Take a back road | Mazie & Jack

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While they were dancing last night, Jack certainly had a lot on his mind. But somewhere in the whirlwind that was the night, he had promised that he would show Mazie the only secret passage way that he knew of. So he waited for her outside of her common room before breakfast. He hadn’t told her that he was going to be there, but he didn’t think she would mind too much when she came out and saw him. He only hoped that she wasn’t an early riser and was already downstairs eating before their classes. If she was, he’d catch her later, but, he was already here and he hoped that going out of his way wouldn’t result in a waste of his time.

@mazie

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Mazie couldn't have imagined a better reunion with her best friend. Granted, she hadn't expected most of what happened last night. She'd mostly expected the two of them to sneak around the castle, goofing off like she remembered them doing in Ilvermorny. She didn't think he'd show her some amazing room designed just for her, or that they'd dance so close and end up kissing. Thinking back on the night, it almost sounded too good to be true. Sure, Mazie knew she liked Jack, but she didn't know that she liked him until last night. She liked the feel of his arms around her, holding her close. She liked the way he smiled at her and went along with her, even if he didn't particularly wanted to. She just liked him. 

So the next morning, Mazie rose in great spirits, that couldn't even really be dampened by the rest of the Gryffindor girls hogging the bathroom. Sure, she wanted to get in and out and ready for breakfast, but whenever she had to wait she just thought of Jack, a light blush on her cheeks. No one noticed.

By the time she finally got out of the tower, it was to see a familiar figure waiting nearby. Jack. A smirk slid onto her face as she made her way over to him. "Hey stranger. What brings you to this part of the castle so early, eh?" Mazie winked, partly still curious about why he was here. Curious and excited.

JOHN ELLIOT CLARK

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Jack had spent a lot of the last night deep in thought after he dropped her off at her common room and made his way back to his own, thankfully, undetected. He had kissed her. And it had lingered. She kissed him back. It hadn’t been one sided, and he hadn’t been yelled at for it either. He hadn’t planned on doing it, he had never in his life thought about kissing Mazie Pond. But he had done it and now he could barely think about anything else.

She came out of her common room and asked what he was doing here so early in the morning. He shrugged, “I told you I’d see you tomorrow, and I thought you might get lost on your way to breakfast.” he teased. He didn’t really think she would. It was a fairly straight shot down the stairs. He had decided not to say anything about the kiss last night. He knew Mazie and he knew the way she normally was with guys. She had never dated someone as long as he knew her. He wasn’t about to ruin their friendship or get his heart broken by talking about it.

@mazie

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Mazie couldn't stop grinning as she looked at her best friend, as he answered her question. She laughed and rolled her eyes, "Well, I'm glad to see that you still know how to keep a promise," she teased, unable to help herself. She was ... a little unsure of what to do around him now. After last night, Mazie knew how she felt about Jack. She knew she liked him and that she wanted to be with him, but how did one go about that? She'd never actually dated anyone before. Every time a guy had asked at Ilvermorny, she'd smile and tell him that she had a great time, but that she didn't "do" relationships. Sure, she'd still go out with him if he asked, but she never wanted anything official. That was all different now, but how did one actually start a relationship? Was the girl supposed to say something or the boy? Maybe she should let Jack lead. He'd been in relationships before. He knew what to do. She looked him up and down, obviously teasing him some more as she continued, "So you're here to lead me down to breakfast? How chivalrous of you." 

JOHN ELLIOT CLARK

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She teased him and he rolled his eyes. There never was a dull moment with Mazie around. She kept him on his toes. She kept him challenged. She kept him constantly a little annoyed, but at the same time loving the annoyment. Some other people might find the teasing obnoxious or too much, but it was their relationship, and it was mutual, when Jack wasn’t so surprised and shocked as he had been yesterday after seeing her for the first time in 6 months, completely unannounced. “Yes,” he admitted when she asked if he was here to lead her down to breakfast. “But i thought I could show you a shortcut… you know… in case you’re even running late.” he winked. He knew she would understand. He had promised he’d show her a secret passageway today. The only one he knew about. He’d have to find someone who knew more of them so he could look cooler.

@mazie

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Jack didn't say anything in response to her teasing and Mazie just giggled. She loved teasing him. Loved the way he rolled his eyes at her whenever she was ridiculous. It was part of the reason why Mazie was always dramatic around him. Granted, she enjoyed being dramatic. It was fun, but his reaction made it even more so. Her smile widened when Jack said that he was here to help her to breakfast. She had another teasing retort on the way, but then Jack was talking about a shortcut. Her eyes widened and twinkled in excitement. He was going to show her the secret passageway. "Then what are we waiting for?" she asked, looking around to see if anyone was paying them any attention. No one was. She held out her hand in front of her and wiggled her fingers at him, smirking. "I'm ready if you are." Mazie still wasn't quite sure how she should act around Jack, but until something happened between them, she had every intention of behaving the way she normally did and having fun.

JOHN ELLIOT CLARK

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Mazie held her hang out for him and wiggled her eyebrows asking if he was ready. He rolled his eyes for the countless time and took her hand, pulling her along down the towers and towards the fifth floor where the tapestry was. “You can’t ask how I know about this place.” He teased for literally no reason. There was no secret. He had just followed another student who he saw using it once. But he likes teasing her about it. “I’m under strict obligation to keep it a secret.” He winked before he pulled one side of the tapestry aside and displayed a dark corridor.

@mazie

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Jack was rolling his eyes again at her, which made Mazie giggle just a little bit more. He was in rare form with the eye rolling today. Was he actually annoyed at her? She didn't think so, just judging by the smile on his face. Still, maybe she should chill out a little, but that was hard. She was just so excited that he was here, keeping his promise from yesterday. Also, she couldn't seem to get the memory of him kissing her out of her head. He took her hand, leading her along and Mazie followed easily. "I can't? That just makes me want to ask more." She whined, pouting at him. Why in the world would it be a secret? Her eyebrows furrowed a little and she narrowed her eyes. "Since when do you keep secrets from me?" she asked curiously, tilting her head to the side. She was actually having a bit of a hard time telling if he was teasing her or not. It seemed like he wasn't entirely serious, since he did just wink at her, but she couldn't be sure, which was strange. She was used to knowing when it came to Jack. He moved part of the tapestry over and she glanced at him for a moment before stepping inside, a smile slipping on as she looked around the corridor. "Spooky," she said, her voice warm and happy despite the fact that this place was so dark. Mazie was so excited to be here!

JOHN ELLIOT CLARK

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She gave him a hard time about him deciding not to tell her how he found out about this secret passageway, and he smirked, that was exactly the reaction he was hoping for. “It could be a life or death situation if I told you.” he shrugged. Once she peeked into the hallway, he bit his lip and nodded for her to walk in, he followed her in, letting the tapistry fall back into place, blocking out the light and the sounds of the corridor behind them. Jack pulled out his wand and muttered “Lumos” causing the tip to light up enough to shine some light on the path. “Having fun yet?” he teased as they walked along the dark corridor.

@mazie

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Jack was not being very accommodating. Sure, that wasn't an entirely new circumstance for Mazie, but it didn't mean she liked it. She pouted her bottom lip out, trying to keep herself from smirking. "It could be a life or death situation if you don't," she answered, not expecting that to work, but also dying to know. "Come on, why would a secret passageway be life or death, Jack? You're teasing me, aren't you?" Mazie accused, not at all sure if she was right or not. She wanted him to be teasing, wanted to be able to get him to tell her. If it really was life or death that wasn't likely, but it couldn't be! Could it? 

He followed her inside and soon the place was dark. Mazie would have wandered around in the dark, but before she could say anything Jack lit the way. "I always have fun on our adventures," she answered, playfully nudging his shoulder with her own. "Is it a super long passageway?" Mazie asked, trying to see the end of the corridor, but unable to. She chuckled, unable to help herself. "This is perfect, you know." Of course he knew. Jack wouldn't have brought her here if he didn't.

JOHN ELLIOT CLARK

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He shrugged when she asked if he was just teasing her after she threatened that it could be a life or death situation if he didn’t tell her. “I guess you’ll never know.” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows. He’d never tell, this was too fun. She nudged his shoulder, saying that she always had fun on their adventures and he nodded, though this wasn’t really an adventure for him. He did this almost daily. “Not long, there’s a turn ahead and then it declines a bit and lets out on the third floor corridor.” he explained. “It just cuts off a few minutes and skips the 4th floor.” he added. It wasn’t sure cool or spooky like some of the passage ways he heard of were, but it sure was handy, and it meant he didn’t have to worry about student traffic. “I’m glad you think so.” he smirked when she said it was perfect. He was glad he could do something to impress her.

@mazie

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Mazie groaned, pouting at her best friend. "I can't believe you're doing this to me! You know it's gonna drive me nuts," she told him. There was no point in pretending otherwise. Jack knew her too well. "There isn't anything I can do to change your mind?" she asked hopefully, offering him a smile, her cheeks reddening slightly when she remembered how she used similar words last night. Yeah right. He probably wouldn't tell her even if she kissed him. Besides that, she didn't know if he'd even want her to. Maybe last night was just a fluke ... but it wasn't to her. She watched him as he explained a bit more about the secret passage, smiling. Even if it wasn't "super" secret, it was cool and she was glad that Jack showed her. "It sounds really useful. Do you use it a lot?" she asked, cocking her head to the side. She noticed the ground starting to decline as they walked, just like he said it would. She rolled her eyes at him, "You knew I'd think so before you brought me here." Jack knew she loved things like this. It wasn't a surprise at all, she was sure. 

JOHN ELLIOT CLARK

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She insisted that it would drive her nuts if he didn’t tell her, he laughed and nodded, “Oh don’t I know it.” he teased. She asked if there was anything she could do to change his mind and he could think of a few things, but, since he didn’t see anything like that happening, he wanted to go along with his little game. “Nope. Top secret.” he decided, shaking his head. He wouldn’t cave. He didn’t need to. As they turned the corner in the passage, she asked if he used it a lot. He nodded. “Just about everyday. It’s really handy if you’re running late to class. It only cuts a few minutes but everything helps.” he explained. She also teased him about knowing that she would like it before he brought her here. He certainly had. He wanted to impress her, in more ways that normal, which was a little weird, but he was just gonna roll with it. “Yeah, of course I did. Your my best friend, I know what you’re gonna like.” she shrugged.

@mazie

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Mazie made a face when Jack said that he knew he was driving her nuts. Punk. She pouted when he insisted there was nothing she could do to change his mind. "I can't believe this. A few months here and you don't even value true friendship anymore," she whined. This was dumb. All she wanted was to know how he found out about this place. Did he find it on his own? Did some girl show it to him? Some girl he was interested in? Mazie didn't like that idea, but she definitely wasn't going to voice it out loud. She was still hoping that something would come out of that kiss last night. 

She nodded when he said he used it every day. It did seem like a useful passage ... she liked that he showed it to her, even if he was keeping secrets from her about it. "Good to know. Especially since I have the feeling that this place might be a little bit confusing." There were so many hallways and moving staircases and stuff. It was awesome, but definitely confusing. She made a face at him and rolled her eyes when he said he knew what she was going to like. "And you know how to do it in a way that'll bug me for the rest of my life too," she accused. While dramatic, Mazie was telling the truth. Every time she used this passageway, she would wonder what Jack's big secret about it was. Mazie has a sneaking suspicion he knew that she'd do that, which made it more annoying. Ugh.

JOHN ELLIOT CLARK

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They came out of the passage way on the third floor and still had the two floors to go down until they got to the great hall on the main floor, but it was still fun, even if it only cut off a minute or two. The two continued to talk and make fun of one another on the walk the rest of the way down and sat together to have breakfast that morning before their classes began. Jack was kind of bummed they weren’t in classes together, but he knew they would see a lot of each other regardless. Now that his best friend was here, he wasn’t going to waste their time together before he graduated.

@mazie

((The End))