Of flowers and bees. [Open]

[Colton Bryan]

Every time he looked at her Colton still couldn't help but continue to think that Genevieve was so very pretty, especially when she smiled, so much so, that he smiled with the same intensity that she currently was. As he continued his smile, though it diminished slightly when Genevieve suddenly became shy, Colton explained his knowledge of the girl's little friends saying, "Well, I go on the Internet a lot, and when something interesting catches my eye I feel the incessant need to learn about it. As such I've learned about a wide variety of things, including your friends." He said this last with a gesture to Vivian. "Y-Yes, I could teach you some things about bees if you want." He stuttered this last part, excited about the possibility of spending some more time with the girl.

"You're Welcome." Colton said as warmly as possible, walking along with her turning his head to watch where he was walking, but still retaining vision of Genevieve in the corner of his eyes, focusing on her so much that he didn't even see how beautiful the day was, albeit cold, seeing none of the grass or the trees around him only focusing on the sight of the beautiful girl he'd captured in the farthest part of his vision. Why am I so fixated on this girl, I don't know anything about her! He thought to himself, still confused about how this day had turned out.

Smiling Colton turned back to Genevieve saying, "Thank you," he reared back, almost blushing at how close she was to him, when she suddenly got in front of him. "Don't sell yourself short your ability is also really cool, I mean I would love to be able to control bees." He said as she leaned back away from him, blush now gone that she moved away, not wanting her to feel like her power was worthless. As she spoke he felt proud that she thought his ability was interesting, voicing his appreciation, "Thank you very much." He looked at her with his head tilted to the side as she stuttered, before exclaiming a light "Ah" when she asked for help, this prospect excited Colton more than when she asked for information about bees as it means he would get to spend more time with her. "Of course, I can help you with your English. Just say when and where." He told her as he started them along the path to pond again.

[Genevieve Duval]

The internet. Uuuuuuuugh! Genevieve looked down with a tiny pout. She was bad with computers too, something that made it even harder for her to be good at schoolwork. And the English. And why was she here again? But he said he could teach her and she gave him a small smile, "Thank you." He was so incredibly nice it was hard to think he was real in any way. He had to be lying, right? Nobody was that nice. Not to her.

But here he was, taking her hand and agreeing to teaching her. "I don't think it is that good." She said, staring down at the grass, "But I have them as friends, so that is good, right?" Choose your battles and all that, right? Besides, she was being honest about the friends thing. She would be so alone without them.

And now he was helping her with English. This made her excited. If she could at least understand others properly or be understood herself, maybe she wouldn't have so many troubles here. Not only that, and maybe she would be able to make friends and go out and have fun like she so longed to do. "Thank you so much!" She said with a bright smile, jumping in the same spot, before throwing her arms around his waist in a quick hug. "You do not know how much that means to me." How could he when he already had the ability to understand. Now, if only she could control herself from overthinking or getting lost, then things could get much better. She let go of him and squeezed his hand again. And maybe she had a new friend too, one that was kind for a change. The day was growing more beautiful each second.

"Is it still far?" She wondered, smiling widely and feeling far better than before. And energised too. "Come ooon!" She said, pulling at his hand, "I want to get there!" She wanted to run, to jump, get rid of that newfound energy. Even Vivian had left her cheek and was buzzing around her head, a clear display of her newfound mood.

[Colton Bryan]

Still smiling at her Colton said, "Don't mention it, I don't mind helping people. Especially those who want to learn something." He said with a dismissive wave. It also helped the girl's case that,  he thought she was nice person.

Though, from what she just said she must be very lonely, he thought to himself as Colton said, "Your power is really cool. I mean the ability to control bees must be really fun." as he finished saying this, not wanting the girl to feel sad, after all, he thought, her english problems must cause a lot of confusion. This also made him start wondering if the girl had anymore friends besides her constant companion, Vivian, and he decided to voice his curiosity politely, "So, do you know anyone else around the school besides Vivian? I haven't been here that long myself."

Again as the Genevieve thanked him, he repeated what he said earlier, pausing in the middle of his sentence as the girl hugged him, practically becoming as rigid as a statue, this girl was the first person to have hugged him outside of family and he didn't know how to respond. Lucky for him the hug ended a moment later, with Genevieve falling back beside him holding his hand, something that still sent a shot of warmth up his body, realizing that he hadn't responded to her Colton said quickly with a beet red face, "Really, It's not that big of a thing, I'm sure you could have found someone who would do the same thing."

Surprised at the Genevieve's sudden burst of energy Colton, pushed himself to keep up with her, looking down the path Colton spotted the brush that he used to identify when he was almost to the pond. "We're almost there, just take a left a up ahead." Colton said trying to point out the fork in the road they were rapidly approaching, but he decided that it would just be easier to pull the girl along with him, so he upped his pace a little and got in front of Genevieve, pulling her hand with him as he pulled her into the area where the pond was.

When Colton pulled Colton into the area he stopped to catch his breath while looking around, noting how the sun caught just right on the leaves in the trees, causing the pond to look even more breathtaking with the flowing of red and gold in the breeze around it. This is why I like coming here, he thought contentedly.

[Genevieve Duval]

Her powers were cool? Genevieve turned to smile at the grass sheepishly. Cool was not exactly a word most would use to describe anything about her, much less her power. "I suppose." She muttered even though she didn't believe so. But she was being too negative, wasn't she? What if he didn't like her because of it? And he's been so nice so far too. Better to behave properly, especially with people she just met.

"Ah." Know anyone else? Well... considering she just arrived a few months ago... "Yes." She said, although it was a stretch, "I know teachers and classmates." She smiled gently at him, "I came to America to be near my brother, so there is him too." Even though 'being near' was a big stretch. Julien had ignored her most of her stay and she couldn't help the sad smile that crossed her face when she remembered him. She'd never truly understood him and she was sure he didn't understand her either. But she shook her head quickly, getting rid of sad thoughts. "And I know you!" She added with energy, turning to smile brightly. And she was set to make sure she would stay his friend, after all it wasn't every day she met someone so gentle. "And you?" She wondered. He probably had tons of friends, gentle as he was. The thought slightly saddened her. She wanted to be special to someone, a close friend and yet everyone around already had someone like that. "Do you have many friends?"

When she hugged him she frowned slightly, letting him go reluctantly, as his reaction hadn't been what she'd hoped for. Sure, she usually responded a tad too enthusiastically about things, always hugging those she liked and not minding personal space, but she'd expected at least a pat on her back or head. Americans really were weird when it came to boundaries. So she leaned back and smiled at him sheepishly, thinking it'd bothered him. "Sorry." She muttered in French, her head hanging low. He was being quiet and she peered at him shyly from under her eyelashes. His face was red. She really had bothered him, right? But then he spoke and she turned to him fully, sending him a gentle smile.

She shook her head in disagreement. "Non." She turned again, already moving to grab his hand once more. "People are not exactly- um..." How could she explain it? "They do not like the different." Which in her mind was incredibly dull. "They do not like those who need help either. And I am... both." She giggled quietly into her free hand when she thought about it. "It is very difficult for anybody to approach and stay. But-" She turned his eyes to him, watching him sideways as they walked. "You did." And then a sad thought hit her and she lost her smile, stopping and turning to him. "And you will stay, yes?" She asked cautiously. No need to invest into a friendship if they were going to ignore her later after all. But he'd already promised to help her, right? He had to stay, and she had to trust.

They moved quicker and she was already laughing, quickly forgetting her sadness like usual, in pro of a good time with a friend. He pulled her along soon after and she smiled brightly as he kept up with her. He moved before her and she took the opportunity to stare at the back of his head, smiling gently. This felt like an adventure, moving quickly in such a place, the cold air hitting her face. It made her like him better, since it was him who was bringing her to this place and giving her that moment. He pulled her and she almost tripped forward as she'd been so lost inside her head to notice the road, using his arm to pull herself straight, almost hugging it to her chest when she noticed the scenery had changed.

Genevieve's eyes grew wider at the serene picture of the lake and the trees, the light coming in small rays from between the leaves, making the place seem magical. She laughed, unsure why, but feeling happy of being there. She straightened her back, letting go of his arm, and squeezing the hand she was still holding.

"It is beautiful." She whispered, as if a loud sound would disturb the place. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling fully the air and the mist of the pond hit her face and raise her hair. She could feel the air everywhere, except where Vivian was still standing on her cheek. It was, without a doubt, a perfect moment. Genevieve blinked her eyes open, suddenly feeling at peace, turning to smile at Colton and squeezing his hand again. "Thank you."

[Colton Bryan]

Colton nodded as Genevieve talked about people she knew, thinking to himself, At least she has some family here, but she has to be lonely if her brother is the only person she knows, Colton did smile when she mentioned him, happy that the girl considered him important enough to be said with as much as energy as she did. "So, does your brother go to Hammel too?" He asked a little curious as to Genevieve's family. When the girl asked about his friends Colton scratched the back of his head while saying, "Actually, I don't know anyone besides my teachers, you, and my dorm mates. I don't usually talk to other people, and I spend most of my time either at the pond or in my room reading." Colton didn't mind that he had no real friends, he was used to having only two or three close friends during his entire childhood up until he came to Hammel.

Upon hearing the girl apologize Colton looked over at her, seeing that she seemed dejected he said, "You don't need to apologize. I'm just not used to people hugging me." Especially people I've only just met, even if I have developed a crush, he thought to himself. He returned the smile the girl gave him, his face already becoming less flushed, and said jokingly, "Next time maybe you could give me a moment to prepare."

Colton frowned when the girl said that she didn't think people would help her and became a little annoyed when she said why they wouldn't. "I'm sure that people would help, and if they don't I'm sure they must have a reason, maybe they're busy, they need to go somewhere, or they're just tired at the moment. But they should still help even if they are any of those things." He said matter-of-factly. When Genevieve stopped them and asked him if he would stay Colton said with a stern face, "Of course, I'm not going to abandon you if you need help, and nothing would every make me do that."

Colton looked to Genevieve when he felt the girl let go of his arm that she had been hugging, he hadn't noticed so enraptured by the sight of the pond he was. "It is," he said in agreement to her observation, returning her smile he finished, "you're very welcome."

[Genevieve Duval]

Her brother. Genevieve looked down at her feet. "Um, no. He- he is normal." Funny word that one, 'normal'. Even Colton here would pass as normal too, right? Given the fact that there were many normal people who spoke multiple languages but, as far as she knew, there weren't many normal people who were followed around by insects wherever they went. Maybe that was why Julien kept her away and ignored? Did he hate metas? She knew a lot of people were like that, some were back in France, but she never had any dealings with them personally, so she wouldn't know how a person like that would be like. It was just a weird idea to her, to hate someone for what they were born as. Well, hating someone else in general was such an odd idea. She wasn't even sure what hatred felt like. Had she ever hated anyone? Oh, she got lost inside her thoughts again. She blinked in surprise as she looked at Colton. He'd said something, hadn't he? What had that been? "That is good!" She said far louder than she had to, and she flushed as she noticed she'd yelled. "Reading." She at least caught that word, and her volume returned to normal. "That is good."

And she had to go make things even more awkward by hugging him. She really needed to learn about personal space. She kept hugging everyone she thought of as a friend and here people were so weird about it. She'd at least learned not to kiss someone when meeting them, rude as it made her feel. Cultural differences really went a long way even for the smallest things, weren't they? "I am sorry." She repeated, despite him saying she didn't need to apologise. And she nodded. Wait, next time? "Next time?" She repeated her thoughts, smiling gently. So she could hug him a next time? She made a mental note of it. Warn him next time, give him time to prepare and wait for him to be ready. Got it. Americans were so weird.

Genevieve nodded along as he explained why people wouldn't help. Maybe he was right and she was just too demanding of people in general. And he insisted on helping too. "You are a good person, Colton." She said with admiration. He truly was, what with being so passionate about helping others and approaching her like he had. Despite what he'd said, she was still set in the belief that not many people were like that and they certainly didn't always help those in need. But he did, didn't he? That made him special, more so than any power could make someone, and she felt proud of calling him a friend, even if they truly had just met.

They reached the pond and she grinned at his response. She resolved she liked seeing him smile and nodded at him. She moved, letting go of his hand to sit down on the grass and enjoy the view. And it truly was a view that needed to be seen. Too bad it was so cold, she was sure the view would improve immensely in Spring. The reminder of the cold wind made her shudder and move her legs up to hug them. "You come here to read?" She wondered, looking at Colton sideways. She could imagine him here, with a good book, getting lost in the environment. Being here certainly made her wish she had a book nearby herself.

[Colton Bryan]

Colton looked at Genevieve sideways when she called her brother "normal". "What do you mean by that?" He said to her while thinking, Was there something different about her brother, I mean normal is a matter of perspective. Genevieve looked like a normal person, albeit with bees following her, but there wasn't anything about her that would scream strange to other people except her accent. Colton realized that he had gotten lost in his thoughts, and looking over at Genevieve, he said awkwardly, "Yeah, reading is good." As he finished he looked at the ground not knowing what else to say.

Colton looked straight ahead blushing as he said, "Yeah, next time. I didn't mind the hug it just surprised me." He wasn't lying about the hug, he had felt his body react in a way that he didn't even know could happen, even with all of his information, and he would really like to experience it again.

As Colton continued talking his voice stuttered when Genevieve called him a good person, saying, "T-Thank y-you." After a moment's pause he said, "You're a good person too." This girl really knew how to make him, the usually clear mind, straightforward person that he was stumble over himself, and try and hide how he felt. It was unsettling, but Colton knew he would rather be near this girl then be the person he was, and he was glad that he had made friends with her

When Genevieve let go of his hand, Colton felt a little of the warmth in his body die down, and then reignite when he looked at her sitting on the ground. She seemed so natural where she was, like she'd been meant to be there, he couldn't help but stare at her, maybe for to long. As he continued staring he realized the girl had asked him a question and responded quickly, coming to sit next to her "Yes, I like to read here. It's very quiet and away from the noise of the school. Plus if you sit quietly for a little while you can see some animals come around to drink from here." The last sentence was partly true, he'd seen a squirrel come by the pond once, but nothing else, he'd mostly said it to have Genevieve stay with him a little longer.

[Genevieve Duval]

What did she mean? "He is... ah, human." Well, they were human too, weren't they? Genevieve looked down at the grass, her weight shifting from feet to feet nervously. "He is not meta. He- he is normal." Maybe Colton would find offence in what she'd said? She was quick to add then, "Not that metas are not... not human or normal. We are-" She looked down at her feet again, "I am..." What was the word? "Odd. But he- he is not. He is..." She tried to smile, "He goes to a regular school. Ah- went to a regular school. He is now older." Well, now she felt awkward. "Do you have any siblings?" She wondered, just in case he understood what it was like, to have only normal people around, nobody to understand the pains of being meta.

He said he didn't mind but his reaction hadn't been normal. Genevieve stared at him worriedly, noticing his face red and that he was avoiding her gaze. He was too nice to tell her he didn't like it, wasn't he? Maybe he was just one of those people who didn't like being touched. Weird, since she loved hugging and cuddling, even if she had no one to do such things. Maybe slowly she would gain more friends willing to share a hug with her? She sent Colton a shy gaze. And maybe with time he'd want it too?

He returned the compliment and she smiled sadly, shaking her head. "No... not quite." She said with a soft voice. Her own fears overcame her readiness to help, at least lately. "But I try it." Not much she could do for people who wanted her to stay away, right? Besides, she could do so much more, if only she knew how to help.

Now that they were sitting, Genevieve felt much calmer, feeling the cool air on her face. She rested her chin on her knees, making herself even smaller as the air picked up and she felt colder. Funny how despite hating the cold so much, she still preferred it to be inside. Wait- what had he said?

"Animals!" She repeated with a wide smile, stretching her back to lean toward him. "I adore animals!" She turned her attention to the pond, expecting to see anything. "You think they will come?" She wondered, whispering her words as if not to scare away anything that would approach. "What kind of animals come?" She asked, still very interested, eyes still fixed on the water. "Racoons? Deer? I would love to see a deer." Were there deers nearby? She actually didn't know, but the idea to see a little guy approach was just too exciting. Maybe with some effort, she could even get close enough to pet... something. Anything would do.

[Colton Bryan]

Colton looked at Genevieve with a smiling face as she stumbled over herself as she tried to explain her brother not having a ability like they did. "So you're trying to say your brother can't do special things like us?" He said in a kind voice, attempting to make the girl feel a little less nervous. After Genevieve finished speaking Colton said with a smile, "Your brother sounds interesting, and Genevieve you don't need to get so flustered when you talk. I understand what you're trying to to say." She really gets tongue-tied easily, he thought to himself during the small pause between her asking him a question and her talking about her brother. When she asked about any siblings Colton scratched the back of his head a little bit, saying "Non, I don't have any. Why do you ask?" He finished with a return question, wanting to see why the girl was interested in his family.

Colton frowned as Genevieve brushed off his return compliment to her, confused he asked, "You don't think you're a good person?" Colton couldn't see why, the girl had been nice, kind, and friendly as far as he'd seen and she wasn't mean in the smallest sense. He couldn't see how anyone who was like that couldn't think themselves to be a good person.

As he sat next to her Colton couldn't help but feel his skin warm up, even with the wind beginning to pick up. Looking over to Genevieve, Colton noticed the pulling into herself in a little more and asked, "Are you cold?" Worried about the girl's comfort. A moment later he was answering her question, "Maybe, but if you want them to come we'll probably have to be quiet, since I'm sure they don't like loud sounds." He chuckled a little when the girl listed off some animals she wanted to see, and said, "I'm not sure about deer, but I think there are some raccoons out there some where," he waved to the general area, "but I've seen squirrels and some birds come by to get a drink." As he finished his mind flashed back to months ago when he had visited the lake near the town, and the illusionist that he'd met and thought to himself, Maybe I can find her and let her give Genevieve the same experience.

[Genevieve Duval]

"Oui!" She said, glad that he understood. Genevieve smiled at Colton. Was this part of his powers? To understand even her stuttering? What he said next made her flush and look down at her hands. "Forgive me." She said in a low voice, "I do not mean to be nervous. I just... I fear of saying the wrong thing and..." And make him hate her. Wasn't that how it worked? "I do not want to offend." She added after she'd trailed off. "And some do not understand as well. I am not used to speak French with others around here, so I am careful with my words... or try to be at least." She sent him a small smile, feeling her chest warmer. He was so kind, far more than anyone she'd ever met so far. America was turning out to not be so bad after all.

"Oh, I was curious." She said with a small awkward smile, "I want to know about you." Well, he was her friend, right? It was only natural that she wanted to know. "It is... I just wanted to know because...well, my brother and I we do not... um. We do not get along as well as I wished. He is... He is very interesting like you said. He makes movies though he never lets me see them." She smiled down at the grass sadly, "But I was thinking maybe you knew about being different. My parents are normal too- ah, not meta." She'd done it again. "I do not know why I am. Or if being followed by bees even counts." Funny how she'd managed to talk about what was bothering her. Maybe his powers were more than just have a way with languages and words. Maybe it was about understanding. Or maybe it was just how he was.

"Um. I do not know." She said with wide eyes. Didn't she? "I think-" She looked down with a frown as she thought about it, "I think I do not do as much as I should." She sent him a smile again, "That is what makes a person good, no? What they do for others. And I do... I do nothing."

Cold? "A little." She said, sending him a smile. "The weather is changing and I do not have the clothes for it." She looked down at the pond. So beautiful. The perfect setting for... something to happen. She wasn't even sure what. Maybe to witness the animals Colton talked about. And he told her to be quiet. She covered her lips and nodded, turning her attention to the pond. Squirrels and birds. She hadn't seen a squirrel in so long! Maybe they would see one. "Maybe-!" She started excitedly, but then covered her mouth again when she realised she was being loud. She smiled sheepishly and moved closer, so she could whisper and still be heard. "Maybe next time we can bring something to feed them? I have seen people do that in parks." And she'd never done so herself but it would be a nice experience and a nice change to deal with any sort of animal different than bees. No offence to Vivian of course.