DISCLAIMER: You know the deal – all recognisable characters and settings are J.K Rowling's and the rest, including the whacked storyline, is mine!

AN: Hey sorry bout the long wait - I've been pretty busy and I've got a mild (but developing) case of writers block. Thanks for all the nice reviews (keep them up) and I hope you all like this chapter. Here goes: -

CHAPTER 17: Torn apart

Lying in bed was agony. I had to think! Talk about being confused. Actually confused isn't the right word. Torn apart sounds a bit better. Wood had looked so good that night and now that we were speaking again he was being just adorable. And what he said. No, no this wasn't right. I liked Cedric. Didn't I?

I woke up the next morning. I was about to get up when I realised it was Sunday. I let myself fall back into bed. Hmmmm…? What was I going to do today? I knew that I had promised myself to do school work but that didn't seem important now.

I crawled to the end of my bed and rummaged around in my trunk until I found my walkman. Yes I know it's a muggle thing but I have become addicted. I grabbed it and fell back on the bed. I put my headphones on and closed my eyes. I could always relax so well when music was playing in my ears.

I just lay there for a while with my eyes closed. I had tuned out so much and felt so relaxed. I heard a soft noise in the room and opened my eyes. It seemed that Alicia and Katie had gotten up and left. The noise I heard was the door shutting. They knew me well so they knew that it was not a good idea to disturb me while I was listening to my music. I shut my eyes again and felt the beat stream through my body.

I must have just stayed there for hours just listening and drifting in and out of sleep. Suddenly I felt something touch my side. I opened my eyes with a start.

"Wood!" I yelled, somewhat loudly as I still had my headphones on. I pulled them off and turned the walkman off. "Don't scare me like that."

"Sorry," he replied softly. "I called your name but you didn't hear me." He sat down on my bed.

"You better not have come to tell me there's a Quidditch practise on," I said frowning.

"No no, nothing like that," he said quickly. "I just wanted to see how you were. It's just it's almost midday and you hadn't come down stairs yet."

That's when I remembered last nights occurrences. I remembered the dance we had shared and the intense feeling that had reignited itself when we were dancing. Had he felt it too? Maybe I was just jumping to conclusions. I mean he knew that I was with Cedric now and he wasn't that kind of person to try something when I was with someone else. Maybe it was just a friend thing. Or had I given him the wrong impression? Maybe I shouldn't have danced with him. What would Cedric say? Should I have been more loyal? No, Wood was now just a friend. Wasn't he?

"Angie?" Wood said ripping me out of my thoughts.

"Oh,!" I said in surprise. "Sorry, I was just thinking."

"About what?" he asked.

"Stuff," I said looking down.

"C'mon," he said grinning. "I'm sure it's more than that."

Well of course it was but could I tell him? I didn't even know myself. But he was a good friend. OK, here goes.

"Yeah it is," I said nodding. "But you better get comfy." His face fell. I moved over so he could lie down next to me.

"OK, what's up?" he said.

"Well let's start with last night," I said sighing. "What happened there?"

"What do you mean? We were just dancing. Nothing more."

"Are you sure? I mean I'm not. Is there really nothing more?" I asked not looking at him, just staring up.

"Look Angie, I know that you're with Cedric and as much as I don't like the guy I respect your decision. I realise that I made a mistake and I know it's entirely my own fault that you're not with me. If I could go back in time I would change it but I can't so all I can do is accept it. Trust me it's not the way I would want it to be but it's not my call anymore. I'm happy with the fact that I can still lie here and talk to you. At least I haven't lost you completely."

Talk about pulling the heart strings. I could feel tears pricking my eyes. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. How could he just be so open?

"Wood, you'll never lose me, unless of course you treat me like you did after the Snape thing."

"About that," he started.

"Shhhhhh! I don't want to talk about it."

"But…"

"No. I just want to forget it. Listen, I better get up. I've got school work to do and I… umm… I have to go see Cedric." I felt mean mentioning Cedric like that around him. It was just like I was rubbing it in. I didn't want to make him feel worse than he did after telling me that other stuff.

"I understand. Maybe I could help you with some school work or something?" he asked shyly.

"Sure," I said smiling "That would be great." He got up and went to the door.

"See you later Angel." He waved and left.

"Hey Wood!" I called, but he was gone. I just wanted to ask him why he still called me Angel.

I got up too and got changed. I went downstairs and headed to the Great Hall. With any luck Cedric would be there. He was. He was sitting at his table talking to a group of people. A girl next to him nudged him and nodded in my direction. He looked up and smiled. Then he got up and walked over.

"Hey, long time no see," he said kissing my cheek. "Have a nice sleep?"

"Yes thanks," I said. I was about to say something else when I was distracted by people from my own table. It was all my friends waving at me. I waved back. Wood was there too. He smiled at me. I waved at him. I turned back to Cedric and he didn't look as happy as he had done previously.

"Angie, will you come for a walk with me?" he asked.

"Sure, why what's up?" I asked turning to walk out of the hall with him.

"I think we need to talk."

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AN: OK, this chapter wasn't overly interesting but Wood was in it –and was being cute – so that's always good. A few unanswered questions but you'll just have to wait. I have a fair bit of work to do for school – last week before the holidays and still 3 assessment tasks. So give me about a week. But yeah, I hope you liked it… I think it's coming to an end soon (once I come up with a few plot ideas). I'm open for suggestions. And don't forget to review and tell me what you think. Until next time… Love L.A