w h a t if? (Alec)

[broadway]

Raychel wiped her eyes on the back of her hand as she stood up. It was after work, a job she had contemplated quitting after being Turned. Once she found she was capable of controlling herself long enough to complete a full shift, she had decided to return. It was late, and very dark, and only a few lights were still on in the store room where she had been crying. Raychel rubbed her irritated eyes once more as she leaned against the cold wall.

It was uncommon of Raychel to cry, but, given the circumstances, she felt a few (dozen) tears were necessary. After her parents' deaths, her being Bitten, and now whatever the hell was going on between her and Alec, it seemed the world was out to get her. Again, she subconsciously reached up and rubbed her puffy eyes. She had actually gotten the charm that covered the brilliant green eyes she had perfectly. It came as a delightful surprise as her, but she couldn't think much about it at the moment. All she could think about was whatever was happening to her now. As if on cue, another annoyance came. With a ring, the front door opened. She let out a frustrated sigh and walked out front, surprised to see...

[urdabomb]

Alec had come to Diagon Alley for two reasons. One was that he was completely bored sitting around Hogwarts all the time. The second reason was that he had heard that Raychel McFarland worked at Fortescue's on the weekends. And Alec rather liked Raychel, so he had decided to come see if it was true.

Walking into the shop, he grinned upon seeing her. She seemed even more beautiful than the last time they had met, with a sort of air of magic about her. Sort of like how Gabriella Weasley looked sometimes. Still smiling, Alec stepped toward her. "Do you have strawberry?" he asked with a sly grin.

[broadway]

Raychel weakly smiled back. "Hi Alec. Yeah, let me get that for you." She replied. She turned and quickly scooped some strawberry ice cream into a cone. Afterwards, she stepped out from behind the counter to hand the cone to Alec. "There you go." She smiled. Her hand brushed against Alec's momentarily, and she shyed away from him. Were she not a vampire, she would have blushed. Raychel was surprised to find she couldn't smell Alec very well. Maybe it was because she had stuffed herself earlier. She shugged the thought off.

[urdabomb]

"Thank you, Raychel," Alec said, placing the bit of change needed for the ice cream on the counter next to her. "How have you been?" Alec asked, still holding the cone, but not taking a bite out of it just yet. He wanted to talk to Raychel a bit first.

[broadway]

Raychel glanced at the change briefly before turning back to Alec. She was slightly taken aback by the normal conversation, but she smiled. "Me? Oh, good." She replied hastily, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "And yourself?" She asked politely. In truth, she had been feeling awful. But Alec didn't need to know about her personal life.

[urdabomb]

Alec took a seat at one of the tables and gestured for Raychel to join him. After all, the store was empty, so she didn't really need to be working. "I've been pretty good," he replied with a slight shrug. "Looking for jobs mostly. I can't seem to decide what I want to do." Alec had never been a particularly motivated person, but he did need a job, so he was looking into various things.

[broadway]

Raychel took the seat across from him. She nodded along with Alec. "I know what you mean. Finding a stable job is hard. Don't get me wrong, working here is great but... not what I want to do my whole life." she replied, adding a small laugh on at the end. "But I have applied for a position at St. Mungo's as a nurse. I love healing magic, it's my... calling, I guess you could say." she replied slowly. "Where have you been looking?" she asked, shaking her head clear of the possibility that she could live her dream.

[urdabomb]

"That's awesome," Alec replied, wondering if Raychel worked at St. Mungo's then he would be able to see her more. Alec liked Raychel quite a bit, though he wasn't sure what her feelings were, so it wouldn't be too fun if she was stuck at Hogwarts while he ventured through the real world. "I tried out for a few Quidditch teams, and I'm looking into jobs at the Ministry," he said with another shrug. "I guess I just don't know where I want to go in life right now."

[broadway]

Raychel smiled. "You are a phenomenal Quidditch player, I'm sure you'll get accepted to one of them. Which ones did you try out for?" she asked curiously, leaning a bit closer. She rested her head in her hands, propping her elbows on the table, and was gazing intently at Alec. He was charming, and seemed very sweet, but Raychel was with Levi. She would never to do anything to hurt her love, and so, if anything, her and Alec could be friends. She patiently awaited Alec's response.

[urdabomb]

Alec smiled, glad that Raychel thought he was a good Quidditch player. He and the other Gryffindor beater had pulled a pretty great record in Alec's sixth year. "I tried out for Puddlemere United and Ireland so far," he replied, still smiling. "Ireland said they would take me as a reserve, but I haven't heard from Puddlemere United yet. So I'm still weighing my options."

[broadway]

Raychel nodded. Alec would do good for Puddlemere United, and that was one of her favorite teams. She knew Bradly, the seeker, quite well. "Well, I'll put in a good word with Bradly Ressel, it would be a shame for them not to take you." she replied with a softly smile. She leaned back, repositioning her arms so her hands were in her lap. She crossed one leg over the other and sighed gently, rubbing her eyes. The irritation of not being able to cry just added to the fact she needed to, so her eyes were annoyingly itchy.

[urdabomb]

Alec grinned, glad that Raychel was supporting him in this matter. It was a bit weird that she was doing so, considering how she kept denying that she liked him, but perhaps she would come around. If not, maybe Alec would have an actual friend in the world. That would be a little different. "So, how do you know Bradley Ressel?" he asked curiously.

[broadway]

"I've met him a few times, and he's dating one of my best friends." Raychel replied, rubbing her irritated eyes once more. Alec's sudden change from flirty bad boy to sweet and compassionate regular boy was giving her vertigo. Nothing made sense in her topsy turvy life at the moment. Strangely, she was alright with it now. Alec seemed genuinely compassionate, not fake and conceited like normal. The thought of becoming friends with Alec was an enjoyable one.