Working up the nerve [TAG Hannah] on Cascade Hall

Oliver Abbott

January 05, 2008 11:46 AM

Working up the nerve [TAG Hannah] by Oliver Abbott

Oliver had finally established the reason for girls acting so weirdly since midterm. The reason for Lutece’s fashion advice, for Talitha’s blushing, for all the first year Crotalus girls’ odd noises, and the explanation for the increased number of fashion magazines that were now taking over the commons. The revelation had come to Oliver when he’d been passing some girls in the corridor, and had overheard them talking about the upcoming Midsummer Ball that had been announced at midterm. Since initially hearing about the occasion, Oliver had given it very little thought. However, in the past few days, it had been difficult to talk to anyone or go anywhere without hearing rumours about who was going with whom, what she was wearing, the fact that he hadn’t asked anyone yet… Quite frankly it was terrifying. Oliver couldn’t fathom quite why it was so important, although an educated guess informed him that it was because social events happened so rarely at Sonora that when one came along it couldn’t help but attract this much crazed excitement.

For his part, Oliver would be perfectly happy to go along and spend the evening chatting to friends, like Talitha. Unfortunately, Oliver had heard that Talitha actually had a date for the ball, so it was unlikely that she’d be free for just chatting. She’d probably be doing something far more interesting. Anyway, Oliver soon decided that he couldn’t very well spend time just sitting on his own at this ball thing, because that was just pathetic. Of course, the obvious way to get out of spending time on his own would be to ask someone to go with him. Naturally, that was far easier said than done, especially as Oliver still hadn’t made many firm friends at Sonora. Talitha was his best friend, but she was already spoken for. Brett and Irene were okay, too, but they were obviously going to be going together. The only other person Oliver knew really well was Lutece, but there was no way in his lifetime he would voluntarily consent to spending time with her, not even if they were the last two people in the world.

After puzzling over this dilemma for quite sometime, Oliver found that his mind kept drifting to the only girl at Sonora who he’d ever considered to be physically attractive. True, he didn’t know her very well, and she might even hate him for all he knew, but Oliver would much rather go with someone he knew a little, and he thought was pretty, than a complete stranger or nobody at all.

So, having talked himself into it all morning, Oliver headed apprehensively to the Cascade Hall to locate his quarry. He had brushed his blond hair perhaps a little more than was necessary, and made efforts to ensure it stayed swept out of his eyes. Scanning the Hall, Oliver saw the pretty blonde head of Hannah Laurent and, taking a deep breath, set off in her direction. He readjusted his black-rimmed spectacles for the thousandth time before taking the seat opposite and smiling. “Hi, Hannah,” he said, pleased beyond words that his voice came out sounding relatively normal.

0 Oliver Abbott Working up the nerve [TAG Hannah] 99 Oliver Abbott 1 5

Hannah

January 08, 2008 6:50 PM

Making it easier by Hannah

Hannah glanced up in surprise from where her nose had been buried in a book while eating lunch to find Oliver Abbott saying hi to her. Smiling, she replied, “Hi, Oliver.” She had met him in Charms last year and he had seemed pretty nice. At the time, she had hoped to become friends with him, but nothing had ever come of it. She didn’t know if he would have wanted to, but for her part, she could only guess that it was a combination of things that had prevented her from really trying, which was a bit of a regret.

So, the fact that he was sitting across from her now gave her the opportunity to correct said regret and to pursue a potential friendship. It also helped that he was male, since now was not the time to seek out female companionship. Every time she walked into someplace, it seemed like all the other girls were grouped together talking about the ball. She really couldn’t contribute anything to the conversation about it, because she didn’t have a date nor did she know anything about who was going with whom. Others talked about things like their hair, makeup, or dresses, but all of this Hannah found utterly boring. So, she ended up standing there smiling like an idiot. They probably thought she was some weird freak.

Though, she supposed it might have been different if she had a reason to be excited about the ball. She had been a little when the invitation had arrived at the house, but then the realization of it being a social event in which she had no one to be social with kicked in. Yet, she was still planning on attending, mostly, because of Addie. Her younger sister was thrilled over the idea of the ball and dressing up, but was planning on not going, which was rather silly since she wanted to and thereby, Hannah concluded that she was going to have to drag her. Something that she was not above doing, even if it meant bribing someone in Crotalus to get her out of her House.

Speaking of which, Oliver was in Crotalus…and it wouldn’t be odd to bring up the topic that everyone was talking about. Plus, if she wanted a friendship with him, conversation would be a plus. “Topic of the year – excited about the ball?”

0 Hannah Making it easier 0 Hannah 0 5

Oliver

January 09, 2008 3:11 PM

How very kind of you by Oliver

She smiled! Well that was definitely a good start. Oliver smiled back, hoping with all his might that it wasn’t that strange goofy smile that sometimes presented itself without his permission. Smiling was the easy bit, though – Hannah had returned his greeting, now it was Oliver’s turn to speak again. The problem was that he hadn’t planned this far ahead; luck had ensured he found Hannah without any trouble, but Oliver didn’t think his good fortunes could stretch far enough for him to string together a coherent sentence. He was, after all, effectively asking a girl on a date (even if neither of them chose to see it that way – Oliver preferred to think of it as merely a social occasion involving friendship and nothing more) and that was just plain scary.

Yet before Oliver could even open his mouth to speak, Hannah pre-empted him. “Excited about the ball?” she asked him.

Pausing for a moment to marvel at the serendipity of Hannah’s conversation topic, Oliver grinned, and then replied, “Yeah. Um, actually that’s why I came over.” Now that he’d gotten this far, and with luck apparently on his side, Oliver knew he had to continue. “I know we don’t know each other very well, but I though it might be fun if you and me went to the ball together.”

Having spoken, Oliver felt a bit light-headed, but fine other than that. He wondered why this was so much harder than asking Hannah to work with him in class. Clasping his hands firmly in his lap to prevent his from adjusting his glasses yet again, Oliver forced himself to look back at Hannah. She really was very pretty; he felt a little guilty about asking her under the pretence of friendship. Although he did want to be her friend, and would be delighted with that status, he would secretly be more pleased by the fact he would be going to the ball with perhaps the most attractive girl at Sonora. That was if she actually wanted to go with him. “I mean, I think I’d like to get to know you better. What do you think?”

0 Oliver How very kind of you 0 Oliver 0 5

Hannah

January 13, 2008 12:46 PM

I try to be by Hannah

Her blonde head tilted slightly in curiosity, as to why he would come over about the ball. It couldn’t possibly for fashion advice. At least, she hoped not. She really didn’t know much about such things, as she preferred jeans and basic tops. Maybe he wanted her to ask someone for him? But she didn’t know many other girls, aside from her sister. Maybe that was it. Maybe he wanted to ask her sister to the dance. They were both in Crotalus. Maybe they had met. But no…

Hannah blinked in surprise for a moment at Oliver. He wanted to go to the dance with her? All other thoughts fled from her mind. She tucked back a piece of hair, as she processed his words. He wanted to get to know her better and she had just been thinking that she wanted to get to know him. The dance was the perfect way to begin a friendship. Plus, it would be a lot better than standing by a wall.

Slowly, a grin appeared on her face and she suddenly felt a little shy, but brushed it quickly away. They would be going as friends. Of course, she had to give an answer first. “I think that sounds like a…plan.” She was about to say date, but it wasn’t really. At least, she didn’t think so. It was just two people getting to know one another, which was a…date. She couldn’t help, but smiling a little more. She, Hannah Laurent, had a date for the ball!

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Oliver

January 15, 2008 1:13 PM

That's sweet by Oliver

Oliver waited anxiously for Hannah’s reply, which couldn’t arrive fast enough. His mind slipped briefly to his brother Julian, and Julian’s girlfriend, Becca. Oliver had liked her enough when he’d met her over midterm; he remembered thinking she was pretty, but not like Hannah. He wondered whether Julian had been this tense about asking out Becca as Oliver felt right now asking Hannah. Though he wasn’t asking Hannah to be his girlfriend, Oliver reminded himself, but to go to one single occasion with him. As friends.

“I think that sounds like a plan,” Hannah said, and Oliver finally relaxed.

“Great,” he replied, his grin widening yet further once he realised that Hannah was grinning, too. Was it lame of him to be glad that was over? Oliver would never admit that he wouldn’t have known what to do if she’d turned him down. But she didn’t; she’d agreed! “Cool,” Oliver said then, trying to calm down a little bit. “I mean, somehow I still don’t know many people round here,” (he inclined his head to indicate the school in general) “so… yeah. Great.”

Though he was still smiling, Oliver sensed he should stop talking. He noticed for the first time that Hannah had a book open in front of her, which meant he had probably distracted her from something. Homework or pleasure, she probably wanted to continue, or she wouldn’t have bothered to bring the book down to the Hall with her.

“I’ll, um, I’ll let you get back to your reading now, then,” he said, adjusting his glasses as he stood. “I’ll see you around.” Oliver couldn’t help himself from grinning at Hannah once more, and the expression stayed with him as he made his way out of the Hall.

0 Oliver That's sweet 0 Oliver 0 5