#bergen_county

"Yes, I'm wonderful..." She catches her breath at the touch.

Symon observes. Eyes narrowing just a touch, but he says nothing.

"I just worry," Nadeen admits, "Something IS odd. yes."

"Well, don't worry about me." Reassuring.

"Don't get me wrong, Lupe is cool. But she doesn't like me. Girls... don't. Hell, people don't." He says this definitively. "And if Dirk saw her touchin' up on me, my lifespan would suddenly decrease to a fraction."

Harrumph. "I like you fine."

"Not like that." And he adds, "Not like you're crushin' up on Tanya right now. Like Lupe was at me." Blunt.

"Pardon?" Tanya raises a brow

"What?"

"Listen, I'm no... I ain't got a say in it. But you're eyeing her like Connor when someone has a box of milkbones - puppy eyes and all. And it ain't like you to act like that, not in public. in school."

"I'm... no, I'm not doing that..."

"She's just protecting me, she does it all the time" Nadeen scoffs

"I do!"

He changes tact. "Like Lupe flirts with me all the time? And strokes my back?" A shudder. "She's not the type to play a prank neither. I don't think."

"No... Lupe was acting weird."

Adam comes 'round the corner.

Nadeen turns "Adam, how are you? We may have a situation"

"Hey Nay...Tanya. Hey, uh, Sam."

"Hey Adam."

"Sup, Symon?"

He gives him a small nod, eyes flicking around at the air vents, tops of the lockers, etc. nervously.

There is a soft banging sound among the lockers further down the hall, the sound of a cat hissing... and wings fluttering

Her gaze drifts back to Nadeen, like a needle to a lodestone.

A frown. "What's going on?"

"I'm not sure, Simon sahys everone is acting funny, and Lupe did seem..focused"

"It's V-day." He says it with a scowl, as one might say "VD". "Someone is playing with people's emotions." And his gaze flicks to the sound, moving forward, and listening at that locker.

Sylvi approaches down the hall, looking stylish in her dark jeans and a nicely snug red sweater, her hair pulled back and adorned with small flowers. Yes, even in her mortal guise.

"That's not cool."

She's wearing her own dreamy expression, and smiles brightly as she sees them. "Hey, guys!" A wave.

"Must have gotten her..."

Nadeen says eyeing Sylvi

Ear against the locker, Symon carefully fiddles with the combination.

A happy sigh as she opens her own nearby locker. She doesn't seem to have registered their tension. "What's going on?"

Something shoots down the hallway... at least, someone might sense a warm rush like a bunny's kiss! Tee hee

"So who's involved. You said Lupe?"

Click click... click... A hiss as he catches a glimpse of something... and focuses back on the locker.

Sylvi blinks as they ignore her question, and her happy smile slips a bit. "I said, what's going on?"

"Sorry," Nadeen says "Symon thinks there's glamour affoot and... Well, Lupe is crushing on him"

That takes a moment to process, and Sylvi looks at Symon. "She...is?"

He flinchs slightly, and keeps fiddling with the random locker.

"I mean...I just didn't think she was into you, Symon. But...Lupe's great, you know?" Encouraging carefully.

There's a weird poke feeling that soon turns warm and wonderful... as Sylvi feels... good

"Lupe is dating Dirk."

"I...oh?...." Sylvi jumps a bit, looking confused, then...that dreamy smile is back, and she sighs. "Guys, I need to tell you...Colton sent me flowers this morning. This big heart of flowers. AND...they were delivered by a band! Underneath my window!" She giggles. "Mom and Dad were pissed."

"I thought they broke up? Or did he not get the memo?"

That from Nadeen

"Well...maybe she's into both of you...." she replies.

...but it doesn't seem she really cares.

"Yeah, fucking ha-ha." He says sourly. He's not especially wrong - the Lodge kids may be used to him, but he's... well, politely would be 'not conventionally attractive' and 'unique personality' that is 'cool when you get to know him'. Because it's not nice to call ugly, weird nerds such to their face.

No, she's fishing her phone out and opening her pictures. Flipping through slowly, savoring each one....