When I Come Around

Fifth year hadn't gone too well for Marceline. She was lucky she passed all of her end of the years exams, but the witch started summer feeling more alone than ever. She had Ruby, that was true, but other than the odd-hair-colored witch, she didn't have any friends at school. She had the worst habit of accidentally picking fights with people. She didn't mean to be so rude and demanding, it sort of just happened. She was never naturally friendly and the only people who were able to befriend her were ones who didn't take her so personally. So, by the end of summer the witch decided that she was going to change her ways. She was going to attend class and study and perhaps try to be a bit more friendlier.

A new hairdo came with the new Marceline. Only a few days ago she decided to strip away the black and sport lilac and Marceline found herself still alarmed by her own reflection. Never had she dyed her hair before and it was so light, it was weird. She found herself staring at her reflection in a spoon in La Petit Dragon, touching her hair, examining the way it looked in the light of the room. She had been so distracted, she hadn't even noticed the boy who had approached until he had he spoken up.

"What?" She questioned, demeaning and expectantly, the only way Marceline knew how to speak to others. Suddenly she realized her tone and remembered her vow and clapped her hands over her mouth. "I meant, what is it? What do you want?" It wasn't much of a save and still didn't sound as friendly as she had hoped, but she was trying.

Zachary wasn’t one to approach very many people. Really he only did so when he had to. His mother and sister had gone a head and he totally didn’t know where any of the places in the alley were. It was still all so confusing and his mother knew all the places. She was kind of scatterbrained sometimes, forgetting that her son wasn’t all that familiar with the area.

Why he felt the need to approach the girl with purple hair? Who knows? Maybe it was because she looked like one of the oldest ones in the pub. Yeah, maybe that was it.

“E-excuse me, miss?” He stuttered nervously and jumped when her tone was demanding. Wrong choice. Completely wrong choice. Oh goodness. Her attempt at a save wasn’t very comforting either. “Ah, uh, I-I’d h-hate to bother you…I d-didn’t mean to…”

Marceline didn't like to be addressed as 'miss.' Miss, sounded too formal for her and didn't make for any excuse to bother her. However, she was trying to be nicer to people, though this kid wasn't helping her out much.

"Well?" She answered, waving her hand in a motion to show she wanted him to carry on. She didn't want a thousand apologies from the boy. She wanted him to spit out whatever it was he had to say and then to leave her be. Honestly, people were so trying sometimes. "What do you need? Directions? Money?" The latter she would have trouble providing for him, given the annoyance he had already put her through. But the boy seemed to at a loss for words, so she decided to help him by giving him options. At least then maybe he'd hurry up and she could get on with her life.

Oh, good god, he was not doing a very good job at asking for help. While he appreciated her giving him options. The way that she provided the options was a bit too rapid fire. He blinked, processing the options then stumbled over his words once more; “L-lost, n-need directions. I can p-pay you f-for your help.” He hated being a burden to others, he just absolutely hated it. Plus he was so used to being made fun of that approaching others did not come easy. “I’m t-trying to find p-potions store. I don’t know the name of it and my mum took off.” He explained hurriedly. Zach felt as if this girl was going to keep track of how much of her time he wasted.

The boy resembled a deer in headlights, knowing of the danger he was in, but unable to produce the actions to get himself out of the situation. Marceline always lacked patience and crossed her arms as she waited for him to answer her. She thought options would help, but he still stuttered as he answered her.

Marceline wasn't one to pass up free money, but figured they could discuss the price later. "You are in La Petit Dragon. It is the entranceway from the muggle portion of Paris to the wizard shops," Marceline answered, before he could elaborate. Once he did, she couldn't help but think he was abandoned on purpose. He hardly seemed capable of taking care of himself. Perhaps his mother left him alone in attempt to toughen up her weak progeny.

"Mystic Spirits," Marceline informed. "Exit through that door, make a right, pass the candy store, the wand shop and the Quidditch shop and you'll find it." She extended her black nailed hand towards him. "That'll be one galleon please." It was a bit much to ask, but one nice shiny galleon could buy her at least three comic books.

Zach nodded listening to her directions. Okay, candy store, wand shop, quidditch shop. Go through those doors. He repeated the directions over in his head so he wouldn’t forget. If there was a candy store, his little sister probably begged to go there. So, he assumed that’s where he would be able to find his mother.

A galleon? That was quite the price for some easy directions. Granted, he probably could’ve figured it out on his own. And he had taken up a bit of her time with his stuttering. “Th-thank you for your help.” Zach fished around in his pocket and deposited a galleon into her outstretched palm. “S-sorry to inconvenience you.”