Feathers to the Flock {Skye}

[jess]

Jessica Rey's following constantly fluctuated, believe it or not. A new member would be added, an old member removed. Perhaps someone with an impressive name arrived, and they simply had to associate with Jessica Rey of the Texas Reys. Maybe a longtime fan discovered a Gift worth utilizing. Or, shudder to think, perhaps someone did something to greatly displease Jessica.

Fortunately, Jessica generally overlooked such things. Her numbers had decreased not because of disagreement among the members, but because on of her carefully groomed gaggle had flown free. Left the Academy for reasons unsaid (Jessica claimed it was a "surprise," and of course the others had to agree).

So now the Queen Bee prowled the halls, eying females. Searching for someone who would be perfect for "friendship." For of course Jessica Rey couldn't have real friends. For her, Friendship was a word used to manipulate people's feelings.

"What about her?"
"Too pretty."

That was a slight problem. You couldn't have a follower who looked better than you, after all. But they couldn't be too ugly either. A delicate balance must be maintained. Unless, of course, they had a Gift worth exploiting. There was a particularly homey follower who happened to have Eidetic Memory and Telepathic Projection.

"That one, maybe?!"
"Doesn't dress appropriately."

Yes, there were several important factors that had to be met. To go through them all would take ages. Even the girls hovering near Jessica didn't match most of them. But Jessica had to make due.

Now... who should she make due with now?

[Skye Malizia]

She was in the women's restroom using the dryer to warm her hands. Her nose was bright red and runny from the cold outside. It had been freezing, and Skye's iPhone had lied to her about the windchill. It didn't feel like 10 degrees, it felt like -100 today!

Soon she would have the act of warming up turned into an art. Skye loved winter with an incomprehensible passion, and winter appeared to enjoy turning her into a popsicle.

She was in the washroom for a good hour before her cheeks calmed to their normal pale tint. Soon she looked normal, despite her frazzled, wind-kissed hair. Her brush was in her dorm room, and that was where she was headed when she stepped out of the ladies room.

Skye was still relatively new, but she knew a few people based on reputation alone. As she approached Jessica and her pack of girls (which looked smaller than normal), she offered a polite smile, not wanting to start any drama she heard the girl was so apt to initiating. The willowy Italian pushed her hands in her Angel FCUK jacket pockets and padded toward them in a pair of comfortable high-top brown suede Nine-West boots with her Prvcy skinny jeans tucked in. Skye always had a good eye for fashion, especially what was in season and what was out. She understood the importance of buying an item before it went on sale, because as soon as it was on sale it was out of fashion. A wicked system, and expensive, but Skye was relatively well-off and most of the money she had for herself was used to replenish her wardrobe. Her family bought the important things like a mini-fridge for her dorm room and a microwave. They had a good routine that worked well with the world of fashion and school and friends Skye was now a part of in America.

[jess]

Decidedly few candidates were stepping forward. which was to be expected. If it were easy to get into Jessica's group, then there would be several more people in there. It wasn't her fanclub, after all (which should have several hundred members), but her inner circle.

"What about that one?"

Jessica followed a finger, tracing its line to the recently arrived Skye. Properly dressed, decidedly fashionable, and not incredibly beautiful Skye. In other words, someone with at least a kernel of potential. Quite an appropriate person to be placed under Jessica's wing.

"Not bad," agreed Jessica, shifting. She flicked her eyes over to one of her closest, then to the Skye. "Talk to her."

The friend, whom we'll call Kristy, nodded, grabbed another faithful follower, and headed for Skye. The two girls came up on either side of the Italian, all smiles and cheer.

"Nice boots!" cooed Kristy, pointing.
The cohort crooned in agreement.

"Oh, how rude, I'm Kristy, this is Missy," Kristy nodded at Missy, who smiled and wiggled fingers, "and we just couldn't let you just walk by with those boots. Aren't they wonderful boots?"

"Awesome," agreed Missy, nodding.

Both girls beamed at Skye

[Skye Malizia]

At being approached, the foreign girl's smile grew. She was still on the market for friends, and these two girls were going out of their way to be friendly. At their compliments she looked down, slightly abashed as she acclimated to their words.

"Thank you," she said, accepting their admiration with grace. She tucked their names into a safe place in her mind so she wouldn't forget them, and tried to memorize their faces. Skye had a nasty habit of forgetting faces. Names she recognized easily, but matching the title to the person was tricky for her.

"Your shirt is really cute too," she complimented, thinking it only polite to reply to Kristy with the same admonishments she was being shown. Skye made to run her fingers through her hair, but the tangles from her earlier excursions stopped her in her tracks. Her cheeks colored at the embarrassment, but she rolled her eyes to brush the topic away before it turned into something noticeable.

"And your hair is not as unruly as mine," a low giggle followed the joke. Her accent became more pronounced the more she spoke. She wasn't being rude, not acknowledging Jessica. She was just a little nervous, and having not been introduced yet she thought it inappropriate to address her.

[jess]

"Thank you!" cooed Kristy. She exchanged beaming smiles with the closest cohort. They both giggled in synch with one another, and Kristy reached out to take Skye's hand.

"Well, Skye, you're, like, super lucky. You see, there's one girl here who's, like, the most important person here," she said. Turning she nodded in Jessica's direction. "That's her, she's Jessica Rey."

"Of the Texas Reys," inserted Missy.
"She's an Almasian."
"The best house."
"And incredibly rich."
"And pretty! Don't forget pretty!"
"Gorgeous," Kristy nodded, "annnnnd..."

"She wants to talk to you!" finished Missy, clapping.

"Yes, she thinks you might make a good friend!" added Kristy. "So, c'mon!"

It didn't occur to either girl that Skye might not want to talk with Jessica. Might not want to associate with the Queen B**ch of the school. Might not want that black mark upon her.

For you see, these two were so enamored of Jessica that her every whim was their task. To be noticed by her was wonderful, as if God smiled at you. For them, there was no denying Jessica Rey.

"You'll love her!" insisted Kristy.

Jessica simply smiled at Skye, nodding at her.

[Skye Malizia]

The European had no idea who the 'Texas Reys' were, but she only assumed they were some famous family. The girl certainly looked as though she came from a family of high social standing. While the two girls babbled on about how incredible Jessica was, Skye became a little nervous. Someone this popular wanted to befriend her? Of course she wanted friends, that was what this entire first week of school was supposed to be about.

When she was dragged before Jessica, Skye smiled politely back.

"Hello..." It was an awkward greeting at least, and endearing at most. She tried not to fidget, although she was extremely self conscious about her ruffled hair. However, she wound up trying to adjust it anyway, seeing as how she was in the presence of someone whose friends practically declared royalty.

"I'm Skye..." Again, very strangely delivered.

[jess]

Up close Skye was not as impressive as she had been from a distance. Her hair looked disheveled, for one thing. But that was simply a sign of poor product use, and not quite a severe enough sin for condemnation. Nevertheless, Jessica didn't cease her judging inspection of the girl brought before her.

"Hello, Skye," greeted Jessica. "I'm Jessica, but I'm sure you already know that."

She waved at her "friends," smiling. "I just saw you wandering down the hall, and thought you looked like someone in need of a friend. Skye," Jessica looked right at her, "do you need a friend?"

There was something predatory and devilish about Jessica's smile. Almost as if she was picturing Skye roasting over a spit, just ripe for consumption.

"Love the shoes, by the way."

[Skye Malizia]

"Oh. Well I... I always look for friends," Skye replied, her smile still hesitant. There was something intimidating about Jessica, and something unnerving. It was more difficult to identify it with her, but Skye would eventually connect it to the similar feeling she got around 'bad boys', the kind that would try to seduce you with pretty words and enchanting smiles. But right now she stood there awkwardly before Jessica Rey or the Texas Rey's.

"Thank you," she mumbled at the compliment, still trying to identify why exactly this girl made her uneasy.

Then that grin. A shark's smile. Skye recoiled.

"You are in my history class, yes?" Anything to get that smile off her face. Conversation, words being formed by those lips... anything would be better.