"Okay, let's go, let's go, let's GO!" Simon said as he came out to where Clair was. In the next moment, Aunt Maggie was coming out with a book in one hand and a baggie of things in the other. She extended the bag out towards Simon. "Take this my selective Simon. While you may not care for any snacks during the day, your friend might," and she smiled over to Clair. "I'll have dinner ready at six?" she asked, placing her book down on the sofa. Simon nodded, thinking that would be perfect, allowing them enough time to eat and then change before going to their performance that night.

Simon slid the bag of snacks into his satchel and he and Clair headed out the front door. "Okay, so we'll go to the Library first," he decided. He actually wasn't sure how he was going to do the whole Mia Anderson thing. Things with he and Mia were a little...strained, so to speak, and to just show up at her door seemed a little odd. Sort of. They were still friends, after all.

Simon thought it best to maybe scout out where she was and what she was doing so he pulled out his phone and scrolled to his texts, pressing her name. A small circular photo icon came up next to it and he glanced up to Clair, having a feeling his Ravenclaw friend was observing everything.

Hey, girl, how's it been? I'm back home for Spring Break. What have you been up to?

Yes, the heart emoji.

Simon clicked send. "The Library is just over that way," he pointed to one of the areas and slipped on his sunglasses as they turned right on the street. There were several libraries nearby really, and some were for better things than others, but the one she would show him would be the one where he spent most of his time - the one that had Mrs. Higgins and the youth book club and all that jazz.

"Now, I once would have said this is the best library there ever was but then I got to H----," he paused, realizing he almost said it. Man, it was hard to keep things straight. One didn't mention Hogwarts outside of Hogwarts, at least not in muggle London. He cleared his throat and tried again, "Now, I once would have said this is the best library there ever was but then I got to school. Our library is pretty fantastic." For many reasons. Books that re-shelved themselves, books about dragons, make-out corners. "You'll love this though and if Mrs. Higgins is there, I'll have to introduce her. She's like....well, she's one of the most amazing people I've ever met." She was one of the librarians and had such a love of books and she had a million and one ways for them to come alive and make you feel more connected with it than you ever thought possible. She gave a love of reading, gave knowledge, inspired many.

His cellphone pinged to alert him of a new text message and as he tapped it, it revealed that same photo icon as before.

Simon! Welcome back to London Town! I've been well. I've been working on my End-of-Year Thesis. Your new school doesn't do those if I recall. Lucky! Maybe we can meet up while you're here?

No heart emoji. That was cool, that was cool. Simon looked back up to Clair. He didn't want to be texting with someone while his friend was with him. That was rude. "I'll reply to her later," he said as his eyes glazed over the screen one more time and then slipped the phone back into his pocket.

The two got to a crosswalk and had to stop for the busy traffic. It was busier going the crossways than it was on Simon's street which was somewhat quiet as far as London went. "We will take a left here and head up that street and we'll be there in no time." Standing there he slowly pulled his phone back out. One quick text wouldn't hurt.

Sounds cool, sounds cool. Let's make it happen.

The crosswalk turned so that they could walk and he motioned for Clair to follow him. They were across the street by the time he hit send and just as they were passing an ice cream shoppe there was an alert from a phone but not his own. Just out of reaction he glanced over and there he saw none other than Mia Anderson herself pulling her phone from her purse.

"Mia!" he said and immediately outstretched his hands to pull her in for a large embrace. He brought his arms around her and pulled her right up to him, engulfing her so much in a secure hug that he was able to pick her up a little off the ground in doing so.

"Oof, Simon!" he heard her laugh. Oh man, her laughter.... it had been so long since he heard it. He placed her down and just stared at her for a long moment and maybe she was doing the same. It was hard to tell because it was as if for a moment time sort of stood still. "I uhh, I'm uhh, well I...." he was stumbling over his words like NONE other. Simon finally glanced around and saw Clair. Clair! Right, Clair.

"It's good to see you," he said, realizing he better straighten up. "Mia, this is my friend from my new school, Clair Fernandez. Clair, this is my Mia Anderson."

...MY Mia Anderson? Did he really just say that? Simon glanced down, knowing he was probably blushing right now.

Mia glanced her brown eyes over to Simon but then turned her focus over to Clair and smiled warmly. "Nice to meet you, Clair Fernandez from Simon's new school. Enjoying your Spring Break so far?"

Simon seemed very excited, which just made Clair think even more that there was something going on between Mia Anderson and Simon Ezra Kincaid.
Clair watched as Simon typed something on his phone, she was not trying to be nosy, it was just apart of her to watch everything around her, often watching more then one thing at a time. She dropped her gaze and tried really hard not to watch Simon, incase it made him feel awkward.

She looked at him, "Did you almost say It?" she asked him, With mock fear, as if he was about to drop the F bomb or something. "Most libraries are pretty great, unless their the library in Carlisle, which is geared towards 3 year old mostly." Clair said matter of factly.

As they crossed at the crosswalk Clair followed Simon, her attention everywhere at once, that was when Clair seen a girl, she looked like every other girl in the world (of London) but Simon seemed to know her, because he opened his arms for a large embrace and called her Mia, was this Mia Anderson?
She let them talk, with one ear on them still. man, Simon was really tripping on himself!
Clair smiled kindly at the girl, "Nice to meat you Miss Anderson!" She "I am! London is new to me, so its a nice change!" She really wanted to giggle, Simon had called Mia his Mia, there was defiantly something between them, or at least on Simon's side of things.
(wc 253)
@Simon Kincaid

"I hope you enjoy it here! London is such a great city. There's so many wonderful aspects of it," the blonde girl said as she looked over to Simon, as if intentional at that moment. "I wouldn't know how anyone could leave it," and she glanced away now, just as Simon was looking over to her. Her eyes stayed now on Clair and she smiled to her again.

A breeze blew around them and it pushed some of her blonde hair over her shoulder in which she brought her hand down it, bringing it back into place. Nothing was said for a few moments, a few perhaps awkward moments.

"Clair wanted to see what my London consisted of. I thought I'd show her the Library," he broke the silence. Mia nodded. "And then you'll have to take her by the Church as well. Simon spent much of his free time at Church. The rest of it? Either over at Gabe Evans's house or under a tree at the park with your guitar." He nodded, she had him pretty accurate. "I told Clair earlier about my mad skateboarding skills," he added. Mia laughed. "Yes, we cannot forget the mad skateboarding skills. You're a true renaissance man, Simon Kincaid."

She turned her warm brown eyes back over to Simon. Again, he felt as if time was at a standstill.

"So uh...." he paused, at a loss for words.

"Text me later and maybe we can make plans and hang out before you make your trip back," she said, finding the words since he couldn't seem to. "Clair's totally invited too," she added.

"Totally," Simon said and nodded.

"Nice to meet you, Clair and it was nice seeing you again, Simon," she said, glancing down for just a moment before glancing back up to him. She then gave a small wave, as if to see the two of them off and she reached out toward his face, tapping his cheek gently twice before laughing.

"I'vemissedyou," he said quickly. Almost knowing how he was making such a fool of himself, he quickly brought his hand to Clair's arm and pulled her with him away in the other direction.

"Okay, so the Library...." and he tried to turn his words and attention to their destination once more.

She nodded, London did seem okay. At least for this trip.
As the awkward silence set in Clair felt as if the moments were years, she guessed that Mia was a little upset about Simon leaving London for school.

At last Simon broke the silence, and she tried not giggle when Mia said that Simon had spent most his free time at the Church, was most that time at church snogging girls? She would have to ask him later, when Mia was not around.

Clair wanted to die when Simon repeated Totally, The boy really was a lovesick puppy!
it was all she could do not to laugh.
"It was nice meeting you too Mia." Clair replied, she gave a small smile, and tried to keep her laughter down.

As soon as they were on their way to the library Clair broke down and started laugh, "OhMyGod Simon, that was so funny, like really! You seemed so..." She paused to think of the right word, "Foolish, around her!" Clair tried to pull herself together, but the giggles kept coming.
"seriously. Is that how you always talk around her?" She smirked "Totallyyyyy"
After another minute or so she was able to hold down the giggles.
(wc 205)
@Simon Kincaid

Simon looked over to Clair questioningly as she began to break down laughing and he wondered what was so funny. Then she said it, stating that he seemed foolish around Mia Anderson. Foolish? Foolish?! Now Simon felt a little worried that the girl they had just parted ways with must have thought he was a complete idiot and he sighed. That's not how he wanted Mia Anderson thinking of him.

They made their way to the Library and Simon showed her the grand staircase, the books, the study rooms, the back staircases, the study spaces, the lounging spaces, and his favorite spaces. Mrs. Higgins WAS there and Simon was able to give the lady a hug and introduce her to Clair and Clair to her. She was as friendly and as welcoming and as brilliant as ever. Simon realized there was only one thing that the Library was missing and that was books on magic. Shame that it couldn't have that but it made sense as to why and if he wanted to do some magical reading, he'd just have to make some stops into Diagon Alley from now on when in London. It wasn't as if it was totally out of reach.

On their way back to his home they stopped so Clair could get ice cream. He got a plain ice water but it was still refreshing and they stopped at his favorite park. There, Clair would see the wildlife that the City of London had to offer - in pigeons and squirrels. They took some photos on their cellphones at various stops along the way.

After that, they'd arrive back at his home in South Kensington. Aunt Maggie was just finishing placing out the meal and saw them come in, popping her head around the corner. "Just in time, you two! Come!" and she motioned them with a smile on her face. Aunt Maggie did love to play the hostess.

Clair was in her heaven, there were books, lots and lots and lots of books.
She guessed that the whole library might take her a month to read, maybe two if she was busy.
She made a mental note to come back here if she ever came to London again, this would be a place she could spend hours at!

When they went to the park Clair seen the 'wildlife' that London had, The squirrels were cute to watch, at home Clair rarely seen Squirrels, mostly because the barn cats found them a yummy lunch.
She guessed that the little things were used to people, because they did not run away when you walked past them.

After they had eaten, a meal that was super yummy and far better then any cooking Belle could do, Clair got ready to go to the Music show thing.
Putting on her 'fancy' shirt she pulled her hair up into a tight pony tail, and then she put her wand in her pocket, sure it was useless while she was in London, but the Ravenclaw felt like she was missing something without it, so it stayed inside a closed pocket, safe from falling out.
She nodded to Simon, "Lead the way!"
(wc 208)
@Simon Kincaid

"I feel like this sort of thing is right up your alley - breaking in, breaking rules" he said with a smile as they left the London townhome and began to walk down the street. He glanced over to Clair, thinking she looked nice. He himself was more dressy right now as well than his usual casual swagger. After all, he wanted to fit in. "I don't know what they've got going down there tonight. I haven't had time to pull it up. Have a preference? Sometimes it's an orchestra or a symphony, sometimes its jazz, sometimes its a full out concert."

And that was one of the things that delighted Simon the most about this tradition of his, he never knew what he was going to get. He was a boy that loved music and appreciated nearly all so usually it didn't matter to him, but he was curious what his friend would like.

They had to stop at a crosswalk, wait for the light to change, and the white pedestrian sign to illuminate, telling them it was safe to cross. Big city life really wasn't that hard - it was common sense and he knew that Clair Fernandez had that, and then some. It would certainly be easier for her to adapt to the city life than it would be for him to adapt to country ways.

Clair made a mock surprised face, "Me?" She put her hand on her chest "Break rules? I'm not sure what your talking about, I've never broken a rule before." She knew that Simon knew about her breaking rules. It was sort of her, erm, thing to do.

"Honestly, I don't mind, whatever there is I'll enjoy. I'm not really all that picky."
She let out a sigh, "I find it so funny, at the school I used to go to, we had to wear these stupid skirts, which were really annoying." She pit her hand just above her knee, "They had to come to here. And were awful." She nodded, agreeing with her own statement.

"But I was lucky, because at our school, there are not those annoying skirts, so I'm not stuck in the worst thing in the world. But Izzy was upset, because she could not wear skirts as often as she wanted, I don't really Remember what Belle thought of it." She looked at Simon, "Boys are lucky, you don't need a reason why you don't like skirts, or dresses. Your a boy, and boys just don't wear dresses or skirts." In that way Clair envied Simon, and all the other boys. "Would you wear a dress if you could?" She asked him with a evil grin.
(wc 221)

"Would I wear a dress if I could? I mean, technically I could and if I could freely wear one as a boy, 2022 is the place to do it," he said as he thought the words out loud. "I suppose it could be a bit liberating and cooler on hot days but....I like my legs to each have their own place and I wouldn't want someone trying to look if I had to bend over to pick something up. I'm not a piece of meat, Clair Fernandez. You hear that? The world should know it too! I'M NOT A PIECE OF MEAT!"

He shouted that last part and just smiled over to Clair. She asked for it. She's the one that opened up the ridiculous conversation. "I like the Hogwarts uniform personally," he admitted. He especially liked the Hufflepuff one. Yellow went really good with the gray and that skirt that she hated so much looked really good on some of the girls....

Okay, point proven. They weren't pieces of meat to objectify either.

From the street, two cars came to a squealing stop and the one in the back laid their horn on, expressing their discontent. Simon looked over to Clair and sighed. "You're never going to like the City, are you?"

[Word Count - 214
OOC: My plan was to start wrapping this one up since we have the other thread that's more current of them in London together.]