[Grounds] Wonders -- (Laney)

[Max Hennerdale]

Isnt it amazing how you cant find someone when you want to?

Max had been searching for Laney all day but she seemed to have dissapeared off the face of the earth. The last few months had been great for the two, Lane had stayed with him for part of the summer and Max had stayed with her at her house too. It was sort of a meet-the-parents deal, and he had to say the reaction his dad had when he brought Lane to his house after he had met her was the funniest thing he had seen.

When he walked through the door, he was sure his dad expected him to bring back Ashton, but he must have thought Ash had a different nickname now. Max had told Nick that they had split up, but for some reason his dad thought the two would get back together. Heh, not likely. His dad's eyes popped out of his head when he saw Laney, his little sister Mikaela had clung to Laney telling her how beautiful she was and his other sister Hannah just took the mick out of Max. Nick couldnt believe his son wasnt gay, he thought this was some kind of funny prank, and after an hour of explaining everything, and how they came to be together, it finally sunk into the family and Nick had said to Laney, 'thanks for turning him straight, the family name might continue now.'

The summer had been one of Max's favourites, everyone was really relaxed. Even Rieko as she often came around to visit, even Jase did, at first Nick was skeptical on this but you wouldnt believe how much of a help Jase is around the house. The family seemed to be stitching up loose threads and bonding everyone together again and for once Max's life was enjoyable.

He hadnt seen Lane these past couple of days, he didnt go to the ball last year either because he felt a little Ill. He had walked past Bray on his way out here, and either Max had shrunk or the squirt was becoming a bigger squirt. Deciding outside was a better place to look for Laney, he pushed through the oak doors and stepped into the breeze with a wide yawn. He didnt have to look long, he could spot Laney from a mile off.

A grin filled his face as he half skipped, half danced over to his girlfriend, taking her waist he pulled her to him from behind and nuzzled his face into her neck, mumbling something about it was good to finally see her. Spinning her around, the grin still on his face he bent down and kissed her gently. "Hows my favourite lass?" He asked her with a smile, running his fingers through her blonde hair and tracing her features with his hand. "Congratulations on making Head Girl," there were so many things he could joke about that, "You deserve it." He kissed her again and took her hands in his.

(Blegh)

[Carolanne Roberts]

Ah, home at last. It may not have been the house where Laney and Maxi had stayed for part of the summer together, but it was the home where Carolanne lived most of the year. Laney still couldn’t believe how laid back her mother had been about letting Maxi stay with them for part of the summer. Carolanne was sure that Vera would’ve overreacted to the fact that her daughter had brought home a boy to stay at their house, instead, she was more relaxed and actually enjoyed Maxi’s company as much as Laney had. Vera could see how happy the two were together and often left the kids to themselves instead of being the overprotective mother she used to be.

Of course, the deal was Maxi stayed with Vera and Laney for part of the summer and Laney stayed with Maxi and his family. She had to admit, it wasn’t what she expected it to be. She was nervous and she couldn’t hide the fact that she was scared to meet Maxi’s family. However, when Laney and Maxi had walked into the house, she immediately had a fan. Apparently, Maxi’s little sister Mikaela had grown fond of Laney, and Laney did in return. She never had a sister and being with Maxi’s entire family, even Jase, was an experience she never had and was glad she had come.

Now she was home at Hogwarts, her seventh year staring her straight in the face and the tiny gold Head Girl badge was pinned to her robes, sending a shimmer of light in every direction when the sun hit it at the right angle. It was really starting to get annoying when it did that but she liked being Head Girl; the only thing she had to adjust to were the late night patrols and heavy load of duties that she now had on her shoulders. It had been a difficult first few days and she hadn’t been able to see Max but she hadn’t expected to right away either. It was hard settling back into Hogwarts for pretty much everyone and she was hoping he wasn’t having as hard a time as she was.

Carolanne was standing outside, a good 50 feet away from the school’s entrance, attempting to keep her balance as she hopped from one rock to another to pass the time. She had already fallen twice and had a scratch on her arm to prove it and she could feel a bruise forming on her thigh as well. She’d feel that in the morning for sure. She didn’t care of course, for sixteen-nearly seventeen; she sure didn’t act her age. Suddenly, just as she had hopped down to the ground, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist, someone nuzzling against her neck and a familiar voice in her ear. As Maxi turned her with much ease, Carolanne met his grin with one of her own. Of course, when his lips found hers, she didn’t resist. It was much too easy to give into the PDA these days than it was in the beginning.

Laney gave a soft ‘hmm’ as he traced her features before answering him. ”Injured, bruised and exhausted,” she answered with a smirk, “But my day’s getting better.”

Maxi brought up the Head Girl bit and she let a groan sound in the back of her throat as he kissed her again. She had been trying to avoid that topic with him but she knew it was inevitable and he really did seem to be happy for her so she wasn’t going to let her sleepless night get to her. She let her fingers lace themselves with his and pushed her face into his chest and let her eyelids close shut so all she saw was black. ”Hmm,” she started in a whisper, “Don’t move, I just need a minute. These late nights are getting the best of me,” she stated before pulling her face up lazily. She opened her eyes and looked up at the blond boy that stood a head taller than her, ”How have you been? Did you get settled in easily?”

(Suckage.)