BRAIN FREEZE¡ [open]

[Petros Karras]

Petros watched while Atlas went through the motions of looking like a proper father. He had done the same thing at the funeral. He placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and hugged him as they lowered the casket that contained his mother’s body into the ground. It made Petros sick, once the crowd was gone it was like Atlas hadn’t cared for either Petros, or his mother. The only real hug Petros had received was from the woman he had least expected it from. Sure she was his sister, the proverbial matriarch of his family now but they had never been close. With a stifled sigh he placed the letter in his pocket and went through the pictures, they were various family photos she had sent in hopes of making him feel a bit more attached. He stopped at one; it was of them on the beach in Monaco over the summer break. It was of the two of them a candid shot. Atlas leaned over and laughed at the picture before kissing the top of his sons head and leaving. These monthly visits sucked.

Turning back to the photo of him and his sister he decided he would put it in some sort of frame. The thin and highly dangerous Eudoxia was sneaking up on Petros and tackling him into the surf. They then resurfaced he was pulling her up from the waves with one hand and she attempting to pull him back in. There was a playfulness to her that none of the others had, he was glad if one person in the Karras family was going to be in charge of his well being he was glad it was her. She was smaller than the rest of the family but she was much warmer and far more responsible than the lot of them. Petros started walking home but decided he would much rather have a milk shake. He would be starting detentions next week and He knew his professors wanted to have a parent teacher conference, he sort of hoped he would be able to spend the summer in Greens with his sister. But who knows how she would feel about him once she met with the teachers.

The door tinkled, announcing his arrival at the malt shop, he shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets as he made his way to the counter. He wasn’t sure what he wanted but a strawberry shake sounded good. Or maybe a chocolate one? Or both? “Eh a chocolate strawberry shake please?” He leaned against the counter after paying. The shake was much quicker than he had expected and he smiled taking a sip. Sitting on a bench just outside the shop he took out the pictures staring at them again hoping they would make him feel closer to his family.

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Closing her draw book, Zoe stretched. She had just spent the last handful of hours drawing. Her mother had asked for some new drawings, so she had taken some time out of her pretty much empty day to do them. Taking a few back out to look over again. Zoe admired her own handy work. Her mother would be very pleased with these. After all she had no idea what Providence was like. Traveling wasn't something that Willow ever did. Not as far as Zoe knew at least. All Zoe had ever seen her do was go to work and the market. One day, Zoe vowed to herself. She would get her mother out and about.

Letting out a big sigh, Zoe laid the drawing back down into her book. Taking a moment to glance around the room. She realized that she had never actually gone into town. "I wonder what it will be like." Zoe said out loud. This brought a small laugh from her. Zoe walked to her closet to try and find something to wear. Not really planning on meeting anyone in town but you never know. What would her mother say if she dressed as a slouch in public. After a few moments she choose a nice simple outfit. Pulling on one of her favorite zipper hoodies over the outfit, she started toward town.

Walking down toward town Zoe looked around. She had never noticed what sites were in Providence. Maybe it was a good thing she hadn't mail the letter yet. Maybe now she would be able to include some pictures of other things as well. As she walked she took a deep breath. Clean, fresh air. It was wonderful. Nothing could beat being in the great outdoors. Zoe always wondered where she got that trait from. She knew that there was no way she had gotten it from her mother. If Willow had any say in it, she would be locked up in a room, tight. Girls just were not suppose to be nature lovers.

It didn't take Zoe long before she was in town. It was actually funny. She had no idea how she had even gotten there. This was the first trip and she seemed to have found it with no problem. Looking around, she noticed different shops. Then her gaze fell on a malt shop. Almost as if her stomach knew what she was looking at, it growled. "Ok, let's go find something." She said in a smile quiet voice. Once inside she walked up to the counter. "Can I get a, uhm?" Taking another moment to think. "Can I get a Chocolate shake please?" Waiting for her shake she paid for it stood to the side.

Zoe took her shake with a smile from the lady behind the counter. Picking up a few napkins and a sthingy also. After all she was extremely accident prone. She was bound to make a mess before the shake was gone. Finally she decided to take and enjoy her shake outside. While walking she began to enjoy her shake with her sthingy. She always did love to start them that way. Not paying attention to what she was doing, she stumbled. That little movement sent her sthingy flying. Zoe watched in horror as the sthingy landed in the lap of a guy sitting on a bench nearby. Her face was flooded with color. "I am so sorry, sir." Zoe tried to apologize. "Here, I have some napkins." She didn't want to look at the guy. Knowing he would think of her as a total klutz.

[Petros Karras]

He wondered if there was anyway he would become closer to his sister when she would be coming to deal with his recent behavior. The thing about Petros was he didn’t know how to get the right kind of attention; his mother was constantly dealing with his petulance and temper. She had handled it gracefully even when Atlas exploded and threw his temper around. With a heavy sigh he smiled at the picture of his sister Eudoxia, she had his mother’s heart. He only hoped she would be as graceful handling the recent problems he had been having. Most just figured he was acting out because his mother had died. It was a good excuse and he would use it as long as possible. With a small sigh he placed the pictures aside and took a long sip of his shake. The crisp mountain air felt good in his lungs and leaned back into the bench.

A strange phwamp noise hit him and he looked at the quazi liquid in his lap and he jumped into action. Knocking it from his jeans he sighed as he looked at the chocolate mess that was left. “Jesus” he mumbled under his breath as he did his best to get all of the cold ice cream concoction off of him. The young man’s face fell as he spotted the now chocolate covered pictures on the bench. He cursed in Greek as he looked at them and slumped onto the bench. “Thanks, but haven’t you done enough?” Petros was too tired to get angry his meeting with Atlas had worn him down. Staring at the picture of him and Eudoxia he sighed at their stained faces.

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Terror filled Zoe's face and body. It was one thing to spill something all over her own self but something totally different to do it on someone that she had no idea who it was. She could tell by the guys reaction that he was somewhat stressed or just had a lot on his mind. Good job Zoe, you make enemies with total strangers, wonderful. She thought to herself.

Is it possible to piss someone off extremely bad within moments of meeting them? The answer to that question is yes. Because Zoe had just proven it. Here was this guy minding his own business and she ruin the moment or whatever he was having. Zoe felt horrible for doing it.

"I am so terribly sorry. I really am." Zoe tired to say and color filled her cheeks. Just then she realized that not only did her sthingy fall into his lap but on a picture of a female of some sort. Reaching in her pocket, she pulled out a handful of napkins." Please, take these. Maybe you can get it off before it ruins the picture. I am terribly sorry."

[Petros Karras]

Watching as the girl stressed out made him feel slightly flustered. With a sigh Petros sat back and watched her, as she turned red in the face. He started laughing bitterly as she fussed over the picture. It was some sort of cruel irony that had struck him, they were the only pictures he had of his family that didn’t feel forced and yet the ice cream was ruining the tan bodies. He liked the picture of Eudoxia her arms thrown around him placing a kiss on his cheek, it was the most affectionate she had been before the death of his mother. She had hugged him, really hugged him and it felt right. With a sigh he let her attempt to clean the malt from the picture. He still wanted to frame it.

Glancing over at her he gave a resigned smile and patted the clean portion of the bench next to him. “Have a seat.” He Gently took her by the wrist and pulled her down and then deciding he had enough of his chocolate shake he handed it to her. “Here, drink.” He folded his arms across his chest. He would have to ask for more copies, someone had to have them. They were just pictures. It wasn’t like she had soiled the memories himself. “I’m Petros.” He said as an afterthought as she sat beside him.

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Zoe felt horrible for what she had done. It was obvious that this picture meant something to the guy and she had ruined it. Leave it to her to do something like that. Zoe did all she could to try and wipe up the malt that was laying on the picture. Not paying attention to anything else. While she was wiping the picture clean she noticed that it seemed to be a picture of the guy and some girl. They looked happy. Carefully she handed it back to him. "Again. I am very sorry. Nice picture of you and your girlfriend though."

As Zoe was about to plan on walking away, or rather running away. He gently took her by the wrist and led her so she could sit beside him on the bench. She tried to hide the shock from her face. Not really sure if she had been successful with it or not. "Uhm, ok. Thank you." She said softly as she sat down.

As quick as getting her to sit beside him, he was handing her his shake. "No I'm sorry. You don't have to share yours. That is yours." She tried to protest. But it didn't do any good. The shake was in her hands before she could say anything. "Uhm. ok." She finally gave up and said. At least he seemed not to be as mad as he was at first. Looking back up at Petros. "Hi. I'm Zoe." She gave him a soft small smile.

[Petros Karras]

A laugh escaped, well it was more like a chuckle and he sighed. It would be nice to hang out with a girl who was at his sister’s level. He looked at the picture again and smiled inwardly. They had been happy, it wasn’t forced and he felt like a part of the family for once. Even Kora had been pleasant, and that never happened. He glanced at her and laughed again, it was fairly obvious she hadn’t been expecting Petros to have her sit beside him, and then giver her is malt. It was fine, he had grown tired of it, he really didn’t like sweets but every now and then he tried them just to confirm his lack of favor. He wondered if anyone else in his family disliked them, because his mother had been the type of woman who hid chocolate in the kitchen drawers.

Looking at Zoe, Petros sighed and laughed again. “She is not my girlfriend.” He ran his thumb over the picture and smiled. “She is not only too old and out of my league she is my sister. Well now, I guess she is my legal guardian.” It felt odd saying that out loud to someone who wasn’t his teacher. Parker had understood somewhat. Where had parker been recently? Maybe Petros’s rather cranky attitude had driven his roommate away. Or maybe he was just dealing with the death of his sister away from Petros.

“Please drink it. I’m not a big fan of shakes really. Or sweets in general really. I just don’t get them.” He leaned back in to the bench, Petros rather awkward in social situations where he wasn’t aggressively yelling at someone, it had been something his father found quite aggravating. But there wasn’t much that Atlas had really been a fan of when it came to his youngest son.

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Zoe sat looking at the malt in her hands. Still a little unsure what to do with it. Did she drink it, or did she politely take it with her to discard a little later. She might walk up and strike up a conversation with a complete stranger but taking a beverage from them was a total different story. So she just sat holding it in her hands. It was the most polite thing she could do at the moment.

Not wanting to seem nosy or an idiot, Zoe let her gaze wander. Petros was able to bring her attention back to them by speaking again. Looking back at Petros she watched how he caressed the photograph he had in his hand as he told her that it was his sister. Zoe glanced back at the photo. "Well you guys look happy. That's good at least. Right?" She commented. Not really sure what else to say.

"Too old and out of your league. Now that is something I don't think I have ever heard come from a males mouth." Zoe said with a small laugh. Quickly she looked back down at her lap. "Sorry." She said quickly. She listened to him talk about her being his guardian now. "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that you lost your parents. I know a little about that. I have never meet my father. He left before I turned three. So I know very little about him. Whether he is even alive or not." Boy Zoe suddenly felt like she was rambling.

Petros comment about the shake in her hand brought her attention back to it. Zoe had almost forgotten all about it. "Oh." She said looking down at it. Finally taking a sip from the shake. "Yum. It's good." Looking back at him. "If you don't like sweets why did you get this one?" She didn't understand how someone couldn't like sweets. She loved them.

[Petros Karras]

“Happy, yeah.” He sighed and shrugged sure they were happy. Then again he though everyone was happy when they went on vacation. Wasn’t it some sort of rule? With a shake of his head he laughed and looked at Zoe, “You haven’t met her, if you knew her, you would understand. We males don’t say it often but we sure do think it. Sometimes we voice this concern to each other.” He shrugged; it seemed strange that one wouldn’t voice how he felt about someone honestly. There were rules that Petros operated under that many didn’t. It was a byproduct of growing up with the Karras family, everything came with rules.

“Eh, my mom died.” He took a deep breath he hadn’t really talked about it with anyone. “My father, he’s still alive. They never married so he never had any legal claims to me. My sister is really my half sister but she was left in charge of me. Another stab at my father’s heart I imagined. I can’t say I am sad about it. Atlas is a rather difficult individual.” With a shrug he looked down at his hands and once again the pictures. He set them aside, he had enough family talk for the day.

She asked him about the shake and why he had gotten it. With nod he looked at the shake and smiled. “I suppose I feel like I should like them so every now and then I try one. Yet the result is always the same. I do not like them.” He wouldn’t mention that he wanted to be more like his mother, or that it was his attempt to fit in somewhere with any member of his family. He shrugged. “We all have our quirks.”

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Holding the shake in her hands, she decided to take another sip. It was actually pretty good. Taking a small sip she sat listening to Petros as he talked. It was nice to hear someone talking. She had spent so much time alone in her dorm or down by the waterfall that she had almost forgotten what another voice sounded like. So this was a welcome change.

Zoe looked back up at Petros when he commented about being happy with a laugh. Almost like she should have known what was going on to make them look that happy. But she was lost and just passed the thought over. "No I don't think I can say I've met her. This list of people I have met hear so far is a very short list actually. Only about a handful of people. " She told him in response to his comment about not knowing her. Listening to him talk about how males might talk to each other and not at all sometimes. She never did understand guys. They were confusing.

When Petros told Zoe about his mother being deceased, she couldn't help but feel bad for saying anything. Something told her that was a subject he really didn't want to bring up especially with a complete and total stranger. "I don't know what I would do if I lost my mother. She is all I have left. Or at least I that I know about. And I don't really care to know anything about my father. The least I know the better. At least that's my opinion." Anyone that can walk out on their family she really didn't anything to do with. Especially when that family needed them, she added to herself.

Zoe watched as Petros laid his photograph to the side. Maybe that was his way of saying that they had spent enough time talking about family. That was fine by her. She wasn't really good at talking about her family. That was a part of her she liked to keep to herself. Noticing he seemed to be looking at something, Zoe followed his gaze. It ended back on the shake in her hands. Seeming to notice it again, she took another sip. The fact that he still got a shake even though he knew he didn't like them brought a smile to her face. "I guess I can understand that. A little at least. You never know when your taste might change."

[Petros Karras]

He gave Zoe a sideways glance. It was certainly a strange thing to say. Of course no one had met her here, she wasn’t from here. Shaking his head he sighed. It would be best to ignore what she had said, he would simply find himself frustrated with the end result. With a heavy sigh he readjusted himself on the bench listening to her. He wondered why anyone would feel such animosity for someone who was a part of them. Didn’t she want to know what he was like, what little habits she had picked up from him? After all weather he walked out or not he was her father. Deciding it was best not to say anything at all about how she felt about loosing her mother he sighed.

Petros wanted to tell her it would feel like the entire world was falling apart under her nose, that no matter how often she attempted to fill her lungs with air she would find herself gasping. He even wanted to say that every morning when she woke she would fall down on her knees and deal with the pain of the loss while gasping for breath. It was one of the worst pains in the entire world and no one would be able to soothe it no matter how hard they tried. Pursing his lips he did his best not to speak his mind. It was something he would have to try to do better job of.

“Uh, yeah.” He hadn’t been paying attention, he was too busy focused on his own thoughts to bother with what she was saying. He figured now would be a time for small talk and sighed, he wasn’t good at small talk, he never did understand the purpose of talking about the weather. It didn’t take the conversation anywhere, it just allowed you to sit and talk about useless fluff. “So uh, I haven’t seen you around. I assume you go to the academy.” Did he really just say that? Oh well.

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Looking back at her lap, Zoe didn't know what else to say, so she kept quiet. Petros seemed to be processing the things she had said because he wasn't talking. She noticed that he was kind of looking at her but then started shaking his head. This made her look back up. What did she say to that? She had no idea. Wondering what that reaction was to but not wanting to sound stupid, she kept quiet.

Their silence made her think back on what she had said. Did she really have that much animosity toward her father? She never really realized it before. Knowing that her mother hated him was always one thing but sharing those same emotions toward someone that had help create her seemed wrong. But then again, how could she feel any different. The man left when his family needed him the most. Families are suppose to stick together, right. Shaking her head, Zoe looked away, toward the others in the town. Thinking about her father made her mad but the thought of losing her mother was the exact opposite. This thought brought out fear and sadness to her. Zoe knew that she never wanted to experience that particular lost but also knew that one day she would.

Slowly Zoe looked back at Petros, he was still really quiet. That wasn't something Zoe was use to. At least when around people. She was use to talking or being talked to. So silence was definably a difference. Maybe the conversation had brought up to many painful memories that he didn't want to share. Zoe had no idea what that was like. Part of her couldn't help but be glad of that also. With a small sigh she took another sip of the forgotten shake in her hand.

After what seemed like forever, Petros spoke again. It was such a surprise that Zoe couldn't help but jump a little. She wasn't really expecting it. Slowly she turned her head back toward him. But nothing else came out. Maybe she only thought she heard something. Looking back at the crowd, he spoke again. Asking if she went to the academy. Well at least it was a conversation. It was better than complete silence. "Yea. I just moved here. I will be attending the academy when classes pick back." Taking a moment. she started again. "What about you? Do you go to the academy?" Small talk. It was better than nothing at least. She really didn't want to sit in complete silence.

[Petros Karras]

“Uh, yeah I just transferred.” He couldn’t believe he was allowed to transfer, he figured the fact he had asked would have caused strain between him and Eudoxia but she she thought about, looked at the literature and said yes. It had come as quite a surprise, but he figured she was simply being nice. She wouldn’t be nice for much longer. That was fine he was worried about her anyway and more than happy to see her. Atlas had mentioned the explosion at the Ministry and that Eudoxia had gotten caught in it. What was she doing there anyway? It didn’t make much sense unless she was there filing paperwork for him. In which case it was his fault.

Was it his fault? A small mount of fear and guilt hit him square in the chest and he sighed. If it was his fault he would have to worry about Lot coming after him when he escaped from whatever prison he was in now. It drove Petros crazy that Atlas was so fond of Lot and his constant state of incarceration but when it came to his youngest son he wanted nothing to do with his good grades. With a sigh he readjusted himself. He was started to get agitated in his own thought and he sighed.

“I’m sorry, I have never made good company.” He shrugged. “At least that’s what I’ve been told, I’m moody with a short fuse, at least that’s what my mother use to say. I get it from my father.” Shrugging at Zoe he sighed. “Sorry, I haven’t wanted company since my mother died, its easier to avoid faking happiness when you don’t see anyone.” Life wasn’t fair, it didn’t understand why his mother had to die so young and his good for nothing self-absorbed brother was alive.

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Zoe sat listening to Petros talk. Of course he wasn't saying much. But she really didn't expect him to. Not a lot of people did that around her. Some did where as others didn't but that was just something she was use to. Also sitting in prefect silence was also something she was use to.

"Looks like we might have that in common." Zoe replied when he commented on transferring. Feeling the need to elaborate on that she continued. "Before I moved here, I took private lessons from a really old lady in the village back home." Of course she didn't add the fact that there wasn't many witches or wizards leaving in the village. That the fact that they lived there was to hide Zoe's magic. That wasn't something she really felt the need to share at the moment.

Even though Petros was silent, his body language gave a lot away. He seemed to be thinking about something that wasn't entirely happy. Not really sure what was causing the reaction, Zoe didn't know what to say. So she just chose to be quiet. The last thing she wanted was to run someone away because they thought she was chatty. Most people didn't like it when others rambled on and on. Of course, Zoe could start talking and never hush. It was one of her many faults.

So he thought he was bad company. This made her smile. "Oh, no. You're not bad company. Just because you don't talk doesn't mean you're bad company. Faking happiness is never good anyway. If you have to do that, then you shouldn't be around the people who you feel like you have to do that with." Taking a moment to take a few breaths and to look around. "Grieving is a normal part of the human process of dealing with death. You shouldn't have to be happy. The two just don't go together well. Sometimes the best company is a friend that is willing to just sit. No talking just sit." Looking back at him she gave a small smile. "But then again. I do tend to talk a lot. So if you just want to be left alone I will understand."

[Petros Karras]

Petros stood, the last thing he was going to be doing was pouring out his heart and soul to a complete stranger. That’s what Parker was for. With a heavy sigh looked at his feet. What was he suppose to say to someone he had just met? Explain his life story? My dad has four children all from different mothers, the eldest of which is a convict, the second oldest only 7 years older and in charge of him, then there was the second youngest who no one seemed to hear from these days was secluded in some strange country, but who could blame her with a father like Atlas. He was almost annoyed with her. Who cared how she got there? What the heck did she know about life?

Who was she to give him advice on grieving; she had no idea what it felt like when the whole world crashed down around you. She had no clue what it was like to lose everything in one moment. There was nothing she could say to him that would show him she was worth more than what had transpired between them. “I think you’ve done enough” He looked at her and shook his head. What was the point she was just a girl who had no experience and carried a grudge against someone who had long since forgotten her. Petros tentatively walked away, he needed to get away.

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Zoe thought on what she had said. Maybe she shouldn't have said it. After all, she really didn't understand what this guy was going through. She was only trying to be friendly. But as usual, she had messed that one up. Stupid Zoe, trying to be nice to a complete stranger and what did it get her. Nothing, nothing at all. She was really thinking that this trip into town had been a very horrible idea.

Feeling the tension that had suddenly rose between them, Zoe looked away. Trying her best to not stare. But his movement brought her attention back to Petros. Watching him stand filled with anger, Zoe was certain of what she had done. Once again she had said to much. Leave it to her to do something like that. Then the comment of how she had done enough. It was very harsh, but also partly true. At first all Zoe could do was stare.

Without realizing what she was doing, Zoe stood up. "Hey. Look. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did. I was only trying to help." But it didn't seem to do any good. He kept walking away. "Way to go Zoe. Running strangers off now." She said in a quiet voice to herself. Turning back to the bench and the discarded Milk shake.