Predictable? ((India))

[Drake Manning]

Why the library had seemed like a good idea earlier seemed to have changed in Drake’s mind. The library meant quiet study and the actual attempt of getting something done. And then, Drake remembered that it had been why he had chose it in the first place. Despite his desire to simply do as he pleased, Drake knew that it was his last year and that if he really wanted to finish with decent marks he should buckle down and force himself to work harder. Internal motivation for school work came rarely for Drake though, explaining his constant procrastination and apathetic view toward the majority of academics. He wasn’t stupid nor incompetent for that matter. Drake just simply harboured a great sense of apathy lately. There were more important things, in his mind, than school. However, sometimes he even doubted whether anything was really important. Highly cynical, Drake wondered what the point of living even was. He often felt more miserable than not.

Still debating his idea to have come, Drake pushed through the library entrance and found the first table that he could which was isolated from everyone else as much as it could be. He was quite uninterested in having to put up with anybody else around him, especially younger students. He found it highly annoying when they would come up to him and ask for help, seeing that he was an older student. In his benefit though, Drake’s occasional scowl and fairly notorious reputation kept him free from younger students for the most part. Plus, it wasn’t like there were more people than he could count on one hand that would actually want to talk to him. In fact, Drake could really only think of one person who would actually want to talk to him, and that was Ryann Taylor. Drake was still confused as to why she had thought that he was anything but what his reputation spoke for itself. For some reason though, she hadn’t given up the idea that Drake was perhaps looking for a relationship. For now, he would simply go along with it though, until she bothered him to a point that it became annoying.

As he unpacked the few books that he had brought, not really trying to be quiet in his actions, Drake glanced around him and saw a familiar figure sitting a few tables in front of him. She was sitting in a way that he view was such that she couldn’t see Drake, but he knew quite well that it was in fact India sitting by herself. He smirked to himself as he recalled their last encounter in the courtyard. Before they had really finished their conversation, Ryann had interrupted and caused India to leave in somewhat of a hurry. Leaving his books, Drake stalked up behind India and took a seat in a chair that was at the table just to her back. He propped his feet up on the table and threw his hands behind his head while checking to make sure that Madam Pince wasn’t anywhere nearby. “Whatcha reading?” he asked, not really caring what India was actually reading but simply wanting to get her attention. Something about India gave Drake a feeling that he liked. He wasn’t quite sure what that feeling was, but it didn’t matter to him. It could have been a feeling of power, or simply the mystery that seemed to pass between them that kept Drake interested. Whatever it was, India was more than just another girl, and that kept Drake coming back to her without getting bored or feeling like he was wasting he breath in conversation. What made it even better was that she seemed to dislike him in a sense meaning that he had to stay on his toes around her. She was a ball of fire, figuratively, and in some ways even literally.

[India Nightingale]

India levitated the pile of heavy textbooks she had gathered on the tip of the table and began manoeuvring them to the area she usually claimed as her own. She passed pupils diligently working, but some noticed her passing and raised unhidden eyebrows of scepticism at the large amount she had acquired. Ignoring their impolite stares, India finally reached her table and gently levitated the books onto it. The stack of at least ten thick volumes swayed a little, but perfect control of the spell soon set them straight again. Surveying them critically, India eventually seated herself and picked up the quill, ready to write. Her hand drifted to the top of the pile of books and retrieved it, grabbing a piece of blank parchment in the process. Soon the textbook lay beside her as she frequently related back to it, flicking the pages as the ink seeped to fill the parchment. Words that held infinite information yet so little meaning filtered into India’s mind automatically at a relatively speedy rate, being absorbed like water to a dry sponge.

Three hours later, and still India sat in her seat, almost unmoving as her hand relayed the only movement in her body. Her fingers twitched against the quill from fatigue, but India ignored it due to her stubborn pride. Finally, with the last essay homework complete, she sat back in her chair a little, looking somewhat satisfied with herself as she appraised her efforts. Contented after a few minutes of proofreading, she placed the homework on the pile of thick parchment, and looked around her spacious area. The large desk had on it the same stack of thick heavy textbooks, only placed in reverse order, India having rifled through them all in search for every little piece of information she could suck out of them. Homeworks rested in a separate pile, clipped together where there was more than one page for each one, and beside that was her near-empty bottle of black ink. Resting the quill next to it, India flexed her fingers with a quick grimace, before taking her wand and levitating the textbooks back to the correct places. There was no need for her to move.

Head still filled with facts and figures that cluttered her brain and screamed for release, India flicked her wand again and a book from a nearby shelf flew silently to her. Taking it in her hands, she glanced briefly at the cover and the back, before leaning back and settling into it without much further ado. India wished to be immersed in something or another, and although she enjoyed learning, she wished to intake words without the need to understand them; rather, she could extract some pleasure out of reading for enjoyment, could she not? Admittedly, she rarely did it, but India didn’t deny she did like the good novel now and again. Soon, she was deep into the heart of the story, joining and becoming one with the narrator’s and characters’ minds.

Time ticked by. India’s fingers locked into strands of dyed black, clutching at her hair tightly as strands wound round her knuckles. Nails scraped at her squashed palm, making raw marks as she repeated the action several times unconsciously. Greeny-blue eyes, clear yet devoid of real emotion, bore into the book resting on the table, her other arm propping up her head as more ebony brushed past her cheeks and tickled the yellowing pages she read from. India was about to turn over, when a voice broke her out of a land of peace and into an immediately tense atmosphere. Her eyes frosted over as her forehead lines creased in anticipation of what… or who, was to come. Very slowly, India looked around her, glare finally landing on who else but Drake Manning.

“Drake.” India stated flatly, her book slamming shut in her hands without so much as a bookmark. She didn’t need it, she’d probably never set eyes on the novel ever again. Calmly, India stared directly at Drake as he watched her with a cocky expression. He seemed to be enjoying himself, which irked her to no end. First of all the summer incident, then the Courtyard ‘row’, followed by his flavour of the week’s stalking. India had seriously had enough with anything Drake-related. She had only just about succeeded in banishing all thought of him from her head following her encounter with Ryann a few days ago, but still, she had to admit he niggled at the corners of her mind like a fish waiting to take bait. Or was it India who was the prey and Drake the predator? India slid the closed novel onto the table and turned around again to give her back to Drake. She just wished he would leave her alone, but fate had different plans. “What do you want?” She deadpanned, neglecting to reply to his starter question. He was probably just making small talk to irritate her.

[Drake Manning]

The irritable way in which India replied to his presence was enough to make Drake grin at her sarcastic nature. As she turned her back to him once again, Drake stood and walked around the table at which she was sitting. He took the chair opposite her and turned it around so that it faced backwards, sitting down and resting his arms on the back of the chair. "I want to know what you were reading," he insisted when she questioned his being there. In all reality, he didn't care, but found it amusing to see if she might answer his mundane question. With India, it had been fun to see how far Drake could push her buttons. She still seemed to remain quite steely in her responses though, perhaps attempting to put up with Drake long enough for him to get bored and move on. There wasn't anything boring about India though, as Drake found her personality quite intriguing... almost addicting for that fact that he saw so much of himself in India. He wondered if she realized the same in him. Perhaps not, as that was simply Drake's view of things. Maybe India felt that she was nothing like Drake, which could have been the case. Still, he wondered how much of his true self she had really seen. Drake played with so many different styles of his personality that he wondered if anybody could really see him for who he was; just all part of the game that made it fun though.

"You come to the library often?" he asked, noticing the papers of finished work on the table beside India's bag. Drake figured that maybe she was just there on a rare occasion like himself, but it didn't seem as though the work she was doing now was required, and so he couldn't help but think that perhaps she enjoyed coming to the library to spend the time alone. It was a quiet place, there was no denying that, but the fact of being surrounded by books wasn't very appealing to Drake. He hated feeling obligated to do work, and the library always gave him that feeling. Though, it did help him to accomplish things, which was why he had been there in the first place. "Is there a Slytherin study group that I wasn't invited to?" he questioned with a teasing smile and a snort of fake disappointment. She probably knew as well as he did that even if there were a group, and even if they extended Drake the most formal of invitations, he would likely refuse; unless, of course, there were other motives that he might have for attending. Perhaps if there was a certain female that attended, Drake might have a good reason, but other than that, Drake despised overtly social situations.

As India replied, Drake reached across the table, taking the book she had been reading and flipped through the pages. The print was small, and it seemed that it was a novel of sorts. Something about India didn't seem like the read-for-pleasure type, but people could surprise you. Drake laughed at the thought that she might be reading some sappy romance novel, as that was even more unexpected that then mere fact that she was reading something that was not required to begin with. Drake knew though that he probably should give more credit those who read for the mere fact of reading. They were exercising their minds in ways that Drake had never really preferred, but that was because he found other ways to keep himself occupied. "Is this a tear-jerker?" he questioned with a tone of sarcasm.

[India Nightingale]

India pretended not to notice when Drake rounded the table and casually took a seat next to her. Her nerves tingled from his invading presence, but she chose not to show any emotion as she busied herself with shuffling her papers into already-neat piles. She didn’t want to appear intimidated by Drake, neither did she wish to seem weak to him. Out of the corner of her eyes, she noted his cocky behaviour, the turning-around of his chair and the relaxed manner he faked. At his words, India finally glanced up to fix him with a cold stare, folding her arms across her chest and waiting for him to proceed. India highly doubted Drake particularly cared about what she was reading; he was finding this ‘game’ too entertaining, she could see it in the way he talked, that familiar smirk lining his face. She refused to amuse him in return. Therefore, India chose to remain in silence until Drake stated exactly why he was here; or at least, if he wanted a conversation, he’d have to continue it by himself. And so, Drake did start talking again in that pretentious voice of his, and India refrained a roll of her eyes in response. She decided to answer his dull question with a reply deviating from the very subject itself; she wouldn’t give Drake the pleasure of getting her to cooperate with her. “That’s none of your business.” India deadpanned calmly, twirling a lock of black between her fingers habitually. She knew for sure Drake didn’t pass the Library often; otherwise she would almost certainly have noticed by now. India spent almost every waking moment in this place, so she knew the other common inhabitants well.

India snorted derisively at Drake’s next question, pinning a thin smirk down on her lips. “Even if there was a study group, you and I would be the last people to be invited.” India stated factually. “And why would Drake Manning grace such imbeciles with his great presence? You have better things to do, hm?” It wasn’t really a question on India’s behalf, as she was sure she was right. In this aspect, Drake and her did share similar characteristics and baggage that came with being who and what they were. The two of them had discussed this topic before; one of a few things India knew was a main topic in both their lives. It seemed almost natural to ‘chat’ about their fellow classmates sarcastically with Drake. India couldn’t really do so with anyone else (mostly because she didn’t ‘chat’ anyway). However, she wouldn’t let this rare occurrence in somebody lighten her judgement on Drake; he was someone she didn’t like through and through. There would be no changing this, as India didn’t do friends, Drake didn’t do friends unless they were ‘flavours of the week’, and he had too many traits India couldn’t stand anyway. One of them being the fact that, although she had only spoken to him twice in the last few weeks, Drake had taken some sort of rabid interest in her and was what India deemed stalking her. He didn’t seem to want to leave her alone, and it was extremely irritating.

Drake suddenly moved forward and in a swift movement had clutched her novel in his fingers. India stopped her mouth from opening in protest; rather, she sat in silence still as she watched him intently, his eyes scouring the book. India stared in discontent as Drake’s lips curled upwards in a smirk, before he spoke. Not able to take his teasing any longer, India picked up her wand and uttered the levitating charm to remove the novel from his grasp. The book slipped out of Drake’s hands and returned to its previous position in the nearby bookshelf. India looked at Drake coolly as she pocketed her wand. “It belongs in the adult horror story section.” India finally answered his enquiry with a cold, fake smile. “Unsuitable for students under thirteen years old.” She added as an afterthought after a span of silence. The two of them sat in the midst of the scratching of quills and patter of irregular footsteps, just staring at one another in defiance, until India chose to make the first move. It was time to wrap up the party. “Why are you talking to me?” India suddenly spoke sharply again, leaning forwards across the table with narrowed eyes of suspicion. “Why do you incessantly bug me? I thought whatever happened between us was done. Now what do you want with me, Drake Manning? Because there is nothing you want that I can give.” India stated matter-of-factly, expressionlessly.

[Drake Manning]

“You act as though you know me, India,” Drake commented with an accusing grin an a scoffing tone. He knew that India probably had come to know more of him than what she realized, or at least more of himself than he was accustomed to sharing with others. Still, he was quite comfortable for some reason in letting his guard down around India, though he honestly didn’t realize that it was what he was doing. The sarcasm, though still there, was quite mellow compared to usual, and he almost felt as though there was no use hiding since he saw so much of himself in what he was able to detect of India. “Though, you’re probably right. If the two of us were invited to a study group, I’d have to assume it was some sort of hoax.”

As he mockingly conversed about the book India had been reading, he was stunned when she snatched the book from his hands with quick spell-work and had it back on a shelf in mere seconds. “I’m unsuitable for children under thirteen,” he retorted with a sneer. Drake couldn’t help but get a thrill out of the way India seemed to play his game so well. It was as if she had been a professional at it or something. Nobody had ever quite mastered the art of beating Drake at his own game, but India could almost pass as being one step ahead. It was with such ease, too, which made Drake even more intrigued by her.

In another matter of seconds, India had moved on to her next attack, this time though, Drake sensed a seriousness in her words that he knew indicated more than a sarcastic jab. He narrowed his own eyes, out of confusion, but then said what first came to his mind. “Because I can.” Likely, the fact that he chose to talk to her had bothered India, which he found surprising. Apparently, despite the similarities Drake had identified between the two of them, India must have thrived on her own while Drake used others to gain his pleasure and happiness. While he delighted in controlling others, she must have delighted in being left to her own vices. “You’re a lot less snippy when you’re drunk,” Drake said with a snort. He then laughed a bit, wondering how upset India was that he had been ‘stalking’ her. “Who says I want anything?” he asked, trying to sound offended, thought it wasn’t very successful. Drake could turn on the charm, but the sympathy act was not one of his strengths. “Plus, who says you can’t give me what I want, assuming I wanted something in the first place?” He knew his questions were not of the normal caliber. Drake would naturally have turned the topic to something more complex, losing the girl in his cunning ways, but India had him speaking in simplicities, and frankly he just wanted to know what her answers to his simple questions would be. There was no use playing games with India. Drake had quickly realized she wasn’t a fool, and his best bet would be a good defense instead of his usual offense.

[India Nightingale]

India scoffed at Drake’s remark, smirking at him. “You can’t talk.” Her stare was just as accusing as his, and India refused to back down, though she smiled slightly in triumph when Drake admitted it would most likely be a ‘hoax’. India didn’t feel annoyed or pained by the truth; not too much, anyway. She didn’t want to be around other people, didn’t need their acceptance. India didn’t need anybody. “You’re unsuitable for anyone under the age of five.” India deadpanned in return, her slight smile fading into hard flintiness. Drake was playing his usual game again, and if that was the case, India refused to play it his way. She would just answer in the way she felt suitable, since it was obvious she couldn’t get out of this situation any time soon. And anyway; it was an entertaining way to pass the time. There weren’t many people that India enjoyed ‘chatting’ to, but Drake could just about pass as acceptable. He wasn’t completely moronic (though was certainly irritating), admittedly about on the same intellectual level as India (but of course, no higher), and he was around her age (India couldn’t stand younger children).

“In fact, Drake,” India started with a cold smile, “You’re not suitable for men, women who are stronger than you, or anyone who isn’t completely brainless.” Ryann Taylor popped into her mind again, forcing India to narrow her eyes in distaste at the thought. Before she could speak again, though, Drake answered her previous question with an answer that didn’t necessarily surprise India, but caught her off guard a little. “Because you can?” India spoke in apparent disbelief with a slender raised eyebrow. “How typical of your ego, Drake.” She spoke knowingly, somewhat baffled by how arrogant a man could be. However, her resolve hardened at Drake’s next words, her eyes narrowing once again in unforgiving irritation. “I thought we agreed we’d never bring that subject up ever again. You’re never going to let it go, are you?” India forced a careless shrug, glaring at Drake, “Whatever. Keep hounding me about it if you want. It won’t affect me anymore. I get bored easily, and you’re starting to bore me.” India was inwardly angry about Drake bringing up the drunk incident, but she refused to bow to him to ask him to forget the incident. She didn’t want to damage her pride more than it already had been by Drake, though she wasn’t about to admit that.

“Don’t you?” India questioned with little conviction as she looked intently at Drake. “Every one of your words, every one of your moves has an ulterior motive. Don’t think you can fool me.” She snorted at Drake’s next claim. “I never said I couldn’t give you what you wanted. I just won’t.” India smirked at Drake, before starting to stand up and look down at his seated figure in disregard. “I know what you really want, Drake, and you’ll never get it from me. So you should give up now and keep that girlfriend of yours happy. Taylor’s a pretty girl, and you’ve set her hopes high, but I’m not going to be around when you crush her.” India spoke coldly, before shoving her chair under the desk and levitating the textbooks back to their right places in record time. She grabbed her homework and other materials, gave Drake one last cursory glance, before she turned and walked away. “I’m not a tool to be used.”

[Drake Manning]

“Under five is pushing it,” he retorted with a smile. Then, India added to her comment, only causing Drake to give her a stare of confusion. He understood at what she was getting at, and though it was likely a cut at his reputation, he simply shook his head before replying. “Suitable for men?” he questioned with an unsure look that he cast at India. He wasn’t sure what she was getting at, but one thing was obvious: India seemed to be holding in a lot of bitterness. Perhaps is was his irritating nature, but something about her seemed to be more than just the way of being annoying that Drake had loved exhibiting.

When she mentioned his ego, he simply shrugged, knowing that she had to have realized by now that there was nothing she could do to change that. And, when she brought up the fact again that he had promised not to keep bringing up the subject of the night they had went drinking together he felt like telling her once and for all that he would likely never live up to that promise. He had been in a rare moment at that point, surely she had realized that by now. “Don’t count on it...” he said, “... me letting something go.” He gave a short laugh. “How can I let it go if it’s too good to forget?” He gave her taunting glare.

It was obvious that India had thought she had figured him out quite well by now. Perhaps she was right in some aspects, but Drake was doubtful to think that she had truly identified his deep self. She knew his reputation quite well and the fact that he hid behind it, but Drake was sure that India couldn’t even begin to know the real him. She knew him better than most, likely because she seemed brighter than most when it came to reading people, but that didn’t mean she really knew what she may have thought she knew.

She had made some more comments that were quite predictable by now. She really seemed to remind Drake a lot of himself, and he could sense the wall she was quickly erecting between them. The way she did it though was quite unique compared to what he was used to seeing. “Don’t be so sure of what you think you know,” he said simply. This was perhaps one of the only serious things he had said in their quick conversation. There was a lot more that he could have said, but as India returned everything to its place and gave him a cold sort of goodbye, he simply sat at the chair, not giving any sort of reply as he watched her leave. He contemplated everything she had said for a few seconds before getting up from the chair himself and heading back to the loads of homework that awaited him.