[Owlery] Special delivery [Loren]

[Dax Simmons]

It was the start of a new term at Hogwarts and it carried on just the same as the end of last term. People laughed at him gave him looks of pure disgust, luckily though Hufflepuff still won the cup so at least they did not hate the sight of him. Slowly Dax plodded up the steps to the Owlery. In his hand Dax held tightly onto a piece of parchment, this would be the most important letter he would send all year and he wanted no interruptions.

Looking up at the owl’s Dax saw Bruno sitting in the top corner. With a wave of the hand he tried to summon the bird down. After six attempts the bird finally flew down to land on the window. Looking at the bird in fake annoyance Dax stroked the top of his head lightly.
“Ok you know what you have to do Bruno. Make sure this arrives safely. She must read it.”

Suddenly Dax heard someone walking up the stairs, looking over his shoulder he tried to hide the letter as much as possible. No one had to see who it was for. Dax turned his back and focused on the owl in front of him.

[Loren Hayes]

The day was impossibly hot. Most students were slummed against the wall in the shadows of the stone courtyard, and splashing around in the shallows of the lake, feeding the giant squid scraps from the kitchen. Loren was of course trecking up to the owlry in irritation, an angry letter to the editor of Witch Weekly gripped in her fingers. The sun beat down in harsh waves, and just as she reached the steps she shed yet another layer of clothing. Since when was it so warm in Scotland of all places?

As she rounded into the cavernous room, she came across someone she had not seen in six weeks. 'Dax.' She stated in surprise. Her eyes flickered to his arm, which was hidden behind his back. 'Is that another bloody poem you're sending me?!' She demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

[Dax Simmons]

When Loren called out Dax’s name his heart did a double back flip, however it soon crashed back down. He let out a small whimper as the pain started once more, the pain that he had been trying to fight for such a long time. With a deep breath Dax turned around and looked at Loren. Although unlike normal he was not moved by her beauty, her face was stern and her body posture was more like a teacher then of a fellow student.

“No…it is not another ‘bloody’ poem, in fact it is not even for you. What would be the point considering you detested me so much.”

Bitterness was not normally a tone that Dax used, he found it hard to harbour a grudge against anyone. But this time Loren has hurt him more then anyone could have done, even though Dax had worked out the error of his actions he knew that their problem ran deeper then the stupid duel.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren flushed with anger. She had become used to Dax falling apart under her icy glare or sharp tone. His bitter come back had caught her off guard, and she marched forward, reaching round his back and snatching the letter from his hand. 'Don't lie!' She yelled, stepping back out of his reach and ripping open the envelope.

Her furious eyes darted back and forth across the page, but after a moment they softened and filled with what was obviously guilt. It was not another letter to Loren as she had suspected, but was instead a letter to his grandmother. 'Oh, I'm sorry...' She held it out to him awkwardly, biting her lip. 'I thought... sorry.'

[Dax Simmons]

When Loren snatched the letter off him Dax could only stand and stare. Fighting back would make things worse and at least she could find things out herself. After the realisation hit her Dax found it strange that no emotion hit him. He did not feel angry or even the want to gloat. He just stood still looking at Loren. Slowly he raised his hand and took hold of the letter holding it close to him. After a moment of silence Dax looked up stared at Loren. The mixed emotions were building up inside him, his bottom lip started to twitch and then he let it all out.

“Are you happy now? Had enough of making me seem like a complete loser. You have hurt me in so many ways….and I…I know I have hurt you but, have you stopped to think that it may have been me who came off worse in this. I am now an emotional wreck and my Grandma wanted to know I was ok! She…she cares for me!”

Dax stood breathing heavily, his eyes were fixed on Loren’s face. This was not how he wanted there first meting to go.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren listened to him, her mouth open slightly. For a few moments she looked from him to the letter, weighing things up and considering. Her stomach felt sick and her face hot, and breathing deeply did not seem to help the pressure that had built up in her chest.

'You didn't come off worse than me, Dax. I understand that I'm not the only one upset, but you definitely didn't come off worse than me,' She paused, taking a moment to breathe. 'I didn't do anything to you. First you humiliated me in front of your friends, then you go and kiss that girl right in front of me when you... you... when you bloody well know I like you.' She hissed.

Dax's shoulders were sunken, his eyes wide and sad as he stared at her. He was feeling far more victimised than he really was. All he was doing was wallowing in self-pity! Loren looked to the ground, frowning. The sun was streaming through the glassless windows onto the back of her head, heating up her hair and making her feel worse. 'Let's just drop it, okay? I know you've been wanting to right from the beginning... but I mean drop everything. Maybe we should just quit on each other.'

[Dax Simmons]

“when you bloody well know I like you.”

The most stupidest grin filled Dax’s face. He did not care what Loren had continued to say, she had just said something he had been dying to hear for almost a year. However he was soon brought back to earth when Loren mentioned giving up on each other. Reality bit back and hard. The look on Loren’s face showed how serious she was.

“No….no we can not drop it…I will not give up us. Loren, I’m madly in love with you and I can see in your eyes the look of pure disgust that kills me. I may be over reacting …but if I was to lose you…then…then I might as well jump from this tower now.”

For once in his life Dax was taking a relationship seriously. He was not sure what Loren had done to him but ever since their first meting over a cup of strawberry tea, she had cast a spell upon him that he could not break.

“You can leave Loren. You can drop it all. But I want you to know that I will do anything to be at your side.”

[Loren Hayes]

'Oh don't be stupid,' Loren muttered angrily, startled by Dax's propsal of launching himself from the tower. She gave a sad smile when he told her he was in love with her. Throughout her days at Hogwarts she had met many boys she had shared something special with - all of them had broken away upon her rejecting their suggestion of love. It had always seem a little fake to Loren. What boy could possibly love anything beyond themselves? Her mind flickered back on all the faces. James, Alex, Elijah... she paused espeically long on Elijah. If it had not been for his love of knowledge and achivement over her, he perhaps might have been the one. Merlin, she did miss Elijah...

Stepping past Dax, Loren wandered over to a sleek looking eagle owl who was hooting loudly every now and then. He flapped his wings eagerly as Loren held out her letter to him. 'London,' she said simply, giving him a quick stroke before her flew off out the open door. Leaning against the perch, Loren turned to face Dax. 'Just give me some time alone, Dax,' she said with a pleading look in her eye. 'I'll be better eventually.'

She hoped Dax would see that she was not saying no to him entirely. She just needed to wait and watch, to make sure he was true to his word. If he meant what he said then he would wait.

[Dax Simmons]

As Loren spoke Dax could feel the sharp pain of rejection once again. However it had never stung this bad before, as never had he had such strong feelings for such a person. With a deep intake of breath Dax nodded his head spinning around to look away form Loren. He tried to keep all the emotions at bay. He had had enough of them, running his hand through his hair Dax looked up at the many rows of owls.

“T…Time. I can give you time. I have waited six weeks another six can not hurt.”

His voice shook as he spoke and at the end he tried to put on a laugh which failed as soon as it had started. Closing his eyes Dax forced himself to regain composer before he looked back at Loren. He some how managed to smile at Loren. A smile that in his own way told her he would be ok.
“Time.”

[Loren Hayes]

Loren gave a small smile of appreciation, but quickly cast her eyes to the floor once more. She decided it would probably be best not to tell him it would probably take longer than six weeks to feel completely better about the Hufflepuff again. The only question now was - did Loren love him back?

The laughs and shouts of students had drifted up from the lake, and through a window Loren could see a game of chase taking place in the water. She knew she needed company other than Dax now to help her forget their talk for a while, and so slowly walked toward the door. Stopping in the doorway, she looked over her shoulder at Dax. 'Thanks. Really. Everything will probably be fine...'

With that she turned the corner and disappeared down the steps, her footfalls fading fast.

[Dax Simmons]

When Loren left the room, her footsteps slowly disappeared into the distance, Dax remind silent in hope they might return once more. They never did and slowly he realised that.
“Time.”
Dax looked to his hand where the parchment was still tightly held. Carefully opening it and straighten out as many creases as possible he reached for his bag and pulled out his quill. Dipping it gently in the ink Dax began to write more onto the letter.

Gran. For the first time this year I have just met Loren and it did not go how I wanted. She maybe talking to me now and she actually smiled at me but she wants ‘Time’. Am I a fool to keep hoping as I do? There are plenty of other girls who…well there are other girls, but I feel like I have blown it with the one girl who I truly liked. But she wants ‘time’…well then, time is what I shall give.

The last few words suddenly became smudged as a tear rolled down his cheek and landed on the wet ink. Rubbing his cheeks with his sleeve Dax stood up and folded the parchment, before handing it over to Bruno. With a week smile he watched the bird fly away into the September afternoon sky. Down below people were laughing and joking. As a final tear bricked free Dax took a deep breath and walked down the steps of the tower, heading straight for the Hufflepuff common room.