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Post by Professor Ashton Laurent on Jan 2, 2008 21:53:59 GMT
Ashton McLane sat curled up in a chair, staring into the fire. So much had happened, Mark and Maxi had ended their friendship, Maxi barely spoke to Ashton anymore, and now he was afraid that Maxi would leave him. Ashton sighed as a single tear rolled down his cheek. "Why does it always have to be me?" he whispered. Hearing footsteps, he glanced up for a split second. "If you're here to mock me, get it over with so I can go back to being miserable." he muttered at whoever had entered the room.
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Post by Professor Dia Hubbles on Jan 2, 2008 22:41:06 GMT
Dia had taken to spending time in the Ravenclaw Common Room. Seeing the shiny happy faces of the Claws usually lifted her spirits and she found now more then ever her spirits needed lifting. She had told only Bree of the exact details but she knew that at Hogwarts, and with their public display, everyone 'knew' one or two versions of the story. It showed just how little things changed for when she had attended Hogwarts it had been exactly the same.
That particular evening the common room was a bit quiet. She walked towards the fire place, where she sat and watched to students go on about their business when she heard a voice, up set and on the verge of breaking. The words were hurtful and Dia stopped where she was. There was only one who could be that upset and, taking a deep breath, moved forward. She looked down at the figure on the armchair and gave a weak smile, "evening to you too, Ashton."
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Post by Professor Ashton Laurent on Jan 2, 2008 22:44:06 GMT
Ashton looked up to see Professor Owen. "Oh, hi professor." he said softly. Still staring into the fire, he spoke. "Why does it always have to be me? Why do I always get involved with someone who just ends up hurting me?"
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Post by Professor Dia Hubbles on Jan 2, 2008 23:32:15 GMT
Dia could sense, though it didn't take much, that Ashton was hurting. She moved to a chair near to him and leaned her elbows on her knees, her blond hair hanging over her one shoulder. She locked her fingers together and made a ball with her hands, staring at it for a moment, trying to choose the right words to say. She knew that little she could say would comfort him, as little comforted her but perhaps there in lay the key.
Dia turned her blue eyes on Ashton and whispered, "very rarely are we the only ones who go through what we feel." She snorted lightly, "especially loving someone who hurts you." She sat back in her chair, pulling her legs up to her chest and wanting to put what she had to say in a way that would be convincing but not self pitying. "You're not alone. I know exactly what you're going through. That doesn't mean that what you're feeling is any less real but it means you have someone that knows what you are feeling."
Dia wondered if Ashton would know what had happened between her and that man. She had heard many versions but had not discredited them. It was easier to deal with the pain that way.
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Post by Professor Ashton Laurent on Jan 2, 2008 23:36:49 GMT
Ashton looked up, bright sapphire eyes looking straight into Professor Owen's warm brown one. "I heard you and Professor Hubbles broke up." he said. "I hope you don't think I'm meddling, but why did you? You two honestly looked like you were in love. I didn't think he'd hurt you. The way Maxi hurt me." His voice cracked on these last few words, and tears leaked out of his eyes.
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Post by Professor Dia Hubbles on Jan 2, 2008 23:56:07 GMT
Dia's heart went out to Ashton and a few years earlier she might have teared up too but her eyes remained as moist as always. She had not heard what had happened to Ashton but she did understand the pain and the hurt. Dia slowly moved her head to face Ashton. "I don't mind," she said softly. "We were happy. At least I thought we were. Love was mentioned often and I, for one, honestly thought we were."
Dia took a deep breath and brushed her hair out of her face. As she told this she wanted all of her face to be seen, so that she couldn't not be called a coward. "He was with another woman when we were supposed to be. He confronted me with it and when I told him I couldn't do it any more I expected him to fight. He didn't. He said what we had was 'fun' and then left me standing in the middle of the corridor. I don't know what got into him. All in a second he became someone hurtful, someone I didn't know."
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Post by Professor Ashton Laurent on Jan 3, 2008 0:02:34 GMT
Ash listened as Professor Owen told her story. "Wow, that's... tough." he said. He sighed, "I don't know what happened between me and Maxi. All I know is that he seems to care more for being a Prefect than he does his friends! He hasn't actually ended it with me yet, but I know he will. He barely talks to me anymore."
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Post by Felicity Locke on Jan 3, 2008 0:08:05 GMT
((Hope you don't mind me joining?))
Felicity skipped down the stairs, humming to herself. She had just finished her work and decided to sit in the common room. Fay, once again tripped on her way down. She grabbed the railing, a little too late, and slid down some of the steps.
Felicity walked into the common room. "Stupid Freakin-" She stopped, noticing Ashton and Professor Owen. Fay looked over to Ashton, and saw his antagonized face. Her eyes widened slightly. "Ash, what's wrong?"
She walked over and pulled up a chair next to him. Fay layed a hand on his shoulder. Felicity didn't like to see one of her friends this down. It just wasn't right.
Felicity glanced over to the Professor. She heard about Professor Hubble and her, and felt sorry for the Professor. "And I'm sorry about what happened Professor."
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Post by Professor Ashton Laurent on Jan 3, 2008 0:11:56 GMT
Ash looked up to see Felicity. "Hey Lissie." he greeted softly, voice now slightly hoarse from crying. "I'd say I was fine, but I'd be lying." he admitted with a sad smile.
((mind if he calls her Lissie?))
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Post by Professor Dia Hubbles on Jan 3, 2008 0:14:47 GMT
Dia snorted a laugh again and studied her hands on her lap. "In ..." she began. Words didn't come so easily now that she had admitted what had happened but she had to say something. "In that case, Ashton," she said gently, stretching her legs to the ground and leaning forward once more, "nothing is certain. Sixth year is rough and it puts many strains on relationships that wouldn't otherwise be there. The true test is whether that relationship and those feelings come through at the end."
Dia tilted her head to the side and smiled at Ashton. "You're no where near the end, Ashton, just give it time. That all one really needs ... Time." She took a deep breath, knowing that what she had said applied to her most of all. In time she would be healed, in time she would be able to look at herself in the mirror and see what she used to, in time she would be able to smile and mean it.
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Post by Professor Ashton Laurent on Jan 3, 2008 0:18:15 GMT
Ashton furrowed his brow in confusion. "But how can you be sure? How do you know it's not the end?" He sighed and looked down at his hands, then slowly looked back up. "How do I know when to let go? Or keep holding on?" he asked his voice craking, and tears rolling down his face once more.
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Post by Professor Dia Hubbles on Jan 3, 2008 0:36:41 GMT
"You'll know." It was a simple answer but it implied so much. "Deep down in the pit of your stomach you'll feel it. Your instincts will be there to guide you and you have to trust it." She was speaking from experience here, she had know that night that Dan had not come that something was wrong. She had not understood what but the details are rarely know until afterwards. That was the beauty of hindsight and she could do nothing about it now.
Dia sat back in her chair and smiled at Ashton. It was gentle and a little sad but genuine. "And when you have exhausted all other possibilities, tried everything and have no strength to continue in the line that you are following in the relationship, that's when you will know and instinctively feel that letting go is the best thing to do for both of you." Once again she was really talking to herself but as it happened she usually gave advice that she could apply to her own life, advice she generally needed to hear.
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Post by Felicity Locke on Jan 3, 2008 0:49:26 GMT
Felicity remained silent, listening to the two talk. She couldn't bear to watch Ash cry, so she wrapped her around around his shoulders. "I'm sorry Ash. But Professor Owen is right." Felicity released him and grinned. "Like Professor Owen said, just give it time. And just think, your friends will be there with ya."
Fay glanced over to the Professor, sending her a silent thank you for helping her friend. She looked back at Ashton, a small smile still on her lips. "If you ever need to talk or something, Just holler. I can rough up some people for ya too." Felicity winked and flexed her arm. "Beater to the rescue no?" She was trying to cheer up her friend, hoping to see him crack a smile again.
((I love the nickname. So go ahead!))
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Post by Professor Dia Hubbles on Jan 3, 2008 1:07:44 GMT
Dia looked up in surprise as another Claw come over to them. She had not known someone else was there, otherwise she might not have said so much. But she knew that it had helped Ashton and that was what mattered. She smiled at Felicity as she spoke, intuitively sensing the bond between the two Claws. Dia remembered a time when she could be found where they were now with her own friends. That was not so long ago but it seemed longer now because of the events of recent months.
Dia pushed herself to her feet and smiled at the two. "I'm going to go now," she said, slowly moving her hair again. "You've got friends who care for you, Ashton, and that is better then any romantic thing." She leant down and hugged him for she felt he needed it before moving towards the door. "Good night all," she called behind her and heard scattered replies, leaving with a small smile, spirits lifted.
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Post by Professor Ashton Laurent on Jan 3, 2008 1:23:29 GMT
Ash smiled at both of them. "Thanks." he muttered, sniffling slightly. He gave a small laugh, "Great, now I've got snot running out of my nose!" he quipped, rolling his eyes, attempting to lighten the mood. He waved a Professor Owen. "Bye professor. Thanks for listening."
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