A/N: I'm very sorry for the cliffhanger I left you on last time. Actually, that's a lie. I'm not sorry at all. It was highly entertaining.
Anyway, here it is at last: the next chapter.
Enjoy!
Better Together
Scorp,
What happened? I waited on the Astronomy for over an hour and you didn't come. And you've been avoiding me all day. I don't understand. What's going on?
Rose
Rose,
I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I was going to come, and I got halfway there, but then I just couldn't do it. And I shouldn't have avoided you all day; I was just too scared to talk to you face to face. I'm sorry Rose. I guess I'm a bit of a coward.
Scorp
Scorp,
But why couldn't you talk to me face to face? Last thing I knew everything was really perfect and you said you were in love with me, and now you're saying you're too scared to talk to me face to face, as if you're going to break up with me or something. Not that we could actually break up, since we didn't go out, but you know what I mean. I'm so confused Scorp!
Rose
Rose,
Okay, I'm going to try and explain everything and be as truthful as I possibly can, and I'm really sorry if I end up sounding harsh.
I really, really like you – love you in fact, as you already know – but I'm scared of what might happen if we start dating. I'm going to be brutally honest here: you're an absolute bitch when it comes to guys. Don't get me wrong; I don't think you're actually a horrible person. On the contrary, I've seen how truly amazing and loyal and generous you can be. You accepted me even after your dad warned you away from me and ever since then you've been helping me with schoolwork, sticking up for me against bullies and being there for me no matter what happened. But that's as a best friend, not as a girlfriend. I've seen you quite happily scrap plans with your boyfriends whenever it suited you, argue with them constantly when they didn't agree with your views, and occasionally dump them simply because you got bored. Can you blame me for being a little wary about going from best friends to something else?
All those guys have moved on with their lives, and generally ended up dating someone else fairly soon. They've been upset for a little while, and then they've got over it. But I couldn't do that. Because if we went out and then you broke up with me, it would just about kill me.
I'm sorry, Rose; I really am. But this can never happen.
Scorp
Scorp,
That's okay; I understand. I suppose I deserve that. I wish it could be different.
Rose
Mum,
What have I done? I think I may have blown any chance I might have had with the one guy who really matters to me. I've gone through so many guys that now he thinks I'll treat him the same way. I wouldn't, though. I wish I could make him see that he's different from them. If only I'd realised sooner. I'd never have gone out with any of the others then; I'd have been so lucky to have him that I'd never, ever have let him go. I can't believe how stupid I've been. He's been there all this time, and I never noticed. And he loves me. But he doesn't trust me, not anymore. And I really am rambling, but that's what mums are for, right? And I know you can't exactly come and sort everything out, and make it all alright, but I really wish you could.
What should I do?
Rose
Dad,
I don't know what to do. The most amazing thing happened the other day, something I've been wishing would happen for years. I found out that this really amazing girl likes me, but I told her I didn't want to go out with her. And I don't regret saying it, or at least I don't think I do, but I'm confused. I always thought that if this happened I would be absolutely over the moon. It shouldn't be this complicated. It's just that she's done a lot of stuff that makes me not want to trust her. Except that she's also done a lot for me, and I don't want to hold all the other stuff against her. After all, it's not like she treated me badly, just some of the other guys she dated. What should I do? Should I just let it all go?
Wow, I don't think I've ever sent you such an illogical and rambling letter before. Normally I would write to Grandma, but for some reason I wanted to write to you instead this time. I don't know why, but I guess that's what dads are for, right?
What should I do?
Scorpius
Rose,
You're right; I can't come and sort everything out for you, much as I would like to. You're old enough now that you have to take responsibility for your actions, and accept that there are consequences when you mess with people's feelings. At the same time, however, everyone makes mistakes sometimes and you shouldn't blame yourself too much.
I think I've finally figured out who you're talking about. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it may be Scorpius? I can't believe it took me so long to realise. I should have noticed years ago, but I was distracted by all those guys you kept dating, as I'm sure you were too. Your dad won't be happy, of course, but don't under any circumstances let that affect your decision. Scorpius sounds like a wonderful boy, and nothing like his father.
As for what you should do, I think the best policy would be to tell the truth. It hurts to see someone you care about dating somebody else, and I have no doubt that has made it difficult for him to trust you completely. From what I've heard of him, however, and from his status as a Hufflepuff, I would suggest he probably values honesty very highly. Tell him exactly how you feel, and that he means more to you than any of the others. Tell him what you told me in your last letter. And then it's up to him, and you're just going to have to accept his decision.
Good luck.
Mum
Scorpius,
I know what it feels like to have done something really terrible and to regret it the moment you realise it may ruin your chances with the one person who means anything to you. Your mum gave me a chance when most people wouldn't have gone near me, and my advice would be to do the same for her. Believe me, nothing she can have done could possibly be as terrible as things I saw people doing all around me when I was your age. I've never been very good at forgiveness – too much pride I suppose – but you're not me, and I think you should forgive her.
In the end, however, it's your decision and you have the right to do what ever you choose. She will just have to accept it.
Dad
Mum,
Thanks, I'm going to try that. I can't bear to lose Scorpius, and if there's any way I can stop that from happening then I'm going to try.
Rose
Dad,
I don't know. I understand where you're coming from – and that you have personal reasons to believe in forgiveness – but I'm not sure I can do this. Of course I forgive her, it's just whether I can risk being hurt by her, and I don't think I'm brave enough.
Thanks for your advice, though.
Scorpius
Scorp,
I know you said nothing could ever happen between us, but will you just read this and see if you could possibly consider changing your mind?
I'm crazy about you. And I know it may not seem as though that means much after all the guys I've claimed I liked, but you're different. I've been really, really stupid, and I'm so sorry if I've hurt you at all. But you have to know that I would never, ever hurt you deliberately. I know it didn't seem like it at the time, but the reason I went through so many guys was that I knew none of them were right for me. I didn't know who was right for me, but I think subconsciously I was comparing every single one of them to you, and not one of them matched up. Because you're my best friend, and that's worth more than a million boyfriends.
I know you said in your letter to Al that you didn't want to lose your friendship with me if it didn't work out, but haven't we already lost that? It's been really awkward between us for the last week, and we've barely spoken properly. I miss that. I miss you.
Couldn't we give this a go?
Rose
Rose,
I …
A/N: Yes, it's another cliffhanger - I'm feeling cruel at the moment. And I suppose it was a little harsh to cut it off in the middle of a letter, which I've never done before, but I couldn't resist.
Don't worry - I'll update as soon as possible