As she took the books from the blonde to put them back into shelves, she stole a glance at the clock over the exit - 5:24pm - Just the right time to steal away a little early.

         ”Name’s Cailyn. I haven’t seen you before, moved here recently?”

It was probably her weakness for blondes speaking but Cailyn felt like talking to the woman. She had already decided on leaving in a few minutes and had until 7pm when her shift in the diner started. So why not spend her time with the beautiful still-nameless blonde?

                  Barbie leaned against the shelf as                   she watched the girl -- Cailyn --                   finally get the books where they                   needed to be. She didn't mind just                   watching at all.          "I'm Barbie, like the doll. I'm just visiting."                   Barbie could tell Cailyn was itching                   to get out of there; if she was more                   incentive, who had to know?          "Would you like to get out of here with me?"

Cailyn would have asked how she deserved this, but she knew exactly what she’d done. Apparently, the College had some kind of rule (of course she knew about that rule, but well) against making out with someone in an empty classroom. Now she was suffering her punishment for disobeying said rule - having to help out in the on-campus library for the whole day. Her arms were aching and the books just kept falling down, missing her only by a hair’s width.

Suddenly, there was a small hand holding out the last book that had fallen down and Cailyn was looking into the eyes of a short blonde. Definitely not a student - she would’ve noticed someone like her on the campus.

        “Thanks, this just isn’t my day at all.”

She said with a breathy sigh and a charming smile on her lips. Everyone else in the library ignored her, save for this stranger - why?

                  Barbie grinned and tried to suppress                   her quiet chuckle. She hadn't had the                   chance to notice that the girl was quite                   pretty while she was bent over those                   books. Her grin curled a little higher.          "I can tell," she murmured, gathering a few                of the fallen volumes.                   The girl didn't recognize her because                   she was only visiting someone on                   campus. Barbie would've known a                   face like the stranger's if she had seen                   her somewhere before.

- ♕ -

                You should be honoured to be judged by me.                 It’s like being judged by Simon Cowell on your                 talent, like Miss Minerva McGonagall on your                 transfiguration. I am the judge of fabulousness,                 honey. And I know that you would rock blue.

                                   { But whatever. Purple it is.                                       I have nothing against                                       personal touch. I can be                                       lenient in come cases,                                       and personalization is cute. }

       [ Jackson smiled as he turned around.           She looked fantastic. That was the dress          for sure, because of course he was right.          His smile wavered as her voice cracked.          He stepped over to her, fixed the straps          on her shoulders, trying to be of comfort. ]

                                                                      You look g r e a t.

- ♕ -

                  She smiled at him in the mirror                   even as she blinked the tears                   from her eyes.          "I know," she whispered with a short laugh.                   Barbie, though she would n e v e r                   say so, appreciated Jackson's                   quiet comfort. It wasn't smothering,                   but it was t h e r e.

♕ -

                        [Jackson smirked. Being admired was                         kind of his goal in everything he did, so                         he let himself enjoy the slow moments                         in which Barbie ran her fingers down his                         upper torso.                                                Jackson also learned now                                                that she was b o l d, though.                                                They would c l a s h if he let                                                his front down… They couldn’t                                                have anything. Jackson wasn’t                                                near ready to take on a relationship                                                with a stranger, not even with the                                                connection they seemed to share.                 It almost hurt him                 to know he would                 have to forget about                 her after this.]

        [The two approached the counter.                                               Jackson spoke lowly.]

                      Whenever you’re done                       feeling up the |minor| in public,                       just let me know so I can order.

        [He held the smirk as he turned away from her         to tell the cashier what he wanted. He leaned on         the counter when finished, let Barbie have her turn.]

- ♕

                  Barbie chuckled teasingly. He thought                   she cared if someone said something.                   She didn't mind l y i n g  to anyone.          "I'm small enough to pass for a minor," she promised him.                   Barbie ordered simply with a cute smirk                   and a wink at the boy behind the counter.                   She flirted quite blatantly as she made                   small talk, just to see what Jackson would say.

He’s not acting tough. There’s a difference between pretending to be all ruff and actually being a kind and open soul that just somehow ended up with people wanting your head  served. 

            “Alright? Alright.”

         "Yeah, alright."                    She smiled softly as they continued to walk.                    It was kind of okay.          "So, tell me. What does one do in such a small town?"

        Of course, Piper had heard of Barbie Tandy. Piper was the best Beater, and she’d gone up against Slytherins plenty of times. “You fully meant to brag. Difference is, you didn’t mean it in hopes of a negative outcome. You’re proud of what you’ve done, and thus you mean to brag whenever you want to. It’s not a sin.”

       ”I know who you are, Barbie Tandy. But you aren’t going to finish my Potions homework.” Piper’s tone wasn’t a hostile one. Her intentions weren’t to be hostile, she just wasn’t interested. Barbie’s sudden interest in talking to her was confusing, and Piper didn’t like it when things confused her. “I appreciate the introduction, I suppose. I’d introduce myself as well, but I don’t find it necessary at the very moment. Can I help you with anything else?”

         Barbie smirked, a bit sharply, at her own hands. She knew when she wasn't wanted. She flicked her eyes back up to meet Piper's. "No, nothing else," she said quietly, "I should go. Practice soon. Say hello sometime."          Barbie stood fluidly and sauntered back over to her own table. She collected her books methodically. Confidence, for her, was not always amazing. In fact, it liked to short-circuit without warning.

      While he’s been able to keep a straight face so far, Peter crumbles now. The laughter comes rolling out, and he briefly brings a hand up to his mouth to muffle the sound. Jesus, what an image he’s got in his head. He’s still snickering when he finally answers.        “Oh, man. If you can get those two in a takeout bag, be my guest.” 

         Barbie giggled behind her drink, trying to keep from drawing attention. She couldn't even imagine whatever he had pictured to make him break. She smirks over at him with a quirked brow. Dont say it, Barbie. Don't do it.          "I might need some help getting them out to the car. Spaghetti arms, you know."

Natalie Dormer at the 66th Annual Emmy Awards

         ”Sounds like one hell of backpain,            actually. Did that often enough.”

Sometimes a night, sometimes a few, often enough weeks, and once, almost half a year. Yeah, he sort of knew the feeling at the very least in a way. So it’s a shrug following.

          “Don’t worry ‘bout it.”

                  Barbie just hid her smile. He acted tough.                   But he seemed like a kind soul. Someone                   who tried to avoid anger and spread good.                   It made it easier to trust him that way. 

        “Mm. I suppose. I just generally don’t like new teachers in their first class. Especially not when I’m already used to one.”

        While the Slytherin leaned back, Piper leaned forward. She had Potions to finish, and no stranger was going to stop her from doing it. She didn’t cast so much as a glance as Barbie took a book, fully expecting for her to just get up and leave. All she wanted to do was ask about the Potions master, right?

        “Likewise. I’m sure you’re not taking a survey on the Potions teacher, so, is there a n y t h i n g I can help you with? I like to study alone.”

          Barbie, fortunately or unfortunately, was persistent. She was interested, too, and that never helped. That just made things worse.          "I thought I'd introduce myself. You may have heard of me, though I don't mean to brag. Barbie Tandy, Slytherin Prefect, Co-Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch Team."          As much as Barbie wasn't proud of bragging, she couldn't help but do it sometimes. She was confident and proud of what she had accomplished in her years at school. She liked for people to know it.

      She really shouldn’t encourage him. Peter can go like this for hours, letting one innuendo feed into another easily. There’s a wily grin that’s momentarily hidden behind the rim of his coffee mug as he takes a drink. 

      “I’m thinking we’d have to pay to see that.”

         Barbie finally looks over at him fully. Her bright eyes are alight with amusement. She thinks he knows he's funny. And he is. She just smirks this time, cogs whirling. She's not nearly as good at this.          "Think I could get it to go?"