[center][h3][COLOR=bc8dbf]P A I G E[/color]  [color=silver]&[/color]  [color=#B0171F]M A R K O[/color][/h3][/center]


A chuff came from Paige as mumbled under her breath to herself,[COLOR=bc8dbf] "A spark extinguishing a flame? Doesn't he know sparks make flames?"[/color]

[i][COLOR=bc8dbf]I can't tell if he is in denial or just a bloody idiot. [/color][/i] She thought to herself, rolling her eyes, [i][COLOR=bc8dbf]Yes let's just fill a school of teenagers who are both hormone filled and powered. This will surely grant world peace and acceptance of all peoples.[/color][/i]

Hearing that they were going to be handed off to counselors had a lavender purple eyebrow raised. [COLOR=bc8dbf]"In trouble already?" [/color] She joked to Marko with a little smirk on her face. She couldn't help it, the way he reacted at every little thing made him way too easy to tease.

Marko had been frowning deeply as the headmaster's speech got underway, the expression only cementing itself further as Buchanan went on about the current strife in the world. The things he said were extremely concerning. He talked as if they were somehow expected to take some kind of direct action in addressing the issues he raised- which was ludicrous. He shook his head lightly. [i][color=#B0171F]My self importance is getting the better of me. The best and only thing I can do is learn to control my powers and then blend back into society.[/color][/i]

If nobody outside of this school ever even knew he was a primalist, that would be ideal. 

Paige's remark shook him from his thoughts as he let out a low sigh. [color=#B0171F]"Did... she say arena? Why us?"[/color] Seriously. Why? His eye shifted back and forth as he calculated what the reasoning could be, why they were singled out, and why the meeting wasn't being held in an office or a courtyard. [color=#B0171F]"I'm guessing,"[/color] Marko began, his tone dry and defeated. [color=#B0171F]"That everyone called is troublesome in some way. Or has unique potential as far as their powers are concerned. Or both."[/color] Please. Let them not ask for a demonstration. Just thinking about it made his fingers itch.

Marko did not disappoint with his reaction and Paige responded by chuckling at his sudden fear at a supposed arena. The arena part had not skipped her attention either, but honestly, she had just guessed it was another word for a gym or stadium. 

Getting up, she stretched herself out like she had been caged up for the whole day instead of at an introduction by the headmaster that had been half an hour at most. [COLOR=bc8dbf]"Well, whatever it is, guess it's best to just get it over with." [/color]

Looking back down at her worried acquaintance, an impish grin grew on her face as she nudged Marko back into the world, [COLOR=bc8dbf]"What? Scared they are going to ask you to do a whole fire show?" [/color]

Getting free from the tight aisles of seats, she looked back at him and joked, [COLOR=bc8dbf]"Maybe they'll ask for your expertise on keeping the lawn trim."[/color]

Chuckling obviously thinking herself to be funny, she then held out a hand out to him to help him get his ass up and moving.

Taking Paige's hand, Marko looked back at his other new acquaintances. [color=#B0171F]"Ah, you can come with if you like."[/color] But Paige was pulling him and he wasn't about to muscle out of her grip, so he let himself be lead and trusted the other two girls would do as they pleased. 

[color=#B0171F]"To answer your question,"[/color] He called to Paige over the din, his voice faint. [color=#B0171F]"That is exactly what I'm worried about. I'd like to avoid barbequing my classmates or instructors."[/color] As they finally got free of the bleachers, Marko came to a stop, the grasp between them briefly pulled taut before he pulled his hand free and buried it in the pocket of his coat. [color=#B0171F]"And to provide an observation,"[/color] He continued in a dry tone. [color=#B0171F]"You're not funny."[/color] The look on his face was caught between irate and teasing, like he wasn't sure if he was offering a playful jab or a reprimand. 

His heavy shoulders shrugged, his expression turning thoughtful before once again resetting to neutral. [color=#B0171F]"Come on."[/color] He started to trod forward again. 

[COLOR=bc8dbf]"You just can't take a joke," [/color]She said, rolling her eyes. 

Without another word, Paige was striding past him and towards the arena. Obviously a little miffed at his comment, she did not look back at him until they finally joined the group that was forming on the grounds. It was only then she peaked a glance back at Marko, not completely knowing exactly what she was looking for or why, but quickly going back to look at the instructor instead of to ponder her own actions.

Marko sighed as Paige hurried ahead of him, his long strides allowing him to keep relative pace with ease. Still, he let her put a few feet of space between them. Conflict, more than anything else, served no purpose for Marko other than to spark his disinterest. It was stressful and tedious and he was already exhausted. More pertinently, it was too easy to argue. Too easy to fall back into unhealthy patterns.

So both for Paige's sake and his own, Marko was happy to let her have the last word. His head buzzed and his fingers itched as they finished their walk to the grounds in silence, the static in his neurons only getting worse as they approached whatever uncertainty the school had in store for them. Catching Paige's glance from the corner of his eye, he exhaled deeply as little puffs of smoke wisped from his nostrils. 

[color=#B0171F]"I'd rather not argue,"[/color] He muttered, eye focused forward. It was true. He didn't want that. She was just very good at needling at insecurities. [color=#B0171F]"So, let's try not to."[/color] It was a weak statement, but a sincere one. [color=#B0171F]"Surviving this place will be easier if we can get along."[/color]

A small sly smile slipped on Paige's face. 

[COLOR=bc8dbf]"Only because you apologised so nicely,"  [/color] she said teasingly as she stepped back next to him. Of course, that hadn't been an apology of any kind, but she just heard what she wanted from the beginning and so now she stood there happily enough swaying from side to side. 

Marko opened his mouth to respond, then sighed, closed his lips, and gently bit his tongue.