Chapter 31 – He's almost never there…
I felt Oliver's hand graze my wrist as my body plummeted into the ice-cold water. I closed my eyes feeling the water consume me and suck me into its depths.
I looked up and noticed a black splotch on the ice above me, I realised I must have slipped in and gasped.
An air bubble escaped my lips and I felt the air being pushed out of me. I closed my eyes thinking desperately 'I'm gonna drown! I'm gonna die!' I opened my eyes and looked to the surface.
I saw some small blotches appear on the ice and saw someone nearing the hole I had fallen in from.
'Oh no! They might get stuck in here too, I need to get out!' I began kicking my legs hard and was propelling slowly upwards, the hole now about 3 metres away from me as I reached out to it and soon felt my legs wearing out. I heard a couple of girls screaming for help.
I paddled my arms, feeling the coolness beginning to kick in. I was about a metre away from the hole, when I tired out again, my body swaying gently downwards once again.
'There has got to be another way out!' I thought angrily as my lungs gasped for air. I looked around quickly and realized something.
'Duh! Why didn't I think of this earlier!' I closed my eyes and a muffled pop ringed through my ears before I was kneeling on the ground beside the lake.
I heard Alicia screaming "Oliver, be careful when you jump in!"
"Don't try and be hero, you dumb ass! Fred, George get back here, and throw him a rope or something!" Angelina screamed from nearby a tree.
I spluttered out some water inhaling deep breaths. "What? You guys planning to strangle me when I'm down there too?" I muttered out slyly. I opened my eyes and saw Alicia looking at me with wide eyes.
I smiled at her as she ran over to me with Angelina and Ginny. I was soon enveloped in a tight hug.
I looked over Angelina's shoulder and saw Fred and George throwing a rope over to Oliver and sliding him over the ice.
I smiled into the girls' warmth as I shivered in my cold clothes.
"Katie? I'm so glad you're okay!" I looked up feeling a sudden release from the girls' grip, which was soon replaced by Oliver's warm arms. I cuddled into him clinging to him limply as I shivered involuntarily.
"Here, let's take off that jacket your going to catch a cold." He said slipping my wet jacket off my shoulders. I nodded dumbly as he took his jumper and put it lazily over my shoulders as he held an arm around my waist pulling me across the yard towards the house.
We were about half way to the house when my legs gave way. "Sorry, I'm just so tired from when I tried to swim back up" I said with head down as Oliver held me up by the waist.
He draped my arm over his shoulder and lifted me up. I blushed noticing that he wasn't wearing a shirt and his chest was exposed.
I quickly hid my head in Oliver's chest hiding my blush from Ange' and Alicia's sniggers.
I heard George's footsteps hurrying over to the door opening it as me and Oliver walked onto the veranda and than into the lounge.
Oliver placed me gently down on a chair by the fire. I smiled up at him thanking him silently.
Mrs Weasely came out holding a cup of something steaming strangely. She pushed it into my hands urging me to drink it.
"Drink up dear, you'll feel better," she said as I held the cup wearily to my lips. I looked at the swirling fog in the glass. 'If I'll feel less cold.'
I closed my eyes and downed the drink. 'Mmm, it's kind of like peppery cola? 'I squinted my eyes as the warmth of the liquid started affecting me.
I squinted my nose as steam started shooting out my ears, and whistling. I opened my eyes and looked up at everyone as it stopped.
I giggled and held my ears as George and Fred dissolved into laughter.
"Much better" I murmured sinking into the plush comfort of the sofa. I closed my eyes before looking at Angelina.
"Something up Kates?" She said looking at me questioningly.
I shook my head and snuggled into the jersey 'Oh the jersey!' I took it off and held it out to Oliver who was still exposing his chest, "Oliver you'll get cold if you don't put it on," I said pushing it towards him again.
He shook his head "Katie if you don't wear it 'you'll' get a cold, I mean your all wet and everything after all," He said pointing down at my body. I looked down and realized he was right.
I stood up and thrust the jersey into his chest as his arms clutched at it. I walked towards the stairs "I'm going to get changed into something warmer," I said turning my back and climbing the stairs.
I knocked on Ginny's door "Can I come in? Are you decent?" I said leaning my head against the door.
I heard a giggle fill the room "You can come in, I'm decent," She giggled. I pushed open the door and closed it slowly behind me.
I walked in looking around for my suitcase; I saw it at the end of one of the beds and walked over to it.
I unzipped it and pulled out a pair of navy trackies, a white spaghetti tank top, a baby blue polo zip-up and a scarf (And undergarments, a blood red lacy ensemble F.Y.I)
I said bye to Ginny and walked across the hallway to the bathroom I plopped my things on the floor and turned my back I started peeling off my top it slapped on the tiles as it fell to the ground quickly. I felt the cold prickle at my skin and quickly took off my pants as I reached up to my back to unhook my bra I heard something shuffle. I turned around before I shook my head in disbelief "Fred, George, What is Oliver going to say if he knew you 2 were in here while I stand here in my see through lingerie?" I said pointing my finger at them as the 2 looked gob smacked. Fred had his hands on the tap and George had a hand towel limply on his hands staring at me
"Uh, we don't know what he'd say but why don't you ask him yourself?" Fred said pulling the shower curtain aside a bit. Oliver waved a small smile as mine slipped off my lips.
"Okay, everyone get out!" I said pointing at the door. Fred and George scrambled over to the door; Oliver came over to me and looked down before looking up at my eyes as I glared at him.
"I'm sorry it won't happen again," He said smirking as he turned and walked out. I slapped him on the back of the head and poked the tongue at him. He merrily shrugged and skipped up the stairs probably to Fred and George's room. I closed the bathroom door and locked it.
I walked over to the tap and cupped my hands under the cold water. I splashed it at my face to stop my blush appearing. I wiped my face and looked up at the mirror "God, that was embarrassing," I said looking at myself in the mirror.
I quickly got changed into my clothes. I decided to put my polo on when I got out, while putting my clothes in the laundry basket.
I opened the bathroom door and skipped the steps two at a time reaching the landing in no time; I pulled my polo on while on the last few steps.
I slipped one arm through one of the sleeves as I walked through the door everyone looked up at me as I slipped my other arm through the other sleeve.
I looked over at Oliver and saw him looking at my chest, I quickly zipped my zipper up, as his gaze-met mine, I poked my tongue at him as I sat down on the floor in front of him.
I looked at the clock 'its 7.00pm' I looked back over to Fred and Alicia.
"So, Is everyone staying here tonight again or you guys going home?" Fred said looking around the room.
"I'm going back tonight at 9, my aunts coming over tomorrow," Alicia said sadly
"I can stay if I want whatever, my parents don't mind," Angelina said happily.
"While I live here so I can leave and go whenever I want!" George said matter-of-factly.
"My dad wants me to go see him at Christmas, so I'll be going home tonight as well," Oliver said looking at the floor glumly.
I leaned in between his legs looking into his eyes I held his chin up, "It's Christmas! Presents! Come on that's a good point?" I said smiling.
He smiled weakly back and gave me a hug "Anyway why is it sad that your dad wants you to hang with him at Christmas?" I said looking at him with big eyes. (AN: no I don't mean like bug eyes, I mean those cute watery ones which show a cute emotion, eh, I don't understand how to explain it very well,)
"He's almost never there," Oliver, said looking away, I turned to look at Fred and George they both nodded, I looked back at Oliver holding him tightly to my chest.
"Hey honey, if your dad isn't there this time, you can come and stay with me at the beach house," I said warmly, as he hugged me tighter.
"Thanks Katie," He said before leaning back and giving me a peck. I heard some gagging behind me.
"Anyway what about you Katie, what are you doing?" Fred said as he took his finger out of his mouth.
I rolled my eyes before answering, "My aunt wants me to model some of her work," I said poshly while flicking my wrist at the word 'posh'.
I saw Alicia and Angelina break into giggles. I looked back Fred and George as they looked at me surprised.
"What are you modelling Katie? Muggle contraptions? Clothes? -" Fred began
"Or howz about 'lingerie'?" George finished. I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him making him roll backward off his bed. I laughed at him as he tried to disentangle himself from some of the blankets that rolled off with him.
I turned my body around and nestled in-between Oliver's legs resting my arms over his knees.
After a few minutes of explaining why I was modelling for my aunt, Mrs Weasely called us down to Dinner.
Dinner was silent until Fred and George decided they wanted to use us as test dummies for their joke shop inventions.
After turning into a canary, turning back and than turning into a cat. I decided I was full. I stood up and excused myself from dinner as the others soon followed suit.
I took my plate over to the sink washing it by hand and putting it away. I than walked upstairs and found Alicia packing her things, grabbed my clean laundry, which Mrs Weasely had put on my bed when we had been talking about me modelling.
I put it in my suitcase, I waited till Alicia was done and we both dragged our stuff downstairs. I leaned it against the couch and sat down as Oliver soon came down with a small over-the-shoulder bag.
I smiled and patted the seat next to me. He came over and sat down wrapping an arm around my shoulders as Fred and George came over. They both stood behind both Oliver and me, Fred behind Oliver and George behind me. I turned my head to look at them with a look of questioning; they both winked at each other and dangled something in front of our faces.
I looked at the silver chain dangling in front of my face before it dawned on me. "Thanks guys…but what are they for?" I said as I reached out to the locket as George let it go in making the chain fall into my grasp.
"It's an early Christmas present from us to you," Fred said proudly. I looked back down at the locket.
The locket was shaped like a silvery/gold heart locket it designs was simple, there where little swirls on the rims, but it mostly had a smooth look to it. I put my fingernails in the crevices trying to pry it open.
"Hey you two got me a locket that doesn't even open?" I said arching a quizzical eyebrow at the two; they smiled at each other nodding their head towards Oliver. I looked across at him and saw him holding the locket up to his eyes apparently looking at something on it.
I leaned over to Oliver and looked at his locket, he had a similar chain to mine but his was a bit thicker and longer. It was designed as one you could click onto your pocket, and his locket was oval and a bit larger.
I reached out to grab it but he moved his shoulder, I reached out at it again landing on top of his lap. He chuckled at me. "You know you could've just asked?" He said dangling it over my head as I lay on his lap.
I gave him puppy dog eyes and reached out to it like a baby would "Please can I have it?" I said innocently.
He dangled it lower for me to reach it; I latched my fingers on to it and took it to my eye level. I looked at the intricate detailing and design.
I saw a small groove on the side of his one; I looked back at my one and noticed a small object lodged in the side. 'Interesting,'
I brought it closer to my eye to examine it until a small glowing red love heart shaped key poked out of the tip of my locket.
I looked up at the twins who were shrugging their shoulders not so innocently. I returned my gaze back to it "While go on, try it," I heard Oliver say as he encircled my waist with his arm protectively.
I propped myself up still sitting on his lap and I slowly brought the two pendants together as I heard everyone intake a breath, as I inserted my locket I felt a tingling sensation fill my arms. I looked up at Oliver. He looked at me with wide eyes.
I heard the locket click, I whipped my head around looking at the locket as the lid slowly opened. I leaned my head forward trying to get a better look.
The lids slowly began opening as a pink light began to filter out of it. Fred and George exclaimed 'whoa!' while Alicia and Angelina simply held their arms over their eyes. I closed my eyes at the brightness before hearing a small tinkling noise, I squinted my eyes open looking at the lockets.
"It looks familiar," I said listening hard for a sound. I scratched my head thinking hard before a small amount of red fog appeared above the lockets.
I looked more carefully and saw it was a fog version of Oliver and me.
'Mini me' held onto Mini-Oliver looking at up at something in the distance which looked like they were looking at us, I smiled looking at Oliver remembering the memory.
"I love you," Mini-Oliver said looking at Mini-me sweetly.
Mini-me turned her face to look him in the eyes. "I love you too," She said kissing him on the lips.
The fog soon misted out and I looked down at the lockets. I saw a picture of all 6 of us on one side of the frame; it was the same photo I kept on my poetry book (AN: in chapter 11)
I looked on the opposite side and it was picture of Oliver he smiled and winked in it. I giggled at it.
I looked at Oliver's one and saw the same thing in his one but instead of himself it had a picture of me blowing a kiss at him.
I turned my head and looked at Oliver he simply smiled and kissed me on the lips, I turned my head and looked at the twins.
I beckoned them forward and engulfed them in a big hug "This is the awesomest, sweetest, greatest present I've ever gotten," I said squeezing them tighter.
"Ugh! We got it Katie, but can you just loosen up just a teeny bit," Fred said.
"Yuh, thanks," George said as I released their necks allowing them to breathe
'This is so fantastic,' I opened the chain and clicked it around my neck fiddling with it. 'That's going to be a bad habit,' I gave Oliver his one as he clicked it to his pants and put it in his pocket.
"It's time, I've got to go," Alicia said from beside George, I slowly stood up and walked over to her hugging her, Oliver doing the same after me and giving her a peck on the cheek.
"Say hi to your mum for me?" I said smiling at the memory. She smiled back and nodded "Of course." as I stood by the couch.
She stood up on tippy-toes and kissed George on the lips, as we all 'Awed' her. She blushed before waving goodbye and apparating away.
I walked over to Angelina "I'll see you next week on the train," I said hugging her, "both of you as well," I said giving a hug to Fred and George at the same time.
Oliver shook their hands and gave Angelina a kiss on the cheek and a hug before walking over to me.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him to me, I looked up into his eyes as he slipped his arms around my waist.
"Concentrate on me this time," I smirked, he rolled his eyes and closed them. I poked my tongue at him and looked at the twins and Ange' "Have 'fun' for me and see you on the train next week!" I said I closed my eyes and apparated both of us and our luggage to the beach house veranda.
I felt the surroundings around me change to a warm breeze and refreshing salty ocean air. I opened my eyes and looked out onto the beach at the sunset.
"Open your eyes, and remember this," I said looking back at Oliver, his eyes fluttered open and he looked around him and back at me.
"I'll never forget this," He said looking at me. He leaned down and kissed my lips sweetly.
The moment engraved in my mind forever. I sighed into his lips leaning my forehead against his "Remember, if he's not there come back here with me, whenever, it doesn't matter, okay?" I said looking up into his eyes. He smiled and pecked my lips "Of course, I'd rather here with you than anywhere without you," He said. I rolled my eyes.
"I know it sounds mean, but you have to leave," I said pushing him away slightly. He chuckled at me and kissed my lips.
"I'll see you soon and write to me," He said pulling away from me and clutching his shoulder bag.
I nodded and blew him a kiss as he apparated away. 'I hope hell be okay,'