Mistaken Identity (Leon)

[Andi Thalis]

It had been a hard time for the girl, nursing a broken heart while going to school and keeping her face. She had been avoiding Dani, Matt’s inquisitive little sister, about what had happened at the party, and she didn’t look into Mr. White’s face to feel his sympathy on her. She hoped that his son got into so much trouble for doing such a stupid thing. Just thinking about Ethan made her eyes close and tears to leak out of the corners before they opened, fiery determination blazing from the green hazel eyes.

She would not cry.

Walking past the buildings and into the courtyard, the open space made her feel a bit better. She breathed the air in deeply, feeling fall around the corner and smelling the upcoming snow in the air. Wearing a long sleeved shirt and a pair of ripped jeans with her tennis shoes, she didn’t feel that cold against the breeze. Her hair whipped behind her in its ponytail, her bangs brushing her eyes with the wind.

She could smell smoke.

Looking around, she located a boy who was lighting up in the corner of the courtyard, and her eyes tried to place why he looked so familiar. He reminded her of another brunette, this time with striking blue eyes that had raced her on the mountainside…was it Sam? Puzzled, she walked closer until it was apparent that he would look up at her, and when he did, she stopped and looked into those brown eyes of his, and she smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry, you look like a friend of mine, and I thought you were him,” she told the guy in her embarrassment, and turned to walk away.

[Leon Belenos]

Things were still unclear where they were with Jalen and so Leon had found himself outside again, wearing a black hoodie and track pants. He had just finished going for a jog and was doing his cool down. He would walk for a minute, and jog for another, until his heart rate slowed down. He was bound to figure things out sooner or later, and for now he would just live life as normally as he could. Besides, him and Jalen weren't exclusive, nor was he even sure they were a couple. So it wouldn't stop him from hitting on any pretty little thing he came across.

Finally Leon was done his cool down, and he found himself a seat in the corner of the courtyard. He happily took the spot and reached into his pockets, searching for the one friend that would never fail him, so long as he had a little change to spare. Placing the cigarette in his mouth, it only took him a moment to light it up and start inhaling. The only way he could describe the feeling of smoke filling his lungs was pure ecstasy. He only ran because he felt like he had to do something healthy to make up for all the smoking he did; that and the fact that it was a form of release for him that was almost as good as writing.

Hearing footsteps approach him, Leon couldn't help but wonder if someone he knew was coming to join him for conversation. He wasn't quite in the mood, but he'd be able to deal with it well enough, after all he did have his cigarettes. He put a smile on his face and looked up to see someone that he had not quite had the pleasure of meeting yet. She was pretty enough, especially with the beautiful autumn background framing her form. He openly took a look up and down as he enjoyed his cigarette.

"It's cool... you don't have to go you know." Leon said as he pushed himself up off of the bench he was on. "The name's Leon Belenos...just in case you want to know, my ability is pyrokinesis, cause I know you're bound to ask sooner or later. And you are?" He said with a smirk; the slow burning cigarette hanging out of his mouth. He brushed his hair out of his face as he looked at her and waited for a reply. Her hair was chocolate coloured, and her eyes green eyes caught his attention. He looked at them for a moment, getting lost as the leaves blew around them on the ground.

[Andi Thalis]

He spoke and it was the smoke he exhaled; warm, smooth, husky. Unable to resist such a voice, Andi turned to watch him stand. He was taller than her, as was expected, but his body structure hinted at muscle under the baggy clothes he wore, which made her appreciate him. Yes, it was so soon after Ethan’s betrayal, but she needed to get back into the game, even if it was for a bit of fun. He introduced himself and she smiled, a true smile that hadn’t been seen on her face in some time.

“Andi Thalis, a pleasure to meet you, Leon,” she said in a friendly tone. “Mine’s tactile combustion. I’ve never met a pyro before, seems like a lot of fun.” She inhaled the smoke he produced; even though she wasn’t a smoker, smoke brought back memories for her. Acting like the person she was, she took the cig from his mouth and kept it in her hand, out of his reach. “Smoking’s bad for you,” she said with a smirk, tucking the cig behind her ear. As it was still touching her skin, she controlled her power to make the burning end glow, then die as she took the energy away.

“So where was home before you came here, Leon?” she asked curiously. She hadn’t seen him around, and he seemed like a guy she could get close to. “I came from the Great Lakes area. I’m part Greek.” She shrugged, trying to get the conversation to start. She needed distraction, and a lot of it, in order to help her move on and forget that her best friend and ex-boyfriend had got it on…even if they had been in a drunken stupor, it was enough to make sparks fly from her fingertips.

[Leon Belenos]

Andi had the nerve to take his cigarette from him. If she hadn't looked good he might have let her have it, but he had the feeling he would be getting it back. Leon smiled back at her and watched as she made it stop burning. "It may be bad, but it tastes so damn good." He said as he reached for his cigarette and quickly lit it up again using his ability. Inhaling deeply he relished in the feeling on his lungs. So much for jogging as much as he had; already he knew he would be having another.

Thinking back to home Leon already missed it. "Home was L.A." He paused for a minute, remembering the busy streets, filled with all sorts of freaks, the smell of exhaust was constant, and there was never a moments silence. Those had to be the things he missed most about it. Still sucking on his cigarette he felt his heart pang. He really was homesick, whether he cared to admit it to anyone or not. He listened as Andi gave him her story, really he had no idea about the culture, or what it was like where she was from.

"I'm going to be honest, I have no idea on the greek culture nor what the great lakes is like... I'm gonna need a little bit more background." He said with a smile as he finished off his cigarette, flicking the butt to the ground and grinding it out with his foot. "You want to try one? You know so you can really make up your mind before you write it off?" He asked with a playful grin. He already had his hand in his pocket and was digging for the cigarettes.

[Andi Thalis]

His hand came towards her face and she could smell smoke as he started his cigarette behind her ear and took it back, taking another deep breath with it. He spoke of his home, and for a girl who had grown in the suburbs of Detroit, she knew what he was talking about. Feeling like you didn’t belong, like you were an outcast…Andi had felt like that for most of her life, and it was finally time that someone felt the same way she did, or at least had the experience behind their words.

“It’s still bad for you,” she said teasingly, watching him. When he offered her one, she shook her head. “I don’t smoke, but I don’t mind being around it.” His grin made her heart race, which in itself was a problem with her. She had just broken up with Ethan; she should have been mourning…or was it because he had been in the wrong that she was so easily getting over him? His words registered in her ears and she chuckled, shifting on her feet as she tucked a strand of wild hair behind her ear.

“Well, I was born in Detroit, grew up there. My mom died when I was nine, and my dad moved us to the East coast,” she told the boy, wondering why she was telling him her life story. “He got remarried, and I didn’t like her, and one day I got so mad at her that…boom, everything went dark. Next thing I know, I’m going to school here. What about you, Leon?” she asked curiously.

[Leon Belenos]

Leon simply shrugged when she told him it was still bad for him. Not like he cared to much, when you played with fire as much as he did you were bound to inhale some smoke along the way. "I'm glad you'll be able to handle me then." He said as he exhaled the smoke through his nostrils. It billowed out and hung in front of his face for a split second before the wind carried it straight towards Andi. He smiled as the wind brought his hair into his face. He couldn't help but long for the crowded rush of city life.

Leon listened to her story, paying attention to the details just in case he needed to remember later. "That's pretty bad ass compared to my story... basically I hit puberty and one day my hands lit up and my parents found me screaming like that, a few days later I got shipped off here." It was good to find someone who could really relate to city life. From the sound of things she missed it just as much as he did. Not many people could understand missing the city lights when you were under a starry sky, but he preferred it.

Leon looked her in the eyes, and said simply "You know... the thing I miss most is the city lights at night, and that soft hum that tells you something is happening somewhere... I don't know if you can relate or not but that's me..." He slowly inhaled again, and exhaled, watching the smoke hang in the air as it dissipated. He looked Andi over for a minute and weighed his options for a moment. Coffee couldn't hurt anyone, and it was cool enough outside that anyone in their right mind would want a cup.

"So you want to come back to my dorm for a cup of coffee? I mean it's a little cool out here and you seem interesting enough to entertain for a little while yet." He said with a soft chuckle. If she wouldn't be able to handle a bit of joking around on his part then she wouldn't be able to put up with Leon for long.

[Andi Thalis]

The way he spoke of the city made the longing inside her grow, consuming her with a need to fill it. Once she graduated, she wanted to drive up to New York and just stand in Times Square, letting all the noise and lights just invade her senses until she felt overwhelmed and either passed out or ran around in joy, and she had a feeling that the latter would happen. She could see herself now, just spazzing out and shopping and riding her bike all through the busy streets, being in the city where most of her favorite TV shows took place in.

“I know that feeling,” she told him with a smile. “That hum that tells you that the city is alive, like a heartbeat in the body of the country.” A cold wind sprung, whipping Andi’s hair around her head, and she shivered, suddenly wanting the comfort of a hot drink and a warm room. It came, luckily, in the form of Leon’s offer for coffee, and she grinned as he teased her. He was playful and charming, handsome and devilish…why hadn’t she seen him before? This was the kind of boy she fell for, usually.

Maybe she was going crazy.

“Sure, I’d love a cup of coffee,” she teased back. “I’m cold and you’re offering warmth, which I’ll gladly take. And I’m a whole bag of interesting, just so you know, so it won’t be a little while that you’ll be in my company.” Sure, a big boast, but Andi was feeling like her old self, and it made her…happy.

[Leon Belenos]

"Yeah... that's basically exactly what I mean." Leon said with a sigh. He flicked the butt of his cigarette down and ground it out with his foot. Surprisingly it took her less time to accept his offer than he thought it would. Now he had to hope he still had some coffee left in his room. Either way she was flirting with him enough to keep his attention on her. "We'll have to see if I even have any left to make... if not I guarantee I'll find a way to keep you warm." He said with a wink. He lit a fire in his palm for emphasis.

Letting it go Leon took her hand and started heading towards the dorms. "I guess you get to see where I stay now... just don't turn into a crazy stalker okay?" He said as he walked with her hand in his, feeling how cold it was compared to his own. At the very least he'd have found a new friend for himself today. He knew he wasn't ready for anything yet either considering he had so much going on in the back of his head, but for now he would enjoy the time with her.

"So are you ready for this?" He asked with a smile as they reached the co ed dorms. It was going to be such a relief to be inside again. At least they'd be away from the eyes of everyone who seemed to think that private relationships were everyone else's business. He walked to his room's door and grabbed his key, opening it and walking inside, immediately turning on the light. He could only hope she wouldn't mind a bit of a mess from earlier that day. "So coffee, hey?" He asked with a small smile.

[Andi Thalis]

Continued in:

Friends?