why can't we be friends? (chase)

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-May-

Quality Quidditch Supplies was not a strange place to find Hadni and her fellow Quidditch players. The team was provided with most supplies, of course, but it was still fun to visit the place now and then and take a look around together. Plus, it was always a huge press field day when the entire Harpies team showed up at the place. They didn't mind giving the shop publicity, they had all loved that shop for years. A bunch of loud girls were spread throughout the shop, saying hello to people and looking at the supplies. Hadni, the loudest of them all, was separated from the others, deep in the back where the books were hidden.

There weren't many, and most people didn't bother with the section with all the other exciting things going on. She had her nose stuck in a book, when she heard someone shuffle not to far from her. She looked up, only to see Chase Lloyd looking at something a few shelves down. She caught her breath, turning her face away from him and trying not to panic.

How long had he been standing there?

@chase
(XD)

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Chase hadn't known the Harpies' would be at the Quidditch shop today.

He wished he had. He wished he'd known so he could stay far, far away. Away from her... Hadni. He'd been looking over some new bats, trying to find one to use for his own personal practice, when he heard them come in, their female voices extremely familiar to him. He'd recognize them anywhere, after playing against them more then once. At first, he thought it might be just one or two. Until he picked out each individual player... and heard her name. The second he did, he set the bat down and took off to the bat. He didn't want to face her. Not now, not here. Not after everything. He'd be safe back here, no one came back to the books.

That theory was proven wrong almost immediately though, because just like that, as if she was trying to see how much he'd squirm, Hadni was there. Browsing through the shelves. And thankfully she hadn't noticed him yet. So he grabbed a book at random, and opened it, pretending he hadn't seen her. That he felt his heart beating a little faster. He waited a minute, counting the seconds go by, before looking up. She hadn't noticed him yet, he was sure, and she was facing the opposite direction. Good. Maybe he could slip out without speaking to her. Slowly and cautiously he set the book back on the shelve and started to leave. He stopped after a few steps, closing his eyes. He hadn't spoken to Hadni since.... since school. When everything between them happened. "I'm sorry." He finally said, not looking at her, not opening his eyes, not moving. And not knowing why he even spoke.

@hadni

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I'm sorry. The words pierced through her even though he wasn't looking at her and she wasn't looking at him. She knew that it was meant for her without him saying her name, looking at her or even touching her. She didn't know what she would do if he had tried to reach out. She knew better than that, though, and so did he. She kept her gaze straight ahead, unseeing what was on the shelf in front in front of her. She had noticed him start to walk away and she really thought he was going to do it. Just leave without saying anything. Heck, they both had done that to each other plenty of times in the past. This time was different though. This time he stopped, he spoke.

She took in a deep breath, unsure whether to follow the strange anger inside her, the broken heart, or the cheery happy go-lucky girls he had forced herself to become. "I'm..." she started, her hand rested on the shelf in front of her. "Thanks."

@chase

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This was stupid. Why was he trying to talk to her? To apologize for something that happened years ago? Heck, why was she even listening? Because when she responded, he was shocked. Shocked, but... relieved? IT was the first time she'd said something to him directly in... Probably since they broke up. It'd been years. Hearing her voice made him close his eyes and let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. It was so familiar, and, while he knew he shouldn't feel this way, comforting.

"I would have helped, you know." He'd already started talking, letting out the feelings and thoughts he'd had for so long, that now he couldn't stop. He had to tell her. Tell the girl he'd once been totally in love with. He still wasn't looking at her. "If you'd let me." He didn't know why he added that. But he felt he needed to. He would have, too. But they'd told him.... His and her friends, that she didn't want to see him. She was right to be angry at him. He didn't blame her. He blamed himself.

@hadni

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At his next words Hadni felt that familiar bitterness sneak into her stomach. She spun to face him, her tone harsh. "Oh yeah? Then why did you stay away? I was just there, Chase. I was just there making a fool out of myself," she said, hurriedly shoving whatever she had been holding back onto the shelf without looking. She took another step toward him. "It was you, not me who backed off. I mean..." she finally started to calm down a little, catching her breath as the memories swept in. Her friends had advised her to stay away from him. Thought that it was best for her. She did, at first, but when she wanted to go back to him he was entirely inaccessible. Was that her fault somehow now? "I guess... we both did things wrong," she admitted, folding her arms across her chest and averting her gaze from his face.

@chase

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He stayed away?

That's what got Chase to finally turn back to look at Hadni, arms folded tightly across his chest as he clenched his jaw. Why was she blaming him?! "You didn't want to see me!" He snapped back, He almost huffed, barely managing to keep that one in, but she's recognize the way he'd set his expression. The had dated, after all. They'd known each other quite well back then, and some things never changed. "I was there, but they wouldn't even let me near you!"

They. Now that he thought about it. He hadn't actually heard her say that she didn't want anything to do with him. It had been her, and his friends. Her friends had stopped him ever time he'd tried to talk to her. And his had talked him out of going to see her multiple times. Should he have ignored them? Would... would it have been different if he'd tried harder?

@hadni

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At his words Hadni’s own jaw started to clench. ”I never said that, I-” she started to fight back until she realized who they were. Her friends. It was the same thing on her end… it was Cassius and his friends who had told her Chase didn’t want to help, she had never heard it from his own mouth. She audibly caught her breath as the realization hit her.

Had they been completely foolish by not trying to get some one on one time together? She knew her friends were just trying to protect her, right? Isn’t that was his friends were doing too? She felt her glare soften slightly and she sighed, looking down at the ground. ”We screwed up. Okay? We both got hurt and we both were cowards. We should have-” he looked up at him, ”we should have talked to each other, Chase. But, it doesn’t matter. I mean, it does but… what can we do about it?”

@chase

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She never said that..?

Chase blinked, his expression completely wiping clear of all emotion but surprise. Pure and honest surprise. It took a lot to get that reaction. What did she meant by that? Of course she'd said that- Wait.... His eyes narrowed as realization struck. It'd been their friends. All of them. Yes, her friends wouldn't let him near her, but he hadn't questioned them when they said she didn't want to see him. It all made sense now... He should be angry, he realized. That his, and her, friends had done. Would things have been different if they had just talked to each other? Hadni had realized it all as well.

He slowly nodded as she said that they had been cowards, and that they should have just talked to each other. It was true. If they'd just talked. If he'd ignored his, and her friends.... When she asked what they could do about it though, he shrugged. "Don't make the same mistake." He suggested. "And... stop avoiding each other." Everyone knew that Chase and Hadni avoided each other. At least in the Quidditch world. IT was always extremely awkward when their teams played against each other. No one had ever known why they kept their distance though.

@hadni

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Don't make the same mistake. Stop avoiding each other. Hadni frowned, knowing that this was easier said than done. She took in a deep breath and nodded again, just one little nod. "It would be more professional, wouldn't it?" she wasn't even a little surprised that they had gone into the same profession, they had played Quidditch together in school. Heck, it was one of the passions that held them together. That, and their love for messing around instead of doing homework...

She took in another deep breath, "okay, so how do we start? I mean, Declan and I are planning a charity game for the summer... so we'll see each other there. I guess we can start with playing a better game together," she suggested. They really hadn't let their game suffer from their issues, but there was a definite avoidance, especially off field. "And now... I guess, if you want to know, I could tell you what happened. Over lunch. Or something," she suggested, her voice getting softer by the second.

@chase

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"Probably." Easier said then done. Avoiding her had practically become a habit, a way of life. Part of his nature- okay that was a little to far. But, avoiding her was easy now. It was simple. He was used to it. And change was.... hard. One of his eyebrows raised as she mentioned the charity game though. He'd heard mention of it, but hadn't paid much attention. "So that's on for sure?"

And then? Both eyebrows raised. Because Hadni truly surprised him. By suggesting that she finally explain to him what happened. Over lunch. He'd.... heard what happened. Sort of. At least what her friends had been willing to share, which wasn't much. He curtly nodded. "Yeah. If you want." If she wanted to tell him, that is. To relive what had happened. "We could.... plan to meet up sometime?"

@hadni
(Maybe one or two more posts then end? I don't see this lasting long.)

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She nodded, 'yeah, I've been talking with Declan. He should be talking to you guys next week about it, actually. So start practicing," she attempted to smile playfully at him but it didn't come out right. That would take some work, being able to joke around and be competitive with him again. It would be a while before that would come as naturally as it did before and even then it would be the same because there wouldn't be any flirting involved.

Then he said he was in for the lunch if she wanted to and she nodded, "I do. I do want to," she said. She had never gotten closure, not really, and maybe talking to Chase about it would be the last step. Hopefully. "I'll send you an owl, okay? It was... good seeing you," okay so that didn't sound completely whole hearted, and she didn't touch him as she moved past him toward the door. She was almost out when she turned back, glancing at him one more time and trying to offer another smile. This time it actually worked, even if it was a bit of a sad one.

@chase (you can go once more or this can wrap it)