Another chapter. Yay!
Sorry Abbika, but I already decided who the girls are going to be in this story. Lol. Maybe if I ever write another one.
Chapter 3: Conducting Surveys Without Ink
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"Wow! Look at her!"
"She's cute."
"Cute? No, Moony. She's damn hot!"
"Maybe I should skip this walk. It's not exactly helping my situation," James commented to Sirius. "Do you have to talk about girls every second?"
"Aw, come on James. Take a look! I claim her!"
Remus laughed, "She isn't your property, Padfoot. Personally, I think she has this cruel look about her, but I shouldn't judge a book by its cover I guess."
"She isn't an object, she's a human being, and don't relate everything to books. It's scary," Sirius gave him a fake shiver.
"By the way you talk about her, she sounds like she's your possession."
"Well, I think I'm going to stay with her. Um… Alicia Cyita is her name, and it even rhymes."
"Yah whatever," James grumbled, kicking a rock and stubbing his toe. This trip wasn't that great so far and he wanted to be with Lily. Even if she didn't want to be near him.
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"Come on guys! Toni is waiting for us and we're already late!" Holly pleaded.
Ashley scanned the block that they were currently on, as if searching for prey, and found what she was looking for, "Just one more time. There are four of them over there and if it doesn't work, then we'll quit for today. Plus, how can we possibly be late if Toni doesn't know we're coming?"
Holly grumbled, cursing that her curly, blonde-haired friend had figured that out. The boys that were currently being discussed were walking on the other side of the street and though they didn't look that bad looking, it didn't matter to her, "I'm not interested in having a date for the dance."
"But we are," replied Ellen and shoved the clipboard into her hands. "It's your turn."
Glaring back at her three friends, the light-brown haired girl crossed the street and ran up to the boys, who, since their backs were facing Holly, didn't see her. She, for a moment, thought about rethinking her choice about not having a date when she was closer to them, because the guys were stunning! "Excuse me?" she asked. They didn't seem to hear her so she tapped a tall boy on the back and said louder, "Excuse me?" This finally made them all looked her way with interested expressions. The boy she touched stepped back, giving them both the space Holly thought was necessary, but since she didn't trust guys she moved a bit farther on her own.
"What?" said he, ruffling his black hair.
She smiled, "Hi. My friends and I are conducting a survey on they most commonly used male names in the neighborhood and we were wondering if you could tell us yours." They glanced over to the other girls, who were watching. Stupid boys, she thought, you don't need to look at people to answer an idiotic question.
Another one of the males with longer brown hair that fell handsomely over parts of his face, grinned, "Sure. I'm Sirius."
"We aren't asking for a personality, just for your name. Truthfully I don't care how serious you are, since I'm not the one who-" If Holly had spoken any more, then she would have given the plan away. Inwardly she slapped herself.
They all laughed and the guy replied, "No, my 'name' is Sirius Black."
"Believe me, he doesn't live up to it though," the black-haired boy chuckled, receiving a half-hearted glare, "My name is James Potter, and what exactly is this survey for?"
She raised an eyebrow. Most boys wouldn't care, as long as they could talk with a girl. None of her friends or her were exactly plain. If they put on a bit of make-up they could have been considered one of the prettiest in the area, "It is for a project assigned to us in school-"
"Wait a minute! You're Holly Eilander aren't you?"
She stepped back again keeping her narrowing eyes out for any wandering hands and said slowly, "I never knew I was famous. How do you know who I am?"
Sirius waved a sheet of paper that she now noticed was clutched in his hand; "You're on the list for people we can stay with."
Holly looked at the paper and her mood changed abruptly, "Wait, so… That's why you're accents are so cool sounding! You're the exchange students from London!" she placed her book bag on the ground and asked excitably. "So who are you going to stay with and what is it like in London. I wish I could go there! It must be really interesting!"
Sirius and James blinked, "Um…"
A sandy-haired boy looked at them and shook his head with pity, "It would probably be just as interesting for you as it is for us to come here, and no, we haven't decided who we are staying with."
She nodded happily, "Logical."
"What?" he asked.
"Your logical," she paused, "What's your name?"
The boy studied her face; "I don't have a common one, so there's no point in knowing it. It won't do any good in your survey."
"What survey?"
"The one you're holding in your hand."
She grinned, "What survey?" And Holly showed him the blank sheets of paper on the clipboard. "Even it were real, I still need to know your name."
James smiled, "Were you trying to get a date or something?"
"No," she scowled, "my friends were. For the dance that's coming up in a few days."
"Why don't you want a date?" asked Sirius. He smirked slyly, and took a small step towards her.
"I find no need in having to explain myself," she stiffened. If he walked any closer… "Go back."
He looked confused, "What?"
"Go back to your spot over there and don't come any closer to me."
"Why?"
"I don't trust you," and she repeated. "Go back."
"Holly! What are you trying to do? Scare them off?" Ellen screamed behind her and she jumped. "We already decided that you 'are' going to get a date."
Holly took a deep breath but didn't face her friends that had crossed the street to probably see what was taking so long, "You never said that."
"We decided as a group, just a few minutes ago," Jessica giggled, "when you weren't there."
"Figures," she replied. "But I don't care what you say, because I'm not getting a date."
They exchanged glances and gave her a look that spoke of betrayal. Unfortunately, Holly didn't see it, "Aw, why not."
"Because of my usual reason."
"That only refers to boys in our school, and these guys aren't, are they?" Ellen said, playing with a lock of her hair. The four boys leaned in slightly, as if she were to tell an interesting secret.
"It refers to all boys, since I haven't found anyone out of school either that are any different."
Sirius' curiosity got the better of him, "What are you girls talking about?"
Ashley walked up to a tree on the left side of the sidewalk; the only barrier between her and the road, bent down, and tied up her unknotted shoelace, "Just how Holly doesn't trust any percent of the male population on this planet, because of certain events that happened 'three years ago!" the strain on that last three words could have been felt even without the glare that came with it.
Her friend huffed, "There was more than just a few events. In fact, they happen almost every week now! What am I supposed to do? Welcome them?" Holly said angrily, staring at a butterfly fluttering around everyone's heads. "Anyway, these are the exchange students from London who are going to be at our school for about a week," She mentioned, pointing at the guys.
The other three females gave her excited glints in their eyes, which she decided to ignore, "What are their names?" They asked as one.
"Sirius, James, 'I'm not quite sure', and Mr. 'I have no reason to tell you," she gestured to all of the males.
Jessica looked at her, "Then why didn't you ask for his name?" she pointed to the short, pudgy and blonde boy that Holly had only just noticed was their age as well.
"You ask for it if you want, since you're all here. As for me," she glared at the sandy-haired boy, for not telling her his name, "I'm having lunch." Holly tried to walk away, but Ellen grabbed hold on to her shirtsleeve.
"Admit you want to know what his name is."
"I'm Peter Pettigrew."
"Not you, him," Ellen pointed to the last remaining and currently known as a nameless boy. "Admit it."
Holly watched Jessica introduce herself to Peter and unhooked her friend's fingers from her sleeve, "I don't care, because he probably won't be staying with me."
"Why not?" Ashley frowned. "You're a nice girl and though you're mood right now is making you look really stupid and mean, there is no reason for him to not want to stay with you."
She blushed and gaped. This was so embarrassing. The boy was right there; only a few feet away and they were talking like… Uh oh. Holly knew what they were trying to do, "There is no way you are going to set me up with him! I told you I'm not interested!" The said guy flinched and glanced at her, his own cheeks turning ever so slightly red. Was it just her imagination or did he look a bit hurt.
"I swear, you're going to ruin your nice, calm reputation if you keep acting like this," warned Ellen and she turned to the boy. "What's your name?"
He glanced at Holly, who was busy wiping imaginary dirt off her arm annoyed, "Remus Lupin."
Ellen glanced at her friend who had instantly looked up at him, not moving, "See that wasn't so hard? It's ok to ask for someone's name. Just admit you wanted to hear it. Otherwise, you would have left already."
She still stared at Remus with a dazed look as if she were seeing right through him and said monotonies, "I'm getting lunch," And she turned and walked off.
Jessica immediately stopped chatting with Peter and yelled, "You heard her! Let's get some food!"
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YAY!! Another chapter. Finally, lol! Well like I said, you met the girls who they may be staying with. They're all pretty different, but you only saw a glimpse of one of them really. More to come, so R & R!
Luna
