(T.Broomsticks) Study Breaks

[arabella]

<sup>Arabella laughed, "Wow," she said with a genuine smile, "you look as if that idea bugs you," she said kicking him under the table. "Am I really that bad?" she asked trying to look serious.

Arabella shook her head, "I understand how that is, but not with my father, It's with my younger sister Briar. No matter how hard I try to avoid any trouble with her, she always manages to start a fight," she told him.</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

Mark smiled, "No not you!" He said quickly and felt her kick him under the table which made him laugh, "Kicking now are we?" he said smiling and lightly tapped her back, "The idea of spending christmas with my dad bugs me, but spending it alone bugs me even more. I know Maxi will probably end up going to Ashtons, Belle and Lex will go home.. Mark will be left here" he said with a smile though it made him feel a little empty.

"Family eh? Cant live with 'em, cant live without 'em"

[arabella]

<sup>Ari smiled at him, "Well if you don't like being alone for the holidays, I just might consider spending it with you. Besides, misery loves company, right?" she giggled. "But, that means you might end up shopping with me," she said with a smile, "Though I'm sure it wont happen."

Arabella sipped on her butterbeer some more as she sorta laughed to herself.</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

"I can handle shopping just dont ask my opinions on things" he laughed, though he seriously hated shopping over christmas it was something that had to be done and he knew it. Besides if he didnt he would only get moaned at.

"Well thats good to hear" He sipped on some more of his drink, "And a miserable christmas it would be spending it alone"

[arabella]

<sup>Arabella laughed, "Then you definitly wouldn't enjoy shopping with me. I always ask whoever I'm shopping with for their opinion, good or bad," she said.

Ari glanced out the window at the snow, "I think I need a new hat anyway. I didn't bring mine," she said looking back at Mark with a smile. "So that means we just might be shopping," she laughed.</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

"Believe me when i say im the worst for giving opinions" He told her, though in all honesty he thought shopping with a girl might help him find some presents too.

Mark laughed as she stated they might have to go shopping, well if its for yourself its not to difficult, but shopping for other people was. "Well, just say when and we'll go shopping" he said, trying to sound enthusiastic about it but failing.

[arabella]

<sup>Arabella shook her head, "I didn't mean we as in you and I, I meant we as in me and someone who can help me find a hat," she said with a smile, "If you don't want to go shopping, which is obvious, then I'm not gonna take you. Why put you through hell when I could find someone who would actually have fun?" she said with a laugh.

Ari smiled at him, "I promise I wont take you shopping, I'll be nice."</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

Mark smiled, "Oh wow, a female that is actually saying i dont have to go shopping, i think i love you!" He laughed, "Usually girls like to drag me shopping because they know its the one thing that would torture me to insanity and back. Though, in all fairness i do have to go shopping myself, but i keep putting off hoping the house elves will do it for me, even though i know they wont" he joked.

"Well aint you just a sweetie?" he laughed again.

[arabella]

^{Arabella smiled, "Well in that case, if you need any help, let me know, ok? I wouldn't mind it at all," she said. Arabella looked at her glass of butterbeer, "Is there a chance I could have some more?" she asked him, trying to find something else to talk about that wouldn't bug Mark as much as shopping.}

[Mark Alméida]

"I'll look you up if i need any help and im sure i will" He laughed as he thought of christmas shopping. He nodded and stood up wading his way through the crowds to the bar, he ordered two more butterbeers and waited for them there at the bar. He wanted to turn around and look at her again but suppressed the effort to do so. He stood there for five minutes and when he finally got them he walked back over to the table, handing her hers. "There you go Miss"

[arabella]

^{Arabella smiled sweetly, "Oooo, thanks, Mark," she said carefully taking the drink from him. She took a sip then stared at him with a smile. She looked away slightly shaking her head. She stared out the window but occasionally glanced at Mark out of the corner of her eye.}

[Mark Alméida]

"You are very welcome" He said as he sat down with a smile, looking at her over the tip of his glass then too staring out of the window. He didnt know what else to say really, and Mark did hate awkward silences.

[arabella]

^{Arabella laughed and suddenly looked at Mark, "You know what I was thinking? I was imagining what it would be like to shop with you and I sorta pictured you completly clueless with a pink hat on staring at me in utter misery."}

[Mark Alméida]

Mark looked at her with slight puzzlement, a pink hat? Mark? In a pink hat? "Uh.." he stammered looking at her but almost choking on his drink when she first said it. "Yeah but i'd look cute in it" he said, though looking up at the ceiling with furrowed eyebrows, Me? In a pink hat? Not one of those with the bobbly bits on it surely... Pink though? He cleared his throat and looked down at the table, "Im sure that was a funny mental picture" he said, nobody had ever said anything about Mark wearing pink, the very mention of it embarrassed him.

[arabella]

^{Arabella tired to stiffle a laugh, "I'm sorry, but the only reason you were wearing a pink hat was because I was having you try it on. Hence the look of utter misery," she said patting his hand, "But yes, you did look cute in it," she said with smile.}