"It is painful to be around people" Ashleigh said, giving a shrug, looking over her shoulder as Jason looked about, giving him a smile as he started over to them, "But Paulina thinks I should be around people, and if truth be told, I'm a little scared of her" She smiled, giving another shrug so Liam would know it was a joke. "You look like you've been up all night too" Ashleigh had become an expert at hiding the dark shadows from sleepless nights, but she knew the signs. And exhaustion was an emotion she was more then familiar with. It wasn't really an emotion, but it tended to dull other emotions. 

She shifted slightly as Jason joined them, giving him a nod and a "Hey" hoping that he wouldn't know she had hovered outside his door for a good ten minutes. She didn't even know why she had. She cleared her throat, and took a seat, a little put off by Alister. At Liam's look, Ashleigh gave yet another shrug, choosing not to say anything. 

Ashleigh was never too sure when...when someone seemed interested in her. It had always been hard to tell, and now with the empathy, it was hard to truly know the difference between lust and attraction. And the last time...she didn't want to make the same mistake. Jason seemed sweet enough, and had been ready to defend Paulina against physical violence. But she wasn't going to let herself be put into a vulnerable position again. 

Still...

"Perhaps they merely want to see how we do when thrown in with a bunch of others. Maybe there is simply more students in the school. And maybe they think...well, I was limited to my interactions with others last year. Only put with people that wouldn't send me out of control, and then I was slowly introduced into other, more difficult classes. It took a while for Paulina to get the bracelet right. So now here I am. Lets see how I do"

She fell silent, leaning back against the wall and closing her eyes. This brought her into sharp focus of the emotions of those around her, particularly the three guys close to her. Liam's emotions always seemed a little weird. Alister seemed...a little angry to her. And Jason...she gave a soft sigh. "I think they are hoping, and Paulina, that by the end of the semester I won't have to wear the bracelet" She said after a few moments, opening her eyes and looking to Alister, "What they do is for safety. Once they know more,and once you know more about it, I'm sure Paulina will work with you and can lower the inhibitor"[@KiritoAsuna][@Themerlinhawk][@Hitman5455]