Xavier gave her a genuine smile. To be honest he was expecting her to tease him just a little bit more about it. While she was doing a good job so far he hadn't been expecting her to be impressed. He had kept it quiet because he was well aware of how it looked. No one had really batted an eye when he'd show up to class with his hands bandaged after breaking his knuckles. He was more or less expected to have issues. After all he hadn't earned the 'Most Likely to Be Sent to Azkaban' superlative for no reason. People knowing that he had found a way to work through his anger issues by making pretty shiny things? It was laughable to say the least but it was definitely easier on his hands.

Xavier looked at her like she had grown a third eye, "Why Miss Dimbleby I do believe you just complimented me." He had impressed her. He knew from experience that it took a lot to impress someone like Jordyn. Sure, he had impressed her in the past but that was usually in the sense of having impressed her with how stupid he could be, or how rude, or well it was never for any real accomplishment.

He took a moment to think about her suggestion. He liked the idea that his work was good enough that people would actually want to buy it. However he wasn't sure he wanted to sell them. Each one had been custom made for a person her knew built from a specific emotion. Making them for the general public took that personal touch out of it. He didn't think turning it into a business made the most sense for him but he appreciated the sentiment.

He shrugged it off, "Nah, they're special. Wouldn't be right." He paused for a moment looking out to the lake again. After this exchange with Jordyn he'd likely have to take another swim to cool down, "I could make you something though . . . if you wanted."

Alright, she couldn’t help it.  She felt her cheeks turn pink.   Averting her eyes, she laughed uncomfortably, “Don’t tell anyone – they won’t believe you, anyway,” she replied weakly to his assertion that she had given him a compliment.  Perhaps she had, which was strange in and of itself, but to be called out on it?  She hadn’t even thought that until Xavier said something and that was curious – he never seemed to care what people thought about him. 

Maybe he cared more than he let on.  She supposed she could understand that.  Though, she did a far less admirable job of hiding how much she cared about what other people thought of her.  Everything seemed to bother her.  This moment was just one more illustration of that, considering the tinge of her cheeks. 

Even more than that, now he was offering to make something for her.  Who was this Xavier and what had he done with the one who made her so mad her hair stuck up on the back of her neck?  This was not him.  It was confusing and sort of made her stomach shift uncomfortabley. 

Jordyn shook her head in disbelief, “No, no,” she pushed her hand toward him, the ring perched between her fingers for him to pluck and put back on, “I wouldn’t be able to pay for it,” she ignored his assertion that he couldn’t take money for his creations and continued, “besides – if they’re so special,” she shrugged, “You shouldn’t waste your time,” she smiled to deflect, “you have exams to study for.” 

Xavier quite liked the colour pink on her. It felt weird. There had been plenty of times that he had made her flush over the years but he had always done it in a . . . predatory way. One of Xavier ' s favourite pass times was getting under her skin and that resulted in her cheeks turning pink more often than not. This however was playful and sweet and he found he much preferred it. Perhaps he'd have to be nicer to her more often.

She pressed the ring back into his hand and his skin tingled where she had touched. He occupied himself with putting the ring back on his finger so he wouldn't have to think about it. Since when did he want to touch Jordyn? When did her simplest of brushes cause this sort of reaction in him? He certainly hadn't got the memo.

She refused his offered and he gave her a smile instead. It only made him want to do it more. This way it would be a surprise. His mind was busy thinking through designs that captured her personality when she brought up exams again.

He made of a show of letting out a large exasperated sigh and fell back on his towel. His knees were still bent as he was intent on hiding any sort of rise she had got out of him. He placed his hands over his eyes.

"These bloody NEWTs. I'll be lucky if I get even one O. So much for being a straight O student. Last year ruined that for me. All these hard assed Professors. All my best subjects have gone to hell."

It wasn’t unusual for Jordyn to feel uncomfortable.  That was her like most of the time.  She’d always blamed it on a lack of social skills or any coddling as a child. Even through seven years of being forced to live with others and accommodate and compromise, she still didn’t really feel like she knew how to deal with others in the most productive way.  When their hands touched, the color on her cheeks deepened. 

Another way she was just socially incompetent.  This was Tawse.  She didn’t know why she was blushing like an idiot.  She even had gloves on.  There were plenty of times she’d yanked him away from something or poked him in the chest to express distaste and she’d never felt the need to blush over anything except frustration. 

It was probably just her discomfort, she reminded herself.  Definitely being uncomfortable.  And tired.  Wasn’t that when usually when people started acting out of sorts?  Jordyn elected to believe that rather than any other emotional explanation for that.  His show, at the very least, was distracting from any of the dismaying kind of thoughts that were trying to creep into her mind. 

“I think you’ll be fine,” Jordyn offered, actually meaning it – kind of a novel concept for her.  “Though you could do with a little studying, I’m sure – more than a swim in the lake at any rate,” she turned her eyes back to the calm waters and took a deep breath through her nose, smelling the crisp air and letting out a sigh.  “In all our years here, I think I’ve been in the lake as many times as anyone has ever seen you study,” she laughed lightly and shook her head.  “Want to switch places?” she offered, obviously as a joke.  “You go back and fall asleep face first in Defense Against the Dark Arts and I’ll stay out here and drown in the lake.” 

Laid on his back with his hands behind his head he cracked an eye open. His was curious as to the blush that not only stayed on her cheeks but deepened. It was distracting. Mostly due to the fact that he couldn't think of anything infuriating he had done to cause it. It was no where near the first time he had seen it but there was always a reason. His curiosity was now piqued.

He let his lips split into a smile. She actually sounded like she meant that. Despite his outward appearance of not giving a rats ass about school he had always received good grades. The majority of his Hogwarts career he had received O ' s in every subject. A few missed classes and a walk out in his fifth year had broken the streak. Tough Professors the past two years had made it feel like an uphill battle to regain his footing. It was nice to know that Jordyn remembered something as trivial as his academic performance.

He chuckled along with her, allowing himself to picture her in a bathing suit. She'd likely opt for a full one piece. One of those old fashioned ones that had sleeves and shorts. However that didn't stop him from envisioning her in a barely covering two piece. He adjusted himself again and gave her a smirk.

"That's not really a fair trade. Sure I'll get a good nap out of it but that ain't worth the price of missing you strip down." The words were out before he could catch them and they brought a blush along with them. It wasn't the first time he had made a lewd comment towards her. However this time coupled with the mental image he had cooked up it was affecting him far more than it normally would have.

She rolled her eyes at him.  Of course he would take it there.  Why had she expected anything different from him?  Of course, then the thought crossed her mind: did she intend anything different? 

Goodness, this was getting complicated – and strange.  “Surely,” Jordyn tried to deflect, “a nap would far more satisfying that that.”  She’d never been the type to think much of herself in that way.  She’d never thought was completely unfortunate looking, but a beauty?  Compared to her classmates, particularly her dormmates?  The very thought was laughable!  For one thing, Jordyn always thought her hips were too wide, bum too big to be reasonable.  It certainly seemed so when she tried to put on Neely’s clothes and everything that was decent on her was… not so for Jordyn.  Secondly, she’d cultivated a reputation that she had sort of intentionally removed all traces of what might call sex appeal from in an effort to be taken seriously.  Why, she had been so serious about that, she started to believe it herself. 

The very thought made her shift uncomfortably in her seat.  “And on that note,” she started to move, shifting her knees sideway so she would be able to push herself up, “I should be going back: that nap sounds incredible to me,” she laughed lightly and started to push herself up, this time into kneeling position.  “Thank you for the break, Tawse,” she added with a tiny smile creeping into the corner of her lips, “it wasn’t as horrible as any other time I’ve spent with you.”

Xavier almost bit his tongue off trying not to respond on which would be more satisfying. For a fleeting moment he found himself curious of the reaction she had given him. He had hoped for a nice deep blush to match his own but she was so dismissive. He had a feeling it had more to do with what she thought of herself than what he thought of her, which in itself was a ludicrous thought. He didn't think he knew anyone who thought more of themselves than Jordyn did, but we'll not in a conceited way (if that was possible)

He sat up as she rose to her feet indicating that this little break in reality for the two of them was coming to a close. He supposed it wasn't all bad. He could go for a another swim and cool off before having made a complete ass out of himself. At least the lack of proximity between them was curbing his desire to touch her again (not to mention the poor reception his attempts had received)

He let out a cocky laugh as he rose to his feet himself, "Two compliments in one day. Careful Dimbleby, people'll start thinking you like me." He gave her a wink. Resisting the urge to do something stupid, like hug her goodbye, he tore off his shirt again and headed back to the lake.