Kiss Me at Midnight...

[Felicity Hjort]

"Oh! But it's camping, you've got to find the time to go, it's a great thing to be able to do," Ib was nearly barking in his own excitement. "We can plan it all out. And even if you and your husband are unable to make it, Celina could still come along. It'd keep Felicity busy and away from the animals in the woods, one year, she chased a fox and was chased back when she got too close to its den."

Meadow merely shook her head, that was not the way to get a woman to agree to go camping. Being chased by wild animals, thankfully he didn't tell of the time they'd gone fishing and Felicity had fallen overboard, or the time the bear had waltzed into camp. It was only the fox, and it was Felicity's fault. When Celina latched onto her mum, the older woman furrowed her eyebrows slightly, trying to figure out for herself why the scene just seemed so heartwrenching.

Each of the older Hjorts took Mrs Jedynak hand, in warm gesture, wishing she could stay a bit longer. Ib, so he could plan his trip a bit more, and Meadow so she'd be able to get to know the woman better, but perhaps another time. "Time?" Meadow answered. What time? "Anytime after Midnight, if it's appropriate for you. That's about when most will be heading off, I believe."

Felicity shook her friend's mum's hand, with a cheerful smile, though she wished she could stay as well. While Celina had told her Drew and her brother didn't get along, she really didn't see how not. He certain couldn't be that different from her friend and their mum, could he? After the release of her hand and Drew's from the woman, she again wrapped her arm around him, only to let her body tense a little in jealousy when he offered to walk her friend back. Why she was jealous about that, she wasn't entirely sure, and of Celina of all people, her best friend wouldn't do anything, she was more than sure of that fact. It just made her feel off about him offering, and for really, no reason.

When his help was denied, her body relaxed again. That was the second time she'd felt that way about Drew offering to help Celina, of all people to feel that way about. Shrugging it off, as it'd gone away at the wall that had been put up, she wasn't entirely sure what to say or do. Celina had told her of the plan to celebrate New Years, but she'd also written to her that it wasn't a big deal Alfonz had canceled.

[Celina Jedynak]

Elizabeth nodded her head as she best she could still wrapped in her daughter's arms. "Alright then, my love. I will see you after midnight. Make your resolution count...ok?" Elizabeth pulled away from Celina and cupped the young girl's face in her hands. She smiled warmly and kissed her forehead. Celina's eyes closed as she nodded her head. "I have a few hours, Ma'ma...I'll make sure it counts." She smiled and as that was said, Elizabeth stood up, smiled once more at everyone and left the house.

Celina then just stood there for a moment, not exactly knowing what to do. She turned back to Felicity and Drew, seeing each other arm and arm. It was cute, but a bit odd. She tilted her head a bit, and giggled. They looked kind of funny actually, but not in a bad way. "My mum calls it puppy love...what do you think that really means?" she said looking at Mrs Hjort. "What does that really mean?" Celina giggled again and looked back at her two friends.

[Drew Thornton]

Being called out like that made him self-conscious and he quickly dropped his hold on Felicity. He definitely wasn't a puppy and he really wasn't sure he wanted to go anywhere near that L-word yet. To top it off, he had never liked having his relationships trivialized in such a way.

And if it wasn't trivial, then there was no reason he couldn't have his arm around her, right? In fact, it was his privledge... nay, his right to put his arm around his girlfriend, wasn't it?

"Now I know you aren't claiming that either of us are of a canine persuassion," Drew answered with a slight smirk. Calling a guy a dawg wasn't always a compliment but calling a girl such never was.

[Celina Jedynak]

Drew dropping his arm and looking rather taken aback, Celina knew she had done something wrong. What had she done? Was her mother wrong? Or was puppy love a saying for something bad or inappropriate? Her gaze dropped and as she heard Drew speak up about it she felt even worse.

"No...I...I mean, it....it wasn't....." she stumbled over her words trying to piece together exactly what she had meant by her saying. But then she had forgotten, what had she truly meant by it? Surely, she wasn't calling either of her friends dogs. Why would she? That was so rude in and of itself...If she had seen Drew's small smirk it may have calmed her a bit, but as small as it was and with her looking mainly towards the ground, she did not.

"I'm sorry...I meant nothing by it," Celina said softly as she looked back up apologetically at her friends.

[Felicity Hjort]

Opening her mouth to reply with a small giggle, she was stopped before she even started. Drew dropped his hold on her, and she didn't understand why. Celina's comment was obviously just a little joke, and really, that's what most people called it. Puppy love, wasn't it just a way of saying two people liked each other? It didn't necessarily mean real love, and as she thought before, she loved Drew as a friend, but definitely was not ready for more than that.

While Drew may have thought it was his right, Felicity's dad would've argued. It was a privledge that his daughter allowed him to do such, not his right as her so called boyfriend.

As Celina stumbled over her words to explain, Felicity knitted her eyebrows slightly. "Celina, it's all right. You don't need to apologize, you were only joking," she stressed the word for Drew's sake, not caring for the tone he was using. "And I think it means when people like each other a lot, and adore each other. I mean, I don't know the actual definition, but that's what I think."

Felicity wasn't too happy with the situation of Drew dropping his arm from around her, and she'd quickly dropped her own, thinking that maybe he was just uncomfortable standing that way, though she didn't understand why. "Why don't we go finish helping in the kitchen, and then we can do something," she suggested, thinking maybe a change in environment was needed.

[Drew Thornton]

She may have been joking, but Drew still didn't like it and he was going to put his arm back around her but when she dropped hers, he figured she was too mad at him. He had a brief flashback of the whole arm incident by the lake and remembered how badly that had ended. He didn't think it would get that far, but he still wasn't sure.

"I'm sorry..." he mumbled, not sure if anyone heard him, but that didn't really matter. He still shouldn't have snapped at Celina like that even if he didn't care for her comment.

[Celina Jedynak]

Celina saw Drew's lips move slightly, but wasn't quite sure of what he said. Celina figured though, that whatever it was, she probably deserved it. This was great, just bloody great. Celina didn't know what she really had done wrong, and even though Felicity had said everything was fine and had gotten her joke she just felt horrible for even mentioning anything still. Especially, since she was only trying to get a laugh from everyone. Obviously, it wasn't as cute or as funny as she thought it was.

But was that just the thing? If she couldn't even joke with them, what was she supposed to do? Celina decided it was going to be somewhat like it was in her house. She just had to watch what she said and not make comments. She tried to smile at Felicity and Drew and nodded. "Ok, I'll help." Celina wasn't sure exactly what needed to be done in the kitchen, but anything to get on past what just happened....even doing things the muggle way.

[Felicity Hjort]

Both Meadow and Ib, seeing this particular reaction to the young girl's comment, had to raise questioning eyebrows. Did this boy always get so hyped up over something so petty? And if so, Merlin help him if they got wind of him getting that way with their daughter, especially with how she could be at times. Really, it was a silly little thing to get hyper about, and Felicity had been quick in defense of her friend, who quietly backed down, crawling into a little shell she'd just tried to break out of.

Nodding her head, making her red hair shake slightly, Meadow gently wrapped an arm around Celina's shoulders, to guide her into the kitchens. "Now deary, we'll find something you'll get real easy, Felicity told me about your knowing fewer muggle ways than wizarding, but I think you'll pick up on how to peel carrots and cut celery for a platter."

Felicity turned to follow her mum, slipping her hand into Drew's while she was at it. She wasn't mad, she just didn't understand why he'd reacted that way, and he'd dropped his arm right after as well, that was what really got to her the most. Starting to take the path back to the kitchen, she heard her father's rougher voice.

"Now wait just a minute, there," he started, taking a step toward the two. "Felicity, go on to help your mum and friend there, I want to talk to Andrew for a minute." Under his piercing gaze, she fought a quick internal battle of what to do, and realized that no matter what she did, she lost. But if she did as her dad said, she lost less.

Dropping her hold on him, she wove her way through the crowd, meeting up with the two in the sunflower decorated area. Meadow was showing Celina how to peel with a peeler, and not peeling too much of it. After getting her friend going a bit better with it, she turned to add a bit of this and that to a few pots and crocks.

Felicity smiled at her friend, as Meadow pointed her in the direction of where Felicity, Alyssa, and Mary were folding cold cuts and making meat and bread platters.

In the living area, close to the door, Ib had crossed his arms, staring at the boy, waiting for an explanation of what had just happened. He wasn't about to have two arguing kids in his home when he hardly knew either of them. No, he wasn't about to toss the boy out on his keister, though that idea pleased him a bit, but he knew Felicity wouldn't take too kindly to it and would probably throw a big fit about it.

[Drew Thornton]

"I'm sorry..." Drew said, a little less softly as Felicity took his hand again. He didn't have time for much more than a quick sqeeze as her dad called him out, letting the girls go on back to the kitchen without him.

Great. This was it. Drew had lost his cool and now he was going to pay the price. Good thing he wasn't walking Celina home after all because it seriously looked like Drew would be walking back to the Wenderling before the clock struck 9.

"Yes sir," Drew answered the man, letting Felicity go as he turned to face her father.

[Felicity Hjort]

"So, it's Celina, aye?" Alyssa questioned, taking a good eyefull of the girl. She was a stark contrast of Felicity, dark hair, dark brown eyes, but she had the same pale skin. "You go to school with Felicity, isn't that right? How do you like it in Norway?"

Alyssa like to talk, so starting a conversation was easy for her to do, and Felicity felt a bit safer with the two conversing than with Drew and Celina doing so. Mary, on the other hand, was interested to know where the girl's boyfriend had gotten off to. Leaning into her blonde friend, she asked her to pass a bit of ham and lowered her voice to question the whereabouts of the good looking boy.

"He's talking to dad," she explained in return, thinking it was better to say he was talking to him, than her dad talking to Drew. It sounded like a lot less trouble, and she really hoped that was not what was going on.

"Now, I don't mean to pry into anything, but that is my daughter's friend," Ib pointed in the direction the girl's had just gone off in. "I will not tolerate outbursts like that in front of anyone here, especially our friends, my family, and my daughter." His voice was growing more threatening with each word he spoke. "Are you going to tell me what just happened? All the girl did was call it puppy love, and mind, I don't like to think of my daughter going anywhere near that direction, but I think there's need for explanation as Felicity hasn't said anything about the two of you not getting along, reason why my wife was so keen on allowing both of you to be here."

[Drew Thornton]

"Yes sir, I understand," Drew answered, wanting badly to drop his gaze, but not daring to do anything less than face Mr. Hjort and look him straight in the eye. "And no sir, there's not a problem. Celina and I get along fine for the most part. I misunderstood her and I over reacted. I apologize for that. It won't happen again." Drew really didn't know how else to explain it to the man.

[Celina Jedynak]

Celina still a bit stunned about everything, not to mention still going back over in her head why she had been so rude, Mrs Hjorts hands were somewhat of a comfort to her. They distracted her from the incident, if only for a moment, and Celina smiled as the older woman talked of peeling carrots. "They don't already come peeled?" Celina was confused. They always looked peeled already when she ate at home. Or maybe it was because she didn't help her mother in the kitchen. How long did dinner actually take using magic, any ways? Celina didn't know, never was one to find out. She figured her mother would teach her eventually, but they just never had gotten around to it. Celina was still a bit confused but as they walked away, her body tensed up a bit as she noticed Drew and Mr. Hjort hadn't come along. Oh, Merlin had Celina ever thought she did it that time.

Drew would surely be upset with her now, causing him trouble with Felicity's father. Celina felt the sudden urge to owl for her mother or somehow get in contact with her. She looked around the kitchen they now entered to see if there was anything she could use to contact her mother, but there was not. Celina frowned a bit, worried to no ends about how her comment was only supposed to be in jest had turned into such horrid circumstances.

She tried to distract herself by peeling a carrot Mrs Hjort was trying to show her how to do. It wasn't going so well though, and as one of the other girls spoke, Celina slipped, cutting her hand with the peeler. "Ow!" she yelped a bit, but was quick to close her hand and respond back to the girl as if nothing was wrong. "Norway...um yea, I like it. It's more interesting with Felicity there of course," Celina smiled only to hide the pain that her hand was now giving off a bit. Stupid me... she thought to herself briefly looking at her hand, seeing it bleed she wished she was at home. At least there, her mother could heal her....she sighed.

[Felicity Hjort]

Ha! As if he really understood, he was merely a boy, a boy that was dating his youngest daughter, who was nearly two years younger than he was, and he thought he understood? What a load.

"It better not happen again, you can consider this your warning," he told Andrew, feeling quite proud of himself. Felicity wouldn't be angry with him, at least not too much as he hadn't tossed the boy out, Meadow wouldn't be angry with him for not consulting her before tossing the kid out, so, he was feeling pretty good. Well, other than the fact that his daughter's boyfriend, such a horrid word, was still there. "Anything more like that, and I will not hesitate from removing you, nor will I refrain from keeping my daughter from you either."

All right, so maybe that last part was a little over-the-top, but he liked the idea of it. Keeping Felicity from Andrew would mean the end of the so called relationship, it would mean he wouldn't have to worry about his fifteen year old daughter dating someone nearly two years older, he wouldn't have to stay up late at night trying to avoid thoughts of what this boy could press her into doing, and it would mean he could keep her from the world for another bit of time. She wouldn't have to grow up after all. Yeah, that was a nice thought. "Go ahead into the kitchen."

Back in the kitchen, Felicty continued with folding turkey, Mary with ham, Alyssa arranged the platter they were working on, knowing they were almost done. It wasn't terribly uncomfortable, at least the blonde didn't think so, and Celina seemed to be getting the peeling of the dead skin off the carrot. Her mum was busy adding a few more ingredients to the stove top pots, a bit more seasoning to the chili, and others were busy finishing off their own things, knowing the real party would be starting in another ten to fifteen minutes.

As Felicity looked up to grab a bit more turkey, she saw the colouring on Celina's hand when she glanced at it after replying to Alyssa. It just wouldn't do to have blood all over the food. Dropping the bit in her hand she reached around and grabbed Celina's shoulder gently. "I forgot I wanted to show you my room before we're not allowed upstairs," she told her friend, leading her up the back stairwell and right into the bathroom near her room.

"I can't fix it the wizarding way, but I can do it the muggle way," she smiled. "Here, let me see it." Taking her friend's hand, it didn't look terribly bad, a pretty easy fix. Just a bit of peroxide, cotton, and a band-aid, and Celina would probably be good to go. "Do you want me to clean it and bandage it for you?"

[Drew Thornton]

So maybe he didn't understand. To Drew it had been a snide response to a comment he had thought was rude. He understood that he should have been politer, not only because Celina was a friend, but also because she was the Hjort's guest.

But it had hardly been as big of a deal as Felicity's dad was making it out to be. Drew didn't doubt for an instant that the man would dump him on the porch without so much as a word, so he didn't dare contradict Mr. Hjort... other than standing his ground and not returning to the kitchen. No, he wasn't going to scamper off with his tail between his legs like a puppy who piddled on the living room rug. If he was going to be Felicity's boyfriend, he had to figure out how to work with her dad. Drew didn't expect to be best buds, but he was hoping to at least work up to being cordial.

"You don't have to like me Mr. Hjort. I get that," he said, straight out. Drew was pretty sure the man wouldn't like any boy Felicity brought home but that didn't make things any better for him. "But Felicity's a nice girl... and she's smart. She's not going to go out with some jerk who doesn't know how to treat her right." No, Drew didn't claim to do everything perfectly, but he did know that his parents had brought him up well. And no, the Hjort's wouldn't know that at the get go, but at this rate, they'd never find out, would they? "I was just hoping for a chance to show you I'm not some jerk trying to hurt her."

[Celina Jedynak]

Useless. That's what Celina was thinking as she followed her friend up to her bedroom. As they got there, Celina tried to look around, but only found that her eyes darted to the floor too many times to really take in anything. "No....it's ok...." she responded to her blond friend, looking up briefly to catch her eyes. Celina sighed. How did her mother know she would do something like this? Celina wondered, as she took a potion from her pocket if her mother was actually psychic. It wasn't like Celina was predictable or anything. Celina rolled her eyes. Nope...in her opinion she was as unpredictable as they came.

"My mum said..." Celina stopped briefly to giggle. "in her owe, so mum way, 'take this Celina, you may need it!'" Celina tried to laugh, but in the end it trailed off and she sadly shrugged. "Sorry...I'm so clumsy. I really have no idea what to do with things when it comes to doing them by hand. I can clean....but my mum, nor my dad, never let me near the kitchen," Celina wondered but could never really figure out why that was.

"Do you have a towel though? So that I don't make a mess.....or something?" Celina asked, swirling the purple healing potion just slightly.