a day of unexpected adventure

[Chase Harris Walker]

It was hard for Chase to believe it was already Easter break – it seemed as though they had just gotten back from the Christmas holidays and honestly, he wasn’t in a hurry to go back home. His brother was still in a back and forth battle between moping, avoiding him and then suddenly acting like himself again and it was driving Chase crazy.

How was he supposed to endure another entire week of Lucas insane, indecisive behavior? At least when they were at school Lucas kept busy with Quidditch and Chase could keep to himself since they were in different houses…

The week had started off as boring as he had expected, his parents preparing the traditional Easter dinner – though this year it seemed they had to beg both boys to be a part of it. The two had always been close and the distance since everything that had happened was not only frustrating for Chase but for their parents too. He didn’t have to be able to see to know that much.

Both boys showed up for dinner and did their best to act as though things were perfectly normal, as normal as they had been a year prior… It was kind of nice and he really wished it could just be that way all the time.

After that night however, Chase had not left his room much. He laid around and played his guitar, slept some and worked out a nifty spell that had his books read themselves out loud so he could enjoy them still – an idea he got from a lecture in his muggle studies class about muggle audio books.

It worked out pretty well he had to admit. It wasn’t quite the same, but it was better than nothing and that was good enough for him. After all, he was really trying not to be too picky lately – things were the way they were and he might as well find ways to work around it rather than sulk all the time, right?

That night he fell asleep before the book had even finished, completely forgetting that his bedroom window was wide open… He was snoring lightly, laying on his back, sprawled out on his bed when an owl landed gently on his chest. The gorgeous owl dropped the letter next to him and cooed softly as it leaned forward and pecked his forehead repeatedly.

Chase grumbled and tried to swat away the owls pecking, still very much asleep. The owl was having none of that and hooted louder this time and was not nearly as gently with the pecking. Another grumble and Chase yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Ugh… Why would anyone in their right mind send me a letter?” He felt around the bed for the letter and when he found it he opened it carefully, not quite sure what to expect, if anything.

Then the letter inside opened itself up and started speaking. It was a message from Ronnie – the only friend that Chase had really spent time with at school lately. She wanted to meet up and hang out the next afternoon in Diagon Ally. Chase couldn’t keep the grin off his face – not only had she been brilliant enough to find a way to send him a letter he didn’t have to read, but he could really use the time away from the house and he kind of missed her…

Chase quickly reached for his wand, which he had left on the bedside table, enchanting a quill to send her a quick message back. He would absolutely be there and to meet him at the entrance near the Leaky Cauldron. He held it out for the owl, “Here ya go,” he said softly and he felt the owl take the letter from him and heard the ruffle of feathers as he went to the window and then took off into the night.

After that Chase wasn’t quite feeling sleep anymore – he was in too good of a mood to waste it on sleep all of the sudden. So for the next three hours, regardless of what time it might have been, his brother and parents got the pleasure (he hoped) of listening to him playing his guitar.

The next day he woke up later than he had hoped – no one had bothered to wake him up, figuring he would end up staying in his room most of the day anyway. When he asked his dad what time it was he realized he needed to get ready and go quick if he didn’t want to be late. He rushed through taking a shower and then used the summoning spell to ensure he got exactly the clothes he was hoping for – instead of going with whatever he pulled out, which he did most days whether it matched or not.

Soon enough he apparated to the entrance to Diagon Ally, hoping that he wasn’t late and Ronnie wasn’t already there waiting for him…

[Veronica Elliot Corner]

For Veronica “Ronnie” Corner the Easter Holidays had come too soon. The semester had seemed to fly by and most of her free time she had spent with one of her best friends, Chase Harris—to no small amount of giggling by her dorm mates. Sooner than she would have liked Ronnie found herself back on the Hogwarts Express, heading home for the Easter Holidays. Her parents met her at the platform and, after hugging Chase goodbye, she had followed them home.

Two days into the Holiday, however, Ronnie found herself longing to see anyone with whom she did not share familial ties. Seriously, her younger sibling was driving her battier than usual, she couldn’t find a quiet space to read anywhere, and, to her chagrin, her mother had invited her aunt and uncle and younger cousin for the holiday so now their small house was even more crowded than usual.

Late at night Ronnie found herself tossing and turning on her bed, unable to sleep. Finally, in desperation, she threw the covers off and reached for a scrap of paper and a pen—courtesy of her muggleborn mother who had always thought quills were the most unrealistic writing utensils in existence—and scribble a quick note to Chase asking if he wanted to meet up at Diagon Alley the next day. Her wand, 10 ¾ inches of cherry with a dragon heartstring core, was on her bedside table. She waved it over the paper, casting a Speaking Charm so it would read itself to her blind friend. Calypso, her beautiful tawny owl awake on her perch above Ronnie’s bed, fluttered down to her bed and held out one leg. Ronnie grinned. “Maith agat,” she whispered in Gaelic to the bird.

Calypso nudged her affectionately and took off, soaring silently out the window and into the night.

Ronnie lay back on her pillows and stared up at the ceiling, biting her lip. Hopefully Chase wouldn’t be too irritated at her for sending her note so late at night. She would probably get a note back tonight though. Calypso had a tendency of waking up people so they could read the letters she brought. Sure enough, two hours later Calypso flew back in through Ronnie’s open bedroom window, a reply clutched in her fierce beak.

Ronnie took it and read it as Calypso returned to her perch. Chase had agreed and said he would meet her at the Leaky Cauldron. Ronnie grinned and lay back on her pillows. It wasn’t necessarily a date, just two friends hanging out but the butterflies in her stomach didn’t seem to understand that. They fluttered and Ronnie fell asleep planning her outfit for the next day.

The next day Ronnie woke up early and dressed in her favorite dark wash skinny jeans, brown leather boots and sky blue blouse. Carefully applied make-up, pink lip gloss, and gardenia-scented body spray completed the look. While it wouldn't matter what she wore as Chase was blind, she still wanted to dress up a little for him. It gave her a nice confidence boost and, with the addition of the body spray maybe he would know that she had made some effort into her appearance when she hung out with him. With thirty minutes till she was supposed to meet Chase, Ronnie stuck her wand into her boot and Disapparated with a slight pop.

She reappeared in an alleyway down the street from the Leaky Cauldron. It had rained recently and she stepped in puddles as she walked down the sidewalk and sidestepped into the dodgy-looking pub.

Inside the Leaky Cauldron several witches and wizards up for a day’s shopping were enjoying their lunch, chatting idly with their companions. They ignored Ronnie as she stepped up to the bar and ordered a butterbeer. The barkeep handed her the bottle of golden liquid and Ronnie took a swig, checking her watch according to which she had just enough time to finish her drink before Chase arrived.

Notes:
Maith agat – thank you

[Chase Harris Walker]

After rushing to get ready it was still thirty minutes later than he had planned on leaving – and now ten past when he had told Ronnie he would meet her at the Leaky Cauldron. Upon apparating to the pub he remembered that with everyone on break it would be especially crowded and he immediately regretted the decision. There was noise coming from every which direction – too many voices to even remotely distinguish Ronnie’s unless she were next to him already – and the shuffling of feet and bags all around him made it difficult to know where anyone was at any given moment.

Chase pulled out his wand and waved it with a quick, swirling movement – a spell the charms professor had helped him work out – and a slight tug from an invisible force on his wand was able to help him navigate through the crowds without too much trouble. He listened for the sound of glasses, bottles and drinks being poured and quickly was able to find himself at the bar – right where he had told Ronnie to meet him.

The bartender wandered up and Chase ordered a butterbeer – wondering for a moment whether or not Ronnie had left to look for him or something. Then suddenly, a faint, yet familiar sent hit his nose and he smiled – it was some sort of perfume, but he knew chances were high it was coming from Ronnie, he had smelled it on her more than a few times before and he particularly enjoyed the scent.

The familiar scent grew stronger and a smile came across his face. When he knew she was close enough to hear him over the noise of the crowded pub, he said, ”Sorry I kept you waiting. I kind of overslept… But I’m glad you wrote to me, I’ve been bored out of my mind at home.” Moments later, the bartender returned and he heard him place the glass bottle of butterbeer on the counter in front of Chase, who had almost forgotten about it and reached out to find the drink after pocketing his wand once again.

[Veronica Elliot Corner]

Ronnie was on her second butterbeer and checking her watch again when Chase appeared, apologizing for being late. Ronnie turned, angling her body so she was facing him, leaning her elbow on the polished bar. “No worries,” she said, smiling. “I’m so glad you agreed to come out.” She took a sip of her butterbeer. “To be honest, I’ve needed to get out of my own house. I love my family, but four bedrooms is not space enough for seven people—it would be eight but my older sibling is out of the country for work. I only have a room to myself by virtue of being the only girl cousin. Even my parents are sharing their room with my aunt and uncle. It’s exhausting to be around that many people, you know? I haven’t had moment to read since I got off the train. You know how that’s not good for my health!”

Realizing she was rambling, Ronnie forced herself to stop with a bite of her lip. A faint blush pinked her cheeks and she fiddled with the charm bracelet at her wrist, the sterling silver ornaments clinking together softly. This crush on Chase was getting out of hand. Worse, her mother knew about it—and approved. The approval part was actually good, but Mam had this very annoying ability to read her middle daughter like a book and the terrifyingly efficient skill of getting information out of her, information Ronnie wasn’t necessarily prepared to share, and then she didn’t forget it, often bringing it up at the most inconvenient of times. Just that morning, as Ronnie was making her escape, Mam had taken one look at her face and outfit and smiled, a knowing glimmer in her eyes. It had taken all of Ronnie’s self-control not to groan and roll her eyes. So much for not giving her mother anymore ammunition. Still, it could have been worse. At least Ronnie was here now. With Chase. And they were going to have a very good day, Ronnie could feel it.

Notes:
Mam – Gaelic- “Mom”

[Chase Harris Walker]

Reaching out onto the bar it only took a second before his fingertips found the bottle of butterbeer and he wrapped his hand around it, taking a long sip as she told him that she was glad he agreed to come out. Chase couldn’t help but smile when Ronnie went on a short venting rant about having so many family members in her house at once – a small laugh escaping his lips when she exclaimed that having no time to read was bad for her health. “I couldn’t imagine having that many people in our house. I would probably have stayed at school for the holidays if that were the case,” he told her.

“I’ve had more free time than I really know what to do with this week. I finished all the homework we had before leaving the school, so it’s been a fairly boring week. Lucas has still be avoiding me too, so there’s only my parents to talk to, I’ve spent most of the week with my guitar and books to pass the time.” This time it was Chase’s turn to have a rare for him, talkative moment. After the long week of hardly saying a word around his parents house, aside from the single normal night during Easter dinner, it was kind of nice to feel relaxed and be having a real conversation, best yet, with the only person he really enjoyed talking with these days.

“You know how you got that letter to read itself? I’ve managed to do that to my books now, so I don’t have to entirely miss out like I thought. It was quite a relief to figure it out before heading home, too, or I might have gone mad.” Chase brought the glass bottle to his lips again and took another lengthy sip of his butterbeer – he wasn’t often the most social of people, much more reserved than most people and even more so since his accident – but Ronnie always seemed to bring him out of his shell in a way that he didn’t quite understand.

The smile never left his face the whole time he was talking to her, it was probably the most he had smiled the whole week – and he couldn’t help but think that it was all thanks to Ronnie. The more time the two of them spent together, the more he noticed himself missing her when they were apart and this week had felt like it was dragging on for an eternity until she sent him that letter. For Chase, the only thing that was missing would be the ability to actually see the smile on her face, but he could still hear it in her voice when she spoke to him.

[Veronica Elliot Corner]

Ronnie tilted her head, listening as Chase described his Easter break. She didn’t know much about the relationship between the Walker twins. She and Chase had been friends their entire Hogwarts career but it was only this past year in which they had really begun to hang out regularly and extensively. Not that Ronnie was complaining. At all. In any way. She loved hanging out with Chase. It was the most fun she’d had in forever.

At his comment about the Speaking Charm Ronnie nodded. “I love that Charm.” Taking her last swig of butterbeer she continued, “You know you can use it on music books and it will play the notes? It helps with tuning and if you don’t know what a song is supposed to sound like.”

Ronnie herself had been using it most recently on an old book of Irish jigs. Her mother wanted her to learn so she could provide dance music at the next extended family gathering, or something. Ronnie wasn’t that good at old jigs—she was better at more contemporary pieces—but she’d try for her mother anyway. And, of course, there was always that tiny hope that maybe one day she and Chase could play a duet. Or at least get him to sing while she played. Or maybe a fun jam session. That could be fun. She grinned at the thought.

With a toss of her hair, Ronnie slid her empty butterbeer bottle back along the bar. “What shops do you want to hit up today?” she asked.

[Chase Harris Walker]

After going into a longwinded (for Chase) explanation of how much of a welcomed break from his family and his horrible boring week home from school, he took a couple long sips from his butterbeer – nearly finishing it. It was unlike him to feel nervous, but suddenly he felt somewhat self-conscious of his ramblings – if someone got annoyed with him it’s not like he could take a facial expression as the que to shut up after all. However, he was pleased to hear nothing close to annoyance in her tone as she spoke of the speaking charm which had become such an important part of his life recently.

“I love that Charm.” Taking her last swig of butterbeer she continued, “You know you can use it on music books and it will play the notes? It helps with tuning and if you don’t know what a song is supposed to sound like.”

Grinning a little, Chase said, “I didn’t know that, but it will be extremely useful… I've got tons of music that I got a while back that I never got a chance to actually look at, and I had sort of given up on it. Now I can finally put it to use hopefully.” It had only been a few weeks prior to the life-altering accident that he had last been into a music store – and he had gotten a ton of new sheet music to keep him occupied through the school year. Unfortunately due to his predicament he had been unable so far to do anything with most of it, but he had never thought to try the same speaking charm on music before and he was actually a bit excited now to give it a try when he eventually found himself back in his bedroom bored and by himself.

Chase tipped up the bottle of butterbeer one more time, draining the last of it and setting it on the counter again. “What shops do you want to hit up today?” she asked, as he dug his fingers into his pocket, feeling the edges of coins, after a moment finding what he was almost certain were the right ones to pay for his drink and set them down on the counter near the empty bottle. To her question he merely shrugged, “I don’t really have any preferences today, I’m just glad to be out of the house for a bit… I would say Flourish and Blott’s, but I’m sure you were already planning to stop in there.”

[Veronica Elliot Corner]

“You’ll have to share your music,” Ronnie said. Already she could imagine it—and the voice in her head that sounded suspiciously like Mam could just shut up. They would be in the Room of Requirement, her with at the black grand piano, Chase with his guitar across his lap. He would smile, she would smile. The entire fantasy had that rosy tint of crush-fueled perfection and Ronnie was well aware it was a fantasy but it was such a pleasant idea…

The clank of Chase’s coins on the bar had Ronnie blinking back to reality. Right. Shopping time. Thank Merlin she has saved up her allowance.

Ronnie shot Chase a grin as she paid for her own butterbeer. “F&B’s first on the list,” she told him. Sliding around so she stood at his side, Ronnie placed her hand on his arm, paused, butterflies fluttering wildly in her stomach, then slipped her arm through his. “Ready to go?”

[Chase Harris Walker]

“You’ll have to share your music,” she said to him, and the smile on his lips tugged just a little tighter at the corners. “Yes, I will, won’t I? Maybe we could play together, it would be a nice change from always playing by myself.” He had extended the invitation before he had really thought about what he was saying, but it wasn’t like it wasn’t something he hadn’t thought about before on more than one occasion. Music had always been one of the things that had drawn him out – even before being blind he wasn’t the most outgoing or social person – music was just something that he was passionate about, that he knew about and was comfortable with and that made it an easy subject for him and one of few that he could go on about for ages if you were to let him.

They decided on Flourish and Blott’s first as he felt around in his pocket for the right coins, paying the barkeep and just after hearing Ronnie set money down for the man as well. He barely noticed the sound of her footsteps, her boots hitting the floor as she walked around to his side – but she reached out and placed her hand on his arm first, letting him know where she was, just before slipping her arm around his and asking if he was ready to go. Chase allowed a small nod, saying, “As I ever am on a crowded day like today…” The small and overcrowded pub had only gotten noisier since he had gotten there and he was hoping the open street of Diagon Alley would be at least little bit better.

“Lead the way,” he said with a small grin – Chase had gotten quite used to letting Ronnie take his arm or his hand and lead him around by now; she was actually the only one outside his family who he would trust with that at all. A second later he felt the shift in her body as she took a step forward and he followed the cue and her lead out of the pub – he could immediately tell the difference when they were outside and in the wide street filled with shops of all kinds; he had been right, the noise pollution was slightly less in the more open space.

Even though he could have maneuvered the street fairly well on his own thanks to the nifty spell he had been perfecting, when he was with Ronnie he actually preferred to let her lead him. Not only was it slightly easier on him still – but he had to admit that he just enjoyed the closeness it allowed the two of them. Chase was starting to realize more and more, each and every time he spent time with her, that perhaps his feelings for her were growing beyond friendship; but he wasn’t quite sure how to handle that yet. So for now, those moments of closeness as he allowed her to help him with various things, but mostly getting from place to place – something he didn’t want from most people – were something he very much enjoyed.

The two of them wandered down the road for a bit, and he caught bits of conversations as they passed groups of people. Occasionally he muttered to her something he heard that was particularly funny, incredibly ridiculous or otherwise interesting – he didn’t necessarily try to overhear things, he just couldn’t help it because he was constantly listening to everything going on around him. Soon he heard the chime above the door of the bookstore as Ronnie (he assumed) opened the door and he felt the rush of cool air as they entered the store – the entire room smelt of books and parchment both new and old; some things, he had to admit, he noticed and was able to appreciate more now than he ever had before. It seemed, he thought for a second, trying to find the positives in his situation finally seemed to be working out.

[Veronica Elliot Corner]

When Ronnie wrapped her arm around Chase’s she fiercely ignored the butterflies in her stomach but when he said they should play together her heart soared. She, of course, would never admit that she’d been practicing her guitar more often specifically in case Chase wanted to play a duet. No, her crush was not ridiculous, thank you very much. Of course, she never thought it would actually happen. Chase didn’t play very much with anyone, or in public. Especially not since his accident. 

The crowd undulated and Ronnie was privately grateful Chase couldn’t see the glares she shot at the crowd that sent them hastening out of their path. She led Chase from the Leaky Cauldron into the back alley. She tapped the bricks—three up, two across—three times and the bricks shifted, pulling apart to reveal Diagon Alley.

Ronnie scrunched her nose. Chase was right: the Alley was crowded. Still, she had experience guiding Chase through crowded space. The Alley was nothing compared to Hogwarts. Ronnie had gotten quite good at guiding Chase through the halls of Hogwarts. She always made sure to tell him where there was a step or they would need to dodge around something. She was more an early warning system if he was going to run into things or people than a guide and she rather liked that he trusted her enough to be his eyes.

She muttered commentary to Chase on the crowds. A toddler with his face smeared with sweets from Florian Fortesque’s laughed and made faces at a woman who could only be his grandmother; a father acted the loon to his daughter’s protests even as she laughed. 

They entered Flourish & Blotts’ which a jingle of the bell over the door and were immediately greeted with the scent of parchment and old books. Ronnie inhaled deeply and grinned. “Don’t you just love that smell?”

The old witch at the till only glanced up when they entered. Ronnie nodded at her then headed for the rows of bookshelves. “Is there anything specific you’re looking for?” she asked Chase.

[Chase Harris Walker]

As the pair wandered through the crowded alley of shops Chase couldn’t help but find himself smiling as he and Ronnie exchanged two different sides of the world – her describing some of the more entertaining scenes to be found and him mentioning things he heard in passing that most people wouldn’t notice. It was something he had come to really enjoy about spending time with her – not only did she never make him feel awkward or different because of his blindness, but she was extremely accommodating with the way she was so descriptive of the happenings around them whether they were at school or out and about as they were now – and all the while it felt so natural.

It had taken a lot of getting used to – his new lifestyle – but Ronnie had embraced helping him through it, without him – and possibly her – even realizing how much it had helped over the past several months. At the start of the school year, she would have been lucky to drag him out of his common room to enjoy lunch or dinner in the Great Hall with him – now he was willingly meeting her in a crowded public space, trusting her to lead the way and help him to visualize in his mind what he could no longer see. Sometimes, he wondered why they hadn’t been closer in the years before this – and he realized it was mostly his own reserved nature and he often wondered how exactly in the lowest point of his life so far she had managed to get through and help him regain a grasp on his life.

As they entered the bookstore they were greeted with the familiar scents of parchment and he smiled as she immediately noticed as well – he heard her take a deep breath in, taking in the same scents he was, before asking, “Don’t you just love that smell?” Chase smiled and nodded, “Oh, like you have no idea…” he admitted. The truth was, now that his sense of smell was such a prominent feature in his life, he liked the scent of books now more than he ever had before – it was familiar, comforting, relaxing – it was hard for him to make sense of it really, the best he could come up with was that reading, books, the library, the bookstore, they had always been a place for him to escape when life was too much.

Ronnie led them in one direction – and he tried to remember the set-up of the shop so he could guess which section of the store they were in. When she asked him if he was looking for anything specific he shook his head. “No, not particularly,” he said. “Honestly, I’ve only just started getting through the books I got at the start of last summer before everything… but I’d rather have more than I have time for…” Looking lost in thought, Chase ran his fingers through his hair and his hand along the back of his neck, then grinned as an idea came to him “I’m lost on what to look for… Instead, I trust you, pick something for me. I’ll pick something for you. Fair?”

[Veronica Elliot Corner]

Ronnie didn’t have a booklist. At least, not one that could be filled at Flourish & Blotts. Her mother, wonderful woman that she was, had recently gotten her into trashy muggle romance novels with swooning women and shirtless men on the covers.

Still, Flourish & Blotts was her favorite bookstore in all the world. She remembered the first time she entered the little shop, the bell tinkling above her head. She’s been 9, following her older sibling as they picked out their school books for their first year at Hogwarts. Her mother had promised, if she behaved, that she could get a magical book, too.

Ronnie, of course, had chosen a book of magical music, silly little tunes that, if played right would make shimmering glitter rain from the sky or a rainbow arc over the musicians head. Ronnie’s mother hadn’t exactly been pleased that Ronnie’s favorite song from that book sprouted flower petals in mid-air that didn’t disappear but had to be thrown out.

Idly, Ronnie wondered if there were anymore books like that in the store. It didn’t seem likely. She’d tried to find similar books in the past and always came up empty.

Ronnie guided Chase to the first row of bookshelves, listening as he answered her question.

“No, not particularly. Honestly, I’ve only just started getting through the books I got at the start of last summer before everything… but I’d rather have more than I have time for…”

She pretended not to notice the way Chase’s voice trailed off when he got close to talking about the accident. Ronnie, like the rest of the school, didn’t quite know what had happened, only that it involved Chase’s twin brother, Luke. Ronnie did, however, know that the result was a very strained relationship between the twins. A strain that resulted in Chase spending much of his free time with her. Though, now that she thought about it, that could just be the result of her constantly seeking him out. But that was for Chase’s own good as well as her peace of mind and she refused to feel guilty for seemingly annoying him into socializing. Besides, she’d sought him out before the accident and she’d probably seek him out for the rest of her life. He was, afterall, one of her favorite people at Hogwarts.

“I’m lost on what to look for… Instead, I trust you, pick something for me. I’ll pick something for you. Fair?”

Ronnie beamed. “I love that idea!” She wrapped her arm firmly around his and guided him through to the next shelf.

This shelf was full of fiction. Ronnie was already coming through the spines, debating whether she wanted to torture her friend with a sappy romance or maybe she would go over to the non-fiction section and grab on of Lockhart’s biographies.

“What are you feeling today?” she asked, finger skimming over the books. “Fiction? Nonfiction? Historical? Autobiographical? Informational? Cheesy romance? You know, I just realized I have no idea what your favorite book genre is.”

Ronnie turned, blinking curiously at Chase. That really was strange--or maybe not. He’d only just found a spell that would read things out loud for him. She worried at her lip, hoping she hadn’t been insensitive. True, he never seemed to mind when she walked that borderline, but it was always best to conscious of her friends’ feelings and honestly she was terrible at that.

[Chase Harris Walker]

But I'm through, I'm done, I've had enough,
I'll ditch this funk, I tell you what

“I love that idea!”

The excitement was clear and genuine in her tone and at that Chase couldn’t help but smile. He knew that over the past several months he hadn’t exactly been himself, or the most fun to be around – though he really tried around Ronnie, he really did. Truthfully, he had to admit – to himself at least – that she had helped him in many ways; making him feel normal again, seeking him out and dragging him around the school as she always had (she had always been more social than him), and helping him to find ways to work around the roadblock of his blindness to help him enjoy many of the things he always had. To know that he hadn’t drained the fun, the enjoyment, out of their friendship, was somewhat of a relief to him – perhaps he worried too much, but he had figured that eventually she would get frustrated with him for the constant depression he had been living in.

Even when he had offhandedly started to mention what had happened, he knew she noticed, but she made the conscious decision to ignore the way he got lost in thought for a moment, rather than bringing attention to it. At some point, he might be ready to go into more detail – explain how him and his brother had decided to have a duel, nothing serious, just friendly and playful sparring, when a spell went badly wrong. For now, she knew as little as the rest of the school – that he had been hurt, it involved Lucas, and the twins who had been practically inseparable before now hardly spoke. The fact that she never once pushed him to talk about it, that alone was more than he could have ever asked her for – he honestly didn’t want to think about it anymore.

Chase just wanted to move forward with his life. He wanted to stop feeling like shit. But even more he wanted things back to normal between him and his twin – but until Luke was ready to move forward as well, he was thankful he at least at Ronnie to help him feel like things weren’t completely falling apart. As his mind wandered from his pleased feeling at her reaction to his suggestion on picking books for each other he hardly noticed her wrap her arm snugly around his, or his body following her lead step by step. At this point, he was so comfortable with walking around with her that he didn’t have to think about anything, it was second nature to turn, stop, speed up or slow down at the slightest indication from her own body movements.

“What are you feeling today?” she asked and he was suddenly brought back to the present – right, she was asking about the books. “Fiction? Nonfiction? Historical? Autobiographical? Informational? Cheesy romance? You know, I just realized I have no idea what your favorite book genre is,” she mused and then suddenly stopped talking – perhaps she felt as though she had rambled too long or something, he wasn’t sure. The smile from earlier still firmly in place, Chase shrugged before saying, “I mean, just about anything really. Though, I’ve been more partial to fiction lately, the whole escaping the real world aspect is appealing, ya know?”

At least he was honest – at one point, he would’ve read anything he got his hands on – but since he recently got back into the books he had, most of his time had been spent with stories of fictional characters on epic journeys. A way to get out of his own head for a bit when he was by himself.

words: 608|| Veronica Elliot Corner || notes: not great, but it's here and it's pretty at least?