Paper Cuts and Advice

[Abigail Greenwater]

If Abigail weren’t in the middle of the hallway at school she wouldn't have been so polite when she got a paper cut. Quietly murmuring to herself as she watched the blood come up slowly Abigail tried to not make a scene. Biting her tongue she kept on trekking her way toward somewhere she could be alone. Sticking her finger in her mouth she picked her backpack up and started toward an unused corner.

It took less then a minute to find somewhere she could sit down and stare at her cut. Dropping her backpack in the corner she sat down on the ground and used her bag as a rest. She sat in a way so she didn’t show her unmentionables. Finally settled Abigail looked at her pointer finger on her right hand. The cut was small but ever so painful. Using her thumb she put pressure right below the cut to see how bad it was. Hissing as a sharp pain shot up her finger she left the cut alone.

“Great. I hate paper cuts!” She said while two Slytherin girls in her year walked by. They stared at her awkwardly as she said this. Looking away she didn’t care. It may have been a Monday but she was fine with that. Ever since she ran into Dustan everything seemed alright to her. To think a boy made everything alright to her.
Then she remembered the letter her cousin Jane had sent her. In a minor freak out Abigail sent her a letter pleading for advice about dates and boys. It hadn’t been two days and already she had a reply that from what it felt like in the package was going to be a novel.

Dearest Abby,

A boy? Really? Not that I didn’t expect anything less from you! I told you this year would be different! So you say he’s really cute? And his last name is McNutt? Doesn’t ring a bell but he is a Slytherin so he must be a good boy. Now you asked for advice and advice I am here to give!

Don’t worry about what is going to happen, you’re going to be fine. Just be your charming and sweet self. Everyone loves you when they meet you, trust me. I’ve had to hold off some of my guy friends. But they don’t matter. Since you’re going to a picnic and not some huge romantic date in Venice I’d say for clothing just dressing smartly is good. Don’t break out the high heels or you’re bound to kill yourself. You remember that nice lavender dress I bought you in Germany? Wear that and a pair of brown flats. That will be very nice.

Again, you’re going to be fine! Inside the package I’ve sent you a few things, just in case. Inside is your favorite perfume, the one that smells like rain, some lip gloss and other things. Have fun and write me the SECOND you get back after the date.

Love,

Jane

Abigail read and reread the note five times just to be sure she got everything out of it. The package felt special in her small hands. Jane had always told her that when it happened it would be magical. Abigail always thought she was lying about the feeling. She was already magical, how could something be more magical? Now she knew. It was different. Abigail wasn’t in love, but she was feeling a special pull toward Dustan.

Putting the note down she was careful to not cut herself again on the paper. Opening the package she looked inside at everything Jane had sent her. Reaching into the package someone stepped on her foot. Hissing again in pain she looked up to see who had stepped on her.

(Open.)

[Maya Castillo]

Maya was in a hurry, quickly weaving her through the other slowly ambling students. God how she hated slow people! She wanted to get to the library before her next class, and even though she had plenty of time until her next class she knew that the moment she walked into the library she would get distracted by some interesting title and loose track of time. With an annoyed grunt, Maya squeezed her way between two much taller students and turned sharply down another hallway. A shortcut, she hoped but even after five years at Hogwarts, Maya still managed to get lost.

She was pleased to find that her newfound 'shortcut' was nearly deserted except for a pair of Slytherin girls who she brushed past as she quickened her pace to a mix between a walk and a jog. She was tempted, as she always was whenever she had a relatively open path, to start running, but just then her small foot came down on something soft and she was thrown off balance. Maya yelped with surprise and stumbled to the side, she might have been able to catch herself if it weren't for her heavy shoulder bag which was weighing her down. As it was, Maya went sprawling.

When she hit the floor Maya let loose a string of curses that would have made her brothers proud. Maya rolled over on to her back and shoved her book bag away from her in the same motion. She let out an exasperated sigh, she hated Mondays, and just lay for a few moments glaring at the ceiling. Then curiosity struck and she turned her head to see what had caused this rather untimely incident. Maya was greatly surprised when she found herself looking at a girl in her own year. Abby she thought her name was, but she wasn't sure about which house she belonged to. Was she really so oblivious as to not even see someone when she accidentally ran over them?

"Oh..." Maya said mahogany eyes wide and golden cheeks slightly pink with embarrassment, "I'm so sorry." Maya quickly pushed herself into a sitting position and crawled around on hands and knees and started to pile her numerous books that had spilled from her book bag. "I really am," Maya insisted as she glanced up through her bangs at the other girl, "I didn't hurt you did I?"

[Abigail Greenwater]

Grey eyes stared at the girl who had stepped on her foot. The girl looked familiar to Abigail. They probably were in the same year or had an elective together. After a few seconds she nodded slowly at the girl, showing that she wasn't all too upset over the foot stomping incident. "N-No. I-I'm alright." Her voice was meek, hidden within herself. She wasn't frightened, just her normal self. As she spoke she quickly stashed her note and package into her bag.

"R-Really. I-I'm alright. J-Just got a paper cut a-and wanted to r-read a letter my co-cousin Jane wr-wrote to me." Her hand was still in her bag, holding tightly onto the note.

"Y-You alright?" Abigail asked. The girl didn't look too hurt or she could hide pain really well. Grey eyes glanced around the hall, finding no one walking by. She sighed quietly. All she needed was someone to walk by and find the two of them in this situation and laugh.

[Maya Castillo]

Maya's eyes were soft with concern as she listened to the girl talk. She seemed nervous, or maybe she was just shy, then again maybe she was just wondering who this crazy girl was who had just fallen over her foot. Maya rocked back on her heels as she pulled her book bag over to her small tower of books, and wrinkled her small nose in sympathy and distaste. "Ouch," she said and started to stuff books back into her bag, "I hate paper cuts. I never really get letter from home. I feel bad sending owls so far away, that plus my dad still hasn't really gotten used to them. There arn't too many owls in the middle of the desert, well except for the little ones..." Maya trailed off as it occered to her that she was rambling.

"Oh yeah, yeah I'm fine," she said quickly with a small shake of her head when the girl asked if she was alright. For a moment Maya wondered how odd she had looked laying on the floor just scowling at the ceiling. "I'm Maya," she said after a pause and a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

[Abigail Greenwater]

Abigail watched the girl as she spoke about letters home and how there weren't owls in the desert. Feeling that this girl wasn't going to yell at her she smiled a small smile. "R-Really? There a-aren't owls in th-the desert?" Her grey eyes widened as she said this. One always found out something new everyday. "M-My letter is from my cousin J-Jane. I have th-this d-d-date coming up wi-with this boy Dustan a-and I asked about what to do."

Maya, a new name to a new face. "N-Nice to meet you Maya. I-I'm Abigail." She stuck out a pale hand to the other girl, showing she was happy to meet her. "I-I should b-be the one wh-who is s-sorry. I shouldn't h-have been sitting h-here. M-my fault." Her smile grew for a second, then sobered up. She did feel terrible for having the girl fall over. At least she wasn't hurt.

"What y-year are you in? I-I'm in fifth." Abigail knew this sounded stupid, but it was something of interest. If Maya was in her year she may have met someone else to befriend and maybe hang out with in the future.

[Maya Castillo]

Maya nodded as she finsihed repacking her books, "Except for the little ones that live in the cacti but we don't see them much." Maya's eyes widened and her dark catlike face lit up in a grin and she tucked her small legs under herself as she got more comfortable. "Dustin, the Prefect from Slytherin? I know him! He's really sweet, I'm sure the date will be fantastic." Maya's eyes were sparkling and her smile still hovered on her lips as she tried to reassure her new friend. Maya didn't have many friends, let alone girlfriends so talking boys with someone her own age was rather refreshing.

Maya leaned forward to accept the offered hand, her golden brown skin contrasting against Abigail's ivory, "Nice to meet you too Abigail, and don't apolagize I was in a bit of a hurry and I tend to have a one track mind sometimes. I'm fifth too, Hufflepuff. What house are you in?" Maya released Abigail's hand and leaned back, all thoughts of library forgotten, besides she had enough books as it was.

[Abigail Greenwater]

Cheeks still flushed from the falling fiasco Abigail nodded. She didn't think her cheeks could be any more flushed but they burned even more when Maya brought up Dustan. A light giggle escaped her lips. She wished she wasn't like that every time someone brought up Dustan. A simpering, spastic, and somewhat annoying fifteen year old. The thought made her cringe inwardly.

Coming back to reality she answered Maya's question. "Y-Yes. Him. Dustan. Slytherin." Nodding quickly, her mid raced as she tried to change the subject from her to something else, like the weather, but that would be too obvious. "Yeah. I'm re-really excited for it." It being that date.

Taking her hand she shook it firmly. Abigail may be shy on the outside, but a firm handshake was always important. Once the handshake was done Abigail brought her hand back to her lap, setting it down. Another fifth year? That was a good, someone else for Abigail to hang out with. "Huff-Hufflepuff you say? H-Have you met Josh Y-York yet? He's a Huffle a-also and he's r-really nice."

[Maya Castillo]

Maya had never been on a date, mostly because everyone she had grown up around were close family. She supposed if she ever had a date that she would be excited too, but at the moment she had nothing to compare Abigail's nervouse anticipation to. But Beau...just the thought of him made Maya blush. She didn't think she would mind going on a date with him, but he seemed just as shy and quiet as she was so that seemed unlikely. He had offered to take her flying though, but Maya wasn't sure she would even be able to speak to him depending on how high he took her.

Maya was slightly surprised by Abigail's firm grip but somewhat pleased at the same time. When their hands released, Maya's went up to her face to brush her auburn bangs from her mahogany eyes as she listened to Abigail's question. "Well I know mostly everyone in Hufflepuff just by sight and name, but my only real friends are Derrick, Luke, and Beau...I don't really do small talk well so I guess that's why I don't have a lot of friends...so Josh, I know him and he seemes nice but we haven't really talked." Maya bit down on her full lower lip, and her gaze dropped to hands that were resting in her lap. She hadn't meant to say so much.

[Felicity Hjort]

Where had the library gone to? Take a left at the stairwell, go down past four suits armour, take a left at the old tapestry, go through the hidden passage, down one flight, and the library should've been right there. So why hadn't she arrived yet? How many times had she taken that path with Drew or Alexander when they had to study for something or other? And yet she managed to get lost taking the short cut this time? Actually, most of those times she'd let the boys lead, preferring to just follow as she managed to get lost quite often just trying to find her own bed in the dormitories.

But, feeling somewhat adventurous, Felicity decided to try and take the short cut. Her mum's words of leave short cuts to men were finally making sense to the young blonde.

Taking a turn around an oddly shaped statue, Felicity's light brown eyes fell upon two other females, one she somewhat recognized, the other not at all. Maybe they'd know which floor she was on and how to get to the library. There was really no fire fueling her to arrive at a particular time, other than she'd told Dante she'd meet him there to go over some homework, but they'd never really specified a time, more or less agreed to meet up that afternoon and figured she should get a move on for her date otherwise she'd miss him...or he'd miss her. Either way, they wouldn't be able to go over their essays together.

"Hi!" she greeted loudly with a smile that put the sun to shame. Greet, then ask questions. It was a good plan, though plans usually had a funny way of not turning out as planned...

[Abigail Greenwater]

Abigail was about the answer Maya when someone behind her said 'hi' quite loudly. Jumping slightly she turned around to see who scared the crap out of her. It was someone she recognized from her house. She didn't know the girl's name but she had seen her before. Feeling quite adventurous she gave the girl a wave and quietly replied. "H-Hey." She didn't know her but social etiquette told her to say a greeting back, lest she seem like a unruly brat. Abigail was no brat.

Not wanting to keep this girl out of the conversation (if she so chose to join it) Abigail moved to the side and let the girl have a space next to her. "Y-You're a Gryffindor...right?" Abigail asked quietly. The girl's smile was large and very happy. Abigail couldn't help but grin a bit wider after seeing it.

Eyes going back to Maya she gave her a smile smile, ready to answer her question. "T-The Huffies I've met a-are really nice." Nodding along she glanced back at the newcomer. "S-Same wi-with small talk. I'm n-not g-good at it. M-My aunt is though."

[Felicity Hjort]

Watching the startled girl, Felicity wondered what she'd done wrong. All she had said was a cheerful hi, yet the girl jumped as though Felicity were a ghost and had just floated through her body. But it seemed she calmed down as a moment later she moved to the side, giving room for Felicity to jump in, as well as asked a question. Perhaps that was how Felicity had known the girl, she was questioned of whether or not she belonged the Gryffindor house and the blonde nodded her head vigorously and was about to ask the same, when the vaguely familiar girl turned to the other and spoke.

Hufflepuffs? Felicity loved the Hufflepuffs, or rather most of them. Alexander was a Hufflepuff, but so had been Krissy. Seanna and Matty were both from the House, and she liked both of them, as well as a few others. However, Krissy hadn't ever seemed to be very nice in the blonde's opinion and she had a hard time understanding how Alexander could have dated her.

When she saw the girl's eyes on her, Felicity nodded in agreement, deciding she loved most of the Hufflepuff's she knew. But when she started talking about small talk, the lioness zoned out a bit. Really, she didn't have trouble with small talk, able to usually find something random to say at any time. Pointing out a cobweb, talking about sea monkeys, wondering aloud about why wet was called wet. Anything really.

"You don't think you're good at small talk?" she asked suddenly, quirking her head. Wasn't she using small talk right then?

[Maya Castillo]

Maya's bright mahogany eyes flicked up to meet the newcommers gaze. After a quick look over, Maya varified the fact that she had no idea who this girl was. She was not from her horse, or from her year so Maya was clueless. Maya sighed audibly and swiped some auburn locks from her eyes. She had been at Hogwarts for almost five years and she still didn't know many students. It looked as if Abigail recognized the other Gryffindor, at least slightly, and they seemed to be on friendly terms.

"Hello," she said, her 'h' getting lost in her soft spanish accent. The girl's friendly, cheerful smile was intoxicating and Maya found herself smiling in return. Maya shrugged slightly and said to both Gryffindor girls, "I just never seem to have much to say. I get past the hellos and the introductions, then all of my wonderful vocabulary goes out the window." Her tone was tinged with sarcasem, but she wasn't sure the other girls would understand it. It was more irony than anything because English was Maya's second language, and while she could eaisly hold a steady conversation, her vocabulary wasn't that big.

[Abigail Greenwater]

Abigail shook her head slowly, showing she said 'no'. "I-I u-use up all t-the normal starters. Weather, b-b-books, family. Th-Then I forget everything else to say." As she listed the 'usual' topics she also counted them off with her fingers, trying to remember them all. Shoulders moved up and down in a quick shrug. "M-My aunt holds tons of parties. Sh-She can keep a group talking for h-hours."

Grey eyes went over to Maya as she explained her problems with small talk. Abby nodded along with her in a agreement. Leaning back she put her arms behind her and held her upper body up with her hands.

Now she could take in everything around her. She'd always seen people hanging around together talking, laughing, being normal teens. Deep inside she wished that when people walked by them they'd look at them and thing they're one of those groups of kids just hanging out and relaxing together.

[Felicity Hjort]

"Have you ever tried talking about random things?" she asked, curious as to how the two believed they weren't very good at small talk. Was this not what they were speaking of? Or was this considered a large conversation? Could talking about small talk be considered small talk? She wasn't entirely sure of the answer, she'd have to write someone and ask. Thinking about it, Felicity didn't think she had a problem not knowing what to say. There were a few times, like when Michael asked her twice to be his girlfriend, and both times she didn't answer and instead was saved by something to distract her from answering. She'd set herself on fire once when she was ignoring conversation around her...she had a lot to say then. And when Corey kissed her, she hadn't known how to respond at all then. Other than those few times, she was a pretty fair chatter box.

"Such as the moon?" She'd done that once, spoke with Corey about it, and every time she saw the moon it reminded her of their conversation, and what she'd learned that very night in his presence. It hurt, but she knew nothing could come of what was said and what wasn't said between them. "Or rainbows? What of the giant wars of centuries ago? They were quite interesting, most of them. Oh, I know!" she shouted suddenly. "The library! There are tons of topics there to start a flame in a conversation, there's nothing the library can't help with."

Actually, hadn't she just been heading there?