Coral Coast Academy, a school unlike any other located in a sleepy town on the coast, where superhumans who hadn’t yet learnt how to control their abilities came when they were young adults. There was a number of reasons as to why they hadn’t learnt. The most common one was probably that their powers hadn’t manifested themselves until later in life.

That hadn’t been the case for Chloe. She was no prodigy by any means, but she’d more or less been born with scales and a tail. A privilege that had meant she had had her entire childhood to learn how to master the innate powers of her own body. It certainly helped that her parents were mutants as well, since they could provide some guidance.

As a teacher though, she may not have the sympathy and understanding for her supposed students as someone that had gone through the same situation as them would. Chloe had never considered becoming a teacher before the offer had appeared before her. She certainly had the skill and self-control to help them, but she’d imagined herself as a drummer in some famous band. When that plan likely failed, she would have fallen back on working in some music store before ever getting the idea to become a teacher.

Yet here she was, standing outside the walls of the school and smoking after a day’s work. She’d taken the job because it paid more than anything else she’d done, and she got to spend most of her time with other superhumans. Chloe could hide her powers well enough, but normal humans still made her feel like a freak. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with being a mutant. She just felt more comfortable around her own.

It didn’t seem to be the case for everyone, she thought as she noticed one of her fellow teachers exit the academy. A rather pretty woman, if somewhat silent and reserved. Chloe hadn’t talked with her all that much. Sure, they’d had small talk conversations about work, but little else. She’d decided to see if she could change that, because she hadn’t made any friends among her co-workers yet and figured she was as good a person to start with as any. Better actually, at least she’d have a pretty face to look at if it turned out they had nothing in common other than work. The other teachers were generally older than herself or male.

She dropped her cigarette on the ground, stomped on it with her boot, then walked over to the woman and placed herself in the middle of her path. “Afternoon, Ms. White.” Chloe said, more because she was trying to remember her first name than because she was trying to be polite. “I hope you’ve had a lovely day so far. Anyway, I take it you’ve heard about this teacher party or whatever it was?” She paused for a brief moment, putting on her most endearing smile. “I figured it would be nice to go with someone, and you’d make a great someone to go with.”

It was unclear whether Chloe was asking the other woman to go with her, or telling her that she should go with her. Either way, she stopped talking and waited for a response with a smile.

It was true, Kaiylan wasn't much for being forward and outgoing, though she had seemed social enough to get along with the other teachers - even if no one normally thought about her outside of work. She was fine with that... well, that was a lie, but for the sake making herself feel better, that's what she told herself. It was a reality and a way of life she had gotten used to a long time ago and it didn't surprise her anymore when she was left going home alone every night. However when Chloe stopped her and half-commanded that she attend some party that night, well, that was a surprise.

She had been coming down the steps of the front door, carrying her book bag that held all of her school work and her blue purse. It was one of those small ones that had a lot of pockets and was slung across her shoulder so it made it both hard to steal and kept her hands free to carry other things. She was wearing a fancier, but still causal t-shirt and her normal skirt - she always seemed to be wearing skirts of some kind. She abruptly stopped on her way to the car as Chloe blocked the route and was taken back a little at her words. Her expression was mostly of confusion and surprise, but hints of interest were there too. She never figured she'd be approached, especially by this woman. She could never put her finger on it, but she had always had a thing for gothy or punk-type women... she was never sure if she'd ever get along with them though. Kaiylan suspected she might be too sweet or romantic for their type.

"Oh, um..." Again, the surprise was evident. "Yeah.. wasn't it.. uh.." She rolled her eye upwards in thought before giving Chloe a sweet smile. "Miss Blake hosting it? Something about... actually I don't remember what the party is about... I, um.." That's when Kaiylan adjusted the book bag in her hand and really gave Chloe her thoughtful attention. She wasn't quite sure how to react. Normally, she'd say no thank you, that she was busy with something else, or didn't feel comfortable going anywhere. However.. well, what was the point of wanting to find someone special if you didn't take any risks? It had been a year since she had been with anyone after all.. maybe if they hit it off?

"Yeah, uh, sure..." Her smile turned a little shy at the thought and bit her lip. She had never done this before, but what the hell. "If you want, I can give you my number and you can swing by? I'm not sure where the place is.. or what time it is, really.. hahah.. um, or if it's even a fancy one. No one really invited me until you, so.."

“Yeah, Miss Blake, the walking freezer, whatever.” Chloe shrugged nonchalantly, still unsure of everyone’s name in this place. She’d focused on learning her students’ names first, and even that was a handful. She knew the majority of the staff more by their powers or looks. “Oh, I didn’t pay much attention to what it was about either honestly.”

She noticed Miss White adjusting her bag, and wondered what her response to Chloe’s invitation would be. It wasn’t like she’d never been rejected before, and she figured this woman wouldn’t be able to come close to the worst rejections she’d heard either even if she tried her hardest. She seemed too innocent.

Admittedly, the worst weren’t the worst because of the words used. The worst had been when she had been young and naïve, easily enticed by women to the point where she crushed on them only to find out they were leading her on.

Chloe did find the clear surprise and shyness that Miss White exhibited quite charming. If only because she had been the one to inspire the reaction in her. She couldn’t have known how she would react, or if she was even into other women, when she decided to stop her. Now she felt a bit more confident about the whole thing though, and fairly certain that she was interested in women in that way. It was a rather odd reaction to have if it later turned out that she wasn’t.

“Sure, give me your number. It’ll be easier to keep in touch.” Chloe grinned, but stopped as soon as she realized how cheesy that must have sounded. She remained calmed, but beat herself up on the inside. “It was at 9pm, but I don’t think it’s anything fancy. And I’m the one who recently moved here, so you’re probably better with directions than me. I think it was at Miss Blake’s home.”

She was surprised that no one had invited her though. As far as she knew everyone had been invited, then again, maybe she’d been invited to a lot of events in the past without showing up so they had stopped bothering to invite her? It seemed rude in that case, even if it may be understandable from a certain point of view. Perhaps the invitation had gotten lost. Chloe shared the opinion the more the merrier in either case. However, she doubted it would be anything like the kind of parties she enjoyed frequenting.

“I guess I’m lucky to have a chance to get to know you better then.” Chloe smiled. “It wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t ask you to be my date.” She let the word date slip, curious if Miss White would react to it.

Kaiylan seemed a bit shy as Chloe spoke, but it really shined at the mention of 'date.' In fact, her eyes had widened in response as her mouth hung open just slightly, finally replying with a meek, "date?" The silence wasn't so awkward at this point as it was placed just where it needed to be, giving her a chance to let it sink in. "O-oh!" she then stammered, fumbling to reach into her bag to pull out a small stack of sticky notes - apparently a tool she was used to using daily. Even if she knew she was blushing a bright pink at this point, her focus was entirely on getting her pen out to write her number on one of the notes.

"Almost forgot.." she said quietly, adorning a small contained smile. After a few moments, she pulled the note from the rest of it's pack and handed it to Chloe. "I, uh.. um, I included my address to, so.. um.. you know where to come find me." Kaiylan wasn't sure if the woman would catch the tiny bit of flirting, but it was hard to deny the attraction of forwardness and confidence. "So.. guess I'll catch you later?" She bit her lip again before giving Chloe a cute, small wave of her hand and walking off to the parking lot, almost hopping a couple of times - maybe she shouldn't been this excited about being asked out, but it was what it was and she wasn't about to question it.

'Nine tonight,' she thought to herself as she opened up her car door and tossed the bag into her passenger seat. 'I'll have time to look cute then!'

Miss White did indeed react to the word date. In a way that placed a wide grin on Chloe’s face, and she had to stop herself from laughing. Her grin was probably predatory enough by then that any further reaction would have scared the woman. She raised an eyebrow when Miss White began fumbling with her bag, but realized what she was trying to do when she pulled out a stack of sticky notes. Chloe remained silent, waiting to be handed a number and observing her. She couldn’t remember seeing anyone get so nervous before.

Chloe took the note that was handed to her. She briefly looked at the writing on it then pocketed it. “Come get you? Uh, I don’t have a car myself so I hope you won’t mind riding on the back of a bike.” She said and shrugged. It might be better if Miss White drove as she had a car, but as long as she didn’t complain about it being cold riding a bike she supposed it didn’t matter. Chloe’s bike was a sweet ride though, a red chopper with long handlebars.

“Yeah, see you later.” Chloe said and almost waved back, but figured it didn’t fit her style very well. She’d rather not be caught making a fool of herself by one of her students either, so she nodded at Miss White while keeping up the grin. It felt weirder that she was worried what someone that would see her might think. She really was back in school in a way, wasn’t she?

Chloe headed towards the parking lot as well, but they hadn’t parked all that close to each other so it wasn’t needlessly awkward that they went the same direction. She got on her motorcycle, turned the key after putting it in and drove away from the academy. It didn’t take long for her to arrive at her apartment complex.

She had been surprised at how cheap the apartment had been when she had gotten it, especially with the view of the ocean and the distance to her work. Chloe went to take a shower as soon as she had stepped inside the door, and ended up lingering in the shower for over an hour. It was so relaxing after working.

The hours that followed Chloe spent lying in her bed, checking the internet and listening to loud music. She’d put on earphones to not bother her neighbours though. When the clock hit eight, she closed her laptop and turned off the music. She’d assumed she’d be able to make it to Miss White’s place rather fast once she got going, and either way she doubted anyone would mind if they were a little late to the party.

She got dressed in a white shirt and a pair of her finer jeans, but didn’t do much to look better than usual. She’d already redone her magnificent hair after the shower. There wasn’t much else to do. She couldn’t improve perfect no matter how long she spent trying, so why bother?

Chloe put on her leather jacket and went back outside to her chopper. She’d memorized the directions to the address she had been given by looking them up online, and like she had predicted it didn’t take particularly long for her to find the place. She considered whether to honk her horn and see if her date would come down, or if she should go up to her apartment and ring the bell. She decided on the latter, as it would make a better impression. Honking was kind of like screaming for her to come down, a bit rude. Parking her chopper next to the sidewalk, Chloe strode up towards the building and entered it. Once she found Miss White’s apartment she knocked on the door, and waited for a response. "It's Chloe."

"Just a moment!" Kaiylan's voice was one of those sweet, feminine voices though it wasn't so strong as to super girly - still, it had it's charm. A few moments later and Chloe could hear the jingle of keys before the door opened. The shadow weaver was wearing a purple shirt and a matching short skirt to along with it. She had a small black purse flung over her shoulder as well as she gave Chloe a shy smile. "Hi.." she said as she spun around to lock her apartment door and stuff the key into her bag. Chloe could tell there was a light perfume scent on her as well, making her smell like sweet flowers, as well as a pink, heart-shaped necklace wrapped around her neck with a thin silver chain. A matching ring was on her left middle finger with the same exact color and shape.

Turning, she took a moment to examine what Chloe had on herself and sort of chuckled mentally to herself. Chloe was really laid back, but she enjoyed that - it made it easier to just be her weird normal self. Though there was no promise Chloe would like a girly nerd, but it been a while since someone showed interest in her. Besides, it was a good excuse to get some fresh air, since she was so used to staying at home all the time and just cocooning herself in games or the internet.

"So a bike, huh?" Kaiylan gave Chloe this little playful smirk, almost as if trying to challenge her, but perhaps she was coming off more mysterious or just care-free - who knew what Chloe was thinking. She was curious if the other teacher would notice though, that Kaiylan didn't really get cold anymore. "Oh, by the way, uh.. just in case you don't know or forgot," she said with a small roll of her eyes, smiling, "my first name is Kaiylan." She stood there for a moment, making it quite obvious she was waiting for Chloe to take the lead and would quickly follow her to the bike when she decided to move downstairs.