Real Reasons [Angel]

[Shelby Crescent]

The Ministry. The place of wizard government and sets every mishap as an accident or something it wasn't. This place was always a joke, and anyone that worked here along with it. Standing outside of the entrance, Shelby just nodded faintly as people would pass by her, onto their day of work in this horrid place.

She once worked here, right out of school. How excited she was to work for the department of Muggle Misuse. Well, right up until she learned the the Minister had his favorites and she wasn't one of them. Who could blame him though? She was a spy for the order which meant she had a dark mark that he obviously knew of. That was the real reason why she quit all those years ago. He put her on trial infront of the entire judgement hall to decided whether or not she deserved to be in Azkaban again. Even if the ruling was in her favor, she wasn't gonna stick around in this dump.

Sitting down on the curb, continuing to watch the workers come and go, she simply smiles to herself tucking a loose strand pf her newly dyed dark brown hair behind her ear on this windy June morning.

[Angel Simons]

Angel was walked around, just trying to remember her way really. She had no idea where she was at all. She vaguely recognised a big building that looked important, but really couldn't remember what it was or what it was called. She didn't even notice the person sitting on the curb, let alone recognise them. Angel was too engrossed in her own thoughts to notice anything, which was why she didn't notice a car as she was about to walk out on the road, and why she didn't hear the horn go, and why the car was so close to her, it was almost touching her...

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell sighs, subsciously placing a hand over her dark mark as she usually did nowadays. Why did she ever join the deatheaters in the first place? Oh that's right, her bastard of a father put her under the imperious curse and made her do a lot of the dirty work that most of her fellow 'coworkers' wouldn't have the guts to do. But instead they rather let a six year old girl carry out this missions against her own free will.

A loud noise breaks her thoughts, instantly shooting her head up and seeing a woman maybe a few years younger than she was going to get hit by a car. Why did Shell stand up and reach for the girl's hand, causing her to fall nearly ontop of her on the sidewalk? Maybe the goodness in her heart, a second nature thing, or maybe her protective of anyone in general? She wouldn't know, but she just looks up at the girl, with a sigh.

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[Angel Simons]

Angel looked at the woman who had saved her life, and smiled in thanks. She had no idea what would have happened to her if she hadn't pulled her out of the way. "Thank you so much... Shell?" Angel asked her, seeing a little bit of her old friend in there. The woman slightly resembled a much older version of Shelby, one of Angel's best friends from years before. Of course, Angel could have easily been mistaken. She so often was, however this time she almost felt sure it was her. She didn't know why, but she could just feel it. "Shelby Crescent?" Angel asked the woman again, looking into her eyes. She could almost tell, just from the eyes, if it was her or not.

It had been a while since Angel had last seen Shelby, and she regretted not getting in contact at all. It had been at least ten years since she saw her, probably even longer. She wondered if Shelby had gotten married again, or had any more children since she last saw her. Angel realised that they had a lot to catch up on, but she didn't know if Shelby would even remember her. That was the most important thing. Making sure Shelby remembered her and hopefully forgave her for not getting in contact all of those years.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell tilts her head lightly to the side, biting her bottom lip. So this woman knew her. But it seemed that happened a lot lately. Running into someone she didn't recognize that well but they clearly knew who she was. It was rather disturbing sometimes, but this case wasn't one of them. Something about this girl was familiar as she looked back into her eyes as well, feeling a smile form just like hers. "Yes? Oh I mean, you're welcome, but yes I'm Shelby." she nods, not bothering with her last name.

She had been a widow again for only a few weeks, but she still refused to use her maiden name. It was just werid to use it after thirteen years of marriage to Jay. It felt wrong not to say her name was Shelby Chou. But that had to go behind her, she had to move on. She was stronger than that. "I'm sorry, but I can't think of where I know you from. Or I'm just out of it from saving you." she somehow laughs, an old laugh from her school days.

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[Angel Simons]

Angel felt her smile widen, before smothering Shelby in a hug. "You're so pretty! I hate it! Angel... Angel Simons... You might not remember me, but oh well. You look the same but so different in the same way! I've missed you so much!" She said, quite loudly, before letting go of Shell. She wondered if Shell would actually remember her. Not a lot of people did anymore. Logan hadn't. Not that she cared, mind you.

"What have you been up to lately? How are your children? Are you married now? We need to catch up on so much. How about we go and get a drink together, as long as you're not busy, of course?" Angel suggested, really wanting a drink with her. It had been far too long in Angel's opinion. Shelby always was one of Angel's best friends. They had been through so much together, and Angel could always count on Shell for anything.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell sits up slightly, just looking at the girl as she let out another laugh when she hugged her tight. She was hesitantly moving her arms around her when she caught her name. Angel Simons. Boy did that name ring through her head. The last time she saw her she delievered the note saying Nick was supposedly dead. She was so cold and distant then, but now the was the complete opposite or so it seemed.

Hugging her back just as tight, she beams ear to ear. "I'm not pretty, never was. But it's so nice to finally see you again." Shell giggles again, letting her mouth drop lower and lower with every question that Angel threw at her. She thinks for a moment, and nods. "A lot of things, All eleven are fine, and ummm. Umm. Yeah we should get that drink, let's go." she nods again, biting her lip a little before standing up and brushing off her yellow dress and white jacket. "I've missed you so much." she says softly, wiping a few tears away before hugging her friend again.

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[Angel Simons]

Angel stared at Shell in shock. "Eleven children?!?! How on Earth did you cope?" She asked her, laughing a little. "You'd think women would learn to use protection these days," she teased, sticking her tongue out at Shell. "I've missed you too. So much. My orphanage sent me out to France to live and stuff. Have only just been allowed back home..." She explained, sighing. "The school was awful, but I suppose I quite enjoyed it. Nothing I could really do..." Angel hugged her back, as sight as she could.

Angel let go reluctantly, and started leading Shell to somewhere they could get a drink. "Alcoholic or non-alcoholic?" She asked, looking around for somewhere. "So how are things in your love life and such? You married again? Has Nick been to visit you or something along those lines?" Angel felt guilty for how she had left things with Shell, but she knew she had no other choice on the matter.

[Shelby Crescent]

"Yes, eleven. It's a handful, but hey you grow used to it. Three aren't really mine though. Jay's daughter Jessie, and then um. Cassy Meadowes died and she left me her children." she nods, biting her lip. The twins looked so much like Cassy that it was still hard for her not to cry even if she was gone for the past nine years.

Shell frowns when Angel mentions her move to France. "So that's where you went. I always wondered that. But it's good that you still got your schooling even if it wasn't at Hogwarts. That would have been interesting though. I might have been your Astronomy Professor." she laughs, following Angel as they continued with their reunion.

She bites her lip, deciding that alcohol today wouldn't be too wise like a couple nights ago with Riyann. Shell still had to sort that out. Non-alcoholic. Long story." she adds to the end quickly as she sighs again. "My husband has recently died... just a few weeks ago. And as for Nick, he'll come by once every two weeks to spend time with Zoe, Ashlyn and Isaiah, and he'll send them things for birthdays and holidays. That's pretty much it."

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[Angel Simons]

Angel looked at Shelby in shock for a moment. "Cassy... She's dead?" She asked, tears coming to her eyes. She couldn't quite believe it. Cassy had always been one of Angel's best friends. Cassy just can't be dead... I never got to apologise for being mean to her. I never got to explain why I left... I never got to see her children or find out anything about her... She was always there for me if I needed her... She just can't be dead... Angel thought, letting the tears run down her cheeks.

"And then your husband dies? Why do people have to die?" She asked, mainly to herself. She felt so bad for Shelby. Alone with eleven children. "Do you have a boyfriend or something now then?" She asked, letting another tear roll down her cheek for Cassy, and now Shelby's deceased husband. Even though Angel didn't know the husband, she still felt so bad for Shelby, knowing that it must have been hard for her. She didn't want anyone to go through that, let alone one of her best friends.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell nods, feeling her feet stop suddenly and looks to the ground. "She became an auror. If I remember right the dark lord sent a few deatheaters after her and..." she trailed off just biting her lower lip trying not to cry while reaching forward and wiping Angel's tears off her cheeks. "Don't cry sweetie, Cassy wouldn't want us to cry, she'd want us to go to Honeydukes or somewhere that sold sugar and eat it in her honour." she laughs a little, managing a weak smile.

Walking again, she sighs a little. "Remember Draven Slayter? We're together, but um. I was having an affair with him for the past six years... so I suppose that makes me a horrible wife." she nods, looking to the ground. Shell always felt guilty about that secret, hell no one even knew about it besides Briar, Riyann and now Angel. "We have a five year old song together, Jake." she says softly, looking up at Angel now instead of the pavement.

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[Angel Simons]

Angel laughed a little. "I think we should do that then... After our drink. Go and find somewhere that sells sugar and have the biggest sugar rush anyone has ever had ever. It's been a while since I had a good sugar rush. We're not allowed sugar in the French school. It's not ladylike to become fat, apparently," Angel said, shaking her head while chuckling. "Like a little sugar would cause you to become that fat!"

In shock, Angel stayed silent for a moment. "That doesn't make you a bad wife. If you love him, you can't do anything about it. You can' t stay away from someone you're in love with, and you certainly can't forget about them, married or not. Personally, I don't think you're a bad person at all. And if you have a son, I hope you two are very happy together," she said, looking straight at Shell, a small smile on her face.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell laughs a little more. "Deal. We'll find the closest candy store and get the ultimate sugar high no matter the cost, out of our pockets or physically. Besides, I'm already fat." she nods, placing her hands onto her stomach and moving her hands around a bit. "Forget those French snobs. We don't need them. Just sugar." she giggles again.

She smiles brightly at Angel. Finally someone that understood what she was going through for the past few years. Shell always ended up in the situation of that she would fall in love with someone while still married to Jay. She always felt guilty to the point where it led her to her alcohol problem. "Thanks. I think we're going to stay together. I honestly believe he's that true love person that everyone thinks doesn't exist." she nods, still with a smile.

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[Angel Simons]

Angel snorted. "You are not fat! If you are fat then I'm the Queen of bloody England," she said, smiling. She could just imagine herself being Queen. It wasn't at all pretty. She would conduct an army, all ordering them to bring her ice creams and multi coloured cowboy hats. This thought caused her to giggle, only she couldn't seem to stop. She did soon stop, however, when she heard what Shell had said about Draven.

I'm glad you found your guy, Shell. I'm so happy for you! I really am. It didn't matter whether you were married to someone else or not. I'm so pleased you found your one true love. Your soul mate, as they say. I can still remember years ago when you thought it was that Chris person..." Angel said, smiling a little at the memory. "That was so long ago... We've grown up so much... Physically, that is. I'm still a seventeen year old mentally..."

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell just shakes her head and thinks for a moment. "Well in that case, your majesty." she bows with a curtesy along with it. "How may I be of service my dear queen seeing as I'm a mere peasant in your presence?" Shell asks glancing up at her still in bowing stance as she managed to keep a straight face.

She smiles right up until she mentions Chris. "Don't say his name. I might start gagging and then choking and then I'll wind up dead on the sidewalk and then," she takes a huge gasp of air dramatically, "It would all your fault my queen. Wouldn't want murder of your subjects on your record now do you?" she asks with a grin.

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[Angel Simons]

Angel started laughing. "You can come and get an alcoholic drink with me, that's what you can do. I feel like I need one. You don't have to get one if you don't want to, but I really fancy something so alcoholic it almost kills me. Well maybe not that bad, but something that'll make me slightly tipsy," Angel laughed. She was in need of a little pick-me-up from the news about Cassy.

"Chris wasn't THAT bad, I suppose. He was more... A player than anything else. He could have been a nice person... maybe. He broke both of our hearts. We were foolish, weren't we?" Angel laughed, shuddering at the thought of Chris. "I'd hate to murder one of my loyal subjects who I am going to treat to a drink or two. Depends what we want..."

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell bites her lip at the mention of alcoholic drinks. One or two couldn't hurt though... right? "Okay okay. Let's go to that muggle bar right there." she points at a small pub. Tipsy huh? That's nothing new." she teases walking to the door and holding it open for Angel and then walks in right behind her.

"True, but I just don't like hearing his name. He did change ten years ago and made me look like a fool. That's why I don't like to think about him. He raped me cause I turned him down for having sex." she mutters sitting on a barstool and ordering a scotch. "Found it funny that muggle drinks are worse than wizard drinks." Shell whispers to her with a smile.

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[Angel Simons]

Angel sat there in shock, yet again. She felt like she couldn't say anything right at the moment. She ordered the same as Shell, downing it in one. "Why didn't you tell me about that?" She asked, feeling bad for Shell, yet again. "I believe that calls for another drink," Angel decided.

"Are they really worse?" She asked Shell, wondering how she found that out. "So there are some things they're better at!" Angel joked, laughing a little. "So... How're things at home?" She asked, needing a subject to talk about.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell shrugs, twirling her hair around her fingers. "Doesn't matter anymore. It happened more than ten years ago..." she shrugs again, falling quiet and staring at the bar counter. Shell picks up her scotch and takes a small drink.

"I would say so. One of these equals out to like three firewhiskys." she nods, clenching her eyes a bit and finishing the shot, letting out a deep sigh afterwards. She waves her hand, asking for another one to the bartender and glances over at Angel. "Not good really, seeing as my husband died. Everyone is so quiet." she sighs lightly glancing at the bar again.

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[Angel Simons]

"You could have told me when it happened. We were friends then, remember?" Angel asked her, a little upset that she hadn't told anyone. It would have been so much easier to deal with that way. She just hated to think of Shell having to go through something like that alone. Angel knew that she wouldn't be able to cope at all.

"You want another drink, love?" Angel asked her. "I can order another one for you, if you want..." She suggested, ordering another before she asked for one. "Can't have you becoming sober again, can I?" She teased, laughing a little. She ordered herself another drink and downed it in one, passing Shell hers.

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[Shelby Crescent]

Shell just sighs glancing at her. "I think you were gone by then. It doesn't matter and I really don't want to talk about it." she says softly, biting her lip before feeling a couple tears fall from her eyes. Shell still hated when she cried over past events. No matter how long ago they were they still hit a soft spot in her somehow.

"Maybe just one or two more. I really don't need to be wasted again. It seems to be a habit of mine lately." she laughs shaking her head at why on earth she would laugh for. "You're not planning to take advantage of me if I do right?" she asks sarcastically finishing off the drink that Angel handed her.

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[Angel Simons]

Angel decided to change the subject as the one about rape was upsetting her and she was in too good a mood to be upset. After all, she was seeing one of her best friends for the first time again. This was supposed to be a happy time for all! "So what else do you like drinking?" Angel asked, trying to find something to talk about.

Angel laughed at the comment Shell made. "I wouldn't take advantage of you... much. I'd do nothing to you that you didn't want done already!" She decided, giggling a little. Angel could not tell if she was joking or not, but she figured she was joking. She'd never thought of Shell in that way. Why would she now? Although, she did find Shelby amazingly gorgeous. And she was curious... You can't think of your best friend like that, Angel Simons. Pull your thoughts together.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell laughs a little, thinking about it for a while. "I like muggle alcohol better without a doubt. Maybe this scotch or just a simple martini with a lime slice." she shrugs lightly with a smile. Shell appreciated the topic change greatly, she didn't want to keep thinking about her past right now. "How about yourself?"

"Much huh? How would you take advantage of me in the first place?" she asks, twirling her glass around a bit with just her index and middle fingers. Shell knew that she was teasing, but she wasn't exactly sure if Angel was. But they were best friends nothing like that would happen... right?

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[Angel Simons]

Angel nodded in response, agreeing to what Shell had said about the alcohol. "The same as you, basically. Muggle drinks are the best. Have you ever had jelly shots? Amazing things, they are," she said, laughing a little.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out later," she said, laughing and winking at Shelby. "I can't tell you right now. I'll let you know. Later in your room... Alone..." Angel giggled a little. She couldn't believe she was saying this to her close friend, but at the same time it made sense to her for some reason. She did, after all, find Shelby gorgeous, and it had been a while so she was a little sexually frustrated.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell thinks for a moment and pursues her lips to the side. "Are they the same as Jell-O shots or are they different? Because I love those. They have scotch or vodka in them." she nods with a smile.

Shell smirks a little, but she had no idea why. "Really now? My room? Why not yours? We'd have a lot more privacy I'm sure if we went to your place." she winks back with a slight giggle of her own. What was she doing? She had Draven. And the fact that she already slept with one of her best friends didn't really help this, but she couldn't help it when she looked back into Angel's eyes. "Awh, come on now love. I want to know. Just a little bit of detail?"

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[Angel Simons]

Angel nodded, laughing. "French call them Jelly Shots. English or American call them Jell-O shots. I can never remember where I am sometimes. I kept talking in English in France, making people confused. It was quite funny. Their puzzled faces. Thankfully, I can speak a little French... However, I did not know how to say vibrator, so when my friend asked to borrow one... I had to act it out... So there I was, standing outside the library, shaking about and trying to act like a vibrator... When the headmaster walks past. I almost died, I swear," she remembered, giggling so much at the memory that she almost fell off of her barstool.

Angel had a lot of memories of her French school. However, she decided to push those thoughts aside when she was home. After all, she had left that school behind and was now in England. She had no reason to remember the past at all, did she? She smiled after she had decided this, and ordered yet another drink, only this time deciding to drink it a little slower.

"My place it is..." Angel decided, giggling a little. "I cannot tell you here... In my room, I'll show you instead. The surprise is worth the wait," she said, winking yet again at Shelby in an overly obvious manner. Angel, this is wrong. You know she's with Draven. Don't become that whore again. What do you think you're doing? Or who as the case may be... However, Angel managed to ignore the voice of reason in her head, like normal, and continued thinking about Shelby in a way that she had never thought of her before.

[Shelby Crescent]

"Oh my... Well I hate going to France without someone who can speak the language." Like Jay. "But that had to be funny Angel. Imagine if that was Dumbledore though." she adds with a laugh watching Angel nearly falling out of her chair. "Careful there sweetheart. Don't need to injure yourself for later now." she winks at her again.

Shell giggles lightly, nodding her head. "Okay then. Fine by me. I rather imagine what it could be that you're thinking than being told." she smiles taking a sip from her drink. She was getting a bit hungover now, blinking her eyes lightly but she was still sober, to an extent.

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[Angel Simons]

Angel thought about it being in front of Dumbledore and found herself laughing even harder. She fell off of her chair with a thud. "More drinks!" She yelled, jumping up from the floor and perching on the stool again. Several people around her laughed, then went back to their drinks. She ordered herself another drink, looking at Shell as if asking her if she wanted another one. She hoped she did.

Angel wondered what on Earth would happen later on with Shelby, but she was a little too tipsy to actually care or even remember that she was with someone. "We're going to have fun. How about after a couple more drinks we go back to my place?" She asked, slurring her words, however only a tiny bit.

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[Shelby Crescent]

Shell gasps, but starts laughing when she notices Angel laughing up a storm after she fell off her barstool. "Just a couple more." she nods to Angel when she asks her. Shell knew that she was pushing her limit but she couldn't help it when she kept ordering drinks. Made Shell feel that she had to as well.

"Okay, two more that's it." she nods, taking the couple of scotches from the grinning bartender and finished both of them in just a couple minutes. Smiling at Angel she stands up, nearly tripping over her boots and laughs. "Oh great, I think I'm slightly wasted..." she laughs again, straightening her purple t-shirt and brown jacket and dusting off her dark skinny jeans. "You ready to go love?"

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[Angel Simons]

Angel nodded vigorously, then regretted it as it made her go rather dizzy. She stood up, stumbling a little and walked a few steps. That's when it happened... She tripped over. This sent her into hysterics. She was laughing so hard that she could not stand up. Finally, she managed to stop laughing long enough to stand up. She grabbed hold of Shell's arm to lead her the way. "I think we should sing on the way there to pass the time. It's quite a long way," she said, smiling a little. "Ohhh... I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEA SIDE!" She yelled, not in tune at all, but to her it sounded in tune.

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