Time Waits for No One [o] ●

[Avery Rosstillo]

Dainty digits fingered the smooth emerald green choker gem as Avery stared up at the high school she would be attending in the fall. Already tired of being amongst childish peers who didn’t regularly praise her as their older counterparts might have, she couldn’t help imagining what it would be like to break free from her assigned grade halls and enter the realms of mixed classes and shifting social norms. Already she knew what clubs she wanted to be in, what friends she wanted to make with the seniors, what she wanted to be in the eyes of those around her. She’d do it too; she’d already perfected the art in middle school. She already gained the approval of teachers. Clearly the more mature air of high school would enhance her status further than ever before. She could practically taste it as she stared up at the building.

That afternoon, there were few still left in the high school. They had already been released from classes, and only those with club or sports activities generally stayed. With middle schoolers getting out after high schoolers, it was the only time Avery could come despite her wish to see it flooded with the various students that held its attention during the day. Ever still, she could not help the mild awed look she gave as she stepped up to the front and clasped the main entrance door. To her delight, it opened without qualm breathing out a cool note as she drew inwards. Blue eyes flashed around the main entrance room briefly before she slipped passed the front office staff with surprising ease and entered the first hall. The front desk staff were much more lenient in the afternoons towards students that came and went, and to everyone’s credit, Avery did look old enough to be there. No questions were asked.

Tapping down the hallway in her white leather boots, Avery gazed about the rows of lockers and classroom doors. They were taller than those in her middle school. Everything was bigger. Silently, Avery thanked whatever higher power had provided her with a growth spurt before she turned down a hallway that connected two main ones and came across the library. The semblance of a smile graced the girl’s slim features as she recognized what it was and how much bigger it was than her own school’s. She imagined the studious made their home there, but entering was not her aim that day. Instead, she turned up a flight of stairs silently thereafter.

At the second floor, she stepped out gazing around slowly before slipping down another hallway eyes alive for her target yet not seeing it just then.

---
Open to anyone.

[Isidor Faust]

The soft mesh of his shorts brushed around his knees as the sound of a basketball hitting the gym floor rhythmically entered his ears. His sneakers squeaked as he ran, the ball dribbled expertly as he twirled around one of his teammates. His feet lifted off the floor slightly as his arm moved fluidly, sending the ball arcing toward the goal. There was a lull in movement as it bounced back and forth on the rim of the goal several times before it finally fell in. The lull ceased almost instantly as everyone rushed back into movement, and this pattern would continue for a good hour or two as practice moved along. Isidor had gotten into basketball shortly after moving to America. It wasn’t as popular in Germany, but he was tall for his age, and he’d found that he had a talent in it. Ever still, since he wasn’t a senior yet, he couldn’t be the captain of the team or anything like that. He could wait, though, he had fun either way.

As practice finally came to an end, the boys would move into the locker room. Most were pulling on sweatpants and jeans, but the blonde didn’t bother with those things. It wasn’t cold enough outside to warrant changing out of his shorts, and therefore he simply pulled his jacket on, changed his shoes, and threw his duffle bag over his shoulder. He needed to go up to his locker before he could head home, and apparently at least two of the other boys did as well. Conversation was had easily on their way, and before long Isidor would find himself at his locker. The books he needed would be removed and placed in his bag, but before he turned away one of the other boys called out to him. Rather than waiting to give his answer, he began walking backwards, raising his hand over his head in farewell once he’d agreed to whatever was being said.

He would stop midstep as his body collided with something smaller, but still solid behind himself. He blinked once, realizing almost immediately that he had run into another person. He turned quickly on his heel, his hands reaching out to steady whomever he might have run into. “Es tut mir leid!” He exclaimed, the seemingly long phrase falling over his tongue rather quickly. He shook his head once he realized, “I am sorry.” He corrected in English. “Are you alright?” He went on to ask, his teal gaze slightly wide.

--
Avery Rosstillo

[Avery Rosstillo]

So rampant were her eyes grazing over every surface of the high school as she walked that Avery didn’t even glance forwards to see the boy walking backwards towards her. Perhaps she had heard his footsteps, perhaps she had even mentally acknowledged his presence. However, some part of her had assumed she wasn’t about to be walked into. Thus when it happened, a shrill squeak escaped from her. Legs backed up almost immediately, and a hand reached sideways to steady herself along the wall. Nothing could save Avery’s features from burning, however. Embarrassment always had the cruelest of colors.

Eyes had instinctively lowered, but when the exclamation hit the air and she’d been steadied a bit, Avery slowly glanced up again. What had he said? That sounded like German. Lips pressed together tightly as she tried to find something to say. Instead, her mind had gone blank. Not one word would be uttered from her. Even when the boy before her had switched to English and apologized, she felt frozen to the spot. Crisp blue eyes reflected the face of the boy before her, and she knew in an instant why all of her thoughts had left. Blond hair? Blue eyes? High features and an accent? The pendant around her neck had switched colors. Once a shade of green, it was now a hot pink. He was cute. Oh God.

She wanted to smack herself, to come back to reality that darn instant, yet for all of Avery’s wishes, she was suddenly unable to breathe let alone speak. Lips managed to part, but her teeth found her lower one quickly. The color in her features would not subside, and she was becoming distinctly aware of a ringing in her ears. Oh God. Oh God. Say something. Say something she mentally pleaded with herself in French. She was aware the seconds were ticking by without a response. Her heart beat wouldn’t let her forget.

“I’m fine!” the words echoed in French that Avery would only really catch after the fact. “I can assure you.” She’d tried and failed to return to English with that statement. Avery frowned. A few fingers raised and curled into her hair in an attempt to soothe herself. It didn’t work too well.

[Isidor Faust]

His eyes remained slightly wide as he looked down on the girl had collided with. She seemed altogether unharmed, if a little flustered. Already, he was calm. Even if he had sent her tumbling to the ground, the feeling of shock would have melted away just as quickly. Isidor didn’t feel bad for running into her, not really. He had done worse that he had never felt bad for, and yet the façade was necessary. He didn’t know who this girl was, or how useful she could be. Therefore, the look on his face was nothing more than slightly shocked and very apologetic.

She still hadn’t said anything, but that didn’t bother him. In the moments that she spend looking him over, he was looking her over as well. She was younger than him. Perhaps a freshmen, she seemed about the right size for that. She was pretty. She had fine features, pale skin and hair, and bright blue eyes. She was embarrassed, though. He wasn’t quite sure why. He had been the one who had backed into her, after all. Either way, the blush on her cheeks only heightened her features that much more. He found himself wondering if she would fall over if he vocalized such a thing. She seemed to be slightly frail. His gaze lowered to the pendant around her neck as it changed colors. Curious.

When she finally spoke, even in those soft tones, he was jarred out of his thoughts. French. It was a language he hadn’t heard in a while, but he practiced it often enough to make sure he didn’t lose it. He hadn’t spent all those years learning all those languages just to lose them, and now it would seem that this particular one was finally becoming useful. “Are you quite certain?” He questioned back, the French rolling from his tongue easily, even if it was slightly marred due to his accent. “I did not hurt you at all?” He went on to ask, keeping with the language she seemed to be the most familiar with.

--
Avery Rosstillo

[Avery Rosstillo]

No matter what she tried, Avery could not banish the anxious emotions pumping through her. Lips pressed together into a flat line as she tried and failed to grasp at English, her second language, once more. He’s cute her mind whispered, as if she didn’t already know the secret. Fingers grazed through blond locks but did not soothe her the way they should have. Did her hair even look ok? She should have gone to the bathroom earlier and straightened up. She should have made sure her dress and boots looked tidy, perfect. Maybe then she would feel less flustered. Or maybe if English was my first language—

Avery’s thought stopped short when the question was asked, in her native tongue no less. His accent was readily noticeable, but it didn’t take away from the fact that this was most definitely French. Blinking a few times, Avery slowly smiled glancing down and to the right. “Yes…uhm… thank you,” she replied softer no longer focusing on her inabilities— at least for now. Glancing up to the young man before her once more, Avery did what she could to meet his gaze. “I ….. do you….know where the stairs are to the roof?” she asked progressively growing quieter as she asked. It was a simple question, but the implications were obvious even to Avery. She doubted it was honestly allowed, and that was why she was searching on her own instead of popping into one of the classes where late teachers happened to be. However, this was not a teacher but a student, and maybe he wouldn’t ask too many questions about her intentions. Avery could only hope.

[Isidor Faust]

The responses in French seemed to have done the trick as the girl calmed a bit more. Isidor leaned back slightly, rolling his shoulders as he relaxed himself. He smiled encouragingly, though he had to wonder where the ‘thanks’ had come from. Perhaps she was thanking him for checking on her? It seemed possible. She certainly wasn’t thanking him for backing into her. That wouldn’t make sense at all. “But of course~” He responded, raising one of his hands to flick a pale blonde lock from his forehead. He had noticed that nearly all of the people he had met in this country seemed to have more ‘yellow’ blonde hair than him. Except that cousin of his, of course.

He tilted his head as the question about the roof was vocalized. His assumption earlier that she was a freshmen seemed less likely after that question. Perhaps if it was earlier in the year, but most freshmen should have known where the roof was by this point. Not that they were explicitly allowed up there, but either way that didn’t seem to stop anyone. “Mhm, I do. Would you like me to take you?” He questioned, offering her his arm with a warm smile. “My name is Isidor Faust, by the way.” He went on to introduce himself.

--
Avery Rosstillo

[Avery Rosstillo]

The encouraging smile and the words after were somewhat comforting. At the very least he wasn’t mad- though what he had to be mad for, Avery couldn’t tell you. Ave couldn’t really tell you much of anything, really. Too many thoughts were racing through the space between her ears. Too many uncertainties were clasping at her heart. Too many emotions were boiling just under the surface of her skin, and her feelings were at war with her will for control over her features.

A simple quick nod of head was given in response to the young man’s words before nervous eyes fixated on the ground, and the girl fought once more for some semblance of control. He’s just a student. He’s probably not that much older than me. Four years …or five at most! And I’m going to be fourteen soon enough, so then it would be four. He’s really cute- stop! Stop thinking about that. That’s not why we’re here, right? We just asked a question, that’s all. He hasn’t been mean yet- would he? He doesn’t seem mean I mean …. He speaks French after all! Maybe he knows Jackie or Angie-… Strangely, the last thought cut into her stomach, and small arms curled slightly to settle in front of her.

Luckily thereafter, her question was answered, and thoughts ceased for a moment. Avery was quick to glance up again, meeting that gaze again quickly this time as he asked if she wanted him to show where the roof top entrance was. Before she had even the slightest chance to moderate it a warm smile grasped Avery’s features, and a quick nod was given in return. “Y-yes, if you’re not busy, of course,” she spoke attempting to sound as professional as possible. At the very least none of her words waivered after the first. “My name is Avery Rosstillo,” she replied as formally as he had. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Her arm may have shook just a little as she raised it in a formal handshake, but to her credit, it didn’t move after she got it in place.

[Isidor Faust]

don't cry mercy

Isidor often found himself wishing that his power had been telepathy. What was this girl thinking, exactly? He could guess at it, of course, and usually he got it right, but still. Wouldn’t it be nice to know for sure? It would make everything so much easier. He was certain telepathy was a hard power to control, but he had no doubts that he could do it. His own power was draining and awful when he was forced to use it, surely telepathy couldn’t be much worse. And he was certainly aware that his power was useful for what he liked to do with people, but ever still he wanted more. Isidor always wanted more, because he wanted everything. He wanted the world at his fingertips, but he couldn’t have that yet. Not quite yet. But for now, he was pretty sure he could have this little girl at his fingertips if he so desired.

And he kind of did. If only because he could.

The smile that lit up her features heightened them much more than any other expression he’d seen her make in the short time that he’d known her. The smile that curved his own lips in response was more natural, it actually wanted to be there. Blue eyes appeared to get slightly warmer. “I am not busy at all.” He assured her, which was sort of a lie, but he would deal with that later. He could get Rose’s mother to drive him home if he needed to. As she extended her hand to him, his fingers slipped around hers. She would find his fingers to be slightly cool, almost cold. His hands were rarely warm. “The pleasure is all mine, Avery.”

Her last name seemed so very familiar to him. He was quite certain that a couple of the girls he attended school with shared her name, but he couldn’t call their faces to mind at the moment. They didn’t look much like her, he was certain, because if they did then surely he would be able to think of what they looked like. They didn’t matter right now anyway, they weren’t here. He released her hand and stood off to the side, gesturing in the direction they needed to walk. “Shall we?” He smiled again.

Avery Rosstillo