Tea-and-me time

[Ashton Ryan Vero]

It had been a long time since Ashton had ventured into the city of London, but it was the first time he found himself there by himself. Many of times Ashton had gone to London with his family for a day to see the sights and sounds and such. London had looked so different from the last time he went, which before he knew he was a wizard. He saw London in a different way this time. Seeing all the people, he thought to himself 'Its crazy how these people don't know there is another world a wizarding world. A whole different world with a different government, money, people, clothing, and schooling.'

He continued to walk and started to feel a bit hungry and thirsty he neared a small shop on a corner street. It looked quaint with pink siding some overhangs with English ivy wrapping around it. It was a place that screamed drama free and home away from home. He walked into the little shop there were small tables inside with two chairs on either side that had pink cushions with flowers on them the smell in the air smelled like lilac and lavender. Ashton couldn't help but take a deep breath and intake the wonderful smell that surrounded him. This is a side of Ash no one would dare see at Hogwarts. His kind and sweet side. He then sat at one of the tables patiently until a little old lady with white hair and a pink apron on came up to his table and gave him a menu and asked him if he would have anything to drink. Ashton politely smiled at the woman and asked what the brilliant smell that surrounded him was. "Well my dear," she said softly and kindly "that is one of our signature teas Lavender Lilac Tea. I highly recommend it." Ashton nodded his head and kindly told the woman he would try it. "Well sweetheart," she continued "look over the menu and see what you would like to eat while i go and get your tea." and shortly after that the nice old lady walked to the back of the shop.

Ashton then looked over the menu he saw many things that looked very delicious. His eye first came upon some spinach and leek puffs. It seemed to good to give up so he kept that in mind for when the little old lady would come back with his tea and take his order. He then saw some more stuff on the menu that caught his eye. There was a chilled mini tuna boats that said that they were garnished in a bit of garlic and basil. Ashton now found himself licking his lips. After what seemed to be about five more minutes the old lady walked out of the back carrying a small teacup that had flowers and roses around the rim and a saucer that had the same thing around the plate but a nice pink center. She gently set down the cup and saucer and smiled at Ash and asked him if he was ready. Ashton smiled and told the lady he would try some of the spinach and leek puffs and some of the mini tuna boats. The old lady wrote down his order on a small notebook and smiled then told him it would be about 10 minutes and went to the back to prepare his food.

Ashton gave her a polite smile back and picked up the tea cup blew on it to make sure it wasn't too hot for him and took a sip of the tea. His taste buds were crying in happiness. This tea was probably the best tea he had ever tasted in his whole life. The flavors were so unique and brilliant he had to come back here again some time. In fact he would come back here he would bring Marissa and they would have just a ladies night talk over some small gossip on whats happening at the school and what pranks they may pull and what classes they were taking.

[Giuseppe Gambino]

Gio loved summer holiday. Spending a couple of months away from homework and tests and detention to just sit around at home enjoying his mothers cooking, was heaven. Sadly, he was pulled out of heavenly bliss and thrown into the fiery pits of hell the moment his mother ran out of biscuits. It was her turn to host the weekly meeting of the book club and apparently life would cease to exist for all of mankind if she couldn't serve the right biscuits. Papa was working and Marissa was probably out getting the facial reconstruction that she so desperately needed, so naturally it was up to Gio (Mama's favorite no matter what Marissa said) to save the day. Normally, Gio didn't mind running errands for his precious Mama because it gave him an excuse to get out the house and spend whatever change was leftover on something sweet, but this was no ordinary errand. His own mother was sending him to hell, or the tea shop as it was known to everyone else. Now he'd been to tea shops before, but this one place in particular made him feel extremely uncomfortable and horribly embarrassed to be seen it. It was mainly the decor and the fact that everyone was no sweet and nice like someone had them under the imperius curse. The absence of males among the staff and customers didn't help the situation much either. It wouldn't have been right for him to refuse, especially since his mother would be hurt, so Gio swallowed whatever pride he had and headed to his death.

It would have taken a normal person no more than fifteen minutes to walk to the store, pick up the biscuits, and walk back home. Gio, however, spent ten minutes pacing back and forth in front of the shop and peering through the window trying to convince himself it was closed, even though there was a sign that clearly indicated it was not. His odd behavior did not go unnoticed to potential patrons entering the shop and someone must have alerted the clerk because the woman left her post and was heading straight at him. Finally realizing how ridiculous he was being, Gio pushed through the door of the shop and entered with such urgency, he startled the woman and she returned to her previous position at the cashier. He wanted to apologize for his behavior, but the kid sipping tea in the corner of the room distracted him temporarily.

It was Ashton, the one who pranced around the school with Marissa from time to time. For a while he assumed they were dating, but the way they acted around each other made him wonder if the kid played for the other team. Gio didn't quite know the words to describe their relationship, but they didn't behave the way most boys and girls did when they were in to each other. But hey, what did Gio know? He wasn't aware of half the things that went on around him, so he could be wrong. He forgot all about his torment and approached the boy. "Hey Ashton, did your mom send you to get something to?" he asked, taking the empty seat across from him. "Actually now that I think about it, I thought Marissa was with you. I wonder where she went off to." he shrugged.

[Ashton Ryan Vero]

Ashton continued to sip his tea the atmosphere was so calming. The calm really helped him just relax and enjoy himself. He looked out the window to see outside he saw a boy pacing outside. He looked upset or scared about something. Ashton knew this by the way he was walking he turned around again and took another sip of his tea when the sweet old lady came back with his mini tuna boats and his spinach puffs. The lady put the plate gently down on the table. He noticed that the plate was also had the cute rose and flower print. He smiled back at the old lady as she asked him if there was anything else she could get him, and to which his reply was "no thank you."

Ashton took a bite of one of his spinach puffs and again turned back around to see the the boy still pacing. This time he saw the boys face and he looked very familiar, but he couldn't put a name on the boy, but he also knew that boy was super cute. He decided it would be best if the boy came into the shop to keep that in his own mind. He then turned back around and took another bite of his spinach puffs and then heard the door open. He turned around and saw the boy come back in. At this point Ash was a bit scared that the boy was a Legilimens and thought maybe the boy heard him say in his head he was cute and started over thinking. 'Oh this is just great i am sure this boy read my mind...' he thought to himself as he saw the boy coming closer to his table, 'Oh no i think he is, what do i say to him if he read that i am sure going to get my butt whooped now' he continued to think until the boy came up to him and then he finally realized who it was it was Marissa's brother. He then again thought to himself 'O great now he will finally know that i have a crush on him. Even Marissa doesn't know i think her brother is cute' then finally he smiled and said "Hey Gio whats happening?"

He then heard Gio ask him if his mom asked him to go in to get some stuff. "No she didn't i just came in here to get away from it all. I really need a break from everything right now actually. Its really stressful at the school, almost just as stressful as at home and the term hasn't even started. I dont know how i will hold up when the term starts." he said to Gio. He then heard him say that he thought Marissa was with him to that he replied "No i haven't seen her, i didn't even know that you guys are in the LON." he said" trying to show his failed swagger. "So how have things been with you and Marissa, i rode the train with her when we both came here. I haven't seen you in a good minute." he said to him.

[Giuseppe Gambino]

Gio might not have had a stressful home life, but he knew all about needing a break once in a while. The only thing he couldn't quite figure out was why Ashton didn't just hang out with a couple of friends and play Quidditch in his backyard or something of that nature. How could anyone possibly find a frilly little tea shop relaxing? It was almost as bad as the library with the uncomfortable silence and dirty looks directed towards him every time he tapped his quill on the table. The boy had to be gay, Gio was sure of it. He wouldn't know unless he asked, but it wasn't something he could just bring up out of the blue, especially since they weren't really friends. He would just have to wait for it to come up on its own.

Gio was by no means an idiot, but it did take him a second to realize what 'LON' meant, and he laughed. "Yeah, she comes around here a lot more than I do because she likes to do the whole girly thing with Mama." He would never admit it, but he envied the relationship Marissa had with their mother. It wasn't so much the fact that the two were attached to the hip, because Gio was very close to Mama in his own way and she treated her children equally. His father, on the other hand, never seemed to have time for him. Gio didn't believe it was because the man worked too much, no matter how many times he was fed the 'a man needs to work hard to provide for his family' line. He couldn't count the number of social clubs his father belonged to, all of which he had plenty of time for. There was something else going on and Gio was determined to figure it all out, in time.

"I don't know. We don't really see each other much during breaks from school. I know it sounds weird because we live in the same house, but she does her thing and I do my own." It suddenly dawned on him that perhaps she was out gallivanting with some ill-bred hillbilly like their cousin Bella did when she came of age. He would have to keep tabs on that girl. "So tell me, what exactly do you see in her? I don't mean you guys are hot for each other, but doesn't she drive you crazy?" He couldn't stand being in the same room with the girl for more than a couple of minutes and wondered how anyone else could.

[Ashton Ryan Vero]

Ash continued to eat his food and see Gio talk to him. He then noticed that he seemed to be really rude with alot of food on the table and not offering it to his guest. "If you would like some you may help yourself to as much as you want. It wasn't that expensive and its extremely yummy" he said smiling and pushing the plate to the middle of the table so it was equal distance from both of them.

Ashton then heard Gio talk about how Marissa came to London alot to do the 'girly' thing. He had to chuckle a bit he knew this guy wasn't gay so he would totally lay low. "Yeah i can remember doing girly things with Marissa myself its actually pretty fun. Her shopping for dresses, and me shopping for the next latest fashion." Ash said with a smile on his face.

Ashton now heard Gio tell him about him not seeing Marissa alot. 'How could that be possible when they live in the same house and not see each other' that confused him way to much. He then heard Gio now ask what the deal was with Marissa and him. Ash now took another drink as he was asked what he saw in Marissa. "Well, i see alot in her she is like my best friend, I guess i bond well with her we are like the same we enjoy the same things and its always best to find someone to do the same things you do too. Its better with company you know. I guess the reason you cant stand her is that your her brother. Sibling rivalry, its a love hate relationship." he said to Gio

[Giuseppe Gambino]

Gio thought it was nice of the guy to offer him food and he would have gladly accepted, except he really didn't want to be stuck walking around with tuna breath afterward. "Nah, I'm cool. I had a huge lunch before I left the house." Which was absolutely true. He wasn't allowed to leave the house until he devoured every last bit of left over lasagna from the night before. It was like his mother wouldn't be happy unless Gio was five hundred pounds. He listened to Ashton, but it was difficult to understand how he could feel that way about Marissa. "Yeah, maybe you're right. I guess it is a love hate type of thing." Then again Gio couldn't recall Ashton having many friends so perhaps it was better for him to put up with someone like Marissa then have no one at all.

Ashton seemed like a nice enough kid and judging from his previous comments about shopping for the latest fashion and girl talk, Gio no longer needed to inquire about his sexual orientation. Gio's uncle Carmine was disowned for being gay and most of the family shunned him, Papa included, so naturally he wondered if Ashton came out to his family and maybe that's why his home life was so stressful. If that were the case, Gio felt bad for the kid. He couldn't imagine his family treating him that way, although it was pretty obvious his father would have no problem shutting him out completely, as with Uncle Carmine.

The food really did smell good and Gio was tempted to have at it, but was afraid of killing Ashton with rancid tuna breath, as he did several times in the past with others and was mortified when it was brought to his attention. Instead, he focused on the glob of tuna on Ashton's cheek that somehow managed to remain unseen up until that point. Without so much as a second thought, Gio leaned over, scooped up the tuna with his index finger, and licked it clean as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "So um, what do you do for fun besides shopping. I've been pretty bored lately and looking for stuff to do."

[Ashton Ryan Vero]

Ash smiled as he heard Gio talk about how he had just had something to eat before he left and nodded and said, "Ok, sounds good but its there if you want it" and smiled. He then saw the lady walk out again to check up on Ashton and smiled at her. She stopped by the table and looked at the two boys. "Oh i didn't know you were expecting a second party, my apologies. I should have asked before I gave you food" she said to Ashton. Ashton smiled and replied back to the sweet woman, "I didn't know that I was expecting a guest as well." he said to the woman. "Well if you two need anything, anything at all just call my name, Margie it is" she said and smiled and walked away.

As the nice old lady was walking away he noticed Gio looking at him weirdly maybe he was now checking him out or just in a daze. At this point Ashton didn't know, at least until he saw Gio's finger slide across his face and then slipped it in his mouth. Ash now had a bit of a grimace on his face it was the mix between weirded out and extremely happy. Ash didn't know he had a bit of tuna on his cheek. Ashton now lost the grimace and then started to explain to Gio what he did for fun. "Well other than shopping I love swimming, it gives me a bit of exercise . After swimming i also like taking walks. It gets me out and meeting people, well i try to at least it always turns out i end up walking all by myself. Like today now and then to get away from it all and go to a small shop in London and have some tea or a bite to eat and just relax and think to myself. I bet you think i am lame don't you?" he asked getting softer at the end of everything.

It was quite true it now dawned on Ash that he had become a bit lame in a sense. Normally a Slytherin wouldn't be in a fuzzy coffee shop drinking lilac and lavender tea and eating food only the royal family would be seen eating. Had he gone too soft for his own good? Had the sorting hat made a mistake with him three years ago? Ash had so many questions but no answers to them. The bigger question was how would he come out to his parents. It never really dawned on him. He would love to start going on dates, be active in his 'own' community, but that would only be allowed if he would come out to his family.