"What was all that about?" Riley asked looking at Tara with questioning eyes.

"He. Well, we were just scheduling an appointment to study together." Tara said in a trying-to-be-casual voice.

"Right. Tara, I'm not that thick. You guys just scheduled a date!" Riley said unable to control herself. She just noticed that she's been getting very short tempered nowadays.

"Alright Ri!" Tara yelled. "It was date! We scheduled a date! Happy?! I really like him, okay? Well, not really. I just like him. He's not as snotty to me as he is to you guys. I know he's conceited but really he's a good guy."

Riley felt bad about pushing her friend to the limit. Her and Tara were best friend and even though they weren't as close as she was with Leilani they were still best friends. She knew that Tara had to make her own decisions it was just killing her that her decisions included Malfoy.

"Alright Tara." Riley said finally.

"What? What do you mean 'Alright Tara.'?" Tara asked oddly.

"It's your decision. I won't say anything to the girls if you don't want me to." Riley said unable to do anything else about it. Her conscience was telling her that this was the only way.

"Thanks." Tara said plainly. She walked up to her best friend and hugged her. "You always were the most understanding next to Becky."

"Next to Becky?" Riley asked shoving Tara away quizzically.

"Well, she is more understanding than you." Tara said honestly.

"True." Riley agreed. "Sorry.

"It's okay."

They walked back to the common room together. The whole way Tara was trying to explain to Riley that Malfoy was a good guy.

"I'll never believe you until he proves it to me." Riley said confidently.