For once, Ash was happy to go back to school. Not that she was happy. She hugged her father goodbye(that hug lasted about 0.5 seconds). She hugged Dustin fifteen times and promised to check in with him and not get into trouble. She hugged her middle brother about a million more times and promised to come back alive, which he worried about every time she got on the train. She picked up her littlest brother and spun him around, which seemed to make him happy. She hugged Alex tightly. She gave her stepmom an awkward but sincere hug. So much hugging she actually tired herself out.

Then she boarded the back cars and entered the nearest empty compartment. She lifted her somewhat-heavy bag into the luggage rack, which completely depleted her energy, then slumped into a seat and rested her head against the wall.

Lisa was finally ready to come back to school. After a summer focused on herself and family, she felt re-energized. There were a few things that were still a little… strange but she was learning how to better roll with the punches that life had sent her way. Besides being refreshed (and having a nice stash of pocket money), this Ravenclaw was READY to take on her fifth year.

After bidding her family goodbye, she separated from Maya and Evan to see if she could find some of her friends to sit with on the train ride. Shoulders square and chin lifted, the growing taller (please she was 5’2 now) girl (sans makeup- which she was even more happy about because it was a GREAT skin day) walked down the corridor with a newfound confidence. OWLS SCHM-OWLS. She was going to come out VICTORIOUS! Or at least, that was the plan.

She slowed her steps when she saw a familiar face swamped in a seat. “Ash! How was your summer? This seat taken?” she asked motioning to the seat across from her. Merlin… She couldn’t believe Ash was a seventh year.. She had remembered the first time she met her…

Kins ducked her head down and made a beeline towards the back of the train. The first day back was always one of the hardest. Year after year, she'd beg her parents to let her stay home and year after year, her parents would ~force her to go back to Hogwarts. Even knowing that it'd be her last first day didn't keep the frown off her face as she shoved herself into the furthest corner of the compartment and tried to shrink herself in the space between the seat and the wall.

Unlike his frowny counter-part, however, babiest kitten, Jimothy [read: adult, full-grown cat, Jimothy] made use of all the extra space in the compartment. He was so cute and cuddly, rubbing himself along the seats and jumping from one side of the compartment to the other. It almost made Kins want to climb onto the floor with him and squish him so tight and cuddle him so, so close. But only almost.

Instead, she chose to stare out the window wistfully, paying Jimothy no mind.

Ash turned her head in the general direction of Lisa. "This seat is reserved for Lisa Nam only." Lisa was free to sit. Ash enjoyed her company. And even if she didn't, she had no ability to make Lisa leave. Or do anything but sit here, really. She attempted to at least keep good posture. "My summer was... was... was..." she let the sentence die and instead turned back towards the window. It seemed as if she had forgotten the question, until...

"fine." It was actually pretty awful, but that was all her own fault. "how was yours?"

Lisa offered Ash a wide beam as she offered her to sit down. In fact, she mentioned it was RESERVED for her which made her feel super special. With a wide grin, she cheered with her arms before coming back to listen to Ash’s response to her question. It sounded like her summer wasn’t fantastic because she struggled to complete the sentence without a pause. Eyebrow raised, she did wonder what she meant by fine but chose not to pursue it. “I hope winter break and summer break is better.”

"I intend to... to stay at Hogwarts over break unless I make plans to travel with a friend." She didn't see any reason to go back home. Not yet. She played with her hair, which was currently neatly tucked in braids(done by Dustin, not her). "How was your summer?" No need to make this All about Ashley. She focused on herself and her own problems(her fault) enough already.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArianaBlack

Kins ducked her head down and made a beeline towards the back of the train. The first day back was always one of the hardest. Year after year, she'd beg her parents to let her stay home and year after year, her parents would ~force her to go back to Hogwarts. Even knowing that it'd be her last first day didn't keep the frown off her face as she shoved herself into the furthest corner of the compartment and tried to shrink herself in the space between the seat and the wall.

Unlike his frowny counter-part, however, babiest kitten, Jimothy [read: adult, full-grown cat, Jimothy] made use of all the extra space in the compartment. He was so cute and cuddly, rubbing himself along the seats and jumping from one side of the compartment to the other. It almost made Kins want to climb onto the floor with him and squish him so tight and cuddle him so, so close. But only almost.

Instead, she chose to stare out the window wistfully, paying Jimothy no mind.

Adam was extra hyper today - because it was his LAST first day of school! He couldn't believe he was going to be graduated this time next year, and maybe - probably - be headed to university. It made all the thoughts in Adam's brain that were already going a million miles an hour go even FASTER and now he was all...bouncy and stuff.

Looking for a compartment where he could chill and relax, he found the perfect spot as he passed one Miss Kinsay James, sitting by herself in a compartment and looking out the window. Well, she wasn't TOTALLY alone he supposed. He grinned and pushed open the door.

"Excuse me Miss? There's a wild animal in your compartment!" he exclaimed, pointing at Jimothy with a grin.

Kinsay turned when she heard the door open and put on her most briiiilliant smile for Adam. See? At least she was trying. Plus, she didn't want to talk about it so. "Oh no!" She gifted her friend with appropriately timed (quiet) laughter as she looked over at the wild animal in mention. Jimothy really was wild with the way he seemed to be doing some sort of acrobatic routine. So weird. He was usually so, so sleepy during this time of day. Maybe he was trying to make up for all the energy Kins seemed to lack today. He was super smart and cute like that. The most talented kitten literal adult cat ever in the history of the world.

"Can you catch him for me and give him a big snuggle? I think that'd tame him." That's what you were supposed to do with wild animals, right?

It was weird that they were seventh years now. Kins was almost, almost nostalgic. She had met Adam the first day of school way, way, way back in first year. He was pretty much the same. Except for he was less annoying and Kinsay actually liked him now.

Seeeeeventh year! As opposed to Kizzy James right there, Henry Hembree was quite excited for the upcoming term and he was nothing but determined to make the most out of it. His summer had been a blast and all the energy really did put him in such a great mood today.

Once all the hugs and fake promises were made to his mum and dad, Henry bid them farewell and literally hopped onto the train. He wasted no time in finding a compartment for himself. Years of train rides on the Hogwarts Express made him learn his lesson that he must always find a compartment first before anything else. Otherwise, he'd have to share. Not that he minded sharing, but at least he could reserve a compartment for him and his friends for the entire journey, you know.

Henry kept his eyes open for Karleigh, or Jane, or Lewis, or a classmate, or really just anyone he knew of. Luckily, he found a compartment by the back with not one, but TWO familiar faces! One face he'd seen plenty of times over the summer in Paris, and the other a classmate whom he shared classes with too and thought had a nice face to look at. "Hey, KISSY! Hey, ADAM!" Henry said as he slid the compartment door open. "And heeeey, Kissy's excitable cat!" What was the name again? Jimothy? What a funny name! "Can I join?" He didn't even need a response, as Henry Hembree was already letting himself into the compartment, shutting the door behind him, and taking a seat.

Stay at Hogwarts over break? Well that could be fun, supposed Lisa. However, she imagined it could be quite lonely too. Then again, it could be fun. Lisa knew that she’d just miss her siblings if she did that. Ash’s reply indicated that she didn’t want to go home just yet. She did hope everything was okay at home. “That could be fun… I’ve never been at Hogwarts over the holiday break,” she added with a warm smile. “[b]Though you could always come home with Ev, Maya, and I?[/!b]” Lisa was certain her parents would be okay with that.

Her summer was.. a good reset. She smiled. “It was good. I worked at Florean’s so saved up some money and I also got to go to my cousin’s wedding. Went to the beach too,” she explained. “Eventful and energizing. I feel ready to take on OWLS!”

Ash had stayed AND left school over break. She didn’t particularly like staying… she just preferred it over going home right now. ”I’d totally stay with you, if Evan and Maya don’t mind.” She didn’t think they’d say no, but she liked to ask anyway. Plus, she was in a period of doubting that anyone liked her, so she didn’t want to invite herself to other people’s places.

”That’s exciting.Wedding, beach, AND a summer job? Why don’t you tell me about it?” She didn’t feel like talking about her own summer, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t interested in Lisa’s.

“Of course not! We’d love to have you,” she beamed. She meant it. She enjoyed her friend’s company and her siblings did too. “We’d never mind you staying. You would be welcomed and immediately subjected to my Appa’s awful Bad Dad jokes. It’s endearing.” She loved her father and her mother but her father.. He just was there in all of the moments you least expected.

Lisa was MORE than happy to talk about her summer. “The beach was with Stewie, Daniel, and V. It was fun. Daniel was Daniel. I challenged the group to swim out to the farthest point but got no takers, she pouted before resuming. “V, Stewie, and I built a sandcastle so it was fun. The wedding was BEAUTIFUL. It was in Korea and I can’t wait to share photos… aaand the summer job was fun. I played games with a few customers on guessing flavours. I’m an ice cream expert… Say, what’s your favourite ice cream flavor?”

”I don’t mind bad dad jokes.” Lisa’s father sounded nice. Everyone in her family really seemed to love each other. It was sweet. In her family, that didn’t really happen.

”That sounds absolutely amazing. The beach, and the company.” She paused before resuming. ”My favorite ice cream flavor… um, I don’t know. Chocolate?” She usually just ate whatever flavor she felt like that day… but chocolate was her choice of ice cream when she was crying and watching tv. She ate it a lot. Did that make it her favorite?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArianaBlack

Kinsay turned when she heard the door open and put on her most briiiilliant smile for Adam. See? At least she was trying. Plus, she didn't want to talk about it so. "Oh no!" She gifted her friend with appropriately timed (quiet) laughter as she looked over at the wild animal in mention. Jimothy really was wild with the way he seemed to be doing some sort of acrobatic routine. So weird. He was usually so, so sleepy during this time of day. Maybe he was trying to make up for all the energy Kins seemed to lack today. He was super smart and cute like that. The most talented kitten literal adult cat ever in the history of the world.

"Can you catch him for me and give him a big snuggle? I think that'd tame him." That's what you were supposed to do with wild animals, right?

It was weird that they were seventh years now. Kins was almost, almost nostalgic. She had met Adam the first day of school way, way, way back in first year. He was pretty much the same. Except for he was less annoying and Kinsay actually liked him now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimothy

Text Cut: Kizzy and Adam!

Seeeeeventh year! As opposed to Kizzy James right there, Henry Hembree was quite excited for the upcoming term and he was nothing but determined to make the most out of it. His summer had been a blast and all the energy really did put him in such a great mood today.

Once all the hugs and fake promises were made to his mum and dad, Henry bid them farewell and literally hopped onto the train. He wasted no time in finding a compartment for himself. Years of train rides on the Hogwarts Express made him learn his lesson that he must always find a compartment first before anything else. Otherwise, he'd have to share. Not that he minded sharing, but at least he could reserve a compartment for him and his friends for the entire journey, you know.

Henry kept his eyes open for Karleigh, or Jane, or Lewis, or a classmate, or really just anyone he knew of. Luckily, he found a compartment by the back with not one, but TWO familiar faces! One face he'd seen plenty of times over the summer in Paris, and the other a classmate whom he shared classes with too and thought had a nice face to look at. "Hey, KISSY! Hey, ADAM!" Henry said as he slid the compartment door open. "And heeeey, Kissy's excitable cat!" What was the name again? Jimothy? What a funny name! "Can I join?" He didn't even need a response, as Henry Hembree was already letting himself into the compartment, shutting the door behind him, and taking a seat.

Adam laughed, completely unaware of Kinsay's internal thoughts - both on her current mental state and her not so flattering memories of first meeting him - and instead turned to Jimothy and made some unintelligible baby talk noises (he had very specific baby talk voices for different animals, of course) and scooped the kitty into his arms.

"So...last year, huh?" he said with a chuckle as he plopped down across from him, holding Jimothy in his arms justr tight enough that if he wanted to escape, he could. He looked up when Henry entered and beamed at their fellow seventh year. "Henry! Hey! Come on in!" he replied, realizing a second too late that maybe Kinsay didn't want all this company? Oops. Hopefully she didn't mind that he had essentially just crashed her compartment. Hehe.

"Anyone do anything fun over the summer?" he added with another grin.

Kins smiled a little bit, hearing the way that Adam spoke to Jimothy. Even then, it didn't quite reach her eyes. But she was trying. Sometimes that's the most she could ask of herself. "Yeah," she replied breathlessly, setting her hands on her knees and looking down at her feet to save herself from having to pretend too much. Last year. Thankfully. She wasn't sure she could handle any more of this place.

But when the compartment door opened, she felt short-lived relief. "Hi Henry," she chimed in after Adam, again, working hard to keep smiling. She had a lot of practice so. It was fine. Exhausting, but fine.

And when Adam asked about their summers, Kinsay spoke first in hopes that Henry would continue their story for them so that she wouldn't have to work hard to carry a conversation. "Henry and I met up at Paris fashion week."

Just saying. Adam and Jimothy together was very cute. What a great sight. We love a boy who cares so much for animals. JUST. SAYING!

Henry was happy to get the confirmation from Adam and suppose he'll also take that as a silent yes from Kissy, since she wasn't kicking him out the compartment. "I hope you had a WONDERFUL summer, Adam!" Because this one did! And Kissy too, maybe. Mostly. In the moments they did share during the summer, they WERE fun. Henry can't tell about the rest of it, you know.

But he and Kissy did indeed meet up during fashion week! "That's true, we did! Paris was a lot of fun, and the outfits were all soooo gorgeous. You should've seen them!" Maybe Adam already did, if he was the type to follow fashion magazines and blogs and all, but Henry could SWEAAAAR they were so much better in person. All that detail, as well as the feel of the fabrics. Ugh, chef's kiss! "You, Adam, what were you up to all summer?" Henry asked. Even if he didn't know it, this Hufflepuff was more than capable and willing to carry the conversation.