Set the world on fire [Jack]

Brigitte was quite happy, for it to actually be the weekend. Not only was it the weekend, it was Hogsmeade weekend. It would be her first time venturing to the small village since school had started. There was just something about returning to school and seeing the shops with all their new goodies out in the window on display. Brigitte wasn't really one to go shopping or anything, she just enjoyed seeing the changes. There was one problem with today, she hadn't planned ahead and invited a friend to spend the day with her. Normally she did things last moment out of impulse, but going stag to Hogsmeade hardly seemed like fun. Therefore this was not one of her brighter decisions. Screw it, she was bound to run into someone while she was there right? Brigitte thought as she added the finishing touches to her eye make up. It was about noon at this point and she gave herself one final look in the mirror deciding if she approved of the jeans and jumper combination she had chosen. Brigitte was never one to give too much thought to her outfits, so she shrugged it off and exited her dormitory.

Making her way from the Tower to the main level she grew excited. The sounds of voices, chiming in the halls caused her to smile and she knew already it was going to be a good day. Upon exiting the castle she inhaled a large breath of fresh air. The fall leaves scattered all over the grounds, gave the school a a beautiful effect. The castle it's self was gorgeous, but the nature conditions added to it's appeal. Soon enough she was on her journey to the village. Along the way she gathered stray leaves shoving them into her, messenger bag. They would be a nice add on to the scrap books she enjoyed creating. Every year she'd find a way to gather some photos putting them together to make ever lasting memories. It was nice when she missed her friends during break. Soon enough her icy blue eyes were capturing Hogsmeade in it's entirety. The streets filled with people and she felt a little eager to just get inside somewhere. Honeydukes was probably packed, so she avoided that and stepped into The Three Broomsticks walking to the counter.

At first she debated if she wanted to flirt with one of the younger bar tenders and use her Veela magic, to acquire a bottle of fire whiskey. Brigitte smirked devilishly walking up to the young man, she played her card correctly. She was charming, and sweet with her words watching his gaze upon her. She was naturally a flirt, but never the less a good, wholesome girl at heart. After she spoke to him for a while she obtained her bottle and a glass looking around to see if there was anyone she wanted to share it with. A smirk crossed her lips as she set eyes on her friend Jack Pucey. They would occasionally flirt, and do patrols together, never the less a worthy friend. Brigitte walked over seeing the boy somewhat zoned out, looking displeased. She took a seat in the booth, beside him and tapped her glass on the table trying to get his attention. Once that was done she smiled gingerly. "Well if it isn't Jack be nimble, Jack be quick." She chimed in, sure if she didn't get his attention with the bottle, she would have with her muggle rhyme reference.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind Jack, let me take a crack at it. Girls?" She mused quirking an eyebrow. It wasn't as if she didn't already know the answer, but he had just became her company for the day therefore school was the last thing she wanted on his mind. "I haven't seen you in a while Jack, Don't tell me you've been avoiding me." She said putting a little pout on her bottom lip as she warmed him up with her big blue eyes. Soon enough a smirk crossed her lips and she was pouring herself a glass of fire whiskey. "Don't ask, don't tell policy, you want a drink, love?" She asked in her French accent, cocking her head. Brigitte was down for a good day to create memories, even if she didn't remember them fully. It was time for fun right? She just hoped her Slytherin pal wouldn't rain on her parade and be a 'moral, good boy' at this current time. Though somewhere she knew that wouldn't be the case.

Jack was never one to really linger by himself, even on patrols he seldom was by himself whether he was training a new fifth year prefect or catching up with another one. His charisma made him easy to get along with and that had never been much of a problem, at least until now. Somehow he had managed to scorn three women in his life in one night and somehow the lack of communication and reputation that seemed to precede him now only left him lonely and depressed. It wasn't about the physical relationship but merely the companionship that people longed for and he certainly enjoyed the friends in his life that were there for him whether they were male or female. Eva wasn't speaking to him, which made his job awkward. However, that ship had sailed and he found himself questioning what he was ever pursuing there, at the time he had probably just been desperate for someone to be there with him and for him and she seemed to fit the mold at the time. Chloe was also not speaking to him which stung a bit considering those feelings for her that had just never left him and that last evening spent together only told him that she still felt that spark too that they had grown in their time. Lastly, Ana was not speaking to him and that not only baffled him the most but also hurt the most because she had always been his absolute best friend and his rock in reality and not having her to joke around with or even chit chat for a few minutes int he middle of the day was a huge change in routine that even after all these weeks he had not accustomed to. It was clear as day the change to those around them and people asked questions that he could not answer.

This weekend he decided that sitting by himself in the lonely dark dungeon would do nothing more than just depress him and he sat up in his bed rubbing his eyes and throwing his legs over. Sleep had been lacking and mainly because he had arrived back at the Common Room so late from his patrolling. More and more he found himself taking more patrols in order to keep himself occupied or studying for his upcoming exams. Graduation seemed too far away at this point, all these things bothering him and he needed to get away. That was his plan for the day, head into the village and find someone hopefully that didn't hate or judge him and find some kind of peace and solace there. Changing he grabbed his wristwatch off the table next to his bed, a gift from Ana a few Christmases back. With a heavy sigh he made sure that his hair wasn't sticking up in weird places and he made his way out of the dorms and into the dungeons where he preceded to walk out of the castle and toward the village that provided the only entertainment around here besides Quidditch. If anything he wished that there had been a Quidditch Practice, it would take his mind off things and exhaust him to where he just fell asleep peacefully for once and not letting these thoughts revolve around in his mind. Jack for once was really thinking about what friendships he had taken for granted in his life and it was a frightening dose of reality as he had been caught up in his male ego to do anything about it.

Jack walked with his hands in his pockets and into the Three Broomsticks where he knew he could take some comfort in the loud buzzing of people chatting and at he same time be left alone. However, knowing his luck he would run into all three of them at the same time. Jack opened the large door and entered, spotting an empty booth to the side where he took his place. A young witch walked over and asked him what he would like to drink and he asked for a Butterbeer though a nice whiskey would have sufficed as well, but he didn't want to be that guy sitting by himself on a student visit weekend drinking alone. The drink arrived and he took a sip of the drink he so favored outside of anything alcoholic. It didn't take long for his thoughts to take over and he seemed to space out just letting them whirl around in his mind until he would grow tired of them. Everybody lost friends in their life but for some reason this was hitting hard, like he had lost something important and he couldn't figure out what the sudden void was. However, he was interrupted from his contemplations by a familiar voice and accent and he looked up to spot the always gorgeous Brigitte taking the empty seat in front of him. As much damage as he had caused he was not entirely hated, which was nice and he figured the company would distract him from the present circumstances. I'm sure you've heard... As far as he knew some people were aware that he and Ana were not speaking which was strange for the two were usually two peas in a pod. He did not know what she was aware of.

Why would I avoid a beauty like yourself? Her part veela was obvious to him and he knew he was attracted to that but they were still just friends as she usually put him in his place if he went too far. Though if anything people seem to keep avoiding me. It was funny being on this side of the spectrum, he wasn't used to it nor did he enjoy it, it didn't fit his personality at all. She offered him a drink from the bottle she had introduced to the table and he paused, thinking if he really wanted to go there. Well, might as well. Sure thing. So what's new with you?

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lyrics: little black submarines - the black keys
words: 1003
notes:
credit: to vanessa!

Brigitte had a way of hearing the gossip before most people, it always seemed as if she'd hear it in passing, or people just wanted to tell stop and tell her. Either way she wasn't one to speak much on the topic. If things were true so be it, it wasn't her job to play god and judge people. Brigitte had a handful of friends that just went with the flow, she knew people that had been in relationships for a long time and liked things that way, and she knew others who had been hurt and didn't choose to commit. What they did was their business, not the schools. She didn't care to hear bad things, and she often got confrontations about much matters. Brigitte had been very protective of her friends from an early age, part of that was giving them the benefit of the doubt, and making sure they saw things from an outsider's point of view. Brigitte was great with advice, all her friends spoke to her because they knew she wouldn't tell them what they wanted to hear. Blunt, brutal and honest. Traits that may have hurt feelings, but better her then someone else right?

Jack had been a huge topic amongst the female population. The way he transferred between who knows how many girls the night of the dance. All she knew was her friends were pretty pissed at him, pushing him away. That was often how most females chose to deal with being broken. No one wanted to feel the sting of heart break, nor rejection. This was one of the reasons she kept to herself and didn't choose to put her feelings in the hand of a man. Brigitte had even had a couple girlfriends in her day, but she didn't like all the drama they brought either. She had a low tolerance for pms, it had always been that way. Brigitte was sure people spoke about her too, she didn't care because either way she could care less if someone she didn't know, had something to say about her. She had a bad temper, and her inner veela didn't need the stress of detention for fighting. Brig was a tough girl, she fought most battles for the under dogs that couldn't handle their own, but it was all tiresome. She much rather be sitting here having a drink.

When Jack said he was sure she had heard she nodded. "What I hear, and ze truth are two different things Jack. What all is going on with you, mon ami?" She asked her friend. Brigitte was a fern believer of that statement, believe none of what you hear, half of what you see. If she wanted to hear gossip she'd be in the girls bathroom back at school. Jack had his own story she was sure, and she wanted all details. Perhaps he didn't even know the fill rumor of what was going through the castle halls about the head boy. "You know, people are saying a lot Jack, zey say you can't keep it in your pants. You've lost a whole bunch of your female friends, due to your lack of self control." Brigitte mused licking her lips. That had to cue in some kind of conversation. Perhaps even some kind of confession. Brigitte was just being honest, most people liked that about her. As Jack confirmed he was not avoiding her, and called her beautiful she smiled. "Zere's ze charmer I know." She stated with a grin. What was new with her? She shrugged lightly. "Just ze usual studying for exams, partying, hanging with friends. I think my life is highly less concerning zen yours right now to be completely honest." Brigitte said, she needed to help him, because to be completely honest he looked like hell, and she wasn't used to seeing him so sad. She could see it in his eyes, the pain and sting of rejection and solitude.

All Jack could picture was those sad brown eyes that looked at him, pleading for him to say the right words and then suddenly he felt like there was a large stone wall in front of him and his best friend looked at him with not hate nor anger, but sheer frustration and he was just lost and that point had given up because his words were not helping and she had made up her mind. Still, anyone would have moved right along right? Easier said than done but it wasn't like he'd never done it before, with Chloe that had left him in a rut for a while while he drank himself into a stupor to forget the pain, with Eva he found solace in others and with this one he felt the wound was still wide open and salt continuously being poured in. As he sat there and looked into the darling blue eyes of the one woman outside of his sister that would speak to him at this point he felt a little bit less alone. However, he felt the shroud of insecurity constantly over him. Was it true what she said people thought about him? Was that the image he was portraying instead of the one he thought he had been cultivating. These questions always lingered but somehow he was too embarrassed to bring them up. Truth be told it was angering how he was losing his grip on everything when not the day previously he had been on top and felt like he could anything. Graduation could not come any sooner, he felt, as he wanted to desperately escape the small enclosure he constantly felt in. Such trivial problems for a seventeen year old boy, but maybe it was time to man up but what was he supposed do? Apologize en masse to the female population? What would it take?

Well it seems you and my sister are the only females that will even look at me, let alone speak to me. But, who was really to blame here? There was more than pride stopping him from admitting the maturity of other parties involved may have not been up to par with his own, but was that really the case? She was right, where was his self-control. His libido had gotten the best of him and as they say, he was thinking with the wrong head. It was a simple fact and also a very true statement and he sat there, staring at the glass of whiskey in front of him and had to stop himself from having several drinks in a row. That was something that he had grown up around, his mother's alcoholism and how she handled her emotional turmoil and battles and here he was doing the same thing. People's habits are from what they know, he wasn't sure why he was the way he was and maybe it was the attention. With a heavy sigh he downed the glass and set the empty container back on the table. I fucked up, Brig. Where to start? That basically was the gist of it and was the best possible way to summarize everything. Eva was out of the picture, fine, he could deal with that. Chloe wasn't speaking to him, which hurt a little. Ana more or less cut him out of her life and signed off his eyebrows in the process metaphorically and that was something that more or less had hit home because he'd lost his partner in crime and it was unsettling. On top of the rumors already circulating there was the rumor of their "break-up", not that they were dating but people needed to talk about something.

Looking back up at Brigitte he struggled for the right words at this point because he was hardly ever eloquent in putting into words what he was feeling. Ana and I had a fight. She won't even look at me. It was more of a one-ended fight where Jack stood there like a deer in the headlights while she yelled at him and told him off and he knew that if he didn't want to get hexed he would keep his distance. It caused some awkward situations but being in different years they did not have the same classes and that helped but as far as running into one another sometimes it was just unavoidable though the majority of the time he could have her patrol with Albus instead. Sometimes he wished he wasn't Head Boy so he could just hide under a rock until graduation. She was...she was pretty angry with me, and I know I wasn't all that attentive at the dance but i'm still not sure where it all came from. Like the silly boy he was he was at a loss for that explanation, what was she using to justify such a scene and real termination of their friendship. Jack wasn't smiling as he normally was, he was supposed to be friendly and outgoing and getting along with everyone and leave with that reputation. It was amazing what one night could do, so much changed and he didn't like it changing this fast. Looking back at Brig he wanted her to give him all the answers, but he remained cautiously pessimistic.

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lyrics: little black submarines - the black keys
words: 884
notes:
credit: to vanessa!

Brigitte was always a girl to believe none of what she heard, and half of what she saw. She wasn't a judgmental person, and she surely could understand almost every situation under the sun. Brigitte had heard what Jack had done, she was best friends with Eva and saw those two leave the dance, and she was also friends who Chloe who told herself. Chloe had told Brigitte was scared she was getting feelings for Jack again hence that avoidance. She had also mentioned that Jack was speaking about Eva and how that all made her feel. Brigitte always heard everything, but she'd keep all secrets to herself. This girl didn't like rumors nor the drama that came with them. When thinking about it, she placed the nights events together, Jack must have had a good encounter with both girls which may have done his ego some good. Yet what about the girls he had destroyed in ways. Most of her friends that were females were pretty strong, but she still had heard he was being isolated for his doing. Even Anabel, his best friend had been spending more time around other people. Brigitte licked her lips, she wanted to hear his side of the story. That may have made things more clear, then maybe she could come up with a logical solution to his problems.

At Jack's words she nodded. Well she herself was sitting her asking him what was wrong, and she didn't think his twin would roll with the crowd and put him in solitude. Brigitte wondered if he'd be fully honest, or wondered if he even understood what he had done. She waited for him to speak, and he told her he fucked up. Brigitte snarled and chuckled to herself, "You think?" sarcastically of course. If that hadn't been the case he wouldn't have been dealing with a bunch of pissed of females. Jack had always been a charming, quite boy. Brigitte sort of felt bad he was involved in all this drama. It must have been depressing not having someone to talk to, when he needed it. If that was the case he should have thought more about his best friend. Leaving her drunk at a dance like that, Brigitte couldn't fathom what was going through his mind. It was very irresponsible, far from the Jack she knew. Jack and Ana were like an inseparable pair, why wouldn't he think of his friends well being. Hormones got in the way, and that may have been the case, but priorities would always stand as such. Brigitte sighed, he didn't have a clue what he did. All he knew were the fact, and she thought she'd have to tell him the truth of his doing.

Brigitte was a blunt girl, she didn't beat around the bush. It wasn't right to make him think or question why. It just had to be said, ripped off like a band aid. One question had to be placed in his lap, then she'd proceed. "Do you feel like she should look at you?" Brigitte asked, with his mistakes Brigitte could easily tell why Ana Zabini was upset. "I'm going to be honest with you, I'm not going to tell you what you want to hear. In all honesty, I think you need to hear the truth." It was said the truth you set you free, she hoped he didn't object or try to make excuses. When he said he wasn't sure where it all came from, he sighed and took a large gulp of her drink. When settled she began to speak. "Jack, you chose to get laid, over your best friend. You left her drunk at a dance, after you made a commitment to be there with her. I just think you messed up your priorities." Brigitte started but she wasn't finished. Brigitte could see the look of pain in Ana's eyes. "It could also be because.. well if you haven't noticed yet she loves you, and I don't mean a platonic kind of way." Brigitte broke the new to him slowly she let him take it in for a moment. It surely would explain why Ana was so broken. "She likes you Jack, a lot. Ana is always there for you, no matter what. I see the way she looks at you. You're so special to her, and you can't even see a crush when it's right in front of you." Brigitte commented pushing her hair behind her ear. She took another sip of her drink. Was it really worth throwing their friendship away? "You tossed what all away, and you expect her to be okay with it, well that's not how love works Jack." She said Brigitte was never one for love, but she could understand the concepts of betrayal. Sleeping with girls that wanted nothing more with him? Brigitte let that sink in, she waited for his rebuttal.

Objectivity was the key here. Jack was seeing everything in this strange perspective with the glossy veil of confusion over his eyes and a haze of depression sinking in. It wasn't the fact that he missed the company of a woman, but merely the friendships that he'd had with many of them that stemmed from the platonic and to the physical. It was a painful experience and even humbling and made him really evaluate what was going on but even with the puzzle pieces all disorderly in front of him he couldn't fit it all back together to forge a clear picture. Brig listened to him as he tried to piece his words together in the clear lost state that he was in and her perspective aside from being female and among those that were avoiding him at all cost, or so it seemed, it was important as that one friend that most people had that had no problem in being honest with those around them. Though at times it was inconvenient and exactly what you did not want to hear it was the equivalent of a splash of cold water to the face though with reality instead. There was this growing uncomfortable pit in his stomach and even in his chest, he felt his mood sink day by day and more and more he just felt alone. There was this sense of acceptance that he was missing and a deep internal issue that he wasn't ready to face or even acknowledge for that fact. There was definitely more to this man than met the eye. Aside form being a good student, Head Boy, Quidditch Player and popular he still had his unresolved issues and it was all culminating to this point with the cherry on top being this whole situation.

Graduation could not have been approaching fast enough, the ostracizing he felt just gave him the flight or fight response and he was just ready to bolt at this point though knew he would regret the existence of all those loose ends. As he finished his short rendition of what had happened between Ana and himself there was a pause and he drank in order to fill the gap of time while he waited for her expert opinion or a sense of direction of where to go now. To begin with a question was to throw him off guard and it wasn't even something she had thought about before. Well, I can't say I deserve it at this point. Though he would need her attention at some point when he would apologize. The only thing stopping him was knowing what he would be apologizing for and that was one of the worst parts for him. Yes, clearly he had scratched the surface on this whole issue and what his crime was but the heart of the matter was unclear and to not know that would prove any apology useless and only sink him deeper in the pit he sat in. When she prepared him for the 'truth' he found himself sitting up straight in his chair, as if he was waiting for a verdict in court. Jack listened and could feel the sting of certain truths and at other facts that she threw at him he took a few seconds extra to really register it. A crush? Was that what it was? Love. Jack absorbed these few words that he managed to understand from what she was telling him and he sat back in his chair, disbelief clear on his face. How had he missed this? Was he really that blind? All at the same time he felt some relief and then an extreme amount of guilt. So much guilt that it actually hurt.

Still holding the cup in his hand he placed it back on the table, words didn't seem to really want to form at that moment. She was absolutely right, Ana was always there for him through thick and thin and without asking for really anything in return. However, the one night she wanted to spend with him and he ran off with the first floozy he could find. Still he wondered if he was still at a loss here, not that he had evaluated his own feelings toward her yet but what if either way he lost a friend either from his betrayal or his inability to reciprocate those feelings she had. Why didn't she ever tell me? Or he had just been that blind, then again there had been plenty of distractions around him. Naturally he had noticed that his best friend was absolutely beautiful from those eyes and her smile, but he had just never given it a second thought. There were still other factors, one he could think of immediately was Chloe, his ex with whom he was almost positive he still had unresolved feelings for. What about Chloe? Brig was friends with Chloe so she must have known something. Still, the thought of Ana having a crush on him was overwhelming his mind and his own initial response was like his heart skipped a beat. So, she's mad at me because I didn't notice her? That was what he was getting from it. That she was trying so hard to be in his spotlight and he brushed her off and really took it for granted how special she was to him. Jack picked up his glass and drained what contents remained in it. He felt like such a jackass and truly terrible, what kind of a friend does that?

I felt bad before, but now I really feel terrible. It surprised him how much it all hurt more now that it was all so clear.

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lyrics: little black submarines - the black keys
words: 954
notes:
credit: to vanessa!