Zoe Find's Story

"Aw, it's okay," Mikhail said in reference to her apology, "If I was in your position, I probably would have slapped myself."

He was in the middle of tugging a particularly stubborn stick out of the ground when he heard her next question. "The kiss?" Mikhail mused, "It was all right. Nothing too special. I mean, it was just a dare."

She teased about them being in a relationship just as he finally pulled the stick out. "Who, Hal and me? In a relationship?" he laughed a bit. Just because they hung out a lot, people were starting to think they were dating? Sure, he cared about her, a lot, but not like that. "Nah," he answered, "We're just friends. Why, is that what everyone else thinks?" They'd been at the school for less than a week, for crying out loud!

Mikhail burst out laughing. She really had no idea, did she? Why, if he every girl he kissed had been his girlfriend....well, let's just say he would have had a hell of a lot of girlfriends.

"It was a dare, Zoe," he managed to say, "and it was a close call between Hallie and James. To tell you the truth, I was going to kiss you, but I figured you'd explode from the embarrassment," he admitted.

He coughed as his laughter died down, and he thumped his chest a few times, clearing his throat. "I suppose you'd be pretty surprised if I told you I've never had a girlfriend," he said, still smiling widely, his eyes watering from the exertion.

Zoe

Mikhail began bursting out in laughter, did she say anything funny? Once Mikhail controlled his laughter he stated it was a dare, and that it was tough to choose between Hallie and James. "Why was he thinking about kissing James?!?" she wondered not understanding Mikhail's point of view. Then he said that he was going to kiss her, only that he thought she'd explode from embarrassment! Zoe's face flushed, he was thinking of kissing her!! "Wh-what!! Why would I be embarrassed if you kissed me! Please! As if!" Zoe stammered, noticing her face burning up she continued ferociously picking up sticks. Then, he revealed that he never had a girlfriend...Zoe was pretty surprised, and she wondered how a guy like him didn't manage to get tons of girlfriends. "If it makes you feel any better neither have I. Also, two questions, how was James a candidate for kissing and how have you not had any girlfriends?" Zoe inquired. "It's probably because you got naked in front of them too quickly isn't it?" She teased, for real this time, she had never been this playful with anyone, and she enjoyed it.

Mikhail smirked at Zoe. "Not embarrassed, eh? Please," he made a motion towards her face, "You get any redder and you'll start glowing."

He had found a nice branch that was just the right height for a walking stick. He jabbed at an invisible foe, mimicking a fencing move--Jeez, how long had it been since he last did that?--before zipping it around in the air and planting it firmly on the ground. He placed both hands on it and leaned backwards slightly as he pondered Zoe's questions.

"James was the only guy I was sure I could kiss without giving him a hard-on," Mikhail explained, "As for why I haven't had any girlfriends...." he shrugged, "I dunno. I've kissed plenty of girls, and no, I was never naked--well, not in the way you're thinking....I think....here, let's make this simple." He cupped his hand around his mouth and whispered loudly: "I've never done the nasty."

It was true. Out of all the guys in his department, he was probably the only one who had kept it in his pants. Although on missions you sometimes had to seduce people, you were never supposed to have sex. But, of course, they didn't have much rules against it when you weren't on a mission, and even though you weren't supposed to date other spies, that didn't stop people.

"I guess I just didn't find the right girl," Mikhail finished, and he raised his eyebrows at Zoe. "That answer all your questions?"

Zoe

"Not embarrassed, eh? Please," "You get any redder and you'll start glowing."

"I-I'm only red because I'm exhausted after spending a whole day with you people!" Zoe lied, stammering. "Do you think it's easy to fight off monsters, while being around some of the crazy people in this school," Zoe said defending her case. When Mikhail answered why he was thinking of kissing James Zoe couldn't help but laugh. When Mikhail began explaining why he didn't have any girlfriends he seemed as confused as she was.

"I've never done the nasty."

When Mikhail said that Zoe was both relieved and saddened. She was relieved because she knew that if they ever started a relationship, romantic or platonic, she could know that he wouldn't take advantage of her. But she was saddened because he reminded her of her past...her relationship with her father was complicated to say the least...She laughed, it was distant and it wasn't that genuine, she had too much on her mind and didn't know who to talk to, she doubted it would be beneficial for her to tell Mikhail, and she didn't trust any one else in the school.

"I guess I just didn't find the right girl," "That answer all your questions?"

"Yeah, sorry if I pried too much into your life..." Zoe said, still distant. It did seem easier for her to be alone but she wanted...no she needed to not be with these people, though at times things were frustrating and hectic, they lightened things up.

His life? He chuckled slightly. As if whether he had any girlfriends or not was an active part of his life..."No you're fine," he told her. She had been firmly in the safe zone when it came to personal questions. Mikhail liked that. He'd rather talk about those superficial things than the actual, nitty-gritty details of his life. The truth was better of kept hidden. Unfortunately, the truth was what Hallie wanted. He sighed when he thought about it. Eventually.....he'd have to tell her. But not now.

He looked at the bundle of sticks they had gathered. A sizable amount. He turned to Zoe. "Well, should we head back?" he asked with a grin.

Mikhail put his hand on Zoe's shoulder and looked her straight in her eyes, his own twinkling: "Babe..." a wink, a smile twitching "I got this."

He relieved Zoe of her bundle of wood and dropped the total off near the middle of the area. He kicked the leaves out, making a circle about the size of a manhole, and surrounded the perimeter with stones. He arranged the smaller sticks in a tee-pee shape in the middle, before lighting a match. He didn't have any paper with him, so it took a few matches before the fire caught on and burned. Adding more sticks, and finally several larger ones, the fire was blazing in no time.

He stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants, and smiled at Zoe. "Ta-dah," he said, and bowed. As he did, he noticed Hallie, along with Circus and the Italian, all huddled together by the lakeside. Curious, he walked over.

"Hey, Hallie..." he started to say, and he was about to ask her what was up when he heard a strange sound coming from them. Were they....crying? What exactly happened while they were gone? "Um..." he asked tentatively, not sure whether to get closer or not, "Are you guys...okay? What happened?

This was really, really tight.

As Mikhail walked to the campsite, Hallie lagging a bit, he could feel the jeans stretching and pinching into his thighs. The fact that they were cold and wet didn't help either, as his legs started to grow numb. He gave up on trying to walk normally and decided to just go with the bow-legged walk the jeans forced him to travel in. Hey, at least he could tell everyone he was walking like a cowboy, even if he didn't have a real motive behind it.

Embracing the cowboy idea, he held his pants where the belt buckle would be and strode over to the fire where everyone else was sitting. He noticed Hallie had sat distanced from the group, as usual. The fact that she was away from the fire was what concerned him the most. He delayed his much needed explanation to the group--he could almost feel the Italian's eyes directed at his bulge--and gathered up some of the spare twigs and branches. He walked over to Hallie and made a smaller fire pit in front of her. He was able to light it in one match, and he smiled up at her, "Wouldn't want you to freeze, after all that we just went through," he told her. He patted her on the shoulder. "Stay warm," he added, and left for the larger group.

As he sat down, he held out his hands, as if silencing any questions. "I just want you all to know that whatever explanation you are cooking up in your heads.....is almost certainly wrong. Now....what's for dinner?"

Zoe

"Thanks for the fire--" Zoe began to say when Mikhail just left to a sobbing Hallie. Zoe pouted slightly, "Their just friends...he told you that himself..." Zoe thought to herself questioning if Mikhail knew himself what his feelings for Hallie were, I mean she didn't understand hers for Mikhail yet. She watched a panicked Hallie and a reassuring Mikhail, eventually they both disappeared in the distance. "Great..." Zoe muttered to herself, left alone with the freaks and pervs. Zoe picked up some of the vegetables and fruits lying around for them wondering where James and Arian were, they were probably having sex or who knows what. Thinking to herself Zoe became distant again, ignoring everything and everyone around her.

Then Hallie came "Was she wearing Mikhail's pants?" She wondered to herself. Then Mikhail soon followed wobbling behind Hallie in very tight wet pants. Zoe then saw his bulge, she blushed frantically wondering what the heck the two of them were doing while they were gone. Obviously more romantic thoughts came to her mind. Gosh, she was such a little girl when it came to love. He even made a smaller fire pit for the two of them.

"I just want you all to know that whatever explanation you are cooking up in your heads.....is almost certainly wrong. Now....what's for dinner?"

Zoe's blush had faded by then. She was in a mix of angry, sad, and distant emotions. She was new to this people concept and went from liking it to disliking it quite quickly. "There's some bread and lettuce left for you two to share..." Zoe said blankly putting some emotion into 'for you two to share' She was sure that something romantic happened between those two...she didn't know just what.

James

The dark wasn't helping his nerves. Why didn't cell phones work out here? Not that he had any of his comrades numbers...He would have to get that as soon as they returned.

If they returned.

For the past few hours, he and Arian had experienced two things. God awful fright and searing cramps in the legs.

Both had run through the uneven ground and trees to find shelter, getting spun about away from the campsite to find a collection of caves in a small hill. They took cover, checking their tracks.

"Is it gone?" James asked, breathing so hard and haggard that his sides ached. He saw no pursuit and then collapsed against the cave wall, wiping sweat from his brow. He frowned, noticing he still didn't have his shirt. It was going to get cold.

"What the hell man?" he finally blurted once Arian sat down. "Shoved in a forest, man-eating monsters...I don't like this place. I don't like it...at all."

He glanced to the forest, hoping the others would realize they had been missing for a long time and come find them. Although, if they did venture into the forest...they might die.


Hallie

Zoe was jealous. Though seated far enough away that the wavelengths didn't affect her, Hallie could sense it. Sighing, she pressed her palms to her eyes and shook her head. You can have him, she said in her mind. I don't want drama. He's just a boy. Ask him out already.

She should just tell the girl out loud and then she sat up, eyeing Zoe, debating. Did she want Zoe to ask Mikhail out? It would solve a few problems.

1) Zoe's constant mood fluctuations would stop interrupting Hallie
2) Mikhail would have a girlfriend finally
3) They would probably do it and then both of them could release some sexual tension in their teenage bodies
4) Hallie wouldn't have to worry about figuring out her own feelings because Mikhail would be taken

Seemed logical.

She called Zoe's name and waved her over, hoping she could sort this out quickly.

Zoe

Hallie called Zoe, beckoning her to come to her. "I hope I don't interrupt their romantic campfire..." Zoe thought to herself. Had she been taking things too far? Was she starting to get overly attached to her fixation on Mikhail...maybe...and if anything related to more romantic contact while they were gone the person she should be mad at would be Mikhail. He had said that he had no romantic feelings for Hallie so if they did end up doing anything back there it would mean he lied to her. She had to calm down and stop jumping to conclusions.

Once she made her way to where Hallie and Mikhail were sitting she sat down, still distant due to what had happened earlier. "Yes?" Zoe asked, saying as few words as possible, not out of spite...probably...

Hallie

Sitting up as Zoe came forward, Hallie tried her best to block the jealousy out. Gripping the knees of Mikhail's jeans hard, she began, "You like Mikhail. What are you waiting for?"

Zoe seemed confused and maybe a little embarrassed?

"There's nothing going on between us and I know you like him. I can feel your emotions and I'm not having you jealous of me when nothing is there between us."

As far as I know.

"So ask him out. It won't kill you and I'm sure he'd say yes."

She tried a smile, but it probably looked awkward.


James

He thought he heard his name. So far away...Were they looking for him? A swell of hope erupted in his chest, but then he wondered if the monster was just trying to lure them out. He had seen enough movies to know it was possible.

Arian sat beside him, leaning on his shoulder with his arm around her. It was getting really cold, but James tried really hard not to shiver. Arian was every now and again.

James glanced to the forest. Whoever it was...he hoped they would survive them.

Zoe

"You like Mikhail. What are you waiting for?"

"W-what?!?" Zoe asked. What the heck was going on? Was this girl a telepath or something? Zoe didn't even know if she liked Mikhail, how the heck did this girl? I mean her and Mikhail just met, and he seemed like a great relationship partner...but she didn't know if she was ready for that, and she barely knew a lot about him...he barely knew about her.

"There's nothing going on between us and I know you like him. I can feel your emotions and I'm not having you jealous of me when nothing is there between us"

So she could feel her emotions...can she control that or not, Zoe didn't know but if she could, her head will be on a stick. Nothing going on between them...was she serious? Or was she just one of those people who tell you to do things just to make a fool out of you...Zoe couldn't be sure. All of this was going to fast and Zoe's brain was going to explode.

"So ask him out. It won't kill you and I'm sure he'd say yes."

Zoe was at a loss for words. She still had no clue what her emotions were at this point. She was going through a mix of sadness, worry, joy, attraction, anger, and most of all confusion. She wanted to understand her emotions first, "I mean, the empath Hallie over there might have me all figured out, but I don't..." Zoe thought to herself.

Now she was just staring at Hallie, who was smiling in a very awkward situation. "U-um...okay, then...thanks?" Zoe said confused on what she was going to do all around, she didn't even know what to say to Hallie so that's what came out. She did hope she was telling the truth about not having feelings for Mikhail...she did want to understand herself and Mikhail...and at the moment she did think she wanted to date him...maybe just not yet...was she being selfish? Getting jealous over Hallie when she herself wasn't ready for a relationship...maybe...but Mikhail had told her that there was nothing between them and so did Hallie...perhaps Mikhail could help her understand herself...she'd have to process everything that just went down, before making a decision.

James

Shaking Arian off, James staggered to the cave mouth as soon as he heard the struggles of what he found to be Mikhail battling the monster. And succeeding.

"Thank god," James breathed and tugged Arian with him as they climbed to meet up with the Russian.

"We're here!" he called in response to Mikhail's shouts and they picked their way over carefully. "Thank you." It felt awkward to say, but it was indeed deserved. "Which way is camp?"



Hallie

Zoe's emotions were flitting this way and that, but Hallie managed to stay sane until the girl left in her awkward fashion. It didnt seem like she was going to follow what Hallie said. As long as she didnt have to deal with Zoe's jealousy seeping into her own emotions, she was fine either way.

Hallie wondered where James was and what their sleeping situation was going to be. Surely they should huddle together for warmth, but she very much hated the idea, dream emotions affecting her more strongly if she herself was asleep as well, her guards not fortified.

Perhaps she shouldnt sleep, stand guard or something. It seemed doable. Then she yawned.

"Great," she sighed.

Mikhail followed after the two with a slight hobble. The pain was getting to him. He was starting to feel faint.

As he stared into the back of James head, he wondered furiously what, exactly, he had seen. So, it had been that crystal he had felt under his shirt yesterday....and he needed it to "scry" or whatever the word was. Mikhail made a mental note of it. He wasn't so sure what to think of James--even more unsure after this episode--and although he didn't seem like a bad guy, he still had a lot of info on him. Possibly more than he'd like to know. Mikhail resolved to find out later exactly WHAT he knew, but right now he just wanted to rejoin the group and tend to his leg.

Eventually they found their way back. Cold sweat rolled down Mikhail's forehead, and the slight grimace on his face exposed the pain he was feeling. The constant use of his power was taking its toll (it had been what, 20 minutes of non-stop use? 30?) and he was exhausted. He hardly made it to the campfire, sitting down heavily on the ground, panting. Ignoring whatever looks he might be getting, he rolled the tight pants to above his knee and examined the damage.

His leg had swollen, and he could feel it throbbing like mad. He touched it lightly and winced, drawing his hand back quickly. "Ouch....that smarts." Trying to regulate his breathing, he grabbed some of the unused, sturdier branches from the firewood pile and placed them on either side of his leg, rolling down the pant to its previous position as well. He pulled off his shirt and ripped it into strips, tying each one firmly around the branches.

It was a very roughly made splint, but it would do the job. He exhaled and leaned back, using his arms for support. He looked around at the faces surrounding the campfire. It seemed as though they had just finished dinner. He smiled weakly to no one in particular before turning to James.

"What happened to you guys anyways?"

Mikhail motioned half-heartedly at the sleeping bags. He snorted at James comment. He assumed that he had seen more than Mikhail would have liked, judging from his tone and attitude. And that stupid smirk.

"Fine, I'll keep watch," he said wearily. He wasn't in the mood for any pointless bantering. At least he could count on himself to stay awake.

"Said giant fur-ball ambushed me," Mikhail replied to Hallie's question as he sat upright, "Broke my god-damn leg. Ugh." He winced again at a sudden sharp pain. Was he going to have to stop moving the whole night?

It seemed that Hallie made the decision for him. He froze as per her instructions (what else was there to do?), looking at her curiously.

Suddenly, he felt a sort of wave wash over his leg, almost numbing the pain. He could barely feel it, and he relaxed considerably. However, Hallie's face betrayed a lot. She was sucking it in, much like she had sucked in his emotions previously. He watched as his pain transferred to her. "Feel better?" he heard her ask shakily.

He nodded, but knew he couldn't ask this of her. "Tons," he said, his leg throbbing slightly, "And I appreciate the gesture, a lot, but you don't have to do this for me. I've had experience dealing with pain, and it isn't the worse that's happened to me," he smiled, and joked, "Besides, I'm Russian. We're used to blinding winds, freezing cold, nut shots with a hammer....a broken leg is nothing."

He looked out at the group and yawned. "So....I guess we're calling it a night? Like I said, I'll take first watch. I'll wake up whoever snores the loudest to go after me."

Zoe

Arian and James came back to the campsite, along with Mikhail who had a broken leg. Seeing his leg, Zoe was in shock. Hallie slipped in and began using her powers to absorb the pain that he was feeling. Zoe was glad that he begun to feel better but she could see the strain it put on Hallie. She desired to help, but in this situation there was no way she could think of. She thought of using her telekinetic powers to mend his leg, but her powers would probably go out of control and blow it up. Comforting him wasn't going to work, Hallie was already on that. Walking over to Mikhail and Hallie, Zoe began talking, "If you want I can help you stand watch..." Zoe volunteered. It seemed like Hallie was going to have to deal with Mikhail's pain, and Zoe wasn't sure of her powers exactly but she might have had to focus on the pain continuously to absorb it. Zoe wasn't going to be able to sleep anyways, she had too much on her mind at the moment.

It seemed there was no arguing with this girl. Not only had she refused to stop taking his pain, but she also volunteered to stay up.

Under normal circumstances, Mikhail wouldn't have it. He'd sit up right next to her, perched defiantly as they both took watch, smirking as she fell asleep before him.

However, these were not normal circumstances. The pain, though significantly less than before, was still there, a dull stinging sensation. The amount of power he had used before was definitely taking its toll. His limbs felt heavier, and he moved slower. His whole body ached, and he was tired.

He was stubborn, though. He probably would have protested, were it not for Hallie's use of his nickname. Somehow, that convinced him to listen to her.

Yawning in response, he hobbled to his feet and limped over to where his sleeping bag was. Without his gravity manipulation, the steps were harder and slower, and he felt ready to fall over any second. He dragged the bag back to his previous position near Hallie and slumped onto it. As he unzipped it, he remarked: "Wow, I've never felt this sluggish in a long time." The last time had been two or three years ago, when he made the stupid decision to go for a week without sleeping. Stupid, but not without reason. His friend, Zara, had gotten injured on her first mission. She was unconscious the whole week due to a head injury, and although she had recovered completely, he stayed awake, worrying for her, vowing not to get a wink of sleep until he knew she was okay. People later joked that they were dating, commenting that he liked them younger, but Zara quickly got rid of that rumor during a, wouldn't know it, game of Truth or Dare.

He nodded at Zoe as she neared. "Wake me up when any of you get tired," he told them in between yawns. He decided to sleep in the buff, and pulled off the tight pants, being especially tender around the splint. Sliding into the insulated sleeping bag, he handed the pants back to Hallie. "Here. Hopefully I didn't stretch them out too much." He zipped the sleeping bag half-way, sticking his bad leg outside of it, resting his foot on a nearby rock. He was covered, the zipper made sure of that, but he rested a hand on top anyways, lest a stray night wind reveal too much. The other hand behind his head, he looked up at the dark, starry sky, the fire still flickering.

It wasn't long before the night sky mingled with the darkness of his own sleep, mixing together until he could no longer tell them apart.

Hallie

Zoe had volunteered to keep watch and Hallie wasnt going to protest. She just wanted Mikhail to rest, knowing the use of his powers exhausted him along with the break. Zoe sat on Mikhail's otherside and Hallie waited until she knew the Russian boy was asleep to speak.

"Did you decide yet?"

She didnt respond at first and Hallie needed a distraction so she pressed on, "About Mikhail?"

Zoe

Zoe stiffened her back. "Well...I'm not sure...I...I think I might...but I don't know myself," Zoe said stuttering through the sentence. Zoe wanted...perhaps needed advice, and though she didn't trust any one really Hallie had been nice to her so far even though she sensed her apparent jealousy of her so she was a viable candidate. "I mean...what do you think?" Zoe asked feeling helpless about her own emotions. Hallie had seen what she felt seeing as she's an empath, so Zoe thought she would be able to help her.