Sharp objects are not good with unfocused minds... on Pecari Commons

Gia Donovan

July 05, 2016 8:22 PM

Sharp objects are not good with unfocused minds... by Gia Donovan

Ever since the first fashion club, Gia had taken some extra time to study the different forms of fashion and what she found to be the most pleasing for her. She still found herself enjoying dresses and skirts over pants, but some of the styles were more revealing than what she would have previously allowed herself to have worn. Some of the skirts were quite short, but high waisted and were paired with mid-drift baring tops that seemed like it would be quite a show, but hardly bared anything at all. Gia quite liked it. So, over the holiday break, Gia went fabric shopping and began teaching herself different ways of sewing and sewing different styles of clothing. It was not an easy task to say the least, but the more time she spent on it, the better the outfits began to turn out.

On top of her sewing, Gia also started to each herself how to properly embroider items. She wanted to own a part of her family’s history and since she couldn’t very well write home and ask, she began searching European magazines for hints at the work they were known for. Usually, she found them listed in some of the fashion magazines, but occasionally, they were mentioned in home décor magazines. She used these as reference guides as she started the process of stitch work. Her embroidery was not nearly as beautiful or perfect as her estranged family’s but it gave her hope that she could one day make them proud. It also gave her the opportunity to not think about other issues that were dwelling on her mind lately.

She had tried to broach the subject with her mother, but had chosen the cowards way out and ultimately didn’t bring it up with anyone. The thoughts ate away at her like an infection, spreading quickly throughout her body. She had tried whatever she could to prevent them from happening, even going so far as to make out with Tony again, but while her lips were occupied by his, her mind had not been. Her thoughts had been about someone else and it disturbed her how easily she could manipulate her mind in such a way. So, she stopped seeing Tony altogether and instead focused on her needlepoint skills. This practice forced her to focus on the work unless she wished her prick herself.

“Ouch!” Gia exclaimed, shaking her hand before putting her injured finger into her mouth. She was tired so her mind was wondering and thus resulted in her stabbing herself with a needle. She looked over her work to see if she messed up anywhere, but it didn’t really look as though she had. Taking a breath and allowing herself a moment to stretch, Gia looked around the common room and discovered (much to her own embarrassment) that she was no longer the only one using the corner table space that evening. “Oh, I apologize. Let me make some room for you.” She quickly stated, beginning to clean up some of the fabrics and magazines that littered the table.

6 Gia Donovan Sharp objects are not good with unfocused minds... 308 Gia Donovan 1 5

Chuck Fintoc

July 13, 2016 5:17 PM

Not sure I'll be much help for your focus. by Chuck Fintoc

Chuck got a feeling that, whilst most people probably hadn’t spent their midterm making as big a deal about a dress as Emmy had, a lot of students would be returning from the break with intentions to ask certain others to be their dates for the midsummer ball. Unlike the prefects and more significant students in the school, Chuck was in no way obliged to have a date. However, he did think that it would be fun, especially since this would be his only school ball, and it didn’t hurt to make his grandfather happy.

The large redhead had a handful of female friends he thought he would enjoy accompanying to the ball but there was one in particular that he had always found a particular attraction to. At first it had started out as a mere admiration of her looks but the more he had come to know Gia Donovan and her wonderful personality, he had found himself developing feelings that extended further than absent-minded appreciation.

Chuck had not received any encouragement from Gia that this certain type of affection was returned but he was perfectly content to go as a completely platonic couple (well, as platonic as one could be when they had a crush on their partner) because he always had fun when he hung out with her.

The fourth year didn’t want to rush into asking Gia, but he knew he couldn’t be the only boy interested in her, so needed to get a move on if he wanted any chance of her saying yes. For all he knew, she might already have a date but he hadn’t heard it mentioned and he thought her brother might have something to say about it if she did. Chuck wasn’t sure what Jax would think of him if he did end up being the lucky man but he wasn’t the type to get intimidated by such things. After all, they were just friends…

Upon spotting Gia sitting in the common room one evening, Chuck decided it was best to ask sooner rather than later so he approached her. He set down a load of books, thinking he might get some homework done at the same time.

“Are you okay?” Chuck asked when Gia made an exclamation before he had chance to greet her, although he could see she had only pricked herself with a needle so there wasn’t much opportunity to play the gallant hero. “Thank you,” he smiled as she made room for him and he began spreading out his books further, minding not to intrude too much of her working space.

“Is that something for Fashion Club that you’re working on?” he inquired, knowing that Emmy would be pleased to know people were appearing keen outside the club meetings too. Chuck wasn’t interested in fashion in anyway himself but did know that sewing skills could be useful for many things (although he tended to leave those kinds of mending jobs to his aunts) and it was always important to pay attention to friends and what their hobbies were.

Chuck listened to Gia’s response before going right ahead with the main purpose (but not the only purpose) of his stopping by. “Um, Gia, I was wondering…” it wasn’t in his nature to feel shy, his hesitance only because he didn’t want to alarm her with bringing up the random topic so suddenly. “I was wondering if you would consider being my date to the midsummer ball?” He wanted to expand on the request but it felt silly to dress it up too much and be formal when their usual interactions were casual and friendly.

8 Chuck Fintoc Not sure I'll be much help for your focus. 309 Chuck Fintoc 0 5

Gia

July 13, 2016 8:02 PM

Not my focus, but definitely helped my mood by Gia

Gia grinned at Chuck when he asked her if she were alright. “Yes, thank you.” She replied. “It more startled me than anything.” She added. She had stuck her fingers more often than she really wanted to admit ever since she really started trying to learn embroidery. Sewing was never really an issue for her because she pinned everything down and just followed the line in front of her. Most of the time, she was merely hemming whatever clothing was in front of her (her brother would just refuse to stop growing both in height and in bulk, so she was constantly having to take his clothes). It was only in the last year that she had ventured out into making actual clothes for herself but even that was following the lines that she had set forth for herself with the pins. Embroidery though, this was all new to her and so very complicated because it was about creating something beautiful on a small piece of fabric. But she would learn because that was what she promised herself she would do.

After she set some of the books and magazines she had assembled but was not currently actually using back into her bag, Gia gave Chuck her full attention. “It is and it isn’t.” She said to him, only half realizing that it was a strange thing to say. “When the Fashion Club had its first meeting, it seemed to be more focused on design rather than on fashion. I am not much for designing, but I do know how to sew, so I’ve been trying to learn more about design so that I can feel more comfortable in the group, but also since I make most of my own clothes, it’s nice to have a variety of options to work with.” That was probably way more information that he was looking for but she didn’t see the point of only half answering him. “The embroidery is just a skill that I am trying to, er, how do you say it? Win? No, achieve is close. Oh, master!” Gia’s face lit up when she recalled the word. “A skill I am trying to master.” She always hated it when something stumped her. It happened less and less these days, but every once in a while her brain would stop working and she struggled with what she was trying to say.

Her reaction was one of surprise when Chuck asked her to the ball, ”Me?” she had asked him. She had not at all been expecting to be asked. Not just by Chuck, but by anyone. Gia had always thought of herself as background to her friends. Laila was pretty, Sammy was adventurous and adored, and Peizhi was a little darling. So out of all of them, she had assumed she would go alone. Her surprised reaction, however, quickly turned to one of joy. “I would love to go with you to the Ball!” Gia exclaimed. She stood up and hugged him. Gia was a hugger, so this should not be a new affection for him to receive from her. “Thank you for asking.” She couldn’t stop smiling about it. Chuck was her friend and she never really thought beyond that, but he was fun to be around and she knew that she could have a good time with him at an event she had never gone to before.

6 Gia Not my focus, but definitely helped my mood 308 Gia 0 5

Chuck

August 06, 2016 4:50 PM

That's more than good enough for me. by Chuck

Chuck was glad when Gia found the phrase she was looking for, never knowing whether one should correct someone or just let it slide. He tried not to smile as she searched aloud, certainly not wanting to make her feel foolish for still displaying gaps in the fluidity of her English speaking. He was rather impressed by how fluent she was - he had never enjoyed learning languages with Aunt Karen in the days before Sonora - and also found her accent rather attractive.

“Well, I’m sure you will,” the redhead grinned. “Although, it might help if you use the needle to stab the fabric, rather than yourself,” he added, unable to resist teasing his friend a little. “But hey, what do I know.”

Admittedly Emmy-Lou was right when she told him he didn’t know the first thing about fashion and he assumed the same applied for embroidery, which he wasn’t interested in at all either. He did know the utmost basics of sewing, however, and would try his best to follow should Gia wish to talk about such things.

“Yes you, of course you,” Chuck smiled at Gia’s surprise at his ball proposal, not really understanding why she was at all surprised but appreciating her modesty all the same. It was always nice when a girl that beautiful wasn’t arrogant or self-absorbed because of it.

Even more thrilling was receiving one of her hugs, which he was not unfamiliar with but this one felt special because it was just for him and part of her saying yes to being his ball date. Chuck couldn’t help but notice the way her beaming smile lit up her face and for a moment he found himself wondering if maybe, just maybe, he had a shot at being something more than friends with Gia after all.

“It will be my pleasure,” he told her, amused that she felt it necessary to thank him.

8 Chuck That's more than good enough for me. 0 Chuck 0 5