Hurt and Alone (Celia)

[abril]

"Ouch." Abril shrieked as Parry tended to her bruise. "It won't hurt as much if you just leave it alone." She told him with a hurt look on her face. Parry scowled at her putting ice on her leg. "Why the hell did you even attempt that jump? You're rebuilding this summer. I told you not to do anything like that until you get used to this intense training again. " He said raising his voice a bit. Abril whimpered. "Well, I didn't know I would fall!" She shrieked. Parry applied the ice with a bit more pressure making Abril whimper more. "If you fell right and not on top of your ankle then this wouldn't hurt so bad. Geez, Abril. Learning how to fall right is a beginner skill that you learned at age five." He said scolding her. Abril had enough of Parry's mother like attitude and stood up walking away in pain. Parry put his hands to his head. "Now you're just being stupid." He said watching her walk away in a huff. "Well then I'm your stupid award winning figure skater than." She said limping towards her real clothes. He followed her. She turned to look at him. "Can I change alone or would you rather acess that too?" She said not caring how it sounded. "Fine, when you're done meet me outside." He demanded walking away. "Looking forward to it." She said sarcastically talking her practice leotard off and putting on some real clothes.

Abril had decided on some comforting clothes. She would usually have on a short designer skirt with some expensive pumps, but her ankle hurt too much. So, instead she decided on some high quality dark jeans, a purple lacy blouse, and matching ballet flats. She limped out of the locker room to meet Parry. "So, where exactly are you going? You can go home in just your leotard you know." He said without a hint of calmness to his voice. Parry was like Abril's second dad. Except that Abril saw him way more often than her own. She shook her head walking closer to him. "I'm not going to that stupid empty house. I'll go out." She said sitting on the ground like there was nothing wrong with that. Parry shook his head. "Abril quit being stupid. You hurt your ankle while rebuilding. You need to stay off that foot. " He said pointing to it. "I'm going to a doctor." She said sort of lying. Abril was thinking that she could find someone to heal her foot in Hogsmeade so she could continue rebuilding. Parry walked closer to her. "I'll take you." He said helping her up. Abril pushed away. "No!" She cried. Parry gave her a look. "I mean no, no. I'm not a baby Parry. I can do this myself." She said trying to be calm and walked away. Parry walked beside her. "Wait, I have something for you." He said turning towards the locker rooms as Abril waited. He came out a few moments later with crutches. Abril smiled putting them under her arms. "Thanks." She said. "Well, you can't just walk around like an old lady." He explained. Abril nodded as she turned to leave.

Seeing as Abril's father was a movie script writer and her mother was a clothing designer, Abril's family had money. Plenty of it. Her being an upcoming star figure skater only added to the madness. Abril came out to find her driver ready to take her home. Bryan was his name. He actually wasn't that old. Maybe twenty or so, but Abril's parents adored him so they didn't mind his youngness. Bryan drove Abril back to her family's mansion like house in Glasgow. She thanked him stepping out with her crutched in hand. Arriving at the door, Abril was greeted by the entire mansion staff asking what had happened to her. "Just a fall. I'll be okay." She said crutching away as they followed. "Umm, I'm going to the Family Closet and am to be left alone the rest of the day." She said nodding as she walked away with her crutches. The Family Closet was what the staff knew as the place where family heirlooms were kept. None of them were allowed inside. True, family heirlooms were kept there , but more importantly, the family's Wizard things were kept there including the Floo Network. Abril stepped up to the closet whispering the voice password. "Ravenclaw." The closet was voice activated so only her voice, her mother's voice, or her father's voice would work. Abril entered and grabbed her wand from the silver box. She hadn't had a use for it in the muggle world. She then grabbed a handful of powder and stepped in. "Hogsmeade." She commanded.

Only moments later, Abril was limping through the village on her crutches. She had to look off. After all, she was in muggle clothes limping on muggle crutches. In the wizard world, she would be healed by now. But, of course she was a half-blood in the muggle world. She didn't know anyone that could heal her. But, maybe in Hogsmeade, someone could. Abril walked a few paces looking around. She didn't see anyone she knew really. People just kept staring at her. Abril glanced away and focused ahead. Finally, she just gave up and found a seat on a bench. What was she thinking? No one would care enough to help her. So, she just sat there silently with her crutches beside her humming lowly.

[Celia Richmond]

Celia was extremely annoyed that afternoon-she couldn't take it anymore. Her younger sister, Amy, was going through a stage where she thought it was big and cool to swear at any available oppurtunity, and it was taking it's toll on her and her mother. She could barely remember the days when they used to get on well, and Amy hung onto her every word, following her around everywhere. And to think that that was only 6 months ago, at Christmas. Her mother could barely cope with a normal eight-year-old daughter on her own, with all the stresses and strains life had thrown her way these past few years, but having to cope with such a boistrous, unruly daugter was just impossible. Unfair, even. Celia had no idea what had brought on this bahaviour-whether she had picked it up from some kids at school, whether she was doing it to get attention, or if it was supposed to be some sort of revenge for Celia not being there the past 6 months. But this particular day, Celia had had just about enough, and trundled up to her room ion the 2nd floor of the house, and lay on her bed.

After an hour or so of feeling sorry for herself, she decided that the best thing to do would be to get away from home for a few hours, and the first place she thought of was Hogsmeade-her favourite place to go in the whole of Brltain. So she put some shoes on-her favourite dark blue Converse boots, piced up her purse and floo powder, and went over to the fireplace in her sky-blue room. She sprinkled some floo powder into the fireplace, and before she knew it she was in Hogsmeade, and immediately recognised the familiar sites of the best town in the country. The cobbled streets, the slightly-querky shops, the witches and wizards, some of whom she briefly recognised as being from Hogwarts.

She first went to The Three Broomsticks to buy a bottle of butterbeer to take out. She then went to Honeydukes, and bought herself a bag of Chocoballs, a pack of cauldron cakes, two chocolate frogs and a big block of their finest milk chocolate. No, she wasn't going to eat them all there and then-she was going to eat bits of it, and save the rest till she got home later. Celia did have a sweet tooth, she had to admit, but she was learning to control her sugar addiction, and only ever bought sweets when she went to Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. She did occasionally steal some of her sisters sweets, but she decided that in the state she was in, that wouldn't be a good idea...

leaving the shop, she saw a girl she vaguely knew sitting on a bench just outside the door, but the surprising thing was that there was a pair of crutches beside her, and the othre girl looked as if she was in pain. "Errm, hi there! Sorry to interrupt your thoughts, but I couldn't help noticing your crutches, and I'm sorry to say, your pained expression. Is there anything I can do to help at all?"

[abril]

Abril looked up at the girl who had come up to her. She knew her. Well, Abril remembered the girl's face and possibly the name, but she wasn't in the mood to rack her brain figuring it out. Abril looked at the ground a few more times. The girl seemed nice enough. Abril wasn't exactly what you would call the social type. She actually only had one friend to think of and Joy didn't even go to Hogwarts. She was a fellow competitive figure skater. She was the only one Abril felt in any way close to and she was the only other skater Abril could trust. So, it was always hard for Abril to talk to new people. She stared at the girl. Why did she want to help? Abril didn't know many people who were that nice. The only strangers that truly treated her with respect were figure skating fans and fans of her parents. But, that wasn't really respect was it? Well, it probably had to depend on the fan. But, still. Abril didn't know that someone she didn't really know could be in any way kind. Of course, Abril didn't get out much. It was usually to and from the ice rink to her house and sometimes she skated at the small rink that was at her house. But, that was rare as Parry liked the public rink better for some unknown reason. Abril didn't really do anything besides skating, studying, eating, sleeping, and breathing. That was about it for her. So, it wasn't at all surprising that she found this girl's act of kindness so odd.

Abril looked over at her crutches and then at the girl. "Umm." She said after a minute. She looked at the slightly older girl again. She was from Ravenclaw. Abril was sure of that. She could certainly remember her name if she wasn't in pain or in such a bad mood. So, Abril didn't even try to remember. "I wish, but I don't think so." Abril said calmly. Her ankle was still in pain and it wasn't going down. Maybe Parry was right. This was stupid. She should have just seen a muggle doctor to give her some medication and a cast or something, but yet again this was easier. Even if she was in pain for a bit, Abril knew that getting this fixed magically would help her rebuilding process. But, who was she kidding. No one in Hogsmeade would want to help her nor did some people know how. Abril looked at the older girl. Well, she might as well be nice to her for stopping even if the pain was literally driving her insane. "I'm Abril." She offered nicely grimacing. Abril suddenly pulled her ankle in to her lap. Why wasn't the pain going away. She had fallen billions of times practicing, but she had never been hurt this badly. However, in one of Abril's very first competitions she fell during the Short Program and broke her elbow. That was when she had just learned how to fall correctly, but forgot how to use that knowledge. But, that day her father rushed in and sent her to a wizard healer. She was better before the Long Program. And no one caught on because Abril tried her best to act normal even through the pain. That hurt the most, but this was a close second.

Abril still held her ankle. She looked back at the girl wincing. "I hurt my ankle ice skating. I was stupid and attempted a jump I haven't done in ages and here I am." She said taking deep breaths thinking this would ease the pain. Abril looked at the older girl once more. "I came here thinking someone would know how to heal this so I could train again, but who was I kidding." She paused. "No one cares." Abril tried to stand up. She just wanted to go home now, but as she got up she put weight on the ankle by accident. Instantly, she yelped and sat back down holding the ankle in pain. Abril didn't even look at the girl anymore and just concentrated on trying to make the pain less. Maybe if she told herself there was no pain it would work. Abril closed her in concentration trying to ease every muscle in her body.

[Celia Richmond]

((Sorry for the long wait-I've been away, and quite busy and stuff...sorry))

Celia had a look at Abril's ankle. "Yeah...that looks pretty bad...maybe it's broken? I can't really say-I'm no medical expert, but there must be some one around who could help, perhaps? Or maybe a shop that sells something that could help? Now, where's Madam Pomfrey when You need her!? Well, it certainly needs bandaging, that's for sure...here" She opened her bag, and took out a piece of material, which was still there from the last time she used the bag-she was going to a sewing shop to see if they had any material similar to the stuff she already had-she was going to make a cushion cover out of it. But anyway, this was the best she could do for now.

"Deary me...Hogsmeade probably wasn't the best place to come-at least Diagon Alley has an apothacery which would probably sell something to help. The best place to go would probably have been a hospital, or a doctor-not here where you never know if anyone could help...sorry..." Having said that, Celia felt pretty bad...it did sound rather harsh, although it was the truth. And she HAD attempted to help her...but oh well..."And don't say nobody cares-your friends care, your family cares-there must be loads of people that care about you!"

Celia paused for a moment "So, an ice skater, are you? Cool! I've only ever tried it once or twice-with a couple of friends from home, last summer, and I may have gone to an ice skating party when I was little...I can't really remember..." And to be honest, she'd rather not think about her disasterous attempts at it last year-she had been completely hopeless! She could barely stand up, let alone skate. But it had been a laugh, although all her friends had tried it at least once before..."Well, I wasn't actually any good at it, when I tried last year...I could barely stand up. I kept falling down, which was the scary part-what if someone ran over my fingers or something..." That was a thought that she'd rather not think about.

"Anyway, I'm Celia by the way. Nice to meet You...Abril, was it? Nice name. different...unlike mine, which is pretty boring..." Yep, Celia wasn't keen on her name, and it was too common in her town for her liking. There was another Celia in her year at her primary school, and one in the year below and on in the year above too. She was sure there was one at her old horse riding class too. But oh well...she supposed it wasn't so bad...it quite suited her surname, she thought. Unlike her sisters-Amy Richmond just didn't sound right.

Celia watched as Abril tried to get up. "Hey, watch it-putting pressure on it won't do any good. If anything, it'll make it worse. Just stay here for a while, until it feels a bit better. Maybe we will, by chance, see someone that could help." Sophia knew how it felt to have an injured ankle-a few years ago she broke it having fallen off a trampoline in an awkward way. Luckily she managed to get to a hospital, and it was better within a couple of weeks, but she would never forget the pain she felt then.

[abril]

Alexis nodded as Celia took out some material and started talking about her ankle. The pain was still at the same level it had been. Alexis hated this. She hated the situation she had put herself in. She really, really hated it. She shook her head. "I don't think it's broken. Well, a tleast I hope it isn't." Alexis commented. She wished that she had just let Parry take her to a muggle hospital. Anything was better than having someone you didn't even know tending to your ankle. Alexis just wished she had listened to him and didn't do that just. It was stupid. She was stupid for doing it. Alexis looked at Celia. She just kept talking and talking. The words weren't entering her mind too well. Alexis could barely grasp what they meant. She shook her head slightly. "Yes, I should have, but my only thought was to get away from my muggle coach as soon as possible. I didn’t want to the muggle hospital because if I got it healed magically then I could just go right back to skating.” She sighed breathing in the pain. She hated pain. It was annoying and it go in the way of her goal. Suck this up Alexis. She thought to herself, but that didn’t help any. Alexis wanted nothing more than to go back to the rink and skate to her hearts content, but that wouldn’t happen. She “But, that’s not going to happen. I’m going to have to wait before I can skate again just like a muggle.” Alexis commented quietly. This would be the most annoying time of her life. It would be the time that for once Alexis couldn’t skate all she wanted.

Alexis listened to Celia as she said something about people do care for her. Alexis sighed. Lier. It was a lie. Celia didn’t know Alexis. She didn’t know about her life and he parents. Alexis’s parents did love her and she knew this, but that didn’t mean they cared. They were never home when she needed them. Actually they were never home period. How could they care from hundreds of miles away when they were busy with business? Friends? Alexis only had one friend, Joy. And could you really call her a friend? Joy was a fellow competitor. Yes, they were nice to each other, but secretly they each wanted to win more than they wanted a friendship. Celia went on to talk about her and her ice skating. Alexis looked at her. “Well, it takes a while to get used to it.” She sighed taking a deep breath to try and ease the pain. “I’ve skated since age three.” She explained calmly. “Ice skating and studying are all I do. Well, and go to muggle events with my parents.” She said calmly. Yes, those events were a part of her life too. Her parents were both wizards, yes, but they both had muggle jobs. They liked that better.

After trying to get up, but ending up wincing in pain, Alexis looked at Celia. She said something about they may see someone who could help. Alexis kept wincing in pain. This was so stupid. She should just have called a wizard healer to her house. She could have done it to. After all, her parents were wealthy and Alexis could track them down and they could call in a favor like always. Why was she even in Hogsmeade? This was stupid. Alexis just wanted to leave, but she couldn’t. In a few minutes perhaps she would pick her crutches up and leave, but at the moment the pain was too bad. Alexis looked at Celia. “Have you ever been in pain like this? Well, it doesn’t feel great.” She commented. Alexis just sat and waited for Celia to respond.

((Well, I have her name changed from Abril to Alexis. So, just pretend you’ve thought her name was Alexis the whole time if that’s alright. ))

[Celia Richmond]

Celia couldn't help feel that Alexis wasn't too happy with her...I mean, yeah, it was rather strange when someone came up to you, and started helping you...but isn't that what Alexis was in Hogsmeade for? Maybe it wasn't her-maybe the whole situation was just...getting to her, or something. But Celia knew that a makeshift bandage was the best thing for it, other than a real bandage. Then Alexis said something about wanting her ankle to be healed magically so she could get back to skating as soon as possible. In response to this, Celia sighed. "Well, in that case, why didn't you go to St Mungo's, or somewhere. I know the injury wasn't anything to do with magic, but I'm sure someone there could have healed it in no time. Maybe you could go there a bit later, but for now just rest."

Celia looked over at Alexis. She seemed to be really affected by the comment Celia made abotu her friends and family. She wondered what was going on in her head to make her that way-maybe she had no friends Maybe the parent or parents she did have didn't care at all, and were the sort that left their children to do as they liked, without giving them a second thought? She had no idea, except that whatever Celia said must have struck a chord somewhere...

Then Alexis went on to tell her about how she'd been skating since she was 3 years old, and that all she ever does is skate and study. It was a shame really, Celia thought. A girl of their age should be getting out more, she felt. And it didn't seem as if Alexis was the sort of girl that would end up with no friends-she seemed nice enough, and this she told her, missing out her private thoughts about girls their age getting out.

Alexis looked at her, and asked her if she'd ever been in pain like that. "Well, a few years ago I was playing on our trampoline at home, when I ended up falling off, onto my ankle, thus breaking it. But then my mum heard my screaming-I was only about 10 at the time-and rushed me to the nearest hospital-I had a cast and all, and within a few weeks I was practically back to normal. But that DID hurt a lot!"

((That's fine-and ignore when I put Sophia in my last post-she's my other charrie and I often get mixed up between them, seeing as Celia's relatively new.))