Nov. 18: Night Prowlers – Forbidden Forest {Willa}

[Willa Robbins]

No matter what he said, he is so going to think less of you - how could you be daft enough to be frightened of a mole? You've seen worse! Willa berated herself inside as she tucked herself in against her companion, his stiff shoulder her support. She wondered what she could do as more of a hint to him to get him to wrap his arm around her - that is, besides moving it for him - while wondering why her former thoughts mattered to her so much! She rarely cared what people thought of her besides hoping they found her pleasant, she usually wasn't going out of her way to make people like her; but she wanted Benji to like her, and show he liked her beyond doing this special thing of bringing her out here.

It had been years since a boy had asked her out, years since she'd been kissed. And this, right here, was feeling like the both may happen, and Willa was undeniably excited to be in this moment with Benji. If they could move past his current discomfort, she really did see potential in them - who else would think to organize a night like this for her? And not just organize it, but want to see the blooms just as much as she did? It was rare to share a passion like theirs, at least at Hogwarts where there were many more "exciting" things to draw attention away from nature. If they shared this passion, they could share more than they knew now, couldn't they?

Just need him to loosen up so we can see...

As she smiled at him a bit coyly, thinking of something they could do to test that idea, Benji turned to look back, and after a few moments was thawing, moving, and she lifted off of his shoulder slightly to make this easier and -

Benjamin Fenwick, just kiss me if that's what you want! For, without any sort of notice, the boy had sat straight up as if he'd been bitten by the mole he'd cast a spell on earlier. Easy there, Robbins. She had to quell her frustration - surely it was just frustration at being so close to something she hadn't felt in ages, right? and taking chances wasn't easy for loads of people, she could be more understanding - because Benji was turning her attention to the meadow, his face lighting up as he sprang to his feet, pulling her up with him. In her surprise at the sudden change, Willa stumbled a bit on the blankets, tightening her grip on the hand she held, her other flying to his chest for support. She didn't move away as she looked at the meadow, where true to his promises, there were cascades of beautiful flowers opening to reflect the light of the moon, casting a soft glow over the scene. Okay, okay - worth delaying a kiss for, she thought with a smirk as she caught his eye, the sight truly something amazing to witness and helping her frustration ebb. Things like this were pure magic to her, and she couldn't hold on to anything negative while witnessing this. "This is phenomenal, Benji - thank you."

Right, so...who says he's got to be the one to kiss you?

Once the thought had struck, Willa felt a tingling panic shoot through her from her heart out to the whole of her, empathy for her companion growing. It wasn't as easy a thing to do as think - but it really could be easy, he's right there, all you'd have to do... Would be to do what she did. Intertwine their fingers, trail her gloved hand up from his chest and lightly over his scruff to the back of his neck, and rise up on her toes in her boots, and - well - plant one on him.

Her lips were gentle against his and he tasted like mead and exciting possibilities and the crispness of the winter's chill. The girl could hardly believe she had instigated this, since with her usual friends she would never be seen as the impulsive one, but that wasn't an altogether bad thing, and she was enjoying the outcome. If Benji pushed her to be more bold, if bold was what she wanted to be, he could help her to grow just as she hoped to help him. After a few moments she let her heels drop back down to the ground, their lips coming apart as she did. She looked up at him curiously as a slow smile spread across her face, blue eyes full with questions she hoped he'd answer, starting with - this is what you wanted too, isn't it?

[Benji Fenwick]

Perhaps it was a trick of the light but Benji thought she saw frustration cross Willa’s face as he hopped up. That couldn’t be right though. He had brought her out here to see the night blooms, and here they were, as promised. She wouldn’t be mad about that right?

He didn’t have much time to think on it however because in short Willa was in his arms. Benji would have never imagined this was the way he would finally have her body clinging to his. He imagined saying something sweet and taking it slow; what really happened was he had rudely yanked her off the forest floor in his haste. Willa had stumbled, her hand in his adapting a vice grip and her other…

She was pressed up against him now. Benji’s breath hitched even as he reached out to hold her steady, awkwardly making sure his hand wasn’t anywhere inappropriate. It was hard to concentrate on the flowers now, but he did manage to glance back out at them once when Willa spoke. Atop of all the other feelings bouncing around his body, he added pride. “You’re welcome.” He answered with a smile, looking down at her again.

This near he could see the sweep of her lashes against the rosy apples of her cheeks, the exact pout of her mouth, the way it felt against his own… Wait, what? Benji hardly knew what he was doing. He couldn’t believe it; she was kissing him!

And he was kissing her back or so he thought he was, there was some degree of shock in his system, merlin he hoped he wasn't shite.  Had he fallen asleep against the tree trunk and was now having a most wonderful dream? No. Defiantly not. In a dream he wouldn’t be rooted to the spot, and she wouldn’t be moving away.

”Did you just kiss me? You kissed me. I’m almost sure of it.” He mutter as she broke away, his voice so low and quick he wasn’t sure if she had even heard him. A loud voice in this head screamed at him to shut up! He closed his mouth with a snap; tasting her there where she hadn’t been before and he licked his lips with a quiet hum.

Benji stared down at Willa curiously, a little dazzed; it wasn’t possible. He couldn’t get a girl like Willa…but she was looking at him so invitingly. It was possible! After all, he had seen her do it; had felt her do it. Feeling was believing. So for the first time in his short life Benji allowed himself to just feel with a girl he wanted. Feel the curve of her hip as he hesitantly caught at it; her cheek, which he imagined was soft to the touch.

Why did it have to be so bloody cold? Why did he have to be wearing gloves? A becoming smile had spread over Willa’s face and Benji thought no more; he kissed her. Before he was able to think of anything else, before he could talk himself out of it, he laid claim to her mouth with only a fraction of the passion he felt. Only a fraction was just enough he thought. If he let himself completely free he wouldn’t be able to concentrate enough to enjoy the feel of her lower lip as he nipped at it, or how pliant her body was even under several layers as he wrapped her up firmly in his arms.

[Willa Robbins]

It took the poor boy a moment or two to, or so it seemed, fully realize what was happening. Willa didn't think this could possibly be coming as a total shock - he'd planned this amazing evening especially for her, this was so a date even though they hadn't said it - but perhaps it was. Maybe he didn't know what it looked like when a girl wanted to be kissed. Had he dated before? Had a girlfriend? She probably should know this by now, but she honestly didn't want to think about him with other girls, not when he was kissing her back. Feeling much better about the risk she'd taken, Willa let it go on for a time before settling back, separating from him a bit, her smile growing as she heard the hectic mutterings leave him.

She simply nodded, watching as he thought. It truly was endearing, and she felt a bubble of hope rising in her center because maybe - maybe he was the guy she'd been waiting for, hoping to meet. On paper the two of them fit quite nicely, and if he was putting this much effort into their first not-even-official date, how could things ever go south?

Having come to some sort of internal conclusion, Benji made a move of his own - a hand to her hip pulled her closer, a gloved hand to her cheek made her start to blush with the tender intent in his eye, and now that he fully knew what was going on...wow. Being kissed by a dreadfully cute boy in a field of wildflowers that had just opened to the light of the moon was a rather breathtaking experience -or maybe she was just short of breath due to the intensity with which Benji was kissing her. The Ravenclaw was finally letting go of trying to be composed, with the way he was touching her, moving her to him, leading her in this just as he had on their walk. And she liked being held by him, having the feel of a bloke's arms around her, knowing he liked her like this. It buoyed up her confidence, helped her grow more comfortable with his unfamiliar touch, as she kissed him back just as vigorously, letting him move her right up against him. She lifted her arms around his neck, rising to meet his kisses...

The stars were still twinkling and there wasn't yet a sign of daylight when they parted, but Willa felt they'd been at each other a long time. Willa hadn't been this properly kissed - well - really - ever. (What fourteen-year-old knew how to kiss, right? Not that she'd known back then.) She felt herself growing pink now that they'd separated, unable to meet his eye after all that uncharacteristic...everything. She didn't go around kissing blokes on a whim, what if that's what he thought now? That she'd do that for anyone who took her out once? He was different, grown special to her - Willa took his hand, smiling through the blush. "Should we pack up? Not that I want to go or anything - it's just - y'know - school night - " You are so lame - And so the badger impetuously popped back up to give him a peck.

[Benji Fenwick]

Never, never in a million years, never in his wildest dreams did her ever think it could be this good. Maybe he was a little awkward at first, but as they went on and subsequently on he became more sure, his arms and mouth holding her securely to him. It was easy not to think when Willa was freely kissing him with such enthusiasm. Benji knew there was a part of him that was itching to criticize the moment. How he was probably a poor kisser, he didn’t have any experience after all, and how she was probably regretting her decision…

But he couldn’t think about any of that, he could only feel her soft form pressed up against him and the wicked things it was doing to him. After some time Willa pulled away, and the younger bloke was breathing heavy, disappointment in his eyes. She wouldn’t meet them however and she was turning such a becoming shade of pink. Benji blushed as well, the reality of the situation weighing down on him. Willa took up his hand, speaking of leaving; perhaps he wasn’t that great after all… Then she had planted a quick peck on his unsuspecting lips and spontaneously Benji smiled.

Willa was a prefect and a good girl, of course she wouldn’t want to be outside the castle too far after dark on a school night. “You’re right.” Benji was not surprised he still sounded breathless. “Wouldn’t want to be caught out too late. I’ll clear this up not to worry.” It was a momentary loss to relinquish her hand, but he did it and was quickly putting things to rights. He shoved the drink and cups into the bag, thinking they hadn’t even indulged in half the mead, they hadn’t played chess properly or read the magazine. They had just sat…and kissed.

All that was left was the two blankets and Benji had a blindingly brilliant thought. He snatched up the blanket they had shared and threw it over his shoulder; the other he balled up and shoved in his bag before slinging the now once again full backpack over is free shoulder. Benji turned back to Willa with a shy smile pulling the blanket from his shoulder and holding it out to her. The temperature seemed to have dropped or maybe he was just chilled from losing the heat of Willa.

“It’s freezing, your nose is red.” He said quietly as he draped the wool over her shoulders. “There.” She looked incredibly cute swamped in the blanket. Benji waited patiently for her to adjust for walking before bravely taking her hand and leading her away from the clearing with only a single backwards glance at the meadow. After a few feet, to keep from letting things get awkward inside him again, he smiled down at Willa. “Did the blooms live up to your expectations?”
 

 

[Willa Robbins]

Thankfully, Benji was agreeable, and swiftly went to pack up camp. She watched, growing colder by the moment in his absence, as the Ravenclaw tidied everything up. He was a good looking chap, and she was really realizing how lucky she was to have his interest. Her lips were still warm from the kisses they'd exchanged, and it had felt good, being like that with him, for hopefully the first of many times. Benji returned to her promptly, tucking one of the blankets around her shoulders and teasing a laugh out of her. "Thanks," she said happily, making the length of warmth into some sort of improvised poncho that definitely helped to shield her from the cold. He took her hand and started them away from the clearing, and she went along contentedly. She'd have to come back another time, now that she knew of the place - bring some flower-pressing materials, take a sample, relax and not get freaked out by little moles...

"Surpassed, actually," Willa said playfully, slowly letting out a smile at his beyond-precious mode of asking what she thought of the night. She adjusted her grip on the blanket, following carefully in his footsteps. "And you? Was it similar to when you've seen them before?" He couldn't blame her for trying to do a little digging here - he had put together a flawless evening, was so accommodating to her needs, and they were having such a nice time. Surely he'd done this before, or something similar - in no way could this be his first time spoiling a girl like this.

[Benji Fenwick]

Perhaps if he had known the way being with a girl he fancied

would make him feel sooner; well then he wouldn’t even be thinking what he was
thinking would he? Benji smiled to himself, experiencing a sort of lightness
all over, except for his hand where it felt quite heavy.

A nice, soft weight curled against his fingers that kept him
grounded, that reminded him that it had happened. He had kissed Willa; well,
after she had kissed him, but still. He glanced down at her as he moved them
through the forest, she looked most invitingly comfy in the blanket and his
body itched to hold her again.

His face nearly split when she commented that it surpassed her
expectations. He would have to write his father the moment he got back to his
dorm and thank him for all the excellent advice. At her inquiry Benji reddened
a little; thinking immediately that nothing he had ever experiences alone would
compare to being experienced with her.

Benji was glad he had not spat that out. One kiss and he
completely went nuts! “The first time…was nothing at all like this time.” He
admitted slowly, looking to the stone edifice for strength, praying he didn’t
suddenly lose all nerve. “This time… was a singularly spectacular experience.”
See, that seemed acceptable enough. Right?

After that he couldn’t think of much else to say, he wanted to
ask her if he was a bad kisser, but that seemed wrong somehow. By a twist of
fate he didn’t feel very awkward in the silence however; must be like some sort
of high he thought. All too quickly though they were approaching the castle and
Benji wanted to slow his steps, to make the night last forever a little longer. But duty
wouldn’t let him; Willa would catch her death in the cold!

He hastened them up the steps, his chest clenching painfully as
he held the heavy door open just enough for them to slip in, glancing about
like the rule-breaker he was. Soon, soon he would have to say good-bye, and he
didn’t want to. But it was nice being out of the elements and he felt better
knowing Willa was safe.

Inside it was warmer and the light different, he glanced about
to see if they were alone before his gaze landed on Willa. He was suddenly
struck by the way the firelight played with the shadows on her face and the
steadiness of her gaze. Benji swallowed thickly, blushing like a firsty, and
blurted out stupidly… “You’re so beautiful.”

[Willa Robbins]

Making this bloke happy was something she could see herself being happy with - the look on his face when she said her expectations had been exceeded? Priceless. Benji was grinning ear-to-ear, which she couldn't help but return, and he chose his words carefully, so carefully, in his reply. And the words? She beamed up at him, and worries about him having taken another girl on this date stayed in the forest as they left it. Because even if he had, this had been a singularly spectacular experience. To her knowledge, Willa had never been involved in something as big as that. So it was with a contented quiet that the pair walked the remainder of the way to the castle, hand-in-hand, a feeling she was growing more comfortable with at each step. She ran with him up the steps, grinning at the practiced way he led them inside - sneaky sneaky, Fenwick - and once they were securely indoors, the Hufflepuff shed the blanket, folding it over her arm.

She didn't want to say goodnight, not when things had gone so well, but this was it, wasn't it?

Looking up to him for confirmation, the girl saw the color rise in his cheeks, and felt his words hit her as they rather tumbled out of him.

"Sorry, I mean - " She beamed, her surprised laughter echoing in the empty hall, and took his hand. It wasn't that she'd never been told that before - her family was a complimentary one, some friends were as well, but it was different coming from someone she had just kissed. In a field of night blooming flowers. Under the moonlight. She'd hoped that they would get a little more solid of an idea of what they were tonight, and seeing how much effort he had put into it, feeling how good it felt to kiss him, and hearing sincerely sweet things from him like this...she was seeing potential in them together. It was something she hadn't thought to death about, she wasn't one to always need a boyfriend, she was happy on her own...

However - this felt wonderful. All of this.

"Thank you," Willa said simply, recovering from the surprise of it as best as she could, but her smile was going nowhere. She gave his hand a little tug, nudging up to give him a peck in thanks simply because she could, and nodded towards the stairs that led to the Hufflepuff burrow. "Walk me back?"

[Benji Fenwick]

Benji thought that he had pleased Willa in some way, by the manner in which she mirrored his elated expression. All of this night was for her pleasure, so it was a relief to say the least. He was absolutely giddy inside as they walked but it was calm and quiet. As soon as he got to his dorm he would wake Arnie, and write his father.

But right now he was sneaking in with Willa. He never imagined a moment in his life he would be doing this, or saying such sappy things. Even if she was particularly beautiful. He had thought so from the moment he saw her. Willa was a little caught off guard by his compliment he could tell; he blushed a deep brick red and smiled shyly. He was so stupid!

It was a balm to his nervous heart that she laced her fingers with his, thanked him, and then gave him a quick peck. He hadn’t been too forward then, or just weirded her out. “Of course my lady, it is my pleasure” Benji said to her request, feeling buoyantly happy enough to grin and act more his normal self. He offered her his arm and walked her studiously back to her quarters; silly smile still in place.

The walk however was short and the boy found himself dreading it all at once as they arrived at the Hufflepuff entrance. He took Willa’s hand again, wanting to feel her close one last time he took a step toward her, feeling bold. “Maybe,” well he didn’t sound so bold. “Maybe we could do this again soon?...And often?” He gave a sideways smirk. Well if anything his intentions were perfectly clear. A step in the right direction for him. He liked a girl and he had shown her, he was getting somewhere in life.

[Willa Robbins]

Willa had to wonder when the two of them would stop bumbling and blushing, or if it was going to be something that stuck with them. Thinking ahead, are you? It was nice, admittedly, to be able to read his reactions so clearly, and to feel that he was just as new to this as she was. It would just be a natural progression of growing more comfortable with each other, right? It wasn't as if they knew each other all that well yet, there was bound to be some bumps along the way, especially in these beginning bits. She was patient, and at this moment felt that they could get there. And Benji was so sweet - smiling like that and offering her his arm at her request? Willa gladly took it, the excuse to be close to him not one she was going to let go of just yet, and the pair quietly made their way down the dim staircase to the entrance of her common room without incident, luckily.

The pile of barrels concealing the entrance was right there, and she knew that unlike up in the Entrance Hall, this had to be it. And it wasn't a goodbye, not really. Now that they'd had this night, she could see herself seeking him out at lunch, offering for him to come visit her while she assisted in the greenhouses...they would have more time together. And his confidence growing? It was just what she needed from him, and a broad smile spread across her face. "I'd like that," she said simply, pushing past lingering nerves to match him in minimizing their distance. He was just so cute, smirking at her like that, underplaying his intentions with those maybe's. Ever the optimist, Willa was hopeful, and feeling altogether good. Wonderful what a little snogging can do. She took his other hand, still smiling, and rose up to kiss him slowly just once more for the night. "We'll talk tomorrow to figure something out. Goodnight, Benji," she said quietly, cheeks as pink as her scarf, as she released him and waited for Benji to get started on his way back to Ravenclaw Tower. Couldn't get in to her common room with someone from another House about! Not that she didn't trust him, but it was one of the few rules her House had! Keep the entrance secure! Once she could hear his footsteps on the steps, she rapped on the proper barrel in the familiar pattern, and descended into the badgers' den, full of hopeful wonder at their night, and what could follow.