Chapter 11: The Date

"So where would you like to go first?" Jason asked when they reached the village.

"Umm…We could go to Honedukes before the crowd sets in," Kaylee suggested. Honeydukes always got packed with students towards lunchtime. Since it was still early, the shop was nearly empty.

"Okay, just do me a favor and keep an eye on me. I always spend way too much in there. I have a wicked sweet tooth," Jason said, grinning at her.

Kaylee had trouble believing that. Jason was tall and built like an athlete, his figure trim and muscular. Nevertheless, she promised she would try and keep him from spending too much as she led them into the shop.

Keeping Jason from buying too many sweets actually proved to be quite challenging. Every shelf contained something that he loved.

"Oooh Fizzing Whizbees!" Jason said picking up an orange package.

"You've already got Burtie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Sugar Quills, Pepper Imps, and some Chocolate Frogs." Kaylee reminded him, grinning.

"Er, right. Thanks," Jason said. "I told you I had a wicked sweet tooth. Thanks for controlling me."

"No problem. You know, you don't look like someone who eats a lot of sugar." Kaylee said laughing as he struggled to carry all his purchases to the counter.

"I'll let you in on a secret," Jason said bending down to whisper in her ear. "I get up early and run laps around the lake every morning to keep it off."

"Every morning?" Kaylee asked astonished.

"Well alright not every morning, but most."

"Well that explains why you can run so fast," Kaylee said remembering the time Roger had challenged him to a race on the grounds. Jason had flattened Roger without even breaking a sweat.

They left Honeydukes a few minutes later, Jason clutching his bag of sweets.

"Where to now?" he asked, munching on a chocolate frog.

"Zonko's if you don't mind. That's where I spend most of my money," Kaylee said grinning. She had to remember to pick up some dungbombs for Fred and George. They had run out the week before last.

They entered the shop and found it filled with Hogwarts students. In the corner, she spotted Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas eyeing a display of Screaming Yo-Yos and Biting Teacups.

Kaylee bought the twins' dungbombs, and a new Fanged Frisbee for herself. Filtch had confiscated her last one. She also stopped and bought a bag of Mystery Mustaches (candies that gave you a different mustache for each one you ate) for George. Thinking about George put her stomach into knots. She felt like he was really angry with her for going on a date, but she didn't know why. It wasn't like he had asked her to go to Hogsmeade.

Doing her best to put George out of her mind, Kaylee left the joke shop with Jason and began walking down the path.

"Want to get some lunch at the Three Broomsticks?" Jason asked.

It was nearly lunchtime, and as she had skipped breakfast, Kaylee was very hungry. They entered the pub, and found a table in the corner that was empty. The pub was filled with all sorts of people. Some were Hogwarts students, others were just wizards that were visiting the area. Kaylee was pretty sure she saw a hag sitting near the bar.

They ordered a couple sandwiches, and two pints of butterbeer. Jason and Kaylee chatted happily while they ate, occasionally waving to friends of theirs that entered the pub. Heather and Danny entered at one point and came over to say hello, but didn't stay long. Heather gave Kaylee a look that pointedly said "You are going to tell me everything later."

They left the pub sometime later and began meandering down the street. Jason's hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand. Kaylee looked at him in surprise. Jason's cheeks reddened, but he grinned at her. She left his hand in hers. It didn't bother her, not really. But it didn't exactly thrill her either.

"You know, I've wanted to ask you out for a while now," Jason told her.

"Really? I had no idea," Kaylee replied.

"The only reason I didn't was because I thought you were involved with one of the Weasley twins," he admitted.

"Oh," she said. She couldn't think of anything else to say. She couldn't exactly tell him that she had been hoping for nothing else for years. Probably not good first date conversation.

"I've always thought you were pretty, but when I saw you this year….wow," Jason continued. He stopped beside the Hogs Head, and pulled her into the alley.

"You really filled out over the summer," Jason said in a low voice.

"Er, thanks. I don't think I improved that much, though," Kaylee said awkwardly.

"Are you kidding? You're absolutely gorgeous," Jason said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I've always wanted to do this…" he said leaning towards her.

Oh god. Here it came. Her first kiss. Kaylee tried to keep her breathing even while she quickly remembered everything Heather had told her about kissing. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips. She felt his lips meet hers a second later.

The kiss was nice, it was slow and gentle. Thankfully, Jason didn't try to stick his tongue down her throat or anything. She let Jason lead, following his movements with her lips. Is this it? I thought I was supposed to feel some kind of electricity or heat? Where's the spark? I wonder if it would be different if George were kissing me instead of Jason.

Kaylee froze. She shouldn't be thinking of George while she stood here kissing Jason. That was wrong. Yet, she couldn't get him out of her head, now she had thought of him. She thought about what George would say if he knew she had kissed Jason. He'd probably threaten to write to my mother.

With a sigh, Kaylee pulled away.

"Are you okay?" Jason asked, wondering why Kaylee had froze and pulled away.

"Yeah, well not really," she said, taking a step back. "Listen Jason, I really like you and I think you're a great person, but I can't do this. The truth is, I'm already in love with someone else, and it's not right of me to kiss you when all I can think about is him. I'm so sorry, I really am. I hope we can stay friends."

"You're in love with someone?" Jason asked blankly.

"Yes, and even if he never loves me, I don't think I can be in a relationship with anyone else. My hearts just not in it," Kaylee said apologetically. "Do you hate me now?"

"No, of course not. I think he's a bloody idiot though whoever this bloke is. You'd have to be crazy not to fall for a girl like you," Jason said with a small smile.

"Thanks. He is an idiot," she said grinning at him.

"Who is it? If you don't mind me asking."

"Er, I'd rather not say. I haven't told him how I feel and it's probably best if he hears it from me," she said evasively.

"Right. Well thanks for being honest. I hope it goes well for you," Jason said.

"Thanks Jason. You're one of the nicest guys I've ever met," she said, hugging him.

She returned by herself to the castle, knowing that her first date did not end well, but at least she knew what she had to do. She had to confront George and tell him how she felt. Kaylee knew she couldn't get on with her life as long as she held this secret in her heart.

Kaylee searched for the twins all over, but couldn't find them. Finally, she spotted a mass of red hair and ran up to find it was only Ginny.

"Kaylee Osmund what in the world were you thinking?" Ginny asked angrily as she approached her.

"What do you mean?" Kaylee asked stunned.

"I heard you just went on a date with that bloke Jason Samuels," she said glaring at Kaylee with her hands on her hips. "I heard it from George."

"Oh….well yeah I did," Kaylee said shamefully. "But I sort of just ditched him in the middle of it."

"You what?!" Ginny cried.

"Come on, in here. I'll explain everything," Kaylee said, gesturing towards an empty classroom.

Kaylee spent the next twenty minutes or so explaining to Ginny how Jason had asked her on a date, and she had went without thinking about the repercussions. Kaylee finished, explaining about how she had a sort of epiphany when she kissed Jason.

"I can't believe you kissed him!" Ginny exclaimed, half angry, half amused.

"What else was I supposed to do? Bite him?"

"Well no….but still. At least now you can tell George how you feel," Ginny said.

"Right…I don't even know what to say. What should I say, Ginny?" Kaylee asked desperately.

"Don't ask me how you're supposed to tell my brother that you're madly in love with him. Can't help you there," Ginny said shaking her head. "I should warn you though, when he told me where you were, he was pretty angry."

"Angry? Why?" Kaylee asked.

"Well think about it. You were on a date with another bloke. Wouldn't you be angry if the roles were reversed?" she asked impatiently.

"Suppose so, yeah," she sighed. Kaylee put her head in her hands. "Maybe I'll wait a few days. I don't really fancy telling George that I'm madly in love with him when he's ticked off at me."

"Or you could just tell him and get it over with. You know, like ripping off a bandage. Quick and slightly painless," Ginny suggested.

"Ripping off a bandage usually reopens the wound and makes you bleed," Kaylee pointed out.

Ginny just shrugged.