[Courtyard] January already?

[Abigail Louis]

Was it really January already? It seemed like the months were flying past in a blur. Abby was certain it was just November yesterday. 'My, how time flies.' She thought, in a daze. AJ had decided to spend her Saturday afternoon in the courtyard, relaxing. Not many seemed to be there, and when they were, they were conversing. Luckily, for the sake of AJ, no one was there.

She had adapted to the cold easily, though it did take a few days in December for her to do so. Her hands were a little cold, and her nose a little red, but besides that, Abigail was fine. There was a slight smile on her face as she wandered the courtyard, gazing at the snowy grounds. What was it in snow that made Abby smile? Perhaps it reminded her of her homeland? Or was it just one of her likes?

Her thoughts were soon interrupted by the sound of crunching snow. 'Oh no.' Abby seemed like a potential victim for people to talk to, but she never knew why. People would just tend to see she as the one to talk to about anything, and for some reason, it bothered her. Probably from her extreme shyness. "Maybe they're just passing by.." She mumbled, subconsciously to herself.[/color]

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash shoved open the door to the courtyard and stomped outside. It had been a long, stressful week and he was glad he had the day off from work. Because, truth be told, if he had gone in today, it would not have gone well.

Ash looked around for a place to sit and spotted a bench. A girl was already sitting there, but that didn't matter to Ash, he'd sit there anyway. She didn't like it, tough. Ash walked over and dropped his bag, he sat down with a sigh and glared down at the cobbled stone. A frown had settled onto his face, and his eyes were narrowed in glare. As opposed to being their usual bright sapphire today, they were dark navy, almost black.

Anyone who knew Ash, knew that when he had that particular look on his face, he was in a foul mood and was best left alone. Otherwise, there would be hell to pay! Ash did not suffer fools lightly, especially when he was in a mood like this!

[Abigail Louis]

Either she was setting off an uncomfortable vibe, or this guy was just mad in general. Glancing at him, she bit her lip before opening her mouth. For a moment or two, she just sat there like that, words unable to form. 'Come one AJ, it's not hard to say 'Are you ok?' The guy looks like he could use a little venting' She silently cursed at herself for being so socially awkward.

Finally, the words reached her mouth. "Umm.. Are- are you okay?" She asked, biting her lip once more. She had to break this stupid shyness, she just had to. Maybe if she started up the conversation once, she'd be able to break from her shy shell? Abigail herself didn't know, but it was worth a shot. And besides, the guy looked beyond furious. The worst that could happen would be him biting her head off, and she leaving with an awkward aura around her.[/color]

[ghostie]

Gemma followed after Ash. She could tell a mile away that he was in a bad mood. To be honest, she had thought he was a new ghost in town she had felt so much emotion running off him. However, as she found the source, a boy her age, and obviously solid, she sighed.

She went up to him, but he didn't see her. It was a rare occasion she was in the castle at all, and his ignorance made her feel unwelcome. Happy that he ventured outside, Gemma now felt right at home in the courtyard. A girl, sitting on a bench, was minding her own business, and Ashton didn't care. He plopped his stuff down. Rather rude. Gemma thought, forcing her to deal with his bad mood.

The girl obviously didn't know him, and seeing as she was a nice girl, she asked what was wrong. Gemma frowned and glided up behind the two. "CHEER UP!!!" She said, attempting to shake Ashton's shoulders, but then realizing that her hands went right through him. She wondered what it felt like, but giggled. "Sorry, I forgot."

She drifted around to the front of the two and smiled. Leaning back, she floated about two inches off the ground, reclining comfortably. "Introductions?" She said with a smirk. "Gemma Landyn." She said with a smile. "Now, whats wrong? Don't hold anything back. You can take a couple swings at me." She said with a foolish, transparent, grin.

[alexaprince]

Alexa was bored. She felt a little lost being the only ghost of her age that she knew of anyway. She had followed Cristian into Potions class but soon got a book thrown through her by the professor. How rude, she thought as she attempted to throw the book back at the devious professor, but failed.

Sighing, she wandered about, and began to think of Ashton. She had not gone to see him since she passed away, and decided it was time to see him once again.
Concentrating on him, she soon found herself outside at the entrance to the courtyard. To her surprise, another Ghost, around her age, and a girl was there too. Why she had not seen her yet she wasn't sure, but it was good to not feel as alone anymore.

Floating over to the trio, she gave a big grin, and stood behind Ash.
"Boo!" she laughed before turning around and floating next to the other ghost girl. If anyone else was watching, it probably looked like a haunting, but that wasn't the case. Unsure of who to talk to first, she faced the fellow ghost and greeted her with a smile.
"So ol' grim reaper got you too huh?" she said lightly, hoping the girl wouldn't take offence, after all, they were both in the same boat...or should that be state?

[ghostie]

Gemma jumped herself when she heard the ghostly 'boo' above them. She looked up to see a transparent figure, and yet a face not old and wrinkled, but young and fresh. Gemma sat up from her recline and smiled at the girl.

Gemma gazed at her, and something caught her. It wasn't a smell, ghosts couldn't smell, let alone breath, but it was a sensation much like a scent. This girl was fresh, a newbie in town. Gemma had been praying for a ghost her age. Honestly, the teenager would have preferred a boy, but certainly anything was better than nothing.

"Wasn't quick enough for him." Gemma said with a grin. truth be told, for years she hadn't actually known she was dead, so it wasn't that she wasn't quick enough, because believe me, if she had known she would have run for her life, literally. "I haven't seen you before. Are you recently deceased?" Gemma said with a smile, hoping the conversation wasn't to morbid for the live ones.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash shivered as he felt a chill go through him, he looked up to see a young ghost. She looked to be about 16. He gave a small smile. "Hi." Then, another ghost arrived, this time it was...Alexa Prince? "Lexi?" he said in surprise. "Wow, didn't expect to see you."

[alexaprince]

Alexa gave a big grin at the fellow ghostie. It really did feel good to not be hanging around ancient ghosts that talked about old people's things, it was quite boring being with 'old aged pensioners'. As she was asked about being recently deceased, Alexa simply nodded before flicking her head over to Ash's direction.

"I'm his boyfriend's sister. I died in the forbidden forest, I still can't remember how exactly, but hopefully it'll come to me one day" she said, a smile placed upon her face. The truth was, if she wasn't talking to Cristian, her brother, she would be in the forest trying to find out how she died, and attempting to keep others from meeting the same end that she did. If they wouldn't keep out, then she would follow them and be at their guard if needs be.

Giving a look to the quiet Hufflepuff in the corner, she attempted to sit next to her. She could sense she was very nervous and shy, so she smiled and whispered in her ear;
"There's no need to be so quiet you know, what's the worst that could happen?" wise words from someone who was dead. The worst that could happen from talking to someone would be they ignore you, no big deal. She wouldn't die after all.

Looking back at Ash, she floated up away from the Hufflepuff and went next to the other ghost again.
"Hey Ash. I miss you guys. I've not seen Laney around, and somehow I can't seem to contact her" she said, pretending to mess up his hair and sticking out her tongue. Before he could answer she had turned back to the other ghost and realised they weren't introduced.
"I'm Alexa Prince, call me Lex or Lexi" she said, holding out her ghostly hand to her in greeting, not that it mattered because, well...she was a ghost.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash smiled at Lexi when she said that she was his boyfriend's sister, "Actually he's not really my boyfriend anymore. I mean he is, but he isn't..."

[ghostie]

Not only was the new ghost, really new, but it seemed as though she knew the guy that was here. Gemma thought back to the first time she approached someone she had known before she died. It was her friend, Fiona Tummley. Gemma had spotted her after spending days alone, sitting under a tree near the lake. She had run, well, floated to her happily. The girl had turned white and ran away from Gemma. Gemma didn't understand why, but they she realized. She looked at her transparent hands. She couldn't even cry. Her friends avoided her. It was hell having to be there, but not really be anywhere. It wasn't until her friends were gone forever from Hogwarts did Gemma actually talk to anyone again.

How different was this boy's reaction to his deceased friend. Secretly, Gemma was incredibly jealous of the way that the boy stayed, sure he was shocked, but he had stayed, and was talking to her.

Gemma smiled, weakly, but it just looked ghostly. "Oh, well, complicated relationships, tell me about them." She said, trying to keep the mood light. A real smiled widened on her face. "Don't worry," She said, placing a hand on the other ghosts shoulder. "You'll remember. Or, at least that what they tell me. I don't remember either. I just know it wasn't at Hogwarts, and some heat or something." Gemma shook her head. Every once and a while, she'll remember her accident, but then it goes, and all traces of memory go with it. It is very strange. It may be because she didn't die at Hogwarts, and there's nothing to really remind her of what happened.

"Gemma Landyn." She said, taking the hand and shaking it. It was nice to have someone to interact with, instead of just go through. "So," She said to the boy. "I'm guessing she didn't make you day much better huh?" She said, smiling at Lexi. "You might have to give them time to get used to you..." She said, smiling, though it wasn't a real smile. Gemma would have given her friends all the time in the world, but it wouldn't have changed anything.