‘God that was long.’ Matthew thought as morning cycle classes ended. His latest project for that class was really beginning to frustrate him. Despite it being his own project he was really beginning to regret choosing to do it. Unfortunately, part of his character was to finish whatever he started. That wasn’t the only thing that was annoying him now, nope. This time of year, the freshman tended to seem a bit annoying to a senior and Matt was beginning to feel the same. One of the only freshmen that didn’t annoy him was Piper and he hadn’t seen her all day which annoyed him more. The freshmen didn’t do anything wrong to Matthew, he just felt like their slowness was unneeded and disliked it. Even as he tried to make his way to the lunchroom he had to circle large clumps of freshmen who had accumulated and were standing in the hallways. As he thought about the freshmen, he realized how much he had missed Piper. ‘Where is she today?’

Matt walked into the lunchroom with his backpack in tow and a rather annoyed look upon his face. His look disappeared though as he walked through the lunchroom door way and was replaced by a frown of curiosity. No doubt about it, a food fight had recently taken course in the lunchroom. How: he knew not, classes had just let out. One thing was for sure, the perpetrators had already left the scene. Or did they? Maybe they were just invisible, Matt stood before the door frame of the cafeteria looking over the messy cafeteria for several seconds before moving on. Others had already joined him in the lunchroom and were either laughing or frowning at the mess that was every where. From these few early coming people, a line formed and steadily grew as students filled the cafeteria.

Hungry for something that’ll keep him satisfied until dinner, Matthew went through the rows of food, selecting various foods according to the food pyramid. He knew that he wasn’t going to eat it all, especially not his carrots or grapes but he figured he could give them to a friend. Matt settled on a burger and fries which should be more than enough and a large chocolate chip cookie. Lastly, Matthew grabbed a monster energy drink. It would be his second that day but he didn’t believe that it would be damaging. As he reached for a second monster, which he intended to save for later, Matthew compared Aura Academy to his grade school. Aura Academy was definitely different and he appreciated the differences between lunches.

With his lunch tray now in his arms he turned on his foot to face the large lunchroom. Students who were not there less than a minute ago now populated nearly every seat in the cafeteria. He took in the sight with a bit of disappointment, like always the lunchroom was split. People seemed to be refusing to break out of their own cliques erecting walls between them and potential allies. Matthew didn’t really know why he cared, he had friends and it really didn’t affect him. There was just something about coming together as one that he had really hoped for since his freshman year. He was now a senior and the disappointment had lasted that time; he figured it was time to move on and worry about his own relationships with others.

Sighing, Matt began walking again. He maneuvered through the lunchroom, avoiding collisions with students as well as tables. His usual table was a table against the North wall of the lunchroom. He didn’t know why, but he loved that corner. The table was very near an oddly placed pillar and possibly what Matthew loved most about it. His favorite seat was with his back to the pillar and between the two. Placing a fry between his lips he let it dangle there as he nibbled on it out of boredom and hunger.

With a hand in front of her mouth to cover a yawn, the freshman passed through the lunchroom doors and took little notice of the world around her. Classes had occurred but she could hardly remember a single thing that she had been taught. She had neat notes and everything as usual, she would never let anyone think that she hadn't been paying attention, but she had practically falling asleep at her desk. It hadn't been the fact that she wasn't sleeping, for it wasn't truly that although that did play a portion It was just the fact that she had other things on her mind to think about. Like whether or not she actually cause some harm with her power. Not that she wanted to or anything. No... She was merely curious.

Suddenly, Pip felt her foot slip slightly when she took a step and she was hardly able to catch herself from falling flat on her ass by flailing her arms out like a duck. The blond turned her eyes down to the ground once she stood erect and she rolled the blue orbs. People were so juvenile. Everyone on the campus of Aura Academy had a power and people couldn't find anything better to do other than have food fights? How pitiful...

Piper made her way to the food line and grabbed a tray. Finding that she wasn't extremly hungry, she took a tuna wrap and chocolate chip cookie to satisfy her chocolate craving. She then reached for a cup of coffee and was already to go find a table to sit at. That, however, proved to be a problem.

Most days, Pip arrived at lunch as soon as class had ended and she would eat her lunch rapidly before most people came so that she would be out rapidly and not be subjugated to having to sit with people. She occasionally sat with Matthew 'Xavier' Lawson, one of the few people at Aura Academy who could claim to be friends with Piper Fuller, but she glanced at the table where he usually sat and didn't see him. She looked around for a moment or two but then found that she really had nobody else to sit with.

After discovering this, she glanced around the room one last time and nearly laughed. In her few moments of searching, Lawson had managed to make it to his table without catching her notice. The girl started to walk towards his table, taking care that she neither spilled coffee on her white shirt or landed her navy suede ankle boots in any other remnants from the food fight. Upon reaching the table, Pip stood behind Matthew for a moment and then said, "boo." And then she placed her food on the table and took a seat behind him.

“Uggh, that’s gross!” Matthew complained to no one as he found yet another chewy fry on his tray. He was quite surprised, during his years of staying at the school he’d never he had never had any reason to be the least disappointed in its food. He came upon the theory that the food fight had somehow magically affected the food quality. Either that or someone had mixed bad food with the good food, he wondered if it was done purposefully. Now Matthew wasn’t so hungry anymore. He did not consider himself a picky eater but he was cautious when it came to eating things. With the sudden loss of appetite and having been alone at the table, he tried to conjure an excuse for staying.

His younger brother wouldn’t be at lunch today and his it appeared that pip and the other friends that he ate with wouldn’t be either. As he sat there trying to figure out the most entertaining place to relocate to Matt couldn’t help but hear the conversation of the students next to him. A table of royals was parallel to his and it contrasted greatly in population to his. The Royals were trash talking about nobodies in particular today and telling stories of their annoying encounter with the lesser group. Matthew wondered if they even saw him there as they talked about his own “clique”. He was not into that sort of division so their general statements about Nobodies annoyed him. As if having read his mind, he heard one of the royals tell the others to quiet down because there was a nobody at the table next to them. “Who cares? He ain’t nobody!” He heard one of the guys from the table say, looking for a cheap laugh which with he was promptly rewarded.

Matthew groaned and looked down at his plate. Why’d he care what they thought? Matthew was ready to go and he couldn’t understand what he was still doing there. He was a senior and didn’t have to endure the laughter of a bunch of clueless freshmen. They just entered into their own clique, truthfully, they were still basically nobodies. To him, they were a joke…the group of 60% of Aura Academy’s freshmen that just didn’t get it.
As if she were an answer to his hopes, Piper Fuller appeared behind him. “Boo” she had said, startling the non expectant Matthew. His shock then formed a smile as he realized that it as Pip. She was one of the freshmen that “got it”; she understood the workings of Aura Academy. Sometimes he forgot that she was a freshman.

“Hey Piper, where have you been today?” Matt asked as the girl sat down across from him. He couldn’t smile wider at Piper as he appreciated her presence. “I’ve been looking all over. Well not all over but I was definitely wondering…How are you today?” The question was just as basic as it would have if he was the one going. Matthew hunched over the table, almost forgetting that he was going to leave. He watched her put her tray down and grinned as he waited for her reply.

The girl lifted the wrap to her mouth and took a bite. while she tried to eat relatively healthy, she wasn't a girl who didn't eat. She ate. A lot. Her brother often teased her when they were younger for her outrageous habits, saying that she ate like a man. She used to get frustrated with him but then she took a look around and realized that she'd rather eat like a man then imitate a branch of a tree. Anorexia isn't appealing people!

In response to Matthew's question, Pip just shrugged her shoulders as she chewed. "Oh you know, first I flew to Johannesburg and then I went to Hong Kong," she said after she swallowed, a slight smile forming on her lips. "It was an extremly thrilling day. Oh, and I met someone from Tokyo who hired me to kill you because you keep on inventing things that he's already thought of." For some reason, Matt was one of the few people with whom Piper could joke around like this. Maybe it was his nonchalant character that helped her open up or perhaps it was just the fact that she trusted him. Whatever it was, it was something.

"No, really," Pip said in between bites. She had finished about half of her wrap and looked at it. She really wasn't in the mood for tuna. She put it down on her tray and lifted the cookie to her mouth. After she took a bite she spoke yet again. "Honestly, I was just around. Aura's a big place and it's not like we have classes together. Why? Did you miss me?" For some reason, she wished the answer was 'yes'.

As for how she was... "Well, it's a good day," Pip said in response to his question about how she was. "That's enough about me! What's up with you? Blow up anything with one of your insane inventions? Please tell me you killed my algebra teacher!"

Matthew’s previous frown had disappeared and he now wore a wide smile that was aimed specifically at Piper. He watched her take a bite into her wrap, expecting an answer. He thought about telling her that the food may have been made bad but couldn’t ruin her lunch just because he was pick and paranoid. He wished that he’d gotten a wrap himself instead of stupid fries but he just had to be so anti-healthy. He found their contrasting lunches a bit humorous, similar only by the large chocolate chip cookies.

He smiled as Piper went over her “day” and just shook his head, smiling, at her as she said it. Not able to resist messing with her, Matthew interrupted only briefly. “Oh jeez Piper, yeah just rub in the fact that I’m poor and can’t afford plane tickets.” Matt tried to adopt a hurt voice as he said this, his eye brows raised and his eyes sad. He couldn’t keep up the sad face for long, he was about to burst into laughter as he tried to consider her reaction. He was normally a good liar if he wanted to be but with Piper he found it hard to make jokes with a straight face. He was just so comfortable around her.

"It was an extremely thrilling day. Oh, and I met someone from Tokyo who hired me to kill you because you keep on inventing things that he's already thought of."

Matthew’s smile had matched hers perfectly. He loved Piper’s sense of humor, he just loved it. “ Nice. Sounds fun, which I could’ve gone. Seriously, don’t kill me though. I still have to perfect the last invention that he made. Besides…tell his slow ass to get a power so that he can create one himself.” Using the A- word was an event for Matthew, he rarely cursed but sometimes it just slipped. He grinned, putting his hand up to his lips as if to pardon himself. He wasn’t sure if Piper minded, he just tried not to curse. “ I mean if you want to kill me go ahead but I have a bomb that self destructs as soon as my heart stops beating. I’m only thinking of you Pip.” Ok, so the joke was a bit violent and silly but Matthew felt comfortable enough around Piper to say it.

"No, really, Honestly, I was just around. Aura's a big place and it's not like we have classes together. Why? Did you miss me?"

Uh-oh! Spotlight. Matthew had one of two choices; one: say yes, which he really wanted to do and hope that the response is taken innocently or two: say no even though it would be a complete lie. “Of course I missed you," Matthew began, “I’m not awake until you blind me with that camera of yours! Speaking of which, have you taken any cool photos lately?” He liked looking at Piper’s photography but mostly because he liked hearing her talk about her work.

As Matthew was talking to Piper, he was absentmindedly building….something….with the strays and forks and utensils at the table. He didn’t even realize he was doing it and responded to Piper simply as if he were sitting on his hands. “No, but I did invent something for your Algebra teacher. I don’t know what he wants a thought erasing machine for but he did mention that he wanted to know if Piper had any violent thoughts towards him.” This statement was laced with Matthew’s joking tone and he knew it wasn't as funny as her comment so he just laughed at Piper, appreciating her lovely smile.

Oh. She had forgotten. Why was it so easy to forget that most people in the world didn't have her luxuries? She cringed slightly and wanted to blurt out an apology but feared that it would only make it worse. So instead she took another bite from her cookie. Chocolate chip cookies can make every problem disappear. Well, at least ones that don't involve you being locked in your room for weeks on end.

Pip closed her eyes for a moment, as if willing the thoughts away. She needed to get over that. Her parents were insanely close-minded, she knew that. But it still hurt. Why did it hurt? She didn't even care! Who cared about New York socialites? Everyone at Aura was just like her and none of them threw a hissy fit when she created an orb of light. Well, except when she blinded someone with them. And then they probably deserved it so...

The blond laughed at Matthew's request and then again at his use of the expletive. Matthew didn't curse and the event occurring just made her laugh. Piper was from New York City. Prior to Aura, she had been cursed out at least once every single day on the subways and the streets. Cursing had ceased to offend her. A grimace appeared on Pip's lips at Matthew's 'threat'. But she was enjoying the the game so she continued it. "Hmm... What about a slow acting poison? I'll be far away by then."

He missed my camera's flash? At least he could have said he missed my flash, Pip couldn't help but be disappointed. She had admitted weeks ago that she liked Matthew more than a friend. But obviously he didn't think of her in any way other than that so that was the end of that. "Trust me, Matt, you had better prefer my camera's flash to my own. It's quite literally blinding." As if to amplify her words, Pip created a small orb of light in her right hand and made it dance on the table. "And that's about one one-thousandth of the most powerful light I can create."

In response to Matthew's question, Piper shook her head. "Nothing decent. I ran into a few people the other day when I went out to take pictures and they distracted me so I didn't get anything other than a bee in the winter. Which is actually pretty funny but it came out a bit fuzzy."

Hearing his words about her teacher, she rolled her eyes. "Damn, how'd he know? The plot was to kill you first and then him but perhaps I should change the order..."

((OOC: Sorry its so late, my mom invented chores for me to do.))

As he joked, Matthew could see that his silliness had actually made Piper feel guilty and because of it he felt guilty. He saw her cringe and reached over the table for her arm. He placed his hand on her forearm and looked her in the eye. “Kidding,” he declared. “I was only kidding, you know that! There is no reason to be paying that any attention.” Matthew had been able to cope quite well with his family’s financial status even if there were a lot of wealthy people at Aura Academy. Piper was among the richest but Matthew didn’t allow the difference to bother him or interrupt their friendship. “Besides, I’ll just be able to mooch off of you like we poor people usually do.” Matthew’s smile was calm and reassuring. It was thinner than his ‘laugh out loud’ smile and more sincere.

"Trust me, Matt, you had better prefer my camera's flash to my own. It's quite literally blinding."

“Oh I’d bet.” Matthew responded as his eyes followed the glow of Piper’s orb. He watched it float around the table with a smile. It was a wonderful sight, not found in nature, a true display of magic. He didn’t doubt Piper’s ability or brightness of the light that she created and admired her display of power. “Well, while dangerous, I think I prefer your lighting.” Matt paused, did this seem like he was trying to compliment her? He was but he didn’t want it to be completely obvious. “ I mean, I can replicate a camera’s flash with a little bit of tinkering. Anyone can recreate a camera’s flash, that’s simple but no one can recreate that!” Matthew pointed to Piper’s orb with both hands for emphasis, he sometimes talked with his hands when emphasizing something. A camera’s flash couldn’t do what Piper did, her pictures came out perfect because she truly understood light. The fact that her light could get a thousand times brighter did shock him though and he expressed this jokingly in a teasing and flirtatious way. “Hmmm, hanging around you is just asking to fry my coronas isn’t it? Does this mean I’ll have to wear goggles whenever I want to see your cute lil’ face?” His cheeks turned crimson.

Matthew hoped that this wasn’t too forward of a comment. He reviewed what he had just said and hoped it wouldn’t be something that would creep her out because of course that wouldn’t be good. Matthew didn’t even realize that she called him Matt instead of Xavier, Pip was one of the few who could. He swallowed and his eyes left Pip and her orb of light once more as he attempted to shyly avoid eye contact and he finally looked down at his fingers. Touching his fingertips was undoubtedly a food launcher and he smiled as he looked it over. Normally, he’d have to concentrate on his work but the simpler and more primeval it was, the less he had to actually pay attention for. He smiled before putting the launcher onto his tray where it would be discarded with everything else.

He responded to piper but still didn’t look up at her, not into her blue eyes. “A bee? In the winter? That’s…odd…” Matthew chuckled at Piper as they continued to joke about her teacher. He’d had her teacher before and knew that the guy wasn’t too great of a character. Matt went along with the joke: “Hmm, I don’t know but you can use that slow acting poison to kill me while I’m in his classroom telling him of all the stuff I gathered from spying on you.” Matthew winked. “That way its like killing to birds with one stone.”

((S'okay.))

Augh! She probably was just making him feel even worse. Why was he such a nice and perceptive guy that he picked up on the fact that she felt guilty? It made trying to not like him even harder. After all, he was a senior. She was a freshman. And he just thought of her as a friend. And she didn't want to ruin their friendship by saying anything. She valued his friendship too much. To say anything would be like snipping the bond of friendship between them with a pair of scissors. And she feared that the bond would take a long time to repair.

She smiled sadly at his words and rolled her blue eyes. "You know, I think there's a special place for people who try to take money from wealthier people. It goes by the name of 'jail'. And personally, Xavier, I wouldn't like to bail you out. However, Aura would be just too boring without you so you'd force me to just blind all the guards and bust you out of there." She paused and added as an afterthought, "but you'd probably have invented some super break out machine by then so all my efforts would be in vain and I'd have to blind you just out of irritation for taking all the trouble to rescue someone I love."

Had she actually just said that? Did she tell him that she liked him more than just than a friend. Piper hastily added, "I mean, I'd break out any one of my oh so many friends. However, if Romeo was in jail too, he'd get priority. But then again, he could just go through the walls so... Damn! Why is everyone here so damn independent? You can't just be the guys in distress for once? No... It's the girl who has to be saved from her gilded cage every single time." Somehow, her words had changed from one of lightheartedness to one of seriousness that denoted just how she felt about the situation that had occurred months ago. As much as she loved her brother, she still hated having been unable to get out of her home without his help.

But Matthew's words made it all better. She clamped her hand shut and the orb disappeared. "Yeah, well, you know, I'm simply magical," she said in response to his expressive comment and hand motions. "And don't worry, unless you decide you're going to have to kill me for knowing too much, I won't make you lose your eyesight. I'm just a human firefly to you. I make pretty lights that can do little harm."

He called her cute? He thought she was cute? Pip looked down at her tray and lifted her cookie to her mouth once again so as not to have to look him into the eyes. She didn't want him to see the happiness that shone through her blue orbs just at hearing the fact. Even if he didn't mean anything by it.

She nodded her head and looked back up to him once she was sure the light was gone; "uh huh. Maybe it was a shape shifter." She said with a shrug. She then lifted one hand in a fist and punched the air and said, "yes! Success! I'd be free of both of you. Perfect idea, Xavier. I'd better go find some poison..."

While Piper spoke, Matthew pretended to be hurt at her mention of not saving him from jail. He wasn’t much of a theater person so f course he didn’t know that he wasn’t supposed to be smiling while doing so. Or rather, he didn’t know how not to smile at Piper. “Jail?!” Xavier exclaimed, feigning disgust and shock. “Uggh! As if, They’re never, ever, taking me! I’ll fly off with my jetpack! Plus haven’t you ever heard of Robin Hood y’know take from the rich give to the poor. Sure it’s stealing but so is just about everything isn’t it. Aura a must be breaking a thousand laws for holding a bunch of magical kids here. Then after I escape the cops I’m coming after you.” Matthew was pointing to Piper but he had a smirk on his face, ready for her response.

“Heh, someone you love? Oh really now?” Matthew said as the words played over in his head. He nudged Piper from across the table. His voice was asking as if he were just joking around with her like friends do but in truth he just wanted her to say it again. He didn't want to bother her too much about it, after all she could ask him the same about her cuteness and on top of that he didn't want to annoy her. Nothing he said could hide the pleased smile upon his face so he tried to play it off with a half hearted laugh. "Ah, I'm just kidding. I know what you mean." It was times like this that he wondered how he looked to those around him. Did he look like a big ol’ flirt as he laughed and joked with Piper or did he look like a friend, the more accepted relationship. He also wondered what Piper would think if she’d known. He was aware that some people referred to them as an item but that was only teasingly, for none could predict a senior having a relationship with a freshman. Everyone makes those jokes when platonic relationships are concerned, Matt had even made some himself about other students. One thing that Matthew could not help but wonder is why he always fell for his friends.


"I mean, I'd break out any one of my oh so many friends. However, if Romeo was in jail too, he'd get priority. But then again, he could just go through the walls so... Damn! Why is everyone here so damn independent? You can't just be the guys in distress for once? No... It's the girl who has to be saved from her gilded cage every single time."


“Pip…I’d freak if you even set foot in a jail.” Matthew said as a bit of seriousness overcame him. His tone wasn’t at all stern but it wasn’t being overcome with laughter either. This changed in an instant though and he shrugged his shoulders before his response. “Not that you could even make it to a jail if you wanted to. Nah, you couldn’t pay the guards to lock someone like you up.” The catapult like contraption in Matthew’s hands popped up but Matthew barely noticed it with his attention on Piper. He then picked up on Piper’s change in tone, it took him a while because it was so subtle but there was a bit of seriousness to her last few words. He wondered what was significant about it but figured it was just her view of women’s strength. He quickly thought up a sincere response, but as smart as he was Matt was sometimes a little slow when it came to social matters. “ Well, I’m sure you could break yourself out of jail too Piper. I can help you formulate an emergency plan if you’d want…but I don’t really understand.”

Matthew’s comment was innocently ignorant to Piper’s home life. It was kind of funny how lost he was at the moment. All that he knew about was the Piper in front of him at the time. Most of his relationships were like that, that way he could judge people fairly and not on their backgrounds. He didn’t turn away an ear if someone wanted to talk about it though.

Piper’s comment made Matthew smile and forget his brief confusion, a rare feeling for him which he was glad left. Even so, he was still trying to avoid looking at her. He’d just called her cute and he was afraid to see her reaction. There was a brief and awkward moment of silence between them. Both were quietly looking at their trays and avoiding one another’s gaze but of course Matt didn’t know that. In fact, Piper’s pause had kind of scared him, did he let it slip? Was she freaked out or disgusted? He dared to break a silence by commenting back about the bee, then he noticed a change in lighting and dared to look up. Their eyes met and he was lost in her blue eyes when she began to speak. He almost forgot that he had spoken and was confused for several seconds as he tried to recall what he’d just said. ‘Oh yeah, bees.’

"yes! Success! I'd be free of both of you. Perfect idea, Xavier. I'd better go find some poison..."

Matthew paused as he considered his answer. He was going to actually think before speaking this time. []“Hey! Make up your mind. Do you want me or not? I’d rather just stay in jail and hope you die of boredom.”[/b] He liked joking with Piper but his thoughts were a bit interrupted. A student had walked over to the column that he was sitting near and taped a flyer to it.
“Winter Ball,” the flyer read. It was blue with black and white lettering. Matthew wasn’t much of a dancer but he would have liked to take Piper anyway. He tried to think of a casual way of bringing up but again, he was no good with socializing.

The blond held up her hands in mock surrender and said, "I give up! Take all my money! I don't want you coming after me. Who knows what sort of thing you'd invent to take out revenge on me... I shudder at the thought," she said with a smile and then lowered her hands and she started to tap her fingers on the edge of the tabletop. "And anyway, Robin Hood was titled. So the riches honestly belonged to him, in a way. So there."

No, you don't. Pip silently responded to his words. 'Ah, I'm just kidding. I know what you mean.' No... He most definitely did not understand what she meant. And she probably had better never let on, not unless she wanted to ruin their relationship. It was a friendship, nothing more. And it would never become any more than a platonic relationship because it just could not be. Piper didn't exactly have handful of people whom she could trust and she wasn't willing to throw one out the window because of those oh-so irritating things called emotions.

His serious tone startled her. He sounded really protective over her. And then his tone switched to one of jest and Piper paled upon hearing the words. She stayed silent, unmoving for a moment, upon hearing his words. He didn't know. She had never told him nor anyone else. Romeo had never told anyone to her knowledge. His next words assured the freshman that he knew nothing about what had happened prior to the start of the school year and Pip snapped out of her daze. "And you shouldn't," she said softly, in response to his misunderstanding. It wasn't his burden to carry. It was her own and well... As much as she trusted him, there was still something in her mind that wouldn't let her open up to anyone. Even the boy in school whom she liked the most.

Upon hearing the next words of the boy, Pip pouted slightly and crossed her arms. "Now that's mean. Whose to say I wouldn't have the most wonderfully thrilling life, laughing at the fact that you're wallowing in jail?" she asked, trying to keep a straight face as she asked it. Unfortunately, her blue eyes gave off the joke as they were shining with laughter. Before she could anything else, she heard something over her shoulder and she turned her head in order to see another student taping a flier up on one of the columns of the cafeteria. A flier advertising the Winter Ball. She looked at it for a moment, let herself imagine how wonderful it would be, and then turned back to Matthew, trying not to let any of the longing appear on her face. But a girl didn't just go to a Winter Ball on her own, at least not a girl like Pip Fuller. And so she knew the chances of her going were slim and none.

{[[OOC: I know X( this sucks too. It'll be better next time promise!]]}

“I… am… titled. Doesn’t being a senior mean anything anymore?!?” Matthew threw his hands up as well and let them fall lazily onto the table. “There is no winning with you is there?” He asked teasingly as he smiled. He winked at her and shook his head. Another thing about Piper being a freshman is that he got to tease her of his seniority. Matthew knew that he could be quite immature at times whereas Piper could be surprisingly mature for her age. Matthew kept thinking about his friendships when Piper’s tone changed bringing him back to reality.

“And you shouldn’t”

Albeit baffled by the response, Matthew just nodded, slowly as if unsure. Had he said anything wrong? He didn’t want his little conversation with Pip to turn, he was having a great time talking to her. His expression showed his questioning as if asking, ‘are you okay’ was written plainly on his forehead. He said nothing else of the matter though. The sentence ‘and you shouldn’t meant something despite her tone. She obviously didn’t want him to know something.

“Now that’s mean. Whose to say I wouldn’t have the most wonderfully thrilling life, laughing at the fact you’re in jail?”

Matthew grinned, his response was already at the tip of his tongue before Piper could even finish her sentence. He placed his hands on the lunch table and gave Piper another nudge with his foot. “Well then why’d you blind the guards and break me out in the first place? What, you were looking for a little exhilaration?” He was so sure that he’d won now. He didn’t even realize hat he had somehow made it a game with Piper. Wait, at what point in the conversation had he turned it to a game? He felt kind of stupid now but at least Piper was laughing. Oh, of course, he was doing it to see her smile. He wasn’t being competitive, he was flirting and he knew that he needed to stop. Naturally, a change of subject was in order.

“Ah ,Winter Ball. I remember those days. I’ve only been twice myself. Freshman year was fun but kind of lonely since I didn’t know anyone. Sophomore year was good, I stood around with some of my friends until we all got kicked out because someone spiked the punch. I didn’t bother going Junior year though…by then its sad to go alone. I’ll probably be the only senior not there this year. What about you? Are you going?”

The girl rolled her eyes at the upperclassman's antics. "If you're title than the whole world is in trouble," she said with a wry grin. "No, you cannot win for I have no respect for people who just spend four years of their life partying, you crazy party animal, you." Pip tried to say the last part with a straight face but found that she simply could not. "Seriously, you dorm with an alcoholic and a drug-addict. How in the world are you not high, drunk, or both all of the time?" The question was said seriously and Piper's curiosity was not feigned. She had met Jamey and Asher on various occasions and they did not seem anything like Matthew. Yet he never complained about his roommates.

Piper read Matthew's facial expression easily and wished she hadn't. She turned her face aside for a moment, as if she were looking at the poster yet again but in actuality she just didn't want to have to see his face like that anymore. Her past was her burden to carry and nobody else's. And she would most definitely not tell anyone else about it in the middle of the cafeteria. That would just be... Unsanitary! And the situation was dirty enough as it was.

Feeling Matthew's foot against hers, Pip kicked back with the toe of her boot and frowned. "Well, you see, to enliven my life I will have taken up gambling and someone bet me that I wouldn't be able to get you out of prison. I would, of course, take that bet and win. And then get you arrested five minutes later for planning a jailbreak. And of course they'll believe the suave New Yorker over the ratty looking prisoner. So there!" And for some reason, the girl kicked him lightly again. And then quickly recoiled as she realized, with horror, that kicking him several times and him kicking her back seemed a bit like playing footsie and well... She didn't do that. At least not with Xavier Lawson. Not that she wouldn't. Not if her were extremly drunk. Or stoned. Or both. Maybe she should convince his roommates to take advantage of him some more in order that she could confess her feelings to him and then never have to deal with the consequences.

"Huh? What? Me? Going to the Winter Ball? Hah!" Pip couldn't help but laugh causticly as she heard his question. "Unless my dear ol' brother invites me as his date, I have no desire to be a wallflower. I may as well just stay in my dorm doing work the entire evening rather than sit at a table all alone the entire evening."

“Haha,” Matthew said in response to Piper’s mocking. He pretended to be annoyed but he found it kind of funny as well. How did he remain sober and clean? Sure he’d been tempted to at least thirty times a month but he hasn’t tried it at all. He figured he probably wouldn’t. After all, people mess with the drunk and high, he knew from experience. “I cannot help their habits. To each his own I guess. Although I can’t imagine why I’d want to. I mean trust me, its more fun messing with the drunk and high than getting drunk and high yourself.” Hey, it’s not like he’s perfect. Even the dear geek had to have fun too. It had only ever gotten dangerous once. Then again, he did remember feeling especially crappie one morning about a month ago. He wondered if his roommates had gotten him stoned or drunk then. He didn’t bother asking though.

“No way… Damn, you’re cunning. Darn it, no one believes ratty old Chicago citizens. Are all New Yorkers seriously fast talkers and swindlers? I have to know. Maybe it’s you hat I’ll have to watch out for. Your camera looks rather expensive, are you sure that a billionaire could afford it?” Matthew shook his head as if disappointed but stopped as he felt her kick back. He was going to ask about the second kick when Piper withdrew her foot rather hastily. He looked at her questionably, having not picked up on their footsie deal. He then lightly tapped her leg again and smiled. Unbeknownst to Matthew, the table of freshmen near him had caught this and few began to giggle.


"Huh? What? Me? Going to the Winter Ball? Hah!" "Unless my dear ol' brother invites me as his date, I have no desire to be a wallflower. I may as well just stay in my dorm doing work the entire evening rather than sit at a table all alone the entire evening."

Matthew jut smiled at Piper. “And somehow I still feel as if several freshmen have already run up to you, begging you to be their date. If you don’t go its because you don’t want to. Not because no one asked and I’m sure of that!” Matthew had no doubt about it. At the very least the freshmen boys were swarming her. Piper was one of the best looking freshmen in the school, plus she was rich…. funny, friendly, kind, mature, and cute. Matthew didn’t even realize the intensity that he as comparing Piper to everyone else.

An appalled look formed on Piper's face as she heard Matthew's words. "Why, Xavier! I thought you were better than all of those lowlifes and ruffians who took advantage of the mentally ill. Unstable. Affected. Whatever you want to call them," she said as she shook her head in disapproval. "Although, I do see that it could be extremly tempting to do so. It's just not very nice." Her words were mostly in jest, but a hint of truth rang through her words. She would have never suspected Matthew Lawson to be one to take advantage of those under the influence. But then again, Xavier was a guy who seemed like he'd take advantage of everyone. Even the blind and deaf. And possibly, or rather probably, the dead.

The blond grinned at his words and just smiled coyly. "That's my secret to know and one to never graze your ears," she responded and then tilted her head to the side and added, "and what does my camera have to do with anything? And yes, a paltry billionaire could afford it. But not much else." Alright, that was an outright lie. Yes, her camera was expensive. But not that expensive. A few thousand, that was it.

Blue eye's opened widely upon hearing the last of Matthew's words. Had she heard right? She, the queen of unfriendliness, or at least the princess of it, had just been told that someone was sure that the males of her year had lined up to ask her out to the dance. Did Matthew realize who was talking to? Pip nearly asked him those very words, but instead just said, "I never said I didn't want to go. And nobody did ask me. Trust me, there are many more desirable girls in my year." Like ones who don't try to keep the world out save a few choice people whom she deemed trustworthy.

Xavier just sighed again. “Piper, Pip, Piper. So young, so naïve. Plus they aren’t mentally ill, they had a few drinks. That hardly qualifies for a mental disorder. I haven’t gotten too bad yet. Just had a laugh or two by hiding their shoes. I mean it helps pass time so that they can sober up before going off to another party and it keeps me company as I prepare for a lonely knight of AP government homework.” Matthew had to admit, he did feel cool admitting to this dark hobby of his. It was like saying that he had a dark side….everyone assumed that he was a goody two shoes and it was sort of relieving that he was being seen as someone daring enough to do such things. At the same time he felt a bit guilty, it was the way that Piper shook her head that made him want to kind of take back his words. Chances are she wouldn’t trust him as much and if she did, she’d always be sober around him. So much for confessing to a girl that wouldn’t remember anything before her hangovers. Why had he planned on any confession anyway? Piper didn’t even drink! Did she? “So do you drink?” Matthew shamelessly asked, he wore a smile as he did so. Hoping that she’d smile back or recognize it as a joke. In all honesty, it was an attempt at the subject change.

"and what does my camera have to do with anything? And yes, a paltry billionaire could afford it. But not much else."

“I’m still suspicious,” Matthew said. No he wasn’t really suspicious, of course the camera wasn’t really that costly but hey he liked having fun. Matthew ran his fingers through his hair and sighed for about the thirtieth time. The week had tired him out. He had test in every subject, three projects due, an invention that needs to be finished and about nine mechanisms to fix. Honestly, did no one realize that his ability as invention, not repairman? He tried to think of his agenda for after his classes. He was glad that he hadn’t joined any clubs, then he’d really feel overworked. Matthew put his head in his hands and tried to clear his head, still intent on Piper.

"I never said I didn't want to go. And nobody did ask me. Trust me, there are many more desirable girls in my year."

Matthew’s head tilted slightly as Piper spoke. Even though Piper said that there were more desirable girls, he didn’t really see it. She was lying to him which meant that either she didn’t trust him, she was up to no good, or that she wasn’t lying… He concluded that Piper had just turned them down but why would she do that when she just said that she wanted to go. Finally Matthew decided to try his luck, he at least wanted to know what guy he was loosing to. “So who do you want to go with?” He asked boldly.

Piper rolled his eyes at her words. She hadn't meant that they were mentally ill because of a few drinks. But seriously, they were mentally ill. Asher saw people's true colors and Jamey... Well, she honestly had no idea what his ability was because he was so wasted all of the time! Honestly, she didn't really have anything against him. But it had been fun to see Matthew's reaction. Did he really think that she was that naive? She felt like laughing at his naivety. She was from New York City. Manhattan, not one of the stupid boroughs like Staten Island and, honestly, did people actually live there? As for his question, well it kind of caught her off guard. The blond contemplated turning it into a joke, but decided against that. After a moment, she shook her head and then answered. "Nope. That's Romeo's job. Me, I enjoy a good cup of wine at a dinner party or a restaurant's, but I'm not about to carry a flask around with me."

He was suspicious? Oh what? How much money Pip had access to? but no, she was sure that Xavier's mind didn't work like that. He didn't really seem to care much about money, something which seemed odd to the girl whom had grown up among wealthy and privileges. To him, it was something you needed to survive. To Pip, it was just something to buy things with, whatever she so desired. She knew that it was a horrible way too look at life, and in the recent months she had tried to change her opinion, but hey. Somethings didn't just change that quickly.

Who did she want to go with? At that moment Pip became mesmirized by the gold bracelet on her left wrist and started to fiddle with it with her right hand. Her gaze on it was intent so that he would not be able to see her face. Who did she want to go to the ball with? The person sitting across from her, of course. There was little question in her mind. But she would never say that aloud. What she did say was this: "oh, you know. Someone who I trust." There. That cut the list to about two males other than her brother. "But, at this point, if anybody asked me I'd most definitely consider their offer."

Matthew laughed lightly, “I’m relieved! I haven’t seen you get tipsy but I’m sure that when you do you everyone will be blind!” Matthew briefly thought of Romeo drinking as Piper mentioned him. Matthew didn’t know Romeo drank or maybe he did and subconsciously overlooked it. Had Romeo ever gotten drunk? Matthew could not tell. These days he hardly noticed it when people were drunk because he’d grown so accustomed to the symptoms and behaviors. If a person didn’t drink or smoke as much as his roommates, then he didn’t consider them drunk or high. Now, getting drunk seemed like an almost natural thing to do; he felt odd for not getting on some kind of buzz every night with his roomies. ”I on the other hand am a heavy Kool-aid drinker. Once I start I don’t stop till its gone!”, Matthew joked in response to Piper. However, as Piper described her light intakes of wine, before the joke, he couldn’t help but think of how much more sophisticated Piper had seemed in relation to him. The differences between them was so great and yet he felt very close to her. Matt wondered what Pipers parents would think of her talking to a poor, lowly guy like him. Did Piper even truly like him, or was talking to him her act of charity? No…Piper wasn’t like that.

As Matthew watched Piper play with her golden bracelet he stared at her intently, he wondered if he should once in his life take a risk. Matthew swallowed hard as he felt his self restraint loosing the battle to his heart. He had to ask Piper to the dance, if she denied him then he would try to painfully brush it off as if it didn’t hurt. He could try couldn’t he? Well, he knew he had to. Matthew tried to lok as calm and relaxed as possible, which meant that he also stopped fidgeting. Even with his attempt he still looked quite anxious to do something. Quite anxious to ask Piper out. He had almost no hopes of her saying yes, especially now that she saw that Matthew wasn’t the golden boy that everyone had assumed him to be. Matthew thought about everything and everyone within one overwhelming fraction of a second. He thought of what the other seniors would say, he thought of the embarrassment of denial, he thought of being alone at yet another party, and he thought of how beautiful Piper would look in a dress. The last walls around his vulnerable thoughts were shredded with the last thought and Matthew tensed and took a deep breath.

“Hey Pip,” he began, making sure that he had her attention, “I was wondering…I really want to go to the ball and you seem to want to too. So… maybe we can…go together? I mean, I’d only go with someone who I trust too and that’s either you or a few guys I know.” He mentally shuddered at his last statement, keeping the expression off of his face. Why did he bring other guys into the conversation? It didn’t matter, Piper didn’t know that he was bisexual. At least not yet. ‘ Nah, it was a casual statement,’ Matthew assured himself. Making sure that he knew that he had only brought up guys in the conversation to emphasize that it was her that he wanted to go with.

Matthew hoped that Piper would accept his offer, he really did. There couldn’t be a better choice as a date. Even though he tried not to make it known, Piper was his first choice to the dance. The Royals next to him guffawed one last time in unison and the viciousness of their laughs made him wonder if they were laughing at him. The school bell rang and nearly everyone inside the cafeteria rose to their feet to continue their day. Matthew did not raise but instead waited for Piper’s answer.

Pip shook her head. "You won't see me tipsy anytime soon," she stated. It sounded like a promise, in fact. But it was something that she planned never to do. Most alcoholic drinks tasted disgusting to her and really, who got drunk on wine? Not Piper Fuller, that was sure. And anyway, did people actually set out to be drunk? Even if they did, imagining the freshman setting out to get drunk was a rather laughable thought. This was Pip Fuller, after all. The girl who didn't trust anyone. Not even herself, at least not when she had lost her inhibitions. Hence her never allowing herself to lose the aforementioned inhibitions. Hearing his jibe, Pip raised an eyebrow. "Isn't there some sort of caution about drinking the Kool-Aid?" she asked playfully. "As in 'don't'?"

Huh? What? Could he repeat that? She hadn't been daydreaming, had she? Because that would most definitely suck if she had just dreamt a certain senior, a certain senior whom she most definitely wanted to be asked by, to go to the Ball. But no, that only happened in Fairy Tales. That being the girl getting the right guy to ask her to go to the school dance. Alright, at least the Modern Fairy Tales. And Pip wasn't living the Fairy Tale life. Most definitely not. So, she just sat their stunned, trying to really compute whether or not those words had just passed through Matthew's lips. And then it dawned on her that he had actually said them. This wasn't a dream. This was lunch. And she had a free next, so she could take her own damn time coming up with an answer. Because it didn't seem as if Xavier was running off anywhere anytime soon. At least, he was waiting for her response.

And then, the blond nodded. "Alright, that'd be great," and then she smiled. Not her usual sad smile, but an honest to God smile. If she could float, she'd be on Cloud Nine right then and there. Instead, she just added, "you wouldn't mind, right? I mean, I'm just a freshman." Yup. That was the thing. She, Piper Fuller, was a freshman. He, Matthew Lawson, was a senior. Although, if he said no, she would have no idea what she would do. She even had the perfect dress that she had bought a while back while shopping alone and would love for him to see her in it. Maybe then he wouldn't just think of her as a friend.

As she waited for a response, something in his words tugged at her mind. " a few guys I know.” Since when did Xavier want to ask guys to the dance? He was straight, right? He wasn't just asking her out of pity. Oh God... If he was about to out himself and want to be her gay guy friend, she would just burst into tears. Not usually that emotional, Pip just couldn't imagine Matthew the Will to her Grace. She wanted him to be her Leo. Except for the whole him leaving part.

Wow... It must be bad if she was thinking of her life in terms of sitcoms.