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Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
With the wind whipping her hair about, laughter became a frequent feature to accompany her pleased expression. Right then and there she knew that this "bad decision" was anything but. She felt positively alive in that moment. A person without a single care in the world. It wasn't just great. It was downright perfect.
The drifting was only icing on the cake.
Eyes flashing and grip tight, she let out a triumphant laugh at the driver's wonderful timing. The momentum was enough to push her body against the door. None to gently either. Others might have been panicked. Yet the only thing Deb could feel was the wind in her hair and the wild pumping of her heart. Fear? Try borderline joy instead.
She let out a matching yell of pure excitement as they started doing doughnuts in the lot. With her body still forcefully pressed against the door, it let her hair trail outside like a rainbow streak. Probably helped that her head was nearly fully out to watch the world spin around them. She'd managed to get a hand free to so that it could stick out the window and catch the air victoriously. When she felt a gaze on her those blue-grey eyes turned back towards her driver to meet it. Her face was flush with pleasure and a grin wide enough it was starting to make her cheeks ache. But if the happy light shining in her eyes wasn't enough, the ecstatic laugh that left her should have been.
If this was how things turned out, she ought to accept rides from her mechanic more often.
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
The lack of a witty response took Deb by surprise, but she didn't mind. The little "great" had her grinning all the same. And when Emmett hurried around and slipped into the driver's seat, she was practically buzzing at the suspense.
She didn't have to wait long.
The moment they really got going, a thrilled little laugh escaped her lips. This. This rush she felt from the speed. The way her heart started doing double time from the adrenaline. It harkened back to when she'd first got her own car. The impromptu night drive when she and Alex had tested her Beetle's limits for the first, but certainly not the last time. Deb was no adrenaline junkie- by her own words at least -but she could definitely agree it felt good. She had half a mind to ask if the windows could go down, despite knowing how wild her hair truly would get.
Taking a second away from watching the scenery pass by, Deb popped open the box. Tapes, huh? She went rummaging through them before finally biting the bullet and picking one at random. Already she was taking her chances with someone in a car. Doing it with tapes was nothing by comparison. Either way she was fully enjoying the ride.
Occasionally she'd glanced the blonde's way during the trip, but when they slowed down blue-grey eyes gave her their full attention. A half grin had been consistently etched on the girl's features since they'd started. Now it grew out to its whole length again. "A few times before." She didn't even try hiding the fact. It had been more than a few times, frankly. Yet there was a spark in her eyes now at the prospect. "Though I'd love seeing how the car expert does it."
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
With the grin still on her face, Deb took the phone in her free hand. Idly she pondered whether or not she should put a funny name down or not. In the end she kept it simple: "Deb Barok (Road Trip Bud)". So the girl could remember. A quick text was sent out, and before long there was a familiar buzz in her pocket.
Deb returned the phone and pulled out her own to give to Chandler. The number was already there, but now it needed a name. She could answer while that was being done. "I'm a townie, actually. Got a little studio apartment all to myself. The dorms are fun though- lived in them for a while before I figured I should get my own place. It's closer to work and I have no curfew." Not that she honestly stayed out super late anyways. Only on occasion when she went out with friends. "Plus I can really decorate it how I see fit. So long as I'm not wrecking the place, my landlord is pretty forgiving."
"What about you? You staying in a dorm or the town?" She returned the question. Once she had her phone back, she'd start slowly walking again. They did still have the tour to go through. And unless Chandler decided otherwise, she was content to walk and talk. "If you're doing a dorm, that would be a good place to stop our grand little tour."
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
It wasn't so much disdain as it was clear and utter bafflement. Sure, she'd seen her friends get high. Even had done it herself on the occasion- but fortunately it simply hadn't stuck with her much. Yet never had Deb witnessed someone light up when they were still inexplicably bleeding in the middle of an empty auditorium.
So when she got the low answer, her frown had returned. Occasionally she ran into grumps. Occasionally she met people she didn't like. But as much as Deb felt the call to just get up and get out, she didn't. She couldn't. Guilt and regret weren't feelings she commonly felt. No way in hell was she going to feel a lick of it towards someone who didn't even want her there.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, blue-grey eyes shut for a moment as she breathed. Inhale. Exhale."Alright, look." Her eyes opened once more, looking at her clearly moody companion. "Obviously you want me to buzz off. But I'm a little hesitant to leave some girl who I found bleeding in a dark auditorium all by herself without knowing I won't be leaving her to get worse. So are you sure you'll be ok? Do you really want me to just get out?"
Because at this point, Deb was more than willing to if it meant avoiding an argument with the girl.
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
There was nothing but sheer anticipation flowing through her veins at the approach. Probably not the best thing, thinking about it. She was still getting in a car with a perhaps now named but still technical stranger. Yet one look and quick judgement later, and that wasn't sounding like such a bad idea after all.
The buckle up comment did earn a laugh from her. She playfully rolled her eyes, but did reach for the belt with a deliberately dramatic gesture. But the idea of going fast, in whatever sense of the word the blonde was meaning it, did add an excited rush to her heart rate.
"Like to? I think 'love to' is more appropriate. So I guess now it's more a matter of how fast you can go." She threw back, her tone teasingly challenging. Because challenging the car expert was certain to bring a fun result one way or another.
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
Envy? Now that made a girl wonder. Although, then again, the road trips were loads of fun. Still, that wasn't something someone admitted all that much. Not so openly. So Deb gave the other girl a curious glance- though a smile was returned in kind to Chandler's own. Soon the cafeteria proved a nice enough distraction from the question buzzing in her head.
"Probably not." She agreed with an airy laugh. It hadn't changed all that much since Deb had been there either. Although what was there wasn't necessarily bad. If it was, the bright haired girl wouldn't spend nearly as much time trying to sneak her way into the culinary classroom and kitchen.
But before she could comment much more on that, she got a surprise. Her offer was accepted. Slowly the corners of her lips tugged upwards into a wide and toothy grin. Definitely pleased, but definitely promising mischief. "Welcome aboard then, Chandler. I'll let my sister know we have a guest so she'll behave herself. For maybe five minutes in." A laugh left her just thinking about how her sister was going to react. Hopefully Chandler would survive. "She's fun though. I do believe you'll like her. Her name's Alex- think of a mini-me, only three-quarters of the trouble. I can text you the date she's flying in and we're heading out, but for that I'm going to need your number." In perhaps one of the easiest ways she'd ever had to ask for one ever. She didn't even need a half-baked excuse this time.
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
For the next few minutes she was content to watch from her new perch. There was a certain amount of precision that even she could pick up on. It was impressive, to say the least. And comforting. Her Beetle was clearly in the hands of someone who knew what she was doing. If only Deb could learn the tricks too. Would save her a lot of money if she could just repair her own car should it ever be damaged by a careless trucker again. Then again, she wouldn't have met her.
Who, speaking of which, now approached Deb's temporary seat.
The question set Deb to grinning again. A full toothy one that promised mischief as much as it expected it. "Well I've been know to make my share of bad decisions before. But I'm curious what kind this will turn out to be so...Sure." She shrugged her shoulders before raising a brow towards Emmett, eyes alight. "So what kind of 'ride' are you taking me on?"
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
Deb just nodded. It was nice. They'd really gotten to see a lot of America's countryside by doing it. Deb had some sort of souvenir from nearly all 50 states to boot. "This summer we were planning on starting off here and heading towards Mississippi by going down through Nevada and Texas and the like. Already figured out the roads and everything so we know we're heading in the right direction. But that's pretty much the end of our planning: we tend to stop whenever we see a town nearby that looks fun. That or play road roulette and see where we end up. Which has gotten us into some really crazy situations." She chuckled and shook her head. Crazy usually didn't cover half of it.
With her dad, huh? A near instinctual twitch tugged at the corners of Deb's mouth. Something so little and so quick that the other girl probably- and hopefully -wouldn't notice. Even if it had, she let out a huff of amusement at Chandler's comment- moved on. "Guess I do tend to fit the stereotype in that regard." She shrugged. Sometimes they were there for a reason. Coupled with the fact she often felt little to no regret for her actions, she definitely got up to mischief more than most. Not intentionally mean stuff, but just for fun. Most of the time.
"Though hey, if you ever had an itch to go trailing or give a road trip a try you could tag along with us." She offered, stopping once again before another important school landmark. "If you don't mind being in a car for a while or lots of passing commentary and karaoke, you'll love it. You're already surviving my tour thus far, so I have faith. And speaking of-" Deb gestured towards the doors they were near. The lettering above already gave away where they were, but she said it anyways. "Here we have the cafeteria. Argueably the best, or most decent, place on campus. Typically the answer depends on how hungry you are."
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
There's an idea she'd entertained numerous times before. Her very own salon. All of her own design, with her own hours, and her own crew. The general look of the place had been turned over again and again in her head. Something comfy for sure, considering she'd be spending most of her time there. Even now as Chandler mentioned it, a wistful and distracted look came to her eyes. "One day, hopefully." She said quietly.
She was fast enough to shake out of her little pensive moment. Curiosity knew no bounds, after all. "That so, huh? Well, you'll have to let me know how our lovely new Bellefonte compares after you've been here a while." Deb said with a slightly lopsided smile. She hadn't had much- really, barely any - interaction with students from the other mutant schools before. If St. Bethany's was really that similar, she wanted to hear which seemed better. Call it a hint of competitive pride.
As they walked Deb noticed her newfound acquaintance trying to get her bearings. As subtly as she could, she kept their pace at a slower one. After all, this was supposed to be a tour for her. Not just an excuse to satisfy the bright haired girl's insatiable interest.
When Chandler listed her hobbies, Deb couldn't help but let a small huff of amusement escape it. It was mocking- more entertained when she'd mentioned painting. "Looks like we share painting at least. Though when I do it, it's more of an 'advanced fingerpainting' sort of thing." She grinned. Then Deb looked ahead to consider the rest. "Otherwise, for me? Let's see...Going on road trips would probably be my second biggest, if you could call that a hobby. My sister and I always go on one during the summer. There's something great about traveling without really worrying about a destination. Lets you see some fantastic stuff you usually ignore." A wide and warm smile had taken over her face. Even after her manifestation, Alex and her had still managed to plan drives. There was something inexplicably wonderful about just the two of them and the open road.
"By extension of that, I guess, I do like hiking and camping. Ever tried it before? Can be great fun if you've got good company and aren't afraid of getting a little dirty. And if you like photography you can get some awesome pictures." She said, glancing back at Chandler with a lopsided but wide smile. "I'd also list making bad decisions or getting into trouble, but I don't think those count."
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
She couldn't hide the grin on her face even if she tried. What had started out as a bad trip to the grocery store was gaining more and more of a silver lining. Certainly was a way to perk her back up after damage to her most prized possession. "True enough." She acknowledged with a shrug.
"Name's Deb." She answered as she took the offered seat, grin intact. It was nice, and definitely more comfortable than standing. Though she moved so that she'd be able to face the other woman and see her. Meaning she did not miss that smirk. Nor had she forgotten the comment. "And I've got to warn you: I'm terrible when it comes to temptation." And the imagery that had conjured up? Well, it definitely fell into the category.
Emmett. Finally: a name to that pretty face. Deb decided to test it. "Emmett." It seemed fitting somehow. She was no expert on names- even remembering them half the time -but it just worked. Beat her default of "tall, blonde, and handsome." Bit too much of a mouthful, that one. "Well then, thanks Emmett. For the seat and single-handedly turning my day around." She admitted with a laugh and a shrug.
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
Confusion. That was the first thing she felt when her question received an arctic glare and a growl. What the hell? She was just trying to help. Deb had glanced back at the girl with a surprised expression on her face. Only now it started to sour. The concern being replaced by a harder light. A thin line appeared between her brows as they furrowed. Before her irritation could even settle though, she ended up surprised again.
It wasn't so much that the joint bothered her as it was the girl was lighting up while still bleeding. A question she'd yet to get an answer for. But this time she did speak the first thing to come to mind. "What are you doing?" Slipped past her lips before she could think better of it. The girl clearly didn't want to talk, but Deb had gone through a whirlwind of abrupt emotion. It hadn't quite registered yet that maybe just finding her jacket would be the better option about now.
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
The smile on her face certainly grew. Getting more business was always good. Let her get more practice in, and get paid. "Be more than glad to help." She responded with a wink and a grin all her own.
Then she turned her attention to the other vehicle. She'd only seen a vehicle similar to this once, and that was while it passed by on the road. It was unique, that was for sure, and Deb gladly took the chance to observe it up close. Once the passenger door was open, she scotted closer but looked first. All in all it yelled "retro" to the wild haired girl. The bulkier boxy build. The seating inside. Something like this definitely stood out from modern day vehicles. Much like her own Beetle. She could appreciate that. "Looks like you keep it in awesome condition. Although I guess I shouldn't be that surprised." She smirked and stood back up, facing the other woman.
Though the smirk hadn't gone away. If anything, it had gotten wider. "Though if it's a ride you're offering, I think there's something about getting into a car with a good looking stranger." She doubted that was the case, yet the opportunity to say it was hard to pass up.
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
So there was one problem solved. Only now Deb had a million questions. None of which the girl looked ready to answer. Not if that expression had anything to say about it. Plus she hadn't even said a word now since. Which left Deb to stew in her own curiosity.
In a display of surprising restraint, she didn't immediately bombard the girl with everything on her mind. Why was she bleeding? Why was she in the auditorium? Was this power related? Should she call the nurse? On and on the questions buzzed like a swarm of angry bees. But she held them at bay with a bit bottom lip as she worried it between her teeth. There was a sort of dazed look to the girl that told Deb now wasn't the time. Once that finally started to clear up, she felt comfortable enough to speak.
"How are you doing?" Dumb question. Like shit, obviously. Deb shut her eyes and frowned at herself for a moment. Open up, try again. "What I meant is: there anything I can do to help? Want me to go get the school nurse or-" She opened her hands in a wordless, kind of lost gesture to indicate "anything else?" Then they went right back to being clenched together in her lap.
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
Looks like assuming paid off this time. It made everything stand in a new like while she looked around again. This wasn't just a cozy garage now. It was a reflection of someone's personality. A lot like someone's hair, although more filled with grease and spare parts in a good way. She was grinning. "I like it." Deb decided then.
Fortunately for Deb, the idea of only needing to walk down a flight of steps for work was incredibly appealing. Early morning wake-ups were not her thing. Her snooze button had been used so much she was pretty sure there was a mark by now. And not needing to set a foot outside during winter? It sounded like a lazy heaven. "Lucky." She playfully accused with a lopsided smirk. What she wouldn't give for a similar set up.
"For me, I've still got to drive to work and school. I work as a hairstylist at the nearby hair salon while getting my degree. Although I honestly might just stick with the job regardless. Hair's always come easy for me- dyeing it especially." She chuckled at that and shook her head. Then turned blue-grey eyes towards the blonde with a gleam in them, playful and slightly knowing. She worked with hair- she could easily spot a bleached set. "So if you ever want to change up your hair or get a trim, I'd be happy to help."
Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something: The best people usually are.
Her eyes went wide at the sight. Guess that answered her question. "Shit." The word left parted lips softer than a whisper. She was only frozen for a second more before her body remembered motion.
They needed something to help stanch the bleeding. Something better than a hand at the very least. Deb's brain wracked itself before she finally came to a solution. "Hold on a sec, ok? I'll be right back." She assured the nameless girl. Then she promptly turned and rushed back out the auditorium doors.
Deb wasn't the fastest runner- especially at this school -but adrenaline gave her an extra little kick. She pushed her way into the nearest bathroom, ignoring some of the looks she got from a few girls hanging out inside. She didn't even bother with an excuse. Just grabbed a big handful of toilet paper and rushed back out. She was back in the auditorium within a minute's time, heading over towards the strange girl bleeding in the dark.
"Ok, hey, I'm back. I brought you some tissues." She panted, stopping before the brunette and offering the messy bundle of paper to her. Her voice was surprisingly gentle and definitely laced with worry. This scene reminded Deb all too much of when she cared for her sister- usually when one of their stunts got a little too rough. It was one of the rare times she actually tended to act like a responsible big sister.
