A/N: Hello all! Yes, you're not the only ones who realize I've been gone for a very (very, very) long time. I'm taking a major exam this October and honestly, I'm just trying to be a good girl - actually finishing my homework and major things like that. Also, I've got a new computer so I'm not really sure how to work this thingÉwho knows what kind of screwed up formatting FFN is going to turn this document into, but oh well, I'll take my chances. Enjoy. =) EDIT: Ah. It appears FFN doesn't agree with this computer. Or maybe it's just my browser. Sorry for any discrepancies. (I can't type Kare's name properly because it turns out like this: KarŽ.)
Katie's POV Chapter Nineteen: Bug-Eyed KidOh dearie dearie dearie dearie dearie me.
Ohhhhhhhhh dearie dearie dearie dearie dearie me.
"Katie, if you walk any slower I'm going to roll over and flatten you with this thing," Kare said, bumping me slightly with the trolley he was currently rolling along.
"Flatten good. School bad," I mumbled back, barely paying any attention to him. Flatten good. Flatten pretty. Flatten a truly wonderful experience.
Kare rolled his eyes and muttered, "You are so weird," before overtaking me, accidentally-on-purpose dropping one of my suitcases off the trolley. "Whoops."
I should have given him a right slap, really, but my mind was much too preoccupied with the thought of having to face Oliver again. Oh, and also with that Tiny Little Promise Aderene made me take a mere few days ago. Speak of the devil, I suddenly felt a tugging on my shirt and looked down to see Aderene looking up at me with wide, staring eyes.
"KATIE, AREN'T YOU GON' PICK UP YOUR PANTIES?" she screamed.
Yes, screamed, because little kids never do things quietly.
Ergo, we can all happily concur that the entire damn train station (including myself) realized that the suitcase that had just fallen onto the floor so accidentally had really contained every single piece of underwear I have ever owned...yes, even my big white lacy grandmother knickers.
"Oh...my...dear...frickin...piece of toast..." I muttered, turning bright red and immediately stumbling to pick up all my scattered...er, personal belongings.
"Er, I beg your pardon," a motherly-looking lady I had never seen before in my life said, walking up to me as I scrambled for my things on my hands and knees, "Where did you get this particular bra? I've been looking for one just like it for five whole years..." I looked up to see her holding out a red-and-black lace bra that was one of my favourites. "Uh...I'll take that, thank you," I quickly said, reaching out to grab the bra from her.
At least, that was what was supposed to happen, but the only thing was that she refused to let go. She just kept clutching onto it like it was her life support with a scrunched-up...moose-like face.
Interesting analogy, really. I've never seen a scrunchy-yet-determined-looking moose before.
"Merlin's beard, take it if it's so bloody important to you," I finally said, giving up the tug-of-bra. I gathered up the rest of my assorted undergarments, dumped them in my suitcase again and stalked off, leaving many stares and the lady saying, "Beard? What beard? Do you mean 'bra'? As in 'Merlin's bra'? ...Who's Merlin?" behind me.
I drew closer to the divider between Platforms 9 and 10 where my father was waiting for me. "It certainly took you long enough. The rest have already gone through, come on, let's go," he urged, and we both stepped through the divider into Platform 9 3/4.
Everything was quite as I remembered it to be. All my friends loitering around the platform doing nothing in particular, laughing and talking and acting like everything was right in the world.
Ah, but everything was NOT right in the world.
But I shall forgive them, because they do not realize that the shadow of Tommy Pickles hangs over us all.
Mom was looking around the platform for something or someone; Aderene was standing next to her, but Kare was nowhere in sight. He could take that trolley of his and run himself over with it for all I cared.
"Where are your friends?" Mom asked.
What, am I supposed to know?
"Katie, where are they?"
Oh, apparently I am.
"They're...well, they're here, for starters."
Mom gave me a highly sarcastic look and said equally sarcastically, "Oh, wonderful." She turned to face the empty air beside her. "Hello, Adelene, Angelina! And how are you two doing today? Oh, yes, my begonias are blossoming beautifully. How is your mother, Lene? Would either of you care for a cup of tea?"
"Frankly, Mrs. Bell, I've just had lunch," a sudden voice cut in. We all turned around to see a grinning Angelina standing there.
"Oh - Angelina!"
"I told you so," I muttered inaudibly. Angelina flashed me a grin and continued, "Kare's already put Katie's stuff into our compartment. I think we'd better get in," this was addressed to me," the train's about to leave. I'll see ya, Renie."
Aderene flashed her an innocent grin before turning to hug me. "Bye bye, Katie," she said loud enough for everyone to hear her, then whispered in my ear, "Don't forget your promise..."
Oh, believe me, Rene. I won't.
***
"Her?! No way," Lene said, waving away the ridiculous theory I had just put before her and Angie. "I think you've snapped."
"I think you're high," Angie chimed in.
"I'm telling you, that kid's a Nazi! She tried to kill Mr. Froggie! What kind of sick, sadistic kid does that?? A Nazi child, that's who!"
Adelene stared.
Angelina stared.
Bug-Eyed Kid stared.
Who's Bug-Eyed Kid, you ask??
I don't know. I just felt like saying that.
Ahem.
"Well, I for one think this promise of yours might actually do us all some good," Lene announced. "Oh, don't look at me like that!! Oliver very obviously likes you but he hasn't done anything - much - about it so far because you've been so stupid. But now, since you've been Enlightened, you can just go skip off to loverboy and tell him exactly how you feel and everything will be peachy dandy. Angie, I just said 'peachy dandy'. Please slap me." Slap. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Angie said and smiled at me. "Want one, too?"
"Uhnothanks," I quickly replied.
Angie shrugged. "Suit yourself."
We sat in silence for a while as I pretended to reflect on my thoughts. You see, this was the only way I was going to be able to get them to shut up. In a way, I supposed they all were right - yup, even Aderene. I can't believe a little kid who watches Rugrats has a higher Intelligence Quotient than I do. How utterly and completely embarrassing.
Well, that'll just be my little secret.
"Hey, Katie, I was just wondering...how do we know you're going to end up fulfilling your promise to Renie? I mean, for all we know you're just not gonna do it," Angelina suddenly spoke up.
Ah.
If I had been devious enough to derive a meticulous plan, that would have been it. There's one escape route gone.
Dammit.
"You know what? You're gonna do it right now!" Lene suddenly exclaimed with the air of one who has just discovered the Law of The Cutest Guys Are Usually Gay.
DAMMIT!
Before I could utter any word of protest, they had kicked me out of the compartment and I was standing all by myself in the train aisle.
All by myseeeeeeelf...don't wanna be...all by my - sorry.
Well then. I suppose I might as well get cracking. Let's see who's behind Door Number One!
I pulled the first door I saw open to see Fred, George and Lee crowding around a suspicious-looking teacup. "Why, hello, Katie," Fred greeted me amiably. "And to what do we owe this pleasure?"
"Actually, I was looking for a certain tall, handsome Quidditch player. Any -"
"Who, me?" George asked, jumping to his feet.
"No, not you. Oliver. Anyone seen him?"
"Oh, I did," Lee replied. "He was with a certain tall, beautiful Ravenclaw, if I do say so myself."
I laughed, asking, "Who, Terry Boot? I saw him earlier on the platform, he's certainly looking a lot more tall and beautiful than I remember him being."
Lee gave me a strange look. "Er, no, I'm not gay? I'm talking about - well, I don't know her name. She's in her fifth year. I overheard her telling Oliver she was in Ravenclaw. And I must say, she's pretty fine..."
"Oh, right!" Fred laughed. "Hey, I heard about her coming, where is she? I've gotta check her out..."
Lee barely got the words "Next car, second compartment on the left" out before I was off, rushing to mentioned compartment. It couldn't be...he couldn't have given up on me...could he?
I reached my destination and was about to knock on the door when it was pulled open. I pulled back and yelped, "Oliver!"
But it wasn't Oliver. Instead, it was a girl about my height, with long, unnaturally straight brown hair, and the greenest eyes I had ever seen. "Oh, sorry, are you looking for Oliver? He fell asleep about half an hour ago - you know how he gets, but I could go wake him up if you want..."
Oh, no. If there's anything worse than meeting Miss Perfect the Extreme Bitch, it's meeting Miss Perfect the Nicest Girl In The World.
"Uh...no! It's, uh, fine. I was just wondering about some...er, Quidditch stuff. I'll just talk to him about it in school. He needs his rest," I smiled weakly.
"Tell me about it," Miss Perfect grinned. "By the way, I'm Lindsay. I'm new here."
Lindsay. Great. Perfect Girl with the Perfect Name.
"Oh, really? That's a nice name. That's a nice sentence you just said right there. And you know what? I've got some nice things to do back in my nice train compartment, so I'll just go now. It was nice to meet you. Have a nice day. Be nice! Use nice punctuation!"
I ran away.
I am calm.
Sigh.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A/N: Mwahahahahahaha! I am done with the chapter. You know the drill...read, review, tell all your friends about my story, pray that I update soon. =) Thanks for reading, people!
