True to her word, Katie said nothing about walking in on Wood and I throughout the next week. Wood appeared to be avoiding me and acting like absolutely nothing happened, and I was following suit. We never sat near each other at meals or anything, he only ever barked instructions in my direction at training and was basically avoiding being left in a room alone or anything. Katie kept throwing me sympathetic looks every time Wood would start flirting with another girl. It was starting to get annoying. I was hardly upset by his flirting – he'd always been like that. Just because we'd snogged multiple times did not give me some claim to him.
Besides, he never actually said he fancied me or anything, so I was trying to forget my revelation about my feelings. I wasn't going to become a lost love sick puppy or something and get all moody, just because the guy I fancied wasn't paying me enough attention – besides I wasn't even one hundred per cent sure I actually did fancy him. I could just be lusting after him or something – that would make a load more sense.
The problem is, though, that whenever I see Wood, I have to use all my self-restraint not to jump at him and snog him senseless. This is a problem, especially in class when I glance in his direction and he's be staring off into space, looking especially tempting. I don't know how long I'm going to last.
'Ava!' a voice whispers loudly from beside me, bringing me out of my reverie, 'You're staring at Wood again.'
I whip my head around to face Katie, and glare at her. It's Thursday, and we are in transfiguration, listening to McGonagall lecture us about something or rather that I haven't heard a word of.
'I was not,' I tell her defiantly. She smiles mildly at me.
'I'm sure. Because you totally did not have a dreamy expression on your face as you were licking your lips,' she says, raising her eyebrows at me. I let my head flop onto the desk, groaning. This really needs to stop.
'After class, just go pull him into a broom closet and have your way with him. I'm sure he won't object.'
'Because that wouldn't be weird at all,' I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
'Well, can you please do something? You're starting to get on my nerves. You're all twitchy lately. If you're not going to snog Wood, find someone else to snog to get your mind off him,' say Katie, matter-of-factly. If only it was that easy.
'Somehow, I don't think that's going to work. Besides, what am I supposed to do? Go up to a guy and say "Hi, I need someone to snog. Want to help me out?"' Katie rolls her eyes at my less than co-operative answer.
'Ava, surely there's someone you can find to snog. There are plenty of guys in this school.'
'Fine! I'll have found someone by the end of the day,' I grumble unenthusiastically.
After transfiguration, Katie and I head to the common room. The entire way there, she points out potential victims of my snog attack.
'That guy's pretty hot. No, wait, he's hotter. No, what about him? Oh he's Angelina's ex, you can't do that. Um, what about him?' she carries on, finally stopping when we notice a particularly good looking boy walking in our direction, 'No him!' Katie squeals, pulling me towards him.
'Oh, hi Jacob!' she exclaims, when we realise who the "hot guy" is. I grin at him, suddenly appreciating his good looks and lack of morals. I think I could do with a good snog from someone who is not Wood.
'Hey Katie,' he says smiling at her, 'Ava,' he adds, winking at me.
'Hey Jacob,' I say. Katie looks between us smugly.
'Well, I have to go to the bathroom. Jacob, could you make sure that Ava gets to lunch safely?'
'Anything for Ava,' he says with another wink.
Katie leans in towards me for a moment and says under her breath, 'He's recently broken up with his girlfriend.' She gives us a little wave before heading off in the other direction.
'So how have you been?' I ask, 'Ready for the match on Saturday?'
'As ready as I'll ever be,' he says, sighing, 'I'm kind of nervous, actually.'
'Anything I can do?' I ask, raising an eyebrow at him in a somewhat suggestive manner. He smirks in response.
'I can think of a few things, actually. Want to help me out?' he asked, jerking his head in the direction of a broom closet. I smile at him and grab his hand.
'Sure – anything to help the team,' I say, pulling him into the broom closet.
Although this behaviour is completely out of character for me, it's somewhat liberating to take control of a situation like this. Besides, it'll help me in the long run – if I can take my mind off Wood, I'll be a very happy girl.
I push Jacob up against the wall, and immediately start kissing him. He responds straight away. I can't help imagining it's Wood and am slightly annoyed by this, so I kiss him harder. I try to lose myself in the kiss, and even let Jacob's hands roam around beneath my shirt. I'm slowly starting to forget about Wood and recognise how great a kisser is, when the door bangs open. I groan as I pull away from Jacob, and turn to see a particularly horror-struck Wood standing in the doorway. Just my luck.
He stares at us blankly for a second, before turning on his heel and slamming the door behind him. I stare at the closed door before sighing.
'I'd better go,' I mumble to Jacob, who's looking annoyed. He rolls his eyes but doesn't say anything, 'See you.'
I adjust my clothing and hair so I look presentable, then dash back towards the common room, which with any luck is where Wood will be.
After saying a hurried password to the Fat Lady, I enter the common room and scan it for Wood. However, he's no where in sight. Katie, though, is sitting by the fire, finishing some homework. She looks up as I approach, and looks questioningly at me.
'What happened?' she asks as I plop down in the seat opposite her.
'Wood happened,' I grumble.
'What?
'I was just starting to forget about him, when the devil himself opens the door and spots us, before storming off. A bit of a mood killer,' I tell her, sinking down into the chair. Katie looks at me sympathetically.
'I'll say. But it did help you take your mind of him for a bit?
'I suppose so,' I say, shrugging, 'We'll just have to see how well it works next time I see him. I was too shocked to react when he opened the door.'
'Well, you don't have to wait long,' says Katie, looking over my shoulder. There is Wood, strolling in our direction. I don't think he's seen me, otherwise he wouldn't be heading over here.
'Hey Katie,' he says, before spotting me. He gives me a disgusted look but doesn't say anything.
'Hey Oliver. How are you?'
'Fantastic,' he says through gritted teeth, glaring down at me. Whoa, no need to get so mad!
'What?' I snap at him, finally glaring back. He gives me a scathing look, but says nothing and turns to Katie.
'Do you know what I just found the seeker here doing?' he asks Katie, projecting particular venom into "the seeker." Apparently I no longer deserve a name. Katie looks politely curious.
'No?'
'She was snogging the substitute chaser,' he growls. Katie looks politely shocked.
'Ava!' she exclaims, 'Nice work!'
'Nice work!' repeats Wood, bewildered, 'She was snogging him. Did I not make that clear?'
'Yes, you made that very clear. What's so wrong with her snogging someone?' asks Katie, peering up at Wood. He opens and closes his mouth several times, apparently unsure of how to respond. Katie waits a moment before continuing, 'I mean, it's not as though she's going out with anyone. Nobody has a claim on her or anything. She's perfectly entitled to snog anyone she pleases.'
She looks up at Wood, waiting for him to answer. I sit there watching the exchange, bemused, with a faint idea of where Katie is headed with it.
'But, but, you can't snog a substitute player!' Wood splutters, stupidly if I do say so myself. Katie rolls her eyes.
'Rubbish Oliver. You just made that rule up then. Do you have any reason that Ava should not be snogging Jacob?'
'He has a girlfriend!'
'He actually broke up with her a week ago. So that hardly counts as an excuse,' says Katie evenly, 'As far as I can tell there's no reason at all why she can't snog anyone she likes. For example, if she wanted to snog you, she'd be quite welcome to.'
Wood's facial expressions changed wildly for a moment before becoming blank. It was quite amusing for me to be watching this entire exchange as though I wasn't there.
'She's got plenty of other people to snog,' he snaps. Katie raises her eyebrows.
'Is that a bit of jealousy I hear in your voice?' she asks, grinning slightly.
'No!' he exclaims, 'Why would I be jealous of her snogging anyone else?'
'Wood, just admit it. You're jealous,' says Katie exasperatedly.
'I'm not! She's allowed to kiss whoever she wants and I won't be jealous!' he says, looking completely out of his depth. I smirk at his humiliation, 'How come she isn't getting questioned? She's the one that was snogging someone for no reason!'
'How do you know it was for no reason?' asks Katie. I decide it's finally time for me to interject.
'Yeah, maybe I fancy him,' I say, looking up at Wood. He growls.
'You wouldn't fancy him,' he spits.
'Who's to say I wouldn't?'
'Well, because, I – argh!'
'Wood, that made no sense,' I say, enjoying seeing him flustered.
'But you've been ignoring me all week! I thought, well-'
'Actually Wood, you've been ignoring me!'
'No, you've been ignoring me!'
'No, I quite clearly remember trying to come talk to you, only to have you walk away!'
'Maybe I didn't see you!'
'Guys!' exclaims Katie, interrupting our pathetic little argument, 'Maybe you just keep missing each other! Maybe neither of you is ignoring the other!'
'Ava's ignoring me, because she's embarrassed that she let slip that she fancies me!' says Wood, looking smug. I glare at him.
'I said I might fancy you Wood, and I definitely don't fancy you now,' I snap.
'Good! Well I don't fancy you either!'
'Good!'
'Fine!'
'Fine!' I snap for the last time, before storming up stairs to my dormitory.
I pace the room for a while, silently fuming and occasionally kicking something. Bloody Wood! He makes me so mad! I definitely don't fancy him! I don't even like him one tiny little bit!
'Ava!' comes Katie's voice as the door opens, 'Are you alright?'
'Fantastic,' I snap, before immediately feeling bad. Katie was only trying to help, 'Sorry,' I add guiltily.
'It's alright. I'm sorry for starting all that,' she says, looking down.
'Katie! It's not your fault Wood's such a prat!' I say indignantly, give my trunk a good kick as I say his name, 'No one can help that! He starts those things himself.'
'I suppose. But I was so sure he was finally going to admit he was jealous and that he fancies you!'
'Apparently not,' I grumble, 'He doesn't fancy me at all.'
'Ava, I highly doubt that. He was probably just feeling a bit defensive and not very happy about just having seen you snogging another guy. He most definitely does fancy you.'
'I'm sure,' I say, not believing her. How many times have people said he does fancy me, when he clearly doesn't?
'You didn't see him after you stormed up here – he was muttering to himself, banging his head on the wall and practically going insane.'
'Whatever. I'm sick of boys,' I say, indicating that the conversation is over. Katie sighs resignedly.
'Fine. But remember, when he finally does ask you out, I knew all along!'
