Open False Pretense

[Nixon Mercury]

Spending the afternoon and early evening walking through the school grounds, Nixon was so caught up in his mind and what would happen in the upcoming holidays that by the time he remembered the yule ball was due to begin, he was already late. A rush to his dorm and a quick change into the outfit he planned earlier in the week wasn't enough to make up for the lateness, though fortunately for him it wasn't a responsibility for the school yearbook he was late for but a date with Caro, and as he made his way down to the great hall he wasn't near as worried about the lost time as he would have been otherwise. He assumed as a friend Caro would forgive him, and understand how distracted and overwhelmed he was over his future even if he never intended to explain it to her. An excuse seemed enough to suffice instead, and as Nixon arrived to the hall, looking around for Caro, he rapidly tried to put an explanation together. Spotting her nearby, Nixon approached with a smile and jumped into apologizing. "Hey, I'm so sorry I'm late, I was taking photos around the castle and the lighting was so nice I lost track of time." He ran a hand through his hair, attempting to neaten it from where it fell out of place on the way to the hall. "But I'm here now, how do you want to start tonight? Should we dance or get some snacks, or something?" Having not experienced a yule ball without accio responsibilities for years, Nixon was at a loss of how to begin spending time with Caro, and was comfortable leaving the decision to her.​

 

[Caro Taylor]

Caro was struggling to pretend she wasn't nervous about tonight. A full year had passed now since she and Nixon had kissed at the last Yule Ball, and she was beginning to have doubts about his feelings for her. Caro had been so sure that he had a crush on her at first, but as time had gone on and on it was hard to stay certain that Nixon really felt the same way she did. How could he go so long without saying or doing anything if that was the case? Her encounter with Shane earlier in the school year had only made her more unsure - Shane made his interest in her so clear, and it had felt like flirting came so easily to him. It was exactly what Caro wanted from Nixon, and he wasn't giving it to her.

But now they were going to the Yule Ball together, and Caro's heart was fluttering all over again. Tonight would be different, she told herself. Tonight, everything was going to change. Nixon was finally, finally going to ask her to be his girlfriend, and Caro wouldn't have to worry anymore. She had dressed up nicely, and waited at the place they had planned to meet. And... waited, and waited, until it was beginning to feel as though he would never show up. Just as she was starting to feel the same sinking let down feeling that had become achingly familiar, just as she was considering simply leaving the ball, feeling stupid for showing up at all... Finally, Nixon arrived. Caro pulled herself together quickly, not wanting to seem weepy, and greeted him with a bright, beaming grin. "Hi! It's totally fine!" Caro smiled warmly, trying to remind herself how sweet it was when Nixon got all caught up in his photography. That dedication was something they could share, and one of her favourite daydreams about the two of them together involved travelling the world side by side, finding new sights to photograph together. She smiled at his question and quickly grabbed Nixon's hand, eager to make the most of the night. "Let's dance." Caro said quickly, pulling him towards the dancefloor. Dancing seemed like the best way to get closer, and Caro definitely wanted that right now.