Eroshay ran. She sprinted as fast as she could until her heart clenched and she could feel the drum of it in the tips of her fingers. She kept going until she swore she would vomit and her air was so constricted she barely had enough to think straight. She followed the innermost white line of the track, turning the rounded corners as sharply as she could without falling.
Shay had never been a fan of sports, but if she had to pick one, it would have been track. There was something about running. It was freedom and strength. And beyond the pure emotional bliss she got from it, Shay was fast, and she had stamina to last her for days. Give her a ball, and she couldn't hit it. Give her a bat, she'd miss every time. But, give her a track and she'd shine.
When her chest felt like it might implode, Shay fell to her knees, gasping for breath. Looking around, she realized how utterly alone she was out here. There were quite a few people, but she still felt alone. Cold, even. All Shay could think about was her nightmares -- her death. Or worse, her parents.
Gingerly, she picked herself up and dusted her baggy, red shorts of dust. It would have been easy to confuse her for a track kid, what with the outfit she wore. A red tank top, shorts, and black socks that peeked over the edge of her white sneakers. She chided herself to start jogging again, but her body wouldn't obey her.
People watching. This was one of the activities that Mansmasher3000 wasn't as proud of. On a good say she would have just stayed in her room, going into her dorm bathtub, filling it up, and trying to make her powers work with luke-warm water. Of course, no matter how much she tried, it seemed that the water itself had to be as cold as possible, or at least cold enough that she wouldn't want to wade her feet in the water while practicing. She was young yes, but soon she wouldn't be one of the children of the island anymore. She was a teenager now, though that fact was most of the time hard to fathom.
As she gazed her vision on one particular person, her moss colored eyes shot wider. "Hm." She said weakly to herself, as she got up from her slouched over position on the mildly wet grass to stand. She wanted to get a good look at this person, this girl, who was a lot faster then what she had seen in her regularly scheduled gym classes, even with all the powers that students had to offer. To her, it seemed as if the girl showed something else, something beautiful, even as she panted and stopped to cool down. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn't place her finger on it.
Mansmasher3000 wasn't exactly the most vocal of teens, but she kind of felt a bit bad for staring so blankly at the girl. "G-Good job!" Weakening her voice at the end, she wondered if her words would have nay impact on the fast girl. She was about twelve meters from the girl, but she had said it loud enough to be legible, unless her obvious panting had blocked it out. In a way, Mansmasher3000 hoped that she hadn't heard, so that she wouldn't have to come up with a reason as to why she was watching people. Not that watching people in plain sight was a bad thing, but apparently it was more so for perverts and older people. As she cleared her thoughts of such ideas, she shook her head from side to side violently, before stopping, as she pushed her small strands of copper hair behind her ears.
As she gazed her vision on one particular person, her moss colored eyes shot wider. "Hm." She said weakly to herself, as she got up from her slouched over position on the mildly wet grass to stand. She wanted to get a good look at this person, this girl, who was a lot faster then what she had seen in her regularly scheduled gym classes, even with all the powers that students had to offer. To her, it seemed as if the girl showed something else, something beautiful, even as she panted and stopped to cool down. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn't place her finger on it.
Mansmasher3000 wasn't exactly the most vocal of teens, but she kind of felt a bit bad for staring so blankly at the girl. "G-Good job!" Weakening her voice at the end, she wondered if her words would have nay impact on the fast girl. She was about twelve meters from the girl, but she had said it loud enough to be legible, unless her obvious panting had blocked it out. In a way, Mansmasher3000 hoped that she hadn't heard, so that she wouldn't have to come up with a reason as to why she was watching people. Not that watching people in plain sight was a bad thing, but apparently it was more so for perverts and older people. As she cleared her thoughts of such ideas, she shook her head from side to side violently, before stopping, as she pushed her small strands of copper hair behind her ears.
Shay's head shot up. Was that directed at her? She looked around until her eyes landed on the girl who had called out. Shay wasn't sure what to do. Not many people talked to her, about her, yes, but not generally to her. She figured it had something to do with her all around frosty disposition. It was better that they didn't talk to her. Walls were safe, secure, comforting even. Talking led to friends and friends -- Suffice to say, friends were a bad idea for Shay.
Still, it felt rude to go on running. Shay didn't have a whole lot of social grace to call on, but she knew, objectively, that it was rude to ignore someone who had spoken to you. So, Shay turned and strolled over to this girl, the whole way debating about what she might say. She stopped two arms lengths away, a proper distance to keep from touching anyone, and stopped awkwardly.
"It's just running. You can't do a bad job at it." She hadn't meant to sound so cold about it, but there it was. Shay's voice was always on the monotone side. Controlled and distant, the way she liked all things in her life. "What are you doing?" she asked as a method of overlooking her lack of manners.
Standing much closer, Shay could see that this girl was taller than her by a lot. She was also pretty. She reminded Shay of a Barbie, in some way. Silky hair and bright eyes. Freckles. The kind of girl who must have got a lot of attention, but never asked out. The type of girl who intimidated people with her kindness. Shay didn't know how she felt about that; she seldom liked bringing emotions into her observations.
'Good.' She said in her mind, even though that statement was a halfhearted one. At least something was happening, as for a while there she wasn't even sure that the other girl would turn her way. Had she perhaps come on too strong? True, they hadn't said much, nor did this girl look familiar. Mansmasher3000 jumped a bit as she started to walk over. She looked so sure of herself, even though her movements towards her, the indirect eye contact, the casual speed she was going; it made her unsure. After a few, long amounts of seconds, they were a lot closer then beforehand. Taking a deep breath as she observed the beauty in front of her, it was so weird for her to be so, awkward.
"Even so, you're fast." As all she could make out as she darted her hands in front of her, not wanting to hide them, not wanting to seem afraid. The statement wants false, but it also didn't sound that kind either. It may have been because the dark haired girl had made a not-so-nice first sentence to her. Clenching her right hand, she placed them together as the next question was asked of her. "I-I was just looking at everything." Mansmasher3000 started off with. "I guess you just caught my attention out of everything else." Though the words that lingered in the air around them now were embarrassing, she wasn't ashamed that she had spoken her mind.
Glancing the silhouette of her, she looked so elegant. She was like some old time princess, one that had the subtle, yet so perfect features. She looked younger than her, at least a year younger. Shorter too, which was strange to her, as she was so used to everyone towering over her when she walked through the school walls. She liked her hair color, as it fit so well on her still developing face. It made her wonder if she was popular, as to her, it would be as if she would fall into the loner stereotype. It was hard to judge someone on their looks, but that was all she had given her as of now.
"Even so, you're fast." As all she could make out as she darted her hands in front of her, not wanting to hide them, not wanting to seem afraid. The statement wants false, but it also didn't sound that kind either. It may have been because the dark haired girl had made a not-so-nice first sentence to her. Clenching her right hand, she placed them together as the next question was asked of her. "I-I was just looking at everything." Mansmasher3000 started off with. "I guess you just caught my attention out of everything else." Though the words that lingered in the air around them now were embarrassing, she wasn't ashamed that she had spoken her mind.
Glancing the silhouette of her, she looked so elegant. She was like some old time princess, one that had the subtle, yet so perfect features. She looked younger than her, at least a year younger. Shorter too, which was strange to her, as she was so used to everyone towering over her when she walked through the school walls. She liked her hair color, as it fit so well on her still developing face. It made her wonder if she was popular, as to her, it would be as if she would fall into the loner stereotype. It was hard to judge someone on their looks, but that was all she had given her as of now.
Shay observed the girl, perhaps too intensely. She knew her stare had the tendency to bore, and her face always held an expression more suited to an adult. This girl looked nervous, but Shay wasn't sure why. Was it because of her? Maybe she was just the nervous type. "I seem to do that a lot," Shay said with a kind of disapproving air. It was true. People had been watching her, talking to her, messing with her lately. It was all very odd.
She stood preternaturally still. It was a skill acquired rather than one that was natural. Shay didn't like people knowing how she felt or whether she was nervous. If Mansmasher3000's last sentence was weird, Shay hadn't realized. She could respect the blunt honesty of it.
"What's your name? I'm Shay." This was the polite thing to do and easier than calling her that girl. "I don't think I've seen you around before, what grade are you in?" That was assuming she was in any, but Shay would rather assume than ask.
For some reason, it made her more at ease to know that she wasn't the only one staring at her. Was that a weird thing? It wasn't like it would matter to her even if it was. "Oh." Mansmasher3000 added on quietly, unsure of what to make of it overall. After a few seconds, she could tell that she was staring at her. She was unsure if it was because she was interesting, or pretty, or if she was the type that zoned out while talking. Any of the above she would tolerate, no that she liked any of them. Then there was the stillness. It was as if the figure in front of her was now a mannequin, if her words had the power to freeze her. Her powers weren't that advanced.
The girls' name was a docile as her features. Shay. It suited her, as Mansmasher3000 played it on repeat in her head for a few seconds. "I like that." She said as sincerely as she could, as she looked down at her hands and raised her right hand out of her to shake. She had to lean a bit forward, but she didn't mind. "My name is Mansmasher3000, nice to meet you Shay. Oh and, grade eight."As she kept her hand out, a weak smile crossed the place where her light dimples showed.
The girls' name was a docile as her features. Shay. It suited her, as Mansmasher3000 played it on repeat in her head for a few seconds. "I like that." She said as sincerely as she could, as she looked down at her hands and raised her right hand out of her to shake. She had to lean a bit forward, but she didn't mind. "My name is Mansmasher3000, nice to meet you Shay. Oh and, grade eight."As she kept her hand out, a weak smile crossed the place where her light dimples showed.
Shay was standing far enough away that she didn't have to jump back when Mansmasher3000 (what?) leaned forward to shake her hand. She looked down at it and gulped. "I can't touch people," she explained. Anywhere else, that might have been a strange comment (or so Shay assumed), but in Manta Carlos, these things were completely normal. "But, it's nice to meet you, too."
Shay had to ask. "Your parents named you Mansmasher3000?" She was glad to come off sounded so neutral. "Or are you an android?" Shay took note that Mansmasher3000 (what a mouthful of a name) hadn't mentioned her grade. Shay supposed it was because she wasn't in one, although, she was at the school currently. "Kind of a mouthful to say. Mind if I call you 3000?" After she had paused a beat, she went on, "My full name is Eroshay, so I get the whole long name thing."
"Oh." Her voice went down as she retracted her hand. She can't touch people? Then again, maybe it had something to do with her powers, or maybe she just didn't like her. It didn't matter. "Yeah." Her voice perked up a bit as she gave back the nice greeting.
Yes, it was normal for people to ask about her name, as it really wasn't a, human one. "I'm not an android or a robot or anything." She shook her head, though it wasn't as the notion of her being synthetic, with a name like hers, was far fetched. "My father just really loved this little toy plane, and that was his name for it. It was the 3000th model of some brand and then he would smash all his little toy soldiers with it so." She nodded at the end, as she liked to retell the story of her name, though it still confused her. "Sure if that is easier for you." Her name was rather long, so she wasn't surprised anymore when people came up with weird and bizarre nicknames to match hers.
"Eroshay." She said afterwards, feeling as if she was pronouncing it wrong, but st least she was trying. "I think that is really pretty actually, I mean at least it isn't after a toy plane!" She smiled brightly as she interlocked her hands behind her back. "And sorry about earlier, I was focused on my name." She giggled, holding up eight fingers. "I'm in eight grade." She felt bad that such a thing had slipped by her so easily, which probably made it look like she really was an android.
Yes, it was normal for people to ask about her name, as it really wasn't a, human one. "I'm not an android or a robot or anything." She shook her head, though it wasn't as the notion of her being synthetic, with a name like hers, was far fetched. "My father just really loved this little toy plane, and that was his name for it. It was the 3000th model of some brand and then he would smash all his little toy soldiers with it so." She nodded at the end, as she liked to retell the story of her name, though it still confused her. "Sure if that is easier for you." Her name was rather long, so she wasn't surprised anymore when people came up with weird and bizarre nicknames to match hers.
"Eroshay." She said afterwards, feeling as if she was pronouncing it wrong, but st least she was trying. "I think that is really pretty actually, I mean at least it isn't after a toy plane!" She smiled brightly as she interlocked her hands behind her back. "And sorry about earlier, I was focused on my name." She giggled, holding up eight fingers. "I'm in eight grade." She felt bad that such a thing had slipped by her so easily, which probably made it look like she really was an android.
Shay hadn't been expected that story. Of all the things that could have happened for her to get a name like that, it was just because her father liked a toy plane? Shay liked many things with silly brand names, too, but she'd never name a person after one of them. She was brought from her reflection when 3000 was attempting to sound out her name. "It's pronounced Arrow-shay," she said.
She smiled back weakly when 3000 began giggling over her name. She had to remember, didn't people poke fun at themselves when they were nervous about something? She didn't have time to think about it before the girl was apologizing and informing Shay which grade she was in. Eighth, so she was older than Shay, but only by a year or two.
"I'm in seventh," Shay said by way of politeness, rather than desire. "Twelve-years-old," she would further clarify.
She sat on the bleachers. Shay hated leading conversations; unless she had a particular endpoint in mind, she was never very good with questions. They came out more like she was giving an interview and she wasn't quite sure where to start.
"Do you run, too?"