Chapter 12.
Ron sat on his bed, the scene he saw still black from the inside of the bag. Tiredly he propped the mirror up against his pillow as he reviewed the few notes he had. Where was this girl going? Utah? Where was that? And most importantly, how was he going to convince Hermione that his color-changing quills were useful?
Sighing, and knowing the last question was probably hopeless, he sat up and turned back towards the mirror, hearing some chattering continue.
"Hey, I'm running low on gas, where can I drop you off?"
"At that bus station is fine. Hey Heather?" Anna Maria started as the car slowed.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks," she said, gratitude filing her voice as it became harder to do so through the knob in her throat.
Ron listened closely, but heard nothing. The bag moved, Anna Maria left the car and she plopped down on the bus bench, wiping away tears.
Ron didn't see any of this, but he heard her sniffle. Well, it started out as sniffles then grew into sobs. He jot down, '2. Cry' on his list, wondering what was next for her.
He realized he still had about five minutes left. He leaned in, hoping to catch something before it blacked out. In actuality though, it was already black, so he guessed it would be done when time ran out.
Anna Maria sat on the cold dark-green painted bench, praying for a moment that she would make it. Dreams seemed to be just what they sounded like, hopeful visions that end when you return to reality. Heaving a sigh, she snatched up her bag and headed down the street to where she had planned to go all along, regardless of the lies she had told to Heather, Mama, Papi…
Ron heard movement, but didn't hear the rumble of a bus. What was going on? And then the sound of her walking ceased, and he was left with the mystery unsolved.
Hermione finished her journal early that night, its seems when she had thought about everything as it happened, she had kept a mental diary of it, and stood for a moment to stretch her body in the common room. Someone caught her eye from the corner, it was Luna. She seemed to be staring into space, her empty notebook on her lap.
"Hello, Luna," Hermione said as she walked over. Luna didn't start at all, just refocused her eyes on Hermione before springing up in her chair.
"Hello. How do you write this?" Luna asked with a discouraged voice, motioning to the notebook.
Hermione sat down next to her, "What do you think about? How do you feel about it? Just blabber on about stuff like that."
Luna cocked her head to the side, then nodded and began to write. Hermione, trying to be polite, attempted to not read it, but her interest gave in.
'At times, I think that maybe I don't belong anywhere. I'm here, there, anywhere but where people accept me. Most mock me, but that doesn't matter, at least I don't judge them. Take Ronald Weasley for example, I thought he was a kind of flake, but he actually likes me, or at least my commentary at Quidditch games. I think I could consider him and Harry and Hermione friends. Neville too, he's just a little shy sometimes.'
Luna smiled at what she wrote then, realizing Hermione was still standing there, switched subjects, "Hermione, where does Ron get the colorful quills?"
Hermione chuckled, remembering their spat, "Zonko's. Why?"
"Oh, I liked them. I think I'll get some."
"Why would you get some?" Hermione could really use someone on her side right about now.
"Because, I'm bored easily and they look cool. Sheesh, Hermione, live a little," Luna jokingly retorted as Hermione returned to her pile of homework, laughing. Her days would be seriously dull if there wasn't Luna.
Luna finished her journal a little later, after everyone had long left for bed. Curling her back like a cat, she stretched herself out, her day finally ending.
She hadn't had time to check in with Beatrice much, just said hi this morning. Luna looked around and, pleased that the common room was empty, stood up slowly then busted out and danced. Not the average dance, but the wild-shake-the-booty dance, the stuff that gets her blood pumping.
Luna stopped, fresh out of breath, to collapse back down into the chair, a carefree grin on her face. Sometimes being a teenager was too much, you just got to take a moment and let it all loose! She knew that kids teased her, but she could truly keep her pride as long as she reminded herself that she could do that and be one-hundred percent happy.
