A Meeting on Labyrinth Gardens

Stephen Baxter

April 12, 2008 2:09 PM

A Meeting by Stephen Baxter

Stephen turned one last time to wave at Geoff, who wasn't looking, before moving swiftly towards the meeting spot that had been decided upon. He was jittery and full of nervous energy and getting off the wagon that he'd been stuck on for so long certainly made things easier in trying to work it off. Before the meeting. He had to be calm when he saw Sorrel. He had to be calm and ready for anything, because honestly, there was no telling what she'd do. Or what Ash would do. He'd had some pretty impressive bruises from Ash's grip on that last day of term.

So Stephen moved into and through the Labyrinth Gardens until he was getting close to the swing that one of the younger kids had put up and then slowed, caution coming more to the front. It was one thing to talk to Sorrel when she had no idea what was coming and then was frozen. It was something else entirely when he'd laid his cards on the table and still didn't have a clue what kind of hand she had hidden away. So he had to be prepared for anything. Violence, indifference and the off-chance of something completely different - reciprocation. Definitely an off chance of that though, he admitted to himself as he glanced nervously over his shoulder, half expecting to see Ash glowering at him.

Still, he was the first one there. He wondered if that was a good sign or a bad sign and then figured it wasn't either but rather some good luck. He had a look at the tree the swing was hanging from and then started to clamber up, finding himself a good perch from which he had a pretty good view and wasn't quite in reach of the ground, giving him a little more time to react if Sorrel wasn't feeling so friendly when she arrived.

And then, feeling silly and like a complete wuss (last thing he needed was word getting around that he was scared of a girl) he slid off the branch and landed neatly on the ground. With a glance in the direction he thought she was most likely to come from, Stephen moved towards the swing and took a seat, keeping his feet on the ground, but letting it sway gently in the slight breeze that had started up.

And waited to see if Sorrel was going to show up.

39 Stephen Baxter A Meeting 49 Stephen Baxter 1 5

Sorrel (and Ash)

April 13, 2008 10:13 AM

Showing up by Sorrel (and Ash)

Sorrel had spent the journey to Sonora drumming her fingers, fidgetting and generally engaging in irritating little habits. Ash had fairly early on given up trying to get out of her what she was so keyed up about. He had met with about as much success as when he'd tried to find out what had and was going on with Stephen over the summer. He'd dropped that pretty early on too. Partly because it was obvious no amount of punching, teasing and - God help him - even sibling heart-to-heart cajoling was going to get the information out of Sorrel, and partly because he feared plunging her back into the depressive mood she'd been in at the start of the summer, should he push too far. Obviously the two moods, the summer things and the incessant drumming now, were connected. Part of the whole whatever it was that Stephen had done, and possibly needed punching for, but the details didn't look like they were coming out any time soon.

It didn't really surprise him when Sorrel said that she'd "catch up with him in a bit" as they touched down. He'd replied with a grouchy "whatever" and sloped off. Or, at least, he had begun to, before a better way of spending the time until the feast than moping occurred to him. He paused long enough to execute a prank on a first year that he'd meant to do since second year. Telling them he was off to the library, he in fact slipped back out on to the paths and headed off the way he'd seen his sister go. Sure, she could try to keep secrets from him. But she couldn't expect him not to do his level best to find out what they were.

He wound his way through the maze. The dusty floor took only light impressions of the feet that trod it, being far harder to track through than mud. But some were left, and the paths had been freshly swept for the start of term, and not yet too much trodden on, so he was able to pick out the way Sorrel had gone.

Sorrel, not having been distracted by firstie taunting, and not having to slip along stealthily lest she be seen by herself, was progressing far more quickly than Ash. Her pace slowed more and more though as she drew near the place for her meeting with Stephen. She'd thought through what he'd said over and over again, and still was neither sure whether she believed it nor how she felt about it if it was true. She had decided that, until she knew whether it was true, she didn't have to decide upon how she felt about it, and, as she couldn't decide whether he was genuine until she saw him, that there was very little progress she could make towards a conclusion.

"Hi," she said, her ambling eventually coming to a stop a few yards from where Stephen was gently swinging, and wishing she'd been able to reach some firmer decision than seeing how things went, as she now felt thoroughly unarmed for whatever was going to be thrown at her. She scuffed her foot in the dirt, irritated by her own inability to hide her nervousness. "Good summer?" she asked.

0 Sorrel (and Ash) Showing up 0 Sorrel (and Ash) 0 5

Stephen

April 13, 2008 10:36 AM

Ah. So you are. Excellent. by Stephen

"Hi," Stephen echoed having silently watched Sorrel from the moment she'd come into view, not trusting himself to speak before she did. She didn't look like she was going to attack him, and so he started to relax. Just a bit. And grin slightly at her question. "Did you read any of the letters I sent you after the first few?" he asked, genuinely bemused. If it had happened that summer, he'd mentioned it in a letter to Sorrel. "All that work to keep you sane through the sister and sprog visit..."

The only thing that he hadn't mentioned, since her letter offering the deal, was what had brought them here now. And that was, well, probably chicken-heartedness coming through. Which was ridiculous, because he wasn't a chicken. And, as if to prove that, he hopped off the swing and took a step closer.

It was almost strange, seeing her again after the summer. Perhaps it her stance. He wasn't used to seeing such obvious nervousness in her body language though. Sorrel was more the strong type. The definite type. The aggressive type. Nervousness was different and had him reacting by wanting to step closer again but not quite trusting himself to do so. Or perhaps it was his own nerves preventing the move.

What should he say now? Well, there was the obvious, obviously. But he'd already done that. Three times. Well, perhaps the first time, when they'd both been there had been completely screwed up, and then the initial letters had just seemed to make things even worse... but he'd told her. He'd written it all out in perfectly readable green ink. And, God help him, he wasn't feeling certain of his position now. When there'd been something - whether it be the spell or the distance between them - stopping her from actually doing anything to him, it had been much easier. Simpler even.

But he still didn't have a clue about what she thought, except that she was here and she didn't look angry, and she did look nervous. Perhaps, he decided, it would be better to just play it safe for another hand. Continue the subject she had started and see where she took it next.

"Well, you look like you've kept some sanity anyhow," he went with the light approach, with only the slightest hint of his own nerves showing up in an unconscious fidgeting gesture. "Being an aunt not as bad as you'd thought it'd be?"

39 Stephen Ah. So you are. Excellent. 0 Stephen 0 5

Sorrel Craven

April 18, 2008 7:28 PM

Yeah.. Great. by Sorrel Craven

"I think having us as an uncle and aunt for him's every bit as bad as Mariella thought it would be," replied Sorrel, with a slight grin, "Even though we were on absolute best behaviour." As usual, 'us' and 'we' referred to her and Ash, in spite of the fact he wasn't there and someone else was. "The kid's ok," she shrugged. She'd told Stephen as much about him as there was to tell in her letters. Like he'd pointed out, they didn't really have much to discuss about what they'd done over the summer. "What's to like or dislike about it, really?"

She knew what they were really here to talk about, but she wasn't going to introduce the topic. Sure, she'd scheduled the meeting, but Stephen was the one who seemed to have a lot he wanted to say, so why should she? Plus it was weird. Where was she meant to start with it? She was bad enough at articulating her feelings when she knew what they were! She'd just sound as uncertain as her body was already showing she was. She kept her arms crossed defensively across her chest, wishing she could sit down in the hope that that would keep her feet still. But to do that, she'd have to walk past Stephen, which seemed like an odd, and unnatural thing to do when he'd just got up to face her. She wasn't sure if it was or not, but it didn't seem like she could stop over-analysing every movement, or finding it alien and strange.

13 Sorrel Craven Yeah.. Great. 51 Sorrel Craven 0 5

Stephen

April 19, 2008 7:24 AM

Yeah. Ok. Let's try this again, yeah? by Stephen

Perhaps not, Stephen decided even as her slight grin elicited a subconscious response. Which left him back at square one and wishing it wasn't so. He tried to focus on what she was saying, rather than what she wasn't but there was no way he could think of that would lead from one subject to the other without it being wildly obvious.

"Wouldn't know," he said, playing for time while he continued to work out what to do next. "Alan doesn't look like he's going to make me an Uncle any time soon."

He stared at her a moment longer, trying to find some hope - or at least comfort - in her crossed arms and her not quite staying still. Trying to resist his own conflicting urges to turn tail and just get out of there and forget that this had ever happened, or to take the next few steps forward. Finally, his hand moved up to his hair of its own volition and he dragged it through his hair. Was he a man, or was he a mouse? The absolute very worst she could do was kill him, and ... ok, that would be bad, but it was also very probably unlikely.

"So," he said, and cursed himself inwardly for still hesitating about this. "Have you thought anything about what I said. Well, maybe not what I said, as that was," he half laughed and hoped it didn't sound as nervous as he thought it might, "the screw-up of the century. But what I wrote. I just, well I- I just want to know where things stand so..." He balled his fists, and took a breath. "I just want to know if I'm being stupid and wasting everyone's time. Because I do like you, Sorrel. And it's been driving me completely around the bend thinking about you with that old-" word choice might be important here. "Well, the er, 'biker' guy you're-" were? "- seeing."

This was ridiculous. She was his friend - had been forever. She was a girl. And for heaven's sake, he was Stephen! Since when did he let anything like this get under his skin so badly?!

"What are we, Sorrel?" He asked, quite simply and without any further elaboration.

39 Stephen Yeah. Ok. Let's try this again, yeah? 0 Stephen 0 5

Sorrel

April 29, 2008 11:40 AM

If at first you don't succeed.... by Sorrel

Sorrel paused, taking in all of his statements and questions, and trying to work out where to begin with replying. She felt she had to believe him. He did seem earnest.

"I don't know," she replied, because that fitted as an answer to most of it. Was he wasting his time? What were they? They were friends. But could that change? "I broke up with the biker," she added, because that was straight forward. It was a piece of information. It would have hurt her pride to admit it normally, but he'd seemed to guess as much at the end of last term. Plus she'd kept it from him because she didn't want him, and everyone else, making fun of her. Laughing at her. Sorrel the reject, who was going to end up alone. Admitting it under these circumstances was somewhat different.

Not being with someone else didn't help her know whether she wanted to be with Stephen though. She tried to think about it. The thought of kissing Stephen, of him wanting to see her in her underwear, was kinda weird. But was that cos it was Stephen, or because she was embarrassed by her body? She liked it as a machine, as something to play Quidditch with. But as something pretty... Something to be shown, or admired... She couldn't reconcile that with how she looked.

She licked her lips anxiously, not knowing what to say to Stephen. That was strange enough in itself. Everything had always been easy and jokey. If this was what being in a relationship would be like, all awkward and stilted, she didn't want that. But this was an awkward conversation. Maybe if they just got past it, everything would be ok again, and they'd be like they had been before, but... with differences. If she said 'no', everything might be worse. He might not know how to talk to her ever again after that.

"Are you sure you're not just touched in the head?" she asked him, with a weak smile. It helped to try to break the tension. Perhaps she'd be able to think more clearly if it was her and Stephen how they'd always been, rather than this scary new Sorrel and Stephen.

0 Sorrel If at first you don't succeed.... 0 Sorrel 0 5

Stephen

April 29, 2008 10:00 PM

Text and text again? by Stephen

She broke up with the biker. Stephen hadn't been aware of just how tense his entire stance had been until she said that and he felt himself relaxing, if only partway. The 'I don't know' was a lot better than a scathing or cutting remark would have been too, not to mention a world better several other alternatives that he wouldn't put beyond Sorrel.

He stood there, and shifted his hands to his pockets for lack of anything better to do with them while he watched her carefully, trying to see which way she'd go from here. She wasn't saying anything, but there was the way she was standing and the way she licked her lips and the slight movement that told him that she'd decided to speak again.

"Are you sure you're not just touched in the head?"

He smiled back at her and then upped it into a proper grin.

"Oh, I'm definitely sure that I'm touched in the head," he said, with a wink, "but that doesn't mean I'm not equally sure about this. You think I'd risk life and limb for anything less?" he asked with a half laugh.

"C'mon," he said, pulling his hands back out of his pockets and extending one towards Sorrel. "How about we sit down for a bit? There's probably room enough for us both on the swing if you don't mind being awfully squashed up. Or..." his brain quickly reasserted itself and suggested that saying she could sit on his lap if she didn't want to squash up might be misconstrued. Or, he amended, construed correctly and unappreciated. Which would really be too bad for any number of reasons. "Or you can sit and I'll stand, as I got to sit while I was waiting" he said with a cheerful glint in his eye that hinted that he'd come up with something else if this was the choice he was landed with.

39 Stephen Text and text again? 0 Stephen 0 5

Sorrel

May 03, 2008 8:24 PM

Hey, you only had to text once! by Sorrel

"Ok," Sorrel nodded. She got the feeling Stephen had been going to say something different, but wasn't familiar enough with the kind of offer he might have made to guess what. She sat to one side of the swing, sure she took up more than a good half, and wondering how bony a butt the person who had made it had had. "Squidge on if you can then," she offered. She rocked the swing a little with her feet once Stephen was next to her. It didn't feel so bad. She should have known that calling him messed up would have made everything better.

"I don't want stuff to get weird," she admitted. "Well, weirder than anything involving you has to be," she added. A joke had worked to make things a lot more comfortable before, so if she was going to have to bear her feelings, Stephen was going to get a lot of teasing. "I mean," she said, knowing that she probably couldn't really get through this entire thing just by mocking Stephen, "this is fun. Just us, messing about like this..." She was on the verge of telling him everything that had been in her head moments before. How she wanted whatever meant things weren't going to be tense or awkward, and she didn't want him to avoid her if it didn't work out, but that involved actually opening up the topic of them as a couple, and that was still too strange. She had to build up to that, rather than plunge straight in. "Is it fun because this is always how it used to be," she added, aware that she'd left things on what could sound like a bit of a downer on the idea, but picking her words carefully, "or because you're..." flirting with me? Was he flirting with her? He probably was, if he liked her. She didn't want to suggest it though, in case she was wrong and looked stupid.

It was probably lucky she left the sentence hanging, because Ash was paused, around the corner. He'd crept up as near as he could get to the pair of them without being in plain sight. Taking the risk, as they busied themselves settling down on the swing (which looked pretty friendly), he leant around the corner and targeted a spell at his sister. It was like clipping a little microphone to her jacket, and her words started to come in loud and clear.

0 Sorrel Hey, you only had to text once! 0 Sorrel 0 5

Stephen

May 03, 2008 11:34 PM

You know I'd keep it up if necessary by Stephen

The invitation wasn't really necessary. As soon as he'd noticed that Sorrel (who hadn't actually said which she was going with) was sitting to the side of the swing he'd got the message loud and clear. Squashing in beside her (The were seventh years now, so it wasn't like they were the little kids who generally made use of the swing) Stephen considered his options for all of a millionth of a second before swinging the arm on the Sorrel side around behind her to hold onto the rope. The fact that this meant further contact was nothing more than an added bonus. Well, not entirely true, but if Sorrel asked, the line was ready and waiting.

This was actually quite interesting. Different to how it had felt with Mia or even Ty or Kimmy, to a lesser extent, if he could cast his memories back so far. Sorrel was a different shape and not quite so soft. But thenhe was fairly certain he'd never expected her to be.

She was talking again, and he made an effort to focus on that for all being pressed up side by side was distracting. If his arm hadn't been otherwise occupied he would have elbowed her a bit for her second jibe, but instead he just did a half lean into her, some additional pressure before reluctantly going back to how he'd been sitting before. He was watching her speak, focusing on her mouth as it formed the words and thinking he would like to try kissing her again, this time without the petrification to make things all wrong. But this was Sorrel, and what she was saying - which was making it through, mostly by virtue of there not being too much of it, the words being fairly short and not requiring a lot of attention - and how she'd been acting made him hold back a bit. Just like he had when he'd chosen to avoid making his earlier comment.

She did seem to respond better and find things easier when they were keeping things light though.

"Or because I'm..." Stephen drew out the words, waiting to see if she was going to complete the sentence and then deciding to offer suggestions of his own. "Seducing you with my overwhelming charm and good looks? Crazy about you? Crazy?" He added the last one, almost as an afterthought with the singlar intention of making her laugh. "Personally, I think it might be a bit of both. I mean, I totally wouldn't object if you went on a somewhat of a reversion to when we first met." Of course, she might not remember that particular event. His mind cast back to another example and remembered the time she'd made it through the charm that usually stopped boys and girls from visiting their opposites dorms and had cannoned into him, knocking them both flat with her on top. Moving on.

"How about we look at it this way. I really like you. I've said it multiple times now, and it's getting to the point where I'm almost convinced you won't deck me for saying it," he grinned at her. "I don't think it's weird. I think it's..." and here he slowed and almost ground to a halt as he started to consider things in a bit more depth. "I think it's where we were always going," he said slowly, looking at her carefully. "I think," he said, "that I'd really like to try kissing you again."\r\n\r\n

39 Stephen You know I'd keep it up if necessary 0 Stephen 0 5

Ash and Sorrel

May 09, 2008 5:25 AM

Persistence is something you two have in common then... by Ash and Sorrel

Ash hit his wand on the ground. It was the only thing he could think of to do. The spell clearly wasn't working properly, but he couldn't exactly go marching out there. He probably couldn't even risk casting the spell again without being noticed. He shook he wand. The words he was hearing could not be what Stephen was saying. Stephen was not seducing Sorrel. Stephen did not like her like that. Stephen had not said so multiple times! I think that I'd really like to try kissing you again Ash nearly fell backwards into the hedge with shock. It took him a moment of wondering what he could do, that wouldn't involve drawing attention to himself, to get that image out of his head, and then the last word registered. Again?! He'd kissed Sorrel before?! Ash clenched his fists, on the point of storming around the corner and... and he wasn't sure what. There had been the whole summer thing, and now there was this. It was a joke. That had to be a joke, if he was hearing right. And Sorrel would sock Stephen for it, and then the conversation would go onto something normal...

Sorrel had tensed slightly when Stephen looked like he was going to put his arm around her but he just grabbed the other side of the swing. Although she suspected he had alterior motives for doing so, she let him off. It wasn't too bad... Friendly. It felt... comfortable. As much as squidging two arses that were far too fat for it onto a narrow plank of wood could be comfortable, of course.

Stephen's goal to make her laugh achieved its aim, although only just. The previous suggestions he'd made as completions to her sentences had sort of kept her voice penned in. She couldn't feel very threatened by the word 'seduce' though... It was just so silly and old fashioned, so she allowed her smile to grow a bit more. She had to think seriously about what he said next though. A revision of how they'd been sounded good. Going back to before everything had got complicated. As for this always being where they'd headed... That one she wasn't so sure about. If Stephen was implying they were "destined" to be together, she'd definitely think he'd gone soft in the head. She might suggest he took a RATS in Divination. She shrugged a shoulder.

I think I'd really like to try kissing you again.

Sorrel made a little noise that indicated she had heard this request, rather than was agreeing with it. She was glad he'd asked, rather than just springing it on her. The way he'd been talking about them being together hadn't sounded so scary, but obviously it was going to involve this kind of thing too. So far, things had felt surprisingly ok when they'd happened. Stephen was next to her. He had his arm behind her. And most of all, she reminded herself, however much it felt like it now, she wasn't a coward. She didn't back down from a challenge.

"Ok," she nodded, although she automatically leant back away from him, looking a little like she was bracing herself for it. \r\n\r\n

0 Ash and Sorrel Persistence is something you two have in common then... 0 Ash and Sorrel 0 5

Stephen

May 09, 2008 12:31 PM

Me? Persistant? Surely you jest... by Stephen

The light breeze that had been making its way through the clearing seemed to have disappeared while Stephen's attention was otherwise occupied. He noticed now, absently, while his attention remained almost entirely focused on Sorrel, mostly because of the way the gentle eddies of movement that it had caused in little things like loose strands of hair had stopped.

The sound of acknowledgement registered and one eyebrow rose fractionally, silently questioning whether that was a 'yeah, sure, sounds like that'd be fun' or a 'no thanks', while remaining both hopeful and expectant that it more likely be the former than the later. It seemed to take far longer than necessary for Sorrel to come out with an Ok coupled with a nod. Stephen started to smile again and lean in, but the movement was echoed by Sorrel leaning away with an expression on her face that didn't really agree with what she'd said. It wasn't the most encouraging of expressions. Stephen stopped abruptly.

"Er..." he said, a tad confused and wary. "Are you sure it's ok? Only, you're saying one thing and... I'm not going to bite," he said, trying for a grin and a return to the light, "unless you want me too. Sorry, that was really lame, wasn't it? Sorrel?"

He stopped again as his mind continued to try and work out what was happening. She'd been kissed before, surely. She'd been with the geezer for long enough. And he'd bought her all those things. Stephen expected that something in the nature of kissing had happened. Mutual shows of - his mind recoiled from the image that presented itself - affection. Unless... had there been... but it... His grip on the rope tightened perceptibly.

Stephen stopped the line of thought abruptly, and sat up straighter on the swing again. Unimaginable as it might be, there were other alternatives, and perhaps it was best that he check those before assuming things that he didn't really like assuming, for all he disliked the geezer entirely on principle. He ran his free hand through his hair in a distracted manner, leaving it completely at rest on top of his head for a moment before dropping it down to his lap and then reaching out tentatively to take Sorrel's nearest hand.

"Hey, might be coming entirely out of left field here, but... you do like me too, right?"

39 Stephen Me? Persistant? Surely you jest... 0 Stephen 0 5

Sorrel Craven

May 18, 2008 10:14 AM

About which one of you? by Sorrel Craven

I'm not going to bite. Unless you want me to. Sorry, that was really lame, wasn't it? Sorrel?

"Might work better," she shrugged, smiling a bit. "You forget, I'm more used to showing... affection," she hesitated only slightly before using the word, "by kicking, rugby tackling and administering noogies. Not this kissy-cuddly s***." She was sort of sorry that she'd leant away. She hadn't meant to make Stephen falter by doing it. It was nice that he'd noticed though, not just gone ahead and kissed her.

Did she like him? Sure, she did. Of course she did, he was her friend. She knew he meant did she Like him. Was she attracted to him? It was sort of hard to know... Sitting here talking about it and analysing it was kind of a mood kill. If there would be a mood if they weren't talking. She was glad they were though, even if the conversation made her feel as awkward as hell. But a kiss wasn't something you could analyse. Are you ready to be kissed? One moment... Let me prepare, why yes, I believe I am - do proceed... You kind of just had to go with it. She was glad Stephen had asked, but she couldn't just reply... That led to talking, not doing. At some point she was just going to have to let go and free fall into working out whether this was going to work or not.

"Sure," she grinned, trying to swallow the worry that she was about to sound stupid, or screw it all up. "Let me bite you to prove it..." she grinned, leaning towards Stephen with a little chomp of her teeth.

13 Sorrel Craven About which one of you? 51 Sorrel Craven 0 5

Stephen

May 21, 2008 9:53 AM

I'll conceed in the case of Stephen by Stephen

Stephen was considering Sorrel's point about showing affection and trying to ignore the little voice in his head that was gleefully pointing out that this had major implications on her relationship with the geriatric. There were, after all, far more pertinent things to consider. That didn't stop him feeling pleased though. The thought of her and her geezer ex had been a particularly unpleasant one. His attention was firmly recalled with her next choice of things to say.

Not wasting any time, and grinning infectiously, Stephen moved quickly to close the already shortened distance before Sorrel could do the unthinkable and change her mind. There was a moment of fumbling and trying to get in at the right angle before things just clicked. Oh, wait, no - that was teeth. But then he had it right and... well... from his end, at least, there were certainly no complaints. He pulled back before he really wanted to, loosening his grip on her hand and trying to keep his smile in check.

"Well," he said. "I don't think I'd have too much of an objection to showing affection by tackling so long as it can end in something like that. I can probably live with noogies too but you'll get as good as you give. As for the kicking," he pondered for a moment, "there's always Ash."

He let go of her hand entirely and his rose almost of it's own volition to touch her cheek, drifting down her jawline before he adjusted his position a bit, settlings his feet more solidly on the ground so he had the further option of freeing his other hand from its grip on the rope if the opportunity presented itself. And then he laughed and poked Sorrel's nose.

"Speaking of Ash, I suppose we've got to let him know now. And in a way that won't lead to terrible things happening. He knows where I sleep, you know," he said, with a great show of mock seriousness.

39 Stephen I'll conceed in the case of Stephen 0 Stephen 0 5

Sorrel and Ash

June 03, 2008 11:56 AM

Yay, demi-win by Sorrel and Ash

He wasn't laughing at her, or staring at her like she'd freaked him out. He was, in fact, leaning in to kiss her. Did that mean that she... she had flirted? Successfully?! She almost leapt back at the shock of that, rather than from the kiss, but managed to avoid doing so. So she kissed him. Sort of clumsily, but she could blame the balance of the swing for that, and then the whole world didn't end. It kind of felt better, even.

"Ok then," she confirmed, nodding her assent to the strange arrangement of agreeing to beat each other because they liked each other. She'd heard of people being into that. She supposed it made sense if you weren't a naturally cuddly person.

"Yeah," she said, drawing the word out when Stephen mentioned Ash, and the fact he knew where Stephen slept. It was a real danger. "I'm not sure how he'll take it... I mean, at the moment, he may want to kill you. I think he figured out there was some... anger thing going on over the summer, to do with you. He's not stupid, you know," she added in a tone that made the eavesdropping Ash glare, because it implied that someone would naturally assume that he was, unless corrected, "so on the one hand, the fact that we've obviously made up will probably stop him wanting to maim you on those counts, but I can totally see him doing the whole brother thing and this being a whole new reason for GBH," she said, rolling her eyes.

0 Sorrel and Ash Yay, demi-win 0 Sorrel and Ash 0 5

Stephen

June 16, 2008 11:18 AM

At least you're easily pleased ;) by Stephen

"Oh, I got that already," Stephen said, remembering Ash's grip on his shoulder vividly enough that the hand that had just tapped Sorrel's nose unconsciously made for and rubbed his shoulder, vaguely checking for - the unlikely - lasting damage that wasn't there. It took him a moment to realise what he was doing and then stop, sending Sorrel a somewhat wry look as his hand dropped into his lap. "Better to tell him sooner than later, though," he said, after a moment. "For one, better that he learns from us than accidentally."

He paused, reviewed his words and with a tremendous effort managed to restrain the urge to nod in satisfaction. It definitely sounded like a mature and reasonable answer. Although it wasn't really his main one.

"Besides," he said, giving Sorrel a look best described as 'wicked', "once he does know there's tonnes of opportunities for driving him completely mad. Which, I might add, is almost as fun as driving you mad." The quite satisfactory remembrance of teasing Sorrel until she made it into the boy's corridor - for all that hadn't actually been the point - came to mind again. "Almost," he repeated again, realising with surprise that he had once again taken her hand. When had that happened?

Not bothering to worry too much about it, Stephen took the hint and leaned in towards Sorrel again.

"That said," he said, "I don't think he needs to know right now."

39 Stephen At least you're easily pleased ;) 0 Stephen 0 5