And the year draws to a close (Tally, dear) on Cascade Hall

Mia Kerova

November 24, 2006 4:08 PM

And the year draws to a close (Tally, dear) by Mia Kerova

It was a weekend in June. So her fourth year at Sonora Academy was coming to an end. The usual summer anticipation feeling that occasionally got mixed up with hunger pains was settling in Mia’s stomach. She had the summer to look forward to even though she knew there would be a lot of preparations. One of her mother’s letters told her that she wouldn’t bother Mia with wedding stuffs until she got home for the summer, but she’d keep her informed. Lyn told her to focus on schoolwork, getting healthy, and her new boyfriend. Mia couldn’t help but blush when she read that. Her mother just had to add that. But even with the break from wedding plans while at school, she had a feeling there would be a big pile up of things to do when she returned home and Lyn would show no mercy.

Mia walked toward Cascade Hall in her shorts, tee shirt and sandals, (she was slowly but surely getting over the self-conscious thing) feeling comfortable in the warmth of the summer. She’d take heat over cold any day. With her weak immune system, something the doctor seemed to feel a need to emphasize well after Mia got the point, winter meant lots of being sick. She stopped by Tavarius Mims’ portrait to check the house points once more. Pecari was leading the points making her grin. She looked at the man in the portrait and gave him a friendly smile before going inside Cascade Hall. She knew he was peeved, but that was just too bad. Pecari was going to win again and she thought they deserved to win after the Quidditch finals.

Mia started for her table like she normally did, but spotted Tally at another. She smiled and half jogged over, sliding into the seat next to her friend. She felt like she hadn’t spoken to her all year. If she could talk to anyone about anything at Sonora, it was Tally. She remembered what she considered to be when they first really became close friends. It was the start of second year when she told her about being an empath and they made a pact to be there if either one was bored or something bad was happening. Yeah, it was a little corny maybe, but she didn’t forget. They shook on it.

“Tally!" Mia exclaimed as she turned to sit right on the bench. "I feel like I haven’t spoken to you in forever.” Yes, they had spoken. You can’t not speak to your best friend, but it wasn’t nearly enough for her liking. They had a lot to catch up on and there was no time like the present.

"Can you believe we're almost through with our fourth year here? Crazy." she said, smiling. She was sure it was the summer air giving her the ecstatic feeling in her. That and the wedding coming up and having a boyfriend all mixed together. With all the downs she had, it was still a good year.

OOC: I'm sorry. I know there isn’t a lot of time left and I blame myself for my terrible time management, but I really did want to get this thread up. I have time to answer because there's still three days left to my holiday weekend and I've filled my schoolwork quota for the day. ^_~\n\n

0 Mia Kerova And the year draws to a close (Tally, dear) 0 Mia Kerova 1 5

Tally

November 24, 2006 10:53 PM

About time, I say by Tally

Tally had spent the last few days getting used to the fact that winning a Championship did little for gaining house points. All the happiness from winning the game had long washed away when she realized they had come in last place for the House Cup. It annoyed her to no end that no matter how good, or nice, or whatever it was that the teachers were looking for in their students, the Teppenpaws just weren't good enough. It was frustrating. Add to the fact that everyone's moods were in full mode, and Tally wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.

She sat at her usual table, hunched over and eating her food in a slow manner. Her long brown hair covered her face, in her attempts to shut out the people around her. Tally wore a tanktop and a skirt to keep herself cool. It may have only been in the 80s, but Tally was from NY and 80 degree weather was her summer. Her flipflops flapped against her foot as she shook her leg in agitation.

Her summer was going to be as bland as the last. She didn't look forward to seeing the neighborhood kids because she was always the butt of their jokes or was something they bet on. And her dad and brother would work themselves to the bone again and leave her and Angel all alone. She didn't even want to think about how much older Angel was starting to look and Tally feared for her while everyone was away. Not to mention the fact that she would have to go back to her counselor. That thought drew a heavy sigh from her.

Tally!

Tally jumped visibly in her seat and turned to find Mia sitting next to her. "Oh, I didn't see you sit, Mia, sorry." Tally said, giving Mia an awkward smile. Tally didn't really feel comfortable around Mia since the girl had started dating Stephen. It wasn't to say that she didn't think they were a cute couple or anything, but...the idea of two of her friends in that way, didn't sit well with Tally. Especially if it didn't end up working between the two of them. Not that she said any of this to Mia because that would just be cruel. Grin and bear it rule applied for this situation.

"It's hard to believe that in a couple of years will be leaving here for good. Scary really." Tally said, almost sounding sad, but at the same time, she couldn't wait to leave and really start her life. "Any plans for the summer?" Tally asked, deciding to keep the subject on neutral topics for the time being.\n\n

0 Tally About time, I say 0 Tally 0 5

Mia

November 25, 2006 12:54 AM

Not a good year? by Mia

Mia held in her laugh when Tally jumped. She realized she didn’t look too cheery to start. She couldn’t think why, unless it had to do with the point competition. It couldn’t be because of the Quidditch Championship that her team won. Mia didn’t pay attention to how many points the other houses ended up with. She just found Pecari’s score and checked to see if it was higher than the others. She made a mental note to recheck the scores on the way out because now she was curious.

Mia nodded in agreement at Tally’s first comment. It was a little scary, thinking about leaving school and going out into a world she only found out existed four years ago. Unless she stayed in the muggle world, but she didn’t know what she was going to do yet. She didn’t think she needed to decide on that just yet though. It was like asking her muggle friends to decide exactly what college they would go to when they were only in their freshman year of high school, where she would be if she had stayed in Jersey.

“I have a feeling I’m going to be really busy this summer and not the good kind of busy.” Mia took the glass in front of her and poured herself a glass of water. “My mom is getting remarried in April and she’s planning her own wedding this time around so she’s been sending me letters keeping me informed on how she wants everything and what needs to be done when I get home. They were very long letters.” She took a drink and put the cold glass back on the table where she could rest her wrist against it. According to Jill it was supposed to keep you cool. It couldn’t hurt to try. “She’s normally much more laid back than she’s been since meeting this guy, but we’re pretty sure she’ll fall back into the regular swing of things after the wedding.”

“What about you? Are you doing anything for summer break?”\n\n

0 Mia Not a good year? 0 Mia 0 5

Tally

November 25, 2006 1:33 AM

Never is, lately. by Tally

Tally listened quietly as Mia spoke about her summer break. She pushed her food back and forth on her plate as she listened, no longer having much of an appetite. It was getting harder for her every year to get control of herself when emotions were running high. End of the year...emotions were at their highest. She wasn't looking for the start of term either...it meant anxious firsties and excited older students.

The talk of Mia's mother's wedding made Tally grin. It seemed like it was such a rush. One minute, Mia's father was gone and then suddenly her mother had a new beau and a ring on her finger. Not that Tally could really say much. Her mother had been dead for...eleven years, nearly twelve, and her father had yet to move on. It was sweet, but at the same time, Tally believed he was truly lonely.

"Um, no, not really." Tally said, her voice sounding slightly detached. "Dad will be off on assignments for most of the summer and Josh moved out of the house recently to live with a few friends from the Ministry. So, it'll just be me and Angel again. And, like always, I'll be the 'weirdo girl' on the block and everyone will spred rumors of me and point and whisper whenever I go by and Bobby Johnson try to shove his tongue down my throat again. Yeah, not the best sort of summer planned, I'd say." Tally said, sighing against and resting her head in her free hand. "Oh well, I guess."\n\n

0 Tally Never is, lately. 0 Tally 0 5

Mia

November 25, 2006 9:09 AM

Well maybe we could fix that by Mia

Mia fidgeted with her cloth headband as Tally started talking about her not so great sounding summer. She mentioned her brother moving out of the house leaving just her and her house elf Angel.

“My oldest brother is planning on moving out too.” She told her. “Or so he says. He has his eye on a few apartments in New Jersey and some in New York City. He’s considering the ones in New York more. He’s always loved the city. I just like the M&M store in Time Square.” Mia joked and grinned.

When Tally continued, Mia did a pretty good job of keeping her face even. Mia thought she felt a little guilty before, now it was definite. She’d rather listen to her slightly off kilter mother most of the summer than have people think she was the ‘weird girl’ and spread rumors about her or have some creep trying to ‘shove his tongue down her throat’ as she so eloquently put it. Mia, having grown up as the mostly quiet girl at school, didn’t make a ton of friends so there weren’t so many people to think her absence from school was strange. And she felt lucky for the friends she had who didn’t care as much.

“Well, if you want we could do something this summer. If I’m not as busy as my mom made it seem, we could hang out. In fact, a break would probably be good for my psyche.” Mia laughed, but any good vibes weren’t penetrating some invisible brick wall between her and Tally. Mia did frown a little.

“Tally, are you okay?” She asked frankly. Tally sounded slightly more cynical than normal and it was making her worry.\n\n

0 Mia Well maybe we could fix that 0 Mia 0 5

Tally

November 25, 2006 2:48 PM

It's doubtful by Tally

"This city is rather nice." Tally agreed. She had been to the city on a few occasions when her father had had enough time to spend with his daughter or when Chrissy's mother found it fit to act like Tally's mother and had dragged her all over the place while Chrissy had been staying with her Uncle down in DC. Though Tally appreciated Helen's efforts, Tally would have rather been with her father or Josh.

Tally still wondered when the precise moment was in her life when she was no longer just 'one of the guys' but the 'weirdo girl'. Suddenly the people she had relied on through most of her adolescents were treating her as if she was an Martian from outer space. They'd snicker and point or just to be all cool and strut around her. It was annoying. It didn't help matters that her father would insist on her going to see the doctor and the doctor would say such actions is all about growing up but that she would need to focus and control her abilities and Tally will get upset and tell him to shove off as she did every year.

It was a vicious cycle and Tally wanted nothing to do with it any longer. It was during those times when she hated her mother the most. Hated her for giving her this horrible curse. Hated her for dying and leaving them behind. It was the kind of hate where Tally found herself hating herself worse than she already did.

"No, that's alright. Your mom will need you this summer, so it's best not to leave her lest she have a breakdown or something." Tally said when Mia offered to hang out during the vacation. "Tell her congratulations for me, though, alright?" Tally said, giving Mia another semi-forced smile.

"Hm?" Tally murmured, looking back at Mia and away from her food. "Yeah, I'm fine. School's almost over and everyone is on overload. It gets hard to concentrate sometimes and I get worn out fairly quickly. Sorry, I don't mean to be a downer or anything." Tally said, waving her hand and giving in to a chuckle.\n\n

0 Tally It's doubtful 0 Tally 0 5

Mia

November 25, 2006 5:16 PM

But not impossible by Mia

Mia was a little sad to hear Tally turn down her offer to hang out this summer, but she had a point. Mia had a feeling (her mother would call it women’s intuition and tell her to never ignore it) that she’d be really busy this summer anyway. But she would have a few scattered days off. Her mother probably still wouldn’t want her to go far just in case something came up that she might’ve missed. How she might miss something, was a strange thought. Her mother was very thorough with her planning. As she mentioned before, the letters she received were very long.

“I’ll tell her. Y’know, with all the stress she’s giving herself, she might just have a breakdown no matter where I am. I’ll try to get an owl over to you though if I can’t stop by.”

Tally told her she was fine, but Mia didn’t believe it for a second. She looked pretty drained and it sounded like her empath powers were the trouble. Mia still thought having powers like that was cool, but apparently Tally still thought of it as a curse. Even knowing how it affected her friend, it was hard not to be excited by the start and end of the school year. Mia made another mental note to check herself from time to time.

“Don’t worry about it.” Mia shook her head when Tally apologized. “Everyone has off days every now and then.” She took another drink from her glass and rested her wrist by it again. “Your gift has been bugging you a lot?” She asked a little quieter even though anyone around wasn’t likely to understand what she was talking about. Mia refused to think of it as a curse even if it wasn’t her power to judge. But if Tally kept calling it a curse, she’d never think of it as any good and either way, as far as Mia could tell, she was stuck with it her entire life. \n\n

0 Mia But not impossible 0 Mia 0 5

Tally

November 26, 2006 11:32 AM

I'm not Superman by Tally

Tally smiled. Owls were always a good thing to get during the summers. She usually only ever got them from Chrissy, so getting them from anyone else made Tally feel as though she might actually have friends. Well, she knew she had friends, but apparently summers were the time to not talk to friends, or so it felt like that. "Owls would be good. Maybe next summer you can come visit me. I'll be turning sixteen then, which means, I'll be getting my permit." Tally said and smiled brightly at the thought.

At Mia's question, Tally gave her a quick dark look. Mia knew that Tally didn't see this as any sort of 'gift' but Mia seemed to insist upon calling it that. If she had to deal with trying to decipher what were her own feelings to those who were surrounding her. Or was always being bombarded by foreign emotions that had nothing to do with her, Mia wouldn't call it a 'gift' either.

"Yeah, it comes and goes. Usually I'm fine. It only gets real bad when large groups of people are feeling the same thing at the same time." Tally explained, her eyes glancing around the hall for a moment before coming to rest on Mia. "No plans this summer with Stephen then?" Tally asked, her voice sounding bored, thankful that it hadn't betrayed her for this conversation.\n\n

0 Tally I'm not Superman 0 Tally 0 5

Mia

December 10, 2006 8:29 PM

Super<i>woman</i> maybe? by Mia

OOC: Sorry for taking so long. RL hit pretty hard.

BIC: Mia nodded when Tally mentioned getting her permit. Mia hadn’t stopped to think about a lot of things her muggle friends would be doing while she away. Things that included driving. She felt very out of the loop sometimes. She had an unnerving feeling that she was going to have to pick one world or the other at some point in the future. Keeping up with the muggle world and the magic world was a mess for her. It would be just as hard to just leave one all together though.

“I completely forgot about getting my permit. I’ll see about visiting next summer, but owls I can definitely do.” Tally mentioning her birthday made Mia remember they both had summer birthdays. “That’s right. We’re both summer babies, aren’t we? We’ll have to exchange gifts.” Mia smiled.

Mia took a quick interest in her charm bracelet when she saw the look Tally gave her after mentioning her ‘gift.’ After explaining, she was quick to change the subject. Mia wouldn’t stay on it if she didn’t want to talk about it. There was no point in irritating her any further. She hadn’t meant to in the first place.

"No plans this summer with Stephen then?"

“As of right now? No. But that’s something else I need to do if I find a free moment this summer. You were probably right about my mom needing me home though.” Mia said, “I think we’re stuck with just phone calls and owls.”

Mia sighed with a shrug and put her elbows on the table, resting her chin on the back of her hands. After thinking about it for a little bit, she realized she was likely to be as busy as her mother made her seem. She was still looking forward to the wedding, but she was very much look forward to after the wedding too when things would be normal again. But she smiled, not letting one little thing get her down. She turned back to Tally.

“But it’s alright. I might just need a small break from Stephen too. It’s almost like babysitting sometimes.” Mia joked with a laugh.\n\n

0 Mia Super<i>woman</i> maybe? 0 Mia 0 5