What did you call me?! (open)

[aleric]

Yawn. Today was the day of cold. It was crisp outside, which led Aleric to wear a warm, wool coat that was black, running to his thigh. It was very warm, and complementary to the Hufflepuff scarf and tie that he wore under it. He figured that if today was going to be cold, he would look hot. Just for good measure.

He could hear the bustle of his fellow students behind him. All of which spoke clearly to one another, laughing, having a good time. It was so endearing to see that people could always rely upon one another, rather than feeling the desolation of loneliness.
Yes, humans were amazing creatures. But, like always, there were some that were willing to hurt. Simple words that seemed to be permanantly imprinted in one's brain.

Painful exclusions that one just couldn't seem to forget. But life was always what it was. Simple if only in a complicated way. And today, for sure, he could feel the need for some sort of friendships.
Since Steven had left him he didn't find it really fulfilling to be in his classes anymore. How sad. Aleric wasn't that thrilled with being close to people that weren't going to like him, so that was why he liked Steven... but Steven hadn't had any friends.

What a problem.
Of course, with the realization that they had been pretty much the other's friend it was saddening. They had been so close, and yet had mutually agreed an ending was neccicary for their relationship... just because he wouldnt' be there anymore.
They had to make friends. Damn. That was easier said than done, wasn't it? Yes, indeed it was.

He ran a hand through his thick black hair and turned to look at the students that were entering into the thresh hold of the school. Amazing. So, to find a friend....

[cheynesilverstone]

The cold air seemed to nip at Cheyne's heels relentlessly as he walked towards Hogwarts once more. It was a very brisk day today, and Cheyne wrapped his cloak further around him, trying to retain some heat. The wind blew his thick hair, mussing it even more than usual, and his breath made frosty tendrils in the air. He hoped that the weather would warm up soon, he wouldn't miss the chill in the air at all. Never the less, he wouldn't have missed his morning walk for the world. He loved being outdoors, and having fresh air actually reach his lungs.

He joined the crowd of people heading towards the building, nodding to people he knew and smiling at people he didn't. He liked being the friendly one. He guess he just liked socialising full stop. He was never quite certain of the lone people. Oftentimes he tried to make friends with them because he felt sorry. But most didn't seem to take too kindly to the offer of friendship, and he wasn't quite sure why that was. He'd sooner die than be without a friend in the world.

Cheyne looked up, his dark eyes glancing around the yard, in search for someone to join as he reentered the school. Scanning the crowd, his eyes fell on Aleric, searching his mind for a second to wonder where he had seen him before. Ah yes. He was the love Elijah was talking about. Well, if he was good enough for Elijah, he must be an awesome person. He was also a Hufflepuff it seemed. He had to make members of his house feel welcome! Cheyne approached him with a warm smile on his face, his eyes directly on Aleric.

"Hey, man, how's it going?"

[aleric]

The cold air was starting to get to him, though he knew that it would be dank and chill in some parts of the castle, too. He would much rather be out here in the middle of the sun that shone down in the clear, clean air than inside where it reeked of mold and the smell of potions that had blown up or gone wrong somehow. And, being outside, anyway, was a good thing for his complexion. You didn't want to be a pale asian, that wouldn't end well, would it?

The Hufflepuff was watching a straight couple prance about, kissing and holding hands and he wished, for a second, that Elijah would allow public displays of affection. Though he'd already been seen making out with him when they were in the hallway! Gah, Elijah was still an enigma to him! It was as if he was something else that Aleric couldn't read, but knew how to please and keep happy.

As long as he could have that body and that kind personality Aleric was happy.
Off in his own thoughts a voice startled him, making him jump slightly and spill the books in his arms onto the ground. "Oh... bother." he said lightly, kneeling down to scoop them up.

"I'm sorry, you startled me!" the Hufflepuff said surely, a blush forming over his face. He'd made an idiot out of himself and had dropped his books in the snow! Damn!
"Um... do I know you? I um... don't think I do... or are you one of Elijah's friend? Or a guy who wants to beat the crap out of me? Either one is fine..." Aleric sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

Wait... he'd seen him in the common room. Lucky for this guy he wasn't one of the homophobes that had kicked Aleric from his dorm and made him sleep on the couch for the past two years!

[cheynesilverstone]

Cheyne jumped in turn, as Aleric himself jumped, and scattered his books everywhere.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry about that!" Cheyne said, stooping down to help Aleric pick up his books. He hadn't meant to startle the other Hufflepuff! And now he felt slightly bad for doing so. He was wondering where Aleric's thoughts were, he seemed on another planet almost. Cheyne looked up from amidst helping Aleric pick up his books, and directed his gaze to where Aleric's eyes had been cast earlier. A straight couple were coyly with each other in the distance. Cheyne again had to wonder what he was thinking of.

"I'm sorry, you startled me!" The Hufflepuff spoke to him then, snapping him out of his own thoughts, and he looked back at Aleric.
"Oh no, my fault entirely," Cheyne said, instead putting his friendly smile back on his face, as he stood up and handed over the last remaining books Cheyne was holding to Aleric.
"Um... do I know you? I um... don't think I do... or are you one of Elijah's friend? Or a guy who wants to beat the crap out of me? Either one is fine..."
Cheyne paused then, his face frowning in deep thought. Obviously this Hufflepuff hadn't had much of luck with people around here. Cheyne shook his head. He didn't understand how people could be so cruel. Aleric was a person, just like he was. He could never be intentionally cruel to anyone.

Cheyne sighed, and supposed he'd better start again. He held out a hand in offer to shake, and returned the warmness back to his face.
"Sorry, let's try this again. I'm Cheyne, and yes, I'm a friend of Elijah's. How are you?"
He hoped that this offering would bring some peace amongst them. Cheyne was just the type to befriend anybody, and he held no prejudices against anyone.
"And again, I'm sorry for startling you." He added.

[aleric]

It hadn't been hard to pick up his things. He licked his lips and took the books that were offered to him with a smile on his face and then he took the offered hand. "I'm Aleric..." he didn't know if this guy knew about Elijah and his attraction to Aleric and that the two were a pair... So he wouldn't tell, because Elijah had said that some of his friends wouldn't be his friend anymore and that he had to "hold onto the friends that he had".

The young asian looked him over and grinned. "I'm the kid that's always asleep on the couch." That was how most Hufflepuffs knew him. He was the muggleborn that slept on the couch. Because he'd been kicked from his dorm. Bloody idiots! Cain didn't like people like that.

Of course, they apparently didn't like him much, either!
He couldn't help but smile at that. How he loved to be near people! They were so fickle sometimes!

"It's fine. I shouldn't have been zoned out." he said quietly, opening his messenger bag and slipping the books inside it. "So... how do you know Elijah... WHAT do you know about Elijah?" he wanted to know what he could talk about and what he couldn't.

[cheynesilverstone]

Cheyne smiled as Aleric did shake his hand. He still felt kind of bad for startling him, but he was glad that the other male did want to be friendly at the very least. He was unsure how to react when he mentioned that he was the one who sleeps on the couch, but it brought to mind that Cheyne did know him somewhat, not directly, but he had seen him there. He had always wondered what his story was, but Cheyne was more than aware that perhaps a few of his class mates were homophobic.

"Elijah, we're pretty good mates," Cheyne said, before glancing around. He wasn't too sure if what he was going to say next was public knowledge. In case it wasn't he didn't want anyone else overhearing. Elijah seemed pretty cool, and they'd gotten to know each other well. Cheyne decided that rather than have Aleric twisting his words to try and avoid letting anything drop, he might as well let Aleric know that he knew what was happening between the two.

"Don't worry," Cheyne said under his breath. "I know about you two."

[bellbell]

(Hope you don't mind if I join you two...but Bella needs some good interaction with fellow students...on good terms...since she normally argues and fights)

The day had been started out with two of her most favorite classes: Potions and Charms. But the fact that it was freezing cold, erased any joy that might have existed. Bella hated being cold, it made her concentrating and focusing hard and, at the moment, she was chilled to the bone since she wasn't paying attention the weather and what she was putting on as she was in a daze (like always). Teeth chattering, Bella hastily walked towards her next class, trying to warm herself due to her desperate need of focusing. All around her, students were yelling and laughing and causing her a huge headache. It irritated her. Friends. It was just a word, no meaning. With her personality, friendship was rare for Bella as she made more enemies than friends.

The laughing and talking meshed together forming one big, jumbled up mass of noise. The pounding in Bella's head increased. She began to run trying to block out the unwelcome sounds from her ears, not paying attention to where she was going and unintentionally walking into someone...and dropping her books for the fourth time, "Oh my god! I am so sorry," she said, her breath white puffs in the chilly air as she scrambled to pick up her books. Maybe today just wasn't her day? Bad temperatures, concentration problems, dropping books left and right, noisy hallways. She sighed, maybe she could just head back up to her dorm and sleep? Probably not a good idea. Skipping was what Alice and Edward did.... and detention was often the result though they, both being good in the art of enchanting, normally weaseled themselves out.

Bella sighed, her books once again in her arms. Why was she so damn clumsy? "I am so sorry..." began Bella, as she turned to look at the person she had bumped into. Cheyne. "Oh....its you...from the library..." Bella turned to see Aleric standing near him. Aleric. Bella resisted the urge to smack him for kissing her in the Great Hall. It hadn't been his fault that there had been an explosion and stupid mistletoe was singing stupid songs but the fact that he could've kissed another random girl....or guy other than her annoyed her. But if she hadn't been in a daze, she would've saw it coming. She sighed cursing herself for not being a morning person, "Hi Cheyne. Hi Aleric,"

[cheynesilverstone]

Cheyne rubbed his hands together briskly, mainly to keep them from freezing. He didn't want to have to go to hospital wing for frostbite. He blew on them, hoping that the warm air from his breath would help in the defrosting process. He gestured towards the entrace with his head, before speaking, "Well, shall we venture inside? It's getting rather chilly out here, and I don't think it's a good idea to allow either one of us to freeze."

He fought back a shiver, feeling goose bumps arising on his skin. Swiping a lock of hair behind his ears, he moved from foot to foot, hoping at least some motion would help get the blood circulating whilst he awaited Aleric's answer. All of a sudden there was a thud as someone knocked him from behind. He sprawled forward, quickly trying to retain his footing and nearly slipping over on the frosty step. He managed to catch himself just in time thankfully, though had to put out a hand to steady himself on Aleric as a result. He hoped the other person didn't mind, it was a reflex action. He turned once he'd got his stability back, to see one of the girls he saw in the library, picking up her books. Cheyne grinned. This seemed to be a common reaction around him.

For the second time he bent over to help the other person pick up their school books. He handed them back to her, waving off her apology with a "Don't worry too much about it" and a smug smile. She seemed to recognise him also, from their brief encounter at the library.

"Yes, it is I. My name is actually Cheyne. And you are?" He asked.

OOC: I don't mind at all. The more the merrier!

[aleric]

Aleric gave his Healiing Book a once over. It was his chosen field and he knew that he would be fairly good at it. And, when the other Hufflepuff said that he knew about Aleric and Elijah a smile etched over his face. So, Elijah wasn't ashamed of him! He felt very much better, and he even felt like he could greet someone with a little more vigor than had been possible the past few days. Aleric smiled at his new aquaintance and realized that he was nice enough to be considered a friend. That was good.

The Fifth year nodded "So, he is that close to you? I'm proud of him. He doesn't make friends easilly and friends that he'll tell about me must be real friends to Elijah who chooses to surround himself with fake friends that would leave him at the drop of a pin."
Of course, Aleric would never leave Elijah for something stupid. He was as much his friend as he was a boyfriend. Elijah could tell him about anything... unless he cheated and Aleric had to kick his ass, then forgive him gracefully.

About to speak a second time the boy that he was spoken to was knocked forward and inch or so and a girl dropped her books, much as he had done. He blinked a little softly, then smiled at their new Gryffindor addition. "Are you alright?" he asked, kneeling down in the snow once again to help her lift her books.
After waving a quick drying spell on them he looked at Cheyen's hands.
"Would you like me to warm those? I'm a healer in training, so I know what I'm doing if that helps at all..." he smiled cutely, then shrugged. "If you want I could even warm your clothes!" Aleric was talented at homemaking magic.

Then he recognized the girl. Blue eyes widened and a blush spilled over his fair cheeks. Oh, darn...
"Um... Hi..." he said shyly, all of a sudden, followed by a rushed "I AM SO SORRY!"

[bellbell]

Bella shivered, wishing, for the millionth time, that she had worn something more warmer and suitable for the days cold temperature. Flashing a small smile at the grinning Cheyne, Bella bent her hips to so she could balance her books on her hip and make it possible for her to reach up with her free hand and massage her pounding temples, "Nice to meet you, Cheyne," said Bella, dropping her hand from her forehand and resume holding her books in both hands. "I'm Bella from Gryffindor," Well, that was a bit stupid. Of course he knew she was from Gryffindor, from the colors she was wearing. But still she wanted to make sure that he didn't confuse her with the other, more sociable Bella (Isabella Swan) though it was pretty pointless as they (they being Isabella and Cheyne) were both in the same house of Hufflepuff.

From the corner of her eye, Bella caught sight of two girls giggling over some unknown joke which, strangely reminded her of her and Vas. She wondered if Vas was still mad at her for that incident where she had tried to kill herself....and ruin Vas' moment of socializing with her ultimate crush, the serpentine prince: Regulus Black. Even now, after all her years of being at Hogwarts and being Vas' friend, she could not even think why, of all the handsome guys at Hogwarts, that Vas had "fallen" head-over-heels for Regulus. Another sad fact would be that not only had her best friend fallen for the guy but her cousin dated the scumbag.

Bella nearly slipped on the ice from surprise when Aleric decided to shout out a quick apology. She really needed to learn how to not space out and stay focused on the present. Turning quickly to face him, she noticed his red face and wide blue eyes. Bella couldn't help herself, she let out a soft giggle. It was so funny, "Its fine," laughed Bella, her purple eyes lightening with amusement, all anger gone. Leave it to Aleric to lighten the moment.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, small white flakes began to fall from the sky, as the air gradually became more cold and the wind more treacherous. A snow fall. Teeth chattering, Bella hugged her books tighter, trying to stay as warm as possible and then out of the blue a idea blossomed in her mind. Smiling slyly, Bella said a spell to make her books float in midair and, bending over, grabbed a fistful of snow in each hand and then threw it at the Hufflepuff boys.

[cheynesilverstone]

Cheyne still had to wonder why people had so many books. He chose to hide his in a secret cubby hole within the castle. That saved him from having to cart things back and forth. Though he guessed that not many people were as lazy as him, and actually did do some work. Cheyne watched the reaction on Aleric's face when he mentioned that he knew about the two of him. It was obvious that he was as into Elijah as Elijah had mentioned he was into Aleric. Well, that was always a good start to any coupling.

"So, he is that close to you? I'm proud of him. He doesn't make friends easilly and friends that he'll tell about me must be real friends to Elijah who chooses to surround himself with fake friends that would leave him at the drop of a pin."

Cheyne shrugged his shoulders at Aleric's words, being friendly to people and keeping secrets was the one thing he truely excelled in. He nodded towards Aleric before speaking. He knew a lot of people who faked friendships. It wasn't particularly a nice thing to do. Cheyne had been burnt many times. When he befriended someone, in his eyes, thick or thin, they were friends forever. Cheyne was far too trusting, and usually that was his downfall when it came to the manipulative malicious sort who used and abused his friendships.

"I befriend everyone," Cheyne grinned, "And I guess I come across as the trustworthy sort. I'm happy for you guys. It must be nice to have someone you're a hundred percent into."

Aleric offered to warm his hands, and Cheyne laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender.
"Really, they're alright now. It's more for the sake of keeping moving that I do things like that..."
Cheyne was suddenly cut off as Aleric blurted out an apology to the Gryffindor girl, and blushed. Cheyne raised an eyebrow, looking at the two curiously, wondering what that was all about. Bella giggled, and Cheyne wondered if there had been some previous misunderstanding. It's the only thing he could really pin it down to.

He realised that Bella was shivering and her teeth clicking together from the snow, and went to shrug off his cloak to give it to her. "Here," he said, about to hand the cloak to her. Just at that moment, her books were floating in mid air, and as Cheyne reached out he was pelted with snow. He stood there, gob smacked for a second, mouth gaping. Finally he regained some composure, and a mischievious sparkle entered his eyes.

"Right, if that's the game we're playing..." He said, putting his cloak on the bannister and brushing down his now slightly damp clothing. He returned Bella's gesture with a handful of his own snow, though this time he snuck around behind her, aiming to put it down her back.

[aleric]

The idea of fixing anyone's problems was soon forgotten by the small Hufflepuff as the other two seemed to ignore it. Ah, well. Just because he was a major in healing didn't mean he had to help everyone because some people didn't want to be helped and that was all that should have mattered. Aleric blt down on his lip and smiled to the people that were carrying on their little conversation, and decided that it was best to remain in the backgroud, he didn't want this guy to have to be embarrassed... and he also didn't want Elijah to find out about how he'd kissed this girl. Elijah knew Aleric was gay, but it would still cause a fight, Aleric was sure of it.

But that was fine.

He took a step back when something cold hit him and he blinked stupidly. Yes, this was just amazing. Aleric shivred at the attack, then, quickly, his brain shifted into gear and he realized that they were playing. Aleric hadn't played since his first year. Not in the snow anyway! He watched her, then put his things down on the wall (in which he vanished the snow from and set a protection spell on his books) Ok, so it was hard for him to get new books. His parents both being muggles Aleric didn't want them to go where they were uncomfortable any more than they had to!

He quickly cast and Impervious charm on his clothes, her clothes, and those of his friend and picked up his own snowball, patting them down and throwing at Cheyne.