come for a ride

[connor wood]

JUST FOR THE RECORD THE WEATHER TODAY

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is slightly sarcastic with a good chance of rain[/color][/font][/i]
word count: < 541 >tags: < alix! >music: < i can be your hero >status: < complete >credit: Eri Cherry of Caution 2.0[/font]
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Connor sped past the few witches and wizards wandering the street, leaning low to urge his bike faster. The cobblestones would not allow for any reasonable speed to get his blood rushing, not like the countryside just outside of the wizarding village. Besides, he had to watch for any careless people who thought it okay just to walk out in front of him, so he couldn’t go as fast as he really wished anyway. However, a smirk of happiness rested on his face, those green eyes of his hidden behind sunglasses. The helmet he should be wearing was secured behind him on the free seat. He almost near wore it unless he planned any serious jumps. Perhaps it was a little reckless and stupid, but then again, Connor never really showed much thought when it came to enjoyment. He just did what came naturally.

Finally, he eased up on the gas and eventually slowed to a stop just before his favorite sweets’ shop, Honeydukes. Connor swung his leg from over the bike and set the stand up, leaving it briefly in favor of the store. The boy jogged inside, already digging through his pockets for a few galleons. He’d been dying to have some of their fudge all week and he would be darned to get sidetracked now. Connor sidled into line, waiting patiently until he got to the counter and ordered a small block of the tasty fudge. Then, he slid a few galleons across the counter and grinned at the elderly woman. This always did the trick, it seemed, for she gave him just a little more than average and he left content with his share.

Once more, the Gryffindor straddled his bike while munching down on the fudge a little greedily – he stuffed a big chunk into his mouth and chewed in silence for several minutes. It was a great day, surprisingly, for London. There were few days it seemed when the sun was actually out and the clouds were few. Connor actually had some homework to touch up on if he wanted to stay with the rest of his pupils… however, the guy just couldn’t justify spending the weekend waiting in some closed up room and trying to think. That just was not his scene. He would rather be out, like he was now, using London as his oyster.

As he pushed the last bit down his throat and sucked his fingers dry, Connor’s gaze fell to the witch heading towards him. He never mistook when someone – especially female – was heading his way. The swagger was too great to ignore and pretend of be oblivious to. As she came closer, Connor smirked and let out a bark of laughter. “Alix Jesslow!” He practically hooted, just to rankle the girl and whatever composure she thought she could keep around him. The boy reached up, moving his sunglasses so that they were perched on his head, nestled within his dirty-blond locks. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company? Last I heard, you hated my guts.” His face clearly had an expression that said, I’ll believe that when I’m dead. He bet she was just shy and her hostility was a barrier he had to break through.

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outfit: click!
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[alix jesslow]

Alix wasn't really sure why she was out her any more. Of course it had been her idea to go out, see Hogsmeade once again after the start of the new term, it had to be her idea. Her group had to follow her ideas, that was just how it went. No one was going to question her, how could they? So she had brought the entire group out here, in the cold wind of Autumn, to Hogsmeade. She sniffed at the group of boys she was passing, merely glancing at them in a state of indifference that was all she felt. Mudbloods. Not even worth the glance she had given them. The bane of the wizarding world. She was wondering why she had come out, when she had to walk past them all the time. Even that was contaminating her. But Hogwarts was ridden with them, so she had to stay calm and ignore them, because that was all they deserved. She was alone now, having to put up with the looks of things other then pureblood witches and wizards, only because she had let her group leave.

It was a stupid thing to do. With an air of supreme indifference, as usual, she had let them leave, always having them look to her to see if they were allowed. In a way she felt sorry for them, if that feeling could be called pity. They were so utterly pathetic, she just had to control them, or who knew what would happen to them. Alix stepped forwards, steps light as she moved into the wind, hair flying behind her like a banner. She was beautiful on her own, more so then when she was surrounded by people. Her pale skin was flushed red with the cold of the wind, her cheeks not rosy but looking warm, which was something at least. Not that she felt warm. She was chilled to the bone, but in a way that was actual cold rather then evil intentions. She didn't like it one bit. If it hadn't been for the wind then the day would have been a good one, not too cold to go out even, and it was dying down, albeit slowly.

Alix needed to get out of the wind and into a shop somewhere, or a closed street, That would be better infact. At least then she would not end up in close contact with a Mudblood. Her light but quick steps turned her around a corner, the wind dissapearing fromm her face and she sighed in relief. It was the main street, or something like it, of Hogsmeade, the shops everyone knew were down here. That disgusting Weaslby's joke shop, the Three Broomsticks was further up as well. Ah, despite the large number of Griffendors and Mudbloods that were seen there, she would rather like a warm seet and a Butterbeer. With that in mind she was off, moving down the street, now free from the wind, and almost gliding across the cobble pathway. Now she had a purpose, something to do, and she could ignore everything around her. Indeed she did, nearly hitting more then one First Year on her way, and barely even giving them a glance. Why should she? Her hips moved as she walked down the street, making great headway despite the small steps that gave her that dead grace. She even missed the bike. She didn't miss the call.

The sight of him made her clench her jaw, blinking slowly as she paused in walking. She had to keep up her calm exteriour, she had to leep it this time. Last time they had very nearly had an all out arguement, now how would it look if she was bothering to grace a half-blood like that? But he was just to annoying! he did not seem to get that she simply did not like him anything about his house or...breed, and that she found him more annoying then a Potter or a Weaslby. To make matters worse he seemed to be calling her over. With an attempt of an indifferent glance, which ended up as more of a frosty glare, she steped over, stopping far enough away from him to appear that she was not with him, but close enough that people would not cut across in front of her. She shouldn't have stopped, but she wanted to prove a point. The point being that she did, in fact, hate him.

"You owe nothing to the pleasure of my company, just be grateful you do indeed have it," her voice was cold, stiff anf unwanting as she refused to look at him, facing down the street as she huddled into her long coat. Black, of course. Alix did not even want to look at him. "And I think you'll find I do, truely and positively, hate your very guts. Your eyes, your hair, your face your voice. Every last thing." It was then she looked at him, her face turned into a typical Slytherin sneer, with a hint of a cold smile. Her beauty turned arrogant, marring it more then the look should.

"Is there something you wanted, Wood? Or can I leave now," her tone once more turned indifferent, cold and more then a little frosty, the sarcasm i her asking to leave evident, though the flash of panic through her eyes at her saying that was enough to ground her, "I have better things to be doing then standing anywhere near you and your...grisly Muggle machine."

[connor wood]

Connor’s tongue touched the roof of his mouth as he whistled, her hostile reaction to him only forcing his grin to stretch wider and the pearly whites to show. “Ouch, saucy one ain’t cha,” he teased, clearly unruffled by her unpleasant attitude. The pretty ones usually had some flaw to them, and Alix’s was just her rather blunt, and unattractive, vanity. Other than this, however, the girl’s confidence was certainly a force to admire. Connor couldn’t help but notice her when she came upon the scene, since not many girls could sway their hips that way or send chills down your spine. It took a certain breed of firecracker to accomplish such a feat, and Alix Jesslow had this quality. He wasn’t put off by the fact that she loathed his very existence – he could still look all he pleased. A privilege he abused frequently.

“Oh I am,” Connor responded, nodding his head enthusiastically. “In fact, your company is most important to me.” His insincere comment was so obvious, only the densest of people would not see through it. The boy leaned forward, dripping his arms over the front of his bike as he regarded her in a casual sense. “You know,” he continued in a jovial tone he figured might annoy the hell out of her, “I have to say our meetings are so pleasant – I wonder why we don’t meet up more often? You avoidin’ me or something?” Connor’s teeth flashed in her direction and his brows slid up together. “No need to be shy around me, babe. I accept all people and you know this cat and mouse game you got going with me only makes you more enjoyable.” He flipped a hand vaguely in the air. “But I can’t enjoy it if you’re always hiding. The mouse has to come out sometime…” Connor couldn’t even remember what he just rambled about, but now he wanted cheese.

As Alix began to speak of how she did, truly, loathe him, Connor’s laugh filled the air as she listed what she disliked most about him. “Ah, you flatter me so much,” he breathed after a moment before his gaze rested rather heavily upon her face. “To know that you think about me, because you do, in fact…” His lips twitched. “I never thought I would hear a girl admit it, but there we are. I must be on your mind quite a bit if you’ve come to loathe my very eyes, hair, and voice.” Connor was having great fun in tormenting her over this fact, but he wasn’t lying. Logically, she had to have spent some thought on him in order to pinpoint little facts about him she could convince herself she disliked. “Have you heard of the mere exposure effect, Alix?” He asked her casually. “It theorizes that the more times you see someone or something, even in small amounts, the more affection you come to feel.”

He lifted his hands, warding off her question. “Oh no, not really.” His voice became laced and heavy as he gazed at her, “At least, nothing you’d be willing to help me with.” Connor’s face then scrunched some as she offended his bike, calling it a ‘grisly muggle machine’. “Come now,” he chided as his hands ran along the handles, “this is much more than that. It can rival the speed of any broom you’ve been on.” He ran his tongue along the front of his teeth, thinking before a smirk suddenly claimed his features. “Actually Alix,” he murmured, “you can do me the favor of your company.” It wasn’t a question. The boy reached back, grabbed the helmet, and then reached for her. Connor stuffed the helmet over her head as snugly as he could without hurting her and then grinned. “Hop on,” he patted the back of his seat before his eyes narrowed and a taunt slurred into his tone. “That is, unless you’re scared.”

[alix jesslow]

His whistle made her flinch, she hadn't even meant to, but the sharp sound she had not been expecting. The noise hurt her ears slightly and she stifled a sigh, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of a reaction from her. Although she may have already done that with her obvious anger and hostility. Her entire body stiffened as he spoke to her, even if she spoke afterwards, her fingers clecnhing her arms as she continuted to refuse to look at him. How dare he! The...the...impertinence! He compared her to a common rodent! Not only was his tone so...so...so commonplace, so much s that he sounded like they were at least aquaintences, which they were not, and it was throughly annoying! Alix grit her teeth, resisting to urge to snap at him, show him that she was no mouse. She was not there for him to enjoy, she did not like being...enjoyed by him in any way, nor did she want to be. Why must he be so infuriating! He spoke like he mattered to her! He did not! He was nothing to her! She cared about him less then a bug she may have passed on her way here.

Alix slowly flushed as he laughed, her pale skin already tinted pink from the cold, now even more so. His laugh was so utterly British compared to her own Irish tinted drawl. It made her want to shiver, but it also made her feel sick. She hated everything about him, his face, his hair, his laugh, his voice; everything she had and hadn't mentioned before. The way he walked, talked, spoke, smiled, breathed! She hated, hated, hated him! She felt like baring her teeth and snarl at him, leap at him and drag her nails dow his face. But she knew he would find some way to agrivate her about that as well. Agrivate? That wasn't the right word, irritate maybe, but nothing as strong as agrivate. He shoudln't be making her this angry! She was indifferent to everything and everybody. This puny, insignificent little bug had managed to get her angry in little more then four sentences. How did he do that?

"I do not, think of you in any way. You are mere scum under my shoes everytime I so much as walk pas you," she said, words stiff and strained as she tried to keep her patience and control. She ignored whatever he had said about the exposure effect, yes, she had heard of it. There were nurmerous books regarding phsycology in her father's study, and she had read them all. She kenw all about phsycology, more then this pathetic insect did at any rate. Her knowledge on the workings of the human mind were greater then her fathers, and she reveled in that fact. She could control and torment her father as much as she liked, she enjoyed tormenting him. It was a side she didn't show to Hogwarts. Here she had nothing to prove. Alix knew about the theory, and she was not even going to spare a thought on spending more time with him. Why should she, a pureblood of Slytherin, spend time with Half-Blood, Griffendor scum? He was not even worth the time she was taking to speak to him now. Any sentence she uttered in his lowly presence he should be grateful for. That didn't stop the shiver she hoped he wouldn't notice as his voice changed.

Nothing she would be willing to help him with? Her entire body changed, straighteneing as her face clouded with anger, jaw clenching slightly. In one single sentence he had ruined any of her self control She wanted to tear his eyes out and score lines down his face with a spoon until he bled! Preferably to death, though unfortunately she knew she would not be so fortunate. She turned to him, face bitter as she copied his hand movement, waving him away as if she believed she could. Oh, how she would like for him to blown away like a speck of dust! Her patience returned as she listened to him prattle on about his Muggle bike, how anything could be better then a Broom she did not know. It could not be faster, and even if it was it was certainly not as reliable. Alix knew exactly how unpredicatable Muggle machines were. And she did not approve of his chiding, like she was some mere Muggle child.

"If that is all, Connor, then I will take my leave," she ground out, emphasising his name in such a mocking tone that it could almost be scolding. She was no longer trying not to give him something to annoy her with, he had already done so. All she was trying to do now was not act too angry in front of him. Her face was stiff and unrelenting as he murmered, nodding sharply as she made to turn away, shoulders pushed back slightly as she attempted to face him down. She was not putting up with this! Why should she, Alix Jesslow, have to put up with the insane ramblings of a Half-Blood Griffendor? She had no reason to stay, and as he reached for her she flinched, not only because of who he was, but because she was not used to being touched. As the helmet fitted itself over her head she did nothing more then squeak, even though that was muffled enough to hopefully be unaudible. Oh. Her hair covered the edges of her vision, hiding the sides of her face more then the helmet itself did. It made her siddenly freeze, the smell assulting her nose so completely alien she had no idea what it was until it clicked that Connor had just pushed his own helmet over her head. Her body just froze, unused to not being able to choose it's own actions and what it put on itself.

"How dare you, you insignificent little worm! You brute!" her voice was a screech now, no doubt attracting the attention of her classmates around her, the ones that knew or had heard of her must be puzzled as to why she had Connor Wood's helmet on. She was furious, no longer even caring about not appearing too angry. The usually indifferent girl, the one who dind't notice anything around her, was angry. And showing it. Seh glared at him, hands reaching up to try and tug at the helmet, nails srabbling over the shiny surface. She had absolutely no idea how the thing worked. It fit so snugly over her head he was unsure if she should pull it off or leave it on, get someone she knew to charm it off. "Take it off me." she demanded, stepping towards him as she hissed lowly, "Take this damn thing off me." He didn't dare! He shouldn't have! He couldn't have! And yet he had. Worse then that he was asking for her to ride with him, get on that stupid Muggle Machine and put her life in the hands of a crazed, insane Griffendor. She was skaing slightly in anger. Like hell she was putting her life in the hands of a phsycopath.

"I am not scared," she hissed, though her voice shook slightly, perhaps enough to be slightly noticeable, "And I am never getting on that motor-" By now she was standing close enough to him that she didn't have to even raise her voice above a whisper to be heard, eyes boring into his own, and that little push was enough to send her forwards enough to hit the spare seat; after twisting to avoid him. By now she was almost panicing. Getting on the bike would mean loosing her control over her direction, her location and her safety. She was not putting her safety in the hands of Connor Woods. Alix glared daggers at the porr First Year that had knocked into her, hands clenched on the seat as she leant against it, having been knocked into it. The poor soul shook, wide eyed at the vemonous beauty.

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[connor wood]

Connor gazed upon the dark-haired beauty, wondering where all of this hatred she fostered for him and nearly every other soul on the planet had come from. Bad parenting? Brain-washing? What was it that had her so stiff and unpleasant from a mere glance of his? It bewildered the boy, enough to the point where he thought it might be worth delving about for an answer. He wanted to ask her why she behaved like a bitch, and why she could hate someone on such superficial levels… However, Connor kept his mouth shut for once. There would be no gain in questioning her – Alix would simply refuse him the material to analyze, and only serve to make her loathing more concrete, if that was even possible. But still, nothing he could think of – at least on his part – could be enough to warrant the treatment she now gave him. If he were not as good-natured and accepting as he was, he might have learned to hate her in return for it. Connor was not so close-minded, however, and while her dislike certainly caused him to frown on the inside, he vowed to never grow angry with it.

Green eyes ran over her face as it flushed, noting the stiffness in her jaw and her rigid stance. Were her fists balled? Connor almost opened his mouth to ask if she wanted to hit him, but he didn’t. It was more than obvious… And what had he done? He had said a few simple teasing comments and already she was about to blow a fuse. Clearly, she cared too much with trying not to care. Connor leaned back on the seat, his eyes narrowing on her face as she continued to spit insults at him. He could probably take this all day, really, but whether he wanted to was a different matter entirely. Alix was very lucky he was someone with immense control over his temper and distaste. A quality she apparently lacked. The girl was nothing but unattractive in that second, her features marred so ugly. Connor wondered how he could waste his time on someone so lost to him? He was fighting an uphill battle and knew in the end, none of it would be worth the trouble she came with.

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that sweetheart,” Connor returned, his tone purposely smooth and cool with just the right amount of confidence leaking through. He knew better than to believe a word that came from her mouth – well, words that were in defense of herself. The boy figured when she was talking, and admitting small facts about herself, that these were the times to listen. Like when she had begun to tick off the specifics of what she hated most about him… If she hated him as much as she wanted him to think, and was as indifferent as she tried to portray herself, she would not have wasted any thought on him whatsoever. He knew it was possible, because he could do it. There were students he couldn’t care anything for and they rarely, if ever, came into his mind. “I think you’re a load of bull,” he stated rather bluntly, not afraid to call her out on this crap she spewed. “And you know, keep frowning like that and your face will get stuck that way.” Connor smirked some, knowing it was childish to quote what their parents used to tell them when they were kids and having tantrums… But at the moment, Alix did not deserve to be treated as an adult since he saw no signs of maturity.

Once again, his brow rose as he regarded her odd hand movement. “What is that supposed to be? Some voodoo ritual to whisk me away or something?” He asked, tone light and airy. Of course, he was only teasing her but Alix would grow angrier. That was just how she was – humorless, dead, and rather dull. The only thing she had going for herself was her looks, and even her face screwed that up. Connor could not understand why she was trying to reign in her temper and act as if she were a lady. Clearly, she wanted to rip him limb from limb and her stance said it all. There was no love in it anywhere. Why was she bothering to hold herself back? Was she doing it for the bystanders’ benefit? They would not fall for it, then again Alix never gave anyone credit for possessing any amount of intelligence or common sense. Both qualities Connor thought the girl herself clearly needed schooling in. Someone so uptight and unpredictable needed anger management therapy; he could only do so much… “That’s all you’re good for, right? Leaving… I knew you didn’t have an adventurous bone in your body. You’re like plastic.” It was rare to see him frown, yet Connor was not quite smiling then.

However, it was incredibly difficult not to have his eyes brighten and lips quirk up. “Did you just squeak?” He asked, humor once again in his tone as if everything previously said was now erased. As much as he hated to admit it that was the most adorable – not to mention somewhat sexy – thing he had ever heard come from a girl. Too bad it had to come from Alix, why not Lucy? At least Lucy could stand to be around him… “It was quite cute, you know,” he admitted to her, finding no shame in himself. Besides, it was bound to make her uncomfortable and he found he still wanted to needle her as much as she was trying to push him away. “Really,” Connor now said, somewhat beleaguered by her steadfast refusal to do anything with him, “what the hell is so wrong with me? I’ve never treated you the way you do me. I don’t get you.” He lifted a hand, ready to brush it through his dirty-blonde hair before remembering he would knock his glasses to the floor if he gave in to the motion. He settled for gripping the handles of his bike somewhat roughly, and then released the pressure just as quickly. He refused to stoop to her level. No one deserved it, not even her.

Connor was somewhat shocked when she finally lost her cool and began to call him rude names, practically spitting them at him. There were a few looks from those around them, but other than that, no one wanted to get in the middle of their spat. “Brute? Are you serious?” His smile widened some, attempting to school his face into the perfect picture of innocence. “I can’t be that bad…” He knew he was only supplying her with ammo to attack him with, but Connor would be lying if he said he didn’t want to find out what it was she hated about him. What it was he had ever done wrong in regards to her… He did not back away as she advanced, but held the same relaxed pose he had this entire time. However, his brows flew up at her demand. “Was that an order? You can’t ask me politely?” He all but sneered in return and then his gaze grew serious for a moment. “I don’t think so, chit. I might just leave you like that until you learn that I’m not one of your mindless minions running about the place. I’m not going to be ordered about like some dog. Besides, you’re going to need that helmet in case I crash and you go flying.” Connor was saying things just to scare her now, and realized it. His tone softened, “But I will not allow that to happen.” He doubted this admission would make any difference.

“Oh you aren’t?” Connor all but scoffed at her claim, eyes rolling heavenward. Suddenly, her slight body collided with his bike – thankfully, his legs were straddling it and his feet were able to keep a firm control of it against the ground. Unfortunately, he hadn’t had the time to catch her or anything, though he doubted if he would. She might scream rape or something if he even thought to help her. Her head turned to glare at someone, and his vision followed hers, catching sight of a first year shaking visibly. “Hey, thanks kid. Go ahead along,” he called to the small boy, a gentle and friendly smile claiming his features to calm the kid down. The boy had sped away before Alix could do any damage to him, thankfully. Connor then shifted some; he was now in close proximity to her and he could feel the heat radiating from her. “Never knew someone so cold could be so warm,” he muttered, eyes roaming her twisted features. The Gryffindor leaned somewhat closer, bringing their faces fairly close – though, hers was mostly hidden in the helmet. “Get on the bike,” he ordered, tone gentle yet firm. His fingers rose to drop his sunglasses back in place to shield his eyes as he leaned back away and faced forward. He kick started the bike and it rumbled to life, revving it loudly so she would get the message he meant business. If she didn’t get on, he would take off and leave her with her head stuck in the helmet.

[alix jesslow]

((The White was beginning to burn...))

Alix shook. She didn't want to, didn't want to. But there was nothing her body could do about it. She'd lost that tiny bit of control, although it didn't look like that, and everything was just roaring on her ears. She was shaking. She was shaking because she was, if only a little, afraid of what could happen. She coudln't control her shaking. She didn't know how, didn't know how to get back that little piece of control she'd just lost. She never lost control! She never lsot any little fraction of control because of anything around her, and more importantly: she'd never not been able to control someone before. Maybe not to the point of ordering someone around, but she could control how angry she got someone, when she left then hanging and how angry she herself got that them. Connor she couldn't control. She had no idea how angry or upset he was at any one time. And she really had very little control around him either. He got her to rav and scream and - he had called her cute. Right before she'd screamed at him. And right before he'd made sense.

Half-bloods didn't make sense. They were pathetic drains on life's soceity and the wizarding community. That was it. And she was not getting on a pathetic Muggle machine with Wood of all people. She stifled a sigh as the first year ran away from them both - or rather from her - and was about to stand up and make him get this thing off her when she turned, a sharp remark on her tongue for what he had just said, and then she froze. His face was right in front of hers. With the helmet she was wearing it would be so easy to simply move her head forwards and break his nose with it, but that was beneath her. Why should she hae to demean herself fro some stupid Griffendor? She shoudln't, and she wasn't. She could feel his breath on her face. Why was she noticing that? Why should she even be bothered that she could feel his breath on her face? She felt her face warm as she flushed and cursed herself, hoping her hair and the hemlet covered it enough to not be noticable.

As the bike started she jumped, her entire body shaking now for some reason. Stop, stop, stop, stop this now! She grimaced, face not relaxing as she stood up and brushed herself off, glaring at the few Slytherins that even so much as dared to look over at her. She just knew that something would be said later. BUt compared to this, she could handle anything the members of her own house said to her. There was a moment when she paused, and wondered exactly why she was doing this. Wood of all people, was making her get onto a bike. No: she was being made to get on a biek. That was the worst part. Not Wood, or anything else. She was being made to do something. It took another ten seconds for her to get onto the bike, moving a bit quicker then she should have incase he decided to drive off and leave her stranded with his helmet. She wanted this thing off.

"You had better not crash Wood," she muttered, hoping he woudln't notice her shaking form where she sat behind him, struggling to find a place to hold onto without gripping onto the half-blood and therefore staying clean. Her hands found the back of the seat and she stared defiantly at the ground, not looking at his back, or at the people around her. She was going to get hell for this back in the common room.

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[connor wood]

Connor didn’t miss the flush of Alix’s face. Rather than think it was from any affect he could have on her, he shrugged it off – her temper must have gotten the best of her. Why the girl was acting like such a bitch was beyond him. As far as Connor was concerned, he had done nothing so dreadful to warrant her ill treatment. Indeed, there was no real reason for her to even hate him. Connor was nothing if not pleasant to her; his teasing was hardly anything to send him to the gallows for. Alix was too high-strung for her own good, he thought. There was nothing fun about her, especially since she only seemed to be happy when others were miserable. Talk about a turn-off.

Finally, she came to her senses. Connor held the bike steady for her as she swung her limb over, and scooted into position behind him. Alix was a fairly petite girl; he didn’t know why he hadn’t noticed until just then. “Oh really?” His drawl came out low, but his head turned so he might look at her in the corner of his eye. “As far as you’re concerned, Alix, you’re not the one calling the shots.” She had to learn that sometimes, it was okay to be vulnerable. Clearly, she was not in her element and she most likely loathed him even more for it. But Connor would do his best to make it up to her, and show her a good time. Girls deserved attention, even a cold one like Alix.

The bike rumbled underneath them, Connor waiting for the girl to wrap her arms around his waist as he expected. He sat there for an entire minute, feeling stupid, before a touch of impatience made him jerk his vision back to her. “What are you doing?” He nearly snapped, figuring that the only way Alix would listen to him was if he used an authoritative tone. “You’re supposed to hold on to me,” he told her, thinking he should be crowned a saint for the amount of patience he was exuding then. Connor reached back and grasped her hands, pulling on them until he was able to coil them around his midsection.

Then, before she could protest and let go of him, Connor jolted the bike forward with just a hint of the speed he wanted to go; if she was smart, she would realize that he was the only likely thing to hang onto safely. The boy carefully wound them around the people crossing the cobbled streets, turning around and heading away from the bustle. He wanted some green to go nuts on. “Have you been on the hilltops?” He called back to her. Though, Connor didn’t wait for her to agree or voice any sort of opinion; his hand gripped the gear and pushed it forward, urging the bike faster as the wind whipped about them.

[[ sorry for the wait! ]]

[alix jesslow]

She didn't know what to do. For once in her life she had no control over anything; her direction, speed, heart rate, nothing was under her control any more. Alix Jesslow didn't know what to do. All she could do was sit there, holding onto the back of the seat, shaking. She hated it. Even her breathing was shaky, quivering in quiet puffs from her mouth even though her face was shrouded by the snugly fitting helmet. Connor Wood, the blinding fool he was, had rendered her pretty much useless. She hated it. Hated him, hated this bike, hated this helmet, hated everything she could think of in that one moment as she clung to the seat. Just because she could. Even his stupid voice made her curse him inside her head, hating that he could make her shake in her seat with...with...with his person. A pathetic half-blood should not be able to do that.

Alix stared defiantly at the ground as his head moved slightly, just watching her out of the corner of his eye. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her face. It didn't really occur to her that he wasn't looking to make her uncomfortable, or looking to humiliate her. He was simply being himself and trying to be a friend. She had never had a friend in her life, sure she'd had people she hung around with, but they weren't classed as friends. So really, Alic had no idea what he was trying to do. She thought that most people tried to get back at their enemies, because that was what she thought Connor thought of her. Surely they were nothing else? How on earth could they be. She didn't want to be anything but enemies, she was pureblood, a Jesslow no less, and he was nothing more then scum with mudblood heritage running through his veins.

She flinched as he snapped, eyes slightly wider then before at his tone of voice. They had been sitting there for at least a minute, leaving Alix wonder what she was supposed to be doing. No; she wasn't supposed to be doing anything. She wanted to do nothing right that would please him. Why should she have to? Stiffly she let go of the seat, ready to hit him, point at him and yell at him, anything as she clenched her fists. But she didn't. She opened her mouth, snapping it shut with a dry click before moving to lower her balled fists. Or she would have if he hadn't grabbed hold of them. She nearly squeaked, dumbfounded that he would do such a thing. Apart from her mother, no one had ever tried to touch her hands. It was something she didn't allow, because it was almost a sign of trust. She was forced forwards slightly as he pulled her hands around his mid-section, his stomach, making her grip onto him. She nearly flinched again, nearly pulled backwards with enough force to make her tumble off the back of the bike. Nearly. Her face warmed as she froze, hands left resting sightly on his stomach as her fingers stiffened. She had never touched someone in this way before.

Alix was just about to pull away, finally regaining the use of her senses, before the bike went shooting forwards, just enough to make her gasp and tighten her grip, hands clasping his clothes. It wasn't fast, but the take of had been. Scowling to herself she relaxed, loosening her grip as much as she dared when on this infuriating contraption. She was...worried, for lack of a better word, of falling off. Who wouldn't be in her situation? She was being made to sit on a bike, with someone she barely even knew, and they were driving along a busy street. Faces moved past her, not fas enough that they were a blur, and easily recognisable. She dearly hoped those faces she recognised didn't recognise her in this helmet. it covered most of her face, so it should have been fine. if anyone knew...She didn't like to think of the control she would loose on her group.

Soon though they were moving away from the faces, out into the countryside. Alix blinked as she stared in almost confusion at the green hills. What were they doing here? Wood's voice sounded in her ears, making her head snap to look at his bike before looking straight back at the green countryside. She hadn't, she had better things to do with her time. "No," she began, "I have n-" She cut herself off with a small screech, arms tightening around his waist as her head sinstantly found a spot in his back, helmet blocking any true contact. Dear god! It was true, her broom didn't go this fast. But at least on her broom she had control of the brakes. Her eyes screwed themselves shut, finger nails digging into what she thought was her own hand, though it could more likely be Connor's stomach. She was not scared...Truly. But she did feel sick. "Stop, oh god stop!" her voice quavered at the end, close to begging. She hated this. Long bursts of speed made her feel ill; even if she was a Chaser on the school's Qidditch team. "Stop! Slow down, anything," her teeth pulled at her bottom lip, not wanting to say what she ought to, because she had been told she was beyond using that word. But this was too much. "Please!"

((Sorry for the wait ^.^))