Strange Love

Nate felt good, like a rush of adrenaline filled him, and he was eager to get closer to Bliss, the realization hitting him quickly before he scooted closer to her anyways. “How could I not flatter you?” He sheepishly added, grin growing all around as he managed to search her face. She was so beautiful. “I’m glad you’re here. I…” He paused for a moment, feeling as though his heart started racing for no apparent reason while he felt a little warmer. He couldn’t stop looking at her and easily smiling. “God, you’re beautiful.” And before he could do anything else, he had to kiss her.

Bliss was surprised by the sudden contact. Nate didn’t seem to be into her like that before. The only time she could even remember it getting close was the time at that house....but that was a really weird situation. And then he was calling her beautiful and -oh. She really wasn’t expecting that. Bliss couldn’t remember the last time she was kissed. it was way before she found this town, that was for sure. She didn’t know if it was a good idea, but she kissed him back anyways.

Nate lifted a brow as he got closer to Bliss, joining her in his own seat to watch the party unfold from afar. As he saw Bliss chug her drink, he muttered, “Thirsty?” With a small chuckle, he took his own drink, slamming it onto the table after he was done with it. “You know, I really am. Seeing you here is really nice too. Makes the whole place feel a lot better.”

Bliss gave a lazy smile. The drinks were hitting her harder than she thought they were going to, but she didn’t care that much. It was just Nate she was with. It wasn’t like she was in danger again. “You flatter me, Nate,” she said with a chuckle. “It’s nice seeing you too or whatever.”

Here it went again. As Nate saw Bliss, he wanted to approach her with ease, seeing that he hadn’t spoken to her since she seemed to escort herself out of the hospital. Still, as much apprehension as he had, he also knew he could just let her sit by herself, especially if what she was drinking was heavier than the basic beer. He was her friend after all, or so he thought, and as the evening had gone, he was starting to feel terrible about his own recent choices lately. Picking up two drinks, he swiftly headed to her and as he heard her words, he merely sighed, though continued forward. “I brought you a drink. And some company if you needed any?” Nate slowly started, a thinned lipped smile pulling at his mouth before he handed over the cup. “I wanted to see how you were doing too. I’ve missed you.”

She still didn’t get Nate. He always looked like he felt guilty for talking to her, and she didn’t get why. Sure she went through something here not anyone else seemed to have experienced before, but she was still normal, ol’ Bliss. “Oh why the fuck not,” she said with a shrug. She was buzzed anyways. “She took the cup he handed her and started chugging that down. She took a small moment to take a break and eyed him. “Enjoying the party?”

She should have stayed inside. Going to the potluck was a risk and Bliss knew that..she just didn’t want to feel any more isolated than she already did. So she went to the event, headed straight for the booze to ease herself, and then ended up sitting as far away from the fun as possible. It wasn’t what she planned, but it was enough. As she finished off her cup, she noticed someone going over to her and her annoyance started to build. “Can I help you?” she said, slight venom in her words.

Nora knew this is not what she needed. She did not need her friend hovering, being an unrelenting presence.  But she knew if anything, she would let up once she was home. She would leave her alone, let her have her space. But out here, in the open, she couldn’t risk it. Not when people probably wanted to ask her, get information. She’d be damned before she’d let them near her. She needed to recover, not be another news story. Nora tried to catch her, she was on the sidewalk, moving to support her. She was NOT well enough to leave, but they couldn’t keep her either. Nora would not send her back, but she would need to contact that healer she met, if Bliss wanted to meet with him that is. “Don’t apologize,it’s okay. Let’s just get you home.” She assured her knowing that’s what she needed most. “Sleeping in your own bed is the best thing for you right now.”

Bliss nodded her head. She didn’t know if Nora was right or wrong, but she knew that it was just too much on her right now. She missed her own bed, even if it wasn’t her real bed.  She leaned on her friend. “Can you help me walk? I don’t think I can make it home by myself....”

Nate didn’t want Bliss to just be alone, especially after just being released form the hospital—or as she put it, she just left the hospital—either way, Nate couldn’t just let her go by herself, especially after he watched her walk forward and stumble onto the ground. “Oh shit.” He muttered, quickly coming to her side, and offering his hand to help her up. “Bliss, I’m sorry! For everything. Especially with how I’ve been acting around you.”

“Why are you acting weird around me?” Bliss could feel tears starting to well in the corners of her eyes. “Why can’t you just let me suffer on my own? You....You confuse me. I thought you were starting to like me...now I just think you pity me. And I don’t want your pity.”

Elliot nodded. He could walk and talk, no problem. He just wanted to check on her, check in with her, see how she was doing and feeling. “Well you weren’t…” He took a deep breath. “You weren’t okay until now,” he shrugged. “They probably wanted to make sure you were stable. Which, uh. I suppose you are now. Are you… How are things?”

“Yeah, I’m super stable!” Bliss said dryly, not bothering to turn around or stop walking. “Things are great. I left the hospital, and I can go home. That’s all I wanted to do so.”

“You…you just left?” Nate started before seeing her walk off. Quickly, he jogged up to catch up with her after a moment as he continued. “Holy shit Bliss. And…are you—” Before he could ask, she stopped and so did he, so as to keep up with her at the very least. “Bliss. I just…I want to make sure you’re fine or at the very least okay to be going home. Who knows what the hell happened to you?” He felt selfish in wanting her to try and go back to the hospital, and yet at the same time, he also just wanted to get her home safely. “Let me at least make sure you get home.”

Bliss groaned before looking away. “And why should I care about what you think? You’re not Nora, you’re a very confusing friend, and I don’t have time for this.” She tried to keep walking and tripped, falling on her knees. “Shit...” she mumbled. “Shit, shit, shit...”

Nora had felt completely out of her element. She knew the world, fate could not be  controlled, but she never felt such a loss of it. But seeing Bliss, awake, standing–it offered some relief. She knew the way she reacted was not the way this needed to be handled. “Yes, we are going home. They clearly can’t take good care of you.”She assured her, squeezing her hands.”I will take care of you until you feel better. I even know a healer, if you need one. Home is the safest place for you.” Nora would not let anyone near that apartment without her permission. No one would come near her until she was well. What her friend faced is not for public display. The media would not know unless she tells them and the people can wait. Her friend needed rest and by God, she would make sure that happened. “Let’s go.”

Nora was such a mamma bear. It would normally bring a smile to Bliss’s face to hear her be so protective, but right now it just made her want to scream. She would never lash out on Nora, not without a lot of fighting first. So she followed Nora, putting a little distance between them so she could breathe properly. Between this and her headache, she felt like the world was closing in on her. “Thanks Nora...” she said softly before pain struck in her head. It was unbearable this time, and Bliss practically collapsed on the ground when it hit her. “Shit..Sorry...”

Nate stared still, his eyes still as wide as ever, but his brows furrowed in the slightest. “I’m…I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what to say or do. “Yeah, you’re awake. That’s…awesome!” He tried, though feeling like he wasn’t really thinking about what he was saying, and just letting words fall out. “Oh— yeah. I get that. Did you just…get released?” He asked, wondering if it would be too much to walk her home.

“No,” she said truthfully. “They wanted me to stay behind for more tests. But I didn’t want to...so I left.” She figured it would be stupid of him to try and bring her back to the hospital, so instead she started walking again, trying to remember which way was home. A wave of pain danced across her head and she stopped, rubbing her temples before cursing under her breath. “Before you ask, I’m fine...”

Emily was walking quickly, her head down, watching the feet of people passing by on the sidewalk. She was mulling things over in her head, everything that had happened to her, to Bliss, to the town. Everyone seemed, paranoid. Gossip was spreading like a cold in the wintertime, no one knew what was true, or false, what was really happening. Taking a breath, Emily’s attention snapped back as she stumbled into someone without realizing, and her eyes widened when she realized who it was, as well as the fact she had basically tripped and grabbed onto the girl for support, powers flashing through her. “Bliss?!”

“I’m sorry, who are you?” Bliss shook the girl off of her and took a few steps back. “I don’t know you. How do you know my name?” Was she one of those gossipers? She was tired of people gossiping about her condition. “Just...stay away from me.”

Elliot didn’t even live here. He had been going out for some things for the house - Heather kept bitching about apples of all things - and should have been headed to Main to the grocer, but something happened. Something shifted, and he needed to turn around, needed to go back, weaving through trees and past the apartment he shared with his sister, down the road for blocks. He did a double take when he saw the girl - it couldn’t have been, could it? “Bliss?” he asked, jogging. “Bliss, I just - I didn’t know you were out. I didn’t know you were awake. Are you okay? Better?” Elliot wondered if this was why he felt so tempted, so drawn to make his way to her. The urge to do something, to hug her, to make sure she was okay, was nearly overwhelming.

Seeing Elliot again made her feel weird. She couldn’t place it, but he was the last face she saw at that party. But she doesn’t even remember what they did at the party. She decided she didn’t want to see him right now. It felt like being questioned by the police all over again. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just trying to leave. I haven’t been home in a fucking week.”

“Me? Apparently you’re the one who fucking can’t! ” She sneered, not knowing who she’d bumped into. She’d left, needing to get a few more things from the hospital. She’d gotten word that while she was gone Bliss had woken up. She NEEDED to get back, but clearly she had unknowingly been one step ahead of Nora. When she looked up ready to chew into the person she collided with, her expression soften. “What in the hell are you doing here?” she exclaimed, she assumed she’d stay, if not by doctor recommendation then  by the police. “Why did they release you? You should NOT be up right now. I am going to sue this hospital.” 

Bliss was on edge. She wanted to scream, run, or be anywhere but in front of Nora. She couldn’t look at her; it wasn’t because Nora did anything wrong, no. It was all Bliss. She just wasn’t ready to deal with the fact that Nora was scared because of her. “Stop,” she whispered, holding her hands out so that she wouldn’t get any closer. “I just...home. Can we go? I don’t wan to go back there.”

Nate was used to running into people. That just came with him as a person, but also as a speedster when he wasn’t necessarily looking at his surroundings as he was constantly focused on his destination instead. So, when he nearly knocked over someone, he knew the drill, turning to apologize to them upon immediate realization, hoping that the other wasn’t on the ground as that had happened far too often. “I’m so sorry.” He started as he got a swift look at the young woman, his voice cracking as soon as he saw her. His eyes grew wide as if he were seeing a ghost. “Oh my god, Bliss? I’m—” Her words echoed back at him and his breath was taken away. “I’m sorry! I didn’t…see you. Holy shit. I…Are you okay? I didn’t even…know you were awake.”

“Stop looking at me like that,” she said, her hands balling into fists. “I’m awake, it’s whatever.” She didn’t want to explain things, her head was pounding. “I’m fine, Nate. I just want to get home.”

Rosendale Hospital did its best to take care of its mutant patients. Most of the staff were mutants themselves, specializing in the medical field due to college or their own mutations. A lot of them knew how hard it could be to maintain a mutation. 

“No…no, you don’t have to be sorry about it.” Nate tried, knowing him, it probably was all his fault anyways, as he could receive on passing glance and he’d be a goner. “I’m sorry! I just…I didn’t know what it was in there, and….things were happening so quickly. I didn’t know what to do.”

Now he was acting weirder than her. She laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry about it, Nate. We’re young, it happens.” As much as she thinks it was a fluke, she knew there was no logical explanation for it.  So why dwell? “I think we should try and end things on a lighter note. Want to go get a drink?”