Taking a Walk (Anna and Michael)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael led Anna along the shore of the lake, walking slowly towards a place he knew well. "How's this?" he asked, looking down at her and smiling. There was a soft breeze blowing, remnants of the storm from the night before.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle looked up at him with a genuine smile still on her face. "Thanks, I've never really liked crowded places. This is much nicer." It wasn't that she didn't like people, she was fine one-on-one or in small groups, she was just never a social butterfly. The breeze blew a tendril of her hair across her face which she reached up and tucked behind her ear.

"You know, you've been on my mind a lot too." Annabelle confessed quietly with a blush. She'd wanted to return his sentiment in the Three Broomsticks, but the moment had come and gone without an opportunity. After all he'd divulged to her, she wanted to at least share this with him. She'd been thinking about it since as they walked, and decided if she didn't just get it out, she never would.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Oh really," he said, a smile playing on his lips as he looked down on her. Thoughts raced through his mind and he looked away, chewing on his lip and staring ahead of him. Her hair had blown away from her neck, trailing against her skin and bringing thoughts to his mind which he fought hard to not act out. The moment passed as the place he had been heading towards came into view.

It was a small stand of trees right by the shore, shading the water and the grass. "I found this place before the attack," he said, smiling as he looked at it.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"It looks peaceful." Annabelle commented, thinking it would be a nice place to sit and read. "You seem to have a habit of finding trees to hang out in." She recalled the cluster of trees that she'd met him at. She turned from the scenery and chanced a look at him, still attempting to get her cheeks back to their normal color.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael smiled as he pushed up a limp and ducked beneath it. "Yeah, well, you find these places when you want privacy as much as I have the last few months," he looked at her, grinning slightly at the color of her cheeks.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Yeah, I'd imagine so." Annabelle found a spot near the bank with a nice patch of grass at the base of a decent sized tree trunk. Letting go of Michael's hand for the first time since they'd left the shop, she gathered up her robes and sat down. She leaned against the tree trunk and craned her neck to look at Michael standing above her. "I like the same type of quiet places, but for completely different reasons. I usually escape to just get lost in a book to appease my curiosity, quest for knowledge, or sate my need for a good fictional story.”

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Yeah well," Michael said, sitting down beside her. "I think we're going to be finding some quiet places and privacy for entirely different reasons than we used to." He grinned at her and bent his legs in front of him, resting his arms on his knees.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle wondered if Slytherins had a special class to teach them subtle inuendo. She was never the best at flirting, and hoped her blush wasn't returning again. "Oh really?" She said with a smile, trying to tease him back.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael smiled, "Mhm, I think we'll be getting to know each other very well." He knew he wasn't going to go very far, most would be surprised to know how little he had actually done.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle bit her lip and looked at her shoes, her legs stretched out straight in front of her. "Um, Michael?" she said a bit unsure, pausing a moment before taking a breath and continuing in a stronger voice. "If you're dating me cause you think you'll get lucky, you might as well leave." She continued to look away, hoping he wouldn't go.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael was speechless for a few moments, but then took Anna's hand. "That's nowhere near why I'm dating you. I'm sorry if I gave off the wrong impression, it was just a bit of fun." He paused and reached out, taking her chin lightly and turning her head to face him. "I'm actually a virgin," he said, looking into her eyes. The word sounded slightly harsh to his ears, but it was the truth, something he had never told anyone.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle quickly turned her upper body to face Michael and leaned in, embracing him in a tight hug. She burried her head against his shoulder. She was rellieved that her trust in him hadn't been misplaced, and that her lingering doubt had been addressed in words. "I'm sorry. I'm just paranoid about that. I had a bad relationship and all....."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael hugged her close and kissed the area just above her ear. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly. How someone could hurt a girl like her, he had no idea, it was unfathomable to him.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle sighed and settled in comfortably against him. She breathed in his scent, taking comfort from it. "I was with my boyfriend for about a year. I guess cause he was the first guy that ever asked me out, I felt like I had to make it work. He was really good at guilt trips and would make me feel bad." She paused to gather her thoughts and went on. "He always wanted to go farther than I was comfortable with, and would try to pressure me. I guess I'm just afraid other guys will be like that." She felt better that it was off her chest but hoped that he wouldn't think she was over reacting.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"It's understandable, most guys are pigs," Michael said, holding her close. "And I'll admit," he said, sighing, "That I did use girls at one point and time, but my conscience would always butt in before I took it too far. But how anyone could do that to you....I honestly don't know."