Summer's Almost Here-Is That Good Or Bad?
by Nikki Ramirez
Summer was approaching fast and Nikki had mixed emotions about the holidays. On the one hand, she would get to go home. Nikki suspected that for her, going home meant a lot more than it meant to other people. Nikki would be going back to her home country, Mexico.
She would get to see Mami and Papi, Abuela and Abuelo, and Julio. She even sort of missed Benito. This summer she would have stories of her own to tell about school. And boy did she have stories. She would get to taste Abuela's salsa again, and now that she had her own broom, she and Julio could go flying together. If she got good enough, she might even try out for the house team next year. She would be on the team with Gray.
'Gray' Nikki thought. That was the downside to the summer holidays. She wouldn't get to see Gray or the twins. And what was worse, there would certainly be questions about the grandsons of Sr. Leonardo Idoya I.
But best not to think about that now. Instead she tried to think about next year. It would be great. She already had some friends, and she knew most of her teachers for next term. And she wouldn't be a first year. That was always a bonus. Nikki smiled to herself as she bit into a piece of ham. Next year would be so cool. \n\n
0Nikki RamirezSummer's Almost Here-Is That Good Or Bad?0Nikki Ramirez15
Elly was in a particularly good mood as she entered the Cascade Hall. She had finally mastered the sticking spell that she had been working on, she had finished all of her homework, and it was another beautiful day. All in all, Elly felt that luck was on her side. Perhaps it was due to this that when Elly saw Nikki Ramirez sitting on her own, Elly decided to join her. Only twice had Elly really encountered Nikki before, and both occasions had encouraged Elly to keep her distance from the blonde Mexican (which is probably why they has only met twice).
It wasn’t that Nikki seemed particularly unpleasant, but during the first week at Sonora she had ignored Elly and Echo on their first meeting, and on their second meeting had starting yelling at Gil Idoya, who, as far as Elly could tell, was a genuinely nice person.
The worst that could happen was that Nikki would start yelling again and leave, which Elly didn’t think she would mind too much. She was friends with Caedence, after all, so was getting used to people yelling at her. With this in mind, Elly strolled up to Nikki, pausing just beside her.
“Hi, it’s Nikki, right?” Elly said to get her attention. When she was acknowledged, Elly smiled broadly. “Mind if I join you?” \n\n
0Elly ErikssonMostly bad, I think.92Elly Eriksson05
As she was thinking about what next year might bring, Nikki saw Elly Eriksson walking towards her. She didn'tt know why Elly had decidd to join her; they weren't really friends. Elly was in all of Nikki's classes, but the two hadn't talked much. Actually, the last time they had talked had been the time when Nikki had yelled at Gil in two different languages in front of the entire Cascade Hall.
'Hey it's Nikki right?' Elly asked. Nikki nodded. Even though they weren't friends, Nikki was happy to accept the Pecari's greeting. 'Mind if I join you?' Elly asked.
"No, go ahead," Nikki said gesturing to the seat beside her. "The boys aren't here." She laughed a little as she said it. The main reason she and Elly hadn't talked much was that Leo Idoya was Nikki's friend and had tormented Echo Elms, who was Elly's friend.
Nikki wondered how Elly would respond to her accent. She was sure Elly had heard her speaking in class, and perhaps some other times as well, but most people who weren't used to her accent were surprised by it. She couldn't count how many times people had asked her about it, mostly because of her appearence, which betrayed her heritage.
That was a downside to starting a new term at Sonora. The new first years would surely ask qustions about her accent.\n\n
Not trouble necessarily, though I do enjoy a bit of mischeif
by Elly
“No, go ahead,” Nikki said, which Elly accepted as an invitation to take the seat beside her. As Elly sat down, Nikki added, “The boys aren’t here.”
Elly joined in the laughter at this statement; it was true that the reason she hadn’t made friends with Nikki yet was most likely due to the girls’ respective friendships with Echo and Leo. Though as Nikki quite rightly said, the boys were not there right at that moment, which left Elly with the opportunity to get to know Nikki without interruption.
“Boys are more trouble than they’re worth,” Elly said, grinning broadly.
Elly believed in second chances, or even third chances if they were required. She was also a firm believer that you can’t get something for nothing, and was aware that sometimes friendships needed work. Perhaps she and Nikki had just gotten off on the wrong foot, and all they needed was some time to chat.
Elly poured herself some juice, being very careful not to spill any. After taking a sip, she turned to Nikki. “So how have you found your first year?” Elly asked. It seemed as good a conversation starter as any, and Elly was genuinely interested to discover whether all her fellow firsties had enjoyed starting Sonora as much as she had. \n\n
0EllyNot trouble necessarily, though I do enjoy a bit of mischeif0Elly05
Elly sat down next to Nikki and said 'Boys are more trouble than they're worth.' Nikki blushed at this statement. I was obviuos to everyone that spent time around Nikki and Leo that she liked the boy. Except perhaps Leo himself. However, Elly didn't seem to notice as she was concentrating on pouring herself some juice.
'So how have you found your first year?' Elly asked.
Nikki thought about everything that had happened at Sonora. Meeting Leo and Gil, the grandsons of Abuelo's former best friend. Coming to find the she had a crush on Leo, and then getting into that fight with him. The snowball fight in which Nikki and Gray had become good friends. It was also then that Nikki had met her favorite teacher, Professor Deck. The big crying episode in the library. The Quidditch match in which Gray had played Keeper and made that amazing save on Nikki's broom. All the interesting people she had met, even if she wasn't friends with them, including Caedence, Zack, Saul, Stephen, Eaven, and Paul. The yearbook project. And of course her classes.
"It's been very interesting." Nikki said "Not only was this my first year at Sonora, it was my first year in America. My dad said if I didn't like it I could go o Youmens next year, but it's been a lot of fun here and I'm going to come back next term. My mother will be happy. She's American. That's why, you know..." Nikki cut off and gestured to her head, indicating her blonde hair and fair skin. "So what about you, how was your first year?"\n\n
0NikkiNo Wonder You're Friends With Caedence0Nikki05
Nikki was silent for a short while, apparently in thought before she answered Elly’s question. “It’s been very interesting,” she said, which made Elly smile wider. ‘Interesting’ was definitely a suitable word for describing her experience of Sonora, too. Then Nikki said about it being her first year to America. Elly mentally latched onto that, as it was something the two girls had in common.
When Nikki returned the question to Elly, she began by addressing the America issues first.
“It’s my first year in America, too,” she said. Nikki had mentioned another school – Youmens – and explained her attending Sonora because of her mother’s nationality. Elly found herself wishing she knew why she was at Sonora, as opposed to any of the European magic schools. “I’m not sure how I ended up here, seeing as my parents are originally from Austria and I’ve lived in England my whole life.” She pondered this for a moment, but still unable to make much sense of it, quickly returned to Nikki’s question about how she’d found her first year.
“I like it here,” she said brightly. “I’ve just learned so much stuff, and met so many people. I’m not looking forward to going home. I mean, I want to see my Dad, but there’s not much else to look forward to.” Elly shrugged and took another sip of juice. “How about you? Are you looking forward to going back to Mexico?” \n\n
Caedence looked around the Cascade Hall nostalgically. This was one of the last times she would be in this place. She had to admit, she didn't want to go home. Home was where her stupid mother was, always messing everything up. Home was where her father was, always there to neglect and ignore her. And home was where she would have to harden her shell again.
She would never admit it out loud, but her favorite part of coming here was, in fact, losening up. Elly was the first person that she didn't have to wounder about her turning on her. And so Caedence tried with all her might, however angry she was, to solve things peacefully. She didn't want to upset her new friend.
As if materializing from her thoughts, the shock of orange hair caught her eye. Caedence had to grin. Elly was talking to that Mexican girl. Ricky? No...Nikki! Yes, that was it, Nikki. She stood back a few feet determining if this was the time to intrude. They seemed to be reminicing. Well, not a bad topic. Caedence shrugged and took a seat by her friend. "Hi Elly. Hi Nikki," she said trying out her smile. It felt akward on her face, but she enjoyed getting to use it. With a pang, she realised she couldn't for a few months before the new term. "Am I interupting? I can leave if you want. No problem." she added politely.\n\n
0Caedence RedoakI heard my name; mind if I join y'all?94Caedence Redoak05
Nikki listened as Elly told her about it being her first year in America as well. Too bad they hadn't really gotten a chance to become friends. They could have helped each other adjust. Then Elly asked if Nikki was looking forward to going home.
"Yes," Nikki answered, "I miss my parents and my brothers and my grandparents. We live on their farm. Julio, my brother, taught me some magic and he taught me how to fly; I think I miss him most. Or Abuela's salsa, it just may be the best in all of Mexico."
"So you live with your dad?" Nikki asked the other girl, remembering Elly had said she missed her father. But before Nikki got an answer, Caedence Redoak walked over to them. Nikki didn't know much more about Caedence than she did about Elly. She knew Caedence was a Pecari first year. She played Quidditch and got into fights. And for some reason, Caedence did not like baby chickens.
Caedence greeted the Nikki and Elly and asked 'Am I interrupting? I can leave if you want. No problem.'
"No, you're fine." Nikki replied. "We were just saying how much we like it here in America. And I for one think Sonora's a great school. What about you guys?" \n\n
Nikki said that she was looking forward to going back home, and Elly felt happy that Nikki was lucky enough to look forward both to school time and the holidays.
“So you live with your Dad?” Nikki asked. Elly opened her mouth to answer, but stopped when she noticed that Caedence had joined them.
“Hi, Caedence,” Elly said in return to her friend’s greeting. The level of politeness Caedence was demonstrating surprised Elly – perhaps someone had been rubbing off on her. She was pleased when Nikki invited Caedence to join them, partly because she enjoyed Caedence’s company and was more than happy to talk to her, and partly because she knew things could get uncomfortable if Nikki had turned Caedence away.
“We were just saying how much we like it here in America,” Nikki said. “And I for one think Sonora’s a great school. What about you guys?”
“I think it’s wicked,” Elly said enthusiastically. “I hope the summer goes quickly so I can come back and be a second year!” She grinned. Then, remembering Nikki’s earlier questions, said to her, “I live with both my parents, I’m just looking forward to seeing my Dad. I’m not fussed about my mum.” Elly said this breezily, so Nikki would know that there weren’t any underlying problems, even if the statement wasn’t completely true; Elly was fussed about her mother, and would almost certainly be upset if she ever lost her, but the misery would probably be quite short lived. \n\n
Thanks, I've been looking for a thread ^_^
by Caedence Redoak
Caedence smiled and sat down opposite them. Spying a bowl of potato chips, she dragged it over to them. "I like it here. Nice place to get away. Especially from the people in my town. This place is much better than my muggle school." she said when Elly had finished.
Caedence's pleasant look faded when Elly talked about her Dad. She quickly recovered, however. "I am opposite, really. I like my mum, but my father," she shrugged, which wasn't quite what she would have liked to say, "Let's say I'd rather if I didn't live with him." She gave the other two a raised-eybrowed look that said, 'and i wont elaborate!'
She fished around for something else to say. Oh yes, Elly had mentioned her excitement at being a second year. "It'll be nice not to be the last girl on the school's totem, huh? I'd just love to scare the little kids," she scowled at her chips, then turened to Elly and Nikki smirking, "Joking, joking!" she added hastily in case they missed the joke. "Honestly, Elly, though, I have been trying to control my temper, but it just seems to scare that Echo boy worse," Caedence shrugged, "Oh well, he's your friend."\n\n
0Caedence RedoakThanks, I've been looking for a thread ^_^94Caedence Redoak05