CHAPTER TEN
He starts working on dessert.
'Are you cold?' Cedric asks
'A little' I admit
He wraps his arms around me.
Pansy looks at Draco
'Wear a sweater' he says.
I hide my face in Cedric's shoulder to hide my laughter.
Her eyes are daggers; he begrudgingly hands her his jacket.
She kisses her cheek, 'thank you baby' she says smudging his pale cheek with her bright lipstick. He grimaces and rubs it off his face. If this hurts her she does not show it.
He catches my eye and diverts his back to the crab.
'So what are your Christmas plans?' Cedric says trying to ease the tension.
'Well you might not know Diggory, but my father throws an annual Christmas party for all of the wizard elite.'
A dark look flashes across Pansy's face.
I roll my eyes just thinking of it. I hated the Malfoy parties. They were beautiful but painfully boring. The only people there my age there were Pansy and Draco and they were always making out somewhere in a corner. I would just sit at a table with my parents as they drone on about the current state of the wizard world. I would sometimes slip away to the senior table where the older women gossiped. They were honestly the highlight of the party, they knew everything about everyone.
'What about you Pansy? I am sure being Draco's date must be exciting'
'It usually is. I am always the belle of the ball but this year I can't exactly go' she says shifting awkwardly in her seat
She wouldn't be if I was allowed to wear what I wanted. My mum was always forcing me to wear stuffy and modest ball gowns, it was only natural I would look weird next to Pansy's sexy dresses.
'Are you okay, Pansy?' I ask
'It's none of your business Zayaah' she says rudely
I shrug, 'If you say so'
As expected Draco and Pansy do not bother to ask Cedric or me what our plans are. Not that I have any to be honest. I'll do what I always stay at home and study. Maybe Anaya and Lee will be allowed over.
'My dad and I are going skiing in Sweden' Cedric says.
'Daddy Diggory must have spent all year saving up for that' Draco says rudely
'Malfoy can you not' I say jumping to Cedric's defence
'Sorry' he says holding his hands up in surrender
'I assume you are going to be locked in as always Harris' Draco comments
I don't respond.
'You know you could always come over' he offers.
I raise an eyebrow. Was it a trap? For some reason my parents really like Draco. They thought he was charming and well mannered; if only they could see him pummelling the first year students.
Stay in my house all day or argue with Draco all day in gloomy Malfoy manner.
'I literally have nothing else to do, why not?' I say.
Pansy snarls at me.
The look on his face is unreadable but I swear can see bits of relief.
'Dessert?' Fumihiro asks
I nod my head eagerly.
He hands us a menu. Draco rudely snatches it out my hands.
'Hey' I say annoyed.
'What? I am paying for it' he says
'No one is asking you to Malfoy. You can't buy everyone with your money'
'Zayaah I am sure it's not like that. Draco was just being nice but it's not necessary we can pay for it just fine' Cedric says kindly.
'You sure Diggory, I don't want this lunch to put a dent in your pocket'
Cedric grits his teeth, 'I have tolerated your shit this whole day Malfoy. You do not want to test me'
His cheeks were red. I am not used to seeing Cedric angry it is kind of hot.
Draco is surprised to and does not say anything.
In his shock I grab the menu and start to look through it.
'Taiyaki please' I order.
The rest of the table follows suit.
The silence on the table is heavy. Everyone seems to be in a bad mood. I knew this would happen. Now Pansy and Draco have ruined our first date. Cedric places his hand on my knee and squeezes it. So we're fine. His anger is directed at Draco.
Fumihiro places the food down and we eat in silence. As soon as our food is finished Cedric thanks Fumihiro and the waitress then tips.
'Zayaah, can we please go?' Cedric asks
'Sure' I say picking up my coat
'Bye' I say to Draco and Pansy.
They do not bother to respond.
Cedric holds out his hand for me to hold and we leave the restaurant.
'Where are you taking me?'
'To an arcade' he says already perking up.
When we get to the arcade he opens the door for me. There are kids everywhere.
'This was my favourite place when I was younger. I used to stay here for hours playing games with my dad'
'Which one should we play first' I ask.
'Laser tag' he says excitedly.
'I have no idea how to play that but there's a first time for everything'
He goes to the counter to purchase tickets.
'We're lucky there's a game starting in five minutes'
He hands me a vest with a sensor in the middle and a fake gun.
A teenage boy comes to explain the instructions.
He quickly explains the rules to us. The team with the most points wins. You can get shot up to three times once you've reach three you're eliminated.
Four boys join us they can't be more than fourteen years old.
"Ok given our numbers we'll have to form two groups of three"
"I want to be with the girl" the blonde one says.
"No fair I want to be with her too" the one with the black hair says.
"We can all work together" I say.
"But I'm team captain" the blonde one says.
"Yeah Josh is team captain he's the best laser tag player in all of England"
"Is that so?" I ask dryly
But the kids don't catch my sarcasm.
"Yeah I competed in a tournament and came in first year" he brags.
"I'm Matthew" the dark haired one says.
"Zayaah" I say holding out my hand.
"You're really pretty" he says.
"Thank you" I say.
"My girlfriend Aubrey is prettier though"
My mouth drops and Cedric laughs. This is why I hate kids.
"His girlfriend is the prettiest girl in the universe so you shouldn't be offended" Josh says.
"Can we please start the game" I beg.
"Group huddle" Josh says taking us to the side. He then gives the most complicated plan I've ever heard. I would be impressed if it wasn't for a thirty minute paint ball game but I decide to humour him.
"Alright team" he says.
"Let's put our hands in the middle" I say.
"That's so childish" Matthew says.
I am taken aback.
"It's to boost team spirit" I say.
"Please" I beg.
"Fine" they say giving in.
"On three we say go team" I say.
"One"
"Two"
"Three"
"Go team" they say unenthusiastically.
"You guys are no fun" I joke.
"Ok team go to your positions"
"Yes captain"
Josh's face lights up. That really mad him happy too happy.
I head to the East perimeter and wait for Josh and Matthew to draw out the "enemy". I stand there waiting for a couple minutes and I don't hear anything. I can hear footsteps. I hide in the corner.
Oh it's just Cedric. I quickly pull out my gun and shoot him. His sensor goes off.
I come out of the corner laughing.
"It had to be you to" he says.
"I'm sorry but I must win at all costs" I say. One of the kids from the other team appears I pull Cedric towards me and use him as a shield.
The kid holds up his gun.
"Are you really going to risk shooting your teammate?"
"I met the guy five minutes ago" he says.
"Ouch Conner that hurts I thought the bond we shared was real"
I quickly pull out my gun and shoot Conner's sensor.
"Two down one to go" I say.
"What have you become?" Cedric says.
"What you made me"
"Now where's the other one"
The lights in the room go off and Cedric and I dive into a corner.
"You know the competitive side of you is really hot" he says seductively.
"Really" I say leaning in closer.
He tucks my hair behind my ear. Just when I think he's about to kiss me he shoots me in the chest.
"Never take your eyes off the prize" he says laughing.
"No fair you seduced me" I say.
"All is fair in love and war" he smiles.
"So now that we both have two lives left can we kiss" I say.
"No tricks" he says.
I put my gun down and lean forward.
"If someone catches us we're both going to lose"
"No one's going to see us"
I lean in and kiss him first he resists but it doesn't take long for him to deepen the kiss. I move closer until there is no space between us.
"Zayaah" he says breaking away.
"What" I complain.
"We should stop before we traumatize some kids" he says.
"I know you're right but one more kiss" I beg.
"Fine" he says leaning in to give me a peck.
"That's not what I meant and you know it" I say.
He smiles and runs back into the game.
"Where have you been?" Matthew asks.
"Defending the line" I say.
"We need you in the southern perimeter" he orders.
"Josh's been shot. He's out. It's just you and me"
"I thought he was the best player in the world"
"I'm sorry in England"
Matthew ignores me.
When we get there we see two kids standing over Josh. Matthew and I quickly shoot them in the back. The red lights go off they're obviously out of the game. That leaves Cedric.
"How are we going to get him?" Matthew asks.
"I have a plan" I then whisper to him want I want do.
"If you weren't slacking off Josh would still be in the game. Now I'm stuck with you. You can barely even hold your gun right"
"I'm sorry okay. I stopped paying attention for one second how was I supposed to know"
"You're just an idiot I wish we'd never picked you to be on our team"
"Calm down kid it's just a game"
"Just a game"
He pushes me on the ground.
"Ow Matthew that actually hurt"
"Like a lot. I think my ankle is broken"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure" I snap.
I hear Cedric's laughter coming from behind me. I direct Matthew and I go in the opposite direction.
He shoots Cedric first from the back and then I deliver the final blow.
"You're such a terrible actress" he says laughing.
"Ok my original plan failed but we still won" I say smiling.
"Was it worth it" he asks.
"It really was. I had to win" I say.
"So do we win a prize?" I ask Josh.
"Just a small trophy and honour" he says.
The teenaged boy hands Josh, Matthew and I tiny trophies.
"My number's in yours I'll call you when I'm 18" Josh says.
"Looking forward to it" I laugh.
He gives me a wink and Cedric and I walk out of the arcade.