The Holiday to Forget

[Signe Cortez]

If there was one thing Signè could say about the past few weeks, it had to be that there hadn’t been a single boring moment. Ever since their spoken agreement at Jaiden’s Summer Garden Party a few weeks back and then the night out in which the two girls ended up having breakfast with the Evens family, Si seemed to be spending more and more time with a certain Nathaniel Evens.

Since their bonding over the mutual feelings they had for each other’s best friends, Si and Nate had been using each other to distract and distance themselves from the bonding between Seth and Jaiden. However, lately it hadn’t been quite that way for Signè. The more she tried to forget about her very long crush on Seth Martiff, the more she started thinking about Nate and becoming attracted to him. His kisses were like drugs, his touches like fire and the more time she spent around him, the harder it got to pull away and that was what she feared the most.

After her disastrous relationship in fifth year with a boy called Daniel McGregor, a sixth year Hufflepuff at the time, Si found it more and more difficult to let men into her life and get to know her better. All she could do with them was flirt, tease, snog and then have wonderful sex with them before letting them go. So it would come as no surprise that she had been called a cold heartless bitch on many occasions. But she couldn’t help it. After she opened herself up to Daniel and had unwittingly fallen in love with him, only to find he had numerous other girlfriends at the same time, Si felt much better toying with men and then letting them go when they became too much for her.

But when it came to Nathaniel, there were times when she felt she could open up her whole self to him and that scared her shitless. So, as best as she could, she kept that part of herself under control at all times making sure never to say too much or bring up the topic of what their relationship was. Instead, she had focused on teasing him mercilessly, just like he had been torturing her and the more days passed, the more Si woke up in anticipation of the many games they played with each other.

More or less, after a few events spent together they had fallen into an almost regular routine and thus and surprisingly, lead him to inviting her on a holiday where he would spend most of the time showing her around his many estates and family homes. The funny thing was, Nate was one the only guy she’d ever had a relationship with and not slept with. For some reason, she decided that it would ruin what they hard and told him that he had to wait until the time was right. Surprisingly, he had agreed. For obvious reasons, she knew it would torture them both more but that was part of the fun of waiting. For not so obvious reasons, Si felt if she slept with Nate then everything would change and she liked things the way there were at the moment.

When the day came for them to leave, Si’s bag had all been packed, thanks to her servants and she had already said her goodbyes to Jaiden and her parents. Although, honestly, her parents didn’t really notice as they were arguing again. Si frowned at this and started to wonder if there was something seriously wrong as all her parents did were argue.

That is, when they were around each other.

At the time allocated for meeting each other, Si shrunk her bags and apparated to their meeting point. It was a rare, beautiful and sunny day which really suited her mood. She was happy that she was going away for a holiday with Nate. It meant they could get to know each other better, but also spend the whole time driving each other nuts.

And maybe, just maybe, if the time was right, she might finally give herself over to him.

Her outfit, which she had picked the other day whilst shopping also matched the mood of the day and Si felt like everything might be end up alright. Better, even, if Nate got there. Their portkey was due to leave in ten minutes and if he didn’t get there in time, he would be left behind and have to wait another few days before he could get another. A sense of anticipation that he might not be there rose in Si, but all she could do was hope he’d turn up and not leave her on her own for the next two weeks.

[Nathaniel Evens]

Nathaniel lent up against a red brick wall and watched the sun and gentle breeze dance and play with Signe’s hair. He was enchanted with her and had been almost since the first time they had met. He took a drag of his cigarette and blew out the residual smoke, it transfigured into a silhouette of two people, a male and a female dancing intimately. The smoke swirled around for a few seconds before finally dissipating. Nate allowed a small smile to play upon his lips before it too disappeared.

He had been waring with himself all week. He was enjoying Signe’s company more than he even knew but the little that he did understand and realise frightened him. Nate was not the type of wizard to open his heart to anyone, his heart had been closed to every single girl he had ever dated, not one had he truly loved. He’d enjoyed their company to be sure but nothing more. Signe on the other had was truly threatening to crumble all his resistance. She was everything he was not, bright, vivacious and happy; Nate’s dark temperament generally scared off her kind but for some reason she had stuck to him and this also frightened him. Her loyalty penetrated his heart and he feared that if she withdrew herself from him he would bleed inwardly.

Scowling darkly Nate threw his cigarette onto the ground next to his luggage. He had packed lightly knowing that the weather in Europe was going to be reasonably fine. Nate was determined to push his dark thoughts from his mind and enjoy this personal time with Signe; he had even planned the perfect night together, the night that they would finally share each other fully.

About to step out of the shadows of the red brick wall and into the bright sun, Nate was stopped by the hooting of an owl.

His brother’s owl.

All of a sudden Nate was struck with the memory of Theodore reminding him, a few months back, not to leave the country, that he might have need of him. Nate’s body tensed at what he knew was inevitable. He gave one final glance at Signe and felt his heart constrict. This would be harder than he had imagined.

Reaching out his hand to steady the owl he picked up the message with his other hand. It read:

My dear brother,

I apologise for any inconvenience this message may bring to your Spring plans but you must return home immediately. I have business matters I wish you to attend to.

Yours Sincerely

Theodore Evens

Nate crumpled the note in frustration. It was as he had thought, Theodore had some business for him to attend to. He was angry but in the back of his mind he realised that Theodore would not have called him unless it was a pressing matter. Nate stared absently at his suitcases his previously sunny outlook now turning stormy.

Pulling out his wand he conjured pen and paper and began scribbling a short note to Signe.

Si,

Been detained by business. Will catch you up if possible. Please make yourself at home. Groundsman will give you a tour.
I apologise.

Will miss you,

Nate

Nathaniel looked at the note and couldn’t help but feel it was a little rushed and less personal that he would have liked. But he couldn’t bring himself to scribbled any ‘x’s’ and ‘o’s’ so he contented himself with pressing the envelope to his lips.
Tying the note to his brother’s owl Nate released the bird into the air and watched it fly towards Signe. Without a backwards glance Nate gathered his, now melting heart, and luggage and apparated home.

OOC The humidity is getting to this particular puppeteer, sorry for the late reply!

[Signe Cortez]

Si,

Been detained by business. Will catch you up if possible. Please make yourself at home. Groundsman will give you a tour.
I apologise.

Will miss you,

Nate

Signè read the note from Nate and she felt her emotions crumbling. She bit her lip, trying not to scream in frustration at the disappointment that overwhelmed her. Nate would catch up with her if possible!? What was this!? Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down, Si tried to think quickly about what she could do.

She could either hunt him down which would be stupid because she didn’t know where to start or what he did exactly. Or, she could continue on the tour that he paid for and enjoy herself, the sights and the lovely men in Europe all the while forgetting Nate ever existed.

Crushing the note in her fingers, she shoved it into a pocket and decided to go with the latter plan. She would be damned if she spent the week getting ready for this only for it to go to waste and she knew if she stayed in England, she’d only get depressed when left alone with her thoughts. Her turn to portkey through the border security between London and her first stop, which was Rome, Italy, Signe took a deep breath and took a step into what would be the first day of a new chapter.

---

Two weeks later, after having a glorious time travelling Europe and getting a tan, Signè arrived back in the dreary cloud covered London portkey point. She had spent the whole time enjoying herself, eating wonderful food and most of all, getting to know her travelling companion Damien. She had met Damien when she had arrived in Italy, after accidentally bumping into him whilst trying to get her bearings as she landed in the beautiful Rome. They had exchanged apologies; she had felt a bit of an attraction towards him and then they went their separate ways. Only, it seemed that was not to be the last of it.

By chance, the hotel they were booked in had accidentally double booked and lo and behold, they had double booked Damien and Si together. After sharing a few quips and being told the rest of the suits were booked, Si suggested they be daring and share a suit with a stranger.

He had agreed.

After getting to know each other a bit more, they soon became comfortable companions during their sightseeing trips. She didn’t need the groundsman anymore after she discovered Damien had already been to most of the places she was going. Si suggested that he cancel the rest of his hotel bookings and stay with her; the fee only being that he showed her around the best places in Europe. He had agreed. Soon, with all the time they had been spending together, they had become good friends and Si told him she was hurting from the sudden absence of Nathaniel. He had listened and comforted her with all the right words.

In return, he told her he was escaping for a few months from the duties he was supposed to perform for his family. She had eventually found out that he was a Duke of some distinction from England, of all places and in kind, she teased him mercilessly about it, always making jokes about serving ‘her lord’ and such.

By the time the two weeks were almost over, Si had felt an attraction towards Damien and his light-hearted nature and he, in turn loved her bubbly, sweet and bright personality. He told her he had no plans for the near future and so Signè suggested he come visit her estate at the other end of England for a while and stay with her for as long as he wanted. He accepted with pure delight and kissed her on the cheek. Signè decided that was too polite and in turn kissed him back on the lips.

Although she had warned him he might be the rebound man, he told her he was not worried and was only looking for a good time with a beautiful girl in their beautiful home country. Si had blushed and was glad he was coming back with her estate. It would help her get over the ache Nate left in her heart.

So, there they were, landing in England together, hands clasping the other and large smiles on their faces. Jaiden, who was going to meet them at the portkey point after receiving a lengthy letter from Signè displayed a very un-Slytherin like sentiment and squealed when she saw Si, running up to her and hugging the living daylights at her, before pulling back and apologising to Damien, whilst introducing who she was.

Of course, both had heard heaps about the other, thanks to the many owls Si had sent and thus, the two hit off easily. Si smiled contentedly that her best friend and her really cute guy friend were getting on well. She stayed a few steps behind them, letting them bond, when a flash of light caught her attention. Turning her head like lighting, she saw the back of a blonde head disappearing around the corner and her heart skipped a beat.

No, it can’t be, she thought, but somehow she knew that it was Nate she saw. Frowning, she quickly walked up to one of the portkey workers and asked how long Nate had been standing there and the guard promptly replied ‘Three Hours’. Blinking in shock, Si felt her head spin a little, but when tapped on the shoulder by Damien and asked what was wrong, Si shook her head and muttered that a headache had overcome her and that maybe she should show him back to her place soon. He agreed in kind and wrapped a shoulder around her arm, but the whole time Si barely noticed.

[ooc; hope it's okay I Godmoded Nate]

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