it's like chasing the last train ;; {RosieRosie!}

[Teddy Lupin]

Teddy shuffled down the path towards Hogsmede, students coming and going by him. His hair was a dark russet color, hiding himself from the suddenly increase of looks from girls. He couldn't lie, he had gotten asked quiet a numerous time to this dance the following weekend, but they had all be turned down. Not that they were ugly or weird or he wasn't interested, he just had one girl set in his mind. Besides, he was sick of the giggling girls who kept flirting him and asking him to change his hair. Did they think he enjoyed showing off or something to them? He particularly did not enjoy the shows he put on numerous times, he was quiet happy with his turquoise hair. And that was too much of a give away, he had heard that there would be a herd of fourth years trying to get a shot at him today. Oh how he hated his powers sometimes.

No, but he did have one girl on his mind he had been meaning to ask. He was trying all week to do it, but she was fairly busy with other things. And when she was around, he hate to admit it, but he would get cold feet. And since there usually was a crowd around, he rather not ask her around them in case she just went with him because she didn't want to embarrass him in front of their friends. No, they would have to do this in private, and with the announcement of a Hogsmead trip this weekend, well he couldn't help but let the door of opportunity strike. He had planned it out, he had taken her potions book the other day, saying he had to borrow it for a moment and left a note asking her to meet his at Three Broom Sticks. He had made the note as less obvious as possible.

Rosie,

I would do this in person, but there is a chance that the screaming fourth years will hear and beat you to the chase, oh how I love my fans. Anyways, I was wondering if you would like to meet me in the dark cornered booth at the Three Broom Sticks Inn this weekend, since it is after all a Hogsmead trip. I'll be in disguise, so walk over to me and tell me something that no one else would know about me and then I'll know it's actually you. I'll flash turquoise so you can find me, don't worry about that.

Sincerly,

Ted.

PS, Burn this after you read it, we wouldn't want stockers.

Teddy hoped that that would do the trick, that it would get her there. That's all that really matter to him right now. He figure out a way to ask his best friend to the ball later. Right now, he was trying to concentrate on the easy part, instead of the butterfly filled stomach second part of the plan. He walked into the Three Broom Sticks, and just like the note said, took a seat in the darken booth in the corner, praying to Merlin that this would all work out for the better.

[Rosie Lupin]

With her hands deep in the pockets of her hooded sweatshirt, Rosie made her way into the small town of Hogsmeade. She was dressed in simple jeans and sneakers, her hair up in a rather messy bun, which she’d done hastily that morning before leaving the Common Room. She found it odd that Teddy hadn’t waited for her before leaving for Hogsmeade earlier that day, and found the note that he’d left in her Potions book even more peculiar. However, she’d shrugged the feeling off and simply gone with the flow. Ted, after all, knew what he was doing. He’d probably have an explanation for all this mystery when she reached the Three Broomsticks.

Rosie had always been rather fond of the quaint little stretches of Hogsmeade. It reminded her, with a small bout of homesickness, of the small town in which she’d grown up, with its winding streets lined with charming little shops. The shop owners were all merry and friendly; contrary to the owners of larger shops she’d gone in when she’d visited larger Muggle towns. Also, the place reminded her of Diagon Alley, as they were two of the only all-wizarding towns in all of England.

Like Teddy, she’d received numerous invitations to the ball in the past few weeks, but, for some reason, she’d turned them all down, except one. Peter Love, an amiable Gryffindor, with whom Rosie was quite good friends, had asked her the previous day. She’d given a maybe. How could she not? He was a popular boy, and had plenty more offers, but had asked her anyways, as he’d noticed that she didn’t yet have a date and didn’t want her to feel left out of the whole ball experience. He was quite a nice boy, and after all, she was getting a tad bit desperate. The ball was in less than a week and she didn’t yet have a date, which could potentially be a major problem.

As she entered the Three Broomsticks, the chill of the outdoors left her. Inside was warm and filled with happy chatter and laughter. Clinking glasses and loud conversations were all around her as she made her way to the back of the bar. She spotted Teddy in a heartbeat. Even with his hair that brownish color, she would have been able to pick him out of any line-up. Sliding into the booth across from him, she muttered, ”Hullo Cheery Charlie, how’s Mr. Fuzworth?”

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[Teddy Lupin]

Teddy didn't even need to show his turquoise hair for Rosie to pick out. He smiled widely with a tint of pink on his cheeks as she referred to his teddy bear. His bangs turned a gently blue color as he shook his head at her slightly. "Always with the jokes aren't we Rosie?" he laughed as he slid over in his seat, offering her a place. Frankly, he had to agree, that he was surprised she had actually showed up. Usually Zane, Rosie and him would walk down to Hogsmead together, visiting the various shops as they made their day a perfect one.

But it finally had hit him. What had he been dreading the most. How was he going to ask her? Casually? Romantically? Friendly? Oh god, the worst part, if he managed to get it out of him, what would she say? He knew perfectly well that she had quiet a few invitations. There was one he was worried about. The popular dough head Peter Love. Teddy knew that he used his last name to his advantage, drawing girls in with his charismatic abilities. Heck, Ted had some of these abilities, but they were nothing compared to Peter's. Had Rosie fallen for his charm? Had he been too late?

"Sorry for all this secretive stuff. I'm sick of girls coming up and asking me to change my hair color and then going 'Oh my god! That would SO go with my dress!' Hint hint, nudge nudge." Teddy rolled his eyes, trying to calm his nerves. God, why was this so hard? This was Rosie! And that was just that, it was Rosie. One mistake and it could ruin their whole relationship. But he had to try, for the sake of himself.

[Rosie Lupin]

That was the part of Teddy’s note that had made her laugh the most. A flash of turquoise? What was he, nuts? It wasn’t as though she’d never seen him before. He was, after all, her best friend, and thus, she knew what he looked like, even if he was in the darkest corner of a cheery pub with different hair than she’d ever seen on him before and the most nervous look ever spreading over his face. ”Gotta keep the humor in life, no?” she answered, undoing her scarf from around her neck and folding it carefully before placing it beside her.

She had to admit; this whole encounter was making her feel a little strange. Though Teddy was usually never one to make things awkward, the whole mystery note thing and meeting in dark corners was starting to make her feel just that. However, his explanation did seem to clear up most of the major parts of her awkwardness, which helped to make the whole thing feel less weird.

”Tell me about it,” she said, leaning back in her seat and rubbing a hand across her face, which was still slightly pink from the cold outside. ”I mean, you must have it worse ‘cause you’ve got the whole Metamorphagus thing goin’ for you. But still, have guys gotten flirtier and somewhat gayer over the years, or is that just me?”

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[Teddy Lupin]

He laughed as she mentioned the guys. It was true, since the announcement of ball, more and more guys have gotten flirtatious and, well as Rosie put it, gayer. He hadn't of course, he had been avoiding everyone like the plague. He hated disappointing girls, and especially since the only one he wanted to go to the ball with was sitting across the table from him. Another strike of the nerves, but it seemed to vanish as the barkeeper brought over a few Butterbeers for them. It was the only non-alcoholic thing in the bar, so whenever they saw students coming they would whip up a bunch, not even asking if the table wanted anything.

Once the barkeeper was out of sight, Teddy pulled the drink towards him and took a chug of it before placing it down at the table, meeting Rosie's eyes for the first time since she had sat down. She obviously noticed the new air to the situation, and he cursed himself. If anything good did turn out like he hoped, he hoped it wasn't like this. This was too awkward for him, and he could tell but the way she was acting it was a little weird for her too. Come on Teddy, buck up now. he thought to himself.

"So I'm taking you got a few invites to this ball next weekend?" he said, taking another sip of his drink. "Did you accept any?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation casual for now.

[Rosie Lupin]

As they boys had gotten exceedingly more flirtatious, so had the girls. Their eye seemed to have gotten much more dry over the past few days, for they had to blink rapidly to moisturize them, thus creating the fluttering eyelashes of an innocent doe, the one look that no boy could resist. Rosie, herself, had only tried the look jokingly with her close girl friends, including her cousin, Lily. She never would have used it like the other girls, to woo unsuspecting boys who'd just been passing by out of luxury, rather than the necessity of a date. However, this was to be the biggest even of the school year, so why not have a date and go?

Rosie herself hadn't been planning on going to it. Or rather, she'd been planning to go with a large group of friends and collegues to surround her and keep her busy for the whole night. Like she always did when Hogwarts planned these sorts of things. However, that plan had gone awry when nearly all of her friends had either been asked or had asked someone else, leaving her no one to hand around with during the dance. The only one she wasn't sure had a date yet was Teddy, but she knew he could get one just as soon as blinking, because, after all, all the girls were all over him. Especially Rosie's cousin, Victoire, who Rosie found to be a tad bit annoying even at the best of times.

"Just a few," she answered, slurping in the froth of her butterbeer, leaving a mustache of white foam on her upper lip. She laughed softly, grinning at her friend for a moment, before licking it off. His next question caught her off guard a little, but she kept her cool for the most part. "Kinda. Love kinda offered me, so I decided I'll go with him if I don't get a good offer by next Friday." She'd make this decision on her way to Hogsmeade earlier that morning. After all, you couldn't wait forever on a good offer like that one. "How 'bout you?"

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[Teddy Lupin]

The only girl who had actually come up to his face and asked him about going to the dance with her was Victorie. Sure, she was beautiful, just like her mother, had that cute sorta french accent, but there was always a few draw backs. Ever guy in school noticed her, she was so flirtatious he wasn't sure if they went out she could handle herself to just him, and after Teddy had turned her down, she had gone off to find herself another date just like that. Meaning Teddy was just to be asked because she felt like it. She wouldn't be torn down if he had said no, and she probably just show off to all the other guys that night. Another thing that she probably was just asking him to get rid of some fourth years stocking her. That was thing about her, she only wanted people who were older then her, definitely not younger. But enough about her.

Teddy looked up and shook his head. "A couple. Victorie asked me, but I said no right away. Rather not have to be her tag along the entire night. That and she's way to flirtatious for my liking. I'd say it's in the Veela in her though." Ted said, taking a sip of his butter beer, trying to keep calm about the whole Love thing. There was a maybe? He'd have to hurry this thing up, because he knew Rosie was too good of a person to leave him hanging until Friday. He rubbed his lips together for a moment, a classic sign of Teddy thinking before he spoke again.

"Well, you're probably wondering why all this secrecy." he began, looking at his drink. "Well, see, there this girl, and bloody hell Rosie, don't even start trying to figure it out before I tell you the rest of it." he said, looking up with a crooked grin on his face. He knew how she loved to butt into those things. "Well yeah, there is this girl that I'd love to ask to the ball, but I haven't a clue how to do it. How would you like to be asked to the ball? You two have very similar qualities." he said, the crooked smile on his face still, out of nerves mostly.

[Rosie Lupin]

The thing about Peter Love was that he was too much of a lady's man for his own good. Rosie'd seen him around school. He loved to show off to the girls, with their swooning nature and constant flirting, and didn't seem to mind if he was kissing multiple girls at once, even if his current girlfriend, who didn't stay the same for long, mind you, was watching. In fact, it seemed that he went out of his way to show his girlfriends that he could have anyone in the school he wanted. They simply stayed with him for popularity purposes, as well as to impress their friends. After all, it was quite a feat to go out with Peter Love.

Of course, even with that being said, he wasn't a bad guy. Rosie and him had met in Herbology second year, and they'd never really fallen out much. Mind you, they weren't the best of friends, but they were still pretty good ones. In fact, Peter had just gotten in a rather nasty fight with one of his girlfriends and had had some intense comforting from the only one of his friends he'd never actually go out with. Rosie. They'd had a long chat and afterwards, Peter'd asked her to the dance, saying that otherwise, other girls would ask him, and he didn't know if he could handle that. That's when she'd given him the maybe. It was a bit of a pity maybe.

"Victoire?" Rosie wasn't really very surprised. Her cousin was rather out there, which bothered Rosie quite a bit. In fact, Victoire was the only one of her relatives that she truly disliked. Perhaps it was her excessive flirting. Or the fact that she was constantly bragging about her uncanny good looks and such. "Interesting. I'd think she's already got a million guys after her. With that Veela thing going on."

After listening to his explanation, Rosie felt something in the pit of her stomach. She frowned slightly, thinking for a moment, trying to identify what that feeling was. It was hardly like anything she'd ever experienced before. She knew she'd felt it before, a long, long time ago, but she couldn't remember when. And then it hit her. Before her years at Hogwarts, when she was nine, she'd spotted a girl on a bright purple bike. She'd felt this feeling in her stomach and only now was she realizing what it was. Envy.

But why was she jealous? More importantly, who was she jealous of? Was it this mystery girl? Rosie quickly pushed that thought out of her head, telling herself that that wasn't it. Although a small part of her mind would nag her again and again that that was who she was jealous of. But then another thought struck her. Was she perhaps jealous of Teddy because he was happy? And actually had someone that he wanted to ask to the dance? Was it because she was the only one without a date?

"A thousand yellow daisies," she answered, without thinking, "And a note. Cute and romantic. Oh, and good luck with that date Ted." She gave him a wink, smirking quietly and then slurping down some more of her butterbeer.

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[Teddy Lupin]

Teddy noticed the expression in her face as he talked about the mystery girl, well a mystery to her. He kept his face straight, but he wanted to smile wide, knowing that expression well. It was the exact same one he noted on his face when he saw Peter and Rosie together in the common room a few days ago, chatting about who knows what. He had just lost his latest girlfriend and he had been on the move, knowing that they dance was only a few days away.

Envy was common feel with him though, though he hated showing it. Every time he saw Rosie or her brother or her cousins with their parents, happy and hugging one another, well, it just made him want his parents even more. Harry tried to include him sometimes on these things, but he usually just smiled and declined. The only one who really understood that aspect was Harry himself, so he usually just let Teddy do whatever he felt like.

Another point was when he was sitting alone in the common room, and the couples around him. Snogging madly. This year, he hadn't managed to get together with a single girl, because since the beginning of the year was when he realized that he liked a certain someone. After visiting Ireland with his grandmother for the last month of the summer, he hadn't gotten to see Rosie at all before school, and on the fateful day at Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

He bit his lip again, thinking about how he was going to do this. He should just do it straight out, not be nervous about this. "Well.. I don't have a note, but that was done.. to get you here." he said, holding his hands open, making a O with one hand, like he was about to hold something, and waved his other hand over it like a cheap Muggle magician and large amount of yellow daisies appeared in his hands. He could feel the blush at his ears as he looked over to her. The bright flowers had attracted some attention, but they either went back to their friends or back to their dates.

"Rosie... would you.. perhaps.. maybe.. want to go to the ball with me?" he asked, a nervous smile on his face as he offered her the flowers.

[Rosie Lupin]

Rosie had tried with all her might to keep her face straight, void of any expression except for that of happiness and contentment and perhaps confusion at who this 'mystery girl' was. But, unfortunately for her at the moment, even if she was rather glad of it at other times, Teddy knew her too well. He'd detected that she was envious, of what she didn't know yet. But, apparently he knew. She could tell that from the way the light in his eyes changed and flared up. Sometimes that was a bad thing, like when his temper was unusually short, or when he was just mad for no reason. But, it was also a good thing sometimes. Their knowing of eachother went both ways. She could tell he was glad for her envy, although she hadn't the slightest idea why.

Rosie knew her friend was often envious of her and her vast family relationships. She'd always felt piles of pity for him, for the absence of a family in his life, and tried her best to include him whenever he was around the Potter-Weasley gatherings. After all, there was enough love for one more person, wasn't there? However, he always seemed to not want to be a part of that. Perhaps it made him want more for his own family. Or miss them even more. Rosie herself couldn't imagine a life without her family. They were the only people, besides Teddy, who didn't judge her at all, and who were always there for her. They were an essential part of her well-being, as well as her health.

The next few moments put Rosie in a bit of shock. She watched, still confused as hell as to why he was doing this in front of her, as the cheery yellow of the daisies appeared in his hand. But, after his choked out his request, his words seemingly difficult to string together, she finally understood. The note, the mysterious meeting, the awkwardness of before, the envy. She know knew why she had been so quick to dismiss the thought of being envious of this imaginary girl whom Teddy 'would have loved to ask to the ball'. Because she had been, and she didn't want to admit it.

Knowing full well the consequences if this whole encounter with the ball didn't end well, but not caring in the least as long as Teddy had asked her, Rosie smiled. "Yes, Teddy, m'dear, I would."

{{ooc;;
Should we end this thread now?
And continue at the ball?}}

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