Disclaimer: ... You know...

A/n: Ahehe. Just liked posting this part as soon as possible.ü I really like this part. I think it's my favorite.ü You'll see...

By: Aningme

Chapter 17

Dilemma

She gaped at the pick-up car in front of her. "We're riding on that thing?"

He nodded and grinned at her. "Isn't she a beauty?"

Hermione furrowed her brows. "Where did you get this piece of junk?"

"What are you calling junk?" Draco stood beside the new polished car. "This is a piece of art."

"Why do boys like cars so much?" She wondered aloud and went in the passenger's seat. The black leather seat was comfy. It wasn't too small, it wasn't too big. It was perfect. "I mean, it's just a machine."

"Well, we love our cars the same way women like their make up kits." Draco answered as he hopped in his car.

Hermione glared at him. "Not every women uses make up. I don't."

"It's because you're not a woman. You're something else." Draco laughed his guts out. It was fun insulting her.

But then, Hermione fumed at him and punched his jaw. He staggered a little, bewildered.

"What the hell was that for!" Draco exclaimed.

"You'll get more than that if you insult me again." Hermione raised a brow. "Now get going and drive. We don't have all day."

He glared at her too and pouted.

"I told you a million times not to pout!" Hermione shouted.

He made a fake smile and drove. "I'm sorry, you're Highness." He hissed.

She smiled at him mockingly and muttered, "Good boy."

After a few hours on the dry road, they stopped over a gasoline station and picked up some food in the small mart near by.

"You want some of these?" Draco asked, showing her a bag of nuts.

"Nah. I want something sweet. Like chocolate!" She said.

Draco smiled at her and got some chips. "How about strawberry ice cream?"

Hermione turned to him. She beamed. It was her fave ice cream. "I think I'll like that better."

Purchasing one for each of them, they stood by their car and stared out at the green fields ahead of them.

She looked really happy today. Nothing was bothering her. He wanted to take her away from their city life for a while. The city always made her sad and remember Him. He wanted, for once, to set her free from it. Just for once.

"The wind smells great!" She exclaimed and extended her hands in the air. He couldn't help but smile at her. "It's so beautiful here."

"Yeah. Nature's great." He interjected. Leaning his back on the hood of his extravagant car, he stared at the gloomy sky staring down at them. It looks like it's going to rain.

She breathed in deep and stared down at the pool of water in front of them. "Is there a lake or a river in the place we're going?" She asked.

"Yeah. There's a big lake surrounding the place. I think you'll love it."

"We're going to swim there?" She excitedly asked.

"Why not?" He muttered. She smiled excitedly at him and sighed.

But then, prior to their notice, a speeding car passed by them, splashing the pool of muddy water all over them.

Draco fumed and threw his ice cream at the car. "Watch where you're going bastards!" He exclaimed at them.

Hermione suddenly burst out laughing at him.

"What are you laughing at?" He glared at her.

She couldn't stop laughing. "Look at you!"

He stared down at himself and saw his white expensive polo and denim pants soaked in mud. He glanced at her. "Well, you don't look so bad yourself!"

Hermione stopped laughing and saw her white shirt turn brown. But then, after a while, she found herself laughing at herself too.

After cleaning up in the public bathroom and getting back on the road, they stopped by an inn on the way. It would take them exactly two days to reach their destination by car. But Hermione didn't mind. She loved the smell of fresh grass and the deserted roads.

"Well, we better get rest. We still have a long trip tomorrow." Draco muttered, setting their belongings to one side of the room.

Hermione looked around and frowned. "There's only one bed."

Draco glanced at her. "I know."

She stared at him. "That's all you're going to say? That you know?"

She watched him threw himself on the homey beige couch. "I'm sleeping here." He patted it. "And you sleep on the bed."

Hermione thought. "Fair enough." She walked towards the bed and sat on it. It was comfy. And soft too. She smiled and bounced herself.

"I'll check the bathroom." He said and walked towards a door across Hermione's bed.

It was clean inside. The tiles were of cream white, the sink was sparkly clean, and the mirrors were clear. Turning the lights on, he stared at himself on the mirror and observed his face. There was a blue spot building up just above his jaw. It was Hermione's punch.

Hermione walked over to him and watched him poking his bruise on the mirror. Perhaps she was too harsh on him. "You were insulting me so I did that. You should not insult a lady like me you know."

He glared at her. "I was telling the truth. You're not a woman. A woman never punches anybody like this and leaves a bruise on him."

"Well, it's your fault anyway!" She answered back. "I warned you a lot of times not to insult me."

Draco sighed tiredly, still checking up on his bruise. "It's painful, you know."

She frowned at him. He was making her feel guilty.

"A doctor is not supposed to hurt their patients." He added and made a pained face.

"Well, you asked for it, didn't you?" She grumbled. But then, she felt sympathy for him. She sighed, defeated. "Let me see."

Turning his head a little to her, she stared at it and observed it. "Wow. That is painful." She muttered and held his jaw to keep him stable. Lifting her finger slowly, she pinched his bruise and twisted it.

Draco yelped in agony. "Bloody hell!" He flinched away from her. She just laughed and laughed deviously.

"You think a small bruise like that is painful?" She chuckled. "I just gave you a demonstration of real pain." She smiled.

He rolled his eyes. "You are full of evil, Granger."

She made a puppy eyed look on her face. "Aww, I'm sorry Malfoy." She muttered. "Well, you better rest now. You're the one who's going to drive us all the way there."

He just shrugged. "You rest too."

"Yeah." She smiled. "Goodnight Malfoy."

"Goodnight, Granger." He answered.

She then leaned over him and kissed his bruise. "I'm sorry about that." She whispered and walked over to her bed.

He smiled as he watched her walk over to her bed. He involuntarily touched his bruise.

A/n: Just thought of that when I magically got a bruise on my leg. I didn't know where it came from but... I got my idea on that.ü

Anyway...

I won't be able to post personalized messages here again. I have to do something and I just escaped here... so sorry.ü

But catgurfurreel, I still thank you.ü