Sometimes I wonder if anything's absolute anymore. Is there still right and wrong? Good and bad? Truth and lies? Or is everything negotiable, left to interpretation, grey. Sometimes we're forced to bend the truth, transform it, cause we're faced with things that are not of our own making. And sometimes things simply catch up to us. – One Tree Hill

Chasing Yesterday

Growing up is a funny thing. There's no real line between childhood and having to pay for your own groceries. You just wake up one day and suddenly those clothes you used to play dress up with, actually fit. The world isn't a black and white version of every fairy tale you've ever heard any more, it's the real world out there; with jobs and rent and all the other fun things that come with adulthood. So I go to work, and pay the rent, but is there really a difference between what I am now and what I was then? Sure the clothes fit, but I still eat ice cream out of the carton and sing in the shower and laugh when it's not funny. So take the clothes and the rent and the job away and all you've got is a 23 year old girl with her mom's lipstick smeared all over her face in wobbly high heeled shoes pretending to be grown up.

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I rolled lazily and reluctantly out of bed and lay in the pool of sunlight that shone in from my flat window. I basked in the sun for a moment before I pulled myself to my feet and glanced at the clock that hung every so Confidently on my wall across from my bed so I wouldn't have to be bothered To turn my head whilst I was lying in bed to check the time. My eyes Widened with sudden panic and there was a push in my step as I scavenged through piles of strategically placed clothing. I pulled out a casual pink dress and slipped it on frantically brushing away a few wrinkles. I slipped on a pair of white flats and flew out of my flat door. I tumbled down the steps only stopping at room number 206. I opened the door and poked my head it.

"Hunter, get your lazy arse out of bed!"

I saw his slumping figure stir from the couch in the center of the room and with a satisfied shake of my head closed the door. I practically sprinted the four blocks down until I reached a stingy looking building right next to a coffee shop. The bell jingled as I slid through the door. The room was packed with people scribbling on parchment or typing furiously away at enchanted type writers. I slid into my desk and propped my feet up on my desk. I gave a satisfactory smile as I glanced at the time. 10:29, right on schedule. I lazily conjured up a mug and a tea kettle, mornings never sat well with me with out a cup of tea. I watched an angry looking, 30 something man burst out of an office. He stormed over to the door and then scanned the room with narrowed eyes. When his gaze met mine he seemed to have found what he was looking for. I smiled warmly, pouring my tea into the cup.

"Good morning Brian." I cheerfully greeted. Leaning back in my chair once again mug securely in my hand. He ran his fingers through his hair and glared at me.

"I'm warning you Angelina, you keep cutting it this close and -"

"It's my job on the line, not yours" I recited in a painstakingly drawn out tone, I've been getting this speech ever since the day we met at a Woollongong Warriors try out. That was over a year and a half ago now, I had long since abandoned my Quidditch dreams, and weeks of training try out after try out only to end up back where I started. He was doing a report on the team during my try out; I sat down next to him with rejection written all over me. We did some talking and the next thing you know here I am, typing away for the Daily Prophet Australian, who would've thought? It doesn't exactly fit the dream, but a girls gotta work eh? Besides I never was suited for the strenuous athletic part of Quidditch, yes I much prefer my 10:30 to 3:00 day spent lounging around my desk pretending to write to running drill after drill starting at six in the morning.

"I know I know, relax, I wasn't late was I?"

"Not today you weren't" He mumbled grumpily "You're interviewing Oliver Wood today so get a move on it. You've got to be at the pitch by 11:00 sharp."

I went into sudden panic and my eyes widened with new fear. I slammed my tea onto my desk and hastily chased the middle aged man's retreating figure. I burst into his office and marched over to his desk.

Brian spun in his chair and fixed me with a slightly irritated expression.

"I can't interview Oliver Wood," I said pulling my hair onto my right shoulder and running my fingers through it furiously "Can I trade with Ruby?" I pleaded.

He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.

"Your telling me you'd take the 'Best Beaches' article over and Oliver Wood interview?"

I nodded my head letting my hands fall to my side. Brian shook his head in disbelief muttering something to himself.

"You're mad Johnson." He responded turning back towards the pile of papers on his desk.

"Indeed I am," I responded through a grateful smile. I backed out of the office and skipped over to the far corner of the building. A thin brunette sat at her desk proof reading an article. She twisted the multiple rings around he fingers and bit her lip in concentration. I smiled and slid onto her desk swinging my legs back an forth.

"Guess who's interviewing Oliver Wood today?"

She broke her focus and gazed up at me with a mixture of admiration and jealousy.

"How the hell did you land that?" She asked letting her pen drop to the table. I picked it up and tapped it lightly on my knuckles before shrugging.

"I never said it was me," I replied

"Who then?"

"You." I stated casually looking back down at the pencil. I looked back up to see her blue eyes swell with excitement.

"Who's doing beaches then?" She asked to make sure this wouldn't all fall apart on her.

"I am, we're trading." I answered standing up from the desk. She gladly handed me the information and I wandered back over to my desk and my tea which was now slightly cold.

I spent about two hours completing the beach article, it didn't take long as Ruby had already done the bulk of the work. But I put the finishing touches on it and called it a day.

I grabbed my small pile of papers and dropped them onto Brian's desk.

"I'm heading out, drinks tonight?" I asked pausing in the door for a moment before departing.

"Can't, Mary is making me go to dinner tonight. Some sort of formal thing, she's forcing me into a suit and everything." He grumbled shoving my pile of papers into a large folder.

"Alright, I suppose I'll see you tomorrow then!"

I stepped out into the warm air breathing a sigh of relief, I'm just lucky any girl in her right mind would kill for a Wood interview.

I strolled back to my apartment building and walked into flat 206. I settled down on the couch.

"Why the hell are you home so early?" A voice called out from the adjacent kitchen.

"Had a short assignment, Brian let me leave." I replied picking up the half eaten bag of gummy worms that were lying on the table in front of me and began picking away at t green ones. Hunter emerged from the kitchen looking as if he'd just rolled out of bed.

"Did you skip work again today?"

He smiled guiltily and ran a hand through his hair.

"Let's just say I'm going to be skipping work everyday for a little while."

"Please tell me you didn't get fired." I replied sighing. This would mean dinner at my place every night until he was able to afford it again.

"When's dinner tonight?" he asked sitting down next to me and flipping through an open magazine.

"Dunno, I haven't even had lunch yet." I responded knowing I would need to start asking around for job openings or I'd lose all sanity, living with Hunter is enough to send you to a St. Mungos for the rest of eternity.

"Want to go out for lunch? Your treat." He cheekily suggested. I grinned and slapped his arm playfully.

"Why not, let me just go grab us some money." I rose from the couch and walked up the flight of stairs to my flat. I walked in to find someone standing with their back towards me looking out the bay window and over the harbour. I didn't recognize the blond figure so I grabbed my wand off of my counter and waited for her to acknowledge my presence.

In a moments time I would be wishing I couldn't recognize the figure, but I did.

"Angelina Johnson, where the hell have you been?"