What a day for a walk (tag:Jennifer) on Labyrinth Gardens

Elizabeth

June 29, 2005 5:51 PM

What a day for a walk (tag:Jennifer) by Elizabeth

The skies were vacantly blue, and the breeze what usually whipped its way around the labyrinth was slightly calmer. The conditions were starkly different from the day that had brought that tremendous dust/sandstorm. The storms sudden appearance and extreme power never really sat right with her. The school was supposed to be climate controlled, wasn't it? So why did that freak storm happen? Was there something wrong with the weather spells?

She sighed and stuck her hands in her pockets. Lizzie was wearing one of her favorite (and her aunt's least favorite) pair of jeans which was convienient tears across the knees. They were terribly comfortable, and by far her most treasured piece of clothing to date. There was something about those ratty, torn up, and worn in pants that Elizabeth couldn't live without. It wasn't often that she got to wear them, since her Aunt Rose usually had a heartattack at home whenever she wore them around the house. Little freedoms like wearing them around without anyone caring were what really made Liz love Sonora.

Her jet-black, shoulder-length hair was done up in what her cousin Helena called a "beautiful messy bun". It was not that Lizzie was following Helena's fashion advice, it was just that her messy hairstyle was quick, easy, and it looked better than her straight hair being down and in her way. With her beloved jeans, she wore a black tank-top that barely started showing signs that she was growing up to be a young lady, and over that, a light short-sleeve white oxford. Tucked away in her front jeans pocket was the letter her aunt had written her, which had weighed on her since she'd recieved it the other day.

That was the real reason she was out there in the first place- she'd slid Jen a note in class asking her to meet with Liz out in the gardens. Jen was her best-friend, and she'd likely know what to do with the letter. And even if she had no idea, it would help to talk and ask for another opinion. What her Aunt Rose was trying to get her to do wasn't going to happen on Lizzie's watch, but her ever-looming presence via letters always gave Liz a bit of a shake.

After a few moments of walking through just the front part of the maze (she'd gotten fairly familiar with it, since her commonroom entrance was inside), Elizabeth turned around to the sound of footsteps coming from behind her. She couldn't see the owner of them, but she assumed it was Jen.

"Hey, I'm over here..." she said, just to alert Jennifer that she was by the fountain they agreed to meet by. \n\n

0 Elizabeth What a day for a walk (tag:Jennifer) 0 Elizabeth 1 5

Jennifer

July 07, 2005 3:32 PM

Whatever you say by Jennifer

Jennifer had expected something to come her way from Liz when she had first seen her friend walk into class. After all, Liz had never been the greatest at hiding her feelings, and she hadn't looked particularly happy. So, naturally, Jennifer had come to meet Liz as soon as she could.

She heard her friend calling, and quickly headed over that way. "You okay?" she asked as soon as she was within reasonable distance. "You looked pretty down in class today." She looked down, and, noting her friend's rather ragged clothing, bit back a giggle.

She remembered several fights over that particular outfit while she had stayed over at the Lavine's house. The arguments usually ended up happening because Rose Terpsichore disapproved of anything that was less then perfectly groomed, and inpeccably cleaned and ironed, while Liz would never go around in anything like that. Jennifer had felt sorry for her friend, but the rest of the household apparently had gotten use to all of it. Liz's brother Javon and cousin Hermia would even go so far as to stand a little ways away and mouth the entire argument along with the original two.

She had the feeling that this problem had something to do with Liz's aunt, who sent regular letters, and who often had the effect of bringing Liz's mood down to about as low as it could go. Liz had mentioned once about another really big letter, that caused her to break off several friendships with students of "lesser blood." So, if Liz was wearing an "inappropriate outfit," and looked rahter depressed, that meant that a bit of civil disobedience was about to begin. And there was no way Jennifer was going to miss it.

\n\n

0 Jennifer Whatever you say 0 Jennifer 0 5

Elizabeth

July 09, 2005 10:17 AM

Sarcasm? by Elizabeth

As her best friend approached, looking quite inquizitive as to Liz's mood, she sighed. It wasn't her fault that she couldn't hide emotions well! When she was younger, she always made a point to make sure that if she was unhappy, everyone would know about it. That sort of mentality stuck with her, however faint and distant it was in the back of her mind. So, when it came to her being upset about her aunts letter, Elizabeth's mood was clear. Her Aunt Rose was getting increasingly demanding about her social life and all that other jazz.

"You okay?" she asked as soon as she was within reasonable distance. "You looked pretty down in class today."

"Oh yeah, I'm just peachy," Liz said with a little more snap than she had intended to add, "I'm sorry Jen, I didn't mean that like it sounded, I'm just frusterated. Look at the latest from Baton Rouge."

Out of her jeans pocket, she pulled the letter she'd recieved. Liz handed the once perfectly smooth parchment sheet over to Jennifer. By this time, her letter was no long in it's original state of perfection, it was creased and half-crumpled from when she had almost thrown it away.

"So?" she said with a deep sigh after Jen had seemed to read most of it, "What do you think? You think she'd really do that? Send me to BRI, I mean, or get rid of my broom? I mean, she'd threatened before, but nothing this forceful sounding." \n\n

0 Elizabeth Sarcasm? 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Jennifer

August 01, 2005 5:14 PM

Only a little by Jennifer

"It's okay, Liz," Jennifer responded instinctively before grabbing the letter. She scanned it quickly, whistling in suprise. She had only met her friend's aunt once, but she was a force to be reckoned with. Jennifer often wondered how the twins managed to be so unsubdued after all those years with her.

"Undesirable aquaintances?" she repeated in shock. "Take away your broomstick and send you to BRI? Can she even do that?"

Jennifer sincerely hoped not. She had trouble making friends, and Liz was one of the best she had. Besides her own selfish reasons for wanting Liz to stay here, she knew that Liz would be miserable anywhere else.

"Well, she's not your legal guardian, right? That's Brett, if I recall properly. So there's nothing she can do without Brett on her side. And I know that your brothers care about your happiness more then anything."

The general attitude of the letter reminded Jennifer of a similar letter she had gotten a few days ago, requestion/ordering her presence in England for Christmas. She also had a feeling that Liz might want to get away from her family for a while.

"Liz, would you like to come to England with me for Christmas break?" she asked suddenly. "My mum informed me that there are several of her friends I need to meet, and I really want someone I know there. Besides, you won't have to deal with your aunt, and they don't come more Pureblood acceptable then my family. What do you say?" \n\n

0 Jennifer Only a little 0 Jennifer 0 5

Elizabeth

August 03, 2005 8:24 PM

Okay then. by Elizabeth

She crossed her arms a bit angrily and watched Jen's reactions. Elizabeth's mind was absolutely reeling, not just because of the letter. A year ago, she'd been so, so, different. Liz was being thrown about again; she wasn't sure she could completely disobey her family, but she knew that what her aunt was asking of her was impossible. Jen, however knew perfectly well how much Lizzie resented being so constricted by pureblood rules and regulations, and knowing this, she surely knew exactly what was to come next.

"I know!" she blasted, her voice growing louder with each infuriated word, "Can you honestly believe it? The woman is mental, mental, I tell you! And no, she legally can't ship me off to BRI, thank god, all they do there is have parties and balls and "social events". I'd die, Jen, I'd simply DIE."

Elizabeth by now had paced around the area making small circles, gesturing flamboyantly with her arms at every statement. She knew that her Aunt Rose, as much as she liked to think it, didn't have guardianship of her or her brother. Brett was Elizabeth's guardian, a request from her parents' wills that came into effect officially about a year after their demise. The then seventeen-year-old, as an adult in the wizard world, recieved the title over a then twelve-year-old Javon. So the chances that her aunt's threats about BRI would be enforced was extremely slim to none. That was a relief, but the woman was just awful enough to really take away her brand-new broom.

"Oh Jen," she said much softer, as she stopped pacing and sat down, "She's such an awful woman. I never knew how Hermia and Helena dealt with it..."

But then, as if a window of clarity and determination appeared out of nowhere, Elizabeth moved her hands from their position around her cheeks, resting them on her knees. "I'm better than this. She's never going to get to me like she's been able to lately. Let her say what she wants, but her words are not going to bother me again. And yes,a holiday from them would be extremely lovely. She's supposed to come to New Orleans with the twins and Uncle James, so Javon and Brett'll just have to deal."

She stood again, slightly brushing off the seat of her precious ratty jeans, which was unnessicary since even washing them wouldn't make them look any better. Elizabeth took the letter gently back from Jen, stuffing it roughly back into her pocket and starting to walk further into the maze. In fact, she really should have shredded it right then and there, but at the risk of any curious garden walker coming across it, she resolved to throw it in the commonroom fire as soon as they had finished their walk.
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0 Elizabeth Okay then. 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Jennifer

August 08, 2005 12:26 PM

Letting your feelings out is important, dearie by Jennifer

Jennifer merely nodded as her friend ranted. Merlin, but if there was anyone who deserved a rant about how she didn't want to do what she was told, it was Liz. Her friend always tried so hard to do what she was supposed to, and always had someone who was sitting there telling her she shouldn't do whatever it was that made her happy. It wasn't fair, not fair at all.

She grinned slyly when Liz said that she would come to England. "Great. Mum'll be really pleased. She seems to think that, no matter what I tell her, I really don't have many friends here, or any that are "acceptable." She scoffed. "I mean, for the love of Merlin, I'm in Crotalus, and I'm not anywhere near as anti-social as I was.

"Oh, and you can finally meet my two decent cousins, Will, whose our age, and Gary, who I think was friends with your brother. For members of the Noire family, neither is all that horrible. However, stay clear of Paul, whatever you do. He's the nastiest person I've ever met."

Jennifer thought frantically for something else to say, to get her friend's mind away from her aunt. They really hadn't spoken like this in a while, so there was quite a bit to catch up on. "Oh, Liz, did I tell you I made quidditch captain?" she asked suddenly. "I guess it was because I was the best Crotalus had to offer, but I'm still really excited. And as for your broom, I'm sure that Javon or Brett will buy you a newer, nicer model if your aunt takes it away." She grinned amiably, knowing that her friend knew that that was exactly what her doting brothers would do for her.\n\n

0 Jennifer Letting your feelings out is important, dearie 0 Jennifer 0 5

Elizabeth

August 08, 2005 3:56 PM

Yes, well, it is. by Elizabeth

Elizabeth's mood lightened considerably as Jen took their conversation as far away as possible from the little rant that she'd had. Lizzie had met maybe once Gary, because he had been around her house with her brother, but Will sounded alright- for a pureblood Noire boy. She'd heard so many things about the English family from Jen that she felt as if she already knew them, and they sounded a lot like the majority of pureblood families in the United States. Even so, it wasn't her own family she would have to deal with, so it was fine with her.

"Oh my gosh, Jen, you made captain?!" she said, laughing and hugging her, "That's so exciting! I can't believe it! Well, I can, but you know what I mean! So, the Captain of the Crotalus Quidditch Team... a very illustrious position, indeed! So, how is the team looking? Last I heard you had pretty good players, but do you have a full roster?"

It was hard not for Elizabeth to get excited about Quidditch, after all, it was her favorite thing. And after finding out that her best friend was the captain of her own house team, it was just natural for Lizzie to start asking away about everything. Things were looking up for her, and her sentiments about her Aunt Rose even took a back seat for the rest of the day, her mind being preoccupied with thoughts of quidditch, and the season that awaited them. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Yes, well, it is. 0 Elizabeth 0 5