Helen didn’t know if this was sarcasm or sincerity, but quickly reassured herself that she was talking to Joan Bole.
“Astronomy. I’m going to to the tower.” She pointed upwards and stared at her feet. Her dad was a zoologist, and from countless visits to the zoo, she learned that eye-contact is the easiest way to provoke an animal. “Look, I don’t want to start anything,” she said hastily, fear practically pouring out of her mouth. “I don’t want trouble. Can you do that for me for just a day?”
Joan briefly glanced towards where her fingers pointed, furrowing her eyebrows as she looked down. Then, suddenly, a thought dawned on her. Her eyes widened as she said slowly, “You’re afraid of me.” It wasn’t a question, more of a statement. A thin smile appeared on her lips. “Well that’s a new one, although I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. I’m not that scary you know. I just know how to get things done…then again, I do suppose that intimidates some people, doesn’t it?” Joan put her hands behind her back. “I don’t ever want to start things, so you’re good when it comes to that. I wouldn’t want to waste my time really. But how is a friendly walk with you to the astronomy tower going to harm anyone?”
Helen held her breath and felt her heart racing. She stopped, slid on her heel and turned around. She saw Joan’s infuriated face and bit her lip. The tension in the hallway was high and Helen wanted to just disappear.
“C’mon Joan I’m going to class, just leave me alone.” She said loud enough for Joan to hear. Helen wasn’t lying. After what happened last night, she knew that if anything started between them, she’d be on very thin ice. Helen took a deep breath and shifted her weight.
Joan raised her eyebrows whenever Helen turned around, crossing her arms as she studied the other. “Going to class?” Joan asked. “Which way is your class? Maybe I can walk you there? And on the way maybe you can tell me why you’re trying to avoid me.” Joan walked a bit to her side, turning over to Helen. She didn’t want to spend too much time here, as she needed to go to class soon, but she needed to get some steam off from earlier in the day, and this seemed like a good option.
Some people would say Helen Flint is fearless, but she, in reality, was only afraid of two things in the world; small places and Joan Bole. She wouldn’t admit it, but something about Joan Bole made her want to hide under her covers or hurt woodland creatures.
She hesitated to go to class today, so she decided to come late, knowing that Professor loved her enough to waive it. The corridors were empty and echoed every click of her heel. In the distance, she saw someone turn the corner, and lo and behold, it was lovely Joan Bole, walking the opposite way.
Helen’s eyes widened and spun on her heel to turn around, thinking about any possible way to avoid coming in contact with her, and sped up her step.
Joan wasn’t in the best mood; actually, no, that was an understatement. She was in a horrid mood. She had been asked a question during History of Magic, a question that she hadn’t known the answer of, which was something that most certainly didn’t happen to her very much. She had been sulking practically the whole day because of it, even a few hours later as she walked through the halls of Howarts with gritted teeth and furrowed eyebrows, her hair flying around her as she walked. At the moment she was turning the corner of the hallway to a deserted corridor, or at least, it seemed deserted. She noticed someone walking her way, and she took a deep breath, not wanting to have much of an encounter when, suddenly, she turned around and began to walk the other way.
Suddenly Joan stopped in her tracks, raising an eyebrow as she watched the figure hurry down the corridor. Was that person…avoiding her? The thought for some reason infuriated her. Sure, she didn’t usually care about what people thought about her, but for someone to be disrespectful enough to turn at the sight of her? Joan took a deep breath, hurrying up quickly. “Hey,” she said loudly down the hallway. When she didn’t hear anything back, she repeated, “hey, you.” Still yet no answer. “I’m talking to you, don’t pretend that I can’t see you!” Joan reached her, putting her hand on her shoulder quickly and turning her around. “Is there a reason why you’re avoiding me?” She demanded fiercely.
Of course I did. I had that finished by the next class period of that day. It’s not that hard if you actually paid attention for once, although I know that that’s asking a lot of you.
Perhaps I will just be the better person and back out. We’re both too stubborn about this, and I’m not wanting to waste my time. However, I must applaud and thank you for the stimulating argument you have provided.
Oh, the better person. Whatever suits your fancy. Go on ahead, I don’t want to waste too much of my time either. It’s already been too long. I suppose I should say the same for you, although most of what you said was highly unbelievable.
She is very close. You would have to be completely blind to see otherwise. However, it is your opinion, and I do not take kindly to one insulting my best friend, so I will probably keep going until we’ve at least settled on agreeing to disagree.
I don’t see anything, as she hasn’t proven anything to me so far. So there’s nothing for me to see in the first place. You’re going to be here for quite a while then, because I don’t do that whole agree to disagree nonsense. I’m not going to compromise when there’s nothing wrong about my argument and, more importantly, when I’m right.
Offing yourself? Now that is a bit low for you, isn’t it? Anyway, you keep telling yourself that, Joan. Maybe one day you’ll believe it.
It’s a dark thing to do and a waste of talent, but yes. Maybe that day is today too. Who knows. Maybe today is also the day where you realize that I’m better then Maureen and have nothing to be jealous of her about.
