Feeling Good - Jackie, Open Tag

[Jackie Vick]

Bounding down the stairs two at a time, Jackie called out to her dad that she was leaving. Having asked his permission to go out to the lake today, she made sure she took every precaution necessary so that her father wouldn't worry so in her bag was an umbrella, some bandages, a bottle of water, some chips and her wallet that contained a few dollar bills, her library card and a little white card that had her name, her address and her dad's cell phone number.

Yes, she was very much prepared. Thanks to her father.

So out she went to the lake to just enjoy the sun. It wasn't too often that she wanted to leave the house so she was sure her father was more than a little happy to let her go.

Once she found a nice shady tree to sit under, Jackie took out an Enid Blyton collection book and cracked it open to the last page she had bookmarked. Leaning back, the world around her was completely shut off and she dove straight into the world of the Wishing-Chair.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat found it to be incredibly sunny that day as she got out of bed. She felt like just being outside and that was rare for Cat. Normally she was more of an indoors person. She was more comfortable inside, reading, then outside having to exists. Though. She did like sunny days. She really did. Maybe that’s why today she decided to go hole up somewhere and just read. That was fine with Cat.

Smiling she made her way off campus and down to the lake. There was a particular tree that looked amazing to read under. It really would have. Except… there was already someone there. And someone small. Cat smiled. It was not often she saw little kids anymore. Generally Cat liked little kids. They were always able to make her smile. Even if they didn’t know it.

Cat knew that people reading did not like to be disturbed. So instead she sat down on the other side of the tree and took out Matilda by Roald Dahl. . Even though some might consider it a “kids book” she really did enjoy reading it. She thought the main character was witty and fun even though she was so desperately out of place in her home.

Curious as to see what the younger girl was reading Cat poked her head around. She smiled at the familiar book. “ So I take it you like the Enid Blyton collection? I’m reading Dahl at the moment.” She smiled over at the younger girl . She really hoped she would not scare her. That in fact was the last thing Cat had or would want to do.

( Nuuuuu~ i'm jumping in here.. Is that ok?)

[Jackie Vick]

[OOC: It's an open thread! Of course it's okay!]

BIC:

Jackie was immediately lost in her own world as she imagined herself finding her very own wishing chair and wishing her way into a world where she was a Disney Princess. Or even be with one. She wasn't picky.

She absorbed every single word from the book, letting her own imagination run with the characters in the book. So much so was she lost that she didn't even realise someone was there until a voice jarred her out of her imaginary world and back to the bland reality with it's less than vibrant colours and less than magical human beings.

Her big blue eyes widened as she found herself not quite alone anymore under the shady tree. And she was parched. "Um, yeah. I...is that Matilda?" Her eyes were drawn down to the book in the other girl's hand. "It's not my all-time Roald Dahl favourite but it's up there. Loved the movie though." She said quietly with a little smile.

She turned to her bag for her bottle of water an took a sip before turning to the other girl and offering the bottle. "Would you like some? The weather's great but it does tend to get you a little thirsty."

[Catherine Novella]

Cat watched as the younger girl tumbled out of the imaginary world that she had created. Cat could just about see the glimmer and glitz of imagination fall out of the girls eyes as she slowly acknowledged Cat here in the real world. It really was a shame and Cat almost regretted waking her of that imaginative state.

Cat smiled at the girl as she fumbled for words getting distracted by the books title. “ Yes it is Matilda.” Laughing Cat looked down at the book in her hands. “ Matilda always was one of my favorites. I just had to read it again after I shelved it the other day in the library.” Cat smiled as the other girl admitted to not having Matilda as a favorite. Hey that was ok. It just was not for some people. “I also like the Twits and James and the Giant Peach by him. But yes, I do admit the movie Matilda was excellent.”

Cat watched silently as the younger girl reached into her bag and pulled out some water. Cat had to laugh she really did. Opening her own bag Cat pulled out some water also and a few snacks. “Great minds think alike I see. Cookies?” Yes Cat had cookies, and yes she would share if the younger girl wanted some.

( ooc: yay!)

[Jackie Vick]

"The Witches. Best Roald Dahl work ever. A little dark at times but enjoyable nonetheless." Jackie said, nodding sagely. Truth be told, neither of her parents actually knew she read The Witches. It was the one book of Roald Dahl's that they had that they didn't let Jackie read. At least not yet. But Jackie always knew good hiding spots in the house so nobody actually found out.

"Oh," Jackie's lips formed into a smile when the older girl produced cookies and snacks. "Nice, nice. But it's okay. I'll keep with mine." Jackie patted her bag and closed her book on her lap. "Why are you here alone?" she asked, tilting her head to the side, her big blue eyes inquisitive.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat raised an eyebrow at the girls choice of favorite by Dahl. She honestly thought she might be a little young to read it but hey, whatever. Laughing Cat looked at the younger girl. “I think anything by him is enjoyable. What else do you like to read? I read most anything and everything.” Cat knew she was a little out of her element here but she was fine with that. She just hoped she was not scaring the poor girl.

Cat smiled when the girl refused her cookies and snacks, there was nothing wrong with it and hey she had offered to share. Cat watched as the girl closed the book on her lap and began to think. She smiled when asked the question. “ Well, I just sort of wanted to get lost with my book today and did not want anyone to find me from Hammel. There are sometimes it is just good to be left alone.” Cat realized she was contradicting herself. “ Oh! I can leave you alone if you want me to. I didn’t mean to interrupt you!”

[Jackie Vick]

"I think he's pretty cool." Jackie nodded. "Um, Enid Blyton." She answered. "I don't...like to read anything else." She replied with a frown. It wasn't that she didn't like to read. She just thought it was pointless if she didn't know the words. She had grown up with Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl books and they used simple words. And had pictures. She liked books with pictures. They were entertaining and easy to digest.

But the older girl didn't have to know that little nugget. It was embarrassing to even admit it to herself let alone a stranger.

Then Hammel was mentioned, Jackie's eyes lit up. "You're from Hammel? Do you know my brother? Elliot Vick? He does things with plants. It's super cool! There was this one time I put a seed into the ground and he touched it and it grew into this funky looking flower with spikes in it. Elliot's the best. I'm sure you've seen him around. Have you?" Jackie trailed a mile a minute.

Then she remembered her manners. "Oh hi, I totally forgot to introduce myself. I'm Jackie. I do have manners, I swear." She extended her hand and offered a big smile.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat smiled when the younger girl admitted to not reading much else except those two authors. “ I am sorry to say I have never read Enid Blyton. But Have you ever read any of The Boxcar Children series? It is around he same reading level and very fun. I have to say I immensely enjoyed reading all of those books when I was your age. Lots of Pictures and the values of the book really hit home. I mean who would not want to live in a Boxcar while they were running away from home?”

Cat smiled at the younger girl. Cat was just happy that someone younger was reading, hey if she could help in someway then it was great, if not and she just wanted to be left alone Cat was fine with that too. She would just go ahead and read. Fun times.

Cat smiled as the younger girl’s eyes lit up at the mention of the school. As she started to go on about her brother Cat smiled more. She may not know this young girl’s brother but her roommate was a plant manipulator, maybe that would keep her interest. “ Yes I am from Hammel, but unfortunately I have not had the pleasure of meeting your brother. My roommate can also control plants so yes that is a really cool power. She once had topiary bush come up and tap me on the shoulder. I have to say that gave me quite a scare. But it was fun.”

Cat smiled as the younger girl introduced herself. “ Oh it is perfectly fine, as it seems I myself have also forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Catherine Novella, but you may call me Cat if you wish. “ Cat took the younger girls hand and shook it with a smile. “ Manners are somewhat over rated at some points anyway.”

[Jackie Vick]

"You haven't? Well. She's pretty awesome. She wrote a bunch of kid detectives solving like really cool crimes and catching the baddies at the end. Really feel good stuff." Jackie explained. She frowned in concentration as the older girl spoke about children in...boxcars? What was a boxcar even? As was customary, Jackie didn't ask for fear of sounding and looking completely stupid. "Yeah, dream come true." Jackie said with a hesitant smile.

She slumped a little when the older girl said she didn't know Elliot but no matter. Her friend sounded so interesting! She was sure to ask Elliot if he knew other plant manipulators. They could make a whole garden between the two of them! However, she couldn't quite understand the fear the older girl had expressed when Jackie was sure there were other powers much scarier than a moving bush.

"Really? That's awesome." Jackie enthused. "Maybe Elliot knows her. What's her name?"

"Novella?" Jackie's eyesbrows shot up with a smile. "Isn't that like, story? Like novel? My dad's an English lit professor at U of V. He deals with novels and stuff." The thirteen year old nodded. Jackie had heard the term overrated before but she wasn't entirely sure of the usage of the word so she just kept quiet, letting her hand drop down to her side. "So if you're from Hammel, you have an ability right?" Jackie turned to face Cat with a curious grin. "May I ask what it is?"

[Catherine Novella]

Cat smiled as Jackie went on about Ms. Blyton. “ Kid detectives are pretty awesome. Wait a minute and ill remember the other author that wrote kid detective stories. The name is really escaping my mind right now. I know its not the Nancy Drew series, and I know its not the Hardy Boys. Oh wait! It was the Trixie Belden Series.” Cat smiled down at Jackie. “ If you are ever interested in that types of stories those might work.”

Cat smiled as Jackie affirmed the idea Cat had brought up. “You know the caboose, the end car on a train? Well a boxcar is what those carriers are. They do have formal names but if it is carrying cattle or freight it is called a boxcar.” Cat hoped that that would explain what a boxcar was. She had just figured that since it was not a term that was used that often she might better explain it.

Cat watched as Jackie slumped a bit, but when she had heard that Cat’s roommate was a plant controller as well Cat smiled as Jackie brightened. “Her name is Autumn Buckland. She has red frizzy hair and doesn’t like to wear shoes.” Cat smiled at the thought of her roommate. “ She keeps a few plants in her room. They all tend to do as she asks. Apparently different plants have different types of personalities. According to her strawberries have big pridea and are very showy in their personalities. “ Cat smiled over at Jackie. “ Autumn understands plants.”

Cat smiled at the mention of her last name. “ Yes a novella is a short novel. Want to know the kicker? My middle name is Paige. So every part of my name except for Catherine has to do with reading.” Cat smiled as she heard that Jackie’s dad worked at the University of Vermont and was an English professor. “ I hope to be a librarian after I graduate.”

When Jackie asked about her power Cat smiled albeit a bit unsure how to explain.” Yes I have a power. The fancy name for it is Creation Psychometry, though it doesn’t really explain it does it. I know what someone is thinking or feeling when they have written something down.” Cat tried to explain but it just was not coming. “It just sort f happens. I fainted after reading poetry written by a famous poet. It doesn’t help that all of the thoughts were in French. My brain does not process it if I do not know the language well.” Cat looked at the girl again. “ Any questions?”

[Jackie Vick]

Cat's suggestion was met with a nod though the little girl couldn't committ to memory even if she wanted to. But she was sure her father would know. Trixie Belden. It's a unique enough name for Jackie to remember. "I'll try to remember that. Thanks." Jackie smiled widely, drinking from her bottle of water.

Jackie's lips parted slightly when Cat seemed to have read her mind. Had she asked her question aloud? She didn't think so. Was that her power? Mind reading? Jackie kept quiet and let Cat continue talking. "Oh...I see." She nodded with a smile when in fact she did not quite see. Maybe she could ask Elliot to draw her a boxcar.

"Autumn Buckland. I love her name." Jackie beamed and giggled when it was revealed that this Autumn girl didn't like wearing shoes. The elementary school student didn't share that same passion but she can understand why someone wouldn't want anything restricting any part of their body. But really, what if they stepped on poop?

"That is so awesome. Elliot usually makes the plants in our house water themselves." The younger girl giggled softly.

"Wow. My name's so boring. It's just Jacqueline Vick. I get teased a lot too. Icky Vick, Clacky Jackie. I mean, no originality whatsoever but it gets so annoying! I much prefer my daddy calling me his jellybean." Which was an understatement. Jackie always felt that much more special whenever her dad called her that. Filled her with warm fuzzies that nickname.

"A librarian? That must be nice. To be able to do what you love and get paid to do it." She chuckled before a look of confusion covered her face as Cat explained her power. She got so lost in the explanation that it took awhile after Cat asked if she had questions that Jackie blinked back to reality in a daze.

"So wait, if I did my homework in an angry mood, you'd know? That's so weird!" Jackie clapped her hands in amusement. "I love it." She giggled. Jackie wished she had abilities but so far, nothing. Which annoyed her because her dad and her brother had it.

Her tummy grumbled and so she rummaged through her bag for the bag of crackers she had stuffed in earlier. "You want some crackers?" Jackie asked, shaking the bag around.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat watched as the girl nodded her head. She smiled as the girl noted it to memory and continued to become more of herself around Cat. “ You are quite welcome.” Cat watched as the girl took a few sips from her water and she did the same. Great minds really do think alike Cat thought wit a chuckle.

When Cat explained what a boxcar was to Jackie she smiled. “ Most people today aren’t quite sure what a boxcar is. I wanted to make sure you did. I hope I wasn’t being rude or anything trying to explain.” The last thing Cat wanted to do was offend the girl. “ Basically a boxcar is the each individual car of a train.”

Cat smiled when Jackie giggled at the name. “It is an awesome name.” Cat watched as the younger girl revealed in the fact that Autumn did not like wearing shoes. She herself was a fan of shoes, they protected her feet from all that could hurt them on the ground, but she admired Autumn for sticking to her beliefs. Cat herself laughed when Jackie mentioned her brother making the plants water themselves. “Must be beneficial to you so you don’t have to do it.”

Cat’s faced turned solemn when she heard about the girl getting called names. “ Your name is not boring. It has Pizazz! And the ones who are calling you those names have no originality and should all just go find some place to curl up and cry. I can see why it would get annoying and quite frankly we both know it is wrong. Those kids need to be taught a lesson. Name-calling is bad. “ Yes Cat was getting mad. She hated bullies with a passion. She herself had been bullied in the past, this led to her loathing of them now. “You wait and one day they will sorely wish they had not called you those names.” Cat’s eyes were bright with fury. She absolutely hated bullies.

Cat calmed down a bit when Jackie started talking about how the how it would be nice to do what you love and get paid for it. Smiling she looked at the girl as she further explained about her own power. “ I know it’s a lot to take in and sort of confusing.” When Jackie gave an example Cat nodded. “ Yes basically… But it only works when it wants to I have no control over it. If it did work I would also know how much you were resenting doing your homework, not to mention that I would know what you were thinking when you were doing it.”

Cat smiled at Jackie when her stomach grumbled. As Cat watched Jackie rumbling around in her bag fr some snacks she smiled again. She smiled even wider when Jackie offered some to her. “No thank you, they do look good though.” Cat wouldn’t take her crackers. It was not polite. “ I do have some cookies if you get tired of your crackers.”

[Jackie Vick]

As she explained further about boxcars, things snapped into place and she finally 'saw'. "Oh!" She elongated her response as she finally understood what Cat had been talking about. "You're not being rude!" Jackie shook her head, waving a hand in dismissal. "I didn't think it mattered," she shrugged. She really didn't but at least now she knew what a boxcar was!

Jackie giggled at Cat's response. "True. But it's not like I ever had to anyway." She grinned at the older girl.

When Cat defended her, Jackie was surprised. The older girl suddenly got dark and Jackie felt slightly awkward. What was going on? It was such a turn from the happy side the other girl had been showing since they first spoke. She didn't know what to say but thankfully she brightened back up afterwards. But Jackie was still worried about what had happened just two seconds ago.

"That's a pretty awesome power though. Like you could be an awesome detective! Maybe like, if a criminal wrote something down before he committed a crime, you'd know! Man, that would be a super cool TV show." Her voice trailed as she thought of all the possible premises of the show centering on Cat's powers.

She nibbled on her crackers furiously, like a little hamster, just stuffing little crumbs into her mouth and bulging up her cheeks as idea upon idea came to her. When Cat offered her cookies, Jackie looked up with her bulging cheeks and glinting eyes. It was hard to speak without crumbs spitting out of her mouth so Jackie chewed what was in her mouth properly and washed it down with her water before turning to Cat once again. "It's okay. I don't actually like cookies. I bake though but...I usually bake for daddy and Elliot." She shrugged.

Book clearly forgotten, Jackie suddenly looked up at the sky. It had darkened just slightly, but not to the point where she would be afraid of rain but it did mean a considerable amount of time had passed. She checked her watch and her eyes widened. "Would you look at that? Time just like flew by!" Jackie exclaimed, complete with whooshing sounds. "Do you have a curfew?"

[Catherine Novella]

Cat was glad that Jackie did not think her rude. That in itself was a good thing. That is something that Cat was really trying to avoid. She knew that sometimes people called her “bossy” or a “know it all” but Cat was just trying to be polite and explain things so people would understand them. Smiling at Jackie she looked at her again. “Well I just wanted to make sure you know what it was. Doesn’t that prospect sound much better now?”

Cat smiled and nodded at Jackie as she said she never had to water the plants anyway. “ That’s cool. I’m an only child so if I ever wanted plants or anything I would have to take care of them myself.” Cat smiled at her. “ I learned I really don’t have a green thumb quite young.”

Cat sighed as she looked at the girl’s shocked face and attitude. She realized that maybe this girl wasn’t used to this or did not understand why she was doing this. Cat was bullied when she was younger. She was teased relentlessly. Honestly she hated bullies. With a shaky smile she apologized to Jackie, “ Sorry, I just really hate bullies. No one your age should be bullied. Its just wrong.” Cat bit her lip and looked at the ground. “ Sorry for the outburst.”

Cat just smiled when Jackie began to think of her as a detective. She herself had never thought of using her power like that. It was amazing what little kids could think of. “ I don’t know… I don’t think I’m cut out for detective work. Its an awesome idea though.” Cat watched as Jackie got distracted by all the possibilities of it being a television show. “ To tell you the truth I don’t watch much television. Technology and I don’t seem to get along. I tend to read more actually.” Cat said all this with a soft little smile content to share just a bit about herself.

Cat watched as Jackie ate her crackers quite vigorously. She resister the urge to giggle. Honestly she looked like a small hamster and Cat could now, and probably would forevermore, picture her as such. Cat patiently waited for the younger girl to chew her mouth out. Smiling at the girls response she looked at her. “That’s awesome that you bake. I am afraid I am not allowed anywhere near the kitchen when I am home… Lets just say fires have been started.” Cat smiled at Jackie. “ As I said, technology and I don’t get along.”

Cat watched Jackie in interest and then looked up at the sky. Wow it had gotten dark fast. Wait… She had a curfew. Oh shoot. She watched as Jackie did almost the same thing that she did. “ Time flies when you are having fun.” Cat said with a soft smile. Cat looked at the girl again. Yes she did have a curfew. “ Yes actually I do…” Cat smiled. “ I should probably try to make that shouldn’t I?” Honestly Cat did not want to leave. Jackie was much more interesting then Hammel. Cat knew she should though. “ Do you know your way home from here?”

[Jackie Vick]

"Oh yes, I understand now. I just didn't think you would actually explain it to me that well. I...I tend to get blank looks and talked over most of the time so it's really no big deal if I actually don't know anything you're saying," Jackie gave out a nervous chuckle, not used to being so honest about her own failings.

Finding the idea of being an only child a little sad, Jackie quietly prayed that Cat's mother could get another baby, just so Cat wouldn't be so lonely. Jackie had never known a life of solitude what with Elliot and her dad still being okay with her clinginess. "Oh haha! Neither do I really but having a brother who can manipulate plants has its perks." She nodded with a grin.

Her grin drooped ever so slightly when Cat explained her outburst. "No, it's...it's fine. No big." She shook her head to reassure the older girl. "Besides, bullies are dumb. So whatever." The darker haired girl shrugged and patted Cat's shoulder. "Don't worry."

She gave Cat a little grin at her 'fessing up to her inadequecy. Jackie's wasn't a whiz at technology either but she did like to watch TV. "I can understand. I'm the same with schoolwork."

"I'm not good at it. I like experimenting. But I am pretty good at peanut butter and macadamia cookies. They're my specialty." She nodded and started packing things up.

"Oh yeah. My daddy is picking me up in like...five minutes. I can wait for him til then. You should go since your curfew is much more strict, boarding school and all." She gave a hesitant smile, not sure if she actually wanted to leave. But her dad did say he was picking her up.

And just in time, she heard a honk from the far end of the lake. "Oh! That's daddy! It was so nice meeting you, Cat. We should do this again some time. Maybe I'll find the Boxcar kids books and we can review some of them or something." Jackie jumped and waved at Cat. "I'll see you around!"

[OOC: Thank you for jumping in Cat. I say this can be wrapped up?]