lending a helping hand [ashton]

Sometimes Ashton missed having a roommate. It got lonely sometimes when you woke up alone in the slightly larger dormitory that the elemental leaders were given and glanced around expectantly only to notice that the sound of your own breathing was the only thing you'd been hearing. As an amiable guy, Ash had always done well with having roommates in the past and had actually waved away the idea of staying in the leader's dormitory when he had only been standing in while expecting the return of the previous leader. But Rich had never come back and after the war Ashton had accepted the fact that his position was now permanant. He liked being a leader, it just just a little stressful sometimes. Suddenly everyone expected you to know what you were doing and to to it well. He didn't know if he could deal with such a high amount of pressure two years in a row. "You don't know if you'll get the position again next year," his previous roommate pointed out as he frowned and then added a few strokes of colour to his painting. Ashton watched enviously, having always wanted some sort of artistic talent. He had nothing like that, though. "I know," Ashton agreed, "but what if--?"

He fell silent, looking slightly disconcerted when the other boy just laughed. But his former roomie possessed a kind and even sympathetic expression, so the Earth elemental relaxed after a moment. "If you spend all your time worrying about what might happen," his friend pointed out, "your hair will fall out and you'll have bigger issues to worry about." Brown eyes twinkled at him as they looked up from the paper and Ashton managed a smile. "Don't exaggerate," he scolded gently, but his tone was much more cheerful. His friend, who was in a year higher than him, jumped at the sound of the bell. "Class!" he exclaimed, then dashed out of the door without another word, leaving the still-wet canvas behind. Ashton sighed and brought the boy's canvas and possessions back to the room they used to share. He was glad to see that his friend's new roommate wasn't in--Ash didn't know the guy well and he didn't feel like explaining that rooming with the twelfth grader since he'd been but a freshman had taught him all of his weird quirks and habits such as forgetfulness and procrastination.

He found himself on the grounds, his own classes not starting until later in the day. He carried with him a book on Earth theory and manipulation of plants so that he could do a quick review before class--it wasn't education eagerness, however. He was supposed to have studied a few chapters of the book over the weekend but he had instead opted to hang out with his friends. He was regretting that now as with a groan he realised how difficult some of the theory actually was to understand. Wanting to direct his attention anywhere but at the pages, Ashton found himself surveying those around him. His gaze locked onto the branches of a tree moving unnaturally, and it didn't take long to locate the graduate that was the source of the manipulation. I wonder who he is? He'd never met him and Ashton was a friendly guy, so it was only natural to be curious about everyone. He wasn't so curious that it eliminated a self-conscious streak, however, and so he glanced away quickly when the graduate looked 'round. What'd you do that for--he probably thinks you're an idiot! he scolded himself.

The graduate had turned his attention back to what he was doing, but now Ashton felt like he owed him an apology for hanging back in an almost creepy manner. There was a chance that the graduate hadn't been bothered at all but he didn't want to invoke the judgement of an upperclassman. "Sorry about that," he said earnestly and in a rather amicable tone. "I just couldn't help but notice. Are you practising for anything in particular?" He knew that some people--like Ashton himself--mainly reserved use of their powers for classes but on the weekends when there were none. However, some people just practised for no reason but to see the Earth bend under their influence. "I'm Ashton, by the way," he introduced himself with a hesitant smile, sticking out a hand. Introductions always made things a little easier (in his opinion, anyway).

Ashton was relieved that Marcus didn't seem too irritated with him. It wasn't normal behaviour for the Earth elemental not to approach someone if he was curious about what they were doing. Marcus had just looked like he was concentrating hard and Ash had wanted to leave him to what he was doing. Besides, he'd been reading anyway. Or, supposed to be reading. The book on theory and manipulation wasn't really impossible for him, after all, he'd made it this far, it was just a lot more than he'd been expecting. He could have figured it out on his own if left to his devices, but he didn't know if he could have worked out all of the theories in the short time that he had before classes. "College, I take it?" He smiled. Ashton hadn't really known whether to assume that Marcus was a graduate--he'd thought maybe just an older looking senior--but as far as he was aware, the high school students of the Academy had classes for most of the day. He had left the question open-ended, however, fully allowing correction if his assumptions had been off.

He opened his mouth to answer the inquiry about what he was doing, then closed it again when Marcus started talking again, blinking slightly. He didn't mind that the older boy was continuing, it had just caught him off guard was all. Chuckling sheepishly, he nodded when the graduate amended his question to something more specific. "I'm reading up for class," he affirmed, hoping that 'trying to read up' had been used lightly. Ashton wasn't stupid, he just didn't try as hard as he needed to. He was a procrastinator and usually preferred hanging out with friends to schoolwork but that didn't mean that he couldn't do it if he tried. "The professor I've got for my morning class is ill and couldn't find a quick enough substitute, so I just figured it would be best to get ready for the one after it." He didn't need to justify himself, it was just in Ashton's friendly and genial personality to provide conversation without being prodded. He had never been anti-social and would give almost anyone a chance. Even Asha, which had worked out for the worst. He still wasn't sure what had happened to her.

"Nice to meet you, Marcus," said Ashton earnestly, adding a smile for good measure. Even if they'd met in a sort of embarrassing way that didn't mean that Ashton thought any less of their encounter. Marcus didn't seem too bothered by it and so Ashton was going to do his best to have the same mindset. "Eleventh," he answered truthfully. He always felt a little awkward around the older kids because they knew more than he did and he wondered what they must be thinking about the underclassmen around them. He pushed this thought aside, however, and the smile was maintained easily. Optimism had always been one of Ashton's strong points.