To Unravel The Rumors {Xander}

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Rolling over Zoë realized that it was morning again. The bright sunshine was seeping in from her dorm window. “No too early.” Zoë growled and rolled over, in attempt to block out not only the sun but the thoughts that had filled her head up till she passed out from exhaustion. It hadn’t taken that long before the rumors seemed to finally reach her. The big question was how much of the rumors were actually true. Was there a person at the Academy with her last name? Did they look like her? These were a few of the things that seemed to float back to her.

It didn’t take Zoë long before she was up and dressed. Grabbing her draw book and case, Zoë walked to the door. Taking another glance around the room, Zoë took in a deep breath. It was time to unravel the truths to the rumors or not. She was tired of wondering. Tired of worrying. Could it be possible? So many questions and no where to obtain the answer she needed. Of course there was one place, but god only knows where in the world he was. Her father, Jerek Kavanagh. He could answer her questions. But being the wonderful mysterious father that he was, he could be anywhere.

The bright sunlight that had been seeping into her window now hit her square in the face. It was so bright that Zoë instantly wanted a pair of sunglasses. “Boy I could use a pair of glasses.” Zoë said to no one in particular. Taking a brief moment to stop and take a deep breath of fresh air as she headed toward the walking trail. A morning walk was just the thing she needed. Maybe that would help clear her head.

Walking down the trail, Zoë felt that she was alone. But it wasn’t long before that feeling was chased away and another one replaced it. Turning to face whatever was behind her, Zoë was shocked. Shocked, among other emotions, filled her.

[Xander Kavanagh]

Standing in his dorm room, Xander stared out his window. So many things had happened that he was still having trouble wrapping his head around them. He was prepared for so many things changing when he left home to come here. The only problem was that no of what he was prepared for was what was now bothering him. Every since he stepped off the train in Provenience he has had one person or another stare at him. Was he that strange looking that it caused every person he passed to stare? This was a reaction that he was nowhere close to being prepared for.

Sleep never found him last night. As a matter of fact, sleep was something that had eluded him for a while now. Way to many things on his mind. The big question was actually how long would they stay on his mind. The obvious answer would be until he got down to the truth. But the wasn't the full answer. He had no idea where to start. After a few more minutes, Xander stood and walked toward the door. Fresh air. That was a wonderful place to start.

Stepping out onto the grounds, the sunlight hit Xander directly in the eyes. He hadn't realized it was so bright. Letting his shoulder length hair fall into his eyes, Xander tried to make a mental note that he needed to go into town and pick up some sunglasses. He had no idea why he hadn't done that already. For some reason he had left all of his back home.

Letting his feet take him where they would, Xander soon found himself on the walking trail. It wasn't a big surprise either. After all this was one of the few places he came. Walking down the trail gave him plenty of time to think. Only difference this time was that Xander wasn't alone on the trail. There was someone else here. Someone he hadn't seen before.

As the dark blonder turned to face him, he felt his world stop. There looking back at him was a face that he had seen year after year from a picture that he had in his room. The one and only picture of his father. Who was this girl?

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

A light breeze blown by Zoë tossing her hair up into the wind as it passed her. This was one of the times when she wished she had put it up instead of letting it fall free passed her shoulders. Now she was going to regret it being down. Down to fall in her face and get in the way. At least with it down she could hide behind it. Something told her that this was one of those times where she really didn't want to face what nor who was in front of her.

Turning to face the other walker on the Hiking Trail, Zoë quickly noticed something that sent an entire shock throughout her system. At first she had no idea what was the problem. Here stood just another guy. A fellow student of the Academy. The problem with was there was something vaguely familiar with the face that was looking back at her. Standing so far away she was unable to really put her finger on it.

Nervously, Zoë ran her hands down her shirt, fiddling with the edge of it. An odd habit for her to have at this particular moment. Why was she worrying with her top when there stood a strange guy looking at her. No scratch that, he wasn't looking, he was staring.

"OK, is there some reason why you are staring at me. It's very unnerving." Zoë said to this stranger. Slowly she crossed her arms across her chest. Without thinking, she took a small step toward the person. Suddenly she knew that all the color had drained from her face. That face. She knew that face. Something about this stranger she knew. But it wasn't possible.

"No. No. No." Zoë stammered out. This wasn't possible. "There is no way that I am looking at him. You can't be. There has to be a better excuse." Shaking her head, Zoë did everything she could to get the image and thoughts out of her head. This wasn't happening.

Of course on another thought, it could be. After all, wasn't it possible. What did she really know of her father. That was a very simple question, nothing. Well maybe that was an overstatement. She did know a little. Was it possible that there was another entire set of family that she didn't know. Of course it was possible. Was it likely that they were here along with her. Now that was the real question.

[Xander Kavanagh]

Slowly Xander crossed his arms across his chest and looked back at the girl that was now facing her. Her attitude wasn't something he had expected. After all he had only just met her. Why would she be so mad? What could he have possibly done to deserve this attitude. Nervously he ran his fingers through his long hair.

"Umm, look I didn't mean to startle or scare you even. I only came out here for a walk. Didn't realize anyone would be out here." There he could try with honesty. Maybe that would calm the girl down a little. Xander started to take a small step back. Backing slowly away from the girl. There was no need to scare her any more.

Suddenly she began to stammer with her comments. That began to confuse him. What was her problem? This girl was very unusual. Her repeating no over and over made him stop and stare even more. Xander found himself slowly tilting his head in a non-human way. It was a gesture he did often when he didn't understand someone or something.

After several minutes of further debate, Xander decided that it would be ok to take the step back that he had lost when she spoke. Slowly stepping forward toward her, he reached out toward her in attempts to comfort her. Instead of contact he let his hand fall. "Are you ok? I mean I really didn't mean to scare you so bad."

He tried to think of what she could possibly be bothered by. The only thing was nothing was coming to mind. From the time he moved into town, he had kept to himself. The only person other than the guys in the dorms that he actually interacted with was Cassie. So why would this girl have such a strong reaction to him.

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Staring at the ground, Zoë had no interest at all of looking up at this guy in front of her. There was something about him that she was very wary of. Usually she would trust a person until they gave her a reason not to, but there was something about this one that made her want to put her guard up first and then ask the questions about why she was doing it. The only problem she couldn't really put her finger on why.

Watching him react to her craziness, Zoë tried to think quickly but her brain just wasn't moving that fast. He seemed to actually mean his words. He means he didn't mean to scare or startle her. That would be a first. The big question was really why was she acting like this toward this stranger. What about him made her act like she was a complete and total idiot. Slowly she raised her gaze until it fell back on him. Oh, that was the reason.

"Umm, uh, I think. Zoë continued to stammer but this time she looked around until she found something to sit on. Her gaze fell onto a fall log that was laying beside the path. Just a perfect place to sit for a little bit. "I think I need to sit down for a few moments.

Sitting there looking back at the ground, she tried to rein in her thoughts so that she would be able to make an intelligent statement. After many false starts and very deep breaths, Zoë slowly turned to face the stranger. Looking up into the face that she only remembers from either photographs or the mirror, this was going to be a very eerie conversation.

"You must be new. I don't remember seeing you around that often." That's the way to do it, start off simple. It's the best way of starting. Rudeness can always be an option for later. But niceness can't be started after being either rude or mean.

"I'm sorry about that. I usually don't act like this. It's just that you remind me of someone from home. Someone that I haven't seen in many years." She shook her head at the thought that started to rise. Was there a possible way that this guy knew her father? So many other questions started to fill her.

Turing to face the stranger. "You could sit down too. You don't have to stand up you know right. By the way my name is Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh but most people just call me Zoë."