Lonely Lunch ((Open))

[reese]

Tom scoffed at Paige's comment, clearly he hadn't been the only one disregarding his brain in the past few days. Obviously it wasn't logic that got Paige in her situation, and by the sound of what the girls were hinting at earlier, it was Paige that had outed herself to the world as not being able to be a one manned woman. "Hm, again Paige you manage to bring light to your own issues by pin pointing mine. I am not the only one who fails to think with their brain, after all, aren't you in this mess because of your sordid affair?"

He smirked, unwilling to let Paige get away with highlighting his flaws without bringing her own out into the open. Sure it wasn't the ideal way to help her out of her funk, but she needed some perspective on the matter, and Tom wasn't willing to sugar coat things. She got herself into the well, now she had to climb her way out, wallowing in self pity was going to get her nowhere.

"But darling, without any details you'll be forced to come up with your own material when you're lying in bed at night, alone, no one there to help you. Obviously this latest development has cut your action in at least half, look like you'll be self-servicing for a while." Tom smirked, knowing full well that Paige would be jealous of any intimacy that he and Cali shared, not that he would go into specifics. People could speculate all they wanted, he wasn't one to kiss and tell.

"Older, yes. Wiser, no. But on the subject of who needs to be hurt in order to settle the score, keep me posted, i'd love to help." He lowered his voice, and eventually let silence creep over him. He didn't want to go into details on how much he'd exactly enjoy destroying whoever it was that brought Paige down, not with Cali around anyway. Not wanting to stay serious too long, Tom smiled and looked at the more bright of the two girls, popping the grape into his mouth.

Clearly he was having a positive effect on Paige's mood, but he didn't care all too much how she was feeling. Cali was there, that was all that mattered. Paige would come second to him being able to spend time with his... love? Or was that too strong of a word to put on her just yet. Tom's head tilted and his eyes that were on Cali went out of focus as he thought on the subject of their relationship.

He moved his foot under the table to hook it around Cali's ankle, he couldn't hold himself back from touching her for long. "So are you going to spill what happened Paige? Or am I actually going to tune in to the rumor mill for once?"

[Paige Lucas]

She shot Tom an annoyed look. "Shut up." Paige took a grape off of Cali's plate and threw it at his huge egotistical head. She giggled when it bounced off his head and back onto Cali's plate. That definitely made her feel better.

"I'm already alone if you hadn't noticed." She glared at him. "Maybe it'll be better this way..." She watched some guys walk past. "Oh what the hell am I thinking?" She slammed her head on the table. What the hell was she thinking? This was stupid, Paige knew she just needed to run back to Lor and beg for forgiveness.

"Older, yes. Wiser, no. But on the subject of who needs to be hurt in order to settle the score, keep me posted, i'd love to help." Paige rolled her eyes. "How can you consider yourself wiser when we both sink in the same situation? I don't need you to hurt anyone...I can do that myself." Her hand twinged a bit when she thought back to her arguement with Amorte. "Ugh I tire of all this. I hate drama."

Paige smirked, "There's not much to tell, to be honest." Not much that I'm allowed to tell actually... She sighed sadly. "The most I can tell you is that after you guys left Hog's Head, Morty and I stayed a little longer. We had some more drinks then decided to leave and to be completely honest I don't remember what happened after that."

A thought suddenly occured to her, one she had heard the other day but wasn't sure about. "Have either of you heard of a Slytherin girl named Ayla?"

[calista]

Cali couldn't help herself, she burst outlaughing at Paige's display. She pulled her plate away, yet again. "Leave the grapes out of this. That could get you into some serious trouble at my house." Cali shook her head, laughing more at her little joke. She flicked the grape off her plate towards Paige.

Cali shook her head. "Drama," Cali muttered under her breathe. She had to agree with Paige. Drama was tiresome. Cali could definitely live without the rumour mill and the drama that followed; and really, she did live without it, unless someone she spoke to brought something up.

Cali pushed her plate to the side, away from reaching fingers. With one hand, she continued to eat her treats, the other, she used as a head rest. Some many things ran through her mind from that night. The dancing, the drinking. Cali closed her eyes at the thought of all those shots she'd consumed. At some point during that little adventure, Cali stopped counting the drinks.

She felt someone looking at her and glanced over at Tom. She smiled, of course it was him. Who else would it be? Cali felt Tom's foot hooked around her ankle. Her smile grew as her own foot lifted, grazing Tom's leg mischieviously.

She turned her attention back to paige's question. Cali shrugged, "Heard of her through that kid you fought in the Pitch. Never met her, though." Cali's gaze, unconciously moved to her hand on the plate. It didn't hurt anymore but the memory was painful.

[reese]

Tom raised his arm as a delayed reaction to try and block the projectile that hit him in the head. Throwing food, how mature. He wiped off the dime sized wet mark that the grape left on his forehead with his sleeve, ”Hm, throwing things? Did I say something that was a little too close to home there Paige? Something tells me you know the aloneness that night brings all too well.” He smirked, pleased with himself that he had struck a nerve with her.

He rolled his eyes, now was not the time to go into his own complicated personal life, besides all of that was in the past. But it was still frustrating to have his personal life brought up in conversation, he didn’t like this two way street. Paige’s affairs was his fodder, but he wanted his own to be forgotten.

She didn’t even have a valid point in her little mention of him sinking in the situation she was in. He had been able to transcend his misstep with the other woman and face his own issues that led him into such a scenario. Looking at Cali, and the way she couldn’t stop smiling around him, confirmed that he had handled himself better than how Paige was going about her problem. In a way, the complicated mess he had created for himself by juggling multiple girls acted as a catalyst to resolve some of the inner turmoil that his discovery of feelings brought on. And much more importantly, it made him open up his life to Cali much sooner than what was usual for him.

Her explanation brought him back to the conversation at hand, the memory of everyone’s wild night at the Hog’s Head even brought a smile to his face. It was a momentous occasion, being the first time him and Cali were seen acting affectionate towards one another in public. That night had not been a step forward for him, but for Paige it mucked up her whole relationship. Tom smiled at the irony, they may have been similar, but they handled themselves very differently.

”I see, well I hope the drunken fooling around was good, otherwise this manure pile you are stuck in is rather meaningless.” Tom’s voice dropped suddenly at the feeling of Cali’s foot moving to his leg. Even his thoughts seemed to slip from Paige’s shit pile all together. He took in a sharp breath as he closed his eyes a few moments in an attempt to get back onto what he was talking. But he opened them to see the smile that changed his life and could no longer fight his way back mentally to the current topic of discussion.

Once Cali’s attention shifted away from him to the girl beside her, Tom was able to pull himself out of the trance she put him under. Ayla.. Now that was something he hadn’t expected to hear. Even though they were never formally introduced, Tom was aware of who the girl was. She was Adam’s protector, and even more relevant to the situation, she was involved with Morte. To what extent Paige knew about the girl tom was unsure, but he turned to her and frowned, obviously perturbed by the mere thought of the girl that had prevented him from getting rid of that nuisance Adam.

”I know her. Although i’m sure our interest in her varies significantly. You would be more concerned with who she’s getting close to, where as I am more curious of her relationship with that Ravenclaw boy... Son of a -” Tom cut himself off from releasing the words that came to mind when Adam was brought into things. Even though he had not been the one to harm Cali directly, Tom still held him responsible in some way.

[Paige Lucas]

She giggled again when Cali flicked a grape at her. "So much for leaving the innocent grapes out of this huh?" She shook her head, glad that she was beginning to get out of this horrible mood.

"I'm happy that someone agrees with me. It seems like most girls love it. Especially the Slytherin ones. It's stupid and petty." She thought back to everything being said and done over the last few weeks and it seemed like the farther it went on the more ridiculous people got. Paige shrugged, "Hopefully this will all be over with soon."

Paige leaned onto the table while Tom talked about Ayla. "What do you mean, who she's getting closer to?" Paige somewhat remembered the girl from the fight as Cali had previously mentioned but she didn't remember much, seeing as how she past out. What she could remember was that this young witch had been furious when she had found out what Adam had done. Were they linked together some way? But what would that have to do with Paige? She pulled out of her thoughts to question Tom more.

"I heard some girls from Slytherin talking about her, saying that they couldn't believe she was in Slytherin at all because she was a muggle-born. And something about how displeased they were that he would even be around her. Who is he Tom? I know you know something."

[reese]

Tom took in Paige’s question, but she seemed to zone out and entrap herself in her own thoughts before he could respond. He watched her in disbelief, was she really that unaware of her own lover’s activities that took place when she wasn’t around? He smirked, she wasn’t as astute as Cali had been with him. Even though it had landed him in a rough patch with her, Tom couldn’t help but be impressed that the colorful girl across from him, his guiding light, was so in tune with what was happening around her. ”Oh, I thought you knew.”

He yawned, feigning disinterest as to leave Paige hanging to a little longer. In some sick way he was enjoying her suffering, she would want answers, but he wasn’t going to give them up so easily. Tom squirmed a bit in his school uniform, the harsh fibers were not as soft against his skin as the fine fabrics he had grown so accustomed to. Fortunately he had ditched the bulky robe that did no favors for even Tom’s well maintained form at his table, god forbid he left it there when he would inevitably leave for his afternoon classes.

Muggle born, didn’t she mean mudblood? Tom grimaced at her politically correct phrasing of what the girl was, he may have been enlightened to being more open, but it was hard to shake the reflex that hearing such a thing brought on. ”That mudblood, you so affectionately refer to as muggle-born, is distracting your new boy toy. It seems you are incapable of keeping your own scarlet letter in check.” Tom moved his eyes away from the grey pullover that was so much more interesting than the topic at hand to analyze the reaction that his statement would mar Paige’s features.

[Paige Lucas]

Paige raised an eyebrow. "Yes I meant that pitiful mudblood. I was just trying to be polite." She glanced at Cali, shooting her an appologetic look. If it were just her and Tom she would probably let mudblood slip but with a fellow Gryffindor at the table she didn't want it to get around school that she used such language.

"It doesn't really matter though doesn't, once old Fortesque finds out that will be done. He wouldn't want his precious bloodline spoiled with filth now would he?" Shit where had that come from? Oh wait, her own father. Slytherins, she really needed to start keeping her distance again. Paige laughed viciously at her thoughts.

"I'm sorry Cali, I can understand if you hate me right about now. Let's just say i'm not your typical Gryffindor." She flipped her hair over her shoulder and gave Tom a dirty look, as though it was his fault.

"Anywho onto the next subject, December of every year my parents hold a Holiday Party. You both have been invited." She dug around in her bag and handed them invites. "This year I have a feeling it will be a bit more interesting." She thought back to Amorte and the awkwardness. "But as I was saying, it's a very formal event so Dress Robes and Ball Gowns are a must. Tom I believe my parents invited yours so I wouldn't be surprised if you've heard about it." She turned to Cali, "It'll be on the 24th from 8 to midnight."

[calista]

Sadly, Cali wasn't paying much attention to the conversation around her. She heard everything but wasn't really comprehending it, her thoughts far off; as was usual when she had some things on her mind. Her attention only coming to focus again at the sound of her name from Paige. Her eyes, focused on the girl and her words. She smiled qickedly, "Define 'Typical Gryffindor'. I don't think I'd fit the bill either..." Cali said softly, as to not raise even more attention to their small group.

Cali's interests perked even more at the sound of a party. Then, it fell again as Paige's words of the other invitees sunk in. She swallowed, her sunny exterior dimming slightly. "Tom's parents...uh-oh..." She thought, accepting the formally written invitation. She thought on the date to which Paige referred. "Damn," Cali thought again.

She was absolutely free that night. Damn her parents for not doing anything on Christmas Eve. All of their family, and otherwise, celebrations were held the days following. And of course, a massive blow-out party on New Years' Eve. Cali's thoughts turned to the previous years; party. At least, her thoughts went to what she could remember from that night; that wasn't much.

The only upside to the dilemma at hand would be a chance to go shopping for an extravagant gown, shoes and accessories to match. Plus the opportunity to party with her friends outside of their usual hang-outs. It would be an interesting evening at least.

Cali's thoughts drifted farther down the wrong road. She wasn't what anyone would expect of a Pureblood. Neither of her parents worked for the Ministry. They grew grapes and made wine for christssake. She shook her head, making up her mind. She hadn't cared what people thought of her before, why start now?

[Paige Lucas]

Paige smiled at her friend, "I have a feeling that Tasha is the only one who would." It was true though, Tasha was the only person in the entire house that could be considered a true Gryffindor. All the rest have at least something that doesn't add up.

She notcied when Cali's face paled a little and became sullen. "You ok hun?" Was it something Paige had said? Then it clicked, she had mentioned Tom's parents being invited. Oh...She grabbed Cali's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure they'll like you, everyone does." Paige leaned forward and whispered, "Including my brother..."

[reese]

That Paige was trying to present herself as more open-minded than she really was fell into the interesting category in Tom’s brain. He did certain things to project an image, and it seemed she was doing so as well, granted they were presenting opposite venires. Were people really what they projected though? It was the only self that everyone saw and thus almost more important than any inner persona. No, that couldn’t be right, he did not need to think that what he was feeling beneath the surface didn’t matter.

His eyes had glossed over and he fell out of the conversation into his head. It was silly, he didn’t need to hear about Paige’s personal life. All she had to do was make up her mind and then go for it. Was it really that hard to figure out? Initially it had been difficult for him, but at the prospect of losing Cali things became easy. His decision was made for him by his hypothetical heart, no logic required.

He looked up to see Paige scowling at him, he didn’t bother to inquire about it, she threw around glares constantly. Tom didn’t want to get some vague answer, and opted just not to ask instead. But Paige seemed to brighten up as she spoke on the party, where as both of her invitees were beaten back by the mention of Tom’s own parents. His head snapped to Cali, searching for some sign that she had a way out of the party.

Nothing came, she looked slightly unsettled, but that was more a sign that she had no out. He didn’t know what to say to her, there were no words that could offer her comfort. There was no getting out of Paige’s party if his parents were invited, they would force him to go for social reasons. He could spend the time ignoring her, pretending she was just another girl from school that he didn’t get along with because of her ties to Gryffindor. But he didn’t want to. Maybe he would have to move his plans of getting rid of them up... Damn.

Paige’s words confirmed Cali’s worries to him and Tom leaned into the table to reach over and brush her fingertips with his own. He would’ve grasped her hand if Paige hadn’t already taken it into her own. ”It’ll be fine.” Tom mustered a weak smile, not believing his own lie.

Wait, brother? ”And who’s that?”

[Paige Lucas]

Paige's eyes snapped back to Tom. She didn't think he had heard her. She had met up with her brother a while back and he started asking a lot about Cali. Well, Paige being Paige decided to ask some of her own. He apparently found her charming, bright, beautiful, and delightful. But Paige wouldn't say any of that here with Tom around. No this was a Common Room chat between her and Cali. Time to play it off.

"What are you talking about Tom?" Her face betrayed no emotion, it was completely blank. Something she had long practiced. "I just mentioned how everyone adores Cali, nothing more." Ok so part of that was the truth so it made her lie a bit easier. She looked at Cali and raised an eyebrow. When had they met? And why hadn't Cali mentioned meeting Sean?

[calista]

Cali shook her head; her resolve back in place about the upcoming holiday celebrations. She didn’t have to impress anyone and wouldn’t try. She smiled at Paige as she grabbed her hand, then at Tom when his fingertips brushed over her own. She laughed softly, ”If you believed what you just said, you would have said something cocky.” Cali shook her head. ”We’ll both get through it.””Whether it’s together or not…” Cali said within, searching Tom’s eyes for any form of reassurance.

Cali shook her head, rolling her eyes at Paige. Like Tom was going to believe he ‘misunderstood’ what Paige whispered? She turned her head to Tom. It seemed like an explanation was in order. Even though Cali had met Sean after they had gone their separate ways. ”The Astrology Professor is Paige’s brother, Sean. I met him one night while admiring the stars in the tower.” Cali paused, choosing her words carefully then, deciding to speak whichever words chose to present themselves. ”A night after our…confrontation in the forest and the night in Hogs Head. I hadn't seen the relevancy in saying anything.”

Nothing had happened between them, romantically but Cali chose to keep that information to herself, unless he asked her about it. If Paige wanted to talk later in the common room about the details than they would.

[reese]

Tom’s eyes fell to the plat in front of Cali, there was no attempting to fool her, she understood the situation, and more importantly, she was well aware of the hesitancy that he approached the subject with. He could already envision the condescending tone that his parents would use if he were to introduce Cali to them. She was unconventional, especially compared to his pure blooded legacy that had deep ties to history, and they were all about sticking to tradition. Most note worthy however, would not be his new arm piece, but the hold that she had over him.

His fingers were getting antsy, he leaned forward even further into the table and wedged his hand between Paige and Cali’s. He shook off the other girls hand, that hand was all his. ”I may not believe in my own words, but I do believe in you. It doesn’t matter what they think.” Tom smirked, his phrasing essentially telling her to fuck ‘em. It was a bold gesture, to disregard his parents in such a way, but they were becoming less and less a facet in his life.

Deflecting, Paige was actually trying to do so. Tom was confident in what he had heard, and the look Paige threw at Cali only confirmed that there was something more to what she said. As she went through her explanation of the professor, his face only continued to fall a step before a grimace. It seemed as if she were being extra cautious with her word choice, but her final remark made Tom incapable of questioning her any further. It was none of his business what had transpired during their time apart, but curiosity got the better of him and he couldn’t resist pressing the issue.

”Is he the reason for your frequent trips to that specific tower, or is it really just the stars you have such admiration for?” He did not raise his voice, scowl, scoff, or make any other indication that he was upset. His tone remained flat, his eyes empty, regardless of her answer he wasn’t going to lose out to some loser who made a living making star charts.

[Paige Lucas]

Paige made an annoyed noise when Tom pushed her hand off. She was trying to be a good friend and he just shoved her off like she wasn't helping. Jerk. She agreed with Cali, "I'm sure you guys will be fine. As long as you both believe in each other and trust each other." She stopped herself before saying anymore to make her think of Lor.

With a small smile, she listened as Cali told them of when her and Sean met. She had left him with a great first impression. He thought very highly of Cali and wanted to get to know her more. Then Paige decided to be the bratty lil sis she is and tell him that Cali had a boyfriend. He's been sulking since. It made Paige's smile widen.

When Tom finally spoke up about the matter, Paige heard jealousy coarse though his voice. It was well hidden but still there. Her smiled turned to a smirk immediately. "What's wrong Tom? Jealous?" Paige knew he was gonna snap at her but she loved the fact that she had just spotted a weakness and picked on it. It made her feel better.

[calista]

Cali gave them a small smile, each minute she was positive of her resolve it grew in strength. Her eyes sparkled with unspoken words when Tom pushed Paige’s hand away and took Cali’s in his own. She couldn’t hide the smirk that replaced her smile; or the blush that made itself at home on her features. ”I believe in us. We’ll get through it. Besides, it’s only, what? Four hours or so...” Cali sighed, not looking at Paige but addressing her. ”Well, it looks like you’ll have an interesting party on your hands, Paige.”

Cali could see everything Tom was thinking, even if Paige couldn’t and Tom, himself, thought he was hiding it well. She knew him better than even he thought she did; a definite perk to being able to read people. He didn’t want to ask, for fear of the answer, perhaps? But he couldn’t not question. It was in his nature to be suspicious and Cali found that surprisingly endearing. Cali didn’t think Tom the type to be jealous, but then again. Cali shrugged, leaning a bit more across the table. She turned her eyes, shocked that Paige could actually read Tom as well as she could.

Cali shook her head; of course Paige could read him well. She should have been Slytherin; Cali, too. Giving in, Cali giggled. ”It just so happens that I love the stars so much because of my mother. And, that specific tower you so lovingly call it, happens to have the best view of the stars in the whole castle.” She shook her head. He was jealous and that was oddly attractive to Cali. It made her feel warm and...loved?

Cali turned her full attention back to the man holding her hand. As best she could at the odd angle, Cali squeezed his hand reassuringly. She hated the tone he’d used. It was so flat; dull. It saddened Cali, but she wouldn’t show it. She knew he was trying to hide his emotions from either Paige or Cali or even both. ”Even the strongest of men,” she thought, ”Could be such jealous little boys sometimes...”