Chapter 14

So, what I am about to say is something that when I found out I was rather shocked and…disappointed, you could say.

I did go over to Craig's that night. It was something I had been doing, quite frankly, rather a lot of lately. It was a normal thing for me. Thursday dinner at ours, Friday dinner at his. I made a small stir-fry for us and chose a semi-revealing but not extremely sluttish dress that I knew he would like. I did keep in mind my previous thoughts; the ones that I wasn't in love with him, I just loved his looks. But I overlooked them for the last time and decided I had nothing to lose and tonight I would find out for real if he was into me or not. I don't know why, but I could just sense this feeling that he wasn't, don't ask me why.

I walked at an average pace, as to not look desperate, and noticed a black hatchback with the words '2 sexc' on the number plate. I deemed it to be a person - perhaps family – that he wanted me to meet and kept walking past, my stir-fry in hand and a slight feeling of mild jealously rumbling inside of me, although that may have just been hunger.

Usually if I know Craig is home but he's too busy to answer the door I knock once, wait a bit, and then walk right in. That's what I did that night, knocking once, waiting a bit and then walking right in. The sight that met my eyes when I walked in was the shocking bit.

Craig Parker.

Making out with someone.

Not just anyone.

It was someone I knew.

And when they broke up from the kiss I gave an inaudible gasp.

It was.

The gayest person I knew.

Sir Mason, from Lièvre.

For someone who was half-expecting to be making out with him that night, I regained my composure rather quickly after seeing two men, one of which I fancied making out with that night, kissing each other. And not just any normal kiss either. It was a full on, stroking each others hair, rubbing each others bodies kiss. Gross. I fully wanted to purge my already empty belly.

Craig didn't look at me with an embarrassed smile or anything; he just looked at me and straightened his clothes out. I smiled rather weakly at him and placed the stir-fry on the bench next to me.

"I-I should have knocked, sorry." Was all I could say. Craig beckoned to Sir Mason to sit down and walked over to me.

"You always come in by yourself and I've never objected; why should you be sorry now? You did catch us in a…uncomfortable-for-you situation but Gary and I don't mind?"

"I suspect Gary is Sir Mason?"

"Of course, dawing!" He called from the couch. I smiled weakly again at the both of them, still standing a little uncomfortably at the doorway. Craig led me over to the couch where a few snacks were sitting on a coffee table.

"Thanks for the stir-fry, Gin. It looks great. I'll dish it up with my meal and you two get talking." I nodded with out looking at him and played with my hands awkwardly.

He expected me to talk with this…thing? I could barely understand the man and here he was dating the guy I liked. Sheesh.

"So…um. What did you think of Craig's shots? Is he any good?" I said trying to make forced conversation.

"Oh yes, dawing, dey were bwilliant. I just woved dem! And you were qwite good also!" I smiled at him and grabbed a cracker from the table.

"Cwackers eqwals carbs deawy! Put that down!"

What the hell? Now he was telling me what to eat? This guy was seriously screwed. He can't even bloody well talk properly and he's blabbing on at me about carbs and calories. For Merlin's sake, I don't care what I eat! I just want to eat! It was then that I decided I would try my best to not talk to him for the rest of the night. That feat proved nearly impossible as Craig walked over with some red wine for me and told me that they were dating (like duh) and that I should get to know Gary. Please, I think I can do without the extra gay baggage. Oh Merlin, I think I just said something homophobic.

For a while, Craig and "Gary" just blabbed on at me and told me how they met, something I actually already knew and wasn't that interested in. I don't think they could tell but I just sort of blanked out a bit, singing a little tune in my mind to myself. When dinner was to be served we got up and brought our wines to the dining table where I was to be seated in between them. As Gary slithered in beside me I shivered slightly at the brush of his homosexual arm on mine. Holy mother of Merlin, I think I am a homophobic.

Throughout dinner I had little to say. I was questioned slightly and I had a minor bit of input before the night was over. As Gary left for the night I caught the sickening sight of Craig's hand brushing his…rear-end. I nearly threw up.

"Well, this was a pleasurable evening, Craig. I'll be going now – it's late and I'm tired. Good-"

And then just as I was walking to the door, Craig caught my hand and pulled me into a long-awaited and much-anticipated kiss. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I melted at the touch of it. After a few moments he broke off and stared at me.

"You're a good kisser." Was all he said. I stared back at him in frustration.

"Craig! What the hell is wrong with you?" I half-yelled, whacking his arm lightly.

"OK…you're a terrible kisser. Does that make you happy?" I whacked him again.

"No! What makes me happy is you telling me you're gay before dropping a hint that you like me and also staying loyal to the one you are currently dating, i.e. do not kiss me whilst dating someone else!"

"Sheesh, Ginny. It was just a kiss; don't freak out over it. And F.Y.I. I am not gay: I'm bisexual. Why do you think I was kissing both a guy and a girl in one night. Wow, I'm a player!" He laughed carelessly and started clearing the dining table.

I sighed in annoyance. Why did he have to be bisexual? It grossed me out that earlier that night his tongue had been down a man's throat.

"OK, you're bi. I can handle that. What I don't get is why you gave me a hint that you liked me and then you suddenly started dating another guy! You're just screwing with me!" I huffed at him and waited for an answer.

He stopped what he was doing and walked over to me, grasping my arms and staring at me seriously. "Do you mean to tell me," He said in his soothing American accent, "that you have never dated two people at the same time?"

I stepped back in disgust. "I would never! The humiliation if it was found out!"

He put his head back and laughed in a Draco-like manner. "I can't believe I liked such a…a…superior girl! God, Ginny, live a little; there's no need to be so…so guarded and careful."

"Oh yes so living a little is cheating on someone and humiliating them and myself?" I started for the door and he brought me back into another kiss, this one felt angrier…if that's sounds possible.

"Craig! Enough! Merlin!" I left his grasp and walked toward the door.

"Wait, did you just say Merlin? What the hell does that mean? God, you are a freak."

I froze. Oops. I guess Muggles don't really use the word Merlin. How the hell was I going to get out of this one? I could have always just told him I was a witch but I decided that since were basically having a falling-out that walking away was the best thing to do. I turned and faced him beside the open door. "Goodbye, Craig. Don't expect to see me or speak to me anytime soon."

I slammed the door behind me and waltzed back over to my house. What a disaster. But at least I was rid of him; for now anyway. And now I could concentrate on Draco properly, without the distraction of Craig's beautiful eyes and chiselled body in a tight black shirt. Merlin, I realise now what an American prick he is.

It was quite late by the time I had had a shower and lay down in bed. I had also washed my mouth out as I could still taste the sick tang of Craig. I decided that tomorrow I would contact Draco again for another lunch in the park.

I've sort of been neglecting my responsibilities as an au-pair lately, haven't I?

Woo, chapter 13 is finished now :)

And so so sorry for the late update, I got grounded. I am ashamed :(