"It's just strain--a lot of moving in the past few years. I just like more peaceful environments. All the moving makes me sick of America at times--I miss my Homeland," Lyssa pointed to her bike as she puffed on her Clove cigarette. "That, Joy, is my Ducati Streetfighter S. I have a panhead at home, though I still don't know which one I'm going to enter in the bike show Friday. It's nice feeling having the wind whip past your body, it makes me feel like I'm flying--makes me feel free."

She looked over to the girl as she continued to draw, "It seems you like to draw anything that gives you a light of inspiration."

Jae's voice rised in disbelief. "Fight you? I have no reason to fight you. Since you seem so intent on spilling my guts, I'll let you punch me as many times as you want to. I won't really care." He couldn't fathom why someone would want to fight with him at this time, especially since their whole entire History class was watching by now and the teacher would surely lower their grades.

He went over Setsutarou's words in his mind, remembering that he had just called his father a mobster. Well, if he actually was one, Jae surely didn't know about that. For all he knew, his father was a Wall Street entrepreneur. "Umm...I think you have the wrong person, because my father is certaintly not a mobster." He racked his brain and figured out who Setsutarou was talking about. "That's probably Aleksander Normann you're talking about...but it seems like you also have a problem with me..."

Jae smiled extremely fakely and pointed at the fuming History teacher. "But I think that's something to take care of after class." Jae used the voice his father used when he was extremely pissed. He stared at Setsutarou, waiting for the rocker's next move.



{Uh...flamethrower? The mobster guy is played by Sugiza.}

"I miss home too. I'm from France though, in case you couldn't tell. Some people can't," Joy responded, her eyes closed as she breathed in the clean air. The smoke had already blown away, leaving only the faintest scent of charcoal around the school, though it could only be detected when the breeze came through. At the talk of the Ducati and other motorcycles, Joy opened her eyes and blinked blankly at Lyssa, not understanding anything but that the bike she had drawn was hers and a Ducati. "I've never been on one, so I wouldn't know."

The mention of her drawing perked her up though, and she grabbed the sketchpad eagerly. "Do ya want to see some of my other drawings?" she asked, flipping through to a random page. It was a drawing of a tortoise along the road. The shading seemed to make it real enough that you could reach out and touch the slow moving reptile. It was only black and white though, so it was impossible to tell what color the tortoise had actually been. Yet, it still looked real.

"Oh! Here," she exclaimed, handing the sketchpad to Lyssa so she could pull out an admittance ticket to the gallery. "Maybe you'd like some of my other art." The red ticket held firmly in her grasp, she presented it to Lyssa proudly, smiling. The ticket was good for almost forever, so long as it wasn't damaged, but it was necessary to get inside the expensive gallery. Unless you were one of their artists of course.

"You know, I could hear a faint European accent, how long have you been in America," Lyssa questioned, "Maybe I can put the side car back on my panhead and you, me, and Alyssa can ride together some time."

She looked over at her other drawings the tortoise was amazing to Lyssa. Lyssa then took the sketch pad went it was handed to her, she began to loo through it, "I would love to--wow, these are wonderful drawings, are you self taught?"

When Joyeuse presented her with the ticket. Lyssa took it happily, looking over closely, "I would love to Joy, but would Alyssa be able to come with me, too--she herself likes art. This ticket lasts forever, that's awesome--I'll have it laminated so that I can come to the gallery anytime you get new works submitted."

"Only seven years," Joyeuse replied, frowning. Her home in France had been a much better place than here, or so she thought. In truth, there had really been no difference in how she was treated, just in the number of parks to paint in. She had always loved drawing and painting outdoors when she could, though her parents often denied her the privilege to do so. They were always afraid that she'd end up embarrassing them in some way.

"Yeah, I taught myself," Joy answered, frowning as she thought about art classes. "Art classes are dumb. They expect you to do everything a certain way, and that's just stupid. That's why Mr. Leumo and I get along so well; he doesn't care how I do it." Sighing, Joy leaned back against the steps, worried that she'd spoken for to long. She had an awful tendency to ramble when people got her going.

"Say, do you think I could come over to your house or something?" Joy asked, turning to her new friend hopefully. "My dad's not going to be happy when he gets the news, and I'd rather not be there when he does." Still eyeing Lyssa hopefully, Joy was starting to feel a bit better. Her mood was definitely improving from before, as long as she didn't have to go home. That would send her plummeting.

"You know, Alyssa said art classes we not worth it either. I think the two of you will seriously get along. You could come over today, I guess if you would like--so long as you don't mind Alyssa being there too--she's my friend and all--I'm helping to tutor her in Mathematics. Why would your Father be upset? If you don't mind me asking, seeing that I just met you--er, well I don't really know you. I know it's kind of weird to say, but I told Alyssa the same thing, you can confide in me if you'd like," Lyssa spoke softly.

He sighed a bit. "At this school, friends come and go. I know practically everyone, but as to who truly is my friend, who knows or cares" he shrugs. "People can think what they want of me I don't really care. I hang out with who I want to and do what I want to" his eyes close for a moment. "There's not a definite number, with how many fakes we have at this school and everthing, they say one thing to your face, then another behind your back" his eyes open. He looks at her "like I said it is your choice not mine. You want to be my friend fine ok, if not no loss really, I'm used to being alone by noe" he turned walking away.

"I don't mind, it's just that Père doesn't really like me all that much because I'm an embarrassment," she responded, shrugging a bit uncomfortably. "He and my mom are always getting upset at me for ruining their public image or something. I don't even get it though! I'm not doing anything wrong that I know of, but they still get mad at me and punish me." Breathing a little heavier than before from emotion, Joy blushed before shrinking back into her shell, suddenly seeming to become three times smaller. Metaphorically of course, but still.

(I thought your guy was the famous dude. I'm confused. Must look at charrs again.)

----------

Edit:

Setsutarou stared down the jock. They were nature enemies within the school's social ranks. He had always meant to fight his arch nemesis for quite some time, but his sister advised against it. Now, her words could not affect him. Nothing she said would stop him. Not even the threats he received from the teacher was bothering him. He was focused on the boy in front of him and how he'd react to the request of a duel.

(Sorry about the mistake.)

Terry rolled his eyes at the two boys. They were dramatic. Or, well, one was hot -headed and the other was completely the opposite. History class sure was strange today. He glanced back and saw Jolene narrow her eyes at them. Then as if that alien that was her these days had returned, she opened her textbook again appearing to not care. Looks like she would get a high participation grade for class today. The teacher would notice that. Terry sighed and slouched down, wishing the bell would ring already. Between the fire, taking a girl to the nurse's office, and now this... well it wasn't his cup of tea. Life had to have more to it than all this.

{It's okay. Hope you don't mind if my charrie beats yours up a bit.}

"Tch." Jae stared at the boy standing in front of his desk, who would not budge an inch. It was true that they were supposed to be born enemies, but Jae had never really been one to fight for no reason. Howeer, this guy just wasn't stopping, and it was really ticking him off.

The jock stood up suddenly, making a couple of the students sitting next to him flinch away. Jae placed his hands on the desk and leaned towards Setsutarou. Jae was staring down at the rocker, who was a few inches shorter than him and had multiple piercings. "You aren't going to give up, are you?" He dragged the wiry teen out of the classroom, ignoring his futile struggles and the teacher's threatening shouts.

"...At least you're a determined guy." Jae shoved Setsutarou into the lockers, which rattled at contact.

You know it's horrible when parents are like that, you're supposed to love your kids no matter what. That's silly, that are embarrassed about you and if they wanted public image they should have thought about that a long time ago--they should have treated you better. Well, you know what? I'm going to give you the same offer I gave Alyssa, you can come over any time you would like. I have a gate access in my bedroom, if you buzz in I will know and I can let you in."

"Oh! Well, thanks," Joyeuse responded, her eyes wide from hearing the offer of hospitality. "It's just that I got diagnosed with a disorder today, so he won't be happy. Or is it two disorders? I don't know. Do you think synesthesia is a disorder? I don't think so, but I'm not sure." Of course, she loved her synesthesia, but she knew that if it was a disorder her parents wouldn't like it at all. It's why she loved words and poetry. The looked and tasted delicious!

"Well, you're very welcome. I think they should be a little more understanding, you know. Synesthesia isn't really a disorder at all, it's a gift. Look at it this way if you ever suddenly go deaf you'll be more than prepared," she looked around to see of anyone was near by that would listen, "It's against federal law what I'm about to tell you, but what if I said I could harass your parents in a sense. When you go home from my house tonight--err well if you do. Wait, before I get ahead of myself, do you have internet at home and a personal computer?"

Annabella chuckled softly to herself as she listened to Klaus talk. "So that's how you think. Being alone isn't good for anyone's health. You need a good friend every once in a while, if something happens, who will be thereby your side to help you? I'm asking you to be your friend because I wish to show you that having friends is like." she said smiling and giggled happily to herself.

Her muscles relaxing at Lyssa's statement about her synesthesia, Joyeuse listened intently, blinking uncertainly at the barrage of questions. "No, I don't have a personal computer. My parents told me that it was bad enough that I embarrassed them in public, but they weren't going to let me embarrass them online. I really don't think it's a good idea to mess with my dad though. He's a member of Congress, so he has lots of things he can use to track you down." Her head tilted slightly as she finished, waiting for an elaboration as to what Lyssa was talking about. It would be interesting to hear at the least.

"Hmmm, congress men you say, they always have dirty little secrets. I could dig around a bit, maybe plan some image's of the 'family', when your family treated you better. Just a little bit of minor child's play something you won't be really capable of because I'm sure he at least has a computer. I know how to bypass everything, with a little help from my father equipment and my brain. I could probably make your Father change his tune of whistle because I'm pretty sure his fellow congress men probably don't know how poorly you're treated.."

"No, Père doesn't have secrets; he's very, very open," Joyeuse explained, shaking her head. "And he doesn't have a computer, unless you count his phone and I-pad. Mère has a laptop though, if you that'll make a difference. I'm not sure how his colleagues will react, but I appreciate you trying." Smiling now, Joy sighed, feeling better than she had been a bit ago. Today certainly was topsy-turvy. She definitely should have worn green instead of yellow, but her mother had rushed her, so she chose the wrong color for the day, resulting in her bad luck.

"Well, then maybe forwarding some incriminating information to the Congress men about your Father would be a rather good idea. I could help by requesting that your Father go to counseling and no one would have to know that you told me. You mother's Laptop, I'll survey it from time to time from now on, maybe turn your Mother's webcam on and catch things from time to time, including voice recordings. I could at least do that for you and really I don't mind doing it, I rather enjoy monitoring people," Lyssa grinned as she smoked the last of her cigarette and threw in on the pavement.

"If you want to you can," Joyeuse said, still smiling slightly. "Thank you though. Say, what do you like? You know that I love art and stuff, but you haven't told me about yourself. Obviously you like bikes and computers, but what else do you like? How is you family life? Is your père nice? Or is he like mine? What about your mère? Do you have any siblings? Aunts? Uncles? Cousins?" Another facet of her Schizotypal Personality Disorder, Joy had an issue with rambling, though whether on topic or off seemed to be of little importance.

"Alright, then I will, but I will stop at your word, if you would like me to and you're very welcome. What do I like? Wow, that's a good question, a good comic, online computer games, poetry, cemeteries, and obviously history--you'll see what I mean when you see my house this afternoon or well maybe you've seen it. It's the Victorian manor on the other side of town--it's gated. My family are all back in Germany, well it's just me and my Dad here in America, and yes, my Father is very nice. My Mother--er, well, I don't know her, I'm an illegitimate child. She left my Father and I a few weeks after I was born, I haven't heard from her since and I'm an only child," Lyssa replied softly.

"Yeah.", the carrot top replied with a grin. "And you're..uh..Klein, yes? I've seen you play at the football and basketball games last year. You're pretty good." Although they had been in the same music class since the start of the year, this was the first time Stephen had ever talked to the talented musician. He was often busy toiling through his studies while she was breezing through the lessons. Not that it looked like she needed them. "So is it true what they say? Did you actually get recruited by a talent agency?", he asked. Stephen just remembered there was a rumor about her going around and figured now was as good a time as any to ask about it. The boy looked up to check if Mr. Snively was still busy talking with the other students. After seeing that the teacher wasn't going to notice them any time soon, Stephen faced the snow haired girl once again, eagerly awaiting either confirmation or negation.

"I like poetry and comics too!" Joyeuse piped up, grinning radiantly up at the bigger girl. She wasn't all that much bigger, but Joy was pretty petite, which made her seem a lot smaller than others. "At least you have a parent though. Lately it doesn't feel like I do at all. They're almost never home, and when they are, they avoid me like the plague. But enough about that. Why don't we go to the cafeteria and get something to drink from the vending machines? I have money from my art sales, so it's on me!" Then she hopped up, darting to the door before motioning for Lyssa to hurry up.

"That's awesome that we have things in common. You know, I noticed that I helped to cheek you up, I'm glad I got to and that I got to meet you today, Joy," Lyssa grinned as she got up, following behind Joyeuse to the door, "Well, yeah I'm grateful to have my Father. Alright well, to the cafeteria we go then. Are you sure? I mean you really don't have to, I do have money on me to pay for my own drinks and food."

"I'm glad I got to meet you too," Joyeuse replied, leading the way through the empty, blue hallways of the school. "I'm not to good with people, but I think that might be part of my disorder. I'll have to ask my psychologist. Do you know Dr. Cruse? He's a really nice guy. He listens and everything! His secretary's nice too though." There she went rambling again. Mentally kicking herself, she turned another corner, listening to Lyssa's speech. Her German accent made any word she said yummy!

"Yeah, I get like around eight hundred to a thousand dollars a month from my art, so it's really no big deal," Joy responded, shrugging her shoulders as she walked. The sooty footprints she left behind wouldn't make the janitors very happy, but the soot on her clothes itched quite a bit anyway, so she was happy to be rid of it. "If it really bothers you, then you can buy me something some other time when I forget my wallet. I do that all the time, so you'll have a chance within the week."