Atticus had spent much of the night with Ava and some of their friends chit chatting. Having lost interest in the party on a whole Atticus excused himself from the group and headed out for what he said was some aire. However he knew inside that the aire he was going to grip onto was really him escaping from a crowded situation. A couple hours being social, it was a new record for the artist who just wanted to head back to the castle.

Still wearing his mask he stepped out into the cool night aire. The temperature seemed to have dropped since he went inside, or maybe he was just adjusting from the cramped atmosphere to this new open one. There was a light breeze that hit him in the face and ran chills down his spine.

Zipping up his hoodie a little more he made his way out of the club's front lot and back towards school grounds. Thankful that this unpleasantness was behind him. Another year come and gone with little blood shed on his part. There had been a lot of focus on the art booth and exhibit which made him pleased. This did however make him a little itchy to get out of the lime light and back to his position as unnoticed by the other houses. A place hidden back from public view was best suited for him.

The only thing that was nagging him was the lack of Delilah from appearing.  The girl had promised to show up for the art booth and was a no show. What he couldn't understand was why she had been dodging him. Hands shoved in his pockets he started down the path trying to avoid thinking about it a moment longer.

Delilah had promised to see Atticus at the art booth but after he dashed away from her after the kiss she was definitely too embarrassed to go and visit him. She had to sit and think about it, talking to Waker had actually been very helpful in making her decision that she needed to talk to Atticus about the kiss. Sure the dance could have been an extremely romantic gesture but Delilah had hidden away with her friends trying to build up the courage to go and talk to Atticus. As rebellious as Delilah was it didn’t mean she wasn’t self-conscious.

When Delilah noticed that Atticus was leaving, as she had kept an eye on him most of the evening incase she felt it was the right moment. Delilah finally said good-bye to her friends and started to push through the crowd. She pulled her sweater around her frame and smoothed out the dress she wore. She heard her shoes against the sidewalk as she made it out of the club and after the figure that was Atticus.

“Hey, Atticus wait up.” She said weakly as she looked at him, she jogged a bit towards him. “I wanted to talk to you.” Delilah had to stop avoiding the boy and ask him about the kiss. She didn’t want to lose a potential friend all because of a kiss. Delilah would understand if that was not what Atticus wanted but she had to ask him.

Disappointment that she never showed had clinged to his shoulders for much of the day they showed off the art booth. Heck he never even showed off the pictures he had done of her. This was not the proper venue and to be frank he still felt like a freak for his former urges to draw the dutch dancer girl. Right she wasn't really dutch, that didn't change anything though.

So much for being completely aware of his surroundings. Atticus had no idea that trailing behind him was Delilah. Nor had he noticed her at the party. Maybe he had been too caught up in conversation with Ava about her beautiful bald head lighting up the stage, or muttering something about not seeing Nicola lately. Either way, Atticus had let him get caught up for a bit and had no idea anyone was watching him.

He wasn't much of a hunter or tracker so he figured that wasn't something that would be held against him at a later date. Freezing at the sound of his name and the recognition of whose voice was calling him it took him a little bit to turn around and look at her still wearing his half-a-mask. "Oh hello Delilah, longtime no see..." he choked out swallowing a little bit of nerves. "What was on your mind?" As if he didn't know.

Atticus turned around and Delilah was not sure why his half mask was so shocking to see as he turned around. She had seen him wearing it inside, and perhaps she half expected him to remove it when he was outside. Delilah tried not to let the surprise appear on her face too much. She slowed her jog to a stroll as she caught up with Atticus.

“Sorry I didn’t stop by the art booth, something came up.” Yeah her fear and embarrassment was the situation that had crept up unexpectedly stopping her from doing what she wanted. Delilah knew that it was probably a lot worse now putting it off and letting the feelings stew. Atticus probably thought she was nuts or something equally unpleasant.

“I need to talk to you,” she said weakly as she looked at Atticus. “I am sorry I have been avoiding you but I…” she didn’t know what to say to him now. “I kissed you and well you left.” Delilah didn’t know how to phrase this eloquently.  “I like I think I made that obvious but I have no idea how you feel, and I felt like I did something wrong when you dashed off like that.” Delilah had been hurt as she watched Atticus dash off.

He hadn't taken it off because he wasn't sure if he wanted to just yet. It was sort of fun pretending to be something else for a little while. He felt a little more confident behind the mask and less like the putz he was in social. If he was only like his older brother he might be more willing to branch out and his mother wouldn't fret nearly as much, but he wasn't William, he was definitely all Atticus.

"Oh did it?" A likely story he figured. Judging by her stance as she spoke to him he figured the thing that 'came up' was him being involved in the entire project. Atticus was born at night but it wasn't last night. Though he guessed it wasn't entirely her fault, he was sure he made some sort of social faux pas.

"So you were avoiding me..." he stopped so she could finish the next statement. Atticus felt his eyes grow in size as she exclaimed herself. It wasn't like he meant it to happen, but he still couldn't stop himself from gawking a little. "I was la..te.... I was late to the mural... Fauna chewed me out," he replied blinking a little. Did she just tell him that she liked him. Like really did and it wasn't some mistake that she had kissed him, caught up in some romantic lakeside moment he missed. "You like me?" He tried to wrap his head around it, "Didn't you feel me kiss you back?"

Late for the mural? Fauna had chewed him out? Why had he not said that when he left? She would not have dwelled on the fact he had kiss and ran if he had said he was late for the mural. It made a lot more sense than he didn’t like her at all. Delilah shifted her weight awkwardly as she looked at Atticus completely confused on what to make of this. It had been so much easier with George, just found herself locked in a lip lock with him and getting up to know good. Now with Atticus she was unsure what to do, awkward about what steps to take next.

“Yes I do like you, I wouldn’t have kissed you otherwise.” She looked at Atticus as if he was a complete idiot, but he was obviously just as bad at this as Delilah was. Delilah moved to her closer and weakly smiled. “I did feel you kiss back but I honestly thought you regretted it.” Of course she had felt him kiss back because it was all she could think about. She was also constantly thinking about how much she wanted to do it again. Kissing him had felt absolutely brilliant.

She curled some of her hair behind her ear. “If I was completely honest I want to kiss you again.” Delilah felt she might as well be truthful now after being such an ass about the situation. Delilah had felt really immature now.

Maybe he thought by explaining his plans for that day before they kissed it would have made sense. As in she might have followed the same trail of thought that Atticus seemed to be carried on. It was then for a brief shining moment Atticus realized most people don't follow any of his lines of thought. It would explain why his social circle consisted of a small amount of individuals who were similarly like minded. Atticus found it difficult to connect with certain people so this was of course just like any other day with miscommunication marring his daily interactions.

Atticus tugged on the collar of his shirt trying to catch his breathe. Girls were not foreign to him, he had girlfriends before. However girls who he finds fascinating never fancy him so this was a whole new world. His eyes looked up to meet hers, "No.no... didn't regret it. I was... Late. Very very late..." he restated trying to maintain his cool and obviously failing.

A small smirk crossed his face when she said she wanted to do it again. Atticus took a deep breathe and pulled off his mask shoving it in his hoodie pocket. "Really? Guess we should um...do something about that right? I mean I have thought about it too since then and all..." Was it a question, was he being this bold? Stepping out of his safety zone he approached her more to the point of almost standing nose to nose. Hope hadn't been lost however he definitely screwed things up the other day with his awkwardness. Swallowing down hard he allowed his hand to move to her cheek as slowly he leaned in and pressed his lips to her waiting ones. This was not a common situation for Atticus, he was not suave or debonair by any stretch. So he felt a little awkward but he pushed those thoughts out for now. He of course could dwell on his inadequacies later in the privacy of his own dormitory.

Delilah think like Atticus? That was highly unlikely, otherwise she would not have been freaked out by discovering he drew her, or been dwelling on the fact he left. Sure he had mentioned his plans for the day but she didn’t realize it was right that second that he needed to go. Normally people would say something, but obviously not Atticus. Since he was late then the kiss must not have been so horrible.

Hearing that he didn’t regret it and just late was definitely a relief and she would have to tell Waker later that she had worried for nothing. All that Atticus had to dash for was because he was late, not because he was disgusted or thought he had done something wrong. Delilah felt a lot more comfortable and relaxed around him now knowing that.

As his mask was pulled off she looked at him smiling a bit as he spoke. “I guess you are right.” Delilah nodded her head as he moved closer. “We should probably do something about it.” They were standing so close she was sure she could feel his breath on her skin, which made her shiver with nervousness. His hand was on her cheek and she felt her heart race and react like it hadn’t before. She stood still as if frozen by anticipation for his lips to touch hers. When they finally did the heat from his lips against hers she moved an arm to his cheek kissing him back. Her lips parted a little and she kissed him with more force than before as her hands snuck up into his hair pulling him close. Atticus’ kisses definitely affected her entire body but in a good way.

Obviously they were quite different. Their desires were completely different, they came from different houses, and if you looked at them from the outside they made the oddest couple. He was a quiet Slytherin artist and she was a Ravenclaw who from all accounts from his perspective she was a dancing dutch (yes yes he knew she wasn't actually dutch) girl who seemed to have far more friends and a way with conversation which always seemed to perplex him. Perhaps it was his frustrations that mounted when others didn't understand his explanations, but he was always a little lackluster in the way of verbal communication.

No he certainly hadn't regretted a thing when it came to kissing her. What he had regretted was not being able to stay a little longer and see what she had been aiming at. The girl had him tied up in knots for much of the year without even knowing it, it would have been completely foolish of him to ruin things or cast her aside right there.

"On matters such as these, I am rarely right, but this time I am very right," he responded quickly before the kiss. It was simple, so soft he could hardly make sense of it. He was drawn in so strong by her urgency and he closed his eyes as he deepened the kiss. It was far better than any of his previous kisses, the sparks were flying as his other hand wrapped around her waist pulling her into him. He found himself hungry to continue to kiss her. Breaking a bit to breathe he looked at her with a stunned look as a small smile crossed his lips, "Woah..." he stated a little breathlessly.

Delilah didn’t care that they were different it was actually one of the reasons that she found herself being attracted to Atticus. Atticus was such a mystery to her, she wanted to find out more about him and get to know the side of Atticus that others didn’t take the time to get to know. Delilah figured she was sort of already seeing one side that others didn’t see all that often which made her all the more interested in spending more time with him.

How had she not noticed him before this way? It took tripping over him to really see him as something other than the boy in class she rarely talked too. Waker wasn’t taken with him as much as Delilah obviously was, and despite being understanding in the conversation they had she suspected that Waker still felt him to be the creepy boy they had gossip over when Delilah was in the stunned portion of her thoughts on Atticus. Delilah regretted calling Atticus creepy because he was anything but creepy. He saw things the way others didn’t and she was curious about how he saw the word through that artistic eye. Plus there was just something about him that drew her to him and she wanted to explore what that was. He was attractive and talented but it definitely couldn’t just those things that drew her to him and made her stick around. He managed to make her feel so comfortable around him, and he made her laugh.

The kisses were definitely becoming something that was keeping her around. She had never felt feelings such as this as she kissed someone. Sparks were flying as they kissed her arms around him and fingers in his hair. Delilah felt his arm wrap around her waist and pull her closer. Her eyes opened as their lips parted and she looked at him smiling. She was breathless from that kiss and despite the lack of breath she wanted to do it again. “That was…” she couldn’t even find the words. “Yeah whoa covers it.” Yup nothing but that word that escaped Atticus’ mouth could describe it any better.

Delilah didn’t want to pull away but she lingered looking at Atticus looking for some sign of what Atticus wanted her to do next. She felt her fingers moving along the back of his neck wondering what to do. Should they walk back to school together? Go back to the part? “Do you want to walk back to school or…” she really didn’t care as long as she got to hang out with Atticus she was happy.

It was a muggle belief that opposite's attract. Though he figured for much of his life whoever he ended up with, if anyone, would most likely be as opposite as they can be from him. Atticus was by himself a class of his own in his house, not that he complained, but it did make him lonely from time to time. Thankfully with Ava and Nicola he was always on his toes. His brother seemed to be more and more involved with his own life, so Atticus found that he was blending with the students of his own age.

Starting with Delilah Maddox. This girl had become an obsession earlier on this year when she passed him talking to some insignificant pamper prat. From that first unwanted glance he found himself hooked on her eyes, those eyes he drew from memory the day she toppled over onto him knocking out his breathe. It wouldn't be the first time she left him without air or without a proper reason for why he did what he did when he did it. Atticus tended to draw when the mood struck him, maybe this time it struck him because he found himself attracted and couldn't explain it away as mere infatuations.

Life was so much easier when he could just clear it all up with logic, or better yet brush it under the rug to forget it even existed. That was always a solid bet for the struggling artist. It never worked out for his benefit, but that didn't change the strategy from staying the same.

So there he was holding her. His arms around her waist, her arms locked around his neck. The only thing holding them apart was the questions she asked and his lack of an answer. Grinning like a right arse he just shook his head, "You know I am terrible with this sort of situation. What would you rather do?" Gulping a little he watched as the star light mixed with her eyes and hair and he caught himself off guard again feeling stupid for noticing it. "I think walking back wouldn't be bad, I do hate crowds and you have to agree it was a tad stuffy in there. Wall to wall people, not exactly my scene..." he replied a little sheepishly.

Her mother would always say that she would be attracted someone that was opposite of her, or at the very least someone she didn’t expect. Her mother had fallen for someone she had not expected. She had not expected to fall for a church boy working to be ordained, while she was a dancer with little interest outside of the stage. Delilah heard the stories of course, especially when she was little because she was oh so curious to hear the tales of romance. She never believed she would find herself attacked to someone so completely different than her. He might be quiet and different but there was definitely something about him she liked.

Atticus smelled fantastic, something she noticed due to the close proximity of the two. She didn’t want to let go of him, she had enjoyed the kiss and the closeness very much. This was all so new to her, and she was definitely going to have to talk to Waker about this new development. She was so happy that Atticus did indeed like her and it wasn’t something she had done to make him run off before.

Why was Delilah not surprised that crowds weren’t his thing? Delilah loved a good party and a dance but she had to admit just spending time with Atticus was and even better idea than going back into the party. She pressed a quick kiss on his lips, significantly less passionate than the one they had previously shared but it still made her heart flutter. “I like the idea of walking back,” she said sweetly as she moved back one hand moving slowly down his arm before she found his hand linking her own with his. “I could do with getting out of the stuffy party.” Okay so there was loads of space at Signature but that was beyond the point. “I wouldn’t mind going back anyway.” The only real reason she was going back was for the long walk alone with Atticus.

“So did you like the party?” She asked curiously towards him. She sort of wished she had the guts to talk to him earlier because perhaps they could have danced or something alone those lines. Maybe they were get another chance to share in a dance or such closeness. “I think it was a good end to the festivities.” The Remembrance Day Festivities meant little to Delilah being that she was Muggleborn so she didn’t really quite understand the significance the way others did.

Atticus had no real clue to whom his parents expected him to fancy. From time to time he heard his mother mutter things about Nicola or Ava as a possible match to which of course Atticus rolled his eyes and left the room. They were trying to plan out his life they way they did with William and he refused to be a party to it. When he did eventually find someone, or like someone he had to keep them from her clutches lest she goes about picking apart his choice. Not that he thought her capable of such, but she most certainly was.

His scent was that of clean laundry and a little bit of cologne. Not as much as the other boys his age who seemed to think it appropriate to bathe in the strongest stuff to assault the noses of all unfortunate enough to be near them. Atticus was more low key and tried to keep things simple. It was a shocker, he was sure. Though he could breathe her in without an issue. She did not reek of nasty over done perfume or makeup. He couldn't help but take it in and smile. Maybe it was too much too quick but he threw caution to the wind for once.

Crowds were a no go. Quidditch games were also not something he enjoyed, though he went when bugged by his mates. "Then we will walk back," Atticus did his best to keep his voice calm. The last time he felt anything like this was too long ago to remember. She was definitely a good kisser so walking back to do some more of that seemed like a good idea to him. Atticus wondered what Ava would say about this all, if she would laugh about how things were slowly turning out for him. He held onto her hand as they proceeded to walk slowly back towards the school.

Atticus cocked a brow, "Did I like the party? Can't say I did. It was all much of the same. We usually get together and talk like that in the common room so really same people different setting. Suppose that might not say much about my social circle but it works for me," unless of course he counted people walking over when he wasn't expecting it. That was the least of his problems. "I'm just thankful the week is finally over with. I'm not exactly a huge fan of Remembering Day... I'm glad you liked the party did you ever end up seeing the pictures and stuff at the art booth? I mean I noticed you never showed while I was there, but I mean did you see it?" Maybe she snuck in after he left.

Delilah was not surprised by Atticus choice of walking back, not that she minded in the least. Just the chance to be alone with Atticus was nice, especially after the awkward air seemed to have been lifted. Plus the chance of walking back to the castle a little earlier than the others, meaning more of a chance to do more of that kissing thing they had done earlier. Already her breath was quickened and laboured by the thought and she felt like her knees were a little week. Delilah tried to hide the blush that was sneaking up over her features; she could feel the heat and was sure she was glowing.

“No you have a point,” Delilah had to agree that the people and socializing at the party was no different, but at least the atmosphere was changed. “I think we are meant to mingle but generally we stayed closed off with our circles of friends.” Delilah had lost parts of her circle in the past, such as Devlin but she rather not think of it. Delilah didn’t want to think back on an old friendship that disappeared as people changed, it was rather depressing.

“Oh I did see the art booth, I stopped by but you weren’t there.” Delilah had intentionally made it so because had not been ready to approach Atticus yet. She had been so nervous about the entire situation she was surprised she had the guts to talk to him even now. “The work was really great I enjoyed it.” She had been sure she had seen some of his works of art but she didn’t want to comment on them too much afraid she might have been mistaken.

Looking at the two of them Atticus found himself wondering what the rest of the school might think. Generally he didn't care about their feelings about him over all, but the two of them as a pair might shock a few people. Most of the school, if they cared to look at him at all might have thought the quiet recluse was asexual if anything at all. The match might have looked bizarre to anyone who hadn't felt the tension between them, so in other words it would to anyone who knew them on their own.

Deep in thought, Atticus tried to figure out what this all meant. Thinking too deeply into the matter. What were they? Two students walking in the dark hand and hand obviously. He didn't know what to think and decided it was best to skirt any labels for as long as he could. "What would your friends have said if they saw you come after me?" Cocking a brow he knows Nicola would have laughed herself senseless always enjoying the awkwardness that followed him around people he hardly knew.

His grin seemed to grow brighter as she told him she had made an effort to see the art booth, "Good I'm glad. I was surprised by all the dedication there," he  rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "Did you see the names on the floor? That was my idea," he started and sighed, "They expanded on it but mainly it was my idea..." He wanted some credit there granted the group had worked on it all together, but he enjoyed the little credit he got.