Reyna Levine

“People suck.”

Whitney gave Reyna a soft smile. She hoped everyone would have a good time tonight, even though it was ‘just’ a dance. This school needed a good event. A quiet, successful, fun event where people weren’t shoved into closets or put up against each other in crazy, vicious games or forced to shoot each other.. Pushing those thoughts aside, Whit wasn’t able to curb her blush at Reyna’s reaction. Of course she’d have that reaction, just like Aliyah and Raina probably would have reacted similarly. It was sweet of them though. “Tyree.” She replied, trying to sound casually, and avoid blushing further. “They do.” She chose to just confirm that instead of saying any more. Most could sympathize with her fear of crowds even if they didn’t understood or had felt the same way themselves. She had to grin a bit in response to Reyna’s words. It wasn’t easy to change. She admired her for trying. “You’re doing good. Changing isn’t easy but trying gets you far.” She liked to think that everyone could change if they wanted to. “Thanks! And uhm.. actually I was put in with Aliyah. So its going great. She’s basically my best girl friend.” Whit could hear the relief in her own voice. She was a fairly private person and changes like these stressed her out more than she wanted to admit. Being put with Aliyah when roommates were suddenly changed mid term had been a blessing in the skies. Shaking her head, Whit gave another smile. “Nah I’m just trying to get comfortable in this dress. I don’t think covering up will help with that, besides Aliyah helped me with this and I don’t want to come across as ungrateful.”

Nodding at the girl's words Reyna smiles. “You know a few years ago when I lived in France. We had a dance kind of like this.” With the shake of her head, she clears her throat. “I left early because my dad was going into surgery.” Wringing her hands together she furrows her brows. If she kept talking she could just... say it couldn’t she?  “I was going to go back home after the surgery but...” Could she even admit it to someone? With a light chuckle, she looks at Whitney after a few moments. “But I decided to just go back to the school.” Looking down at her hands she sighs. “But you know surgery takes a while, and the dance ended. So I went home.” Could she change if she couldn’t even admit what happened? If she couldn’t bring herself to say the words that she desperately needed to. “So it’s a nice change to actually be finishing one.” She wasn’t sure why she was stuck in that night from France. Looking up she smiles at the girl. “Well, it’s good that you’re with Aliyah! From what I hear she’s a sweetheart.” Nodding once more at the girl’s words Reyna lets a chuckle out. “Very true. It won’t help with getting comfortable.” She knew why she wanted to tell Whitney, but it wasn’t because she wanted to tell Whitney. She just wanted to fill the air, fill the silence that had been spreading since that night a few years ago. Scratching at her palm she looks away. She wanted to fill it by telling someone that reminded her of the night.

For the first time in months, Whitney felt hopeful. Hopeful that this night would be as magical as its decorations and current outlook. That for one night she might be able to forget about her troubles and just be a high school girl, at a high school dance, with the perfect date. He really was, even now, getting them punch. She had warned that it might be spiked already, though when your best friend offered to fetch you some, you did not say no. While she still felt.. a bit unlike herself in this tight dress, still felt like every darn guy going by was staring at her chest, she tried to hold onto the good tonight. Her nerves might be present but for once they were in the form of butterflies, not giant moths wearing her down. Of course it was pretty obvious that she wasn’t the life of the party where she stood. Crowds did make her anxious, so to avoid any angst, which only Tyree could erase, she didn’t move from her spot. Smiling softly at Reyna Whitney listened curiously. “What can be done to raise it from average to decent then? Mine? Oh its been good so far.” she said, trying not to blush. Alone? Oh no she wasn’t alone, well she hadn’t come here alone. “My date is getting us punch. So I’m not alone-alone, just taking a breather here in the meantime. I’m not good with crowds, you know. And its fine, you shouldn’t be anyone but yourself.”

Laughing she waves a hand to Whitney. “It will eventually turn from average to decent. After time passes. Good! That’s good.” Smiling at the girl Reyna listens as she continues speaking. “Oooooh!” Wiggling her brows Reyna laughs more. Before pushing a loose strand of hair from her face. Looking to Whitney she continues. “That’s cute. Who’s the lucky person?” She asks looking at the girl. With a warm smile, the girl nods. "Yeah no, crowds suck. So it’s understandable." Patting Whitney on the back she laughs softly. "I think I'm doing a little better at balancing brashness and sympathy. Which is something I want to do, who I want to be. After all, I’ve been inspired to be a more sympathetic person." Reyna comments looking out to the crowd. With a light shake of her head, she looks down. That part was true, she’d been meaning to do better for a few years now. Forcing a smile she speaks once more. "You look great Whit. How are you and... I think it's Eliza... how are you getting along?" She inquires folding her arms over her chest. Side glancing at the younger girl Reyna offers. "I have a cardigan if your cold."

With her arms wrapped around herself, Reyna moved forward slowly. She knew once her dad heard about this he would immediately try to find another school for her to attend.After all, something like this is what landed her in Fairfield, to begin with. Her mind had wandered back to her life in Paris a lot recently. It wasn’t as if she could help it. Everything was happening just reminded her of it more and more every day. Sometimes when the girl was just about to fall asleep, she could swear her feet were running across the concrete and it would startle her awake. the times she could hear the feigned laughter that Stacia would have when she put on a brave face. She looked like she had it all figured out those days...

The truth was... Whitney reminded Reyna of Stacia. Everything about her screamed the girl to Reyna. All those months ago... she’d treated Whitney as if she were Stacia. But Whitney had a softer aura around her. Stacia had known Reyna long enough to know, the statistics. The talk of playing games to think of the worst and best scenarios. They were just her own way of trying to help someone process. The rushing up to someone, and grasping onto them. Even when she was terrified, or even when she’d been in that trap with Kace...

That wasn’t the Reyna that Stacia had, but it was the one she needed. And she reasoned. It was the Reyna Whitney needed all those months ago when she was frightened about Gunner... and now Gunner was found. But could he even be considered that? Technically the answer was yes. Shaking her head Reyna shuts her eyes. She’d been right... even though she’d correct herself every time she thought it. If one of them was dead now. It wouldn’t take long for the others to slowly show up.

Looking up slowly Reyna moves forward faster. “Ms. Newman! Can I talk to you for a moment?”

@emeryxnewman

After Raina had spent some time walking with Aliyah, here she was again, still terrified and trying to calm herself down. Sure, she had looked around for both Adrian and Paige, but neither could be found. Her brother was on stage with Emery, trying to deal with Gunner’s body so she couldn’t go to him. It seemed as though every time she started to feel okay she was alone again and then the fear would creep back in. 

Looking at Reyna, Rae let out a small sigh of relief. Someone who very clearly cared about her was trying to help. So, she nodded and kept her eyes on the other girl’s face. She started to count her breaths, breathing into the count of four and out the same. It was something she had done before when dealing with anxiety attacks. She hated that it was happening right now. Normally, she would be trying to help other people calm down, but here she was freaking out. 

Nodding, Rae continued to focus on her breathing. “O-okay,” she mumbled. “Thank you.”

“It’s not a problem, Rae.” Staring down at the floor she shakes her head. “My uh...My best friend had some pretty severe anxiety. So uh... I kind of learned that from her.” Reyna’s not sure why that was what she chose to distract the girl with but she couldn’t stop once she’d started talking. “Um.. sometimes when she would get like that she would mumble the lyrics to her favorite song, until the words came out intelligible. It helped her out a lot.” Shaking her head with a sad smile Reyna shrugs.

“I’m not sure if it’ll work next time...” Trailing off Reyna softly sighs letting her mind wander. She’d barely even caught a glance of the body before she’d started looking around. But just knowing that it was there sent chills down her spine. Her stomach felt like it had been tied in knots. She wanted to say something. Anything to stop her mind from wandering again.

“So maybe my friend’s little trick isn’t for anyone. But she.... She always had her shit together...” At least that’s how it seemed. She ignores the bitter thought as she looks up at Rae again.  

Engaged in conversation with new friends and familiar acquaintances, Rae was glad to see Maisie taking the stage. She knew the gorgeous fellow blonde probably had something encouraging and kind to say to everyone at the dance. After all, Maisie and Harlow had put so much into trying to save this dance and provide a great night for everyone at Fairfield. She hoped that both of them were getting the proper thanks they deserved. 

When the lights went out, Rae immediately scrambled to find her brother. She knew he was at the dance and she hoped for some sort of sense of safety. As all the students around her murmured and scrambled to find their friends, she pushed through the crowd. Only when the lights turned back on did she realize that everyone had a reason to be as terrified as they were. This was no just  “ a fuse being blown,” this was a purposeful malicious act.

As Gunner’s body fell and Maisie disappeared, the blonde knew that whatever was going on at Fairfield was something more dark and malicious than she had ever wanted to believe. Whatever was happening, she didn’t want to go back to the dorms. She just couldn’t. So, she scrambled to find anyone, anyone who would care enough about her to stay with her. Her brother didn’t have time to help her and she understood that, but she needed someone stronger than her. Sure, this wasn’t about just her, but seeing Gunner’s body had taken all the wind out of her. She just didn’t know what to do. 

Dances were never Reyna’s thing. But she had to admit that the Andean sisters had gone above and beyond for this little thing And even though the girl hated to admit it she did rather enjoy the dance.  The light atmosphere, the students laughing. The time and effort that most students put into their outfits showed. The entire idea made her uneasy at first but she was suddenly glad she decided to go. 

That is until the lights cut out and everyone started screaming. Her eyes peering into the darkness for a short while before the lights blindingly came back on. Reyna wasn’t sure if it was due to faulty wiring, or a backup generator that the lights came back on but she wished they didn’t when her eyes landed on the stage. Eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of fast movements Reyna moved in a circle eyes wandering to the exits. Hearing someone running past her she looks catching the sight of the younger Castle boy, who had someone right on his tail. Looking around more Reyna sighs.

Letting her eyes land on the blonde. Without giving it much thought she briskly pushes her way through the crowd. “Out of my way!” Shooting a glare at someone she grabs onto Raina’s arm. “Raina. Hey, look at me. Nothing else okay? Focus on me.” Trying her best to maintain calm, she couldn't help the shakiness that crept into her voice, as she donned a serious expression to mask her fear. “Okay now focus on your breathing Raina. Can you do that for me?” She asks nose scrunching up when the scent finally met her nose. Reyna hated how familiar the scent was becoming. Slowly breathing in through her mouth, she exhales slowly. “Like that okay?”

Amara had been searching frantically for Wyatt, but no matter where she looked or how hard she looked she couldn’t find him. She was definitely on the verge of panicking, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried and failed to breathe. What made it worse is she had also lost Keegan in the wild search for Wyatt, but the instant she heard Reyna’s voice she stopped, turning to face her with a stunned stare before she moved forward a few seconds later.  “Reyna hey, can you- have you seen-” she started, but because she hadn’t been breathing properly and her stress levels were through the roof, the world started to blur before she could finish her sentence, and in an instant the world was black and she started to fall.

Upon hearing her name Reyna turns looking to her roommate. Brows furrowing at first as she hears the rushed speech coming from the girl. Blinking at the expression on her face Reyna’s eyes slowly widened. Moving forward she extended a hand to rest on the girl's shoulder to try to calm her down.

But when she started to fall over Reyna changed her strategy bracing her arms as fast as possible. Sighing slightly she carefully lowered the girl examining her for a moment. In any other situation, she would have immediately brought her to the infirmary. But with everything that was happening Reyna reasoned that was a bad plan.  “Well. Not sure if you’re coherent right now, or if you’re resting your eyes because of the lights. Or whatever... But we’ll do whatever you were going to ask later. You need to rest up.” Tucking an arm under the girl's legs she tucks the other under her arms before standing. “Right now wandering aimlessly is... it’s basically suicide.”

“It’s awful. I didn’t think being a dancer could hurt as much as football, but I’ve been proven wrong far too many times,” He rolled his eyes. Of course, he was still trying to dance with Maisie as much as possible, but she demanded him to take frequent breaks. “You gotta demolish them from the get go and establish your territory, of course.” He laughed. “But don’t uh, make them all stop dancing. That might make the dance look a bit lame.”

“Especially with the particular one you do. You don't have time to second-guess yourself. You have to know the next move so you can just fluidly change to it.” Reyna comments a smile settling on her face. Laughing she nods and looks over to Jonah. “Establish my territory, but don't scare them too much? Sounds easy enough, in theory.” Shaking her head Reyna looks over at the dancing teens. “Yeah, definitely don’t want it to be lame.”

“What?” Jonah asked, jokingly dancing the worst moves he could think of. “You don’t think I dance well? I’ll have you know, the only reason I even sort of suck today is because I sprained my ankle.” He claimed, crossing his arms. “I don’t see you out of that dance floor making it better.”

Laughing she shakes her head arching a brow. “Isn’t that the worst? All you wanna do is dance but your ankle is just like ‘hey! fuck you!’ The struggles of a dancer.” Motioning to the crowd she chuckles. “I definitely am going over there, but first I want to enjoy some punch. Plus I need to strategize. Do I go easy and then start to bring in good moves, or just demolish from the get go.”

“The fact that you call it dancing is even cringier,” Seth replied with a roll of his eyes. High school dances were always the same, no matter what prep school you go to or how rich you were - in the end, it all resorted to grinding. “They’re just having lowkey sex in public. It’s weird to even watch…some of them really need a room.”

“Good fucking point there. I’m pretty sure if they tried dancing like that in class they’d get kicked out.” Pinching the bridge of her nose she tears her eyes away from the people dancing  Looking to the boy she lazily shrugs a shoulder and sighs. It was a wonder nobody had stepped in yet to stop them. But then again, nobody really cared enough. “This is the type of shit you’d expect to see in a club.”