 Sorry for the length! *conflicted professor here* Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
Gaston's eyes flicked toward the stage. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but Miss Diggory appeared to be feeling better now, which he was very relieved to see. He'd been worried about her! It looked like Paul was handling that well, so he turned his attention to the distraught ghost.
He raised a skeptical eyebrow. He didn't believe it was anyone's intention to make fun of Myrtle or death, but somehow he didn't think pointing that out to her was going to go over well. He simply nodded in reply. "It's alright, Myrtle," he said. "Just tell me what'w wrong, and I'll try to fix it..." He listened carefully as she started to tell him how she thought dying should be portrayed. Now they were getting somewhere (or maybe that was just wishful thinking on his part)!
Before he could make any real progress with Myrtle, Paul was shouting at her. "Paul..." he began, hoping to calm him down before things escalated further. He knew that tone was only going to upset Myrtle even worse, and (what a shock!) he was right! Before he could try to do any damage control, Myrtle flew away - but not before completely letting Paul have it.
For several moments, Gaston stood frozen to the spot, his eyes darting from Paul to the place Myrtle had once been, unable to fathom what just happened. He could've expected that reaction from any professor at Hogwarts, but not Paul! Paul was one of the kindest people he knew... or so he always thought. Now he wasn't sure how to feel. He was concerned (for Myrtle and Paul) and shocked and hurt, but mostly he was confused! No matter how he tried to justify it, he still thought that was out of line, and he had every intention of telling Paul so... but he didn't. He wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because he thought Myrtle already got he point across. Maybe it was because he didn't trust Paul not to lash out at him, or maybe it was simply because he had enough compassion not to call him out in front of everyone.
Instead of speaking, Gaston returned Paul's irritated look with one of quiet disappointment and sidled back over to his orchestra. He needed more time to process his conflicting emotions, but that was a luxury he didn't have right now. He'd been so lost in thought that he hadn't even registered Rosalyn trying to talk to Myrtle or Miss Spinnet offering to take over her part or the other students (Junia, Flynn, And Juni) standing around. It was finally seeing Mr. Ashbury-Hawthorne balled up that brought him back to reality. He cautiously approached him. "Is everything okay, Mr. Ashbury-Hawthorne?" he asked, looking at him with concern. "Why are you hiding?"
__________________ Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led
If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true... |