mental hopscotch ((open))

If it wasn't for peer pressure, James wouldn't have attended the dance. He could feel himself sinking back into one of his withdrawal phases quicker than he thought; he felt sick at the thought of seeing Alayna Bloody Nott and her posse. He barely dressed for the semi-formal dress code other than wearing a dressier jacket and corduroy trousers instead of jeans. That at least looked as if he put in some effort for the occasion. Evelyn was his date, but he struggled to look at her as he felt awful for dragging her into a situation neither of them anticipated. He was only trying to escape from his feelings; he didn't ask for a baby to go with it. He let Evelyn go to hang out with some of her own friends after giving her obligatory flowers as he wasn't going to treat her like crap.

He found himself standing near a game of skittles outside of the gymnasium with a drink in hand. He was in desperate need of a smoke, but that would have to wait until he could go out into the courtyard. 'Do ye know how long this lasts?" James asked someone nearby. When he felt as if people were least likely to notice, he was going to run off for the library and then his dorm. James couldn't stand to be there for too long.

"Anxious to leave already, are you?"

Ptolemy spoke up, having overheard James Potter asking about how long the dance would last. It was good to see him looking uncomfortable, and, dare he think it, melancholy. It was a good look for Potter. Now if only he would cry a little later that evening, it would be the cherry on top.

He had his hand placed on his hip. Several layers of plum coloured fabric in varying, contrasting patterns all sculpted to fit his slender frame: that was Ptolemy most days out of uniform. He didn't exactly have to change things up too much.

@James Potter

Taking a sip of his drink, James glanced at Ptolemy. Why did it have to be him who answered? One of Alayna's posse. His bloody luck! He needed to not take the bait. Try to act somewhat cool.

"Is a bloke not allowed to ask 'bout timin'?"

The cup in his hand began to compress. Keep it together. Keep it together.

@Ptolemy Rowle

"I believe that we have until midnight, so you really should stick around."

He smiled widely at him.

"There's plenty to enjoy."

He took a sip of his drink, and kept his eyes on him as he did,

"Likely some surprises. You know. Riveting stuff."

@James Potter

James was skeptical; why should he stay at a dance that no drugs would help him enjoy? He only went as he wouldn't be questioned over it.

"Nah, I got better things to do."

He needed to figure out how exactly he would have to deal with this whole fatherhood thing. Looking away from Ptolemy, he did his hardest to try to think of literally anything that wasn't Chang.

@Ptolemy Rowle

"Whatever could take precedence over this, I wonder."

He turned his head slightly, holding an amused smile. Lien and Alayna seemed to have met up now, and were standing somewhere by the refreshments. As his eyes met Alayna's, Lien had grabbed her hand. Alayna waved to him. He lifted his hand and responded to the greeting, sustaining a gracious smile.

Doing this, meanwhile, he spoke to James from the corner of his mouth: "If you threaten her again, I'll hurt you."

@James Potter

"Nothin' ye should be concerned about."

What a slimy git. James wanted at least one facet of his personal life to not be for his classmates' consumption for once; was that too much to ask for?

His eyebrows furrowed at the mention of Alayna; something about her made him nauseous and caused the familial temper to rise up other than the Chang thing. "Yer gonna hold somethin' I said in anger once against me? Let her know she can get high off her own cunt all she wants 'cause I'm not goin' to the afterparty."

@Ptolemy Rowle

He rotated his eyes to the air, frowning in bewilderment.

"Well, no, Potter. I can't hold something against someone I don't like anyway. That would be pointless." He lowered his eyes to him, but kept his chin high. "I don't know why she would be bothered by your attendance, or lack thereof."

He lowered his chin, and grinned.

"Perhaps she will be getting high off a particular someone rather than herself. Don't you think?"

@James Potter

His blood pressure rose at the insinuation Ptolemy was making. James needed to not let it get to him; he didn't want to make a scene at the last event he wanted to attend in the first place. Taking a deep breath, James shuffled through his pockets for a cigarette. It was officially time to soothe that nicotine craving and relieve some of the stress he was feeling.

"For her to fuckin' brag 'bout it knowin' it'll piss me off? Ye and I both know Chang would rather be anywhere but here!"

@Ptolemy Rowle

A low, guttural laugh rattled through his throat.

"You seem awfully unreserved about your feelings, knowing full well how much it will destroy you when others find out," he murmured, then grabbed his wrist. "What will the rest of the Wizard World think? The son of their favourite hero!"

His fingernails lengthened and pointed, bedding themselves into his skin.

"Just let it go right now. Spare yourself the embarrassment. Leave them to have each other."

@James Potter

"I stopped carin' 'bout it 'cause people will talk 'bout me no matter what's fuckin' goin' on."

A part of him still cared, but that was because he was too afraid to confront himself as he didn't want to feel more scrutinized. James looked down at his wrist and then at Ptolemy feeling his nail dig into his skin.

"Fine. I fuckin' will, ye git. Like I said, I got more important shit to worry 'bout."

He forced his wrist out of Ptolemy's hold feeling ready to leave the dance much earlier than he anticipated; he needed a stop to finish his smoke, a stop to scream and yell into this pillow, and then make his way to the library. James would only have to hope that he'd feel vindicated down the line for calling Alayna what she was: a snake.

@Ptolemy Rowle

"Potter thinks he's too good for everyone else. Yet again." Ptolemy announced this, loudly, as James retreated.

The night may have ended for him, but it had only just begun for Ptolemy. He was going to make sure everyone was going to bed tonight with Potter's secret in their minds. Then it was only a matter of time before the secret spiralled.

As he departed, he stuck his middle finger up at Ptolemy and mouthed Fuck you. He had to make a statement.

He smiled and waved at him.