“Well at least we both forgot our manners together.” She joked, collecting their things from the elves before she turned back to Sarah. “You ready?” She asked, offering her one of the mugs of hot chocolate.

“It’s fine, I normally introduce myself before agrreing to build a snowman with someone so I guess we’re as bad as each other.”

“Exactly, so we’ve using a plan that has a proven track record- I think we’ve got it down. We’ll be famous before we know it.”

“Well of course.” He said with a smile. “Most people build their careers off of ruining lives. I mean, just look at anything to do with journalism.”

“Not having a reason is very different to what I’m saying you’re doing!” She protested, groaning in frustration as she realised what she was saying barely made any sense. “Look... You’re one of my best friends- I’m honestly, genuinely, concerned about you. That’s it! No ulterior motives! And I’m not even friends with Monty- so you should know no matter what you do, I’ll be on your side!” She insisted firmly. “You’ve got to do something, you’re obviously unhappy!”

“Because I need to be. Why do I have to have a reason for everything?” He said, his tone being one of annoyance. “I’m not saying that my friends can’t be there for me. I just need to figure things out and I can’t do that when I’m playing a hundred and one questions. I’m not alienating anybody.” He said, running his hand through his hair. Even though he sounded angry, he was on the verge of tears. Which was worse than anything to him. “Or I’m a really awful person and he’s just the first person to see it….I can’t win him back and I can’t move on.”

“Yes! Let’s do this thing!” She laughed, grinning as she hired their skates and paid the entrance fee, sitting down to pull on the skates. “You ready?” She finally asked.

“Okay then! Shall we?”

“Well they’re cute until your mum has an entire litter in your house and they all consecutively decide to destroy your bedroom... And let’s not forget they weren’t house-trained.”  She despaired, shuddering at the memory. “Let’s just say I learnt the limits of Repairo and Scourgify that day.” She groaned. “Well do you remember that time you were over and I was literally attacked by that wild cat?!” She reminded him, laughing weakly from the memory. “Cats and I, just have a troubled past.” She mused, shaking her head. “You take slow texting to a new level.” She teased, grinning cheekily. “Well it’s not my problem you can’t take a little playful jibing.” She taunted, patting his head affectionately, the same way she’d been doing to the puppy. “Nah, couple streets across- speaking of, have you seen my new place?”

“That is not something I have forgotten ever, I think you need one of those Remembralls,” Landon prescribed, rather scientifically. “I think George and I get along okay, but really he’s Ashton’s cat.” He sympathized, not always the biggest cat person either. “I’m just a slow texter, alright? I would have eventually gotten to yours,” He defended himself, sitting down beside her with his own mug in hand. “Sure, sure, always pick on the little guy. You might as well, you don’t live too far from here do you?”

She laughed back apologetically, committing the name to memory. “Sarah. Right, I won’t forget that!” She assured her with another laugh. As the elves hurried off to follow the instructions, she moved over to sit down on a stool as they worked. “Sorry about that... I’m normally better at remembering to introduce myself before I start building snowmen with them...”

“Oh, god.” Sarah laughed “I’m Sarah, it’s nice to meet you.” She grinned at the other girls and then grinned at the elves “It’s nice to meet you all too.”

“Yeah, you need to pay for the skate hire too- but it’s on me... It was my idea after all!”

“That’s fine,” said Arlette. “Do we pay to get in though? I’ve only got like ten Knuts with me at the moment.”

“Deal.” She cheered, smiling contagiously back at him. “Nothing makes you more popular or better known than ruining other people’s lives after all...” She joked.

“We’ll break every possible record then.” He said with a chuckle. “Yes, I’m getting over it. We’ll be the best of the best. Everybody will know our name by the time we’re done.”

She fixed him with a suspicious glance as he stuttered along with a rubbish explanation. “Why?” She demanded, crossing her arms. “Why can’t you just let your friends be there for you?! Being alone and miserable isn’t going to help anybody- in fact, it’s just going to leave you feeling even more alone. Because this is how you alienate people Gared- this is how you lose your friends.” She warned him, tone turning pleading towards the end. “Or he just didn’t see what a great guy you are... You need to get a grip, and either try to win him back- or move on. Staying in the middle won’t help anyone.”

“I’m not- that’s not. Just. Never mind.” He said with a heavy sigh. “I’m not trying to snub you! I just need to be alone. Why is that such an issue?! Why do I have to talk to everybody about everything?!” He exasperated, running his hand through his hair. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not a big deal.” He muttered, trying to sound as nonchalant as he could about it. “No, I can’t do better. Other wise, he wouldn’t have broken up with me.”

Carly at one of the stops during the summer cruise. Taken by Paul. ‘Summer 15

Carly and Erin having fun while out dancing, taken by Maya. Fall ‘15

She’s just laughing at how excited the puppy is becoming. “Merlin, I forgot how cute puppies were.” She admitted to him with a smile. “I’ve just had the most traumatic experience with a cat... It was making me doubt my love of all animals.” She joked. “Well I can’t help it if you don’t reply to my texts!” She whined, pouting her lip at him before she accepted her tea cup, giggling as the puppy let out a playful growl as she stopped patting him. “Well, I might just have to come over then... For her, not you.” She teased.

Landon puts the kettle on, peering over the counter only to see his dog absolutely losing her mind at the attention and the new person. “Just like that,” He laughed, putting three sugars into his own cup and the perfect amount into hers because he has been scolded enough for improper tea preparation. “The fact that you haven’t been over in so long is a real worry, Harper,” He lectured, handing her the cup. “Puppy’s going to expect you over everyday now.”

“Oh Merlin. I can’t believe you’re trying to block me out!” She snapped angrily. “I’m just trying to be a good friend! But if you would prefer to just suffer in silence instead of getting it off your chest- then fine! I have better things to do than just get snubbed by you!” She told him, obviously hurt. “It obviously does matter Gared!” She insisted when he finally opened up a bit. “Well he’s an idiot for breaking up with you... I always said you could do better.” She reminded him, crossing her arms. 

“It’s not your business what I’m doing.” He said, stopping in his place and staring at her. “No, it has nothing to do with him at all.” He muttered. “He broke up with me. Whatever, it doesn’t matter. We didn’t work well together apparently.”

“Well I’m all for breaking records and making amazing accomplishments.” She joked. “I’m glad you’re getting it- it’s the only way for us to be the royalty of the celeb world! The creme de le creme!”

“I would certainly hope not.” He said with a smile. “Yes, eight minutes. It will be pushing many limits, but it will be quite the accomplishment too.” He nodded. “We’ll go dig up all the dirt. Take down some pop stars and rise to fame in their place.”

As Carly tickled the pear in the paintng and lead them both in, she greeted the house-elfs swirling around their feet. “Hiya Dixy, Bonnie, Bobby!” She grinned. “This is my friend- uhm, I actually don’t think I caught your name.” She admitted with a laugh. “I’m Carly.” She added. “And we’ll have two hot chocolates please- and a nice long carrot- unpeeled... We’re going to build a snowman.” She explained to the puzzled elfs. 

Sarah laughed as she took the other girls arm and followed her.

“Okay...” She began, giving him a bemused look which changed quickly as the spider reared up upside, against the door and hammered it. “Oh merlin I’m glad that door is magically reinforced...” She sighed, getting up quickly enough and moving over to sit down on her couch. “It’s alright... I guess you getting eaten because you didn’t have my help would kind of have sucked for you.” She teased.

“Well, I do when I’m bored. It was meant as a joke, I didn’t think I would get myself eaten.” He sighed looking down at her. “Hey, I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”

Carly enjoying the view, taken by a friend. Summer ‘13