Everyone nodded, confirming they had shared her experience.

Markus: "Was it... an earthquake?"

Andy looked around suspiciously.

Andy: "Nothing else has been displaced..."

Mary broke into another coughing fit- James frowned at her, and offered her his hand. She met his bright blue eyes and smiled into them, taking his hand.

Her touch made the hair on his arms stand up, a shot of static electricity. Her hand was small and warm inside his own. He'd always wondered what it would feel like to hold her hand.

Wait, no he hadn't. That sudden realization at the very moment Mary had started to pull herself up made him lose his balance. He went tumbling down on the ground with a comic "Ooomph!"

Mary: "Smooth."

She looked at him with laughing eyes. He had the sudden, inexplicable urge to kiss her just then. Instead, he jumped up and cleared his throat, then offered his had back to Mary. She hesitated for a moment, then reached for him and pulled herself up.

James wondered if there really had been an earthquake, and if it had scrambled his brains. Mary wasn't his type. For one thing, she wasn't even blonde. Or brunette. She was a redhead, but she was... strange. And kind of mean. Not to mention obsessive and completely without decorum.

Not that decorum was on the top of James' list of desirable attributes. Was it even on the list at all?

Andy gazed contemplatively at Emily. As soon as her eyes met his, a smile blossomed on her face, first in the eyes, then the lips. Her smile faded just as quickly, startling him out of his reverie. Had he just been daydreaming about pulling her to him, crushing his face into the vanilla scent of her hair? Surely not.

He had only wanted her as a brief distraction, true. But perhaps having her at his side would have it's own advantages. And the way she had smiled at him... he wanted to lock her away and keep her forever. But now she just looked confused and uncertain. She turned away to survey the room, leaving Andy with a shiver.

Emily's eyes finally met his own. It was as though she'd heard his silent calls to her. Tristan smiled. This was it. No more schoolboy crushes, no more mooning and pining for things he knew could never be. This was the night that he would stop daydreaming and make things happen. Emily smiled softly at him and mouthed "Hi," as if it was the first time she'd seen him that night.

James shook his head violently and then rubbed his eyes until his vision went spotty. When the world returned, Mary was staring at him, a puzzled look on her face.

James: "What's wrong?"

Mary pointed a finger at him, then dropped it, frowning.

Mary: "There's something.... different about you."
James: "Yeah..."
Mary: "You want to sleep with me!"

Mary's eyes were wide, though her tone was somewhat less accusatory than usual.

James: "No I don't!"

Mary narrowed her eyes.

Mary: "Then why are you being so... pleasant?"
James: "I'm not the one being pleasant! You're the one being pleasant!"

Mary paused. She wasn't being unpleasant, this was true. But she was sure it was only because James hadn't annoyed her yet. Probably just shock from the earthquake. After all, she couldn't stand James, with his rock star hair, dreamy eyes and soulful lyrics. He was disgusting. Because... he was a...

Mary: "Man slut!"

She completed her thought out loud. James looked at the floor and ran a finger through his hair.

James: "Whatever, sister Mary Margaret."

Suddenly the lights went out. James could still see the wounded expression on Mary's face through the darkness, as if she cared what he thought. He felt a pang of guilt and a stab of annoyance. He wasn't sure which of the two emotions to go with, so instead he decided to focus on the fact that they were now in total darkness, and that Mary had grabbed his hand. Again.

Mary: "What's going on?"

The sound of her hushed voice made the hair on the back of his neck prickle, and he squeezed her hand in reassurance. Mary stared at him through the shadows. He stared back.

Tristan: "Earthquake must've knocked the power out."

Tristan's voice startled him away from Mary's gaze. He looked around the room. Emily, Markus, and Tristan were standing in a tight group a few feet away from them. Andy was gone.

Emily: "Now wait a minute, did anyone actually feel an earthquake?"
Mary: "Where'd Andy go?"
Emily: "Were you not in the room five seconds ago when he said he was going to find some flashlights?"
Mary: "Oh. Right."

Just then, the door burst open.