[Lake] Thinking of You

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash sighed as he stared out at the lake. Ever since his discussion with Maxi a week ago, he'd been doing alot of thinking. Mostly about him and Maxi. Had their love really been real? But then again, what was love anyway? Why had Maxi ended it, and did he really want Ash back? Ash knew he wanted Maxi back, but he was too scared to do anything. He was afraid that Maxi would hurt him again. A tear slipped down his cheek, he did nothing to stop it, just let it fall. Before he knew it, more were coming and they just rolled down his face. Bringing his knees up to his chest, Ash wrapped his arms around them, lowered his head, and cried softly. He'd been doing that alot lately. When no one was around of course. When his friend's were around, he put on his mask of carefree, fun-loving Ashton. But come nighttime, when he was safe and alone in his bed, then the tears came. By morning his pillow would be soaked with their moisture. Still crying, he didn't notice someone walk up behind him...

[Felicity Locke]

Felicity sighed and brushed some hair out of her face. Dusk was falling down on the school, and this was one of Fay's favorite times to go out. No students were out during this time, some nonsense about it being too dark. Were they witches and wizards or what?

She heard a soft sob break from someone, and instantly she looked up. Her gaze locked on Ash's back, and Fay felt her heart clench. He was hurting again. She made her way quietly over to her friend, and sat down beside him. Felicity pulled Ash into a hug, still silent. Felicity didn't have to ask what was wrong, she could already guess.

Felicity had been watching her friends closely, noticing something weird was about them. They all seemed to be keeping secrets from each other, and Fay wasn't going to deny that she was either. Of course she was. But, whatever Ash and Bray were hiding, it hurt them. Even if their face didn't show it, they couldn't hide the emotion hidden in their eyes.

"Ashy? You don't have to tell me what's wrong right now. You can even cry on me if you want. Just...just don't try to lie to me. If you want to tell me, tell me the truth." Fay murmured, keeping her voice soothing and comforting for her hurting friend.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash sniffled, "I can't get over it!" he cried softly, "I want him back so much, but I'm afraid he'll hurt me again! What am I supposed to do?"

[Felicity Locke]

Felicity frowned and sighed. "I dunno Ash. I can't tell you what to do. I'm not in your position." She bit her lower lip, thinking. "I can't say I know how you feel, because I don't. It only happened once to me, but I wasn't in the same situation as you."

Fay sighed softly again and moved her arm from around Ash's shoulders. She leaned back on her hands and tilted her face up toward the sky. The breeze blew softly through the trees, ruffling the leaves and sending them swirling up into the air. "But, whicever way you choose, just remember we're here to help." Her gaze turned back to Ash. "Everyone's heart breaks sometimes, but there are always people there to help you mend it again. Just remember we'll be here for you, alright Ash?"

[Bradyn Reed]

Bradyn walked across the grounds, laughing and joking with Bry. He thought he owed her some time since he'd been busy with Fay lately, and now that he couldn't really face her it was the perfect time to catch up. Besides, if he kept ignoring her like this, their relationship wasn't going to last.

Still laughing about something stupid either of them said, he was a little shocked to hear whimpering. Glancing at Bry with the 'did you hear that?' look he raised an eyebrow and his cautious hand naturally went for the pocket concealing his wand. Then, recognizing where the sound came from, he gave an exasperated sigh and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Walking over to Fay he plopped down next to her and leaned in towards her ear. "Maxi again?" He whispered, clearly irritated that Mr. Whinypants was going to force him to hang around with Fay and ruin some time with Bry.

[ -don't read. just posting this because I can't finish because my mom's breathing down my neck and I'm like "Fine, I'm getting off."
Edit: Ah, I went off on her and got to finish it.]

[Felicity Locke]

Felicity didn't glance over to Bray as he sat down next to her. She nodded in response to his question, and glanced at him slightly.

She glanced back at Ash. They were a strange bunch. Ash, being all sniffly and heartbroken. Fay, being daydreamy. And Bray, still being grumpy and passive. Felicity sighed and flopped back on the grass. She blinked up at the sky and rested her hand on her forehead.

This was probably the only time in two weeks that her two friends and her had all been together at once. Except for classes. Right now would probably be the only time she'd get to tell them about Scott, but Ash was hurting, and that probably wouldn't help. Fay shut her eyes and shook her head. Just let summer come already.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash sighed and wiped a hand over his eyes. "Why am I still doing this? You'd think I'd be over it by now." he said softly

[Bradyn Reed]

Bradyn sighed and shook his head a little at Fay, making sure to be out of Ash's line of vision. As if he could see with tears in his eyes, any way.

"If you think he's just going to keep hurting you.. which isn't like Maxi at all.. then, don't take him back." He snapped, rather irritated at Ash being such a pansy. It should be an easy decision; Do you think Maxi still loves you? Check yes or no.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash flushed with anger, "Oh for Merlin's sake Bradyn, could you possibly be any more of a jerk right now?" he snarled, "Wait, don't answer that, I don't wanna know!" He glared at the boy he thought was his friend, "How would you feel if you were in a situtation like this with Bry? You need to learn to think before you start shooting off your mouth!" he snapped. Ash stood and walked over to the edge, he stared down at the deceptively passive waters, arms crossed, eyes dark and brooding. "Just go away Bradyn, you obviously have no interest in being here. Besides, it's not like I'm forcing you to stay here. So just go away." His voice was neither cold, nor harsh. It was without emotion, as were his eyes, when he turned to look at Bradyn.

[Felicity Locke]

Bray's response to Ash probably wasn't the best, but Ash's seemed, in her mind, over the line. Her hands clenched into fists and she sat up abruptly. Fay couldn't take this. First, her friends hadn't been talking, and now the time when they can they start snapping at each other.

Felicity stood and clenched her teeth, shooting a glare at both of her friends. "Both of you are ridiculous you know that?" She jabbed at Bray. "You haven't talked to any one of us for the past week, and now you come over here acting all pissy." Fay rounded on Ash. "And you have barely cracked a smile at all and for the longest time wouldn't even say what was wrong. Then, when I try to help, you just shut up like a freaking clam."

Fay grabbed her cloak and wand from the pile on the floor and turned back around. "You can call me when my friends are back." She hissed as she began to stomp away.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash stared in shock. "Fay! Wait!" he called running towards her, he grabbed hold of her arm. "I'm sorry okay? I don't know what to say! Every time I try to talk about, I can't think of anything to say! I'm not trying to avoid it, I just don't know what to do!"

[Bradyn Reed]

Bradyn's head snapped up from looking rather sadly at Fay to a fierce glare at Ash. "Fine, you know what, you're right. I don't care!" He stood back up and brushed off his robes. "And this kind of crap won't happen with me and Bry, it'll be a clean break." He growled, mostly to himself than to his so-called friends.

"I'll just go now. Have a nice freaking day, jerk." He said, taking off in the opposite direction after Ash went chasing off after Fay. This was good timing for him, anyway, since he needed to avoid the girl a bit longer until he knew what to do, or if a certain thing was going to happen.

[Felicity Locke]

Felicity shook Ash off, still fuming. She rounded on him. "You just have to take a chance Ash. You won't know what will happen unless you try it. You have to stop hiding already."

Fay's gaze snapped back over to Bray. "No. You stop right there." She stomped over in his direction, but stopped a few feet away. "For the past two weeks you haven't been able to even look at me, let alone talk to me. Don't think you can just walk away and pretend like everything is fine. Because it's not!" Angry moisture formed around her eyes as she fought to keep her voice from rising anymore. "My best friend won't even talk to me. And I like to think that maybe it's nothing, but I know it's not."

Felicity slammed her fist again the trunk of a tree. "All you ever do now is give me that look. Like you feel sorry for me or something." Her fierce gaze returned to him. "I don't need sympathy or anything from anyone. All I want is my friends back."

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash lowered his eyes and nervously bit his lip, "That's my whole point! I don't know how to take a chance! I'm not like you guys! I've never spoken up for myself before, and now when I finally get that chance, I don't know how!" He sighed and ran a hand through his raven locks. "I just need some time to think."

[Bradyn Reed]

Bradyn stopped mid-step at Fay's voice, more because he was afraid of her coming to pummel him in the night rather than him actually wanting to stay. Biting his lower lip for a second he sighed, "I don't know what you're talking about, Fay. I think you're just imagining things. I'm not avoiding you, I just have to go." Keeping his head low so that his bangs shielded his face, he still didn't look back towards them.

"I think you should give him a second chance. Maxi's a good guy, he'll make it up to you. You guys just aren't the same when you aren't together. You complete each other." Then he stuffed his hands back in his pockets and continued to head back to the castle.