Ghosts Are Supposed To Be Dead.

[Maia Purdue]

Maia was on her way home. She had left the shop in the care of her assistants, and she knew it was in safe hands. She had been called to the office for a "Model emergency." their new testing model hadn't shown up for work, as their sister was getting married, and Maia had gotten the pleasant job of placating Ms. Elizabeth Wang-which wasn't easy. She found it hard trying to juggle two jobs, and build up her acting career again, but she knew it was necessary, it was her way back.

She took out her phone, she had only bought it recently, and she liked it-already she had over a hundred songs downloaded. She sent a short text to one of her assistants, telling them she would close up, and they could go home early today. She liked working as a team, and communication was the key. Stuffing her phone back in the large bag, she looked into the glass window of a shop nearby, there looked to be a good selection of heels-and she hadn't seen them before-perhaps a new designer? She would mention them to Ms. Wang in the morning.

Maia played with her hair as she walked on from the shop, smiling at passer-bys. She was, for the first time in a long time-very happy. She had a good job, and things were going well. She avoided cracks in the stones, thinking back over the last few months-things had been very quiet socially, and usually Maia didn't like the quiet life, but she had enjoyed being on her own. however, at the moment she found she was restless, that she really wanted something to happen, something amazing and wonderful, but she knew that was just wishful thinking, nothing was going to happen, she was going to continue succeeding in her work and she would have an successful career-what else could she need?

Too much else, that was the answer. She wasn't happy just being a work-oriented person. She had no friends here, she'd met people she liked, but I guess they knew she wasn't being herself all the time. She looked up into the sky, that was one thing she really liked about New Zealand-the sky was eternally blue, but at night it was so dark that she felt as if it could swallow her-it was intoxicating. The only person she'd met whom she hadn't gotten along with was a wannabe dark wizard who had used the cruciatus curse on her, otherwise-the people were great. Welcoming and helpful. She even liked Ms. Wang-as hard to please as she was, she was honest and said what she thought.

As she was walking along, the laces on her heeled, ankle-boots came undone. Maia leaned down to the ground, tying them quickly, the same way she had since she was siz years old. Maia thought about this as she did up her laces, there wasn't a day went by where she didn't think about her home-She missed England, and her family-her and her mother still talked every evening. She paused for a moment before straightening up again, smiling at the memory of when her Mum had first taught her how to knot them together.

 

[Taylor Hirst]

Taylor had arrived in New Zealand no more than an hour ago. He had just finished the last leg of the long journey for people from London coming to New Zealand. It was always a long flight but the stopover in Singapore was always welcomed to him and the people travelling. Taylor, of course, was used to it by now, having travelled most of his life jet lag was like nothing to him and being a pilot for just under a year specialising in long haul journeys it had become second nature to him. While his Co-Pilot and the Stewards and Stewardesses from the flight all got in taxi’s to go to this hotels to sleep off the flight Taylor found a secluded area and apparated off to his apartment just outside of Obsidian. Arriving he noticed it was just as he had left it and that was over a month ago now. With his job meaning he had to travel a lot he found that he had a number of flights like this scattered over the world that allowed him to rest in the comfort of his own home when away from home. While he liked staying in the luxurious hotels that his airline paid for him and his colleagues to stay in, Taylor preferred the simple things like his own bed at night after travelling for long hours. Once arriving at the flight he got a quick shower and put on a clean outfit so he could head out to town and just relax. Sitting on the plane for those many hours in one go sure made a guy stiff and cramped up so the first thing he had to do was go out for a jog so loosen up and unwind. Taylor had a week of rest before he had to go back on the long haul flight back home and he planned on making the most of it. He was looking forward to getting back home because it was his turn to have Jessica for the week and it had been too long since he had seen her. Taylor still couldn’t believe that he was 20, nearly 21 and a divorced man with an almost 2 year old daughter. He knew that it had been a rollercoaster of a time for him to get to where he was now but he wouldn’t change any of it because he loved Jessica too much. Although if he could change one thing it would be to have no let Maia go and erase everything he had said and done. He would think about that every so often but have to remember that he had to give up on it, no one had seen Maia since the day she left but he couldn’t help but think about her; she was his first love and no matter what he had never stopped loving her.

Putting his earphones in his ears he left his flat and started on his jog down his path and eventually into Obsidian Harbour. He forgot that it was still the winter holidays and the students hadn’t gone back to school yet so the Harbour was slightly more crowded than usual. After doing a lap around the harbour he stopped to rest for a few minutes to take in the view of the lake; it was such a lovely view. Next to his actual home he had counted New Zealand as his home, despite having a number of residences all over the world he held New Zealand close to his heart and just loved it. Feeling his stomach rumble he decided to walk into the main part of the town and get something to eat, not feeling like shopping and cooking for himself tonight. As he walked through Obsidian he took to looking in on the shop windows as he walked by them. Not looking where he was going Taylor didn’t notice the young woman who had stopped in the middle of the street to do up her shoes. “Oh I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there.” he quickly apologised as he walked into the woman, thankfully she hadn’t fallen over because that was just a hassle he didn’t want to deal with on his first day off!

 

[Maia Purdue]

She sat there, and contemplated. Every now and then, Maia just stood back, and looked over her life, and herself. Was the way she lived life making her happy? Strangely, she found the answer was No. She looked back over other times she thought about her life like this, and realised every other time-it was a yes. What was different now?
She didn't notice as someone knocked into her. She stood up and brushed down her clothes, this was one of her favourite outfits, it was feminine, yet comfortable and it was very fashionable-even Ms. Wang had complemented her on it.

Finding that her clothes were fine, she smiled, and pushed the hair out of her face. "Oh, it's fine, no harm no foul." she smiled, breezily, finally looking up at the stranger.
She froze, her voice stuck in her throat, blood pounding in her ears. Run Maia, run her brain screamed, but her feet were stuck to the ground, she tried to look away, but her gaze was stuck on his face. His face. It hadn't changed, not in all this time. She thought she'd escaped him. She tossed her hair, looking at the ground, not sure what to say. Did he recognise her? Did he even remember her? Of course he remembered her, it hadn't been that long-had it?

Her brain was addled, her mind flashed back to the last time she had seen him. She had been a mess, and he was a married man. Her eyes flashed with anger, but calming her composure she looked up, after a few seconds, seconds that felt like a lifetime and smiled. "Hello Taylor-Long time no see." her smile was friendly, and her face was bright, but her eyes were wary, why was he here? She prayed that he wouldn't stay, that he would just walk back out of her life, the same way he had walked in. She tried to keep walking, but her feet were stuck to the ground. Why couldn't she leave? Why was her heart beating faster? Why, Why, Why? She had so many questions. Questions for herself, questions for her heart.

She looked over him in a glance, that was barely noticeable. He seemed to be doing well. As tall and handsome as ever. His dark eyes were the same, and the basic structure of his face, but his hair had changed, and he seemed older. She tried to remember his daughter's name. Think back Maia, what was written on the picture? her face showed no sign of the inner struggle and within moments she had the answer. "How's Jessica?" she asked, casually, pretending not to care. If Taylor were the same man, he'd know why she was asking. She was reminding him of what had happened, why they couldn't talk like old friends, the reason why-as soon as she could-she would walk away and hopefully never see him again. "What age is she now? Two? Three?" she asked, twisting the knife she had stabbed him with. By now her voice was cold and emotionless. She never could hide herself from Taylor, even when she still loved him.

 

[Taylor Hirst]

Taylor stood still for a few moments to be sure that the woman was alright before moving on and continuing with his day as he had planned. He didn’t really look at the woman as she composed herself and checked over her outfit it seemed, he inwardly rolled his eyes at woman, always making sure that they were perfect. Whatever happened to woman just being themselves and never having to worry how they looked around people? He didn’t mind of course but it was a typical thing for a man to think so he pushed it out of his head as he was sure that he was being silly now. As she woman straightened herself up he watched her as she seemed fine, she was able to stand so that was good. As she spoke Taylor nodded his head in recognition that she was alright but then he froze as the voice that was once so familiar to him filled his ears. It couldn’t be?! he thought to himself as the woman turned to show her face – it was! Taylor could never forget that face that frequently filled his dreams. Of course his dreams didn’t do her any justice, her face was even more beautiful that he remembered but of course he didn’t expect any less. To him Maia was the most beautiful girl in the world and he was such a stupid man forever doing anything to let her go. He regretted it every day when he woke up without Maia beside him and out of his life completely. He looked down at her face, taking in every aspect of it, he had missed seeing it and he didn’t know when he would ever see it again so he wanted to remember it now. “Maia!” he breathed out, not able to say anything else almost. “Yes, it’s..it’s..um...been too long.” he stammered out, it had been far too long for him. Then again Taylor had thought the first few days after his last day at Hogwarts was too long to go without seeing Maia, he had learned to deal to with it but it was more by force than by wanting too. He never wanted to forget Maia and he never did but he knew that he had hurt her too much to ever think he would see her again so he had to learn to deal with it because for him, that was his life from that day on. Of course it had changed and it had been the happiest day in his life when he saw her again and when she took him back; just for it too all crumble down around him again.

He wondered how long it would be for everything to crumble down around him this time as Maia now knew why he had left her that day without any explanation. How’s Jessica? Initially Taylor was very confused by this comment. He was almost 100% positive that Maia didn’t care about his daughter then he felt as though he had been kicked in the gut. Of course she was reminding him about their past and how things ended with them and despite her friend-like questions it was never going to be like with them again, he knew that this was the case and it killed him all over again. “She’s good. Um...two in a few months.” he answered her questions, knowing that she probably didn’t even care but did it anyway. “How are you?” he asked with sincerity in his voice. He really did care how she was, no one had heard from her in so long, even Taylor’s sister – Megan – who had been best friends with Maia since as long as he could remember.

 

[Maia Purdue]

Maia was in shock, and for once she didn't hide her expression. She was like a deer in headlights, unsure of herself, scared. As bad as circumstances were, she couldn't help, but notice how little he had changed, he looked just as she remembered him, the same man she'd fallen in love with. That;s why it was so hard to act distant now, when she would've felt more at home hugging him and taking him by the hand. "Yeah, I kind of planned it that way-it helps when you're disappearing off the face of the earth." she replied, jokingly, she had wanted it to be a long time, she'd wanted it to be forever, but obviously-it hadn't turned out that way. She scrutinised his face, searching, hoping to see some redeeming factor. The problem was, it was so hard to read, but he didn't look like a bad person, just someone who had followed the wrong path. Still, that didn't calm the fire in Maia's stomach.

Something in her couldn't help, but wonder what Jessica looked like. She loved children, and she found she couldn't hate a child, for their parent's crime. did she have Taylor's eyes? Or did she favour her mother? These questions leapt to her tongue, but she couldn't voice them-it felt to personal, too open. "She must be adorable." she said warmly. Children always were-there was a type of perfection in toddlers-their innocence. It was a sincere, simply beauty, something that took your breath away every time you saw it. I was good to know, that the girl was doing well, she was the only reason Maia had left. She could've waited out a divorce, she could've stayed. She knew, that if it hadn't been for the child, she'd have come back to Taylor-eventually, but she couldn't do that, to a young child-she couldn't be the woman who took her Daddy away. How's your wife? she wanted to ask, but he'd think it was a dig, a secret part of her hoped that it hadn't last, but she knew it wasn't good of her to think like that-she wasn't a home-wrecker, anything, but that.

"I'm fine thanks." she replied, coolly. She didn't know how to act around him, what had once been so natural was now so strained. "I love it here, the weather, the lifestyle-it really suits me, and work is good too." she added, with more sincerity. He did want things to be good for her, it was written on his face. Taylor had never really been able to hold a grudge. "How about you?" she asked, interested, what was the point in being angry with him. Hadn't she fallen for him, just as readily as he had fallen for her? She hadn't asked any questions, didn't ask why he'd left her the first time. He wasn't wholly at fault, no matter how much Maia wished he was. She couldn't fool herself anymore, she had been more alive than she had been for a long time, when she was with Taylor, and though she could only remember it, with a bitter-sweet smile on her face and she knew that it had been a mistake, the timing had been wrong-that was for sure, but she had known that she loved Taylor, and she was as much to blame as he was. Still, she found she couldn't trust people as easily. Now she knew that people had ulterior motives, that they did what they did, because they wanted things their way. She still didn't know why Taylor had done it-and that was what scared her. What if he had never loved her at all?

 

[Taylor Hirst]

As much as Taylor had hoped and dreamed that he would get the opportunity to meet Maia again and maybe ever get to explain what had happened and tell her his side of what had happened so she would know the whole story. While he didn’t expect Maia to listen to him if he did get to talk to her again let alone care about what he had to say or even forgive him once everything was explained a part of him had a glimmer of hope; this was too much of a coincidence to be true. The only problem was, no matter how much Taylor had hoped and dreamed about this moment he hadn’t planned out what he was going to say to her so as he stood there in front of her, looking into her eyes, her lovely eyes. He had always loved looking into her eyes for hours on end, be it when they were cuddled together on the couch or talking or just being with each other. Her eyes were so lovely and he could easily get lost in them again if he wasn’t aware of his surroundings and the situation that they were currently in. As he looked into her eyes he was trying to read them, normally able to read Maia like a book; it was never a problem to him! Although right now he couldn’t quite read her, he could clearly see her unease at the situation but that he expected, there was something else there that he couldn’t quite read but for some reason it didn’t bother him that much, it almost made him feel somewhat more relaxed. He frowned noticeably when Maia said that she had planned it to be a long time between the two seeing each other again. It hurt him to know that she had planned to practically disappear off the face of the Earth and it was all because of him and what subsequently was just a stupid drunken night with his friends and a night that he had always regretted. Sure he loved Jessica and didn’t ultimately regret having her but loosing Maia was the worst thing to happen him. “Oh!” he muttered in a down heartened sigh. He wanted to say something more but the only thing that he could think to say would just bring up too many bad memories that he didn’t want to resurface so soon after seeing Maia again. He would ask her why she dropped off the face of the Earth, or wanted too but he knew that it would be a stupid question, he knew why, it was because of him and all the stupid things he had done in the past.

He was surprised that she had asked about Jessica, even more so that she remembered her name after only reading it that one time although he didn’t know just how many times she had read over it. He may be young but Maia commented on how adorable she must be his fatherly side came through and it showed. For being young he was a father and a proud one at that, he didn’t know how people that were in his situation and had children young after a one nights stand didn’t want anything to do with the children. Jessica was his one ray of sunshine in his otherwise dull life and without her he didn’t know where he would be right now. It was that young girl that pulled him out of his depression after Maia had left and helped him get back on to the road of recovery after his fall into alcohol and everything sort of in between; it was really a darker time for him that he was glad was now behind him. “She really is! She’s starting to develop a lot of her features, blonde curls, bright blue eyes, just like her m...” he cut off, realising he was about to say that she had a few features like her mother when he didn’t want to bring Kimber up around Maia. Taylor nodded softly, glad that Maia was doing well for herself and seemed happy and content. “I suppose you’re pretty famous around here by now then.” he said, knowing that Maia always wanted to be an actress and a singer and he always had the best faith in her and knew she could do whatever she set her mind too. “I’m doing good! Got my Pilot’s license finally so I travel a lot but I like it that way, keeping myself busy.” he told her. He preferred to keep busy and didn’t have much of a personal life, for a 20 year old he didn’t he didn’t have much of a social life and didn’t mind it that way.

 

[Maia Purdue]

Maias's face dropped as Taylor answered her, with a disappointed "Oh"-she hadn't meant to upset him, she'd wanted to lighten the mood, not darken it. "I was just joking." she said hurriedly, what she had said had been mostly true, but she had meant it as a joke. She had disappeared, and her life had fallen apart-she hadn't dated sicne, she hadn't done anything since, except focus on work, she loved the shop, and the magazine, but acting was her love, and yes-she'd gotten a good few parts in some plays lately, but nothing big-she wasn't ready for that yet. A few months ago-she'd been spotted as a singer, and now she was acting again, but she didn't want to get into any big, broadway things, like before-she had wanted to take some time, to just be Maia again. If felt so strange, being here, with Taylor, and not knowing what to say-when before, they could talk for hours on end, and never get bored. She paused as she saw him watching her-reading her face. She used to be so open, and now, hard as she tried, she couldn't close herself off, like she did with everyone else-it would've seemed strange, closing herself from Taylor, someone who knew her as she had been, but did he still know her-or had she changed too much? She hoped not, and she didn't know why she even hoped that, but part of her didn't want him to see her differently, she didn't want to be cold, and distant, she just found it hard to be anything else. She hadn't always been like this, she'd started out confident and loving, but she had changed, and as hard as she tried not to, she couldn't change that. She doubted anything could change that any more.

She smiled as his enthusiasm about his daughter, she imagined what she looked like a thousand times, now she knew-She took after her mother. she bit her lip as Taylor stopped abruptly. "She sounds like a little angel." she covered quickly-it was so weird, it was like there was a big elephant in the room, a barrier that had never been there before-neither of them was prepared to broach the subject, to talk about her-his wife, if would be too easy for Maia to get angry, and she didn't want that, and she didn't want to get upset either-she just wasn't sure why. Did she not want to show weakness? Or did she just not want Taylor to see her like that? She didn't even know his wife's name, it hadn't been on the picture, but she remembered what she looked like-a gorgeous blonde, much better looking that she was, no wonder Taylor had married her. "Nah, I'm in a few plays, here and there, but I mainly work in my shop, and at the magazine-witch's runway." she replied, she did miss the big-budget productions she used to be in, but she didn't want Taylor to know that-he'd probably feel guilty, and she didn't want to take him on a guilt trip, not now-she'd already made her point with her first question, there was no need to hurt him. "I like it though, especially when kids from Hogwarts are at the shop-the first years are so nervous, and the clothes at the magazine are to die for." she smiled, she did like being around kids, they were so innocent, and happy, and though the magazine was challenging-she'd never thought an assistants job could be so hard-she did like it, it was a stepping stone. "That's great!" she exclaimed, beaming-he had wanted a license for a long time, and it was good to know he'd gotten it. She envyed his travel though-he was lucky to see so much of the world.

 

[Taylor Hirst]

Taylor couldn’t blame Maia for wanting to practically drop off the face of the Earth. After everything that he had said about her after she left he felt that it probably would have been the best idea. The things he said about her, none of them true whatsoever, probably would have made her want to drop off the face of the Earth and not have to face anyone she knew. Taylor had after all pretty much embarrassed her and would have made her life a living hell if she had stayed in England. He even made her own friends turn against her so he wasn’t surprised that she wanted to get away from it all and where was better than New Zealand? It was easily far enough away from everything and everyone and allowed her to start a new. He felt incredibly bad for everything that had happened and what he had done to her and he had erased it all as soon as he cam; sure people hated him but he felt it was good punishment for what he had done to her. Although when Maia said that she had been joking he widened his dark eyes with mild surprise. “Well I wouldn’t have blamed you.” he said with a somewhat solemn voice. Even though when he had practically gotten an opening to help lighten the already tense mood between them – although it had already been formed so he didn’t know if he would have been able to salvage it or not. “Sorry, that was uncalled for.” he said as he thought back on what he said. He should have taken the chance to help lighten the mood because it just wasn’t fun dragging up the past...especially when it was as vibrant as their past; and not in the good way. It was really a stupid move on Taylor’s behalf actually. Here he was, talking to Maia, the only woman that he had ever loved and she hadn’t slapped him the second she saw him and walked away – he should be counting himself lucky and not making matters worse. While he studied her face he hated that he found her hard to read compared to how easily he used to be able to do it but he couldn’t deny that she was just a beautiful as she ever was. It obviously hadn’t been that long since the two had seen each other last despite how long it felt but she hadn’t changed in the slightest and he enjoyed the fact that there was something that hadn’t changed. A smile spread over Taylor’s lips as he spoke of Jessica, he loved his little girl more than anything and knew that she would grow up to be a complete daddy’s girl and he knew that he would have no problem with that and would spoil her more than he already did. Sure she wasn’t even two yet but she had the best of everything, he knew it wasn’t the best thing to spoil his child but to him she was everything and deserved the best. “She really is.” Taylor nodded in agreement as Maia complimented Jessica, glad that she had said something to cover up the almost slip of his tongue. Sure Taylor and Kimber was divorced now but he really didn’t want to bring her up around Maia, considering she was a main part of the reason Maia and Taylor had to break up.

Taylor was interested to hear what Maia had been up too, it made him feel that little bit more like he was in her life again, catching up on things allowed him to be able to full in the gaps that they had missed out on for obvious reasons. Sure he would have preferred to have been here throughout it all but that just wasn’t going to happen. He was surprised to hear that she wasn’t a famous actress or singer yet, she was so talented at both and it had been her dream once upon a time that he was sure she would have fulfilled it by now. “Oh which shop do you own?” he asked out of interest. A shopkeeper? Definitely not something Taylor could have ever seen Maia as but she seemed happy so that was good enough for him. He chuckled softly as she told him about the first years and nodded his head, remembering his younger years before entering Hogwarts quite well. He grinned when Maia shared some excitement and happiness for him in regards to him getting his Pilot licence. From a young age he knew it was what he wanted to do, sure it was weird for a wizard to want to do a muggle job but he had grown up loving the idea of it he wanted and had to see it through. “Thanks, it’s such a great job.” he told her. “I get to see the world and be home regularly.” he added on as an aside, not knowing if the mention of ‘home’ would have an effect on Maia or not as she hadn’t been home in sometime.

 

[Maia Purdue]

Maia bit her lip-why had she said that. Why? Just when things had been going well. She had managed not to get angry or walk away hadn't she? And now, she was just making things harder. She looked down at her shoes, trying to think of something to say, how was she supposed to cover this up. At Taylor's response, she flicked her head up and glared. She knew she shouldn't have said it, but what the hell was he doing? If he was trying to make sure they could be friends again-what the hell was he trying to pull?
She let out a sigh of relief when he apologised. "Yeah." she replied casually. This was so hard, she wasn't used to this. Everything with Taylor used to be so natural, and she was still trying to keep in her temper, which was threatening to explode. He had betrayed her! Now her emotions were all over the place, she didn't know wether to get angry, or be happy, or stay timid and quiet, like a mouse until he went away.
Maia looked back at his reading glance. She didn't like to think that she'd changed that much, but in ways-she had. she had grown up, and she wasn't the happy-go-lucky teenager he had left behind. She smiled at him, trying to spread the message mentally that everything was okay, and that he didn't need to feel like she'd pounce on him-though she had no guarantee that she wouldn't.
She smiled as he spoke about her daughter, he'd really become a family man, and his daughter was probably her Daddy's princess. In her head, she could see it. A regular Sunday morning, and Taylor and his wife got out of bed, and put their daughter in a high chair. She'd play happily with her food, banging the spoon on the table happily. Taylor would laugh, and kiss his wife on the cheek, before he left for work, and she would wave from the window, as he drove away.
The perfect family. She thought bitterly. She wished she had that, children, someone who loved her, but that wasn't going to happen if her social life was anything to go by. She'd been in New Zealand a year, and she didn't have any friends-just acquaintances.

"Scrivenshafts." she replied, instantly. She was used to the question, and the more people who knew about it, the better the publicity for the shop. She knew she hadn't seemed like someone who could manage the financial side of things, but she had help-the assistants were great. She smiled, shifting from foot to foot, as she listened to him talk about his job. "Apparation is a blessing." she grinned, guessing that, that was how he got home. She couldn't help wondering how everyone was-Megan, her parents, their friends, but she wasn't sure what to say. She decided to do it bluntly, and she blurted it out. "How is everyone?" she said quickly, looking up at him.

Out of Character:

Sorry for the late reply-I was in Dublin, and we only decided to go last minute, so I had no chance to post in the abscence's.

 

[Taylor Hirst]

Taylor knew that there was no point bugging over the little hiccup in their not-so-bad conversation because it was out in the open now and the conversation was still continuing so he shouldn’t dwell on it and know to watch what he said in the future to make sure nothing would go wrong if he ever hoped that the conversation could maybe, by some miracle, continue after this meeting. It was such an off chance meeting and if it went well, maybe they could pick things up again? After all, they became lovers after they were friends, maybe they could become friends again, but only time would tell – although Taylor knew he would want nothing more than to have Maia back in his life, even if it was just as friends again, it was better than nothing and definitely a lot more than he would deserve after the way he treated her. He noticed Maia glare at him and he knew he did wrong, of course he did...but he hoped that it could just be forgotten about and move on from it. At her sigh of relief, if he wasn’t mistaken, he let his body relax slightly as it has stiffened as he waited for her to respond at his words, they weren’t the smartest that he ever came out with. It was now that he knew things definitely weren’t going to be as good as he would like them to be, things weren’t how they used to be and obviously Maia still had some wounds from their last encounter and he couldn’t blame her, he just wished that he could heal them someway. Although, young as he may be, he knew that time was going to be the best healer for those type of wounds and Maia clearly needed a lot more time that she had already and with him opening his big mouth the way he was no amount of time would heal the wounds. The casual and cold ‘yeah’ that came out of Taylor’s mouth made him feel like an awkward 11 year old guy again when he was first introduced to girls outside of his family, it was like he didn’t know how to act around them, and Maia of all people who he believed still knew him better than anyone, even his family. He used to be able to tell Maia anything and he missed having that rock to fall back on and be completely open with.

Taylor was wondering what was going through Maia’s mind as she remained quiet after he talked about Jessica and narrowly escaped talking about Kimber. He really didn’t feel like crossing that bridge, even though they were divorced now and still on somewhat good terms for the sake of Jessica he figured Maia wouldn’t want to hear about her, considering that she didn’t even care when he told her that he’d get a divorce just to stop her from leaving for the second time. Glad of the conversation change, Taylor smiled as Maia talked about her new job. “Oh that’s great, Maia!” he said, happy that she was doing well for herself, even though he was still surprised that she wasn’t a famous star. “It definitely is!” he nodded, agreeing with her statement about apparation. People found it weird that he was a muggle pilot and how he couldn’t just apparate everyone and then erase their memories, it would be much quicker, which was true but he could see the want to fly for muggles, obviously – or he wouldn’t have become a pilot. When she asked how everyone was he sighed briefly before doing the general shrug when people asked how everyone was. “How about I tell you over a coffee?” he asked, taking an awfully big chance but he figured it would take the edge off the topic if they were sitting down as if they wanted to talk.

 

[Maia Purdue]

Maia could feel the tension in the air. She knew it wasn't the appropriate time, but she really felt like laughing she could just see the dilemma in his eyes. Was she expecting anything, wasn't she? She couldn't help, but wonder the same thing. she'd missed Taylor, missed the way he made everything better, the way she could tell him anything, even when they were dating-she'd had no secrets from him. She had told him everything no matter how awkward it might be. She wasn't as naive now. She knew how complicated life could be, no doubt Taylor knew it too.

She couldn't think what to say. The awkwardness of their situation made her want to smile, or laugh, but she couldn't-this wasn't a laughing matter. She looked up at Taylor, her eyes sparkling, with unvoiced mirth. "Moving on, swiftly." she smiled, using one of her most-used catch-phrases. "How long are you in New Zealand?" she asked, finally allowing herself to smile. She ad learned, after years of not knowing what to do in certain situations, that the easiest thing to do was focus on the other person. However, in this case, she was glad to focus on Taylor. she wanted to know what had happened in the last while. All that time, that she had been away, she wanted to know his news, and about his sister, her former best-friend-Megan.

She smiled, as he congratulated her on the shop-it was doing well-definitely more secure than acting had ever been. She missed it though and she planned to go to more auditions in the coming months. She laughed at his enthusiasm, immediately lifting the atmosphere. "You haven't changed a bit." she grinned, as he smoothly asked her to go for coffee-still a complete charmer. She had decided to treat him like she would any old friend, except for the fact that Taylor was so much more. She smiled up at his deep brown eyes. "What are we waiting for?" she smiled, it was just a coffee after all, and she wanted to talk to him, and maybe broach the topic of their past.

 

[Taylor Hirst]

Taylor could tell that the fates had more in store for Maia and himself and weren’t going to cut this thread of tension that they had so skilfully weaved into their tapestry of life but he also knew by the look in Maia’s eyes that she wanted it to be over almost as much as he wanted it to be over and done with already. Why must the fates torture him? This was his second chance at fixing things with Maia, even just to gain her as a friend once more. He knew he had messed up badly the last with not telling her about Kimber, he knew that now and he knew that then but he had hoped to keep everything secret until the divorce was finalised. He also knew that he shouldn’t even have been dealt this hand and given another chance with Maia but here he was, face to face once again with the love of his life and here he was once again...blowing it all up in his face. Although there was a glimmer of hope when he saw a smile, it wasn’t a big smile or a particularly noticeable smile but it was enough that when it crossed Maia’s lips Taylor felt calm and relaxed, as if everything was going to be alright. He laughed slightly as Maia went to move the conversation topic; she had used it so often that he had often joked that she should patent it and get royalties for anyone else who used it. Alas they were in the good old days when Taylor didn’t feel like an awkward 11 year old boy when around girls for the first time. Laughing slightly Taylor couldn’t remove the smile from his face, it just felt natural to have that smile there when around Maia so he didn’t even try to force it gone. “I’m here until next weekend, have a few domestic flights around here so I’ll be back and home in the same day, nothing major.” he told her in a very nonchalant tone of voice. This was his job now and as daunting or exciting as it might be he had become used to it by now and he never seemed to make a big deal out of it when he’d tell family or friends about his next world class destination.

As soon as he had asked her if she wanted to continue this conversation over coffee he felt knots in his stomach but he knew that he didn’t have to worry, somehow but he wasn’t quite sure why. He smiled genuinely as Maia said that he hadn’t changed at all, somehow he knew that she meant it in a good way, like how he was when everything was alright, normal. As she spoke he looked into her eyes and for a moment he swore he could have seen hope, hope for this to work out this time. Smiling as she asked what they were waiting for he made his way to the nearest coffee shop, it was small but quite nice. Entering the quaint coffee shop he turned to Maia. “What would you like?” as he took a quick glance at the menu before the pastry counter took his attention; he always did have a sweet tooth.

 

[Maia Purdue]

Out of Character:

Sorry for the latre reply-I went on a last-minute holiday and had no internet.

Maia looked up at Taylor-he wasn't exceptionally talll, but seeing as she was quite short, he was about a head taller, though when she was wearing high-heels she felt like less of a munchkin. She knew that she shouldn't be feeling so incredibly fond of him, that her heart shouldn't be fluttering when she loooked in his deep, brown eyes, they glinted in the sunlight, full of questions, unanswered and...wait a minute? She wasn't supposed to be thinking like this. She should be thinking of all the reasons why it was over, why she had left. He'd done things that would change them, but would they change forever? Was life not giving her another chance at happiness-she'd been alone for so long, she missed her friends, she missed her life, but she was alone, loveless and wasn't it only fair that she give herself another chance before locking away the key to her heart for good? She didn't know, she wanted to ask him, he had always had the answers, but something stopped her,some unspoken boundary, it hadn't been set, she couldn't remember putting it there, but suddenly she was determined to make it go away.

She smiled as he spoke about his work. "Do you like it?" she asked, she knew it was a simple question, almost child-like in it's simplicity, but she thought it was the most important one-why be stuck doeng something you didn't love? You only had one life-you might as well live it. "And where is 'home' now?" she asked, without thinking. She immediately reddened and lowered her gaze, she had no business knowing where he lived, but something drew her to him, maki8ng her want to knoww more, to see him every day.

They walked along, toward the closest coffe shop, Maia all the while wondering if she'd made the right decision in going for a coffee with him, but it was only a coffe? What was so wrong with that. "It's hard to believe it's only two years since we left Hogwarts-well three for you." she smiled, in a conversational tone, she missed school-maybe when she was older she'd go back, become a teacher or something, but she doubted it-that wasn't her world.

They walked into the cafe, it was nice, quaint. She glanced at the menu, and ansered him immediately. "A Mocha latte with cream." she smiled, then looking at the pastry's she added "And a sugared ring doughnut." she knew that women were supposed to diet and lo0ok after themselves, but she didn none of that-she excercised almost fanatically, so that she was able to keep in shape, while still eating the sugary food she loved. "I suppose you'll be getting something to bring up your sugar levels too?" she teased, nodding in the direction of the sugary stuff. He liked sweets-always had.

 

[Taylor Hirst]

Taylor could feel himself starting to relax a lot more than he was a few minutes ago when he saw Maia again for the first time in years. Sure it wasn’t as easy as it used to be but it was definitely getting there although he knew it was silly of him to think that things could ever be the same again for the two of them. Maia had made that clear the last time they had seen each other and he knew that he was lucky that she was at least talking to him now instead of ignoring him like she could had done and saved them having to bring up their painful past. Of course Maia was her usual self and always knew how change the subject when it was only going down the drain, something Taylor didn’t want to happen so soon. Speaking about his work was an easy subject for him to talk about and help to further break the ice. It was an easy subject because he loved his job so much and he knew Maia knew how much it meant to him that he had finally reached his dream of becoming a pilot. Nodding easily he answered her question as genuinely as he ever was around her, “I love it. It’s my dream job and it’s definitely living up to its expectations that I had of it as a child.” He told her. Most times kids had visions of having jobs that in the end just weren’t what they expected them to be, luckily he was the exception. When Maia asked where home was now he shook his head from side to side as he tried to figure the best way to answer the question. “Home is where the heart is so I would say back in England, I have a flat in London. Although I have a few apartments in different places so I have a familiar place to sleep at night when I’m travelling; France, The US and one here in New Zealand, actually just outside Obsidian.” he told her. To him home was where the heart was and England was the answer to that but he loved travelling so much he left his heart in many places it was hard to chose places where he wanted semi permanent ‘homes’ but he chosen some of the best in his opinion.

Taylor was more than happy that Maia had accepted his invitation to have a coffee with him, it was a cheeky move but one he knew he wouldn’t regret. As he walked he listened to Maia’s random but true observation, “It is hard to believe. Sometimes I think about what it would be like to go back and do it all over again. Sure it was hard but it was some of the best years of my life.” he told her, something in his voice indicating that she was part of what made them the best years in his life but not wanting to actually voice it as it was too soon to bring up any old wounds that were probably just better off left to heal. As he waited for Maia to order he decided on his own. When the woman beside him voiced her order he smiled and nodded, “Same for me please.” it sounds like a good combination. “You know me?” he said rhetorically with a laugh. Paying the woman behind the counter he took the two pastries and took a seat at a booth and waited for the coffees to arrive. Remembering that he brought her here to talk about ‘everyone’ he turned back to the conversation. “So who do you want to know about? Or what do you want to know?” he asked light heartedly, smiling at her.

Out of Character: Sorry

Sorry about 1) the wait and 2) the crappiness. I've been busy and sick and hate myself for taking so long on getting back! =(

 

[Maia Purdue]

Out of Character:

No Bother

Maia couldn't keep the smile off her face. She knew it would take a while for her to trust Tayor again, but they could be friends couldn't they? He knew everything about her, and her him. It felt so safe, so easy, so familar, just being around him now. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this at ease. It came on so suddenly. She'd expected it would tke a long time for her not to feel awkward around, but within a matter of minutes she had let it pass, they had let it pass and she felt whole again. She wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not-after all. Her and Taylor had a lot of history-she needed to clear her head. Not now though, now she was going to enjoy herself.

"I remember-you always wanted to be a pilot, ever since I've known you." Maia replied, her face soft, her smile warm. In her minds eye she could see the little boy-who hadn't seemed so little back then. Explaining to the little first years how a plane worked. Maia had stared up at him, in awe of "One of the big kids", of course, she'd stopped being so starry eyed after they became friends. "You get around a lot." she commented, surprised at the amount of places he owned. "It must be hard, seeing Jessica with all the travelling." she sympathized. It would be hell, taken away from your child so much, from your family. She'd always pictured herself having a family-maybe it would happen-some day.

She grinned as they walked toward the coffee shop, smiling as Taylor answered her. He meant that she had helped, and she knew it. "Me too, I loved Hogwarts so much, it feels more like home than anywhere else-even now. It was the best." she replied, thinking back to the days spent down by the lake and the hours studying for her N.E.W.T.s She'd done very well, her parents had been proud, and she could've one anything, everyone had assumed she'd go to the ministry, but it just wasn't her thing.

"You'd want to watch it Mister, or your plane will be falling down with all the weight." she laughed as he ordered. She didn't mean it of course. It was nice to be able to laugh, to joke, to tease-with someone who knew her better than she knew herself. She watched him, the familiar smile, the curve of his face. No, he hadn't changed-not at all. "Well, really, I just.." she stumbled over her words, trying to figure out what to say. "How's Megan." she burst out-Megan had been her best friend. If she met Megan now-well she'd probably bawl Maia out of it, for avoiding her for so long. They'd been friends since they were eleven years old, and Maia had just left-at the drop of a hat.

 

[Taylor Hirst]

Seeing the smile on Maia’s pretty face, Taylor couldn’t help but feel more relaxed around her. He knew that if by some shear twist of fate that he were to ever meet Maia again that it wouldn’t be easy between the two of them. They had so much history between them that some would find it hard to believe that there could be any tension between them but it was because of that history, or some of it rather, that made for even more tension than any would believe. Although with Maia’s smile, like ever, it helped to calm him down and make him feel as if everything was going to be okay and work out just fine – and it seemed to be going that way so far. Taylor had old Ravenclaw habits that had yet to die; over thinking things. His mind was racing of possible scenarios of things that could come up in conversation right now or that he had to avoid or shouldn’t say, he was trying his best to quieten the voices in his head but it was hard, eventually he just tried to ignore them, he had to be himself around Maia for anything to work right now and he was best at being himself, although right now he was feeling like that awkward 11 year old who had never been around a girl before and was trying his best to make sense in a sentence – oh how he despised those days. He couldn’t help but realise a little chuckle as Maia reminisced how she remembered that he had wanted to be a pilot for as long as even he could remember. “I know, and now I’m finally living the dream. Almost doesn’t seem real.” he said with a slight chuckle, shaking his head. He simply nodded his head as she commented on how he got around a lot, it was true, he did. When she mentioned Jessica and how hard it must be for him to see her in all of his travels he felt that twang of pain as the topic of Jessica came up as it was mostly because of her that they broke up in the first place; not that he would ever resent her for that, he loved his little girl and nothing about that would ever change. “It is hard, but me and her mother have a visitation plan sorted out so that my days are on my days off and she has her the rest of the time. In the end it balances itself out with my holiday time adding up to when her mother has her when I’m away for a week or more.” he hadn’t quite indicated to this point that Kimber and himself were divorced but he unknowingly gave the biggest clue with the mention of visitation right for Jessica, something common between divorced couples.

As he took the first sip of his coffee to test that it wasn’t too hot he took a bigger sip before wrapping his hands around the cup. At Maia’s comment he couldn’t help but laugh dryly while rolling his eyes; in a joking way. “Oh haha! Since when did you become a comedian?” he said jokingly before taking a bite of his doughnut. He over exaguaratingly made a ‘Mmmmm’ noise to show how good it was and how little he cared. Taylor was very good at staying healthy and enjoyed the fact that he could treat himself every once in a while, but he knew Maia was only joking, it was nice to do it like old time. Washing down that bite with another sip of his coffee he listened to her first question. It really wasn’t a surprising question, Maia and Megan had been best friends for as long as he remembered, it was pretty much how they met, considered Maia was in Megan’s year and was almost inseparable, it was only a matter of time before Taylor met Maia. “She’s good...finally talking to me only a few months ago.” he started off. “After...everything that happened, she didn’t talk to me for the longest time.” he said. It was only understandable, it was because of Taylor that Maia left her friends and family behind and went away somewhere, Megan lost her beside friend. “She’s acting; only a small role in a few local theatres - working her way up to the big leagues. She’s currently got the leading role of Belle in one of the theatres productions of Beauty and the Beast; she loves it.” he added. The two girls both had a dream of acting so he figured Maia would be proud of her old friend.

 

[Maia Purdue]

Maia was happy. She knew that it wouldn't last. She knew this was all a charade. The next day she would be doing the same thing, the same day, and Taylor would've walked out of her life again, as easily as he had that first day, back when she was an eleven year old girl in Hogwarts. His entrance had been a bit bumpy this time though, she thought with a grin. "I can imagine." she replied, she'd lived the dream before, she prayed to God that Taylor's dream would stay on track. She raised her eyebrow as he mentioned visitation rights, he and Kimber were divorced? Kimber, she'd never been able to forget her name, she'd heard about their engagement form one of her friends-at the time she remembered thinking Kimber was a nice name. Such a strange thought, in such a strange time. She had a strange feeling that she shouldn't say anything, but she did anyway. "Are you and Kimber not together?" she asked, she didn't seem happy, sad, or even accusing, but she wanted to know. She had hoped it would last, eventually. At first she'd cursed the girl, and everything about her, but eventually she'd found that she could wish them well. Especially knowing they had a little girl, family's we're better off if they stayed together, most of the time, but if it really wasn't working-maybe it was best that they parted. She didn't know the details, but she knew Taylor-he wouldn't have given up very quickly.

"You know I was never good at the funny roles-give me a grieving widow, any day or in the case of Elphaba, just a rebelious, self-loathing green girl." she smiled, he knew Elphaba had always been her favourite part, in one of her favourite shows-"Wicked." Her next favoutite part was The Artful Dodger in "Oliver.", but the last time she'd played him was at ten years old, when she could still pass for a boy. She smiled, greedily as he talked about Megan, she was half-starved for news of Megan, she'd googled her name a few times, but found nothing. A small frown creased her forehead as he told her she hadn't spoken to her. "What? Why?" she exclaimed, the reason was obvious, and she realised that straight after she said it. "I mean-well obviously I know the reason, but for so long?" she added, quickly. She perked up again at the mention of a play. "Really? That's amazing!" she grinned, her hands clasped in front of her, fingertips touching. "Maybe I'll go to see it-though she'd probably be angry with me for staying away for so long." she mused to herself.

She sighed, crossing her arms in front of her. She wasn't going to edge around the topic any longer. "How did we come to this?" she breathed, half asking herself. she took her eyes of the knots in the wood, and looked up at Taylor. "I've missed you." she added, truthfully, though she still didn't know if she could trust him.

Out of Character:

Sorry for rubbish repy :/

 

[Taylor Hirst]

Taylor had a soft smile on his face, one he missed the feeling off. It was strange but for once in a long time he was happy, content! And this just wasn’t one of those times where he was happy just to avoid questions. Those questions that he had gotten for so long, “Are you OK?” “Is everything alright?” People that knew him for a few years had been the worst culprits as they knew the story of how he and Kimber had gotten together. Although his new friends, mostly his work colleagues, only knew that he had divorced his wife and that was bad enough. He had despised the constant questioning, this was probably why he had gone into a slum for sometime after that, just so he could hide away from the rest of the World and get away from the questions. Although now everything was much better and he had to admit that the only reason he was happy now was to do with Maia. He had thought he was happy half an hour ago but he now realised that he was just getting by up until that point. He was only truly happy now because in some small way Maia was back in his life and that was the best thing that he could ask for. Despite being sick of questions he knew that today was going to be a day to get over that and give Maia the common decency and answer any and all questions that she had for him and he figured that there was a lot. “No we’re not!! he started with no emotion in his voice. “I divorced her not long after the last time I saw you.” he told her. He had said that he was going to divorce her so he could be with Maia. That time they had been together after Hogwarts he had thought about it and he done most of the paperwork that had to be done and he had even been planning on giving Kimber the papers the day Maia walked out on him.

Taylor laughed softly as Maia replied to his comment using Broadway references; she really was born to be on Broadway. “You always did a great Elphaba!” he said sincerely. He had loved watching her perform, even when it was just the two of them, hearing her sing was one of the greatest sounds he had ever heard, only comparable to the sound of his daughters laughter, but the sound of a child’s laughter was one of the great sounds in the World, and something everyone agreed on as far as he was aware. Taylor had expected Maia to react somewhat badly to the news about how he and Megan had lost contact for a while. Sighing softly he nodded, “She was really upset with me. Maia you have no idea how angry she got with me...although we’re fine now. She actually said the anger helped her stage performance somewhat.” he said laughing slightly. When Maia mused about going to see Megan he sat up a little straighter. “Angry? Maia please....She would jump off that stage the moment she saw you and never let you go again for fear of losing you again. She misses you so much!” he said, a small laugh lacing his words but sincerity remaining. Taylor looked at Maia, confused; her mood seemed to change so quickly. Did he do something wrong already? When he heard what she had to say he mirrored her expression. “I honestly don’t know...why that’s a lie. It’s my fault. I truly am sorry Maia, for everything.” he said, as he stared into her eyes. “I’ve missed you too.” he said as his hands moved forward and wrapped his hands around her folded arms.

 

[Maia Purdue]

Maia smiled back at Taylor. It felt familiar, looking into his face, watching those familiar features, his eyes, his smile, gentle, trusting. She'd never really understood fully how he'd fallen in love with her. He was so cool, and popular, so many girls fancied him, and she'd never thought he'd feel that way about her. She was just his sisters friend, and eventually his friend, but she'd never imagined he'd see her any differently, the way she saw him. She practically fallen for him the momen she'd met him. She'd been called over to the Ravenclaw table, and she'd seen him at the table, she didn't speak to him for weeks, maybe even months, not until her and Megan had really become friends, but she'd always noticed him. She'd seen him in the corridors, and he always seemed so much older, so much more sophisticated. She'd gotten over that eventually though, when she'd gotten to know him.
Maia was glad he answered her questions. "Right." she answered, nodding her head, then she realized that it might be a bit rude for her to pry. "Taylor, I know it's none of my business, but I'd hoped..." she began, then taking a deep breath she continued. "I'd hoped that maybe it might work out eventually-you know?" she knew it was a poor excuse for leaving him, but there had been a child involved, staying would've been the wrong thing to do.

"Thanks." she replied, her cheeks reddening. She never had gotten used to the compliments. She knew she was good, but she just couldn't get used to being recognised for it. She'd always blushed, even when they were dating, if Taylor told her she looked nice, she blushed, if he kissed her in public, she blushed. It had always been a failing for her, the blood that rose to her cheeks when she was embarassed. She listened as he explained the Megan situation. She loved Megan, she was like the sister she'd never had. She'd always regretted losing contact, but she'd been sure it would cause problems for Megan, with the whole Taylor situation. "I'm glad you're okay now." she answered when he finished. She smiled slightly at his response toward her musings. "I miss her too." she answered in a quiet voice. She did, she missed her so much. She hadn't really made any friends here, she didn't easily trust anymore. Megan, megan had been different-they'd just clicked, and now that was gone.

The conversation turned serious, and her face changed with it. She just let herself think, didn't push it. Her eyes were shining, and she bit her lip, looking up at him. "I know Tay, I've always known." she replied to his apology. "I just....I couldn't ever accept that it had happened, to us, that I wasn't..that we weren't going to have the future I'd always thought we would." she continued. Her eyes were on the table, and she smiled slightly as she felt his hands on hers. "Tay, what can we do?" she asked, looking back up at him, seeing her own emotion staring back at her in his eyes.