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Post by Charlie Sonata on Jan 16, 2007 15:32:37 GMT -5
Charlie wasn't feeling very much like Charlie that day, and it showed. The skirt of choice this evening wasn't something that barely passed a belt, as it is normally - but instead a long (for her) white gypsy style one, falling to just below her knees. The long sleeved blue cotton top she wore. Like many of her tops that she wore around the common room, and in her own dorm, it was a few sizes too big, the sleeves hiding her hands complete. The reason she had taken to that top was because it was one of the few items of Felicia's she managed to recover before it was all packed up and sent home. Charlie swore blind it still held the sweet flowery scent of her best friend's perfume.
Hair unstyled and untidy falling down over her cover shoulders, make-free lips somewhat pursed in concentrations, she sat in a two seat couch, taking up most of the space, reading a small book in her lap. The day had been wasted, if she were to be truthful. She slept 'till one, and had sloped around the common room until now. When asked, she claimed she had a sore stomach. With her bare feet tucked beneath her, Charlie looked up from her book, and glanced around the fairly empty room. It just isn't the same around here, she thought.
"It's just too quiet..." |
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Post by Adam McElroy on Jan 16, 2007 15:56:15 GMT -5
Adam wasn't much feeling like Adam that day; though he never really was, these days. No one was exactly as they had been before this year started; relatively innocent - to be unable to think of a better word for it - and wondering, with some excitement for most, what the new terms and school year would hold. Most of them probably guessed that it would hold decent grades, some new friends and maybe an unexpected romance, rather than death, pain and loneliness.
At least, that had been what most of the McElroy siblings had guessed would happen. They had been no way prepared for something that might change their whole outlook on things to something else. Adam hadn't know he was going to ruin his friendship with his best friend, then save his life. Roxie couldn't guess that she was going to fall in love with someone so badly injured now. Scarlet had had no idea that she was going to try and mess up her sister's life by seducing the Fina's boyfriend.
Things were unexpected, that was for sure.
But life had to go on. Adam was back into his Quidditch again, which took his mind of everything else going on in his life for just a few hours every day. He didn't see people so much anymore; he still wasn't talking to his sisters, but not even because of their argument anymore. He just didn't feel like seeing and interacting with them anymore. They were all separate people, now; they had their own lives, their own problems, to deal with on their own.
The male had been flying that day. Not playing a game or anything - he didn't have a Quidditch ball, let alone anyone to compete against - just flying on his broom. He had been thinking a lot today, and this had resulted in several crashes. By now, he had dry mud smudges all over his blue tracksuit, as well as a streak on one of his cheeks. Damn; since when did trees - not to mention the ground - get covered in mud?
Shaking his head a little to clear it, as he always did, Adam entered the common room with a sigh, only to hear someone state something out loud. The voice was familiar, but he didn't register who it was immediately, and just sighed and said, "Tell me about it." Then he looked up, and blinked at Charlie. "Oh. Hi." He then offered a small smile.
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Post by Charlie Sonata on Jan 16, 2007 16:08:32 GMT -5
Charlie looked round to see who had replied to her murmured statement, and was pleasantly surprised to see Adam enter the common room. A small smile - more than likely the first of that day - graced her lips. He was positively filthy.
"Hey, mucky pup," she said, with some warm familiarity in her lowered voice. She raised a slender eyebrow at his muddy attire, "Fighting with the ground again? And here's me thinking you where a whiz with the broom."
Yes, the humor was somewhat poor, but she could see Adam was still somewhat in a rather shaky state emotionally at the moment. He might not be quite in the mood for gleaming smiles and giggles. She didn't know many people, including herself, who often were these days. The school was, understandably, a rather sombre place. Charlie shut her book, and scooted up the couch a little in case he wanted to sit down, but judging by his lackluster, tired appearance, he was just about ready for a shower and bed. |
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Post by Adam McElroy on Jan 17, 2007 16:14:10 GMT -5
Seeing her smile and hearing the rather warm and relatively friendly welcome, Adam felt the smile on his own face stick there, making his whole expression - which had been the same quiet, withdrawn look for weeks and weeks now - appear untroubled for a second. In fact, not just appear; he wasn't troubled right then. Perhaps meeting more people to keep your mind off of bad things - and on to conversations and them - wasn't such a bad idea in itself.
Adam sighed, shaking his head, and perched on the edge of the sofa arm. That way... well, that way he wouldn't leave so big a mark wherever he sat. There was mud all over him. "Not a whiz. Especially not now, when I tend to go off into La-La-Land thinking about stuff and crash into a tree. Or a wall. Or a bird. Or the ground." Now that had come out cheerful sounding; perhaps it was the comical images of him crashing into anything solid, or the cute little La-La-Land. Oh man.
Maybe not a shower- it was just his clothes that were muddy, and a smudge on his pale cheek. But he was tired. Wasn't it odd that when you sat around mindlessly - on a broom or not - and crashed into things, you wasted more energy than you did running around the field or using you brain to actually concentrate on something? That was weird.
Turning his attention to Charlie, Adam said, "So, how've you been?" That was a stupid question.
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Post by Charlie Sonata on Jan 17, 2007 16:47:39 GMT -5
"Ouch," Charlie said, with an exaggerated grimace, "Poor bird. But seriously, are you feeling okay? You look pretty....rough, to be honest. As for me, I'm just dandy. Well, as dandy as a girl can be considering the circumstances..."
Charlie stretched her long arms out before her, cracking her wrists with a satisfied sigh. She'd been on the couch for so long she was starting to get uncomfortable. With a smile to match Adam's, she wiggled into a new position, before suddenly putting up her hand.
"That reminds me!" she said, "I was out shopping in Paris to cheer myself up - and just generally waste time - when I saw something that reminded me of you. It's from Baril de Balais. I could go dig it out for you, and give you some time to scrub up, if you'd like that." |
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Post by Adam McElroy on Jan 18, 2007 3:07:37 GMT -5
Adam shrugged, with the smallest of sighs again. "I'm okay, I guess. Same as you; I'm as good as I can be, after everything that happened and all that." Everything that's happening, he added quietly in his mind. After all; it didn't seem to him as if the Death Eaters were completely finished with them yet.
In the pause, he just watched Charlie shuffle a bit, and then blinked again when she put her hand up.
"You got me something?" Adam asked, surprised. How had she even known what to buy? He didn't think anything he liked was that obvious. He nodded anyway, curiosity aroused, to what she said.
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Post by Charlie Sonata on Jan 18, 2007 12:25:52 GMT -5
Charlie looked please when Adam said he was doing okay. She knew he'd taken the whole attack situation pretty hard. He spent too much time dwelling on it, she decided. Charlie would bet that it was the reason of his many unfortunate tumbles from his broom.
"Yeah. What can I say; I'm an impulse buyer. Knowing my luck, it's the wrong size or you've already got one or something," she said, "Anyway, if you don't like it, I can always return it for you. Go get changed while I try and find it!"
Charlie scrambled ungraciously from the seat, and smoothed down her long white skirt, and headed for the stairs. Her bare feet padded on the wood as she scuttled up them, running her hands through her caramel hair. She eventually came to the door of her room, and pushed it open. Giving a little shudder, she crossed the room quickly, and kicked open the trunk at the foot of her bed, ignoring the sharp pain of her now stubbed toe. Dropping to her knees, Charlie started raking through the wonderfully messy huge box that held all the possessions that she considered worth while keeping. She didn't trust her Aunt enough to leave anything but dust behind.
For some reason, the little package wrapped in brown paper was near the bottom of the illusioned trunk (it could hold four times as much as it looked like it could). She took it out with a flourishing smile. She hoped Adam would like it. She was just about to shut the lid again, when a small brown wooden box caught her eye. Charlie bit her lip, and let the lid fall open again. With both hands, she carefully took the box, and sat it on the floor in front of her. Delicately, she undid the clasp, and uncovered the contents. The box was stuffed full of photographs, scraps of paper, and fabric. there were even some dried, pressed daisies scatter at the bottom. Charlie, face pained, picked up one of the photographs. The two small figures of her and Felicia in swimming costumes waved up at her, smiling and laughing. She turned the photo over, and read what was written on the back:"Summer, 3rd Year, Santa Dominie beach, C + F BFFL!" Charlie slipped the photo back in the box, and picked up a little pink book. It was Felicia's diary. A sad smile hovered on her lips as she flicked it open to the last entry.
"...new job at Shaded Nights! How fab! I'm so excited. I couldn't wish for anything else. A best friend, a brilliant job at a groovy pub, and a guy that I'm actually really into - bonus points for the hot boss! Anyway, I was thinking about asking Mattie if he wanted to make things a bit more official. Charlie said I should, before he found someone else (what confidence boosting advice, Charl!)..."
Charlie could feel her lip tremble. She was so happy! Positively bursting with energy, and potential! How unfair was that? She shut the little book, flung it back in the box, and jammed the lid on it before she started blubbing again. She put the box back in her trunk, slammed it shut, and scampered from the bedroom with Adam's present clutched to her chest. She came tripping down the stairs in a whirl of white and blue with a rather haphazard smile plastered on her face, panting a little.
"Ba-ack!"
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Post by Adam McElroy on Jan 18, 2007 13:28:14 GMT -5
She was a smart girl, Charlie. Working out that his thoughts on all the attacks were the cause of his many painful accidents. Though, thinking about it, the last time that she and Adam had met, their minds had obviously been on that subject. Maybe the fact that they still were was clear?
Adam smiled. "I'm sure it'll be great, whatever it is, too big, too small or just just right." He stood up as she did, and headed for his own dorm to change as she had suggested. The dirty tracksuit was particularly uncomfortable, mostly at the knees and the elbows, where he had landed in sticky, more wet mud. He could feel the cold, damp material on his skin, and it was clammy and annoying. So, he took the stair behind Charlie, but headed in the direction of the boys' rooms; of course.
He burst into the room, and the feeling of icy unfamiliarity. The room was cold, and he didn't spend much time in it anymore. Almost non in the daytime at all; he'd only go in there to get clothes. Hell, he had even spent nights away from the uncomfortable place, just falling asleep in an armchair in his normal clothes after reading or listening to others going on with their lives, or something.
Shutting the door behind him, Adam grabbed a pair of jeans that were slung over the bottom of his bed, and a forest green shirt that was a little long. He pulled the jeans on and buttoned the shirt, pulling a pair of tatty trainers on. These ones weren't mud-coated, though, so it was all good. Well... it was all good enough, at least.
He then sighed, and scrubbed at the smudge on his cheek in the mirror. It didn't move. After a couple of moments of painful prodding, he realized that underneath the small streak was a purple-y brown bruise, which was why it wouldn't disappear. He grimaced at the mark, and then left the room with another small, tired-sounding sigh. At least he was a little cleaner, and more presentable now.
Charlie wasn't back down yet, the male observed, still absentmindedly rubbing at the bruise. He flopped back down onto the sofa, this time actually sitting on the seat, rather than on the hard arm. He was there for a couple more minutes, running a hand through his own hair, before a familiar voice - he recognized it, though, this time, which was quite fortunate - caught his attention.
Adam offered a small smile to the rather flustered looking girl, and said, "Good. You okay?"
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Post by Charlie Sonata on Jan 18, 2007 14:33:21 GMT -5
Charlie bounced onto the seat beside Adam, tucked her bare feet beneath her and presented the brown parcel-paper wrapped bundle to him with a grin. Inside it there was a Kenmare Kestrel quidditch top, in the team colours and everything. Charlie may not be the smartest girl in Beauxbaton, buy she had a good memory for pointless things.
"Voila, monsieur - un cadeux! Enjoy." she said, brushing a strand of blond hair from her face. She felt a little less stiff now that she'd been up and moving around a little. All thoughts of Felicia and the summer at Santa Dominie beach were pushed rather forcefully to the side. She wanted to take a brake from all the mournful contemplative feelings, even if it was just for an hour or so with Adam. She wanted it to be like it was before; a lark and a waste of time, were stupid things were said and stupid things were done (like the last time they were alone in the common room together?) and you could just laugh as much as you wanted about it, instead of feeling consonantly on the verge of tears all the time. Charlie was careful not to let her smile falter at all. She was trying to make him feel better, and not let it end up like the courtyard incident.
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Post by Adam McElroy on Jan 18, 2007 15:17:03 GMT -5
Adam moved a little, involuntarily, when Charlie jumped onto the sofa and handed him the present. He noted her grin, and sent one back, shaking the bundle gently.
He had absolutely no idea what this would be, if he could be truthful, as there was no way, really, that he could know.. And, hey, if he didn't even know what someone would buy him for a gift (or that he would by himself for a gift), how did she? You're supposed to know yourself, after all, and right now he was baffled, and very curious. Not to mention a little excited, the normal feeling people got when they were handed things wrapped up in paper to add to the mysteriousness of the whole affair.
Tearing open the brown paper, Adam's face remained blank. What was it? The shade of green was similar to his own favourite colour, so he was glad to see, and as he shook it out, laying it flat across his knees, his expression honestly lit up. A Kenmare Kestrals shirt! Man, this looked official and everything! Plus, it looked his size, which was always good.
"Charlie!" he exclaimed, clearly surprised as he turned the shirt over in his hands in a rather loving manner. "How did you... where did you get this from? Did you say that it was at Baril de Balais?" He shook his head, smiling. These must be new in, or else he would have got one. He still had one that he had kept since he was little. He treasured these things, honestly. "How did you know that this was my Quidditch team, though? This is so cool!" Yes, easily amused. But, come one; he is a guy, after all.
Adam laid it over the edge of the sofa, and unbuttoned the shirt he had on currently. The male was definitely putting this new one on; he only hoped it would fit. If there was something he enjoyed doing more than anything else, it was showing off the team he supported. He flung the darker green shirt over the arm of the chair and pulled the one Charlie had bought him on, all ominous thoughts that had made him crash previously gone for a moment.
Grinning, he glanced at Charlie. "Well, what do you know, it fits."
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Post by Charlie Sonata on Jan 19, 2007 11:25:43 GMT -5
Charlie watched Adam tear of the brown paper from the present eagerly, hoping she had gotten the right one. It was the Kestrels he like, right? How embarrassing would it be if it was the Falcons after all. She'd came pretty close to buying that particular shirt instead. At his pleased, if not a little surprised exclamation, Charlie could have sighed with relief. He liked it after all, unless he was a very good actor.
"Yup! The Baril de Balais, and one of the last ones left!" She said, clapping her hands together, "I saw it, and knew you'd want one. I just remember you mentioning them once. guess it just kinda stuck! Cost an arm and a leg...But no worries! I'm somewhat loaded..."
Charlie trailed off looking a little confused when Adam got up, and started to unbutton his shirt. It took her a moment to realized that he was putting the Kenmare shirt on right then and there. Her puzzled expression switched quickly to pleased. Perhaps she had a hidden talent of picking goodies.
"And what do you know," she added smoothly, "You look great in it." |
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Post by Lareina Darcy on Jan 19, 2007 14:50:23 GMT -5
Well, Adam wasn't that good of an actor, and he probably wouldn't have been able to stop himself from correcting Charlie if she had bought him a shirt with the wrong team on it. In fact, he most likely would have found the whole affair hilariously funny, which it would have been if she had made the mistake. But she had surely saved herself some embarrassment by choosing this green and yellow team shirt.
Adam grinned again, and said, what he had been thinking previously, "You're a smart girl, Charlie. This was like, one of the best presents you could ever have got me." And that was the complete and utter truth of the matter. "You shouldn't have got it if it was expensive though," he added quickly, though pleased that the Lioano female had.
He had expected a bit of a curious look from Charlie, but had guessed that she would realize the he was pulling the new shirt on after a couple of seconds. Smiling at her, he said, "Why, thank you very much. Can you get the label out for me?" He motioned over his shoulder, where the uncomfortable plastic thing was slightly visible.
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Post by Charlie Sonata on Jan 19, 2007 15:46:11 GMT -5
"Hehe, someone should give me a chocolate medal," Charlie said with a laugh, "And no stress. There ain't no harm in getting a little prezzie for a friend - why not make it a nice one?"
She shot another grin back and Adam, and gave him a thumbs up. It was nice to know he liked it. Charlie raised an eyebrow at him when he asked her to get the tag, but none the less pushed herself up from the soft seat, smoothing down her skirt again, before reaching for the little plastic rectangle that poked out from the collar of the shirt. She tugged at it, then used both hands to try and pull it off. Both attempts failed. She hated tags. With a sigh, Charlie leaned forward, and snipped the little bit of plastic that held it in place with her teeth, the tip of her nose accidental touching the warm skin at the base of his neck. Broken tag in one hand, she rubbed her nose with the other a she passed by to sit back down again.
"All done." |
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