[april break | double date] don't be happier — shelby | jr | bean

APRIL 2004

SHELBY'S HOUSE, LIZARD, CORNWALL

Tomie bounced impatiently on her feet, hovering by the window. Outside, she could see her brother and his friend engaged in some kind of play fighting and a part of her felt jealous; it looked fun and simple and more fun than a date, or — especially — a double date.

There were some nerves there today, for some reason, but she didn’t really feel nervous. Maybe it was actually just excitement? Tomie and JR had been hanging out — on dates, she supposed, if she was getting technical about it — since February, so it wasn’t like this was any different, though. Things had been kind of awkward back then with Shelby, after the whole kiss debacle, but they weren’t so awkward now. Especially after a week of living in her house. And she didn’t have anything against Bean; he was nice, and she was nice to him and they hadn’t really ever been anything other than nice to each other.

There was definitely an element of paranoia about her parents somehow finding out about her and JR, even though they were literally in a different hemisphere right now. What if one of their friends saw her holding hands with him in Diagon Alley? What if they came back from Indonesia early for some reason and saw her themselves?? Tomie made herself stop bouncing because the bouncing was getting quicker and it wasn’t helping.

She was excited to see JR; their friend— uh, relationship was really strong right at this moment. (A part of her felt reluctant to attribute it to the whole girlfriend-boyfriend thing. They were just closer, was all).

Tomie turned as Shelby came back into the room. She gave her friend an easy half-smile. “That’s what you’re wearing?” she asked, her tone light.

In the washroom, Shelby pinched her cheeks. They stayed pink for a moment, right after she released her fingers, but then faded back to just -- well. Shelby skin color. She wished she had called Freya to do her makeup, but Tomie wouldn't be doing makeup, and that would just be too much, wouldn't it?

She already felt like she was doing too much -- the dress she and Freya had gotten last summer still fit, but it was too cool in London for it today. Meanwhile, the outfit she had settled on -- the starry top and some cuffed black trousers, still felt like too much. Her hair was already coming out of her long braid already.

Shelby felt beautiful. Shelby felt ridiculous.

She had left Tomie to change in her room -- it was nice, having Tomie over for Easter. It was almost like February had never happened. They were almost back to normal. Almost. There was still a little roiling in her stomach any time they sat in silence too long, or sat too close to each other at dinner.

But it was okay! Because today they were going to go on a totally normal Double Date with their Slytherin Boyfriends. Shelby took a deep breath and left the bathroom, the dress drapped over one arm.

That what you're wearing?

Shelby flushed, finally getting the pink in her cheeks that she wanted. "Is it too much?"  she asked, looking at Tomie's outfit. No different than any other day and effortlessly cool. Shelby pulled at the end of her braid.