Flynn had sent a paper airplane to Skylar asking her to meet him in the corridor outside the common room whenever she was done with all her extra-curriculars for the day. After spending a few days around Hattie, he knew he was completely and utterly unable to express how he feels. He also realized a big part of himself: he was terrified of commitment. He was terrified of opening up and letting someone in.

Merlin, he WAS a mess. How did people even do this relationship thing?

Once he was done with classes for the day, he bee-lined towards the corridor and waited for her.

Honestly? Skylar had been purposefully avoiding Flynn ever since the conversation in the common room and she deliberated avoiding him again when she received the airplane from him. She LIKED Brent, for Merlin's Sake, he was her boyfriend! What was she even thinking? She wasn't, that was the problem. The opportunity was there and she grabbed at it. And now felt foolishly regretful about it.

Except she had little choice but to confront him considering WHERE he asked to meet her. She had to get back to the common room and her dorm at some point, likewise she had to leave. She couldn't just hide out in the library all day, as much as she desperately wanted to. Besides, avoiding the problem wasn't going to make it go away.

"Flynn." She greeted, very cooly when she approached, avoiding his gaze because at least she could do that.

Flynn felt like his friend was possibly mad at him because it was sure taking her a long time to get here. He hadn't really seen her since their last talk in the common room, which did not really go so well, but he also was trying to forget about it. It happened, ok. There was nothing he or Skylar could do about it but move on.

They were still friends.... right? Merlin, he hoped so because he didn't know who else to talk to about his problems.

He was about to leave, coming to the conclusion that she was ignoring him, but then he saw her. "Can you get over what happened in the common room?" He asked when he noticed she was avoiding his gaze. "Because I need my friend right now. Not someone trying to avoid me." If he was searching for someone to avoid him, he could easily find someone else.

She just hoped whatever he had to say wouldn't take too long. Because then she could go back to avoiding him and pouring herself into her studies...

... only, his first words out of his mouth. Wait, what? Her blue-gray eyes flicked up to meet his finally, because she couldn't resist at those words. As much as she wanted to avoid him, there was something in the way he spoke that struck a cord. No, she wouldn't get over it, because it HAD happened, but it had been a mistake and she wished she could take it back. But at the same time, never knowing might have been a mistake too, because she would have always wondered... At least now she knew.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, deep breath. "I'm ... i guess I should be thanking you, actually." For allowing her to see more clearly about why she was with Brent. "What's wrong?" He seemed like something was bothering him at least.

Flynn was about to start talking about his problems until she said that. He blinked a few times, letting her words sink in, as he tried to understand what she meant by that. ".... what?" He was still confused. "You are going to thank me for kissing you?" She had a boyfriend, and she was thanking him for kissing her. Why? Did that kiss make her realize her undying love for him?

Uhhhhh.

He really hoped that was NOT the case! Not only because he did have feelings for Hattie but because he did not want Brent hunting him down. Nah, he was not in the mood to deal with that mess.

"I can't ask Hattie out," he blurted. "I mean.... I've tried. I really have, but I can't. I freeze up." He looked down at her. "I've come to realize something about myself: I'm scared of relationships. Commitment, actually, but.... yeah, I can't do it." Part of him was also still worried about being the person who hurts her more, which he was not about to be known for in the walls of Hogwarts.

He would not openly admit it, but he cared about that Hufflepuff.

Okay, this was confusing. See, yes she was thanking him but it wasn't exactly what he was thinking no doubts and she should probably explain and put her thoughts into words. "Yes... Although technically it was the other way around." She kissed him first; he just returned the kiss. "But I should thank you for that confirmation for why I'm with him." No need to mention names here; he knew who she was dating.

And well, that was a swift change in subject! Wait, what? Sure she knew that Hattie had been crushing on him, which made what happened in the common room even more awkward, but the news that he returned the crush. It was actually kind of cute and endearing. "Hmm, I see... well maybe, since you can't seem to form the words to say, you should try putting the words in a letter. Ask her out that way. It will be different, endearing, and totally sweet." Love letters, if that is what you wanted to call it, may have been a thing of the past, but they were also totally romantic and any girl would be foolish to not appreciate one.

The dungeons... It felt colder than usual down here. Vi tugged at her sweater, pulling it around her as she quickly passed through here on her way towards the Potions classroom. She had used the shortcut and had managed to carefully get through the slug pit without stepping on a single slug. Phew! She'd hate to step on a slug. One: they were slimy. Two: she didn't want to hurt it. Three: she didn't want to get her clothes covered in too much slime. Shoes were one thing that could easily be fixed but her uniform...? It would take a while to get the slime out.

Sure, the slug pit wasn't an ideal short cut to get to the Potions classroom but some days called for desperate measures when she had slept through her alarm.

Kimi was somehow lost and had found himself in the dungeon corridor but it was really cold than it usually was down here and he saw Olivia a now sixth year gryffindor and said "Hey Olivia don't you think that it is colder than usual down here" Kimi had to make sure that he had enough layers on and that he had taken all the easy steps down here and he had no idea where he wanted to go but he thought that now in his fourth year he would stop getting lost easily

"Merlin's Beard!" Vi nearly jumped when someone called out to her. She thought she had been alone down here but she turned and saw... KIMI? Phew. Kimi was her. A smile replaced the worried frown on her lips. "Hey Kimi! Yes, it is unusually cold down here... Though I don't spend much time down here." Unless she was accompanying her boyfriend on one of his Patrols which was every so once in a while. "It's good to see you though. What brings you down here?"

It was a close to curfew and usually that meant you're fine Julie Bellaire cozied up in her dorm with a magazine and a cup of tea before bed but tonight she was out and about and sneaking along after the figure of one Vivian Fairfax, Slytherin Prefect. It was harmless, and seeing as she hadn't yet been caught by the older girl Julie would have said she was doing a good job shadowing.

Hair tied back, clothes comfy and dark and with her softest padded shoes, Julie was living every bit up to her Kitten Velour spy persona. Hell, maybe she'd fall in her cousin's steps and become an auror before taking on Minister of Magic, clearly she had the clout for it. The slytherin slipped noiselessly behind a statue, eye trained in search of the Prefect she'd temporarily lost sight of- only temporarily, give her a break- Vivian had to be here somewhere....

Vivian absolutely hated that she had prefect duties even past curfew. Not only was she already tired from classes earlier today, but it didn't help that there was really nobody around and she had no one to talk to (and snog with, but that's not the point). It was kinda boring, especially during her first past-curfew patrol. The blond was still trying to get used to it. Still trying.

And also trying to keep herself awake, too. Vivian couldn't wait to just crash in her bed after this. What if her dormies were having a pillow fight party without her? As much as she liked having this badge, it kinda made her sad that she couldn't be with them as much as she used to. Thankfully, the prefect had brought a tiny stash of marshmallows with her, as she always did during her prefect patrol. Suppressing a yawn, Vivian stuffed a marshmallow inside her mouth and nommed on it. She should probably slap herself awake or something.

Must. Stay. Awake.

It took a little time but soon enough Julie spotted the blonde slowly making her rounds. She seemed... hm, not distracted but listless, and it filled Julie up with confusion she couldn't easily mire her way through. How could anyone feel bored or restless while performing Prefect duties? The importance, the sense of duty? Julie couldn't dream of a finer sense of purpose. Quietly, from behind a corner the Slytherin watched and waited and thought until she grew almost frustrated with her own inability to empathize with Vivian Fairfield.

Before she knew it, she found herself taking a step and then another and another until she was walking side by side with the Slytherin Prefect as if she had been there all along (which, technically she had). "Hullo, having' a late night stroll?" Julie casually joked, announcing herself with all her usual charm and warm smiles. It hadn't been her original intention to join Vivian but clarity had called for a change in plan.

The creators of marshmallows were greatly appreciated, did they know? Vivian tossed another sugary confection in the air and caught it with her mouth. Score! The little sugar rush that the marshmallows could offer at least helped the prefect keep herself awake. Just a few more minutes, then maybe she could finally go back to the common room. On top of that, nothing usually happened during her curfew patrol. Just hours of walking around with no anything. Another reason why it all seemed so uneventful for her.

Vivian rubbed her eyes as she felt them beginning to stink and kept walking, only to be greeted by person (who happened to be a student OUT OF BED) she didn't even expect. The blond almost -- thankfully missing by a few inches -- smacked the girl on the face as she turned around to face her unexpected visitor with eyes wide open. Yeah, she was definitely awake now.

"Julie!" Vivian breathed. PHEW! Now, she wasn't sure if she was glad it hadn't been a ghost or if she should panic now that she had a Slytherin out of bed past curfew. Good Merlin. "N-no, I'm actually on prefect duty. What are you doing here?" The prefect didn't plan on getting mad or anything, but she really didn't want to deal with her responsibilities right now. Fingers crossed that no professor or staff member came by. Please, just please.

Guilt was rearing her little ugly head, but Julie was undeterred and kept on with her warm smile, however, she did stop walking to let the Prefect gather herself. Crossing her arms loosely under her chest, Julie shrugged her lithe shoulders as nonchalantly as she could. "I lost track of time in the library, I guess I did miss curfew, didn't I?" she reckoned that was more believable than other lies and not half as creepy sounding as the truth. She was hoping anyway. "Oh, yeah, of course." Julie lowered her voice, feigning surprise and reproach (though, quite honesty she did feel more than a little bad for surprising and bothering the older girl).

"You okay? I didn't mean to scare you."

Still a little jumpy about Julie's unexpected visit, Vivian looked around and behind her in case any adult person came by. Glad there wasn't a staff member around, the blond then focused her attention at the younger Slytherin. She didn't want to be the one facing this 'students out of bed' dilemma, okay? "The library?" Well, that was weird. Didn't Professor Kennedy remind her to leave the moment the clock struck curfew time? However, Vivian couldn't possibly blame the man though. What with the restricted section being broken in to, it probably never occurred to the librarian. Nodding, the prefect checked her watch. "And yeah, you did. Do you... uh, want me to escort you back to the common room?" Which wasn't exactly far away from here, but well... it felt like her responsibility to do so.

... Scare you? Pssssh. Vivian shook her head ever so casually. "You didn't. No worries, I'm alright," she replied with a tiny smile. But maybe just a little bit. "I don't wanna get you in trouble for being out past curfew, Julie." And imagine how that would reflect on her as a prefect. Students out of bed during Prefect Fairfield's night of patrolling duty? Merlin's beard.