Chapter 6 – What the Hecka?

Disclaimer: The poem said by Cali is called His Secret by Anna Lugauskas in Teen People magazine and is not mine and neither is this story. J.K. Rowling is the owner of HP/

Death is to die, but life is to live

Cali's POV

Wow I praise Sirius and James for their distracting skills. I don't think Becca and Ally could've forgotten about that issue any other way. Rylee, Lily, Keltie and I were walking right behind the guys talking about our own stuff when we saw Holly walking up to Remus. That little bitch hole! God I love that word! Is it my own?

Suddenly I see Remus pushing past Holly and running away. He's running pretty fast. The girls and I run quickly to catch up to the boys who are yelling after Remus trying to run but Remus is too fast. They look like a bunch of fools if you ask me.

"Sirius! What the hell just happened with Remus and Holly?" questioned Rylee frantically.

Sirius looked at Rylee terrified.

"I don't know! He just – Oh shit! I think he's headed for the astronomy tower!' yelled James in mortification.

He's what, I yelled inwardly. I started sprinting much faster than anyone had ever seen me run. I probably shouldn't have done that, now that I think about it. I couldn't risk the seven of them finding out. I reached the astronomy tower to see Remus peering over the edge. What the hecka! Here I thought he was the smart marauder. Hey, is that an oxymoron! Okay back on topic here.

"Remus? What the hecka! Step away from the ledge and put your hands where I can see them please!" I ordered Remus. Hopefully, he wasn't going to take the plunge.

Remus turned around. He looked at me, "Cali?"

"No. Holly. Of course I'm Cali!" I said sardonically. It's weird, I'm rarely ever sarcastic but when someone is about to kill themselves for reason I do not know about yet I'm suddenly sarcastic. Meh. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Remus! Don't! Why the sudden death wish?" I asked, panting. Talk about delayed reactions. Okay I really need to stop cracking jokes. If that's what you call 'em. I guess I'm stressed eh? Well stressed spelt backwards is desserts! What am I saying? Remus almost killed himself and here I am making gay jokes. Not that gay people suck I love them. Just not that way. You know?

Remus was looking at me and I realized that while I was making my stupid mind jokes I was looking at him!

"Why do you care?" he asked bitterly.

I looked taken aback. Where was Remus that we all knew? I looked into his eyes intently and then a revelation came to me. This wasn't the Remus we knew. Because we didn't know Remus.

"Listen Remus, I care because you're my friend! I care about you cause you care about me! I care about you because-..." I faltered before starting up again.

"Because I love you."

I let the words sink into his brain and watched his shocked expression. Hehe I enjoy this. Oh god here we go again! I'm starting to like saying What the hecka too!

"You don't love me. I'm a monster. I have a secret Cali," he responded in the freakiest voice I had ever heard him utter.

"I'm a werewolf."

That's when images flashed before my very eyes. I remember the pain in his eyes that reached into his soul. That sweat through his glands that you could feel when you touched his hands. That you could hear on his breath, which stomped under his step. That shook his laughter. That I didn't truly see...until after.

I looked up at Remus and I understood. Now that I think about it...how many Aunt Millicents could Remus have had? Why didn't I realize it sooner? Remus looked at me and then continued on.

"I've been ridiculed my whole life. Well, since I was four years old. You don't know how that feels do you? Having a secret your whole life? Not being able to say anything in case someone rejects you or runs in the other direction just because of who you are?"

I nearly laughed at the irony of it all. He had no idea. The dude had no idea did he? Well grow vampire teeth and BITE me! I hate to stop these stupid jokes don't I?

"Remus, I'm disgusted," I said softly.

Remus looked at me disconsolate. He looked at me like all his dreams had come crashing down on him. That's when I groaned inwardly. What kind of fool am I? Okay Cali, play it cool.

"I'm disgusted that some people would ridicule you for being a werewolf. It's not who you are. It's just a part of your life. It's not your personality. It's what you become once a month. You can't help it! We love you for who you are. Lily loves you. Rylee loves you. Sirius loves you. James loves you. Peter loves you. Keltie loves you. And...I love you too Remus."

Remus looked up at me a smile creeping up on his face.

"You mean that?" He asked.

"More than anything I've ever said."

He walked up to me and slid his hands on my waist and kissed me softly. Oh god I had been waiting to be kissed by Remus Lupin since forever. It was finally happening! I couldn't believe it. The soft kiss turned passionate but soon the need for air and proper breathing grew too strong and we pulled back.

"Will you go?" he asked nervously.

I looked up at him, mystified. I had just had the most mind blowing kiss of my whole life and he wanted me to go? For Merlin's sake, guys thought females were confusing? As if!

"Go?" I asked meekly.

"I meant, will you go out with...with me?" he asked again, more confident than the last time.

You know I actuallyl ike this freaky-deaky joking side of me. I think I'll try it out on Remus! Haha evil and mean! The best of both worlds!

"Wouldn't dream of it," I replied meanly. Eww I feel so mean. And the downcast way Remus was looking at me made me want to puke. I leaned up and kissed him passionately and when I pulled away he was against the wall and both our lips were swollen.

"Just joking." I smiled. He smiled as well and led me down the stairs of the astronomy. I was still kind of tired from sprinting up those things. Now I knew why Remus ran so fast. He was on the quidditch team too wasn't he? Yeah! Lil' was a chaser along with James and Remus and Sirius was beater, Peter was keeper and Rylee was the beater. She may not look it but that girl has some anger.

We finally reached the Common Room. Jesus I'm never going to the astronomy tower ever again. That's one bloody long walk. As we walked into the Common Room everyone started looking at us funnily. Was there something up my nose? Well there was the occasional booger but that was no one's business, I thought angrily.

Then I realized it was because Remus was groping my arse and my hand was around his neck. That might've turned a few heads. I cackled inwardly. I had just snagged "The sweetie". You see, all Marauders had their little nicknames. James was "The Hottie". Sirius was "The Bad Boy". Remus was of course, "The Sweetie" and Peter was "The Cutie". All in all I had just snogged one of the most eligible bachelors in the whole of Hogwarts.

Ah. All in all, life was good. I was suddenly snapped back to attention with Keltie rapping her knuckles against my temple. Honestly, these days, a girl could get no peace!

"What?" I asked innocently.

Kelt coughed at me. We had been best friends since we were seven. Naturally, the Michaels had taken me in. My parents well, they're a mood dampener. Another story for another day.

"Yeah?" I inquired again, distractedly. Remus was doing something and I was too busy giggling. For a boy nicknamed "The Sweetie" he wasn't as sweet as sugar. Oh god Carol. You got it baaaaad. Which reminds me, what month is it? Ah...the sweet fruits of life. It's December. My. Time had flown by ... hadn't it?

Remus looked at me as if I had gone batty. I smiled and tilted my head. Works like a charm, I swear. Especially with old ladies.

"Yeah...me and the ol' Calster are officially a couple," announced Remus dazedly. Again, I cackled inwardly. It was funny because everyone saw me as the quiet sometimes humorous Cali Romanov but I had just proved I could be hilarious and loud. Haha and I was enjoying every minute of it.

The six of them just stared at me like I had just grown five heads and had fungi sprouting out of my ears, with snot all over my face. My anger came back as I thought again, that was no one's business!

"That's it?" asked James.

"We thought it was something like...huge," explained Sirius, quite lamely might I add.

"You mean to tell me...you expected this? Wait...you set us up! How could you?" I screeched at them.

Rylee looked at me and by the look she gave Keltie it was obvious she had concluded to herself that I had finally gotten myself an entry to the loony bin. The others looked at each other and wondered who exactly was going to inform me of there "plan".

Finally, Peter came up and said it. I'll make it known I was extremely offended when he said, "Are you thick? It's so fucking obvious you guys have liked each other since PUBERTY!"

I looked at him and sniffed, "I suppose."

This time all of them rolled their eyes at me.

"Holy mothers, Cali! What the hell is wrong with you today! You come storming into the astronomy tower muttering about heckas or something but thanks for that and then you're acting all funny! It's freaking me out," ranted Remus.

I was suddenly overcome with a feeling that I had been feeling quite frequently today. I was highly offended. Suddenly, Sirius was overcome with the need to speak. I would attempt a homicide later on.

"So...what'd ya guys do?" he asked eagerly.

I looked at him coldly.

"Stuff."

"How ABOUT...we all go wander around the school?" interjected Peter, obviously scenting danger and wanting to avoid it. God bless that child.

With that, we started to go outside...why, I don't know. As we turned a corner we ran into the most unlikely of suspects, Holly McFarland. Way to ruin someone's day, eh?

"What the HECKA?" I shrieked unsuspectedly.

"Remus...I was wondering do you want to continue our...um activities that we started last night? It was sort of run hearing you scream my name out... over and over," she said.

WHAT? I looked at Remus and –

IM SORRY! Cliffie! I need ideas I have major writer's block!

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