In search of Jennifer... on Library

Lizzie Lavine

December 21, 2006 12:02 AM

In search of Jennifer... by Lizzie Lavine

Lizzie was miserable. It was roughly 3 weeks or so after the beginning of term, and Liz was still being avoided by Jen. It was getting to a point of ridiculousness. No goodwill envoys were accepted, and from the gossip grapevine were coming unsettling rumors about Jake and Jen and their heated fight in Muggle Studies. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Lizzie’s plan was not quite going her way at the moment. Step One in newly fabricated situation remedy was to seek out Jen. So, one Tuesday after classes were over, Liz made her way to the one place she would be sure of finding Jen: The Library.

Entering quietly with her bookbag still slung over her shoulder, Lizzie kept a vigilant eye out for her estranged best friend. She decided that the petite brunette would probably be at a table finishing up her homework, so Liz headed over to the general study area, passing Zack’s Prefect Station as she did so. Lizzie had always thought the idea was cute, if not exceedingly nerdy, but to each his own. She continued on, however, keeping close to the bookshelves while still throwing looks over her shoulder to check the tables' occupants.

After as much inconspicuous spying for Jen that she could take, Liz finally resigned herself to sit down at a table. The one she selected was mid-way in the back of the section and positively deluged in large anthologies and texts. Whoever had last used the table certainly seemed to like their reading. Yawning and stretching slightly behind the piles of old books, Lizzie wondered if Jen hadn’t just gone to dinner and done her work in the Crotalus Commons. She didn’t exactly know what Jen’s commons was like, but if it was anything like her own, studying was near impossible with the din that went on for hours during the afternoons and evenings. So Lizzie waited, keeping an eye out over the piles of dusty works.
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0 Lizzie Lavine In search of Jennifer... 0 Lizzie Lavine 1 5

Jennifer

December 21, 2006 12:26 AM

You've found me. Now go away. by Jennifer

Jennifer Zucchero had liked to think that, over the past four years, she’d progressed from being the anti-social wallflower that her first year self had been. Social branching, and the like, was supposedly important, although she couldn’t remember for the life of her why at the moment. And, really, she had managed to accomplish that rather impressive feat. Or, she had up until the start of the new term. But now she’d regressed to her former self, spending almost all her time in the library working on homework, her only company the Aladrens, who, apparently, couldn’t spell, despite being the ‘smart’ house.

She actually wasn’t in reality as bad as she thought of herself currently. She still talked to most of the people she usually did, and the time spent in the library wasn’t by choice so much as it was by necessity. Obviously, her bout of idiocy had begun long before her fight, with all the courses she was taking. And she had a feeling that, when it killed her, Lizzie was going to write “I told you so” on her grave.

She sighed, and then deposited herself in a chair at one of the many abandoned tables. The reason that she felt like she’d regressed so much was simply a matter of perspective- when one doesn’t speak to two of the people one most commonly converses with, it seems more difficult to keep up the same amount of socialness. Yet she had no idea how to fix it.

That was a lie. She did know how to fix at least one of the problems, if not both. But she was still (rightly, in her opinion) too angry to want to apologize to Jake. He’d started it, she continued to childishly tell herself, and she didn’t need him, so their avoidance could remain the way it was indefinitely, for all she cared. And, with Lizzie, there was no question about fault or blame.

Pulling out her books, she immersed herself in an ancient runes translation, pausing only once the presence of someone drawing near was too much to ignore, and she looked up with a slightly irritable “Yes?”
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0 Jennifer You've found me. Now go away. 0 Jennifer 0 5

Lizzie

December 24, 2006 12:14 PM

Aw, that's no fair. by Lizzie

Growing tired of the stakeout, Lizzie was about to leave the library entirely when the target seated herself. Not wishing to miss a perfect opportunity, Liz abruptly stood and made her way to Jen's table. Momentarily, she reviewed what she had to say in her mind. Basically: I'm sorry, grovel a bit, Oh yes, by the way Rose wants you to come to her Christmas Hell, and It's okay, this'll all work out. Not half-bad. Maybe a bit more grovelling to get her point across, because she really was sorry. The plan as it stood was merely thus: get to talking to the both of them again.

Lizzie was prepared for when Jen turned around, a highly irritated "Yes?" greeting her. Liz herself had a smile handy as she continued to advance, finally pulling out the chair next to Jen. With a quick hand guesture, she asked, "Can I sit here? I need to talk to you."

Okay, she'd at least begun conversation with Jen again. Mainly one-sided at the moment, but that was to be expected. Jenny was understandably angry with her, but Lizzie really needed, if nothing else, her best friend back. She was miserable knowing that her best friend wasn't talking to her and avoiding her. And it was all her fault. And Lizzie hated it.

"Anyway," she said, taking the seat, "I'm really sorry about this whole Jake thing..."

Lizzie stalled for a moment, unsure what to say next. There wasn't really anything to say after that. She look the chance to look over the texts lying on the table.

"Ancient Runes? You actually took that class?"

Maybe not the best way to start a conversation, but, hey, it was verbal contact, which was more than the avoiding/ignoring that had been going on as of late. \n\n

0 Lizzie Aw, that's no fair. 0 Lizzie 0 5

Jennifer

December 24, 2006 5:00 PM

You wanna talk about fair? by Jennifer

Jennifer may have been irritable before she saw who had dared to bother her, but, after discovering it was Lizzie, second-highest on the people she didn’t want to talk to, she became downright testy. Forcing herself to bite back the urge to either snap ‘no’ when the other girl asked whether or not the seat next to her was available or just gather her books and leave, Jennifer simply continued what any pureblood had ingrained into them at birth- acting like one’s company was beneath notice.

Of course, that plan lasted all of 30 seconds, falling to pieces when the Pecari apologized. “Which aspect of ‘this whole Jake thing?” she asked blandly, focus still seemingly on the translation. “Telling him about Felipe, when you swore not to, or making him think that the two of us were still dating? Not that it really matters, I suppose. It doesn’t matter any more.”

If she hadn’t been in such a sour mood, she would found great amusement in Lizzie’s undeniably weak way of trying to continue the conversation. As it was, she just grew angrier. “Yes, I actually took ancient runes. Along with muggle studies and all the obligatory classes. Thus, I have a lot of work to do, so, unless you have something else, if you would go away, that would be greatly appreciated.”

All this was said without her gaze moving from the textbook. Jennifer didn’t want to be as mean as she feared she would be if she had to deal with Lizzie much longer, so she was trying as hard as possible to just make the other girl leave. Of course, Lizzie had never been the smartest so she knew it probably wouldn’t work.
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0 Jennifer You wanna talk about fair? 0 Jennifer 0 5

Lizzie

December 28, 2006 12:42 AM

Maybe Not... by Lizzie

The classic Pureblood tricks were clearly still fresh in Jen's mind as Lizzie recognized the all-too popular 'let's ignore the person next to us' tactic. Luckily (or unluckily, if you really thought about it) for Liz, she'd had many experiences with the look. Though it was a common card played by her Aunt Rose, she was slightly taken aback when Jen pulled it off. The real Jen isn't like this; she isn't a cold and unfeeling person who could easily ignore a friend, Liz told herself, Even with all the things you've done, Jen wouldn't, couldn't do that. It's just not her.

"Which aspect of 'the whole Jake thing'?" Jen asked somberly, obviously (in Lizzie's eye) uninterested in her book yet still gazing at it.

Lizzie breathed a sigh of relief when Jen responded. Yes, she was in trouble, deep trouble, but that wouldn't matter when the whole situation was fixed. Which, Merlin willing, it would be. Soon. There was still the issue of getting around the 'apologizing-but-I'm-still-sort-of-right' block, however, which took a minute for Liz to remedy.

"Look, Jen, I'm sorry about telling him, I know you told me not to, but," she stopped, fumbling for an excuse, "I mean, you never would have done anything if he didn't confront you or vice versa... I really was trying to help."

The weak response, though probably not award-winning, was sincere. Lizzie'd only been thinking about how jealous Jake would have been if he knew El Nino had beaten him to Jenny, and how he would have reacted. The reaction part was the only hitch in the entire plan: if Jake had had the reaction Liz had planned on, he would have turned around and found Jen and asked her out, regardless of El Nino and his position some thousands of miles away. But this little mental recap broke as Liz was again stung by the cutting remarks Jen made.

"...if you would go away, that would be greatly appreciated.”

Liz tried to keep a hold on her emotions, but it was almost impossible with the amount of brusqueness and condescention in Jen's tone. Anger rose in her throat, but the why and wherefore she couldn't exactly place. Sure, she was mad at Jen for talking down to her so, but the rational part of her mind reasoned that Lizzie really deserved the cold treatment. Too bad the reasonable part was oft pushed aside in favor of the quick and decisive Lizzie. She stood, pushing her chair back and throwing her palms down on the table a bit too hard.

"You want me to leave you alone?" she said, emotion taking over her voice level, "Fine. Fine! I'll leave you alone, but I really did come here to apologize to you, and if that's not good enough, well I'm sorry, that's not my fault."

She stopped momentarily to catch a breath, then started back in vehemently, saying, "And you know, I understand that you're mad at me. Hell, I'd be mad a me, but this is ridiculous. You've been ignoring me and avoiding me, and all this time I've been just trying to tell you that I'm sorry."

Lizzie took another pause after spitting out her last sentiments, sitting down as if deflating, continued in a calmer and quieter tone, "And I don't appreciate you acting like my Aunt Rose. I get enough of her as it is what with her stupid mandatory Christmas Hell at Baton Rouge and her stupid attempts at getting me engaged to some stupid pureblood son of her friends. It's just- it's infuriating. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Jen."\n\n

0 Lizzie Maybe Not... 0 Lizzie 0 5

Jennifer

December 29, 2006 12:44 PM

Didn't think so by Jennifer

Even though she had never had much opportunity to practice her “you are a bug beneath my notice” ignoring skills, apparently Jennifer had a great deal of natural talent in that area. Either that or the sheer force of her annoyance was enough for her to remain focused on the textbook, and bite her tongue.

She didn’t say anything throughout the entirety of Lizzie’s response, even when the comments that had to be said, such as ‘you’re only sorry because you got caught’ were so obvious. Such mean comments were beneath her, they really were (yes, it was incredibly childish pretending the other girl wasn’t there, but that was beside the point.)

Continuing to peruse the textbook, making notes on her parchment every so often, she couldn’t help listening to what Lizzie was saying, even if she didn’t look like she was paying attention. Then, as Jennifer knew was going to happen, the other girl finally lost it, and went on a complete tear. It was such a familiar action, one that Jennifer had seen be used successfully on her best friend’s older brothers too many times to count, that the Crotalus had to fight to hold back her laughter. It was the final blow, however, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

"And I don't appreciate you acting like my Aunt Rose. I get enough of her as it is what with her stupid mandatory Christmas Hell at Baton Rouge and her stupid attempts at getting me engaged to some stupid pureblood son of her friends.

She couldn’t help it anymore. Even as Lizzie went on to apologize once more, the dam broke, and Jennifer began giggling maniacally. And she just couldn’t stop. Somehow, now that she’d gotten the image of herself as Aunt Rose (one that would probably give her nightmares for years to come), she just couldn’t be angry anymore.

Still, it wouldn’t do to allow her best friend to get off that easily. Lizzie had done a very bad thing, worse because she knew the possible consequences, and if she was forgiven without any sort of consequences, a dangerous precedence would be set. So, once she’d gotten a hold of herself and stopped giggling, she picked up one of the thousand page books that had been left on the table, and whacked the Pecari girl soundly in the arm with it.

“There, you’re forgiven now,” Jennifer said primly, refusing to look at Lizzie for fear that she would collapse in another heap of giggles if she did. “Even if I still have complete rights to be angry still. I hope you appreciate this.” Whimsical mood fading, she glanced at Lizzie once again. “You, um, you wouldn’t happen to have talked to Jake recently, have you? Not that it’s important, or anything, it’s just the two of us haven’t talked recently, and…actually, never mind.” She hadn’t wanted to say anything about Jake. She didn’t want to look pitiful.

Smiling once more, even if it looked a bit fake, she shrugged. “And I have no pity for you with your Christmas hell. I get to go spend Christmas with my mother, who’s going to be expecting that I’m properly social with the proper pureblood boys, now that I’ve officially proved myself un-wallflower, even if it was only by ‘dating the help.’”
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0 Jennifer Didn't think so 0 Jennifer 0 5

Lizzie

January 01, 2007 8:55 PM

Yeah, yeah, yeah... by Lizzie

Tirade finished, Lizzie had rested her chin against her collar bone, staring down at the library floor from her slouched position. She prepared herself for Jen to yell back or to just ignore her and leave, but neither scenarios played out. Instead, Lizzie found herself looking up at a Jen dissolved in giggly madness. One eyebrow raised, she just stared at her friend, dumbfounded. Surely Jen was going out of her mind.

"What?" she asked softly, then continued louder, "What? What's so funny? Jen!"

But her questions were met by a rather large leather-bound text making contact with her arm. Mouth open in protest, Liz rubbed the injured arm. Not that it really hurt, of course, it was just that... well, it was a large book. And maybe it did hurt her arm. A little. But only a bit.

There, you’re forgiven now,” Jen said, obviously proud of herself for giving Lizzie her 'just desserts'.

The mood of the conversation took a different turn, however, when Jen's facial expressions sobered. Here we go... Lizzie thought momentarily as the subject of Jake came up. Though Lizzie hadn't talked to Jake since the infamous Muggle Studies class, she assumed that Jen and Jake hadn't spoken either. From what the school's grapevine told Lizzie, the dynamic arguement didn't sound like the kind you'd just apologize over and be friends again. That was a problem.

"Well, no," she said finally in a soft tone, "I haven't talked to him, but- I mean, I could. But you probably wouldn't want that, now would you? Or maybe it'd be okay since the real cat is already out of the bag."

Lizzie grinned back at Jen, even though she could see right through the paper-thin guise. Anyone else probably would have seen the fact that Jen had attempted the appearance of happiness was a good sign, but Lizzie knew her well enough to understand it was a clever mask. The Jen behind the mask was probably hurting, and the little wall she had been trying to build around herself since first year was not the answer. 'Building walls,' Brett had once told Lizzie, 'is just saying you haven't the power to fight the enemy yourself. A wall between you and your enemies just shows them that you need that wall to protect yourself.'

"Psh," she waved a hand at Jen, "You know Rose is about a thousand times worse than your mother. Besides, at least you've done what Mummy wants once in your life. Rose is 'taking the gloves off', according to my cousin Hermia. Neither of us is safe from her and her 'plans' for the family this Christmas." \n\n

0 Lizzie Yeah, yeah, yeah... 0 Lizzie 0 5

Jennifer

January 06, 2007 5:47 PM

You just don't want to admit I won by Jennifer

Jennifer wasn’t sure what she was expecting when she asked Lizzie whether or not she’d talked to Jake, or whether she was disappointed to hear inquiry answered in the negative. On one hand, given the result when Lizzie had tried to ‘help’ before, it was probably all for the best that the two of them had stayed away. On the other hand, though, since Lizzie hadn’t talked to him, and Jennifer really didn’t have anyone else she felt comfortable asking, she was kind of stuck now.

“You can talk to him,” she said, trying to act like it didn’t matter to her. “I mean, you two are still friends, aren’t you? It’s not like you have to stop associating with him just because the two of us had a fight.” She paused, not sure whether her next comment would really be appropriate, or whether Lizzie would take it as being serious or not, then decided her friend would probably realize she was joking. “Although, if you do talk to him, and he happens to mention me, feel free to try and put in a good word.”

She cracked another smile, feeling better than she had when she had entered the library, even if she hadn’t wanted to admit it. While she hadn’t wanted to admit it to herself, she had been rather miserable for the past few weeks. She didn’t like being angry with people, or having them be angry with her. Even with forgiving Lizzie, Jennifer still wasn’t quite fine, but she didn’t want to have to admit it.

“I fully concede that your aunt is worse than my mother, although a thousand times worse might be a bit much,” Jennifer continued when she realized the conversation had just stopped entirely when she paused after reassuring Lizzie about Jake. “And I have only the most heartfelt sympathies for your situation. Still, at least you have someone to share it with you’re relatively close to. While my cousins are for the most part wonderful, it’s kind of hard to develop that kind of relationship when we only see each other once every year and a half.”

Deciding that it was going to be almost impossible to work now that Lizzie and she were talking again, Jennifer put her books back in her bag, and then turned back to the other girl. “I can see why Hermia wouldn’t be safe, since from what you’ve told me, she hasn’t ever really dated, but you’ve at least thrown Rose a bone of some sort, since you dated John. So that really doesn’t make sense. Unless,” she continued as the idea hit her. “Do you think she’s figured out about you liking a halfblood? What is happening with Ash, by the way?”
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0 Jennifer You just don't want to admit I won 0 Jennifer 0 5

Lizzie

January 12, 2007 10:47 PM

Of course not. by Lizzie

Lizzie folded her arms ontop of the slightly shorter pile of books sitting in front of her, resting her chin on the crossed limbs. Jen wasn't angry at her anymore, so she relaxed a great deal. Somehow, the frustration of the past few weeks melted away just with talking to Jen. It'd been most boring without having her best friend to talk to. Not that Lizzie couldn't talk to other people, she did, but there were some things that one couldn't just tell anyone. Mainly those things concerned Ash.

"I'm still friends with him, I guess," she said finally, chewing on the inside of her cheek a bit out of nervous habit, "I mean, I think so. I haven't really talked to him all that much. I hope we're still friends. And of course I would put in a good word for you."

A slight grin made its way across Lizzie's face, the joke registering. It had been too long since she'd talked to Jen. She shrugged, however, upon hearing Jen's conjectures about the Rose Plans, as Lizzie had decided to call them.

"Well, Hermia's under the gun since she's been upsetting every little boy-toy Rose has thrown at her," She said, her words tasting of disdain towards her aunt, "And it doesn't help me at all that Helena's acting the Golden One. Rose loves using her as examples for Hermia and I. It's so ridiculous, this whole business."

Lizzie put her face down on the books, her forehead against her warm arms. She hated being forced into situations, especially those where her aunt Rose would be trying everything in her power to make Lizzie take interest in some pureblood boy. She was wondering who would be next on the list of 'try and win the Lizzie' boys when Jen asked a question she was entirely unprepared for.

“Do you think she’s figured out about you liking a halfblood? What is happening with Ash, by the way?” Lizzie picked up her head and shook it slowly, giving Jen a look before replacing it back on her arms.

"First of all, I don't care what Rose thinks," she said, her current position muffling all of her words slightly, "And secondly, I have no idea what is going on. I haven't really talked to him at all. I just- well, I mean, I saw him at the Opening Feast, but that's really it. I wish something would happen so this horrible waiting will be over. I just want to know what's going on with him, you know?"

At the last part, she picked her head back up and manouvered to where her chin rested on the palms of her hands, her elbows pressing down against the pile of books. Lizzie was certainly not one for waiting, which was exactly what was happening to her in the whole 'Ash Situation'. Nothing seemed to be working for Lizzie. At least now you have Jen to vent to, she thought, That's something.\n\n

0 Lizzie Of course not. 0 Lizzie 0 5

Jennifer

January 13, 2007 10:47 PM

Silly, silly Lizzie by Jennifer

Somehow, no matter how many years had passed, how many matchmaking parties had been sat through, or how many relationships had occured, this conversation between Jennifer and Lizzie had never really changed. Basically, it all boiled down to the fact that pureblood female authority intent on marrying off their charges were the root of all evil, both their respective ones, and the ones that came with pureblood teenage boys in tow.

"Don't try and tell me Hermia doesn't do everything she can to terrify those boy-toys just because it will tick off her mother. As do you, on occasion," Jennifer said with a raised eyebrow. "Even if there wasn't the whole Ash situation, I bet you would still prove to be as much of an exasperation to Rose as you do now, just because you could."

Her expression softened, however, when Lizzie explained the current situation with said boy. (Jennifer conveniently ignored the look that had been sent her way. It was her divine right to meddle, since Lizzie had set the rules of engagement to include that.) "There, there, it's alright," she murmered consolingly, patting her friend on the shoulder. "I know it sucks, but he's a guy, and they're, by and large, complete idiots. Don't worry, though. I have full faith in you to ambush him when he's least expecting it and get some answers out of the boy."

Jennifer knew that her friend probably had no desire to hear the next part of her reply, but decided it had to be done, just for fairness's sake. "Still, though, not knowing can be a blessing, at times. I know this sounds completely heartless, but...what if he doesn't like you back? Although you still probably have it better than me," she said with a laugh that didn't quite sound amused. "More likely than not, I'm going to end up marrying some guy my mother likes, just because there's no one else." Because you helped completely screw things up with the one boy I like here was the unspoken message that followed. Jake had been right, even if she didn't like thinking about it. She was her mother's puppet at times. But, somehow, looking between her and Lizzie, doing things the other way didn't seem to make one any happier. \n\n

0 Jennifer Silly, silly Lizzie 0 Jennifer 0 5

Lizzie

January 15, 2007 10:59 PM

Me? Silly? Never. by Lizzie

"Making those boy-toys unhappy is one of my favorite pastimes," Lizzie said with a grin, "And be assured, there will be more at Christmas. I just don't know how I'm going to deal with the round this time. I almost wish John was coming so I could at least stick with him and still appear to be 'socializing'. Merlin, I hate these things."

Lizzie's chin was still resting on her palms, her blue eyes sober. The thought then occured to her that she was exhausted. The past few weeks, she'd been carrying around a lot of emotions, guilt being the most prevailent. It was hard not to, knowing that you were essentially the cause of so much distress in your best friend. It was a horrible weight to carry around, and after a while, one gets tired of it. Lizzie was tired.

"Ash is- well, he's a boy," she said finally, "I can't expect him to pick up on these things. And you know I can't stand being in the dark. Ignorance maybe be bliss, but this is just hell."

A slight grin appeared on her tired features, however, when Jen jested about her ending up marrying a boy her mother wanted her to. Lizzie rolled her eyes, knowing Jen would do no such thing. Liz had faith that Jen would marry whomever she deemed intelligent and worldly enough for her. Lizzie, however, was rather settled that no 'good pureblood boy' would want to marry the all-too rambunctious and independent Lizzie. That gave her mild comfort, seeing as if none wanted to marry her, she'd have all the freedom she wanted.

"Oh Jen, please," she said, waving a hand, "No one's going to force you to do any such thing. Besides, if Christine goes crazy, you can always just go down to Brazil and stay with your Dad."

Lizzie yawned, stretching her arms out. The thought then occured to her that she was hungry. All of her spying and covert actions in finding Jen had made her forget completely about dinner. The light outside was fading down, a sure sign that dinnertime was fast approaching or already there. Lizzie wasn't sure that she'd accomplished too much outside of her original goal, but she felt relieved enough to think about having dinner. Besides, she was talking to Jen now, a definite improvement.

"Let's go to dinner," she said finally, hanging her bookbag across her shoulders and standing, "I'm starved."

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0 Lizzie Me? Silly? Never. 0 Lizzie 0 5