Ball Troubles

She stormed across the grassy slope of the Hogwarts grounds, her boots crunching against the scattered autumn leaves. Her sketchbook was clutched tightly under one arm, and her brows were drawn in a scowl that could’ve rivaled a Blast-Ended Skrewt on a bad day. She didn’t even glance at the glimmering lake or the dreamy sky. Two of her usual muses and she certainly didn’t notice Maddy’s soft smile or the peaceful quiet of their usual meeting spot beneath the big tree.

With a huff, Isabella dropped onto the grass beside her best friend, practically slamming her sketchbook open. She didn’t say a word. No Hi! Sorry I’m late! Just aggressive silence. Her pencil was already in motion, angrily stabbing at the page as she drew wildly uneven circles, jagged lines, and what looked like a very poor attempt at a tree. Though, judging by the frown on her face, even she knew it looked like a furious spaghetti monster.

She jabbed the pencil into the corner of the page, dragging it violently downward until the tip snapped off. A growl of frustration escaped her lips, barely more than a breath, and she reached into her bag to yank out a sharper one, refusing to meet any eyes nearby.

The lake looked stunning. Of course it did. The sky practically demanded to be painted. It was infuriating. The world being beautiful when she felt like she could explode. Her eyes darted over the water’s surface, catching flashes of light, and for half a second, she imagined drawing it the way she always had.

But the thought of her twisted that moment into knots. Her jaw clenched, and she returned to her page with more furious loops. Not even the Great Lake could calm this storm.

OOC Info: Outfit and Sketchbook
Pings: @Madeline Tomlinson

Anything for her

Reducio Location: The Great Lake Date: 28/09/25

Reducio Dress: this

Reducio Pings: @Isabella Bernard

Maddy glanced sideways at her best friend's dramatic sketchbook attack and tried not to laugh at her spaghetti monster, she raised her eyebrow, " Belle.........looks like I'm rubbing off on you" she chuckled.

Seeing her mood still was sulking she added, "that thing," she nodded towards her sketch, "wants to duel me," she plucked a leaf off the ground and threw it at her, then announced in a loud voice that sounded alot like the Headmaster, "TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR FOR THE MOST DANGEROUS LOOKING TREE" she started giggling nudging her foot against hers.

She leaned back against the trunk, "Ok out with it Bernard! Who do I need to get back at, and dont you try to say nothing, your mood doesnt turns into-into," she motioned towards her, "into this because of nothing"

Maddy sighed when Belle said nothing, "Well if you dont tell me, I will be forced to tickle you, I promise I'm really good" Maddy tried to think about what might have gone wrong, suddenly it got to her, "Ohhhhh yeah! ehm Belle I have a plan," she tried to think of something, "I'll go tickle HER mercilessly if you say so, or better yet," she gave Belle a knowing smirk, "Give her a taste of the Tomlinson Dungbombs, what do you think?"

Isabella smiled looking down trying to hide the fact she was smiling, Maddy nudged her shoulder, "C'mon Belle, let's brainstorm ideas. I'm sure this duo can come up with something." she grinned at her.

She wanted to tell her that it will be fine at the ball, but she didnt because she had no plan of going, and she had rejected everyone who came her way, the Tomlinson way ofcourse.

Isabella flopped down on the grass patch behind her with a frustrated groan, throwing her arms over her face to block out the setting sun. And the world. “Do you remember recently I told you that I liked this girl? Kora Eliot?” she said, staring straight up at the sky, as if it had answers she didn’t. “She’s going to the Autumn Ball… with someone else.”

She didn’t even want to say it out loud, but once it was out, she couldn’t stop. “It’s not like I thought we were going together or anything. I mean, I never actually asked her. I was going to. A couple of times, actually. But every time I tried, my brain turned into scrambled eggs and I said something dumb about Transfiguration or food.” She covered her face with her hands. “It was pathetic.”

Rolling onto her side, she faced Maddy, her voice quieter now. “I thought maybe she’d… wait. Or maybe she’d somehow know how I felt. But I guess life isn’t a fairytale. Or even a halfway decent rom-com.” Isabella picked up her sketchbook, staring at the ridiculous “tree-monster” she’d scribbled earlier. “This thing is probably the most accurate drawing of my brain right now. Chaotic. Tangled. A little terrifying.”

She sighed and flopped back again, pressing the sketchbook over her face. “I’m not mad at her. Not really. She didn’t know. I never gave her a reason to even think I liked her that way. I was just too slow. Too scared.” After a moment of silence, she peeked out from under the book, her eyes meeting Maddy’s. So yeah. That’s what’s been chewing up my insides all day. I missed my chance. And now the Ball’s coming, and I just… kinda want to disappear until it’s over.”

She gave a weak laugh. “But if that’s not an Isabella Bernard move, I don’t know what is.”

OOC Info: Outfit and Sketchbook
Pings: @Madeline Tomlinson @Kora Eliot

[quote]

Maddy nodded when Isabella asked her if she remembered Kora. She had heard about the girl and she was already planning to talk to Belle about asking the girl out. The next words that Isabelle said shocked her and she winced. She hadn't thought that someone else would take the chance before Belle could, but right now she needed to be there for her friend.

She listened to Isabella intently as the girl stared at the sky lost in thoughts and voicing her problems. This is why Maddy ran away from crushes and all this drama. In her mind, it will eventually lead to heartbreak, but she needed to support Belle.

She spoke after nudging her elbow to Isabelle to grab her attention, " You are right, this isn't a fairytale or a rom-com, you need to work for who you like and you have to take the first step. Listen up, dont stress, you need to go to the ball and have fun."

She laughed as Isabella flew down and said that this was exactly what she does, "That is such an Isabella Bernard move but that's what makes this special. This is just testing how far you will go. If you back off from the first step you will never reach the top."

Maddy realized that she had sounded alot like her mom in the moment and she shook her head with a horrified expression, "Okay what happened to me." She stared at whatever was infront of her like she couldnt believe anything. But she shook her head with so much force and turned to Belle discarding the thought.

"Listen here is what you are going to do, you are going to the ball, you will have fun and you will confess. Maybe not then but the next day a hundred percent. But hey, you know what I think? " she smirked to Belle, "I think that you didnt got this chance because I have not met the girl yet and maybe my judgement is necessary. Bestie's approval will be first."

She smiled softly, "But dont stress Belle, I'm sure it will all work out in the end. It always does. For us atleast. Because if everything is easy at the beginning where will be the fun in that?"

She nudged the girl next to her and hoped she had made her bestfriend feel maybe a little better atleast.

Maddy’s words actually made me feel a lot better. Like, I could finally breathe again after holding it in forever. She was so good at saying the right things, even if she ended up sounding like her mom. I couldn’t help but laugh when she caught herself doing it and shook her head like she was shaking the grown-up out of her.

But then the smile slipped off my face as I thought about what she said. I looked down at my hands, suddenly feeling way more nervous than I thought I would be. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, as she said, “Now I have to go to the ball all alone.” She let out a dramatic sigh and flopped back onto the grass, staring up at the sky like the stars had betrayed her personally.

Then she suddenly shot up, eyes locking on Maddy’s with all the intensity of someone about to ask a life-changing favor. “Wait…” she blinked, tilted her head, and her lower lip stuck out just the tiniest bit. “You don’t have anyone to go with either.” She leaned in closer, practically bouncing on her knees. “Maddy, will you please go with me?”

Her hands were clutched together like she was praying, but it was really just part of the dramatic performance. “Come on, I’ll give you the best night ever. We can get ready together, take all the photos, judge everyone’s outfits, and I won’t even make you dance unless they play your favorite song! Please?! Look!”

She tilted her chin down and gave the most over-the-top, exaggerated puppy eyes she could manage. The kind of look that was impossible to say no to. “Bestie’s approval and emotional support date privileges. I feel like it’s only fair.” She nudged Maddy gently with her shoulder and gave a hopeful little smile. “Plus, I can’t survive this ball without you. Who else is going to pull me away if I start panicking mid-conversation or getting all awkward around Kora?”

She grinned. “And hey! If it turns into a disaster, at least we’ll be in it together!”

OOC Info: Outfit and Sketchbook
Pings: @Madeline Tomlinson

[quote]

Maddy felt a pang of sadness looking at her best friend like that but suddenly Isabella cheered up and turned to Maddy, Maddy thought she was going to say something good but what she said made her feel sick, Maddy spluttered looking for a response, "Me? Go to the ball? but-but......i-i." she sighed pushing a hand through her short messy hair messing them up more.

She threw her head back at the tree, " I'm not gonna look at you cause I know exactly what you will be doing and that will make me agree, but I hate those fancy-dancy things." She sighed remembering when balls would take place at her cousins house and the time when she used to attend them. She remembered clearly how many strained smiles were being forced etc. Lets just say she left going there and attending the balls altogether. It wasnt really a good experience regarding those....things for her atleast.

Lost in her thoughts she made the mistake of looking over at Belle, Maddy felt her doubts crumble in a milli second, "Oh seriously Belle, the puppy eyes? Ugh fine but Yes I wont dance if they play anything other than our song. And if I see you being sad, I will stomp over to Kora dragging you with me and demand you both figure it out." she spoke dramatically with a smirk at the end.

She relaxed again knowing it wont be so bad with Belle by her side, "Just so you know, I am doing this only as a bestie obligation and if anyone asks, you dragged me there ok?"

Maddy grinned looking over at Belle again, "Oh and we will arrive fashionably late.....it's a tradition." she winked in the end.

Isabella gasped, eyes wide with theatrical shock. “Did you just...Did you actually say yes?” she asked, blinking like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Then, before Maddy could take it back, Isabella let out a squeal and tackled her in a half-hug, half-body flop. “You said YES!!! Madeline Tomlinson! My emotional support date, my ride-or-die, my anti-ball rebel queen!”

She pulled back, eyes shining with a huge grin on her face. “I promise you, it’s going to be fun. I know balls are not your thing with all the fancy clothes, cheesy slow songs, weird punch that’s way too sweet. But with us there? It’ll be legendary. We’ll make it our own kind of chaos.”

She flopped back dramatically onto the grass again, arms out like she was about to fly. “Fashionably late? Absolutely. I’m thinking...Ten minutes after the music starts but before anyone starts dancing. That’s the perfect window to make an entrance.” She paused, then pointed a finger at the sky like she just had a brilliant idea. “Oh! We should totally coordinate outfits. Not matchy-matchy, unless you want to, but, like, color vibes. So people know we’re a team!”

Then her grin softened a little. “Thanks, Mads. Really. I know you don’t like this kinda stuff, and I know you’d rather be doing literally anything else but I’m glad I don’t have to face it alone. I think if I went by myself, I’d just spend the whole night hiding behind a plant or eating food in the corner.” She reached out and held Maddy’s pinky in a gentle promise. “Together, no matter what. Even if it’s awkward. Even if Kora’s there. Even if my shoes fall apart mid-dance.”

Isabella smiled. “We’ve got this. Fashionably late, emotionally unstable, but unstoppable.” She paused. Her smile turning teasing again. “Maybe I'll even kiss you under the chandelier while we slow dance.” She said with a mock creepy-flirty look.

OOC Info: Outfit and Sketchbook
Pings: @Madeline Tomlinson