Time Warp: Passing Afternoon (Mei)

[Michelle Reed]

Date: November 3rd, 2012

Rain pelted against the window of the first floor dormitory in a consistent rhythm. It was hard to hear it over the noise in the room from all the students gathering in one area. As the days grew shorter and the Vermont weather got worse, more often than not students would hide out inside to avoid the inevitable rain and snow. While Michelle didn't mind the rain, (she was from Vancouver afterall) she was not looking forward to the cold winter ahead. Hopefully it wouldn't be as bad as everyone said it would be.

Transitioning to life at Hammel for the first month had been tiring, to say the least. Being told that she was some sort of meta with an ability was shocking; it was the kind of thing you saw in movies or read in comic books. Michelle never expected it to happen to her. Here, it was called psionic blasts but she called it a burden. Not a gift, but a disaster. It caused headaches and when she inadvertently used it, it made her tired. The staff at Hammel insisted that she would soon learn how to control and use her ability. Being surrounded by other kids her age who also had to deal with the same problem was a bit comforting, though.

She eyed the crowded room, trying to find a place to sit in peace. It sounded like there were a million different conversations going on at the same time. Her eyes landed on a place to sit, on one of the couches next to a girl with black hair and dark clothes. She was away from everyone else and also appeared to be someone who didn't mind silence. For a second, Michelle wondered if the other girl would mind if she sat next to her. But how did she ask that without sounding awkward or dumb? Was it expected that she ask?

Before she could think twice about her decision, Michelle took a seat on the opposite side of the couch, putting her backpack down in front of her and began rifling through her bag to find a book she had to read for her English class. She pulled it out and sat with the novel open, peeking over every so often to steal glances at the other girl. 

[Deleted]

Fourteen years old. Mei had just turned fourteen year old and what did she get for it? A crappy card. There wasn’t even any money inside. And written below the printed text was a cursive that was far too legible to be her mother’s and far to existent to be her fathers, despite the notation at the bottom saying it was from them. Mei had an inkling of a thought that both of them had been far too wrapped up in preparations for the Halloween masquerade they threw every year to remember that they had an (adopted) daughter with a birthday to even celebrate. In the past, her presence around them at least reminded them to give her something, like a pre-paid AMX card. Or a dress that she’d never wear. At least something that said they remembered if only for appearances sake. She’d parade around in the dress for an hour to show off her appreciation, then it would hang in her armoire to never be seen again.

To say Mei was disappointed was…an understatement. She was downright livid and had every intention of holding it against her mother for years to come. Maybe she’d even point it out and embarrass her at the holiday party when December finally rolled around.

At least her friends didn’t forget. Right now she was curled up on the couch of the first floor commons with a brand new book in hand. Reading was a pastime she rather enjoyed, especially more recently since it often gave her a distraction from the clutter of voices that came with being around…anybody. Surprisingly, she was less bothered a crowd of voices around her than one or two that happened to be in the same room. Occasionally, though, there would be that one person who just couldn’t keep their thoughts at an indoor volume, and she’d often send them a glare and a shhh so she could get back to her reading. That happened a time or two already in this sitting.

Speaking of voices, she didn’t fail to notice the silent one of a girl who couldn’t make up her mind whether to sit down or not next to her. Mei pretended to ignore her. If she wanted to sit down, then that was her business, Mei didn’t own this couch, she simply occupied the corner of it for the time being. About time she made up her mind, she thought, unaware that she maybe thought it a little too loudly. The glances were making her uncomfortable, though. Why was she looking at her? Was there something on her face? Mei slid her eyes from her own book to the girl who’d sat beside her, then slid them back, shifting slightly in her discomfort. “……………w….what?” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Mei wasn’t even sure if the girl heard her.

[Michelle Reed]

Michelle was half tempted to give up and leave the first floor of the dorm, maybe hide out in her own dorm room for a bit with the door closed. Shut any of her roommates out, if they were even there at all. But part of her felt the need to at least try to put herself out there amongst her peers and maybe make a friend. The past month had been kind of lonely, afterall.

She missed her friends back home. She missed her family. She missed her old life.

One could only mope around for so long. A month was enough time to adjust and meet someone just as quiet as her and didn't mind silence. Yawning, Michelle took the seat on the couch next to that one girl, clutching her book tightly before opening the cover. Part of her worried that maybe she wasn't as nice as she once thought and the other part worried about putting herself out there that she actually never did. Instead, she debated with herself which normally didn't cause much of an issue. Except, unknowingly, in this case.

Michelle hadn't heard the projected comment from the girl. She blankly stared at the words on the page, not taking anything in. She stayed like that until a quiet voice cut through the air. With the noise going on around them, it was hard to hear but still loud enough to register. Michelle jumped, glancing over with red cheeks before returning her gaze to the book. "Oh... nothing, sorry I just... I'm sorry." She rambled, feeling her face burn from embarrassment. "I just..." She trailed off, having nothing to offer as an excuse. She didn't want to leave that sort of impression on the girl, but how could she possible begin to explain what a wreck she was in social situations without sounding like the biggest weirdo?

[Deleted]

Why had Mei thought coming down here was a good idea? Surely there were other places where people didn’t go to very often that she could find and make her go-to place for solitude? Maybe she’d try behind the stage in the auditorium next time. Or on the rooftop. Then she wouldn’t have random strangers coming up to her and trying to sit beside her. Even though this girl was quiet, she was thinking loud enough. Mei could hear her read the same line of her book at least three times in her head. How many more times was she going to do that before finally giving up?

Perhaps she should move? If this girl couldn’t concentrate with just hearing the normal level of audible chattering, then what were the chances that Mei could relax with twice that number in her head?

The girl’s reaction reminded Mei of…well, of herself, when she was directly approached by a stranger and expected to respond like a ‘normal’ person. Mei curled her pale lips into a soft smile, hearing the panicked explanation rush through her head.. “It’s okay…” she assured her, her voice meek and as thin as a string. ”I have that problem too,” she said, switching to an easier medium. ”I find this way much easier.” Sometimes. Other times, people still weren’t willing to listen. Mei closed her book, though kept a finger between the pages, saving her spot. She wasn’t going to get any reading done at this point, so there was little point in trying anymore. “Are you new?” she asked in her usual soft tone. Mei didn’t remember having seen her around before, but maybe that was simply because she didn’t pay attention?

[Michelle Reed]

Michelle read the same sentence over and over again, as it jumbled with the rest of her racing thoughts. Her mother's voice, telling her that the change was a great opportunity to make new friends. If only it were that easy.

Her flustered response showed just how well Michelle handled situations, which to say wasn't well at all. Almost immediately, she planned an escape; it consisted of getting up and bolting out of the room hoping to never see the girl again. Before she could react, the dark haired girl assured her that it was okay. Michelle sighed in relief, her posture slowly relaxing and mirroring the gentle smile the stranger gave. Though, she did jump a little when a voice came into her head. It took Michelle a second to realize that it was the same voice that spoke to her only moments ago. "Whoa..." She spoke out loud, before adding That's so cool! It's way easier to.. just think what you want to say.

She beamed, feeling a little more confident and self assured now. Nodding in response to her question, Michelle closed her own book but didn't bother saving her spot. It wasn't like she had gotten a lot done in the short time. "Yeah.. yeah, I'm new. I've been here for a month." She explained. Was it obvious? "Are you new as well?"

[Deleted]

Mei knew what it was like to be unable to say something that should have been so simple. ”Can’t you even say what you want to eat?” her mother would admonish her with. ”It’s a yes or no question, how hard can it be?” “If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak at all, your stammering is downright disgraceful.” Mei was glad to be away from that unholy witch-of-a-mother, even if only for a portion of the year where she would be forgotten about almost entirely.

Growing up, Mei wished she had someone around to tell her what she’d told Michelle. ”It’s okay. Just take your time.” They were simple words, simple reassurances that brought about a world of relief. Mei offered another small smile, one on the verge of a giggle even, when the girl became visibly surprised to hear a ‘mysterious voice’ in her head. Ah, this girl wasn’t so dumb, Mei thought. She figured it out quickly, and even replied in the same manner as her. ”Isn’t it?” she replied, her smile growing slightly. Mei wouldn’t be able to keep it up for long, though. A headache was already starting to rear it’s ugly head.

Mei nodded, her expression relaxing as the girl beside her continued(or more literally, started) to speak. She shrugged up a shoulder. “A year,” she said simply, her voice as light as a feather. It’d been almost exactly a year, in fact, give or take a few days. Mei parted her lips again, hanging them open for a moment before finally deciding on her words. “I’m Mei,” she said. “And you are….?” Mei left it opened ended, assuming the girl would pick up on what she was trying to ask.

[Michelle Reed]

Thankfully for Michelle, her mother had a gentler approach when it came to her lack of social skills. She was mostly concerned that there was something wrong with her daughter, but maybe after this Michelle could call her and tell her about the really nice girl. That is, assuming they kept in contact after this day.

"So, you can hear this? And what I'm thinking?" Michelle asked, crinkling her nose in concentration as she tried to directly send her thoughts over to the girl beside her. Was it even necessary for her to do that, or would she naturally pick up on all of her thoughts? It was just so cool!

"Oh wow, a year." Michelle mused out loud, nodding a couple of times to herself before continuing her train of thought. "Do you feel... you know, pretty comfortable here then?" She asked, fidgeting with her fingers. It was probably a stupid question but she just wanted to know if it got easier.  Dealing with all the noise and chaos, specifically. "Like... yeah." Michelle decided it would be best if she just kept her mouth shut until she gathered her thoughts into coherent enough sentences.

"Mei... that's a really pretty name." Michelle complimented with a genuine smile. "My name's Michelle."

[Deleted]

Mei giggled. How long had it been since she was able to giggle in the face of friendliness. Typically, she’d become so flustered that even saying hello was a chore, expressing any enjoyment was the last thing on her mind. “I can,” she said softly. “Loud and clear.” She heard the girl’s wonderings as well and offered a small tidbit of explanation. “It’s easier when you direct them at me.” Otherwise, it just sounded like a whisper, often incoherent and cluttered along with other thoughts Mei might be picking up at the same time. She hadn’t become as practiced yet in blocking out the voices, with only a year of training behind her.

Mei turned her gaze out to the room, which was still cluttered with other students, as she considered the question. “It’s okay,” she said, choosing to give her mind a rest. This girl was nice and unforceful, like herself. She could afford to take her time in devising a response without stressing too much. “My power makes it hard sometimes.” And her anxiety made it harder. But overall….it wasn’t home, is what mattered.

The darkly dressed girl curled her lips into a broader smile. “Thank you,” she said with a slight pink touching her cheeks. “Michelle is pretty too.” The pink color only spread with the compliment. “Um….” Mei started, feeling her throat tighten up as she considered her question. But she wanted to say it, it would just take a little bit of time. “D-do you want to….to go somewhere….?” she stammered cautiously. “S-somewhere else…I mean….if you want to….” That probably sounded pretty dumb, didn’t it? Mei hoped she hadn’t put Michelle off with the question…though she couldn’t think of why she would have outside of her own insecurities.

[Michelle Reed]

Beaming still, Michelle's grin widened as Mei let out a giggle. Already, she felt at ease next to her and at ease in the conversation, which was something of a feat. Maybe because Mei opened up about her own anxieties that came with speaking out loud and offered a solution that worked for the two of them. Even if it was only temporary; it was still something.

Noting her comment about directing any mental comments towards her, Michelle looked over at Mei as she spoke again. "Understandable. It must be a lot to deal with." She sympathized before lapsing into silence. Comfortable silence. Shared between two girls who didn't feel the need to talk at every moment.

Likewise, Michelle felt her cheeks grow hot at the compliment. She'd never been able to accept compliments easily, but it was still appreciated. At least she wasn't denying it or something. Reaching up, she pushed her frizzy strands of hair off of her face, wishing that she had a hair elastic. "Oh yeah! That sounds good... I mean, it is kind... you know, crowded here." And sometimes that got too overwhelming.

[Deleted]

Mei really was thankful for her telepathy, as it did provide her with an alternate to speaking out loud, which brought her more relief than she could say. Literally. “It’s not so bad,” she said with a soft smile. Despite the problems she had with blocking out unwanted voices, she liked having some way to communicate when her own voice failed her. It wasn’t like she froze up her throat and stammered because she liked it, after all.

It was crowded, and Mei didn’t want to be so distracted by people when she was trying to make a new friend. She nodded, smiling that Michelle had taker her up on the offer. Now…where was a good place for them to go? Where did Mei like to go when she wanted to be alone…?

Mei looked up. “The roof, maybe?” she suggested, turning her gaze back down to Michelle. It wasn’t a perfectly isolated spot…but it was really nice, just the same.

[Michelle Reed]

At least Mei appeared to keep a somewhat positive and optimistic view about her ability. For Michelle, it was a burden; something that seemingly dragged her down. Then again, it had only been a month. Maybe after some time, she too would find it easier to deal with. "I guess you're probably use to it now, which makes it a lot easier." She said, amending her first statement.

Her eyes widened. "The roof?" She repeated. Were they even allowed up there? It sounded cool though! "Yeah, sure! I've never been on top of the roof though." Michelle admitted, which wasn't that hard to believe considering her short time at the school so far. "Sounds... like a nice quiet place to hang out."

Needless to say, Michelle was excited. Her eyes met with Mei's, a smile on her face at the invitation. "I'll follow if you lead the way." She said, tucking her book back into her backpack.

[Deleted]

Mei smiled sweetly at the girls she hoped was to be a new friend. “Perfect practice, makes perfect,” she said simply, repeating a phrase that her mother often used when she was growing up. It was a phrase that brought her a lot of stress, to be honest, but wasn’t a philosophy that she could shake easily either.

She nodded, leaning forward as she started to move her feet out from underneath her, her hair falling forward over her shoulders with the movement. “It’s nice,” she told Michelle. And it really was. The view was amazing too. “You can see the whole school from up there. The town too.” It was quiet too, most of the time. Somehow, it wasn’t the first place a lot of students thought to hang out in. And it was a big, open space, so they didn’t have to feel crowded either.

“Okay!” she said, her smile brightening up as she pushed herself off the couch. How long had it been since she’d been this excited for a friend? Probably not as long as she thought, but anxiety certainly made it feel like lifetime. “It’s this way,” she said, pointing towards the stairs. They did go all the way up. It just seemed natural for students to not go past the top floor when ascending them, she supposed. Mei grabbed her own bag and book, and carried them along with her as she led Michelle up the many flights of stairs. “I wish the elevator went all the way up,” she said idly during the ascent. She didn’t really like walking too much, if she didn’t have to.

[Michelle Reed]

"That's true," Michelle agreed optimistically. "I just have to keep working on it and soon it'll be no big deal." At least, she hoped that was the case. She would hate to stay around any longer than needed just to make sure she wasn't going to be a danger to society or anything.

The more Mei talked about the roof of the school, the more excited Michelle was to follow her up there. It was sort of like an adventure; a really mild adventure really, but it was something for the girl who found it so hard to put herself out there. "I bet you could take some cool photos up there." She commented. She would probably take a few on her phone, just for keepsake.

Packing up her bag, Michelle slid the strap over one shoulder as she rose from the couch cushion, eagerly following Mei away from the crowded lounge towards the freedom of the roof. She followed one step behind, up all the stairs that kept going. "That'd be nice." She said with a light laugh, nodding in agreement. She definitely wasn't in the best shape and all these stairs were a lot to handle. "But it's gonna be so worth it."

[Deleted]

”Exactly”, Mei thought to herself with a smiley nod. Practice was always essential to gaining a new skill, whether it was for powers training or even something as simple as conversing. If you never did it, then of course it was going to be difficult when you needed to. If only other people could understand that. It was often other people’s lack of understanding that made things seem so hard when they shouldn’t be.

Mei felt the same as Michelle. Going onto the roof seemed like such a taboo thing to do for some reason, which was probably why not a lot of people did it. The black clad girl nodded again. “Yes. Probably.” She never tried to take any professional photos though, just one or two pics with her cell phone. It may as well be the same thing, many phone cameras were nearly as good as professional SLRs these days.

“Mmhmm!” she hummed excitedly. If she really thought about it, this might be the first time Mei had gone up there with a friend….if that’s what Michelle was to her already? No, it was probably too soon to say that, and just like always, Mei was going to make a fool of herself somehow and Michelle would realize the goth girl just wasn’t worth it. Mei shook her head, hoping none of those thoughts accidentally slipped out. She really needed to exercise better control over them.

It took a bit of time, but soon enough the girls had reached the top of the stairwell to the door that pushed open to the roof. The day was overcast, but the rain that had been falling earlier had dwindled into a light drizzle….she smiled, looking across the rooftop to see the edge of the woods just over there. The November breeze that chilled her cheeks and ears. Mei crossed her arms and turned to the long-haired brunette who had followed her. “Maybe…we should have brought…jackets…” she commented with a small, sheepish laugh.

[Michelle Reed]

Although going on the school roof was one of the least rebellious things a person could do, for Michelle it was a change from the norm. It would be their little secret. Afterall, if everyone went to the rooftop then that wasn't any fun and it wouldn't be the secluded thought any longer. "It'd be a new perspective, that's for sure." She added.

Already there was a shift in Michelle's posture; subtle, but there. There was a spring in her step that hadn't been there when she first walked into the first floor of the dormitory building. Now she had Mei, someone to be around instead of awkwardly trailing around alone. Likewise, Michelle was also worried about accidentally saying or doing something dumb that would lead to a bad impression. Because that always seemed to happen. So far, so good though.

By the time they reached the top of the stairs, Michelle was breathing a bit heavier. She did her best to mask her uneven breaths by smiling and looking off in the distance through the drizzle of the rain. The woods behind the school provided the perfect backdrop to the November day. Cheeks reddened from the exercise and the cold air, Michelle stayed silent as she took in the sight, laughing at Mei's comment. "Probably would have been a good idea, yeah." She said, pulling at the sleeves of her plaid button up shirt.

"This is... so incredible. Wow." She spoke. "How'd you even find your way up here?"