A/N: Sorry about the spell. I'm not good with the spells.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except for Lina Shay and Clarissa.
FEELINGS YOU CAN'T DENY
Chapter Seven: The Yule Ball
December came upon quickly and hustle and bustle about the Yule Ball came on quicker. I had no hopes of being asked and I didn't exactly care either. I would much more benefit by using the time for study. Speaking of study, since that one study session with Tom, I hadn't exactly requested another one. My spells had improved since that day, though. I just pictured Tom coming toward me with that devious smile and I could blast anything. Other than that, I had sort of avoided Tom, I'm ashamed to say. I knew if I saw him, I would start blushing and sputtering and look like a complete idiot. Clarissa assured me that Tom wouldn't care. She was convinced that he had a crush on me, which I highly doubt.
"I bet he will!" Clarissa insisted to me as I attempted to write an essay on the properties of Elderberry root in the Great Hall at lunch.
"No, he won't," I told her.
"He will, I'm sure of it," Clarissa said stubbornly.
"No, he won't!" I exclaimed, throwing my quill down. "Tom Riddle is not going to ask me to the dance."
"When will you look passed your denial?" Clarissa asked, leaning toward me. "Tom Riddle obviously has a huge thing for you. I don't get why you can't see it."
"Because it's your imagination," I accused.
"I don't know why I bother," Clarissa sighed in frustration. "You're hopeless."
I shook my head and tried to return to my essay. The poison in Elderberry root, though causing a stinging sensation to the skin, can soothe the pain of appendicitis if mixed with...
"There he is!" Clarissa exclaimed, grabbing tightly to my arm.
I glanced up to see Tom Riddle enter the Great Hall with a couple members of his Quidditch team. They walked straight to Slytherin table and sat down. He didn't even look my way. I was glad of it, but also disappointed.
**I need you
Like water, like breath, like rain
I need you
Like mercy from heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you**
-"I Need You"
"Bet he'll come over and ask any minute," Clarissa whispered to me.
"Let it go," I suggested. "If he asks, then he'll ask. If he doesn't, then he won't. You getting overly excited won't change anything, so calm down."
Clarissa bit down on the tips of her fingers and silently watched the Slytherin table. I rolled my eyes and returned to my essay. In truth, if Tom did ask me to the dance, I would start wigging out more than Clarissa, but I honestly didn't think he'd ask. Still, I found myself glancing over at him every now and again to see if he was looking over. He never was.
*********************
Everyday until the Yule Ball, Clarissa kept saying, "He'll ask you tomorrow for sure." Not to my surprise, Tom never did ask me and it was the night of the Yule Ball.
"It's perfectly acceptable to go to the dance stag," Clarissa told me as the Hufflepuffs were complimenting each other's dress robes and doing hair. "A lot of people are going without dates."
"I have studying to do," I insisted.
"Please, Lina," Clarissa begged, sitting down beside me and all my books. "I was going alone and I thought we were going alone together."
I looked into her pleading green eyes and couldn't say no. Letting out a sigh of defeat, I went up to my dorm and got dressed. As Clarissa and I walked together, she was bouncing up and down with excitement. I shook my head, smiling wryly.
The Great Hall looked quite lovely, decorated with strings of holly, one giant Christmas tree and floating mistletoe. The people were quite lovely too, dressed in their finest and dancing about with each other.
Clarissa immediately pulled me over to a cauldron of candy and some pumpkin juice. I sipped from a cup, glancing around the dance floor, keeping a keen eye out for Tom and the girl luck enough to be his date. I could see no sign of him.
"Lina," came a voice as I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Clarissa shrieked in surprise, causing me to drop my cup of pumpkin juice. It splattered on all three of our shoes and hems. I looked back at Tom and gave him a sheepish smile.
"Sorry," I whispered, blushing.
Tom just displayed his usual pleasant smile to assure me that he didn't mind.
**All that I'll ever need
Is in your eyes
Shining at me
When you smile I can feel
All my passion unfolding**
-"I Do (Cherish You)"
Clarissa glanced from one of us to the other, smiling wildly.
"I think someone on the other side of the room is calling me," she muttered, winking at me before she left.
"So, who'd you come with?" I asked Tom casually.
"No one, actually," Tom told me. "I just wanted to hang out and dance with my friends."
"There was no one you wanted to ask?" I queried, looking up into his eyes. "I'm sure any girl would have said yes."
"That's why I went stag," he explained, turning his attention to the dance floor.
"What d'you mean?" I asked.
"I'm rather tired of girl's fawning over me," Tom disclosed, looking somehow sad.
I lowered my head. I was among those girls. I couldn't stop thinking about him, either.
"If I could only meet a girl who liked me for me and not because I'm popular or a good Quidditch player," Tom went on.
I began to wonder, why did I like him? For one, he was really hot. That was terribly shallow of me. Two, he didn't feel that I was below him. He was very sweet and generous. Three, Tom had this wonderful sense of fun and adventure that made his just irresistible. At first, I did like him for his popularity, but it was different now. If only there was a way to tell Tom that so he would believe me.
"So, did you come with anyone special?" Tom asked, emphasizing the word 'special.'
"Not unless you count Clarissa," I told him. "I wouldn't have come if she hadn't begged me to."
"You mean no one asked you?" Tom asked, staring thunderstruck. "I'm surprised."
"I'm not," I muttered, looking on at the dancers.
"Why is that?"
I was too embarrassed to relate all my flaws to him, so I merely said, "I don't know that many boys." Which was true.
"I would have asked you except that..." Tom didn't finish.
"Except that what?" I queried, watching his profile.
"Well," Tom began, shrugging, "I rather got the feel that you were avoiding me."
I felt ashamed. He actually might have asked me to the dance if I hadn't been such a childish ninny.
"Sorry about that," I muttered, lowering my head.
"I honestly don't blame you," Tom blurted. "After what happened...well, anyway. How are you doing in your classes?"
"I'm mostly caught up," I told him. "There are just a few tests to take and I'm with everyone else. I can't wait. My brain is turning to mush."
Tom chuckled.
A new song started up. It was soft and slow. I couldn't help but sway to the melody. In the corner of my eye, I saw Tom glance at me then look away. I briefly scanned him. He was rocking from toes to heels.
"Hey," he began.
"Yes?" I urged.
"You wouldn't want to dance, would you?" Tom asked.
"Yeah, sure!" I blurted, seemed more zealous than I had meant to.
Tom took my hand and led me to the dance floor. Once in a place he found suitable, right in the middle of everything, Tom pulled me close to him. It was hard to keep my heart beating at a regular rate. It just wanted to beat harder and harder until it broke through my ribs. I was wondering how I could be so agitated, yet so relaxed at the same time. It was strange.
**Baby, you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I finding it hard to believe
We're in Heaven**
-"Heaven"
Anyway, the song ended and we parted.
"Hey, Riddle!" called a Slytherin from the punch bowl.
"Hey, Ivan!" Tom yelled back. "Excuse me, Lina, would you?"
As Tom went off to talk to his friend, Clarissa bounded over, screeching, "Oh, I saw! I saw! Could you dance any closer! Oh, I saw!"
I smiled as she freaked out.
"Tom and Lina sitting in a tree," Clarissa laughed.
"Not so loud," I said, trying not to laugh too. "I don't know. Maybe you're right. Maybe, he does like me."
Clarissa was making such a scene that we had to leave early. I just waved goodbye to Tom, who smiled and waved back.
A/N: I guess I rushed a few things. I could have took more time, but I kind of wanted to get this chapter over with so I could start on the next one.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except for Lina Shay and Clarissa.
FEELINGS YOU CAN'T DENY
Chapter Seven: The Yule Ball
December came upon quickly and hustle and bustle about the Yule Ball came on quicker. I had no hopes of being asked and I didn't exactly care either. I would much more benefit by using the time for study. Speaking of study, since that one study session with Tom, I hadn't exactly requested another one. My spells had improved since that day, though. I just pictured Tom coming toward me with that devious smile and I could blast anything. Other than that, I had sort of avoided Tom, I'm ashamed to say. I knew if I saw him, I would start blushing and sputtering and look like a complete idiot. Clarissa assured me that Tom wouldn't care. She was convinced that he had a crush on me, which I highly doubt.
"I bet he will!" Clarissa insisted to me as I attempted to write an essay on the properties of Elderberry root in the Great Hall at lunch.
"No, he won't," I told her.
"He will, I'm sure of it," Clarissa said stubbornly.
"No, he won't!" I exclaimed, throwing my quill down. "Tom Riddle is not going to ask me to the dance."
"When will you look passed your denial?" Clarissa asked, leaning toward me. "Tom Riddle obviously has a huge thing for you. I don't get why you can't see it."
"Because it's your imagination," I accused.
"I don't know why I bother," Clarissa sighed in frustration. "You're hopeless."
I shook my head and tried to return to my essay. The poison in Elderberry root, though causing a stinging sensation to the skin, can soothe the pain of appendicitis if mixed with...
"There he is!" Clarissa exclaimed, grabbing tightly to my arm.
I glanced up to see Tom Riddle enter the Great Hall with a couple members of his Quidditch team. They walked straight to Slytherin table and sat down. He didn't even look my way. I was glad of it, but also disappointed.
**I need you
Like water, like breath, like rain
I need you
Like mercy from heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you**
-"I Need You"
"Bet he'll come over and ask any minute," Clarissa whispered to me.
"Let it go," I suggested. "If he asks, then he'll ask. If he doesn't, then he won't. You getting overly excited won't change anything, so calm down."
Clarissa bit down on the tips of her fingers and silently watched the Slytherin table. I rolled my eyes and returned to my essay. In truth, if Tom did ask me to the dance, I would start wigging out more than Clarissa, but I honestly didn't think he'd ask. Still, I found myself glancing over at him every now and again to see if he was looking over. He never was.
*********************
Everyday until the Yule Ball, Clarissa kept saying, "He'll ask you tomorrow for sure." Not to my surprise, Tom never did ask me and it was the night of the Yule Ball.
"It's perfectly acceptable to go to the dance stag," Clarissa told me as the Hufflepuffs were complimenting each other's dress robes and doing hair. "A lot of people are going without dates."
"I have studying to do," I insisted.
"Please, Lina," Clarissa begged, sitting down beside me and all my books. "I was going alone and I thought we were going alone together."
I looked into her pleading green eyes and couldn't say no. Letting out a sigh of defeat, I went up to my dorm and got dressed. As Clarissa and I walked together, she was bouncing up and down with excitement. I shook my head, smiling wryly.
The Great Hall looked quite lovely, decorated with strings of holly, one giant Christmas tree and floating mistletoe. The people were quite lovely too, dressed in their finest and dancing about with each other.
Clarissa immediately pulled me over to a cauldron of candy and some pumpkin juice. I sipped from a cup, glancing around the dance floor, keeping a keen eye out for Tom and the girl luck enough to be his date. I could see no sign of him.
"Lina," came a voice as I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Clarissa shrieked in surprise, causing me to drop my cup of pumpkin juice. It splattered on all three of our shoes and hems. I looked back at Tom and gave him a sheepish smile.
"Sorry," I whispered, blushing.
Tom just displayed his usual pleasant smile to assure me that he didn't mind.
**All that I'll ever need
Is in your eyes
Shining at me
When you smile I can feel
All my passion unfolding**
-"I Do (Cherish You)"
Clarissa glanced from one of us to the other, smiling wildly.
"I think someone on the other side of the room is calling me," she muttered, winking at me before she left.
"So, who'd you come with?" I asked Tom casually.
"No one, actually," Tom told me. "I just wanted to hang out and dance with my friends."
"There was no one you wanted to ask?" I queried, looking up into his eyes. "I'm sure any girl would have said yes."
"That's why I went stag," he explained, turning his attention to the dance floor.
"What d'you mean?" I asked.
"I'm rather tired of girl's fawning over me," Tom disclosed, looking somehow sad.
I lowered my head. I was among those girls. I couldn't stop thinking about him, either.
"If I could only meet a girl who liked me for me and not because I'm popular or a good Quidditch player," Tom went on.
I began to wonder, why did I like him? For one, he was really hot. That was terribly shallow of me. Two, he didn't feel that I was below him. He was very sweet and generous. Three, Tom had this wonderful sense of fun and adventure that made his just irresistible. At first, I did like him for his popularity, but it was different now. If only there was a way to tell Tom that so he would believe me.
"So, did you come with anyone special?" Tom asked, emphasizing the word 'special.'
"Not unless you count Clarissa," I told him. "I wouldn't have come if she hadn't begged me to."
"You mean no one asked you?" Tom asked, staring thunderstruck. "I'm surprised."
"I'm not," I muttered, looking on at the dancers.
"Why is that?"
I was too embarrassed to relate all my flaws to him, so I merely said, "I don't know that many boys." Which was true.
"I would have asked you except that..." Tom didn't finish.
"Except that what?" I queried, watching his profile.
"Well," Tom began, shrugging, "I rather got the feel that you were avoiding me."
I felt ashamed. He actually might have asked me to the dance if I hadn't been such a childish ninny.
"Sorry about that," I muttered, lowering my head.
"I honestly don't blame you," Tom blurted. "After what happened...well, anyway. How are you doing in your classes?"
"I'm mostly caught up," I told him. "There are just a few tests to take and I'm with everyone else. I can't wait. My brain is turning to mush."
Tom chuckled.
A new song started up. It was soft and slow. I couldn't help but sway to the melody. In the corner of my eye, I saw Tom glance at me then look away. I briefly scanned him. He was rocking from toes to heels.
"Hey," he began.
"Yes?" I urged.
"You wouldn't want to dance, would you?" Tom asked.
"Yeah, sure!" I blurted, seemed more zealous than I had meant to.
Tom took my hand and led me to the dance floor. Once in a place he found suitable, right in the middle of everything, Tom pulled me close to him. It was hard to keep my heart beating at a regular rate. It just wanted to beat harder and harder until it broke through my ribs. I was wondering how I could be so agitated, yet so relaxed at the same time. It was strange.
**Baby, you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I finding it hard to believe
We're in Heaven**
-"Heaven"
Anyway, the song ended and we parted.
"Hey, Riddle!" called a Slytherin from the punch bowl.
"Hey, Ivan!" Tom yelled back. "Excuse me, Lina, would you?"
As Tom went off to talk to his friend, Clarissa bounded over, screeching, "Oh, I saw! I saw! Could you dance any closer! Oh, I saw!"
I smiled as she freaked out.
"Tom and Lina sitting in a tree," Clarissa laughed.
"Not so loud," I said, trying not to laugh too. "I don't know. Maybe you're right. Maybe, he does like me."
Clarissa was making such a scene that we had to leave early. I just waved goodbye to Tom, who smiled and waved back.
A/N: I guess I rushed a few things. I could have took more time, but I kind of wanted to get this chapter over with so I could start on the next one.