Oliver Abbott
June 16, 2008 11:51 AM
Dilemma by Oliver Abbott
Only half-heartedly eating a ham and cheese sandwich, Oliver had devoted most of his attention to a letter his sister had sent him. Charlie sent him more letters than the rest of the family put together, but then she was the only other Abbott who hadn't outright denied being a witch or wizard. Oliver liked to think she might come to Sonora next year, but she seemed to be enjoying Muggle life so much that he was losing faith in the plan.Hey there Ollie Bear!
Oh how he loathed the nickname.
I got grade four ballet honors so now I'm top of my class again. Little point in it because the olds say I can't do pointe until I'm thirteen (get the pun? Haha). My life is so harsh. Anyway, how are you, crazy brother? I asked Julian if he wants to say hi and he swore at me. So that's his greeting. I do miss you, you know. Julian's being a total prat and Allison is over ALL the time. I'm going crazy.
Yeah, and speaking of Allison (or writing of her, if you're going to be pedantic, which I know you are) she's going to be staying with us while her olds are in Mexico or something so you get her pleasant company for a whole week, hahaha. Well, I do too, but I'll have Greg around (totally dumped Kevin, and I know you didn't like him but Greg is much nicer) so she's ALL YOURS!
Anyway, the olds have been having a spiv about picking you up from school so me and Uncle Ray will come. Can you get me some of that gum that changes color and sneak me some of that Devil's Snare stuff you mentioned? Kidding. Not about the gum.
Write me back! Kisses, Charlie xxx
Having read the letter once, Oliver finished his sandwich then read over it again. Charlie had another boyfriend? And Julian was still going out with that twit Allison? Sometimes Oliver wondered whether he was adopted.
Of course, his siblings having any kind of relationship simply underlined the fact that Oliver didn't. Now he would have to be the only peron over midterm who wasn't part of a couple. Fantastic. He'd toyed briefly with the idea of asking Hannah, but they still barely knew each other. Oliver liked her a great deal, but that made it even more imperative that she did NOT meet his family.
Reading a letter over for the third time, Oliver considered that he could just have a friend to stay. That would be better than facing the music alone, right? Or would it just emphasise the fact that he didn't have anyone other than friends to bring home?
Oliver let his head drop onto the table. Five minutes ago he was happy. Now he was miserable.
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Oliver Abbott
Dilemma
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Oliver Abbott
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Brett Hodges
June 19, 2008 5:33 PM
A walking ad, walking by... by Brett Hodges
Brett was passing by Oliver's table on his way to Irene's when he saw him flop over. The movement caught his eye more than the fact that it was Oliver, but he figured he needed a bit of cheering up."Yo, Oliver!" He called out as he passed, "Soccer tonight. You in?"
As far as Brett was concerned, these were magic words that would make anyone's day--or at least, they would make his day and might get Oliver's head off the table. And anyway, Oliver was a guy and so there was a definite need for him to be there just in case someone called for boys vs girls or shirts vs skins (which was the same thing). He didn't want him and Echo goin it alone.
"6:30. Gardens," he added loudly, walking backwards, as he started to pass out of speaking range. He noticed someone else at the table looking at him (who could ignore someone shouting about an impending soccer game?). He pointed at the other student and ordered, "You too. 6:30. Gardens. Be there. Bring Oliver." He gave them the thumbs up, nearly tripped over someone, and hussled over to his usual spot at the Pecari table.
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Brett Hodges
A walking ad, walking by...
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Brett Hodges
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Talitha Cumni
June 22, 2008 8:35 AM
Sitting and staying by Talitha Cumni
Talitha arrived late. Between homework and interviewing students and staff, plus writing four articles (possibly more) for the Aronos, she simply lost track of time. Her stomach growling very loudly as she pressed Professor Powell for her views about the practical jokes that were perpetrated during the Ball last year rudely reminded her that it was well past her usual time to eat. She saw Oliver nibbling on a sandwich and reading a letter. The letter seemed to upset him, because he didn’t seem to noticed as she sat down next to him and just plopped his head on the table. She peeked over at the letter, but couldn’t see much except it looked to be a child’s handwriting.Brett came over to announce to Oliver that there was a soccer match later in the Gardens. Talitha jumped guiltily. She shouldn’t have been poking about in her friend’s business. She didn’t realize that she had been staring at Brett until he bounced off and gave her a thumbs up, inviting her too and practically ordering her to make sure Oliver made it too. Oliver just sat there with his head down as if he didn’t hear at thing. Talitha frowned. An announcement of a soccer game should have made him stir. He liked to play soccer almost as much as he liked to play Quidditch if she remembered right. Something in that letter must have really brought him down.
Talitha waited a short time for Oliver to stir himself on his own but he didn’t move a muscle. Risking irritating him, Talitha took out her quill and turned it upside down. She drew the feather tip lightly along the back of his exposed neck. Even if he grouched at her for tickling him, it would be better than the dejected lump that sat next to her now.
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Talitha Cumni
Sitting and staying
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Talitha Cumni
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Oliver
June 26, 2008 11:59 AM
Glad for the company by Oliver
Brett passed by, hollering for people to join the next soccer game. Oliver raised his eyebrows and gruntd in acknowledgement, but neither were necessarily perceptible, seeing as he was still face-down on the table. He had every intention of going to the soccer game, and vaguely wondered who it was Brett had instructed to bring him along.This was soon answered. A tickling on Oliver's neck finally made him sit up so he could scratch it, and so he became in a position to see Talitha next to him, holding a quill and looking, in Oliver's opinion, rather sheepish. "You think you're cute, don't you?" he spoke as if irritated, but then relented - it wasn't Talitha's fault he was in a grump.
"Here," he said, sighing, and passed Charlie's letter to his friend. "My family writing to remind me I'm a social recluse." Strongly resisting the urge to drop his head again, Oliver rested his chin in his hands, with his elbows on the table, instead. "Actually, not even my whole family. Only Charlie ever writes to me."
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Oliver
Glad for the company
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Oliver
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Talitha
July 06, 2008 7:50 AM
Glad to be of service! by Talitha
"You think you're cute, don't you?"“I so know I am!” Talitha giggled. Oliver was in such a blue mood, Talitha wondered if it was possible to tease him out of it. He acted as though he’d sat in front of those ugly living rocks of Professor O’Leary’s for hours.
Oliver tossed the letter he was reading her way. The comment that only his sister wrote to him didn’t need a response. Talitha held her opinion of his family to herself. She thought it was a crime they didn’t celebrate Oliver’s magic or talents. She read over Charlie’s letter.
“So what if your not a social butterfly?” Talitha commented in defense of her friend. Teen romance rarely amounted to anything important anyway. Even if Oliver didn’t have a huge circle of friends, those he did have were loyal and fun. What more did he need? “You don’t have to have a girl friend over for the holidays just because your brother and sister happen to be attached. I’ll bet neither of those relationships last longer than a week past the new year.”
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Talitha
Glad to be of service!
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Talitha
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Oliver
July 06, 2008 8:49 AM
That's what friends are for by Oliver
Everything that Talitha said made sense, but it didn't really make Oliver feel any better. "Not the point is it?" he responded to the inevitably short-lived relationships his siblings had entered into. "I used to be popular, you know," he said, pulling a face but managing to rally his spirits enough to drop his arms back down by his sides and keep his head up of its own accord. "Julian and Charlie, they're still popular. If you weren't around, I'd probably spend all my time with Lutece." Oliver pulled the same face again. In his limited opinion, he and Lutece were probably the most unpopular people in the whole school (and in Lutece's case there was probably good reason for that)."I'm just kidding myself with Hannah," he said, talking about his crush for the first time with Talitha, but barely realising it was a new topic for them. "She's clever, and she's pretty, and she's popular, and I'm..." he sighed and trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.
"Anyway, even if I did invite someone back over midterm, chances are my family will over-react. A witch in the home? Yeah, that'll be a world of fun," he said sarcastically. "Maybe I should just stay at school over midterm? They'd hardly miss me," he added the last part in a sulky mumble.
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Oliver
That's what friends are for
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Oliver
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Talitha
July 06, 2008 6:05 PM
Any time by Talitha
“So, Hannah, who is cute and smart and popular only agreed to go to the ball with you cause you were ugly and dumb and I only choose losers for friends.” Talitha said, perhaps a bit more forcefully than she’d intended. She’d grown rather tired of people who she cared very deeply about not realizing how very cool they were in their own unique way. It seemed that only Elly truly had the self esteem to take on anything that life threw at her. Most of the time, Elly could make anything an adventure, her sense of fun shone through the gloomiest times.Adam and Oliver apparently had a few things in common. Both were interesting and smart. Neither boy was hard on the eyes. Both were talented and fun to be around on their good days. Today wasn’t one of Oliver’s good days. Today was one of those days when Talitha just wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him. She knew that even if she listed every single thing she saw in Oliver that was totally awesome, he wasn’t in the mood to receive it. He was having way too much fun throwing himself a little pity party.
“So what if a witch or wizard visited you?” Talitha said, still a little frustrated. “It’s not like we all haven’t play the ‘I’m just your average, everyday, ordinary kind of muggle,’ game before.”
"Maybe I should just stay at school over midterm? They'd hardly miss me,"
That was the clincher. Oliver was thinking about going to a home that didn’t value magic. She could understand his parents choosing to live and work with muggles. That was what happened on a larger scale in her community every day. What she couldn’t figure out was how in the world a couple of parents that had magic and sent their kid to a magic school couldn’t be totally proud of his accomplishments.
“You know what, Oliver?” Talitha snapped. “I’ve never heard you say one stupid thing until today. Of course they’d miss you, they’re your family. They may not understand you but I’ll bet they do… oh, I don’t know…love you. By the way, I’ll also bet you’ve never, ever had a real talk with your folks about how you feel. I think you’ve never told them about how you love this school or how proud you are that you’re a wizard or anything. You go home and pretend like you’re just the same as them and act like what you do here is no big deal, don’t you? Well, if you don’t act like you care, why should they? Maybe, just maybe, they want to listen but don’t know how to get you talking.”
Talitha was pretty sure she’d said way too much. She didn’t want to lose Oliver as a friend. She rested her chin on the heel of her hand and blew at her bangs in exasperation.
“Okay, shutting up now.”
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Talitha
Any time
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Talitha
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Oliver
July 07, 2008 7:11 AM
And back to normal by Oliver
The force behind Talitha's words was so strong that Oliver actually flinched. Then when he was done being shocked that she would talk to him like that (this was not the same person he knew in first year, he was almost sure), Oliver had the decency to look embarrassed. Yes he was miserable, but that certainly was no excuse to act like a total prat about everything."No, don't shut up," Oliver said sheepishly, much chastised. "You're right, I'm being an idiot." He sighed. Now he'd pulled Talitha's mood down, too. "Forgive me?" he tried a smile. Not convinced that would work, considering his behavior just now, he poked her gently in the ribs. "Forgive me and cheer up again or I'll keep poking," he warned, and poked her again to demonstrate his threat was not idle.
Once he'd managed to coax a smile out of Talitha, Oliver found himself in a far more reasonable mood. This was why Talitha was his best friend - she was just brilliant to be around, even capable of lifting him out of his worst slumps. That gave Oliver an idea - whether it was a good idea, he couldn't tell just yet. "Hey, um, I don't suppose you'd want to visit me over midterm, would you?" he asked. His expression was hopeful, but the tone of his voice betrayed his suspicions that it wasn't exactly an enticing invitation. "I can't promise not to be a loser," he admitted, "but I could try."
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Oliver
And back to normal
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Oliver
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Talitha
July 08, 2008 8:02 PM
Normal? What's that? by Talitha
Talitha flinched as Oliver poked her ribs, trying to hold on to her anger. It was a lsot cause. Soon, she was giggling and batting at his hand. It was good to have her friend back to normal.“That’d be great!” Talitha exclaimed at Oliver’s invitation. “Of course, it would have to be after Christmas day. But that leaves us almost two weeks.”
Talitha was really looking forward to the trip. She’d never been in that part of the country before. It would be a lot of fun to hang with Oliver without thinking about school and such. That’s when one big problem decided to raise its handsome head as the image of her father loomed.
“I don’t know if I can though.” Talitha chewed on her lower lip, thinking hard. “If I ask my folks together, Daddy is sure to say no without a second thought, you being a boy an all.”
She grabbed a potato chip from a communal bowl in the center of the table and nibbled on it thoughtfully.
“If I get Mother alone… and stress that you’re a friend friend not a boyfriend…. And tell her I’ll be bunking with your sister… she might agree to it and convince Daddy to go along. I mean it’s not as if we’re planning on a marathon game of Spin the Bottle.” Talitha began to see some hope in pulling off her plan. Given the right circumstances it just might work. Feeling better about everything, she raised an eyebrow in mock suspicion. “Or are we?”
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Talitha
Normal? What's that?
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Talitha
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Oliver
July 10, 2008 1:31 PM
*rumages for dictionary* by Oliver
To his delight and surprise, Talitha didn't flat out refuse his offer - in fact, she did the very opposite, even proclaiming it to be 'great'. Oliver had already begun to smile when she realized the one not-so-small flaw in their plan: getting permission.Although Oliver knew his family wouldn't be crazy about having Talitha to stay, they'd only have to meet her to love her. Oliver would emphasize that she wasn't one of those weiredly traditional pureblood types, and remind his parents that Julian and Charlie both had friends staying, and he knew they wouldn't turn him down.
Talitha' parents, on the other hand, sounded like they might need some convincing. "Oh," he said, his grin falling away to reveal an oddly pensive look. "Well, you probably would be sharing my sister's room," he confessed, at least adding some truth to the story Talitha might be telling her mother. "I would offer you one of the guest rooms" - a benefit of living in a hotel was the abundance of guest rooms - "but they're usually fully booked round the holidays."
"I mean it’s not as if we’re planning on a marathon game of Spin the Bottle," Talitha said. "Or are we?"
Oliver laughed, and hoped it didn't sound so nervous out loud as it did in his head. If he was being honest with himself, the thought of playing spin the bottle or some similarly event-inducing game had crossed his mind, but that was in his fantasy when he'd asked Hannah to come and stay, and she'd said yes, and he'd grown another six inches taller and gained an extra ounce or two of confidence. The image now in his head was a rather unwelcome vision of Talitha making out with Julian. That was not going to be an option.
"Well I can't deny that Charlie does tend to like party games," he said with an exaggerated sigh, "but my parents will be around to make sure they're on the level of musical chairs," he grinned.
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Oliver
*rumages for dictionary*
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Oliver
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5