"Scotland's the most beautiful in the spring time," Julian said, hugging her softly. "Everything blooms...it all comes to life."
"I figured," she grinned. They were sitting on the grass in the field behind Darien's house. It was now early April, and they watched the fields sway with the wind.
"Are you holding out ok?" Julian asked, moving closer next to her.
"I don't think so," Aly grimaced. "I think I need to go now." She shifted so she was sitting on her knees.
Julian stared at her blankly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she laughed. "That was really blunt."
"Just a bit," Julian smiled. Then he frowned. "But were you serious?"
"Sort of," she mumbled. "I really think I can't stand it. I need to go find them now."
"Am I not enough?"
"Heck, you're more than enough," Aly winked. "But it's been too long. I don't think I can wait until May."
Julian sighed. "I guess I should've known this was coming." He looked up at the sky and grinned. "Everything blooms to life, I suppose. Even your spirit."
Aly flushed. "It's not my spirit. I just have an urge to go find them."
Julian laughed. "What's the difference?"
"Good point," Aly smiled, looking up at the clouds.
"Did you already tell Hayden and Amanda? When are you going?"
"Saturday," Aly said absently. "Always a good day for me."
"Today's Thursday. Are you gathering up all your stuff and leaving? Who're you staying with down there?" Julian asked.
"Well...I think I'm going to kip out with the boys; Kay, Sam, Adam...I'm sure we can find another tent and join them," she said absently.
"What about your Mum?" Julian inquired.
"I don't think so," Aly chuckled. "She won't let me go save them from death eaters." She grinned hugely. "Kay and Sam on the other hand will personally escort me there."
"Will you just stay there? Are you coming back up here?" Julian frowned, staring at a moon shaped cloud.
"I think I will," Aly sighed. "The battle will happen in June, I'm sure. Or May. I don't know. I'll just stay. I can't come back up here after rescuing them and then leave."
"You might want to," Julian smirked. He looked down at her. "I didn't tell you, did I?"
"Apparently not," Aly replied, raising an eyebrow. "What don't I know?"
"School ends in April."
"What?!" Aly exclaimed. "In April? Not in June?"
"April 30th," Julian winked. "That's the graduation ceremony."
"Are you trying to convince me to stay?" Aly asked frowning.
"No. Well..." Julian shrugged. "Sort of. If you want your education, you should stay. It's not a personal thing. It'd just be better knowing that you had your diploma and everything so after all this is over, you can come searching for a job."
Aly grimaced. Darn it. That sounds logical.
Aly sighed. "I guess I have a change of plans."
Julian smiled. "Aly...it's not a personal thing. It'd just be better for you."
"Don't rub it in my face, Julian," Aly growled. "You've made your point, and it sounds logical. Isn't that enough?"
Julian smirked smugly. "I know. I feel extremely smart right now."
"I'm sure you do," Aly mocked. Julian smiled and ruffled her hair.
Someone coughed behind them. Aly looked over her shoulder and saw Hayden and Amanda standing behind them. Hayden looked extremely embarrassed. "Can we...er...talk to you?"
"Sure," Aly said hastily, standing up. "Er..."
"It's alright," Julian smiled. "I'll just be heading home anyway." Aly nodded. She followed Hayden and Amanda back to her dad's house.
"So...you're planning to go back?" Hayden asked awkwardly, looking at the sky as they walked.
"Yeah."
"Were you planning on telling us sometime soon?" Amanda asked, looking at the grass.
"Of course," Aly smiled. "They're your friends as much as mine." Then she frowned. "But there's a minor setback. Julian says the graduation ceremony is at the end of this month, and I planned on leaving Saturday."
"So what are you going to do?" Amanda asked, finally looking at her.
"Well...I...think I'll stay just a bit longer," Aly said firmly. "We can get our education and then leave, knowing that once this is all over, we can search for jobs."
"What about Damien and Char?" Hayden grinned, looking down at her. "Will they get held back?"
"I bet they'll just probably have to finish the last half they missed," Amanda replied. Aly nodded her agreement.
"Can we hang out more?" she asked, approaching her dad's house. "I haven't talked to you since January."
"Well...you've been hanging out with Julian," Hayden chuckled, opening the door for them as they entered. Aly dropped her jacket and shoes.
"That's because you guys weren't talking to me," she grinned. "He's been holding me up all this time."
Amanda shrugged. "Homework, anyone?"
"Let's get to it," Hayden sighed, walking over to the kitchen table.