Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Katie Bell has been alone for the last four years. After the wedding of her best friend, she heads to the Leaky Cauldron. After she gets drunk, will she make some mistakes that she'll regret later? Oliver Wood/Katie Bell
Disclaimer: *cell phone rings* Hello? *listens* Yeah, that's me... *listens somemore* WHAT?? *turns to the readers* Ok, which one of you told the lawyers that I own Harry Potter?? Oh yeah, I see your guilty face! I don't own Harry Potter so there!
Chapter Six: Dinner with the Quidditch Player
A week went by smoothly.
I was pleasantly surprised at the workout Darryl gave me. Ok, pleasant wasn't the word to use. Let's just say that he's cruel and unusual. I couldn't sit on my butt the next day because it was so sore. Jeez, I only have to work at this place for another month and I'll be in the best shape, since...well...Oliver's killer workout in seventh year when we won the Quidditch Cup.
Ginny, Erica, Hermione, myself and occasionally Susan went out to lunch every day. It was fun to compare tabs on what was happening in the Ministry. We kept going into different restaurants and leaving reservations and then leaving. (All Susan's idea if the cops come after us, okay?) Hermione was worried about it at first, but calmed down after we saw a poor soul, trying to find 'the Flintstones', and failing. She nearly laughed her head off at lunch that day.
I wrote back to Oliver telling him that I'd have dinner with him on Friday night. It just so happened that Ginny was at my cubicle, waiting for me to organize a file before leaving for lunch when Oliver's owl, Elmo, found me. (Does ask me, but he likes Sesame Street...He fell in love with it in Muggle Studies class at Hogwarts. Poor deprived Pureblood...) Ginny managed to drag the information out of me, though I still have no idea how she did it. I think that they take mind-controlling classes when training to be reporters. How else do they find out the stuff they do??
That is the reason I have three really excited women at my flat trying to help me find what to wear for my so-called 'date'.
I was sitting on my bed, the one with the red flowers on the bedspread, watching , Ginny, Erica and Hermione dig through my clothes. (Susan had a hot date herself tonight, or I'd have four women here.) It's rather amusing. "Hey!" I said loudly, standing up. They all looked at me. Susan was holding a long sleeved light blue shirt, while Hermione was holding a skirt that looked like it had come out of the Brady Bunch. Erica on the other hand was holding a tube top, which I was pretty sure, wasn't mine. "I don't need help here, guys, it's just Oliver..."
"Honey?" Ginny came up to me and touched my cheek. "It's Oliver. Oliver Wood?? He's England's most eligible bachelor, and he's taking you to dinner! You need to look perfect!"
England's most eligible bachelor. Doesn't that sound just a itty-bit familiar?
"That's it Gin." I said. "It's just dinner, it's not like he's going to get down on one knee and propose to me tonight!"
"You never know." Erica said, wiggling her eyebrows. "Men are so unpredictable."
"I thought women were unpredictable." I muttered under my breath. Ginny smacked me upside the head lightly. I feigned being hurt. "Owww..." I whined, rubbing my head.
"Oh you big baby."
I know. I thought
"Here, try this on." Erica said, shoving the tube top at me.
"Erica, that isn't even mine! I would never own something like that. Mind you it's early spring. I'd freeze." I said rationally.
"You'd have Oliver there to warm you up." Erica giggled, tucking a strand of silver-gray hair behind her ear. She had told me earlier this week that she was only 29, but she had dyed her hair since she didn't want to end up like her mother, complaining every time she found a gray hair.
Hermione rolled her eyes and held out the skirt. "I think this would be wonderful."
I made a face. "Mya, as much as I love you, I will not wear that. I'll look like Mrs. Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver."
Ginny sighed exasperated. She went over to my closet and rooted through it. "Where are you guys going to do tonight?"
Hmmm...wait what were we going to do? Oh, that's right! "We were going to do for dinner then go dancing." I smiled. The dancing had been my idea. I didn't want to get too dressed up and have to primp for a very long amount of time, but given the three women I was with, it's taking longer than expected...
"Ok, then you'll need some classy, but casual." Ginny said, looking a little more.
"Nice oxymoron Ginny." Erica muttered.
Ginny glared. A few seconds later she pulled out a skirt that I had bought years ago. It was a jeans skirt and it went half-way down my thighs, so that it wasn't preppy Hogwarts style-down-to-the-knees, but it wasn't exactly what you would find on a prostitute either. It was light blue instead of the dark kind of jeans (which I totally hate by the way). I had totally forgot I had it buried in the black hole I call my closet.
"Ooooh!" Erica squealed. "Perfect! Here, I found this..." She held up a light purple tank top. "earlier."
"Honey..." I said. "I'll freeze! It's bloody cold out!"
"Here!" Hermione tossed me my jean jacket. My eyes widened at the sight of it. I wondered if I dare wear the jacket I was wearing when I...well...was drunk with Oliver...
"It's perfect." Hermione said logically. "You'll look great, come on."
I turned away and gave a pained look to my mirror.
"Oh, they're right dear." It said to me. "Have a little fun!"
"Who asked you?" I muttered.
*+*
"Katie, are you ok?" Oliver asked me. I was nervously folding, unfolding and re-folding my napkin to keep my hands busy. I'd be biting my nails, but Ginny managed to dunk my fingers in vinegar and so they taste nasty if I pull them in my mouth. Damn her.
"Um...yeah, I'm fine." I said, giving a nervous chuckle.
Oliver looked at me over his menu, the darkness of his eyes pulling me in. "Katie. I watched you eat for seven years in a row. The only time you even bothered with a napkin was when there was either a test in Potions or it was the day after a Truth or Dare game and you were forced to proclaim your undying love for Marcus Flint."
I scowled at him. Bring up ancient history why don't you? I thought. "I guess, I'm a little nervous." I admitted slowly.
Oliver grinned at me. "Do you want another napkin? I think you wore that one out."
I made a face. I'm such a child. Oliver's face grew serious. "What's up Kates?" He asked.
I took a shuddering breath. "Doesn't this seem awkward?" I said hurriedly. "I mean...usually you sleep together after you've been dating for a while...and here we are."
Oliver gave me a shaky smile. He took my hand in his. "Here, how 'bout this? We never had sex. I didn't see you drunk. We're here as friends, catching up."
I smiled at him. He knows me too well. "I hate you for being so perfect." I said to him.
He shrugs, a grin dawning on his handsome face. "I try." He says with a pleasing grin.
We spent the duration of the evening discussing Quidditch. (Really, if someone expected it to be different, well...they don't know Oliver. He can relate ANYTHING to Quidditch.) I got the most wonderful Caesar Salad in the world. For a guy, Oliver had good taste in restaurants. He ordered spaghetti with meatballs. This time I couldn't refrain from stating my opinions of meat. Heey! I'm an outspoken person! Forgive me.
Any guy could survive my lecture on meat, is a special person. Oliver took it in good stride surprisingly. I half-expected him to come out fighting. I guess that's the Quidditch side of him that he tries so desperately to hide.
We walked outside and I shivered. "Cold?" Oliver said. He didn't even wait for me to answer and he put an arm around me.
I looked at the sky, and I could just imagine Erica's face saying "I told you so."
"Shut up." I muttered.
"What?" Oliver asked.
"Nothing."
We walked along the streets of London, talking and joking. We came upon a club called "The Oasis." It had been one of my favorites in my waitress days and I had come here nearly every night with friends. "Come on!" I told Oliver, pulling on his hand. I looked at him. "Hey Ollie, what's wrong?" I asked, looking bewildered at him.
"I don't dance well..." Oliver said slowly but deliberately.
I stared at him. "Well then." I said. "Then you'll have to learn, won't you?" I gave him a grin that could have resembled an imp and dragged him into the club.
Music blared out of the speakers. It nearly blows you backwards if you're not used to it. Oliver was almost out of England when her heard it. "Damn!" He yelled into my ear, and I still barley heard him. "How do you stand it?"
"Years and years of practice!" I responded. "Come on!" I dragged him into the throngs of people dancing.
"Ok, just first, relax!" I said to him. "99% of dancing is pure natural."
"What's the other 1%?"
"Talent."
Oliver rolled his eyes.
Oliver wasn't kidding when he said he couldn't dance. I tried not to laugh as he tried so hard to do what I told him. He needed to loosen up, the dang perfectionist! I could have sworn I heard him muttering "hips loose...relax...be natural...." but it could have been the music.
But finally by the end, he had finally gotten the hang of it. He had some creases that needed to be ironed over, but hey, I can't complain. I laughed at Oliver more than I had ever dreamed at Hogwarts. He's gonna find some way to pay me back, I know it. A slow song came over the speakers. It was the first slow song this evening. They rarely have them in here, but they do it occasionally. Oliver's eyes widened. I nodded to him, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and he placed his arms around my waist.
I wake up in the morning
I put my face
The one that's gonna get me
Through another day
Doesn't really matter
How I feel inside
Life is like a game sometimes
Oliver swayed unnaturally to the beat. I smiled and stopped for a second. Then I mouthed, 'RELAX!' and he smiled. I wrapped my arms a little closer on his neck, liking the feeling of him close to me. I felt the music slip through my body, the song reminding me of my life, how I felt around Oliver...
Then you came around me
The walls just disapear
Nothing to surround me
Keep me from my fears
I'm unprotected
See how I've opened up
You make me trust...
I felt Oliver's heartbeat as I put my head on his shoulder. It was slow and steady, almost in time to the music. His arms were wrapped protectively around my waist. I was sunk so deep into the song and the music.
Cuz I never felt like this before!
I'm naked, around you
Does it show?
You see right through me
And I can't hide
I'm naked, around you
And it feels so right
yeah-yeah
There were several couples on the floor, swaying every so slightly. Why in God's name do they call it slow dancing? Seriously, no one dances slow...it's more like sway-back and forth to make them think you're dancing while you stand extremely close to someone you like. Ok, so slow dance it shorter. But mine's better, you have to admit. Oliver was still slightly tense, and I punched him in the arm lightly. He looked at me with the puppy eyes, but I mouthed 'RELAX' again just to make my point.
I'm trying to remember
Why I was afraid
To be myself and let the covers fall away
I guess I never had someone like you
To help me fit in my skin!
I never felt this before!
I'm naked around you
Does it show?
You see right through me
And I can't hide
I'm naked around you
And it feels so right!
Why did Oliver have to smell so good? I don't understand the smell of pine and oranges that are filling my nostrils. The song was getting me. I convinced myself. It reminded me so much of what was happening. I wanted to smack myself on the head several times, but I didn't want to break the fragile moment that was stretching for eternity...
I'm naked...does it show?
I'm so naked around you
And I can't hide
You're gonna see right through!!
I'm so naked around you...
And I can't hide...
You're gonna see right through...
baby...
The song faded away, and I really didn't want to pull away from Oliver, because he felt so nice and comfortable. And yet I did. I looked into the deep pools of brown in his eyes as another song came on. I couldn't see Oliver, just his dark brown eyes. They came closer and closer, until they became too blurry to see, so I closed my eyes. I felt his soft lips press gently against mine. Gently, he moved his lips, slowly, rubbing mine. I responded by kissing back. Suddenly I realized what I was doing. I pulled back. Oliver looked at me, confused. "What?" How I heard his whisper over all that music, I'll never know.
I took a couple steps backwards, feeling vaguely panicked. Then I turned and ran. I ran out of the club and stopped, breathing heavily. I sat down on the curb, not noticing the couple snogging on a bench. I put my hands on my face and then through my hair. What did I just do? I thought to myself.
"Katie." I heard him behind me. He sat down next to me. "Katie, what's wrong?"
I felt a tear slip down my face. "Why are you doing this?" I asked tearfully, looking at him. "Are you just doing this because you feel sorry for me? Because of 'poor Katie', hasn't gotten a date in four years? If you are, I don't need sympathy." I felt another tear and then another slip down my face.
"Oh, Kates..." Oliver breathed. He whipped the tears away with his thumb and held my chin in his hands, making me look at him. "Don't ever think that. I would never do that. If I was giving you sympathy, I'd send a card."
I gave a short laugh. I looked at him. He looked right back at me. "Katie, you have no idea how much you mean to me. We were friends for seven years, and to have this chance to see you again, it's amazing. It's like I have a second chance." He touched a hand to my cheek. I closed my eyes. "I'd never do something like that." I opened my eyes and looked into his.
He leaned in and kissed me again. He was gentle and didn't try to shove his tongue down my throat like some guys I had dated. It was actually quite nice. Ok yeah, get over it already. It pure and simple, and my heart was racing the entire time.
We walked back to my flat in silence, our hands entwined around each others. When we reached my doorstep, Oliver gave me short and sweet kiss.
"So, do you want to go to dinner again?"
Really! Does he need to ask?
A/N: Ack!! The fluffiness of this chapter is suffocating me!! But I'm happy. I finally got to use the word snogging!! Ok, I'm weird...
BTW ~ I don't own the song either. It's Naked by Avril Lavinge