June 1st - June 19th
It's almost summer! The last few weeks of school have come, and students will need to study hard for their final exams! Don't let up yet, or your grades won't be what you want them to. Of course, the weather is almost perfect and pristine, in attempts to lure students away from their studies.
Just wanted to make a note that this takes place during the Valentine's Ball.
IC:
It was a rare occasion when Devon wasn't mingling during a social. After all, Devon was the epitome of social and he always had a blast during those kinds of gatherings. He would go off and bug his brother or find someone else to bug or find a friend and make stupid bets and dares. And, on some occasions, he would actually find a member of the opposite gender to actually dance with or whatnot. After all, Devon was still a boy and he was still interested in girls -- he just did a better job of hiding it, not to mention he just wasn't afraid of females. Okay, so maybe he was afraid of Alex from time to time, but she didn't really count as a girl to him, especially after the whole fiasco with the bet Devon had with Tucker. After that, Devon vowed not to do anything that would confuse the two of them ever again. They established that they were just friends and it would remain as such until the day they died, which worked out for both of them just fine, because Alex now had a boyfriend and, surprisingly, Devon had found someone to aim his affections at as well.
Of course, unlike Alex and Jereff, Devon wasn't quite sure whether or not Lianne returned his feelings or even knew he had feelings for her. It wasn't as though he had been able to tell her. For one, she wasn't in his year or house and thus they didn't see each other too often, and then there was the fact that Devon was never really one to go up and say, "Hey! I like you!" He certainly seemed like the type, but Devon always liked to be unnecessarily extravagant. Of course, he hadn't seen an opportunity in this situation and really didn't have time to plan anything. He thought of maybe sending a Valentine to Lianne, but after a while that idea started to sound very tacky and the Hufflepuff decided against it. Besides, Lianne was older than him and for some reason, a Valentine seemed so... childish. While childish and Devon Singer did go together very well, Devon wanted to prove to other people and to Lianne that he could be mature on some occasions. It wasn't quite him, but he could do it. He didn't want her to think him a cute, little brother type because he acted like a kid.
But those thoughts didn't really get him anywhere. Devon tried talking to Lianne whenever he could, but for some reason, he could never get out the whole thing about him liking her. Typical. But he wanted to tell himself that he was making some sort of progress, for he was getting closer to her, wasn't he? That, at least, should have counted for something. At the rate he was going though, nothing would ever happen and Devon really wasn't the type to just wait and see. He liked to make things happens. He liked fireworks and explosions and loud noises. How he was to do such things was always simply a minor inconvenience for him, but at the momentt he wasn't even thinking about that.
So with all that was going through his mind, it wasn't too hard to believe that Devon was far too restless to be inside. He was far too restless for anything most of the time (or energetic, rather), but this time he was actually restless because of something, and there was just too much nervous energy in him to be able to stay in a confined area with other people. Which was why Devon was outside. He'd been fidgeting all night since he entered the ball and Ashton finally told him to get his arse out of the place before he accidently shot a spell at someone, so the younger Singer brother had taken his advice and gotten out of there. The cool air had calmed him slightly, and being able to dress down had helped considerably. Devon was dressed up for once, wearing a pair of black slacks, a pink dress shirt, a black tie with silver pinstripes, and a black blazer. His tie was loose and he'd thrown his blazer on a bench and had his shirt untucked. Devon wasn't really expecting to go back in.
Instead, he was standing the courtyard, hands in his pocket, looking up at the sky, grinding his teeth together anxiously. He needed to do something. He couldn't just stand there and do nothing. It was Valentine's Day, for God's sake! How could he just stand around and do nothing, especially when there was someone he'd rather spend his time with? But at the same time, Devon wondered what else he could do, aside from standing in the courtyard and hoping fate would be on his side.
Lianne had no idea why she had decided to come to the ball. She had no date and, like it or not, the Valentine’s Day Ball was more for couples and desperates. Other than her prefect duties which, thus far, hadn’t been required, she wasn’t exactly having a grand ol’ time. Puck was occupied, Tucker was there with Cory, and she wasn’t particularly in the mood to talk to anyone else. She had to admit, however, that she was starting to actually enjoy these chances to dress up. On a recent trip to Hogsmeade, she had managed to lay claim to a cloudy, sparkling blue dress that fell to mid-way below her knees. Added was a shimmering, midnight-blue shawl, silver strappy sandals – with only a slight heel, raising her to six feet – and some mascara.
She kept things simple with her hair, tying it back into an elegant ponytail with a scrunchie that matched her dress. All in all, she felt comfortable, and that was what she most cared about. She wished that she could find more enjoyment from the overall happiness of the celebrating couples, but she knew that she would find much more pleasure outside. Checking with one of her fellow prefects to let them know that she was leaving, Lianne made her way out of the Great Hall, away from the music, and into the peace and splendour of the night.
Smiling, she made herself adjust her ambitious stride so as to allow for her heels and a more leisurely stroll. She never took time just to look anymore, did she? She was always rushing from class to practice to homework. When did she give herself time to just be? She knew that there were reasons that she’d kept herself busy in the past few months, mainly regarding her brother and, more recently, her aunt, but it was time to take a breath. It was time to live again.
Slipping into the courtyard, Lianne halted. Someone was already there. About to leave as quietly as she had come, something stopped her. This wasn’t a stranger; she knew this thoughtful boy, staring up at the sky with his pink shirt untucked. A tiny smile grew on her face. Not many would be able to pull off the pink, she knew, but Devon managed to pull off many things. They seemed to be running into each other a lot lately, though they had never surpassed the norm in daily conversation. It sometimes felt like he was trying to get around to say something, but it made no sense. What would he have to tell her?
Pushing these thoughts aside, she came quietly up beside him and said, “Not contemplating mischief, are you?”
OOC: Man, how did I not realize how much I missed playing Lianne. O.o
In response to your PM (I thought it might be easier for me to just reply here, lol), I'm glad you like the subject line. It's from this song on the Veronica Mars soundtrack called "Momentary Thing" by the band Something Happens.
IC:
The night was strangely quiet and it felt even stranger that a place Devon Singer was occupying was just as quiet. Usually he'd be bouncing off the walls, going this way and that, making people laugh or get annoyed at him, whichever came first. But tonight he was more restless than energetic, and when he was restless, bouncing off the walls like he was on an eternal sugar high was not what happened. And this whole thing was just odd for Devon because he usually just hid behind his mask of happiness to cover everything up. It was a defense mechanism of the sort. Devon had a tendency to just shut all the bad things out of his life and pretend they weren't there, unlike his brother who seemed to vent this frustration and anger. But either way, he supposed it was his somewhat restraining family life that had to do with both his attitude and Ashton's. Of course, Devon was never one to lay the blame on things; he just liked to face whatever was coming at him at the moment. Or ignore it, as the case may be.
Today, Devon wasn't quite sure whether he'd ignore his problems for face them. He supposed it depended on the situation that arose. But he knew he'd have to do something eventually. He couldn't just sit around and wait for something to happen, because that wasn't how he functioned. When he wanted to express something, he did something about it, just as he had with Alex. He wanted her to forgive him and so he'd put his mind to it and set up a whole thing so that she'd forgive him. But this time? This time he wasn't sure what he should do. Surprising, but true.
But as if fate wanted him to step up and just take his shot, the boy heard footsteps behind him. He was about to turn around and see who it was when a voice reached him first. “Not contemplating mischief, are you?” Lianne said, and Devon felt his heart skip a beat. Or maybe he had the hiccups. But despite his anxiety, Devon grinned, sliding easily back into his usual little attitude. However grown up he tried to make himself, he was Peter Pan. He didn't grow up. He tried to make himself think as though he were older, but Devon could never stay in that mentality for long.
"Always," Devon replied with a laugh, running his hand through his messy hair as he turned around. But as his eyes landed on Lianne, his smile faltered for a moment. His hand dropped back down to his side as he looked at her in that beautiful dress and he felt like he would keel over and die. But Devon managed to remain somewhat calm as he grinned again, taking a step back as if to take her in. "And you're looking quite stunning tonight, I must say," he said, getting back into the groove and saving himself from awkwardly staring at her. He grinned the usual Devon grin before stepping forward again, this time a bit closer and taking her by the hand. Devon really needed to be a lot less hands on, or at least think before he acted. But that just wasn't him. "Now let's see the back too," he said as he twirled her once before releasing her again. He grinned at her.
"So," he started. Now's your chance!"What are you doing out here? No date tonight?" he asked casually, even though he supposed it was obvious that she didn't, seeing as she was out here by herself. But Devon needed to say something. He needed to keep talking in hopes the right words would eventually spill out of his mouth.
Re: Stirring Me Up [ ISO: Lianne ; 2/14/09 ]
Glad that she hadn’t surprised him too much, Lianne smiled in response to his grin and sheepish response of, “Always.” But then – was it just her, or did he seem caught off guard somehow? That didn’t make sense, Devon never really seemed to lose his cool from what little she knew of him. Wasn’t he usually rather suave? Of course, he had his childish moments as well; she’d had to deal with several of them over her past while as prefect. Not that he got into a terrible amount of trouble, of course, but Devon was definitely a mischief-maker. Sometimes she wished that she could be more like that, without feeling guilty, but it was hard. Of course, she had performed that rather sneaky manoeuvre with Mack Raelene in the Owlery … but that didn’t matter right now.
Instead, she quirked an eyebrow as he took a step back, grinned and appraised her. Had a boy ever looked at her like that before, like she was a treat to look at? She couldn’t remember. It was hard to keep her thoughts straight, what with that grin of his being so disarming. "And you're looking quite stunning tonight, I must say," he said, getting back into the groove and saving himself from awkwardly staring at her. The eyebrow lowered as he stepped forward again, this time a bit closer, and took her by the hand, taking her words right out of her mouth. Struggling to keep her clumsy tendencies under control, she thanked Merlin when she managed to twirl without a hint of some of her previous mishaps.
"Now let's see the back too," he said as he twirled her once before releasing her again.
“Like what you see, then?” Lianne said before she could bite her tongue. Abruptly, a flush spread across her cheeks, and she fervently hoped that he couldn’t see it. When in the world had she become so brazen? Where had that come from? Never mind that she had once worn a slightly scandalous outfit to gain Atticus’ attention … it hadn’t worked, had it?
"So," he started. "What are you doing out here? No date tonight?"
Finally. Something that she could respond to without sounding like a lunatic. “No date,” she affirmed, letting her shawl fall slightly looser on her shoulders; it wasn’t a terrible chilly night, after all. Besides, was it just her, or was the air getting slightly … warm? “I came because I already had the dress and I wanted a chance to wear it because … well, I don’t often get a chance to wear something like it, do I? I’m usually not in the mood. Besides, I’m a prefect, and generally we’re supposed to at least put in an appearance at these things.” She shrugged, looking up at the stars. They had always been a comfort to her. “If someone had asked me to dance, I probably would’ve stayed a bit longer, but no offers tonight.” Then she smiled and glanced askance at him. “I didn’t exactly stay long enough for anyone to ask me, though. Besides, it’s nicer out here. Less stuffy, I suppose.”
Lianne couldn’t ignore the fact that she was standing, alone, in a courtyard with a boy that she had been crushing on for the past few weeks. It had been a while since she’d felt like this; with Atticus, it had suddenly begun to feel rather hopeless, and with Tucker … well, things had moved much faster in that arena. Even so, she doubted that Devon, a boy a year younger and obviously of a different countenance than herself, would care to take up with the likes of her. But could anyone blame her for wanting someone to hold her hand? It had been how long exactly? If she didn’t count dances, then the last time would’ve been … Tucker. Possibly during their snogfest-breakup encounter … but, no, the last pleasurable experience was, again, with Tucker, but at the carnival last summer. She wished that she could bring up that day without bringing up bad memories with Tucker, because really, it had meant a lot to her. She never had, and likely never would, have a chance to say thank you without either spoiling his relationship with Cory or making him bitter once more.
“How about you? You’re usually making the rounds at these parties, aren’t you? But without the mistletoe this time,” she said, a contemplative look coming over her face.
Re: Stirring Me Up [ ISO: Lianne ; 2/14/09 ]
There had always been girls that caught his attention. Devon, being as effervescent as he was, always had his eyes darting from person to person. He was a teenage boy and it was only natural that there were girls that his eyes lingered on longer than others and girls that he couldn't help but smile at. But there were those girls, and then there were the girls that made the usually spunky and suave boy falter a bit. There hadn't been many, but there certainly had been a few. And for some reason, with those girls, Devon could never get out what he wanted to say. With other girls, he seemed to have no problem walking over, smiling, and doing something to catch their attention, but Lianne didn't quite fit in that category. She fit in the former, thus rendering Devon somewhat helpless. He knew he needed to just get out what he wanted to say, but it was as if every time he tried, his mouth would just clamp shut. It was rather inconvenient for the youngest Singer brother and rather frustrating as well.
But Devon was never one to just back away from a challenge. Determination was a trait of the Hufflepuffs and Devon definitely had it. One way or another, he eventually managed to say what he wanted to say. Of course, whether he succeeded or not was a completely different story. But perhaps that was why he always got so tongue-tied. While with other girls, Devon didn't mind rejection and didn't fear getting turned down, but with the select few, the fear was there. Devon did not want to get turned down. While he'd still manage to smile, shrug, and pretend everything was all right, it still was hard.
“Like what you see, then?” Devon, for a moment, was rendered speechless as the thoughts racing through his mind just came to a halt. It was like he couldn't comprehend what she was saying, but he managed to regain himself and grin. "How could I not, beautiful goddess?" he replied, trying to keep up his usual joking demeanor. He wasn't quite sure how he was doing, because frankly, he wasn't really joking. But he had to at least keep up the pretense until the right words came out of his mouth. Or until hell froze over.
But due to his own attempt to control himself, he missed the flush that came across Lianne's face. The boy was far too distracted at the moment and even though he still saw a hint of red on her cheeks, he didn't think much of it. His mind wasn't quite on what she was thinking but rather what he himself was doing. He was acting like a nutcase (more so than usual), and it wasn't quite him. He needed to jump off something or set off some fireworks or pull a prank on someone. That's what he'd wanted to do while he was inside, but it seemed all of his usual partners-in-crime were busy. They always did seem to pick the worst times to be occupied.
“No date,” Lianne affirmed, and Devon wanted to let out a sigh of relief. So far so good. Of course, then Lianne's shawl began to slide down a little and Devon's eyes couldn't help but follow. As soon as he noticed what he was doing, he snapped back to attention. “I came because I already had the dress and I wanted a chance to wear it because... well, I don’t often get a chance to wear something like it, do I? I’m usually not in the mood. Besides, I’m a prefect, and generally we’re supposed to at least put in an appearance at these things.” Devon wanted to say he was glad that she did come, but his throat seemed a little constricted a the moment. “If someone had asked me to dance, I probably would’ve stayed a bit longer, but no offers tonight.” Devon recalled the dance they shared at the Christmas Social. If he'd seen her at this ball, he certainly would have swooped in for a dance. “I didn’t exactly stay long enough for anyone to ask me, though. Besides, it’s nicer out here. Less stuffy, I suppose.”
Devon nodded. "Yeah. And it's not so cold that my eyelashes will freeze off anymore. Which is a plus," he said, trying to continue with his usual jokes. Once again, he was trying to hide himself behind the jokes and the smiles. But even if Devon noticed what he was doing, there was little chance he could stop himself. He was still a child at heart, despite his occasional teenage tendencies, and he just didn't think about his own actions. But perhaps that was why this was so important to him. Perhaps he needed a girl who would make him mature a little more. Devon had never had a lasting relationship and there really had been no one there for him to help him accept that bad things happen.
“How about you? You’re usually making the rounds at these parties, aren’t you? But without the mistletoe this time.”
The Hufflepuff laughed, sheepishly scracthing himself behind the head. "Yeah, I know... But, I guess," he rubbed the back of his neck, "I guess I've just got someone on my mind this time around." He grinned and gave a little shrug.
Re: Stirring Me Up [ ISO: Lianne ; 2/14/09 ]"How could I not, beautiful goddess?"
He was really laying it on thick, wasn’t he? Lianne was half of a mind to tell him to cut it out. Since there was no way that he could actually be serious, the only other possibility was that he was joking … and she had had enough of people making fun of her in the past few years. She thought she’d gotten away from all that. But Devon wouldn’t really be so cruel, would he? He had never teased her before. Why should he start now? Maybe he was just bored.
"Yeah. And it's not so cold that my eyelashes will freeze off anymore. Which is a plus,"
Lianne blinked, and all her reprimands flew out of her mind. A slow smile spread across her face. He hadn’t quite made her laugh, which she realized now was what he was likely trying to do. Devon was the class clown, and if he was bored and couldn’t make mischief – which he probably wouldn’t dare to do in front of an older Prefect – it followed logically that he would try and make people laugh. Of course, it had the added benefit of making people more comfortable. Had that been his intent all along? Just to make her smile? The implications of that sort of intent crossed her mind, but she shoved them aside. Just because she had a crush on the boy did not, in any way, mean that he returned her feelings.
"Yeah, I know... But, I guess," he rubbed the back of his neck, "I guess I've just got someone on my mind this time around."
The corners of her mouth curved further in response to this statement. She was right; he was a little off-balance, and now she knew the reason. It had to be someone fairly special, she knew, if they could distract Devon Singer. “Really,” she said, not noticing that the shawl fell from her shoulders down to her elbows, leaving her shoulders and upper back bare; after all, the back of the dress had only a few criss-crossing straps to distract from the skin underneath. She cocked her head and appraised him, a slight bit of mischief growing in her eyes. It was a side of her that had been developed over the past year, only slightly, but it was there.
“Why aren’t you with her then?” For a moment, she hated that she had put that thought in his head; she didn’t want him to leave. They were having a pleasant conversation in the moonlight on Valentine’s Day. Even if he did have feelings for someone else, she didn’t want this to end. Not yet. Her smile faltered, and Lianne glanced down at her hands, then back at Devon. “It’s the perfect night to … to tell someone how you feel.”
If only she could take her own advice, but even if she had the courage to do it in the first place, it wouldn’t do her any good now. Maybe it could help Devon. She only hoped that the girl in his fantasies returned his feelings. She didn’t want him to get hurt.
Re: Stirring Me Up [ ISO: Lianne ; 2/14/09 ]
Had Devon known that Lianne was thinking that he was being cruel, he would have stopped immediately. The boy was never one to do anything mean intentionally. His pranks and jokes were usually harmless and just a method to make people laugh. More than anything, Devon liked to make people laugh. He was a jokester, a clown. While he was horrible at emotions like sadness and anger, he fed off of happiness. The reason why he knew so many people was because of his undeniable charm and ability to make people smile, which he loved. If someone was feeling down, Devon wasn't the kind of person to offer advice or sit down with them and be a shoulder to cry on. Those kinds of roles made him uncomfortable and he didn't particularly enjoy being in those positions. What he did when people were feeling down was to run around doing stupid things so he could perhaps get a smile out of that person. That was what he did. Devon, for the most part, meant well and never wanted to hurt anyone.
Of course, he wasn't exactly paying much attention to the words that were spilling out of his mouth right now. He was a bit preoccupied with trying to keep his eyes off of the shawl that was slowly making its way off of Lianne's shoulders. He did pay attention to the small smile that was making its way onto the older girl's face though, which made his heart lift. Well, at least he was getting somewhere. Right now, things were feeling a bit awkward and Devon wanted to break the ice. And, of course, his method was to make the person laugh. But smiling was a start. But then, as Devon admitted that he had someone on his mind, he noticed her smile broaden. He wondered if she knew who he was talking about. Was there a chance that she, perhaps, shared his feelings?
“Really,” Lianne said, and Devon had to mentally scream at himself to keep his eyes on the girl's face. But he couldn't help but glance at her now fully revealed shoulders as his raging teenage hormones urged him to. He wanted to walk over and just run his hand along her skin, but he supposed that would be a bit too much. For once, Devon Singer would think about what he was doing before leaping into action. It was a hard concept for him, but right now, he really had to stick to it. “Why aren’t you with her then?” Perhaps she didn't know who he was talking about them. Devon wanted to tell Lianne that he was already with her, but his mouth seemed glued shut again. Damnit. “It’s the perfect night to … to tell someone how you feel.”
Devon looked at Lianne and blinked, frozen for a moment. She was right. It was Valentine's Day. It was a beautiful night. They were alone. It was the perfect moment. But could Devon handle it if she rejected him? He wasn't sure he could. But at the same time, Devon wasn't sure he could handle just standing around and letting her walk away. While he wasn't a Slytherin, he did like to occasionally get what he wasnted, especially when he really, really wanted it. And right now, he really really didn't want Lianne to just walk away from him. But what else could he do? What Lianne had said was good advice and Devon needed to take it. He supposed consequences didn't matter right now. He would just have to flat out and say it, even if he would live to regret it. But then again, Devon would probably regret not saying it at all. At least if he admitted it, he could say that he tried.
"You're probably right," Devon finally said. He had been fiddling around with his shirt as she was talking and finally noticed that he'd unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves. His mind seemed to have instinctively given his hands a task to do so he wouldn't reach out and touch Lianne. "Thanks for the advice." He gave the Gryffindor a smile and turned around, walking toward the bench he'd precariously thrown his blazer on. He paused in front of it, biting his lip for a moment. But then, instead of picking up the jacket, he leapt onto the bench and turned around. "I like you!" Devon announced loudly, his arms spread out, a little grin on his face. He stood like that for a moment, before shrugging and giving Lianne a winsome yet sheepish smile. His dropped his hands to his sides, but remained standing on the bench. He'd made his move. The next was Lianne's.
Re: Stirring Me Up [ ISO: Lianne ; 2/14/09 ]
Lianne watched him as he took in what she had said; she could practically see the wheels turning inside of his head, and she would give anything to delve beyond the mop on that silly boy’s head and into the inner workings of his mind to see who it was that was making him so awestruck. She forced a smile back on her face so that he would know that she supported him; they were, it seemed, becoming sort of friends. And if she couldn’t have his affections … well, she’d deal with it. She had with Atticus. It seemed that she was going to have to get used to the fact that boys just didn’t seem to like her as a girl, but rather as a playmate, a confidante, a study partner. There was nothing wrong with that. It was nice to be thought of in that way. But, God help her, she wanted more!
They both stood in silence for a few moments as he mulled over what she had said. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak. She held her breath. Would the magic end now, here? She noticed now that he had unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and rolled his sleeves up, and smiled in spite of herself. How could he be so sombre one minute, and then do something so … adorable the next?
"You're probably right,"
She let her breath out, and struggled to use the mask that had served her so well over the years. Lianne would smile, wish him luck and then go back to the Common Room. Suddenly cold, she adjusted the shawl until it fell over her shoulders once more and nodded to him as he thanked her and headed towards the bench, presumably to pick up the blazer that he had left there so carelessly. It would be terribly wrinkled tomorrow, unless he knew the right spell.
When he leapt up onto the bench and flung his arms wide, Lianne had no idea what he was doing … but what he said shocked her even more.
"I like you!"
Blinking, not smiling anymore, a blank look overcame her face. Had Devon Singer just LEAPT onto a bench, spread his wings like a gangly bird and announced to the world that he liked her? She, Lianne Apsey, the clumsy one, the crazy one, was the one whom he had been talking about and thinking about with such determination? The sudden movement of his arms falling to his side brought her back to the present, and she knew that she faced an interesting situation. One that she had never been in. Someone who she cared for, liked in the romantic sense of the word, shared her feelings and had just told her so. And was now standing there with a goofy grin on his face, waiting for her to say something. But for the first time in a while, she was speechless.
Trying to find a way to regain her composure, Lianne turned around briefly and pressed her face into her hands. Abruptly, a reckless grin burst forth on her face, and she surpressed a chuckle. Whirling around, she said to him, “Then I say why aren’t you down here, since it would seem that I -- I -- I like you too, very much!”
Still beaming, she offered a hand to him, ignoring the pesky shawl that fell to her elbows again.
Re: Stirring Me Up [ ISO: Lianne ; 2/14/09 ]
Most people might have felt a little odd standing up there on the bench, but strangely enough, being able to do something like this instead of having to seriously talk to Lianne about his feelings was so much more comfortable to Devon. First of all, it was difficult to drag him into a serious conversation, and he just really didn't work well when he had to keep a straight face. Everything was sort of a game to him and as long as people let him act like it was just a game, Devon was fine and comfortable. It was when people tried to sit him down and make him act civilized that Devon started to get twitchy and uncomfortable. It wasn't his terrain and he didn't like having to be completely stoic, because that wasn't him. So as he stood on that bench, looking at Lianne and waiting for her reaction, he felt strangely at ease. There was some anxiety, of course, but he felt so much less awkward that he would have if he'd told Lianne the same thing while standing on the ground in front of her. At least while he was up there, he could just smile and shrug if she rejected him.
No hard feelings.
But Devon still wanted her to say that she liked him, too, or at least that she was willing to give him a chance. He didn't want to be rejected. Even though he'd put himself in a position where he could play rejection off as though it were no big deal, it still mattered to him greatly. It wasn't as if just because he was more comfortable, he was that much okay with rejection, because he really wasn't. Everyone liked to succeed and Devon Singer was no different. He just had a funny way of showing it.
He had to admit though, his heart lept into his throat when Lianne suddenly turned around, hands in her face. Was that good? Was she trying to suppress a laugh of joy? Or was it bad? Did she not know how to tell him that she didn't think of him in that manner and was just biding her time? Would she run over and throw her arms around him? Or would she make a run for it without looking over her shoulder? There were so many things to consider and Devon did his best to just shove them down and leave his mind blank. He didn't want to set any expectations for anything. He didn't want to commit his mind to something just so he could be shot down. He wanted Lianne to turn around with a smile, but at the same time, Devon wasn't exactly arrogant and didn't think that Lianne would definitely do it. He had no way of knowing or controlling what went on in her mind. All he could do was hope things would go his way and she really did share the same feelings.
Lianne suddenly whirled around, and Devon couldn't help but mirror her reckless grin. “Then I say why aren’t you down here, since it would seem that I -- I -- I like you too, very much!”
Devon wanted to let out a sigh of relief, but he was too glad that things had gone his way to do so. He smiled down at Lianne as she offered his hand and without hesitation, took it in his. He jumped off the bench to stand in front of the older Gryffindor, but words escaped him for a moment. He promptly released Lianne's hand and gently took her shawl in his grasp, pulling it up and over her shoulders again. While Devon was teenage boy and didn't mind the shawl being down at her elbows, it wasn't as if the night was pleasantly warm. It was still technically the winter and British winter was nothing to joke about. While they wouldn't die just by standing outside, it was better that Lianne at least had something over her shoulders. But once his hands were on her shoulders, Devon really didn't seem to want to release them and looked at Lianne. He didn't say anything for a moment, but found himself feeling exceedingly awkward.
"Er... So now what?" he asked with a sheepish grin.
Re: Stirring Me Up [ ISO: Lianne ; 2/14/09 ]
Lianne knew that she was taking a huge leap of faith; even though Devon had just admitted that he liked her, there were so many things to think of. He could have been pulling a prank on her. He might’ve been positive that she wouldn’t return his feelings and so had said it in jest, knowing that there would be no harm done. But now … the ball was in his field. Whether or not he had expected her to say that she returned his feelings, Lianne had just set herself up to be hurt again.
She had lost so much these past months; two family members, one of which she had loved more than life itself. She still wasn’t completely over her brother. She never would be. Still, that didn’t mean that she had to put herself on hold. Tim would want her to take chances, to move on; she couldn’t help but feel that Tim would probably even approve of her relationship with Devon! From what Lianne knew of him, he was sweet, charming and occasionally reckless. He was nothing like Tucker or Atticus … in fact … in some ways, he really did remind her of her brother.
All in all, she had no idea why she had taken such a chance with Devon. This was all so new to her. If he really did like her, too, which it seemed he did, by the huge grin on his face, then she was about to re-enter the dating game. She hadn’t been a part of those shenanigans since her short-lived relationship with Tucker. Even then, she hadn’t been particularly aware of the rules. This would be an interesting experience, she realized, smiling at Devon as he took her hand and leaped off the bench to join her on the ground.
Neither of them knew what to say for a moment, it seemed, and she was undeniably touched by the sweet gesture he made next, moving her shawl back up onto her shoulders. Lianne noticed that he didn’t let go of her shoulders, and was glad of it. His hands were warm, and besides, the touch of a boy made one tingly in a way that nothing else could. She waited for him to make the next move, be it saying something or doing something. She really had no idea how any of this worked.
"Er... So now what?" he asked with a sheepish grin.
… and neither did he. The slight absurdity of the situation struck her and she raised her hand to her mouth briefly as a few chuckles escaped. Getting them under control, she shook her head – still smiling – and said to him, “You know, I have no clue. I’ve never weally –” Oh, dang it … she’d spent so much effort on trying to get that speech thing under control, and she’d thought she’d kicked it, but then it would have to come back in the worst of situations! Clearing her throat, she tried again, concentrating hard on making the words come out like she wanted them to.
“I’ve never really been in this situation before,” she said in a rush, her cheeks turning pink both from not knowing what to say and her slip-up. “I mean … I’ve never really had this go both ways,” she said, using her hands to illustrate her meaning. “I’m open to suggestions though.” Oh … oh … had she really just said that? How exactly was a boy like Devon likely to use a comment like that? Someone like Atticus would have – no, she wasn’t going to think about him.
What was she going to do if he tried to kiss her? It had been MONTHS since she’d kissed someone, and that had been a disaster.
I keep forgetting ezBoard ate my Devon profile. >___< He's about 5' 8", 5' 9" -ish.
ic:
Dating… Hm. Now this certainly was a bit new to Devon. It wasn’t as though he’d never dated anyone. He had. But those dates had never been really serious. Most of the dates had been with girls who’d thought he was a fun guy and just wanted to hang out with him or vice versa. Nothing ever became of those dates and there usually wasn’t a second date. Well, either that or Devon would ask a girl out and after the first date she would just think he was far too immature for his age. The Hufflepuff was aware that that could very well happen with Lianne, but for some reason he wasn’t worried. He had a feeling she accepted his slightly untraditional nature and the fact that he wasn’t, perhaps, as romantic and mature as some of the other boys at the school. But Devon’s heart was always in the right place and he was the kind of guy who would never intentionally hurt anyone. And when it came to girls, he wasn’t the kind of guy who just wanted to get into someone’s pants or wanted to get with they because they were good-looking. No, Devon’s childish nature somewhat went into affect in the dating business as well, for he tended to see a person in their entirety, not just their appearance.
Though, he was still a boy and appearance did help.
“You know, I have no clue. I’ve never weally –” Lianne suddenly paused. Had it not been for the pause, Devon probably wouldn’t have noticed the fact that she’d said ‘weally’ instead of ‘really,’ not that it mattered to him anyway. Lianne could have been speaking in another language for all he cared. That wouldn’t change the fact that he liked her for her. Of course, her speaking English was convenient in the sense that Devon really couldn’t understand any other language. “I’ve never really been in this situation before,” Lianne said quickly, trying to cover up her slip-up. Devon noticed her face was getting a little red, so he did what he could to make it seem as though he didn’t notice. After all, being oblivious was what he did best. “I mean … I’ve never really had this go both ways.” The Hufflepuff could tell she was nervous just by her demeanor and he watched with a bit of amusement as she used hand gestures to illustrate what she meant. But Devon supposed her anxiety was only natural. Strangely, for Devon, now that he’d gotten what he needed to say out, he was calm and relaxed. Now it was just a matter of details and whatnot and those could be dealt with eventually.
“I’m open to suggestions though.”
Now, had Devon been many other boy, he might had had less savory ideas pop into mind, but the Hufflepuff wasn’t the kind of boy whose mind immediately went to those kinds of things. No, he tended to think about what they could do to have a good time and be goofy and things like that. Sure, the thought of maybe a kiss passed through his head, but Devon was sure that a kiss was far too soon. While he may not have been a conventional male, he still had the thought that some girls didn’t like to rush into things and well, a kiss when they’d only just confessed their feelings was far too fast. Besides, why ruin a perfectly good moment by adding in a kiss? There was always awkwardness afterwards and, in Devon’s book, a serious kiss should be saved for the very end, that way the awkward silences could be avoided. Of course, if it was completely necessary, than a kiss was fine, but Devon didn’t quite see this as a “kiss” kind of a moment. It was more of a “do something to ease the tension” moment, and a kiss would not be quite successful in doing that.
But luckily, Devon was a boy whose mind worked in strange ways and it was for situations like this that he excelled in. So, with a grin on his face, he took his hands off of Lianne, took a small step backward before giving her a sweeping bow. He stayed bent over for a moment and turned his head up to look at the Gryffindor girl. He gave her another charming yet goofy smile before asking, “May I have this dance?” He was quite aware that there was no music outside and they were a bit far from the Great Hall to even faintly hear the music, but that didn’t matter to Devon. If necessary, he could make his own music. Even though he wasn’t the best singer or hummer, he could hum a tune. It wouldn’t sound great, but it would have some semblance to the actual song which, according to Devon, was all that one needed to dance to.
OOC: That’s so cute … because, even with short heels, she’s almost six feet tall! XD *adores the picture in her mind*
Lianne stopped herself from biting her lip as she waited for a response from him; once again, the ball was in his court. She’d passed all control over to him. Not that she wouldn’t step away from something if she felt like it, but still … this volley was going back and forth so quickly. Only moments ago, he had told her that he liked her and now, here he was, standing in front of her with his hands placed casually and gently on her shoulders, with both of them wondering what move to make next. It was all going so fast, that it was entirely confusing.
She’d never really been emotionally swept off her feet before – well, in a sad way, she had. Tim’s death had struck her entirely below the waist, and Lianne knew that she would always bear scars from that blow to her heart. She still had moments either in the middle of the night or between classes where the knowledge that he really was gone, never to speak to her again, where she had to step out of the flow and rest in a hidden nook of the castle. So far, she had never been discovered in one of her moments of weakness. If people knew that she still wasn’t completely over her brother’s death, they might start skirting around her again, and she couldn’t be a proper prefect if people stood there waiting for her to burst into tears.
No. No one knew but her, and that was the way it was going to be. Even Puck, the one best friend who was likely to understand … but Lianne refused to lay this on anybody. They might think that she needed help, when she didn’t. She would get over this in time, and by herself, with no help from anybody.
Jolting back to the present, Lianne felt the slight pressure on her shoulders release as Devon stepped back slightly and then gave her a gallant bow. Lianne smiled as he looked up at her from his bowed position, cocking her head slightly as she waited for him to speak. Even so, he would have to unleash one of those oh-so-charming-and-don’t-you-just-love-me smiles first, turning her brain to a pile of goo and leaving her to struggle for a few moments to comprehend what he said next. “May I have this dance?”
Still smiling, Lianne swept into a low curtsy and bowed her head briefly to him before straightening. “As you wish.” There was no music to guide their steps, since they were quite far from the Great Hall, but she had a feeling that they would manage all the same. She had had a wonderful teacher after all, and some practice over the past year or so. As a matter of fact, her last dance had been with Devon. This, for some reason, made her relax even more so than she already had; it felt as though they were simply continuing where they had left off, and didn’t make it seem like this was all scary and fresh.
Thinking quickly, Lianne tied a loose, simple knot in her sash so that she wouldn’t have to worry about it falling as they danced. She had a feeling that Devon wouldn’t appreciate the many opportunities it would give him to adjust it, though it did give them a chance to connect physically … though, since they would be dancing, that wouldn’t be necessary … well, of course touch would be necessary, but what she had meant was that an extra measure wouldn’t be necessary …
She was pulling herself around in circles, and he had already begun to make her head spin. They were in the middle of a beautiful evening, all alone, and they didn’t have to worry about making appearances or doing anything but having a good time. Keeping this in mind, Lianne watched him and waited for him to approach her.
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