#bergen_county

"Yeah. made Varsity Basketball, no big." ((ETA to clarify))

"Hey, if that's your passion it is big, man. Sides, girls around here love the jocks and I say that as a guy will probably go theatre" A chuckle

"Yeah well.... "

It is so weird seeing a guy with horns and goat legs talking just like an ordinary guy.

Or..for that matter, his superhot girlfriend elf walk up.

Tanya barely seems to notice Adam there and moves to Zane, "Lunch, wer'e going out right?"//"For all thirty minutes of it" He says//"Good. They're having fish sticks today. I am not 12, and they make terrible fish sticks anyway"

Adam bluescreens.

"Yeah sure, see you then," he smiles "Like the top by the way"//"THank you. Mom got it for me" And she leans over and kisses his cheek, and then turns.

Adam offers a deep sigh.

"I Know, she's the hawtness" Zane says as they watch her go away, "And she's also oddly supportive...says I'm not as stupid as I seem to want to be... really stirring stuff" A chuckle

"I wish...." Impulsively. Then he stops.

"Wish what?" Zane says

"Nothing. Sound crazy. Forget it."

TALL BLUE GIRLS head down the hallway.

Siv is talking to Sam "SO apparently Anne Marie is having a lot of Kalamari "

Adam's head whips around to stare.

"Hi, Adam, Zane" Siv says to the unenchanted Kinain

"Hiiii....."

"Hey." A shy grin for Adam.

"S...Sam? Right?"

A slow eyebrow, then a nod. "Yeah, Sam. And you're okay."

"Yeah but... but....." Increasing concern.

"Hey girls," Zane smiles "Congrats on the b ball , Sam. hear you, May and Lupe aced it"

She nods. "I know, weird stuff. But it's okay. We can talk at lunch?"

"Oh yeah - starters!"

Sylvi approaches, books in her arms, and she smiles at the group as she stops at her locker nearby. "Hi, peeps. What's good?"

Adam looks off-balance. "Yeah. Ok."

"Oh, had to catch up for the days I missed," Siv says to Sylvi "But Mr. Gardener will be giving me some accelerated courses maybe we'll find out later today"

"Cool, hope you'll be able to catch up quick." She checks her makeup in her locker mirror, then looks over at Adam. "Hey, you okay?" Then to Sam, "Is he okay?"

"I think he's foggy today."

"So... probably a little confused. But he should remember seeing everything before..."

Sylvi gives Adam a cautious look. "Okayyyy...." But then she looks back to Sam, "Hey, did you hear? I'm on the A squad in cheer." She smiles.

"Nice! I knew you'd get it this year!"

"Well, she busted her hump making B squad top of their game so about time" Siv grins

"Nice," Zane says

Adam still looks.... confused. Lost.

Sylvi smiles. "Thanks. Kind of crazy, though. You know...a lot going on, plus A squad. Hope I can, y'know, make it all work." A shrug.

"You always do."

"Um...Adam, you settling in okay? I mean, new school and everything?" She bites her lip, glances at the others.

"You'll be cheering on Adam this year." Gently nudging the kinain.

"Oh, you got varsity? That's cool." A smile. Perhaps not a really excited smile, but a smile.

"Cool." Adam says, then turns away, the heels of his hands against his eyes, grinding.

"It's okay"

Adam remembers a lot of what he was told... these people aren't monsters they're..special... but memories are... like soup, he can see chunks of the truth floating in there

"Maybe, um...maybe we'll talk later, Adam." And she murmurs to the others, "I'll catch up with you later, I think he's feeling kind of crowded."

Adam shakes his head like a horse looking to rid itself of flies....

"Later," Siv says,deciding Sylvi has the right idea

and she also heads off with Sylvi

"Later..." A wave

Sylvi whispers to her, "You think he's been zapped too much?"