a cup of tea], take 2

[Saige Pope]

Grey eyes glanced around their surroundings quickly before a pair of legs jogged across the busy street. Honks were sounded, cars were screeching and muggles were roaming the busy city of London, England. A moment passed and the girl just stopped at the curb of the street and watched the life around her. A mother was scolding her young child, another person almost got run over by a car whose driver was now angrily screaming out. All the noise, and the chaos felt good for Saige. Yet, solitude and quiet she sought. Living in Hogwarts most of the time set her up for company ninety-nine percent of her day and now, in the city she loved and felt so secure in, she needed her escape.

The red-headed witch blended into the crowds as she walked down Neal Street. Saige Pope was in and around the Convent garden which had become a popular spot for tourists, though she was no tourist. Saige's Father tried to be an English as possible, and that means living life like a muggle. That was rather odd for her considering they were purebloods. Growing up in the suburbs right outside London, the city was Say's second home. The Tea House was her third. thee was something about the two-story building that just made her get so lost in all the smells. It was great because after constantly coming to the shop she became friends with the owner and the two other employees.

Crossing Long Acre, her destination was the tiny, but expensive and exotic shop that she was absolutely fascinated by. Saige's red hair were in locks and half of it was pulled together by a clip. She wore a pea coat, a light pair of black jeans and black boots that went up almost to her knee, had a pointed toe and a very little skinny heel. She was flushed beyond belief. It was humid and rainy and she was doing more walking then normal but in reality Saige was having a pretty good time, spending it by herself and all. Yet, in the back of her mind her thoughts were plagued by something darker than expected. Her happiness was held back by something she was not sure was trivial or not. her nightmares were becoming stronger. her nightmare, really. Just that one...of getting killed. Shaking her head Saige deemed to forget her thoughts of darkness.

Placing one bag into her other, Saige carefully pressed open the door. taking a large step up, she entered the warm environment and a smile grew instantly on her face. the little bell rung indicating an arrival of a customer and Merca*, the store owner, peered from her position in the store to see who had come in. "Saige my dear! Welcome!" She exclaimed. Merca was of semi-heavy built. She wore glasses perched upon her pointy nose. She was a kind, warm-hearted lady of about fifty. She wore ugly, but expensive, clothes and she lived off of the profit The Tea House made. The building itself inside was two stories. The floors were mahogany and dark and shiny, nearly always covered in wax. The walls, when you could see them, were a dark red and the place overall was dark. As you enter all you really see is racks and cupboards and such filled with packages, sacks, bags, just filled with tea leaves, grounds, smells, everything you could imagine. Separating each flavor was usually a small array of mugs, cups and saucers, pots, etc. up for sale. Trinkets decorated the rest of the place when there was room for such things. Each section was sectioned off based on origin of tea. As you enter you're in India and just behind a large rack there's the counter. Upstairs was the stock, though still open to customers.

In the summer, when living with her parents, this is where Saige worked. "Hello Merca!" Saige spoke with genuine compassion, "How've you been and how's business going?" Though she knew the answer, because it never changed no matter how long you go without seeing her, she asked out of the kindness of her heart. Merca was a busy woman, sometimes forgetful and is always on the move. She knew conversation would become a struggle. Looking around as she slowly moved to the counter, Saige breathed in all the exotic, rich spices, as many as she could all at once. "I'm fine m'dear! Buisness is running smoothly." As Merca spoke those words Sage mouthed them all and behind her was one of the employees, Daniel, who was mimicking her. At his words Saige turned around to look at him and giggled. he smiled along with her and nodded a silent hello as she returned a friendly smile.

When she finally did maneuver around all the breakables, she placed her bags upon the counter. her attention was caught by a small, crystal elephant that sat on the counter. "Wow." Saige breathed as Merca turned around for a moment to see what was so wonderful. "Oh yes!" She said in her squeaky little mouse voice, "My friend Karseesh gave it to me when he came to visit. Said it would fit in the Indian section. It managed to find it's way to the counter." She spoke as she returned to her work. "What brings you here today?" She drifted off. She knew that if she just disappeared Merca wouldn't take notice, which is something Saige found so amusing. "Just coming in to say hi. Oh!" She exclaimed as she remembered, her grey eyes wide, carrying a glint of excitement. "I've come to purchase something I hear recently came in." turning around with a quizzical brow Merca studied the girl to make sure she heard her correctly. "You're actually buying something? in all the years you've come here you haven't bought a single thing!"

A laugh escaped from the girls soft lips, "I know Merca, but that's because everything is expensive in here. you know my father refuses to give me an allowance when i stay with him." She spoke again, her expression from amused turned to persuasion. "Anyway, the tea came in from...what was it...oh yes! The tea came in from Sri Lanka." Her brows furrowed Saige turned back to the elephant figurine as she lifted it and studied it. "Is it down here yet or upstairs?" It took Merca a moment before responding. in the meantime Saige's eyes were heavily focused on the crystal. between the rainbow in the small prisms Saige swore she saw what seemed like a figure, more like a face in the crystal. not an etched image but sort like a mirror image. Shaking her head she took the image out of her mind, the dark face with red eyes. She soon made herself forget about it and turned back her attention to the kind store owner. "Upstairs."

Glass shattering and heavy sacs hitting the floor cold be heard from upstairs ad every person in the down stairs at that time looked upwards. "Daniel!" Merca shouted. "i'm done here Mer." The young man spoke. "lets go." Saige spoke as she grabbed her backs, put them behind the counter and led the small group if individuals upstairs. Saige opened a wooden door, led them up a marrow staircase and entered the very small upstairs. A full rack laid on the ground, leaves every where, powder everywhere, and a little broken glass lay on the floor. "Oohm." Saige quickly covered her mouth from laughing aloud. But still she muffled her laughs and let herself go. Merca's eyes were wide in disbelief and aggravation. "ill clean it up!" Daniel spoke quickly before Merca could speak. "Ill help!" Came Saige. Merca shook her head and just continued back down the stairs. Someone has to be up here.


(Pronounced mer-sa. Whoever responds to this: you can act her out too if you wish. not a biggie)

[James Stone]

Walking through the crowded London streets, James allowed himself a small smile, his cane tapping along the walk as his shoulders bumped into people maneuvering from business to business. Several times he heard the person he bumped into begin to berate him, before their eyes fell upon his walking cane and sunglass covered face, causing their reprimand to turn into a muttered apology. He could smell the stale air hanging around the city like a thick cloak. He knew he was somewhere near a notable tea house that had been suggested to the young teen, yet he didn’t know exactly where it was.

“Excuse me,” he said following the sound of a voice, “Where is the exotic tea house?” He listened quietly as the young man, by the sound of his voice, gave him simple directions. Nodding in thanks, he walked quietly toward his destination, one hand held out against the faces of the buildings beside him, counting the doors as he passed. The young man had said seven, so, when James’ hand brushed the seventh door, he slid his hand down to grasp at the polished handle, turning it in his grasp and pushing the door open. When the wave of herbal essence buffered his nose, the Gryffindor realized he had reached his destination.

“Hello dear, is there something I can help you with,” a kindly voice asked from further in the shop, smiling in the direction he believed her to be, he nodded. He could smell the blends of the differing teas from many nations around the globe. His hand tightened around his red and white cane, as he took another step into the shop.

"I'm looking for some tea, preferably from the Shanghai region," he said in his smooth tenor voice, "But I'll browse a bit, first." He wandered through the shop slowly, occasionally stopping to smell something that caught his attention. It was sheer luck that caused the teen to find the stairs, and with nary a thought, he started up them, his booted feet thumping quietly upon the rising stairs.

He paused upon the landing long enough to hear the door downstairs open and close, and the sound of voices. Listening for a moment longer, he shrugged, stepping forward to explore further, only for his shoulder to bump into a sharp corner. Grunting slightly, he instinctively jumped back, cane clattering to the floor, only to feel his back impact a wooden shelf.

It seemed to grow extremely quiet in the shop as he heard the shelf groan slightly before a loud crash echoed throughout the shop. The shelf had seemed to bounce into the backs of his legs, causing the blind teen to stumble forward and fall into a shadowed alcove between two shelves. He was almost afraid to move, the dull ache in his body signifying that he would definitely be sore for a few days, at least.

"Oh, bugger," he said to himself, "Fantastic."

He heard the sound of voices and feet upon the stairs, and he almost opened his mouth to call out to them, but he heard the quick replies of two people, and his reckless, but still intelligent mind realized that the proprietor must also be there. It was out of a sheer force of self-protection that he remained silent. Somehow, throughout the ordeal, his glasses had remained upon his long nose, though his black hair had become greatly mussed. Little did he know, but his cane lay in plain sight amongst the mess he had created.

[Saige Pope]

Daniel and Saige laughed for a little bit before handing her a broom. The aroma of tea leaves nd spices were overpowering, causing Saige to cough and choke up. Whatever caused this spill had done a pretty decent job, because it was going to take a large garbage back or two to fill this mess up.

Saige stood up for a moment and took notice of it. Her stopping caused Daniel to do the same. "I'll go get some." He spoke without her having to say anything. This caused her to smile. Every summer when she worked in here, he was what made her happy. His presence, his shy exterior and interior, along with the sun seeping through the tinted windows. That was her summer; this store was her life.

On the old wooden floor there was a rainbow of mess. Blues, greens, reds. The mess looked almost as though it were an accidental work of art. This also made Saige stop. She leaned on the broom and tilted her head. After a moment or two, she looked around. What the bloody hell am I doing cleaning with a broom?

Pulling out her wand in the same room as muggles was dangerous, she knew this. But, it was alright though, right? Saige had looked. She was alone. Pulling out her wand, "Scourgify" came from her mouth silently, as the mess, once seemingly impossible to clean up, now stod in a garbage bag. Shrugging to herself with satisfaction, she spoke, "Seems like he went down there for nothing."

Saige turned towards the door, taking a step forward until her foot hit something. Taken a bit by surprise she looked down and saw there was a stick. "Where-?" Picking it up, she balanced it in her hands. It was awefully long to just be a stick. What is it? In a matter of two seconds, she realized what it was and her expression changed from bewilderment, to unhappiness. The mere idea of someone being blind had upset her. That was expected though right? Afterall, Saige was a hufflepuff. It was the house where everyone had a soft heart, and had empthay, not pity.

Someone else is in the room. Saige looked around the room quickly, her heart beating a little faster, until she came into view of a persons back. Her hand quickly met her mouth, covering the shock.

"Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry." Saige approached the person, as she placed her hand on his back....a back that looked very familiar to her. Taking a second, looking at the boy quizically, then back at the stick, she a smirk, "James Stone."

Saige was a Hufflepuff, while James a Gryffindor. Despite their house difference, and the fact that he was blind, they were best friends. Anytime she saw him or heard his voice she couldn't help but smile. He was one of those people you could never stay mad at for long, or even get mad at in the firs place. He was there for her when she first got her heart broken. Hell, when Saige's parents got in ugly fights of magic and glass throwing, she would stay with him at his parents'. Of course, that was when they were little.

"You should've told me you had plans on coming into London today," she smiled at him with happiness, despite his lack of sight. It's a shame, she thought curiously to herself, adoring him, studying him, he has a lot to offer.

[James Stone]

He sat upon the ground silently, waiting for them to leave so he could search for his cane and not be found sitting upon the ground like some berk. Sighing silently to himself as he heard the two voices, one male and one familiar sounding female, he heard a heavy set of footsteps descend the stairs, leaving the female upstairs with himself. A hand moved silently hoping to find his cane nearby, but it was not to be.

When the cleaning spell was muttered, a frown slipped onto James’s features, his head turning slightly as he twisted, searching for the blasted cane that he always seemed to lose. He knew that voice, having heard it before, but the Gryffindor still couldn’t place it. His long-fingered hand came to rest upon the tiled floor when he heard the sound of her moving around in the space behind him, followed shortly by a highly familiar clatter. At least he knew he wasn’t sitting right by his cane anymore.

Her apology caused him to tense slightly, frown sliding onto his face before he finally recognized her voice. Now he felt like a complete arse for forgetting the voice of his best friend in the world. Tilting his head back so he could ‘look’ up at her, he smiled wryly. “Hello, Saige. You haven’t by any chance found my cane,” he asked with an amused lilt to his voice, knowing full well she had and all too aware of the sight he must look, sitting upon the ground as he was, “I feel like a complete prat, you know. I totally did not recognize your voice.”

Tiring of sitting upon the ground as he was, he carefully levered himself to his feet, slowly straightening himself to his full six feet and two inches of height, a hand carefully patting his pocket to insure his wand was alright. It was a very hardy wand, having been with him through similar falls and other sharply descending accidents. His hands brushed at his clothing, unknowing if he was truly helping, or just completely missing anything that may have found itself upon his clothes due to his unexpected ordeal.

“Since when do I ever plan anything,” he drawled out slowly as he turned toward her, raising one hand to push the sunglasses back into position upon his nose, “I’m a Gryffindor, all action, no plan. Remember? Plus you always speak so highly of this place, and I wanted to get my hands on some of that tea from Shanghai.” He smiled widely at her, unable to keep up the serious façade any longer, it was far too amusing, after all.

He remembered the times she had come over to his house, and actually missed those days; days where she was just his best friend, unlike now, where she was his best friend, and his secret crush. There was definitely an attraction there, and he fancied that it was on a deeper level than that of sighted people. He had been crushing on her for months now, but it completely conflicted with the desire not to screw up their friendship. He would hate for that to happen.

[Saige Pope]

This was probably the only time Saige was glad James was blind. Her heart was beating and her face was turning a deep red color. They were best friends, always have been, and she was thankful just for that. There was no way Say was going to push anything else on him. She knew he didn't feel the same way. For her to consider assuming he felt the same way she would need heavy evidence.

Gently placing his hand in hers, which sent blood to her cheeks, Saige allowed her other hand to fill his, as she transferred the stick from one being to the other. She hated this fact that he could not see. Sure, she grew up with him by her side, but there was still something that greatly bothered her about it. It was if...as if she wanted him to see her, who she really was, like sight would make a huge difference in the world, anyway.

Saige let her hand run through his hair and shake his head, a friendly gesture. "If you had wanted the tea from Shanghai, my love, you should have told me, and I would have brought you to it's exact location. I probably could have even gotten it for you for free, since I work here in the summer and whatnot." His Gryffindor pride would set in, leaving him to tell her some bullock story about how he needs no one, that he doesn't want things for free, or perhaps that he wants to whore himself to Mersa. Either way, she would expect this from James. It's how he was, like every Gryffindor.

"I will admit, you scared me at first, seeing as I used magic without having known anyone was in the room." She smiled softly. Then, the door opened and Daniel walked into the room, taken aback by what he saw: the room was clean, this were back in their place, and now Saige had taken it upon herself to converse with a boy, whom he had no idea was the room. he seemed as though he were staring off into space. Shaking his head in a fit of silent jealousy, Daniel shut the door and went down the stairs.

Looking back at her friend, there was something that continued to tug at her heart. As much as she loved him...she hated him. She wanted him to look at her and just smile, because she took his breath away. She wanted him to look at her and just be like, "God, she's amazing." It was corny, probably very selfish, and sort of creepy and weird, but it was how Saige felt. Then again, it wasn't like she was going to say any of that to him. There was nothing to worry about.

[James Stone]

When he felt her small hand grab his own, gently placing his walking cane in his hand, allowing him to grasp it as she pulled her hands away. Through sheer force of will, James was able to fight down the blush that threatened to slide onto his features to stay. The situation was already embarrassing, and now she was grabbing his hand, even though it was completely innocent of any deception. Instead, the only sign of his nervousness he allowed was a nervous swallow.

Dropping the end of the cane to the ground, the Gryffindor forced himself to act casual. His efforts were greatly aided by Saige herself, as her hand slipped into his hair and shook his head, much to his annoyance. Swatting playfully at her hand, he attempted to soothe his hair into some semblance of controlled, and it worked for the most part, only some of it refused to lie flat, and that was in the front.

Then her words registered to his annoyed Gryffindor brain, seeming to cause his heart to stop before it resumed at quadruple its usual pace. He would swear she could hear it, and he once again fought down the inevitable blush. “Hey now,” he said, trying to dispel his awkwardness, “Just because I’m a Gryffindor doesn’t make me helpless! I’m perfectly capable of getting my own tea, Saige.” He jutted his lower lip out slightly in a mock pout, rolling his eyes slightly, not that she could see him, his glasses hiding the movement from her. “It’s not that complicated,” he said before realizing he had screwed up the ‘not complicated’ act of getting tea already, causing him to trail off, hoping she hadn’t caught onto that fact.

Lifting his free hand, he hooked his fingers into claws, his mouth twisted into a smile. “Boo,” he said simply, breaking into a set of hearty chuckles, his hand dropping back to his side. When the door opened, he turned his head in that direction, trying to capture the sound of the newcomer. He was slightly surprised, however, when the sound of footsteps retreated following the sound of a shutting door. “That wasn’t odd at all,” he said to the silence of the room before returning his attention to her once more.

The silence that followed his statement could definitely be described as awkward, or maybe it was just him, since his mind was completely encumbered with thoughts of his best friend that best friends shouldn’t have. It was probably a good thing she couldn’t read minds, or have a babbling draught on hand, or he would definitely be in trouble. He wished he could see her, just to know what she was thinking, or even to finally know what she looked like. Bugger it all. A stray thought slipped into his head, telling him that he could ‘see’ her just by reaching a hand out and touching her face, but that wouldn’t be awkward at all. Stupid brain.

[Saige Pope]

Laughter came from Saige's lips. He was quite the character, which is perhaps why they got along so well. It was the inevitable truth that sometimes she wish weren't so true. Being his friend was difficult. Despite having grown up since their meeting so long ago, the kids in the school were still cruel and aggravating. Saige heard a lot of crap talked behind Jame's back. This caused various fights between her and people she thought she was friends with. The immaturity level of the school was profound.

Saige nodding as James spoke, her agreement always seemingly so. There was very few things the pair disagreed on. His ego, was something they disagreed on though. He thought he should flaunt himself. Saige on the other hand..well she thought differently. Of course they were joking around most of the time. Despite them having been friends for so long though, some things Say never got accustomed to...James, being the thing she never got accustomed to.

Saige looked at him with curiosity, placed her hand upon his black shades, and gently took them off his face. She was always puzzled as to why he wore those. Did he want to attract more attention to him, then he already had? A flaw of Saige was actually her resentment towards him. Being an outsider with the knowledge of their friendship, that was probably pretty shocking to comprehend. It wasn't that she didn't love him for who he was, but she..wanted him to be normal, in a way. If they were walking arm in arm, she didn't want him to use his walking stick. Perhaps it was that she wanted him to be normal, more like, she didn't want him to dependent on anything...like a normal person? No, this didn't make any sense, and Saige had yet to fully admit this to yourself.

"Why do you wear this silly things?" She asked him with misunderstanding, "I want to see your eyes." Truthfully, she hoped he didn't mind what she had done. The last thing she wanted was for him to be mad. She put his glasses on top of her red hair and pulled up a stool from the corner, and sat on it, one already being one behind him, "There a chair behind you if you care to sit, love." Were they really about to hang out int he attic of her workplace?

"SO, I have this idea..." Saige suggested, though it was sort of lacking the enthusiasm. "I think my family is doing there own this for spring break, which is odd, since my parents hate each other," Saiges parents were divorced, her father trying to live like a muggle. Bother her parents were magical, it was just her grandparents that made her dad halfblood. "After the divorce they've been trying to "re-build" their relationship, especially with Patrik and Ryann. I want absolutely no part in it." She rolled her eyes and her parents immature behavior, "So, I have no where to go during spring break while they're in the Alps. You should stay with me for half of it, and then I can go home with you?" She smiled brightly, in hopes he would say yes....then she remember he couldn't see.

[James Stone]

James froze as he felt her hand upon his sunglasses, gently pulling them from his face, revealing his nearly black eyes. In the lighting within the shop, the slightly milky coating they had was barely noticeable as they flicked around quickly, trying to see, even though it would never be possible. Swallowing, the Gryffindor’s face twisted into a nervous smile, completely without his brains explicit permission. He didn’t know why he was so nervous all of a sudden, they were just sunglasses. But, after years of wearing them to keep from wigging his fellow students out, they had become another barrier between him and the world.

“Originally, it was to make the other students more comfortable,” he said quietly, “They’re easily wigged out when they see me staring, but not staring, you know?” He definitely wouldn’t tell her they were now a source of comfort, nope, not at all. He twitched slightly when he heard the sound of something sliding across the floor, head turning toward the sound, only to identify it as either a shelf or a chair. When she informed him of the chair residing behind him, he twisted himself around, one hand searching for the mentioned chair. The pads of his long fingers met the wood of what he assumed was the chair, and upon further feel, decided this was the chair she had mentioned.

Pulling it closer slightly, he pressed the palm of his hand into the seat as he lowered himself to sit in the chair smoothly, pulling his hand away just before he sat upon it. “Don’t mind if I do,” he said, shooting her what he thought was a slightly mischievous smile, it really just appeared nervous and slightly wan. He didn’t know why he was acting like such a prat all of a sudden, they had been friends for years, and he had been crushing on her for months, so why was it all coming apart now? It was so frustrating that the Gryffindor just wanted to find a dark place and hide for the foreseeable future. Or at least until he regained better control of his stupid, rebellious brain. How inconvenient for it to gain its own independence at this time. Couldn’t it be a little more courteous and just be completely noncompliant when he wasn’t in the process of attempting to hide the way he felt and keep their friendship the way it was? Obviously not.

Pulling out of his thoughts, he turned his head slightly, so he was facing her more directly than he had been previously. He felt a sense of indignation rise up as she spoke of her parents, and he quickly smothered it, she knew full well what he thought of her parents, especially since she stayed at his house for refuge when they were going through their divorce. “Yeah, you know you’re always welcome at my house,” he said quickly, stating something she already knew of course, his parents having said it many times over the years, “Sounds like a plan. Few days at your place, then a few days at mine. Mum will be thrilled, she loves having you over.”

It was true. Vanessa Stone loved entertaining, especially when it was Saige. She seemed to have a complete fixation on fixing James up with his best friend. Not that he would complain too much, but it was completely embarrassing when she did it in plain view of everyone. Of all the times he wished the ground would open up beneath him and swallow him whole, that was one of them. And it never did. Shame.

[Saige Pope]

Saige knew removing his glasses would be something he would dislike. She wanted him to feel completely comfortable around her. Was that selfish? Being one of his best friends she didn't think so, and despite having the slight milky coating over his eyes, she loved looking at his eyes.

The way he looked meant virtually nothing to him, but looking at him made Saige smile. She saw James, and strictly James without the sunglasses. She saw her best friends, the one who would take a bullet for her (hopefully). The glasses were almost like a security blanket, Saige feared, and she didn't want them for him. She wanted him to feel safe.

Sensing his sudden emotions of self-consciousness, she spoke to him gently, "James, you're fine without the glasses. Trust me." She coaxed, smiling genuinely, though it was unnoticed, unseen. For James to be able to trust her meant a lot. He never knew what people were really doing right in front of him.

His parents and her parents got along splendidly, which would be the reason why they did as well. Their friendship helped enable a friendship between their offspring. Summer holidays would be spent together, trips, dinners. Their parents knew everything about what was going on, which often bothered Saige, because it wasn't always the other families business. Nevertheless, this is why Say felt like he could trust her so much; he had no reason to do otherwise.

When she spoke of her plan a monstrous smile formed on her face, and could be heard in the way she spoke, "I miss you mom! We should visit her soon." It was true; Saige got along better with Vanessa than her own mother sometimes. Then again, isn't that how it always worked out? With a mother/daughter relationship that Vanessa and Saige had, came come disagreements However, with those disagreements Saige didn't necessarily open her mouth. A lot of those disagreements involved James.

For as long as she could remember, James' parents, mom in particular, always had this fascination that Saige and her son should be together. Every time James had a girlfriend, or Saige had a boyfriend, Vanessa would always go up to her ear, "How could you let him get away like that?" or, "He's crushed, do you know that? Ugh, the poor boy. He's crazy over you". Sometimes Say would talk to James about that, to either complain or to laugh at her. Afterall, they were best friends, and nothing would ever happen. He didn't look at her that way right? He didn't feel for her like she felt for him...

[James Stone]

Sighing loudly, James sagged slightly, his grip shifting slightly upon his cane. He could feel the ‘sticky’ rubber of the handle, and he unconsciously slid his thumb against the ridges of the grip, still subconscious despite her words to the contrary.

But she was his best friend, and she had been for years, so he knew he could trust her judgment. Nodding his head, he fought back the urge to reach a hand up to hide his face. Days past, he would have done so, but not now. Especially after she had gone through the effort to remove said sunglasses for reasons unknown to him.

“Well, that’s good to hear,” he said, smirking slightly as he tried to alleviate the tension that had settled between the two. Or maybe he was just imagining the tension. Oh, the frustrations of attempting to act normal with a friend that he wanted as more than a friend.

Sighing, he leaned back into the chair slightly, shifting his weight upon the wooden surface. He lifted his cane to rest atop his thighs, releasing his grip upon it when he was sure it wouldn’t fall again. That would be just his luck. Sitting in a chair in a tea shop with who-knows-what scattered who-knows-where. And then he would feel like a complete idiot in front of the one person who knew him best. No, that would not be a good thing. Humiliating, yes. Good, no. Definitely not.

Chuckling slightly, he shook his head, knowing full well the way Saige and his mother viewed each other. “Oh, don’t worry, she’s just as eager to see you,” he said with a slightly crooked grin, “You should read some of the letters she writes. ‘James, honey, when will you invite Saige over?’” The last was said in a high-pitched voice, a mock-parody of his mother’s usual tone.

Remembering something, his eyes widened slightly before he shifted in the chair again. “You know, she’s still on that kick,” he said before clarifying, “Trying to get us together.” The last five words were said in a wistful tone of voice, his brain defying him and allowing that hope to slip into his voice. Clearing his throat quickly, he tried to cover up his slip. Oh, if he had been a Slytherin, he wouldn’t have so many slip-ups when he was under pressure.

[Saige Pope]

Saige couldnt help but chuckle at what James was saying about his mother. She did not have any doubt in her mind that his mother was still trying to get them together. For as long as Saige remembered, playing the dirt with James, putting bugs in his hair without him knowing it, pushing him in the mud, just to have him drag her with him, there was no doubt in Saige's mind that her mother always hoped for something to blossom from their friendship.

The way James spoke, she knew he was anxious and nervous about something, and that made her smile. She wasnt nervous like she had been when she first saw him early this morning. Perhaps his lack of sight made her comfortable. It gave her an advantage-she could read him, but he couldnt read him. For the longest time she had to stop feeling sorry for James. It took a while, but once she did stop the pity-party, it allowed them to grow closer as friends.

"I used to be very cruel to you, you know." Her eyes were gleaming and the happiness apparent in her voice. "And all you would do was laugh and tell me to bugger off. Remember that one time, i believe it was youre tenth birthday party, we were all outside playing games and there was a pinata? you had wanted all the candy for yourself so when i saw you go behind everyone back and grab the bat to break it before everyone had the chance, i ripped the pinata off the tree" Saige began to laugh at the pleasant memory, "You hit me with the bat instead by accident and i was on the ground rolling in pain but laughing hysterically."

The memories the two had together were memories Saige would never forget.Hopefully, her dear friend wouldn't forget them either. Saige's mind quickly went back on the subject of his mother, and she looked down for a moment, in thought, and shook her head gently and to herself. "I never did understand her obsession with us. We're only kids after all, and we're best friends. Nothing's ever going to stop that." A little sad smile came across Say's lips and that moment she was glad James was blind. Had he seen her face he would have known she was lying through her teeth.

" Still, I would love to come stay with you guys during the break. I would love to see your mother again, and if she does start her crazy antics again I will just tell her about my boyfriend." A smile of accomplishment over swept her face. Of course Say didnt have a boyfriend.But what Vanessa did not know, would not hurt her, right?Afterall, hoe many years can she bother James with her nonsense....it was nonsense after all right? "I must come up with a name, to claim as his. Where he's from, who his family is..." She poke in the distance, and turned her attention back to him. "Any ideas?"