Ignoring the confusion on Alex’s face, Victoria took a deep breath. Content with knowing he followed and wanting to place as much distance between her and the naiad as possible--even though he wasn't the worse thing she had seen--she continued forward, her gaze devotedly on the wide hall’s gray carpet.
	She jumped, a surprised shout catching in her throat and turning into a gasp as she felt an arm drape over her shoulders. She relaxed nearly instantly when she registered it was Alex. She happily let him pull her to him. She took a deep breath, letting the familiar sense of safety she felt around him flood through her and normalize her heart rate.
	[i]Normal. Gotta act normal,[/i] she inwardly scolded herself. Yet, a small voice in the back of her mind quietly inquired, [i]What [u]is[/u] normal anymore?[/i]
	Victoria nodded. “Yeah,” she grumbled. “Sorry. Wasn’t expecting anyone to come out with us that close. Guess it startled an episode out.” She sighed, the phrase rolling from her tongue with unnerving ease from its years of use. “So,” she began, forcing a light tone as she eagerly changed the subject, “why didn’t you warn me that the orientation lecture was so [i]boring?[/i]” She drew out the word. “I’m pretty sure I fell asleep for most of it.”