words don't rhyme [lissie]

[Lissie Hewer]

((OOC: i feel like you deserve this reply. xx))

---

"Really?" Lissie asked, surprise written all over her face. She tried to imagine Rupert (or all of the boys at the flat, for that matter) fussing over Skye. The again, when the little girl's face swarmed ind her mind, Lissie decided that she shouldn't be surprised at all. She gave Jake a knowing smile. "Well, I suppose that's natural. I mean, she's absolutely adorable and someone would have to be out of their mind if they didn't fuss over her." Skye was a big hit with Jake's friends and that was good; Lissie felt privileged that she had been the first to meet the little girl. But she'd never tell anyone (especially her brothers) that. It would raise questions that she wasn't prepared to answer.

Lissie nodded, agreeing with him. Some people did not deserve to be parents. But she gave him another smile, one that was more encouraging. "No one is perfect," she started off, "but you do a great job with her. I think I've said that before." She blushed, but just as quickly as the color flushed her face, it was gone. She often complimented Jake on his parenting skills, even though she wasn't privy to most of it.

At Jake's suggestion, Lissie glanced towards the door. She probably could make it to the door - after all, she frequented the sweets shop during Hogsmeade weekends and always paid. It had never occurred to her otherwise; it was something she was naive about: people stealing. But it happened and Jake was guilty of it. But, it was just sweets. And it's not as if the shop closed because of it. However, the sweets were already back on the shelf and she wouldn't ever really do it. However, Lissie gave Jake a steady look and said, "I probably could. But I'd feel guilty giving it to you to give to Skye - like it was poisoned or something." If she were to eat it herself, she wouldn't feel so bad. But giving stolen sweets to a small, innocent child... something made the whole thing seem tainted.

As Jake slipped his arm around her shoulders, Lissie pretended that she stumbled over her feet as she turned around, making herself get closer to Jake. She could smell him better now. Even if he'd been working in a pub all day, she could ignore the scents of alcohol and cleaning liquid. She smelled him and it was so enticing that she barely registered what he said. Her eyes were trained at the lollies he was pointing to, but her mind was elsewhere and she desperately wanted to look at him. Did he feel what she felt, too? Lissie swallowed tightly when Jake removed his arm and changed his tone. He was thinking what she was, wasn't he? He had to be.

"I think Skye would like one of those," Lissie agreed, glancing up at the lollies once more. "They're as big as her head - any kid would get excited for one of those!"

[Jake Gullane]

((OOC - xxxxxx))

"Really," Jake confirmed with mock solemnity. "You should come round some time and watch it in action." At least it wouldn't seem weird for Lissie to be in the flat, as she was Rupert's sister. It would be more than slightly uncomfortable interacting with her when her brother was there, since some of Jake's thoughts about her could be classed as inappropriate, but Skye would be there as a distraction. And she was a pretty good distraction too - Jake tended to go into a different mode when his daughter was around, a mode that didn't involve nearly so much flirting. Unfortunately, she was not around right now, and although he was carefully keeping everything he said as innocent as possible, he was aware that things were edging in a dangerous direction.

"Well... thanks," he said genuinely, noticing the colour in her cheeks but not commenting. "Seriously, it means a lot." And it really did - he'd had a lot of negative comments over the years, not about any specific issue, just that people tended to make assumptions about young single parents. Mostly he didn't care what people thought, but it could get wearing. It felt good to hear that he seemed to be doing it right.

He glanced down at her, catching the slightly more serious expression on her face. "Yeah... no, I know what you mean," he agreed, and it was true - he did know what she meant, and agreed with her - although he was thinking less about giving Skye stolen sweets and more about what a genuinely lovely person Lissie Hewer was. She had a better moral compass than he did, that was for sure - and a much better one than he'd had at seventeen. And damnit, when she looked at him like that he wanted to kiss her.

It didn't help that she half fell against him as she turned, and he wasn't completely convinced that it was an accident - if not, maybe she wasn't quite as completely innocent as she seemed. Christ, why was this so difficult? He'd been attracted to loads of girls in situations where he couldn't or mustn't do anything about it, and he'd never had any difficulty at all putting those thoughts out of his mind and carrying on as normal. Why couldn't he just do that with Lissie? He must do it, he told himself firmly - anything else just wasn't fair to her.

"Yeah, I think you're right," he said with a grin, his voice as relaxed and normal as he could make it. "Her mum might not agree, because that's a hell of a lot of sugar, but I'll just blame you..." he teased, although he would do nothing of the sort, of course. As he spoke, he was reaching up to get one of the sweets in question down. He wasn't sure how much it was going to cost him, but he'd recently been paid and had money in his pocket, so he should be okay.

[Lissie Hewer]

"That would be fun!" Lissie agreed with a laugh and nod. She would love to witness all the boys melting for Skye - and Skye sucking it up, of course! Lissie had an inkling that Skye was going to grow up very spoilt by lots of people, herself included. Thinking about the apartment made Lissie think about the kiss from last summer. Being alone with Jake... seeing him shirtless.... She wondered what it would be like to back in the apartment with him, but only this time, to be with Skye and the rest of the boys who occupied the flat - including her brother. Would she be able to keep her cool? Would Rupert catch on? Of course, this was all assuming that Jake was serious about his offer. Something told Lissie, however, that he was just saying it. Sometimes did that - she did it herself, too.

Lissie was pleased that Jake took her words on his parenting seriously and felt complimented. But she thought it was important for people to know when they were doing something right. So many times, people were criticized when what they really needed was to be complimented on what they were good at. She flashed him a smile. Lissie was also pleased that he seemed to agree with her on the whole not-giving-Skye-stolen-sweets idea. It wasn't the worst thing that they could do, but it was pretty bad. However, she got the sense that Skye might laugh at it when she was much older. She could imagine the conversation...

Jake: Remember all those sweets I gave when you were little? They were stolen.

And Skye would just laugh and laugh. The thought made Lissie want to laugh as well because it was a bit ridiculous. She pushed it from her mind and concentrated on Jake's arm as he reached up from the giant lolly. She studied it's features (mainly the muscles) and tried to remember his arm around her just a few moments ago. But then Lissie caught what Jake said, and she looked at him with feigned shock.

"You wouldn't dare!" she opposed, stomping her foot to make it clear that she was not pleased with the idea. But her tone was also teasing. When Jake grabbed one of the lollies, it took Lissie only a matter of seconds to reach out and to take it from his hand. She held it out of his reach to the best of her ability. "If that's the case, maybe you should get Skye something else...." She trailed off, biting her lower lip. She glanced at the lolly in her hand and brought it closer to her side, beginning to unwrap it with the idea of eating it. "I am craving something sweet."

[Jake Gullane]

"Well, drop by any time, seriously," Jake told her, meaning what he said. It would be fine, he told himself. She would just be part of a group of friends. "I'll let you know when Skye's going to be with me next," he added. "Though obviously you're welcome even when she's not there." At least now that he had a bedroom in the flat, there would be no repeat of last time she dropped round unannounced, with her coming in to find him half naked and asleep on the couch.

Lifting sweets from shops was definitely not the worst crime in Jake's eyes, but Lissie's scruples made it occur to him - for the first time, in fact - that actually, he wouldn't be very pleased if Skye started stealing things. Probably not as upset as Emma, who he was sure would go apeshit at the very idea, but still. Maybe if he didn't want his daughter to grow up with habits like that, he needed to set her a somewhat better example. He was very careful about things like swearing around her, and as yet she was too young even to wonder how he made money, but that would change as she got older, and she was bright enough to work out some truths.

However, he fully intended to pay for this particular treat, and was about to turn towards the counter, but paused to grin at her again. "Entirely your fault," he asserted. "For encouraging it." The next moment, he found it snatched out of his hand. "Hey!" he protested, laughing, and making a grab for it, but missing as she moved it out of reach. His attempt had brought him a step closer to her, and he tried again, this time catching the hand she was holding it in. However, he made no immediate move to pull it out of her grasp, because he'd suddenly found himself standing very close to her, and looking down into her face. She was still laughing, and it popped into his head that he wasn't sure he'd ever been attracted to anyone in quite the way he was to Lissie. And right at that moment, the temptation of being this damn close to her was too great even to think about any of the reasons he ought to resist it.

"Yeah, well," he murmured, his eyes moving over her face and coming to rest on her lips. "So am I." And before he could stop and think about it, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, lightly at first, waiting for a reaction.

[Lissie Hewer]

"Okay," Lissie said brightly, her face lighting up as well. She didn't know what sort of arrangements Jake had with Skye's mother, as to when he had her and for how long and all of that sort of stuff that separated parents had to deal with. She had a feeling that the time wasn't equal, though, and Jake got less time with his daughter. She nodded again and said, "Yeah, I know. Thanks." She wondered if he was implying something or just being friendly. Probably just being friendly, she told herself firmly.

Lissie was going to continue to tease when she realized how close Jake was to her. She swallowed, her eyes locking onto his and moving every which way as his eyes searched her face. She felt so bold; eye connect was something that made her blush and she usually cowered away from it. But this was Jake; everything was different with him. The sweet in her hand was long forgotten and she was expecting Jake to snap out of his trance first and step away from her. But instead, her face came closer.

His lips touched hers so lightly that she wasn't even sure he was kissing her. Lissie's eyes closed softly and she dropped the sweet from her hand, barely registering as it clattered to the floor and broke into pieces. Lissie stepped closer to Jake so that their lips were pressed harder against each other. It all felt natural when she lifted her arms around his neck, keeping him close. She wasn't going to let him pull away from her now. Cautiously, Lissie opened her mouth (she was doing it the right way, wasn't she?) and hoped that Jake would follow suit. She let her body relax, finally getting what she had wanted all year.

[Jake Gullane]

Lissie's lips were soft against his, and although he knew she was inexperienced, she didn't seem very hesitant about what she wanted, which acted as reassurance for Jake. Kissing her was very definitely not what he had intended to when he first met her outside the shop. He was going to feel terrible for it once he had a chance to stop and think about what he'd actually done, of that he was sure, but just at the moment, his overriding desire was simply to keep kissing her, and that seemed quite a lot more important than any stupid scruples. He'd wanted to do this ever since he'd reluctantly stopped last year, a fact he was only really just letting himself realise.

And God, it ought to feel wrong, but it didn't - it felt right, especially as she relaxed, her arms wrapping round his neck. Jake's own arm went round her waist, his other hand drifting up to her head, his fingers tangling lightly in her hair. Her lips opened under his, and somewhere in the back of his brain, he registered her mixture of eagerness and caution and thought that she very likely might never have been kissed like this before. He deliberately took it gently as he slipped his tongue into her mouth, his lips moving slowly on hers. For a few moments, he let himself kiss her, losing himself in the feel and taste of her. Then, still slowly, he pulled his head back slightly and looked down at her.

"I probably shouldn't have done that," he murmured, but made no move to let go of her waist. Right now, he just wasn't going to think of all the reasons why not. Instead, he glanced up, suddenly aware of their surroundings and the fact that they could probably be seen through the window - not to mention the risk of Leo suddenly walking out from the back room. Jake didn't know whether his friend was even working today, but since he only really knew Leo through Rupert, he wasn't quite the person Jake wanted walking in on them. He looked back down at Lissie, feeling an instant desire to kiss her again.

"And if I'm going to do it again," he went on, in the same low tone. "We should move behind those shelves, out of view of the window..."

[Lissie Hewer]

The feeling of Jake's hands on her body ignited more fire inside of Lissie. Her body shivered in response to his touch on her waist, but it was a good shiver. The best, in fact (so far, at least.) With his hands tangled in her hair, Lissie tentatively pushed one of her own hands up into Jake's hair, fingering it gently. She was more than pleased when Jake kissed her back, and a little surprised to find his tongue on her mouth. She had never kissed anyone like this before (last year was her first time kissing anyone), but after a moment or so, Lissie decided that it wasn't so bad.

Her lips moved with Jake's and she let his tongue do whatever it wanted; she would reciprocate when she felt comfortable. Then again, maybe if she didn't respond, he might stop kissing her. He might tell her that this had been a mistake and they--

Jake pulled away and Lissie felt her stomach plummet. She didn't let the disappointment show on her face. But when she heard his words, she couldn't help but smirk. "Don't think about should haves or should have nots," Lissie uttered, looking up at him from under her lashes. The butterflies were still in her stomach as they stood there, in plain view. Anyone could see them. If Jack came looking for her - Jack! He couldn't still be chatting with the Headmistress, could he? Maybe he could. Those two acted like brother and sister--

Lissie turned her concentration on Jake. She let her arms slip from around his neck and traced her fingers along one of his arms. Then she took his hand and turned slowly to lead him behind the shelves. She had decided for both of them what was going to happen. She liked having this power - no boy had ever fancied her before, had never wanted to kiss her. And then she met Jake and her whole world changed. Lissie spun around when they were out of view and it was just a few seconds before she was tipping her head towards him. "Was that sweet enough?" she whispered before her lips connected to his again. And inside her stomach, the butterflies flapped around wildly and fireworks went off in her mind.

[Jake Gullane]

((OOC - these two oMG))

He could feel her responses, the slight shiver, the hesitation. And he could tell that this was new to her (he'd known, last year, that that had been her first kiss, but for all he knew she'd kissed numerous people in the months between - her reaction suggested not though) but nothing gave him the impression that she wasn't okay with what they were doing. He didn't want to rush her - he wanted her to enjoy it, after all - but she didn't seem to mind, at least judging by the hand pressed against the back of his head and her lips moving against his.

Her smirk made him smile involuntarily in return - the more he knew Lissie, the less she seemed like a completely innocent kid, and he liked that - a lot. She might be inexperienced, but she knew how to tease, and her fingers raised gooseflesh on his arms; something about her made him react almost as if this was new to him as well. He half thought that his reminder about where they were might scare her and make her back off - and he knew that if it had, he'd have been disappointed. Instead, though, he found himself pulled behind some shelves, into a corner of the shop where they would be invisible unless someone came into this specific area.

"I'm not thinking about them," he assured her, with a grin, almost truthfully, as he banished the worries from his mind. "And even if I am - I do a lot of things I shouldn't do, so." He didn't get a chance to reply to her question before her lips were on his again - and truthfully he wasn't sure what he'd have said, since all the honest answers seemed a bit sappy. She was sweet, maybe sweeter than anything he'd ever had before, but he didn't know what to make of that - the only thing he wanted to make of it was this. So instead of trying to answer, he kissed her back deeply, his arms going round her again and pulling her body against his.

[Lissie Hewer]

Lissie decided, as Jake pulled her closer, that that was his answer to her question: it had been sweet enough and he wanted more. Good. So did she. Everything else melted away. Lissie completely forgot that they were in the middle (okay, the back) of a sweet shop and that she had sneaked away from Jack at Hogwarts and that she wasn't as experienced as Jake. He didn't seem to mind, though.

Instead, her body flooded only with good thoughts and feelings. Jake's touch, his kiss... they made her feel alive. The spark that she had felt for him all year was now a hot-burning flame, and everything Jake was doing was only making it grow bigger and hotter. Lissie felt an urge that she hadn't experienced before; in fact, she had no idea that anyone could have such a feeling. But she focused her thoughts on Jake and kissing him.

Lissie trailed one hand around to Jake's backside and stuck her hand into the pocket of his trousers. Her other hand went to his neck and she gently brushed her thumb across his skin. Then she broke their kiss and gave him another smirk. Lissie decided to take a risk: she tilted her head to the other side of Jake's neck and lightly trailed kisses across it, like she had seen in the movies. She made her way back to his lips and lingered there for a moment before pulling away again. She didn't want to admit it, but she needed to catch her breath.

"I guess you remember last summer, huh?" she asked quietly, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She moved into a more casual position with her hands clasped at the nape of Jake's neck, yet her body remained close to him.

[Jake Gullane]

Their current location wasn't bothering Jake that much either, although he was vaguely aware that unfortunately they couldn't stay here doing this forever. Which was probably a good thing, because if they'd been somewhere more private, he'd have been starting to want more than just to kiss her, and that would be a step too far. Several steps too far, in fact. But though they'd have to stop at some point, probably fairly soon, he was going to make the most of it while it lasted. With the feeling of her body against him, and her hands moving over him as she grew in confidence, his optimism was winning out - this couldn't really be such a bad idea...

His own hands would normally have been roving much more by this point, but he was deliberately and carefully holding back, moving more slowly than he wanted to, as he tried to remind himself that she'd probably never done this before. However, while one hand stayed resting innocently on her waist, the other slid lower, lightly cupping her arse. It became harder to remember to go slow the bolder she got, and his breath caught, head tilting back slightly, as he felt her lips move across his neck. He too was almost glad of the pause to cool it down a little.

Jake really wasn't sure what any of this meant. They'd never talked about what this was between them, but he knew it was more than just wanting to get into her pants - although that idea was very appealing too. He hadn't dated anyone since Emma, and that had ended before Skye was born, and the concept felt alien to him - but Lissie was an innocent seventeen-year-old, and he couldn't just treat her as a casual fling. All he could think of as he looked down at her, though, was how much he didn't want this to be the last time he kissed her.

"I've thought about last summer a lot too much," he admitted candidly, lifting a hand to run his thumb down the side of her face. "You're a pretty big temptation, you know." He looked thoughtfully at her. "And a very good kisser." Surprisingly good, but he felt that that would be a bit insulting to say. He glanced around them, becoming aware of their surroundings again. "We can't stay here forever," he said regretfully. "But I want to see you again - can I?" The words that were in his head slipped out before he had really considered them - there was, he decided, such a thing as overthinking things, and they could work out exactly what this was at some other time. He wanted to suggest that they went somewhere else just now - but where? Public places were not a good idea just yet...

[Lissie Hewer]

Lissie had never had anyone touch her arse before, and she was surprised to find that she liked it. It was a little more intimate and certainly made their snogging session a bit better. She was glad that Jake felt comfortable enough to touch her like that. It meant that he didn't see her as a little girl or as innocent as she had probably first come across. Well, maybe he did, but he certainly wasn't acting like it now.

Lissie looked up at Jake as he spoke, sighing lightly as his thumb ran down the side of her face. She wondered what all of this meant. She had a massive crush on Jake - that wasn't a surprise. But he had kissed her this time. So it all had to mean something. Lissie couldn't help but laugh. She looked up at the ceiling as she considered his words, a thoughtful and happy look on her face. Her blue eyes found their way back to Jake's eyes and she grinned at him.

"Why, thank you," she said, obviously pleased with what he had to say. She was a temptation and a good kisser! Inside, she was squealing. She suddenly wished she had a journal or something to write this all down in. But that was for little girls, and she wasn't a little girl. If anything, today proved that. But Lissie could only imagine what her brothers would think if they were to hear what Jake had said.

She frowned slightly, knowing that Jake was right: they couldn't stay here forever. No matter how badly she wanted to. Lissie thought that, once she caught her breath, she could continue snogging Jake all day. She sighed a bit heavier now, letting out her disappointment. "I know," Lissie agreed in the same tone. "I've got to get back. But, yes, seeing you again would be lovely!" She carefully constructed the tone of the latter sentence to sound enthusiastic, but not desperate. She knew she ought to step back from him, but she didn't. "Should we figure out a time to meet again now, or would you prefer to owl each other?" She didn't think Jake had an owl, but he could always use the Owl Post here in Hogsmeade.

[Jake Gullane]

Jake hadn't exactly checked that she was okay with it before he'd kissed her, but her responses and the expression now on her face didn't leave him with any doubt about whether she was happy. And he couldn't help being slightly amazed that he'd produced that expression. Jake had snogged a lot of girls in his time, but it had generally just been a bit of casual fun for both of them, and he had a strong feeling that that was not what this was for Lissie. Which wasn't surprising, as he knew she wasn't someone who went round snogging people for a bit of casual fun. The thought was slightly terrifying, but the feelings it produced were not as unpleasant as he'd really have expected. Jake thought, and not for the first time, that if he let himself, he could really find himself liking her a lot.

He smiled warmly back at her, unable to feel anything other than happy himself, despite the fact that he knew he should really be more worried than anything. Jake had always lived in the moment, taking life as it came, and this moment felt like a good one, no matter what was going to happen in the future.

He really wasn't sure what he was committing himself to with his suggestion of meeting again. It was quite true that he did very much want to see her again, but that was a selfish feeling, wasn't it? Part of his brain insisted that it wasn't fair on her - he would be incredibly bad for her, and she was going to get hurt, which was the last thing he wanted. The other part of his brain argued that he was being stupid and worrying too much. She wanted to see him and he wanted to see her - where was the harm?

The part that really didn't want to hurt her, however, made him hesitate for just a moment. "Are you sure?" he asked her, watching her face carefully. "Because I'm not... I don't know what this is, Lissie, but there are lost of reasons why... I'm not the greatest person for you to be kissing," he finished quietly. He wasn't entirely sure what he was trying to say himself, let alone whether Lissie would get it. "If you do want to,though," he added quickly. "We can sort something out now..." He wasn't sure it was the best idea for him to be owling her at her house, in case Jack saw the letters. And her owling him could potentially be even worse, since Rupert could easily catch sight of Jake's post, and would presumably recognise his sister's handwriting. And maybe he ought to just tell Rupert anyway, but he'd really rather sort things out in his own head before involving other people.

[Lissie Hewer]

Lissie could sense Jake's hesitation and she wondered what he was thinking. Was that not the answer he had wanted to hear? Had she seemed too enthusiastic at meeting him again? But then he spoke and she understood. She understood instantly what was going on in his mind. As much as she wanted to, Lissie still didn't pull away from Jake.

"I don't know what this is, either," she pointed out softly. She didn't. She knew what she wanted it to be, but they both knew the kind of guy Jake was - he was the sort to go around kissing girls and thinking nothing of it. Lissie was sure he did more, too, and part of her wondered if he'd do that with her. One thumb began to rub the back of his neck gently. She thought about asking if his hesitation was because of her brothers, but something held the words back. They weren't a couple; they were just making plans to see each other again.

"Yes, I do want to," Lissie said with a firm nod, her voice strong. She wanted him to know that she was serious about this - whatever it may be. "Do you have a day off sometime soon, or...? I mean, I'm free whenever until school starts again. So you just let me what works best for you." She gave him an encouraging smile.

[Jake Gullane]

She sounded like she understood - and maybe she really did understand, but Jake had a horrible feeling that that might not be enough to stop her getting hurt by this. Neither of them knew what they were getting into, but hell, this was the first time she'd done this, the first time she'd ever done anything with a guy, as far as he knew. Her level of 'not knowing' must be so much greater than his. And maybe... maybe they could work it out together. That idea seemed very simple and appealing, and all he'd have to do would be let himself go with the flow... But then he thought of the person he was, and the person she was - she didn't deserve to be dragged into a messy, confusing thing with a guy like him.

She sounded very sure, though, that she did in fact want to be dragged into it. And seeing her again - that wasn't too bad an idea because at least they should work something out. He certainly couldn't kiss her like that and then walk away as if nothing had happened. Even if his conscience had allowed it, he knew he wasn't going to be able to stop thinking about her in a hurry.

"Okay," he agreed after another moment's pause, not because he was hesitating this time, but because he took a second to scan her face and make sure he wasn't mistaken about her sincerity. He answered her smile with one of his own, once again thinking that none of this could be too bad, when she was smiling at him like that. He thought about her question. "Yeah, I have Monday and Tuesday off next week. And Friday evening actually, because I'm working during the day." He assumed that evenings wouldn't really be the best for her, as her brother would probably want to know where she was going.

[Lissie Hewer]

Relief flooded over Lissie when Jake agreed to another meeting. She didn't think that he would not agree to one - especially since he had been the one to ask her to meet again - but there was always the possibility. And from what he was saying, Lissie got the impression that his hesitation had to more to do with him than her. Like "I'm not the greatest person for you to be kissing" - it had to do with both of them, but she understood it to mean his reputation and possibly hurting than her inexperience.

"Alright," Lissie said with another smile. It seemed like everything was falling into place. She didn't know if it (them) would lead anywhere, but it seemed like they were taking steps in that direction. Jake's hesitation didn't phase Lissie for some reason; she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but she was willing to take a risk on him. On getting herself hurt. "We could meet both days - unless you have Skye on one of them? Not that I mind," she added. "I think she's a lovely little girl. Friday night a little trickier, but I can make up something to tell Jack."

Lissie blushed now. This was probably part of the problem - Jack. Well, not so much him, but the fact that he would be suspicious if she were to go out on a Friday night. She felt embarrassed that she had to run it by him; it made her seem so childish! But he was her guardian.... And Lissie knew that she would feel awful lying to him, but the sad thing was, he would believe her. Because she had never lied to him before - not about anything so serious. Perhaps this was going to be more problematic than she had originally thought. But, no! She wouldn't let that get in her way. She was going to have a summer romance.

"Pick whatever works best for you," Lissie continued. "And a spot to meet, and I'll be there."