Collision Course (Rabastan)

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

Things were starting to get better. Now she and Bobby were speaking again, and Callie no longer felt like a piece of herself was missing. Yes, there was still that mutual agreement that they wouldn't talk about "him," and Callie was more than OK with that. She tried to avoid even thinking about him whenever possible. But Merlin, it was difficult, now that he was here as a teacher's aide. She'd dropped dueling to avoid him, but she still seemed to see him everywhere she went. He was harder to avoid than Dierks, and she actually wanted to see Dierks. But every time she though of approaching him, she'd catch a glimpse of Rabastan and slide back into her seat.

It wasn't fair. Why did he have to be so attractive, anyway? He was like a rich, chocolatey dessert... terribly bad for you, but so tempting.

At the moment, Callie was just trying to get through her day. She was on her way to Defense Against the Dark Arts class, keeping her head down as she walked when she collided with another person.

"Oh, sorry," she said hastily, looking up to see who she had crashed into. "I wasn't watching... Oh."

Why did she have to crash into Rabastan Lestrange?

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan, bastard that he was, had seen this coming.

For a moment, he couldn't tell which of the girls it was that was headed in his direction. He knew Bobby well enough now to know that it wasn't her, but he needed a glimpse of the face to know if it was Linny, who would be predictably dolled up, or-

There it was. A glance to the left, no make up. Still irritatingly pretty, of course, and it only made Rabastan smile as he took a step to his left, placing himself just in her path. A nice guy would have let her be, knowing what he did about her. But Rabastan, no matter how many times he tried to convince someone otherwise, was not a nice guy.

When she collided into him, he chuckled audibly. "Well, well, sugar. I missed you, too."

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

For a moment, Callie couldn't breathe. Her eyes had traveled upwards slowly enough that she knew it was him before she focused on his face, and the sound of amusement in his voice irked her even as the sight of him made her shiver.

For Salazar's Sake, couldn't he have had one physical flaw? Couldn't he have had a big, hairy mole or something? But his flaws were all in the personality department.

Gritting her teeth, Callie took a look around to make sure no one else was in the hallway, but sadly they were alone. There was nothing more dangerous than being alone with Rabastan Lestrange.

"Rabastan," she said coldly, trying desperately to keep the nervous quiver out of her voice. "What a surprise to see you back here. Didn't you get enough NEWTs last year?"

Obviously, she knew that he was a teaching assistant and not a student, but it was the best she could do for a biting remark... anything to keep hm from getting too close.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan just tilted his head and smiled when she made her remark. They both knew that she didn't really think he'd been held back a year. Even if he didn't get enough NEWTs, his family had enough money to buy his graduation, and it didn't really matter.

He tsked. "I'm not going to bother responding to that, love." He made no motion to move out of her way, though he was keenly watching her body for any sign that she might bolt. He really should leave her alone, but he wasn't quite ready to let go of this proverbial mouse just yet.

"I hear you and your sister are in communication again." Acknowledgment that he'd helped her out was what he was hoping for here, but he wouldn't have been surprised if she just glared at him. Either way, she would have to acknowledge this in her own head, and that he could see it happen was good enough for him. "I, for one, am glad to hear it."

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

Oh, Godric, what did he want this time? Callie forced herself to keep her breathing even, so she could at least appear calm when her insides were churning like the ocean on a stormy day. It was clear that he wasn't going to go away easily, so she was going to have to find a way to prove to him that he didn't affect her. Except, of course, there was that one annoying little detail--he did affect her, terribly. She felt as unsteady as a baby giraffe taking its first steps. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? He had Bobby; wasn't that enough?

"Yes, we are," she said stiffly, refusing to give him the answer he was so clearly begging for. She was not about to acknowledge that he had any part in the matter, since really, it still wouldn't have happened if Callie hadn't apologized to her sister.

"Did you have something you wanted to say, or can I go? I'm going to be late for class."

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan shrugged easily. "No one's stopping you from going to class. In fact, as staff, now, I highly suggest it. I just thought you were eager to see me."

He knew that last line was too much and would just make her roll her eyes and bolt away from him, but it was easier to step away from the game for a moment and taunt her. Easier, and more amusing.

He made a show of stepping to the side to allow her space to pass, eyebrows up in a way that suggested he knew she wanted to stay- if not for a repeat of their last meeting, then to try to work her way under his skin, too. Either one would have put a smile on his face.

"Tell Bobby I'm looking forward to this evening, would you?"

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

Whose brilliant idea had it been to hire Rabastan Lestrange as a staff member at Hogwarts? Callie wanted to hex whomever it was right along with him. But of course, now that he was a staff member, she couldn't even threaten to hex him without risking disciplinary action. Oh good Godric… he couldn't dock house points, could he?

"Very funny," she snarled when he mentioned Bobby. "You know perfectly well that she's still not talking to me, or Linny for that matter. I seem to recall that you said you'd talk to her about it if I…" She trailed off, not wanting to even think about their last encounter. "Whatever, just… leave me alone."

She pushed past him, but made the mistake of moving a little too close to him, making contact with his hip. Her eyes widened and the flush of physical contact was apparent in the redness of her cheeks. She turned around, opening her mouth to apologize, but she couldn't find her voice. Damn him, why was she thinking about the way his lips had felt on hers?

She drew a shaky breath and then turned back around to leave. She couldn't risk being near him any longer.