I'm Finding an EXPLOSION *open*

[Tess FUNKE]

I stood there looking into the entrance, old memories of my friends entered my mind. What was I doing? I shouldn't have left everyone I knew like I did... Maybe one day my old friends would join me, but being who I was I needed to move on. I tried to remember how much trouble I had been in since I had become free... An early birthday my parents had called it. I grinned my goofy little smile and walked in. I began to wonder if this too would get me in more trouble, but the thought left when I entere the dusty palace.

This place was way better than my wall at Starbucks! I mean it was quiet and deserted, and the perfect place for my new friends and I to hang out... Or my soon to be new friends. I hadn't met any yet, except one... But other than that one new friend, I was alone. I guess I liked the thrill of being alone, not having anyone to watch you rback so you had to constantly protect all sides of you... Was it the danger that always drew me in? I shrugged off the thoughts with another step... Into the danger I went.

When completely encompassed by the walls and machines of the old factory I found bits and pieces of random things... Nothing interesting. Finally something did get my attention. I walked forward to find a shiny object hidden beneath trash. I gently tugged on it, but nothing happened. I pulled harder but only managed to get the trash to shift. What was I dealing with? I gave a final tug, but nothing happened. With that I sat down in frustration lost on what to do. "Ugh." I eventually let out and fell back on the floor, giving up, like I always did. I heard a noise, and sat up. "Hello?" My eyes peered 'round, but I saw nothing, hopefullly, it was just my imagination.

[sophia a marshall]

Sophia had not stepped foot inside this building since she was a little girl. It had not really changed. The moment she walked through the door way it felt like she had been transported back in time, and she had to smile to herself. She walked down a time abused hallway, a strange gilded light filtering in through the windows that were still intact. Little particles of dust whirled in the aftermeath of her passing. Her path led her to a great room filled with mountains of mysterious machinery, all dusty and rusty. The largest contraption had a seat on it at the top, and the perfect beam of sunlight streamed down right onto it. This is perfect. She thought, satisfied with herself, and began climbing over the hazardous pile of junk to get to the seat.

When she reached the position she slid a worn and yellowed book from beneath her arm and sat down to enjoy the quiet. As her eyes whizzed over the words describing vikings and piracy in the early 11th century her mind fell into thinking about her new goal: finding a friend. It wasn't something she had ever really cared about, friends had never mattered. But ever since she had completed school she had felt more and more like she could use someone to talk to. She was working on being more assertive, and she had always heard friends were fun. All the girls in the sappy novels she used to read had best friends. Someone to rely on and protect at the same time.

Her thoughts drifted back to the last time she had been here. Just then she remembered that she had left a hair clip here for someone to find. Curious as to whether it was still here, Sophia got up and began maneuvering herself down the junk pile. Her hands closed on dusty handles and she used ledges as foot-holds. The final few feet she jumped, momentarily considering shifting but deciding against it, and landed with two feet and one hand on the filthy ground. Her hands were now covered in dust so she dusted them off on her jeans just to appease her mother's voice telling her to allways wash her hands whenever they got dirty. Then she began mooving through large room to large room, trying to remember where she had left it. It took her a while to get her bearings, but then she was standing in the doorway of probably the largest space in the factory. Her mind recognized it immediately. Sophia was just about to enter and begin searching when she noticed someone else. They looked slightly younger than her, probably too young to be out of highschool. Sophia's original response was to turn and walk away, but she reminded herself that she should be friendly. Anyway, The thoughtful voice in her head said, You can always fly away if things get dangerous.

Taking courage from the familiarity of the place Sophia stepped forward, but her momentary pause in the doorway threw off her balance, and she tripped. Before she actually fell her bird balance caught in and she righted herself, but now she was even more nervous. The scared shifter stumbled back into the doorway, planning on getting away and leaving this girl in piece. Unfortunately, the girl spoke, and Sophia realised she must have been heard. Slowly she stepped out into the other's view, briefly wondering if this girl was a shifter as well. " Hello." She managed a shy little smile in an attempt to make herself seem less awkward.

[Tess FUNKE]

I caught sight of a girl standing there, I grinned when she said hello. I stood and brushed the dust off of me, knowing I must look like a slob. I'm Tess. You? Had I lost my voice? Why wasn't anything coming out?! Hello? Person? I almost wanted to step outside of my body and slap it across the face. SERIOUSLY! Why wasn't I talking! I took a breath, trying to get some air in so I could speak. Nothing... I wasn't breathing... What was going on? I wished someone who was a shifter could explain... If only Kori where there. She would've known.

I fell to my knees. What the hell?! I coughed. AIR! My precious air! Oh God, I wished that would never happen agian. I spat out the dust I had previously inhaled while standing up and sat back on the floor. "God that was scary." My voice was frightened. That was a first. Now I knew what it meant to have your life flash before your eyes... What even happened? I decided to keep talking to show the new chick I was alright. "I'm Tess, You?" Words! Those words I had wanted to say were finally out! Yippy for me! I was back baby, and stronger than ever... Ok, maybe not. But I was back! My brown eyes gazed up at her and I wondered if, since it was a school day, and time for highschool[ UGH!], if she questioned how old I was... My mom always siad I looked like a little kid stuck forever in time, but I don't believe it. I grinned, and waited to hear a name.

[sophia a marshall]

Sophia relaxed slightly when the other girl smiled. It was only natural, wasn't it? Careful to avoid as much of the junk on the ground as possible, Sophia closed most of the distance between herself and this other girl. She watched her shoes the whole way over, too shy to meet the girl’s eyes. Then she stood in front of Tess, and slowly raised her head, peering at the other girl through a mess of lank dark brown hair. The red streaks looked out of place in her otherwise bland appearance. She wondered if she should introduce herself, and the silence between them stretched out. Suddenly it occurred to Sophia that things were too quiet. She couldn't even here the other girl breathing. Oh God, she's not breathing! Sophia thought, panic gripping her chest in a mighty fist and squeezing it a moment.

Her eyes followed Tess to the ground, and a moment later Sophia knelt next to the other girl. Luckily she heard Tess’s intake of breath, assuring Sophia the girl wouldn’t die on her right there. “Jesus, girl.” Sophia muttered, leaning back on her heels and putting a hand of Tess’s shoulder. “Are you alright?” Her voice shook slightly, but she took another deep breath and seemed to calm back down. Pushing her hair out of her face with a re-dusted hand, she got to her feet and offered a hand to Tess. “Ni-nice to meet you, Tess,” Sophia said while she waited for Tess to grab her hand, “I’m Sophia.” She was doing it, she was reaching out, making a friend. Juts you watch, Mom, I’ll make you proud.

[Tess FUNKE]

Her voice was friendly, nervous almost. I noted that. It was almost like I was like she was afraid to make a new friend. Sophia. I needed to remember that one too. My friend list was growing, along with my enemies... Sophia, friend. I logged it easily. She held out her hand for me to shake. An old motion I hadn't done in a while. I remembered my going away party... Last time I ever shook someone's hand. I was more of a talky type person... Not really formal. I decided I might as well go with her ways... She was the friend after all. My arm extended. I thought of it almost as a machine as I slowly neared her hand.

Her touch was warm, friendly. I wondered how my hand felt? Dusty, dirty... Cold or warm? It bugged me not knowing... I was tempted to reach up to my face and feel it so I could know what Sophia was feeling, but I restrained. "So what are you doing here, Sophia?" I felt it was natural to know why someone was hiding around in a factory. In fact, why was I here? Weeelllll.... Let's see, the place was scary and gloomy almost! It was like it was calling me in. Even my bright yellow shirt seemed dark in this factory. I began to wonder if anything scary and creepy had ever happened here... And if so, what? The silence was killing me. I decided to see if I was dusty.

I glanced down to see that my black shorts where almost grey. I would dust them off, but I didn't want to risk another near death moment. My shirt hid most of the dirt and grime because it was bright and light colored, but I couldn't say the same for my purple jacket. It always seemed whenever I wore it dirt and dust clung to it trying to make it look like I was a dirty filthy little homeless kid. How depressing. I giggled at the thought. Moments of depression lasted seconds on me... That's why I would never be an emo chick. Again, another giggle. Did I look crazy in Sophias view? Or was it natural to laugh at your own thoughts. Just as IO was about to ask, Sophia spoke up.

[sophia a marshall]

It felt good to have contact with another human being. Tess's hand felt dry, though not unpleasant. It was cool and brought a feeling of reassurance to Sophia. She could feel that this girl meant her no harm. It reminded her of her childhood friend, the one she used to hang out with at the playground while Mom was off making a little money. That must have been her last friend. A little thought entered her head: We met in this very building. A strange expression came of Sophia, a sort of melancholy solemness, but it quickly evaporated. Now was not the time to get sad over friends she didn't have. She should be focusing on making friends.

She could only imagine how strange she must look. Appearance was not her biggest worry, and therefore was often neglected. A worried hand reached up to push her hair out of her face, hoping it made her look slightly less grungy. Tess looked a bit dirty herself, her shorts were gray, though it seemed like they had originally been black, and her jacket, an extremely bright purple that quite frankly hurt Sophia's eyes, looked like it had seen better days. Sophia wondered if the girl's appearance had anything to do with why she was not at school.

"Oh, well, I used to come here when I was younger." Sophia said, laughing softly into her hand at Tess's own giggling.This girl seems like fun. She thought, hoping she didn’t come off quite a socially inept as she really was. This new friendship meant a lot to her. God, I hope she wants to be my friend. Sophia had kind of already promised herself this girl would be her friend, so it better work out. “I could ask you the same thing. What brings a child such as you to this deserted, eerie building at such an hour?” She asked of Tess. Her blue eyes crinkled with a smile. She hoped Tess could tell she was trying to be funny with that line. Hell, it wasn’t even her business what someone else was doing. Too bad.

[Tess FUNKE]

Sophia moved her hair out of her eyes. She said it used to be a place where she went when she was a child... How interesting, so she must know the building pretty well? She called me a child... That annoyed me, but she as a friend who didn't know everything about me so I had to let it go. "Meh. If I go out in public during school hours people think I'm skipping... They just don't know I dropped out." I thought the answer was good enough for my standards... It also explained that I didn't go to school. I wanted to do a little happy dance right there and then, but I didn't... I always wanted to whenever I thought of school.

I could so see the little animated me dancing around in pure joy, and ignoring Sophia's presence, but I wasn't that animated me... Sort of. "So, you wanna give me a tour of the place since you've been here before?" Logical question. I hoped the answer was yes... I could totally find a cool place to hangout each day if she did give me a tour... Then I could come here each day and build it up with all the junk I find! And then, Kori, and me [Maybe Sophia if she decides to with stand my freakness] could hang out in our own little place! It would totally have cool seats...

I noticed how lost in my little fantasy world I was. I had almost completely turned into the animated me! Gah!!! I wasn't allowed to do that until I had confirmed that Sophia was my friend, adn would remain my friend forever!!! Ok, maybe not forever... Just until... Until that time. When would I confirm she was my friend? How do you know someone's your friend? Isn't it just akward trying to ask someone, Are you my friend? I was tempted to ask, but I was a good girl so I wouldn't... Good kids are bad kids who don't get caught. Ppssshhhh! I was totally good, nothing bad about me. HA! Pay attention right. I listened closely for what Sophia had to say.

[sophia a marshall]

Sophia listened to Tess's reply. Oh, so she's a drop out. "Yeah, well high school's overrated anyway." Sophia put in, shrugging. She'd spent less time in school than most people who finished, and she thought that was a waste of time. It certainly hadn't given her a higher advantage when she applied for an apartment, nor did it make her any higher qualified to work at Starbucks. She saw that Tess looked rather pleased with herself. Sophia wondered if Tess was proud she had escaped the whole system.

So Tess wanted a tour? "Sure, though its nothing horribly exciting." She did love it though. Sophia wondered why Tess was so eager to know the place. Maybe she needs a new hang out. Selfishly, Sophia hoped she could hang out with Tess. She almost mentioned her thoughts aloud, but its hard to break the habit of keeping your thoughts to yourself, and in the end she didn't say anything. "Right this way." Sophia instructed, as she began walking toward the main corridor. She took a few cautious steps, then realized she wasn't being followed. Embarrassed she turned back around to catch a glimpse of, well, she wasn't quite sure. But Tess looked almost like a cartoon character, her face splayed with a grand smile. Sophia looked puzzled for a moment, then relaxed into a smile.

So maybe this girl was weird too. That would at least make things even between them. Sophia certailny hoped Tess wouldn't think she was weird if she started spouting the times tables to calm herself down. Maybe the fact that they each had quirks would make them more compatable. "Well, are you coming, Tess?" She asked of the girl she dearly hoped would be her friend. She stood there, waiting to see how Tess would respond.