(Lake) A Little Walk

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell breathed in deeply, he loved the smell of the lake in the late afternoon. He smiled as he let the breath out and looked around. Kellcie should be arriving soon, he thought, glancing up to the tall towers of the castle. It was beautiful in the sunshine and it made Rus smile even more.

He turned back to the lake and looked over its cool glassy surface. In contrast to the castle it looked cold as death. He shuddered and buried his hands into his pockets. He began to jump up and down on the spot, I hate how I always creep myself out! He stopped jumping when he heard something behind him. I must look like such an idiot, he thought and turned around slowly, a smile plastered onto his face.

[Kellcie Amienaiz]

Kellcie had been in her dorm room for most of the day, she didnt have many classes today so she thought relaxing on her bed in her pajamas would be a good idea. She had been looking through an old photo album which showed pictures of her and her friends. It had made her smile.

The afternoon fell upon her as she looked out of the window. Such a nice day... she thought to herself, though an afterthought made her bound off her bed. Oh no! Im meant to be meeting Russell! she panicked, grabbing her jeans and top, pulling them on as she got to the door. She had tripped over the leg of her jeans and fell into the dorm door, catching the handle and nearly falling down the stairs.

"Please move" she yelled as she rushed out of the common room a bit like a headless chicken. Her hair falling in wavy curls around her shoulder. By the time she reached the entrance hall she was out of breath and panting. I think... i may... just... make it... Rest first... she leant against the wall before making her way down to the lake.

Walking with her hands in her back pockets, she spotted Russell, jumping up and down. Is he... exersizing or something? she thought to herself as she got nearer. He must have heard her coming as he turned around with a smile plastered across his face. "Hey Russell, so sorry... I nearly forgot about this" she said slowly as she looked down at the floor.

[Russell Parkhurst]

It was Kellcie. Russell breathed a little easier knowing it wasn't some good for nothing Slytherin sneaking up on him. He shook his head and smiled at her. "It's fine," he said and pushed into her into a hug. Quickly standing back, Rus cleared his throat and buried his hands in his pockets.

"How's your day been?" he asked at length. He had, at the sight of Kellcie, completely forgotten why he had asked her to join him at the lake. She always seemed to have that effect on him, she stole every thought and he wouldn't want it any other way. He decided he needed to walk, move at least, so he began to walk along side the lake to keep things relaxed.

[Kellcie Amienaiz]

Kellcie smiled when Russell gave her a hug and made sure she gave him a squeeze back. It felt like they hadnt seen each other in ages and she had missed him. "Im still sorry though, I said i would be here and i nearly forgot" She gave him an apologetic kiss on his cheek. Something she felt comfertable doing with Russell and smiled.

"Its been alright, same old really" She told him, "Just the odd arrogant slytherins trying to cause trouble and people getting in others way. I just stayed out of their way and stayed in the dorms" She put her arms and folded them across her chest. "Hows yours been?" She couldnt exactly remember how she had met Russell, but she was glad she did. He was like a breath of fresh air, nothing seemed to go bad around him. Kellcie walked alongside him, the wind blowing her hair a little, but she didnt mind.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Kellcie always had a way of stealing Russell's breath away. He was never sure whether he should do something more with her other then their fantastic friendship. They had known each other ever since Rus could remember and she had always had this effect on him.

He smiled his skew smile and nodded, chuckling slightly, "same old same old." Slytherins were always a problem but he lived with two so he could handle them most of the time. "I've been in the Library a lot lately. I've discovered this very secluded table near the back, I'm never disturbed there ..." he fell silent for a second then added with a laugh, "except when I get head hunted by those damned annoying third years. They always find me."

He chuckled and smiled at Kellcie. It was great to see her again. It seemed like forever since he’d seen her other then in passing between subjects and meals. After a moment, Rus said, “I look for you at meals you know … but I’ve become very wrapped up in studying for the N.E.W.T.’s that meals had turned into snacks and they don’t last very long.” He had subsequently become more built then he used to be, more defined around the stomach and arms but he wasn’t going to tell Kell that.

[Kellcie Amienaiz]

Kellcie always felt comfertable around Russell, like no matter what she did, he wouldnt judge her. There was something about him that she liked, though she couldnt place her finger on what it was. She always liked to play it cool with Russell, with anyone. She wasnt big on giving things away about what she was thinking or feeling.

"Sounds like its a peaceful area there" She smiled, having nearly forgotten what peaceful was like recently. What with all the Slytherins, then you've got all the Ministry Officials. "Well, you know third years. They see a good looking bloke they have to stalk him" She laughed and nudged him playfully with her arm. It was a warm day, surprisingly. After all it was nearly Autumn. She supposed the warm air would soon give way for the colder seasons.

"I tend to avoid the meal times until it becomes a little less crowded" Kellcie told him. Though true, she had been busy studying too, though she had been taking more and more breaks. Her heart wasnt in it anymore and she didnt know what she wanted to do when she left. She knew however, she did not want to be in the ministry. She smiled as she walked, she found it amazing how she could be in total silence around Russell, and not feel awkward at all.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell was studying the ground as they walked. He looked up from it for a moment, smiled his crocked smile and nodded. "It can be so very peaceful at times," he said thoughtfully. He had not seen Kellcie in such a long time and all he can think to talk about is the Library. He sighed and shook his head at himself.

Rus laughed and when Kell nudged him with her arm he laughed a little more, looking at her with his dark eyes. The warm sunny day was doing wonders on his mood and his laughed and smiled a little longer then he usually did. Though that might be Kell's doing, Rus thought, secretly steeling a sidelong glance at her.

Russell understood the need to be able to at least eat in peace with all that was always going on at Hogwarts. And that would explain why I never see you at meals, Rus thought, coz I go and get out a sap. There was a silence that fell, an easy, comfortable silence that often did between the two but was never unpleasant. He looked up now, watched a few birds fly over head, then said, cocking his head, "it's been a long time, hasn't it?"

[Kellcie Amienaiz]

"Im sure it can be" Kellcie smiled. Walking along like this reminded her of the old times, all though this time she had no urge to push him into the lake. She figured she must have gotten over most of her immaturity in the last couple of weeks. She was a little strained at the minute, though luckily it didnt show.

Kellcie liked it when Russell laughed. It showed her that there was at least someone still around with a sense of humour. This ministry business was pulling everyone down, even the Slytherins werent their usual snappy selves. Of course, Kellcie tried not to let it bother her, but the more she tried the more she seemed to be faced with it. Annoying really. She looked at Rus and saw him looking at her, "Oh tell me i didnt have thinking face again?" she laughed.

"Yeah it has been a while" she said catching his arm and spinning him around to look at her. "Ive missed you" she said with a smile and gave him a hug. She couldnt actually remember the last time the two hung out together. It had been quite "hi's" in the corridors before running off again. Funnily enough they hadnt seen each other in the common room either.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Kellcie seemed to be off in her own little world, pondering this and that and Russell smiled. The concentration was clear on her face and it was enduring. She came out of it and Russell laughed. "Yeah," he said, "but it's still cute." He always told Kell she was cute because she was cute, adorable and he just had to tell her that.

Suddenly Kellcie grasped Russell's arm and he stopped walking. He faced her with a slight frown. When she hugged him Rus was taken aback at first but then smiled and hugged her back. He hugged her back as tight as he could so that he didn't suffocate her. She was the right height for hugging too, she seemed to be made for him to hug and that made him smile even more. He smoothed her hair and said softly, "I've missed you too."

[Kellcie Amienaiz]

Kellcie laughed, she was sure Rus was the only one who could think her thinking face was cute. Though her cheeks reddened slightly, she never got used to being called cute. "Oh" She stammered. "Thinking face is not cute, even less than the conentration face" Kell seemed to have a face for everything.

Kellcie enjoyed Russells hugs. She had always had him down as one of the best huggers in this place. She saw him smiling which made her smile too, she liked it when he smiled and didnt like it when he was upset. She looked at him when he smoothed her hair. "Weve kind of become strangers in the past few weeks" She said, more to herself. A slight hint of sadness in her voice. She put her head on his shoulder and added, "Lets not become strangers, we have too much fun" Laughing she squoze him again. Noting to herself how random this little walk was getting.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell laughed when Kellcie made her concentrating face. "They're all incredibly cute," he said, giving her jaw a light tap with his fist. He knew he was the only one who could call Kellcie 'cute' and get away with it. He liked that about her and smiled all the more for the confidence they shared with each other.

"We have," Rus sighed, squeezing Kell back, "and fun we must have if we're to survive these N.E.W.T.'s." He enjoyed hugging her back enjoyed hearing Kell laugh a lot more. So feeling a little like his brothers must feel before a prank, his heart began to race. He held Kell a little tighter so she couldn't get away and picked her up, still hugging her, and kicked his shoes off. by now she had realised something was up. He had to move quickly.

Russell, laughing, ran into the lake and plunged himself, and Kell, into the water. He let go of her when they were submerged. When he stood up, the water saw up to his thigh and he was laughing at how drenched he was. When Kell came up he laughed at her too, hoping she would find it funny as well.

[Kellcie Amienaiz]

Kellcie knew he knew that he could get away with murder in her company. Russell just had a way of making her feel like nothing bad was going to happen while they were in each others presence. "They are not cute" she said with a laugh. Even though they hadnt really seen each other in a long time, it felt to Kellcie like it was only yesterday they were joking about together.

The N.E.W.T's, they were draining her. Too much studying, too little fun. She hadnt realised the seventh year would be this hard, though times like these made up for all the time she had to spend studying. Even if they were occurances now, she felt as though she could study a month straight if she knew that Russell was going to be there to make her laugh once more. She felt him hold her a little tighter and wondered what he was doing, though that soon changed to wondering what he was up to when he picked her up. Though she soon realised what he was doing, "Rus.. no.. Russell.."

Before she knew it she found herself in the icy water. She felt him let go of her as she broke the surface. She looked down at her waterlogged clothes and looked to Russell with feigned annoyance, adding in a fake angry voice, "What in merlins name are you thinking?" she scolded. Though couldnt help smiling when he laughed at her, "I look like a drowned rat now!" she protested, splashing him with the icy water that was making her shiver somewhat terrible. She stood in the water, hugging herself trying to keep some of her body heat inside her. The last time she had entered this lake, an octopus tried to make her its dinner. Shivering at the thought she made sure she was far away from the deeper reaches of the lake and drifted behind Russell. Putting her hands on his shoulders as she looked out at the deeper edges of the lake. She jumped and put her body weight on Russ, causing him to fall over and Kell landed on top of him laughing before letting him go.

Maybe this would turn out to be fun afterall.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell knew that as soon as she had gotten over herself, Kell would laugh too. And when she did, Russell's heart soared. "You're a very cute drowned rat!" he said chuckling and going deeper into the water. He had escaped the squid once before, he was confident he could do it again.

Kell drifted behind Russell and he knew what was coming. "Now Kellcie," he said, "don't be spiteful." He raised a finger out of the water and shook it demandingly. But still she put her hands on his shoulders. "Kellcie, resist the temptation ..." he began but was plunged into the water. It filled his nostrils but was quickly blown out when he began laughing.

Rus came up quickly, still laughing and grabbed Kell around the waist and held her tight. It was times like these where he was happy he was a stroke bloke. He threw her over his shoulder so her stomach was on his shoulder. He took advantage and smacked her bottom. "Keep still," he said and dived into the water, Kellcie still on his shoulder. He turned his body under the water and let her go. He broke the surface and smiled a naughty smile.

[Kellcie Amienaiz]

"Usually rats are not cute, hence the comparison i tried to make which was obviously lost on you Mr Parkhurst" she said in a false posh voice, rolling her eyes. Kellcie couldnt help but smile, who could when they were in his prescence? He was just someone nobody could be miserable around, even if they tried.

Kellcie listened to his pleas, but she wasnt being spiteful, nor was she going to resist the temptation of getting him back, This is war she said to herself, laughing in her own mind. She felt slight triumph when she managed to duck him under the water and smiled, but she knew that triumph would be short lived, knowing Rus would get her back for it.

Kell laughed with Rus, and kept laughing even when he held her around the waist. It was like someone had given her a laughing potion because she couldnt stop. After calming down she looked at him, and noticed a gleam in his eyes, Oh no, whats he upto now? she thought, and her question was sure enough, answered. Before she knew what had happened, Kell was lying over Rus's shoulders and felt her bum being hit. Flushing slightly, though it was lost when he turned around and they both ended up back in the water, Kell, iadvertantly, ended up underneath Russell, even when they broke the surface, he was still on top of her. And when Kellcie saw that smile, she felt butterflies in her stomache. Smiling slyly back up to him, she put her hands on his hips to keep her where she was, and him where he was. "Gotcha" she laughed.

[Russell Parkhurst]

When they broke the water after Rus had dived, Rus was on top of Kellcie again. He laughed and smiled his crooked smile. She put her hands on his hips and Rus gulped hard. Her touch was electric, sending strong currents through Russell's whole body. He stared dumbly into Kellcie's blue eyes and smiled stupidly, helpless to resist her beauty.

They were standing very close to each other and had she been anyone else, any other girl, Rus would gave grabbed her and kissed her. But she wasn't just any girl, this was Kellcie. He swallowed again and didn't move. If he was honest with himself, Russell had always fancied Kell but he never had the balls to tell her that, even though they were so close. Perhaps that was the reason, but whatever the reason, he had never admitted it to himself so he stood, with Kellcie's hands on his hips, staring into her beautiful eyes.