Clueless and Hurting {Open}

[Abigail 'Tay' Frazier]

She was late! Quite simply, she was going to be late to class. However, Tay being Tay, there was only so fast she dared to run without the risk of self injury. She was too much of a clutz and fell over thin air too often to risk a full out mad dash to the classroom.

So, she settled for a very fast walk. Which... worked fine... until it didn't.

"Oomf!" Her hands slammed hard into the floor as she tried to break her fall, and her nose came scarily close to following. She'd squeezed her eyes tight closed the second she'd seen the ground flying up to meet her and she didn't open them straight away when she splattered either.

Pushing upright, Tay winced at the sharp pains...everywhere. Her hands and wrists mostly, but also her knees, and her side were she's landed on something solid in her bag. Why did she always find a way to platter herself across the floor? This happened at least once a week.

Still, she was late, so she pressed on to class, limping a little and rubbing at her aching side, trying to ignore the jolts through her wrist at each motion. She couldn't have hurt it that badly, could she?

Slipping inside the classroom, Tay was about to apologize for being late but... the room was empty. Where was her class? This was definitely the time that she had Ancient Runes... definitely.

Reaching into her bag she pulled out her somewhat scrumped timetable and looked at it. Wednesday... 1st period... Ancient Runes. That was now...

With a sigh, Tay flopped into the nearest seat at the back on the room and dropped her bag heavily to the floor. Trust them to choose today to take the lesson else where. Now she'd never find it.

Pain still coursed through her from her fall and with a sigh, Tay rested her head against the table and let the tears fall. This was not a good way to start a day.

[quof1]

Of course it would be today that Kingsley chose to leave his book in the classroom. This could possibly be one of the most important lessons of the school year, and he was about to miss the most important part of it because he forgot his book. How could he have left his book? They’d only been in the classroom for a minute before the teacher announced they were going to spending the day in another classroom so they could get a look at some actual ancient texts, so how could this have happened?

Actually, he knew exactly how it had happened. He’d taken his book out the moment he got too class and then decided to join in a conversation with his fellow Ravenclaw fourth years, and then he’d got up and left and completely forgot about it.

He was still grumbling as he reached the classroom door. They’d only gone down to the second floor, so it wasn’t too long of a walk, but it still felt like it taken him ages. He threw open the door and walked swiftly inside, not really being the running sort of guy. He was halfway towards his desk when he realized someone else was in the room. He stooped abruptly, staring curiously at them. They had their head down so he couldn’t see their face, he just knew that said person had black hair and was obviously female. But that could be several different people in their class.

“Umm…can I help you?” He said as he tried to remember who hadn’t been in class today. And he also hoped they were alright, just tired s he wasn’t really the sort to deal with people when they were—unhappy. Especially girls, in fact, the idea pretty much terrified him.

[Abigail 'Tay' Frazier]

Tay left her head down the desk and felt tears as they began to drip down her nose. Why did she have to be such a clumsy idiot? She'd never be one of those girls who got to just walk down a corridor elegantly and without fear with beautiful dresses and high heels. Not that she was a dresses and high heels person, but even just the walking down the corridor part was beyond her. One of these days, she'd go a full 24 hours without tripping or stumbling and planting herself across the ground.

Tay didn't even notice that someone else had entered the room till the voice spoke up and asked if they could help her. Tay jumped at the shock of hearing another voice in the room, but she didn't look up, somehow managing to keep looking down at the desk. She was a mess, she knew it. Tears on her face, no doubt black lines to match... This wasn't like her, but this just really wasn't a good day, and she didn't want to be seen like this.

She sniffled and wiped a hand over her face, not even thinking that she was probably smudging her eye makeup even more than it already was. "I'm fine." She pressed her palms into her eyes to try and push back the stupid feeling like she wanted to keep crying and gasped as pain exploded. What the hell had she done to her wrists in this fall?

[quof1]

Kingsley raised his eyebrows at her. Fine was…not the word he would have used to describe her. But what was he supposed to do? He had no idea how to handle a girl who insisted they were fine when they really weren’t, and in truth, it was kind of starting to freak him out. She he call her out on it? But no, that would just get him all tangled up in something that wasn’t really his business anyway. Better avoid that
“Umm…” he was pretty sure her name was Abigail, but that she didn’t go by it. She went by something else, which was…Tanya? Taylor? Kay? Ah well, he’d just have to hope her name didn’t come up.

“Well, we're down in the unused classroom, if, you know, you want to join us…” She didn’t exactly seem ready to leave, which was just further proof that she was lying.

“Are you sure you’re ummm…” He was going to say okay, except for that would invite her to share whatever it was that was distressing her, and he didn’t actually want to deal with that part either.

“Is the anything I can do for you?” That was a safe option right? He was thinking if she did decide she needed something, which she probably wouldn’t, she would just say she was fine again. But if she did it would be like a drink or to carry her books or something, things he could handle. See? It was a perfect plan.

.

[Abigail 'Tay' Frazier]

The unused classroom... That was 2 floors down. Damn it... how come, when she'd been on her race up here, she hadn't seen the rest of her class pass? It was just plain annoying. Why did this school have to have so many shortcuts and secret passageways in it? Tay sighed... So, she had to try and hobble her way down two flights of stairs she'd just come up, and try not to fall down them.

She glanced up and recognized Kingsley straight away. She'd thought she recognized the voice. Again, she snuffled and wiped at her face, wincing again at the sharp pains. "I don't supposed you know where I can get a new set of balance and some coordination from, do you?" She tried to smile. He was just trying to help her, no matter how awkward he looked in that moment.

Pushing to her feet, Tay sighed and wrapped her arms across her, over her stomach and she sighed. Everywhere hurt, especially her side and her wrists. Each movement stirred a new spark of pain.

[quof1]

Okay, something was definitely wrong, unless she always moved that jerkily. He could tell she was wincing, and trying to hide it, but he’d already asked her if she was okay twice and she hadn’t said anything. Should he push the subject, or let it slide? He gave her another look, maybe it wasn't as bad as he thought it was, at l4east, that was excuse for not pursuing the subject.

He started a bit at her question, “Well, I don’t know if…” Then he realized that she had probably meant that to be rhetorical. He let out an annoyed breath, directed at himself. He looked at the ground, steeling himself before straightening back up to look at her. That however, felt too weird, so he rolled on the balls of his feet to give himself something to do while he avoided looking at her.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as she stood up though, and his eyebrows shot up a bit. He couldn’t help it anymore, “Perhaps we should stop by the Hospital Wing first.” He knew what she’d said about being fine and that he’d decided not to push it, but she looked like she was about to collapse and she clearly in pain. But in an attempt to not sound so commanding, he added, “I mean, are you sure you don’t want to go to the Hospital Wing first?”

[Abigail 'Tay' Frazier]

Tay caught onto to the awkwardness, and the way Kingsley was clearly uncomfortable in this situation, and she couldn't really blame him. If things were the other way around she'd probably be feeling just as out of place herself. She shook her head and looked down. "That would mean three flights down then one back up, which just doubles the amount of possible injury time. Besides, I think Babbling will have my head if I'm any later..."

As nice as a trip to the hospital wing sounded right now, she really couldn't miss anymore class because of her self injury like this. There'd been far too many times where she'd hobbled in late, and Babbling was one of the professors who was really beginning to stir up a fuss about it.

"Maybe at the end of the lesson..." Though how she was supposed to sit through this one and take notes with her wrists visibly beginning to swell already she really didn't know...

[quof1]

Well, he couldn’t exactly contradict her. Babbling wasn’t the most understanding of teachers, but Kingsley would have thought in a situation such as this… he shook his head, it was her decision not his.

“Right well, um…” He made his way over to his desk, grabbing his book and holding it up sheepishly. “I—uh—forgot my book.” He said with an attempt at a grin. He looked towards the door then back at here, “Well, if you follow me, I can take you there, it’s not far…” He felt a little awkward offering to walk with her, but since they were going to the same place it would be rude not too.

As he thought about it though he realized that if she was worried about heading down to the hospital wing then that might mean she had injured her leg somehow. He blanched; did that mean he might have to carry her? Or at least give her a physical aid of some kind? Well, if she needed it then he would certainly give it, but still. That would be a very—strained—situation.

He attempted to give her another smile, if nothing to ease the tension of the situation a little bit. “Well, if you don’t mind me asking, how exactly did you injure yourself?” He tried to keep his voice nonchalant, as too not make her feel pressured or nervous.

[Abigail 'Tay' Frazier]

Tay watched as Kingsley held up his book and she returned his smile. "Sure but... I'll just slow you down." She didn't think she'd be able to walk with any degree of speed right now, so if he wanted to get back to class quickly so that he didn't miss too much, then walking with her wasn't the smartest option. She'd just have to hobble her way down slowly and try and stay upright.

He asked how she'd injured herself and Tay just sighed. "By doing my usual trick of falling over this air." It seemed to be impossible for her to stay on her feet for a whole day. As always when she'd fallen, her brother's words entered her mind; The safest place for you is flat on the ground - 'cos once you're down you can't fall any further.

Tay started unsteadily towards the door and winced as a pain once again shot up her side. "I landed on my bag this time. Who knew books could hurt so much, huh?"

[quof1]

Kingsley just shrugged, an attempt at a smile on his face. "That's okay, I don't mind." Though he still felt a little awkward. And him, not caring about missing class? She was certainly going to think something was up with that. But he wanted to help her, it would obnoxious of him to leave her behind. He just hoped she didn't think he was weird for being like that.

he shoved his hands in his pockets to hide some of his discomfort. He wasn't sure whether or not he was supposed to laugh at her reamrk, she phrased it like a joke but it still seemed kind of rude to laugh. So instead he plastered a toothy grin on his face that probably looked pretty painful and chuckled nervously. "I see, that's uhh...pretty talented of you." His own attempt at light humor falling a bit flat. Or maybe a lot flat, he wasn't really sure.

He realized that he probably looked like a complete invalid, standing her gawking while she was clearly struggling. "You would have thought they would have softened your fall." he reached her and lifted a tentative hand to her shoulder. "Umm.. Do you want me to help? It would probably make things easier for you..." His hand hovered awkwardly over her. It had taken a bit of guts just to say that, no way he could handle actually touching her yet, not unless she gave him permission.

[Abigail 'Tay' Frazier]

"I guess when you've already missed this much you might as well miss a bit more, huh?" God knows it was probably a good thing that this was a double lesson, otherwise she'd probably just be hobbling in the door in time to turn around and leave again.

It was impossible to miss how uncomfortable Kingsley was feeling right then. Completely impossible. He didn't seem to know quite what to do, but then, she didn't really either. She did get a vague sort of impression that he didn't talk to girls all that often, but she wasn't about to bring it up. "My best yet." Tay managed a grin even though there was a slight wave of bitterness inside of her at the though. All around her she was surrounded by beautiful, elegant girls who moves flawlessly and looked fantastic, and there she was, unable to even stand without looking gimpy or something. "At least I can say I'm good at something though."

"They have pretty hard corners on them. You'd think they'd help, but I've learned from experience that books aren't friendly sandwich stuffings." She stopped in her tracks and shook her head. Why did she use that term? It was something her and her brother used as a joke when referring to all the things Tay had managed to put between her and the floor when she fell.

Kingsley seemed to hover uncertainly at her shoulder and it was really clear that he was feelng uncomfortable and way out of his comfort zone. Tay couldn't help it, she just looked over at him and grinned. "You don't talk to girls very much, do you?" Was it girls, or was it injured ones?

She readjusted her bag over her shoulder, closing her eyes briefly and taking a long slow breath, trying to ignore the burning in her wrists as she did. They felt sprained or something, which was really going to make writing a nightmare for the rest of the day.Tay smiled in what she hoped was a reassuring way.

[quof1]

He smiled, though that wasn't really true for him. Every moment missed was a moment he was going to have to make up later, but he wasn't really thinking about that right now. Well, it was their gnawing away in the back if his head, but he wasn't dwelling on it. It wasn't her fault, and nor was it her decision. It was his, and he was willing to suffer the consequences.

"congratulations," he said, even mock clapping his hands a little bit. He was glad she was one of those girls who could appreciate a joke, as it made her a lot easier to get along with than it would have been with some of the other girls in their class. "nah, I'm sure you're good at lots of stuff." He said as lightly as he could. He still felt a bit awkward saying stuff like that, but not as much as he had before.

He walked along side her for a moment, smiling lightly at her book comment but not be able to think of his own reply. He chuckled nervously at her comment about him and girls, though he was blushing. However, if he were to ever make a list of the things he liked about being black, the ability to hide when you were embarrassed would definitely be among them. And it was really hard to notice his blush mixed in with his dark skin. "Umm..I guess you could say that." The same, however, could not be said for his voice, unfortunately. He still wasn't sure whether or not to help her. She looked like she needed it, but that didn't mean she would want him too. So instead he stuck his hands inside his robes and tried to make it look like a completely normal gesture.

[Abigail 'Tay' Frazier]

Tay rolled her eyes. "My list of talents include falling over, walking into walls, being extraordinarily late, cloud watching, and liking the wrong guys." Tay shrugged a bit and moved towards the door. "I supposed you've seen those qualities listed in any job specs recently, huh?" She wasn't looking forward to getting out of school. Who would want to hire a clutz who couldn't stand straight? Maybe her parents would hire her, though that made her shudder just at the very thought of it. Then again, she'd probably cause more harm than good in their shop, if she was honest.

She couldn't help but ask about the girl thing, he was just looking so awkward. Tay couldn't really tell a reaction from him, but there was something in his voice when he spoke that hinted off embarrassment. She watched as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and tried to act natural. "You didn't seem to awkward a few months ago at the party in the common room when playing that trivia game Ash started up - and you had Millie near you then!"

Heading out of the door, Tay sighed. Now to begin the long and painful trek down to the right classroom...

[quof1]

Kingsley just shrugged. "well...no, I haven't. but I also haven't seen any that said you couldn't have those—talents, so you might be alright." He lips turned up into a small smile. He couldn't help but put a positive spin on things every now and then, it helped him process them better, though he really wasn't sure why. When he found things confusing or stressful, he made a joke about it, end of story. It didn't fit in with most people's impression of him, but it was an effective tactic so he really didn’t care.

He jumped on any opportunity to move the conversation away from his apparent failings, so he said with emphasis, “yeah, but that’s because I was too busy trying not to get whooped by him in that game, so it pretty much took all of my concentration.” He wasn’t really sure how to acknowledge her comment about Millie though, as she was a very pretty girl, and he had noticed—so instead he just said. “And there’s just something to be said about the whole one on one thing.” Well, he certainly wasn’t holding information back from her, was he? That wasn’t the kind of thing you should admit to someone who despite having gone to school with for four years he’d never really talked to all that much, but Kingsley always been a little too open for his own good. He didn’t like to hold things back from people, it there was a problem then it was easiest to just get it out, and then he and the other person could work it out from there. This also got him into trouble though, because he when he had an opinion, he let the world know about it, regardless of how controversial it was. There was reason he already had a reputation among some of the Slyhterin’s.

[Abigail 'Tay' Frazier]

Tay let out a small laugh. "I need to start thinking as positively as you do, I really do." Still, knowing her luck she wouldn't even make it into an interview room without landing flat on her face and causing complete mayhem. She'd walked into the bookstore in Diagon Alley once and a whole shelf of books had ended up tipped onto the floor, and she still hadn't quite figured out how she managed it.

Tay glanced over at Kingsley and raised an eyebrow. "You seemed to have something against him... I just got the feeling there was more there than met the eye." Well, Ash was known as a prankster and a daredevil, so it was more than likely that Kingsley had ended up on the wrong side of one of Ash's pranks or something. She'd been quite lucky when it came to Ash and his brother. They'd never actually pranked her even though she'd have made an easy target. If anything, Ash had acted like a bit of a friend towards her, which was sweet, though she could never really work out his reasons.

Tay was a little stumped at what to say. One on one? That did he mean by that? "So... you're saying that if you were standing in a room with a dozen girls who were all talking to you right now you'd be fine? But when it's just me on my own there's a problem?" She grinned, wonder what his answer would be.

The started down the stairs to the floor below and Tay sighed, hating the way her ankle protested every time she put her weight on it. As much as she'd rather go to the hospital, she didn't want to deal with any more stairs just yet. "Nearly there, thankfully."