The Amazing Thing About: Friendship. Chapter eleven.
It wasn't until the end of October that Eliza heard from her friends back home. When two letters dropped onto the table in front of her she wasn't expecting them at all. Between hanging out with her new group of friends, schoolwork, and practice she'd let herself stop worrying about Alicia and Luke. If she let her mind wander to them too often she'd drive herself crazy missing them. Plus she'd finally come up with a finished product for the twins and, upon testing, it worked perfectly at the displeasure of those around the test subject. Rumor had it that the student fled from one of their classes after the product had kicked in and they'd had to stop the lesson to air out the classroom.
"From your parents?" Hannah asked next to her. Eliza was smiling from ear to ear as she recognized the handwriting on the envelopes and hugged the letter to her chest before opening one. Alicia's letter was a couple of pages long and was full of news, stories, and jokes. She said she was glad that she was adjusting to her new school, but Ilvermorny just wasn't the same without her. She and Luke bickered more without her around but she swore none of the arguments were her fault. Eliza found that very difficult to believe as Alicia was a very stubborn person and would argue until she was blue in the face if she thought she was right.
Luke's letter was a bit short and full of questions. He wanted to know all about her new friends and if she was improving with her spells. Included in the envelope was a pin from their house and she put it on immediately settling it next to the Ravenclaw crest. He also swore he wasn't at fault if Alicia mentioned their new habit of fighting. That was more believable. Luke was a gentle soul who avoided confrontation as much as he could. It had to be something really serious for him to do or say something like when he'd first heard Connor raising his voice at her. But it was Alicia who threatened to 'break his face'. God, how stupid she'd been for defending Connor.
They'd taken her lead and avoided any mention of the previous year. Eliza could have cried with relief. If things continued as they were, then she could continue pushing forward and leave the past where it belonged. A part of her worried that the way she was going about it was unhealthy but she was too determined to forget it all to care.
Eliza's mood soared during classes and she couldn't wait to get some alone time to write back to them. Since her first letter so much had happened and she was dying to share it with them. She decided on sending a package instead of just a letter. She included some Ravenclaw badges and even a few of the farting and belching potions they'd cleverly disguised as his and her perfume sets. They were definitely going to get a kick out of that. She also tossed in a few snacks she had for Luke. He had an enormous appetite and it was her small way of letting him know she was still looking out for him. They'd been best friends since they were kids even before school so she always felt the need to take care of him. He was like a brother to her.
It wasn't until after dinner the next day that she was able to go to the owlery to send it off. Rikki hadn't been happy that she left him in her room for the trip but she couldn't imagine he'd like being brought into a tower full of owls. Cats didn't bother him much. Even Filch's cat had given Rikki a wide berth when she encountered him. But owls? That would be a different story altogether.
When she was headed for the empty classroom to meet up with the twins she bumped into Victor as he was coming from the astronomy tower. Her smile fell for an instant before she forced it back into place. "Eliza. Where are you off to?" He asked. She didn't have an answer for that. It wasn't like she could be honest with him. That would lead to too many questions. Her practices with Fred and George were something she kept to herself. They had become her favorite days and they'd basically set up shop for their products in the classroom so having too many people wanting to join them could get back to one of the staff. In essence, questions were bad. "Um..Bed?"
His face broke into that charming smile. "Wonderful. I was on my way back to the common room. I'll walk you." He tucked his book under his left arm before offering her the other which she stared at for a moment before taking it. Of course he had to show up and be all polite and act like a gentleman. "Great timing.." She muttered.
"What was that?" Victor asked looking down at her. Eliza cleared her throat. "I was saying what great timing. I mean you finished class just as I was ready to hit the hay and I hate walking alone in these halls at night. They're kinda creepy." She babbled. Victor gave a soft laugh. "It's actually rather peaceful once you get used to it. Less crowded. Quiet."
That was no joke. There were only a couple of students out and about and their footsteps seemed to echo off the walls. Even some of the paintings' inhabitants were already asleep. As they walked through the halls Eliza kept her mouth shut and was looking around as if she were seeing the place for the first time. It kept her occupied and whenever he pointed out some interesting factoid about the castle she'd nod and try to keep him on that subject for a while. It only worked until they were close to the common room. "I'm glad I ran into you. There was something I wanted to ask but you've been tricky to pin down recently."
"Huh?" She tore her gaze from a painting of an overweight man snoring in a large overstuffed chair. Victor's expression was one of amusement and she had to look away because he really did have pretty eyes. 'Those are dangerous.' No wonder he had a fan club. When he looked at her like that it was like no one else existed. It made her increasingly anxious.
"The first trip of the year to Hogsmeade is in three days. I was hoping you'd allow me to show you around."
Eliza nearly stumbled over her own feet at his words but he steadied her and she quickly apologized. "I must be really tired. Can barely walk straight." She laughed nervously. Was he asking her on a date? She hadn't even put any thought into the Hogsmeade trip. She figured she would go with her friends but they hadn't discussed it for more than a few seconds to remind each other it was coming up. Was he just being polite? No that definitely sounded like he was asking her on a date.
Her first instinct was to blow him off but he looked so hopeful and her heart sank. What was the harm in saying yes? It wasn't like she had to spend the whole trip with him. She could slip away and join her friends whenever she wanted right? Her eyes wandered to the clock as the door to the common room opened after he answered the riddle. Crap. Her little detour had her running a half-hour late but she still had enough time "Hell yeah." She muttered to herself before she realized what she'd said.
If it was possible his smile was even brighter and she wracked her brain for an excuse to get the heck out of there. "Oh, shoot! I forgot something in the library." She lied taking a step back out. Victor's smile faded. "The library? I'll come with you." He said taking a step toward her. She shook her head and scrambled for words.
"No! No I'll be fine." She insisted but he didn't look convinced. "I thought you didn't like walking alone in the halls."
She did say that didn't she? Oops. "Yeah but really it's okay. You walked me all the way here and you look tired. It won't take me but a few minutes."
Victor crossed his arms over his chest and he didn't look like he was buying it for a second. Suddenly, the corner of his mouth tilted up a bit. "Did you make up not liking the school at night so I'd walk with you?" He asked. Eliza was dumbfounded. Her? Did SHE need an excuse to walk with him? He offered! But she didn't want to sit around arguing that point. She had places to be. "You got me. I was actually planning to ask you if you wanted to go with me to Hogsmeade. You beat me to it." She lied and he stepped forward again.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you? It'll give us time to talk some more." Eliza really didn't want to know what he wanted to talk about. She'd already opened a door that was going to be difficult to close again. Eliza shook her head, hands raised. "No. No more talking!" She said putting her foot in her mouth and having to backtrack. She'd dug herself into a hole at this point and she was going to have to figure out how to fix it another time. "I Just..I gotta go."
"Curfew is in an hour!" He called and she bolted. "I'll be quick like a bunny." She said back before racing off as fast as her legs would carry her. She had no doubt that she probably looked crazy running away from him but that was the least of her concerns at the moment. What had she just done? She was kicking herself for misspeaking but she kept a sliver of hope that she could wiggle her way out of it.
By the time she made it to the classroom, her brain was fried from all the overthinking she was doing. The twins were at the table discussing what they'd sold in the last few weeks when she entered and they looked her way. "You're late." Fred said as the two watched her lean against the door breathing heavily. "What's got you all out of sorts?" George asked. Eliza shook her head. "Just self-sabotage."
"Where's Rikki?" Fred asked. She waited until she could take a full deep breath before answering. "In my dorm. Had to send a package to my friends." She answered vaguely to which George replied "Riiiiight."
She dismissed him and joined them at the table. "I sent them some of those new potions." She said which interested Fred. "Maybe we can expand to America." His eyes twinkled at the idea. The twins went back and forth talking about how they could send products disguised as harmless items. It wasn't until she was listening to them for a few minutes that what they were saying clicked with her. "Are you talking about turning my friends into prank mules?" She asked.
"No?" "Yes." The two answered at the same time.
The practice session was short but worth it just to give her something to occupy her thoughts. She was in the middle of performing incendio when one of the twins brought up the subject she'd been trying to forget about. "Hogsmeade trip coming up." The words made her lose her concentration and her wand produced a mere spark. "Maybe we can get some financial backing from Zonko's if we show off the new potions." George glanced her way at her failed spell with a frown. She'd already managed to do it properly three times already. 'Dang. There's goes progress.'
"Tired?" He asked. Eliza groaned and plopped down on the ground. "You have no idea." The brothers shared a look.
"Alright. What's your problem, then?" Fred sat down next to her and George leaned against the table with his arms crossed. "And don't say nothing. You've been out of it since you showed up huffing and puffing."
Eliza looked back and forth between the two of them before flopping onto her back and pressing the palms of her hands into her eyes. "It's Victor." She murmured, knowing she was never going to hear the end of it.
"Ooooooh." The twins said in unison. She let out an exasperated sigh. "So you were late because you were making time with Victor?" Fred asked. She shook her head. "No. Not on purpose." She let her arms fall to her sides and she stared up at the ceiling. "I was on my way here and he was coming from astronomy. I couldn't tell him where I was going so I said I was heading to bed."
"Okay?" George sounded confused. "And?"
Eliza sat up on her elbows and glared at him. "So he offered to walk me back to Ravenclaw tower." She said. Fred's expression joined George's in confusion. "And you couldn't say no?"
"I was trying to avoid questions." She explained. Having said that, she could have easily said no. But if he'd asked her why not, she wouldn't have known what to say.
"Just tell him you don't like him." George said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That's rude. It isn't as if I don't like him. I just don't...Like him."
Fred cracked up and she turned to him and shoved his shoulder. "It isn't funny!" She hissed but he shook his head laughing even harder. "Yes, it is." He wheezed and when she looked to George for support he was covering his mouth trying to suppress his own laughter. She waited with growing frustration until they had gotten the giggles out of their system. "Thanks for the advice, guys! You're the best!" She said sarcastically.
"Okay. Okay. Sorry. So he walked you to the tower." Fred said after a deep breath. "It's not like he asked you on a date." George said as he regained his composure. At his words she heaved a deep sigh. "Hogsmeade." Was all she said and the two fell into hysterics. Eliza got up and headed for the door. "I'm going to bed." She grumbled shaking her head.
The twins scrambled after her still laughing but at least they were being a bit quieter about it. "Wait!" Fred caught up with her first. "Wait wait wait. Did you say yes?" He asked and George bolted ahead of them before turning and walking backward. He was watching her face with way too much anticipation. "Please tell us you said yes." He said. Fred had his arm over her shoulders and nearly collapsed into her side in a burst of laughter when she spoke next. "I panicked."
George stopped walking and hooked his arm with hers as he fought to maintain a straight face. "It's okay, Izzy. If you really don't want to go with him just tell him you changed your mind." She looked up at him and though he was still trying to hold back a chuckle or two it was nice that he was trying to help. Fred, on the other hand was leaning heavily on her and still letting out a laugh every few seconds. "Can I be there when you do?" He asked excitedly.
George reached around and popped his brother on the arm. Eliza was going to thank him until he said "He means can WE be there?" And she shoved them both away from her. "And Lee! He'd love that! " Fred said as he caught up with her again. "You guys are the worst sometimes." She shook her head wondering how they could be so great one minute and awful the next.
"No one has ever rejected the magnificent Victor Duponte." George mocked his name and Eliza sighed. "I want to see his face when you tell him." Fred sounded like a child waiting for Christmas morning. It made Eliza feel like a terrible person for agreeing to the date in the first place. She ignored what the twins were saying. "Maybe I should just go with him. Keep it friendly." She thought out loud. "I can ask Hannah and Kelly to come with so there's no 'alone time'" she continued while the two groaned. "Oh, c'monnnn."
"I'm sure they wouldn't mind." She told herself. "Yeah. No big deal. It'll be a friend group. Going as friends. A nice platonic outing."
The twins stopped as she continued without them still muttering to herself. "I can do this."
Behind her she could hear Fred and George making bets. "10 galleons says he tries to kiss her."
"You're on. I don't think she'll give him the chance."
"Stop betting on my life!" She called over her shoulder but as she turned the corner she heard them say back. "No!"
