Chapter 13 - Being Without
She awoke with a smile on her face, grinning from ear to ear.
Why the bloody hell am I grinning!
Her window was open.
"Was it really a dream?"
She shook her head and sighed, stretching as she sat up in her
bed. Was it a dream? It felt so real… that kiss… I could have sworn…
Stop it. Stop thinking about it.
"Was what really a dream?" asked a sleepy Alicia, sitting up from her bed.
Her eyes widened as she saw Katie awake and staring at the window,
unaware of the thoughts going through her head.
"Katie! You're awake! How are you!" she shrieked, running over to
the bed, nearly jumping on top of her poor friend.
Katie nearly laughed at the sight of Alicia's face, which was so full of fear.
That is really a cruel thought, Bell…
Oh, stop bugging me, you stupid conscience.
Ah, but where would you be without me? Alone in the streets, perhaps?
Oh shut it and sod off!
A hand was waving in Katie's face.
"Pluto to Katie! Pluto to fatie! You there?" asked Alicia, staring
worriedly at her mate.
"Don't worry about me, Lish. I'll be fine. Just need to think, that's all."
"Well, while you're thinking, you can sure as hell tell us what happened
and what's going on between you and Oliver. You two had us so
worried last night!" exclaimed Angelina, who came prancing in the
room from the lavatory with her hair wrapped in a towel.
"What, before or after our third class?" Katie smirked, refraining herself
from adding a sarcastic comment about orgies. I really did have a good
comment about that one, too…
"Well, after, I suppose," murmured Angelina, sitting next to Alicia on the
bed. Alicia nodded silently. Katie, the only one thinking about orgies at
the time, looked at her two best friends and sighed.
"Okay, well…"
And so I shall spare you any further boredom of hearing the tale of the
argument (for lack of a better word) between the famous Oliver Wood
and Katie Bell yet again.
Let us instead fast forward to a few minutes afterward…
-FAST FORWARD TO A FEW MINUTES AFTERWARD-
"So… you're saying the he acted like a total ass to you, you walked off,
and now all hell has broken loose?" questioned Angelina. Alicia glared at
her, more or less for her ignorance. (oh, touché' Alicia!)
"Yes," sighed Katie, glancing at the almost forgotten window overlooking
the quidditch grounds. It really did look peaceful down there. I bet the grass
is very dewy and soft right about now…
"Katie! 'Ello!" exclaimed Angelina with her waving hand. Katie has seen
too many hands this year.
"Well, so he is an ass. So what! Just forget about him, seeing as he will
be a total jerk to you," said Angelina, looking her friend in the eye. Alicia
hit her. Katie snorted.
"It isn't that easy, you know! I, having just figured out that I am in love
with my best friend of almost nine years, am having just a small bit of
difficulty forgetting him!" she nearly screamed out hysterically.
The other two merely passed each other knowing glances. Apparently,
they weren't surprised.
And neither was Katie, to tell the truth.
"Katie, listen to me. Not 'Miss I have my Underpants up my Arse'
over there," Alicia gestured at a fuming Angelina. Thank the wizards
above she had decided to keep her mouth shut this time.
"You and I both know that Oliver didn't mean any of it. He was jealous.
Simple as that. Don't go being all dramatic about everything. It's not going
to work with us," she continued on bluntly. Katie tried to speak, but she held her
hand up.
"I am not finished! Thank you. Ahem! As I was saying… oh yes. I am certain
he will try to talk to you eventually about this whole situation. It will blow over,
I promise. For now, don't do anything. Let him make the first move. Okay?"
Katie could only nod, tears forming in her eyes.
"Oh dear. Why are you crying!" exclaimed Angelina, holding Katie in a tight
embrace.
"I… love him… so… much…" Katie gasped out, tears choking her.
"We know you do," whispered Alicia, rubbing her friend's back to comfort
her.
"Just don't let this get to you, okay?"
"Okay."
"Good."
The three stood up from the bed, pushing one another playfully.
"Alright, looks like it's my turn to shower first, seeing as how you two will
take too bloody long for me," smirked Angelina. The other two laughed and
shook their heads.
"No, it's just because you are dying to find your Ickle Freddiekins," snickered
Alicia. Angelina turned around in mid walk, glaring at her.
"Why, I…! Wait a minute. You would actually be right. For once," she grinned,
ducking her head and running for the bathroom before Alicia had a chance to
chuck a pillow at her.
"Come on, Katie. Get dressed and we'll go down to breakfast."
"Yes, my mistress."
"Now, none of that!"
Still Nobody's POV
"My, Katie! Don't you look quite dashing today, if I do say so myself!"
exclaimed George, running up to the two girls in the Common Room. Katie
giggled and looked down at her outfit: long, dark worn in jeans, her short
sleeve, favorite red "George's Jungle" tee, and her beloved pink
and grey vans. (A/N: skate shoes. Extremely comfortable.) She shrugged.
"Spare the compliments today, George. She doesn't need them. Do you,
Katie?" smirked Alicia while she embraced George.
"No I don't think I do, Lish."
"Good."
"Okay."
"Didn't we already go through this!"
"Where's Fred?" asked Katie, looking around the common room.
"You mean you can't hear his snoring?" snorted Alicia.
"He's over there, sleepin' like a wee babe," George snickered, pointing
at one of the nearby couches.
Before anyone could say another word, they turned to face the girls' stairs,
hearing a very angry voice.
"I am going to kill you two! Leaving me when I am in the middle of taking
a shower! Very unfair, I tell you! I was just in the middle of drying my hair
and all!"
Down Angelina swept on the stairs, shorts and a tee hastily thrown on, wet
hair clinging damply to her. The two girls cringed, while George merely
rolled his eyes, snorting into his mouth.
"Keep your bra on, Ange! We're right down here!" exclaimes Katie.
"Bra?" George mouthed at her, silent laughter overtaking him.
"Oi! Keep that mind of yours out of the gutter, will you?" Alicia playfully
slapped his arm.
"Well, how about I just keep my mind down in the gutter when I think
of you, hm Alicia?" he winked.
"That'd be nice," she giggled.
Wow. They sure are moving at a nice pace…
"Oh, hello gang," said a rather disheveled Angelina, walking down
the stairs.
"Morning Ange," George cheerily exclaimed, sending the other two
into a fit of snickers.
"Where's Fred? Not still sleeping, is he? Good morning," Angelina
smirked.
"Actually…"
"Now that you mention it…"
"He's sleeping on that couch over there," finished Alicia. Angelina grinned
and rubbed her hands together maliciously.
"I see. Well then. If you three shall excuse me. I must go wake the brute!"
She put a finger to her lips, quietly sneaking over to the sleeping red head.
With a natural ease, she jumped on the poor boy.
"Good morning Ickle Freddiekins!" she exclaimed.
"Jesus floats, woman! You scared the bloody daylights out of me!" Fred
yelled out, breathing heavily.
"My, don't you look so gorgey this morning," Angelina murmured, much
to the giggling of the others.
"Hm. Don't you know it," Fred replied, pulling Angelina (who shrieked a bit)
down on top of him, beginning an extremely early snog session.
"Meh. Come on, gang. Let's all get to breakfast before I really lose my
appetite," grumbled Katie, quickly running out of the common room. Alicia
and George followed close behind, laughing and shouting.
"Make sure to use protection, there, Weasley!"
"Oh shut it you two!"
"Oh, look at Mr Dggory today! My, doesn't he look quite gorgey. I could
practically eat him up!" Alicia whispered. Katie burst into loud laughter,
losing her balance and falling to the ground.
"Here, let me help you up there, Katie," said George, looking
quite bewildered.
Yes, he is indeed a hotness. But not like Oliver. No one had ever been
like Oliver.
She smiled with a bitter sweetness that neither George nor Alicia saw.
I suppose I shall just have to get back to the match making.
"Have either of you two gotten started on Snape's essay yet?" she asked
as they were walking down the staircase in the main hall.
"Oh yes. I've just finished it late last night!" Alicia replied smugly. George
slapped a hand to his forehead.
"Oh no! That better not be bloody due today! I've forgotten all about
it! Alicia, my fair lady, will you help me in the process of the wicked
potions essay?" wailed George, bending down on one knee and taking
her hand in his, dramatically placing it over his heart.
"Or just copy it from you," snorted Katie. George stared at her in
mock horror.
"Why, I never! In all my years of living (which haven't been too much, mind you!)!"
he exclaimed, still firmly grasping Alicia's hand.
"Alright, alright! Relax George. I won't let you copy, but…" she grinned at
George's 'sad face'. "… I can help you a bit with it tonight, seeing as it
isn't due until tomorrow," she finished.
"Bless the wizards above! Bless you Lis! You're a real life saver!" he
whooped with delight.
"Ah, the smell of breakfast. How its scent fills my nostrils with hunger!"
exclaimed Katie, taking a great sniff.
"Come on, you. Before you start drooling."
Still Nobody's POV
"Can you believe that at least three of us made it to breakfast on time?"
Alicia asked, looking at the other two.
"Yesh. Hard to believe, isn't it?" muttered Kaite, stuffing her face.
Thank God I'm not picky…
"GOOD CROPS OF ISRAEL!"
Alicia and Katie stared at George, who's mouth was wide open. Others
at the table were sneaking odd glances at him.
"Erm, George? Are you okay?" Alicia asked nervously, awkwardly
patting his back. Katie simply went back to her delicious pancakes.
"He just walked in the bloody door!" he hissed into Alicia's ear. She
stiffened. No need telling her who "he" was.
"Ignore him."
George nodded, quickly jumping into conversation.
"So! Katie dearest. How art thou classes going?" he boomed, slightly
leaning over the table to block her view of the doors.
"They classes are going… well. And you George?" she asked slowly,
eyes narrowing in confusion.
Suddenly bored (probably due to lack of attention span), hey eyes
wandered around the Great Hall, gazing at various people eating, talking,
laughing.
And then her eyes stumbled upon him.
Her breath caught in her throat, causing her hand to involuntarily grasp
at it.
No. I don't need to see this. No.
Her abrupt gasp startled Alicia and George, and their eyes followed
where her were.
"Er.. Katie. How about those Red Sox, eh? I hear the baseball team is
all the rage in America!" George exclaimed, nudging Alicia to join in on
the conversation.
She leaned over to Katie, pulling her face close to hers.
"Remember. Let him come. Don't go running to him," she hissed in Katie's
ear, bringing her back to the real world.
"…Right…"
"There you three are! We've been looking all over for you!"
Katie whipped around, smiling at Fred and Angelina.
"Ah, there's my best girl. Ah, I mean, my second best girl!" he murmured
as he kissed Katie on the forehead under Angelina's glare. (A/N: oh, touche', Ange!)
"Alright. Let's all hurry up so we can actually get to class on time."
Katie's POV (Finally, eh?)
Transfiguration. The class of which I can never concentrate in. Thanks to
Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb sitting right by me.
"Hey, Katie. Should we send out dungbombs that change color, or the
Canary Creams next week?" whispered Fred, who, along with
George, would not stop asking me these useless questions!
"I already bloody told you! I'm actually trying to do my work!" I hissed
back, purposely crumbling my parchment.
"Is there a problem, Ms Bell?" Professor McGonagall was right next to
me, staring down. Damn it.
"Erm… no, Professor. Not at all. Just, ah, learning, you see," I muttered,
getting a new piece of parchment.
As McGonagall seemed to "float away", I flashed the two a glare.
"Sorry!" they mouthed back and gave me their most innocent grins
possible. I hate to say it, but I do sometimes fall for it…
"Now, class. If you would kindly set your quills aside, and turn to page
326 in your books…" McGonagall seemed to drone on. For once, I really
hated this class.
How much longer?
Oliver's POV (another round of "finally's")
Why am I so scared? I get shaky just thinking of talking to her! Gods,
the ways she affects me…
"Mr Wood. Care to return to the Wizarding World?" Professor
Sprout looked over at me from her table, smirking at me.
"Eh, sorry Professor," I replied weakly, mentally slapping my
forehead in embarrassment.
"Now, that's quite alright. I wanted to make sure you were connected to
this world so you can write down what is on your test tomorrow," she
said, exaggerating "test" and "tomorrow".
Argh.
A round of groans went around the room, causing Sprout to smile
even wider.
"Come now, class! Don't you want to be prepared for the finals at the
end of the year?"
"If you would please get out your quills. It is time for a bit of note
taking…"
This is going to be an extremely, uselessly long day.
So. What did you think?I know, a rather useless chapter. But I kind of needed it to buy me some more time, you see. I have gotten extremely busy with swim team and coaching now. Gar. Not to mention, end of school finals and whatnot. But fear not! You may find it hard to believe, but I have got the next chapter planned out pretty well in my head! And I know you can't wait, can you?
(grins evilly)
FIN