September 18
Weight: 10 st 3 (aim to be at least 10 st by Jamaica)
Height: 5 ft 5
Calories: 1000 (saintly)
Hours spent replaying Sirius Snog: 8 (v. good)
Meetings with Jole: 1 (ugggh)
Impure thoughts about Jole: 14 (all involuntary, I assure you)
New friends: 2 (excellent!)
Money: 180 (Pay day!) + (300 for Jamaica !)
8am- Agghh! What time is this? Was meant to study! And now have to go to work for Monday morning meeting… fuck!
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9.30am- Holy shit. Jole is a wanker if ever I saw one. Rather than being understanding of Helen's situation, he went on about how it shows bad team-work and how her behaviour was unacceptable.
He then went on to wink at Kim Enderby, head of the 'Weddings' section, and she winked back.
THEN, he asked me to see him at 9.45am. Am v nervous. If he fires me, will have to move in with mother and…. Gah! Don't want to even think about it!
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10.45am- Uni café
Okay… that wasn't so bad. He's still a wanker but, damn, he's a fit bugger, and his accent is just so bloody sexy!
'Anna Jones,' he said, as I entered his office. 'Please, sit.'
I sat opposite him, gingerly.
'I'm sure you are aware that your advice column has been quite successful.'
I nodded.
'Yes, thank you.'
'And I understand you are going to Jamaica, next week?'
I nodded, wondering if he was going to sack me for taking a holiday.
'I want you to write an article about your time in Jamaica, from a single girl's perspective. We will call it 'A Single Girl in Jamaica.'
I nodded slowly.
'Right…'
'So tell us all about the bars to visit, the beaches, the clubs, the shopping… and then throw in some of your personal experiences about flirting, relationships, any one night stands you might have…'
I spluttered.
'Excuse me! Write personal stuff?'
'Well your current column is very personal! I don't understand what the problem is,' he said, frowning, but giving me a look that meant I'd be fired if I argued.
Reluctantly, I nodded.
'Okay… sure,' I sighed.
'Excellent,' he said, scribbling on a cheque. 'Here is 300 galleons. That should last you the week and be enough for you to visit the high-end places. Nothing trashy, please.'
He then paused and nodded.
'And here is the card of our photographer in the area. He will take accompanying photographs for your articles.'
I took the card and saw the name 'Johnny Bond.'
'R..right.'
'That's all,' he said, waving to suggest I quickly vacate the office.
So… I don't quite know how this has happened, but I'm now moving onto actual journalism? Hmm… I hope my article isn't shit. Will definitely ask Helen Asteria to edit it for me.
Oh fuck. I thought Jamaica would be fun and relaxing! Now understand why Helen Asteria is a workaholic. It's impossible to escape, working at the DP!
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1.10pm- Work (again)
Oooh! I made 2 new friends at uni. Not wanting to sit alone, I sat with these two guys who were also sitting in the back row.
'Do you mind if I sit with you two?'
They shrugged and I sat next to them.
'I'm…'
'Anna Jones. We haven't forgotten our induction lecture,' one of them smirked.
I blushed.
'Ted Smith,' he said, holding out a hand.
I shook it.
'Hamlet McGuire,' said the other.
I tried not to laugh.
'Yeah, my mother loved Shakespeare a bit too much. My other brother's called Macbeth, and my sister is called Ophelia. Psychoanalyse that!'
I laughed.
'Don't worry, my mother's a bit of a nutcase too…. I don't judge.'
'So we read in your column,' Ted laughed.
'You… you read my column?' I said, surprised.
'Of course!' said Hamlet. 'After that first lecture, we skived off the rest of the lectures to go find a copy of the DP. Little did we know you'd ask to sit with us, a week later.'
I looked down at my books and Ted nudged me.
'We think it's really cool.'
I looked up, surprised.
'You do?'
'Of course!' he said. 'You're- what? 19?'
I nodded.
'19 and already a job with the DP? I call that a dream come true!'
'Also, between you and me, I think Jenkins is jealous of you.'
I sighed.
'Yeah, I don't know what's going on there.'
'Forget him,' Hamlet said airily. 'He's a right wanker. I hear he calls himself 'Healer' Jenkins… psh!'
I couldn't help laughing.
'Oh, we should also be straight up with you from the beginning,' said Ted. 'I'm gay.'
'Me too,' said Hamlet.
'But we're not together.'
Of course they bloody are. Probably the two best-looking guys in the course… ANYWAY, I have Sirius to think of again, now, so am okay with their being gay.
They asked me to come out to lunch with them, but said I had to go back to work. But ahh, psychology course seems SO much more bearable now that I know at least 2 people in it!
I wonder if they can lend me their notes… Hmm.
Oh bloody hell. Lea's turned into a massive AB since temping for Helen Asteria. She wants my responses no later than 3pm…
I guess I'd better get working, then!
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9pm- Hehehe. Mary & Lily are v jealous that I have two gay friends. They say I must invite them over for a study session asap, so they can befriend them too! Haha… Might actually do that, though, as studying alone has proved to be wildly unsuccessful thus far.
I wonder if I can ask to borrow their notes from the lectures I'll miss while in Jamaica…
September 19
Weight: 10 st 2 (good!)
Height: 5 ft 5
Calories: 1000 (perfect!)
Hours spent replaying Sirius Snog: 1 (excellent)
Money: 70 (have given 100 galleons for next week's rent to Lily, now, so that don't spend it)
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9am- Am totally looking forward to uni this morning! Am going to go to the library now, and do a bit of reading up before the lectures…
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10am- But should have breakfast, as don't want to be hungry during lectures..
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10.30am- Who knew uni coffee could be amazing! Mmm. Might get a chocolate croissant as well…
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10.45am- Should I get a LWU jumper? (London Wizarding University). I think is a good investment…
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10.50am- Oooh, and some lovely parchment too…
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11.10am- Fuck. The lady at the counter took FOREVER to give me my change, so was late. I see Ted and Hamlet sitting on the other side of the theatre. Will sit with them after this lecture is over. Okay, must concentrate…
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8pm- Went to the libaray with Ted and Hamet after uni. We are forming a study group… except is horrid, as they babble on about theories and biological facts, while I sit there, trying to figure out which part of the brain is responsible for what.
According to Hamlet, it was all in the pre-reading. He was so nonchalant about it too!
'Surely you read it in chapter 11 of the pre-reading!'
'Yeah!' said Ted, frowning. 'There was a whole chapter on it!'
I think it's safe to say I am highly fucked.
Right. Am going to read ALL the pre-reading by the end of tomorrow… even if it means I get no sleep.
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8.10pm- This is SO much more boring than I thought it'd be. Why do I need to know all this anyway? Surely psychology should be all about dealing with people! Hmph. Seems like it should be more instinctive than biological…
September 20
Weight: 10 st 2 (hmph)
Height: 5 ft 5
Calories: 2700 (study is BORING!)
Hours spent freaking out about how behind I am: All day
Money: 60
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8am- Right. Fell asleep at the ridiculous hour of 9pm last night. Somehow, study is the best cure for insomnia.
Bloody hell. I can't fail. MUST show Jenkins I can do both by getting an excellent mark in uni. Eughhh. It really isn't as fun as it's cracked up to be. Even Mary is freaking out. She's always reading some law book or an other.
Okay, enough on that. This is the plan- go to work, answer responses as QUICKLY as possible, and GET OUT, so can study.
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1pm- Crap. Have finished for the day, but Helen has come in and just asked if we could go to lunch.
Right. Have to eat anyway, so will go to lunch, and then leave and study ALL night.
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10pm- Somehow, lunch turned into a day trip to Paris. Now that I've tried Laduree macaroons and been to Versailles, I want to give up everything, find a French aristocrat, and live in Versailles.
Helen Asteria is doing better, I think. She says living in Paris and working in London was worst, and that she's just bought a place in London, so her life simpler.
I think it must be hard for her to be single, though. She seems to have been in one relationship or another for so long now, that single must be as shocking to her, as being in a relationship is to me.
Anyway. She says she's getting proper and regular therapy now too, which is reassuring as she really does have a horrid propensity to reach for her pill stash (which she shouldn't even have, really) when things don't go according to plan.
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10.10am- Fuck. I wish I had a pill stash… one that would magically insert knowledge into my brain. Gahhhh. Am so behind I don't even know how to catch up.
I think I need a bit more time off work. 1 day off a week isn't enough to study in. Might have to take Wednesdays off work and study in them. Hmm.
September 21 (Thursday)
Weight: 10 st 3 (eugh. Need to lose weight for Jamaica!)
Height: 5 ft 5
Calories: 2400 (bad)
Hours spent freaking out about how behind I am: 9 (terrible)
Uni attended: 0 (terrible)
Actual study done: 0
Hours spent planning reunion with Sirius: All day
Likelihood of failing mid-semester exam: Huge
Money: 50
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9am- Right. Have decided I'm going to take the day off uni and stay home and study ALL day. If I can catch up on all the pre-reading and then what we've learned so far in lectures, I think it's more beneficial than attending a lecture I won't understand anyway…
Okay. Am going to have a good breakfast at the café and read the newest Witch Weekly which just arrived, and then get right into it.
PLAN FOR THE DAY:
9-10am- Breakfast
10am- 1pm: Study
1pm- 2pm: Lunch break
2pm- 4pm- Study
4pm- 4.30pm- Go for a walk
4.30pm- 7pm: Study
7pm-8pm: Dinner break
8pm- 11pm: Study
11pm: GO TO BED. DO NOT STAY UP. GO STRAIGHT TO SLEEP
.
I think it's a reasonable and very doable plan. Am excited for it! I love being organised!
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10.30am- Oh dear… I ran into Aunt Una and Uncle Geoffrey and they sat there chatting to me for half an hour. I didn't know how to leave. Because they're more senior, I always feel they must be the ones to leave first- otherwise I just feel rude!
Okay. Never mind. I can take a mini setback. Just so long as I study properly for the rest of the day..
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10.45am- Ugh. Coffee has gone straight through me. Or maybe there was something wrong with my eggs? I don't know…. But tummy feels funny. Ugh.
Also, staring at book is making me feel nauseous. I think I'll just lie down for a bit…
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12 noon- Crap. It's already noon and I've done zero study. Right. Must get a grip. Tummy feels okay now…. Ooh, a letter!
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12.10pm- Was from Sirius! It wasn't that romantic, really-
Dear Anna,
Just letting you know we'll be finishing training on the 30th September, and coming back on October 1. I know you're taking some time off school and work to go to Jamaica, but James and I think it'd be fun to do a group reunion camping trip the weekend we get back. I know Mary's not really talking to Remus at the moment… but try talking her round. It might just be what they need to get over themselves and get back together.
Sirius
P.S. Don't write back. Technically, I'm not meant to be sending this…
.
Huh. 'Don't write back'… that's lovely. Also, he didn't say anything about missing me or anything. Basically, it just sounds like he wants me to organise his group camping trip.
I don't even think I can go. I think I'll have taken enough time off work and uni with Jamaica to last me the next few years!
But hmm… it does sound like a lovely way of seeing him again. Maybe will be like a lovely mini break with lots of lovely shagging and snogging.. Hmmm….
I think I'll go… must get planning.
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8pm- SHIT! WHAT HAVE I DONE?
I've spent the entire day extensively planning this stupid camping trip and done ZERO study. Now, Mary's crying because she misses Remus, and Lily's getting teary because she misses James and… fuck. I'm starting to tear up about Sirius too.
GAHHH.
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11pm- I am ridiculous. Right. Here's the plan-
Go to Jamaica, get all this stupidity out of my system, and come back a clever, poised and organised woman.
Good plan.
September 22 (Friday)
Weight: 10 st 3 (bleh)
Height: 5 ft 5
Calories: Countless
Uni attended: 0 (Shocking)
Actual study done: 0
Hours spent at work: ALL FREAKING DAY
Money: 50
6pm- Ugh. Am still at work. This is horrible. Have to write heaps and heaps of responses to last while I'm away.
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7pm- Oh crap. I feel horribly… I just received this letter:
Dear Anna,
I don't want to nag, but I wrote you a letter over three weeks ago asking for advice about my friend who is ignoring me. And it seems like you too are just ignoring me.
Am I not important enough to receive a response? A girl in my year says she got a personal response from you, because you couldn't publish her question. Hers was just sex advice.
And here I am, with a real problem, and you can't be bothered to even write a few lines back to make me feel as though someone cares.
Well maybe my therapist is wrong. Maybe nobody cares. I should just go die…. Not that you or anyone else would care.
Nora
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I feel horrible, scared… and a bit mad all at once. Of course I'm going to write back to this girl and apologise. I hope she doesn't go off herself because she felt like I was her last hope, and never responded…
But, at the same time… isn't it a bit selfish of her to think that I'm going to spend all day every day writing responses to every single person. It's stated very clearly in the 'write to Anna' section that I can't respond to all questions and that if someone is seriously unwell, to seek proper counselling by a qualified therapist…
AND SHE BLOODY HAS A THERAPIST. Hmph. Okay, will just write to her now. Though I feel less sympathetic to her now that she's gone and attacked me.
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Right. Just responded to her. Told her all the standard stuff. There. That should satisfy her…
Okay. 10 more questions to go… I can do this. I can…
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8pm- Ughh. Got another letter from that Nora girl, saying how I'm the only one she can talk to yadayada.
It's funny how sickly sweet she is to me. I feel sorry for her, because she probably doesn't have many friends… but I'm not her friend, at the same time. She sent me this essay of a letter telling me all about herself- basically, her life story.
I don't even know what I'm supposed to say to that? Do I have to reply?
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8.10pm- Okay… wow. Just got another letter from her. Okay, I'm sorry, but I can't do this. I've got 5 questions left to respond to, and I'm going on holiday tomorrow. If she wants a friend, she should find one the normal way.
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9.10pm- One more letter to go! Lea has given up and told me that she'll edit it tomorrow. Gah. Okay, hurry…
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10pm- Am v alarmed by this Nora girl. Nearly didn't open her letter, but it didn't seem too thick so I went ahead and did…
Am going to ask the girls. I don't think this is normal-
Dear Anna,
I've sent you three letters now, and haven't had a response from you. Don't you care about me? Why won't you respond to me?
Love, Nora
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A part of me just wants to send her a letter saying 'No, I don't fucking care. Stop harassing me.'… but I'm not sure she'd react well to that and, however annoying she's being, I don't want anyone offing themselves because of me.
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10.30pm- Lily thinks I should take it to the Auror Dept, but I think that's too extreme. So this is what I've written. Hopefully, after the 2 weeks away, she'll have forgotten about me anyway-
Dear Nora,
I'm sorry you got that impression. I'm not ignoring you- I'm just extremely busy. Please bear in mind that it is not my role to act as a personal counsellor or friend. I merely respond to questions in a newspaper. Technically, I shouldn't even be responding to you now.
You sound very upset, I suggest you see your therapist tomorrow and really get to the root of what's upsetting you.
I myself am going to be away in Jamaica for the next two weeks, so if you happen to send me any letters while I'm away, know I'm not ignoring you on purpose. I'm just away.
Nonetheless, I wish to stress that I am not a trained counsellor nor am I your friend. I don't mean to sound harsh, but it's the truth of the matter. I don't know you personally. You sound lonely, though, and I think it would be great for you to make some new friends. Remember the tips I gave you in my first response, and discuss it further with your therapist.
Good luck!
Anna
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I threw that 'good luck' in there to hopefully end her letters to me. I don't know why, but I feel really unsettled about this girl. I've had plenty of letters about girls feeling lonely- and they've written in again, too… but they never seemed psychotic or demanding…
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10.40pm- Oh fuck. I've got another letter from her-
Dear Anna,
Jamaica sounds wonderful! Where in Jamaica will you be staying? It sounds so exotic.
I hope you have a great time and I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back!
Love, Nora
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DID SHE NOT FUCKING READ WHAT I JUST WROTE? I EXPLICITLY TOLD HER I WASN'T HER FRIEND… AND YET SHE'S EXPECTING ME TO WRITE BACK TO HER WHEN I RETURN?
I know I should feel sorry for her… Right. I have to pack. Am not going to let this ruin my trip. Will just chuck away her letter because I don't have to reply to it.
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11pm- Oh you've got to be fucking kidding me…
Dear Anna,
You never replied and told me whereabouts in Jamaica you're staying?
Love, Nora.
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I don't need to respond. Must keep calm. Lily has upped the security on our apartment.
I hope she doesn't turn into an actual stalker… But I KNEW there was something weird about her…
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1am- Okay. No further letters, am packed… ooh! One sleep and then I'm in Jamaica baby!
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1.30am- Hmph. Wish Sirius could be there with me…
September 23
Only important figure-
Drinks: 40
Am very drunkesh. Ish hot an Mary and I drinking rum hehe.
Next chapter is going to be VERY action packed! I'm aware this one was a bit more of a filler, but it was all important in laying the groundwork for next chapter!
'Anna,' Mary gasped, tugging at my sleeve. 'Isn't that Mark Darcie?'
AND
'I always used to think that having a stalker would be kind of glamorous. Now that I'm sitting in this filthy jail cell, I can tell you that it's anything but glamorous. Fuck. I think I miss my mum.'
Now, 2 things
1/ I don't any of you wondering if you're inspiration for Nora's character. If someone takes messaging me too far, I let them know! (And none of you on here have!)
AND
2/ November is nearly over! I'm almost 100% certain I won't finish this story by Thursday- so I'm sorry if I've disappointed any of you in that respect. It was a very ambitious challenge and I definitely didn't take into account just how busy November is. Nonetheless, a huge thank you to the few of you who did donate and... if you can, but haven't gotten round to it yet, you can still donate! The link is on my profile :)
Lastly, thanks to those who reviewed last chapter, and please continue the good work from now on!
Lots of love,
Anya