Around the world in 80 days (Riley)

[Esmeralda Jones]

A girl walked up the driveway of the Collingwell castle, her sneakers kicking up dust as she went. She had mid-length wheat colored hair, her eyes obscured by large sunglasses. Her skin was golden bronze and she wore denim shorts and a loose T-shirt that hung off one of her shoulders. Her converse sneakers were dirty and a flash of pink erupted now again as she blew bubbles in the strawberry bubblegum she was chewing. Coming to a stop almost alongside the great castle, she dumped the large black knapsack she’d been lugging and lifted her sunglasses to look up at the towering stone fortress. Erin Jones had left here three months ago, taken away with her uncle and father. Where she’d been she’d done more growing up in these past months then she’d done in years here. She got her memories back, but she got back a whole lot more then that. This time, for the first time she was coming back to Collingwell as her. The real her. Erin Jones was half a story. Esmeralda Orana Jones was the published novel. She’d have to relearn everything about herself here.

She shoved the keys to the truck back into her pocket. Her uncle had brought it here as a present for her. In her time away, she’d finally repaired the engine and she’d driven it here. It was parked outside the Collingwell gate, as muggle transport seized to work beyond that point. But it was there for village weekends, or whenever she felt like taking it out.

She could head straight up to the teacher’s office, they were expecting her sometime today, but she held off going inside. Picking up the bag she dumped it on the park bench instead and sat down beside it. Looking up at Collingwell, contemplating it. She could take a minute for nostalgia, it wouldn’t hurt.

[Riley Callaghan]

Unfortunately, nostalgia could hurt like a bitch. At least thats what Miss Riley Callaghan was thinking as she stomped across Collingwell front lawn, an earnest, yet extremely exasperating, seventh year trailing behind her and trying (but valiantly failing) to get her to come back to the quidditch pitch. Ha! fat chance. Large aquamarine eyes that dominated her youthful face flashed with temper as the ridiculously tall witch came level with a blonde girl sitting on a bench--her body fairly radiating her customary tension. The leggy brunette today was clad in a rather restrained manner to what she normally was: her emerald colored blouse had a sweetheart collar with cute little gold buttons down her chest and teamed nicely with expensive dark denim shorts from the GAP. Her accessories were just some gold gypsy bangles, a fetching little gold anklet and truly stunning Etienne Aigner gladiator sandals. Apparently totally wrong for her first attempt at quidditch. pfft. bite me.

What brought this trendy socialite to dirty herself in the sport of wizards? Why pure dumb bad luck: and a bit of nostalgia. The mistwell had thought it would be nice to play a bit of catch with a few cute ashburg boys, been spotted by the coach and promptly drafted on as the Mistwell keeper. Apparently her bean-pole body had the fantastic reach needed for such a thing... but Riley had a wicked competitive streak that didn't let her play nice with the kids like she should. Hence the placating mistwell, the larkstone who'd gotten a broom to the face, a freaking detention slip on her perfect record (well, she'd only been there a few weeks?) and a fuming witch.

"Look, leave me the hell alone. I'm done"

"Just give it another try, maybe Louise really did foul you first--"

"--Maybe???"

Riley spun around and plunked herself down unceremoniously right beside Esme. She turned to the blonde, one look skimming over the blue eyes, the pretty skin, the (shudder) scuffed sneakers. It didn't matter.

"Please tell this asshat he can shove his broom right up where the sun don't shine."

"Riley.."

"Please tell the aforementioned moron that there is no way I am apologizing to that foul-mouthed, payless-shoe wearing, larkstone mental patient."

Blue green eyes stared stubbornly at the other girl, the americans rare temper simmering on low heat at the moment. Only then did they really take a measure of the fair-haired stranger, noted the delicate features, much like a waif, and took in the bags and whatnot. Could it be? The mysterious Larkstone Erin Jones who'd disappeared a few months ago? Riley was very interested in the gossip flying around at the moment... and anything that might annoy Jarred was mild entertainment for her. ooh. spiteful today. russet lashes fluttered as the seventeen yearold completely forgot about her fellow house member.

"And please let me introduce myself: Riley Callaghan, not crazy despite popular belief"

She greeted, a warm, generous smile stealing over her face and transforming it to something innocent. Not the angry mistwell from two seconds ago, no siree.

[Esmeralda Jones]

Esme, attracted by the noise of stomping sandals, looked from the castle across to where a tall brunette girl was approaching fast. Sounded like a Quiddich dispute. Essie looked politely interested, not even bothing to pretend as though she wasn’t now listening to the conversation. As the girl turned to her Essie, Essie calmly spoke to the 7th year trying to coax the brunette girl back to the pitch.

“It’d drop it Haley. This must be the stubborn people bench.”

Haley stared openly at Esme, seeming to half recognize her but not quite.

“Uh…. Okay. If you wanna come back and play later on Riley, let me know ok?”

the girl started back tot he Quiddich pitch, glancing back at Essie again before jogging back to her playmates. Essie now turned her attention to the girl seated beside her. She was tall. Very tall, even sitting Essie only came up to her neck. Essie looked amused, she must be a new girl because she hadn’t seen her around here before.

“G’day, I’m Essie Jones and I ain’t judging. I’m usually the crazy one around here, it’s nice to see someone to share the thunder with.”

She inclined her head towards the Quiddich pitch.

“First time flyer?”

She grinned at what Riley was wearing. Not smart broom flying gear.

[Riley Callaghan]

Riley coughed delicately to hide her smile at the 'stubborn people bench' remark, her anger quickly dissolving into exasperation with herself and lingering guilt. She should not have hit the other girl--it was inexcusable, no matter the underhand things that the other had done to psyche out the new keeper--pah! new keeper? that was laughable, she'd gone into that practice game with all the keeping skills of a beater on PMS. Thank god this girl whose identity Riley could only guess at, was not cringing away in embarrassment. oh wait! No guessing needed, turns out her super spidey gossipy senses were still in tip top shape: she was indeed sitting next to a crazy girl... and thoroughly intrigued by this fact.

"Essie.. thats cute: I get Ry sometimes but it mostly makes me think of bread"

The witchling pulled a face at that. She rolled her eyes a bit and sniffed when Essie accurately guessed at her own identity: noob flyer. joy.

"More like repeat offender; they tried to make me play quidditch at my old school. once. they weren't stupid enough to try and get me to come back"

A glare was shot back at the quidditch pitch, an arena where Riley's normally calm temper could flare at the slightest provocation. It was unseemly, especially for a girl who was trying to cultivate a reputation for herself that was along the lines of sweet, wholesome and hard working. dang.

"Now my turn.. new zealander? aussie? and what made you start the ultra exclusive bench party over here?

The witch asked impulsively, curiosity alive in her lake-colored eyes.

[Esmeralda Jones]

Essie, who was feeling less insane to a major degree compared to when she’d last been here, chuckled as Riley commented that her name was ‘cute’.

“Glad you think so, I’m not used to it myself. I’ve been answering to Erin for so long it’s hard to break the habit. Esmeralda’s somewhat longer… and now I have to rename all my school books. Not to mention changing my signature.”

She looked somewhat displeased by this revelation. She liked rye bread. It filled you up really well and gave you a ton on energy.

“Sounded like you’re just competitive. If they can’t take the heat they should get out of the way.”

She grinned

“I’m a beater…  I smack bludgers at people I don’t like. Maybe you should have a go at that position.”

She blew a bubble with her gum and it popped loudly as Riley tried to guess her accent. Essie looked mildly surprised. She hadn’t thought she usually had an obvious accent.

“Aussie. Guess I’ve brought the accent back with me this time. No need to guess yours, my mum’s American. New Orleans. You’re new right?”

She shrugged with a half smile.

“If you’re asking why am I sitting alone on a bench then you’re answer is I just got here. Had to walk all the way from the gate, the car won’t run past that point.”

[Riley Callaghan]

It was Rileys turn to shrug, a gesture that communicated a lot of things I guess, like a careless regard for her competitiveness, sympathy for Essie's signature and signage dilemma and also to cover her growing interest. Change of name? That too was pretty interesting... there were some wild rumors flying around at the moment... such as what might have happened to Erin Jones aka Esme Jones; freak accident? family death? rehab? Anything was possible. And Ry bread was not good: it meant carbs, something Riley's mother had drilled into her were to be taken only in extreme circumstances... such as when nothing vegetarian could be found. though she still hadn't gotten over her sushi love affair.

"Mistwell beaters are all taken... they're desperate for a Keeper"

She replied on a sigh, only to be further disheartened by Esme's confident pseudo-question about whether she was new. This question that was not actually a question most of the time--was getting old. As if you didn't need to feel more out of place what with being american, freakishly tall and just not able to blend in, no matter how much you'd like. At least she'd met another half-american! This was cause for celebration.... someone else who would hear the words 'warheads', 'soda pop' and 'cookie' and not get the message misconstrued. And she seemed to understand the technology problem. It was the bane of Riley's existence.

"Don't get me started on interfering magic: I completely sympathize with your plight miss Essie Jones. What kind of truck?"

Riley peered over the bench seat, energetically beginning to tap her feet. She needed to move; quidditch had pumped her full of adrenalin.

[Esmeralda Jones]

If Riley had told Essie that her aversion to Ry bread had anything to do with carbs, Essie would have laughed. Essie was one of the few who ate like a horse but was spending so much energy on a day-to-day basis that she didn’t really need to watch her weight. She decided not to comment on what sounded like Riley being roped into the Mistwell keeper position. Sounded like a touchy subject that should probably be left alone until it sorted itself out.
Seeing Riley’s crestfallen expression at asking if she was new, Essie had to smile.

“Don’t worry, I’m sort of new as well.”

Essie’s eyes lit up as Riley inquired about her truck and her smile broke into a grin.

“She’s my baby. 1969 Chevelle. Bright red. She was a present from my uncle, I’ve been re-building her for years. And last month I finally got her going. Next village weekend I’ll take you for a spin if you like. I’m guessing you’ve had problems with technology inside the castle? I pegged you for a city girl. What broke?”

Standing up from the bench, Essie hoisted the strap of the heavy bag onto her shoulder.

“C’mon, talk and walk, I got to check in.”

[Riley Callaghan]

Astute too. Riley flashed Esme a grateful smile for her concession on being new too, helping the mistwell relax a little more. Well, relax as much as she was capable; whilst her exercise regime was strictly limited to intensive yoga and non-competitive sports of the like, the tall, slender body was always full of a tension that never seemed to be able to spend itself out. Hence the manic multi-tasking. Cool aquamarine eyes glittered at the warm pleasure evident in Essie's face when she talked about her truck, the love and care that obviously went into its construction, and even the unexpected offer of them both taking a spin in it. A blinding smile broke over her face.

"I would like that a lot"

The pegging as a city girl wasn't necessarily a big surprise either, Riley mused as she gingerly toed a clump of grass with her Etienne Aigners, her toes a pretty silvery green. Could have something to do with her immaculate french manicure, her all-purpose fendi tote and her new yorker accent. When the witch asked about what broke, a grimace eclipsed her smile.

"What broke? only my heart... in the form of my cell"

Ry puffed air through her lips, thinking back to that episode in the infirmary where she'd met Jarred, the larkstone prefect.. and the one who'd insinuated this petite blonde girl being in a 'bitch assylum'. Well she'd spent two minutes in this girls company and already she liked her better than some she'd met here and had lunch with. Long legs ate the ground as the pair of females made their way towards the castle, blue-green voids glancing at Essie once again.

"If you don't mind me saying, you don't seem like a psychotic from a crazy bitch assylum--"

Somehow she'd said this with a straight face, as if she were just commenting on the weather.

"--and I try to take most gossip with a grain of salt, but I should warn you that some people have been saying some nasty things in your absence."

Wide eyes were direct and serious as they tried to meet the larkstones, feeling she should at least warn the girl. Then again, it was natural for Riley to be protective, and what with Essie being so short and delicate looking; even if it wasn't what she was on the inside. Her attempt might be brushed away, but at least she'd tried, right?

[Esmeralda Jones]

The feeling Essie had towards her truck were as mixed and multi layered as any relationship. If Riley had witnessed the construction of that said truck she’d have known that the love and care had been equally balanced with abuse both verbal and physical and many lost tempers. Still, now the thing was running Essie crooned her attentions on the fine tuning of engine gears and polishing the banged up and paint-chipped hull. She owned it. That was enough to make it special to her. It was something she held soul responsibility for.

“Cell phone huh? Can I have a look at it?”

She made a motion with her hand for the other girl to pass it over, presuming that it she was so woefully attached to it she’d probably still be carrying it around in the vain hope it may suddenly begin to work again.

At the girls comment, Essie blinked big blue eyes for a moment then cracked up laughing, clutching her side with both hands. After a moment or two of mirth she gulped in some air and looked at Riley, her eyes still laughing as she scrunched up her nose, looking decidedly impish and unsurprised.

“Jarred still bitter about me leaving him with all the night shifts and paperwork huh?”

Hoisting the bag up higher on her shoulder her wide stride allowed the shorter girl to keep pace with her taller counterpart as they headed towards the entrance hall, Essie tossed her wheat colored hair back from her neck.

“He’s hardly correct. I haven’t even been in hospital. My family are all Aurors. Have been for 12 generations. I’ve been doing specialist rehabilitation training for the last three months in Australia.”

She had a glint in her eyes that perhaps alluded to the fact that Essie had highly enjoyed her training. Combat was something she’d taken a real shine to. Now she had the firepower. Four months ago she hadn’t exactly been the outdoorsy type. She’d been a reading and study nerd. Her grades had been low, but not through lack of trying. So she’d had a reputation for being a thick-skulled squib. It was laughable to mistake her for the same girl now though. New animal.

“Really? Not that I expect them to be correct, but what’s the grapevine version of what happened?”

[Riley Callaghan]

Surprised at the request, Riley reached into the back pocket of her very short, rather tight, denim shorts and attempted to tug the expensive (useless) contraption out. Honestly, the shorts were not different from the kind everyone else was wearing (though significantly more expensive) they just looked shorter on her long legs: anything at a decent length looked somewhat saucier. Not her fault. Why carry around a phone that didn't work? Good question. There was a little part of her that hoped, maybe, that the altitude on her broom would somehow magically allow her to get reception here.. but it was not to be. The witch had consoled herself to just wandering the village after practice until it did. But now she placed the slim, trendy gadget into Essie's hand without a comment.

What followed her earnest attempts to warn a stranger could not go without a comment though. The petite blond beside her was almost rolling on the floor she was that amused by the news. Riley just stared at her in bewilderment. If it had been her, she'd have been furious; in the Americans past school life, reputation had meant everything, and Ry had cultivated a very coveted role for herself. One that she was not sure could be recreated here. Everyone was too crazy. Essie was point in hand, even after she told Riley the truth about her whereabouts. Which was quite impressive by the way. Jumping in rather naturally, the mistwell fiddled with one of her gold bangles and attempted to be as precise as possible.

"Well, there are a few theories. One, you went crazy and were sent to a hospital for those who are a bit soft in the head. Two, you couldn't cut it with the schoolwork and flunked out. Three, something in the forest ate you--"

She made a face at this one, being the stupidest of the lot.

"--and Four, my personal favorite, one day you got a good look at the guy you were dating and took off for parts unknown with a veela of poor repute"

Aquamarine voids twinkled mischievously. Maybe she'd spread that one..

[Esmeralda Jones]

Esmeralda took the phone from the other girl and squinted at it, turning it this way and that before her expression cleared and she pulled a screw driver from her back pocket. Digging at the seam of the hardware, she popped the cover off and as the girls walked down the corridor Essie tug out the battery and muttered

“Won’t need this anymore.”

Riley may have been surprised at Essie’s reaction (or the type of reaction) the news of the rumors concerning her has insured. But Essie, having already endured all the squib rumors from when she’d first started at Collingwell—right now it was just now to have something said about her that insured a bit of excitement. She’d take crazy rumors over what was being said before in a heartbeat.

“Well no fear, I’m not crazy, a coward or eaten.”

That’s seemed a little contradictory as she tossed the phone battery out the window. Holding the disconnect number pad gently between her teeth Essie tugged a strand of her own hair out and wound it around the connectors between positive and negative where the battery used to connect then began reconnecting the phone back together, letting out a laugh at her fourth option.

“I like that one as well but I’m not into blonde guys. They’re all…. Flitty.”

She froze

“God, I have time to think about boys now. Aww man…”

She looked gloomy at this prospect, thinking she would probably have been better off when her day to day thought processes were filled with schematics of how to sneak into the forbidden section of the library without being detected. She looked up, shoved the screwdriver back into her pocket and tossed Riley the mobile.

“You’ll get signal anywhere now and it shouldn’t ever run out of battery either. Just don’t show it to anyone. We’re not allowed to tamper with muggle electronics, even a little.”

She smiled, liking Riley.

“As for my time off. Kinda a very long story. May as well save it for a time we’re really really bored.”