Welcome to Gaia! ::

It felt like she was actually with a family. It had been a long time since she had hugged someone other than Aldora and for her own need. The last time, it had been with him, but he was no longer here. And before him she had lost her parents at a young age, growing up independent and being relied on by others. The priestess' thoughts were interrupted by the arival of new energy signatures, one of them somewhat familiar.

Aili looked up to where Joy was pointing, sure enough, there was a group of girls and one of them was the familiar Rene. Aili beamed another smile at the girls although she felt something off about her. "Rene, it's nice to see you again."

Aili knew something had been wrong with her friend, but she hadn't expected the girl to come flying at her in tears. See those tears and feeling her emotions, which she herself had felt like doing earlier, Aili couldn't help but let her eyes glisten as she patted Rene's head and made soothing noises.

"There. There. I've just returned back here. I've missed you and everyone else..."

Aili paused, feeling each sob rack through her body. "I don't know what's happened in the past month so why don't you tell me?" Aili pulled her friend into a tighter hug before loosening it up again.

Her eyes gave Joy an apologetic look for suddenly focusing on someone else. Then her eyes trailed over to the group of girls that had entered with Rene before settling back on Rene.

"Why don't you tell me what you've been up to and I'll do my best to help you."

((better than mine sweatdrop I can't think of what to type))

Rene pried herself from Aili. Aili was always so nice to her. She could figure it out! The student nodded mildly and swept her plam under her emerald eyes.

"Aili, I never know where I am!" No, that doesnt make any sense to her. Well, doesnt make any sense to me. Rene searched for away to explain what she didnt understand. "I went searching for Ky durning the summer. But I couldn't find him. Something happened to him. And then I kept getting lost. And when I came back to Ria High at the end of the summer I saw Kurry but just for a second and he and some girl where helping this other girl, but then I ended up on the roof and they were gone! And I dont remember going to the roof! And then it kept happening again and agian! I'd be doing something and I'd look around and I'd be somewhere else! And then I kept looking for someone I know like you or Kurry or Ky or Tiff or Susie or Joy or anyone! And I found some girl that said she works with Kurry in the church and I was talking to her and then I looked up and she was hurt on the ground with some other girl! And and Mattus!" Rene's words spilled out in high and low wails. They were barely understandable and at the end she just burried her soaked face in her hands.

************

Miho's eyebrow twitched at the little neko Joy begging for food infront of her like an animal.

"Haha you want some?" Lena's good natured laugh was the completely different from her sisters attitude. "Here you can have some! Debbie get her a plate ok?"

"Okay." Debbie turned around and retrieved a white plate from a stack at an end of one of the rows of tables. She walked back to the girls and took out scoops of there wonderful meal.

"Save dessert for last. There's no room for it on this plate." Debbie smiled and handed the dish down to Joy.

A faint noise of crumblind snow could be heard from outside. Trudging, if that was even a word, through the snow was none other then Misty. Her black boots dragged along in the snow as she carried a rather large cake in her hand. Makie had only bothered to bring it out to the tables in the Courtyard, so Misty was bringing it into the green house. She was also there because she wanted some peace and quiet. That pink haired girl was yelling so loud it hurt her ears.

Misty looked down slightly at the cake, still trudging along close to the greenhouse door. Makie put so much effort in it. Despite the fact that the midnight haired girl had to clean it up, she put her heart into making it. The brunette also kept mumbling about how she was going to compete against Oliver and that she was going to give it her all. Misty thought it was cute, but Makie ended up eventually making two flop cakes that turned out lousy, one good tasting cake but way too rich and one large chocolate caramel ice cream cake. Misty was the one who ate the two flops and the rich chocolate cake. It made her shiver that she finished every last bite just for Makie.

Walking into the green house, a scent of tea filled Misty's nose. Tea was good, it helped her relax, as she was doing now. She then averted her sky blue eyes to the plants. They were taken care of very well, as they seemed to be flourishing with radiance and healthy green leaves. The woman sighed as she came to a table, laying the cake down. It wasn't even her entry yet she was the one bringing it. Oh, the things she'd do for Makie.

Misty didn't have to do a lot of things for her small friend yet she always did everything. It was like a sister relationship, yet they had no sisterly fights. The calm woman used to protect Makie, when they were younger, from monsters under the bed and in the closet. She would defend the brunette from stray dogs or alley cats. Once she even tried to save her from an avalanche... Although they both ended up being saved from adults. Now, since they're older, Misty would just follow Makie and take care of her. She would get things for her, like her hat or bringing her cake to green house.

Slowly putting the cake on a table, Misty let out a sigh of relaxation. The calming aroma of tea, the scent of plant life and... A glimpse of a hyper active Oliver and cold, dark Feena? Well, maybe solitary was too much to hope for. Standing there for a few seconds, Misty began to slowly walk to the two. Maybe even have a conversation with them which she rarely had nowadays. It wasn't that she hated talking, she just hated meeting a lot of new people who are always 'Hi, what's you name? My name is blah blah blah and I like this and that!'. The girl never cared much for introductions...

Feena and Oliver were standing around Oliver's stand. Oliver was talking rather fast in french while decorating his stand. The funny thing is that Feena doesn't know any french, so how does she know if he is insulting her or not? Then she just decided to ignore what he is saying or give up is the better term.

She stood there, her arms crossed in that 'I don't care' pose, her long black hair swaying lightly through the light wind as her bloodlust eyes traveled from Oliver to Joy and some other girls she doesn't know over to the corner then back to Oliver. She was just bored, she didn't make anything, she just watched Sakura and Oliver cook and make ingrudients to foods.

"Shut up, Oliver. I don't care." she said roughly, almost like a cat growling at a mouse, or another cat, she just hated Oliver. She hated how he is too innocent, wears girly clothes, and acts cute. Its too wierd. But, she doesn't try to run him out or anything, or Sakura will be mad at her.

"Sorry" Oliver said with a weak smile, as he continued to decorate his stand. It looked like he was ready for Valentines day, his stand was decorated in hearts, pinks, reds, pastels, lace, it was cute. Feena snickered, her ears perked when she heard foot steps heading towards them. She turned around and there was Misty.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice bouncing the small group, in a rather soft bellow voice.

Misty, who was making her way towards th two, was suddenly caught off-guard by Oliver's stand... Pinks, reds, lace, hearts... It almost made her throw up. She hated bright warm colors, of course she could never tell Makie that when she wore such colors. Misty only did that because the brunette was her friend, if she wasn't, the midnight haired teenager would probably be insulting her by now.

The sudden voice of Feena, reminded Misty why she didn't exactly want to be here. Sure they were alike in some ways, but she jus didn't like Feena. She didn't know why she didn't like the older woman, it was just a feeling in her gut that wouldn't go away. Responding softly, but still at an unfriendly tone, Misty's light blue eyes looked into Feena's blood red eyes.

"Oh, I don't know. Just happened to come by here, and saw you guys so I came over." Misty said, avoiding the warm, happy, girlish stand that Oliver set up. It wasn't that she didn't like Oliver, or that she hated how he was girly, she just didn't like the stand. The small french boy was okay, but the stand...? Definatly not okay. Heck, when Misty and Makie were younger, and even now, the brunette is always hyper and girly too. Skirts in the winter...? She definatly did not approve of that...

Nonetheless, she put on a smile for Oliver and threw him a quick greeting. "Hey, Oliver." Her tone of her voice was unable to be heard. Her smile faded slightly, as she continued to speak with him. It's not like Feena would talk to her, so there was no use talking to her. Instead, Misty spoke to the boy, attempting to keep a smile on her face for him. She didn't want to upset him as like she said before, he reminded her too much of Makie.

"You're making a stand for the potluck, right?" Her tone had a hint of friendlyness and a hint of discomfort. "That's... Cool..." She smiled, but it faded a few moments after. Misty hated smiling all the time, rarely maybe, all the time? Nope... After a second of neutral expression, she attempted to put on another smile for Oliver. The smile was somewhat softer then the other one, but that was because she lost enthusiasm for smiling all happy-like.

Although, the moment Misty heard judging was about to start, a frown appeared on her face. Looks like she needs to go back in the Courtyard for Makie. Or maybe she could just send a sign, so Makie could know that she needs to come to the Greenhouse. "Hmmm... I should go get Makie.. But she'll come here soon enough..." Misty said to herself, but could still be heard.

( Shoot, that means I need to get Makie in here... Oh... Okie, working on getting Makie over here for judging!! )

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Feena continued looking out the window in her expressionless face, that was always masked on. She didn't want to be part of this potluck in a million years, but Ai and Oliver dragged her to come along, bo 'if's' or 'buts' about it. She tilted her hat some more, to cover her bloodlust eyes, it seems the sun was getting too much for, thus, she hates too much sunlight.

Feena has always acted this way, even towards Ai sometimes. She'll never open her heart to anyone, unlike Sakura Ai who is nice to alot of people. Sometimes Feena wished that she can turn back time and go back to her constant thieving for rare items. Now, she can't, she isn't allowed.

Oliver sat down at his stand, in his soft chair, so he doesn't have to use those hard chairs the school provides for this event. Oliver's eyes soon looked around him, the're wasn't alot of people in the greenhouse like out in the Courtyard. Maybe everyone likes the fake warm weather outside? Or something? He shrugged the thought away and glanced over at the entrance of the greenhouse. In walks Makie, and he smiled as he stood up.

"Makie, you made it! I thought you would never come!" he said as he waved both of his hands up in air, proudly. Oliver ran around his stand and slowly jogged over to Makie. To him, Makie was practically a best friend to him.

"I'm doing fine! Where is your stand?" he said as he looked around the greenhouse, only seeing his stand and bunch of others, though those others had owners and they werent Makie's. Oliver soon looked back at Makie, he face red again.

Is she sick again?