Merlin's Academy was definitely bigger than she expected. She had spent the afternoon walking the grounds looking at the scenery and thinking how beautiful it was. Starting off with the pitch, so large and beautiful, making her want to take her broom up in the sky like she used to. Or the Auror grounds, where she could try and keep her athleticism up. But of all the places, what she was drawn the most was the lake. The lake was named sapphire for a reason, for the water looked so clear and blue, glittering because of the bright sun.

Looking around, she took advantage of no one being around to sit on the rocks. Smoothed over time from the water lapping over it. Thankfully she had worn shorts, it was chilly, but not enough to start complaining about the cold. Taking off she shoes, she dipped her feet in and sighed. Placing her hands on the rocks she leaned back and rested, allowing herself a moment of joy of the campus that would be her home for four years. This wasn't the Black Lake, but it was still going to be her favorite place, she could tell. Slipping on a pair of sunglasses she closed her eyes and hummed taking in the afternoon.

Stretched languidly against the rock she sighed relieved to spend the afternoon being lazy. She knew she took these times for granted, forcing herself to run off and do errands to feel like she had a purpose. This was nice, too nice, nice enough to be interrupted. She realized this as she heard footsteps heading her way. They weren't firm footsteps, not light enough to be a woman's, but heavy enough to imagine a male. She didn't care enough to look over, the place was public she supposed. And if she could share the Black Lake for seven years, she could share the Sapphire lake just the same.

"M-may I join you?"

Well this was unexpected. Sitting up, languidly but graceful, she turned to see if her guess had been correct. Yes and no. This was most definitely man, and in a sort of detached way she could tell he was handsome. Symmetrical face, tall, but there was something obvious insecure about the way he spoke. It was almost adorable, too bad Tess didn't do adorable. But the fidgeting made her pity him and lowered her glasses to make eye contact.

"You can, it's a public lake after all" she said casually, a slow smirk appearing on her face. "Calm down, I don't bite"

The was he moved was unlike she'd seen any man do. It was nervousness, as if he overthought each movement. And the way he looked at her? Like she was some alien, she briefly thought about how boyish she looked and almost frowned. And as he played with his hair, she figured there was nothing he could throw he way. Ugh he was adorable, sickeningly so. She wrinkled her nose at the thought.

Still, she figured he was no harm, she was probably more dangerous than anything he could throw her way. Slowly leaning back, she laid back against the rock. There was nothing for her to be nervous about, it was rare that she had the upper hand against a man, but she definitely took advantage of it.

"M-my name's Adriano,"

At his name, she rolled to her stomach, arching her back to face him, like a cat would. His accent wasn't English, that was obvious, a hint of something, not strong like Eastern Europe, but maybe...Italian? She let out a slight smile, amused.

"Tess" she replied with a slight chuckle, "since you didn't ask, my name is Tess"

Well this was a new development wasn't it? The way she made eye contact with him, and how quickly he avoided it made her want to grin like a cheshire cat. Oh now his adorableness was putting her in an amused mood. The slight fidgets, the way he found more interest on the rocks rather than her. It was rude, yet endearing, in a way where it was almost more enticing to crush it. As she rested on her stomach, she waved her legs over here, her hands crossed in front of her, and her interest on the boy that wasn't at all interesting only seconds before. The looks didn't interest her, even though he was proportionally attractive, but rather the almost wallflower demeanor that was rare in a man. Well boy, this was not a man, not really.

"I..- Hello, Tess," he managed. "It's nice to meet you."

Tess removed her sunglasses to make better eye contact. She had been thankful that she'd actually made an effort on herself. Her black cat-eyeliner still in it's place, and a bright red lipstick following the path of her mouth as it formed a smirk. A glint in her eye was clear as he looked like he was debating with himself. Odd boy, but it would entertain her before she ran off to Rhian's dorm to bother her. Briefly she turned to look the lake, and sighing wishing she could go for a swim. But she'd forgotten how chilly it could be afterward, something she never truly enjoyed.

"Is it?" she asked casually, "the way I see it, if the rocks are more interesting than I am, it's not so nice"

Tess bit her lip hiding the grin that was forming as she saw his face just shift from one emotion to another. He was like an open book, each thought seemingly loud in her opinion from the change of expressions. She briefly wondered what he was majoring in. She'd usually never cared, but she couldn't exactly see him being an Auror and "defending" the innocent. Ugh, it was almost too knight in charming armor for her. Maybe he was Healer? Wouldn't that be interesting?

The silence that loomed over them made her curious. Did I break him or something? she thought confused as to why he looked like he had been struck by lightning. She almost was about to try and snap her fingers in front of him, to try and get him to form regular sentences, but then it seemed it all came in a rush.

"Sorry, I..- there was..- watching the..- an ant..- Not rude..."
"I'm sorry,"

She couldn't help it, she let out a giggle, then another and another, until she was covering her face and just laughing softly at how easy it was. He was so soft, no real depth of angst under it, no toughness to hide behind, it was actually refreshing. She hadn't laughed like that in a long time, it was as if some weight was lifted off of her. Wiping her tears, she let out a genuine smile at him and sighed.

"You're much more interesting than I thought Adriano" she tilted her head and smirked "I like that."

Tess shook her head and sat up, her legs swinging over and sipped them in the lake as she had done earlier before. She figured she'd make fun of him enough, didn't need the kid to just break because of her teasing. Even then, the way he looked at her after she'd laughed didn't deter her. He was harmless, very harmless by the incredulous look he was giving her. She didn't understand why he stared at her that way, as if if he squinted enough he'd know who the hell she was.

"You're welcome" she said smirking. "And you are interesting, I mean, it's rare to find someone that can make me laugh"

Looking over at him once more she let out a lazier grin. There was no need to trick the boy into thinking she was just going to wind him up. Placing her hands behind her she leaned back and stared at the lake. This wasn't her Black Lake like it'd been at Hogwarts, she didn't know what creatures lay below it. For a brief moment she missed the squid that would always enjoy playing tricks on her, and how he'd let her jump off of him. Good times. From the corner of her eye she saw him staring at her.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"It wasn't that funny, was it?"

Tess' smile became more sincere at his comment. She found him funny, and she shrugged. Her humor was always a little off. Dark, sarcastic, often times a little morbid if Rhian got a say in it. But it was refreshing to see someone who was so reserved in a separate way. It made her wonder if there were people out there that were genuinely good. That seemed wrong somehow, especially in a world like this.

"I found it spectacularly amusing" she replied.

She could tell from the way that he took her question that it wasn't the most appropriately worded question. But before she could tell him he didn't have to say anything his response definitely surprised her. She almost slipped off the rock in shock at his response. It was unrefined and more blurted than anything. She felt her cheeks redden at his words, it was most definitely unexpected.

"Thank you" she breathed out surprised and smiled despite her embarrassment, "I think that's the best compliment I've ever gotten"

She lowered her gaze and shook her head. He was definitely too kind for this world. It was all the more endearing, and she looked up at him.

"You're too nice"

Tess shook her head at his comments. Despite his ignorance as to who she was, it was flattering she supposed, him thinking she was a model. Her lip twitched at the thought; she'd tell Rhian about this with great amusement at what happened to her. At his apology, she lifted her hand and made a signal that it was better if they forgot about it. It was enough flattery for one day, and she didn't take compliments well. In her family compliments were backhanded or showing a hidden meaning, and she'd rather not deal with that situation once more.

"No, I'm not. I'm just normal nice. I can be mean too."

She couldn't help but give him a lopsided grin. Would he, that boy that stuttered most of the time he talked to her be mean? Well wasn't that interesting. Pulling her legs from the water, she turned her body to face him and actually take him in. She knew he wasn't from Hogwarts, that was clear from the way he talked. And his face? She remembered every face from Hogwarts like a checkerboard in a very detached way, so she could remember them all. He was new, like a new toy, and she liked new things she supposed. Who didn't? Grinning softly, she chuckled.

"Well aren't you interesting. I like you" she replied bluntly, "I don't usually do this, but I could see this happening again"

Running her fingers through her hair she sighed, wishing for one moment she could have let her longer hair feel the breeze at the lake. It was silly to think how one mistake made her feel flattered that he thought of her as celebrity, and yet it also reminded her what she missed. She missed her old self, the one who wasn't so insecure in her outer skin, who didn't think much of it till it was gone. 'You are so vain Tess Marie' her mind reprimanded her. She was a work in progress that much was clear. From the corner of her eye, she noticed that he was still staring. Weird. He was a bit odd wasn't he? And yet she saw no faults in that.

"T-t-this?" he stammered, unsure what she meant. "W-what do you mean?"

Turning over to face him one more she smiled. Getting up, she picked up her things and walked over to him. Bending down she tilted her head studying his nervous disposition. Should she make it clear that she meant just as friends? But where would be the fun in that? Smirking softly she placed her fingers lightly on his head and mussed it up a bit.

"Whatever you want it to mean kid" she replied. "I like you, and maybe you like me, we can do this" pointing around them "again."Straightening her clothes out she slipped on her glasses and sighed. She had promised to meet her brother for a meal. "Shame I have to leave, nice meeting you, I'll be seeing you around Adriano." With a quirk she walked off leaving the poor boy alone.

This was definitely a very interesting situation, she'd tell Rhian about it later, only to get yelled at for being rude. She was always a downer. Sighing she walked back to the castle, knowing her brother would yell at her for being late.