Ok, fine, I'll make friends if I have to
Jeremy's summer had been off to a pretty good start, all things considered. Camp was cool, it had a lot of books. His cabin-mates were all a little bit bonkers, but some of them weren't so bad. He got to pretend he was in the Department of Mysteries. And...well, had he mentioned there were lots of books?
Of course, he'd spent a lot of time reading those books, and not quite as much time talking to the others. This would have been fine, except Jeremy had promised his Mum he was going to write home every single week. And he knew exactly the kinds of things she was gonna want to hear about.
See, Jeremy's Mum and Dad had this idea in their head that he didn't talk to enough children his age. Jeremy’s Mum and Dad would have said that it was really good that he was sharing a cabin with other children his age, even though Jeremy would have much rather he got to stay alone. Mum always thought that he didn’t have enough friends.
Jeremy might have said that he had spent lots of time around children his age, and he didn't know what children his age were like when his parents were children his age, but in THIS age children his age weren't always all they were cracked up to be.
But it didn't really matter. Jeremy's mum was going to insist that he tried, and if he didn't write home about making an effort and tell her about the other kids, then he might have her marching herself down here, which would ruin his entire summer. Since Jo didn't count as a 'friend' even though he kind of knew her, he was sort of back at zero. Luckily some of the boys in his cabin seemed pretty nice.
Like the one that he saw sitting alone. Alone was good. Alone was better than a group.
Strike was the boy’s name. It was kind of an odd name to have, Jeremy thought, but not the oddest he’d heard of. Old heroes had those kinds of names sometimes, anyway. He was just a tiny bit smaller than Jeremy was, and he had seemed very nice, and helpful, and he had been nice to Henry after Jeremy had upset him, which was good, because it had meant Jeremy hadn't had to feel so bad about it (mostly).
If he was going to have to talk to a boy his age, he might as well talk to a nice boy.
So, instead of taking his sandwich inside and eating it carefully in one hand while reading a book with the other, Jer decided to brave eating outdoors for once (Even though outdoors meant hot, and sun, and bugs. His mum had better be happy about this).
“Hi, um, anybody sitting here?” Jeremy asked, even though it really didn't look like anybody was. He was pretty sure this was the polite thing to do, anyway, and it was how you were supposed to start a conversation before just sitting down and talking to somebody.
If allowed, Jeremy would take a seat across from Strike and put down his sandwich.
"So, my mum and dad have been saying I have to make more friends, so…I figured we could have lunch,” he explained. It was only after he did it that he realized that could be a little rude.
“Um, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to…” he said, looking down. “What I mean is, um... whatcha eating? he asked with a shrug.
Of course, he'd spent a lot of time reading those books, and not quite as much time talking to the others. This would have been fine, except Jeremy had promised his Mum he was going to write home every single week. And he knew exactly the kinds of things she was gonna want to hear about.
See, Jeremy's Mum and Dad had this idea in their head that he didn't talk to enough children his age. Jeremy’s Mum and Dad would have said that it was really good that he was sharing a cabin with other children his age, even though Jeremy would have much rather he got to stay alone. Mum always thought that he didn’t have enough friends.
Jeremy might have said that he had spent lots of time around children his age, and he didn't know what children his age were like when his parents were children his age, but in THIS age children his age weren't always all they were cracked up to be.
But it didn't really matter. Jeremy's mum was going to insist that he tried, and if he didn't write home about making an effort and tell her about the other kids, then he might have her marching herself down here, which would ruin his entire summer. Since Jo didn't count as a 'friend' even though he kind of knew her, he was sort of back at zero. Luckily some of the boys in his cabin seemed pretty nice.
Like the one that he saw sitting alone. Alone was good. Alone was better than a group.
Strike was the boy’s name. It was kind of an odd name to have, Jeremy thought, but not the oddest he’d heard of. Old heroes had those kinds of names sometimes, anyway. He was just a tiny bit smaller than Jeremy was, and he had seemed very nice, and helpful, and he had been nice to Henry after Jeremy had upset him, which was good, because it had meant Jeremy hadn't had to feel so bad about it (mostly).
If he was going to have to talk to a boy his age, he might as well talk to a nice boy.
So, instead of taking his sandwich inside and eating it carefully in one hand while reading a book with the other, Jer decided to brave eating outdoors for once (Even though outdoors meant hot, and sun, and bugs. His mum had better be happy about this).
“Hi, um, anybody sitting here?” Jeremy asked, even though it really didn't look like anybody was. He was pretty sure this was the polite thing to do, anyway, and it was how you were supposed to start a conversation before just sitting down and talking to somebody.
If allowed, Jeremy would take a seat across from Strike and put down his sandwich.
"So, my mum and dad have been saying I have to make more friends, so…I figured we could have lunch,” he explained. It was only after he did it that he realized that could be a little rude.
“Um, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to…” he said, looking down. “What I mean is, um... whatcha eating? he asked with a shrug.
Ok, fine, I'll make friends if I have to
Strike looked surprised when Jeremy addressed him. He was fairly sure that of all the kids in their cabin, as nice as Jeremy was, he was one of the ones most likely to want to keep to himself. As he listened to the other boy, however, he realized his assessment hadn't necessarily been wrong. It was just that Jeremy had wanted to try to obey his parents and was thus attempting to establish more friendships.
"You want me...to be your friend?" he asked in astonishment, his expression slowly morphing from incredulous shock to absolute delight. "Sure!" He knew what it was like to want to please your parents, after all. Even so, he was ecstatic that he had been thought of as someone worthy of attempting to befriend.
He didn't seem to notice the potential that what the brown-haired boy said could have been rude. "Your name is Jeremy, right? Oh," he added, pausing as he was asked what he was eating. "I'm eating spanakopita. I didn't think they would have it here, but when I asked, they said they could make anything. So I asked for spanakopita and they made it. It's my favorite." Beaming at Jeremy, he asked, "What are you eating?"
@Jeremy Slater
2nd Gen PC: Strike Allen
1st Gen PC: Jack Burnett | iNPC: Ginyami Midorimori | Former staff account: Kit Paine
Ok, fine, I'll make friends if I have to
Jeremy had thought he was maybe being rude, but Strike sure didn’t seem to think so. Strike looked like Jeremy had just told him that Christmas had come early this year, instead of that Jer's parents had forced him into maybe making friends with him against his will.
"You want me...to be your friend?" the boy asked, in obvious delight.
(Or, as Jeremy would later remember it - "You want me!?!?!...to be your friend?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!")
“Uhhh….yeah….” Jeremy said. That was kind of what he’d said, he supposed. Though it wasn’t exactly what he’d thought he’d said. What he’d said was that he wanted to have lunch with him. That COULDA been the road to being friends. But it was also kinda like a trial run. Strike had technically said 'sure' to a question Jeremy hadn't asked yet. He wanted to tell him that, but didn’t feel like he could, seeing how happy Strike had gotten. He felt the same uncomfortable pang of maybe-guilt he’d felt when he had turned down Henry back on the first day, and gotten him to look all embarrassed. He didn’t wanna make STRIKE look that way next.
It turned out that Jeremy had felt guilt more times in these last few days than he had in like a whole year, and he wasn’t sure he liked it.
“I mean... if you wanna. And if we like each other,” Jeremy added quickly, still feeling like Strike had already taken his offer of possible friendship more seriously than Jeremy had, and not sure what to do with that.
Still... who was to say when people started being friends or not? It's not like there was a contract to sign. Some kids counted it as friends if you played together for twenty minutes and went your separate ways. So did having a lunch together mean they were friends? It might have.
He DID know Strike’s favorite food now, after all. That was a start. Maybe if he got to learning three things about Strike, then that would count as making friends. That would make his mum happy, and Strike.
And it actually WAS pretty interesting, because Strike was eating something that Jeremy had never even heard of before. His initial uncertainty gave way to curiosity, looking at the strange food that seemed much more exotic than Jeremy's ham sandwich. It almost looked like some kinda spinach pie or something, but Jeremy had never heard of anything like that before.
“Yea, I'm Jeremy. And you're Strike. What’s spana…uh….” Jeremy tried to remember what the boy had said. He'd just said it two times so it should have been easy but... He wished he could see it written down. “What’s spanatopika?” he asked. Nailed it (he didn't).
Still unsure what to do with the beaming expression on Strike's face, Jeremy looked down at his own lunch.
“Oh, it’s just a ham sandwich. My favorite food is fish and chips, but I didn't know we could ask for anything."
There, now they each knew something about each other.
@Strike Allen
"You want me...to be your friend?" the boy asked, in obvious delight.
(Or, as Jeremy would later remember it - "You want me!?!?!...to be your friend?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!")
“Uhhh….yeah….” Jeremy said. That was kind of what he’d said, he supposed. Though it wasn’t exactly what he’d thought he’d said. What he’d said was that he wanted to have lunch with him. That COULDA been the road to being friends. But it was also kinda like a trial run. Strike had technically said 'sure' to a question Jeremy hadn't asked yet. He wanted to tell him that, but didn’t feel like he could, seeing how happy Strike had gotten. He felt the same uncomfortable pang of maybe-guilt he’d felt when he had turned down Henry back on the first day, and gotten him to look all embarrassed. He didn’t wanna make STRIKE look that way next.
It turned out that Jeremy had felt guilt more times in these last few days than he had in like a whole year, and he wasn’t sure he liked it.
“I mean... if you wanna. And if we like each other,” Jeremy added quickly, still feeling like Strike had already taken his offer of possible friendship more seriously than Jeremy had, and not sure what to do with that.
Still... who was to say when people started being friends or not? It's not like there was a contract to sign. Some kids counted it as friends if you played together for twenty minutes and went your separate ways. So did having a lunch together mean they were friends? It might have.
He DID know Strike’s favorite food now, after all. That was a start. Maybe if he got to learning three things about Strike, then that would count as making friends. That would make his mum happy, and Strike.
And it actually WAS pretty interesting, because Strike was eating something that Jeremy had never even heard of before. His initial uncertainty gave way to curiosity, looking at the strange food that seemed much more exotic than Jeremy's ham sandwich. It almost looked like some kinda spinach pie or something, but Jeremy had never heard of anything like that before.
“Yea, I'm Jeremy. And you're Strike. What’s spana…uh….” Jeremy tried to remember what the boy had said. He'd just said it two times so it should have been easy but... He wished he could see it written down. “What’s spanatopika?” he asked. Nailed it (he didn't).
Still unsure what to do with the beaming expression on Strike's face, Jeremy looked down at his own lunch.
“Oh, it’s just a ham sandwich. My favorite food is fish and chips, but I didn't know we could ask for anything."
There, now they each knew something about each other.
@Strike Allen
Ok, fine, I'll make friends if I have to
Though it turned out Strike was a bit too eager to befriend someone, having taken Jeremy's words to mean more than they literally meant, Jeremy didn't seem all that eager to correct him, so Strike remained blissfully unaware. However, it wasn't as though Strike was going to take what he thought was this newfound friendship for granted. No, he still planned to earn it every second he believed it existed between them in whatever way he could think of. After all, Jeremy could have changed his mind and decided to dissolve it at any time.
Because of that awareness, when Jeremy mentioned 'if we like each other', Strike finally got the hint. He had forgotten to take Jeremy's feelings into account because he had jumped to conclusions with his assumptions. His father had explained to him that was very, very dangerous to do. "Oh...yeah, of course!" the blond boy answered, trying to act as though he hadn't missed a step. His parents had informed him that even if he made a mistake, there were times to admit to it and there were times to brush it off as if it had been intentional or hadn't been made at all. But regardless, it was important to act composed and in control at all times rather than flustered or embarrassed. Even if that was easier said than done. He smiled, but his cheeks were pink as he absently scratched the back of his neck.
Well, no matter. Strike was still confident he could get Jeremy to like him. He just had to make sure he did everything - absolutely everything - right. This was the sort of thing his parents had trained him for all his life, right? Particularly his father's type of training. He was supposed to be likable and get along with people. And since he had spent so much of his life striving to please his parents, how much harder could trying to please a kid his age be?
...A lot harder, as it turned out. Strike at least knew at all times what his parents wanted from him. With kids his age, he was clueless.
"Would you...like to try some?" he asked, noticing Jeremy looking curiously at his food. Deciding to take the initiative, he cut a decent-sized piece with his fork and offered it to Jeremy to take or eat however he pleased. If he so chose to, of course.
Jeremy's attempt to pronounce what Strike realized must have been, to him, unfamiliar food made him smile broader, but he was careful not to laugh. "Span-ah-ko-pee-ta," he pronounced a little more slowly, though not mockingly or judgmentally. He'd had a hard time pronouncing it when he'd first heard of it, too. "It's a Greek food. Spinach pie. But it's got cheese and onions and garlic and other stuff that makes it taste better than just spinach. Oh, but it's not a sweet kind of pie."
The knowledge of Jeremy's favorite food was seared instantly into Strike's long-term memory as soon as it was spoken. "Ohh...fish and chips? I think I've had that before," he commented thoughtfully. "Do you like to eat them plain, or do you like putting stuff on them?"
Then he realized - an opportunity had presented itself! "Do you want me to ask them to make you some? I'm sure they could! Fish and chips sounds easy! Or if you're full already, I can ask for you next time!"
@Jeremy Slater
2nd Gen PC: Strike Allen
1st Gen PC: Jack Burnett | iNPC: Ginyami Midorimori | Former staff account: Kit Paine
Ok, fine, I'll make friends if I have to
Jeremy was happy to see that Strike also only wanted to be friends if they liked each other. Or, well, at least that he was ok with it. Strike had been so happy when he’d sorta-asked him that he’d been a little afraid Strike would have already decided they were gonna be best friends for life. Then they’d grow old together whether Jeremy liked it or not. But no, even though the other boy looked a little embarrassed he seemed ok with just seeing if they wanted to be friends, which made Jeremy feel better.
And it turned out, that Strike WAS really nice, like he thought. And if he did have to make a friend, Strike wouldn’t be a bad one to make.
First, he offered Jeremy some of his ‘Span-ah-ko-pee-ta’ - which even though Jeremy had never heard of (and hadn’t been able to pronounce) it didn’t seem like it had anything gross in it. “Hey this is pretty good!” Jer said, taking a few bites of the piece that Strike had given him. “It’s kinda strange, but not like in a bad way,” Maybe anything with cheese in it was just good, but either way he’d tried new food AND possibly made a new friend, so his Mum was sure to be doubly happy, meaning maybe that would keep her off his case for two weeks instead of just one. “Oh yea, thanks for letting me try it.” he added, remembering his manners.
Second, Strike had offered to get Jeremy some fish and chips - Of course, he only had to ask them to make it, but the thought still counted for something. Jer answered his questions about fish and chips, though he couldn’t believe that Strike only THOUGHT he’d had it before. Hadn't everyone had it? “I just put ketchup on it. My sister says that’s a 'travesty' but I don’t see what’s so wrong with it,” he said defensively.
“But it’s ok…you don’t have to do that…I can ask them next time maybe….” It DID sound nice to have some fish and chips. He’d only been at camp a few days but he already kind of missed them. Though then again…maybe it would remind him a little too much of home. He was happy to be away of course. He’d been looking forward to it for ages. It wasn’t like he was homesick or anything like some kind of baby….just….well….maybe he didn’t want to be too reminded of sitting around his hometown with his family.
Luckily, he was distracted from those thoughts when he suddenly put two-and-two together.
“Wait, does that mean you’re Greek? I never met somebody Greek before. I read a lot about the Greeks. Well the ancient ones anyway. They were really cool. I bet some of their muggle stories got closer than anyone to figuring out magic. My grandad told me about them. He’s a muggle. Well he died, but he was a muggle. So is it true? Are you Greek? Is that how come you don’t know fish and chips? And how come you eat ….Spanakopita?” Jer said carefully, sure that he was pronouncing it right this time. And this time he wasn’t asking just to make sure they learned something about each other. He just wanted to know.
And it turned out, that Strike WAS really nice, like he thought. And if he did have to make a friend, Strike wouldn’t be a bad one to make.
First, he offered Jeremy some of his ‘Span-ah-ko-pee-ta’ - which even though Jeremy had never heard of (and hadn’t been able to pronounce) it didn’t seem like it had anything gross in it. “Hey this is pretty good!” Jer said, taking a few bites of the piece that Strike had given him. “It’s kinda strange, but not like in a bad way,” Maybe anything with cheese in it was just good, but either way he’d tried new food AND possibly made a new friend, so his Mum was sure to be doubly happy, meaning maybe that would keep her off his case for two weeks instead of just one. “Oh yea, thanks for letting me try it.” he added, remembering his manners.
Second, Strike had offered to get Jeremy some fish and chips - Of course, he only had to ask them to make it, but the thought still counted for something. Jer answered his questions about fish and chips, though he couldn’t believe that Strike only THOUGHT he’d had it before. Hadn't everyone had it? “I just put ketchup on it. My sister says that’s a 'travesty' but I don’t see what’s so wrong with it,” he said defensively.
“But it’s ok…you don’t have to do that…I can ask them next time maybe….” It DID sound nice to have some fish and chips. He’d only been at camp a few days but he already kind of missed them. Though then again…maybe it would remind him a little too much of home. He was happy to be away of course. He’d been looking forward to it for ages. It wasn’t like he was homesick or anything like some kind of baby….just….well….maybe he didn’t want to be too reminded of sitting around his hometown with his family.
Luckily, he was distracted from those thoughts when he suddenly put two-and-two together.
“Wait, does that mean you’re Greek? I never met somebody Greek before. I read a lot about the Greeks. Well the ancient ones anyway. They were really cool. I bet some of their muggle stories got closer than anyone to figuring out magic. My grandad told me about them. He’s a muggle. Well he died, but he was a muggle. So is it true? Are you Greek? Is that how come you don’t know fish and chips? And how come you eat ….Spanakopita?” Jer said carefully, sure that he was pronouncing it right this time. And this time he wasn’t asking just to make sure they learned something about each other. He just wanted to know.