Ch. 7- Changes and Confessions
A/N: alrighty, here it is, the update...merry belated christmas- I did mean to have this up before christmas, but I was really busy...so here it is, a late christmas- would you call it a present?...anyways, things are going to start to get spiced up here, it's starting to get better- more action! so, yes, that's good...um, I dunno, I think that's it, so enjoy:p
Some boys take a beautiful girl
And hide her away from the rest of the world
I want to be the one to walk in the sun
Oh girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have
Girls Just Want To Have Fun-Cyndi Lauper
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The first month of the holidays went by in a blur. James and Sirius both played Quidditch and I was a fairly decent flyer, so we spent a lot of time out in the sun tossing the Quaffle around and just messing around. There was also a pool in the back yard, so I had a nice tan going on by the second week of break. Sirius and I had contests to see who could do the bigger and better stunt. I was a gymnast and a damn good dueler, so I knew how to do flips and handsprings. Sirius was just a big show off so, so he knew how to do a fair amount of things as well. James was the judge and I always won.
"So, when are you guys going to Greece and France?" Sirius asked, one afternoon as we laid out catching some sun. We had already spent three hours swimming.
"Next week." James replied, looking up at him. "Padfoot, you know you're more than welcome to come with us."
"Nah, that's the time you spend with your parents every year, I don't want to impose." He said, shaking his head. "Besides, I'll have Sunshine here to keep me company." He added, cheerfully.
"Not unless you going to America." I said, not opening my eyes.
"What? You're going to America?" He asked, standing over me. "What for?"
"I'm going to see my dad. I told him I would visit for the two weeks that James went on vacation." I replied, opening an eye a crack. "Now, d'you mind? You're blocking my sun."
"Great, I'll be all by myself for two weeks." He said, lying back down. "What the bloody hell am I suppose to do for two weeks?"
"You could always come with me to Chicago." I said, laughing at him. "God knows that it would probably be better if you did."
"But I don't want to-" He began, but I cut him off.
"You won't be imposing, I promise." I said, firmly. "Trust me, you'll be making a fairly awkward situation less awkward."
"But, I mean, don't you want to spend time with your dad alone?" He asked, his voice doubtful.
"Sirius, listen to me- my dad and I will have plenty of time to spend together, whether you're there or not." I replied. "And you're like family, so stop arguing with me and just say, 'Sure, Sunshine, I'd love to go to Chicago with you'. 'Cause, mate, you don't have much of a choice. I'm not leaving you here alone for two weeks and you can't go to Remus', because he's out of town, and who knows where Peter is these days." I added, sitting up and looking at him. He looked back and laughed.
"Sure, Sunshine, I'd love to go to Chicago with you." He said, still laughing.
"Good, I hoped you would." I said, as though we hadn't had an argument over it.
"Oh sure, you'll go with her, but you won't go with me." James said, pretending to be offended. "I see how it is."
"I hate to break it to you, Prongs, but Sunshine is a slight prettier sight to look at than you." Sirius said, in a mock serious tone.
"This is true." James agreed, nodding. "Those long legs of hers drive me insane…"
"And that incestuous body that she's got, oh, it turns me on so much." Sirius went on, picking up James' trail. "It just makes me want to rip her clothes off and-"
"Okay, I think that's enough talk about me in a sexual way." I said, loudly, drowning Sirius' comments out. "Especially from the likes of two inexperienced prats such as yourselves."
"Hey, I am very experienced, thank you very much." Sirius said, indignantly.
"And I am saving myself." James said, seriously. Sirius and I looked at each other for a second and then we burst out laughing.
"Saving yourself?" Sirius choked out. "For who?"
"Oh, oh, I know, I know!" I gasped out, unable to breathe. "The perfect, angelic, sexy, smart, beautiful, lovely Lily Evans!"
"Hey, don't make fun of my future wife!" James snapped, as Sirius and I rolled with laughter.
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I'd received five letters from Jon and I'd replied to all of them. He said that his holiday was going alright, although it wasn't too exciting. He was going to Germany in July, about the same time I'd be gone. He and his sisters were going to visit his grandparents and he couldn't wait. He said that he missed me and couldn't wait to see me again- at which point my faced burned and my stomach turned with butterflies- and that he hoped my holidays were going well.
The strange thing was, I found myself thinking of him often and I missed him too. But the fact that he seemed to feel the same way about me just blew my mind away. I really could believe it- I'd found a guy that liked me and he was cute, funny, and nice. It was almost too good to be true. But, I didn't dwell on it too much; I was too busy worrying about seeing Dad again. Dumbledore said he'd changed for the better since Christmas, but I wasn't quite sure what that was suppose to mean.
"Okay, we ready to go?" I asked, making sure I had all of my bags.
"Yeah, I think so." Sirius said, checking as well.
"Okay, see you guys in about two weeks." James said, clapping Sirius on the back and giving me a hug. "And remember- don't do anything I wouldn't." He added, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Oh, don't worry, that won't be very hard." I replied, smacking on the back of the head.
Sirius and I grabbed some Floo powder and stepping into the fireplace together. We stated our destination and a second before we started spinning, I felt Sirius grab my hand, holding it tight. He didn't like flooing very much and he was always slightly sick afterwards. We kept spinning for what seemed like hours and then finally we stopped.
"Okay, we're here." I said, softly, leading him out of the fireplace because he still had his eyes shut tight. "You could try opening your eyes.' I suggested. He cracked one open and then the other.
"Wow, this is nice." He said, looking around. "I like your old house better, but this is still nice."
"Yeah, well, I guess it's home." I replied, leading him up the stairs. "Dad? Are you here?" I called through the house, not really expecting an answer.
"Yeah, up here." A voice responded. It sounded like the dad I knew, but I wasn't sure if I should trust it.
"Hey, guys, how's it going?" He asked, as we walked into what used to be office. Now it was covered in paint and canvases and sculptures.
"What happened?" I asked, looking around in slightly shocked. "Where's the office?" He sighed, looking at me and giving me a tired smile.
"It's gone." He said, pausing for a second as though he were trying to work out to word what he was going to say next. "Joie, you were right. I should have never tried to make you transfer schools and I had no right in doing what I did."
"Dad," I said, but then I stopped as he held up his hand.
"No, let me finish. Ever since Mom died I haven't been myself. God, I couldn't even look at you without breaking down for a month. You look just like her. And then, I just couldn't handle staying in the house because everything reminded me of her and I couldn't stand being reminded that I'd never see her again. So, I pushed you away. I moved you over here and I took up a time consuming job so that I didn't have to think about it. Then, at Christmas, I just didn't want to come to terms with the fact that I was just hurting you and creating more problems.
"And then after you left on Christmas, I was so angry. I couldn't believe that you ran away. So, I went straight to Dumbledore and demanded that he tell me where you were. He clamed me down a bit and said that if I made you transfer I would end up regretting it one day. He told me to give you some distance for a while and to evaluate the important things in my life. So I went home and did that. I thought of everything that had ever meant something important to me.
"My first thought was you and of how happy and proud I was the day you were born. You were so tiny as I held you in my arms and I never wanted to let you go. The love I felt for you at that moment had only increased. The next thing I thought about was art and how much I missed it. I didn't realize how empty my life's been without it. And then I thought about what I'd been doing lately. Working a ridiculously stupid job from six until god knows when sometimes. I'd become the very type of person I hate. A suit and tie wearing, has no time for his family, workaholic prick. So, I changed. It wasn't easy at first, but then it all came back to me. And I made a promise to myself that the next time I saw you I wouldn't waste any time in telling you how much I love you and how important you are to me and how proud I am of you."
I stood there for a minute taking everything he'd said in. My dad- my real dad- was back and that made me so happy. And then I threw my arms around him and engulfed him a hug I'd been wanting to give him for so long now. He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me back.
"So, I guess this means that you forgive me." He said, holding me tightly.
"I'm just glad that you're back." I whispered. We stood there like that for a few minutes and then we broke apart. Sirius was still standing in the doorway, just watching us, a smile on his face.
"Sirius, how are you?" Dad asked, him, shaking his hand before giving him a hug as well.
"Not half bad." He replied. "I've moved out of my parents and I'm living with James now."
"Good, you never deserved the family you had- you should have had much better." He said, nodding his head in approval. "Hey, about what I said to Joie about you and James and Remus…I'm really sorry about it."
"Hey, don't worry about it. You guys have been through a rough year." Sirius said, shaking his head.
"Well, why don't you guys get settled in?" Dad said, after a second. "I'm afraid that you'll have to sleep in the same room, all the other rooms have junk in them." He added, as we continued down the hall.
"Okay, so, you can take half of the dresser and half of the closet and I'll take the other half." I said, tossing my bags onto the bed. "We'll have to work out some sort of bed arrangement- that is, unless you don't mind sharing." I added, looking at him.
"Hey, as long as you don't snore as loud as Wormtail, I don't mind at all." He replied, starting to unpack.
Over the next few days Sirius and I went sightseeing. We went to the Sears Tower, Millennium Park, and Navy Pier. Dad showed us a bunch of muggle shops that we found interesting and there was a small wizards-only section towards the outskirts of town, which was where we spent most of our evenings.
About four days after we arrived in Chicago, Dad suggested that we go to the beach. He said that California had good surfing and would be a good place to go.
"But how are we suppose to get there?" Sirius asked, frowning. "I mean, it's not like we're going to fly, is it?"
"Oh, dear god, no!" Dad laughed. "We're going to apparate."
"What?" Sirius said, looking at my father as though he were crazy. "Sunshine and I don't know how."
"Speak for yourself!" I said, indignantly. "I've known how to do it since I was twelve."
"You have?" He asked, incredulously. I nodded.
"Dad taught me. He thought it would a good idea to know how to just in case of an emergency." I said, smiling at Dad. He smiled back.
"It's alright, Sirius, you side apparate with me." He said, as Sirius tried to comprehend that I could apparate. "Alright, there's a wizard shop called Tea and Trumpets- don't ask what the name means. It's in San Francisco, so just apparate there and we can walk to the beach from there."
I nodded and concentrated on my destination. I had a clear vision in mind of the words: Tea and Trumpets. Then I turned and with a loud crack I felt myself being compressed into a tiny space then being decompressed with another loud crack. I opened my eyes and found myself standing in the most bizarre tea shop I'd ever seen. There were tables all around for people to sit at while drinking their tea and chat with friends. But there were also a massive amount of trumpets in there as well. There some that decorated the walls and some that were centerpieces for the tables. There was a quartet of trumpet players playing songs for the entertainment of the customers. My dad and Sirius arrived and Sirius was looking around the shop with same kind of bizarre amazement that I was. Dad, however, just walked straight through as though tea shops that used trumpets as a decorating scheme was the most normal thing ever.
"Well, are you two going to stand there all day gawking or are we going to go to the beach?" Dad asked, turning to see that we weren't following him.
"That was the most bizarre place I've ever been in." Sirius said, shaking his head as we walked along the beach front.
"Yes, it is quite disconcerting the first time you see it, but after a while you get used to it." Dad said, with a laugh.
"You've been there before?" I asked, surprised.
"Not this one, no. But there is one in England that is quite cozy actually." He replied. Now, we don't much fit in here do we?"
"No, we don't. " I agreed.
"Well, seeing as we are going to a beach, I think swimming suits are in need of." He said, stepping down an alley. He waved his wand and was in pair of trunks, a T-shirt, flip-flops, and sunglasses. I smiled and taking his lead, waved my wand. A second later I was wearing a black two piece suit, with shorts on, black flip-flops, and sunglasses. Sirius followed the suit, and had a pair of trunks, a white beater- that showed off his nicely toned upper body, by the way- flip-flops, and sunglasses on. We continued our way down to the beach.
"So, how bout some surfing?" Dad asked, and we nodded. Two summers ago, when Sirius had spent half the summer with us, Dad took us to Hawaii and taught us how to surf. "Okay, I'll go rent some boards and then we'll hit it. Why don't you guys go pick out a spot for our stuff."
Sirius and I headed down the beach looking for some available space. We finally found some in the middle of the beach and we marked the space as ours. I took off my shorts, conjured up some sunscreen, and started to lather up. I had Sirius help me my back and then handed it to him to use. I walked a little ways towards the water and picked up some seashells.
"Hey there, beautiful, why don't you come on over here and hang with me and my friends." A voice to my left said. I looked up and saw a guy with shoulder length blonde hair and ice blue eyes standing there and looking at me.
"Oh, that's alright, I'm fine." I replied, sensing not to go with this guy. For one, he was a stranger and for another he seemed like he might be drunk- he was kinda of swaying on the spot.
"Oh, you're a foreigner? That's even better." He said, licking his lips and looking at me with a hunger in his eyes. He reached out to take my hand, but I pulled back. "Aw, is the wittle girl afraid of wittle old me?" He asked, in a mock baby voice, grabbing my arm. I tried to pull away, but he had a firm grasp on me.
"Hey, let go of me." I said, trying to keep the twinge of fear that was in my voice unwavering. My mind was numb, so I wasn't thinking very clearly.
"Don't worry, we'll have a lot of fun." He said, pulling me right up against him. His breath stank of stale beer and smoke, and it was all I could do to not retch right there. I tried to push out of his hands, but it was no use. "By the time we're finished you'll thank me." He added, his hands traveling down my back and grabbing ass. Then they slipped under the suit and, well, you can imagine. My breathing became quick and shallow and my heart started racing.
"Let me go, please." I pleaded, my voice cracking, as his hands roamed up to the upper part of my suit. I could feel his lips beginning to brush against mine when I heard the best thing in the world- Sirius' voice.
"What the bloody hell d'you think you're doing?" He said, angrily pulling the guy off of me.
"Hey, man, get your own chick, this one's mine." The guy said, irately.
"Not if I have anything to say about!" Sirius said, glaring at the guy. "Look, stay away from her, savvy?"
"I'll do whatever the fuck I please!" He yelled at Sirius. Then he threw a punch at him- and missed. Sirius threw one back and got him right in the nose.
"Go away." He snarled maliciously. The guy stumbled off muttering obscenities under his breath. "Are you okay?" He asked, turning to me.
"Thanks to you, yeah." I replied, my breathing and heart rate slowing down.
"God, one second I see you there picking up sea shells and the next you're being sexually assaulted by some bum." He said, anger still in his voice. "Are you sure you're alright?" He added, and I nodded, but I was still shaking. Sirius noticed and wrapped his arms protectively around me.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, I'm here. I'll never let anything happen to you, okay?" He said, softly, his voice now filled with concerned. I nodded into his chest and I took a shaky breath.
"Just do me a favor?" I asked, looking up at him.
"What's that?"
"Don't tell my dad what happened- he'll just over react." I said, and he nodded.
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alrighty, you know the drill- review and tell me what you think...or how much it sucks, either way, I'll get a review, right?