Snowy Sunday ((Tuesday))

[drake]

Noah would not consider himself to be quintessential at anything; though, he felt he was good at a great many different things. One of which would be his classes. While it was true that he did not require tons of study that most other students endured on any given school night, Noah would often spend a few quiet hours a week sitting in the Library reading something that had nothing to do with his courses. Today, an early Sunday morning, Noah sat in one of the overstuffed chairs that sat away from the large stacks of tomes. In his hands rested a large book, the pages crinkled and well used. His eyes moved over each line as he inhaled each word that formed sentences flowing into paragraphs. His attention was on nothing but his reading, even though it was not very interesting. In fact, as he read page after page the words would just as soon fade from his memory. Why? Because Noah was using his normal technique of thinking. While casual glances would show the Ravenclaw reading an engaging tale or this-or-that, close examination would find that Noah was deep in thought. What thoughts, one might ask and get little or no reply from the young man. He was not one to speak about his thoughts, dreams, and hopes of the future. Noah usually kept these things to himself. Today, honestly, would be no different. Or, would it?

He shifted as he turned a page, his eyes moving from the top of the book to look over the edge to the small row of tables sitting on the other side of the open reading area. Most of the chairs were empty, as it was still early and breakfast was still in full service in the Great Hall. Noah allowed this moment out of his thoughts to glance at the door. He might decide to go outside and see where the day would take him, then again he had nothing pressing to accomplish on this Sunday so he might stay right where he was. After all, it was snowing outside, and he did not feel the need to jaunt out into the cold and catch his death. He smiled at the stupid thought, and let his eyes drop back down to the book. Another page, but no recognition of the words as he continued his thought process in planning out his own future. Graduation was not all that far away, should the school not be completely shutdown due to the oddness that has occurred this term. Noah did not let that deter him from his own hopes of a different future, one away from his controlling father and family business.

A loud bang, brought about by the dropping of a book, raised his attention back to current. He glanced back to the book, marked his place with his fingers, and watched the person bend and pick up the offending tome. He was not sure if he knew this person, but they did look familiar to him. After spending the last so many years inside the walls of the castle he would not be surprised to see someone he had never known. The school was immense, and the amount of students was more than he assumed when he was in his younger years. One only had to look around the Great Hall at the beginning of term -during the sorting ceremony- to see how great the school had grown in population. He could not help but wonder if most of these students would not be back next year. Hell, if some of them might not make it through this term. He left the thought unfinished in his mind, and watched the person who had dropped the book. Noah slipped back into thought, his own novel forgotten on his lap.

{{Tagged for Tuesday, as per our conversation. Here we go.}}

[yumi]

“Miss Kerrinson, you are falling too far behind for a fifth year!” The teacher proclaimed, staring her straight in the eyes. “What have you got to say for yourself?!”

The pink shot into her cheeks like little spurts of lava. Almost whispering, she murmred, “S-Sorry Miss, yes miss,” Then, after a long held sigh, “I... I find charms too hard Miss.” She swallowed and lowered her gaze, her mind already beginning to worry about what would come next. The teacher, equally as wornn out as Tuesday, sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index finger. “Tuesday...” She grumbled, exasperated, “What I am about to suggest may seem drastic, but I have no time to spare for extra tutorials. So I'm offering a tutor from Seventh year. He was caught in the forbidden forest after lockdown, and he needs a punishment. He was assigned to tutoring, and you're lucky enough to be his victim. I mean,” She giggled, a catlike, ear piercing giggle, “Tuttee. Go to the library and request Noah Drake.”

Was she oblivious to the fact Tuesday's mouth was going dry? Her body was slowly quacking with fear? She didn't want a tutor – she didn't need another person hating on her. Making her day even more of a downer than it already was. She stared at the teacher with wide eyes, completely unbelieving. The woman stood, and waited as Tuesday stumbled to her feet. “Tell Noah,” She said, “I expect you at least in the top five in the majority of five weeks. Yes?” Tuesday nodded quickly, and then was dismissed. Gathering her heavy Charms book in her arms, she rushed out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

This Noah person was surely a Slytherin? If he had the nerve to go out to the Forbidden forest during spring, where the days were shorter than night, and the nerve of doing it during lockdown?

Tuesday hated Slytherins. Too cunning, and they always made her more of a blethering mess than she usually was. She didn't want a well known Slytherin to hate her. Because if that happened, the bullying started, and if the bullying started … she shuddered, refusing to even think about it. So, she continued to think about this Noah. Would she manage to get in the top five after five weeks? She doubted so.

Oh, she hated that evil, cunning, sly, canniving teacher of hers. Now she was just mounting the pressure onto Tuesday, wasn't she? The words fifth in five weeks echoed in her head. She trembled as she took slow, deliberate steps on the way to the library. She felt a feeling of dread wash over her. Tutoring with someone she didn't even know. Sounded appealing.

Before she turned the corner to get to the library corridor, she thought of her problem with Kale. He'd found her diary and read that she felt rather depressed and had contemplated running away. Why? Because her family was so ignorant to her. Literally. They hadn't spoken to her in four years, not even to yell at her, or to tell her dinner was ready. The were the cause of why she was so shy, withdrawn, unsocial. She knew she should have resented them for it, but she felt it was all her fault, not thiers. They did nothing wrong. It was her.

A hufflepuff

In a family of Ravenclaws

A disappointment

Perhaps it was ashame she was feeling as she entered the library. Ashame because no matter how much she tried to prove to her family, thye'd never listened.

And now she needed a tutor. This was why they'd ignored her.

Shaking her head, literally, to rid the thoughs from her head, she walked up to the librarian. “N-Noah Drake?” She stumbled, her voice barely a whisper in the library where the only noise was the soft pages turning. The librian pointed without looking up, to a boy, obviously older than she, immersed in a novel. Swallowing for the last time, she wandered over. Trying to keep her natural grace in check, she looked at her feet ...

And tripped over a door wedge.

She remained unharmed, but the book crashed heavily to the floor. Causing many to look her way. Red flaring in her cheeks, she gathered the book back up again, and, looking at Noah, or, the seat next to him, she timidly wandered over and said quietly, oh, so quietly yet so audibly in the library, “N-Noah Drake? I... I'm Tuesday ... your ... tuttee?” Her cheeks were flaring more than ever before she slowly lowered herself into a seat next to him, thinking, let the torture begin ...

[drake]

Noah's eyes followed the girl and the offending book, and was almost surprised that she had come straight for him. He raised an eye brow as she walked forward, and then it clicked. Today was Sunday, and he was suppose to be here to show some dimwit how to do Charms. This was part of a punishment for wandering out among the trees out of bounds when it was clearly posted everywhere the eye looked that no one was suppose to be out. School on lock down, and all that, Noah thought to himself as the girl continued to move forward. Noah noticed how timid she looked, obviously she was younger than him but not by too much. She had dark hair, and darker eyes that looked like they might fall out of her head with the fear he saw in them. Had she been told something about him that made her nervous in her approach? He did not know, but by the way she was moving he felt like she would toss off her skin and run if he made a loud noise in this moment. His light eyes twinkled at the thought, but Noah was not cruel. In fact, he felt a momentary flash of pity for this girl. Then she was upon him, she spoke, and he remembered what she represented to him. She was his punishment, and he would be forced to spend five weeks with her to teach her this or that in Charms. It was not something he was looking forward to, but there was no way out of it. At least he was not spending his Sunday in the Trophy Room again, polishing all those damn metal cups -a few with his own Family name attached to the bases. He almost rolled his eyes, but then considered it might appear rude. He sat back, resting his hand on the novel after removing his finger from the page he had saved. He was not reading it anyway.

He nodded to her, and patted the seat beside him. He did not know her, which came to no surprise because it was a large school; he needed to know her because he had only five weeks to improve her skills in the art of Charms. He was not pleased, but it was not really this girl's fault that he was stuck here. He would not take it out on her, he would try to be nice, and together maybe the time might pass in a more pleasing pursuit of knowledge. Somehow, Noah doubted it. It was not that he was not smart enough to teach someone else the things he knew, but only he did not want to. He never had to study, he never really read much of his books beyond a casual glance, and he passed everything that held his interest with flying colors. His family, all Ravenclaws, had the gift of high intelligence and charm. Noah was not so different than his older brothers, long since graduated. The only difference between those two and Noah was the fact that Noah rejected his father's overbearing requests to join the family business, and Noah thought for himself. He was not, yet, an outcast in his family; he was well on his way. He had been kicked off the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, and found himself in detention more than in the classes he passed. However, none of this mattered for the present. He needed to get to know this girl, and see if there was a way he could help himself in helping her. He still was not pleased about the situations, but as most situations go you can not change them. He would trudge forward and hope the five weeks pass with no real incidents.

"Please, sit." Again he patted the chair, his lips moving into a smile that reflected in his pale denim colored eyes. "If we are to spend some time together, and have a pleasant exchange, we might want to know each other a bit. As you know, I am Drake. Noah Drake. Forgive me for being so forward, but what would you be willing to share about you? Tell me something no one knows." This was a practical ice breaker he had used countless times when needing to know someone, or distract them from what he really needed from them. He did not know if she would go for this line of conversation, but he planned on remaining as friendly as possible to his task. After all, if there was a way he could teach her all she needed to know in the first half of his detention, perhaps he could talk her into spending the second half in a more pleasing manor -like walking through the Forest in the snow, or trying to find a secret compartment in the dungeons to hide during class time. He was not sure all his plans for this detention, but he would be sure to do turn it around to his advantage in some form or another. He glanced to the empty seat, and back to the girl in front of him. The wheels in his mind began to turn.

{{Oddly I totally missed the part where you sat down. I apologize, can we just pick up from there, or would you rather I edit it?}}

[yumi]

[ It's fine love, I'll just pick up from here. Sorry for the crap post, I have no muse but I can't leave it undone. Haha. Anyway!]

It had been an age since Tuesday had last been in the library, simply because it reminded her too much of her family, unforgiving to her, because she was a simple little Hufflepuff. A simple, stupid little girl. She was scared of the hostility they used towards her, and she knew, to the people that she had told, were shocked at how they treated her. Their own daughter. But Tuesday begged them - them being Laci Ackerly and Molly-Anne Weasley - not to tell, and they had been true to their word, and kept their promise.

Tuesday drifted away into her own little world. Shouldn't your own little world be full of nice things? Things you want to think of? Not for her. In her world, she thought of everything. All of her problems. Everyone that hated her. The people she didn't know, but wanted to. The boys she liked. Because, although she was probably one of, if not the, most shiest girl in the whole entire school, she was still a teenage girl. A teenage girl with feelings. And of course, a teen with boys she liked.

Lorcan had kissed her, in the corridors. After telling her he didn't think he was gay, he kissed her full on the lips. This was golden. Tuesday really liked him. But after that, he'd needed to go. Tuesday couldn't help wondering if it was that he'd 'needed to go'. The next day, she had been sitting with Laci in their dorms, and after pouring out her heart about both Kale and Lorcan, who should happen to come round the corner? Yes, Lorcan. He had attempted to talk to her, but she was monotonal. She didn't want him saying he was gay again, and crushing her. Her and her naive little dreams.

She shook her head, only slightly, as she was brought back to reality. She forced herself to look up at Noah, because, even given how obvious both didn't want to be there, they needed to get to know each other in order to work well together, like a well oiled machine, functioning properly. But, after his introduction, she was surprised at the question he asked her, after patting a chair. Shit, she was in the wrong chair. She scurried over to the one he was patting and sat down in it obliginly. She looked back up at him, and he asked the question that made her shiver deeply with fear.

"If we are to spend some time together, and have a pleasant exchange, we might want to know each other a bit. As you know, I am Drake. Noah Drake. Forgive me for being so forward, but what would you be willing to share about you? Tell me something no one knows."

Shocked into silence, the young Tuesday almost haad her mouth open, staring at him. Forgive him? For being so forward? He would be lucky. But there was nothing she had told nobody. The thing that only two people knew about was her family life, and that was the lowest amount. She couldn't spill this information to an unknown stranger, could she? No. Definately not. So, reaching into her backpack, she brought out her most valued possesion. Her sketchbook. Taking a deep breath, she handed it over to him and mumbled quietly, “I love to draw but I hate my work.” Another deep breath before stating, “I draw various things ... as you can see.” Blushing as she heard the page turn, she sighed at her shiness. She was so shy. Too shy. Even at sharing her own work, which, she noted, she shouldn't if she wanted to be somewhat of an artist.

Was that enough for the boy? Probably not, so “I also play piano, viola, guitar, flute and the cello.” She smiled ruefully, not going into the mucky process of elaborating. Swiftly, to save embarresment on her part, she changed the subject.

“So... Miss says you've got to get me... in the top five, in five weeks.” With a hint of, still uberly shy, a chuckle, “Good luck with that.”

[see, crap. so here are some things in her sketchbook Noah <3 may like. xD
A girl
Another girl
A guy
Anime guy
A rose
Another rose

[drake]

He watched her move from one chair to another. The red on her soft cheeks showed him that he had inadvertently embarrassed the poor girl. He did not mean to, in fact he had not meant to sound as cold as he might have sounded through his saccharine lips. He nodded as she sat, and glanced to the library entrance. How he wished he could get up and leave. Knowing his luck as of late, he would be caught just steps outside the doors and be forced into something worse. He thought that if the damned professors did their job then he would not be forced to do it for them. It was unfair, and he had never, in all his career as a student, heard of someone being forced to tutor as a detention. He thought that it would be a good idea to bring this up to someone a little higher up on the academic food chain. Then again, with all the what-not going on with the school, and the Headmaster's star daughter being the center of his attention, Noah would not stand a chance of fighting this detention. He might as well get used to it, and make the most of the situation. He was pulled from those thoughts as she began to speak. He strained to hear her soft voice, and could not help but enjoy her subtle tone. At first she had taken a deep breath, as if not wanting to share the article she pulled from her backpack. He could have sworn her eyes trembled as she handed it over when she spoke. He continued to smile, took the article in hand, and flipped through the pages not knowing what to expect.

A few pictures of girls were his first two stops. Both were really well done. Then he moved on and stopped on another page. As she went on about her instrumental conquests, and finished stating what was expected of him, Noah lifted his eyes from the page. He ignored the academic demands the Charms professor had placed on him, and motioned to the drawing of a guy. "Not sure if you know this," he said in a soft voice leaning a bit closer to her so she could see the drawing. "This guy looks a ton like Kurt Cobain, a muggle singer from America that killed himself years ago. Was in a rock band Nirvana. Yeah, I probably sound like a muggle fool, but this is rather good. Uh..." He trailed off a moment as his eyes dipped down to the drawing once again. It was not an exact resemblance, but close enough for Noah to think of the long dead singer of a most inspiring muggle band. He glanced back to her, "You should sign this, and let me frame it. I would love to have this drawing." All thoughts of Charm classes, and detention was forgotten as he looked back to her and smiled. For the first time since their first impressions only moments before, Noah felt better about how he was going to be forced to spend his next five weeks. It was then that he took notice of the younger student, not just the passing glances at first given, but really looked at her. He had noted her dark hair, and dark eyes. However, until just then, he had not noticed a lot more about her. He noticed now, in a heartbeat of a second he had taken her in completely.

It was a comfortable feeling that moved through him, as if he was seeing someone he was meant to know. It sounded odd coming from inside his head, but he could not help the thoughts. He lips were curved into a shy line on her perfectly toned face. She was soft, with eyes that seemed to hide no small amount of fear. Her hair looked almost as if it could float away, the color being the only thing that held it down on her head and shoulder. She was small, he did not think it had anything to do with age. Her frame, though well formed, was small, skinny, that of a pixie in full grown form. She had the right curves in the right places, and he glanced away as he realized he might appear to be staring at her for too long. He hoped it would have appeared like a friendly passing glance, but he could not keep his eyes from moving back in her direction. She was pleasant to view, and if he could work a way in to get her to smile more then he might be happier to spend the next month or so with her. Her lips had moved in that direction with the chuckle, but they did not stay that way. How was it possible that she was so shy? Then, like the morning light clearing the distant mountains, it dawned on Noah. This girl, a girl who needed to be tutored in Charms, had no clue how beautiful she was. In fact, if Noah was forced to make an intelligent guess, he would guess that the thought of her being attractive had never crossed her mind. Slowly, forcing his fingers not to tremble in the least, Noah closed the book and placed it on the desk in front of her. He had no idea where to go next, but the echo of what she said about the Professor played in his mind and he clung to it. Better to go in that direction than in the direction that look had wanted to pull him. He did not float well on the river of emotions, and he needed to struggle against the current drowning him in the vision of her. Noah had no paddle, not even a boat to fight with.

He coughed mildly under his breath, "You do not give yourself credit. Obviously I have only just met you, but I think that given the right circumstance you might just be surprised." He smiled again, the light bouncing off his twinkling eyes. He held out his hand to her, "Pleased to meet you Tuesday, I am the right circumstance." Outside the castle the snows fell, somewhere in the distance a flock of birds moved into the air, the rays of the sun glinted off the snow covered ground, but inside that room -the Library- on that Sunday morning, Noah felt the tug of Tuesday Kerrinson. He could not help but drift on the current, one he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was not even aware of moving.

{{Brilliant chair cover, made me look good. And your posts are far from crap. They are inspirational, and I can actually see the picture you paint. I think it is going very well.}}

[yumi]

It wasn't unusual for her heart to be hammering in her chest, staring straight ahead, elbows resting lightly on the arms of the chair, hands in a bundle in her lap, as he looked through her artwork. She hated it. Loved drawing it, but was never pleased with the result. She couldn't recall the last time, if ever, she had really admired her own work. Artists abashed and abolished their own work when, to someone else, it was amazingly beautiful. Somehow, incomprehendable to her own mind, a lot of people always complimented her work in the sweetest way. Of course, she never believed it, and never took them to heart. There was always room for improvement.

And She Was Something That Needed Improvement

Always. She always did. If her own family ... then there was something wrong with her. If she wasn't appriciated by them ... surely she was a cause for concern. That was certainly what her teacher thought of her, if she needed tutoring so bloody badly. Stopping herself from scowling, she continued to stare forward for about two more minutes.

She surprised herself by taking a sneak peek at Noah through the side of her eye. He was still looking at her artwork. He seemed to be puzzeling over one? She wasn't sure why. Her drawings were entirely normal, or at least, she thought so. Yes, there were portraits of girls, but some had such features of beauty it was as if they had been made purely to get drawn. Beauty of which she would never obtain. Obviously, to her.

The boy was a lot of artistic license, based on a mixture of people - Lorcan, Kale, and she had added the long hair because it suited the face shape. Really complimented it. The anime boy was completely made up, and the rose was just a rose. Nothing too odd in there. Unless she had mistaken her normality, which was easily done to her. She thought she was at least a little bit normal, but thinking was different from knowing.

Slowly, she adjusted herself back into the present, and turned to face Noah once more, her black bangs falling loosely in front of her eyes. She liked her fringe being there. It shielded her from Noah's soft gaze. Yes, it was soft. Like lying in a bed of soft, furry, warm pillows. It invited her in. Swallowing once more, with a start, she realised she had known him for about two seconds, and already, she had fallen for him.

Hard. Hard in his soft, sweet stare.

She was thankful when he interrupted her thoughts, interrupted her corrupt mind, thinking she was stupid, not worth it, silly to fall for a boy that she'd known as long as five minutes, by talking. He started off in a soft tone, and it didn't go un-noticed that he leaned a little closer. Just to show her the drawing, but, the silly girl savoured the action, pushing her bangs out of her right eye so she could see with it. They now hung lowly over the left. He continued to talk.

"This guy looks a ton like Kurt Cobain, a muggle singer from America that killed himself years ago. Was in a rock band Nirvana. Yeah, I probably sound like a muggle fool, but this is rather good. Uh..." She noticed he took the time to pause to make his gaze register the drawing once again. "You should sign this, and let me frame it. I would love to have this drawing."

She didn't mind. Obviously, she couldn't mind, after telling him the fact that she hated her work. Without words, she pulled out her drawing pencil. Fairly new, and with a sharp tip, she held the old book in her hands, finding the picture and signing it delicately with her script writing.

tuesday tylyn kerrinson

[/size]

Softly, softly. She thought as she pulled on the edge of her paper softly, so it would pull itself out. Gently Gently. It seemed even her movements were shy. Soft, cowered away from him. Fragile. Like she could break. She left the paper on the arm of his chair, and proceeded to pack her pencil and book away.

“I hope you enjoy it.”

She couldn't feel his gaze on her as she packed it away... Must be looking at the paper.. She pondered to herself, facing away from him. How wrong she was, as he looked at her while she rootled about in her bag. She thought about his face she'd dedicated to memory as she did so. So rough. Rugged. But his eyes ... they sparkled and shone as if he took a real interest in her. Perhaps he did, but she didn't let herself think that. She couldn't, no, wouldn't, allow herself to get her thoughts up too high. So, as she righted herself in her chair, she couldn't resist looking at him again. To refresh her memory.

His eyes were on her. The red stained her cheeks again as her eyes moved quickly, anywhere. Just not in his eyes. But, she noted, she couldn't avoid the feeling of warmth rush through her as he began to speak. Charmingly.

"You do not give yourself credit. Obviously I have only just met you, but I think that given the right circumstance you might just be surprised." He smiled again, and that warm feeling intensified as he held out a hand. "Pleased to meet you Tuesday, I am the right circumstance."

Again, like lava, the regular visitor, the blush in her cheeks, returned, as she shook his hand too, and replied, “It's a pleasure, Noah. Nice of it to be you to be the right circumstance.” And she couldn't help the smile spread like wildfire onto her lips, as she withdrew her hand, but kept her gaze firmly on him.[/blockquote][/blockquote]
{ not very inspirational. Can you work with it?}

[drake]

There it was, the smile. He noticed the blush, but the smile radiated almost everything in his vision. It made things almost sparkle around the edges. He felt almost ridiculous for thinking such a silly thought, but this did not make it any less true. She had a way of making everything around them brighter, just by smiling. He had never met anyone that could do that, and the lingering fact was: she had no clue she was even doing this. It was like a manifestation of magic that was new, something untouched by the taint of darkness the world clouded over everything in these times. She was a breath of fresh air, a bright cloud on his rainy night, the... What? No, not what more like... Why? Why was he thinking like this about someone he did not know, someone sent to him as a punishment, and a tying factor that would reject his freedom for the next five weeks. Such a long time for a detention, and a task better served by some moldy professor. Yet, he could not help but feel that he was looking forward to these five weeks, given the fact that they could have sent someone else a lot less pleasant to look upon. He grasped for control of his thoughts and found that he had no clue where to go from here. He could leap right into a lesson, or he could talk her into skipping the rest of the day and just talk. Either way was fine with him, but he could not see them spending such a wonderful beginning deep in the center of some crusty book he probably had looked at in his third year. He knew he had a task to complete, but five weeks was an awfully long time. There was no sense in wasting today, and trudging through a pile of books. He made the decision to continue with the conversation, and learn as much as he can about the girl sitting so close to him.

He thought of Kris, and how different she was compared to Tuesday. Kris, a girl he considered himself in love with, often argued with him. She would push him away when he thought they were growing close. She would all but ignore him when she did not get her way. Yet, when things were good between them, he could feel like he was walking on cloud nine. He doubted a place actually existed, and thought that these emotions he felt for Kris was a part of some game she enjoyed playing with him. Noah was tired of games, tired of hurt feelings, tired of not knowing what would come next. His head would spin when trying to figure out what was going to happen with Kris, and the fucking jealousy that he had when anyone else looked at his fellow Ravenclaw. It was not something he could deal with on a regular basis, and knew that after graduation the two would probably go their own way.

Noah wanted to travel back to the States, and he figured this was something that Kris would never accept. He never bothered even telling her what he wanted to do with his life. These thoughts clouded his mind for a moment, and he let them drift away. He would deal with that later. Right now he was single, Kris and him had had another fight, and he should not feel any guilt by being attracted to Tuesday. None whatsoever! Wait. Did he just tell himself that he was attracted to Tuesday? How can someone as intelligent as Noah have himself so confused in such a short amount of time. He shook his head, and looked at the younger girl. He guessed she was a year, maybe two, younger than him. The attraction, however, was obvious. She was everything Kris was not, right down to the dark hair and smile. He moved as if he was going to place his book on the table to his left, but it was only a distraction so he could avert his eyes and calm his mind. Noah did not like being unable to control his thoughts, and for the moment they were trying to run away with him. He calmly turned back to her, his smile remaining on his face.

"Well, if you do not mind, we are not going to waste today with Charms homework. I think we should talk here for a bit, then decide where the day will take us." He had no plans, and wanted to see what she would allow him to suggest to her. "We will see where the day takes us, and follow it until it's end. That is if you will skip meals, and spend the time with me. I am sure we can sneak some food out of the castle for a snowy picnic, or something?" He felt so idiotic, like this girl was tying his tongue and making him nervous in his speech. However, none of this was reflected in his tone, or in his words. He was once again in control, even if the tide was pulling him into deeper waters. His eyes touched hers, and he felt the tug once again. As if something in the center of her world was reaching out for him, wanting him to enter, never wanting him to leave. He had never felt something that strong, and did not know what to make of it. Just as any clever Ravenclaw would do, he planned on sticking around to solve this puzzle. Noah Marlow Drake did not, in the least, think he would mind spending time with her. In fact, he was looking forward to it.

{{I am sorry if this is not very good. You know my time constraint for the moment, and I need to run. I just wanted to make sure I got something up for you before I had to log off. Forgive me if it is bad.}}

[yumi]

She hadn't, it seemed, smiled in so long. It actually felt wierd. Because, when on her own, her mouth was always set in a firm line. Because of them. The people that were supposed to love her. Cherish her. Be there for her, unconditionally. She needed to be perfect. And she wasn't. She couldn't help drifting away from herself, thinking of all the past times. They hadn't spoken to her. Damaged her self esteem. She couldn't count the number of times she had stood infront of a mirror on her fingers anymore. Stood in front of a mirror. Just staring. Seething. Seeing how imperfect she was. Graceful? Yes. Artistic? Completely. Creative? Nothing but. But she wasn't perfect. Not smart enough. Not pretty enough. Too shy. Uncomprehensive. Stupid. Not sporty enough. So she stood in front of a mirror. Some days, she looked. Really peered at her face. Too see. How ugly. She was. Others. She just. Listed what. She hated. About herself.

What they hated about her.

She could recall throwing a hairbrush at a mirror once. Because she felt so alone. Unwanted. Flawed. Broken. Damaged.

Her grin soured as she thought about this, and she recoiled from Noah, looking like she was struggling internally. Which she was. Trying to convince herself telling him her troubles was a stupid idea. He wouldn't be interested, and even if he did, he probably wouldn't understand, or know what to do with it. No. Not yet. Not ever. It wasn't like her dreams were going to become reality. She wasn't going to get to get closer to him. He was her tutor. Nothing more. Nothing less.

She couldn't help the instense feeling he liked her smiling. So quickly, she adjusted herself, and relaxed into a grin. Just for him. That was kind of wierd. Wasn't it? She shouldn't be. But, she reasoned with herself, why would he? Why should he? There was her answer - he shouldn't. She was simple little Hufflepuff. Shy. Loyal. Undeserving. She couldn't help feeling like he would.

Why.
She couldn't help feeling.
Would.
A very strong pull.
He?
Towards him.

She forced herself to look back up at him. Was he feeling this too? Was it even possible he could feel this? Oh. She knew it. She was going insane. Bit by bit. Slowly. Gentley. Insane. Just how her parents hated her. Damaged. Flawed.

“Imperfect...”

She hadn't even realised she'd uttered the words until she played it back. Her voice. Soft. Feathery. Dainty. It flew back out of her, attached to her like glue. And shocked her like eletric. She didn't dare make her gaze swallow his face again. She stared at her tightly clenched hands. Clenched into fists, so tight the skin was white, and the knuckles popped out.

“I-I'm … I'm sorry.” Oh, great, she was back to her stuttering mess again. Just when they'd been getting somewhere, she messed it up. As usual. “I guess I was in my own little world there, huh?” She looked up at him through her extrodinary dark eyes, and fiegned a chuckle. It sounded real enough to her. Was it see through? “I'm sorry.” She apologised again. “I've … just been having some troubles.” The blush. It was back. Again.

She listened to his words, like they were music, and they were like music to her small ears. She stared at him ... Either he was a mind reader ... or he wanted to get to know her as well... No! God damn it, she couldn't allow herself to get her hopes up, only to have them dashed when he began to see another girl. She should just listen, she decided, and tuned in to what he was saying.

"Well, if you do not mind, we are not going to waste today with Charms homework. I think we should talk here for a bit, then decide where the day will take us." She gawked at him, her ears disbelieving, her eyes unsure. "We will see where the day takes us, and follow it until it's end. That is if you will skip meals, and spend the time with me. I am sure we can sneak some food out of the castle for a snowy picnic, or something?"

Pausing, she thought about it. Spend time with this boy she was immensley, and undeniably, attracted to. Seemed like a no brainer, but she wasn't sure ... could she trust him? She had to. She had no plans. And she wanted to get closer to him. She needed to.

“Sounds like a great plan,” The grin came easily this time. How did he do this? How did he make her happy? “I mean,” she tried, “I'd really like to,” She wasn't sure why she was trying to reword it, but she felt she needed to get how much she wanted to. She looked back up at him … got lost in his gaze .. and felt a pull.

[{was going with a new appriach. If it's not good enough with the random speaking let me know and I'll change it}]

[drake]

Soft words, as easy on the ears as she was on the eyes. The innocents behind each gesture made him almost want to reach out and touch her, see if she was real. He knew that would be completely out of place, and such a movement might even send her running off completely ruining their five weeks of detention. He found he did not want her running off, even if the urge to touch her was growing with each passing second spent this close to the younger girl. He listened to her and paused in his thoughts. At first he heard her say, "I'm perfect." Then he decided that was not what she said at all. She moved on to apologize and mumble about something, but he was stuck on the word imperfect. How could she ever use that word to describe herself, when he was beginning to think so much more of her. Unless...

Unless, she meant him? Was she comparing him to her image of what her perfect man might be? Do girls still do that sort of thing, even when the person being compared is sitting right beside them? He was not sure, but it made him feel slightly uncomfortable. If he was imperfect, then why was he feeling such a draw to her when there would be no chance at all for him and her. Why would he even think of a him and her; they had just met and shared a few words. He had to think about this, he needed time to sort out what he was experiencing and the logical conclusion of such emotions. That time would not come until later, he would have to wait and try not to make too much of a fool of himself in front of her. If he was imperfect, then at least he would try to enjoy her company and teach her what she needed to know to complete detention. He felt a little downward spiral as his heart began to sink. He felt like a child, he felt stupid, he almost frowned. And before he could continue the conversation he smile invaded his sight once again. And all those negative emotions starting to well in his breast faded, and he was dreaming of her once again.

She smiled after saying she would not mind spending more time with him, the rest of the day. Hours and hours on top of hours left in this day, as it was still early. He imagined a quiet lunch in an empty classroom, then minutes filled with quiet talk and as many of her beautiful smiles as he could muster from her lips, and then a snowy picnic dinner outside, watching the colors fade from the sky as night approached. Then the bitter sweet ending of the night. Knowing that he had spent all the time with her, bitter than it had to end sweet that he would see her again the next day after all their classes were finished. Noah could not help but smile back to her, his denim eyes twinkling in the small light of their corner of the Library. The room -he noticed as he glanced away- was starting to fill up, but the crowd was not as large as it would be on the day before the big tests. He looked back to Tuesday, her dark eyes moving through him as if they could see right through him. He felt lucky she could not read his thoughts, that could have made the blush on her skin even deeper. He almost giggled, but refrained at the last moment. Was Noah Marlow Drake starting to feel... giddy?

He leaned closer to her, his mouth moving closer to her ear as he whispered. "Well then, the day is ours, to do with as we please. I am glad you decided to stay aboard." He was completely sincere about this statement, whispered from his lips directly into her ear which was less than an inch away. Noah moved back, his eyes remaining on hers, "What should we do first?" He thought briefly about how she might look making a snowman, coal for buttons, carrot for a nose, corncob pipe, and Tuesday in a gray sweater. How could she be sitting right in front of him, only inches away from a touch, and him still thinking about her as if in a deep sleep. Dreaming of her would be something he would do for a long time to come, even though he might not know this in his moment in time. The future was wide open, and the seeds had already been planted. Seeds that would flourish, grow, and make plants of amazement in each tick of the clock that he was able to spend with her.

And it all started on this snowy Sunday, in detention.

{{Why would you doubt your posts? It was perfect, I just hope my reply is good enough.}}

[yumi]

Leaning back in her chair, she gripped the arm-rests closely, as if she wanted to pull them off. She shouldn't have spoken. Shouldn't have said that word. About herself. In front of him. She could say it any other place, any other time. But here, in front of him. In front of Noah. She felt stupid. Describing herself like that, after grinning, so freely. She shouldn't have even been thinking those thoughts! Not with him. It showed how weak Tuesday was. Even in the presence of someone she, and she could not deny, 'fancied' - oh, how she hated the word! - him, she couldn't get her mind off of the fact that she disliked herself.

Point Number One
I think the universe revolves around me

[/size]

Ever since the day of realisation hit that she hated herself, she had gone out and bought a notebook. Different from her diary. And in it, she recorded the things she disliked about herself. Not only did it allow herself to see what she thought was wrong with her, it got all negative comments about herself down onto paper. She wasn't sure what it was to accomplish, but if it was to make herself stop thinking about it, point number one didn't work. If it were to help her self-esteem, that too did not work. She had had an idea of what she were doing when she started, but now she couldn't remember why.

So, there she sat, despising herself for uttering those words. Of course, the red spots of a pooling of blood under her cheeks. She shouldn't have whispered that about herself. Now, oh, now, she had once again embarresed herself. She couldn't count the amount of times she had embarresed herself here, today. Now. Some may think, for the more obvious reason, that it was because the amount of times were too many to count now, but the truth was, sneaking a glance at him, she felt like she was toffee melting in the sun. It was so sad, to her, that he didn't even know he was doing it; in fact, it was a rather safe bet that if she told him, he would think what she thought of herself - Insane. Mental. Crazy. Just ... not... not someone he'd like. Not his type. Surely. But ... he was so her type. It was scary how detention turned into this. A place to dream. About someone who she had just met, however, wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. Get to know him that much better. She wondered how he was feeling. Another puzzling question was why he would want to skip Charms lessons with her. Yes, no one could deny how unbelievably boring it was. But if she, Tuesday Tylyn Kerrinson, was to get in the top five within five weeks, she had a god-damn lot of homework to do. But the question lingering on her mind was why. Why would he want to spend the day with her? He could easily say, We're not going to waste time with Charms homework. And leave. Her. All alone. But he didn't. Why?

Why? A question she longed to ask, of which of course, she would never gain the answer to. Unless she asked but of course, she was too shy.

It was common sense she used to figure out perhaps he had deciphered her Imperfect, wrongly. The wrong thing to say, in front of him, for more than one reason - what is he though it was about him? If he did, he would think she was a total bitch.

Point Two
I say the wrong thing at the wrong time [/size]

Luckily for her, he acted as though he had not heard her, and continued to talk heartily. But she couldn't help wondering, what would happen if she did. What would the outcome amount to? She would never know as the moment passed. But what Noah Drake did surprised her. Her breath caught slightly in her throat, and her heart skipped a beat. He leaned in closer to her. Closer. She swore she felt the red in her cheeks grow deeper. Darn her, and her blushing ability. She resisted the urge to close her eyes and allow his words to sooth her into a trance, a dream, no doubt about him. If she was to be dreaming, instead of her usual nightmares, she found herself hoping, and on a subconcious level, knowing, it would be about him.

"Well then, the day is ours, to do with as we please. I am glad you decided to stay aboard." His voice like silk, yet, still, rugged, his lips almost touching her ear, a shiver of delight at the prospect of spending her day with him. This ... intruging mystery. He leaned closer still. She smiled, as he enquired what to do first. Pondering over her answers, she tilted her head to the side. Away from his ear. Before answering, finally.

“I would like,” She answered smoothly, softly, “To get lunch. To keep up going for a while, and then afterwards, after we've received it, head towards somewhere … private. You know, to get to know each other better.” Before taking a small inhale and telling him, “I'd like to get to know you better.” Not a blush. A small hint of one. But he was making her braver. And of course, he didn't need to take that the way she meant it. Boys were supposedly naïve, where they not? He could easily mistake it for a friendly gesture. After a silky smooth smile his way, she smoothed down her hair while waiting for his reply.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[drake]

He glanced at her as he fiddled with the book placed on the desk in front of him, the one he had not been reading while waiting in the Library. Her words could be taken to mean so many different ways, like most words ever spoken could. He wondered what her words could hold, and if the meaning that he took from the sentences was the same that she had intended when speaking them. He figured the only two ways to ever find out were to either ask her or to remain quiet and see where they day took them. He thought the latter of the two options suited him all that much better than blurting out the question he wished to ask. He wanted to know if she was being friendly, or flirting. He thought, perhaps, that it could be both. Noah was not naive, and he was not inexperienced in such matters. He was curious because she seemed so shy in his first impression. Nothing had changed, she still seemed rather shy. Maybe she needed to work her courage up, and that was what she was doing? He thought this was plausible, but remained quiet on the matter. He thought that her plan for the day was solid, and even already thought of the perfect room where they would not be disturbed. He smiled lightly, his own mind admonishing him for how that sounded in his thoughts. If he would have said that out loud she would be the color of a fresh tomato right about now. He refrained from laughing, not wanting to ruin the moment nor explain what he found to be so amusing. Noah did not know what to make of her, but he did know he did not want her to feel uncomfortable around him. That would ruin the next five weeks, and he kept thinking that he wanted nothing more than to spend those weeks in her company. Sure, they would have to get down to work soon enough; but, there would be no work today. Today was theirs, and he felt more importantly hers. He nodded to her.

"Can you read minds?" He hoped like hell she could not. If she could then it would be really bad for him. Not all of his thoughts were pure and innocent. In fact, when he leaned in to whisper in her ear, his first thought was to kiss her. He did not expect the thought to creep up from the recesses of his mind, it just happened. He wondered what her lips would feel like, if they were as soft as they looked. He glanced at them, then lifted his eyes slowly to her dark eyes. Noah bit his bottom lip and looked away a moment. Again, he found he had to collect his thoughts and get the rush of odd emotion under control. It was easier this time, and that could only mean that he was comfortable with her. He hoped she felt the same, in more ways than one. He nodded again, and turned to her.

"Well then, Tuesday my dear, shall we?" Noah smiled and reached his hand out to her once again. One finger touched the soft spot between her knuckles on her right hand. His smile reappeared, but this time it was accompanied by a look that surprised him. He had shook her hand before, and they had brushed legs once when she passed him the book. This, however, was an intentional touch. And it sent a rush of electric through his hand, up his arm, and racing down his back. It was not like anything he had felt before, and considered it to be static electricity from the over used carpets. Noah knew better. He could not put a finger on it -no pun intended- but there was something. His eyes went wide for the barest of moments, and he dropped his eyes to her hand then lifted them to touch her own once again. Should he ask her if she felt it? If she did not, would she think he was mad? Insane? Crazy? None of those words had ever been used to describe Noah, or any other Drake as far as he was aware. He could not help the feeling that there had been something between them. As if that drawing he felt earlier was pulling him into her world once again. Her world, a place he wanted to be, needed to be, belonged. Was he sure, or was this another flight of fancy? Noah was unsure, but there was something.

"How could I be so lucky?" He whispered, barely audible to the two of them as a group of students passed them to go deeper into the stacks. "I know exactly the place to go, and how to sneak some food up with us. A private lunch, and good conversation. But, that has nothing to do with my luck." He hesitated to gather the right words. He did not want to sound stupid when he spoke next. He wanted to make sure she clearly understood him as he gave a hint to what he felt when they touched. He wanted to put words to what he had felt ever since she dropped the book and brought his attention in her direction. Noah was no poet, no real romantic, but he was not slow when it came to his own charm. He did not use and ounce of charm when he spoke to her next. He wanted the words to come out real, without a sugar coating that might sound in the least false. He did not want her to doubt what he said to her, even if it might be slightly out of place. Noah swallowed, and continued to speak in his low whisper.

"No, I am lucky that I met you today."

[yumi]

Although she was used to surprising questions, Noah's next question both shocked her and made her laugh. She noticed the small dip his head made; a nod, to indicate he accepted her answer. Phew, she told herself inwardly. At least he didn't ask why she had tried to rephrase her words. She never would have come up with a reasonable explination for it, probably because she had no idea why she had tried to rephrase it. Too intamite sounding too soon, perhaps? She didn't know solidly why, nor did she know why it bothered her so much. But she lost her train of thoughts as she looked up and saw that Noah was aleady looking at her. Not quite met her eyes, until, slowly, almost carefully, his gaze met hers. She couldn't help it. Her straight-line lips formed another smile in his direction.

Another smile, specially for him. How badly did she want to inform him how much that smile should mean to him? Because she did smile, but in the presense of someone she'd just met, rarely. He was lucky. Not to have met her, but to have a smile when with her. When he had just met her that snowy Sunday. If only he knew how fortunate he was to see that smile, like a sun overtaking a storm abruptly, it lit up her face. Of course, she herself did not believe she had a pretty smile. Perhaps a little on the nice side, but that was about it.

“Are you a mind-reader?” The surprising question that made her stop just for a moment to process his question. And then she let out a rather loud, for the two at least, giggle. Sunny. It shocked her at how … happy it sounded. How different. She began to answer his question, that cheeky grin, a rememberance of her laughter, on her face.

“I'm sorry, that was rude of me to laugh,” she started by apologising to Noah at her sudden laughter. The question had just been so unexpected, she couldn't help herself. She wasn't as good as controlling herself as she would liked to have thought. “No, I am not a mindreader.” Curiously, without realising what she was asking exactly, “What led you to thinking like that?” Slowly, it dawned on her. She hadn't figured out the meaning of the question. What led him to believe she was a mindreader? Of course she wasn't. Maybe it was a merely curious question – but Noah didn't seem like that type of person. He seemed like the sort of person who would always have a meaning to do something. But, she wasn't a physcic, it was easily mistaken for her.

“Well, Tuesday my dear, shall we?” She giggled again, but not before it was cut off quickly after he toughed a soft spot in her hand, and eletric ran up her arm and she shivered. She recoiled and delicately took her hands away. Her eyes darted down once again, to her knees. A small, practically inaudible gasp hand left her mouth, but she was certain it had been masked over by the small thrum all the quiet chatter that the other students were making. She slid her eyes up to meet Noah's head, which were looking down at her hands. She felt rotten for taking them away from him. What was going through his head right at that minute? She wished she a mindreader at that moment just to find out.

“How could I be so lucky?” Despite the obvious softness of his voice, she could hear the small inquiry she wasn't sure how or even whether to answer. She didn't stop herself from letting that radiating smile out, set upon her lips again. She was sure that it was a rhetorical question, and perhaps it wasn't even indicated towards her. Such a sweet boy surely had found happiness, maybe even love, with a girlfriend; she could never be so lucky to be that girl. She didn't let the disappoinment show on her face. She simply allowed herself to keep smiling.If she kept smiling maybe he'd believe everything was okay. It worked for everyone else, did it not?

“I know exactly the place to go, and how to sneak some food up with us. A private lunch, and good conversation. But, that has nothing to do with my luck.” Was he actually saying what she thought he was saying? That he was lucky she had said yes? No, he couldn't mean it like that.

“Let's get this day started.” She said enthusiactically, and, walking alongside him, she left the library, so much more uplifted than when she had entered the library.

[drake]

To be continued...

Here!