|| "flowers {open}

[Callie Meyer]

I stayed outside for a moment feeling the crisp autumn air blow my hair off my face. I knew I couldn't just stand there forever, I was in everyones' way. For some reason I didn't want this term of school to start; I just felt like summer - though it was begining to feel like autumn more everyday - shouldn't, couldn't end.

I knew I was being paranoid. I was acting strange. I took a breath and entered the shop. The moment I took a breath of air in the busy, crowded shop I felt better. I loved this place, it had a special place in my heart. It had been my refuge when things at home were crazy.

I wondered around the crowded isles till I found a few magic flowers. They opened and closed at your will and if you were nice to them they would sing. My sisters would love them. I pulled a bag of coins from my pocket and counted; six galleons and seven sickles. No kunuts... I needed a job.

As I made my way towards the front of the store a flash caught my eye, a flash of bright, firey red. I blinked and swirled around, nothing. I must be going insane. I sighed and turned towards the cashier and started the transaction...

[Jason Evans]

Jason Evans!
Jason realised that the Summer was drawing to a close all too soon, he didn't like it at all. He was on his way back from buying some stuff for his dad and decided to get some joke flowers for his sister who he hadn't seen for so long on the way home. When he entered the shop he saw jokes galore surrounding him. After taking a moment to come to his senses he headed down to aisle 4 to find some magical flowers for his sister.

The flowers didn't seem to like him much, everyone he picked up shut as quick as a flash. At least his sister was kind and caring and wouldn't have this problem. He picked up a lovely red one that shut quicker and tighter than all the other flowers, Jason blinked before grunting and cursing under his breath when a shop assisstant ran to his side and asked him if he needed help in a hurried high pitch voice. Before Jason had time to answer the woman had chosen a small bunch of flowers, handed them to Jason and scurried away.

After help with choosing a small bunch of flowers Jason turned and headed for the cashier where he recognized a younger Hufflepuff girl who he had seen walking around school more than one time and only saying a brief "hi" or "hello".

Jason smiled and walked over to the cashier and 'accidently' nudged her leg with the bag with his dad's spell books in "Oh, sorry" Jason said with a small smirk on his face. He thought it would be nice to get to know one of the younger students from another house.

[Callie Meyer]

I answered the chasier's questions as he babbled on about irrelevent subjects. I smiled and nodded my head at the proper times, I said "yes," and "no," when asked. I was aware of the growing line behind me and quickly hedged that I needed to be somewhere soon; the chashier nodded at me and smiled.

As I turned to exit the crowded building, I felt something nudge my leg. I jumped slightly - paranoid - and turned to face a tall, dark-haired boy. He smirked, "Oh, Sorry." He didn't look sorry. I looked the boy over, like I had noticed before, tall; dark hair. Bright blue eyes; dark clothes.

I tried to smile, but I think I grimaced. "That's Okay, I should've been paying more attention..." I trailed off, looking dumbly up at him. An awkward moment passed then I blushed. "Oh! I'm sorry. I'm Callie, Callie Meyer." I held out my free hand, my blush subduing to a faint pink.

[Jason Evans]

Jason Evans!

Jason chuckled a little at this Callie girl's response and shook his head slightly. "Nah, it's my fault I wanted to put this bag of bloody spell books down I must've caught your leg." His smile widened, like he wasn't trying to hide his little lie. He just wanted to get to know someone from another house whether they were younger or older.

An awkward moment passed and Jason was beginning to regret talking to Callie, he wasn't really one to break silences. He noticed Callie blush as she broke the silence and nodded as he took in her name laughing a little "I'm Jason Evans, or Jay-Kay. Whichever really."

Jason could feel another awkward moment starting and searched his brain for something to prevent it "Um...So, you do go to Hogwart's don't you? Which house are you in? Jason knew most of the students in Slytherin and he was certain that Callie wasn't one. Unless... She was a quiet Slytherin that kept herself to herself and her presence quite that Jason hadn't heard about.

Either way, she seemed like a nice girl and what a better time to talk to someone from another house, over the holidays in one of the shops Jason would be most unlikely to be in. So the chances of meeting up with someone from his house were slim to none.

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[Callie Meyer]

I was silent as the dark-haired boy introduced himself and apologized for bumping into me. He was smiling through it all, so I knew something was up. I'd been around enough of my sisters' boyfriends to know when they're up to something. I personally had never been in a relationship with a guy; I wasn't one for talking about heartship and woe. Nevertheless getting personal about it.

"Um...So, you do go to Hogwart's don't you? Which house are you in?" That was Jason, he sounded curious, not in a bad way, though.
"Yes, I go to Hogwarts; and, err, I'm a Hufflepuff..." Everyone knew people who were not in Hufflepuff often thought Hufflepuff was weak, ecspecialy Slytherins. Small and under everyone else. That wasn't it; Huffelpuffs were open-minded, and cared for the ones who didn't know where to turn. Most were shy, and didn't talk much. But the silence at tables, classes and at night were comfortable, not awkward. Hufflepuffs just didn't need to fill silence with chatter like other houses, we like the serene quiet.

[Jason Evans]

Jason Evans!

Jason nodded again and took in Callie's reply "Hufflepuff huh?" he thought to himself as he glanced away. To him, and almost all other Slytherin's, the Hufflepuff house always seemed alot weaker and quite naive in comparison to the other houses especially Slytherin. Well there were stereo-types of Slytherin floating around also; stuck-up, Ignorant, Self centered, headstrong and many many more. Most of these were true, especially about Jason. Most of the time he was ignorant for other people's needs and turned a blind eye to anything that he didn't agree with.

"I'm in Slytherin house." Jason replied looking back at Callie. If Jason was caught talking with a Hufflepuff he would probably be taunted for it for the rest of his time at Hogwart's, but one of the reasons he was talking with Callie was because he was already one of the most well-known students in Slytherin and he wanted to get a bit popular with the other houses also.

Jason's past relationships had often ended in someone getting badly hurt whether it was Jason or someone else, it was as a result of one of his mood swings that were oftenly triggered by him getting dumped in a way that Jason didn't see fit. Although being sent off to a boarding school changed his attitude slightly, being branded Bi-Polar in a place like that almost always left you without any friends apart from those that were like you, which were few and far between. Jason promised himself that he would behave though and have the label of Bi-Polar removed permanently.

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[Callie Meyer]

I was pleased I found someone to talk to all on my own, and even more pleased that this, Jason fellow would do all the talking. I really didn't do people and social stuff. I am the outcast, I follow no cliques, and no one bothers me. Jason commented on my Hufflepuff loyalty, something I thought was rude, I mean you can't really choose what house you're in! I wanted to be Ravenclaw, but that old hat had other ideas.

When Jason said he was a Slytherin I wasn't surprised, I had geussed so much. I wouldn't have picked him out to talk to if I was in a room of people, but I geuss he was... interesting for lack of a better word.
Jason seemed to be thinking or at least he had stopped his constant flow of words. Or had he been as quiet as I had been? I tried to get him chattering. "So, do you have any family in school, Jason?"

[Jason Evans]

Jason Evans!

Jason could feel another awkward silence growing on, maybe it was a bad idea talking to Callie, after all, she might dislike the Slytherin's and may not approve of this one talking to her. Either way, thats the way it was, a Hufflepuff, a Slytherin talking in the middle of a Joke shop.

Jason realized Callie was talking, about his family. Jason Nodded and then sort of shrugged as he pulled his glasses off and folded them down, they were beginning to annoy Jason. "Well, I have a sister who left a few years ago and I have a brother starting next term. What about you Callie? Jason gave his best sincere smile, he hadn't done a sincere smile for a long while and it felt kind of awkward at first.

[Callie Meyer]

I watched Jason carefully for his reaction, he looked a little surprised that I'd asked him about his family. I geuss I wanted him to do some more talking, if one thing is sure, it's keep asking qeustions to get a conversation going.

I listened carefully as Jason told me about his sister and brother, who were going or had attended Hogwarts. Then he pulled the fire-cracker on me, he asked me if I had family in school. OH CRAP. I blew some air up to my bangs, which moved sluggishly in the damp air.

"Oh I'm the only one, for now."

I added, I was the only one now, my sisters were muggles, as much as we knew now. I was a muggleborn, no magical liniage. I wondered how Jason would respond to such an un-Slytherin like trait.

I turned to face the sun, it was setting and the air was getting chillier. I thought it would be a better idea to not stand about in the streets at this late hour.

"Umm, I think I have to go, it's getting late and I need to get other things. I'm going to the bookstore next, you could come if you like."

I was shocked by my own defiance, I almost wanted to slap my hand over my own mouth. I hoped the terror that coursed through my body didn't show on my face, but I couldn't do anything now. The offer was out.