The Affinities

Caeli spun around. "Really you sure? Cause that'd be great." Caeli said with a big smile.

 

"I really don't care," she mumbled.

 

"Hmm, why is it that you don't like people?"Caeli said not trying to hide his curiousity.

 

Ulrich yawned and nodded appreciatively to Keel as he turned and left, following the man's directions to the kitchen. His stomach growled as he gradually made his way to the kitchen, hands tucked in pockets, looking to and fro. He hoped there wouldn't be anymore obstacles on his epic quest for food.

 

Subtle much? She thought, rolling her eyes. She didn't answer and continued Walking towards the tree.

 

"I'm sorry, I'm just curious." apologized Caeli.

 

For a second, Haley got worried as he'd paused, had he forgotten her? However as he said her name, she expelled that from her mind and simply beamed. He remembered her. She resisted the strong urge she felt just to run up and hug him. "You too." She said formally before just grinning, "It's great to see you again, the place just hasn't been the same without you. You've been missed. But you do know that you're going to have too tell us all your adventures. What have you been up to? What's the outside world like?" She asked happily, quickly moving over to him, getting carried away. She paused, "Oh. Sorry." He'd only just arrived and she was overloading him with stuff, he was going to thing she was just some imature child at this rate.

 

"Ah....of course. Right," replied Andrew with a plastered smile. The adventures he had in the last year weren't really that great. There was a high chance that if he told them anything, it might somehow get skewed in their minds that going out and exploring and even planning to rebel against the government was an absolutely marvelous and cool thing to do. He would be aiding the Rebellion in propaganda distribution. Besides, his stories were more of horror, not of adventure. Inadvertently ignoring her questions, he turned from Haley looking back to the new fiery girl. She was sound asleep for some reason despite being so enthusiastic seconds before. I guess she's had her fair share of "adventures" too. Really. Killing two officers. My god. If she doesn't have some sort of bounty on her, the world is a funny place. Andrew thought to himself bitterly. Such a dangerous person running around free would obviously be a sign that the government has failed. But at the same time, if she was wanted, the orphanage would be doomed. Ah, I guess I better take her to a room. "Hey Haley," called Andrew while lifting the girl into his arms bridal style, "sorry to be a hindrance to you so soon, but do you know if there are any spare rooms left? This girl needs a bed," he said as he looked down at the peaceful young face in his arms. Ha...she looks so harmless when sleeping. Hard to believe she's probably one of the most violent fire users I've seen.

 

Again Ariana said nothing and when they were finally outside, she ran towards the tree and opened the bag taht was on her back. She took out a notebook and flipped through the pages.

 

Turning to face Andrew, Keel decided to ask. "You mind helping me move her to someplce she can actually get some sleep?" Nociting how he responded to Haley, he assumed that he had already been here before.

 

Jellal walked towards Andrew. He wasn't sure if he was overjoyed or enraged to see him. A year ago, when he had left, Jellal had pleaded to go along with him but Andrew had refused. But He put that out of his mind for now as he knew his reasoning. As he got right p next to him he simply said "Hey..It's been a while..."

 

Jo cracked her eyes open, she seemed to be in a better mood. "You all...know eachother...that's great."

 

Caeli sat down by the tree also. And then he leaned a little bit over to Ariana and said, "Do you draw in that notebook? Or...?"

 

A small smile lit up on Ariana's features. It had been on long since anyone had taken any interest on what she did- not since her parents and the rest of her family had died. Slowly Ariana nodded.

 

Haley's heart dropped a little as he dodged her questions and he didn't seem quite so relaxed. She blamed herself of course, she was annoyed at herself for getting carried away. A year can make a big difference, she realised, had Andrew grown up in his time away while she'd remained the same. Well height wise at least that was certainly the case, she was certain he'd got taller while she was as small as ever. She knew she'd have to make it up to him somehow. However she'd didn't let any of her thoughts show and when he asked her for help, she was on it. "Oh yeah, I think there are some empty rooms just down this corridor as it happens." Her attention switched to this strange woman, who was she? From her clothes and looks alone, she seemed like the kind of girl you didn't want to mess with though while she was sleeping, that look wasn't that strong. She looked at Andrew to quietly ask "Who is she?" Before looking down to see the woman wake up slightly.

 

"Guh!" exclaimed Andrew as he was startled by Jellal's appearance. Because of this, he almost dropped the sleeping figure in his arms, but managed to hold onto her tightly. Hearing part of Keel's request and somewhat listening to Haley, he asked Keel, "Weren't you supposed to go and lead the other guy to the kitchen?" and telling Haley, "She's a newcomer of sorts. Just arrived this morning shortly before me, I think," all while staring at Jellal. Andrew broke off the staring contest first to follow Haley to the room as the girl's weight was starting to become a little overbearing on his arms, but before leaving Jellal in the dust, he said to him, "I need to talk to you later. I hope you'll listen to me," before Andrew turned his head away and looked forward for the room.

 

Jellal stood there for a minute as he tended to the others. "Depends on what you've got to say..." He whispered under his breathe and then began the wait for Andrew to have enough free time to talk.

 

"Ah, okay, well we'd better find her a bed then. We can't have her just laying here" She smiled and moved to lead the way. However Haley's forehead creased slightly at his reaction to Jellal and with him saying they needed to talk, she just hoped she hadn't lost him to the resistance as well. That was the last thing she needed, the resistance were going to be hard enough to take on as it is without Andrew's expirience.

She looked round her shoulder, wondering if Maddie had followed her. She felt guilty about leaving her friend to go and see Andrew. Maddie was always so good, she couldn't ask for more from a friend and she was even standing beside her against all the odds to help stop the resistance. She'd have to make it up to her and she hoped Maddie would forgive her. She didn't want to lose such a good friend and as it stood, she simply couldn't afford to.

 

Maddie's heart drooped a little as Haley ran off, leaving her alone once more, though she smiled as it all happened so suddenly, not wanting Haley to see her unhappiness. She knew she was being selfish, all she ever wanted was a friend that she could talk to without fail, and she had that, and she was grateful for it. She sighed deeply with a tone of sadness and slowly straddled over to the exit of the room, having no intentions of doing anything as rude as following her...or she didn't, until she heard Haley saying a bunch of gibberish so quickly and excitedly that she could swear she was having such a much more enjoyable time than she was with her. She scolded herself quietly under her breath for thinking that way as she made her way towards her friends voice, keeping as quiet as possible to avoid attracting attention.

Finally, she caught sight of Haley from round a corner, flicking her hair backwards out of her eyes as she stopped so suddenly and caused it to come crashing down on top of her. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, there she was, smiling politely as usual, speaking to some older guy who she knew she had seen before. She clenched her fists slightly and felt her heart droop slightly more as she watched the scene unfold. She couldn't believe it, she had been ditched again...for some guy. A wave of sadness washed over her as she backed away from the area as Haley seemed to turn and look over her shoulder out of interest. Hundreds of thoughts conflicting with eachother as they raced through her head at what felt like the speed of light.

OOC: Overreaction perhaps?

 

Haley grinned as she saw Maddie, she could tell that her friend wasn't happy though she might try to hide it, so she was determined to make it up to her. "Maddie! I was hoping you'd follow. I'm sorry I didn't explain and kind of run off a little." She apologised, though she was aware that it would probably take more than that, "Do you remember Andrew? He left a year ago and has just returned. I don't know if you know eachother but if you don't I've got to introduce you. I mean I can't be without my best girl." She laughed, "Though have you seen what going on here? It's chaos. Care to help us get Sleeping Beauty there to an empty room?"