Arcadia: Amorphous

Chapter 22: Miss Understood

It's been over a week since the active student body tripled. Donnie loves it, still hunting down, 'not pray,' to talk to. David seems, well, unaffected. I envy him in that regard, it's not like he never gets agitated or emotive at times, but he just has this way about him. The easy thing to call him might be self-involved and arrogant, but I don't think it would be fair. It's like he above it all, even just barely. It is as if the day to day drama is mud, and he brought stilts.

I'd like to be a bit more like that. Things get to me. Well more people, really.

An introvert is often defined as a shy or reserved person, but that's not so accurate. Introverts, just get drained by people.

The best description I have heard is different types of rechargeable batteries. Extroverts are like those wine up flashlights if you're not turning the crank they batteries die out. Introverts are chemical, when we are with people the interactions drain us away, and we need to be turned off in order to recharge.

Donnie in his infinite puppy-like energy is a clear example of an extrovert. David and I tend to the more introverted end of the spectrum.

I don't have stilts like David, so all these new people are kind of taking their toll. It's like the first day of class all over again, just three times the people.

I've done a good job dealing so far, I've probably made two new friends. The first is Jack Winter, I'm not sure if I should count him, as he is in our class. But there is also this girl, Lylia Freeman. She actually told me we were friends, the first time we met. Didn't even introduce herself yet, she opened with it.

I fear another extrovert has just adopted me.

It was fine when it was just Donnie, If worst came to worst I could point him at something and just watch the action, but I don't know if I can survive two. When will I find alone time to contemplate finite design and multi-resinate soul structure. Not that I can solve any of that, yet. I find it best to tackle big topics first with as little knowledge as possible, to prevent the interference of preconceived notions. Then when you start the understand the matters at hand, you can begin to refine your ideas. Knowing, and growing to see how and why your past solutions are wrong is a good way to keep a strong forward innovating momentum.

"Xander let's go!"

I bring all this up now because, well this is happening.

"We're not going to get there if you keep stopping to smell all the flowers. Let's stick to a dozen each." This was Lylia, and she had somehow convinced me to come out on a hike when I should be... I don't know not hiking.

"Is it even safe the be this far off-campus? ILK are supposed to be prevalent, during this time period."

"We're still inside school grounds, plus with me around you have nothing to fear." She smiles pulling me along by the hand.

It was a hard statement to accept. 5 foot 3, 120 pounds soaking wet, not exactly the person I would first pick to keep anyone safe. The idea would have seemed completely ridiculous a few months back, but knowing about magic and what it can do... who knows.

"You need to hurry up. Move those legs, hussle those muscles, get your rear in gear."

"Why are you rhyming?" I asked.

"Because we need good timing," said Lylia beaming.

Lylia was smart, brilliant really. She was cute, fun, and had a radiance about her. As far as friends to be dragged around by, she was a good pick. Not everyone is worth the work. For me at least, friendship is work.

It's never been something I was great at. I can be sociable, and I do enjoy the time I spend with others, but I just can't do it, not like other people can. My enjoyment of the company has a limit, and I'm terrible at playing events or keeping in contact. That is why people like Donnie and Lylia are good fits for me. They're always up to something, trying to drag me along, but if I'm not up to it they can find other people. It's a good arrangement.