Afternoon Studies (Open)

[Reed Brennan]

Reed headed to the library with a few books in hand. She had planned on getting most of the books she needed when she got there. She had long sleeves and pants on even though the bright sun made it hot. Her excuse was that she was cold, but she knew better. Reed didn't want to draw attention to the huge dark bruises that covered her legs and arms.

After searching the Library for an empty table, she chose one in a corner away from the windows. Reed dropped her stuff on the table and went to look for the books she needed.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

Gabby entered the library, she was pretty sure that there would be no slytherins in there and she was looking for somewhere just to relax for a while. But as she drew further into the library, she saw someone's stuff on a table. She tensed, just hoping it wasn't a slytherin, Gabby waited for the belonging's owner to reappear.

[Reed Brennan]

Reed turned back to her table with at least five books in hand. They felt heavy under her weak arms, but it was just another symptom she dismissed. She dropped them on her table gently and was about to head back to collect when she noticed another girl there. It was another Gryffindor. "Oh." Reed said in shock. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. Hello." She said with her American accent. She always noticed the difference when she was in a room of people with a different one. In this case, it was mostly English.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

"hi," Gabby said with a smile, "I hope I didn't shock you at all. I'm Gabby." Gabby could see that this new girl was also a gryffindor and so probably wasn't going to attack her, Gabby relaxed for the first time in days.

[Reed Brennan]

Reed shook her head. "No, not at all." She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. Reed noticed her sleeve began to ride up so she quickly tugged at it so it would come back down. "I think I've seen you around." From a distance, Reed had noticed her. "I'm Reed Brennan." She said holding out her hand. "Seventh year." Red always presented herself with her year. It somehow made her feel proud.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

"Fourth year," Gabby replied. "so how are you?" Gabby asked, she had immediately liked Reed and hoped the feeling was mutual.

[Reed Brennan]

"Great." Reed lied, though it was almost as natural as her accent. "And you?" A sharp pain shot through her back, but Reed ignored it. It was nothing out of the ordinary, but she could never prepare herself for it. She missed speaking with her brother, but she knew as soon as she saw him he would know. And then he would freak out by trying to convince her to get help. And she wasn't going back to that. Ever.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

"Not so great, but I'll survive," Gabby said truthfully, "To be honest, I came in here to escape some people and get some peace and quiet." Gabby elaborated on her current situation.

[Reed Brennan]

"Would you like to talk about it?" Reed offered. "I mean, I know you don't really know me, but sometimes the best way to talk is to a complete stranger." She sat down at the tables and slid her massive pile of books and scrolls over so she could see across the table at the empty seat.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

Gabby went over and sat down opposite Reed, she was liking her more with every passing moment. "Well I did a few stuoid things and now a group of older slytherin girls hate me and so have made my life a misery,2 Gabby smiled sourly, "that about sums it up" she said, a little bitterly.

[Reed Brennan]

"Don't be afraid of the Slytherins. They pretty much take pleasure in intimidating others, especially those who are younger in age and of the opposing house. In fact, i'm sure there are even more that you will meet that will hate you as well." After delivering that bit of unwelcoming information, Reed tried to lighten it up. "On the plus side, it gets easier after a while." Reed wasn't sure if that was exactly true, but she also didn't know how to say anything to comfort the girl. Reed wasn't built to comfort and support. She was bold and blunt.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

"But they have reasons to hate me," Gabby said, looking down at her hands. "I'm going out with Ryan, an ex of one of the girls, they hate me for it even though I've done nothing wrong." Gabby neglected to mention the nightby the lake, she just wanted to be able to forget it. Everything at school had gone wrong, things were supposed to be simple. A single tear slid down Gabby's cheek and she quickly wiped it away.

[Reed Brennan]

Reed was quite for a moment as she thought. "Maybe it's not you they're trying to get back at. For them, the goal is bigger. The could be trying to get back at your boyfriend and you just happened to be a little bonus to them." She had taken this theory from her brother. It was something she mentioned to him before she started, sort of as a warning.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

Gabby looked up at Reed, "I suppose, although every time they see me I seem to be a target for another spell." Gabby ran a finger along where her scar lay, thinking that if she wasn't careful she would end up with another on soon.

[Reed Brennan]

"Don't let them take advantage of you. Be strong, fight back even if it is only defending yourself. But make sure you are not alone because, no offense, but you are quite a bit younder than they are and therefore considered an amateur. They've been at the for years, probably." Reed said, she was really getting into this advising thing. She pushed a pen that had rolled over to her forearm back slightly.