Aspen's cheek rested against her palm with her elbow propped on the table. As usual, she was deep in thought and the rest of her fellows peers could have been a million miles away for all the attention she was paying them. Aspen made little designs with her fork in her potatoes and .... sighed every now and again.

Vashti nodded. "That's basically how I feel about the NEWTs," she admitted. "I wish I could just take them all now so I wouldn't have to worry about studying for them any longer." It really would make her life a lot easier. Merlin, why did they have to be taken at the end of her last year at Hogwarts? She would've been able to enjoy her year so much more if she didn't have to worry about these things.

And as though appearing just to be her exact opposite, Cornelius Rune stepped onto the scene with the same energetic skip to his step he always had, swooping out of seemingly nowhere to plop down at Aspen's side. "Hey you," he greeted her with a brief flash of his grin, immediately grabbing a roll and taking a bite as he started filling his plate with the other hand. Preoccupied with food, it took a couple moments for him to hear one of her sighs. Mouth full of bread, he turned to look at her quizzically as his brows furrowed just slightly. "You alright?" he questioned curiously.

It was only as Cornelius stopped chewing and relaxed into his seat that one could see the slight difference in his normal attitude. Though he still managed his general energy level, the 5th year was obviously a bit more exhausted than he normally found himself after a day of schooling. His tests were coming up - and fast. The result was an additional load of studying to his normal school work, and it was beginning to effect him a bit. But his expression, though decorated with a few more tired lines, remained interested as he turned to Aspen with a brief smile.

Nerida said Yeap... Sarassi always used the height card, Im taller I get the front seat! Sarassi always said this when it was time to ride in the muggle car! Listening to Tay she said Oh Im sorry to hear that, what happened to them? She smirked at the nerves comment, yes Nerida knew all about getting on her twin's nerves. Yes, twins do have this connection, I think...

Tay shrugged, "They graduated." She laughed and smiled. "Yeah they do....." Taylor trailed off.

"Hey you," Aspen returned a grin for Cornelius Rune. He was no mere peer and had her attention almost instantly. She watched him snatch a roll and coordinate his food gathering. He was easily Aspen's favorite subject to study.

Once again, it was letters that were giving Aspen a case of the sighs. She squished her fork down into her potatoes before shrugging at his question. "I'm having an odd reaction to something." She realized that was vague, but wasn't there something more important going on here?

In Aspen's opinion, yes, absolutely. She turned on the bench and pulled her feet up with her, now facing Cornelius. "You're wore out, Cornelius."

It was actually rather funny because just as Aspen was more concerned with what was going on with him, Cornelius was more concerned with what was going on with her. But before he could really get out his questioning, Aspen was telling him that he was worn out. It took a moment for her words to register, as he was so preoccupied with getting his own out, that he had to pause before he let out a soft chuckle at her words. "Yeah, I'm a little worn out," he admitted to her in an unintentional sigh. With his words, his shoulders relaxed a bit as though he was letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

He flashed her a weak smile, not knowing how to really talk about that side of his life right now, and so he continued with his previous questioning. "We have plenty of time to talk about me," he muttered evasively, flashing her a smile as he watched her shift the way she was sitting. "Now, what is this thing that you're reacting to?" he asked, raising his eyebrows just slightly.

Oh!That was strange! Laura had always loved her family. She really wanted to know why Tay said that, but thought that it would be impolite to talk about that further.

Laura listened to them speak. 'So..how do you two find Hogwarts so far?,' she asked

Nerida's mouth made an O and said Hogwarts has been fantastic, Im doing a lot better in my classes than I did in my first year. What about you?

Laura smiled . 'My year has been great too!!,' she said.

"Hogwarts is soooo much better than Beauxbaton. IT is less strict and have nicer people so i find it awesome." She smiled, "That is good that your years are going good too."

Laura smiled at Tay. 'There was a girl from Beauxbatons, in our school..she was very, very rude and so arrogant..,' she said.

Tay nodded, "Most of them are." She sighed a little, "Though i hope you dont think of me as so." Taylor gave a half smile.

'Oh no! Surely not!!! You're good, really very good, I like you,' she said.Now, Tay seemed like a nice girl.

Tay smiled, "Thats good." She laughed, "Though i think i was very rude at the beginning of the year." Taylor sighed, "I was still getting used to having a mother and being around nice people instead of stuck ups. I mean you have to be stuck up if you are going to survive at Beauxbaton." Tay blushed, "Sorry i'm rambling."

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

It was actually rather funny because just as Aspen was more concerned with what was going on with him, Cornelius was more concerned with what was going on with her. But before he could really get out his questioning, Aspen was telling him that he was worn out. It took a moment for her words to register, as he was so preoccupied with getting his own out, that he had to pause before he let out a soft chuckle at her words. "Yeah, I'm a little worn out," he admitted to her in an unintentional sigh. With his words, his shoulders relaxed a bit as though he was letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

He flashed her a weak smile, not knowing how to really talk about that side of his life right now, and so he continued with his previous questioning. "We have plenty of time to talk about me," he muttered evasively, flashing her a smile as he watched her shift the way she was sitting. "Now, what is this thing that you're reacting to?" he asked, raising his eyebrows just slightly.

Aspen nudged in closer to Cornelius, only stopping once her feet and knees bumped into his side. Then she reached up to run the pad of thumb under his eye. Dark circles were there. But she nodded at his insistence that they could talk about that later. If he didn't want to, that was fine. He didn't need to, really. Even though she wasn't a mind reader, as they'd established through a series of ACEs, Aspen could read his face today.

"Well... I got an owl from Aunt Linda. She's going on a cruise this summer with ... Oh I don't know, her second? third? husband," Aspen explained in a rare, but potent display of sarcasm. Maybe a touch of contempt and resentment was there, too. "Which normally would be fine, but Dad is still in France so me and West are going to be spending the summer with Mr. and Mrs. Bole, and then Mr. and Mrs. Branxton." Did Cornelius recognize those names? Though it didn't matter - none of them were family and that was the point.

She continued her thumb across the bridge of his nose and to his other eyes, like maybe she could wipe the fatigue off.

Cornelius listened as Aspen explained her summer plans, displaying a rare case of sarcasm that seemed very new to the boy who was still discovering Aspen's different tones and expressions. He couldn't help but give a soft, amused smile at her words, rather amused with her little bit of sarcasm. His eyebrows rose as the girl at his side completed the tale, "And you don't want to spend the summer with Mr. and Mrs. Bole, and then Mr. and Mrs. Branxton?" he repeated, making the obvious guess at her emotions as he flashed her another smile.

It was clear that Aspen wasn't that happy about this, but Cornelius couldn't help but smile at her. She was just... He couldn't put a word to it, but she was being very Aspen-y, facing him at the table even though they were sitting side by side, her feet tucked up right next to his arm. And, more obviously, she was stroking his face with her thumb as though it was the most normal thing in the world.

He didn't mind though, and allowed her smooth finger to trace the lines of his face as he grabbed another roll. "What's wrong with these people?" he teased as a follow up question, absentmindedly resting his arm across her knees and placing his chin on his forearm as though to physically suggest she had his full attention. He flashed her a grin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

Cornelius listened as Aspen explained her summer plans, displaying a rare case of sarcasm that seemed very new to the boy who was still discovering Aspen's different tones and expressions. He couldn't help but give a soft, amused smile at her words, rather amused with her little bit of sarcasm. His eyebrows rose as the girl at his side completed the tale, "And you don't want to spend the summer with Mr. and Mrs. Bole, and then Mr. and Mrs. Branxton?" he repeated, making the obvious guess at her emotions as he flashed her another smile.

It was clear that Aspen wasn't that happy about this, but Cornelius couldn't help but smile at her. She was just... He couldn't put a word to it, but she was being very Aspen-y, facing him at the table even though they were sitting side by side, her feet tucked up right next to his arm. And, more obviously, she was stroking his face with her thumb as though it was the most normal thing in the world.

He didn't mind though, and allowed her smooth finger to trace the lines of his face as he grabbed another roll. "What's wrong with these people?" he teased as a follow up question, absentmindedly resting his arm across her knees and placing his chin on his forearm as though to physically suggest she had his full attention. He flashed her a grin.

It was impossible not to smile back at Cornelius. Aspen was having a bit of a snit, "an odd reaction" as she called it, and yet.... here she was smiling and thinking about maaaaaybe inching even closer to her favorite boy. How did snuggling mix with sarcasm? Could that work?

"Of course I don't want to spend the summer with them. Not that I find Aunt Linda's to be pleasing, but at least it's family. It's not as imposing. I suppose I should be grateful for the opportunity. Mr. Bole is the Head of MLE, and Mrs. Branxton used to be the Headmistress here. I'm sure I'll learn a lot, but... but I just want to go home." Maybe the thought of snuggling scared away her sarcasm, because now Aspen was being nothing short of sincere. She just wanted to go home.

"The problem might be with me." Paaaaaause. "And I'm also going to miss you." Just facts, that was. Aspen grinned as his chin rested on her arm, with her own head tilting sideways to take in every bit of this sight. "You're my favorite."

Laura was surprised. Used to having a mother? What was that supposed to mean? . 'Oh that's fine..I mean you're really good now..,' she said.

Tay laughed, "That is good." She nodded and took a sip or two of her pumpkin juice.

Laura smiled at Tay. 'Your sister plays guitar really very well,' she said, remembering the way her sister played the guitar in the CR.

"Yeah she is." Tay nodded, "Though she isnt techinally my sister but more of my adopted cousin/ sister. It is hard to explain." She didnt bother explaining, "But Am really does play amazing.

Arabella-Marie smiled and said "Well let us hope that we both do well on our exams and i hope that you get the grades you need for your future career Vashti" Arabella-Marie knew that Vashti was graduating this year

Cornelius's smile only widened as he saw Aspen's own smile appear, loving that she seemed to be enjoying his presence. He felt as though he hadn't been able to see her as much recently, with all the studying he'd been doing. He listened patiently as she explained her distaste for her summer plans, and occasionally took a bite of his roll. His eyebrows rose as she explained exactly who she'd be spending the summer with, but it honestly didn't impress him all that much. He wasn't one to keep track of names of important people.

He couldn't help but feel a bit bad for the girl before him as she stated simply that she wanted to go home. He couldn't imagine not spending his holidays at home, for at least part of the time. "The problem's not with you," he disagreed to her next words, lifting his free hand (which was now empty, since he'd finished his roll) to tuck her hair once more behind her ear. "You have every right to be upset." He wished he was better at this kind of thing. He wasn't sure what to say to make her happy, he just knew that he wanted her to be happy.

With her next words, Cornelius couldn't help but grin, his chin lifting just slightly from its resting place on his arm. "I'm your favorite?" he repeated playfully, a warm smile growing on his expression as he tilted his head to the side just slightly. But he fell into a more serious state as he really contemplated her words, "I'm gonna miss you too," he admitted honestly, flashing her a softer smile as he leaned in a bit closer. He waited until his expression was right before her own, his light brown eyes staring directly into her lighter ones, before he spoke once more. "Because you happen to be my favorite too." He flashed her a teasing grin before placing a warm kiss on her cheek and returning to his normal sitting position.

"Maybe that's why you should come visit me this summer," Cornelius muttered casually, the smallest hint of a mischievous smile on his expression as he began to eat off of his plate. "Or I could come visit you..." he muttered between bites.

" you have to introduce me to him........ please" nicki said