Realistic or Modern We'll Get Through This Together

[AviouslyPTX]

Nico looked up, slightly annoyed when the others ruined the moment. "I haven't seen them," she said simply. She didn't know where they were or why, but she refused to let the small annoyance show,

 

[goldcat16471]

Cassie nodded and bit her lip. It was her nervous habit and she realized she had been doing it a lot lately. She took a deep breath and continued putting the groceries away. She was a little frustrated the job was left on her, but she wasn't about to speak up about it. She gulped softly realizing she hadn't seen either of them once since she woke up and was getting more worried about them. At least they had a clue where Tommy, Xavier, and Kira was, but none for Issac or Ava. "We'll have to find them..." Just for a moment she frowned and glanced up at Nico and Aspen wondering what they were talking about before she came in. She hoped she wasn't intruding anything and sighed softly getting more frustrated with herself.

 

[Gold Phoenix]

At her very straight-to-the-point confession, Aspen faltered. Wait, what? Me? Attractive? I was joking though... He blinked, then studied Nico as she answered Cassie, glad for the brief interruption that bought him some time. But he was somewhat curious to know exactly what about him she had been thinking, although he was a little bit afraid to ask.

 

[farewell]

Vinaya paused once they got inside, somewhat taken aback. "You're welcome," she said. "It was the practical thing to do, and I agree." There seemed to be little benefit to going searching for their missing party members aside from putting their minds at ease, which wasn't nearly as productive as making breakfast. Once she stepped into the main room, she noticed with mild amusement that they'd interrupted something private. However, Vinaya wasn't one to deliberately ruin things for other people, so she walked around and headed for the area that passed for a kitchen. If there was running water, hopefully there'd be electricity, too. "Let me help you, Cassie," she said, hoping to get the groceries put away faster so they could start on breakfast. "I think Isaac was in another room when I woke up; he may be there now. Haven't seen Ava."

 

[yistae]

Xavier shook his head. "I haven't seen her and she's not with Cassidy. They're safe, Adam and Cassidy and Vinaya. Oh yeah, she kinda just showed up," he said, remembering that she hadn't been a part of the original group that went out for breakfast. How were they ever going to keep in contact? They'd have to have a whole system of phones for that and there was no way they could afford that. Using tin cans and strings was more in their budget, but that wasn't practical. Suddenly Xavier stopped walking, a display catching his eye. It was a clearance rack for toys, and inside one of the bins marked with a one were a bunch of little walkie talkies, a pair in each pack and a sticker proclaiming that 'Batteries are included!' Perfect. Grabbing a few packs, Xavier showed them to Tommy and held out the rest of his money. "Do you think this will work?" He didn't know how much money he had all together, just that there were at least a few different people printed on the bills.

 

[goldcat16471]

Cassidy smiled extremely grateful when Vinaya started to help and thought about what she said. "I'm going to check for him once we're done with groceries. And I hope Ava's alright..." She frowned nervous, and glanced back at Nico and Aspen curiously. They seemed to have had their conversation muted when Vinaya and her came in, making Cassie assume it was private. She nervously spoke up, "Hey guys... Did we interrupt something?" She glanced at Vinaya, both nervous and amused.

 

[DrCompton]

Tommy nodded, "yeah, that will be much better than telekinesis..." He grinned a little, but his eyes were still looking for Kira, "I don't like this, she wouldn't hVe gone far... I mean.. I don't think..."


"She had her duffle bag."


"She... Had her bag." He looked at Xavier

 

[AviouslyPTX]

Nico sighed internally. Kinda she thought silently. "No, it's nothing." she said simply, knowing Aspen was more than grateful for the interruption. I told you. Good job Nicolette, you scared off another one she thought looking down,

 

[goldcat16471]

Cassie, not entirely convinced, nodded. "Okay good." She let her thoughts wander while putting the groceries for entertainment. Maybe they were just playing guitar together. She thought while noting the guitar. But there's usually more to it than you think in social situations Cassie. She sighed softly then looked around hoping everyone just assumed it was from the groceries. What if they have a thing. Nah. Probably not... Right? Or... Or they could have a thing and may be planning to split off from the group! Cassie nearly dropped one of the canned foods on the floor from her thoughts and bit her lip tensing her grip. Nevermind...! Stop over thinking things! You always do this, you're going to give yourself a panic attack or something...! She shook her head ever so slight annoyed with her thoughts.

 

[farewell]

"Not a bad idea," Vinaya commented as she emptied what was left in one of the plastic bags. Perhaps they should keep those; you never know when a plastic bag could come in handy. "But I'm sure they're fine. We just got out of the orphanage; I think everyone wants to take advantage of the new freedom." Herself included. When Cassie directed her question to Nico and Aspen, Vinaya had to suppress a giggle. Vinaya met Cassie's eye, smiled, and mouthed, "Oh, I think we definitely interrupted something."

 

[goldcat16471]

Cassie saw Vinaya mouth those words and put a hand to her mouth gently to suppress a laugh and took a deep breath. She thought it was cute but also gave her more reason to fear her thought about them trying to break off from the rest of us. Once all the groceries were put away she debated if she should look for Issac and Ava right now or to start breakfast, and decided to get the ingredients prepared for fried eggs, then went to search around the apartment. She didn't see them anywhere in the "main room" and went to some surrounding areas. In one room she found a book, and she guessed it was Issac's. She knew he liked to read like her, because in the orphanage, that's all she ever saw him doing. Whenever she saw him at least. She sighed and picked the book up leaving the room. She didn't know what to think. If he left for good, wouldn't he bring the book with? She went back to the "main room" and shook her head. "I can't find either of them. But I found Issac's book." She tossed it on the counter clearly annoyed and worried and started to make the eggs.

 

[DrCompton]

Tommy walked with Xavier and bought the last of their supplies. He scanned one last time for Kira before he walked out.


"She just left... What if the others did that to us? What if... Cassidy did that to us?"

 

[Gold Phoenix]

They know they interrupted something. I'm not exactly complaining though... Aspen felt a little guilty when he realized how awful the fact that he was glad for the inturruption must have made Nicolette feel. But he didn't know what to do anymore, this sort of thing was new to him. He turned to Nicolette. "I'm sorry," he muttered, standing up. "I... need some time to think about this." He walked towards the door. As he passed Cassie and Vinaya, he called out to them, "You guys can start making breakfast. I'm gonna go out and see if I can find Issac and Ava."

 

[goldcat16471]

Cassie immediately felt bad when Aspen started to leave. She bit her lip glancing at Nico, then at Aspen, "I already searched for them! They're not in the building. I don't think anyways... All I found was Issac's book, in the room down the hall." She quickly called out hoping to buy time, so if Nico wanted to say something, she could.

 

[AviouslyPTX]

Nicolette just sat there in silence, her eyes locked on her 'bed'. Fighting back tears, she plugged her headphones into her ears and laid back down. She turned on her side, facing away from everyone and stayed silent as the lyrics of "There's A Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey. You Just Haven't Thought Of It Yet" by Panic! At The Disco belted through her ears.

 

[Gold Phoenix]

Aspen just shrugged when Cassidy said she'd already looked. He still needed to go out, it was far too overwhelming staying in here. But as he left the room he glanced back to see Nicolette turn away and put headphones in her ears. A crushing wave of guilt swept over him, and he almost turned and went back. Almost.


Outside the air was fresh and cool, and some of the weight lifted from his shoulders, although his mind was still haunted. He knew he'd hurt Nico. But he didn't know what to do about it. Aspen shoved his hands in his pockets and started pacing the streets, sticking to the shadows and trying to remain unnoticed while he tried to figure out how he could fix things.

 

[goldcat16471]

Cassie bit her lip looking down feeling horrible. She knew most likely the fault was on her, being the reason they didn't talk more. Maybe that's not it. Maybe you and Vinaya walking in were the reasons he stayed that long. She thought it but didn't really feel it. Maybe it wasn't a moment. Maybe you and Vinaya are wrong. It could have been nothing. She rolled her eyes at herself. It was so obviously a moment. They wouldn't have acted like this if it wasn't. Says the "social expert." Cassie grit her teeth then finally got the nerve to call out, "Nico..." However Cassie knew she couldn't hear through her headphones, so she turned towards Nico and mouthed, "I'm sorry..." Then she turned back towards the eggs looking down.

 

[DrCompton]

Tommy was lost in thought, worried sick about everything. He walked to the apartment quickly, unaware if Xavier followed him or if Xavier decided to stick it out and wait. Tommy slowed just a bit before he got to the apartment and gained his composure. He walked into the apartment and into their sleeping room. He looked a Nico for a moment, and was concerned when he was able to hear the music through her headphones. He walked to her and touched her shoulder lightly. He put the groceries on the floor as he knelt down so he could talk quietly to her, if she decided to look at him.

 

[AviouslyPTX]

Nicolette didn't even flinch when she felt someone touched her shoulder. Sighing internally, she discretely wiped her eyes of any tears that had fallen. She sat up, pulling her headphones out, and looked over seeing Tommy. "What," she said simply. Thankfully it didn't come out harsh.

 

[DrCompton]

"It doesn't matter how loud it is, it still wont be a rock concert." He smiled a little at his own awful joke, "Everything alright? Its not every day you try and blow out your ear drums Nikki." He reached into the bag and pulled out one of the walkie talkies Xavier was smart enough to grab, "Here.. We got enough for.. uh, everyone.. Xavier did, really."

 

[AviouslyPTX]

"I'm perfectly fine," Nicolette lied as she took the walkie talkie. "And I'll have you know I have seen them in concert," she added leaning her head against the wall.

 

[DrCompton]

He looked at her for a moment, then stood, "I bet it was a blast, Im jealous." He smiled as he walked into kitchen and handed a walkie talkie to Two in the kitchen.

 

[yistae]

Xavier followed Tommy back to the apartment building, but he wasn't paying attention. Instead he was thinking about Kira. He hadn't really known her, but still. Did she really leave them? Or did she just get lost? Shaking his head slightly, Xavier pushed the thoughts away. Quickly climbing up the old stairs in the building, Xavier took his own walkie talkie from Tommy and sat down in the main room, pushing random buttons and trying to figure out how to work it.

 

[AviouslyPTX]

Nicolette sat the walkie talkie down before putting her headphones back in her ears. She turned Back the way she was facing and turned her music back on. She sighed softly as "Westerner" by Falling in Reverse belted out.

 

[Gold Phoenix]

Aspen wandered aimlessly, hardly noticing anything about his surroundings. He knew he wasn't really looking for Issac or Ava, it was just an excuse to leave. Although he wanted desperately to go back he hadn't yet found a solution to the problem. Nicolette obviously liked him, she'd basically straight up said so. And he'd freaked out and ran away, like usual. The guilt was slowly eating away at him. He'd said he would protect them all, but so far he seemed to be the one causing the most damage. A shop window caught his eye. It was a music store. He breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped into a place that was as close to home as he'd probably ever get, at least in the near future.