Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Written for; Pairing The Character Challenge - PetuniaAlice.
When You Smile, You're Beautiful
She tried to keep to herself, but the bubbly girl was everywhere at once and it was hard to hide from her, even in a four bedroom house such as the one the Evans lived in. She listened, envy bubbling painfully in her stomach, to Lily giggling at the girl's theatrics late into the night, their hushed whispers passing through the thin walls; not enough that Petunia could make the words out, but enough for her to know that there was happy conversations happening.
Petunia sneered every time they asked her to join them. She turned her nose up and looked away when they sat in the living room one evening, entertaining Lily and Petunia's parents with stories of that ghastly school. She scowled when they laughed over some 'in-joke' or whatever they were forever cackling over.
Witches. Literally.
The final night of Alice's stay arrived, and Petunia was happy that the girl would be gone the following day. Bad enough she had to deal with her sister being home, but to have her friend there as well... it was torture.
Climbing out of the bath, Petunia dried herself quickly, donning her pyjama's and wrapping her dressing gown around herself. Summer was slow in coming and the evenings were still cool.
Opening the door, she stumbled back. The steam from the bath clogged the air, but she could see that her path to her bedroom was blocked.
"What do you want?" she snarled, her voice more confident than she felt. Standing in front of Alice in her pyjama's and dressing gown made her feel oddly vulnerable.
"You look different," Alice commented, a smile in her voice. "More... relaxed. You should relax more, Petunia."
"What's it to you if I relax or not?" Petunia asked, cursing herself for replying when she should just push past the girl. It wasn't like her parents would tell her off for being rude with Alice leaving in the morning anyway.
Alice sighed, raising her eyebrow slightly. "You know, I've seen you smile once the entire time I've been here? Once, Petunia. And it made you glow; it made you beautiful."
Before Petunia could say anything scathing, Alice shifted, her hand raising, gently caressing the skin on Petunia's cheek.
"You should smile more often."
Petunia remained frozen as Alice leant forward, tilting her head to press a soft kiss against Petunia's lips. "I'll see you next summer, I'm sure. Have a good year, Petunia."
Left alone in the bathroom, Petunia raised a hand to her lips.
She couldn't help herself.
She smiled.