47 days until GeekyCon 2015!

The rest of our February vacations pass in a blur. Teddy and I speak few words— 'hello', 'how are you', and 'please pass the butter' just about sum up our relationship. Before I know it, I'm in an empty compartment on the Hogwarts express.

"Guess what?!" Linnea exclaims, coming from god knows where and moving my bag aside so that she can sit. Before waiting for me to ask, she explodes, "Adaline told Peggy who told Cheryl who told Betty who told her brother who told–"

"Just get to the point," I grumble sullenly.

"Christopher somehow managed to acquire a few hundred bottles of French champagne and he's throwing a huge Valentine's Day formal for the fifth through seventh years in the room of requirement tomorrow evening!" Before I can react, she interrupts. "And you're going."

Before I can use the excuse that I have nothing appropriate to wear, she says, "I have the perfect evening gown for you. It's tight on me, but should fit you well." She goes on to fuss about my skinniness and some other things I don't really hear because I'm too busy obsessing over the thought that it will be the perfect chance for me to talk to Teddy.

"What's going on with Teddy?" Linnea asks, reading my expression freakily fast.

So of course I have to tell her about Valentine's day and the near intimate encounter.

"So he's the one who stopped it? What a weirdo," she says after I finish.

"He's only fifteen. He probably just wasn't ready." I feel defensive at once.

"Mhmmm. Most likely he's just feeling guilty about something."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He's seeing someone else."

Linnea's taken it too far, and she realizes her mistake almost immediately. "Mary, I'm–"

"You obviously don't know Teddy the way I do," I snap, turning away from her.

I yank a brush through my stubborn hair, trying to get it to look somewhat decent for the party.

"Let me," Linnea insists, coming up behind me and holding her hand out for the hairbrush. It's too hard to stay mad at her. I hand it over. She twists my hair into a simple updo, then pins it into place with some silver pins from a little box on her nightstand.

Sensing that she's about to try and apologize for yesterday, I pick another subject quickly. I hate apologies because I'm never quite sure what to say in response. I'm not the kind of person who shrugs things off so readily.

"You were right; the dress is perfect." The crimson floor length gown is simple, yet elegant and fits beautifully.

"Give me a twirl so I can see!"

I rise from my seat and spin a little. "What are you wearing?"

She holds up a finger, then rushes out of the room.

Lin returns wearing a fashionable strapless dress the color of seafoam with cute little ruffles starting at the waistline.

"I love it!"

I spend the next half hour watching Linnea blending eyeshadows and expertly applying ombre lipstick. Then comes the curling iron for her hair. At one point, she chases me around with a mascara wand in hand, but finally gives up, and we depart for the party.

This time, instead of a dance floor and bar, it is a string of fairy lights that greet us. There is a table of refreshments, and house-elves scurry about the place carrying trays of horderves.

Most students are clustered around sipping champagne and socializing while the others are slow dancing or snogging their significant others. I don't see Teddy. I do, however see another familiar face. Redelle waves amiably before muttering a few words to her boyfriend. His face darkens as she detaches herself from him and approaches.

Right at that moment, a decent looking guy asks Linnea to dance. I nod at her to tell her I am fine and she accepts.

"How are you?" I ask Redelle, slightly surprised to see her. "I never see you around school."

"Fine. Just busy. The teachers don't seem to care that O.W.L.s are over; they keep throwing huge projects at us." She stops to sip her champagne. "I really should be studying, but Deos persuaded me to come just to take my mind off of things."

I look over at Deos to see that he is standing in a corner and staring at us intently. He quickly averts his gaze when our eyes meet.

"Uh… I hate to be nosy, but is something going on between you two?"

Her laugh is a little too artificial. Perhaps it's the alcohol. "Oh, it's nothing. We're just...not together anymore. We came as friends."

I glance at him again, only it isn't hurt or anger I see in his eyes. It's worry. Something strange is going on.

"You know, I could use a little air. Would you care to join me?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, sure."

We push our way through the crowd, into the castle, and down a few flights of stairs. Finally, we sit on the steps outside the entrance hall. The cold bites my bare arms, and my skin is almost immediately covered in horripilation.

Next to me, Redelle heaves a long sigh, her breath fogging up the air like cigarette smoke. She bites her lip.

"Ok, what the hell is wrong?" I ask finally. I seriously doubt the fact that she needed fresh air as she claimed.

She puffs out some more air. "I lied. When I told you I wasn't into you, I mean."

I'm both scared and relieved that that is what this is about. "Is that why you broke up with Deos?"

She nods.

"Well I'm sorry, but I'm straight… and like I said, I have a boyfriend."

Her eyes start to tear up.

"I'm sorry," I repeat.

"No, no. It isn't that… it's–" she shakes her head in frustration. "Don't you see?! You're making this too hard!"

Having nothing to say but another apology, I keep quiet.

This doesn't satisfy her. "Please. Tell me you recognize me. It will make it so much easier. Please."

I shake my head.

She's full on crying now. "I can't do this. Please. It's me!"

Suddenly her hands pull my face to hers. Her lips taste salty with a hint of honey lipgloss. Her lips are warm. Her lips. A strange feeling in my stomach. Her lips. Her lips are much too familiar. Somewhere behind the honey and salt, I taste something else. Someone else. Oh. My. God.

"Aquila," Redelle sobs, "I am your boyfriend."

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