[Lake] So, this is love...

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie was having a mental break down. Ok, she thought she was having a mental break down, but she had a good reason too. It was Valentine's Day. Usually, this certain holiday passed without Ellie even realizing it had come and gone. Not this year. This year Ellie had a reason to get up and say "Hey, Its Valentine's Day.". This year, Ellie had Bradyn, which was all the reason in the world to finally come and realize the holiday that was Valentine's Day.

Ellie had spent the morning having a little freak out. First about what to wear, and second about what she was going to pack them for their picnic lunch. Yes, picnic lunch, isn't that cute? It was Bray's idea, although Ellie had some suspicions that Fay was somewhere in the back behind the curtains working the levers. Ellie didn't care, it would be a day all to themselves, the first time in fact.

Ellie had first gone crazy throwing everything she owned out of her closet trying to find something suitable to wear. Only then did she realize that they would be outside and that it was in the middle of winter and that she would be wearing her coat anyway. Feeling silly, Ellie shoved everything back into her trunk except for her dark skinny jeans and a long sleeved shirt. Once she was dressed in her outfit (click) she looked in the mirror. With the jacket on, and her hair down and wavy around her shoulders, Ellie smiled. It was simple, Bray would love it no matter what she wore, but Ellie was happy now too.

Ellie left the common room happy with her outfit. There was a couple cuddling by the fire. Ellie smiled, why hadn't she noticed Valentine's Day before this. The Hufflepuff left the common room and head down to the kitchens. A friend of hers had told her ohow to get in. Ellie tickled the fruit, smiling as she did. The painting slide open and Ellie walked in. The house elves were very gracious and packed them a delicious lunch in a basket right away. From the looks of it, Ellie wasn't the first person to come get a nice Valentine's Day lunch from the elves. However, the worked fast and within minutes Ellie left, thanking them with a smile and a wave.

Now, to the lake. The pair had decided to meet up there rather than Bray walk to the other side of the castle just to pick Ellie up. Ellie proffered this anyway. She could get everything ready before her got there. Ellie walked down the hill, basket in hand. The elves had even put in a large blanket and silverware for the two lovebirds, who were so new at this, would have probably forgotten everything in the excitement.

Ellie got down to the beach and spied the perfect spot. She didn't know why it was perfect, but it was, right up close to a set of rocks, giving a lovely view of the water and yet privacy from the lawns. Ellie smiled as she spread out the blanket, placing the basket on top of it. She sat down and fold her legs under her. She looked around the space. Everything looked good. Too good. What did she forget?

[Bradyn Reed]

There's a funny thing about Valentine's Day. It can either be the best day of your life, or the worst and that usually depends on whether or not your single. Hell, just last year Bradyn didn't care if it was Valentine's Day or April Fools Day, it was pretty much just any other day. Only for the fact that you became painfully aware of the couples. But, Bray wasn't single last year, either, he just kept his girlfriend as more of a friend than a lover. It must've been part of being young. 'Yeah, a whole year's aged you. Not.'

He might have been able to just get on with his life and not notice Valentine's Day, until Ellie mentioned it that is, but for some reason he kept getting a book on his dresser when he'd go to sleep ever since the first of February. There'd be a different one each night since he was a fast reader--yes, when he actually read he got it done quickly, it was such a chore--and all of them were chick romance books. Needless to say, Fay was the source and she must have been hinting at him to make plans. A picnic was what he came up with, since it seemed simple and not too romantic but still cute and it seemed to thrill Ellie when he mentioned it. Date plan, success.

Now came the difficult part, actually getting ready to go. Bray knew he ought to dress up, since he figured that Ellie was going to. Girls, always being so obsessed with his appearance. But there was a period in the guys dorm of Bray just shuffling through every article of clothing in his chest while Dar sat on his bed and laughed his arse off. Some roommate. In the end, he chose his black pinstripe shirt {click} with just a pair of jeans and his gray converse. That was dressy, but not too dressy so it should be alright. Rolling the sleeves up, he fixed them so that they went just to his elbows. It was a moderate day outside, and he always got too hot easily. Cat thing. A spritz of muggle cologne and being dressed was complete to his satisfaction.

Next challenge was the fact that his hair was long overgrown and it was starting to look like he was growing a mullet in the back. Groaning at himself in the mirror, he pulled his wand out and quickly trimmed it up and added a few more layers in the back.

"There, that should do it."
"God, you're such a girl."
"Oh, shut up! How do I look."
"Good, horrible. Fine. Just get out there already, leprechaun boy." Darius said while rolling his eyes. "Unless you want to be late for your little date."

Bray just smirked and grabbed her present out of its safe hiding spot on his dresser and shoved it in his pocket. Now, what was he missing? 'Oh, yeah. How could I forget?' He thought and grabbed his acoustic and pulled the strap up over his head. Apparently guitars were romantic, and he'd always like to bring her on a date as well. Secretly, his acoustic was his favorite guitar. 'Better not tell Lucy, she'll be jealous.' Bray thought, amused at his own stupidity, then he remembered he had someplace to be and headed out of the common room after making his way through a the giggling couples.

They arranged to meet by the lake, but he didn't really know where by the lake. When he got out there, his first instinct told him to check by Fay's tree, but she wasn't there. Glancing around, he couldn't help but laugh when he found her, snug up against the rocks. It was a nice spot, though she could've picked something a little softer to sit on. Walking up, he sat himself next to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. "You look nice," He said with a smile and softly gave her a kiss on the cheek.

[ and you said you got carried away... ]

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie waited. Either she had worn the wrong coat or Ellie was just getting hot with nervousness. She unzipped the plaid coat and shrugged it off, displayed a rather casual shirt underneath. She sighed. Oh well. Ellie felt a hundred time less hot. apparently it was the coat and not her nerves. Funny, Ellie would have bet on the nerves.

Elle though she saw a lone figure walk up the lawns toward the direction of a certain tree that Fay liked. Ellie had thought of the tree as the meeting point, but it was Fay's tree. Ellie didn't want to intrude, nor did she want Fay it intrude upon Ellie and Bray.

Ellie saw the figure go passed, and she sighed. Perhaps they should have been more specific to where they were going to meet. Ellie worried to much, as you already know, but now she was just getting ridiculous.

Ellie beamed as she finally caught sight of Bray. She exhaled, for she had been holding her breath. It was lucky he had come so soon because Ellie was sure she would have held her breath until her showed up, probably fainting in the meantime.

Bray say next to the Hufflepuff, who smiled brightly as her wrapped her arms around her waist, kissing her on the cheek. "Thank you." She said, looking at his own appearance. "Well, I guess you clean up nice." She said sarcastically, with a playful grin on her face. Ellie noticed the guitar Bray had brought with him. She laughed. "I see you brought your secret lover, very bold of you." She said, indicating the guitar.