Title: Scattered

Author: R. F. Lupin

Warnings: foul language

Disclaimer: Just borrowing, but I'm not sure if JKR will want the Weasley boys back once I'm done with them.

A/N: Let's blame my lack of updates on my writer's block, the semester change, and the fact that I now have pre-calc, German 5, and AP US at the same time. Dang it.

For other information, please see previous chapters.

Chapter 11

Bill wasn't sure how he found his way back to his apartment. All he knew was that when he got there, he was still wet from the rain and angry about what he'd just discovered.

He pushed open the door, which Pippa never locked, and plodded inside. All the lights were on, and there was something soft and Baroque emanating from the radio, which led Bill to believe that Pippa was finally home. He didn't call out for her, knowing that she'd coming running to him anyway.

"Bill!"

Pippa came waltzing down the hallway, and even though he was still soaking, Bill felt her throw her arms around him. He could hear her babbling on about something that had happened at work that day, but it didn't matter to him now. All he could think about was what she had kept from him, how she had lied to him all this time.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Bill finally said, interrupting her rant.

"What?" she asked, her eyes still shining. She was in a good mood for once, and it hurt Bill to know that he was about to ruin it for her.

"About Mr. X," he said evenly, and watched her happy expression melt away into anger.

"You knew about him," she said testily. "You know he's, like, my stalker. I didn't hide that from you."

"No, but you hid the part about the money," Bill said, and Pippa backed away. She looked everywhere but at Bill as he continued, "You hid that from me, and I want to know why."

"Because you're not ready to know," Pippa spat.

"How am I not ready to know?" Bill demanded. "You told me just yesterday you'd tell me anything . . . Or was that another lie, too? Should I just stop believing everything you tell me? Is that what you want?"

"I didn't lie!" Pippa shouted angrily, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Really?" Bill said evenly. "I think you did."

"I didn't!" she insisted, quieter this time, and she paused to wipe away a few errant tears before she continued, "I just didn't think you'd want to know . . . I didn't want you to get upset or worried."

"For God's sake, Pippa!" Bill yelled, and he took a step forward as she backed away even more. "I'm dating you; of course I want to know! How else am I supposed to help you?"

Pippa's eyes flashed, and she spat,

"What help could you give me? It's not like you have money."

The words were out before she could stop herself, and the room went quiet for a full minute, save for the violin trilling softly out of the radio.

Bill spoke first.

"So that's what this is about? Money?"

"No," Pippa argued. "But it's true. You don't have money, and therefore, you can't help me."

"What do you mean I can't help you?" Bill said. "Of course I could help. It's not just the money, Pippa, I could do other things-"

"Like what?" Pippa cut in. "Offer me more money that I'm expected to pay back like he did? Pat me on the back and tell me it's okay when the world's ending like he would? Take advantage of me when I'm utterly depressed like everyone I know? No, Bill Weasley, I've gone down that road before, and I know exactly where it ends. I'm through accepting help from people. I can take care of myself."

"I'm not like that, Pippa, and you know it!" Bill insisted heatedly, feeling that he was quite above Mr. X when it came to charity. "I wouldn't do that!"

"Really?" Pippa said coolly. "How do I know?"

Bill thought for a moment, and then replied just as icily,

"Because honestly, if that was all I wanted from you, I'd have been gone months ago."

Pippa's mouth flew open, and she smacked Bill across the face.

"You jackass!" she screeched, winding up to hit him again.

"I'm not the one keeping secrets," Bill countered, and she stopped in mid-strike. "I just told you the truth, which is something you've never been able to do."

"Do you want the truth?" she asked, so calmly and slowly that Bill knew she was getting ready to drop the third atomic bomb.

"Yeah," he said evenly. "I want the truth."

"The truth is that I never meant to like you, Bill Weasley!" Pippa yelled. "I only asked for a roommate because I needed muscle around when Mr. X came! That's all you were ever supposed to be, a bodyguard! I never meant to fall in love with you or even get to know you! And you know what else?"

"What?" Bill sneered. Her words cut him deeper than he thought they would, and now, he didn't care what she said or did. It couldn't hurt him any worse.

"I don't think I love you anymore!" Pippa yelled. "You're so demanding and nosy, I can't stand it! I don't have to tell you everything, you know! It isn't your goddamn business what I do with my life!"

"You're right, Pippa," Bill said, his voice low with anger. As she got louder and more furious, he was getting progressively quieter and indignant. "How dare I care about you? How dare I offer to help you? My God, how do I even sleep at night knowing I've done something as horrible as fall in love with someone as perfect and self-reliant as yourself?"

Pippa didn't reply immediately, and turned away in a huff. She stormed to the stairs, and stomped up every one of them. Bill followed, quite sure that she had something more to say to him.

When she reached the door, Pippa turned around and yelled,

"You can forget sleeping next to me tonight. God knows I might wake up pregnant if I let you."

"I wouldn't think of touching you," Bill said evenly. Pippa sneered, obviously affronted, and ran into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

After she was safely locked behind the glass door, Bill sank onto the couch, his head in his hands. That hadn't gone how he'd wanted it to at all. Now he had to start at square one again, and this time, he didn't think that they'd be able to put this past them. Pippa wouldn't come crawling back to him, he knew that much, and he was too hurt by everything she had said to be the one to apologize first.

For all he knew, it was over.