The Goldstein Girl

4: Eleven-Year-Old Tension

Quinn skipped down the halls, passing by students and saying hello when talked to, hugging a leather satchel close to her chest. She slammed it gently down onto the table in front of Tina. Tina was so startled, she choked on a carrot.

"I told you I had an extra." Quinn simply stated.

Tina reached out for the bag and admired it in her hands for a moment before slipping her books, papers, and quills into it. Quinn sat down and placed her own bag at her feet.

"I was thinking, if we want to be friends, we should know more about each other."

Tina swallowed nervously, which Quinn didn't notice. She was too busy grabbing some bread and smearing some butter across its grainy surface. She took a bite, and, through a mouthful, she asked,

"So, I told you about my brother. What about you? Do you have siblings?"

Tina shifted slightly in her seat, "I have a little sister. Her name's Queenie."

That must've been the little blonde girl Quinn had seen at park. Quinn swallowed the bread she was chewing and went on.

"And what about your family? Mom? Dad? What're they like?" Quinn asked.

Tina bowed her head as she flushed a deep shade of pink.

Quinn saw this, "Did I make you uncomfortable? I'm so sorry. My mom says that I'm too pushy sometimes."

Tina shook her head, "No. It's fine, uh. Me and my sister live with our grandparents. My parents died three years ago."

Now it was Quinn's turn to flush pink, "I'm sorry. I understand. I really do. I lost my father when I was seven."

Tina met Quinn's eye, "You did?"

Quinn nodded and gave her a comforting smile. Tina and Quinn finished their individual portions before leaving the Dining Hall. Quinn told stories about her brother as the girls walked and Tina listened quietly. Finally, Tina's silence had burned so much, Quinn wanted to know why.

"You don't talk much."

Tina swallowed and flushed a deep shade of pink, "I'm not used to. My sister's a Legilimens." at Quinn's look of confusion, Tina dumbed her statement down for the no-maj born, "She can read minds, so I've gotten accustomed to not talking."

Quinn furrowed her brows and nodded in understanding but wasn't quite convinced that was the reason.

"Well, I'm not a Legilimens. You can talk away with me." Quinn said, plain and simple.

Tina smiled. She actually did have a lot to say, but she when she talked about her family, she only told brief stories about her parents when they were alive and Queenie. When Quinn asked where Tina lived, she stated In Queens with my grandparents, but didn't further on it. Quinn almost asked again but decided against it.

Tina would tell Quinn on her own time. If she wasn't comfortable talking about home life yet, that was cool. Quinn and Tina walked through the halls for so long, Quinn didn't know what time it was until she yawned. Looking out the window, she said,

"We should probably head to our rooms." Quinn suggested.

Tina nodded, gave Quinn a tight hug, and hugged her new bag tightly again.

"Thanks again." Tina told Quinn.

Quinn nodded, "No problem. Anything for you."

Tina smiled and the girls stood in the hall for another good five minutes just looking at each other. Finally, Quinn shook her head.

"Night, Tina."

Tina nodded and started to turn down the hall, "Night, Quinn. See you tomorrow."

Quinn smiled and nodded. She made her way to her dorm and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Anything for you? What were you thinking? What is going on? Quinn, get yourself together!

Quinn lay there with her thoughts until, finally, she drifted off to sleep. Little did she know, Tina was lying wide awake- thinking about the very same thing.