Chapter Six

A meeting with the sexist ginger

"I love you, that's the problem, I love you so so much." I say, trying desperately not to cry. "So much it hurts." I add, "But what about when we break up? Where will that leave me?"

"Don't say that. I love you. You love me? What's the problem?" Fred replies.

"But if I love you anymore I might lose you. And I would never get over it. Not ever Fred. I can't let you break my heart."

"But you're breaking mine right now." is all I here as I run away.

I was the one who did a runner. Way to break the gender stereotypes I know, but I was scared shitless and I didn't even know why. So I ran, without even thinking about it. And that was the thing, not the kiss, that caused all the problems. Me. And my stupid freaking legs.

You know that cliché in like everything ever ever when someone runs and runs until they get to like this awesome place or something? Yeah? Well that didn't happen to me. I ran down the stairs and I made it most of the way along the corridor and then I had to stop because I panting so hard. Attractive, don't I know it?

Don't get me wrong I can walk like really quickly, like four time as quick as anyone else I've ever met, but as soon as I start running all hell breaks lose and my lungs collapse.

"Hey hot stuff."

I turn around. Yes, ladies and gentleman, there's another ginger on the block lusting after Kira Jordan. And you guessed it. He's eleven.

"Oh dear Merlin, please tell me this is a nightmare. I can't even decide whether to smack you, run screaming or give you a lecture on feminism."

He shrugs. "Any is fine with me." He says with a grin.

I am so disturbed right now. Literally so disturbed.

"Oh hey Kira," says none other than my brother coming around the corner, "There you are Fergus." He adds.

Yup, the ginger is named Fergus. And he is friends with my brother.

"You are joking me." I sigh. "You finally make a friend and it's a sexist ginger. This is bloody typical."

Trolley at least has the decency to blush. Which is more than I can say about 'Fergus' if that even is his real name, which it probably is.

"What do you mean?" Trolley starts, "I've got loads of friends," he continues, glancing at Fergus, awkwardly.

"Right, sorry, of course." I say, covering up for him whilst trying not to laugh.

"What do you even have against gingers anyway?" says Fergus. "We have souls too you know."

I laugh, "Sure…"

"Yeah what do you have against ginger people, Kira? Isn't your boyfriend one?"

I can't tell if he's trying to make a joke or if he saw me and Fred kissing on the astronomy tower. My heart races, but not in a good way.

"I don't have a boyfriend." I tell the two eleven year olds.

"Calm it. I was joking." Carter tells me. "I meant Fred."

God he is so annoying.

"Well the difference between Fred and young Fergus here is that Fred's awesome and Fergus is a small, ferociously disturbing idiot and whatever Fred's hot and if you tell me he's standing right behind me I will cry. I will literally cry."

"He's standing right behind you." Says Trolley.

I turn around. He wasn't lying.

"Fred!" I say, blushing furiously and achieving the inevitable of falling on my face.

"Hey," he says, blushing also, but having the courtesy to pull me off the ground.

"Meet the sexist ginger." I say pointing at Fergus. "You will soon learn my brother has excellent taste in friends."

Fergus actually offers his hand for Fred to shake. "You must be the hot one." He says sniggering.

If possible I blush further. It must be possible because Fred does too.

"Yeah you guys can shoo by the way." I direct at the eleven year olds.

They do, hastily (probably because I am giving them my elusive evil glare) but Fergus sniggers again.

"Well that was awkward." I say. "So were you here for a chat or did you just have the misfortune to pass by?"

"The former." He tells me, with a shifty smile.

"I just wanted to apologise for kissing you and for thinking that you meant anything by holding my hand and to ask you where all of that leaves us now."

I shrug and sit down (yes on the floor, no I'm not a dog.) Fred joins me folding his long legs into cross legged.

"I don't know." I sigh. "I honest to Merlin don't know."

"Me either." He sighs in agreement.

"I'm sorry too," I tell him, "By the way."

"About breaking my heart or trampling on it?" He jokes, oh god at least I think he's joking.

I raise an eyebrow.

"Sorry," he sighs. "Maybe we should just give each other some space for the time being."

"Maybe," I say, space is not what I want, but I'm not so sure what I want anymore. I told Fred I loved him and I think it might be true, but then I ran away from him so I can't love him all as much as I told him I did. I want him to be a part of my life. He's one of my best friends and there is no way I want to lose him, but then I'm not sure if I will be able to spend time with him ever again without remembering that kiss and how it made me feel.

"Report back to each other when either of us has figured out what the hell is going on?" he asks me.

I nod.

He makes to leave, "And Kira?" he asks me, turning round to look me in the eyes.

"Yeah?" I reply. "Do you mind if we don't, you know, tell anyone else?"

I smile, "That is something I definitely do not mind doing." I say, "They will all take the bloody piss.

I hear him laugh, faintly, as he walks away.

I remain on the floor. Sitting Cross legged. Trying and failing to fight back tears. I am an emotional wreck. An emotional flying carpet wreck. The optimum of the wrecked emotional vehicles. Not only have I crashed; I wasn't supposed to be flying in the first place because I am illegal in Britain and Ireland.

"Kira?"

I jump. At first I think it's Fred come back to save my sanity, but it's not. It's Alice.

"Are you okay?" she continues.

"Of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be okay? I am the optimum of okayness. I mean it's not like I'm a flying carpet or something is it? I'm not illegal in Britain or Ireland. I haven't crashed. I am not even a train."

"Well, you're crying." She says. "And you're sitting on the floor." She continues. "And you're talking to yourself about flying carpets."

"Shit. Was that out loud?" I ask her.

She bites her lip and nods, "Afraid so."

"Did something happen between you and Fred?" she asks me, god what does she know? Why did she really disappear off so quickly this evening? Has Alice been the puppeteer behind us this whole time?

"No." I say a little too hastily.

"It's fine. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to, but if you need anything just let me know."

"Thanks Alice." I say, "I'm fine though. I really am."

"Do you mind if we go back to the common room then?" she asks me, "It's just I've got a Defence against the Dark Arts essay I need to get done."

I nod and tell her that it's okay and we walk back to the common room in a comfortable silence.

Fred's there when we arrive, sitting by the fire with Alex, James and Roxy and I realise that I really can't face any of them.

"To be honest Alice, I think I'm just going to head to bed. Do you mind telling the others?" I ask her.

She looks at Fred then back at me. "Sure," she says, "You are alright though aren't you?"

"Yeah," I sigh, "I'm just peachy."