Fourth Floor Common Room [evening]

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis was curled up on the couch, a dog at her feet and a bag of popcorn beside her.

No, of course it wasn't burned. That might imply that she had followed the directions as best she could, and still failed. Which was certainly not the case.

She flipped through the channels on the television, no real aim in mind aside from steering away from anything with that obnoxious false-sounding laughter. Her mind was elsewhere, and possibly pondering how she could possibly mock that awful woman more. It had suddenly become vastly more appealing, now that she was not allowed.

[oooooooooopen like a thing]

Comments

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"Bro," he correctly softly, though his heart wasn't in it. "Dudes are bro. Girl-dudes are bra."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Ahhh. That's excellent to know," Evie said, hoping to cheer him a little. "The differences are always important, culturally speaking." She held out a plate of oatmeal cookies, and bit her lip, studying him. "Is there anything I can do? You seem rather... bummed."

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"You - you don't know Rikku, do you?" He took a cookie but just held it.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Actually, I do. We had Treasure Hunting together last session, and had a few interesting discussions on archaeology and her world's history. Sweet girl, really," Evie said, taking a cookie for herself. "Why? Is she all right?"

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. I don't know where she is. She left."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Oh, dear," Evie said in dismay. "Left school? Left the island? Left for now, or ... Oh, I'm sorry, the last thing you must want is to be badgered with questions."

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," he said again. "She just . . . left." Me.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie frowned, looking very worried. "Isn't she, um. Your girlfriend?" She blushed a little. "Have another cookie. I'm certain she'll come back soon. Nearly everyone does."

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"She is. Was. Is." He dropped the untouched cookie in his hand onto the counter. "I don't know," he said again.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie gave him a sympathetic look, and tentatively asked, "When did she leave? Do you want help in finding her? Not that I know anything about it, but I'm sure there are people here who do...."

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"Yesterday. We were going to . . ." He shook his head. "She left a message. I - it's not my fault, but she thinks it is!"

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no! What happened?" Evie asked, usual British decorum overcome by worry for Jude.

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"She thinks - she thinks I told them about . . . I wouldn't brag about that, I love her." The hand holding the tea shook as he looked down at it. "I love her."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie got *most* of the picture, and was romantic enough to be upset about it. "Of course you do! And, and, who said you did? Tell, I mean. I don't know what you told, but if it was bad enough for her to leave, *surely* she'd check with you first...."

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"She didn't," he said sadly.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"She'll *have* to come back, just to hear your side!" Evie said, looking hopeful. "I'm certain of it. She wouldn't stay away from school for very long just because she was angry with you."

Evie really believes other people look at school the way she does.

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

Jude just nodded. He didn't look too convinced.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie patted Jude on the shoulder, and moved to make him more tea. "I believe you. And she will too, when she comes back."

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"But what . . . what if she doesn't?"

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Then... then." Evie frowned, then looked hopeful. "Could you challenge your friend to a duel of some kind? She'd *have* to believe you then."

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"I already yelled at Caitlin . . ." He didn't sound happy about it, or particularly proud of himself when admitted, "I made her cry."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Oh, dear." Evie looked sad. "What did she do, that you were so angry?"

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"She's the one who called Rikku."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Why on earth...?" Evie wondered, mystified. "Did she just want to tattle on your friend who couldn't keep his lips zipped?"

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"She was worried about me."