A/N: Whoa, this is long. Like... yeah. Just really long. Sorry bout that, guys. I'll try not to make the next one as long. Thanks to the people who reviewed: IddamSoyt, Snuffles101, ShayaCatalyst, Shadow929, sarcastic spastic, and Buffy the Mary Sue Slayer. You guys rock!

... In other news, I've reached about 50,000 words for this story. I mean, that's what I calculated, but one can never be too sure. ;P Lol. Yay for me!

December 6th

I'm having a nice dream. You know, the classic softly rocking boat, nice warm sun, your hand softly trailing through the water…

Then my dream turns bad and I'm in the middle of a blizzard, but hey, I haven't thought to get up and off the boat. Stupid dreams. They make you seem so stupid, 'cause you're just sitting there going, "hey! I wouldn't do that!"

Like riding a camel. There is no way I'm ever going to ride a camel. I mean, imagine how much the hump will hurt!

Anyway. Like I said, it gets really cold, and I start shivering. Then the wind starts and it sounds almost like it's calling my name. "Katie… Katie… Bell!"

And then there is this freezing cold wetness on my face, so I sit bolt upright and it turns out I head-but someone straight in the face. Ha. Serves them right for turning my dream bad.

But then I realise exactly who it is that woke me up from my nice little boat dream. And what we're doing, floating on a mattress in the middle of the Black Lake.

Yeah. Floating on a mattress in the middle of the Black Lake. Floating on a mattress in the middle of the Black Lake. Sorry. It's so dramatic I had to say it twice. Well, three times, really.

"Holy shit!" I scream, looking around at… well, the water. Lots of water. And of course, being the middle of winter, there are great big chunks of ice. Hmmm. Maybe we can devise a devious plan to hop along the chunks of ice, balancing ever so carefully, and eventually reach the shore where we can call for help. That and strangle the person responsible.

"I think the correct term is 'dear Lord,'" Lee remarks dryly.

"Excuse me," I reply disdainfully, "but I am not some snobby pom."

"Yes you are," Lee says, shaking his dreadlocks, "you're English, aren't you?"

Hmm. Point taken. "No," I answer smugly, even though he's right, "I'm Icelandish."

Lee just raises his eyebrows at me.

"What?" I ask defensively. "You've never seen one! You don't know what they look like!"

"You're English," he states simply, gazing around at the lake.

Have you ever seen a lake in the middle of winter that's so deep it's not actually frozen over? They are just so ugly. Blackish-blue water, with muddy, patchy bits of snow around the edges and large funny points of ice that I won't even say what they resemble.

"So," I say, "should I ask the obvious?"

Lee just points silently at a small piece of paper that appears to have been wrapped in some sort of plastic. Why they didn't just use some sort of waterproof charm is beyond me.

You have been pranked by:

The ever-outstanding-

Absolutely delightful-

Simply marvellous-

Ravishing-

Delightfully handsome-

I can't think of any more compliments.

You're so stupid, Fred.

Be that as it may, George, at least I have the looks of the family.

Looks? What looks? (Hate to break it to you, but we're identical twins.)

Be that as it may, George-

Whatever. The point is, Katie and Leroy, that it was Frederick and I who sent you on your little voyage. Have fun and don't come back.

Well not at least until you've made up. And preferably snogging. No, George, not in front of us. Eww.

Actually, I was going to say ever. But until they've made up is fine. Same amount of time, anyway.

I think, dear friends, that my delightful brother is implying you are both stubborn arses and you will never relent. Correct, George?

Correct, Fred. Oh, and if there's a blizzard… what happens if there's a blizzard, Fred?

Oh. Didn't think of that. Guess it's too bad for you.

Yes, and as you can see, ladies and gentlemen, my brother is at his most sympathetic.

Well. That was… entertaining.

Apart from the part where they basically admitted that they left us out here to die.

It's due to storm today.

"How could they do this to us?" I yell. "What stupid, idiotic stupid-heads!"

"Harsh, Bell," Lee says mildly from his side of the mattress.

"Shut up," I snap. "I have to think."

"Don't strain yourself."

Do you SEE what I am forced to put up with, every day of my life? Well, except for Christmas Holidays. And Easter holidays. And school holidays. And…

Never mind.

"By the way," Lee says, "is this your mattress or mine? I think it might be yours."

"And how would you know?" I ask brusquely.

Lee just raises his eyebrows at me.

"Oh," I say sheepishly, "don't answer that question."

Seriously. It's like that scene in Alicia's favourite movie. You know. Parental Tap, or something. The brats send her off into the middle of a lake to die. Rather morbid, come to think of it. And she jumps up and down and then falls off. Good thing I haven't started jumping up and down.

At least these mattresses are sturdy. Speaking of which, I hope Hogwarts isn't going to sure Fred and George and make them pay for a new mattress. I mean, they could just freaking conjure a new one. Wait… they'll probably sue Lee and me instead.

Damn.

"You're paying for my share of the mattress," I mutter under my breath.

"Me? Why me?" Lee complains.

"Because you're the rich one," I reply triumphantly.

"So are you," he returns.

"Am not."

"Yes, you are. Remember all those times we've had to go to those stupid balls together?"

"They're not stupid," I say, even though they are and I just want to fight. "Besides, that was for Ministry employees, not the rich people. Duh."

"They are stupid, and you're still rich."

"Why are we even talking about my family's financial situation?" I demand. "I want off this bed!"

"Uh huh." Lee rolls his eyes. "And just how do you plan on getting off?"

"Well," I say slowly, "by the ice."

"The ice?"

"Yep. Jump across."

"On the ice?"

"I just said that, didn't I?"

"I think you did. But I can't believe you'd be stupid enough to even consider it."

"Yeah, thanks a lot, Lee. The whole time I've known you, you've always said I'm stupid. Well guess what? I don't care!" I try and control my heavy breathing. It wouldn't do to burst into tears on a mattress in the middle of a very deep lake. Suppose the Giant Squid came up and tried to eat me, only I couldn't see it because my eyes were all puffy from crying?

"Katie." Lee's expression softens and he grabs my hand. Not in an aw-how-romantic kinda way, though, more like an I'm-only-grabbing-your-hand-so-you-don't-jump-off-this-mattress-into-the-dark-scary-lake sort of way. Not nearly as appealing.

"Let go of my hand."

"Katie," Lee says sincerely, "I'm sorry. I always thought it was a bit of light teasing. You know. I honestly didn't know you felt like that."

"Yeah, well, now you do," I say, pulling my hand away. "You know, when a person is told often enough they're stupid, they start to believe it."

"Do you?"

I shrug modestly. "Yeah, well, during the holidays I took a Muggle IQ test. I scored smarter than a smart adult."

"So you only act blonde?"

I grin. "I am blonde, stupid. So basically you're saying that I act dumb, yet deep down I'm not?"

Lee thinks about this. "Yeah," he decides.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Why not?" Lee smiles.

We sit in a sort of companionable silence for a minute, before Lee ruins it. "You know," he says, "I think this is the longest conversation we've ever had."

I gawk at him. "Are you serious? What about when we were going out?"

Lee smirks at me. "We spent most of the time snogging."

Hmm. Does that make me sound like a tart? I'm very conscious of sounding like a tart. I blame it on my mother. She's drilled the whole 'scarlet lady' thing into me. Stupid mothers and their morals.

"What about when we were just friends?"

Lee shrugs. "I dunno. This just seems different, somehow. You know?"

I nod. It does, really. It feels… better.

"So," Lee says, (he's definitely braver than me today) "are we going to talk about it?"

"About what?" I ask, pretending to be confused. I know very well what the 'it' is. The fact that my brother's mouse died! "I'm very upset," I sniff. "He was a good pet. Poor, poor Mr Squiggles. He was very old. Almost as old as Ron's rat. But not quite."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Mr Squiggles. Chris' mouse," I reply, bewildered. "He died. What are you talking about?"

"Oh," Lee laughs. "You know. About green eggs and ham."

"Green eggs and ham? Oh! Green eggs and ham!" I say loudly. "Right."

"I'm sorry," Lee says tentatively, when I remain silent. "I was just… I dunno. Upset, I guess. I think I knew deep down it wasn't your fault."

"You think you knew deep down it wasn't my fault?" I snort. "You're going to have to do better than that!"

"Er." Lee runs the back of his neck. "I'm sorry? Katie Bell, I sincerely apologise."

"Nope." I just wanted to see how far he'd go.

"Um… will you marry me?"

All of a sudden I snort in a very unladylike way so I'm like gagging on air. It takes me about five minutes until I can actually breath properly. "Furball," I mutter. Then I remember the problem at hand. "WHAT?"

At least he looks a bit sheepish. "My brother told me to say that when girls are mad at you."

My jaw's hanging open. "Have you missed the fact that you are almost sixteen and so you probably shouldn't be listening to him any more? Besides, isn't he that bum who ran off with the stripper?"

Lee nods. "That's the one. Well what else I supposed to say? In case you didn't notice, I already tried apologising."

"Yeah, but you were supposed to say something like, 'Katie you are the best. Please forgive me o merciful one.' And then hail me. By the way," I add as an afterthought, "I'm already betrothed to Aaron Abbot. When we were three," I say in response to Lee's quizzical look.

"Ah. Imagine being married to him," Lee snickers.

I glare at him. "Well at least he's nicer than you!"

"He is not!"

"He is too!"

"Is not!"

"Yes, he is. Now shut up." Ha. At least I can make Lee shut up. Maybe he thinks I'll push him off the mattress if he doesn't. Then again, I don't think I could. He could probably push me off, though…

Not to self: Don't antagonise Lee for the remainder of this little boat trip.

"So you don't want to marry me?" Lee asks, feigning hurt.

"Uh… no, not really. I'm not going to marry anyone," I declare. After all, who wants to run around after a husband? And what if he was secretly a Death Eater, so then I'd be expected to run around after Voldemort. What if he ordered me to wash his feet? Eww.

"So you'll die a lonely old spinster?" he smirks at me. "With seven dogs and three budgies?"

I shake my head. "I'm seriously starting to give up on the idea of the dogs. Besides, I can't give up the Bell name. It'll be bred out of existence!"

"Bell… you have three brothers," Lee replies annoyingly.

"Yes," I say smartly, "but it's not like any girl is seriously going to even consider marrying them."

"Does that mean no guy is even going to consider marrying you?" Lee questions, mimicking the bitchy tone I used.

I scowl at him. "You did," I point out.

"Yeah, but that was a joke. I wasn't serious."

"Good. Gettin' a bit worried there for a moment."

"Mmm."

Oh, God no. Once he gets like this he's going to stop talking completely. Then I'll go insane- unless I can find a quaffle to talk to! Yeah. And I'll name it: Bert. Yep.

"Lee! Lee wake up, buddy! Don't leave me!" he looks like he's nodding off. Oh well. At least if he falls in the water, I'll have a valid excuse for not getting him.

"Huh? Oh, sorry bout that. I haven't had my coffee fix."

Oh, right. The stupid yellow coffee cup.

"Can you hear that?" Lee asks suddenly, cocking his head to the side.

I pause. "No. Yeah. It sounds like…"

"Air!" Lee and I shout together.

"Fuck!" I exclaim. We're in the middle of a lake with a hole in our 'boat'.

"Find it!" Lee says, and we both begin searching the mattress.

"Wait," I say. "Isn't this like, a normal mattress? Why would it have a hole?"

Haha. We forgot that minor detail. Whew.

"Yeah," Lee answers, staring down at the mattress, "it is. But it still has a hole."

"You know," I puff, a few minutes later, tired from crawling all over the mattress trying to brush the water off with Fred and George's little post-it note, "if I didn't know the Weasley twins better I'd say they put that hole there on purpose."

"I bet they're watching through binoculars from the shore," Lee mutters darkly. "With coffee. And food."

"Not carrots," I object.

"Not carrots," Lee agrees. "Besides, Bell, it's breakfast."

"Imagine Oliver," I say, envisioning the glorious sight that will be Oliver trying to strangle Fred and George because they gave his Chaser hypothermia. "He's going to freak."

"Yeah," Lee laughs, "but not half as much as Fred and George when they realise what we're going to do to them."

"Let's make a pact," I say, spitting into my hand. (Hey, there are some traditions from my tom-boy days that I just can't let go.) "Whoever reaches Fred and George first gets to mutilate them."

"That's a bit gross," Lee says, spitting into his hand and shaking it.

"What?" I protest, wiping my hand on my pyjama bottoms. (After all, Lee might be carrying germs.) "It's only spit."

"Not that. The mutilating bit."

"Fine. We'll just make their lives living hell," I reply nonchalantly. I know. I'm evil.

"Deal."

"I don't think this is working," I say, surveying the damage. Most of the mattress is covered in water.

Lee shrugs. "At least you'll drown first."

I roll my eyes at him. "But you'll drown eventually. Besides," I add snidely, "this isn't like quicksand. You won't be able to hear some last words."

"Hey," Lee blanches. "That was their idea. Besides, I wasn't even in the pit."

"Yeah. I did figure that out," I answer. "So," I say finally, when we both just sit there staring at the rising water. "Should I jump, or you?"

"What?"

"On the ice blocks, stupid."

"How about neither of us?" Lee suggests. "It won't work, Bell. They won't hold our weight. Our best bet is to try and paddle to that island." Then he points to an island that looks about three hundred and fifty yards away.

Oh yeah, Lee. Because we'll really be able to get to that before the freaking mattress sinks! I tell him that we'll drown anyway, so why don't we just close our eyes and jump onto that passing hunk of ice?

He replies that it's way too pointy, and do I know what will happen if we slip and fall?

"Ouch," I reply, gazing admiringly at the large point.

"Exactly," Lee winces, no doubt imagining just how much it'll hurt.

"So. Got any more ideas, genius?"

"Uh… we call for help?"

I nod, grinning widely. "Oh, great! Here you effing wankers who are standing on the shore in sub-zero temperatures but just want a nice view of our arses! Save us!"

We pause a moment, and then Lee says, "you know, I don't think that worked."

"What gave you that idea, Einstein?"

"Oh," Lee says insouciantly, "the fact that they haven't come to rescue us."

"Uh huh."

We sit a few moments more, before I can't stand the silence. "Are we dead yet?"

"…No."

Silence.

"How 'bout now?"

"No."

More silence.

"Now?"

"No, Bell."

Whoa, I just can't get him to shut up; he's talking so much and so fast.

"How come you always come off as the adult in these situations?" It's annoying, really. I always seem like the whiny little kid, while he's the calm and collected one.

"I guess I'm just more mature than you."

"Nuh uh. You're older."

"By about three months."

"Five."

"Really? I could've sworn it was three."

"No, five months and three days."

"You counted?"

"It isn't that hard. Any person remotely capable of basic Arithmacy could calculate it."

"So you're an intellectual and a mathematical genius?"

"Are you flirting with me?"

Silence.

"If you are, it won't work."

"Uh huh."

"Yeah."

And so that ended that conversation. Pity. It was getting rather interesting, I thought.

"Lee."

He's ignoring me. Well, buddy, just because your macho-ism is ruined, doesn't mean that you get to sit around all day like a log. Let me remind you that this is still my bed.

"Lee. Lee. Lee. Lee. Lee. Lee. Lee. Lee-"

"What?"

Ah. That's better. "The water's up to my waist now. Can we please get to that island?"

"Is it?" Lee glances down, looking guilty. I'm not sure whether it's because he's looking at my waist, or because he's letting me drown.

"Lee. That's not my waist."

"Whoops. My bad," he smirks.

Seriously. He should so have been put in Slytherin. I mean, he has all the qualities. Perversion (although strangely enough, I'm really the only one he ever seems to perve on), cunning (apparently all Gryffindors have it), snideness (then again, the Sorting Hat said I have that too) and… well, that's about it, really. I mean, he doesn't go for Voldemort or guys, so that leaves out the rest of the Slytherin qualities.

"Uh, yeah. About the island, Bell. Look to the left."

Hmm. Looking, looking. I can't see anything. A bit of misty stuff. A fish that just jumped out of the water and ate a hummingbird. A tentacle…

A tentacle?

"Yeah," he says, looking at my expression. "I think we have a visitor."

You know, everyone reckons that the Giant Squid is really nice. You know, helps you when you're drowning or being attacked by the vicious little merpeople, finding your belongings that have been thrown in there buy vindictive Slytherins, or generally just being an all-round nice… squid.

Unfortunately, he must be having a bad day. Either that or he hadn't had his coffee fix yet, like Lee.

"Grr!"

I didn't even know Giant Squids went 'Grr!', but this one does. Maybe it's some sort of mutated freak, and so that's why it spends all it's time hiding in the lake, and tries to be nice to people. You know, so it'll be accepted.

Maybe today it gave up on the idea of being accepted.

Whatever the reason, Mr Squid is not a happy chappie.

"Um, Katie?"

"Yeah, Lee?"

"I think we're going to die now."

Hmm. Well isn't that a charming thought. At least, when we come back as ghosts (you know, to finish our schooling, cause ghosts are only ghosts if they have unfinished business… do you suppose someone died whilst they were on the toilet and so then they had to come back as a ghost?) we'll be able to brag to all the other ghosts that the Giant Squid killed us, instead of a rival Underworld gang. Cool as.

"Maybe it we sacrifice someone he'll be happy…" I say hopefully.

Lee looks at me.

I look at Lee.

"It's no use," he says, "there's only two of us."

"It'd be better if Fred or George were here, then we could offer them up."

"True," he says, looking thoughtful. "Katie?"

"Yeah?"

"Swim for it!" And with that, he jumps off the mattress (in the process, doing a very painful looking belly-flop) and into the murky water below.

I hesitate for a second, before jumping in, too.

Look, I'm not the best swimmer. I used to be okay when I was a kid, but then I discovered Quidditch and halleluiah! I began a Quidditch career (if you call playing on the House team a career). And so I've hardly swum since.

So you can hardly blame me when I start thrashing about in the water, causing bubbles to surface next to me.

The Giant Squid sees me, and then with a roar that's so loud I can even hear it underwater, it reaches out with a long tentacle thingy (surprisingly, it's very pretty. Well, from what I can see of it. It would really help if Fred and George had filched our wands as well, not just us) and grabs me.

I try shouting help, but all that gets me for my trouble is a lungful of water so bad I feel like I'm about to pass out. But just when I think I can see a white light (my uncle Morty had a near-death experience once, and he reckoned he saw a new species of bird. He's a bird watcher, see. But then Morty has always been a bit… feathery.) I'm taken into a sort of cave, and to my surprise I can take a huge breath.

"Eck," I say, upon spewing up about three litres of water. "You really need to clean that lake water."

"Don't you think I've tried?" a voice wails. "But then the merpeople think it's their duty to mess it all up again!"

I'm so startled at the voice that I fall over onto my backside. I mean, I was really only talking to myself.

The owner of the voice is… a squid.

Seriously. A huge, monstrosity of a squid. He has very pretty eyes, though. And he's pink. Eww.

"Are you planning on eating us?" I ask suspiciously.

The squid's loud laugh booms throughout the cave, making it echo. "No! I just wanted some company, that's all."

"You just seemed very… abrasive," I decide. "Normally you're so cheerful and jolly."

"Did you just say jolly?" Lee wants to know, coming out from nowhere.

"Uh… yes?"

Lee just smirks at me. "Edward, this is my friend Katie Bell."

Oh. Edward the squid. How… original.

"Hi, Edward."

"Nice to meet you Katie Bell."

Great. I've been introduced to a squid. That's really something that happens everyday. Not.

"So," I say, trying to make conversation, "how long have you lived down here, Edward?"

This is evidently the wrong thing to ask, because Edward the squid bursts into tears.

Have you ever seen a blubbering squid? No? Well, let me tell you, it's not pleasant. Even worse than white eyelashes. "Please don't cry!" I beg. "I'm sorry!"

Edward smiles through his tears. "It's j-j-just that, I've lived h-here for m-m-more than t-t-t-three hundred year-ear-ears! And every year, I m-make a application t-to be m-m-moved, and every y-y-year they deny it!"

Whoa. This squid really has problems with his 'M's.

"Why?" Lee asks.

"B-because," Edward replies, "they think I'm good for t-t-the school!"

How? If he weren't in it, my friends and me would go swimming in it every weekend, practically. Well, not really, because of the merpeople with their pitchforks, but whatever.

"Oh," Lee nods knowledgably, "you are."

"H-how?"

"Because," he answers, shooting a please-help-me-out-here-I'll-never-ask-you-anything-again glance at me.

"The spirit you bring to Hogwarts," is the first thing that enters my admittedly small brain. "You know. You just bring this school together."

"Yeah," Lee agrees. "And… your efforts to clean up the lake."

"Yeah. If it weren't for you, the lake would be much more disgusting than it already is!"

Okay, so maybe that was slightly insensitive.

"W-wow," Edward says, brightening. "You know, I really do help Hogwarts out."

"Oh, yeah," I say, nodding, "a lot."

"We're practically indebted to you!" Lee says.

No need to go that far, Lee. Next thing we know he'll be all, "yes, you are! I think I'll eat you now!"

"Thanks a lot," Edward says, smiling cheerfully at us. "You guys have really helped me. By the way," he says, "why were you in the middle of a lake on a bed?"

So then we have to tell him our whole story, and by the time we're finished my stomach's rumbling. Of course, Edward, being the gracious host he is, offered me some red cap salami, but I choose not to eat it.

Then he offers to take care of Fred and George if he ever saw them.

"Sure," Lee agrees brightly.

At the same time, I say desperately, "no! It's fine, really. We can do it ourselves."

After all, he'll probably decapitate them and then stew them raw.

"Okay," Edward says, looking vaguely disappointed, "would you like a ride back up to the shore?"

"Yes please," Lee and I say simultaneously.

"Take a deep breath now," but before we can, Edward grabs us by the legs and starts swimming up to the top.

When we reach it, he stretches out his tentacles long enough so that we're dumped in a heap on the shore.

Of course, somehow I land right on top of Lee.

"Oof!" Lee groans when I land on him. I mean, I've just been dropped twenty meters in the air. It might hurt a little bit, Lee! Sheesh.

We both lie there, catching our breath when Lee moves to get up.

"You can get off me, Bell," he says amiably.

My face burns. "Sorry."

"Don't be." He grins impishly. "I quite liked it, actually."

I groan and stagger to my feet, giving him a punch. Lee, being Lee, doesn't even move.

"Okay," I say to him, as he puts an arm around my shoulders to steady himself, "I would put an arm around your shoulders too, but that is wishful thinking." I mean, I can barely reach them, let alone put my arm around them!

"I think," Lee says, still breathing hard, "we should go to the Hospital Wing."

"Nah," I answer. "How about let's not."

"I think we should."

"I think we shouldn't."

"I don't really care what you think."

"Whoa. Harsh, Lee. Fine. I'll give in. But only this once." I'm really not that eager to see Madame Pomfry again. I wonder if she has to report to the Ministry or St Mungo's or something if a student is there more than they should be? Does that mean I'll have to be hospitalised in the mental ward?

We stagger up to the Hospital Wing together, Lee with his arm around my shoulders and mine with an arm around his waist. Remember, this is purely for medicinal purposes. I mean, I wouldn't have my arm around his waist unless I thought I was about to pass out. Right?

"I don't tolerate public displays of affection in the Hospital Wing!" is the first thing Pomfry snaps when we practically fall through the door.

Lee and I look at each other and laugh. I don't know. Maybe we are crazy.

"We've been," Lee manages to say.

"At the bottom of the Black Lake," I announce.

"And," he says. Sheesh. I mean, I know I'm fitter than he is because I play Quidditch, but seriously, he needs to do a few laps around the pitch. He can hardly breathe!

"We're practically dieing," I finish. "So if you'd be so kind as to revive us, we'd be very grateful."

Madame Pomfry looks at us suspiciously, then seems to decide to believe us. "Okay," she says, "you, on that bed. You, on the other one. I'll just go get some Sleeping Draught."

"Nice going, Katie," Lee grins at me. "Way to make a dramatic announcement. Just tell 'em we're dieing. That'll get their attention."

I smile sheepishly. "So? It worked, didn't it? Besides, it's not like you could say more than two words."

"Yeah. Maybe I need to start training with the Quidditch team."

"As if Oliver'd let you."

"Maybe I need to hang round you a bit more."

"Maybe," I agree.

"So," Lee says hesitantly.

"So what?"

"So… are we okay?"

"Yeah. We're okay."

"You still don't want to marry me?"

I laugh. "No, thank you for the kind offer, though."

"How about going out with me?"

"Again?"

"Again," he confirms.

"Hmm. If I have to."

"You have to."

A/N: Sorry if you thought this was really random and strange. Well, by now most of the chapters are really random and strange, so you shouldn't really be surprised. Just that this one is stranger than most. And, I know. I'm too soft! I had to get them back together. Gah. I need to grow a backbone.

Thanks also to everyone who reviewed my little ficlet about Angelina and Fred; it was good to try something different.