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CHAPTER 8

Hermione stared at the door.

It was a nice door.

A brown door, in fact

It had a small doorbell beside it.

She shook her head and tried to compose herself. It was no good staring at Chris's door and observing his doorbell. She had to push the doorbell.

She lifted her arm. It felt like it was made of lead. She brought it right up to the doorbell and pushed.

She winced as it rang, shattering the silence that was hanging about the corridor.

Something is wrong with me just now.

She heard footsteps coming towards the door.

Did I drink too much coffee before coming?

A hand fumbled with the lock inside.

Wait a minute- I didn't drink any coffee before coming.

The door swung open. And Hermione stared right into the face of the man she had loved- still loved.

Chris stared at Hermione. She looked somewhat the same- the same creamy white, oval face, deep brown eyes, and curly brown hair that bounced around when she walked. The same smooth, pink lips and white even teeth. She was dressed in a long black skirt and a black spaghetti-top.

And yet, she looked different. Her face looked tenser, more worried. She had the look of a woman who had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

He felt his heart knot.

'Hermione!' he said, in a fake cheery voice. 'Hey, it's nice to see you again, gal!'

His voice sounded false even to his own ears! Hermione didn't seem to notice, though. She seemed to be struggling to speak.

'Hey, Chris,' she managed, finally. 'C-can I come in?'

'Sure,' he said, moving aside, and letting her walk in. she stumbled a bit, and he reached out to catch her. He ended up with his hands around her shoulders. She looked up, and he was startled to see her eyes filled with tears.

'What's the matter?' he asked, gently.

To his surprise, Hermione struggled, and pushed his hands away, gaining her balance.

'Don't touch me!' she said, fiercely.

He felt like she had stabbed him. He immediately put his hands behind his back, and looked up to find that she looked stricken.

'Sorry,' she whispered.

'That's okay,' he said, without realizing that he too was whispering. 'Why don't you come and sit down? Would you like something to drink?'

'No thanks,' Hermione shook her head. She followed Chris into the living room, and sat down upon a richly embroidered divan. Chris sat down opposite her.

A strange, awkward silence filled the room.

'So...uh...are you sure you don't want anything to drink?' Chris asked, again.

Hermione shook her head.

'Getting married, huh? Who's the lucky man?'

That was the last straw. The tears she had been holding back all this time came flooding out, and suddenly, Hermione was curled up with her head in her arms, on Chris's divan, sobbing her eyes out.

'Wh-what happened?' Chris stammered. 'Hermione? Are you all right?'

In response, Hermione lifted her tears stained face and glared fiercely at him.

'How could you do this!' she shrieked, jabbing a finger at him. 'How could you do this to me?'

'Hermione, I-.'

'You played with me! Used me! And the whole time, you were in love with that-that-.'

'Listen, Mione-doll, I-.'

'Don't you dare call me that, you bastard! Where's Mina anyway! In your bed!'

'No,' Chris said, quietly. His voice sounded bitter. 'We broke up.'

Hermione, who was just about to start yelling something else, felt her jaw drop.

'B-broke up?'

'Yes, Mione. Darling, I'm sorry. She was just a bitch. I really never cared for her.'

Hermione glared at him.

'You let me tell you that I loved you. And then you "introduced" her to me.'

'She didn't love me,' Chris said, his voice filled with sadness. 'She just wanted- money. Dumped me for someone richer. Listen, Mione-doll-.'

'Don't call me that!'

'Why not?'

'Because- because that's what you called me when we were going out.'

Chris walked over to the divan, and sat down beside her.

'I never really loved Mina,' he said, softly, in her ear. 'Mione-doll...go out with me?'

Hermione stared at him. She saw his blue eyes staring back. Cunning, rather weak blue eyes, she realized suddenly.

She had thought that she loved him. He had given her everything she wanted, pampered her, bought her expensive presents. He had sweeped her off her feet, and taken her on romantic cruises, and moonlight dates, candle-light dinners, and everything else. He had whispered soft things in her ear, and flattered her, telling her that she was sexy and beautiful. He had taken her virginity, and she had willingly decided to give it to him.

And then he dumped her for someone more beautiful.

Did she really love him? How could she love someone who was so shallow? He had dumped her, broken her heart into a million pieces, and was now asking for her to come back, because Mina had gone?

She looked straight into his blue eyes, and opened her mouth to give her answer.