Chapter 7
I arrive home from the benefit with a sense of foreboding. I enter the living room, where Will is sitting with papers surrounding him. He looks up from his work and smiles weakly.
"Hey," I say. "The benefit lasted longer than I thought it would."
"It's okay," he says, setting his work aside. "I worked on some new Quidditch formations for the Wasps."
I nod, biting my lip, waiting. This is it.
"So," he says. "We need to discuss what happened."
"Okay."
"Why did you stalk off like that after you saw me and Maggie, first off?" he asks, running a hand through his hair.
I pause, marshaling my thoughts. "I'm not sure," I lie. "I just… freaked out."
Will gives me a hard look. "Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying!" I say, feigning outrage. "You did freak me out!"
This bit, at least, is true.
"Why would that freak you out?" he inquires, a brow raised.
"Because I was expecting to come home and relax and I was thinking we could go out for drinks or something, and you didn't tell me you were going on a date with her and I just … I was surprised," I ramble. This is all true, it's just not the real reason I'm upset.
Of course, I'm too much of a chicken to tell him the truth. I just freeze at every opportunity that arises to tell him. I don't know why.
Well, I do. It's quite scary telling your best mate you love them.
"Okay," he says eventually. "But this still doesn't explain why you had to go to Sam and David's and then proceed to refuse to speak or look at me when I came to find you."
"Because … because I was in shock!" I say triumphantly, finding an excuse.
"No you weren't," he says, eyeing me closely.
His dark eyes flash in realization and he says slowly, "You're hiding something from me."
"No I'm not," I retort feebly. I realize I'm quickly losing this game.
"You went mental after you saw me snogging Maggie. And then you give me the cold shoulder at their flat …" he trails off and then he points a finger at me, smirking at me. "You were jealous!"
Fuck. He's spot on.
"I was not!" I say loudly, glaring at him. "I had come home from a very stressful day at work, hoping to relax, and what do I find? My best mate snogging some bint. Now that's exactly what I was expecting to find here."
"Neglecting to inform you of my rearranged date would not typically make you this angry," he points out, maddeningly rationally.
"Yes it would! When I get home from my demanding job managing hospital, I don't need to be inundated with images of my best friend basically having sex with someone on my couch! Where I sit on a daily basis! It's not pretty, I tell you!" I yell, my face fed.
He flushes slightly. "I'm sorry you had to see that," he mutters.
I stand, crossing my arms across my chest.
"And why," he demands, "Couldn't you just talk to me about that?"
"Because I was angry!" I burst out.
"There was no reason to be angry! Even if you were, you should've made the effort to discuss it with me! I made the bloody effort to come to you. I had to kick Maggie's sorry arse out and explain that my best mate had gone mental because I was on a date! I cut short my date – and opportunity to get shagged, by the way – for you!"
I cannot believe him. That arsehole.
"I'm sorry!" I shout, enraged. "I'm sorry for interrupting your afternoon shag! You are fucking unbelievable. I am terribly sorry to have inconvenienced you to come and find me because I was upset, as I'm sure Maggie bloody Lorring means so much more to you than I do!"
"That's not –" he protests, but I hold up my hand and he stops talking.
"Enough," I say. "That's enough. I'm out of here."
Without a backward glance. I madly grab my clutch and exit the flat.
I'm too angry and fazed to Apparate anywhere – I'll probably Splinch myself. So I totter down the stairs in my heels, praying I won't plummet to my death. As I go outside, I take a breath of the fresh night air, trying to calm myself.
I turn right at a whim and walk several blocks, ignoring the pain in my feet. I feel completely numb with rage.
"Oi! What's yer problem, you pretty little thing?" I hear and whip round to see a bunch of drunken men who proceed to catcall and whistle at me.
I'm actually a bit surprised to see this kind of behavior here. I mean, I live in Belgravia, not some sketchy hovel where riffraff crawls on the street. I hurry away from their shouts of "Come 'ere, love!" and "We can help you, can't we, Bill?"
I spot a bar and look in the window. It's teeming with strange men and I don't feel comfortable going in, so I decided to screw it and Apparate to Martha's.
I make my way to the bar and hop into a chair, throwing my clutch onto the counter. I put my head into my hands, trying to stop my head from spinning.
"Rough night, eh?"
I look up to see the barman, who's actually rather cute, looking at me kindly. "What can I get you?"
"A vodka on the rocks," I say.
He nods and goes to make my drink.
I check my watch, and see it's 12:30 in the morning. I suddenly feel exhausted. This has officially been the worst day of my life.
"Here you are," the barman says, reappearing. I take my drink and thank him.
I take a huge gulp, hoping this dulls the pain.
"So what happened?" he asks, looking at me curiously.
"I had a huge row with my best mate," I say.
"So you can make up tomorrow," he replies, mixing a drink.
"No. It's not like that. I've completely fucked it up. I've chucked a friendship I've had since I was a baby in the bin. It's over."
"Nothing can be that bad," he says reasonably.
"It can. The problem is I've developed … feelings for him," I reveal, getting more talkative as I drink. I down the glass. "And he's on the verge of finding out. He's not stupid. He'll figure it out."
The barman makes a sympathetic face. "I'm sorry, miss," he says.
"I deserve it," I say. "I'll have another."
"Coming right up."
He reappears a moment later and he leans confidentially on the counter. "Listen, the best advice I've got is sleep on it. And think about telling him. Really, it might surprise you. I'm sorry, but I've got to go. Some customers at the other end of the bar are requesting drinks."
I smile. "Thanks for your help."
I sit back, enjoying the numbing effect of the alcohol. Actually, I'm starting to feel rather good about the whole thing. I feel a bit better.
I dart a glance at the man next to me, who smiles at me. "I couldn't help but overhear your story," he says apologetically.
"It's okay." I wave my glass around in gesticulation.
"Sounds like a hard day," he says.
"It was," I agree.
"I'm Ray," he says, extending a hand.
"Hello, Ray," I echo, giving a flirtatious smile.
"So, what do you do, Miss …?" he trails off expectantly.
"Lily Potter," I say.
"Ah, I guessed as much," he says.
"Really?" I quirk a brow. "Was it my red hair that gave me away?"
"Yes." He laughs. "You look quite as beautiful as your mother."
I rest my chin on my hand, leaning forward. "By the way," I add. "I'm a hospital administrator at St. Mungo's."
"A stressful job?" he asks.
"Yes, it really is. What do you do?"
"I'm a Curse Breaker," he says. "It's also a high-pressure profession."
"Let's not talk about work," I suggest.
"Okay, Lily Potter, what else would you like to discuss?" he says suggestively, putting an hand on my arm.
I'm about to reply when I hear Will's voice. "Remove yourself at once from Lily."
I look at Will in surprise. "What are you doing here?" I say in my inebriated state.
"Yeah, who the hell do you think you are?" sneers Ray. "I was having a lovely time with this lady."
"I am her best mate," says Will in a steely tone. "And I don't know who the bloody fuck you are, taking advantage of a woman who's obviously drunk and out of her senses."
"I am not!" I exclaim.
"Shut up, Lily," mutters Will, pulling me up off the chair. As I stand I begin to wobble so Will places his arm around me to steady me. He takes my clutch in his other hand and leads me away with an angry glare at Ray.
"Why are you here?" I demand. "I'm perfectly fine on my own." As I say this, I crash into the door.
"No, you're not," Will says, worry in his voice. "I'm taking you home."
I frown. "Is Maggie there?"
"Maggie?" Will looks at me sharply. "No, of course she's not!"
"I don't like her," I say as we walk. Will has his arm protectively around me, and I lean into him for support.
"I know," he says.
"I didn't like you snogging her either," I add indignantly with an outraged look in his direction.
"I know," he says, his eyes intent on mine.
"I was jealous, you know," I explain animatedly.
"You were?" he asks, a surprised note in his tone.
"Yes," I say, as if stating the obvious.
"I didn't know that," Will comments, looking down at me.
"You should!" I reproach, nudging him hard.
"Okay, Lils," he says, laughing slightly. "I will from now on."
"Good."
"We're home," Will announces, leading me up the stairs to the door to our flat.
I start to fumble for keys in my clutch, and I look up with a frown. "I can't find my keys."
He smiles affectionately. "It's okay," he says, indicating his. "I have mine right here."
He lets us in and leads me to the couch. He sits and he pulls me down so I'm lying against him, my head in the crook of his arm.
"Lily," he says, and I can feel his deep voice rumbling in his chest. "Don't leave like that again, okay? You made me really bloody worried."
"Okay," I promise. "I won't."
"Why were you chatting up that guy? In the bar," Will says, glancing down at me.
"Because I'm lonely and he was interested in me," I say brashly.
"Do you fancy him?" he asks, a strange expression on his face.
"No," I say bluntly and then I yawn.
Will takes my wrist and glances at my watch. "Wow, it's late," he says. "Okay, love, time for bed. I'll take you to your room."
"No!" I say as he stands up, pulling me up with him. I immediately lean against him. "I don't want to sleep alone. I want to sleep with you."
Will's eyes darken. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," I say, taking his hand in mine. "I don't want to be alone."
Once we enter his room, I sit down on his bed.
"I hate your duvet," I say, wrinkling my nose. "It's hideous."
"Aren't you brutally honest tonight," Will laughs, raising a brow.
"I'll buy you a new one. But not now."
"Not now," agrees Will.
I take off my shoes, commenting, "I hate those shoes. They're so uncomfortable."
"Then why do you wear them?" asks Will in amusement.
"Because they make me feel pretty. And when I wear them I'm taller, so I look more authorized," I say plaintively.
"You mean authoritative?" asks Will, laughing.
"No, authorized," I say.
"Yes, love," he says. "Whatever you say."
"Help me," I demand, trying to undo the zip. He comes over and unzips my dress.
I pull it down and kick it off on the floor, not caring that it'll be wrinkled and unwearable come morning. Will's eyes widen as he sees me. "Lily! You're not dressed."
"I know," I say obviously, as though speaking to a small child. "It's time for bed."
"But – but you can't wear that to sleep … with me.. it's not appropriate!" Will sputters.
"Yes it is. I want you to see me like this," I say firmly.
"Lil, you're not thinking clearly. Here, put this on," he says, tossing me a shirt.
"Why?" I pout.
"Because, Lily, you'll regret this in the morning. Just do it," he pleads, a tortured expression crossing his face.
"No!"
"Then do it for me. For my sanity."
"Okay, I'll do it for you," I concede, smiling at him. I pull on the shirt that barely skims my thighs and climb into his bed.
Will gets in next to me in his pajama pants. I snuggle into his chest and sigh happily.
Will turns out the light and we lay there quietly for a few moments.
"Will," I whisper. "I love you."
"Me too, Lily," he replies groggily.
"No, not like that."
"What do you mean?" Will asks, sounding more alert.
"That's the real reason I was mad tonight," I say softly.
"What is?"
"I love you," I say.
"No I know that. What's the reason?" he demands.
"That is. I'm in love with you," I clarify.
"You are?" he asks incredulously, looking at me.
"Mhm," I respond, burrowing further into his chest. "Okay, goodnight."
"Goodnight, love. We'll talk about it in the morning."
A/N : She finally reveals! We'll see what happens in the morning, eh? Give me your thoughts on how it happened. Please review!
Xx Martha
