Fragility of the Mind

Ariel blushed and looked down. No matter how hard she tried to deny it, she secretly wanted Gabrielle to look at her. And she did! She felt a surge of confidence all of a sudden. Though she wondered if she should ask her question.

'Maybe...But what if... Ah, damn.'

She would ask later.

Gabrielle looked around the crowd happily. She took out her cellphone and punched in the same number she had used to call her... 'hubby'. Midway the first ring it was answered by the man she wanted to hear. "I'm here. Where are you?" She asked without any formal kind of greeting.

"Uhuh. Well, hoping I can find you in the crowd." She put her other hand down, and almost simultaneously a small, angular dog appeared from thin air at her feet. It glided past the legs of spectators and Gabrielle watched it go for a few seconds, then looked down at her cellphone and pressed 'off'. "I'm gonna leave you guys for a bit."

She went after her shadow dog.

Ariel watched Gabrielle disappear into the crowd and sighed. She scratched the back of her head roughly, messing up her hair. She glanced at TK.

"I'll still try," she murmured.

Ariel shook her head and the blank mask took over. She turned to face TK and grabbed Raine's arm.

"Want to get closer?" she suggested. "The show will start soon."

Ariel paused for a moment, her eyes widening slightly before going back to normal.

"What makes you say that?" Ariel asked quietly.

Emir shrugs, looking at the stage.

"TK, stop being a Buzzkill." He said, patting her head. "Or I will pop a cap on you."

"Urgh, I hate people being serious, they be all serious and crap." Emir pouted, putting his hand on his revolver.

"Whatever, if something invades us, it just gives me a excuse to shoot it."

Gabrielle came back before the show started, smiling, holding hands with a good-looking guy. "Meet my boyfriend of a year and a half, Lance. I wanted to introduce him earlier, but..." She looked up to him. He was about 6'3", which was about five inches taller than her, had brown hair and a clean-shaven angular face.

"I work at home. I'm kinda cooped up most of the time. Pleased to meet you." He laughed and extended his hand to the other good-looking girls. A look of gulit passed by Gabrielle's face for a short second as she thought about how many times she'd cheated on this guy who, honestly, deserved better. But then she smiled good-naturedly again.

Ariel smiled slightly at Gabrielle's boyfriend. He was quite attractive, and looked good next to Gabrielle. She shook his hand with a firm grip. Then she excused herself and grabbed TK's arm, dragging her away.

"Saul? The guy that was torn to pieces by Alevon?" she asked.

"Hey, Name's Emir." He said, his hand stretched to shake Lance's hand. "Glad to see Gab with someone I guess." Rolling his eyes as he said it.

Raine looked around, the thrum of people made her body sway slightly. She breathed in the humid air, moist from all the people. As Gabrielle introduced her beau Raine felt the corners of her mouth curl up in a catish smile. She stood taller, posing rather seductively as she shot her hand out to meet his smoothly.

"Lance, what an interesting name," she purred. She had no interest in this man, as she had eyed another good looking one closer to the stage, and she didn't want to get involved with him because of Gabrielle. Putting up the false pretence was fun enough though.

She eyed Ariel, truly curious about how this was all going to go down with her.

While Lance nodded his head in acknowledgement to everybody and shook their hand with just the right strength, Gabrielle smiled back at Raine, as if she knew exactly what she was up to, and as if to say 'sweetheart, you haven't seen anything yet'. She looked back at him again and gave him a little nudge at the side. "We'll... go get drinks, or something," Gabrielle explained vaguely. "Seeya."

The two's hands seperated for once as Lance found a better place at Gabrielle's waist. they turned around and headed for the nearest dealer with the fullest intention of getting high during the night.

"Damn bastard didn't give me a handshake." Emir said, flipping him off as they left.

Ariel nodded and looked around her, dark eyes studying the crowd. She had to be on her guard. Then she looked at TK.

"I think we should tell Raine. She can help if things get ugly," she said to her friend. She beckoned the girl over.

Raine smiled sweetly, striding up to the couple and fiercely grabbing Gabrielle by the shoulder, she spun her around to face her.

"I knew I smelt a huge pile of bullshit when you talked about not using again back at the base." She paused, looking in the direction where they were headed, spying a couple of dealers dealing out their stuff.

"A real user doesn't lie about their habits. As a true drug addict of many substances I condemn you." Raine turned on her heel and headed back to see Ariel, Emir and TK.|

"I heard my name, please tell me the cops aren't here to drag me off for some reason."