Ice Cold``Open

[Cassandra Ortiz]

She hugged her coat tighter against her body as she walked down the seemingly less crowded street of Diagon Alley. She was enjoying another of her less busy mornings. Now that she had taken the night shift at St. Mungo's. Sure she missed those crazy mornings, but there were people need in the night shift and she volunteered of course. She wanted to spend all the morning with her kids. It seemed like she saw them less and less. She guess it didn't help that she had enrolled Dominic at a muggle school. And with Melissa at Hogwarts until the summer she missed her the most. Since it wasn't often that she had the chance to see her.

She looked at her watch. It had been a couple of hours since she had dropped Dominic off at school. She had been saving money to move. She wasn't sure wear but she wasn't going to live with her family anymore. She felt like it was time to say goodbye. But not forever she just need her own place. A place that she could call home and have lots of happy memories with her two kids.

She had been looking at a couple of houses but out of all the houses she had seen she didn't like even one. She could be described as picky, but then again this was going to be her new home of course she was going to be picky. Biting her lip she walked into Florean Fortescues. Last time she had been here it wasn't such a good time. She pushed the door slowly and peered inside. Not a lot of people were in here after all it was still snowing outside. She didn't mind, it could be a blizzard out there and she would still come here to get an ice cream. Hoisting her bag on her shoulder she made her way to an empty booth. She placed her bag by her and grabbed the newspaper she had stuffed in there earlier. She continued her search for a new home as she waited for a waiter to come.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell walked into Florean Fortescues and looked around the practically hollow place. No one ever came in here during the winter time and just like every winter the place was bare except for the owner, leaning over the counter waiting impatiently for any kind of customer to walk in from the bitter cold to willingly become more cold from the ice cream in here.

She takes off her purple scarf and shook out her blonde hair. It was nothing like her at all, the new style of her hair. It barely touched her shoulders and was angled with longer lengths towards the front than the back. It really did fit her face well and made her appear her age which was what she wanted. Walking up to the counter, she orders a fudge sundae with vanilla ice cream and turns around so she could lean against the counter while he made her request.

Her eyes trail over to the only table occupied in the whole establishment and surprisingly it was Andra sitting there alone and she smiles a little at her. They always seemed to have so much in common but at the same time they always fought over something. It was a wonder how they were still friends after all these years. Once her sundae was in her hands, Shell walks over and sits across the table from Andra and takes off her pink peacoat. "Hey. Haven't seen you for a while."

[Cassandra Ortiz]

Cassandra smiled at the waiter when he brought out her strawberry milkshake. She grabbed the juicy ripe red cherry and popped it into her mouth. Sure the weather was still kind of cold but that really didn't matter to her. Ice cream was ice cream and she would eat it not only in the winter but in the summer as well. She paid for her milkshake not really wanting to worry about doing that before she left.

She took a small sip of her ice cold treat before she continued her search for a new house. Flipping through the pages she saw many houses that she liked but they were either to far away or not really in her budget. She looked at the next page of houses for sale and began to circle the ones she would like to look at in red. After all Melissa and Dominic were going to live there as well. She wanted a house that had all there wants and needs.

She heard the little ding of the bell as someone else had decided to come out of the cold weather. She didn't bother glancing up to see who it could be. Because either way she probably didn't know them or it would be some cranky old lady. She laughed at the thought as she took another sip of her strawberry milkshake. She let herself see who had come in. By the looks of it it was some blonde woman. She continued on flipping pages and circling the ones she like in red before she actually realized who the gorgeous blonde was. Shelby.

She felt her cheek turn a slight red. Their last encounter wasn't a very good one. Shell had admitted to blaming her for the death of Jay. It wasn't helping that this was the last place they had talked for the last time. Forcing a slight smile towards the blondes direction before speaking."Yeah, it had been awhile hasn't it. Let me guess your here to either blame for something else that has gone wrong in your life huh? What is it this time. Who's death have I caused now."She said bitterly.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell stares at her for a moment, before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. "One, two, three, four... deep breath. One, two, three, four... okay. I feel better." Shell looks back at her friend as she brushes her straightened hair out of the way as she sits down. "No. I'm going through what they call a spiritual cleansing or something like that. I'm turning over a new leaf and so far it's been going quite well, hence the new hair cut and clothes." she says softly as she stirs her ice cream around a little bit. "So you're looking for a new house?" she asks looking down at the newspaper that was sitting on the small table. "I was thinking of that too as it's just Liese, Jake, James and I at home now."

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She closed her eyes. Cassandra had talked to Shelby for a long time now and she didn't really know what to expect from her. She was already planning to grab her wand if Shell even accidentally touched her. Okay maybe she was over exaggerated the whole wand thing. But she wasn't going to stand idle by while Shell hurt her in some way or form. She had already been hurt to many times by her so called friend.

She eyes stayed in a glare as she watched Shelby take a seat. She was about to say something more or less ask her to go find some where else to sit but something made her reconsider. She watched her wondering what the hell was wrong with her. Why wasn't she screaming or yelling at her for the things she said so bitterly at her.
She smirked at Shell as she answered her question."So your basically turning over a new leaf? How lovely. Haven't you tried that before Crescent or do you have a new last name now?"The same venom in her words as before. What was wrong with her. Why was she now being so mean while obviously Shell was being well nice.

"Its really none of your concern but yes. I plan to leave with my two children. I am thinking about leaving London and never turning back."She lied and closed the book a bit to hard and shoved it in her bag. She let out a small laugh."Really just you four. Didn't think you were going to be left all alone."She muttered her tone a bit soft and confused.

[Shelby Crescent]

Again, Shell closes her eyes and goes through her routine of counting until her temper resided away. This time though it wasn't just four it went up to about twenty four. "No, I'm still Crescent, and plan on staying that way. I don't need a man to complete me or help me raise children that aren't his. I'm not doing that anymore. Leave London? Never thought you would leave to be honest. Where are you going? America, Ireland or something like that?" she asks calmly as if Andra wasn't even acting all bitchy and cruel to her, as if that was normal and she just grew used to it over the years.

"If I'm alone, then I'm alone. There's no need to get upset over that. If someone doesn't realize how kind and smart I am and doesn't want to make a life with me so be it. You know how that goes as well, don't you?" she asks still in a calm voice as she finally took a bite from her sundae again before raising her eyebrows at her. "So I think you should quit being so mean. It's really unnecessary as I'm just trying to have a decent conversation with you Andra."

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She bit her lip before taking another rather long sip of her milkshake. She couldn't believe how childish she was acting. Did she really have this strong grudge against Shell. Would this be the end to this friendship? She sighs and runs her fingers through her dark brown hair. She hated to admit it but Shelby was right. Well at least about the whole moving thing that was.

She didn't want to make Melissa leave all her friends behind, that would be just cruel. She looked up from her hands that she hand now cupped in front of her. She sighed in defeat."Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not leaving. Well not at least Melissa finishes school."She said sounding a bit more relaxed. Well that was before saying what she said to Shell."Yeah if they don't realize how smart and kind you are. Honey I don't think anyone will."She said flinching a bit when she said that she knew how it was to be alone. She rolled her eyes and ignored her next comment by taking another drink of her milkshake.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell looks at Andra and tilts her head to the side. "Why would that disappoint me Andra? I would be upset if you ever decided to leave and never come back to visit me or Briar or anyone else that you talk to." she says before nodding faintly at her. Watching her run a hand through her dark hair, Shell couldn't help but smile at her a little.

"Are you being sarcastic or do you really think I'm sweet and kind hun?'' she asks curiously, before shaking her head."No, no, no. No curiousity, No flirting. This is Andra, one of your best friends. Not some girl that you want to lay or anything like that. Quit thinking of her dark brown hair around you. Stop! Just stare at your hands." With that, Shell shifts her eyes down to her hands that were resting around the base of the sundae glass.

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She cocked an eyebrow as she looked at Shell. What was running though her mind. She could know if she wanted but she wasn't going to do that. Well lately she couldn't hear anyone's thoughts its was kind of a relief. She pushed the glass a side before looking at Shells face."Stop lying. I know that both you and Briar would be glad to see me leave. I haven't talked to either of you for sometime now. Clearly I don't matter to you both which is good because I don't care about you guys either."She averted her eyes when she said that she didn't care about them, but she was obviously was lying. She sighed once more managing a small sincere smile."Shell...of course your smart and kind...well most of the time."She laughed but stopped abruptly when she realized what she was doing.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell looks at her and shakes her head. "You know love the first thing they told me was not to lie to myself but the most obvious things, and you are clearly lying right now. You know we care about you and it's no excuse that our lives have been in turmoil to the point where we couldn't see each other. The first time I've seen Briar was last week in the past five months. But we're always going to be the three musketeers. Forever." she says with a faint giggle before smiling at her widely.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean, most of the time?" she says poking her side from underneath the table, but realized her fingers had brushed Andra's knee in the process and her cheeks turned a crimson red. "Um. Sorry... you okay there? You've fallen quiet all of a sudden love." she says softly before taking back her hand and placing it delicately on the table.

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She snickered and rolled her eyes softly."Crescent don't call me love. There is no such thing as love I mean."She said randomly before putting away the rest of the things she had been using into her bag. Shaking her head."Is that so, new flash my whole life has been one big lie. Nothing much to do except go with the flow."She frowned especially when she mentioned the three musketeers.

"Remember that one time I made us those outfits and I had to practically dress you guys myself."She said laughing once again. Its like she wanted to be her old self but some how she kept reverting to being mean. She laughed when Shell had managed to poke her in the side. Only her and Briar knew how ticklish she really was.She brushed back hair that had managed to fall in her face."Yeah, I'm fine but a better question would be are you alright? Miss Tomato."She teased Shell when Cassandra saw her blush.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell smirks a little at her, something she hadn't done for quite some time now. Standing up and getting up onto the chair and practically screams, "Love, love, love! Cassandra Evangeline Ortiz I will call you love if I want to!" After this, Shell jumps down from her chair and acts as if she didn't just do that, but simply taking another bite from her ice cream.

"Oh my godric... never mention that again. Briar and I were like crap, we have to wear these don't we for the whole day." she says laughing a bit before biting her lip. "Oh, I just brushed your knee and figured it would make you uncomfortable. Guess not, but I'm fine love.

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She laughed when she said that she had just brushed her knee and simply shrugged."Oh come on Shell its not like we haven't hugged or kissed for that matter."She laughed feeling just a tad bit more comfortable. She ran her fingers through her hair once again as she watched her friend stand on her chair and start screaming about calling her love or what not."Stop being so over dramatic. Those outfits were not that bad."She grinned.

[Shelby Crescent]

"I would rather run around naked then wear that costume again Andra." she says with a faint smile before laughing herself. Now this was more like it. The two of them laughing and remembering their old times until she processed what Andra said. "I know, I know we've hugged and um. kissed, but still that was a little too much for my whole spiritual cleansing thing right now if you get what I mean..." she says looking at the table for a second. "Remember that I'm bi love. I haven't had any contact like that in about two weeks now, and it's driving me nuts."

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She rolled her eyes and laughed at Shell."I'd have to see that to believe it love."She said before grinning. She shook her head slightly. It not like she was going to jump on Shell and start making out with her for no reason."Yeah, I know and I'm a hetero. Wow is that it all has come down to? Sex? If I never had Melissa or Dominic I'd still be a virgin and maybe converted into a nun. Sadly my real dream did not come true. But come on Shell sex isn't everything."She laughed.

[Shelby Crescent]

"I know, I know but it's hard when you're addicted to it. There I said it, not that it wasn't obvious before. Even two weeks without a kiss or anyone holding my hand besides the kids when we cross streets. But romantically nothing which is what it should be for this, but still." she says waving her arms in the air for a second. "I'm sure you would have liked it Andra, me running around naked." she winks at her before laughing again.

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She really didn't know what to say after what Shell had told her. Of course it wasn't obvious to her. She would never of guessed it either. Taking a small sip she nodded slightly."Oh, sorry I didn't know but if it makes you feel any better I'll hold your hand."She smiled. Rolling her eyes she laughed."Oh yeah I would of loved it so much I would of joined."She joked.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell laughs a little and shakes her head. "No, it's not the same Andra. It's not like you're thinking of me naked and ... nevermind." s he says with another laugh before grinning at her friend. "Of course, and Briar would have taken photos for memory sake or so she would say..." she winks at her.

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She shook her head and laughed."Yeah no surprise their. How that girl always manages to have a camera is beyond me. But I so glad I have a picture of the three musketeers in the lovely costumes."She grinned before leaning over the table and kissing Shell lightly on the cheek."I'm sorry I was so mean to you."She gave her an apologetic smile.

[Shelby Crescent]

"That's definitely true. I never seen her without a camera out of all the years we've known her." she says with a faint giggle before biting her lip and feeling her cheeks turn a bright pink again before looking into Andra's eyes. "No. Don't you dare kiss her. She was just apologizing in a teasing way, but still. It was just an apology Shelby. Nothing more, nothing less don't you dare... damn you.'' Her conscious was cut off as Shell leaned forward and planted a light butterfly kiss on her pink lips. "It's okay Andra, really." she winks again at her before smiling at her innocently.

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She would of been surprised or more or less should of been surprised. But actually Shell kissing her back was a bit of a surprise. It had been a while since their last make out session. She sat back down kind of slowly before shaking her head."Shell, I'm engaged."She said hoping Shell didn't catch her bluff. She seriously didn't know why she said that in the first place just curious to she what her reaction would be she guessed.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell looks at her a little surprised before sitting back in her chair. "What? Why didn't you tell me when I sat down?' she asks giving her a look of shock but confused happiness. That was something she wasn't expecting to be honest and she really didn't know what to think about it. Of course she was happy for her friend, but that just meant she was still alone and someone she knew wasn't.

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She looked at the confused expression on Shell's face before laughing. Some how this is not what she pictured herself laughing and Shell's almost pained expression. Wiping a couple tears from her eyes she smiled."Oh, don't tell me you believed that."She said smiling before kissing her friend softly on the lips."That's what you get for surprising me."She said when she broke the kiss. She glanced up noticing that owner of the ice cream parlor staring at them. That made her realize that he had been watching the entire time. Knowing that made her blush slightly.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell gasps slightly before smacking her friend in the arm. "That's not nice! You shouldn't say things like that even if you're trying to surprise me!" she says realizing that Andra had kissed her again. "This has to stop Shelby. No more kissing. Tell her. You're trying to stay single for at least a month and you're half way there. Now just go back to talking and not thinking of her ... hey! I said not to think of her in bed!" Shell shakes her head before looking at what Andra had noticed. Rolling her eyes a bit, she leaned forward and kissed her again, this time a little deeper that what they usually had done in the past.

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She was yet again caught by surprise. She could of broke it off but she really wasn't or more like she didn't want to. At this point she really didn't care who was watching them. As their lovely kiss progressed she could feel her hands slowly going up Shell's neck pulling her closer as she leaned against the table as well. She shouldn't be doing this. She was just misleading Shell with a simply kiss. She would have to break this kiss off sooner or later. She was starting to feel guilty for kissing her the first time."Shell I'm sorry."She mumbled as she softly pushed her away.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell opens her eyes and bites her lip, looking instantly to the ground. "I see.. well. I guess I learned my lesson. Now I have to start my treatment over. See, you fall into the category of not realize everything we agreed on before." she says with a nod before resting her chin in her palm before going back to her ice cream. "But why did you wrap your arms around my neck and pull me closer?"

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

This was crazy first she started out angry at Shell and now she was was kissing her here in front of everyone. She ran her fingers through her hair once more and sat down. What was she thinking and more importantly what the hell was she doing. She felt worse like this whole kissing accident was her fault but then again she was the one who kissed Shell first. She looked up at Shell and shrugged slightly when she asked her why she pulled her closer."I don't know...I wanted you to know that your loved."She said not really understanding her own answer.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell sighs as well, putting a hand through her shortened straight hair before looking up at her. "I rather not be lead on really... but your answer really doesn't make much sense dear. Loved in what way really? That's more of a romantic thing or at least it felt it was." she says stirring her spoon around in it's glass before looking out towards the window seeing that it was still snowing after all of this.

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[Cassandra Ortiz]

She looked down at her hand that were placed like they were before. Interlaced and on the table in front of her. She sighed that was not what she was obvious do. Shell better then anyone knew well that she liked guys. And if they shared a couple of kisses that what they were noting more than just a simply kiss. But maybe Shell saw it as something different."I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to mislead you or anything. When I mean loved. I mean that your not alone. Even if you don't have a significant other."She told her but she thought what she really wanted to say. she couldn't hurt Shell anymore the she had already done in their first couple of minutes. I'm sorry if you thought we could be something more then friends. She didn't know how she was going to make this better.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell swallows slightly before nodding a little too much for normalcy. "I understand. I just have to deal with that I'm most likely going to be alone in this world. I think I was meant to be a mother, just not a wife." she explains before discarding her ice cream dish completely now as it was melted and in its liquid state. "I should be the one sorry for kissing you again. I shouldn't have and I know you don't swing that way, so I brought that upon myself this time, so don't beat yourself up about it or in your head."

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