The Fallen Tree.

[Zac Taylor]

;D .. Okay so Zac was suuuuuuuuuuuuper happy that Hogwarts was finally coming to a new term. Normally in the mornings of classes he just can't be bothered getting up because he is LAZY LIKE THAT! Anyways, it was a good day outside and well Zac only knew this because he had just woken up and he had looked out the window and he was so looking forward to getting out there. He wasn't too sure where the hell he was gonna go but he was just gonna let his feet do the walking. He was just gonna forget about everywhere else and just go where is feet take him. Anyways, he got dressed into some really awesome jeans and a plain white t-shirt. Of course he put his cloths on after he took a half hour long shower. Yeah he couldn't really be bothered getting out so he just sat at the bottom. He was kind of hoping to bump into someone he knew, but he wasn't kind of hoping that it wouldn't be Autumn because she kind of broke the boys heart and broke up with him by sending him an owl telling him that it was over and then stating the reason for this. But he was alright now, yeah he was still really depressed but that was something he was gonna have to get past. Anyways, he put on some really nice aftershave and then put his shoes on. He made his way out into the grounds and looked around, his feet weren't too sure on where to take him but they took him around the school a good couple of times. GOD I THOUGHT THIS BOY WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FREAKIN' LAZY, YO! He made it to a stop before deciding that he wasn't going to the lawns, he wasn't gonna go to the lake but for some reason he wants to go to the Whomping willow, or somewhere random in the forbidden forest. He knew he wasn't suppose to go in there but it was different each time he went there.

He looked to wards the forbidden forest and at random his legs started to take him there. I guess he would have to go to the Whomping Willow later on in the beautiful day. ;D He made his way over to the border line of the forest and looked in. It was rather dark but he wasn't gonna let a little bit of darkness scare him off. He took a couple of steps in and then made it through a little more. He remembered a few bits from the last time he was there and it was weird because normally the forest changes all the time because of the awesome creatures living inside it. Well not all of them were actually awesome but that's alright, they weren't gonna hurt him. The Hufflepuff made his way through the forest and found himself somewhere he had never been before but he couldn't care less he was just gonna keep walking until he decided it was time to stop. As he walked over a hill he noticed a large tree was falling over and when it hit the ground it landed with a thump and the ground under his feet started to shake. After a couple of minutes the ground stop and he realized something down this but it happened to be gone by the time he looked up to see what the hell was going on. He walked over to the large tree and decided he wanted to sit on top of it, he began climbing up and when he got to the top he noticed a couple of magical creatures over in the distance. But then he noticed they were just Hippogriff's, nothing new there he sees them every time he comes out and wonders the forest. But for now he was happy sitting up on this fallen tree looking around and then his eyes stopped as he watched the clouds moving across the sky, DAMN HE WAS STARTING TO GET REALLY BORED! Maybe a female will wonder on past and he would be able to have some fun --- naaa, kidding of course. Or was he? Haha, never mind that he lay back and just stared at the sky for the time being. Why was he starting to get bored now?

[Riley Taylor]

What was it about mornings like these that made Riley want to jump out of bed, throw on clothes and without brushing her teeth and hair run out of the room? It was the tiny pieces of sun that leaked in through the basement windows at the Hufflepuff Dormitories. She had noticed how unbelievably sunny it was outside the moment she had woken from her mighty deeper slumber and nearly jumped from her bed in a hurry to get outside. Of course, despite her feeling that she wanted to skip all of the hygiene related steps of the morning, she did NOT. She definitely brushed her hair, her teeth, and made sure she looked all nice and dandy. She was wearing a pair of appropriately length denim shorts and a black t-shirt that matched. She was sure that the t-shirt was going to make it quite a bit warm outside, but was she one to much mind? Not exactly. She was just ready to get out there, no matter how warm it was, and enjoy the weather. When she walked up from the basement to the entrance hall, through the entrance hall, and out the front doors, she smiled. It wasn't really all that warm, but maybe that was because it was a little early in the day. It was just before noon, and therefore the hottest part of the day would soon be upon them. Riley walked almost immediately towards the Forbidden Forest, not quite sure what the draw was to that specific place, but as she neared it she felt the ground started to shake a little. She frowned slightly, stepping in and seeing a fallen tree as she neared closer to where the source of the shaking had occurred.

She looked around, realizing that she was completely alone, and cringed slightly at just the thought of being alone in the dark and scary forest. No one to comfort her, hold her, whatever it might be. Riley looked around, looked up, and could have sworn she saw a spot of white way up in that tree. Then she realized that she did. “Zac, come down here!” She called to him, remembering her old friend. It had been a long time since she'd seen many people that her younger days had brought into her life. She was ready to spend more time around these people, especially Zac Taylor. She had always had a thing for him in the past, but first her friend Sophia had him, and she didn't want to mess up that whole thing, with either him or her friend. Second, she was dating one of Zac's good friends at the time. All of this had occurred when they were all much younger though, and Riley hoped that now that they had grown and learned to live more and love more cautiously, Zac might consider the thought that Riley could be right for him. Then again, she was positive he'd never view her that way, like ever. They had been really good friends in the past, and she remembered that he and Autumn were nearly dating. She hadn't seen hide nor hair of Autumn though, and wondered if he was still waiting for her. Probably. Zac had always been so kind and faithful to the girls he was with, although some of them didn't view him that way. “I'm scared of heights or I would climb the tree!” She yelled up to him with a wide smile, showing off those pearly whites against her tan skin.

[Zac Taylor]

After a while Zac wasn't too bored anymore it was more comfort, he had completely forgotten that he was in the forest. To be honest he wasn't too sure where he was, he was a little spaced out and he felt like sleeping the day away. But because he was stuck up a tree, well not really stuck but it was just a word that fitted in well with the sentence sort of. Haha. Because he was alone with nothing to do he started to think of things, like his past. The only people he was still in contact with was Emma and Luke. But obviously he was gonna stay in contact with them considering there mother and father fostered big little Zac here. Because his own mother and father had sadly pasted away. He didn't really know the full story because he was never told and to be perfectly honest he doesn't want to know. It was bad enough for him to find out his mum and dad died, wasn't that enough to put a little kid through. But he was really gratefully for the Taylor's to be there for him. And if it wasn't for Emma he wouldn't be at Hogwarts anymore and he wouldn't of went through everything he had been through here. He probably wouldn't have lost his virginity when be was only what? Fourteen? To someone who was a year older than him. Ha. Well she did kind of do these things, and then he kind of fell in love with this girl but it sadly didn't work out. God the amount of heartbreak Zac has went through has been really bad. Now he never came up here to feel sorry for himself so he put that thought to one side because it wasn't something he likes to think about much. Anyways he didn't want to think about that and he doesn't want to think about Autumn because he was really in love there and wanted to just get over it. It was in fact hard but he was getting there. It was getting easier each day.

Really there wasn't much here for him anymore but he wasn't gonna drop out of school but it was getting better. Plus he really enjoys being here, it was his home and his friends were here, though he wasn't too sure where, haha. He didn't really keep track of them. But they will all turn up one day, surely ... Hopefully. Zac was really starting to enjoy his thoughts when he heard someone shouting on him. He looked over the edge to see miss Riley Taylor standing at the bottom wanting him to go down. "Give me a minute." He called back letting her know that he was in fact on his way down to her. He remembers Riley. He always kind a thing for her. He wasn't sure what and he never got a chance to figure out was it was, but she was taking by Zac's best friend Jay and Zac was taken by the awesome Sophia. He heard she was in a really serious relationship and he was really happy for her. Anyways he heard her calling out once more. He just smiled and then made his way down to her. Once he made it to the bottom he fixed his t-shirt and made sure it wasn't dirty or anything. He looked up to her and smiled. "Hey, Riley." He said with a small grin playing on him lips. He wasn't really expecting her to be around here, he never actually thought about her being in the forbidden forest alone. After he greeted her he moved back so he was leaning on the tree. He would have giving her a hug but he wasn't really down with hugs anymore. It was all because he build walls around himself and he wasn't gonna let anyone close to him again. He was .... Scare of being hurt if you will. "So what brings you out here?" He asked her with a little bit of a grin, something more than the last grin he had. He still couldn't begin to think why she would be out here, it was different and un-expected.

[Riley Taylor]

Riley couldn't help but smile when Zac told her that he would come down from the tree to her. Sometimes she wished she wasn't so unbelievably phobic of heights so that she could enjoy things like climbing trees. She was sure the view from a place of such great height was beautiful. Sometimes she liked to walk up to the lookout point just so that she could see all of the beautiful surroundings. The grounds their school was on were definitely far beyond beautiful. It matched a lot of the people who went to Hogwarts. There were plenty more beautiful people than not so beautiful people here at Hogwarts, as Riley had noticed in the last few years. It was actually rather enjoyable to look around and see cute guys everywhere. The poor girl had been through her fair share of heartbreak with Jaegar, and she was actually a little happy that she was finally able to start moving on from something that had caused her this much pain and anguish in her previous years at Hogwarts. Finally, all of last term, for her fourth year, she had spent it away from Jaegar and had started healing. She now felt she would be ready for another relationship, but she was in no way, shape, or form going to rush into anything. She knew where that got her.

When Zac finally climbed down and adjusted his shirt, Riley looked up into his handsome face with a wide smile. There had always been that spark between Riley and Zac. It was evident and she remembered at one point her boyfriend even getting onto her because he thought that she was going to leave him for someone like Zac. Zac specifically, of course. She brushed some of her dark hair behind her ears with a smile as he grinned at her. “I actually have no idea what brings me out here.” Riley couldn't help but laugh. When she had exited the castle only about ten minutes before, her feet had sort of dragged her here. She had even thought she was alone in the big, scary, dark forest before she had laid eyes on Zac up in the tree, all thanks to the white shirt he had worn.

Riley, looking still at Zac as she spoke to him, gave him a small playful smile. The one that she usually wore when she was in the same kind of mood she was in today. A nice mood, a sweet mood, a mood that said I think I've always had feelings for this guy in front of me, but other people stood in the way and that was certainly true. She remembered last year, when she was going through that whole healing thing, he and Autumn had a thing going for each other. Although it sort of.. crushed her to hear it, she was happy for him. He had suffered a lot of heartbreak in his young life, as had Riley, and she wanted only for those people she was closest to to be happy. Zac had appeared to be very happy, so she let it alone and tried to move on. She heard of course that something bad had happened with Autumn though, and was hoping that she could get him to open up about it. If she couldn't, she would just be there for him, because she knew they all needed a friend in a time like that. Riley bit down on the inside of her lip gently, nervously. She wanted to just out herself, to tell him how she felt, but she had also promised herself that she would in no way rush things between her and anyone. Even someone she had felt this strongly for for so long. She was sure Zac had no idea she felt like this, and probably didn't feel the same way at all. She wasn't sure she was ready to suffer another heartbreak.

[Zac Taylor]

Zac wasn't too sure what to say to Riley, of course it was weird for him to be alone with her after he found out he had some sort of feelings for her, back before he started to like Autumn, but he had always sort of liked Autumn. He remembers that Autumn liked Jared who was gay but Autumn didn't exactly know that at the time. But there was always something going on that stopped Zac from getting with Autumn, I mean, Zac's little brother who sadly past away had gotten to Autumn before he did, and he always hated his little brother for that because he knew how he felt about her but that blew over and Zac and his younger brother were fine, and it made it worse when he had to pass away. Zac can actually remember how his and Autumn's first kiss planned out. It was at three broom sticks with Jay and some other random little creep who Jay happened to pick up in the common room, I guess she was only there because she showed him some sort of attention if you get what I mean. But then Jay kissed Zac and Zac kissed Autumn. When Jay kissed Zac it kind of put them apart because that wasn't something that Zac wanted it wasn't something he'd like to go through, and maybe Jay was like that but it wasn't Zac. He wouldn't ever go near a guy in a gay way. He doesn't have anything against people who are gay just as long as they never tried anything with him. God Zac actually has a lot of history with girls. He was never actually single for long, he always had a female somewhere. There was Asc then Gabi, then there was Brittney then Sophia which was on and off for a while, then there was Autumn and now there is no one, he was a little bit heartbroken after Autumn but he was slowly getting over it, maybe he just needs another female in his life? Haha, kidding on. It actually sounds like Zac is stringing girls along but really he's not, he's actually really caring and very loving. He wouldn't do that to a girl he knew better. ;D ;D ;D

Zac actually knew how to treat a female. He had learned over the years, of course it mostly came from being with Asc, because if he set one foot out of line she would basically beat him. (Not actually) But she was one girl he would never mess with, even though he had a feeling he always had to annoy her, and he did. He loved annoying Asc because they knew how to annoy one another and they know how to push each others buttons and they just on great, and she was on of his best friends, and now he doesn't know where she is. Or if she would ever come back here. Oh and I forgot he had feelings for Renn Shadows and of course there was feelings for Riley Taylor. ;D But yeah, if he was to ever get in relationship anytime soon he knew that he would have to take things super slow, and not like the way he and Sophia did, god that relationship was sort of doomed from the start. But they did have some fun times and no I don't mean in the common room, haha. He got on really well too. But Autumn was always one for cheering Zac up, she always knew how to make him feel better about things and she always managed to get him to smile no matter how bad things had got. She was there through his parents deaths and not to mention his brothers too. Of course so was the Taylor's .... Emma was amazing, and so was Luke. And Zac will always love the Taylor's for everything they have done for him. That's why Zac's last name isn't Wood anymore, he changed his name because the Taylor's were always so good to him. And they really made him feel like he was apart of their family and it was such a nice thing that they did. Of course now he doesn't really get to see Luke or Emma because they are busy with there school work and Zac is busy being a student but they do see each other around and stuff which is still good. But Zac's life was basically like a battlefield. He had to watch were he was stepping in case something blew up in his face, but things always do, which was rather sad considering he is only young. And shouldn't have that much pain.

Zac was just really sick and tried of getting put through this much heartbreak, to him this wasn't fair, and he has actually thought about never doing anything and just wait for the day that death came and got him like he did with his family. But he knew there was something left for him, he knew he had to keep going and be strong about this, he wasn't one for giving up. If he wanted to do something he would. He always got his way, I know that sounds pretty stuck up or spoiled but it's actually the complete opposite. But anyways when he heard Riley's reply he couldn't help but laugh along side her. Because it was the exact same for him. Of course he didn't really mind being in the forest and he never really had a problem coming in here alone at all, he actually enjoys walking through the forest it kept him busy and helps him to think about things and gives him time to sort things out in his mind obviously. "Well. To be honest same." He said with a small smile. He had to agree with her on that one. "How come you couldn't climb up this fallen tree? It's not that much climbing." She asked looking at her. Yeah the tree was pretty big but it's really not at all that much climbing. Zac looked at Riley and really wondered why she was out here. It's not really somewhere she fits in well with, he'd expect to find her around the lawns or at the lake or something, probably tanning because the sun was out and it was pretty warm not to mention it was a awesome day for tanning. Zac would usually do the same but he really needed the good wonder, but he is now wondering what he could get up to. Surely up there would have gotten pretty boring and crappy, until Riley came along, maybe he needs someone to talk to and that's why her feet decided to bring her out here, or at least out to where Zac was lying down. There was plenty of other places she could have went to in the forest as it is a pretty big forest. "So how have you been?"

To be honest Zac has actually forgotten how hot Riley had got, she was seriously gorgeous, why did he never notice this before? ;D

[Riley Taylor]

Riley let her mind wander slightly, but how was that any different from usual? Her thoughts carried her to her mother’s recent death and she cringed slightly at the mere thought of it. She had never been close to her mother, the woman who had left her young child (only a few months old at the time) and her husband, because her husband had admitted he was a wizard and would most likely have passed his genes on to their young daughter. When she found out, she even feared the few month old baby and exited their lives as soon as possible, never to be heard of again – at least by her daughter – until she found out that she was dead. Riley had the strangest suspicions that her father and mother may have been trying to re-spark the old flames while Riley was away at school. Although she liked to trust her father and to know that her father would never do something that knew could potentially, in the future, hurt Riley, she wanted his happiness most of all. He seemed so lonely when Riley had left for Hogwarts again, so she’d left her husky dog, Gordie, with the man. Now she sort of wished she had that dog, or another dog, to fill in the missing gap in her life. Then again, Ry wasn’t going to rush into that. She had a lot of things she wanted to take slow over the next few months, including this whole relationship thing. She did know that she wanted to marry someone that she had either gone to Hogwarts with or met through the wizarding world. She didn’t want her family to have to suffer the same hardships Ry had gone through with her father and mother’s situation.

“Oh, I don’t know.” Riley gave him a small smile, wishing she could have come up with a better excuse or a more legitimate reason than ‘I don’t know’ in a time like this. A time where you’re rekindling an old friendship with someone who you have strong feelings for. Of course, she wasn’t going to let him know just yet. She knew that he probably still had feelings for Autumn, and if nothing else had moved on to someone prettier, smarter, etc. than Riley. Ry was aware that she was a pretty girl, but in the eyes of a man there is that one woman that is so ridiculously gorgeous, even if she’s been slapped upside the head with the ugly stick, that you would give up every hot, sexy, stunning woman in the world just to be with that one beautiful woman. She hoped that in the near future she would find the guy, or a guy, that thought that about her, but at the same time she knew that at her tender age, almost sixteen years old, she wouldn’t be able to accept the fact that someone wanted her quite that deeply.

“I’ve been doing well. Lots of family things lately. We lost my mum this summer.” She grimaced slightly at the thought. She knew that Zac had been through a lot of heartbreak with somewhat recently losing his brother and both of his parents. It made her wonder if she should even have brought up the fact that they just lost her mum. She wondered if it would hurt Zac too badly. “Otherwise though, just trying to get back into the swing of things. Life has definitely calmed itself down in the last few years. No boyfriend, few friends, everything is fabulous.” She knew Zac probably didn’t remember that she had almost nothing, if anything at all, to do with her mother, so that whole thing really wasn’t bothering her the way it should be. She smiled at the rather attractive male, unable to get past the fact that they had both definitely grown up and matured in the few years that it had been since she’d first met him. Since he had been dating a good friend of hers and vice versa. It was shocking that they had such strong feelings for each other back then and didn’t admit it, but hell – Riley couldn’t even admit it now, how was she ever to learn how long Zac had felt this way about her? She thought momentarily over how interesting a situation this was. Zac needed a friend, Riley needed a friend, and it appeared as if both of their feet had just.. led them here. Sometimes she really wondered how life worked, in mysterious ways that was for completely sure. She wondered if maybe Zac was the person who was supposed to pick up the pieces of her broken heart from years ago. She hoped so, but at the same time she tried not to think on it. She didn’t want to get her hopes up and she didn’t want to rush. She wanted things to move nice and slowly. Everything in the past felt so rushed.

[Zac Taylor]

So because Zac was standing by the tree just waiting for something to actually happen he got a little lost in his thoughts. He wasn't sure why this kept happening to him, it was sort of weird how he always ended up lost his thoughts, they weren't bad -- well some times they were because he would obviously be thinking about his family that he should have and how they could of possibly have died, but really he doesn't want to know, he actually had to beg Emma's parents, his foster parents not to tell him because he really didn't want to know, it was actually that bad that it was weird. Normally people would want to know how there family members died but not Zac, he had to be different. He thought it would be better if he didn't know, that way it wouldn't hurt him as much as it would normally. That is actually part of the reason he won't let anyone close to him, he would really need to trust the person and he would need to know that they wouldn't get hurt through anything because to Zac, friends and what's left of his family come first well before he does. He has never ever put himself before anyone. That's what has made him more caring that what he should be, plus that was how he was brought up. He was brought up to respect people and stuff. And to always listen carefully and to do as he was told. he couldn't be bothered with all this rubbish heartbreak and pain, he just wanted to turn it off and move on with his life and go on as if nothing had happened, of course everyone feels like that at some point in there life? But would it not be mostly adults and not teenage boys? Teenagers should be out forgetting about everything and having an awesome time with their friends and doing things normal teenagers do, but of course Zac here is a wizard so he isn't your normal teenager.

He was actually planning in staying in the Muggle world for this term, and just coming back next year because he had to sort himself out and find out where he actually is in the world and how he is gonna get through without people being there for him, of course there was Emma and Luke and there parents but they won't always be there to tell him stuff, obviously if he needs them he will get in contact and he will always visit them but it won't be like his normal parents there will always be something missing in his life, and that part that is missing will never get filled. It will get easier as time goes on but it will never ever go away, it will be the hardest thing for him to deal with and every other person who is in something like this. It wasn't fair. All this pain and freakin' heartbreak was just too much for one person to actually handle it should be banned or something, but obviously it is something he is having to go through to get himself by in life. And obviously it was something he was going to have to face once day. But that he will never get because why would you take a kids parents and why would you take away a kids life? Of course there he is thinking about his younger brother now - Taylor. He was the one that managed to get Autumn to go out with him before Zac managed to get in there. When Riley replied back to him he finally snapped back into this time rather than being in his thoughts all day long, but it would be better being in his thoughts because it was the only way he was able to be with his parents and his brother. It was the only way he was able to basically spend time with them because he was thinking about old memories, but then the fact that they died kicks in and it's actually so depressing. But he was slowly learning how to bring himself round and how he would manage in life and how he was going to take care of himself without any trouble. And if he does get himself into trouble that will cause someone to get hurt he would take it else where to save any other person getting hurt because of him. But that was just Zac for you. Sweet, caring Zac.

Always putting people before himself, and making sure other people don't need to get involved in any sort of way. Anyways, back to Riley. "Oh. Can you climb?" It was a really dumb and stupid question for him to ask her, but it just slipped out, he didn't mean it. He kind of guessed why she wasn't climbing up to get him. He just figured that she was scare thats all, nothing wrong with being scared, really Zac was scared of being alone and hurting other people and he was also really scared of death. He doesn't want to die young he wasn't to live until he is a very old man with a wife and loads of kids and then for those kids to have loads of kids and so on. But obviously he was going to have to find the right girl, or some may say 'the one' ... I guess he has to find the right one for him. Obviously his past relationships were just suppose to get him ready for being an adult and in a mature relationship with someone he really gets on well with and someone who will be there for him as much as he will be there for her. But who knows his soul mate could be right around the corner. When she mentioned that she had lost her mum during the summer he kind of looked down and wished he had never even asked her that question. "I'm .... Eh ... Really sorry." He was stuck for words to say, he really didn't know what he should say to her, he has been through it and people didn't know what to say to him and he knows it's not easy and he knows that everyone was there for him and now it's his turn to do the same thing for Riley. "You know. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you." He said with a small smile. And normally this was the time to give out a free hug but he wasn't to keen on hugs. It was all part of him not letting people close to him and all that rubbish. But anyways, what else was Zac suppose to say to Riley? No one actually said that to him - that was his friend. Of course he heard it from the Taylor's but that was it. Obviously he was grateful for them to stick by him when no one else did, he could never repay them for that. He was happier now.

Then Riley went on to explain a little bit more of how her life has turned out over the last couple of years, and he picked up that she didn't have a boy friend which was weird because someone like Riley should have boys falling at her feet. "So how come you don't have a boyfriend? Did Jay put you off or something?" He asked with a small grin, not in a bad way to Jay, last time Zac heard from him he was happy and loved up, and was dating Kaleb Zou. One of Zac's close friends. Or used to be close friend, he hasn't seen Kaleb in a while. "Talking about Jay, how is he? Have you heard from him?" He asked her with a small smile as the conversation got better and become more normal, rather than then talking about death and such and yes it was sad subject and it shouldn't be put away like that, but if they are trying to move on it's something they do to get over it and to continue in life. It wasn't an easy thing to do, but it was something that Zac happened to do when he was trying to get over his family's death. But at the start he actually thought that he would never get over it because it was such a big deal to him, but now it's getting easier for him and he was getting happier. Zac wonders where his friends went, he hasn't heard from them in so long and it was weird. He knows Gabi went through hard times and she moved away and didn't want to return to Hogwarts or something. But he actually wonders where Asc is. He really misses his little Ascykins. Although they have there differences they were still really close, they never argued, and of course Asc did try to make out with him a couple of times then he would turn it on her and just annoy her because he knew she liked him. But he did in a way like her too. He would always love Asc. She was basically his first love. Well kid-y-love. Zac first proper love was actually Sophia but like said before that was doomed from the start. >_<

[Riley Taylor]

If you ever need someone to talk to. I’m here for you. The words filtered in through Riley’s ears with ease as a smile came to her face. The poor young girl hadn’t anyone to talk to about the situation, really. Sure, she had her fair few friends here at Hogwarts, but there weren’t a ton of people who wanted to be bogged down by a sad, unkind on the heart situation like this one specifically. She grinned kindly at Zac, unsure of what to say in return to that actually, besides thanking him. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.” She nodded to him. This would be a good hugging moment, and in a way she wondered why he hadn’t hugged her. Riley knew, though, that if she had reached out to hug him it would prove to her whether that old spark was still there or not. She wanted it to be and was actually a little afraid of what would happen if it was no longer there, so she avoided the hug. She wondered how long it would take to break down her walls and let someone like Zac get close to her, someone she knew so well. If it had been anyone else she was having this conversation with, she knew that breaking her walls down could take months, years even, for her to be open and honest with them in all conversation. She preferred to be open and honest with people, especially with the person she was closest to in life, so she sort of hoped that they would return the favor. She studied Zac’s face momentarily, trying hard not to look as if she was staring. She gazed at the ground for a moment, letting her mind skim over the fact that in the last years he’d become very attractive, that was true. But he had always had that beautiful skin tone, nice muscles, and handsome face. And that was just part of Riley feeling so strongly for him, she was sure.

“I can climb,” Riley playfully smiled at her good friend, letting her tan face form around the smile with a nice muscular form, “I just much prefer to avoid it if at all possible.” She confirmed with that same wide smile bringing out the beauty that was so evident to many people around her. Fortunately for her she hadn’t been hit with the ugly stick like some people, so when the man who found her to be the most beautiful woman in the world finally admitted that fact to her, she’d know that it was not only because he loved her, but also because she was pretty. She worked hard on that fact, always taking very good care of herself. Her hair was neatly trimmed, her bangs pressed properly, and her skin always very well taken care of. She was not one for messing around when it came to beauty, and she knew the price of it. Time and hard work. But she enjoyed keeping herself beautiful. Not only for the benefit of a future man, but also for her own benefit. Climbing was just one thing that could easily affect her beauty. She could become too hot and sweat, which would ruin her good skin for the next week. She could fall and scratch up any part of her body, which would be almost devastating to that hard work she always put in with it. And Riley had a very low pain tolerance. She dealt with pain almost as well as a two month old baby. If she were to fall she’d probably be screaming bloody murder and Zac would be taking her to the hospital wing. Even if it wasn’t a far fall. Riley looked to the fallen tree, noticing that the trunk on this tree was really extremely large. She sat down on the trunk, hoping Zac would sit with her, beside her, or near her.

“Well you know how Jay is, Zac.” Riley reminded him with a small nod, her thin hand running through her dark hair, pushing it back slightly more so it fell more behind her shoulders than in front. “He was always coming and going. One girl to the next. And then he started dating guys.” She shook her head. She had no problem with the confused sexuality that Jay experienced. She had shared with him many times that she would always be there for him, but eventually because of the experiences Jay was sharing with other people, things he wasn’t sharing with her, She couldn’t help but have to let it all go. She hadn’t been the one to break up with him of course, he was her first love and she had been deeply invested in their relationship. But he let her go and then he left the school, for what she believed to be permanently. It hurt, a lot, but she was healing. It had already been a year that she’d been back at school since he’d left and now with the beginning of the second year, her fifth year, she was ready to party it up and just enjoy life, whether that meant a boy was going to come into her life or not. Scratch that, Riley was done with boys. With immaturity. Whether a man was going to come into her life or not was the question, but she didn’t care for the time being. That was more of a worry for when she got a little bit older, had a little more time on her hands to invest in another relationship this deep and personal. Of course, if something were to happen, she would spend as much time with that person as possible. Spend as much time with them and away from them loving them the best she could. If it was someone she had strong feelings for, like Zac, the concept was easy. Someone she didn’t know as well or hardly had feelings for before they started dating, that was a little more difficult. She just didn’t want a back and forth swingers relationship like she’d experienced with Jaegar – not ever again. She grew tired easily of waiting around for him to decide if Riley was the one or if every other person with female parts was. And then it became male parts too, and keep in mind Riley is not the jealous type. But that’s just what type of pain Jay put her through.

“I’ve heard a little from Jay and he seems fine. I think he misses Hogwarts but he won’t really let it on.” She admitted. Riley quickly wanted to leave the topic of Jaegar. It was much easier to talk about now than it had been previously, but it still wasn’t all that easy. And even when it was easy it was rather annoying. Here she was standing in front of one of the most gorgeous mean that Merlin gave to Hogwarts, talking about an ex-boyfriend. She supposed it was expected. Riley and Zac were friends because Riley had met Zac through Jaeger, her ex-boyfriend and a friend of Zac’s. That was plain and simple. At first, Riley immediately wanted to ask about Autumn, wanted to know what was happening between Zac and Autumn, where they stood. Riley wanted to know that there was that slim possible chance that one day she could give things a try with Zac. But then again, she just wanted Zac to be happy, as she wanted all of her good friends to be happy, and if that wasn’t with Riley then she was perfectly fine with that. Ry looked up to him, sighing softly. “How are things with Autumn? Are you two dating yet?” Having known nothing of the previous situation where Autumn sent him an owl, she was actually a little afraid of his reaction. She hoped she didn’t bring about any kind of sore subject. Then again most subjects were sore when they were at this tender age, him being a year older than her. She was ready to have an older man, not too much older, but sixth or seventh year would be acceptable. Someone who either knew what he wanted to do in life or was trying to figure it out. Someone who she could see as husband material. But she was fifteen and even if she got engaged young, she wouldn’t marry until she got out of school, children came after that fact. So, she wondered sometimes why she rushed. She closed her eyes momentarily as she looked down at the ground, attempting to gather herself so she didn’t jump up and kiss Zac right away. That would be a bit ridiculous.

[Zac Taylor]

Zac would normally have giving out a free hug to be nice and to ensure that he was in fact there for her but there was something holding him back form doing so and it was starting to annoy him because he would really like to give her a cuddle, she looks like she needs one. He looked down at the ground for a matter of seconds trying to think if he should or not. He wasn't really a big deal on the whole hugging thing, but since there wasn't really anyone there for him, he has kind of pushed people away and he has it in his head that he likes it that way. When she replied back to him thats when he moved forward to her, and let his arms go out to actually give her a cuddle, right now he had no control over his own body and he wasn't sure what he was doing. Anyways he was in a way happy that he made that move and went for the hug, it wasn't something big, but to him for some weird reason it was a bigger deal than what it should have been. Anyways, after the hug he went back to the same place he was in before. He was happy standing there. It gave him a chance to look around and was able to get a good view of Riley, and not in a sexual term. "Erm. Your very welcome." He said with a small smile. If she ever needed him she would probably find him in the boys dorms located around the Hufflepuff Common Room. Or he would probably be in the common room sitting by the fire or something. He took a little time out form thinking about everything and just simply looked around the place and then let his eyes scan Riley's beautiful face before it once again dropped to the dirty ground. He felt weird as if his feelings form the past had once again returned and he was starting to remember why he started to get feelings for Riley it was weird because this only ever happened with Sophia and Autumn, ever time he saw them his heart basically missed around a million beats because he felt so in love, but he didn't know it until it was a bit too late for the relationships. He would still like to be dating someone though, he kind of missed the whole dating thing. Has he found the right girl.

Zac started to wonder if the right girl was right around the corner for him or if it was gonna be a while and he was just gonna need to wait. He kind of hoped someone awesome would come into his life, someone like Riley. He was amazing, and she knew Zac. But I guess so did Autumn and Sophia. but the whole Sophia and Zac thing was just a complete mess, they rushed into things far to fast. And was doomed from the start. Anyways enough about that because Sophia is still a really nice girl and he was happy that she has finally found happy-ness, but lucky for some ehh. Haha. Anyways be looked around a few more times before setting his eyes on Riley. "Really?" He questioned her about her being able to climb, he couldn't help but bring a small but noticeable grin to his lips. He wasn't saying that she couldn't climb but she gave off the impression that she couldn't. But maybe she was just the type of girl who likes to keep her feet on the ground, maybe she feels safer on the ground, well wouldn't anyone? But thats a completely different story that Zac didn't know haha. Anyways, moving on .... ;D ;D ;D ;D He looked around trying to find another subject that they would talk about that didn't involved there pasts and bad things that have happened to them. "So, Riley. How old around you?" He asked her, that wasn't something that he knew, he probably should but it had been so long since he last saw or spoke to her and he didn't actually know before, so I guess it was a good thing if he found out because she was becoming his closest friend because they have basically been through all the same things as one another and it was like they were actually made for each other, naaa. That sounds waaaaaaaay too cheesy haha. Zac actually wouldn't mind trying a relationship with Riley though because he was nice, sweet, beautiful, smart and she really knows how to be with Zac. They don't upset one another they try not to bring up subjects that will bring the other one down, they are there for each other, well, so far he has only said it too Riley.

But he wasn't expecting it back because she would probably more or less do the exact same thing for Zac, but I guess he will never actually know the full thing unless he asks her, which he wasn't gonna do. Because Zac was actually rather shy around girls, he never actually showed it but it was true, he flirted with girls without a problem but he was so shy when it came to actually asking them out, why do you think it took him so long to get with Autumn and some how ended up dating Sophia haha. It was a load of rubbish. But he wasn't gonna let it come through if he was to ask someone else out. He would rather hold that back. Anywaaaaays. "Um. Is he still with Kaleb?" He asked her, he probably shouldn't have but it was something that was gonna come out sooner rather than later, I mean it's better to get everything out in the open before going into something else. "Aw, I know. He just needed to find the right girl or boy and just settle down. But didn't he like it to move fast?" He was always in a different relationship ever freakin' time Zac heard from him, one minute it was Riley then Kaleb and then that creepy girl that was in Ravenclaw that he had sex with and was in deep trouble for it. Even though Zac and Sophia done it and they never got into trouble, of course Troy walked in on them - once they were done - and so did some random little girl, which Zac felt sorry for because she didn't need to see two people at it in the Common Room even though it was in fact in Zac's own room and she shouldn't have walked in plus it was in the boys part of the dorm. "Oh. I thought he would have returned to see who he could try and date next." Haha, there was Zac trying to crack the jokes that were not at all funny and he should just give up on that. Lmao. When she brought up Autumn he looked down and then looked back up a couple of seconds later. "To be honest we finally got together and then we broke up about two months ago or something." He said being honest with her. "But I think I'm moving on now and I just want to find the perfect girl." He said being honest. He was ready to find someone new. But the question was who? ;D

[Riley Taylor]

Riley couldn't help but watch Zac curiously. He seemed so confused by what he was doing and she wondered herself what in the world might be going on. She tried her hardest not to eyeball him or cock and eyebrow or anything that would let on the fact that she was just as confused by his movements as he was. Riley smiled as Zac moved to wrap his arms around her, and she hugged him tightly in return. She knew now that the same spark she'd had with him back when they were dating Sophia and Jaegar had returned. She knew that the spark had actually never left, despite the fact that they had both been tied down by someone. Sometimes, like in the moment that they were hugging and then in the same moment when he told her that she was welcome, Zac seemed so awkward. Like he didn't know how to handle relationships or being close to someone. She knew how far Zac and Sophie had gone though, and so that had to mean something, right? Her and Jaegar had gone to the same length. Riley only knew that if she and Zac did end up together, she wanted to take things nice and slow. Rushing things are what killed all of Jaegar's relationships, kept Riley in the dark, and made Zac and Soph such a mess. Their relationship world was crazy here at Hogwarts and sometimes Riley wondered if it might just be better to wait until she was out in the work force to find someone who would be there for her. Then again, she really liked one boy at Hogwarts. Not a boy, a man. And he was standing in front of her. She hardly wanted to admit it to him, but she knew that she had to. Today, she was going to. The hard part was bucking up the courage to just.. do it. To tell him. Let it spill over her thin, colored lips. You can do it, you can do it, you can do it.. Okay, maybe she couldn't. But she probably had a good chunk of the afternoon to spend with Zac here in the shady forest, so she would do it today.

“I prefer to stay grounded. I spend a lot of time in the morning on my appearance and a scratch or a bruise would ruin it. I'm a total klutz and so climbing a tree just would not be a good idea for me.” Riley admitted to him, a small laugh moving through her throat and becoming apparent as she looked to him. Everything seemed so right between them, even this simple little conversation they were having. The question was whether or not it was actually right. Riley wanted to find out, but as previously stated she didn't want to rush anything. Not even the act of getting in the relationship, let alone things in the relationship. She remembered back in the day when they had met, as she and Jaegar walked away for some reason Ry had trouble leaving Zac's side. She wondered if the same would happen to her today. If she would walk with him back to Hufflepuff and part at the stairs to their respected dormitories and she would have trouble saying goodnight before heading off. As Zac asked how old she was, she could tell that he was trying to avoid any other type of conversation that would bring either of them down, and she appreciated it. She knew they weren't done talking about what they were discussing with their past relationships, but she figured if they could get it all off their chests now it would be beneficial. If they tried a relationship, there would be no lingering feelings of past relationships to stand in the way of a beautiful one they could create together. “I'm actually fifteen, Zac. I will turn sixteen in March, on the seventh.” She smiled at him, wondering the same of him. She knew he had to be at least sixteen, being a sixth year and all. “How old are you, kind sir?” She smirked at her final words.

“I think he is still with Kaleb, but to be honest I do not know.” She spoke sharply with a small smile, her hint of an irish accent thick as she spoke to him. “And yes, Jaegar liked to move fast. We were first years when we first started our three year run of on and off dating and by the second month he wanted in my pants. Which I didn't understand because I was eleven and I hardly even knew what s*x was at that time.” Riley admitted with a shrug in her shoulders. Jay was kissing every girl (and guy) he dated before the first date was even over, and that irked Riley terribly. She didn't mind when they weren't together him going on dates or whatever, but it irked her that he would come crawling back having hit a home run with every person he dated before coming back. And honestly, as little as she tried to let it show that it irked her, she knew he could tell. It just seemed to her like maybe he really didn't care at all how bad he hurt her every time he did it. “I think we all need to find that right person and settle down. I'm glad I realize now that Jay was not that right person for me. He cheated on me way too many times and I don't think I could have gone through that if we had children and everything else in the future.” Riley shrugged. She had outgrown Jay, he was too immature. She was glad now that she realized that. She was sitting here facing one of the most mature guys she knew here at Hogwarts and she was actually extremely happy about it. She was tired of the immaturity and games that most guys around here just wanted to play. She wanted to be happy, that was hard to do when someone didn't really care how much you were hurting over them.

Riley listened as Zac explained to her what had happened. She knew he had gone through a lot to be with Autumn and in a way, she wondered why. Why hadn't he just asked her? Then again, she'd never known Zac, besides with Sophia, to be one to rush into things too heartily. She knew him to be someone who liked to stand back and take his time. She patted his shoulder gently, rubbing it where she had patted, comforting him from sharing the moment with her. “I understand.” She smiled weakly at him. It was hard to move on from something you'd wanted, and sometimes had, for so long. She had a lot of trouble moving on from Jay. It had been a lot of nights spent awake drenching her pillow with tears, inducing morning headaches from her hard crying. “It's good that you're moving on. That you see that maybe she just wasn't that one girl that gets your heart beating twice as fast.” Riley knew what it felt like to be in love, and she missed the feeling. The feeling of being in love was rejuvinating, it could give any person life. She wondered though, what it was like to be in love with that one person who you would be with forever. The one person who would share everything with you. A home, life, children. The one person who you would stand in front of a killing curse for. “I know that feeling, though. I just want to find the perfect guy. I know he's here at Hogwarts. In fact, I have my eye on one person, but I highly doubt he feels the same way.” Riley hoped she didn't let it slip right away that it was him. Unless he asked, she'd be honest. She wanted to start off with things open and honest, and keep them that way, to find perfection in their relationship.

((Sorry if his name ended up spelled wrong. The autocorrect on word on this computer kept changing it. ))

[Zac Taylor]

Zac knew he was being really awkward with his movements and stuff but he didn't know what had come over him, because really her was comfortable being here and he was happy that he got a chance to catch up with Riley Taylor, but he couldn't think of why he was being like this, and he knew that she knew too. And he got more and more confused because he was having to think of ways to sort this out, and to make sure he understood what was happening to him, and why he was acting this way around someone, most of all someone he knew, well sort of knew. They were friends but they weren't actually that close, but he did get close enough to her to know he did have feelings for her at one point in his life. Once he had went and hugged her and she hugged him back it hit him. He knew why he was acting like this. And he knew why he was being different and awkward. His feelings for her had in fact come back or they had never left and he was scared to admit this to himself because he wasn't wanting to hurt anyone and he wasn't wanting to hurt himself anymore and he didn't want to put himself and someone else through that. But once he managed to find out what was making him this way he found a way to calm himself down and to be the way he normally is with people, which was all Zac was, which was ... Happy. After everything he always knew how to put a smile on his own face even if it was fake, but he new how to put that to the back of his mind and get over himself. He wasn't sure why he did this to himself and other but he was managing to actually have a good time without worrying that someone will get hurt at the end of it, and he knew that not everyone is gonna get hurt and stuff. And he would do everything he can possible to stop people from getting hurt because of him, but he was slowly coming round and he was slowly realizing that it wasn't always him that was hurting people, well thought to be honest because he hasn't actually hurt anyone but it is basically just blaming himself which wasn't right and he didn't know why. But he was getting over it now. Which was good because he was a young boy ... Man, and he had to live his life without worrying a lot, but it was just him.

It was starting to annoy him in many ways because he was holding back from things when he shouldn't be it should be fighting through it, well by fighting, I don't actually mean proper fighting haha. When Riley started talking he realized that she was the kind of girl that likes to look after herself and to make sure that she looks her best for things, which wasn't at all a bad thing but when it comes round to it, the amount of time she would spend fixing everything would take ages. Haha, Zac doesn't get how girls can just put something on and be fine with it, I guess it's just a female thing. Zac really doesn't spend that much time on his appearance and whatnot. But he didn't just walk out wearing a load of crap, that was all he done, but he likes to were designer cloths and stuff, that's about it for him. But if that was something she wanted to do then he wasn't gonna stand in the way of it, one he has no right to because he is basically nothing to her, and two because it's not him and he doesn't have a say in it, not that he would or anything. "If you like to look after your appearance and stuff why did you come to the forest then?" Really she didn't make any sense. He gets that her feet just brought her here as it was the same with his but if you are someone that looks after your appearance why wonder into a forest haha. It was weird. When she said she was only fifteen he was kind of shocked to know that she was that young, he thought she was at least sixteen or something. It wasn't much of a different but he wasn't expecting her to be that young. When she asked his age, he smiled a little bit now feeling old. For no reason he just felt rather old. "I'm seventeen." She admitted looking at her. Ahh well, I guess something just happen without a reason which was alright with him as long as it was the same with her --- Wait, what? Is this guy falling for Riley? What happened to his walls that he build up around himself, why was it so easy for her to get to him, god what the hell was actually happening to this guy? Something had to be seriously wrong with him because he only felt this way around Autumn, and he blocked that out and that is why it took him so long to realize what was actually going on with him, it was all happening in a weird way to him, but he isn't gonna stop anything. Actually he might let it happen for unknown reasons.

Or was Zac wanting to fall in love ... haha, love is a very funny word, it just comes and it can go as quickly as it comes, but it was something everyone would have to get used to for them to get through life and move on and create futures for themselves. He couldn't believe that he was wanting to fall in love again. He looked down at the ground trying to think of why he would want something like this would happen and why right now, or was it suppose to happen, was it fate? He was just gonna have to go along with it to see where it takes them, and hopefully it leads them in a good direction. "I remember Jay threw crap all over me and Kaleb at the lake, this was ages ago obviously and it was before me and Jay knew each other and it was before I even met you. But if I remember right, I think me and Jay got into a fight?" He wasn't too sure, he somehow remembers punching Jay, he might just be making this up but John's mind was seriously messed up by how long these posts are getting haha he is thinking about the posts more than the past. But this thing with Jay, Zac and Kaleb was way before Jay started to try out new things, and he only threw crap over Zac and Kaleb because Kaleb was gay if I remember right. It was either that or it was Zac was with Britney Wall and it happened then, but I'm sure it was Zac and Kaleb were talking and Jay came along and that happened, but anyways, that's the past and it's been forgotten about and isn't worth bring up anymore, even though Zac just mentioned it to Riley, ahh well. When Riley went on to say more about Jay, Zac couldn't help but laugh because that was soo true, that was Jay for you and Zac even saw it for himself when he dated that Ravenclaw freak, he just wanted to be alone in a room with anyone with a pulse and right away he wanted in there pants. "So wait, because he wanted sex you gave him it? When you were eleven?" Okay that was a new fact, but Zac knew that Riley wasn't like that and Jay probably kept hinting on to her that he was wanting it. Which would have been bad for her, because the younger they are the more horny they are, well not completely true because it is just guys for you but still.

But what Zac didn't get was why Jay took everything to a whole new level with being horny and what not, he would have done anything to get someone into bed with him. Though he did kiss Zac before, which was uncalled for and wasn't right and Zac only wanted to be with Autumn and Jay done that in front of her, and to be honest Zac wasn't down with that and he wasn't happy that Jay done that when she was there and Zac was only there to try and impress her but Jay kissed him, but Zac ended up kissing Autumn, it was a really weird day to be honest. When more information came out of Riley he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Zac never knew Jay cheated on Riley, and if Zac had known that he would have stopped it some how because Zac thinks cheating is for low life's and people shouldn't actually cheat if they are suppose to be in love and are actually dating someone. "I think the same to be honest. People should just find the right person and settle down and just be happy they have someone. And did Jay tell you that he cheated on you?" He still couldn't believe this. He never knew he was that bad and he didn't mean to ask her about it because it's obviously a hard subject for her to talk about, but Zac has actually cheated in the past. It was one time when he was in first year and he stupidly dared another girl to kiss him, and they did and he was going out with Asc, and he really hated himself for it, but like typed it's just young guys for you. After Zac explained the past to Riley he was happy that she understood him and he couldn't help but laugh a little bit. I guess it was just a nervous laugh. He soon stopped though. But for the time being he was happy that Riley wandered out here, and he was happy that he did too. Anyways, he ran his hand through his messy styled hair and then just looked at the ground. "I'm glad someone understands." he said with a smile then he caught on that she just said she likes someone. "So you like someone? Do I know him?" He asked her with a small smile. He hoped it was him but if it wasn't then he would learn to deal with it, and obviously there would be nothing he could do about it. Plus his feelings wasn't that strong. Right now. But in some way they were, I guess he just told himself that but I don't really know. Zac's a weird character to figure out.

(Lmao it's fine, and I don't think there was anything spelled wrong.)

[Riley Taylor]

There was just something about the way Zac was doing everything. Everything from his awkward movements to his confused looks. Just something about it really got Riley thinking, wondering more like. What in the world had gotten into her for her to start falling for someone like Zac Taylor. Someone with whom she shared last names but was in no way, shape, or form related. Riley watched the boy curiously, she had always found everything he’d done rather different, and in fact it was actually quite nice. The change of pace, I mean. She enjoyed just being able to smile around someone, being able to laugh around someone, without worrying that they might hate her laugh. That they might think she was strange for smiling at nothing. Sometimes she was just.. happy, and the smile on her face was clearly evident, even when nothing was really happening. When no one was really going out of their way to make her feel any differently than they did already. The next strangest part about the whole situation was how little Riley cared about what people thought of her. IT might sound weird, considering she’d sitting here brooding on the fact that Zac doesn’t treat her differently like other people do, but one thing she’s always been able to put aside is the way other people feel about things, especially her. The entire time she’d dated Jaegar she’d been ridiculed for how young she was. It really was a terrible time in her life, a time that she was glad she’d moved on from. Being in first year she really just should have enjoyed it rather than spent all of her time on a boy, but that mistake was made and over and she was absolutely and completely ready to move on from it. She had done many things in her past, especially be with Jay so young and stay with him as long as she did, that she had completely regretted. She was glad that now she was being given the chance she needed to let go of all her mistakes and enjoy her life here at Hogwarts. Maybe nothing had happened in the order it was supposed to, nothing had went down quite the same way that Riley had been hoping for, but to be honest it was better this way. She had expected that the boy she met and fell for when she was eleven was going to be the guy she married when she turned over a new leaf and moved onto a career from her time at Hogwarts. She was wrong. And she saw that.

“I don’t know. I guess sometimes I figure I can just put extra lotion on later or take an extra long shower so that I could enjoy myself outside during the day, know what I mean?” Riley smiled at him. She could tell that some of the things she said an did made zero sense to him. In fact, sometimes it made zero sense to her, but could she care less? Not really. When Zac mentioned to her that he was actually seventeen while she was fifteen she was a little taken aback. She hadn’t expected him to be two years older, given the fact that he was only one year in school older than her, but it really didn’t bother her. Age was just a number, especially in their magical universe when people broke the age barrier by massive amounts to be with each other. When it came to two ages like these, still both teenagers, it hardly bothered her. He would only be nineteen by the time she came of age and in all honesty, that actually made her happy. It would be kind of cool to have an older boyfriend, she felt like it would make her feel older. She had always been way more mature beyond her years. She was far more mature than any of the girls in her year that she bunked with every night. She had to hear their petty gossip, something she’d put aside years ago, and especially as of recently. It was the people she hung out with that made her this way, and she was happy for that. She was more than ready for what life had in store for her too. Right now that appeared to be Zac, but she wasn’t going to let on that it was what she wanted most.

“Jay didn’t tell me at first that he cheated on me. I found out from the girl he cheated with. She came and told me, because she didn’t find out until after they had already.. you know, that he had a girlfriend.” Riley shrugged. The situation was way in the past and she had been hoping for the longest time to put it out of her mind. She was just ready to let it go to be honest, and the easiest way to do that was going to be by finishing the process of moving on. She’d already spent a year away from the situation, a year around friends, family, and studying. Now the best way to keep going with this was to start something new, something fresh, and not rush a moment of it. No, instead she would take time to sit back and enjoy every moment of it. She would enjoy every second that her life allowed her now and she ready for it. “But when I Finally asked Jay about it, he told me that he had cheated on me. IT was just that I had to confront him to get it out of him.” Riley shook her head. IT was rather a disappointing situation. He should have been able to be open and honest with her and should have come to her and told her what he had done wrong. She remembered that being the last straw, as they had both been on edge for the longest time anyway. That was one of the hardest situations she’d ever put herself in, having to let Jay go. But now she was very glad she had done it. “You know him very well. His name is Zac.” She smirked a little. “Have anyone on your mind, Zac Taylor?” In a way, when she had finished speaking she wondered why she’d said his name. She knew he needed to know and that today would be the day she would tell him that she was falling for him. It was just.. hard to do all at once.

(Sorry my posts have been taking so long. Work is keeping me really busy right now. Should calm down once I get back into a regular schedule!)

[Zac Taylor]

Zac was really starting to get annoyed at himself because he didn't get why he was being weird, and he just wants to forget about everything he was thinking at the moment and just move on for god sake. At least let it happen right now because Riley was starting to get curious ... Very curious. And he didn't like it because then there was more tension building and then it will probably get awkward and then he would have to go into hiding because he is a freak and a weirdo who should be locked up somewhere. Anyways, he forgot about all the stupid-ness he was doing and let it go, now he was just gonna be himself and he was just gonna let the conversation flow the way it should and he wasn't gonna be all confused anymore. Because he could tell that Riley was starting to catch onto him, and she probably thought there was something wrong with him, but he wasn't good at talking to girls, or at least trying to flirt with them in some ways, he liked it better when he doesn't actually have a clue whats going on, like as if the girl was to take the lead and just take control, and be all powerful and rubbish. Okay so maybe and maybe not because Zac doesn't like being told what to do but he was acting like a complete freak right now and he just wants to go to bed and sleep haha. Well not really he actually wants to be here with Riley and hopefully go back to the Common Room with a good smile on his face, you know what I mean? Haha, kidding on ... Aw for god sake make up your god damn mind ... Anyways. Ha. He looked down at the ground as he tried to put his mind to rest and just try and think of something else, that might make him feel better about something that he doesn't know about. Okay now, I'm just typing down a load of crap. He looked up to Riley to just study her for a minute, he would like to know what she is thinking right now, he would ask but he is guess that it would go a little something along the lines of 'I think you are a creep and I want to know what the hell is wrong with you and why the hell I'm still standing here when really I should be away looking at myself in the mirror' (I don't know where the last bit came from haha.) Right now he was thinking about things.

Zac looked to Riley once she spoke to him. He listened carefully only because it was something he happened to pick up during his time with the Taylor's, they were a great family but you really had to listen, for no reason but you just had to listen in well. He wasn't sure why he had to but he just went with it, and no they didn't tell him to, are you kidding he's not stupid, he just choose it that way, anyways. He looked at her and listened we get the point haha. Hm, maybe Zac could have a shower later too? ;D Haha, kidding on but obviously he would be having a shower later on he does wash. "Okay. Still doesn't explain why your really out here. Did you follow someone and get lost or something?" He asked her with a little bit of a grin playing on his lips, he wasn't actually being serious he was really only messing with her, but that was just the way he was. Anyways, Zac still can't get over the fact that Jay basically forced Riley into having sex with him when they were only eleven. That was pretty sad and desperate, and it isn't the way a girl should be treated she should be treated with respect and the guy should always wait for the girl no matter how long they take. That was something else Zac learned over the years, you should never do something unless your happy with it and are ready for something, you should never ever rush into things no matter how much you are wanting it to happen, but Riley should have just said no to Jay, she should never had went through with it, it wasn't right and she should know that it was wrong for him to do that, he was such a creep who needed smacked, and seriously Zac was ready to smack him the next time he sees him. Waaaaaait, why is it all of a sudden Zac is being protective? He isn't anything to do with it or Riley, and he was getting a little wound up by it, why was it annoying and picking at him so much? And okay so he wouldn't actually smack Jay but he would say something, he would smack him because he is actually suppose to be his friend still. Zac just couldn't believe Jay sometimes. He just had to calm himself down and actually think what he was wanting in life and actually go for that and not something that has a pulse, male or female. Zac really didn't understand Jay sometimes. Yeah he's a teenage boy who happens to be horny like the rest but it's not that bad, and it's all the time like him. And after a while you start to get certain parts under control and learn things but obviously not Jay he had to be different.

And what made it worse was the fact that he cheated on her with a number of people? Or was it just the one. Well known Jay it was probably the rest of the female population >_< That boy needs to go to rehab to sort his head out, or something. That would be a bad thing to actually happen but he needs it, he should learn not to treat people like crap. "I never knew this side of Jay. I'm sorry for bringing him up." He actually wanted the conversation about Jay to end because it's starting to really get to Zac now and he's ready to kill the boy if he gets a chance, though it would a different side to Zac because he is a really calm and normal guy who doesn't get involved in things, but for some reason he was really annoyed about something that has happened in the past and has nothing to do with him. Damn this boy needs sorted out not Jay, well they both do lol. "Well what did you expect it was Jay for you." He didn't mean to say that but he rolled his eyes after it because it wasn't something that was suppose to come out because he really wanted to say it but then he didn't want to say it but it just came out he couldn't stop himself from saying it, which was a bad thing because something else could slip out, and no nothing to do with Jay just some other things. Okay so now that things are moving on and then when she said that his nae was Zac he smiled a little bit but really if he had just taking a drink of something choked on it that's what he is really like. But he wasn't showing it because he was smiling, so it was weird for him to hear her making the first move? And it all comes back to the females taking control? Haha, kidding on. Then she asked him if there was someone on his mind and he got a little choked up and didn't know what to say, he wanted to say that he likes her but for some weird reason he has turned into a nervous wreck who is better at hiding this rather than being awkward and confused haha. "Well, there could be someone." He smiled looking at her. He wanted to let her know that it was her but he was playing her game, when she said that his name was Zac, and right away he got it, but he wasn't exactly giving enough information away, so she would need to think of the rest? Oh no it was coming up like word vomit, "Her name could possibly be Riley." He grinned a little. That was unexpected.

[Riley Taylor]

((Hey, John, I'll reply to this when I get back from my camping trip on Friday. I'm so sorry it's taking so long, but as I see you've posted a LoA anyway, I'm sure you won't mind.))

[Riley Taylor]

(Sorry this won't be as long as some of my previous posts)

Riley couldn't help but let a slim smile cross her face. It moved into more of a grin as she realized that Zac had completely just admitted to liking her. It made her chuckle slightly. It was super duper cute. She let her eye catch his and moved a little closer over to him where they were on the tree. Her heart was pounding ever faster in her chest, the butterflies in her stomach were fluttering around twice as quickly as they had before, she was absolutely overcome by a feeling she'd never been privleged to have experienced before.

"Zac.. I really like you." She said out loud, hardly believing herself as her breath caught in her throat when she had realized what she'd said. She ran a hand back through her dark brown hair and blinked slightly, smiling when she had completed her bought of nervous habits.