"Maybe that's why Kazimeriz thinks you need it. He knows lots of things." Plymouth nuzzled her "brain" with his nose. "He probably knows all about brain-break."

Plymouth was ready for a lot of things, but he wasn't quite ready to verbalize Copernicus and Cela's.. relationship. So he didn't. He'd get there eventually, but it wasn't this day.

"Besides... It's a win-win, maybe? I get to hang out with you and you get your points back, maybe?" Plymouth would really like Cela time.

"Ten points wouldn't change anything." It really wouldn't. She'd be in the exact same spot, fourth overall. "I get to hang with you. That's a good reason." Cela chewed on her lip a bit, wanting to ask Plym a question but knowing he wouldn't likely want to talk about it.

Sigh.

She wished there was someone she could... wait a minute...

Maybe she could ask Dom-in-ick things? He was her friend after all.

"I know the points thing is important to you though. I'd like to help..," because Plymouth really, really,really hated the idea of her family being mean to her (like Albert was to Cope) over points. BUT, he was a FAN of her wanting to spend time with him.

"I didn't think you wanted to ... hang with me anymore. I'll help you brew ALL your potions, ALL the time. So, maybe it's a win, win, win, CellBell."


Plymouth noticed the lip nibbling. He pinched her lightly, playfully, up and down her little arm. "What? Tell me. Don't keep things from me. I'll listen this time."

"Okay." Celandine agreed, "I'll help you help me." She studied her foot again for a moment then turned her face towards him. "I wanted to. You... " She decided not to make mention of the taffy and how he'd returned it through Kel. That was far too hurty to dwell on.

"Hmm? I don't want to make you listen to things you don't want to hear." Cela told him with a mixture of seriousness and sadness.

"Wasn't that our problem though? Or, my problem. I didn't listen to things that I didn't want to hear? I'd... CellBell? I'd really - really - like to do right by you from now on." Plymouth pinched, pinched, pinched again. "If it bothers me too much, I'll just... do the best I can."

"It's about Copernicus. And probably about nuzzling and kissing." And yes, it was going to re-kill parts of Plymouth all over again. But... if he got keep Cela... even a little bit... then... "Right?"

"Um."


Celandine took a deeeeep breath.

"In potions class? He said... he wished he hadn't... he'd take it back... um..." This clearly bothered her enough that she was finding hard to say anything else.

"I don't want to be a regret."

Plymouth sighed. Did he really have to do this? Really? This was some sick cosmic joke that Plymouth had to defend his stepbrother - who had ... Plymouth's own girl and heart. But... Plymouth did it anyway.


He smushed her to him. "Don't be a crazy person, CellBell. He doesn't regret you. He regrets ... me. It's never been about regretting you. It's me. I kind of make everyone so unhappy."

Cela snuggled again.

"I'm so scared that he will." She whispered, "and I'd deserve it because I hurt you and made him hurt you too... thats what makes me unhappy. Not you, but you being unhappy and me hurting you."

It was ridiculous how their happiness all depended on the happiness of each other.

Totally ridiculous and angsty and SIGH.

"I'm scared that he won't want to wait anymore."

Plymouth shook his head, back and forth back and forth, and rubbed his nose against Cela's head. "No... no. He won't. He couldn't. Not with you, CellBell." Ugggghhhhh this was hard. Plymouth had to shut parts of his brain off; he had to compartmentalize.

"Wait on what?" Plymouth was pretty sure that it was needless to point out that Copernicus hadn't really waited... "I'm not in the way anymore. I don't even hardly talk to either of you..." Plymouth had just assumed they were off together like they always were before, just unhindered with him out of the way.

She relaxed a bit because if Plym said it was so, then it was so.

Right?

"Ummm... wait on you. Wait for you. To be okay."

"Wait on me to be okay," Plymouth repeated. Repeating it didn't make it make anymore sense though. "What does that even mean? You want me to get a new girlfriend or something so you two can be happy???"

That was crazy talk. Sure, Plymouth had asked a couple of girls out. He enjoyed Daphne's company so much and Evolette never ceased to amuse him. But... but...

But Plymouth's heart wasn't into finding a new home. Not yet. So everyone was STILL sad because of him??? Maybe he'd start faking.

Celandine frowned. That was a hard thing to answer. There was definitely a little selfish and unreasonable part of herself that did not want to share Plymouth with anyone. Particularly not just anyone.

"It means that neither of us want to... make you hurt anymore or ever again. Cope... that honour thing that he does?" Celandine wasn't exactly a fan. Would Plym ever be okay with it? Because Cel was 99.99% sure nothing would change if Plymouth didn't somehow give Copernicus the go ahead.

Ugh.
She stared at her foot again and tugged the ribbon loose.

Plymouth stared down at Celandine. He most certainly did not know what she was on about with Copernicus's honor. Really? Honor? Seriously???


Seriously?!


But, Plymouth kept this to himself. He was making a thousand different faces as he tried to come up with one that didn't give him away or make things worse.


"Following you is going to be a hard act, CellBell. Losing you was no small thing. I'm trying though, okay? I'm feeling... a little better right now, right here, with you." Which probably wasn't very helpful. But... it was the truth. Plymouth reached down and started to retie her ribbons.

Cela wanted to tell him that he hadn't lost her, not exactly, but she didn't want to see the reaction that she thought he'd probably have to that.

"I feel a little better too." She answered quietly instead. She watched him tie the ribbons and chewed on her lip for a bit. "Your parents invited me to come and stay for summer."

Plymouth debated and thought as he tied her ribbons. Ugh. Fine. It was amazing the things Plymouth would do for Celandine Toussaint. Fine. He'd tell her what he had wanted to tell Copernicus. Fine. For her... so she'd know that he was trying.

"If I tell you something.. will you pretend that.. well you have to forget it later. It doesn't count. But, I want you to know that I am trying. For you and for me. And for Perni, too, I guess."

Plymouth did some labored breathing. In and out, hee hee hoooooo. "I asked two girls out. On dates. And I don't know why, but they said yes. So. I did. And, that's it. Now you know what I was trying to tell Copernicus. And you know I'm trying. It's not easy. I'm sorry. No. I mean.. I'll just shut up."


Plymouth needed another ribbon to tie and some time to ponder her coming over for the summer. Especially if... she was going to be with Copernicus.He stared HARD at her ribbons.

"I bet they said yes because you are really pretty and funny and nice and you have really nice... um... arms..." Cel blushed a little and let out a little sigh, thinking about the whole situation.

Absently she tugged her ribbons loose again and took a big breath, wanting to ask who but letting it go again and just leaning against Plymouth a bit.

"If I dated... other boys... what would you... think about that?" Cela was wondering if he'd be more okay or less okay than with Copernicus.

Oh? "Really?" Plymouth "hehe'd". "You think? Appreciate that, CellBell." Plymouth hugged Cela TIGHT to him and rubbed her own little arms (that Plymouth was quite fond of himself). So maybe he was feeling a lot, lot better. He even "hehe'd" again.

Plymouth took a moment or two to consider her question. "Hmm. Other boys as in ones that do not live in the Kettleburn Cottage?" He titled her away from him so he could see her face. "I think... well, I think it'd be easier if it wasn't Copernicus, sure. I have to live with him, you know." Bahhh. Okay. Plymouth took a deep breath and let it out slow. "I'd definitely think about it. Any boys. But.. Maybe we could... make a deal. Me and you. Like our secret handshake."

"I do think." Celandine agreed, her delight at hearing him 'hehe' again obvious on her face. She snuggled into him, resting her forehead on his shoulder for a bit.

Cela blinked at him when he held her away a bit. She did NOT want to date other boys but if it sort of eased Plym into the idea of her and Cope?

"What kind of deal?" She asked cautiously.

"The deal is... I'll ... well you are my best friend, CellBell. I'll tell you if I ... date someone else. Or I will... if you'll tell me. We'll talk. Um.. about it. Maybe that'd be okay? Make it easier? Would that be okay?" Plymouth was thinking that the big chair in Common Room would be perfect for Plymouth and Cela talking.

Celandine nodded. "But... not Copernicus?" She frowned a little in consternation. Would she be allowed to talk about him? Or, more importantly, ask about him? Cel pressed the back of her hand to her lips in a thoughtful and self-comforting gesture, her eyes on Plymouth as she thought about it.

Best friend.

Apart from the other best friends that was.

Celandine headbutted Plym in the shoulder, her hand still pressed against her mouth.

"I wish it wasn't him. I do. I reeeeeeeeeeeeally, really do." Plymouth took a breath in, then let it out slow. "But, that's who it is, apparently. So, I'll deal with it.. if you'll talk to me. And stay with me like this sometimes. And that," Plymouth grinned at the headbutt, then lightly head butted her back - his forehead to hers. "I MUST like you a whole lot, Celandine Toussaint." Plymouth snorted and shook his head at her. Crazy girl with so much hold over him.

"It is... but... it isn't. We aren't..." Celandine took a funny little breath. "We aren't... together. It's the same as it was before, mostly." 'cept they'd done a lot of acknowledgement that they wanted to be.

Sigh.

"I'll do all of those things." Cela agreed, "And... I'm coming to stay with you over the summer."

Plymouth nodded at her, assuring her that he was listening and processing. She liked liked Copernicus but wasn't with him. Probably because of Plymouth himself, but Plymouth figured ... he was doing the best he could. He really was. Plymouth would give Copernicus the shirt off his back and then some to make him happy, but giving him Cela... well. Yeh.


"Coming to stay at the cottage? Or coming to stay with me at the cottage? Can I send Perni away and you just stay with me for a week?" Plymouth asked, most sincerely. "THen I'll go away and let you have... your time. I'll.. go stay with Daphne or .. something."

"Copernicus isn't going to be there for the whole summer." Celandine answered with a tiny furrow in her brow. She chased it away with a smile though, partly because she was happy for Cope and partly because she liked the idea of spending time with Plym and meeting and snuggling Zahra.

Oh. Giggle.

"You'd stay with Daphne?" Cela tried not to picture the reactions Daphne's mother would have to Plymouth and utterly failed.

Teehee.

And her mind instantly went to the picture of Daphne and Plymouth being chased out in the garden by a horde of ducks.

Teehee.

"I didn't know that you and Daphne were that good of friends." Not that Cela minded, as it was she liked the idea of her friends being friends. It wasn't fun to be stuck between people that didn't like each other after all.

"He's not?" Plymouth shrugged. First he'd heard about it. Was Albert sending him off after all? Hmmm. Hm. "Not cause of me, right?" Right?


"Oh... oh yeah." Plymouth was grinning all over again at her giggling. "Yeah. Me and Daphadil. She likes to pretend that she isn't all that fond of me, but I think she likes me. I know better." Hm. So Daphne hadn't told Cela about their date then? Plymouth should tell then? Yeah? Since they were talking .. he figured he should.


"She's one of them." The dates.