Strictly Ballroom (open)

[Samwise von Erbach]

Only a month ago it would have been rare to see Sam reading anything that wasn't part of his comic book collection. But here he was, with his nose so deep into a hardcover book that he had to keep one finger at the bridge of his nose to keep his newly acquired glasses from sliding off.

Lately, well since meeting Noelle and realizing she was out of his leauge, Sam had found himself in the library more often than not. Researching 'superhero' spells to impress her with and trying to get his grades up enough to decrease the gap between them. And even his professors were starting to see the results. Both Llewelyn and Adams had graded his recent work B and he had gotten several nods of approval by professor Kim lately.

And sure, there was a semi instructive book laid out on the table in front of him, but his eyes kept glancing through the pages of an other, much thinner and baby blue book. A 127 page step-by-step guide to slow dancing. Last time he had danced with Noelle he had felt like a fool, barely keeping himself from tripping over his feet. Was he to ask her to go with him to the Valentines Dance, he wanted to be able to lead this time. He sighed softly and tugged at his hair before remembering that he'd cut it. It barely reached past his ears when he pulled at it and instead he started biting his lip. It is proper ethiquette for the man to ask the woman to dance. Offer her your hand with a flourish and give a sligth bow. How was it possible for books to make even the most fun and exhilarating activity sound so boring?

[Carissa Frank]

Carissa had move into the library not really sure what she was planning on reading. She knew needed to do some more research on what was going on. The girl knew needed to get medical help; however the problem was that where would that place be. Could the people she went make sure not tell family.
Carissa had move into the library not really sure what she was planning on reading. She knew needed to do some more research on what was going on. The girl knew needed to get medical help; however the problem was that where would that place be. Could the people she went make sure not tell family.

"Okay let's find the right section. If have to will work on trying different things." Carissa knew that she was ready to experiment. Everything needed to change and she realized that had to rely on herself to do it.

Once found some advance potion books and herbology ones move to sit down. She moved toward the tables seeing Sam sitting at one studying. "Hello, mind if I sit with you? We can study together if want."

[Klaus Williams]

Klaus found himself in the Library again, looking for a book for class. Deciding that after 15 minutes of looking he could take a break for a minute, maybe ask one of the other students for help. It was at this point that he happened across a few other students.

"Hey, I was wondering...." Klaus stopped short as he saw the book that the other boy was holding. "Ballroom?" he asked.

[Noelle Briar]

Weaving through the bookcases, Noelle finally found a beginner's Herbology book. She was already carrying a Charms book, along with an open notebook. Small doodles littered the page, along with a few mentions of her name and Sam's name tied together. But, the main attraction on the page was the neatly written checklist, with a few of the entries already checked off. An issue of the Star Wars comic book was partially sticking out from her notebook, as well.

From her conversation with Samwise, along with Wash and Nigel, in the cafeteria last month, she had been researching potential 'superhero' spells as well. Thanks to a recent trip to Salem, she changed her focus slightly. She was looking into making a workable lightsaber from Star Wars. At least, as workable as she could possibly make it. If she succeeded, her plan was to impress Sam with it. No matter how much she desired to succeed in her plan, she still wouldn't bring herself to slack off on her schoolwork. So, she was going to work on Herbology at the same time, or at least for a portion of the time. She typically didn't require too much time to finish her work anyway.

Heading for the tables, Noelle abruptly stopped in her tracks, quickly ducking behind a bookcase. Samwise was there, along with Carissa and Klaus. Maybe I could sit at one of the other tables to stare longingly at him … No, that won't work, one of them will see me … I will have to let my presence known …, she thought, while feeling her heart beat quickly. After composing herself, she walked back out of the bookcase towards the tables. "Hey!" she greeted them with a smile, "I hope you three don't mind if I sit here too?" she asked in a joyful tone.

[Samwise von Erbach]

Sam nodded as Carissa sat down at his table. She looked about his age, but he hadn't seen her in any of his classes so he assumed she was a year older than him. Perhaps younger but shouldn't he have seen her with Noelle sometime then? In any case he didn't mind the company. He'd barely muttered his approval when a boy approached the table, making inquiries about his book. "Uhm, yeah", he admitted. There was no use trying to deny it. The evidence was right there on teh table. "I was trying to learn how to dance properly before the dance next weekend." He scratched his scalp awkwardly out of habit. When his hair had been longer his head had often gotten so warm that it started to itch and he still hadn't quite gotten used to the new feeling.

He might have been able to admit his purpose freely to Klaus, but when Noelle showed up, Sam hastily tried to hied what he had been reading by placing his upper body on top of it. "Oh hi Noelle", he greeted her as he tried to act natural in his half lying position. As awkward as he might have looked, he still smiled. In an attempt to act like a gentelman, he pushed out the chair next to him with his foot. "You can sit here."

[Carissa Frank]

Carissa smiled seeing the way that Sam had acted when Noelle came over to sit down also. It was making more sense on why he was learning how to dance to surpise a girl. Now the only thing that would have to happen is that they needed to have a private talk without Noelle thinking that something was up. "Those books look really interesting you will have to show me which section of library to find them. Right now I am happy working on medical herbs and things.Never know when might need something in a hurry these days."



The alger then moved to dig into her own book not sure where the conversations were going to head now.Then it was when she remember that Klaus had some up and started to work on asking a question of some sort. What ever he was looking for would be an perfect excuse to spy on the couple to see where to help them out. "Klaus you seem to be looking for something earlier. If want together we can most likely find it faster."

[Klaus Williams]

Klaus smiled at Carissa. "Yeah I could totally use some help. I need to find a book for Defense Against the Dark Arts. That and someone who can read tea leaves better than me. I have drank five whole cups with hopes that at least one will hold a good future for me." Klaus said laughing to himself. "Thanks"

Klaus walked back into the shelves specifically to the aparations and ghosts section, awaiting Carissa to joim him. At a glance at one of the titles a song popped into his head "Maxwell's silver hammer, came down on her head." Klaus typically didnt sing the beatles songs but for some reason it was stuck in his head.

[Noelle Briar]

Noelle couldn't help but to blush at Sam's insistance to sit next to him. That was a vast improvement from their breakfast meeting when he asked her out last month. "Thanks," she responded shyly, as she sat down in the indicated seat next to him. After placing her bag on the ground by her feet, she quickly smoothed out her skirt. It suddenly occurred to her that he looked different, and looked over at him with a genuine smile. "You're wearing glasses now … They look nice, and … oh, you cut your hair … You look handsome," she complimented him.

Looking over at Carissa and Klaus, she couldn't help but to think it was because of her that they were leaving. She shouldn't really care, considering the fact that she wanted to be with Sam alone. Yet, she did care. It seemed suspicious to her, as if they were leaving to talk about her, even though they did say it was to find a few books. "You don't have to leave so soon," she pointed out to them.

[Samwise von Erbach]

It did seem strange to Sam that Carissa was interested in his dancing books. He may not have talked to the girl much, despite them being close in age, but from what he'd heard she was brought up in the upper class and Sam would have expected her to be fully trained in social dancing. Or maybe it was his copy of Powers You Never Knew You Had and What to Do with them Now You've Wised Up that had caught her eyes. In any case he nodded. "Sure. I can show them to you." But his eyes were on Noelle as she sat down next to him, and his thoughts were on what she would think of his new appearence.

"Thanks." Her smile made him smile too despite himself and he scratched his scalp again as she mentioned his hair. Somehow he felt more grown up, as if by cutting his hair he had become if not a man than atleast less of a child. "My head hurts less", he said with a shoulder shrug, trying not to sound like a caveman while pushing his glasses up his nose. Not that it was needed. It had rather become a nervous habit. But he was glad she liked it. Her approval had somehow become important to him withouth him realising it.

[Carissa Frank]

Carissa had move to follow Klaus. She would come back for sure but right now needed to do some undercover to see best way to help out. "Don't worry Noelle. We are not leaving the library just yet. I just helping Klaus here find a book then be right back."

She then moved behind different shelves to the aparations section. The Alger was willing to help him with the defense section. "What theme are you looking for subject wise besides just dark arts. You wanting a spell or something different different on how to stop it." Carissa knew the section they were in did not seem to look like do well. "I am not going to say can help with the tea thing. That not my subject matter at all. There has to be something good in future though."

[Klaus Williams]

"Just something to help me figure my paper out." Klaus said scanning the shelves. When Carissa mentioned that something good had to happen in the future, Klaus almost believed her.

"Okay," Klaus quietly whispered, yet again giving up on looking for a book. "Why did you offer to help me look for a book? What plan do you have for the love birds?"

[Noelle Briar]

At Carissa's explanation, Noelle smiled and nodded. While she still believed they were leaving to talk about her, she decided that it was best not to protest excessively about it. As it was, she probably didn't want to know what they were saying anyway. It was for the best, or at least enough to keep it from coming back in her mind.

As Sam told her that his scalp hurt less, Noelle was suddenly happy that she styled her hair earlier into two nearly braided pigtails. "That's good. At least it is one last distraction," she offered with a smile. "So, um, earlier in the week ... I drew a decent sketch, and, well, I ... I'd like your opinion on it, your honest opinion on it," she clarified, shyly. She picked up her notebook and retrieved her drawing from its contents, quickly hiding the current page again. The drawing was the completed version of a lightsaber. It was highly detailed and an accurate depiction of a lightsaber. She handed it to him. "So ... What do you think?"

[Samwise von Erbach]

Sam shuffled his chair closer to Noelle's, using the sketch as an excuse to sit closer to the girl. Just a few inches, almost touching shoulders, they could both look at the picture together.

That she was even showing it to him made Sam feel honored in a way, as if she was trusting him with something important. He knew a lot of people were very conscious about their drawings and would prefer to keep them to themself, but Noelle was actually hadnling it to him and asking for his opinion. "It's awesome!" he praised her. Had it been badly drawn he would have told her. After all, she was asking for his honest opinion. But he was honestly impressed with all the detail she had put into it. Himself, he had stopped tryong to draw when he was ten. There simply weren't enough improvement for him to feel like it was worth his time. "You're really good at that." Just like she was good at everything else. He let his fingers trace the outlines of the lightsaber, imagining the power he would have in holding such a deadly weapon. "Is there anything ou can't do?" he asked her, half-serious and half-joking.

[Carissa Frank]

Carissa could see that when she mention that something good would happen Klaus did trust her. It was truth though because the Alger would make sure that something like that did happen even if just little. "Well then let's work on finding the prefect book for a paper. I not best with this place but willing to help look."

She then move to look at the section they were in thinking of what Sam had said. The witch did not need to book at all. If asked could do any partner dance ever created though not best at some. Carissa really saw that as excuse to help him out in learning. This was not something learned in book. "How you know I had something in the works for both of them. I just love when couples work out. He wanting to learn to impress her on Valentines. My plan was if could get him alone offer to teach him ballroom. It not that hard if know what doing just few steps.
"

[Klaus Williams]

Good luck," Klaus said sincerilly hoping that Carissa could teach Sam so that he could impress Noelle. Klaus scanned the shelves again. At last! Klaus saw the perfect book for his paper. Quickly he reached up, and grabbed the book from the shelf. "Got it," Klaus whispered "So, do you want to wait for a little bit, before ging and joining them again?"