Well... Aren't you adorable? (Mireli)

Mireli was wrapped up in a myriad of colorful but clearly hand-me-down clothing. A big knit 'jacket' her mother had made, two scarves wrapped around her tiny little neck. Her hands were covered in something a kid in her class had called 'hobo gloves,' that were fingerless and a flip over part if her fingers got too cold. Miri didn't know what a 'hobo' was but if they had gloves as nifty as hers, they must be pretty alright.

She was walking through the parking lot when one of the cars JUMPED OUT AT HER! Miri jumped in return, blue eyes wide as saucers as her tiny life flashed before her eyes. That was almost as scary as the time she was nearly trampled by a grumpy elephant near the Big Tent. She didn't scream or make much of any sound, but she now shook like a leaf.

A girl got out of the car, she was taller than Miri and very pretty...and very angry. She yelled at Miri for walking around wherever she liked. Miri fixed the girl with her round eyes, lips pressed together as she fought for something to say. Her interaction with the boy and girl taught her that these people were very gabby, they didn't often take in the subtle nuances of body language, as they did in her home. Still, it took her a bit longer to respond than the girl might find necessary, just staring at her like a deer in headlights.

"...sorry."

Cutie? Regardless of the unfamiliar pet name, the word 'forgive' resonated with the small girl. Though the tall girl had almost hit her with her car, it was confusing to Mireli how that could be her fault, but maybe there was some sort of rule she wasn't aware of. She made a mental note: 'Don't walk in the middle of the parking lots.' Good.

She blinked as the girl twisted a lock of her hair between her fingers, sapphire hues darting to the motion before looking back to the girl. Another blink, another moment of silence as she contemplated her words about friends. Were they friends? She had yet to make any friends here at PHS 552, most of the kids just looked at her strangely or beat her up. Having someone to look out for her and protect her was a good thing, right?

"Right." A small smile broke out on Miri's lips as she looked into the face of her new friend. It was clear she wasn't a big talker, most of her communication coming through in her body language and facial expressions. Her shoulders lowered slightly, indicating that she was letting her guard down a bit (and calming down from almost getting hit by a car).

What a strange circumstance! The girl from the hallway said there wasn't always going to be someone to protect her, yet here was a girl offering to walk her to her destination to make she she was safe. Maybe the first girl was wrong, this girl was pretty and nice, she was her friend! Friends looked out for each other..

"My name...is Mireli." She said, opting for a full sentence instead of the one to two words answers she gave to most people. It gave her the impression that she was shy when really, she just felt awkward and foreign, and preferred observing to chattering. "I'm...going home." She said, now looking slightly (more) awkward. Miri walked or took public transit to Coney Island. Outsiders didn't enter the caravan village, it was just something that didn't happen. "Y-you don''t have to.."

"Well..I take the bus, most days." There were a couple days when the buses we late, she missed the bus, or something happened where the bus never came, and Mireli would have to walk herself all the way home. She didn't mind too much, but that often meant that she got home long after the sun set.

"I live on Coney Island." She offered the information, not asking for Seven to drive. Mireli didn't like asking favors or anyone, even though she said they were friends. She did appreciate the kindness that Seven was showing her though, almost like a big sister. Mireli didn't have any siblings, but if she did, she imagined she would be something like the tall dark haired girl.

Mireli obediently followed the girl to her pink car, the same car that almost ran her over minutes ago. It was pink, which was unique. Most of the cars were the same shades of blue, green, tan, black, gray, red...but pink? "Thank you. I like your car." She told the tall girl as she climbed into the passenger seat, making sure her hands and legs were away from the door when it shut.

"You're very nice." She said as Seven buckled her in, a small smile on her face. "The rest of the kids here are not as nice as you." She admitted, clutching her bag in her lap as they started to drive. She rifled through the CDs, not recognizing any of the names. "My parents work there. I do too, sometimes." She picked a CD with what looked like a sweet girl on it and handed it to Seven.

"I don't know who she is." Miri admitted, a slightly sheepish expression on her face. Travelling around a lot, she didn't really stay up to date on the popular culture of mainlanders. As the music started playing though, she faintly recognized the song. It had played a lot quite a few years ago, back when she was really young. She could hear it in cars with their windows down or on the walkmans carried by the kids when they walked through the faire.

"I just started here, because we weren't allowed to be home schooled anymore." She started, trying to think of the best way to explain her situation. "My family, we are all Roma. Travelling with the carnival. The owner recently sold off the rights to another, the man who runs the Coney Island. He said he didn't want.." She paused, trying to remember the term he used, "'trooncy' officers stalking the fairgrounds, so we all had to go to school." She frowned slightly. "Some of the kids aren't nice, but I don't know if the school is evil, really." This was the most she'd spoken all at once, especially to this new girl. But they were friends, right? Friends were okay to talk to, friends could be trusted.

Naoki, why did that sounds familiar? "Is he the boy with the doves?" She remembered meeting him in the hall and liking him quite a bit. Maybe because he was a magician like her father. Had that been his name? She was meeting so many kids that it was difficult to keep up.

"Yes, my parents work there. My father is a magician, and my mother is a psychic." It was an interesting combination for sure. She learned slight of hand and scrying techniques from them both respectfully, though she was nowhere near their skill. "They were born and raised in the carnival life, as was I." Did that make her weird? Some kids thought so, but Seven was her friend and seemed to be interested in her unusual life. Maybe there was hope for her after all in making real friends here.