(Untitled)

[brandon_childs]

Week Name/Date/Time: 'Summer '06' / August 20, 2006 / 2:04 PM.
Location: Diagon Alley
Open To: Ben
Currently Involving: Brandon

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[ben_connelly]

It seemed Ben’s scarlet leather duffel bag was becoming as usual as his jacket. It had been with him all summer, pretty much, full of his clothes and robes, wand, and a few books. He’d broken the rules and left most of his stuff in his dorm, seeing as that was the only place he knew they’d be safe, where he didn’t have to worry about them.

It seemed “worn” was also the most common word to describe Ben, too. His word scarlet leather duffel bag, his worn jacket, and now, his worn schoolbooks. He’d traded in his old word schoolbooks for those assigned for the new term, but rather liked that he couldn’t get new ones. Money was… nonexistent, yes, but Ben sort of felt more comfortable when things were already broken in for him, he didn’t like the stiffness of new clothes or begs, jackets or books. He was fine with being “worn.”

Unlike Brandon, though, Ben was not fine with people. He was a boy without social skills, none at all. He came off as distant and cold, even mocking and cruel. While he was really just about the shyest bloke known

[brandon_childs]

"Oh, I'm in Hufflepuff, Connelly," Brandon said, not knowing that he was mistaking the boy's last name for his first. "Seventh year, actually. Kind of excited about graduating soon." He smiled cheerfully and adjusted the strap on his bag absent-mindedly as he talked.

"What year are you in?" he asked politely, taking in the boy's appearance. He was almost sure he'd met him before, but when he was unable to come up with anything, he figured that maybe they'd had a class together or something and that was it.

"Having a good summer?" he added quickly, worrying that he was coming off too annoying or nosy.

[ben_connelly]

He blinked.

He blinked again.

Was he… was this kid trying to have a CONVERSATION with him?! Er… what… huh?

His stomach sank a little as Brandon said he was in Hufflepuffs. Puffs were… nice. Most were talkative. …Neither of which was Ben Connelly.

The only Puff he could really stand was Lolita, but he still thought that the Hat had just put her there for a good laugh.

It looked like Brandon wanted him to answer. Ben figured that was easy enough, even though he didn’t really like talking to people all that much. “Er…” he stuttered again, not picking up on the fact that Brandon had confused his first and last name. Lots of people called him Connelly, after all. “Seventh. Will be, I mean.”

Ben SHOULD have recognized Brandon, seeing as they were in the same year. Sadly, his obliviousness saw no boundaries. He didn’t pay attention to anyone, really, even those he grew up with.

“Um… erm, sure? Y-yours?”

So. Awkward.

[brandon_childs]

Brandon smiled again. "Fantastic, actually. I've been spending a lot of time at concerts and going to Muggle cinemas and shouting things at the screen. It's fun. Oh, and do you know Esme Hinde? She's in your house. She and I are going out now. Very nice girl. I like her a lot. What about you? Any girlfriends?"

He shifted from foot to foot nervously. He knew he had a tendency to ramble on with no end in sight, and that some people found it endearing, while others found it annoying.