Not Crazy-Just Different

The Continuing Saga of Darby Holliwether

8:17 AM

Didn't see Oliver today at breakfast. Oh man, what if I hurt him so bad he toppled to the ground and died right next to his bed, a half-melted Chocolate Frog jutting dismally from between his lips? Can doing that to someone kill them? Oh jeez, am I a murderess? Should I flee the castle and go far, far away and-

Percy, stop reading over my shoulder. Can you see this? Okay.

Have I no privacy??? Wait, don't answer this. I'd die if anybody read any of the stuff I've written about.

Gotta go, Quirrell is stuttering at me. Haha.

3:22 PM

Thank you, thank you! He's just got a cold. Wee. I didn't kill him by whacking him with my foot. Hmm. Told Derrick I'd meet him to tell him what color outfit I'm wearing.

This is fun.

3:30 PM

Told Derrick about how I planned on wearing my skirt and my white shirt, and he really like the idea of us not getting all dressed up. He seems to be really up on the whole idea of 'passive rebellion,' muah hahaha.

And then when I went to leave, he kissed me right on the cheek! Well, it is in no way the most major thing that *could* have happened, but I can't complain because so far it has to be the most major thing that has happened to me, at least in the regard of guys, so this is the one and only (hahahahaha) thing I DON'T complain on the subject of: I know better.

So Derrick told me that he's going to wear a blue sweater (to match his eyes, I concurred later, heehee) and some khaki cargo pants. I can see it now, and I can't help but think how much fun we're going to have, even though I have a strong opposition to the practice of dances. Yippee skippee.

I have a date who my friends didn't have to bribe and/or threaten to convince them to go with me (or at least not to my knowledge!)! Do things get any better than this??

I'm going to see if Oliver needs anything.

4:17 PM

Oliver was lying on the sofa in the common room. Everyone else was out socializing and flirting with members of the opposite gender. Well, everybody except me and Ollie, and that klutzy first year. Neville Longbottom, I think his name is. Yeah, that's it.

He heard my coming and kind of crossed his legs. He was dressed in a plain pair of blue boxers and a grey t-shirt. Oliver was burrowed down underneath a light yellow blanket, which would have really gone nicely in my room, even though if I took it from him he'd get mad.

"Listen, I'm not here to kick you there again. A) I am here to tell you that I am sorry. And B) I wanted to ask you if there's anything that I can do for you," I explained abruptly. I didn't think I needed to say that if Ollie were to have a heart attack and fall on the floor rolling around foaming at the mouth, Neville most likely wouldn't be of much help to him.

"Oh. Well in that case." He gave me a charming smirk and ran a hand through his feathery light brown hair. I gave him an expectant look and he stared off into space watching something that I couldn't for the life of me see. "Oh, right. Um, I have a head ache, and my throat hurts a little." I rolled my eyes.

"No problemo. Sammy always sends me Tylenol and cough drops and stuff. I'll be right back." I ruffled his hair. What can I say, I like taking care of people. My mom and daddy always have been really immature, and I'm the only one of us who can really cook and sew and stuff. Although Sammy really can make a mean smoothie and makes really nice jewelry out of paperclips and stuff.

Soon I was down, sitting on top of the coffee table (which we aren't really supposed to do, but I don't really care about that, and everyone ignores that rule anyways) with a damp warm rag, some cough drops and Tylenol. I felt Ollie's forehead. It was hot and had a light sheen of sweat on it (kinda gross).

I handed him two little Tylenol tablets and a small glass of water. Oliver gulped it greedily and settled back. He pointed to the towel.

"What's that for?"

"To put over your eyes. It's soothing," I explained, wary of what his reaction might be.

"Oh. Hey, hand me a cough drop, will you?" I obliged and he popped it into his mouth. "So, um. I've done a lot of thinking today."

"Uh huh," I said weakly, wondering what he might be getting at.

"I-I decided that I might be alright with me if you went. And I know I really overreacted. So, yeah, but on one condition." My heart sank at this new revelation. What bizarre restriction would he put on, when it wasn't even his place to do so?

"And, uh, what would that be, Ollie?" I asked, suddenly shy.

"If you say you'll dance with me once," he revealed, with a gentle smile. I grinned.

"I think that's something that I can oblige by," I said finally, after a laugh.

Soon after that, he fell asleep, and stood up and walked to my room, covering him up with the blanket.

He's the best friend I could ask for, albeit being a dude. I mean, he doesn't wear makeup (well, I have it and I don't wear it often either) or talk about boys all the time or anything. Well, at my house he actually let me paint his toenails, but that's about all.

I won't mind dancing with him. Make all the ickle firsties weep in envy, even though it's not like we're dating or anything like that, we're just the best of friends. People are weird like that, huh?

8:29 PM

Percy just stumbled into the common room, pinkish colored lipstick marks smeared all over his cheeks and his lips. He had a huge smile on his face, and he was trembling happily.

Like I wanted to see that.

9:17 PM

I bet he had a good time tonight with her. I wish that that was me, but life is totally unfair, and believe me, I sure do know that as well as anybody, teehee.

Ooh, I'm sleepy. Nighty night.

9:22 PM

Oh how I love my Old Navy shirt and yellow pajama pants. Yellow is a cool color. It's to late at night to be thinking though. I really AM going to sleep now. Bye.