-OuTsIdE tHe CrOwD- [Mark/Jade]

It had all happened in a blur. Kelsey's mind was far from distraught, and Cee Cee had done all she could to shield the huntress from the chaos that unfolded in the town square.

All the red head could remember was taking down one boy, and watching another join her side of the fight. He had cut her, which literally confused the crap out of her, then broke someones nose. To no surprise peacekeepers descended, blowing the entire thing out of proportion. It was just a usual bully encounter; what had gone wrong?

She sat during her interrogation rubbing at her left wrist. The boy had literally used all of his force to pry it from her hand. Her bracelets covered most of the emerging bruises, but it didn't necessarily matter. Her skin was light enough to make bruises appear easily, and she was used to it. Most of the animals she hunted like to put up a fight. As the peacekeepers hounded her for answers, Kel forced her mouth shut. The cynical girl refused to let Kelsey incriminate herself and Cee Cee was already far too busy trying to keep her temper calm and collected. The boy that had joined explained it well enough.

And then, without even realizing, she was walking away, back home. It was as if she were a zombie. Her backpack was once again slung over her left shoulder and she refused to take in her surroundings. It was hard for her to cope with the fact that things had gotten so heated. Her right thigh burn with such an intensity; the cut the boy had inflicted bled slightly. I should have snapped his neck, Kel spat. Kelsey herself was astonished that Kel hadn't forced her to fight him. What he did was uncalled for, even if it had saved the entire situation.

The huntress could hear him calling after her. It took all of her effort to avoid him, she had absolutely nothing to say to him. How does he know your name? Cee Cee's question had stumped the red head. She really had absolutely no clue how he knew her. Kelsey was sure she didn't know him. Or maybe she wasn't paying enough attention.

His voice was irksome and she deduced that if she didn't reply he would only keep baiting her with the same questions. Turning around the gray-eyed girl focused her gaze into the boys eyes. She made sure to let him know that she did not appreciate his company at the moment. "I don't really know what happened back there. I was dealing with the normal bullying everyone seems to subject me to, and then all of a sudden I'm being ganged up on." The adrenaline in her body made her voice quake and crack and she tried with valiant effort to calm herself. "It was fine until you had to jump in and throw everything out of whack. Thanks for the cut by the way. I'm sure my thigh really appreciates it. Why did you even jump in?"

It was as if venom were pouring from her mouth and she couldn't stop. She knew it was all Kel's doing, she always controlled her moods so well. Feeding off of negative energy was what Kel lived for, and when given the opportunity, she could turn Kelsey into a monster.

Staring once again into the boys dark brown eyes, Kelsey immediately recognized who he was at once. "Jade," it came out like a hiss. The same name that was linked to her mother; the woman who had abandoned her when she was only four.

His words cut like knives, stabbing at her core. Kelsey wanted to take everything she had said back. She wasn't normally this mean, but she normally didn't speak to people either. Placing her right hand on her thigh she noticed the injury no longer hurt. It's because what he said hurts more. Cee Cee was right. No cut could compare to the things Jade had just said to her. I hate myself.

The redhead stood there, frozen. She had no clue how to salvage the situation, nor did she desperately want to. Who cares what he said? Obviously he thinks you're a nut and wants nothing to do with you. Kel's words hurt even more than the boy's had. Why was it that everyone thought she was mentally deranged? Yes she had voices in her head, and yes she talked to them, but it wasn't as if she couldn't function in society. Everyone had their own quirk. Kelsey's just involved two people inside of her brain. Was it really all that bad?

You need to do something sweetheart. Cee Cee's comforting words helped tame the fire burning within Kelsey. He was trying to help you. Despite how Kel felt about it, Cee Cee did make a valid point. Jade wasn't out to get Kelsey, he only tried to save the situation; even if it meant cutting her thigh. Don't you even da.., but before Kel could finish her command, Kelsey was off running to catch up with Jade.

"Jade, please wait!" She was at his side in an instant; running was something she was great at. Her eyes burned with an intensity, the green almost appearing neon, as she stared at his face. "I know you were just trying to help, and I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me back there." Of course she knew it was all Kel, but she didn't feel like bringing up the voices in her head.

"I know the things people say about me, and well I just assumed everyone felt that way, even you. My defenses were up and I just wanted to get away as quickly as possible. I really do want to thank you for helping me." Moving in front of him so as to keep him from walking she stood with her head facing the ground. "You're probably the closest thing that I have to a friend."

She twiddled her fingers together before adding, "Besides the voices of course."