Stand Up To Be Stronger (Nate)

[Deleted]

Ashley couldn't sleep. She'd been tossing and turning around in her bed all night, tired as all get out, but nothing was happening. Her mind wouldn't shut down and after a few hours one of her hated migraines started. Could this night get any worse? She tried to ignore it, to think of happy things or song lyrics or spells she was trying to memorize. She tried counting sheep and practically any other sleep method she could think of, but absolutely nothing worked. 

Eventually, it was too much to handle and Ashley got out of bed, glancing at the clock. It was 5:30. Great. That meant she got absolutely no sleep last night, which in turn meant that she was going to be in a fabulous mood all day. Not. Still, she got out of bed and quickly put on some clothes before reaching into her trunk and pulling out a vial of the remedy Eli helped her make last year. She was starting to grow her own Feverfew plants, but not in her room, and they hadn't grown enough for her to be able to pick them yet. She had a few vials left from last year and tried to use them sparingly. She still wasn't sure she was going to use one now. 

Quietly, she crept into the common room and looked around, sighing in relief when she realized no one was there. She moved to a couch and sat, pulling her knees up by her chest as she held the small vial tightly and stared into the fire, which was somehow still going. She was so tired, but her head was pounding. After staring for an indeterminable amount of time, she finally took a drink from the vial. She put the cork back in, since she didn't drink the entire thing and then waited, hoping. She still couldn't sleep. She moaned and buried her face in the couch, more annoyed than ever.

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

THERE WAS NO SOUND QUITE LIKE THE WORN edge of charcoal on paper. The soft scrap of it, grating for some, soothing for Nate. Rhythmic as he edged outlines and harsh when he flattened the side of it and shaded. And, to accompany this great symphony, there was no better accompaniment the an empty Slytherin common room. It had the perfect echo, so still that all Nate could hear was his own breathing. His own pulse if he was silent enough.

Some days, when his dreams were as dark as his mood could be, Nate would seek this endless quiet in the wee hours. He'd awoken that morning, sweat slicked and heart pounding. The only thing he knew for sure would calm him was drawing. And so he'd fished his sketchbook from under his mattress and took the winding staircase down to the main floor, expecting that sweet silence. Instead, he heard a groan.

Nate halted at the bottom of the stairs, socked feet silent on the cold stone floor. His nostrils flared in annoyance, jaw working as he pressed his sketchbook close to his side and warred with himself. Did he turn and disappear back in to his room, his dumb roommates snoring happily. Or, did he persevere, freeze the other person out. He padded further in to the room, so quiet he doubted they even heard him until he caught sight of the back of a girls head. Messy blonde hair, pyjama's. Transfer, maybe? Easy bait.

Scanning the length of her, Nate saw a little glass phial clutched in her palm. He cleared his throat audibly. "You know, they say do your contraband in the second floor girls bathroom." Nate said sarcastically, quirking his brows at the bottle in her hand. "No witnesses." He lifted his chin coldly, waltzing past where she lay and eyeing a table in the far corner. "Well, no living witnesses."

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley wasn't expecting anyone to join her in the common room, nor did she want anyone to. Much less some arrogant guy she'd never seen before. She didn't actually notice him until he spoke, since her face was buried in the cushion of the couch she was sitting on, but once the guy spoke, she sat up straight and looked over at him. He was tall and actually quite handsome, but something about his tone ... she didn't like his attitude. When she realized what he was saying she rolled her eyes. She heard of that bathroom, the one with the ghost, so she knew exactly what he was talking about. "Like I care about witnesses, living or not," she grumbled, "I'm not going to some stupid, haunted bathroom to take a vial I can take perfectly well here." She turned her attention from him back to the fire. "Besides, it's not contraband." She'd looked into it, of course. She was most certainly allowed to take her own remedial potions. Whether or not she was allowed to make her own, she wasn't sure, but she wasn't looking into that. No one else knew about it, so she was fine. She probably should try and talk to him or something, but she was too annoyed. If he wanted to talk, he could start the conversation. She was still trying to get rid of this stupid migraine. 

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

LEANING BACK IN TO HIS CHAIR, NATE'S BROWS rose tauntingly. She was a little mad, sure. He could run her off if he was careful enough. And the accent cinched it. Definitely a transfer. Which meant, as far as he was concerned, he held precedent over her in terms of ownership.

"Oh, yeah?" He asked, his tone a little too snarky to convey genuine interest. "What is it then?" People didn't like feeling cornered for information. Nate especially. So, he knew how it would feel. "Share with the group." Crossing his arms, he rolled his head on his neck, blinking sleep from his eyes.

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Yeah ... Ashley definitely didn't like this guy. He was arrogant and obviously thought he was better than her, which she hated. Being in the high society at home, she'd rarely had someone treat her the way he was. Most people who knew her knew better. She definitely wasn't going to give him what he wanted ... whatever that was. 

She lifted an eyebrow at his tone and then laughed arrogantly. "You honestly think I'm going to tell you?" She shook her head, smirking at him as she looked around the room. "Sorry, but I don't see any group here and you've really given me no reason to tell you anything." She rolled her eyes and then turned to the fire. Ash didn't owe this guy a thing and she wasn't just some pushover who would do whatever he wanted her to.

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

IT WAS OF NO SURPRISE TO NATE WHEN THE GIRL point blank refused to share her little elixir. Which, of course, only made Nate even more curious. He sat in place for a moment, a snicker hissing from between his clenched teeth as he rocked back on his chair. And then, when she turned away from him, seemingly satisfied to ignore him, Nate stood up.

It was almost as if he was going to waltz right by her. Behind where the plush sofa leather was situated, and where her back was conveniently facing him. And, as he skimmed past, his eagle eyes caught sight of a little brown cork sticking out of her pyjama pocket. He back-tracked on light, fox feet, reaching over the back of the sofa in one fell swoop. And with only two fingers, he snatched the bottle from right under her nose. It barely ruffled her trousers, but his exit was sure to alert her. That was okay, he wanted her to know.

"Hmm!" He hummed loudly, lifting the little bottle in the air and swirling the misty dregs at the bottom as if they held the secrets of the Universe. He squinted one eye shut for effect. "What do we have here?" And just to be careful, he held it aloft and out of reach, twirling it between thumb and forefinger in the hopes of seeing a revealing label. "No label, huh?" He said, conspiratorially, turning to raise one brow at her, thin lips quirking but not sticking. "That's sketchy, dude..."

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Finally. The guy wasn't trying to talk to her anymore and Ashley was glad. She hated being forced into conversations with people and really didn't want to talk to someone like him. She hated it when people looked down on her like this, no matter how much she did it to others. Being on the other side was not something she enjoyed. At least she felt like she could hold her own with people like him. Maybe now he would leave. She heard him walking by and didn't make a move to acknowledge him, until she felt a small tugging sensation. She turned quickly, glaring. She didn't even have to check to see what he'd taken. Obviously, her vial. 

He was looking at it, inspecting it with exaggerated motions and Ashley rolled her eyes. She wasn't desperate enough that she'd chase him for it. No, dealing with her own brothers for so many years taught her that if you wanted something back quickly, chasing was not the way to get it. She quirked an eyebrow when he noticed there was no label. "Great deductive skills, Sherlock," she muttered under her breath. She shrugged. "It's so nosy thieves like you don't get the satisfaction of knowing my secrets," she answered in a falsely sweet tone. The truth was, there was no need for a label. She made the potion herself, always kept it in her trunk or on her person, so there was no question about what it was. On the bottom were her initials, only there so she'd know the vial was hers. She didn't want to take anyone else's potion. Hers was carefully brewed. 

She'd experimented over the summer, finding specific ingredients to mix with the feverfew to heighten its effect, and so it would be harder for anyone to detect what exactly was in the potion and subsequently what it was for. There were few people who knew about her headaches and she had no intention of letting this guy join their ranks. 

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

NATE COULDN'T HELP THE SMALL SNORT THAT sounded from his nose. Even while he held the little glass bottle, she still had the cheek to answer back. Hell, maybe he was impressed. Or, maybe it was just exactly what he would have done. He leaned back on the sofa, brows lifted as he stared at her. A glimmer in his eye, his lips quirked involuntarily.

"Is it a secret if you tell people at all?" Nate asked smartly, turning the glass bottle in his hands. He pulled the stopper out, lifting the neck of it to his nose and sniffing at it. Unfamiliar, but bitter, with a citrus-y undertone. He stuck the pad of his pinkie in to the well and turned the bottle on to it, wetting the skin with the dregs. When he was done, he pulled it away and sucked on the tip of his finger.

"Tastes vile..." He said coldly, rubbing his fingers on the neck of his shirt before he tossed the bottle back toward her. "Am I gonna get high?" He asked indifferently, a part of him already knowing that he would not. She was too prim, too groomed around the edges to be getting blatantly high in the common room. But, he still enjoyed insinuating that she might. If only to ruffle her feathers. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ash heard him make some sort of a sound from across the room and glared at him. She didn’t like this guy’s arrogance, the assumption that everything he did was right and she wasn’t used to being on this side of things. Normally she and her friends were the ones looking down on others, but he found her at a weak moment. The fact that her head continued to pound proved that more to Ashley, though she would rather die than admit her weakness to this jerk in front of her.

“What makes you think I do? Or are you just annoyed that I’m not rolling over and giving you whatever you want like everyone else does?” Ash was assuming quite a lot with that retort, but it felt right to her. The self-assured way he sat on the sofa, his confident gaze as he watched her. Yeah, this guy might as well be a professional at intimidation. She was definitely not the first person he treated this way and she assumed that most people gave him whatever he wanted when he behaved this way.

She watched, her expression masked, as he opened her bottle and smelled it before he tasted it. Her jaw tensed as she watched him. If he figured out what this was she knew she’d never hear the end of it. She relaxed ever so slightly when he said it tasted terrible. “It’s a potion, you idiot. Did you think it was going to taste like sunshine and daisies?” Of course, Ash was used to the taste so it didn’t bother her anymore. When he put the stopper back in and tossed her the bottle she caught it easily and put it into a different pocket. She doubted he’d try to take it again. Ash rolled her eyes at his following question. “Of course not. If I was going to take something to get high, I’d find a better time to do it than the middle of the night.” She’d never actually gotten high before, but she didn’t think he’d be that surprised by this, which annoyed her even more for some reason. Ugh. This entire conversation annoyed her. She lifted a hand and rubbed her forehead and temple before sitting back down. “What’s your excuse for being up so late?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow as she looked over to where he sat.

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

WITH A GREAT BIG ROLL OF HIS EYES, NATE served Ashley a withering look. Something between derision and hard humour. "Well, whatever it is you don't hide it very well." He looked her up and down. His thoughts telling him, well at least he was better at keeping his business neat and tidy. "And please, I don't care enough to be annoyed." Crossing his arms, Nate winked. "I'm winding you up, darling."

The 'potion' as she called it, gave nothing away. Herbals, obviously, but that was nothing. "You can make anything taste like anything..." Nate said, cocking one eye brow as he stared at her blankly. "You just seem self-suffering." But, at least she had chat, Nate admitted. She was quick to the draw and it only made Nate enjoy their interaction more. Mostly because he felt like he was winning. "You would know..." He retorted sarcastically, casting a look around the room in disinterest.

When she questioned him Nate looked back, turning to rest one arm lazily on the back of the sofa. "Oh, didn't you know?" Nate said, kissing his teeth casually. "I'm a prefect, I'm on patrol." He said with supreme seriousness, widening his eyes in a look of faux innocence. "I'm... gonna have to report you." 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

"I hide it well enough you haven't figured it out," Ashley shot back instinctively. Honestly, she just wanted this guy to leave already. It wasn't like he was actually doing anything here, except for trying to annoy her. And succeeding. She lifted a disbelieving eyebrow when he said he didn't care enough to be annoyed. Yeah. Right. Not caring was definitely not the vibe she got from this guy. Then he winked, saying he was winding her up and she rolled her eyes. "You might want to practice that some more, it seems forced," she gave a fake smile. 

He was so cynical of every single thing, actually having a comeback for most comments she made. It honestly surprised Ashley a bit. Most people weren't that quick, from her experience. "Or I like the way it tastes," she retorted. "Not everyone likes the same thing, you know." And she did like the flavor of her potions, probably because it reminded her of a Puckwudgie friend, but this guy definitely didn't need to know anything about that. She scoffed at his lame rebuff, not deigning to answer it. 

Then he was saying he was a prefect, on patrol, and that he was going to have to report her. Ash's eyes narrowed slightly. Him, a prefect? He wasn't wearing a badge like the others did ... but that didn't necessarily mean he was one. "Oh really? And how am I supposed to know you're not just trying to "wind me up" again?" He didn't seem like the type who should have authority over other students, not that it meant he couldn't buuuuuut Ashley didn't want to think he did. "And what would you report me for?" Something stupid, no doubt, but she might as well ask. It was obviously what he expected of her.

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

SCREWING HIS FACE UP, NATE DIDN'T EVEN bother trying to hide his derisive smirk. She thought she had gotten him, but he couldn't disagree more. "Yeah, but I know there's something to figure out in the first place," He said slowly, drawing it out for her benefit alone. As if she were stupid. Which, he was coming to decide she just might be. "Not exactly 'Best Secret of the Year', I'll be honest." He rolled his eyes skyward and scoffed at her snaked advice, unfazed. "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind." 

With a sly and obvious look up and down Ashley's person, Nate ended with a crooked brow. "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me." He rebuked, blinking lazily. "You seem bitter." Which wasn't entirely true, but he enjoyed throwing the insult anyways. Not that he intended to inflict harm, he doubted his opinion mattered to her on that level. It was simply a verbal sparring match he had every intention of winning.

Though, even Nate knew it was a stretch that he could pass for a prefect. He didn't have that nose-turned up, stiff look about him. And he did not have the patience for First Years. But, luckily she didn't know that just yet. He fielded her suspicious stare with a beatific smile. "This is a serious matter, you know." Straightening his face entirely, Nate pulled his brows down. "I wouldn't joke about that." Except he definitely would.

Gesturing with one hand to her potion, Nate raised his brows like it was obvious. "Unsanctioned potions on school grounds," He said matter-of-factly. "Not to mention self-medication." He clicked his tongue with an easy shrug. "That's worth at least a points docking, probably a detention..." He shook his head morosely. "An owl home, even." He was very familiar with the process of punishment at Hogwarts, having been on the receiving end one too many times. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley hated this guy. Decidedly. He was an arrogant snob and she really wished she didn't have to talk to him right now. She rolled her eyes, "Every person has a moment of weakness. You knowing that I have a secret is the result of mine, but you will never know what mine is. So have fun with that." It wasn't her best retort, but Ashley honestly didn't care. She scoffed softly at his lame answer to her, deciding she didn't need to say anything back. 

He was looking her up and down now and Ashley rolled her eyes in response, "Very witty," she retorted. She didn't care what this guy said. Obviously he was looking for a reason to fight or argue. From her point of view, the best way to frustrate him was by not giving him what he wanted. Hopefully that would get under his skin and if not ... well maybe he'd leave her alone.

Ashley still didn't believe him. Sure, he was smiling at her now, but he didn't have a badge and he didn't seem like the type that should be placed in authority. She frowned, hesitating before she spoke slowly, "I ... don't believe you," she said softly. Maybe he didn't hear her, because he went on to answer her question about what she'd done. Now Ashley smirked at him, "Sorry, but they're not unsanctioned." Well ... they shouldn't be since the potions were for health reasons, but she hadn't actually gotten a note from her parents saying they were okay. If she needed notes, it would take just a day to get them. Even if he was a prefect, which she still didn't buy, she wouldn't be getting into trouble for this. She shook her head, smiling at him sympathetically, "and you don't know what you're talking about. Sorry, but I'm not doing anything I'm not allowed to, whether or not you know it." Ashley's smile became a smirk, "If you were really a prefect, I'm sure you would already know all about it." All right, so she was lying. To her knowledge, the prefects didn't know about her condition, but if she did have permission to use her potions, they would. Man, she was going out on a limb here, but she left no indication of that fact on her expression.

Nathaniel David Forrester

[Nathaniel David Forrester]

now you see me.

LIFTING HIS BROWS NATE MADE A BAD JOB OF straightening his face gravely as she spoke. His eyes blinking lazily, head nodding slowly. Like he was making fun of her, which he might of been. "What a monologue..." He said, clasping his hands together in a single, arrogant clap. "You're so wise." His eyes narrowed shrewdly.

And yes, the attitude he was throwing at the girl was decidedly 'un-prefect' of him, but she wasn't to know that. She was a transfer for goodness sake. He still enjoyed the way she pretended she did though, still using that serious tone of voice on her, like he truly was concerned for her well being. The truth was, it could be unicorn blood in the bottom of that phial and he wouldn't care. All he wanted was a reaction, which he thought he was maybe getting. If a little diluted by her own self satisfaction.

"Oh, you've read the rule book already, huh?" He asked, quirking his brows, his bottom lip caught between his teeth as he looked at her. "Because according to chapter 32, section 28," Nate tapped his bottom lip, as if in thought, before continuing as if reading from a textbook as he lied through his teeth. "'All staff approved medications must be taken under the supervision of a member of staff or health representative.'" He almost patted himself on the back for that one, pulling it right out of his arse in a quick flash.

"I guess I know a little of something..." He said, slouching back in to his seat and patting his stomach, impressed with himself. "Whether I'm a prefect or not..." He strained his head, looking around the room for company, "You're still breaking the rules, babe." And with that, he lazed his head back against the sofa's headrest and stared at the vaulted ceiling, his sharp eye teeth peeking over a lax smirk. He didn't bother looking at her again. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

This was a pointless conversation. Obviously this guy was determined that he knew all and that no one else had anything of worth to say. Or maybe there was something else going on with her, but Ashley was deciding that she didn't care. She rolled her eyes and turned away from him as he mocked her. No point in giving him more satisfaction in knowing that he got to her, though she was sure he already felt satisfied with himself for being a jerk. He seemed that type.

Ashley still wasn't looking at him when he started quoting from the rule book. Her heartbeat quickened as she wondered if perhaps she was wrong, if she would get into trouble ... but really she shouldn't. In all honesty, it was a glorified tea with Feverfew and a few other ingredients added. She'd look it up tomorrow. Right now she had no intention of letting him thing that he got to her. "Whatever you say, sir," she gave him a fake salute, still not looking over at him. 

He was talking again, saying that he knew the rules, whether or not he was a prefect- ha! That was him basically admitting that he wasn't, which meant that he might have been lying about the rest as well. Still, he was so cool and collected that Ashley honestly had no idea what to think. This guy made less than no sense and she hated it. Without another word, she walked out of the common room, making her way back toward the doors. Sure, her headache was still there in full force, but at least the silent, dead-asleep company of the girls in her dorm wouldn't be as annoying as that guy. She didn't bother to say goodbye. He'd probably twist that into something ridiculous if she did.

Nathaniel David Forrester

(End Ashley)