13 beaches | luna

[evelyn rhea oliveira]

i'd be lyin' if i kept hidin'

the fact that i can't deal

January 27, 2029
LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY

Evy pushed her damp hair out of her gray eyes. Her youthful expression still showed the stress of the various things hanging over her head. Her family a source of strength and contention. Nate had finally started texting her that week, but Evy wasn’t ready to respond. She stopped home for a shower and to change, her body a little sore from another late night. Thank Merlin, it was the weekend. However, she had important plans to attend to and was never late on occasions such as this. That day would be no exception.

Magically drying her hair, she grabbed her coat and saw her father was up and about while her mother was asleep on the couch. Her father gently smiled at his youngest, and Evy gave him a quick hug and peck on the cheek before leaving. His gentler nature had always kept things relatively calm, much as her late older brother Dakoda had. It was ironic considering who his father really was versus who he’d taken after.

Stepping outside, the cold air awakened all her senses. She apparated and appeared near her destination. Evy had visited once before, briefly. And over the months, she’d done her best to maintain contact with her longtime best friend. But she supposed things had been difficult since they both left Hogwarts. Luna for professional quidditch and Evy for Beauxbatons, and finding their way back was not an easy journey. But Evy made time today. Truthfully, she missed Luna desperately. Relying on someone else was a difficult thing to admit, but here she was. Evy wanted to make sure Luna was also alright and healing, though living so far away from the world still worried Evy a bit.

The backdrop was beautiful in a dark and poetic sense. Evy could understand its pull. Watching the waves and feeling the air biting at her skin, she almost felt compelled to pull out her notepad and write. Perhaps the sound of crashing waves in their chaotic pattern resonated with the chaos in one’s mind—providing peace. Even if only for a moment. Turning back around, Evy knocked hard at the door.

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[LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY]

Not unsurprisingly, time acted strangely after Luna's run in with Simon. The feeling of drifting along, completely untethered, hadn't subsided, but there was an odd weight in the pit of her stomach. As if something she had been dutifully ignoring had bubbled to the surface, demanding to be seen. Perhaps it was just that - Luna had been telling herself for months that she was healing, that she had to take time and space for herself. But the oppressive weight of her own loneliness was threatening to drive her mad. Luna realised she'd never really been alone before in her life - not entirely. In her youth, she'd been reliant on her sisters. Through school, she'd added Evy into the mix, and made a few more friends on the Quidditch team. And then, of course, there had been Simon. Luna never felt more lonely than being without him.

Luna had consciously snipped the ties of cameraderie with almost everyone in her life. Her mind therapist had suggested a fresh start - and she'd tried. Merlin, she had tried. But somehow, the magical world was just too small. There were too many cracks for people to creep back in. To re-enter her newly sheltered life. And though her self-imposed solitude was meant to help Luna heal, in hindsight, she wondered if it did more harm than good. So when Evy managed to track her down and make contact, asking to see her, Luna acquiesced.

The January evening was dismal, with rain lashing down from a dark, heavy sky. There was a loud crack on the door as Evy knocked, letting herself be heard over the rain and wind. One of Luna's housemates answered the door. She took one look at Evy, and not recognising her, called up for Luna to collect her friend. Luna had entered the houseshare knowing she'd be the odd one out - a comforting and conscious choice. The others had been friends for years, and ran in the same circles. Luna had lost track of time, staring blankly at a spider that crawled slowly along the top of her window sill. With a jolt, Luna rose from her seat and drifted down to greet Evy. Emma, her housemate, retreated back into the kitchen where the others were sat. Luna regarded Evy. "Hi," she started, rather lamely.

evelyn rhea oliveira

[evelyn rhea oliveira]

i'd be lyin' if i kept hidin'

the fact that i can't deal

January 27, 2029
LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY

Evy didn’t recognize the person who answered the door, but before she could even open her mouth to introduce herself, the girl turned and called loudly for Luna. The door was left open, so Evy entered and naturally looked around. Luna had to be here—they’d made plans. Surely, her housemate would have informed her if Luna had been unavailable. But, a few moments later, she heard her best friend’s voice. ”Hey.” Evy half-smiled softly. The two girls were not the same girls from a few years ago. And so much had occurred since then. But what Evy would have given to have their bond exist as strongly as before.

”I’ve missed you. How are you?” Evy approached Luna, whose demeanor felt almost unsettled. One thing that did bother Evy was how much Luna had gone through, and she hadn’t told Evy much of it until much later in a way that hurt as much as when Luna decided to leave school for Quidditch while Evy was stuck by herself in France for her last year. And then the strange boundary formed when Luna began seeing Simon. Nobody liked being alone—despite what they might claim. At times, Evy felt as if she had so few people to count on anymore. But Luna was her best friend. She wouldn’t give that up.

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[LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY]

At the mind healer's request, Luna had tried to sever ties with her old life to start fresh. But after her run in with Simon, Luna began to question if that was the right thing for her to do. She'd always been so singularly focused on her dreams - become the youngest Quidditch star in recent years. Now, she'd had to put that dream on ice, but the crushing weight of loneliness was beginning to overwhelm her. Luna's prickly nature did not bode well with new friends. She was polite enough to her house mates, but she could not share the real her. She couldn't regale them with tales of Hogwarts or spectacular Quidditch saves. She couldn't talk about the time when she'd seen two men duelling before one fanned the flames in her school. No... she just had to be normal, muggle Luna. And where was the interest in that?

Luna was shaken from her reverie by one of her housemates summoning her to the front door. Luna hadn't forgotten that Evy was coming over - though she was still in awe of her determination. She trotted down the stairs and spotted Evy for the first time in months - this was the first planned visit with someone from her world in months. It was unsettling, and terrifying, but Simon's words rang in her head. The suffering that strengthened you... the sadness that has softened you... the wisdom you’ll obtain when you come out on the other side. It was all she could to to keep putting one foot in front of the other. There was strength in growth.

"I've missed you too," Luna replied softly, and meant it in earnest. "Come, let me show you my room," said Luna, leading Evy deeper into the creaky old house. They retreated up the stairs and silence, and only when they were safely ensconced behind Luna's closed door did she relax slightly. She turned to Evy, her gaze roving hungrily over her. It had been so long since she had wanted to see someone from her old life. "The mind healers told me I needed a fresh start..." she began, meeting Evy's somewhat accusatory stare. "That I would be better off with a clean break. But I wonder if they really understand what it means to be lonely,"

evelyn rhea oliveira

[evelyn rhea oliveira]

i'd be lyin' if i kept hidin'

the fact that i can't deal

January 27, 2029
LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY

Evy let Luna lead her further into the house. There wasn’t much noise, but she could sense the presence of others. Evy wondered if they were magical or muggle but didn’t ask. As much as Evy wanted to pepper her longtime friend with questions, she felt a distance between them that prevented her from doing so. Standing so close, Evy felt a distance, and she wondered whose fault it was—if anyone was to blame. It made her long for the simpler times of previous years.

They reached Luna’s room. Evy’s eyes habitually began to scan the environment before her eyes returned to Luna with a sympathetic gleam. ”A clean break? Why?” Evy’s brow furrowed in confusion. Who on Earth would recommend such a thing when Luna needed support? ”Like from everyone?” She approached Luna. Her ire wasn’t directed at her best friend, of course. There were other worthy targets, Simon, perhaps. ”I know we don’t talk like we used to…but you know I’m here for you, right?”

Through thick and thin like before. And somewhere down the line, their individual gazes led them down different paths. The hurt Evy carried at the abandonment for her seventh year lay hidden somewhere inside. And then the interesting distraction of Nate. Evy hadn’t decided what to do with that one yet, but that was a topic for another time.

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[LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY]

It wasn't until the door had snicked shut behind Evy that Luna felt comfortable speaking. She'd warded her room against her muggle housemates, wanting to be careful that they wouldn't over hear anything or stumble upon her broom or anything like that. Luna briefly elaborated on the situation, her gaze roving hungrily over the familiar planes of Evy's face. She felt a confusing mixture of guilt and relief in her belly as she observed her.

Luna shrugged. "I don't know why, I wouldn't say I'm the foremost expert in relationships though," said Luna, a hint of her old wry attitude peeking through her words. "From everyone. From magic even," Luna replied. "Or rather the magical world. I think they think that's what set me off," she added, exhaling slowly. Luna pursed her lips thoughtfully, not looking at Evy. "I feel like that's my fault. The not talking like we used to. I'm sorry," said Luna, but it felt a bit flat. She glanced up at Evy and offered her a semblance of a smile. "I know you're here for me. When everyone else was a simpering fool, at least I knew I could always count on you to tell the truth to my face."

Heaving a great sigh, Luna stretched out on her duvet. "Honestly, the past few months have been awful. And lonely. I miss London, and I miss Quidditch, and I miss meeting up for a glass or bottle of wine. I hate that I had to give up so much of myself by my own choices, but now it's out of my hands. It's almost like I've got nothing left of me." Luna spoke to Evy, but it was more of a musing of her self. The pressure of being a triplet, of having the gift of clairvoyance, performing to a top standard in Quidditch - these things had served to break her, but she'd been forged in fire. This however... this solitude? It felt like a weak prize for someone who had been through so much.

evelyn rhea oliveira

[evelyn rhea oliveira]

[googlefont="Roboto"]
[googlefont="Fjalla One"]

i'd be lyin' if i kept hidin'

the fact that i can't deal

January 27, 2029
LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY

Evy didn’t know if Luna’s roommates were muggles or magical. Either way, privacy was due in a situation like this. Disbelief sat evident in Evy’s expression. ”I’m not either, but separating someone from everyone seems like a terrible idea.” Merlin and these individuals made the most gold to mess with people’s emotions like this. But the thing was, Evy knew there were parts of the whole story she did not have, but it was not the time to pry. She typically knew when to do so regarding her best friend. The one thing Evy knew for sure was that Simon was somehow mixed up in all this. Ever since Luna had come crying to her during that last year at Hogwarts the former Gryffindor held a special spot on Evy’s bad side.

A half smile appeared on her face. Evy had learned from the best in her family to speak quite bluntly. Not that her family knew how to communicate directly or efficiently but everyone’s opinion was always known very quickly. Life was much simpler without forcing people to read between the lines. She sat on the bed while listening to Luna share more. ”When can come back?” Evy wasn’t sure if there was some mandate by the Healers or even the team. ”Surely the team needs you with Slater out of commission.” The only reason Evy kept up with Quidditch was due to her work. Despite magical sports occupying only one part of the Prophet, life as a fact checker forced Evy to read more about Quidditch and gobstones than she ever cared to, and not by choice. Plus, Jimmie had briefly pestered McLaggen about Slater’s return to the bench the other day.

Following Luna’s lead, Evy lay back next to her best friend, almost like they used to do all the time, to talk when time permitted. ”What if I kidnap you back to London? Surely they can’t force to stay here if it isn’t helping?” While she kept her tone light, Evy wasn’t above dragging her best friend back to civilization.

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[LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY]

Luna ran her fingers through her hair to hide the tremors. She was glad that Evy had come, but it felt surreal to have someone from her old life in her little slice of solitude. She appreciated that Evy had always been honest with her, never sugarcoating difficult truths for Luna to swallow. And though Evy had never been a fan of Simon, she felt like her spiralling descent had very little to do with him, and much more to do with her own personal demons. Luna nodded in agreement - the past few months had been terrible, but also terribly necessary. She had needed to reset.

"The healers suggested at least nine months off," said Luna with a frown. "Imagine, becoming one of the youngest professional players in history only to take nine months off a season later," she said, shaking her head. It hurt, knowing that she had been so fragile. But she also knew she had to take time to heal herself if she was going to get better. In more ways than one. Luna cringed at the mention of Addy. "We had a few subs, to be fair. But our record will probably not look great with Addy out as well. She was our best," said Luna quietly.

The girls laid back, almost like they were back in their first year dorm, muttering about their problems and homework and boys and everything in between. Luna's sisters had never really understood why she'd drifted away from them and became closer with Evy - but she had hated feeling trapped as a triplet. "If you kidnap me back to London, I don't think I would mind.... but there is a legal break clause for this house. Damn muggles," said Luna to the ceiling, wrinkling her nose. "Sure I could confund them, but it feels... dishonest. And I really want to try being... less of that," said Luna, waving her hand vaguely.

evelyn rhea oliveira