Julian

[Ainsley Rickett]

Dear Julian Hey Julian Dear Julian,

How’s your summer going so far? I haven’t heard from you so I thought I’d write and see how things are. It’s alright if you’ve been busy, I was just wondering if I’m sure you and Caleb have been finding plenty of things to do.

I’m sorry I’m so lame

Ainsley xx

[Julian Delaire]

Ainsley,

Hey, it's great good to hear from you. My summer's going well, thanks. Yeah, I've been a little busy, and I have this incessant Hufflepuff thorn in my side -- you might know him? But I'm glad to hear from you, it's been a while; what have you been up to? 

We should hang out Caleb's trying to pressure me to leave my house at some point so I can third wheel for you two. Not sure if he's mentioned that to you yet, but yeah. Sounds fun, doesn't it?

Julian

[Ainsley Rickett]

Julian,

That's good to hear! I think I know who you're talking about, and I completely understand - Hufflepuffs in general just exhaust me. They're too much for me to deal with sometimes. I haven't been up to much, really, just been staying in and doing some reading and occasionally meeting up with Addie and Faye, who is the other Hufflepuff disaster in my life. So nothing too exciting, but it's been alright.

Caleb might have mentioned it in passing... However, I've seen you two together before, and I'm pretty sure that I would be the third wheel if the three of us hung out. We definitely should, though! I think it would be fun.

Ainsley

[Julian Delaire]

Ainsley,

I know what you mean - Hufflepuffs are indeed disasters as human beings. Don't tell Caleb I said that. Or Faye, come to think of it. I worry she might mess up my face. What have you been reading? You know, I picked up that Arithmancy book you told me about, the one written by that guy with the purple beard? It's actually really interesting.

When you say 'passing', do you mean 'actively and insistently pressuring you'? Don't be stupid, Caleb adores you far more than he likes me. He's always going on about Ainsley this, Ainsley that, Ainsley's so cool, Julian, and I have to put up with him, so, you know. Thanks for that.

Where would you want to hang out though? I can go pretty much anywhere, my mom's flexible because she likes it when I hang out with school friends. Mostly because I usually don't.

Julian

[Ainsley Rickett]

Julian,

I agree entirely. Don't be silly, Faye would never put the effort into messing up your face. She'd just roll her eyes at you. I can sense that she's rolling her eyes at me right now, even though we're not together. It's simply a thing that she tends to do. She thinks I'm pretentious and I've accepted that. I've just been reading ahead for Ancient Runes and History of Magic so far so I can move on to more interesting things when I finish up with them. Oh, you really did? That's great, I didn't think you would take the recommendation seriously it gets very compelling towards the end regarding the numerology of time. No one understands my love for Arithmancy

Well, I wouldn't exactly go that far. He pressures me for many things, and most of the time I can't even manage to take him seriously, so he definitely doesn't have that going for him. Stop, you and Caleb are best friends. He adores you more than you know, but you both just do that strange teenage boy thing where you never say it out loud. Is there some unwritten rule about that, or are you two just particularly dumb? Does he actually? I'm sure you're exaggerating and he's being overly dramatic. There's not that much to talk about regarding me, anyway. You're welcome, though. Anytime.

Doesn't matter to me, wherever works for you two! Just let me know the time and place and I'll be there. Your mum sounds really nice I'd love to meet her.

Ainsley

[Julian Delaire]

Ainsley,

I'm glad I have a friend someone who agrees with me there. Caleb's useless. Faye is literally always rolling her eyes, I don't think I've ever seen her pupils properly. You're not pretentious at all Why does she think you're pretentious? Or does she just think everyone's pretentious? Oh, cool, I've been doing some History of Magic reading, too, actually. I'm up to the seventeenth Goblin War. Spoiler alert, everyone dies. Yeah, I checked the Table of Contents, I'm looking forward to getting there. Arithmancy can be a pain in the ass, but it can also be surprisingly fun. Are you going to be taking the NEWT class for it, do you think?

Uh, clearly Caleb likes you better if he's not actively and insistently pressuring you for things. In fact, he's threatened to revoke our best friendship already this summer. I'm not entirely sure over what, but then, I never am sure with Caleb. So, there you go, he likes you more. No strange teenage boy things here. You think I'm dumb? I assure you, I am not exaggerating in the slightest. He talks about you all the time. Are you kidding You're really intere You'd be amazed at how much he can talk about you, actually. I ought to show you some of his letters sometime.

We could go to dinner sometimes, in Diagon Alley, maybe? Or a nice restaurant in muggle London, I don't know, your friend Addie might know some place? Speaking of, you have to invite her. Caleb has such a dorky crush on her and it's driving me up the wall because he refuses to admit it.

My mum's pretty cool. She likes you, you know. Because you're "one of my two friends, for Merlin's sake, Julian, don't you talk to other kids?". I don't know what she's talking about. Who needs more than two friends?

Julian

[Ainsley Rickett]

Julian,

Caleb can be useful. Sometimes. I think she thinks everyone’s pretentious to a certain degree, but apparently I always take it to the next level. Ah, I see. The Goblin Wars never end. I can’t believe you’re on the seventeenth - for once someone’s ahead of me in reading, it’s unexpected. I’m going to tell Caleb that the next time he tries to make fun of me for reading ahead. And then he can make fun of you instead, which I’m assuming he already does. Again, you’re welcome. I am taking the NEWT class, yes. I find Arithmancy really interesting, but I guess you already know that.

And yet your best friendship still remains intact, which is unsurprising. You two are inseparable and it’s my favorite thing. I will debate with you in-person and successfully convince you that he likes you better. You have absolutely no chance in this argument. I doubt it, because I have a theory that there’s always some strange teenage boy things going on. Wow, really? I thought he only excessively praises me when he’s talking to me directly, because he does do that. Is that what he’s like with everyone, or just me? It’s been five years and I have yet to figure out his intentions.

Trust me, Addie knows lots of places. More than you or I could keep track of for sure, and we’ve done advanced Arithmancy, so that’s saying something. I’ll definitely invite her! YES YOU NOTICED IT TOO I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s observed Caleb’s ridiculous crush on her. I mean, it’s not ridiculous - I actually think it’s really great, but it’s ridiculous that he won’t admit to it to me. Maybe it’s because he knows I’m best friends with her and will tell her? So you should use your best-male-friend/not-friends-with-Addie status to get him to be real about this, since he definitely does fancy her. There’s no question whatsoever.

Does she? That’s really sweet! Be sure to tell her I say hello. So we are friends Maybe I’ll meet her if I come round to yours sometime.

Ainsley

[Julian Delaire]

Ainsley,

Don't defend him. He's useless. Like inkwells, now that we have Self-Refilling Quills. Well, that's weird, I don't think you're pretentious. Hufflepuffs have bad taste. Am I really ahead of you? That's great, I'm going to hold this over your head, I hope you know. Caleb, I can deal with. He makes fun of me for everything else under the sun anyway, as you correctly assumed. Oh, that's awesome cool, I'll be in the NEWT class, too, provided I score high enough on my OWLs. There were some tricky questions on there, so I'm a little worried. Though I'm sure you'll pass. You live and breathe Arithmancy, as far as I can tell.

Oh, really, you plan on spending the precious time you get to see me in-person yelling at me that Caleb likes me more than he likes you? Really, Ainsley? Really? I feel like you might be too invested in our friendship. I'm hurt, do you think I'm a strange teenage boy? I thought we were friends. Inter-House friends. We had something special. 

No, he excessively praises you all the time. I'm starting to think you guys are secretly dating, or something, with how often he calls you beautiful, intelligent, funny, etc., etc. Are you? But, then, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be able to resist bragging if you were dating. I can't speak for his intentions, but he definitely doesn't call me beautiful, so there's that.

Addie Beaumont is a constant source of confusion for me, if I'm honest. But yes, good, definitely do that. Yeah, Caleb's an idiot about that stuff. He would probably admit it to me if he could admit it to himself. Thing is, he thinks she's out of his league. Which she kind of is, but you know. Do you know if she likes him? I promise I won't tell him if she does or doesn't, but it'd be helpful to know. 

Yeah, no, last time I told my mum a friend from school said hello, she told me to invite him over during Christmas break and then I was irreversibly stuck with Caleb forever, so. (She says hi back.)

You really want to come over? My room's a mess, see, the good thing about never having girls over is I don't have to clean. But if you want to, I'll make it slightly more presentable for you. Maybe. You know my Floo address, right?

Julian

[Ainsley Rickett]

Julian,

That’s a little harsh. He’s not useless if he can make me laugh, and he does. Occasionally. Don’t tell him I said that. Oh, thanks! I appreciate it. Hufflepuffs can be weird, though I know a few Slytherins who are weirder. I’ll catch up on the reading soon and then it’ll be like this never happened. I’m positive that you must have done well on your OWLs, since you were one of the few people who showed up to Arithmancy lessons, actually stayed awake, and above all seemed to know what was going on. You probably did brilliantly, too.

The precious time I get to see you in-person? And this is coming from the guy who started off describing it as tagging along simply to third wheel... I’m invested in getting you two to stop being so idiotic sometimes, but then again, it’s a great source of amusement for me, so never stop. All of my friends aside from Letha and Bryce are inter-house friends. What is supposed to make you so special all of a sudden? Do enlighten me.

Are you kidding Why would you think that Oh, well tell him thanks from me next time he does. I honestly didn’t think he said those things about me to anyone other than me, so I always just end up laughing in his face (or laughing as I write a response to his letters), and I guess I shouldn’t do that if he’s being genuine. Also, we’re not secretly dating. Or dating at all. Just in case that was unclear.

Addie is the best, end of story. Your confusion is based off your lack of knowledge about her. Why can’t he just admit it to himself? Addie isn’t out of his league at all. Boys are so dumb Why do you two even They’d be so great together. And no, honestly, she hasn’t said anything about it to me either way, even though I try to get her to admit to it all the time. I know she secretly thinks he’s adorable. Which, he is. On a good day.

Being stuck with me forever wouldn’t be as bad as being stuck with Caleb forever, I promise.

Yeah, it’d be nice! You really don’t have to clean your room for me if you don’t want to, though. I have two teenage sisters and their rooms aren’t as tidy as you’d think. When should I come over?

Ainsley

[Julian Delaire]

Ainsley,

Oh, he makes you laugh How often do you guys Your secret's safe with me. Even if I wholeheartedly disagree. Excuse you, Slytherins are...yeah, I don't have an argument. I hate almost everyone in my House. If you're talking about me, though, I take offense. I can't believe you could look at me and Caleb and think I'm the weird one. Do you like him more You'll never catch up with me, sorry to say. I'm already at the eighteenth war. Ha, there's no way I did brilliantly on that OWL, but thanks for the vote of confidence.

Yes, any and all time you spend with me is precious. Even when I'm third-wheeling. Especially when I'm third-wheeling. That makes it even more precious. By the way, you should stop flip-flopping between "Oh, I'm sure you did brilliantly!" and "You're an idiot". I'm getting some mixed messages here.

Wow, so clearly our breaking of House boundaries means nothing to you. Sorry I thought otherwise. Maybe I won't let you sit at my table anymore, since our friendship is so unspecial to you. Whatever.

Whoops, maybe I wasn't supposed to tell you about that. I'm half-convinced you're his 'secret' crush instead of Addie. You should keep laughing though. You have a nice laugh God knows he deserves it. Are you sure you're not dating Are you dating anyone else then That's good, though, you know, I wouldn't have a problem with it. You're a far better choice than his last girlfriend. I can't even remember her name, I've tried so hard to block her out of my memory.

I'm pretty sure Addie already doesn't like me on principle since I steal you away from her to study. Which is all the knowledge I need, thanks very much. Are you sure, though? She seems out of his league. But then, I think most girls are out of his league. Caleb doesn't actually have a league, come to think of it. You think he's adorable? Caleb's not that adorable, but whatever you say.

Really? You wouldn't force me to go to lame parties against my will? Or take care of you when you're hungover, despite it being three in the morning? Both of which he does, by the way. I question my friendship with him frequently.

No, I'll clean it. Or Mum will make me. Like she's going to let me have a girl over with the state my room's in now. Whenever you're free works; Caleb's not going to drag me out somewhere stupid if he knows you're coming over. By the way, don't tell him about this, or he'll invite himself. Or worse. He might cook for us.

Julian

[Ainsley Rickett]

Julian,

You don't really disagree with me, though. I can tell. Your skills of deduction are great, I wasn't positive you'd figure out that I was talking about you. If I had to choose between decide between make a decision about whether you or Caleb is weirder, it'd be you. Every time. Because Caleb owns up to his weirdness, and you just deny it and pretend like no one can ever get to you you're perfectly apathetic and composed normal. I hate to break it to you, but I'm on the nineteenth. Read faster if you want to have a chance at this. And shut up, I've seen you revising for Arithmancy before. You've probably done a lot better than you give yourself credit for.

I thought we went over this already? You're never third-wheeling. I'm the third wheel. Or Caleb is Nah, I think I'm going to keep up with how I've been flip-flopping so far. I get to decide under which circumstances you're intelligent and under which you're an idiot, since you're never completely one or the other. Not my fault.

Stop being so dramatic. Speaking of dramatic, you and Caleb have a lot more in common than you think. It's because you spend too much time together. I'll sit at your table anyway, as I can be extremely stubborn when I want to be. There's a reason I was sorted into Gryffindor. I think, at least

I'm completely convinced I'm not his secret crush, actually. There's no way it's anything other than him shamelessly flirting out of habit because he can. Oh, you wouldn't have a problem with it? That's fine I really don't fucking care I'm immensely glad to hear that you believe I'm a better choice than a girl whose name you can't even remember. It's a real honor, really, as all I aspire to be in life is a better choice of a girlfriend than some other unnamed girl. What an exceptional self-esteem boost, seriously.

No, she's not out of his league. Caleb must have a league, because like you said, I'd be a better choice of a girlfriend for him than his last girlfriend, and like you said, you wouldn't have a problem with it. So there you go - he has a league, and I'm somehow in it. It must be magic.

He'd do the same for you.

I'll check my schedule.

Ainsley

[Julian Delaire]

Ainsley,

You can't tell anything. Don't lie to yourself. I'm not even going to dignify any of this nonsense about me being weirder than Caleb with a reply, thank you and have a good day. I'll have finished the book before school starts, though, guaranteed.

Do you 
Were you 
How was 
I saw 
I was just wondering 
What were you 
Who were you with

Are you mad at me? You seem like you're mad at me. I'm sorry if I insulted you by something I said. I just don't I don't want you to date him I just said If you don't want to come over, I understand but I I wish you would I hope you will just let me know. 

For what it's worth, I think you'd be a great girlfriend. No comparisons needed.

Julian

[Ainsley Rickett]

Julian,

Can I ask you something? I'd prefer not to buy into the whole Slytherins lie stereotype, so I don't want to say anything stupid here like 'Promise me you'll tell the truth,' even though it'd be really nice if you did tell the truth. So if I ask you something, will you at least try to be honest about it?

It's alright. I'm not mad at you, and I'm sorry if I sounded rude, because I really didn't mean to. I'd like to think I'm more than a better choice of a girlfriend, that's all. Actually, no, I don't like to just think that - I know it's true. So a little respect there would be nice.

What I'm Thank you Thank you. I have a feeling you'd make a great boyfriend, but then again, I guess I don't know you well enough to say it for sure.

Ainsley

[Julian Delaire]

Ainsley,

Why would I You think I would lie? Why are Yes, I'll tell the truth. I wouldn't lie to you. Is something wrong?

I don't I'm sorry I didn't I wasn't I didn't think how that must have sounded to you, I'm sorry. All I meant was, you're an amazing girl, and Caleb would be lucky to date you. Even though I I wouldn't want And I'd be happy for him. If he managed to get a girl like you, I mean.

You don't know me well enough? I Okay Thanks, but I probably wouldn't. You might have noticed, I'm horrible with girls. But thanks, though.

Julian

[Ainsley Rickett]

Julian,

Were you at The Tamarisk Tree earlier today?

It's fine. I promise you I'm not going to date Caleb, but thanks for the compliment anyways. I really Why won't you

You're not horrible with girls. You'll find someone, honestly. You're a great guy underneath it all and I just want you to be happy.

Ainsley