star gazing || open

[leah matilda emerson]

If she spent another moment alone in that library, Leah was sure that she was going to go mad. There was no one else around, no other sounds to fill the vast room of silence other than the turning of her own pages, happening only when she had finished reading and needed to turn them in order to continue. Such a silence was normally tranquil, giving her a chance to sit there and worry about nothing. Nothing at all. But then again, there was always something to worry about in a world that didn't know you existed. Or, if they grouped you all together, deemed you dangers to society and thought you shouldn't belong among the rest of the "normal" people.

With a soft sigh, she closed her book firmly, laying it on top of the mahogany table that sat in the center of the library itself before she rose from her chair and began to wander the deserted halls. There must have been some event that was happening in the school at that moment, she thought. There was no other reason for such a barren feeling to echo down the halls. A place like that was filled with hundreds of mutants; adult, teen and child alike, all of whom hid from a world where they were not wanted because they had gifts that made them different from other people.

Tucking a loose strand of bang behind her ear, Leah glanced at the staircase that would take her to the rooftop of the school, someone she had been time and time again, when she needed to be alone. When she needed to think with no one else around. Such was the life of a shy, battered girl such as her. There was little place for friends, as there was no way to find out who you could honestly trust with your heart and soul, and who would stab you in the back at the first opportunity. Her life had not been a sheltered one like many, but very open to the ways of humans when they lose their tempers, or worse, when they lose someone they love. She had learned this the hard way.

Pulling her sleeves down tight with her fingers, Leah wrapped her clothed arms around her chest, preparing herself for the bitter wind that was soon to hit her the moment she opened the top door. And the worst would be the time of day combined with the lack of sun. Both would make it even colder than a normal winter's day, where she would be standing there trying not to shiver, while at the same time trying to come to terms with her own mind. It shouldn't be hard for a telepath, making up her mind, but it was perhaps one of the hardest things Leah Emerson did on a daily basis.

Sure enough, a cold blast of wind hit her head on when she pushed the door aside, a little heavier than normal when the winds decided to momentarily pick up their speed. It took her a moment to close the door again, hearing the metal click when it was connected to the frame. But as she turned herself around, Leah noticed the other students voices, as they wandered around below. Some of them seemed familiar to her dark brown eyes, obviously students she saw around the school often enough. That was one of the things about being at Talons. There were others like you, others who had gifts that made them stand out a little more than the normal human being.

A small smile crept onto her lips as she strolled slowly toward the edge, sitting on the low half wall to observe them. To the naked eye, they had the same appearance as those who condemned them for being different. Unless they were one of those who had slight differences anyway. Like blue skin or a tail. But few of those attending Talons Academy looked as though they were mutants. Most were just normal kids who were trying to find their place in the world, something that Leah herself was trying to discover.

And the hardest thing, she thought to herself, was attempting to be that person without fear of what others thought. Sure, there were a few humans who were against mutants, and even a couple of mutants who were against humans as well. That's what made the world go round, she supposed. The on going hatred they all shared for one another. Something that could never be fully erased.

word count:

[/color] 804
listening to: poor unfortunate soul (jonas brothers)
tagged: anyone[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[michael johnathan simon]

The wind was blowing hard with a cool chill to it that just bordered on freezing. It was that deceiving time of year when the weather was never quite what it seemed. Summer and winter were thrown into the maelstrom that was spring. But, that was the exciting part about it. You never knew what the day would bring. It was the one aspect that could not be controlled - at least yet.

Michael had heard rumors of mutants so powerful they could alter the seasons and weather at a whim. Power like that was indeed frightening. He hated himself for it, but he could understand why the regular humans of the world feared mutants. He understood their fears at the powers left in the hands of the few and knew that if he were normal, he would mostly like make the same decision: lock them all up and study them. It was a gut-wrenching that that Michael quickly buried. He didn't need that rumor going around the school about him. It was bad enough being known as the 'snobby rich kid'.

Michael focused on the wind as it blew hard against him. With his hands spread out wide, he felt it whipping all around him, bending and flowing, not letting his presence stand it the way of its own destiny. The feeling brought with it as sense of humility. A brief moment in time where all the troubles of his life were forgotten; all the nightmares quelled. But it was over just as soon as it had begun. The slam of the rooftop door drew Michael back to reality. He stepped down off the edge of the roof and turned to walk around to the door, expecting to see it wide open. Instead, it was closed. Not too far away, sitting on the half-wall, was a young girl probably not more than seventeen or eighteen years old. She had the look of a teen reaching adulthood, unaware of what life was like after a decade of frivolity.

Curious, Michael walked along the graveled roof to stand near her perch. Below he could see the students of Talons Academy. "Thinking of jumping?" he asked casually, lifting his eyes up to her.

Michael had to admit, she had a cuteness to her that he could not place. Her dark brown hair was whipping about in the wind, portraying her as somewhat mischievous, if not just plain fun. "That would be a real shame."

[leah matilda emerson]

Despite the chilling wind that pushed past and around her body, Leah felt fairly warm, having wrapped her arms tightly around her thin frame. The winds must have been worse up on the rooftop in comparrison to down below, as it appeared not to phase anyone she watched. They merely continued on their way, heading in their desired direction, each to their own individual location.

But a voice from behind startled her enough that as her head turned to see whom it was that had materialized behind her so suddenly, the rest of her body jumped, sending her over the wall. In a split second, her mind kicked in, forming a telekinetic floor that she fell onto, floating above the ground that could have easily been her doom. Her heart pounded wildly against the inside of her chest as she breathed, trying to bring everything back into its normal beat.

Looking up, she saw the face of someone slightly familiar, at least visually. She was sure that she had seen him wandering the halls of Talons Academy, though Leah had never actually spoken to him, she was sure. He had to be older than her, a freshman or sophmore in college perhaps, but he was old enough that he could almost pass himself off for a teacher as well.

"You startled me," she told him softly, stepping back over the low half wall so that her feet were planted firmly on the rooftop once more. "And no, I wasn't thinking of jumping. As you can see, I wasn't exactly able to fall either."

His sudden arrival at her side had made it rather difficult to breathe let alone talk, so Leah was a little surprised that her words had come as easily as they had. Being caught off guard was not something that happened to her on a daily basis, for she was normally the one to see things just before they happened. Not like someone who could foresee the future or anything, but as one who had learned to pay attention to everything that went on around her, in case there was ever a repeat in history. She had sworn to herself that she would prevent that at all costs.

Rising to her feet, she suddenly became a little self conscious, shuffling her feet slightly in the gravel. With the sun having already begun to set over in the west, shadows could be seen, cast over the students, the fountain and even the two figures who stood on the roof, alone as the day came to a close. Already Leah could pick out a few stars in the sky and the place where the moon was hanging above them, waiting for her chance to shine brightest in the darkness.

She looked up, giving the boy a soft smile. "I'm Leah, by the way. Leah Emerson."

A small introduction never hurt, she thought to herself. Especially when that introduction looked like it may be returned. She didn't like speaking with strangers, an old habit she had picked up from her family, but it never hurt to make new friends. Or aquaintances. Whatever the case, she was sure that she wasn't about to be kidnapped anytime soon. And besides, what harm was it in trying to keep herself occupied with something a little less painful than those distant memories?

[michael johnathan simon]

There was a sudden flash of guilt and fear when the girl fell forward. Michael hadn't even thought he was being that quiet, but then again, he hadn't been that loud either. The fear was replaced with awe a moment later when a strange force enveloped the girl, pulling her back onto the safety of the wall. Whatever it was, she seemed to be in control of it. Michael was simultaneously impressed with her control and ashamed of his lack thereof. He tried to keep his composure through the whole experience, but he was pretty certain the colour was still flushed from his face. Then again, hers was too. Although she was regaining hers quickly.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to- I wasn't trying to- ... huh,... sorry." Now that she stood facing him in the setting sunlight, it was Michael's turn to be startled. She was very good looking, more then he had thought from his side glance of her. The way the sun highlighted her brown hair gave off a halo effect that sparkled in her eyes. Beyond her physical appearance, it was those eyes that spoke to him. When he looked into them he could see a hidden pain that mirrored his own. It was subtle, but there was no mistaking it. Michael had the same look in his eyes whenever he look at his reflection in the mirror; his face a constant reminder of the tragedy of his parents. It saddened Michael greatly to see such a young, beautiful (a strange mix of beauty and innocence) woman carrying the burden of such pain.

"I'm Leah, by the way. Leah Emerson."

The way she introduced herself, or more the way she pretended not to be, told Michael that this might be a little uncomfortable for her. But if Michael knew anything, it was how to make women comfortable. Washing away his previous thoughts, Michael gave Leah a warm, welcoming smile, "It's nice to meet you Leah. My name is Michael Simon."

A clear night sky was slowly creepy over the horizon, transforming the sunset into twilight. Michael took a seat on the wall beside Leah. With his feet hanging freely over the edge, Michael asked curiously, "What were you doing up hear anyways?"

[leah matilda emerson]

His immediate awkwardness around her put Leah even more at ease, knowing that he was not one of those students who had arrived in search of her, merely to pick on her or blame her further for her past. There were those, even if it was difficult to believe, that were that cruel, not just to her, but to any of the other students who had some dark secrets surface from before their time at Talons. People like that bothered her more than she could possibly say, but when caught in those moments, there was little that the timid child could do, even in her own defence.

Coming to someone else's aid was a little easier. But to defend herself? That was a trial unto itself.

A soft giggle fell from her lips. "No worries," she assured him gently. "I don't think you meant to scare me. No blood, no bruies. I'm alright."

His apology seemed genuine, therefore, she could accept it without any hesitation. Absolutely nothing about him was frightening to her in the least, nor struck any chords of bad vibes that could easily have coursed through her body. And then he introduced himself to her as Michael Simon, the name becoming just a little familiar in her mind. He was one of the older students at Talons, one of the few who had stayed behind for his college years. It was something that she too planned to do in the years to come.

But in the light of the setting sun, Leah couldn't help noticing something else as well, an all too familiar look in his eye, one that she herself had worn for quite some time now. It was one of remorse, mixed with a feeling of guilt and anguish that could only be experienced by the death of a loved one. Or perhaps more than one. Had she been a little braver than she was, Leah might have asked what it was that bothered him so much that it showed in his features. But alas, bold she was not.

Instead, she merely settled for being intuitive, for watching and hoping that maybe she could put the pieces of the puzzle together after speaking with him a little more. Not that she was going to push the subject by any means. She didn't want to hurt his feelings further than they appeared to be hurt.

"It's a good place to think," she admitted, cheeks flushing a faint pink. "Sometimes, when I need some time to myself, away from the commotion of the school, I come up here to think. It's just something I do."

A silly response, she told herself, mentally giving her mind a violent kick. Not only did she just repeat half of her original statement, but she got the feeling that she wouldn't be able to talk to him as easily as she had first thought. The only person who she could speak to openly was Daniella. And she was nowhere to be seen.

[michael johnathan simon]

Michael chuckled lightly at he statement. Although she stumbled through the words, he understood exactly what she meant. Besides, prior to her arrival, he had been doing the very same thing: seeking a quiet place for his inner thoughts. "It's not that strange, really," he assured her with a smile. "Do you think I just happened to be up here for no reason?"

Humor was one of the best icebreakers in almost any situation and the awkwardness between them was in dire need of some ice-breaking. Whatever Leah's story was, he felt a connection to her that spoke to him like a kindred spirit. There was no need to question it, or her, but to simply enjoy this while it lasted. For both their sakes, Michael decided to draw attention away from either of their troubled pasts. "I have to admit, the ease at which you summoned your... powers," the word was the best he could come up with at the time although it just didn't seem right. "I'll confess to you that I am a little jealous." There was no shame in the announcement. Michael knew the reasons why he didn't have that control and he knew who was responsible for it. Had he decided to not ignore his abilities and learn about them when they first erupted, he might have the same control as Leah. Instead, he ran away from them. He did his very best to pretend he was a normal person until after long enough, he believed it. But that had it's own consequences and unfortunately, someone else had paid the price for him.

The night air brought with it the cool breeze of the spring that reminds you winter is not too far behind you. He resisted a shiver (merely a subconscious act of bravado performed by men in the presence of cute girls). The number students below was diminishing as they all sought the warmth of the indoors. It wasn't long before he and Leah were the only two left - not that anybody noticed them, sitting on the roof as they were, away from prying eyes.

Michael leaned back onto the roof, hands behind his head, staring up at the stars as they broke through the last remnants of the sun's light. "I thought I was the only one who came up here for solitude. But I guess this place is a lot more popular."