Yellow Cat/Red Cat

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Derrick lay by the lake in a relaxed and calm state. The kind of state that he had not felt since his parent's death. It was a combination of things seeing as that is what it would take to get him to the place of peace he was at now. For once it wasn't some skill he had mastered, a new tree he had discovered, or a spell he had learned to perform correctly. It wasn't any of those things, although performing his first Patronus was quite exhilarating, for once in Derrick Breckenridge's life it was people. Not the family he was born into, not the orphanage children who despised him so, and not the family who adopted him; no this time it was people who he could call friend. Not because they were blood or he lived with them but because he could relate. These people had helped him get here, especially Josh, and now he never wanted to leave. Sitting up he reached out and touched Francesca realizing that his beloved guitar wasn't so much a crutch anymore but an instrument for him to move forward with. Sighing he picked his original friend up, began to strum her lightly, and started the process of tuning her. It was a tedious process and probably the only part of playing guitar that he didn't enjoy to some extent. It was necessary though and Derrick always managed to do it in short order so it was nothing to worry about. He loved his guitar and would never let anything happen to it. With ease he began to play and sing softly as if he was serenading the lake. Although the music was more for himself then anything.

"I watch my yellow cat invade red cat in the yard. The feline war has raged for years so I assume it'd be too hard for me to drive my foot between them. I would never risk the scratch just to prove to one or both of them that a cat is just a cat. Again, I watch my cousin Greg watch MTV inside his home. He makes fun of the Hip-hop videos from the couch he rides alone. Snug in the cushion of his cackling, he forgets his looming doubts. He has relied on this for years; you will not yank the carpet out. Oh, no. These are my friends, This is who they have been for always. These are my days. This is how they stay."

Derrick knew not what motivated him to sing this particular song but for whatever reason he did. This was the case when he played guitar most of the time. There was no particular reason for the songs he would choose but whatever the reason he felt they fit him at that moment. If only now he could write it would make him feel complete or so he hoped. The, or possibly a would be more appropriate, muse was lacking in his life though and no matter where he searched he couldn't find it. Possibly these new people he called friends would provide him with one or at least Derrick hoped that they would. These people though weren't a means to an end to him like most things were though. This time he was genuinely interested in learning about them and experiencing whatever they had to offer him. It was the first time he had ever been this interested in anything besides music or exploring nature. This like a majority of the other things he did wasn't a phase but for some reason Derrick doubted that people could ever be just a phase in people's lives. Maybe as they departed after certain ages but never could you rule them out completely. Up until this point he had been blind to seeing such things though and it drove him to despair now that he would let such an observation slip by. He would not let such a thing occur again. After all Derrick was smart wasn't he? He should have noticed such a thing by now.

"I watch this dude each night, same table, who creates and crumples up. His eyes are wide from sipping endlessly his endless coffee cup. He feeds me quotes, that lonely goat. I watch him grazing by himself. I will not stop him when he rambles; I'm becoming one myself. Lou is bugged and shot up on drugs. He sweats this bird he hardly knows. All that he wants is to see someone he respects without their clothes so like some hybrid mother lover she'd soothe and heal his wounds and kiss those dying ears so softly that the reaper stops to swoon. Oh, please. These are my friends. This is who they have been for always. These are my days. This is how they stay."

He never understood why he related with certain bands so much but he did and for whatever reason the fact that Derrick could understand what they were singing about filled him with joy. It was odd he knew but was sure that others had the same feeling. After all wasn't that the point of music groups so that people could relate. He needed to create his own music though. He had the urge and need but for whatever reason no matter what he did Derrick always failed. It depressed him to a certain extent but he was learning to cope with it. As he sang Derrick heard someone behind him. It didn't bother him as people had listened to him play and sing before. Now though he hoped secretly that the person would speak up and talk after he was done. Was it wrong that he was becoming so addicted to interacting with people? If it was he didn't know and whatever the case right now he had his guitar to focus on and that was more then enough for him. What more could he ask for then sweet melodies at the end of the day? Oh right friends but now he had those. He almost laughed as he sang but maintained his composure and played on calmly.

"I watch my neighbor's son play with his shotgun in the street. I think I'll blaze all day and marvel at the mass of food I eat. It's strange; I'm skinny when I'm standing but I'm Buddha when I sit, and if I'm truly so enlightened why'd I waste your time on it as I look back at countless crossroads and the middle where I stay, right up the beaten path to boredom where the fakest f***s get laid by the faux-finest finds. It's been that way and god damn you, how you stay, with every scummy, crummy hour of the scummy, crummy day."

Derrick finished with passion and drive but then fell back softly into the grass. It was a passive motion and as he stared at the sky he noticed the person still standing there. It was a girl, what her name was or anything of that nature he had no idea but should she talk to him he was sure he'd find out soon enough.

Closed-Abigail

[Abigail Greenwater]

The day was young and Abigail had many things to do. Number one on her list was writing back to Jane to ask for more tips. One could never have too many tips for dates and other such things that plague the life of a teen. Maybe not plague, but just find ways to disrupt a teens ability to sit still. So Abigail was outside with a pen and paper, trying to think of some specific things to ask about. What was she to say? Should she bring a present? All of these things ran laps in Abigail's mind.

The grounds were pleasant enough to walk around on. The sun was in the air and the grass was green. Armed with her trusty brown backpack she walked down toward the lake. In her lifetime she had never felt this calm before. She had always been on edge about something. Whether it was her parent's upcoming hearing from Azkaban or her Aunt and Uncle's next dinner party. Something always was in her mind. She didn't know if he was the reason or if she had just started to not worry about things that she had no control over. Whichever it was it was a godsend.

Nearing the lake she saw something lying by the water. Abby had no idea who or what that blob was only that there was a blob. Feeling curious she started to walk toward it. Slowing her steps she didn't want to disturb whatever it was. It could be some poisonous evil thing that wanted to eat her face. Or it could be a student relaxing. Either way she didn't want to have her face eaten off. Slowly getting closer she noticed it was a human, a boy to be exact and by the looks he was younger then her.

Now she was almost next to the boy. He seemed to notice her but had taken no heed to her presence. Not that she cared really, less talking and more writing for her. Then he fell back into the grass and glanced at her again. Feeling nervous for a fleeting second she didn't know what to do. The only thing she could do was stand there and look like an idiot. Raising her hand she gave him a quick wave. "A-Am I interrup-interrupting you?" She asked quietly.

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Derrick watched the girl her movements and how hesitant they were. It was odd he had always thought how human curiosity always allowed people to approach but once close enough to see what it was people grew afraid. They wanted nothing more to do with the object or the person once they discovered what or who it was. Derrick was happy to say he was neither of those people now. He used to be the latter but with the help of Maddyson he had gotten over such things. It was, he knew, odd to think about such things at any given time but he didn't really care. Derrick was odd and he was pretty okay with that because otherwise he wouldn't be himself. Looking back at the girl he gave a shrug that was somewhat carefree but uncertain at the same time.

"Not really I'm kind of uninterruptable I suppose. Is that a word? If not I'll think of another one then just let me know."

Derrick basked in the sun enjoying each moment of it. The cool air was present but had the courtesy not to run rampant giving the day a nice temperature. Sighing he stared out into the lake wondering why he had neglected it so far this year. The landscape of Hogwarts in general had gone neglected by him so far this year but he was busy. He was sure it would understand. Looking back up at the girl he wondered exactly what she had been doing before he took notice to her..

"Am I interrupting you at all?"

It was a simple question but Derrick didn't ask many complex questions. This was because unless it involved his studies Derrick usually didn't like the answer. Why should he complicate things when he was quite happy with the way they were already? A lot was going on in his head but most of it Derrick figured out on his own so why open his mouth. This was most likely just another reason that he didn't open his mouth all that often. Calmly he strummed Francesca not much else in his mind as he stared up into the sky. Derrick was at peace and it was nice. He hadn't felt this way in a long time so the sudden realization was nice. Derrick waited now for the girl to respond if she did in fact respond she seemed nervous for some reason or at least that's what he'd attribute her stuttering to. Why though Derrick wasn't that intimidating of a presence, was he?