Tea for Two

[Anjali Kedar]

Anjali was feeling more than a little mixed up these days.  She'd made a new friend, a girl who lead her to believe their friendship would include certain benefits, benefits that she was interested in but unprepared for.  Celia said she'd mostly been teasing, but Anjali was under the sneaking suspicion that teasing aside, Celia might try something when they hung out.  She wouldn't deny it, but she was more than a little uneasy at the thought.  This weighing on her mind in addition to the passing of her great grandmother, a woman she barely knew.. well she just wasn't feeling herself lately.  She'd done plenty of relaxation exercises, holing herself up in her room, burning incense and drinking chamomile, but with the weekend quickly approaching and then upcoming hangout with the blue haired singer she was feeling tense at best. She found it off considering how laid back she normally was.  On more than one occasion she'd found the wind picking up around herself.

Her one true solace was class. for fifty minutes she was completely distracted, focusing on her professors words and scribbling notes off the projections. Studying and doing homework eased her mind in the evening and she still had work which did a fine job, but being true to herself and paying tribute to a deceased woman was difficult to preoccupy herself from.  She needed more.. so when she saw Penelope leave the classroom, an idea struck.

Anjali had never formally hung out with Penelope.  They'd done classwork together and she'd even gotten notes from her when she'd missed class once (darn cold), but hanging out? Desperate times called for desperate measures.  She didn't want to think about anything.  She just wanted company, and who better than Penny?  She'd wanted to get closer to the girl, finding her intriguing to say the least.  She was an odd mix of uptight and casual, at least that's how Anjali saw her.  Like a new pair of shoes that needed to be worked in before you could wear them comfortably.  

"Penelope, wait up!" She called, jogging to the other girl, smiling politely as she pulled herself next to her.  "Hey, what're you up to now? Wanna hang out?"  In her mind she was more subtle about an question like that, but often times Anjali didn't say things the way she planned to.  Verbal diarrhea.  It was a wonder she got anywhere in life.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Certain days of the week, schedules worked in her favor while others were impossible to do so. This day in particular was likely the worst; a morning class followed by a several hour long break before her second and only other class of the day. Returning to Pilot Ridge was pointless with the break in time; especially when she'd be returning to an empty dormitory. Because she wasn't the only one in class.

Fortunately, it gave the Brit time to do extra work. If there wasn't work to be done, she would create it for herself. Rewriting notes never seemed to grow old for the psychometrist who already made doubles of all of her notes.

So when her first class ended for the day, she determined she'd do exactly that. A third time would surely help settle the information in her mind, even if it was already memorized. A few hours wasn't all that much time to kill, and Penelope was determined to make it work.

But her name was called out into the air; as rare as it happened, the Brit almost ignored it entirely. Surely there was another Penelope in the class that was being referred to. However, the Brit faltered when Anjali stepped up next to her, dark eyes widening slightly when she realized the girl was trying to get her attention.

Eyebrows shot up at the offer of spending time with the girl. Her hands came together briefly, squeezing them as lips parted before she shut them tightly again. Her first reaction was to ask why. What made it so this girl wanted to do something with the psychometrist. But another pause and Penelope took a breath. "I have a break in my classes." She explained, answering the first of her classmate's questions.

[Anjali Kedar]

Anjali wasn't entirely sure what was going through Penelope's mind.  She looked surprised, but she wasn't sure if it was because it was she who stopped her or because someone in general stopped her.  She got the feeling the girl wasn't rolling around in friends.  Then again, what did she know about the other's personal life? For all Anjali knew she was miss popular, though with how quiet she was in class and during their projects she doubted that.  A lot.  It didn't deter her, though.  She liked Penelope.  She liked how studious she was, how focused, and how very much not like Anjali she was in every other aspect.  She came off as uptight and a bit high strung, stand offish even, things Anjali herself was not.  It drew her in, oddly enough.  She didn't know many people like Penelope, who despite it all never really pushed her away.  It only made her want to get closer.

The other girls answer left Anjali unsure.  She had a break in classes, yes, but did she want company? She didn't answer if she wanted to hang out or not and the aerokinetic faltered a moment.  Was she being too forward? She knew she needed to read others signs more before acting, but Penelope was a bit hard to read.  Perhaps her answer meant she wasn't doing anything so wanting to hang out was simply implied.  Yes.  Anjali was sure that was what was meant.

"Great! We should have tea or something.  You're British.. tea's your thing, right? Or is that actually a stereotype?" Anjali realized how very little she actually knew about British culture.  She tucked her hair behind her ears and pushed a forced, but friendly smile on her lips.  "I sort of have a break too, and I don't have anything to do and.. I mean if you have other things to do that's fine, I didn't mean to like.." She pursed her lips and looked down at her shoes, wishing it were easier for her to talk sometimes.  Words jumbled in her mouth far too often.  Maybe if she didn't try to get it all out in one breath..

"Unless.. you know, you wanted to?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope wasn't quite sure what to expect from this, but when her response caused Anjali to assume that meant she had wanted to spend time with her, she didn't know what to do. This was honestly further than she had gotten in most social situations with anyone she was familiar with. There wasn't a classmate before that had been interested in hanging out after an assignment was finished. The knowledge that this one wanted to was...shocking.

"It is a stereotype." Penelope pointed out flatly, "But one that I fall under." She admitted a moment later. Tea was indeed her warm beverage of choice. She drank it every morning, and again throughout the day. It was actually where she had been headed then before finding her usual corner to hide in for the next few hours. In the cold weather, a warm beverage was always needed to get through the day, even if it didn't effect her like it did her counterpart.

With her hands still together, her fingers instinctively moved to the only jewelry she sported. A ring on the finger of her left hand. Second from the left, coupled with the only ink she wore. Having yet get used to the weight of it, she couldn't help but to fiddle. "Tea sounds nice."

[Anjali Kedar]

The dry way Penelope spoke made her wonder if she'd offended the British girl.  She of all people should know not to throw around stereotypes being a minority herself, but sometimes Anjali had a habit of speaking before thinking.  One of these days she'd learn to stop.  

Penelope insisted she did in fact like tea and it eased Anjali's mind.  At least she didn't offend her.  She was concerned enough as it was with Penelope's feelings towards her, last thing she needed was to annoy her.  Still, the other girl seemed almost uneasy.  She wasn't sure if that was her imagination or not.  

When she agreed Anjali brightened some, her smile widening.  Surely she'd misread the signs offered her and stood a little taller, relief flooding her.  "Great! Umm, there's the cafeteria but their tea tastes like.. well, you've probably had it so you know what it tastes like.  Uhh, you could like come over if you wanted? Or.. I mean I have a car we could go someplace?"  She reached up and ran a hand through her dark hair, messing up her long straight hair which still fell perfectly around her face.  She raised her brows expectantly, not wanting to push the girl out of her comfort zone.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Somehow, the agreement to have tea looked as if it made her classmate's day. Was it really that special to spend time with a fellow student? The Brit was still learning social customs - those she was sure she'd never quite get the hang of. Still, she tried to smile at Anjali, feeling the slight strain in her facial muscles over the fact.

"I haven't had the cafeteria's tea." Penelope replied, surprised to hear that anyone would be willing to try it. She still had yet to understand why anyone would put themselves through the pain of eating such mass produced, grease covered substance they called food.

Although she was hardly at the point of going to someone's house, either. Her lips pressed together firmly at the thought, eyebrows raising as the immediately disliking the idea. A private person herself, she didn't particularly like the idea of invading other's space. Invited or not. "There's a cafe only a few blocks away." She tried to offer with another attempted smile.

[Anjali Kedar]

She wondered how Penelope had gone at least a year without having tried the cafeteria tea, but then realized someone like Penelope wouldn't.  She seemed too prim and proper to drink that sawdust water, let alone eat at the cafeteria.  Maybe she did.  She realized she was being judgmental, but Anjali also wasn't really judging her.  She envied her she supposed.  Meal plans had definitely helped her, though she ate at home mostly now.  It was only lunch she grabbed on campus these days mostly out of convenience.

The Brit's face seemed to warm some as she suggested the cafe a few blocks away.  She knew the one she was talking about and gave a nod of agreement.  That sounded like a far better plan, and with the weather as it was it would make for a nice walk.  "We can walk." She suggested.

"You know, I don't really know a lot about you.  You're uh, British, right? Like, where exactly?" She didn't think she sounded rude pressing for personal information, but she wanted to get to know the other girl, and she wanted to distract her own mind from returning to thoughts it wasn't ready to process.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope was thankful that Anjali suggested walking - it was the most comfortable form of transportation for the Brit. There was few she enjoyed driving with - or more specifically trusted enough to be put in a fast moving vehicle with. Although Penelope had no reason to believe that her classmate had a poor driving record, she preferred to keep her feet to the pavement instead.

Plus, she had planned on walking in that direction anyway. It wasn't a change of plans; just adding to them by adding another person. She took the first of steps to lead them outside the university building.

"Yes, I am." Penelope commented factually. Admittedly, she didn't know much about her classmate either, other than she seemed to like tea and apologized profusely when she was tardy. "I was born in Blackpool, England." She didn't think much to explain how she had gotten to the states, as it wasn't part of the question asked of her, but pressed lips thought that the appropriate step was to ask a question in turn. "Have you always lived in Vermont?"

[Anjali Kedar]

Anjali pulled her bag higher on her shoulder as she started walking with the other girl.  She'd met plenty of people from all over the place during her time there in Vermont, but she always loved meeting those with accents.  She could fake a pretty convincing Indian/American accent, but that's because her parents spoke with one.  Still, that was a harsh accent and not nearly as lovely those from over the Atlantic.  She could listen to Penelope talk all day, which was unlikely considering how little she actually did seem to contribute whenever they spoke.  Anji wasn't bothered by it, though.  The other girl was bound to have her reservations for a reason, none of which were any of her concern, or maybe she just wasn't as chatty as Anjali by nature.  Still, she was glad for the opportunity to maybe get to know the other girl better, especially since she hoped to partner with her more in future projects.  There was no denying that after the near perfect grade they obtained together, that they made a great academic pair.

Anjali shook her head, reaching up and tucking her hair behind her ear.  "I'm originally from New Jersey.  Just here for school." She explained, looking ahead and pushing her hand casually into the back pocket of her jeans.  "Not far from beach, not that I ever went to the beach, really.  I don't know if you've ever been down that way but they don't have the greatest beaches."  Anjali thought about it for a second and then cocked her head to the side.  "Well, I guess that's not entirely true.  I mean, there really sort of touristy.  The board walks are just like nuts in the summer and then there's Atlantic City with the casinos and stuff.  The further south you go the better, like Sea Isle.  That's pretty nice but like way far from me so I usually end up at Ocean City or something."  She was going off again and she caught herself, offering an apologetic look.  "Not.. that you uh, yah know, probably care about Jersey beaches or anything." She licked her lips and looked forward again bashfully.  She rambled more when she was anxious, a bad habit that she hoped to one day control.  

"Uhh.. so, you've just been here for like, a few years?" She asked attempting to get back on topic, silently scolding herself for being such an idiot in front of someone who seemed so habitually cool.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Once they were outside, Penelope buttoned her coat further, insuring the still bitter wind that Vermont held wouldn't chill her. Although more resistant to the cold than the one she was with most often, keeping warm was still a priority. It wasn't a far walk, but still enough to bundle up with.

Possibly the first real reaction she could have offered Anjali was the raise of her eyebrows at the mention of her home state. New Jersey. It was almost humorous that she stated if she wasn't sure if Penelope had been there or not, but then again the Brit had failed to mention she had moved from Blackpool to New York City. Although it was quite the contrasting life from that in England, and she had never lost her accent, the Brit still held the garden state with similar regards as most humans of New York did - with distaste.

"I've been there once." She admitted, nose crinkling at the fact. In all honesty, it was a place she never had interest in visiting again. Although her classmate hadn't fit the description of a usual New Jersey resident, she couldn't help the slight mark of judgement in her tone. Anjali was right; Penelope didn't care about the beaches.

"Several years." She corrected idly. "My family had moved to New York, and when I was thirteen I was brought here." Unaware that her classmate was also a meta-human, she continued to be vague, trying to shift the subject away from herself. "Do you enjoy UVM?"

[Anjali Kedar]

She was a bit surprised that Penelope had been to New Jersey before, and the look on her face showed her disbelief.  When the other girl went on to explain having lived in New York prior to Vermont it all made more sense.  Anyone who had lived in New York was sure to have visited the Garden State before.  There was plenty the dirty, overcrowded state had to offer visitors, other than an anxiety induced migraine.  Anjali could go on about the nice things her state had to offer; mostly its proximity to loads of amazing things.  They were within a few hours from the Pocono mountains for skiing, the entire coastline was wonderful, there was Philadelphia and all of its historical wonders and artistry, NYC was a hop skip and a jump away, not to mention Washington DC, the Baltimore Harbor, tax free shopping in Delaware..  She loved being so close to so many things, and sometimes missed that about living up north in Vermont. Though with enough time, money and patience there was plenty to do there, too.

"I've been here since I was nearly thirteen, too." She bubbled, smiling at the girl and all but forgetting the anxiety that had brought her to asking for the girls time.  She reached up to tuck her hair behind her ears again, the long dark strands constantly falling back into her face.  She loved her hair, but it was thick and heavy and uncooperative, especially when it was down.

"I do." She agreed with a nod.  "It wasn't exactly my top choice, but it made sense since I'd established a life here, yah know?" Plus she liked being around for the extra training.  she'd had a pretty good grasp on her aerokinesis when she'd graduated, but she liked working with the trainers to perfect her craft.  She still worked with them on rare occasions.  It was convenient being in the area, plus as much as she loved her family and her home, she certainly felt more at comfortable being and discovering herself.  She certainly didn't feel comfortable exploring her sexuality so close to her parents, who could find out and.. who even knew what might happen.  

Thinking of all of it suddenly brought that warm anxiety back, squirming deep in her stomach.  "What about you? You must like it to stick around, right?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Disbelief showed clearly on Anjali's features, but Penelope did little to comment on it. For her, it wasn't a surprise to have been to New Jersey. Anyone living within New York City had more likely than not visited the state, which cleared her classmates confusion when she had explained where she had lived.

They were nearing the coffee house, having reached Church Street. It was within view by then, and fortunately the street wasn't too crowded for the time of day - something Penelope was particularly thankful for. Crowds rarely worked well with the psychometrist. With a glance to their destination, she kept her eyes forward despite how she spoke to her classmate. Conversations were never her forte, yet this one proved not to be too difficult. It was admittedly less stressful than the Brit had originally anticipated when originally agreeing to have tea with Anjali.

She nodded. After living here for years, it made sense to stay for some people, although up until recently Penelope carried the complete opposite mentality. She had been counting down the days to leave this state - to leave the country. How so much could change in such a short span of time was still hard to wrap her mind around.

"I've found reason to stay." Penelope admitted as casually as she could, yet she found herself instinctively playing with the new ring on her finger that she had yet to get used to the weight of.

[Anjali Kedar]

The young Brit gave a nod and Anjali smiled, looking away down the street as the coffee shop came into view.  Not much further, which was good.  She could practically taste the tea already.  Vanilla Chai, maybe.  No, it was warming up, Vanilla chai was such a winter drink, though she drank it year round anyway.  Seasons had never stopped her from enjoying a beverage and they never would. Maybe. 

Anjali nodded along to her answer.  Finding reason to stay could be many things, but she imagined it was probably a person.  A person or some other specific thing that was just here, that could be no place else.  Though people could move.  It made sense, but she wouldn't press the other girl for personal details of her life.  She wanted to know the other girl, but she was glad she had company at all.  Anji herself didn't care much to be pressed for details of her own life.  She wore her heart on her sleeve and was at times an open book with her verbal diarrhea, but she kept plenty to herself and had her fair share of secrets.  "Yeah, me too." Though her reason for staying wasn't necessarily a person, so much a lifestyle.

They approached the shop and Anjali reached for the door, smiling gently as she allowed her friend to enter first, tucking her hair behind her ear as she followed through and hoisting her bag higher onto her shoulder.  "It's nice being far from my family, though I do love my family.  I wish my brother were closer. We're super close."  She looked up at the menu as she tried to make her decision, though what she wanted wasn't likely to be printed.  "So is your family here? Or in New York still? Or.. somewhere else?" She asked nosily, turning to Penelope instead as her mind tried to decided what it wanted.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Stepping through the door and nodding in thanks to her classmate, the strong scent of coffee filled her lungs as she breathed in. Although not a coffee drinker herself, there was a certain appeal in the smell of it. What it inevitably brought her mind to. Not looking towards the menu at all, Penelope stepped into the line. A walk had been plenty of time to choose what she was going to have - and even to come up with a substitute in case they were out of what she wanted.

As Anjali spoke, Penny gave another nod. Rarely allowing the thought to occur to her with anyone, she was surprised by the hints of similarities between their stories. She was closest with her brother - who did fortunately live close. As much as she did love her parents, she was thankful for the distance between them.

"My parents still are in New York." She explained, taking a step forward as the long line grew a little shorter. "While my brother continues to live in Pilot Ridge, too." She glanced to Anjali, unaware she did little to push the conversation forward.

[Anjali Kedar]

It was none of her business what Penelope was, but with both she and her brother in Pilot Ridge, she got the sneaking suspicion there was more to the girl than what met the eye.  There was a decent chance that she was there because a recruiter came to her doorstep sometime in the last decade and dragged her there, not unlike herself.  It warmed her to Penelope some, knowing that perhaps they had something in common.  Maybe not much, but something.

"I hope you get along with him then."  She smiled at her own comment, moving forward in the line, since it was now their turns.  She started to order a ginger peach tea but stopped herself since she knew she had that exact tea at home and there was no sense spending a a couple of dollars for what she could have for free.  Instead, she quickly changed her mind and ordered a chai latte since it was something she couldn't replicate easily in her own kitchen.  Plus it sounded good.  She could use the sugar, too.

"So.. what do you like, yah know, do when you're not working on school projects?" She asked, handing the cashier a $5, though her attention was focused directly on Penelope.