*Aiden was different than most people. If he were normal, he would come to the Astronomy tower at night and not even think about it until then. No, he went there during the afternoon. It was a sunny, but chilly, Sunday, just past noon. Aiden had already done his homework, so he found his way up here. The floor of the tower was covered in a sheet of snow, so he had to use a spell to clear off a place to sit. He was attempting to write a novel...it wasn't working, though. He was having complete writer's block. He didn't know how that was possible...writer's block at one of the most beautiful locations in the school. He was mildly irritated that he could think of anything to write. He was about to give it up altogether.*

*Tristan was having a particurally stressful day, and decided to relieve the stress a little by having a smoke. He didn't feel like leaving the grounds or going into the forest where most people went (since it wasn't allowed at school) so he decided to hit up the astronomy tower instead. Tristan walked onto the astronomy tower with a cigaette behind his ear and the lighter in his coat pocket. He was suprised to see someone up there when he arrived, let alone someone he knew.* "Aiden?" *He asked with a small grin. He hadn't seen him since they had met in hogsmede a month before.*

*Aiden looked up quickly at the sound of a voice. He grinned when he saw Tristan standing there.*
Aiden:"Hey!" *he greeted happily*"How are you?" *he asked, trying to see if illness or injury was part of the reason why they hadn't seen each other in so long.*

"Not bad, you?" *He asked, hugging his coat tighter to himself. It was freezing up here...he didn't know why someone would come up here vollentarily in this weather.* "Mind if I smoke?" *He asked, pulling the cigarette from behind his ear.*

*Aiden shook his head*
Aiden:"No, go right ahead. I've been fine. Classes are h*ll, but there's nothing I can do about that. This pureblood favoritism is over-the-top; I'm failing Transfiguration because of it."

"Seriously?" *Tristan asked, the cigarette between his lips and the lighter behind his cupped hands. On the 5th try, he got his lighter to light and he slipped it back into his pocket as he took a drag on the cigatette.* "That's because of Harshing being headmaster. The bloke who put him in charge is bloody stupid." *He took another drag and then held the cigarette out to Aiden...he wasn't sure if he smoked or not.* "I'm glad to be back in school but the classes are getting much harder. Beats living on the street though.*

*Aiden took the cigarette from Tristan when he offered it. He didn't smoke regularly, only once in a blue moon. He took a drag before speaking again*
Aiden:"Yeah, about that, I've decided that you're staying with me this summer. I don't want you to have to struggle to survive. There's a lot of a*sholes out there who will use that to their advantage...."

*He didn't care how outlandish it sounded. They had only met for one night, but that didn't matter. He was a friend regardless of how long they had known each other for, and he wasn't going to let anything happen to him.*

*It was a releaf hearing that he would have a place to live at over the summer. He HAD had an apartment, but his land lady had been strapped for money and had to lend it out to someone else. He didn't hold it against her at all.* "Wow....." *Tristan took the cigarette back and took a deep drag on it, watching Aiden. Tristan cracked a grin* "Thanks....I mean, I'll help with your rent and everything....we can split it and cost of food and all.......if you're not sure about it you can just tell me and I'll find somewhere else..." *Tristan took a drag and blew it away from them. He couldn't deny that he was attracted to Aiden...and that worried him a little, that it may get sticky in the future.*

*Pay for part of the rent...Aiden almost laughed. Tristan was expecting that he lived on his own. He had no idea that his parents were insane and planned on keeping him in the house until he had a job. They were insane.*
Aiden:"Well, see...I don't pay rent...because I live with my parents." *he thought that this might change Tristan's attitude completely.*

ooc: I SEE PLOOOOOOTAGE!!!!! lol

ic:



*Tristan wasn't suprised. He had just assumed that aiden was on his own because he had invited him to move in.* "Oh, okay....Are you sure it would be okay with them, then? If you just come home from school with some strange boy are they going to like....disown you?" *Tristan took another drag before crushing the cigarette but and flicking it off over the tower*

*Aiden laughed*
Aiden:"No, my mum would probably ask you herself if she had the opportunity. And it's not like I'm going to just show up with you in the summer; I'll tell them before hand. They'll probably have a room ready for you and everything...because they're completely insane."

"Wow...." *Tristan pulled his coat closer to his body and leaned against the wall, gazing at Aiden with an expression of happiness and amazement.* "I don't know what to say........That really nice of you to ofer that. I wish i could return the gesture...."

*Aiden shrugged. He smiled at Tristan's reaction, very glad that he had made the offer.*
Aiden:"Really, it doesn't matter. The fact that you didn't shoot down the idea is enough. I consider you a friend after all, and I don't let my friends suffer like that."

*tristan laughed quietly* "Well, i wouldn't call it suffering.....exactly." *He paused and sighed* "It was very difficult but I got through it and grew up a little, I think." *He shrugged* "It could have been worse......" *Tristan paused and burst out laughing.* "Actually, that's a lie....it was pretty terrible. It was a major suck-fest."



ooc: suck-fest © of Logan Dorche. lol

*Aiden looked at Tristan with doubt when he tried to convince him that his summer wasn't horrible. He smiled at Tristan's creative term. He definitely hadn't heard it before.*
Aiden:"Yeah, that's what I thought. Well if you're going to go with the growing up excuse, can I say that I don't want to come back to school and find a 40-year-old in your place?" *he joked*

*Tristan laughed again and shook his head.* "No...I don't think I grew up that much....just alittle...now I know how to protect my door stoop when someone goes to sleep on it...I'm all like 'shut up woman...I'll call you by your gender...I do what I want.'" *He laughed at his own joke.*



ooc: sory...that's a blane steves quote

*Aiden laughed even though the whole door stoop aspect upset him.*
Aiden:"Well I bet it's a relief to know that you don't have to harass any random women this summer. Nope, you'll have a room that's yours and I'm pretty sure that no one will try to invade it." *Except...maybe me. he thought. He chuckled at his own slightly perverted thoughts.*

*Tristan grinned* "That will be a nice change of pace." *He admitted. Tristan sighed and pulled out his wand. He conjured a stool and pushed it into the corner with his foot. He sat on it and leaned back on it's back two legs.* "Im sorry about all of this..." *He appologized quietly.*

Aiden:"No, don't be sorry, it's really, honestly nothing. It's my choice to let you stay with us, it's not because I feel obliged. Imagine it as a summer long sleepover if it makes you feel any better." *he told him, being forceful, but still kind at the same time.*

"No..." *He paused* "Not just that....I mean, that is part of it, but for the jokes and for the smoking and anything else I do that's offensive" *He looked up at Aiden with his big brown eyes.* "Especially if I'm going to be living with you this summer...I'll just appologize in advance."

*Aiden sighed*
Aiden:"Obviously, you aren't catching any of my hints. I don't care about any of that stuff, honestly, the only reason I would care about any of that is if you smoked a pack a day, because I don't want you to get sick or die any sooner than you have to. I know you're going to think I'm an idiot right now, but...I have an insanely huge crush on you right now...it's completely irrational and potentially pointless, but I do, and that's kind of the reason that I'm doing all of this for you."

*Aiden waited, looking at him expectantly. He'd just poured his heart out, and the last time he had done that to a guy...it ended badly. He anticipated the worst, but hoped for the best.*

*Tristan let the chair come to rest on all four of its legs. He looked down at his feet and grinned to himself. It had taken him by suprise to hear it that he and Aiden had mutual feelings towards one another.* "Aiden....." *He paused but didn't look up at Aiden untill he started speaking again* "I wouldn't be good for you.....I'm damaged goods....." *He opened his mouth to speak but then stopped and closed his mouth, lost for words.* "I mean, don't get me wrong...I've liked you since you bought me dinner when we met..." *He grinned again, but it faded slightly* "I just don't want you to get hurt."

OOC: Hmm, for some reason that sounds familiar. lol.

IC:

*Aiden felt a sharp pang in his stomach as he felt it flip around. But Tristan wasn't having it, no matter how they both felt for eachother.*
Aiden:"Tristan, you won't be able to hurt me more than I already have been, I'm confident of that. Are you trying to stop yourself from being happy just because you're afraid? I'm scared to death right now, too, that it's going to be like it was the last time, but I'm giving it a chance. Please- just...try." *A small smile swept across Aiden's face as he tried to win Tristan over with charm.*

*Tristan sighed and stood.* "The past couple of months have been realy difficult. I've had to go through a lot of stuff that I never thought I would have to go through..." *He admitted, taking a few steps foward so he was standing in front of Aiden and was close enough to touch him.* "I just don't know how I would be in a relationship after that." *He paused again and took an inch of a step closer to him.* "But........I'm willing to try.....if you are."

Aiden:"Oh," *He mumbled, looking down when he realized what Tristan was talking about.*"That makes sense, it really does. I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to....I'm sorry, I didn't think about that. I sort of know where you coming from...but in a different way, if that makes sense. You'll probably find some way for this to make it seem like you'll hurt me without realizing it, but you've been honest with me, so I should do the same for you."

"So what are you saying?" *He asked quietly, trying not to let himself get excied or discouraged by this last statement before Aiden clarified exactly what he ment. Tristan planted a hand on his hip and looked at Aiden from under his long eye lashes.*

Aiden:"What I'm saying is....this is a huge step for me, too." *He was a bit reluctant to share this information with him, because only one person at the school knew of it. He tried to keep this a secret, and for obvious reasons.*"Last year, things started getting a little rough for me. I wanted a way out of it, so when I met this guy who told me that he liked me...I jumped on the chance. The guy was out of Hogwarts, I was 16. I didn't think before I did it, I didn't care that maybe this was a joke. After about a month, he invited me to his house. When I got there, some of his other friends were sitting around, too. I hadn't expected that, but I didn't mind. I thought it was the next step in the relationship- letting me meet his friends. Later, though, he left the room to 'go get something'. I don't really know how the rest of this happened, but as soon as he was gone, one of his friends started beating me up, and the rest joined in too. They told me it was because I was gay, and because of it, I was in the hospital wing for close to a week. It was a trap, and I'm sort of afraid that it's going to happen again."

*He didn't look at Tristan when he admitted that he was still afraid, because he felt bad that he would think Tristan would do something like that to him.*

Aiden:"I really don't care, though. Somehow I convinced my rational side to take control, so I'm letting the fact that I'm going a bit crazy over you be more important than my fears."

*Tristan's scowl had deepened as Aiden spoke. As soon as he started in on the story he knew the way it would end.=* "I've been beaten up like that before too." *HE said quietly. His mood visably lightened when he said how much he liked him* "I promise I would never hurt you like that. I know what that's like.....and I swear I'm not posing as gay.....and that I reallly do like you...and if you're STILL not convinced....." *Tristan grinned at the thought of his own rash action but it didn't dissuade him from actually doing it. Trist leaned in and pulled Aiden's head up before kissing him on the lips, gently but firmly at the same time.*

*Aiden was shocked, and that's possibly the only word good enough to describe his surprised, but not unpleasant expression after Tristan had pulled away. His eyes were wide, and he was smiling faintly.*
Aiden:"You didn't have to do that to prove yourself, but...I wouldn't have stopped you." *he assured him.*

*He was clearly a bit embarrassed, but pleasantly. He ran his hand through his hair and smiled sheepishly.*

Aiden:"Jesus, I don't even know what to say now." *he admitted jokingly.*

*Tristan took a step back and grined to himself. He found it totally adorable that Aiden was embarassed by it.* "Oh, I know....I didn't really have to prove myself..it was just an excuse..." *Tristan almost giggled at his own cunning.*

*Aiden laughed.*
Aiden:"You're ridiculous, you know that?"

*He felt like, at that moment, they had both made a silent agreement. It was one of those things that didn't need to be spoken, though. Now, the agreement was obvious, and Aiden was excited beyond belief.*

Aiden:"I need to warn you what you're getting into. I met this girl Jenna the other day. She and I are both muggleborns, and we're fed up with all of the s*it we're getting, so we're kind of making as much trouble as humanly, and possibly inhumanly depending on what we can get the ghosts to do." *he smirked*

*Tristan grinned as Aiden revealed that he was trying to make trouble* "That's excellent...I want to help..." *He said almost immediately* "I mean, I'm not a muggle-born...but I agree with you that some of the stuff that goes on around here needs to stop, and preferably sooner rather than later. And besides, the majority of my teachers hate me anyway, so it can't really hurt much."

Aiden:"Seriously?" *he asked with a doubtful expression, but still grinning* "You're begging to be murdered. You really shouldn't worry, though. This is all sort of an anonymous deal. We don't have a group name, but we have a symbol. Hopefully, they won't find out that it's us for a while."

"Yeah, of course I'm sure....I love pranks..." *He paused, scanning his memory for any clever names he'd heard before in books or movies in the muggle or wizarding world.* "What about Project Mayhem or something?" *He suguested.*"Just an idea though...."

Aiden:"No, we're sticking with just the symbol; it's less personal. Then they can pick a name for us, and it'll probably be 10 times more imposing than something we make up." *he shrugged*"That's our theory, anyway."

"Alright." *He agreed, shrugging as well. He didn't mind at all...he was just glad that he was being included. And more than that, he was glad to be off the streets and in what looked like the start of a good relationship.* "I'm excited about this......have you decided on a good first prank?"

*Aiden's grin transformed into a mischievous smirk. He nodded vaguely*
Aiden:"Oh yes. It involves the Slytherin common room, Polyjuice potion, and some of Warbler's Everlasting Spray Paint." *he explained.*"And ruining Jesse Watkins' life."

*"Oh good....I hate that....git." *Tristan shifted into a more comfortable position and looked out over the grounds* "He practically ruined MY life last year, although I'm sure I'm not the only one."

Aiden:"I'm sure, too, because he made my ilfe a living hell. I've had a few ideas about the best approach for it,,,a few extremely vulgar ones that I've thoroughly considered but decided against....I know I'll end up making it something huge, though." *he pondered this for a little bit. There were so many things that he would feel no shame in doing to this boy.*"Do you have any requests?"

*Tristan sighed* "Yeah, make it something that'll last for a while.....and something embarassing.....I don't want to ttell you somethingnow though...I'd rather think about it for a little to come up with something worthy of him." *Tristan rolled his eyes* ""He deserves whatever he gets..."