Watch the World Move ((Adrina))

[kael]

Kael stretched and yawned lazily, his eyes slipping half-shut. The summer had been a hot one and the heat did nothing so well as making him sleepy but restless at the same time. Was there ever such a contradiction as that, Kael wondered idly. Maybe if he was really hot but had frostbite at the same time, but that was so unlikely that it shouldn't even be counted. "Kael, Kael, Kael!" Kael groaned quietly, closing his eyes firmly and fiercely hoping that his sister fell for the trick and left him alone to sleep. He should've known better really, since Lynnette simply pushed him out of his chair and stood over him demandingly. "Mother won't let me go to Diagon so you have to go instead." Kael raised an eyebrow, his interest stirred by the odd restriction on his sister. "You're the same age as me," he pointed out. "Why should I be allowed to go when you can't?" Lynnette squirmed uneasily, her guilt obviously showing on her face, and mumbled an unintelligible answer. "Ah," Kael nodded wisely. "She finally found out that you've been skipping your dance lessons to fly."

Lynnette scowled at the mention of dance lessons before shooting a pleading look at Kael, silently begging him to go in her place. "Fine," Kael surrendered slowly. He always had been unable to resist the puppy-dog look that his sister had mastered so well. It brought him some amount of comfort to know that his father couldn't defend himself against that look either even if his mother had no such weakness. Apparently it was a male thing. "Thank you, thank you!" Lynnette hugged him tightly, shoving a list of all the things she wanted into his hand before dashing out of his room again without so much as a good bye. "At least she said thank you this time," Kael grumbled to himself. It wasn't any trouble for him to go to Diagon Alley, not when he wanted to pick up some things for himself and maybe stop there for an hour or so to gather inspiration from the people passing by. One day he would turn in one or two of his completed stories to a publisher, Kael promised himself. One day, but not now. He wasn't ready; his self-confidence wasn't great enough for him to believe that any of his stories would be accepted.

"Later," Kael poked his head into his sisters bedroom and waved, grinning and ducking in reply to the green pillow she had sent flying at his head. Presumably for not knocking. Really, Kael shook his head wonderingly, his twin sister acted so different when her friends were visiting compared to the way she acted when it was just their family. Was it even possible to understand the way Lynnettes mind worked? For some reason, he doubted it. After a few minutes, Lynnette bounded into the living room and hugged him tightly in apology, whispering a quiet thanks into his ear before leaving as quickly as she had entered. No, Kael decided. He would definitely never understand the way his sisters mind worked.

"A journal, new quill - one for me too actually - blue ink, red ink...why does she want purple ink?" Kael questioned, walking along the Alley and squinting at the list his sister had given him. "Who writes in purple ink? Blue ink, black ink, red ink and invisible ink, yes. But purple ink?" Kael quirked an eyebrow but shrugged, reminding himself to collect the money from his twin later. Oh, the things he did for that irritating sister of his. But it wasn't her fault she enjoyed flying and hated dancing. "Maybe I should talk to Mum about it," Kael murmured thoughtfully, dropping into a seat outside a cafe and pushing the bag with his purchases in it under the table. "It's not fair for her to force Lynne to do stuff she hates, but I can see why she does it," Kael continued, nodding a thanks to the waitress when she brought over his drink. He shrugged, pulling out his new notebook from the bag and dipping his quill into the new bottle of black ink he had picked up. Lots of people were passing by and that generally meant a lot of inspiration for Kael. Old women, groups of teenagers, a couple out on a date, four young kids laughing and joking, a young woman with a baby perched on her hip. Everyone seemed to be passing by and Kael was only too happy to sit, watch and take it all in.

[Adrina De Luca]

“C’mon Gia, don’t cry.” Adrina coaxed her five month old baby in her arms. Gia cried past Adrina’s soft voice and kept wailing. “Gia..it’s okay.” Adrina continued, but baby Gia wouldn’t stop crying. “What’s wrong with her?” Aria asked entering the nursery. Adrina shook her head. “No clue. She’s had a nap, been fed, been changed, what else is there?” She asked. Just then, Gia stopped crying and started laughing. Adrina sighed. “Wow. That was random.” She said smiling to Gia. “Well, she is your baby.” Aria replied slyly leaving the room. What Aria meant was that Gia was just as random and a dash crazy as Adrina was. Gia continued laughing and smiling at Adrina. “You are the weirdest baby ever, you know that?” She asked smiling at her baby. Adrina then walked into the living room with Gia still in her arms. “Hey, what are you doing today?” She asked thoughtfully. Aria got a strained look on her face and sighed. “Doctors Appointment.” She said simply. Adrina nodded. It was no secret that Aria hated the doctor’s office. After all, she had only had to go there about once every few weeks since she was diagnosed with CF, Cystic Fibrosis. Adrina offered Aria a small, sympathetic smile.

“Don’t do that.” Aria said watching her cousin. Adrina instantly realized what she meant, and took the smile off her face. “Sorry.” She said quietly. Aria nodded and then sighed. “Don’t be.” She said walking over to Adrina and taking Gia from her arms. Adrina nodded in appreciation and then took a seat at a bar stool. “I just hate going, you know?” Adrina nodded. She had always hated going. And Adrina had always hated that Aria had to go. Having CF wasn’t a fun thing. Aria had spent a lot of nights over the years in a hospital bed. When Adrina thought about it, it made her glad that she was the way she was. True, Adrina was stubborn and a dash crazy at times, but she was healthy. And she had a perfectly healthy baby girl. Adrina smiled. She was lucky, that was for sure.

“Hey, you know what?” Aria sound out of the blue. “What?” Adrina asked in reply. “You should take Gia out. Like to Diagon Alley or something.” Adrina raised an eyebrow. “Wait, I took her out last week and you had a fit. So, why take her out now?” She asked. Aria sighed. “Because you can.” She said simply. Adrina wore a frown for a moment and then smiled. “I’m getting you something.” She said turning to the nursery to get some things. “That’s fine by me.” Aria called down the hall. Adina smiled gathering some of Gia’s things up. It was amazing how many things a baby needed just to be taken out. Adrina sifted through the things in Gia’s baby bag and then walked into the living room. “Don’t wait up.” Adrina joked. “Funny Drina.” Aria said in response as she walked out of the cottage and headed for the Doctor’s Office.

Adrina walked through Diagon Alley minutes later with Gia on her hip. She had opted to not bring her stroller as it took up a great deal of room Adrina sighed. Really, Aria should accompany Drina on these outings. She had already bought Gia five onesies, three head caps, four pairs of socks, and a blanket covered in ducks. Well, Adrina had always been a good shopper especially when it came to Gia. Adrina sighed actually getting a bit weary from shopping around with Gia on her hip. Finally, she noticed a café with outdoor tables and chairs that looked promising. Adrina pushed as strand of wavy brown hair behind her ear as she approached it. She then noticed a boy that she had seen at Hogwarts. He was in her year, right? Adrina was pretty sure that she was right. She probably had some classes with the boy. She walked up to him. “You’re in my year at Hogwarts, right? Sixth?” She asked to make sure. Adrina didn’t like feeling like a stranger nor did she have trouble talking to them. “I’m Adrina De Luca and this is Gia.” She said motioning to the laugh five month old on her hip. And to think, she was crying like crazy an hour before. Adrina then noticed that he was writing. "Oh, sorry, didn't see that you were writing. When I write, I'm basically not worth the company. I'm too focussed when I write." She said shrugging. “Umm, would you mind terribly if we sit? Gia is a tad heavy for me to handle for long periods at a time.” She said smiling at bit waiting for the boy to respond in some kind of way.

[kael]

Inspiration was a wonderful thing to have, Kael crowed silently as he hastily scribbled down the random words and phrases that popped into his head as he watched the people walk by, paying attention to nothing but themselves and their own issues. Oh, to sit to one side and have people parading past, practically offering him his story on a golden platter was his dream of dreams and it seemed to be coming true right in front of him. No one wanted to bother him, he didn't interest anyone and they didn't interest him so he didn't bother them. They were simply the fuel for his imagination and that was the only reason he wanted to keep them so near to him. It was almost a shame that his sister couldn't appreciate that side of his personality, Kael laid his quill down soberly as he thought. Neither he or his sister could really be called normal; him with his view of most people as mere fuel for his stories and Lynnette with her condition. But their parents had told them that it wasn't a flaw, but part of their personalities and a part of them for so long that Kael could almost delude himself into believing it and Lynnette absolutely swore that she was completely like any other person.

Kael wasn't always so anti-social as he portrayed himself but, for the majority of his childhood, the only companion of his age had been his sister. Then his kitten had been introduced and Kael had lightened up slightly when around Pluto, displaying a more playful attitude for the young cat. His sister had been distraught and hilariously amused at the thought that a cat could do what she had been trying to do for years; make Kael into a person who did more than grin or smile when around people he didn't know or like. Part of him almost craved company in a way that he disliked, branding it a weakness. Kael smiled slightly to himself, his thoughts straying to his parents. They had taken his and Lynne's quirks in stride, assuring both of them that they were loved so often that Kael couldn't help but to suspect that something was wrong. But, as always, when that thought enetered his mind, Kael pushed it away and picked up his quill again.

It took half an hour for his writing random words and phrases to trickle to a halt, as the crowd of shoppers slowly dispersed. Not surprising, Kael admitted with a glance at his watch. It was time for lunch. Almost on cue, his stomach rumbled and the waitress appeared at his side with a wry grin. "Finally decided to stop and actually order something other than a drink?" She teased lightly, jotting down his order on a small notepad and repeating it to herself as she wrote. "Right-o, Kael. Give your sister a hug for me," she ordered before disappearing back into the cafe. "I have to find a new place to write," Kael shook his head with a slight grin. It would be weird for the waitress to know his name, if she wasn't Lynnettes friend - thankfully, one of the more tolerable and less giggly ones. "Thanks," Kael dismissed her curtly, barely even waiting for her to place his plate on the table and ignoring her huffed disapproval. What did it matter to him, she was Lynne's friend, not his.


Kael ran a hand through his brown hair, his eyes scanning what was left of the crowd. Nothing. No inspiration, nothing. Not even the tiniest flicker of interest in his mind. He sighed, frustrated with both himself and the people surrounding him. How could he hope to get published when he couldn't even hang onto a flood of inspiration like the one he had just experienced. Kael looked up in surprise, hearing a voice coming from next to his table. "Oh, yes. I'm a sixth year Hufflepuff. Kael Collins," Kael introduced himself, dropping the cursory 'nice to meet you' even though he couldn't repress the grin that formed at the sight of the baby. Merlin, this girl wanted to sit and talk. Kael amost grimaced. He wasn't so good with the mixing and socialising with people. He could sit alone and write a three foot esssay for Potions or Charms or even Herbology without any trouble but...socialising? He could almost hear Lynnette's hysterical laughter at the very idea. "Don't worry about it. I lost all inspiration for writing anyway." Kael shrugged, slightly more interested now that he knew the girl - Adrina, was it? He hadn't even listened properly - wrote. "Feel free to sit down. Do you want a drink for yourself or Gia?" Kael asked, already beckoning the waitress over. If the girl was going to sit then the least he could do was make sure she was comfortable. Kael might not be much of a socialite but he did have manners. He just didn't show them to a lot of people. How many people could honestly say that they were worth the effort of being friendly to? Kael bit his lip unsurely, feeling the silence acutely. What did people even say during small talk anyway? He wasn't going to talk about the weather! "How old?" Kael asked, inclining his head toward Gia pointedly. "She's adorable."

[Adrina De Luca]

Adrina nodded as he introduced himself as Kael. She couldn’t say that she had met him before because she hadn’t. Then again, Adrina’s friends were mostly in Gryffindor. Gryffindors tended to judge her less than some of the other houses. That was just the way it was. But, Adrina had accepted the fact that some people frowned on the fact that she had a baby at the age of fifteen. Well, it wasn’t exactly common around Hogwarts. Oh well. People could think what they wanted. Adrina didn’t care. She had never really cared about peoples opinions of her unless she was really close to the person. Adrina looked at Kael for a moment. She hadn’t seen him around much at school that was for sure. Then again, Adrina had been absent for a portion of her fifth year at school. Some teachers felt that it would be better if she spent the last part of her pregnancy at home and turning her schoolwork by owl. And when she got back, Adrina didn’t have much time to socialize or anything. Kael didn’t really seem like the chatterbox type. Then again, Adrina only knew a few boys that were like that. She hoped he didn’t mind the company, but Adrina was often too insensitive to notice those sorts of things. It was true. Sometimes, her brain was in a completely different place.

Adrina nodded slightly when Kael said that he had lost all inspiration for writing. She shrugged. “It happens.” She said calmly in her normal insensitive sounding voice. Adrina couldn’t help that she sounded that way, she always had. It came along with the streak of confidence Adrina possessed. Some people called her social, but it wasn’t really true. No, she was just confident, un-afraid. And she would always be that way. She sighed bouncing Gia lightly on her hip making her daughter squeal in delight. Adrina could only smile brightly. “Thanks.” Adrina said casually as Kael said that she could sit. She looked at the few other tables filled with other people and then took a seat. “Um, I would. Gia prefers her bottle.” Adrina explained smiling slightly. “Butterbeer please.” Adrina told the waitress who then disappeared back into the café. Adrina then reached into Gia’s nursery bag with her free hand and pulled out her bottle. “Hope you don’t mind.” She said helping Gia drink her formula. “To be perfectly honest this stuff still grosses me out a bit.” She sighed and bit her lip. “Okay, a lot.” She smiled a tad. “But, I’m getting used to it, I guess.” Adrina said more of talking to herself then Kael. She did that a lot too, but it was just a habit.

As Gia finished her bottle, Adrina tucked into back into the bag and then bounced Gia lightly on her knee. “Five months, well, nearly six.” She said simply smiling down at Gia. Adrina shook her head lightly when Kael that Gia was adorable. “Only when she’s not crying her eyes out.” She said truthfully. “Thanks.” Adrina said to the waitress as she brought over the drink. She took a sip and then stared at Kael for a moment. He wasn’t really a conversationalist, was he? Eh, it didn’t matter. Adrina wasn’t really a chatterbox herself, but she didn’t have a problem talking to people. She liked meeting different people actually. After a moment of silence still she sighed. “She’s a handful that’s for sure.” Adrina said nodding to her daughter. “But, you know. Just makes me realize that I was probably the same way to my parents.” She said thinking of them absently. Adrina’s parents died when she was two, but she wasn’t about to share this with Kael. Actually, some of her best-friends didn’t have a clue. Adrina had the habit of calling her aunt and uncle mum and dad, which did make sense. They had raised her since she was two. Adrina shook her head as she had gone into a trance thinking of them. “So, umm, you write much?” She asked just trying to say something that didn’t make her think of her real parents again.

[kael]

Kael tilted his head, studying the girl sitting across from him silently. He sat back and watched people more than he interacted with them simply because he didn't feel the need to talk to a lot of people. Kael smiled slightly; a small, mysterious smile that somehow managed to light up his face like an excited grin lit the faces of others. That was just the way he was. It wasn't a problem with confidence, as Lynnette suspected, or that he actively disliked people or the company of others, as his sociable mother supposed. It was, perhaps, the one trait he shared with his father; the liking for sitting back and watching the world move by, silently taking it what was happening. "You missed fifth year," Kael stated blandly, his voice betraying nothing but a subdued pleasure of having placed what he remembered her for. Which would be a sad existence, really, Kael mused without real interest. To be remembered only for the fact that you had skipped one year of school. Was he supposed to be interested in why she had missed the year? Kael wondered idly. It would be a stupid question, when the answer was, quite literally, sitting in front of him. "It's hard not to be noticed when you miss the majority of a school year," he informed her. "Just in case you thought I had been stalking you or some other such nonsense."

His eyebrow rose in wry amusement, admiring her no-nonsense answer. The only other girl he could think of who would have given him a similar answer was his sister. Most people expressed sympathy that blatantly didn't come from the heart or related similar tales of when they too had lost all inspiration. In either case, Kael wasn't interested and hadn't hesitated in telling them so. "Don't worry about it. Everyone needs to eat and Gia is no exception." Kael narrowed his eyes slightly, examining Adrina suspiciously. "Speaking of eating, you should have lunch. There's no sense in starving yourself." Kael grinned vibrantly, his harsh tone softening slightly. "My sister would kill me if she knew I hadn't made sure that one of her many friends or acquaintances had eaten and since I don't know all of them, I'll simply presume that you're one and take the older-brother right of ordering that you eat." He lifted an eyebrow in a mock-stern look. "Now."

"She'll be teething soon then," Kael chuckled lightly. "I remember my mother telling me how much trouble me and my sister were when we were teething. Endless stories about how we ruined her favourite bead necklace by chewing on it and, of course, the obligatory tale about how one of us almost choked while eating something that we shouldn't. But at least she'll be on solids soon, so you won't have to be grossed out by the baby formula any longer." It was probably strange for him to know so much about babies but looking after his baby cousin for almost a year while his aunt had been in hospital had helped him to see how babies grew and had given him experience for later on in life, though Kael sometimes half-thought that he would end up single with only his bookshop for company. "I doubt that anyone can look good when they're crying their eyes out," Kael laughed quietly, dangling his quill just out of Gia's reach and smiled when she grabbed his finger instead. "I write quite a lot," Kael nodded, stopping playing with Gia and drinking from his glass. "It's doubtful that I'll ever get published because I don't think I'm very talented, though it's quite a boost to my ego when my sister demands that I finish a certain story because she wants to see how it ends and if her favourite character will get his happily ever after or if he dies or lives a lonely life with no company but five cats and a parrot." He was actually talented and could hold some people spellbound with his words, but his lack of self-confidence stopped him being able to see that.

[Adrina De Luca]

Adrina shrugged as Kael stated that she had missed fifth year. Well, it was true. For a brief moment, Adrina eyed Gia who was giggling at the sight of bright colors that passed by her. Adrina couldn’t help but laugh lightly at her happy baby. Leave it to Gia to inherit Adrina’s weirdosity. Adrina then looked back to Kael after Gia calmed down a dash. “Well, a bit of it. Some of the professors decided that it would be best for me to go home for a good month or so before I had Gia.” She said thinking back to the very meeting that the professors had decided that going home was for the best. It was a rather awkward meeting actually. “But, I came back in time for OWLS though.” She added shrugging. Thinking back to the months before Gia’s birth, Adrina had been utterly bored. After all, Danny had left about the time that Drina had even told his parents about the pregnancy. She didn’t have too many friends in Belfast except for Danny before the move to Hogsmeade. Then again, until right before Gia’s birth, Adrina had planned on dropping out of school and staying in Belfast. Adrina sighed thinking back on those bland months of her life. She didn’t have a problem with Kael brining it up, but she didn’t like the memories that came with her days away from school.

She laughed. “No, I wouldn’t think that you were stalking me. But, I’m fully aware that people like to gossip about me while they follow me down corridors.” She shrugged laughing lightly. “Doesn’t bother me much to tell the truth.” She said sighing. Things like that didn’t affect Adina. Then again, she had always been a strong person. She did loose her parents at the age of two after all. Adrina smiled lightly as Kael wasn’t bothered by Gia and her bottle. “Good deal.” Apparently boys and babies aren’t a good combination.” She said thinking back to Danny for only a moment. But, sometimes his memory just popped into her brain. But, Adrina being the stubborn girl that she was, pushed it right out. She was too strong to have Danny clogging up her thoughts. After all, it wasn’t like he cared enough about her to stick around and tell his parents to buzz off. She smiled slightly as Kael said that she should it. Adrina raised an eyebrow as his speech went on. “I’m not the starving kind of girl and while I don’t think I know your sister, I never turn down an invitation to order food.” She said in her flirting sounding voice that came out in the weirdest situations. Adrina stopped the waitress as she passed by. “Umm, a cheese sandwich please?” She ordered politely. The waitress nodded and then headed back into the café.

Adrina repositioned Gia on her other knee as Kael spoke. She shook her head. “I know you talking about it won’t change the fact that it will happen, but..shh!” She joked as Gia fidgeted a bit as Kael talking about Gia teething. She nodded. “Yea, I’ll just ready for her to be a toddler. That I’ll be better at because I do have a few toddler memories strangely enough.” She said thinking about one memory in particular. Could you remember a memory from age two? Was it possible? Because Adrina remember hearing voices from her crib as a two year old. She remembered Leo crying in the corner and every one with a pained expression on their faces. And she especially remembered Aria coming over to her and saying. ‘I don’t get this death thing. Do you know what it is Drina?’ Adrina of course only giggled forcing Aria to run away crying. A pale express crossed Adrina face as she remembered this memory again. But that was just it. Was it a memory or something she had just made up? Adrina shook her head slightly and looked back to Kael.

Adrina laughed a bit as Gia grabbed Kael’s finger. “Haven’t seen her do that before.” She said lightly looking from Kael to Gia. “She likes you Kael.” Adrina said laughing at the crazy little expression on her daughter’s face. Adrina listened as Kael talked about writing. She wanted to say something about her own writing, but she couldn’t bring herself to it. She wanted to talk about how her autobiography had been sent in to a publisher and that he was considering publishing it for charity. But other than the fact that Adrina didn’t want to seem like she was bragging, she didn’t want to jinx it. After all, nothing was set in stone. She shook her head as Kael said that he didn’t think he was good. “Hey, it caught my attention and I think my loyal cousin will agree with me saying that anything that catches my attention has to be good.” She said nodding. It was true, Adrina could space out easily. She had always been that way. “I write too.” She explained calmly. “Well, when I get the time.” She went on shrugging. “But, it’s more reality stuff. You know, mostly about Gia and me I guess. Nothing fancy, or remotely interesting.” She said shrugging to herself. Adrina then looked to Kael and waited for him to say something.

[kael]

"How did your parents take the news that they were going to be grandparents?" Kael asked curiously, running his finger around the rim of his glass idly. "I can't actually imagine my parents reaction if Lynnette came home and announced that she was pregnant or if I said that I was going to be a father." He smiled lightly, his hand automatically twirling his quill thoughtlessly. "I'd like to think that they'd support the idea, but they'd probably go crazy, then settle down after a couple of months, maybe a year." It was true. His mother was a caring woman, yes, but her temper was quicker than even Lynnettes and even slower to die down. Oh, there was a woman who knew how to hold a grudge for years on end. His father was more like Kael; quiet and not judgemental, but he did get angry on occasion. Usually when his tidy little life was disturbed or his family was threatened or upset. No, his parents weren't perfect but they did love Kael and his sister. They would always stand by them, no matter what. Well, at least that was what Kael thought.

Kael nodded thoughtfully. "It was probably best for them to send you home. It would've been difficult to concentrate on schoolwork with cravings and...whatever else you get when pregnant. Thankfully, I'll never have to experience that." Kael chuckled lightly. "It must have been a bit boring though, right? All of your friends would have been still in school and you were just stuck at home, doing schoolwork." That would a pretty good deal for him actually, Kael pondered. He could do his work and concentrate more on his writing without having to worry about being interrupted by the more noisy students. He didn't really talk with many people while at school anyway. "People gossip about anything and everything." Kael frowned darkly. "Next time a nosy idiot follows you down a corridor, hex them. Or they'll start to gossip more and more until something more interesting comes along. Which it won't because you're a pretty unusual occurrence in Hogwarts." Kael raised an eyebrow in mock-surprise, making an exaggeratedly shocked face. "You don't know Lynne? She'll be devastated; I'm sure she thinks she knows all of the girls in our year, except the Slytherin ones and even then it's only because they won't talk to her. To be honest," Kael leaned in conspiratorally, dropping his shocked face as he became more serious. "It's quite refreshing to meet someone who isn't friends with my sister and feels that they have to talk to me just because we're twins and it's the polite thing to do. I rarely like company, and if I don't like someone then I'll tell them so. Quite the opposite of my sister."

"You still have just under a month," Kael assured Adrina easily. "Then you'll wish talking about it was the only experience you had of it. Just...keep your bead necklaces away from her," Kael warned comically, referring to the stories his mother had told him and his sister. "I have memories of being a toddler. Mostly of Lynne throwing a tantrum or Dad reading to us. But there's one memory of Mum singing to us when we were crying. Of course, she was horribly off-key so we just cried louder until she gave up and tried something else. Most of those memories were triggered by seeing photo's of when I was young, or hearing a story about when I was young. But I think Mums singing traumatised both me and Lynne enough that we remembered it without needing a trigger for that memory. It's the only memory of when we were young that we actually share. Other than that, we don't remember the same things. After all, you're more likely to remember bad memories than good ones, unfortunately."

"Everyone likes me," Kael winked. "It's my devastatingly good looks and natural charm. It's certainly worked on Gia, but I do think she's a bit too young for me. After all, I am, quite literally, old enough to be her father." Kael rolled his eyes, fixing Adrina with a stern look. "My story didn't catch your attention. Me writing it caught your attention. My stories catch no ones attention, mostly because only one person beside myself has ever read any of them. And even then, my sister's only read them because it was a bribe for something." Kael paused, looking at Adrina thoughtfully. "You tell me about your writing - because you did say you were a writer - and I'll let you read one of my stories. We write completely different things since you focus on reality and I write fantasy stories for muggles but that's what makes it interesting. We do the same thing, but at opposite ends of the scale. I'll even sell one of your books in my bookshop if you ever decide to get them published." Kael promised. "Well, when I've finished seventh year. I'm hardly likely to set up my bookshop while I'm still at Hogwarts. Maybe I'll even gain the confidence to put some of my own up for sale." Two bookshops - one in the wizarding world and one in the muggle world - was hardly a profect to start while still in school. He could plan it, but nothing more. But even planning was a big step forward.

[Adrina De Luca]

Adrina eyed Kael as he asked her about her parents. Was she incredibly bothered by the question? Not really. Adrina was a realist. Why would she miss something that she had never really known? The truth was she didn’t miss them. She couldn’t let herself miss them because being weak wasn’t an option. It wasn’t even a thought in Adrina’s head. Adrina couldn’t let herself be weak or venerable. She had been like that once and she wasn’t about to let herself go back to that place. Never again. She sighed eyeing Kael. “Well, in all truth they didn’t.” She first explained feeling the odd need to be truthful. Why couldn’t she bring herself to lie? “My real parents died when I was two, but my aunt and uncle have been my parents as long as I can remember.” She said flipping her wrist a tad. She looked down to Gia after a second of thinking. Secretly, Adrina was hoping that Kael didn’t feel sorry for her. She didn’t need anyone’s pity, but she would never admit that she was hoping this. However, Kael didn’t seem like the guy to read too much into it. True, Adrina didn’t know him well, but she felt like she could understand him maybe. “They didn’t take it so great, but they figured why be upset about something that wasn’t going to change.” She stated clearing smiling lightly at a laughing Gia. “My brother Leo took it the worst. I don’t think he’ll ever think of me the same again.” She said pondering. “But, that’s his problem.”

Adrina nodded. “I can’t imagine anyone taking the news that their fifteen year old child is pregnant or fathered a child. But then again, I only have one experience to base that thought on.” She sighed. “I’m not much of a wisher, but I do wish that other teen girls won’t have to go through having a child with parents completely down their throats. They have too much to deal with as it is.” She stated bouncing Gia on her knee lightly. Adrina smiled only lightly as Kael talked about her absence from school. “Well, at first I kind of freaked at the thought of leaving in the middle of the year, but it was the right thing to do. The teachers didn’t want anything bad to happen to me I guess. Plus, I know they felt sorry for me. I could see it on their faces.” Adrina was a good judge of character. She always had been. It didn’t take much for her to fully understand the meanings behind the looks on the teachers’ faces. “But, I don’t need their pity. Never had.” She said nodding to the waitress who brought back her order. “Thanks.” She said nodding. Adrina frowned playfully as Kael spoke. “Lucky.” She said as he spoke about never having to experience birth. “I wanna say that boys have it easy, but it’s not that true now is it?” She asked before she took a bite of her sandwich that Gia eyed longingly. “Now for boring. Eh, at that time I was deciding whether or not to stay at Hogwarts after I had Gia. So, when I decided to stay, me and my cousin, Aria, moved from Belfast to Hogsmeade. So it actually was rather action pact if that include falling tea cups.” She chuckled.

Adrina shrugged as Kael talked about gossip. “Doesn’t really bother me.” She said truthfully. “They can talk about me all they want, but it’s not going to change the fact that I have Gia.” She said smiling down at her baby girl. “I like being unusual.” She stated plainly without giving a shred of evidence to back it up. She didn’t feel like any was needed. Adrina raised an eyebrow as Kael talked about Lynn. “She knows a lot of people, eh?” She asked knowing that she was stating the obvious. Adrina nodded after a second. “Yea, same as me. I tell people that I don’t like or trust or anything, the truth. Maybe sometimes too much of it.” She said grinning slightly. “Well, it seems that I’m a bit okay in your book.” She said winking jokingly. Adrina rushed a hand through her wavy hair unknowingly as Kael spoke. Well, at least she wasn’t twirling it. That was a stupid habit that Drina had. One she wished to get rid of forever. “Great.” She said in response to what Kael said about Gia teething. “Ready to be mommy’s little nightmare?” She asked Gia in a mocking mommy dearest tone. Adrina laughed aloud. Adrina nodded as Kael talked about toddler stories. “I sort if wish I could have held on to all my toddler memories as weird as it is to say.” She said thinking. “I want to try and remember how I felt back that. If I could remember all of those things, I wonder if I would feel any differently about my life, everything that has happen through the years.” She said stopping herself from entering a trance. Adrina wasn’t going to explain her memory. She trusted no one with it, not Aria or Leo. There were some things that Adrina had to keep to herself. Letting everything out was something that she was guilty of before Danny left. But, he was gone. And with him, Adrina had to learn to shield herself from pain and love. She couldn’t let her go there again. She couldn’t.

“Right.” Adrina laughed mocking sarcastic to Kael. She liked joking around sometimes. It made things easier. Adrina laughed and raised an eyebrow at Kael’s next statement. “No, Gia’s not right for you anyways. You don’t smile nearly enough.” She said smiling a tad. “Look at her, all smiles.” Adrina said looking at a giggling Gia. “Well, not true, she was crying her eyes out earlier.” She admitted calmly. “Yep, old enough to be her father.” Adrina said plainly not wishing to say anything further. She had lost too much with Danny. Too much of herself was now gone. Too much of the person that Adrina had worked so hard to become was gone. And Adrina couldn’t bare to think about it anymore. Adrina sighed and shook her head. “Yes, your story writing caught my attention. But, I think that I should be the judge as if your writing will catch my attentions as well.” She said eyeing Kael. “So know this, if you ever need someone to read your writing, I’m a good reader. I know big words.” She said telling the truth but joking at the same time. “I get to read a story. Goodie.” She said clapping which Gia copied. “My writing..” She rambled thinking. Well, it’s written.” She laughed. “Truthfully, I wrote an autobiography. And truthfully, it was sent in to a publishing company. Don’t know the word on if they liked it yet. It’s mainly about my life, my parents, but mostly Gia, some things about her dad. Basically, stuff that people should know about me and other teen mothers. I think it was boring, but you know.” She said eyeing Kael after a moment. She smiled. “Wow, you know what you want and everything. I wish I was that lucky.” She said eyeing the ground for a moment. “Yea, but I think I’m about ready to write a new book. Not an autobiography this time, just something about life I guess.” Adrina smiled at Kael’s plans. “I love writing my own books, but I don’t know if that’s what I’m going to do when I leave Hogwarts. Mainly, I need a job that pays all the time.” She said looking to Gia. “Baby food doesn’t come cheap you know.” She said bobbing her head a tad and smiling.

[kael]

Kael tilted his head thoughtfully, observing Adrina openly. He felt the slightest bit of sympathy, yes, but other than that there was just the ever-present question of whether she really expected him to care. "I don't feel sorry for you," Kael stated bluntly. "Cooing over people, or anything to do with people for that matter, is my sisters department. In my eyes, your aunt and uncle have done a fine job bringing you up so I don't see any need for pity directed towards you. To be what my sister calls overly honest, you're not a friend or a girlfriend or anyone of any importance in my life at the moment; you're just a stranger, even if you did catch my interest for some reason. Even if you were my closest friend, I'd probably still pat you on the back and tell you to get over it because it did you no harm." Kael eyed her, wondering whether to open his mouth once more and spill the rest of his thoughts. It would do no harm, but neither would it do much good. It would do nothing except prove that Kael wasn't one to keep his mouth shut unless he had a genuine reason to. "You interest me. Not many people do. You're smart, and caught my attention for some reason. Oddly enough, there's also the faint feeling that you could understand me, which I don't get very often. So I guess you're one of the few people I wouldn't mind calling a friend." Kael's mouth quirked into a grin. "And when Lynne hears that I've extended a hand of friendship to someone, I can't wait to see her drop to the floor in shock."

"It's hard for brothers to accept that their sisters can actually get pregnant, I think." Kael pondered, feeling that distaste rise up in the back of his mind at the thought of him having to go through the same situation as Adrina's brother. "But he'll get over it with time. A lot of time." Kael raised an eyebrow in mock-offense. "The girls have a hard time of it? What about us poor boys who get stuck with vengeful fathers out for our blood, hmm? And that's no matter what age we are. Hexes, jinxes, curses, oh my!" Not to mention the over-protective brothers, Kael added silently. He knew very well that he would be the first one to draw his wand if Lynnette ever found herself in such a predicament. Which would be quite hypocritical really, since he had no problems with Gia. Of course, that was quite a different matter altogether, Kael argued mentally. Adrina wasn't his sister, or even a friend yet. None of his business.

"Nope, boys have it just as hard as girls do." Kael agreed. "We experience different things and some seem harder than others, but we suffer equally and that's the most important thing," he deadpanned. "Falling teacups are the best type of action to be packed with," Kael joked lightly, brushing his fringe away from where it had flopped into his eyes. Maybe it was getting too long now, Kael pondered, eyeing the length with difficulty. He'd have to remember to ask Lynne about that - and then brood over why she hadn't told him herself instead of waiting for him to notice. "I think Lynne knows everyone. She has two, maybe three, address books and every summer I'm plagued with her friends. It's like she keeps them hidden in her closet all year round, then lets them loose at summertime. And they never stop giggling whenever they look at me. If I cared, I'd be a nervous wreck by now." Kael complained, quite honestly not understanding his sisters friends. What type of people stared at him and giggled incessantly? Didn't they know just how annoying it was? "Maybe one day, I'll go to their house, stare at them and giggle at them. See how they like it." Kael mused thoughtfully.

Kael grinned, his eyes resting on Gia with an affection that he felt for very few. "Babies are always ready to be mummies nightmare, Adrina. Be sensible and get her father and your family to take a turn in looking after her. I'm sure people would be lining up outside to get a chance to babysit this little monster," Kael advised lightly, leaving his real unspoken statement hanging between them. If Adrina was ever desperate for a babysitter, he'd fill in with pleasure. He wasn't the type of person to say it outright, but he knew Adrina would pick up on it. He didn't know how he knew, he just did. "Toddler memories are great, but it's the memories from later years that really matter. Because when you're a toddler, it's just about having fun and enjoying yourself and learning about the environment around you. It's when you're a bit older that you really start to learn about yourself and why you are the way you are. If that makes sense." Kael laughed a bit, pulling a face at his own words.

Kael pouted childishly, surprised at how open he was being with someone who was, technically, a stranger to him. "But she's such a wonderful girl. Isn't your Mum being such a meanie, Gia, telling me I'm not your type? If only she knew that I've smiled more in this last...however long it's been than I have in weeks. Since before summer began really." Kael replied, continuing his game of dangling his quill before Gia and laughing in delight when she grabbed it, then released it in favour of grabbing his finger again instead. "I think I'm going to be her favourite teething toy, by the looks of it." Kael joked, almost sad to realise that he, in all likelihood, wasn't going to see Gia again. After all, she was hardly going to come to Hogwarts with her mum now, was she? Kael blinked, brought out of his musing by the sound of Adrina's voice. "Oh, well I did say that you could read my writings, so you're free to demand one whenever you like. I don't have any with me now though, so I'd have to owl them." Kael offered distantly, still trying to gather his thoughts from before. It never usually took him that long to get himself together, so what was wrong with him today? "Wow, that's great." Kael enthused, his eyes wide. "That's so great; I'm sure they'll love it. It's about life, and it's bound to be interesting, even without magic - unoless you sent it to a magical publishers? You'll have to let me know when they accept it, and when it goes on sale.Give me an insight into the stranger I met one day in Diagon Alley," Kael winked and laughed impishly before sobering as the issue of the future came up again. "I've known since I was about twelve, I think. I've always written, even if it was just stuff about myself. I just need a store to set my shop up in, books to put in it obviously and someone to run it with me. And shop assistants obviously," Kael added distractedly, his mind once more drawn into the more practical sides of his plans. It was one thing to dream about what he wanted to live for, living the dream was another thing entirely. "Being an author doesn't pay that badly, but it doesn't pay all the time either," Kael admitted. "It's shop work or office work; steady hours and a steady wage that pays the bills, and the baby food. Unless you have an inheritance to fall back on, everyone has to work."

[Adrina De Luca]

Adrina eyed Kael in amusement. She could understand everything that he was saying about sympathy. A bit blunt maybe, yes it was defiantly blunt, but the truth none the less. And one thing Adrina hated was to be lied to. For a moment, Adrina just eyed Kael with a look of utter determination in her eyes, then she just sighed and glanced down to baby Gia who seemed a bit drowsy in her arms. Adrina nodded. “Good.” She said sternly. She didn’t want sympathy. She didn’t need it. The only reason that Adrina had even told him the truth was because she didn’t like lying and she didn’t like being lied to. Besides, it wasn’t as if the information could be used against her in any way. When people asked her a question, Adrina barely ever lied. She tried to answer truthfully even if she didn’t leak out all of the information. She wasn’t a blabber mouth nor did she talk about her parents deaths very openly. But, she wasn’t about to lie when asked a question. Ever since Danny, many things had changed about Adrina. This was one of them. “I don’t need sympathy, actually, it is the one thing I can’t stand.” Adrina stated bluntly. “People love to say that they are sorry for my parents’ deaths or they’re sorry about my cousin’s illness. I’m not sorry for any of these things so why she they be?” Adrina paused. “I mean, I do wish that Aria was better, but I can’t change it so people shouldn’t feel sorry for me. I’m not the sick one. Besides, Aria hates sympathy.” Adrina sighed looking to Kael. He was the only person Adrina had ever met that didn’t care for sympathy besides for Aria of course, but Adrina guessed that, that was a family thing. Was he the only one that understood why she felt this way?

Adrina eyed Kael in near confusion, but not quite. She liked that he was honest. He spoke what he thought, it looked like. Adrina sighed looking at the Alley surrounding them. It was weird to be talking to someone like this. Adrina really hadn’t done much socializing since her little Hogwarts hiatus. Even when she came back for the OWLS, she hadn’t talked to anyone. She hadn’t had the time or the spirit for it. Adrina raised an eyebrow thinking to herself before she looked at Kael once again. “No offense, but I find it weird that I interest you.” Adrina said looking to Gia. “To be quite honest people don’t usually look to me to catch their attention. Gia does that for them.” Adrina flicked her eyes to Kael. Adrina raised an eyebrow again when Kael said that he thought she could understand him. It was probably true; then again, it still surprised her. “I don’t understand that many people, honestly, but as you said for some reason, I kind of do understand you. I don’t really know why, but I do.” She said showing a small smile while shrugging her shoulders lightly. “I get to be a friend, goodie.” She joked after a moment of silence. “To be honest, those are kind of scarce ever since Gia came along. But at least I know now who my real friends our since some of them abandoned me and all. At least I don’t have to assume they are. I know the truth.” Adrina smiled. “Well, tell Lynn that she can write me if she doesn’t believe it solely by your word.”

“That I understand.” Adrina said nodding to Kael as he spoke about pregnant girls and their brothers. “You know, I just never thought that my brother would be the same. After everything we’ve been through all these years. But, I know that I was kidding myself when I thought that he would be different. I hate it when I do that.” She said almost to herself. Adrina hated giving herself false-hope. That was why she didn’t hope much at all. She didn’t like being like some other girls for one thing. For another, she didn’t like getting her hopes up. So, that was why she tried not to have any. Adrina nodded. “It will get better. Not sure that he will get over it. My bother is..” She paused. “A bit complicated.” She said after a moment. Leo had been severely impacted by his parents’ deaths unlike Adrina. Then again, he still had memories of them as Adrina did not. Leo carried around those dark days with him and it seemed every action he ever made, was in spite of their deaths. Was it weird? Of course. But, Adrina had come to terms with her brother. Because after all, he was still her brother. Adrina laughed. “I always thought the mother would be crazier about it, but then again, I have no idea.” She said shrugging. As Adrina thought about it, it was Danny’s mother who had wanted them to leave so badly. Adrina never really got to hear what Danny thought about the whole thing.

Adrina laughed as Kael said that boys had it as hard as girls do. “Hmm, maybe hard, but not as hard as we do. Do you realize how long it can take to put on mascara. Jeez.” She joked flicking as eyelash with her pinky finger. Adrina smiled as Kael talked about flying teacups. She liked that he didn’t talk about her time away from school anymore. It wasn’t that Drina didn’t like to talk about it. It was that she didn’t think thinking about some of the darkest days she ever had. Back then, Danny had just left and she didn’t really know what to do in herself. Adrina had put all her trust in a person who left without the slightest fight. She would never make that mistake again. She wouldn’t let herself. Adrina tickled Gia’s cheek lightly and then looked back to Kael. Adrina laughed as Kael talked about his sister and her friends. “That seems..interesting.” She joked. “Giggling people are annoying. Well, except for Gia. But, she has such a cute giggle.” Adrina chucked as Gia giggled for no apparent reason. “Two to three address books, jeez.” Adrina commented. “But, if she locks them in the closet then they won’t have much to giggle at.” Adrina said faking a stern look for a second, then smiling a tad. “They only do it because you are good looking.” Adrina said flashing a smile. Well, she never had been one to old in random feelings. It was only the deep, dark ones that she held in. “The first step to accepting it is believe. Now repeat after me, I’m naturally adorable.” She joked for a second. Adrina herself had never been one of those girls that automatically thought that she was beautiful and rub it in people’s faces. She wasn’t one of those appearance crazed girls either, but she tried to look decent when she went out. At home with Gia, well that was a completely different story.

Adrina laughed at Kael’s comments about Gia, but her expression changed as he brought up Gia’s father. She sighed shaking her head a bit. “Well, my cousin and me take care of her. Aria watches her while I’m at school. Aria’s an angel she is, but Gia’s father hasn’t ever seen Gia.” She said eyeing her baby that resembled Danny so very much. She sighed. “He’s in Russia. I feel bad that Gia won’t really get a father, but it is better that Danny’s gone. I don’t need him anyways.” She said truthfully. Danny had been Adrina’s best-friend as a kid. But, any trust or feelings that she felt for him were gone. Adrina had never been mad that he left. She had been mad that he left just because he parent’s told him to. Well, at least she knew that he wasn’t to be trusted. At least, she didn’t have him to tie her down. Adrina looked to Kael as he said that people would line up to baby sit for her. She smiled knowing that he meant that he would baby sit Gia. Why did Adrina understand him? Why was it easy for her to understand him? Adrina sighed. Adrina looked to Kael. “Umm, it kind of made since, but my brain feels a bit jumbled. Yea, the things that have happened later in my life pretty much define me, kinda like you said. My parents’ deaths, well, that isn’t really a big part of who I am. Cause I can’t remember anything about them or the way I was back then.” She said thinking of them. It wasn’t that Adrina didn’t wish that they were alive. It was one of the few things that Adrina found herself wishing for. She just regretted that she missed out on knowing them. She missed out on them.

Adrina smiled watching Kael talk to Gia. Gia laughed in response. Adrina smiled to Kael. “You’re good with her. You barely know her, but you’re good with her.” Adrina stated bluntly. She then watched the way Gia looked at Kael, with utter fascination and surprise. It made Adrina smile at first and then wonder about why Gia was drawn to Kael. “We made you smile. We’ll you know, use De Luca women have weird powers beyond the magical world.” She said smiling a bit. Adrina wondered if it was just Gia that made him smile or herself too, but she wasn’t about to say anything about it. “Do you just not like smiling?” She asked. “Or is it that it doesn’t like you?” She asked seriously then shaking her head a bit. Adrina had a way of being serious at weird times. Sometimes, it was okay, other times, it just annoyed her. Adrina watched as Kael played with Gia with the quill. She couldn’t help but smile at Gia’s reaction to it all. Adrina hung on to Kael last words. She looked to his eyes. “Well, then your just going to have to not be a total stranger, then.” She said blinking after a moment of silence. Adrina smiled as Kael said that she could demand his writings whenever she wanted them. “Good.” She replied nodding. “I will defiantly demand them.” She continued looking to Gia. She smiled as Kael said that he wanted to know when her autobiography came out. “Well, it isn’t very long, not really a book. More like an essay, but I guess that it will be printed and sold in small bookstores. I’m not really sure. I think they’re muggle publishers, Aria found the guy. I hope people like it. The guy only wanted to read it because it talked about my life with Gia and everything. I know that is what will draw people to it, but I hope my life keeps them reading, not just my precious Gia.” She paused smiling to her child once again. Adrina nodded as Kale talked of the future. “I would say that it is a good dream, but I’m almost certain that you will make it a reality. I’m sure why, I just know you will.” She said nodding. Adrina smiled so a moment. “I’ve always wanted to write, umm, I’ve never thought of opening up my own shop, but I’ve always wanted to write. But, you know they say it isn’t practical, my aunt and uncle, my cousin. Umm, Leo is the only one that agrees that I should write until I don’t love it anymore which is weird I think. That is about the only thing that me and him have agreed on since Gia.” She said pointing to her baby. “They think I should be a healer, they don’t pay too bad.” She sighed and shook her head, silently saying that, that wasn’t what she wanted. She smiled to Kael after a moment. Adrina sighed. “My future may be undefined, but at least I have a here and now.”

((Ahh, took forever to write..too many thoughts))

[kael]

"Very few people understand what I mean when I say that I'm absolutely not going to feel sorry for them. Because humans live to feel a connection with each other and sympathy is the easiest connection to make. What could bind two or more people closer together than complaining about their miserable lives and exchanging sympathy with each other, except love which isn't quite so widely-ranged as it generally only connects two people and is a considerably harder connection to make. Most people find it surprising that my sister shares my opinions on sympathy, especially since she's so sociable and out-going. But not many people know a lot about her, because she does hide a lot of small details, which add up to a lot of missing pieces to the puzzle of Lynnette Collins. I guess I have a lot in common with you and Lynn has a lot in common with your cousin," Kael mused, both his tone and words vaguely hinting at something deeply hidden that he had no intention of revealing. It wasn't his secret to tell - even if he did disapprove of Lynnette hiding it though she argued that she'd tell someone if they asked the right question so it wasn't necessarily lying - no matter how much he liked Adrina or if he thought she'd be a good friend or not. But as he eyed her through the curtain of hair his fringe created, Kael made a mental note to somehow push Lynn into talking with her. Adrina's no-lying policy would be good for that sister of his, good at twisting the truth and dodging questions as she was. Not quite so good as he was though which amused him since he had far less to hide than she did.

It was odd for him to talk to someone. Kael had no qualms about admitting that. Even more odd for him to tolerate that person for more than five minutes before dismissing them rather rudely by turning back to his notebook. So it was almost completely unheard of for him to actually like that person, offer them a hand of friendship and give them an open invitation to read his stories whenever she wanted. "True," Kael agreed amicably, "Gia does tend to catch a lot of peoples attention. Right now I can tell you that nosy people are looking over here, seeing a boy and girl of the same age with a baby and jumping to the wrong conclusion. So, no, I couldn't say that Gia didn't catch my attention because she's adorable and has the honour of being the first girl who has caught my hand and not made me practically run away screaming. I've had one too many bad experiences with Lynn's friends for me to not be wary when it comes to girls with a certain look in their eyes," Kael shuddered exaggeratedly. "So it caught my attention when you didn't have that look in your eye and so I agreed to let you sit and I even struck up a conversation. Again, something I'm wary of because of bad experiences with Lynn's friends. I never want to be trapped in a conversation about clothes and fashion and other girly stuff again. It took me weeks to recover from that hour-long conversation. Even having said all that, I still don't know why you interest me but you do. Deal with it," Kael smiled lightly, biting into the sandwich the waitress had dropped on their table when she had delivered Adrina's. Did he really have to pay for that since he hadn't ordered it? Kael pondered before shrugging mentally and deciding to be nicer to that particular friend of Lynnettes. It was a sandwich, whether free or not, after all.

"Friends have always been scarce for me. Trusting people doesn't come easy to me and people have the tendency to betray and hurt others too often for me to feel truly comfortable around them. So, yeah, Lynn will definitely write to you because she'll never believe me, even if I take home some sort of proof. Which begs the question of what type of proof I could take." Kael tilted his head, observing as was his habit. "Almost everyone thinks that their brother will be different. Whether because of circumstances or because or something they've been through together or because the brother doesn't seem to care very much at all. So I took the right of scaring off a couple of Lynn's boyfriends early on so she'd know just how I'd react." Kael smiled lazily, obviously satisfied with the result of his cautious measure. "Oh no, the father is always the one with the belief that his little girl is completely innocent. Mothers always seem to know that the girl is growing up so they're never ever surprised. For boys however, it's the opposite. Fathers always know and mothers are always surprised. Not speaking from experience, I would like to add." Kael added hastily after a slight pause.

Kael grinned brightly, shaking his head with mock-sadness. "You know, I thought you were different. But your reply was almost identical to the one Lynne gave me when I said that boys have it just as hard as girls do. I feel so betrayed," Kael teased lightly, still half-amazed that he had let his guard down around Adrina so quickly. First meeting and he was not only talking to her but also joking and laughing with her. Yep, Lynne definitely wouldn't take him seriously but rather demand to know if he had hit his head at any time during the outing. And then she'd probably tackle him and make sure he'd picked up all the things on her list of essentials for the week. If he wasn't so used to her that he knew her reactions without even thinking about it, he'd probably be feeling dejected. Brothers were never appreciated. "I can actually stand Gia's giggle, which either says a lot for her personality or her giggle. I count it as a big success that I haven't tried to gag the giggling girls yet though. But that is my back-up plan in case I can't escape." Kael joked, actually tucking the plan into a corner at the back of his mind. Well, it was a better option than throwing them out of the window, which he had also considered as an option for shutting them up. "Aw, be quiet." Kael muttered quietly, the tips of his ears turning red in embarrassment, thankful that the blush didn't spread down his neck. "Yeah, naturally adorable. Sure. If they're in to the crazy recluse who would rather cut off their head than kiss them type of guy." Kael scoffed disbelievingly.

"Hmm," Kael commented noncommitally, absorbing the information about Gia's father without showing any emotion on his face. Truthfully, the news that someone had abandoned Gia and Adrina both surprised and infuriated him. What kind of jerk could get someone pregnant and then leave without even seeing the daughter that would always be his first-born child? And, Kael had to admit, leaving Adrina was just as bad, if not worse. Because Gia wasn't the one who had to face parent-figures and a brother without someone standing at her side. But Kael wasn't quite so insensitive as to let anything show on his face or in his eyes, not least because he wasn't sure just how over Danny Adrina was and Kael had little to no experience with crying or otherwise upset females other than that one time with Lynnette. Really, Kael mused, he had been spared a lot of the more emotional times of his sisters life and he would be quite glad to keep away from any emotional women because, if Lynne was any indication, they were quite unpredictable and had a prediliction to blame him for their troubles. Not his idea of fun. "My childhood defined me but my parents were more focused on Lynnette for a lot of our younger years, so I guess that could be part of the reason I'm so quiet. They were always trying to push her into the spotlight - for reasons that aren't mine to share - so I got used to staying in the shadows. It didn't take me long to realise that I enjoyed being there, away from everyone except those I chose to keep with me."

Kael smiled lightly, almost amused at the affection he felt for Gia. "I'm good with very few people. I guess it says a lot about me that one of them is a baby, right? Must be those weird powers of the De Lucas at work." It was out of character for Kael to feel contented just from the utter fascination he could feel from a baby's gaze, but it was also out of character for him to be chatting with the mother of said baby, or with anyone at all for that matter. "Smiling and I have been fighting a long, drawn-out battle for a number of years, much to my sisters and parents dismay since they are under the impression that I have a wonderful smile. I think you and Gia have just helped me to win one battle in the war between us," Kael winked impishly, his smile widening when Gia grabbed his finger in favour of the quill. "We've already established that I'm not going to be a stranger. You're a friend and Gia's so charmed by my natural adorableness that she'll want to marry me in a few years. Isn't that right, little one?" Kael replied, looking at Gia as if demanding a reply and then pouting when she only giggled at him. "Aw, she's moved on already. Isn't that such a tragic tale of love? Definitely going into my next story." Kael joked, for once not feeling the small stab of worry that always came when someone said that they were going to read his stories. Unusual. Maybe because Adrina was going to be published and therefore was more experienced than himself? Watching Adrina talk about the future and her need for good job that she'd love, Kael had to force an offer to work in his shop not to come tumbling out of his mouth. What a frivolous idea, he scolded himself mentally. He didn't even have a shop yet and here he was almost hiring someone to work in it. Besides, in two years he was pretty sure she'd have better options than working as a shop assistant for him. Not to mention that, despite her belief in him, he had no idea if his plans would actually turn into reality. "That here and now will lead you to the future that's waiting for you. You just have to keep on living for today and stop thinking about things that you can't predict. It's a waste of brain power that could be put to better use."

((Sheesh, your post was so long it took me more time to read it than to write a reply. Nah, not really. But it's a good retort for such a long post. If only it was true. Oh, I have a mystery for you! Why is it that my new jeans are ripped and I have no clue why? I'm only worn them once, darn it! *sulks*))

[Adrina De Luca]

Adrina eyed Kael as he spoke. Why did she understand him? Why? Adrina had just met Kael, but she actually understood him just as Kael said that he understood her. Weird? Maybe just a touch. Adrina found herself bouncing Gia lightly in her arms trying to keep the baby from getting fussy. It wouldn’t be too much longer before Drina would have to take the baby home for a nap. Adrina looked to her baby, c’mon Gia, be good a little longer. She called internally, but Gia continued to fidget for a moment, before calming down and shutting her eyes for a bit. Adrina smiled when Kael said that he had a lot in common with her. It was a nice thought. She then thought to Lynette having a lot in common with Lynette. Maybe. Then again Drina didn’t know Lynette. Could anyone really be like Aria De Luca? She was an individual that was for sure. She had strong opinions, strong beliefs. Still, Adrina knew she had a lot in common with her cousin. Well, besides the CF. Cystic Fibrosis had affected Aria since childhood. It was what had caused her to not go to Hogwarts. Adrina didn’t feel sorry for people often, as her conversation with Kael explained, but she did feel bad that Aria didn’t get the chance to go to school. She would have excelled at it that was for sure. Adrina could imagine her as a smart Ravenclaw, probably at the top of the class. Adrina smiled thinking about what could be. She shook her head. But that would never be. Quit dreaming Drina. She told herself. That won’t get you anywhere in life.

“You’re a smart guy Kael Collins. You know that?” She asked relating with everything that he said. Adrina shook her head a bit. “I don’t know if you can tell, but I’ve never done anything the easy way.” She said pointing to Gia a bit. “Why feel sorry for people that don’t want your sympathy in the first place. If I need any, I’ll tell someone.” She said trying to think of a time that, that actually had happened. Really, Adrina had never responded well to sympathy. She had never asked for it, but something inside her wanted to have someone to ask for it. Because it her mind, she didn’t. Adrina wondered if she really had a lot in common with Kael. So far in their conversation, it did seem like the two had a lot in common. Adrina sighed after a moment of silence. “How can you be so sure?” She finally asked referring to if they had a lot in common. Adrina liked facts, she always had. She needed them. It was hard for her to go on gut alone when it came to touchy matters. On silly matters, her gut seemed to work fine for the job.

Adrina smiled as Kael spoke. She sighed. “They can think what they want to, right? Letting those people bother me isn’t an option.” Wait, did she really say that out loud? Adrina had certain things in her life that weren’t optional. She always thought that discussing her weird options problem was one of the options. Please, don’t push it. Please don’t ask me. She bugged internally wondering if he could pick up the sense that some things were hard for Adrina to discuss with anyone. Anyone at all. Adrina laughed trying to get her mind off what she had just admitted. “Lord, I hope Gia didn’t give you that look, she’s six months old.” She joked sarcastically looking to the giggling baby bouncing lightly on her lap. She smiled when Kael said that she would have to deal with that fact that she interested him. “Okay. I guess I can be alright with that. I think.” She admitted out loud. “And I’m glad I don’t have an hour conversation about make-up either. I’d rather not want to kill myself because I hate my own interests.” She added not really caring what she was saying, just letting the words slide from her mouth.

Adrina nodded as Kael said that he trusting people was hard for him and people you trust can betray you. She understood that completely. “Trusting people is hard.” She told him. “Believe me. I have two trust modes set in my head: people I trust as friends to know about me and my life and then people I trust with Gia, with the complete truth. I’ve had that bond broken once too many times to feel great about trusting someone that much.” She shrugged her shoulders thinking of Danny. It would take awhile for Adrina to be back in that mindset. She wouldn’t just let herself fall in love like that again. If it happened again, it would have to be different. She smiled after a second. “I can write a letter as the only solid proof of this meeting would be Gia. And sorry, but you will just have to get your own Gia.” She grinned jokingly not feeling weird about joking with Kael at all. She was comfortable with it, with him. Gia giggled in Adrin’a arms which only made Adrina’s smile widen.

She smiled and shook her head at the same time. “I might be a bit different, but I’m still at heart. And for some things, we sort of all think similar.” She nodded to Gia who couldn’t understand a word of the conversation, but seemed to laugh at anything funny. Adrina only smiled at Kael’s words. “She does have a great giggle. I’m not so sure she got that from me, but it’s adorable so I don’t care where she got in from.” She explained not letting her mind go to Danny. This wasn’t a day to think about him. Well, no day was, but she was going to think about him at the moment. No, she was perfectly fine with being happy. Wasn’t she? “Gag giggling girls?” Adrina repeated just liking the way that sounded with all of the G’s. It happened to be one of Adrina’s favorite letters as people might assume from Gia’s name. Well, also Adrina couldn’t part with the idea of not giving her daughter an Italian name. So, Gia Isabella De Luca was chosen and Adrina adored it. Adrina examined Kael’s behavior for a moment, but just brushed it off as he talked about the naturally adorable thing. “Oh, c’mon. You’re not that hostile.” She said raising an eye-brow. “But, it is kind of funny.” She threw in.

Adrina watched Kael’s face as he took in the information about Gia’s father. She wasn’t too surprised at the way he acted. Different people acted in different ways when she told them this information. Some chose to act calm, others screamed. But, still Adrina didn’t have too many occasions of this to go by. People tended to be afraid to ask about Gia’s father and if they didn’t ask, then Drina didn’t bring it up. She was silently glad that Kael didn’t talk anymore about it. Talking about Danny didn’t make Adrina feel too emotional. It jut made her angry. It made her think about all the ways he could have done different and sometimes she even felt a bit of sympathy for him. But Adrina of course wouldn’t let herself feel such things. So she pushed it aside as she always did. Adrina had learned how to control her thoughts, her emotions. Some things, she simply wouldn’t let herself feel, but she had never explained this to anyone, nor did she have any thoughts of it. Adrina smiled slightly as Kael spoke about his childhood. She could very much see Lynette being pushed into the spot-light and Kael being in the shadows. Adrina herself had been in-between as a kid. Aria had been sick her whole life so she had always gotten a great deal of attention. Leo loved being in the shadows, the darkness. He said that he belonged there. Adrina, she liked being normal. Normal worked for her despite the countless times that Aunt Kat tried to push her into modeling and other crazy things that Adrina wouldn’t have a part of. Adrina decided not to comment on what Kael had just said, but the look on her face told him that she understood.

She laughed out loud. “Hey baby’s can be pretty judgmental of people. Gia hated my Uncle Gino. She can’t stand to be around him. I don’t know what it is about him; she just doesn’t care for him right now.” She shrugged. That mystery, Adrina had never figured out. “But we De Luca’s do have weird powers. I think it’s the Italian in us.” She laughed thinking back to Pisa. She often missed the city when she spoke about it. But, she knew that visits were always in her reach. “We’ll I’m glad you finally won the battle. Do tell me there isn’t an upcoming war.” She said as she mock rolled her eyes. Rolling her eyes wasn’t a natural Adrina behavior. So, when she did it, it was always a joke and anyone could tell this. Adrina nodded as Kael said again that he wouldn’t be a stranger. “Over my dead body.” She said jokingly. “You have a son sometime soon and we’ll talk.” She nodded jokingly. She laughed. “I can see the story now, boy gets dumped by baby. That one will sell millions of copies.” Adrina nodded. “You know you’re right. I hate thinking about the future, but as a mom, I kind of have to.” She shook her head thinking about how she was turning in to one of those planning girls. She had never wanted to be one of those. Adrina sighed. “I hate planning, but everyone insists that I need it in my life. Are they right?” She asked.

((Aww, poor jeans. Did they have a good life at least? :)

[kael]

He'd have to go soon, Kael realised when he glanced at the clock on the wall behind Adrina's head. It was nearly time to help the newly born kittens feed and, while Lynne could do it if he wasn't home in time, he'd really rather not give that job to his twin sister because her caring for the animals while they were still kittens was a bad idea. She'd just grow attached to them and want to keep them and then Kael would be blamed for exposing her to the adorableness of them. There was really no way out of it; he was the only one able to keep himself detached enough to not want to keep them. How many times had Lynnette fought with him over their many litters of kittens because he was the only one of the two with enough respect from their parents to convince them to keep some of the kittens? But he never had, not until last summer and only then because the runt of the litter was surely going to die unless he had kept an around the clock watch over him. And now Pluto was strong and healthy and curious enough to roam around Hogwarts even while Kael was in classes. Lynne had laughed at him and called him a bleeding heart and a soft touch, had tried to persuade him to pick a stronger kitten to champion because she had been so sure that Pluto would die and she hadn't wanted to see him hurting over it. She had a funny way of trying to protect him, that sister of his, but she was always so transparent while doing it that it was hard to take offense. It was understandably reassuring to know that his sister, at least, would never be able to lie to him convincingly.

"I know I'm smart. I just choose not to show it to people who aren't worthy of my genius." Kael joked lightly. "The easy way of doing things is too easy and too boring. Make up your own way of doing things and enjoy the things that happen to you because, chances are, very few people have taken that way of doing things before you." Kael quietened when he heard her words on sympathy. Very true, but not quite the way he would have worded it. Things were worth so much more when you didn't have to ask for them. "What is the worth of sympathy when you've had to ask for it? Wouldn't it be far better to have someone who understands you so well that you don't even have to ask for it, it's already there because they know you need it right now?" His smile turned thoughtful, genuinely pondering over the answer to her question. "Because you understand me better than anyone else I've met," Kael answered slowly, his mind still fitting suitable words to what he wanted to convey. "Only Lynnette understands me better than you seem to and she's known me ever since we were born. Even then, she doesn't understand what I mean all the time. And I'm comfortable around you and Gia. I don't get that feeling a lot."

"That's a good rule to live by. Never let people bother you unless they mean something to you," Kael agreed, watching Adrina curiously. Something about the look in her eyes after she'd made that comment about not having an option stirred his curiousity but his own common sense told him not to push the subject. The fact that she hadn't expanded on the comment told him that it was either a difficult subject or soething that she really didn't want to expand on. It made sense to him, especially after all the times he'd opened his mouth and something about Lynnette and her condition had spilled out, thankfully vague enough for them not to click on so Lynne wouldn't experience the urge to kill him, maim him or just rip him to pieces but it had been enough for him to clam up for a while. Some things just weren't meant to be talked about between strangers. "If Gia had given me that look I'd be waiting for it to come from you too. After all, she's got to inherit it from someone and you did call me adorable," Kael laughed and winked jokingly. "You'll be fine with it. It's not like I'll suddenly start stalking you just because you interest me. Or will I?" Kael added mock-thoughtfully.

Kael smiled slightly, remembering a time long past. "I was like my sister once. I trusted everyone and anyone without thinking about ways that they could abuse that trust and hurt and betray me. But, somewhere along the line, I grew up and I lost that naive outlook on life. Probably because people broke that trust too many times for me to forgive and forget without it changing me. I think my sister is the only sixteen year old I know that can be friends with mostly everyone she meets and give them her trust instantly and give them second, third and fourth chances without hesitation. I kinda wonder what she'd be like if she wasn't like that." Kael looked at Adrina sulkily, almost pouting. "What do you mean I have to get my own Gia? I like this one too much to get my own. Can't I give you Lynnette in exchange? She's house-trained." He joked playfully. "I guess I'll have to make do with a letter then. And I fully expect a letter for myself too. No fair writing to my sister and leaving me out."

"How disappointing. You're all alike when it comes to certain things. There goes my plan for marrying an individual," Kael laughed, his mind going back to something mentioned earlier in the conversation. Maybe he'd be the one to end up living a lonely life with no company except for the five cats and a parrot. Maybe he should think ahead for once and invest in a parrot now. Pluto would surely find it fun to play with, but he couldn't guarantee that the poor parrot would find it very fun to live with an overactive mischievous kitten. "Gia's giggle is great," Kael agreed, peering at Adrina comically. "Giggle for me and I'll see if she inherited it from you. If not then I guess you'll be the first giggling girl that I'll gag." Kael raised an eyebrow, mimicking Adrina with a slight grin. "I never said I was hostile, you said that. I just called myself a crazy recluse which, to be entirely fair, I am. Being related to Lynnette makes me crazy and I'm a recluse in my own right. But my aversion to girls is Lynne's fault. So I guess I can blame her when I end up all alone with only a parrot to talk to. Hey, I can even train the parrot to blame her. And if I ever do publish a book then I can dedicate it to the sister who left me to a life of loneliness because she let her friends torture me."

It was nice to be able to look at Adrina's face after the things he had just said and clearly see that she had understood everything he had said. It just cemented his belief that Adrina understood him more than a lot of people despite the fact that they had just met because not even Lynnette would have truly understood the feeling behind the words that had slid from his mouth. She'd feel guilty because she had been the reason he had been pushed out of the spotlight but it wasn't her fault. His sister couldn't control what their parents did and though she loved the spotlight because that was just her personality, she would have happily given it up to be considered normal by her parents again. The confused tears shining in her eyes when she had first discovered that she had something that wasn't considered normal, that was something that Kael couldn't forget even if they had both only been five years old. It hadn't changed her, who she was or the way he saw her but that discovery had changed the way she saw herself and it had been the day that their mother had started to look at her only daughter in a different way even if Kael had only recently realised it. Maybe it wasn't always good to see things that everyone else missed.

"Then I feel honoured to be liked by Gia, because I simply adore her. She's too cute to not be adored. This kid has a modeling career when she grows up, I'm telling you. But don't be too worried about her not liking your uncle. We all have family members that we can't stand at some point or another." Kael blinked, something finally occurring to him. "Except me. Because I've never actually met any of my family, other than my parents and my sister obviously. That's so weird. It's like they don't want to know us." Meh. Kael shrugged carelessly even as he tucked the realisation into the back of his mind for him to ponder over later. Maybe he'd ask his parents when they got home from work. "Everyday there's a war between us but we might skip tomorrows battle because I won todays." Kael answered, appearing perfectly serious other than the laughing twinkle in his eyes. "Oh fine. If I can't marry Gia then I'll just have to have a son who can. How many years would you like them to be separated by?" Kael laughed. He might be mature enough to handle a child - but really, who could tell until they actually had one? - but the fact still remained that the kid needed to have a mother and that was the one thing he was lacking. Ah well. If he was meant to fall in love then he'd fall in love and deal with it then. If not, there was always the parrot and cats. "Generally, I'd say that you don't have to plan for the future because we're only sixteen," Kael admitted. "But with Gia, yeah, you kinda have to plan for the future. But I'm good with budgeting so if you need help then just owl me," Kael offered.

((Of course they didn't have a good life. I only wore them once and any pair of jeans needs to be worn for at least a year to have a good life. Honestly. Some people. ))

[Adrina De Luca]

“Hey when I said smart I didn’t mean an egomaniac.” She joked not feeling like Kael was that way at all. Adrina found it easy to joke with Kael. She had never really have a problem with telling jokes, Adrina just tended to be more outgoing than an outgoing joke teller even though that didn’t make much sense to anyone but Adrina. “Oh. You choose not to show people, eh? Well, don’t I feel special.” She said bouncing Gia lightly in her arms. It wouldn’t take much longer for the baby to get fussy. After all, she had been out a good couple of hours which was probably the longest period of time Gia had ever been away from the cottage. Adrina smiled lightly. “Well, usually my different way of doing things lands me in new and different situations.” She motioned to Gia lightly. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t like my way any better than the norm.” She was really saying that she wouldn’t take Gia back for anything nor would she have had her later in life. Adrina loved Gia in now, in the present and that was exactly how Drina wanted it. She nodded as Kael talked about sympathy. “Yea, that’s true.” She shook her head a bit. “I dunno. I’ve never needed sympathy even though I’ve been through some hard things in my life. I dunno, Aria says my brain doesn’t work that way. She says I don’t need sympathy or love like most people do. Sometimes, I think she’s right.” She said hating mentioning love as usual, but it was nessicary to bring up in her speech about sympathy.

Adrina smiled. Kael’s words really did have an impact on her. She liked that she knew him better than anyone besides Lynette. She liked that feeling. “You know what, I like being able to understand you so well.” She said truthfully. “And I think you’ve found a way to penetrate my stubbornness and see what I’m really trying to say.” By this, she really meant that she thought he understood her well too, but she couldn’t bring herself to say these things. “People say that siblings are supposed to know you better than anyone. I’m glad that’s true for you.” Without saying it, she meant that it wasn’t true for her. Drina thought that Kael could pick this up without her saying it, though. “Well, I’m glad that we’re special.” She responded when Kael said that he was comfortable with her and Gia and he didn’t feel that a lot. It did make her feel pretty special to tell the truth, but she would never admit this out loud. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” She quotes Eleanor Roosevelt. “Ohh, I meant what you just said reminded me of that quote.” She said nodding just feeling the need to explain herself which didn’t come often to her. Adrina grinned. “I call puppies adorable too though.” She joked. “And I’m not completely sure that Gia got it from me..” True, Drina was more of a flirt than Danny was, but she wasn’t overly flirty. At least she didn’t think so. She laughed. “Stalk me all you want, but be warned. I’ve been known for a killer slap, of course that’s just a rumor and considering I’ve never slapped a sole, I don’t know how it got started.” She laughed thinking of the rumor monsters. Oh well. She didn’t care.

Adrina nodded as Kael spoke about Lynette. The girl seemed so innocent, so naïve the way Kael talked about her. Adrina sighed. “Sometimes, it might be good to be like that.” She said her thoughts out loud. “But I can’t be like that. I’m not just trusting for me, I’m trusting for Gia too.” She said truthfully. If Adrina couldn’t trust Gia’s own father with her or Drina’s heart, than whom could she trust? She thought for a moment. “Hmm, not sure that I can imagine you as a boy version of Lynette. I wonder what you would be like if you were.” She pondered out loud, but let the thought go away after awhile. Adrina smiled. Fine, you get a letter two, but I’m not trading Gia. She doesn’t know how to talk which makes life much easier.” She smiled to her nearly asleep daughter in her arms. She wouldn’t keep Gia out too much longer. After all, she wasn’t that old.

She shook her head. “You’ll find that individual girl.” She said without saying another word about the subject. She couldn’t think of anything else to say about it. Adrina raised an eye-brow. “I don’t know how to giggle.” She flicked her wrist. “Well, at least I don’t know how to do it on demand. I’m not a train seal.” She protested still smiling. “Wow, Mr. Collins deep in his thought.” She smiled even though Adrina thought deeply deeply sometimes herself. “Okay, maybe not hostile. Mildly hostile?” She suggested even though it didn’t make much sense at all. “Ohh poor you.” She joked even though Adrina was sure that Kael would be a different person if Lynette wasn’t the way she was. Family could change people. They could be a big part of who a person was. Adrina knew this all too well which made her wonder if she was like her mother or father had been. But this question would never be answered.

Adrina smiled. “Yea, she gets that a lot.” She said when Kael said that Gia could be a model when she got older. Adrina wasn’t sure if she liked this idea. She wasn’t sure if that would be the best job for her daughter, but she still had time to decide. Adrina laughed. “That’s true.” She replied when Kael said that everyone had family members that they didn’t like. Adrina wasn’t found of a distant cousin named Helena, but at least she didn’t have to see her too often. Adrina eyed Kael as he said that he didn’t know much of his family Odd. Adrina didn’t have parents, yet she still knew her grand-parents and visited them. What Kael had said confused Adrina, but she decided not to comment on the matter. Everything Kael said sounded smart to Adrina, and she liked that she understood it all. Adrina had never pegged herself as a smart person, but she was, simple as that. Adrina smiled. “Two at the most.” She joked, still in a way telling the truth. She smiled. “Thanks for the offer. One day, I might take you up on that.” She paused. “Sometimes, being a regular sixteen year old seems so far away, but now I know that I don’t care.” She smiled to Gia who looked extremely tired. “I think we should go. She’s getting tired.” Adrina said standing up. “Umm, thanks for lunch.” She said remember that Kael had offered them to sit and have lunch on him. “I’ll see you around then.” She told him before turning to leave. As she left the café, Adrina made a point to find the waitress. She handed her some cash. “This is for the meals. Include his too please.” She said. The lady nodded. Well, Adrina had always to be in charge even if only a little bit.