What's cooking? (Alayna)

Receiving a message from Alayna, Atticus replied to meet her in the kitchens that evening for a nice chicken casserole. He'd also baked some bread while waiting. Cooking calmed him somewhat: it was good to focus on one thing instead worrying about everything else.

He wondered what Alayna wanted to talk about, but was always open to hearing her worries and concerns. He wouldn't be much of a brother if he wasn't there for her.

@Alayna Nott

Alayna walked into the kitchen with a pout on her face and dread in the click of her heels, "Atticus! Why are men such idiots." She threw herself onto the chair at the table and sighed, "So I have a dilemma." She was hit by the smell surrounding her and smiled, "That smells really good. But I don't know what to do!"

@Atticus Nott

He sliced some bread off for her, buttered it and handed it to her with a kiss on her cheek. Something to keep her going until the main meal was ready.

"I don't know. We just are," he said sympathetically, "What's your dilemma?"

Uh-oh. Men problems. Now he had to try and not get annoyed at these blokes she was going to mention...

@Alayna Nott

She took the bread and bit into it, "So I know something about someone. And it's not my place to tell but Ptolemy wants dirt on this person and I have the ultimate dirt, you know. And now Ptolemy thinks I'm trying to protect this person and I not. I just don't think it's cool to out someone." She had finished the bread while she spoke and huffed.

@Atticus Nott

"Ptolemy Rowle is a wind up, Alayna. If you don't want to tell him something because you think it's wrong, then don't tell him. Go with your gut. Don't pay attention to Ptolemy. He will move onto the next thing easily enough."

Atticus sounded slightly bitter. So he wasn't overly keen on Ptolemy Rowle, but he was still friendly with him.

"I know you're not going to tell me who this person is, and I won't ask. But what sort of secret is it?"

@"Alayna Nott'

Alayna knew he was right. Ptolemy would move on sooner or later. She wondered for a moment on if she should tell Atticus, "Someone that is the last person you'd expect is on the closet and is afraid to come out." She said before pursing her lips, "Like the LAST person you'd expect." She wanted to tell him so badly.

@Atticus Nott

He thought about it while he got the casserole from the oven and started dishing out portions for them. He slid over Alayna's to her. When he thought about someone she had been hanging around recently, he sat down next to her and said:

"Are we talking about Chang?"

@Alayna Nott

Alayna smiled when he handed her a bowl and took a bite. However, she almost choked on it when he asked if it was Lien, "What? No. No no no. He's straight for sure. But speaking of him, why are guys so scared to ask a girl to a dance? I flirt with him. I have him help me try on dresses. We make out. We did some.... other things. And he still hasn't asked me."

@Atticus Nott

"Oh. Sorry," he laughed, "When you said people you'd last expect, then thinking how Ptolemy doesn't really like him... I just put those two together." There was something else, though. He didn't know if his gaydar was completely off or he was just being stupid, because Chang definitely liked girls, but there was something that was nagging him...

"Ah... right..." Did that mean she was no longer a virgin? He didn't want to ask, or really wanted to know. As long as she was happy. But she didn't seem to be. "He probably will ask you. I think you're just overthinking things and being impatient."

He tapped her nose, and began eating his meal.

@Alayna Nott

"Yes. He is a last person. But not the last person. But this person does have a crush on Chang." She said frowning a bit. She knew she had no threat in James Potter. But now she kind of felt how Lien must have felt when he saw her with Ptolemy. She didn't like it. "I'm always impatient. Because I hate waiting. I like instant satisfaction. It's like shopping on a high. I pay for the item I get to have the item. Well this time I fucked the item, and I wanna go to the dance with it."

@Atticus Nott

It was his turn to almost choke over his dinner.

"Alayna," he laughed, getting a tissue and cleaning under his chin. "Warn me before you come out with something like that!" Although he didn't like to think of her private life, what she said was hilarious. "Well... I guess I'm glad your first time was with Chang and not someone like Ptolemy, but yeah."

He started eating again after having a drink.

"Have you dropped any hints? You know what guys can be like. They're clueless. Someone like Chang probably doesn't even pay attention to dances and social events like that. You know what he's like. All he wants to do is study."

He was trying to think of a guy that could potentially have a crush on Chang, but no one was coming to mind.

@Alayna Nott

Alayna giggled and smiled at him, "Sorry Atti." She enodded in agreement with him, "It was a good first time considering it could have gone much much worse. And he seemed to know what he was doing." She said teasing her brother slightly. She shook her head slightly, "No. I didn't think I had to. I thought he be dying to ask me and would have done it by now." What he said made sense. Maybe she did have to point lien in the right direction. She continued to eat as she thought, "How should I do it?"

@Atticus Nott

Atticus pulled a face.

"No more details than that, please," he warned her, but was smiling. He was happy for her, but everything else could be left unsaid. Something she could discuss more with her girl friends than with him.

"Just bring it up," he suggested, shrugging, "Ask him if he knows about it, then if you really have to drop more hints than that - ask if he's considering going with anyone. Alayna, I'm sure you're better than me at these things. Just try not to get impatient and angry at him, he'll only get confused and you're less likely to get what you want."

@Alayna Nott

Alayna sighed and continued to eat her food, "See this is why you're the Ravenclaw. You're super smart and wise when it comes to things." She finished the bowl in front of her and leaned back into the chair, "What about you? Anyone you got your eye on to ask? Or who you want to ask you?" She had a feeling she knew the answer already

@Atticus Nott

“Alayna you’ll get what you want. You always do.”

He chuckled.

“Uhm...” Those stunning, light cruel eyes flashed in his mind. He had to give up on Cepheus. He wasn’t the type of guy who would have him as a date, or a date at all, really. He wasn’t exactly the romantic type. Then he thought about Lukas Parkinson, who he had never really spoken to before until recently. He was gentler than Cepheus: way less psychotic. In other words, good for him. “I think I’d like to ask Lukas...”

@Alayna Nott

"That..." She went to object, but he was right. As always. "Is incredibly true." She said, sticking her tongue out at him. Her eyes lit up when she mentioned Lukas, "Oh my gosh. Atticus. Yes. That would be so cute. He's such a sweet guy. He would treat you right." She said, completely on board with the idea of him and Lukas going to the dance together. "oh my gosh we could totally double sometime if things go well."

@Atticus Nott

Atticus rolled his eyes. Cute and sweet - hah. Well, there was no denying that... but he was after a little more.

“We could,” he said, smiling at her. There was no backing out of something Alayna suggested when she had that look in her eye. “I don’t see why Lukas wouldn’t get along with Chang. So it could work.”

He hadn’t actually been on a date before. The idea was nice, he supposed.

“So - this guy who’s in the closet. Think he’s my type?”

That was one way of narrowing it down.

@Alayna Nott

Alayna smiled and bit her lip, "I actually have a date with Lien on Sunday." She said, "I'm kinda nervous. And I don't get nervous. You know that." She nodded in agreement, "I think they would. You guys are all in the same house. So I would hope you got along." She thought for a moment before nodding, "Yeah I think he would be. He's a jock. And I know you love your quidditch players."

@Atticus Nott

Atticus laughed a little at her, teasing her by nipping her nose with his hand.

“Wow you are totally pissing yourself aren’t you?” He laughed again, but kissed the side of her head. “Alayna - what the heck? Get a grip of yourself. Don’t get nervous about it, or it really will be like a couple of dweebs walking along together without having the courage to say anything.”

He nudged her playfully.

“It better not be MacKenna. I’m definitely not attracted to him.”

@Alayna Nott

She went to bite at his finger playfully and giggled. She smiled when he kissed sher head. However, she narrowed her eyes at him a bit with his next statement, "I can control myself when I need to. I do it with Theo all the time. It'll be easy with Lien." She said then nudged him back, "No it's not Mackenna. He's too angry to be gay."

@Atticus Nott

Atticus shrugged.

“I don’t know. At one point I thought that was just a big frontal cover up for being gay.”

He smiled at her.

“I’m only teasing, Alayna. You could be charming even if you were a bit nervous. He’ll eat it all up.”

@Alayna Nott

"I know you are, Atti. And besides, why wouldn't he. Even if I'm a mess, I'm still Alayna Nott. And I'm a hot mess." She said, giving him a sarcastic wink. "There's a major cover up. I feel if he were exposed the whole world would be on fire with it." She said, thinking of all the tabloids of Harry Potter's first born being gay. The prophet would be plastered for years following James. She shook her head of the thoughts.

@Atticus Nott

"Okay that narrows it down quite a lot," he pointed out. "I know you're never going to say it, and I respect you for that, Layna. But I think I just worked out who you're talking about."

James or Albus. Probably James. He'd seen some speculation here and there.

"He's not my type. I don't think I'm his, either." he told her gently, smiling.

@Alayna Nott

Alayna looked at her nails beds as her brother deciphered who the elephant in the closet was and looked up at him when he finally reached it, "You can't tell anyone either. Cuz then he'll think it was me. And I didn't tell you anything. And it kinda makes me happy he's not your type. You deserve someone sweet and kind. We both do."

@Atticus Nott

Atticus frowned and nudged her.

"As if I would say anything," he reminded her. "I don't have as much choice as you."

Smiling, he looked at her plate.

"Eat the veg."

@Alayna Nott