Falling
Chapter 9: Fight Or Flight
James' POV
James stormed out of the common room, overcome with rage. How could she do that to me? I thought she was my friend! I thought she felt something too! But instead she throws herself on Harper right in front of me! Well, fine. I don't need a girl like her in my life. Fuck Arriety!
James marched blindly the castle, taking his anger out on every stone sculpture and suit of armour he came across. But after stomping around furiously for at least fifteen minutes, he came to a sudden halt. What am I doing, he thought angrily. She didn't do anything wrong, and I let my goddamn emotions take over!
James backed into the wall and let himself sink to the floor, dropping his head into his hands in exasperation. I've probably just lost the best friend I've ever had, all because I couldn't contain my jealousy... "Maybe Harper is right for her... All I've done is cause her pain."
"If it's that blonde bitch May your pining over, I'd say you really dodged a bullet on that one."
James looked up to see Fox Zambini leaning against the opposite wall, watching him.
"Fuck off, Zambini." James said with a sigh, standing up and glaring at him. "I'm not in the mood to send you to the hospital wing again."
Fox just chuckled and stepped away from the wall, advancing towards James slowly. "Hey, I'm on your side." Fox placed a hand on James' shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look. "I know what it's like to be shot down by a chick. But if I'm right, and it was that slut Arriety, you've really done yourself a favour."
James placed a hand on Fox's chest and pushed him away forcefully. "Not another word, Zambini. I might be in a shitty mood, but even if I were in a coma I could still kick your ass."
Fox took a step back, hands up in surrender. "Woah, chill out Potter. I didn't realise she had you wrapped around her finger as well." Fox smiled snidely. "It really is a shame, though. Longbottom seems like an alright guy. She really drags him down."
James snapped, and within milliseconds he had Zambini by the collar, pinned up against the wall. "I told you already; shut the fuck up. Don't make me shut your mouth for you."
James let go of Zambini and turned to walk away, but before he could take more than two steps, he heard Zambini's voice from behind him. "Don't worry Potter. I'm sure she's loose enough for you and Longbottom to share."
That was the last straw. James spun around, fist clenched, but just before the moment of impact, James felt his entire body go stiff. His fist hovered comically just centimetres in front of Fox's face, but he was completely paralysed.
"Tisk tisk," Zambini said, shaking his head and circling James slowly. "That's won't do will it, Potter." Fox smiled cruelly and James saw his hands clench into fists. "I guess I'll just have to teach you a lesson myself." James steeled himself for the blow, and let out a silent cry of pain as Fox's punch collided with his skull. James fell to the ground, and as his vision starting to blur, he heard a far away voice. "Get away from him you piece of shit!"
James' vision grew darker, and just as he was about to black out, he felt the petrifaction spell fade as someone cradled him in their lap. Arriety... I'm sorry...
Arriety's POV
Arriety knelt down and lifted James' muscular torso onto her lap and cradled his head in her arms. "James! James, wake up!" Arriety yelled, her voice rising in panic at James' lack of response.
He's not waking up! Arriety knew she had to get him to the hospital wing, but James was so much taller than her, and so muscular, there was no way she would be able to carry him. It was hard enough getting him onto my lap, let alone all the way to the infirmary!
Quickly, Arriety rested James' body back on the ground and pulled out her wand. "Locomotor James." As she waved her wand, James' body rose gracefully into the air, and Arriety breathed a sigh of relief before turning to head to the hospital wing. But just as she was about to leave, she remembered something.
"Oh, yeah." Arriety said, turning back towards Fox's petrified body. She walked up to him and looked straight into his eyes. "Bother my friends or myself again, and you're going to wish you hadn't been born." And with that, Arriety clenched her fist and punched him in the face, satisfied with the crunching sound his nose made at the moment of impact.
Arriety levitated James to the hospital wing as fast as she could, her fear rising with every minute he remained unconscious. As she burst through the doors to the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey came bustling out of her office, muttering angrily. "No knock, just barge right in... I mean really, does no one realise the hour?! And it would be far too inconvenient to wait until morning! Just wake me up, don't worry about me–," but she broke off and gasped when she saw James hovering five foot in the air. "Oh, my heavens!"
"Please," Arriety begged as tears began to roll slowly down her cheeks, "help him!"
Madam Pomfrey ushered her to a room and direct James' body onto the hospital bed before releasing the spell. Madam Pomfrey motioned to the chair in the corner, but Arriety was too tense to sit. "He got knocked out and he hasn't woken up yet." Arriety never let her eye leave James for a second. Please... Don't leave me... "Will he be ok?!"
"He will be fine, dear." Madam Pomfrey smiled kindly before producing a small vial of fluorescent green liquid. "Once administered with this he will make a full recovery." Madam Pomfrey poured the potion into James' mouth and the turned to Arriety, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "He will awaken in a short while, so you stay with him, if you please." She patted Arriety's arm before drawing the curtains around Arriety and James. Arriety saw her silhouette disappear into her office, and turned back to survey the room.
She walked to the corner and pulled the chair over to the side of James' bed. As she watched him sleep, she studied the freckles on his face, the colour of his lips, the small scar he had on his cheek. Sighing, she brushed his messy black hair out of his eyes, but just as she was withdrawing her hand, his eyes fluttered open.
"James!"
James' POV
James was surrounded by darkness, but although he couldn't see anything, he could hear a voice. Arriety's voice. Ari...Arriety...
He tried to fight his way out of the blackness, but the more he tried to force himself awake, the drowsier he seemed to become. But then, he felt someone softly brush his hair aside. I know that touch! This soft gesture seemed to snap him out of his stupor, and slowly, he felt his eyes flicker open.
"James!" Arriety exclaimed, before throwing herself on top of him, clearly completely overcome with relief as she hugged him.
James gasped at her forceful embrace, and she quickly released him. "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you were hurt!"
James smiled weakly and gently wiped a tear from her cheek. "No, it's ok. It actually felt pretty good."
Arriety sank back into her chair and watched him, concern written all over her face. "How are you feeling?"
"Well, I'm not going to lie." James gave her a weak grin and grimaced in pain as he turned his head to get a better look at her. "I've been better."
Arriety gave a short laugh. "Yeah, I should say so!" But as she watched him her expression became serious once more. "What the hell were you doing, getting into it with Fox?! Who knows what might have happened if I hadn't have shown up!"
James looked at her sighed, unable to continue without addressing the elephant in the room. "Arriety... I am so so sorry about all that shit I said. I can understand if you never want to talk to me again."
Arriety just looked at him without speaking, her silence an indication for him to continue.
"I only said that stuff because... " James looked away, but even though he was embarrassed, he knew he had to be honest. "Because I was jealous."
Arriety raised her eyebrows in surprise but still remained silent.
"I just felt like, now that you and Harper are an item, I might be losing you." James admitted, ignoring the part of his brain screaming the real reason he reacted so badly. "And then, seeing you two together like that... It was just kind of the last straw."
James closed his eyes and dropped his head back onto his pillow, ashamed of himself. But even after everything he had said, he felt Arriety's soft hand nestle into his.
"James," she said gently, "you are the best friend I have ever had. Sure, Harper and I are together now, but not Harper, not anyone, could ever take your place." Arriety looked at him as he lifted his head up, and although he smiled, something about what she had said made him feel extremely sad.
"So seriously, why were you and Fox about to throw down?" She asked, her soft, loving expression replaced by a look of loathing.
James didn't know whether to lie and spare her feelings, but again he decided to be truthful. "He was badmouthing you." He said simply. "And I couldn't control my temper."
Arriety looked shocked as she tried to process what he had said. "So... you tried to take on Fox because he was bitching about me?"
"Yeah." James said, shrugging like it was no big deal. "He was crapping on about how you were so slutty that Harper was too good for you and stuff like that," James said, convienently leaving out the part where James' true feelings come to light, "so I threatened him. But when I turned my back he petrified me and then I guess he knocked me out."
Arriety looked to angry to speak. She kept opening her mouth, and then shutting it before any words could escape. James laughed and pinched her cheek. "You look like a gold fish."
Arriety swatted his hand away and looked at him sincerely. "Thank you James." She smiled and poked him in the stomach. "I think you're an idiot for getting yourself into such a mess, but thank you."
James smiled at her, and then frowned as something occurred to him. "Hey, what happened to Fox after I got knocked out?"
Arriety smiled and batted her eyelashes innocently. "I may have petrified... and broken his nose."
"You didn't!" James gawked.
"He'll be fine." Arriety said with a shrug. "I'm sure someone will find him in the morning."
James laughed as Arriety let out a huge yawn. "What time is it anyway?"
"It's about 2:00am, I think." She replied tiredly, crossing her arms on his bed and resting her head on her arms so she was facing him. "Can you just do me a favour next time?"
"What's that?" James asked, looking into her beautiful blue-green eyes.
"If you ever get into a fight again, can you do it between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm?"
James chuckled as he watched her slowly drift off to sleep. "I'll try to be more considerate next time I'm defending your honour."
Arriety didn't reply, as she had already fallen asleep, so James watched her sleep for a while. Unable to control himself, he reached out and stroked her long blonde hair, letting the silky strands slip between his fingers. He felt himself grow drowsy as he continued to caress her hair. Why did I have to figure out my feelings after you gave your heart to someone else?
Hey guys! So, I know this chapter wasn't as action-packed and excitement-filled as the last one, but don't fret! The next chapter will blow you away or your money back! ;)
So please please please please please please please review! Or no money back! :P
Thanks everybody! See you soon! 3
