A Penny For your Thoughts

[isabelle katherine wood]

Bella sprinted down the grounds towards the quidditch pitch. honestly she shouldn't be running becuase she had a goose egg the size of Ireland on her forehead from her head first attempt at scoring a goal on the quidditch pitch the night before. There were some faint groggy memories of a conversation with DG afterwards, he had tried to carry her to the hospital wing and failed before she came too, and the memory of him escorting her slowly and shakily to the HOspital wing where she woke this morning. She had been surprised to find her head still slightly swollen but the Nurse had told her when her parents had been contacted they'd said to let her heal naturally to learn her lessions. love you too, guys.

But now she needed to find him and thank him, and find out what he'd done with her broom. She wanted to get back in the air before her father could find some way to get it kept from her. When she reached the pitch she peered around for him but he was no where to be found. The sun gleamed off of something and caught her eye though, his cane, it was leaned against hte side of the broom shed. Sprinting over she threw the door open and sure enough there he was inside, his back to her. Hey. she was a bit breathless from the run and her cheeks were flushed. what are you doing in here?

[/size]

[professor edward p. d'arcy]

Edward was greatly relieved when the nurse told him that Bella would be fine. He had stayed by her bedside for about 2 hours will she was sleeping until the nurse came out and gave him a weird look. He just explained that it was his fault she was hurt and he wanted to make sure she'd be fine for quidditch season. That excuse was somewhat true and it worked on the nurse. But he had to leave sometime to tend to his leg so he limped back to his room and fell asleep imediately.

Edward had a rough night last night, tossing and turning remembering everything that had happened between him and Bella. When he woke this morning his leg was in so much pain he had to summon his wand and numb his whole leg for an hour. Able to breath again without the pain, but he couldn't use the leg at all. Useless. He gave up and reached for his cane and just beared through the pain. He woke early knowing the match would begin later today and he still hadn't cleaned out the broom shed. He scowled to himself muttering something under his breath about kids getting their own brooms, and getting an assistant. He made his way slowly down the grassy hill and he walked into the broom shed.

It wasn't long however that someone opened the door. "Hey" he heard.....it was her. His back was to her and he shut his eyes for a minute just wanting to listen to her voice. "what are you doing in here?" he chuckled to himself before he turned to face her. "What am i doing here? This is part of my job! To keep this place clean and organized. " he said to her gesturing around the small shed. That held old trophies, brooms, cleaning kits, and the balls used in quidditch of course. He looked at her directly. "The question is what are you doing here.....but i know what it is already..." he said and he limped over to the only cleaned off shelf and he pulled her broom off it and handed it to her.

"There you are....." he said and he began to polish another broom stick. He noticed she hadn't left yet and he turned around towards her and an eyebrow arched up. "Would you like to help seeing as your not leaving?" he asked her smiling then he pointed to some old rusty trophies. "You can start cleaning those off......but without your wand.....thats cheating...." he said grinning once more.

[isabelle katherine wood]

A grin overpowered Bella's face when he responded to her question. of course she knew it was part of his job but she was just flustered and hadn't been thinking she guessed. And she liked the way he was looking at her, like they had never fought, like they had never had any problems at all. When he handed her her broom she nearly squeeled with joy and dorkily hugged it to herself. Luckily, it seemed she had not damaged it in her act of insanity last night. Well she got what she came for so she might as well leave...but she didn't want to.

For a moment or two Bella just stood there and watched him in his task. he moved carefully, she assumed so that he wouldn't upset his leg too much. How much respect she had for him living every day and doing all of this and constantly having to take his leg into consideration. She had no idea how she would ever live with an injury like that. In that instant she vowed never to be wreckless when flying agian, she couldn't risk it.

Still watching him, a ray of sunlight came through the window and lit up his face as he turned around and asked her to help. Of course she would help, how could she say no to him right now, he looked so...perfect. It was odd to think of a professor like that, she'd never even thought of another teen like that. Which brought up the question again, she didn't know how old he was. Was she allowed to ask him that? Last time she'd asked a personal question he'd left in a huff. Moving to the shelves he indicated she started heaving rubbish from them and depositing it in the bin. Grabbing a brom from its spot she started polishing it the way her father had taught her when she was youngster. Glancing at DG out of the corner of her eye she couldn't get over how content he looked and so she decided to take a chance. DG, how old are you?

[/size]

[professor edward p. d'arcy]

Edward was glad she started to work but his mind wasn't really on his task....all he wanted to do was turn and look at her. He enjoyed her company so much....it just felt so right when he was around her. With everything they have in common and they both even eachother out in everything. They were compatible in everyway.....besides age....... Like it was bound to happen she asked out of the blue "DG, how old are you?" it was almost as though she could read his mind.

His face went blank as he turned towards her and looked at her seriously. "I'm 24!" he exclaimed grinning at her but he could tell she wanted a real answer. Why? He had no idea. He cleared his throat. "I'm 48, turning 49 in december...." he said to her gravely, not liking the idea of getting so old. But he definately felt younger when he was around Bella. "And why do you ask Miss. Wood?" he asked her curiously.

[isabelle katherine wood]

She smirked at him and put her hands on her hips when he claimed to be a twenty some. he would. If he hadn't continued on she would have pushed and he knew that, she thought, which is why he did continue. But he didn't seem very happy about what he had to say. Fourty Eight. He was fourty Eight...and his birthday was in december. Which meant by the time she turned eighteen in February he would already be 49 which meant he was a good thiry one years older than her...

That wasn't too bad was it. Oh god, was she really considering this? But why shouldn't she? It was her life. This was her decision to make. And it wasn't as though she was going around with boys her own age, she'd never really enjoyed their company very much. So why shouldn't she try something new? Oh i don't know maybe because he was alive when her father was born...That was a reason...

He wanted to know why she wanted to know. Oh merlin what was she to say? Because I want to be allowed to feel the way I'm starting to think I feel about you? I want it to be okay? Because I want to be able to justify why its acceptable for you to recipricate my feelings...but he never would. She locked eyes with him, hey eyes bright and heavy with the thoughts behind them. Oh I don't know, GD...because when we're together like this...we don't seem so different...just like people...and it's strange to think of you that way. She smiled sligtly and looked down at the broom still clutched in her hand, not really sure what else to say.

[/size]

[professor edward p. d'arcy]

Edward didn't know what to think, why was she wondering how old she was? Probally just curious right.....no...there was something about the way she asked it that had him wondering. He waited for an answer from her to why she asked such a question and he limped over to where she was and he was placing the broom he had been polishing on the shelf, his side just brushing hers as he did so then he turned around and limped back to where he was and he turned once more so he was facing her and he leaned against one of the shelves and crossed his arms over his chest.

He could see in her eyes that this was something serious....hopefully nothing was wrong.....maybe she had a disease where she dies at a young age.....the death of Bella would be the death of Edward he knew it. But what came out of her mouth next made a massive electric shock run throughout his body. He wasn't really expecting that....but.....she was right.....thats exactly how he felt about her.....Was he to tell her....HELL NO! He was her professor. But to lie to himself and her would be the greatest pain to him.

He nodded slowly not making eye contact with her not believing he was going to admitt that he might actually have feeling for a 17 year old it was just crazy. "I know what you mean....." he said but he soon regretted the words and he had to come up with something fast. "We-well we have known eachother for awhile you must think of me as an uncle to talk to about quidditch...." he said trying to convince her and himself thats what she meant.

[isabelle katherine wood]

He wouldn't look at her. Why wouldn't he look at her? Even if he thought she was insane couldn't he just look at her? she was going insane. For Merlin's sake she was thinking she was falling in love with her life long family friend, who was thirty plus years old of her! And he wouldn't even look at her! Was it possible she had just imagined the comfortableness between them. Was she the only one who felt the sparks when he touched her? No, that couldn't be right.

And she just wanted....no...needed to know if he felt the same way. And dad always said go big or go home and she wasn't sure that really applied to this situation or if he would continue to say it if he knew she was using it in terms of his oldest and dearest friend, but she wasn't planning on tellng him. Setting down the half polished broom on an empty shelf, she walked over to him. He had just finished saying some cock and bull tid bit about how she must feel for him as she did for an uncle. No, she had used to think that, that used to be true. however, now...if she ever felt this way for an uncle she would sign herself into st mungo's, run away, disown herself.

His back was to her and she was trying to build up the courage to do what it was she wanted to do next. The fact that he hadn't seemed to notice her there yet bought her some time. Taking a deep breath she studied the curve of his back and the texture of the skin at the back of his neck peaking out over his shirt. Finally, reaching a hadn up, tentative as it had been when she touched his knee she moved it towards his shoulder. It was different than it had been when she touched his knee what seemed liek years ago but was only two nights ago. Then she had been sympathetic, askign a question. This time she was scared but she wasn't asking anymore, she was just going to do this. and if it ruined everything it ruined everything but the slight chance that it wouldn't ruin everything....Closing her eyes for another split second she forced herself to stop thinking about it and just do it.

Touching his shoulder she waited until after her recovered from being surprised and turn around. Again the nerves hit her and she just looked at him. They were very close, awkwardly close but still she took another slow step towards him keep her eyes on his face but unwilling to look at his eyes. Reaching a hand up again she put it lightly on his cheek and seemed frozen again but pushed herself onward. Standing up slightly on her tip toes because of their difference in height she pressed her lips ever so softly to his. Her nerves were going insane, her heart beating in her ears.

Pulling back quickly she couldn't look at him. She was stupid she was so so stupid. I'm sorry I'm sorry, that....I'm so stupid... She just kept babbling and jumped away from him, turning around and walking towards the door leaning down to pick up her broom intending to leave.

[/size]

[professor edward p. d'arcy]

Edward had his back towards Bella as he was fiddling with something on the shelf in front of him not really able to make eye contact after that short dialogue they had. But something had rested on his shoulder that sent shivers down his spine and he turned slowly and he was startled a bit to how close she was to him. He swallowed hard not knowing if HE was going to be able to control himself with her this close.

They just stared at eachother....getting lost in eachothers eyes....not sure of what to do....but her hand was soon on his cheek but he was so shocked and so taken off guard his eyes were wide open a part of him wanted to take her in his arms and make her his but another part was screaming terribly. She was only 18 and look at what she's doing.....It was too late to react.....her face was so close.....and she touched her lips to his ever so gently and his eyes fluttered close for the last couple seconds it lasted.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry, that....I'm so stupid..." the normal person in this situation would've scolded her and usually would've freaked out at her, but all Edward could do was stare at where she was before she jumped away. Edward longed to have her in his arms again and he couldn't control himself anylonger. The ropes were broken and all his reserve behavior and always trying to be safe.....failed....and he walked towards her but she didn't see him and just as she went to pick up her broom he stepped on it, forcing it back to the ground again and she looked up at him startled . Once again they were close and Edward took her in his arms and he kissed her passionately, his neck craned low since he was alot taller than she.

And her back was soon up against the door of the dusty broom shed as the two were locked in a passioante embrace and kiss that seemed forever put off.

[isabelle katherine wood]

When his foot came down on her broom several emotions filled her. First she was furious that he would do something like that to her broom, what if he broke it? What if it snapped? She'd make him buy her a new one. Second, she was horrified that she was about to be expelled or something horrid like that. Third, she didn't really have a thrid she was just scared out of her wits of why he might not be letting her leave and so she turned quickly, standing up, her eyes seeking the answer to this painful question.

All at once he was kissing her. It was much more forceful and with much more determination than she had approached kissing him. She was shocked, so shocked it seemed that at first she didn't know what to do and so it was simply him pressing his lips against hers but as she realized what this meant, that he too had been feeling the things she had been struggling with since he had arrived here, she began to respond. Her small hands laced up around his neck, one of them slipping into the brown-gray hair at the back of his head.

In the instant that he pushed her against the door of the shed she wasn't thinking about how old he was. She wasn't thinking about how much trouble they could get in if someone walked in right now. She wasn'tt hinking what her parents would think if they knew waht she was doing. all she was thinking was that their entire relationship, from when she had been quite small and he had watched her with her father on a toy broomstick, to that day just a few days ago when she had found him on the bleachers watching him. All of their moments together and the conversations they had had together had led to this moment.

[/size]

[professor edward p. d'arcy]

Finally the moment had come, the moment that was welcomed greatly after all the tension and fights that led up to it. They were crushing eachothers lips, hungry for eachother and all Edward could do is succumb to his feeling for her. His hand caressed her cheek while his other hand was tangled behind her head, in her hair as he pushed her into him. His body pressed against hers, he was hunched over seeing as his height made it hard for her.

After awhile he placed his hands on her hips and lifted her up higher against the door and her legs imediately wrapped around his waist and he began to kiss her neck but then as he moved further down her neck, Oliver Woods face appeared in his mind and his head snapped up, breathing heavily he stared at her his face a few centimeters from hers. Oh how he desired.....but realization just flooded into his mind. He slowly let her down from his hold, her legs sliding down him he grew hot.

But once she was off him he started to back away. "I-i can't" he whispered to her a look of sadness on his face. "Your....your Olivers daughter...." he cried out. "God...how did this happen! How could i let this happen!" he said angrily. And he began to limp around the shed. "Your only 17! We aren't even allowed to be doing this! You- and i we-" he cut off angry at himself and he just sat down on a rusty old chair and he let his head hang between his knees, his hands coming up and holding his head. He was so confused, so vunerable, yet he was horrified and angry at what had just happened.

He corrupted the innocence of Bella, a 17 year old girl whose father was one of his great friends.......

[isabelle katherine wood]

It was bliss, absolute bliss. Feeling his hands on her and the pressure as he pushed her back to the door was unlike anything she ahd ever experienced in her life.Sure she'd kissed boys befre but he was no boy and she could tell that right away. There was a bit of a five o clock shadow stubbling his chin and it rubbed against her face as they kissed each other feverishly. He lifted her slightly and on cue she raised her legs to loop them around his waist, her hands on the back on his neck.

As he kissed her neck and seemed to be traveling down wards she tilted her head back and hooded her eyes. But as quickly as it had begun it ended. He was backing away from her quickly as though he had just woken up and realized where he was. She was breathing heavily and she just stood there looking at him, her lips and skin burning where his had been touching her just moments before.

He was muttering something, about her age about not being able to do this, about everything she didn't want to hear him saying after he had just behaved such. They couldn't do this, she knew, but that didn't change the way she felt. Her broom was still at her feet. Not being able to look at him she stooped down and retrieved it. Okay...Well... She turned and walked out the door. She'd made it only a few steps before she stopped. Dropping her broom on the ground she turned and threw the door open, storming over to him where he stil lsat in the chair. You know what? It's not okay. It's fine if you don't want me and it's fine if you think you're a bove this or whatever but don't try to blame it on my age. You're right, i"m seventeen and in our world it's perfectly legal for this to happen and you know what else i'm s ick and tired of you always seeing me as 'Oliver's daughter' I"m bella, just bella. Not Wood's daughter not a seventeen year old, just Bella. She was fuming, her face was flushed and her hands were shaking and clenched in fists as she yelled at him.

[/size]

[professor edward p. d'arcy]

Edward was beside himself with emotions hating himself about the fact that being with Bella felt so right...when it was so wrong. He began to massage his temples trying to come up with a solution to all his problems. He needed a drink....a drink....badly. Just as he was going to find his wand she spoke. "Okay...well...." she said quietly and he could hear her pick up her broom and open the door. Good she'll leave and everything will be left alone, back to how it was. Would it ever go back to normal though? Did he just loose a great friendship?

He couldn't started to whine right there in front of her and beg her not to leave but his will held him steady and glued to that chair. All of a sudden something hit the floor and Bella started screaming and she walked over to him. Now he had no choice he had to look at her. His tilted his head back to look up at her. She started to yell at him and he couldn't really make out everything but he nodded at her feeling defeated, lost......

Once she was done he inclined his head a bit "What would you have me do hhm? Start a relationship with you? Bella....that would be wrong....regardless about how we feel. ITS WRONG. You say to stop thinking your 17 and Olivers daughter, but Bella.....you are! You need to WAKE UP AND BE REALISTIC HERE!" he said almost shouting the last part. That drained the energy from him and he went pale as he felt himself slump back down onto the chair and he stared at the floor and clasped his hands together. "We can't be....i don't have any feelings for you.....I am your teacher, you are my student...." he said coldly almost hissing the words. Even know he didn't mean it. But he had to make her let go of him before it got out of hand.

[isabelle katherine wood]

She could have just yelled at him, they could have been loked in a screaming match for ages. but Bella really didn't feel like behaving like the child he was trying to make her out to be so she simply shook her head. Reaching up to rub her forehead momentarily she let out an exasperated sigh. Just then he said the bit about having no feelings for her and just being her teacher. At that she looked up at him as though he were insane and all she could do was laugh and nod her head. Yeah, that's what that was, I'm sure you kiss all the students you have no feelings for like that.

But fine if he wanted to be liek this he could be like this, she wasn't going to throw herself at him again. She'd already tried that approach and this was where it had landed her. Shaking her head she put up her hands palms facing him in defeat. You know what, fine. I don't have time to argue with you, I need to go get ready for the game. And with that sher turned and left the shack again, leaing him to his loneliness. Grabbing her broom off the grass where she had left it she walked with a purpose towards the locker rooms. She wasn't going to let this affect her game.

[/size]

[professor edward p. d'arcy]

Edward D'Arcy just sat there and let her talk to him knowing he deserved it. He felt really bad about what he said and he couldn't believe he let it....and helped it escalate so far......it could've gone further even.....He shook his head just as she left marching off towards the dressing rooms. Angry as hell at him, but he knew she would be. It would be for the best. She'd soon get over him and find a boy her own age and be happy. Would he? Probally not, but when was Edward D'Arcy ever happy anymore? .....with Bella he was.....

Anger coursed through him and he jumped up and kicked at a shelf, he shouted in pain as it was his bad leg he kicked with and he collasped on the floor, clutching at it panting very hard to deal with the pain. He lay there for about 20 minutes thinking about everything and what a fool he had been. He was in love with a 17 year old, who liked him back and he shooed her away probally for good. He hefted himself up back onto the chair and he held out a hand in mid air. And he wand flew into it from wherever it had been previously. He waved it and a bottle of firewhiskey was in his hand. He undid the cap and started to chug and chug and chug. Until he fell off the chair onto the ground,....past out.

What a disaster today had been and now Edward D'Arcy was hurting more than ever.....