Favorite Distraction
Credits to @Madeline Tomlinson
Interacting With @Lily Clarke
Ryder’s smirk softened slightly when she admitted she wasn’t good at dancing.
“Relax,” he said quietly, still holding her hand. “I’ve got you.”
He didn't have time to think about how easy that sounded. If he didn't already feel very light, he would probably be making a sour face at how easy it was to be doing and saying this with Lily Clarke.
He lifted her hand carefully with his own.
“This hand goes here.”
Then slowly, almost hesitantly, Ryder placed her other hand onto his shoulder. His own hand settled carefully against her waist afterward.
The warmth of her standing that close was making it increasingly difficult for him to remember why he thought this was a good idea.
“There. Better.”
His grey eyes flickered over her face for a second too long before he looked away again.
“Now stop staring at your feet,” he added. “If you keep looking down, you’re definitely going to step on me.”
Which she almost immediately did.
Ryder let out an actual laugh as he caught her before she stumbled sideways.
“Brilliant start!”
His dimples appeared again while he steadied her by the waist automatically.
“One step back,” he instructed quietly. “Then to the side… yeah, like that.”
His thumb brushed lightly against her hand without him noticing.
“See?” he murmured. “Not that hard.”
Every now and then he’d move her slightly himself whenever she got confused, guiding her through the steps patiently despite the amused grin constantly threatening to appear.
“No! your OTHER left.”
He shook his head, "MERLIN, HELP ME."
But there was no irritation in his voice. After she got better and the laughter calmed down, both of them swayed gently side by side.
Lost in thought, he softly whispered, "You know, this is so much better than the people I used to dance with at home. At least I can smile here."
Permission to godmod was given.
Say whatever you want about me. Just don’t touch what’s mine.
Favorite Distraction
"Relax, I’ve got you.” he spoke softly. Lily's heartbeat increased as he guided her on where to keep her hands. She kept one of her hands on his shoulder, following his instructions, warmth flooding her body.
Her heart skipped a beat when he kept his hand on her waist. She hoped that in the sunlight, he couldn't see her ears or neck, which she was sure were red.
She tried her best to focus on what he was trying to teach her, instead of the grey eyes staring at her. “Now stop staring at your feet. If you keep looking down, you’re definitely going to step on me.” At that exact moment, Lily just managed not to step on his toes.
He laughed. "Brilliant start!" Lily mentally facepalmed herself. "Don't tease now. I told you earlier I am not good at this." She again started focusing on what he said. A step back, move to the left. It started coming to Lily, as if this skill was hiding behind years of nagging and was coming out now.
Lily felt a sense of happiness. This was the first time she had ever danced, especially like this. She remembered how her sister used to dance with their cousin, enjoying their time together, whereas Lily would have to sit in the corner, mostly reading a book. Nobody had been there to teach her, and now here he was. Teaching her patiently, guiding her. She immediately felt a deep sense of gratitude. He was the first one whom she had trusted with personal information, except for her sister.
They had a great time together, laughing at her mistakes and his attempts to make sure that she wouldn't fall. Slowly, as she began to get the hang of it, they stayed silent, just enjoying their time.
Out of nowhere, he whispered. "You know, this is so much better than the people I used to dance with at home. At least I can smile here." Lily nodded. While she had been allowed to do things according to her wish, there was certainly less amount of joy since her grandparents' death. "This place is free, we can do whatever we want to, whatever we like." she said.
After another moment or two of silence, she broke the silence. "Not wanting to sound too personal, but did you ever have actual fun when you weren't here?" she asked.
|
You seem pretty sad For a girl so in love |
sta • 8 | eva • 6 | str • 5 | wis • 7 | arc • 5 | acc • 9 |
Favorite Distraction
Credits to @Madeline Tomlinson
Interacting With @Lily Clarke
Ryder went quiet for a few seconds after she asked that.
His hand stayed steady against her waist while the other kept hold of hers, guiding her slowly through another step looking at something behind her before he finally exhaled softly through his nose.
“Honestly?” he glanced down briefly, a tiny smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth, “Not really.”
The answer came easier than he expected.
“At home everything always felt…” he paused, trying to find the word. “Planned.”
His eyes lifted back to hers.
“Every conversation. Every dinner. Every event.” Ryder shook his head slightly. “You stand properly. Smile properly. Dance properly. Talk to the right people. Don’t embarrass the family name.” His voice stayed calm throughout, held together but the rising hatred could be heard.
For a moment he looked away toward the lake again.
“I think the only time I actually would had fun was probably when I would go to the Tomlinson's house.....they were the real family I had. All of them"
He smiled thinking about how they would treat him like a son, how Louis and Maddy would never stop pestering him. Gosh, if they found out what he was doing right now, they would never let him live it up.
His thumb absentmindedly brushed against her hand again as they moved.
“And now apparently I’m teaching a Hufflepuff how not to break my toes near a lake.”
The smirk returned properly this time.
“Massive character development for me, really.”
He guided her through another turn, slower this time so she wouldn’t trip.
And maybe because he didn’t want the moment ending too fast either.
Ryder looked at her for a second longer than he probably should have.
“You know what the weird part is?” he said quietly.
“I don’t actually feel tired around you.”
Say whatever you want about me. Just don’t touch what’s mine.
Favorite Distraction
Lily felt as if he was going to share something personal or deeply attached.
After a moment or two, he replied. “Honestly? Not really.” he confessed. “At home everything always felt… Planned.”
She listened to him as he told about what the expectations were at home, about following rules, about being perfect. She heard a bit of raw emotion in his voice, even though he was trying his best not to show it.
Lily agreed. Even though her home had never been like that, she was still expected to be composed at all times. If guests came, which was often, Lily and Isabelle were expected to behave at their best behaviour, to never talk back to elders, even if they were wrong. Part of this rule was the reason Lily had been bullied by Nova in the first place, and according to the rule, she couldn't say anything to her.
“I think the only time I actually would had fun was probably when I would go to the Tomlinson's house.....they were the real family I had. All of them", Ryder spoke. Lily smiled, it was good to hear good about her best friend.
Then he smirked at her. “And now apparently I’m teaching a Hufflepuff how not to break my toes near a lake. Massive character development for me, really.”
Lily laughed properly this time, feeling as if she was finally free, having found someone who could understand her.
“You know what the weird part is? I don’t actually feel tired around you.” he spoke after a moment of silence. Lily felt warm, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach.
"Well, I have always had trouble socializing with people.... But somehow, just somehow, it's always different with you..." she replied, her cheeks turning red slowly.
|
You seem pretty sad For a girl so in love |
sta • 8 | eva • 6 | str • 5 | wis • 7 | arc • 5 | acc • 9 |
Favorite Distraction
Credits to @Madeline Tomlinson
Interacting With @Lily Clarke
Ryder’s breath caught slightly at her words.
'Different with you.'
It echoed around his head far louder than it probably should have. One sentence from Lily Clarke and suddenly every carefully built wall in his brain was standing there looking fragile.
Dangerous.
That was the word his parents would use for this.
Ryder looked at her for a second too long again, grey eyes flickering over the redness spreading across her cheeks before the corner of his mouth lifted faintly.
“Yeah?” he murmured quietly.
The teasing response was right there. Normally he would've taken it instantly just to avoid saying something real.
But for once, he didn’t want to ruin the moment.
“I think,” he started carefully, “that’s because you spend too much time expecting people to judge you.”
His thumb brushed lightly against her hand again absentmindedly.
“And maybe because with me…” he paused, letting out a quiet breath, “you don’t have to pretend to be anything.”
Maddy would actually never let him live this down.
A quiet laugh escaped him at the thought before he shook his head slightly.
“You know what’s concerning though?” he added, the smirk returning a little. “A week ago I liked silence.”
He guided her gently through another slow turn, steadying her automatically when she nearly lost balance again.
“Now apparently I voluntarily spend hours around a very chaotic Hufflepuff who nearly murders my feet every five minutes.”
His dimples appeared again briefly.
“Tragic character decline.”
But despite the teasing, his grip never loosened.
Not even slightly. This lass would be his end one day.
And after a quieter moment, Ryder glanced down at her again before speaking softer this time.
“I mean it though.”
“I don’t feel like I have to act around you either.”
Say whatever you want about me. Just don’t touch what’s mine.
Favorite Distraction
After a moment of silence, he spoke. “Yeah? I think that’s because you spend too much time expecting people to judge you.” And even though Lily had just realised that, and even though she still expected people to judge her for anything and everything she did, she felt a deep sense of relief. She was starting to come out of her shell and growing up as well.
“And maybe because with me, you don’t have to pretend to be anything.” "Well," she thought. "Only if you knew how much I needed to calm myself down when I am talking with you. But I suppose that doesn't mean I have to pretend that I am something which I am not...."
She smiled a bit, her ears still red.
“You know what’s concerning though? A week ago I liked silence. Now apparently I voluntarily spend hours around a very chaotic Hufflepuff who nearly murders my feet every five minutes.” he added.
"I am not that chaotic, just a bit maybe..." She replied, laughing a bit as she twirled, nearly losing her balance.
Lily felt her heartbeat rise as he admitted that he didn't need to act around her either. She could practically feel blush rising on her cheeks.
After a few more minutes of dancing in complete silence, she realised one of her friends was coming toward them. To her luck, she would have probably seen them dancing. But this time, who cared? No one.
"Hey. It looks like my friend is here. So I got to go now. Catch up later?" she said to him. "Also, I just want to thank you. I am so grateful for lifting my spirits up. Thanks for that!" And saying that, she left the scene before he could say anything that would make her blush more.
|
You seem pretty sad For a girl so in love |
sta • 8 | eva • 6 | str • 5 | wis • 7 | arc • 5 | acc • 9 |