Monkey Time (Open)

[Chris Jones]

A damp wind whiffed by Chris’s head sending his hair every which way. He didn’t seem to mind. Both eyes were shut to the world, headphones blared the sweet melody of Soul Eyes by John Coltrane. On a close inspection, one would notice his eyes darting back and forth under the lid like he was in the deep throes of REM sleep. But in truth he was so enthralled by the heavenly saxophone that he couldn’t stop from moving to the beat and as his legs were slung over a large branch that held the boy upside down his eyes would have to do. Damn that man could play. Chris wished he had been alive in the 60’s. So many exciting things happened in that era.

Chris pretended to be a broken branch, bent at a right angle from another branch. All he wore was a complex colored tank top with an assortment of designs that seemed to defy logic and a simple pair of cargo shorts. Both arms hung down almost brushing the ground. His mind was free of thought, like some sort of meditation, his batteries were being recharged. The sun was a warm blanket, but slightly dried his yawning mouth. It was impossible not to nap on a day like this and sleeping like a bat was one of his favorite ways.

Lemonworld by The National wafted into his mind after Coltrane stepped off stage. Soon his lids parted revealing glossy eyes. He saw much but noticed little. Flowers bloomed, bees buzzed, the wind blew, and the world went on without him.

Why am I here?

The voice rang out, shattered any trace of absentmindedness. The question always wiggled into his mind leaving him blank and answerless. The voice was soft, caring, but subtly cruel as if it enjoyed the way it made Chris struggle. It was his voice, his mind. He owned it, why couldn’t he control it? It was his own personal demon, his devil atop his shoulder.

The voice didn’t speak up again, his conscience was quiet. The damage was done. With a crocodile grin it dived back into the recesses of his mind to reappear whenever he felt content or happy.

[Seraphina Rose Hathaway]

Serrie strolled the gardens with curious eyes. After being stuck inside the castle for almost the whole entire day it was nice to just be outside where the sun was having its fun beating down on the earth before it was time for the moon to take its place. It wasn't that she didn't like the enchanting castle because she did. It was just a too much of a nice day to be couped up inside. Plus, the weather either being the sun, rain, or snow made the outside of the castle look like a scenario where if someone had a camera, they would have to snap a picture before the scenario went away. Like, in the sun, Hogwarts looked friendly and open to all people. In the rain, Hogwarts looked a bit intimidating but that depended on if the rain was a full out thunderstorm or not. In the snow, Hogwarts looked cheery and Christmas-y. Definitely a picture to take to turn into a postcard for students to send to their families. That's what Serrie did for her father and her mother. Although, she had to send two different owls so that the same owl she sent to her father didn't have to travel all the way to California where her mother was stationed at.

Taking a deep breath of the sweet air that was filled with the aroma of flowers surrounding her, Serrie went in search of a seat or just somewhere to sit that doesn't include the dampness of the earth. At first, all she saw was a damp stone bench which seemed to look uncomfortable. Then, she went further into the gardens and found a really pretty swing with pink roses intertwining on the straps that seemed to hold up the wooden seating of the swing. Mulling over whether or not the swing would break under her weight, Serrie took a step forward toward the swing and took a seat on the swing trying to test her weight. Sighing that she didn't hear any tearing or creaking stating that the swing was going to break, she swung back and fourth. The more higher she swung, the more her smile came out. By the time she was about a few feet off the ground, she was grinning. Something that was rare for her. She only smiled whenever she had to, but other than that her smiling was never something people would see regurally.

Then, after a while her arms started to get sore and she realized that she wasn't the only one in the gardens. A boy who was up in a tree listening to music was there near her and she wondered if he had seen her or was he too caught up in his music to notice. She hoped that he hadn't noticed her because she didn't want the boy to think that she was a little kid even though she was one. She hated being called a kid when because she always had to correct people that she was a pre-teen. Serrie couldn't wait until she was thirteen because then she'd be called a teenager instead of a little girl. But, that wasn't was what was going through her mind. The boy was upside down with knees around the trunk of the tree branch. Kind of like monkey. She giggled softly at the image and then stopped when she realized that the boys position could make him fall and hit his head. Probably even get a concussion. Should she bother the boy to tell him that his position seemed a bit dangerous? Or should she just let it be and if he fell then it would be his own fault?

She decided to just leave the boy where he was since she was too shy to approach the older boy anyway. But, she did want to know what the boy looked like in the face since all she could see was the back of his head. Getting off the swing, she made her way around to the front of the boy and cautiously and slowly, tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Excuse me?," she said a bit loud so the boy could hear her, "Don't you think your position could get you hurt? What if you fell?"

[Chris Jones]

Her voice was like a summer breeze that had awoken a hornets’ nest. As if she had just slapped him across the face Chris’s eyes shot open fully, both pupils dilated. In his shock his body went unresponsive, muscles tightened then slackened, and with a thump he fell.

“Hello ground, we meet again.” Chris slowly pushed himself up onto his elbows. The fall dazed him, and his sight spun about. Every romantic comedy he had ever seen depicted this scene as the moment the protagonist meets the gorgeous girl and he instantly falls in love. His sight jumped off the merry go round and looked up into the green eyes of a girl who was obviously much younger than himself.

With a heavy sigh he staggered to his feet while his inner romantic fled back into hiding. He didn’t know why he expected something like that, movies were a terrible representation of real life, but he still couldn’t stop himself from hoping. Then again he did have a girlfriend. Why would he be hoping for something he all ready had?

“What makes someone decide to disturb another’s peace?” He didn’t meet her gaze, instead he looked himself over. Noticing a few spots of caked on dirt he began to pat himself down. He came across a new rip in his shorts and grumbled.

[Seraphina Rose Hathaway]

Serrie didn't quite know what she was expecting, but it surely wasn't the boy falling out of the tree. She stared for a few moments in astonishment. She was trying to have the boy not get hurt, but apparently she made matters worse. She felt bad instantly and automatically moved herself to where the boy was. Getting on her knees, she noticed the boy's eyes move about as if he were dizzy and let out a small wince. He must've hit his head hard if his eyes were doing that. She didn't even giggle once at his words that he had directed to the ground. She was too worried about the boy to even think the words were something to laugh about. Seraphina looked into the boys eyes and relaxed when she realized that his spinning vision wasn't as bad as it was before.

“What makes someone decide to disturb another’s peace?”

Serrie sighed at the boys words and toned used. Apparently he didn't seem to happy with her. But, she wasn't trying to disturb his peace, she was trying to make sure that he wouldn't fall and hurt himself. Which she probably did all on her own, but disturbing him otherwise. Feeling a bit hurt, Serrie got up from the ground the same time the boy did and breathed heavily, waiting for some other words to be said but none came. Taking a deep breath, she tilted her head down in shame and said in a small voice, "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to hurt yourself, but apparently I did all by myself. I won't bother you again." With that, she went back to her swing and sat down, head still bent down in shame.

She hoped the boy would come after her and say that it was okay and that she was forgiven, but who knew if the boy was mad at her enough to not say that apologies weren't needed. Well, actually she never really heard of someone do that. One person apologize to another person and the person whom has been apologized to says that apologies weren't necessary. Probably in books or movies, but never in reality. If that did actually happen in reality, then Serrie probably hadn't gotten out much. No matter how many red carpet events she went to because of her mother who has the modeling career. Sighing and still feeling bad, Serrie swang a little and decided not to help anyone who were trees relaxing.

[Chris Jones]

He didn’t even watch the girl walk away an aura of shame wafting off her with each step. Instead he readjusted his headphones back on and smiled when Tool’s Parabola greeted his ears. With one last glance over he bolted at the tree. Using his momentum to climb a few steps up the trunk and grab the branch he had imitated a monkey on. He shimmied his way out a few inches before he swung his legs up and over the branch.

”Pain is an illusion.” Hit his ears as the song began to fade. Back upside down he let gravity pull his arms down below his head. The familiar blood rush returned and soon his mind drifted off into never land. This time though he caught the girl off in the corner of his eye. She swung with a sad look. At first it didn’t bother him much, but as each second ticked past his conscious grew more and more strong. Soon the preacher on his shoulder chastised him causing the guilt within him to grow exponentially. How could he relax like that?

Annoyed with himself, Chris grabbed the branch and flipped over right side up and dropped to the ground. He pulled his headphones down around his neck. The Ruby Sun’s Closet Astrologer played its ambient tune softly to the world. A mixture of the music and going along with what his conscious demanded calmed him down and before he knew it he was standing besides the girl a small smile pulled his lips wide.

“Sorry ‘bout that, wasn’t your fault.” He sat down in a shady spot next to the swing. On a closer inspection the girl proved to be something to look at. She was young, but definitely eye candy material. Chris sighed in his mind.

“You just gotta be more careful, bloody surprised me there girl.” His glossy teeth flashed in a grin, they reflected the little light that made it to the boy in his shadow.

[Seraphina Rose Hathaway]

Serrie really didn't expect the boy to walk over to her after she had done what she had done, but she had to make her eyes believe what she was seeing. People in the States were never really forgiving and it was very confusing for her to have someone say 'Don't worry about it' or 'No apologies necessary'. But, yep the boy was walking towards her and it brought a smile to her lips. It made Serrie a bit confused, but she never showed it as the boy had started to talk.

“Sorry ‘bout that, wasn’t your fault.” He sat down in a shady spot next to the swing. On a closer inspection the girl proved to be something to look at. She was young, but definitely eye candy material. Chris sighed in his mind.

Serrie smiled wider in response. But the smile did falter after a while when she realized that the boy was cute. Sure, she was only eleven, but that didn't mean she could recognize the cuteness in boys. At least it wasn't a crush. Or probably not yet at least... He seemed to be a few years older than her. Probably about three or four. And seemed like the type to have a girlfriend. Well, all them years of detective training paid off when she noticed the girlfriend thing. The thought kind of made her sigh a bit, but she kept it in and smiled up again and said, "It's like you read my mind or something. I wasn't really expecting you to come here and say that it wasn't my fault. But, here you are," she ended with a small laugh.

“You just gotta be more careful, bloody surprised me there girl.” His glossy teeth flashed in a grin, they reflected the little light that made it to the boy in his shadow.

Bloody? Isn't that a bit dramatic? Serrie couldn't help but have them words cross her mind. Nobody she had ever heard said the word "bloody". Then, she had to remind herself that she was from the States and nobody said the weird word there. Especially in California. The "Golden Coast" is what people called when she lived. She missed it there in California. She had her own room and a balcony looking out over the ocean. But, then she moved to London with her father and his snobby wife and daughter and has to share a room with his new 10 year old daughter, Myla. Serrie tried to keep the disgust off her face at the mention of her dislike towards the two girls whom had on been in her life for a few months before she had gotten her letter to Hogwarts. Unfortunately, she won't be able to get rid of Myla for all of her years at Hogwarts since Myla could do accidental magic which means Mylan would be able to go to Hogwarts.

Coming out of her daze, she blushed and said, "Why say "bloody" when you can say "you surprised me?" Shaking her head, she explained, "I'm from the States. That word isn't greatly known." Realizing that she still didn't know the boy's name yet, she continued, "I'm sorry. I believe I don't know your name. I'm Serrie Hathaway."

[Chris Jones]

“My conscious wouldn’t let me keep a pretty young girl, like yourself, sad, especially if I caused the sadness,” Chris’s tone was jovial, teetering on the wall of joking. What he said was true, but he didn’t want to sound too serious in saying it. She was cute, but he didn’t have much interest in her. She spoke with an air of authority he had noted with either the noble class or the well off. It amused him. And she had the audacity to question his grammar, this Serrie was too cute.

“To add emphasis on the fact your surprised me, of course,” he said smiling a wide toothy grin. “I’m sure Americans have their own words for the purpose,” he chuckled before continuing in a soft tone. “Though I bet it’s more offensive than bloody.”

“I’m Chris,” he paused, “Chris Jones,” he continued in his best imitation of James Bond, his voice deeper and manlier. Chris didn’t know what to make of the situation. Normal decorum would dictate he left after his apology, but this was the twenty first century, everything was different now. A part of him wanted to argue with her, another wanted to kiss her, and so on. Etcetera.

“You know I don’t see many Ravenclaws out in the garden,” his thoughts were lost and his mouth gained a mind of its own. His words sounded a little rude to his own ears, but it wasn’t enough to make him reprimand himself. An action he rarely did on any occasion. Also, what he said was true. Most Ravenclaws he knew were always nose deep in their books, though Chris would be more surprised to see a Slytherin out here than a Ravenclaw.

[Seraphina Rose Hathaway]

“My conscious wouldn’t let me keep a pretty young girl, like yourself, sad, especially if I caused the sadness,” Chris’s tone was jovial, teetering on the wall of joking.

Serrie blushed at his "pretty" comment. She had always heard while growing up that she'd be a keeper. Especially with boys, but she never believed it until that moment. But, Chris had said "pretty young girl" which made her sigh a bit. Again, she hated being called young. It sounded like she was eight or something when she was really about to be twelve in May. Which was only two months away. She hated March and April. Sure, the snow was melting and people were getting anxious to see flowers or plants bloom on trees and the grounds, but it was too wet. It practically rained almost every week or so and she hated because then she couldn't be outside. But, that day was just one of them days where the sun was out and flowers where beginning to bloom and the bees were starting to come out. Smiling at the thought of how March was nearly over and April was approaching, Serrie began to swing and then returned her attention to Chris without blushing that time.

“To add emphasis on the fact your surprised me, of course,” he said smiling a wide toothy grin. “I’m sure Americans have their own words for the purpose,” he chuckled before continuing in a soft tone. “Though I bet it’s more offensive than bloody.”

Yes. Yes, American's did have their own words for the purpose of how one surprised the other. And, yes, again that sometimes the words were more offensive than the weird word "Bloody". Serrie would probably never get used to English terms as she had grown up in an All-American state, but she would just have to deal with what she got. It was either suffering from the abuse she got from her mother in California or being with the father she had never seen before until up until a few weeks weeks ago? Probably her father since she had never known him and her mother rarely spoke of him and only did whenever she was drunk or just depressed. Serrie giggled at the how Chris said his name and it kind of made her blush again. Blushing to a guy who's older than you, Serrie. What would your mother say?, Serrie thought to herself.

“You know I don’t see many Ravenclaws out in the garden,” his thoughts were lost and his mouth gained a mind of its own.

Serrie could detect something in Chris's voice when he said those words, but she couldn't place it. It sounded a bit rude... Why would he be rude about Ravenclaw's being in the most beautiful gardens in the universe? It was true, though. Most Ravenclaw's she sees are either in the Commonroom or the Library. Still trying to figure out the tone of the Chris's voice, she said calmly, "It's true. I know where you're getting at. Most Ravenclaw's I see are around the castle or in the library. Sure, I like the library since I love books, but sometimes the library doesn't have what I'm looking for and I have my dad send some of my books from home to me. I like adventure and the occasional romance and mystery. The library only has books on school subjects and the like. Also, the library can get stuffy and claustrophobic. I like it outside..."

[Chris Jones]

“No need to get defensive,” an amused grin appeared and he offered a wink to reassure her. He had spoken on a stereotype, Chris had forgotten, as he does frequently, that other people were actual real consciousnesses with their own thoughts and preferences. It was hard some days to not get detached from the world and begin seeing other individuals as statistics or background extras to his own personal story. He hated how unsympathetic he could get at times.

“I was thinking of the common Ravenclaw stereotype, my bad. Though honestly I really don’t see a lot of students down here in general,” with a gesture towards the blooming garden he shrugged. “Why I chose this place.”

Not just the library could get claustrophobic. The entire castle could contract that symptom, though Chris liked the feeling on occasion, depending on his mood. His gaze shifted around the garden taking in the sights as if seeing them for the first time. Flowers weren’t exactly his forte, and he decided that the girl swinging before him was much more exciting to watch then any of these colorful plants that surrounded them.

“What’s your favorite flower?” He asked. His eyes searched out her own, hoping to catch her gaze. This action always seemed to give a more intimate feeling, people seemed to become more agreeable and talkative when Chris did it right. The secret of his success, as Chris wasn’t a huge talker himself. Everyone would rather talk about themselves anyways.

[Seraphina Rose Hathaway]

“No need to get defensive,” an amused grin appeared and he offered a wink to reassure her.

Serrie blushed at his wink thrown at her. She really wasn't used to all the boys seemed to have attracted. First it was Terrance Thatcher and now Chris. She would really have to get used to the fact that she was attractive or else she'll never make it in life. She had gotten her hair from her father and her eyes and the rest of her features from her mother. Her mother was a model and more prettier than herself, but when people compliment her on her own beauty well she doesn't really believe them nor does she rub her beauty in other people's faces. It just wasn't right. To have more beauty than others. It should be that everyone has the equal amount of beauty in them. Her mother had always told her that beauty was to be shown to the world and that the plain ones were the ones that would probably never get a date. To Serrie, her mother's opinion's were a bit biased and she didn't believe in any one of them.

“I was thinking of the common Ravenclaw stereotype, my bad. Though honestly I really don’t see a lot of students down here in general,” with a gesture towards the blooming garden he shrugged. “Why I chose this place.”

Serrie nodded in understandment. Yes, the common Ravenclaw stereotype was rarely seen out in the wondrous gardens. But, actually, there aren't really a lot of people who come out to the gardens. And, she wondered why? The gardens was a very serene place to come to to be alone or to have some peace and quiet. Plus, it was very beautiful and the sights of the gardens sometimes takes ones breath away even if they'd been out in the gardens hundreds of times. Smiling warmly at Chris, she said, "Don't worry, I knew what you meant. It's true though. Not many wander out here, but I usually come out here whenever I can. Scratch that. I seem to always be outside. Even after curfew. The moon's always a sight to see."

“What’s your favorite flower?” He asked.

Serrie looked at Chris when he met her eyes. But, it wasn't like a romantic kind of gaze that when someone notices something for the first time. It was more like the, I'm trying to figure you out way. Well, at least that's how Serrie looked at Chris. She felt flattered that he had asked her favorite flower, but why she was flattered was unknown to her, though. So, instead of pondering over her thoughts, she flashed him a smile and said, "Roses."

((I'm so, so sorry this isn't a very good post. :( I'm having a writer's block today and I didn't want to put off my post any longer)).