Stop, take time to breathe |Open|

[alexandrabastian]

A tall, slim girl strode confidently through the courtyard, her short white tennis skirt swishing with each step, her long, toned legs still sore from the running she had done.

She paused, sighing, her white and pink Pumas beginning to come untied. As she moved off of the cobblestone pathway and under a large tree, she slumped down, taking her wavy brunette hair out of it's ponytail and shaking it free.

She had just gotten done posing for the Photography class, and decided to play some tennis. To cool down, she jogged a lap and decided to take a walk around, until her heartrate slowed.

She leaned back against the tree, her mouth opening to breathe.
Though she had just done physical activity, her MAC Lipglass was still perfectly applied.

Of course.

[rylee]

Rylee sat in the cool courtyard, a notebook open on her lap. Scribbles and small doodles occupied most of the space, though the very start of a poem could be seen emerging here or there. That was Rylee’s passion, other then singing, writing. Crinkled, old pages near the front of the notebook were full of words that sometimes made no sense. Other times they were blurry with what looked like water stains. Closer inspection could tell the one looking that they were tears. Of course, Ry never let anyone see her notebook with her poetry. Even when she had been confident, her writing was her biggest weakness, though she thought it her greatest joy as well.

Rylee’s dark eyes snapped upwards as she heard the steps of another person. Slowly rising from leaning back against the stone wall, her legs being warm by the sun as her jean shorts were becoming too small. Another favorite pair of jeans would have to be cut up soon. She looked familiar, but where could Rylee have seen her before? Then it came to her, Antony’s sister! That’s who this was, Alexandra Bastian. Rylee stood up, the sun hitting the plain white tank top she wore as she moved out from beside the wall. This made Ry curious, Antony had said to find Alexandra if she ever needed anything. Maybe it would be best if she introduced herself first?

[alexandrabastian]

Alex opened her eyes, suddenly becoming aware of someone staring at her.

She raised an eyebrow, then, just as her brother had done, waved at the girl. She motioned for the girl to come over to her, "Hey," She began, her voice curious, "Who are you?"

Alexandra knew everyone, but she didn't know this girl. That wasn't good. She had to know everyone, or else she wasn't doing her job.

"Are you new here, or something?" She inquired, closing the gap a bit by stepping forward.

[rylee]

Rylee slowly moved toward Alexandra, her eyes on her feet until she was within talking distance. Then, she raised them, though one could still see that she was shy.
"Hi, I'm Rylee, Rylee Mariss." she said, a faint smile beginning to emerge. So this was Antony's sister, there were a few similarities Ry could pick out, but she'd never been much good at identifying people with their siblings. Or family members for that matter.

"Yeah I'm really new to Valkyrie. Are you Alexandra Bastian?" Rylee asked, wanting to make sure it was Antony's sister. She could remember a time when she was about eight and this girl had said that one boy was her brother and that he liked Rylee. Ry had gone over to find out about it and since it wasn't true, went back to the girl while to boys laughed at her. The girl had gone home with a split lip and Rylee had gone to a new state, new foster parents. It was a mistake she didn't want to happen again. Granted, she wouldn't make blood flow for it.

[alexandrabastian]

Alexandra smiled, showing off her pearly-whites, "Yes, I am. It's nice to meet you." She said, leaning forward and doing the kiss-kiss thing they do in Paris, "Why do you ask?"

Alexandra gave the girl a once over, inspecting her every detail. She was pretty, yes, and young. Not too young, but Alex didn't think she could be any older than a sophmore. "Did you need some help with something, or some random thing like like?" She said with eyebrows raised, suddenly realizing the girl had known her name. Someone must have been talking to her about Alex. Who could it have been?

[jessicaholland]

"Alex!" Jess yelled, waving a hand in her friend's direction. She quickened her pace to reach Alex, curious as to who she was talking with. She hadn't seen the girl before, so Jessi assumed that she was new? She would find out soon.

She stopped, smiling at Alex and then looking over at the girl, she was definately new. Turning her attention back to Alex, Jess sighed and plopped herself down next to her friend. "So who's your new friend?"

[alexandrabastian]

Alex smiled at the sight of her friend Jess, "Hey, Jessi, this is...Rylee, right?" She said, turning her head to the girl, "She's new!" Alex mouthed at Jess. The two girls, Jess and Alex, tended to take new kids under their wing and morph them into something great. They made beauty happen. It was a nice thing to do.

She raised her eyebrows at Jessica, as if to say 'Is she good enough?', and then looked back to Rylee, "Rylee here was just about to tell me how she knew who I was." Alexandra said with a coy smile playing on her lips.

[jessicaholland]

"Oh! I bet she knows everything about you, including the color of your panties," Jess began, giving Alex a playful smile. "Of course, that wouldn't be hard since they're always hanging out..like right now."

She laughed, setting her purse down on her lap. "Ok, I'm sorry. Rylee?" Jessi looked at the girl tucking the name away--along with the face--in her mind bank for later use. "Why don't you tell us where you heard about Alex from, we're dying to know."

[rylee]

Rylee blinked as so much happened so fast. She had gone from almost invisible to talking to two of the most popular girls in school. How the hell did that happen to her? Rylee nodded to Jessica, carefully matching her as Alexandra’s friend. So, she had a line three generations long now. Alex was Antony’s sister, Jessica was Alex’s friend. Good, now she had it down.

“Um, yeah I’m Rylee, I’m a sophomore.” she repeated, just for Jessica’s benefit, though Rylee knew she probably wouldn’t register much. These were girls who went to parties and were confident. Rylee was, well, Rylee was shy and new.
“I heard your name from your brother, Antony. I met him when I was looking for the house my foster parents bought in the Valks.” Rylee said, for once looking up at the girls who towered about her. Rylee wasn’t exactly a shrimp, but 5’ 4” wasn’t exactly tall either.

[alexandrabastian]

Alexandra smiled, her eyes brightening.

"Oh, a place in the Valks?" She asked, laughing, "So, you're rich?" She sized the girl up, eyebrow raising, "You don't look it. No offense." She shrugged, a 'what can you do?' type of shrug, and ran her hands through her hair, top tightening against her chest.

"Do you play any sports? Or do anything like that? Y'know, clubs and stuff?" She asked, truely curious. If her brother had talked to her, she had to be okay. Maybe.

[rylee]

Rylee stiffened a bit as she watched Alex size her up. 'Oh God how do I get myself into these messes?' Rylee wondered. Was she about to be eaten alive here?
"I know I don't really look the part, I just don't know where to spend my allowance." Rylee knew exactly where she wanted to spend the $500 a week she got, but she didn't want to go by herself. How much of a loser would she look like, walking by herself, juggling all the bags and other stuff?

"I'm going to try out for drama club, maybe a different language class. As for sports, horseback riding, volleyball, that's about it. I can't do much for other sports because of my height. Although I can high jump pretty well." Rylee loved track, it was so fun.

[alexandrabastian]

Alexandra smiled, "Well then, I'll have to help you find a place to spend it." Her eyes gleamed, and she continued, "And I guess I'll see you in drama club. And as for sports, maybe you should try out for tennis. I'm co-captain, and if you have any hand-eye coordination, I'm sure you'll do well enough." She said with a laugh.

The raised an eyebrow at the girl, "Actually, that wouldn't be a bad idea. Tennis, I mean. You look athletic enough, and if you can play volleyball you can play tennis. They're the same thing, tennis just has a racket. And a smaller ball. And less people."

[rylee]

Rylee smiled and nodded to Alexandra.
"If you want to help me spend it, you have to show me the most awesome stuff." she said, slightly teasing. This was one of the queens, of course she had an excellent taste in fashion! Jessica looked like she did too. This might have been a good thing for Rylee. Her jeans shorts and plain tank top felt frumpy in front of these two.

Hearing about tennis, Rylee wondered. She'd played a few times before, but hadn't really gotten the rules right. Still, if Alexandra was willing to teach her, Rylee was willing to give it a shot.
"Yeah, I've played tennis a few times, it was fun. Do I have to try-out or something?" Rylee knew that if she had to try-out, she'd bomb it. Who can stand that kind of pressure?

[alexandrabastian]

Alexandra smiled devilishly, "Mmm, yeah. Don't worry, when you try out, you're playing against me. It isn't about how many points you score, but how well I feel you did." She nodded, pride in her eyes, "And then the captain, Anne, and I pick the top girls. I'm sure you'll make it, it's really easy."

She gave Rylee a reassuring shoulder-pat, then, as if she had never considered it before, exclaimed "You have to let me take you shopping!" She clapped giddily, an unmistakable look of tom-foolery (Yes. I said Tom Foolery. XD) crossing her eyes.

[rylee]

Rylee smiled and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Dodged what could have been a potentially fatal bullet there. Alexandra seemed like a nice person, or maybe Rylee had caught her on a good day? Hard to tell, people were really different around here.
"Yeah, I think I'll try-out."

When Alexandra said Rylee had to go shopping with her, Rylee broke into a wide grin. Finally, was she actually making friends here? Off to a good start at least.
"Yeah, anytime you want to go, I'm free." Rylee didn't add that was because she had no where else to go with anyone else. That tiny detail could be forgotten about for now.