Open It Don't Feel Good

[Evelynn Burrows]

School. How could she be back at school? After everything that had happened over the break, didn't she deserve some more time? Time to mourn, time to adjust, just... time. Evelynn looked at the walls around her, at the place she had felt so happy at for a couple of years. But it didn't feel the same. Nothing was the same. Everything had changed over the break. Especially she. She used to always be so happy, energetic - like she could take on the world. But now? Now she didn't even feel like she was ready to be surrounded by people again. To be surrounded by all these kids that were so happy to be back, so happy to see their friends again after the break. Everywhere around her she could see happy faces, and she couldn't blame them but she also couldn't take it. Pushing her way through some students Evelynn made her way outside to the one place where she would always feel some form of happiness, of belonging. The Quidditch Pitch. Luckily, there weren't any other kids around. Trying to fight back the tears the fourth year Thunderbird sat herself down right in the middle of the pitch and closed her eyes, focussing on her breathing in order to calm herself down. Still, she felt conflicted. She wanted to be alone, but at the same time she felt like she could use some sense of comfort. Be it either from a friend, or a stranger.​

 

[Katy Miller]

One of the things Katy loved about being back at school was how much always seemed to be happening around her. Coming back after the holidays always felt like she was playing catch up all week over who had broken up with whom and who had said what about who's girlfriend. So when Katy heard some other students mention there was a girl having a 'moment' on the Quidditch pitch, Katy had to go look, if only to keep up to date on things. Squinting out at midfield, Katy was surprised to spot Evelynn out there, looking incredibly small in the wide emptiness of the pitch as she made her way over. This whole thing didn't seem very like the younger girl at all and Katy sat tentatively down on the grass next to her. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked, touching Evelynn's shoulder lightly. Thinking of it, she hadn't seen much of Evelynn at all this year, which was strange since Katy remembered the younger girl being so vibrant in the past. Hopefully what ever was bothering her, Evelynn would feel like sharing and Katy could help.

 

[Evelynn Burrows]

Evelynn knew that her change in behaviour wouldn't go unnoticed, but no matter how hard she had tried she knew she wouldn't be able to just walk around smiling. To be the bouncy ball of energy she normally was. Not this time. She could only imagine how dramatic it would actually look for someone just wandering around to spot her sitting in the middle of the pitch. Perhaps she should've looked for a spot a bit more secluded. Or maybe, just maybe she had chosen such a noticable place on purpose because she needed some social interaction. Either way, the fourteen year old was just deciding whether she should get up and find a spot that seemed a bit less dramatic when she noticed movement next to her. Evelynn opened her eyes and turned her head towards the girl who had sat down next to her. She recognized her as one of the girls a year older than her. It would be difficult not to, since they were in the same house. "I-uh, no, not exactly." The girl shrugged, forcing herself to smile a little in order to tone down the sadness that seemed to be surrounding her. "Just needed a break." She added, wondering if Katy genuinly wanted to know what was up or whether she was just trying to stay up to date with the school's gossip. ​

 

[Katy Miller]

Evelynn gave Katy a weak little smile when she answered, but Katy didn't really buy it, frowning back at the younger girl sympathetically. "Fair enough," She said slowly. "I need a break sometimes too, but I generally don't take them by crying on the quidditch pitch.." She offered Evelynn her own weak smile that time, hoping Evelynn could tell she was joking. It was still weird to see Evelynn like this, so quiet and sad compared to watch Katy was used to since Evelynn had been at school. They didn't know each other super well, but Katy like to think she at least had a passing knowledge of most of the other kids in her house, and sad or mopey definitely weren't the sort of words Katy would associate with Evelynn. "You wanna talk about it? I'm a great listen, promise." She said encouragingly, sitting up across from Evelynn and putting on her best listening face.