another city, another school

[D I Z Z Y !]

* the worst part is before it gets any better,
we're headed for a cliff.

This wasn't a dream, hell it wasn't even her worst nightmare. This was one of the seven circles of hell. The sprawling campus of Salem High School, was crawling with students this morning. It was making her nausous and wishing she could just turn around, walk the four blocks to the train station and ride the 2 hours to the capital and catch a flight back to Forks, Washington. There wasn't much that scared Maiho Carter. Being the new girl, on the first day of the new semester did. Shaking her head, the blonde ducked her head into the hood of her dark blue hoodie, setting off at a brisk pace to the main building

Maiho bit her lip, keeping her heather colored eyes trained on the floor in front of her. She knew what they would see. A loser, a freak. A skinny girl with mud permanently attached to the soles of her dark blue converse. Her brown socks neatly folded, while her prep school uniform was rather wrinkled beneath her hoodie, the pleated navy skirt with matching tie over a pale blue button up. It wasn't like she was pretty or anything. Her newness brought her enough stares

Was it so much to ask to stay in one town and have your cousin NOT fall in love with the deliciously undead? Apparently so because this was the 3rd move in a period of 5 years. Once from Wyoming to South Dakota, then to Washington, and now Masachusetts. She scowled in irritation, pushing open the door to the front office.

~ An hour later ~

Maiho sighed, stepping out into the hallway and making a beeline for her locker. She'd already been late for her first class due to the secretary. Man that woman was a talker. She would hate to see what that woman's specialty would be if she was turned into a vampire. Shaking her head as she pushed her books into her locker, reaching for her sketchbook and shoving it into her bag.

She glanced down at the map of the school, realizing that the art room was on the opposite end of the new building. "Great." she muttered, taking off at a slow jog, too focused on the ground in front of her to see where she was going. The hallway was still crowded and a group of jocks had set up residence in front of the doorway leading out onto the courtyard.

"Hey, guys look. A little lost mouse." one of them jeered, knocking her bag from her shoulder. Scowling to herself, Maiho ignored them, picking up her bag and shoving past them. The shock on the one guys face was a little amusing, after all hanging around vampires, Maiho had to become a bit stronger to inflict damage on her cousin's boyfriend and his older brother.

She heard his swear behind her but paid no mind to it, simply breaking out into a run again towards the Art Room. She had learned long ago that if she wanted to escape a vampires hold she had to run, and it helped, particulary when Charm's brother was in one of his moods. It took a lot for her to lose herself in her focus. Maiho bit down on her lower lip, slowing down as she joined the throng of students heading into the Art room, the flash of white hair not registering in her mind.

*and in the free fall i will realize i'm better off
when i hit the bottom

[Maya;]

& I hear a symphony,
whenever you are near

Luko ran his fingers through his hair, leaning his forehead against the cool glass of the window of the art room. On campus, this was the most peaceful place he could find. Even the library was a bit too-overcrowded for his tastes; most of the kids usuing the lounge chairs to chat in whispers, earning glares from the librarians, and type away on the computers. He sighed, letting his bluish-green eyes close against the sunlight outside.

Was it wrong for him to come home, he wondered? Though he, truly, had been home the entire time. He had only left for a few years, then returned later to actually spend time with his brothers, even parents. Quietly, in the shadows, he followed his brothers from town to town, sometimes he'd stay with Aizel and keep watch over Aislinn Evans and Maiho Carter, sometimes he'd follow Matt and the multiple girls on his arm; though the girls on his arm had dwindled down to one whom he was faithful to now. He knew her. Riley Dyer. He had met her through Aislinn when he was young, and then when he pushed himself out of Aislinn and Maiho's lives, he had met her again through Matt, and got to know her on his visits, especially in the last town. The last town, everyone had been living in Forks, and he quietly been tucked away in Seattle.

He wondered if this was wrong, hiding. He wondered if it was wrong now, coming out of hiding. Matt was the only one who knew he was here, currently. And where he was at, currently. A high school, of all places! But...he needed to see her, up close. Maiho. She had grown, and he felt guilty; not worthy. Unable to keep a simple promise.

Luko sighed, reaching into his pocket and retrieving his cell phone. What better place to reveal himself than where his brother couldn't strangle him? He wondered, pressing speed dail 4. Matt was on 3, his mother on 2. He listened to the phone ring.

"Prince? You okay?" Aizel, Charm, answered the phone. Luko didn't often call unless he was coming to visit secretly.

He smiled to himself. "Yeah. Charm...I'm back."

"For a visit?" The voice on the other end asked.

"No; for good. Ask Matt. He knows. I don't think I'll move back in with you yet, how it's always been, with Aislinn around...and Maiho. I may stay with Matt for a while, or buy my own place, then come home."

There was a cough. "Wait....you mean you're like....home, for good, not hiding...going to actually carry on a normal life...WHY!?"

"I thought-" Luko cut himself off, glancing over his shoulder at a distant laughter down the hallway, some shuffling only his ears could hear, and footsteps coming closer. Luko turned back towards the window, barely registering his older brother's complaints. "Charm- Charm! Sorry, I have to go. I'm using my cell at school, and I'm trying to look normal. Someone's coming, if a teacher finds me using electronics, I could get it taken away. I'll see you tonight," he said, talking too fast for a normal human to register the words, ending the call and stuffing the phone in his pocket, gaze out the window and on the reflection in the glass of the window, watching the door behind him.

a whispered tune,
right in my ear

[D I Z Z Y !]

* the worst part is before it gets any better,
we're headed for a cliff.

Maiho bit her lower lip walking into the classroom, glancing around anxiously. It wasn't like to be so antsy in an art room, but she supposed she wouldn't calm down until she saw that the class wasn't very large. Large, blue eyes peeked out around the room from behind her hood. White hair...geesh another one? she scowled, shaking her head as the hair color nearly broght up memories she had rather not touch on. She blinked, glancing over her shoulder at the shuffling of sneakers behind her, quickly moving out of the teachers way to take a seat behind the white haired student.

"Ara, Ara..is this all we have?" the teacher wondered, looking around the room from behind shaggy bangs that flopped into his face. Maiho looked around as well, the bell had rung a moment before and she could see that there was only a handful of students. 10 at the most all together. But then again, who else but a bunch of freaks would willingly take AP Art.

The teacher raised an eyebrow, before grabbing a clipboard and rummaging through it. "Okay, lets start by calling row. For those who need to know, I'm Mr. Collins, though you may call me Jack unless another faculty member comes in. With so few students formality shouldn't matter. Lets begin. Derik Austins, Elena Ayens....Maiho Carter"

The small blonde jerked slightly at the sound of her name. "Here.." she mumbled weakly.

"Miss Carter please remove your hood and jacket. It's sweltering in here. Plus your mother would be mad at me if she knew I let you ruin your hoodie with paint and chalk." the teacher tsked before going back to calling roll.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she pushed back her hood, blonde bangs falling into her eyes. She could feel a few stares, looking out the window as not to come out with some rude remark as she removed her jacket. The teacher did have a point, but her mother wouldn't be the one to pitch a hissy fit. She sighed pulling the sapphire butterfly clip out of her pocket and pulling her hair back and pinning it in place.

"Luko Danvers?" Mr. Collins' called out.

*and in the free fall i will realize i'm better off
when i hit the bottom

[Maya;]

& I hear a symphony,
whenever you are near

Luko sighed, having taken his seat as the door opened and the class had begun, noting the blonde that had come in and made him take such heavy precaution for no reason. His hand was stuffed deep in his pants pocket, fingering his cell phone, thinking about his conversation with his brother.

He had told him he'd come by his house tonight; if that were even a good idea. He seemed to be balancing on a scale: Good Idea or Bad Idea? Was how his mind was currently working. He knew he'd run across Maiho here at school, but in a confined space...he wondered what she was like, personality wise. He had seen her from far, but hadn't done much but watch.

Luko let a sigh escape his lips, blue eyes darting around the class to note some of the students, then back to the teacher. He was having a bit of trouble focusing, but he managed to listen through Jack Collins's introduction and then his continuation of taking role. Luko blinked, listening a little bit better now. His name was under Danvers, another name change on his father's part, he'd have to listen for his name to be called, at the least.

A's. B's, C's.

Carter.

Luko jerked slightly. Not just Carter. Maiho Carter. He felt the air behind him shift, as the blonde that had come in earlier lifted her hand and gave a weak reply of 'here'. Luko tilted his head to the side slightly, just enough to see the girl. Maiho.

His Maiho?

He watched as she followed Jack's instructions, taking off her hooding and pulling her hair back, the blue butterfly clip shining.

Luko exhaled sharping, turning his head away; cursing himself. He hadn't expected to come across her so soon. He didn't even know what to do. Distantly, Luko heard his name called, and lifted his chin slightly, "Here," he answered, making sure his voice didn't hold the same weakness as Maiho's had.

a whispered tune,
right in my ear

[D I Z Z Y !]

* the worst part is before it gets any better,
we're headed for a cliff.

She stiffed, the hair on the back of her neck rising slightly. Well, there was a name she hadn't heard in a while. Luko..Ouiji-sama.. she thought silently shaking her head rapidly. Blah. She swore when she burned those drawings she wouldn't think of him again. But something..goddess something was bugging the hell out of her about the boy in front of her. Danvers...Shit. Well there had to be more than one Danvers family in this town right? Its not like its an uncommon last name. Had it been Luko Hatsumomo..she probably would've ran. As far and as fast as she could. Probably even go as far to catch a flight to Wyoming and join Grandmere at the crazy house.

She clenched her fingers into fists to calm herself, looking out the window with a purposely disinterested expression as her teacher droned on about something or another. Huh, there weren't that many students in the classroom, and she kind of wondered what kind of year long assignment this cook of a teacher could break out.

"As you will see in your syllabus which I will pass out shortly, you will have a semester long assignment, and your grade on it with determine if you have to take the final exam or not. You will be assigned partners, and you must sketch that person in multiple styles and with different mediums. They will be held in a portfolio and graded. So do not throw away anything. There are no mistakes in this class. So, since you guys have already paired off basically, look at the person you're sitting closest to, and that is your partner. That's all for today. Take the rest of the period getting to know your partner for the rest of the semester." Jack Collins stated with a sweeping bow before turning to pass out the syllabus packets.

She looked down at her syllabus before looking around. Great.. she thought sarcastically. Apparently the quiet ones had picked the seats farthest away from the other students. Why couldn't she have picked the seat beside the goth kid with too many piercings and an inmate number tattooed on his neck....okay dumb question.

Swallowing slowly she kept her eyes on her desk, murmuring quietly. "So, some assignment.."

*and in the free fall i will realize i'm better off
when i hit the bottom

[Maya;]

& I hear a symphony,
whenever you are near

He knew it was her, and he wondered if she were freaking out just as much as he was. Well, she was human; she was probably freaking out. He was calm...but there was a sensation under his skin that he couldn't quite place as a feeling he had ever had before. She had to have the faintest idea it was him. Matt and Aizel changed their names as often as he did, and they always kept their surnames the same.

Luko listened to the teacher as intently as possible. He continued calling off names, and mentioned the syllabus. And a semester-long assignment, your partner being the closest one to you. Luko inhaled slightly, pressing a fisted hand to his mouth, holding back a bit of laughter. Him and Maiho. Did Fate have some kind of cruel sense of humor?

Off the topic of Maiho, he thought to himself, I'm only good with watercolors and sketching. I need to hone my art skills a bit more... He let a sigh esacpe his lips, just as Maiho spoke behind him. It was quiet, but his ears could pick up on it. Plus, it wasn't meant to be super loud; knowing Maiho.

Luko smiled slightly, watching the instructor pass out the syllubuses before turning around in his seat, draping his arm over his chair. "Yeah it is. Think you'll have any problems?" He wondered curiously.

a whispered tune,
right in my ear

[D I Z Z Y !]

* the worst part is before it gets any better,
we're headed for a cliff.

Maiho glanced out the window, keeping her emotions from her pale eyes. He had grown since she saw him last. Though she wasn't admitting that he was the Luko she had grown up with. Despite the fact that two guys with the exact same name and weird hair color existing near each other was practically impossible. She tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind a delicate ear, noticing the paint still under her fingernails. "Not really. Your facial structure is ordinary." she murmured bluntly.

If Aizel knew about this I'm going to go Chuck Norris on his ass and kill him with uncooked spaghetti while choking him with a cookie.. she grumbled silently before glancing down at the supply list. Gonna need to call Lance and tell him to mail the supplies I left over there during the weekend. she thought with a sigh reaching into her bag and flipping for a blank page in her sketchbook, only to realize there weren't any. "Great." she grumbled, her day suddenly getting worse all of a sudden.

Maiho glanced at him then back to the window. "Do you think you will?" she questioned keeping boredom in her tone though making it conversational as well. There were 3 ways to find out if it really was her former babysitter. 1) Be incredibly stupid and stab herself with a pencil to make herself bleed then wave it around in front of his nose. 2) Call Aizel or Matt. or 3) Go over to Aizel's with Aislinn for dinner instead of sulking in her room and staring out at the painfully sunniness of Salem. Her stomach growled slightly. Option 3 it is.

*and in the free fall i will realize i'm better off
when i hit the bottom

[Maya;]

& I hear a symphony,
whenever you are near

Luko blinked, studying her curiously as she gazed out the window. He narrowed his eyes, watching her. She was trying to keep emotions out of her face, he could tell that much by just studying her.

And also, he could tell she had grown. He smacked himself mentally; well obviously she had grown! He knew that, watching from afar. But he meant, now that he was right here, in front of her, she had a beauty of her own in her soul, and on the outside she was pretty. Her eyes were bright, despite whatever dullness and boredom she tried to show. Her face was gentle and beautiful, and her hair...longer, still falling in her face. He hid a smile, glad he had ever given her that clip.

More surprised that she used it still. He must not be in as much trouble as he had thought.

"Ordinary?" He let out a huff. "Hm. Well, that's a bit offensive," he murmured, a hint of joking in his voice. He inhaled, blinking at the watering in his eyes. He might have, should have, eaten before he came here. Luko glanced up at her, shuffling through her drawing pad. She was close...he hid a smile at the part about beating Charm up, mentally noting to stop by the store before heading to his brother's place and buy a notepad. He watched her, making sure to glance away every once in a while so it didn't seem odd.

"Trouble? No. It may be a bit hard to get the emotions in your eyes, though. They seem to speak their own language."

a whispered tune,
right in my ear

[D I Z Z Y !]

* the worst part is before it gets any better,
we're headed for a cliff.

She let out a huff, dropping the sketchbook on her desk fumbling through her bag for a piece of blank paper. Any blank paper. Sometimes she thought that if she didn't draw she might as well check herself into a psychiatirc ward. If someone asked if she was addicted to anything she would say it was drawing. Always eager for the next big fix. Which was why the tips over her fingers were always stained with whatever color she had been working with. Speaking of messes, she'd have to remember to bring that pair of jeans with her to school everyday and change before class. After all, she had to keep her drawing a secret from Aislinn.

Maiho wasn't sure why she kept it secret, but she did. Maybe it had something to do with the drawings she did in the sand as a little kid. Ones that had come true. But there wasn't any proof, not anymore as the pictures disappeared with the next rain. Her lips twitched. Obviously someone thought her joke was funny. "It's not my fault you have the same structure as my cousin's boyfriend. Do all guys around here look like puppies?" she wondered, teasing slightly.

Her shoulders shot up to her ears at his next statement, a deep blush coloring her cheeks as a slight squeak shoved itself past her lips. Damn! She had been careful to keep the feeling out of her eyes. One with her appearance couldn't look scary easily so she had to do something to get people to leave her alone. Why'd she have to get the perceptive one for a partner.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." she mumbled, ducking her head

*and in the free fall i will realize i'm better off
when i hit the bottom

[Maya;]

& I hear a symphony,
whenever you are near

A muscle in Luko's jaw twitched. He ground his teeth together, raising an eyebrow curiously. Him? Looking like Charm? No. Sure, he was younger, but Aizel had gotten most of their mother's looks, Matt their father's, and he was somewhere in between.

Luko sighed. "A puppy dog? Really. Huh," he muttered, giving an eye roll to show he was teasing as well. That, he would not forget. He let out a small sigh. How he want to tell her, what if he was related to this 'so-called boyfriend'? Luko shook his head to himself, answering his own question. No. That would possible be a bad idea. She wanted to go Chuck Norris on Aizel, after all. She'd probably go Terminator on him.

Luko raised an eyebrow. "But you do know what I'm talking about, don't you?" He said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on her desk. "What's a pretty girl like you got to hide?"

a whispered tune,
right in my ear

[D I Z Z Y !]

* the worst part is before it gets any better,
we're headed for a cliff.

She tilted her head at his expression, her lips twitching to hide a smile. This is gonna be fun. She murmured. Maiho had always been good at irritating people. Just had to find the right buttons to push. She supposed hanging around Matt and Riley hadn't exactly been the best influence.

Maiho scoffed. "I think you're crazy. And I'm not hiding anything. Though if you're looking for a pretty girl try across the room or my cousin." she mumbled, leaning back, away from him. He was invading her personal space and she was starting to get anxious. Geesh did no one in the town have a brain that could read body language? Its like she was speaking in foreign tongues. If only the bell would ring.

She blinked slightly, leaning forward. "But what about you, Mr. Danvers..what are you hiding? Or rather hiding from, ne?" she wondered, heather colored eyes flashing, the kind that usually meant one was up to something,

*and in the free fall i will realize i'm better off
when i hit the bottom

[Maya;]

& I hear a symphony,
whenever you are near

Luko raised an eyebrow when Maiho leaned back, offering a smile. Sitting so close, it was a bit hard to not pick up on her thoughts, though he wasn't listening intentionally, it was the way his gift worked. So, she wanted to tick him off? He'd have to warn Riley never to leave kids in the care of Matt anymore.

"Crazy is my brother's job. Ask the cops, they'll agree," he replied simply, shrugging. "As for pretty, I'm guessing your cousin isn't avaliable; hasn't been for a while, has she? And across the room...well, I find no interest in girls who pretend to be something they're not."

Luko leaned back in his chair again, giving Maiho her personal space back. He'd have to ask Matt to give him a good punch later, though he probably wouldn't do that to his little brother...Charm it was, then. He had just hinted at so many things, and he had been trying not to! Then again, what could she do to him at a school. More like what can she do to me at all? He mused, remembering he was a vampire, no matter how human a high school made him feel.

"I don't hide much; ask and I'm willing to tell. As for what I'm hiding from, those are my personal demons. I'm dealing, though."

a whispered tune,
right in my ear

[D I Z Z Y !]

* the worst part is before it gets any better,
we're headed for a cliff.

Maiho blinked in confusion. It was obvious he was hinting at something but he did say Brother. And there were probably a lot of kids whose brothers had been in trouble with the law. She shrugged, figureing he had a class with her cousin or something. "I guess one could say my cousin has never been single." she mused.

She scowled at him. There was just something about this guy...and it was starting to irk her. Pulling out a scrap sheet of paper she doodled on it absent mindedly. There was no way that this was the Luko she grew up with. Not her Ouiji-sama. He was acting too much like Matt, minus the freeloading and the sexual innuendos. "Then I suppose ignorance is my new best friend." Maiho muttered dryly, blue eyes studying him. The Luko of her memories had been slimmer, with grayer eyes that usually had a hint of red and gold to them. He had been quieter, and nicer..and basically less of an irritating prick. He was starting to remind her of the character of the book she was reading. Patch.

She glanced at her schedule, that she had jotted down on her wrist during 1st period

First Period ---- English 2 Honors --- Mrs. Reynolds - Room C14
Second Period ---- AP Art --- Mr. Collins - Room A2
Third Period ---- United States History 1 --- Mrs. Holland - Room B10
Fourth Period ---- Algebra 2 --- Mr. Garfall - Room D12

She sighed, glancing at him. "So, you're like what the Prince of Salem High?" she wondered sarcastically with one eyebrow raised. Not waiting for an answer she jumped into her next question. "So what classes do you have?"

*and in the free fall i will realize i'm better off
when i hit the bottom

[Maya;]

& I hear a symphony,
whenever you are near

He let out a small sigh of relief. Maiho hadn't noticed a thing. There was a flash in her eyes, meaning she was probably putting what puzzle pieces she had together, but she hadn't noticed anything. He really needed to keep watch of what he was saying, but not being tied down anymore, finally forgiving himself - even if just a little - was making it hard. He felt as if he hadn't been gone that long, and then at the same time, he felt as if he had been gone centuries and he needed to make up for those years.

"Been tied down that long, has she?" He wondered, tilting his head slightly. "Hm. I'm not that ignorant, am I? Must be one of my off-days; or I really am related to my brothers, not adopted like I thought," he offered an apologetic smile.

I've grown up, too, he told himself, having said Maiho herself had grown earlier as he listened to her thoughts. She thought he was a completely different person, and maybe he was. After all, he had been, what, seven when he first met her? And her five? Seven to seventeen was a huge skip in years, everyone grew up and became a different person; found out their true self. Though he didn't really agree with the whole puppy-dog face thing, he did agree that maybe he was being ignorant; he had always looked up to Matt. But he could be sweet and kind, like Aizel. And, he was still shy. If she wasn't in this class with him, he probably wouldn't have been talking at all.

Luko snorted. "Prince? To be a prince, you have to be charming. I don't find myself the least bit charming," he admitted, answering, "AP English 3, AP Art, Calculus, and Library Studies."

a whispered tune,
right in my ear

[D I Z Z Y !]

* the worst part is before it gets any better,
we're headed for a cliff.

She shrugged her slender shoulders slightly. "You could say she's been tied down since she was little." she mumbled, tossing her hair over her shoulder in agitation. The sunny day was starting to bug her. After living in Forks where it rained nearly every day of the year, seeing the sun was rather startling. Though it brought out the reddish tint of her hair. Maiho sighed glancing down at the eyes that had taken form on her paper before scratching them out. They were eyes she had swore never to draw again.

Maiho glanced at him before turning her eyes over to the teacher then down to her pocket pulling out the navy and silver flip phone. There were a few texts but they were all from Aislinn. Reminding her that if she decided to be late to call first and of course the invitation to join her and Aizel for dinner. She scowled slightly, creating a new message.

Aizel, is Prince back in town? she made a face, it was so short and straight to the point, but she didn't really care. She glanced over at him, hitting send and shutting her phone quietly. "Youre right. You're not charming, not in the least. THough I imagine Ms. Nicklson over there would disagree. She's been staring at you for a while." A blonde eyebrow raised in surprise. "Hmm, tough classes..so what are you like a genius or something?"

*and in the free fall i will realize i'm better off
when i hit the bottom