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Post by Dylan Woods on Nov 9, 2012 7:16:40 GMT -5
Dylan had to be crazy. He should stay far away from Iris. He wasn't fit to talk to her, and yet his feelings for her kept increasing. Especially after the disastrous day at the restaurant... Dylan knew that his feelings for her were already getting out of control. Now Elijah knew it, too.
As a result, Dylan stayed away from both of them for more than a week. Avoiding Iris was easy... he just didn't go into town. Avoiding Elijah was harder, because there was no telling where he'd turn up. Still, Dylan was relieved that he hadn't seen his rival/friend all week. Maybe he was hiding out as well, now that Dylan knew about Dawn.
Dylan had managed to finish reading all of the books he had got from Iris, and was already desperate for more. He tried to tell himself that this was the reason he headed into town that morning, even though he knew better.
He stood at the door to her shop for a long moment, staring at it, trying to talk himself into either going in or going away. But he couldn't decide which he wanted to do, so me merely stood there, wrestling with indecision.
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Post by Iris Elliot on Nov 9, 2012 12:38:53 GMT -5
Iris flipped the sign to the shop from "Closed" to "Open", pursing her lips at the thoughts running through her head. Maybe I need to change the sign? That would probably attract more people. Something flashy? No, I'm not the flashy type. Just something new? That old sign has been there since the store opened. I wonder what Dylan would think... She let out a deep breath and groaned out loud.
It had been a week since she had seen him and he constantly occupied her thoughts. She didn't know how it happened or why, but her feelings for him seemed to multiple even with him absent. There was something about his quiet nature that drew her in, yet mystified her at the same time. Her observant nature seemed to think that maybe there was something he wasn't telling her. But she didn't mind. She just missed him and his company.
In order to distract herself, to no avail, she had started a varying amount of do-it-yourself projects and renovation jobs around the store. The more difficult ones in the back so customers couldn't see them. She sighed heavily and decided that she would go sort through more books for Dylan (she had started a rather large collection) when she caught sight of a familiar figure a little ways down the street. Was that him?!
She quickly ducked behind a bookshelf almost giddy with happiness and waited for him to come through the shop door. She pretended to be reorganizing all the books (she did that in her sullen slump two days ago) on the shelves when she saw him standing at the door. He didn't see her luckily, but he wasn't coming in either. He just stood there, looking very lost and almost upset. She turned with her back against the bookcase, took a steadying breath, and stepped out from behind the bookcase with her usual, Iris bright smile.
Walking over to door, she opened it slowly for him and said softly, "I knew you couldn't stay away from these books forever."
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Post by Dylan Woods on Nov 10, 2012 22:37:53 GMT -5
He was so intent on staring at the door that he didn't even notice when she came to the door. He should have expected her, of course, but he almost half expected that she wouldn't even notice that he was there. He certainly didn't expect that she might be thinking about him, too.
Suddenly, she was there, opening the door and talking to him in her soft voice. His eyes widened, an he stepped back instinctively, making him look even more like a frightened animal.
He looked up at her, not quite meeting her eyes. "I--I'm sorry. I was just..."
He sighed. What was he doing? He shouldn't be here... he shouldn't be involved with her. She was too good for him.
"I... wanted to see if you still needed help," he found himself saying.
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Post by Iris Elliot on Nov 10, 2012 22:48:46 GMT -5
Iris, stepping back to let him through the door, wondered momentarily why he looked so surprised to see her. He must have been entirely focused on something else. It was like he had forgotten that he was standing at the door to her book shop.
Iris smiled to herself and giggled softly. "Well..." She paused for a moment. "I might have started a few renovation projects around the store." She pursed her lips. "By few I mean a good many. I think I might have bitten off a little more than I can chew this time."
With a slight shrug, she motioned for him to follow her to the back of the store. "I also started another stockpile of books for you. Most of them I have multiple copies of. This time you can just take them since I'll actually be paying you...if that's alright with you."
"I thought that maybe since you'll be around more often," she said with a soft voice, "that maybe steady pay was a little more appropriate." She smiled warmly at him, simply happy just to see him again.
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Post by Dylan Woods on Nov 12, 2012 23:34:38 GMT -5
Dylan was at a loss for words. Nothing in his limited experience with the outside world had prepared him for how to deal with this sort of situation. Iris seemed so happy to see him... she wanted him to come around more often... she had picked out books for him. And while his head was spinning over these revelations, she just kept talking. She liked to talk, he realized, and her talk filled the awkward silence that would have otherwise resulted. It almost didn't matter that he hadn't spoken yet, because she wasn't done talking.
Usually, Dylan didn't like when people talked a lot. He never had that much to say, and he found their constant talking to be rather intimidating. But somehow it wasn't when she did it. It was like she was just as nervous as he was, but covering it by talking and not by keeping quiet.
It was hard for him to process everything she said and figure out what to respond to first. He had followed her into the shop, almost like a lost puppy, and now he stood there, somewhat dumbfounded.
"Uh... thanks," he said. He wasn't sure what he was thanking her for, but it seemed like an all-encompassing response. "Actually, I.... Well, I wasn't sure if I should keep coming back. But I... don't want you to hurt yourself with your projects. What were you doing?"
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Post by Iris Elliot on Nov 14, 2012 20:25:28 GMT -5
"Why...wouldn't you be sure about coming around?" Iris frowned, something she rarely ever did. "Did I do something to offend you?" She was extremely confused and part of her thought that maybe she might be coming on a little too strong. But that made her even more confused because Iris didn't know how else to be. It didn't help that she was more intrigued by and interested in Dylan than just an average person.
"Dylan," she spoke quietly, trying not to alarm him or push him away so that he would be gone for a week again, "you know you can come here anytime. I enjoy your company. You're the only person that I've had to spend time with since my mom was killed. But if you feel like you need to move on somewhere else, I support you in that too." She smiled once more and hoping to avoid hearing his answer and a very awkward situation, she turned on her heel and motioned for him to follow her to the back.
Iris, with her back turned, made a face at herself. Why couldn't she be like her mother? Her mother was warm and friendly, always sharing a smile, much like Iris did. Except her mother had something brilliant and beautiful to say no matter what the situation was. Iris's mother could have won Dylan's heart in one sentence back there without batting an eyelash. Unlike her mother, Iris, although good intentions, takes up residence with awkward and clumsy and should never be trusted to try and make someone feel comfortable. If he thought he shouldn't come back, he definitely wouldn't now. Making another face at herself, she led him into the office.
"Well, to keep busy while business is slow during the summer holidays," she lied. She started these projects to distract herself from thoughts of Dylan, "I started renovation projects. I wanted to do them without magic. But I don't know how to do that since I do everything with magic." She sighed and sat down heavily in her desk chair. "I really did it this time I guess..."
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Post by Dylan Woods on Nov 18, 2012 23:26:39 GMT -5
Dylan's eyes widened in confusion. Why would she think that she had offended him? How could she possibly do anything to offend him? He was the one who was offensive... a dirty half-breed whose very existence was a curse. He wasn't fit to breathe the same air as Iris. But for some reason, she only ever saw the good in him, and even though he knew it was dishonest, he wanted to pretend, even for a little while, that he could be the man she thought he was.
"No, you didn't offend me. I just thought... I just didn't know if you'd want to see me again, after that embarrassing lunch with Elijah..."
Even for someone as sheltered and naive as Dylan, that lunch had felt like a date. He knew about dates, at least; he'd read about them in books. They hadn't done some of the other things he'd read about in books, but it still seemed very much the same thing.
Still, she was giving him an out, and he really should take it. Except that he didn't want to. Instead, he found himself saying, "I'm not going anywhere. And if you still want me to come around... I'll be here. I'll help you with your projects."
But the mention of magic was another jab for him. Dylan did not have magic beyond the curse he was stuck with. Sooner or later, she was going to realize that, and then he'd have to explain to her how it was that he, a non-magical person, was able to be here in Hogsmeade.
He just wondered how long he could keep her from figuring it out.. and how angry she would be when she found out the truth.
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Post by Iris Elliot on Feb 6, 2013 0:00:17 GMT -5
Iris laughed jovially and dismissed his notion with a wave of her hand. "I thought the lunch was great. It was rather fun don't you think? We barely got to spend anytime with Elijah or his friend." She wasn't going to add that this last part did not bother her at all. She secretly called it a date and she liked it that way. The idea of spending time with Dylan appealed to her more and more the more time she spent with him.
To add to her already growing admiration and slight crush for Dylan, it warmed her heart to hear him say that he wasn't going anywhere. Had that been a secret fear of hers? She hadn't realized until now, but somewhere she felt an overwhelming sense of relief at his words. However, to avoid embarrassing herself anymore by saying something girly and mushy she clapped her hands together and stood from her desk chair with a flourish.
"Of course I want you around." She smiled widely and turned to her handy work that was the far wall of the office. She doubted that "handy work" was the precise term she would use to describe the butcher job she had done but nonetheless, the gaping hole in the middle of the wall and the already halfway peeled floral wallpaper was starting to grate on her nerves. Though she was pleased to note that she felt slightly better now that Dylan was back.
"I really would like to get this wall done today if possible. I don't think I can look at it anymore." She looked at him with an apologetic face and small shrug. "The bell above the door will let us know when someone is here so we should be able to work for a while back here even with the store open." She perched on the edge of her desk arms crossed over chest. "So would you like to tackle this project with or without magic?" She gave a a playful smirk. She was game for anything.
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Post by Dylan Woods on Feb 7, 2013 0:32:21 GMT -5
Dylan frowned and looked over at the work she had started on the wall. He didn't know much about wallpaper, but it seemed easy enough to get rid of without the use of magic. Of course, for someone with magic, it probably would have been much easier... But he didn't have that option. The trick was how he could avoid letting her know that he didn't have that option.
"Oh, I'm sure we could manage that without magic," he said evasively, not meeting her eyes. "I'm really better with physical labor, anyway."
It helped a little that he had something else to focus on other than her. He felt a little more relaxed to think about work, instead of personal matters. He could still feel her eyes on him, though, and it took almost every bit of strength he had not to turn around again and look at her.
"Er... when you get the wallpaper off, what did you want to do? Were you going to paint it? I'm actually really good at painting."
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Post by Iris Elliot on Jun 30, 2013 22:32:56 GMT -5
Iris watched his back as he turned from her and examined the wall. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was just something about him. Well multiple things about him. For one, she couldn't figure out why she was so drawn to him. Seriously, she was considering remodeling just to keep him around. And there was also something about him that she found odd. Maybe he was hiding something? Didn't everyone hide something about themselves though? Well except for her. She was an open book. And why did she care so much? She had to be realistic about this. Dylan was obviously only interested in this from a job stand point only. He was a very shy and private person. No one in their right mind was just going to up and tell them their life story.
Shaking herself slightly, she moved to stand beside him and examined the wall as well. What was she going to do with this wall? She hadn't really gotten that far. The only reason she was peeling the wallpaper off was because there had been water damage and although she had started these projects to distract herself from him (he didn't know this of course), she had also misplaced her wand that morning.
"Well...I guess once we get the hole patched, we could paint it. I hadn't really got that far yet." She flashed him a smile. "Just tell me what to do handyman and I'll do what I can."
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Post by Dylan Woods on Jul 2, 2013 22:46:42 GMT -5
Dylan was quiet for a moment, trying very hard to focus on the situation in front of him. It was difficult to do, with her standing there and smelling so nice. He probably smelled like dirt and sweat and pine needles, even though he tried to wash up in the river before he came to see her.
"Well, it looks like you've got some water damage... there's probably a leak somewhere. Do you know where it comes from? We should repair the leak first, and maybe add a layer of plaster over the wall to seal it in. Then we could could paint it... or put up more wall paper, if you preferred..."
He had learned how to do these things the same way he had learned almost everything... from books. He'd even practiced some of these techniques in his cabin, trying to make the place seem nicer than an ordinary shack in the woods.
He turned to look at her, wondering what she thought of him. He knew it shouldn't matter, but somehow it did.
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Post by Iris Elliot on Jul 3, 2013 0:09:52 GMT -5
Iris hated to admit it, but she was actually nervous about Dylan and her working together. After her lunch date with Abbey, she had come to the realization that she liked Dylan. Okay, she really liked Dylan and although she wanted to keep him around, she also was a bundle of happy-nervous-bubbly-shy nerves. So when she realized the amount of work that would go into these repairs and the amount of time they would probably spend together, her stomach erupted into butterflies and she couldn't help but be a little giddy with excitement at the thought of getting to know him better.
She was still staring at the wall when he turned to look at her. She felt his eyes on her and she couldn't help the blush that spread through her cheeks. She thought about turning to look him in the eyes, but then she would go all googly eyed on him and he would leave. That much she knew. So for a brief moment, she composed herself and turned to look his way as well.
Composing herself didn't do anything to help her. She could have kissed him he looked so cute, standing there with his messy hair, innocent eyes, and studying her for some reason. To avoid anything embarrassing on her behalf, she gave him a shy smile and turned back towards her desk.
"Well it seems we have a lot of work to do. Would you like to walk with me to the store? An old shopkeeper down the street sells muggle supplies. I'm sure he has the things we need."
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Post by Dylan Woods on Jul 5, 2013 0:09:05 GMT -5
Why did Dylan always feel like he was floating when he looked into Iris's eyes? She was so pretty and so beyond everything that he was that he felt unworthy just to look at her. He had now completely lost his train of thought and had to turn away for a moment and look back at the torn wallpaper.
He should go. He shouldn't be here with her. It was just complicating things and the longer he stayed, the harder it was to walk away.
But he didn't want to walk away. Maybe it was already too late, and he was too far gone.
"Uh... right. Yeah... That sounds like a good idea. Do you want to go there now?"
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Post by Iris Elliot on Oct 24, 2013 17:11:38 GMT -5
Iris shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. It didn't matter to her what they did so long as he didn't leave. She liked his company. With her mother gone and Abbey in London, it was nice having someone around to talk to and do things with. Even if those things involved work. It probably didn't hurt that he was cute too. She managed to keep from blurting all of this out. Surprisingly....
"Well it's up to you really. Is there something you would like to do before we start? I've got plenty of time and the store won't hurt to stay closed one day." She was perched on the edge of her desk, notepad floating in front of her face and muttering under her breath to a quill that was quickly scribbling a list of things that they would probably need. In order to keep herself from blushing and embarrassing herself, she kept her eyes trained on the pad the whole time she spoke and played it off like she was concentrating solely on her list.
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Post by Dylan Woods on Dec 16, 2014 22:34:29 GMT -5
It was always so hard to look at anything else when she was around, and yet he almost felt like he shouldn't look at her directly, as if she could maybe see that he was not what she thought he was somehow. That he was unworthy of her.
The truth was, Dylan had never seen anyone quite like her in his life. She was so pretty, and there was an elegance about her--simple and yet pure. He was none of those things, and he had only ever imagined that girls like her existed. He'd read about them in books, but never really imagined that he'd be standing next to a girl like her. She was Elizabeth Bennett and Emma Woodhouse and Margaret Hale and all the refined, intelligent women he had read about in books.
He was more like Heathcliff, wild and untamed, and would only bring her pain if she got too close. He didn't belong here, and he lived in fear for the moment she would realize it.
Oddly, what drew his gaze away from her lovely face was the movement she was making with the quill. He heard her muttered words as the quill poised in the air, writing by itself. It wasn't the first time he had seen magic used, and he didn't even think it was the first time he'd seen her use it. But it was another reminder of how he was out of his depth with her. How long would it be before she realized he couldn't use magic?
It would all be easier when he had something to do, he told himself. That was all he needed, something to keep his hands busy and his eyes trained on something other than her. And if they were both painting, she might not notice that he wasn't using magic.
"No, I think it's best to start right away," he said quickly. "But--I was wondering... Do you have any music that you could play while we work? I... don't get to hear a lot of music, but I like it."
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