(Untitled)

[jory_elecott]

Week Name/Date/Time: 'Settling Down' / Thursday, November 24th, 2005 / 3:00 PM
Location: Library
Open To: Avis
Currently Involving: Jory

Comments

[avis_abernathy]

Directly after Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Avis rushed over to the library so she could return a book she had checked out earlier on charms for getting posters to talk to you. If she had paid attention during charms class, she may have known how to do this without reading a book on it. Of course, that was not on her list or priorities at the time. . .paying attention in class.

With a sigh from such rushed walking, she bounded on into the library like a bull in a china shop. Obvious, as always, she swerved through aisles and corridors with the book under her arm.

Until she saw Jory Elecott alone. Without Mayloski.

She stood still for a moment, wondering as what to do. Pass him by? Or apologize? Well, she knew that she felt saying sorry would be a good move so perhaps she could be over this odd phase of hers.

"Right," she muttered to herself and sashayed over, holding the book to her chest like a security blanket. Avis stood directly in front of him, not saying a word, just kind of biting her lip and waiting for him to

[jory_elecott]

What with tailwind statistics and all, it would take any bloke a little while to take notice of anything else and Jory had a tendency to verge on nonresponsive, especially if his attention was on Quidditch-related things.

After a moment, he took note of the shadow falling across his magazine and realised someone must have been standing over him. Drowsily, he raised his head and blinked as though coming out of a deep sleep. Which he sort of was, only it was Quidditch-like.

"Avis, hey," he greeted. His smile was faint because she didn't seem very... well, she hadn't even said hello. His lips twitched into a frown as he gestured for her to sit in the chair across from him (if she wanted). Her demeanor made him want to ask if anything was wrong, but he lingered in more neutral territory instead. "Uh, how's Cedric?"

[avis_abernathy]

Avis nodded at his greeting, wondering 'You prat, Avis, why are you HERE?!' as she sat down. She plopped into the chair, still holding the book close to her.

And then he brought up Cedric. A blush of embarrassment fell on her cheeks, along with that sick feeling in her stomach, remembering about the previous Saturday's. . .encounter. And how she didn't KNOW who Cedric Diggory even WAS. And had to have it POINTED out to her (or SCOFFED) by Saffron Mayloski, of all people.

"I finally learned where I recognized the name from," she said monotonously. "Cedric Diggory. He was killed in the Triwizard Championship back in the 90's." She winced saying it. "A bit awkward to think about it, really. It's morbid, too. If I would have known I named him after a Hogwarts TRAGEDY. . ." She stopped herself. "Well, I feel like a prat. I suppose it counts to pay attention in class."

She hated making small talk. She really did. She also felt feeling awkward and guilty for going off at Saffron Mayloski over Jory.

[jory_elecott]

Jory swept his fringe across his forehead, looking at her thoughtfully. "Oh, well, yes..." He trailed off. Oh. So she hadn't known.

"Um... yes," he said slowly, biting his lip. "I'm sorry, I thought you knew and that's why you were-- um, well, don't worry about it." He offered her a smile. "It's a good name and really, Cedric's a hero. Shouldn't we name things after heroes?"

He supposed he forgot sometimes that things that were common knowledge to him were not by default common knowledge to someone who wasn't raised in the wizarding world. It was probably his fault for not pointing out the snake's namesake, but he also hadn't seen anything wrong with the name anyway.

"Anyway, you aren't a prat," he went on, "and I can't very well encourage paying attention in class, of all things. Not with a good conscience anyway." He smiled weakly, apologetically.

[avis_abernathy]

Avis shrugged, "I reckon that's a good way to think of it." She sat silent, carefully examining the binding of the book she was holding. This was meant to be a bit uncomfortable, she reminded herself, and took a deep breath before, well, letting it all out.

"Okay, so I yelled at Saffron Mayloski on Saturday," Avis blurted out. "I know it's mean, and I was at the time, but I was really upset over the whole thing and I, well, I yelled at her. Pretty badly. And I know she's your friend and I haven't exactly been all that wonderful lately but I intend to clear it all up!"

The phrases she said sounded like one word. One awkward, confused word. And rather loud, for the library.

[jory_elecott]

Well, that seemed to have worked itself out.

Only now she was speaking incredibly loudly and quickly and his mind was only working at nap-like pace which was considerably slower than its normal pace, which was not very quick to begin with. Also, there were words that seemed both incredibly random and nonsensical.

"Um. What?"

A long, uncomfortable beat passed as Jory tried to juggle sending the watching library patrons awkward smiles and sorting out what exactly Avis had said. Which was difficult because, what with everyone looking in their direction, he was blushing like mad and it was very difficult to think straight when all the blood in your body was rushing to your cheeks.

Oh. Something about Saffron?

"You... yelled at Saffron?" he asked quietly, puzzled. "Uh, well... all right, um... why?"

[avis_abernathy]

Avis watched Jory sort of twitch an answer, as well as everyone else in the library turn and look. She sighed a quiet "Lurrrvely" and tried not to care. Drumming her fingers on the table in front of her, she tried to speak quietly, which only made her voice sound deep.

"Well. . .yeah. I yelled at her in the Trophy Room because I thought. . ."

She prepared herself for the awkwardness, or for Jory to just plain up and leave.

"I thought she was going out with you or summat."

[jory_elecott]

"Ah, the Trophy Room," he murmured, nodding, as though that were the important part of the message. Apparently, he was having a great deal of trouble keeping up.

Of course, when he realised Avis'd mentioned why she had yelled at Saffron, he blushed impossibly harder. His first instinct was to thank her for lowering her voice and his second instinct was inclined toward a maniacal sort of laughter at the idea of anyone going out with him.

Fortunately, he did neither, and could only stare at her in dumbfounded silence for a few moments. "Oh. You thought... um, well... see, um -- no."

He shook his head, and tried again for more coherence. "I mean, no, Saffron and I are just... um, just friends..." Jory trailed off, baffled that anyone could think that he and Saffron were more than that, and well, perhaps he was missing something, but was that really something to yell at someone over?

"Sorry," he mumbled sincerely, "but, uh... I'm not sure I understand?"

[avis_abernathy]

Avis nodded solemnly. "I learned that the hard way."

She took a good look at him, possibly rethinking her initial strategy of barging in and just flat-out telling him 'LOOK MAN I HAD A CRUSH ON YOU FOR A WEEK!' It sounded better in theory, anyway, and this whole thing had her being very wishywashy.

"Yeah, uh. . ." she awkwardly said, "Me neither. Look, what I guess I have to say is, uh, I'm sorry for kissing you on the cheek like that the other week." She nodded quickly, reassuring herself. "Yeah, because for a while I thought perhaps we could be more than friends but now I'm over it." YOU GEEK, AVIS, YOU DON'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT, she thought to herself.

She sighed, now completely red and blushy, wanting to smack the book against her forehead. There was no way he could understand.

[jory_elecott]

He almost chuckled, although he refrained because the moment was so genuinely awkward. Saffron was one of his best mates, but he knew her to be pretty savvy with an argument; it was probably the 'hard way' to find out that you were wrong if you were finding out from Saffron.

And then she brought up the kiss thing and he felt all weird again, although it had been weeks and he'd gotten over it, mostly. "Oh," he said evenly, as evenly as a person could make monosyllabic sounds. He smiled tightly -- he forgave her, really, there was nothing for her to be sorry about at all, it was just uncomfortable. "Well, it's all right," he said with a shrug, attempting to look more at ease than he felt.

Her last comment hit him, typically, a little late and he paused. OH. That made... well, not sense, but it made... something.

"Oh... I see."

He wasn't quite sure what to say, other than to acknowledge the fact that he finally understood her at last. Because 'thank you' did not fit, and 'I'm sorry' wouldn't work and there didn't seem to be anything

[avis_abernathy]

Her absolutely frozen look covered up the fact that if Jory (and perhaps everyone else) wasn't staring at her, she would be groaning painfully to herself, practically beating herself up over all of this. He was just as petrified as SHE was! Abernathy, you've gone and done it this time, she thought to herself.

"So you understand, right?" she asked, leaning forward just a bit only to bend back, now rocking just a bit out of awkwardness. "Because yeah, it was a lapse of judgement on my part, and a bit selfish, really. But I'm all cleared up now."

That little Avis-conscience in the back of her mind snorted, 'If you WERE all cleared up, you wouldn't be sitting here fidgeting, you mardybum.'

That was her, after all, a mardybum, always complaining and making such a big deal out of everything. "Yes. Um, I was just being a complete mardybum, really, and. . .making a big deal out of nothing. So I apologize for any inconvenience I have or will cause you."

Now WHAT was that, Avis?! A corporate disclaimer?! Apologize for any inconvenience?! Ay

[jory_elecott]

It seemed he was only capable of saying "Oh, um..." right now, so he went with that for a few more moments. Lapse of judgement? All cleared up? All right. Inconvenience?

"I wasn't--" he started abruptly and then shook his head. How could he have been inconvenienced when he hadn't known? Imperceptive as he was, he was observant enough to note that his fumbling around and blushing and being awkward was clearly making things worse for Avis, which was the last thing he wanted. It was hard enough for him, being awkward twenty-four hours a day all on his own, he didn't need to go spreading it to other people.

When he'd had trouble talking to Audrey, avoiding eye contact had helped, to he tried that and cast his eyes down toward the table. "Look, you don't have to, um... apologise. I mean, I didn't-I didn't know? So, I mean, well, even if I had known," he amended hastily, "it wouldn't have... it's okay, I mean

[avis_abernathy]

Of COURSE she had to apologize, she thought! Historically, any boy who had the attentions of Avis was exceptionally weirded out, and now she had passed it along to Jory!

She took a deep breath and tried to think of something to calm her. Food? Candy? What cleared her mind and helped her concentrate better? As Jory sat bumbling (which clearly made her more confused and upset over herself and her stupidity), she closed her eyes and shook her head. "No, of course it's awkward and odd. I know it is. I'm ME. Believe me, I know it's awkward for you."

"And yeah, I think I do have to apologize. Because I'd just like things to get back to normal. I've avoided you for long enough and I. . .missed you."

She was THIS close to slamming her face down on the table, wishing she had a Time-Turner to go back to WEEKS ago when she had sit and thought 'You know, maybe I AM keen on Elecott' just so she could scream in her own ear 'DON'T DO IT, STUPID! JUST DON'T!'

[jory_elecott]

"No, no, it's me, I'm..." Not good at handling anything ever, he finished in his head. He was really just screwing things up and being generally inarticulate and awful.

"I mean, it's not that it's you, it's that it's-it's me and, um, girls don't generally..." He wet his lips and left that sentence hanging because 'Girls don't generally fancy me' seemed to be one of the more embarrassing things he could say. Not that it wasn't true, it's just -- one didn't say such things aloud.

But when she said she wanted to get things back to normal and that she'd missed him, Jory couldn't have looked more relieved. That was what he had been worried about. "Well, me too!" he cried, and then looked about in embarrassment. They were still in a bloody LIBRARY, weren't they? "I mean -- I mean that I've missed you too and I haven't much seen you since my birthday and I thought you were upset with me and now I realise that, um... yeah

[avis_abernathy]

Just as she was wallowing to herself she saw a bit of movement in her field of vision, surprisingly coming from Jory. He actually said something loudly! In the library, also!

Was it out of anger? Was he becoming so awkward in her 'Avis-creeps-out-blokes' presence that he screamed and was just about to run away?!

No! He agreed with her, which made her exceptionally happy and a smile broke out on her face. "Oh. OH! Right!" She nodded, not exactly knowing what to say. Although she really wanted to jump over and hug him, she knew that was the LAST thing she could do. "Well, I'm glad. I know, and it's weird for me to say, but. . .I'm glad you feel the same way."

See, Abernathy, she thought to herself, sometimes you are such a whiner and complainer that you just don't think POSITIVE. Well, that certainly was true. See, the worst possible didn't always happen. This wasn't altogether a disaster! Avis sighed, pleased as punch, and beamed with a slight sense of pride. "Well, wonderful

[jory_elecott]

"Well... good!" he agreed, smiling and feeling significantly less awkward. He always felt rather awkward, but now he didn't feel awkward to the point of wanting to jump out a window, which was a nice (and potentially less dangerous) sort of feeling. "Good," he repeated. "Brilliant, even."

He smiled stupidly at her for an incredibly long moment. Well, now that he knew... and she hadn't been avoiding him because he was a git or something... well yeah, it was a lot less uncomfortable now. In several ways.

Jory relaxed and slumped against his chair, tapping his fingers against the table. "So, um. How've you been?"

Which sounded a lot like small-talk, but after all, he hadn't seen her for weeks.