Somebody that I used to know {Flat 104}

[Professor Carina Erikson]

Dwelling on the past had it merits. At least that was Carina's thinking as she drug out her dozens of photo albums. Flipping through the pages, the old memories brought to the surface made her smile. It worked for a bit to bring her out of the mood she had been in for months now. She had all but locked herself in her quarters, only leaving for classes. Because she knew that if she were to go around anyone she would surely loose a friendship. What hadn't dawned on her until the last couple days was that by doing what she was doing, she was loosing them anyway.

Dwelling on the past could be harmful. That was what Carina found out by looking at the pictures. It really sank in with her when she got to the last few pages of the last book. Those were the pictures that really started getting to her. Pictures of Kelly at the hospital working. Pictures of Kat, Straw and three chubby faced babies. Several pages filled with pictures of her and Timothy. Tears dripped off her cheeks, she didn't even realize that she had started crying.

She hadn't seen Kelly since the last time she went for a check up, though that wasn't that odd. Kat was her best friend since forever, Straw was family, not seeing them was inexcusible. And Timothy, Merlin, just the thought of him was like someone twisting a knife in her heart. She couldn't bear to think about him, it just hurt to badly. Though he always seemed to understand her moods and her disappearances, she didn't know if he would this one. She was always scared that he wouldn't and she would loose him. Though, she figured that she already had.

Shoving the albums off her lap, she left the castle, not bothering to get her cloak, her bag, or even her wand. Carina just had to get out of here. She thought about going to get potion supplies, but she was afraid of running into Timothy. She wandered around for a couple hours before she ended up where she always seemed to.

Standing outside Follett Towers, Carina sighed. She should have called, she shouldn't be here. Despite these thoughts running through her head, she made her way up the stairs and found herself standing outside the door to 104. A hand ran through her hair, wincing at the tangles. Had she brushed it today? She didn't know, wasn't sure. In her funky moods, she didn't alway remember to do basic things like that. She wasn't even sure that she cared.

She knocked and waited, listening. Were they even home? That would be her luck, for them not to be home. She didn't hear anyone inside. Not knowing where to go or what to do now, she simply leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. I'll just sit here long enough to figure out what I'm doing.

[Kat Samuels]

Kat had the day to herself. One whole day, glorious and beautiful as it was. Straw had left in the early hours of the morning, apparating the children to their grandmothers before work because Kat had threatened him with no cake if she didn’t get a day to rest and Hyacinth missed the children when they were away. That woman was born to be a mother.

The point was Kat had a whole day to herself.

There were lots of things she should be doing – could be doing. She could be baking that cake she now owed her husband, she could be shopping or redecorating or spending the day catching up on the latest hit book – 50 shades of steamy hot sex as she liked to call it. She should be doing her taxes. She could have had time for all of these things, but she was hopeless so instead she was sleeping. She was very good at wasting perfect opportunities after all.

She had been drifting in and out of consciousness for the last fifteen minutes when a knock on the door woke her from her almost slumber. It was 11am but she wasn’t expecting anyone. Straw was working, so was Queety, and Kelly wasn’t due round for at least another five hours. Ruling out these three people meant that Kat actually had to look presentable. Or at least throw some pants on. Pants are important when opening the door, or at least that’s what she learned last time Charlie knocked on the door and chastised her. Married women were meant to wear pants apparently.

Throwing back the covers, Kat rolled out of bed, threw her hair haphazardly up into a bun and pulled on her summer shorts, throwing one of Straw’s jumpers over her head for good measure before padding down the hallway to the door. She was taking her time, but it was her day and she would spend it how she liked.

Throwing the door open with very little ceremony Kat looked out to find no one there. Odd. She had heard a knocking, of that she was sure. She didn’t get all dressed up like this for no one. It was as she was about to turn around though that Kat noticed a lump on the ground. A particular person shaped lump. Friend shaped lump if you would. A small smile slid onto her previously confused face as Kat sat down on her doorstep next to this friend shaped lump and rested her head against the lumps shoulder.

“’Rina,” she murmured and snuggled closer, sliding her hand into that of her friends.

It was her day to spend, one whole day, and this was the perfect way to spend it.

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[Professor Carina Erikson]

She should go back to the castle, hide away in her little world of potions and cold, damp dungeons. Should do, but not what she was going to do. Carina couldn’t even find the energy to get up off the floor, much less walk back to the castle. Eyes closed, her black hair did little to cushion her head as she let it flop back and bang against the wall. Somewhere, distant in her mind despite it being right beside her, a door opened. The thought crossed her mind that someone would end up calling the Aurors on her, thinking she was homeless.

The Aurors wouldn’t be called though. The warm body snuggling up to her was assurance of that. Carina could be deaf, blind and mute and she would still know Kat from anyone else in the world. This was the woman that had been with Carina through all the ups and downs, good and bad, funky moods and always forgave Carina when no one else in the world would have. Carina didn’t deserve her. A soft hand slipped into Carina’s; she intertwined her fingers with Kat’s and held on for dear life.

A blond head leaned against her shoulder. Carina pressed a kiss to the top of her best friend’s head before leaning her cheek against it. Silent tears dripped down her pale face, wetting Kat’s hair. Neither would care at the moment, but Carina would be teased later for it, she was sure. Few people had ever seen her cry, Kat was the only one that had ever seen it more than once. Katie Scarlett Buckett nee Samuels was her best friend, sister, sister-in-law, conscience, and sometimes priest. So, it was to her that ‘Rina confessed her sins. The witch spoke softly, as though worried that saying the words out loud would be enough to convince Kat they were true and she would leave Carina alone. “I’m a horrible friend.”

[Kat Samuels]

Carina was her oldest friend, most days, Kat knew her better than she knew herself which wasn't an easy feat - Carina didn't let people in very often. They had the kind of friendship however, where they would come and go from each others lives - they could disappear from months on end and they would still fall into each others arms the next time they saw one another and it would be as if no time had passed. But a lot of time had passed, and with the slightest twinge of regret, this time, Kat could feel it.

Still, she could feel her friends tears spilling and Kat couldn't help but pull her closer, hold her tighter, wanting nothing more than to take her pain away as Carina had done so many times for her before. It wasn't as simple as that anymore, but Kat lifted their entwined hands to her lips anyway, and kissed her friends hand, squeezing it and refusing to let go. When Carina spoke though, Kat broke down, tears slowly forming and falling down her cheeks, mixing with Carina's until she couldn't tell who had cried which tear anymore.

"Come on 'Rina" she murmured, tugging on her friends arm and pulling them up together. "You are far from a horrible friend, but I will be if I let you stay out here for anyone to see your tears. Come inside, I'll make some tea, I'll even add some whiskey to it if that helps". She didn't let go of her hand, just simply held the door open for her with her other hand and waited for Carina to take the first steps inside.

They had a lot of things to catch up on, but luckily the day was theirs.

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