Daniel walked pass by the group where he overheard Jake's lamentations. First time? How pity.

He stopped a moment by them and then looked away and up in the sky he gazed. He looked so sad but the calmness of the night is sweeping him away.

Kiri could hardly think it possible that so many conflicting emotions existed in one person, much less that that person was able to experience them all at once. She was happy and scared and worried. And scared. And happy. How was it possible?

Raiden, at least, didn't look as if he was about to faint or yell at her. In fact, he seemed to be as surprised - and confused - as Kiri was. She had to admit it had happened rather suddenly, but it was the same for her! There was no conscious thought or plan involved, she would never have been able to see it through.
Kiri shook her head vaguely, trying to get the clamour in her mind to quiet down enough so it would be possible for her to form coherent phrases.

She took a deep breath. "I-I don't know. I don't think I should have done it," she said as steadily as she could manage. But while that was probably true, Kiri wasn't so sure she could have prevented herself.
She stopped. There was not much else she could say. To try and get her feelings into words was impossible. Kiri was quiet for several moments. In the silence between them, she was practically shocked to discover the voices of the other students. She had completely forgotten about them.

"I..." Kiri smiled weakly. "I really like you, Raiden."

Several things became very clear to him, all at once. And they were troublesome things.

Kiri liked him. Really liked him, apparently. Which had somehow escaped his attention in his confusion over liking her. However... Part of him still had a crush on Celandine. Didn't it? His feelings had gone through a weird upheaval just now, but they seemed to be settling into the same places. He liked both of them, a whole lot. Which wasn't fair to either of them at all.

Raiden's hand moved on its own, reaching over and unknotting her fingers from each other. He slid his fingers in between hers, swallowing again to make his dry throat less scratchy. What did he do about this. What COULD he do about this?

"I like you too, Kiri," he said carefully. "A whole lot. But.. I don't know what to do about it. Because I think... I'm unfair." His free hand moved toward his mouth; he chewed on the tip of his thumb as he tried to think. Unlike the other areas of thought, this one had become murkier after... kissing. "I... I like both you and Cela. I wish I didn't, because it's unfair of me and you're both my friends and... I don't know what to do to make myself like one person less than the other."

Raiden Jae Kururugi was... a bad friend.

Kiri watched Raiden with a slight sinking feeling in his stomach. He was agonising over something, and she had an inkling that the end of that process was not going to be good. Silently, she listened to what he had to say. Some of it, Kiri had already suspected. Some of it was new. And while she was very happy that Raiden appeared to care about her a lot, there was a giant but attached to it. They were only in this situation, though, because of Kiri! Poor Raiden.

And poor Kiri.

When Raiden had finished, she didn't say anything while she tried to think but merely played with Raiden's fingers in an absent-minded kind of way. His skin was beautifully warm and soft. "Cela..." Kiri murmured.

She sighed. "I... guess I sort of knew, Raiden," she said quietly, staring at their intertwined fingers. In the darkness, they were indistinguishable. "But I-I didn't want this to happen. You shouldn't have to decide something like that. I'm sorry," she mumbled, squeezing his fingers awkwardly. "Don't go and... and choose, that's not right. It won't happen again. I... won't," she whispered the word, "kiss you again." And why did she sound so depressed? She managed to meet Raiden's gaze again. "But... thank you for being so understanding." She smiled.

Jake, who'd had his mouth slightly agape when Lawson had flung the grass at him, spat out the parts that found themself in his mouth. "Ewwwwwww... Meanie head!" Jake exclaimed, throwing a handful right back at the man. "Watch it, Lawson," he joked, sticking his tongue out and finding more grass there.

"This summer? Mmmmm... not much. I know I'm going back to the hospital for a while, though," he stated, though that was all he knew of so far. "What about youuuuuuuu?" Jake asked, eyes twinkling mischeviously.

Marcus ducked out of the way of the flying grass and laughed again. "Oooh watcha gonna do about it Upstead?" He eyed Jake for a moment a devious plan forming in his mind.

"Well don't forget we're going to the beach and tea at my parents house. And I'll be at the hospital with you." He lent over and gave him a reassuring pat on the back. Marcus, noticed Jake's look but didn't think anything of it. "I'm going to be spending some time in Australia with a friend" he replied grinning like an idiot.

Marcus slipped his wand from its holster and gave Jake a devilish grin as his plan was now about to come to fruition. "Feeling a little hot there Jake? Here let me cool you down. Aguamenti" he said pointing his wand straight at the boy and watching as water came out of his wand and soaked the Huffie from head to toe. He burst out laughing again and flopped back onto the ground still chortling to himself.

"Really? I wonder if my parents will have ever heard of them... They're both politicians in the muggle world so know quite a lot of prominent people. Although they probably wouldn't have heard of your family since we live in America." As Reid listened to her say how much money her family had he nearly chocked. That was a lot of money to have and yet here Rachel was acting nothing like a spoiled brat that most girls with money were. Then again she lived in a flat in Hogsmeade so maybe she'd left that family behind.

"I'm sorry," he almost whispered, not sure how to respond to what she'd just told him. His parents were the same really but he'd always had an escape from it. He'd made sure of that the moment he became a model and then a few years later with his acting. He now had a fortune of his own that would last him at least the rest of his lifetime and that didn't even include the allowance his parents gave him weekly. Whenever Reid felt too pressured he had the means to just leave it all behind, to get out of the country and not come back for a few months. He also had people employed by him to make sure his parents couldn't find him when he took those breaks. Obviously Rachel hadn't had that.

"Well then I'll have to make sure to take you a few times while we're in the country. I know she'll be happy for the company and exercise. That's really the only thing I regret about moving countries. I can't see my animals as much and they're left alone without good exercise for who knows how long." Reid was extremely glad that Rachel was seemingly distracted from the depressing subject of her family. It was making him depressed just thinking about it.

"We do. But then again if you can think of a way to do something and have it be successful then why not? I mean someone worked hard to find a way to make spells and things that would make our lives easier and people still have to work to produce what we need for comfort, therefore it's providing wizards and witches with jobs, which could never be a bad thing." Reid said with a shrug.

"Hey, no fair... you with your cat-like reflexes," Jake mock pouted again, looking around for something else to launch. Alas, it just wasn't happening, so Jake settled with a glare as he thought of a plan.

Rolling his eyes as he looked back round, Jake raised an eyebrow. "Yeahhhhhh, 'cause I'm toterly about to forget that," he giggled, shaking his head. At least Lawson would be at the hospital with him... though their plans would be keeeeeeeeeeeelled if Jake had to stay for a while again.

"A friend, huh? Well- HEY!" the now DRENCHED boy gasped as he gaped at Lawson. "What is it with me getting freakin' watered like a plant this term?" he grumbled, though started laughing all the same. Pulling out the borrowed wand from his pocket, Jake pointed it at Lawson. "Aguamenti, yourself, kind sir," he grinned watching as the jet of water headed straight for the man.

Listening as Professor Lawson described the tendencies of the older female race, the brunette nodded, eyes wide, face serious. 16? Golly, that meant she only had about 5 years left of being herself. But, at least five years was a lot of time. Wesley was still at that point in life where today is today and tomorrow is inconceivable. It seemed to the Hufflepuff that she would be 11 forever. Until year number 12 appeared and smacked her out of no where.

Glad the conversation had turned to camping, and also feeling more comfortable knowing she wasn’t the only one who hadn’t experienced this odd wilderness experience, Wesley sat quietly, happy to just listen. So happy that she didn’t mind them throwing the grass she had been so busy looking at earlier. Ignoring the small pain in her stomach that they where killing the poor innocent grass, or rather, chopping off its limbs since the roots where obviously still intact, Wesley watched with a small smile, giggling just because laughing was contagious. And a professor throwing grass was pretty funny, when you thought of the plant as inanimate.

But the horseplay suddenly took a bit of an unexpected turn when it turned into a water fight. A bit delayed, Wesley’s cry of stop was drowned out by the rush of water streaming from the DADA professor’s wand. Jake was already wet. In fact, he probably had just gotten dry from the fire. And now he was drenched again. Mixed emotions flooded the female Hufflepuff. She had thought the professor was so nice, but here he was shooting water at Jake. What had the boy said that had goaded him into acting like that? Was he angry? Why was he attacking her fellow badger? About to plead for him to stop, the barrage of water ceased, and her teacher fell over laughing.

Why was he laughing? Where they just joking? Playing? Wesley had never had a brother. And Father was always locked up in his office. Maybe this was what guys did for fun. Drown each other in water. And then, as Jake, first seeming angry began to laugh himself, Wesley’s suspicions where confirmed. They where just goofing around.

Shaking her overgrown hair, which was a little wet from the stray bits of water that had escaped her professor’s target, Wesley moved over slightly to get out of the way. Letting out a small gasp as she knocked into something, the girl turned around to see the feet and legs of a much older boy. She must have not seen him earlier, it had been so dark, and she had been listening to the others. “S-sorry," the child mumbled, and scooted over further still.

A tentative smile etched on her face, Wesley watched with careful interest, ready to rush in just in case things got nasty. She really hoped it wouldn’t get bad though. Because with her small body, she probably wouldn’t be able to do anything.

"The Riders aren't famous... Well - it really depends how one describes fame," Rachel answered, not really knowing how to explain. For people who knew the Riders, then they were impressive and above them and blah blah but for the people who didn't and weren't interested in the same things then the chances that they'd have an idea of who her family was were small.

And that didn't make sense at all. Ugh - it's late... My brain's all foggy. "Don't apologize - you didn't for my parents into being who they were, and my grandparents grew up educated like that too so it's just an unbroken -well, except for the odd disappointment here and there," she waved off his apology, her eyes going dark as she thought of Jake. Poor guy - all he had ever wanted to do was be a good son, and his parents all but threw him out of the house. Literally. They asked him very politely through a letter to leave and never come back.

If it hadn't actually happened and if she hadn't been presented with proof, Rachel would never have believed it. Nodding and grinning as Reid talked about his palomino, the fifth year felt an odd sense of calm wash over her, rendering her very tired but satiated. She felt herself cuddle up a bit more to Reid, getting comfortable in his arms.

"I never said it was a bad thing. . . I just pointed out the fact," she said tiredly, almost but not quite surprised at how tired she was. In a matter of seconds she had gone from completely energetic and happy to so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. Stifling a yawn, Rachel almost subconsciously shifted herself so that her head was now in her boyfriend's lap. "It's going to be quite a summer..." she whispered, smiling contently out towards the fire and a couple seconds later, she had drifted off.

Part of him... a very large part of him... wished that he actually WAS allergic to girls. Right now. Because it would be a lot easier to go through life being allergic to girls rather than... liking them. Chewing on his thumb a little harder, Raiden stared at the fire and the students around it. Anywhere but at the person next to him.

"You're apologising again for something that's not your fault," he said flatly, his index finger rubbing the back of her hand absently. "It's my own fault. I just don't know what to do about it."

It wouldn't happen again. The small part of him that didn't want to be allergic to girls protested greatly at that. And why shouldn't it happen again? Cela had made a point of showing that kissing wasn't just between people that were all in love with each other. She'd kissed Varius Tipps, hadn't she?

"Don't say that." He winced. "You can kiss me all you like, if you like. If you want to..." He glanced her direction. "If it's something that you like and it makes you happy... then I don't mind."

Fyo bit his lip. He did not want to talk about this you know. "Listen," he began patiently, trying his best not to sigh. "I've kissed her, alright? I just think love has a lot more to it than .... snogging." Bad word, BAD. "It's about understanding and ...." He was such an EPIC failure with words.

Must stop thinking of snogging'age.

Fyo looked around, punching his sleeping bag. "Let's just.... go," He said, with a shrug. "I'm done camping for tonight, aren't you?"

"You don't have to do anything about it," Kiri said, sounding much more mature than she felt. She knew very well that she wanted Raiden to do something about it, whatever that entailed. But it was wrong to think that, wasn't it? Kiri did not want to force herself on him like that. Maybe... She sighed inwardly. Maybe he would change his mind. Sometime soon.

And part of her wanted nothing more than to nod and shout Yes, yes! at his suggestion. But if hoping that Raiden changed his mind was wrong, then doing that would be... very wrong? Even though it would be so easy to just lean forward again and... No. Maybe Raiden would end up liking Cela, or maybe Kiri. Or someone else entirely. And it would be his choice and Kiri would live with it in any case - although only one was what she really wanted to think about.
"I... would like to," she confessed, feeling slightly dizzy. "But I'm not going to do that, Raiden. It wouldn't be right. I..." She sighed. "It's not about the, the kissing. I like you, that's why. I like you a lot."

She gave him a final painful smile. "Don't worry about it too much. I'm... I'm not expecting anything. If you, you know, think differently one day..." She couldn't finish the thought. "Well, I... I'd want to know. But I want to stay your friend, too." She got to her feet slowly. The discussion had run its course. "Anyway... I'm a bit tired, so I think I'll go now. Enjoy the s'mores... I-I hope you'll be at the feast. Please don't be mad at me, Raiden." When she passed him, she brushed her hands through his hair lightly.

"You are so lame, you know that?" he said rolling his eyes. Seriously. Not that he was wrong about the love stuff.. but Torin saw kissing as a sign of love - when it came to snogging.

"You really want to go? But the fun has just started!" Why was he being a killjoy now?

"Yeah, I know," Fyo said, rolling a pair of eyes back at Torin. If thinking love was a lot more than snogging was lame, then lame Fyodor Balouch was. Because love was.... oh, forget it.

"Yeah, I want to go," he went on, leaning back a little. "I want my four-poster, because I know a week of camping is already all I have to look forward to, the moment the vacations start."

Reid was about to respond to Rachel when he realised that she'd fallen asleep in his lap. Smiling down at her contently he began to card his fingers through her hair gently, letting the sound of the people and the animals take him away from Hogwarts and into an imaginary world. In that world he could start to mentally prepare himself for the role he was about to play. Reid was a method actor so this part of his preparation was extremely important. I just hope I don't hurt Rachel if I get too into being my role.

Breathing slowly and deeply Reid looked back over to the tents, sighing softly when he realised that hers wasn't set up in the slightest. Standing up carefully, trying not to wake Rachel with his movements he began to walk steadily towards the tents. Opening up his own he bent slightly to walk into the space and over to his sleeping bag. Laying her down gently he unzipped the bag before placing her inside and doing it up again, brushing a strand of hair from her face before gently pecking her on the forehead.

Standing Reid made his way from his own tent and towards Rachel's, silently dreading having to put two tents up in one night. Rolling up his sleeves his eyes flashed with determination and he set to work, deciding that he would have to sleep in here for the night.

Eventually the tent was up and Reid collapsed beside it, exhausted from his efforts, but happy that he'd gotten it up. Now hopefully it would stay standing during the night. If it collapsed he would so not be happy.

"I do have to do something about it," he mumbled as she got to her feet. He looked up at her, slightly confused. Where was she going? "You'll always be my friend, Kiri. Always. No matter anything else."

She was leaving. Raiden bit his bottom lip hard to stop himself from saying anything else; he didn't want to upset her if she was tired and wanted to go. He felt... stupid. Stupid and sad and numb and backwards and a million other things that he would have to ask someone about to make sense of.

"Goodnight." When she touched his head, he reached up and brushed his fingertips against the back of her hand before she drew it away. "What's there to get mad at you about anyway?"

He... needed to talk to Nicholai Toussaint. Or... someone. Anyone. Even Plymouth Morgan would know what to do in this situation better than he.