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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 5, 2008 16:43:20 GMT -5
Frank preferred to walk around campus while studying. Staying in the common room while everyone else tried to study or talk was just distracting. Fresh air seemed to help him focus better than just some room. The library was another story however. It was the place he would go to whenever it was raining outside so he could study, and today was one of those days. The rain seemed like it wasn't going to let up anytime soon, so he made his way to the library, taking a seat at his usual table.
He started thumbing through the charms books he checked out from the library. Helping Sam practice her skills helped him out a little as well. While he helped critique her, it was like he was also critiquing himself.
NEWTs were this year, and he had to do well on them in order to pursue his dreams, well, one of of his dreams. Another one of his dreams was to get Alice. She was beautiful, wait, beautiful was a word not strong enough for her. How could he accidentally kiss her? What was going on with him? He should have known that it was going to make things awkward, but at the time, he wasn't thinking. Frank just went with the flow, and kissing her at that moment felt right. In truth, he became scared after he kissed her. Alice was the first girl he'd kissed, and he wouldn't have had it any other way, but he became scared. The need to try and avoid her entered his mind, and that was what he was trying to do. He thought that if he would try and stay away, that things would get better with time, because it would be forgotten. However, Frank couldn't stop thinking about it. It was impossible.
Frank shook his head. If his thoughts continued to float to her, he wouldn't ever get anything done! He had a strong desire to talk to her, but he didn't know what he could say. Frank ran his hand through his hair and glanced back down at his book. Now was not a time to get frustrated.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 5, 2008 19:22:41 GMT -5
Alice pulled the book she was looking for from one of the shelves. As she opened it she frowned.. who would have the gaul to change the books cover! It must have been one of the school pranksters and she had a feeling she knew it was one of four boys in her house... it had their stink all over it ...one of them being her cousin, Sirius. It would be just like them to go around doing silly things like this just to annoy some random Ravenclaw who were in the library. She sighed and put the book back onto the shelf.
She began rummaging through the nearby books until she opened one with the right pages inside. She chuckled in spite of herself, her voice tinkling like a bell. As she looked up from the advanced DADA book she held, one of the books that was not required reading but she'd heard it would help her get ahead for her NEWTs this year, and she saw through the spot the book had been. There he stood like an apollo god, to her at least, walking into the library. She knew he'd been avoiding her the last few weeks and she had let him.
Frank filled her vision as she watched him sit down at his usual table and pulled out one of his books to study. She couldn't tell what book it was from here but she grinned in spite of herself. How often did she get a chance to stand there and just watch him like this? At least recently the opportunities to be near him outside of a shared class was rare now that he'd taken up dashing out of class as soon as it was over. She remembered when they used to spend their time walking from class together as friends and just laughing or discussing something that they had learned either in or out of class. But then that night he'd kissed her while they were alone studying in the common hall. It was a short lived moment though as someone had managed to come down the stairs at that moment and they had quickly seperated apart.
It had been an accident and she was sure that he regretted it now. Was she that bad of a kisser?? She frowned remembering and she knew that he at least had been good at it. Unpracticed and honest was how she would have described it. But he had virtually stopped talking to her since that night and she felt akward being around him now, knowing that he must not have enjoyed it or changed his mind that he made a mistake.
But as she watched him she made up her mind... she wasn't going to let him ruin at least their friendship no matter how akward it was now. She valued him as much as she was attracted to him but she certainly wasn't going to let his dislike of her in that way deter her from remaining his friend. She took the mislabeled book with her and turned the corner around the bookshelves and turned to face his table which was right in front of her. She cleared her throat and then promptly lost her nerve ....she stood there with her heart in her throat as if she was some first year about to get sorted with her knees feeling weak as noodles. This was so not like her... and she blushed.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 5, 2008 19:47:50 GMT -5
Frank was wrapped up in studying his charms book. Sure, he had read part of it, but he wanted to absorb as much from the text as possible. Plus, he wanted to make sure that he knew what he was talking about whenever he helped tutor Sam. There was no way that he was going to make a fool of himself when he agreed to tutor her. He didn't want to be laughed at. Frank was going to be the best he could be.
However, Frank's studying was stopped whenever he heard someone clear their throat. He had half a mind to ignore them, but he glanced up anyway. He felt his heart drop to his feet. Alice. She looked as beautiful as ever standing there. But, why was she standing there? Frank began to feel sort of awkward and nervous. What was he supposed to say? Maybe a hello for starters his mind told him.
"Hello Alice," he said with his voice cracking a little. He missed the times whenever they sat in the library and laughed about nothing. Back to the time they were friends, without all this awkwardness. Could they ever have that again? It wasn't a mistake that Frank kissed her. It was far from it. He was happy that he let go for a few moments. He didn't know how to act now. Frank didn't want her to think that he disliked her or anything, it was just he didn't know what to do!
Frank motioned to the empty seat at the table. "Take a seat if you want," he said trying to even out his voice, but it still cracked a little.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 5, 2008 20:00:07 GMT -5
Alice heard him say her name as he looked up and she about melted at the way his voice sounded almost husky. It made her shiver and she couldn't help it. She hoped he didn't notice. She locked her knees so that she wouldn't fall into a pool on the floor like some flighty fool who couldn't stand on her own two feet. Why was she acting this way? Surely she could face him. She looked into his eyes then and couldn't decide which she wanted more.. to run to him or run as far and fast as she could away from him.
Say something say something... why couldn't she be a witty ravenclaw who always seemed to know the best words. Well she'd just have to take a deep breath and show a little courage and run.. no wait.. not run.. stand there.. yes stand there and ..... "oh, Hello Frank.. I ...I haven't seen you much lately..." she just went for it instead and then trailed off not knowing what else to say to him. Surely he'd been avoiding her for a reason. Maybe he didn't want her around after all. She took a step towards him and suddenly tumbled to the ground having managed to trip on a stack of books she hadn't noticed until they were eye level with her.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 5, 2008 20:08:48 GMT -5
"I, I know" he said. "I've just been a little busy. You know N.E.W.Ts and all." Part of that was true. He didn't study all the time and he knew that she knew that as well. He missed the times when things were not awkward with her. He missed it being like the Frank and Alice show all the time. Now, it was just like it fell apart. Why couldn't he just have enough courage to put a good sentence together like he used to?
As she tumbled, his reflexes made him move from his seat to where she was with quickness. Frank didn't even laugh. He was more concerned with her possibly being hurt, and the thought of things being awkward suddenly vanished. "Oh my gosh, Alice, are you alright," he asked with concern as he bent down to help her up.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 5, 2008 20:36:10 GMT -5
Alice wanted to cry with humiliation but she wasn't going to let herself, not in front of him anyways. She looked up into his eyes and saw the concern there.. she was sure it was genuine but what about that girl she'd seen him with the other day? She pushed the thoughts from her head as quickly as they came and bit her lip to keep from saying something stupid. The last thing she needed right now was to push him away further.
His eyes were furrowed in a worried frown and she just wanted to smooth them out with her fingertips until he was smiling. She'd missed his smiles she realized before finally saying, "I'm.. I think I'm okay. You'd think I had two left feet, I hope it's not genetic." She tried to lighten the mood with a small joke as she looked into his eyes. It was the first she'd spoken to him in a few weeks without feeling as if she was grasping at straws. She suck out her foot from beneath her robes exposing her entire calf to his view without noticing as she tried to flex out her ankle to see how badly it was hurt if any. She had a feeling her ego had been hurt more than her ankle though.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 5, 2008 21:05:26 GMT -5
Frank let a smile appear on his face. "I don't think that it is genetics. Accidents happen." He stared down at her. For a moment, he didn't feel awkward. It felt like old times, and it felt nice. Before he could stop himself, he reached out and felt her ankle. He was just making sure that it wasn't broken or anything.
He looked over it again and didn't think that it was broken. "Here, let me help you up." Frank slowly stood up and offered his hands for her to take so that he could pull her up. "Or would you just rather me put you in the chair?" Everything seemed to disappear, and once again, he felt like he was on the Frank and Alice show like old times.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 5, 2008 21:18:35 GMT -5
When he offered to put her in a chair it sounded like the old Frank she knew.. so kind and gentle. And her ankle WAS a little tender, probably just a minor sprain that could be fixed up easily enough or would go away in a little bit but the idea of being in his arms sounded wonderful even if it was just him being kind. She was a bit sad inside knowing that this moment would probably fade as soon as she was on level terms with him again but she was going to savor it while she could.
She was too choked up with mixed emotions to speak at that exact moment and instead she nodded and gave him a thankful look with her expressive eyes. She swore she heard him chuckle then as he scooped her up into his arms and she held tight so she wouldn't fall as she was raised from the floor, her ankle sticking out so it didn't get bumped in the process. Then she felt her breath get stuck in her chest as his touch sent electricity through her body and the warmth of his skin made her cheeks flush. She forgot for a moment about her ankle and that girl she'd seen him with yesterday.. and even for that moment she smiled softly into his eyes afraid to break the moment.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 5, 2008 22:54:07 GMT -5
Frank scooped Alice up without hesitation. He didn't think anything of it, except how she felt in his arms. She was incredibly light, but yet she felt right in his arms. For a moment, Frank didn't want to let her go, but he sat her down in the chair across from him. Slowly, he turned her loose, but didn't drop eye contact with her. He walked back over to his seat across from her and looked at her.
For a moment, he continued to stare at her, and a smile still on his face. Then he finally realized that he was staring and smiling like an idiot, so he looked down to his book but looked back up. "Do you want me to take you to the Hospital Wing or anything?"
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 5, 2008 23:18:39 GMT -5
Alice scooted back into the chair and then felt him go awkward on her again.. she sighed in frustration.. "no I'll be fine I think if I just give it a little bit to work out the muscle." She pursed her lips then and realized what must be making him back away again. That GIRL... he must be feeling guilty for touching her when he was dating someone... she debating bringing it up. She felt at a loss for words while she debated wanting to make him smile at her again or telling him how much she hurt her.
Instead she said something else with a catch in her voice, "You probably shouldn't be seen with me anyways your girlfriend might get upset if she saw you helping carry me to the ward." Her tone had a bit of ice to it from the pain but she didn't care right now... he'd spoiled her little moment and she felt bitter that he'd backed away.. again.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 5, 2008 23:30:09 GMT -5
Frank looked at Alice confused and a little hurt by her tone of voice. And girlfriend? What in the world was she talking about? "Why shouldn't I be seen with you, and what girlfriend? I don't have one, you know that. In fact just about everyone knows that." He didn't understand who or what in the world Alice was talking about.
He closed the book he was studying from and put his full attention on her in utter confusion. Why did she think he had a girlfriend? Of course Frank wouldn't have one unless it was Alice. Those were his only circumstances. He was going to wait for Alice, and that was final.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 5, 2008 23:38:18 GMT -5
"Don't play coy, I know you've been avoiding me, Frank... ever since... well.. that night like you'd been with a viper... and now I know you must just be guilty that you had a secret girlfriend you didn't want to tell me about"... Alice was sincere and she blinked away the tears that were threatening to emerge. But she wouldn't let him see her hurting like this, it was a stab to her and she wasn't happy. "At the very least you could have told me and I.." Alice paused without continuing. She was hurt frustrated and her ankle was throbbing now. And worst of all she still wanted to see him smile at her again like he had a few moments ago.
The same smile that haunted her dreams and now she couldn't even have his smile anymore since he was so busy sharing late nights with that slytherin girl and spending all his time with her so much that he'd been avoiding Alice.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 5, 2008 23:46:31 GMT -5
Frank was still confused. "Alice. I don't have a girlfriend. I don't know what you're talking about. I mean you can ask anybody. I don't have a girlfriend." Because I'm waiting for you he finished in his mind. He scratched his head. What girl had he been with? The only one he could think of was Sam. "If you mean that girl that's about a fifth year, I'm tutoring her for charms. She asked and you know how I hate to tell people no."
He sighed audibly. "Look. I'm sorry that I've been avoiding you, but don't you think it's a little crazy to think that I have a 'secret girlfriend'? Come on Alice. You know if I ever had a girlfriend you would be the first person to know about it. Now why would I have a secret one? I'm not that type. And why would I feel guilty about helping you? I would never feel that way. I don't mind helping you at all."
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 0:07:24 GMT -5
"Well I didn't think you'd be the type to stop talking to me either but you have. And I'm sure private tutoring is very cozy, so cozy you haven't wanted to be around me. And besides I saw you talking to that girl.. and I heard what you said to her."
She sniffed then remembering his words as she spoke them softly out loud... "...I want to make sure you have everything down before we move on to that. I don't want something to go wrong." She spoke sadly in a resigned voice, as if speaking those words would clue him in that he didn't have to hide anymore. She felt like a knife was stabbing her as she quoted those dreadful words she'd heard from him a few days earlier.
Alice was hurt and she missed her friend... of course she wanted more but she missed his friendship most of all and awkward or not she wished he'd stop avoiding her. She closed her eyes as soon as she spoke to keep tears from coming. He said that he was innocent but how else could he explain his recent avoidance of her. The alternative was almost as bad.. that she'd frighted him away that night of the kiss and he was ashamed of her. She had never once thought he would be the type to act like this either but then things were changing between them and she could feel it.
Ever since this year had begun something was different... she noticed his eyes more, his smile, everything about him made her feel different and she wasn't sure what to do about it. Then one night they'd been studying together and... ever since that moment he'd changed further and no longer wanted her friendship it seemed. And what was worse is she wanted more, as well as the fact that for the first time in her life she felt jealousy over someone. Things were certainly changing and who's to say maybe he hadn't changed too... would he have changed enough to hide a girlfriend from her? The doubts ate at her either way and she waited for him to speak.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 9:14:46 GMT -5
"Alice," Frank exclaimed. She had to hear a part that could have been twisted around. "It's not what you think that was about. The girl is learning non-verbal spells and I was telling her that we where going to make sure that she had knew how to cast different spells pretty well before we moved on to the nonverbal ones! If you don't believe me, ask her! You can even ask Madam Prince about what we talked about in here the other day! We talked about spells only! Afterwords, we went to the lake to practice! Honest."
He didn't want to lose Alice, and he knew that the way he had been acting had been pushing her away. It was just a defense because he got scared of just a simple kiss. His first kiss of all things, and he was scared. He ran with his tail between his legs like a dog. Frank wanted nothing more than to have Alice back. To have it be like the old times.
"And Alice, I really am sorry about avoiding you." Frank looked up at her with honesty in his eyes. He didn't want to talk about the kiss, because he didn't want to feel awkward anymore. He was scared that if he told her how he felt, then she'd run away from him. But, she had kissed him back, hadn't she? Maybe she did it because it was a spur of the moment thing. Frank wasn't sure.
"Please, believe me. I don't have a girlfriend, and I wouldn't date anyone two years younger than me either. If you want, you can come down to the lake with me today and I'll show you want goes on. I'll show you I'm doing nothing but helping her cast nonverbal charms."
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 13:11:42 GMT -5
Alice bit her lip thinking and considering what he'd said... and looking into his eyes searching. For what seemed a long breathless moment she sat there taking what he said.
Could she have heard only a fraction of a conversation that was misinterpreted? Yes, she guessed it was possible if she was honest with herself. Could he actually be tutoring the girl instead of dating her? Yes, he was so good at charms and even she had studied with him on many occasions throughout the years at Hogwarts and he certainly had been a good help at learning charms even for her. He was really good at understanding textbook descriptions and demonstrating them for her. And of course Alice learned best by doing and seeing rather than reading. It's the same reason she had a habit of closing her eyes when visualizing what she'd read to understand it.
And he openly admitted to avoiding her. He hadn't said why he was avoiding her but at least it wasn't another girl she thought to herself with a sense of relief. Not that she had any claim over him, it's not like they were dating themselves she admitted. But she felt as though she'd lost her best friend lately too. As Alice looked into his eyes she seemed to be searching for something there. What she found was a look of honesty that she recognized. It was Frank. How could she think that he'd ever lie or hide things from her? No, of course he wouldn't... he was right. It wasn't like him to do that and that was one of the reasons they had become such close friends.
Unlike many of her family, it's one of the things she adored about her friend Frank. He was always honest and tried to do what was right... and he was courageous and brave, all the things she valued in others and respected in him. Of course he wouldn't change that and in her heart she knew he was telling the truth. After all he was even inviting her to join them and that was something she hadn't expected to hear.
The moment stretched on, as she listened to him breathing while he waited for her to reply. There was a hitch to his breathing she realized as if she held some judgment that would decide his fate. Finally Alice answered him with a soft smile meant to warm his heart and her eyelashes lowered before she spoke, "I'm sorry Frank. I ....I know you must be telling me the truth. I.. Forgive me. Besides you're right and it's not my place to get upset if you want to date someone, anyways. I just.. well.. I miss having you to talk to." She said that last parts to reassure him that she knew she was only his friend and if he regretted their kiss before that she meant to assure him that she was still his friend and she wouldn't read more into it than just an accident.
To herself however she relished the memory, however brief a moment it had been. And it had meant more to her than she would let on, but she wasn't going to hold it against him if he felt differently. Alice was trying to put him at ease by what she thought must be the issue if it had not been another girl. Her mind drifted back to that night of the kiss and she felt warmth inside at how it'd felt like she'd come home, and she HAD kissed him back afterall. Her eyes were still heavy lidded to hide the emotions inside her.. she didn't want to scare him away if he managed to see what she was sure was branded in her eyes at that moment.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 13:43:41 GMT -5
Frank sighed. She believed him. That in its self was a relief. "Of course you're forgiven Alice! I couldn't hold anything against you." A smile spread itself across his face. There was no way that he could hold a grudge against Alice. She was too sweet, nice, soft spoken, and beautiful for him to. Frank found himself getting lost in her face. Her skin was smooth, and he wanted nothing more than to touch her cheeks and hold her.
At his thoughts, he knew that his face was tainted pink. Alice was like the Greek goddess Aphrodite. She was beautiful and Frank had fallen under her spell. That fact was all there was to it.
Frank wanted to tell her that the reason he never dated was because he wanted to date her, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. He was frightened that he would chase her away if he openly admitted it. He wanted to kiss her again, but he couldn't bring himself to do that either.
"I miss talking to you too Alice. It's been strange. Now, it is my turn to ask your forgiveness for avoiding you. I can understand if you don't, but I just can't tell you how bad I feel for not talking to you." Frank had his hands clasped together as he fiddled his thumbs in a nervous like manner.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 13:59:15 GMT -5
Alice listened to him and felt a surge of happiness that he missed talking to her too. She felt almost giddy and it was silly of her but she felt it nonetheless. She looked at him as if noticing his nervousness all of a sudden and said, "Oh Frank it'll all be okay, you're forgiven if you'll stop avoiding me." She meant it as a light hearted comment to break his nervousness. However she followed it up with a searching question, not realizing how it would change things again, "Do you go off kissing all your friends like you did me? Maybe you shouldn't do that it might give a girl the wrong idea you know."
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 14:15:11 GMT -5
Frank smiled as she said that she would forgive him if he would stop avoiding her. Now, things could back to normal, but Frank was quickly proven wrong. His smile faded and his face paled. Alice brought up the subject that he was trying to avoid. The reason why he had became scared, the reason why he avoided her. He thought that maybe she had dismissed the idea of what happened, but apparently she didn't.
He became even more nervous and he immediately felt awkward again. If he had the power to turn invisible, he would.
"I-I-I," he began to stutter and his eyes widened slightly. Frank didn't know what words to fill in. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, and he couldn't think clearly.
He shook his head. "N-n-no. I don't."
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 14:39:04 GMT -5
Alice's eyebrows shot up at his stuttering and suddenly felt the awkwardness return between them. In the blink of an eye they'd gone from the Frank and Alice show back to stumbling strangers. She groaned inwardly not realizing what she'd said to change things so fast. Even Alice became awkward by his responses. Surely her kissing wasn't that bad. She felt embarrassed then and looked away shyly.
And yet she still didn't want to see him avoid her again, so she grasped at the only straw she had. "I'd still like to join your umm.. tutoring if I can. Maybe it will help me with my uh.. err.. my NEWTs. And I ah.. um.. can help out some." Now SHE was stuttering! Oh how embarrassing! But she wasn't going to let the opportunity slip through her fingers again. She didn't want him avoiding her like she was contagious again, even if that meant being uncomfortable for a few hours with him acting like a goose, as long as she could still be near him she'd have to take what she could get.
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