(RC.Room) Relaxing

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell cocked his head at Alexis and smiled his charming skew smile at her. She speaks! Russell thought, very impressed and pleasantly surprised. He nodded and said, "we are indeed. Making new friends is always fun." He was hinting very hard at something there. He now labelled the three present friends and he had decided. If they complained it was their problem and they would have to deal with it.

Russell then noticed a book on Alexis' lap. He craned his head and asked, "what's that?" He loved books almost as much as his mother did and was always intrigued by what people were reading. He always found out a lot about a person about the books they were reading and he always discovered a great deal about himself too while he read. All the self analysis he would never tell people about because it was a little embarrassing, well, I might tell Kellcie but that's a big might.

[Alexis Heart]

Russell looked her way and smiled, which in turn caused Alexis to smile one of her dazzling smiles right back at him. She was still feeling a bit shy but it was toned down from before so no blushing this time. He answered her and agreed that it was nice to make new friends. Glad be able to say she had made some new friends she grinned once more then looked down at her lap at the book that Acelin so nicely decided to lend her.

Apparently she wasn't the only one looking at the book for the next time she heard Russell's voice he was asking her about it. 'Oh this well it's a romance novel, when I came down here Acelin was reading it and she seemed so enthralled in it that I had to ask her about it. Well she kindly decided to lend it to me so I can see what had her so engrossed.' Alexis laughed wondering how this would go over with Russell since he was a guy after all and many of them thought that kind of thing was way too girlie for their taste. Her head lifted a little she looked at him to see his reaction not really sure why she cared.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell cocked his head and watched Alexis closely as she answered. She had adorable mannerisms that made Rus smile. Like the way she watched the book as she spoke about it. Like the way she sheepishly glanced at him. Rus smiled and raised his eyebrows at Acelin. "Ace?" he said, surprised, "romance novels?"

He burst into laughter and gruffly clapped Ace on the back. "That's Acelin for you," he laughed, "always sharing!" He somehow couldn't imagine Ace reading romance novels. It didn't make sense. Then he realised how insensitive he was being. "But of course there's nothing wrong with romance," he added, all mirth gone from his voice, "it's just such an odd picture."

[Alexis Heart]

After Alexis had informed Russell about the book, she started to wonder if it was a mistake. His reaction was a bit, well it was a bit odd. He seemed surprised by Acelin's choice of books, Alexis wondered if she should have mentioned where she had gotten it. Last thing she wanted to do was to embarrass anyone. Looking from one to the other she leaned back in her chair and bit her lip.

Then Russell seemed to change tack as if he realized that maybe he shouldn't have acted the way he did a few moments before, Alexis looked at Acelin trying to see her face and gauge her reaction, she shook her head just a little wishing she didn't have such a big mouth sometimes. Acelin's name never had to be mentioned why had she done it.

[thatsace]

Ace had been quiet for a long moment. She enjoyed watching people, just watching and that's what she was doing now. She was merely watching the two interact with a broad, proud smile on her face. She felt smugly proud that she was the one who had introduced the two. It was how she felt and boy, did she feel proud about it too. She smiled at Alexis, who was kind and sweet, Ace really like her and she hoped they would become good friends. Her and Rus had always been good friends so wishing done.

Rus asked about the book Ace had lent to Alexis and when she had answered Rus reacted in the most surprising way. He laughed. Ace's smiled vanished, her jaw dropped and she frowned (all three rare things for this happy go lucky girl). she glared at Rus, appalled that he would do such a thing. Ace looked at Alexis with her shocked expression. "Can you believe him?" she asked.

She jumped to her feet and walked over to Rus. She punched him on the shoulder like her brother, Brion, had taught her. The punch was directed to the bone where the arm was attached to the shoulder and he put all her beater trained strength into the swing. "That's fir being an arse," she said, her Irish accent very heavy all of a sudden. She sat next to Alexis on the couch and crossed her arms. "There's nothin' wrong with readin' romance," she informed the rude boy. She gritted her teeth and stared at the fire.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell had stopped laughing when he saw the look on Alexi's face. He sighed and happened to look at Acelin. She was not happy. He frowned and began to say, "I'm..I'm...I'm so..sorry Ace," but couldn't make a coherent sentence.

Ace was on her feet and coming closer to him. "It..it..it was ju..just a joke, Ace, come on, it was funny!" But nothing he could mutter or stutter helped. Ace's fist connected with Rus's shoulder and his whole arm when tingly then numb. His face contorted with pain and he grabbed his shoulder with his opposite hand.

He was about to ask what the punch was for but he didn't need to to know. Rus sat forward in his seat and said with all sincerity, "I'm sorry Acelin. I didn't mean to laugh at you." He actually did but he couldn't rightly say the other things that were running around his head. "Alexis, tell her I'm sorry," he said, "she's ignoring me now." He sounded like an upset little boy who’s toy was stolen by another little someone.

[Alexis Heart]

The look on Acelin's face was not a happy one. It was a look she herself had seen in the mirror on countless occassions when she was mad. Figuring they would just get into a talking match she was shocked when Acelin got up and actually punched Russell in the arm.

Alexis let out a shocked gasp and shook her head. She certainly found out one thing and that was not to anger Acelin at all. When she came to sit next to Alexis she spoke asking if Alexis could believe what Russell had said, not wanting to get on her bad sad she replied, 'No, but I'm sure he didn't mean it the way it sounded. Did you Russell?' she asked looking firmly at him.'

[thatsace]

Though Acelin was quick to anger so was also quick to forgive and forget. But she did need to get the message across that she was unhappy with the way Rus had acted so she looked at Alexis and ignored Rus while he apologised. "I'm sure he meant everything he said," she groaned, crossing her arms and leaning back on the couch.

She stared into the fire and after a long quiet moment Acelin smiled and then began laughing. She wasn't used to being angry and couldn't handle it for much longer so laughter was her answer. "It's ok Rus," she said, "all is forgiven." She smiled at him then turned to Alexis, "I'm sure you think I'm a baby for acting the way I did?"

[Alexis Heart]

When Acelin asked Alexis if she thought her a baby for the way she acted all Alexis could do was bust out laughing. If anything it made Alexis slightly afraid of her and she told her as much. "Baby, no way someone I wouldn't want to cross definitely." and again Alexis started to laugh. It felt good to laugh she hadn't done much of it lately and to be doing it with people she actually liked and enjoyed spending time with felt even better.

Russell still hadn't spoken and Alexis wondered if he was mad by what had just happened, she didn't think so but you never knew he just got punched by a girl and guys were weird about things like that they took it rather, well rather strangely in Alexis' view. At least Acelin wasn't still mad she got over that rather quickly and Alexis liked that people didn't need to hold grudges she just hoped Rus was made from the same cloth.

[Russell Parkhurst]

((sorry I took so long to reply, my computer was being hogged by the family so couldn't get on))

Russell felt Ace turning a cold shoulder to his like a slap. He had never been treated like this by her before and he wasn't much enjoying it. "I'm sure he meant everything he said," she said. Rus shook his head furiously and said, "I never, Ace, you've got to believe me." She didn't look at him. Russell didn't like being ignored but thought that it was worse because he had angered her without meaning to and she wouldn't hear him out.

After a long uncomfortable silence, Acelin began to laugh. Rus' jaw hit the floor as he gawked at Ace. Just like that she was over it and he was forgiven. He wasn't complaining but it was weird. Rus sent her a crooked smile and looked at Alexis as Ace asked her. He was off the hook and happy about it. At Alexis' comment about not crossing Ace, Rus nodded furiously and laughed. "That's for damn sure," she said rubbing his shoulder and looking at the two girls.

[thatsace]

Acelin laughed. "I can be rather frightening, can't I?" she giggled. She, with three brothers, had to learn to be both tough and self sufficient. She could live by herself, if she had to but Ace preferred company too much to become a hermit like her great Uncle Alfunktious. She smiled at the fire thoughtfully, as she became lost in memory.

She shook herself out of it and smiled at Alexis. "Have you got any brothers or sisters?" she asked. Ace knew Rus's family tree and they were distantly related they discovered but she didn't know about Alexis. Was she pureblood, or a halfblood or muggle born? Did she have a large family or was she an only child? Ace was an inquisitive person and was now bursting to ask these questions but she decided to take it slow for now.

[Alexis Heart]

Luckily that explosive situation was diffused by Ace's sudden laughter. Rus seemed to realize that he was off the hook and soon the air in the room was much more comfortable the tension finally having been broken. Now though it seemed that Acelin turned her direction back to Alexis. She realized that she hadn't really made many friends and none of the other students knew anything about her so it was natural that they would have questions.

Looking to Acelin and Rus she said, 'Well I have a baby sister named Kiana she's only seven but she already has a great gift for magic from what my parents are telling me. Shameful thing is that I won't be able to see her when she starts school I'll be finished once she begins,' she said sadly thinking that it would have been nice to have her little sister there someone she could talk to someone that knew her.

Realizing that she had been silent too long Alexis looked up and smiled at the two, 'So what about the two of you any brothers and sister running around driving your parents crazy like me and my sister do.'

[thatsace]

Ace giggled and pulled her knees to her chest. It was wonderful hearing about Alexis's sister. Ace was only at school with her brother for a year. She looked at Rus quickly, then looked back to Alexis, smiling. "I've got three brothers," she began, "and they're all out of school already. Thadhg left school three years ago and he keeps saying how much he misses it."

Acelin giggled and could not help but smile. "Mother always said that it was going to be hardest for Thadhg to leave home, leave school, move out. But he seems to have gotten there eventually." She smiled ran a long finger along the side of her face, tucking her fringe behind her ear. "But it was always Brion who got into trouble and, as you say, drove my parents crazy."

[Alexis Heart]

As Acelin made herself comfortable and listened to Alexis as she talked she couldn't help but feel good since she hadn't really had anyone that she could confide anything to here at school, usually if anything good happened she had to keep it to herself at least until she could find time to write a note to her parents and share it with them. She did miss her family now that she had been talking about them but maybe just maybe some new friends like Acelin and Rus would help take that homesickness away even if only a little bit.

Acelin soon began to talk of her own family, which caused Alexis to move up to the edge of her seat completely immersed in her story she had three brothers and that caused her to go 'Wow', it was kind of shocking to her anyway since she only had a sister to contend with but Acelin had to deal with three boys. 'Man now I see why you're so tough you probably had to be with all those boys about. Rus I think you're lucky that little tap's the only thing you got,' she smiled at both. 'So Rus what about you?'

[Russell Parkhurst]

Rus always noticed how girls seemed to light up when they spoke of things they loved, like their families, and these two girls were no exception. They seemed to have a glow about them that had nothing to do with the firelight. Rus looked to the fire now, noticing it was getting low, and he pulled out his wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa," he whispered and a log flew into the air. He made it go onto the fire and smiled at it as the flames began to lick the new log. Rus put his wand away and looked back to Alexis who had said his name.

"Yeah," he said, rubbing his arm again, "I keep forgetting about your three brothers, Ace." He chuckled. "I have two brothers and a sister, all younger. Actually, you might know Aidan and Derryl, they're also third year. They're in Slytherin so you might not know them very well?" He scratched his head thoughtfully and added, "and Laura is coming to Hogwarts next year, I hope you two will look after her while I'm not here."