Office Politics (Bella K, openish)

[Paige Owen]

Paige was relatively new to the world of journalism. In fact, she was new to writing in general. She had been interested in stories, and was always very good at telling them to others, particularly in the form of gossip. Actual writing, however, well that was just too much like work. But since the marriage with Chloe's cast-off fiance had fallen through, Paige needed to work.

Her interest in journalism had started while she was on tour with the dance troupe. She had been interviewed by a cute reporter, who had later become her lover for a time. He had taught hjer about journalism and writing, and she found it interesting. Now that she could no longer dance, thanks to her injured knee, she had turned to journalism with the Daily Prophet job.

She'd only started in the office a week before, and already she was working on covering her first big story. There were more experienced writers on staff, but somehow she had got the job of writing the first story about the attacks in Hogsmeade.

She had just finished the article and was running to the editor's desk to hand it in when she ran into someone.

[Isabella Kerrith]

Bella had been heading out of the office, receiving an anonymous tip about the recent attacks in Hogsmeade, when some ran straight into her. Papers went flying and she landed right on her arse on the not so plush carpet of The Daily Prophet. The wind was knocked out of her and she felt dizzy for a moment.

When her vision finally cleared and her breathing returned to normal, she stood, finally looking at the person who had knocked her down. It was a younger looking girl, and so as not to frighten her, or attempt to blame the girl for the mess they had just made, she smiled gently and began picking up her papers, introducing herself at the same time.

"Hey, sorry about all of that," she said in a polite and apologetic voice. "I'm Bella Kerrith," she stated, stopping to extend a hand towards the girl for her to shake.

[Paige Owen]

Any hope of ever being friends with this woman was lost as soon as they collided. Paige's bad knee locked up on her, causing a shooting pain to run through her leg and bring her down. She toppled and hit the floor on her backside while papers flew everywhere.

"Oof!" she gasped, frantically snatching at her papers. "Why don't you watch where you're going?"

Never mind that she had been the one who wasn't looking where she was going. Paige was not the type to take the blame for her own carelessness. Or anything at all.

[Isabella Kerrith]

Normally not one with a short fuse, it was a shock to even Bella herself that her temper began to rise, along with her blood-pressure. Her face flushed red, and irritation flashed in her hazel eyes. She picked the rest of her papers up, and wiped any remaining dirt particles off of her clothing, attempting to straighten her appearance in her frustration. She took a deep breath and smiled at the woman in front of her.

"Excuse me, but I do believe you were the one not watching where you were going. You shouldn't barrel around corners like that. There are others in this world than you, I should hope you might know that by now," she retorted, a smirk on her lips now. The anger radiated off of her in waves, not knowing why she was truly this angry. Accidents happened all the time right? Yes. They did, but when someone didn't take the blame for their own mistake, it did irritate Bella. She couldn't help that she snapped.

[Paige Owen]

Paige's eyes flared. She still hadn't managed to get to her feet yet; the pain in her knee was almost unbearable. But she reacted badly to pain, and she continued to take it out on Bella.

"I was in a hurry," she snapped. "That happens a lot with people around here, and I suggest you get used to the pace. You can't just go standing around or moving slowly around here. Some people have work to do."

[Isabella Kerrith]

Bella tried to control her anger, but she knew she was close to her breaking point. Her mother's words, 'Kill them with kindness' flashed through her mind. She smiled icily at the girl on the floor. "Indeed, people around here do have work to do, and so do you, so I suggest you get up off of the floor, and stop your griping. It makes you sound like a whiny little child," Bella spat. This girl who seemed to think she was all knowing was starting to get on her nerves.

"It's been fun, but I have more important things to do than sit here and argue with the likes of you," she said in a calm and cool voice. With that she picked up any remaining papers of her own and began to walk away.

[Paige Owen]

Paige wanted to yell and scream, but it was mostly because of the pain in her knee. Yes, she was irritated at the other woman for her attitude, but she could have got past it with a snide remark. But her knee was another thing entirely. The fall had probably ripped up some of the cartilidge, and it was killing her. She wasn't even sure she could stand. Tears burned in her eyes as she tried to get up, and found that she couldn't.

"Wait," she said, sounding suddenly pathetic. "I'm sorry. I... can't get up. Could you help me up?"

[Isabella Kerrith]

The fire raging inside Bella was suddenly put out when she heard the desperation in the woman's voice. She couldn't stand, and had apparently suffered knee damage, unbeknownst to Bella. She turned, setting her papers on a nearby table, and approached the woman.

"Alright, where is it hurting? We may need to call for someone. If you'll just put your arm around my shoulders when I bend down then I will help pull you up, but we really do need to find you some help," she said, compassion showing now in her voice.

It seemed as though even if someone were being cruel to her, if they were in serious pain, Bella could not ignore that. She would do the best she could to get the woman the help she needed.

[Paige Owen]

Paige was more than a little humiliated at having to be helped up. But she was desperate and she was in pain. And she couldn't very well sit there on the floor all day. She took a breath and took hold of the woman's arm, allowing her to help her to her feet. She kept all of her weight distributed on the one leg, holding the injured leg up.

"I have a bad knee," she explained. "I used to be a dancer, and I had an accident... The fall must have re-injured it."

[Isabella Kerrith]

Bella helped hold the woman's weight, listening to her explain about injuring herself when she was a dancer in previous years. She nodded politely, and felt bad for being as rude as she had been to Paige before.

"I do apologize for being so rude earlier, and I'm deeply sorry about your injury. Let's get you over here to this bench, and from there I will go call for help," she said, a matter of fact look taking hold of her expression.

With that, Bella exited for a moment, slipping into a room to owl a healer. As she exited the room, and returned to where Paige was, she nodded. "Well a healer should be on their way from St. Mungo's right now. In the mean time, you should try to keep your leg elevated as much as possible to reduce the swelling," she stated, wanting to be of as much help as possible now.

[Paige Owen]

Paige limped over to the bench and sat down, bending low over her knee. The pain was really debilitating at the moment and it was hard for her to even think straight.

When Bella returned, Paige managed a weak smile. "Look... I'm the one who should apologize. You're right... I was in a hurry and I should know to be more careful, because of my knee. It's just... I used to be so graceful and I'm not used to the idea that my knee might give out on me at any second. And I get a little... witchy... when I'm in pain. Anyway, thanks for helping me. I don't really deserve it. My name is Paige, by the way. Paige Owen."

[Isabella Kerrith]

Bella nodded politely to Paige, drawing her own hand back to her side. "I'm Bella Kerrith. It's not all of your fault. I shouldn't have snapped straight away. Stress is just eating at me right now, but it's no matter," she stated, the smile on her lips quirking a bit. She never really was one to hold a grudge for very long, if she even held one at all.

Bella looked over the girl again, smiling. She didn't really know what to say or do at this point, so she folded her arms over her chest and propped herself up against the wall, awaiting the healer's appearance.