Jade and Tori were doing great. Next on Sikowitz and Cat's list of couplings that were way overdue, was Trina and Andre. It sounded like a weird idea, a relaxed bro of a guy dating the definition of a redflag, but maybe, even if it was just for a little while, Andre might get Trina to be a little more humble. He's the only one with the kind of patience it'd take. Trina isn't a handful, she's a whole shovel! Unfortunately, Cat's mental planning was interrupted when a new student entered the classroom, who had managed to become near as popular on day one as Tori had.
Cat had read his site at Tori's request — A little violent for my tastes, but if he enjoys it — and could see he had some talent for the quill, even if the oddly large surge of guys that did not fit her idea of bookies had seemed just as excited to chat with him. I guess guys go mad for machos in power armor. no surprise there. However, she wasn't about to fawn all over him just because of his writing. I have standards, ya know! That was until Sikowitz told Cat that she would be his personal tour guide and aid for the next month. She would show him around, take him to classes, and make sure he got an idea of how the school worked. Means I get a free pass to snoop around. Win win!
His name was really long, Syncrowin Miras Faust Moscow. No wonder he just shortens it to Syn on all his signatures. Cursive, too. Kinda rare nowadays for a boy. He wasn't at all like Cat expected him to be. He practically apologized like he was canadian, and often seemed very excited to move to a new place whenever their current location grew... crowded. Nothing new. He's probably gonna leave in a month. Most celebs this popular do. He had never been seen before he came here, so no one had known what he looked like upon arrival. Aside from his best buddy, Tori! He told Cat he had originally hoped to use that anonymity to sneak through crowds and get to class unnoticed. Sadly, it had failed spectacularly.
He didn't look like Cat thought he would either. She had pictured some kind of geek or maybe a celebrity-style look. Instead, he had bright blonde hair cut in a marine-style buzz cut. He had startlingly blue eyes that were ringed with a soft line of yellow, almost like a little gold band on sapphires. When he smiled, most of the time it was this big goofy grin, but she noticed that wasn't a real one. It was practiced. Like mine... His skin was even paler than Jade's, and he seemed almost afraid of new folks touching him. At first, when Cat had offered her hand, he nearly looked ready to leap out of his cargo shorts, his oversized black hoodie already a little damp with sweat. Body dysmorphia...? No... Those arms must be like bricks. I can tell. What is he hiding...? After a week passed, he really only talked to Cat and Tori among the school. Most seemed to just bombard him with questions, and it only took three voices to turn his head into a spiral by Cat's observation. Autism, but he masks it really well. Most of the time, at least. Could explain the dysmorphia. Her analytical mind was set a little on overdrive by this guy, and she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
They got close after a while, and she had become a little determined to dress him better the first chance she got to drag him to the mall. Jade will drive us. He passsed the bathroom check. Poor guy had no clue what was coming, haha! He had a clear love of sci-fi, which spoke vididly in what she had read. This grimdark future was pretty spooky, but... Maybe that's how he lets impulses out.
...
After three weeks of their first rather hip-hugging month, the two were heading back to Sikowitz's class to report in on how he had been adapting. Depends on if you mean adapting, or blending. Well, that's okay. More of those rambles for me. Cat had really grown fond of this guy, especially when he got so excited over the newest little interest. He would ramble on for hours and hours, forgetting sometimes whatever he was doing before just to unload all these details to her. At first, she thought it would get really annoying, but he had such a vibrant energy in his voice and a bounce to his step that she could listen the whole time now, hear absolutely nothing, and ask him to keep going anyway. It's like having a big puppy dog, but, with hands!
He was really sweet, and utter shock of none, completely afraid of Jade. He seemed to visibly lean away whenever she entered a room, like she had a miasma hovering around her that only he could feel pushing on the poor guy. Welllll, she has that effect on most guys. Maybe she really is poisonous, but only to boys! It wasn't a rational fear. He could have physically overpowered her, since he had gone through years of pre-military training programs, but he had a personal code that prevented him from ever laying a hand on a woman. Maybe chivalry isn't dead. Also, he didn't like the way Jade looked at him whenever she saw him near Cat. Jade knew she was being defensive of her best friend, but if Cat liked him, it was her choice. Cat thought she was starting to lean toward said choice, as she had always seemed as eager to see him in the morning as he was to see her. Maybe just a teeny, weensy bit. Maybe I should say something to the guys giving him dirty looks? He never seems to notice.
"So, how do you like Hollywood Arts?" Sikowitz asked overenthusiastically., hands throw to the side for emphasis.
"Very much. I can't imagine a better place to hone my craft." When he spoke to adults, he wore a different voice. It was crisp, clean, almost older. So that's the how you navigate adults. Smart... "It's very beautiful, and the art and writing classes are interesting. Honestly, I haven't felt this challenged on my work in ages. So many new details and plotlines to hatch."
"How so?"
"Well, here are some of my sketches of characters from my, uhm, personal project. I am hoping to design a world for a tabletop game someday." He handed Sikowitz a pile of drawings, easily over two hundred separate sketches ranging from simple to extremely detailed. Long sketches using a mixture of perspective shots, tiny notes beside certain character's personal items — His brain never shuts up, does it? — and crosshatching for shading that gave them a well loved feeling. Each felt like the product of countless nights, sweating over ideas and backstories that may never even see the light of day.
They weren't perfect. He clearly had a slightly shaky hand, and his spacing could use some work, but the overall energy came through in the ways each character was framed or posed. One stood with a cigar in her hand, resting above a lake while a mirror of herself grinned with teeth the size of bananas from below. Another sat against a tree, smiling at the sky as he stroked a scar on his hand. These had personality you couldn't buy.
"You drew these? " Sikowitz raised a brow, smiling with a little bit of showing recognition. He was crazy, but he had an eye for real potential. "These are pencil sketches. You captured depth on water with pencil sketches. How?"
"Well, I just don't go out all that much. So, I have a lot of free time and patience, I guess." He rubbed the back of his head, blushing a little at the praise he was clearly unaccustomed to face to face. Or maybe just from an authority figure.
"Well then, I'm glad you joined my class. How about you and Cat do a scene for the class tomorrow?" He stood up and slammed down his hands to add to this exciting idea.
"Okay, that sounds great!" Cat exclaimed, clapping her hands in a very valley girl fashion for which she was known. Syn seemed... less than enthused.
"W. Well."
"Come on, now. Your sheet said you were interested in acting!"
"I-I-"
"Hey." Cat softly grasped his forearm, just above where the sleeve ended and his wrist started. He tensed at first, but then he relaxed even more than he had been before. "You'll be, like, totes amazing. I believe in you! You trust me, right?" She softly ran her nails along his hoodie, which made that pale skin nearly as red as her own hair.
"S. Sure thing." He stammered out.
"Then it's settled. Here, you'll do a scene from one of your stories, even! Help ensure you are good and familiar with the source material. I'm sure you'll have a good grasp on the emotions in it." He handed them a small script. The scene it contained was the betrayal scene, between something called a Primarch — Like... the store...? — and an officer of some kind. Ok... Not like a store.
...
Syn had gone over the script Sikowitz had given them, detailing a lot of the emotions in the individual people rather extensively. He got so energized out of nowhere the instant she had started asking about his writing, almost like a flood spilled out he couldn't stop even if he wanted to. For almost two hours, Cat just twirled a lock of hair and smiled. She would speak and ask little things, a show of attention an not mindless staring, but her ears were affixed for far more personal reasons. He's so cute like this...
After a few hours of the group sitting down and practiing their lines, with around a week to prepare, they all met and set up in the looniest professor's classroom. Tori seemed almost buzzing with excitement, dressed in the black and red uniform of the 'Comissar' while Jade wore armor like a nun with a crusade to fight, and a few more skulls than Cat had really felt were necessary even for Jade. Syn had called the outfit a Sister of Battle uniform. How did he even have all these costumes? Did he make them or something? Andre had on a whole get up like he was ready to storm Normandy, while Cat had on a similar outfit with the only difference being she was helmetless. Syn wore just a sticker on his hoodie that said 'wip' with the name 'Robot girlyman' under it. That has to be a joke nickname. No way they are called that!
...
The scene went on as scripted, with Cat and Andre mostly having been supporting characters to each side. Jade had been fiery, really digging into the rage that her character was supposed to have with almost spitting levels of venom. Tori had been more or less a rock, rigid and sour like sandstone with her only lines biting retorts she delivered with a gravely tone Cat was shocked she could reach. Despite being an authority in the script, Syn mostly played a supporting role in triggering the following screaming fit Jade's character had.
When it was over, Tori and Jade laughed, kissing softly as Tori beamed "You are so cute when you get all grumpyyy." Lightly playing sith Jade's faux white wig.
"Hmm. Maybe I should angry more often around you.
"Please do!"
Ahhh lovebirds. So cute. She turned her gaze back to Syn, who had shown a decent base skill for it already. He was no standout, but it qas clear her had some talent for changing moods and even vocal tone on a dime.
"You're like, so good hun." Cat giggled as she patted Syn's arm.
"I don't really... act." Cat raised a brow, as Andre joined her.
"Oh you don't?" He countered. "Sure looked good for a first timer then."
"Yeah, you got real skills. Little practice and you would be totes awesome!"
"Yeah bro!"
"You.. really think so?" He smiled between us
"Damn straight." He gave Syn a fistbump. "Tell you what. After school, Ima grab you and take you with Cat and we can practice some lines after school!" Andre!!
"O-oh, I don't want to impose." He sheepishly waved his hands, laughing nervously.
"I insist man."
"...well..."
"Pretty please?" The hollywood airhead batted her airs all pretty at the newbie. He got so wide eyed and red that Cat felt body move entirely on its own as he stammered out his answer.
"I... I guess -" Just as she placed a soft little peck on his lips. She batted her eyes, smiling softly with a bitten lip.
"See you there, 'Lord Primarch.'" She turned, blushing deeply herself. Omgomgomgomgomg wtf did i just do?!
She strut out, very much smiling like the cat, even as her insides panicked like the canary as she called out behind her.
...
"So, you wanna grab lunch? I am so hungry for those new tacos at this place near my house. They have such cute birds next door in this petshop that I just wanna get some!" Cat bounced alongside the others as they walked.
Syn smiled sweetly as they moved through class to class alongside the group, having become a bit inseparable. Their hands lightly brushed occasionally, and Cat adored how light and soft he was. She had kissed him, and he was still taking his time. Like a pretty gem he wants to treasure before he puts it in a ring. Dawwww!
"Sure... " The words first came out half awake, like he was still in a trance, before he blurted out, "I mean, sure! I'd love to get something with you!"
"Damn boy. Jaw in, careful. Thats my Cat." Jade responded, feeding him a dark glare as her arm was wrapped around Tori in a similar way Beck's once draped hers. The difference was that Jade held Tori almost protectively. It was possessive, but in a way that was for Tori's safety. Not her body.
Andre chimed in with a laugh. "Down girl! Boy hasn't even picked out a line yet. Give him a minute to try somethin before you go and take a dump on his day."
Tori patted Jade's arm, whispering something tonher Cat didn't catch and instantly calming the unjolly green goth. "Food sounds great." The popstar added.
Robbie danced a little. "Wooooo, Taco daaay!"
Rex chimed in, uninvited as usual. "Course. Go someplace only you all can enjoy. Always forgettin aboooout Rex. Come on, how about we go somewhere confier!"
There was a collective quiet for a moment as everyone stared at the annoying doll, who soon hung his faux head, followed shortly by Syn cjopping it slightly on the head with gis journal in a mock show of discipline. "Can't blame a man for tryin." He make a playful weepi g noise that got the others rollibg their eyes and right back on track.
They went out to a taco place where Cat learned that despite his nervous nature, he was a cold, hard carnivore. He loved the had steak tacos with extra meat added, and he ate an entire party box worth without even flinching. Must be extra chubby under that hoodie. Cat giggled as he let out a loud belch, blushing and covering his mouth.
"Daaamn, you even taste it?" Andre patted his bacl, laughing as he snacked through his second vegan taco. Tori was splitting a steak burrito with Jade while Robbie was happily snacking away at a big taco salad. Rex seemed to be ever presently scowling, but he was quiet, and that meant Robbie was actually ok right now. Progresssss!
Syn wiped his mouth, chuckling softly as he stood. "Yeah, it was great! I gotta get this hoodie off though. I am baking!" He stood up from the holed bench outside the taco shop, unzipping his hoodie for the first time and causing Cat to drop her chalupa.
He cracked his neck softly, his black shirt cut in an almost feminine style with the sleeves removed and the chest angled to show off more of the shoulders and part of his pecs, which were rather defined, and hugged the rather intense sight of the six pack currently pressing against the bottom. It collars around his neck, but the back was open and when he stretched, all those tight muscles were on full display for the unexpecting Catarina.
Whatever was said, done, or eaten after did not even touch her thoughts. She just stared a little, blushing, as Andre and Syn began to bro-out about workout routines. Those loose grey sweats paired with the tight shirt left Cat's brain spiralling more than she had really expected. Error. Error. Rebooting.
After a few minutes — Or hours — Syn waved a hand in front of her face. She blinked back to her senses just to see Andre giving her a raised brow and a knowing smirk. He mouthed You get it girl and stood, making up an excuse for the rest to go off for a moment to leave these two alone.
...
Cat was on him the moment the others were completely out of ear shot. She grabbed his collar and dragged him with strength he clearly didn't expect — Holy cow he's heavy... — and pressed him against the yellow store wall. She glanced around for a moment before the mask fell off.
"What is your deal." Syn looked stunned as Cat's bubbly tone melted right into the sharpest and bluntest monotone he had likely ever heard. Her glassy gaze hardened into a focus. Brown foggy orbs turning into what could be called the hardened sharp end of a freshly carved spear.
"I... I don't-"
"You have the muscles of a damn gym bro, but you talk like a nerd. You write about the darkest things I have ever read, but you got visibly upset when you almost stepped on a fly."
"So you are like me." Her eyes widened, staring wide-eyed as his shimmering blues become almost solid with intensity. His shy face turned into a stern, analytical gaze.
"Well... That is a surprise." She tapped his chest with a finger, eyes narrowing. "What is your intent then, hm?"
"Logical efficiency. Being manipulative for myself is dull and so very easy. It is such a challenge yet so vastly more useful to be kind. What true value is there is robbing a healthy boat of it's boards to repair your own sinking ship?" His tone had become a far softer monotone than hers, but no less noticeable.
"Then it seems we are of one mind." She slowly formed a genuine, smirking smile. The first she had felt of this kind in a very long time. "I propose, an alliance."
"Yes, I would gladly be your boyfriend." He said bluntly, which made Cat blush at how easily he had cut through her words. She bit her lip, tapping her chin for a moment as his arm slowly encircled her shoulder. She paused at the motion before leaning into it, whispering delicately now in his ear.
"Then it seems we have so many things to discuss."
"Plans within plans to meld together." She smiled even more broadly, eyes gleaming at how readily he trusted her, and perhaps a little at hiow comfortable she felt trusting him. A foot in the door for us both... Not what I was expecting, but... This is way better.