Friends are the family we choose ourselves -- Late Fall 2012

I had seen Declan retreating towards the library and I was so not going to let him do that.  I caught up to him easily and nudged him playfully.  "What do you think you're doing?  You're being antisocial again, Dec," I pointed out to him playfully.

I looked over and saw Elliot.  I chuckled and shrugged.  "I didn't realize working on schoolwork was being antisocial," I responded.  "I thought it was trying to get proper grades..."

I rolled my eyes at him.  "You always have proper grades," I countered.  Declan was one of the smartest wizards of his year, so he need not worry about such mundane things.  Not that I would ever let my parents hear me say that grades were mundane -- nor Abel.  I think my brother would have a panic attack if I said I did not care as much about grades as he did.  "You need to have some fun, too, Dec."

"Elliot," I said to her.  "I don't know why you take such an interest in me."  She was a year older, but she instantly got to be very attuned to me.  I had no idea why, but she was nice.  I loved Elliot.  I really hoped that she was not interested in anything but friendship... I did not like her that way.  I hardly looked at girls in general...

I grinned at him.  "Because you're my project," I teased, winking at Declan.  I sighed when he rolled his eyes.  "Come on... let's just go enjoy ourselves.  You deserve a break..." I gave him my best pouty face I could muster up.

I stared incredulously at Elliot.  "I'm your project?  Who do you think you are?" I asked, though I knew she was not listening.  I did not necessarily enjoy being her project.  I sighed.  "Fine, we can go do something."

I ignored him when he was starting to argue about being a project.  I led him away from his work.  "We won't do anything that will make you too troublesome, Dec," I said to him with a smile.

I rolled my eyes, but honestly, I enjoyed Elliot's company and constant nagging of becoming a trouble maker.  I mean, I did need to loosen up and I was glad that I had a good mate like Elliot.  "Whatever you say," I said to her, conceding easily enough.  "But I don't believe you that you wont' make it something big... that's all you ever do, mate."

I laughed at Declan.  "You are right about that," I said to him simply.  "I do tend to make things into something big rather than small... I'll try to behave, though, Dec."

I looked at Elliot with an obvious sort of look on my face.  "You just repeated what I said, Elliot," I pointed out to her blankly.  I chuckled at her, though.  "What's your plan then, if we're not going to be too troublesome?"

I rolled my eyes at Declan.  "I haven't decided yet," I told him honestly.  "I normally fly by the seat of my pants."  I got to the landing and looked around.  "Let's go this way."  I could hear some kids and wondered if they needed help or if I wanted to prank them or something.

I sighed, following Elliot.  I towered over her -- she barely stood at my shoulders.  I thought it was rather entertaining... but I was a rather tall fellow.  "Elliot, you do realize that I don't do well with sneaking around," I said to her.  "Not only am I somewhat against it, but I am a lurch."

I stopped moving and looked at Declan, realizing that he was rather large.  I mean, he had to be at least 6'6".  I grinned at him.  "Lurch you might be... you can still be sneaky sometimes," I pointed out to him.

I sighed, she was not going ot take no for an answer.  I looked over at Elliot. "Sometimes," I said to Elliot indifferently.  "But that's very rare.'

I rolled my eyes at him.  "Well, make this one of those times," I said to him simply, continuing down the stairs so he could nto really argue with me.