Halcyon Halls

Who: Starbuck and Kat
When: Saturday night, 9:00ish
Where: the beach

Starbuck had spent most of the day packing up his belongings. He was also busy gathering up all of Kamea's things that were in his room, many of which he'd bought for her, or had been given as gifts from his mother and friends. Every item of hers that he touched, reinforced his belief that leaving here was the best thing for everyone involved. No, he hadn't accomplished all he'd hoped to, but there would be time in the future to work on his healing abilities, family came first, and it always would. Besides, the fundamentals he'd learned at Halcyon could be developed on his own, maybe not at the same rate, but he'd continue to progress while away from school. He was going to have to leave eventually and make things work on his own, this was just a bit sooner than he'd expected.

Everything about the last couple of months had been unexpected. He didn't foresee such an abrupt and somewhat bitter end to his relationship with Kat. He definitely wasn't prepared to have a woman show up with his child in her arms. And he really didn't anticipate the degree of progress he'd made so far at school. Starbuck had grown up a bit at Halcyon. He felt a hell of a lot less guilty about his father's death, even though it did still haunt him, and probably always would to some degree. His temper had calmed significantly, and he liked to think it was partially due to the fact it had been tested throughly by his peers. All in all, his experience had been one wild ride, but a good one none the less.

In some sense, that ride was over. He knew some of his friendships here would fade with time, but he was positive others would endure. But which way would things go with Kat? He'd been working so hard at avoiding her lately, thinking it was the best way to move on and erase the feelings he had for her, but they'd not diminished one bit. He loved her just as much now as he ever had. How long did it take to fall out of love? Starbuck wasn't sure if anyone could answer that question.

Grabbing a big blanket he'd not yet packed, as well as a flashlight, his cell phone, and keys, Starbuck left the school and made a trek to the beach. His feet were bare, which was how he preferred it, and when they finally felt sand squishing all around them, a calmness washed over him. Starbuck wondered what the beaches were like in Japan. He wondered about the people too. Fuck, what if none of them spoke any English?

Letting the folded blanket drop to the sand, he plopped down next to it, his legs stretching out. Starbuck used the beam of the flashlight to search the surf, trying to spot Vegas swimming out there, but the water's surface was only moved by waves, no animals to be seen. He hoped he'd get to say goodbye to his 'foster daughter', also hoped Kat would arrive soon so he could bid her a proper farewell. What all 'proper' entailed, he wasn't sure. He just knew he needed to see her before leaving.

Who: Starbuck and Kim
When: Saturday afternoon
Where: front lawn outside Halcyon
What: playing football in the rain!

Starbuck was excited about playing football. He missed playing since quitting the club, but it had been the best move for his sanity. He just couldn't stand being around a few of the people in the club unless it was mandatory, so best to drop it and move on. Didn't mean he couldn't still play the sport, he simply had to find some new people to toss the ball around with. And in what was becoming a major trend in his life, he found another woman to befriend. It wasn't just here at Halcyon, he'd had mostly female friends back in Maui too. Starbuck had never really understood it, it was just the way things tended to go for him. Some of them he dated, actually, a lot of them he had dated or ended up dating, but because things stayed fairly casual, there were rarely hard feelings and he could remain close to the woman when they both moved on. He'd wished it could be that way with Kat, but it couldn't. He still loved her, so being near her without actually being with her was far too painful. Distance was the only cure... that and time.

He needed distractions too, and a friendly game of football would help in that fashion. He put on some mesh shorts, an old t-shirt with a few paint stains, and some sneakers that had seen better days. It was messy outside, no point in ruining clothes. He grabbed the older of his two footballs too, not because he was worried about it getting dirty, but because it felt better in his hands. Imitation leather, like anything he owned it appeared to come from an animal, without that whole gruesome killing aspect.

He juggled the ball around in his hands as he strolled away from Aquatic and headed toward the big front lawn. The rain was falling gently, and there were some gusts of wind from time to time, but it wasn't altogether bad out. At least the lightning was in the distance, and the soft roll of thunder had a nice sound to it. The biggest perk associated with this weather was the noticeable lack of people out in it. He and Kim could play football and goof around in the rain without a bunch of idiots giving them shit for it.

Waiting for Kim to show up, Starbuck dropped the ball to the ground and his face to the sky, letting the rain drops soak his skin. It felt wonderful.

Who: Cissy and Starbuck
When: Saturday - throughout the day
Where: On the way to New York and in New York

The trip was going splendid so far. Cissy had done her best not to pack too much even though she was basically excluded from the whole maximum amount of bags thing and she was rather upbeat considering that she had not gotten nearly enough sleep and had been unable to sleep on the plane at all. Poor Starbuck hadn't gotten any sleep either because she had been talking and talking and talking and shoving her musical taste down his throat. Turns out it was quite eccentric. There was some modern music, mostly boy bands and a little Fergie, but her collection mostly consisted of classic rock, just as she had told him it would. Her three favorite songs of all time were on her I-Pod and she was certain to point them out as well.

They were, as follows, in no particular order:
The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider
Blue Oyster Cult - Godzilla
The Cars - Just What I Needed

Cissy had been very excited to share this music with him and had been equally eager to hear what he had brought along as well. It was clear that she was a fan of music by the passion with which she spoke of it, and she told the whole story about how Massimo had raised her on this and that and how Xander had further expanded her knowledge of music when she had met him and how much of a part of her life it was and how she desperately wished that she could sing followed with horror stories of late night karaoke sessions in downtown Chicago and Brooklyn, New York.

Before she knew it, the trip was nearly over and there was still that one critical piece of information that she had left out because she dreaded his reaction. But it would be better to forewarn him than to have it hit him like a slap in the face, now, wouldn't it? She took a deep breath and then began to wring her hands together as she chewed on her lower lip and started in a small voice, "Starbuck.. I kinda have to tell you something before the plane lands.". She said it like there was a catch, and there was a catch, a big catch, though one she hoped he wouldn't mind too terribly bad.

Who:  Sydni and Starbuck
What:  Dangerous science
When:  After classes
Where:  On the water near the city

Sydni could hardly contain herself all day.  She had never been so happy to start an 'expedition'.  Not even her very first one.  Ok, so maybe it wasn't an 'expedition' in the true sense, but she was getting to go diving with a guy who could talk to sharks, and she was helping out a fellow scientist.  On her lunch break, she'd gone to see Aimee and had gotten all the supplies she needed, eating on the go.  Even though she'd nearly been too excited to eat, she knew she needed to keep her energy up if she was going to spend as much time in the water as she wanted.  Getting the sample for Aimee was simple, but she planned to hang around after and just do some exploring if Starbuck was up for it.  She hoped he was.  And she hoped there were sharks in the water.  Bit odd for a diver to hope that.

After gathering the supplies from her room where she'd left them, she took a cab down to the surf shop to meet Starbuck.  Per usual, she'd reserved The Azure for them to go out on.  Arriving first, she set to work making sure the boat was seaworthy, not that she hadn't just checked it over the weekend, or that Kyle didn't keep his equipment in tip-top shape.  She just needed to stay busy while she waited, really.  Then she set to checking her SCUBA gear.  She didn't know if Starbuck would want any, since he could stay down for so long, so she hadn't rented any for him.  Maybe she'd have her parents send her, her own gear.  She was spending too much on rentals.

While Starbuck could easily best her in holding his breath underwater, Sydni had actually done some skin-diving on some of her expeditions.  Sharks tended to shy away from all the noise created by the regulators, and to get up-close and personal, she had ditched the SCUBA gear and free-dived.  The only problem with that was the danger of hallucinating due to lack of oxygen.  But, she'd do it again if she saw any sharks she could study.  She'd even thought of renting one of the chainmail suits, but it was so expensive, and she wasn't even sure if she'd need it.  So, if there were any sharks around, she'd be pretty much as she was.

Soon as she saw Starbuck approaching, she stored the gear she was checking over and waved him over.  Barely letting him get in a greeting, she began to ramble.  "Hey, Starbuck!  I'm so excited - you wouldn't believe it.  I mean, forams are far from sharks, but it's still research, and it will really help Aimee out.  Plus, once I've got the sample and stained it, we can go back down, if you want.  I mean, if you aren't too busy and all.  Oh, and did Kyle give you back your shirt?  I left it on Sunday when I left work."  She blushed a bit at that last part.  She hadn't really worn dive worthy clothes when she'd been down to the surf shop last, and had needed to borrow his clothes to return to school.

Who: Starbuck and Kamea
When: Monday, late morning to early afternoon
Where: front lawn outside Halcyon

The second Starbuck was released from his Energy/Light/Life class, he bolted back to Aquatic. He and Lani had decided upon a schedule of sorts, at least one to get things started. It would take time for her to trust Starbuck, he understood that. She just wanted to ensure her baby was safe, just as he would now be exceptionally careful about who spent time in Kamea's presence. There were definitely a few people in this school he'd be keeping as far away from his little girl as possible. Being as protective as he was of his close friends, it should have been a no-brainer that he'd be even more so with his own flesh and blood.

He was in a rush to get to see Kamea, so Starbuck stumbled around his room a great deal as he pulled his school shit from his bag and loaded it instead with a soft blanket and a stuffed animal he'd had since he was a kid. Starbuck didn't sleep with it or anything, but he did keep it close as a reminder of his dad, who had given it to him. The little stuffed dolphin still amused him, mostly because Starbuck wasn't all that fond of the real animals. Too bad Bardsley hadn't realized that when Starbuck was only three years old. The eyes were missing, which was a good thing, since such little black buttons could be dangerous, and it was a little tattered around the fins, but that just showed it had been loved. He ran his thumb over the fuzzy toy and smiled. Bardsley would be glad to know that the little stuffed animal was being passed on to his granddaughter. In addition to the toy and the blanket, Starbuck grabbed a framed photo of his parents from his desk, as well as an album with more pictures that was in the drawer next to his bed. His memories packed up, Starbuck headed off to Lani's room.

( more )

Who:  Starbuck and Sydni
What:  A job, an intro, and a tour
Where:  Surf Shop and around the island.

Sydni was relieved.  In what looked to be a shitty week, there was one ray of sunshine.  She was now employed!  The last time she had rented The Azure, she’d noticed the Help Wanted sign at the Surf Shop, but she’d held off to make sure her class schedule would allow for it.  Now, she didn’t really care if her class schedule allowed for it.  When she was stressed, she needed something to occupy her time, and overworking was something she did well.  Add to that her penchant for throwing financial worries onto her list of anxieties when she was stressed, and gainful employment suddenly fit her schedule.

She had been at least partially reasonable and requested that she only work weekends, though she’d be willing to pick up a shift now and then during the week when needed.  Kyle had been impressed with her extensive experience, and being pretty laid back to begin with, agreed to her scheduling request.  He’d also told her to go introduce herself to Starbuck, the employee in the shop right now, and have him give her a tour.

So, there she was standing like an idiot in the doorway to the back hall, trying to calm her heartbeat.  Dammit, how the hell was she supposed to teach a whole freaking class when she couldn’t introduce herself to a coworker?  She was more than qualified for being a dive instructor, except for holding the actual certificate.  Oh, and the being comfortable with speaking to strangers.

She recognized Starbuck.  His name, anyway.  Both Frankie and Charlie had mentioned him.  And he had posted a welcome in her journal.  She remembered him saying that he could speak animals, and her heart beat faster for a different reason.  She couldn’t imagine anything cooler, seriously.

With that burst of curiosity, Sydni’s courage was boosted enough for her to walk across the shop and flash a nervous smile.  “Starbuck?  I’m Sydni.”  She offered her hand as she continued, “Kyle just hired me as a dive instructor.  He said you could show me around?”

Who: Starbuck and Ada
When: Saturday afternoon
Where: outside the school

It was happening all over again. Starbuck might not have been the most gossip savvy dude in the world, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what the column was saying about Kat. She'd screwed that new werelion, Caibre. He'd been trying to keep his cool since returning from break, trying to be ok with the idea that Kat was gonna continue to see other people. He kept telling himself that she didn't care about anyone else, that she might even love him, even if she couldn't say it. But that didn't make him feel any better. He couldn't... share her. It just wasn't going to work like that. But how the hell did he walk away when he still loved her? It was all so fucking frustrating, and while he normally didn't care to take medicine, he'd swallowed three aspirin before heading out to meet Ada. His head was throbbing.

Starbuck hoped she wouldn't mind listening to him for a while. He clearly couldn't talk to Kat about this, and most of his other friends chastised him for being with Kat. It was strange, but Ada had always been understanding, even when he'd cheated on her to get back together with Kat. Ada was either as fucked up as he was when it came to caring for people who treated them like dirt, or she was truly an awesome friend... totally irreplaceable. He was glad they'd been able to mend their friendship, and still really regretful that he'd injured it previously.

Shuffling his feet into his flip flops and throwing on a baseball cap, Starbuck trod slowly from his room, clearly in a down in the dumps mood. It only took him minutes to get outside and find the weather matched his mood. It was cloudy, and he could feel the moisture in them waiting to break free. It would likely rain soon, but he didn't mind. Starbuck liked to sit in the grass sometimes and just let the rain fall on him. He saw Ada ahead of him, playing with her new puppy.

"Hey..." he said in a non-enthusiastic voice, somewhat dragging his feet as he walked over to join her and Emmylou. The dog instantly started licking Starbuck's bare toes, which got a smile out of the man. "Hello to you too."

Who: Starbuck and Wes (maybe Jake and/or Kat at some point if they're interested)
Where: the tattoo parlor
When: around 8:00pm

Starbuck felt a lot better about the whole situation with Wes. The two weeks away from school had helped him clear his head of a lot of the negativity that had been residing there. Plus, it seemed Kat and Wes were getting along better, so what reason did Starbuck have to stay mad at the guy?

Wes and Starbuck had somewhat made amends before the break, but Starbuck still felt it was only right to talk man to man and level with one another. Wes seemed like a cool guy, Starbuck had thought so from the start, and he wanted to get back into that mind set. He also kinda missed his art lessons, and part of his reason for meeting with Wes tonight was to ask if they could resume those.

Starbuck also wanted to talk to Wes about his son, and what the new arrival would do to the already rocky relationship with Kat. If Kat was gonna try to make things work with Wes, it would likely be made more difficult with a half-brother now in the picture as well. Starbuck just wanted to prepare himself in case she decided to push him away again.

But he didn't want to think about that right now. He was feeling great, better than he had felt at school in a long time. His first day of classes had gone well, and he was actually looking forward to going to the shop. Kat was probably gonna be around, so that was a perk, even if she was too busy to talk to him. He also just really liked tattoo parlors. There was something about them he'd always enjoyed. His mom always said it was a career he should consider, but Starbuck brushed off such ideas. He wasn't good enough, not in his mind anyway. Seemed there were people who would argue with him on that one.

Walking into the shop, he looked around for Wes and/or Kat. "Hello?"

Who: Starbuck and Kat
When: Friday afternoon
Where: Starting in the Aquatic common room, heading for Hawaii!

Finals were over, and Starbuck was feeling damn good about that fact. He actually felt confident that he'd done a good job this time too! Energy/Light/Life was obviously the most difficult, if only because it was the class he cared about the most, but now that it was over with for the quarter, Starbuck could breathe easy, and upon reflection, he had a good feeling that his grades would reflect his hard work. Now it was time for some relaxing.

He'd packed for the trip home the day before, knowing he wouldn't have a lot of time on Friday. There were goodbyes to be had, and they included visits to the surf shop to see Kyle and a trip to the beach to tell Vegas where he was going and what to do in an emergency. She was settling into her new family quite well, but he still worried about her.

He was worried about Kat too, but Starbuck was hoping that she was simply stressed out from school and the stuff with Wes. A vacation would help. It had to. At least she'd been somewhat chipper in her journal replies to him. The cheeky comments showed a bit of her old spunk, which had been absent lately. He wouldn't tell her, because it would probably come out wrong, but she'd looked like hell in the past few weeks. It appeared as though she'd not slept at all since learning about Wes. The stress of the situation had to be weighing on her, and Starbuck wanted to help, but she refused to let him even try.

Maybe that would change this week. Maybe some time away together would mend the rift that had formed between them. He'd find out soon enough.

Locking his door as he left his room, Starbuck shoved his keys in his pocket and shifted his bag on his shoulder. He didn't bring a lot home, because he still had plenty of his belongings back at the house. Almost anything he needed would be there waiting for him. He and Kai had pretty much anything Kat would need too, but he assumed she'd pack heavier than he did. He checked his watch as he made his way out to the common room to meet her. Quarter to four, plenty of time to get to their first flight.

Who: Starbuck and Ari
When: Tuesday evening, after football
Where: the gym

Finals were just around the corner, and Starbuck had no idea how they'd snuck up so quickly. It wasn't that long ago that he'd been stressing out over the last round of big exams, fretting as he waited to see how he'd done on Theora's test. Energy/Light/Life was the only class he really cared about. Sure, he wanted to do well in all his classes, but healing was his primary reason for being at Halcyon. Nothing else mattered as much as learning to use that one ability he'd inherited from his father, and he was going to continue his education at Halcyon until he felt he was skilled enough at healing to make Bardsley proud.

The new professor in his magic use class wasn't at all like Theora. But Starbuck doubted he'd ever find another healer like her. She was so easy to talk to, explained things in ways that Starbuck understood. He missed her a great deal, but he always kept a part of her with him. The amulet she'd given it was around his neck at all times. She had told him it would help enhance his natural abilities. Whether that was true, Starbuck wasn't sure. He wondered sometimes if it was simply a regular necklace, and if she'd simply told him it was special to help boost his confidence. Either way, it worked. Starbuck was getting better at controlling his ability. Healing bruises and small cuts was easily accomplished... so long as his mood was stable at the time.

That was his real problem lately. Attitude was everything when it came to healing. He couldn't even recover from his own injuries at an advanced rate when he was feeling kinda glum, how could he possibly help others? Starbuck needed to lock up all the distractions in his brain and focus. Hopefully working with Ari would allow him to do that.

The two men weren't close, but they'd worked together in class many times, and they used to be in football together. Starbuck had quit the club recently, unable to deal with being around Jeremy after learning some very ugly truths about the bastard. But Starbuck knew that Ari was still in the club, and so he'd arranged to meet his classmate when practice was over.

Starbuck stopped by the kitchens for a snack before heading to the gym, arriving just as most of the guys were leaving. He nodded politely as they walked past him, though his teeth and fists clenched when Jeremy and Xael passed. Both of them were on Starbuck's shit list right now. When everyone but Ari had left, Starbuck walked in and greeted his classmate, "How was practice today?"

Who: Starbuck and Cat
When: Monday night
Where: Kitchens

The weekend had been a quiet one. Starbuck spent much of it in the water or in bed. He wasn't feeling all that social, and it was clear Kat wanted some space. As reluctant as he was to give it to her, knowing something was wrong, he kept his distance. Starbuck was trying to do what was right, but that was damn difficult when you didn't know how to define 'right'.

Now the school week was up and running again, and things didn't seem to be getting any better. Kat seemed worse. She acted so strangely in their classes. Twitchy and unfocused. There was that gut instinct to reach out and help, but he knew his hand would just be slapped away, and Starbuck didn't want to make things worse for her. She had enough problems to deal with, his grumpy state didn't need to be added to the list. No, he'd just keep his mouth shut for the time being, all the while keeping a close eye on her. If things got bad, if he really thought she needed help, he'd step in and ignore her protests. Yeah, she might dump him, but he wasn't gonna let this shit with Wes destroy her. Better she focus her energy on hating Starbuck than implode from the other hardships in her life.

But since he wasn't in 'hero' mode at the moment, he figured he might as well try and be productive in other areas of his life. He'd taken Vegas to the beach before sunset and 'introduced' her to the family group he'd found. They all got along fairly well, and he was confident Vegas would be able to stay with them and be accepted as a foster pup. Still, Starbuck felt it was best to make her reintroduction in the wild a gradual process. He'd continue to supervise visits between both parties until he was absolutely sure the little otter would be safe without him present. It would be hard letting go, but it was the right thing to do. Vegas didn't belong to him or anyone else. She belonged out at sea with her own kind.

He was feeling a mix of emotions over the whole situation, sad and happy at the same time. It was great to have found a family that seemed to fit, but knowing what was coming left him feeling a bit sullen. Such emotions made it difficult to focus on his studies, so he left his room behind and headed to the kitchens. Maybe a snack would provide enough of a distraction to let him get back to business with preparing for exams.

Seemed a lot of students were in the same sort of mood. They were quieter than normal, and few gave him more than a acknowledging glance as he passed through the halls. Starbuck moved from his room to the kitchens in silence, not even making noise with his steps, because he'd foregone any sort of covering for his feet. It was night, and he'd probably be attempting to sleep in a few hours, so he was already in lounge wear, just dressed in some navy mesh pants and a plain white t-shirt. He was all about comfort while cramming information into his noggin.

Now he just needed to stuff some nourishment into his gut. The kitchens were almost completely dark, just a night light of sorts was lit, but he liked it that way. Bright fluorescents never suited him. They made him all squinty, and that was a strange look on Starbuck. Besides, the harshness of such lighting exposed things probably better not seen.

As he rummaged through the fridge, he heard someone approaching. Starbuck pulled his head out from around the door, pear already stuffed in his mouth and hanging there. "Oh... hey," he mumbled as he reached up and grabbed the fruit, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. It was the 'cook', Catalina.

Who: Starbuck, and Wes
When: Late afternoon
Where: Wes' classroom

As if the day hadn't started off bad, it seemed to just turn into a complete shit slide, as it wore on. Too much booze, drugging, and sex the previous night, had left him exhausted, and rather off his game the entire fucking morning. In fact, his classes had one of the easiest assignments, that they had ever had, in one of his lessons. That was to draw whatever the fuck they wanted, while Wes enjoyed the peace, and quiet, and graded older projects, that he needed to tend to. Everyone seemed to catch on that he wasn't in a mood to be bothered, seeing that only a minimum amount of questions had been asked. There would be no more partying, on a school night, ever again. He could only imagine how the students were feeling today. Especially those who had morning classes. Haha, sucks to be them.

If that weren't enough, he came to find out, that Xael had a big mouth, and had told Kat that he had asked about her. Great... It wasn't that he expected to get away with it, but he was hoping that it would come, after he was able to talk to Starbuck. Now, he would have to be more careful with his questioning. If he gathered that Wes was fishing, and Kat found out, there was no telling how she might react. She could very well cancel that Monday meeting. The one that he was dreading, but needed to happen. It seemed, unless Starbuck told him something that completely blew his theory out of the water, that he was going to tell Kat, was he suspected... that he, was in fact, her dad.

Fuck, this was what he deserved. For all of his screwing around, and slutting it up over the years. It was amazing that this sort of thing hadn't happened before. He should have more than just three kids, if he lucky was really so shitty. Not that having children was a bad thing, but fathering a kid, that you didn't know about, had nothing to do with for years, was torture. It killed him to think what sorta life she had, and what it could have been like, if he had only know from the begining. Granted, his kids were far from spoiled, but they were loved, and taken care of. No kid deserved less than that.

Reaching up, he tugged down the brim of his trucker hat, further shielding his eyes, from the over head lights. He looked like shit, there was no denying that. Felt like it too. But, there were things, that needed to be done. Which was why, there were two canvases set up at the front of his class room. Paint, brushes, water, the works, everything they would need. He was willing to venture back into Starbucks comfort zone today, but not without some direction. Otherwise, it wouldn't be much of a lesson, now would it?

Who: Starbuck and Taylor
When: Thursday night
Where: the beach

Starbuck's week had been good. Really good. The bombshell dropped by his mother had changed just about everything. He had never been the kind of guy to think money was everything, and he still wasn't, but having the green stuff sure did make life easier. It was a huge relief knowing that his mother was financially secure. When Bardsley died, Starbuck felt a tremendous burden. He felt as though it was now his responsibility alone to care for the family, even though Kai was a strong woman, perfectly capable of fending for herself. And now she could much more easily. So, yeah, things were good in Starbuck's world.

But they didn't appear to be so good in Taylor's world. Dylan was gone now... something family related. Starbuck could understand that, he'd go home in a heartbeat if he was needed there. So if Dylan was leaving to be with family, it was probably something important. So why wasn't Taylor going as well? It was then that Starbuck realized he didn't know all that much about the dynamics of the Sandoval family. Was that a sign of him being a bad friend? Or had Taylor simply been tight-lipped on purpose, much the way Starbuck often was where his father was concerned. He couldn't be sure. The one thing he could do was be there for her, let her know that he was around if she did want to talk.

So after making sure Vegas had eaten and was likely going to nap for a while, Starbuck grabbed his board and headed off to the beach. When he arrived, he could see Taylor already riding the waves. Starbuck pulled off his shirt and dropped it to the sand along with his towel and flip flops, then he charged into the surf, belly on the board a second later. He paddled out, his hands moving almost elegantly through the inky black water as he made his way toward Taylor. The waves weren't great tonight, but they were good enough. He was sure to find a few worth riding. "Hey," he called out to her.

Who: Starbuck and Kat
When: Monday night, 9ish
Where: Kat's 'secret room' upstairs
What: Starbuck has exciting news to share!

Starbuck was honestly on cloud nine. He couldn't remember being this happy in a very long time. He had been carrying around some heavy burdens in recent years, and now one rather large burden had been lifted. He and his mother were no longer poor. He didn't have to worry about making enough money at his part time job to help pay the bill back home. He could spare a bit of cash every now and then when he wanted to buy something he didn't really need. And he could definitely treat Kat to a bit of luxury in an attempt to 'woo' her a bit.

First things first... he thought back to the other night and how he'd joked about feeding her grapes and fanning her. The moment classes were done, Starbuck had run into town on a shopping spree. He had a lot of things he needed to get, and not a lot of time to do it. Yes, he was slacking off on studying a bit tonight, and he'd begged Kyle to let him have the evening off (which Kyle was more than ok with once Starbuck explained everything)... but it was all for a damn good reason! The island was small, and it wasn't easy to come by all the things he needed. There weren't any huge fans made of feathers, but he'd found a big Chinese looking one. Grapes were easy though, and he bought bundles of both green and purple, making sure neither had seeds. He bought some other items of indulgence too, mostly of the edible variety. Then came the real challenge... decor. Starbuck wasn't the kind of guy who knew anything about fashion or furnishings.

( more )

Who: Starbuck and Kalli
When: late Saturday night (probably close to midnight)
Where: walking around on the beach

Starbuck shut down his computer after Kalli agreed to go for a walk with him, and got dressed. He'd been trying to sleep the last hour or so without any success. It was really too bad his mother had to be at the airport early Sunday, otherwise he could have called her for some advice. But, Kalli was a good substitute. Since Addy left, Kalli and Taylor had really been the only people Starbuck felt completely comfortable talking to. He felt he could tell them almost anything... not everything, but a lot of stuff. Really Kat was the only person at school he could open up to completely.

When he'd thrown on his boardshorts, a thick navy hoodie, and his flip flops, Starbuck headed off to meet Kalli outside the school. Going for a walk with her would help... he hoped. Hey, at least he wasn't running off to Kat's room to see if Noah was in there naked! And he wasn't even punching walls or shit in the gym. So, he was improving with his whole anger management issue, right? Selene should be proud! This was the mature way of coping with jealousy... hopefully.

It was very hard to leave his room and walk through the common room of Aquatic without taking a detour, but he managed to do it. Soon enough he was outside breathing in the crisp night air. It was refreshing. Yeah, this was what he needed... this and a talk with Kalli. Then he'd be able to stop picturing Kat getting a rub down from the quarterback and remember that she really did like Starbuck, she just had some weird hang-up with commitment.

Who: ANYONE AND EVERYONE
Where: Heaven
When: Friday Night
What: Charity Date Auction


Eva was something beyond excited. It fluttered about her with nervous energy. If she were out in the open water no doubt there would have been small eddies forming around her in response to the energy she gave off with each and every breath as she hurried about Heaven getting all the last finishing touches done on her crowning achievement. Eva had done her fair share of party planning over the years at Halcyon, she loved being in the mix helping set a mood. And let's face it the girl loved a party... especially a theme party.

But this was something more. It was something that had been entirely her idea. Born of... who the hell knew where but it did put together all her favorite things. Flirting, dating, runway shows, Heaven... the list really could go on. Even in her egotistical glory Eva knew that she couldn't have completed this event without the girls that had volunteered to help out. Taylor, Sam and Frankie had been fantastic, picking up on all the things that Eva was horrible at... you know like the practical aspects of the whole event.

The night had a beach theme as was befitting the charity chosen for the evening and Eva couldn't have been happier. Heaven had been decked out, Vale's assistant proved to be more than helpful at helping her organize the decorations and getting the staff to help out. A runway had been constructed with a podium at the back where Eva planned to do her auctioning from. Tropical plants lined the runway for the dates to strut their stuff along. Eva was almost jealous that she wasn't doing any strutting herself and with the outfit she'd donned for the night... she felt like she could. Perhaps not traditionally beach themed but it was a swimming suit... of sorts and as the auctioneer she thought she needed to glam it up and set herself a part a little.

But when didn't Eva think she needed to set herself a part from the crowd.

Eva exchanged a few last words with the bartenders for the night, making sure that mai tais and other tropical drinks were the order for the night. She wove her way through the tables that had been set up a bit aside from the runway, brightly colored umbrellas over them to add to the theme. She ensured that there was plenty of food ready for people attending and finally she made sure that man at the door was ready to take the $10 dollar cover charge. It was for a charity after all!

Now all she had to do was make sure that the meat er... the dates were ready for their big night!

( ooc posting information )

Who: Starbuck and Becca
When: Wednesday night
Where: Kitchen

Starbuck wasn't feeling loads better, but things had improved slightly. A lot of his anger had faded, only flaring up a few times when someone really set it off by telling him to get over Kat. Well, he wasn't gonna get over her, not for a long time, so people needed to shut the hell up and mind their own business! But, yeah, doing better. He was working on controlling his emotions, and trying to think about stuff other than himself. Other people had problems too, like his friend Rebecca.

Bec didn't deserve people snapping at her, but he really did feel that she needed to realize that Kiernan wasn't the man for her. Yeah, ok, there could maybe be some similarities drawn with Starbuck's problems... but at least he was actually dating Kat. She was interested in him as a man. Kiernan was a widower, had a child, and was much older than Becca, and there was no way he'd look at any young teenager in a sexual way. It wasn't about Becca as an individual, and it wasn't a judgment on how mature she was or wasn't... it was simply an older guy feeling grossed out by the idea of dating someone he viewed as a child! Becca didn't understand that, and Starbuck wasn't sure how to make it clear without hurting her feelings the way others had. He felt sorry for Kiernan too, thinking the guy probably didn't want to hurt Becca, but clearly frustrated with the situation and maybe losing his tact in turning Bec down.

Regardless of the circumstances, Bec was feeling heartbroken, and that was something Starbuck could understand. So he'd offered a little chat time over ice cream. Would it help? Maybe a little. Maybe he'd even feel better afterward. But the point was to get Becca in a better mood. He hadn't been all that attentive to his friends lately, and that needed to change.

Slipping on his flip flops and grabbing his keys, Starbuck shuffled through the hallways from Aquatic to the kitchens. Only a night light near the stove was on, but the relative darkness was kinda nice. It suited his mood, feeling subdued and quiet. So quiet that he was somewhat startled by the sound of someone else in the room. "Bec?"

Who: Starbuck and Jesse
When: after his mid-morning class
Where: random hallway

Tuesday hadn't started out much better than Monday. He had two classes under his belt and a free period and lunch ahead of him. The plan was to slip through the hallways without having to overhear any gossip about himself, get back to his room to relax, and maybe even catch up on some homework. With his hand still sore, it took Starbuck twice as long to complete any task that required the use of his right hand, so he was struggling to keep up with any written assignments. He was also unable to surf, since getting up on the board was hard to do one-handed. Didn't mean he'd stopped swimming, not at all. He hit the beach even more often since all the madness from Saturday. And at night, he took Vegas with him, sneaking her outside for some quality time in the waves. He'd still not found a good surrogate mother for her, and it was harder taking care of her now that he wasn't really talking to Kat and trying to comply with the school rule that didn't allow him to enter the girls' dorm. Good thing he was still on good terms with Dylan and Taylor.

But even with all the friends he had at Halcyon, there wasn't any one person he felt comfortable talking to about what was going on in his head right now. Seemed a few people wanted to talk to him, but he wasn't up for sharing. Not yet. Kat was the only person he really wanted to talk to, but he was giving Selene's suggestions a try. Besides, he definitely couldn't talk to Kat until he apologized to the dude he'd beat up. Starbuck planned to do that this evening. He didn't work tonight, and he wasn't in the mood to go to football, so it seemed like the perfect time to say he was 'sorry' for breaking the guy's nose. Yeah, the apology might be a bit late, but it was better than never, right? Besides, his temper had finally cooled down.

He adjusted his bag on his right shoulder, the left still raw from the tattoo he'd gotten late last night). As he walked down the hall, heading in the direction of Aquatic, he passed groups of people and realized the gossip wasn't as bad as it had been the day before. Hopefully people were finally getting over it. Though, it seemed interest or not, someone didn't pick up on his 'leave me alone' body language.

Who: Starbuck and Wes
When: Late (just before midnight)
Where: Gun Smoke Tattoo

Starbuck's day had been shit. He'd kept to himself as much as possible, hoping to avoid having his temper sparked. He was doing his best to behave and prove to Selene that he was serious about getting his life back on the right track. No more fights, and he was going to really push himself in his classes. It was harder said than done.

Ignoring the whispered gossip that began when he walked into a room or past a group of people in the hallway was difficult. It was even harder to keep his concentration in classes, especially in the first of the day since Kat was present. He'd opened one massive can of worms, and there was no closing it. What did the future hold for them now that he'd confessed his feelings? Sure, she'd known before he actually said it, but now that the word itself was out there, it made things more real.

He flipped sides again, resting (well, he was restless so maybe that term didn't fit so well) on his right side. The left had been pressed into the bed for a total of what... one minute? He couldn't get comfortable. Couldn't sleep. Couldn't do anything! His head was too full of all sorts of crazy shit, and conversations with his mother hadn't helped settle the distress inside his mind. He wanted to talk to Kat, but he'd said enough already. She'd come to him when she was ready to talk... if she was ever ready.

Starbuck was back on his left side a few seconds later, before he sat up and abandoned the attempt to rest altogether. He needed to do something. His first instinct was to go beat the shit out of the punching bag, but his hand was still fucked up, and he was giving this whole non-violent anger management thing a try. It sucked. Majorly. Starbuck needed to feel that sting, the release of endorphins, it made his emotions easier to deal with... at least that's what he told himself.

Maybe he should take up cutting. He'd heard that bleeding yourself gave a similar feeling of release, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Then he'd be just as fucked up as people thought he was! So, the only other thing he could think of was to get some fresh ink. He'd gotten the tattoo on his chest as a way of coping with his dad's death. It didn't work as well as he would have liked, because he was still struggling to deal with his grief. Maybe it was just 'cause the tattoo was fairly small. He needed something bigger. Lingering pain spread across a larger span of skin might work.

He got out of bed and dressed quickly. Gathering up a fat load of cash, and throwing on a baseball cap, he left his room and headed for the cabs.

The ride was quick, and before he knew it, he was standing outside the tattoo parlor owned by one of the school's professors. He didn't know if it would still be open when he left, so he was relieved to find that the lights still shown through the windows, and bodies were moving inside. No sense standing outside, so he walked on in and looked for the art teacher. "You got time for a walk-in?" he asked.

Who: Starbuck and Selene
When: evening (after his fight with Kat)
Where: Selene's office

Kat had appeared shell-shocked upon hearing Starbuck finally confess his feelings. When he finally dropped the bomb, said 'I love you', it was like she slipped into an instant coma. Her eyes went wide, but there was nothing in them. She stood frozen and unresponsive when he briefly kissed her. He didn't expect that reaction. Honestly, Starbuck figured he'd be slapped or yelled at. This was something new. He wished he could have stayed and talked to her, figured out what was going on in her head, but he was promptly escorted out of her room.

Starbuck was cooperative, so the guard didn't manhandle him or anything. They just walked silently through the halls, Starbuck a step behind, because he didn't know where they were going. He would likely be taken to see the headmaster to be told to pack his things and get the fuck out of the school. He wasn't ready to leave, not by a long shot. There was so much he still needed to accomplish as far as his training was concerned, and then there were his friends and Kat... he couldn't leave without saying goodbye to all of them.

All these thoughts, plus a million more, raced through his head as he followed the guard, and then suddenly the man stopped. Starbuck nearly bumped into him, and only then did he get his bearings and realize where they were. He'd been so focused on other shit, that he'd not paid one bit of attention to his location. They were standing outside Selene's office. The guard knocked on the door and then crossed his arms over his broad chest, looking at Starbuck without a hint of emotion. Starbuck looked at the man in return, "Am I gonna be expelled?" Starbuck asked in a weak, frightened voice, but he didn't get a reply. Hopefully Selene would have an answer... a good answer.

Who: Starbuck and Rhett
When: Monday morning
Where: random hallway

Water Use had been fairly dull this morning, and that had forced Starbuck's mind to wander several times. Good thing he had something else to occupy it. His eyes nearly always found their way to Kat. She sat right next to him (in the front of the room), so he didn't need to look far to gaze upon her. Though, being so close to her, he usually got two rolling eyes in return when she caught him staring. Oh well. Small price to pay for the privilege. Besides, he was pretty much immune to her rolling eyes. The woman was likely to have them fall back into her scull, that was how often she made the look.

When class was finally over, he hit the hall, walking beside her. Starbuck made regular attempts to hold her hand as they walked, but he was shot down each and every time... at least when there were others around. Still, it didn't stop him from trying. He was just letting her know that it was what he wanted. People liked to feel they were needed, even if they didn't cave in and reciprocate. Today, he once again reached for her hand, only to be rejected like always. Didn't phase him though. He'd try again tomorrow.

As they walked, he made small conversation about the class, and in softer voices they talked a bit about Vegas and how she was doing. It was because their voices were so low that he easily heard someone calling his name from behind him. Starbuck brought a halt to his footsteps and the conversation, looking back to see who the voice belonged to. Spotting Ada's friend Rhett... a man Starbuck had yet to really talk to... Starbuck turned back to Kat and leaned in to kiss her cheek before she could object, "I'll find you later."

With that, he turned to walk back in the direction he'd come from, meeting up with Rhett. "Hey... what's up?"

Who: Starbuck and Kat
When: Afternoon
Where: Starts outside and moves to Aquatic
What: Starbuck makes a discovery and needs Kat's help

With the weather heating up, Starbuck felt the need to spend more time in the water. If he was gonna be outside, then he wanted to be surrounded by cool and refreshing waves. When summer temperatures finally arrived, he'd likely be living in the water, because it was his only escape from the heat.

As usual, Starbuck hit the beach first thing in the morning. Surfing at dawn was his way of meditating, and it help him get his day started. Classes has been particularly difficult today, especially healing. He was gaining strength in this skill, but the more he was able to accomplish, the more exhausted he was afterward. He felt mentally and physically drained at the end of the day, and Starbuck felt a quick dip would revitalize him and allow him to return to his room and get some much needed studying accomplished. He didn't have to work tonight, and at the moment it felt as though football wasn't going to happen. He wasn't in the mood to put up with the guys in the club, Xael and Jeremy in particular.

So as he tugged off his t-shirt and kicked his flip flops aside, Starbuck felt as though he was shedding his problems. A second later, he was washing them away with the waves lapping at his skin. He didn't bother with wading into the surf all slow and reflective, nope, Starbuck charged the water and dived in, immersing himself in the liquid. It enveloped his body and mind, immediately setting him at ease and exciting him all at once. Nothing like a swim to help him get his head on straight.

He surfaced briefly to catch his breath, and then Starbuck dived deep to do some exploring. He was actually seeking out the sea otter he and Kat had befriended the week before, but as usual, Starbuck took caution when near the kelp forests. The long, waving 'trees' held hidden dangers, and they could easily tangle and confuse a diver. But as he approached them, the only thing that confused him was a frightened cry from the surface.

( more... )

Who: Katrina and Starbuck
When: Friday night
Where: Outside Terrene to start

Starbuck had been through a bit of a whirlwind this week, and he was still struggling to find his footing after all that had happened. He and Kat were dating again, but it was vastly different from before... at least it was in Starbuck's mind. His feelings were unmistakable this time around, and while he was sure Kat didn't return them equally, he was determined to move forward anyway. She wasn't perfect, but she was still exactly what he wanted. And righ now, as he scrubbed clean after a crazy night at work, he wanted to see her... but some distance was still needed. Kat had to know exactly how he felt, even if he couldn't tell her, so to keep from scaring her off, he would force himself to give her some space. Tonight, that meant spending time with someone OTHER than Kat.

Though, that really wasn't his only reason for meeting up with Katrina. She'd been a difficult friend to make in the beginning, and lately, Starbuck worried about keeping her as a friend. He wasn't stupid, he knew everyone had their issues, and those issues weren't always part of public knowledge. He had been going through so much of his own shit lately, that he didn't know what was plaguing Katrina. Still, it was clear she had something on her mind as well, and he hoped to demonstrate that he was a caring friend tonight, by being there for her. Maybe it was still the stuff with her sister that was causing the woman grief, which was a plenty big enough issue to consume someone. But Starbuck felt there might be something more to it. Plus, he was still worried about what he'd heard from others about Katrina's supposed drug use.

When he was clean and dressed again, Starbuck left Aquatic house and headed toward Terrene. He'd told Katrina he would come find her when he got back that night, but he really wasn't sure where she'd be. It was too late for dinner... well, for those who partook in meals on plates. He'd visit the kitchen's blood stock next if he didn't find her near her dorm.

The hall outside Terrene was empty when he arrived. But soon enough, one of its residents emerged. He'd been inside House of Fire several times, but never inside Terrene, and he didn't feel comfortable sneaking in an open door, so instead, Starbuck asked the woman if she'd be kind enough to run back in and let Katrina know he was waiting for her. The woman didn't appear to be in a hurry, and with Starbuck's winning smile, she quickly agreed and headed back into her dorm to find Katrina. Starbuck waited.

Who: Starbuck and Kat
When: Thursday evening
Where: around school

Unlike their last get together, Starbuck really didn't have anything planned for this evening. That wasn't to say that he would half-ass shit and just expect Kat to continue to date him. Keeping a woman around took some effort. It was just that he'd been busy with school and work all week, so there was limited time for planning. Besides, what time he did have to think, he spent a lot of it thinking about how to resolve the tensions that had developed.

It made his gut ache to see Kat and Ada snapping back and forth at one another. He cared too much about both women to see anyone hurt in this situation, and he really wished they'd each just sorta forget that the other existed. He could be friends with Ada and date Kat, and they could all just not talk about any of it... right? Seemed unlikely, but he was trying.

His mind had wondered off several times while at work that afternoon, so much so that Kyle took notice and told Starbuck to get out a bit early. The weekend would be busy, and that was when Starbuck really needed to be on his game. Starbuck gave a nod of thanks and left town, going back to school to grab a quick bite before returning to his dorm.

He munched on a pear as he casually strolled back to Aquatic, giving nods to the people he passed along the way. It was strange how he recognized nearly everyone now. It really hadn't been that long ago that he'd arrived at the school knowing no one and getting lost on a regular basis. Now, well, he was sorta a 'local'. In truth, Starbuck hadn't even expected to stay at Halcyon this long. He'd thought the classes would be easier and somehow... they'd magically teach him everything he needed to know in just a few months time. Man, he'd been WRONG. Starbuck had shown progress by this point, but he'd also suffered some set backs along the way. Still, he had hope for the coming months. Full blown spring would be arriving soon, and with it, he hoped to either take a trip home to see his mom or try to bring her to the island for a visit. If he couldn't 'graduate' quickly, then he'd need to start planning trips back and forth, because he'd gone far too long without seeing Kai, and he missed her like crazy. At least now he was making money, and he'd figured out a way to budget it so he was sending some back home to help with bills, some he used to buy phone cards, and the rest he saved. It was a good thing Starbuck had never been the type of guy to spend much money on anything for himself. But, now that he was going to be seeing Kat on a regular basis, he might have to dip into that savings from time to time and spend a bit of it on her.

Tonight, no money was needed. He loved that when he was with Kat, he could really just hang out and be himself. She liked a lot of the same things as him, so a good date could be as simple as a trip to the pool or ocean. That wasn't to say that he wouldn't take her out for a 'traditional' date if she was up for it, but neither of them were really the sorts to do the whole dinner and a movie scene. He'd had his dinner already, and now all he needed to do was change clothes and go get Kat.

When he arrived back at his room, he traded his jeans for navy mesh pants and kept his plain white t-shirt on. The grey hoodie could remain as well for the time being, but the real shoes had to go. He ditched the sneakers and kicked them into his closet, putting on flip flops instead. Before walking out the door, he finished his pear and threw on a baseball cap. It was right at six. Time to meet up with Kat.

Starbuck had grown really lax with the whole rule system at school. He'd never really been one to follow rules in general, and unless someone really got on his case about it, he would continue visiting the women's dorms. Wasn't like he was some sort of unwelcome creep looking to bust into a lady's room. He was simply picking up his date! When he got to her door, he knocked, "Ya ready?"

Who: Starbuck and Kat
When: Wednesday night, April 3rd
Where: Kitchens
What: They need to talk.

Find Kat. How the fuck was he supposed to just find her?

When Starbuck returned from the pool, having worked with Cassandra on the whole swimming thing, he went back to his room and quickly changed into some clean clothes. Loose and ragged jeans with a simple grey t-shirt did the job. He grabbed a hoodie just in case his search for Kat took him outside.

First he checked her room. But, after a few knocks, and a minute or two of waiting to be caught and told to scram, he decided she wasn't in there. Next he checked out the library. Kat was a studious girl, but no sign of her in there. Maybe she was having trouble thinking of school today as well. Now where to look? He thought over all the things she'd said to him the past two days. Didn't she mention something about wanting a milkshake? Hell, if she wasn't in the kitchens, he could at least get some food for himself. He was hungry after all.

As he walked into the kitchens, he heard noise. And as he came around the corner of the row of cabinetry, he spotted the short blond. "Hey..." he said simply, walking over to the island in the middle of the room and leaning his back against it. "So... you really did want a milkshake. Should have known." But, really, how could he? With Kat, you never knew if she was fucking with you or being totally serious. And that was why he was here tonight, to find out if she'd been fucking with him the night before, or if she really did miss him. He wasn't sure which he preferred. Neither would make his life any easier, so maybe it didn't matter. Either way, he wanted an answer. He needed one so he could figure out his next move.

Starbuck looked to his side and saw an overflowing bowl of fruit. He snatched up a pear and bit into it. Food for thought.

Who: Starbuck and Cassandra
When: Wednesday Evening
Where: Saltwater pool

Face your fears. Face your fears. That was what had kept Cassandra's feet moving towards the swimming pool. It wasn't so much the water that terrified her though. She had no qualms about the wet stuff itself. Well aside from possibly sinking like a stone in it, but that was why she had ever intention of just hanging out in the shallow end for a while and given the fact that she was way too tall for her own good, that should mean a seriously decreased risk of drowning. Thank God!

Instead, her body wanted to turn around because she knew she was going to have to take off the oversized sweatshirt and jeans she was wearing and walk around in next to nothing. She was not comfortable with that idea. She felt... too exposed. She'd... felt that way too often with the way her life had been before she came to Halcyon. Granted it was different, far from sexualized which was the feeling that most got from wearing little clothing but to Cassandra it was all much the same. A stripping away of protections that meant a lot to her, she was only just getting back the ability to make decisions for herself, a sense of freedom however limited. Maybe it was a little thing to worry about but it bothered her just the same. Though she was trying not to show it, or at least she was trying to conquer it by at least showing up and trying this today.

She had the swimsuit that Ada had given her on though. Tucked well underneath the light blue sweatshirt that hung baggy around her. She'd looked at it in the mirror and it had covered everything that it should. Though the top portion of the burn mark she carried on her chest rose above the stretchy fabric no matter how much tugging Cassandra did. The suit that Sam had let her borrow had the same problem. So that was just the way it was going to be.

She found her way to the pool and Cassandra knew she was early. The room was quiet, just sound of the filter system humming in the background. The pool was big. Huge. Gah. Inside, Cassandra toed her shoes off and left them by a chair that she scooted closer to the edge of the pool. Looking around for a moment she shucked her jeans off and laid them carefully on the arm of the chair and let her sweatshirt follow suit. The lighting in the room made it feel like her pale skin was about to glow. That was kind of scary! It also made the long jagged scars on her wrists stand out more than normal. Not that there was a normal, especially considering Cassandra's wardrobe of exclusively long sleeved shirts. Well nothing doing there. The way it had to be since apparently when you went swimming you had to be practically naked.

Crouching down slightly, Cassandra dipped one toe in experimentally. Wasn't cold, wasn't hot. She placed her palms flat on the ground and sat down, letting her feet dangle in the water kicking slightly. Okay it felt nice and so far no drowning. But that was as far as she was going without someone else there.

Who: Starbuck and Ada
When: 6:30AM, Wednesday, April 3rd
Where: Outside on school grounds
What: Starbuck has to fess up about his dickish behavior.

Starbuck looked like hell. It wasn't just from the worry, but also from the lack of sleep. He'd only managed to nod off for minutes at a time at a few points throughout the night, before he would wake up from a bad dream. He was dreading meeting with Ada to tell her about what he'd done, but knew he had to come clean. Some guys might have kept something like kissing another woman a secret, hell, some guys might not have even felt guilty about something like that! But, Starbuck wasn't one of those guys, he was too honest, and, while his behavior the night before didn't reflect it, he was also quite honorable. He had to tell Ada, and the sooner the better.

Once he dragged his tired, depressed ass out of bed, Starbuck headed to the showers. He cleaned up quickly, throwing on some jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. Before heading off to meet with Ada, he had a long, hard look in the mirror. Starbuck wasn't sure he recognized the man he saw reflected. What sort of asshole kissed his ex when he had a wonderful girlfriend who gave him absolutely no reason to be tempted to cheat? Ada was perfect, and he was a dick for behaving the way he had. He had turned into one of the men from Ada's past.

He sighed and felt tempted in his frustration to slam his fist into the mirror, but he resisted. After talking to Ada, he'd likely write his teachers and tell them he wasn't feeling well enough for class. He was sure he'd feel much worse about himself and what he'd done after his conversation, and that would make it impossible to concentrate on learning. Plus, he really didn't want to see Kat in their water use class.

As he walked toward the front doors of the school, he tried to figure out how he would break this news. There really was no good way to go about telling a woman you'd cheated on her, and he didn't exactly have experience with it. He had never done something like this before! What the hell had prompted him to break his clean record? He shook his head and scratched the back of it. Idiot.

Soon enough (far too soon, actually) he had reached his destination. Ada wasn't there yet, so he paced by the doors, worrying.

When: Early Evening
Where: Pool Area
Who: Kat and Starshine :D

What was it about Tuesdays and having absolutely nothing to do? There wasn't even a mound of homework needing to be done! What the hell man, what the hell. Watching television was about as exciting as watching paint dry (nothing good is ever on) and the internet just wasn't coming through like it usually did. It was just the same old shit on YouTube and The Superficial was slacking off on reporting on all of the celebrity train wrecks. Where was Brittany when you needed her? Lame. So needless to say, Kat was bored and needed something to do before she decided to take out all of her energy on some poor soul who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

After a few minutes of pacing and pondering, she came to the conclusion that a nice swim or soak in the jacuzzi (she'd decide what she felt like when she got there) would be just the thing to keep her occupied for a while. Had she mentioned that the weather needed to get the hell over itself yet, because it did. Anyway. She tossed on her usual black bikini, grabbed a bottle of water, slipped on some flip-flops and headed on out to the pool area. It was warm enough indoors that she didn't bother wearing anything over her suit and figured all of the little eleventeen year olds could have a free show on her. She was just such a giver that way.

Once she made her way down, she decided a few laps in the pool would come first and then she'd follow up with a nice soak in the hot tub. So in she went, cutting through the water like a hot knife through butter as her arms and legs propelled her through the crystal liquid. Blond hair turned dark as it streaked behind her and fanned out when she finally took pause. Oh yeah, she definitely needed a bit of a workout to keep her from going stir crazy. After another twenty minutes or so of lapping the pool, she decided to call it quits and headed for the edge. In one swift movement, she pushed herself out of blue abyss and out onto the tile floor. Water rushed down her body as she stood and her hair clung to the bare skin of her back as tiny droplets held on for mercy. Both hands moved to adjust her bottoms as she padded over to the lounge chair that housed her bottle of water and after a quick sip, she turned and stepped into the steaming bath.

A soft sigh parted her lips as she sunk down onto concrete seat and she shivered as her body temperature began to rise. Everything was blissful as she leaned back with her eyes closed until her spidey sense started to tingle. "Take a picture," she muttered as she leaned back to get comfortable. "It'll last longer."