"Of course I am in your way, Maddison Cooper," he said, leaning against the wall but still blocking her sun. "I did it intentionally" he informed, grin in place, arms now crossed. Because he had to somehow get her attention? Yeah, that works.

"It's been a while, have you been avoiding me?" he asked, bluntly - indirectly trying to know what he wanted to know. "Because we like - bonded, you know" Didn't they? Because he was pretty sure they did.

Maddie gave Noel a measured look, trying to figure out what game he was trying to play. It was to annoy her, yes? This whole standing in her light thing? Well it was working even though she was doing a valiant job of not showing it. "Could you maybe NOT do it, though." There was a smile then, a slight quirk in her mouth. She was asking politely, see?

Wait, what? Now THAT she hadn't expected. The brunette furrowed her brow, wondering if she seemed the type to avoid people. "I don't do that." Hide or go out of her way not to see someone. It was just plain silly. As for them bonding, the thirteen year old didn't know what to say to that. So instead she answered with a question. "Does this mean you missed me?" PAUSE. "Because it seems like you missed me." GRIN.

Oh, darn. He had the complete opposite. Everywhere he turned, his parents were there. Being they were both teachers. He didn't regret it, of course. He loved his parents, but it could get a bit suffocating sometimes. That's why he was all up for transferring here. He nodded along as she talked, though he wasn't so sure he should ask more about him it seemed to be making her sad. More about Rigo when she's more comfortable, yeah?

Well, he guessed he technically had three siblings now. You know with Cassie marrying into the family and all. He did consider her as his blood sister now, but for this case, he'll just keep it at two. "My older brother is named Shane and my younger sister is named Rorie."

Well, because she asked so nicely, Noel moved away, unblocking her sun and sitting across her. "You don't mind if I share your sun, do you?" he asked, folding his legs and rolling his sleeves up. It was that annoying time of the season when you got cold but if you would wear something warm, you would feel hot - so yeah, sleeves rolled up and no to direct sun, please.


...

MISSED HER?

Psssshh.

"Noooooooo" Noel felt flustered, looking away from her and using his hands to gesture how silly she sounded - to cover up that flustered-ness. "I was JUST casually walking by and saw you and thought I'd say hello" he said, scratching his neck, still looking away. Besides they weren't even like friends or anything so YEAAH, that was a reasonable and probable explanation. Because when you have 5 am adventures, you kind of do bond and it's only courtesy to say hello.

"I'm not USUALLY the sharing type but I SUPPOSE I can make an exception." The brunette watched as the blonde boy settled himself, noting the way the sun hit his hair. It made it even blonder, if that was possible. Maddie wondered if she'd be able to paint it sometime, though she didn't feel like asking just YET. Maybe when he stopped calling her Maddison.

Noel LOOKED flustered and this pleased the second year very much. The smirk remained fixed as she listened to him deny that he'd missed her, wondering why it'd be bad if he HAD missed her. She was CLEARLY an extremely missable person. "Seems like you went out of your way to say hello, if you ask ME." Maddie tilted her head, observing him carefully. "Been having any more adventures without me, Noel Wallace?"

Noel grinned. "Thanks" He sort of knew she was not the sharing type - not in traditional terms anyway.

"Oh pleasee" Having regained his posture and not feeling like he had been cornered, he continued: "I am just going out of my way to make sure we stay in touch," How many times had she approached him exactly? It was ALWAYS the other way around. "Because I feel like you MAY be the person I can do some of the things I have on my bucket list with!" The bucket list was still in progress of course, but he was working on it.

"Nope. Life has been quiet boring actually," he sighed, leaning back. "What about you?"

So he wanted to stay in touch, then? Well Maddie couldn't really BLAME him for that. She was pretty awesome as far as kids around their age were concerned. Still, she wasn't exactly used to having people WANT to hang out with her. Kyroh and Dima were probably the only people she could say for sure were in THAT category but maybe Noel belonged there too? Maybe. "So what are you proposing, exactly?" Maddie turned her body so she was facing him head-on now, eyebrows slightly raised. Did he want a partner in crime or an ally or was she to be his friend? The thirteen year old figured it had to be ONE of those but if he could clarify, that'd be helpful.

Boring without her. That's how Maddie was going to hear THAT one and she smiled slightly, amused. Was it weird that she was glad he hadn't gone on any adventures she wasn't involved in? "Me neither." But she'd had homework and classes and looking after her f-words to keep her busy. "So what HAVE you been up to, then?"

What was he proposing? "WELL. I have this list - well a list in progress to be exact, things that I want to do before I leave Hogwarts," he said, trying to be as clear as possible. He had a history of saying things to her that she had misunderstood. It always ended bad. Like the last time, with her hair -

- "And sometimes it's much better if you are doing things with someone rather than alone, you know," he continued, shrugging lightly. "So if you are interested ... " he trailed off, hoping she got what he was trying to say. "And of course, if there is anything that YOU wanted to try out, I'll be there, no questions asked." Yep. She would have his word.

What had he been upto?

"Nothing whatsoever, except classes and homework," It sucked. That is why he NEEDED her to say yes, so he could make more plans about them doing secret stuff.

Maddie had understood this much when he'd first mentioned his bucket list, did he KNOW? She knew about him wanting her there so he didn't have to do those things alone but what she DIDN'T know, and what she WANTED to know, was the nature of their relationship. Did HE think they were friends or was she just someone he wanted to hang out with because he knew she was crazy enough to follow along with his plans? Because the brunette didn't like the second option, JUST saying. And she wasn't satisfied with his answer to her question so she merely looked at him steadily, her gaze questioning.

"So what you're saying is that you want to have adventures together?" She already KNEW this but sometimes repetition helped in these types of situations. "That sounds an awful lot like being f-words." PAUSE. "And by THAT I mean friends."

Classes and homework. Maddie nodded because that was what SHE was usually up to. She liked quiet, though. Noel seemed to be looking for more than that. He still needed to elaborate for her, though.

Uh. Noel was pretty sure he had covered that bit. Confused, the hufflepuff tilted his head "Yes?" Did he say it in a way that could be misunderstood? He had a bucket list, she was a cool person, and he didn't wanted to do some of the things on it alone.

Oh.

At first, Noel thought the ravenclaw was cursing and his eyes widened. But then she explained that 'f-word' meant FRIENDS. Noel felt awkward. Was this the kind of thing you talked about out loud? Didn't you just kinda assumed that you were friends with somebody and you didn't really have to talk about out loud. "Um, I suppose - " he started, pausing to figure out what he should be saying, " - if that is what you think we are," he completed.

Maddie wasn't uncomfortable with the subject matter. She'd come to terms with the whole friends thing thanks to Kyroh and Dima and though she didn't always know if she was a good one, at least she could talk about it without squirming now. That was major progress. And didn't Noel know that Maddie wanted to know what HE thought? That's why she'd asked, yeah? And she was going to ask again because still not satisfied with the answer, Wallace.

"Is that what YOU think we are?" Raised eyebrows for you, Hufflepuff. "Because I was still making up my mind and your opinion might make it easier." JUST saying. The brunette looked at the older boy expectantly, shifting her position on the sill so that she was getting more sunlight.

Go on, Noel. Speak.

What did HE think? He didn't think anything. It wasn't like he had spend nights wondering if Maddison Cooper, a ravenclaw who had predicted his death, and then gone a winged horse ride with him - was maybe his friend? Cause yeah.

And to top all of it, she was STILL making up her mind.

"I think," he started, completely unsure what his next words might be, " - if we have to think about it, then maybe - we aren't friends," he said, eyes shifting from her face to his hands and then her face again, " - yet."

Oh.

Well Maddie GUESSED that made sense and after glancing at the blonde boy, she jumped off the sill and bent down to pick up her backpack. She slung it over her shoulder easily enough and then the thirteen year old straightened out and brushed the hair out of her face.

"Well maybe you should find one of your other friends to do the list with then, yeah?" Her tone was lacking any emotion, as was the expression on her face. If she was feeling something contrary to what she was saying, he wouldn't be able to tell. "Because I'm sure you'll want to make those memories with someone who will be around a while and not some girl you see occasionally in the hall." She shrugged. It just made sense that way, right?

Oh.

Noel stared, his expressions somber. He wasn't able to read her at all of course, and he wasn't able to try either because her words. He felt blank inside out. She was right, of course.

Yet, it didn't seem right.

He merely nodded, watching her as she picked up her bag. So that was that then. He too got up, shoving his hands in his jeans. "You are leaving" he said - unsure of anything else he should be saying.

She was planning on leaving, yes. Because Maddie didn't understand Noel and it was frustrating to her. Why had he even mentioned his bucket list if he didn't think they were friends? That seemed like something kind of private and to share it with someone you weren't interested in knowing seemed odd to the second year because SHE had trouble sharing things with Dima and Kyroh sometimes and they were her BEST f-words. She'd never share something like this with someone who she didn't even really consider a friend at all. Yet Noel had done that with her. She didn't get it. She was puzzled. She wanted answers she couldn't have because Noel wasn't offering up any more information and the brunette didn't know enough about feelings to ask anything besides what she already had. They were at a standstill.

"I don't get you," She offered up as an explanation as to why she was making the departure. It was the truth and she wasn't apologetic about admitting it out loud. So there it was. She'd give him a minute or two to say anything else he wanted before she'd go for good. After all, he'd only stopped by to say a quick hello, yes?

She didn't get him?

He didn't think he got her either. It was ALL going very well, until she demanded why he wanted her to do those things with him. He honestly did not have a reason. He really did not. Bleh.

"I suppose this is goodbye then," he said, still with that somber expression.

Not friends.

Just people who passed each other in the hall.

Yes, goodbye. That's what you said when you left someone. She shrugged and nodded her head. "Guess so. See you around."

And then the brunette turned on her heel and headed down the corridor. She'd gotten enough sun for the time being and she had the urge to find a spot where she could be alone. Preferably in a place where she could also have a snack and cuddle Z. She had things to think about, it seemed. Lots of things.

The only thing more confusing to explore than a forest was a castle, and Red felt like she'd been wandering for days until she finally made it outside. Maybe not days... maybe not even hours, but it was long enough and she was hungry and a little lost and she hadn't even properly found a forest yet.

Sigh. Life was hard.

Red pulled herself up on a stone windowsill, letting the little black shoes that showed underneath her red cloak clack noisily against the stone work. She should stop and ask directions, but her gran had always told her not to talk to strangers.

Conventional studying methods were simply not working out for Toby. But instead of becoming demoralised (which was rare enough as it was) or giving up (which was simply unheard of from him), the Hufflepuff had decided to go about things another way.

Which was why he could be found roaming about the school with his hands full of all the chocolate frog cards he could find. Toby still didn't know EXACTLY how he was going to use them yet, but figured there would a good game he could think up that could help him remember the facts (thank YOU to Professor Glendower for the idea of using cards).

As he emerged into the corridor on the way to the courtyard, Toby couldn't help but instantly spot a younger kid in a red cloak; it wasn't often you saw anything other than the standard black around here. The girl wearing it was in between him and the entrance to the corridor, and as he got closer Toby recognised her as the second year from Potions, and the friend of Kyroh, Maddie and Dima. Dot, wasn't it? It was definitely a short name.

"Hey," he beamed at her, slowing ever so slightly as he passed. Toby wasn't sure if they were on corridor-conversation terms, so he left it up to her if she wanted to speak to him. He might have waved too, but the cards...

Red did NOT know this boy, although he was sort of familiar for some reason... but that still made him a stranger. And she wasn't supposed to speak to strangers. Only... how did one become NOT a stranger without any speaking? She just kicked her heels a bit longer, watching him juggle all those cards.

And then... "My gran calls me Red. You can call me Red. If you tell me your name, then we aren't strangers and I can carry stuff for you. Do you like flowers?" Important question. Also important... didn't those cards come with chocolate? Did he have any more chocolate ON him?

Okay, so they were speaking, which was cool! Toby stopped properly, all the better to talk to her.

"Hi Red," Oops, he'd got that wrong then. Good idea he'd not started with the name, though they'd really had minimal interactions so far, so it wasn't TOO horrendous that he'd forgotten, right? "My name's Toby." And IF she could help carry things, that'd be great, but Toby didn't really mind either way. "I'm one of Kyroh's friends." In case she'd not known that, and it might help with the association. "Sure do, flowers are awesome, real pretty. Why do you ask?"

Oh. Huh. Some of the cards were slipping, maybe he could use a hand after all.

Tooooooooby. That sounded safe, right? And now they knew each other and he wasn't a stranger, so Red slipped off the wall and tiptoed up to stand beside him. Toby, who liked flowers and was friends with a Kyroh and would let her carry things. They might possibly be very great friends.

If he was what he said he was. He didn't have creepy big eyes or paws like some of the people she'd encountered so far. "I ask because I do too. And I can't find where they keep the flowers, but I wanted to pick some because they are my gran's absolute favorite favorite thing, and she's ill and I want cheer her up." And so maybe he could be so kind as to point her in the right direction?

"I'll carry your cards. I used to have a basket, but I seem to have waylaid it."

If any of this was striking Toby as odd, he didn't let on at all. In fact, the only thing he thought peculiar at all was when Red used the word 'waylaid'. But then, a lot of kids used more sophisticated words than him, even first years, so that wasn't really too strange at all.

The Hufflepuff considered what Red said for a moment.

"Here, we can both take half," he smiled at her, offering some what seemed to be about half of the cards to the younger girl so they could share the load equally. Better than foisting them all off when he was still perfectly capable of carrying them alone.

Now then.

"I'm sorry to hear about your gran, but..." hmm "... maybe there might be some flowers around the gree-..." Wait. WAIT. He could do a magic. "Actually, would you like me to try and conjure some for you? And we can maybe look for your basket, if you like?" Taking flowers from inside the greenhouses was probably none too wise, and Toby wasn't sure where else they might find some.

The most curious thing had occurred when the Captain had returned to his quarters to put on the proper attire. It seemed as though Smee had fallen behind again on his laundry duties. Bad form, Mr. Smee. Bad form indeed. He was going to have a discussion with that parasitic sacks of entrails about keeping to the strict schedule he had set up. A Captain like himself couldn't be seen without his proper garb. Thankfully, he had found ONE proper outfit that came with his favorite smashing hat - which he was currently wearing - but the rest of the garments in that closet were appalling.

Appalling AND in the box clutched in his arms. HIS arms since Smee was NO WHERE to be found to carry it for him. BAD FORM, MR. SMEE!

Setting down the box, he lifted one of the strange jackets and long thin bandanna looking things - things that a savagely protesting voice in his head was telling him was an entire suit and tie collection.... but meant nothing to the pirate - he gagged and returned them to the box before attaching a note to the box and setting it down on the ground.

Now that that had been accomplished, he needed to go find his ship and his crew so they could set sail and find THAT Peter Pan...

And hopefully accomplish this prior to what the strange looking schedule book on the desk in his quarters had informed him of previous engagements that the persistent buzz of a voice in his head told the Captain it would be poor form not to follow.

CURSE HIM AND HIS CODE OF CONDUCT!

Red accepted the cards, although she wasn't much interested in what they said. No chocolate with them, and that's what she was really going for. Flowers and chocolate would make just about anyone feel better. "What do you do with them? Do they cheer people up? Frighten away wild animals?" Holding cards in each hand, Red covered different parts of her face and stuck out her tongue. Boo!

"Pardon?" The cards came down, and Toby was given that big blue-eyed gaze again. "You can make flowers yourself? Is anyone ever unhappy with you around?" Because he sounded practically MAGICAL, really. And charming. And not at all like a man-killing wolf thing. "Flowers. Yes, please and thank you."