Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Okay what??

Neptune was really throwing Mia for a loop. She had been sure that she'd had the Ravenclaw already figured out but then the girl went ahead and said things like that.

O___O

Mia felt the heat rise in her face at the staring and the compliment that followed it. "Um...thank you Neptune. You're pretty nice too." And she was now. Maybe not so much last year though. "SO are you saying that you want to know more about me?"

Neptune was equally perplexed by Mia's reaction. Blushing? Really? "I can't be the first to tell you that you're nice." She just KNEW that was true, and might have come out a little haughty.

Pretty nice, too? Well gee.... thanks... Neptune just sighed. Mia didn't think her nice at all. Mia was just.... being nice.

"I'm not writing a book about you or anything, but I'm just saying... you're sweet demeanor isn't a facade. You're really this nice. I didn't know. I usually picture you with horns and green slobber."

Uh oh...it seems she was doing this all wrong. Mia turned to face the older girl and let out a little sigh. "I'm sorry Neptune, that was rather rude of me. I do think you're nice, really I do. It's just that..." she pulled at her robes..."I didn't think you liked me that much. I'm just a little surprised that's all."

And there was the Neptune she had been expecting. Mia couldn't help but laugh as she pulled her legs up and sat crossed legged. "Horns and green slobber eh? Well at least it wasn't fangs and a tail." She gave Neptune a small nudge with her shoulder. "And believe me I have my moments of not being nice. Just ask my dad."

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Uh oh...it seems she was doing this all wrong. Mia turned to face the older girl and let out a little sigh. "I'm sorry Neptune, that was rather rude of me. I do think you're nice, really I do. It's just that..." she pulled at her robes..."I didn't think you liked me that much. I'm just a little surprised that's all."

And there was the Neptune she had been expecting. Mia couldn't help but laugh as she pulled her legs up and sat crossed legged. "Horns and green slobber eh? Well at least it wasn't fangs and a tail." She gave Neptune a small nudge with her shoulder. "And believe me I have my moments of not being nice. Just ask my dad."

"Oh I didn't," Neptune didn't mind telling her. "You were... part of a list that was given to me, once upon a time. I suppose it wasn't you that was green, it was me." Jealous. Hurt. All that silly stupid stuff. "Neither here nor there anymore though."

Neptune crossed her legs and lounged back, making the desk an accessory.

"I'd rather not ask your dad. Wouldn't that be awkward? Just keep being nice to me and I'll live happily ever none the wiser of your supposed-dark side." Neptune flashed the Puff a grin. "Someone that knits scarfs can't have too dark of a side, I think."

Well that's what you call being brutally honest. Mia actually appreciated that. But her expression took on a confused look. "I was part of...oh right." She got it.

Oh nice one James.

Mia wasn't sure whether she believed the girl about caring or not but she was not bringing it up. It was ancient history as far as she was concerned.

If she was actually talking to her dad then it wouldn't have been awkward as it was..."Yeah definitely awkward." Mia was tempted to point out that she had always been nice to Neptune. She raised her eyebrows and laughed a little. "Are you dissing me Miss Bott?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Well that's what you call being brutally honest. Mia actually appreciated that. But her expression took on a confused look. "I was part of...oh right." She got it.

Oh nice one James.

Mia wasn't sure whether she believed the girl about caring or not but she was not bringing it up. It was ancient history as far as she was concerned.

If she was actually talking to her dad then it wouldn't have been awkward as it was..."Yeah definitely awkward." Mia was tempted to point out that she had always been nice to Neptune. She raised her eyebrows and laughed a little. "Are you dissing me Miss Bott?"

Neptune hadn't really expected Mia to know which list, so it embarrassed her when Mia DID pick it up. She averted her eyes and found a certain curl of acute interest.

"No.... No. I just mean.... nice people knit. Or it just seems fitting..." It wasn't an intentional diss and Neptune found herself flustered again that Mia thought her unkind AGAIN.

She frowned at the curl and chanced a teensy glance at Mia.

Mia hadn't meant to make Neptune uncomfortable or anything. If anyone should be uncomfortable it should be her. It wasn't exactly flattering being on a guy's list. But eh whatever. She didn't regret it.

"I was just teasing you Neptune. I didn't take any offense." She'd had worse said about her. Muggles could be so cruel. "Although you seem to have this fixation about nice people. Do you not think you're nice?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Mia hadn't meant to make Neptune uncomfortable or anything. If anyone should be uncomfortable it should be her. It wasn't exactly flattering being on a guy's list. But eh whatever. She didn't regret it.

"I was just teasing you Neptune. I didn't take any offense." She'd had worse said about her. Muggles could be so cruel. "Although you seem to have this fixation about nice people. Do you not think you're nice?"

"Of course I think I'm nice. But I'm not always nice. I thought you were just being nice to... you know, appear nice. Most people aren't what they seem at face value. You are though. And terribly pretty."

Neptune SIGHED at Mia. That part didn't help at all.

Mia already knew that. She had been on the receiving end of one of Neptune's tantrums and while it had hurt just a little, she hadn't let it bother her too much. "Well being nice does have its drawbacks you know. People tend to take advantage of you." She shrugged her shoulders as if to say 'what can you do?' "Sometimes I wish I was a little tougher and stand up for myself but eh that takes too much energy." And she was rather lazy.

She gave Neptune's hair a little tug. "And you know very well Neptune Bott that you are terribly pretty also." Mia shook her head and laughed softly. "I bet you break hearts everywhere you go."

Too much energy to stand up for herself? Neptune found that absurd. Entirely. "Standing up for yourself isn't an option... It's a must. Eat more bread or something and take up for you," she wisely counseled her younger... friend? Whatever Mia was.

"Not on purpose," Neptune slumped. "Broken hearts hurt. I don't wish that on anyone. Except maybe Josh Carter, because I think Evelyn should break up with him. But only him. Not anyone else. And you know, when you do break a heart, it hurts just as much as being broken. Sometimes more." She was, perhaps, over-sharing.

What was this? Neptune was giving her advice? How strange to have someone giving her advice instead of the other way around. "So eating bread will make me tougher?" She didn't know about that but she did know that eating too much bread would make her fat. And that she did care about. "I wouldn't know how to go about do that though. Standing up for myself that is."

Oh dear. That's not what she had meant. But before she could say anything, Neptune began rambling on and Mia simply sat there and listened. She almost told the older girl that she liked Josh and that she had been instrumental in getting he and Evelyn back together last term but very wisely she kept that piece of information to herself.

"I have never had a broken heart nor do I think I have broken someone's heart." Well she hoped that she hadn't. "I rejected a couple of guys and that made me feel really bad. So I sort of know what you mean." They could so be knitting while talking at the same time. "And I have seen quite a few of my friends with a broken heart. I take it you're speaking from experience?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

What was this? Neptune was giving her advice? How strange to have someone giving her advice instead of the other way around. "So eating bread will make me tougher?" She didn't know about that but she did know that eating too much bread would make her fat. And that she did care about. "I wouldn't know how to go about do that though. Standing up for myself that is."

Oh dear. That's not what she had meant. But before she could say anything, Neptune began rambling on and Mia simply sat there and listened. She almost told the older girl that she liked Josh and that she had been instrumental in getting he and Evelyn back together last term but very wisely she kept that piece of information to herself.

"I have never had a broken heart nor do I think I have broken someone's heart." Well she hoped that she hadn't. "I rejected a couple of guys and that made me feel really bad. So I sort of know what you mean." They could so be knitting while talking at the same time. "And I have seen quite a few of my friends with a broken heart. I take it you're speaking from experience?"

"...no, silly. But if you're so lethargic that you can't muster up enough energy to tell someone what you think or where to step off, then perhaps a bread, or a cookie, will pep you up enough to be able to manage. You'll have to learn to toughen up yourself though."

Ehhh.

Neptune tried not to make her disgusted face, but it was there anyway. "How am I ever to start liking you when you say things like that? I'm not above being jealous and hating you for being so.... perfect."

As for experience... Neptune felt she had daily experiences with it. She felt like a pro. "That doesn't matter. It happens to most people, I guess, those of us that aren't you."

Oh. Maybe she needed to speak more clearly or something. She hadn't been speaking literally about not having the energy to stand up for herself. "Right I'll remember that." Yeah she was not going to correct Neptune. "Thanks."

The look. Was not a good one. What had she said now?

Perfect?

Whaaat?

"I am far from perfect Neptune. Very far." Where was the girl getting these ideas? "I never had a broken heart because I wouldn't let myself get attached to anyone. Of course that was before Nik came along and stole my heart. So far he's looking after it pretty good." And yeah she was wearing a dreamy little smile on her face right then. Which was probably not helping Neptune in liking her any.

"If it helps, I upset Ivan when he kissed me and I pushed him away. I also upset Sal when I chose Nik instead of one of the great guys right under my nose." There was also Matthias and Finn could also probably be counted in there too. Ugh now she felt bad all over again just thinking about them. Although she didn't think she had broken any of their hearts.

"You don't like talking about yourself much, do you?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Oh. Maybe she needed to speak more clearly or something. She hadn't been speaking literally about not having the energy to stand up for herself. "Right I'll remember that." Yeah she was not going to correct Neptune. "Thanks."

The look. Was not a good one. What had she said now?

Perfect?

Whaaat?

"I am far from perfect Neptune. Very far." Where was the girl getting these ideas? "I never had a broken heart because I wouldn't let myself get attached to anyone. Of course that was before Nik came along and stole my heart. So far he's looking after it pretty good." And yeah she was wearing a dreamy little smile on her face right then. Which was probably not helping Neptune in liking her any.

"If it helps, I upset Ivan when he kissed me and I pushed him away. I also upset Sal when I chose Nik instead of one of the great guys right under my nose." There was also Matthias and Finn could also probably be counted in there too. Ugh now she felt bad all over again just thinking about them. Although she didn't think she had broken any of their hearts.

"You don't like talking about yourself much, do you?"

"It doesn't sound like he stole your heart, so much as you gave it. I'm sure you don't want it back, in any case," THAT much was obvious. Neptune didn't mind her being happy. In fact, she was happy for Mia. She REALLY did mean that she didn't wish broken hearts on anyone.

"Oh yes, that helps tremendously. Having all these great guys fight over you. How dreadful that must have been for you," Neptune laid on the sarcasm preeeeetty thick, but giggled. All in good fun. ....but seriously.

Neptune plucked a ball of yarn from Mia's stash and started unwinding it, just to have something to do and something to look at other than Mia. "There's just not much to say that you or the rest of the school don't already know, or think you know. And like I said, it just doesn't matter."

"No. I don't want it back" she agreed with a happy smile. Mia was hoping that Nikolai would want her heart forever.

Oh. Uhm. It seemed Mia was not saying the right things. The problem was she didn't know what Neptune wanted from her. She knew that she led a charmed life, she had said it on many occasions but was that something that she should feel bad about just because others weren't as fortunate? Mia didn't know the answer to that and she didn't know what to tell Neptune that was going to make her happy so she decided not say anything at all and just gave the Ravenclaw a smile.

"Well I'm not one to listen to idle gossip." she said, watching Neptune unravel the ball of yarn and sincerely hoped that she was going to wind it back up when she had finished. "I make my assessment from talking to the person first hand." This was almost as hard as talking to Evelyn. Didn't these girls know that keeping your feelings bottled up was not good for you? "And of course it matters. I can't help you Neptune if you don't talk to me and I would like to help. If I can."

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

"No. I don't want it back" she agreed with a happy smile. Mia was hoping that Nikolai would want her heart forever.

Oh. Uhm. It seemed Mia was not saying the right things. The problem was she didn't know what Neptune wanted from her. She knew that she led a charmed life, she had said it on many occasions but was that something that she should feel bad about just because others weren't as fortunate? Mia didn't know the answer to that and she didn't know what to tell Neptune that was going to make her happy so she decided not say anything at all and just gave the Ravenclaw a smile.

"Well I'm not one to listen to idle gossip." she said, watching Neptune unravel the ball of yarn and sincerely hoped that she was going to wind it back up when she had finished. "I make my assessment from talking to the person first hand." This was almost as hard as talking to Evelyn. Didn't these girls know that keeping your feelings bottled up was not good for you? "And of course it matters. I can't help you Neptune if you don't talk to me and I would like to help. If I can."

Neptune probably wouldn't re-wind it when she was finished, but it was providing something for her to do. Maybe knitting was all bad after all.

"Everyone listens to idle gossip," she was quick to correct. Everyone did. Whether or not they believed it or made judgement based upon it was another thing, as Mia had said. "What IS your assessment? Other than 'pretty nice'?" Neptune plucked another ball of yarn from the stash, and started weaving together two strands. Just something to do.

"I'm fine... Really. Really. I'm having a great year, I'll be 18 soon, I have plans. I have a few friends," which was different from years before. "No need for help, but thanks anyway."

SWEET BLOODY MERLIN!!!

"Well I guess if you want to get technical about it." Geez, was this like a Ravenclaw thing we're they just had to correct you and make themselves look better then you? Mia had never professed to be smart but she didn't need someone pointing it out to her every chance they got either.

Destiny wasn't even this frustrating.

Mia chewed on her lip while she gazed at Neptune. Her answer would make or break whatever kind of relationship they had. "I think you have the potential to be a nice person. Only if no one else is better than you." She too picked up a ball of yarn and turned it over in her hands. "I know that you are trying but let's be honest you are never going to like me. First it was because of my history with James, then it was because I'm friends with Marie." Oh yes we remember that little episode Miss Bott. ""And now it's because I am apparently too perfect." Letting out a little sigh, Mia shrugged her shoulders. "But that's okay that's just how you are."

Putting the ball of yarn back into the basket, Mia fixed Neptune with a skeptical expression. "Oh yeah? Well if you're so fine then how come you look like someone just kicked your crup?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

SWEET BLOODY MERLIN!!!

"Well I guess if you want to get technical about it." Geez, was this like a Ravenclaw thing we're they just had to correct you and make themselves look better then you? Mia had never professed to be smart but she didn't need someone pointing it out to her every chance they got either.

Destiny wasn't even this frustrating.

Mia chewed on her lip while she gazed at Neptune. Her answer would make or break whatever kind of relationship they had. "I think you have the potential to be a nice person. Only if no one else is better than you." She too picked up a ball of yarn and turned it over in her hands. "I know that you are trying but let's be honest you are never going to like me. First it was because of my history with James, then it was because I'm friends with Marie." Oh yes we remember that little episode Miss Bott. ""And now it's because I am apparently too perfect." Letting out a little sigh, Mia shrugged her shoulders. "But that's okay that's just how you are."

Putting the ball of yarn back into the basket, Mia fixed Neptune with a skeptical expression. "Oh yeah? Well if you're so fine then how come you look like someone just kicked your crup?"

Neptune pouted a little at Mia's first response. She hadn't really meant to correct her in THAT way - more in the sense that Mia already knew stuff. As Neptune had said.

And THEN.... Mia gave that assessment of her.

The worst.

It was the worst. Up there with being called 'not special'.

"I... do like you though." Neptune would never bother with someone she didn't. It was possible that her eyes got a little wet. She might have gotten a little teary. She wasn't admitting to anything though.

It wasn't OKAY if that was how she was. Neptune knew she was bad at a lot of things other people seemed to be able to do, but this ... this was new. The nicest girl Neptune knew telling her 'that's just how you are'.

"I wasn't upset with anyone for being friends with Marie. I wasn't." For the record. "I tried so SO hard to stay out of all of that. He liked her. I like him. I wanted him to be happy." Still did. She put her yarn on the floor and sunk her chin into her hands, with her elbows on the desk.

Knitting was NO FUN at ALL.

Lovely.

Juuuust lovely.

Neptune was crying. And it was all Mia's fault. Maybe she should have just told the girl everything she wanted to hear and they could be sitting here probably giggling and telling stories. But Neptune had wanted to know what Mia had thought of her and it wouldn't have been fair to lie.

While the older girl was speaking, Mia pulled out a clean handkerchief from her pocket and held it out to her. "The thing is Neptune." she said quietly when the girl had finished speaking. "You sit here now and tell me that you like me but your actions last year told me otherwise. Can you not see why I would question it?"

She moved a little closer to the girl and tentatively placed an arm around her shoulder. "Have you and James ever sat down and talked about how you both feel? And I don't mean talking in riddles like you usually do. Just simple straight talk."

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Lovely.

Juuuust lovely.

Neptune was crying. And it was all Mia's fault. Maybe she should have just told the girl everything she wanted to hear and they could be sitting here probably giggling and telling stories. But Neptune had wanted to know what Mia had thought of her and it wouldn't have been fair to lie.

While the older girl was speaking, Mia pulled out a clean handkerchief from her pocket and held it out to her. "The thing is Neptune." she said quietly when the girl had finished speaking. "You sit here now and tell me that you like me but your actions last year told me otherwise. Can you not see why I would question it?"

She moved a little closer to the girl and tentatively placed an arm around her shoulder. "Have you and James ever sat down and talked about how you both feel? And I don't mean talking in riddles like you usually do. Just simple straight talk."

And then.... things got worse. Neptune was entirely horrified that Mia had noticed 'the wetness' around her eyes (NOT CRYING). She pretended the handkerchief didn't exist.

"I told you I didn't like you. But I changed my mind. I'm allowed to do so." Neptune was OVERLY haughty, compensating for the comforting Mia was doing. Ugh she was SO NICE.

Groooooaaaaaannnn.

"Yes? No? I don't know. We're both smart." In other words, she knew Jim knew. And in a lot of ways, Neptune knew too. "It doesn't matter though. As I said. Feelings are one thing, 'working out' is another. I wish everyone didn't look at me and think about him. People don't do that to him." Or girls didn't. "I'm fine!" Perfectly! She was, too, and having a good term.

"Yes it's every woman's prerogative to change her mind." Mia wasn't going to dispute that but she also shouldn't be expected to have to put up with Neptune's mood swings either. A lot of the time, she felt as though she was walking on egg shells with the older girl. "Perhaps I should write up a timetable so that I know which week Neptune is going to like me." Apparently she can do sarcasm as well.

She was getting the feeling that Neptune just wanted Mia to feel sorry for her. The girl didn't want help, she just wanted to sit here and wallow. "Well if that's the case than I am just going to say this. Get. Over. It! If you two can't work it out for whatever reasons then you're obviously not meant to be. Love between two people should not be hard. Especially at this age." Mia didn't bother to comment about the last part, she merely rolled her eyes. Neptune was so feeling sorry for herself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

"Yes it's every woman's prerogative to change her mind." Mia wasn't going to dispute that but she also shouldn't be expected to have to put up with Neptune's mood swings either. A lot of the time, she felt as though she was walking on egg shells with the older girl. "Perhaps I should write up a timetable so that I know which week Neptune is going to like me." Apparently she can do sarcasm as well.

She was getting the feeling that Neptune just wanted Mia to feel sorry for her. The girl didn't want help, she just wanted to sit here and wallow. "Well if that's the case than I am just going to say this. Get. Over. It! If you two can't work it out for whatever reasons then you're obviously not meant to be. Love between two people should not be hard. Especially at this age." Mia didn't bother to comment about the last part, she merely rolled her eyes. Neptune was so feeling sorry for herself.

That.... was not what Neptune was saying, or meaning, or feeling, or anything. It just wasn't. She had been telling Mia how nice she realized the girl was, and how she had had her all wrong. Turning the conversation to Jimmy had been all Mia. Neptune was forever content NOT to talk about him. But it was like she said: people saw Jimmy when they looked at her.

"Don't bother writing anything down. Just write me off."

Because Neptune was done. She had NOT come down to talk about herself, and she certainly wasn't here for another unsolicited lecture about the L-word and Jim. Neptune simply gathered her purse up and went to the door without learning a single thing about knitting.

"And I was wrong, again, about you." Pause. "You're not very nice after all." Mia was mind-boggling, forever changing hats and keeping Neptune in the dark as to who or what she REALLY was. Fortunately, Neptune didn't care that much.

Oh so that's how it was. Neptune could throw tantrums and use sarcasm but no one else was allowed to. Mia merely shook her head. One thing was clear. She and Neptune could not talk to each other without getting their words crossed.

Mia watched as the older girl crossed the room towards the door and she exhaled a long frustrated breath. Neptune's last words caused her to heave a deep sigh. "Actually I am nice Neptune. I'm just tired of trying so hard with you." It was a shame really because Mia didn't like to not be friends with anyone but it seemed that she and Neptune were just not gonna be besties anytime soon.

"Whatever," Neptune pushed the door open and let herself out without another glance back. SHE felt like SHE had been the one putting up all the effort. Just....whatever. She left for her Common Room.

"On April seventh I'll be sixteen and a half," Dallin told Louisa as he walked into the empty classroom. Which was sort of crazy, considering that he was turning seventeen next term and he'd only be in his sixth year. He smirked slightly when he heard Louisa gasp - he knew what she was thinking. "My parents thought that it'd be good for me to start as a fourth year here, after going for years at Merlin's." He shrugged. "It's not really a big deal to me, I'm just older than some fifth years here."

He looked around the room, sitting down on the edge of an unused desk and setting his bag on the chair next to him. "Got your memory?" he asked, getting out his wand and looking at it closely to distract himself from trying to think of his own memory. Or from trying to get the spell to work right again. He would be the teacher here, and not try to do it himself.

She smiled when he told her the reason about his age being slightly older.. she wasn't disappointed. "Okay then... that makes your birthday in.." She left the sentence unfinished for him to complete. Friends needed to know about each other's birthdays right? She couldn't afford a present but she could wish a happy birthday at least.

She threw her full bag on the desk where he was sitting and took her wand out. She looked up at him uncertainly, "Umm... I guess so." She turned to an empty space in the classroom not that it was crowded and took a deep breath closing her eyes.

A happy memory... happy memory...happy... The day a bouquet of Lilac dropped at her house's threshold and Jason saying it meant, 'first love'... that boy from her elementary school sent them. She knew it and despite the fact that she didn't feel the same way about him, she was happy to be liked. That should do it!

She took a minute to absorb the happiness to every atom of her body and then, "Expecto Patronum!" She half-shouted. Her eyes were still closed... she expected to hear some animal's sound; meow? honk? bark? anything?

Nope. Nothing.

She opened her eyes and saw nothing. Turning around she pouted at Dal, "What happened?" Because he should know.