[Corridors] The Book

[jamiecarron]

Jamie-Paul had been racked with guilt ever since that meeting he had with Tessa. Why did he have to even go over to her? What did he hope to achieve? In the end, he ended up foolishly kissing her, and she ran off. Great, just great. Well done Jay, you’ve done it again, bloody moron. You always like to mess things up.

Sighing, he still held onto the book she had mistakenly left behind when she rapidly made an exit. Flipping through the pages, it looked like he was searching for a clue to where she might be hiding herself. He had been searching for her for a while, hoping to bump into her, but also hoping he didn’t have to see her. It had been a week since he last saw her, but it seemed longer. She seemed to of disappered into thin air. That was the thing with Tessa, she could not be seen if she didn’t want to be.

This was the third time he had been walking around the corridors of Hogwarts, even exposing himself down in the dungeons to the Slytherins, luckily they hadn’t been stalking down there when he passed through, but next time, he knew he wouldn’t be as lucky.

After hours of aimless searching, he decided he would give up, and it being a miserable day, decided he’d make his way back up to the Gryffindor common room. He’s have to maybe owl her the book back, even though it sounded a stupid idea, it was the only way he could thing of that he could contact her...

Walking down a corridor from the main entrance, he began to walk up the main stairs...

[montez]

The week following the kiss with Jamie was a long one for the Hufflepuff. She was trying to avoid him to the best of her ability but found she had to duck and hide numerous times when he came into view. Why she was hiding from Jamie wasn't something she was completely sure about; more or less embarrassment on her part. Her shy nature had grown in the past week if anything.

Tess had realized that she had forgotten her book on the lawns that day so she had spent most of the day in the library trying to find a copy of her book. Apparently, people enjoyed the book because all three copies were out.

As she wandered around the shelves and back to the library doors, she thought about Jamie and what he was going to say. She had heard him call out for her once she left but she was too afraid to turn around let alone acknowledge that she had heard him. She was definitely kicking herself for that move. Walking out of the library, she headed down the main staircase to grab something to snack on from the kitchen.

Tessa had made it half way down the steps when she spotted Jamie. Looking behind her and back to the library, she realized it was too far to run back to. She had to face him sooner or later, but why couldn't it be later. Her heart began to race. Taking a deep breath she walked down and stood three steps above him. She spotted her book in his hands and she smiled, "Uh- Hi, Jamie." She tired her best to make it seem as if nothing had happened between the two but the red growing brighter in her cheeks gave it away. "You found my book, I see," she said pointing the object in his hand.

[jamiecarron]

Jamie had officially given up looking. An entire week and no sign of her. Watching his feet as he stepped up the main stairs, he stopped as he saw a pair of feet facing him. Slowly looking up, he noticed they belonged to Tessa.

Giving her a pathetic excuse for a smile, he scratched the back of his head in embarrasement. Now she was infront of him, and he'd given up, all the words he had prepared to say to her had seemed to vanish. Inwardly cursing himself to say something, he managed to give a small cough to clear his throat.

"Urm, yeah. I've been trying to give it to you for ages" he said, realising that it could sound dirty.
"Urm, I meant, u-urm, give you your book back...You know what I mean" he said, wrinkling up his nose. Sighing, he looked back at the book before handing it back to her. The one reason he had to see her, and he was giving it away.

"So...How are you?" he asked rather awkwardly. He could barely look at her, but he knew he was going to have to explain himself somehow.

"Look, Tess. I'm sorry about what happened, but i'm not sorry I did it. I don't regret it, but I regret what has happened afterwards. I'm sorry if it's ruined our friendship, but I like you Tess, I have done for a while now" he said this all in one big breath, otherwise he wouldn't of said it at all.

[montez]

There it was again, the cough. What exactly did it mean when he did that? Was he clearing his throat or coughing because he had to cough? Either way, it always gave Tessa a weird feeling. She had hoped she'd just get her book back then be able to run off but by the expression on Jamie's face, he had other plans.

You what? His phrase had come out wrong and he realized it when he had corrected himself. Tessa furrowed her brow in confusion but smiled once he handed over her book. "Thank You," she said placing it in the bag that hung over her shoulder. "I mean it, thanks for giving it back to me. It was a gift from my father." Tessa gave Jay a sweet smile.

Tessa shrugged, "Oh I'm-" then Jamie began ranting about last week and then he said something that Tessa didn't comprehend right away. He liked her? Wait, did she hear him right. "-fine." Tessa furrowed her brow and tucked her hair behind her ear. What exactly was she supposed to say to him? "I- uh. I like you too, Jamie," she mumbled as she looked at her feet. Tess looked up and gave a small smirk and chucked in embarrassment, "Have since fifth year."

If things didn't feel awkward already, it was practically overload for Tessa now. So he liked her and she liked them back. She was trying desperately to think of a way to get out of here already but her feet stayed glued as if for once she actually wanted to stay.

[jamiecarron]

Jamie lifted his head up when she said she liked him too. Grinning from ear to ear, he couldn't help it.
"Only since fifth grade? I've liked you since I first came here in third grade" he said truthfully, but he couldn't help but feel the gloom lift from him as she spoke to him for the first time in a week.

"Geez, well, Happy birthday Tess. As promised, I got you a present" he said, pulling it from his back pocket. It was a long flat black box tied with a yellow ribbon, Hufflepuff colours. He had seen a perfect quill for her, in silver, with a purple feather at the end. He knew he had to get her a quill, as that's how they first met. Nothing else would of done. Books were a little boring, and he didn't know which ones she had or didn't want.

Handing her the box, he couldn't help but smile. He hoped she'd like it as much as he liked buying it for her.

[montez]

It took two years for the Hufflepuff to develop a crush on the boy and another two to actually tell him. Typical Tess. Looking away shyly, she twirled a strand of hair around her index finger before looking back at him. "I wished you would've told me sooner. You're the Gyffindor, you're supposed to be brave," she said with a laugh. If things between them weren't awkward before, then I don't know what you would call this.

A present? Jamie had a present for her? "I didn't think you were serious when you said that," she stated as she took the long box from him. peeling the ribbon off, she lifted the box slowly and peered down at the quill. She had to giggle a little. A quill, out of all things. "Still trying to make up for the incident back in the third year, are we?" Tessa grinned, "I love it, thanks Jamie. It's even my favorite color."

She couldn't believe that he remembered the way they met four years ago. A simple quill that sparked the beginning of a friendship and now here, another quill that sparks the beginning of something else. Feeling her face grow warm she let out an embarrassed laugh, "So, Jamie. How was your past week?" Stupid question but then again, its not like she had anything to say to spark up a conversation, she was usually the one trying to get out of it.

[jamiecarron]

Jamie-Paul Carron was a dork. He couldn't think of a better present than a quill. It was a little dorky, but hopefully on the plus side of cute. Even now he still felt bad about taking Tessa's only quill and making her lose house points.

"Of course I was serious. You know me, the jock with the big heart" he grinned. He was a fool, but it was funny.
Looking behind him incase he was blocking someone's way, he noticed he wasn't, so turned back around to look at Tessa before he answered her question.

"Urm, well, it's been uneventful. I've been looking for you mainly, except classes of course. I hate when you disappear, you mouse! Do you realise how hard it is to find you in this damn place?" he chuckled.

[montez]

Tessa still held the quill in her hands. She was unsure what to do with it at the moment. If she placed it in her bag, she risked ruining it and she didn't really want that to happen. Instead, she decided she'd just hang onto it until she was back in her dorm room and had somewhere to place it.

"You know me, the jock with the big heart"

"Yes well, I'm afraid I don't know you as well as I wish I did. My fault. of course." Tessa didn't know where she was getting at but she felt as if an apology was in order. "Look, Jamie," she gave a nervous chuckle, "I don't know what I'm getting at here but I'm sorry that I've been a mouse as you call it."

Tessa turned to her left and let her arms rest on the banister of the stairwell. Yes, Tess was a shy girl but it wasn't who she wanted to be; it was just a way she was brought up and all the moving she had done when she was younger. "I don't mean to seem distant in anyway and yes, I was avoiding you but not for reasons you might think." Tessa turned to him, "The-" she took a deep breath, "Last week's event just caused me to think was all."

Where she was going was beyond her. She had lost even herself back at the beginning, "Confusion much," she muttered to herself. "Jamie," usually a starter for when she wanted to leave, "I was thinking that maybe we could hang out sometime?" Tessa gave a semi-confused look as if she was unsure of what she was asking but JP was an amazing guy and Tess realized she didn't know alot about him.

[jamiecarron]

Jamie couldn’t help but frown a little as Tessa apologised. Sighing, he shifted his position so his weight wasn’t just concentrated on one foot anymore. Looking down at his feet, he heard Tessa give what sounded like a nervous laugh. Looking back up quickly, he smiled at her, and her actually laughing for once.

Hearing her admit she was avoiding him, but not for why he was thinking, he couldn’t help but feel she was acting a little stranger than usual. Why didn’t she just get straight to the point? Last week’s event caused her to think? So running away was going to make it better was it? Jamie just sighed and stopped her talking.
“Look Tess, before you carry o-“ he paused talking as she was asking to hang out sometime. His eyes widened and he raised an eyebrow.

“Urm, sure, I guess. I mean if you want to that is” he said before gulping a little. He was unsure of what she was asking, and his mind was as confused as his face probably looked. Looking down the stairs, he looked around for something else to talk about. Realising there was nothing, he turned his head back and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Do you wanna go and put your stuff in the common room?” he smiled. Setting himself up to get ready to walk back up the steps. He knew how Tessa felt now in awkward situations. Usually Jamie would shrug off awkward feelings and laugh about them, but right here, right now, he couldn’t.