Blossoming Romance? PV Everly Charlton

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Everly was back in the Library, and this time for something that was actually of good purpose.

The Library hadn't changed in any way, and Everly's memory, sharp as ever, could recall every part that she could see. Really, what had changed was Everly herself. She felt older, more mature, in a way, and she was quite proud of herself. One thing hadn't changed at all from Old Everly, however - and it was the fact that she cringed at any thought of romance.

And as if it couldn't get any better, the Blossom Ball was coming up. Everly hadn't gone to the ball in October, back when she was a lot more shy and nervous, but now that she had changed to New Everly, she felt obliged to go. And so she would, except for the fact that she had yet to find someone to go with, to accompany her. Everly could understand that she was perfectly fine and content going by herself, but Everly still felt as if that going with someone else, another person, would make it a lot better. Rather than wandering clueless, she would have someone to be there with, to have a purpose of being there. Another reason - another chance to make more friends. Everly would never turn down an opportunity to meet new people and socialize, which she was proud of. Old Everly would have never in her life said such a thing, but New Everly just had.

Having finished returning the book Everly had in hand before, Everly scoured the Library, and her eyes settled on someone new to befriend today - a boy with blond hair and a worried expression that adorned his face. Yet another surge of pride - Old Everly would have never considered talking to anyone new without an important reason, but New Everly certainly would. "You look worried," Everly would remark as she sauntered up to him, plopping her bag down in the seat across from the boy. "Mind if I join you?"

There were quite a few things that New Everly would do that Old Everly definitely wouldn't have.

may 2021

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@Everly Charlton

Although Nikolai found the textbook quite boring, he powered through reading it, unsure about exactly how much information was sinking in, but nonetheless, it still made him feel better knowing that he was at least trying. A few minutes later, he was startled by a voice that, having not been paying the slightest attention to his surroundings, had caught him off guard. Only when the girl noted that he looked worried, did he realise that his face was still scrunched up at the book lying open on the table in front of him. He lightened his expression, and relaxed his shoulders and jaw, also only just realising that they were also tensed up.

"Not at all," Nikolai responded, "And I'm alright, studying just isn't really my strongest suit" He laughed, looking up to the girl for the first time. She was quite pretty, he thought. She seemed to be about his height and looked to be in the same year as him; maybe they could become friends. Niko glanced at the invitation sitting on the table and wondered about possibly asking her to the Blossom Ball, depending on how they got along that is. "I'm Nikolai Valtersen," He introduced himself, "Most people just call me Niko, though."

He wasn't really used to making friends. Most of his past friendships were fairly short lived because he wasn't great with his social skills, but Nikolai made a promise to his parents that he's make some friends during his first year, a promise he hadn't quite fulfilled yet. It wasn't that Niko didn't have any friends back at home, but he really only was close with a small handful of them, and his father- especially- was starting to get worried that Nikolai would live a friendless life. Which, in Nikolai's opinion, was quite a stretch for a 12 year old boy who still had plenty of years ahead of him.

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Changes were something that Everly had turned a blind eye to before - they seemed as if a natural thing that people always did, something that she did, because no matter how hard one could try, they couldn't stop changing. And if she really did concentrate, take a step back to observe how the world worked, Everly would notice how much humans really did change. It fascinated her, the way things worked, the way people behaved, the way everything was. And because of that, Everly was subconsciously aware of how everything she did affected everyone else, and how that changed what others thought of her.

This interaction was no different. It seemed that upon hearing her statement, the boy would settle back into a normal expression. It made Everly wonder what exactly was going in his mind, and why he was so worried. Yet she wouldn't inquire, with more pressing matters at hand. A huff of brief laughter would escape her lips. "Doesn't seem like it," Everly remarked, "but don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Lowering her voice, as if they shared some sort of important secret, Everly would meet his eyes with a teasing smile. "In fact, it isn't really mine either. You won't tell the professors, though, right?"

"Well then, in that case, it's a pleasure to meet you, Niko," Everly said, sliding into the seat. "I'm Everly Charlton. First year, Gryffindor. Deepest apologies for interrupting you." The fact that his eyes were darting elsewhere made Everly tilt her head, somewhat questioning, not quite accusing, a bit suspicious. "Are you quite sure nothing else is occupying your mind?"

Perhaps Everly was pressing a bit hard - would he take it as her invading in his privacy? Feeling a bit culpable, she leaned back in her seat, offering him a slight smile to show that Everly meant no harm.

may 2021

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@Everly Charlton

The boy smiled, relieved that another student also wasn't great at studying, it made him feel less alone. "Of course not, my lips are sealed" Niko mimicked zipping up his lips. When Everly introduced herself and included her year and house, Nikolai mentally facepalmed, of course he should have said that too. "First year, Slytherin." He added.

Although Nikolai hadn't been studying for long, he still felt like he needed a break anyway. "You're hardly interrupting, I was basically finished anyway" a lie, but he wanted to keep talking to Everly. There was something about her energy that intrigued him. Nikolai's face flushed a bit when he realised that she might have seen him look at the invitation. He couldn't outright ask a girl he had just met to a ball. Plus, what if she hated the idea of the ball? What if she- Nikolai shook his head to cease his thoughts, not wanting them to get carried away with what if's that he knew would just continue to plague his mind and cause even more worry. Nikolai picked up the invitation and slid it across the table for Everly to read.

"I've seen these all over the school" Niko stated, feeling embarrassed already at the fact he said anything, why couldn't he have just lied? "I don't have anyone to go with and it's honestly making me stress over it quite a bit" then he added "It's stupid, I know. Why should I care so much about a dance?" Niko said with a weak laugh. He did seem to care about the ball quite much, however. Even though he couldn't figure out exactly the reason. Was it because it would please his father, or something else?

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Everly smiled slightly (though it was also somewhat a smirk), glad to see that Nikolai - er, Niko - was content with playing along with her little game of pretend. Some, if not most, found her quite ridiculous, and thinking of so made her cheeks red. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Everly focused on Niko's response. "You were?" Everly asked, genuinely curious. "Because you looked quite frustrated just a few minutes ago. Not that I was watching or spying or anything. Definitely not!" Everly grinned sheepishly, hoping that he wouldn't think of her as a stalker.

Niko would reach across the table to slide something towards Everly, and Everly took a moment to examine it closely. It wasn't long before she recognized it as those invitations for the Blossom Ball. Though this version definitely wasn't the only one, as there had been several different variations that had been spread out in the schools separately. Everly had managed to find several, but those weird numbers at the bottom and those symbols? She hadn't managed to find that out yet, but she was determined, and Determined Everly was an unstoppable force. Almost, anyways.

"Oh... those, yeah, I remember those," Everly said, feeling somewhat awkward. "Um... not like I didn't remember those, because they're everywhere, but like... I'll shut up now." For the second time in four minutes, Everly's cheeks were aflame, this time more apparent. "Oh, don't worry about that. I have no one to go with either. I actually might go alone by now, but what's the point of that? Either way, I have a feeling it'll be quite... chaotic." Everly shrugged, as if that could be her excuse for not having anyone to go with. "You shouldn't have to care that much about a dance," Everly said, hoping that he'd feel better. "Besides, if you don't want to go, you don't have to. You can choose, you know."

may 2021

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