The Other Real World (open)

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo's gaze was locked onto that message, and not least the friendly wink she'd ended it with. He took shallow breaths, trying to think of what to do, or even what he could write, but it was hard enough making himself interpret what she'd said. It looked like an invitation, and he steeled himself before looking up, away from the screen, to see the flesh-and-blood person on the other end of the conversation. Maybe he thought he'd see a mocking smirk. Maybe a come-hither smile, or maybe no reaction at all. He didn't have a thought to the hesitant hopefulness on his own face, or the swirling mix of desire to act and fear of doing so, of being rejected, in his eyes.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna wondered after she'd sent the message if it was the right thing to do. Her own cheeks tinted at the thought of how forward her words were. She wouldn't have ever dared if it hadn't been for that look on his face or what his flushed skin tone had revealed contrary to the words they silently exchanged. When she next glanced up she hadn't expected to see his pale eyes looking back, the worries and thoughts written on his face an evident reflection of her own. She forced herself to release her lower lip - not even remembering nervously biting on it - and gave a small smile.

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo was so shocked for a moment to see her smile that it didn't quite register in his mind. Then the idea struck that maybe she was smiling at him, and though that made little sense, he managed a shy smile back. He was at a complete loss as to what to do after that. He wanted to look away, to pull up his blog and pour feelings he couldn't identify into the faceless ether of cyberspace, but he couldn't do it. It was hard enough parting his lips to speak, and even then he had to clear his throat to do it, as his first attempt at speech felt more like a choking sound. "So, um... hi..." He immediately wished he'd said nothing at all.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle's lips parted in grin, barely managing not to giggle at how absurd the two of them were. It was almost like their interaction before they'd typed back and forth online hadn't existed and she was speaking to him in person for the first time. She folded the top of her laptop down with a click, not taking her eyes off him. She was comforted by the fact that he was as red as she knew she must be, and felt ridiculous uttering a soft "Hi."

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo's smile had broadened reflexively when hers had, and he had little in the way of thought besides a repetition of she's smiling at me! before she closed her laptop. He suddenly remembered his own, and had a sudden flash of some of the things he'd written. Was she smiling at him or laughing at him? She was so out of his league! "So, um... you write well." He winced at himself and wished her computer was still open so they could go on as they'd been before.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Thanks, I'm getting better perhaps. I'm a bit of a bookworm, in case you didn't guess. I've read so much I think I just started picking up the styles and copying them." " Anna gestured to the store surrounding them before placing her hand on top of the other one already resting on her closed laptop. She realized then that he was probably just saying that to say something, it's not like he'd ever read any real things that she'd written. She felt silly for going on like she had. "I mean, I had some time on my hands last year to really get into writing more, blogs and articles and forums and such. You write those things too right? I've never met another witch or wizard that was online before."

[Indigo Noble]

"Oh, um... there aren't many," Indigo said, glad that she was talking. Maybe she'd keep talking and he wouldn't have to risk making an idiot out of himself. Girls liked to talk, right? Especially about themselves? Well, the ones online did. "And yeah, I write stuff. It's crap, though. Complete crap." He looked away, not entirely sure it was crap, considering the comments he got, but he didn't want her to ask to read it and then decide that it was stupid or he was a complete tool.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"I doubt it's that bad, or bad at all even. You're pretty good at expressing yourself with words. What type of things do you usually write about? I mean, I doubt there's much of an online quidditch following or anything like that. Sorry, that's such a stereotype, you might not even like quidditch, or muggle sports, I know several guys that don't. "She knew she was rambling and tried to make herself stop talking as much before he decided it might be better to chance the trek in the snow. "I have a literary review blog, and then a couple personal blogs and forums I'm part of, you know, talking about girl stuff." She hoped he'd think that meant shoes, clothes, makeup, and all those other girly things that she hardly paid attention to. It was better for him to think she was into pointless things like that then to ask to read them. She'd only asked about his to try and learn about his interests, she had no desire to ask to see them for fear that he'd expect the same.

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo shrugged. "I don't know, just stuff, I guess. Nothing interesting." He was really bad at this whole talking to people thing, and was beginning to realize why he'd never had a real girlfriend before. Why had she had to close her computer? He could still be impressing her instead of drowning in a sea of personal suck.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

The silence was deafening. Annabelle flicked her tongue out against her lips selfconsiously. She thought for sure he'd been flirting and showing interest but why hadn't he tried to do anything? She had practically begged him to hold her hand at least but he had ignored her suggestion. Part of her insisted that he wasn't interested....but she knew she hadn't imagined that sheepish look or the rose tinted flesh and was all to familiar with the feelings behind them.

Just do something! There's no reason why he should have to make the first move! Anna had an internal debate over the topic while the silence drove on. She finally gave I'm and extended her hand across the space between them so it was resting just on his arm rest, palm up in invitation. She had initiated much more then hand holding with Chase but only after she had been confidant with kissing him. Instigaing something from the begining was completely new to her and she voiced the fact to him. "I'm not good at this sort of thing, but if you're interested...you know, if you want to...like hold hands and, or maybe sit by me or something?" Anna felt so foolish and looked down so she wouldn't haave to she his look of rejection or even worse, amusement. She knew she must sound mental and slowly started to pull her hand back.

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo had sat in complete shock at what she'd said, and might not have believed his own ears except for that delicate, feminine hand that was now pulling away. Take it! part of his mind shouted. Take it! Take it now, just do it! He couldn't, though, not that fast, and he watched with regret as the chance passed him by. There was a feeling of relief at no longer having the decision to make, but he wasn't sure it was enough to hide that niggling regret.

But she'd said he could sit by her, hadn't she? He was sure he looked like a complete idiot sitting there with his laptop open and the slideshow screensaver flashing the occasional light over his chest, and thought maybe she'd changed her mind about the whole thing. And maybe you're slow as a bundimun and half as smart, he taunted himself.

It took him nearly thirty seconds to make up his mind, but in the end he slid his laptop shut and forced himself to stand. He paused, then turned, and without looking at her, sat down as close as he dared, subtly resting his hand beside him on the couch. It twitched slightly as he tried to move it closer, but he wasn't sure, and if she didn't want to, he didn't want to make her feel like he had to. He looked aside at her, hardly turning his head to do so, terrified, excited, and wishing he'd taken off his hoodie, because all of a sudden he felt far too warm.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna was in the middle of contemplating how she could manage to relocate behind the closed door of her upstairs room to wallow in mortification and leave Indigo to fend for himself. Out of the corner of her eye she watched him silently move to the cushion next to her. With her head lowered, she couldn't see his face, but had a perfect view of her lap, the couch in the space between them, and the hand he lay therebetween them. She thought perhaps she saw it make to move toward her but chalked it up to imagination.

It was hard to think with so many thoughts pouring through her head. Her stomach felt like it was doing flips, and she was sure she hadn't felt this giddy in a long time. Her fingers itched with anticipation before moving her own hand slowly over next to his. She kept her gaze down and watched as her pinky brushed up against his waiting hand. She tried desperately not to visably shiver at the slight contact.

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo's hand jerked almost imperceptibly at her touch. He didn't get much physical contact of any kind, beyond accidentally brushing against someone in the busy Great Hall, and it was a shock to his system. He refused to pull back, though. He wouldn't retreat, not when he'd come this far, and her hand was moving over his, palm to palm. Her skin was so soft, and he dared himself to curve his hand around hers, to legitimately hold it in lieu of speaking. He turned his head a bit further to see if she was looking at him, his heart pounding.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle watched their hands slowly move to hold each other and let out a breath she'd been holding when she felt the slight pressure of his fingers against her hand. She could all too vividly remember the last time she'd held someone's hand and the embrace that followed, but quickly reminded herself that it had been a platonic exchange between friends and pushed all thoughts of him away.

Instead she focused on this new interest; the warmth of the hand, the nerves running through her body. She realized it must have been nearly two years since she'd kissed someone and wondered in slight panic if you could forget how to do such things. Not that Annabelle ever considered herself an expert on the topic, but she'd always enjoyed such exchanges and the thought of being a disappointment due to lack of practice was unsettling. Annabelle self-consciously ran her tongue across her lips as she lifted and turned her head to face the silent challenge they'd instigated.

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo had been watching from the corner of his eye, but it still took a moment before he realized that she was looking at him. She hadn't said a word and he didn't know what to do, whether he should try talking again or look at her or something else he hadn't even thought of yet. It was probably that. He wasn't known, in person anyway, for his excellent social skills.

Finally he did look at her. Not from any conscious decision, but because he'd forgotten she'd be looking back, and was hoping for some clue about what he was supposed to be doing.

He didn't get that clue. He was stunned by how close she was, by how pretty she was, and when he remembered, by the fact that his hand was wrapped around hers. It was hard to believe, and even harder when he realized he couldn't feel her hand. Something about the way they were settled together had made him unable to feel anything past the pullse of blood in his wrist, the way one wasn't constantly aware of the clothing one wore, or the air breathed in and out all day. He wanted to move his hand, to feel it again and be sure he wasn't hallucinating, but what if she thought he was letting go?

What was he supposed to do now? Did he kiss her? Would she slap him if he tried? He'd never kissed anyone before, so he'd probably mess up, and if he tried and she actually let him and he messed up, would she laugh at him? He was frozen, too unsure to make any decision at all.