Good to be Home (open)

[Santiago]

----Airport 10:38 a.m. ----

"Damn....How long have I been gone? I guess I lost count of the days since my trip, feels good to be back though."

Santiago said to himself as he walked off the airplane from New York. Walking off the platform, his baggage was a bit heavy, but nothing he couldn't handle. The time spent in New York was to visit his mother and all the people that his trip to California hindered him from seeing anymore. Plus sorting out business with his former school because some credits got left behind, having sorted out all his school business and making sure his mother is safe and sound, Santiago returns to California to once again attend school.

Reaching the exit gate he enters the airport and walks around in a mild awe. Stretching out his limbs from sitting for so long, thinking for a moment he remembers where he has to go, following the line of passengers he arrives at the baggage claim, walking over to the carousel where the baggage is, he sets his duffel bag on the floor and sits as he awaits his bags to come around. After fifteen minutes of waiting he sees his suitcase come around, standing up and throwing on his duffel bag he grabs his briefcase and makes his way outside to the warm California air. Hailing a cab he throws everything in the trunk and goes home.

The cabby seemed a bit confused on how to find his apartment, so Santiago had to give him some directions after they got off the highway. It didn’t bother him to much; he knew the area fairly well still, so he did so confidently. Feeling the cab come to a stop he pulled up the door lock and climbed out quickly, while the cabby popped the trunk open. He grabbed all his bags and walked into his building, pulling out his mail key he opened his mail box; a stream of mail came falling out of the mail box when he opened it. Santiago picked up his mail and dragged his baggage to the elevator, pressing the button to go up the doors slid open and he stepped in, arriving at his floor he dragged his baggage out of the elevator and walked down the hall to his door, pulling his keys out he opened the door. Feeling a breeze come out of the room as he opened the door he inhaled deeply and smiled at the sight of his home.

Walking inside he tossed his bags in-front of him and slammed his door shut, locking it behind him he grabbed his bags and walked into his room, throwing the bags on his bed he walked back out and pulled all his mail out, sorting through it he thought of what he could make to eat, if there was anything in his fridge. Setting his mail on his counter he opens his fridge and sees it is almost as empty as his stomach is, closing the door he clenches his stomach lightly and feels a loud rumble come from it. (What can I do to eat? I wonder….Fuck it, I’ll go out n eat.) Grabbing his zune and his joint case he left his apartment. Leaving his building, Santiago walked down his stoop and began to walk down his block, thinking of where he could go and eat. Turning the corner he met eyes with a gorgeous woman, she was dressed in casual street clothes, a tank top with a long sleeve shirt under and a jacket over it with a scarf around her neck, her jeans were skin tight but her ass stuck out like a bad pimple, her complexion was darker then Santiago’s, sort of a mocha color. Stunned for a moment he couldn’t let this specimen go without him talking to her, as she passed by him he smiled and she smiled back, turning his head with his body he stared at her, she did the same; he walked over to her and asked her….

“Excuse me miss, I’m a new around town and I don’t know much about the neighborhood. Do you know any fun places around here to party?”

The girl smiled again and she nodded in response to Santiago, “I do actually; I know plenty of places around to have some fun. But I’m kind of occupied today, sorry.” Santiago grinned and said “No problem at all miss…May I ask your name?” “Sure you can, my name is Valentina Rivera.” “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mademoiselle, my name is Santiago Castrillon.” Santiago extended his hand to shake her hand, the girl gripped his hand lightly and Santiago raised it to his lips and kissed it softly. The girl blushed a bit and smiled at him again, and then Santiago asked her “What your number, maybe we can get together and you can show me around town.” Valentina grinned and got closer to Santiago, and asked him for his phone, he gave her the phone and she stored her number in his phone. “So any specific time I should call?” “No, just call. I’ll answer…Bye Santy.” “Bye Valentina.” He waved goodbye to her and she was on her way.

Smiling to himself he threw his hands back and thought about the girl he just spoke with. Santiago walked down the block to a small diner that he would frequent, walking inside he waved to the owner who was behind the counter. Sitting down Santiago looks thru the menu and places his order.

[Mae-Lim]

(Got a tiny bit carried away. If you're not sure how to respond, PM me, I can arrange something =])

In the corner of her room, she sat silently in the darkness. Her deep eyes scanned the pages of her book, which was legible only by the dim light of the lamp near her. The book title read "twilight", a book she read as often as possible. It was a good book, and whatever could keep her turning the pages at this rate was deemed a damn worthy read.

As background noise, Mae-Lim had let a song play rather noisily on repeat. I:Scintilla- Cursive Eve. The gothic song would probably not come as surprising. While she dressed in only white most of the time, Mae-Lim still seemed to involuntarily carry a rather gothic aura. She liked it though. The music that is. It was better than all that screaming garbage she'd hear her brother play. How could someone listen to that? Personally, she wanted to keep her ability to hear, thank you. And how was screaming to a beat, music? Toss a 2 year old a fisherprice drum and watch it scream to the beat. I doubt you'll call that anything but annoying. And those were her thoughts to this "screamo" business.

At this point, she realised she'd gone through two pages without taking in the words at all. Blasted random thoughts. She pulled the pages back to where she last remembered reading, and started all over again.
The character Edward, Mae-Lim had to admit, somehow reminded her of Seth a little. Her eyes would lift from the pages as she thought about it, trying not to come to the conclusion that Seth was actually a Vampire. Although, in some ways, in some crazy, whacka-doo way, it almost made sense. But that was silly.

"I need to get out." she murmured to herself, placing her book mark between pages 258 and 259, setting it on her desk and pushing herself up. She'd pull open her curtains, giving a pained expression at the brightness of light shining in. Maybe she was the Vampire...

On her way out the door, white slip-ons, white knee-high socks, white strapped dress that stoppd above her knees and a sweater overtop in a strange shade of green; Mae-Lim contemplated what she would do. It was a strange idea for her to decide to go out. She never did. When she did, she was usually in the company of her brother or her guardian. What a life.

In some strange answer to her question, her phone would ring and a calmness came over her as she realized it was Logan.
"Hello..." she'd whisper as she answered her cell and braced herself for the rather optimistic voice of her ex-Lost Puppy. Or, maybe he still was.

"Mae! Wanna go have breakfast with me? Pleaaase?? Or brunch, I'm up for brunch!"

She wasn't hungry...
"Uh...yeah. Okay."

Logan could tell she lacked enthousiasm, but he didn't care. He chattered away at her ear for a while before telling her where to meet up. Once they were together, the nervous wreck had summoned up the courage to give her a soft embrace. And Mae-Lim reluctantly accepted it, still uncomfortable with such intimate actions. Still, viewing him as a sort of younger brother helped her surpress her want to jerk back and push him away, treating him to a hug just this once. She hadn't seen much of the guy since the school swap, so it was her kind gesture for the day.

Logan led her to some diner, and at this point her discomfort returned. It felt almost like a date, even if it was simply breakfast between friends. Her eyes scanned around to see what people could possibly be thinking, or she was thinking of what she thought they were thinking. Why did she even care..?

Seated, Mae-Lim looked over the menu with little interest. She didn't want to be rude, so she thought she'd just get a fruit salad. It wasn't expensive and it wasn't too big a dish so that she'd end up wasting it. Did she have enough money for it, though? Fishing out her Patrick Star wallet, Mae-Lim began to scan through what money she had, before Logan would pipe up.

"I'M paying!"
He seemed to put much authority in those words, which caught Mae-Lim by surprise. The fact he practically yelled had been another factor to her shock. She'd give a slow nod to him, her brow rising a bit, which made Logan blush a bit and smile sheepishly.
"I..well, it's just...you know..."

Did she?

"So how's Paragon?"

Ugh. Next topic?
"It's...interesting." she whispered, rubbing the side of her arm uncomfortably. Talking about Paragon was never a comfortable topic. People who overheard always tossed her nasty glances, and who could blame them with a reputation like that? Anyway, she'd managed to return to her invisable self with her stay there, but that could only last so long. While she enjoyed the peace of being unnoticed (by people like Damien Blaze who knew her through her involvement with Revvy), Mae-Lim couldn't help but feel that she couldn't return to her old life. Her life of just being there. She needed to be part of something, behind the scenes, preferably, where she felt most at home. But she also didn't feel like searching that type of thing out. Circles....
"Hircine has been kind to you? I see no bruises or scars. I'm glad."

Logan would flush and grin,
"It's been mostly peaceful over there, and Principal Alexander does a pretty good job at cracking down on trouble makers."

Mae-Lim would blink at the name.
"I thought the Principal was named Katsumoto..."

"Well he is. I mean they both are. I mean..like, thay are both Principals."

"I missed something..." Mae muttered. Still, while that was an interesting fact, she held no more interest on the matter. The waitress came by to take their orders, and left right after. For the moment, there was silence. Mae-Lim's eyes trailed over to look at the people. Studying them. Seeing if she could decipher what they were thinking, especially if they looked her way. Talking as loud as Logan, it was hard not to eaves-drop. And Mae-Lim was sure that some people would automatically listen in when Hircine and Paragon were mentioned.

[Santiago]

Santiago sat in silence as his thoughts went through his head, he thought of what else could be done during the rest of the day. He really didn't have much to do, maybe he could call the girl who's number he got, maybe he could go for a nice stroll in the park, whatever he did would be something to keep him busy. (Can't wait for my food to get here, I'm fucking starving.) After a few more minutes of waiting his food came out, in the hands of a cute waitress, (Hmm I wonder if I can get here number as well? Nah I'll keep to myself, the first girl was enough.) Smiling at the young waitress she placed his food on the table and smiled back, as she left he couldn't help but look at her as she walked away. Then looking down at his food his stomach let out a loud growl, so without any further wait Santiago dug into to his sunny side-up eggs with some buttered toast, the smell of bacon and sausage tingled his nostrils as he ate intently, wanting to finish everything and not leave a trace of food on the plate.

While he was eating he noticed a couple of people walking in, a girl and a guy, both about his age maybe a little older. He didn't really pay attention after they walked in, he just went back to eating his food. As he ate he saw that the couple sat a table behind his, it didn't really bother him, but he noticed the girl talk about something that had to do with him. (Maybe they both go to Hiricne?) He heard the young man mention that Hircine had two principals now, (Damn, I guess I've missed out more then I had thought...Two Principals, must be harsh over there now.) Still eaves-dropping a bit he noticed the young man ask the girl about Paragon (maybe she goes there as well, who knows? She is a cute one to.) He was still eating his food, but listening as they spoke, when they finished he interjected and asked them

"So I couldn't help but over hear. Do either of you go to Paragon?"

[Mae-Lim]

The silence was broken, and it took Logan's eyes shifting towards someone to truly shake that the voice was speaking to them. Of course it was. Who else was talking about Paragon? Logan would keep rather quiet, noticing Mae-Lim's expression turn sour before she'd shift in her seat and turn to have the man in her view. Her deep blue eyes would serch his, once they'd connect, her eyes would lower in a deep glare before she'd shift them away and look elsewhere.

"Eavesdropping is a nasty[/b] habit. Especially is you're so open about it." Mae-Lim would hiss. Logan would shoot Santiago and apologetic look and shrug, trying to to silently tell him that this was just the way she was. However, regardless of her displeasure with Santiago talking to them, Mae-Lim wouldn't simply brush him off. She'd raise her hand lazily, her index finger raising up higher than her other fingers, indicating silently that she did.
"I go to that place." she'd reaffirm softly, obvious disgust in her words.

She'd pause for a moment, looking back towards him and tilting her head. "You're either a curious kid from some other school, most likely Hircine, looking for info..." she'd begin, trailing off at the end. "Or someone else who goes to Paragon."
While it came off in sort of a statement, Mae-Lim's curious glance would indicate she expected him to tell her which was true.

Logan would take this time to say something, though it seemed almost unecessary. Even worse, it almost sounded like he was bragging.
"I'm from Hircine. Mae-Lim used to go there as well but she's one of the bad seeds that got transferred."

Her eyes would shut slowly, sighing at her friend's openness about it. He was an open book, even when it came to her life. Why did she tell him anything, anyway? Regardless, she'd simply nod at his 'fun fact', but remain silent as she waited for Santiago to speak. Also half-interested in what he could possibly want. 'I don't understand how someone can so casually strike up conversation with a stranger. Even better, strangers.' Wasn't that kind of awkward? She had to remind herself that some people were just more sociable than others. And not as shy. In a way, she was kind of jealous of him.

[Santiago]

Hearing the young woman of the two hiss a response toward Santiago, he cocked his head back a bit as he made eye-contact with the shrewish girl, he grinned and chuckled a her abrupt dislike with Santiago's eaves-dropping on them, he felt as if he should apologize to them when he saw the guy look at him and shrug in an apology, Santiago grinned once more and let out a small laugh at the girl's reaction.

"Damn girl, sorry for wanting to asking a simple question, didn't know I would touch a nerve by exuding my presence to meet someone."

Smiling at her he hoped she wouldn't take his little bit or sarcasm the wrong way, he was trying to be a bit friendly and joke around. Keeping eye contact with the girl hearing her say she went to Paragon he raised his brow for a second in surprise, she didn't look like the type of girl who would go to Paragon, but it happens, though her temper brought Santiago to think a bit different.

"Well in my case I'm just a curious kid who wants to know if a cute girl goes to his school."

Grinning at her he turned around and took his cup of orange juice in hand and took a sip, turning back around he looked at the guy with her and was about to ask the obvious question when he heard him say he was from Hircine and that she was an ex student of Hiricne, nodding to him he responded to his statement saying

"Same here. I used to go to hircine till I got transferred to Paragon, can't really say why. it kind of took me by surprise."

Looking back at the girl he took another sip of his juice and waited for her response, he sensed her a bit annoyed with him, maybe his sarcasm would lighten her up a bit, he could only hope though, she seemed to have a sort fuse. But he would try and see if he could strike up some conversation with the two, maybe he could see if he could learn about the girl a bit more, having to do so he asked a question he thought was obvious, but he wasn't so sure about.

"So is he your boyfriend or do you drive men away with your cold heart?"

[Mae-Lim]

'Assuming things could get you into trouble' she thought as Santiago reacted to her cold words. She was hardly amused by the sarcasm and her face projected no emotion. She had a stern gaze, no nonesense type of look, and the corner of her lip twitched.

When he answered her question, she'd give him a puzzled look. There was so much to swallow from that response. First of all, he thought she was cute. Which to her, was weird. That kind of sounded like low self-esteem but she didn't really care what she looked like. Secondly, was he hitting on her? A strange chill ran up her spine. Uncomfortable. But she didn't say anything, mostly due to the fact she was at a loss. She could go ahead and keep being a meanie-head, mock him and whatnot...but for some reason her surprise kept her from even thinking about it. Uh oh. Was this some sort of weakness?

Her answer to his grin was a scowl and her eyes followed him as he casually took a sip of his drink. He'd continue on to reply to Logan, their food arriving by then. She'd take a look as the waitress put down their plates and nodded at her before she walked away. She'd slowly reach for a cantalope piece and pop it in her mouth, turning back to look at Santiago.

"I'm just glad I didn't get transferred" Logan would shudder. Mae-Lim felt the same, however, she would have preferred staying at hircine as well. She'd give a blink as Santiago would turn to her, expecting. Mae-Lim would just lower her eyes lazily and stare back, in sort of a way of saying "what?". Probably seeing that she wasn't about to say anything, Santiago continued with another topic, one that had her flustered on the spot.

You could tell she was taken aback by it, by the way she jolted back in her seat and grimaced.
"No. Logan is a friend of mine." she said a bit quickly. "Not that it's any of your business..."

She didn't know what to say about that other part. In all truth, she was still a bit scared of the word relationship. Not that she was ever in one, but the thought of being possibly stuck with someone like her father did set her off the dating thing.
"You're right." she finally answered, her eyes lowering to her lap as she sighed and turned away from him. "I've got a bloody, cold, heart."

Logan would look towards Mae with concern, taking a slow, awkward bite of his piece of French Toast. Mae-Lim would ignore him, blinking slowly as she thought before turning back towards Santiago.
"Why did you want to know? Thinking about trying to melt the ice? Or Chisel slowly at it?" a wicked smile would cross her lips. Mocking. Daring. She'd chuckle darkly afterwards, eating a strawberry next.

Curiousity was driving her to test him. To see if this boy would crumble under her pressure, if he would still try to be friendly with her or if he would turn away. Leave them. Stop talking. It was almost a game.

[Santiago]

Hearing the girl snap back at his remarks coldly, he grinned wider, he liked her spunk and wit, it was something he hardly saw in women around his way, so he would enjoy this battle of wits with this rather attractive girl, maybe he could get her to go out with him, if his wit could match her's or vice versa, he was intrigued so he would continue to talk to her. Watching as their food arrived he would observe as the girl took some fruit and ate it, he wasn't mesmerized by her, but he was interested in her. He would let his eyes wander so he could let some pressure of the two, looking around he didn't see much to catch his interest as what was in-front of him, so his eyes returned to the two.

Hearing the boy speak his words would go through Santiago's ears as if an insignificant statement, though he did hear it. Turning back to his food he would take a over-sized spoonful of home fries with a strip of bacon, chewing and taking a sip of orange juice to wash it down he returned his gaze to the girl, seeing her react so contrary to his question of her relationship with the boy in her company, Santiago just chuckled a bit at her expression, but her response was to his advantage, she wasn't going with him so he could attempt to flirt with her and not meet with any resistance unless it was from her.

Seeing her gaze break from his, her expression seemed more stern or a bit saddened by what he said, he felt a bit concerned and he didn't want to offend her either, but she acknowledged what he said as the truth, though to Santiago it seemed a bit more then that, but he couldn't be to sure.

He turned back to his food and took another spoonful of home fries and a sausage into his mouth, he took another sip of juice as he swallowed the chewed food and turned back to her. The next thing he would hear from her, would bring a smile to his face 'Thinking about trying to melt the ice? Or Chisel slowly at it?', seeing her smile as he did, he laughed in his head and responded quickly to her.

"Well if anyone could I would be able to, wanna let me give it a try? I've melted glaciers before so I'm not new at it."

He smiled at her taking another sip of the juice in his hand, he would keep his gaze within her's to see if either would falter under the pressure of the eye-contact, his gaze wasn't penetrating but he was attempting to see if she could keep up a stare. He couldn't really tell if she was testing his will but he was prepared if she was and he would be able to do the same.

[Mae-Lim]

He laughed now, but that couldn't last. As he boasted about some sort of talent at breaking through to someone's heart, Mae-Lim could only scoff at him. It had been sarcasm on her part, but the boy had accepted the challenge. Boy did he bark up the wrong tree. As he challenged her to the staring match, Mae-Lim would simply stare back boredly. As though she were telling him this was no contest.
"Allow me to crush every hope of yours." she'd begin, crossing her arms and glaring fiercely into his eyes. "First of all, you can't even begin to understand just what you're dealing with here. If you think a boy like you could manage to woo me, then you need a head-check. You don't even interest me a bit."

At least, not in that way. There were plenty of other things she'd found interesting about him, though. But it was better suited for a lab-rat than a possible friend. Or more. She shivered at the thought of more.

"I'll humour you though. Try it. And I hope you're also 'not new' to rejection because I'll be doing that relentlessly."
She'd giggle darkly again, pressing her index finger on her lips as she thought.

He was a strange boy. She supposed it was one of those 'you want what you can't get' type of thing. Or the thrill of a challenge. Mae-Lim wasn't a challenge, unfortunately, she was a lost cause. She'd let him try though, if he still wished to after hearing her out. If anything, it'd provide a bit of amusement to her and she'd get to give a few quips and insults along the way. Like she usually did.

'I know his kind. Womanizer. He reeks of it. Maybe I can put him in his place.' Yup. Mae-Lim deffinately judges a book by it's cover.

She'd break her glare from Santiago, turning towards Logan as she gave a small tilt of her head. He'd grin a rather exagerrated grin, and laugh sheepishly. Speaking of strange boys...
"It's good." he said, knowing exactly what Mae was asking, even though she never spoken a word. She was much gentler with Logan. While he'd been busy eating away and listening like a good boy, Mae-Lim didn't like the feeling that she was ignoring him. He was the one who had invited her here, afterall.

Without looking back towards Santiago, Mae-Lim would add,
"Still up for it, whoever you are?"