Guess Then...I Kinda Got Arrested

[assassinrue]

He sat at the edge of the parking lot, a massive tree blocking most of his view of the school, an unlit cigarette dangling between his fingers. He leaned up against the trunk of the tree and closed his eyes. The first bell would let him know when to start heading to class, at which point he'd likely be late. But that didn't exactly matter when you had all As and were the star of the soccer team.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Astrid glanced over her shoulder as she exited through a side door of the school. Last night, a few of her 'friends' had been hanging out near the school. Astrid had overdone it a bit and her friends proved to be not-so-good friends when they left her there. After she'd been found passed out in the driveway, the school staff had brought her in to recover from her near overdose. So far, they didn't know she was a mutant, and she'd very much like to leave before they found out. She just had to get off the damn property without anyone spotting her, which was easier said than done.

[assassinrue]

"Overnight messing around?" He mumbled loud enough for Astrid to hear, lighting his cigarette?

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Astrid started and whirled around, her eyes wide. She relaxed a bit when she realized he must just be stupid. "Maybe," she said. She eyed him warily, wondering if he'd turn her in for trying to sneak out.

[assassinrue]

He nodded as if she had told him the entire truth. "You should be more careful, that was a close call." He took a drag on his cigarette, "Oh, and I won't rat you out."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Astrid narrowed her eyes at him. "Why not?"

[assassinrue]

Kendrick shrugged and took another drag on his cigarette. "Not my business."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Astrid smiled slowly. She knew she should skedaddle, but that cigarette looked pretty damn inviting. She gestured at it and said, "Care to share?"

[assassinrue]

Kendrick tossed his pack at her. "Lighter's inside if you need it."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Astrid pulled out a cigarette and lit it up, then breathed in and let out a lungful of smoke. She let out a soft sigh and closed her eyes. "That's better," she murmured.

[assassinrue]

Kendrick looked away from her and took another drag. He wasn't used to having company and it made him uncomfortable.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Astrid looked him over, a thoughtful look on her face. "What's your name?"

[assassinrue]

"Kendrick." He very much wanted to say something else, but his power wouldn't let him. He had begun to learn to work around it, to use the truth to create things that weren't lies but it took too much energy and his name wasn't worth the effort. "You?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Astrid," she replied. She took another drag on the cigarette and leaned against the wall. "You don't seem the type to be at some prestigious 'gifted' school."

[assassinrue]

Kendrick smiled bitterly. "I promise I am." He looked away. "Unfortunately."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Ever think of running away?" Astrid asked. She flashed a grin. "I don't think I could stand living here."

[assassinrue]

There was a shimmer of something in the bottom of Kendrick's vision and he knew that even if this girl really couldn't live her, some part of her, even if she didn't know it, would miss it. He shrugged. "I don't see the point."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Nowhere else to go, huh?" Astrid said. "Yeah, me either."

[assassinrue]

Kendrick shrugged. Sure, he had places to go. But people lied everywhere.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"You could come with me, you know," Astrid said. She wasn't sure why she said it, but she found that she kind of wanted him to. She'd been alone for so long, if you didn't count her foster families, and she most certainly didn't.