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Post by grace holland on Apr 24, 2009 13:43:04 GMT -6
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reason will not lead to solution
I WILL END UP LOST IN CONFUSION
I DON'T CARE IF YOU REALLY CARE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GO.
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Grace Holland slid the sunglasses atop her head as she stepped into the Magical Menagerie, pushing back the wavy dark lengths of hair as she did so. She had just arrived back in Britain from a week long Holiday with her father's family in Greece -- as her glowing tan would attest. She was thoroughly glad to be home but had decided to make a pit stop to Diagon Alley before returning to the Knight family townhouse. On her sixteenth birthday, she had been given a small puppy which she had been forced to leave behind the week before because the villa her family had rented did not allow pets. Of course, her father wouldn't let her stay behind either. So now, feeling guilty for leaving the poor animal behind, she had decided to stop by the Menagerie to buy him a little gift. The puppy, whom she had affectionately named George because the curly fur around his head resembling the kind of wigs the aristocracy used to wear, had come already with a customized collar and name tag -- as well as a dog bed, leash, and toys. So it was safe to say she was having difficulty choosing what to get him.
Adjusting the strap of her leather Privée bag, she moved further into the store. Her first pet already having everything it could possibly need wasn't the only reason why Grace was having such a difficult time with her task. There was a tall, muscular reason clouding her judgment and hindering her attention span as well. It was drawing closer and closer to the new term and Grace was getting antsy. She just didn't know if it was a good kind of antsy or the bad kind. Brigham Striker had been one of her closest friends for as long as she could remember, they always had that flirty-fun kind of relationship where everything felt easy. Or, it had felt easy until a couple weeks ago. Grace didn't know or understand the subtle changes happening in their relationship and it kind of scared her. She didn't know why she couldn't look at her friend and feel as comfortable as she used to. This kind of thing wasn't supposed to be what happened between her and Brigs. He was too much the nice guy and she...well, she wasn't exactly what Brigs deserved in a girlfriend. If that's what this was, what these feelings were leading them to.
Rather her, actually, since she had know idea how Brigs felt about it. For all she knew, he was oblivious to it all. That would be her luck, her pattern truth be told, to fall for a guy who couldn't care less. A huge, huge part of her wanted to revert back to the beginning of fifth year when everything was so uncomplicated and they were just friends and she wasn't becoming so confused when she was around him. She was the one who usually teased him about his simpering fan club, not the one who lead the pack! If their friendship had been anything like her and Landon's, it would be so much easier to handle. But it had never been like that with Brigham, or anyone really -- then again, Landon was sort of an original. Grace had thought that, with Brigs, she had found the one guy it was possible to be friends with without being anything more. To prove the old guy/girl friendship adage wrong. But it was getting harder and harder to just want to be friends with him.
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Post by brigham striker on Apr 24, 2009 18:09:45 GMT -6
( PEOPLE MOVING ALL THE TIME ) [/color] i n s i d e a p e r f e c t l y s t r a i g h t l i n e [/font][/center] [/url], Pup. For a week, in midsummer, he had traveled to the American west coast. Really, he was a chaperon for his younger sisters, Billie and Brooklyn, but that didn't mean he didn't spend his fair share of time on the beach. In fact, he had spent enough time on the sandy beaches to grace his body with a well enough tan. That had been a few weeks ago, and though his darker coloring was still visible, the relaxing spirit that had gone along with that vacation had disappeared. Everything was heading back towards school, and sadly, in Briggs' home that meant more quidditch drilling and helping the girls get their school things ready. Briggs was excited to be going back, though. It would be his final year at Hogwarts, which was usually something to be quite proud of. Of course, his heart skipped a beat whenever he thought about returning, as well. Rather, one thought kept his heartbeat rapid. Grace had been one of his best friends practically since the beginning of their schooling. There had always been a gaggle of girls following him, even at eleven, but there were only a few who stuck out so prominently. There was Mia, of course, who knew him inside and out. Then there was Grace. She was that perfect mixture of closer than close, yet wouldn't hesitate to knock him on his arse on the Quidditch field. The changes in their relationship had started out subtle. At first it was all about the glances. Him catching her staring when she thought he wasn't paying attention, and vice versa. The moments had progressed to nervous hugs, furrowed brows, and unsure hand placements when greeting or hanging out. Briggs didn't know what had begun to bubble inside of him, but he was quite sure it wasn't just friendship. His mind had drifted on the idea of seeing Grace for so long, Briggs barely noticed Pup running ahead of him in Diagon Alley. With a simple, yet sharp whistle, the dog stopped in its tracks and trotted back over to its master. Pup's head easily reached above Briggs' waistline standing, and in many ways was comparable to a small pony. Well trained, kind and gentle as the dog was, Briggs felt no worry in letting the beast tag along to the menagerie. He needed to buy food for Pup as well as stock up on treats for Byron for during the school year. Pushing the door open, Briggs stepped forth, his loyal dog at his side walking wistfully along the aisles. Both man and beast oblivious to anyone else around them, Briggs found the bag of feed and hoisted it over one shoulder, grinning down at Pup licking his lips in anticipation. Turning another aisle in the small shop, Briggs' heart nearly beat out of his chest. As corny as he may seem, the thought of an angel raced through his mind when he saw her. Grace Holland. The only girl that could make him stutter his sentences and lose his cool. Forgetting the bag of food on his shoulder, Briggs went to wave, a half smile on his face. The bag dropped suddenly to the ground, causing Pup to jump out of the way as the thudding sound resounded around the store. With a slightly sheepish look towards the owner, Briggs lowered his arm back to his side. Turning back to Grace, he offered a smile once again, "Hey, Gracie," his thick Irish accent rolled off his tongue with the simplest of ease, "Didn't expect to see ya' so soon." It was a lame attempt at a greeting. He knew, and she probably did too. All sense and sensibility within his head seemed to leave completely whenever she was around. [/ul][/size] |
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Post by grace holland on Apr 24, 2009 22:16:36 GMT -6
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reason will not lead to solution
I WILL END UP LOST IN CONFUSION
I DON'T CARE IF YOU REALLY CARE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GO.
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Grace was making a concerted effort to push Brigham Striker from her mind (at least for the moment) as she browsed a selection of doggy toys. Really, what would a Bichon Frise puppy want to play with? Picking up a small, florescent-colored squeaky toy she gave it a delicate squeeze before dropping it back on the pile -- slightly embarrassed. She was quite at a loss as to how to behave in a pet store -- having never before owned and pet, even for school purposes, and therefore having no reason to enter such a store. Scratching her forehead, she blew out a long breath in despair. She was never going to find something for little Georgie. She felt like a complete failure as a pet owner for not even being able to do the smallest task for him. All of her previous excitement upon entering the store was fast disappearing as confusion threatened to overwhelm her. Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she half-heartedly rifled through a stack of what looked to be bargain doggy sweaters. She was hapless, really, as she picked her way through canary yellow wool and mini-sized Santa outfits. Dear Lord, who on earth thought that dogs would want to put into such miserable things? Worse yet, what delusional soul actually thought it was in the least bit cute? As she worked her way through the small bin, each outfit became worse and worse and eventually they had Grace shaking her head in disbelief. A twinkle returned to her eye, however, when she picked up one in a disturbingly bright shade of puce.
Suddenly she her a clattering thump from a few feet away and nearly jumped out of her skin. Eyes wide, she whipped her head around to look in the direction of the sound only to freeze when her eyes alighted upon the very subject of her earlier thoughts. Indeed, most of her thoughts throughout the summer. There stood her friend, looking embarrassed as anything, with a large dog panting at his side. Without meaning to, a slow smile spread across Grace’s face. Even as her heart quickened, and her thoughts began to churn, she couldn’t curse the situation. She waved back at him when he raised his hand. Shaking her head, she dropped the doggy outfit in her hand back on top of the pile and turned towards her friend. “Hey, Brigs,” she replied lightly. Touching her hair, she replied jokingly. “What? Do I look that much of a mess to make you drop a huge bag of dog food in horror?” Subtly, her fingers played with the handle on her bag. God, he looked good. Wherever he’d been over the summer certainly hadn’t harmed him any. He’d probably been on some beach somewhere, as she had been, with a flock of girls following him around like they did at school. With a pang, she realized she was actually jealous of whoever he had spent his time with over the summer. Which was probably unhealthy, since they would only be going back into pretty much the same environment as Grace imagined.
Shaking the thoughts from her head, she moved a step closer to him, pretending to be examining a fascinating set of porcelain food bowls. “How was your summer?” She asked, looking askance at him. Biting her lip, she reached out and poked him lightly in the ribs, still not meeting his eyes completely. “And hurry up about it, if you please, so I can brag about mine and then tell you the news that I happened to have told everyone but you as of yet.” Bless her overabundant need to put a humorous twist on any given situation. Otherwise, she might have sunk into awkwardness and given herself away. It was bad enough having to deal with these new confusing feelings without having to deal with the object of these feelings knowing that you have them finding that fact just as disconcerting. Or worse yet, not want or be able to return them. Absently, she drew her loose hair over one shoulder, her fingers having moved on to messing with the food bowls. It was just like Brigs to show up just when she was feeling most not herself, he’d always seemed to be able to bring her back in the past. Unfortunately, Grace doubted it would be such a case this time.
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Post by brigham striker on Apr 26, 2009 6:52:30 GMT -6
( PEOPLE MOVING ALL THE TIME ) [/color] i n s i d e a p e r f e c t l y s t r a i g h t l i n e [/font][/center]
[/b] It wasn't the answer to her question, but it was the first thing he had formulated in his head that didn't begin and end like sputtering nonsense. "My summer was good. Spent a few weeks with Billie and Brooklyn in the States on the beach. Other than that its been nonstop Quidditch drilling with me dad. He seems to think I'll be going pro once I leave school." Briggs shook his hand. The old man wasn't really far off with what his son wanted to do in life. Quidditch was a big part of it, but he wasn't exactly sure he wanted to play for the rest of his life. What else could he do, though? Brigham practically hated the Ministry, and wouldn't work within a hundred feet of his older brother. If he didn't go to the Ministry, any real supportive jobs were slim to none. Who knew? Maybe Briggs could become the next Viktor Krum? Seeing the impatience within her, he couldn't help but laugh slightly as his hand removed itself from his neck and slid into his pocket. "All right, all right. Now what is your news? I'm eager to hear how your summer went. Besides my sisters mine was terribly boring." Of course, he wouldn't tell her the reason his summer was so boring was because thughts of Grace had filled his mind since they parted ways on the train. Every night he seemed to dream about her with her dark hair and her stunning bluish-green eyes. Each morning he'd wake up feeling even more pathetically pining after her than the last. He was like a lovestruck puppy, chasing its tail for attention. It made no surprise to him that his heart had begun to pound nearly out of his chest at the mere sight of his friend.[/size][/ul][/blockquote] ooc- sorry, its not as good as i'd like. a bit pressed for time this morning. =\ hope its ok. |
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Post by grace holland on Apr 28, 2009 17:15:22 GMT -6
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reason will not lead to solution
I WILL END UP LOST IN CONFUSION
I DON'T CARE IF YOU REALLY CARE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GO.
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Was it sad that she felt a little bit relieved that he'd been tied down with his sisters during his vacation? It certainly wasn't her best moment when she had to hide a grin at the thought of poor old Brig's being dragged this way and that. Not that she'd ever met Billie and Brooklyn, but it just seemed what sisters would do. Again, not that she would know having no siblings herself.She relaxed a little bit as he talked, feelings as if she were finally getting back into the swing of being his friend again instead of the girl who stared strangely at him. Blowing at a lock of hair that had fallen in her face, she grimaced comedically. "Ugh," she said, giving a false shiver. "No offense, because I love the sport, but I could never spend all summer sweaty and tired like that. Hence, why I will never be a professional quidditch player. You, on the other," she waved her hand flippantly. "Could probably stand up and make big bucks for it. So, I'd say your dad's pretty spot on with his thinking."
A thought occurred to her and, for the first time probably since she'd known him, Grace wondered if Brigham really wanted the course of star quidditch player that he seemed to be on. "Unless," she continued, turning to face him, leaning lightly against the low display table. "That's not what you want. In which case," she shrugged. "I'd tell him to go suck his big toe and get over it. Of course, that's just me." A brightly colored display caught her attention from over his shoulder, which was quite a feat considering her was quite a bit taller than her, and her eyes sparkled. "Come with me," she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the display, heedlessly. Their current conversation subject completely flying out of her head as her brain grabbed on to this new idea. It was probably quite comedic to anyone else to see her drag such a big person behind her, when he easily could have stopped her.
"Look at these," she said, enunciating each word carefully as her eyes sparkled with childish enthusiasm. Before set an array of pet treats and a variety of shapes and colors. They fascinated her; she wanted to look at each and every one of them, at the details. It was only a few minutes later that she thought about Georgie and consequently remembered that Brigs was still waiting on her to announce her news. Sheepishly, she looked back up at him, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Sorry, temporary distraction, " she said. wincing slightly. Looking back at the display, this time eying ones she thought her puppy would like. "My summer was completely boring, I am sad to say, except for one thing." A grin spread wide across her face, she stood up on her toes and leaned towards him, crooking her finger to urge him closer as if she were about to share a secret.
"I got a puppy," she announced excitedly before rocking back on her heels and waiting for his response. It was only then that she realized how stupid it actually sounded, after having built so much up to her news. Pets to him were probably an every day thing, but Grace had never been allowed one before -- even when she lived with her mum and gran. So now that it was out, she felt a little nervouse, standing there waiting for his reaction. "Anyway," she finished, bashfully. "That's why I'm here. I'm trying to find a present for him but what do you get a dog that's already got everything, y'know?"
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