( * --- LARISSA COLBERT )

He had never liked to see someone in pain, whether physical or emotional, and he especially didn’t like seeing Larissa in pain. She was someone he cared about and he knew that she was a good person that didn’t deserve to be hurting. “We can do that, we can go there and for a while just forget where we are.” He said giving her a small smile. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” Chris took her hands in his and his smile grew wider. “You will overcome this, I know you will.”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up -- perhaps for the first time all day, as he agreed to in fact whisk her away from the haunted memories of the town. Then he took her hands and it almost seemed like she had forgotten what it felt like to be touched by another person. All she could think about was Jared, nothing else -- except maybe leaving this place, which in all fairness was a constant thought in her head, always. She held onto his hands with a firm grip, trying to muster a smile to match his as she already began leading them outside. “Do you really think so?” She asked, before her eyes met his with a look of desperation. “Promise me you won’t leave me too, Chris. Promise.”

He didn’t know how she felt, he had never been in the position that she was in, but what he did know was that she was hurting and he didn’t want her to be. “Maybe.” He replied “Would you like that? Or would you rather I call someone else to be with you? Tell me what you want and I will do it.”

Larissa shook her head. “I want to be with you,” she replied, truthfully. After all, he’d always been there for her -- teacher and friend wise. Her eyes met his and she tried her best not to cry even more as she thought about ways to rectify her situations. There wasn’t any though, because the only thing that would make her happier would be for at least some closure on why Jared had been taken away so abruptly. “I want you to take me to the edge of town and past the border,” she mumbled quietly. “Then say a big fuck you to the government.”

“I wouldn’t advise either,” Theo told Larissa, having given it some–admittedly quick, even for him–thought. After all, it was grossly irresponsible to have sex with the first person one saw without gathering other information first, and doubly so when missing an ex, and getting drunk and yelling at guards who had nothing to do with Jared’s transfer wasn’t fair and would do her no good. “But if you have to choose between the two, I should think getting drunk and yelling is overall a better move. Are you sure there’s not a better alternative to both? Ice cream, maybe?”

“I really wouldn’t recommend that you do either of those things. One might get you in trouble and the other one… will probably get you in trouble too.” Thomas said to the young woman. “This place isn’t so bad, not if you give it a chance.” 

“I don’t care anymore. I just want to leave, Mr. Patterson.” Larissa sniffled. “My boyfriend’s left, there’s a chance I could get stuck here with some vicious Rising Power members. What’s so good about here?”

Bianca was in line at the cafe waiting to place her order when she heard a girl go on and on about god knew what. Normally, Bianca was not one to care or worry about others, but for some reason she felt slightly bad for the girl. “I think the getting drunk thing would be better but refrain from shouting at a government agent unless you want to be thrown in to solitary.” She said and shrugged slightly. “If your happiness depends on a guy then you have bigger problems. This place is bad, but it also has some… good in it. If you really look.” 

“Maybe being thrown into solitary wouldn’t be so bad. I’d be alone either way,” she responded. Larissa was, of course, exaggerating and there was nowhere she would ever even think about wanting to enter into solitary, but she couldn’t help the way she felt. “This place just takes and takes things from you. Where’s the good, Bianca?”

“They transferred him?” Kaden furrowed his eyebrows. He hadn’t heard of that happening before. He supposed that there was a first time for everything. He sat down next to. her on the couch and placed a hand behind her shoulders. “Sure, it got a little worse, but it can also get better.” He reassured her. “Why don’t we try to go have a fun night?”

“Either that, or they secretly killed him. Maybe he just left... I don’t know. I never thought anyone got out of here, but he did. And he left me behind.” Larissa cried, as she rested her head onto his shoulder. She appreciated him trying, and was reminded how much of a good friend he was. “I don’t think I know what fun is any more,” she sighed. “Don’t you have things to do anyway? Aren’t you with someone now?”

Sam smiled sadly at her bestfriend before climbing into the couch next to her. “Come on Larissa….” she’d sigh before beginning to play with the others hair. “Atleast you’ve still got me right?” she’d raise an eyebrow at the other hoping to peak her mood. “You know i love you more than anyone right?”

“I love you more than anyone too. But you have Logan...” Larissa pointed out, resting her head onto Samantha’s lap and snuggling into her. “I don’t have anyone to take me out on dates, or to you know... do coupley stuff with. I just can’t believe he’s gone.”

Christian had been called and told that one of his students was in need, no matter who the student was Christian would be there, but when they said Larissa’s name he rushed to the cafe. He stood next to where she was sitting and listened to her go on about her boyfriend and how this place had just gotten worse. The man knelt down next to her and searched for her gaze. “You could do either one of those things or I can offer you a third option.”

Larissa sniffled, shifting in her seat a little as her friend and teacher approached. It took her a moment to meet his eyes, and she tried to be grateful that he had in fact sought her out. “What’s the third option?” She asked, slightly intrigued although she knew nothing could make her forget that someone she thought would be the love of her life was now nothing more than an ex. “Are you going to whisk me away from here, Chris?”

Zach smirked as she scratched her arm. Satisfied, he rubbed the arm she held as if it was dirty. “Not likely.” Was his only reply to that. He would find it strange to not having a nagging annoying roommate who leaves baked goods outside his door. But he’ll get over it fast. He rolled his eyes as they neared the arcade. “Fine. One photo session and if you nag for more I will strangle you.” He relented as reached out to open the door. He wondered why Hunter deals with her crap so nonchalantly. It drove him crazy.

Zach glared at her, he spread the rash of poison ivy along her arm that touched him. A smirk spread on his lips. “I can be way more dirty. Woman.” He said a clear threat in his voice. He wasn’t going to let her ruin his mood. “Let go of my arm and it’s more likely you’ll live.” He suggested, it was a pain in the ass already to have been poked and prodded. “You’re right. It wouldn’t be the same. It’d be better.”

Zach scowled darkly, this little bi-he jerked his arm away but she latched on as tight as a monkey. He was very tempted to inflict her with a very deadly virus. He barely refrained from it. “You will pay for this.” He snapped as he was dragged off to the arcade. “Yeah, great friends especially after they find your body floating in the grotto.” He was seriously considering leaving his apartments but Hunter makes up for the crazy one.

“The suit doesn’t really breathe during training,” Jared admitted with a grin. The Suit ( it felt like it needed a capital S; it was a proper noun at this point ) was like wearing armor: he felt like he could do just about anything in it. He could keep private what he needed to, and it took the thought out of what to wear for the day. But he got what she meant: the Suit had become a part of his identity at Lake Grimstone, and he was surprised with the ease with how he now wore it. Not for the first time, he briefly thought of his friends from outside: the free-spirited adrenaline-seekers with whom he had traveled the world. He doubted they’d even recognize him in the Suit and glasses. “Oh, shit,” he murmured, feeling the frames on his face. “Almost forgot.” On his way to the bathroom, Jared pressed a kiss onto Larissa’s cheek. “Gotta grab my contacts,” he said. “And then I’ll carry you if you’re feeling sluggish, Lar.”

“That’s a shame. I bet you’d look good being all powerful with a suit.” Larissa shrugged. She’d often thought about Jared using his power -- trying to see if she could remember anything from the time he saved her when the resistance took over. She couldn’t, and that in itself was a shame. Every time she imagined him in action though, he was always wearing his suit, discarding his customised clipboard -- which Larissa would moan at him about later on. It was odd to see him in something so... casual. And now the glasses were going. Who was this person? As he left her, she pouted and stood by his bedroom door. “I’m not feeling sluggish,” she insisted, however untrue. “But I’d very much like a piggyback please.”

Zach gave her a ‘yeah, right.’ Look. He didnt care that they probably had everyones attention. He grimaced, “Hell no to the mama mia pick. We can go to the arcade.” He said as he opened the door to the diner. He was a gentleman even if the girl was annoying. Manners were beat into him, literally and figuratively. “I dont do photo booths. So you can scrap that idea.” He squinted at the sun and pulled out his shades and placed them over his eyes.

Zach lifted a brow, his amusement was fading but maybe he can torture her a bit. He inclined his head to indicate she go ahead of him. “You’re obsessively friendly and its creepy. Either you want in my pants or your psycho.” He drawled, plus he preferred his women feisty and sexy. Which she was not but that made it easier to ignore her. “You suggest and I’ll see if its entertaining or not.”

Zach knew that his roommate had been wanting to be friends. He wasnt looking for that in any way, however, if he needed to stoop so low as to see if she would do something fun then so be it. “First of all, there is no love in this matter. I’m purely bored out of my mind.” He lifted a brow, “second. You know if you werent so damn pushy and clingy I would be more inclined to befriend you.” He pointed out as he crossed his arms. “So you going to entertain me or I’ll leave.”

“More often than not, it’s you having your way with me,” Jared pointed out with a sly grin, knowing it was true. Their relationship had started with Jared asking Larissa what she wanted, and giving it to her. He liked when he told her what he wanted; he liked it even more when he could deliver whatever it was right to her, whether it was himself or strawberry ice cream. As she did what she needed in the bathroom, Jared tied a pair of beaten-up sneakers to his feet –– rattier than anything Larissa had ever seen him in –– and grabbed a jacket and his gym bag from his closet, zipping the jacket to his body as she stepped out. When she had put her feet into her shoes as well, he placed a kiss on her lips, wishing part of his power could help her wake up. “Right this way, Miss,” he said, offering his arm. “We’ve only got twenty minutes to get to the building now,” he finished, checking his watch. “Since it’s interior to the town, the guards are pretty much on a routine. People don’t usually try to make a break for it by running into the town.”

“I disagree,” she frowned. Although the corners of her lips did twitch into a small smirk that she couldn’t hide due to the accuracy of his statement. She’d continue to have her way with him as long as he allowed her to, which she hoped would last a lifetime. With her power though, she knew it could only last until one of their lifetimes. She decided not to think about that, and instead took his arm. “Twenty minutes? I hope you have your car thing with you, because I’m a slow walker when the sun’s not out.” It was her way of saying that she was tired, but she was sure that was already evident. She took a moment to study his attire, with a playful grin etching onto her features. “I think everyone will be running into the town so they can catch a glimpse of Jared Hawley in... that,” she said, gesturing to his outfit. “It’s not often we see you without a suit. I don’t like it. It just doesn’t go with the clipboard I got you.”