Chapter Four: Roe Potter, not pictured
The next morning I was unsure why I woke up so early. I didn't realize it was because a certain someone was a bit of a bed hog. Actually, no, that would be putting it lightly. Cole had actually turned over so much that "my side of the bed" was currently one butt cheek on the mattress while both feet were planted firmly on the floor. My neck had an awful crick in it. I rubbed it moodily and glanced at the clock. It was only five in the morning.
"Cole," I hissed, nudging his shoulder. He didn't stir. "Cole." Still, nothing. He was obviously sleeping very soundly.
I dug my feet into the carpet and pushed back with all my might. He moved over slightly, so that I could at least fully get on the bed. I let out a deep breath and glanced over at his side of the bed, which was enough to fit two other people.
With an aggravated sigh I crawled over him and went to sleep on his side, as he rolled over and completely took over where I had been sleeping. I must make a note to talk about bed hogging and the appropriate role of a guest.
I was trying to go back to sleep when I realized that he had pulled the fitted sheet up. It was bunched around my waist. I tried to ignore it and go back to sleep, but I couldn't. I was one of those sleepers. Almost everything had to be perfect or I couldn't sleep.
I rolled out of bed and tugged on the sheet, drying to drag it out from Cole's body. He lay sleeping. Angrily, I put my foot on his back and put all my weight in pushing on him while pulling the sheet. Soundlessly, he rolled out of bed onto the floor. My eyes widened as he swore out.
"Shh!" I said desperately, dropping the sheet and running around the bed towards the door. I stepped over him as he sat up, obviously shaken and confused. I opened the door and peered into the hall. For two minutes I waited to see if anyone was going to come out and ask what the hell was going on. I closed over the door and placed another Silencing Spell and Locking Charm.
"What was that for?" he asked furiously, rubbing where his head had hit the floor. "This is going to bruise, just so you know."
"I'm sorry," I snapped, "but you are a bed hog!"
"I am not," he objected. "I've never been told I was a bed hog by anyone I've shagged." This caused me to raise my eyebrows.
"So, how many girls have you slept over with?" I asked curiously.
"Two," he answered sheepishly.
"And with how many of those girls did you use that little act last night?" I asked, feeling quite stupid. I should have known the whole showing up at my bedroom with a broom was an act.
"None," he snapped angrily, getting up and twisting his boxers around correctly. "You seem to think that I'm just out to get sex from you, Roe, or something." I blushed but didn't say anything. I could have said that it was working because so far every time he's seen me we've had sex. "Do you want me to go home?"
"No," I said after a moment. "No." I sighed and went over to him. He looked down at me curiously as though he were curious as to why, of all people, it was me that he fell in love with. At least, that's what I thought the look looked like. Who knows what it really was? I stood up on my tip-toes and kissed him. "Help me put the sheet back on."
He helped me and then we crawled into bed again. I lay still for a moment before turning to him and shaking him back awake.
"What?" he groaned.
"Switch sides with me," I instructed.
"Why?"
"You're already pushing me over again," I snapped. I crawled over him and pushed him away from me. "There."
"Sorry," he replied, "this is just my side." He pulled the comforter back over him and fell back asleep, leaving me wide awake to stare at the ceiling.
There was another thing that was keeping me awake. He needed the comforter in the middle of July. I was the person who never needed a blanket except for winter. In the spring and fall I would wear heavy socks and a bathrobe to bed and sleep with my comforter folded down at the edge of the bed. Cole, however, was the type of person who always needed a comforter. I tired sleeping on top of it, but he kept pulling on it until I lifted my butt and slid it down and got kind of under it. I was now sweating profusely.
My thoughts strayed to all types of things, as they tend to do when I can't sleep. Part of me couldn't sleep because I was desperately afraid someone would walk in here and see not only a boy in my bed, but a Malfoy. It was quite silly, that much I was aware of, but it prohibited me from falling asleep.
Soundlessly I turned to Cole and watched the comforter rise and fall as his breathing deepened and became the ultimate calm. I turned completely on my side and watched him sleeping for a moment.
At this point I was fully awake and knew sleep was not going to come easy to me. It would be futile to force my eyes closed, as I would become more awake out of spite.
In his sleep, Cole turned over to face me, his eyes still closed, his mouth parted slightly. I smiled at him and brushed his hair back from his face. I was just about to think some nice thoughts about him when he inched closer and closer until he was on my side of the bed again. His head lolled onto my pillow, basically forcing my head up or I'd be suffocated.
"You've got to be kidding me," I hissed angrily. "Get up." I slapped him arm, though he probably didn't feel it through the cushion of the comforter. He went on sleeping until I gave his face a sharp slap.
His eyes opened and he frowned in confusion. From under the comforter his hand snaked out and went to his cheek.
"Did you slap me?" he asked furiously.
"Yes, you—"
"Remind me never to sleep over here again," he replied angrily, rubbing his cheek moodily.
"Well, see, I gave you your side of the bed and now you're moving onto my side of the bed," I pointed out. "See, your head is on my pillow."
"Sorry," he snapped, taking his head off and putting it back onto his pillow. "I'm a bit of a restless sleeper. I tend to move around a lot."
"Thanks for the warning," I said sarcastically. He made a face at me and closed his eyes again. "Hey…are you going back to sleep?"
"I'm trying," he said desperately.
"Well, I can't sleep," I said.
"That sucks," he replied sleepily.
"No, no, I think you misunderstood me," I said with a laugh. "What I meant was we can't sleep."
"I can sleep fine," he snapped. He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes twice before letting his hands drop onto his lap. He blinked furiously before turning to me. "Sleepy yet?"
"No," I said. Our voices were still barely above a whisper despite the Silencing Spell. I didn't want it disappearing oddly and then our voices suddenly burst through the door. It was best if we whispered.
"Do you need me to sing to you or something?"
"Very funny," I said dryly.
"I'm absolutely serious," he replied. He looked very different in the morning than he did if we shagged in the afternoon. Perhaps it was the puffy eyes he had from lack of sleep or what, but he looked incredibly delectable.
Slowly, I moved over until I was right in front of him and then I kissed him. He kissed me back, but when I went to sit on top of him he put his hands on my shoulders and pushed me back lightly.
"What?" I asked with a smile.
"I warn you," he began, "there is a very good chance I'll fall asleep in the middle of it." He smiled at me and I couldn't help but give a giggle. I rolled off of him onto my back.
"Good, I didn't really want to, anyways," I replied, pulling my hair out from under me. I reached over onto my bedside table and grabbed a hair-tie and silently put my hair up. Then, I turned to him. "I figured I only went to sleep so quickly was because I was pooped from shagging."
"Pooped from shagging," he repeated, "that sounds unbelievably vile."
"You're funny in the morning," I said sarcastically. Happily, I let out a big yawn that caused my eyes to water. "Brilliant, I think I'm sleepy again."
"Oh, thank Merlin," he said and dove under the covers.
"Just…keep on your fucking side, please," I snapped with a smile.
He cracked an eye open and smiled at me. "I'll do my best."
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew there was a pounding on my door. Normally, I would have ignored it and let whoever it was come in on their own. Usually it was my mother or someone looking for something. They would take it and leave me to fall back asleep. However, I realized, with a sickening sensation, that I had a Malfoy in my bed and whoever it was wouldn't like that very much at all.
I sat up, though Cole was already tugging his pants on again.
"Roe? Are you in there?" It was my father. I began the early stages of a panic attack and rushed to the window and opened it. I thrust Cole's broom into his hand and then, much to my horror much later, I shoved him out the window. Without even turning to see if he ever got on the broom I hastily pulled the blind down and went to my door. I glanced back sharply and pushed his shirt under the bed and then opened the door.
"Dad, what is it?" I asked, doing my best to look exhausted. It was, after all, only eight in the morning. An unholy hour for a seventeen year old such as myself, especially one who wasn't expecting to be woken up for three more hours and had her secret boyfriend in bed.
"Sorry," he said, "I was wondering if you wanted a bagel from down the street. Your mother and I were going to take a walk and grab one on the way back."
"Um, yeah, sure," I said, giving a nervous giggle. "Cinnamon sugar, please. Actually, make it two. I'm very hungry."
"Sure," he said, looking at me oddly. "Were you up late last night?"
"What? Why?" I was wondering if perhaps shagging gave you black circles under your eyes. I was, after all, rather new to the whole thing and could not be sure if there were some things Demi forgot to clue me in on.
"You look exhausted."
Well, lying and constant jolts of panic attacks will do that to a person, not to mention a boyfriend who won't stay on his damn side of the bed.
"I'll catch on my sleep sooner or later," I say with a smile, "I've got all summer." I give him a bigger, more comforting smile. He returns it, though he is still looking at me oddly.
"Well, I'll be going," he says, kissing my forehead. "Come down soon. Don't stay up here all day."
"Alright," I reply. As he walks away I am almost certain I hear movements from out of my window. I close the door as quickly as I can and lock it. Silently, I turn back towards the window, though I am afraid to look out. Would I see Cole lying dead on the ground after I shoved him out of my window?
With my eyes clenched shut, I pull on the shade and feel it come up as the harsh light pricks at my eyes. I open them slowly and glance down at the yard; over the rest of the roof (My window sits on the last slant of the roof. I usually come out and sit on it in the summer or winter or whenever).
There is no lifeless body in the grass, so I can probably take that as a good sign. I am just about to put my head back in when someone grabs my wrist.
I let out a small gasp of surprise as Cole pushes his way back into my room. I turn to the door fearfully, but I am glad at the same time.
"Ok, so at a different time we're going to talk about you shoving me out of windows," he snaps, picking up his shirt from under the bed. "You're lucky I didn't stumble down to my death you psycho!"
"I didn't want my dad to see you!" I whispered desperately. "He would have killed us both—"
"He doesn't need to! You'll apparently do it for him!" He seems quite shaken even as I give him a good-bye kiss and promise to owl him if I can get away tomorrow.
"I'll see you later," I say, giving him one final kiss. He nods sharply and then disappears with a crack. I watch the spot where he stood before turning and leaving my room. Despite the good feelings that came with having him in the same bed with me, almost getting caught shaved a good ten years off of my life. I never want that to happen again. Ever. I don't even want him to owl me while my family is home, though I know I can not resist an owl from him.
"Morning sleepyhead," James says as I pass him towards the living room. I give him a half wave and collapse onto the couch. "Why are you so tired?"
"It's early," I complain, shutting my eyes. I feel James's face hovering over mine, though I refuse to open my eyes. I don't want him to be able to tell I'm freshly shagged.
"Not so early," he counters. "You could be up at six or something." I do not have a reply to that. I almost said, "Try five," but thought the better of it. "Good news," he says in my silence.
I crack an eye open. "What?"
"You have your Coming Out Ball in two weeks!" he says sarcastically. He seems quite pleased he got to break the news to me as I sit up and look at him in horror.
"You're kidding," I plead while he grins broadly. "Please tell me you're kidding!"
"Oh, no," he says with delight. "Here you are. I took the liberty of opening it for you, dear little sister."
"Thanks," I snap. "Oh, um, have you heard of privacy?"
"Never heard of it," he says, walking over to the fridge and opening it. "Besides, what do you have to be private about? It isn't as though you have a boyfriend anymore—"
"James!" Elizabeth's voice echoes around the house. She puts her work papers on the counter and glares at James. "That is so rude!"
Ok, let me try and explain Elizabeth's sudden attitude change towards me. Up until I was fourteen years old she was a bitch and then after Michael broke up with me she was a bitch. Now that we're back together again she's nice to me. She really, really likes the idea of us together, I'm not sure why. It makes her a better person. I think whatever chemical imbalance Michael had he shared the missing piece for Elizabeth and vice versa, making her a nicer person.
"Whatever," he replies, gulping down some orange juice. I glare at him as he drinks all except one sip and puts it back.
"Throw that out," I snap, narrowing my eyes at him. He ignores me and comes to stand in front of my sister.
"Aren't you happy she doesn't have a boyfriend? That she's no longer dating Michael? At least now you're boyfriendless together. It's still pathetic, but—"
"Hey!" I cry, coming to my feet. "Talk about pathetic, Mr. Blowjob in the bathroom!" I shouldn't really be talking, but he doesn't know what he did and I'm not pathetic, dammit!
"At least I'm getting something, as opposed to Virgin-for-life," he says, indicating Elizabeth, "and you."
'And you.' As if that in itself is its own category.
"Oh, fuck off, James," I snap, shoving past him towards the kitchen table. I could feel him smirking at my head as I took a seat and angrily selected an orange from the bowl. "And, by the way, older brother," I snarl, "at least if we're not dating we're also not getting some disease from a shifty, skanky Slytherin." He colored and glared at me. "Oh, yes," I said to his look, "I saw that cream."
Elizabeth laughs and James falls silent, the rude son of a bitch. We are all silent for a moment as Elizabeth sifts through the papers, I peel away at my orange, and James moodily scuffs his foot on the floor.
"Why were you talking about this anyways?" Elizabeth asks, finding the paper she was looking for with a triumphant look.
"Roe's coming out letter came today," James says, still pouting.
I jump in shock as Elizabeth lets out a scream of delight. The orange that was half-way down my throat stalls as if it doesn't know whether to continue or try and come back up again. I cough and force it down, though it doesn't go down easily.
I'm still coughing as Elizabeth grabs the letter from the couch and reads it over. She gives James a look and says with disappointment, "I wanted to be the one to tell her!" As if it's such a treat to make my life miserable people have to beat each other to my embarrassment.
"It's so great though," she continues happily. "You get your hair done and you wear a gown, an actual gown, and not some crappy dress robes. It's amazing! I loved my Coming Out Ball."
This means virtually nothing to me. She also likes dipping her carrots into maple syrup, so I won't take her word for it. I mean, if one were to list everything we had in common (liked, disliked, etc) they would have a list of: family and…that's it.
I have been dreading this letter for some time now, though I forgot about it in the recent days as other things have happened to make me forget. Demi is very excited about it because she has a boyfriend to Come Out with. I don't have anyone I can Come Out with. My parents would die of shock if I chose to Come Out with Cole.
Almost everyone who goes to a Coming Out Ball together gets married. My mother couldn't because they couldn't afford to put her in the organization when she was a child and she dreamed her daughters would go in. Lucky fucking us, I tell you. Why couldn't she dream for us to go on vast shopping sprees?
Well, almost everyone gets married. Elizabeth didn't get along with her date for the evening. They fought and bickered the entire time and she left the party in tears. I had been forced to bring Michael to it and during the night he left my side to go hang out with some friends and I only met up with him at the end of the night, which I quite enjoyed. I wished our entire relationship could have been like that.
"So, who do you think you'll take?" Elizabeth asks suddenly. "Michael?" I freeze and she winces, as she let the cat out of the bag, so to speak.
"Excuse me?" James asks, suddenly perking up. He is such a sadistic prick this is probably bringing about his entire day. "Did I hear someone mention our dear departed friend Michael?"
"Yes," Elizabeth turns to him, giving him a fake smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. She turns back to me and mouths "sorry."
"Why would Roe take Michael? They broke up, didn't they? Didn't you?" He turns to me, eyebrow raised.
"Yes," I reply, wanting very much to leave the room. "But—"
"But they got back together! Isn't that nice, James?" Elizabeth gives James a pointed look, whilst I glare at her turned head. Stupid cow.
James gave her an odd look before smiling at me. "Sure is."
"We're keeping it really quiet, though," I say. "So, please, don't tell anyone. And if you see him," I think, "please don't mention anything to him. I don't want him thinking I'm running my gob around. I think I might break-up with him again."
"Oh?" Elizabeth looks at me oddly. "Why?"
"We just don't work that great together anymore," I say with a careless shrug. I wish my father would hurry up with those bagels! "He's out of school now and it is a bit hard to carry on the relationship."
"Oh," Elizabeth says.
I turn to James to see him still watching Elizabeth. He catches my eye and quickly turns on his heel towards the couches. The backdoor opens and our mother comes in crying, "Anyone want some bagels?"
I happily accept my bagels and go and sit next to James on the couch. He doesn't quite meet my eye when I offer him the butter.
I'm about to ask him about it, but find the words die in my throat as I gaze down at the paper by my feet. It must have been from yesterday, though I didn't see it as I was too busy shagging Cole.
The picture was the one taken at the Ministry Ball. My dad had his arm around my sister, who was giving the camera her best smile. Next to my dad was mum and James, all smiling happily at the camera. I gaze down at it before picking it up and bringing it closer to me.
I gaze at it for a minute. This is the famous picture. This is the picture that caused me to sleep with Cole and decide to fuck with my family. I continue to gaze at it until my eyes drop to the caption below it.
Harry Potter, with wife Ginny, and their children, Elizabeth and James (daughter, Roe Potter, not pictured).
Story of my life.
OoOoOo
Over the next week Cole and I could hardly stand to be apart from each other. We were constantly sneaking out of our respective houses to meet either at his summer house, then his winter house, or even out in the middle of a forest if there were no other places.
And still, I was hesitant to tell anyone else who I was going around with. I didn't want anyone to know because they would just ruin it for us. I enjoyed being with him and knowing that we had this major secret between us. It was a very odd, enjoyable thing to know that you are the only two people who know something.
I am glad I told Demi. I had too! I tell her absolutely everything in my life. Like, I told her when I stole the pair of red panties from that little shop in Diagon Alley because dad wouldn't buy them for me. In fact, he turned bright red and threatened to send me to a convent if he ever caught me wearing those. I slipped them into my bag and we left the store. Now I wear them to spite him. In fact, if they weren't bright red panties (silk panties, mind you) I'd be showing them off all the time to get him angry.
Elizabeth has become quite annoying about the whole Michael thing. I am very tempted to tell her the truth about the whole thing. I desperately want to tell her Cole is Michael and I hate Michael. I hope he gets a disease and passes it along to that skank he cheated on me with.
"Do you think you'll be seeing him Saturday?" she asks curiously as we eat breakfast one morning. I glare at her and she shrugs. "What? I'm just wondering!"
"Well, stop!" I snap. "You're going to slip up and tell mum, if James hasn't already," I add angrily. I don't think he would tell mum and dad, but I'm not sure. He better not or so help me…I'll kill Elizabeth and make it look like he did it.
What's even weirder is that every time Elizabeth brings up Michael in front of James he gets all twitchy and leaves the room immediately. I mention this to Elizabeth and she gives a careless shrug.
"Perhaps he's been with so many girls he's looped around and become gay," she suggests, tugging her hair into a ponytail. "Or, maybe he has a gay crush on Michael."
I really don't care, I'm just worried he knows Michael and I aren't together and that's why he won't stay in the room, because he knows what's going on. I'm almost sure of it, except I am also sure he would have said something to me.
Though there is the ever-constant fear someone is going to mess up and tattle on me, I find it surprisingly easier to slip out of the house. I never say I'm with Michael, I always say I'm going with Demi, though Elizabeth thinks I'm going with Michael.
Now, as I walk across the yard to Cole's winter mansion, I carefully look across the lake at my house, to see if anyone is looking out the window. I open the glass door and hurry in and then out of sight.
I'm a little early, but he likes it when I surprise him, or so he tells me. As I walk up the main stairs I notice something is a little off. I can't seem to put my finger on it until I see a house-elf scurrying across the floor, a large dress in its hand. I frown and then freeze as I hear voices.
"Cole, darling, I just want you to find a proper girl to take to this Ball," I hear coming from on of the hallways. Desperately I look around for a hiding place. I scuttle up the rest of the stairs and hide in a closet off to the side, waiting.
"I will bring a proper girl," he says coldly.
"I mean a girl your own age," his mother says, coming to stand in front of a floral arrangement. She glances at it before turning to her son, so I can partially see her face. "No more Fourth Years, darling, it looks bad."
I can tell he's blushed just by the way he's suddenly standing. He gets all defensive when he's embarrassed. It's kind of cute. "Don't worry, mother," he says through clenched teethe, "I'll bring you a nice girl to torture."
His mother gives him a cold smile and reaches forward to smooth his hair back. He doesn't push her away and I can tell it must be the only sort of affection they've shared recently.
"You're of age, darling," she continues. "Perhaps it's time to think about marriage? Think about it and invite a nice, polite girl to go with you. Someone who can easily transition into the role of a Malfoy."
"Mum, I'm not even thinking about marriage," he says with distaste. She gives a small laugh as though this was amusing.
"Well, darling, neither was I!" she snaps. "I was practically married in the middle of a War when everyone seemed to want your father and me dead. He still realized that he had a task to do."
"Marrying you was a task?" Cole asked cynically. Again, his mother gave him a cold, tight smile.
"Think about it," she says. She reaches down and snatches the dress from the house-elf, giving it a dirty look as she does so. "What were you doing here, anyways?"
"Um," Cole says, "I just wanted to get some work done in peace and quiet. You know, with all the people in and out of the house now it's a bit noisy."
Mrs. Malfoy seems to buy that response because she smiles now, a smile that changes her entire face. It makes her seem as though she were twenty-eight, as opposed to thirty-eight. She comes forward and kisses his cheek.
"Are you sleeping at Edwin's house again tonight?"
"I'm not sure," Cole replies.
"Well, don't come in late if you do," she says, kissing him one more time. "I'll see you tomorrow for tea at noon, nonetheless."
"Yes."
With a wave, she disappears with a crack. I step out of the closet. Cole doesn't hear me as he rubs his forehead nervously. He hurries over to the balcony and glances down at the living room, no doubt looking for me. I come up behind him and tap him on the shoulder. He wheels around, nearly knocking me over as he does so, and cries out in surprise.
"You scared me!" he snaps, grabbing my hand and leading me down the hall. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough to hear that you should take a proper girl to the Coming Out Ball next week," I say with a smirk. He glares at me and closes his door over.
"Yeah, well, I'd much rather take you," he says, giving me a kiss on the lips. "I shudder to think who I'm going to have to ask."
"Same here," I say moodily. "To hell with them, let's just go together." He gives a short laugh that I don't join in with. I'm half serious, though I don't really know if I would be ready for my lynching.
"I can only imagine how well that would go," he says, giving another laugh and sitting on the bed. "I don't know who would be more upset: your father or mine?"
I shrug and go over to the bed and lay down next to him. He wraps his arms around me and nudges my neck. We're still for a moment before I left my head, pushing his up, and look at him.
"What?" he asks.
"Do you want to go out on a date?" I ask.
"Like…a real date?"
"Yeah," I say, sitting up so my head rests against the headboard. He follows me and turns to sit in front of me. "Like a real couple on a real date."
"Where would we go?" he wants to know.
"I don't know," I say, somewhat sheepishly. I don't really have a place in mind. "Somewhere crowded, maybe?"
"Alright…" he says cautiously.
"Oh!" I say suddenly. "I have a great idea!"
"What is it?" he asks.
"Tomorrow night Demi and Frank invited me to go out to dinner with the two of them in Hogsmede! I said no because I don't want to be a third wheel, but we could go together!"
"Erm," he says, not meeting my eye.
"What?" I ask.
"I don't think your friends like me very much," he says. "Also…um, wouldn't it be kind of a surprise if I just show up all, 'Hey, this isn't weird at all!?'"
"Oh, er, I kind of told Demi that we shagged, so she already knows we see each other on purpose on a regular basis." He suddenly jumps off of the bed. "What the hell—"
"You told Demi?" he cries, causing me to jump.
"I had to! She's my best mate, Cole! You can tell your best mate if you want, but—"
"It's just…" he breaks off with a blush.
"Cole," I say, coming to rest on my knees, "are you afraid of Demi?"
"No," he says, though his cheeks redden further and the tone of his voice suggests otherwise.
"You know she's a girl, right?" I ask, smirking.
"Shut up," he snaps.
"Why are you afraid of her?" I ask. He doesn't answer me and it causes me to laugh. "Is it because she kept hexing you last year?" He glowers at me and I laugh harder.
"It really isn't that funny," he snaps, though I don't hear him because I'm laughing too loud. "You can stop anytime now!" I get off the bed and go over to him. He glares down at me.
"If I like you, then she likes you," I say, kissing him. "That's how we work." His face tells me he thinks otherwise and I sigh. "Well, how about you join me and then you can find out." He glares at me. "She only hexed you because you turned her hair blue." The corners of his mouth twitch at the memory of it.
What happened was we were walking down the hall, Demi and I, and Cole came up to us. He handed me a bunch of different colored roses (so I could pick my favorite color) and asked me to join him on our next Hogsmede visit. I declined and he pressed on in spite of that. Finally, he got so annoying that Demi told him to go jerk off and stop acting like a dog in heat. I laughed and continued on down the hall when all of a sudden I noticed Demi's hair had turned a bright, electric blue. I thought for a moment her powers had gone wrong, as did she, but she couldn't get it to change back. I looked down the hall and saw Cole pocketing his wand. I knew he had done it immediately, so did Demi.
"So," I say, brushing his hair back, "what do you say? It'll be fun. You'll love Demi and Frank."
"Yes, maybe, but they won't like me," he says with a pointed look in my direction. I roll my eyes and hop back on the bed.
"Here, let me convince you."
OoOoOo
The next night I found myself sitting in a small pub just off the main street with Demi and Frank. I kept checking my watch (a gift from my parent's for my seventeenth birthday) and frowning as I saw he was running a bit late.
"He should be here any moment," I said apologetically to Demi and Frank. I bite my lip and chance another glance at my watch.
"It's alright, Roe," Frank says, though Demi gives him a look before sipping her butterbeer. The crowded pub is filled with music and laughing from other, happier tables. I sigh angrily, wishing I had some way of yelling at him.
Finally, when I am about to give up hope, the door opens and he appears, looking quite harassed. He sits down next to me, gives me a kiss on the cheek, and turns towards Demi and Frank, looking quite nervous.
"Sorry," he says, accepting my hand. "My parents held me up with fittings. I finally had to duck out when they weren't looking."
"It's alright," I say, just happy he showed up at all. I turn to Demi, to see her eying Cole oddly, before dropping her gaze down to the menu.
"Can I get you something to drink?" asks the waitress. She gives Cole a look that clearly says she would like to shag him in the bathroom, and then turns to me with a nasty look before quickly returning to Cole. He eyes the table before replying, "Erm, butterbeer?"
She gives him what I think was a very sexy smile and goes behind the bar to get his butterbeer. She returns with the same, broad smile and sets it in front of him, though he's still reading the menu.
"I'm Callie and I'll be your waitress tonight," she says to him. I share an uncomfortable look with Demi before she spits, "Well, we'll call you if we need you." The waitress gives her a slightly affronted look but leaves all the same.
"Great, now our food is going to get spit in," Frank snaps, looking down at the menu. Demi rolls her eyes. "I guess it doesn't matter what I get."
"Oh, Frank, don't be such a worry wart," Demi reproves. "Your food isn't going to get spat in. If anything it's going to be Roe's food that gets spit in."
"Oh, thanks," I reply sarcastically, looking up from the menu to give her a look before going back to the list of food.
"So, Cole," Demi says, an odd tone to her voice. I glance at her curiously, faintly apprehensive. I love Demi and she loves me like we were sisters, and that is exactly where our problem lies. She is very protective of me, as she is a whole month older than I am. "I guess this means you're going to the Coming Out Ball."
"Um, yes, I am," he replies. I can feel his eyes snap to me before turning to Demi, who sounds as though she's loading her verbal guns.
"Who are you taking?"
"Demi," Frank says warningly.
"I'm just curious, Frank," she says, giving him a smile. "I mean, I would want to know who my boyfriend is taking to the most important Ball the Ministry has."
"Demi," I say tightly.
"You weren't curious?" Now all eyes are on me.
"It isn't my business," I snarl at her. "Now, drop it." I widen my eyes for effect and bring them back down to the menu.
There is a tense silence that creeps in between the four of us, broken only by the waitress who comes back to take our order, ignoring Demi's warning.
"Everyone ready?" she asks. We rattle off our orders and she taps her quill onto the pad before glancing at Cole once more and walking to the kitchen.
"To answer your question, Demi," Cole says suddenly, "my parents picked a date for me. I don't really have much of a choice in who I'm going with." She raises an eyebrow as though to ask who it is. "It's Lila Post."
I turn to him sharply. I open my mouth to say something, but Demi beats me to it. "The Minister's daughter?"
"Yes," he replies, glancing at me once more before dropping his gaze. I don't say anything for a moment. A part of me wants to tell him that she blew my brother in the bathroom at the Ministry Ball two weeks ago. "She told her father she was interested in going with me and he asked my parents and they gave their consent."
I feel an odd sensation in my stomach. I knew very well that he would have to take someone else, but I didn't think it would be Lila Post who is obviously very slutty. I mean, she did my brother in the bathroom, for heavens sake! Again, I lost my virginity in the coatroom so I shouldn't talk, but still. I'm not sure if I want Cole, who is very, very good looking, to go with a girl who has no problem skipping first and second base and heading for third right after the hellos.
I smile as though I'm fine with it. Cole grips me hand and I force myself to look at him. He's studying my reaction as though waiting to see if I'm really fine with it, or if I just lied to him, which I did.
I raise my eyebrows with a smile and take a sip of my butterbeer, willing proper conversation to appear. I have no such luck, though, as Demi suddenly turns her attention onto me.
"Who are you going to take, then?" she asks, while Frank gives a her an embarrassed look. I want to tap him on the shoulder and do that shrugging and shaking head thing as if to say, "Where did she come from?"
"I'm not sure," I reply. "I hadn't really thought about it."
"Haven't you gotten any offers?" she asks in surprise.
"Not really," I lie.
In fact, I got an offer today from none other than Michael. He has one hell of a nerve asking me to go anywhere with him. He was such a little prick he's lucky I don't go and kick him in the balls.
Although, I can't go alone and even though I hate Michael with all my being, he would be someone I could go with who would dance with me and then leave me alone for the rest of the night. Any other date would follow me around and expect me to interested in them and stuff. Maybe I if I go with Michael then Cole can slip away from his looser moralled dated and we could go outside or something.
"Actually," I say as our food arrives, "I did get one offer."
"From who?" Demi asks, her eyes wide with curiosity. I avoid her gaze as I stuff as much food into my mouth as I can and answer, "Michael." It comes out very pushed together, though I think everyone got the jist.
"Um, Michael?" Frank asks.
I nod. Demi gives me a furious look. "That scumbag actually had the nerve of owling you! How dare he!"
"Well, I figure I'll just go with him—"
"What?" Demi screams. People around us turn to her in shock, but she ignores their glares as she is too busy glaring at me. "Roe, have you forgotten what that little creep did to you?"
"No, not at all," I say, "but at least I know he'll go away and leave me alone for most of the night—"
"Maybe, or he'll expect you to, I don't know, give him a blowjob or something?" she asks, her voice rising. Frank turns to her, his cheeks reddening.
"Demi, leave her alone," he says warningly.
She ignores him and presses on. "He cheated on you, Roe. He threw away your two year relationship for a blowjob!"
"Good!" I snap. "I hated Michael and I hated giving him blowjobs!" Cole shifts next to me, clearly not loving this conversation, but I too ignore my boyfriend. "Do you think I'm suddenly going to fall in love with Michael?"
"I don't know, are you?" she accuses.
"No! I'm with Cole. I'm happy with Cole. That's why I want to go with Michael because I know I have absolutely no obligation to him!"
She still seems unconvinced. "Well, Cole, how do you feel about this?"
I internally groan. I totally forgot he was even here for the moment. Mortification seeps into me as I realize he was here for that conversation.
"It's fine," he says, though I've heard that voice before. I turn to him and see his jaw clenched tight like it is when he's angry or upset. I want to cry out and tell him I would much rather go with him.
"Well, then, I guess I'm fine with it," she says, though she gives Cole a look that clearly blames him for my going with Michael, as if Cole had a choice of being a Malfoy or not.
The rest of the night passes in relative calm. We all talk and though she didn't at first, by the end of the night I can tell Demi is warming to Cole. I totally know she is still very wary of him, as though he's going to break my heart any moment. Up until last week she was sure I was hurt with the break-up and I suppose it must be a surprise to see me happy all of a sudden.
Demi and Frank leave after dinner as we exited the pub. She gives me one last look that says we'll talk later and then turns to Frank.
"Let's go to my house," she suggests. "My parents are out for the night. If we hurry we can probably shag before they get home."
"Brilliant," Frank says happily and gives Cole and me a smile and a departing wave before they both leave with a crack.
There is silence when they leave. It's tense and unhappy and I can't find the words to say anything to Cole that might clear it up. Though, after we set off down the street, he does it for me.
"So, Michael, huh?" he says oddly.
I wince and turn to him. "Yeah," I say. "I hate him and I like you, so just know I'm not going to cheat on you or anything."
"I know that," he says quickly, "it's just that…" He lets out an angry breath through his noise. "I hate that guy!"
I feel myself smile despite myself, though it disappears at the look he gives me. It takes me a minute to step into his shoes and look at it from his perspective. I can understand why Cole is so upset by this. He's been in love with me since Second Year and for almost the entire time I was with someone else. He must be fairly jealous.
"I know you do," I say softly, "so do I."
"Then go with someone else! Someone gay, perhaps?"
"Cole, my sister thinks I'm with Michael and if my parents do as well then it's the perfect cover for us." I lean against him. "I want to go with you, I really do. Believe me when I say that."
"I do." He hugs me tightly and kisses the top of my head. I sigh happily, happy that this isn't going to ruin us. I don't want Cole to be worried that I'm going to cheat on him with Michael, of all people. "I just hate the thought of you together."
"Me too," I say, walking along the street with him. For once I am not worried someone will see us. It's off season here and though still a bit crowded, I am not scared I'm going to see a family member or a gossip queen from school.
"So, you two broke up because of a blowjob?" he asks, his voice sounds odd. I can tell he's embarrassed.
"Yes," I reply.
"Oh…So, did you give him a lot of blowjobs?"
I stop walking and turn to him. "What?" I ask, raising my eyebrows. His cheeks have turned a brilliant red.
"Forget it. I shouldn't have asked," he says quickly, walking on ahead of me. I catch up quickly and catch his arm.
"Let's just put it this way," I say. "We've been dating for two weeks and Michael and I dated for two years and you've gotten far more blowjobs then he has."
This seems to put Cole in a better mood because he pulls me along with him and then down a sidestreet against the post office. He kisses my neck with more force than usual. It makes me a bit weak at the knees and I grip onto him for balance.
"Hey…" I say weakly, my eyes fluttering closed. "If you don't stop that we're going to have a bit of a problem on our hands." He ignores me and brings his hands under my shirt. "Cole…" I let my head fall back to hit against the wall behind me. I let out a soft moan as he hands reach for my zipper, though the logical portion of my brain is requesting that we stop before someone catches us. "What if someone sees us?" I ask.
"So?" he counters, nipping at my neck. His hands reach for his zipper as I succumb to the nice feelings and catch his mouth for a kiss.
It doesn't occur to me much later that perhaps he wanted to someone to see us.
A/N Read and review, please.