A Letter From Nowhere (for Drew)

[bella]

“No, I guess nothing good in life comes easily, does it? I mean, I had to be forcefully dragged into a freezing cold lake and drenched myself before I got what I wanted.” Bella laughed quietly, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t call that easy, maybe fun, but not easy. And for the record,” she added with a grin, “Very smooth.” She could bother to compliment him now, her mind going haywire. His expression didn’t help much and it was hard to keep her smile form not growing any more then it already was. Drew was a dork, but she liked him as a dork. He couldn’t be improved upon.

"You're going to have to be rung out and hung up to dry you're so wet." Bella bit her bottom lip, his touch making her melt with a small chill. It was all she could do to keep herself from shivering, but not from the cold of the water; from the warmth of his hand. Her eyes trailed his fingers and down his arm, ending back at his eyes. “You’re probably right,” she sighed, “It’ll probably take a while too.” She smirked, knowing it was nothing a good shower and a blow dryer couldn’t fix. She’d never been one for cheating her way out of a proper cleaning with magic, although she would have to do something about it before they went back to the castle…

For the first time that night she wondered what time it was, but when she’d figured a rough estimate, she wished it wasn’t right. Bella didn’t want to go back inside, just when she was finally making progress with him. She was scared she would wake up tomorrow and all of it a dream. She would be a bookworm again and he would be the annoying crush who wouldn’t let her study peacefully. Bella wanted to ask him what would happen tomorrow, but she knew it would be wasted – he wouldn’t give her a real answer. He didn’t do serious.

[drew]

"Like I said, everything takes juuuust a little bit of effort." Actually, he'd just been talking about how nothing had to have effort. Well, she'd get point. The water rushed smoothly around them, and it had taken him until now to realize just how freezing it really was out there. Running a hand through his dripping hair, Drew looked up at the night sky, thousands of stars were out, and the moon was cast in a hazy cloud.

Squinting his eyes as he was just sure something had kicked him, he swam a little to the left. "Let's get out before we freeze. I don't know how I'd explain why they found you as an icicle in the morning." Drew didn't admit he was starting to go numb, what a difference a shirt could make. Swimming over to the edge he waited for her to get out before he would. The moon light really made her look even prettier. Haaaah, that's a good line to keep in your head, and not vocalize. Cheesy things like that got you the casual snort.

The water waved a little and Drew looked around. God all he could imagine was those bloody muggle movies. He kept having the jaws theme music repeating over and over in his head. Haha, actually that made the situation better. "Ahh that's too bad it'll take a while. Guess you'll just have to, you know....stay out here with me until you dry." Drew grinned, shrugging his shoulders. "A real shame." He wanted to kiss her again, but Drew wasn't one to push his luck.

[bella]

Let’s get going. The words she had been dreading all night. Bella didn’t want to go, but no matter how many times she reworded it, they all sounded helpless and pitiful and weak. It wasn’t weak to like someone, was it? Surely it was okay to have something of a personal grudge against the castle just because she didn’t want to go back inside? Because she didn’t want to leave Drew? Yes, they shared the same House – which Bella had never been more grateful for – but obviously they couldn’t stay locked up in the Common Room all the time. That was just ridiculous.

He waded on the edge and regrettably Bella followed him in pursuit, tugging herself up onto the shore. Bella sat down where she’d gotten out and finally took in her appearance. Her clothes seemed to stick even worse, now being forced against her from the air. “Ugh, yuck,” she muttered, pulling her shirt off from her stomach and letting it snap back against her skin. “You’re lucky you can just take your shirt off whenever you feel like it, this is not what I would call comfortable.” A few water droplets fell down her back, which made her forget her soaked clothes and take her tangled ponytail out and squeeze her hair. Water spilled out, dripping along her hands.

"Ahh that's too bad it'll take a while. Guess you'll just have to, you know....stay out here with me until you dry." Bella looked up from her wet hair and smiled. So maybe he didn’t want to go either. “Yeah, real shame,” she agreed lightly although couldn’t be more thrilled. She set back to her hair, more water steaming from the tips. “How much water could I possibly absorb in one swim? This is crazy.” Bella shook her head again, spraying water. “This might take just a little longer then I thought…” Oh well, she thought pleasantly. Any excuse to stay outside longer.

[drew]

Finally getting the chance Drew put his arms down on the sand and pushed himself up and out of the water. He slid out and moved backwards, coming up to sit beside Bella. His pants were soaking wet, and they were jeans. Jeans, they didn't dry so fast. Not like he really cared if they did or not. Looking over Bella and her soaking wet hair and body, he decided she didn't look so bad wet. In fact, she might even look better. There was some kind of ice between them that had been broken that night, he'd seen a different side to her that he liked.

Drew laughed and threw up his hands. "Hey, you can take your shirt off whenever you feel like it, I don't mind." His chuckle only continued to come forth as he thought about what she was going to say to that one. Leaning over he pulled out his wand and lit a fire, he had to get dry enough to put his own shirt back on. If he went to put it on soaking wet, there would have been no point to taking it off at all. Accept to entertain Bella. Water kept dripping out of her hair and he was silently grateful boys were meant to have short hair. So much less of a, well...problem.

"I don't know, maybe you're secretely a mer maid....ahhh and that's why you were in such denial" He added, knowing his theory was completely bogus, which he'd done on purpose. He laid his head against the rock and watched as his fire finally started to get going. Ah heat. "Want to stop worrying about the fire and sit down by me and the fire so you can actually dry?" He suggested. "I'll help get you warm" Drew laughed.

[bella]

Bella’s eyes narrowed, “Yes, I’m sure you’d like that, now wouldn’t you? Sorry Drew, but I do have some morals. I broke rules for you, I can’t say I’m willing to break morals already too.” It hushed her up about being wet though, even if it were rather uncomfortable. She didn’t like feeling sticky; who in their right mind would ever want to be sticky? She occupied herself with her hair again, but it was pointless now. She’s rung out all the water she was going to get – now she was simply just wet.

She couldn’t help but laugh at the mermaid bit. “Oh yes, I’m a mermaid and you’re a vampire – I’d definitely say a lovely combination, no? Hopefully you’re not limited to just human blood, I mean, what if I’m poisonous to you?” She raised an eyebrow in question, “That would just put a downer on everything,” Bella added a matter-of-factly.

The little fire he had lit hadn’t been doing much, but it suddenly seemed to gain life and there was a faint orange glow around them now. Her body ached for the warmth it was giving and had almost made up her mind about moving closer when Drew mention it himself. Bella smiled briefly and shifted her wet body next to him, who wasn’t much drier.

Bella was given the opportunity to be a true girl again, glancing at Drew whom remained shirtless. Undoubtedly he’d hoped she would flaunt over him, and giving him that satisfaction didn’t bug her in the least. Her inner girl just screamed at her for being such a dork and allowing any space between them, but her sensible side kept her simply content with sitting beside him. “Drew, can I ask you something?” Bella purposefully kept her tone casual – no need to scare him away if he feared serious.

[drew]

"I was just kidding Bella. Just thought I'd come up with a simple solution for you." Drew knew he was always getting at her, but that's just what he did, with everybody. It kept things interesting, even when it wasn't in a good way. For one, when people wanted to start with them, it drove them through the roof when nothing they said could get an angry reaction out of him. So entertaining to Drew, needless to say.

"Mermaids poisonous to a vampire? That's one you don't learn in those school books of yours isn't it. I guess we'll just have to find out some time" nodding seriously he looked back at the fire. She sat herself down beside him, one of the first things she'd agreed to do that he had suggested. They were both stubborn in their own way, and knew it as well.

Raising an eyebrow at her question he scooted his legs closer to the fire, any closer and he'd light them ON fire. "Go for it...." He answered, smiling at her. Maybe she wasn't quite as close as he wanted, but it was a good sign all the same that she had sat next to him. Hmm maybe it had to do with the shirt thing. He'd nearly forgotten he wasn't wearing one. Eh. Drew didn't care much for clothes, if it was up to him, no one would wear them. Wasn't that every guy's dream? Drew just thought it because they weren't comfortable.

[bella]

All his comments seemed lost, her mind so focused but scared to ask him. She wasn’t sure she could handle rejection, not after she’d finally been able to open up to him and him in return to her. She’d seen a lot more of Drew tonight then in their past years knowing each other and didn’t want it all to go to waste just because she had been to curious to keep her mouth shut. Bella took a low breath, and began:

“Drew, I know it’s a lot to ask of you, but I want a serious answer, okay? Feel free to joke all you want afterwards, but I really am curious, and I want to know.” She paused for a moment, not exactly sure how to vocalize her girlish fears to him. I swear, if he laughs at me… Well, she would get to that later if he dared tried and turn her words around as something to laugh about.

“I’ve had a lot of fun tonight, but what’s going to happen tomorrow? The next time you see me, studying or whatever, are you just going to act like nothing ever happened? That I’m just the girl with the books again? Because I don’t want you to be the crush who won’t leave me alone when I’m trying to work again.” Bella felt embarrassed at how defeated her voice sounded. She could just feel it; she had just blown any chance she had with him.

Bella finally gave in, shifting herself closer so that she could very well lean against him if she wanted to. Maybe it would prove to be supporting evidence to her words, she didn’t really care. But if this was her last time to ever be this close to him, she was going to take full advantage of it. “I don’t want to be the girl with the books,” she repeated lamely in a final sort of tone, staring at her fidgeting fingers – it was too hard to look up.

[drew]

He flicked ash off of his clothes that floated threw the air and over to them. Where it had come from he had no idea, there wasn't any wood to feed the flames. Looking down he saw the rim of his pants began to turn a charcoal black. Drew thought it was getting a little warm. Jerking his legs away, he pulled them closer to him. Waiting for Isabella's reply he turned his full focus to her, she was taking awhile to get started on this question she had for him.

A serious answer? This had to be some question. Drew cleared his throat and faced her, trying to keep it that way...serious....eep. "You won't be." He said straight-forward, there was no clowing around look in his face. "You were never quite just the girl with the books. Hehe, and you can't be, there's just too much going on with you to not take notice." He watched as she moved closer and gladly welcomed it. He'd upset her somwhere down the line, he hadn't paid enough attention to Bella. He should have, but he was definitely going to now.

Isabella looked dead serious about everything she just said, so Drew answered just like that, dead serious. It was a feat, but even he could be serious when the moment was right. He'd fallen for her, hating to admit it himself. "And you know..." He smiled just slightly, linking her hand in his. "Despite what you may think, you being smart and all? It's a turn on." He was no idiot himself, and spending his time with anything else was a waste.

[bella]

“You won’t be.” Bella’s eyes widened, but she still didn’t dare look up. Her stomach was doing flips and she was even having trouble as it was breathing – why make it harder on herself? She didn’t want to see his smirk or listen to him laugh or watch his gaze try to examine if she was just joking or not. Bella focused on her hands, swearing she might as well drive a hole threw them she was concentrating so hard.

She was in absolute shock as he started talking, having never heard him speak so calmly before. It wasn’t what he was telling her – she had no problem with that – but that he could actually hold composure long enough to really give her an answer. A small, grateful smile spread along her lips involuntarily – just the fact that he had given her a real answer made her insides churn, but in a good way this time. It forced her to realize that he actually cared about her. On some level, it was scary, but the side that had been dying to have confirmation on that was winning over and she didn’t feel so worried anymore.

“And, you know…” If her stomach doing flips wasn’t enough, her heart did something of a flop, watching his hand wind with hers, “Despite what you may think, you being smart and all? It's a turn on.” She couldn’t stop the small laugh that escaped her lips. “I guess that’s good to know,” she grinned, her tone lighter, although she was still speaking to her hands. She shouldn’t be scared to look at Drew, he’d just told her she wasn’t just another girl to him, hadn’t he? But maybe she wasn’t scared; maybe she just wanted to do something different.

Bella settled herself against him and finally let her tense posture relax, resting her still damp head against his bare shoulder and sighing deeply. She didn’t use the term often, but perfect seemed to be the only word. Her gaze still hadn’t left her hand, locked along side Drew’s. He cared about her. That small thought kept her smile planted on her lips. She felt embarrassed for even thinking it, but deep in the back of her mind there was a small hope that a smile wouldn’t be the only thing on her lips for long.

Bella was finally able to mount a small ounce of courage and looked up at him, “I know I already told you, but I’m glad we didn’t go the library tonight.” Her smile threatened to turn into a smirk, “Really, really glad.”

[drew]

Clearly, she was shocked that Drew Marino could be serious. Yes, it was a long stretch, took hours of vigorous training, praticing a serious pose in front of the mirror, but he did it. Nah I'm just kidding, but it still came as a shock to most people when he let it show. His life had been one miserable event to the next, so Drew taught himself thing thing called laughter. He just laughed at it, because it was better than sulking about it all.

"I hope it's good to know." He smiled. "You didn't sound so sure there shorty." Drew noted that she was talking to her hands, having a regular conversation with them. He grabbed them and pulled them around behind her back with a grin. "So that's who you were talking to this whole time, and I thought it was me." His smile broadened. Oh he certainly didn't mind her head on his shoulder, he didn't mind it at all. Drew's arm went around her and then he kicked the fire, blaming it fordestroying his pants. Though after his water expedition, they were pretty much gone to the dogs anyway.

"Yeah you did" He smirked. "But I don't get sick of hearing it." Staying up late and reading books in the libary, yeah that was fascinating and all....but sitting by the lake, dripping wet, holding a girl close to you in front of a fire, heh....that one won. "You don't smell like a wet dog when you dry do you?" Drew looked suspiciously at her, it could only last for so long. Serious to him, was good in short measures. Then it became a bore.

[bella]

“Hey!” she accused as he pulled her hands behind her back, “So that's who you were talking to this whole time, and I thought it was me.” Her lips formed a hard line, “Oh ha ha ha. You think you’re really funny, don’t you?” But she made no move to try and pull her hands back around, figuring it might be wasted effort – she had a suspicious feeling he wasn’t going to let her move them, pin her to the ground if he must. It was that thought that made her want to try and undo his lock, just to see if he would or not. She couldn’t help but laugh a little bit out loud, hoping it would play off from her comment as opposed to her thoughts. She could be a little selfish sometimes; Bella didn’t want to share him. Not that there was an astounding amount of people around to fend off at the moment, but still.

Bella finally took note of Drew’s singed pant leg, holding back another laugh. “Do you always burn your pants?” she asked, amused by the charcoaled blackness. “This some sort of new fashion you’re trying out? Because I have to be honest, I’m not sure I approve…do you want to go around smelling burnt?” He seemed angry at the fire for having lit his jeans, so she didn’t really think he’d done it on purpose. Although she wouldn’t put it past him if he wanted her attention. She had to hold back another laugh: if Drew thought he had to burn himself to get her attention, he didn’t know her very well.

“You don't smell like a wet dog when you dry do you?” Bella rolled her eyes, “Well, normally I don’t sit around and wait to dry out – you ever heard of a towel? It’s this new invention, I think you’d like it…” She looked at him pointedly, her eyes dancing against the dying flames, “But no, I don’t think I would, seeing as how you were wondering and all. I can’t say I’ve ever smelt like a dog period…and I don’t ever plan to either,” she added as an afterthought, smirking some.


OOC: *Clicky click*

[drew]

Drew's lips set, and he looked like he was comptemplating. "It doesn't really matter if I'm funny or not, I'm still gonna do it." Alas, it was a curse. Drew didn't really think so, but it was almost getting to the point that he couldn't control it. Being solem was a waste of time anyway. Smirking, Drew's eyes turned to her own. "It's a whole lot better than smelling like a dog." She didn't smell like one, but he had to keep it going now that he had started it up. In fact, she smelt beautiful. Like flowers.

"Yeah, course I do it on purpose! Who doesn't want to look like a homeless person who can't afford a decent pair of trousers? It's the "in" thing with muggles, or didn't you know?" Moving his arm he allowed himself to fall backwards in the sand, looking up at the stars. Drew liked the whole star gazing thing alright, especially when there was a girl around. They liked that sort of stuff, for an unexplainable reason.

"Towels, come now, those are awfully overrated." Bella wouldn't be able to see his smile this time as he stared upwards. He was trying to keep his mind off the fact that she looked gorgeous, and the only thing that could come into his head in return was Damn the sky made you feel small. Really, that was the only other thing he could think of? "That's good Bella. The burnt pants idea might work, but the dog perfume might be just the slightest bit far-fetched."

[bella]

“It's a whole lot better than smelling like a dog.” Bella rolled her eyes dramatically, “So I’m being accused of smelling like a dog then? That’s not very flattering Drew; I think you’re going to have to loose points for that one.” She wore a superior smile, wondering if he felt the need to recover those points or not. He was of course still high in the positives either way. The thought made her smile grow.

He seemed to actually defend his ruined pants and she couldn’t help but giggle after that. “So you’re basing your wardrobe of off Muggles then, do you? I can’t say I’ve ever seen one with burnt jeans, maybe holes, but…I’m thinking burnt is a bit of stretch.” Bella kept her tone mockingly serious, finding herself able to relax against him. Her comfy position didn’t last though, for Drew had slid his arm lower around her and was now lying across the moonlit sand. Bella figured that meant it was okay to move her hands and leaned back against them, still sitting upward. Her battle over whether it was alright to snuggle up against him was also short lived, his words breaking into her train of thought: “Towels, come now, those are awfully overrated.” With his form now further away, it was impossible to tell if he was being serious or not – his tone gave away nothing. Bella inwardly pouted; she didn’t want her back to him.

“That’s good Bella.” Alright, so maybe he didn’t think she smelt like a dog. It seemed like a ridiculous thing to hold a battle over, but neither seemed willing to drop it. “I suppose I can give you some points back for that,” she allowed, looking down at him over her shoulder. For a moment she forgot how to breathe, taken aback by his casual stance. He made it seem like he’d done this loads of times, gaze carefully set up at the sky. He seemed lost within his own thoughts and for some unexplainable reason that made him look all the more amazing. It didn’t help that he hadn’t ever pulled his shirt back on – it really wasn’t fair, teasing her like that. On purpose or not, it was still driving her mad. And quite suddenly the small distance between them seemed unbearable. Bella had no way of knowing if that had been his intention or not, but she didn’t find herself caring much. She let herself slide backwards onto her side and gave Drew a one armed hug, cuddling up against his side.

“What are you thinking about?” Bella asked slightly abruptly, unsure if she should be concerned by his silence or not. It wasn’t like him to keep quiet for so long. Besides, she liked hearing his voice.

[drew]

"Well this is news to me. I didn't even know I had any points to begin with. What does that make it now? 1,000,099?" Drew flicked her on the arm with a smirk. No, he wasn't nearly as full of himself as he made it out to be. He just liked messing about it, especially when he discovered he was getting rated. Still, he leaned over and kissed her one more time on the lips. "Does that give me my points back, or do you need a little bit more?"

"The're bound to get their sometime, I'm just one step ahead of the game." Muggles came out with the wierdest fashions, he knew because he spent most of his life being forced to dress like one. Over the years the jeans have been getting shorter, the tops lower cut. He figured give it ten more years and they wouldn't be wearing anything at all. Drew smiled widely as she snuggled down closer to him, exactly what he had wanted...of course. Points back for, that's good Bella. It was sure easy to win points with her. Drew closed his eyes for a moment and then looked at the stars again, they sort of made you fall asleep. They didn't GO anywhere. But I guess, they weren't really supposed to be exciting.

He rested his face against her neck now, guessing it was a safe move now that she had breached any gap that had been between the pair before. "Are you sure you want to know what's going on up there?" He smirked. "I'm flattered. For the first time, I think you've hinted that there's more then cobwebs." He looked back at the stars again, noticing just a subtle change. "Not much right now. Just that it's my last year, I don't know what I'm gonna do after school. And how beautiful you are" He grinned, knowing fully well that was a cheesy line.

[bella]

“Well this is news to me. I didn't even know I had any points to begin with. What does that make it now? 1,000,099?” Bella smiled lightly, answering “Don’t you know anything? All girls have a little rating scale to judge boys. None of them have ever mentioned it to you then?” She thought she had more to add to that, but her mind went fuzzy again, even during the smallest bits of affection. “Does that give me my points back, or do you need a little bit more?” Drew was always allowed more points. “I could always use a little bit more,” she allowed with a grin, knowing he was smart enough to put two and two together.

Bella was happy to note he didn’t mind her, being so close. It seemed silly to continue to worry about these sorts of things even as he willing offered up proof that she did in fact mean something to him. Maybe, on some subconscious level, she was still wry of abandonment. It seemed all her life that’s how it had worked – she had never really “had” anyone per say. It seemed the most sensible answer, even if it was hard to face. But she couldn’t worry about how long it would last; she would deal with that when it came. For now, she was just going to be happy with him, keeping him very close. Although she didn’t have to work very hard, Drew’s form lining hers gently. She liked how they fit together – it was one of those odd things you only ever read about in books, not really understanding until you’d experienced it for yourself.

“Are you sure you want to know what's going on up there?” Bella couldn’t stop herself from smirking. She didn’t have time to answer that one though: “I'm flattered. For the first time, I think you've hinted that there's more then cobwebs.” Now she had to bite her lip some to hold a laugh, “I know something’s up there, you just don’t use it a lot.” See, she had learned something after all. She could hold onto her insult, mild or not. But his voice broke back into her train of thought, listening to what really went on upstairs. It was a natural response, but the last bit made her insides squirm. There was another thing she’d picked up from him over the night: covering up thoughts with sarcasm; my the tables had turned. “You should see me when I’m actually cleaned up and presentable. You know, real girly: long gown, hair curled, and not smelling like a dog. Something much more alluring, like cherry blossom…” That was certainly her favorite, but she didn’t really feel the need to tell Drew that. Still, the part of her that was annoyed at him for being such a gentlemen told her to reward him for his efforts, no matter how small. “All the same, thank you. You’re very handsome yourself.” She figured she was allowed now, kissing him softly and longer then he had. “You don’t have a point scale, do you?” she teased lightly, doubting he did.