Caught up

[Analei Westwick]

Analei still had a massive crush on Simon. There was no helping it. He hadn't approached her after the rose she had sent him the previous year, which gobsmacked her. Analei spent months wondering what on earth was wrong with him, before she figured that perhaps he was shy? The fact that he hadn't approached her, didn't put her off. Instead, she had hope that it meant there was a chance, maybe he did fancy her too, he just didn't know how to talk to her. After all, her poem could have been intimidating. But Analei had waited long enough, and after talking at Arvel about what she was going to say, she waited outside the Great Hall, hoping to grab him before he went in for his meal. When she saw him coming, Analei took a deep breath, gathering her nerves, and walked towards him. "Hey, Simon. Can I talk to you for a second?"

 

[Simon Vanity]

Simon had put to the back of his mind the odd rose and poem he had gotten during the last rose giving. He hadn’t particularly remembered who Analei was until he’d remembered their interaction and it hadn’t been the other girl he’d thought had been her. It had been odd, but she was the year below him, and give his family he had almost expected something of the sort to happen at some point, so he’d thought nothing of it. He had put so much out of his mind he barely thought of the poem, the rose or her really. He had put it entirely out of his mind. He was heading into the great hall, Simon had a good number of plans for this semester, primarily to balance studies and everything else just that little bit better than he had in the past few years, focusing solely upon exams wasn’t always the best thing, and he did enjoy the interactions with others and knew he didn’t get nearly enough of it. He was broken out of his thoughts as someone called for him, he turned around and looked at the girl, ”Oh hey Sam! Sure, I’ve got a minute,” he greeted with a smile, this had to be the girl he practiced dueling with, there was no doubt in his mind otherwise.​

 

[Analei Westwick]

Analei's eyebrows furrowed for a second. "Sam?" She repeated, confused. It then dawned on her. She had a doppleganger. Simon knew Sam? Why did he choose her name to say first instead of hers? Surely she had made a bigger impression on him than Sam had? What - what if he thought Sam had sent the poem, and had sought her out instead of Analei? This was all wrong! "No, I'm Analei." She replied, shook. Analei took a deep breath, focusing herself. Self control, right? This was no time to get emotional. "I - I sent you a rose. And a poem. Last year. I just - did - you get it?" She had this so perfectly planned before! Why was she stumbling now?!

 

[Simon Vanity]

Simon could figure that from her reaction to the name that he called her that he had perhaps not been overly right about it. Oh so this was Analei, he was right in thinking that as the girl then told him as much. He remembered Analei, how could he really forget. The girl’s rose and poem, both slightly odd things, ”Oh Analei yeah, from Halloween,” he said with a friendly smile. However he wasn’t sure what to say about the note and the rose, he scratched the back of his head in a nervous manner, he wasn’t sure what to say about them. He didn’t particularly want to hurt her feelings but Simon didn’t like lying, ”I did get them yeah,” the boy said, ”The poem was a bit weird,” he put it rather bluntly, ”I appreciate the thought, but it could’ve done without the the poem,” Simon was friendly enough with her in his tone but he felt it was important to press that it had been an odd thing. He hadn’t known her well enough or liked her all that much really. ”It was really weird,” Simon added as the more he remembered it the weirder it felt to him.​

 

[Charlotte Harper]

Charlotte was all ready for the new year. She was ready to be the best again after her closure of everything and being sad and all about not having Matthew around her. And her father being a liar, and having a half sister who was the worst ever. Charlotte was back on track and she wanted everything what she desired. And so she walked proud inside the castle with her head into the air and feeling like the queen of everything. She walked through the entrance hall on her way to the library where she needed to study. When she walked into a familliar redhead which made her smile. He always had such a effect on her and she actually missed hanging out with him. Their competitions were fun and she was sure Simon had won all of the last times. Since her grades were really bad and she could really cry about that. But she wanted to forget all that was now in the past, except that she still wanted revange on Odette. When she got closer to Simon she noticed a younger girl and heard her saying something about a rose and poem. When she heard Simon saying it was really weird Charlotte smiled for a moment. Simon was really blunt and Charlotte liked it. He just said what he wanted and she admired that. There weren't many people like that. When she walked closer she coughed a bit dramatic and smiled towards both in her own way, when she saw them looking at her.
'' Hi Simon! And girl..'' She said talking to Simon and uninterested in the other girl. Charlotte hated it when Simon talked to other girls. That was why she hated Alexis so much, she was always interrupting them. '' What was really weird you were saying?'' Charlotte asked a bit loud. She had heard it loud and clear when she just arrived here but she enjoyed hearing him say again. She was curious what Simon would do.

.

 

[Analei Westwick]

Analei smiled when Simon remembered her from Halloween. They had both won something in the costume contest that year, she definitely thought it was something that would bring them closer. However, as he continued talking, Analei felt her heart leap into her throat. He thought it was weird? "Oh - I, um..." This was not how it was supposed to go! Before she could continue, another, older and much prettier girl joined them. Analei felt her cheeks flush as she asked what was weird. Analei hadn't minded that much that it wasn't a secret about how she felt about Simon, as she was sure it would make him want to seek her out and woo her, but now that he thought she was weird? No, there was no way anyone was allowed to know. "Nothing. We're just talking - do you mind just giving us - just one more second?" Analei asked the girl, hoping that she'd leave so Analei could figure out if it were just the poem that was weird or if he just in general didn't like her. Her heart was pounding, and she was sure she was bright red.

 

[Simon Vanity]

Simon had a small sorry expression on his face as the girl seemed to not find the words that could explain her side of it. He looked at Charlotte with a warm expression, though rolling his eyes a little at her and what she said. He liked Charlotte a lot, maybe he liked her a little more than he ever attempt to let on to her. At least not yet. He looked at Analei as she asked for a moment with him alone, and Simon wasn’t sure which he would rather. He didn’t mind what Charlotte heard but he didn’t particularly want to hurt Analei’s feelings, ”She sent me a rose with a note last semester,” Simon told Charlotte, it was not in fact a lie he was saying to Charlotte, but merely the extension of the truth.He didn’t want to embarrass Analei by saying what it was, but he wouldn’t step away with her either, he’d rather spend the time with Charlotte. But of course it wasn’t polite she’d asked to speak to him specifically and alone. He glanced at Charlotte thinking about the request, ”I’d rather Charlotte stayed,” he told Analei with a little shrug, ”She’s tends to get jealous of the other girl’s I speak to,” he looked at charlotte with a smirk knowing that it was true, but also he didn’t object to it. He liked the competitiveness it brought out in her and he was more than willing to be along for that ride. He glanced back towards Analei and let his expression soften more, ”Analei, you seem lovely, but I don’t like you in that way,” He though he might as well rip off the bandaid quickly.​

 

[Charlotte Harper]

Charlotte enjoyed this way more than she thought she would. Seeing Simon like this and getting what she wanted felt nice. But she didn't expected this today. But just walking around the castle on your way to something was more interesting that she ever thought. Perhaps she needed to do that more often. When the girl started to speak instead of Simon she raised her eyebrow. What was the girl thinking? That she would just go away or something. She could walk and stand wherever she wanted and Charlotte grinned for a moment. This was just ridiculous. But also amusing since the girl didn't want Simon to explain the situation it seemed. But they didn't knew that she was eavesdropping all longer. But playing dumb was sometimes just a good thing. Her mother often said she could earn an oscar. Charlotte was already as young child smart in getting what she wanted. When she didn't got the toy she wanted she started to cry dramaticly and in the end she always got what she wanted.

Charlotte wanted to react but Simon explained it after. That girl had send him a rose. Did she put her name underneath it the blonde asked herself. Than the blonde looked over to the younger girl. Charlotte smiled for a moment. '' How cute..'' The blonde said and didn't ment a word of it. When Simon said he wanted her to stay the blonde just felt very happy. He wanted her to stay, ofcourse he did. But Charlotte thought it was just fun to hear. She wasn't gonna go anywhere. '' I wasn't planning on going anywhere.'' She said towards Simon. She exchanged a look with Simon and thought it was funny, he felt akward for sure about this crush the girl seemed to have on him. ''Perhaps you just need some advice from a person like me. You see because that rose and all didn't seem to work, so you just need help. There is nothing wrong with that. '' Charlotte said towards the girl and perhaps she could gain something out of this she started to realise. The girl was now vulnerable so if she let her believe she wanted to help her, and saw how close she was to Simon she could win something out of this. But when Simon added that she would be jealous the blonde rolled her eyes towards him. That smirk was just enough to make her feel irritated. But this was their game, they were mean to eachother but they both liked that sometimes. Charlotte grinned and looked at the girl and than to Simon. '' He is full of crap. So be happy that he doesn't like you. He has a big imagination. But he can dream right?'' Charlotte didn't want to admit it, because Simon actually had a point. She hated it when he talked to other girls. But he didn't had to know. Simon could think all that he wanted, but this game wasn't done yet. And there could be only one winner and that would be Charlotte Harper.

 

[Analei Westwick]

Analei's eyes widened as Simon spoke. When he just openly told this older girl what she had done. Was this seriously happening? Everything was falling apart. Analei's mouth grew dry as the Slytherin girl that Simon called Charlotte mentioned she wasn't going to go anywhere, that Simon would prefer she stayed. Could the ground just open up, and please swallow her whole? Lightning strike her down? A mandrake scream in her ears? Anything would be better than what she was experiencing right now. Simon didn't like her.
The boy she had been crushing on, didn't like her. The one she had spent sleepless nights thinking of, the one who's name she had written on all her notes. Simon didn't like her. She barely registered what the other girl was saying as she felt her heart beating faster. She didn't quite know what she was feeling - sad, angry, insecure even? One thing was for sure - she needed to be anywhere but here. "Uh huh, sure okay. Well - goodbye then." Analei managed to say, before rushing away, her eyebrows furrowed but she didn't dare let any tears fall through.

 

[Simon Vanity]

Simon wasn’t entirely positive he had made the right decision when it came to this situation with Charlotte, but he didn’t know how comfortable he felt around Analei if her emotions were so strong, he didn’t think it was that humiliating, to him, telling the honest truth without sugarcoating it was always best, and Charlotte wasn’t really the best person to have in this conversation but Simon liked Charlotte, he trusted Charlotte. He did roll his eyes at her and her reaction. Watching a little more for Analei’s reaction, hoping that perhaps the harshness would stop anything more from happening, maybe stop any more roses and notes from arriving on his plate, ”I’m sorry Analei,” he called after her as the girl walked away. He looked at Charlotte, ”Was that mean?” he asked her with a slightly concerned tone, he wanted to be clear and he wasn’t the type to not be blunt but it felt more mean than he had perhaps wanted it to be. He knew that involving Charlotte would’ve given it that meaner edge but it had all been for the best. He liked Charlotte more than he liked Analei, he hadn’t known Analei. He barely remembered who she was. Simon chuckled nervously, ”That wasn’t too harsh, right?” he was looking charlotte for assurance but assumed she’d likely be as harsh with him as he’d been with Analei.​

 

[Charlotte Harper]

Charlotte saw how Analei left. Well that was quickly. Charlotte didn't really knew what she would be getting in to when she walked here but she felt some irritation when Simon talked to others. Especially girls. Charlotte just wanted his attention and they played a game together. Not someone else. And she needed Simon to be focused. Because when he wasn't he was easy to defeat. The blonde saw how Simon apologized to Analei. But that didn't really came through with the Hufflepuff girl it seemed. Charlotte raised her eyebrow and thought it was rude that the girl didn't responded at all to her. Than Simon asked if it was mean what he did. The blonde started to grin for a moment.
'' It was mean of her to not respond to me.'' Ofcourse she didn't ment a word of what she was saying but the girl didn't need to know that. '' And no. You could lie to her to make her feel better. And than let her fall later. That would be way meaner. But this was just straight and clear. I prefer the first one though'' The blonde than said. She grinned for a moment, not sure how Simon would respond to this. But come on it was just like a game. Simon really seem to think of the girl. He was friendly but also blunt in some ways. Charlotte liked that about him.

She wanted to feel irritated by him and she felt like that often, but he was also a person that she wanted to be with. She never had that before. Charlotte couldn't even speak of the word friend. She never had one or knew when someone was your friend. She mostly just saw people as minions or who she could use for something. Charlotte couldn't help it. Her father did that often too. And he was still her big example. Still after what he had done to the family. And it seemed that her mother could forgive her father too. Only Matthew seem to be the stubborn one. And Charlotte had a feeling he wanted to reach out to Odette. The fact already made her sick. '' Simon don't worry about that silly girl. She was stalking you. And it's creepy.'' Charlotte than said short. He just needed to hear this. It irritated her as well.

 

[Simon Vanity]

Simon didn’t feel particularly good about what he had said to Analei but he felt like he had to agree with Charlotte’s near reassurances about it. If he hadn’t now, it might’ve continued which would’ve just made her feel worse about it. He didn’t particularly enjoy it, or enjoy the attention, but if the girl hadn’t let it rest then he would’ve had to say it all eventually at the very least it was done and dusted and he wouldn’t have to worry about her feelings continuing, he was sure that he had dashed all hopes of that. Letting it not get any worse was the better thing to do. It would allow things to settle for them both and let the girl move on to someone who actually liked her back. He just didn’t like her like that. Maybe he liked Charlotte like that but he was no willing to admit it. He nodded as she spoke, ”As always Charlotte you are right, it doesn’t stop me feeling bad about it, but you are still right about it,” the boy shrugged at her, a little smirk appearing on his features as he spoke. Of course he didn’t often tell Charlotte that she was right, but they were in competition most of the time, this was probably one of the first times that they weren’t fighting each other. He nodded in agreement, ”It was creepy wasn’t it,” the boy agreed, he knew that Analei was probably harmless but it hadn’t helped him when actually dealing with it. But of course that didn’t matter now, it was over, ”Do you want to get some breakfast Charlotte? My treat for all your help,” it was a pointless statement neither of them could buy breakfast it was a free thing as part of the school, but he could at least offer to sit with her and pour the juice for her. He was sure that that would be something that she liked. It would maybe be of interest to her, and a nice gesture for what she had done for him. ​