Scurry the Prairie Elf
November 05, 2007 1:59 AM
Preparing A Midterm Treat! by Scurry the Prairie Elf
Scurry hurried through the snow-covered grounds, or, at the very least he tried very hard to hurry. It was a little difficult for the Prairie Elf who, like most of his fellows, wasn't that tall to begin with. This year's overnight appearance of snow had been quite generous too, so occasionally Scurry disappeared completely from sight before pulling himself out of the drift he'd fallen into. He passed a group of other Prairie elves working on clearing paths to various places on the grounds and his small chest was thrust out importantly as he hurried by, using the path to speed his journey onward.He had been entrusted with a most important task. A task given to him and him alone. After the travesty of four years past it made him almost dizzy with pride that he was being trusted with such an important task once again.
He trotted through the entrance to the Quidditch pitch and surveyed the grounds therein. The golden rings at each end of the pitch were white with frost. Of the grass that covered the pitch not a single blade could be seen through the thick snowcover. Scurry almost jumped with glee. It would be perfect. Simply perfect. He turned to the nearest stand and climbed the stairs, finding himself a spot where he could see everything without being in danger of being too close to the ground and started preparations.
As he worked, the pitch changed quite significantly. Firstly the snow got wetter and wetter and wetter. Scurry almost forgot to block off the entrances, and some of the freezing water escaped before he could stop them up. But enough remained for the purpose it was to be put to. Slowly the process reversed again, and the water froze over, turning the quidditch pitch into a gigantic ice rink. When the process was finished, Scurry trotted back down the stairs and onto the ice.
Picking himself back up after a spectacular slip left him flat on his back, Scurry gingerly got back onto his feet and then after a seconds thought got down on his hands and knees. He let his long, clever fingers brush over the ice for a moment. The ice was fairly smooth, the process having managed it very nicely, but it wasn't quite smooth enough. Not if he was to be worthy of having been given this task. He closed his eyes and gathered his magic again.
Ten minutes later, satisfied that it was a job well done and the ice was as smooth as magically possible, Scurry left the ice breathing into his hands to try and warm them up. He paused to summon and set ice-skates on hooks along the walls in the entrance along with a curious slit, roughly the size of a knut and then, hands tucked deep into his armpits to fight the cold, made his way back to the warmth of the school buildings.\r\n\r\n
Subthreads: This was unexpected by Nicoletta Dupree with Adam Whitney, Nic
Slipping down by Paul Tarwater with Elly Eriksson, Paul
We're such losers. by Amber and Gwen Carey
39
Scurry the Prairie Elf
Preparing A Midterm Treat!
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Scurry the Prairie Elf
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5
Nicoletta Dupree
November 05, 2007 8:03 PM
This was unexpected by Nicoletta Dupree
Waking up this morning a sense of melancholy had surrounded Nicoletta. Getting up, she had pulled on a pair of dark blue jeans and a pale blue sweater embroidered with white snowflakes. Intent on taking a walk in the cold weather, she also wore a pair of black boots and an off-white coat. The coat had been part of her old wardrobe and was one of the things that she hadn't been willing to give up. It was incredibly warm. In the pockets were a pair of gloves, which she pulled on once she had gotten outside.As she headed towards the gardens, her boots making tracks in the snow, her breath came out in little puffs of smoke. Arriving at her destination, Nic was surprised to find that the gardens were closed. She had been intent on getting lost in them while she worked out everything that was on her mind. Well, there went that plan. Where else could she go? Turning, she headed towards the Quidditch pitch. The last time she had been there was when Crotalus had lost to Teppenpaw. It had turned into a rather interesting day after that.
A sad smile grazed her lips, as she thought about Earl. She really liked him and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him, but she didn't know where she wanted it to go. She was in love with Adam and knew she would go back to him in a heartbeat and that wasn't fair to Earl, but she also knew things were over between them. She needed to move on and Earl was there for her. But was this how her life was going to be, destined to hurt everyone she touched? She didn't like to think so, but her track record wasn't looking so hot.
When she entered the pitch, all the thoughts were wiped from her mind, as she gazed wide-eyed at the ice-skating rink. Nearby, on the walls of the entrance, there were ice skates. Excited, like a child on Christmas, she grabbed a pair that looked to be her size. Sitting on a bench, she unlaced her shoes and put the skates on, pleased that they fit. Getting up, she slowly wobbled towards the rink. She hadn't done this since she was little. Tentatively, she put one foot one the ice, then the other. Keeping her arms out for balance, she made little strides.
Eventually, her movements became longer and more graceful. Oh, how she had forgotten how much fun skating was. She was transported back to her first time. She and Chris had been five and she had held onto him in the beginning, but then as she got her footing, her confidence grew and she began trying to do turns and jumps, falling each time. With a grin on her face, feeling free, she tried a little jump and just like that, she fell. Laughing at herself, she got back up and tried again. She was having such a good time that she didn't even notice when any one else joined her..
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Nicoletta Dupree
This was unexpected
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Nicoletta Dupree
0
5
Adam Whitney
November 05, 2007 8:19 PM
Something else to Bruise my Ego by Adam Whitney
Adam had been on his own for midterm for a couple of days and he was bored. Bored to death. He had already finished all his midterm work earlier that day (surprising as that was) and he really wasn't in the mood for studying. Had he been this bored in previous years? No...no...last year he had had Nicoletta with him and that had made all the difference.He had been wondering around the school for awhile when he decided to head outside. Sadly, the gardens was closed for maintenance (whatever that meant), so he couldn't hang out in there, but he wasn't ready to go back to the commons either. The fresh cold air felt good on him and his sweatshirt charmed with a heating spell kept him from feeling as though he was in any immediate danger of getting sick.
His fingers lingered on the small box inside his pocket. It was his gift for Nicoletta. He had been meaning to give it to her, but hadn't gotten up enough courage to actually do so. He was actually thinking of just grabbing a school owl and sending it to her that way so that he wouldn't have to see her reaction. But, at the same time...he wanted to see her, he really wanted to make this friendship work.
He found himself nearly falling on a patch of ice near the entrace to the pitch. Surprise replaced one of awe, which, in turn, was replaced with hesitation and fear. There was Nicoletta ice skating on the newly created rink. He stood at the entrance for a moment before glancing at the stands.
There was no one.
He grabbed the side of the pitch and inched his way to the stands. It was a hard trek and one Adam didn't want to ever have to take again. Ice was not a fun thing and he had no idea how Nicoletta could be so graceful on it. At the stands, Adam took a seat and took out the box. Now would be the better time to give it too her. She looked happy.
But then...maybe it was better not to. If she saw him, she might not be so happy anymore.
6
Adam Whitney
Something else to Bruise my Ego
69
Adam Whitney
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5
The ice or me? by Nic
A few more moments had passed when Nic had the sensation of someone watching her. Turning towards the feeling, she stood still, her only movement being the skates continuing to glide on the ice. Adam.Her face was a mixture of emotions, fighting with each other. What was he doing here? Shouldn't he have been with his girlfriend? Even if she wasn't around, why was he watching her? They hadn't spoken since their talk in the gardens. She had felt even more unresolved after it, which wasn't what was supposed to have happened. They had agreed to try being friends, but things like that never worked out.
Finally, a placating smile fell on her lips. She made her way over to where he was sitting, not getting off the ice. As she got closer, her heart began to pound, feeling like it was going to split open her chest. Her breathing was more rapid, but easily excusable by the exercise. She hated that he could still make her feel this way. She was trying to forget. She leaned on the edge, keeping her distance and called up, “Hi. What are you doing here?”
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Nic
The ice or me?
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Nic
0
5
Well, I meant the ice by Adam
It didn't seem to take long for Nicoletta to notice he was there. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He wouldn't have minded watching her skate for a little bit longer. She had looked rather content in her own little world and he knew noticing him would ruin that moment for her.He shouldn't have bothered staying. He knew as he watched her skate towards him that it had been a mistake. She was moving on and he was supposed to have already done so.
She was calling up to him. Already the wall between them grew heavier with her greeting. Adam had to keep himself from sighing. He ignored that thumping of his heart as he always did whenever he saw her in class or in the hall. His blue eyes landed on the box in his hands again before returning to Nicoletta's face.
Returning a smile to her, Adam stood and walked down the stands until he was standing near her. "Hey Princess." He greeted as casually as he could before shrugging. "I had no place else to go. Besides, I liked watching you skate. You looked happy." Adam told her honestly. She had looked beautiful with the ice around her and her coat resting easily on her small frame with her hair out behind her gently flowing through the wind. "It's been awhile since I saw you like that." He looked rather forlorn as he finished speaking but shook it off fairly quickly.
"Anyway, I'm glad I found you. I've been meaning to give this to you. It's not much, but..." Adam paused to try to find the right words, unfortunately, his vocabulary failed him. "Well, Merry Christmas and Happy Early Birthday." Adam declared, handing her the small box.
Inside was a small golden charm bracelet with a single charm of a cat hanging from it. Adam knew it wasn't much considering the sort of upbrining Nicoletta had, but he had spent a lot of his saved money on it. "I know it's probably not that impressive, but I thought maybe it might bring you some luck."
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Adam
Well, I meant the ice
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Adam
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5
I would think it would bruise other things by Nic
She had looked happy? She supposed she did. Her spirits were lifted at this time. Winter was her favorite time of year. Everything seemed so pure encompassed in its blankets of white. It was like nothing bad in the world could exist.But then, she was reminded that so many things did, like how she hadn’t been good enough for him. She knew that now. Having everything in the world didn’t make someone a worthwhile human being. She took in a soothing breath of cold air, letting it out in small puffs, as Adam finished talking.
Confusion was written on her face, as she accepted the box. Opening it, a gasp of shock escaped her. Inside was a charm bracelet with a cat, her favorite animal. A genuine smile touched her lips. “It’s beautiful,” she told him, really meaning it. She used to have extremely fancy and expensive jewelry. She even still had some, but nothing compared with Adam’s gift, merely because she had no doubt he had picked it with care.
A dull throb of the heart ached in her chest. She wanted to be able to touch him, to kiss him, but she refrained, because if she did anything it wouldn’t be right, as the image of Dalila came to mind. She fingered the bracelet lightly. Would it be right to accept it? From what she knew, it wasn’t proper for a man to give jewelry to a female that wasn’t an interest or family. If she said anything though, he might look at it as her throwing it back in his face when she really wasn’t trying to. It just always came out wrong.
“Adam, I-“ she began, struggling to find the right words, wanting to ask ’What about Dalila?’, rather all that came out was, “Thank you. Will you help me put it on?” She pulled up the sleeve of her coat, exposing one delicate wrist.
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Nic
I would think it would bruise other things
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Nic
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5
Those heal quickly, others don't. by Adam
Adam waited in silence as Nicoletta accepted the box from him. He could still just walk away. Let her open it when he wasn't around. Or throw it out when he wasn't looking. He shouldn't have even gotten her anything at all, especially something like a bracelet. Although, it wasn't like a diamond or anything. Still... he was with Dalila, at least, he was supposed to be. Lately... it was getting harder and harder to feel attached to her.It wasn't anything Dalila had done. She was a great person and an even better girlfriend. But Adam, he was dying and he didn't feel like he deserved to have anyone. They shouldn't be tied to him. Even if Dalila or Nicoletta were willing to stay, he'd only distance himself from them. It was better to die alone than take everyone down with him.
Adam tried not to stare at Nicoletta as she opened the box, but he couldn't help it. Her reaction only made Adam deflat in relief. She hadn't found it hideous. That was good. That was better than good. "I'm glad you like it." Adam exclaimed, clearly happy with that thought.
He rubbed his unprotected cold hands together to try to warm them before he took the bracelet back from Nicoletta. He fumbled with the lock for a moment, his fingers working against him, but he was finally able to close the clasp and let the bracelet glide across her small wrist. His hand lingered against her's for a moment longer. He wanted to pull her close, to smell the scent of her hair, to just...touch her again like he would have done a year ago. But, instead he pulled his hand away, knowing that it would leave an awkward moment behind as he did.
Clearing his throat, Adam looked away from Nicoletta and out at the ice. "You're a good ice skater. I never knew."
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Adam
Those heal quickly, others don't.
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Adam
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5
Very true indeed by Nic
As she waited for Adam to take the bracelet, she noticed that he didn’t have gloves on. She wondered why. He was probably colder than she was, given that, being from the Northeast coast, she was used to the winter weather. She didn’t have a chance to say anything though, as he took the bracelet. When he touched her, even if it was so little, her heart raced and a light tinge rose on her cheeks.It wasn’t fair that a simple gesture from him could still make her feel this way. Shouldn’t she be over him by now? But it was never that simple. She had given her heart to him long ago and hadn’t been able to take it back. Maybe one day she would be able to and love him only as a friend, but it wouldn’t be today.
When he pulled away, an unsettling moment was held in the air and she was thankful that he said something, even if it was about her ice-skating. A laugh escaped from her lips. “Not really. I fall all the time. It’s just that Chris and I used to go when we were younger.” The times had been so much simpler then when her biggest worry was whether or not she could get out of eating her carrots. Giving a playful grin, she asked, “Want to try? You can even wear my gloves. I’m used to this weather.” Then, as an added side note incase he was worried about his heart, she added, “It’s not very strenuous, as long as you don’t try to go fast.”
She half-hoped he would and half-hoped he wouldn’t. If he agreed, it would be awkward. Yet, there was no way to avoid those moments if they wanted the friendship to work, which she did. Maybe with time, things would become less so and it would be more comfortable, but the only way to find out was to try.
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Nic
Very true indeed
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Nic
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5
Slipping down by Paul Tarwater
Paul was at school again, very happy that his parents' note came back soon enough. They had sounded disappointed (or their wording was disappointed? whatever), but that wouldn't stop Paul from staying as far away from Cissy and her new fiance as possible. She was even worse around Horace, and chances were she'd give him a very dark Christmas present in her own anger.He'd woken up happily enough, getting dressing in a long sleeved shirt, a clock, and his father's ratty hand-me-down jacket as well as the long black pants a handmade knit cap and fake "dragon leather" gloves. Paul had never thought he'd have to wear so many layers in Arizona, but the staff probably decided the children needed a little winter to be happy, which was okay since the winters here were normally fun anyway. He was able to do things he hadn't done since he was a child.
Which was why Paul was going out in the cold now, to the Pitch without his broom. The Quidditch Pitch over Midterm was always some new winter wonderland that the houselves seemed to build overnight. Snow forts and igloos, things that made Paul actually happy, and at times he would smile. While the cold wasn't something he really loved, Paul loved the things assosiated with it. The snow games and the warm drinks. Every Christmas as a child his mother made a little bit of hot chocolate, she only bought enough for one cup but she split it between the four of them (chocolate was a bit of a luxury for them) and though it was watered down it watered down majorly, Paul enjoyed it.
He never even knew how... chocolatey hot chocolate could be until he came here. Paul just thought that was how it tasted. After checking out the Wonderland Pitch, Paul would go get some hot chocolate. Hm... maybe that was what he could send home? Paul wondered if the house elves would give him a few baggies of cocoa powder so his parents could taste real hot chocolate.
He'd have to check later.
Much later!
Especially after seeing the Pitch this year. Paul was smiling slightly, he used to go ice skating as a kid too. He believed he still had his old ice skates somewhere in the house, maybe Grandfather had stolen them. Paul only wished he'd had them so he could... hey! Free ice skates. Paul felt warmer in the cold, those elves thought of everything.
Walking over to the skates and the rink (he was making sure no one unpleasant was out, but he'd only seen a pair of older students, maybe a couple) Paul slid his old shoes off and pulled on the skates. Feeling slightly wobbly, Paul pushed out onto the ice, holding his arms out. They say you never have to learn something twice, but Paul felt he did. He hadn't skated in years, and he felt very off-balance. To keep from falling Paul had to hold onto a goal post and breathe a second. Okay, now he had to push off...
... he slipped and fell, landing on his rear end frowning. This wasn't turning out very exciting.
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Paul Tarwater
Slipping down
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Paul Tarwater
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Elly Eriksson
November 10, 2007 10:54 AM
Stepping up by Elly Eriksson
Elly kicked at the snow again, despite the fact that it was seeping through her trainers and freezing her toes. Her hands were cold, too, despite the Seeker’s gloves she’d put on to try and keep warm. Expecting to be home at midterm, Elly hadn’t packed any winter clothes in her trunk. She had to make do with long socks under her jeans and her red tracksuit top zipped up over her thickest jumper. Of course she could sensibly stay indoors, but firstly there were very few people to be found in the Pecari commons; apparently staying over during midterm was highly unfavourable. Secondly, Elly preferred to be outdoors anyway, if she could help it. The gardens were closed (which was infuriating beyond measure) so Elly headed for the pitch instead, hoping that the rumours she’d heard during previous years that winter entertainment could be found there turned out to be true.Elly was still resenting being left at school during the midterm, and couldn’t help but feel disappointed with her parents. The more she thought about it, the more it felt to Elly that her own mother was avoiding her. The logical part of her brain told her it wasn’t true, but the emotional (and not so logical) part thus far had a stronger argument to the contrary. Nevertheless, sulking about it all holiday certainly wasn’t going to make Elly feel any better about her circumstance. Therefore it was fortunate that upon arriving at the Quidditch pitch, she was indeed greeted with winter entertainment, in the form of a huge ice rink, even bigger than the one by the Thames she’d skated on the previous two winters.
Picking up her pace, Elly noticed she wasn’t the only person to have discovered the ice, which was just as well, because she was craving company. There were a couple of older students over the other side of the rink, and another skater nearby. Two steps closer and Elly could identify Paul Tarwater. Her heart sank. Out of every student in the entire school, why did it have to be him? Elly forced herself to keep walking, and not to turn and head straight back up to the school – she was determined not to let him ruin her fun. She didn’t know what Paul had against her anyway – she was sure she’d never done anything to offend him. For her part, Elly didn’t dislike Paul exactly, it was more like she was wary of him. After all, he had helped her with that Quidditch charm, and Meredith had seemed to think he was perfectly nice when they’d worked together last year. For some reason, though, Elly had the distinct impression that Paul didn’t like her, and she hated that feeling.
She took a breath and continued forward, reaching out to retrieve a pair of ice skates. She wasn’t here to ruin Paul’s fun, and the rink was plenty big enough for both of them if he decided not to talk to her. Elly looked up at her yearmate again, in time to see him slip and land heavily on the ice. She flinched in sympathy. Deciding against alerting Paul to the fact she’d seen him fall, Elly pulled on a pair of skates, and shuffled her own way onto the rink. “Well it’s not Quidditch, but it’ll do,” she said, smiling over at Paul. It was up to him whether or not he decided to acknowledge her.
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Elly Eriksson
Stepping up
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Elly Eriksson
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5
I can't think of a title by Adam
Adam raised an eyebrow at her. Did he want to try? Yes and no. He had never been ice skating before, it wasn't much of an option where he was from, but... he wasn't all that fond of making a fool of himself in front of anyone. Most especially in front of Nicoletta. He had done that enough during the past year with her.He very much doubted he would be able to fit into her gloves unless he used an enlarging charm, which he wasn't about to do. Knowing him and his skill, he'd end up setting her gloves on fire. He looked out over the ice in thought. It might be fun to just go out and have some fun on the ice, even if it meant bruising his body as well as his ego.
"Thanks for the offer on the gloves, Princess, but I think I can manage without them." Adam told her with a grin. As he looked out, he noticed a pair of students. By the look of them, they were both younger. Great, Adam would make a fool of himself in front of them too.
"Well, we should get to this then, right? I hope you don't mind picking me up off the ground cos that's where I'll probably be ninety-nine percent of the time." Adam half joked. He wasn't going to lie, he knew he was going to fall and hard the moment he got out onto the ice. "First, I'll need a pair of skates."
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Adam
I can't think of a title
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Adam
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5
I like to stump people :P by Nic
Nicoletta gave a slight shrug with a sly grin, replying before she realized his answer, “Offers good any time if you change your mind.” It was a possibility if his hands touched the ice at any point. The ice could chill anyone to the bones.Wait, he would manage? That meant he was staying! A brilliant smile spread across her lips, which lit up her whole face. It had been so long since they had spent any time together and this was the first time that they would get to do anything fun. Well, making out had been fun, but this was different.
Noticing where he was looking, her blue eyes followed to a pair of younger students. It was kind of funny how things worked out. If she had been skating last year and spotted them, she probably would have turned away from Adam, but now she was proud to be around Adam. He was truly wonderful and she had hurt him. Her eyes clouded over in pain, as she thought about it. She gazed at the ice, as she turned back to him, willing it to go away. Her emotions were always written on her face and she didn't want Adam to see. After a couple moments, hopeful that it was gone, she met his eyes. He had such beautiful blue eyes. She had always liked gazing into them and now was no exception.
“Uh, yeah,” she replied, forcing herself to focus on what he said. She gave a cheeky grin. “Well, I would promise to pick you up, but I'll probably be down there at least a quarter of the time too.” She nodded about the skates, some dark hair falling over her face. Pushing it back, she advised, “Try to make sure they fit well, so you'll get enough ankle support.”
While she waited for him to return, she skated a little on the ice to warm up. She wondered how long it would be before everyone that had stayed was skating on the ice. It was nice for the moment to have a nearly private rink. Once he was ready, she held out her hands. “Here, I'll help you balance.”
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Nic
I like to stump people :P
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Nic
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5
It wasn't really you so much as I lost mojo by Adam
Adam doubted he would ever ask for Nicoletta's gloves. Not because he didn't appreciate the gesture or even for the fact that if he was wearing her gloves, Nicoletta's hands would be cold, but rather, it was for the fact that if anyone saw and questioned it...what would they think knowing he willingly took her gloves to only keep himself warm while she dealt with the cold?It wasn' really a manly gesture and Adam didn't want to appear weak. He would deal with the cold.
He had more focused on the two younger students to notice Nicoletta grow uncomfortable and upset. If he had, he might have questioned it, it might have decided that ice skating was a terrible idea and that the two of them shouldn't try because it was just too difficult. But he hadn't noticed and so he stayed.
When he did look at her, she was looking back at him with such an intense gaze that Adam wanted to shrink away, but at the same time, he wanted to kiss her too. But he couldn't. There went that guilty throb in his chest knowing that he wanted to be here with Nicoletta, couldn't resist her temptations all the while Dalila was at home with her mom, estatic that the two of them were dating.
It made Adam want to crawl into a hole and die. He knew that after midterm he would have to talk with Dalila, really talk with her. It had all grown out of proportion and Adam couldn't keep up with it any longer. He didn't know where that would leave him after this was all said and done, maybe he would be miserable and alone, or maybe he'll be content and alone, or maybe he'd just be alone, who knew? All he wanted was to just... not feel this horrible sick feeling in the middle of his chest when he thought about either girl.
"Er...Right." Adam mumbled, looking away from Nicoletta and shaking his head to stop himself from getting anymore confused. It took him a moment to manuever himself back over to where the ice skates were located and another few minutes to find a pair of skates that fit him well.
He awkwardly stepped out onto the ice and grabbed ahold of the beginning part of the stands. It took a bit of effort but he made to where Nicoletta was skating freely. She offered him her hands, but in order to take them, Adam would have to let go and skate a little out to where she was.
Taking a deep breath, Adam let go of the stands and slowly moved to where Nicoletta was waiting for him. He took two slowly shuffled to her, grabbed her hands, and then promptly fell flat on the ice.
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Adam
It wasn't really you so much as I lost mojo
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Adam
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5
Aw, and I thought I was special by Nic
OOC: Since Nic fell, I wasn't sure how it would affect Adam, so if you want me to rewrite anything, let me know.BIC:
Nicoletta moved her mouth in silent encouragement while Adam made his way towards her. Seeing how unsteady he was, she stretched out further, hoping to meet his hands sooner and balance him. As soon as their hands met, his skates gave way under him and he took her with him. She gave a small yelp, closing her eyes automatically, as she fell onto of him. Her brunette locks splayed across their faces and the ice.
Opening her eyes tentatively, she found Adam’s face right in front of hers. His lips were so close. It would only take the smallest of movements to close the gap. No. No, she couldn’t. If she did, he wouldn’t want to be her friend anymore, because he would think it couldn't work. Crimson brushed across her cheeks at the awkwardness of the situation. How embarrassing! This was not a good way to start their friendship.
“I’m sorry,” she said, more about the fact of thinking of kissing him than actually falling on him. Then, concern set in and she asked, "Are you okay?" Releasing his hands, she put one on either side of him, intent on getting up and then helping him up.
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Nic
Aw, and I thought I was special
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Nic
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5
You are, just in a different way. by Adam
Adam landed hard on his back with a loud grunt and then a repeated grunt as Nicoletta's weight came down on him. He hissed, grumbled, and laughed all at the same time when his body was finally out of the shocked state, allowing him time to reflect on what had just occurred. "Ow, shit that hurt." Adam complained, unable to move mainly because he was afraid to, but also because Nicoletta was still on top of him.She was staring at him again and it took nearly all of Adam's strength to resist her once more. He really wished he had spoken to Dalila before she left. He knew that was a terrible thought, but it was in moments like this that he couldn't help but think it. In this position, Adam could smell her hair. He always liked the smell of her hair.
"You have no reason to apologize." Adam told her. "I'm the one who fell and you were the unfortunate victim of my inability to keep my balance." He joked, smiling. "I'm alright, you?" He asked, he had pulled her down pretty hard, so he wouldn't be surprised if she would get a bruise or two.
She released his hands and Adam immediately sat up, but only ended up knocking his head against her's. Thankfully, it wasn't hard and only left Adam rubbing his head as an afterthought. "Sorry." He apologized. Almost on reflex, Adam reached out and brushed her hair back. It wasn't until he could feel the strands between his cold fingers did he realize what he had just done.
"Um..." He cleared his throat and glanced around again before he remembered he had no reason to worry. Not really anyway. "So, how do I get up?" He asked, trying to cover up any awkwardness.
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Adam
You are, just in a different way.
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Adam
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5
Sliding away by Paul
Paul frowned, wanting badly to get up and try again, though some fear of slipping again held him back. Maybe it was because he heard of a distant cousin falling through ice and nearly drowning... Paul shook his head, no, stupid thought, the house elves would never make this ice unstable. And besides, Paul had skated on ponds before and never been hurt. He was just a little uncoordinated at the moment, having not skated in so long. Putting his gloved hands against the ice, Paul started to pull himself up again, only to look up and fall down again, this time from surprise.No, anyone else, please, he begged, closing his eyes and willing the red he saw gone. Opening them, he saw it was true, and he wanted to run and hide because she was coming right for him. Paul looked to the couple, help he willed, but how stupid. Elly Eriksson was heading for him, and he did not want to talk to her. Oh he should have known better than to come outside when he heard she was staying. The few times he'd been near her she always tried to be friendly, as if he hadn't told her how selfish she was in CoMC after she talked about "the best house". As if his sister wasn't a little jerk. As if he would end up being one of her new best friends.
No. No no. Paul knew being cold yet civil hadn't gotten him anywhere. Because as she reached Paul, she was friendly again, and the tone sickened him. I don't like you, he wanted to say, not everyone has to be your friend, count me as a lost cause and leave me alone! Paul looked up as she reached him and started with a sentence about Quidditch. Great, trying to start small talk. Paul wasn't really good with small talk with people he didn't care enough to talk to.
Lifting himself up with about as much dignity he could muster, Paul looked at Elly, shaking his hair a little bit and looking at her with little emotion. He didn't want to get angry right now, and why should he be (other than the fact she was ignoring his dislike of her), she had done nothing overly annoying yet. "Neither really excite me much, just something to do while time passes, " Paul muttered, only partly true. Quidditch managed to excite him if he hit someone or got close to hitting someone. Skating excited him when it felt as new as this did. Both were exciting at times, and both were boring at times.
Paul just felt like cutting Elly's words short. Paul hadn't been looking at her, he had tried not to meet her face, mearly looking over at the couple further on, but it was getting boring. Slowly he gave her a glance and allowed his face to settle to hers. His mind trying to send the telepathic message of please, go away, please? Paul could be polite if he wanted. Not that it was helping as he didn't say the rude remark nor the polite one allowed. That was how it was with him, few words Paul unless he was happy. And right now he wasn't really happy.
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Paul
Sliding away
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Paul
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*does a happy dance for being special* by Nic
’Except for almost kissing you when you have a girlfriend,’ her head screamed in response. If she had, then it would mean she was no different from before. Instead of people thinking of her as an ice princess, she would be setting herself up to be the other girl, a tramp.She knew Adam would never let it come to that, because he would never want to hurt Dalila like how she had hurt him. Part of her admired that trait about him, but part of her hated it too. And she hated herself, because she wanted him to, just so she could have a little bit of him. When had she become so messed up?
She forced back a sigh and was glad for his joke. Very solemnly, she replied, “I’m going to have to charge you for the damage.” Her knee had hit the ice, but not hard enough to do anything more than sting. Not being able to keep a straight face any longer, she grinned. “I’m fine.”
When Adam hit his head of hers, her hand reached up to rub where they had connected. “It’s okay,” she assured him and started to laugh a bit at their uncoordinated movements, but stopped suddenly when he moved her hair. Her eyes widened slightly. “Uh, yeah, hold on,” she told him. She pulled her legs up on either side, straddling him, before pushing up off the ice. After a couple more tricky movements, she managed to get herself up. She held out her hands. “Let’s try this again. Lean forward on your knees and slowly put one foot, then the other on the ice.”
Once they were both up, she joked, “Let’s try to make this the one-percent.” She skated backwards a little, going slow for him. The bracelet flashed on her wrist, catching her eye. “Adam, I got you something for Christmas too, but I’ll have to give it to you later since it’s not with me.”
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Nic
*does a happy dance for being special*
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Nic
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Amber and Gwen Carey
November 22, 2007 12:01 AM
We're such losers. by Amber and Gwen Carey
Amber was sulking.Amber had been sulking privately for about two weeks, but she had put some effort into hiding it while everyone had still been at school. Since the midterm exodus had begun, however, she hadn't bothered. Gwen found it annoying, and Amber knew she found it annoying, but worrying about that kind of defeated the purpose of feeling sorry for herself because of her family situation.
Amber had kind of started to like feeling sorry for herself because of her family situation.
Unlike her cousin, who always did, Amber had never stayed at Sonora for midterm before. For the past two years, she had, at one house or another, spent the holidays with her parents - both of them. This year, however, she had found out that she was going to just be with her mom. She could have dealt with that, but not with hearing that Meredith, the stepmother from hell, was the reason for it. Meredith had whined so much about her precious babies that Andrew, never one for triumphs of the will, had finally agreed to spending Christmas with Meredith's family in Alabama.
Amber had written back to ask if she could stay at school, saying something stupid about not liking to leave her poor cousin alone at Christmas. It hadn't taken long to learn a lesson about why lying was bad, because Gwen was about two seconds from losing her status as the craziest Carey girl. Who would have thought Gwen Carey, even with her other odd ways taken into account, would degenerate into a two-year-old at the sight of snow?
"Come on, Amy," she said, her voice high-pitched, excited-sounding, and lacking the usual tone of command associated with cousinly discussions. "Stop dragging y'feet."
"It's freezing out here," Amber grumbled.
"Well, move faster. It'll make you warmer." She might have sounded like herself, then, if she hadn't been bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. Amber stopped where she was and looked at her. Gwen folded her arms. Amber decided to pretend it was because she was cold, not that impatient about wanting to go play in the snow. "Fox'll get them all sledding and ruin the snow if you don't hurry up."
Thank God Gwen didn't seem to have seen anything like the poem in Amber's common room. Thinking of how she'd take a scavenger hunt was just scary. "It's just a lot of frozen water."
"It's gorgeous," Gwen said defiantly, "and it's exotic and I like it. I'd never seen any up-close until I came here." Amber blinked, then remembered where Gwen had grown up. It was easy to forget Gwen was Morgaine's sister and so, like her, from the Lowcountry. It was hard to picture Morgaine, who didn't seem to care about much of anything except what made her angry, getting this worked up over snow.
"You really need to get a boyfriend," she sighed, starting to walk again.
An odd look flashed across Gwen's face; for a moment, Amber thought she almost looked hurt. Then she grinned and winked mischievously at her cousin. "Who's saying I haven't?"
Amber's mouth dropped open. "No."
"No," Gwen agreed. "But I could if I wanted, you know. I'd have my pick of 'em." She smiled at thin air in a way that made Amber think of actresses appreciating the reflections in mirrors. She rolled her eyes behind her cousin's back.
"Sure you could, Gwen," she said.
Gwen's face fell a bit when they got to the Pitch and found it covered in ice, but she promptly recovered her childish, slightly stagy enthusiasm. "I've never tried to ice skate," she said.
"No," Amber replied, nipping the course of action she was sure her cousin was thinking of in the bud. "I learned at home, and I'm awful at it. I'm clumsy enough when half of my joints aren't frozen solid."
"Well, I'll do it myself, then," Gwen said, apparently not very concerned by Amber's refusal to join in. "You can sit over there and have a good laugh at me while I'm out there making a fool out of myself." Amber gave her a sharp look, picking up, even through her misery, the bit of an edge to the fifth year's voice. "I learned how to dance when I was little, and I would work with Lila on ballet sometimes - I alternated days between her and Allie, so I could learn it all without taking the classes, see? I think the principle is the same. It's all a matter of balance, isn't it?"
Was she talking about the St. Martin twins? Amber wanted to ask, but didn't quite dare. Gwen didn't like questions that touched on her life before she and Amber had met, and Amber thought she had been talking to herself, anyway. "Sure."
Several minutes of muttered curses Amber didn't think she was supposed to have heard later, Gwen had managed to put on skates and even get on her feet on the ice, holding on to the wall separating the actual field from the audience seating in order to keep them. "Well?" she asked.
"Well what?"
"Well, how do you do it?"
Yep, lying was bad, at least where Gwen was concerned. She was never doing it again. Amber racked her brain for half-buried memories of seeing Michelle Kwan figure-skating for the Olympics as a kid. "You just...sort of...glide."
"Glide," Gwen said, dragging out the syllables to the point where the word was hard to understand. "I think I can glide a little."
She wasn't right. The older girl had barely made any shaky progress away from the wall before she went down in a heap on the ice. Amber half-stood, worried, and was relieved to see her cousin sit up and mock-glare at her - a look made, if possible, even more ridiculous by the way her pale hair was now all over her face.
"Gliding," she said, tone dignified to the point of comedy as she tried to clear her vision, "doesn't appear to agree with me."
Amber burst out laughing.
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Amber and Gwen Carey
We're such losers.
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Amber and Gwen Carey
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Skating past by Elly
“Neither really excite me much,” Paul replied, “just something to do while time passes.”Elly wasn’t sure what to say to this, so she didn’t say anything. At least Paul hadn’t told her to go away or ignored her completely. He wasn’t actually looking at her when he spoke, though, but at the couple skating the other side of the rink. Elly couldn’t figure Paul out – was he just one of those naturally grumpy people like Leo Idoya? Or perhaps he was just one of those loner types that didn’t necessarily appreciate company, like Danae. Elly couldn’t exactly empathise with that herself, but she could sort of understand it if people preferred their own company. Even she liked a little alone time every now and then, but now, stranded at school without her friends, was not one of those times.
Paul had turned to look at her now, but he hadn’t said anything else. Elly thought that she would stick to her original plan, and leave him alone if he didn’t want company. So, with great effort on her part, since she was so desperately craving company herself, she offered him another small smile.
“Well have fun passing the time, then,” she said, and then skated past him to a patch of ice a safe distance away. She was a little wobbly, not having skated since last winter, but her balanced was good enough that she managed not to fall on the ice. It was only a shame that she had to make efforts to enjoy the activity on her own.
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Elly
Skating past
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Elly
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