Chapter 169: Awkwardness, Suits-&-Attraction (2/2)
”That's too many people.”
”I won't lie by saying that I'm not curious, but I'll wait,” said Quinn, leaning back. ”Also, Daphne?”
”Yes?”
”May I have a dance at the Ball?”
Astoria turned to her sister, staring at Quinn, and thought, 'What's she waiting for?'
”Yes, you may.”
Quinn nodded and returned a smile to Daphne's tiny smile that graced her lips.
”I also want to dance!” exclaimed Astoria interjecting.
”Grow up first,” was the sister's prompt response.
.. .
The Greengrass sisters left the AID office after chatting a bit with Quinn, who had to end their chat as he had previous commitments, and Daphne too had to meet with the teams who had a game the coming day.
”You should've asked him,” commented Astoria.
”It isn't proper for a girl to ask a boy. It's the other way around.”
”Fleur Delacour, Ivy, and a dozen other girls did it. One of them got through.”
”If Quinn wanted to go with me, he would've asked.”
”I can't deny that. But I'm just saying.. . the Veela clearly wanted something, and she took it.”
”Astoria—”
”I bet if you had asked, he would have said yes.”
”.. .”
Daphne had no answer to that. She knew what Astoria meant by — 'the Veela clearly wanted something, and she took it.' Their father had always said,
”If you want something, then the world won't hand it over to you — no, the world will try its level best to keep you away from it — so if you ever have a genuine desire for anything at all, it is your vocation to go and get it.. . because if you don't, someone else will.”
As the Greengrass heir, she never truly had to work hard to obtain something; as such, she never connected with her father's words.
This was the first time she could understand what he meant. Unfortunately, the understanding came a bit too late.
.
- (Scene Break) -
.
”U-Uhm, is this really fine?” asked Eddie in a nervous tone not usual on the confident, outspoken, and loud boy.
Quinn looked at himself in the mirror, turning to look at his sides and back. ”Yes, it's fine. The question is if you're comfortable.”
”I-I guess. This isn't something I'm used to,” said Eddie.
”Raise your hands wide, lad.”
Eddie immediately raised his hands as he felt measuring tapes wrap around him as a pot-bellied middle-aged man with a cigar in his mouth walked around him.
”Hmm, you two have good frames on you two lads: broad shoulders, thin waists, long legs, shorter torso.. . a bit difficult to stitch, but nothing I can't manage.”
Quinn checked himself in the mirror while adjusting the fitting jacket full of stitches and threads.
”I'm looking forward to having the complete suit, Mr. Taylor. This will be my first bespoke three-piece suit. As much as I adore my two-piece suit collection — three-piece suits are a class apart. Plus, I get to show off one of my pocket watch chain going throw the vest.”
”You're grandfather loves his three-piece suits, little West. He has them stitched four times a year — I know an addict when I see one.”
Quinn laughed, relating to Mr. Taylor's description of his grandfather. Mr. Taylor was the tailor George, Quinn, and Elliot used for their suits (Lia had her own personal tailor).
The thing about Mr. Taylor was that he had no filter whatsoever — anything that popped in his mind came out of his mouth. This quality of his, along with the fact that stitched killer suits, was the reason that George West hadn't used another tailor in thirty years; he loved the fact that Mr. Taylor didn't act reserve in front of him like so many others did.
”Then get ready to get another addict as your client, Mr. Taylor, because I'll be coming to you for all my suit, shirt, and pant needs — also, do you do belts?”
”I'm okay with that, more money to me. I sell belts, ties, suspenders, anything you formal you want, you'll get it,” said Taylor as his eyes studied his charms working on Eddie's fitting jacket, ”how does it feel, lad? Any tightness while moving.”
Eddie twisted his upper body to get a good feel of the jacket.
”It isn't as flexible as my quidditch uniform, but it's comfortable, no doubt.”
”Don't worry, when I'm done with it, you would be able to wrestle in it.”
With the Yule Ball coming around, every boy and girl attending the Ball was getting their formal party wear prepared. Quinn and his friends were no different; they all were attending the Ball and needed formal wear for the occasion.
Being very particular about her dress, Luna had pulled Marcus along with her to coordinate their clothes so they would match. Poor Marcus had been stressed as his standard black-and-white dress robes weren't going to match Luna's eccentric ideas, so he asked Quinn to change the color of his clothes to match Luna's preferences.
Quinn offered to have new dress robes stitched for Marcus to match Luna, but Marcus wanted to wear what he got from home, so Quinn agreed to cast the most potent color change charm he could cast.
Eddie accepted Quinn's offer, so both boys had new formal wear stitched for them.
Quinn didn't want to wear dress robes; he found them tedious. He decided to go with a classy three-piece suit — it didn't matter if it was the magical or non-magical world, suits were in style everywhere.
Eddie went along with whatever Quinn was wearing, so it was decided that both would wear three-piece suits — bowtie for Eddie and necktie for Quinn.
”Are you sure she will like this?” asked Eddie sounding a bit worried.
”Eddie, while clothes are powerful weapons but to wield their true power — to look your best, you need to feel your best; you've to believe that you look good.”
”But I don't if I will look good in this.”
”Bah! Everyone looks good with my babies on. Take a bath and cut your hair and you'll be no less than a dashing prince,” shouted Mr. Taylor while writing down adjustments and measurements.
”I still don't get it, you know? How in the world did you get Tracey to agree to go with you to the Ball?” asked Quinn.
He was shocked when he was looking for Tracey for the progress of ticket mailing and pulled out Recon to locate her. To his surprise, he saw her with Eddie in a classroom.
His curiosity peaked. At first, he thought they were planning a prank against him and decided to spy on them to be ready for their action. But to his surprise, they were practicing dancing in the classroom.
”It all started when Tracey wanted to know why you didn't ask Daphne to the ball — thanks for telling me, by the way; it felt real good knowing about your date from someone else.”
”No hard feelings, man. It was a mutual decision.”
”Yet you had no problem telling Ivy Potter.”
”What did you expected me to do? I had just rejected a girl I know personally; I had to give her something.”
”Yeah, whatever. So we got talking, and Marcus' advice popped in my head.. . so I asked her.”
”And she accepted.”
”She did,” grinned Eddie.
'It's like he's floating on clouds,' smiled Quinn in thought.
”So, you like her?”
”Yeah, she's nice and smart.. . and pretty,” said Eddie.
'Oh ho, look at him all shy.'
Eddie Carmichael was a guy who didn't get bashful easily. He charged out towards every situation with a face thick as an elephant's skin. Seeing him grinning like a buffoon and getting lost in thought was a unique look on him.
”You're smitten.”
”Am not!”
”You so are. But you better not hurt Tracey — she's a dear friend.”
”And I'm your best friend.”
”Yes, and that's why Tracey will know exactly who to come, so she could spite you. Given that she doesn't do it herself.”
”What if I'm the one who gets hurt?”
”Then, I'll stand behind you and spite her. It goes both ways — gender equality holds strong.”
”Good, that's good. I'll take that.”
Mr. Taylor puffed out a smoke ring and blurted, ”If you ladies are done with your chat. It's time for me to take your pant measurements.”
”Of course, Mr. Taylor,” said Quinn, removing his fitting jacket.
Eddie leaned towards Quinn and whispered,
”He's not going to poke down there, is he?”
Quinn turned to Eddie and laughed out loud.
”.. .T-That doesn't give me the answer — Quinn? Quinn?!”
.
-*-*-*-*-*-
.
Quinn West - MC - Suits are dope!
Daphne Greengrass - Feelings are complex - The entire situation is very complicated.
Astoria Greengrass - Little Cherub - Smart people can be dumb.
Eddie Carmichael - Smitten - I! Have! A! Date!
Mr. Taylor - Tailor - I do hats as well — if anyone's wondering.
.
-*-*-*-*-*-
.
If you have any ideas regarding the magic you want to see in this fiction or want to offer some ideas regarding the progression. Move onto the DISCORD Server and blast those ideas.
The link is in the synopsis!