Chapter 12: Kierra Confused
"She's awake! She's awake!"
"Shh! Not so loud! You'll send her back into a coma! Kierra dear," Madam Pomfrey whispered, "can you hear me?"
Kierra opened her eyes slowly. She was laying down, and was surrounded by goggling eyes. Madam Pomfrey was standing over her, looking very pale. She glanced around. The entire quidditch team, as well as Lily, Remus and Peter were staring at her. She heard Dominique let out a small whimper. All Kierra could do was nod. Then she noticed it. The quidditch team wasn't dressed in uniform. James didn't even look sick; on the contrary, he looked remarkably well.
"How long have I been here?" Kierra asked wearily.
"Five days" Remus said quietly.
"Wow...I...why..?" Kierra asked.
"You took a bludger to the head after you caught the snitch." Dominique said.
"Oh..." The memory seemed to return to Kierra as her head began to ache.
"You played wonderfully..." James said, looking at Kierra with admiration. "I think I'm going to keep you on as our permanent substitute, just in case..." he said quickly.
"I dunno..." Kierra said, pulling herself up. "oww!" she shouted as she grabbed her leg that was now throbbing pain.
"Oh...yea, you also took a bludger to the shin before you got hit in the head..." Sirius added.
"And then you fell off your broom...off course it was only a few feet..." Alice said.
"My broom...? James...er...I didn't...hurt it, did I?" Kierra asked fearfully.
"Just a few scratches...but it's ok...really!" James said when he saw how upset Kierra looked. "You coming out of here O.K. is more important than the welfare of my broom, Kierra."
"I'm flattered" Kierra said, smiling. "So...who hit the bludgers at me? Ian and Peter?"
"Peter and Lucius..." Remus answered with a small smile, "He seemed pretty ticked that you tricked him into looking down when the snitch was right behind him."
"That was brilliant..." James said with a small sigh of nostalgia. "Look, When you're better, you've got to start coming to all of our practices"--
"James, I don't think this is a good time..." Dominique said.
"I'm just saying!" James continued, "What if it's you next time? Or Sirius...or Frank...I'm just saying we should have a permanent substitute on the roster..."
"She played pretty good without any practice at all" Sirius replied, "I don't see why"-
"Well, it doesn't hurt to"--
"Hey!" Kierra shouted, "I'm still here you know! Maybe you guys can ask me what I wanna do?"
"Ok Kierra, what do you want to do?" James said sweetly to her.
"I don't have time to watch all of your practices...if you guys ever need a replacement, I guess I'm there...but I'm not up to being a full time member and only a part time player..." Kierra replied.
"But Kierraaaa!" James whined.
"That's enough!" Madam Pomfrey shouted, pushing James and Sirius out of her way. She held out a goblet full of smoky potion. "Ok Kierra, I need you to take this now..."
Kierra took the goblet and took a sip, and immediately sputtered; "AGH this is gross! Why couldn't you make me take it when I was unconscious?"
"You have to be awake to take this potion dear...now hurry up and finish it up! We've got a lot of work to do now that you're up! Now, the rest of you, please leave! You've all got class!" Madam Pomfrey
"Class?" Kierra exclaimed, "Oh my gosh…wait what day is it?"
"Today's Thursday"—
"Oh no! I've got a test tomorrow"—
"Now Miss Nakofsky, you sit back and get some rest"—
"I've been sleeping for five days, I think I'm pretty well rested now…." Kierra protested.
"I don't think so…You'll be in too much pain to get around…you've got a broken leg, you know…" Madam Pomfrey replied as she fluffed one of Kierra's pillows. "Ah..quidditch…such a violent sport….I've told Dumbledore so many times that he ought to ban it here…"
"Ban quidditch? You're kidding me…" James said indignantly.
"Madam Pomfrey, please…I'm feeling fine…I really want to go to class…I've got midterms coming up…I need to be in class!" Kierra said.
"And how do you plan on getting around missy, on that broken leg of yours?" Madam Pomfrey snapped.
"We can help her…" Lily spoke up. "We'll help her get around…"
"Yes, of course! We'd be happy to!" James chimed in.
Madam Pomfrey sighed with defeat. "Fine...if that means I'll be getting rid of all of you so I can at least tend to my other patients…so be it…Miss Evans, be so kind as to fetch Kierra her school clothes…."
"yesss….." Kierra said as she lifted her covers off herself and sat up in bed.
"Wow…you're a dork Kierra…" Sirius said, raising an eyebrow at her. "Excited about going to class…."
"We've got midterms coming up, Black!" Kierra exclaimed.
"So?"
"Well, some of us actually need to attend class and take notes to pass our exams…" Kierra said as she rolled her eyes.
"Hmm…wonder what that's like…" Sirius said thoughtfully, as he walked up to the window and looked at the empty quidditch pitch.
"You're boyfriend's so modest, Dominique…" Kierra said sarcastically.
Kierra glanced over to her right, where Remus stood quietly, staring at the ceiling.
"Erm…Remus…?" Kierra began.
"yea?" Remus said, abruptly shifting his eyes down to meet Kierra's.
"Um…thanks…for saving me….when I fell…"
"Don't mention it" he said quickly.
"No…really…that was really quick thinking…I might not be awake right now…had you not…" a lump seemed to settle in Kierra's throat. Why now? She thought…why…why did she get so emotional…he had just stopped her in midair…he had just…saved her life….
Remus extended an arm out, as if to put it around her, but seemed to think better of it and instead rested his hand on top of her headboard. "Well…you're ok…you're safe now…" he said quietly.
"I got your clothes, Kierra!" Lily shouted as she marched into the hospital wing.
"Well…" Kierra breathed. "This is turning out to be a bit harder than I thought…" she said as Sirius helped her up the stairs, while Dominique carried her bag. This was Kierra's second, and hopefully last day being bandaged up. Madam Pomfrey promised her she would be able to take them off today after class and give her the potion that was right now brewing in its final stage.
"Well, at least it's your last day…" Sirius said, as he helped Kierra up another step. "You are way too slow…."
"Sorry, one of my legs is kind of broken…" Kierra replied sarcastically.
"We're gonna be late for Runes at this rate…" Sirius muttered.
"Since when did you ever care about being late for class?" Dominique asked. Sirius threw her a fake angry glare and turned back to Kierra. "Alright…enough of this…" Sirius said. He knelt down slightly and picked Kierra up.
"HEY! PUT ME DOWN!"
"Shut up Kierra" Sirius replied as he continued up the staircase with Kierra in his arms. "Well, that sped things up a bit, didn't it Kierra?" Sirius said as he put her down when the reached the top of the staircase.
"yea…yea…" Kierra muttered.
Sirius grinned and turned to look at Dominique, who rolled her eyes at him.
"What?"
"Nothing…"
"Oh…I know…you're jealous!" Sirius shouted triumphantly.
"Moi? Jealous?" Dominique asked airily.
"Aw…you want a ride too, don't you?" Sirius laughed.
"Oh shut up Sirius…" Dominique broke into laughter as well.
"You know you can ride me anytime you want, baby…you just tell me the time and place"—
"I'm still here you know!" Kierra said, pinching Sirius's arm. "Save your dirty talk for when no one's around!"
"Mr. Black…" Professor Davies said casually, "be so kind as to turn your essay in…then you can continue whispering sweet nothings into Miss Fiore's ear…"
"Right sir…" Sirius said, hastily searching through his bag, while the rest of the class laughed, until he pulled out a roll of parchment. "Here you go sir…" Sirius said as he marched up to the front of the room and placed the roll of parchment on Professor Davies' desk.
"Thank you, Mr. Black….alright, well, that's it for today, you all are dismissed. Remember, midterms are coming up, do not wait until the last minute to study!" Professor Davies said, casting a look at James and Sirius.
"Wouldn't dream of it sir!" James said as he grabbed his bag and ran out of the class after Dominique and Sirius.
Kierra smiled and gathered her own things. Just as she got up, a stabbing pain went through her leg. 'damnit…' she thought as she sat back down.
"Need some help?" a voice came behind her. It was Remus.
"Er…yea…I could use some." Kierra replied, smiling at him.
With that, Remus grabbed Kierra's bag and slung it over his right shoulder, which was already carrying his own bag. He then helped Kierra up slowly and helped her put her arm around him for support. As he put his free arm around her waist to steady her, he could feel her body tense up. 'Either she really wants me, or is really repulsed by me…' Remus thought, as he helped her out of the classroom.
As they made their way downstairs, the staircase abruptly began to move, sending an unprepared Kierra and Remus flying.
"Woooahhh!" Kierra and Remus both shouted as they toppled down the steps, books tumbling with them as they went.
"Oof!" Kierra landed hard at the landing of the staircase. Seconds later, Remus landed right on top of her, causing her to grunt again in pain.
"So this is how Jack and Jill felt when they fell down that hill…" Kierra breathed.
"Who…?"
"Nevermind…"
"Are you alright?" Remus asked in a soft voice.
"yea…." Kierra opened her eyes, only to be looking right into Remus's eyes, which were now about an inch away from hers.
"that's good…"
"yea...good..."
Kierra and Remus had been staring at each other for a moment, when Kierra finally snapped back into her senses.
"Remus?"
"yea?"
"My leg…."
"Oh!" Remus quickly pulled himself off of Kierra and knelt over her broken leg. "I'm sorry…"
"It's ok…" Kierra said, shuttering slightly. A second ago, Remus was laying right on top of her. She could actually feel him breathe. It had felt so nice…except for the physical pain she felt from falling down the stairs…and of course her broken leg which was probably further broken now…but otherwise…it had been a very nice experience…and he hadn't gotten off until she snapped him back into senses…Kierra thought happily. She looked at Remus, who was feeling her leg for any more broken bones. She fought the temptation to grab him by the collar and pull him back down on her, but instead… "I'm fine…don't worry…I think the same bones are broken…I'm not feeling any new pain…"
"Are you sure?"
"yea…positive…there's no way my leg could hurt more than it already was…"
"Alright, if you say so…well, let's get you to the hospital wing then..."
Kierra bounded down the stairs, heading straight to the great hall to meet her friends for dinner.
"I'm free!" She shouted as she sprinted down the aisle towards Dominique, Alice, and Lily, who watched her with great amusement. "I can walk! I can run! Oh FUCK"-- She shouted as she tripped over her shoelace and fell right at her friends' feet, causing laughter from all corners of the great hall.
"Good to have you back to normal, Kierra" Alice laughed as she helped Kierra up. "We were quite tired of carrying your things around for you..."
"And we were quite tired of hauling your ass around everywhere too!" came a voice behind them. It was James, with Sirius, Peter and Remus.
"You're too kind, James..." Kierra said, "Well, thanks...all of you...for helping me get around these past two days..."
Lily smiled at Kierra, but then frowned, as she saw the boys taking seats next to them. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Eating dinner..." Sirius replied.
"I know that," Lily snapped, "I mean, what are you doing, sitting here? You guys normally sit down there" she said, pointing towards the end of the table, several feet away from them.
"We like it here better..." James said, grinning. "Besides, it's more convenient...to be right next to you guys...now I don't have to get up if I wanna tease you all...and Sirius is right by his...what did you call her the other day Sirius?"
"Shut up!" Sirius and Dominique said together, both blushing.
"Oh yea! his...pussycat!" James chuckled. The others burst into laughter.
"Is that your universal nickname, or can we keep calling you D?" Kierra laughed.
"Shut up..." Dominique muttered, now looking as pink as the strawberry icecream that sat in front of her.
"Guys...I've got to talk to you..." Kierra said, as they made their way out of the great hall. She glanced around to make sure the boys were nowhere near them. "About Remus..."
Alice, Dominique and Lily immediately stopped in their tracks.
"Oh, keep walking, would you?" Kierra snapped. They quickly reached the portrait hole and made to rush up the stairs to the girls dormitories, when a voice behind them called after them.
"Why are you ladies heading off to bed so early!" James called after them. "It's only 8:30!"
"Tired!" Alice shouted as they ran up the steps.
James snorted. "Yea right!" James turned to his friends, who were playing exploding snap, and said "they're probably gonna have some little gossiping session..."
Kierra immediately recounted the incident when she and Remus fell down the stairs.
"...and he didn't even move! Not until I reminded him about my leg"--
"Ah...he totally fancies you, Kierra..." Lily said excitedly.
"yea...and he's become nicer to you these last couple of weeks...pays more attention to you...I think he does like you..." Dominique said in agreement.
Kierra sighed. She had a crush on him since last year...and now...finally, it was mutual...
"So, are you gonna dump Kyle then?" Alice asked.
"Huh?"
"Well...how else is Remus going to ask you out? He can't do that if you're seeing someone else!" Alice replied.
"Good point..." Kierra said dumbly. "Ok...I'll do it tomorrow..."
"Tomorrow we're going to Hogsmead!" Lily reminded her. "Unless you want to go spend the day with him and then just break it off...you should do it now! He was downstairs in the common room, just go...tell him now!"
"Now..?" Kierra whined. She turned to Alice and and Dominique for help, but they nodded in agreement with Lily. Kierra sighed. "Yea, ok..." and with that, she marched back down the stairs.
"Oy, back already?" James asked as Kierra came into the common room. "This is great! Now you can do my divination homework for me"--
"Do it yourself Potter..." Kierra said, looking for Kyle. She spotted him at a table on the other end of the room, laughing with Frank Longbottom.
"Er...Kyle...?" Kierra said as she walked up to them.
"Hey Kierra! What's up? Oh...I wanted to ask you if"--
"Um...can I talk to you...in private..?" Kierra cut him off, afraid that he was going to ask her to spend the day with him tomorrow at Hogsmead.
"yea sure...see you Frank..." Kyle said as he got up. "Is everything ok?"
"Why don't we get out of here...take a little walk..." Kierra said, seeing that Remus had noticed her and Kyle.
"Whatever you want..."
Once out of the common room, Kyle took Kierra's hand in his own as they began to amble down the corridor. "So what's up?"
Kierra sighed. "ok..um...I don't know how to say this...I...really like you Kyle...you're really sweet...and funny...but..."
"Oh no..." Kyle sighed. "not the but's...I've got a feeling I know where this is heading..."
Kierra frowned and looked at him apologetically. She really did feel sorry. "I'm sorry...I just don't think...that we really...click..."
"I thought we got along great..."
"We did...we did...I mean...we got along...but...I never really felt anything between us...nothing more than..well, friendship..."
"I see..." Kyle said quietly.
"I mean...it's nothing against you Kyle! I really do like you...but it would be dishonest on my part if I kept seeing you..."
"Is there someone else?"
"yea...I mean...I haven't gone behind your back...I haven't done anything...I just mean...my feelings are heading in another direction...that's all...and I can't control where my affections go...I'm sorry..." Kierra hated breaking up with people.
"No...it's ok...you're not at fault...I totally understand." Kyle replied.
"So...you don't hate me for ending things...?" Kierra asked timidly.
Kyle smiled slightly. "No...of course not...just...don't tell me who this other guy is...I might hate him..."
"Well in that case...I think I better head up back to my room...before you ask..." Kierra said.
"Good idea..I...I'm just gonna linger around here a bit longer.."
"Alright...well...goodnight...thanks for understanding..."
Kyle smiled at her. He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. "Goodnight" and with that, he turned on his heel and trudged off.
Kierra sighed with relief. That didn't go too bad, she thought. Actually, that was about the healthiest breakup she had ever experienced. She slowly turned around, and headed back to the portrait hole.
As the portait swung open and Kierra stepped through to the common room, she saw that it had emptied out quite a bit. As she made her way towards the staircase, she saw Sirius and Remus heading up towards the stairs to the boys' dormitory.
"Hey Moony, have you got plans for tomorrow? I told D we'd cut our date short so she could hang out with her friends and I could hang out with you guys."
"Sounds good" Remus said, "only I've got a date tomorrow myself. I don't think Megan will mind if I don't hang out with her the whole day."
"Well, if she does, she's welcome to join us...so what has it been, a week now with her, right?"
"yea..." Remus replied, "she's great...really sweet girl...and she's funny..."
"Not to mention gorgeous..." Sirius interjected.
Remus laughed. "yea, that too..."
Sirius and Remus had disappeared up the stairs, and Kierra stood in the common room. had she just broken up with Kyle in vain? Kierra marched up to the girls' dormitory, to see Alice, Lily and Dominique anxiously awaiting her.
"Well?" Lily asked excitedly. "How'd it go?"
Kierra plopped herself on her bed and looked at them miserably. "Fine..."
"Doesn't sound like it did...what happened?" Dominique asked.
"Well...the break up went fine...he took it o.k...but...I just heard Sirius and Remus talking...he's still seeing Megan..." Kierra said, who was now crying. "I broke up with Kyle for nothing! He still likes Megan! He's going to see her tomorrow! That stupid Megan! Sweet..funny...gorgeous...Megan!"
"Did he say that about her?" Alice asked.
"Yea...well, Sirius called her gorgeous..."
"What!" Dominique snapped. Alice nudged her in the ribs and gave her a warning look. "Oh...Right..." Dominique said grumpily.
"Look...he doesn't know that you've broken up with Kyle, does he?" Lily asked. Kierra shook her head. "Well then, just give it some time...if he's not at your side, asking you out when he finds out you're single, I'll be very much surprised..." she said with a smile.
"You really think he'll ask me out?" Kierra asked, wiping her eyes.
"I'm sure he will" Lily replied. "I mean..between you and Megan...come on...there's no question about it..." Lily said, as Kierra smiled. "There you go!" Lily grinned at her, "don't get upset over it! Just give it some time, that's all!"
"yea, ok...I'll do that.." Kierra said, pulling herself up to change out of her school clothes.
"Gorgeous..." Dominique muttered as she pulled her pajamas on. "just who does he think he is..."
"aww...someone's jealous!" Alice laughed.
"I'm not jealous! I just...he shouldn't be looking at other girls! I was under the impression that he and I were exclusive by now!" Dominique exclaimed as she pulled her nightshirt off, having put it on backwards the first time.
"You are! But still...he's a guy...they look...even if you've been married to them for fifty years...they still look..." Alice said coolly. "You just have to get over it."
"That's disgusting..." Dominique said.
"Yea...well...so are guys.." Lily replied.
"Frank doesn't look at other girls, does he?" Dominique asked.
"I've only caught him a couple of times, in the two years we've been dating...but I didn't make a huge deal out of it...I mean...I know he still loves me..."
"He told you he loved you?" Dominique asked, nearly falling out of her bed.
"Er...yea..a long time ago...D, he and I have been dating for ages..."
Lily snorted. "When are you guys gonna get married anyway? You guys act like a married couple...been acting like that since last year..."
"Oh shut it, Lily..." Alice muttered, turning slightly pink and hiding under her covers.
"Yes, do shut it," Kierra said from underneath her own covers. "I'm trying to get some sleep!"