Ice Cream and First Introductions PV Closed

@Kieryn Rodriguez

Katrina bit her lip when the person that she had somewhat beckoned didn't respond. Instead, she licked the ice cream a bit down-trodden and forgot for a moment how positive she had been. Why was it so easy to undo all of the good things that were so hard to simply do in the first place? It felt like there was something off with the world. Katrina stood up from her musings, wondering if a walk down the street could cheer her up.

Katrina was so caught up with her worldview musings that she wasn't watching where she was going. A girl, a bit shorter than her, ran straight into her. Katrina jumped back, her instincts kicking in and her mind jolted out of its dreamland.

The girl didn't pop back up and Katrina was afraid that she could have hurt her. Instead, the girl giggled and remained on her bottom, seemingly content with the position. The whole scene made Katrina raise an eyebrow. If it was in concern or simply irony, no one could tell. Eventually, the girl stood and took a seat on a stool next to her.

"Are you a Gryffindor?"

"I- yes?" Katrina was confused, could this girl just read minds? Did she actually carry herself around confidently enough that a random person could identify her house simply by looking at her? If so, this was very new. Sure, she could easily put on a mask or adjust her body language to portray anything she wanted. (In fact, she was doing this at the very moment, to appear more friendly) Perhaps the girl just knew her from school, she was obviously making a big inward deal about nothing.

Something that came with being adept at adjusting body language, is that you became very acute to other people's body language. Katrina instantly picked up on the girl's swinging legs and shallow breaths. When she pulled her hood up and averted her gaze, Katrina knew exactly how she felt. In fact, she had spent her entire first and most of her second year the same way. The only thing that was different about Katrina now, is that she was easily able to hide it.

"I'm Katrina, going into third year, and, as you said, a Gryffindor." Katrina said this was unusual peppiness and happiness. "How about you?" Katrina waited for her to respond before adding, "What flavor would you like?" At this, she dug her hands into her pocket and counted that she had barely enough for another cone, but her body language wouldn't show that. She was going to buy this girl's ice cream.

Katrina noted that the girl's name was Kieryn, a first year. This was the second first year she had met. It was nice getting to know the younger class. Katrina hadn't known any of the older kids when she was a first year and wanted to change that for others.

She refused the offer quite certainly and Katrina knew that it wasn't worth fighting. She had an aura of someone with more than enough persistence to not give in. "Oh, alright, but if you change your mind, just let me know," Katrina took out the allotment for a cone and set it on the table.

Katrina was still puzzling inwardly about Kieryn. She seemed a lot like Katrina had been. A part of the Gryffindor wondered if she had been through a lot too. But that wasn't something you just burst into out of nowhere. And even if she did bring it up, it was likely the Kieryn would avoid the subject if something had happened. At least, that is what Katrina would do.

"So, you here to buy school supplies?" It wasn't the most gracious of conversation starters, but it would have to do. After all, it was likely that she was here with her family.

Katrina's eyes grew wide when she looked out the window, somewhat searching for Kieryn's parents. No, no, no, no, not now. Katrina had done so good keeping that a secret for the past three years. This was not going to happen, not now. A couple, in their thirties, were walking down the street seemingly calling out for someone. Those were Katrina's foster parents. Katrina had done everything in her power to stay away from them and pretend they didn't exist.

Katrina pulled up the hoodie of her Gryffindor sweatshirt and tucked her auburn hair into it. Katrina was perfect at hiding her emotions. "Man, it's cold in here!" It sort of was, but that wasn't the real reason she had done what she had done. It was all that she could hope that Kieryn wouldn't pick up on her mini freakout.

Kieryn openly stated that her parents had died. Well, she said that they recommended the place before they died. Katrina was more than mildly surprised. She hid it, but it was still there. For a moment, she debated finding a way to say that her parents had died too. But she also didn't want to make such a topic a competition or a happy discussion. Sure, it all happened a bit more than a year ago, but it was still very fresh in Katrina's mind.

Kieryn was far too observant than Katrina liked. She picked up on the foster parents immediately and asked if they were her parents. Then she sneezed and looked extremely embarrassed about it. Katrina sort of used that opportunity to distract both of them, taking another nibble of the ice cream cone.

Then came a torrent of questions. Katrina sorted them in her mind and answered in order, "I am here because... well, its a long story. I have been here a handful of times, five in total I think. I'm a big book person so Flourish and Blotts is a favorite, also the Magical Menagerie because that's where I got my cat, oh and Ollivanders is always fun to stop by. Each shop has it's own materials for the most part so there isn't much competition. And yeah, I've actually made ice cream before, my friends' dad was a ice cream shop owner so it has a special place in my heart," Katrina used a spoon on the table to reflect outside, she could just see her guardians peeking into each shop. She only had about five minutes before they would likely look in the shop.

Kieryn did something and Katrina turned to see her look back to her like nothing had happened. Katrina shook it off, sure someone else had made the noise. "Thanks," Katrina said, about the hoodie. She needed to find a way to slip off.

"I don't really know what kind of books, normally fantasy, anything with dragons," Katrina's cheeks reddened a touch as she admitted that. She preferred others didn't see her as childish. "My cat's name is Boomerang, he's in my room right now,"

Katrina made a point not to look out the window as Kieryn took the spot on the other side of her. Hopefully, that would work. Katrina stared down at the ice cream cone. It was horrible. This whole interaction. Katrina was just about to actually make another first year friend and then BOOM her wannabe parents show up. They were foster parents that Katrina had done everything in her power to keep out of her life. Away from everybody. Only one person knew about them and it wasn't even her best friend. This was a nightmare.

Katrina could see them coming closer in the reflection of the spoon. Then she heard Kieryn say something about her eyes. "I- what?" Katrina was still for a moment. Don't read into it Kat. She's just complimenting you. "Thanks?" Was Katrina's eventual response.

The door of the ice cream shop jingled and in walked the foster parents. "Oh no, I'm really sorry Kieryn, I wish I could stay and chat but, I'm sorry, I need to go and... I'm sorry, bye!" Katrina slipped out of her seat and waved with an apologetic look. That wasn't how this was supposed to go! She was supposed to talk and get to know somebody and not be awkward and especially not have her biggest secret walk through the doors of the ice cream shop. Katrina stormed up to her foster parents who looked relieved to see her. "Don't start. I'm fine. I'm going back to our room," Those were Katrina's only sharp words as she walked past them, ignoring their desperate looks. She certainly wasn't what they had signed up for. But Katrina couldn't bring herself to have any compassion. What a wonderful day turned sour. Like curdled milk.