The Start (George/Closed)

[Kira]

George Watson~~Gryffindor

When Beth had got up to leave my heart dropped, i'd blown it again, what was it with me and this girl? Why did i keep messing up? But when she sat back down i was both surprised and pleased, i couldn't help but smile although i measured carefully the weight put into my smile because i didn't want to cause her to leave again.

I listened to what she said, it wasn't very useful and i couldn't tell if she wanted me to lead on and ask more questions so that i could discover further the reason which was evidently so painful to Beth. With a soft smile i decided to ask anyway, "i hope you don't mind me asking, but...what is it that you think about? It seems to be something that really upsets you so you don't have to say but.." i said sincerely.

[MAI...x]

~~Beth Kiamil~~Gryffindor~~

I looked away from him. I knew he wouldn't leave it alone. He seemed one of those people that cares a lot about a person and how they feel, even when they hardly know them. Well no, he didn't seem like one, he was one. But I suppose that wasn't a bad thing. Not at all.

I looked into the fire and said. "It does upset me. But it's okay to ask. I guess it's about time I talked." I moved around in my chair and wrapped my arms around my stomach, feeling self conscious all of a sudden. "Every night and most days I spend thinking about the accident I was involved in." I looked up to him and saw him looking shocked. I didn't know whether he wanted me to go on or, if I was in fact a freak, and now that he knew I was involved in something that could break a person he didn't want to get attached.

[Kira]

George Watson~~Gryffindor

was a little shocked, i had no idea that Beth was in an accident, obviously. Now i felt awful for pushing her because i could only imagine what horrible thing must have happened for her to be so caught up in the memory of it. I didn't know whether i should ask further questions or not, i gathered that it might be good for Beth to talk about it but i didn't want to cause her more pain.

It was such a hard decision to make and i really didn't know what to do. I sat back in my chair before changing my mind and leaning forward again. "Beth you don't have to, but do you want to talk about what happened?" i asked softly, my smile was gone, "it might help?" i added to the end, i hoped it did.

[MAI...x]

~~Beth Kiamil~~Gryffindor~~

I looked to him after pulling my eyes away from the fire, again. He really was concerned for my well being. It was strange. Being here in a huge school, and on my second day I blow and regain my chances of having a friend. If this school was all it was cracked up to be, then it was going to be a good year.

I had never met someone as caring as George other than my mum. She had always worried too much, but then I guess she made up for the lack of car my dad showed.

I didn't know if I should talk about it. My dad told me I was a freak. I looked to him with pleading eyes. "I don't know. I've been told I'm a freak 'cause of it and I don't want you thinking that. 'Cause then I'd loose a chance at having a friend." I smiled again slightly. I hoped he wanted to be friends. But then after all I doubted her didn't.

[Kira]

George Watson~~Gryffindor

I smiled softly although i was a little surprised that someone would think she was a freak, i honestly couldn't see how. But then i didn't know the details of the accident, what if it was something really peculiar? I doubted it, but..what if?

I shook the thoughts out of my head because they didn't matter. I liked Beth already and i was pleased that she wanted to be friends, i doubted anything would make me consider her a freak. Definitely not an accident which was most likely not her fault. She may be a freak due to her personalty although i couldn't see it. I smiled, "it's ok Beth..i din't think your a freak at the moment, therefore i doubt what you tell me will change that..unless your like part lizard or something," i laughed at the thought, "your not are you?" i added on the end with a grin.

[MAI...x]

~~Beth Kiamil~~Gryffindor~~

For the first time in a long time I let out a laugh. But as soon as I realised I had done I shut up. I looked to him briefly then away again. Even though what he said and his character made him seem more adult than most first years, but that comment about part lizard was so childish I couldn't help but laugh.

I looked back to him seriously and said, "No. I'm afraid to say it but I'm not part lizard." I smiled slightly. Even though I'd managed to laugh I was still incapable of smiling.

With all seriousness I said, "Maybe I could give talking a try then." I looked away as I said it at clutched at the area on my arm where my scar was. I looked back into the fire and tried to gain composure as I started, "I-I was in a car accident a year ago. My mum and my younger brother both died, even though I tried to save them. My dad blames me 'cause I survived."

[Kira]

George Watson~~Gryffindor

I stared at Beth for a moment before i remembered my manners. I was a little shocked, i had not thought about anything like that. I couldn't see how her dad could blame Beth or anyone say that she was a freak! That was what shocked me more than anything.

I smiled softly, waiting for Beth to look at me. I knew it was a cliche and over used saying but i didn't know what to say. "I'm so sorry Beth," is all that i could manage but i wish i had the ability to say more or to walk across the small gap between us and hug her, but i didn't know Beth well enough for that and i didn't think she would like it so much.

It really was horrible, what had happened to her. I wanted to say more but i was worried that i would upset her. I knew i needed to say this, "you can't blame yourself for that Beth...you shouldn't let your dad tell you it was your fault because it wasn't Beth," i knew i may have crossed the line but i was glad i had said it anyway.

[MAI...x]

~~Beth Kiamil~~Gryffindor~~

I couldn't bring myself to look at him. He was sorry for me and said it wasn't my fault, but he hardly knew me. He didn't know what the last year had been like for me, living alone with my dad and not having anyone to talk to. I'd always found a way to blame myself for letting them die. I knew I was young when it happened, but to me that was no excuse.

I managed to pull myself away from the fire and look at him. He looked pained, and I clutched my arm tighter. I managed to get something coherent out of my mouth as I said, "You know. You're the first person I've actually told this too. It's kinda a big step..." I smiled slightly, but still the pain of that afternoon was there and I knew it was evident on my face.

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to sit here listening to me."

[Kira]

George Watson~~ Gryffindor

I smiled softly at Beth. Why was she saying that? I really didn't mind listening to her, she was interesting in my opinion and appeared to be a really nice person. I wanted her to get to know me better and i felt like we had a chance at being friends, especially since she had just told me about the accident. I was a little surprised that she hadn't told anyone else before though.

"it's ok Beth..I don't mind sitting here and listening to you at all, actually i'm quite honoured that you told me so much," i smiled at her encouragingly. "I'm glad you took the step with me...i hope it means we can be friends?" i asked, trying to look into her eyes. I softened my smile, i think i might have scared her a little with my over eagerness.

[MAI...x]

~~Beth Kiamil~~Gryffindor~~

I smiled slightly at him. "Well I didn't really have much of a choice did I? It was either getting up and walking away with you stalking me until I talked, or telling you and having a friend."

I turned back to the fire slightly embarrassed at all I had just said. It summed me up completely to be quite honest. I was known for walking away and not wanting to deal with the things that hurt. I never used to, but now that was what I did. In a way though, I was glad George had talked to me. In a way it showed my dad that I wasn't a freak like he had said, and that people could like me if they tried.

I'd made up my mind, but I was still too embarrassed to look at him as I said it. Especially after saying what I just did. "I guess it means we can be..."

[Kira]

George Watson~~ Gryffindor

I smiled and almost started to laugh. It seemed to me that she actually really wanted to be friends and i was pleased about it as she appeared to be someone i could trust and stick by. Well i thought so...

"well, i wouldn't have stalked you, so much as repeatedly pestered and followed you until you told me," i responded with a smile not that Beth was looking, she was gazing into the fire again. "I'm glad we're friends though, else it would have been really awkward considering this is obviously now our thinking spot" i added, "like, somewhere we should come to chat 'cause i think everyone should have somewhere like that...that they can share with friends," I smiled again, "so..um, anything else you want to tell me? Or anything you want to ask me?" i questioned, i wanted to find out more about Beth. I wanted to get to know her properly, she seemed like someone i could trust and i needed someone like that.

[MAI...x]

~~Beth Kiamil~~Gryffindor~~

I smiled as he said that, not that he could see. I didn't want to look at him because otherwise he'd see the pain that was in my eyes and evident on my face. It had taken a lot to tell him that and now I was paying for it in memories. I didn't want to remember and continually see the images replayed in my head. It hurt and I wanted the pain to be gone.

At his question I shook my head. "Not much else to tell really. Just a bad life in general. And I wouldn't know where to start in asking questions..." I took a glance at him briefly before returning my gaze back to the fire, "But you can just talk if you want..." I hoped he would. I really wanted something else to think about other than that dreadful day.

[Kira]

George Watson~~ Gryffindor

I smiled at her although she still wasn't looking. I nodded, i understood why she didn't really want to talk from the little that she has told me. I thought for a moment about what i could talk about, there wasn't really anything significant to say and i was really rather stuck. I lent back in my chair.

"well, what can i say? um..lets see...is there anything i can do for you? I don't want to sound rude or something like that but is there anythig i can do to help you? Make you feel better because from what you've told me i feel as if there should be something i should do.." i stalled, i was rambling and i had no idea where i was leading with this.

"umm..sorry, I'm being rude and just rambling and..um.. i dunno what, so um..maybe we should go to bed? you look tired," i said, covering up my tracks. What had i been on about?

[MAI...x]

~~Beth Kiamil~~Gryffindor~~

I'd gone and done it again. I suppose this was what my dad had been talking about. I did in fact make people feel awkward when they were around me. I made them want to leave. Sure I was tired, but I needed to be tired before I even thought about going to bed.

Was he really wanting to do something for me or did he just feel he had to do something? I didn't know. I shook my head and turned to him. Now he could see I was upset. Great. Why didn't I just keep looking at the fire?!

"I don't really know what there is you can do...but you can go to bed if you want. I need to wait a while longer." I tried to put a smile on my face and I did, albeit a lopsided and pathetic excuse for one.

[Kira]

George Watson~~ Gryffindor

I smiled at her, i felt bad now because i could see the pain on Beth's face. I didn't know what to do, i wasn't going to go to bed now but i wasn't going to just sit here. I thought about getting up and going over to her but i couldn't do that because it would just be weird.

"Beth, I'm not going to go to bed and leave you here like that..." i said earnestly. I sat up and looked at her, she seemed really upset, i could see the pain in her eyes. I stared at her for a moment, lost about what to do. I just walked over to her chair and knelt beside Beth. "Beth what can i do to help you?" i asked sincerely, what was i going to do? I had no idea.