so what, so i've got a smile on. IT'S HIDING THE QUIET SUPERSTITIONS IN MY HEAD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The chink of glasses and the brisk laughter that erupted from across the street seemed
almost as if it were beckoning Izaak Finch whilst he loitered on the pavement outside of
the lifeguard tower and pulled a white wifebeater over his head. The temptations just to
have a beer or two almost sent Izaak drooling. It had not been since his birthday that he
had had any sort of social drinking, and even then he had spent most of it feeling guilty
about his fiancée and her sudden repulsiveness to all things digestible. It wasnt that he
didnt love the life he was leading, because he did, with all of his might. But on occasions
he found himself wondering what on earth had happened to that jaunty teenager he had
been not so long ago. The resolve not to settle down until well into his thirties, where had
that disappeared to? What kind of chemical processes had his mind undergone to make
him snap from renowned womaniser to getting down on one knee before a certain young
woman he felt so honoured to call his and telling her that he wanted to spend the rest of
his prosperous life with her? But he neednt ask, he only avoided the answer for his own
sake. He had come within inches, literally, of losing it all. Of losing her. And for a pair so
young and so genuinely in love, where was the fairness in that? But even so Izaak Finch
couldnt help but miss the days that hed spend endlessly rousing trouble in school with
only the best partner in crime he had ever had in his lifetime; snatching gulps of alcohol
they had stolen from the kitchen down by the lake on a lazy Saturday afternoon as they
spoke endlessly of the girls they rated, the classes they were yet to disrupt and of course
their famous plans to escape their confines and tackle the world together. Marcus Clavell
had been a character, that was for sure and a rare kindred spirit to Izaak. But their plans,
like almost everything else in Izaaks life, had never been able to run a smooth course.
Kasey had kept it alight for awhile. But that ship too had been sunken a long time ago.
Izaak found himself caught in the centrefold, dedicating himself to the baby of theirs that
Alexis was baring as well as chartering back to the memories that once were achievable,
they seemed all too far out of reach now. This morning though like just about every other
morning since he had been told that she was expecting, Izaak had woken up with Alexis
tangled into his arms and their stomachs pressed to one anothers. The young man was
able to feel the slight swell in her stomach now, two months into her pregnancy. And he
had woken up with a smile. There was no better feeling in the world, Izaak was sure of
this and he wouldnt trade it for the world. Not even for an around-the-world gig. No way.
Still, he cocked his head as he stared across at the pub, contemplating whether or not it
was worth ducking in for a quick one before he walked the five minutes back home. His
lips puckered and gathered on the left side of his mouth as he stuffed his blue lifeguard
jersey into his duffel bag and slung the strap over one shoulder. If only Clavell could see
me now, the young man smirked in spite of himself as he dwelled on his own hesitance.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was only spring in Australia but Marcus was as yet
unused to the heat, he loved it naturally but was more used to the temperate climate
of England with its constant rain. His skin was sunkissed, beads of sweat glistening
across his brow as he walked through the town with no set destination in mind. Now a
world weary traveler or so he liked to tell women, Oceania was just another destination
on a worn map. He was being paid handsomely of course for a travel journal that Greyson
and Fribbet were expecting him to write. the publishers must have been shot with a very
strong confundus charm to offer him such a deal to begin with but Marcus had never been
one to look a gift horse in the mouth. The women flocked to his feet, recognising his
countenence from sporting magazines and newspapers. The infamous beater from the
English team who had set hearts alight and the quidditch pitch aflame.
He shrugged, walking on until he came to a pub. A smile crossed his face as he
removed his man vest revealing a wrinkled white v-neck beneath. Running a hand
through his hair he then wiped his mouth entering determined to get in out of the
heat and have himself a cool drink. For some reason that he could not explain thoughts
of his old friend kept popping unbidden into his head since he arrived in Oceania.
He truly hadn't thought about him in a good few months now, there had been so
much going on. His break up with Annalise for starters and his penchant for getting
into serious trouble whether he looked for it or not. Tossing the money on the
counter, his hand circled the cold glass as he licked parched lips and then slowly
sipped the amber liquid. Cold beer could not be beaten and once again he found himself
wishing Izaak Finch was about to share it with him.
<i></i>
<SIZE size="50">credits:
graphics - moi
Quote - John Mayers
so what, so i've got a smile on. IT'S HIDING THE QUIET SUPERSTITIONS IN MY HEAD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A sigh rose in his chest, long-winded and weary as his gaze kept itself hooked onto the
venue across the street. One step towards it and Izaak was struck with guilt, knowing
that for one, he would be indulging in something that his fiancée was deprived of with
their unborn child developing healthily within her. Secondly, Alexis would be waiting for
him to come on home. A few more steps towards the gutter and Izaak felt the weight of
the gutting emotion begin to ease from his conscious. And before he knew it he was on
the other side of the street, one hand pocketed in a scrounge for cash whilst the other
came up to course through his unkempt hair, a golden brown for all the Vitamin D itd
soaked in over the extensive number of shifts he had worked over the recent holidays.
Like an old friend, the pub seemed to open up to the young lifeguard and engulfed him
with a familiarity too relieving to even begin to describe. And suddenly, for what reason
was beyond him, but suddenly Izaak was reminded yet again of the memories that he
and Marcus had shared under the influence of an underaged drink and was yet to stop
the smile from slipping slyly across his lips and streaking into those azure eyes that he
had charmed many a girl with over his relatively short life. They had definitely been the
days and had definitely been all too short lived as well. For a bond that had potential to
last for a lifetime, five years seemed to cut it to the quick. But after the many years he
had had the chance to wander where it could have taken the pair, why was he thinking
of it so frequently now? This wishful thinking needed to stop, Izaak was resolved. His
Alexis, his wonderful, undying love, was having their baby and it was vital that he put
one hundred and ten percent of his heart and soul into making this work for what soon
would be the three of them. With Alexis plans for tertiary put on hold for a number of
reasons, he was currently the sole breadwinner and despite the wealth of their families
being enough to keep the couple for a long while yet, Izaak wanted to prove that they
could do this all by themselves, that they werent simply fools in love. Their relationship
was real life. But this left little room to breathe for his teenage dreams. A drink, on the
other hand, was more than welcome. A man craved for a loosening up now and then.
Digging out some cash from the depths of his pocket, Izaak swapped it for a beer cold
from the tap and lifted the glass to his lips. The relief was instantaneous and the young
man savoured each draught then caught the taste on his lips with a flick of his tongue
once the cool beverage had soothed a bitter path down his throat. Exasperated, Izaak
exhaled loudly and swivelled a bit on his stool just to see if thered be a familiar crowd
he could share the drink with. A friendly face was never far in Bondi at all, at least not
on Izaaks end of the spectrum. But he had far from expected to see a tall figure to his
left, one so familiar that they had Izaak second guessing himself. No, it cant be, came
the thought of denial, lonely in a mind that seemed to be suddenly brooding with hope.
But it was, it was. Marcus Friggin Clavell, what are the chances? Came his voice, a
touch deeper than it had been but still twanged with that mix of an American accent. It
was a struggle to stifle the grin that made haste to shoot across his lips or the shock
that grew the more he came to realise that right here beside him was his long lost best
friend, his brother, his partner in crime, his counterpart, one half of the most dynamic,
duo their school had ever seen. Izaak and Marcus. And it seemed the boys were back.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The first slug on the beer was delicious, cold and refreshing and Marcus knew that he
had needed it like he had needed nothing else at that moment. So much had happened
in his life to get him from a scruffy little kid with no other aspirations other than tearing up
the world with his best mate to one of the most sought after beaters the world had ever seen.
The English captain was talking about insuring his arms because he was considered that invaluable.
But Marcus knew that wasn't a necessity, he had some of the best nurses and doctors - all female
no less ready to come to heal him any time he hollered and boy did he holler often. Being a beater
had it's downfalls, being one of the best beaters had more than most - it meant every other two
bit rookie trying to get a name for himself was willing to risk life and limb to injure Marcus Clavell.
With that and with his heart festering in his gut, Marcus had wanted a way out. A clean break
and now he had it, he wasn't sure what to do with himself.
It seemed fate though had other plans for the quidditch hero as he turned his gaze to the sound
of a male voice saying his name. At first he thought perhaps it was just another quidditch fan but
within three seconds of looking at the young man before him, Marcus was laughing. His beer was
left on the counter and he could seriously careless who was watching, he opened his arms wide took
a step forward and caught Izaak Finch up in a bear hug almost lifting the guy off the floor. It took
a moment before he released him and when he did, Marcus was still laughing heartily. "I don't believe it, seriously man I was only thinking about you less than ten minutes ago"he
still couldn't believe his eyes as he looked at the only guy he had ever considered worthy of him and
the title of best mate.
Many over the past few years had tried to fill the slot but they had always fallen way too short. There
was only one Izaak, only one Marcus - only one all encompassing tight unit of buds that he knew had
ever known of. None had ever come close, he had seen other friendships sure but the history he had
with this guy was enough to fill an entire library shelf if anyone was foolhardy enough to write it. "What are you doing way out here?" he chuckled still shaking his head and trying to remember the last
time they had met. Just before the summer vacation of their NEWT year, the high and mighty had spoken,
aka Templeton Clavell his father. Izaak's influence on his son had been seen as wearisome and detrimental.
His father had plans for him, big plans and none of them included a drunken fool falling about with half a
brain cell to his name. There had just been way too many reports sent home, way too many detentions
served, way too many girls pulled and discarded like an overused sweater. Damn but he had missed
this guy.
so what, so i've got a smile on. IT'S HIDING THE QUIET SUPERSTITIONS IN MY HEAD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Izaak Finch was still finding it a task to believe his eyes as they gleamed at the sight of
the best of his mates before him, one that he had been seriously disheartened to think
that he had quite literally lost. It was even stranger so that this was who had been on
his mind mere moments ago. Coincidence? Somewhere within him, Izaak thought not.
In standing from the barstool a fraction of a second after Marcus, the azure-eyed man
welcomed the embrace between them with a melodic laugh that mingled with his best
friends and took him back to the days when that was a sound he had heard almost as
often as his own thoughts. In classes, in corridors, in the electricity of so many of the
parties they had been the life of at. This guy, he was golden. And no one, not a single
soul (try as they might) could possibly top him. Same here! Izaak laughed, standing
before him now; so different and yet so the same. Those winking blue eyes gauged his
height, the pair had always been tall back in school but Marcus probably stood half a
foot taller than him now. And he looked like a man now. But then again, so did Izaak.
The standard question was phrased and Izaak merely grinned and shook his head at
Marcus, as if to reverse its direction. I live with my girl down the road from here, He
answered anyway, but was still shaking his head deep in disbelief. Because why the
hell was Marcus Clavell in Bondi? Never mind me though, what are you doing down
here? Some big shot qudditch star now? People paying you to travel the world? The
twenty-one year old teased with a chuckle, but somewhere within it hid a hint of envy.
As that was the life they had planned for themselves. Just the two of them, conquering
the world and wooing women left right and centre, from Atlanta to Zimbabwe. It would
have been the life. But something had gone wrong, that something being his father of
course and their plans were no longer, their friendship had fallen flat on its face. Izaak
of course had fallen in love for the first time not long after his friends departure, gone
soft if you will. But that had fallen through with her departure too. And then Izaak had
found something in Alexis Richarde that had changed life as he knew it. Would deter
all itches of up and leaving, of the incessant need to travel and to race through loose,
nameless girls as if they were no more than pieces of candy in a store. He had found
real love. But that spark in him, that confidence that boosted through that only Marcus
could initiate, it was still there. Only lying dormant for a few years through his absence.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
He couldn't believe it, Marcus was actually standing in a pub
in Australia and talking to Izaak again. Good old Finch, the
years had been good to him Marcus mused looking him over.
Damn it, a girl and his own place just up the road. He couldn't
help the feeling of envy that gnawed at him, as much as he
loved his life, adored the adoration from the crowds as well
as the average joe soap on the street; Marcus knew that a
life including a special someone would not go astray. Sure he
had his own pad but he traveled so much with the team that
he didn't even have family pictures put up anywhere. Not to
mind any personal decor at all. It was a spacious spartan
apartment with a big kitchen that he never used except for
storing beer in. It was more for throwing extreme parties than
for dwelling in really but he sure as earth wouldn't call it a home.
It was merely a place to hang his hat at the end of a long training
session or game.
He laughed again shaking his own head slightly, might as well soak
up the adulation even from Finch. "Actually yeah, decided I needed a break for a bit from getting my
head knocked in every other day so this publishing company got wind
from my manager that I was going travelling and offered me a deal.
I write a series of books on the countries I visit and they pay me"
he grinned again. It wasn't like he needed the money or anything.
The sporting industry took care of their players and he was further
endorsed by the company who made latest broom to hit the market.
Beckoning to the bartender he ordered a round for them both,
glancing at Izaak as he did so. "You can stay for another one can't you? The little lady won't
mind?" he grinned, wondering just how serious Izaak and this girl
were. The boys had broken enough hearts in their day and it was
then the image of Melodie Lowe popped into his head. Her raven
tresses gleaming in the sunlight as she walked across the court
yard to meet with Finch. Whenever she had been about Marcus
had begrudged every minute but mainly because she had been
the very reason the boys had their first fight. It was during
detention that they had become the dynamic duo and they
had promised to never fight over a girl again. By then it
was too late for Marcus to come clean and tell the guy that
he had been serious about Melodie, that he had wanted not
just to make a play for her but get serious if she'd have had
him. Water under the bridge now, he mused again. Picturing
her with another 100 pounds added to her and five or six
children hanging off of her with a jerk of a husband in tow. This
image cheered him up a little as he paid the bartender and passed
Izaak the beer.
"Reunions man" he grinned holding up his drink in a salute, Marcus
hoped Izaak had nothing planned for the rest of the evening
because as far as he was concerned now, they were out drinking
for the night.
so what, so i've got a smile on. IT'S HIDING THE QUIET SUPERSTITIONS IN MY HEAD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Considering Izaak had been mostly, if not completely, joking when he had jaunted his
friend about the whole getting paid to jetset around the world, it was explainable that
his jaw should nearly drop onto the floor when he realised he had hit the nail right on
the head. He was pulling in bucketloads to run circles around the planet? What kind of
up-sized, new and improved rendition of their original plans was he living? And all that
Wow, Im really happy for you was something that everyone knew to be a total load of
bull. Because Izaak Finch couldnt remember having ever felt so green with envy in his
entire life. On one hand was his life with Alexis, she was exactly the type of girl that he
had never thought hed fall for; intelligent beyond reason, sensible, wonderful in every
way possible. They fit so perfectly together somehow though and now they had a baby
of their own on the way. An excitement unlike no other. But on the other was of course
Clavell and the riches that Izaak could only imagine he was being paid for doing what
they had dreamed about in the latter of their schooling years. Thats wack. So whatd
you do Clavell? Bone this person or something? A hearty laugh escaped Izaak, just in
amusement that it was so plausible, he wouldnt have put it past his mate to pull such a
move and up until a mere few years ago, Izaak wouldnt have put it past himself either.
A grin sidled onto his lips the moment he was asked if hed stay for another round. Ah,
shell be right, Im sure. At least Izaak hoped Alexis would understand but just in case
he managed her a swift text, yet not forgetting to fit in an I love you at the end, just for
the simpleness that he did. Though with the last of Izaaks guilty conscious concerning
his pregnant fiancée spared temporarily from his mind, the young man could focus his
full attention on the reunion that was taking place. One broad hand curled around the
drink that had been paid for and passed to him by Clavell, and a grinning smile came
to brighten his expression as he mirrored his mates gesture and held the beer up in a
salute to the re-ignition of the duo. Reunions." He repeated with happiness laden thick
across him, like the alcohol theyd used to sink themselves in, or the girls in four inch
heels that theyd often gotten lucky with at parties. Thirsty lips parted at the rim of the
glass and welcomed the bitter beverage in sync with his cohort while the amber liquid
already began to work its numbing fingers into the knots of stress and anxiety that had
tied themselves up within him. Waiting on a baby did that to a person but Izaak knew
now that there was no better relief than a night of drinks with Marcus, a sense of ease
that Alexis, although he loved her in a way dearer than anybody else, could not mimic
no matter how soothing her touches felt. At times all a man really needed was his bro.
The years the two had spent together had been like a rollercoaster of ups and downs,
they had tried everything in the book at least once and had gotten caught out twice as
many times. This of course, although only really the tip of the iceberg, initiated a string
of family problems, girl problems, school problems. But the two had shared everything
with each other. It was no secret between the friends that Marcus had gotten to snog a
pair of twins together at a grade party during their fourth year or that Izaak and Melodie
had hooked up on his birthday in their fifth (but Izaak had sensed a hint of uneasiness
in his friend when he had been told of this, so it had seldom been brought up after that)
Their affinity for all things intoxicating swiftly granted the pair a talked-about reputation,
one that the males envied and the females swooned over. But it had also attracted an
unwanted kind of attention from Marcus father, a hawk eye of sorts on the pair of best
friends. But despite any outcry that Izaak may have gotten the chance to voice, Clavell
had been plucked from the school over the summer preceding their NEWTs. And then
Izaak had changed, to the point where he saw himself as unrecognisable in everyones
eyes. After all, what was Finch without Clavell? Still the same sweet, charming guy yet
subdued from his bad boy ways especially at the turn of a new relationship, a certain
Kasey Phillips that had captured his heart and taken it with her amongst the luggage
she had packed for her mysterious absence with the Order. Izaak wondered if Marcus
would remember the sweet-tempered Gryffindor. She had been so so careful with her
heart after all. It was never the same without you man. I swear, half the girls were only
after us as a pair. Another chuckle tumbled from Izaak before he took another swig of
his beer, azure eyes caught laughingly on the hazel tones of his friend throughout the
middle of their conversation. Did Hogwarts Scotland meet up to expectations? With
his eyebrows wiggling suggestively, Izaak made sure Marcus knew that he was surely
not referring to the expectations that his father had had for him. He wanted to make up
for the time they had lost, to redeem his title of best friend, to know absolutely everything.
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Marcus knew he could just about spin any tale he wanted at this point
but what good would that be? He had always been able to speak frankly
with Izaak the way he could not with anyone else. He drowned the beer
and nodded his head at the bartender before casting a sideways glance
at his best mate ever and giving him a wavering smile. "I wish it had been that easy" he told him honestly, Marcus shook
himself as another two beers were placed before them. Finishing money
from his pocket he passed it across the counter telling the bartender to
keep them coming. To make sure they did not run dry. The bartender
was only too happy to comply.
"Right we are here to drink not to get morbid" he announced, there was
no way on earth he was going to start doing the bleeding heart and
tell Izaak all about Annalise, about the crippling training sessions, the
extreme injuries and the many days sometimes weeks spent in hospital
so that he could be ready for the next game. There had been a period
of four months whereby he had gone straight from a game with a broken
leg and three cracked ribs to the hospital, remanded there for two weeks
until every bone healed effectively and he was allowed to return to training
before getting clobbered so hard again that he had to return to the same
ward, same bed and same old ding dong. It had felt exhausting and by
the time the season had ended he had a medical chart at St. Mungo's that
rivaled even Hogwarts A History book.
He instead picked up on the last piece of Izaak's taunting and grinned. "Girls back then were so much easier. I know we didn't think it mate but
they were so uncomplicated" another slug of his beer as he became
thoughtful. He wasn't the same reckless egotistical jerk his friend once
knew and loved so much. Marcus had grown up alot, had even made
his father proud which was saying something. Even if he wasn't doing
the high flying ministry job he had him ear marked for. "Hogwarts Scotland.. man, where to begin" he grinned, "the girls there
were hot unbelievably so. We even had a veela in Gryffindor there who
outranked any you've ever seen in your lifetime man." Marcus almost
sighed with the vision of those silver grey eyes and golden honey hair.
He began to laugh then slamming his hand on the counter. "Thing was it was never the same to go hightailing it after any skirt
when you weren't around as wing man. I had plenty to choose from
but it lost it's appeal. I just ploughed into quidditch and NEWTs and
the rest as they say is history" Marcus took another gulp of his drink
eying Izaak curiously now. Wondering again what his life had been like
when they had gone to other ends of the world.
.
<i></i>
<SIZE size="50">credits:
graphics - moi
Quote - John Mayers
so what, so i've got a smile on. IT'S HIDING THE QUIET SUPERSTITIONS IN MY HEAD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Izaak knew he had changed, a hell of a lot too since the pair had last seen one another.
The boy that had once held a phobia of commitments was now a happily engaged man.
The adventurous teenager with dreams to take on the world now had a home that hed
not trade for any number of business class flight tickets. He who had not lifted a finger in
school and who had never really been tight with anyone that did was now in love with a
girl who pursuing a tertiary education. But it had never crossed Izaaks mind that Marcus
might have possibly changed too. First impressions, even of someone he had felt he had
known for a lifetime, were never any good. So naturally, the lifeguard was a bit surprised
by the lithely smiled response he had been returned with. He had automatically assumed
that this was still the same old cohort he had wreaked havoc with back in the days. But
clearly he had been wrong, even if it was only slightly. Izaak wondered if a girl had dealt
him a broken heart, that had humbled himself drastically and he could only guess it that
it would be the same for his best friend, a guy that was him inside and out. A brief touch
of sympathy landed in his azure eyes, only to take flight once again when he recognised
the unease in his mates stature. Yes, there was no doubt about it at all anymore. A girl
had definitely had a hand in this. But then again, between the pair, when had they not?
Prided by Clavells defiant attitude and the fact that they both knew that this was no time
to mope like fools out of love, Izaak lifted his glass in agreement and downed the alcohol
in a heavy draught. Such things didnt have a place here, at least not in this moment; it
had been reserved for a light-hearted exchange and more than a few good laughs. It had
been a good four years since they had seen each other after all. "Girls back then were
so much easier..." A smirk crossed him and a nod indicated his wisdom before he found
himself throwing back another mouthful of chilled beer. "Sh*t, I reckon eh? Tell em that
they were beautiful and you were in the clear." Not that it mattered much to him anyway
now, he had found his girl, his one and only. But it was only after many a tiresome fight,
broken hearts and break ups over her love for another, his infidelity, then his fathering of
a child that wasnt hers and his infidelity once again. But that was well and truly behind
them now or at least Izaak had thought until Marcus mentioned a Gryffindor veela. It all
seemed to fall into place, pieces of a puzzle clicked together when he remembered that
the school Clavell had transferred to was the school Isabellas had attended. And so the
young man sat there with an amused expression as he was told of how well she ranked.
Yep, that had to be his Isabella, the most exquisitely beautiful veela that Izaak had ever
laid eyes upon in his life. Even just thinking about her now sent his tongue wagging with
the faux desire he supposed she cast over all men save for him, for he had known her.
The smirk had widened to a grin by the time that his mate began to speak again, though
despite knowing exactly where he had been coming from, Izaak couldnt help but laugh
at what he had gotten up to instead. Marcus Clavell ploughing NEWTs and not women?
Did I hear right? Oh man, what a sight. Izaak snickered teasingly at Clavells expense
before taking another swig of his beer and returning to the smug expression he had worn
earlier in wondering what Marcus would think when he was told of Izaaks infamous and
steamy relationship with the veela. But yeah, that Gryff veela. She had these amazing
silver eyes right? Tall, blonde, goes by Bella? Those azure blue eyes seemed to glint a
new now, not for Isabella because that was in ashes now, but merely to taunt his friend.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Marcus could not but laugh again and reaching out a long arm, gave Izaak a playful
punch to his upper arm. Fist connected with hard muscle and the friend grinned. "Someone's been working out" he commented good naturedly, both boys had
always maintained an extremely healthy dose of fitness no matter how low down
the ladder of drunken debauchery they had sunk. It was good to know that his
mate had not let himself go, another look at Izaak indicated to him that the
American boy looked nothing but the picture of good health and had a glow about
him that he was certain only a female could ever put there. The 'one' that he was
living with of course and at some point throughout the evening, he would drag
every detail out of Izaak about this woman. Whoever had managed to ensnare
Izaak Finch was a lucky woman indeed.
He eyed him a little suspiciously as the blue eyed boy seemed to grin after Marcus
had commented about the infamous veela that had laid siege to just about every
heart at Hogwarts. She had been James Potters though much to every boys
disappointment. It certainly hadn't stopped Marcus from chancing his arm once or
twice though. "Laugh all you want Finch but my NEWTs speak for themselves, got myself two
Outstandings and three Exceeds Expectations. Trust me that grade alone exceeded
all of mine" he chuckled again and took another hearty swig of his beer when Izaak
began listing the delightful properties of Bella Ormonde off. Marcus' head snapped up
and he looked at the guy disbelieving for a moment. Astonishment written all over
his face. His shrewd eyes read the others face all wrong of course as his mouth
opened and closed anew.
"Don't tell me you and Bella? Is she the one you're living with?" he slapped his forehead
with the palm of his hand, "oh man.. oh man! tell me it's not so".
He laughed of course on saying this but kept his gaze trained on Izaak as if needing to
know the truth. He had come up against whole Veela's while playing various games but
in his view none had ever even come remotely close to Isabella's perfect beauty. She
was like a sculpture of perfection, something to be admired but never touched. He was
in awe of Izaak in that moment. So Finch had caught the golden goose right from under
neath the pompous nose of James Potter. He would have loved to have seen that one. "I'm all ears man" he wanted details and then some. Boys had lined up just to look at
her entering and leaving a classroom and sure she had politely refused his advances
twice but he hadn't put much store into it to begin with, his true feelings had been
shackled to Melodie whether he had liked it or not. That was still the one thing between
the friends that had been left untouched, unmentioned and now it was simply too
late in Marcus' eyes to open that can of worms. He was not going down the route of
open heart surgery over another woman ever again.
<i></i>
<SIZE size="50">credits:
graphics - moi
Quote - John Mayers
so what, so i've got a smile on. IT'S HIDING THE QUIET SUPERSTITIONS IN MY HEAD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - While Izaak had strived to build his physical strength in the senior years of his education
in training for the position that had been made available to him on Bondi beach and had
clearly succeeded as had been noticed by Marcus, his school work had been left to the
dogs. Essay after essay, report after report, test after long-winded test Izaak had not so
much as lifted a finger. He had known that as soon as his graduation was over his wand
would be thrown forgotten into an empty drawer, his eligibility to practice magic legally a
qualification that added up to zilch and the marks that accompanied him from school had
no place in the muggle world. His NEWTs had been littered with Dreadfuls, save for one
outstanding in muggle studies, but that too had been crumpled up and shot into a waste
can, barely to be considered again. Though Clavell on the other hand, seemed to have
the upper grasp on both when he told Izaak of his NEWTs results and to be honest, the
twenty year old was more than impressed and just a little proud too of his friends efforts.
But all seriousness was thrown aside again Marcus assumed straight off the mark that Is
was the girl that he was seeing, or rather engaged to as he was yet to find out, and Izaak
gave a snort at his sudden desperation for a grip on the truth. With anyone else this was
a conversation hed avoid at all costs because it had been a relationship that had ended
messily. That, and some fiercely loyal part of the man seemed intent on loading him with
guilt whenever he even had a thought in passing of that absolute gem of a girl, because
he knew that Alexis would be disgruntled by such a thing. But like with any other aspect
of his life, it was always different with Marcus; he could speak freely about things that he
wouldnt dare opening his mouth about usually, he could find a place to relay his distress
when it was an act of strength that he had been putting on for world, he could find a way
to crack jokes about things that got him down. Only a best mate, Izaak thought to himself
with an inward smile. But it was no secret that they each liked to have their own fun, so
he held off his answer for a few moments more and let a smirk play on his lips during the
meantime. "Isabella Ormonde, where to begin?..." Izaak mused both in craft and thought
as his azure eyes from his friend to his beer which he took another mouthful of. Exhaling
a breath and rubbing a hand roughly over his mouth and the light stubble that dusted the
skin around it. Their history was something that was hard done by justice, even trying to
tell Marcus wouldnt cut it. "Well yeah, we had a thing. A real complicated kinda thing as
it were. We met like two years ago after my girlfriend and I had moved in together. And I
dunno, my relationship went screwy... Dont even want to go into it. But I got drunk in her
bar one night and we ended up having sex. I was that far gone I that I couldnt remember
a thing man." Izaak snorted quietly at himself and shook his head in a disgusted kind of
amazement at his own pigheadedness, it had been like a repeat of his sixth year all over
again. "Anyway, she almost had my kid and we were together for a while but um, that all
blew over last year." Izaak twisted his mouth and held on the left as he gave a shrug of
his shoulders at Marcus. It still hurt a little to think about the baby daughter he never had
the chance to meet. But it was life, it was messed up and all he could do was move on.
Soon Izaak was fumbling for his wallet in his pocket, placing it on top of the counter right
in between the best friends as he flipped it open to show a picture of Alexis he had slid in
to the clear window inside it. They had been lying on the beach together when Izaak had
taken it, as was normal for the young couple, and her strawberry blonde locks had been
tousled by the ocean breeze when he had snapped her in the midst of a giggle, the tinge
of green in her eyes more evident than usual as she glanced up into the camera. Alexis
was nothing short of beautiful and Izaak knew it too. "That," he grinned towards Marcus
as his index finger tapped on the photo. "was the girlfriend, Alexis. Shes my fiancée now
actually. We got engaged in February." There was no use hiding the winning smile that
had crossed him as Izaak looked over at Clavell, remembering who they had been, who
they still were really, and wondering how on earth he had gotten to this stage in his life.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Marcus' mouth began to hang open wide until he was sure he could
swallow a rake of flies. His best mate had met up with the gorgeous
Bella and not only that but had intimate relations with her. Right now
there was no other thing for it but to feel the envy for his friend rile up
inside him like a volcano about to erupt. This was the most amazing
thing he had heard yet. He looked at Izaak a moment as if to gauge
whether or not he was simply pulling a fast one on him but it was all to
seriously fantastical to be a wind up. Finally Marcus closed his mouth
and stood there blinking incredulously for a minute before turning to look
at the beer on the counter freshly filled once again, the glinting white
frothy head topping the lush amber liquid beneath. A canopy of deliciousness,
Marcus mused just like he had mused once upon a time about what it must
be like to kiss the silvery eyed Gryffindor.
Finally after taking a hearty swig of his beer, he shook his head and glanced
sideways at Izaak. "You old dog you... you had sex with her!" the emphasis of
course put on that small word but massive experience, forgetting how loud
his voice got after a few bevvies he cringed a little, glancing at the others in
the establishment. "Well she's possibly the hottest girl around" he grinned, receiving loud
chuckles and cheers from the men scattered while the few women there glared.
He turned back to his friend and faltered. His big mouth had worked a treat in
allowing him to get his foot right in there. "You almost had a kid with her?" he didn't want to know why it was
almost, had Bella aborted the baby? Had Izaak made her? Had she had an
accident or something to say they were no longer together? The questions
whirred about his head causing him to feel a little dizzy and he knew without
a doubt that this was not just going to be a light hearted evening. The boys
had grown into men and the world had thrown them some massive bludgers
in the years they had been apart. If they hadn't spilled their gut wrenching
stories before now to anyone then this would surely be the night for it both
knowing they'd be safe from recriminations from the other.
"Sorry man" and he meant it, Izaak hadn't looked all too comfortable
sharing that bit of news and Marcus couldn't blame him. Reaching his hand out
he took hold of the wallet and looked at the photograph that his mate was in
earnest to show him. She was beautiful, sure there were no silver grey eyes
here what there was instead was an ocean of beautiful sea green eyes l
aughing so obviously at the person taking the shot. Marcus knew instantly it
had to have been Izaak with the camera. The look of complete and utter love
seemed to be encapsulated in this girl Alexis and again that evening, Marcus felt
the pangs of envy take hold.
He passed him back the photograph, a more serious expression worn now as
he looked at Izaak Finch. "You are one very lucky man" he told him honestly.
so what, so i've got a smile on. IT'S HIDING THE QUIET SUPERSTITIONS IN MY HEAD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A good-natured cringe took hold of Izaak as his mate rowdily repeated just what kind of
relationship he had shared with Isabella that night his whole world had been tipped over.
Izaak wasnt and had never been oblivious to the fact that his ex-girlfriend was the kind
of woman that had men panting out loud, he never missed the oggles she had gotten as
they stepped out in public together. It had almost been as if Izaak were invisible because
no one had even paid notice to the fact that he was the one who had her on his arm, and
all those threatening glances seemed to be wasted energy on his part. The staring never
stopped, nor did the wagging tongues. But secretly he had enjoyed it because a girl like
her was one in a million. Izaak grinned wildly, if only Marcus actually knew how lucky he
had gotten with Isabella; down on the beach, up in Paris and just about every other night
that they had been together for. It had been wild and crazy and every bit of it elated. So
he merely nodded at Clavells comment and at the hollers of the other men that crowded
them, he had heard it so many times before. Over and over and over again. Some might
say he was crazy for letting a girl like that slip through his fingers but Izaak knew that the
choice he had made was the right one. With Alexis it was comfortable, with Alexis it was
right and it was nothing short of true love and not even the famed Isabella could top her.
A nd then there was Cassie. She was the reason for their relationship, a reason for their
tears and maybe even reason for their fallout. His first child, his first loss, his first reason
to grow the hell up and he had never even gotten to see her. Not in his life would he ever
forget her, not even when he and Alexis decided to have children of their own, especially
not then. A pressed smile dinted his cheek with a dimple as his soulful blue eyes swept
to his friend and caught the apology that fell from his lips. Izaak shrugged and circled his
thumb around the rim of the full glass of beer; it seemed so long ago anyway. Nah man,
dont worry about it. There wasnt much he felt like saying about her, not even toClavell.
A lexis however, was an entirely different matter. "Luckiest man alive." Izaak said with a
grin stashed brightly into his azure eyes as they passed his company a wink. If Marcus
had stayed for just a few months longer at HWA then he wouldve have had the chance
to meet her, probably had the chance to cause a stir with her too if he had felt up to his
old tricks. "She started in our NEWT year, so weve pretty much been on and off since
then. Man, shes so smart too. Nothing like the kind of girls we used to chase, shes so
much better." A hand moved with his voice, cutting through the air as he said the word
nothing while the other gripped his beer, bringing it to his lips once Izaak had finished
speaking. "Youll have to meet her soon and you better be sticking your a** round here
Clavell. Cant have my Best Man taking off on me, now can I?" The smile was steadied
in his eyes now, ecstatic to have the dynamic duo reunited once more right at this most
important point in his life. But what about you, eh? Does the big quidditch hotshot have
a girl back home? Groupies on the road? Enough about mine, I wanna hear yours man.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Marcus could feel the photograph in his own wallet burning
a hole through it to be shown, for his own story to be told.
But he wasn't sure he was ready to have his guts strewn
across a bar counter again. He had never told anyone, he had
simply drunk himself into oblivion for two solid weeks. His
manager had found him lying in a pool of his own vomit late
one afternoon asleep on his own bathroom floor. The man
had been a trojan, cleaned him up and gotten a healer around
to make sure Marcus was only mentally damaged and then once
that was sorted had listened to the young man's tale of heartache
before giving him the little advice he could and allowing Marcus
to take a long break from the game in order to get his head back
in to it once again.
He had to admit the man seemed to have had the right idea, at least
for a while. Marcus had only put what had happened between himself
and Annalise on the back burner, convincing himself that by not
thinking about it he wouldn't have to deal with it but now ... now it
seemed as if Izaak's happy situation was cutting him to the quick.
He had been happy with her, had thought she had been happy with
him. How far from the truth he had been there! With a smile on his face
he patted Izaak's shoulder and congratulated him once again.
"Wait ... best man? what?" he did a double take and knew he was going
to probably regret bumping into his best friend. Could he genuinely be
happy for him when his own happiness was so far in the gutter it was
ridiculous. No, Marcus was not that shallow no matter how many times
Melodie Lowe had told him he was. "You're engaged?" he asked allowing a smile to sincerely play across his
face this time and hopefully disemboweling any conversation that was
headed in a direction he wasn't sure he wanted it to go in.
so what, so i've got a smile on. IT'S HIDING THE QUIET SUPERSTITIONS IN MY HEAD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - It didn't surprise Izaak that Marcus had been made to think twice about the news that'd
casually slipped past the young man's lips. For a fraction of a second, his stomach came
to twist uncomfortably within him. The pair were living two different dreams now and his
own was unlike anything they had seen themselves settling into at the least, much less
enjoying it at the same time. For a foolish moment he had been fearful of rejection, of a
window for his best friend to pass an awkward laugh then up and leave as a result of his
attitude makeover. But it really only had been a moment. They had been re-introduced
for somewhere less than an hour but already Izaak knew that there was not another on
the planet who could remain so perfectly un-judgemental as his best friend. "That I am."
Izaak grinned in earnest, his lips curling upwards into the brightest of his smiles before
he tipped the rest of his beer into his mouth and swallowed it with a thirsty gulp, only to
find a new glass afresh. His eyes slid slowly to Clavell, laughter drowning in those pools
of blue, and asked with a joking tone to his voice, "You're not trying to get me wrecked
are you man? Old habits die hard Clavell." It had been no secret that the two tended to
find themselves in drunken debacles, their old school records forever black listed with
remnants of their little intoxicated adventures deep within the castle or just so far from it
that it was argued as dangerous. Cheating and infidelity was out of the picture now with
Alexis telling him she'd marry him. But that just left scope for other disagreeable things.
Skimming the froth from the top of the glass with another mouthful anyway, Izaak traced
back to their original point of conversation and cocked his head in Clavell's direction as if
trying to gauge how he felt about the situation. "Who would've thought, hey. Finch with a
fiancee." But Izaak loved living the engaged life, it suited he and Alexis perfectly. After all
that they had been through, dating just seemed a little unstable and marriage, well, that
was just jumping the gun too young in life. "The wedding will be a bit further away yet but
I'll tell you one thing now man. We'll have the most insane buck's party... Like old times,
eh? Providing you are going to be my best man." Izaak cast another smile and another
gulp of beer down his throat. They had an excuse now to act like the out of control teens
that they had never actually gotten to grow up from together.
Marcus grinned nodding his head, so Finch was getting himself hitched.
Alexis was a lucky girl for sure but then again, he had a feeling she
already knew that and judging by the warmth in which his best friend
spoke about her, he knew the guy was head over heels in love. Whacked
hard by an arrow shot by that daft little cherub in diapers. "Ah you're not getting soft on me are you?" he grinned realising
that he had probably hit his own limit in the drinks department but right
now he could careless about doing the decent thing and wanted only
to drink himself into oblivion like old times with Izaak. Catch up on trivial
details that didn't seem to matter to anyone else but would to both of them.
How often had they been the only ones to get a certain joke? To simply
understand in a heartbeat what the other was going through. Marcus
drained his glass dry and looked at the empty container in his hand.
Swirling the dregs about as he contemplated one last time whether or
not to simply call it quits and order a soda but the debate within didn't
last long and soon another beer was placed before him.
"Any ideas on where you're going to have this stag night then?" he
asked patting Finch on the shoulder, his gaze held riveted to a form
that passed by. It had looked for a moment like ... he shook his head,
this happened every damn time he drank anything of late. He reverted
his focus back to Izaak.
"Finch, I'd be damn honoured to be your best man" the word soured in
his mouth, not so long ago he had been all set to send Finch an owl
asking him to be the very same thing at his own wedding but that was
well before he had brought the ring, well before he had proposed and
well before he had caught her in bed with one of his team mates. "I was always good at making speeches" he laughed, patting Izaak
again on the shoulder.
<i></i>
<SIZE size="50">credits:
graphics - moi
Quote - John Mayers
notes: sorry for delay in posting had no muse for Marcus
so what, so i've got a smile on. IT'S HIDING THE QUIET SUPERSTITIONS IN MY HEAD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A soft snort blew from Izaak as he was jarred at and asked if he was growing soft. But as
much as he could try to deny it over and over again, the twenty-one year old knew that
something about Alexis Richarde had messed not only with his heart, but with his mind
and body too. Sure he had always been a charmer, extending whatever cheesy line he
could get away with and melting a girls hear t at any given moment. But his fiancée was
steadily breaking down walls that he couldnt even remember putting up. Telling her that
he loved her had been the first step, all those years ago amongst the surf, saying the L
word first when he had never felt the inclination to do so before. Then it had all picked up
pace; moving in together, saying that hed want to be the father of her children someday,
telling her hed always love her, buying her a promise ring, proposing! And just when it
seemed that their relationship could not possibly be anymore full on, she falls pregnant
with his child. Perhaps he had grown soft, gotten so smitten with Alexis that hed do just
about anything for her, with her, because of her. Perhaps he was whipped. And hell, his
best friend thought so too. He didnt even know most of the story yet, let alone the part
about the child Izaak and his lover were expecting together. Although there was not one
piece of him screaming that this was too soon because it wasnt, not with Alexis at least.
Izaaks brows lifted and stayed high on his forehead as Clavell posed the question of not
when but where. And suddenly the azure-eyed man was grinning wickedly, his head all
of a sudden filling with so many different and possible places where the two of them, a
band of followers in tow, could paint the town red. All that from the clap on his shoulder
and a word of question. Vegas stood tall in his mind, hauling his muggle friends all the
way over there would be a task nearing impossible, but Izaak was soon driven to find a
way to overcome it because really, was there a better place for the crew to crash? And it
would be one of what Izaak hoped would be many international trips with his best friend. "Lets go to f***ing Vegas!" He burst out rowdily, allowing the drink to grab a better hold
of him, laughter on his lips not soon after. But even through the cloudiness his lowered
inhibitions had found him in, Izaak noted a certain restlessness in Clavell. Was that there
disappointment in his eyes? Izaak craned his neck, swivelling to where his mates eyes
had been anchored and yet he found not a soul worth that kind of expression. But it was
probably just the alcohol at large in the both of them, all these illusions and imaginings.
With a shake of his head and a smile brighter that the lights of Vegas on his lips, Izaak
spoke with a laugh in his tones, "Thank god man, I was beginning to think I would have
to ring in Melodie to fill your shoes." The chuckle finally rose in his throat as he clapped
his friends shoulder firmly, regretting all the years that had slipped through the fingers of
the duo or trio, rather. "Sh*t yeah, when you guys won the Qudditch House Cup you had
me in stitches man. I dont think Professor Silver was all that impressed and I dont think
Mels was either as a Puff. But ahh, pull something half as funny as that at the reception
and I will be a happy, happy man Clavell." Izaak, still grinning hugely at the memory of
the pathetic loss Hufflepuff had suffered back in the days and, being a lion at heart, the
reeling victory Gryffindor had celebrated. But still Marcus didnt seem like, well, Marcus,
at least he hadnt a few minutes ago and Izaak would not stand for being left in the dark
if something was up. "You okay?" Izaak asked with a brotherly hand upon his shoulder.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Seriously!" Marcus almost spluttered, wiping his chin clean just in case.
Las Vegas was a muggles paradise would it really be fair to set a bunch
of wizards in to the arena? Marcus turned and looked at Finch tentatively. "Why Las Vegas man, surely there are some awesome wizarding equivalents?"
he had plenty of wizarding money but was pretty much boneless when
it came to muggle currency.
His eyes squinted a little as he turned to face Izaak once again. The mention
of Melodie had stirred something in him that he had thought long gone, long
dead. He knew he'd always care about her but he had moved on, hadn't he?
She was his teenage dream of absolutely everything perfect and she had
also been the one that got away. Melodie Lowe had considered him nothing short
of a louse, a rascal and had wanted nothing to do with him. Not for the first
time did he wonder what had become of her and to hear Izaak mention her
now caused his palms to sweat. "You... you're still in contact with Mel?" he drank from his glass, not looking
at him anymore. Waiting to hear her name again, how many times had Annalise
thrown it at him in an argument that he always seemed to be thinking about
some one else and not her. He hadn't meant to of course but unbidden she
would pop in there again and again as if to haunt him.
Izaak had always been perceptive of course and Marcus knew it had only
been a matter of time before his strange behaviour warranted some mention.
He reached into his own pocket retrieving his wallet and flipped it open. There
didn't appear to be anything significant about the photographs wedged inside.
All of himself and Finch in their younger years, him and the team but from the
back he pulled out a picture that had been ripped in four and was now held
together with tape. "That's Annalise, my ex-fiancee" he sighed, drowning another drink.
<i></i>
<SIZE size="50">credits:
graphics - moi
Quote - John Mayers
notes: sorry for delay in posting had no muse for Marcus
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