodger, his footwork being a thing of a dream as well. His sneakers shrieked against the wooden paneling of the floor each time he twisted, sprinted, or made any other sudden change in his trajectory. It did the same for all the other guys, which meant that, when their overweight coach wasn't yelling at them to do stuff that he couldn't the place was silent, and yet a cacophony of squeaks and squeals of rubber on slick wood. Everyone was used to it, though, everyone that had ever been to a basketball game, or played. James had both, and simply tuned to otherwise annoying sounds out.<br><br>He jumped up a bit, travelling about as much as two steps, catching a ball tossed to him, and and landed lightly, taking a step backwards to absorb the impact a bit, and spun quickly to avoid Harold, who was quickly bearing on him, and slipped down, pushing the ball to the ground, and began a run in the direction of the basket.<br><br>Blam! Something hammered him in the shoulder, and he tumbled down. Unlike what they had been taught early in their training basketball, to press one's chest out and slide the fall, James tucked his shoulder in, and rolled, somersaulting, and was back on his feet in an instant, his eyes blazing a hole through Harold," Seriously? Five times now. What the hell shoved a desk up your..."<br><br>"Hey!" The coach called, moving to try and stop the fight before it began.<br><br>"A little payback for what you did to Kaylee this morning," Harold sneered back.<br><br>Ah, right. Kaylee the girl that he had stepped over because she had snobbed his friend Helen. And, of course, Harold's girlfriend, at least she pretended as much. James sneered, his face burning, temples pounding. He had something of a temper, and it was worse now, with them all hot from the exercise, James was a few words from exploding violently," Aww, did I hurt her feelings?" James said with a whimpery, teasing tone," I might have warned her before that she was as ugly as you are, Scarface." Harold had been in a car accident, and had a scar right above his left eyebrow, one that while not ugly, was very apparent, and he wanted to get it rid of as soon as possible. The two youths were close enough that they eye to eyes. Harold was the only one as tall as James, and just as built, if a bit more flabby. He was more for football than basketball anyway. The rest of the team saw what was going on, and moved to intercept.<br><br>They were too late.<br><br>Harold shoved James off, pushing him a few steps back, and tried to punch him in the gut. It landed, but James shrugged it off, since Harold was slow, and he had tensed his stomach. That made his abs harder than rock, and nothing happened. James' attempt at a punch was far better at making a point. Still recovering from the shove, he leaned forward, and bending his legs, suddenly whipped forward, a left hook aimed for Harold's right jaw. Harold saw this, and instinctively tucked his chin in. Which made James' punch, powerful as a cinder block,&nbsp; hammer into the more flabby youth's temple. Harold dropped to the ground, out like the proverbial light before three of their teammates moved in and pulled James away. He didn't resist. He watched the coach look all huffy and red, and quickly begin to fill out a detention form. He would be in it for lunch, he knew, and Harold would go to the infirmary, and catch the one after school. James didn't mind. He needed some time to cool off, after all. He stepped away as the guys tried to revive Harold, and move to the lockers to takes a shower.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>07-01-2013, 17:52:18</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				(Hall/Bullies) September 4, 2012 - Before First Hour in the Hallway<br><br>Rebecca Hall headed off to her art class. However, en route to class, she saw three boys in varsity football jackets surrounding a rotund but smaller figure who seemed to be cringing as the boys taunted him and pushed the rotund figure between the three of them.&nbsp; &nbsp;One of the boys in a varsity jacket said, "Come on Blob!&nbsp; Fight back!&nbsp; What's the matter?&nbsp; You scared?"<br><br>Another in a deeper and obviously dumber voice called back, "Yeah, you scared, Blob?&nbsp; That's what you are, Blob.&nbsp; A blob!"<br><br>The third laughed and told his pals, "Hey, why don't we give him a swirly?&nbsp; Teach him a good lesson?"<br><br>The boy named, Blob, gave a high pitched scream of protest and tried to throw himself against the barricade in the futile hope of getting out.&nbsp; This brought laughter from all three of the boys who simultaneously grabbed him and told him, "Come on Blob!&nbsp; You should be used to this.&nbsp; After all, you look like a shit, too."<br><br>All the Blob could do was hopelessly protest as he slowly was forced towards the boys bathroom.<br><br>tag - Becca or any others that stumble by<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AribethAmkiir</strong> on <strong>07-01-2013, 23:07:28</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Rebecca Hall, September 4, 2012 - Before First Hour in the Hallway</strong><br><br>She was minding her own business, that was the best way to stay out of trouble, when she heard the ruckus.&nbsp; The three large football players dwarfed her, and what's more the way they were surrounding their poor victim, they plugged the hall.&nbsp; She was going to be late if they didn't move out of the way.&nbsp; She pitied their poor victim, but was glad it wasn't her.&nbsp; Not that the guys ever physically picked on her, but they could be just as mean verbally.<br><br>Rebecca didn't even bother to look for a teacher.&nbsp; There was never one around when the bullies pulled something like this.&nbsp; It was as if the neanderthals had developed a sixth sense for when a teacher was around.&nbsp; That or they simply paid off the teachers.&nbsp; Either way, all Rebecca wanted to do was get to her classroom.&nbsp; If she ran and told someone they'd find out and then she'd be an outcast for the rest of the year.&nbsp; If she tried to interfere herself, she'd be labeled as the blob's girlfriend and be the subject of ridicule for the foreseeable future.&nbsp; It was best to do nothing.&nbsp; Let the bullies do as they wanted.&nbsp; She was a girl, after all.&nbsp; What could she do to those hulking brutes?<br><br>As the jocks forced their prey toward the boy's bathroom a gap opened and Rebecca squeezed through, put the Blob's fate out of her mind, and hurried the rest of the way to her homeroom.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>08-01-2013, 03:16:31</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>James, Headed for the detention Hall, during the lunch period.</strong><br><br>Harold had started it, the dumb bastard. He wanted to prove his machismo to the girl that alternately snobbed him and ripped him off, and had ended up with the poor end of the measuring stick. He wondered just what sort of damage he had done to the poor guy's skull. Probably not much. James wasn't that strong, after all, and the most he would probably cause was a concussion. But he always heard that blows to the temple were dangerous, so... No! Harold had asked for it. James decided that he would remained pissed off with his teammate for a little while. He failed miserably, of course. He was a nice guy, and the two had been on good terms and, after a while, probably would be again. Harold was a nice guy too. James shook his head.<br><br>He toweled off, and put on his uniform again, still angry that he had gotten detention. He hadn't started the fight, though he had sure as hell finished it. He shook his head. Railing against the powers that be was always a useless gesture, although it was nice for letting off steam. The practice had continued without him, and the coach sent him off to cool. The rest of the guys walked in to see James sitting on the bench inside the lockers, towel over his head. They didn't talk to him, although a few patted him on the back. They all understood. This was actually the first time he had been in a fight in&nbsp; basketball.<br><br>The lunch bell tolled, and he stood, still peeved, but better than before. He rolled his shoulder a bit, and made his way to the detention hall. He was now actually feeling a little sick about what he had done to Harold, and hoped the guy wasn't too badly injured. He passed through the lunch hall, where most of the other students were starting to gather. The few that had heard about what had happened didn't meet his gaze, He saw Harold there, a bandage wrapped around his head. He walked over, looking down.<br><br>"Hey, man..." He started, and stopped when the other guy extended his hand. He took in, and gripped it," Sorry."<br><br>"No worries. I was a bit off," It wasn't a public apology, as the words were too low to hear, but the gestures were seen by a few, and James headed off to the detention hall. He sat, and look up at the ceiling, already bored out of his mind.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AribethAmkiir</strong> on <strong>08-01-2013, 07:53:39</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Rebecca Hall, September 4, 2012, Sixth Period, World History</strong><br><br>The day had sucked.&nbsp; It had all began with that stupid fight in the hall.&nbsp; It hadn't even involved her but she'd been a witness.&nbsp; She'd tried to mind her own business, kept her head down and didn't bother anyone.&nbsp; Still, it had all begun to spin downward from then.<br><br>First hour had been alright.&nbsp; Art was fine.&nbsp; She'd begun her first assignment and had sketched several possibilities.&nbsp; She had only to decide upon one.&nbsp; Algebra had been horrible.&nbsp; Rebecca was almost certain Mr. Baker had it out for her again.&nbsp; If she had answered that last question wrong instead of Helen she may've been doing the after school tutoring.&nbsp; Her dad would never have let her hear the end of that.&nbsp; All he needed was to be late to his second job.&nbsp; She felt bad for Helen but was relieved that she'd managed to scrape by.&nbsp; Still, maybe some tutoring was exactly what Rebecca needed in math.&nbsp; She sure wasn't getting it on her own and she was too afraid and embarrassed in class to ask any questions.&nbsp; <br><br>Rebecca had ended up sitting alone for lunch.&nbsp; All of her friends were in different lunch periods.&nbsp; She'd eaten quickly and then disappeared to the library where she'd answered her father's second phone call of the day and told him she was "fine".&nbsp; She was supposed to have called him while passing between fifth period and sixth but had decided not to.&nbsp; She hoped he'd just let it go, but more than likely he'd call the school and she'd be summoned to the front office over the loudspeaker.&nbsp; World history promised to be a real snoozefest, so maybe being called to the office wouldn't be too bad. <br><br>She tried to convince herself that avoiding class was a good idea.&nbsp; Skipping English III and Theater would've been better than attending.&nbsp; The fiasco in Theater had made her want to cry.&nbsp; Luckily, two years of being a nobody was enough to make Becca realize that crying would only bring unwanted attention to herself.&nbsp; Instead she'd fought back the tears and swallowed any cries.&nbsp; When asked why her eyes had been red she simply blamed allergies and the dust around the stage.&nbsp; In retrospect, English hadn't been all bad.&nbsp; She'd managed to turn in her assignment, one of only three people, and been praised by the teacher.&nbsp; That praise, of course, had turned the other students' eyes towards her in disdain.&nbsp; She didn't understand why, they'd all been given an extra week to finish the assignment.&nbsp; In the end, they'd all likely receive the same, if not better, grades than she did.&nbsp; Thankfully, five minutes into class the hateful whispers of "teacher's pet" had stopped and only one person had decided to make anything of it after class.&nbsp; Though her shoulder was still tender from where she'd been pushed into the wall. <br><br>As she entered World Literature she noticed Helen talking to a new girl, at least Rebecca didn't recognize the girl.&nbsp; Becca wondered if there was any chance of making a new friend, but the way Helen and the tall red head were going on it seemed like the new girl was already quite popular.&nbsp; Too popular to be bothered by someone like Rebecca.&nbsp; She put her backpack, now laden with all the textbooks she'd been given that day, next to her desk and slipped into it quietly.&nbsp; She'd taken a seat in the second row, near the door. <br><br>When she had second thoughts about not checking in with her father, Becca quickly fished her phone out from her pack and sent a text to her dad stating she was "fine" and then tried to quickly shove it back into her pack.<br><br>Their teacher, however, was quicker and <strong>"Ms. Hall, phone,"</strong> was all it took to force Rebecca to march to the teacher's desk and hand over the device.&nbsp; She returned to her own desk without making eye contact with any of the other students.<br><br>Why did her dad have to be such a control freak?<br><br>It's alright, she told herself.&nbsp; She could get her phone back and it would be alright.&nbsp; She wasn't going to get detention.&nbsp; If she hurried, her dad would get to work on time.<br><br>A smile came to her lips when James entered.&nbsp; She didn't know why she smiled at him like an idiot.&nbsp; He likely didn't even know who she was.&nbsp; Still, he was too cute not to smile at even if she knew the chances of him noticing her were ten million to one.&nbsp; Her head went back down.&nbsp; She didn't even wait to see if he noticed.&nbsp; She was certain he wouldn't.&nbsp; She flipped open her notebook, took her pencil in her left hand, and began to work on some of the details for her art project.&nbsp; She wondered if she should restart and use the day's events for inspiration, but then she thought that would just be too pathetic to try.&nbsp; She wasn't talented to pull something like that off and she certainly wasn't Laney Boggs.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>08-01-2013, 09:30:10</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Chloe – First period physics</strong><br><br>Sat next to Abby Stone (AKA inbred) was punishment enough surely? But no. The sour old bat Chloe had as a teacher had confiscated her phone too. Chloe was convinced she had not even done anything wrong and the teacher was just picking on her because she had a thing against cheer leaders. But Chloe wasn't just a dippy cliche cheerleader, she had worked bloody hard to get into the varsity squad and if some ratty old bitch wanted to try and embarrass her in front of a class of losers then she could bloody well think again. The minutes felt like hours as Chloe sat hardly listening to the teacher as she driveled on, All she could think about was getting as far away from these people as possible and meeting Susan in English. God she needed so badly to tell Susan how horrible her morning had been and to seek refuge in her happiness. <br><br>With ten minutes still on the clock Chloe sat staring out the window, wondering if she would ever smell clean air again after being forced to sit next to Abby the inbred who smelled interesting to say the least and not in a good way. Her hands were in her lap and she was mindlessly twirling her rings around her fingers when suddenly one came off. It was an odd sensation and she figured it must of broken. But on closer inspection she found the ring was whole. How could something solid just come away from her finger? She thought back to the last few mornings where she had woken up with none of her jewelry on. Something was up. Her and Susan had joked over the break that she was haunted. But it had to be something logical, or at least she was trying to convince herself it was. She got the shivers every time she thought about ghosts and the thought never seemed to stray far from her mind. She was trying to convince herself it was a prank from the little hell hound she had as a sister. But either way she looked at it it was frightening. She was either being haunted, or her little sister was starting to outsmart her. <br><br><hr><br><strong>Chloe – Arriving at detention</strong><br><br>Chloe took her time walking to detention. She felt better after a bitch session with the girls in English but it stung to know they were all sitting around chatting happily over lunch while she was heading to depression central with all the no hopers. It had to be like literally the worst day ever Chloe thought as she stopped by the bathrooms to kill more time before arriving. She would go, but she wouldn't be bloody happy about it. She took her time brushing her fingers through her hair and touching up her lip gloss. She went to check her phone to see how late she was but found her pockets empty. It was about the hundredth time she had done that since it was taken off her in first period and every time she did it she had to fight the urge to cry. Not cry cry. Not ugly cry. But she felt her chest ache and her eyes start to prickle.<br><br>Taking one last look at herself in the mirror she brought her bag up higher on her shoulder and strolled casually to detention, hoping to be around ten minutes late. Early enough to get away with it but late enough to show she was highly displeased about the whole situation. There were not many students. And absolutely no one Chloe was friends with. She felt that sinking feeling in her stomach when she thought of what this little detention episode was going to do to her reputation among her peers in the cheer squad. She handed over her slip to the teacher and waited as she marked Chloe off on the list. “You are late Miss Saines” She said but she made a slight gesture for the girl to take a seat and Chloe made her way down the aisle picking a seat near the back, one seat over from a tall bored looking guy.<br><br>Chloe placed her bag on the table in front of her and sat down quietly in her seat. The room was so silent it was horrible and Chloe wished for nothing more then to start her day over again. But she gave into the silence after ten minutes, leaning back in her chair and stretching her legs out beneath her desk and crossing her ankles. Her hands sat in her lap as she toyed with her rings again her mind wandering back to that weird moment she had in physics were the ring simply came away from her finger. She would be lying if she said she wasn't still worried about the haunted thing. But the logical answer was the pain in the ass she referred to as Mary-anne. <br><br>Chloe felt eyes on her and turned her head slightly to the side, looking through her curtain of dark hair to the guy on her right. He looked familiar. She couldn't quite remember his name but she had seen him with that freckly gym kid who helped out the cheer girls with their tumbles. Jack? John? She pulled her hair back behind her ear and studied him some more. He was attractive and she wondered why she hadn't taken more notice of him before. He was tall, taller then most and had wide shoulders and a strong lean body. She wet her lips as her eyes passed over his arms. She had a thing for guys with nice arms and he had a good pair. He started to move and she quickly snapped her attention back to her rings not wanting to be caught staring. <br><br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>09-01-2013, 04:37:15</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>James - in the detention Hall.</strong><br><br>James looked up when the tall, good-looking brunette stepped in. He looked at her a bit, studying her a bit. He had seen her before somewhere. His brow furrowed, thinking, and staring of course. He didn't notice it, not being very observant of his own actions. He finally blinked when he caught her eyes on him, realizing that he was, in fact, staring. He quickly averted his eyes, blinking and shaking his head a bot. He quickly remembered who she was, and where he had seen her before. She was a cheerleader, and he had seen her standing close to Helen, either mistreating, or learning from her. He looked down. She was hot, he wouldn't deny that. But cheerleaders tended to be a bit... well, arrogant, and played hard to get. He didn't play that game very well. If a girl was interested, she should say it, and not pretend otherwise. He shook his head, disliking this train of thought, and pushing it aside for the moment as he thought about other things, pressing play on his phone. Some music that he didn't really care for blasted his ears.<br><br>He quickly grew bored of it. He rolled his eyes. Damn, this thing could end up lasting forever. He stood, stretched a bit, flexing his entire body as a yawn tore his jaw open. He blinked again, and, without thinking walked over to her. He sat down beside her, and ignored her for a few seconds before turning to her, offering his hand," Hiya there. You can call me James. Whats your name?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>10-01-2013, 03:21:19</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Helen Poston<br>4 September 2012<br>Sixth Period<br>World History with the Scooby Gang<br>Tag: Rebecca specifically, Open if desired by others<br><br>Just because Helen was oblivious to what she felt towards Isolde didn't mean she didn't recognize it in others.&nbsp; There was a touch of the <em>yenata</em> in Helen.&nbsp; She was forever watching how her friends watched boys and talked about them and flirted with them.&nbsp; She also listened in on the cheerleaders talk about the more interesting, more grown up things they'd done to flirt with boys.&nbsp; And sometimes more than flirt, if the rumors were true.&nbsp; <br><br>Rebecca's look at James caught Helen's eye immediately.&nbsp; Helen looked to see if he'd noticed, but James seemed oblivious so far.&nbsp; Typical boy.&nbsp; They couldn't see someone interested in them even if they were sitting as close together as she and Isolde were.&nbsp; How silly!&nbsp; If Isolde was a guy and Helen was interested in her - him - Isolde wouldn't even notice.&nbsp; Helen was so glad she wasn't as oblivious to feelings like that as boys were.<br><br>Anyway, Rebecca had checked out James.&nbsp; <em>Yenta</em> demanded immediate intervention.&nbsp; &nbsp;It wasn't being a busybody if it was for the other person's own good.&nbsp; Right?&nbsp; She pulled the back page out of her notebook and wrote on it, then folded it into a tight little square.&nbsp; Using the pretext of having to throw something away, she went past Rebecca's desk and stopped to look at the doodling the other girl was doing.<br><br>"Hey, that's cool.&nbsp; I like that part," she said and pointed.&nbsp; Helen palmed the note into Rebecca's lap then went on back to her desk.<br><br>And Isolde.&nbsp; Wasn't that just the coolest name!<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">The Note</div><div class="spoiler_body"><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><em>I know for sure he doesn't have a girlfriend.&nbsp; Sometimes after school he likes to go do this thing called Parker with some friends.&nbsp; They usually hang out near the park.&nbsp; If you ask him about it, he'll talk and talk and talk.&nbsp; Might be a good way to get to know him.<br><br>P.S.&nbsp; Mr. Baker sucks!&nbsp; :)</em></span></div></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>10-01-2013, 19:05:52</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Helen Poston<br>Tuesday 4 September 2012<br>Latter Part of 7th Period until Isolde arrives after the dismissal bell<br>Mr. Baker's Classroom<br><br>(Part one, character limit forces splitting this up over two posts!(Brace for incoming! (We have word sign? Usul we have word sign the like GOD has never seen!)))<br><br><hr><br>Helen hadn't waited on Isolde.&nbsp; <br><br>She'd thought about her though.&nbsp; Thought about her all through World History and later in last period gymnastics.&nbsp; Thought about how she looked and how nice she had been to help Helen with her math worksheet.&nbsp; Thought about those eyes with the beauitful grey rings and how Isolde had blushed, just a little bit, when she invited Helen to come over to her house to help Helen some more.&nbsp; Thought about her hair.&nbsp; A lot about her hair.&nbsp; It was the one thing Helen had been able to stare at all period long without it looking weird.&nbsp; Isolde's hair was just pretty, like layers of different colors that sometimes held firm and sometimes tangle around one another and made a muddy beautiful new color.&nbsp; Once, when no one was paying attention to her, Helen had reached out and pulled a short piece of it where it lay abandoned on the back of Isolde's blouse.&nbsp; Helen rubbed it between her fingers until she dropped it by accident.&nbsp; What would her full head of hair feel like?&nbsp; Was it soft?<br><br>"Helen!"<br><br>The shout made her look up just in time to reach out and help Jennifer from over rotating on the dismount&nbsp; She was supposed to be spotting, not daydreaming.&nbsp; Jennifer teetered, weight too far forward, and Helen's hand was too low on her belly, below the moment.&nbsp; Jennifer went over the hand and landed awkwardly on the mat.&nbsp; <br><br>"Oh my god.&nbsp; Jennifer, I'm so sorry," Helen said and bent down to help her team mate up.<br><br>"I'm okay," Jennifer said and pulled herself up via Helen's arm.&nbsp; "What happened?&nbsp; I looked up and you were just zoning out instead of watching for me."&nbsp; It wasn't an accusation, but there was serious concern behind the question.&nbsp; With the crappy school coach they had, Helen and Jennifer and the other girls who competed on the out of school squad had to more or less run practice themselves.&nbsp; That included spotting and safety.&nbsp; <br><br>"I... I don't know.&nbsp; I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something I guess."&nbsp; About someone, Helen's mind corrected.<br><br>Jennifer put her arm on her friend's shoulder and shook her a little bit, making Helen look over at her.&nbsp; "What's got you so worried?"<br><br>"Mr. Baker," Helen lied with a facility that surprised her.&nbsp; <br><br>"Yeah.&nbsp; That sucks you got him again. Still, look at Felicity.&nbsp; That girl had more boobs than brains and she managed to get an A in his class."&nbsp; Jennifer walked with Helen over to the next exercise.<br><br>"He did a lot of tutoring with her.&nbsp; He wants me to come by after school today and get some help.&nbsp; Like, he really insisted on it."&nbsp; Helen and Jennifer waited in line for their turn to vault.&nbsp; "I don't know though.&nbsp; I mean, Felicity was in there every day.&nbsp; And she never looked happy whenever someone mentioned how much he was helping her."<br><br>"Yeah," Jennifer agreed.&nbsp; "But she got an A.&nbsp; I guess it's like gymnastics.&nbsp; You have to work for it if you want it.&nbsp; Anyway, Felicity moved, remember?&nbsp; Her parents sent her off to some private school."&nbsp; Jennifer got ready to run down the lane.&nbsp; "You should go in for help," she said then took off, ponytail flying behind her.<br><br><hr><br>Helen had ditched the last fifteen minutes of gym to go to Mr. Baker's room.&nbsp; She was still in her leo and shorts in fact, and her grips dangled loose about her wrists.&nbsp; There was chalk all over her and she was barefoot.&nbsp; Helen figured if anyone asked her for a pass, she could say she just went to get a drink, or go to the nurse for girl stuff, especially if it was one of the male guards.&nbsp; That freaked them right out, like they couldn't wait to send you on your way, pass or no pass.<br><br>Mr. Baker's door was open and he didn't have a class. Cool!&nbsp; It had been her plan to just talk to him real quick in the middle of his class and say she'd gotten help from a friend and maybe get excused from tutoring.&nbsp; But now she would be able to get help before 7th period ended and not have Isolde there, waiting or maybe making Mr. Baker upset.&nbsp; She also worried about what Isolde would say to him.&nbsp; She was so... so upfront about things.&nbsp; Like she didn't care about arguing with adults.&nbsp; The best part though was they could go right to her house!<br><br>"Mr. Baker?&nbsp; It's Helen?"&nbsp; She stood just inside his doorway.<br><br>He held up a finger to signal her to wait, then finished typing an email and looked up at her.&nbsp; The merest tug of something that might be mistaken for a smile made his lips twitch.&nbsp; "Hello, Helen.&nbsp; I've been waiting for you.&nbsp; And you're early.&nbsp; Good.&nbsp; Come in and shut the door behind you so we won't be distracted by noise in the hallway."<br><br>The darkness inside her roiled in uncertainty.&nbsp; Helen just felt suddenly a little bit like being at the top of a swing and starting to come down on, that moment of everything dropping out from underneath you.&nbsp; It passed and she shut the door.&nbsp; Mr. Baker had papered over the little window in it with a picture of a graphing calculator.&nbsp; "I came by for tutoring," she said and walked towards the desks.&nbsp; "I thought, since like gym was so slow today, we could do it now?&nbsp; Is that okay?"<br><br>"Sit here instead," he said and pointed to a short stool beside his chair on his side of the desk.&nbsp; "I like to work with students at my desk where i have everything I need."&nbsp; He nudged the stool a little bit away from his chair.&nbsp; "And I'm very glad you came in early. That gives me more time with you.&nbsp; Good work, Helen," he smiled warmly.<br><br>"Oh, okay," Helen said and smiled.&nbsp; Mr. Baker was being nice!&nbsp; That never happened.&nbsp; She took the stool beside his desk.&nbsp; It was awful close to him, so close she could smell the slightly sour scent of his armpits and the Old Spice aftershave he wore.&nbsp; "So, like, I got some of the problems right, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Another student said so."<br><br>"Good," he said and patted her on the shoulder.&nbsp; "I'm proud of you for that.&nbsp; Now, let's start with some review."&nbsp; For the next ten minutes he led her through the steps, working problems and being very liberal with his praise.&nbsp; <br><br>Helen started to smile, then started to feel really comfortable with him. Mr. Baker was being so nice!&nbsp; It was not at all like freshman year. He even kept giving her little pats on the shoulder, the arm, even a hug or two. "This is really helping me, Mr. Baker," she said and looked over at him with a beaming smile.&nbsp; "Like, way more than you helped me freshman year."<br><br>"Well, you've grown up a lot since then, Helen.&nbsp; You were just a flat chested little girl then. Now, look at you," he said and nodded towards where the leotard was cupping her breasts.&nbsp; It flattened them down a lot, and she wasn't especially big, but they were breasts.&nbsp; "All grown up," he said again and put his arm clear across her back and held onto her opposite shoulder.&nbsp; "Helen, do you want it to be like freshman year?&nbsp; Or do you want it to be like this, just the two of us working and having fun and maybe you can make an A this time.&nbsp; Won't your parents like that?"<br><br>"Um...yeah?"&nbsp; She felt more than a little uncomfortable but it was okay.&nbsp; He was a teacher, right?&nbsp; And he'd really helped Felicity.&nbsp; "They would be really proud of me."<br><br>"Well, then we have to spend a lot of time together," Mr. Baker said and squeezed her shoulder.&nbsp; "A lot of time.&nbsp; Now, work the next problem."&nbsp; <br><br>"Okay. Mr. Baker."&nbsp; He didn't let go, even when Helen started to write.&nbsp; She was frowning in concentration when he put his hand on her thigh.&nbsp; Helen stopped, pencil poised over the paper.&nbsp; "Mis...Mister Baker?"<br><br>"Shh," he whispered and leaned in close to her.&nbsp; His hand squeezed her thigh, the bare skin totally exposed beneath where her leotard ended.&nbsp; "Keep working," he admonished. "Strive for that A.&nbsp; You do want an A, right?&nbsp; Right?" he asked again, a little roughly.<br><br>Helen nodded.&nbsp; The pencil in her hand shook.<br><br>"Good.&nbsp; Now, keep working," he directed and pinched the soft, sensitive flesh of her inner thigh.&nbsp; He didn't let go either, just kept pinching.<br><br>Helen tried.&nbsp; She tried to ignore the feeling of his hand, of the painful pinch.&nbsp; Tears welled up in her eyes and clouded her work so she couldn't see.&nbsp; The more she tried, tried so he'd quit, the worse it got.&nbsp; The pencil lead snapped and she dropped the #2 onto the worksheet.<br><br>"That's not very good at all, Helen."&nbsp; Mr. Baker let go of her skin and began to rub it in circles.&nbsp; "Does that feel better?"&nbsp; <br><br>Helen just sat there, petrified, and the tears threatened to spill over.&nbsp; She wanted to throw up.<br><br>"Does it?" He asked again harder.<br><br>"Yes," she whispered.<br><br>"So which do you prefer?&nbsp; This?" he pinched her quite hard making Helen jump but his arm across her shoulder held her down.&nbsp; "Or this?"&nbsp; Mr. Baker began to rub her thigh again.<br><br>"Please, Mr Baker. Please, I..."<br><br>"Answer me," he said and poised his fingers to pinch again.&nbsp; "Pinch or rub?&nbsp; You decide, Helen."<br><br>"Rub."<br><br>"No.&nbsp; Say 'Please rub me, Mr. Baker. Please make it feel good.'"<br><br>"Please ru- ru- rub mmmm me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Pppppplease make it feel good."&nbsp; The darkness inside screamed to be let out, but the room was too bright, the distraction too much.<br><br>"Of course, Helen.&nbsp; And remember, you asked me to."&nbsp; He started to rub her thigh, hand moving up higher and higher towards her center.&nbsp; Mr. Baker started to breath heavier.&nbsp; His fingers brushed the crotch of her leotard.<br><br>The bell rang, startling both of them, and Heather bolted.&nbsp; The stool fell over with a crack and she fumbled hard at the door.&nbsp; Just as it opened, Mr. Baker's hand slammed into it, shutting it and he held it with his weight.&nbsp; "Shhh," he said and stroked her hair.&nbsp; When Helen tried to move, he grabbed the back of her neck and spun her to face him.&nbsp; "You asked me to, remember?&nbsp; If you tell anyone, I'll tell them what you asked me to do, Helen.&nbsp; What bad things you wanted me to do.&nbsp; What you asked for," he repeated.&nbsp; "You don't want that.&nbsp; No.&nbsp; You want to be a good little girl and keep your mouth shut, right?"<br><br>She nodded, breath coming in shivery little gasps.<br><br>Mr. Baker let go and opened the door.&nbsp; "See you tomorrow, Helen," he called out in a normal voice.&nbsp; "Good job today in tutoring."<br><br>Just like Felicity before her, Helen didn't look happy leaving tutoring.&nbsp; She walked down the hallway towards the gym, arms wrapped around herself.<br><br>Isi was glad.<br><br>She was glad that she had met someone she could talk to. She was glad that someone had accepted an invite of help with maths, no, wait, they called it math over here... With math homework. What was that about anyway? You didn't just do it once, you did it repeatedly, it was quite clearly maths. Silly and lazy north Americans. Dropping all the 'U's out fo the good words and calling things by the wrong names. She was glad that she had remembered to find out Helen's name too. That could have been awkward the longer it went. Three years down the line seeing each other in the street and having to admit that the entire time they were friends in high school she never knew the girl's name...<br><br>No, Helen seemed nice and interesting and fun and there had been that look that went on too long and felt electric and incredible and Isi hadn't minded at all...<br><br>And there was Helen looking miserable and...<br><br>Wait... Back up...<br><br>Isi stopped, her face hitting a look of concern almost instantly, her heckles very much up she raced over to Helen, "Are you okay? What's wrong? What happened?"<br><br>"Nothing happened!"&nbsp; The words were shouted, completely at odds with her tiny form.&nbsp; Inside Helen the darkness seethed, roiling in a thick, angry fog that demanded to be let out but was imprisoned as surely as if her arms wrapped around her body held it in. "Just leave me alone," she said and spun to the left, twirling completely around and past any possible chance Isolde might have had of grabbing her.&nbsp; Several students nearby looked over, hoping for a fight, but when one wasn't forthcoming they went back to hanging out against the walls.<br><br>She walked quickly away.&nbsp; Not from Isolde.&nbsp; From that room.&nbsp; From him.<br><br><em>He did a lot of tutoring with her.<br><br>She never looked happy...<br><br>Her parents sent her off..</em><br><br>Now she knew why.&nbsp; Now she understood.&nbsp; Felicity had been just like her.&nbsp; She was just like Felicity.&nbsp; But why did she get sent away?<br><br><em>Shhh.&nbsp; <br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>Remember.&nbsp; You asked me to.</em><br><br>"No, it wasn't like that," she whispered to herself.&nbsp; "No.&nbsp; No no no."<br><br><em>If you tell anyone, I'll tell them what you asked me to do, Helen.&nbsp; <br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>...tell them what you asked me to do.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>...tell them what you asked me to do.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>You want to be a good little girl and keep your mouth shut.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>..be a good little girl and keep your mouth shut.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>..be a good little girl and keep your mouth shut.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>...keep your mouth shut.<br><br>Please rub me, Mr. Baker.&nbsp; Please make it feel good.<br><br>...keep your mouth shut.</em><br><br>Helen ran into the bathroom and fell onto her knees inside the stall.&nbsp; The black plastic of the seat was cold on her hands as she clung to it, then vomited what little lunch she'd had.&nbsp; She kept retching, over and over, even when there was nothing else to get out of her tummy.<br><br>What was in her refused to come out.<br><br>Isi looked even more concerned and slightly taken aback at Helen's outburst, then followed her through the crowd and slipped quietly into the bathroom behind her. Lifted herself up and sat on the sink block and studied her fingers which were looking odd again, too short, too small. The sound of Helen's distress was too much though and she stalked over to the door, knocking on it quietly.<br><br>"Hey. I know you told me to go away, but... I want to help. I have to offer to come in there and give you a hug, because if I don't my heart is going to jump out of my chest and choke me till I do it. I don't want that." There was hurt and care and worry all rolled up in the English girls voice, "Please, if I can, I want to help. Really."<br><br>"Don't come in," Helen pleaded.&nbsp; "I'm...I just don't feel good," she lied then rested her head against the wall of the stall.&nbsp; It felt so good.&nbsp; So cold and hard and like it would protect her.&nbsp; Protect her from him.&nbsp; Helen's stomach churned and she heaved again.&nbsp; Heaved until her belly cramped and she could barely breathe.<br><br>"Bad fish sticks," she called out to Isolde, then flushed the toilet after wiping her mouth with a wad of toilet paper.&nbsp; Helen stood up and pulled the door inward, not looking at Isolde.&nbsp; At the sink she began to wash her hands.&nbsp; When she looked up into the mirror, her face was pale, freckles standing out in stark relief.&nbsp; "I'm sorry," she said to the girl in the mirror, but likely Isolde would think it was meant for her.<br><br>Isi looked a little different, still the same girl wearing the same clothes but her eyes were a lighter blue and she had a lot more freckles all of sudden, in a pattern almost exactly like Helen's own. Not that Isi herself seemed to have spotted anything wrong.<br><br>She watched Helen sweep past and arrive at the sinks, watched her start to wash up, her hands opening and closing a few times, "I... Don't think it was bad food. Only I don't want to force you to talk to me or tell me anything, I just met you, how can you trust me?" Her voice wasn't as English as it was before, a little north American twang had crept into it somehow, this Isi herself did find odd, but she couldn't stop now, had to plough on through. "I do want to help though. However I can. Whatever you need." She looked down at her boots for a few moments, sucking on her lower lip, noticed her hands again, too small, fingers too short, was it a trick of her mind? It had been happening all day, ever since History class. Come to that, her chest was looking, well, fuller than normal, felt heavier. Normally she had practically nothing, now it looked, at least through the heavy cotton boy work shirt she had on, like she had at least an A cup.<br><br>"I..." What. The. Haemorrhaging fuck? "I didn't have these earlier..?" She glanced up at herself in the mirror, her face went a little slack she leaned in, "Freckles... What..."<br><br>"There's nothing to tell," she shook her head at her reflection.&nbsp; "Nothing happened," she lied, though every time it came out, the lie became closer to the truth.&nbsp; Nothing had happened, nothing she hadn't asked him for anyway.&nbsp; It was all her fault.&nbsp; She shouldn't have done it, made him do it.&nbsp; And she had to keep her mouth shut.&nbsp; "It was bad milk."<br><br>Helen shook her hands dry then tried to drown out the voice in her head with the screeching hissing blow of the hand dryer.&nbsp; She hit it again when it stopped.&nbsp; Then a third time, hands long since dry but the noise making thinking and talking hard.&nbsp; She didn't want to think.&nbsp; "You want to help me?&nbsp; Help me with math.&nbsp; Make me understand it," she said, almost angry.&nbsp; Helen turned around, about to say something else, but stopped.&nbsp; She looked at Isolde, then at herself in the mirror, then at Isolde again.&nbsp; Helen came to stand beside her.&nbsp; <br><br>"Bend down," she said and put her hand on Isolde's arm, pulling on it.&nbsp; "Lower."&nbsp; She didn't stop pulling until their heads were at equal height.&nbsp; Helen stared at Helen and...almost-Helen staring back at her from the mirror.&nbsp; Her hand reached out to touch the mirror, finding it cold and glass as expected and her hand met its twin on the glass.&nbsp; "I thought your eyes were grey," she said.&nbsp; "But they're the same color as mine.&nbsp; And were you wearing concealer earlier?&nbsp; I don't remember freckles."<br><br>"My..." Isi looked in the mirror, pulling away from Heather in the process, her face was normal, her eyes were dark blue with grey circles, even her chest was... Flat. Okay, that was a disappointment. Her hands were normal again too. "I think... I think I might be going insane. I had, like, tits, just a moment ago. Little ones, but tits. Now... Nothing. I don't... Normally I have nothing." Isi glanced at Heather in the mirror, back down at her own chest. "Hangon..." She turned her back on Helen, undid the buttons on the cream heavy cotton work shirt. Opened it up and checked out her chest, unaware seemingly that the mirror gave Helen a view of her nipples. "That's normal. So why did it look..." She buttoned things back up, put a hand to her forehead. "Maths. I was going to teach you maths."<br><br>Helen looked uncertain, but everything was back to normal now.&nbsp; Right?<br><br><em>You’ll never be normal again.&nbsp; Please rub me, Mr. Ba-</em><br><br>“Shut up,” she whispered.&nbsp; &nbsp; “Just, shut up.”<br><br>“Sorry.” Isi shook her head, “I just... Why would I think...” She put her hands on her chest, felt around, normal. “Sorry.” she said again. “Going insane. Plus, I came in here to help you, not to go stark raving bloody mad.”<br><br>“What?”&nbsp; Helen looked away from her inner conflict and saw Isolde.&nbsp; Really saw here.&nbsp; The real Isolde, not the...that hadn’t happened.&nbsp; Just like Mr. Baker hadn’t happened.&nbsp; “Isolde?&nbsp; Can we just go?&nbsp; I mean, just go to your house?”&nbsp; She wasn’t even thinking about her school satchel and clothes still in her locker in the gym.<br><br>“Of course, yes. Right away.” Isi fidgeted with her messenger bag, gave Helen the best smile she could which was somewhat disappointingly lopsided right then. She nodded again and headed for the door to the ladies. “Ah, I am not very good at finding my way about here yet. Could you lead please?”<br><br>“Yeah,” she said and took Isolde’s hand.&nbsp; Helen's hand was small and very clean in Isolde’s, and she’d velcroed her grips up out of the way.&nbsp; “Come on.”&nbsp; All the way through the building she kept hold of Helen’s hand.&nbsp; When they had to pass back by Mr. Baker’s room, Helen’s grip became frantically tight and her palm was all cold sweat.&nbsp; The fingers began to relax as they moved away until she was just holding it normally again.&nbsp; Only when they were filing onto the bus did she let go.<br><br>The tall, green vinyl seat swallowed her up and Helen scooted to inside, but immediately moved back over once Isolde was seated. Her bare thigh and calf touched Isolde’s leg.&nbsp; There was already a large bruise forming on the inside of her left thigh, high up near where Helen’s leotard ended.<br><br>“Should you have changed?” Isi whispered, “Not that you have to. My mum won’t mind. Geoff might stare of course... He does that. Boys.” She had enjoyed the hand holding, the squeeze past that one door had been somewhat odd. But the hand holding in general had been really nice, it was it seemed wont to cause strange sensations in Isi’s belly and chest.<br><br>“I just wanted to get out of there,” she said, voice pitched low because Isolde was talking quiet.&nbsp; Not like anyone could hear them over the noise of the diesel, the blaring CB radio or the other kids.&nbsp; “I’ll get my stuff tomorrow.&nbsp; Maybe you have like a t-shirt or something I can borrow?&nbsp; Or something you’ve outgrown?”&nbsp; Helen scooted closer, as if trying to push herself into Isolde.&nbsp; Then she squirmed some more and put her arm up under Isoldes and took her hand again.&nbsp; “I’m sorry I threw up.”<br><br>“No. Not allowed. No apologising for throwing up. You were... Upset.” Isi ventured, “I think we can steal something from my sister? She isn’t very b... She is smaller. Most of my stuff you would swim in.” The hand holding again. And leaning. Well, almost leaning. This was doing things to Isi, little fireworks were happening in her head. “I’m... We live on the outskirts. Its quite a nice house. You’ll like it.”<br><br>And that sounded lame. She ruined it. Whatever it was, whatever was going on she had opened her mouth and said something stupid and ruined it. And now she had that song going through her head, the ‘Something Stupid’ song. Good song. But not what she needed right then. Isi sucked on her lips and glanced down at their hands. Her hand was looking small again. Her breath caught. There was a freckle and she had seen it before. On Helen’s other hand. Isi didn’t have one there, or fingers that short and pretty. Hers were long and thing and some of them curved a bit to the left or right, hand dependent. It was her arm alright, but the hand was... A blink and the effect was gone again.<br><br>Isolde’s hand felt...right.&nbsp; Like it was one of her own she was holding.&nbsp; Helen rubbed her thumb across the back of it.&nbsp; It just fit, was just the right size.&nbsp; Weird, because Isolde was so much taller.&nbsp; You’d think she would have bigger hands.&nbsp; Helen kept rubbing little circles, not really sure why, only knowing that it still felt like the right thing to do.&nbsp; It made her feel better.&nbsp; Safer.&nbsp; “You have a little sister?&nbsp; What’s her name?&nbsp; Is she pretty like you?”&nbsp; Now Isolde’s hand felt like someone else’s, and that was okay too.&nbsp; Because it was Isolde’s.&nbsp; Isolde.&nbsp; Isolde.&nbsp; The name echoed in her head like a mantra.<br><br>“Helen.” Isi said, then caught herself, her face going to ‘oh shit’ mode, eyes wide, “Oh, er, no, Heide. Yeah. The girls wound up with German names, the boy with a British one. Our mum is German. She has the accent and everything, though she speaks better English than I do. Except when she’s mad. Then you can’t move for German. Mostly swear words though.” Isi smiled a little at that thought, then frowned, “She hasn’t been the same lately.”<br><br>“Everyone in your family has such, I don’t know, exotic?&nbsp; Exotic names.&nbsp; Like you’re all actors or something.&nbsp; Yours is the prettiest.&nbsp; Isolde.&nbsp; Isolde,” she repeated, drawing it out.&nbsp; “Not like Helen.&nbsp; I mean, what did a Helen ever do?”<br><br><em>Should we tell them?</em><br><br>Helen banished the voice with a shake of her head.&nbsp; Her hand slipped from Isolde’s grasp and the shorter girl wrapped her arms around herself again.&nbsp; She looked down into her lap, to where the bruise was.<br><br><em>I made that happen.&nbsp; I’m not good.</em><br><br>Isi’s eyes shot down to where the hand had been. She felt its loss, she wanted to put an arm around Helen, tell her it was okay, that everything was going to be alright, only she didn’t really have the right words. “My mum’s name is Rosamund.” Isi mused, “That’s fairly pretty. Thanks though.” She felt like she was blushing fit to burst, her chest was tight, it was just a name, she hadn’t said that Isi was pretty. Nearly though, and that was so... Nice. And sorta dangerous, but in such a great and wonderful way. Something had the potential to be happening here, but Isi wasn’t sure if it was or could or even should. Helen was hurting, badly, she needed help and... It was up to Isi.<br><br>It took a good five seconds of good hard lower lip gnawing, the kind that brings pain and concentration and steels you for the task ahead before the English girl reached out and put an arm around Helen’s shoulders. Pulling her into a simple one armed hug.<br><br>As soon as Isolde touched her, Helen squirmed.&nbsp; But not to get away.&nbsp; Rather she turned so her back was pressed into Isolde’s side and Helen drew her legs up onto the seat, while at the same time taking Isolde’s hand and drawing it, and her arm, around and in front so she ended up cradled inside the circle of it.&nbsp; It felt safe.&nbsp; It felt happy, and Helen rested her chin on Isolde’s arm the rest of the trip.<br><br>The bus was all but empty when it pulled into a really long driveway, paved and not dirt or crushed stone.&nbsp; Helen noticed by the change in the noise the tires made.&nbsp; When the bus stopped and she felt Isolde’s change in posture, Helen spoke.&nbsp; “That’s your house?&nbsp; Wow.&nbsp; It’s really nice.”&nbsp; She reluctantly let go of Isolde’s arm and stood up to follow her off the bus.<br><br>“We... Sort of won it in a government auction. It needs some work and whoever had it before? They decorated it in ‘Early maniac’ everything is gold and garish. We have a lot of fittings to replace.”<br><br>She offered her hand to Helen to lead her off the bus and towards the house. The vintage English racing green MG convertible sat in front of the garage told her Geoff was home. Isi took off her jacket and handed it to Helen, “Here, put this on. Its long and will help. Don’t want too much big brother ogling going on.”<br><br>The jacket was warm and smelled of Isolde.&nbsp; It was the most comforting thing in the world, even if the sleeves flapped loose way past her hands.&nbsp; It smelled like her and it was warm from her and she’d given it to Helen.&nbsp; She wrapped it around herself, head almost lost in the neck, and looked like a little Raggedy Ann doll someone had stuffed into a toddler’s coat.&nbsp; The first thing she did was snake a hand out and reclaim Isolde’s.&nbsp; “Thank you, Isolde.&nbsp; It’s really soft.”<br><br>She took in the house, every bit of it.&nbsp; It was huge!&nbsp; Isolde said she didn’t like the decorating, but everything looked expensive and classy to Helen’s firmly blue collar eyes.&nbsp; What would it be like to live in a house like this, instead of one where you could hear everything going on outside and the windows leaked air around the bottom edges?&nbsp; <br><br>“Are we going to go to your room or the kitchen table?”<br><br>“My room.” Isi said firmly. “Fewer Geoff’s there.” She took Helen in via the back door next to the garage, not really a back door per-say as it wasn’t at the back of the house, but the closest they had in the Black household. The corridor inside revealed a laundry room a door to the garage and the door to the cellar. It was the latter that Isolde took. The stairs were really wide a strange feature that had come with the house. The carpet was a garish yellow currently, though that would likely change by the sound of things. They passed a family room and Isi lead the way to her bedroom.<br><br>It was. Big. Bigger than a bedroom likely had any right to be. With a kingsize bed and a three seater sofa, a large computer desk with a pair of large monitors on it that looked old but serviceable. There were little clues all over the room to Isolde’s general state of mind.<br><br>She had girl stuff like stuffed animals, yet also there was a shelf above her computer desk with classic Generation one Transformers re-issues and even a few original un-boxed ones. She had a fully built original European issue of Redhorn the Terrible and a number of other smaller wind up reds, which was incredibly rare in North America as Zoids weren't officially released there at that time. She had an action man wearing barbie clothes holding a spatula holding hands with a Barbie doll wearing action man clothes holding an assault rifle. Someone had taken the time to re-cut the clothes, even adding fabric in the case of the action man, to make them fit right. She had posters on the walls, all in frames, all for films.<br><br>Reservoir Dogs, Unforgiven, The Breakfast Club, The Killer, Twelve Monkeys, Brazil, The Iron Giant, Metropolis (original Fritz Lang), Hellraiser, Evil Dead II, Alien, Fight Club and last but not least Monty Python's Life of Brian. Her computer desk was tidy, though the full size resin model of the Lament Configuration puzzle cube next to her mouse looked almost real. Yet sat the other side of it was a book of stickers of little cartoon kittens. The whole room was like this, a seemingly mismatched jumble of boy and girl stuff.<br><br>Isi wandered in and sat on the sofa, putting her messenger bag to one side, she smiled, “Home. Well, kinda. Not really sunk in that we own the place yet. Government auctions are cheap, but you wind up getting what you get. We got this.”<br><br>Helen didn’t sit, not immediately.&nbsp; She walked around the room, hem of Isolde’s jacket reaching down to mid calf, and just looked at things.&nbsp; She pulled out the kitten sticker book and went through it, smiling a few times, then put it back.&nbsp; Often she looked over, making sure Isolde was still there and smiling when she was.&nbsp; <br><br>“This is so cool.&nbsp; You have so many nice things.”&nbsp; Helen walked back over and stood in front of Isolde.&nbsp; “I bet it gets dark down here, huh?&nbsp; Like, really dark.&nbsp; Does it?”<br><br>“It does. With no windows down here and all. There are two in the bathroom, but they don’t let in a lot of light anyway, being small.” Isi smiled, “You want me to turn the lights off?”<br><br>“Yeah,” Helen said, sounding very interested.&nbsp; “I do.&nbsp; I want to see how dark it is down here with everything off.”&nbsp; She swiveled side to side, suddenly excited looking and happy, then looked around.&nbsp; “Okay if I sit on the edge of your bed?”<br><br>“Oh, of course, you can lay on the bed if you like.” Isi nodded, stood and walked over to the door to the bathroom, vanished inside, there was the sound of blinds being drawn down. She was back out a moment later and closed the door. She then headed out and turned the lights off in the family room and stairs down from the floor above. Finally coming back into her room and closing the door before turning off the lights.<br><br>It was pitch black. “How’s that?” A voice in the dark.<br><br>“Perfect,” she said breathily.&nbsp; “Just perfect.&nbsp; Oh my gosh, this is so nice!”&nbsp; It felt way different than the closet.&nbsp; Bigger.&nbsp; Open.&nbsp; More space to play around in and more dark to be wrapped in.&nbsp; Helen hugged herself, sleeves flapping loudly in the black room.&nbsp; “I wish I lived here.&nbsp; That this was my bed in this wonderful dark room.&nbsp; I bet you sleep so good!&nbsp; No light to bug you.”&nbsp; There was the sound of bedding rustling as Helen laid back on it.&nbsp; Her feet didn’t quite touch the floor where they dangled from the end of the bed.<br><br>“Isolde? Can we leave them off for a minute?&nbsp; I just want to relax.”<br><br>“Of course we can.” Isi blinked, then again, she could almost... There was just the hint of... That was weird. Like a warm body showing up against the dark. Almost there but not. Then as she started to examine it, really think about it, she lost it again.<br><br>Isi shuffled across the room, hand reaching out to feel for the edge of the bed. She found it. With her leg. Topping forward she fell face first on the large soft but firm mattress.<br><br>“Are you okay?”&nbsp; Helen pulled her legs up onto the bed and got onto her knees.&nbsp; She took the two shuffling moves necessary and felt her knees brush into the side of Isolde.&nbsp; Floppy hands, all covered in cloth, reached out and patted to determine just where Isolde lay.&nbsp; “So, maybe not the best idea, but I still like it.”&nbsp; And she did.&nbsp; Already Helen felt calmer, like what had happened were no longer something that could hurt her.&nbsp; She was safe in the dark, at home in it.&nbsp; Just like always.&nbsp; “Get the rest of you on the bed,” Helen urged and mock tugged on each side of Isolde’s ribs.&nbsp; “Then we can stretch out and not worry about tripping over anything.”<br><br>Isi climbed up onto the large bed and laid herself down next to Helen. “You are a fan of the dark then.” A statement not a question. “I like it too. Its nice sometimes. Gives you that floaty feeling.” Isi was quiet for a few moments, “So, did I tell you about my dad?”<br><br>“It’s the best,” Helen agreed, sounding happy.&nbsp; Very happy.&nbsp; She was content to just lay there, close enough to Isolde to touch shoulders and arms and slender hips.&nbsp; For a bit it was quiet, both girls just thinking, then Isolde asked her question.<br>“No,” Helen said gently.&nbsp; “You know, Isolde, you can say things in the dark sometimes that are hard to think about in the light,” she prompted.&nbsp; Her hand reached out, fumbling for Isolde’s.<br><br>Isi found the hand skitting up her thigh and left it for a few moments, sucking on her lower lip. The little tendrils of electricity that would shoot up her body from the spots where Helen was touching her catching her breath in her chest. At last she reached down and took the hand. Giving it a squeeze.<br><br>“He was a pilot, fighter pilot for the RAF.” A beat then, “The Royal Air Force? Anyway, that’s why we moved around a lot. That’s how my dad met my mum, when he was stationed in Germany. Well, he was assigned to be one of the demonstrator pilots for the new plane, the Eurofighter? And there were these trials and demo’s going on at Nellis, scheduled for years. So we all moved down here from Canada. My dad had been one of the instructors at Cold Lake in Alberta? Really boring place. Anyway... So he get’s to do all these demo flights, weapons tests and mock dogfights and all kinds of crazy things. He comes home at nights looking happy and he is home a lot as they don’t fly every day and it was a good time for everyone. Up at cold lake he would have to take the new pilots and navigators on these long range training flights now and again and he would gone for days sometimes weeks. Nellis he was always back at night.”<br><br>In the dark, Helen could feel how Isolde was trying to disconnect herself from the story, like it wasn’t real.&nbsp; Like it hadn’t happened.&nbsp; Her head shifted, tilting up.&nbsp; It was impossible to see Isolde’s face, but Helen instinctively tried to.&nbsp; To let Isolde see hers, and know she was being listened to.&nbsp; Her thumb began to rub little circles in Isolde’s palm.<br><br>Isi sighed, “Then there was an RAF officer ringing our doorbell. He had a pair of US Air Force guys with him who stayed outside. He came in and sat us all down and told us that Dad had been involved in an accident. That his plane had gone down and he hadn’t ejected.” Isi’s voice hitched, badly. Even through her hand Helen could feel the charge of strong emotion coursing through her, “I never said goodbye. I was angry at him the last time I saw him.”<br><br>What could you say to that?&nbsp; Sometimes you just didn’t talk, you were just there.&nbsp; Like when Kimmie tore her MCL and got knocked off the squad right before state.&nbsp; Or when Jennifer’s brother ODed on oxy and died.&nbsp; Words just weren’t enough.&nbsp; Helen let go of Isolde’s hand, but just so she could roll onto her side and scoot up.&nbsp; Way up, Isolde was so tall.&nbsp; Helen pressed herself into Isolde’s shoulder and drew the upset girl’s head over to rest in between her shoulder and neck.&nbsp; She just held her, one arm across Isolde’s chest, the other curled and cradling the back of Isolde’s hair.<br><br>Helen found out what her hair felt like.&nbsp; It was soft and the uneven cut of it made it fluffy prickly at the same time.<br><br>Being held was... Too much. The tears started almost immediately. She felt free and awful and cared for a pathetic all at the same time. This poor girl had only come over for help with her maths and now she was being used by Isi for emotional support. How in the hell did that happen? “Sorry.” She said quietly, almost less than a whisper, and it was unclear if she was saying it to Helen herself or to her father whom she had shouted at the last time had seen him. She said it a few more times, her arms moving to cling to Helen holding her to her. The contact feeling right and allowing Isi free reign to cry somehow. Dampening Helen’s shoulder.<br><br>“It’s okay, Isolde,” Helen said into her hair, then kissed it.&nbsp; “It’s okay.&nbsp; You don’t have to apologize.”&nbsp; <br>She rocked slightly, not a lot, but enough to transmit the motion to Isolde, that simple back and forth that people so desperately needed in times like this.&nbsp; Isolde’s tears were warm then spread unseen damp, cool patches across the slick fabric of Helen’s leotard.&nbsp; Time passed, but what was time in the dark?&nbsp; All that mattered was holding Isolde and feeling her cry.&nbsp; Feeling her get it out.<br><br>“I... Its been a year. I should be better.” Isi stated very quietly. “I should be dealing with this much better.” She felt smaller, both to herself and to Helen. Which was strange.<br><br>It was easier to hold Isolde now.&nbsp; A lot easier.&nbsp; In fact, their feet were touching.&nbsp; What?&nbsp; Helen stopped rocking Isolde and sat still, body suddenly tense.&nbsp; “Isolde?”<br>“<br>“Yup?” Not Isi’s voice. Helen’s. “What?” Confusion, “What?” a little fear, “What?” A lot of fear. “That’s not me.”<br><br>“I...&nbsp; I think you’re right.&nbsp; I think, this is crazy, but do you remember the bathroom?&nbsp; The mirror?&nbsp; I, you looked like me,” Helen’s voice was just as worried as Isolde’s, but she didn’t let go of her.&nbsp; <br><br>“What? That’s... Not possible.” She thought about it, her clothes felt way too large and, she pulled a hand back from Helen, felt at her chest. “I have tits? I don’t have tits.” Still Helen’s voice.<br><br>Helen didn’t recognize her own voice. It always sounded different to yourself than how other people heard it.&nbsp; But it wasn’t Isolde’s voice.&nbsp; She should be scared, but in the dark it wasn’t scary.&nbsp; The dark was never scary.&nbsp; “Isolde, give me your hand.&nbsp; Hands,” she added.&nbsp; “Both of them.”&nbsp; She reached across and her hand ran across a breast that felt oddly familiar.&nbsp; “Sorry.&nbsp; Just...grab my hands.”<br><br>“No, its okay.” Isi admitted, “It was... Nice.” Should she have said that? She let Helen find her hands, her breathing was erratic, laboured, she was quite badly scared, but... Having Helen there, touching her was helping. A lot.<br><br>Nice?&nbsp; It felt nice?&nbsp; Helen let that comment go but it slid down to chortle under her brain’s other priorities.&nbsp; “Okay.&nbsp; Like, I’m holding both your hands.&nbsp; And you can feel my feet, right?&nbsp; And no one’s here but us?&nbsp; Now...I don’t know if this is going to work but you have to be still.&nbsp; Totally still.&nbsp; Just, lay there.”&nbsp; Helen took a deep breath and her hands squeezed the small ones she held, so different from Isolde’s and so familiar.&nbsp; Then she let the breath out and laid her head down on Isolde’s chest.<br><br>“Come on,” she whispered.&nbsp; “It’s okay.&nbsp; I think, I think you know that.&nbsp; She won’t hurt you.”<br><br>Isi blinked at that. Who was Helen talking to? She trusted the girl, she really did, it was right, and... She wanted to help. This was strange though.<br><br>“I know you’re there.&nbsp; You’re always there but you’re shy.&nbsp; Scared.&nbsp; It’s okay.&nbsp; If she’s me, like we think, you know she won’t hurt us.&nbsp; Come on,” she said softly then fell silent.&nbsp; Inside her, uncertain but needing to be let out from the earlier trauma, the darkness roiled.&nbsp; It started at her feet as usual, spreading as an intangible fog that Helen could feel as sure as if it were real.&nbsp; <br><br>“Don’t let go,” she said and slowly opened her hand with Isolde’s inside of it.&nbsp; Helen splayed her fingers out so Isolde could feel each of them on the back of her hand, and then slightly cupped both of them.&nbsp; “It won’t hurt you.”<br><br>And there it was.&nbsp; Finally.&nbsp; The tendril.&nbsp; It slid into Isolde’s palm and twined around both their hands with vegetable patience.&nbsp; It was barely perceptible, but there was something there.<br><br>“Do you feel it?” she whispered.<br><br>“I think... I feel something?” Isi admitted, her voice was more her own again, but she was still the same size. “What is that?” There wasn’t fear in her voice, more curiosity. “Kinda tickly?”<br><br>“I think it’s the dark,” Helen said and the tendril coiled slowly back and forth.&nbsp; “I don’t know.&nbsp; I don’t even know how I’m doing it or if I am.&nbsp; But...the mirror, Isolde.&nbsp; I didn’t do that.&nbsp; I’m not doing this now.&nbsp; Um...can you, you know, do something to check?&nbsp; I have a little mole.”<br><br>“Like a pet?” Isi blinked, felt stupid, “No, a mole, right. Ah, sorry.” She winced, “Where?”<br><br>“It’s going to go away now.&nbsp; The dark.”&nbsp; As she spoke and let go of it in her mind, it just vanished.&nbsp; Like it had never been there.&nbsp; Helen sat up and there was a slithering, snappy sound.&nbsp; Like springy cloth.&nbsp; “Just...here.”&nbsp; She took Isolde’s hand and folded the fingers so only one stood out.&nbsp; In the dark, Helen drew Isolde’s hand that wasn’t Isolde’s hand to her tummy, then down lower.&nbsp; And lower still.&nbsp; There was a hint of softness, of a little plumpness, and Helen put Isolde’s finger on a small but noticeable mole.&nbsp; “Don’t move,” she begged.&nbsp; “But..do you feel it?”<br><br>“Yeah.” Isi said carefully. “Where is that? I... If I am going to go looking for it...” She could hear the blush in her voice, her whole body, if it was her body, was alive and tingling, her core was throbbing all of a sudden. Hard.<br><br>“It’s...there.&nbsp; You know?&nbsp; Down in where I wear my panties.&nbsp; Left side.&nbsp; Not all the way down but close.”&nbsp; Helen flushed and her breasts, naked in the dark, felt inexplicably hot and tight.<br><br>Leaving that hand where it was Isi took her other hand back and slid it downwards. Her trousers were just hanging off of her, panties too, well, not panties, she was wearing boys boxer briefs again today. Her body felt a lot smaller, more muscled, and... Isi gasped. There was a mole. “I... I have a mole.” The hand reached up and felt for Helen’s hand, found it drew it towards her, guided it down, gasping again as she felt the fingers brush her skin. “There.” She was hardly breathing, the pulsing in her core was so strong, so urgent, so insistent. In the dark apparently you could be very brave.<br><br>“I know,” Helen said, and felt skin that was so familiar.&nbsp; It was weird.&nbsp; It was hers, she could feel it, but the sensation was missing from the other side.&nbsp; It was... it just wasn’t...&nbsp; If she touched lower, touched herself - Isolde - would it be masturbation?&nbsp; No!&nbsp; There was another person under her hand, even if it was her.&nbsp; Well, not her but her.<br><br>Her hand was in Helen’s panties, Helen’s hand in hers. Isi wanted, needed, to guide the hand more, was willing her hand to do it, to direct the fingers just a little, so close.<br><br>The finger on Helen’s mole twitched at the thought even as her breath caught as a wave of need and want and desire shot out from her core and burst all over her.<br><br>Helen withdrew her hand.&nbsp; It snagged momentarily on Isolde’s shorts, but she wiggled it out.&nbsp; The motion almost did her in.&nbsp; Isolde’s hand was still on her body, cupping her mons almost, and it slid along her skin.&nbsp; Helen froze, thighs quivering.<br><br>Isi didn’t move her hand, was conscious of not doing it. Of how close she was to doing something... So powerful. Not wrong, not right, just... Amazing. She knew full well she should move the hand, move her finger. Another twitch, another very slight jump of the tip of her finger. She knew she should, but her hand didn’t want to.<br><br>Her breath caught. “Helen. I...” Isi started, then couldn’t continue.<br><br>“I know.&nbsp; Just, hold still.”&nbsp; No soldier ever disarmed a mine as carefully as Helen took hold of Isolde’s now small hand and guided it out of her panties and the clingy leotard.&nbsp; She didn’t let go of it though, but laced their fingers together then squeezed them tightly.&nbsp; “Are you okay?”<br><br>Breathless and shaking just a little Isolde nodded, winced at herself, Helen couldn’t see her, “Kinda.” She confessed. “I...” <em>Didn’t want to pull my hand out.</em> “Worried.” <em>And really incredibly turned on...</em><br><br>“Me too.&nbsp; Me.&nbsp; Too,” Helen said and then fell silent.&nbsp; After a moment she wiggled and there was the sound of her clothing being put back on.&nbsp; A little snap of straps on flesh.&nbsp; “You know when I said in History that James wasn’t my boyfriend?&nbsp; Well, I mean, he isn’t.&nbsp; And I’ve never had one.&nbsp; A boyfriend.&nbsp; I’ve never even kissed a guy.&nbsp; Not even in junior high when we played spin the bottle.&nbsp; I always chickened out.”<br><br>"I, well, sort of almost was a boyfriend once. This girl latched onto me in Alberta and was all into me and stuff and I was... Not really ready or into her, not interested. I think it was because I dress like a boy? Only, I think back and I sort of regret it a bit." Isi confessed, she seemed to be returning to normal size again, if that's what had even happened been happening. With the dark it was hard to be certain, even the mole was inconclusive."I... Think about what could have been?"<br><br>“What was she like?”&nbsp; Helen was suddenly very interested, wondering how she compared to the girl.&nbsp; “I mean, was she tall and pretty like you?&nbsp; Was she as interesting and smart and just, like, knew what to do like you?”<br><br>"Pretty?" Isi could feel the heat of the blush, "I'm not..."<br><br>“You’re so pretty,” Helen said quickly.&nbsp; “Isolde, you’re tall, like a model, and your hair is just wonderful.&nbsp; It doesn’t stay the same color, but blends in and out of itself.&nbsp; Your eyes are just gorgeous.&nbsp; Have you ever looked at them?&nbsp; Like, really? In a mirror?&nbsp; Seen the flecks on them and the ring of grey?&nbsp; It’s so pretty.&nbsp; It’s...&nbsp; I don’t know how to say it any different.”<br><br>"I am a mess. And I have no chest. Just mosquito bites." Isi countered, "You are cute and petite and you have lovely long hair and brilliant blue eyes and the cutest freckles and a nose I am jealous of." Isi swallowed, "I didn't..." She could be brave in the dark right? "I didn't want my hand back." The instant she had said it the moment the words were out of her mouth and in the air, it felt terrifying and wrong and Isi's heart nearly leapt bodily out of her chest.<br><br>Isolde thought she was pretty.&nbsp; Thought she didn’t just look like someone’s little sister!&nbsp; That her freckles weren’t something to be covered up with concealer.&nbsp; And she wanted to, well...&nbsp; In the dark, Heather flushed deeply, skin feeling hot but no one could see it.&nbsp; She rolled onto her side, and now this time Isolde was the right length, felt like someone else.&nbsp; Heather rested her head on Isolde’s breast and wrapped her arm around to hold Isolde’s opposite hand.&nbsp; Her leg also came up and rested atop Isolde’s.&nbsp; “It was scary, Isolde.&nbsp; But not scary like...&nbsp; Not like that.&nbsp; You don’t think we’re doing something wrong, do you?&nbsp; Anything we’re going to get in trouble for?”<br><br>“I eat trouble for breakfast.” Isolde shrugged just a little, “I don’t care.” She smiled, she didn’t, if it was trouble or wrong, then it was she would deal with that when it came up. “I...” An arm snaked around Helen’s shoulders, held her, “Like it here. Right here. This isn’t wrong. This isn’t trouble. And if other people try to create wrong and trouble that’s their problem.”<br><br>Isolde was so complex.&nbsp; Helen wondered if she even knew it.&nbsp; Knew that the same girl who’d just cried about her daddy, who was so hurt by his death she couldn’t even cry where she could be seen, was the same girl who was talking like it was no big deal to be a..&nbsp; a...&nbsp; a lesbian.&nbsp; And it was.&nbsp; It was a huge deal and if anyone found out, high school would be miserable.&nbsp; “I don’t want anyone to know,” she said in a very small voice.<br><br>‘Know what? There is nothing to know. If there were anything it would be their business.” Isi stated with a slight smile. “Anyway. What have we done? Nothing. If we want to do something, that would be our concern, not anyone else’s.”<br><br>“You don’t understand,” Helen said.&nbsp; “Maybe your other school was different, but here everyone knows your business.&nbsp; And they’re not very accepting.&nbsp; At all.&nbsp; They’d...”&nbsp; she stopped and shrugged, the motion perceptible against Isolde.&nbsp; “I mean, everyone would know.&nbsp; I don’t think I could do that.”<br><br>“They don’t have to. If we want to, you know, be an us? We can do it on the sly if you want.” A smile, “Be all secret and quiet and unknown. Though it would be hard.” Isi took a breath held it, was she really talking about being with someone? Another girl? Not that that mattered. At all. “I... I didn’t mean for this to happen when I invited you over here. Really. This wasn’t like my plan or anything.” Isi rarely had a plan if she were to tell the absolute truth.<br><br>For a long time Helen didn’t respond.&nbsp; She just lay there, hearing Isolde’s heart and feeling her breath on her hair.&nbsp; Finally, she made a decision and took a breath to brace herself.&nbsp; “You remember when I said you can say things in the dark sometimes that are hard to think about in the light?&nbsp; I think this is like that.&nbsp; Like, I don’t know.&nbsp; If you get up and turn on the lights, will it still be the same?&nbsp; Will it still feel scary and a little bad but good and wonderful and exciting, or will it just feel wrong?&nbsp; I’m afraid to turn on the lights, Isolde.”<br><br>“I know what you mean. Only, I don’t think this will change for me. When I...” She steeled herself, took a breath, her voice very quiet, “When I had your hand and placed it on me, I wanted to move it a little further down, a little to the right.” Isi took a breath, “Needed it. I don’t know of that’s just lust or love or need or what. I just know it felt right.”<br><br>“I’m scared, Isolde.&nbsp; It felt good.&nbsp; Nice.&nbsp; And it’s wrong.&nbsp; I’m supposed to like boys,” she said but there weren’t any tears in the words.&nbsp; Just frustration.&nbsp; “Did it feel that good for you?&nbsp; I mean, really?&nbsp; I know it made me shivery and my, my breasts hurt.&nbsp; Hurt but not bad. I don't know how to say it.&nbsp; Shivery.”&nbsp; Helen paused.&nbsp; “Do you still need to?”<br><br>“I do. And its not wrong. Not everyone is into boys and girls. Some girls like girls and some boys like boys and that’s normal. It happens in all mammals and anyone who says it unnatural or against god or anything else is so full of shit its spilling out of their face hole.” Isi shook her head, “And it did feel good.” She added more quietly, having been louder and more animated in the denouncing of bigots. “Tingly and achey and I think I lack the language. I think, I should...”<br><br>Isi leaned in and used a hand to locate Helen’s face, then her lips. The kiss followed. A simple thing, just dry lips meeting dry lips. The hand remained by the lips moved back just a little. “Was that wrong? Did it feel wrong?”<br><br>"No. Yes. I don't know."&nbsp; Helen's tone was plaintive, confused. "It...&nbsp; So much has happened today and I just want to cry about it. I can't believe I was so stupid."&nbsp; Helen rolled her head slightly, shrugging until the hand on her face slipped around to rest across the back of her shoulders.<br><br>"Don't be mad," she said. "Please don't be mad, Isolde."<br><br>“No.” Isi shook her head, “No at all. What... What’s wrong? Its me right?” She sounded just very slightly broken by the idea.<br><br>“No!”&nbsp; Helen squeezed Isolde’s hand hard.&nbsp; “No, it’s not you at all.&nbsp; It’s me, Isolde.&nbsp; It’s all my fault.”&nbsp; <br><br>“Your fault for what? What is your fault?” Isi’s voice read concern and caring, “What did you do?”<br><br>“Nothing happened!”&nbsp; The sound, the vehement denial was unexpected.&nbsp; Helen let go of Isolde’s hand and rolled to the far side of the bed.&nbsp; <br><br>Isi blinked, something happened. Yet she wasn’t sure if Helen was talking about them anymore or something else, “What was it? What didn’t happen?” Isi asked slowly, carefully.<br><br>“I said nothing happened!”&nbsp; The bed moved a bit as Helen stood up.&nbsp; “Why do you keep asking me about it?”&nbsp; Helen’s feet padded across the floor, oddly confident for as dark as it was in the room.&nbsp; She was headed towards the sofa.<br><br>Isi winced at herself. “Okay.” She nodded, “Sorry.” She sounded genuinely contrite, if a little hurt.<br><br>Cushions rustled as Heather sat in them and curled up in the corner, legs under her in a neat, defensive little package.&nbsp; “Don’t ask me about it again.&nbsp; Okay?&nbsp; Please?&nbsp; Not even in the dark.”<br><br>Isi wasn’t sure exactly what was going on here, but she had her suspicions. “Okay. Sorry.” She gnawed on her lip for a moment, “If you want though, you can tell me anything. I am a good listener. Especially in the dark.”<br><br>Helen knew Isolde was right.&nbsp; And that she could trust her.&nbsp; She wasn’t sure why she knew that, or why the kiss had felt right or anything.&nbsp; And that hurt.&nbsp; Because she could trust Isolde, but she couldn’t tell her.&nbsp; They weren’t the same thing.&nbsp; Not at all.&nbsp; And now Isolde was worried and that wasn’t right.&nbsp; She’d already been through enough with her dad dying.<br><br>“Isolde?&nbsp; You know this isn’t because of you, right?”<br><br>“I suspect it might not be.” Isi sighed through her nose, “I hope its not what I think it might be, because if it is...” She couldn’t continue, her throat closed up against the words.<br><br>“We’re not talking about it,” Helen said.&nbsp; “Not now.&nbsp; Not ever.&nbsp; Nothing happened.”&nbsp; The more she said it, the truer it was becoming.&nbsp; Nothing had happened.&nbsp; That way, she didn’t have to feel bad about it.<br><br>“It’s not about you,” she insisted.&nbsp; “You’re...nice.”<br><br>“I’m kinda broken.” Isi admitted, “I try to be nice, but in my head I’m a bitch. I...” She was quiet for a moment, “Helen, I won’t force you to do anything or tell me anything you don’t want to. To be anything or anyone you don’t want to be. No matter what else happens or what goes on between us.”<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>10-01-2013, 19:06:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				(Part two of the above)<br><br><hr><br>“You are nice.&nbsp; You’re the only one who’s ever wanted to help me with school.&nbsp; Everyone else just makes fun of me.&nbsp; I know I’m not smart, but I’m smart enough to know when people are mean.&nbsp; You’re not mean.”&nbsp; She fell silent, then stood up and walked back towards the bed.&nbsp; Again it was as if she knew just where it was.&nbsp; It dimpled slightly as she got on it.&nbsp; “Isolde?&nbsp; Can we just, you know..&nbsp; Can we hold each other?&nbsp; But, in the light this time?”<br><br>“Of course.” There was a palpable note of relief to Isi’s voice, “Hangon, I have a bedside lamp just...” Isi put a hand out to work her way over to there the nightstand was, and found a breast. The hand shot back. “Oh! Sorry!”<br><br>“It’s okay.&nbsp; That’s part of why I want the light on.&nbsp; I don’t mind the dark, but I want to see you.&nbsp; And, do you think we can get some of your little sister’s clothes?&nbsp; I want to get out of this leo.&nbsp; It’s...ick.”<br><br>“Oh, yeah, we haven’t unpacked everything yet and a lot of the boxes are in the... There’s this home cinema thing and its huge and I feel kinda bad about it because it feels like we shouldn’t have such things, you know? Anyway, there are boxes in there of Heide’s stuff we can go pick through for something that will fit.” A little more fumbling and the light was found and turned on. Isi found herself on all fours with her belly over Helen’s face. “Oh, hi.”<br><br>“Hi,” Helen said back, and reached up to hug Isolde, lifting up and just pressing her face and body into the taller girl’s tummy.&nbsp; She let go lay back on the bed.&nbsp; A moment later Helen’s palms settled, one the top of Isolde’s stomach and the other just above her pubis.&nbsp; “Tense, almost like you have to poop.&nbsp; Feel it?”&nbsp; The hand on the top of Isolde’s stomach patted.&nbsp; “There.&nbsp; Tense that.”<br><br>“Okay.” Unsure what was the point Isi did as she was bade anyway, the electricity running all through her again, if that second hand moved just a little further down...<br><br>“Roll,” Helen said, and with a strength surprising for her size, she pressed up, lifting her lower body on strong gymnast’s legs and keeping her arms absolutely straight.&nbsp; Isolde was lifted up off the bed, or almost anyway. She was still really tall but only her fingertips and a little weight on her knees remained.&nbsp; Helen’s arms shifted, keeping Isolde balanced, then she huffed out a strong breath and twisted sideways, rolling Isolde along the outside of a circle that would end in the safety of the king sized mattress.<br><br>There was a ‘whumpf’ and Isi landed with a smile on her face. “Okay, doing that again later. After clothes and maths lessons.” She leaned over and on a whim kissed Helen again, this time sucking just very slightly on the girls lower lip.<br><br>Then Isolde was moving again, up off of the bed and over to the door. “Come on. Lets give you the cooks tour.”<br><br>The kiss, that was...wow.&nbsp; The first one had been surprising because it was surprising. This one.&nbsp; Helen didn’t quite know what to think about it . It felt good.&nbsp; Really nice, and made her wish it had been longer.&nbsp; Now she understood why Mommy looked at Daddy that way after they kissed sometimes.&nbsp; “Um, only if we can, you know, maybe?&nbsp; Maybe we can do that later too?&nbsp; The kiss?”&nbsp; She didn’t get off the bed.&nbsp; <br><br>“That we can. Come.” Isi directed Helen to follow her, “You have to find something that will fit you, and that you will wear.”<br><br>“I wanted to wash up,” Helen said, but after a moment she popped herself off the bed and followed Isolde.&nbsp; “Hey, do you have any of your old things?&nbsp; Anything that would fit me?&nbsp; Like, when you were in second grade?”&nbsp; Helen laughed just a little bit.<br><br>Isi shook her head, “Travel light is the order of the day a lot as a forces brat. You leave a lof of stuff behind for others. Its a thing. You can wash up after? This way you don’t wind up with something you will hate. My sister isn’t too much different from your size I think. Should work.<br><br>Thought the family room and then through a door and... The home cinema. A large room with a large number of three seater leather sofa’s four rows of three of them. Each row raised a little to the one in front leading down to a large screen. The back part of the room was mostly empty however aside from a good number of moving boxes many of which were open as things were grabbed when needed. Isi located her little sisters stuff. “Here, have a dig around. She mainly wears jeans and frilly blouse things? But she has all kinds of stuff.”<br><br>Did all rich people live like this?&nbsp; Isolde didn’t act like the rich girls at school.&nbsp; She wasn’t all ‘My golf cart is soooo old.&nbsp; Daddy needs to get me a new one!’ or ‘This one time, in Aruba...’&nbsp; Where was Aruba anyway?&nbsp; But the house was just full of things that Helen thought rich people would have.&nbsp; Like this theater room.&nbsp; A room!&nbsp; Just for movies!&nbsp; And with real rich theater like seats.&nbsp; They probably cost more than all the furniture in Helen’s house.<br><br>“Isolde?&nbsp; Do you know where Aruba is?” Helen asked as she knelt down and started to go through a box of clothes.<br><br>“I know the name, but not where it is. We can look it up on the computer?” Isi had opened the door to a cupboard at the back of the room and was fiddling with things inside.<br><br>“Do they speak Aruban?”&nbsp; Helen pulled out a cute pair of denim jeans with a grey knit waist, barely worn at all.&nbsp; She slipped into them.&nbsp; They were just a little too long, but they’d be okay.&nbsp; She could roll them up.&nbsp; Helen went to another box and began looking through it for a top.&nbsp; “What are you doing?”<br><br>“Just seeing what I need to put this place back in action again. I could do it with a media centre computer and an amp looks like.” Isi mused, “Just an old spare computer and an amp, you call them receivers over here. I have an old computer. The amp is the tricky part.”<br><br>“I look like I’m nine,” Helen said then laughed.&nbsp; She’d found a tutu tunic; lime green tutu bottom that flared out a little bit with a tropical teal shirt top.&nbsp; It fit, which was even more funny, and it made Helen look like a little kid.&nbsp; The slightly too long pants only enhanced the image.&nbsp; “Your brother will think you’re babysitting.”<br><br>“Perhaps I am.” Isi said coming back out of the cupboard, “Now behave young lady, or I will put you over my knee.”<br><br>The giggle was totally real.&nbsp; Totally relaxed.&nbsp; It took the tension from everything that had happened in the dark with it, and the relaxation of Helen’s features helped solidify the youthful look.&nbsp; “Now you sound like Daddy,” she said.&nbsp; “But I’ll be good, Ms. Isolde.&nbsp; I promise.”&nbsp; She giggled again then went over and hugged Isolde.&nbsp; “You wouldn’t really spank me, would you?”<br><br>“Only if you asked me nicely.” Isi smiled and returned the hug. “You are going to wear that?” She was smiling, clearly amused.<br><br>"What?&nbsp; Not cute enough?". Helen turned around, giving Isolde her back. "Do these jeans make my butt look big?"<br><br>“No.” Isi shook her head firmly, “I am not sure any jeans could unless they were padded. At least you have a butt. My bum is practically non existent. I have boy hips.” The english girl pouted just a little.<br><br>"Do you think boys worry about their looks like we do?". Helen turned back around. "When I'm with the squad, I don't care. I mean, we all look the same. But then I get around the cheerleadrers and they are so beautiful. They have good hair and they know how to wear make up and the have pretty clothes. I just feel so...&nbsp; so...&nbsp; Ugh!". Helen threw her hands out a little bit. "You totally don't have boy hips. They're cute. And your legs are like model tall. You could model," she said seriously. "You have that look. That model look. You know?"<br><br>“I don’t. I look all androgynous. Not that... Okay.” Isi took Helens hand and lead her back to her room, closed the door behind them and sat Helen down on the bed, “You can wash up in a minute after I tell you this.” A moment, Isi sighed heavily through her nose and let herself fall back on the bed, “I... Think I’m kinda halfway between the two in my head. Like, I don’t mind being a girl, but I think my gender, my mental one? Isn’t quite as far over to the ‘girl’ side as it could be, at all, and I don’t feel like I fit in either box. Online they call it all kinds of things like asexual and stuff, which is inaccurate as it means non-sexual, which isn’t me. Or Intersex, which is more transexuals, which isn’t me, or Other, which makes me sound like one of the undead from the Game of Thrones books. I just like Androgynous, because, I kind of am. In my head, and in what I wear? You can officially hate me now.”<br><br>"I don't know what all that means.". Helen turned and drew her legs up on the bed to sit criss cross. "I thought gender was like, if you are a boy or a girl. Penis or vagina.&nbsp; How can you have a mental penis?&nbsp; Like, you're a girl, Isolde. Right?"<br><br>“Its like, you know how you have transexuals? People who are mentally, say, a girl, but were born physically a boy? Or visa versa. Well, mentally not everyone is either all the way one or the other, just as not everyone is either all the way straight or all the way gay. You have degrees of gender as you have degrees of sexuality. I am pretty much down the middle line on both.” Isi explained with an apologetic grin. “I think. I mean, its not official? But I have taken online tests and they say I’m stuck between the two.”<br><br>"That's stupid. How does the computer know?". Helen frowned, trying to wrap her head around what Isolde was saying. She was so smart. So, everything. "Wait.&nbsp; Isolde?&nbsp; Like, what if you took the test as someone else?"<br><br>“It is the same test, on the answers I gave were different to everyone else.” Isi thought for a moment or two, "The ones I looked at were multiple choice things, I found them because people were posting their results and links to them online. Other people's results were different to mine. I think those things are not all that accurate, but, I don't know, it sort of bears out how I feel? I could be wrong about myself of course, it could just be wishful thinking. I mean, I was always a tomboy and all, but that doesn't make me... You know, other or androgynous or whatever? Its just, that's how I feel when I think about it. Its kept me up at night wondering. All that, 'Am I abnormal because I like boy toys as well as girl ones?' sort of thing."<br><br>"Can we try it?&nbsp; Try something?"&nbsp; Helen's excitement was obvious in the way she grabbed Isolde's hand and tried to drag her off the bed to the computer. "Come on."<br><br>"Okay. Now I will hold your hand. Try to, like be me. Like on the bed in the dark. Then take the test. Because I know I am a girl. Inside my head."<br><br>“I... I don’t think it works like that?” Isi had allowed herself to be lead over to the computer, which had started at a tap of the keyboard. “When I was on the bed and, ah, whatever happened there, I still was me in my head?” Holding Helen’s hand did feel really good though. “I am not sure I can find the test again either. Hang on...” The computer fully re-started and Isi googled for a bit, “I don’t... None of these look like the ones I had before.” she was using the mouse and keyboard both with the same hand while still holding onto Helen with the other, which had shrunk down again.<br><br>"Isolde," Helen said in a quiet but very excited tone. "Your hand. It's mine again.&nbsp; Its working."<br><br>“Always yours.” Isi smiled a little, not quite understanding what Helen was saying.<br><br>"No, it looks like mine. See?"&nbsp; She lifted it up to her eye level.<br><br>Isi glanced at her hand, her little hand, it was freaky, “That’s really weird. Its been doing that since...” History class. “Ah, earlier. Only I wasn’t certain it was really happening? Like it was just going on in my head because I am insane?”<br><br>"Like crazy?&nbsp; But I see it too.&nbsp; &nbsp;Or did you- look, who cares?&nbsp; Make it go more, Isolde. Be me."<br><br>“I don’t know how that’s happening.” Isi said with a little bit of a frown, “I... I don’t know that its me doing it.”<br><br>"You think it's me?&nbsp; Oh...&nbsp; But, it's never happened with anyone else. Um..&nbsp; Could you maybe go see of it works with your brother or something?"<br><br>“No.” Isi said firmly. “No bloody way. I am not telling Geoff anything about any of this. And I don’t know that its you or me or anything. I just mean I have no clue what it is and it worries me. Though... In the dark earlier? There was a mole. Right? There really was? That happened?”<br><br>Helen nodded, "Yeah. You can...&nbsp; Okay, no. No you can't.". She looked at Isolde. "No, um, looking at me when you're me. I'm serious," Helen said. "If you...&nbsp; We.&nbsp; Us. If we do, then yes. But if we don't then no looking. It's skeevey."<br><br>“No looking?” Isi nodded a little, “Okay.” The idea hadn’t really entered her head till then, now she couldn’t excise it. “What if I were in the middle of changing though? Or asleep and I wake up?”<br><br>"Then...&nbsp; Lie to me. Or just don't tell me.&nbsp; Okay?&nbsp; It would," she paused to run her hand through her hair. "Do you know how weird this all is?&nbsp; Everything that's happened today?&nbsp; Since History?". She sighed. "It's exhausting."<br><br>Isi was still looking at her hand, thinking about a mole, she glanced up, “History, yeah. This all started then. Wait, what was that thing in the dark? Where you were touching my hand? It didn’t feel like your skin.”<br><br>“I don’t know.&nbsp; It only started the other day.&nbsp; Like, in the dark in my closet.&nbsp; I think it’s darkness.&nbsp; Real darkness, not just no light.&nbsp; Like it’s a living thing?&nbsp; Crazy, right?&nbsp; But look at this.”&nbsp; She wagged her hand holding the Isolde/Helen hand.&nbsp; “Any crazier than this?”<br><br>“I was just thinking that.” Isi smiled, “You have weirdness going on too?” She gave Helen’s hand a squeeze, “So, why are we still sitting at the computer?” She glanced up smiling, “We should be over on the bed so I can show you some algebra. Then I can kiss you again you said.”<br><br>It was a lip bite instead of a verbal answer, but Helen nodded and, without letting go of Isolde’s hand, went back to the bed.&nbsp; “Oh, crap!&nbsp; My homework!&nbsp; It’s in the gym.&nbsp; In my bag.&nbsp; Isolde, I’m, I can’t do my work without it.”<br><br>Isi smiled, “Well, we can just teach you algebra and then you can do your work whenever you like.”<br><br>“Okay.&nbsp; I think it was something about-”&nbsp; The lesson went on for a good twenty minutes before Helen’s concentration, and patience, was exhausted.&nbsp; She didn’t make any real headway despite Isolde differing her approaches to try and reach Helen.&nbsp; The gymnast just didn’t have a head for numbers and kept making really basic fundamental mistakes.<br><br>“I think my brain just broke, Isolde.&nbsp; Why is math so stupid?”<br><br>“Different people have their brains wired up different ways. Not everyone has the same form of intelligence in their heads. Oh, and I had a hard time with this too. Maths is silly a lot of the time, only its the basis for so much else. Computers and physics and a lot of the other sciences, require it in their way.” Isi offered an apologetic smile, “But yeah, I had to really work at it for it to sink in and I expect I will have forgotten most of it before I even leave school. Especially the stuff like this which has little practical use.” She shrugged, “Kind of makes a mockery of the whole process.”<br><br>“Like I said.&nbsp; It’s stupid,” Helen summed up.&nbsp; “And you’re smart, Isolde.&nbsp; You won’t admit it, but you are.&nbsp; Like, you could have taught History today.&nbsp; And you didn’t even open your book to finish the worksheet.”&nbsp; Helen pushed herself off the bed.&nbsp; “Are there like hand towels and a washcloth in your bathroom?&nbsp; I really want to get out of this leo.&nbsp; Oh, and...do you think your little sister has any panties I can borrow?”<br><br>“I can go dig some out. Mine might be a little big. I do have panties. I mean, some.” She didn’t even know why she was saying that, it wasn’t as if Helen knew she wore boxer briefs a lot of the time. “Oh, and yeah, towels, use whatever you like.” She smiled, leaned in and gave Heather a hug and stood up, “I knew the answers to the history stuff because I watch a lot of documentaries, read a lot, and well, studied that stuff a couple of years ago up in Canada. Which is kinda cheating. Be right back.”<br><br>Isi headed off upstairs to sneak into her little sisters room and steal a bra and panty set for her friend.<br><br>The leotard was crumpled into a springy ball on the floor. The little sister's borrowed clothes were more neatly arranged on the counter by the sink. Helen had used a soapy washcloth in the sink to take a quick standing up wash. It wasn't nearly as nice as a shower, but it was good enough to wash off the chalk and sweat. Isolde hadn't said anything but it bugged Helen. A lot. After looking at it and debating, Helen took Isolde's toothbrush and used it. It was kind of weird. But it was clean, right?&nbsp; And she was using toothpaste and besides, Isolde said she wanted to kiss later. That was almost the same thing?&nbsp; Still she felt guilty and used the towel to dry the bristles when she was done.<br><br>Helen looked in the mirror at the girl looking back. Was that what Isolde saw?&nbsp; Helen wasn't sure, wasn't the even sure if the girl she saw was the same one from this morning. So much had happened.&nbsp; &nbsp;Like the bruise on her thigh.&nbsp; <br><br>Helen hid it with the towel wrapped around her from under her arms almost to her calves. She opened The&nbsp; bathroom door and peeked out. "Any luck?"<br><br>“I have a cute purple bra and panty set. Only don’t tell Heide because she doesn’t anymore.” Isi smiled and handed over the undergarments. “For the record they will look much cuter on you.”<br><br>"Is her name really Heide?&nbsp; Like the fairy tale?". She took the garments from Isolde and hesitated. Helen stepped back into the bathroom but didn't close the door. But she didn't open it all the way either. With her back to it, she stepped into the panties then pulled them up under the towel.<br><br>“Really Heide. I’m Isolde after all, my mum is Rosamund. All good Germanic names.” Isi was trying very hard not to ask for a fashion show. Very hard. “We were all blessed with the preposterous names as part of having a German mum. Its all very Teutonic.”<br><br>"I need a dictionary to talk to you," Helen said lightly. The towel dropped and the skin of her back, and her tight little gymnast's ass encased in the purple panties, was visible through the partially open door. Helen slid the bra on, then reached back with an entirely comfortable, flexible movement and slid the hooks together. She adjusted the cups so the bottom wire sat right. The top followed, but Helen left the jeans on the counter and came out of the bathroom.. The tutu like frill cam down enough to cover just to the very top of her thighs.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>"Hi," she said in a small voice. "I guess we are down with math so...". Helen fidgeted with her hands.<br><br>Isi stood and took it in for a bit, the smile spreading across her face till it was huge, “You look adorable. I could pick you up and spin you around.”<br><br>Adorable. That wasn't the same as pretty, but Helen was okay with it. Isolde meant it the nicest way and Helen smiled, feeling the compliment go deep into her heart. "You better not. I'm heavier then I look. Muscle," she touched her thighs. "So...". Helen took a step towards Isolde then waited, her eyes watching Isolde with anxiety and anticipation.<br><br>Isi blinked, then smiled, leaned down, and down, then down some more, the kiss was achieved in the end, but it took some getting there. She took Helen’s lower lip and sucked on it, teased it a little with her tongue. Pulled away again, “Can we go to the bed? My back is going to be displeased with me otherwise.”<br><br>The bed?&nbsp; "Can we sit on the couch?&nbsp; Like, you sit and I can sit on my knees?". Helen took Isolde's hand and led her to the couch, them got on it on her knees. She pulled Isolde to get her to sit, then moved a little closer. Helen pulled her hair back out of the way although some of it escaped right away. "Okay. Um, okay. Just, I want to try it now. Okay?"<br><br>Isolde was kissing her again before the word ‘okay’ was really completely finished. Taking a lip and sucking on it a bit,&nbsp; tracing it with her tongue, hands finding Helen’s face and holding it. “Mmmmmn.”<br><br>The toothbrush didn't matter so much now. Helen sighed through her nose and the tension went out of her. This was okay. This was nice even if she didn't quite know where to put her nose. Or her hands. They settled on Isolde's wrists, just like back in History. Isolde's tongue was slippery on her lips, and it felt really funny but Helen liked it.&nbsp; Slowly she opened her mouth a little bit and let her own come out, tracing along behind Isolde's. Tasting the lips of the tall, beautiful girl. Helen's hands gripped tighter and she pulled back just a little bit. "Was that okay?"<br><br>“That was lovely. Tingly and soft and fun and delicious.” Isi informed the other girl. “At least for me.” She took on a slightly worried aspect, nibbling her lower lip, “Was it okay for you?”<br><br>Helen nodded, blue eyes huge in her pale face. "Yes. Yes. It, it as really nice.". She took a breath then leaned in and pressed her lips to Isolde's. This time it was her mouth that took a lip into it and nibbled. Isolde tasted like girl. No gum. No fruity lip balm or anything.&nbsp; Just girl. It was new to her, but Helen knew it was the taste she’d never forget. A little bolder now she let go of Isolde's lip and felt it move back. Helen's tongue followed it and pressed lightly against Isolde's mouth, asking to come inside and play.<br><br>Isi smiled a little around the kiss, this was something she had only done once before and it hadn't’ been nearly as much fun last time. Her lips parted and she invited the foreign tongue in to play with strokes and teases of her own, waiting till she had Helen’s near fully extended before attacking. Rolling their tongues together, deepening the kiss, taking big lungfuls of air through her nose one hand sliding down to hold the girl tightly the other moving to the back of Helen’s head. She let out a little moan of enjoyment into the kiss, her chest heaving, fully committed.<br><br>“Isolde,” Helen whispered, then went back to kissing her.&nbsp; Isolde’s hand on the back of her head made Helen feel safe, and the lips on her own made her feel dangerous.&nbsp; It was hot and cold, and shivery and wonderful scary all at the same time.&nbsp; Eventually, it was too much.&nbsp; Helen broke the kiss and rested her forehead against Isolde’s, panting deeply.&nbsp; She swallowed, then opened her eyes.&nbsp; Carefully, lest she spook her, Helen slid her hands down Isolde’s wrists, along her arms, and then down the side of Isolde’s ribs.&nbsp; “This is nice.&nbsp; But it’s almost too much.&nbsp; Too...intense,” she said.&nbsp; “Was it that way with her?&nbsp; Your friend Alberta?”<br><br>Isi smiled, “My friend in Alberta. That’s the province.” Isi told Helen with a smile, “I... Didn’t... Well, I did, I kissed her? But it wasn’t like this, this electric, this... Tingly and amazing and wonderful. It wasn’t you.”<br><br>“I think if you had said anything else I would have cried,” Helen said, then smiled.&nbsp; “Or killed you.&nbsp; Don’t ever show me a picture of her, okay?&nbsp; I just want to imagine she has bad teeth and ugly hair.”&nbsp; Helen giggled a little bit, then moved so she was straddling Isolde’s lap, her knees on either side of Isolde’s thighs.&nbsp; It put them face to face.&nbsp; Helen leaned in and kissed Isolde again, but quickly this time.&nbsp; “It is wonderful.”&nbsp; She let her hands slide down onto Isolde’s belly.&nbsp; “You’re wonderful.”<br><br>“I don’t have any pictures. I had a hard drive crash and lost a lot of stuff from back then. I keep backups now.” Isi leaned forward and enveloped Helen in a hug, whispering, “It is, wonderful. Unbelievable. How did this happen? How did you happen? To me? I feel so undeserving.”<br><br>“I don’t know,” Helen said.&nbsp; She wanted to tell Isolde she was deserving, but Helen was slowly figuring out that for some reason Isolde didn’t think she was as pretty as she really was, or as good a person.&nbsp; It was an insecurity, and Helen understood that if not why.&nbsp; Sometimes you just felt things.&nbsp; <br><br>“Well, I don’t care. I don’t have to know. I just have to be here and be hugging you, to feel you sat on my lap and kissing me.” Isi felt something wet on her cheeks and realised it was her own tears, she reached up to wipe at her face.<br><br>“Are you crying?”&nbsp; Helen’s hand replaced Isolde’s own, and gathered the warm tears up on her fingertips.&nbsp; “Isolde, that’s so sweet.&nbsp; You’re crying for me.”&nbsp; Helen backed up, sliding her legs off onto the floor, and stood up, drawing Isolde with her.&nbsp; “Come on.&nbsp; Shh, just come on.&nbsp; Come lay down.”<br><br>“Its happy though. Not sad.” Isi allowed herself to be lead. “I’m happy and... Crying. I don’t do that. Its girlie. I’m not a girlie girl.”<br><br>“It’s okay to cry.&nbsp; In here.&nbsp; Just like it is okay for me to kiss you.&nbsp; In here.”&nbsp; Helen stood, on her feet, on the bed and drew Isolde along with her until they came near the headboard.&nbsp; She sank down, first onto her knees, then to lay down fully and arranged themselves so they were spooning; Isolde on the inside as the the very big little spoon and Helen on the outside as the very little big spoon.&nbsp; Her arm rested on Isolde’s tummy almost possessively.&nbsp; “I want you to, Isolde.&nbsp; I want you to cry?”&nbsp; She stroked Isolde’s tummy in a little circle, over and over again.&nbsp; “Cry for your daddy because I think you really need to.”<br><br>“I... I was happy because of you. I don’t want...” But she was, she couldn’t help it. It started as a trickle but turned to a flood all too quickly. She had cried before for her dad of course, but had always held something back. With Helen holding her, she didn’t feel that need to deny herself and before long she had rolled over, scooted down the bed and was crying into Helen’s chest. Wracking sobs, a little wailing here and there, but all quiet, almost respectful to the other residents of the house.<br><br>It went on for a good twenty minutes before Isi started to come back to herself. “I... Thank you.”<br><br>"You're welcome," Helen said gently. "You really had a lot stuck inside you, like you were sticking a cork on your emotions because you couldn't deal with them. I bet you feel better, huh?&nbsp; Let me see your eyes.". Helen squirmed a bit so they were laying face to face on their sides. "Oh, yeah. They're so red. You look like Jimmy Deacon does when he goes off campus for lunch and hangs around with those kids who smoke weed," she laughed. "Tired?&nbsp; I know I am when I cry like that. But it's a good tired."<br><br>“Tired with a headache yeah.” Isi said with an apologetic smile. “Thanks. Lots. I just met you and you have been so kind to me, so open.”<br><br>It was the most natural thing in the world to kiss Isolde. It wasn't erotic, just loving. And it was right. "Tell me where the medicine is and I will get you something for it. Do you want a coke or anything?"<br><br>“That.” Isi smiled, kissed Helen again quickly, “Thats the medicine for it.” She smiled, “No soda for me. I don’t drink that stuff.”<br><br>"You're so weird," but there was no malice in it, only love. "I mean, I don't drink a lot of them, Coach won't let us, but they really help with my headaches." She stroked a hand along Isolde's cheek and then ran it up into her hair. "I bet you drink tea, right?"<br><br>“No. I don’t drink caffeine. Or alcohol or stuff with aspartame, or anything that has been near GMO stuff if I can help it...” She glanced away for a moment, “And now I sound insane. I drink a lot of water really.”<br><br>"No, just really, really smart. I don't think you know how smart you are, Isolde. I don't know what half that stuff means and I don't care. I just like you." Helen sighed and sat up. "I don't want to, but I better go home. Can your brother take me?"<br><br>“I will go ask him. You...” Isi smiled a little shyly, “You should stay over some time. The sofa over there folds out.” She leaned iin and sucked on Helen’s lip just for a moment, pulling back breathing a shaky sigh from her nose before rolling off of the bed, springing to her feet and bouncing off out the door and upstairs.<br><br>"I'd like to," she said. "I have to ask my parents but they won't mind.". And if Isolde thought she was sleeping on the couch, she was crazy. While Isolde was gone, Helen put the borrowed jeans back on and balled up her leotard.&nbsp; Then she spent a few minutes straightening Isolde's bed cover and making sure things were hung up to dry in the bathroom.&nbsp; Isolde's hair was stuck in a hairbrush and Helen's fingers plucked a few strands out. She smiled, remembering History. She'd gotten to feel Isolde's hair and answered her question about how it would feel.<br><br>Isolde came back a few minutes later, “Hey, he say’s give him ten to fifteen minutes. I think he wants to change or something. He is going into town anyway and I was lucky to catch him."<br><br>Helen nodded. "Thanks. I, uh, you don't need to go with me. I mean, you probably have to do something or something. You know. Stuff. I'll see you tomorrow?"<br><br>“I don’t have to, kinda want to though.” Isi smiled, “Oh, if that’s okay?”<br><br>"No, I mean, I don-". Helen stopped and looked torn. "I'm afraid you'll see my house and laugh. We're not rich like you."<br><br>“Hey, I used to live in all kinds of strange places, mostly concrete prefab nightmares on airbases.” Isi leaned forward and hugged Helen, “We only have this place because we were lucky on a government auction. We were the only real bidder and so we picked it up for a fraction of what it should have cost. We couldn’t afford to buy it at market value. I am still amazed things happened that way, but even with all the death benefits and life insurance and Dad’s pension if we cashed it in and stuff? No way. We were looking at buying a more modest place in town when I found the auction online and we just went on the off chance. We picked it up without even having seen it first hand. It was pretty crazy. You have to write a check there and then or your bid is voided. If you don’t actually have the money, you can’t go find a broker and arrange a mortgage. Just no bidding and no house. Not that houses are the only things at these auctions of course. You see all kinds of stuff. I wanted to stay and bid on other things, but my mum wouldn’t let me. We are not as well off as all that and things will be tight till one or more of the family are working.”<br><br>"I still think you should stay here," Helen said in spite of Isolde's argument. "So your headache will go away," she seized upon the excuse. "And what if your brother needs to go somewhere later?"<br><br>“Yeah, he was planning to go somewhere.” Isi looked conflicted, “Okay. But I want to see your house at some point? And you don’t have to be embarrassed. At all. Ever. Because I understand, really. Okay, we have this place, but we have it by fiat of luck and my dad dying on active duty. So it's kind of a bittersweet thing. I have lived in little places in Scotland and Wales where I had to share a room with both my brother and sister and the wind would come through the gaps under the windows.” She leaned in and hugged Helen tightly, then kept hugging her. “I don’t want you to go. Oh! You need my phone number and e-mail address, you have the internet right?”<br><br>"Um, no?&nbsp; I um don't even have a cell phone.&nbsp; But you can call the house." Helen gave the number to Isolde then folded herself into a tight little hug. "You better call me."<br><br>“I only have the house phone too.” Isolde admitted, “I will call you. And e-mail you and stuff. We have to be all secretive though right? You have broadband?”<br><br>"No. I mean we don't have Internet. At all. Or a computer."<br><br>"Oh. That's... Oh." Isi nodded, "Phone it is then." She gave Helen a big hug, ran over to her desk and scribbled her number on a piece of paper and handed it over. There was a knock at the door.<br><br>"Geoff's taxi service. Leaving in three. Those who aren't ready by the are not going." His voice was deep, friendly and had a good note of humour to it.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>11-01-2013, 01:28:42</strong>
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				<strong>isabella, September 4th 3rd period</strong><br><strong>tagged:</strong> anyone with my algebra 2 class<br><br>Isabella walked in, she was early to class because she didn't know anyone around to slow her down. When she entered, mr.baker told her where to sit. It seems he has taken it upon himself to make a seating chart for his dreary classroom. The walls were bare, and the room seemed awkward and empty. Isabella sat down, in her desk which was luckily in the back corner of the room. She couldn't get further away from the teacher if she wanted too, which was a good thing because he was clearly eyeballing her. She ignored him and was glad that only 3 other kids would end up around her. One in front one to the right and one in front of that one. She had a headache, and was having a bit of a problem. She was struggling to keep her powers in check, this happened on occasions when she was stressed. She was very good at hiding her powers, but if she slipped up weird things would happen. Last time this happened she saw people as cartoons, and one time she went temporarily blind for a week. Her illusions could appear all sorts of different ways, and she had no control over what, who or how it effected anything. The class started to slowly fill with students, but none sat around her yet. "Why can't today just be over yet?" She asked out loud mostly to herself. With that she payed her head down on her desk, her hood pulled over to hide her from view.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>11-01-2013, 10:15:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Chloe in lunch time detention</strong><br>She could see the attractive guy she had just been checking out start to stretch as he got out of his seat, he must of seen her looking and she cursed herself for being so obvious. He got up and came over, Chloe started to feel awkward looking away focusing on nothing in particular just as long as she wasn't looking at him. Her heart had started to beat so fast it rose up into her throat, Was he going to speak to her? But talking in detention was not allowed. It must of been normal for people to just get up in the middle of detention to move. Maybe the sun was in his eyes, that was a valid excuse. <br><br>But before she had a chance to be awkward for too long he swung around towards her, she looked at him, her eyes wide as he introduced himself as James. He spoke clear as day and offered her his hand to shake in greeting. She spun her head around looking for a teacher. Was this guy absolutely crazy? He was going to get them both into trouble. Or was that the point he did have the devil may care look about him perhaps he was trying to impress her with his blatant defy of the rules.<br><br>Chloe sat there stunned for a moment as she wrestled with what response she should have. She could match his rule breaking and introduce herself but then she risked getting in more trouble and every one would find out she was flirting with the guy who hung out with the spotty gym girl and she would be a no hope loser for ever. Or she could snob him like Ashley would do. She shouldn't even really be thinking about any other option. He was not good news for her reputation but there was something about him that truly appealed to her and when she looked back up into his eyes she didn't need to think about a decision because she just reacted without thought. <br><br>She brought one of her hands down over his mouth, her other hand grabbed his arm and she yanked him down hard into his seat. “Shhhhh” she hissed as quietly as she could, looking around panicked to make sure no one was paying them much attention. Once satisfied they were not really alert enough or interested enough, her line of vision went directly to the spot on his arm where her hand still remained. She swallowed hard and snapped it back, bringing a single finger to her lips and making the shhhhh sign to warn him to be quiet again before removing her grip from over his lips. <br><br>She dug into her bag and pulled out a note book, opening it to the last page and pulling a pen from her pocket she scribbled him a quick note and handed it over, watching his expression as he read it.<br><br><em>Shhh!!! My name is Chloe, Nice to meet you James (: What you in here for?</em><br><br><strong>Chloe - Algebra period three. </strong><br><br>Chloe made her way into algebra late because she had been chatting with Susan about the boy in Susan's home room, and the stupid bitch Mrs. Woolard who took Chloe's beloved phone. And the fact she now only had one hour until she was due to arrive in detention and miss out on the first lunch break of the first day of the entire term. Its where every one came to catch up and it was a glorious occasion of looking hot and making sure you were popular and well liked by every one of importance. One she was going to miss thanks to Abby inbred. She huffed and threw herself into the seat the creepy teacher had assigned for her. She was sat next to some goth kid at the back who had her hood up and was probably not the biggest fan of cheerleaders as those types never were very friendly to each other. "Perfect" Chloe grumbled hating the fact she had been forced to sit next to two people now that she didn't want to have any connections too what so ever. Giving the goth girl a skeptical glare Chloe tugged her books out of her bag and sat with a displeased expression on her face.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>12-01-2013, 02:29:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				September 4th 3rd period - Algebra II<br><br>The class started to slowly fill with students, but none sat around her yet. "Why can't today just be over yet?" She asked out loud mostly to herself. With that she payed her head down on her desk, her hood pulled over to hide her from view.<br><br>A red-haired, slightly rotund, pimply faced boy with light red freckles on his face sat down next to Isabella and gave her a skeptical look.&nbsp; <em>I suppose it is better to sit next to a druggie than next to a football player.&nbsp; It is slightly safer.</em>&nbsp; However, once the question was posed, he answered, "Because the earth only rotates at a constant speed."&nbsp; <br><br>tag - Isabella<br><br>By the time that Chloe got into the room, Katie was already seated and on the far side of her was Jessica Domke, looking as disinterested as ever.&nbsp; Katie started waving to Chloe and Susan furiously.&nbsp; She noted that because Chloe was late, that Chloe had to sit next to Isabella.&nbsp; She told Susan, "I have this seat saved for you or Chloe.&nbsp; I couldn't save two.&nbsp; Jessie needed to sit by me, you know?" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>12-01-2013, 02:38:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				(Bullies) September 4, 2012 - After the final bell, hallways (tags to anyone)<br><br>A small rotund figured started darting down the hallway.&nbsp; Three boys in varsity football jackets were laughing as they gave a slow chase after the figure like three cats that new they had trapped a mouse.&nbsp; As they exited the school, the three boys continued the chase and as they continued, one pulled even with the rotund figure and stuck out his leg causing the rotund figure to trip.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>In an instant, the three boys had surrounded him.&nbsp; One of the boys pulled the rotund figure up by the back of his shirt, laughing, "Need a hand, Blob?"&nbsp; Another sucker punched the boy at the same time he was lifted, causing the boy to bend over like he was going to vomit.<br><br>The third laughed and told his pals, "Sure looks like he does.&nbsp; All that exercise doesn't seem to do his body any good."<br><br>The boy named, Blob, whined and hung limply, like a scolded puppy.&nbsp; He knew that a fight was futile.<br><br>"Look at the little baby Blob!&nbsp; What are we going to have to do with him?"&nbsp; The boys started walking off with him.<br><br>One of them said, "Well, a baby has no need for underpants.&nbsp; It needs a diaper."&nbsp; On that concluding note, the third boy simultaneously pulled down the Blob's pants and underpants, bearing his bottom to anyone in view.<br><br>tag - all
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>12-01-2013, 06:36:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>isabella- algebra II</strong><br><br>"Care to speed it up?" Isabella responded sarcastically. Though the kid who just approached her, wasn't her type friend or date wise she wasn't going to be mean to him. "So what's your name?" She asked half heartedly. She wasn't trying to dismiss him, but she wasn't really up to the whole 'human interaction thing.' She began to do what she normally did in math, which was draw in her notebook instead of taking notes. She was a great artist, but not so great with paying attention to the class itself.&nbsp; She didn't pay attention when the cheerleader sat down beside her, the redhead was enough interaction for this class. <em>hopefully he's good at math, I doubt the cheerleader is. At least I wasn't placed around the jocks, though they would give me something to daydream about till the class ended.</em> after this Isabella would have lunch, and that means half her day would be over and then She could go back home and work in her studio, she decided she would practice controlling her abilities. She didn't need people thinking she was some kind of monster. Isabella pulled down her hood showing off her fuchsia hair. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>12-01-2013, 17:06:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>James - Detention Hall</strong><br><br>He resisted the urge to laugh at her precaution. She obviously took detention very seriously, if he didn't. He had been here quite a bit, and knew that very few of the supervisors actually cared about what the detentees did while they were in the hall. Ah, well, she was probably right. He was, after all, just an average student, with grades only just above the average level, so he wouldn't be afforded anything special if he was caught, for good or for bad. He wasn't usually a troublemaker either, he just had something of an exaggeratedly hot temper, and when it was ignited, he was usually very hard pressed to control it. He didn't usually make the effort, though. He just vented then and there, and to hell with the consequences, <br><br>He took her note with nothing except the same welcoming smile on his face, which he hoped hadn't turned creepy, and began to write on the pad as well with a pencil. When he gave it back, it read as follows:<br><br><em>Nice to meet you, Chloe. I am here 'cuz I got in a fight in basketball. No comment,</em> He had laughed a bit when he had written that, despite the fact that it wasn't a very good joke,<em> Hw about you?</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>12-01-2013, 17:18:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>September 5th Before 1st period - Arrival at the school - Isolde Black</strong><br><br><hr><br>Isi bounced down off of the bus. She was wearing dark red skinny jeans, a dark purple t-shirt with a deep red rough cotton guy's work shirt on over it, big heavy highly polished British army highleg boots with thick hiking socks, a light black velvet short jacket and a military style beret. The beret had some kind of pin on it featuring an eagle, though a closer inspection would be necessary to see what it was precisely. The large headphones were in evidence again along with of course her messenger bag which was of a large canvas and functional variety. She glanced about and started to head into the school, stopped and found a wall to put her foot up on and did up a boot lace that had gone astray. This involved pulling her her jeans to expose a bit of leg above the ankle, tightening the laces in the eyes of the boot, and wrapping the excess around the top of the boot before doing them up in a tight bow.&nbsp; Pulling the jean leg back down afterwards and nodding to herself.<br><br>Straightening she had another glance about, pushing her glasses up her nose, before starting to head into the school.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>12-01-2013, 23:56:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				(Greg/Isabella/Susan/Katie/Chloe) September 4, 2012 - 3rd Period - Algebra II<br><br>"Speed it up?" came the query in a tone that was quite clearly surprised to be addressed.&nbsp; He took another look at the girl with the purple hair and scrutinized her as she pulled down her hair.&nbsp; <em>Does she want to talk or not?&nbsp; How do you talk to this type of girl, even if she does?&nbsp; What could we ever have in common?</em>&nbsp; "Not possible to speed it up without cosmically changing things.&nbsp; As to my name, it is Greg Pierson.&nbsp; You?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>13-01-2013, 21:37:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Chloe – Detention</strong><br><br>She smiled as she read the reply from James. He did look like the kind of guy that would end a fight quite nicely. And was obviously no stranger to detention. Was it wrong that she liked that?&nbsp; She tilted her head to the side sending her long dark hair spilling over her shoulder as she started to scribble out her reply, her free hand going to hair and spinning a lock around her finger. <br><br><em>My story is lame compared to yours! My teacher is just this mean old sour cow and decided to make an example out of my texting <span class="bbc_u">before</span> class even started</em><br><br>As she wrote it she rolled her eyes at the thought of Mrs. Woolard. Stupid cow. <br><br><em>So what do you usually get up to in detention?? This place is like depression central, No offense</em><br><br>She passed the note back and readjusted herself in her seat to face James, propping her head up in her hand and resting her elbow on the desk. His sights focused on the note she took the opportunity to check him out again, his perfect hair and sweet looking lips were starting to release butterflies into her tummy. <br><br><strong>Chloe - Third period algebra</strong><br><br>Katie had said sorry to Chloe for not saving her a seat. But it confused Chloe because the class had a seating chart so how did the girl even get away with saving one for Jessica? Her blood boiled when she looked at Jessica. The bitch was so smug. Bet she sucked the teacher off just for the chance to sit next to her beloved Katie. "Its okay" Chloe lied giving Katie a smile and returning her attentions on her book coloring in the little squares with her pen. It stung to know she was stuck over here next to the pink haired freak when she should really be over there with the girls. Even if one of them was a complete and utter skank faced bitch. It was a matter of principal. <br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>14-01-2013, 07:14:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>isabella, third period Algebra II</strong><br><br>"Hi Greg, I'm Isabella, Isabella Heartnet." She decided might as well make friends with the awkward kid she was going to have to sit by for god knows how long. "Too bad, this class really sucks." The lectures began and she was at a loss, she clearly wasn't understanding it at all. "Greg." She whispered to him, "are you getting any of this, I'm not really understanding the lesson." Isabella wasn't dumb, and she could do math but it wasn't her strong area. She for once actually looked over to the cheerleader next to her. <em>should I try talking to her, she seems kind of stuck up. I hope she isn't, I don't want to be stuck next to a bitch all year. Ill just wait till she says anything, maybe neither of us will ever have to speak. That makes things really simple here.</em> Isabella looked back at Greg, hoping he could help her. She didn't want to have to come after school to get tutoring from this skeevey looking teacher. Today was gonna be a long day.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 03:17:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>James - Detention Hall</strong><br><br>He watched her as she wrote the return note. He eyes were drawn to her hair, being twirled between her fingers, the small twitch of her eyes, rolling thoughtfully as she thought about someone that she disliked intensely, then the tip of her lips arced up and a half-smiled. She wrote rather fast, and he handwriting was thin and precise. When she wasn't surrounded by her cheerleader friends, she was actually rather nice. Of course, when her friends were around, she had an image to live up to, and that tended to screw things around a little. When she was out of detention, she probably would never talk to him again. They hung out sometimes at the same places, and knew enough about each other to claim to be acquaintances, but in general, James was less of a 'cool' person, and therefore, she couldn't be seen doing anything with him. School was cruel like that.<br><br>He looked over the note, and chuckled. He had had a few run-ins with Mrs. Woolard himself, none of them had been pretty. Never ended him in detention, though, since he wasn't the type that ended up being a good example. More often than not, kids ended up hating the teacher more than fearing her. He shook his head. Detention was not where he wanted to be right about now. He was hungry, and hoped he would have enough time to snag something to eat before he had to trudge off to class again. <br><br><em>None taken. This place is rather lame anyway, no matter how you got here. I usually just listen to music, although I am not here -that- often. How about you?</em><br><br>His eyes flickered up to meet hers as his powerful arm moved over to place the note back on her desk.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AribethAmkiir</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 09:49:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Rebecca Hall<br>September 24, 2012<br>6th Period, World History<br>Tagged: Helen, James, Isolde<br><hr><br>Rebecca was adding detail to the foreground, her left hand moved in quick, precise strokes, and her head down when Helen moved past her desk.&nbsp; A warm smile curled her lips into a smile as she glanced up from her work to see freckles on a cream complexion and startling ginger red hair and blue eyes.<br><br><strong>"Um... thanks, Helen."</strong> <br><br>Rebecca looked back down at her art project to see which "part" Helen had pointed out.&nbsp; It took her a moment to find the neatly folded note in her lap.&nbsp; Her brows furrowed curiously and she glanced at Helen questioningly before her attention went back to the authority figure behind the large teacher's desk.&nbsp; She didn't really want to get in trouble for passing notes.&nbsp; On the other hand, she'd never received a note herself.&nbsp; It took only a moment of tentative bottom lip chewing before her fingers slowly worked at the edges of the tiny piece of paper and began undoing the tightly folded square.&nbsp; The tiny, tightly folded square was like an unexpected present.&nbsp; One that could potentially earn Rebecca a trip to detention if she was caught opening it in the middle of lecture.&nbsp; Though, despite already having her phone confiscated, Becca couldn't resist seeing the secret message which lie within.&nbsp; A message that carried such a high risk, in Rebecca's opinion, of being passed on.&nbsp; <br><br>A mix of confusion and frustration settled upon her as her hazel eyes read over the note for a second time.&nbsp; She couldn't decide whether to be upset with Helen or thankful.&nbsp; Sure, she thought James was cute.&nbsp; What girl with two eyes didn't.&nbsp; Trying to talk to him about something called Parker in the park, however, just seemed like a setup.&nbsp; Maybe if Rebecca had her phone she could've Googled "Parker" but she didn't and it was unlikely she could get to a computer between now and the end of school.&nbsp; Besides, if it was something James did with his friends it was unlikely something she knew anything about.&nbsp; It wasn't like she could go watch either.&nbsp; She was supposed to meet her dad in front of the school exactly ten minutes after the final bell so that he could drive her the whole six blocks back to where they lived where she would spend the rest of the evening, alone, just so he didn't have to worry while he was at his second job.&nbsp; The thought made her ground her teeth; something her dentist had explicitly told her not to do.<br><br>She dropped the note into her book bag and returned to her sketch.&nbsp; There was possibly five seconds to talk to James between getting up out of her desk and entering the hall, at which time he would likely meet friends and she'd be elbowed out of the way.&nbsp; Five seconds to say, "hey what's parker?" and possibly look like a fool.<br><br>Rebecca tried to hide her sideways glance at Helen.&nbsp; The red head didn't seem like the mean spirited type.&nbsp; She certainly caught as much flak, if not more, from Mr. Baker as Rebecca did.&nbsp; Helen was right that Mr. Baker was a total ass, but just because one truth had been etched onto that note didn't mean the whole thing was true.&nbsp; Still, that little nugget could get Helen into big trouble.&nbsp; For that matter, it could get Rebecca into big trouble if someone found it on her person.&nbsp; Come to think of it.&nbsp; Helen hadn't signed it.&nbsp; So really, the only person who could get into trouble for it was the person who possessed it.<br><br>As slyly as she could, Rebecca dipped her hand into her backpack and began quietly rifling through it.&nbsp; The note needed to go into the waste bin which was so close that she could stretch out and drop the potent little paper in without ever leaving her seat.&nbsp; If she could only find the paper.&nbsp; Her fingers found the solid creased edges and she palmed the piece of paper just as their history teacher stood to walk across the front of the classroom.<br><br><strong>"Ms. Hall, what's in your hand?"</strong> <br><br><em>God, she must have eyes in the back of her head,</em> Rebecca thought.<br><br><strong>"My pencil,"</strong> Rebecca offered as she raised her left hand which indeed held her pencil.<br><br><strong>"Don't get smart with me.&nbsp; What's in your other hand?"</strong><br><br>Detention flashed before Rebecca's eyes.&nbsp; Followed by her father's disappointment, a month's worth of being grounded, and all the laughter and ridicule that was sure to follow when the teacher inevitably read what the once promising note had to say.&nbsp; The knuckles of her right hand turned white momentarily as she tightly clutched the forbidden message then she turned her hand over and slowly opened it.&nbsp; Her heart was already in her chest and anger was spilling over as she thought how mean it had been of Helen to set her up like this.<br><br>Her eyes darted to the trash bin for the briefest of a moment as she wondered if she could somehow dump the note.&nbsp; She had to swallow to find her voice as she looked into their teacher's eyes&nbsp; <strong>"uhh."</strong>&nbsp; <br><br>Her hand lay empty.<br><br>A dismissive sniff was given by the teacher before she marched to the chalkboard and began scrawling their assignment upon the board.&nbsp; <strong>"Read these chapters and no talking."</strong><br><br>Rebecca missed the teacher's directions.&nbsp; She felt as if she had stared at her hand for the longest of time, then tried to glance into her backpack to see if she had never actually dug the note out.&nbsp; She couldn't see it and she didn't want the teacher to give her any more attention.&nbsp; A quick glance at the floor around her desk didn't reveal the odd, disappearing note's location either.&nbsp; She must not have ever found it in her backpack and the note was likely safer at the bottom of her bag than it was in the trash where someone could find it.&nbsp; She'd just have to look for it at home, after school.&nbsp; <br><br>Pushing the note and James from her mind, Rebecca opened her history book and began reading the assigned pages.&nbsp; Though, she wasn't through the first paragraph before she began thinking about the different routes to the park from her house.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 16:17:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				(Greg/Isabella/Susan/Katie/Chloe) September 4, 2012 - 3rd Period - Algebra II<br><br>Greg could not believe what he heard.&nbsp; A girl, sure a weird looking one but a girl nonetheless, was talking to him!&nbsp; "Is...Is...Isabella?" he stammered as he caught Mr. Baker's eyes just as class was about to start.&nbsp; Quickly, he faced the dry erase board and attempted to pay attention to the lecture.&nbsp; Greg, however, could not keep his concentration and if Isabella was paying any attention to him, she would notice that he was often looking back in her direction.<br><br>He was not sure whether it was a relief or whether it was shock when he heard her whisper to him.&nbsp; "Getting it?" he asked, not sure if that was an intended innuendo or whether she was talking about math.&nbsp; "Um, I think I am," he whispered back.&nbsp; <em>Should I write a note with my cell phone number on it?&nbsp; Is that too fast?&nbsp; I mean, maybe she doesn't care.&nbsp; What am I supposed to do here?</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 17:03:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>September 5th Before 1st period<br>Arrival at the school<br>Helen <br>Tag Isolde</strong><br><br>"You didn't call me."<br><br>Helen had walked up so she stood where Isolde would have to face her as she finished tying her laces and turned to go. The smaller girl was wearing a very baggy pair of grey sweat pants and an equally baggy t-shirt showed from beneath the hem of the oversized hoodie she wore. There was nothing cute about the outfit, not like what she'd worn yesterday. Sure, yesterday's clothing had been all new, but it was bright and Helen had looked like she cared. Today, with her hair not even really done and the baggy clothes it was like she was trying to hide herself. <br><br>"You said you were going to call me and you didn't. You lied to me. You...why?&nbsp; I thought that what happened meant something."&nbsp; Helen's voice was tight and cracked with the emotion. It looked like she hadn't slept all not, or fitfully at best. <br><br>She took a step back. Then another, preparing herself to flee. <br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 17:12:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>September 5th Before 1st period<br>Arrival at the school<br>Isolde<br>Tag Helen</strong><br><br>Isi spun around and gave Helen the most regretful of regretful smiles, "Heidi. She wouldn't get off the bloody phone last night and my mum and Geoff were both out so I couldn't borrow their mobie's." She winced, "Last time I kicked Heidi off of the phone I wound up grounded for a month... I'm sorry. Really."<br><br>This was all true, but Isi still felt more than a little guilty about the whole thing, something else was occurring to her though, "If you want to keep this quiet though, we should be somewhere less public."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 19:02:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Come on," Helen said after a minute.&nbsp; She still looked upset, but not devastated like earlier. <br><br>Helen led Isolde to the practice gym. The door was locked but she jiggled the handle and slapped it hard, springing the loose lock. She slipped inside and held it open for Isolde to join her. The practice gym was dark, lit only by the red EXIT sign and smelled of chalk and foam and years of effort. Strange apparatuses loomed in the gloom. <br><br>"Promise me you're not just saying that, Isolde. Please," she implored. "Or tell me that there isn't anything between us. But don't let me hope.&nbsp; Please, Isolde. Please don't play with me."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 19:07:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Heidi has this boy she is always calling back in Stockbridge and she kind of blames me for us moving here." Isi started, looking away, "So when I told her I needed the phone she sort of hogged it deliberately. It kind of was my fault though. I sort of broke this boy's fingers. Not the same boy though, different one." She was talking very quietly, clearly not pleased with this being dragged out of her, "He had been sort of stalking and bothering me? I kept telling him to get lost and then he cornered me one day, tried to grab me? I just reacted and well, long story short I was expelled from that school. Everyone in that town hated me, despite me having been defending myself and we had to move. So now my little sister does what she can to screw my life over because I 'ruined hers' by taking her away from this Zach she loves so much."<br><br>A big deep sigh, "So yeah, its what really happened. By the time my mum came home it was like half ten and too late to call."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 19:59:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go all drama on you. I..." Helen took a breath and then ran her fingers through her hair, doing absolutely nothing to straighten it. It didn't appear she had even washed it. Or had a shower. <br><br>"When you didn't call, I let everything bad go through my head. About what happened. About you, Isolde. I'm sorry for that. For thinking you would act like that. To me." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 20:32:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No, its fair. I was feeling pretty bad about it myself. Can you forgive me?" Isi still looked deeply pained, "I understand if you don't want to? I mean, I beat up boys and wreck my little sisters life. Its not like I deserve any forgiveness."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 20:38:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isolde's answer was a hug, delivered with a fierce intensity that spoke of the emotions buried not so very deep under Helen's skin. It also told Isolde that Helen hadn't showered, or even put on deodorant. She was...unpleasant at best. <br><br>"I'm sorry," Helen said into Isolde's chest. "I was just being stupid. I forgive you if you will forgive me for being this way. Okay?". She lifted her head and looked up at Isolde. "Okay?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 20:45:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Just this once." Isi smiled, "But next time just come over. You know where I live." She smiled, "I will set up the theatre and we can watch shows together curled up on one of the sofa's." The hug was returned, "Ah, did you shower this morning?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 20:55:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Just come over. How exactly? Not everyone had a brother with a sports car who didn't mind playing taxi. And it wasn't as if her dad had time to take away for trying to find work for his wrecker or at the shop. "Okay," she agreed without bringing any of it up. Isolde wasn't trying to be mean, she just wasn't thinking. But she was being nice. <br><br>"Oh, um," Helen stepped back from Isolde. "The water heater?&nbsp; It like, something like went wrong with it. Dad says he will have it fixed today but there wasn't any hot water," she lied. In truth, Helen was trying what many victims did. Their self image was already damaged, so it was easy for theme to let hygiene slip in the hopes their abusers would not be attracted to them, would find them disgusting.&nbsp; That's also why Helen was wearing the baggy clothing. She was hiding from Mr. Baker. <br><br>"I brought some clothes from home. Do you think, maybe, I can come over again and maybe use your shower tonight?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 21:01:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Of course." Isi nodded, "Though, you could use the ones here today if you like I think? Like, at lunch time or something? Bound to be somewhere here not in use at some point." She gave Helen another hug. "Okay. I will see you later, in history." She seemed to think about it for a moment, then leaned in and kissed Helen on the lips briefly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 21:10:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No!&nbsp; I mean, no, not until after school." After Mr. Baker, she added in her mind. <br><br>The return kiss was just as brief, a simple press, but it lifted Helen's spirits. "I will see you after gym. Okay?&nbsp; Only, meet me here. Not...&nbsp; Just meet me here." Helen pushed the door open to let Isolde leave first. When she was gone, Helen waited a moment then started to follow. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 21:53:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Outside the Gym<br><br>Isi and Helen started to hear menacing voices from outside the practice gym as they were talking.&nbsp; One voice could be heard boisterously calling, "Looks like we have a mouse here."<br><br>"Yeah, we should exterminate it."<br><br>There was a sharp squeal of pain when a third voice said, "Should we hang him from the flag pole or just stuff him under the bleachers?"<br><br>"Closer to the stands.&nbsp; Let's stuff him there."<br><br>"I'll check if the coast is clear."<br><br>With that, a boy in a varsity football jacket, with blond hair and blue eyes gave a smile as he called back, "Hey, Tank!&nbsp; Joe!&nbsp; Bring in our mouse.&nbsp; He might like this.&nbsp; Got a couple of lesis in here!&nbsp; Just saw 'em kiss.&nbsp; Maybe we can get them to put on a show for us!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 22:08:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Isabella, period3-algebra II (tagged :Greg)</strong><br>"Good, I don't understand how to solve this equation. Do you think you could help?" She asked him in a hushed tone, she was taking about school work. But this teacher looked like he was a dick, and she didn't want to risk any trouble. She leaned forward as she whispered to Greg, if he turned around he'd end up seeing quite a bit of cleavage. Though it was unintentional, she was just trying to get help from him on her math work. She wasn't trying to flirt with him on purpose. She could see though throughout the lesson that he had been looking at her. She wasn't sure if its because he thought she was a freak or there was something wrong. She was kind of used to stares though. She was curvy and her skin was smooth, her hair was an unusual color and if her jacket was off she was fairly busty. She knew a couple other guys and girls in class would turn to look at her too. But she didn't think it was because of her looks. She was afraid an illusion had started, she glanced around but saw nothing. She even used a compact to make sure it wasn't on her, still nothing. Why was Greg staring at her? "So can you help me?" She asked waiting for his reply.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 22:43:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the Gym</strong><br><br>Isi heard the arseholes taunting some poor innocent and had been about to head out after Helen, make sure she didn't have any issues with them when the seemed to decide to press their luck with them. "Helen, behind me." Isi said quietly, stepping forward and just waiting, her feet very deliberately placed in a L shape with her weight about sixty/forty between the two. She didn't speak up, just waited to see what these pricks would try.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 22:47:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				September 4, 2012 - 3rd Period, Algebra II<br><br>Greg's eyes grew rather large when Isabella asked for help.&nbsp; His face flushed as red as his hair.&nbsp; <em>Oh my God!&nbsp; She's showing me her breasts and they're huge!&nbsp; Oh, my God, am I getting hard?&nbsp; Please don't let me get hard.&nbsp; Not here.&nbsp; Not now.</em>&nbsp; "Um, help?" he whispered, barely audible.&nbsp; <em>Oh my God.&nbsp; I need the help!&nbsp; A girl is talking to me and she's got huge boobs.&nbsp; Oh, my God!&nbsp; What do I do?</em>&nbsp; "Uh, yeah.&nbsp; Um, I think.&nbsp; Um, yes.&nbsp; Um," he said scrawling something onto a piece of paper and passing it across to Isabella.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 22:58:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No," Helen said quickly and grabbed Isolde's hand.&nbsp; "You have to trust me."&nbsp; She tugged on it, trying to budge the taller girl.&nbsp; "Please," she begged, her face barely visible in the red glow from the EXIT sign.&nbsp; So far they hadn't turned on the gym lights and Helen didn't think they even knew where the gang of switches were.&nbsp; Right now it was still dark inside.<br><br>But the dark never bothered Helen.<br><br>"Please!" she said louder and jerked on Isolde's hand.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 23:06:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isi sighed heavily through her nose nodded, "Okay." She said quietly, allowing herself to be lead wherever Helen had in mind. For now. She really wasn't pleased with the idea though.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>15-01-2013, 23:30:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym<br><br>Three other boys came into view.&nbsp; The first was hard to miss and easy to understand why he was referred to as Tank.&nbsp; He was easily six feet tall and almost as wide.&nbsp; His forehead sloped stupidly and he already was starting to show a bit of male pattern baldness.&nbsp; Within his grasp was a smaller boy, perhaps five feet three inches tall with black rimmed large glasses.&nbsp; He was brunette and had deep brown eyes that were wide with terror.&nbsp; His body frame was beyond slim, almost emaciated.<br><br>The final boy, obviously known as Joe, was about six foot tall, had a thin but muscular frame.&nbsp; Isi and Helen could guess that he was likely a cheerleader's favorite.&nbsp; He also was a brunette with short hair and brown eyes.&nbsp; He had a vicious grin as he looked on at the two girls.&nbsp; He told the blonde boy, "Chad, maybe I can kiss her back to straight.&nbsp; What ya think?"<br><br>The smaller boy struggled a bit and Joe simply placed a hand on him to stop him from squirming away.<br><br>Chad told the others, "See that ugly one in front?&nbsp; She must be the guy.&nbsp; I think, Joe, you should start with the one behind her.&nbsp; She looks like she's worth it."<br><br>Joe made a couple steps forward 'causing the automatic lights in the gym to come on.&nbsp; Why this did not happen for Isi and Helen was anyone's guess.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 03:40:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No no no!" Helen said when the lights came on.&nbsp; For a moment she'd felt the dark, felt it rolling in about their feet, ready to conceal the two girls, but the hateful light scattered it like quicksilver dropped on glass.&nbsp; If it had still been dark there was no way the boys would have been anything other than an annoyance.&nbsp; Now?&nbsp; Helen didn't know.&nbsp; She did know that the jocks, for all they were assholes, didn't usually hit or shove girls.&nbsp; But they'd seen her and Isolde kiss!<br><br>"She's not ugly!"<br><br>Where had that come from?&nbsp; Helen was surprised at the outburst.&nbsp; "You assholes just get out of here or I'll tell Coach."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 03:42:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>september 4th- third period Algebra II</strong><br><br>"Thanks." She said as she wrote down the answer, she wrote something on the back of the paper folded it up and slipped it in his pocket. "Here, you should text me and maybe you can tutor me. Math is my worst subject." She wasn't flirting with him, she honestly was looking to study. " the teacher is kinda creepy, so I'd rather not get help from someone who looks so Pervy." She said before returning to her work, she though her was nice. Maybe they could be friends, never hurts to have a friend who can help you. Even if he looks kinda dorky and is awkward. That's when the bell rang, class was finally over. "See you later Greg." She said before she went on to lunch. <em>damn I didn't have the time to pack myself anything. Hopefully the food here is decent. I wonder how crowded it is, or where I should sit.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 03:45:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isi just stood and glared at the three of them. She wasn't one to back down. She had learned years ago from growing up as forces brat that if you backed down to people like this they would just keep pushing you backwards till you fell over.<br><br>No matter what she had told the principle, she was not going to back down from these pricks. She stood her ground and stared down the biggest one of the group, moving to put herself once more between herself and Helen.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 04:14:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Joe laughed as he approached Helen.&nbsp; "Tell Coach?&nbsp; Really?&nbsp; And do you even know who he is?&nbsp; Not like you're a cheerleader or anything.&nbsp; Pretty enough to be, maybe."<br><br>Chad laughed at that and said, "You know what!&nbsp; I have a better idea.&nbsp; Tank, let the mouse kiss her.&nbsp; That way, we don't risk getting turned gay.&nbsp; Besides, seems she likes the boyish types...."<br><br>Tank started moving forward with the smaller boy in his arms but stopped when Isi once again moved between Helen and the boys.<br><br>Chad called to Isi mockingly, "What?&nbsp; You want him first?"<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 04:30:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				September 4, 2012 - End of Third Period Algebra II<br><br>Greg felt Isabella's hand go into his pocket.&nbsp; <em>Oh, God!&nbsp; Don't let her feel that I'm stiff!&nbsp; Or wait, maybe she should.&nbsp; Oh, this is so confusing!</em>&nbsp; When Isabella's hand came out, a similar mix of elation, confusion and relief escaped him.&nbsp; He stared wide eyed at Isabella when she told him to text her.&nbsp; <em>Is she serious?&nbsp; She's not playing games?&nbsp; Really?</em><br><br>Before Greg had a chance to conjure up a response, Isabella had said goodbye and left.&nbsp; <em>Should I try to find her at lunch?&nbsp; Would that be too much too soon?&nbsp; God, I should talk to the guys about this. </em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 04:58:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>september 4th- Lunch</strong><br>Isabella lined up in a line at lunch, she had her headphones in and was listening to her music. She had it loud enough to drown out all the bustling, laughing, and shouting kids at lunch. She was standing in the line for pizza, she was glad she made a..... Friend-ish person in her math class, especially because he could tutor her. Atleast now all she would have left is easy classes, or easy for her. Then she would go home and do her homework, then paint. Maybe before she goes home she will look at the clubs here, who knows maybe she will join one. Though so far she hasn't met any people that she would hang out within a daily basis, but atleast her magic hasn't freaked out on her today yet. Today seems like a pretty good day, for her first day at a new school. Though she was kind of bored. Maybe tonight she would practice trying to do something with her skills, so far all she could do was concentrate to make her illusions go away when they randomly happened. But other than that she had no idea how to control it or what to do with it. She ordered her pizza, got it and sat down as far away from the main crowd of people as possible. The cheese pizza was kind of rubbery, and kind of bland. Figures the school wouldn't have any decent food.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 05:13:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>James<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>James woke up at his regular time, did his regular thing. He was pleased to note that, by pushing himself, his legs burning and his right ankle aching a little, much to his dismay, realizing that it wasn't quite at its full strength yet, he reached school five minutes before it opened. He breathed heavily outside for a bit, leaning on his knees, his sweat making him chill in the early morning air, and his breathing causing a fog. When the doors finally opened, he was fighting to keep from shuddering, and he eagerly stepped into the warmer building. He moved over to the cafeteria, and looked around for Helen. It had become something of a tradition for them to eat breakfast together, for some reason, since they were early risers at school. But he looked around, since she was usually there first, to find her... not here. His brow furrowed, and he retraced his steps. <br><br>He only caught a glimpse of her, and only for a second. By the time he negotiated around to where he had seen her last, she was gone. But she hadn't been alone. That much he had been able to see. He quickly tried to follow, but was slow about it. He couldn't tell which way she had gone. But he heard voices then. He blinked, and if he could have twitched his ear like a dog's, he would have. He took in the general direction of the voices, and followed them. Helen was with a guy? That wasn't something that he expected, although she had never shown any interest in that way towards him. Maybe she had other guy friends, and had decided that hanging out with James was just a bit too lame this morning.<br><br>He followed the voices over to just outside the gym, and he quickly assessed the situation. The two rather taller characters were known bullies in the school, known, at least, by those that they bullied, which he guessed was what the smaller, glasses wearing kid was doing there. Helen was here too, alright, as well as the chick that he had seen her talking with yesterday. They were becoming fast friends, and he couldn't help a twinge of jealousy hit the pit of his stomach, but he quelled it but fast. She didn't need a jealous friend, now did she. Although, it appeared that she needed a tall, menacing one right now.<br><br>He sped up his walk, quiet as he was, the people in the room didn't hear him, although he heard what they were saying, and it was starting to make his blood boil a bit. He had always disliked these kids, and now, they were closing in on a friend of his, and a friend of hers, and that was enough to call in for some backup, even if, maybe, since he didn't know Isi very well, they didn't need it. He slipped in between the two, his large, powerful frame suddenly taking the spotlight in this little confrontation. <br><br>"Hey guys," He said in a pleasant voice that his eyes didn't mirror as he took a step forward and stopped Tank in his tracks," You guys miss the turnoff to the kindergarten, or are you just here to try and hang with the big folks?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 21:16:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Chloe in detention</strong><br><br>Chloe was smiling, It wasn't an on purpose smile. It was one of those smiles that you are not even aware are happening. Its a sneaky smile, and you only realize you were doing it after the situation is over, you notice it as you go back to relive the moment in your head and you start kicking yourself for looking like such a fool. But for now Chloe wasn't aware of it, Her eyes fixed to James’s arm as he passed her back the note. <em>Could it be the most perfect arm in the world?</em> It made the butterflies in her stomach flutter harder and she quickly leaned&nbsp; forward to read his reply, unawares that her smile was broadening.<br><br>As she picked up her pen to reply she got that weird sensation in her hand again and the pen fell cleanly through her grasp and hit the floor a little louder then it should of because the room was almost silent. The panic siren in her head started to wail. One minute she had it firmly between her fingers next minute it was on the floor. It was like the jewelry thing all over again. Her sister could not be this intelligent, this had to be something else. Her stomach sunk as the ‘I'm being haunted’ option was starting to sound like the more plausible one. <br><br>Trying hard to cover the situation she reached down to collect the pen, making damn certain she had it tightly and brought it back up the note paper. She couldn't even think of what to say to James after that horrifyingly embarrassing experience. Chloe’s pale cheeks were starting to flush pink and she tilted her head just a little to release the curtain of hair she had tucked behind her ear, hoping to use it as a shield so James would not see her blush. She tried to push the haunted thoughts away and focus on the note. Hot boys were more important than ghosts after all.<br><br>She read his reply twice before scrawling her own. Praying silently in her head that he didn't think she was a freak now. It was common for people to drop their pens right? Happened to everyone. <br><br><em>This is actually my first ever detention.</em> <br><br>She looked at her note, it was a bit final. She chewed on her lower lip for a moment as she searched for ways to keep his attention, finally deciding to add another question.<br><br><em>What kind of music are you listening too?</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>18-01-2013, 05:05:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As he passed her the note, he could see, or rather, feel her eyes on him. Far to the contrary, as a matter of fact. But still it did make him feel a bit awkward. The way that you felt when you know that you were being watched by someone that you wanted to be watching you, and yet you felt uncomfortable because you don't want to do anything wrong while under that gaze, lest that person think ill of you. All that ran through his mind, and he decided to do the unexpected. He looked clean into her eyes, and winked a bit, with a half-smile twirling up one end of his mouth. He was cocky, no doubts about it. He successfully fought back a blush. If she didn't like it, well, they would go back to whee they had been to start with, and, well, if she liked it, it would be all the better, he supposed. <br><br>But his smile faltered ever so gently as he saw the pen that she was using slip through her fingers. And, if he hadn't suddenly seen and well, disbelieved what he had seen, he might have sworn that he saw the pen slip <em>through</em> her fingers. But that was impossible. Thing didn't just slip through fingers. That was physically impossible. He, at that moment was, of course forgetting that he did something that was physically impossible on a comparative daily, but that wasn't the point. He made a minute shake of his head, as if dispelling the thought from his mind. His eyes were obviously playing tricks on him, although, despite the fact that he neglected it, the seed of something odd had been planted. Maybe he wasn't the only one that could do weird, awesome, inhuman stuff. Maybe he wasn't that much of a freak after all. But just a seed, and as of yet, unwatered. <br><br>He was faster than she was, his hand snaking out to snatch the pen up from the ground and he handed it to her in an embarrassed smile. She wrote faster than he did, he noticed, chagrined, and he read over what she had written. First time? Dang. Well, he might have expected it from her. She was a cheerleader, and other than making people feel like trash, they tended to stay within the rules of the school. He shook his head, and wrote something back. One word:<br><br><em>Lucky.</em><br><br>He read the rest of what she had written. They had almost run out of paper length, at least on this page, so he crammed what he wrote:<br><br><em>Not really sure. Mostly rap and hip-hop, but those are mainly for the rhythm that help me with my...</em> He scribbled over those last few words, <em>that I like generally. What kind of music do you like?</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>19-01-2013, 09:04:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Chloe in detention</strong><br><br>Chloe’s heart had a minor failure in her chest when James winked at her. The cheerleader in her scoffed at his wink, but the teenage girl in her squealed with delight. The hot boy likes her! Even if he was just a basketballer. A cocky basketballer at that. He was still a hot guy and he just winked at her with the most dreamy eyes ever. But the wink was the least of her worries when he saved the pen that she, for what ever reason, had dropped. His fingers brushing lightly against hers as he handed it back. She forgot to breath. His touch felt warm, really warm. Electric almost. Drawing in a slightly shaky breath she had to force herself to stop staring at his arms and refocus on the note. <br><br>The way he scribbled out his message made her wonder what it was he was trying to avoid speaking about. It made him instantly mysterious and about a billion times more attractive. She went&nbsp; to grab her pen and write a reply when she noticed she was on the very edge of her seat, as close to him as she could get without shifting the chair, he must of done the same because the distance between them had shrunk significantly. It was distracting and she had the tip of then pen to the paper before noticing there was no room left to write. <br><br><em>Keep calm.<br>Keep calm.</em><br><br>Writing was easy, They were both looking at the paper but talking was hard because they were looking at each other and his presence was making her a little nervous. Okay a lot nervous. She loved it. Placing her pen down on the paper as an obvious sign she was done with the note she turned her gaze on him. Fully. Looking straight at him. And just praying and pleading that she wouldn't stutter or look in any way like a loser. Leaning forward so only he could hear and keeping her voice to a hushed whisper she continued their conversation without the pen and paper “I like hiphop too”&nbsp; She nodded with a smile “Do you think I could listen with you? I don't have an ipod" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>21-01-2013, 02:02:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>James, in Detention</strong><br><br>He watched her every reaction. He didn't realize that he was staring, not until it would be too late. Either she would give him a weird look, meaning that she, in her mind, quickly classified him over as a creeper, or she would blush and look away, meaning that she wasn't quite ready to be stared at by him just yet. Both ways, he wouldn't realize it was happening until irreparable damage was in place. He felt the odd electricity too, kind of like a static spark that passed between them, but it didn't make him want to jerk his hand away suddenly. Quite to the contrary, in point of fact. He wanted to take her hand, and, well, see if the feeling grew with the more skin in contact. But of course, he wouldn't do that, as urges like that tended to get one laughed at, and sometimes worse stuff. His hand traveled back to the desk that he was sitting on, and he fidgeted a bit, wondering what her answer was going to be.<br><br>He almost jumped when she spoke out loud. The silence, punctuated only by the scribbling on the paper and whatever odd noises that would break out as one of them reached for a paper, or maybe some sort of low exclamation to what the other had written, had seemed unbreakable until that instant, and he looked up, catching her gaze with his eyes, and throwing it right back to her. He was forcing himself to stay calm, and he was worried that she might hear his heart beating. It seemed rather loud in his ears. <br><br>He snapped out of it, and realized that she had said something. He forced an outward calm over himself, as to not look like a complete geek... or was it dork? The names got all fuzzy in his head," Well..." He started," That's awesome. Which artist do you like to listen to?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>24-01-2013, 08:09:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Chloe in detention</strong><br><br>“Lots of stuff” She whispered with a flirting smile “Just let me have a look” She whispered again reaching in and pulling the device from his pocket. She was doing her best to stay confident but wondered if she was going to over the top. She flicked through the menu with ease, her high gloss polished nails shining under the poor quality school lights. “Hmmm” She hummed not being able to decide between two bands “You’re not completely hopeless”&nbsp; she smiled “Some of this is actually okay” Deciding on a song she pressed play and held the ear phone up to her ear and motioned the other over to James “We might as well, nothing else to do” she whispered with a shrug. <br><br>Tucking the device into her ear she brought her hands together in her lap, spinning her ring around her finger. It was her bad habit, and because the ring was now constantly on her mind she found herself playing with it more often then not. But there were more important issues at the fore front of Chloe's mind as she sat next to the hot basketball guy. How was this going to end? Would she just get up and leave and never speak of this again? Or would she linger, maybe they would exchange numbers. There couldn't be much more time left in detention and she needed to make her mind up quickly. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>26-01-2013, 05:35:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>James, in Detention</strong><br><br>Normally, his reaction to someone reaching in to grab something, or him, would have been intercepting. He had been in some rather violent scenes before, and, frankly, for a teenager, it was a bit traumatic. He would be the first to admit that he was different from the rest of the kids, mentally as well as, well, his oddity, what he called. It was hard to control most of the time, especially in situations in which he really had to use it. Which usually meant damaged buildings, and way more damage than he intended to do or, worse, too little. So, when she reached over to grab his phone, his first reaction was to grab her hand, and push it away. His hand even flickered out of where it had been resting, but he stopped halfway, and lamely placed his arm back on the desk. He hoped she hadn't noticed it, and the worrying over that had him distracted from the bands that she had selected, adn he only realized what she was doing when he almost fell out of his chair as the music suddenly blared in his ear. <br><br>He straightened himself back up with as much dignity as he could muster, and he nodded," Good choice..." He didn't really pay attention to what they were listening to, but he nodded anyways. He only had songs that he at the very least tolerated, this sounded like a song that he would like. He looked up at the clock, and saw that their time here was almost up. He wondered what would happen once they left. It wouldn't be a good bet to try and find her here again, but he did want to find her again. But she hung out with a crowd that would not forgive her hanging with him, so he was a bit at a loss. He decided to drop the matter as soon as he opened his mouth. It snapped shut again. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>26-01-2013, 09:46:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Chloe - Detention</strong><br><br>Chloe lifted her perfect shaped eyebrow at James as he nearly fell off his chair. Weren’t basketballers meant to be graceful? She could feel the tug of a small smirk on her lips. His clumsiness was cute. “You okay?” She asked her smirk turning into an amused teasing smile. She liked this song the beat gave her energy and she often played it when jogging with Susan. Her foot started to tap quietly to the time in the music, and she kept spinning her ring around her finger, glancing up at James from time to time, her eyes lingering If he was looking away but as soon as their gaze meet she would quickly look back into her hands with slightly pink toned cheeks. <br><br>The minutes were counting down quickly, some of the other students were already packing their stuff into their bags so as soon as they were dismissed they could run as fast as they could and try salvage what was left of their lunch break. Chloe left her things on the table, wanting to savor every minute she had with James before it ended. She peeked up at him again. He was even hotter close up, the line of his jaw made her tummy erupt into butterflies again. She so badly wanted to see him again. Badly. But if the girls found out she was friendly with a boy that did not fit their criteria (Which James did not) she would be ridiculed. She was already fighting hard to be accepted fully by the cheer girls, something like this could take her down in flames. She swallowed hard, eyeing the clock. Two minutes left. This was all Jessica’s fault. The stupid skank bitch sucked off every bloody guy in town and gets away with it, why couldn’t Chloe just give a hot guy her number without it being the ultimate sin? <br><br>Fueled with her hatred of Jessica, Chloe turned off the music and handed the device back. “This has been fun” She said collecting her things and sliding them into her back pack “Well you know, Fun as it could be I guess, It is detention after all” She smiled as she slung her back pack over her shoulder but remained seated in her seat looking at James. She swallowed hard. Fuck Jessica, She wasn’t going to keep living by her stupid rules. She could do what ever she wanted as long as she kept it secret right? “You should txt me sometime, or something, if you want….” She wanted to kick herself for sounding like such a moron but the words were already out. Pulling a pen from her back pack she motioned for Jame’s hand “Is it okay if I write my number on your hand?” <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>29-01-2013, 02:27:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>James, in the Detention Hall</strong><br><br>James was flustered, a bit. Well, a lot, but he was enough of an actor to be able to hide some of it, his fingers gripping the seat that he was in until his knuckles turned white, his face tentatively red as his over-alert vision of her face caught that raising of her eyebrow, and the phantom of a smirk on her face, although that last one might have been a bit of paranoia. He was now classified as a... well, a clumsy idiot, for starters. He mentally kicked himself. He had been startled, so what? Yes, he had been seated on the edge of his chair, and of course he had forgotten that he had left the music on at the highest volume while forgetting that his earphones were still in his ear. The result of all the above had been him nearly falling off his chair, as well as a barely perceptible flailing of limbs to catch himself. He was a guy. So what? What did he care?<br><br>Well, all things considered, he cared because, well, it had been in front of Chloe. That made everything different, frankly. Low scores were somehow lower, geeky statements were somehow geekier, as well as cool things said and done were somehow cooler, especially if she verbally appreciated them. His dad thought it was all stupid teen stuff, but dammit, he was a teen. It was his stupid stuff. He kicked himself again.<br><br>He stood when she did, still blushing, inside, if not outside, and he turned to her when she spoke," Yeah... it has," He nodded and smiled that oddly charming, natural half-grin on his," I would... yeah, I would like that," He offered his hand. Would it be too geeky to tell her that he could type it on his phone? Yeah. Obviously. He was quiet until she was finished writing," So... you will hear from me again," He nodded, and was still smiling.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>29-01-2013, 04:00:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				(James, Isi, Helen, Chad, Joe, Josh and Tank)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym<br><br>"Hey guys," James said in a pleasant voice that his eyes didn't mirror as he took a step forward and stopped Tank in his tracks." You guys miss the turnoff to the kindergarten, or are you just here to try and hang with the big folks?"<br><br>Upon hearing that, Joe and Chad immediately turned to view the interloper.&nbsp; A silent understanding was spoken between them.&nbsp; <em>Basketball.</em>&nbsp; If ever there was one unwritten school rule it was that jocks did not mess with other jocks.&nbsp; Yet, here, James was interposing.&nbsp; This meant to them that Helen and Isi were off limits, at least for now.<br><br>Chad gave a wry smile at James, "If you were half as strong as you were tall, you'd be playing football, bro."&nbsp; He looked at the others and gave them a small nod.&nbsp; "Well, we need to get to class.&nbsp; Can't afford a tardy.&nbsp; Have fun with the lesbians.&nbsp; Maybe you can kiss one of them straight."&nbsp; With that, he told the others, "Let's go."&nbsp; As they left, Tank put his index finger and middle finger to each eye and then pointed them back at the smaller boy and back at himself.<br><br>He smiled at James and said, "Well, that was certainly fortunate."&nbsp; <br><br>He turned to the girls and said, "Sorry.&nbsp; I wouldn't have kissed you, either one of you, if I could have helped it.&nbsp; Glad it never got to that point."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>29-01-2013, 05:42:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				(Greg, Josh, Steven, Isabella)<br><br>September 4th- Lunch (4th period)<br><br>A couple tables over from Isabella, two boys were shortly joined by Greg.&nbsp; One of the boys who was already sitting at the table was approximately five foot three and wearing some large black rimmed glasses.&nbsp; The other was a darker brunette and a couple inches taller.&nbsp; He had a bowl cut hair do.&nbsp; He seemed quieter and almost deep in thought.&nbsp; He too, had glasses but they seemed thicker and more aged than the boy next to him.<br><br>Greg sat down across from the other two and told them in a secretive tone.&nbsp; "Guys, you'll never believe what happened to me."&nbsp; He looked from side to side and caught sight of Isabella attempting to eat a piece of pizza.&nbsp; <em>Oh, God!&nbsp; She's just two tables over.</em>&nbsp; He put his back slightly towards her and more attentively towards the two brunette boys.<br><br>Josh looked at Greg curiously, "What?" while Steven, the quieter boy, simply glanced at Greg inquisitively.<br><br>"See that girl two tables over with the colored hair?" Greg asked them.<br><br>The entire set of them looked over and stared at Isabella for a few moments.&nbsp; "Yeah," both Josh and Steven answered simultaneously.&nbsp; "What of her?" asked Josh.&nbsp; "Looks like a druggie."<br><br>"She talked to me and gave me her number, guys.&nbsp; And oh, my God!" Greg's eyes popped out.&nbsp; "She's got the biggest boobs!&nbsp; And do you know how she gave me her number?"&nbsp; Greg did not wait for a response.&nbsp; "She stuffed it in my pocket!"<br><br>Josh's mouth dropped before he could exclaimed softly.&nbsp; "No way!"<br><br>"Way!" replied Greg.&nbsp; "I thought I was going to spew all over my pants!"<br><br>"Clearly she wants you," Steven concluded calmly.&nbsp; "What are you doing here?&nbsp; Go sit with her."<br><br>"You think so?&nbsp; I mean, I shouldn't wait?"<br><br>Josh excitedly replied, "Dude, you should have been there five minutes ago!&nbsp; Get!"<br><br>Greg gingerly rose from the table and after a bit of encouragement of hand waving by Josh and Steven made his way to Isabella's table.<br><br>When he arrived, he cleared his throat and asked in a bit of a rushed whisper.&nbsp; "Um, do you mind if I sit here too?"<br><br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>29-01-2013, 08:04:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Isabella- September 4th, fourth period lunch </strong><br><br><em>mmmmm nope, that's officially not edible. I guess I'll just wait until I get home to eat.</em> Isabella had been thinking about what to do after school when a familiar voice brought her back to reality. She realized she had been awkwardly starring at her 'unedible' and rubbery pizza. she smiled to him, her pizza now being abandoned by her.&nbsp; "Hi Greg, I didn't know you had this lunch. Sure, I don't see why you can't sit here." She said lightly teasing him. She was glad to have someone to talk to during lunch, since it does get kind of uncomfortable sitting alone. "So Greg, do you think you could tutor me in math?" She got right to the point, she really didn't know him enough to strike up much more of a conversation yet. She was wearing her hoodie, though her hood was down. She looked Greg up and down, he was dorky. But she was never the kind of person to shun someone because of how they look. Besides he was nice, and he didn't shut her out like she was some kind of freak. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>29-01-2013, 20:00:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Chad, Joe, Josh and Tank)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>Isi blinked at the kids admission he wouldn't have kissed them, it was a little nice that he would have resisted if he could, but also kind of galling. "Something wrong with me? I'm not worth kissing?" She said quietly, immediately regretting it. That had been out of order. Isi took to nibbling her lower lip for a moment then addressed James, "Thanks. A lot. For helping. A lot a lot." Something was bothering her. She glanced back at the pudgy little kid, "Ah, they do this sort of thing a lot?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 13:52:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Josh and The Ghost of Christmas Future)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>Helen's hands trembled from the post-tension let down.&nbsp; Her throat had been choked up tight when the boys called her bluff about telling their Coach.&nbsp; So long as it didn't affect how the football moved down the field, the head football coach didn't care what his athletes did.&nbsp; It was all about Friday night to him.&nbsp; Now if one of the boys had gotten caught by an assistant principal and tossed into in school suspension, the head coach would have made it his business and dealt with it.&nbsp; The boys knew that, knew they were safe.<br><br>James could feel her arms shaking too when his short friend stepped up and gave him an enormous hug.&nbsp; Helen didn't immediately let go.&nbsp; "Thanks, James.&nbsp; Assholes.&nbsp; Why do boys have to be such assholes?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 15:52:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Chad, Joe, Josh and Tank)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>He almost smiled," I would, but I don't like butting heads with idiots. It might be contagious, your guy's idiocy..." He shook his head, and watched them leave. He had never started a fight in his life, at least with his own loose translation of what starts a fight. BUt he damn well finished them. He turned to the bullied kid. He seemed okay, and James disliked how the guys had treated him. However, he didn't talk to James, probably because he erroneously thought that the tall, muscular youth was just as much a bully as the meats that left. He shook his head, and turned to Isi," Don't mention it. Yeah, they are typical bullies, but this was a bit out of line, even for them. Might be wise to avoid them from now on," Something was... off lately. He shook his head, and blinked. <br><br>He wasn't expecting Helen's hug, and he wasn't expecting her arms to be shaking. He remembered the first time he had been in a fight. He had lost, horribly, and the adrenaline had left him shaking and yawning afterwards, since he hadn't been able to use it. But now his body was iron-hard when it came to shit like this. He had been in more fights than he could count, very few of them happening at school.But he would regal anybody with those tales. He just wrapped his powerful arms around Helen," Hey, you okay?" He said softly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 18:38:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7631880#msg7631880">Quote from: mayovagn on 29-01-2013, 20:00:12</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Chad, Joe, Josh and Tank)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>Isi blinked at the kids admission he wouldn't have kissed them, it was a little nice that he would have resisted if he could, but also kind of galling. "Something wrong with me? I'm not worth kissing?" She said quietly, immediately regretting it. That had been out of order. Isi took to nibbling her lower lip for a moment then addressed James, "Thanks. A lot. For helping. A lot a lot." Something was bothering her. She glanced back at the pudgy little kid, "Ah, they do this sort of thing a lot?"<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Josh's eyes went wide at Isi's demanding questions.&nbsp; Josh stammered, "Um, no, no, no!&nbsp; That's not what I meant.&nbsp; There's nothing wrong with you as far as I know.&nbsp; I mean, oh, this is coming out all wrong!&nbsp; I just meant that I respect you and your friend too much to force myself on you, even for a kiss.&nbsp; I want kisses to mean something, if you get what I mean.&nbsp; Oh, God, I'm not explaining myself well at all, am I?"&nbsp; He calmed himself as he gave a scared glance at James.&nbsp; "Um, jocks always pick on smaller folks, especially if they're geeks or nerds or whatever you want to call us brainy folk.&nbsp; It is just the way it goes, so I'm told."&nbsp; He gave a small apologetic blush and smile as he turned away.<br><br>Then watching James hug Helen he looked at the two of them questioningly.&nbsp; "Um, are all three of you an item?&nbsp; I mean, I don't care.&nbsp; I don't judge.&nbsp; I'm just curious."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 18:44:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7629670#msg7629670">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 29-01-2013, 08:04:14</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><strong>Isabella- September 4th, fourth period lunch </strong><br><br><em>mmmmm nope, that's officially not edible. I guess I'll just wait until I get home to eat.</em> Isabella had been thinking about what to do after school when a familiar voice brought her back to reality. She realized she had been awkwardly starring at her 'unedible' and rubbery pizza. she smiled to him, her pizza now being abandoned by her.&nbsp; "Hi Greg, I didn't know you had this lunch. Sure, I don't see why you can't sit here." She said lightly teasing him. She was glad to have someone to talk to during lunch, since it does get kind of uncomfortable sitting alone. "So Greg, do you think you could tutor me in math?" She got right to the point, she really didn't know him enough to strike up much more of a conversation yet. She was wearing her hoodie, though her hood was down. She looked Greg up and down, he was dorky. But she was never the kind of person to shun someone because of how they look. Besides he was nice, and he didn't shut her out like she was some kind of freak.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Greg stammered a bit more.&nbsp; "Um, lunch?&nbsp; Yes, um, I have this lunch."&nbsp; Greg tried sitting down on one of the seats and misjudged his position and fell onto the floor, bringing a modicrum of laughter from those nearby.&nbsp; <br><br>Josh and Steven at the other table buried their heads as Greg fell but just like those who are horrified by a train wreck, Josh and Steven could not completely look away and watched to see what would happen next.<br><br>Greg brushed himself off a bit and blushing so red that his face and pimples could not be distinguished, he properly seated himself this time.&nbsp; "Um, tutor you?&nbsp; Um, yes.&nbsp; Though, um, Josh is the math wiz of the group.&nbsp; He's in pre-calc."&nbsp; He looked over to where Josh and Steven were sitting.&nbsp; Beads of sweat started to form at Greg's brow.&nbsp; "Um, so, uh, when would you like me to um, well, help?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 19:33:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Josh and The Ghost of Christmas Future)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>"I am now," she said and held onto James for a few moments more before letting go.&nbsp; "Thanks.&nbsp; How did you know we needed help?" She looked at Isolde. She had been so protective, so ready to take on the guys.&nbsp; What would she have done though against boys so much bigger and stronger than her?&nbsp; Leaving James, the short girl went to stand near Isolde.&nbsp; Near enough that their shoulders brushed.&nbsp; Near enough that her fingers went out and ran through Isolde's in an unfinished hand hold before letting go.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 20:10:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Josh and The Ghost of Christmas Future)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>Isi smiled at the touch of Helen's hand on hers, if even briefly, she turned to Josh, "Item? Oh! No. Not an item. Nobody is an item. We are all living people, not items." She smiled at the joke, shook her head again, "Really, though. Nothing like that going on here. Ah, this whole thing does make me think though. I mean, ah, does anyone know if there are any schools in the town that do Krav Maga or Systema?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 21:42:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Chloe - Leaving detention</strong><br><br>Chloe almost dropped her pen again. Not because of mischievous haunting ghosts but because James smiled at her! Oh god. He sure could smile. Chloe took his hand in hers and flipped it over. She couldn’t help but notice the size difference between his hands and her own. And the nice warm tickle of electricity she seemed to get through her body when ever they made contact. She wondered if kissing him would cause the same reaction. The thought made her blush and she hurriedly scribbled her phone number down against his skin and blew on it lightly so it would dry and not smudge.<br><br>“I won’t get my phone back until after practice” She said handing him his hand back and tucking her hair in behind her ear “But um..So…yeah….I will talk to you again then” She smiled a little awkwardly pulling her bag up higher on her shoulder and then making her way to the exit, she looked back at him one last time before leaving, he was definitely hot the risk was worth it. She smiled and left. Making her way to find Susan quickly before she had to be at her next class. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>31-01-2013, 15:41:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7639013#msg7639013">Quote from: Devil's Advocate on 30-01-2013, 18:44:40</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Greg stammered a bit more.&nbsp; "Um, lunch?&nbsp; Yes, um, I have this lunch."&nbsp; Greg tried sitting down on one of the seats and misjudged his position and fell onto the floor, bringing a modicrum of laughter from those nearby.&nbsp; <br><br>Josh and Steven at the other table buried their heads as Greg fell but just like those who are horrified by a train wreck, Josh and Steven could not completely look away and watched to see what would happen next.<br><br>Greg brushed himself off a bit and blushing so red that his face and pimples could not be distinguished, he properly seated himself this time.&nbsp; "Um, tutor you?&nbsp; Um, yes.&nbsp; Though, um, Josh is the math wiz of the group.&nbsp; He's in pre-calc."&nbsp; He looked over to where Josh and Steven were sitting.&nbsp; Beads of sweat started to form at Greg's brow.&nbsp; "Um, so, uh, when would you like me to um, well, help?"<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br><br>Isabella giggled at the sight of Greg falling. It wasn't a mean like the laughter form some of the people around but more friendly. "Let me guess you meant to do that?" She teased as he stood up, though her teasing was in a friendly manner. As he looked over to his group Isabella smiled softly and waved to them, she noticed Greg was part of the nerdier kids at the school. Not that it was hard to know that, just looking at him you could tell he was dorkier. <br>"Well, I'm not sure. I guess whenever it's most convenient for you, since you'd be the tutor. We can do it at my house, or we could in the school or public libraries. Just text me after school, with whoever and whenever you decide. Unless you already know?" She sat there, showing no signs of uncomfortableness around him. The bell still had a while before it would ring so she knew they had time to talk.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>31-01-2013, 15:53:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isabella- September 4th, fourth period lunch <br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7645520#msg7645520">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 31-01-2013, 15:41:45</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><br>Isabella giggled at the sight of Greg falling. It wasn't a mean like the laughter form some of the people around but more friendly. "Let me guess you meant to do that?" She teased as he stood up, though her teasing was in a friendly manner. As he looked over to his group Isabella smiled softly and waved to them, she noticed Greg was part of the nerdier kids at the school. Not that it was hard to know that, just looking at him you could tell he was dorkier. <br>"Well, I'm not sure. I guess whenever it's most convenient for you, since you'd be the tutor. We can do it at my house, or we could in the school or public libraries. Just text me after school, with whoever and whenever you decide. Unless you already know?" She sat there, showing no signs of uncomfortableness around him. The bell still had a while before it would ring so she knew they had time to talk.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Greg took in the information and then blinked a few times.&nbsp; "Unless I already know what?"&nbsp; <em>Don't look at her breasts.&nbsp; Don't look at her breasts. </em> 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>31-01-2013, 22:01:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>The Incomperable Helen and the Low Down Isolde<br>September 5, 2012 - After School at the Compact and Bijou Black Shag Pad.</strong><br><br><br>Isi showed Helen down to her room again, closed the door behind them and sagged against it a little. “Bleh.” She said quietly, before walking over to her oversized bed and falling face first onto it.<br><br>This time Helen had brought a change of clothes from home.&nbsp; She’d left Mr. Baker’s room in her sweats with her gym clothes underneath, but had clean, fresh ones in her bag that this time wasn’t forgotten.&nbsp; Helen stood by the bed and reached out to put her hand on Isi’s back, rubbing it in random circles for a bit before speaking.&nbsp; “Can I use your shower?”<br><br>“Course yu’ cn’.” Isi mumbled into the bed, “Mmmmmmn.” The backrub really did feel nice, she turned her head a little, “Sorry, just a bleh kind of day today. Not you. At all. Never you.”<br><br>“You want me to rub your back first?”&nbsp; Helen was already moving to sit astride Isi’s butt.&nbsp; “Maybe you can take a little nap while I clean up?&nbsp; That would be nice for you.&nbsp; Then when I’m done I’ll come back in here.”&nbsp; <br><br>“Go shower.” Isi’s voice had strong traces in it of how relaxing the backrub was being. “Should come in there with you...”<br><br>“I don’t mind,” Helen said.&nbsp; “I’ll leave the door open once I’m in.”&nbsp; She rubbed Isi’s back for a few more moments then lifted herself up with her leg muscles and walked backwards off the bed without thinking about it.&nbsp; <br><br>The shower got hot quickly.&nbsp; Helen set out her clean clothes on the counter, then stuffed the nasty, stinky ones in the bag.&nbsp; Her hand shook briefly remembering what Mr. Baker had said about her ploy.&nbsp; How he’d laughed and known she’d try to do something like that.&nbsp; The bag was thrown against the base of the toilet and Helen stepped into the shower then pulled the door closed.<br><br>“Okay, Isi, “ she called out but softly in case Isi was asleep.<br><br>Isi, sucking on her own lips strode into the bathroom looking like she was feeling self conscious. She was naked, long thin legs, skinny as hell, no real breasts to speak of. She didn’t seem to know quite what to do with her hands, they sort of hovered, not quite willing to give in to covering herself. She was clearly unsure about this, but there was definite and clear interest given that she was here and walking towards the shower door. The hair between her legs was trimmed to a little triangular patch pointing down. Like the beard of the villain in a twenties silent movie.<br><br>“You really don’t mind?” Isi asked, sounding unsure yet determined.<br><br>Helen’s back was to Isi and she was looking at a bottle of shampoo.&nbsp; Red hair was half in, half out of the water and the damp part was a darker color against Helen’s pale skin.&nbsp; Short, but her legs were muscled like a swimmer’s and her buttock were tight little ostrich eggs.&nbsp; Helen’s back showed significant muscle tone also.&nbsp; “No, it’s fine,” she said.&nbsp; “Is this shampoo?”&nbsp; In her house, the bottle just said SHAMPOO often with a lot of Chinese or Viet or whatever written underneath and was on sale that week at the Dollar Store.&nbsp; This stuff had an actual name.&nbsp; And...essential nutrients?&nbsp; Helen still hadn’t turned around, wasn’t even aware Isi was nude.&nbsp; Her skin started to turn pink where the hot water was hitting it.<br><br>The door opened and Isi stepped into the large shower stall, closed the folds of the door again behind her. “If you like I can wash you?” Isi offered. “If you like.”<br><br>Helen stopped moving.&nbsp; The loudest sound was water hitting tile.&nbsp; When she’d said it was okay to come in there with here, Helen meant like sit on the counter or toilet and talk.&nbsp; Not...wash her back.&nbsp; Or any other part.&nbsp; And so what?&nbsp; It was no different than showering in the gym with the other girls.&nbsp; Right?<br><br>Wrong.<br><br>But if she freaked out, Isi would be upset.&nbsp; Maybe even not be her friend any more.&nbsp; Or... or anything else.<br><br>“I can’t reach the top of my back so well, right in the middle?&nbsp; Can you maybe wash there while I do my hair?”<br><br>Isi moved to sit on the little tile shelf on the right side of the large shower stall while Helen debated with herself. She nodded at the question, reached up, took down a bottle of shower gel from the shelf in the corner next to her, stood and moved around behind Helen again. “Of course.” A smile in her voice, a good big one.<br><br>There was the ‘clip’ sound of the little bottle of soap being flicked open and then the subtle sound of hands being sudded, then... Hands on Helen’s back, just where she indicated. Applying soap.<br><br>“Thanks,” Helen said.&nbsp; Her skin flicked a little bit at the first touch then settled down.&nbsp; She leaned her head forward and gathered her hair with one hand, drawing it over her shoulder then started to work the shampoo that smelled like flowers and money into her strands.&nbsp; It wasn’t cold in the shower, not cold in the least, so why were her nipples suddenly sticking out like it was freezing outside?<br><br>Isi, or icy?<br><br>“I can do the rest of your back since I’m here?” Isi offered, without moving to do it. Her voice was a little deeper, just a little huskier than normal.<br><br>“S...Sure.&nbsp; Thanks?”&nbsp; Helen kept her head bent and washed the same piece of hair over and over without realizing it.&nbsp; She didn’t dare turn around.&nbsp; “Are...are you getting enough spray?&nbsp; I can move forward?”<br><br>“We are worrying about washing you at the moment.” Isi smiled, her hands and soap moving down the other girl’s flanks, down to the small of her back and then back up. Making sure to wash each bit carefully.<br><br>Okay, you can do this.&nbsp; It’s Isi.&nbsp; You kissed her, remember?&nbsp; And she is so so so pretty.&nbsp; Just do this.&nbsp; Helen took a deep breath in then held her head up straight.&nbsp; Both hands came up and started shampooing her hair, making her small breasts lift up on her chest and showing Isi the muscles of her back.&nbsp; And was it an accident her buttocks suddenly tensed, coming into smooth relief?&nbsp; “Can you get my legs too?&nbsp; Please?”<br><br>Isi was shaking just a little, trying not to let that movement transfer down into her her hands, she was so hot, her skin so alive. There was this insistent throbbing going on deep inside her in time with her heart. This was crazy. This was just what those assholes were trying to bully them about this morning. But... Fuck, if they were going to be bullied for something they might as well do it right?<br><br>Kneeling, applying more soap to her hands and warming it Isi set about soaping up one leg, working from the ankle on up, past the knee, working round to the front back down, then up the back of the thigh, the side of the thigh, the inside of the thigh.<br><br>“I’ll, um, I’ll get that,” Helen said unsteadily.&nbsp; She felt that fluttery feeling in her tummy, only it seemed to be moving lower and getting heavier each moment Isi’s fingers lingered on her skin.&nbsp; What was she seeing?&nbsp; Did Isi think she was pretty?&nbsp; That her legs weren’t all chunky with muscle and too short?&nbsp; Helen swallowed then rinsed her hair and held out her hand for the soap.<br><br>“K.” Isi started on the other leg from the bottom, working her way up in the same fashion. She had what could only be described as a fantastic view. Helen had a magnificent backside, and the English girl found herself sucking on her lip as her eyes traced its lines, across, down, back up between the legs. She let out a very satisfied sounding sigh as Helen shifted a little. Her hand slipped a little further up the inner thigh this time, Isi was a little distracted.<br><br>Helen’s hand settled atop Isi’s.&nbsp; It didn’t shove hers down, but it did stop it.&nbsp; <br><br>“Sorry! I was just...” Admiring your arse? Loving the view of your tight backside and the teasing glimpse of what’s between your legs? Distracted a little?”<br><br>“Just let me do it, okay?”&nbsp; Helen applied pressure and started to slide Isi’s hand along her skin, soap sliding and slithering and cleaning even as it made her feel anything but pure.&nbsp; She drug Isi’s hand across the bottom of her tummy, a flat taut thing with no give to it at all, then pressed it in and up like she was trying to hold something inside.&nbsp; Helen shivered and blew out a breath through her nose.&nbsp; “I’m okay,” she whispered, but to whom?<br><br>Slowly she drew Isi’s hand down across her pubis onto her mons.&nbsp; Either the soap hid it or there was no hair to be found there.&nbsp; Helen’s legs clenched together tightly, stopping the hand from moving between them, but she left Isi’s hands right on the front of her sex then removed her own.<br><br>There had been a gasp as Isi’s hand had been moved down, the tall girl had moved closer so as to allow Helen to move her hand around more easily and now a hard hot breath washed over Helen’s tight buttocks. Lips moved in and gently kissed the right cheek. The hand didn’t move. “I... I...” Isi’s fingers didn’t move, “You want me to wash here?” A halting breath, her tone needful, wanting, husky. Breath heaving in and out of her, felt strongly on Helen’s wet skin.<br><br>“No.&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; Maybe?”&nbsp; Helen shook her head but it was frustration, not a no.&nbsp; “No.&nbsp; Not yet,” she decided.&nbsp; “But maybe someday.&nbsp; God, I sound like that stupid song.”&nbsp; She stepped forward, pulling Isi’s hand across her hips and away.&nbsp; “Isi?&nbsp; Can I turn around?”<br><br>There had been a little soft sound of disappointment as Helen had moved away, the hand held in the air for a few moments before dropping. A breath, then, “Yes. Yes! Of course you can.”<br><br>Helen turned. Her eyes were squinted shut and she had the funniest expression on her face, like she didn’t know what to do with her face.&nbsp; Her right eye opened slowly, making her look like the world’s wimpiest pirate.&nbsp; “Hi.”<br><br>Still kneeling, Isi was sucking currently on her upper lip, “Hey.” She managed after a moment. “You are beautiful Helen.” She blurted out in a rush, “So beautiful. I wish I could draw so I could convince you to pose for me.”<br><br>“You think I am pretty?”&nbsp; The other eye came open and she went back and forth between smiling and looking uncertain.&nbsp; Helen looked down between her small breasts and at Isi’s face, then went down on her knees and pulled the two of them into a wet, slippery hug.<br><br>“You really think I’m pretty?” she asked again.<br><br>“No.” Isi shook her head smiling, “I think you are beautiful. That’s way beyond pretty.” The hug was hot and close and very much returned in kind.<br><br>“Oh.”&nbsp; Helen pulled her head back to look at Isi, then smiled and stood up.<br><br>“Hurry up and let’s finish.&nbsp; I am so, so, so going to lay down in your bed with you and kiss you.”&nbsp; She laughed, bright and a little wild, then began to hurriedly finish washing, bumping into Isi several times.<br><br>“I was going to finish washing you.” Isi mock pouted, breaking into a smile finally.<br><br>“Last one done owes the first one a dare,” Helen teased and then kicked the soap to the far corner away from Isi.<br><br>“Cheating on so many levels.” Isi pointed out her eyes narrowing, “You are half done, have far less surface area and are kicking away my good shower gel.” She was trying hard not to smile and not being entirely successful.<br><br>“Hey, I’m an athlete,” Helen said and whipped her head so her hair flung water all over Isi.&nbsp; “I’m competitive.”&nbsp; She giggled and then made sure to distract Isi every chance she could.&nbsp; When it looked like the taller girl was catching up, Helen stepped out of the spray then elbowed the lever to full cold.<br><br>Which set Isi to tickling. Which under the circumstances seemed perfectly fair. Long nimble fingers ran over Helen’s sides quickly, teasingly.<br><br>“No fair!” Helen gasped between breaths and squirms.&nbsp; “Quit it.&nbsp; Okay okay okay, stop!&nbsp; I’ll turn the water back on.”&nbsp; She reached for the levers with one hand and slapped at Isi’s hands with the other.<br><br>The tickling ceased, and was replaced with a big wet soapy face to face hug. Isi lifted Helen a little, giggling.<br><br>“Careful!”&nbsp; Helen was worried about falling on the slippery floor.&nbsp; “Come on, let’s get out of here.”&nbsp; She held Isi’s hand and pulled her out of the shower then handed her one of the towels before wrapping up in her own.&nbsp; Her hair hung like red rat tails all over her face.<br><br>Tying her own towel off Isi stepped up to Helen and set to drying her, patting down her sides and shoulders. “So, I owe you a dare now?”<br><br>“No.&nbsp; I was just joking around.&nbsp; You don’t owe me anything Isi.&nbsp; Friends don’t do that.&nbsp; Like, real friends.”&nbsp; She nodded in agreement with herself.&nbsp; “Like James?&nbsp; If I called him, he’d drop whatever and come help me.&nbsp; He’s really nice.&nbsp; For a boy.”<br><br>“For a boy?” Isi smiled a little, “You like boys?”<br><br>“They’re okay.&nbsp; They have cooties though,” Helen said and laughed.&nbsp; “Remember that?&nbsp; Remember making cootie catchers and playing cooties on the playground?”<br><br>“No, but then I didn’t grow up here.” Isi smiled, “I think cooties is a north American thing. At least it is as far I know. We had other stuff back in the UK. Then in Canada I was a little old for that stuff.” She moved around and set about drying Helen’s back. “Explain the cootie catcher.”<br><br>“So, you like fold paper?&nbsp; And again and again till it makes those little points and you stick a finger in each one?&nbsp; Then you decorate them and put silly questions and answers inside and you do this,” she moved her fingers, “ and they get a question and an answer.&nbsp; Cootie catchers.”&nbsp; Helen held out her hand for the towel.&nbsp; “My turn.”<br><br>The towel that Isi was wearing was handed over, “Oh, yeah, we had those. Can’t remember what they were called though. Same stuff, different name. I played that.”<br><br>“We should make some later,” Helen insisted.&nbsp; She briskly dried Isi off, not gentle at all but not mean, bringing a rush of blood to the surface of the other girl’s skin.&nbsp; “If we leave the light on in here, can we turn it off in your room?”<br><br>“We can turn them all off if that’s what you want.” Isi smiled, “You really like the dark don’t you?”<br><br>“Yeah.&nbsp; It’s the best thing ever, until I met you.”&nbsp; Helen blushed a little bit and looked away.&nbsp; “But, leave this one on.&nbsp; I want you to be comfortable too.”&nbsp; She left the bathroom and went to turn the lights off in the bedroom.<br><br>Isi reached up and pulled the cord, plunging the bathroom into darkness. “You can lead me? I think you see better in the dark than me.” She offered an arm.<br><br>“Careful,” Helen said and came back for Isi. She couldn’t see, not a thing, but things were where they were and not where they weren’t.&nbsp; Her hand unerringly found Isi’s and curled around it.&nbsp; “Come on.&nbsp; It’s right over here.”&nbsp; She led Isi to the bed and drew her hand down to touch the side of it.&nbsp; “Feel it?&nbsp; I’ll get in on the other side.”<br><br>Slipping under the covers in the dark with Helen. It was right. And the hot throbby feelings were so very much in evidence. They hadn’t gone away since the shower, well, since the idea of jumping in the shower with Helen had entered her head that morning really, but they were very strong now. They were both naked. It was... So right. “How you do that, with the dark? Its very cool.”<br><br>“Same way you look like me?&nbsp; I don’t know?”&nbsp; She let the towel fall onto the floor and pulled the covers up to slide under them.&nbsp; Isi was a warm, still slightly damp but lovely heat beside her.&nbsp; Helen turned onto her side and laid damp hair and head on Isis’s chest, very aware of the almost not there, small breast she was resting above.&nbsp; They were so adorable.&nbsp; Not like the cheerleaders’ and their fake ones.<br><br>It was hard to know what to do with your hands, where they should go. Isi settled for resting the one on the Helen side on the other girl’s belly for now, just below her breasts. “I tried to do it again after you left yesterday. A lot. I didn’t do my homework, just sat around and tried to make my hands small again. I couldn’t do it. They wouldn’t look like yours.” Each breath lifted Helen’s head just slightly, then lowered it again.<br><br>“Good.&nbsp; I don’t want to snuggle with me.&nbsp; I get to do that all the time.&nbsp; I want to snuggle with you.”&nbsp; She turned her head and found Isi’s lips.&nbsp; <br><br>The kiss was a shock at first, but a very pleasant one. She found herself sucking gently on Helen’s upper lip. “Mmmmmm.” Her hands moved to hold the gymnasts sides, then to explore her back. Pulling back from the kiss for just a moment, “Hey, you can snuggle with me whenever.” A big smile, likely lost in the dark, but audible, then back to kissing.<br><br>“I wish I could spend the night,” Helen said wistfully.&nbsp; “That would be so amazing, don’t you think?”&nbsp; She kissed Isi again, then opened her mouth and sighed into the other girl’s before breathing in, taking the air from Isi’s mouth for her own.<br><br>Isi pulled back smiling and giggling, “Hey, I was using that air. That was mine.”<br><br>“Oh.”&nbsp; Helen took a deep breath then sealed her mouth over Isi’s and slowly, gently, blew it out into the taller, prettier girl’s.&nbsp; “Better now?”<br><br>“Oh yeah.” Isi bit her lip for just a moment, rolled herself on top of Helen and kissed her again, “Being here, with you? How could anything be better?” She returned to the kissing, teasing Helen’s lips with her tongue.<br><br>“I don’t know,” Helen said gently.&nbsp; “I didn’t think I’d ever feel like this. Well, not really.&nbsp; I mean, I didn’t even know I could feel like this.&nbsp; Like I’m special when I’m with you, Isolde.&nbsp; Like you look at me and don’t see me, but you see me like I want you to see me.&nbsp; Like I see you.”&nbsp; Her fingers stroked through Isi’s damp, short hair in meaningless patterns.<br><br>“You are beautiful and fun and interesting and cute and petite and girl in ways that I’m not. I’m too skinny and I lack for tits. I have boy hips.” Isi smiled a slightly wan smile, “You are amazing. I... I was staring at you before. In the shower? I couldn’t help myself.”<br><br>“You make me feel like it’s the truth,” Helen said.&nbsp; “I know you were.&nbsp; I could feel it.&nbsp; Like, like little hot touches everywhere.&nbsp; It made me...”&nbsp; Helen bit her lip.&nbsp; “Do you ever, you know, touch yourself because you just feel like if you don’t you’ll melt or you can’t breathe?”<br><br>“Oh, hell yeah.” Isi took a very deep breath, held it, let it out in a rush, “After you left last night? I didn’t try the hands thing straight away. I was a little distracted at first.”<br><br>“Isi?”&nbsp; She put her hand around Isolde’s right wrist.&nbsp; “Try it now?&nbsp; See if you can make it mine?”<br><br>Isi’s mind flipped for just a moment, then the ‘make it mine’ bit sunk in, she realised she had been holding her breath, she let it out, sagged on top of Helen a little, realised that in doing so she had lowered her vulva against the other girl’s leg and lifted back up again quickly. “Ah... Okay.”<br><br>Rolling off to the side again Isi lay still and started to concentrate, stopped, “Ah, I won’t know if it’s working? Plus, can I touch you? I was thinking about it and it seemed to work better when I was touching you.”<br><br>“Hang on.”&nbsp; The bed lost her weight and she went to the bathroom and turned the light on, then drew the door shot so only a sword of it slashed the darkness, giving just enough light to see by.&nbsp; “There.”&nbsp; Helen moved back into the bed and sat cross-legged beside Isi.&nbsp; “Okay.&nbsp; Now?”<br><br>“Okay.” Isi held out a hand for Helen to take, found herself staring again. “Beautiful.”<br><br>“Thank you.&nbsp; Now, um... I don’t know?&nbsp; I just talk to mine, and coax it and promise it that it’s okay.&nbsp; Maybe that will help for you?&nbsp; But, it’s you not something else?&nbsp; I don’t know.”&nbsp; She took Isi’s hand.<br><br>“K.” Isi concentrated, hard, her lips moving but no sound coming. She sat and tried, tried hard as she could to will her body to change, to become, to shift to being Helen, or part of Helen.<br><br>The light came on outside Isi’s bedroom door, showing around the edges and footsteps could suddenly be heard descending the stairs that lead to the basement.<br><br>Isi’s eyes went wide, only suddenly they weren’t Isi’s eyes, they were Helen’s. In her panic at hearing someone coming down from upstairs she had shifted completely all at once.<br><br>“Oh shit!” Helen, the real Helen, whisper shouted.&nbsp; “Isi!”<br><br>“Shit.” Not Isi’s voice, Helen’s. “I... Fuck.” She motioned for Helen to go to the bathroom. “That’s not... I’m not me?” Her hands went to her chest, finding the breasts that were not her own. “Shit.” Quieter, but more panicked.<br><br>The footsteps reached the bottom of the stairs and headed up to Isi’s door. Someone knocked. “Isi, you home yet?” Her brother.<br><br>Helen sped across the floor like she was late for a turn on the bars, feet pounding hard in her haste, and grabbed the edge of the bathroom door to stop and swing herself around out of sight before shutting it, cutting off the light.&nbsp; “Shit shit shit shit,” she whispered, then had the absurd compulsion to giggle.<br><br>“Isi?” Geoff’s voice the other side of the door, “You are in there, I can hear you. Look, Mum is out tonight, so we are doing our own dinner. I wanted to know if you would like to share a pizza? Can I come in? If you don’t answer in a minute I am just going to come in anyway and see what crazy shit you are doing in there.”<br><br>Isi was in a panic, the breasts hadn’t gone away. Her voice might still not be her own. She was under the cover’s perhaps she could... She turned over away from the door, she wasn’t tall enough, not nearly tall enough, but Geoff wouldn’t likely notice. If he actually did open the door it would just look like a red headed girl in the bed resting right? Yeah, maybe. Helen’s hair was darker than hers, but it was dark in the room. And it was the best plan she had.<br><br>In the bathroom, Helen clamped a towel over her mouth and giggled into it, hysteria and fear mingled together.&nbsp; It wasn’t funny!<br><br>“Are you... Are you in there giggling?” Geoff’s voice, the shadow against the light under the door moved a little, “Okay, well, I will make this pizza and have like a third of it, if you and the munchkin want some have some, if not, I will eat the rest later.” Sounds of someone walking away and heading back up the stairs.<br><br>Isi breathed a sigh of relief and found she was still holding her breasts, well, not her breasts, Helen’s. It was odd. It was her skin, but so not her skin. She had wanted proper breasts ever since puberty had kicked her in the head years ago, these were... Perfect. Just right. And Helen’s. Her nipples hardened against her hands at that thought.<br><br>Helen was sitting on the floor, almost red with lack of breath, still giggling into the towel for a bit.&nbsp; Finally she wa able to stop.&nbsp; Well, mostly stop.&nbsp; She came back to the bed, hiccuped, then started giggling again.&nbsp; “Oh my God!”<br><br>“That was close.” Helen’s voice still. “Too close. Why did I do that? I couldn’t do that all last night.” She moved her hands down from her breasts somewhat reluctantly, remembered the mole, tried to slide a hand slowly down to find it again.<br><br>“I don’t know but I thought I was going to pee myself,” Helen said and then started giggling again.&nbsp; “Oh my God, you should have seen your..my face!”&nbsp; She hiccuped, then again, and finally got it under control.&nbsp; “Come on,” she took Isolde’s hand and led her to the bathroom.&nbsp; “Look.”&nbsp; She stood side by side with herself in the mirror.&nbsp; Somehow, even though it was Isolde, it wasn’t weird.<br><br>“I’m too short. Its weird. Like, everything is on a different level. How can I do that? Its not possible. I can’t...” She rushed over to the cabinet under the sink, dug in it, pulled out her bathroom scales, stood on them. “No. I’m still as heavy as I was this morning. Oh, unless you weigh the same as me?”<br><br>“Maybe.&nbsp; Muscle weighs a lot.”&nbsp; Helen playfully shoved the other Helen off and took her place.&nbsp; “Same?”<br><br>“Less. Not by much, but less. Like, my volume has changed but not my mass?” Isi smiled over at Helen.<br><br>“Science isn’t my good subject.&nbsp; But...can you do this?”&nbsp; Helen rolled her shoulders to loosen up, then did a back bend walkover with fluid, effortless ease.&nbsp; “Try it.&nbsp; I’ll spot you.”<br><br>“Spot for me?” Isi asked clearly perplexed, while taking the opportunity to unabashedly admire the girl on her bathroom floor.<br><br>“Catch you if you slip, and help you through if you lose it.&nbsp; Don’t be afraid.&nbsp; If you’re in my body, it knows what to do.”&nbsp; Helen moved to give Isolde room and stood by her side, arms ready.<br><br>“I don’t know if muscle memory is part of it?” Isi sucked on her, well, Heather’s lips for a moment, “Okay. So I just sort of fall back and catch myself? Or should I start on the floor?”<br><br>Helen put her hands in the small of Isolde’s back.&nbsp; Now that she was gymnast sized, it was a perfect match.&nbsp; It looked weird, like she was outside herself looking in, but cool too.&nbsp; Like a training film.&nbsp; “Okay, feel my hands?&nbsp; That’s the pivot.&nbsp; Arms up, palms to the ceiling, then bend back and squat at the same time to keep your center.&nbsp; Come on, you can do it.”<br><br>Isi followed the instructions to the point where she was about to overbalance backwards, “This feels really quite wrong.” Still Helen’s voice, “I need to just trust you right? Yup.” She offered a smile, there was a deal of ‘I’m unsure about this, yet I am going to go through with it because you want me to’ about it.<br><br>Isi was on the floor a few moments later in something like the same position Helen had been in, though it was clear that while her joints were as flexible as Helen’s she had no clue what she was doing or how she was doing it.<br><br>“Coach would laugh herself sick if she saw me do that.&nbsp; Sorry, Isolde.&nbsp; I guess that being in my body isn’t exactly the same.&nbsp; Here, just relax,” she moved her hands and got her feet and legs under Isi and lowered her to the floor.&nbsp; “But, I bet you can’t bend your body like that, can you?”<br><br>“Like what?” Isi relaxed onto Helen’s limbs for a moment before extricating herself. It was deeply strange to have breasts and to hear another’s voice, a voice that you really liked, a lot, when you tried to speak. “How in the hell does this happen? I can’t stay like this.”<br><br>“Like you just did.&nbsp; Isolde, it takes years of practice to be able to manage that when you’re my age.&nbsp; Little girls, sure.&nbsp; Maybe up to 9 or 10, but if you tried it, you’d throw something out.&nbsp; So, like, you don’t have my skills?&nbsp; But you have my body.”&nbsp; She looked down, “Mole and all.”&nbsp; Helen, the real Helen, suddenly flushed.<br><br>Isi glanced up, then down, then over at Helen’s mole, at her own. “Oh.” She blushed, all over. “Cute mole.” She mumbled.<br><br>“Think Geoff would have liked it?”&nbsp; Helen grinned and eeled past Isi before she could grab her and headed for the bed.&nbsp; Less than halfway there she flowed into a cartwheel and landed in the bed on her knees, barely bouncing the mattress.<br><br>Isi had started to follow, then stopped and just admired, not aware of the room returning to normal proportions as she did. As she stepped forward again she stopped with her foot just lifted, glanced down. “Oh. Hello flat chest. Hello mosquito bites. Fancy meeting you here.”<br><br>“Hey, when...&nbsp; Does it hurt?&nbsp; I mean, like that movie when they turn into werewolfies?”&nbsp; Helen looked at Isolde and felt that funny feeling again.&nbsp; She wasn’t flat chested, she was just perfect.&nbsp; So what if her boobs weren’t big.&nbsp; They were hers, Isoldes, and looked pretty and puffy.<br><br>“No. I don’t really... Maybe a bit of tingling? I don’t know though. I don’t seem to notice most of the time so I suppose it doesn’t really feel like anything?” She blinked, shrugged a little, started walking again, “Oh, boy hips. Your hips swing more. Yours feel more sexy.”<br><br>“They do?&nbsp; What else?” Helen said and pulled back the blankets for the two of them.&nbsp; “What else feels real different?”&nbsp; <br><br>“I don’t have breasts. Those feel different. Quite amazing actually.” Isi sat on the bed, looking a little embarrassed. “Ah, the hip thing? You have that sort of rolling wiggle when you walk that girls should have? I just sort of don’t. I think I grew wrong.” Isi blinked, “Though, you know? If I can do this changing thing? Maybe I can sort of borrow bits? Like with your hands before? So I could have breasts?”<br><br>“If you can control it.&nbsp; I mean, if you can think of what you could do.&nbsp; You could look like anyone.&nbsp; Even Chloe.&nbsp; The cheerleader?&nbsp; She’s so beautiful.”&nbsp; And if Isolde could look like her, why did she need Helen?&nbsp; Chunky, spunky, twunky dunky Helen.&nbsp; <br><br>“I could... But I wouldn’t be me then?” A small smile. “I mean, inside sure, but outside?” She fell over sideways her crossed legs remaining so sticking up and looking strange. “I don’t think I would make a habit of looking like Chloe. Or any of that lot. The cheerleaders all seem to vacuous.”<br><br>“What does that mean?”&nbsp; Helen dragged a blanket across Isolde and then laid down with her head on Isolde’s belly.&nbsp; “Like a vacuum cleaner?”<br><br>“Similar to the idea that there is nothing in their heads but vacuum and the word ‘like’.” Isi smiled a lot, imitated a ‘valley girl’ voice, “So, like, I went down on this guy and it was all gross and covered in this, like, gross stuff at the tip? Tasted of, like, salty milk.” She sighed, “If you can take the word ‘like’ from the sentence and it will still make perfect sense it shouldn’t be there.”<br><br>“I say like a lot.&nbsp; I’ll, like, pooh!&nbsp; I’ll try to watch it.&nbsp; It’s, just, everyone does it.&nbsp; Right?”&nbsp; She thought about what Isi had said.&nbsp; “Does it?”<br><br>“Does it what sorry?” Isi asked, she suddenly felt bad, she didn’t mean to be inadvertently criticizing Helen.<br><br>“Does it taste like salty milk?&nbsp; A guy’s...stuff?”<br><br>“I don’t know. I made that up. Never had occasion to find out.” Isi took to blushing again. “Sorry. Just on the internet they go on about certain bodily fluids tasting like ‘salty milk and coins’ a lot and it popped into my head.”<br><br>“Oh.&nbsp; I’m glad.&nbsp; I don’t know, I mean, in your mouth?&nbsp; His thing?&nbsp; It’s just gross sounding.&nbsp; And it’s got to smell.&nbsp; Guys are nasty.”&nbsp; She shuddered, head shaking Isolde’s belly.<br><br>“What about girls?” Isi asked carefully.<br><br>“Girls are nasty too.&nbsp; You ever been in the gym changing room?&nbsp; Gross.&nbsp; Oh, wait, you mean like, with a guy’s, you mean girl’s like, like that?”&nbsp; Helen’s hands made helpless little gestures over her chest.<br><br>“I meant more would you have a problem going down a girl...” Isi said quietly.<br><br>There was a long, long silence.&nbsp; <br><br>“I don’t know, Isolde,” Helen said in a church mouse voice.&nbsp; “I’ve...like when you touch yourself?&nbsp; You know how it gets on your fingers?&nbsp; I, um, I smelled it before.&nbsp; I thought it was pee but it’s not.&nbsp; It’s different.&nbsp; Slippery.”<br><br>“I tasted it.” Isi said quietly. “I like it.”<br><br>“You did?”&nbsp; Helen turned on the bed and looked down at Isolde.&nbsp; “Like, yours?”<br><br>“Yeah. I like it.” Isi’s voice was quiet still, almost a whisper. “I like the smell, the taste... I think about it sometimes. Like, what it would be like to taste someone else? It’s really exciting.” Isi’s heartbeat had gone up considerably since this subject had come up, her breathing was a little less controlled now.<br><br>“I think,” Helen said slowly, “I think that’s okay.&nbsp; It’s not bad?&nbsp; I mean, I know people do it.&nbsp; Guys and girls, I just haven’t ever done it.&nbsp; Not even with my own.&nbsp; Wha,..it’s not gross?&nbsp; It doesn’t taste bad?”<br><br>“I don’t think so? I really like it.” Isi swallowed, “A lot. Its something I shouldn’t have told you right? Too much information?”<br><br>Helen shook her head.&nbsp; “No.&nbsp; Not TMI.&nbsp; It’s something it’s okay to tell a friend.&nbsp; Someone who you care about.&nbsp; I mean, we shared the same body,” Helen laughed a little bit.&nbsp; “You were me, even for just a little bit, so hating you would be like hating me.&nbsp; And I don’t want to argue with you.&nbsp; Do you know how bad I felt last night when you didn’t call?&nbsp; I don’t want that feeling again.”<br><br>“Oh, yeah, I have been feeling awful about that.” Isi admitted, “Terrible. Horrible. So I suppose me telling you something so personal is the least I can do.”<br><br>“Do you want to taste me?” Helen blurted out suddenly.<br><br>Isi was lost for words for a moment, “Oh, I... Yes? Yes.” She blinked a few times. “That... So much.” She grabbed a pillow and hid her head under it.<br><br>“Be me again.”<br><br>“I don’t know how.” Isi said with a sigh, “I wish I did.”<br><br>“Poo.”&nbsp; Helen pulled Isolde’s pillow away from her head.&nbsp; “You can do anything, Isolde.&nbsp; I’ve seen you do it.&nbsp; You don’t know how to fail.&nbsp; Come on,” she took Isolde’s hands in her own.&nbsp; “Think about it.&nbsp; About the walkover.&nbsp; About my hips. About my voice and being short.&nbsp; You can do this.&nbsp; Be.&nbsp; Me.”<br><br>“I...” Isi glanced over at the bathroom. “Wait.” She bounced up off of the bed and over to the other room, killed the light, and walked more carefully back to the bed. Finding the foot with her hand before climbing back up onto the bed itself. “Okay.” She held up her hand again.<br><br>“Come here,” Helen said and scooted with Isolde to the edge of the bed.&nbsp; “Sit on the edge.&nbsp; Put your feet down.”&nbsp; She pressed into Isolde’s back and moved her legs so Isolde sat between them, bare skin pressing on bare skin.&nbsp; “You okay?<br><br>“Yes.” Isi was breathless. Helen was right there, “I... I don’t know how to do this. But I can try.” She ran her hands up Helen’s legs, her heart was going like a triphammer. Her breathing was ragged. “Your skin is so smooth.”<br><br>“Thank you.”&nbsp; Her hands found Isolde’s and lightly encircled the wrists.&nbsp; She left them in contact with her thighs, even moved them a little bit.&nbsp; “I like it when you say stuff like that, Isolde.&nbsp; Now, um, just think&nbsp; about being me.&nbsp; Think if your skin felt like mine.&nbsp; Your hands were my size.”<br><br>“Hard to concentrate.” Isi admitted, “You are right there, and warm and soft and cute and kissable.”<br><br>“I know,” Helen said.&nbsp; “I almost forgot what we were doing.&nbsp; But come on, Isolde.&nbsp; You’re so much smarter than me, you can do this.&nbsp; Figure it out.&nbsp; Just...feel being me again.”<br><br>Isi was hyper aware of Helen’s breathing, her touch, her warmth, her voice, it was making her own body do backflips. “I should be facing the other way.” She managed after a few moments, “No, then I would just just be kissing you again.”<br><br>Shutting her eyes tight she tried very hard, very hard indeed, to picture in her mind what the swing of those hips felt like, how it was to have those smaller hands, the heft of the breasts.<br><br>It was very slow this time, things were almost glacial and it was hard to tell if it was actually happening at first or if she was imagining it, but Isi did start to shrink down, to become smaller. To become Helen.<br><br>This was the first time she’d seen it, felt it.&nbsp; It was like Isi was melting, only not, and Helen was more than a little squicked out by it.&nbsp; It was a movie special effect come to life, but it was still just Isolde.&nbsp; So it was okay.&nbsp; It was okay.<br><br>She waited until the change, the transformation, was complete, then leaned forward and hugged herself to herself.&nbsp; “You did it!&nbsp; You’re so good, Isolde!&nbsp; So clever!<br><br>Isi opened her eyes slowly, gasped as she felt Helen hugging her, breasts on her back. Legs closer to her, hot body on hot body. “Mmmmm.” She glanced down at herself, “I have your breasts again.” It was Helens voice, “That took way longer than it happens by itself.”<br><br>“But you were able to control it,” Helen said.&nbsp; “Not let it control you, like when your brother was coming down here.&nbsp; Oh my gosh, I thought we were so busted.”&nbsp; She laughed then urged Isolde, herself, to turn around.&nbsp; Helen’s hand came up and caressed that face she saw all the time in the mirror.&nbsp; Explored it with her thumb then leaned forward and kissed Isolde slowly, gently, parting her own lips.<br><br>Shivering at the touch Isi returned the kiss hungrily. She had turned around and found herself the same height as Helen, given the other girl a slightly unsure and lopsided smile before gasping and closing her eyes again as her face was explored. Then lips found hers, she melted a little, no, a lot, inside, the throbbing she had been feeling running up to fever pitch, she scooted closer<br>pressing herself harder up against Helen. Hands moving to hold her, one slipping around the gymnast's waist the other up behind her head. “Mmmn.” Isi’s tongue slipped out to run along Helen’s lower lip, legs pulling her closer still, heels pressing against Helen’s backside for leverage.<br><br>“Isolde,” she murmured, lips sliding along lips and then her tongue slinking out to touch the other girl’s.&nbsp; Helen sighed happily, feeling beautiful for once, feeling so desired by Isolde.&nbsp; It was the most wonderful feeling ever, better even than the ache growing in her breasts.&nbsp; She knew exactly what Isolde must be feeling and decided to use that knowledge.&nbsp; With the intimate experience gained from late night explorations in her own bed, Helen slipped her hand up to cup a breast that was so familiar, but still brought a tingle between her legs.&nbsp; A thumb brushed firmly across Isolde’s nipple, then again, then a third time that turned into a slow, circling touch that she knew would drive herself crazy.<br><br>“Oh...” Isi gasped around the kiss, lost it, head falling to Helen’s shoulder, shivering again, deeply, powerfully, “Fuck.” She was gasping for breath, chest heaving. “Oh.” Her mind was a mass of strange signals and it was all quite overwhelming, she couldn’t think straight, couldn’t concentrate. And she loved it. Needed it. Wanted it. Every moment for the rest of her life should be like this.<br><br>“I know.&nbsp; Shh, just feel it,” she urged and then lowered her head and for the first time, placed her tongue on another girl’s nipple.&nbsp; It was harder than she thought, and softer too, and it felt so perfect.&nbsp; Helen lapped like a kitten at a saucer, tongue hot and wet and so gentle.&nbsp; She pulled Isolde to her and then began to suckle.<br><br>Another gasp, more shivers, the hand on the back of Helen’s head was joined by its opposite, holding her to Isi’s breast. “Oh... God...” The sensation was incredible, unexpected and wonderful. She wasn’t ever able to do this to herself like some girls she had seen in pictures and video online and had wondered, fantasized, about it for a number of years. The reality did not disappoint. Though Isi herself wasn’t really able to fully process all this. Overload had her in its grasp. Helen could do whatever she wanted at this point, Isi wasn’t about, or likely able, to protest.<br><br>“Does that feel good?” Helen asked then giggled.&nbsp; “I know it does.&nbsp; I know exactly what makes me feel good, and now you.&nbsp; It’s so not fair,” she said and pressed Isolde’s tummy with the side of her knee.&nbsp; “Lay back,” she said and was soon looking down at her own face, eyes slightly out of focus and hair strewn all about.&nbsp; Helen took Isolde’s hand, kissed it, then without ever looking away from blue eyes, slid it slowly down Isolde’s stomach and rested it just on top of Isolde’s cleft.&nbsp; “Touch it,” she said quietly.&nbsp; “Touch it like you want to touch me.&nbsp; It’s okay.&nbsp; It’s okay,” she repeated.<br><br>Fingers. Fingers on her lips. Another deep shudder. It felt a little different down there, but, similar enough to be familiar. “Wet.” Isi managed to gasp. She was. She hadn’t even parted her lips yet, only just rested her hand on them, which felt glorious, but she was already slick. A finger bunched up, running up and down along the labia it was resting on. Teasing herself.<br><br>“Push it in,” Helen said and put her hand atop Isolde’s with light pressure.&nbsp; “Push it in you, in me, then taste it like you wanted to.&nbsp; Please.&nbsp; I...&nbsp; I want it to be me, but I can’t.&nbsp; But this is the same thing.”<br><br>Isi nodded just a little, used her fingers to spread her lips and a third to explore. Wet, so wet. She ran that finger down, seeking the source, finding it, running the tip of it around the ring of the entrance to her core sent her into little spasms. Gasps leaking from her. The finger slid in, causing a larger spasm, a loud gasp. “Oh... Never. This. Good. By. Myself.”<br><br>Helen slid to the side so she could cradle Isolde.&nbsp; Her eyes looked down the plane of her own body and its twin beside it.&nbsp; It’s lovely, heaving, trembling twin.&nbsp; “You’re so beautiful.&nbsp; I’m so beautiful.&nbsp; Go on.&nbsp; It’s what you want, Isolde.&nbsp; Make me, make you, feel good.”&nbsp; She kissed the other girl’s lips then cradled her head.<br><br>Another finger slipped gently into Isolde, both sinking in deeper. Her walls clutching at them with each shiver, each little judder, caused by the sensation. “Oh, god.” The other hand slid down and settled at the top of the folds, fingers gently, carefully seeking that throbbing needful nub. “Oh!” A little cry of surprise, there, overwhelming, not so hard, not so direct, too turned on for that. More gentle, more careful. “Helen... I...” Another shudder, Isi’s fingers moving slowly, teasingly still, playing, exploring, learning. “Oh...” It was building, so fast, Helen being there, watching her, it was so deeply sexy, so amazingly hot, she was going to cum very hard. Very soon.<br><br>“Yes,” Helen said and leaned over to kiss Isolde just below the ear, in that spot she knew so well from Isolde finding it the other day.&nbsp; Her tongue flicked hard on skin, tasting sweat and girl and passion, and she waited for Isolde to slide over the edge.&nbsp; Would she see the black, the darkness, like Helen?&nbsp; Or something else?&nbsp; Helen pushed her own legs together, squeezing her thighs hard, to control her own feelings.<br><br>“Mmmmn!” There it was, the edge, approaching hard and fast, too fast to slow down and hug it, hold it for as long as she could before plunging over. After all there was nothing quite so sweet as orgasm, yet the promise of one so close was almost as good and you could have it for longer if you were careful. This was too much, too fast, too sexy, too overwhelming, too..<br><br>Isi came. Gasping, walls milking at her fingers, mouth hanging open, chest heaving, hips bucking, body juddering, eyes open wide. The shakes and convulsions took her and she shivered and shook in Helen’s arms for a while, unable to move voluntarily or talk, just jerking and jumping from the power of the almighty sensations coursing through her.<br><br>“Oh my gosh, you’re so pretty when that happens.&nbsp; Is that what I look like?&nbsp; Oh, Isolde.&nbsp; You should have seen it,” Helen whispered then kissed her friend on the lips.&nbsp; “It was just so pretty.&nbsp; Did you see the dark?&nbsp; I always do.&nbsp; The dark that I think is in me.&nbsp; Or, at least around me.&nbsp; Did you see it?&nbsp; Did it push at you?”&nbsp; Her hand gently took Isolde’s from between her legs and brought it up towards her face.<br><br>Still shaking now and again Isi managed to shake her head a little, “No. No dark. Just sensation and all this millions of voices.” She nuzzled her head into Helen’s shoulder a little, still gasping for breath, “You’re right. I should see it. Just give me a minute. Then you can show me.” She smiled, remembered her hand, helped Helen bring it up to her mouth and without any hesitation at all sucked on her fingers. “Mmmmmm.” There was a lot about the gourmand in that collection of m’s Isi was clearly a fan.<br><br>Helen watched, expression alternating between amazement and faint discomfort.&nbsp; “Oh my gosh, that’s so...ahh,” she said and buried her head in Isolde’s shoulder so she didn’t have to watch.&nbsp; “Stop making that noise!” she demanded then laughed nervously.&nbsp; Did she really like it?&nbsp; “Um...is it okay?&nbsp; Do I taste okay?”&nbsp; She looked up.<br><br>“Mmmm.” Isi nodded emphatically, shivering again, she pulled the fingers from her mouth and took a sniff of them. “No, wait, not okay. Marvelous.” A big cheesy grin.<br><br>“No you didn’t!” Helen said and playfully shoved Isolde.&nbsp; “You’re so awful!&nbsp; Ugh!&nbsp; I can’t believe you just did that.”&nbsp; She sighed then laid her head down again.&nbsp; “Are you okay?&nbsp; Are we okay?&nbsp; I’m okay.”<br><br>“Im warm and fuzzy and gooey and lovely.” Isi confided, “I shouldn’t have done that? Wait... What shouldn’t I have done?” She didn’t move, didn’t sound particularly worried about whatever it was she shouldn’t have been doing.<br><br>“Smelled it,” Helen said faintly.&nbsp; “You’re so impossible,” but she was smiling through the muffled words.&nbsp; “Go wash your hands. Go wash my hands,” she said and pushed Isolde towards the edge of the bed.<br><br>“Oh no, its a great smell. I love that smell. I told you that already.” Isi wasn’t moving, just laying there, shivering still now and again. “Besides, you owes me a show.” This was delivered playfully, not accusingly.<br><br>“You wish,” Helen said.&nbsp; “No way.&nbsp; I’d be so embarrassed.&nbsp; Maybe...&nbsp; Maybe one day, in the dark, I could do that if you were, like, sitting on the bed too.&nbsp; Maybe.”<br><br>“I could do it for you...” Isi offered quietly.<br><br>Silence.&nbsp; Heavy silence.&nbsp; “I’m not ready for that, Isolde.&nbsp; I want to.&nbsp; I want to because you want to.&nbsp; But, it’s all my mom’s fault.&nbsp; She thinks it’s wrong.&nbsp; She came in one time when I was smaller and caught me and it was not fun.&nbsp; It’s just, it bugs me.&nbsp; But I will, one day.&nbsp; I mean, I love kissing you.&nbsp; And I licked you, the nipples?”<br><br>“No. I’m sorry.” Isi took to gnawing on her lower lip, “I shouldn’t push you. You at all. Thats... Really fucked up actually. I’m a bad person.” There was a whole host of mixed emotion on Isi’s face and in her her voice.<br><br>“Stop it right now, Isolde Black,” Helen said.&nbsp; “You’re not blaming yourself for me or my mother.&nbsp; It’s just how I am.&nbsp; And I said I will.&nbsp; One day.&nbsp; I will,” she said softer and cradled Isolde’s head in between both of her hands.&nbsp; “And it will be you.&nbsp; I don’t want anyone else to do it but you.”<br><br>“Sorry. Just... Caught up in the moment and you and... I don’t want to be all boy about it? Trying to force things? That’s just crap.” Isolde sighed, “I don’t want that. Not for you. I want it to be right for you.”<br><br>“It will be.&nbsp; Like a Taylor Swift video.&nbsp; I know it will be.&nbsp; And I will need you to push me, a little, because otherwise I don’t perform.&nbsp; Coach does it in gym, you do it...&nbsp; nicer.&nbsp; Prettier.&nbsp; For me and for you.&nbsp; Okay?”&nbsp; She started to kiss Isolde then remembered the hand.&nbsp; “Brush your teeth too!”<br><br>“Its really good though.” Isi pointed out, “You should try it.” A slight smile crept into things.<br><br>“I’ll stick with chocolate for now.”<br><br>This set the English girl to giggling, “You are so missing out. Better than chocolate.”<br><br>“Look, changing shapes and moving the dark are one thing, but let’s not get crazy...”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>01-02-2013, 04:26:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7645556#msg7645556">Quote from: Devil's Advocate on 31-01-2013, 15:53:26</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Isabella- September 4th, fourth period lunch <br><br>Greg took in the information and then blinked a few times.&nbsp; "Unless I already know what?"&nbsp; <em>Don't look at her breasts.&nbsp; Don't look at her breasts. </em><br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>"When and where you'd like to study." She wasn't sure why he acted so awkward around her. She wondered if this is just how he is all the time of if its just because she was a girl. "Unless you don't want to tutor me, which I would totally understand." She said, sounding slightly worried. She was afraid she had scared him off, and she really needed to pass her math class. She continued to look him over, her eyes wandering around the awkward but so far nice person in front of her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>01-02-2013, 04:44:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isabella- September 4th, fourth period lunch <br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7649665#msg7649665">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 01-02-2013, 04:26:06</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"When and where you'd like to study." She wasn't sure why he acted so awkward around her. She wondered if this is just how he is all the time of if its just because she was a girl. "Unless you don't want to tutor me, which I would totally understand." She said, sounding slightly worried. She was afraid she had scared him off, and she really needed to pass her math class. She continued to look him over, her eyes wandering around the awkward but so far nice person in front of her.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>"Oh!"&nbsp; Greg exclaimed, exhaling largely.&nbsp; "Of course I want to tutor you.&nbsp; And why would you understand if I wouldn't?&nbsp; I mean, why would you think that I wouldn't?"&nbsp; <em>Have I freaked her out?&nbsp; Has she reconsidered?&nbsp; Um, does she think I don't want her?</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>01-02-2013, 05:32:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I just meant if you didn't want to I'd understand." She said with a soft smile, let out a small giggle. "So when and where would you like to tutor me, since I'm new here I have ALOT of free time so. Just about any time will work for me." She brushed her hair behind her least ear as she looked around, taking in all the different groups of people at the school. She was glad she had managed to get a table as far away from the main crowds as possible, but still the noise and all the people made her feel uncomfortable.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>08-02-2013, 04:27:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isabella- September 4th, fourth period lunch<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7650156#msg7650156">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 01-02-2013, 05:32:32</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I just meant if you didn't want to I'd understand." She said with a soft smile, let out a small giggle. "So when and where would you like to tutor me, since I'm new here I have ALOT of free time so. Just about any time will work for me." She brushed her hair behind her least ear as she looked around, taking in all the different groups of people at the school. She was glad she had managed to get a table as far away from the main crowds as possible, but still the noise and all the people made her feel uncomfortable.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>"Um, when?&nbsp; Where?" Greg repeated, starting to sweat a bit.&nbsp; "A lot of free time?&nbsp; Ummmm.....&nbsp; Uh...."&nbsp; He looked back over at Josh and Steven who, upon meeting his gaze gave a show of pushing their hands at him in an encouraging fashion.&nbsp; "Um, well, um, how often do you need it?"&nbsp; Greg blushed furiously at the unintended innuendo.&nbsp; "I mean, how often do you want it?"&nbsp; Blushing harder, Greg put his head down face first on the table.&nbsp; A barely audible, "Just shoot me" could be heard from his lips as he tried to calm himself.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>08-02-2013, 15:23:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>isabella- fourth lunch with Greg</strong><br><br>"Yeah, I have a lot of free time. My dad works crazy hours, and since I'm new here I don't really have anything to do." She just smiled when she heard the two innuendos, she could tell by his nervousness that they were unintentional. "We'll text me after school, since I know you have my number." She said with a grin as she lightly tapped his pocket. "After you text me, I'll just text you my address. Would it be okay if you tutored me from four to six?" She asked curiously, she was trying to comfort him since he seemed a little stressed by her. His dorkiness was kind of cute, "if you want you can invite your two friends over too, if that would make you more comfortable." She said smiling and jesturing towards the two nerdier kids whose table Greg came from.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>09-02-2013, 13:52:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Chad, Joe, Josh and Tank)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>James had to try to keep his eyes from narrowing. She was the girl that had been with Helen in history class, he remembered. And they seemed a lot more comfortable close to each other than classmates usually were, that close and... did they just hold hands? James failed, and narrowed his eyes, squinting as if to see what was going on. But wait... were they friends, or something, or were they... No! He mentally kicked himself in the shin. Hell, he even winced a bit, since it hurt. He hated himself for even going there. Helen was his friend, close friend, his only female friend that didn't seem to be staring at his arms and chest all the time, and one that he could talk to naturally, without having to worry about any tension. With girls sometimes, he found himself stumbling over words to get a sentence done. But not with her. Maybe it was the fact that she didn't stare at his overdeveloped body. While he liked how his muscles stood out like adult's (on steroids, he refused to admit), he disliked people staring. It was like they could see through him, and into his darker, hidden secret.<br><br>"Um..." He looked up when Isi asked a question," The Systema I don't know about. I hear there is a Krav Maga school somewhere in the city. I stick to BJJ, Muay-Thai, and Capoeira, myself. Helen knows," He said, uncomfortable at how she didn't seem to be talking much, just looking at Isolde. He stepped forward and extended his hand to the Brit girl," The name's James, by the way."<br><br>He blushed when he realized that Helen had asked a question," Well, you...uh..." He was going to sound like a protective big brother in a minute, he knew," I... well, you didn't show up for breakfast. That had me worried, and I saw you with her, and... uh..." Dammit, there it was again. He forced his jittering tongue to work right," I was just wondering if you were alright, and if you were gonna show," He shook his head, and lowered it, expecting to get a lecture on how the two girls could handle themselves fine, thank you very much.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>09-02-2013, 13:58:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Josh and The Ghost of Christmas Future)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>"I am so glad you came to check on me, James.&nbsp; I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come in here and run them off.&nbsp; Thank you so much!"&nbsp; Again she crossed to her friend and hugged him.&nbsp; He was so sweet, so nice.&nbsp; Not like the other guys who were always trying to cake or throw the neg when you didn't respond.&nbsp; She let go and went back to Isolde though and again almost held her hand.<br><br>"What are you two talking about?&nbsp; It sounds like a foreign language.&nbsp; Mav Kraglaw?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>09-02-2013, 15:41:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Chad, Joe, Josh and Tank)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>His eyes didn't narrow this time, and he smiled when Helen hugged him, and returned to Isi. Well, that explained quite a bit, and he saw the small glances that the two girls tossed at each other, and it made him feel warm inside. The fact that her non-attraction to him had been explained in a way that did not end with him being ugly or something, and (he would never tell her this, of course) The two looked rather cute together. Of course, he might be seeing too much into a simple friendship, but he liked Helen tons, even loving her as a friend or maybe even as a little sister, and seeing her like this, that awkward happiness that she seemed to exude when she was with the Brit girl made him smile inside.<br><br>"Krav Maga," James pronounced it correctly, giving Helen an admonishing look. One simply never mispronounced the name of a martial art," A martial art, developed by the Israeli army, I think..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>09-02-2013, 18:16:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Josh and The Ghost of Jacob Marley)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>Isi smiled at hearing there was a school locally she could take Krav Maga again. She shook James' hand warmly offering him a smile, "Thanks. I didn't want to wind up expelled ag..." She was talking too much. She wasn't going to tell people about that. At all. Stupid. Then Helen was by her side again and Isi was smiling broadly and feeling light and happy again in moments. How did that work? Well, it was great however.<br><br>"Yeah, when Israel was first set up they needed something effective, easy, modern and quick to teach the new recruits because they were surrounded by enemies. So they came up with Krav Maga. Its based mostly on just twisting slightly your natural reactions to certain things and easy quick movements. Along with, ah, aggression. I was learning it on Nellis for a while. One of the Sergeants there held a class every night for the kids on the base."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>09-02-2013, 18:25:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isabella- September 4th, fourth period lunch<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7691477#msg7691477">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 08-02-2013, 15:23:37</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><strong>isabella- fourth lunch with Greg</strong><br><br>"Yeah, I have a lot of free time. My dad works crazy hours, and since I'm new here I don't really have anything to do." She just smiled when she heard the two innuendos, she could tell by his nervousness that they were unintentional. "We'll text me after school, since I know you have my number." She said with a grin as she lightly tapped his pocket. "After you text me, I'll just text you my address. Would it be okay if you tutored me from four to six?" She asked curiously, she was trying to comfort him since he seemed a little stressed by her. His dorkiness was kind of cute, "if you want you can invite your two friends over too, if that would make you more comfortable." She said smiling and jesturing towards the two nerdier kids whose table Greg came from.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br><em>Oh, God!&nbsp; I'm really blowing it!&nbsp; She wants me over and has probably figured out that I'm a virgin.&nbsp; And now, she is offering me the "just friends" group as a way out.</em>&nbsp; Greg gathered his courage together and said, "No, no. That's not necessary.&nbsp; Um, four to sex, er, six.&nbsp; Sure.&nbsp; I'll, um, yeah, text you after school.&nbsp; So, um, what do you like to do?"&nbsp; <em>Oh, God, Greg!&nbsp; She's so going to think you're a perv!</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>09-02-2013, 18:29:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				(James, Isi, Helen, Josh and The Ghost of Jacob Marley)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym<br><br>Josh piped up, "Um, I thought that school closed due to the recession.&nbsp; More like depression, if you ask me.&nbsp; You know, the only way that things have gotten 'better' around here is that people have moved away from the state to find work."&nbsp; Looking at the friends, he said, "Sorry.&nbsp; I shouldn't have piped up.&nbsp; I probably should get going."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>10-02-2013, 02:42:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Chloe and James after school.<br>Apple and Bane JP</strong><br><br>The end of school was always a bit of a nightmare. Every single student swarming in the same direction. Chloe didn’t have time to change out of her gym gear, she wanted to make it to Mrs. Woolards class before she left so she could get her phone back. She hopped around and dodged her way through the crowd dressed in her gym shorts and a fitted singlet. Her long dark hair was tied up in a ponytail and her bag was slung carelessly across her shoulder and whacked into people as she pushed her way past them.<br><br>Bursting into the classroom, her face still flushed from practice and the run over she marched up to the desk and out stretched her hand. She didn’t even ask she just demanded with her presence and her obvious self-sense of entitlement. The teacher did not even make eye contact she kept her eyes on the tests she was marking and passed the phone over but did not let it go. Chloe tried to snatch it but the teacher held it firmly. “Thank you” Chloe said her face in obvious disgust at the words but they did the trick and the teacher let go.<br><br>Chloe turned her beloved device on and found a clear spot in the sun at the front of the school and sat down to wait for her mum to pick her up. She stretched her legs out into the sunshine and waited for her phone to load. The anticipation was about to kill her, she needed to know if James had text.&nbsp; She had seen him in world history, but the presence of her friends meant that she had to sit with them instead of him. She had smiled and waved and couldn’t help but look over at him throughout the entire class, Her cheeks blushing every time their eyes met. God she had forgotten how long phones took to start up, this is why she never turned it off!<br><br>He smiled with the welcome sound of the bell pealing loud enough to be heard all over the school, and he stood up from the OLE class. It was sickeningly easy because his mother, conscientiously minded angel that she was, decided when James was 5 that she would only speak with him in her native language. Of course, the little guy had watched her speaking perfect, if accented English with his father, and he was jealous. But now he was thankful for her efforts. She was a very astute woman, smart, and with only her children’s best interests at heart. He smiled, stretching, having to step away from his chair to do so, flexing his entire body as he sighed softly. Damn. Nothing better than that sweet, sweet bell ringing. <br><br>He stepped out of the classroom, wincing at the sudden sound of 3000 kids feeling the same as he, but being far more boisterous about it. His brow furrowed. He looked around. He had his pack, his gear was in there too. Phone was in his pocket...<br><br>Aaaaah... phone. He looked at his hand, seeing the number written there. It hadn’t smudged. What kind of pen had she used? No matter. He felt his breath flutter a bit at thinking about her. He hadn’t been expecting history class to be so interesting. Not because of the French Revolution that they Had been studying in depth there. He knew Chloe wouldn’t have sat with him during class. Hell, they had spoken in detention, hardly the finest way to get to meeting each other. He just hadn’t expected her to be looking at him when his eyes trailed accidentally to where she was seated. Small smiles and waves sent his way had nearly sent him into heart arrest, or at least that was what it felt like, with his heart beating like a drum at a rock concert. He almost forgot to breath for a few times. To his own credit, he didn’t blush, at least not noticeably, and he waved and smiled back. He typed in her number and pressed ‘text’. His finger worked quickly, used the cramped keyboard of the phone.<br><br>“Hey. Wanna talk?”<br><br>Chloe watched as her phone finally loaded up. A tonne of messages were waiting for her, she sat up straight with excitement flicking her way through them to see if any of them were from James. There was one. Her stomach erupted into butterflies. Did she want to talk? Did rain fall from the sky? Of course she wanted to talk! She smiled that idiot smile he always seemed to give her as she tapped out her reply.<br><br>“Sure thing! Where are you?”<br><br>James almost jumped when the phone buzzed. Almost, mind. She had answered fast. Hadn’t she said that her phone had been taken? His hand dug into the pants of his jeans and pulled the phone out. One new message. He opened and it and, damn, if it wasn’t her. He grinned, and pressed the button that would end with him sending a return. He&nbsp; typed quicker than before. <br><br>“Out here in the hall. Where b u?”<br><br>Chloe tapped out her reply quickly. She rarely went half an hour without sending a text she was a pro at getting them out fast and without error. <br><br>“Front of the school by the car park waiting for my mum she is 15 mins away. You can catch me if you run”&nbsp; <br><br>James caught the message. If he ran? She wanted him to run across the school? Ah well. He wouldn’t run. But he would hurry. He moved through the crowds of kids, taking to the right of the hall, since all of the students were gathered on the left side, where all of the lockers were, putting their stuffs away, and talking to friends about how dorky one prof looked, and how so-and-so’s shirt showed too much of her boobs. James never paid them any heed anyway. He was halfway there in a minute, and he typed out a message for her:<br><br>“Almost there...”<br><br>He slid outside the doors, into the parking lot, and saw her there waiting. He slipped in behind her, lightly, agilely, moved in beside her,” Hey there.”<br><br>With his impending arrival Chloe got to her feet and suddenly noticed she still had not changed from&nbsp; cheer practice. She tugged the hair tie from her hair and flipped her head upside down, fluffing out any kinks and then quickly styled it with her fingers. Her gym gear would just have to do she did not have time to change. She smiled at his text and was about to tap out a reply when he came up beside her making her jump slightly.<br><br>“Hey” She smiled “That was quick.” She drank him in, eyes wandering over his physique, lingering on her favorite bits. Then she blushed slightly and looked down at her shoes. “How was your day?” She asked bringing her gaze back up to meet his. <br><br>He watched her reaction at his arrival, smiling as he moved over to closer to her. Not too close. He still wasn’t sure just what the girl thought of him, and he didn’t want to impose himself on her. He looked up and smiled, bringing up the right half of his lips in a charming half-smile. He didn’t know that it was charming, of course, but it was anyway. Gave him that sort of youngish rogue, and yet innocent look. He never practiced it. It just came naturally, he supposed.<br><br>“I am a rather fast on my feet,,” He said, chuckling,” My day was good, thanks for askin’. How was yours?” Awkward, dumb ass. Awkward. You couldn’t come up with something better than that? He thought to himself.<br><br>Chloe couldn’t wipe the smile off her face, he could be talking about stomping on kittens and she would still wear the smile. “Been lonely without my phone, But generally a good first day” she nodded and looked over her shoulder to make sure her mum or worse yet Jessica wasn’t around. “Did you make it through the day without any more fights?” She teased.<br><br>He smiled at her mention of missing her phone, knowing that he would feel the same way if he was parted from his own,” Been there,” He said with a chuckle. He looked up when she asked if he had been in any more fights. He had missed the joking tone in her question, and he didn’t like being made fun of like that. But when he saw her eyes, he saw that she was playing around, and he smiled, and even laughed a bit,” I barely got by,” He said, a mock-serious expression on his face,” But I powered through. I am very proud of myself,” He smiled then, not able to keep up the seriousness in his face.<br><br>“So... uh...” He looked around,” Does your mom have to pick you up now? We could walk home, I think? I need to pass by the track for a bit...”<br><br>Before he even got the last word of his question out Chloe had her phone out and was texting her mother. She knew she would be pissed about having to turn around in the after school traffic but it was worth it. I mean the hot guy was offering to walk her home, that was just stupid to refuse. “No, I mean yes, I mean yes please” Chloe nodded blushing at her fumble of words “That would be nice” Her house was a good fourty minutes walk away but she decided she wouldn’t tell him that much until they were over half way there. “What do you do at the track?” She asked.<br><br>Well, he was, again, pleasantly surprised to find that she was eager enough to want to walk home with him. It seemed like a good plan. They would get to talking, and away from her bothersome friends that seemed to have decreed, for some reason, that he was not cool enough to be dating material for her or the other cheerleaders. He shook his head. Sometimes, high school just sucked. Sucked, and not in the nice way either. He shoved that thought away. For now, he was walking home with Chloe, and all seemed awesome for him at the moment. <br><br>“Well, it is a racing track... I kinda hold Parkour as a hobby, and sometimes my friends and I head over there to practice. It’s not a track, really. Just an abandoned building site. A bit run down, but perfect for our purposes,” He decided that now was probably not a good time to tell her that that was where he had injured his ankle, and maybe she hadn’t even noticed that it had been injured at all. <br><br>Chloe nodded even though she had no idea what parkour was but pulled her bag up on her shoulder and followed his lead anyways. “Umm….” She felt stupid asking “I don’t actually know what parkour is…” She said rather quietly “Is it some kind of sport?” She guessed it had to be something physical you didn’t get a rocking body like James had unless you were physical a lot. <br><br>Okay. He decided to stop expecting of her, and he would stop being pleasantly surprised. Well, maybe being pleasantly surprised was a good thing, so he smiled. He hadn’t thought that she would be interested in his hobby at all,” Well, it was invented by the French, as the name suggests, and basically, it is the art of getting around fast,” he smiled,” It involves a lot of jumping, climbing, and stuff like that... if you’’re interested, I could show you a couple moves. I am a bit rusty, haven’t practiced for a few weeks, so... yeah,” He finished and looked over to her,” What are your hobbies? Other than cheer leading, I guess...”<br><br>&nbsp;“So you weren’t lying when you said you were quick on your feet” she giggled and nodded when he offered to show her some moves “If you think I could, I am not as strong as you, obviously” She said poking at her tiny bicep “But I do keep fit for squad” She walked along beside him, her eye caught his hand swinging by his side and she wanted nothing more then for him to hold her own. “Hobbies?” She said looking back up at him as they walked blushing a little in case he noticed her staring “Nothing” she said with a shake of her head “The squad takes up the majority of my time.” <br><br>James nodded, absently flexing his own arm when she poked at hers. It was a reflex. Not something that he did intentionally. He didn’t even notice that he did it,” Of course I meant it,” He chuckled softly,” I mean what I say,” He nodded sagely. He couldn’t believe it when she said that she had no hobbies,” What do you do for fun then?”<br><br>“The squad is fun” She said with a very honest nod “All my friends are on the team, what more could I want?” She asked and as she said it she blushed and looked away. A boyfriend perhaps? “I worked real hard to get my place, I know every one thinks we are all varnished nails, perfume and high pitch voices but we put in a lot of time and effort. We are athletes too you know.”<br><br>He nodded. Of course she was an athlete. He didn’t tend to go to the games, but sometimes he did, when friends coerced him into doing so, and he had seen some of the acrobatics that these girls could pull off. He looked around and saw nothing to distract her from what she was saying, so he simply gave it to her straight,” Of course you are. I have seen the stuff that you girls do and it is damn impressive,” He flexed his arm again,” But not quite in the league of what me and my friends do,” Definitely not me, he finished the sentence in his mind,” Completely different. A couple of my friends should be there now. They can give off a better show and I can, I think. Not for long, though, until I get back my rhythm.”<br><br>Chloe smiled watched him intently as he spoke. He was obviously very proud of his parkour, what ever it is. Chloe almost tripped over her own tongue as she noticed the muscle in his arm flex. What she wouldn’t give to grab that arm, or better yet have it grab her. “What do you mean when you get your rhythm back?” She questioned “You look fit to me” She said trying to fight off the small blush on her cheeks<br><br>He smiled,” I am always fit. It’s not a matter of fitness, though,” He could have gone on and on and on about how good parkour was, but he didn’t want to bore her about it,” Well, reflexes have been dulled with lack of practice, certain muscles have gone a little soft for the same reason,” He frowned suddenly. ‘Soft muscles’ could easily be misinterpreted,” I mean... you know...” He scowled, words starting to be formed with more difficulty.<br><br>Chloe grinned “No its okay, I understand” She said trying to put the hot James out of his misery. “Will your friends mind if I am there?” She asked and then bit her tongue. She should probably ask if they wouldn’t mind not telling Jessica or Ashley she was there but she didn’t want to insult him.<br><br>James shook his head thoughtfully,” No, not really... I think they will actually enjoy the fact that a girl is watching them,” He caught her worried look,” Oh, and don’t worry... none of them study around our school, so none of them are gonna tell your friends,” He meant it in the best way possible, but he felt wrong saying it. Like he was debasing himself. <br><br>Chloe felt really bad now “Its not that I am shamed…its just…” She sighed and pulled her hair back off her face “Girls can be bitches you know? Especially some of the ones I associate with,” She looked to James to make sure he wasn’t insulted. She really did like him, or at least what she had seen so far and she was excited to learn about this parkour thing he liked so much. She reached out and touched his wrist lightly with her fingers, brushing them down his palm and snuggling her hand into his. Her stomach clenched and her nerves tingled. She hoped the gesture was enough to show what she felt and that he wouldn’t reject her. <br><br>She reached out to touch his hand and he smiled. He could have been angry. He could have been pissed off that she would be ashamed to be seen with him. But he knew precisely what she was talking about, since he had talked with Helen about it a few times. The girls on the cheerleading team could be bitches, in the bad sense of the word, and, even though, physically, he classified as something that they might be interested in, he hung out with the wrong people, namely, his friend Helen. He didn’t feel like she was a dead weight in his climbing to the top of the social ladder in school. He felt more like she was saving him from getting involved with that crowd. He really wouldn’t have fit in with them anyway. Well, until now. Until he was talking to one of them, and saw that she was... well, beyond nice. But, since she seemed more the exception of the rule, he was still thankful to Helen for that. He took her small hand in his larger one, and gave it a gentle squeeze,” I know. Don’t worry about it.”<br><br>Chloe sighed linking her fingers with his. It was such a simple act but it made her legs weak and her heart almost arrest in her chest. The world seemed a little brighter and her senses more alert due to the little burst of adrenaline his touch gave her. And in that moment she wanted to open up and tell him all her deepest darkest secrets. But she bit her tongue and just enjoyed his contact and wore the smile he gave her with pride. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>10-02-2013, 09:43:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7696989#msg7696989">Quote from: Devil's Advocate on 09-02-2013, 18:25:18</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Isabella- September 4th, fourth period lunch<br><br><em>Oh, God!&nbsp; I'm really blowing it!&nbsp; She wants me over and has probably figured out that I'm a virgin.&nbsp; And now, she is offering me the "just friends" group as a way out.</em>&nbsp; Greg gathered his courage together and said, "No, no. That's not necessary.&nbsp; Um, four to sex, er, six.&nbsp; Sure.&nbsp; I'll, um, yeah, text you after school.&nbsp; So, um, what do you like to do?"&nbsp; <em>Oh, God, Greg!&nbsp; She's so going to think you're a perv!</em><br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br><strong>Isabella- 4th period lunch, September fourth</strong><br><br>She giggled when he fumbled with a couple of his words. "We'll I really love art, and hanging out with people. I like talking to people, and I like the color fuchsia." She said with a smile, flicking her hair for emphasis. She could tell he was nervous around her. "What about you, what sort of things are you into." She asked smiling, she was now leaning towards him. Her posture seemed very relaxed, and she spoke calmly to him. She continued to look him over, her eyes almost scanning him from head to toe. She hoped he wouldn't be to nervous to tutor her, she was wondering why he was so nervous. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>10-02-2013, 20:31:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7700169#msg7700169">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 10-02-2013, 09:43:46</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><strong>Isabella- 4th period lunch, September fourth</strong><br><br>She giggled when he fumbled with a couple of his words. "We'll I really love art, and hanging out with people. I like talking to people, and I like the color fuchsia." She said with a smile, flicking her hair for emphasis. She could tell he was nervous around her. "What about you, what sort of things are you into." She asked smiling, she was now leaning towards him. Her posture seemed very relaxed, and she spoke calmly to him. She continued to look him over, her eyes almost scanning him from head to toe. She hoped he wouldn't be to nervous to tutor her, she was wondering why he was so nervous.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>"Um, into?&nbsp; Um?" <em>Wow, that was phrased really awkwardly.</em>&nbsp; "Well, I like green.&nbsp; Um, I play role playing games and do other gaming.&nbsp; Um, yeah, I can see you like fuchsia.&nbsp; Um, can you tell me why you color your hair all of those wild colors?&nbsp; I mean, aren't you um, satisfied with your real colors?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>10-02-2013, 23:13:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I'm not really sure why I dye my hair different colors. I just kind if do it on an impulse. Why don't you dye your hair?" She asked back hinting at a point. She looked around, and wondered if anyone else dyed their hair like she does. Where she comes from it wasn't uncommon, but out here apparently it's rare.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>11-02-2013, 22:24:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>(James, Isi, Helen, Josh and The Ghost of Jacob Marley)<br>September 5, 2012 - Before First Period Just inside the gym</strong><br><br>James gave the kid a look. Not a judgmental kind, not even the kind that would make the kid seem to wither and diminish. Just an overview. He was, in every meaning of the word, a squirt. A bully's bread and butter. Afraid of his own shadow, and eager to please. Some Krav Maga training would do him good, to build up his muscles and his self esteem. Once confidence was gained, bullies would avoid him. If it was gained, that is. He shook his head," See you later, Josh," James' eyes followed the kid, kid being less than a year younger than he was himself, and he looked back to Helen and Isi, feeling uncomfortable all of a sudden. He looked down, and cleared his throat," Uh... see you later, Helen?" He supposed that she wanted to be with Isi for now, so he would leave the two of them be, and get some breakfast.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PrettyxPoisonxApple</strong> on <strong>11-02-2013, 22:57:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Chloe was still in a happy lighter than air mood after yesterday and the time she has spent with James. Not even her little sister Mary-anne could alter it, though the little witch did try her best. Sitting at the breakfast bar Chloe was quickly scribbling down some homework she should have done last night when her mother grabbed her attention. “Where is your ring?” She asked and Chloe rubbed her now naked finger with a tinge of sadness “I lost it” She said which was true enough, what she didn’t explain was that it kept magically falling off her damn finger. “That’s a shame” Her mother said slipping the girls lunch boxes inside their bags that sat on the bench. Chloe stared at her naked finger for a moment as she had flash backs from her strange dream. She had been in bed, sleeping or at least trying to sleep. At first she found it odd that she was dreaming about sleeping but then the interesting things started to happen. Her hand slipped through the bed, like she was a ghost or something, and then her arm fell through and her shoulder and her head and before she knew what was happening she was under her bed against the cold wood floor her heart thumping wildly in her chest. <br><br>“Mum?” She asked giving up on her homework and slipping it back into her bag. “Do you believe in ghosts?” She asked. Chloe’s mother gave her that don’t be stupid look. Chloe retreated her cheeks flushing with embarrassment “No, I don’t mean I do, I just….I read a book” She lied “The character was being haunted” She cringed, no one would believe she had just casually read a book. Her mother’s eye brow lifted as she looked skeptically at Chloe. “Doesn’t matter” Chloe muttered zipping her bag shut angrily. “Everything okay?” Her mother asked and Chloe glared at her in that way only teenage girls could do “Like you care” She sassed and stormed off to wait in the car. “That’s better” Her mum said with a smile “Mary-Anne let’s goooo!” She called as Chloe got into the front seat and slammed the door. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>13-02-2013, 05:24:53</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Isabella- 4th period lunch, September fourth<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7702575#msg7702575">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 10-02-2013, 23:13:45</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I'm not really sure why I dye my hair different colors. I just kind if do it on an impulse. Why don't you dye your hair?" She asked back hinting at a point. She looked around, and wondered if anyone else dyed their hair like she does. Where she comes from it wasn't uncommon, but out here apparently it's rare.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Greg sat back, a bit stunned.&nbsp; "I don't know.&nbsp; I guess I never saw a reason to do it.&nbsp; Plus, well, I'm a guy...."&nbsp; Greg knew some guys did that but most were doing drugs or other rebels.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>13-02-2013, 06:02:59</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"I just do it because I like it. Just like you do things you like." She said with a smile. Then the bell rang again, "we'll see you later Greg, tell your friends I said hi." Isabella then got up, threw away her pizza and headed off to class.&nbsp; The rest of the day seemed to drag out, her classes were boring and she was uninterested. All she wanted to do was go home, she would probably take a long bath. When the final bell rang she felt like an invisible weight had been lifted off of her. Isabella walked home taking a few paths that seemed to lack any other students, she liked to be alone. <em>ugh, I need to get a job so I can finish saving up for a car. Hopefully I can find something to eat at home I'm starving.</em> that's when she remembered Greg would eventually coming over. <em>my hair isn't ugly is it, I mean sure it's probably unusual for people here. Whatever I like it.</em> she continued on for a while before getting home. She threw down her backpack, and quickly went upstairs. She took a shower and got dressed in more comfortable clothes. She wore pajama bottoms and a paramore t-shirt, her hair up in a ponytail now.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>28-02-2013, 02:13:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				September 4, 2012&nbsp; Isabella's house&nbsp; Approximately 4pm<br><br>Greg came over to Isabella's house.&nbsp; On his back was a blue backpack containing math books, gaming books and some dice.&nbsp; In his left hand was some carnations of varying colors.&nbsp; <em>If she meant nothing, I could just say this was a gift for a friend.&nbsp; No misunderstandings that way, except maybe mine but no face lost, right?</em>&nbsp; Starting to sweat, Greg nervously knocked on Isabella's door.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>28-02-2013, 02:27:15</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				September 4, 2012 after school<br><br>Chloe was still smiling from ear to ear when she made her way from world science to cheer practice. James was in her class. She could not believe her eyes and found herself looking over at him throughout the entire class, her cheeks blushing every time their eyes met. Though they didn’t speak, it was still enough to throw her thoughts off her studies, her thoughts consumed by him. She wondered if he had text her yet, even though she would not read it until she got her phone back at the end of the day. But the end of the day was only a cheer session away. And cheer practice was her absolute favourite part of the day. She stopped by the gym bathrooms first to change into a pair of shorts and tie her long dark hair into a ponytail before making her way out into the gym to find Susan and the other girls.<br><br>Katie had her workout clothing laid out and she appeared to be in animated conversation with Susan.&nbsp; Jessie was close by and occasionally looked at the girls but said nothing, though she rolled her eyes and looked away frequently. <br><br>Ashley Avery approached the threesome.&nbsp; Upon seeing Chloe, she asked, “So, Chloe, did you hear about the lesbians kissing in the gym?”<br><br>Chloe’s jaw dropped “No! Who was it?” She asked eagerly hoping it was that kid James was friends with. If she was gay then she had nothing to worry about and that was a pleasing thought.<br><br>“Don’t really know.&nbsp; One of them looked more like a boy than a girl from what I am told.&nbsp; The other was pretty, apparently almost pretty enough to be one of us.&nbsp; Can you believe that?”&nbsp; Ashley grinned with a slight look of astonishment.&nbsp; “What a waste of genetics, don’t you think?”<br><br>Chloe nodded in agreement with Ashley and continued with her questioning “Did you see them? Was it sick? I always knew girls who dressed like boys were gay” <br><br>“No, I didn’t see them.&nbsp; Some of the football team did, though.&nbsp; I doubt that they could point them out, though ‘cause I doubt any gay girls would be cheerleading.&nbsp; Softball or track, more likely,” Ashley responded in a mocking tone.<br><br>Chloe nodded “So how has your first day been? Aside from getting your hand on some reputation destroying gossip? Sorry I missed you at lunch.” Chloe shuffled a little uncomfortably next to Ashley. She would not approve of detention, but its not like there was much Chloe could do about it. “Mrs. Woolard is such a fucking bitch” she muttered angrily, but not as upset about the whole thing as she was before meeting James. <br><br>“What’d you do to piss her off?” Ashley asked more than a little curious and completely ignoring the pleasantries.<br><br>“She sat me next to Abby incest.” Chloe said with disgust “So I protested like anyone would! And she took my phone! And gave me a detention! It was completely unfair.” <br><br>Ashley sympathized with Chloe.&nbsp; “That does suck.&nbsp; Was there at least some cute boys to pass the time with?&nbsp; And do you have your phone back now?”<br><br>“Not yet,” she said, trying to keep the I have a secret look off her face. “No boys worth my time, it was detention after all,” she said, then quickly changed the subject. “What are we doing today captain?” She smiled.<br><br>“Whatever coach says,” she said with a shrug.&nbsp; “I bet the cow will make us run laps for a bit.&nbsp; Talk about irony.”&nbsp; She returned back to the subject of boys, “Well, if you find someone that you are interested in, make sure he’s worthy of our crowd.&nbsp; Wouldn’t want to see you fall out, now would we?” she told Chloe, more than asked.&nbsp; “Anyone you got your eyes on?”<br><br>Chloe had to grind her teeth to stop her jaw from dropping open. Did someone tell her about James, not that anything had happened?&nbsp; She had just had a conversation with the guy. He was hot though. “No,” she lied. “Sean from the football team is awfully cute though.” She didn’t know Sean, but he was attractive in the most obvious way - pity he was dumb as a doornail. But, he was a safe option to pick because he had never looked twice at Chloe. <br><br>Ashley agreed readily.&nbsp; “He is.&nbsp; Easy to keep under control, too.&nbsp; I would have thought you would have liked more of a challenge, though?”<br><br>At that moment, another cheerleader, an African American girl who Chloe knew as Chantee Abrams joined the conversation.&nbsp; “If you want to talk about hot boys, what about James, the basketball player?&nbsp; He’s the shit.&nbsp; I think I’ll see if he would like himself a little chocolate for homecoming.”<br><br>Chloe couldn’t help but glare at Chantee as her hands balled up into angry little fists. She didn’t speak instead looking to Ashley to see her reply. No matter her feelings she would model her behaviour after Ashley, she was after all the one calling all the shots. <br><br>Ashley laughed pleasantly at Chantee’s comment and then told Chantee, “Oh, he’d definitely be worth it.&nbsp; I say go for it, Chantee.”&nbsp; She then asked Chloe, “What do you think, Chloe?”<br><br>Chloe winced. “Goodness Chantee I didn’t realise you had such a low opinion of yourself. Did you eat too many sweets over the holiday? Did the cellulite from your ass spread to your thighs? What is wrong with a footballer?” she practically spat. <br><br>“Woah!” Chantee said taken aback.&nbsp; <em> Cat fight on! </em> “Is that a fact?&nbsp; At least I have an ass and some tits that guys would want to take notice of.&nbsp; Did you envy a 2 by 4 when you were growing up?”<br><br>Chantee’s words hurt. Chloe hated her lack of tits. The only bright side being she was a good flyer. Her eyes narrowed and she stepped right into Chantee’s personal space despite being smaller. “They only give you attention because you are cheap and easy. No one actually wants a chubby slut who can hardly squeeze into her cheer uniform!” Chloe was shocked with herself but didn’t let it show on her face.<br><br>Chantee reached out with her arm and grabbed Chloe by the hair.&nbsp; “Let’s see how well you land without someone to catch you, flier.”<br><br>Chloe squealed as Chantee pulled her ponytail. Fear suddenly setting in, she was only a small girl and she didn’t have any experience in physical fighting it was obvious she would lose. And just as quickly as her hair was grabbed up it was suddenly released. And so was the ring on her finger. It hit the floor with a ting. Chloe didn’t need telling twice, the girl must of let go for whatever reason and her ring..she didn’t have time to mourn it or ponder her pesky ghost she needed to escape. “Bitch” Chloe snapped quickly turning on her heel and going to find Susan.&nbsp; <br><br>Chantee growled, “Yeah you are.&nbsp; Can’t wait to see those ugly puppies,” as Chloe broke free.&nbsp; “We’ll see who catches you today.&nbsp; Might just happen to miss when you’re in the air.”<br><br>Susan was not difficult to find as she was talking with Katie. Jessie had been standing next to Katie but not participating in the conversation.&nbsp; All three looked over as the fight began and ended suddenly.&nbsp; Katie looked at Chantee and trying, but failing, to scowl, “Nobody had better purposely be dropping anyone.&nbsp; We’re a team!”<br><br>We’re a team.&nbsp; Those were the first words Helen heard as she walked over to the cheerleaders.&nbsp; They were a team, a team she longed to be part of and knew she never would.&nbsp; It didn’t make it feel any better to know it was impossible and to just let it go.&nbsp; Helen desperately wanted to be accepted by the girls, be cool like them, be part of their lives like she was with her gymnastics team.&nbsp; It was almost the same thing.&nbsp; And, like, the gymnasts worked out way harder than the cheer girls so they should see that and want her.&nbsp; And didn’t Helen tumble better than any of them?&nbsp; That’s why she came, to help them with their tumbling and stunts.&nbsp; Okay, so maybe she wasn’t super dazzlingly pretty like Chloe, but they could, like, put Helen in the back or something.&nbsp; Or just let her do flips and cartwheels from time to time then go back.&nbsp; <br><br>We’re a team. And you’re not on it said the looks as Helen walked up.<br><br>“Coach says your Coach said to work on round offs with you?”&nbsp; Dang it, why did it sound like a question?&nbsp; Helen tried not to look too awkward.&nbsp; She was in her sweatpants and leotard, carrying her sweat top,&nbsp; and hadn’t bathed, trying to discourage Mr. Baker, and she didn’t have on any make-up or anything.&nbsp; Whereas the girls...they looked so so so pretty.<br><br>Katie asked Helen, “Bon Bon did?&nbsp; Really?”&nbsp; Bon Bon referred to the cheerleader’s coach Bonnie Farmer, who appeared to have eaten one too many of those from her alleged cheerleading days.&nbsp; Katie shrugged.&nbsp; “OK.&nbsp; I guess we will.&nbsp; Is that right, Ash?”<br><br>Ash grunted, “I guess.&nbsp; Everyone, let’s go.”&nbsp; She looked at Helen skeptically.&nbsp; “So, if you’re so good, why are you not a cheerleader?&nbsp; And what’s your name?&nbsp; I know I’ve seen you around.”<br><br>“I’m Helen.&nbsp; Um,”&nbsp; She knew it was a girl jab, a total girl jab, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.&nbsp; “I guess because I’m so busy on the gymnastics team.&nbsp; But, maybe I could see about joining?”&nbsp; Helen wanted to punch herself for that, for allowing herself to get sucked up into the game when she knew it was a game.&nbsp; “I mean, probably not because I’m so busy.”<br><br>“Gymnastics team?&nbsp; So, you think you’re too good for us, then?&nbsp; Is that it?&nbsp; Or do you prefer having only parents for fans?” Ash grilled and then gave her teammates a wink.<br><br>“No!”&nbsp; Helen visibly flushed, freckles getting a little more hidden as the skin behind them reddened.&nbsp; “And, like, more people than just parents show up.&nbsp; Sometimes.” she added.&nbsp; “I’m, I’m not too good for you.&nbsp; I’m not stuck up, really.”&nbsp; Her hand came up and dragged a piece of hair loose and had it almost to her mouth to chew before she realized it and dropped it.&nbsp; <br><br>Helen wished she wasn’t so chunky compared to the cheerleaders.&nbsp; Not fat, but chunky from the muscles needed to do gym.&nbsp; She wasn’t sleekly pretty like them.<br><br>Ash gave a little smile at Helen, knowing that she had firmly been put into her place.&nbsp; <em> That’s right.&nbsp; You’re nothing compared to us.&nbsp; Never forget it. </em>&nbsp; “So, Helen, where are we going for practice on our round offs?&nbsp; And on the way there, perhaps you can tell us about your boyfriend....”<br><br>Deflect.&nbsp; Deflect.&nbsp; Deflect.&nbsp; Don’t let them hurt you any more.&nbsp; Helen’s face went as slack as she could make it, determined but still failing to not show that Ash had hurt her feelings.&nbsp; “Over there.&nbsp; I’ll go get some mats and meet you there.”&nbsp; And so not talk about why she didn’t have a boyfriend.&nbsp; Or want one.&nbsp; Oh, god, what if they knew about Isolde?<br><br>Helen made her escape and went to the pile of folded practice mats.&nbsp; They were heavy, but she’d been lugging them around for years.&nbsp; The trick was to knock the top one off, unfold two sections, then pile the other mats on top and drag it.&nbsp; She didn’t even have to think about it and soon had the heavy mats in motion across the ground towards where the cheerleaders were waiting.&nbsp; Waiting like pretty little hyenas.<br><br>Ashley turned over to Katie and Chloe, “Wonder why she didn’t answer.&nbsp; Maybe she doesn’t have one, or MAYBE,” she said with a more malicious smile, “she’s one of the lesbians from the gym.&nbsp; What do you think?”<br><br>Chloe eyed Helen up. She was prettier than Chloe had remembered and it stung to know she was the girl James had spent so much time with. It would be in her best interests to be one of the lesbians then Chloe wouldn’t have to compete with her. “Maybe she is.” Chloe said trying to hone in some kind of third eye lesbian radar. “It would explain why she is so weird….Is it just me or does she need a shower?” <br><br>The mats took just a few minutes to set out.&nbsp; Helen arranged them end to end, making a long runway in which the cheerleaders could practice and get several sets going before running out of room.&nbsp; Naturally none of them moved to help as she laid the mats down and made sure the velcro overlapped and grabbed.&nbsp; If a mat slipped you could be seriously hurt.&nbsp; <br><br>“Okay,” she called and motioned the cheerleaders over.&nbsp; She had to wait of course as they took their sweet ass time and checked phones and did their hair.&nbsp; “Some of you have done these before, but some of you haven’t.&nbsp; Coach, your Coach,” she clarified, “wants you to work on round offs.&nbsp; So, it’s sort of like a cartwheel, right?”<br><br>Helen took a few fast steps and flowed into an effortless cartwheel, then another, then another before ending on her feet without wanting to keep going.&nbsp; She walked back.&nbsp; “You do some of those.&nbsp; I’ve seen you at games and practice.&nbsp; But you over rotate sometimes.&nbsp; We’ll work on that later.&nbsp; A round off is like a cart wheel, only you use it to turn your horizontal -” they were cheerleaders - “your sideways speed,” she clarified, “into vertical.&nbsp; Up and down.&nbsp; You can jump higher.&nbsp; Or you can use it to turn your forward speed into backwards speed by just rotating.&nbsp; But you have to be careful.&nbsp; You can seriously mess up your ankle or back and you’re putting a lot more power into your stunt than you’re used to.”&nbsp; When Helen talked about gymnastics, she was serious and confident, so unlike how she was just talking to the cheerleaders.<br><br>“Start like a cartwheel.”&nbsp; Helen took a step and went into one, but stopped herself upside down, feet up in the air and balancing on her arms without strain.&nbsp; “But look, one hand is ninety degrees from where it should be,” she briefly lifted that hand up and balanced on just one arm, “And the other is like, opposite.&nbsp; A hundred and eighty degrees.&nbsp; That turns your feet by twisting your hands and shoulders like this,” she rotated without bobble, “and your feet land together facing opposite the way you were running.”<br><br>“From there you can do back handsprings or tumble.&nbsp; Or, like, a Yurchenko in gym but you don’t have a springboard.”<br><br>Helen let herself down by relaxing her arms and rolling into a ball as she dropped and stood up with the motion.&nbsp; <br><br>“Like, who’s the best with back handsprings?&nbsp; How many can they do?” Helen asked the cheerleaders.<br><br>Ashley giggled at Chloe’s statement.&nbsp; “Want to go smell her?” she offered Chloe.<br><br>Then, turning to Helen, Ashley asked, “OK, was like, any of that English?”<br><br>“Just watch, okay?&nbsp; I’ll go slow.&nbsp; Walk beside me?”&nbsp; Helen didn’t bother going to the start of the mats.&nbsp; She’d done this so long, so often that she didn’t even think about not being able to finish one safely.&nbsp; “Start like this.”&nbsp; Helen took a few steps to build up a little momentum then started going slowly through the motions, not looking at Ash but at where she was going instead, just like she’d been taught.&nbsp; “See?”<br><br>Ashley yawned as Helen conducted her demonstration. <br><br>Jessie turned to Katie and whispered, “The girl’s fortunate that Ashley’s not in a vicious mood.&nbsp; She’d be flat on her back.”<br><br>Katie nodded but said nothing.&nbsp; <br><br>Ashley turned to her cheerleaders and said, “Chloe, why don’t you show her how it is done?&nbsp; Get a better smell at her and test your theory.”<br><br>Helen finished up and went to the mats.&nbsp; “Okay, whoever is up, come on.&nbsp; Just go and I’ll spot you.&nbsp; If you feel like you’re falling, tuck and hold.&nbsp; The mats will keep you from getting hurt and I’ll slow you down.”&nbsp; <br><br>Chloe stiffened as Ashley said her name. Fuck. Fuckfuckfuckfuck. She had not been listening to a word Helen was saying she was too busy swimming in her own little private drama. If Helen was not the girl kissing some other girl in the gym then chances are she was harbouring a crush for James, Who wouldn’t he is gorgeous! And that would need to be taken care of straight away. But if she was the girl kissing in the gym and then Chloe came along and made a spectacle of her James would think she is a rotten bitch.<br><br>Biting her lip she stepped forward anxiously. Helen didn’t smell any worse than any of the other girls after rolling around on the mats for a while but she looked back over her shoulder and wrinkled her nose for Ashley anyway. “So just like a cart wheel right?” Chloe said taking a few quick steps and going down into a cart wheel but she forgot to position her hands like Helen had been explaining. Trying to cover her mistake she tried to turn and land on both feet like Helen had but instead came down hard on one and the other was slightly lifted to keep her balance. She blushed embarrassed, she was usually graceful in her cartwheels. Fuck.<br><br>Ashley gave a small laugh.&nbsp; Whether this was directed at Chloe or Helen, nobody could be sure.&nbsp; However, she merely told Chloe and the other girls, "See, we don't need this training from this girl.&nbsp; Let's go girls.&nbsp; Let's go do real practice."&nbsp; She waived her arm at Chloe to follow her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>03-03-2013, 18:16:50</strong>
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				<strong>september 4th, 2012</strong><br><br>"Hi Greg, come on in." She opened the door for him to enter. Her hair looked like it was still damp, and she was wearing her pajamas. Clearly all she had planned tonight was tutoring. "here, put your bag on the table. Are those for me?" She asked blushing a little, she didn't expect him to bring her flowers. She thought it was sweet, but unusual. She lead him over to the table, she had a few note books. Most of the note books were sketch books, but there was a math one. "Here I'll get a vase for those." She headed off to the kitchen and began to fill a vase with water. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>06-03-2013, 02:50:16</strong>
			</dt>
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				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7817212#msg7817212">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 03-03-2013, 18:16:50</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><strong>september 4th, 2012</strong><br><br>"Hi Greg, come on in." She opened the door for him to enter. Her hair looked like it was still damp, and she was wearing her pajamas. Clearly all she had planned tonight was tutoring. "here, put your bag on the table. Are those for me?" She asked blushing a little, she didn't expect him to bring her flowers. She thought it was sweet, but unusual. She lead him over to the table, she had a few note books. Most of the note books were sketch books, but there was a math one. "Here I'll get a vase for those." She headed off to the kitchen and began to fill a vase with water.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>"Um, uh, yeah," Greg started.&nbsp; "Yes, um, I, uh, brought it for you."&nbsp; Greg did as he was told and put his bag on the table.&nbsp; "You, um, like them?" he asked hopefully, as he sat down at the table, feeling weak at the knees. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>06-03-2013, 15:15:00</strong>
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				September 4th 2012<br><br>"Actually, these are my favorite type of flowers. These and roses." She said just holding small conversation with him a she filled the vase. She returned and put the flowers on the centre of the table. "So you ready to get started?" She said as sue say down, sue moved her sketchbooks to the side and opened her notebook. "We should go over everything from today. I could use some help with that." Isabella hates math, it's the one thing she just can't do for the life of her. Hopefully her new tutor can help her out.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Deamonbane</strong> on <strong>07-03-2013, 04:47:41</strong>
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				<span class="bbc_u"><em><strong>September 5th, 2012, Before school</strong></em></span><br><br>Susan. Susan was forced to have the day off “sick” because her grandmother was sick in hospital and the family needed to say their good byes. Not like Susan cared all that much she would much rather be at school. Just one day off was hard enough to come back from. Not so much the school work that was enough but it was the social side of things that were the most damaging. Lots of things could happen in a day.&nbsp; <br><br>“Just arriving now” Chloe tapped out as she started to walk down the street to the school. She was dressed in tight blue jeans, A white shirt and her favourite pair of chucks. Her hair was loose and her face was clean.<br><br>“Are you with any one? Is Ashley angry I am not there?” Susan replied.<br><br>“No. I don’t know. I miss you.” She replied strolling slowly into the school grounds. She really did not want to see Ashely if she was going to be completely honest. Not without Susan and especially not after her little fight with Chantee yesterday. Changing direction so she wouldn’t have to walk past where the girls all displayed themselves in the morning she text James instead. Just his name on her screen was enough to pull her smile out of hiding.<br><br>“You here yet?” She asked<br><br>James moved out of bed, his eyes bleary. He hated getting up early. He really did. Even though he tried to do so every day, he wished he could just sleep in. He wasn’t much of a morning person anyway. Nevertheless, he trudged out of bed, and put on his clothes. He looked around in the dark for the switch, missing a few times before finally getting it. The light flashed on and he blinked and winced, scowling at the bulb in his room before grabbing the clothes and putting them on, slipping into the kitchen. He debated whether he should have some breakfast here, at home, since Helen was probably going to want to hang with Isi instead of him. He quelled the small squirt of jealousy that had sprouted, and he quickly slapped together a sandwich, eating it with a glass of orange juice. He was out in a minute.<br><br>He moved at a better pace, determined to get to school earlier than he had the day before, even though he was leaving later. His thighs burned, as did his calves, as he worked quickly breathing in through his nose, and exhaling with his mouth, sweat starting to gather on his brow. He growled as he was halfway there, looking at his watch, and he was already ahead of schedule. He took a second for a breather, and kept moving onward. <br><br>Right when he came in view of the school, his phone buzzed and he stopped right on front of it, picking it out of his pocket. He felt his chest clench a mite when he saw who was the sender. The afternoon before had been perfect, even though he had only performed the simpler jumps and manoeuvres. She had enjoyed the show, and his friends had liked that he had brought a girl over, He liked it too, but tried not to show it over much. Afterwards, he had walked her to her home, and had promised to call her later. <br><br>“Am now. Where are you?”<br><br>Chloe smiled as he text back almost instantaneously.&nbsp; She paused in the empty corridor she was walking down and leaned against the wall tapping out her reply.<br><br>“The scary cold corridor by the maths rooms (: Wanna hang out before the bell?”&nbsp; <br><br>She wondered what kind of reaction she would get from the girls for not turning up at the front of the school to gossip and judge like they usually would do. But without Susan it seemed pointless, she was well aware without Susan she was nothing. And after her tiff with Chantee and her failed stunt with Helen she really did not want to face them without Susan. Would James know how pathetic she was? Did Helen tell him? Chloe chewed on her bottom lip now suddenly nervous to see him. <br><br>James’ phone buzzed in his hands, indicating an almost instant response, and he looked at what she had written. Scary cold corridor by the maths rooms? He ran his mind over the blueprint of the school that he had looked at a while back, and maybe, just maybe, he knew where she was talking about. All the different social groups had a different name for the different places inside the school, after all, and it was irritating sometimes, like now. He shrugged, and went for his first guess, arriving there, shivering a bit as he rubbed his muscular arms, and looked around,” You here?” He asked aloud. He recalled that he had forgotten to text her back, saying that he was getting over there.<br><br>“Anybody?”<br><br>Chloe watched as James arrived at the opposite end of the corridor. He was hot. Oh so very bloody hot. She had almost forgotten just how hot he was. Her nervousness forgotten she walked forward out the shadows, her arms crossed over her chest and her hands rubbing at her upper arms to try warm her up “Hey, you got here quick” She smiled quickly closing the distance between them. “I forgot to thank you for yesterday” She said with a light blush “I had lots of fun, Thanks” <br><br><br>He smiled when he saw her, half afraid that she might have found something more important to do, or someone more important to be with. It wasn’t jealousy, right? It was just... He shook his head. It was nothing, and that was that. He saw her trying to warm herself up in the chilly room and he, reflexively, moved in closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, and pulling her close. His body was still warm from the run, and he smiled, not quite sure why he had done that, but it felt more snug than he had anticipated. He smiled again, blushing a bit, hoping she wouldn’t see,” I had fun too, so no need to thank me, Chloe.”<br><br>Chloe froze as James moved in, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. It wasn’t something she was used too but he was warm and he smelled amazing and her instincts soon took over, guiding her tightly into his side, she breathed him in and absorbed his warmth. With the corridor being deserted she was completely at ease, but within the next few minutes people would start to trickle through on their way to home room. “Thanks” she mumbled twisting her fingers, always reaching for the ring on her finger that was now absent “Your friends seemed real nice” She said looking up at him from her snug spot in his side “Maybe you could take me there again sometime….if you wanted too…” <br><br>He enjoyed their closeness, her moving in to press herself against him. He smiled, feeling protective and very comfortable with her in his arms. But then he felt her stiffen, like she had seen a rattlesnake. And, while rattlesnake wasn’t quite the description that he would have put forward for the kid that moved into the hallway, it was pretty darn close, at least in James’ experience. He moved away, not too far away, leaving a hand on her shoulder,” I would like that very much. Uh...” No, he should say that. That was a bit too far,” I... uh, maybe sometime without my or your friends around?”<br><br>She swallowed hard and looked at the floor. She loved being a cheerleader, would give anything and everything to keep her spot. Being a cheerleader was meant to make her happy and it had for the most part but she had never factored a boy into the equation before and it wasn’t going well. She didn’t like that they had to keep their distance from each other, not anymore, She had been quite comfortable tucked under his arm. She shot the stray kid a death glare, he wasn’t any one of importance she couldn’t recall ever seeing him before but she would remember his face now and if he didn’t leave soon he was going on her list of things to torment. Turning her attention back to James “I liked meeting your friends…” She muttered but then shook her head and looked up into his eyes “But we could do something else? Just you and me…..”<br><br>James was indeed interested in something like that. His friends were pleasant enough, but whenever him and Chloe had been speaking, he could hear them whispering and could practically feel their eyes drilling holes into them, as if trying to determine what the two were talking about. He hated gossippers like that. It made life so very complex.&nbsp; He looked back at her, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze,” I would love that. What do you say... uh, meeting up after school again? We can get something to eat, maybe a movie?”<br><br>Chloe was so excited she had never been on a date before, every fibre of her being was desperate to tell Susan, or any one really that she was going on a date with James! Keeping him a secret was going to be harder then she originally thought. Nodding enthusiastically with a bright grin she answered him “Sounds great! What class do you have last? I have PE so I might be a little late with cheer practise and all but I can just text you when I am done?”<br><br>James smiled in response to her own enthusiasm, nodding, and listening to what she was saying. His last class was his portuguese course, and if she came off early, he would be able to push things off for a bit, and go off to meet her. If she took too long, it was not a big deal. He nodded,” Sure, where do you want to meet? Parking lot?”<br><br>“Sounds good” She smiled casting a wary look over her shoulder as more kids arrived. She looked back at James, concentrating on his lips. She was so tempted to kiss them. She was allowed to do that now right? The thought made her stomach quiver and her hands shake. She was too nervous&nbsp; to fulfil the fantasy, especially with all these people around, instead she stepped up on her tip toes to give him a brief hug, whispering in his ear “I’ll see you later James” She pulled away with a smile “I will text you in class, okay?” She gave him a wave as she left, making her way to home room. <br><br>James nodded and returned the hug warmly,” Okay, Chloe. Talk to you later,” He smiled and waved back. Odd how she made him feel all warm inside, he mused, and turning, went to find his own class.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>13-03-2013, 02:10:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7834448#msg7834448">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 06-03-2013, 15:15:00</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">September 4th 2012<br><br>"Actually, these are my favorite type of flowers. These and roses." She said just holding small conversation with him a she filled the vase. She returned and put the flowers on the centre of the table. "So you ready to get started?" She said as sue say down, sue moved her sketchbooks to the side and opened her notebook. "We should go over everything from today. I could use some help with that." Isabella hates math, it's the one thing she just can't do for the life of her. Hopefully her new tutor can help her out.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>"Roses?" Greg asked as if trying to memorize it.&nbsp; "I wouldn't think that you would like roses," he told her before he could take back the words.&nbsp; <br><br>Greg fidgeted before sitting down, his stomach rippling as he sat.&nbsp; "Um, what we went over today?&nbsp; Sure.&nbsp; No problem.&nbsp; I can help."&nbsp; He moved his chair closer to hers and started to visibly perspire as he got closer to her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>15-03-2013, 07:09:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Why not?" She asked before starting to open up the textbook to the lesson. As she noticed he began to sweat she wondered if it was hot in here. "It's a little stuffy in here, did you want me to turn on the ac or something. You seem a little hot there." She herself didn't feel warm at all, it felt perfect to her. But she liked it colder so she had no problem doing this for him.&nbsp; She just smiled and looked at the awkward guy in front of her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Devil's Advocate</strong> on <strong>16-03-2013, 02:43:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				September 4, 2012<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7886781#msg7886781">Quote from: Vladimir valentine on 15-03-2013, 07:09:44</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Why not?" She asked before starting to open up the textbook to the lesson. As she noticed he began to sweat she wondered if it was hot in here. "It's a little stuffy in here, did you want me to turn on the ac or something. You seem a little hot there." She herself didn't feel warm at all, it felt perfect to her. But she liked it colder so she had no problem doing this for him.&nbsp; She just smiled and looked at the awkward guy in front of her.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>"Hot?"&nbsp; Greg gulped, realizing he was sweating.&nbsp; "No, no.&nbsp; It is fine in here.&nbsp; Not hot at all...."&nbsp; He pulled his nose to the book.&nbsp; <em>Yes, it is easier when I'm not looking at her.&nbsp; </em>&nbsp; "As to the roses, well, um, you see, um, like you're not really typical, um, so I wouldn't think that you would like, um, well, a, um, typical or traditional flower, um like a rose.&nbsp; I would have thought it would be, um, something, um, a bit more, um, like, unique."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Michigan Marvels - IC Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vladimir valentine</strong> on <strong>16-03-2013, 05:38:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=161787.msg7891248#msg7891248">Quote from: Devil's Advocate on 16-03-2013, 02:43:29</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">September 4, 2012<br><br>"Hot?"&nbsp; Greg gulped, realizing he was sweating.&nbsp; "No, no.&nbsp; It is fine in here.&nbsp; Not hot at all...."&nbsp; He pulled his nose to the book.&nbsp; <em>Yes, it is easier when I'm not looking at her.&nbsp; </em>&nbsp; "As to the roses, well, um, you see, um, like you're not really typical, um, so I wouldn't think that you would like, um, well, a, um, typical or traditional flower, um like a rose.&nbsp; I would have thought it would be, um, something, um, a bit more, um, like, unique."<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>"well, I like alot of flowers. So, what kind of things do you like?" she asked him almost flirtatiously. She began to work, clearly she wasn't doing to well with the assignment since she already has done 4 of them wrong. She continued to try working out the assignment. " i-i don't think I'm doing this right. Can you show me how to do it? " 
			</dd>
		</dl>
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