Fairweathered -- [CLOSED! to Callum]

[Veronica St. Alderbar]

[bg=000000][atrb=width, 400, true][atrb=border, 0, true] ❡❡I sighed softly, staring at the empty greenhouse with a gaze that I knew oozed loneliness. My brain was empty. I couldn't focus. The letter that had come from the nurse at the hospital was getting to me. My mother's coma had ceased, just for an hour. She had wanted to see me. And I wasn't there to see her. I felt horrible. Everything told me that I was a bad child. I should have been there for my mom. And I was here, at school, making friends. I was living in London with a family who actually cared about my wellbeing. I should have been with my mother. ❡❡A soft sob erupted from me before I could make myself stop it and I shut the door to hide myself. I didn't like people seeing me cry. It made me feel like a freak. That's what I got for not getting comforted when I was a little girl. I sat in the corner behind a giant plant, letting the tears come out freely. I pulled my hair until it hurt, trying to calm myself down. "This is bullshit! Bullshit!" I muttered to myself, hugging my knees. I felt like my heart was in my throat. I need Ophelia... I wanted my 'sister', but she was in class. I didn't know who else to turn to. I didn't really have many other friends. ❡❡I sighed softly, my tears ceasing. Even though I had stopped crying, I stayed in my corner behind the plant. I didn't feel like moving. I just wanted to blend in. It'd be so nice to be a plant. You never had to worry about anything.

[Callum Bryce Rockland]

[bg=4c5564][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 500, true] //////I kicked up the grass as I walked across the school grounds. This class was my free spot, so I didn't have anything to do. I mean, I met someone new. Veronica. I never caught her last name, but she might not have said it. I dunno--I haven't seen her lately. Really, I thought she'd be happy to have someone cheer her up, but I guess I'm not that important. Just a beach boy. I snarled to myself, eyes narrowed. Suddenly, something hit me. I blinked, shocked for a moment and fell over on my back. The air whooshed out of my lungs and I turned over, gasping for air like a fish out of water. I blinked and looked up, seeing I had ran into a window. A window of the green house. I frowned, knotting my brow and standing up, brushing off my robes. The green house? No Herbology this period? I tried to look through the glass, but it was a bit foggy. I couldn't exactly see if anyone was in there. //////I rubbed my head slightly and opened the door to the green house quietly. I stepped inside, welcomed by the rich smell of the Earth. I always loved the smell of freshly mown grass, or a forest of trees. It just smelled... right. I sighed, just standing there for a second. I then closed the door and walked inside. I rubbed the back of my neck slightly. "Yeah..." I murmured, blinking. I walked past the plant that held a human behind it. How did I know? I'm not a paranoid schizophrenic. I walked to the back of the green house to the Devil Snares, just looking at them. They were so sick and twisted. No, really. They were like roots, twisted in knots. They looked slimy in the light and I pursed my lips. I knew not to touch it, though. That would be embarrassing. Loosing an arm because I was stupid and struggled when the snare grabbed a hold of me.

[Veronica St. Alderbar]

[bg=000000][atrb=width, 400, true][atrb=border, 0, true] ❡❡I heard something run into the green house window, but I ignored it. I tried to relax some, focusing on better things. Quidditch try outs were soon, not that I'd try out. Maybe I would. If that new boy taught me how to fly. My thoughts turned to him. Bryce, his name was. Well, it was actually Callum. In reality, I liked Callum better. I smiled and worked on forgetting Bryce and remembering Callum. ❡❡In the middle of my thoughts, someone came in. I looked up sharply and watched through my place in the plants. Speak of the devil! It was Callum. I panicked, not wanting him to see me so upset. I wiped my eyes vigorously, watching as he walked over towards the Devil's Snares. He had told me a story about a person in his class touching one. I smiled some and stood, stepping out of the plants. ❡❡"Careful, Callum. You don't want to get tangled."

[Callum Bryce Rockland]

[bg=4c5564][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 500, true] //////I hadn't really heard the shuffle of the plant as the human behind it got up. I heard a voice and my whole system jumped. I let out a yelp, almost falling into the Devil's Snare. I turned on my heel to see a familiar face. Veronica, that's it! Wait, did she call me Callum? No one has called me that since... Well, since I came here, to Hogwarts. I knew the shock was clear on my face and I tried to erase it, but I didn't do too well. "Ack! Vee?" Yes, I remembered her nickname. "I.. Wha...? Er..." For once, I was speechless. I brought a hand to my head, scratching the back of it and looking over her head. She seriously had scared the shit out of me. I sighed and looked back at her. I blinked, pursing my lips to the side. "Jesus, Vee. You scared the shit out of me." I shook my head, lowering my hand and tilting my head at her. "And, um... Callum?" I smiled slightly.

[Veronica St. Alderbar]

[bg=000000][atrb=width, 400, true][atrb=border, 0, true] ❡❡It sounded nice to hear someone call me 'Vee', since no one did. Ophelia called me Niki, and so did her mother. I smiled some and stepped forward. "Sorry for scaring you. I didn't mean to." My voice was quiet, since I was trying to hide that I was so upset. ❡❡I heard him question why I called him Callum and I felt my face turn pink. "Yeah...it's a cooler name than Bryce." I scuffed my shoe against the ground, cracking my knuckles behind my back. I didn't really have much to say, since I never really talked to boys. "Today's nice, yeah?"

[Callum Bryce Rockland]

[bg=4c5564][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 500, true] //////Veronica smiled a little and stepped forward. I blinked at her, hands falling into the robe's pockets. "You know, we keep meeting like this. I scare you, and then you scare me. Next thing you know, we both get heart attacks. Whew..." I grinned at her, moving a hand up to scratch the back of my head again. I swear, I don't have lice! I'm just... nervous? Hard to say, really. I don't feel nervous, but you never know. I couldn't help but notice her voice was quiet. I bit my lip slightly, lowing my hand. I really need to shove that hand in a pocket and keep it in there. I saw her face turn pink, and I blinked. What was so weird about that? I didn't mind her calling me my real name--I'm just not used to it. "Eh. I never really liked it, but, you know... If you want to use it, feel free. Just know you're the only one who calls me Callum." I shrugged, looking past her again. //////I heard her knuckles crack, which made me gaze at her again. I get distracted easily. "A nice day?" I chuckled. Suddenly, an idea drifted into my mind's eye. Suddenly, I smirked, I walked over to the door, opening it. "Yes. It is a nice day. A great day for flying." I narrowed my eyes, still smirking and slipped out of the green house walking away from it and towards the Quidditch pitch.

[Veronica St. Alderbar]

[bg=000000][atrb=width, 400, true][atrb=border, 0, true] ❡❡My eyes continued to follow him. He put his hands into his robes before talking. The comment made me laugh behind my hand. He scratched his head, bit his lip (which was adorable), then slipped his hand back into his pocket before speaking again. I was the only one who called him Callum? I smiled brightly. ❡❡"I'll count myself special then. I sat on one of the tables, pushing something out of the way. I swung my legs. I seemed fairly happy. And then he mentioned flying. My eyes shot open and I looked to him. "Today? Really? I...oh..." He was out the door before I could argue. I didn't have much choice but to follow him, my heart pounding in my ears.

[Callum Bryce Rockland]

[bg=4c5564][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 500, true] //////She laughed behind her hand and my face turned a bright scarlet. I don't normally blush, but... Veronica is an exception. She's nice and sweet, and ugh. Must I explain myself? She smiled brightly when I told her she was the only one who called me by my first time. "You were already special..." I frowned slightly, but let it go. She sat on the table, swinging her legs and I smiled at her. Though she seemed a little off when I mentioned flying. Oh, well! She followed me outside, and I jumped in excitement. It's not every day you get to teach a friend how to fly (which sounds bizarre to the normal muggle). "Whoo! Okay, basics. You have to stay on the broom. Both hands on it at all times, unless you feel you're okay with it. The broom has two handles at the end; that's where you put your feet. Of course, we'll start with a foot off the ground. I don't want you freaking out." I was walking backwards at the moment.

[Veronica St. Alderbar]

[bg=000000][atrb=width, 400, true][atrb=border, 0, true] ❡❡He called me special and I turned scarlet like him. I sighed, listening to him talk about flying. "But that's a foot too many off the ground!" I laughed some, because I really didn't want to do it, but I was going to. I sighed and got a broom from the shed to practice on. I tried to study it, cringing at the thought of actually being in the air. ❡❡"You should fly with me. Y'know...so I have someone to watch." I didn't want to be up in the air by myself. I didn't want to be up in the air at all. But I wanted someone who could catch me if I fell off. I looked hopeful, watching him.

[Callum Bryce Rockland]

[bg=4c5564][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 500, true] //////Veronica turned scarlet as well. I snickered, seeing that we both had blushed faces. Well, that relieved me of some pressure. "Which isn't much!" I laughed back. She sighed and grabbed a broom, looking at it. She cringed and I hugged her, listening to her next words. "Oh, really now?" I took out my wand and let go of her, pointing it upwards. "Accio broom!" I said, waiting for my broom to faithfully fly its way here. When it did, I hopped on it, putting my feet on the handles in the back. "So, the broom should automatically balance you." I put my hands out and wiggled them. "It's maaaggiicc." I snickered, leaning back on the broom slightly. I put my wand back in my pocket and my broom rose higher. I blinked and looked down, seeing Veronica was practically an ant. I groaned and brought it back down swiftly, landing behind her and poking the back of her neck. //////"It's pretty easy when you get the hang of it. Just pull up on the rod and it'll move up. It responds quickly, too, so be sure you're ready." I went around Veronica, putting my feet on the ground and looking at her. If she did fall, I'd be there to help. She should know that.

[Veronica St. Alderbar]

[bg=000000][atrb=width, 400, true][atrb=border, 0, true] ❡❡I was horrified as he went up and came back down. My stomach rose to my chest and I muttered. I started to feel sick. "Yeah. Alright. Sure." I straddled the broom and sighed, bracing myself before pulling up on the handle. I felt my feet come off the ground and I squeaked in fear. It was an awful feeling. I shut my eyes tightly and gripped the broom. I really thought I was going to vomit. ❡❡Of course, it wasn't really that bad in the end. I finally opened my eyes and glanced down briefly, trying to relax. "Okay...this isn't so bad." I looked to Callum. "What now?" My heart had slowly started to go back to its place in my chest.

[Callum Bryce Rockland]

[bg=4c5564][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 500, true] //////Veronica didn't look to happy when I went up in the air. She didn't even giggle at my magic joke! Jeez, I'm offended! (Not really.) When she started to over over the ground, she squeaked. I bit my tongue so I wouldn't laugh at her. She sounded so freaking cute! She shut her eyes and I got off of my broom, putting my hand to her eyes. "If you don't open your eyes, you won't be able to see what's in front of you." I murmured, standing next to her. I removed my hand from her face, smiling slightly. She finally got over her fear (I really don't think it's over) and looked at me for what to do next. I put my hands on my hips and rubbed my nose, examining the broom. I personally don't like the school brooms. They're old and neglected, honestly. I made a mental note that if she really enjoyed this, I could buy her one. I have enough... Hopefully. I haven't checked the vault in a while. "Well, you can either pull up to go higher, lean forward to go forward, or push down to go back to the ground. And you lean to the left or right to turn. It's pretty simple, really." I shrugged, sitting on my broom and zipping next to her, right at her level.

[Veronica St. Alderbar]

[bg=000000][atrb=width, 400, true][atrb=border, 0, true] ❡❡I listened to him talk, thinking of what to do next. I pulled up more, raising higher in the air before going forward. My stop was hard, but exhilerating. "Ha! This is awesome!" I hadn't smiled so wide in years! I went a bit higher and tried a roll, which worked well. "Why didn't I try this before!?" I was excited. This was so fun. I'd have to remind Ophelia's mother to buy me one when I went home on break. ❡❡It was great, until I tried to turn right and felt myself falling. A shriek came out of me as I plummeted towards the ground.

[Callum Bryce Rockland]

[bg=4c5564][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 500, true] //////I knew she would absorb my words like a sponge. She seemed willing to learn. She hovered a little higher and moved forward. Her stop was horrendous, but it was okay. At least she stayed on, right? Even from here, I could see her smile. Just seeing it made me smile. I crossed my arms over my chest and watched her as she rolled. It's like a puppy going outside for the first time in the snow. She got a little higher, so I took my broom and took it closer, just in case. Though, she turned right and suddenly, she was falling. Horror and fear blasted through me like firecrackers and I was fumbling over spells in my mind. What's a spell that would save her?! "Fuck the bloody spell!" I snarled and pushed my broom down sharply, going into a dive. I got level with her and I pushed down harder, trying to get under her. When I did, the broom twisted out of my legs and we both fell, but I was on the bottom. We hit the ground, but I was on my site, so we rolled a little. Finally, we finished with me on the bottom. //////I coughed, squeezing my eyes shut as pain seeped into my bones. "Aw, that hurt." I said hoarsely, wanting to roll over on my stomach, but Veronica was on top of me. No, it was fine. I was a man. I could take it. Oh, hell, are you kidding me? I fell maybe four yards. That hurt like hell! I took a shagged breath opening my eyes to look at Veronica. "Argh, are you okay?" I murmured, trying to keep my voice loud so she could hear me.

[Veronica St. Alderbar]

[bg=000000][atrb=width, 400, true][atrb=border, 0, true] ❡❡Things flashed in front of me, from my brother and father and my mother to Ophelia to my owl. Suddenly I remembered that I was deathly afraid of heights. But then, as quickly as I started to fall, something was under me. We hit the ground, rolling some. I sighed and muttered. "Oh my bloody hell, are you alright Callum!?" I panicked and got up, searching for my wand in my robe. My breath was heavy. "Do you think anything's broken?" I wouldn't be able to help him to the Hospital Wing if he had. I'd have to run to the school and find a Head of House to get him there.