[Power Swap] United We Stand? [Vanessa]

[Christopher Suzuki]

When Chris woke up in the morning something felt odd. It was that odd feeling like something was missing. He couldn't put a name to exactly what it was though. It was the weekend, and he always got his homework done the night it was assigned so that couldn't've been it. Everything else about the morning seemed in place.

Still, he got up and ready for the day with a nagging feeling something was missing. When he tried to think of an answer, he only drew blanks. He was pretty much blank all morning. He'd go to do something, but just as he'd leave the room he'd forget what he left for. It was frustrating, and he honestly didn't know what he was frustrated at.

By the afternoon he decided maybe going for a little jog could help give him clearer thoughts. He changed to looser clothes, pulled his hair back into a nubby ponytail, and headed out with his iPod in hand. Christopher was only hearing the music as it played, but didn't listen. It was just sounds in his ears. His plan was to jog around the campus a bit. However he realized he was heading towards town when he finally took notice to the buildings around him.

Slowing down to a walk, Chris started wandering around the town. He thought he was heading off aimlessly, but something felt right about the direction he was going.

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

When Vanessa has woke up that morning, she awoke to the strangest sensation. Like something important was missing from her vicinity. Of course, her first instinct was to go down the hall and check on her son, Christian, who was still peacefully sleeping the morning away. Weird. Although seeing that he was alright put her at ease, the sensation still tugged away inside. She found herself staring out the window all morning, while having a slice of toast and watching the morning news.

Eventually, the urge to... just go outside was too much. Vanessa drummed her fingertips on the armrest of the sofa, suddenly standing upright as she couldn't take it anymore. Maybe a walk in the afternoon sun would be enough to pull her out of this strange haze. She couldn't concentrate on anything else. She took a few minutes to collect necessities and dress Christian for the weather, as well as herself. Soon, the pair were travelling the streets of downtown Pilot Ridge.

The feeling inside of Vanessa's chest grew stronger. The Hispanic woman lifted her head, her gaze landing on a few strangers walking by. Now she was more confused than anything else. "Here sweetie, let's go this way." She suggested, turning the stroller around to head back in the direction she came from. There was something inside of her saying to go this way, instead of continuing on the other way.

[Christopher Suzuki]

Chris had found himself going down some streets more than once. He felt like he was headed in circles on a wild goose chase. What he was chasing was beyond him. All he knew was that he'd turn one way and find himself going the opposite direction with a strong feeling that it was the right way. It baffled him.

A good few minutes later, the boy found himself staring at a woman with a stroller across the street. There was a sense of realization in him, like finding a long lost twin. He'd never seen her before, but she filled in that missing gap. There was no explanation he could think of, it was all off of a feeling in his gut.

Cursing under his breathe quietly at his confusion, Chris crossed the street to go see if he could get an answer out of the woman. "Hey..." He called out to her. He didn't really think out what he'd say to her, but then again, his head was in a haze all day so far. "Miss, uh... " Chris didn't want to just flat out ask who she was, but that was the only way he could think to word it. He was at a bit of the loss for the situation.

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

Currently, Vanessa had no sense of direction or a set goal in mind. She still believed that she was just going on a walk with her son, completely unaware that her unconscious mind was searching for someone. As she continued down the sidewalk, that same uneasy feeling that led her to believe someone was missing seemed to be disappearing. Her eyes searched across the streets, hoping to find a familiar face, like Kai or Zach or Kiara.

The streets seemed empty, though, her gaze landing on a sole male, who looked to be student age. Vanessa didn't know him; given their age gap, it would be weird. But the feeling... disappeared when she saw him. Her eyebrows narrowed together in confusion. This was completely illogical! It went against everything she believed in. Was this some stupid 'love at first sight' because if so, she felt sick thinking about it.

He began to come closer, her heart beating erratically. Vanessa straightened up, hoping to maintain some sense of composure. "Hey... uhm..." She had no idea what his name was and it didn't dawn on her initially that they had said 'hey' at the same time. "Vanessa." She filled in the blank, looking at the younger boy, expecting him to do the same.

[Christopher Suzuki]

For some reason the synchronized greeting wasn't surprising to Chris. It was filling the gap more. It didn't make any sense at all when he tried to think it through. This woman was a total stranger and with her child too. Everything he'd done was out of a gut instinct. Why his gut made him meet her was beyond him.

As she answered his unspoken question, the boy adjusted his glasses trying to figure out why Vanessa of all people. There were plenty of students he could've bumped into. Instead it was her, this random woman, he was drawn to. "Chris. Sorry, do you get..." Not knowing the right word to use, he made a vague gesture with his hands. "This?" It wasn't the best way to would the question, but he figured she knew what he meant. Perhaps the feeling was mutual.

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

Unlike Chris, Vanessa was taken aback by the synchronized greeting. Sure, it was a common way too start a conversation, but the fact that they had spoken at the exact same time unsettled the woman. It wasn't like this was a close friend either; it was a stranger. She narrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Nothing was making sense, which bothered the highly logical thinking Vanessa.

Christian, on the other hand, was happy to meet a new face. "Mommy!" He exclaimed, pointing to Chris. "A small bubble of laughter escaped his lips.

She had answered the unspoken question, but it didn't feel incomplete to Vanessa. She felt... connected to him. Which was strange enough given the age gap, but also since she had never seen him before. Chris was his name. Her eyes flickered between the stroller and Chris, shrugging slightly. "This?" She said, confused since it made no sense for the word to have come from her lips.

"No." Vanessa answered honestly. "I... I don't know you. But this feels... you know?" She was using vague words as way. It had taken her awhile, but Vanessa finally was aware of the existence of metas in the town of Pilot Ridge. She didn't have much knowledge on the subject, but knew they existed. The thought that something could have happened between her and Chris hadn't dawned on her.