Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mad Eye Touz 
It was impossible not to smile back at Cornelius. Aspen was having a bit of a snit, "an odd reaction" as she called it, and yet.... here she was smiling and thinking about maaaaaybe inching even closer to her favorite boy. How did snuggling mix with sarcasm? Could that work?
"Of course I don't want to spend the summer with them. Not that I find Aunt Linda's to be pleasing, but at least it's family. It's not as imposing. I suppose I should be grateful for the opportunity. Mr. Bole is the Head of MLE, and Mrs. Branxton used to be the Headmistress here. I'm sure I'll learn a lot, but... but I just want to go home." Maybe the thought of snuggling scared away her sarcasm, because now Aspen was being nothing short of sincere. She just wanted to go home.
"The problem might be with me." Paaaaaause. "And I'm also going to miss you." Just facts, that was. Aspen grinned as his chin rested on her arm, with her own head tilting sideways to take in every bit of this sight. "You're my favorite."
Cornelius's smile only widened as he saw Aspen's own smile appear, loving that she seemed to be enjoying his presence. He felt as though he hadn't been able to see her as much recently, with all the studying he'd been doing. He listened patiently as she explained her distaste for her summer plans, and occasionally took a bite of his roll. His eyebrows rose as she explained exactly who she'd be spending the summer with, but it honestly didn't impress him all that much. He wasn't one to keep track of names of important people.
He couldn't help but feel a bit bad for the girl before him as she stated simply that she wanted to go home. He couldn't imagine not spending his holidays at home, for at least part of the time.
"The problem's not with you," he disagreed to her next words, lifting his free hand (which was now empty, since he'd finished his roll) to tuck her hair once more behind her ear.
"You have every right to be upset." He wished he was better at this kind of thing. He wasn't sure what to say to make her happy, he just knew that he wanted her to be happy.
With her next words, Cornelius couldn't help but grin, his chin lifting just slightly from its resting place on his arm.
"I'm your favorite?" he repeated playfully, a warm smile growing on his expression as he tilted his head to the side just slightly. But he fell into a more serious state as he really contemplated her words,
"I'm gonna miss you too," he admitted honestly, flashing her a softer smile as he leaned in a bit closer. He waited until his expression was right before her own, his light brown eyes staring directly into her lighter ones, before he spoke once more.
"Because you happen to be my favorite too." He flashed her a teasing grin before placing a warm kiss on her cheek and returning to his normal sitting position.
"Maybe that's why you should come visit me this summer," Cornelius muttered casually, the smallest hint of a mischievous smile on his expression as he began to eat off of his plate.
"Or I could come visit you..." he muttered between bites.