She laughed along with him. They were so similar to eachother.
"I thought so,too", she said,"but maybe, just maybe the headmaster pittied us little firsties."

Hungry. No talking. Food. Just food. James sat down at the Ravenclaw table with an intent expression on his face. Food. It was necessary. He dug in and slowly his expression turned blissful. His plan was pretty much to eat everything he could reach and then move along the table and eat some more. Once it was ALL GONE, because the boy was a bottomless pit lately, he'd go make himself comfortable at some other table. Yep. Nom.

It wasn't like her to wander over to the blue side of the Great hall. In fact, Cameron had SCARS and nightmares about this table and it's occupants.

*shudder*

But she needed somebody cheerful. Somebody that wasn't talking about NEWTS.. or depressed about family like she was. No. She needed somebody without a care in the world. Someone that made her laugh. And who had she spotted?

Jim. Or Jimminy Cricket as she'd nicknamed him.

She slipped into the seat beside him, eyeing the full plate.

"Don't they feed you in Ravenclaw? Books aren't very nutritious, Jim." She'd always had this idea that the Ravenclaw common room was just at the back of the library.. sort of an extention of it. It made sense considering they were all so book smart. Scarily smart.

Jim looked up with his mouth full, blue-green eyes glazed over at the sheer awesomeness that was food. He waved at Cam with a welcoming little flick of his fingers and swallowed. "Not enough. Need more meal times." Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner was not cutting it. And the fact that Jimmy had grown almost least two inches since he'd started at Hogwarts, was a pretty good indication as to why he was eating so much. "I'd eat the books if I could." He grinned at her, actually pausing in the very important pastime that was eating in order to do so. "Hi pretty lady. Did I do something bad? Gonna punish me?" He reached for another sandwich and pretty much inhaled it. Something in his shirt moved, but Jimmy ignored it for now.

Cameron struggled against the urge to laugh - and failed. She put two fingers over her mouth and reduced the laughter to a smirk. "Mouth closed when you chew, Wilkes." She winked and scooted into the empty spot beside him. She grinned at his comment. "Have you discovered the kitchens yet?" And the lovely beings the elves were? Cameron, when she was on better terms with the creatures, got them to make her meals after hours. Nommy.

She eyed him a moment. "Cheese? Anyone?" She grinned though. This was exactly what she'd come for. Some cheering up. While she could contest pretty. She wasn't pretty at all, she would gladly accept the corny, humorous conversation James would bring. Yay for immaturity.

"I'm shocked. What happened to that sterling record of yours?" SNORT. Sterling her purpe Pygmy puff.

"Yes ma'am." Jimmy answered and then went back to his sandwich only to find it was gone. Another! Time for another! He grabbed another one and nodded, pausing before biting, "Yep. House elves are awesome. They bring midnight snacks if you ask for 'em nicely. Sometimes they bring food up when Neptune and I are... err... hanging out in the common room." Yeah. In the common room. Sandwich in mouth. Jim chewed. Mouth closed.

Ahh good manners. He swallowed and grinned back.

"Nothing wrong with a bit of cheese. Especially when its true." Speaking of which, his sandwiches? Cheese. Awesome. He nommed on it. Mmm?

Swallow. Pause. Grin.

"Hey, no detentions yet. I'm keeping under the radar." His shirt chattered quietly and Jimmy broke off a little piece of apple that sat on his plate and dropped it down the front of his shirt.

She smirked. The boy was eating at a ferocious speed. It was almost like he hadn't eaten in days. The rate at which he was consuming that sandwiches was frightening. "Healthy.." She muttered vaguely.
Her smirk turned absolutely evil at his slip. "Hanging out? In the common room? You and Neptune Bott?" She'd heard of the infamous chikka. "How.. cosy." Snicker. She was mean.

The redhead crinked her nose. "So not, Mister 6.5" Or was that Finlay that had scored her that? She couldn't remember. She'd been too busy cursing him into oblivion in her head. That hadn't been a good day for her self-esteem. Not. at. all.

What was that? James Wilkes, under the radar? She snorted. "Not yet, then." *giggle* "It's not like you to be unnoticed. Pretty face likes yours, the girls must be making enough noise to be keeping your reputation alive." heh. She frowned slightly as something made a noise from near him. Erm.. *blink*

But she must've been imagining things because there was silence save for the chatter of the other students. But then James did something very peculiar - even for Cameron's standrads. He fed his shirt.

"Uhh. James? Your mouth is thataway.." Why was he feeding his throat? That was just silly. Very silly.

"Yeah." Jim hurriedly grasped on that one. "Yeah. In the common room." Thats it. The common room. Good thing he'd covered himself. Yes.

He shrugged it off. "No big deal. We shared a tutor all of last year. Tutored her a bit myself." cue suggestive shrug and leer combo. "No big deal." Just hanging out in the... common room. "She's a friend." He grinned all innocent-like.

"You're better than that." His grin slid away to reveal a far more genuine and serious look. "Forget numbers. You're better than that."

He shrugged again and polished off another sandwich. Yet? Well. "I even earned a few of them house points." Very few. Heh. Four to be exact. Jimmy grinned crookedly at her and went for yet another sandwich. "I do like it when the ladies make noises on account of me." And his reputation was doing fine. Nothing much going on there. Not infamous as far as he knew. He'd barely had any free time actually, but still managed a date or two.

"Want to see my monkey?" He offered by way of explanation.

Cameron grinned darkly. In the common room? "Alone in the common room. Alone for hours in the common room. Alone in the common room with Neptune Bott." And then she smirked. Because she was evil and it was fun to tease him.

He tutored her? Cameron made a 'd'aw' face at him. But then he continued. Just a friend. Fine. She could be but still left the question of boundaries. Where did friends end for Jim compared to other people? Innocent question, of course.
"'Course she is." Lies.

He was making her slightly nauseaus with the rate at which he was eating. He was so thin she was suprised where as to where all that food went..

But the sudden serious tone of the conversation, made her scowl. "Don't lie, Jim," She replied airily and eyed him for a moment. Change of topic? She didn't like him so serious.

Cameron grinned. "There's that Ravenclaw spirit of yours." Smirk. "Seems like you do belong in that house." She giggled. Shame. He would've been an awesome Gryffindor.
She smiled back as he took another sandwich, snorting at his comment. This was exactly what she'd needed. A laugh.

What was happening under his shirt? She frowned for a moment, peering at it, before Jim spoke.

"Huh?" Monkey? What was it with these boys and their exotic pets. Oliver with a freaking tarantula.. that Fletcher kid had had a niffler and now James had a monkey?

"Urrrrmm.. okay?"

Jimmy just smirked back. "Too bad your boyfriend isn't in your house."

EXCEPTTHATHEWASNOTDATINGNEPTUNEBOTT.

...much.

"I have a lot of friends." He added, all nonchalant. Man he was getting thirsty. He poured himself some butterbeer, then remembered his manners, looking at Cam. "Do you want some?"

Monkey.

"Well. A pygmy marmoset. He reached into his shirt and after a moment came out with a cute little guy who was still chewing on the last nub of apple Jimmy had given him.

"I'm going to teach him tricks." Jim murmured in a pleased sort of voice.

AHA!

Cameron giggled delightedly. "But I'm sure you're glad that your girlfriend is!" WHEE! Neptune [even though she'd never met the girl] and Jim were dating! Oh how adorable!

She laughed to herself and glanced at the other people on the table. They'd been such a scary bunch and now she could say she had two friends from this very table. How things change..

He actually STOPPED eating to have a drink. She grinned and nodded. "Yup. Thanks, sweets." Baha. Gentleman.

And finally it was revealed what was under his shirt! It was an animal. A MONKEY to be exact. A tiny, ickle little monkey. The cutest thing she'd EVER seen. These boys were pretty smart. Get adorable animals. They were awesome girl magnets.

She reached out a finger to carefully, softy touch it. It looked so fragile and adorable and she just wanted to squish it.

Yeah.

Erm..

"He's absolutely adorable.." She breathed in awe. Absolutely adorable. The little thing was nomming on an apple! It was just picture perfect.

"Where did you find him, Jim?"

"She's not my girlfriend." Jim snorted. PSHHHHH. "Its not like we're exclusive or anything. She's only a friend. Doesn't mean anything more to me than that. Just one of many. I don't do labels, she's nothing special."

Jimmy doth protest too much methinks?

He leaned back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest. He was so caught up in denying.denying.denying, that he had even stopped eating. After a moment though, he did pour Cam a drink and pass it to her. Tune was.... she was....

It was easier to focus on the monkey.

"Yeah. He's great." Jimmy was pretty much enthralled with the pygmy marmoset too, but it didn't stop him from putting on the tough guy act.

Yeaaaah tough guy with a teeny monkey. Go figure.

"I told my mum I wanted one and she insisted we went and rescued one. This little guy, his name is Rufus and his shoulder got dislocated pretty bad. We got him from this shop, a dark shop right? Kinda rescued him. My mum is into things like that. Its curse damage so theres only so much better he got on is own. He can climb and all but sometimes he falls and he can't hang on to things for too long. We're working on getting the rest of him strong enough to compensate you know? He's only little so here's hoping." Jimmy grinned at the little guy as he finished his apple and ... it kinda sounded like a little monkey burp. Did monkeys burp?

"Wanna hold him?"

All Neptune had planned to do was show Jimmy the letter she'd received. That was all. Okay, maybe she'd have tried to schmooze him into a hug, and feeding her, and perhaps she had had intentions of getting him to ask her to Task II (you know, all the important people took dates to these things).

But what she got, after approaching his familiar back, was much... more.


"Nothing special?" her voice rang from behind him. She'd tried to sound defiant, but it failed SO miserably. Pitiful.


Not even a LITTLE special? Neptune wanted to be the MOST special. Her trembly bottom lip gave her away entirely.

And James went on and on and on. "Ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. 'Course she isn't. She's just a friend with special, special, special benefits. She's a special friend." A special friend with special treatment, hmm, Jim?

I don't do labels. She snorted. "That was so cliché. C'mon Jim. Don't lieee to me!" Lieing wasn't very nice. She didn't like liars. Plus. Miss Bott sounded sweet. And then he went on the defensive and Cameron just stuck a grape in her mouth looking extremely smug and pleased with herself.

"Liar."

That was all.

"He's adorable!" She replied,giving him the concession of changing the subject. And a story! Cameron LOVED stories. That was so cool. His mum sounded awesome.

"Some dark alley?" She suggested with a grin. Rufus was a kyute name. "Haiiiiya Rufus. Well arentcha kyute?" Yes he was. All clingy and fluffy.

At his question, Cam grimaced. There wasn't much to hold. The monkey was TINY. But she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. He was so adorable.

"Can I?" HEHE. And it was all sunshine and daisies until SOMETHING broke the peace..

A certain blonde haired thing, to be exact.

Cameron turned, blinking as the high-pitched shriek voice sounded from behind her. Ahhhhh. Lookit. James' girlfriend.

But it seemed..

OOOPS.

Cameron just stuck another grape in her mouth.

Best NOT to get involved in lovers' tiffs.

Another day, more random wandering around the castle. At least, Grayson didn't have class right now, so her and Draco were wandering. The ferret curled around her neck like usual, when she wasn't going to class. She hadn't come up with anything to do now that she'd accomplished the task of sliding down the moving staircase railing, so she didn't know what to do. It was still kind of cold for tree climbing, at least. And definitely too cold for her ferret. So instead she found herself inside the Great Hall, not really hungry but she was bored so she figured she'd eat something. Or maybe see if they had any cocoa or something.

Heading to the Ravenclaw table, behind another blonde girl, it took her a few seconds to realize Cam was sitting at the table. And she knew the prefect and former champion was definitely not a Ravie, so that made her stop. And it seemed she was talking to Jimmy, who Grayson hadn't really seen since Diagon Alley, oddly enough. Given they were in the same house. But then, she didn't go to the common room very much, except to sleep. There was too much else to get into. She hadn't even heard the conversation, but it seemed the girl in front of her had and she stopped again as the girl spoke. What?, Grayson though, moving agin to sort of loop around her. "Um, I'm sorry . . .," she said sort of randomly, intending to just continue to the table and look at what she could munch on. No need to involve herself in whatever was going on, especially as she didn't understand. But then she caught another, better look at the two sitting at the table and she stopped again. Ooooh, tiny monkey . . . That was almost better than Draco.

"Gimme a break." Jimmy murmured, rolling his eyes. He wrinkled his nose at her and stole one of her grapes, putting it in his mouth with a rebellious sort of look. YEAHITAKEYOURGRAPESEVILREDHEADEDDEVILWOMAN.

Still. Still.

Still it was Cam. So Jim sorta half smiled when she did change the subject.

"Well I could tell you where but then, you know, cliche goes here." He made a face at her and ickle Rufus peeked around, interested.

"Sure. I said so didn't I?" He grinned and carefully handed over the pygmy marmoset. Rufus happily switched allegiances, clinging to Cam's wrist and fingers for all he was worth.



....

Ah. WHY?

Dilemma. Did he backtrack and suck up and act all.... you know, whipped?

JAMES SACHEVERELL WILKES WAS NOT AND WILL NEVER BE WHIPPED.

He turned around slowly.

Come ON it wasn't like.... they were.... officially dating or anything.

"Well... we're friends and all..." He ventured. It wasn't like she went around claiming him despite his obvious awesome and rawrness.

So it was HER fault really, that he felt the need to deny things. Because she'd never done that girly THING where they want to tell everyone and Jimmy usually got to escape at that point. Well he didn't have the guideline in place for the escaping did he? So how was he... okay. Okay his logic wasn't working, but he was slowly managing to build himself into an equally displeased state. Not quite righteous anger yet, though if she started to go off at him, he'd get there. It was just kind of hard when she was all... pretty. And pouty. And pathetic. And... pretty.

"Its not like you go around telling people I'm your boyfriend or anything." He pointed out. He pouted right back. "I'm just your dirty little secret, Neptune Bott."



Oh a timely distraction.

Probably not the best timing, or response, but when Grayson said hello, Jimmy grinned, that crooked flirtatious grin that happened to be the best part of his repertoire and also the most automatic. He was just being friendly after all. A little wave of greeting accompanied this.

even if she WAS pretty.

Did Fin's dibs still count if Fin was dating someone? Errr...

Oh.

He looked back at Neptune.

Cameron grinned at his response. He did what she did. Evaded the question.

"Alright Jim. Your denial." She didn't mind. If he wanted to continue denying it, she would happily play along. Tease him a bit for it, but play along for what it was worth.
He stole her grape. She smirked. "I'm hurt." But the look of rebellion on his face was funny. She laughed. "Ninjaaa." Or at least he thought he was.

And he seemed happy enough at the change of subject, she winked. She ignored his reply, carefully taking the little creature from him. It was about the same size as her middle finger. TINY. Absolutely gorgeous too. She touched it's little head.

"How adorable are you, kyutie? Who did Wilkes blackmail to get you?" She cooed jokingly.

And.. the calm before the storm.

Cameron gulped. The whole thing was awkward enough just SITTING between Neptune's wrath and James' .. well.. James.. ummm... his... well she didn't really know but it was pretty downright scary.

But even Cameron couldn't deny a look of sadness as Jimmy finished his sentence. That was cutting. She glanced at Neptune carefully. So they were in a secret relationship now? An open one?

How stupid.

They'd be adorable together.

-squeak-

But Cameron wasn't going to sit this one out - with Grayson. Yeah. They'd just watch. Hopefully. And she'd pet the monkey.

Like a good girl.

Neptune's eyes traveled to the girls surrounding Jim. She wasn't completely clueless that he was a highly contagious flirt, but it was sort of...


... there was some sort of epiphany happening behind her wide-set blues and wibbly lip.


Perhaps JimJim REALLY didn't think her special.


O_____O


Neptune had to turn her avalanche of thoughts off though. For now, her little nose upturned and she crossed her arms.

"Whatever." Yeah, take that. She lowered that snobby nose only to give Grayson and Cameron LOOKS. "Whatever," to both of them, too. "What you think hardly matters to me. I was only coming down here to see the real Hogwarts Champion. Wish him luck, you know."

Neptune made kissy faces - the sort she was going to give Duncan Fletcher. Hmph.


Right. Right that was what she was going to do. Neptune Bott looked any and everywhere but at James Sacheverell Wilkes.

Lexi was happening past the Ravenclaw table when she saw... A monkey... Jimmy had a flipping MONKEY! SQUEEEEE! Totally unaware of the tension or whatevs she made a little squeaking noise and stepped up beside her Prefect and said, "Hey, Jimmy. Can I see your monkey?" *snort* She was practically bouncing from the sheer cuteness of the little thing.

Then ANOTHER girl.

Cameron looked at the girl and then the monkey.

No. She could NOT have a look at it.

It was now officially hers. AND HALO.

*facepalm*

Cameron eyed the girl. "Great timing, chikka."

Okaaaaaaay. "Why exactly are you eyeballing me like that and what the heck are you talking about?" Lexi asked the Prefect blankly. She had JUST walked up...

She then caught a glimpse of Neptune Bott and Jimmy's faces. Oh how lovely... they seemed to be in the middle of something.

Lexi looked back at the Prefect and eyed her right back. "No need to be rude, you know," she mumbled. But she wasn't going anywhere, she wasn't doing anything wrong. Jimmy was her BOYFRIEND'S like bestie or whatever. She would stay there if she so pleased.

Even the undeniable hotness that was Cameron Caddock couldn't completely distract Jim from certain events. Unfortunately because Cam currently had his monkey, he couldn't just storm off or make some grand exit. And the only reason he'd do that is to steal Neptune's thunder because he was SO sure she was gearing up to do exactly that.

Well at least Rufus was in good hands. Hand.



The real Hogwarts Champion? Was that supposed to be a dig? 'cos to Jimmy it kinda sounded like she was insulting Safety Badge there. Hah. Or wait. Not... Nahhhh she wouldn't take a dig at Cam would she? Surely not? Jimmy, slightly mystified at this, raised one eyebrow and stood up, half-hearted sneer in place to replace the sulk and pout that was trying to come through.

"Curse the poor bloke, more like." James responded.

And now she wasn't looking at him? WELL that was annoying. It was. It wasn't the first time she'd tried to ignore him, and he knew one thing she couldn't ignore...

So he stepped all up in her space, caught her up and gave her a long, deep I-don't-care-if-there's-a-prefect-right-there-on-account-of-I'm-proving-a-point kiss. Bit of tongue too. 'cos even sulky Jim was still Jim.

He pulled back.

"One for the road then." He told her dismissively and then turned around, sitting down again, back to her. Hmmpff. The set of his shoulders was decidedly injured.



Well. Whether or not Neptune happened to know that both of these girls happened to have boyfriends wasn't something Jim was about to dwell on. Besides. He was ignoring her now.

On account of his wee baby feelings were hurt

"Hey Lexi, after Cam's had a go, course you can see my monkey." He grinned. Plenty of Jimmy - and Rufus- to go around, right?

Right.

boohoo he needed hugs

Staunch. Nothing to see here. Just a man, eating grapes, with a monkey and a couple of pretty girls.

Obviously lots of tension was swirling around the area, and Grayson wasn't immune. At least it seemed Cam was with her on the noticing, as the older girl looked kind of uncomfortable. But Grayson instinctively returned Jimmy's grin and wave anyway. "Hi." That was completely innocent. As far as she knew, at least. It was kind of funny seeing him without Fin, actually. But then that had all gotten kind of weird anyway, so maybe that was a good thing. "Hi Cam, she said to the redhead, as she sort of moved closer to her. Sort of protectively, although she knew she could handle herself. It was more protecting her ferret, who hadn't been noticed. But back to Jimmy. "Your monkey is kind of awesome, yknow that?"

And then she was getting a look from the other blonde. Neptune. "Which Hogwarts champion?," she asked, completely ignoring the snit. There were still two Hogwarts champions, after all. She knew she was going to support both of them, as long as they were still competing. And then maybe Noel as well. For now. Even though that last one was sort of secret. Her eyes widened, though, as a weird squeeing noise nearby was heard, and she glanced around to see Lexi. Who she'd also never met, but she knew the rumors about her dating Fin. Hence the weirdness with the boy, and possibly why she'd been hanging around with Salander a lot more than either of the Ravenclaw boys. And she stifled a misplaced giggle at the comment from Cam. It really kind of was odd timing. Although it gave Neptune more people to send looks at, if she was going to stay any longer. Of course, she probably would have after that kiss.

WHY....


WHY were all these GIRLS touching his monkey? Or, better yet, WHY hadn't Jim told her about it? FIRST? She hadn't got to see a cutesy baby monkey AT ALL.


Neptune was JUUUUUUST about to lose her battle with "being cool" to a GIANT pout when...


...


~f~u~z~z~i~n~e~s~s~


A giggle ALMOST bubbled up, but Jim killed it with his heartless dismissive comment.


"Monkeys have diseases." JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW. EW. Neptune hated EVERYONE PRESENT except for Jim... no... MOSTLY Jim. No. GUH


She turned and marched away. Neptune made it ALMOST out of the Great Hall without looking back... but caved at the last minute. It was one thing to be called un-special; another to feel it. One tragic look later, Neptune left.

Cameron popped another grape in her mouth and watched in silence as the little monkey clung to her finger. Man.. it was so awkward sitting here. There was a giant elephant in the room. A BIG UGLY AWKWARD ELEPHANT, that was killing the conversation.

Hmph.

She didn't know if Neptune was making a stab at her or not, but she took it as such and scowled a little. That was rather low, don't you think? Cameron had TRIED and Miles was REALLY smart because he was a Ravenclaw and HE hadn't gotten through. Hmph.

*pout*

What a mean girl.

Cameron missed half the kiss, but caught the tail end of Jim sulking towards his chair and ignoring her. Hmph. She suddenly wasn't so intent on getting Jim to admit they were in a relationship. He'd done that. Now the whole Great Hall knew.

Purrrrrrrfect.

Cam felt the definite urge to give him a hug. But then she'd have to give Rufus to Lexi and she wasn't sure she wanted to give Pink!Squeals that pleasure just yet.

Cam half-smiled at Grayson. "Hello sweets. Lovely morning?" HEH. Change of topic, now?

She glanced at Neptune and saw the glare. Cameron scowled.

"Don't you just look really pretty like that?" But it seemed the girl had had enough. She literally STALKED out of the Great Hall.

"This is like some corny soap opera.."