End Already [Alex, Brent, Other]

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase couldn't believe that the end of the year was already here. The ending feast was amazing, and Chase was just extremely happy to have made at least one friend this year. Who would have thought the boy he first met on the train would become his best friend. And... maybe the person Chase had secretly crushed on for most of the year. Chase knew most people didn't swing that way, however, so he pushed it from his mind and was trying to move on. It was just some crush after all.

After the feast, Chase had gone out to board the train, Brent had to do something or another. Probably some last minute packing or something, knowing him. Chase told him he'd find an empty compartment to save for him.

True to his word, Chase found an empty one and threw his stuff up. He looked out the window to see if he could see Brent coming, but didn't see him. He saw a few other people he had met. Everyone looked so... sad. Couldn't it just be September first already?

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

Alexander couldn't wait to get home. The holidays were over too quick whereas the school term would drag on painfully slow. He'd missed his baby sister's first steps. That had been a sad letter to read at breakfast a couple of months ago. But Alex planned to make up for it and take Zoe for walks whenever he could.

Alex had breezed through the final exams. He didn't really have friends, just classmates he said a small "hi, how are you?" to every so often, so most nights he usually spent doing homework, studying or reading. Thankfully, about two months ago, his mother had sent his guitar over after complaining to her in every single letter that he was bored. It was the only thing she could really send. There was no electricity in Hogwarts. So his laptop wouldn't have worked, nor his iPod. Sadness.

His English had improved greatly, something that Alex was proud about. He could now maintain conversations with more ease, only faltering on certain words or expressions. His accent was still thick though, so he avoiding talking to people if he could without seeming rude.

Alex spotted an almost empty compartment and slid in, his animal carrier thunking noisily against his guitar case and satchel. He gave the only other boy inside a small smile.

"Hola." He said, taking a seat on the opposite side of him and by the window. "You mind if I sit here? I am... carrying some things. Its heavy." He slipped the case under the seats and moved the animal carrier onto his lap to pet Oscuro through it.

"I'm Alexander." Alex smiled. He vaguely recognized the boy, from where he knew him he wasn't too sure. Probably from class or in the corridor or something. "And this... is Oscuro, Dark in English. Say hello Oscuro... miau, miau."



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[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

When the door to the compartment opened, it showed a boy Chase kind of recognized. He was in Ravenclaw, it seemed like, but Chase felt like he knew him. Not well of course. The only person he knew well at Hogwarts yet was Brent. Which he was insanely glad for. Brent and him were close friends. He still didn't know almost anything about his life, but Chase didn't want to tell him. Not yet. Maybe sometime he would.

Chase smiled up at the boy. He had... a weird accent. As soon as Chase heard him talk, he recognized him immediately. "You're the boy from the train on the way to Hogwarts this year..." It was kind of a stupid thing to say since not many people at Hogwarts knew spanish. "You seem to know more English this time." Chase flashed him a wide smile. He was in a good mood today for some reason. You would think he would be depressed because he was going home to his horrible father... but it also meant his mom. He could survive the beatings for her.

"I'm Chase. If you didn't get that from the first train ride. I know you couldn't speak much English..." Chase laughed nervously. "Nice to meet you Alexander. Which will be shortened to Alex now. And nice meeting Oscuro too."

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

Alexander chewed his lip and closed his eyes for a moment while he thought back to the train going to Hogwarts. He remembered having company... he hadn't really talked to them, since he couldn't really talk. Suddenly he opened them with a wide grin.

"Es verdad! You was one of the boys on the train! I remembered." This was a coincidence. He was sat in a compartment with the same boy from the train leaving London. "And yes, I have learned lots English. Its not good. But its something." Alex's grin calmed down into a pleasant smile while he unhooked the door to the animal carrier and let his cat rub against his hand.

This Chase person was just going to call him Alex? He was already nicknaming him? Well... it technically was his nickname but people did that to people they liked, right? So... Alex was likeable to people he didn't know? That was good!

"Chase? I... don't think I can make that short." Alex giggled, scratching Oscuro behind his ear. "It is short already." Plus he didn't want to risk shortening it, just in case it had another meaning. He'd heard people shorten Spanish names with disastrous circumstances. Penélope was shortened to Pene, once. And Pene... meant penis. So Alex decided to play it safe. The name Chase was just fine.

"I don't like trains... you remember the boats to the castle? That was scary." Alex confessed, nodding with wide eyes. "Dark and wet... and a "squeed" lives in the lake, yes? How did your first year go? Grrf... Grryfr.... Lion house, yes?"



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outfit;; clicky! tagged;;little chasee! notes;; "that's right!" lyrics;; noneee!

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[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase might or might not be trying to hold back a laugh at this point. Maybe Brent had been a bad influence on him throughout the year. He couldn't help it! Alex talked so... funny. Chase knew it was mean considering the dude had practically just learned English. But he couldn't help it. He stopped himself from laughing, with effort, and turned back to answer the boy.

"Brent didn't think that way. He calls me Chay." Chase said with a laugh when the boy said you couldn't shorten his name. Technically... you shouldn't be able to shorten Chase. But it was Brent and he did what he wanted.

Chase actually did laugh when he tried to pronounce Gryffindor. It was a hard word to say... he gave the boy credit for trying. "Yeah. I'm a Gryffindor. And my first year was awesome. I can't wait for next year already." Chase said, and it was true. It meant being away from his father. never having to worry if he was going to get beaten. Never having bruises. It was the life. "You're a Ravenclaw, right? How was your first year?" Chase politely asked him with a smile still on his face.

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

Alex's cheeks gained a vivid pink tone on hearing the other boy laugh. It wasn't a cruel laugh, an amused one maybe. But it made Alex feel awkward nonetheless. He knew his feeble stabs at pronouncing Gryffindor had caused it. Alex was trying... the other boy had to understand that. It wasn't easy learning new languages.

Alex brushed it off though. He didn't seem the type of person to mean it in a spiteful way, unlike other students Alex had had the "pleasure" of knowing. So he smiled and let it slide.
"Yes, I'm from the Eagle house. " Alex said, tugging his cat out from the carrier and placing it on his lap. Oscuro didn't object. It beat staying in that box. "And it was... okay. I miss my family. Lots. And people here... not all are nice to me."

Alex began to play with Oscuro's little collar, pinging the little bell. The cat didn't seem to mind, he just lay there completely at peace. He was used to Alex just toying with him all the time.
"You excited to go home?"




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[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase kind of felt bad for making the kid embarrassed. He didn't mean it that way, he really didn't. He just thought it was funny to hear him try and pronounce. "Hey. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way." Chase was too nice sometimes. No matter how much he hung around Brent, it still didn't stop him from apologizing every time Brent did something he shouldn't have.

Chase looked away when Alex mentioned missing his family. He always felt awkward when someone mentioned their parents or siblings. He didn't have any siblings and his home life wasn't exactly a good one. "No... I'd rather stay at Hogwarts during the summer, actually. I didn't go home for Christmas or Easter either." Chase told him honestly. It wasn't like he was going to tell him why he didn't. But Chase didn't like liars... he would always tell the truth. Unless they asked about his dad. Then he kind of... skidded around the truth.

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

"No, no, no. It is fine." Alex smiled, leaning back into the seat of the train. "You don't have to tell me sorry." But, even if he did, it made Alex happy and relax more. The boy seemed sincere enough. He honestly didn't mean it. Alex liked this person a whole deal more now. He slid down into his seat a bit to move Oscuro up onto his stomach. The cat was limp like a ragdoll but purred constantly. Yes, it was completely used to being tugged about.

"Oh... why is that? I would of gone... loco if I had stayed here all the times." Alex rolled the cat onto his back and stroked his stomach. "Spanish are very family people. Are not the English like this?" But the young Claw knew that many people returned to their homes to celebrate the holidays, leaving the castle pretty empty. Imagining this young boy alone here was a saddening thought. What would drive him to prefer that instead of going home? He didn't voice this thought. Maybe it was private. Or... maybe he didn't have parents? Sad. Very sad. Alex forced himself to look back down at his cat.

"The empty castle is lonely. Do you have a pet that would stay with you?" Alex asked, looking back up at Chase, trying to ignore how downcast he seemed right now. He didn't like this. "I have Oscuro. He knows how to do tricks, you look!" Alex plonked the cat on the floor. Oscuro purred and just lay there, gazing up at each boy in turn. He really didn't look capable of doing any sort of trick. He just looked like he wanted to sleep.

"Oscuro! Canta conmigo." Alex giggled, fishing out his guitar from under the seat. He sat it on his lap and broke into the introduction of "La Bamba". It wasn't perfect, Alex hadn't exactly been playing long. It was jumpy but at least it was in tune. The cat began to meowl. Whether it was actually singing or just complaining Alex was never too sure. But he found it entertaining anyway... maybe this was why Alex found it hard to make friends. "He sings with me, funny cat."

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[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Even though Alex said he didn't have to say sorry, Chase felt like he did. It was mean of him to laugh, and Chase hated being mean. He was almost never mean to anyone unless they deserved it. Chase had been afraid of Alex asking him that. "I'm more of an independent kind of person, really." It was all Chase gave him, and it would have to be good enough. Chase wasn't going to tell him anything else.

"I wasn't that lonely. Brent stayed at the castle too." Chase liked staying at the Castle. Him and Brent basically had the entire common room to themselves. It was actually one of the best Christmas's Chase had ever had because his dad hadn't been there to beat him. He always got even more fucked up on Christmas.

Chase grinned widely when he saw Alex take out his guitar and start playing. He didn't really pay attention to the cat, instead he grabbed the drum sticks he kept in his back pocket basically at all times. He had heard the song before, it was popular even if it was Spanish. He started drumming on the seat with Alex. Smiling the entire time. That was the one thing he missed the most. His drum set. "You play guitar? That's awesome!" Chase said with a laugh as soon as Alex had stopped playing.

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

One thing was independence and then it was a whole other thing to just not want to see your parents ever. Chase had been here all year, Christmas and Easter included. They were family times. And then he wanted to stay here all summer as well? Something didn't seem right, but Alex didn't know the boy well enough as to pry into his personal life with more questions.

Alex's face brightened visibly when the boy produced drumsticks. It was unexpected. But he suddenly liked Chase a whole lot more. He could probably tell from the delighted smile he had curving his lips, along with residue from the blush from before, once he had finished playing a small part of the song.

"And you play the drums, yes?" Alex asked, even if it was obvious the answer, sitting on the very edge of his seat, bobbing up and down slightly from excitement. "And yes I guitar, I'm not very good yet but I try. I try hard." Alex grinned, setting the guitar down by his side and grabbing for his cat instead. He was no longer meowling along but purring instead. Alex loved his cat. He'd been his only real friend all year, as sad as it sounded.


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[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase kept smiling at the boy next to him. He couldn't believe his luck. What were the chances that he met another guy who played guitar. He knew Brent did, but he sang better than he played the guitar. "What you just did was good..." Chase told Alex with a smile.

"I got my drum set about a year ago. I'm in love with the thing. That's why I always carry around my drum sticks. Since I couldn't take my kit to Hogwarts, I brought my sticks. I mess around on tables and stuff. But it's not the same." Chase laughed. Remembering all the times he had gotten yelled at for having his drum sticks. "I don't think I'm great, I can keep a beat though."

Chase still couldn't believe his luck. This guy was awesome. He wondered where Brent was as he felt the train start moving. "We should jam sometime... it'd be sweet."

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

Alex felt the blush from before return. He couldn't help it. The guy had just said that what he had played had sounded good. Only his mum had ever said that but, then again, she was his mum. She probably would have said it even if nails on a chalkboard sounded better. It was his mum after all.

"I only got my guitar back two... or tree months ago. I was bored. Very bored." Alex sighed. People gushed about how Hogwarts was great, super, awesome. But Alex was finding it lonely. Maybe next year would be better... he'd work more on his English this summer so he wouldn't be so awkward come second year.

"Um.... jam. We should jam?" Alex asked, tilting his head just the slightest bit to the side. Last thing he heard was that "jam" was like marmalade. They should... marmalade together? Was that.. sexual? Alex's face burned hot pink. It was a bit... soon for that. Soon? What was he even thinking?! He did not want to marmalade with Chase... whatever it was. "I-I-I...um... m-maybe?"

Alex blinked his honey brown eyes a couple of times and hugged Oscuro close. He was almost squeezing the poor animal painfully. But he just purred and nestled into his owner, sensing him getting nervous. Alex quickly looked over to the window, watching the green countryside race past in a blur. He better get a good look. Soon it would be back to the city. If Alex was going to miss anything, he was going to miss the open space Hogwarts' Grounds offered.


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outfit;; clicky! tagged;;little chasee! notes;; "that's right!" lyrics;; noneee!

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[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase should learn how to not talk to a foreign dude with words that he probably had no idea what meant. He would think about that in the future. Right now, he laughed his ass off. "I'm... sorry." Chase mumbled out in between laughter. "Uhm. Jam... means play music together. Mess around with whatever you play. So uhm.... Get together and you play guitar, I play drums." Chase explained it a bit better. "Oh... uh. Sorry for laughing again. I shouldn't have used a word you didn't know what meant." Chase said before giving Alex an apologetic glance.

"We could probably get Brent to come and sing too. It'd be like a band. Except we wouldn't have a base guitar, but who needs one of those anyways." Chase said, beaming at his new friend. Chase liked this dude. There was something about him that just made him know for sure that they were going to get along. He could even see Brent liking him. Anyone that liked music was cool with him.

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

Santa María... the boy was laughing again. But this time it wasn't just a sweet, little chuckle, it was full-blown laughing. Had Alex said something wrong? Was he laughing at Alex because he said "maybe" to marmalade? Was it a trick trying to catch him out? Alex looked a little bit scared the next time he glanced in Chase's direction. He couldn't be any more pinker in his face. It was impossible.

And then... oh. Jam meant... playing music together? Why didn't Chase just say that anyway? Marmalade... really. What had Alex been thinking? Sure... the guy was cute, in a way, but not enough for him to be thinking like this. Like, really. What would his mamá think?

"B-Bass? Its important." Alex finally brought himself to say. "Every instrument is important." He was almost mumbling, his confidence crumbling. If Chase wanted to get into a debate over to bass or not to bass, Alex knew he'd lose. Not because he couldn't hold an argument but... because he wouldn't be able to. Words would fail him and leave him as a blubbering pile of Spanish nonsense. Oh Lord, Chase probably didn't want to jam with him any more.

"I-I... um... Brent is your friend, yes?" Alex asked, trying to spark conversation again. When had he last talked to someone for so long? He had no clue. Oscuro didn't count, of course. "You sound very together... I mean... close."


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[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase felt bad again... he laughed rather hard that time. "I'm sorry... I'll really try to stop laughing. I know you don't know much English yet. I can help you if you want." Chase offered him with a smile. He was going to stop laughing at the poor dude already and just help him. Sounded like a plan to him.

"Yeah... all the instruments are important. But we haven't met someone that plays base yet..." Chase told him with a sad smile. It'd be awesome if they could find four people that played everything. They already had three, all they needed was a bassist and they would have everything.

"Brent is like... my only friend here at Hogwarts. Well. I guess you're my friend now too." Chase told him with a smile. He wasn't entirely sure they counted as friends yet, but Chase had a weird feeling they were going to be. "Brent should be coming around soon. He told me he'd meet up with me on the train, so you'll get to meet him." Chase smiled at Alex before lazily playing with his drumsticks on his lap. Hitting himself and going in different rhythms. "Now I can't wait to get back to my drum set."