Chapter Nine

"Are you going to tell me or not?" Crystal asked; her footsteps ceasing to follow after my own. "Is that the reason why you're always staying behind?"

This wasn't exactly the way I wanted to reveal what I was doing to one of my closest friend but it has happened and I knew there was no way of scurrying around with this one.

It was only a couple of minutes ago when she had caught me off guard with the letter in hand. Not only was I surprise seeing her return to the classroom but she knew the letter I had was not just a scrap paper that I would have claimed for it to be but something important "I can tell," she had said. Now how did she ever came up to that conclusion? Oh by the fact that I was about to read it which was a stupid thing to do. This was also a perfect time for her to ask the one question I wasn't even looking forward to answering by then.

I turned to face her while my mind was quickly at work in finding the way not to reveal what has been happening in the recent weeks. Now that wasn't going to be easy…

"Aren't you supposed to meet with Remus somewhere?" I asked hoping that'll delay for a minute or so.

"He'll be coming and stop trying to change the subject!"

"I was just cur--"

"Isabelle…"

"Alright, yes and yes then." I admitted, there was no way to get around this girl or she was just being stubborn in either case the end would be the same.

"Well then, do tell." she stated, closing the gap between us. If anyone was to cross by they would just see two girls who where more likely exchanging a secret if not gossip.

"But first," I raised the folded letter between us, "I have to read it first since you just happened to have dropped by when I was about to."

Crystal theatrically bowed before me as she stepped away obviously giving me the space I had asked. I then opened the letter.

I refuse to believe that you are not a hormonal teenager who has had several dozen dreams about the guy you're crushing on. I refuse to believe. Darling, we're specifically made to torment all teenagers… You are lying.

I do, however, completely agree with you when you say that guys are easily readable. Girls, on the other hand are not, under any circumstance,e easily readable. Girls don't even understand each other… I think that what's so appealing about girls. Guys are highly amused by the way girls can't make up their mind about stuff, and the way they plot revenge against cheating boyfriends, how they dream of scenarios depicting several different morbid ways in which a person they hate dies. Well, at least it is what would attract me the most in a person if ever I were to hit my head and suddenly feel the urge to enter into a committed relationship.

Have you ever thought about the possibility that I am dead scared of you finding out who I am? So, in other words, yes I might be feeding you false information as to who I am… but not to worry… all things come to an end and eventually I'll reveal my true identity as for now… you will just have to keep on guessing.

I'm going to give you some advice. You are the one that needs to decide if having a crush on a character like Sirius Black is a good thing or a bad thing. Don't let yourself be eaten up with denial. Just go out there and befriend him…who knows… he might actually end up liking you. About my girl, for now, I'm not really going to do much about it. I'm just going to let things 'unfold'. Anyway… I'll talk to you later.'

I bit my lower lip as I folded the letter as it once was, knowing well that this was the moment I've been dreading. Crystal would be in the know and from what I've read she'll know that this correspondence hasn't been going on for only a couple of days.

"May I?" she asked, stepping right up to my side once more.

I handed over the folded letter with an audible sigh.

Though it was not a long letter, it felt like forever which made me nervous but of course I must be getting paranoid. I guess the only thing I should be thankful was that we where in an empty hall and there was no one likely to hear what was being talked about. Of course that didn't help at all, just by looking at Crystal amused expression as she read I could just imagine the drill I will be getting concerning about it.

"Of all the things that I've expected…" she said with a coy smile as she folded the letter, "this was quite unexpected."

"What did you expect?" I asked, taking the letter back.

She shrugged, "It doesn't matter, but from what I read you two must have been doing this for quite a while, right?"

I placed the letter into my book bag without looking at her I replied "I guess you can say that."

"So I will like to know every little detail, perhaps I know the guy."

I raised an eyebrow at this, "Whoever said I was going to tell you everything?"

"Are you serious?" she exclaimed, "You let me read the letter and expect me to just say 'Oh, that's interesting' and just go on my merry way?"

I smiled, "It isn't that bad." I answered as I noticed that someone familiar had rounded the corner and was walking towards us. "As a matter of fact I will have to tell you some other time because it appears you'll have company."

She turned around but before she could say anything, I took her arm for that was the only way I could catch her attention once again. "Promise me you won't mention this letter to no one else, okay?"

"Not even Alice?" she asked, her curiosity peaked once more that I didn't want our other good friend to know about this.

"I'll tell her myself, just don't."

She smiled, "Don't worry, my mouth is sealed." motioning a finger across her lips.

"I best be going, I'll see you later." I told her just before Remus reached us.

Though I didn't explained to her about this correspondence I was ready to do so, but I would not be telling her everything.

James. James. James. James. James. James. James! Couldn't he have picked a better moment to enter the room munching on that god forsaken apple? Now I was subjected to ridicule by my two best friends… sorry, did I say two? I meant three… you see, James cannot seem to be able to SHUT HIS PIEHOLE! Why? Because Remus hadn't well finished telling the story when James, roaring with laughter, ran out of the room to tell Peter before either of us could stop him.

"Read the letter Sirius, c'mon!" that would be Peter. Now why in the hell can't I get better friends than this? Why must I be tortured this way?

"Do I really need to read it in front of everyone?" I replied. I mean, I should be entitled to a little bit of privacy… right?

"Sirius, you like a girl, that is a story to share," said James. "And by the way you're not making her believe it's me right?"

"No father James, I am not," I said irritated. "If I remember correctly your exact words on the subject were: Sirius Black, you will absolutely NOT make this girl believe you're me and jeopardize my relationship with Lily…"

"To which, if I remember correctly, Sirius, you replied: Relationship with Lily, huh? Let's outline James' relationships shall we? Relationship with Remus: father confessor. Relationship with Peter: small sidekick. Relationship with Sirius: prank buddy. Relationship with Lily… nonexistent…" said Remus, smiling at the memory.

"Yeah," said James scowling. "It's still a no, though."

"Brat," I said under my breath. "Anyway… let's read. Well, I'll read you listen… whatever.

Just because we're teenagers that does not mean we have to be as hormonal as guys are.

"She is such a liar…" said Remus. "I should know…"

James, Peter and I looked at each other before roaring with laughter.

"Just because we don't do anything doesn't mean–" Remus started to say through gritted teeth, but suddenly shut up and turned beet red.

I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Anyway…"

Us, girls, have our own ways though some tend to express it more. So we agree that guys and girls are from different planets that enjoy getting into wars once in a while and end it with the casual celebration of the sexes.

"I wish I had a comment for that," said James. "Sadly, I can only laugh on the inside.

Out of curiosity, have you told anyone concerning this correspondence we have with one another? I can say that I have, though not in the way it would normally happen.

"Well, I can say that I admit that my telling was a complete and total mistake…" I said, glaring at the guys.

"You can add it to the list of things you wish you'd never said. It would be number 739," said Peter smiling like an idiot.

"Thanks, Worm," I said purposely omitting the rest of the nickname.

I find your comment interesting, the one concerning about your identity. Why should you even be "scared" as you stated it? If that question where to have been directed to me, I would have replied that I would be nervous meeting the person for the first time but that's only natural. So I'm being fed with false information, hopefully it isn't in such a great scale that it'll change everything.

"No one is going to make a comment concerning that particular paragraph… are we clear?"

Remus raised his arms defensively. Peter shrugged. And, James simply smiled.

"James." I said sternly.

"Okay, daddy, I will keep my mouth shut," he said.

"Thank you."

I don't know about getting to know Sirius. Sure, he's appealing, interesting and whatnot but approachable? Well, he's too… outgoing for my taste, yet… that's appealing which I know I'm contradicting myself. I just don't know. Besides, he's always around someone or vice versa and it's a rarity to find him alone. If it where Remus, well, that would have been a different story. He's adorable and appears to be an easy going individual and if it weren't that he's with a girl, perhaps my situation would be different. Alas, such life I live, heh.

"So, she likes Remus too, huh?" said Peter, we all threw a pillow at him. "I was just stating the obvious…"

"She thinks you're outgoing mate," said Remus. "That should be good, I think."

"She is also being fed false information because Sirius will wet his 'jammies if she finds out who he is…" said James in a fake baby voice.

Remus and Peter could only laugh and point as I tackled James.