Stop Right There PV Haley Rose Finished

"Well, it's February 13th and will be in the Ballroom," he said and hoped that gave her plenty of time to prepare. [Although a side note...the thread is set to be posted on January 10th so we can have time to actually get it accomplished around the IC date.] "There's a theme so...I suppose we might want to set our attire around that."

He paused again.

Would this theme throw her off? He hoped not. "I guess since the club is called PURE that the founder did a bit of a play on words and made it Pure Love...because you know, Valentine's Day and all being the day after. The colors for the theme are gold, white and red so..." So maybe they wanted to go with those colors for their choice. He would go with whatever Haley wanted.

Simon looked to her before glancing away. Saying Pure Love and Valentine's Day and all that sort next to hear made him feel a little nervous. Hopefully she wasn't going to laugh at him and back out, saying something about how that was hokey or that she wouldn't want to go to THAT kind of Ball with him. Something told him that she wouldn't do something like that to him.

Gathering those nerves, he pushed them aside and glanced back up to her and smiled. This was Haley. She trusted him with her secrets. She trusted him with her family heirloom. He could trust her as well.

Haley noted the date in her head. February 13, until then she had enough time to pick out a great outfit. Without wanting to, the first ideas for a dress came to her and she quickly forced herself to turn her attention back to Simon, she could think about the dress enough later. Simon had her full attention again when he mentioned that there would be a theme and Haley looked at him with wide eager eyes.

Pure Love Haley repeated in her mind and looked sheepishly at her hands and had to grin a little. She felt the warmth rise in her cheeks again and she knew this time Simon could certainly tell. She was happy anyway that Simon had asked her for the ball and now knowing that she was his choice for this as well flattered her greatly. Haley momentarily cringed at her feelings around this whole situation, she wasn't used to feeling this way about a boy. She looked at Simon and her expression turned from a skeptical look to a big smile. Who couldn't understand that either? He's handsome. WHAT? Haley asked herself. Had she really just thought that? And again, her cheeks grew warm. Before she could lose herself further in thought, she tried to refocus on the real issue at hand.

"So Pure Love," Haley paused briefly, pulling up the right corner of her mouth and winking at Simon. "That's kinda cute I think. Even though I think it's a shame that the colors are predetermined, I'm sure we'll find something suitable for this." She smiled at Simon, looking forward to this evening even more.

"So, um, let's make a deal. I'll think about the colors and next time we see each other I'll make a suggestion and if you agree then we'll pick our outfit for the evening accordingly?" suggested Haley to him and held her hand in so the both of them could shake the hands on her deal and laughed lightly. "Unless you already have an idea or a wish!" added Haley quickly, after all it would also be okay for her if Simon chooses the color.

He took her hand into his and shook it but didn't let go right away. Instead he kept his hand holding hers and raised it some so that he could gently kiss the back of her hand. After all, she had just agreed to go to a dance with him, on Valentine's Day nearly, and with the theme of pure love.

"Sounds like a great idea to me," he said to her. "I'm eager to see what you decide and I'm sure I'll go with whatever you suggest, even if it's neon green." Which he doubted, but hey, if anyone there at Hogwarts could pull that off it was her and he would at least try.

"Alright then, that's settled. It's a date," he said and yes, threw that word out there. Simon didn't lower his gaze anymore as he was becoming more comfortable with the idea. "Are you familiar with dancing?" he asked, looking over his shoulder to the empty corridor that still laid before them. "We could always try and get in a little practice now if you want."

Maybe she had other places to get to though as they had just returned back from their holiday break not too long ago. Maybe she wanted to catch up with some other friends or something. He didn't want to be dominating her time if she had somewhere else to be. "Or we could always meet later in the Rehearsal Room to practice before the Ball."

Interacting with @Simon Kincaid

Haley had a big smile on her lips when Simon took her hand and agreed to the deal. When he didn't let go of her hand - which didn't bother Haley at all - to kiss the back of her hand, she widened her eyes. Luckily for her without Simon being able to see it. She could have gone crazy at the touch of his lips on her hand. She was very surprised by this gesture, but you could see that she liked it. Her smile even wider than before, although this was hardly possible, she looked in love into Simon's face. How could it be that a boy could be so sweet?

Haley had to laugh at his comment, "I can reassure you though, neon green it most likely won't be." Haley watched Simon and after he let go her hand, she would have loved to just take it again. She missed the feel of his touch, but she didn't let on. She noticed his glance over his shoulder and wondered if he had to go or if he was still waiting for someone. Only now did she notice that the two of them had been sitting here talking for what seemed like an eternity. She was sure that Simon would want to meet some other friends, which she didn't blame him for, but Haley still felt a little sadness coming on.

But as quickly as her sad look had appeared, it had disappeared and she began to grin again. She was glad she hadn't made a date with anyone else today, because there was no one she would rather spend this time right now than Simon. "How about both?" replied Haley to him and before Simon could have reacted Haley jumped up from the bench, took Simon's hand and twirled him upwards. "But I have to warn you, I'm not much of a dancer." she laughed and winked at Simon.

"Yet here you are, twirling already," he said. "Let's start with basic and move from there," he said, stepping closer to her. His one hand came and took her as his other wrapped around her waist and he paused once they came close. Very close.

So close he could feel her breath. Now he had learned how to dance from his aunt who had taught him many different things over the years. It helped they spent all their time indoors since Simon didn't go outside much at all and so things like dancing and music and whatnot became a usual activity.

He knew what he was doing. He had even gone to a few of the junior high type dances back in London at his muggle school and danced with a girl here and there but this...this was different. There was something else there this time.

They didn't have any music and that was slightly problematic, at least until he found a solution. It was an old song and one that was maybe not rather well known but it was one he knew he could easily sing with as the two moved along there in the stone walled corridors. It was an All-4-One song from probably the 1990s called 'I Swear.' He sort of began in a hum but then began to break into the words of the song. He had been in choir previous to this and so his voice wasn't something that would someday be on the radio but he was good and didn't sing off key.

"And I swear, by the moon and the stars in the sky. I'll be there. And I swear, like the shadow that's by your side - I'll be there..." Knowing it was rather hokey, he laughed a little bit still recovered and managed to continue the song.

Haley enjoyed the now familiar feeling as Simon held her one hand, but as his other hand went to her waist she felt her skin begin to tingle at his touch. She looked into Simon's eyes. She liked the feeling and would love to stand here and dance with Simon all day. She moved closer to Simon and put her free hand on his shoulder. The two of them were now so close that Haley had to tilt her head back slightly to look into Simon's eyes.

Haley remembered her last ball and the dances but this moment here with Simon was different. Even though they were standing here in the corridors, no music, no ball feeling at all this was different in a good way. She knew immediately that this memory would be so much more precious than the one she had from her last dances.

When Simon started singing Haley stopped, took a step back and looked at him with her mouth open. She took her right hand and gave him a light affectionate tap on his shoulder and spoke in surprise "Simon Kincaid, you are full of surprises!" She laughed, shook her head and took another step towards Simon to get back into her dancing position.

She had told she wasn't much of a dancer a few minutes ago, but that was a lie. Haley was just making a joke and knew Simon would be surprised, because in reality Haley was a good dancer. Her father had always danced with her as a small child. Almost at every opportunity when they heard suitable music. In the beginning she still stood on his feet, but the older she got the more he taught her to dance.

While the two danced through it, Haley continued to listen to Simon's singing. He sang beautifully and she could listen to him all day. She also had to smile at his choice of song. The song was not unknown to Haley, her father had often sung it to her as a child. Sometimes to fall asleep, sometimes when she was sad.

Lost in her thoughts and that moment, she leaned her head forward against Simon's shoulder and sang along softly. "And when just the two of us are there You won't have to ask if I still care". As much as she enjoyed the moment she suddenly realized what she had just done. She didn't want to cross a line in any way and quickly her head jerked back from his shoulder and Haley looked down at the floor in embarrassment. While she didn't stop dancing she whispered softly. "um, sorry."

He was impressed by this. Now he had a pretty good feeling she was a dancer right when she jumped up from the bench and pulled him up, eager to get started, but he didn't ever think she would be this good. Most girls would be so concerned that their hair looked just right or that they weren't dressed right, or this or that or another. But with Haley, it didn't have to be absolutely picture perfect to still be perfect and he loved that. Maybe it was the fact that he was her secret keeper and he could confide in her also.

"There's no need for an apology," he said when she sang along. "Really," and he watched as her eyes cast downward. Simon took his hand from hers and looked down, bringing his forehead to meet hers as his hand gently came under her chin to help guide her to look at him. "You're not interrupting me and you're not ruining the moment in the least. To be perfectly honest, Haley Rose, I'm not sure there's much you COULD do that would bother me. I've grown to love everything that you do."

His hand gently moved from under her chin to brush along her cheek in an affectionate manner.

Haley was incredibly annoyed, she was sure that she had just ruined this moment. The high she had felt a few seconds ago was now gone. She was annoyed with herself. Just because she liked this boy, more than just liked him, she couldn't just cross that line. Yet there was nothing she could do about it. She felt incredibly comfortable around Simon and when he wasn't around she often thought about him. She had only noticed this again during the vacations, how often she thought of him and talked about him. Her grandmother would point this out to her in a quiet minute and Haley started to smile slightly at the memory.

She could hear her grandmother's voice in her head saying, Haley my darling. You must really like this Simon and from what you say he is a great person too. I'm just afraid that if you rave any more about this boy, your father won't be very enthusiastic about letting you back into Hogwarts. Haley blushed bright red at this comment and just exclaimed "Oh Granny! It's not THAT kind of relationship between us." As soon as she was in her room, however, she started laughing and even though she didn't want it to be true, she knew her grandmother was right.

Once again, Haley was lost in thought, which suited her more than well at that moment, as she was feeling anything but confident right now. Haley was all the more surprised when Simon's words and touch brought her back to reality. When he let go of her hand she missed the feeling in the same second but just as quickly she smiled at his words and rested her forehead on his. And just in that moment her negative thoughts were gone and she lost herself in that moment again
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She looked with her big eyes directly into Simon's and could have gone crazy at his words. She had never met anyone who could find the right words in any situation, but Simon could. Haley's cheeks turned red again and if Simon hadn't put his hand under her chin, Haley would have looked down at the floor again in embarrassment, but she didn't have that option this time. Her gaze continued to be in Simon's eyes and she smiled at him. She was at a loss for words, there was so much she wanted to say back, but she couldn't get the words into a sentence.

When Simon's hand brushed along her cheek, Haley's heart skipped a beat, at least that's how it felt to her. She closed her eyes during his gesture and Simon could clearly see that Haley was enjoying the moment. Her eyes still closed she barely audibly whispered "Thank you!" She would have wanted to say so much more, but she still lacked the words.

Simon felt compelled for more but no. Even if all the signs he was getting from her told him it was okay, there was no need to rush this. Sure, he had been thinking of Haley ever since they met in the library and that only strengthened with the more time he spent with her but there was no need to push things.

Already in one moment he had been able to reconnect with her over break, exchange gifts, talk briefly about families and ask her to a dance, then be close with her like this. Touching her hand, dancing close. This was more than enough for one evening and being in the middle of an abandoned corridor was not the right place for a first kiss. Still, maybe a ball in an enchanted castle the day before Valentine's Day was.

He felt a little silly thinking about it. After all, he hadn't really specifically stated any of his feelings for the redhead but right now he wouldn't be able to gather the words. So instead, he brought her back in close to him and swayed with her some. After some time though he didn't want her to grow bored with it, although he enjoyed the closeness of her being right against him, and he tried some more things like spinning her out and back in. It seemed perhaps she had experience with this as well which was absolutely perfect.

These two might have only been first years at Hogwarts but they were going to be at that ball and, although never Simon's intention, be the envy of someone there at the ball, whether it was from their dancing ability or their close connection.

Haley enjoyed the closeness she had to Simon while they danced in the corridor for a while. She had to laugh quietly to herself at the idea of how this must look from the outside, but that did not bother her. When Simon suddenly stopped their slow dance and spinned her out and back in again, she missed the closeness to him at first, but when she realized what he was doing, she threw her head back and laughed out loud. She matched her movements to his and knew that the two of them would probably be one of the best dancers at the ball.

As Haley stood closer to Simon again, she put both her arms on his chest and looked up into his eyes again. She formed a big smile with her lips, "That was really a lot of fun today, thank you for such a great first day back here at Hogwarts."

Haley suddenly felt an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach before it started grumbling loudly once. Startled by the volume, she looked to Simon and started laughing. "I guess dancing makes me hungry." Her gaze fell out the window and she was startled - they must have spent several hours here talking and dancing.

"What time do you think it is?" Haley had completely lost her sense of time, she was only sure that it must be late already, thinking about the fact that the two of them had met after breakfast. "Do you think there is a chance to get food again?" she asked jokingly, looking down at her stomach with concern.