Got to admit I miss you.

[Arianna Tipley]

The autumn air was cool against Arianna's face as she stepped out onto the top of the North Tower, after the climb up the seemingly never ending staircase. She really couldn't remember the last she had been up here, not since the second year at the most. The view over the grounds was amazing, much to Arianna's appreciation. The leaves were beginning to fall, covering the grass in a carpet of orange and gold. She wanted to go and play like a child, rolling around and stuffing handfuls of leaves down her friend's backs like she used to. How she missed those days when everything was simple, when friends fought over trivial things like a stolen pencil or birthday invitations. Everything now seemed to revolve around the opposite sex, which she was beginning to grow tired of. She now regretted playing the stupid games that she had gotten herself into. And not really having her good friends around to talk to and keep her sane was hard too. Arianna couldn't even remember the last time she had talked properly to her best friend even. Sure she saw Vivienne around the dormitory, but she knew that the effort to actually catch up with her was not there. A good talk with her would everything seem better, Arianna was sure.

Though 'everything' right now was really all just one person. Well two, now that she was dating Shane. As much as she liked the tall, dark and charming boy, he just wasn't her type. In fact, she didn't actually like him in that way at all, which she was feeling intensely guilty about. She wasn't the type to use somebody normally. But this doesn't exactly count as using She told herself. She was mad at Austin, why would she want to make him jealous? But somewhere inside she knew that really it was hard to be completely mad at him. However Arianna's pride had been hurt quite a bit at the discovery of Austin and Taylor being together, particularly being at the Yule Ball. That made the spark of anger ignite all over again.

 

[Austin Zhefarovich]

The towers, who would expect that Austin Devearux, a Ravenclaw, would lurk in the towers on such a nice Autumn day such as this? In fact, it was rather common of him actually. Austin was studying for those OWLs that were coming up, and he needed nothing more but to have an Outstanding in the ones that he was taking. That was what he cared about most, and he should have been spending more time with his girlfriend, but the more time he spent with her, the stranger and stranger it got. Hell, he did not even like Slytherins, and he was dating one! What was even more unnerving was what some people were whispering about his best friend that he managed to ruin everything with. She was seen...with another guy. If that wasn't the worst part, it was how they described him. The bad boy, the handsome mystery, the heart-breaker. Naturally, Austin was jealous. To make things more complicated, he could not really study now because of it. Slamming his book closed, he let out a sigh. How could he have seen things getting this bad? How could he have? Things were all his fault, and he had no one to blame other than himself. Austin had quite the mistakes this year, and some say that the fifth year was usually the most eventful in someone's life. Getting Prefect or not, the OWLs, and getting ready to become an adult. Maybe this was why Austin was screwing up so much.

Putting on a black hoodie, and his black Vans, he walked out of the Ravenclaw tower, to go to the north tower to stare at the ground. He had no plans with Hilde now, and he wanted to know what he needed to do. Obviously, having Hilde as a girlfriend wasn't helping, but he did not know what was. It was numb though, and it made him forget the pain he felt from time to time. That was something that he needed now anyway. Walking, with his hands in his pocket, his hair styled in a messy tone and his emerald green eyes cloudy with emotions and confusion. Once he entered the top of the North Tower, he could tell that someone was here with him. He glanced up at the figure of someone that he had somehow betrayed. He uttered out, "Arianna?" Now he wanted to demand who that other boy was, and why she picked him over Austin. He also wanted to know just why that boy thought that he had the right to even look at her in that way. Shame he got to her before Austin could.

 

[Arianna Tipley]

Arianna's thoughts were beginning to turn to Austin, the one person she really tried to keep out of her mind. Not because she disliked him, but because every time she thought about him it was a little painful. The pain that she she felt at the Yule Ball, but mostly just the fact that she missed him. A lot. As one of her best friends, Austin's absence in her daily life was very large however Arianna had been pushing the emotions out successfully until lately, when she had found that the Ravenclaw was finding his way into her thoughts a lot more than she really wanted. The truth was, she knew absolutely that he was the only one she really liked. He was so different to Shane. Arianna sighed, shaking her head a little forcefully as she placed her hands on the barrier and leaned out over the edge, enjoying the slight dizziness she felt looking down at the ground many floors below. Her head began to spin, however she kept herself leaning over, letting all her complicated thoughts float out over the grounds, wishing they would just leave for a little while.

A very familiar voice jerked her back, and Arianna spun around, swaying slightly as she blinked to clear the dizziness. It was indeed Austin, the very person that had been haunting her thoughts just minutes ago. "Austin" she replied, her tone careful and a little cold. As far as she knew, they weren't on great terms, though if he had greeted her, maybe he had changed? Somehow she doubted that though, considering the temper she had shown and their little arguement at the Yule Ball. Arianna really wanted to know if he was still with Taylor, badly. Though that won't change anything she told herself, as her gaze focused on his face for a brief second, before her expression softened slightly and she averted her gaze. It wouldn't change anything at all, it wasn't like she would suddenly make herself available if he was no longer with Taylor. No, she was stronger than that. There wasn't really much to say, so all that came out was a rather stony "What's up" her face unsmiling. She wasn't able to gauge his mood for once, and so had no idea how to respond.

 

[Austin Zhefarovich]

Austin watched her demeanor and she looked a little dizzy. He could only imagine what. Maybe she was picturing whoever she was dating shirtless. Oh he was getting more and more jealous by the minute. And he could not help it. Austin frowned lightly when she said his name a little cold. He could definitely tell that she was still mad at him, and he had known her long enough to tell the octaves with her voice. She did not want to keep eye contact either, and that much he could not blame her. Look at what he had done to her, to them. He slowly approached her and stopped so that there was just five feet between them. She still was the most beautiful girl in his eyes to him. But his pride would not let him admit that to her. Austin wanted to say something to her, to make her feel bad over the argument they had, but he did not have the heart to. He was too soft for that. Austin heard her almost too common words, and he blurted out honestly, "Thinking about you." Austin averted his gaze and ran his fingers through his hair. Oh boy, he needed to control that tongue of his.

Coughing a bit, he changed the subject, "Who is he? That black-haired guy you were hanging around with after the Yule Ball." So much for a pleasant conversation. He was good at getting to the point, but sometimes he could not be bothered to think it through he got to the point. This was bound to strike up something. But inside, Austin wanted to get yelled at, he wanted to fight. He wanted all this tension from them out, so that maybe they could start all over again. In January, after she hooked up with her mystery bad-ass man, he hooked up with Slytherin snake, Hilde. She was a rival to him, a captain of the Slytherin quidditch team, and an overall...Slytherin. He remembered people's words about him being with Arianna, like he should be. They seemed so naturally attracted to each other, but why was Austin denying it so much? Was he scared? Maybe. Though there was something else that he did not realize. The boy she was dating was his distant cousin, Shane Zhefarovich, a boy that should never be trifled with. A boy that was heavily into the Dark Arts. The Dark Arts part, Austin did not know about.

 

[Arianna Tipley]

Arianna's heart beat sped up considerably as she had no where else to look, but up at Austin's face. His cute, and in her opinion perfect, face. She also noticed that he was coming ever closer. All she wanted to do at that moment was throw her arms around him, and for him to tell her that it was all alright. However she knew that she couldn't do that, out of stubborn pride and the hurt that she had felt at Christmas. She stood her ground, expression guarded, titling her head up to look up into his face as he stood a mere two steps away. How could he have this effect on her, even after how she had felt? His reply sent her brain into a frenzy, and her face briefly showed confusion and a weird kind of hope. Hoping profusely that he hadn't seen the open expression that had made an appearance on her features, she frowned at him. They were being honest now? Well she would give him honest "You frustrate me" she told him. The sharpness to her tone was to cover up the confusion she was feeling. She had thought he had had no interest in her, but then he just had to come out with that.

At Austin's question made Arianna's eyebrows raise, as she looked in disbelief up at him. She had always known that he was honest, but for heavens sake. That just crossed the line. "That is absolutely none of your business" she said a little haughtily. The strange urge overcame her to call him by his last name, just for the extra effect of formality. However she wasn't quite brave enough. "But, his name is Shane Zhefarovich, if you really must know" she added, unable to resist letting him know that she was with somebody else. It didn't even occur to her that the two boys might know each other, the world just couldn't be that small. Arianna folded her arms over her chest, her stare almost challenging. What could be wrong with Austin maybe feeling a little of what she had felt at Christmas?

 

[Austin Zhefarovich]

If Austin could have done so without making a fool of himself, he would have smacked himself for saying that. It was completely uncalled for and it would make his feelings seem a little unfair. Austin bit his lip and averted his eyes when he heard that little part about he frustrating her. Well, he was frustrated by her but he did not hate her either. How could he ever hate her? She was so good, so awesome to him. He cherished her being. He just did not know how to say it or put it. Austin scratched the back of his head before he crossed his arms over his chest once more. What could he say to her to make things better for the two of them? He wanted things to go back to the way they were, but he was stubborn and did not want to say that out loud. It was impossible anyway that they would return to normal. He had blown it with Arianna, and there was no way he could fix that. Ever. Not that he did not want to, but he just did not know how to. He should have told her that he was interested in Taylor before he went and asked her out. Isn't that what best friedns are supposed to do anyway? "I don't try to, intentionally, Ari," Austin muttered almost pathetically.

He chuckled lightly, and forced himself to smile lightly when she snapped at him and said that it was none of his business. Well, she had him there. It was not any of his business, and it was definitely not his place to ask her that. Though he did anyway, and he just hoped that she would tell him. But his smile quickly faded to a look of appalling when she revealed who she was seeing... Shane Zhefarovich! Austin almost choked he was so shocked. Though that did not stop him from reacting either. He exclaimed, "You have got to be kidding me! Shane?! Ari, he is my cousin, and he is bad news! He is freaking insane! And he is a player too." Well, the last bit was not exactly true, Shane had stopped that almost a year ago. But Austin was just too shocked and well, jealous that he had stolen the one that Austin really wanted to be with all along so easily. What Austin did not know was that he was dating the one that Shane really wanted to be with as well. Austin continued, and he was not thinking before he was saying, like a typical jealous boy, "He can't be your type! He's...he's...just bad." They were second cousins, so Austin knew much about him. His mother was more insane than he was. Though Shane did not appear it. Suddenly, Austin felt almost ashamed to be in Arianna's presence. Shane was rather dreamy looking to girls if they liked the bad boy type. And here he was, just a nerd. He did not stand a chance now.

 

[Arianna Tipley]

Arianna could see that he was struggling with everything and she momentarily felt bad for being cold towards him. At that moment all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and hold him. It would make everything better. She almost made the move to, but stopped herself. He had hurt her, and she wasn't going to let him back in that easily. She leaned back, folding her arms against her, mirroring his stance "I know, but... Argh. I just don't know what to do about... us anymore" she said in frustration, not meaning for the honest words to come out. She hadn't wanted him to know what was going on in her head, and somehow, she guessed that exactly the same thoughts were going around his. But of course naturally stubborn attitudes and teenage hormones and competition would get in the way of reconciliation. Arianna sighed, looking down at her shoe as she scuffed the toe of it on the ground. She didn't want to look up and meet hi gaze. Those eyes just made her want to spill everything inside of her that she had done a neat job of keeping at bay since Christmas.

Frowning slightly at his chuckle, she kept the barrier up to keep herself from cracking a smile. His laugh really was the cutest thing. However a look of bewilderment crossed her face before turning to anger. Privately she was intensely embarrassed and cursing her luck for going out with Austins cousin, of all the people. It was just meant to be a thing where she could leave Austin's imagination to shape his own idea of the mystery guy that she was going out with. A red tinge coloured her cheeks, partly from the embarrassment she was now feeling, but also the anger towards him that was growing with every word "So, you're saying that he's a player and will just dump me, because I'm easy? As a matter of fact it's more than just a thing, Austin." she retorted. This last part was stretching to truth quite a lot. She didn't feel anything for Shane, who was she kidding? Not her type at all. But Austin didn't need to know that. "And can you talk? What have you been getting up to since the Yule Ball, huh? Don't tell me what to do with my love life, you obviously never wanted to be in it" she finished, her face hard as she stared up at him. That was everything that sh had kept bottled inside of her for the past months, and she had not been afraid to let him have it.

 

[Austin Zhefarovich]

Austin wished that there was something he could do in order to clear his own mind and get rid of his own confusion. A girl should not be working into his mind this much. It was almost irritating how Arianna could have this effect upon his brain, just like she ninja'ed it somehow. Did Arianna even have that ability? Could she do that? Austin bit his lip and he had no response about her frustrated remark. He did not know either. He wished he knew, but he did not. Austin wanted to punch a wall out of frustration, like he used to before he got and lost his anger issues. Austin was better now, without his mother. Odd that once she was dead, his attitude changed for the better. Perhaps Aleyha was right about her all along. Austin shifted in his own shoes, and continued to lean against the wall. He was not leaving anytime soon. He was still angered about Arianna seeing Shane Zhefarovich. How could she? He was such...such bad news and he was just not right for her. She deserved so much better than Shane. Austin knew this, but did not know how to let her know without insulting her. However, things were not going well for the Prefect, not at all.

Austin's green eyes widened with horror when she called herself easy. Austin shook his head and he exclaimed, "No no! I am saying that he will cheat on you and he never really likes a girl! He...he isn't right for you! He does not deserve you, he deserves someone that is as low as he is!" Austin realized that he missed something vital as well. "And you totally aren't easy. At least, I don't think so anyway." Austin tapped his index finger on his arm and he wondered if he were even saying something that would earn him positive points in her books. Austin bit his lip and he confessed, "Okay, look, Taylor and I agreed to break up, like right after the Yule ball. Then I heard about you and Shane. So, now I have this Slytherin girl as my girlfriend now." Austin almost winced when she said that last part. It was not true. He wanted to be part of her love life, but he just did not know how to make his approach. Austin muttered, "I did, er, I still do... Damn it, I don't know. I was just too shy before!" But there was nothing he could do now. Things were ruined, but could they be repaired?

 

[Arianna Tipley]

Arianna sighed. She just did not know what to do at that moment. He seemed intent on talking it out, and she supposed that she did too, but their combined stubbornness was not making it end well. She also leaned against the wall, arms still folded. This mess was just getting more tangled. She now regretted going out with Shane, which she had to admit had mainly been for the purpose of making Austin a little jealous. But now that it seemed that it had worked quite well, all Arianna wanted to do was go running back to him. It was all too much now. She slid down the wall, seating herself on the ground with her knees hugged to her chest. Sighing again, she didn't let herself let up at Austin as much as she wanted to. She made another incoherent and frustrated noise, not caring what he thought. She hated that he affected her so much, that she cared so much about him. There had been crushes before, but now he was just constantly on her mind.

Austin's sincere horror at her comment almost made her melt a little, but she kept the wall up. She said nothing to his reply, not trusting her voice to come out as hard as she wanted. Truthfully, Arianna knew all of what he'd said about Shane, she wasn't thick. But it seemed to have an effect on Austin, so it wasn't all bad. Neither she or Shane really liked each other anyway. Arianna was about to open her mouth to say something truthful and open, but she stopped short at his words. She was speechless. He was going out with somebody else? And a Slytherin? That couldn't be good news. She knew that that was very stereotypical of her, but under the circumstances she didn't actually care. And then his next words made her crack "How- What? I- I don't know what to say" she managed. How could he say all those things about her, about thinking about her, then come out with that? She was so confused. And angry all over again to cover up the hurt that she was burying deep inside her.

 

[Austin Zhefarovich]

Austin had spilled too much. He had revealed that he wanted to be with Arianna, and this was something that was not surprising to him, but a good thump to the stomach. Austin wanted nothing more but to embrace her, and tell her that his heart belonged to her, but in all reality, he did not. He stood there, his arms uncrossed as vulnerable as ever. Austin's eyes revealed love, compassion, fear, and depression. He realized something, and that something was not in the least bit good for him. He was not good enough for Arianna. She was too good for him. After everything he had put her through, he did not deserve her. He was much lower than the dirt. Austin felt moisture building in his eyes, but he refused to let them out. He bit his lip and he murmured, "I'm so sorry for everything I have done to you. I wish I wasn't as big of an idiot as I am. So much for being a Ravenclaw. Ari, you deserve so much better than Shane, but that person isn't me. After everything I have put you through and not realize it, I am lower than him." Austin bowed his head, and he turned and left the room. He needed to get something off of his chest, but hell, that was killing him. He had once had his chance to have Arianna as his, and he blew it...long ago.

Out of Character:

Good ending and sets an atmosphere for the holidays?