Outfit


      Piper walked down the corridor moving her head back and forth and humming to herself. Mostly every day she would go into some empty classroom and sit by herself.  She walked inside and took a seat pulling out a notebook. Her eyes closed as she leaned back concentrating on the day. Every day she did at least one portrait of people she saw or inanimate objects.

     She thought hard and sat up straight smiling as she began to sketch. The day before it was a fighting couple she saw in the hallway. Her picture was of the girl screaming with her hands in the air. The guy just had a bored expression on his face. She could tell they did that often.

     This drawing was of a caterpillar she saw inching up a tree earlier that day. It was a light green color. A prettty boring looking caterpillar but she was sure that if she had a conversation with it she would hear stories of...well mostly just traveling on trees. She snickered to herself starting to shade. Sketching was one thing that Piper felt fully confident about. She wasn't the greatest but people could tell what she was drawing if she ever showed anyone.
     
     As much as she loved attention drawing was something that was hers alone. If anyone actually asked her about them she would probably show but until that day she would keep it to herself. As her elbow touched the desk to get a different angle she winced. There was a pretty large bruise on her elbow from walking into a wall. It was during the fight in the hallway. All eyes were on the couple and she didn't like that. As soon as her arm hit she let out a loud shriek and all eyes were on her.

    She sat at the desk smiling at the memory. That was a feeling she just wanted to roll around in. If it were something physical of course. It was something she imagined had the texture of melted chocolate and the smell of Lilacs. Her eyes were closed again as she took a deep breath trying to imagine the scent.

Cam walked out of his common room and into the hallway. His arms were full of books, a few notebooks, with a quill sticking out of his pocket, the ink bottle in his other. Thank God for black pants, if ever an ink spill, no one would notice.

Holding the books down by his waist, the other arm dug in his pocket for a piece of licorice. The red kind, not the black. Candy shouldn't be black, nor should anything you consume. Finally, finding it he popped it in his mouth. The taste spilled over into his taste-buds making them dance. Biting off the end he turned the corner and continued on. The day was nice, but he preferred to be alone sometimes. With classes on the rise he felt his attention needed to be devoted to study. However, an excuse not to is always welcomed.

Turning another corner he came face first, more so their face to his chest, with a few first years. Obviously the one played a trick on the other and was trying to get away.

Cam's things spilled to the floor and the young student apologized while running off.

"Gits..." He shook his head, adding a sigh to show his annoyance.

As he began to pick up his books he looked to his right, one of the empty classrooms had an occupant. The room wasn't that brightly lit but he felt bad for making noise when she obviously was relaxed or in deep thought. "So sorry, didn't mean to..." He gestured towards his books, which were now collected in his arms. "you know." He rubbed the back of his neck, he felt awkward for saying something now, standing there like an idiot talking to a person he might not even know.

     Piper heard a loud crashing sound and apologizing little people. There was a boy who had dropped his books. A Ravenclaw. He was older than she was but she could not for the life of her remember his name. He didn't seem to happy about his things on the ground and even went so far as to start apologizing to her. While she did  enjoy the attention he didn't need to do that.

     She stood rushing over to him, knelt beside him and began helping him with his things.
"There is no need to apologize!! I wasn't studying or anything just doodling. Did you want to study in here or something? OR I could help you with your many books." She wanted any excuse to be around people. Though she went to the room to be alone the guy didn't seem mean or anything.

     Taking a deep breath she caught the scent of something. Something sweet and something she was suddenly craving. Suddenly she knew what it was and her eyes lit up.

"LICORICE!! Um..HAH I'm sorry. That was a bit off wasn't it. I was just... Nevermind." She stood with some of his books and frowned at the ground.

   "I hate to tell you this, but it seems your ink is spilling all over the floor."  She ran back to her desk, grabbed her jacket, and ran back setting it on the ink. Magic wasn't necessary in all situations and that was something she always had believed in.

    "I'm Piper by the way! And don't worry about the jacket. It will probably look better with the ink." It was a problem of hers that she liked to comment on everything but she never let it be a rude comment. Those she kept in her head.

Cam watched as the girl came over to help him. A grin found its way on his annoyed face and gathered all of the parchment finally, with her help of course. Standing up he looked back at her and grinned, "Thanks for the help." He rubbed his neck again, he got nervous with girls to easily, even if it was a friendship thing.

Looking down at his books he laughed. "Well, I think my study mood has disappeared, but I really am not complaining." He was glad to have company, life had been boring lately and books were not as good of an escape as people may think.

He watched as her eyes lit up and he tried not to laugh, not  because she was weird but because it was refreshing to see someone with life in them. He wished he could get excited about the simple and small things in life. "No need to explain, licorice is pretty amazing." He reached in his clean pocket were the little bag fit snug, pulling out a piece and giving it to her.

Looking down at the floor he would of cursed but her movements distracted him. Looking down at his pants he was hoping that the ink bottle had fallen out instead of stained his pants and leg, it had fallen out. At least that was one thing to be relieved about.  She cleaned up the mess with her jacket, his jaw couldn't help to drop. "Whoa, no need for that!" He felt horrible now. She explained about the jacket but the apologetic look on his face wouldn't leave. "At least let me buy you a new one or something..."

Shaking his head he laughed. "Wow, I gave you licorice, you ruined your jacket, and I know who you are from around school but your name, not so much." He held out his hand. "Cam Jacobs, aka graceless."

     Piper got even more excited when he gave her licorice. She shoved it in her mouth and finished cleaning up the ink. Her eyes went wide as he offered to buy her a new jacket. That had to be the nicest thing anyone had said or offered to do for her, which was slightly pathetic on her end.

     "NO! I mean no..no. You don't have to do that. I cleaned up the mess with my jacket on my own. You didn't do anything wrong. Now if you grabbed my jacket and did it on your own accord we would have a problem." A smirk appeared on her face.

      He introduced himself and even held his hand for her to shake. For some reason it was extremely exciting for her. She loved meeting new people. She took his hand and began to shake.

 "It's so nice to meet you graceless!! " She smiled throwing her jacket on her desk. "So..CAM would you like to join me in my humble. Well I want to say abode but I'm just going with classroom. I think the two of us can maybe fit in here!" She spun around and skipped to the desk taking a seat. Since she already had his attention it was fine for her to just be herself, which made her life so much easier.

     "So why do you do that neck thing? Is it itchy? Is the tag rubbing on it or something?" She was good at noticing peoples quirks but not so great with the reasons people had them. Her sketchpad was sitting on the desk. She slowly reached up and shut it trying not to let him notice. There wasn't anything embarrassing in it but that didn't mean she went around showing people.

     She finally finished the piece of licorice and pouted a bit. "So if you keep treats in your pockets all the time I think you have a new best friend!"

A small laughed came out, she was a lively one that was for sure. Her eyes went wide and for a moment he thought he did something wrong.

"Well, if I saw it I might of used it." He was being playful, he hated being uptight and proper. Boring!

"Great I came up with a new nickname for myself, and it will probably stick." He grinned. Thank God he ran into someone that was friendly, he really wasn't in the mood for a fight, mainly because he knew he would lose it. "You trying to say I am fat? How rude!" His face looked offended but the twitches of his lips gave in and a smile appeared.

She skipped, that was different, girls were usually not this outgoing when meeting new people. It was refreshing but he knew he couldn't follow suit. "I would skip but I think it would look odd, entertaining, but odd." Walking over he noticed a little drawing on a page, but before he could see what it was she had shut it closed. He chose and desk to sit on and propped his feet on the chair. A teacher would throw a fit.

About to rub his neck he stopped himself. "I..." He shook his head and laughed. "Well, to be blunt. I get nervous easily and for some reason I rub my neck." That did it, now he was really embarrassed. He just admitted he was nervous in front of her. "Embarrassing moments aren't the best way to meet new people but it happens I guess." He grinned. He hoped she would believe that, him being nervous around girls wasn't exactly something he was proud of.

"Gotta munch all the time. Candy is my bud." He grinned.

     Piper began giggling. "Aww I want to see you skip." She had to admit the mental image was absolutely glorious. She wouldn't pry on the subject any longer though. Skipping was something that sometimes just happened, she didn't even realize she was doing it when he brought it up.

     "I understand about having a nervous habit. I bite my nails." She showed him her red obviously aching fingertips. "It's fine to do little things like that. There are so many reasons too. " She turned forward looking away from him. "Be it stress, worrying what people think about you, or talking to the opposite gender."  Her eyes landed on him as she said the last thing.

     No, she had no clue if he was lying or not but it made things a lot more fun if she was lucky enough to be right. It got her in trouble a few times when she was wrong. Once she hinted that she thought a guy liked one of her friends when he definitely didn't. She had actually gotten a black eye that time.

     "So, tell me about these candy friends of yours and can I be their friends? Do you switch the type of candy and if so what kinds?" She laughed at how much she sounded like she was interviewing him. Luckily he was being a really nice guy who hadn't even mocked her humor once. It was obvious they were going to be friends. Unless he didn't want to.

     It occurred sometimes when she thought conversations were going well and then she never spoke to people again. confrontations happened. Feelings her hurt. Her feelings but she was almost certain he wasn't that way!

Cam jumped off the desk and started making the beginning skipping motion, knee up and all in the Mario Brothers pose, Cam paused. Dropping his knee down he began to chuckle lightly. He really was not funny by nature but he had his moments. Even if it was funny to him and weird to others.

Plopping back on the top of the desk, the table slid slightly from the force. "Whoa, I better stop hanging out with my bud as much or something." He patted his stomach. "Putting on some weight or something." That was a lie, he hated his weight changing just as much as he hated unpredictable weather. It was one of those self-conscious things he hated about himself. To be bigger was a scary thought, he would have no chance to get away from a fist or dodge a spell if needed. Fighting was unnecessary, dueling was though.

"Just put something nasty tasting on your nails and you will solve that problem quick." He winked, adding a 'i'm just kidding' kind of smile as he did so. Shifting in his seat he could tell she caught him. How she did, he didn't know. However, it was stupid to lie, she was smart, caught on quick with people. So what was the point. "Yeah...I don't know why but, no matter who it is, the opposite sex makes me nervous. Just, I guess...I feel the need to not look dumb, clumsy, like anything that could harm a friendship or relationship...if that makes sense."

Yes, he just embarrassed himself and he knew it. All there was to do now was to stare at his fingers while he twiddled them.

"Oh, I switch em' up. One kind gets way to boring." She was pretty amazing, an amazing friend for sure. He had never had someone so upfront, willing to talk, and be themselves around him. It was refreshing to see people actually act like people. Putting on a front gets annoying, but in some cases that is Cam's fault. He was to afraid to show his true colors, perhaps Piper could change that. She seemed like the type that could without even trying.

     Piper watched him jump around and started giggling. "Wow! you are a dork..It's great really. I like it."  She then raised an eyebrow at his weight comment.
 
  "You can NOT say you are gaining weight when I'm bigger than you are." She chuckled. It always bothered her when skinny people thought they were big but she knew he was joking. In truth she really wished putting something that tasted nasty on her nails would help her stop biting them. She tried fingernail polish a few times but it would just instantly chip off of the front part of her nails giving easy access.

     Piper looked up at him frowning a little bit. "But you weren't that shy around me..and you warmed up so quickly. Is it that you think I'm weird or one of the guys?" She looked slightly hurt. It was just things pent up that led to it. Not that she was initially trying to start a romantic relationship with him, she just wanted to know that she had a chance. It always worked out that way but she should have been used to it by that point.

     Immediately perking up she tilted her head. " Nevermind that little outburst. It happens sometimes. I think that the best way to get a relationship with someone is to let them see what you are really like. Especially if it means jumping and freezing in the air." She joked. "But maybe you shouldn't take my advice. It hasn't gotten me very far. I'm the weird blue haired girl that is always on one end of the spectrum of personalities or the other."  She started pacing around the room. It was always something she dreaded when she spat out little things that bothered her. Most of the times it didn't make sense with the conversation at hand. She had fun talking to him and didn't want to scare him off by being crazy.

     Trying to pretend the earlier part of the conversation hadn't happened she got on her tip toes and started walking around the room trying to keep her balance.
   
    "Okay so tell me how many of these friends you want to share with me!!"

"Well I can pretend I am gaining weight, and your not fat so don't act like you are." Girls always thought that, he really didn't care for super skinny women. They look sick, he likes curves. Not that he has really had the opportunity to be with a girl, but if he had a choice, they would have curves. Not a lot but he prefers healthy looking people. "You are fine and dandy just the way you are." Was he flirting? He didn't know for sure, it wasn't his strong suit but maybe he was just being friendly.

Outbursts didn't really surprise him that much. Honestly is the best policy, again something he liked in others but couldn't manage it himself. "I find you easy to talk to, outgoing, and honest. I like that, I suppose your lack of being fake makes you far more easy to talk to. Your a no bull kinda person, and its refreshing." He laughed. "And you are definitely not one of the guys. I have no doubt you are female."

He knew women liked to be treated like one of the guys when having guy friends. Cam also knew that even though they would like to be treated that way, that the guys would also treat them like a girl. Opening doors, not throwing things at them for no reason, and bodily functions probably were not a plus. Odd, but he got it.

Watching her, the mood changed quickly. It didn't bother, annoy, or scare him. Instead he felt the same way, he just had a tendency to keep it in and punch things later. "I rather you tell me what's up then pussy-foot around." He nodded. "I would like to be more open, it's difficult." He jumped from the desk and paced the opposite way of her. "Your not weird, you are...unique, and in a good way. Blue hair and all." He smiled, hoping he didn't offend her. That was actually the opposite of what he was trying to do. "I dyed my hair red once...colored hair doesn't really fit with me."

Pretending to count his fingers he looked up in the air. "Oh you know...pretty much anything you can think of. A lot of muggle candy too!"

     Piper never thought she was fat herself. She knew realistically that she had curves and loved it to no end but she was still a little bigger than he was or at least than he would be as a girl.
   
     She smiled as he said he liked the way she was. So much so that she thought she actually felt herself blush a little. She turned away facing to front of the room. "Are there really a lot of people that lie to you that much or do I just not notice when people are being fake with me."  It was possible that she didn't notice people. She always tried to see the best in others which didn't often work out for her and she ended up apologizing for them.

     "HAH! No doubt I'm female? Well thank you I  suppose. I'm almost certain you are male." A tall, blond, pretty male. She rolled her eyes and shook her head trying to erase the thought from her mind.

     "I actually have a problem with speaking my mind. It's difficult to lie to protect people's feelings. I really wish I were better at that" she was finally able to turn back to him and gave a friendly smile. That itself was a little bit of a lie. She was doing it now to make him like her more.  She really enjoyed him saying she was unique but wished people could search their inner souls to find a different adjective for her. Not that she hated hearing it. It was still a compliment.

     "I have to say I can't imagine you with red hair. The color you have now is just perfect I think." Most people she felt didn't need to change their appearances to look better and Cam was one of them.  She didn't think she needed to but she enjoyed how it made her look.

      Her eyes lit up. "MUGGLE CANDY!? Do you have any of that with you? If so do you want to share with your good good buddy Piper?!" The thought of trying new candies was thrilling.

Cam shrugged, there were a lot of people that lied. "People lie to cover up their faults. It's basic human nature. Which is why you are amazing to be around. You put yourself out there, you don't hide yourself. You don't fake being friendly, at least I hope not." His cheeks turned a shade darker.

"Good to know we agree on each others sex." His smile widened, he really was enjoying this.

"Oh you have that problem too?" He laughed. "I tend to get in arguments for speaking my mind to much. Nasty habit  but hey, I can't keep my mouth shut."

Her smile gave her away a bit, he pressed forward to back track. "Unique is something you get a lot I am sure but I am not talking about your look. Your personality is unique, your look is just fantastic. Wish I had to balls to do it." He really did. This topic goes back to his never ending insecurities. He began to blush about his hair. "I need to shave it...it's getting long..." He liked his hair long, but it was a constant pain in the butt to keep up on.

Cam laughed and pulled out a thing of candy. It was stick like with a bunch of round candies packed into it. "It's called Shockers..." He walked over to her and handed her a blue one. This candy was sour beyond some people and he gave her the most sour one for fun.

   Piper had to turn away again because she knew her face was probably bright red by that point. "I promise this is really how I am. It takes to much effort to pretend being someone else." She sat down on one of the desks and looked up at him smiling.

     His compliments were really starting to get to her and she knew if she looked away again it would ruin everything so she just stuck in there. He said she looked fantastic. That was one she had never heard before. Weird, unique, and cute. Those were what she was used to so hearing something knew was a delight for her.

     " I don't think you should change your appearance. I actually like it right now just the way it is." She held up her fingers in a mock picture frame. "Yep. Perfect hair length. Perfect bone structure. Just per..." She looked down at her feet. It was strange for her to act so nervous. Everyone usually got treated the same way so it was new for her.

   She jumped off the desk and ran over to him taking the candy. "Shockers? Is it going to electrocute me?!" She shrugged a popped the candy into the mouth. In mere seconds she was making a terrible face and shaking her head back and forth. "You didn't warnn meee!!" She clenched her eyes shut shaking and began laughing as the sour dissipated.  "That was low!" she chuckled sticking out her tongue. "Is it blue?"

Cam thought about it, and he agreed. Being fake is far to much effort, but showing yourself to others is far more difficult mentally.

He had never gotten compliments like that. He really had never changed his look much since he was barely in his teens. Girls never really paid attention to him either. It was like all of a sudden a girl was giving him notice. Did his hair look better? Teeth whiter? He couldn't put his finger on it. Perhaps he was just getting noticed because of his age. Younger students tend to be forgotten.

He blushed at the compliment, but didn't turn away. "I do believe you are the first to tell me that. And I don't have a clue about how to react." He laughed. "But thank you."

He laughed. "If it were wizard candy it probably would, but it shocks you in its own way. " Cam got a little anxious feeling in his stomach as she took the candy. He couldn't wait to see her reaction, and, as he predicted, it was priceless. "Not low, just funny." He grinned. "Deliciously painful." He looked down at her tongue and nodded. "Just a little streak of blue, yep." He felt odd now. Looking down at a girls tongue, he shallowed hard. "Feel free to have the whole thing. My Dad tends to send me candy instead of useful things." He laughed. 

  Piper shook her head at the thought that no one had complimented him like she did. It was actually kind of a thrilling thought. She kept glancing him up and down to see what the problem with him was that made girls ignore him.

     When she stuck her tongue out she could see his adam's apple bobbing and she was in danger of having a huge smirk creep on her face. The cherry on top of this seemingly perfect situation was when she was offered a whole thing of candy. People didn't often give her things let alone things she loved so when he offered she stared into his eyes with a look of glee that couldn't even be described in words.
 
    "Really?! I can have it?" She squealed hugging him and immediately pulled away blushing. She put her hands behind her back and smiled walking around him in a circle.
      "So Cam I can't seem to find any major flaws with you. The only thing I've come up with in my head is that you are a serial killer. The jig is up!!" She yelled jumping in front of him and wrapping her arms around him to hold him still.

    "I'll let you go if you just tell me the secret to your sweet ways, and don't blame the candy. " In her head she was screaming at herself. It was normal behavior for her to be acting so crazy but she couldn't help cursing herself silently at her stupidity.