TJ
April 09, 2005 4:21 PM
From a distance by TJ
TJ stopped short as he stepped into the common room. His eyes widened. It was over-run. Completely over-run, by grinning happy first year, girls. Unable to keep back a small smile, he quickly turned it into a frown. The fact that the girls had yet to control emotions, was unfortunate, but the classy dress and style some of the girls supported was comforting. Allowing a small half smile, TJ shrugged slightly. Perhaps the first years would survive the year. Perhaps he would be able to survive the first years and perhaps not.Flicking his trunk lightly in front of him, TJ directed it up the stairs and into his empty dorm room. Apparently his roommates hadn't arrived yet. But as the most he'd seen of them were brief swishing of a robes before the turning of a corner, it wasn't much different than normal and normal was what he wanted. Settling his trunk on the ground TJ walked around the room examining it critically. Nothing had changed.
Except one thing.
The lock clicked and the lid swung opened, showing books piled neatly within the trunk. Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against Dark Arts, and Care for magical creatures all laughed back at him. Instead of being pleased by his distain for learning from the undisciplined teachers at the mudhole, his father had been furious. Then he'd made TJ learn all the material his classmates had been taught over the year in the months of summer, ruining his chances of having a life during the vacation months.
Nothing had prepared him for the workload that had been thrust into his face. Nor, when he managed to get out for a few hours, had he been prepared for the change in his friend Aaron. Aaron was older than him, taller, more sophisticated. He'd made it quite clear that he didn't want TJ around anymore. The backstabbing remarks that followed would have been amusing- if TJ hadn't have lost quite so badly. He was out of practice. The ultimate failure at lost him the friendship. The mudhole had lost it for him. Everything had changed at home. He didn't like change and as much as he didn't like being at the mudhole, he'd almost been pleased to come back. He was a second year now, and hence had far more authority than any of the firsties.
He wondered back down into the common room and sat down on a chair, idly tapping his fingers on the hard wooden surface.
Was he happy to have left home?
No, certainly not.
Was he happy to be back?
He didn't know.\n\n
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TJ
From a distance
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Jennifer
April 09, 2005 8:29 PM
That's not always good by Jennifer
Jennifer wandered downstairs, staying as far as she could from the giggling crowd. Sure, they would be a delight to draw, but she didn't want to become one of them. She liked her role as the observer. She didn't want to lose it.Just as she had pulled out her drawing pad and was about to start drawing, a slight movement caught the corner of her eye. She turned around, and saw a boy that she recognized vaguely sitting in one of the chairs. He didn't look pleased. Knowing that she was probably intruding, she decided to sit across from him anyway.
"You're TJ, right?" she asked. "I don't think we were ever introduced last year, but I remember seeing you around, and I think I may have seen you at a few of the parties through the years. I'm Jennifer Zucchero, by the way." She saw his gaze at the noisy first years.
"It's sad, really, how obnoxious our new crop seems to be, at least compared to our year, isn't it? And are you okay? You look somewhat upset."\n\n
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Jennifer
That's not always good
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Jennifer
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TJ
April 11, 2005 3:38 PM
I've never been known to be good by TJ
Letting a lazy gaze rest on the girl, TJ wiped away all thoughts of hearth and home. The buried craving of solitude was erased along with the others, and TJ turned to the girl, raising his eyebrows at the mangled introduction, before letting it slide. Even if the mudhole had ruined a friendship, it still left chances for renewal and new beginnings. The new beginnings would start now and the girl had shown up right on time. He nodded smiling across at the girl politely, allowing his brain to process what information he knew about Jennifer."I am TJ. TJ O'Riley. It's nice to finally meet you Jennifer." Eyeing the first years, a true smile flickered on his face before disappearing behind a look of pure distain. No matter what he should think of the first years, the bloodlines were satisfactory, and the superiority that ensued was enough to keep him happy. "The first years seem to have undergone a plague of disregarding the rules of protocol. Inexcusable."
His eyes narrowed slightly at the last remark. Upset? Carefully wiping his face of all expression TJ forced back thoughts of what might have caused him to appear upset away.
"I'm fine. Being back here at the Mudhole is a culture shock." Taking notice of the pad of paper, his brain finally clicked into motion. TJ had seen Jennifer around and around some of the parties throughout the years. Quiet. Not much of a talker. The opposite of... other people. A comfortable silence rang between the two second years before TJ snapped out of his reverie. His mother would have been appalled if she had seen him sitting next to an acquaintance without a conversation. Gesturing towards the notepad, TJ offered a small half smile.
"My mother would be-" TJ stopped. He had almost let personal get in front of politeness. The many mistakes he was making made his head whirl in confusion. Frowing, he continued on as smoothly as possible he said, "curious about the Zucchero's many talents. What is it that you draw?" \n\n
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TJ
I've never been known to be good
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Jennifer
April 14, 2005 7:43 PM
You seem rather proud of it, too. by Jennifer
Jennifer laughed slightly. "I don't know if I would use the word, "mudhole," but, you are right. It is indeed a culture shock." Of course, that wasn't any different from usual. Her entire life had been one big culture shock.Travelling from place to place, never staying in the same country for more than about 9 months would certainly give one appreciation for the idea of just living quietly. She sometimes had wished for a normal childhood, but after experiencing what she got from her mother, she decided she liked her culture shocks best.
After TJ again broke the silence, Jennifer shook her head to clear her thoughts, and glanced down at the sheet of paper at the top of her pad. It was just an outline right now, just a sketch of the girls.
She began to shrug, than remembered all the lectures she had gotten about that, and simply replied, "The girls over there, right now. But I'm not all that picky about what I do draw. Anything and everything that catches my eye, I guess. Drawing helps me understand what's around me better. Helps me figure out how to adjust, and how to fit in. It's actually very useful at times, knowing how to do that."\r\n\r\nShe was certain that, if this TJ recognized her, as she believed he had. He would know of her reputation as a bit of a wallflower. She gave him a slight smile, and waited again in the silence that was beginning to grow more comfortable now.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Jennifer
You seem rather proud of it, too.
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Jennifer
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