18 Dec 2024, 10:17
Break The Silence
ππππ: πππ©πππ¦πππ« ππππ‘ ππππPotions had always been a class Matthew had looked forward to. Combining the complexities of theory with the practicality of a brew was a union he found most favourable and thus it had become something he looked forward to each week. Each step had to be calculated to perfection and the slightest error could result in anything as simple as failure of complex as an explosion. Ironically it seemed that that principle also very much applied to his life at this moment and particularly Potions classes in second year.
From across the room he stared with trepidation at the sight of the girl who drew attention like the very sun was ablaze within her. From her demanding piercing blue eyes like a great sapphire ocean softened with small blots of grey to dark cascading hair that he had only ever seen messy once in his life and even then it was the picture of perfection. Genevieve Delacour was starlight incarnate, radiant in every way and also the last person Matthew had any clue of what to say to.
Last year had been complicated to say the least and there friendship had formed like wildfire instant and uncontrollable but then he had changed it at the ball. At least in the young boy's mind it had all been his doing. No matter how many times he had claimed it was just to comfort her in her pain the small kiss to the cheek weighed on him heavily. That weight only harshened when for the rest of the school year Genevieve who had been his only remaining solid in his first year had completely disappeared from his life. If he was honest he couldn't say he tried very hard to seek her out from fear but neither had she. Wallowing in the self pity of it he had become even more of a recluse and now here they were again, mere seats away but an enormity between them that seemed unfathomable a year ago.
Luckily his attention would be caught away from her with the announcement from Professor Regan that they were being assigned a group project to revise the lesson. Matthew for one would certainly be happy for the distraction and perhaps like he had with Emmanuel the previous year it would lead to a new friendship. For that one tiny shred of a moment Matthew forgot about his curse of bad luck, forgot that the very world was almost constantly against him but reality would soon refresh him on the very depths of its lows. The listing of names was like a deathly role call and with each pairing his fate felt more and more hopeless until at last he heard his name like a breath or relief.
"Mr Campbell and Ms Delacourt." Relief was a cruel trick of fate meant to hurt you most with its optimism. It couldn't be said that the boys heart literally stopped with the words but he certainly felt as close to lifelessness as possible in the moment. Eyes unfocused he slowly felt himself drawn to look at the girl once more but consumed by his own anxiety it was impossible to fathom how she felt in the moment. Was she excited at the prospect, or equally as scared? Yet in the moments it took her to walk over to his side he found himself instead yearning simply to ask her how she was. To know that she had a good summer, even if she hated him now he never wanted her to be sad. Matthew hoped she didn't hate him, there was plenty enough of that in his life already.
When she finally made it to him the wind had been completely taken from his sails blown away in her ocean eyes. "Viva, eh I mean Genevieve. Please take this seat." As starters go it was about as pathetic as he felt, clinical almost void of the friendship they once shared. Internally cringing at himself he pulled the stool out for her and fidgeted with his pencil lost in the worry that if they weren't already broken this project was surely to be the final straw.
Interacting with @Genevieve Delacourt
Light godmodding was approved by both Professor MΓ©abh Regan and Genevieve Delacourt by owl for this post.
| Nikolai Volka // "Light, light: do not go | I sing you this song and I will sing another as well." // Matthew Campbell |
19 Dec 2024, 08:01
Break The Silence
Speech: #355E3B@Matthew CampbellStepping into the classroom, Viva adjusted the bag on her shoulder. She made her way to a seat in the second row, bumping into a table as she went and checking to make sure no one had seen her. Potions wasn't her favourite class, but it wasn't her least favourite either. She found that often her enjoyment and interest in the class varied. Sometimes, the methodical brewing process was calming for her; other times, it was just boring. Looking around the class as she began to get out her things, she realised she had forgotten that today was double potions with the Slytherins. The room was already filling with students, some Viva had never interacted with much before. All of a sudden, she realised. If the Slytherins were here, that meant...
She twisted around in her seat, scanning the room hurriedly. Not seeing what, or rather, who, she was looking for, Viva disappointedly faced the front of the class once again. Flashing at the front of her mind was a pair of hazel and gold eyes... It had been so long since their last interaction. She had seen him, of course. How could she not notice every time she passed him in a corridor, or saw him in the library studying? Her eyes couldn't help but follow him whenever he was around, he seemed to have a strange magnetic pull. Viva's stomach twisted at the thought of having to talk to Matthew again after so long. How she had managed to avoid him for this whole first month, she hadn't a clue. Or even why she had made such an effort not to interact with him.
What was so scary about the boy with whom she had shared so many special moments last year, who had helped her greatly throughout her first year by just simply being there for her? After the events of the ball, Viva had suddenly begun to feel awkward around him... She was also confused. Confused about what he had meant, all those things he had said and done... The first few weeks after the ball, she had been hoping he would find her and explain everything. But he hadn't, and she had felt no need to seek him out either. Viva didn't know exactly how they had drifted apart, it had sort of just happened.
The class was actually going by rather quickly when the professor began to say something about a group assignment. Viva looked down. Something was beginning to itch dreadfully on the inside of her wrist. Rather irritated that she was being distracted from the professor's words, Viva grabbed at the sleeve of her robe and pushed it up. She blinked when she saw the red line directly under her palm. A nasty paper cut, probably acquired when she had been getting her supplies from her bag. It was barely bleeding, but Viva inhaled under her breath and quietly pressed her other hand against it, covering it. Skin suddenly prickling, Viva had the nagging sensation that someone was watching her. She didn't want to turn around, though. All she did was sit up straighter in her seat. She suddenly became aware of partners being listed off, and she listened for hers.
Freezing when she heard who she was partnered with, Viva swallowed. Of course. Of course it would be him. It looked like she could hide no longer. Once the professor had finished calling the names, she took a breath, then shakily stood. Letting go of her hand for a moment to grab her bag, she looked around. Her heart beat double time as she saw him. He was unmistakable, the very look and presence about him. Awkwardly, she made her way over to his table, careful to school her facial expressions into a blank mask.
Had he changed since they had last interacted? It had been so awfully long. What if he had practically forgotten all about her? Stomach in knots, she eventually came to a stop next to him. Her heart was beating much too fast, and she didn't know what to say, where to look, how to act. Viva couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes. She didn't know what she might find there. She blinked as he used her full name. Why had he done that? He had never called her Genevieve before. She cooly stared at his chin, still clutching her wrist, even though it had probably stopped bleeding by now. Why was he talking like this? Fine. If he wanted to pretend they were strangers, she would act like that was what she wanted too. She sat demurely on the stool, still silent and too scared to actually look him in the eye. She stared straight ahead at the professor and awaited further instructions.
24 Dec 2024, 22:57
Break The Silence
The silence was palpable. Suffocatingly so to such a degree he found his mouth slightly agape in the desperate attempt to swallow any semblance of air while recognising in disbelief the insanity of the situation. Viva was literally one of his closest friends and now she wouldn't even look at him let alone speak. Had the world completely turned polar on its axis' enemies from the year prior were now being regarded as friends and in opposition everyone he had gotten close to had either disappeared or given up.
As she had approached Matthew noticed how she wasn't even able to meet his eyeline, lowering it to his chin before completely turning away altogether. Following her own he noticed a small cut on her wrist, in a different situation he would have yearned to help but if she couldn't even look at him that felt like a complete invasion of privacy. Everything felt completely unimaginably wrong and the silence was driving him clinically insane.
Sitting next to him she was as if some kind of marble statue of one of the Greek goddesses. Utterly perfect in carving and regal to a fault but somehow domineering as if she sat above everyone around her. In all his time he had never seen her like this, Viva was the daring, thoughtful girl who yielded comfort as her weapon of choice. This girl certainly shared her astounding features but she was far removed from the heart he knew his friend to have.
Panic settling into the young boys mind he wanted to cry at the thought he had caused such a rift to form. Why had he been so stupid to kiss her and think that nothing would change? In a familiar exchange between the two the young snake began to grab at his collar where his mother's ring lay and his posture slumped slightly to accommodate for his disappointment.
As the Professor continued and explained the pairs were to write up an analysis of the potion discussed in class and that we would be brewing them in our pairs next lesson. The thought was enough to drain every drop of blood from his usually rosy face but what followed actually might have killed him off. It became clear by the end of the professors lecture that these partners were not simply for today's lesson but for all paired assignments for the year. Visions of lessons held in complete silence filled his mind, sentences met with glares not words, eyes that once glistened under moonlight at him filling with distaste.
Something had to be done, the idea of that reality was sickening enough to bare for a moment and he refused to let what they had turn sour. Perhaps they would never attend a ball together again but surely they could at least be friends and at the very least civil lab partners. Where last year his words might have come off bitter with the slight touches of rage he had worked himself over summer to calm his emotions. So with a small breath he swivelled his stool until he was directly facing the girl he once felt shone greater than the stars themselves, a girl that despite her coldness he still did.
Despite his preparation the words still found themselves difficult in his throat as all emotional confessions did, "Viva?" The way he said her name was so small yet held the entirety of their relationship in it and all the confusion they were both surely feeling. "I don't know what I did that was so bad but that doesn't matter. I just want to say that I'm sorry for it. I wouldn't have survived last year without you and I've never wanted to hurt you. You're one of my best friends Viva but I understand if you don't feel the same anymore. If you just want to work on the assignment we can. Or I can do it myself if that's easier." He had started off so strong so hopeful but by the end there was a quiet meekness to his words.
Tragic memories flashed through his mind of primary school when no one wanted to work with the strange kid with the dead mum and simply used him for an easy assignment. Matthew had been a social pariah long before blood purity was even on the table and thinking someone he believed cared, no knew cared, for him could make him feel that way again hurt more than words could express. It wasn't fair to judge her when she hadn't even replied but Matthew's mind had always been a trap as much as a solace and he was unable to resist the pathetic feelings he felt for reliving that childhood. So instead he just waited lowering his eyes to the floor awaited her response wondering if one would even come.
| Nikolai Volka // "Light, light: do not go | I sing you this song and I will sing another as well." // Matthew Campbell |