Prologue: Origins

[Seryna]

GM Post

"Excellent." Greg grinned broadly at Autumn and Sandra, choosing to gloss over the tension between Autumn and Kasey. 
"Thanks for volunteering so quickly.  It will probably just take a jiffy to move the projectors to the meeting hall- they're in storage in the back room. Follow me, ladies..."

The man turned and after checking to make sure Autumn and Sandra were following, led them down a hall with an 'Employees only' sign.


Torrence glances between Kasey and Autumn, but decides to spend an extraordinary amount of time signing the sign in sheet, even making a little smiley face in the 'o' of her name.  Glancing at the paper beside the sheet, she notes there's a slot open for Racquetball and jots down her name- and after a minutes hesitation, Kasey and Autumn's names as well.  She was sure a bit of friendly competition would iron out any problems the girls were having.

Stepping back from the sign in sheet & sign up for the courts, she glanced at the people who had come in from the street.

"Where'd that kid go, the one-"

She stops speaking suddenly, as the one who got his rear kicked wasn't a very nice thing to say.  She wandered over towards Reece while every one else messed with their cell phones, all the while looking for the younger student.

[Damien]

Damien flipped his phone closed and stuffed it in his pocket. "Jeez, is this really a good idea... a lock in sounds..."he trailed off. Something definitely wasn't right here, he never heard of a lock in before this. "Excuse me,"he said running up to the front counter, more specifically the lady behind the counter. His face showed a hint of worry for a split second before his face turned back into his usual bland, expressionless emotion,"What exactly is a lock in?"

[Seryna]

The Receptionist in the fuchsia colored shirt glanced at Damien in surprise.

"A Lock in is a sort of all night party, young man. You stay up all night- playing in the sports area," She nudges the sports sign up sheet at him. "- or playing in the Billiards pool area or the heated indoor pools.  is something wrong?"

[Breekan1]

Reece looks wistfully as Sandra wanders off, and grins broadly as Torrence approaches. "Hey there! Are you talking about... Branden, I think it was? Brendan, something like that." Reece considers the issue for a moment. "Do you think he knows many people? Maybe we should see if he wants to hang out."

There's a flush of air as Damien breezes by. Reece's eyes trail him as he runs off.

[Damien]

"But why is it called a lock in,"Damien answered back,"You mean we can't leave?" he asked. He had to force his faint panic from entering his voice. He couldn't believe he didn't think about. "If so is it to late to leave, I hate being confined in one place for to long,"he tried to sound polite but it was difficult, he wasn't used it it.

[Seryna]

Torrence nodded to Reece.
"Yeah, that guy.  I'm not sure- but Greg seemed to knowhim.  Couldn't hurt, right?"

She followed Reece's gaze to Damien.
"Whats his problem?"  She speculated, watching the scene unfold.

The Receptionist frowned.

"If you leave right now, you wouldn't have earned any money for the fund raiser. Are you sure you want to let every one down like that?"

[Breekan1]

Reece nods. "Definitely couldn't but... you think we should help... Damien, I think his name is? He seems a bit stressed. Maybe he'd like to go swimming or something."

[Brad the Brit]

Brit placed a hand on Damien's shoulder. He grinned at the frowning receptionist, "Sorry, sorry my friend here is just scared of the word lock". he wheeled the stupidly tall kid across the corridor.

"Seriously man are you paranoid or what? Its just a party. and we could both use a break..." He took his hand of the big guys shoulder. "Listen lets just see it as a place to have a good time and get away from our parents for a few hours."

He laughed "I mean come on, its not as if anything life changing is going to happen!!"

[Raven]

Surprised but rather hoping not to show, Autumn smiled softly at the girl, Sandra, and helped push the projectors down the hall, following Greg. "Thanks." Autumn replied, trusting Greg to lead them where they were going, eyes glancing up at the employees only sign, which oddly, sent shivers along her spine. Not one to be big on speaking, the girl didn't know what exactly to say to make conversation, but tried her name instead. "If you didn't know, I'm Autumn." It sounded foolish playing it back in her head, mentally kicking herself for the stupid words, but unable to take them back now, Autumn concentrated on the task ahead. "No problem Greg, anytime."

[Damien]

Damien seemed confused, he didn't know, yet he was talking to him like he knew him,"My parents are going to be here..."he replied,"and something in my mom's voice..."he trialed off,"You know what I can't explain it to you, I just have a really bad feeling about this place,"he said nervously looking aorund. This teen was right, he was parinoid...  "Y-you're right, I should c-calm down,"Damien looked at his hands... they were actually shaking. Usually he was in control of his emotions when he felt them but now...

[Brad the Brit]

Brit looked at the shaking kid. the guy defiantly needed a distraction. "Listen mate i think some people are going to set up some projectors. You want to come with me and help out. It will help take your mind off all this".

But Brit couldn't help thinking about something the tall kid had said about his mother. the same sort of thing had been going on with his dad. Ever since they had come to this town last year. He shoved it to the back of his mind, maybe it was just the paranoia rubbing off on him...

"now are you comeing or not" Brit turned and walked over to the meeting hall.

[Seryna]

Torrence followed Reece's gaze to Damien and now Brit.
"You know, maybe we should.  He seems really stressed out."

Torrence walked up to the two boys who were conversing. "Hey, guys. I'm Torrence. We sort of met outside at the parking lot... So whats going on?  "

Greg nodded. "Of course, of course, I just wish more young people were as willing to help as you were. Follow me, ladies..."

He pushed open the 'Employees Only' door, leading Sandra and Autumn down a long hallway.
"The projectors are down here a ways.  So - I haven't seen you around here before." He glanced over his shoulder, keeping up his brisk pace down the hallway.

"Are you thinking about attending the Sharing meeting tonight?"

[Raven]

Autumn had no other choice but to follow, still pushing the projectors without a pause in her step, "most kids these days don't exactly know their pleases and thank yous, and willing to help just doesn't seem to be cool." She shrugged, not really caring what peoples definitions were on things these days, the only opinion mattered was your own. Taking deep breathes as she walked down the rather long hallway, Autumn looked up at Greg. "I'm around, I just don't stay around people." She gulped, wondering where this was going, having never really heard of the Sharing before. "Probably will be on my agenda." Autumn eyed warily, figuring that she was putting something into nothing, she didn't trust many people anyway, just her own personal idea of not letting people get too close.

[Breekan1]

Reece nods. "Sounds like a plan." He follows along with Torrence, his mind bothering him slightly. Was Sandra mad they hadn't helped that weird girl? Was that why he was so concerned about these damned nervous kids? Best not to worry. Play it cool, play it cool, he tells himself. His posture slouches slightly. He offers Damien his hand to shake. "Sup?" he asks.

***

Sandra smiles at Autumn. "Pleased to meet you! I think I've seen you around school a bit." As they follow Greg, she paid careful attention to Autumn, trying to figure out what it was that could have set that Kasey girl off. The nerve of people sometimes! She notes Autumn's apparent nervousness, which does little to assuage her own. She tries not to be suspicious. Greg was a nice guy, involved, friendly. They'd be fine, right? She hears Autumn talk to him about the Sharing.

"You should come, Autumn! Reece and I've been meaning to go. It'd be fun to have you around."

[Brad the Brit]

"And I'm going so what more do you need?" Brit said as he caught up with the two girls. "Remember me? The mildly attractive, British nursing trainee?"
He looked back to see if Damien had followed him and was disappointed to see he hadn't.

What was with that guy? He was acting stranger than my dad..