Mutant High(CC, AU/Mature, Adult) *2Needed* Starting

[isabelle]

*Max*

I sit down on the bed next to Liz, thinking that this might be the first time I've been in a girl's room here -- well, except for Isabel. And we're here on her bed together. This could be made to sound entirely different than it really is but I know I'm not likely to get in a situation like that anytime soon. With my powers, it's best to keep people at a distance -- even if that's not always easy.

Liz is making idle comments about being here and I nod, vacantly, wondering what to say. I should be able to come up with something to talk about, right? That's what we're here for.

"Cookies!" she says, getting to her feet and returning with a tin. "Can't forget these after all that can I? Want one? - they're good I promise you!"

"Wow. Homemade. I had no idea," I say, taking one. "They look and smell fantastic. Did you make these?"

.

[Fehr'sBear]

Jess

Maria thinks about my question for a minute, and I wonder if it's a joke. This isn't a very large town, I mean, how much could they have to see?

"Well, if you'd like a club, there's 'The Dirt Club' -- it's named after the owner's collection of dirt from a lot of different places. Or 'Time and Passion.' Or if you're into activities, we got a bowling alley, an arcade, and a rock-climbing wall. Or if you want the tourista stuff, there's an inclined plane with a little restaurant and a really nice view of the town. What's your pleasure, wolf-boy?" Okay, I take that back. Apparently there is a lot in this small town. Now the question is, what do I feel like doing?

I sit there for a moment at a stop sign, glad that no one is driving on the road; it gives me more time. Hmm, now, what can I do that is fun, involves a lot of energy, something I'm full of because the full moon is mere hours away, that Maria would go along with? I think about everything she's mentioned and decide on the clubs. Which one I'll leave up to her.

"I like clubs. So, if you're up for it, why don't you pick the one you like better, and we can go there." I say with a smile, letting my foot off the brake as I wait for more direction. Besides, dancing gives me a chance to spend more time with Maria, that doesn't involve me showing off horrible bowling skills or sitting in a touristy restaurant.

[isabelle]

*Maria*

I grin as Jess makes his choice. Bowling is a bit too normal to suit my mood right now. I half expected him to go for the rock-climbing, but dancing is always cool.

"Well, all things concidered, I think the Dirt Club," I tell him. I'm not really dressed for Time and Passion. The Dirt is a bit more casual. "Head down two lights and then hang a left."

[Fehr'sBear]

Jess

Maria grins at my choice, and I give myself a pat on the back. Good, so I was right in thinking she probably wouldn't have gone for the bowling or arcade. "Well, all things concidered, I think the Dirt Club, head down two lights and then hang a left."

"Dirt club is is." Following her directions, I grin when the club comes into view. So, here we are. Parking the car, I get out, and walk around to her side of the car, waiting as she does the same.

"So, does this guy really collect dirt?" I ask with a smirk, looking up at the small sign.

[isabelle]

*Maria*

"Believe it or not, he does," I tell Jess, taking his hand as we approach the club. "They're in mason jars on shelves around the walls, all labeled with places and dates. It's kinda wacky, but it's cool."

We step inside and I pause, looking around at the interior. There's a live band tonight and they're playing loud. I like that. The music is pretty good, too.

"So, you want to eat something first?" I ask. "The Dirt Club doesn't have a lot in the way of meals, but you can get a burger or something."

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

"Wow, homemade, I had no idea. They look and smell fantastic. Did you make these...?"

Max's first comments make me smile, but then as he asks the last I realise what I just said before about them being good. Great, I don't know why I said that really but now I completely sound as though I'm boasting - which definitely wasn't my intention! It just sort of came out...

Feeling my cheeks flush slightly, I give an awkward nod. "Y-yeah...and you don't have to say that you know... Compliments are definitely not compulsary! Although I hope you like them..." I offer him a small smile as I reach for a cookie myself, balancing one of the tissues on my lap. "They're not a patch on the orginal thing though - My parents run a diner back home, they employ a chef for most of the cooking of course, but the cakes and such my mom deals with... Her cookie recipe was one of the first things I learnt in the kitchen..." My voice trails off as I realise that I'm opening up like this. Not that I don't want to talk to Max, but Maria is the only person I speak to about my parents...about how I miss them...

Biting down on my lip, I swallow and bring the cookie to my mouth, taking a bite and closing my eyes as I chew. Mine aren't the same, it's the same recipe, and I follow it to the letter, but still it's...different...

Of course I haven't tasted the real thing in over a year - since the last time I was home...

The beginnings of tears hang in the corners of my eyes as I think about it, but I refuse to let them flow freely and blink, trying to get rid of them and hoping that Max won't notice. "Sorry...I seem to be good at rambling at the moment..." I offer a weak smile as I look back at him. "So you know all about my secret hobby of cooking now - what about you, what do you like doing...?"

[isabelle]

*Max*

Liz tells me she made the cookies and then suddenly starts to tell me not to compliment them. I don't really understand what that's about. "I can say I like them if I do," I say, swallowing a mouth-watering bite. "But you're wrong. They're not good. They're great."

From what she says, she's been baking them here, probably in the school kitchen downstairs. How could it be that I've never known that? I would think the delicious smell would give her away. She must be working on it when nobody's around at all... I wonder why.

"Sorry...I seem to be good at rambling at the moment... So you know all about my secret hobby of cooking now - what about you, what do you like doing...?" Liz asks, now.

"I don't mind you rambling. We came here to talk and that's what you're doing," I say with a smile. When she was talking about her mom and the diner, for a little while, she didn't look so guarded. It was like I was finally getting a glimpse of the real her. A beautiful, sweet girl. But then she seemed to realize it and she hid herself again. I wonder how to get that unguarded Liz back again? I guess I should start by answering her question.

"My dad is a lawyer. Nothing that interesting," I say. "As for hobbies... well nothing that interesting there, either. I like music and reading and carpentry. I like to make stuff." It's nice, I think for the millionth time, to use my hands to do something that isn't weird and isn't going to hurt anyone. Building bookcases or fixing up old furniture is nice and ... relaxing."

"I used to go camping a lot, but that hasn't happened in a long time..." I start to trail off but I try to recover. "I now I sometimes like to take long bike rides -- ten miles or more. To ... get away. ... sometimes," I say, awkwardly, realizing that I'm making things worse, not better. I didn't want to admit how much I like to just get away from this school and be somewhere quiet and alone. Someplace where I don't have to worry about being 'different.'

[KatnotKath]

OOC: hope this is okay, if you think the walking is too much and want it taking out just say

~Liz~

Max insists that the cookies are great, causing me to smile softly. "Thanks..."

He assures me that he doesn't mind me rambling as I make my apology, pointing out that we came to talk, and that's what I'm doing... He smiles at me, causing a thrill to run through my spine for some unknown reason. I've told him things that I never talk about with anyone else, I've invited him back and it's strange, because while I'm nervous and awkward in some senses, there's another part of me that feels comfortable in a way I never knew possible, just sitting here...with him...

As he goes on to say that his dad is a lawyer, commenting that it's not that interesting, I shake my head. "Actually being a lawyer sounds a whole lot more interesting than running a diner..." It's not as though my parent's place has gone national or anything, or even as though they've expanded over the years... It's a small place, mainly frequented by tourists or the kids from the local school. The fast food section of the menu leaves a lot to be desired, and they don't exactly have money to throw around... "My parents work long hours, in a pretty horrible environment and struggle to get by on the profits they earn..."

I make it sound terrible don't I? I pick out all the bad things, make it sound like there's nothing good about it, but in truth it's more a case that I'm trying not to think about how much I miss it I guess. Easier to think of the bad things and try to tell myself I don't care about not being there, than to think about the lively atmosphere, the fact my mom and dad were there and the place I grew up...

"As for hobbies...well nothing that interesting there either." Max goes on to say he likes music, reading and carpentry. This last surprises me a little at first, although the more I think about it, the more I can see why that might be one of his chosen passtimes... Continuing, he speaks of going camping in the past, although he trails off as he admits it hasn't happened in a long time and I wonder if that's something he did back home...

"I now sometimes like to take long bike rides -- ten miles or more. To...get away...sometimes..."

He breaks off awkwardly and I nod. "It's nice sometimes isn't it...?" I comment softly, reading between the lines with a small smile. He likes to get away from here... "I don't ride a bike, so I don't get so far, but I go walking a lot..." It's not exactly the same thing, but it's similar I guess. I take my journal with me usually, sometimes I can spend hours writing, sitting under, or even in, some tree or other, although of course I don't tell Max about that for the moment. Shrugging I sigh. "Maria loves going into town to go shopping, or go to the club, but I guess I go more for simpler, or in her view boring stuff..."

[Fehr'sBear]

Jess

Maria takes my hand as we walk towards the club, and though it's quite unexpected, I just take it in stride, smiling as she explains about this guy's dirt collection. "Believe it or not, he does. They're in mason jars on shelves around the walls, all labeled with places and dates. It's kinda wacky, but it's cool."

When we enter the club, I instantly take a liking to the dim lighting and the loud rock band that's playing live on a stage in one corner. This is a pretty nice place. And the music's not half bad either.

"So, you want to eat something first? The Dirt Club doesn't have a lot in the way of meals, but you can get a burger or something." Maria explains to me, and we head over to a bar sort of area, where they seem to be serving food.

"Well, I'm not really hungry, cause I don't like to eat before I...you know, change," I whisper in her ear so the people around us, who aren't listening anyways, can't hear it.

"But I guess I could go for something to drink. What about you?"

[Fehr'sBear]

Bump. Waiting on a Maria post.