Well…shit was boring here. My little buddy ran off, Ally ditched the fuck outta that bag of mixed nuts and here I am…bored outta my mind and trying to keep from scratching at my back. Healing tattoos itched like no tomorrow. Anyway…Maybe I could bring Ally a lolly. She always liked the brown ones and I saved them all for her.

I sat on the floor in the hall, sucking on a red lolly and playing with Usa-Chan, a solemn look on my face.

“What should I do, Usa? No one really likes me, they think I’m immature and childish and weird but they don’t know me.”

A few people walked past, whispering and sometimes looking down but it wasn’t until I felt a hand grab my shoulder that I looked up.

“Oh…Hello. Come to talk with the weird chick?”

Alexandra looked down at her.

"I came to see why you are here?"

She crossed her arms looking down at Micah. She didn't exactly understand what brought the younger woman here, and hell, curiosity killed the cat you know.

"Please tell me that he's not here. That he's not going to be here."

She looked around knowing Zak could be lurking anywhere.

"I came for something new. To get away from the Curse. Zakie is here...he stalks my halls, my home, my gym and takes away my food. He just gives me the red lollys to curve my cravings."

I looked up at Ally, "I saved you the chocolate ones."

I pulled out a bag, full of chocolate Toosiepops and dropping it up at her feet.

"I wanted to be with you too...I don't wanna lose whats left."

I felted tears build up in my eyes and I shook my head, hugging Usa-Chan closer.

Footsteps can be heard around the corner. Smoke Man appears with his championship belt slung over his shoulder. He freezes when he sees Alexandra, making eye contact with a stupid look of shock and surprise on his face. Ally just glares at him as Smoke corrects himself.

He looks down at Minxs, and then back up at Alexandra, not quite sure of what to do.

Suddenly, he says:

Hi.

In an awkward manner.

Minxs is pre-occupied but Ally keeps her cold stare.

Have we met before?

He asks Alexandra. Not in a rude manner at all... somehow.

"No I don't think we have. How can I help you?"

Alexandra looks at the strange man, before picking up the bag of lollipops. She looked at Micah before looking back to the man.

"Where did you come from?"

Oh, err, I'm Smoke Man. I'm from England, about the South West of it.

Alexandra looks at him with a look that clearly says 'That's not what I was asking'.

OH! Er, sorry. I was jumped by Captain Extreme, trying to pin me for this, didn't work out so well, heheh.

You're Alexandra Callaway, right? Pleased to meet you.

Smoke Man extends his hand for a handshake.

Alexandra looks at him, still a bit leery of him.

"So you know about me?"

She looks at his hand and starts to extend hers but pulls back a little, before shaking it.

Stands and steps behind Ally.

"Ally...who is he?"

I look between Ally and the other Brit.

"He sounds like me, Ally..."

I pulled on her shirt sleeve, looking at the man in front of us.

Smoke watched their hands shake, and then looked back up to Alexandra.

Nothing to be worried about. I may be new here but I know my stuff. In fact I'm not sure there's any rookie here that doesn't know you.

He turns his gaze toward Minxs.

Now her I'm not sure about.

He watches her for a couple of seconds.

...Is she gonna be alright?

"..."

I hid behind Ally a little bit more when she looked back at me.

"She's fine. She just doesn't trust people easily."

I looked up at my cousin and nodded, looking back at the man in front of us, still sucking on my lollypop.

I see. I guess it's not really in my place to ask why.

Smoke pokes his head a bit to the side to try and get a better look at Minxs, but she hides quickly before he gets the chance. Still standing there, he says:

So, are you from Britain too?

I nod and kinda step out from behind Ally.

"London...You sound like me..."

I sucked on the lollypop, smiling softly with a flash of baby fang.

Smoke's voice softens a little, as if talking to a young child, but not in a patronising way. It's soothing and reassuring. He talks with a welcoming smirk, which had come across his face when Minxs smiled.

Yes, I noticed. I come from Gloucestershire, in the countryside! On the other side of the country, as well. My mum's from London as well!

He knows that talking about things in common would help her. He didn't want to alienate the girl... certainly with Alexandra standing right there (not that that's the only reason).

I smiled a little larger and looked up at him.

"Daddy used to take me there..."

My voice trailed off and I looked down, gripping Usa's paw tightly and leaning against Ally.

Smoke notices this, and adjusts his position. He bends over slightly, enough to see her face, and looks up at it. Soothingly he says:

Hey, what's wrong?

"I don't have a daddy anymore..."

I smiled and reached out, lightly touching his cheek.

"But it's okay..I have Ally..."

Another smile graced my lips and I flashed another baby fang.

"You sound like me..."

Smoke slightly touches her fingers and lets a little giggle slip his lips.

Yeah, I got that.

He returns to the upright position. He see's Alexandra's mind must be elsewhere... He looks at Minxs once more.

I'm sure 'Ally' enjoys your company. I've found it's good to have friends here, and there's probably no better than Alexandra!

He smiles during that sentence, and glances at Alexandra again. Still not really paying attention.

What did you do at the countryside with your Dad?

After saying that, Smoke realised he actually wanted to find out, he wasn't really making small talk anymore, his mind had simply slipped that concept. Maybe he was also warming to Minxs...

"Vacation...we had a hideout...Daddy said it was to keep us hidden from the bad things in the world."

I reached out and lightly touched his arm.

"What's your name...I like you."

My head cocked slightly and I stepped out a little bit more from behind my cousin.

Smoke keeps places his other hand over hers to hold it.

Around here I'm known as 'Smoke Man', but if you want you can call me Daniel.

He gives a big smile.

My friends call me Daniel.

I smiled again and lightly gripped his hand.

"Daniel...I like that....it's pretty...better than Smoke Man."

My head cocked again and I stepped closer but still held onto Usa-chan and within hiding distance of Ally.

"Does that mean you like me? No one here likes me but Ally..."

I looked down again and swayed slightly on my feet.

Smoke goes down, on his feet but with his knees bent, sitting on his ankles. He looks up at Minxs, as if she's 5 or something. He didn't know why exactly, he just felt like he should. He is 8 inches taller, but that still really wasn't a reason...

Thanks. And sure, I like you. Can't think why someone wouldn't like you if I'm honest.

"I'm weird...I'm immature....I'm childish...They don't like that I carry Usa or eat Lollys all the time..."

I looked down at Daniel and smiled softly, "You have to be weird to want to know me...but...I'm glad you want to take a chance."

Reaching out, I brushed my fingers across his cheek, smiling and licking my fangs.

"See...I'm different..."

Daniel's eyes widen. Somehow he hadn't noticed the fangs before, although she hadn't exactly been discreet with them. Not that it matters... he hopes.

We're all a little weird in our own ways. Everyone wants to be their inner-child all the time, but only the ones who don't care what others think can truly show it. And cuddly wolves, and lollies are all part of the package!

He taps the end of her nose with his finger quickly.

And I'm already taking a chance by even being in the XWF!

I giggled and shook my head, "You're funny."

Smiling again, I lightly touched his jaw, secretly loving the feel of his strong jaw.

"Why are you taking a chance in being here? I'm not as strong as the others here."

I had noticed his eyes had widened at my fangs and I sighed, "Don't eat my red lollies...they don't taste cherry and they are real...I won't bite too hard...Promise."

I smiled again and took his hand.

Daniel quickly stands. He slips his hand away from Minxs's slightly. Not quite sure of what he said about 'biting'. He's not about to bail, however.

Because taking a chance works. If I hadn't taken my chances, I wouldn't be in the War Games match next Wednesday, and I wouldn't have this belt... Well, I know he practically 'gave' it to me, but if I didn't try he would've given it to Captain Extreme or something!

He chuckles to himself.

Trust me, I'm familiar with taking a chance.

He moves his hand to his side.

I'm not gonna lie, it kinda made me sad when he pulled away.

"I'm not allowed to fight yet...I got hurt...I have to be good and stay away from the ring until October."

I hugged Usa-chan closer to my chest and kinda stepped back.

"I promise...I won't bite...Don't be scared...I don't have friends here..."

I had thought I would have a friend in Daniel....but he stepped away. Honestly, I felt like a little child who was told she couldn't have her puppy.

He sees her face drop and he has that feeling. That gut feeling when you've done something wrong but you don't know how or even why. That. He feels like he has to clarify.

He takes a step forward and opens out his hand to Minxs.

I understand. I was not certain when you said that you won't 'bite too hard'. The fangs had shocked me and you caught me off guard. I can trust you, though. I feel it now.

He doesn't know why, and for some reason he doesn't mind. He just has a feeling that he's misjudged Minxs completely. He'd been in the XWF feeling that he needed a chance to prove what he's capable of. Now he thought he'd given Minxs the very same chance, then took it away from her.

...If you feel like you can trust me.

I looked at his hand and lightly reached out, taking his hand.

"I've been hurt before...I don't trust easily...but I can learn..."

I still held Usa against my chest and I looked down slightly. I was scared that I was gonna get hurt again.

"Daniel...can I hug you?"

I held Usa up to my face, nuzzling him softly while watching Daniel's face.

Daniel looks unsure. He's only met this girl about 5 minutes ago and now all of a sudden she wants to hug him. The comment of 'I won't bite too hard...Promise.' still stung in the back of his mind. He had to choose between denying her in an effort to remove any chance of her biting him, or hug her, as to not break her heart.

He thought for a moment, then held his belt with one arm. He held the other open for a hug.

Go for it.

He told Minxs.

And himself.

I smiled and stepped closer, wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my head on his chest. His heart raced slightly and I just nuzzled his chest, trying to calm him but when his heartbeat increased, I pulled back and hugged Usa.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable..."

I hugged Usa and shook slightly.

"We have to learn to trust each other right??"

My voice cracked slightly...I kinda wanted him to like me so I would have a friend.

Daniel kneels down, and holds his arms in the same position as before.

I trust you. It's just my excitement getting the better of me. Do you trust me?

"Why are you excited?"

I cocked my head slightly, still shaking but stepping closer in his arms. I felt Ally's eyes on my back and I looked back at her, seeing her eating a chocolate lolly with a small smile on her lips.

I looked back down at Daniel, "Why are you excited?"

OOC: ...I'm turning really creepy aren't I. That was not intentional :s (thinking of an appropriate response, sorry :s).

Daniel looks up at Alexandra, and back down at Minxs. He shacks his head violently for a second and then stands up. Why was he about to hug a girl who has fangs and clearly said she 'won't bite hard'!?

Minxs looks up at him with those sad eyes again, and Alexandra is looking at him with a puzzled expression. He's being weird. She must've brainwashed him, that's it! Suckered him in before taking a bite...

...And stealing his championship!

But the poor girl is shaking... But then again Daniel did just catch himself saying 'he was excited to hug her' or something like that.

He looks at Alexandra.

Then Minxs.

Back.

And then forth.

I should've listened to Ed...

He mutters as he holds his head with his hand, and then turns, ready to leave.

I watched him leave, wondering why he was...

"Daniel...wait..."

He stopped and I caught up to him, "Please don't go...if you think it has anything to do about your title or anything...then your wrong. I don't want your title...I just really want a friend...nothing weird...I promise on my Daddy's Grave."

I lightly held onto his shirt sleeve, still hugging Usa.

"I thought you said you trusted me..."

ooc: I don't mind. It's not a big deal for me. I'm not easily offended and Minxs isn't either. You can say/do whatever you want. She's not stupid...just acting childish and innocent.

The feeling has welled up again. He didn't like it before and certainly doesn't like it now. He half-turns around and opens up his hand, in a way as you would when you want someone to hold your hand.

Of course I do. I dunno what had gotten over me.

He looks back to where they were previously. Alexandra has gone, she clearly had other things to do.

I'll be your friend.

He has a warming smile on his face, butterflies were in his stomach, for reasons he could not entirely fathom. Probably because this was his first friend since moving, and since being in the XWF.

Yes, he felt comfortable about calling her his friend, that's for certain.

I smiled and took Daniel's hand.

"Good but why are you excited...I can feel your heart racing in your hand."

He started to pull back and I gripped it a little tighter, fear filling up my eyes.

"I'm sorry....You just interest me. You're the only one who's taken time to talk to me."

He hesitated, looking at our hands then back to me, then away. It's confused me but he said it first...I just wanted to know.

Daniel looks around a bit, just around the room, not really at anything, more just collecting in his thoughts. Goes around Minxs to face her, not letting go of her hand. He looks her in the eyes for a few seconds, then breaths out heavily.

I'm excited because I've made a friend too. In you, that is. Like I said, you're the first friend I've had in a while, so I can sympathise with people not wanting to get to know you for what you really are. I like you, and I know that for sure. I don't want to just alienate you, I want us to be friends.

He lifts their hands a little to have a glance at them.

To be fair, if you hadn't made me interested I wouldn't still be here, would I?

He laughs a little, like it was a joke or something.

I giggled and cocked my head slightly.

"No....but that's a good thing."

I swung my arm a little and blushed softly.

"So..what do we do now?"

I stepped closer to him, my head still cocked.

Daniel looks around again, a lost look on his face. For some reason Minxs reminds him of a puppy with her head tilted, and how she's staying close to him. He blushed for a second as well. He giggled a little nervous laugh.

Heheh, I dunno.

His face lightens as he has an idea. He looks back down at Minxs, his expression changing back.

Do you know where Alexandra might've gone off to?