[Lake] The Long Awaited For Meeting (Ash)

[Maeve Malfoy]

The youngest Malfoy finally answering fan mail. Alright, it wasn't fan mail, she didn't get any, thank Merlin, and it was also much more important, apparently.

She thought over the last month in her head for a few minutes while she was waiting for her 'appointment' (she laughed in her head at it, knowing he was much more than that). For the past few months, all she did was hide out in the library or her dormitory, avoiding her crazed betrothed. She was trying to find a way out of of marrying the psycho. for the past few months. And by doing that, she avoiding all of her friends and lost every one of them.

Except for one. And he was a persistent little bugger, but Maeve Malfoy was grateful for that now. At first, his letters came once a month, then after two months, they came once a week, after three weeks, they came daily. All stating the same thing:

MEET ME BY THE LAKE!

She knew who it was from, no matter that it was never signed. She grinned at how many of those notes she received. Months after when he started, Hogwarts was about over now, she finally answered him.

Now, she awaited for the thing that was so important. Ash should be here any minute.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Sapphire eyes scanned the banks, looking for a blond head of hair. There she was. Maeve Malfoy. Ash smiled as he walked up behind her, sinking slowly to his knees, he placed both hands over her eyes. "Guess who?" he whispered softly in her ear. He had missed Maeve so much, how could he have not seen? Maeve was his one true friend, the only one who would never judge him, who would never think less of him. Who would never desert him.

He smiled as he thought of all the times they'd had together. Laughing, crying, loving, living. He thought back to all the times that he'd needed a shoulder to cry on, and how Maevey had always been there. He didn't understand how after hundreds of years, people could still be so prejudiced. Yes, some Snakes were still arrogant prats who needed to be brought down a few notches, but Maeve wasn't anything like that! Not with Ash anyway. Although, he did have to admit, she was fiercely protective of him.

He gave a small laugh as he remembered what happened when he had told her that Maxi had dumped him. Although this happened nearly three years ago, he still remembered it perfectly. He also remembered her reaction when he told her he was engaged. He hadn't told her about breaking the engagement though. Not yet anyway. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out though. There had never been a wedding, or any news of one, and his last name was still Laurent, as opppsed to Martinez.

He grinned again, leaning around her shoulder to look at her, hands still over her eyes. "Still can't guess?" he said, teasing.

((meh, better. not great, but better))

[Maeve Malfoy]

When her eyesight was darkened, Maeve laughed. "Oh no! I can't think of anyone who could possibly be behind me! But I know if it's my betrothed, he can kiss his butt goodbye, because I'll be bombardaing into China!" she laughed again.

Maeve knew exactly who was behind her, but she liked playing around with Ash too much to give in right at the beginning. She heard him ask her again, and decided to lean closer to where she heard his voice, her eyes still covered. "I can't think of a single person who's ever be either brave enough or stupid enough to do this to a Slytherin." she whispered, playfully.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash laughed again, removing his hands from Maeve's eyes and moved to sit next to her. "Well, I wouldn't nessecarily say stupid, I wouldn't be a Ravenclaw graduate if I was stupid now would I?" He smirked, sticking out his tongue.

"Brave sounds good though. Or I suppose we could go with foolish." He smiled again, still holding Maeve's hand in his own, "So, what have you been up to?" It wasn't a question what Ash himself was up to seeing as he was wearing his Club Motion shirt. He was on break and had headed up to Hogwarts for his meeting with Maeve.

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve laughed once more. He was right. A Ravenclaw graduate wouldn't do anything stupid, at least, on purpose. With a bit of persuasion though, she bet she could make anyone do something stupid. "Ravenclaw, to and through. Until a Slytherin gets to you."

She smiled up at him. The boy was taller than her, just like ninety-nine percent of the population of the earth her age. She sighed. "Foolish is much more what my parents are, Ashy." She was still smiling. "I haven't been up to much. Nothing but avoiding you-know-who." she pointed back towards the castle, signifying she was talking of her awful betrothed.

Looking at his shirt, she smiled. "So, what's the ex-Ravie been up to? Like, for instance, explain what this whole Club Motion is. I haven't exactly been out, you know."

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

“Ravenclaw through and through…”

Ash laughed, “Yep, and proud of it! ‘Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure’.” Ash quoted his former House’s motto with pride. He laughed at her next words, “Well luckily for me, I have Slytherins on my side!”

He had to smirk at her complaint about her parents. “Of course they are, they’re Malfoy’s what else could they be besides foolish? No offense to you of course! You’re about as unMalfoyish as they come!”

Then, the next question…

"So, what's the ex-Ravie been up to? Like, for instance, explain what this whole Club Motion is. I haven't exactly been out, you know."

Ash sighed; he knew he’d have to tell her sooner or later. Better sooner than later. He gave his friend an uncertain look. “Well, you want the full version or the short, thirty-second version?”

He looked away from Maeve, not meeting her eyes, playing with his snakebite piercing and twisting a blade of grass in his hands. Anyone who knew Ash, knew that these gestures indicated that there was something he was hiding from them, or not telling them. And unfortunately for him, Maeve knew him all too well. She would, without a doubt, wrangle a confession out of him.

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve looked up at Ash. She looked at him for a bit, deciding whether to keep waiting and see if he decides to tell her on his own, or if she should tackle him and force him to tell her by tickling him....

Oh, that last one seems so much fun! And she's been waiting long enough, and making him wait even longer! And anyway, the poor boy's looking as if someone died.... She needed to rectify that.

She grinned before quickly tackling him over onto his back, partly in the water now, and started poking his ticklish spots. "I want the whole story, chiko!" She laughed as she stopped poking him, but remained on top of him, supporting most of her own weight so he wouldn't suffocate in the middle of his story.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

One minute, Ash was sitting there calmly, well nervously really. The next? He was on his back halfway into the water, and Maeve was sitting on him tickling him. And boy did the girl know his ticklish spots! Ash shrieked with laughter as he squirmed underneath her.

Finally, she took some of her weight off him so he could breathe. He looked up at the sky, and sighed again. "Alright, I'll tell you...but, it's not a happy story. See, the thing is...the reason you haven't seen me around is because...I haven't been here. I've been in France. I left in May. So...technically...I didn't really graduate. But...I couldn't come back to school. It was too hard."

He paused, trying to think of what next to say. "In case you haven't already done so, look at my hand. What's missing?"

If Maeve remembered a certain conversation several months ago, she would know immediately what he was talking about. His ring.

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve silently watched him as he was explaining his story. She missed him a lot since he went off last year, and it hasn't exactly been the best of year this year.

Once he held up his hand and told her to take a look at it, she eyed him funnily. Taking a hold of his hand, she noticed it was on her right, which meant it was his left. Then she noticed something that was not glistening like it used to when the sun hit it....

"Where's your ring, Ash?!" she stared at him with wide eyes, his hand still in hers. "Did he break it off? Oh, Ash, I'm so sorry! I should have been there for you, but instead I was locking myself away from everyone and not even talking to you! I should have taken this a bit more seriously with your notes and met you sooner!" She pouted at him, still on top of him.

"I'm sorry, Ashton. I had a feeling that something was up, but I kept pushing it to the back of my head." she looked at his hand again.

Staring at it, she decided to make the air a bit more positive and brighter, then the dark turn it took. "You went to France without me?" she asked him darkly, but she was playfully glaring at him. She couldn't hold the glare for long (some Malfoy she was), and started tickling him again. "I can't believe you! You totally could have used your Ravenclaw brain and snuck into the Slytherin dungeons to kidnap me to France!"

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash sighed, the memory of that fateful night seared into his mind. Burning like a white-hot flame. "No." He replied. "I broke it off." He sighed again, a sound of deepest regret. "It was the hardest thing I've ever done...but...I had to. I had no other choice."

Ash knew that Maeve would want an explanation, but wasn't sure if he was ready to talk about it just yet. When Maeve started to tickle him again, he squirmed away. "Maeve, don't. I don't feel like playing around." His voice was not angry, but sad. With a little trace of bitterness. What was wrong with him that he couldn't fall in love and it not fall to pieces?

He had lost a boyfriend and his fiance to the demandings of his heart. Maybe it would just be better if he didn't let anyone into his heart anymore. After all, look what happened when he did.

When you let your heart win, your heart gets broken. Ash had learned that the hard way. Not anymore though. If Ash didn't let people get close to him, they couldn't hurt him...

Or...maybe they could. Ash had always been sensitive. And yet again, look what that got him. People either took advantage of it. and treated him like dirt. Or, they pitied him. Ash was reminded of why he left. It wasn't just Cris. It was people who did one of those two things to him. He just couldn't take it anymore. So, he left.

But now, he was back. And things were about to change. No more would he cower in the corner, hide in the shadows, or burst into tears when someone ridiculed him. No. He would fight back with every ounce of pride he had. He was a human being, and he was tired of people jerking him around and treating him like dirt. Next time someone messed with him, they would have a very rude awakening. He was done with the tears, done with the emotional rollercoaster. He wanted off dammit! And he was getting off.

Make no mistake about it. Ashton Jade Laurent was a new man. One, you did not want to cross...

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve stopped tickling Ash as soon as he said to. She looked at him, her eyes full of sadness and confusion. She really wanted to know what happened, but she was not about to push Ash into telling her something he was clearly not ready to tell.

So, she just settled for studying him at the moment. Maeve took in everything about him. He was her friend, and not knowing what's been going on (mainly her fault, she knew), wasn't settling well with her.

But she would put that part of her Malfoy self in the back of her head and focus on what she thought was right.

Scooting closer to Ash, since he moved away from her, she put an arm around his shoulders and whispered, "Hey, Ash, you don't have to elaborate right now. 'Kay? You can tell me whenever you feel like it. I'm not pushing it."

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash gave a weak smile. "Thanks. I guess I've learned that...when you let your heart win...your heart gets broken. Unfortunately, I had to learn it the hard way."

He looked up at the sky, trying to make sense of the thoughts buzzing around in his mind. "I should have known something was up. Cris had made a new friend, Daphne Morgan. When he was with her, he was...different..."

Ash sighed, yet again. "It was like...he couldn't get enough of her...and...when he looked at her..." his voice broke slightly and he angrily wiped away the tears that were threatening to spill over, "It was the same way he used to look at me."

Ash bit his lip hard. Hard enough to draw blood. He would not cry over Cristian Martinez! He was done with tears! So...why did he feel the sudden urge to cry until there were no tears left?

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve sighed. She was heartbroken for her friend. She couldn't imagine what it felt like to be so in love and then have it end so badly. They were to get married, after all! She frowned.

Ash and Cris are getting married out of love, or at least they were. She was completely enthralled when she found out sometime ago, and now she was a bit confused. Why did Ash end it when he was so in love with the other boy? That made no since whatsoever. Especially since Ash was the one Maeve though could never end such an event.

She noticed that Ash had changed, and she could honestly say she didn't really like it, but she was going to let him go through his time. Everyone had the time where they changed for a bit... or a long while. Maeve would sit this out and help him through it.

She could think of one person who needed to break off an engagement, and it would be the best thing ever in everyone's lives. She sighed. Ash came first now. Maeve had been focusing on herself for months on end recently and she needed to focus on Ash.

He needed her, she could tell. Why else would he come to her with this?

She lifted up her sleeved wrist and gently placed the cloth on Ash's mouth where it began to bleed. She kissed his cheek in a sisterly fashion and reminded him, "Ash, I'll always be here for you. One day, he'll see what he gave up, and he'll want it back. You're too good of a person to be given up on." she saw his unshed tears and smiled weakly. "It's alright. Let loose, Ashton. No one's going to know but me. You know I won't tell a single soul without your permission."

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash shook his head at Maeve’s words. “If I’m too good to be given up on, then why didn’t he try to stop me? Why didn’t he come after me?” His voice rose slightly with agitation, “I was the one who ended it! I was the one who couldn’t deal with him acting strange; I was the one who couldn’t deal with the stress!” His voice broke off for a moment while he attempted to regain control of his emotions. “I was the one who ruined it.” He finished in a half-strangled whisper.

The feeling of cool water lapping against his shoulders made him realize that he was still lying partially in the lake. Sighing slightly, Ash pushed himself up out of the water, shivering as the air met with his wet shirt. Not having a spare shirt with him, and in no mood to conjure up a new one, he simply peeled off the wet garment and laid it on the grass beside him to dry.

The sapphire-eyed boy leaned back against a tree, thankful that it was still warm enough to go shirtless outside. Not that he had much choice at the moment! Maeve’s next words rang in his head. Cry? Why would he cry? What good would it do?

He shook his head sadly, “No Maeve, I can’t.” he answered softly, the distress in his voice clear as day. “I can’t cry. Not anymore.” He gave a weak smile. “I’ve spent so much of my life crying over things, wondering what went wrong, and look where it’s gotten me. People have guessed that I tend to be overly-emotional, and they use that to their advantage. They manipulate me, they degrade me, and they use me. All because of my willingness to show my human side. Or in their opinion, my ‘weak’ side.”

His eyes hardened, “I’m not going to let that happen anymore. I’m not letting them hurt me again.” His eyes closed for a moment as he tilted his head back against the tree. “I don’t want to cry over Cris. What good will it do? Tears won’t bring him back. Only he can decide whether or not he wants to be with me. And right now, I’m guessing that ‘not a chance’ would be the accurate answer.”

Ash looked down at the ground, looking, but not seeing. He lifted his head, eyes meeting Maeve’s. But they were different. No longer did they have that sparkle, that hint of mischief. They were dull, glassy. Empty.

His head lowered once more, his hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms. “Maeve,” his voice was barely higher than a whisper, “This hurts so much, I don’t know what to do. But, I can’t cry. I just can’t! I thought it hurt when I lost Maxi… but…this pain… it’s almost unbearable. And yet, as much as I want to, I can’t force myself to shed tears for him. Because I know it won’t do any good. Tears aren’t going to bring Cristian back, and they’re not going to ease the pain. It’s too much for tears to heal.” He paused for a moment, thinking about the fact that what he had just said was true. The pain of losing Cris was almost too much to handle, tears would not help. No matter how much he wished they would.

Ash’s head came up to look his friend in the eye once again. “Maeve, I don’t know if I can deal with this. How am I supposed to go on without him? How am I supposed to live my life knowing that he’s not going to be apart of it? How can I wake up each day, knowing that he’s not going to be right there with me?” He paused again before he became too emotional, “How can I go to sleep each night, knowing that he’ll be that last thing I think about and I can’t be with him? Maeve, I don’t know if I can live without him. I don’t know if I even want to live without him. I loved him so much! I still do. So…what did I do wrong? What did I do to push him away?”

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve watched him the entire time. She wanted to say so much, but she couldn't stop him. She didn't want to. She wanted to say that he's done nothing wrong and that he's absolutely perfect. He couldn't do any wrong, at least not in her eyes.

Now, don't get her confused. She knows which way he swings, and she's perfectly fine with it. But before she knew, she did harbor a crush for him, but it's turned into a completely sisterly love. So, he still seems perfect to her because it's the way she looks at him.

But seeing him like this killed her. There was nothing in his eyes that resembled the fun Ash she knew. Absolutely nothing that betrayed his new hard exterior for even a speckle of fun and love. She was not liking this. And she felt as if there was nothing she could do except wait. At first she thought there was something she could do to help him, but when she saw his eyes, her hope of helping were soon massacred.

Just listening to his voice made things worse, too. She could tell he was telling the truth when he said he had no more tears and that he said he thought he couldn't make it through without Cris. She instantly thought of the worst, and quickly scooted up by him to sit right next to him.

She leaned her head on his bare shoulder and held her own tears that were forming. "Ash, I believe you can make it through." she smiled halfheartedly. "As much as it's worth -which isn't a lot, I know- I'm here. I'll never leave you. I couldn't hurt you this much intentionally. You're absolutely perfect and you've gone through so much that it's a crime for anyone to hurt you so much."

She sighed. "As weird as it's going to sound, I went through something sort of like that. Not on such a large scale, though, I might add. But, it involved you." she kept her head on his shoulder, but moved her head a bit so she could glance up at the tall boy's face. "I bet you didn't know I had a crush on you when we first met. I didn't know you were into girls, but I was determined to make you fall for me. Remember the odd things I did in my third year? It wasn't because I wanted to be just a friend."

Maeve sighed. She couldn't believe she was admitting this, but she had to believe that she could help, even if her hope had been diminished. "But when you told me you didn't like girls like that, my heart broke. Even if it was just a two on the hurting scale compared to your ninety-nine, I was still hurting. To me, at the time, if I couldn't have you like that, then there was no point to life. Stupid, eh?"

She lifted up her arm and just stared at the slightly wet cloth on her forearm. "I did stupid things, Ash, because I thought I couldn't live without you like that. But I learned to cope with it, and hey! Look where we are now!" She grinned up at the boy. "If someone told me I'd be just like your sister a few years ago, I would've killed them. Now, I wouldn't be able to be anything else to you. You're my best friend, Ashy. Don't think you can't live without someone. You'll end up doing stupid things like I did and end up looking back at it and saying that you were stupid."

She kissed his cheek again, before placing her head back on his shoulder. "So, before I go and start ranting off anymore secrets of mine, how about you tell me all about France?" She was red from embarrassment of admitting to her old feelings for her brother-like friend. "I truly can't believe I even told you that. You don't hate me now, do you?"