A/N: I have had this for awhile, but I got caught up in the excitement of college. Updates will probably slow now, sorry, but that's just the way it is.
Chapter 33: After-Thoughts
Kellyn woke up on the first day of November and saw Drew sleeping on the couch across from her. She panicked, not remembering what happened the night before. However, she did not panic long before she got up and dashed out of the room, emptying the last contents of her stomach. Kellyn splashed cold water on her face, looking at her paled complexion and blood-shot eyes. She walked back out into the common room to see Drew awake.
"What the hell happened?" she whispered, finding her voice way too loud.
"Sam happened." Slowly, the recollections of the night came back to her, except for one.
"Shit. How did I get here?"
"You fell asleep on the bathroom floor and I carried you here." Kellyn groaned. "Kellyn, I know it was probably your first time drinking, but you really should be more careful."
"Damn it, Drew, stop shouting," she said, although she knew he wasn't. "I don't need a fucking lecture right now. Just please sod off."
"Drink some water," he growled, before leaving her to her misery.
Kellyn retreated to the shower, eager to get out of the clothes she had worn the night before. She brushed her teeth for nearly ten minutes to get the taste of vomit out of her mouth before crawling back into bed with a cold washcloth draped over her forehead and eyes. It was way too damn bright outside and a drum line pounded away in her head. She woke up an hour later, drinking three glasses of water before she rolled over and dozed off.
"Kellyn, are you awake?" she heard a gentle voice in the room.
"Yeah," she muttered, knowing it was Stella.
"Do you want to go down to the dock with us?"
"No," she said sharply, burying her head under the covers.
"Sam won't be there."
"Why does that matter?"
"Because he let you down," she said, placing a hand on Kellyn's back.
"I should have known better," Kellyn whispered. "I knew better and yet…"
"It happens," said Stella, sounding as though she truly knew what Kellyn felt.
"I mean, I don't like him, and I'm far from broken hearted, but I thought… I feel so dim."
"It's okay to feel disappointed," said Stella, pegging her feeling. "Even if you don't like him. It's okay to feel disappointed." Kellyn sighed.
"I still don't want to go. I feel like crap."
"I'm sure. You had a lot to drink last night."
"You saw?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't stop me?"
"Drew swooped before I was going to intervene. He is a keeper, isn't he?" she asked. Kellyn was silent. "Well, feel better," Stella said, flitting out of the room.
Stella was kind enough to bring Kellyn lunch, but Shaylee and Jay-Jay dragged her to dinner, saying hang-over or not, she had to make an appearance in the Great Hall to show that she wasn't bothered by Sam's sudden change in women. She ignored the blonde boy sitting with his arm around Katima and also the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain who sat down the table, quickly shoveling food in her mouth. Eager to make an exit and knowing that she had homework, she finished up her food and walked out of the Great Hall, trying to ignore the searing kiss Katima gave Sam. The blonde caught up with Kellyn.
"Sorry to leave you last night," he said smiling.
"It's okay," she said automatically, then corrected herself. "Actually, it's not okay."
"Oh shit, you got sick, didn't you?"
"Yeah." He laughed.
"Oh princess, I guess there's a first time for everything." He doesn't get it.
"So, you and Katima?" she asked, trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice as she made small-talk.
"Yeah. We've always had an on-and-off thing and so I guess we are 'on' now," he said callously.
"So that's that?" she asked, indignation creeping in her voice.
"I guess," he shrugged. Kellyn looked up at the ceiling, laughing inwardly. "Sorry I wasn't there to hold back your hair," he said as a peace offering, knowing the girl in front of him was still rather angry, but not exactly sure why.
"I bet you are," she said with a hint of sarcasm and walked away. From down the hallway, she could hear Teegan speak to Sam.
"Man, you are so dim."
Drew held my hair back and I told him to sod off
"Thanks," she said between classes. "Thanks for… oh, you know." Drew raised an eyebrow at her. "Thanks for helping me on Halloween. Yeah, that's what I wanted to say." Drew paused a moment, realizing that it was as close as he would get to an apology. She seemed to be trying really hard and he remembered the look on her face on the morning when the events of the prior night came rushing back at her. It was a look of horror and he felt bad for her, although he knew that the last thing she needed was his pity.
"You're welcome," he said.
"Good. I mean, thanks. Um, bye," she stuttered and walked away, leaving a very confused Drew.
Sam continued to make peace before finally inquiring what he thought was the obvious.
"Are you PMSing???" Kellyn looked at him in amazement. The boy was beautiful and his silver green eyes could make her forget to breath, but as an after-thought, she realized that she also forgot to breathe before Transfiguration tests. Transfiguration was bad, therefore, was Sam bad for her? The world seemed to revolve around his wishes and fancies; he was a boy, hardly a man and at the end of the day, all he had was a pretty smile.
James was equally irritated at his best friend, as he viewed Kellyn as another sister, and the two had a shouting match on Monday.
"She's Kellyn!" he cried out to the Slytherin.
"Exactly, she can handle herself. And her liquor to some extent…"
"She's not even seventeen. Merlin, Sam, and you get her smashed and then prance off with another girl!"
"Malfoys don't prance," he said between gritted teeth.
"The point is that it was low… even for you," James said with a murderous glare.
"What's that supposed to mean, Potter?"
"She's not some bloody conquest. No one ever gave you the right to treat a girl like that."
"At least I have the balls to tell a girl when I like her!" James tensed up, knowing a jab at his hesitation with Stella when he heard one.
"Stay away from her," James said, jabbing his wand into Sam's chest. Sam did not appreciate this aggressive gesture and grabbed James' collar, ready to go old-school and wandless. Kellyn was with Drew in a classroom, studying Transfiguration, when she heard the argument outside. Drew kept his head down, not betraying the look of quiet disbelief on his face. Kellyn, on the other hand, felt anger build up in her.
She had no right to tear their friendship. It was all so unnecessary. She was over it—she could not change Sam's flighty nature and she did not blame him for not looking after her. She did not like people doting on her, looking after her, any of that. It was bad enough feeling indebted to Drew, although she recalled what she could of her encounter with him with good feelings. Sam was right—she could handle herself and she sure as hell did not need two boys arguing what was best for her. Knowing that the two were right outside the door, she closed the book she had been attempting to read and strode up to the door. She twisted the knob and pushed the door open into them, causing them to stumble into the corridor.
"I am trying to fucking study, you dolts, and you are arguing about something not even worth arguing about. Sam, I don't care who you shag. Like, I really do not give a rat's ass. And James—I already have a father, I don't need you to decide what's best for me. Like Sam said, I can handle myself. Scorpius Aquillus Malfoy, wipe that smirk off your face or I swear to Merlin, I will perform a Bat Bogey hex that would put Ginny Weasley's to shame. Ask your father about that, he would know. Now," she said, taking a deep breath, "give each other a nice, manly hug and sod off."
"I'm not hugging him," they both said at the same time.
"I said bloody hug each other, dammit!" There was no room for dissent and they quickly gave each other a hug and a pat on the back. "Now I need to study," she said with a smile. James and Sam scurried off together down the hallway, only to make up ten minutes later. "So, Drew, where were we?"
"I don't even know. Can you really perform a Bat Bogey hex that rivals Ginny Weasley's?"
"Who do you think taught me?"
"Point taken."
Kellyn forgave Sam quick enough, although he did not need to know that. Yet, he was still convinced she was angry at him and used her upcoming birthday as an excuse to talk to her. He kept her up-to-date on the details for the big day, which was to be next Friday night, thinking he would win her friendship back with lavish presents. No longer angry at him but enjoying seeing him struggle, she took slight advantage of the situation.
"And what kind of cake do you like?"
"It's a tie between carrot cake and banana bread cake."
"…must you pick the most obscure kinds of cake possible???"
"But they are so yummy!" she insisted. He sighed, flipping though a notebook that he jotted ideas down on.
"Oh, please tell me you have a dress picked out."
"A dress?"
"Yes, I am throwing you a nice party, so you can deign to wear a dress."
"Well, I have this yellow dress…"
"Is it sexy?"
"I would lean more toward 'cute.'"
"I suppose it will do." Kellyn rolled her eyes. "Now, I have some things to pick up in Hogsmeade on Saturday, so if we cross paths, do not even think of following me around. This is going to be a surprise."
"But I know when the party is, who is invited, and what flavor the cake will be."
"Beside the point."
"Anyway, I figured you would have to spend the day with… Katima," Kellyn remembered to say her name rather than the number of less-than-nice nicknames Kellyn had bestowed on her.
"Ugh, she wants me to take her to her favorite restaurant for lunch, that French place."
"Isn't it rather pricey?"
"The girl has expensive tastes." The conversation reached an awkward end and Kellyn mentally cursed herself for bringing up the Slytherin beauty.
"Oh, so how did that tutoring thing end up?"
"Shelby? Well, she finally caved in once I proved myself rather incompetent in Muggle Studies. It actually is really interesting. My new life goal is to ride in an airplane and she sat there and explained to me how they flew."
"She sat there and explained something to you?"
"I bought her a velociraptor coloring book and a really big box of crayons. She is like you, Kellyn—charming in her simpleton ways. However, Katima is as jealous as hell, so…" Once again, the conversation trailed off with the mentioning of his girlfriend. Kellyn quickly jumped back to her birthday party.
"Well, I'm excited to see what Friday has in store for me."
"Princess, it will blow your mind," he said, tossing an arm over her shoulder. She was thankful that his touch no longer sent chills down her spine.
Since the first Quidditch game, Kellyn and Sharon had slowly found a common ground and Sharon even suggested that the Quidditch girls have lunch together in Hogsmeade. Kellyn was excited about the idea until she remembered about Stella. She did not want to leave her friend alone until she had a stroke of genius.
"James, it is the perfect time to do something with her!"
"Do…something…?"
"Wow, we have already gone over the meaning of this. Do I need to explain it again?"
"No. I just… what should I do???"
"Buy her lunch, you broomhead!"
"Right-o. So, when should I ask?"
"Now."
"What?" he whimpered as Stella entered the room.
"Jay-Jay, Shaylee, Sharon and I wanted to have a Quidditch lunch, so do you think you can find another group to have lunch with?" Stella nodded. Kellyn looked at James, who seemed to be processing the situation very slowly. At last, she cleared her throat.
"Stella!" James called out.
"Yes?"
"Well, I was thinking that…"
"Yes?"
"…well maybe we, um, you and I could…"
"James, I have a Trough meeting in a minute, so could you please make it quick?"
"Maybeifyouwouldn'tmindwecouldhavelunchtogether?"
"…Pardon???" Kellyn resisted slapping her palm to her forehead.
"Maybe, if you wouldn't mind, we could have lunch together. Since, I suppose, we are both in need of someone to grab a bite to eat with." James held his breath. Much to Kellyn's surprise, Stella looked to Kellyn, asking her with her eyes what to do. Kellyn nonchalantly shrugged.
"A Mongolian family recently opened a restaurant down Badger Lane. I have been craving Mongolian barbeque for awhile now…"
"Is that a yes?"
"I suppose it is," she said. Her confused smile was hidden by her blonde hair as she trotted up the stairs.
"I love you, Kellyn," said James dreamily.
"Don't let her catch you saying that."
Trying to avoid the crowds, the girls decided to eat at a small mom and pop diner, where they shared an enormous chicken pot pie, talking about everything but Quidditch. Sharon was really not a bad person at all—it had been Kellyn who originally rubbed her the wrong way in the first place. The girls chatted, filling the small room with laughter, until the tinkling of the bell connected to the door was heard. Jay-Jay peered over their booth to see who entered.
"Are you shitting me?"
"Who is it?" asked Shaylee, trying to sneak a peak.
"Who do you think?" In strolled the Quidditch blokes: Drew, Seb, and Rob. "Should we invite them to sit with us or awkwardly pretend we didn't notice them enter the complex?" The other three girls looked at Jay-Jay admonishingly. "That was a legitimate question." The boys were immediately heralded over. Sharon smiled prettily when Drew sat next to her and Rob and Seb squeezed in on the other side of the booth.
"Sorry to crash your party."
"You better," said Jay-Jay in a deadpan voice that caused everyone to burst out in laughter.
"You could have saved some pot pie for us," moped Seb, looking sadly at the empty pan.
"Waiter!" Rob cried, eager to dig in.
Two pot pies later ("You blokes are such pigs!" Shaylee cried. "Mus? Pwigs? Nommm!" disagreed Seb after stuffing a huge bite in his mouth), the team disbanded. Rob and Seb were easily distracted by two pretty fifth years and Sharon was pulled away by her two best friends, Shelby Katsuma (the Head Girl) and Liby Munin (a Hufflepuff Chaser). Shaylee dragged Jay-Jay into a boutique, insisting that she needed a pretty headband, leaving Drew and Kellyn on the streets. They wrapped their scarves around them tighter, walking quietly down the street.
"I can't believe I have been here two months. It seems as though time has just flown by."
"Time does seem to be slipping through our fingers this year. I think it's because we are seventh years and the only thing on our mind is the rest of our lives," he said quietly, looking at the cloudy sky. "Sometimes, when we think so much of the future, we forget about the present, you know?"
"It has been awhile since I've had something to look forward to," Kellyn half-whispered, as they passed pubs full of students.
"I still have the urge to ask people to pinch me whenever I think about our talk with Mealby. It seems so surreal."
"I know," said Kellyn, with complete understanding. Drew met her eyes, realizing that they were in the same boat. They continued walking down the nearly empty street, enjoying each other's company and comfortable in each other's silence. The two Ravenclaws passed a building and tucked in on a side wall were two people they both recognized.
Gulliver and Lily held hands, both their eyes bright and smiles broad. Gulliver leaned over and whispered something in her ear. She giggled, tossing back her red hair and her eyes dancing. Lily caught sight of Drew and Kellyn watching them intently and gently smiled. Gulliver blushed and waved hello to them. Kellyn couldn't help but smile and Drew guided her away from the couple, a smile tugging at his lips too.
"For our health, we are going to pretend we did not see that."
"You mean, James and Albus?"
"Yes."
"Good plan. Wait, the brothers don't know yet?"
"No, and Lily plans to keep it that way."
"How do you know… just kidding," said Kellyn, remembering that Gulliver and Drew were pretty good friends, being in a band together. "And how have they kept things going without anyone finding out?"
"Honestly, I don't know what they are doing and neither do they. The fact is that they really can't see each other. I mean, they have small moments here and there, but they aren't truly 'together.' And I know that Gulliver is rather uneasy with the fact that they have to keep hiding and Lily is much younger than him… but she makes him happy, so I can't complain."
"So what about you? Do you date much?"
"Me? Oh, no," he stumbled over his words. "I suppose I have been asked out, but Quidditch and school have always been my priorities."
"Well, now that you have Quidditch squared away, I am sure there is a girl out there who is waiting for you to get your head out of the sand."
"You think?" he asked, a most peculiar expression on his face.
"I know," said Kellyn, thinking of the smile on Sharon's face when Drew sat down next to her. "You're not bad-looking, nor are you completely socially retarded."
"Only partially socially retarded?"
"Your words, not mine," she laughed. Gulliver and Lily rushed past them.
"Distract him!" they both ordered the two Ravenclaws.
"Who?"
"Oh, hello James. Stella," said Drew.
"How was the Mongolian barbecue?" Kellyn asked nervously.
"It was delicious!" they both said. James squinted in the distance, trying to figure out if the girl with the red hair dashing into The Three Broomsticks was his sister.
"Obviously, I think you have some on your robes," said Kellyn quickly, pointing to a random spot in his chest. James looked down to examine himself and the secretive couple were able to escape unnoticed.
A party was held in the 7th years' room that night. Determined to stay as far away from the Firewhiskey as possible, she joined in a rousing game of truth or dare with a dozen other students. Of course, some of these other students were rather drunk, which added to the hilarity of the game as they were dared to perform stunts that even a sober person could not pull off and were more than ready to dish superfluous details while answering a truth. Finally, it was Kellyn's turn.
"Truth or dare?"
"Dare," Kellyn said with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Go give your Quidditch captain a lap dance." Kellyn looked over at Drew, who was sitting in a chair around a table, playing poker.
"A lap dance? Are you serious? I don't even know how to give lap dances."
"Bullshit!" said a bloke. "It is one of the feminine fine arts. You have a vagina, you can pull it off."
"Still, it's rather immature," said Kellyn, trying to weasel out of this one, "we aren't seven anymore."
"Seven year olds don't give lap dances." Kellyn realized it was a Slytherin she was dealing with. Thinking of how she would handle the situation with Sam, she had an idea.
"I have a better proposition."
"Do tell."
"I will go over there and sit on his lap the entire night."
"That's not as amusing."
"I will straddle him for five minutes and then sit on his lap. A lap dance can only last so long, while sitting simply prolongs the awkwardness."
"True… you have yourself a deal." Kellyn grimaced and headed over to the poker table. She pulled back Drew's chair, giving herself room, and slung a leg over him, causing the other boys at the table catcall.
"Truth or dare is a very precarious game," she explained to the bright red Drew. "You pick dare and you never know, you may end up having to straddle someone for five minutes and then sit on their lap for the rest of the night." Drew sputtered. "It was this or give you a lap dance, so I want no complaints from the peanut gallery." This significantly comforted Drew. Five minutes passed and she shifted so she could see his cards. "Ooh, that's a good hand!"
"Kellyn, we are playing poker." She smiled.
"Sorry, that was kind of an after-thought."