arrays | yours in demigodishness

[ He's maybe a third of the way back to their table with drinks in hand when he sees her, and at first she's just another face in the crowd. He doesn't even recognize her. It's mostly her posture that leads him to realize that it's Natalie Goodman, with her shoulders tense and obviously feeling out of place. She looks so... different, hair down, dressed up. She almost looks...

Part of him wants to make a snarky comment, a quick little dig at her before getting on with the night, but he bites it back. This is his first date with this girl, and Leo doesn't want to mess it up. It's supposed to be a good night, and everything involving the Slytherin girl was bound to go south in T minus five seconds. Not risking it.

So with a shake of his head, he keeps walking, trying to pretend he never saw her. ]

[ It's their ebb and flow. As soon as he looks away, she looks up from her drink and sees him -- head back to join with some girl she has never cared to meet and has never had a problem with up until this very second. Natalie is at least good at keeping her face placid as she makes a quick study of facial expression and body language before turning her entire body away from the scene playing out before her.

Well. Well well well well well.

This is bollocks.

Her stomach hurts. ]

[ You know, Valdez, it's kind of difficult to pretend you didn't see someone when you keep glancing at her, he chides himself. But it's just so weird to see her like that, and he can't really help it.

Of course, his date has to notice something's up and ask what's wrong, but he doesn't have an answer for that. What is wrong? So what if Goodman's here? She's leaving him alone, and he's having fun. She can't ruin this.

So he distracts himself by pulling his date up for another dance. Just one last one, she asserts firmly, clearly getting bored or tired, or maybe a little of both. It's a slow dance, and he spends most of their time swaying on the dance floor casting her smiles and compliments to see if she'll blush. She doesn't, much to his disappointment, and far too soon, they're separating from the crowd and into the hall to say goodnight. Leo makes the obvious suggestion that he walk her back to her common room, even though as a Ravenclaw, he has no business knowing where that is. (He does - found it in his second year - but no one needs to know that.) She, just as obviously, refuses, her smile kind as they stand there for a moment, not quite ready to say goodbye. ]

[ Perhaps it was prompted by some dare by a few idiots, but someone asked her to dance for the first time all evening. Thanks to her natural charm, the dance is awkward and unfriendly and it's only unto the last minute that Natalie realizes that maybe he wasn't playing a trick on her. She is too caught up in her own whirlwind of thoughts but does, at least, manage a some before they part. It's the least she can give this stupid sap.

Her stomach still hurts and she can feel all her muscles clench when she leaves the hall herself, nodding at one of her few friends in the house to say she'll catch up with him later.

Perfect. There they are, just when Natalie is about to wander up the steps to take a walk to clear her mind. The most withering glare sits on her face. ]

[ It's an awkward sort of goodbye, neither of them really certain how this should go. In the end, she settles for a shy, small wave and turns to head up the stairs without another word, glancing over her shoulder once. He smiles after her, but he's not leaving the dance yet; he's still got friends to annoy. Jason's dancing skills were laughable, and though Leo hadn't shown much of his tonight, he figures the boy could use some schooling.

He's still wearing a smile when he turns around and sees Natalie glaring in his direction. The defenses immediately go up, and he tries to ignore it as he makes his way back. ]

Who stepped on your toes?

[ Okay, so it's easier said than done. ]

Did you ask her to the dance?

[ She doesn't even bother coming up with some kind of retort. It doesn't make sense. There is nothing here except a few kisses she's taken for herself. There's only anger and words shouted and curses cast. Her arms fold tightly over her chest and she curls into herself like she's cold, except there's a heat rising up her spine and the back of her neck. ]

[ He actually stops on the second step, both eyebrows going up in surprise. He doesn't even sound the slightest bit defensive when he answers, just... confused. ]

Yes? She's a friend - what do you care?

I don't.

[ Why couldn't he have just passed her by without saying anything? She can feel the inexplicable anger rising in her throat and it's not use to try to shove it back down because he's in such close proximity to her. ]

I'm just surprised. [ No, no, no, don't continue it! ]

[ Okay, now he's offended. ]

Why? You don't think I could get a date to some dance?

[ Are you serious. ]

[ Natalie doesn't answer but a slight lift of her eyebrows says what she is trying to hard not to say.

A shrug follows and she turns to walk away from him, taking two steps at a time. ]

[ He's taking that as a negative, and you, Natalie Goodman, are a total prat. Though he still doesn't move, he calls after her in irritation: ]

So where's your date, then?

[ Natalie pauses on the step. She has never put relationships as as priority and has never really felt jealous of couples. Why bother with any of that? She prefers her solitude. So, obviously she isn't jealousbut she is upset for various reasons that she refuses to acknowledge. ]

I'm not exactly the only one who came here without a date.

Maybe not, but you looked pretty miffed when you saw us. Why's that? No one ask you, Goodman?

[ He's pressing his luck, and he knows it. He should really just forget about her and go back to bother Jason - or maybe even the tower, who cares? Tonight's been going great, and he doesn't want to end it on a sour note.

And yet, here he is. ]

[ she snorts. ] All I need is your face to sour my mood, Valdez, so, I'd prefer if you'd get out of mine.

[ That seems to be an easy way out, but of course, she knows nothing is every easy with the two of them. She takes the steps two at a time. ]

You can make yourself look as nice as you want, but you still act like a troll. [ he grumbles, rolling his eyes as he takes the last few steps to head back to the dance. ]

[ Natalie turns around slowly, leaning against the stone column. And she grins a very catlike grin. ]

You think I look nice.

[ He pauses, giving her a Look, and says flatly: ]

It's a pretty dress.

Yeah, and I'm in it.

[ She flicks her skirt lightly, happy to turn the conversation on him as always. ]

With that thought, I'll leave you to go bother your gang, so ... yes. Bye. [ The farther away she is from him, the better. Otherwise he'll just flare up her temper again. ]

[ Rolls his eyes. ]

And it probably looked better before you were.

[ Hmph. Jason, bro, where are you? Leo needs some laughs after talking to this girl, even for a minute. ]

I'd be glad to take this off and give it to you if you like it so much.

[ Honestly, Leo, insulting her appearance isn't the most exciting or innovative thing you've done. That kind of talk doesn't get to her. ]

[ Is she following him? He's pretty sure he was walking away. ]

Pass. It's not my style. But thanks, I do so appreciate the offer.

[ And he certainly doesn't want to think about her actually doing that. What a stupid, ridiculous, obvious ploy to try to get under his skin. Can she be more transparent? ]

[ Well, that's it. She's in the mood to fight but she doesn't even know if she should bother continuing. What happened to never speaking to each other again anyway?

She looks down, only then realizing that she's halfway back down the stairs again. ]

Good luck getting your goodnight kiss then. Noticed she wasn't that into you anyway.

[ He stops again, turning back with a frown. Back to her, is it? ]

She doesn't like dances. She wasn't even going to come if I hadn't asked her to. Why do you care so much about her?

[ And it's not like he was trying to get a goodnight kiss, anyway. He wouldn't have argued if he had, but she's not the kind of girl who does that after one date, and he knew it going in. ]

I don't care about her.

[ She shrugs a shoulder, unsure why she's even bothering at this point. Maybe she should just open her mouth next time when she actually knows what she wants. Well, besides that constant urge to knock him flat. ]

Go on, then, go back to your friends and don't let me ruin your night.

Twice in one minute you've mentioned her. But no, you don't care.

[ Whatever. It's not like he needs Natalie's approval. He shakes his head in frustration. ]

Have fun dancing up and down those stairs.

[ The word "dancing" is mocking, but he doesn't care. She can do what she wants. ]

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