Emma Vanity gives advice
James p.o.v
I was very confused when I returned from my walk to empty my head to see Evan practically crawling in Regulus his lap while Barty was looking at them with that smug smile of his. When I called out for Regulus he looked shocked to see me as I interrupted whatever was going on with him and the two swamp boys. I didn’t know how quickly I needed to leave them, so I quickly apologized for disturbing them and ran off. I wanted to talk to Sirius but knowing my best friend he was probably occupied at the moment with Remus. I thought about visiting the girls but they were excited to get a full night of sleep, so I didn’t want to wake them either just to bother them with my thoughts. “Everything okay?” Emma asks as she noticed me pass by.
“Just a lot of thoughts.” I tell her “Why are you still awake.”
“Patrol duty.” She smiles at me “if you want someone to talk to, you are welcome to tag along.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” She smiles at me before she gestured for me to follow her “So tell me about what is bothering you.”
“How do you tell someone you like or even love them when that person doesn’t seem to reciprocate the feeling”
She clicks her tongue “I see, unrequited love that is a tough one.”
“it is.”
“who are we talking about exactly?” She asks “it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”
“Do you promise to keep this between us?” I reply “I haven’t really told anyone, not even my best friend even though I think he has his suspicions.”
“I promise.”
“It’s Regulus.” I tell her “I am crushing on the avatar, my best friends little brother but it seems he doesn’t see me in a romantic light.”
“What makes you think that?” she questions as we continued deeper into the swamp for her rounds.
“he doesn’t like to show his feelings to anyone. He closes himself off when someone even gets close to dent the wall he has build around himself.” I explain “It’s like he doesn’t think he is allowed to have things for himself.”
“Well he is the Avatar.” She waves her hands in the air “he has the responsibility of the world on his shoulders maybe he is just worried and won’t let himself have any room for feelings.”
“What can I do to help him carry those burdens, to let him see he is allowed to feel.”
“Show him.” She shrugs “When someone isn’t ready to listen, then you have to show it.”
“How.”
“I think you know that better than me.”
“if I did, I wouldn’t be here asking you for help.”
“I think you already know what you should do, you just wanted someone to confirm it.” She looks at me with a soft smile “besides I think you should pay better attention to the Avatar, I see the way he looks at you. If you ask me the love you have might not be as unrequited as you think it is.”
“Then why was he flirting with Evan and Barty.”
Emma snorts as she tries to hold back her laugh “Barty and Evan are menaces, they probably noticed you and tried to get a rise out of you. You aren’t exactly subtle about your crush on the avatar.”
“So you knew before I even told you his name.”
“I had my suspicions.” She winks at me “I think the only person who doesn’t know you like the Avatar is Regulus himself.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes.” She nods “Let’s get back so you can still get some sleep and remember what I said show him.”
“thank you for listening.” I tell her as we made our way back.