Home is where the Heart aches

Manta Carlos was one of the most open, friendly, and accepting places he had ever been yet Arik still struggled to fit in. Most others had found their groups or a facet of the community to involve themselves with. He never knew where he felt accepted, or what came naturally because it was all foreign to him. Instead of trying to wedge himself somewhere, he decided to do what he did know: survive and adapt.

Youth on the East Coast had taught him the dangerous of ridicule and intolerance from his peers. He was loathe to risk the same here, even on the off chance people were different. The staff explained to him that everyone in this place was gifted, and that none of them necessarily fit in with "normal" society. They assured him he would find fast friends.

Instead, he lingered in his dorm and around it. Preparations for his living area had brought him in contact with a few teachers and several members of the housing staff, but thus far he managed to evade lengthy encounters with his fellow students. A quick nod here, a muttered hello there, but nothing of substance.

In that moment, he was taking a short reprieve from heavy lifting and spot cleaning to rest in the foyer. Armed with a book titled 'Deadhouse Gates,' the lad nestled comfortably in an armchair looking out over the water. With a sigh, he indulged in his favorite pastime.

Eventually every man reaches a point where every memory is unwelcome.

He finished reading those words just before he heard her. It should have been obvious in a common room for people to greet one another, but Arik still managed to be surprised. "Huh?" he blinked rapidly, then fumbled to say, "ah, oh, yeah."

The youth pressed the pages to his lap and put on the most mangled, awkward smile imaginable. Now, to attempt conversation!

"It's good." A pregnant pause separated those words from his next. "One of my favorites, actually. Do you read much?"

...well, it was something at least.

His eyes moved to the window, beyond the girl and any hope of eye-contact. He was nowhere near ready for that. Arik took in a quiet breath and watched gray clouds roll across the sky outside.

@Zora