Katrina noticed that the older pair seemed to be sending each other all kinds of mixed messages. First there were seemingly flirty comments, then suddenly they seemed to be almost arguing. It was like the two of them were trying to figure out what the relationship between them was supposed to be; they seemed to be testing each other unconsciously.

“You're both forgiven, though neither of you really did anything wrong.” Everything's fine.

She watched Garrett retreat through the shrubbery, then called after him playfully, “The pool is that way, don't fall in!” Katrina smiled back at Ghost, to show that she was indeed just fine and didn't need her protection any more. In fact, if she wanted to go after Garrett she could do that, “I'm going to go back inside now. It's getting kind of hot out.” Maybe her blush could be explained away by the summer's heat. Katrina didn't really need another person worrying about her. One mother was quite enough. She turned and walked back towards the house, slowly enough that Ghost could follow if she wanted or could follow Garrett before he got too far away.

Ghost looked after Garrett a bit confused at why he had stalked off so suddenly. She was able to relax a bit when Katrina yelled after him. Maybe they'd just interrupted his meditation or something... he had said that Kat collided with him or something. She stood awkwardly for a moment looking between Kat and the place where Garrett's back had disappeared. Kat made some excuse, sensing Ghost's desire to follow. After a moment of hesitation, she just groaned at herself and trotted after Kat. She could find Garrett later. Running after him now probably wouldn't accomplish anything anyway.

"Do you understand boys? 'Cause honestly - I'm lost." She huffed and it was accentuated by a sharp breeze. Ghost didn't really over heat so she just had to trust that really was the reason for Kat's retreat, not that the girl was snubbing her. This statement was probably the most casual she'd spoken to Katrina yet. Maya didn't want to be a mother figure and she wasn't a teacher or anything like that yet -- it would be best if she could settle into something of the older sister role. At the very least it would be nice to make a friend that was a girl even if she was younger.

Ghost had decided to let Garrett go his own way for now and instead followed Katrina as she retreated back to the air conditioned indoors. Odd, Katrina thought, that the older girl would be asking her for advice on boys. She must be truly at her wits end.

Katrina thought about the boys she knew. There was Geo, who was old enough to drive, but still young enough not to realize that he was mortal. Heartsore, headstrung, and anxious to get in as much trouble as possible, he was an enigma to the young Katrina.

Calley and Slate were two boys who were polar opposites of each other, with only one thing in common: a body. Nothing Calley said could be taken seriously. Katrina didn't even know if he knew the meaning of the word serious. Nothing, not even girls, could hold Calley's attention for longer than five minutes, as far as Katrina could tell. Slate on the other hand was focused. He could work on a single task for hours and nothing could distract him, but if you could capture his attention he could be a very interesting conversationalist.

Dio wore a faceless mask to hide his turbulent emotions from the world, and possibly even from himself.

Abyss, who was more a man than a boy, was as gentle as a kitten one moment and causing massive destruction the next.

Fausto was a tatterdemalion who boasted about someday taking over the world in order to rule it in peace as he threw himself a birthday party.

Katrina shrugged in response to Ghost's exasperation, “Nope. Not at all. Boys are one of the mysteries of the world that I haven't yet solved.” Not that she had solved any of the world's mysteries. One in particular had been nagging her lately, “How about mothers? Do you understand those at all?”

Katrina seemed to fully think on Ghost's rhetorical question for a bit as they reached the stairs that led up toward the kitchen and the rest of the mansion. She was intensely curious as to what boys the girl would be comparing. Would they be boys her own age? Mutants? Family? Friends? While Ghost appreciated the thought the girl put into her questions, she would never expect much by was of an actual answer. She wasn't disappointed in the least when Katrina did answer with essentially another of life's mysteries.

"Mothers, hmmm?" Ghost tried to put as much effort into her answer as Katrina had. "I've heard that depending on how alike you are to your mother, you can either be best friends or mortal enemies. Of course, with varying shades of in between." She thought aloud so that Katrina would not have to wonder what was going through Ghost's mind as she puzzled over her question.

"When my mother was... around, we were able to be friends because of our overlapping interests and secrets. We were different enough that I never felt that I had to compete to step out from under her shadow and so our relationship was a very rewarding one." Ghost shook her head and smiled then. "I can't say I fully understand mothers, though, as I obviously have no children of my own."

Ghost paused to open the door for Katrina. "Having 'mom' problems?"

Katrina sighed, then glanced around the kitchen before going in. There were no mothers in sight, so she plopped down on one of the chairs at the kitchen table and rested her chin against the smooth wood eating surface and let her arms dangle down below.

“Not problems, really. It's just that she cares too much. I learned how to take care of myself, and now she's back trying to do every little thing for me.” Katrina tilted her head, which resulted in her cheek being flat against the tabletop. The table was nice and cool.

She tried to decide if she and her mother were more alike, or more dissimilar. At the moment, she felt like she was entirely different from her mother and couldn't relate to her at all. After all, she never would never have kept a secret like a mutation from someone she was going to marry. And she wouldn't have tried to hide that she was a mutant for most of her life. And if she had children, she wouldn't hover over them so much. She sighed again.

Ghost smiled. She was trying to offer an opinion without bringing her personal feelings into the situation too much. "You've probably heard it a million times, but you are lucky to have a mother who loves you and is still around." Ghost watched Katrina curiously. Was it really so hot outside? Ghost casually made her way to the fridge and rustled around until she found a juice box. She really enjoyed the sweeter drinks like juice, but felt the carbonated drinks like sodas tasted too... forced. Sure sodas were effervescent, but it was like drinking bubbles of sterilized dirt. Soda companies would have to figure out how to trap bubbles of something much purer in there before she would drink it.

"Would you like something?" Ghost set her drink choice on the counter and hesitated by the fridge. She would fetch anything Katrina asked for. It seemed the polite thing to do. Little beads of condensation ballooned against the papery sides of the drink. Even inside the heat of the day could be felt.

"You also probably know that many residents here don't have any family members that they can still claim." Ghost shrugged, still struggling to keep her own situation separate. She missed her mom. She'd been her closest friend and confidant, a bond formed by their mutual secret of being mutants. Together they had hidden their talents from the world and from Ghost's father. "It's nice to be self-sufficient, but it's also nice to have someone... anyone to turn to. I'm sure you will work things through with your mother if you want to." Ghost fumbled with her juice box. She always had trouble getting the straw in American drinks. Things just worked differently here.

"You mother... she is a rational being. Perhaps you could simply ask for some space." She said with some finality. Unless Katrina specifically asked for some advice, she would say nothing more on the matter. Katrina was a smart girl. Ghost had ever confidence that she would be able to work things out... meanwhile a small stone of guilt settled into her stomach. Garrett's unusual behavior nagged at the back of her mind.

“Um, I guess I'll have a juice also. Thank you.” Katrina sat up straight once more as she thought about the advice Ghost was offering her.

Ghost was right, of course. She was lucky to have her mom around. She hadn't been looking at the situation from that angle, but now that she could see it from another side she felt a little guilty about complaining. She was one of the only people that she knew of at the mansion that had a family member also at the school. Some space would be nice, but so would spending some quality-not-trying-to-get-away time with her. She nodded thoughtfully as Ghost struggled with her straw.

“Here, if you cover the end of the straw with your finger, the juice won't squirt out when you push the straw in.” Katrina demonstrated with her own beverage then sipped her juice thoughtfully.

“I think I will talk to her. It's a good idea, thanks.”

“Here, if you cover the end of the straw with your finger, the juice won't squirt out when you push the straw in.” Katrina demonstrated with her own beverage then sipped her juice thoughtfully.

“I think I will talk to her. It's a good idea, thanks.”

Ghost nodded and followed Kat's example with the straw. She'd been entertaining the thought of abusing her power to equalize the pressures inside the infernal box of juice and outside and therefore eliminate all juice squirtage, but in the end Katrina's idea was the best. Ghost smiled, relieved that Katrina had the good sense to realize what she had.

"Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best." She affirmed. She really was feeling guilty about Garrett now. "I hope you don't mind, but I've some things to attend to." Ghost nodded somewhat apologetically. Even though their conversation seemed at a natural end, she worried about offending the girl by running off too fast. "I'm very glad to meet you and I look forward to seeing you around again."

Ghost took two steps toward the back door before stopping, turning, and waving. She slipped into her incorporeal form then and with a woosh went to explore the outside area quickly.

>>>"Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best."

Katrina nodded to Ghost as she sipped her juice. Ghost was indeed wise. Katrina would tuck away this particular piece of wisdom and use it to her advantage soon. She also would perhaps go to Ghost again if she needed advice again. The older girl was very understanding and seemed very kind. She didn't seem to judge, but saw through a problem to a clear solution, like a bat able to fly easily through a fog.

Speaking of fog... while Katrina was daydreaming, Ghost was making her exit. Katrina waved back as Ghost wooshed out the doorway.

“See you soon!” she called after the older girl with a smile.

She slurped the last of her juice through the straw and stood to throw the carton away. Then, she walked out of the kitchen in search of her mother.