Chapter six then. This was... strange writing. One moment I loved it and then I got really insecure, lol XD No, but I reckon it's okay. "T" says I got Ti right, so that's gooooood.
Do review!

M. Sunshine

Maya pressed a pillow as hard as she could against her face. She felt so annoyed, and so confused and so angry. Ti had apologised, and they'd just been about to make up and of course something would ruin it! On the other hand, she couldn't believe Ti was smoking. Really? Was that the same Ti she knew and loved? She wasn't sure. With a frustrated sigh she sat back up and stared into the wall for a few moments before deciding she needed to read, or study, or do something. She got off her bed and hoisted her satchel over her shoulder before leaving the dorm. With one hand she tugged at her tie, loosening it a bit and unbuttoned the top button of her shirt. Finally, I can breathe, she thought as she left the tower and made her way to the library, the only place where it was actually silent (and also where it was very unlikely that she would meet Ti, because, let's face it, she stayed away if she had a choice). Choosing a free table, Maya sat down and almost slammed down her Potions textbook to begin working on the three foot essay the class had been assigned. It was, as usual, very silent in the room, but any rustle of paper or small whisper set her on edge, and she ground her teeth in irritation.

"Something bothering you?" Startled, she almost knocked her bottle of ink over, but managed to catch it before it toppled over the edge of the sturdy wooden table. Looking up, she faced a mop of dark hair, framing a handsome face.

"Well?" James Potter raised an eyebrow, looking moderately curious. What the hell would he be doing in the library? It's not as if he ever studies… Maya felt her heart beat faster and the hairs on her neck stand up. Taking care not to stutter, she replied:

"No. Why do you ask?"

"You just looked… agitated." She snorted.

"Can't be happy all the time. Now if you don't mind, I do have work to do." And with that, she turned back to her book, but saw through the corner of her eye how he bit his lip before wandering off. She felt like slamming her head into the wood. Why the hell am I rejecting him? Rubbing her eyes, she continued to work, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling that she was being watched.

The days dragged on, and Maya was infinitely glad when she trudged back to Ravenclaw tower with Emma, Andrea and Sarah after the last class on Friday. She hadn't spoken to Ti for days, and though she missed her she didn't know what to do. Tielle knew she despised smoking, and thought that anyone who did such a thing were idiots. For the love of Merlin, why had she started? And when had she started for that matter. Huffing, she flung her bag down on her bed and waited for the other to follow her down to dinner. It was at times like this that she was glad they were in different houses. It meant they wouldn't really see each other at meals or in the Common room and they didn't share a dorm. She shook her head sadly. It wasn't right thinking like that… Sighing, she walked a few metres ahead of the other girls to the Great Hall.

"You okay?" Andrea asked as they sat down to eat. "You look a bit, I dunno, off." Maya shrugged and pushed her vegetables around.

"I haven't spoken to Ti in a few days…"

"I noticed that." Emma frowned. "Did you guys have a fight?" Maya shrugged. "Answer meee…"

"Not really fight, I wouldn't say. More like… disagreed." Emma rolled her eyes at her friend's try at toning things down. It was obvious Maya was distraught.

"About what?" Sarah enquired, looking sort of interested. Maya really didn't want to tell her friends about her quarrel with Ti.

"Erm… Something."

"Oh come on. We've known each other for years." Maya, being short tempered, frowned.

"I'm not telling you, so stop nagging me about it." She snapped.

"Gee, who rattled your cage?" Emma muttered.

"Well I'm sorry-y for displeasing you." Maya fumed and stood up. "I might as well leave then." Without waiting for a reply, she stormed out of the Hall, feeling her friends' bewildered look boring into her neck. Tears were filling her eyes, and she irritably wiped at them, making the corners of her eyes sting. She found herself outside the old Divination classroom, and sniffled as she walked inside, locking the door. The soft moss muffled her steps as she headed for her favourite tree. Sitting down and leaning on the trunk, she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Come on, Maya, get yourself together… She swiped the few stray tears away. Just then, the door clicked and swung open. She got to her feet quickly, clutching her wand tightly. Ti wandered in, her eyes on the floor, not noticing Maya. She was mumbling to herself, and sat down by a different tree; hugging her knees and placing her head face down on her arms. Maya felt slightly awkward. They hadn't been this close to each other apart from in class, and it felt as though she was interrupting something by just staring at her best friend (though, technically, Ti was the one who'd walked in on Maya), not making her presence known.

"Ti?" It was barely a whisper, but the other girl snapped her head up. Her eyes were red and swollen, obviously from crying. Maya swallowed her own tears.

"Oh." She said simply. "Hey…"

"Hi…" This was followed by a strained silence. Neither girl knew what to do. Maya was still on her feet, her wand hanging by her side, and Ti was sitting motionless, her blue eyes trained on Maya.

"I…" Maya started, but trailed off, completely perplexed and uncomfortable about the whole situation.

"Why are you here?" The words seemed harsh, and Maya flinched slightly, but tried to convince herself that Ti hadn't meant it like that, that she was just as confused and hurt as she, Maya, was…

"I needed to be alone."

"And how did that work out for you?" Maya clenched her teeth together.

"What is wrong with you?" Snorting, Tielle stood.

"What's wrong with me? You're the one who's been avoiding me for almost a week!"

"It's been four days!"

"Whatever!" They both breathed heavily, and Maya closed her eyes briefly to try and keep the building head ache away.

"Ti…" She waited, and looked up into the fake sky. "Ti, please…" Her own eyes filled with tears that immediately fell down and traced across her cheeks. "I can't do this anymore…" she whispered.

"Well this is your fault." Ti snapped back, though she was still crying.

"Please just… Can't you… Why are you smoking?" She settled for the easiest question. Ti struggled for words, and shrugged.

"I don't know… It just… Sort of happened."

"Sort of?" Another shrug. "Will you please stop? Please, please, please! For me? It'll kill you." The thought made her shiver. "You have to realise it's bloody dangerous!"

"I know it is, Maya."

"Then why in Merlin's name are you doing it?" Shrug. Maya pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is going to sound awful, but I can't hang out with you if you smoke." A look of disbelief struck Tielle's face. "Don't look at me like that. You know I hate it, and I don't want any of that junk inside me, which I will get if I stay around you." Ti looked hurt by those words, but Maya couldn't bear lying to her. They needed to get a few things straight. "It's dangerous. It slowly kills you, destroys your lungs, and you are willingly doing this to yourself?" Ti looked like she wanted to protest, but Maya wouldn't let her. "From the first time we met I told you how I hated smoking. It makes you look like an idiot, and yet people seem to think it's 'cool'." She put a cold emphasis on the last word, staring at Ti. "And now I find out that my best friend is acting this way? Of course I'm bloody pissed off! I thought you were smarter than that."

"Yeah, 'cause I'm a smart person." She commented sarcastically.

"Yes, you are." Maya insisted. "There are different kinds of smart. Book smart and street smart for example. You're street smart. But this," she waved her arms demonstratively, "This is pure crap." Stuffing her wand into her robe, she strode over to the door. "Come find me when you've stopped smoking. Until then…" She just kept Ti's gaze for another moment before yanking the door open and rushing away.