Sage McCallister/Elle

Eleanor FrancisSage McCallister

### First Encounters

She was in the library, of course, and was flicking through a book on psychology. She was breaking the rules, though, as she was eating some food not very discreetly but she was hidden by bookshelves so she doubted anyone would catch her.

She could hear someone moving around and her skin prickled and her stomach churned but she forced it down and shrunk deeper into the chair, forcing herself back into the book. But even Elle, who's read dryer books than this, found it dry and her mind was easily distracted.

She had raised her eyes to stare back when the girl trailed off, her eyebrow slowly raising as time passed by, listening to the rest of the sentence she rolled her eyes. "Considering there are huge signs scattered around the room saying "don't eat", I think we both know the answer to that."

She hesitated, regarding the other girl. Though her heart beat had decreased since Sage had popped up, she was still wary, unsure of new people. Oh well, this girl seemed innocent enough. "Elle," she replied, shifting in her seat. "Don't you have something to do?"

She flipped the book up to show the title. *Psychology for the brain.*. "Psychology. Light reading," she said, shrugging. "Should I know you?" She blurted out, studying Sage. She was usually good at picking out people and something in Sage caught Elle's attention, "you look familiar."

She tilted her head, still studying her, before humming out a 'maybe'. "How old are you?" She asked.

"Eighteen," she replied. She had picked up on the accent, though, "you're British," she said smugly, "I use to live in London. That's where I must have seen you. I don't forget a face." She sat back before pausing, "you came from London, right?" She asked.

She smiled faintly, "something like that," she said, looking at her one more time before deciding to drop it. She's seen her London. That *must* be it. "Are you liking the academy?" She asked, now just picking at conversation.

She was taken by surprise. She wouldn't have thought she'd have been the first person to go to when it came to new people–she's been told she's rather standoffish. "Oh," she breathed out, "funny way to meet people." She shifted in her position, unsure of what to say for once, "I suppose...I suppose I could tour you?"

She shifted onto her feet, placing the book into her bag as she swung it over her shoulder. "Sure, I guess," she said, frowning over at her, before beginning to walk expecting the girl to follow.

She shrugged as she moved passed all the groups in the library, fiddling with the strand of her bag. She wasn't sure what to think of the girl. Why would you randomly sit yourself down in front of a stranger? She kept her eyes in front of her, only looking over when Sage spoke. "About a year now, maybe just under. It feels like yesterday," she said, adding on the last bit with a bit of surprise. *Has it been that long?*. "This place becomes a bit of a...reality in itself." She didn't know why she said that but maybe Sage was so direct because she was nervous. Or something.

A shadow passed her as she thought of her 'home'. A moment passed, might have been a second or a minute Elle wasn't sure, "sure, I guess, I miss my dad." This was true. She did miss Jordyn.

"The library," she informed her.

"Still a stop," she replied. She obviously didn't get the irony. "Closest is probably the food area. Canteen, whatever, come on." She said, moving forward before beginning to prattle on about the architecture and the history of the place.

"So why'd you come?" She ask, cutting herself off as they moved through the canteen, "why this school? If you miss your father already, why didn't you stay?"

"Powers are so overrated," she muttered, "don't really help you unless you're a royal." She paused, "but that answer was probably obvious–sorry." She cursed herself. Where was she? She wasn't usually this slow.

She stopped at the door, "just in time, we're here," she said, pushing the door open for them. Inside, there was a low murmure of chatter but it wasn't overpowering like it usually was.

"And the coolest people you'll ever meet on the other side?" She asked, referring to mean girls, "and I was just eating fruit...nothing substantial, come on lets find a table."

"Neither," she said before finding one. "Do you...want to sit here and I can get you something? Or the other way round?"

She thought about her whithering diet but smiled anyway, "we can muddle our way through the menu together then," she said and with that strode over to the line, hoping she won't run into anyone she knows. Ten minutes later she returned with two salads, one ceasar, the other pasta salad. "Take your pick.'

*Thank god.* She shrugged, clicking her own open and took a small mouthful of it, "go for it," she replied, "so what element are you?"

"Just boring old water, I've got none of that special elements like most of the people here do," she said with a shrug, "but I've compensated."

"Oh yeah?" She asked, "I don't really use it."

She winked, finally taking a small bite from the salad, "just wait until the humans find out about us. Then we might be situated in the x-men mansion. Though I don't see our current principal being able to pull off Professer Charles."

She winked, "wrong genetalia, darling," she replied, her dry amusement obvious.

"Probably would be," she replied laughing slightly, "I don't really know, I never tried to imagine her bald."