#wanderwall

Here’s the second chapter of my Carry On Big Bang fic! <3

AO3

Previous Chapter

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September (-5 days)

Keris

Trixie and I decided to arrive a few days earlier at Watford. Penny hates when I visit Trixie in their room during the school-year so that’s our solution for a few days of uninterrupted bonding time. I don’t know what Penny’s aversion towards me coming over is about but it sure has something to do with this weird thing going on between her and Trixie. The main point of their feud seems to be that either of them thinks the other obnoxiously annoying. I’ll have to admit that Trixie can be a bit over the top sometimes but I like that about her. It saves me from talking. We complement each other in that way. But Penny doesn’t like company. She’s never had a lot of friends but also doesn’t seem bothered by that. The only person she seems to care enough about to be willing to deal with on a daily basis is Simon Snow (of all people). She’s awfully loyal to him. So maybe she really does like company - just not Trixie’s. But all these things don’t matter right now, because me and my best friend will have five days to our own before everything goes back to normal.

Trixie

I wanted to use the beds in my room. Push them together for Keris and me. Just to spite Penny. I know how much she hates it when I do that. Especially because of the glitter. But Keris, always the responsible one, told me not to. Something about not starting drama before the new school-year even began. She’s probably right. She’s right almost all the time. It’s no fun. So for the time being we are staying in her room. Only a few people are back already and her roommate conveniently isn’t one of them. Most part of the past three days we've spent laying around, stuffing our faces with sweets we brought along or (occasionally) with some real food from the kitchen and catching up. Keris has so much to talk about. So I let her. As much as I like talking myself, listening to her going on about her adventures is just as good (if not better). The mattress underneath us is warm and comfortable as golden afternoon sun rays caress our skin, making Keris glow in excitement and warmth. I turn over onto my shoulder, facing her. “Trixie?”, Keris asks softly, her eyebrows drawn up as if she's been expecting an answer for a while now. “...Yeah?”, I rasp. I hadn't noticed she'd stopped talking, my voice still insecure from my relaxed state. “I've been asking you about your cousins and I know how much you love complaining about them. Is everything alright?”. “Oh yeah, it's nothing.”, I state, trying to be convincing. Because really, what is up with me? “Mhm, I don't believe you. There's always something with them. Did they get into yet another TV show?”, she says. I groan. “Merlin, don't get me started on their revived love for the Muppets!”

***

Trixie

Tomorrow is the first day of school and Watford is already bustling with energy. First years are running about the green grounds, chasing birds and butterflies, getting rid of their pent up excitement. They are a joy to watch. The returned students have already split up into groups to catch up with their friends. It’s Keris sister’s first year at Watford so she’s with her right now, showing her around before the big picnic starts. We’ll meet up later.

Keris

I see Trixie leaning out of the window watching the littleuns play catch. The light autumn breeze is tugging gently at her blonde mop of curls. There probably is glitter everywhere by now. She seems lost in her own thoughts. As she lets her gaze wander I wave up at her. Trixie spots us and a big smile spreads across her face as she waves back at us animatedly.

***

After letting my sister drag me all over the place for hours (I thought I was supposed to be the one showing her around) it’s finally time for the picnic. A fairly big amount of people are already gathered around the not yet lit bonfire. All the first years are here of course, a lot of students from other years I know but at the same time don't, Simon, Penny and of course Trixie. She’s standing next to Cara. Trixie befriended her somewhat around last fall during a football match. Cara is one year above us, has short brown hair and a bubbly personality. I see them laughing at something Trixie said and an electric jolt of something I can’t quite decipher shoots through me. So I walk over there. Cara is a fun person to be around but we never really clicked. She’s much better friends with Trixie. I think it’s the chaos within that connects the two of them. Not the bad kind of course but the kind I sometimes don’t really understand. On some occasions I wonder why Trixie is still sticking to my boring arse. I call out to them as I approach so Trixie spots me right away. “Keris! Get over here so we can get this picnic started!”, she yells at the top of her lungs, waving her guitar around. Of course she brought it along. Ever since she taught herself how to play it at the beginning of our sixth year she brought it to every single party there was. After some failed attempts she turned out to be pretty good at it and her singing voice isn’t half bad either. Just her repertoire lacks a bit in… diversity. I’ve heard my normal neighbors joking about people who bring a guitar to a party and only play one specific song. Trixie is exactly that kind of a person.

***

Trixie

It’s late. The Crucible has already made its decision, there’s been lots of food and pumpkin juice and we’ve already sung the school song what feels like a hundred times. Around the 57th time and after a fair amount of poppy wine I have begun strumming along on my guitar, making up new lyrics. I haven’t stopped yet. The night sky is clear and Watford is far away enough from any form of civilization which allows stars to shine through. I lie down while continuing to play imaginary songs. They are about far-away-galaxies, bright stars and granted wishes. Even I have to admit they sound awful. After some time I feel Keris lying down right next to me but I never take my eyes away from the darkness above me. Her breath warms my neck and I know she is looking at me. So I close my eyes. An idea starts to form in my head, something familiar and fun. My mouth pulls into a smile and I awkwardly (I still haven’t moved) begin to pick the first chords. “Today is gonna be the day That they’re gonna throw it back to you”, I sing. Groans and sighs begin to surround me. There’s a snort right next to my ear and my smile broadens. I open my eyes and turn my head towards the sound. Our eyes meet and my hearts skips a beat. My fingers slip on the strings. She’s still smiling at me. The low bonfire makes her eyes twinkle. It feels like time has stopped. She picks up her hand slowly and guides my fingers back over the strings. I didn’t realize I had dropped my hand a few seconds ago. It’s a silent encouragement to continue, so I pick up the song once again. “By now you should’ve somehow realized what you gotta do I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do, about you now” She hasn’t lifted her hand yet and it’s a bit awkward to play but I am not going to tell her. Her fingers are lightly tapping the beat onto my wrist. It’s reassuring and I never want the song to end. She begins to giggle as I approach the end. I once again look into her eyes. “I said maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me you’re gonna be the one that saves me you’re gonna be the one that saves me”

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