Geoffrey Spindler
February 12, 2008 12:20 AM
Seeking a certain Quidditch Captain... by Geoffrey Spindler
Classes were finished for the day, and it wasn't yet time for dinner, which possibly had something to do with why Geoffrey was entering the Library. Except he was looking very neat. His curls had been dampened and combed, he had scrubbed his face and hands and he had checked his robes almost obsessively for crinkles and wrinkles before daring to out. This had to go just right, after all, he'd been thinking about it almost non-stop since the ball had been announced.He took a deep breath and ventured through the shelving to the desk he knew she usually chose. And there she was, seemingly deeply involved in whatever book it was that was open in front of her.
Geoffrey froze for a moment, but found that his legs had a mind of their own and were walking him over to stand next to the table even before he remembered to do so.
"Hi Jennifer," he said softly, trying to decide if he should be looking at her or the book. The book seemed safer, because then he wouldn't see- but then, it wasn't hopeless. He knew she liked him. And, by Merlin, he knew he liked her. Jake... it couldn't possibly be as serious as the whispers said. As even Stephen had hinted as being possible.
"I was wondering," he continued, not really giving her a chance to greet him back, if indeed she was going to do so. The words stuck in his throat, and his mouth went completely dry as sheer dread cascaded through him. Just do it, he thought to himself fiercely. She's here alone - there's no one to witness it. Whatever happens. His eyes lifted from their study of the book and the desk to stare into hers intently. "I was wondering if you'd go with me to the ball." The words tumbled out, but at least they were in the right order and understandable.
He hoped.
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Seeking a certain Quidditch Captain...
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Jennifer Zucchero
February 12, 2008 12:52 AM
Being Sought (in more ways than one) by Jennifer Zucchero
Jennifer was used to younger students coming up to her and asking her things, both those she knew well and those she didn’t. It was one of those things about being an upperclassman, she supposed, and being in a position of a modicum of authority. She didn’t mind when it happened, actually enjoyed it. There was definitely something to be said about being looked up to in whatever ways. However, there were times when the things she was asked were far unexpected than she’d prefer. That was the danger of being questioned—one can’t always know the answer.Like now, for instance. She hadn’t noticed the approach of her assistant captain, caught up in homework as she was (and thinking about the upcoming trip to Brazil and the conversation she’d recently had with Lizzie), and so had been taken by surprise when he had said her name. It had taken a second or two to realize it was actually her being greeted, which is why she didn’t immediately return it as she turned in her seat to face the boy. By the time she’d gotten her head out of the clouds, he had already moved on.
The phrase ‘I was wondering’ should have led to some sort of quidditch-related query, or something along those lines. Jennifer liked to think she and Geoffrey were friends (it was hard to work together if two people weren’t), but that was pretty much the extent of their relationship with one another. The rest of the sentence was definitely not part of the set rules.
Fortunately, now that she was fully in the conversation, she was capable of quick thought, so Jennifer could respond almost immediately; shocked silence never worked well in times like these. “Oh, Geoffrey, I’m really sorry, but Jake already asked me.” She didn’t know why the fourth year wouldn’t have guessed that, since she knew she and Jake more than occasionally showed up in Sonoran gossip, only to be expected at a small school. Still, maybe he’d thought…it didn’t matter.
Smiling kindly at him, she placed a sympathetic hand on his arm, since she felt awful about this, even if he was only asking because they were friends and teammates. “I’ll be sure to save a dance for you if you want, though.” There. Nice, simple, and easy. The ways rejections of any sort should be.
She hoped.
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Being Sought (in more ways than one)
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Geoffrey S.
February 12, 2008 1:10 AM
Retreat by Geoffrey S.
Geoffrey felt his face starting to fall and with an effort almost beyond him he made it impassive. Well, impassive apart from the fierce blinking that he half-turned his face away to hide.She was going with Jake. He should have known. He should have asked sooner. Although, there had been nothing in her face to say she had welcomed his question.
Nothing.
Nothing but shocked surprise.
It hurt more than he'd expected a 'no' to hurt.
He felt a touch on her arm and looked at her face again. A pitying smile. Just what every boy wanted to get in exchange for asking a girl to the ball. His own smile in return was brittle and bright, but didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Yeah," he replied, not really conscious of what he was saying. "Sure, that sounds like it'd be fun." What would Stephen say? "I'll hold you to that." It felt like the kind of thing that needed a wink to work properly, but he didn't have it in him. "I'll just... go. Sorry for disturbing you."
And he left, calmly and quickly before he made it through the doors and was sprinting up the stairs, through the commons and into his dorm.
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Geoffrey S.
Retreat
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