Hey guys! Sorry for the late update, just been really busy! I promise to have a new chapter up by Sunday morning the latest!
To:
PremierGoldPineapple: I know! The weather down in Melbourne has been driving me nuts! It was like 30 degrees one day and the next was legitimately 21! Like what even? And yes, I intend on making them sit through storms and cold weather and heat waves (the usual weather for Aus, basically) ;) keep reading and reviewing!
Nina Guest: yes, James is an idiot. I agree. Keep reading and reviewing!
Kattttiiieee: yes, I am from Australia! It's actually why I made Maddie an Aussie because it was the easiest perspective to write from (an Australian teen). Glad you're enjoying and hope you like it!
FanFicLover32: I try to make them cute, I really do! Keep reading and reviewing!
Cap92A: I know that Maddie and James seemed to be acting normal it's just that I didn't want another drama filled chapter of angst like it was just getting to blah blah angst blah blah angst for me and I wanted to write a happy and warm chapter! But this chapter does help clear things up a little! And yes, I am Australian but I am totally making this town up! Keep reading and I really love getting your reviews!
PLEASE KEEP REVIWING! IT'S ACTUALLY THE BEST WHEN I GET TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS AND FEELINGS TOWARDS THE STORY!
And yes, I'm from Australia but I have completely made up this town. I smooshed Noosa Heads with Cowes with Byron Bay with a cute little place in Sydney all together! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 20: Types of Friends Everyone Has
Ok, so once we were all ready and looked normal, we set off. Outside was smoking. Our house was right near the ocean – you just walk along the street and turn right at the end. The houses on the other side of the street occupy mostly muggles. We walked to the pavement and I turned to look at Bob. On the outside, Bob was light blue wooden planks with white windows with a wooden porch. A lone, netted hammock hung on the porch. I breathed in the salty air and felt like jumping in the ocean then and there.
My skin felt like it was already peeling from sunburn. I looked at the sky and was stunned to see it was a brighter blue than I'd remembered.
"The sky is too blue," Al commented as he squinted in the sun, his pale skin glinting in the sun.
I laughed. "It's bluer than the permanent grey sky of England, that's for sure," I said as I flipped my sunglasses down.
We walked barefoot down the street, passing neighbours and friends of friends.
"Hey Maddie! Nice to see ya!" Harley yelled from her kitchen window, the crazy old lady who lived two houses down. I smiled and waved to everyone, feeling so comfortable to be back.
"Al, what are you wearing?" Lily asked suddenly, glaring at Al.
Al looked at his pants. "What? They're just swimmer-trousers!" Al said, his voice accusing.
Lily frowned. "They have flowers on them. You're wearing flower swim-trousers?"
I coughed. "Board shorts. They're called board shorts. Or boardies for short," I supplied, needing to stop them from say swim-trousers (who even says that?).
James grinned. "Sweet! I'm wearing boardies everyone!" he yelled, and a few passing girls waved and giggled.
Al rolled his eyes. "Yes, your boardies are so amazing, they make all the girls swoon."
James shook his head, his eyes the brightest blue in the sun. "Not just swoon. Faint."
I sighed. "Yes James. I'm just fainting at the sight of your boardies," I said sarcastically.
"Not appreciating the sarcasm," James drawled.
My feet were stinging from the burning ground, but I was tuning out the pain like I'd done for sixteen summers. It was awesome.
"This is not awesome," I heard Al mutter, hopping from one foot to the other, muttering 'hot' every so often. Lily wore a permanent scowl and was complaining about how she hadn't seen a koala yet and James was… being James.
He looked right at home, swaggering down the street, gathering attention from all the tweens that lived on my street.
It was funny, seeing the three of them like that. I remember thinking about Max, Sadie and Able non-stop and wondering if they'd look the same. I was fidgeting and making random conversation with Lily and Lucy when I smelt it. The sea. It doesn't smell like you'd probably think.
It smells like hot sand and blue salt and sunscreen and burnt skin.
Of course, then I heard it.
The rhythmic sound of waves crashing to the shore, the shrill cry of seagulls and wind rustling the dry grass.
I sped up and ran to the end of the street. I turned right and the black road turned to gravel mixed with sand, dry tufts of grass sticking out here and there. The path was surrounded with small and brown vegetation. The funny thing is, people might think Australia is always lush and green – well, it's not. The scorching heat of summer will turn everything brown and dry.
I looked at the ground and scanned it, seeing if it was safe. Al just trudged ahead.
My head shot up, alarmed. "No! Watch out for-"
"Ow! Ow ow ow ow! What is that?" Al screeched in pain as he hopped on one foot, squinting at a little thing sticking out from his foot.
"Bindis," I said, unhelpfully. "They're like little thorns or prickles that are in grass. They hurt like hell if you step on them," I said, just as Lily also stepped in one and started shrieking.
Lucy sighed. "You get used to it after a while. Oh, and watch out for bull ants. They're around here somewhere."
"And grass snakes. Not poisonous but kinda scary," Adrian commented as he shoved Jeremy and they raced down the path leading towards the beach.
"And the little holes in the beach contain hermit crabs so don't cover them up! You'll kill the crabs!" Ollie shouted over his shoulder as he chased after Jeremy and Adrian.
"Oh, and sometimes there are sharks but that's like, once in a blue moon. Oh, and watch for spiders!" Lucy said as she bounded off, yelling at Ollie to hurry up.
I turned to face a stunned looking Al, a disgusted looking Lily and a terrified looking James.
I burst out laughing. "All of that sounds scarier than it actually is. Come on, the beach is just down that path," and so, I led the three of them down the path and told them about the time Lucy picked up a pretty shell in the water when suddenly, these legs popped out and she dropped the shell and screamed at the top of her lungs 'IT HAS LEGS!'.
They all laughed but James, who had a weird expression on his face. All the weird things between us were kind of being held at bay. I was pushing all of the resentment and anger and bitterness and confusion to the side so I could enjoy the time with my friends.
About halfway down, the path changed to white, soft sand that burned to touch. I stopped walking and squeezed the sand between my toes, the little squeaky sound filling my ears. I sighed and started running down the path, Al, Lily and James far behind, who were slipping and stumbling, not used to running in the sand. I, on the other has, was a pro!
I turned the last corner and BAM. The beach was right there. The aqua water that turned dark blue in the deep patches, the white, foam waves and the families strewn on the sand.
I smiled and ran straight towards the surf. I yanked off my large T-shirt and sunglasses whilst running and threw them down somewhere and kept on running. I ran into the surf and dove in, the cool, salty water gliding over me. I kicked and spun and dove longer and harder and faster, my eyes closed so the salt water wouldn't sting them.
I rose to the surface and opened my eyes. It was so perfect. My feet just touched the ground and I felt the current pushing me to the left, so I made sure to dive to the right. I dove in again and splashed around.
"Maddie!" I heard someone call out. I lifted my head to find Rosie, a friend from school running towards me wildly. She threw her arms around me and squeezed the life out of me. She was a good friend of mine, and I hugged her back, laughing. We waded closer to the shore our knees were out of the water.
"Rosie! Oh my god, so good to see you!" I squealed as she giggled and pulled away. Her tan skin was a little bit tanner, her brown hair a little bit longer and her hips were a little bit skinnier. She looked awesome. Summer treated everyone well, it seems.
"So good to see you too! So Sadie, Able and Max are all dying to see you and I think they're at the arcade or something by the boardwalk with like Conner and Zara and some others. Oh, and that super annoying chick… ah… what's her name… oh! Colleen! The pretty one who thinks she's better than us," Rosie scowled. I laughed at her expression and led her out of the water.
"I think I needed that swim. Ok, can I just say that Hogwarts is literally the most medieval thing I've ever seen. You know how AIM tries to incorporate technology with magic? Well, Hogwarts doesn't even try! But the people are really awesome! In fact, I actually have some people I'd like you to meet. Just let me find them…" I scanned the beach and ocean as I waded out of the water, the small waves crashing against my back.
Then I saw who I was looking for. And actually froze.
Oh shit. He had his shirt off. Again.
I blushed deep red and stared at him swimming and splashing Jeremy like they were old friends.
He must have sensed someone was looking because he caught my gaze. His expression ran over me and his face turned a bright red.
"Ok, that totally ripped guy is so checking you out. I mean, England has been good for getting your body bikini ready! Like, what do you eat over there that turns you that toned? And can I just say, those bathers are totally hot! And now – OH MY GOD HE'S COMING OVER WHAT DO WE SAY?" Rosie screeched in my ear but I paid no attention because she was right. He was coming over. He shook his black, wet hair out and walked over with Al and Lily following.
Oh, and btw, if you haven't already guessed, the totally 'ripped' guy was James.
His strides were long in the beach and he was over in a flash. "Hey. This beach is so awesome. And ah, who's this?" James asked, staring at me and barely looking at Rosie.
I cleared my dry throat. "Um, this is Rosie. Rosie, James. He's a friend of mine," I said, my face still flushed. "And this is Al and Lily," I said, after a slight pause. I pointed to them.
Rosie introduced herself and soon, Jeremy, Adrian, Ollie and Lucy found us.
"Ok, so we're actually gonna go to the boardwalk now because we don't want miss the gang," Lucy said as she spun and ran out of the beach and started walking left along the sand.
I hugged Rosie goodbye and we all followed suit.
I hung at the back of the group, wringing my hands and thinking about Max, Sadie and Able.
"Why are you nervous?" James's voice took me by surprise. I glanced up at his already drying hair. Man, I love his hair. Always so black and messy and shiny and ruffled.
"How can you tell?" I asked, my voice a little higher than usual.
James smiled. "You wring your hands. I don't know, guess I just noticed or something," James said as he stretched his neck back, rubbing it.
I was still wet from the ocean and didn't bother bringing a towel – I'd dry naturally fast enough in the heat anyways.
Awkward silence covered us for a while.
James cleared his throat. "Look, I just wanted to apologise for what happened with Ellie and what I said. Like, that wasn't cool. And I wanted to say sorry because I don't want things to be really weird between us… because, I liked being friends and because… I was… not- not very… not nice," James managed to get out. I smiled, despite myself.
"Yeah, I said some pretty mean things too. And, for the record, I liked being friends too. That was pretty cool. But I'm not forgiving you that easy for what you implied that night. Of course, I'll put it on hold until we get back to England because I don't to bring down my family or friends here," I said, rambling.
James nodded. "I completely understand. And I am sorry for what… I implied. That was uncalled for and I want you to know, I don't really think that," James said, his face awkward.
He's a pretty socially awkward guy when it comes to apologising, it seems.
I nodded and we walked in silence until the boardwalk came into view. The boardwalk is just that – a boardwalk with shops and cafes and street venders and buskers running along the left side of it. The beach was on the right, obviously.
We walked faster and faster until my bare feet felt the wooden and worn boardwalk under my feet.
I heard James curse under his breath. I looked his way and he smiled grimly. "Boardwalk is hotter than the sand. How is the ground so hot?" James asked, his expression half disgust and half impressed.
I stifled a laugh. "Well, you get used to it."
We walked a little farther in silence when the shops and cafes came into sight. I sped up almost into a run, anxious to see my best friends.
Before I knew it, I'd reached the shopping strip. I wove in between crowds of people clad in tiny bikinis and wet suits, looking for the little ice cream van that was always parked at the same place.
Finally, I spotted the creamy-yellow van and broke into a sprint.
Then, I spotted them. And I screamed. A full-on shriek. They all locked gazes with me and broke into massive grins.
"Maddie!" Able screamed as she carefully placed down her ice cream but then broke into a sprint, running straight to me.
She barrelled into me and I laughed, hugging my tiny friend. She's a little pocket-rocket, she is. Fiery red hair, freckle covered red skin, small, blue eyes with blonde eyelashes, chubby cheeks, round face, tiny frame, massive brown eyebrows – she's the weirdest looking person but her winning smile and cheery personality make it work. She always had a smile on her face and she always looked amazing in her wardrobe of large T-shirts and tight pants. She's awesome. I loved Able like a sister and I knew I always would. She chatters non-stop and always has some wise and powerful thing to say on world issues (how we should be protecting Thestrals because they are our future or something). She's the funniest and sweetest and most amazing person ever. But swears like a grown man! She laughs at everything and always seems to know exactly what to say, when to say it and when to stop talking. She's really into saving the environment and finding cures for mortal diseases. She's weird and strange and I'm still trying to figure her out.
Overall, she's awesome.
And I'd missed her so much!
"Able! I missed you so much! And you've grown!" I exclaimed as Able giggled. It was a little joke we had – she hasn't grown since first year so we all tease her about it (she's like the tiniest person ever).
"Ok, so we have so much to catch up on but first, I'd like to say that Max is. The. Best. Boyfriend. EVER!" Able exclaimed, her voice filled with love and her face in a big smile. I was always wondering if Max was being good to little Able – they'd only just started dating after years of people saying 'You guys are totally in love with each other!'. They're the cutest couple ever.
I laughed and wrapped an arm around her, leading her back to Sadie and Max, who were talking quietly.
Sadie gave a little squeal and ran over to us, wrapping her arms around both of us and gave a big sigh.
"It's nice to hug both of you again," Sadie sighed as she pulled us into her strong arms.
Sadie is a very straight forward person. She's also a flirting machine that never twirls her hair and pouts her lips. She's comforting and loud and funny and straight forward and blunt. She's also a massive flirt and has had so many serious boyfriends, it's funny. Each new boy, she swears up and down 'he's the one' and she 'loves them' but they always end up getting kicked to the curb when she gets bored. No one can keep up with Sadie. She's tall and strong from all the Quidditch and dragon-riding (her dad trains and rides dragons and so she learns to ride and tame them too which is awesome). Her hair is always cut raggedly at her shoulder (she cuts it herself) and is dyed this cool, grey-blue colour with braids crossing around her head. She has an angular face with big, brown, doe eyes. I love Sadie to bits because she is so intimidating but she's always there when you need to just rant or talk things out. She takes no bull-shit and defends her loved ones with all her being.
She squeezed us tighter and tighter and I pulled away, gasping.
"Jeez Sadie! Lighten up, would ya?" I said, punching her lightly in the shoulder. She just grinned and leaned into my ear.
"You've no idea how happy I am to see you – if I had to take another second of being the third wheel, I might've pitched myself off a roof," Sadie whispered. I giggled and she gave me a look to say she was serious.
Able frowned. "I heard that. You're a shit whisperer, you know that?" Able said, tilting her head patronizingly at Sadie who waved her off.
"Meh, I don't care. In fact, it's better you heard!" Sadie said as Max walked up to us.
"Heard what?" he asked, his innocent face a little confused. Bless Max. He's an innocent little cutie who is a whiz with spells but seriously oblivious – he hardly noticed Able's obvious flirting for years until she actually kissed him. He has square glasses that are always crooked and a mop of brown-black hair. Of course, despite being clueless most of the time, he has a quick wit and dry humour that keeps us all in stitches. He's a perfect gentleman and has the best manners – the cream to Able's oreo. He's super tall and super scrawny and can run super-fast. He's the exact opposite of Able. He's mellow and sweet and has the longest fuse I've ever seen.
He's perfect for Able and her short temper.
I gave him a bear hug and rocked back and forth. "I've missed you, Maxy!" I said, using his old nickname.
"Please, I've missed you way more. I mean, you left me alone with two crazy girls!" he said, earning three smacks – one from me, Able and Sadie.
"Hey! All three of us are crazy, dipshit," Able warned as Max laughed and planted a cute kiss on her forehead.
"Forgiven!" Able squealed, blushing bright red.
I laughed and noticed Conner by the van. I grinned and waved him over. Conner. How to explain him? He's Max's best guy friend because Sadie and I are his best friends (Able is his girlfriend so she doesn't count). Conner is inappropriate, loud, hilarious and did I mention inappropriate? He says the most awkward things at the worst time and has a mind as dirty as the Yarra River in Melbourne (that river is disgusting, btw. Search it up). He has sandy blonde hair and blue eyes and is a real hit with the girls. He's a pretty good friend of mine but I'd never even consider dating him.
I gave him a big hug and he squeezed me tight. "I've missed ma fav girl!" Conner drawled. He also has the biggest Bogan accent. Kind of like Steve Irwin (respect and RIP) mixed with the guy in Crocodile Dundee (search them both up – they basically have typical Aussie accents if you can't be stuffed searching it up).
"Missed you too, Conner," I laughed as I pulled away, searching for Zara. If Conner was here, she wouldn't be far behind. Zara is his little fangirl, though she'd never admit it. She's tough and hardcore but mostly full of it, to be honest. She gossips and talks crap but she's ok… sometimes. She's one of those friends. You know, the bitchy one?
You know what? I feel a list coming on:
Types of Friends Everyone Has:
The bitchy one. The one who talks crap about their 'best friends', gossips, treats some people like crap, has very loud opinions and a good friend to have when you need to rant. They usually act way worse than they actually are. They can cause havoc and usually work on your last nerve (pretty much Zara and kind of Hope and Maria).
The hyper-active one. The one that is always on a sugar-high and for some reason, doesn't know when to come back down. It's like they don't switch off! They're attention seeking and usually just yell random comments about themselves in conversations to try to get people to feel 'sorry' for them and to get their friends to fuss. They're immature and over-dramatic but can be sincere and normal when you get them one-on-one (aka Hope).
The laid-back friend. They just don't give a damn about anything. They're easy to chill with, usually don't involve themselves in petty fights and are quiet and calm in group outings. They're also hilarious and usually have a dry wit about them (THIS IS JO).
The joker. The joker jokes non-stop. They are the arrogant, funny ones who always know how to make you feel better (probs James… if we were even friends. Xavier maybe?)
The normal one. They're normal. They're nice and funny and usually please everyone. They're average at most things and they're friends with usually the hyper-active one or the joker – they keep those lunatics under control (pretty sure that's Al and Scorp).
The true friend. The one who knows every inch and scrap of you, the one who is always the first you go to. They can keep plenty of secrets and are super trustworthy. If you break their trust, you're on the outs for a while though (Jo, Al and Scorp. Love them).
I looked around to see her walking out of the arcade, fiddling with something in her hand. She looked up and caught my eye. She smiled and walked over, her arms reaching out slowly for a hug. I walk into her embrace and hugged her.
She pulled away casually and smiled. "Hey! Haven't seen your face 'round here in a while," Zara said, looking casual. Her hair is the perfect beach-hair (blonde/ brown waves), her tan is killer and her body was bikini ready. Her high-waisted shorts showed off her butt (obviously she wanted them to) and her crochet bra-top looked boho and cool. Her nails were long and filed to perfection (matte black as always) and her face was caked with makeup (per usual). Her ear had a billion piercings more than they did last time I saw I'd seen her and her nose had a little gold stud.
"Hey! Good to see you!" I said, smiling as she smiled again and walked around me to talk to Conner. Her smile broadened.
"Good news! I found my bracelet! The arcade said that one of the attendants found it and gave it in! I think it was Beck. You know, the one with the weird side-burns?" Zara motioned side-burns with her hands. I smiled. Same old Zara.
Sadie gave me a look and walked over to me. "Zara has gotten even worse. She keeps telling everyone that she and Conner hooked up, like, thirty times over the summer but that's just bullshit. I mean, it's Conner. And Conner always says he doesn't like her but it's so obvious he loves having her as a little pet," Sadie whispered in my ear. AIM gossip is actually the best.
I giggled. "Sounds like Conner."
"What cha talking 'bout?" Lucy said loudly from behind us. I shrieked and turned around to see her standing there with hands on her hips. I tilted my head to the side. She was pissed, I could tell that much.
"Why are you so angry?" I asked a glaring Lucy.
"Because you just ran off on your guests! Poor Al and Lily," Lucy said, pouting and hitting me on the arm.
Wincing, I rubbed my arm. "What about James?" I asked.
Lucy scowled. "He either likes you or he doesn't – he needs to decide," Lucy said, her eyes narrowed.
I snorted and was about to say something else when Jeremy bounded up with the rest of the gang in tow (besides James who was petting a cute puppy. Aww, hot guy with cute dog).
"Wanna introduce your new friends to your old friends?" Jeremy said, a disgusted eyebrow raised in Zara's direction.
I smacked him. "Be nice. She's not that bad!" I said to a shuddering Jeremy.
"I still have nightmares of her freaky nails." Jeremy hates Zara. Always has, always will. Don't even know why he hates her so much.
I motioned for Able, Max, Conner and Zara to join me and Sadie and the rest of us.
They walked over, weary expressions on their faces.
"Ok, so here we have Able, Sadie, Max, Conner and Zara," I said to Al and Lily who had walked over. I motioned to my friends as I said their names. They all nodded besides Zara who narrowed her eyes at Al.
James then jogged up to us, shaking his hair out. He looked at Zara looking at Al and grinned. Zara then smiled at Al. "I'm Zara! Welcome to Australia!" she said, looking at Al like he was lunch.
He looked up at her and frowned. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" Al asked politely, his expression blank. Max, Sadie, Able, Jeremy and I all snorted and tried to hold back laughter.
Zara's face burned. She then smiled at an amused looking Al. "Nope, just trying to be friendly."
Al nodded. "Sorry that was rude." Al said 'earnestly' (he just liked being mean to her for some reason).
It was then that Zara saw James and the big grin on his face. She blushed and became a little flustered (Australia suited James so he looked, like, ten times hotter than usual). She smiled big and held her hand out to James. "I'm Zara and welcome to Sydney!" Zara said, a big smile on her face.
James kept on grinning, amused, and I internally groaned, wondering what rude thing he'd say to her. "Did you seriously just try that same pick-up line? I mean, it still doesn't work on me, and I'm not even gay!" James said, acting confused at her idiocy.
Zara blushed even redder and I felt awful. I mean, she had come to see me and was my friend. "Don't mind James – he's just being mean, as per usual," I said casually. Zara looked at me gratefully.
I cleared my throat. "And this is Al, Lily and James Potter everyone!" I told my old friends whose jaws literally dropped.
"What?" Sadie mustered, her expression bewildered. "You never mentioned in your letters that the James you pranked was James Potter! Or that Albus was Albus Potter! What?" Saide spluttered, looking back and forth between Al, Lily and James.
Lily frowned. "Am I not worth mentioning in your letters?"
Able frowned. "Wait, that's Lily Potter? The one who you're staying with for the winter break?" she asked, her eyes huge.
Lily grinned at that.
Max shrugged after a few seconds of silence. "No big deal. I mean, their last name is Potter, so what? I'm Max! Good to see you all," Max waved, smiling big.
Zara, being Zara, fainted.
"You see, I told you it was the boardies," was James's only reaction.
Naturally, I just face palmed.
So guys, thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed and I'll try and get a new chapter up by Sunday morning! Love you all!
Please review!
Kat xx
