Not being prefectly (Tag: Bella) on Aladren Commons

Chris Dupree

November 29, 2007 11:12 PM

Not being prefectly (Tag: Bella) by Chris Dupree

On his walk back, Chris had turned to beating himself up. Mostly, it came back to how stupid he was, about everything he should have done differently. He should have left well enough alone. He shouldn't have questioned her. He shouldn't have gotten angry. What right did he have to tell her what she could or couldn't do with someone else? She had made a point. He was the one for all intents and purposes engaged. He should have told her from the beginning. He should never have gotten involved with her in the first place.

But then everything that she did came flooding back to him. She was the one that had kissed him. She was the one that stayed after he had told her about Marie. She was the one that had kissed someone else knowing that she was dating someone. She was the one that had given him a present and then confessed her sin. What exactly was that supposed to have been? It didn't matter anyhow, he had left the book there. Partly, because he had forgotten about it, partly, because he didn't want it anymore. It would only be a reminder, just as most things would be, of her.

Also, didn't it matter that he was trying? He was trying to do right by everyone. He wanted to help his family so no one else would have to suffer through betrothals. He was trying to get out of his own. He had been trying to prove to Lexi that he was serious about her. He stopped at that thought. The ring. He had never gotten it back. Just freaking lovely. Now what was he going to do? He was going to have to get it back and the idea was less than settling.

Finally back, Chris clamored into the Aladren Common room. His face was red from the wind and the emotional strain of it all. The evidence of tears still shown. Everything had been going around in a circle in his head. He was thinking about another guy kissing Lexi, Lexi kissing another guy. His frustration was at a peak. He couldn't take anymore. He needed a release. His fists were balled. He turned and slammed one into the wall. An utterance of curses flew under his breath, as he clutched his hand. It was simply the perfect ending to the perfect day.

0 Chris Dupree Not being prefectly (Tag: Bella) 0 Chris Dupree 1 5

Bella

November 30, 2007 6:01 PM

When have you ever been Prefectly? by Bella

Bella had arrived back to school earlier that day and hadn't had much time to do anything aside from unpack her things. The trip to Mexico had been fun... for the most part, and Bella now had her tan back. She held a small package in her hands that contained Ben's Christmas gift. She needed to get this too him before she completely forgot about it.

Giving herself a glance in the mirror and frowning momentarily at how the shirt landed on her torso, Bella left her dorm to search for her boyfriend. She hopped down the last couple of steps from the girls dorms and stopped to search the commonrooms.

She didn't see Ben, but she saw Chris. Easily a smile came upon her at the sight of her best friend. She rarely saw him much since he started dating Lexi and even less so because of the C.A.T.S. exam. She started to head in his direction, but paused when she realized something wasn't right in his demeanor. He seemed... frazzled. Harassed, maybe?

Bella couldn't put her finger on it from her position, but it didn't take Chris long to make it perfectly clear just what was wrong with him. He was angry. Scratch that, he was pissed. Bella gasped in surprise as he slammed his fist against the wall and immediately started moving again. She put her present to Ben down on the table and made her way over to Chris. "Chris!" Bella exclaimed as she neared him. "Idiota! What are you doing?" She grabbed his arm before gently taking the hand that smacked the wall.

"You could have broken it. What were you thinking?"

0 Bella When have you ever been Prefectly? 0 Bella 0 5

Chris

November 30, 2007 11:26 PM

Er...I think there was that one time... by Chris

Chris' eyes hazily focused on someone taking his hand and talking. Bella. He gave a faint smile that really wasn't a smile at all, as the corners barely brushed up. The answer tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop himself. “Lexi.”

He was about to say more, but hesitated with feelings of guilt. When he had broken up with Kaylie, he had ended up dumping it all onto Bella. It really wasn't fair to her. She was in what he assumed was a happy relationship. They didn't really talk about it all that much. The fact of who she was dating didn't quite register yet or he wouldn't have said Lexi's name at all.

He pulled his hand away and went over to the couch, slumping onto it. He tucked the injured hand into his side and ran his free hand through his hair. He knew he should probably say more. Just saying her name would just lead to questions or some such. He decided to keep it fairly simple and while the words were the meaning wasn't. “Lexi dumped me after kissing some guy.” Every word he said was true. She had kissed another guy, even if that guy had kissed her first and she was the one to break things off.

What a fool he had been. He was falling for her, had even been about to say those dangerous words. How could he not have seen this coming? Weren't the signs in front of him? Wasn't he supposed to be smart? No, no, smart had nothing to do with it. She was deceptive. She probably had tons of boyfriends and it was just time to cut him lose. “Dammit!” He was such an idiot.

0 Chris Er...I think there was that one time... 0 Chris 0 5

Bella

November 30, 2007 11:58 PM

At Band Camp? by Bella

Bella blinked at him. Lexi? Was something wrong with Lexi? No, that wasn't right. Something happened between the two of them. The last time something happened between Chris and a girl, Chris had vomitted up his life story to her. Not that she had minded. Okay, well, she sort of did at the time, but if he hadn't, they wouldn't have been friends now. Besides, she was used to him and their year long friendship.

Bella was still examining his hand when he pulled it away from her. Frowning even more, she followed him to the couch, but hovered above him, more focused on his hand than on his mood. She knew that he'd tell her what was wrong in due time, but she wanted to be sure he was physically fine first.

"Que?" Bella asked, when Chris explained himself. She was sure she had heard him wrong. Lexi had dumped him... after kissing some guy? That couldn't be right. Chris and Lexi had seemed so happy. She wasn't even sure they had had a fight before. What was this all of a sudden? His sudden exclamation forced Bella to be reminded of his hand. "Do me a favor and breathe, Chris." Bella told him. "I'll be right back."

She turned and ran back up to her dormitory. She dumped her bowl of candy she kept on her desk and returned to the commonroom with her wand and the bowl. She set the bowl down next to the gift, pointed her wand and said the water spell. Once it was nearly filled, she then cast the spell that would freeze it, only, she didn't freeze it completely. Instead, she presented Chris with ice water. "Put your hand in here." She spoke firmly to show him that he could not argue with her.

Sitting down on the couch beside him, Bella gave him her full attention. "Explain to me what happened."\r\n\r\n

0 Bella At Band Camp? 0 Bella 0 5

Chris

December 01, 2007 1:30 PM

I don't think that would be prefectly either by Chris

As Chris watched Bella head back up the stairs, he decided to take her advice to breath. He breathed in, then out slowly, then again. A little calmer then he was before, but still feeling the fool, he leaned back against the couch and examined his hand. It didn't appear broken, but it still hurt. Without a doubt, it was going to be a little swelled, which was just great since it was his writing hand.

When Bella returned, she was carrying a bowl that he eyed wearily. After she filled it and ordered him to stick his hand in it, he didn't argue. Gingerly, he placed his hand in with a suck of air at the coldness. He knew there was no point in arguing when she used that tone. He gave her a wane smile. She sounded just like a mother. Besides, his hand had been beginning to take on a purple tint. Not a good sign.

Chris also knew that he might as well tell her now, because one way or another she was going to find out. She might as well at least know his side before he got painted as the bad guy. No matter what happened in breakups, it always seemed like the guy ended up in the wrong. Sad blue eyes looked at his friend and in a defeated voice, he started, “I got an owl from Lexi to meet her at the fountain. So, I went with her present. She looked beautiful.”

He remembered the way the light breezes had been playing with her hair when he spotted her. “We exchanged gifts. She bought me a book. I left it there.” He was glad he had. He didn't want a reminder of her. He had enough of those. The biggest one was in his room in the form of a person. He gave a snort of disbelieving laughter. Sharing a room with her brother now was just going to be peachy. And here he was telling the story to Ben's girlfriend.

With a sigh, he briefly touched the bridge of his nose, before continuing, “She didn't open mine.” He hesitated to revealing the next part. “I gave her my ring. I...I was going to tell her that I love her.” He still did. He wished he could make it all go away. He didn't look at Bella when he confessed this. He didn't want to see her reaction. It was hard enough. “She went to some party and kissed a guy. She said she had enjoyed it. Then, she said it wasn't going to work for us.” He gave a bitter laugh. “She said it was fun while it lasted. I had just been a bit of fun.”

0 Chris I don't think that would be prefectly either 0 Chris 0 5

Bella

December 01, 2007 2:24 PM

Yeah, probably not. by Bella

Bella sat beside her friend and listened to him tell his story slowly. At first, it sounded like any other relationship. Lexi and Chris meet in some secluded spot. Chris compliments Lexi on her looks (he seemed to have really taken a shine to Lexi's looks, though he liked her personality too). Presents are exchanged.

She was a bit disturbed by his sudden bout of laughter. Bella couldn't remember a single moment of Chris ever acting this way. Whatever Lexi had done or said to him had really messed him up. The was a small part of Bella that wanted to know what sort of book it was if he had left it behind and then mentioning it would make him laugh. Of course, really, the book could have had nothing to do with the creepy laugh.

His next admission made Bella's mouth drop open. He had given her his ring? A Pureblood who called something his meant that it was a family heirloom...probably with the family name involved or a crest. Bella had a necklace waiting for her to turn 16 that held the family name beautifully carved into it. Each girl received a piece when they turned 16 and every guy was destined to carry a watch. Jake kept his at home in a box. Bella believed it was mainly because he was afraid of losing it.

But, if what she was thinking was true, it meant that Chris was serious about Lexi and admitting he was going to tell her he loved her only solidified everything. She had another thought though, Lexi and Chris had been together for nearly a year (as they had started dating shortly after Chris had broken up with Kaylie), had they never said such words before? And, another startling thought, made Bella realize she and Ben had never said those things to one another before either.

Bella had to put aside her own realization of her emotions for Ben and focus only on Chris at the moment. He was a real wreck. Bella had never thought Lexi was the type of person who would go off and have a moment with some other guy when she was with Chris. Sure, Chris was engaged, but that was hardly his decision and, from what Bella knew, he had done everything in his power to not be anywhere near his betrothed. And Lexi knew of all that anyway. So then why? Why did she kiss some guy?

"¡Mi bebé pobre!" Bella exclaimed and threw her arms around her friend for comfort. "I'm so sorry." And she was. It was a painful thing to have ones heart broken. It was the very thing Bella had been worrying about since she had spent so little time with her boyfriend. "I can't believe she would do that to you. It's not right. I don't think she meant that she used you for fun, Chris. Maybe she meant, she had a lot of fun being with you. Your life is so complicated as it is."

Translation:

¡Mi bebé pobre! - My poor baby

0 Bella Yeah, probably not. 0 Bella 0 5

Chris

December 01, 2007 3:05 PM

Perhaps, I never was. :P by Chris

Chris didn't move when Bella threw her arms around him. The consoling gesture was nice, especially after the day he had. He felt like he had fought a battle and lost. He even had the wounds to prove it. He took his hand out of the bowl and flexed it around some, before placing it back into the not as freezing water.

Eyes glanced over to Bella, as a snort escaped from Chris. “Well, she did. I couldn't believe it either.” He couldn't believe that she had the nerve to even tell him how much she had enjoyed it. Feeling the rage start to come, he shrugged Bella off and got up to start pacing. Ranting, more came out, “Why would she give me a present and then break up with me? Really, what in the world was that supposed to be? Then, she brings Marie up, like I planned it or something.”

He turned and faced Bella. “I can't stand Marie. And I know how complicated my life is! I don't even like thinking about it, but it's on my mind all the time!” He let out a groan of frustration. Everything going on in his family was constantly in his mind. His fiancée. His cousins. His sister. Why couldn't he just be a normal teenager? No, instead he gets stuck with all of this just because of when he happened to be born. If he could, he would gladly hand it all over to Devian.

He began pacing again. His mind back solely on Lexi. “How could she do this? Did I mean nothing to her? Why did she have to kiss someone else? If she wanted the relationship to end, she could have just said so. I wouldn't have been happy about it, but at least I wouldn't be left with the thought of her having cheated on me!” It might not have been making complete sense, but he needed to get his thoughts out.

0 Chris Perhaps, I never was. :P 0 Chris 0 5

Bella

December 01, 2007 6:31 PM

I never believed it for a second. by Bella

Bella felt absolutely helpless as she listened to Chris go on about Lexi. Bella's siblings had all gone through heartbreak in one form of another, but none of them had ever confided in her.

Hannah was with the love of her life, Bella was still only a little girl when Hannah had been in school dealing with boys. Juan...well, Juan had his own rules for such things. Jules, her heartbreak in front of all of them, but she had refused to talk about it. Paco had only had one girlfriend and she was now his wife. Sofia did the heartbreaking. Jake had had that odd moment with Jennifer, but he spoke to no one about it aside from Anita. And the twins were too young.

Bella was in her own relationship, one in which she worried that she wasn't spending enough time in or he was spending too much time with her roommate, but she had never known what heartbreak was. And now she was facing another crisis with Chris that dealt with a girl and a broken heart.

"I know, I know!" Bella said, hurriedly to Chris. He wasn't getting any calmer and Bella feared she was only making it worse. She knew how much his family ways were torturing him. It was just another thing she would never understand. Though her family was a famous Pureblood family in Mexico and Spain, they never had Heads of the Families. Everyone was equal. Everyone held responsibility. She would never understand the pressure that Chris felt everyday of his life. Perhaps that was the same for Lexi.

"I don't know why Lexi would do that. Maybe, at the time, she really had no intention of breaking up with you." Bella explained and then quickly continued before Chris could say anything. "Girls are fickle, Chris. Lexi might very well feel the same for you, but under pressure of telling you what had happened, maybe... maybe something clicked. Maybe she didn't want to face it or you anymore. Guilt can do that to a person. I'm not-" Bella added with her hands up in a surrender sort of position so that Chris knew she wasn't trying to be hurtful or blunt,

"-Excusing what she had done either with that boy or to you. I'm just saying, girls are fickle and guilt is even moreso. And, I know this is just going to make you angrier but I think it needs to be said... it was just a kiss. She wasn't dating someone behind your back. A kiss. It sucks and it was cruel and I don't know the circumstances of it all, but if you keep beating yourself up about it, you'll only end up bitter and angry and alone."

0 Bella I never believed it for a second. 0 Bella 0 5

Chris

December 01, 2007 7:10 PM

Good, that makes one of us by Chris

At the word fickle, the rest of Bella's words didn't have a chance to sink in quite yet. He stared straight at her like she was insane. Girls were fickle? That was the most ridiculous thing he ever heard. If girls were so fickle, then how did any relationship ever work? Then, almost as if begging Bella to try and explain the concept so that it was actually plausible, because in a way he wanted to believe her, “Are you that fickle? Would you leave Ben for someone better looking or smarter?”

As though the rest of what she said was catching up, he continued questioning. “What if Ben kissed some other girl? What if he told you how much he enjoyed it? How would you feel?” He wanted her to feel the way he was feeling, because he wanted someone else to suffer. But part of him didn't. He wanted her to tell him he was a moron. He wanted to believe that some part of Lexi still cared for him. That he had meant something to her and that she hadn't just used him. He wanted Bella to take away the pain, to put him out of his misery.

The small amount of energy that he had was spent. Collapsing into one of the chairs, he said quietly, “Maybe I should be alone.” It wasn't said in bitterness or anger, but rather acceptance. As long as Marie loomed in his life, he probably would never have a chance in a relationship. Perhaps, he should just accept his sentence and be with Marie. It was the same as being alone for he would never connect on any sort of level with her.

0 Chris Good, that makes one of us 0 Chris 0 5

Bella

December 01, 2007 7:39 PM

That's why I'm a friend by Bella

His question surprised her. He seemed to have misunderstood what she meant by 'fickle'. "I don't mean 'fickle' in the sense that you seem to be taking it. I meant it in a way that everyone is always changing. Ben and I were merely friends at the start and it changed into something more. One day something might happen to change it to something else. Girls are emotionally fickle because we are emotional beings. We change constantly." She paused for a moment, hoping he understood what she meant now. As an afterthought, she decided to answer his question anyway,

"I don't know if I'm that fickle." She told him honestly. "I'd like to say that I'm not, but I don't really know what would happen. I don't know." She looked down at her hands for a moment, not liking how he was directing his line of questioning. She didn't want to think about Ben being with another girl, she didn't want to think about him hurting her in such a way.

Bella vaguely wondered if Chris had been this pushy with Lexi when they met. If he had, Bella could see why Lexi might have said some hurtful things. Already, she was becoming upset with him. She wanted to run away from him just to get him to stop asking her about it.

"I would feel betrayed. Empty. I'd want to die." She told him, looking up from her hands and looking directly at him. Of course, every circumstance is different. It would really depend on exactly what was going on between her and Ben that would cause such a situation to happen, but she wasn't about to say that to Chris. "But, I would expect you, as my friend, to be there for me and to tell me that bad things happen all the time and the only thing I can do is keep going. Because that's all that anyone can do."

Bella fell silent as Chris paced and then fell into an empty chair. She sighed at his words. "Don't be stupid." She told him, shaking her head at him. Bella stood and knelt in front of him so that he had to look at her. "You want something better for your family, right? You've said so yourself. Giving up because Lexi kissed some boy is a lame excuse to give yourself. You want love? You need to find it. You want to be happy? Go out and discover what that happy is and fight to keep it. You want to stop hurting? Find a way to stop. You want Lexi? Then do something about it! Giving up is not an option and I refuse to allow you to do such a thing."

Bella stood up and put her hands on her hips. "If nothing else, would it make you feel better if I went and beat her up? I might be short, but there's still a beater in me." She was trying to cheer him up, but somehow she felt she was only deflating him more.\r\n\r\n

0 Bella That's why I'm a friend 0 Bella 0 5

Chris

December 01, 2007 8:27 PM

A very good one by Chris

Chris sighed. Lexi may have been an excuse, but there was more to it. “It's not just about Lexi. Yes, I want her back, but there's nothing I can do about that. She doesn't feel the same way. Plain and simple.” He finished this with a wave of his uninjured hand. “But there's more. Unless, I can find some escape from Marie, none of the things I want to happen will ever happen.” He looked unhappily at her. “Every time I find someone that makes me happy, it gets ripped away. First, Kaylie. Then, Lexi.”

He rubbed his eyes from how tired he felt. “I know that Marie might not have been a direct cause of Lexi dumping me, but she came up in the fight. I know Lexi is the one that kissed someone and broke up with me, but it always seems to come back to her even in the slightest form. I just don't know how to get rid of her. Even if I do, there's always someone else that my parents would be willing to put in her place. I feel trapped no matter what I do. If I marry her, then maybe I can save Talen and Lucie from this. On the other hand, sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't just follow Nicoletta's lead.”

He wondered how she was doing. The last time they had talked over midterm, she still hadn't heard anything from his parents. It was rather disconcerting not knowing what was going to happen to his sibling. They ran in different groups at school, but at home, they were each other's support. He had no idea how he was going to fare dealing with the rest of the Duprees, not his cousins so much, but the others. This summer with them would be the first time he would truly be on his own. It was a rather unpleasant thought.

When Bella claimed she would beat up Lexi, Chris couldn't help, but chuckle at her stance. It was a good sign that he was feeling a little better. “I have no doubt that you could take her,” he joked, standing up. Taking her by the arms, he pulled Bella towards him, crushing her in a hug, as his arms wrapped around her. “Thank you.” It was two little words, but he meant so much by them. He couldn't have asked for a better best friend.

0 Chris A very good one 0 Chris 0 5

Bella

December 01, 2007 9:58 PM

Why, thank you! by Bella

"You mean, you assume that she doesn't feel the same way." Bella corrected. She made a vow to herself to go have a talk with Lexi just to get her side of the story so that Bella could have a better understanding of it all. And maybe, just maybe, if Bella could explain the things that Chris never could, maybe Lexi could have a better understanding of Chris.

Bella frowned at him. She wanted to comment that she highly doubted he ever felt as deeply for Kaylie as he did for Lexi, but she knew that it wouldn't have made him feel any better or help his situation at all. He had broken Kaylie's heart for his family and now he was trying to figure a way out of his family before he continues to break more hearts.

"Lexi isn't a Pureblood, Chris. She might say she understands your situation, but she really doesn't. She can't. She has a freedom that you currently do not have. And, unless you want to fight for it, will never have." Bella was somber when she said this. She wanted Chris to be happy, but she knew in order for that to happen, he would have to sacrifice much. The question was, was he really ready for such a sacrifice?

"Marrying her will change nothing for your younger family members." Bella told him bluntly. "Changing the ways in which your family is run, standing up for your rights, standing up to your family in general, would change things for him. But giving in, giving up, doing as you're told will solve absolutely nothing. Follow your heart, Chris, it might be hard, it could even be painful, but it'll mean something and the outcome can only be good." Bella was eternally grateful for the life she was given. She would never have to face the issues Chris faces daily. Unless, of course, someone decided to marry a muggle or muggleborn. Then...then something drastic would happen. Then, everything would change.

Bella smiled when Chris chuckled. It was a good sign, right? It wasn't anything like that creepy laugh he had done earlier. She wasn't, however, at all prepared for his hug. Still, it made her happy that he was already feeling at least a little bit better because of her. She wrapped her own arms around him with a giggle of glee. "You're welcome, now stop making me worry so much, you louse." Bella teased.

0 Bella Why, thank you! 0 Bella 0 5