A Helping Hand (Taryn/Open)

[Cory Benson]

Cory skipped up to the rooftop lounge. He heard there was a fight going down up there. A crazy brawl folks... Cory wasn't about to miss that. Especially if it was between two girls... Actually that was quite likely, they were probably fighting over Cory, right? I mean thats the only logical explanation. Anyway, Cory just knew he had to see this. It had been a while since he had seen a good fight. If you don't count Troy's fight for manhood.

Upon making it too the rooftop lounge he ran inside excitedly. "DID I MISS IT DID I MISS IT?!?!?!" ... But there was nothing inside. A few random students studying, that gave him weird looks at his sudden outburst... but that was it. No fighting or anything. DARN KIDS AND THEIR RUMORS. Cory sighed and threw himself onto the nearby couch.

What was he supposed to do now? And then he got the great idea of doing what he did in the rooftop lounge way back in the day with Cassidy. Jumping from couch to couch... and chair to chair across the whole room. He stood up on the couch and took a leap across the room.... only to unavoidably hit the ground smack on his face.

"That did not contain the same thrill I remembered." He sighed and flipped over laying on his back now looking up at the ceiling. He was still a little kid inside... but the kid stuff no longer had the same thrill... This was quite the predicament. Maybe he should try some adult stuff. He just needed some new adult
that a just made the transition themselves, help him out.

[Taryn Connor]

Good day, good day.

As Taryn made her way up to the Rooftop Lounge, she glanced down at what was in her hands. She had a few of her world famous (ok that's a little exaggeratted) Christmas cookies wrapped in cellophane. She always loved making cookies this time of year. They were just sugar cookies in the shapes of reindeer, Santa Claus and a pretty awesome Christmas tree. Yeah I know, I am amazing. But still.

Yes they were a little late, seeing as it was January. Better late than never. She wanted to give this little package to someone but she really didn't know who. She thought that someone that she knew had made their way up to Rooftop Lounge so that's why she was going up there. To her surprise (not really), Cory Benson was laying on the ground when she entered the lounge. She walked over to him slowly and stood over him, looking down.

"...what are you doing?"

She asked and then noticed the cookies in her hand. Hmmm... She offered them to him while still standing over him.

"Merry Christmas... kind of late but oh well."

[Cory Benson]

Cory grinned when he looked up to see Taryn... sorry PROFESSOR Taryn she was standing over him. He wasn't that startled, he heard someone enter but he was much too lazy to bother standing up. "This angle works for you" he said with a wink. It was true folks... it did... it worked well. "Ohhh nothing just hangin' out." ;D Aww man.... this was the wrong situation for that punch line. That was supposed to be when you were like hanging upside down or something...oh well.

"Nahh nothing really... just doin' yah know...adult stuff..." He joked and sat up noticing the treats she was offering him. His eyes widened like a kid on christmas (ahahahaha the analogy fits )."FOR ME?" he shouted grabbing the cookies from her extended hand. WAIT A MINUTE...he didn't get her anything.

"I umm.... I left my present for you in my dorm...." Add, buy Taryn a present to the To Do List... right along with 1. Work on growing up. 2. get a girlfriend. 3. do things with said girlfriend. 4. Write a Manifesto 5. Chase a flock of Hippogriffs 6. Create evil mutant worms of death 7. Fight evil mutant worms of death 8. Save the world. 9. Find laughing gas. and now 10. Buy Taryn a present.

"Its an AWESOME present.." Check that... now he needed to buy an awesome present. He was backing himself into a hole here. Man what did Taryn like.... hmmm... well she was a CoMC teacher right? He could get her like a unicorn or something....He wasn't quite sure where he'd find one. Damn, he should have listened in classes.... they probably taught that too him already.

[Taryn Connor]

Taryn rolled her eyes a bit when Cory mentioned something about the angle 'working for her'. She had a hard time believing that. Her hair was all in her face from looking down and it just wasn't the best angle for her, in her opinion. Oh well. Cory was a little strange.

"Well, I would say that this angle works for you too but then I'd be lying. You look much better when you're right-side up."

She told him with a wink back. When he said he was doing adult stuff, Taryn couldn't help but laugh. Ok whoever truly knows Cory should know that he doesn't have an adult-like bone in his body. Taryn honestly didn't know how he would fair when he got out of school. He'd have to make money somewhere. Maybe he could get a job as like a mascot for a chicken restaurant. Then he could run around in a chicken suit all day. That would be right up his alley

"Doing adult stuff? Yeah right."

She said with a smile. She loved Cory to death but the kid was exactly that: a kid. She shook her head in his measly attempt to lie about getting her a gift. She wasn't expecting one but Cory was getting himself deeper and deeper into a rut here and she had to help him out right? No way.

"Oh yeah it better be great. Cause I slaved over a hot oven to make these cookies for you. You should feel amazing because I don't do this for just anyone. Only for the people I like."

She told him with another playful wink. Of course she was just kidding but if Cory took it literally, she'd most likely get an amazing present out of it. Awesome. She took a seat on the ground next to him and crossed her legs before turning to face him again, now that they were both at eye level.

"So how have you been Misterrr? Haven't seen you around lately."

[Cory Benson]

"Pfft... EVERY angle works for me" Damn straight it did. Ehh not really... Cory knew nothing about angles. But it sounded true. Then she didn't believe him when he said adult stuff.... Adults sit around being bored right? That was like the thing they do best, being boring. No one believed Cory could act like an adult.... ehh neither did Cory really. When he graduated he was probably just gonna leave Hogwarts to be a performer somewhere. Entertainment was his thing folks.

"Yah know... I could totally be old and adult like if I WANTED too...See Look at you... You used to be this fun, hot, spontaneous seventh year... and Now your just an old wrinkly boring professor." And then he started to laugh quite loudly... He was only kidding guys... Buuuut now that she was a big bad professor head of house lady... She shouldn't be caught dead with such a measly little kiddo right? She had a reputation too uphold.

Ohh crap.... she SLAVED over a hot oven... that's even worse. I mean if she was just over a hot oven no big. BUT SHE WAS A SLAVE IN THE PROCESS THATS LIKE DEMEANING AND CAUSES EMOTIONAL DAMAGE. "Im so sorry..." Man... He'd have to spend all the money from christmas on her gift.

"I've been preeetty good....How about you? How's your first year of teaching going?" he paused thinking about it. "... You plan on stickin' around here... Teachin' kiddos forever?..." Man he was gonna miss a lot of his friends that he'd leave behind. But there was no sense in dwelling on that now. "And how are your little hufflepuff's?" he said jokingly.

[Taryn Connor]

Taryn's mouth fell open dramatically when he said she was no longer amazing and that she was, in his words, "old, wrinkly and boring." Pfft. Yeah right. She could never be any of those things. She had even told Shawnie a few days ago that in her 70's she'd still be out clubbing and hitting on young, strapping lads. Yeah, that would be her life. Anywho...

"Ok first of all, I am still sooo fun. You just don't hang out with me anymore. I see how it is. Just shutting people out of your life when they graduate and actually pursue something worthwhile. And as for being hot. Come on, I think I've just gotten hotter." she said, putting a hand through her hair. Yeah she was laying it on a bit thick but come on, Cory was wayyy outta line, "And being spontaneous has not changed whatsoever. If you want, I could just make out with you again to give you some proof."

She said with a smile. Honestly, she just needed one of those nights where she went out with her girlfriends to some club and made out with a random stranger. Yeah just what she needed. After that little fantasy passed, she turned back to Cory and nodded to his question.

"Yeah my first year teaching is going amazing. I know you might think it's boring but I love it. And of course I'm going to keep teaching. I'd never be able to give it up now."

She said, tugging on her t-shirt. The one she was wearing today, just a plain white v-neck, was a tad short on her. It didn't show her stomach or anything but she just preferred her shirts a little longer. Anyways... Cory then asked how her Huffies were doing. That made Taryn smile a little.

"My Huffies are doing fantastic. They have so much spirit it makes me feel like a proud mama. How's Gryffindor?"

She said with a chuckle as she adjusted her position on the ground to face him.

[Cory Benson]

"Pffft YOU are the one shutting ME out.... you have all your new professor friends anyway." TRUE THAT MAN. All Cory's friends were now all professor-y and whatnot. Troy... Chase... Cameron... Taryn...Lara... MUST HE GO ON?!?!?!?!? It was a disgrace really... all of them just abandoning him. But Cory was stripped from this thought as Taryn said she had only gotten hotter.... Dammit... he had no argument. "....SO!" that was really all he could come up with. He had basically lost.

"And being spontaneous has not changed whatsoever. If you want, I could just make out with you again to give you some proof."

MUST SHE ASK.... Which also in that case it's not quite as spontaneous... OOOHH HE SHOULD VERBALIZE THAT. "...Yeah buuuut if I give you permission it's not quite as spontaneous... SEE... you lost your touch. " It was a sad day for Taryn... her spontaneous actions were just lacking... it probably happens with age.

"Yeah my first year teaching is going amazing. I know you might think it's boring but I love it. And of course I'm going to keep teaching. I'd never be able to give it up now."

Well soo much for eloping to Vegas. "I NEVER SAID IT WAS BORING.........but it really is though.... I just never said it." he said jokingly. "But hey.... Well Im glad to hear it." At least she would be enjoying herself for years to come. "Gryffindor is pretty good... I got my eye on our Head of House... but the kid's are great.... I'll miss Gryffindor man." It was true... Poor little lions... No Cory Benson influence... Although they were probably better off. He already corrupted Autumn. She could pass it along.

[Taryn Connor]

Taryn shook her head when he said that she had all these new professor friends. She honestly didn't hang out with many professors. Sure, Lara was her friend, she had just met Serafina and Shawn and she had known Emma for a while but other than that, she couldn't really consider the rest her friends. They were more of acquaintances. Her only really good friend was Sophia.

"Whoa, hold up. I don't really have any good professor friends, besides Lara maybe. I like to be around students. Like Sophia and you and all of my Hufflepuff friends. I just feel more comfortable. So you are wronggg on that one, my dear."

There. She toooold him Then all he could say about her getting hotter was "...SO!" She smiled at this. At least someone thought so. She just said it to have something to say about the hot comment. Damn. He caught her on the spontaneity of the make out session. He wouldn't have pushed her away or anything though, she was sure of that.

"Yeah but still. You would love it either way: spontaneous or not. So don't even act like that. Now look what you've done. Just cause you said that, I'm not going to make out with you. Your loss buddy."

She said crossing her arms. Pssh. Saying she wasn't spontaneous. Yeah he wouldn't be getting anything. Loooooser. He then mentioned their Head of House.

"Oh Serafina? I was kind of surprised that she got the Gryffindor Head of House. But still, she's really nice though. And I thought I'd miss Hufflepuff but I didn't make it too far. I still like to hang out in the common room now and then. You'll like graduating. Mostly because the whole school-teacher thing won't get in the way of our relationship anymore."

She said with a wink, jokingly. She could just see it. In a few months, Cory and herself would run into eachother and they would be a little quickie-fling. Yeah, those would be the days ;D

[Cory Benson]

"Whoa, hold up. I don't really have any good professor friends, besides Lara maybe. I like to be around students. Like Sophia and you and all of my Hufflepuff friends. I just feel more comfortable. So you are wronggg on that one, my dear."

"Yeaaaaah right... you're just saying that cuz you like being right!" She was just being modest every professor probably wanted her babies by now. Even the female professor's... Especially tallie... he always suspected her. Then she smiled at his lack of comeback. "pfffft just cuz I can't come up with a comeback....doesn't mean.... your erm... Jesus...." yeah.... that made no sense but Cory stuck by the statement proudly.

"Yeah but still. You would love it either way: spontaneous or not.

Dammit... he had no comeback to that either. ".........SOOOOOO!" Man... he needed like a comeback book... He was lacking. Ohhh well... Taryn was a professor and all... Prolly learned all these tricky argument maneuvers.

Now look what you've done. Just cause you said that, I'm not going to make out with you. Your loss buddy."

NOOOOOOO.... WHYYYYYY WHYYYYYYYY WHYYYYYYYYY. Ohh wait why was he saying this in his head. "NOOOOOO...WHY?!?!?!?!??!?!" Nooo fair. That's lame... that's just plain mean. HE WAS A BOY WITH NEEDS PEOPLE. Just darn right ruuude is what that is.


You'll like graduating. Mostly because the whole school-teacher thing won't get in the way of our relationship anymore."

...Not if I'm not here too have the relationship, he thought too himself but decided not to say it. "... YAH KNOW... Noooooobody has too know about it!!!... it could be all secretive and mysterious..." Girls like that stuff yah know.... mhm... they do... Cory read it in a book... Well Cory doesn't read books...but he made someone read it too him. "SO SEE.... WHY WAIT?!?!?!?" ;D

[Taryn Connor]

Taryn really didn't know what to do now. She was debating in her head whether to hold off and just cool it or go for it. Cory was so insitant it was really hard for her. Every so ofter, she would just turn away and then turn back to look at him through her hair. Honestly she didn't know how much time they had left. Yeah I know that's a cliché but that's the way it was. She didn't know what Cory was doing after graduation. He might stay but then again, he might go off to bigger and better things. She had high hopes for the kid and she didn't want to hold him back.

She weighed the options in her head. First, she could sit there and do nothing. In all honesty, that was probably the better option. She didn't want him to get the wrong idea, she was just having fun. She wouldn't expect anything from this. On the other hand, she felt like if she didn't do this than she would never get another chance. Yeah a little melodramatic, I know. But that was just how she was feeling right now.

She was thinking about all of this as he was complaining about how she was rejecting him. She finally decided to meet somewhere in the middle. She interrupted him when he was saying "... YAH KNOW... Noooooobody has too know—" he seemed to get cut off right after that with the kiss that she planted on his lips. She had her hand on his face and kissed him for what seemed like a good 20 seconds. She didn't want to take it farther than he wanted so she pulled away slowly.

Silence fell between them as she sat back and glanced from Cory to the rest of the room and back again. Yeah it was awkward but she felt like she'd make it more awkward if she spoke. They were both about the same age. She had just turned eighteen and he was seventeen (I believe...). She didn't feel bad about it either. She wanted someone to be close to just as much as anyone else. She knew he was a boy, and boys always wanted more but still, she let him choose as they sat there in silence. She wouldn't be complaining though if there was more to come

[Cory Benson]

Cory was quite happy as he finally rendered her speechless. WHO’S THE SMART PROFESSOR WITH ALL THE COMEBACKS NOWWWW? Cory was totally unaware of the debate going on inside Taryn’s head. Unless he borrowed Troy’s mind reading skills… But he didn’t so alas he did not know. And then obviously she had figured out what she wanted as she cut him off mid argument. Normally he’d be all WHAT THE HELL DUDE. But it wasn’t the rude kind of “cutting him off” it was the amazingly awesome kind actually.

He kissed her back… And man it was WAY better than there first… Cory wasn’t expecting the first one, it was awkward and just a bit of fun. And although he wasn’t expecting this one too much either… he had a feeling it was coming… Or hoped it was at least. He was lucky Taryn wasn’t exactly shy in making first moves. He pouted when she pulled away. Then leaned in too kiss her again… He figured he at least owed that to her. She’d started the last two afterall.

This one lasted just about as long as the last, until Cory pulled away. He wasn’t about to ravish her on the floor of the rooftop lounge… HE WAS NO ANIMAL PEOPLE. He wasn’t sure if anything would or even should come from this… but it didn’t really cross his mind at the moment. The silence wasn’t all that awkward for Cory for some reason. I mean it wasn’t like some random person… I mean he had built up a relationship with Taryn. And this probably would have happened sooner had Cory’s creator not been to lazy or forgetful to reply to threads.

Cory gasped dramatically. “What would your dear Hufflepuff’s think… you kissing a Gryffindor… Not too mention a student!!!” He teased. Man, Cory always liked those hufflepuff’s, there was Julia, Taryn, Troy, Cameron and so on. He must have felt bad for them, yah know, being rejects and all.

[Taryn Connor]

When Cory kissed her again, this time him initiating it, she smiled into the kiss. She could feel herself inching closer to him across the floor but she tried her best to keep herself from pouncing on him. When he broke the second kiss, Taryn was the one who pouted. She sighed as she sat up straight again and glancing back down at her hands. After a few moments of silence, Cory gasped which startled Taryn. Had he seen someone who was watching them? That would be awkward. When Cory started speaking though, Taryn looked away from him with a smile.

"Well... I don't think they'd care about the whole 'Hufflepuff with a Gryffindor' thing. Now a student and a professor? I'm not sure how they'd take that..."

She said, trailing off, looking down at her hands again. She honestly hadn't thought about what they would think, all of her Huffie friends. She honestly didn't care though. It had been a very long time since Taryn was in a relationship. Even though this wasn't a relationship, but more of a little fling, Taryn still felt like it meant something. After that short-lived conversation, she glanced up at Cory again and then back at her hands once more. God, she felt like if she looked at him too long she would just want to make out with him more. She noticed how close they were to eachother on the floor and she could just feel the tension. She, unfortunately, let herself slip and look at him again which led to another kiss that she initiated.

This one seemed to last a bit longer than the first two. She was just so lost in the moment right now that she didn't care. She wrapped her left hand around the back of his neck as she kissed him more passionately. After what seemed like a while to her, she broke the kiss slowly. She let her lips linger near his for a moment before smiling and pulling away. She noticed his expression and then laughed softly.

"I'm sorry! I just can't seem to keep my hands off of you!"

She said, feeling a tad bit embarrassed. To prevent herself from further mishaps like this, she sat on her hands and gave him a smile that begged his forgiveness.

[Cory Benson]

He let out a chuckle, as Taryn was startled by his dramatic gasp. And on the contrary... that wouldn't be Cory's reaction were someone watching them. It'd be... 'sup? Join? ' unless it was a dude... then it'd be like 'you eyein' my woman punk! ' Not really... But Cory could pretend thats what he'd say.

"Well... I don't think they'd care about the whole 'Hufflepuff with a Gryffindor' thing."

"Ohhh they would.... Hufflepuff and Gryffindor are forbidden rivals. GRRR!!!" Not really... it was those smelly ravenclaws that were the problem. Not really... I don' t know... Cory doesn't have that many enemies besides Sophia. WAIT A MINUTE....................Try too think now.... DIDNT Taryn say THEY were friends.....ohhhhh SHIZZLENUTS!!!! dammit dammit dammit. Why had he not caught that earlier. But the thought sorta left as he noticed Taryn kept evading his gaze.

Pffft come on... Taryn? Shy?... Hell to the no. Must be something else.... Embarassment?.... Nervousness?... Cory wasn't sure but when she looked up at him again he didn't have much of a chance to dwell on this thought either as she initiated another kiss. DARN HER AND HER DISTRACTING WAYS.

This one was longer than all the rest. Which made another question pop in his mind. DAMMIT his mind needed to shut the hell up... it was getting to be a nuisance. Too bad his mind wasn't working like this in classes.... HEY maybe that'd be a good way for Cory to learn. Anyway's... it made him wonder where they were supposed to go with it. Was it just a bunch of fun...or what?

But again his mind drifted... as Taryn broke it and apologized. WAIT.... Apologized? What'd she do? Did she like accidentally bite him or something? WAS HE BLEEDING? AHHHHH

I just can't seem to keep my hands off of you!"

....oh, pffft... like that was a problem. He had that affect on most people ...only not really. "Ohhh I wouldn't worry about it." he said with a wink. Then she sat on her hands... he presumed to 'keep her hands off him'. The usual Cory would say 'man thats gonna hurt after a while.....not that like.... your ass is big....or anything just that... like yeah' And then the moment would be ruined and she'd like storm out. But no.... NOT THIS TIME FOLKS.

Man Cory could think up soo many jokes for this moment. For example, 'Those are the wrong hands that should be on your ass ' I mean the jokes were endless. But for once he had a feeling a joke wouldn't be the best idea. Man, this was a crucial moment. He could change the subject.... which would basically just end everything they had going... He could like force himself on her which may lead to some stuff he wasn't even sure he wanted to happen yet.... BUT SOMEONE HAD TO SAY SOMETHING. God what to say what to say what to say what to say.....

He tugged at her hand nearest to him lightly... waiting for her to release it from 'sit of death' Then once it was free he locked her hand with his. Ahh yes... holding hands... Subtle... yet not irrelevant like a joke or something. "There... you can do both at the same time..." It was keeping her hands off him... but yet not! GENIUS! SCORE!

[Taryn Connor]

Taryn just shook her head when he mentioned their houses being forbidden rivals. Yeah right. As we can all see from this thread, Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors have no problem getting along She didn't know how her friends would take this. She was sure that they'd be happy for her either way. But who said she was going to tell them? Oh let's not kid ourselves, Taryn could never keep a secret this amazing ;D

Cory was such a character, making jokes at everything and anything. She was sure that after she sat on her hands, he would say something about not hurting herself or where her hands should be right now. To her surprise, he refrained. That was really shocking actually. Well, what was more shocking was what he did next. As he tugged gently at the hand closest to him, she freed it and then he did something really strange. He... held it? What? This was so not like Cory. She didn't know he could be all sensitive and just plain cute like this. Aww. Adorable.

"Wow. No jokes or anything? I'm really shocked."

She said jokingly as she intertwined her fingers with his. Her other hand was still planted under her. She didn't want to set it free. It seemed to have a mind of its own lately. So they sat there for a moment in silence. Every so often she would glance down at their hands and she would give his a little squeeze and a smile. Hmmm... for once in her life, Taryn had nothing to say. Wow, that was a first. So she just said the first thing that came to her mind.

"Soo... how's your day been?"

Yeah, stupid question. But still. She had nothing else

[Cory Benson]

((Dude... thread title man 'A Helping Hand' I had it all planned. ...yeah right... But that was a nifty coincidence though. ))

Pffft if Cory could read minds he'd say that he was ALWAYS cute and adorable pfffft how dare her insult his cute and adorableness. But she didn't say it out loud sooo none of that really matters. He had too admit though.... he was pretty frickin' awesome to think about doing that... Good thing there was a long pause enough for him to question what to do.

"Wow. No jokes or anything? I'm really shocked."

"...Why? Do you want a joke?..." he said with a grin. I mean heck he'd give her a joke if she wanted it one... he had ton's of those. "But I know... it was tough... took all the restraint a kid could muster..." it was truuue... jokes were like sweets too Cory... you just couldn't refrain from eating them man... or in the case of jokes, saying them.

And then Taryn was just silent again. MAN.... is that how you shut her up??? 'hold her hand and she won't say a word for HOURS' He'd have to remember that.... DUDE... Maybe that'd work in class.... He'd have to tell Sirius or Lily to try that.... see if it worked.

"Soo... how's your day been?"

"...Way too ruin the mood!..." he said dropping her hand and scooting away sulking. Of course... he was only joking... REMEMBER THEY WERE LIKE SWEETS MAN. Laughing, he went back to where he was sitting before. "No but to answer your extremely Boring question...." he paused smiling. "It's been pretty damn good."