Skipping the feast... on Aladren Commons

Paul Tarwater

June 10, 2006 11:38 AM

Skipping the feast... by Paul Tarwater

Paul knew which house he was in. He didn't need to "socialize," as his mother called it. He didn't want to. He didn't belong in this house. No way did he. He had bet by next week he'd be begging to come home.

He wasn't good with talking. He wasn't good with it at all. Especially since he was worried he would be talking to a muggle born. Father would be displeased.

Even though the Tarwater family wasn't the biggest, richest, snobbiest pureblood family in the world (not even close), they still held true to pureblood ideas. Muggles don't belong in a magic school being the highest held one. And Paul had caught on to that. Even if they were dirt broke, at least they weren't "blood traitors" like his father said.

He knew if he developed a friendship with anyone not of pure descent, he would probably be labeled that. And he didn't want that. Besides, he wouldn't be the one to talk to anyone. He was determined to go through the whole year as a sulky mess, so his father would take him out of the school and teach him magic himself.

Then he wouldn't have to socialize with anybody. Mudblood or not. He dropped into the closest chair to him and pulled out a handed down textbook. He would read until the others came in, then find his room and play "spoiled." That should get people to distance from him.

He was playing out everything in his head. How he would get people to not like him. How he would fail classes (well, maybe not go that far, grades were important to him), and be a huge prick. Then playing out how his parents would see what a misearble time he was having and pull him out. How it would benifit both of them, they wouldn't have to pay for schoolbooks and he could stay home. Away from people.

He was just at the part where his sister would leave for school and he wouldn't have to see her again until summer, when he heard something fall. Like a trunk or a person. He snapped out of his thoughts to look at the person who caused the fall. He was about to say something nasty, about watching your feet or something. But instead:

"Hey, what happened!"

And:

"Are you okay?"

Came out. Mentally, he slapped himself. Even if she was still up for pureblood ideas, his mother didn't think rudeness was good. She taught him to be polite all the time, even to dirty blood. It proved you were higher than them or something.

But Paul didn't care. He wanted to be a prick. But he already screwed this one up, so he just sat back down and looked at the person.\n\n

0 Paul Tarwater Skipping the feast... 0 Paul Tarwater 1 5

Zoey Welsh

June 11, 2006 4:15 AM

It's over rated anyway. by Zoey Welsh

Zoey had grown another couple of inches this past year leaving her at 5'9. She had really hoped that she had stopped growing, but blast her darn parents for being so tall. What was worse was that she was now taller than her brother. He still remained two inches shorter than her. Much to his disbelief. Les joked that if she kept on growing, they'd call her the remake of 'Attack of the 50 Foot Woman' but then her mom would reprimand him and he'd stay quiet for the rest of the night.

Because Zoey was self-conscious even more about her height, she decided to skip out on the feast. She had eaten a big lunch anyway, so she wasn't at all that hungry. And, being a fourth year, she already knew the rules at the school and exactly what was going to happen. The novelty of the 'sorting' had worn off on Zoey. Which was strange considering she was still learning so much about magic.

Zoey pulled the book down to reveal the commonroom entrance and entered her house thinking that she would have the place completely to herself. She dropped her trunk with a thud and sat down on it with a sigh. Her content was only short lived as a voice seemingly came out of nowhere asking what happened and if she was okay. At first, Zoey thought it was a painting, but as she looked around, she noticed a boy. A boy she didn't recognize. A crease of confusion graced Zoey's freckled brow as she stared at the boy. Her eyes glanced around the room wondering if perhaps she had mistaken the time and the feast had been over for some time now and Professor Kijewski had already brought the firsties into the common room and made introductions. Or maybe this year the school had decided to change things up a bit and the students went to their dorms first and the feast came later. Though, that didn't make much sense because of the sorting.

Her auburn hair was still as frizzy with curls as ever, but now hung down to her midback instead of the usual shoulder length. Her pale skin was covered with an impossible amount of freckles. After a moment of silence Zoey cleared her throat. "I dropped my trunk and yes I'm fine, thank you for asking. Now, who are you and how'd you get in here?" She hadn't said her last phrase in a mean voice, but a soft quiet one with a hint of curiosity in it.\n\n

6 Zoey Welsh It's over rated anyway. 39 Zoey Welsh 0 5

Paul

June 11, 2006 9:57 AM

I suppose by Paul

Paul bit his lip. He knew the girl hadn't meant the last sentence to be mean, but he took it that way. And besides, he didn't know who this girl was. Why should he answer her? He didn't have to. He'd been nice enough seeing if he was okay.

"I got sorted," he said. "And then walked out. I'm in this house." Then he realized she might be confused to how he got in. "My mom was in Aladren when she came here, so I knew how to get in." Okay, that was enough talking for him. He walked back over to the chair and his trunk to sit down.

"Who're you?" he said, trying to at least get a bit of snobbiness in his voice. He couldn't. Instead it came out soft and embarrassed. He slapped himself mentally again.

Stupid...\n\n

0 Paul I suppose 0 Paul 0 5

Zoey

June 11, 2006 11:44 PM

But you should at least experience it once by Zoey

The boy looked her with what Zoey concluded to be a nervous look. Of course, he could just be trying very hard not to say something snarky that all eleven year olds were capable of doing. Zoey wasn't naive about things like that. But, Zoey was a tall girl for any age and he was a first year, which might have made her look intimidating. But her fluffly red hair and freckled face, Zoey was inclined to think otherwise.

This boy seemed to be the only person Zoey had ever met who hadn't stayed long enough to eat the food. Zoey recalled her first year, how upset she had been at not being in Dillon's house, but how she had met Zack on the same night. Funny how her only 'real' friend at this school was the shortest guy in their class...if not the school. He was strange, but he was funny too. Maybe that was why Zoey liked him so much.

At least he had an explanation for everything. However, how he knew where to find the book exactly without having ever stepped foot into the library was a bit of a surprise to Zoey. Four years in and she still needed a map to get around that place. Zoey's eyebrow quirked up when he asked her who she was. He hadn't even told her his name and he wanted to know who she was. This boy didn't seem to have manners. "I'm Zoey Welsh. I'm a fourth year." Zoey introduced herself and then sighed quietly. "Welcome to Sonora."\n\n

6 Zoey But you should at least experience it once 39 Zoey 0 5

Paul

June 12, 2006 9:13 AM

Eh, maybe next year by Paul

"Thanks," Paul muttered angrily. "Truth is, I don't even think I belong here." The problem with the welcom ewas, he didn't even want to be at Soronra. He wanted to be home. Alone. Where everything was better andnquieter. And, Merlin, so much easier than here. He could learn magic from his father. Right? No big deal.

"Paul," he said. "Paul Tarwater. First year, even though you already know." At least she hadn't questioned what he knew. That was good. It made things easier. How could he explain how close he actually listened when his parents talked?

He looked back up at the girl. Zoey. He had nothing left to say. He waited a few seconds to see if she would say anything more before he walked to the dormitory.\n\n

0 Paul Eh, maybe next year 0 Paul 0 5

Zoey

June 12, 2006 9:21 PM

Whoa, so much excitement! by Zoey

Zoey felt like laughing when this first year basically stomped on her welcome. He obviously didn't want to be here. Either he was some muggleborn who hated the idea of magic running through his blood, or a Pureblood who hated the idea of coming to some Magical school that perhaps his parents never went to. Zoey didn't know and she wasn't exactly sure she cared if his attitude was going to be like that to her. She was only trying to be nice. Zoey finally stood up from her trunk and gave the boy a look over. There wasn't much to see.

"Yeah, I did." Zoey answered what she sure was merely a statement made by the kid. He wasn't like anyone else she had ever met before. He was angry and anti-people. Not much at all like the other Aladrens Zoey knew. Except for maybe Anne. That girl Zoey would never be comfortable around simply because the third year didn't like Zoey at all. Or, her attitude made her seem that way.

"Word to the wise, Paul, be nice to your Elders or else they can make your life here a living Hell." Zoey told him. She wasn't threatening him in any way, but just giving him a warning. There were jerks in this school who would eat a first year like him alive if he came at them with the attitude he was showing Zoey.\n\n

6 Zoey Whoa, so much excitement! 39 Zoey 0 5