August 29-30th (Wed-Thu) - Casey Silpetti
The rest of the week starts to fall into a normal pattern. Classes start to settle in as everyone gets used to being back in school. May keeps her distance from Casey, which is just fine as far as she is concerned. And besides, now that Harmony is back in town it gives her someone to hang out with, even if the girl is a nut when it comes to matchmaking. Any chance she gets to point out Aiden to Casey cannot go unsaid. It was always funny to see her matchmaking tendencies in the past, but this is the first time Casey has been on the receiving end of them.
The good news is that so far Casey has managed to keep her living arrangements a secret. She’s managed to sneak in unnoticed each night, and out again in the morning. Not always the easiest task, as Cadence seems to go out running every night for hours, and is usually up early in the morning as well.
Casey has met Cadence’s mom Sarah, as well. As the new drama teacher, they normally wouldn’t have anything to do with each other. But with Ms. Connor also running the yearbook, it seems like they’ll be working together all year. At least she seems nice, for the most part.
Casey is good at reading people, especially other women. It’s helped her out more than once. Ms. Connor certainly seems the quiet, sweet liberal arts/drama type. She compliments Casey’s photographic skills at length, even asking if she’ll take photos for all the school plays for various uses. She also has some new layout ideas and has asked Casey for some more abstract photo ideas for the section headers and the cover. Ms. Connor even mentioned working with Mr. Boyd to have a contest for original cover art. There is an edge to her underneath all of that, though it’s hard to spot. It’s the same as her daughter, a quiet, confident look that she can handle herself. A penetrating gaze when she thinks Casey isn’t looking, as though she’s judging her against something. There’s a hint of weariness as well, deep inside and well hidden. And over all of that, a modesty that’s almost to the point of the extreme.
The more time Casey spends in labs with Cadence, she realizes that she’s a lot like her mother. Modest and unassuming, she refuses to answer questions or raise her hand even when Casey knows that she knows the answer. She sees May rip into her in the hall one day, and she weathers the attack silently. They seem to be an odd little family, though nice enough. Casey wants to get to know her better, but is worried about exposing her living arrangements.
It’s certainly nice being partners with Veronica. Almost three years Casey’s junior, she doesn’t seem it. While Casey had spoken to the girl before, she never really got a chance to know her. Now that she does, she realizes it’s impossible not to like the girl. She’s the sweetest and most considerate person that Casey has ever met. Just being near her can make your entire day feel better, or at least it seems that way to Casey. And talk about scary smart, Casey thought she was smart, but Veronica can make anything look easy.
It’s probably also a good thing that Harmony isn’t in the science class with Casey. Aiden is naturally flirty, and uses it to good effect. An equal opportunity flirter at that, he makes sure and uses his charm towards all three of them. Cadence doesn’t seem to be affected by it (much), but poor Veronica has no idea how to take him, and usually ends up blushing fiercely.
