Closed Just Keep Moving

[Odette Madison]

Odette hadn’t been this nervous for an event in a long, long time. She wasn’t even sure why she was so nervous. She was just going with Margo, her best friend. They had gone to events together numerous times already, so why were there excited nerves dancing around in her stomach? Maybe it was because of how… different things had been between her and Margo lately. Ever since the girl had visited her over the holidays, something had shifted in their relationship. It both terrified and thrilled Odette, but she was mostly scared. She was able to pinpoint the feelings as romantic ones, but that was what scared her. Last time a relationship had turned romantic, things had gone sour quickly. Odette now avoided Harley, and she was sure the other girl did the same. Her friendship with Hayden had also never recovered from their period of dating each other, though they were on speaking terms at least. But was that what she wanted for herself and Margo? To awkwardly avoid eye contact and only speak when needed? Definitely not. If there was one thing she had learned over the past few years, it was that she needed Margo more than anyone else, and if she lost her again she honestly didn’t know what she would do with herself.

Odette fidgeted nervously as she waited in the entrance hall. The other reason she was so nervous was because she wasn’t entirely sure what Margo was expecting from this night. Had she asked her as a friend, or as a date? It wasn’t entirely clear to Odette, just as she wasn’t entirely sure which of them she wanted it to be. She glanced down at her outfit, wondering for the umpteenth time if she had made the right choice in picking it. It was different than the long flowing dresses most students seemed to wear, but what if Margo didn’t like it? Well, there definitely wasn't any time to change anymore, so Odette would just have to deal with it. She clasped her hands together and waited for her friend to arrive.

 

[Margo Ellis]

This year, Margo had come prepared. Her dress wasn't particularly beautiful or expensive, but at least it was hers - she'd saved for it herself, gone out and bought it during the holidays so that she wouldn't have to rely on one of her sisters being willing to lend her one. She did a little twirl in front of the mirror, flattening down some stray curls and wiping her clammy hands on her skirt. She'd gone to the Yule Ball with Odette before. So why did tonight feel like something important? Nothing had really changed between them - or perhaps Margo simply didn't want to let herself believe anything had changed, because to do so would be to get her hopes up, and that would surely end in disappointment.

But whether romance entered the equation or not, Margo was thrilled to be spending the night with her best friend. Once she looked presentable she left the Ravenclaw tower and made her way down the labyrinth of stairs to the entrance hall. There she spotted Odette amongst the crowd, hands clasped in a way that almost made her look nervous. Margo grinned and waved, clacking over in her heels. "I'm so going to break an ankle," she said in lieu of greeting, striking a pose. "It's finally happened. I've made a sacrifice in the name of fashion!" Laughing, she pulled Odette into a quick hug. "You look amazing, by the way! I mean, you always look amazing, but you know what I mean. Shall we go in?"

 

[Odette Madison]

As Odette spotted the familiar blond curls, her heart skipped a beat. A grin was spreading over her face at the sight of her best friend before she even noticed, and she eagerly returned the girl's wave. Her dress was very cute, and the heels she was wearing really complimented the outfit even if it was obvious Margo wasn't used to walking in them. "I'll carry you to the hospital wing, if necessary." She joked back, then immediately wondered if that was a weird thing to say. She quickly moved on. "You look great! I like that color a lot." She said, gesturing to the dress. She hugged Margo back, wanting to hold on longer but letting go when she did. She laughed softly. "Thank you. Yes, let's go in." She wasn't sure if she should offer Margo her arm, or anything, but decided not to. Instead she gave her friend a quick smile before leading her into the great hall. It looked similar to the past years, and Odette looked up at the snow for a moment before glancing at Margo. "What do you want to do?" She asked, her voice clearly a little nervous. If Margo was going to suggest dancing, what would that be like? The same as it was in the past years, or more like how some of the couples were dancing? Odette almost just wanted to outright ask if this was a date or not, but she then realized that would probably ruin the evening. If it wasn't, Margo would be weirded out. If it was, Margo would be upset that she asked. She settled on smiling uncomfortably and waiting for Margo to indicate what the evening would hold for them.

 

[Margo Ellis]

"Ooh, now I'm definitely going to break an ankle," Margo said, laughing at the idea of Odette trying to carry her to the hospital wing. A soft flush rose to her cheeks as her friend returned the compliment. There had been a time when Odette might have tried to put her down, but tonight the compliment felt genuine, and sweet. "Thanks," she said, a little flustered.

Stepping into the hall was a welcome distraction from the hopeful thoughts playing on her mind. As always, the place had been beautifully decorated to look as if it were mid-winter. Margo rarely got to see snow any more, so she always appreciated the magical enchantments, even if they weren't real. "Umm, dance!" Margo said, catching her friend's hand and pulling her happily through the crowd and onto the dance floor. She turned around to face Odette, all of a sudden overcome by a wave of uncertainty. She knew what she wanted this to mean. But was that what Odette wanted? Or would it just create tension, put a strain on their friendship? In spite of her developing feelings Margo had been careful to behave as normal, afraid that while Odette was still grieving the loss of her mother she would need a close friend more than anything else. What if they dated for a while, things didn't work out, and it ruined their friendship forever?

But what if it was the best thing that had ever happened to them?

"Actually, I'm really thirsty," Margo said. She slipped into the crowd, hoping to buy herself a few moments alone to compose herself. But the crowd parted to make a clear path from the dance floor to the drinks table. There was nowhere to hide.

 

[Odette Madison]

As Margo joked that she was definitely going to break an ankle after she offered to carry her, Odette took a moment to pause and reflect on that. What did it mean, did Margo want her to carry her? Or was she just joking around? She wished she understood this better, and was half tempted to go seek out Maria for advice. But she didn't want to leave Margo for even a moment. "It's just the truth." She said as Margo thanked her for her compliment. The way the girl was blushing made her blush too, and she quickly averted her gaze.

Margo suggested they could dance, just as Odette had half feared, and half hoped. She felt her heart speed up as Margo grabbed her hand, and allowed her to pull her towards the dance floor. She had just gathered her courage to start dancing, when she noticed a strange expression on Margo's face. She looked at her for a moment, unsure what this meant. What sort of dance was this? For friends, or for them as something else? But before anything could happen, Margo said she was thirsty and ran off. Odette felt her heart drop as she watched her best friend hurry away from her, and after a moment of indecision, she followed. "Margo, wait." She said, following her friend to the drink's table. "Did I do something wrong? Is everything okay?" If she had somehow ruined this night before it could even start, Odette would never forgive herself. "Talk to me." She sounded pleading even to her own ears, but she needed to know what Margo was thinking.