My Fortune? ((Payton))

[jillian]

She took his hand and listened to him as he described the steps. They were rather simple, and she found she had them down very soon. Jill looked up at Payton, her soft smile on her lips. She relaxed a bit, and let the silence engulf them. She thought she had the dance steps down pat - but made a mistake and accidentally stepped on Payton's toe. Her mouth made a small 'o' shape and she smiled apologetically; "I'm not as quick a learner as I thought I was. Auntie would say, 'don't get cocky, you'll always trip and fall in mid step.' Perhaps she is right." Jill looked down at her feet again, to make sure she had fallen back in the correct rhythm.

"You know," She started, "if life was like this dance - it would be dull." Jill bit her bottom lip before continuing; "Sometimes, when I was little, I would watch ballroom dancing on television - like that muggle movie 'Dirty Dancing.' And I would think that it was one of the most beautiful things in the world, because who wouldn't want to look graceful on the dance floor? But their steps were mundane that I could recite them from memory, and I didn't watch the movie a million and two times either. But they were just so...easy. Why not add spice?" She smiled softly again before looking down, but not at her feet; she just looked somewhere to get away from Payton's gaze. She felt like she was babbling, and Jill didn't like to babble.

She looked back up and grinned, "I'm just saying things. I wouldn't add spice to anything. I might be more spontaneous than Ernie MacMillan, but I don't have a lot spontaneity in my life. And I blame Joann for that. She has enough for both of us."

[payton]

He hardly reacted when she stepped on his toe, shrugging it off with an easy going smile. “No worries, we all have to step on a few toes before we figure out where out own feet are.” He moved carefully, doing his own steps in the dance almost mindlessly. He had been doing them for almost as far back as he could remember. As he continued to dance he laughed at her comment on how if life was the waltz it would be boring. “Well, some of Dirty Dancing had an interesting twist to the dance…” He grinned at her, pausing his dance step for a moment. “We really have to do something about that lack of spontaneity…” Almost immediately he stepped forward, Jill’s upper body down into a dip. “Your right, why not add spice.” Still grinning he pulled her up, his waltz changing immediately into a loose form of rumba. He knew that she didn’t know the dance, he didn’t know it well either. When he danced at home with his family it was traditional: the waltz, the tango the mambo. The rumba was ballroom but with a more Cuban club influence. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the steps—just do what feels right.”

[jillian]

A grin slipped her lips at his words, he was right - you did have to step on feet, or on people, to get anyplace good. Look at the social climbers, they stepped on everything in order to get where they are. Jill would never be that way, literally or figuratively. She was taken by surprise, when Payton dipped her and then commented on the spontaneity. He then started doing a much quicker dance. One she recognized as a Cuban ballroom dance, the Rumba. Jill had seen it, but she had never danced it. She closed her eyes a moment and then started to move - while she imagined watching the dancers, following their every move. She found herself falling easily into the beat and then laughed as she realized how much fun she was having, "You know, I don't believe this is too spontaneous, Payton. I mean, it's out of character for me - but not dreadfully spontaneous."

She did another quick turn and then grinned at him as she came face to face, "What is real spontaneity anyway? How do you know if something is impulsive? Is it like walking by a church one day with someone you love and saying; 'Hey! Let's get married!'?" Jill grinned and looked up at the stars a moment and tried to imagine herself doing that. No. She wouldn't be able to. When she was younger she dreamed of having the fairy tale wedding her aunt used to tell her about. How the man brought his spiders and they weaved their sticky webs, abling the man to throw silver and gold dust onto them; and the candles burning along the pathway. Marriage upon impulse was a form of spontaneity Jill would never own.

"Maybe, who knows, I might have been spontaneous one time in my life without me knowing it." Jill thought about this for a minute, "I did steal a hat once you know. But my aunt found it and made me give it back. But the stealing of the hat itself, would you consider that spontaneous?"

[payton]

He was rather sure that they would be gathering a bit of attention by now, after all the music that they were dancing too was soft, with an innocent and happy sound. It was the type of music you waltzed to, or the awkward slow dancing that most kids their age did. Instead, they were doing the Rumba. He laughed when she said that it wasn’t that spontaneous. Perhaps it wasn’t extremely spontaneous, but at least it was something. Still laughing he spun Jill around before pulling her into him, grinning at her comment about real spontaneity being eloping completely unplanned. It was a spontaneous thought, marrying because the moment seemed right. It had a rather wonderful romantic appeal to it actually, but then he always did like parts of his life being less planned than the rest. He grinned at Jill when he spin stopped, thinking that a sudden marriage would never be anything she would do, no matter how spontaneous she was trying to be at the time.

He watched her out at arms length for a moment, thinking again about her comment about this not being incredibly spontaneous. At least she had yet to object to any of his efforts to push her beyond her comfort range. As they moved to a few more steps of the rumba, Jill pushing out for a moment again before coming in closer to him again. As she did he grinned again, his eyebrows raised with a sudden idea. Mid-step in the dance he used his hold on her hand to pull her even closer, and kissing her just as she reached him, simply because he knew it was the last thing she would expect.

[jillian]

They continued to dance to the wrong type of music, but that didn't stop them. They were too caught up in the dance and having fun to actually notice. Jill smiled as they danced, this way then that. Turn, stop, step, turn. It might not have been dreadfully spontaneous, but it was still something unlike her. So unlike her, Joann would probably order a birth certificate check or a blood test. Jill really didn't mind though. There was something about Payton that made her want throw out all types of responsibility and just live and be, and Jill wasn't complaining.

When she spun back toward him, he unexpectedly pulled her closer and then kissed her. It was so unexpected, so...spontaneous, Jill almost found herself shuddering to the very core of her being. And without realizing it, her foot went up a tiny bit. But it immediately went back down when she looked at Payton with a raised eyebrow and glitter in her eyes, "You just ruined my spontaneous streak. Now what am I supposed to say to those who think I am dull and boring? Burst their bubble with this spontaneous kiss?" She smiled a soft smile and blinked, "Why did you do it?"

[payton]

He pulled away from the kiss and grinned at her, waiting for her reaction. He wasn't really sure what she would think of it really. He knew she'd be rather stunned, and he didn't think she would be mad at him for it, but other than that he wasn't quite sure what she would think. When she finally seemed to come back to her senses she didn't seem upset--surprised maybe, but her eyes shone. He laughed when she mentioned her spontaneous streak, soft and easy going as he always did. "Well, it was about time that streak ended, thought I don't recommend kissing just anyone who considers you dull." He grinned again, Thinking for a moment about why exactly he kissed her. He didn't really think about it much before he did it. "Well, you weren't expecting it, and you said that the dancing wasn't all that spontaneous. Then you mentioned that thing about running off to get married just because you passed a church, so I figured that a nice happy medium between dancing a marriage was in order. Got your attention though didn't it?"

[jillian]

Jill rolled her eyes and grinned as she listened to him speak; "Most guys wouldn't kiss me, period. I am rather dull to them, so it's hard finding someone who finds me interesting. With my introverted ways and my ideas on romance and love - it's hard to find anyone to hold an actual conversation with. You're the first person I've spoken to aside from Joann in years, and years. And Joann does most of the talking, not me. It's nice to have a two sided conversation for once. So I see why they think I'm dull." Which was true, she did understand how they could see that. She rarely ever went out, she spent most of her nights studying and reading in her dorm. She rarely ever went to Hogsmeade on the weekends they were permitted and the most spontaneous thing she had ever done, would be stealing that hat.

When he gave her his explanation about why he had kissed her, she laughed and shook her head. "You know, it's explanations like those that make it hard for people to make a point or ruin yours." She said this with a stern tone that wasn't all that real, "But yes, it got my attention. I shall now watch out for anything popping out of the shadows and chasing after me to kiss me. That would be horrid if things just started rising out of the Earth." She feigned fright and shrunk a little, her face losing all it's colour, only to be returned seconds later.

[payton]

He eye her for a moment as she called herself dull, his eyebrows raising as she said that he was the only conversation she had had in years other than ones with Joann. "Well, anyone that thinks your dull really doesn't know what their talking about. You haven't been dull at all for either of our conversations, its actually been rather entertaining for me. Perhaps we just need to spread the word. I could always charm the message to the wall of the great hall. Blinking blue letters that say 'Jill Sawyer is..." wait, whats the best word for not dull? Interesting? Exciting? Wonderful to be around?" He grinned at her, seriously considering flashing something in the great hall the next evening at dinner, thought perhaps something less direct that Jill being intresting....that may just cross the line considering he had actually not known her that well.

"You know...that would be a rather interesting idea really....I could charm little creatures to jump up and kiss anyone's who's attention I needed. I think its a rather genius plan, not to mention original!"

[jillian]

Jill laughed, "I doubt my conversational skills are anything above dull. I hardly have anything to speak about, and most the things I do speak about become to personal and no one wants to talk about them. Though, I must say, you've been pretty open with me. I don't know if I'm flattered, or suspicous as to why." She raised an eyebrow, a small smile still on her lips though. Seriously, she was happy someone didn't consider her dull, or uninteresting, or any other synonym for that dreadful word. Jill had many thoughts running through her mind that she wouldn't mind sharing with someone who could grasp the thoughts as well as she could; and Payton seemed to be just that person.

"Wouldn't you get in trouble for flashing something in the Great Hall? You don't seem to strike me as someone who likes to get in trouble. Unless you're someone else completely when you aren't around me. Then in that case you haven't been completely truthful have you, Payton?" She was teasing him, but partially she wondered. Maybe that was one of her problems. Wondering too much. Jill mentally shrugged and let it the case rest for the time being. She wanted to enjoy the time she was spending with Payton. He was talking about charming creatures to jump out of no where and kiss someone, just to get their attention. Jill let a small smile creep on her face; "As long as they aren't hideous looking."

[payton]

When she said that she didn’t know if she should be flattered or suspicious he couldn’t help but grin, his eyebrows raising as they always did when he mind whirled with words he would not say. It seemed those two words would always be somehow attached to him. The simple fact that he was a Moore marked him with a reputation most were suspicious of. No one ever seemed to know if he was to be taken seriously, or if he was up to some particle joke, even if he had been on a much more straight and narrow path that Dillion for years now. When they were new to Hogwarts Dillion and himself were partners in crime—any prank they could think of they pulled. Most of the time it was Dillion’s prompting and pushing, and he was left to do the leg work. It was the funny thing about Dillion, he was completely capable almost effortlessly. He never did his homework or read up on a spell, or even practiced for that matter. Instead when the moment came it simply happened for him. Before and after that moment though, Dillion always turned to him for all things magical. Somehow, the reputation still followed him even now when he only aided Dillion on rare occasions. That was then coupled with the fact he was the charmer of Hufflepuff, even if he never meant to be. It seemed he was never to be trusted completely.

“So, I have fooled yet another innocent girl into thinking I am a picture of good behavior.” He grinned again, his eyebrows raising once more. “Honestly though, I don’t truly believe that you are completely unknowing of the Moore legend. Thought I guess that these days its more the Moore and Cortes legend. Before Jordan I was the partner in crime, something I was not reluctant go give up. I never was good at pranks and such, I was just good with a wand.”

[jillian]

"The Moore legend?" Jill asked after a pause, her eyebrow arched. Who hadn't? They were the schools biggest jokesters, aside from the Weasley twins. But after a bit, he was right, it had become more of the Moore and Cortes legend - anyone who didn't know Jordan and Dillion were behind most of the pranks was seriously socially inept. Jill even remembered a couple of Halloween balls that they pulled fireworks out in. Of course, she hadn't gone to the balls - but she had heard about them. Jill usually tried to stay away from jokes like that, Peeves was hard enough to avoid - the Weasley twins left her alone, and Jordan and Dillion were in a different house she was sure.

"Yes, I've heard a bit about it. Some say you and your brother were the next Fred and George, but in order to be that you have to be doing the pranks just as much, don't you?" She raised an eyebrow and then smiled, "But I guess you're more level headed than Dillion, yes? Still, don't tell me you don't miss it. There are some things we think are foolish, but they end up being the things we miss most." Jill could speak from experience for that, but she wouldn't say it. She was just trying to make conversation -or to keep it flowing, considering she hadn't much to say anymore.

[payton]

He almost had to laugh at her comment, but instead he flashed her a bright smile, "I think you are the first person who has ever called me level headed." Still grinning he shrugged off the comment, thinking that perhaps she was the only one close to the truth with the comment. He was labeled a Moore, and judged by his earlier years when he really was the level headed on of the two. In fact he was rather level headed when he thought about it, and it seemed strange to actually realize. He after all was the one with a plan for the future. He had spent the past three summer working in a cafe for the summers, and then a year ago got a second job on weekends working at Catalina's in Hogsmead. He was saving the money for when he moved go Italy after he graduated so he could study culinary arts further. It was strange to think that the crazy little first year he was had somehow managed to come out of things organized and ready for the future.

He pulled his thoughts away from his future and back to Jill. After a moment he tipped his head, his eyebrows raised slightly. There was something about how she said that last thing...about what you miss the most. "By that tone, I would think that there is something foolish that you miss."

[jillian]

Jill smiled and looked up at the sky for a moment before turning her gaze back on Payton. If she was the first person to ever call him that, then most people probably didn't get to know him. Jill could tell that he was level headed and mature from 5 minutes into their chess game. But then again, maybe Jill just knows how to read people - knows how to get a good judge of character. She mentally shrugged it off just in time to hear Payton comment on the missing thing. Even though she had told herself she wouldn't admit to being lonely, having no friends, and just sitting at home on the weekends - she couldn't help but tell him.

"I let life pass me by. A lot of the things girls my age were doing I thought were foolish, but I miss it - and I haven't even experienced it." Jill smiled sadly, but it was quickly lit up into a happy smile while she declared, "But now I don't want to ever, ever do something in life that isn't fun. Ever." Jill didn't know if that would happen, in fact half of her doubted it would. She didn't know how many times she told herself she would get out more, but maybe with Payton she'd actually have an actual friend. Would that be too bad? Jill thought no, but her body told her otherwise. Maybe she was agoraphobic. No, she couldn't be. She was here wasn't she? Yes. She was definitely not agoraphobic. Put an end to that now, Jillian.

[payton]

he tilted his head as he listened to her reason, and when she said it he had the feeling that it wasn't something she had really shared with anyone. She had told him before that she didn't really had friends, and how their relationship had developed from its first moment into one where neither of them held anything back. They were straight forward and honest with each other. It was funny that it all started over a chess game, his favorite way to spend a relaxing afternoon getting to know someone. He was always more of an open book, or at least to anyone who wanted to read it. Jill on the other had was more like a locked diary young girls help hidden underneath their pillows, it just seemed that he somehow held whatever happened to work as the key. But then, maybe the key was simply being willing to share first and then wait for her to share whatever it was she needed or wanted to.

He smiled at her declaration of sorts-- that from now on she would only do things that were fun. He raised one of his hands, the one still clasped around hers and used it to help spin her around in a single circle, even thought his rather innocent kiss from before had put an end to their dancing. Grinning at her once she faced him again he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, just as all the kind gentleman did in old romance movies. "Well, you know I may just be the man to help make sure that happens." Still grinned he released his hold on her hand and sank down to the ground facing the fire and motioning for her to do the same. After she had followed his motion and was sitting beside him he moved his arm around behind hers, not quite wrapping it around her waist, as his palm was placed firmly on the ground, but close enough that his arm was against her back so she could rest against him. "Now lest see, what type of fun things are we going to have to make sure you do. We could always try a few of Dillion pranks...lighting fireworks and such. Or...there is always the charming classics of sleeping half of the day away, or loading up on sweets...then maybe going out dancing...someplace real, not just letting Beltane get the better of us."

[jillian]

Payton twirled her around once more, and Jill smiled when she faced him. He kissed her hand, stating he might be just the person to make sure that happens. Jill laughed and tilted her head, sitting down beside Payton and not really minding that his arm - if seen from a distance - would appear to be around her. There was just something about Payton that made it easy to be around him, maybe it was his laidback disposition, or the fact that he knew so much about her already. He knew more than most people did, not more than Joann, but he was getting there. She didn't see him as a romantic interest, not right now anyway. Besides, Jill wasn't sure what liking someone felt like. She had been so cynical she didn't really give a hoot about boys, she wasn't ga ga over them. But Payton was one of those guys that she had seen in movies, the ones that charmed just about everyone - but not with cheesy lines and a false attitude. No, from what Jill knew of Payton - he was naturally charming.

She looked at him as he started saying what they could do to have fun, her eyes lit up and she laughed; "Me pulling pranks? That's almost as likely as Joann staying with one job. I'm too afraid I'll get caught, and stain my perfect record." She put her hands to her lips and winced, "Oh, that's not very fun is it? Well, I still don't think I'm up for it. I think that's too big of a step. But sleeping half the day away does sound tempting and then dancing? Hmm, sounds fun." Jill grinned and looked back at the fire. The thought of just having a leisure day was so thrilling, Jill couldn't wait. She was hoping that she would actually follow through with that, and she knew without Payton she wouldn't follow through with it.

[payton]

He laughed at the tone she took when she said the word prank. It was apparently very much not her idea of a good time, and he found that rather entertaining. Not that they were how he spent his most enjoyable hours these days, but he had to admit that sometimes a nice set of fireworks really hit the spot. When Jill agreed that sleeping in seemed like a good time, and that so did dancing he glanced over at her. "Well, I think sleeping late isn't something I have much power over. I mean, I could have a bit of a conversation with the Sandman, but he doesn't often take the opinions of others into considerations so my guess is he would ignore me. Dancing though, that I can help with. Now, I've got to confess that my memory isn't exactly what it was a year ago, but didn't you say that you were from London or near there? My family's flat is right in the heart and there are some wicked clubs in the city." He glanced back towards the fire for a moment pondering what there was to do in London. The city was amazing, and with Jill in London with him for the summer it could turn out to be a rather entertaining few months. He was always in need of someone to go out and do things with after work, and on the few days off he could manage to get.

He paused for a moment after the thought had sunk in, he had almost forgotten about work. He had still been working at Catalina's on the weekends, but once he returned home to London he was a part time baker and full time waiter for a café just down the street form his flat. He let his gaze drift back to Jill and by the time it settled on her his eyebrows were raised in his traditional I'm-thinking-something-I'm-not saying manner. "Have you ever heard of a café in the city called Sherene?"

[jillian]

She looked at the fire as he talked about the Sandman. Jill remembered a story her Aunt used to tell her about the Sandman. It used to scare her, the thought that a man would sprinkle some dust over her to send her into sleep. What if she never woke up? Of course, that was a silly notion – but she was still frightened by it and would check all the windows and such before she went to sleep. To Jill the Sandman was like the Tooth Fairy, someone you could never keep out or catch no matter how hard you tried. And Jill had tried, she wanted to capture him and then tell him to stop visiting her; but whenever she heard something she thought might be the Sandman, the moment she opened her eyes he was gone. Now, Jill realized he wasn’t real and felt a foolish pang in her stomach, she knew she wasn’t alone in the children who did it – who actually believed it, but she hated feeling as if she was.

She looked at Payton and smiled, “No, don’t talk to the Sandman; he has more important issues to deal with. As for your memory, it’s not as bad as you might think. I live in London, not that far from the Leaky Cauldron actually. I wouldn’t know about the clubs, however, as you know I don’t get out much.” Jill’s eyes drank in who was around them. It was as if they hadn’t been there, it was as if it was just Jill and Payton – maybe it was because she was so immersed in their conversation or something, but she liked it. She liked not having intrusions. Around them were younger kids, first years – a large group of Hufflepuff ones hanging around the fortune teller booth. Some Slytherins were sitting away from everyone else, most likely making fun of the other students. Jill shrugged and turned back to Payton when she heard him speak.

“Sherene? Yes, actually I have. Joann likes the coffee that comes from there – I’ve been there off and on, usually getting this or that for her in the morning. Why do you ask?” He had that look. That look that she had named ‘The Payton Look.’ The look that said he was thinking more than he was saying.

[payton]

There was no holding back the wide grin that spread across his face when Jill explained that she was not only familiar with Sherene, but she had been there on a regular basis. He searched his mind for a moment to try and recall her from the café, but he couldn't--probably because he was in the kitchens in the mornings and didn't come out to wait tables until ten-thirty or eleven depending on how business was going. Even if she had been there at those times, Sherene always had a steady stream of customers so he might not have noticed her if she only came in for coffee. "Well, I understand why Joann gets her coffee there...they do have very good coffe...I make it every morning after all." He flashed her a smile as he spoke, wondering if she would get his little hint. "I work there...as a baker mainly, but also a waiter. Every week day...5 to 6 for the past 5 years."

He thought after he said it that it probably made him seem like he was one of those odd people who didn't quite feel comfortable with themselves unless they were overloaded with work, but it wasn't really like that for him. He wanted to have a restaurant one day, and Sherene was good practice, that and the fact that his family didn't have a lot of money so extras he wanted he had to take care of himself--and that included a flat in Italy if he wanted to apprentice there. "You know, I think you have to say hello now when you come to get Joann's coffee. And maybe come by some time and I can make you something. I'd hope after working there as long as I have I've gotten pretty good at making about ever desert you can think of."

[jillian]

“You make the coff…Oh!” She had said the first part rather quietly and when he said he worked there, the ‘oh!’ came out with a smile. Jill hadn’t ever seen him there, but then again she never stayed long. Always in, always out. Joann wasn’t one to wait for her things longer than she should. “5 years? Really? I couldn’t do that, stick to something like that for so long. Do you save your money for something special?” She knew she couldn’t save money, she would be making the money and then spending it as soon as she got her hands on it. Most likely on shoes or clothes. She would actually be quite impressed if he was saving up his money.

When he told her she would have to say hello whenever she went to get coffee for Joann, she grinned; “Sounds great. I’m sure your desserts are fabulous anyway. But I’m not gonna be one to tear you away from your work. I don’t want to be any distraction or anything.” Which was true, she didn’t. She didn’t want Payton to get in trouble with his boss either, especially for entertaining while working. She knew that her past employers would have bitten her head off if she had done that. Then again, Jill hadn’t been employed much. She had too many conflicts with the other employees, or she had little experience. In fact, Jill wasn’t good with much anything. She could give lectures better than most, so she once figured of being a professor – but that didn’t look quite as appealing when she realized that meant more school. Jill hadn’t really thought of what she wanted to be, she just knew she wanted to be better…

[payton]

He grinned again when his hint sunk in. People always seemed chocked when they realized he worked there, and just how long and hard he worked, but then a lot of people seemed a bit surprised when they realized he wanted to spend the rest of his life cooking as well. "Well I like it, and its good experience, and they money is good. As tempting as it is to spend, I save most of it. I mean, there are the essential things like the occasional meal out, and cover charges for clubs, things like that where my will power gives in a bit. When I graduate though, I want to go to Italy, and apprentice there in a big restaurant, and that means paying for things like food and shelter and clothing, because apprentices don't normally get paid well." He shrugged, smiling at Jill as he paused for a moment. "But I do have to admit that I think it will be nice for everything to change. I love my family, and I love London and Hogwarts and everyone here...but I'm starting to feel like...I'm read for something else I guess."

He raised his eyebrows when Jill said that she wouldn't want to get him in trouble at work. It was a reasonable thought after all, but then he had so many people stop by to see him at work he almost forgot that it would be an issue for some people. "No worries about that. The owners a good guy, and after 5 years, I practically run the place. You can stop by anytime and come keep me company in the kitchen for as long as you can stand me." He flashed her a grin again, thinking that it could make for a rather entertaining summer if she stopped by on a regular basis. "And you'll have to meet me sometime at work, or after...preferably on a Friday when I don't have to be up and at work for 5 the next morning, and well go out to a club and get you out on that dance floor."