Tru was aware that she was consious, but she found that she was afraid to open her eyes. Her body was heavy and she could feel the material of a bandage wrapping tightly around her head. Her hand yet lay so stiff at her side that she couldn't raise it to feel the bandage and wonder why it was there. Or why there was a pounding pain on the left side of her head. Or why she was whereever she was in the first place. She could feel soft thermal sheets rubbing at her skin from all sides and a soft pillow under her head. was she in a hospital? Her bedroom perhaps? only one way to find out. She opened her eyes to find herself staring at her ceiling. And with a sigh of relief, she turned her head to observe.
Sitting by the window, she saw Draco, his head lolling to the side and eyes closed in slumber. She couldn't help but smile. There was a book on the floor beside him, it's pages askew and the bookmark portruding from nearly halfway through it. The shades were pulled open to reveal a red sunset glistening over the trees and mountains beyond. She could see the wind gently pushing the trees to the east and already starts beginning to awaken from the day's slumber to light up the night.
Tru tried hard to sit up, it took a lot of effort. When she was fully in a sitting position, she gathered her senses and looked at the time. 7:00. On the nose. She thought that perhaps her father would be starting dinner. She stretched and felt her head hit the wall and let out an "OUCH!" in a hissing whisper. Draco stirred and opened his eyes. He jumped from the chair in surprise when he saw Tru sitting up. He rushed to the bed and sat beside her. "Hi." he said gazing at her. Tru looked into those eyes. Those sparkling grey eyes. And she felt a stab of guilt, but not knowing why. She forced a smile onto her pale face and replied "Hey...what happened?" She rubbed the back of her head and winced slightly, feeling a lump under the bandages.
"Some moron was running through the streets and you got knocked out by the side of a building. That's what Nicholai told us." Draco's voice became tense and Tru felt a gigantic pull in her stomach. She had almost forgotten about Nicholai, and despite herself, she smiled. "Did he bring me home?" she asked with a cheerful note in her voice. Draco's eyes seemed taken aback, but the rest of his body remained still. "Um...well yah he did. And he's been coming back every day to see if you're-" "Whoa!" Tru interrupted. "How long have I been out?" Draco twiddled his thumbs before answering. "About a week and a half. It's a wierd thing to us too. We took you to the doctor and they were so busy they wouldn't let you in so we took care of you. And Nicholai's been coming back every day to check up. He's quite a nice bloke." There was hidden sarcasm in the last sentence and Draco looked away.
He couldn't help but think that even though Nicholai explained that he and Tru had only met that day when he brought her back, that he might be developing feelings for her. And despite what Draco had promised he wouldn't feel, he felt a smidge of jealousy arise every time he was mentioned under that roof. And right at that moment, there was a knock and the blue eyed, pointy nosed, black haired boy walked in with a bouquet of white roses and a get well card that sang a get well song by the Wierd Sisters when you opened it. He smiled and removed the hat he was wearing. "Am I interrupting anything?" he asked with the polite, deep tone that took Tru's breath away. He handed the flowers to her and sat on the other side of the bed opposite Draco. Draco had to use all self control not to say something smart or glare at him.
"Oh, no you're not Nicholai." Tru answered, smelling the flowers. "Thank you so much for everything, Draco told me all about what happened." Nicholai smiled at Draco. Draco took it as a mockery and went stiff. "Oh, so now I don't have to explain eh?" In Draco's mind, he mocked this right back into that stupid, pretty boy face of his. "No, and she's feeling much better." Draco turned to Tru. "Aren't you?" a hopeful tone in his voice. Tru nodded and got up from the bed. Draco held her arm to keep her steady because she stumbled slightly. Nicholai chuckled and took the arm from Draco leading her to the door. "Come, your father is preparing dinner for all of us." Draco stood, in silent fumes. "Who does he think he is...some prince charming?" Draco mumbled mindlessly on his way downstairs.
Though Draco had only met Nicholai a week before, he deeply disliked him. He didn't know what it was about him, but mixed in with his jealousy was a deep dislike that he couldn't explain. When he reached the kitchen, he nabbed the seat next to Tru so fast he almost fell, and smiled to recover from his slight embarrassment. Remus and Ellina sat at the ends, and Nicholai across from Draco. (To Draco's utter displeasure). There was much chatter around the table. Draco and Nicholai however, stared at one another for a long time. Draco couldn't tell if he was glaring or not. Nicholai's eyes weren't looking at him in anger, or mockery, but curiosity. "What is it Draco?" he asked politely, putting his spoon down into his soup.
Draco straightened up, instead of slouching carelessly over the Lupin's table like some immature child. Showing Tru how a man should act at the table. "Nothing, I was just curious. Where do you live, Nicholai?" Nicholai was silent for a moment, and Draco thought he had him in a corner, trapped. But then "I live down in the Hog's Head. My Uncle works there, he's the custodian. And I help him on occasion. I also go to Hogwarts, I will be in my seventh year next year." Draco's mind pounded it's fist down on the table, but he remained still and strained a smile which came out to be more of a half sneer. Nicholai continued to smile and eat his soup. Draco wouldn't take his eyes off of him, and he knew that Nicholai was aware of it, he just didn't care. Remus and Ellina looked at one another and Remus nodded. "Well, I'm stuffed, I think Ellina and I will retire to the study, you all just find something to do."
Nicholai stood and held a hand out to shake Remus' and Remus took it. "Thank you very much sir, but I really must be getting back, I am supposed to help my Uncle with the cleaning. But thank you very much for the dinner, it was delicious." He shook Ellina's hand and then reached for Draco's. Draco paused, staring Nicholai straight in the eye, that annoying polite smile dancing on his smug and stupid face. Draco wanted to merely break his hand. But shook it nonetheless. Nicholai then bowed himself out of the room and not but five seconds later did the door slam. Draco let go of his tension and slumped back into his chair. Tru and himself were then left alone in the room. His heart began to pound when he saw her smiling after the front door.
Draco was dying to burst out the question that preyed upon his mind, though he wondered further if he dared. He then looked around for topic of conversation. Nothing but utensils and plates and cups. Damnit. Tru looked over at him and smiled. "He is rather nice isn't he, Draco?" Draco was afraid this would happen. But he might as well tell her the truth right?
"Well...maybe a bit too nice. I dunno there's just something about him that I don't really like. I mean it's ok if you like him not like you need permission but I'm just saying. Be careful ok?" The seriousness in his voice made Tru take this considerably to mind. But then she giggled and stood from her chair walking around to Draco's other side and giving him a tight hug around the shoulders. "Don't worry about it ok? He's a good guy. And a gentleman I might add. Don't frett all right?" she smiled at him, Draco smiled back, with a beautiful sparkle in the stars like her smile it was difficult not to. She leaned down and gave him a peck on the cheek, in which made her pause, inches from his face. Draco's eyes remained staring and content on hers.
The feeling in Tru's heart and body was of utmost confusion. Here sat the love of her life, and out only a little ways away walked this new boy. She had no idea what to think of this situation. But for this moment she was stone cold in a moment, trapped in a hole where the deeper it got, the less she wanted to climb out. Draco again found himself inching closer to her. He couldn't help himself and that's when Tru blinked at him. "I'm going to wash up. I'll be back in a little while." She smiled awkwardly and Draco nodded, still staring into her eyes and he watched her go upstairs until he couldn't see her and then looked out the window. A frustrated pout on his face.
