Caffeine Break (Zxaine)

[Carleigh Davidson]

Maneuvering her way through Starbucks, Carleigh found the end of the line. Of course it was busy, afterall it was 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon. People were busy shopping and Carleigh was one of those people. Her parents had sent a belated Christmas card (only a month late) with an apology and extra cash. Not that it mattered anyway. They always sent so much cash and Carleigh never spent it all. So today, she figured she would treat herself and go on a massive shopping spree and then clear out old clothes and donate them to a second hand store.

Right now, she needed a caffeine boost. Carleigh hadn't slept for two nights straight and the massive bags under her eyes were proof. Once she reached the register, Carleigh perked up and smiled at the barista. "I'll have a venti skinny vanilla latte with an extra shot of espresso and a lemon cranberry scone please." She paid, adjusting the various shopping bags on her arms.

After receiving her food and drink, Carleigh's eyes scanned the crowded room. Where was she suppose to sit? All of the tables were taken by families, groups of friends and a few scattered loners. She glanced to the back of the store and found an empty booth, with a few scattered crumbs on the table. Quickly, she power walked through the crowds and dumped her bags on the booth, exhaling a sigh of relief.

She felt like an asshole taking an entire booth but she needed a place to sit down and take a brain break. Wiping off the crumbs, Carleigh sat down next to her shopping bags and began munching on her scone. The seats opposite to her were empty, and Carleigh sighed. She desperately needed to find a shopping buddy. Pulling out her phone, she began absentmindedly scrolling through while drinking her latte.

[Zxaine Fisher]

She really needed to find a bag carrier, she missed all the boys back home who would gladly take her bags for a chance at alone time with the redhead. As it was she made her way towards the starbucks, lately she'd been on a serious cinnamon kick and today was no exception. The line was long, too long, and she tapped one of her boots in mild impatience. She'd finally gotten all her things put away in her room, it had only taken her a few days, and felt the need to suppliment her wardrobe with some warmer attire until spring finally hit this barren tundra they called Vermont. Finally she made it to the front and adjusted her bags on one arm.

"Grande Cinnamon Dolce Latte, extra whipped cream and cinnamon..." she paused glancing at the pastries then shook her head. "That's all." Handing the barista payment she stepped to the side so the next person might order. As soon as her drink was in her hand she looked around and sighed, these places were always so crowded, and not with the right kinds of people either. Still, she wanted to enjoy her drink and there had to be someone willing to share their table. A closer scan of the area made her aware of a few spots but the booth with the other girl around her own age seemed the most likely, the rest of the singles all appeared to be braniacs pouring over their laptops and tablets. Not her style at all. So she made her way over and leaned lightly on the empty side of the booth. "This seat taken?" Her eyebrow raised slightly, also questioning if a seat would be procured. "Seems all the other tables are pretty full."

The redhead took a sip of her latte, not wanting to look like she was desperate for a seat but at the same time knowing her arm would fall off soon if she didn't get to put these bags down. She cast a glance around the seating once more, making note of a few other places she could try to sit if this one didn't pan out.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Finishing off her scone, Carleigh smiled down at her phone. Man, those were addicting. Starbucks in general was her vice. She stared down, scrolling through old friends' posts on social media sites. Back in California, Carleigh didn't have any friends... especially after the sleepover incident. A few people remained her friend, the understanding, compassionate ones. Most of the posts were from other metas since her teenage life was spent at Hammel.

Finally, a voice broke through the murmurs in Starbucks. Carleigh glanced up from her phone, her eyes landing on a pretty redhead standing in front of her booth, her own arms full of shopping bags. Carleigh beamed and nodded her head. "Nope! Feel free to sit down." She reached for her latte and took a long sip. "Yeah, it's pretty busy today huh? I feel bad for the baristas on days like today." She watched the lineup diminish slowly. Must be near the end of lunch rush now.

She smiled at the stranger again. "So, I'm Carleigh. You from the area I assume?" she asked, setting down her cup.

[Zxaine Fisher]

The bright smile from the blonde was enough to satisfy Zxaine and she returned it with a beam of her own, setting the bags down and slipping into the booth in one practiced motion. She set her cup on the table to settle in as the other girl mentioned the crowds. With a nod of her head she was inclined to agree.

"Indeed, crazy how popular the coffee here is... then again, when it's this good how can you resist?" She glanced over at the baristas that were racing back and forth from counter to counter. "I do hope they get something of a break soon, even a small lapse in this crowd is deserved." She agreed heartily and took a sip from her drink. She paused as the girl introduced herself and set the cup back down. "Nice to meet you Carleigh, I'm Zxaine. I'm actually rather new, just started up at the school up the ways a few days ago. How about you. Familiar with the area at all?"

She let her eyes glance over the dwindling line, nodding to no one in particular and ignoring the vibrations of her phone in the pocket of her jacket, probably her mother checking in on her AGAIN. The redhead really didn't have time for that right now, she was mingling.

[Carleigh Davidson]

When the girl mentioned her love of Starbucks, Carleigh knew she wouldn't regret meeting the stranger. There were a couple of kids back at Hammel that thought it was too expensive. Maybe, but it was so worth every penny. "Exactly!" she agreed with a laugh. "The scones and the lattes are my vice." Carleigh didn't mention the extra espresso shots or how many times a week she came to Starbucks, or other high end coffee shops. It was a bit ridiculous.

"No kidding, especially the bratty customers." Carleigh gave the baristas a sympathetic look. "Oh wow.. that's a unique name." She blurted out, then blushed. "Sorry, that was rude of me. It's a really pretty name though. Zxaine." Carleigh smiled again. "Yeah, actually. I go to Hammel." She knew that a lot of people in the area were nice to herself and the other metas. Worse came to worse, Zxaine thought she was a weirdo. "I came here... oh, four years ago now. Been there ever since. I know the area quite well." She nodded to herself.

[Zxaine Fisher]

The girl smiled brightly at the other and nodded her head, yes, this one was versed in the ways of the coffee. Things were going to be okay.

"Too expensive? Pah. I'd rather spend an extra few dollars for a good drink then sip that mud water they sell at most other places." She wrinkled her nose slightly and took a sip from her cup. The cinnamon was hitting the spot and she let out a sigh of contentment. As the girl admitted to being addicted as well she chuckled. "The Cinnamon Dolce lattes are my favorite. Sweet with a bit of spice and kick. Mmn." She licked her lips slightly and laughed quietly at herself. As the girl blurted out about her name she blinked a few times and then chuckled, it wasn't the first nor the last time someone would be taken with her name. It wasn't every day a girl pranced around with so obviously a boy's name after all. Still, Carleigh seemed to like it and that sat well with the girl. "No no, it's fine. Don't worry about it, at least you didn't laugh about it." She smiled and waved one hand in the air as if to dismiss that she could have thought it rude.

As the girl mentioned she also went to Hammel she got more interested, shifting her weight ever so slightly. "You go there too? Yay!" She clapped her hands once, the sound muffled by her leather gloves. "Here I was fearing I was trapped in a place with no one fun!" Relief was putting how she felt about the revolation lightly. She pushed her hair behind her ears and grinned. "Four years huh? How is it?"

[Carleigh Davidson]

"Exactly! You're like my coffee soul mate, I swear." carleigh lightly laughed, as she finished off her vanilla latte. "Looks like shopping too." She nodded her head towards the girl's shopping bags and then her own with a giggle. "Personally, I love the vanilla lattes in the winter and then green tea fraps in the summer." Mmmmm. "It's kind of ridiculous how much of my parent's money goes to fueling my Starbucks addiction." Not that they would care anyway. Ugh family. Carleigh mentally rolled her eyes at the thought of the dysfunctional Davidson clan.

"Alright, good, cause I totally didn't mean it that way. Least you know nobody will have your name." Like all the Ashleys and Emilys of the world. Carleigh shook her head. "Oh god no, Hammel is so much fun. There will probably be a handful of people you don't click with but that's okay. The student population is pretty big considering we're all a bunch of weirdos." she joked with a smile. "Honestly, it was hard adjusting at first. I mean, all of a sudden you've got an ability that just appeared out of nowhere... it's weird and hard to deal with. Then again, mine manifested when I was twelve." Carleigh paused, biting her lip. Really, the first two years were hard for her and hard to train her power. Then again, she was also a young kid who was going through the emotional tribulations of puberty. "Just don't resist or act like a brat and it's pretty straight forward otherwise." Grinning, she played around with her empty cup. "I think you'll have a great time there."

[Zxaine Fisher]

Zxaine grinned as the girl proclaimed them coffee soul mates. "In latte we trust." She giggled and nodded her head, glancing at her bags. So very many of them. "Love shopping, hate lugging around my finds." She tapped one of the bags with her boot and frowned at it. "If I didn't want so many beautiful things I'd probably be better off, but I can't resist. If it calls to me I have to buy it. And my dad indulges me, so I can get away with spending a bit more then I probably should." She smirked a bit, knowing full well she was a daddy's girl, but that was alright in her books because it had it's advantages. Like having one of his credit cards all to herself.

"Truth. Back home I knew five Megans and three Ashleys. I always wondered why their parents picked such horribly overused names." She tapped a manicured finger on her chin, shaking the thought away as the other girl spoke she nodded her head. "Well I try my best not to be a brat, and getting along with me has never been much of a problem in the past. As for my powers. I'm still not sure how they even work yet... at least I haven't set my room on fire though. That would be embarrassing." She touched her fingertips to her temple, laughing. "12 huh? I couldn't imagine leaving home to come here that young, my mom would have had none of it." She shoved her hand in her pocket, silencing the vibrations of her phone before draining the last of her cup and setting it back down. "I hope to get along with most... I like to think I'm charming enough." She winked at Carleigh and ran her finger along the lip of the now empty cup. "So what is there to do around here? Anything interesting?"

[Carleigh Davidson]

"In latte we trust." Carleigh repeated, holding up her empty cup as some sort of greeting or salute. Glancing at Z's bags, Carleigh couldn't help but to notice that they frequented the same stores. Then again, that didn't come as a surprise since the mall wasn't massive or anything. Nodding in agreement, Carleigh laughed. "Me too, don't worry 'bout it. My entire life is made up of impulsive decisions and buys." In fact, there were still untouched clothes in the back of her closet with the tags still attached. She really needed to stop doing that. Her financial situation sounded similar as well. "Yeah, same." She laughed, a smirk spreading across her face. "My family is kind of messed up and they overcompensate with cash. Not that I'm complaining."

"Yeah, it's super hard to control your power at first. For me, and it's still a problem, it's hard to even get my power to work. It's just kind of there." Carleigh rambled with a laugh. Sounded like she had some sort of ability involved with fire. Pyro-something or another. "No kidding." She shrugged indifferently. "Eh, it wasn't that bad. I've met a lot of cool people here. The only thing I really miss is the California weather but even then I can visit." Here at Hammel truly felt home. All her friends and mentors were a million times more understanding than her parents or Brody... the name of her brother was enough to leave a sour taste on her tongue.

"Uhm, nothing too amazing but there's entertaining things to do here. The school hosts a lot of events, there's the mall.. where I often end up... Downtown has quirky little shops everywhere. Scope out the cuties around town and on campus." Carleigh wiggled her eyebrows with a giggle.

[Zxaine Fisher]

Zxaine laughed softly as her little hail was mimicked, twirling a few locks of her hair around one of her fingers idly. She was having more fun then she had expected when she'd left the safety and warmth of her dorm and it was a pleasant surprise. They would have to go shopping together sometime, it would be great to have someone to pick out clothes with.

"My family is fairly normal I suppose. Though I don't know if military families count as normal these days...." She frowned slightly as she thought about that. Her eyes lit up as the girl mentioned California, she'd always wanted to go but was never able. Instead she'd been left with the grandparents in Maine whenever her parents had temporarily relocated for her father's work. "You're from California? What part?" Her parents had stayed at some military base in southern California and she started trying to remember which one, though it was so many years ago the name seemed to be escaping her. At the mention of less then entertainment in the area she pouted just a bit, however that was instantly erased at the mention of cutie watching. One of her brows arched, the girl was intrigued. "Do we have lookers about?" She glanced around idly, having not noticed anyone over the ordinary as of yet, however she had only been there a scant number of days. "That sounds like a worthwhile venture one of these days. I'll have to beg you to show me around." She chuckled. "If begging doesn't work at least I know I can tempt you with coffee." She grinned to show she was joking, tapping one of her fingers on the top of her cup. "You have me intrigued now, I've been here for a few days and I've barely met anyone, is everyone off doing their own thing all the time or is there structure to this place? I haven't gotten a class schedual or anything yet...." The pyro was at a loss, she hadn't a clue when she was supposed to arrive for anything thus she'd spent her days in her room, reorganizing and cleaning.

[Carleigh Davidson]

"Oh military?" Carleigh gave the redhead a sympathetic grin. Poor girl. She knew that meant a lot of moving around. Then again, it gave her experience in the move to Hammel. "It's not the norm but whatever." She shrugged, giving her a gentle smile. "I'm from San Francisco. Born and live there until coming here to Pilot Ridge." Carleigh explained.

"Hmm?" Carleigh looked around at the mention of possible cutie sighting. Unfortunately, nothing too worthwhile. She pouted, and let out a small sigh. "Definitely! I'd love to take you downtown one day, probably a weekend. Speaking of coffee, there's also a pretty good coffee shop downtown. It's super cute." She laughed at the girl's joke. "Oh, weird. Usually when you first get there the main office gives you a giant package with a class schedule, a trainer, all the basic stuff. The place is pretty structured but they also have a lot of fun events. Classes are mandatory and if you skip you'll get in trouble, trust me." Carleigh shuddered, fidgeting with the sleeves of her cream coloured cardigan. She didn't even want to think about that memory. "I'd set up a meeting with Dr. Neville too. He's super helpful at figuring out your emotions and sorting out all the confusion." she explained with a smile. "Plus you should probably get your classes too."

[Zxaine Fisher]

At the mention of how weird it was Zxaine blushed ever so slightly, twirling a bit of her hair around her finger. Mentioning how bad she was at finding places was never easy, especially since the recruiter had said he would bring her to the office first and she'd begged to be allowed to go lay down in her room first.

"Yeah. I kinda got lost." She mumbled, looking at her cup and frowning. "I'm really bad with physical directions... I even wrote them down in my phone so I couldn't forget but it did me no good. I wandered around hoping someone would walk by I could snag but yeah. I finally gave up." She sighed softly. She noticed the nervousness when missing a class happened and her eyes widened slightly. "Note to self, find office no matter what. I am not one for detention or anything like that...." She slid her phone out to make a reminder to find it no matter what when she got back to campus. The new name brought her out of the sulky slump of getting lost and she blinked. "Dr. Neville? Who's that?" Instantly she started looking through the messages she had about setting up at the school and tried to find anything about him.

[Carleigh Davidson]

"well, if you would like, whenever we go back to Hammel I can show you the main office." Carleigh offered with a smile. She knew how difficult it was to adjust to a new school. Especially since Hammel Institute was such a big campus. "Honestly, it was overwhelming the first few weeks. Like with any move, as I'm sure you accustomed to now." Carleigh didn't mean it as an insult, just stating the facts. "Yeah, detention isn't fun. They take academics seriously here. I'm almost failing chemistry and now I'm being forced to see a tutor. Not that my tutor, Olivia is bad... it's just chemistry sucks." The blonde pouted.

"Dr. Neville is the school's psychiatrist. I don't know about older kids but for the younger kids they usually schedule one meeting at least to sort out your thoughts and whatnot. It's super helpful and I recommend it, unless you feel you're okay." she rambled.

[Zxaine Fisher]

At the offer of being shown how to get to the office the girl's face lit up, pure joy and appreciation painting itself on her features. "Really? You're the best!" she stuffed her cell phone back in her pocket as she praised the other girl. The mention of moving didn't phase her, she'd done it enough. "Moving is something of a pain, and the campus is huge. I need to get myself a map or something... because all I need is to somehow get lost on a class day and get myself in trouble." She rested her chin in her palm and chuckled.

"School Psychiatrist.... interesting. Though with what the school is about I'm not surprised." She nodded her head slightly, playing with a lock of her hair. "I may just do that... I could use some insight into how exactly I did what I did... it still confuses me." She agreed and played with a lock of her hair.

[Carleigh Davidson]

"Hey no problem." Carleigh beamed at the redhead. Coming to a new school definitely sucked and she shouldn't have to be left alone to deal with the immense school. "I know I'm the best." She said with a wink and a laugh. "Nah teachers are pretty understanding when you first come here. Chances are, they too went to Hammel... if they have powers... and also felt the pain of getting lost."

"To be honest, I still don't understand my power after almost four years." Carleigh admitted. She ran a hand through her hair with a sigh. Hopefully she could graduate with her age group next year but with the way training was going, things weren't looking up for the blonde. "Talking to him helps out a lot. He's great at listening and understanding." She paused. "Out of curiosity, what is your ability exactly?" Carleigh asked.