Disclaimer: To say I owned Harry Potter and/or any of the characters would be a complete and utter lie.
Quote of the Day: "The secret of happiness is to make others believe they are the cause of it." - Al Batt
---To Babysit Charlie ---
Stan the Pizza Man
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Charlie took my hands gently, leading me a little closer toward the small boogieing crowd and a little farther away from Kain and the troublesome pair. I couldn't believe my luck. I half expected the bumping, energized happy beat to suddenly change into a slow melody – you know, like in all truism romantic films…
But I was disappointed, for nothing of the sort happened. I guess that stuff will stay in the cliché films for now. Instead, Charlie and I continued to dance in a hop-like fashion until he finally broke the silence.
"Sorry about that. I just couldn't resist. I saw him scooping them out from the other side of the dance floor," he said mischievously, his eyes giving off a warm glow.
"I told him he was being obvious!" I snapped without thinking.
Crap. I just completely blew our/my cover. Why hadn't I thought of something desperately clever to say just then? And I knew that was exactly what he had wanted to hear. I could tell by the way his eyebrows rose in mock questioning.
"He's bi?" I tried pathetically. He didn't seem to buy it. Quite the contrary, he didn't look convinced in the least. "Seriously! I'm totally cool with it, though. You know? Like, who cares, right? As long as he tells me the info he can do whatever he wants. He's a grown man, after all- but, hey!" I'm not being successful so I'm switching to a different tactic- changing the subject. "I didn't know the twins were –er- bent, so to speak."
"Oh, no. It's only George. Fred's straight as a bird." He said simply and even offered a small shrug as we bee-bopped to the music. My expression must have cased my confusion because he carried on, "He's just doing me a bit of a favor."
"Favor?" I asked dumbly as I slowed my movements a tad.
"Well, um," I could see a flush creep up his neck onto his cheeks and ears. "I just wanted to have a chance to catch up."
I cracked a grin, despite myself and piped in, "So Fred's not gay?"
"Nope. Actually, he's constantly boasting about this new girl he managed to snag –I believe her name is Roberta- he won't shut up about her." He rolled his eyes and shook his head in good humor and I found myself growing a soft spot for the twin who managed to find love. It sounded adorable.
"That's nice," was my intelligent response, which led into another moment of silence on which I could reflect on my behavior in regards to this whole reunion- and I cringe as I think back. Swans? What was I thinking? I could have said something a little less crude like… -Insert witty fact here-... "Where's Salome?" I abruptly inquired, again without thinking… I should really get a look at the loose screw in my head. Why was I bringing up the girlfriend I was trying to make him forget about as I showed him how amazing I was?
"She's around. I think she and Remus are dancing," he said lightly, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Who?"
"A good chap."
"You let your date dance with another bloke?" I can't believe I'm dancing with a man who referred to another man as 'chap'.
"I could accuse you of the same thing," he reminded me.
"Oh, so you could." We both looked at each other directly in the eyes and broke out into laughter- though I'm not entirely sure why. I suppose it could have been the ridiculousness of the whole situation.
I didn't plan it, honesty, but we both took a simultaneous small step closer together so that we now pass as good friends instead of just acquaintances.
"Too bad things didn't work out," he said casually.
That had come from nowhere.
"What?" I asked, even though I was pretty sure I knew what he was talking about.
"Er, us, I meant." Bluntly put. Completely un-smooth and insensitive.
"Well, Charlie, I'm sorry my mum getting flattened by some car on a road somewhere got in the way and wrecked it for you," I hissed dangerously. I immediately stopped dancing and crossed my arms across my chest defensively.
"Merlin, Yeshia, that's not what I meant," he muttered as he ran a hand through his hair distractedly.
"Yeah? I'm sorry I was forced to move to Bulgaria – which happened to destroy what we had. What did you think, eh? That we were in love? Please, Charlie," I snarled. I was enraged and I'm positive anyone who could see me could deduct that for themselves. "We were sixteen. We had fun. It was a fling. Get over it." In reality, I was repeating the mantra I had said to myself every time I thought of the man standing in front of me for the last twelve years. I could feel the sting of tears prickling behind my eyelashes and I sniffed loudly. "You stopped writing, Charlie." I jabbed a finger into his chest as an old hurt rose within me, "It stung to know you forgot. It ached to know you didn't care. And now you pull that out of your arse?" Fat and most likely messy tears ran down my cheeks and I wiped them away angrily.
"Yesh, it wasn't like that-," he said stubbornly, however, his face was coloured slightly and was riddled with guilt.
"Plenty of people want to be with me Charlie," I spat venomously and I jabbed him once again in the chest. It didn't matter that it wasn't true. In fact, I only knew of one person who wanted me as badly as I implied and that's Stan the Pizza Man, which isn't saying much. "So don't," –chest jab- "think I'd jump your sorry bones because you feed me this dribble. What's the matter, exactly? Salome not putting out enough for you?"
I didn't wait for his answer as I turned on my heel, but the look on his face –which can only be described as deep discontentment- said he wasn't going to say any more anyway. As I marched past where Kain seemed to be in heaven, I vaguely remember calling out that I was leaving and taking the car with me. I got in the Chevy and hummed down the road to my flat in dreadful shape.
I kept letting out little sobs of anguish and felt the wrenching feeling of disappointment and misfortune in every molecule inside me. Disgusting sensation, really.
When I slammed the door to my dwelling I realize how much crying can take out of you. It was all Charlie's fault. I was perfectly happy with my crappy life when he wasn't a part of it. He shook me from my dream tree!
It was then I decided to do what every self-respecting woman should do in these kinds of situations. Move on. I strode into the bathroom and recoiled in revulsion at my reflection. I realized how much crying could ruin one's makeup. There were hideous black streaks down my down face and my hair was all out of sorts. I was a mess.
Joy. Good to know I look as good as I feel.
After semi-cleaning myself up and putting on more comfortable clothes, my phone blared to life. It was then that I found how quiet my flat had been as I jumped out of my skin.
" 'llo?" I moped into the receiver, hoping it was Lucy and she would ask what was wrong and then I could spill the beans about the entire affair.
"DEAR?" I yanked my ear away from the phone after the violent verbal assault. It wasn't Lucy… in fact, it almost sounded like – "IT'S MOLLY, DEAR. MOLLY WEASLEY! CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT?" –I could hear Arthur coaching her from the sidelines somewhere in the background on how to use… did he say feleyphone? "HELLO? –Arthur, it's not working –"
"Er, yes. Yes! Molly, I can hear you perfectly." I said in surprise. I didn't even know they had a phone.
"EXCELLENT! I MUST HAVE JUST MISSED YOU WHEN WE WERE SAYING 'GOODBYE' TO THE GUESTS, BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU TO COME FOR BREAKFAST ON WEDNESDAY?" My mind was running a blank. I wasn't sure what to say or how to respond. "PLEASE, DO COME, YESHIA DARLING." I could just picture her kind features in a puppy pout and I knew I didn't have a choice in the matter.
"I suppose I could manage," I said casually. After all, Charlie was bound to be gone by then; I mean, he did have a job didn't he?
"WONDERFUL. THAT'S SETTLED THEN. IT'S THE LAST DAY WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY BEFORE… BUSSINESS TAKES OVER." I stared blankly ahead of me for a moment. "SEE YOU THEN!"
Shit.
I only barely registered the voices on the other end of the line from the phone that was still in my hands. "Arthur, I'm done now. How do I switch it off?" –moment of brief silence– "Arthur!"
"Right. Sorry, dear."
-click-
I don't remember how many glasses of wine I downed in the next ten minutes and I can sort of recall my hand dialing for the local pizza parlor.
Stan the Pizza Man, come and get me.
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There. Happy? I dished out more of the story you've been craving. I have to thank my wondrous new beta: Harry Lvr, who has been nice enough to sort through my horrid spelling and grammar. You should thank her as well or you'd be reading a stack of gibberish at the moment.
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to SpikesDreamer who, as well as being a terrific author, happens to have a birthday coming up and I thought she'd like to know that she's appreciated. She's the heart and soul of her marvelous Harry Potter fansite, http/finkpishnets. proboards92. com /index. cgi which I encourage everyone to check out. :)
Well. Here we are, at the end of yet another chapter. I fear that my fic is drawing to an end… I believe there are only a few more chapters left until the untimely end of this fictional wonder. ;) I hope I see all 46 (Yes, I know there are 46 of you.) who have this story on alert to review. Partly because I know you love me and also I really want to know how many people read this fic.
It would really mean a lot to me if you reviewed. I wish to know exactly how many people I make wait before updating again :D
Peace and Love,
Paranoid Sarcasm.