some cheering up, please? (petal)

[PETAL PAIX]

Petal closed the light in studio a just after she saw a flash of blue on the wood floor. Yes! She turned the light back on and walked in the studio. There it was right next to the stereo. Her first class of the day she had set it there. Petal grabbed the umbrella and turned off all the lights. She got to the door and there was Clarissa with her damp clothes in her hands.

“I hope it’s alright that I have these clothes...” she said, a bit out of breath. “I’ll return them on Tuesday.”

"Oh it's fine. I have too many things in that basket anyway. I kinda wish people would take them home BUT then there wouldn't be anything left for you and that boy that came in earlier." She smiled opening the door.

The rain had died down a little. She opened her umbrella and covered her and Clarissa. She walked slowly to her car and opened the passenger door for Clarissa. When Clarissa got in, Petal walked to her side.

She really liked her little jeep. It was high off the ground but not too big. It even ran on cooking oil which the McDonald's across the street was happy to get rid of. She started it and turned on the radio to a new rock station. Green Day was playing.

She turned it down a bit and tried to make conversation, So what grade are you in at Baum?""

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

❀ ❀ ❀
you loved me 'cause I'm fragile

[/size]
when I thought that I was strong.[/center]

Clarissa realized Petal had found what she was looking for. A blue umbrella. Clarissa was glad she’d found it. It was bad enough being soaked to the bone once. She was hoping to stay dry this time. She wished people would take them? So... was it okay if Clarissa kept them? No, no. Either way, she wasn’t going to. ... What boy that came earlier? Clarissa followed Petal through the halls, wondering if she should ask. It wouldn’t be to nosy... right? She wasn’t sure and by the time she’d begun to ask, they were heading outside. The rain was letting up. Finally. “A boy came in earlier?

[/b]”

Clarissa stuck to Petal’s side as they crossed the parking lot to Petal’s car. It was a jeep. Clarissa had never been a jeep. Well, she just kept adding things to her lists of firsts, today. “Thank you,” Clarissa murmured as Petal opened the door for Clarissa. She got in, closing the door quickly so no rain would get in. She carefully set her clothes on her lap and glanced around the car as Petal headed around to her side. Once she’d gotten in and started the car, she tuned into a radio station that was playing Green Day. Clarissa began to tap her finger to the beat of the song when Petal asked her a question.

“I’m a sophomore,” she answered. “Halfway done, yeah?[/b]” It was a small attempt at humor. Another bit on her firsts list.

[/blockquote][/blockquote] [/size]
but you touch me for a little while[/font]
and all my f r a g i l e strength is gone.[/font]
❀ ❀ ❀[/center]

[PETAL PAIX]

"It was a very interesting predicament. One of my best student let a boy with rain drench clothing in the girl's locker room."Petal smiled. "Everything okay, once I figured out that she couldn't open the boy room." She laughed. "He looked interesting in a girl's tank top. I felt kind of bad for him." She drove down the road instantly hitting traffic. Oh well, more time to talk.

“I’m a sophomore,” she answered. “Halfway done, yeah?”

She snickered. "I just started my college years. They're definitely not as fun as the movies say." She smiled. "I never liked being home-schooled, from the looks of the drama that goes on in the dance studio, I got out easy." She really never talked about the things she didn't like around her students, but for some reason, she felt she needed to be real around Clarissa.

Honking horns and commercials on the radio filled the silence. The rain seemed to be slowing down. What could she talk about now? Hmmmm...

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

❀ ❀ ❀
you loved me 'cause I'm fragile

[/size]
when I thought that I was strong.[/center]

Clarissa giggled at the thought of a boy in a girl's tank top. Them wearing skinny jeans was strange enough. "Sounds silly," she said after a moment. "At least he was dry, though." Typical Clarissa, to think about the well-being of others. She may not have known the boy but she was glad he'd had a friend to help him in his time of need. At the thought of this, she wondered how the Dance class was going to be. It was for beginners so she would, hopefully, be able to handle it. How difficult could it be? You needed rhythm and coordination. That was the gist of it, right? Clarissa bit her lower lip, worried that she was wrong and it was going to be much more difficult.

"Oh dear..." Clarissa muttered. The very thought of College was terrifying. Sure, she was great at keeping up with her class work and everything. Clarissa did great in school. But College meant moving on and making big decisions. "You were home schooled?" Clarissa asked, sort of surprised. She was technically home schooled. Well, if online school could count as home school. They seemed to have more and more in common. It was nice, actually. This was one of the things she liked. Clarissa liked feeling so at ease with a person. It was rare, but she was becoming fast friends with somebody.

but you touch me for a little while

[/font]
and all my f r a g i l e strength is gone.[/font]
❀ ❀ ❀[/center]

[PETAL PAIX]

Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.

[/font][/i][/b][/color]
☀ ☀ ☀

"Well... I can't say it was odd for me if I had just seen him, but the fact that he was there with one of my girl dancers just made me even more confused." Petal giggled. Petal noticed Clarissa's nervous expression when Petal mentioned college.

"You don't need to worry about college though. Minus the workload, its about the most fun I've had in a learning environment where I have to learn something." She smiled. She really was having a lot of fun in college. She was meeting new people, learning new things to teach to her dancers and gaining experiences she probably would have never gotten in her small town.

Still she missed it. She didn't exactly have many people she could talk about things here in NYC. Actually, Clarissa was probably the first person she had held a conversation that was deeper than a puddle with.

"Ya, I was home-schooled. I'm not originally from here. My parents moved me up here to 'expand my wisdom' and I can't say that living here hasn't done exactly that. How about you? Are you a native to the concrete jungle?" she asked. She loved calling it that.

it's [/size][/color]
e a s y[/size][/font][/color][/center]

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

❀ ❀ ❀
you loved me 'cause I'm fragile

[/size]
when I thought that I was strong.[/center]

Clarissa laughed. “That must have been quite the sight.” The mention of such a thing happening had her worried, yes again, about the fact that she was in a mixed beginners class. It wasn’t going to be a big deal, she kept telling herself, but reassurances don’t seem to work with her. This worry brought on even more things that were making her retreat to her nervous, stuttering, fidgety self. Beginners dance, college, the Spring Fling. Why couldn’t she just suck it up and deal with everything? Clarissa was pulled from her thoughts as Petal spoke again.

Workload? Clarissa sighed, relieved. She could handle a workload. With that, she could probably even manage to avoid the fun Petal was mentioning. Working was Clarissa’s favorite thing to do, if that’s even possible. Unlike most, Clarissa was the type that preferred work over play. She tended to stay in her room, going over things that are near perfection. “Well, that’s good to know,” she replied with a small nod. Clarissa didn’t really want Petal to know that she was a workaholic.

It was comforting to meet somebody else who’d been home schooled. Most of her classmates at Baum had been going to public or private schools all their life. It could be intimidating at times. Clarissa smiled, “New York is definitely the place for wisdom expanding. ” She nodded, again before answering. “I’ve lived here all my life. I started online school for seventh grade and then my parents sent me to Baum for my high school years. ” Clarissa could remember vividly how horrible it had been. She shook the thoughts away before waiting patiently for Petal to say something. Clarissa began to tap her finger to the beat of the song.

but you touch me for a little while

[/font]
and all my f r a g i l e strength is gone.[/font]
❀ ❀ ❀[/center]

[PETAL PAIX]

Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.

[/font][/i][/b][/color]
☀ ☀ ☀

"You can take middle school classes online now? Woow..." Petal said looking at the street signs. She couldn't imagine a well-engineered piece of metal teaching her things. Her parents had always came home from work and taught her everything. They were so patient with her and made sure she understood everything. How does a computer do that? Well, not everyone's a teacher.

Petal couldn't think of anything else to say. She was so tired from her nice day at work. She definitely got a lot done. She even mapped out the routine for her Modern class. Hopefully they'll like it to. Petal glanced over at Clarissa and noticed she was tapping to the bass of the song playing. What song was playing? She listened in.

it's killing me noooow! Oh it's Animal by Neon Trees!

"I love this song!" Petal squealed more or less. She started singing along. She wasn't much of a singer and this wasn't the Beatles but it's still nice to have good music playing. She looked over at Clarissa and started giggling in between the words. Her professional tone was looong gone by now.

it's [/size][/color]
e a s y[/size][/font][/color][/center]

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

❀ ❀ ❀
you loved me 'cause I'm fragile

[/size]
when I thought that I was strong.[/center]

Clarissa nodded. Couldn't you take all classes online? Surely you could. Well, maybe not elementary. That might be a bit difficult. She could still sort of remember grades one through six. Before switching to online school, Clarissa had been quite a student. She was friendly and a hard-worker. That didn't last long and so her mother had let her transfer. Often, Clarissa would wonder "what if?" What if she'd stayed in school? What if her parents hadn't left? What if Grandma hadn't passed on and left all her money to dad? Then they could have stayed home. A sad sort of sigh escaped her lips and she looked out the window. The rain streaked by, raindrops racing each other on the glass pane. She could remember how rain used to be one of her very favorite things. Why was she suddenly so reminiscent?

Clarissa jumped, hitting her head on the top of the car. "Ow!” she muttered, rubbing her scalp and looking to Petal. Then she glanced at the radio, not even realizing what they'd been listening too. It’d just had a good beat. She managed a timid smile when Petal began to sing. Clarissa continued to massage where she’d banged her head and tried to pay attention to the lyrics and music. Maybe Becky knew this song. Probably since she was in Band and all. Clarissa had no idea who they were or what the song was called. Clarissa felt comfortable, though. Petal, who she barely knew and was soon to be her dance instructor, was being so... not professional? It was fun.

but you touch me for a little while

[/font]
and all my f r a g i l e strength is gone.[/font]
❀ ❀ ❀[/center]

[PETAL PAIX]

Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.

[/font][/i][/b][/color]
☀ ☀ ☀

Petal suddenly zoned out and saw a log cabin. The music was playing but she knew she was playing some of it. She felt at home and the people around her was her family. There were so many people and wait? Petal was an only child. Why did she have siblings in this log cabin? A car horn brought her back down to earth.

"Ow!"

Petal looked over at Clarissa and saw her rubbing her head. She turned down the music. Oh, she's hurt!

"Are you okay?" she asked, "What happened?"

Petal blinked a little bit and turned onto Baum's street. Such a weird but cool daydream! She noticed that the music had stopped and a radio announcer was speaking. Petal felt a necessity to fill the silence.

"So what kind of music do you like?"

it's [/size][/color]
e a s y[/size][/font][/color][/center]

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

❀ ❀ ❀
you loved me 'cause I'm fragile

[/size]
when I thought that I was strong.[/center]

Clarissa hadn’t been paying to much attention after she hit her head. Her palm still rubbed the aching spot, but her mind was elsewhere. A quaint little cabin in the middle of a forest. A sudden urge to go mining. She blinked rapidly and shook her head, a confused expression replacing the previous one of pain. That was weird. Clarissa turned to look at Petal and perhaps experienced the strongest déjà vu in her life. What in the world was going on? Clarissa’s eyebrows furrowed together, only adding to her confused features, wondering what the question meant. Wait... oh! She lowered her hand and forced a smile. “I just hit my head, is all,” she answered, shrugging it off as no big deal. She’d be fine. All that mattered now was the strange vision, the random mining thing, and the déjà vu feeling. Never before had such things happened and it wasn’t making much sense at all. Clarissa almost wanted to ask Petal about it to see if she’d understand but decided against it. They had just met and she didn’t want to come off as odd.

What sort of music did she like? That was a difficult question to answer. One, Clarissa didn’t really listen to music. Two, when she did, it was because Becky had insisted she did. “I don’t listen to music very often,” she replied. Clarissa peered through the rain-streaked windshield, trying to figure out if she recognized the street. She was pretty sure it was Baum’s which meant she would be getting dropped off soon. “If I do, it’s a suggestion from my roommate,” she added, an amused grin on her lips. Right, suggestion. Clarissa needed to learn how to say no.

but you touch me for a little while

[/font]
and all my f r a g i l e strength is gone.[/font]
❀ ❀ ❀[/center]

[PETAL PAIX]

Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.

[/font][/i][/b][/color]
☀ ☀ ☀

Was she on the right street? Definitely not a good idea to zone out while driving. Ok, focus. Petal blinked a few more times and looked over at Clarissa. She seemed to be doing the same. Petal turned back an focused on the road again. Maybe she could tell her about the... vision. Would that be weird? She could just mention it causally.

"I just had the weirdest image flash through my head," Petal said looking over at Clarissa. "A log cabin." She smiled and laughed a bit.
"I've only seen log cabins in pictures and movies. So that's just weird. I swear the pollution is getting to me or something." Petal looked back at street signs and found the entrance to Baum.

"I hope you didn't hit it too hard. Sometimes I wish my car was a bit bigger but then I'd be paying for it in gas money." She drove into Baum Academy when Clarissa answered her question. She didn't listen to music? Well, Petal was going to have to culture this girl. Considering she played music in her dance classes this would be easy. "I can't imagine not picking my music. Do you want me to drop you off at your dorm?" Baum was a lot bigger than she expected. How was she supposed to find it? Hopefully Clarissa knew. If not, it'll be an adventure.

it's [/size][/color]
e a s y[/size][/font][/color][/center]

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

❀ ❀ ❀
you loved me 'cause I'm fragile

[/size]
when I thought that I was strong.[/center]

Clarissa started, surprised at Petal’s words. She’d seen a log cabin, too? Okay, that was too weird. This just got more and more strange. Did Clarissa want to admit to it as well? Perhaps her earlier feelings weren’t for no reason. The whole I-feel-like-I-know-Petal-from-a-past-life, the major-déjà-vu when looking at her. “That’s weird,” Clarissa started, still considering her options. She could keep it a secret and contemplate it on her own later. Or, she could tell Petal that she’d seen the same thing and let it go from there. “I saw a log cabin too. In the middle of a forest,” she said, unaware that the words were leaving her mouth. That happened a lot, lately. She’d say something without really intending too. Why could she keep herself in check? Maybe it was the pollution. But she’d been living in New York all her life and had never before seen such a thing.

Clarissa shrugged. The pain was gone now, just a dull, numb sort of throbbing. “It’s fine,” she reassured, “that wouldn’t be good. More gas means more pollution which means more visions that don’t make sense.” Clarissa laughed. Had she really just managed a sentence like that without stuttering? Seriously, what in the world was going on? The music topic returned and she shrugged, again. Music had never been her sort of thing, really. She preferred the silence while working. “What sort do you listen to?” she asked, peering out the window, looking for the dorm building. Baum made so much more sense during the day time, when she was walking around campus. “Uhm, yes, please...” she muttered, trying to see through the rain-streaked window and darkness.

but you touch me for a little while

[/font]
and all my f r a g i l e strength is gone.[/font]
❀ ❀ ❀[/center]

[PETAL PAIX]

Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.

[/font][/i][/b][/color]
☀ ☀ ☀

Petal stopped inside the school and rubbed her eyes. She just started to realize how tired she was. Not too tired to drive home but definitely too tired to do work. She held back the downing thoughts of her piling up work and thought of her warm comfy bed. Hopefully her roomies wanted to hit the hay early too. If not, coffee was always good.

“That’s weird, I saw a log cabin too. In the middle of a forest,”

Petal blinked. Woaaah. What did that mean? "I've very heard of two people seeing the same vision before... that's gotta be something super-natural," she shivered and giggled a bit. Wasn't this interesting? It made her get goosebumps. She'd definitely have to mention this to her mom in her next email.

Petal listened to Clarissa and nodded her head. "Yea I guess." She started driving again and looked for the girls dormitory. This place was waaaay bigger then the school some of her friends went to back in her hometown. There must be thousands of people here. It was like a college for high-schoolers!

it's [/size][/color]
e a s y[/size][/font][/color][/center]

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

❀ ❀ ❀
you loved me 'cause I'm fragile

[/size]
when I thought that I was strong.[/center]

Clarissa continued trying to find the dorm building. Things, apparently, were much more difficult at night. When it was raining. Then again, though, Clarissa really didn’t know her way around campus. All that mattered was the beaten path, the easiest way to get to and from class. In fact, she even have discovered a few shortcuts that included weaving between trees and sneaking around the general school crowd. Very convenient. Gosh, there must be some sort of landmark she’d recognize. Clarissa looked to Petal distractedly, trying to keep an eye out for the building. She nodded, “yeah, I don’t think it’s common.” It certainly had never happened to her before. Clarissa couldn’t even remember the last time she’d had a vision that made no sense. Looking at Petal with a sudden curiosity, Clarissa wondered if it was something about the college student. There was the déjà vu and now this.

A sudden glint caught her attention and Clarissa looked back to the window. “Here!” she exclaimed, pointing to the building and jabbing her finger against the glass pane. It hurt a bit but she was feeling quite successful for recognizing the building. It was probably the headlights. The metal statue of, well, she didn’t really know who it was. But it was a statue of some guy who’d probably designed and built the building. Or maybe he’d helped contribute to the school way back when. Who knew? Clarissa made sure she had everything and waited for Petal to stop the car. It was nice meeting new people, surprisingly enough. It was especially nice, becoming friends with them. She’d have to try soc-- no. She could barely handle thinking of that. “Thanks so much,” she told Petal once the car had stopped. “Really. For, like, everything,” Clarissa gave her a sincere smile. “I’ll get the paperwork for the classes done and I’ll talk to my parents,” she added before gathering her things up into her arms. “Bye, Petal, I’ll get in contact with you soon!” she stated before opening the door and slipping out, quickly closing it behind her.

Clarissa hurried to the door and stood beneath the shaded area, turning back to wave at the girl before slipping inside the building. Well... that had certainly been interesting.

but you touch me for a little while

[/font]
and all my f r a g i l e strength is gone.[/font]
❀ ❀ ❀[/center]