Charles looked to the glass and tipped the bottle upward, pouring her another glass. There were moments like these in life where you just... were. No noise, no words. You were just present in the company of those you enjoyed and what has happening in this instant was no different.

Shifting a little in his seat, Charles moved toward Emmeline and smiled.

"I thought you weren't going to drink?"

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Emmeline frowned slight at his words, having stopped the glass halfway to her lips before setting it back down. "I wasn't," she said quietly though didn't continue. Instead her gaze fell from him to the glass he'd just poured and then to the bottle in his hand. What was she doing?

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#LovelyLadySet

Placing his hand over the glass, Charles moved it to her lips and smiled softly.

"I don't mind. Nothing bad is going to happen," he said in the most reassuring tone he could muster.

"Besides, I can't drink an entire bottle by myself," Charles moved his hand to grab the bottle and took another swig.

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"I know," she said softly but she still didn't take the drink. She did, however, look to him to meet his gaze. "I trust you," she added, meaning it fully. She trusted him that nothing bad was going to gain but she still want sure she liked the person she became when she was drinking. Honest was one thing but..she didn't know.

"You could always save it for another time though," she said thoughtfully, still looking at him.

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles looked to the glass and pulled it to his lips before placing it alongside the bottle on the table. Her voice had changed in her words and he wasn’t entirely sure if it was a good thing or not. Her voice was comforting – soft, almost – though slightly worrisome.

“I suppose I can,” he shrugged though he wasn’t one to not finish an entire bottle of any form of alcohol in one night, “and I suppose your father wouldn’t be too impressed if I finished this bottle off too.”

Shuffling in his seat a little, Charles looked toward the window and sighed. It was getting late. He’d have to leave soon, most likely.

Turning his gaze back to Emmeline, Charles spoke, “I will have to leave soon though, I reckon.”

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Emmeline sat quietly, pulling her feet up under her to sit comfortably as she seemed to often do around him. The shrug made her wonder if maybe he really didn't want to not finish the rum but he seemed as if he'd put it aside.

"Only if you want to," she answered with a simple shrug. But she also didn't really know what else could be done or said. It was a strange sort of impasse but sitting there in silence wasn't exactly ideal either.

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#LovelyLadySet

He didn’t want to. What Charles wanted, he’d came to realise, was to spend eternity in his bubble with Emmeline. He wasn’t sure as to the rhyme or reason behind his thought process – if there was any – but he knew that being around Emmeline was something he enjoyed. If he could, time would stand still he they’d be with one another for as long as they could.

“Do you want me to?” He asked, furrowing his brows slightly – he shrug causing him a little concern as to whether his presence was indeed wanted in this moment.

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The furrowing of his brows had a way of pulling at Emmeline's heartstrings. She didn't know why. It didn't make sense really. But if he were disappointed or hurt by what she'd said, it hurt her as well. Emotions were confusing.

"No," she answered simply, looking up to him with a small and almost bashful smile. It was silly, really. A silly schoolgirl crush that had her grasping at air to keep him there even if whatever they were doing was nearly pointless at that point. School would start and she'd be forgotten, she'd all but convinced herself of that already.

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#LovelyLadySet

“Good,” Charles said plainly with a small curl in his lips, “because I’d hate to leave you so soon.”

If he was to be honest with himself for but a second, Charles would have said he was falling for her and in that moment as their eyes locked; he could see his future blossom. It didn’t matter that she was in her last year of school, it didn’t matter if he had a career. What mattered – to him – in that very second was her. She had a way about her that made him think of everything he’d never thought before. He would wait until she was settled and had finished her schooling; he would wait, without any uncivilised thoughts, until she wanted to move forward.

“Emmeline,” Charles spoke quietly, “why do we keep meeting?”

He wasn't entirely sure on the answer she'd give or the answer he wanted to hear but he wanted an answer.

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Emmeline's small smile widened to the point of her dimples being quite evident. Again, it was a silly thing but she couldn't help it. Just as she couldn't help the faint blush that accompanied the dimples. She didn't want him to leave too soon either. Though, what wasn't too soon she wasn't sure. And then he asked a stupid question. A question he'd told her she couldn't ask and her eyes narrowed just slightly on him.

"How come you get to ask why and I don't?" she rebutted but was at least still smiling faintly. Not enough for the dimples to be seen but enough to where she couldn't look as though she were truly angry with him.

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles watched as her expression shifted – his eyes drifting between her eyes and lips as she grinned. And then he asked his question and her smile all-but faded. Still visible though noticeably absent.

“Because…” Charles began, letting a sigh escape his lips, “Fine. Answer that and I’ll answer a question of yours.”

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Emmeline couldn't help the small smirk that took over her smile as he sighed and seemed to cave some. "But what if my question is the same?" she asked, raising a brow as she watched him.

"I think.." she started, not waiting for him to answer her, "It's a simple twist of fate. Everything happens for a reason, does it not? I think that's just what's happening. Fate has a way of doing things we don't understand." And she for damned sure didn't fully understand what was happening but she wasn't about to forget about any of it either. Even if he did go his own way when she went back to school, she'd cherish the memories. One never forgets their first love after all.

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles shrugged at her question. He didn’t really mind if it was at this point – he wanted an answer. And before he could go on, she provided him with it. Though it wasn’t really answer he cared much for.

“I don’t particularly believe in fate,” Charles shrugged as he grabbed the glass and took another small sip, “I don’t like the idea that our choices are predestined by some… force. We make our own choices, I think – not some unseen string that is pulling us together.”

He then stopped and let out a cough, “Not us, but- I mean the collective-“ Charles huffed a little, “I meant there isn’t a string pulling people together. We do what we want to because we like and want to do it. Not because of anything else.”

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Emmeline shook her head slightly, not liking his answer either apparently.

"Yes choices make a difference, but I think some things are out of our hands," she responded sitting up and letting her feet move back to the ground again, "We've certainly made choices to get to this point but it was you that found me that night I was crying in the streets. If you hadn't, we wouldn't be sitting here right now." And to her, that was a small act of fate.

"Why do you keep coming back?" she asked then, looking him directly in the eye as she awaited the response, "You could have mailed my wand back, but you arranged to meet me. You didn't have to come here that night you heard of the disturbance especially since you didn't know if it was my family or not. Even if you had known it was us, you didn't have to come. You didn't have to accept the dinner invitation. You've made those choices. So my question is why?"

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#LovelyLadySet

“And I made the choice to help see you home,” He said – a slight air of aggravation in his tone, “I had a choice and I, myself, made it.” Why didn’t she understand that? He wasn’t doing what he did because he was being forced to by the forces of nature; he was doing it because he wanted to. It wasn’t a difficult concept and Charles wanted her to see that.

Her question, however, put him on edge a little. He hated it – but he’d said he would answer and he wasn’t one to back down on his word.

Hesitating a little, Charles finished off the glass and bit his lower lip. His eyes fixed onto hers and he exhaled deeply, trying his best not to say anything. A few seconds passed without answer before he opened his mouth and spoke, as quietly as he could, “because I…” His eyes shifted to the rum as he grabbed the bottle, though made no attempt to drink more – he was trying to stop himself.

His eyes turned back to her as the rum found its way back into his glass, “Because I enjoy your company.” He said.

He felt as if that wasn’t enough though he wasn’t going to allow her into his heart. Not yet.

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Emmeline just watched, stayed quiet. She didn't want to argue with him. And while she understood his point of making the choice to see her home, there was the simple fact that had he been just five minutes behind or ahead of schedule he wouldn't have even encountered her. But she wasn't going to argue. And she wasn't going to push the question she'd asked even if his answer still wasn't satisfactory to her.

"I enjoy your company as well," she answered instead, avoiding the argument bound to happen if she didn't let it go. She smiled at him then, reaching a hand out to rest on his hand after he'd finished pouring the rum.

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#LovelyLadySet