(Well, my cold hasn't cleared up, so I'm home again. Not that I mind. Anyway, thanks so much to everyone who reviewed. And sorry, but Sean Biggerstaff WILL be in my clutches someday. Lady of Masbolle, feel free to help. On with the chapter!)

"What question?" Anna asked me.

"When you asked me if I liked you……" I said, my voice trailing off.

She gave me a critical look. "Oh," was all she said.

"Come on, Anna," the Hufflepuff boy said, tugging on her arm.

"Wait," she said, pulling her arm away from him. "Andrew, are you being serious?"

"Yes, I'm being serious!" I said. The look that boy was giving me wasn't helping the situation.

"Because if you aren't-"

"Anna, listen to me," I said. "I'm being serious. I guess……I guess you were right. I just didn't see it."

"Anna, come on," the boy said again.

"I'm coming, just a minute," Anna told him.

"Oh, come on Anna!" I said. "Don't tell me you'd rather go with him!"

She glared at me. "Maybe I would," she said tersely.

"No you don't," I insisted. "I know you don't."

"You think you know what I want!" Anna exclaimed. "Andrew, I've wanted you since I was five! And, did you know it? No! You don't know what I want! You don't know anything!"

"You cannot honestly stand there and tell me you'd rather be with this guy when you just told me you wanted to be with me," I said. She didn't say anything. "Tell me, does he make you laugh?" I asked.

A small silence followed and her eyes met mine. "He doesn't make me cry." She took the boy's arm and followed him to the library. (Those two lines are from the movie, Ocean's Eleven.)


After my conversation with Anna, I wasn't feeling like much. I went flying again until the Slytherin team demanded I leave so they could practice. I didn't even feel like putting up a fight, so I went on to dinner.

As I sat down at the Gryffindor table, I could feel several pairs of eyes on me. "Hey." David sat down across from me. "I heard about you and Jenna."

"Yeah," I said.

"I saw her earlier. She couldn't stop bawling."

For some strange reason, I felt no guilt. "Oh," was all I said.

I heard about your regrets.

I heard that you were feeling sorry.

I heard from someone that you wish you could set things right between us.

Well, I guess I should have heard of them from you.

I guess I should have heard of them from you.

Don't you see, don't you see, that the charade is over?

And all the best deceptions and the

clever cover story awards go to you.-Dashboard Confessional

"And, I don't know what opened your eyes, but whatever it was, I owe them one," David said. I looked down, the feeling of misery was coming back.

"It was Anna," I mumbled.

"Anna?"

"Anna…… she's what made me understand. I don't know how, but I know she's the reason."

"Oh."

We fell silent for a moment and I gradually began to feel worse. "Why didn't I see it?" I suddenly asked him. "Why didn't I see that she liked me?"

His eyes widened. "How'd you find out?"

"She told me."

His jaw dropped. "Wow, when you're snogging in the broom closet, you sure miss a lot…… So, are you two……?"

I shook my head. "I blew it. She's mad now. She thinks that the only reason I like her is because I'm not with Jenna."

"Is that the reason?"

I shook my head. "I mean, I guess Jenna was just covering it up. I've always just considered Anna a friend because……that's what people always defined us as. Friends. I never realized how great it would be if it were more."

"So why don't you tell her that? I don't need to hear your girly feminine speech. Tell her."

I looked up at him. "I really am blind, aren't I?"

David grinned. "Not anymore."


"Anna!" I ran into the library and was immediately scolded by the librarian. I ignored her and called after Anna again. Anna looked up at me in surprise.

"That's it!" the librarian said. "Out, out, out!" She ushered me out of the library. I waited anxiously outside the library door for a moment until Anna came out.

"Andrew, what is it? What's the matter?" she exclaimed.

I did the only thing that came to mind. I kissed her.

(There you have it. The hook-up. Don't you just love me? I'm in the "hopeless romantic" mood right now. I think it's because I just watched the movie, Serendipity. Anyway, I'll try to update again ASAP. Review!)