Holiday Shopping ((Nadine))

[Solitaire Keighley]

Taire had been beyond busy the past few weeks, and still needed to get her holiday shopping done. She finally had gotten a free day that would allow her time to go to Hogsmeade and find some presents for her family and friends. And something special for Darien. She made herself get off her bed, and dig through her trunk for something to wear. Coming across a cute pair of jeans that she had always loved, light blue with rips in both knees. The jeans had obviously been worn out, and her parents had begged her that if she must dress muggle to at least replace the one pair. Taire had argued and kept the jeans, perfectly broken in and very form fitting. She dug a little deeper and found her winter boots, black leather lace up boots with five centimeter heels. The laces ending with cute black pom poms made from the same fur like material that covered the tops of each boot. Taire had made sure that the boots were not topped with real fur when she had bought them. She had actually frustrated the salesperson because she had not stopped bothering them until they had called the manufacturer to be absolutely sure. As she placed everything back in her trunk with the exception of the jeans, boots and a pair of socks, she came across the perfect sweater, soft yellow chenille material formed into a sweater with long arms and a swooping neck. Taire left it out, and closed up her trunk, grabbing her make up off of her bureau she headed to the showers. A quick shower, and she was almost ready for the day. Running back to her dorm, she heard the thudding of her boots on the floor. She had to still do her hair. Looking in the mirror and at the stuff on the bureau, she decided on pulling up half her hair in twin braids that encircled her head, and tying them off with a red ribbon. Not many understood why she always had some type of red in her appearance but Nadine would. Nadine was the only one who knew everything about Taire. From the feelings that she couldn't bring herself to tell Dare she had, to the reason behind the anger every time someone mentioned her parents. Taire hadn't been sure what had even provoked her to first speak to Nadine, except that she had been looking for Dare, and Nadine just happened to have came out of the Common Room while Taire was sitting there. Taire wasn't able to stop herself from asking the then strange girl if Darien was still in the Common Room, or if he had already began to make his way through the castle. That had been the day that had sparked a friendship between the two girls.

This morning though, Taire was supposed to meet Nadine at the gates to the castle and the two were going holiday shopping together. Taire was glad that she had someone to join her in doing this fateful chore. Taire loved to shop but holiday shopping just seemed to add more stress in getting the perfect present. Taire had an idea of what to get both her parents but wasn't sure what to get Nadine or Darien. She wanted to get something for Dare that hinted her feelings for him, but she wasn't sure just yet what that would be. Walking from the dorms through the common room and out of the castle, Taire listened to the soft thuds of her steps as she thought of what to get Darien. She would just pay a bit of attention to Nadine and choose something that Nadine commented on. That would make shopping for Nadine a bit easy. But what to get Darien. Taire looked up as she approached the gate, and waved to Nadine. Once at the gate, Taire looked at Nadine, "Ready to go?" She asked. Not yet ready to mention that she was confused as to what to get Darien.

((Hope it's alright. Taire got into it there for a minute but she's become horrible at ending posts))

[Nadine Whitaker]

Nadine had been sitting cross-legged on her bed for the last half-hour, completely still and obviously not about to move. The reason, of course, being the book on jewels that she had in her lap. It was fascinating, really, because who knew that amethyst was the stone of wisdom, and that any symbol relating to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, could enhance the powers. Nadine snickered as she passed over the chapter on raising affection before flicking back and placing a bookmark there. It might make for a good bribe for her roommates, or it could help Taire with the boy she had a crush on - who was it, Darren? No, Darien. Wait...Taire. She had something to do today and it involved Taire. She distinctly remembered telling herself that it was important and under no circumstances should she get distracted, because Taire was her closest - only - friend and she'd probably let her down enough times as it was. Ahah! Shopping. For Christmas. In Hogsmeade. Nadine almost whined as she dragged herself away from the book, pausing only to throw it into her trunk and lock it again, and into the shower.

If it wasn't Taire that had asked her to go, then Nadine would've flat out refused - especially since she already had bought Taires present over the summer and her grandparents were out of the country until February so she had already given theirs to them. But Taire was the only person who knew that Nadine would do anything to leave her forgetful father and the burden of looking after two younger siblings who didn't like her anyway. Not to mention that Nadines grandmother had privately told her that she thought Taire was an exceptional young lady and a good friend for Nadine, and Nadine agreed completely. She and Taire hadn't met in any extra-special way - even if Nadine still snickered at the memory of their first meeting - but the friendship that was the result of Taire's crush was the best thing that had happened to her since her mini-business took off. Both of which had happened in the same year, something that amused Nadine when she stopped to think of it. Nothing good happens for years, and then two good things happen at once. Typical.

Nadine finished brushing her hair but decided to just leave it down and wear a navy blue baker boy cap, in case she got nervous and needed to pull it over her face. Her jeans were old, but the silver chain attached to the belt loops was new. Nadine rifled through her wardrobe, pulling on a black top with red script on it. The inscription across the chest was one of her favourites: I don't have a license to kill. I have a learners permit. Over that was her black leather jacket, left unzipped until she got outside. Nadine sat on the bed to zip up her equally black leather boots, grinning when she stood up and felt the extra height the two inch heels lent her. Nadine flicked her right wrist experimentally and was delighted when her wand fell from the holster into her hand. A quick spell showed that she had only five minutes to run from the Tower to the gates. Not good!

She arrived at the gates with less than a minute to spare and leant against a wall, regretting her decision to run. Whoever invented two inch heels did not think of the poor idiots who were late for meeting friends. Speaking of which, where was Taire? "You're almost late," Nadine teased lightly as Taire approached. "Yeah, I'm ready to go. Anywhere in particular you need to go?" Nadine started walking, eager to get the shopping over so they could just relax and talk, knowing that Taire would follow and walk by her side unless she had forgotten something. "Who do you need to buy for anyway?" Nadine tilted her head curiously, grinning at the red ribbon in her friends hair but not saying anything. She knew that Darien meant something to Taire, even if she didn't understand it. But no matter how much he meant to Taire, Nadine would be keeping a sharp eye on him until she knew she could trust him with Taire's heart.

[Solitaire Keighley]

"Almost, but not quite late yet. Almost makes a big difference in the street ya know." Taire said hoping that Nadine would catch on that she meant in racing instead of just in general. Taire couldn't help herself when using a racing quip like that came so easy to her. She found it hard to believe that she had not had any free time to make her way to any street races anywhere in the world. She had recently heard of this amazingly huge race held by muggles in the Americas and had wanted to go so badly, but had not been able to find time to slip away from school. She would have of course invited Nadine and Darien had she been able to found the time to go. She could have even found transportation for them with Dominic seeing as how he was going. That reminded her, she would have to get Dom's present later, for although he knew her secret, he still enjoyed getting muggle presents instead of wizarding ones so that if he were asked where he had gotten something it wouldn't give Taire's secret away to answer.

"I have to buy for everyone. I haven't found time to so much as order a present for Dominic out of that new racing magazine I ordered." She replied to Nadine's question of who all she had to buy presents for. "Plus I have to find just that something special for my sweet Knight, but what do you get someone to show how much you care? I'm at a loss for that one." Taire knew that Nadine wouldn't want her to start listing any ideas that she had come up with about it, which was luck, for she hadn't a clue.

Taire walked beside Nadine as they made their way into Hogsmeade. "Has he said anything to you about what he's gotten me?" Taire asked out of curiosity.

((sorry it's so short, I ran out of ideas for a longer one just as I finished the last sentence. Also sorry it took so long to get back to it. ))

[Nadine Whitaker]

"You and racing," Nadine shook her head in mock-mourning. "Speaking of which, when can I come to see a race? It's my right to cheer you on. Closest friend privilege." Nadine wheedled hopefully. She'd never seen Taire race, since she'd been busy over the summer and hadn't had a chance to sneak away for a few hours. This summer however, Nadine vowed silently, would be hers and hers alone, even if she had to stay in a hotel, away from the menaces who called themselves her family. "That reminds me," Nadine pulled out a wrapped gift from her bag and handed it to Taire. "Grandmother and Grandfather told me to give this to you. They really liked you, I guess." Nadine grinned warmly, genuinely glad that her grandparents and friend got along so well. It just made life easier, and more pleasant, when her family weren't complaining about her choice in friends.

Nadine looked amused and quite rightfully so, in her opinion at least. "You're asking me for advice on what to buy someone who haunts your every thought? I'd probably tell you to buy him a guillotine. If that doesn't work, perhaps a book will suffice. '101 ways to know if someone wants to date you', perhaps?" Ah sarcasm, how she had missed it. Life just wasn't complete without teasing Taire about her crush. Not enough to stop Taire telling her about Darien, but enough to satisfy her daily quote of meanness, sarcasm and all-around general humour. "I'm sure you'll find something for your beloved knight." Nadine reassured awkwardly, not used to comforting anyone over such things as relationship worries. Nadine raised an eyebrow, her good humour returning now that her need for sarcasm had been appeased. "When has Darien ever talked to me, other than when he has to?"

[Solitaire Keighley]

Taire smiled at the thoughts of racing and her friends being there to watch. Dare had gotten to see her last summer but that was only because he had been in the town with his mother, and Taire didn't know that he was there. Had she known she wasn't sure that she would have been racing at all that day. "I have a few scheduled as soon as we leave school for the summer. I'm even sure you could come stay with me or we could find somewhere in town to stay. The town has a nice inn, or Dominic has a small apartment behind the garage that we could bribe him out of for the summer. It's not like my mother and father are going to care where I stay as long as I'm with someone from the magical community." She said with a laugh as Nadine asked when she would get to see Taire race.

Taire looked at the present oddly as Nadine handed it to her. "What is this? I didn't think I made that good of an impression on them. A witch whose main entertainment is a muggle sport. But what ever pleases them. It just adds shopping for them onto my list of people to buy for today." Taire took the gift and placed it in her bag, thinking that she would open it later. Taire was somewhat glad that she had made such an impression on Nadine's grandparents. It made life at home a bit easier for Nadine.

Taire sighed and laughed at the great sarcasim coming from Nadine about Darien. She had deeply missed hearing it when she was all cooped up in her dorm. Since meeting Nadine and Dare, Taire hoped that she could have been a Gryffindor instead, but knew that it wasn't meant to be. Taire was a Hufflepuff and there was no denying it. "You are more optimistic about me finding the right gift for him than I am. I have been in a panic about it for months now." Taire said softly. She was secretly hoping that Nadine could give some hint as to what Dare had gotten her so that it would make it easier to buy for him. She knew Darien well enough to know that a good book wasn't going to be the right choice. Something for his owl wouldn't be personal enough. That didn't leave many places to shop. "I just thought he might have mentioned it to you. Just wishful thinking that you and he would get along for five minutes." Taire replied with her usual wishful smile. Taire doubted that two of the three people she valued most in her life would ever really get along, but at least they never really fought.

Taire noticed that they had began to approach Hogsmeade, and this caused the panic of what to get everyone rise into her throat. She knew it was obvious, but she had waited so long to start shopping for everyone that she wasn't even sure if the stores would still have what she needed to get. "Oh my god, Nadine.. What if I can't find the right presents for anyone? What if the stores have ran out of everything I wanted to get and I can't get anyone a present because of it?" Taire suddenly went into full rushed panic.

[Nadine Whitaker]

"I think me staying in Dominics apartment and pestering him for a few days would be better," Nadine admitted easily. Her family led completely separate lives, so separate that Nadine wasn't sure she would know how to behave when confronted with an actual family. She'd never actually told Taire that but she didn't think she'd care if her friend had somehow worked it out. Her grandmother would fret at the thought of Nadine staying with a male whom she wasn't related to, but Grandfather trusted her to behave at all times. Which wasn't that hard, considering Nadine had no intentions of falling in love, or anything like it. She wouldn't even be needed to carry on the family name, Nadine mused happily, not with Tyler and Ryann there, so there was no need for even an arranged marriage.

Nadine shrugged. "You're smart, which was enough to satisfy Grandmother, and you're an individual, which made Grandfather pleased. And they specifically ordered me to tell you that if you bought them a present in return, it would be sent back with a note telling you not to waste your money on 'two old people who have no better use for their money than to spoil their Granddaughter whenever possible and who deserve the right to give presents to whomever they deem worthy.' Their words not mine." Nadine grinned as Taire placed the present in her bag, knowing exactly what it was since she'd watched her grandparents wrap it before leaving on their trip. Where did they say they were going, Prague?

"I'd help you to pick out his present if I could, Taire. I'm just wary around boys, and I doubt that'll change just because it's Darien and you like him." Nadine answered bluntly, seeing no point in pretending that she and Darien would grow to be the closest of friends if they ever bothered to talk to each other. "I'll get along with him, because you want me to and you're Taire, but I won't promise anything more." She wasn't being very helpful, and she knew it, but matters concerning emotions weren't her strongest conversation topic. How could they be when her family was more like a household of strangers? Nadine blinked, utterly surprised as Taire switched from wistful to panicked in a matter of seconds. What, was there a remote control for emotions now? Wistful, off; Panic, on? "You'll know the right presents when you see them, which means that the stores won't be sold out of the present," Nadine soothed calmly, thoroughly relieved that she had done her Christmas shopping weeks ago. If she hadn't, would she be this panicked now? Scary thought.