Whole story written for my Word of the Day Challenge on HPFC

Tankini

A woman's two piece swimsuit consisting of a bikini bottom and a tank top

"You're a tease, you know that?"

Rose hesitated for just a second before picking up her towel to dry herself. She had been having such a lovely time in the water and under the sun. Why did he have to ruin it?

"What are you doing here?" she said, plonking down into the sand.

"I'm here on business," came the reply. He sat down beside her, blocking the sun. "Then I noticed a pretty red-head in the water and I just had to say hello."

"You just happened to be here on business the same time I am here on a holiday?" Rose looked at the young man from over the top of her sunglasses. He was a rather attractive man, she would never deny that. His light brown hair and green eyes played just a small part in why so many women and girls had been left with broken hearts over the years. His crooked smile had always set her heart on edge, and she hated that even now, he still had that effect on her. But after having her heart broken by him twice before, she had learnt her lesson. Never again.

He shrugged, grinning. "Coincidence, right?"

Rose rolled her eyes, returning her sunglasses all the way up her nose. "Hardly," she said. "I should never have told you I was coming here."

"You told me? I don't remember."

Rose snorted and lay down, soaking up the Australian sun. She needed this holiday after months of hard study for her NEWTs, and what better place was there than another country? She had heard a lot about the Australian beaches and they hadn't disappointed yet. Her hotel was just a few feet away from where she sat, and she had been every day since coming here a week ago.

"So, tell me, Bartley, what business brings you to Sydney?"

"International cooperation."

"That's funny, I thought you worked in the international transportation office."

"I did until a week ago."

"Wow, a coincidence if I've ever seen one."

"Does your boyfriend know you're here, flaunting your body for everyone to see?"

Rose sat up, looking around. "I don't see anyone other than you with his tongue out," she answered dryly. "And not all men are jealous arseholes, either."

"You obviously don't know your boyfriend as well as you think you do."

"Are you here for a reason, MacMillan, or did you just come to find out if I was being unfaithful to Scorpius or not?"

"I'm here because I'm being paid to be here. Not my fault you're out there swimming all but naked. I couldn't help but look."

"You're an arsehole, Bartley. And thanks for ruining my day." Rose snatched up her towel and her bag, and left her twice-ex-boyfriend on the beach. Why did he have to be such a prick to her? He didn't want her himself (sleeping with Stefania Zabini behind her back proved that), but as soon as someone else showed the slightest bit of interest he was there, making sure they didn't get too close. And now that he had followed her all the way to the Southern Hemisphere she knew he wasn't going to leave until he got something from her.

"Just fucking perfect," she mumbled, slamming the door to her hotel room so loudly the frame on the wall slipped slightly.

…

"Hey."

Sixteen-year-old Rose Wesley blushed violently as the popular Gryffindor boy – and also the best friend of her cousin – sat beside her. He was so confident in doing so that Rose (and all the other girls) couldn't help but turn red around him.

"H-hi," she stammered, looking away. Why did James have to invite him? It was a family event, and he wasn't family. He was a nuisance with his good looks and smooth talking. And her dad was there.

"You're blushing, Rosie."

"No I'm not." She choked on her words, feeling her ears burning as he stared at her. Rumour had it that Bartley MacMillan had taken a fancy to the younger cousin of James Potter, but a rumour was all it was. What would someone like him see in her? She didn't consider herself all that attractive, and he was quite experienced with girls. She hadn't even kissed anyone before, let alone done anything else.

He grinned. "I don't make you that uncomfortable, do I?"

He was also very blunt.

"No."

"Good."

Rose wanted nothing more than to leave, but she couldn't think of a good enough excuse. What was worse was that she was almost certain he knew that she fancied him. He didn't need to rub it in.

"Nice place your grandparents have here," Bartley said, looking around. "It's big."

"It has to be," Rose responded. "We couldn't fit all our family here otherwise."

Bartley laughed, and it wasn't just a light chuckle. He threw his head back and everything. She shifted uncomfortably.

"There's plenty of places to go and be alone, I bet."

"Kind of."

"Know of any places?"

Rose resisted the urge to gape. Was he suggesting…?

"Rosie?"

"Rose."

"Rose?"

"I…er… there's a few places I know of, I guess."

"Care to take a walk?"

"With you?"

Bartley nodded, holding out his hand for her to take. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you," he said. "And I don't think anyone should be around for it."

…

"Oh, I thought you were the take away I ordered." Rose went to close the door but he stopped her with his hand.

"I taste better, I'm sure."

"I'm positive you don't."

Bartley forced the door open even further, and Rose relented, letting him into the apartment-like room.

"I thought I told you to leave me alone," she said bitterly, walking away from him.

"No, I believe you called me an arsehole and accused me of ruining your day. You said nothing about leaving you alone."

Rose scowled.

"What's the matter, Rosie?"

"Don't call me that."

"Don't you think it's fate that we came here to be together in the same city, on the same beach, at the same time?"

"No I think you're a stalker and followed me here," Rose answered, moving to the kitchen to get herself a drink of water. "We were over long ago, Bartley. You ended it when you jumped into bed with Zabini after telling me you loved me. Oh, and let's not forget the first time, either. I bet you didn't expect your face to be plastered on the front page when you snogged her, did you?"

Bartley gave no indication that he regretted his past discrepancies. He only moved closer to her, grinning. "Neither were ever as good as you, Rosie," he said.

Once upon a time, Rose would have been flustered by the closeness. But it seemed she had matured and he hadn't. Her feelings for him were long gone – they went when she'd found him with Stefania in her bed.

"Well, that's your loss, isn't it?" She moved away from him, refusing to meet his eye.

"Are you really happy with Scorpius?"

"He doesn't treat me like a piece of meat he can have when he wants and throw away when he's bored."

"It doesn't answer the question."

Feeling anger bubble inside her that she hadn't felt in her one week of peace, Rose spun around, her eyes shooting daggers at him.

"I don't need to answer to you, MacMillan!" she all but shouted. "I loved you once, but then I learnt from that very stupid mistake. I gave you two chances and you fucked them both up. Now that you're miserable with your life, don't come here trying to make mine just the same." Her hand flinched to where her wand was in her jeans. Bartley noticed and backed away. He had been at the other end of one of her curses before and it had landed him in hospital.

"Alright, I'll leave you alone. I'm staying at The Rusty Wizard if you want to find me."

"I don't. I want you out of my life."

Bartley made for the door, but before he left, he turned back. "For the record, Weasley, if you're not interested in me or any other bloke apart from Malfoy then don't go around flaunting yourself for every man and his dog to gawk at."

Furious, Rose shoved him out the door and slammed it in his face before he could say another word. "Get lost, MacMillan!" she cried from the other side. She rested her head against the hotel door, a single tear rolling down her cheek. So much for her perfect holiday. It had just been ruined by the same person who had ruined every other part of her life. Why did he still have to hurt her so?

So basically I am letting the definition word inspire each chapter. So let's see where this goes :) I've done this one before with my story Grief. I made it to 40 chapters. And for the record, I know as well as any of you where this is going, so we are all in for a surprise I think, but I hope you enjoy each chapter.

Oh, and yes, I am still working on my main multi chapters. But one at a time, so I am finishing posting In This Together, then it will be I Thought I Hated Her, etc. I can't focus on 4 at once, I discovered. So if you are following any of those, have faith I WILL finish, but it may take some time :)