Studying VS Not Studying (Mikabe)

[Admin Courtney]

Mikayla sat at one of the long library tables, one arm rested atop the warm polished wood while the hand of her other tapped the search buttons on her recording device as she searched through her class lectures.

"I know I have it somewhere," she muttered to Gabe as she searched. She had one earbud in her ear that was attached by a long, white wire to the device. The other earbud was out so she could hear what Gabe was saying as they studied. "Oh hang on," she sighed when she realised the voice speaking to her was French and not English. "This is my french class one, not my history one." She laughed lightly at her mistake, then pressed the stop button and brought her hands to her temples, rubbing them to ease the start of what she hoped would not be a headache. "I think we've been studying for too long." She smiled grimly in Gabe's direction.

[emilybuj]

Gabe wasn't entirely sure how long they had been in the library, but his butt was starting to hurt from the plastic chairs so it was probably a while. They had found out they were in a few classes together, and today after Italian they deicded they better study for a history exam. But Gabe was never good at studying. He really went just to hang out with Mikayla. And he couldn't deny that having somebody to study with motivated him... to an extent.

He fixed the blue glasses on his face and sighed. "I agree," he said as a second to Mikaylas statement, "I keep looking at this picture of a castle in the book and dreaming about hogwarts. I'm sick of these muggle subjects." He would usually chuckle slightly after a nerdy comment like that, but he was pretty much as serious as Gabe James got at this point. He still smiled slightly, his humor noted in his voice.

"We need to get out of this library. It smells like books and learning," Gabe added, stretching his legs. He was sure he and Mikayla would find something else to do. They had been hanging out pretty regularly since they first met. It was almost weird when Gabe went a day without at least talking to her for a period of time. They often ate lunch or dinner together, and Gabe would bring her to the music room on occasion and teacher her a bit of piano (though they hadn't made much progress because they would just goof around and make fun of eachother). Frankly, Gabe had really been enjoying Mikayla's company. Enough to agree to study with her.

[Admin Courtney]

"Oh, I love those books," Mikayla said dreamily. How amazing would it be to attend Hogwarts? She would be able to control so much more than just the weather, and she bet they had a treatment to get her sight back. "Although we're kind of like Hogwarts, don't you think? Except we're not a castle and the powers we possess aren't exactly teachable or even hereditary." Some students had parents with powers, but so far research did not indicate that powers were passed through genes. Mikayla, for example, had parents who were mere mortals. Or muggles, as J.K Rowling and Gabe would put it.
"I'm a little glad we don't live in a castle, though. I have a hard enough time getting around this place," she joked.

The mention of leaving the library was both tempting to Mikayla and making her hesitant. "Books and learning is not a bad smell," she protested lightly. She loved the smell of books, new or old, and the new textbook smell was one of her favourites. She understood that studying for so long was not that fun for everyone, even if she enjoyed it. Plus she was getting rather frustrated that she had listened to the wrong tape. "If we leave, where do you suggest we go?" she wondered, pulling the earbud from her ear and rolling it up.

[emilybuj]

"True," Gabe laughed when Mikayla commented on getting lost in the castle. "I'm not even blind and I'd probably end up on the roof or something by accident. Or on purpose." Gabe chuckled as he closed his books and stuck them in his backpack. He had been 'done' studying quite a while ago. He only stuck around because Mikayla had a much longer attention span than her did.

"I don't know..." Gabe replied. "Anywhere but here... let's just go for a walk or something. I could use some fresh air and somewhere to get my feet off the ground a little." Gabe had made it a habit of not flying too much just walking through the hallways with Mikayla for a couple of reasons. 1) he didn't want to land and fall on her again. That was embarrassing enough the first time it happened. 2) if she couldn't hear his footsteps, then she couldn't follow him. Outside she usually couldn't hear them anyway, so he'd often float around a bit.

[Admin Courtney]

Mikayla smiled. She was glad that Gabriel had become more relaxed around her. When they had first met, he had not even noticed she was blind, and when he finally did, he was nervous and awkward about it. But the more they hung out, the more he comfortable about it he was, for which she was grateful.

"I bet the view it great from a castle roof," she said randomly, trying to picture it in her mind. She came up with rolling hills and foggy mountains -- what she knew it looked like around Cranbrook. Since she had grown up not far from here, she did not feel so bad that she could not see the grounds. However, when she heard students talk about seeing the sun set and rise over the mountains and how great the mountains looked on really nice days, she knew she was missing out. She forced the thought from her mind, however; it was silly to dwell on such a thing when there was no fix for it. She was permanently blind, and that was that.

"A walk sounds great, actually," Mikayla said, gathering up her books and papers and packing them into her bag. It was getting a bit stuffy in the library, and even though she loved the scent of books, she loved the smell of fresh air just as much. Plus she knew Gabe would not be able to study much longer, and she didn't want to make him stay just because she could study for hours longer.

[emilybuj]

Gabe threw his backpack over his shoulder, very happy to be leaving the library. While he enjoyed a good book, he didn't classify a good book as a textbook or lecture notes. "I'm pretty sure the view from Hogwarts's roof would make the view from Spiritus' look sub-par," Gabe joked. Sometimes he felt bad talking about what he could see which Mikayla surely couldn't, but she often expressed that it was fine and she liked hearing about such things. Gabe was happy to oblige.

"You can see veritas through the trees from the tallest point of the roof you know," Gabe told her. "I usually just fly up to look at it. I've always wondered what it's like over there. Rumor is their teachers are quite a bit more easy going." It sounded like somewhere Gabe would have a better chance at succeeding, but unfortunately it was somewhere his father would never agree to send him.

He led Mikayla to the large library doors, and down the hall. A cool breeze met them as he opened the door outside, and he was suddenly glad he was wearing his sweater today. He breathed in the cool air. "Ahh..." he said refreshingly, "freedom."

[Admin Courtney]

"You're probably right," Mikayla admitted. "Although if you were a muggle, all you would see is a ruin, so the view wouldn't be better in that case," she said. "Then again, if you were a muggle, how could you get on the roof in the first place?" she laughed. She was glad her parents had bought her the audiobooks of the Harry Potter series so she could finish the series. Audiobooks weren't quite the same as real books, but they had to suffice since she couldn't read. And braille took way too long.

"Yeah, I've heard that about their teachers. And they don't have uniforms," she added. With her bag over her shoulders and her books safely zipped up inside, she left the library and then the school with Gabe, listening for his footsteps to make sure she wasn't walking too slowly. She knew the way from the library to outside, but it was much easier to get places when she didn't have to worry about counting doorways.

When she stepped out into the fresh air and down the school steps (slowly, of course, and with a hand on the cement wall that served as a rail) she smiled as the cool autumn breeze swept across her face. "Looks like we're in for an early winter," she said, taking note of how cold it was. Even though the weather never seemed to bother her because of her repellent skin, she could still tell when it was cold out. Besides, she didn't always have that power on. Her school sweater was inside her dorm, however, since she had not been counting on going outside, so she focused for a second until she no longer felt the breeze that lapped at her long hair. She never bothered to change the temperature with her power; it took much less energy just to use her repellent skin.
"So where do you want to walk to?" she asked him. "You lead the way. I'm not picky."

[emilybuj]

"Well, little miss sunshine, that could all change if you say the word. And secretly I wouldn't mind a few more warmer days," Gabe said to Mikayla half jokingly. He would never ask her to deliberately change the weather, but he did like how it got slightly warmer when she was happy and he liked how her laugh could bring a cool breeze. It was interesting to him. And it made her emotions even more real. He could feel them. He wasn't even sure if she realized it happened, but he didn't want to say anything to embarrass her in fear that it would stop.

"Let's walk down to the lake," Gabe said. "And then along the edge of the forest." He liked the shore of the lake, and he liked flying up to sit in the top parts of the trees to look out over the water. The closer he got to gate that split the shore between Spiritus and Veritas grounds, the denser the woods got and the smaller the shore got. But Gabe liked to go there to sing to nobody and have some alone time. And he wouldn't mind sharing that with Mikayla.

[Admin Courtney]

"Honestly, I'd love to make it warmer in the dead of winter just for a nice break, but I wouldn't be able to enjoy it," she told Gabe with a grim smile. "I'd be in bed from exhaustion. And I guess I'm not selfless enough to sacrifice myself for a day to allow everyone else in Cranbrook to enjoy a summer day in mid-winter," she admitted. Perhaps when she was stronger she would try it, but it was only her third year of really getting to know her powers. While her control over them was usually great, her powers were very emotionally-driven. And she was beginning to think they would always be terribly draining.

"The lake sounds good," Mikayla agreed. "I like the way it smells there. All fresh water and crisp autumn air." She always had to be extra careful when walking there, even though there was a path along the lake. The path curved a lot, and it was one she definitely did not have memorized.

ooc: omg I'm SO sorry my posts sucks like it's all tell and useless blabbering but I had to get something out or else I probably never would have replied. My next will be better, I promise

[emilybuj]

OOC: No worries!! I get that way too sometimes. Honestly we all do. Nothing to be sorry for.

"Fair enough," Gabe said with a shrug, obviously not suggesting Mikayla use her powers in that manner anyway. He knew that most people's powers exhausted them physically and mentally. Gabe considered himself lucky that at least he didn't have to fight to stay awake after using his power. Now if only he could STOP himself from using his power, then he would have something to go off of.

They walked side by side down toward the lake, and onto one of the paths. "I like coming down here," Gabe explained, "It's quiet. I can work on my music without anybody hearing. Especially if I go further toward the middle of the forest." He could tell that Mikayla wasn't as comfortable with the path though, because she seemed to be slightly cautious while taking each step. "You know... I will warn you if you're about to run into a tree or something." He laughed slightly at her in a joking manner, not meant to be hurtful or to target her blindness.

[Admin Courtney]

Mikayla nodded, agreeing with him that the lake was a great spot. "It is nice down here," she added. "I don't use it for much else except as a place to get some peace and quiet. But I bet it's a great spot for your music. What do you play out here?" she asked, curious. "Guitar?" She doubted he would even consider dragging the piano out this way. Although she felt if he could, he would. She smiled at the thought of him playing a grand piano lake side. It would be quite the sight.

She paused for a moment, then grinned guiltily when Gabe called her out on hos cautiously she was walking. "I know. It's just habit. Listening to your footsteps helps, but there are so many other sounds out here to enjoy that my attention drifts and then my feet slow as I try not to stray off the path and trip over a bush or something. Sorry I'm walking so slowly," she added, unable to help that she felt slightly guilty about it. "I'll walk faster if you let me link my arm in yours, though. Then I could listen to more pleasant sounds than your shoes hitting the pavement and neither of us would have to worry about me facesmashing into a tree trunk."

[emilybuj]

"Yeah guitar usually," Gabe admitted, "Because as strong as I like to think I am I can't quite manage to pull a piano all this way." He chuckled. He didn't have his guitar today, but would have loved to play for her again. She had only heard him sing one time, but heard him play his guitar and the piano in the music room quite a few times. She seemed to enjoy it, which made him want to play for her more.

Gabe blushed slightly as Mikayla asked him to link arms with her, and he was glad she couldn't see. He smiled though, and stepped toward her, linking his arm around hers. "How could I ever decline the privilege to escort such a fine lady to... wherever we are going," Gabe said nobly, pausing when he couldn't think of a name to attach to the place he was taking her.

[Admin Courtney]

She tried to imagine Gabe sitting by the lake, his guitar on his lap as he strummed the chords, singing one of his self-written songs. She smiled at the image she was able to create, knowing it would be a lot better if she could actually see. She bet it would be an amazing sight.

She knew she could walk along without linking her arm with his, and that while the help would make things a tad easier for her, she had an alterior motive. When he linked his arms with hers, she felt a blush creeping up her neck, and tried to counter it with a casual smile. Her stomach retaliated with a delightfully twisted feeling that she wished would go away. All right, so she liked him. He was charming (and that was without his powers), fun to hang out with and talk to, and she just overall enjoyed his company. And his current closeness.
"Why thank you, kind sir," she said in her best imitation of an English accent, then giggled. It was a rather horrible imitation. "I'm glad you find this to be a privilege."

[emilybuj]

Gabe couldn't help but smile when she smiled. And he couldn't help but laugh at her horrible imitation of an English accent. The attempt was adorable, but completely a failure. "Why wouldn't I?" Gabe asked Mikayla, "I mean... anybody would be lucky to link arms with you and steer you away from oncoming trees and small animals," Gabe joked. He couldn't help the constant joking. And while the intention behind his statements were all genuine, sometimes he couldn't believe that he couldn't get serious for 2 seconds without babbling or forgetting how to speak.

He was going to do it though. They were having an open mic night on Friday down in Cranbrook and he had written a song. She was going to be there. She had to be there. But he needed to actually ask her. And that was the hard part for Gabe. He should have just written a song to ask her on the date in the first place. He mentally face-palmed at his awkwardness, and prayed that he would somehow miraculously gain social skills between this moment and the moment he decided to ask her.

[Admin Courtney]

She turned her head slightly towards Gabe when he laughed. It was impossible not to notice how pleasant his sound was. And adorable. She couldn't forget adorable. "Well I'm glad you think so. I don't want to trip over a squirrel or anything," she laughed, shaking her head slightly at the image.

As they walked she found herself becoming more and more aware of his presence and his arm linked with hers. The sounds from the forest and the lake faded into the background.
Then a warm breeze blew along the path, causing Mikayla's hair to whip out behind her. She squinted her eyes against the wind and cringed. This was her doing, but she wasn't controlling it. She frowned against the wind, and even though it was warm, she shivered.