Some Badgers like Snakes

Elle

"Hey." Abby slid into me.
"Uh hey." I responded a little confused by her enthusiasm.
I felt bad thinking it but I'd honestly forgotten about Abby over the course of the last week. She was just so moody I usually hung out with Lavender, and more recently Jacob.
"Where've you been?" She asked.
"Oh, the library, studying." I responded casually.
"Glad to see you're finally taking school seriously. Who were you with?" Abby asked intently.
"No one." I lied almost too quickly.
She shot me a look,
"Well now you have to tell me."
"I wasn't with anyone. I woke up and went to the library, alone." I stressed, that wasn't technically a lie.
She didn't seem satisfied but she let it go. "Whatever."
Abby could be so pushy.
"What are you doing?" I asked, sidestepping farther questioning.
She lit up, "Quidditch tryouts, I've already got my spot but it's my duty as a member of the team to be there for all quidditch related events." She puffed up her chest and stuck her nose in the air.
I tried not to roll my eyes.
Abby was a good quidditch player, but by no means someone ready to play for the World Cup; you would never know that by listening to her though.
She talked about the team like they were playing big matches against different countries instead of being a bunch of pubescent teenagers playing against fellow students.
Quidditch already wasn't my thing, but Abby could make me hate it!
"I mean, I don't technically have to go, but I think it's nice for young kids trying out to see their favourite players cheering them on. I mean if it were me who had to try out again..."
I tuned her out.
Abby was nice, one of my closest friends, but boy could she get on my nerves.
She always seemed to know how to get under my skin, whether intentionally or not. Whenever she talked about quidditch or school she just got...haughty. She thought she was better than everyone else because she'd made the quidditch team, because she got great grades, because she was every teacher's favourite.
She was annoying.
I felt bad thinking about my friend this way but the truth was we were just always butting heads.
If I hadn't finished all my work, she lectured me on the importance of punctuality and work ethic.
If I forgot to meet her after school and was a few minutes late, cue the long rant about honouring your commitments.
Heaven forbid I don't place all my energy on becoming head girl, you already know there was about to be a record-breakingly long speech on planning for the future coming my way.
"Elle!" Abby snapped her fingers in front of my eyes.
I jumped, "What?"
"Elle!" She barked. "Pay attention. I asked if you were coming to watch tryouts this afternoon."
"Oh...uh." I started nervously.
I honestly hadn't even considered going.
"I don't know. I have a lot of stuff to do. Plus I don't think I'd be able to make it up the steps of the viewing towers. Sorry." I made up a hasty excuse, glad to see it came out somewhat logical.
"Seriously?! You'll go to some random tryout for fun but not to your best friend's?! What kind of so called 'friend' are you?!" She demanded angrily.
"Look, I'm sorry! My ankle was just broken last night, chill! I still go to all your games, I just can't make it to this tryout, that you're not even playing in by the way!" I shouted back.
What was her problem?!
"All I'm saying is it would be nice if my best friend would actually pay attention to me and my life for once." She glared at me and stomped off down the hall towards the dormitories.
"Arragh!"I threw my hands up in exasperation. She was crazy sometimes. I marched down the halls grumbling to myself. I headed out to the courtyard for some fresh air and sat down right under the biggest tree. I sat there silently for a few seconds, trying to work the anger out of my system. I pulled out my notebook and began doodling in the margins. I felt a little odd as it wasn't like I was the brooding, artistic type who could sit outside sketching and look normal. I was just a frustrated teenage girl who needed something simple to do for a few minutes. I drew some small things for a little while as I waited to calm down.
I wasn't an angry person, but when I got riled up I stayed that way.
I'd already felt off after Ethan and that Victoria girl cornered us in the library and Abby being so psychotic had not helped.
I sighed and put my book down. The September leaves were already beginning to change into crisp autumn colours. The morning sun was still beating down on us and the air had a cool, clean scent. It was so relaxing to just sit there, take it in, listen to the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze, watch the odd student walk down the exposed hallway, laughing and talking. I could hear my breath slowly returning to a normal relaxed state.
I heard something else.
A scratching sound, rough then smooth then sharply rough again. I peeked around to the other side of the tree wondering what it could be.
I saw someone's back and pale scarred hands.
"I didn't know you were here too." I smiled.
Jacob whipped around, startled, and began hastily trying to cover up whatever he'd been doing.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you I was just sitting on the other side of the tree. I heard you. I'm sorry." I stumbled over my quick apology.
"I'll-I'll leave, I didn't mean to bother you." I started to crawl backwards.
"No, no, it's fine; really." He mumbled collecting himself.
"I swear I didn't know you were there. I..." I started to ramble again.
"Seriously, Elle." He cut me off,
"It's not a big deal."
I sighed relieved.
"Sorry. You just looked so peaceful and I ruined it. I feel bad." I hung my head.
He laughed assuringly.
"I was just...sketching. I do it all the time. It's not a big deal." He smiled.
"Besides, I kind of like spending time with you." I looked up at him, his unsure, almost cocky, completely adorable smirk was slowly crawling up his face.
"Well then I guess you're lucky I don't completely hate you either." I jabbed back.
He laughed, I laughed with him.
"What were you drawing?" I asked curiously, trying to subtly peek at his paper.
He moved his hand to cover it, blocking it from my view.
"Stuff." He responded anxiously.
"Oh, stuff, yes yes. I do believe I've heard of that." I responded stuffily.
He tried not to smile, I could tell.
"Come on tell me. I promise I won't make fun of you." I bat my eyelashes and tried to be as persuasive as possible.
Jacob chuckled.
"It's not done yet. I'll show you something else."
He reached down and thumbed through a few pages before settling on something and reluctantly handing it over to me.
I unfolded the crisp parchment.
It was a landscape, almost like a photograph.
"This is so good." I whispered breathlessly.
He blushed, "You-you think so?"
"Um yeah I think so! Look at this! Jacob you're amazing!" I pointed at the drawing.
"Seriously, how?! The best thing I can draw is little hearts, maybe flowers if I'm lucky." I confessed in awe.
"I just do it in my free time." He mumbled.
"How much free time do you have?" I asked baffled.
He laughed uncomfortably, "A lot, I guess."
"Can you show me anything else?" I grinned hopefully.
"Well I don't know. I've never really shown anyone before." He mumbled nervously taking the sketch from my hands and tucking it back into his book.
"Well you've already shown me once, may as well do it again." I shrugged.
He rolled his eyes but smiled.
I moved in closer and sat beside him. He showed me drawings of a whole bunch of different stuff. Most of them were of people, or buildings, or nature scenes. He had a few different more abstract things that he tried to skip over without me seeing.
"Those are amazing! So SO good!" I told him again.
"Thanks." He responded quietly.
"Wait. What's that one?" I asked pulling the corner of a crumpled paper I hadn't seen yet.
"No! No don't-" Jacob tried to stop me but it was too late.
"What...What's this?" I asked confused.
It was a picture of a girl, a girl who looked a lot like me.
"Is this me?" I whispered.
"I...uh, w-well, you see..." he stammered reaching for the drawing.
I pulled it away, I couldn't take my eyes off it.
"Jake..." I held my breath.
He started rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"I love it!"
"I'm sorry I just...wait what?" He asked, an unfathomable look on his face for some reason.
"Seriously, stop putting yourself down, this is wonderful! Thank you!" I hugged him.
His shoulders softened and he hugged back.
"I'm uh...glad you like it." He mumbled awkwardly, blushing a little.
"This is the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me." I grinned.
He looked up at me sheepishly.
I couldn't hold back, "Thank you."
I pecked him lightly on the cheek.
He froze, his eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. I hid my smile as best I could.
"Goodbye." I chuckled and stood up.
"Uh huh." He mumbled airily, staring straight ahead, still looking like a deer caught in headlights
I bit my lip, snickered, and ran off as quickly as I could.
I was shaking. What did I just do?
Why-why did I do that? What?!
I kept running, pressing the paper to my chest so I wouldn't drop it.
I...I...I kissed him!
Well kind of, it was more like a friend kiss, that was a thing right? Yeah yeah sure it is. It's definitely a real thing. Friend kisses, happens all the time! Not romantic whatsoever!
I tried desperately to assure myself that whatever I'd just done meant nothing.
Aw who was I kidding, I had just kissed Jacob!
Jacob, the kid I'd met on my first day. Jacob, the kid of hated for three years. Jacob, the kid who's become my friend and secret crush in a matter of weeks.
I was a wreck!
I was stupid, I was immature, I was really really happy!
I tried to make it to my dorm unnoticed. I tacked my portrait up to the wall and stepped back to admire it. I flopped down on my bed and sighed, another interesting day.