Kale Ivy Institute discussion

~RP

Racing along the trail, the only thing keeping Vivian from just giving up on the whole running thing was the fact that Andy Grammer was pounding through her head, and the fact that the faster she ran, the sooner she could get back to the dorm rooms. Still, she could only run a few more feet before stopping along the trails and putting her hands on her knees. Bending over, her pony-tailed hair flipped down and she shut her eyes, sucking down wind in a painful attempt to even out her breathing. Gods she hated running. How people enjoyed it, or got that 'runner's high' she would never understand. Short sprints she could do. This long sprinting thing along the trail? Someone shoot her now. Sucking down wind she only hoped no one cool would see her like this.....or at least no one like Sadie or Roland. Those people could be dangerous to see her all sucking wind like this, puffing like the big bad wolf trying to blow down the third pigs house.

Jason looked straight ahead, the music blasting in his ears. Every day at the same time he would go down this trail until he couldn't go any longer. He had never seen anyone here before which is why when he saw someone bent over, looking like they might faint he stopped in surprise. Blinking he ran up to her, recognizing the girl as Vivian. "Hey are you okay?" He stopped up to her but realized she had earphones on. Not wanting to take them out, for that would be rude he held out his still closed water bottle. He cocked his head and nodded towards the shade of a few branches. In his opinion, she should rest some before continuing or he thinks she might feint if she continues. Then he'll feel bad for not helping her some more. Even if he had to carry her back, she didn't seem to heavy.

Taking a deep breath, Vivian finally opened her eyes....and found a water bottle a few inches from her face. Needless to say it was a bit startling, and had she not been feeling exhausted she would've jumped. Instead she pulled out her earbuds, and looked up along the hand that was wrapped around that bottle to the arm and finally up to Jason Tatum's face. Purple Rave. Senior. From what she knew he was a bit of an exercise-a-holic. At his nod towards the shade she rose a brow and straightened before smirking at him. "Don't think I'm marathon ready, huh Jason?" Of course she was being sarcastic, and she was fairly certain that even through her exhausted puffs of breaths that it would be easy to tell that much.

"You're huffing and puffing speaks for itself,"Jason stifled a laugh. "Why are you running? I've never seen anyone on this path here and well- You don't exactly seem prepared." Runners knew how to pace themselves and always brought a bottle of water. "Besides," A small smirk slid onto his face,"It's not everyday you find the one and only Vivian, any less than ready for action." He took in her messy ponytail, rapid breathing, and sweat. If he hadn't seen her here right now, he would have assumed she had just had sex. "Come on,"He steered her to the shade, even if he might be teasing her, he can't exactly leave her there to bake in the sun.

"I was running because Roland always thinks it's so fun and Jarret always says it's the best way to keep off the calories. Besides....Coach always says I need to work better at staying conditioned." Allowing herself to be lead over to the shade she shrugged and as soon as she was under the shade, Vivian plopped herself onto the ground, leaning back on her hands and stretching her legs out in front of her. Her breathing had steadied out somewhat and she smiled up at him, "Just because I may look like crap, doesn't mean I'm not ready for action." Oh yeah, even had she been throwing up all morning from a horrible stomach virus, Vivian was always prepared to handle anything. Except when she was woken up from sleeping, then she was fuzzy and disoriented. Or if she was drunk. Other than that she was always ready. Although looking at Jason she was quiet enviable, the guy looked like he had been doing a commercial instead of actual exercise.

"You do realize Roland's a jock right?" Jason asked her. "Besides, I hate to break it to you but it takes up twenty days for your body to get fully used to the exercise." He shrugged,"There's other ways to stay fit and gain stamina. Besides running isn't the thing some people need, maybe talk to coach or someone into evaluating whats best for you. And maybe get you a schedule." He knew a bit about personal training, he does it during the summer for extra cash. That was his money in his account won't disappear and his parents don't question where it's going. So they don't find out hes hanging out with someone he shouldn't exactly be hanging out with. "I don't doubt it,"He assured her.

At his speech about personal training and the what-not she wrinkled her nose shaking her head, "Nah, I tried it. I think I'm done. It's never been too big a problem before." Shrugging she couldn't help but laugh slightly at his last comment. "That was the part where you lie to make me feel better by saying, 'No, Vivian, you don't look like crap'." Smirking at him she rose a brow, wondering why he was out here running the trails. Most people ran the track, or exercised in the gym. Or if they ran the trails they did it in the morning, not the afternoon. Which was why she'd been running in the afternoon, hoping no one would see her. "Have fun at the dance?"

Jason laughed,"Of course not Vivian! You don't look like crap! In fact you rival the beauty of even Meghan Fox, Angelina Jolie, Victoria Secret Models, and even princesses like Cinderella and Ariel!" He told her dramatically and shrugged at her comment of personal trainers. However for a split second he got an alarmed look when she mentioned the dance. There was no way he saw her with- No! They had been careful, they didn't do anything wrong but it would be best if they weren't seen together. However it was just a second and it disappeared with his smile,"Yeah it was fun. What about you? It's probably more of you scene then it is mine," He told her smiling,emotions under control again.

At his overdramatic compliments, Vivian smiled and rolled her eyes. She knew she was prettier than Cinderella. Looking at him when she mentioned the dance she noticed a slight widening to his eyes before he smiled and then just nodded at her with his comment about how hers was probably more eventful. As if. The only exciting part about her night had been setting Stiles up with Lydia, and that wasn't really all that exciting since Lydia hadn't yet seemed to feel the need to reveal what happened at the staircase. Shaking her head she frowned slightly, "Highly doubt it. I left the dance early and went to sleep in my bed way before even the toxics had left the dance. I highly doubt my evening was more exciting."

"Well I'm sure you had some pretty exciting dreams,"Jason joked and handed her his water bottle in case she needed it. He leaned against the tree as he told himself it was silly. No one had seen them together at the dance, they had been careful and quiet. Why was it so hard to be friends with her?! All because of that stupid....night? Thing? He didn't even know what to call it since it was all so complicated and ridiculous. "Besides the dance was pretty much uneventful. It was the usual, everyone knowing that the real fun would begin soon. So most people behaved accordingly,"He shrugged.

Taking the water bottle she rolled it around in her hands, looking at it as the water sloshed from side to side and listening to him talk. He sounded a bit nervous. Odd.....Unless he had something to hide? That had to be ridiculous though. After all nothing eventful ever really happened at the dance. Shaking the ridiculous thought out of her head she handed the water bottle back to him and stood, dusting off her shorts before smiling at him. "Well, thanks for the assistance. You can get back to your run. I think I'll just walk back to the dorms. Shower and what-not." With those words as her exit she walked off, back towards the dorms, pressing the water bottle into his hands and against his chest as she passed him.

It was a pleasant evening, Cecilia had to admit, as she walked out of the dorms with Xavier towards the walking path. She had meant to catch up with him at dinner, but timing hadn’t worked out right. She’d practiced right up until the dinner hour, but by the time she got to the hall, everyone was already packed in there, and she hadn’t seen him anyway, so she’d just skipped the meal and gone back to her dorm to read. In all likelihood he had been off saving some poor deranged soul, or whatever else his imagination dreamed up. So instead they decided to just take a walk after curfew. No one was going to notice, with the initiation of all the new kids, and the elders not watching the dorms after curfew, assuming they were all in there. The night air wasn’t cold, but it was nippy enough. Xavier had already shed his jacket-she was sure that boy was a furnace-and she now had it drapped over her shoulders. They didn’t say much until they were out of range from the school. Only then was she certian no one would catch them. But, being the girl that she was, she didn’t say anything, but just admired the stars that cast their light down from the trees. They made a bit of light, but she couldn’t see any constellations, at least not from this angle.

Xavier and Cecilia walked in silence after they left Alton and the Dymias after hearing the welcome speech and the initiation plan. Xavier couldn't help but shake his head at the plan. Alton and his helper bro were so focused on winning and everything. Xavier? He could care less, which was why he didn't join the council during his time at Kale. Though being Xavier he was more than positive that he would have made the cut for it. But he had enough stress with school and his dad and he didn't feel like having the pressure of this rivalry thing going on either. So yeah. Pass. "Alright, gir- friend." He said, breaking their silence as he put his arm around her, greeting her with that day's nickname. Sponsored by Sydney and her magnificent candy. "I was thinking we could head out to the villa later and watch Monsters University. Only if we watch the first movie again right before we see the other one." He suggested, mainly since he wanted to see the movie. And he knew that Cecelia was also a fan. How any one could not love that movie was a fright in itself.

Cecilia raised an eyebrow as Xavier started talking. “What’s ‘gir-friend’?” She asked. “Am I some sort of monster or something? You must really want to see that movie if your using monster nicknames now. But, right...I almost forgot, your little minnie-me is in it!” She said, reaching up and pinching his cheek. “Little Xavier Mikey and his big college days.” Even though Monsters Inc. hadn’t been Cecilia’s all-time favorite Disney movie, it was still a good one, even if it had given her nightmares when she was a kid. But the second one looked decent, but maybe with a little less heart than the first. Sequels tended not to do as well, and Cecilia sincerely hoped Disney at least put some effort into Monster’s University, if not for little kid’s sakes, then for Xavier’s, because he was obsessed with all thier movies. Almost in an unhealthy fashion.

"Your nickname of the day of course!" He said facing her with a grin. "And if I were going to use monster nicknames I'd be calling you Schmusy Poo." Xavier said, as he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. He chuckled as she pinched his cheek, ignoring how her nails dug into his skin. "So do you want to go see it?" Xavier asked, wanting to make sure she was all in to see the movie because there would be no point to seeing it if she wasn't going to enjoy it. Xavier had heard plenty of great reviews from the movie he thought, actually knew, that it would be the all time best movie until Finding Dory came out. Though he would probably go watch it later if she didn't want to. How could he not?