[COLOR=CF748B][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]W I N T E R  C A R L Y L E[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup]Social Conscience[/sup][/INDENT]

Mr. Lehrer answered her question in the most vague way possible. It irritated her, but she knew he wouldn't admit it outright that something weird happened and continued to happen. She also wasn't stupid. She knew the rumors circling about her and Mr. Lehrer. She knew Trinity was probably spreading a good majority of them. She heard quite a few; that she was sleeping with him for better grades, that she threw herself at him and he denied her, and some dirtier than that. She blew them off. She felt like she wasn't herself anymore and she knew the others recognized it.

The one constant so far had been Sebastian. Were they dating officially? The two never seemed to make it official, but she liked spending time with him. The guy was a prankster, a rebel, the bad boy your mom would warn you about, but she could tell he had a softer side to him. She still remembered touching his arm and seeing him as a younger version of himself. She still remembered it. The vision itself was kind of blurry, but she knew it was him. Mr. Lehrer knew what was going on, but he wasn't about to say anything in the middle of Social Conscience. Fine, she figured, she'll get him to admit it one way or another.

Then he threw a curveball at her. A camping trip with the class. Parent's signature needed. She sighed a little. That means she would actually have to talk to her parents. Who knows where they were in the world now? She sure as hell didn't. In fact, the last time she spoke to them was the day after the dance and that was a quick phone call to make sure she was ok. She was happy they were concerned, but obviously not enough to drop everything to come home and see her.

She dreaded the call she'd have to make, but if she wanted to go, she had to do it. Did she want to go? She had to admit, even though she wouldn't consider the vast majority of them her friends, she felt closer to the class. She would see them in the halls and there would be the acknowledgment between them. The simple "hey, I know you" nod. Was this one of the goals of the class? Perhaps. But she knew there was more to it than that.

And this camping trip would be the time to find out.

[COLOR=CF748B][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]W I N T E R  C A R L Y L E[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup]Thursday - Day before the trip[/sup][/INDENT]

After school, she went to the mall to pick out some new clothes to wear to the camping trip. The others may say she's changed, but she still cared about how she looked. She wanted to prepare. She still hadn't called her parents. She couldn't put it off. The slip had to be in the next day or she couldn't go. She picked up the house phone and dialed her father's number. After a few rings, he answered. Or, someone did.

[color=purple]"Hello, Raymond's phone. Who's this?"[/color] the voice answered. It was a fluttery tone that the woman most likely felt made her sound sexier when, in Winter's opinion, it made her sound stupid. She would never say it to her step-mother's face, though. She sighed inwardly and replied, [color=CF748B]"Hey, Jules, it's Winter. I need to speak to my dad, is he around?"[/color] She never called Jules mom. It felt weird. She didn't hate the woman. Far from it actually. She liked her and she made her dad happy. She just didn't like her pushing herself into the mother role when Winter just wasn't ready. She may never BE ready, for that matter. Her mom would always be her mom. Jules responded quickly, [color=purple]"Sure sweetie, he's right here. Hold on."[/color] She heard her yell her dad's name and seconds later, he came on the phone, [color=yellow]"Hey Win, how are you?"[/color] Her dad's voice warmed her heart up to the point where she smiled. Despite everything, she loved her father dearly. He always provided for her, even if he couldn't be home. Back when her mom was alive, they would always come see her in school plays or performances or participate in school functions. Now, he was always off on business. She assumed it was to get his mind off of her mother's death, but now he jet-sets around with Jules. [color=CF748B]"Hey dad, I'm good. I'll be quick because I know you're busy, but I need a permission slip signed. We have a school trip tomorrow, it's a camping thing for that Social Conscience class. Is it ok if I go?"[/color] She didn't bother to say she had already planned on it, but she knew her father would say yes. Sure enough, he laughed a little and continued, [color=yellow]"Of course, sweetheart. Have a good time! Just have Samuel sign it for me. Listen, honey, I have to go, important things, but we'll be back in less than two weeks. When I get home, we'll go out and do something, just the two of us. Ok?"[/color] She heard that promise before, it was usually met with him having to go somewhere else or go into the office and she would be bought a present for him standing her up. She continued to hope that he would finally follow through, but she didn't hold out hope. [color=CF748B]"Sure dad, thanks."[/color]

[COLOR=CF748B][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]W I N T E R  C A R L Y L E[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup]Orlaith Valley Trail and Park[/sup][/INDENT]

The trip to the park wasn't bad. She sat next to Sebastian and Rita and they talked a bit. She gradually came to know Rita, mainly because her and Sebastian were really close. When they finally got there, they began the trek to the campsite. She had never been a fan of camping, but she knew this would be a great time to get Mr. Lehrer alone to talk about the dance. Plus, she could get cozy with Sebastian at the campfire. Despite the weirdness, she was still a teenage girl.

She heard Sebastian run up and toss her an apple. She caught it, though she fumbled a bit. She giggled at his childishness, but bit into the apple with relish. Sure enough, it was juicy and delicious. She continued to eat as she strolled along. Aiden was up in front of her. The boy was still closed off to her. She could feel he was upset with her, was it because of the dance? Or something else? She knew he had his own issues to deal with so she never bothered him, but she wanted to make sure he was ok.

Before she could finish her thought, Sebastian gave her a wicked grin and a wink. Soon, she felt a small breeze emanate from him before he 'stumbled' forward and knocked Aiden to the ground. She saw his shoes, tied together. She questioned how that happened until she remembered Sebastian's super speed. So he used it to pull a trick on Aiden. And to make matters worse, he didn't sound sorry about it.  He offered Aiden a hand, but the guy was not pleased. He faced her with his smug grin and she couldn't return his smile. It wasn't funny. Some light-hearted teasing was one thing, but Aiden was not the right target for it. Before she could say anything, she saw Aiden wind up a throw and a small stone hit the back of Sebastian's head. Now things were getting too much. [color=CF748B]"Ok guys, that's enough.."[/color] but before she could finish, Sebastian turned around and Aiden decked him. Hard. She gasped a bit as she saw Sebastian fall. In an instant let out a small yelp, but the two of them continued at it. Sebastian moved quickly and the two of them started going at it. She ran up to them and tried to pull them off of each other, [color=CF748B]"Guys, stop it. Sebastian, Aiden, stop it, you two!"[/color] Her yells were on deaf ears though. Mr. Lehrer quickly ran over to join them. Only then did the boys stop, but Sebastian stumbled back. Winter looked at him and saw the panic in his eyes before she saw the flames on his shirt. He began taking his shirt off and patting the flames down and she noticed the scars on his body. She would deal with that later. Now, it was too much. She knew the fire was from Aiden and the two of them almost hurt each other. Enough was enough.

[color=CF748B]"Ok, that's it! I've had it! I am sick and tired of continuing like nothing is wrong when things are clearly not right! Mr. Lehrer, this has to stop! What is going on with everyone? Why are people exhibiting these....abilities! Aiden can control fire, Sebastian can run super fast, Rita has super strength and God knows what everyone else can do. And I know there is something wrong with me because I can remember the events of the dance. The [i]true[/i] events of the dance. I know what happened to Elroy and so do you! I can't take it anymore![/color] Tears began welling up in her eyes and days of emotional baggage finally let loose. [color=CF748B]"What's wrong with me? Why can I remember things that others forget? Why wasn't I affected by that strange guy's spell?"[/color]