INACTIVE.

         *   Lips press together in a friendly smile, mind snapping               back to reality from the constellations. Seemed like an               odd thing for her to be doing, it wasn't like she had better               things to do. Eyes flutter to the figure standing at the arch               entrance of the gazebo, fingers close the notebook in her               grasp & her smile widens at the knock.  *              “ If I do recall — you said something awfully similar                last time, but I don't think I ever caught your name. ”

             “ Seth, do you know when Leah's birthday is? & — do                you perhaps know what she wants? Esme wanted to                know; she's gift shopping — I think. Leah won't even                give her the time of day as usual. ”          *  SHE'D ASK LEAH herself, but it seemed she detested              Esme the least of the bunch. Which still wasn't saying              much, considering. Twiddling petite fingers, she was              trying. She didn't necessarily like Leah, especially as              much as she liked Seth, but she was making an effort.              They were as much APART of the FAMILY as Jacob was.  *

        *  A GRIN AND a shrug follow her rhetoric. She turned            on her sky high heels, — red bottoms, naturally — an            immediate scuffing on the floor beneath her petite feet.            Still not an equivalent to Rose's height.  *              “ So tell me Rose, how long has this madness resided                inside of you? Something about your FAMILY tells me                it's something b r a n d new. ”

             “ It's for research. Research can be weird. ”                                          “ .... ”              “ So by rules — are these legal rules?                 And who's to say if I didn't get special                 certification, that I can't be in there? ”

             “ Why not? I've seen people killed before,                and I'll probably see it again. This isn't very different. ”

             “ ‘Course I did. You can't expect me to believe                 the boys you hang out with would get you                 something — ”                                                “ .... ”              “ — Something you liked, anyway. ”           Alice could very well be almost bouncing           for Leah to open up the slightly bigger than           her own hand, gold and white wrapped gift.

             “ — But... that's what makes you, you. You                really shouldn't let others' opinions influence                you, especially that of a mere stranger. Why                do you ask, anyway? ”