Lazy Days
L'amoureuse
Summary: A series of L/J centered one-shot/drabbles, each of which will be based upon a quote. There will be fifty total. A response to my own challenge, 50 Phrases.
Rated: T, to be safe.
Word Count: 960, woo!
Disclaimer: No, I am not JKR. If I was, I think that getting five reviews would not take this long.
Author's Note: Eh, I'm writing more than one chapter at a time- so I don't have much to say as of now, except that you guys still suck at reviewing and it makes me sad.
6- 'I never thought I'd say this. But- I need you in my life.'
Chapter 10- Bruised
She was so hard to crack.
When he finally did, just as she had predicted all those years ago, he lost all interest.
Six years, three months, and two days of hard work, and he had the yes he had been working for. Their first date went fine; the second too. But when she opened her mouth and her heart, he couldn't bring himself to care. He pretended until the fifth date, when he screwed her in his bed, his roommates- her friends- listening, despite trying not to.
Yeah, he was a jerk- and yeah, he didn't really care.
She left his dorm room clutching her clothes and a broken heart, leaving her scarf and a piece of her behind.
He saw her in the months after, laughing and smiling. She had gotten over him- he wallowed.
Three months went by and still she haunted him. His heart felt like it had left with her that night, all those months ago, after all the nasty things he had said.
His friends- or rather, his roommates- shunned him and protected her.
What a twisted, strange world.
A month later, he got a punch to the gut, literally and metaphorically. He got a warning he wouldn't be forgetting anytime soon either.
'Look- I'm dating her now, and we are really happy. If you do anything to jeopardize that- if you even look at her, I'll lock you up with our special friend and make sure you can't defend yourself. That's a promise.'
His palms didn't stop sweating for an hour.
He missed her, and it was like a persistent aching that kept him a step behind, stumbling and gasping. He was never one for metaphors or romance, but this was different.
He heard she missed him too, that she wasn't happy or eating and that his so-called best friend wasn't taking care of her.
And three more weeks passed in this way, painful and slow and at every moment he felt lost, adrift in a sea of hormones and teenagers and sex and love and studies.
Finally, he heard the news he had been waiting for. They were done, and he was free to do what he liked.
After that, there was a long process of repairing friendships he once thought weren't destroyable. But cracks had appeared, just like his father had warned, and what once had seemed perfect and shimmering was now tarnished and dirtied by bad blood and hard feelings. But perfect and shimmering never lasts, whereas tarnished and dirty is wearable and durable and reliable. After weeks of promises and tests and midnight meetings, he was forgiven. He was in again. He was himself again.
Another few weeks convinced his friends that he and the weather had both changed for the better. The entire time he was regaining their trust, he watched her, prepared himself. He knew she most likely wouldn't forgive him and he was bracing himself for rejection- but he had to do this. He knew that much for sure.
First things first.
'I'm sorry- I want- well, I guess I want your okay. I want your acceptance and validation and I want for you to know I won't break her heart ever again. It's for real this time- I swear.'
A nod, a clap on the back, and a smile was all he really needed. He wasn't one for words and speeches anyway.
Now came the hard part. He decided to corner her after her favorite class- try for redemption when she was in a good mood. He chuckled at what his life had become.
He touched her on the arm and disgust-horror-love-happiness-anger-indifference flashed over her face. But the love had been there and that was all he really need, to be honest. Just that feeling of being loved- nothing more. He never considered himself a romantic or a particularly sappy person, but the feeling of being around her was like nothing else he knew of.
'What do you want?' No inflection- monotone. A spear to the heart.
'Get out of here.'
'Look- I'm not verbose- or honest or romantic or anything you'd want-'
'Why? Did I do something?'
'But I- well- I love you and gods-'
'Look- just get out, okay. You've been very helpful and all, but I'm done with you and I don't need you anymore.'
'-I need you in my life. Never though I'd say that, but yeah- its true. And gods- to have you suffer-' his voice cracked and he broke off-
Eyes brimming with tears.
He was not weak. He finished brusquely- 'Yeah.'
Her eyes softened-
An ugly smirk.
-and then hardened again-
'God- what part of 'get out' do you not understand? Stupid bint.'
-she opened her mouth and-
X
Woooo cliffhanger! Again, a new style. I think that's why I love this challenge so much- in oneshots, I get to explore new styles, etc. anyway, please give me feedback, this is one of the chapters I'm not so sure about.
NEXT THREE CHAPTERS WRITTEN! FIVE REVIEWS FOR NEXT CHAPTER! I decided I wanted them :D.
Lovelovelovelovelove, L'amoureuse