Strolling About

It was a lovely day out, the sky was a perfect shade of blue. As a plus the wind was a sight breeze, which blew the blonde wavy hair that belonged to Ellie Burgess into her eyes. With a swift motion of her hand she reached up and swiped the strands behind her ear. Her blue eyes scanned around the courtyard, trying to find a spot to set down in the grass. She then found a lovely spot by a tree that gave her shade so she could read. Sitting down with her back against the tree, she put thebook she carried out on her lap. The thick, old binding creaked and cracked as she opened it to a random page. The breeze lifted the corners a bit, but somehow that didnt faze Ellie in the least.

Page after page were flipped revealing the next one. Though books were one of the few things that could keep her busy and entertained, she didnt feel at all occupied. Her feet bounced together in anticipation to move. Ellie slammed the book shut. The slamming noise she caused attracted a few stares but she easily ignored them. On the ground still, Ellie allowed her feet to keep bouncing against each other. She looked at the passing students, wishing she wasnt so shy, she wanted to talk to someone. Though she didnt know how to keep a conversation going or start on with out messing up and getting tounge tied.

Brian lugged his books into his satchel and then tossed it over his shoulder. He could not study up in the common room because everyone was up and about, talking about this and talking about that. All of the younger students did not have much homework so if they were not outside, they were inside, and they did not shut up. Brian had to keep his grades up, and unluckily enough for him, this year was the hardest he had so far.

So, now, he found himself out in the courtyard under a tree with books sprawled out all around him. When he would get bored with one book, he would switch to another one, and continue the process. He was going to hang out with Cliff later on in the evening, so he had to stuff in as much studying as possible.

Things were going great until a book slammed shut. He averted his eyes from his potions textbook and looked up to see a younger looking Ravenclaw sitting across from him. He ignored her, at first, but then she started to tap her feet. His eyes shot up again and he plopped his hands down onto the book in front of him and let out a sigh. "I like to come to the courtyard and tap my feet together while other students are studying also. We have a lot in common, you and I." He raised his eyes and formed a smirk at the comment, saying it in a joking way, but trying to give her a hint about her feet tapping.

"So, tap buddy, what brings you down here to the courtyard?"

Hearing the sound of hands hitting a book caught Ellie's attention,she looked to where the sound came from and saw another person sitting by the same tree as her. But she noticed that he was trying to ignote her, she drifted off into space. Her head leaned back against the tree, tilting it so her closed eyes faced the swaying leaves. Her book still in lap slide off her lap as she continued to tap her feet together. She knew she could hardly talk to people, so her dream fell flat.

When the Gryffindor, who sat near by, started to talk on instinct Ellie opened her eyes and looked about. No one usually talked to her but when she saw no one near, she looked at him confused and pointed to herself. She tried to say 'Me', but nothing came out except a choaking sort of squeak. She lost all though, nothing came to mind, she just wanted to disbelieve.

When she noticed that he was staring right, her fear was confirmed. By now her feet had stopped tapping and sat stock still. He had asked her a question, she fought to regain herself so she could answer. Bitting on her botton lip, her breaths came as ragged and long. Though she knew it wouldn't work, she tried to answer anyways.

"Well I...I originally wanted to read." She hefted the large charms book back upon her lap. "Only I couldn't... I mean, I didn't feel like reading after I sat down." After the rushed answer, Ellie turned her head and covered her face. Not minding when her hair fell out of place, she actually liked it, it made a sort of curtain. In truth she felt like a fool, in her point of view, he probably saw her as sort of odd. [/i]

Brian smiled when he realized he had caught her off guard and that she was extremely nervous to be talking to him. He had been like that just last year, but only when talking to girls, especially Hitame. His brain would just melt away and he could do nothing but mumble the faint outline of what someone would call a word. Things were different now, he was extremely outgoing, and he could talk to anyone at anytime about anything.

"So, instead of reading, you just tap your feet together in the hopes that someone else will stop reading and socialize." He laughed to hopefully let her knew that he was joking and not being serious. He slammed his book shut and he set it to the side. "Well, if that was your plan, it certainly worked. I am Brian." He leaned forward and extended his hand, not real sure on the protocol of how to interact with a girl. "Handshakes are the hip thing to do, right?"

Ellie slid her hands halfway down her face. Obviously she was wrong about somethings in life, such as this. But being shy had its quirks, she wasnt good with talking, never has been and probably never will be. Instead she would try to converse with him. Sliding her hands the rest of the way down and and placed them in her lap she looked over at him once again. She let herself smile that was reassuring that she had caught on that he was only joking.

Lifting her hand she extended it out and took his hand. "My name is Eloise, but everyone calls me Ellie for short. Its nice meeting you Brian." Ellie said hoping it wasnt to formal. "Oh and the handshake is perfectly acceptable." She laughed, she had almost forgotten about the handshake. She let her hand drop back into her lap. She wanted to say something, but when she tried it nothing came out, so she let her mouth close shut. She agreed with herself that she would never be good with words.

Brian could tell, from her body language, that she was terribly shy and did not know how to converse. Brian, being the nice person that he was, decided he would do all of the talking. He did that most of the time anyways so it was not a big change. He smiled and he let his hand drop after they shook hands and he intentionally let silence fall over them and he stared directly at her, trying to make her feel uncomfortable so that talking actually became a comfort.

"Ellie," He started, sliding himself closer to her to make things a little more awkward. He propped his head against the tree he was sitting under and he looked up at the branches. Soon all of the leaves would be gone and he would be able to see the clouds from under the tree. "I want you to tell me what is exactly on your mind, right now, just whatever pops into it I want you to say it." He looked over and he smiled again. "Nothing you say could possibly offend me or make me think you are stupid."

As soon as he scooted closer Ellie stiffened, normally when people saw her they steered away knowing she was a naturally shy and a bit socially awkward person. Hinting to the fact she always sat alone. Of course being alone didnt bother her neither did the silence, in fact she was use to it. But being near another person, that was like throwing a person into a nightmare for her. So Ellie did the most reasonable thing that ran through her mind, she scooched a few inches away.

When she got to a 'comfy' distance away. She turned so she could see him a little better with out having to turn her head. Though she still sat in a stiff postion, she tried to think of things to say. Her eyes closed for few seconds to help her think as well as clear her mind of become blocked.

"Well... I'll try but im not the conversationalist. I never have been, the only person I ever talked to which lasted for hours was with my brother." She said with a little effort. "Some how they just come so naturally. Though me talking about my family must be boring. I should probably talk about something else." As Ellie finished her sentence, a soft furry lump moved from somewhere inside her robes up to the base of her neck. Her mouse Sil squeaked, and rubbed her nose with her paws. "Hi Sil! I almost forgot about you." She picked up Sil and set her mouse in her lap. "I'm really sorry. She usually never comes out unless its time for food, or we are in the common room."

( Sorry about the delay )

She scooted herself to a safe distance and Brian made himself comfortable in his respective place. He crossed his legs indian style and propped his chin in his hands to listen to what she was saying. She, like he had been once, thought that what they were saying was boring and would just keep their mouths closed in lieu of talking. He always felt like he had something to say, but he would think that no one cared, so he just would not talk. Oh how things had changed.

"No it isn't boring!" He said energetically. "It is much more entertaining than," He reached down and grabbed the Potions book he had been reading. "Potion's Through the Ages." He rolled his eyes at the book and then tossed it roughly to the ground. He heard a squeak and his eyes shot down to see a little mouse. His eyes widened and he fought back the temptation to scramble towards her. She did not seem like the kind of person who would take his up close and personal actions very well.

"Sorry about what?" He said while looking at the mouse with excited eyes. "I love mice! Can I hold her?" Brian loved animals, and he never had the chance to play with a mouse. He had seen other people with them, but he had never been friends enough to ask if he could hold them. "I will be gentle, I promise."

Ellie laughed, it felt very natural. She liked that she wasnt boring Brian. He truely was interested in what she was saying. She started to slowly change her mind about people, and what they might think of her. It was usually in the silence of a empty room that she could be herself, and when she needed to talk to someone it was usually to the little mouse buddy that layed curled up in her lap. But she started to like conversations with people, she liked the way they would talk to her back. So she decided she would talk a bit more often, though how long that would last, she didnt know exactly.

Gently she picked Sil up from off her lap, and a small squeak eminated from the tiny creature. Sil has always been her buddy from the good to the absolute worst times. Stroking Sils silky white-gray fur with her thumb, Ellie handed to small mouse to Brian. "Yeah. You can definately hold her. I dont mind." Ellie said through a smile. "She has a completely different personality than me. Shes a bit curious, she likes to scurry off to go find food. And i do feed her, just to let you know, but it surprises me how she managed to stay so tiny."

Ellie put her hands back in her lap. As well for her posture, which started to become more relaxed. Though she sat in a lady-like fashion, she started to slouch and become more relaxed. Her mind was in a bit of disarray, confused of what she usually does to what she wanted to do. But she tried her best to fight that back with a smile onher face.

His eyes lit up when she said he could hold the mouse. He reached forward and took the mouse into his hands and leaned back against the tree. A smile was played across his face as he let the little mouse scurry around his hands. He had to move his hands quite a bit so that Sils would not get out of his hand and run back to Ellie.

"I always thought mice were interesting, but my parents insisted on an owl, so I was given Sheed." He pulled his eyes away from Sils when she started to get a bit more comfortable with him. "I do not send that many letters so I never really get to see my owl. I always go and visit when I get time, though." He looked back down at Sils for a moment before finally handing her back. "Why did you choose the name Sils?"