Vanessa walked into the Great Hall, slumping into a seat at the Gryffindor Table. She had no where else to be. She just got finished talking to Olivia, which was horrible and she knew she had to talk to Aiden about this whole thing. She wiped away a tear from her eyes and took out LilaDelilah, starting another horrible entry.

Aiden walked into the Great Hall, which - at the moment - was rather empty right now. He passed the other three house tables before finally reaching his own. Oh, and there sat Vanessa. "Hey," he greeted plainly. The sixth year took a seat beside her, eying her scribbling hand before looking to Vanessa's face. Uh oh, tear stains? "Oh, you okay? Well.." Pssht. He rolled his eyes at his own stupidity. Obviously she wasn't 'okay.' "You know what I mean.."

Vanessa was silent, if she looked up at his face she would probably scream at him. She stopped writing and shut the diary with a slam. She took a deep breath in and out trying to calm herself a little bit. "Olivia told me what happened between you two." She said simply. She wanted to get straight to the point. "You know, she likes you alot." She said still not facing him.

Whoa. His eyes flashed to the book as she slammed it shut, then went back to Vanessa. "That she kissed me?" He lifted an eyebrow. Is that what Vanessa was all hung up over? How come he always got into trouble when other girls kissed him? He couldn't control their behaviors. Aiden studied the table she told him of Olivia's opinion of him. "Why are you telling me this?"

Vanessa frowned and ignored his question. "You know, I accidentally exploded on Olivia and told her about the plan. Then I talked to Patrick, who told me that....Ella and him...kissed and are together now." She said feeling tears fall down her cheeks. "We need to stop the plan. It's hurting me too much." She said looking up at him. "Tell me why I try so hard to get something that it doesn't ever work? Tell me, I want to know." She said, her voice cracking as more tears came.

Okay, so the plan was dead. That was fine by him.. it was causing way too much trouble. But - hold up. Patrick and Ella kissed? And are together already. "What?" He scoffed and rolled his eyes. Simultaneously. Though, he couldn't say he was surprised. "Of course they would be." Gahh, it was rare for Aiden to be in a bad mood, but he sure was. He turned to her again as she brought up the whole plan. "Yeah, I agree. No more fake relationship."

It was a little awkward, her crying and all. Aiden didn't know of anything that could even comfort her somewhat. Why, she asked, did she try so hard for something, yet somehow always failed anyway? It must be innate in humans. "You can't make someone like you." He perched his head on his fist. "I mean, I had several girls liking me - still not sure why - and yet, I only actually wanted Ella." He paused, then shook his head. "But, of course, she likes Patrick." Suddenly, he set his eyes on Vanessa. Although, for once, his irises gleamed icy rather than warm. "Don't tell her that." Vanessa let the whole fake dating thing slip, but she better not let that one out. To anyone.

Vanessa looked back up at Aiden. "Of course they would be? What does that mean?" She asked frowning. It saddened her that he supposedly expected it. She nodded in agreement. "I know I can't make someone like me, but it was the only thing I could go with." She sighed, wiping away her tears. "I would've had a chance if I didn't make up this plan, I might've had a chance, Aiden." She said feeling another tear fall down her cheek.

She rolled her eyes. "What's so special with Ella? She's a jerk to me and gets all the boys. Olivia, Trixie and I are the ones that are left out in the dust." She was getting angry now. "I don't talk to her Aiden. I wouldn't want to tell her such a thing, anyways." She said frowning and looking back at the food.

"Well, couldn't you see it coming?" Aiden just thought that their whole group was a mess. All of them. "You don't have a crystal ball; you couldn't predict what he, you, or anyone else was going to do. The plan was just your idea to make it happen. The wrong idea.. as we now see, but by no means an ignorant one." And the girl was still crying. Ah. He always ending up feeling horrible when girls cried, even if it had nothing to do with him. "You'll get over him, Vanessa; just remember that."

He laughed just a bit. "Ella does not have all of us! She just has Patrick."

Vanessa shrugged. "How can I get over him if I liked him for so long?" She asked looking up at Aiden. "You must feel bad because he has Ella and we have no one." She said sighing. She rolled her eyes. "She might not have you but she likes you. You know I probably wouldn't have cared if you "cheated" on me with her while you were with me. I would've understood." She said using air quotations.

"You'll move on," Aiden answered simply. "You'll be down in the dumps, so to speak, and then you'll come to admire someone else and it'll be fine." Heh. He smiled inwardly. Since when did he become so great at advice? Heheh. Add that to the list of possible professions: advice columnist. Yeah. Right. Ugh. No, he did not feel 'bad' that Ella was with Patrick. Truthfully, he wasn't sure how he felt. But he wouldn't say 'bad.' "If Ella's happy with him, then good for her. I really don't care that I'm not dating anyone," he answered with a tinge of bitterness.

But he offered a small smile when she admitted that she wouldn't have minded if he 'cheated.' "Thank you, but I wouldn't do that during our fake relationship, let alone a genuine one."

"Probably, but still I like him so much.." Vanessa said trailing off. She really did like him alot but once he told her that he..kissed and was together with her enemy her heart practically broke. She nodded. "I wish I could be as carefree as you, Aiden. I don't think I could ever be with all of this drama and stress. Just wait until everybody finds out about this fake relationship." She sighed.

She looked up at him and slightly smiled. "Glad to know someone respects my feelings about things." She said and looked back down. "Thank you, by the way. For everything, for going with the stupid plan and defending me before...thanks." She said.

Ughh. Oh yeah. Everyone's reaction to their relationship was already bad enough; now the news that it was a phony relationship will probably just cause even more of an ruckus. Great. "I'm guessing you're anticipating sore sort of certain reaction from Patrick?"

It was nice to hear that she appreciated what he had done, but he honestly didn't think it was anything big. "Sure, don't sweat it." He sighed and ruffled up his hair before letting his hand drop back to the wooden table.

"I guess telling the truth will be better though." Vanessa shrugged than raised an eyebrow at his question. "What do you mean? I know that he won't just break up with Ella and go after me. It never works out that way. He'll probably just stay with Ella, marry her and whatever." She said feeling another tear fall down her cheek and she merely wiped it away with her hand.

"Next time I ask you for a favor, well if I ever do, consider the consequences with me please." She said sighing. It would've been better if they did that before the plan started.

"That's not what I'm saying. Of course he wouldn't do that; in fact, I'd probably punch him if he did." Aiden shook his head. "Nevermind, though. Why the hell would he want to marry her already? He's barely of age, and Ella is freakin' fifteen." Ew. Marrying anyone while still being a teenager would just be horrible! That's the 'time of your life', isn't it?

"Hey, don't blame the fake relationship thing on me," he warned. "I didn't even know you when you came to me, asking for me to be your pseudo-boyfriend."

Vanessa sighed. She could tell that he was getting mad. "I don't know, he said that his parents want him to marry someone in four years or something. If they stay together that long, they might, who knows." She said frowning. It would ruin her if they did.

She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not blaming you, Aiden. I'm just saying, just in case I have another stupid plan in the future." She said sighing. "And if you didn't agree with it, you could've just said no." She snapped back. She rubbed her head and looked back up at him. "I need to go. I can tell that if I talk anymore about this too you, it would probably just make it worse." She said standing up from the table. "Bye, Aiden." She said walking away.

"Ah. Right," Aiden commented curtly, hoping the subject would come to an end. He had found the topic of Ella and Patrick to be exhausted even minutes ago.

Ahh! Girls. They were so frustrating! He decided against arguing with her; it's not like it would change anything. "Yeah. Bye, Vanessa."

Oliver crinkled his nose and looked down at his stinky uniform. “No.” He said flatly. “I'm saying that green crap in my hair would make me look mouldy or something. The uniform's cool.” He nodded approvingly. “Brings out the green in my eyes.” He batted his eyelashes rather coyly at Cameron and then snickered.
He caught the fond smile on the Gryffie's face and wondered what that was all about but refrained from asking. Hehe! People just smiled in Oliver's awesome presence.

He glanced over at the Ravenclaw table and had a frown on his face when he looked back at Cameron who looked crazier than ever. He eyed her red hair as it crackled with electricity. He opened his mouth to say something but she had gone into her schpeel about the Blues and he couldn't get a word in.

He listened and managed to somehow not pull any faces or wrinkle his nose or FLICK the girl for being so damn paranoid. “Right.” He said when she had finally finished. “You sure that bumping stuff isn't your warped spacial awareness?” He asked trying to be serious but the question simmered with undertones of amusement and mockery. Oh he couldn't help it. Cameron was insane.. in an adorable way. Oliver did feel protective towards her and he didn't understand why. She was the sort of girl you should avoid at all costs but her lunacy intrigued him and drew him in. “Book dust?” He repeated. “Seriously Cam if there's psychological bullying going on you need to tell a professor.” Or was this purely paranoia? Merlin knew with this girl. “They don't stalk you. Why would they stalk you? They've got better things to do with their time.. like reading and studying.” He said looking over at their table once again. Seriously.. this girl had to get a grip.

“Hmm?” He glanced at the rolls, a bit lost in his own thoughts over Cameron and the Ravenclaws, then nodded. “Yeah.” He replied and took one. He ripped it in half and took a bite...

“Creating..” He repeated sarcastically. “Course you were.. and what did you manage to create? NOTHING!” He pointed out to her with a smirk. Hehe.
Though it vanished a moment later when she said he smelled like a gutter. Hmph. That's what you got for trying to SAVE a couple of kids from a swamp.

He nodded. “So I've been told...”
He elbowed her playfully. “You can help me go look for him. I've been out there a couple of times but..” He shrugged. “..haven't seen him.” He mock scowled at the girl next to him but the amusement, as ever, was still there in his eyes. “Thanks. If they eat me who would you have to complain about the Ravenclaws to, eh?” He winked knowingly. Did Cam have any other friends than him? Poor odd girl.

He yawned unable to help himself when she started on about her bad experience in the Black Sea. “What did it do to your skin?” He asked peering at her face to see if there were any signs of mutilation or even mutation there. Nope.
Guh.. he looked down at his burger and back at Cam. “Fine.” He mumbled. “I don't want to offend your senses any longer.” He stood up and gestured for the crazy girl to lead the way.

Cameron tilted her head to the side and shrugged, "Reckon your eyes look fungally then?" She stiffled a giggle, ignored his rather weirdish smile and bit into a piece of chicken. Was she even hungry? Or eating to dispell the smell.

Speaking of which..

When he asked her to explain, the Lion took that as enough of a concession as to rant to him about her summarised (hardly) history with the Ravenclaws.
He made no comment and she took another bite of chicken satisfied she'd made her point. DUH! She was always right.

Sarcasm? Undertone? Err.. yeah they were lost on this chikka. "Nu, I don't have spacial awarenessness difficulties." Well.. she didn't think she did.
"Anyway. I'm fine with you.. there just psycho bullies." Not all of them, mind. That boy she'd met in Primpernelle's hadn't been all that bad. In fact he'd been quite pleasant. She was shaken out of her thoughts when Oliver repeated book dust like the lost boy he was, "Yes, book dust silly. What else would there be with Ravenclaws? And I have allergies - in case you missed that part as well. We're you even listening?" Probably not.
Crossing her arms over her chest she shook her head, "No, I'd rather get a wig and change my name to Tabatha before I tell a Professor. It'd only get worse, I know it Oliver. Cam rolled her eyes at his comment about them having better things to do with their time, "They have fabulous time management skills, alright?"

The girl sighed as he bit into the bread. Boys were hopeless. She watched boredly as his pale skin began to tinge green and then turn into a full blown Disney witch colour. "Oliver.. you're green." Perhpaps the non-chalance in her voice made it so creepy.

Ha. So much for her bad wand skills.

She brushed his insult off and smirked, "Managed to turn you green didn't I?" Though, he was a right mess now. Green and smelly.

Lake. Lake...
SQUID? "You're mental you know that?" She sighed and rolled her eyes accepting that in fifteen or so minutes she'd be looking for a massive freaking squid in the lake outside the castle. Why, oh why did she get herself into these situations? "Ow.." She grumbled, massaging her side as he elbowed her. "Don't know your own strength do you, Bony?" Stoopid lanky boy.
"I'd talk to Raven," She said and then smirked. "If she doesn't hex my bottom off first."

Her anecdote about the Black Sea seemed to put her audience to sleep and Cameron while socially inept could see when her antics were beginning to tire.
"Fine. Let's just go then." She glared at him as he stared into her face and grabbed her bag. They had an appointment with a giant, human-eating squid.
Exciting.

Rafe had a fun time at the lake with Marilyn. She looked absolutely radiant in her white swim suit; rather contradictory to want he was wearing, just swim trunks and a t-shirt. It didn't really matter what he looked like though, he was with the girl he loved. Every moment spent with her was like heaven. But, now after the swim he worked up an appetite. He quickly showered and changed, and told Marilyn he'd meet her here. Girls...they certainly took longer to get ready than guys, not that Rafe minded. Marilyn could wear a paper bag and still be the most beautiful girl at this school.

Rafe took a seat at his table, his hair still wet and started to pile up the food. He'd probably get one course in before she even arrived. Boy, was he hungry.

Marilyn had showered, dressing quickly, and bolted up to the Great Hall. Being with Rafe that afternoon had been wonderful. He'd thought of everything...She had to be the luckiest girl in school, having such a thoughtful and considerate boyfriend...He'd even had a plate of sushi for her. The blonde had eaten all of that by herself...selfishly. Rafe hadn't seemed like he minded...considering his diet...

As she entered the Great Hall, she scanned the tables for him quickly...spotting him at the Gryffindor end. Uh oh... Marilyn felt a little odd approaching the table in general...Carter would be here. Ugh...Not wanting to make a big deal out of it, she walked briskly towards Rafe, who was inhaling his food. If she hadn't been so nervous about sitting at this particular table, she'd had laughed.

"You know, the food isn't going to get up and walk away...You can take your time..."

Rafe smiled as he caught Marilyn's scent in the Great Hall. He continued to eat at his usual speed. Even after an entire picnic he was starving. Marilyn would think he was a completely pig. Rafe laughed at her comment, "I wouldn't mind if it did get up and walked away. Live prey is better, much more rare." Hopefully, the thought wouldn't revolt her. He couldn't help it, he was a complete carnivore.

"Have I told you how lovely you look today?" he asked softly in her ear before kissing her on the cheek.

Marilyn smirked, a defense mechanism she'd acquired when nervous. Gryffindor weren't as imposing individually as they were as a group. She had to be stupidly in love with Rafe to be doing this...

"If I didn't know about your true nature, Mr. Lycaon, that comment would be very disturbing. Mind if I join you?" Her tone was light and pleasant. Without waiting for a response, she took a seat across right beside him. Grabbing a plate, she piled various fruits on it. She'd eaten a fair amount at their picnic...but there was always room for fruit.

"Sitting at this table is weird for me, I'll have you know..." The blonde laughed. "The things I do for you..."

"Oh come on, even when we first met in Diagon Alley you knew I had wild, animal instinct," Rafe laughed. He always like to look back on that day. It was one of the happiest moment in his life. "Of course you can join me love," he said as he scooted over for her to sit.

Rafe smirked as he watched her pile up her plate with fruit, "Oh dear, I'm afraid our children will be torn on what to eat. They'll be fruit, sushi eaters or meat and potat-- naw, just meat eaters," he laughed jokingly.

"This isn't enemy territory Marilyn," Rafe said with a smile. "It's just a table."

Marilyn thought back to Diagon Alley and smiled. It had started off as a bad day...but just meeting him had changed everything. "I think it was the way you growled that tipped me off...Remember? I dared you to do better than the simple, playful growl you gave me at first." There was no denying that hearing it had sent a thrill of shockwaves through her body. It had been amazing. Why could she not seen it then? The wolf thing was entirely obvious, come to think of it...

"Any children we might have will be confused, anyway. To be a wolf or not...Deciding between sushi and raw meat will seem like a piece of cake." She gave him a playful nudge. "I'm kidding, love. They'd be beautiful...that much is certain." The blonde began eating her pineapple, happily. The sweetness of said fruit always put her in a better mood...Not that it took anything away from her nerves about being at the Gryffindor Table. "It's not enemy territory for you, maybe...For me, I'm not so sure."

Rafe snarled like a wolf, all serious and flashing his teeth before breaking into a smile, "Something like that love." Rafe then rubbed his stomach...how many plates did he eat...three? Four? He'd lost count, but was definitely feeling it. "I would have told you everything then and there, but if it wasn't for that stupid Unbreakable Vow my mum made with me. Thank goodness that's over with!" Rafe shuddered at the thought.

"They certainly would be beautiful," Rafe said as he kissed her lightly on the neck. "Beautiful as their mother." Rafe shoved his plate away from him. He could eat another bite. "Oh pineapple!" he exclaimed as he took a small piece from Marilyn's plate. "Okay, it's official, I can't eat another bite!" He would definitely have to work it off later.

"And you're perfectly safe over here, I'll protect you," Rafe said. Though he really doubt anyone would mess with Marilyn or Rafe for that matter. "So, I met a new little firstie the other day... promised her a butterbeer. I think you'd like her. I'm just expanding the social circle." Oh, a grape wouldn't hurt right, he said as he plucked one off and ate it.

"And maybe we could go with Carter and his girl to Hogsmeade when the time comes," Rafe looked her directly in the eye. It was time to get to the bottom of it all.