Ha-ha. A total of non-flame negative reviews for the last chapter, but anyway, I was expecting that. And it was good because they weren't flames. So yeah, thank you:D Ha-ha, and it really wasn't supposed to be Eric, it was supposed to be Sam but since you all took it pretty nicely fine, HARSHLY, I'm using Eric. Anyway, this is STILL an Alicia/George, Katie/Oliver, Angelina/Fred fanfic. It's just not done yet. And I would like to thank all the reviewers! Still, I'm not so sure if that no-replying-reviews law is a fake, so I can't reply to each and every one of you in this author's note. But anyway, thank you:D
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is under the ownership of J.K. Rowling.
Diagon Alley, PUB, Normal POV
"Hold it, George," Fred said, stopping his brother from ordering another bottle of beer, "It's your 6th."
"So?" George grumbled and faced the bartender, "One more-"
"No, he has enough for the night," Fred ordered the bartender. The bartender nodded and walked off. George glared at his twin, who just completely ignored him in return, "Don't look at me like that, it's not like I stole Alicia or anything."
George shot more angered glares at his brother after hearing the name, "Alicia". Fred just rolled his eyes, "There's no use for you doing this."
"So? As if I'll have her back," George muttered.
"Look, Katie told me it was a forced marriage," Fred told his brother.
"She could've stood up to her father," George muttered.
"George, Alicia's not the type to do that-"
"For love, Fred, God damn it! Why couldn't she do it for love!" George yelled.
"George!" Fred protested. George stood up, "You have nothing to say, am I right!"
Fred fell silent then all he managed to say was, "Look-"
"No, I'm leaving!" George stopped his brother to say anything else and walked off the pub. Fred made an aggravated sigh. He soon realized about the time and apparated back home.
He arrived by the front door of his house, he swung open and saw his wife sitting on the couch in the living room. Angelina saw him and greeted him with a kiss.
"How's work?" she asked. All Fred managed to do was shrug.
"Met up with George, eh?" Angelina asked on. Fred nodded, "It seems hopeless. Did you talk to Alicia?"
Angelina nodded, "Yeah, with Katie. But she was rather 'happy' about being with Eric. All she could talk about is his achievements, his family and his amazing personality…"
Fred nodded.
"But," Angelina added in, "…Katie and I could tell she really did miss George, a lot. And it's so obvious that she still loves him. Tears start forming behind her eyes whenever she tries to say something about Eric. But she's only trying to put George away."
Fred sadly sighed, "Well it's not only them, remember Katie and Oliver? Oliver's trying to get her back but…"
"…she's ignoring him," Angelina finished for Fred. Fred nodded in agreement.
"He didn't cheat on her, you know," Fred said.
"Yeah, I know," Angelina said, "But Katie is just not letting Oliver hear him out."
Fred nodded, "Everything seems so impossible, I see no hope in this."
"Don't speak like that, Fred," Angelina told him, "You can't possibly give up."
"We have nothing to do, we can't play love you know," Fred stated.
"We may not, but we can prove there is," Angelina said. Her husband nodded, "I'll go up."
Angelina nodded as Fred went up the stairs. As he was gone, Angelina looked down to her tummy and said, "I guess now's not the time to tell the world about you. Everyone's too sad."
Yes, Angelina's pregnant. But she didn't say a thing yet.
---
Next Morning
"Hey Ange!" Katie greeted as she saw her friend, Angelina, by the front door of her flat.
"May I come in?" Angelina asked. Katie laughed, "Why not? Alicia will be over in a sec."
Angelina sat on one of the comfy couches of the living room. There were pictures everywhere, especially one on the table next to the couch she's sitting on. It was a picture of the whole gang. Everyone was smiling and waving then. That was after Graduation, so many good memories then.
"Coffee?" Katie offered.
"No thank you," Angelina said, since it's bad to take coffee when you're pregnant.
Katie gave her a weird look. She knew Angelina was a coffee-lover. But it never crossed her mind that she was pregnant. All Katie did was nod slowly and took a seat on one of the sofas nearby.
"What brings you here?" Katie asked, holding a cup of coffee.
"I'm sorry for asking but…"
Katie knew what. Katie gently placed her mug on top of the glass coffee table right in front of her. Her green eyes were near in tears, clasping her hands on her lap.
"Look, Angelina," Katie said, looking at Angelina, "Why do want me to be back with Oliver?"
"Katie, he loves you!"
"He cheated on me!"
"He didn't!"
"How are you so sure?" Katie asked her back, fighting back her tears.
"He told me, the girl kissed first! The girl was just a crazed fan! Let him explain to you, Katie!"
"Angelina, you don't get it," Katie cried, "The reporters said it lasted for more than a minute. I would understand if it was mere seconds not by a whole minute!"
Angelina remained quiet, Katie had a point.
"I-" Angelina began.
"-Having nothing to say," Katie finished.
Knock, knock
"Must be Alicia," Katie said softly.
"Do you want me to answer-"
"No, no," Katie replied and got up for the door. She swung the door opened and there stood Alicia. Her hair up in a ponytail as usual, and her face gleaming.
"Hey," Katie said, sniffing.
"Are you okay, Katie?" Alicia asked, giving her friend a concerned look. Katie shook her head, "Nothing to worry, come in."
"Wow, look at this place," Alicia said, amazed. Katie smiled, "Go to the living room, Angelina's there."
Katie walked off to the kitchen.
"Alicia!" Angelina exclaimed and gave her friend a hug.
"Angelina!" Alicia exclaimed. Alicia remembered Angelina well in the wedding. She was a bridesmaid then. Her wedding happened way before the forced-marriage thing. That was when they were all happy. But Alicia only stayed for a few days since she had exams the following week.
"How's being a Healer?" Angelina asked. She shrugged, "Great, I'm going to apply in St. Mungo's tomorrow."
"What's your specialty?" Katie called out from the kitchen. Alicia laughed, "Well, I'm applying to be a pediatrician and a surgeon who helps in giving birth. What do you call that?"
"Umm… how are we supposed to know?" Katie asked. Alicia laughed, "Yeah! I like the one who actually holds the baby for the first time, it's rather fascinating actually. I want to see how a child acts, especially on its first few seconds on earth…"
Angelina tried not to react much on this. After all, she was pregnant.
"Here's coffee," Katie smiled, bringing a tray of mugs filled with warm coffee, "Are you sure you don't want some, Angelina? I made one just in case."
"No thank you," Angelina said firmly, even though it was awfully tempting. Katie nodded, "Oh!" she exclaimed, realizing something, "I forgot the sugar, I'll be back."
Alicia now gave Angelina the weird look. Angelina knew they would anyway, but ignored them all as if nothing's different about her. Just until the problems less complex, Angelina thought.
"How are you and Fred?" Alicia asked.
"Fine."
"Oliver and Katie?"
Angelina fell silent and whispered, "Not together…"
"HOW!"
Angelina explained Alicia everything, in hushed whispers of course. All she could do in reply was sit there, in shock. No wonder Katie was crying, Alicia thought quietly to herself. Angelina sighed, "Nothing seems to get well lately…"
"Pardon?" Alicia asked, not being able to hear what Angelina said. Angelina shook her head, "Oh, nothing, nothing."
"Here's the sugar," Katie said and took a seat with her friends in the living room. It was mostly an afternoon chat, mostly catching up.
"How are you and Eric?" Katie asked. Alicia smiled, about to reply.
Fake smile, Katie noticed.
"Great, he's amazing," Alicia began, "He has done so much, he's valedictorian in his school, you know. He also plans on taking up Masters on Business Management soon, and he's looking forward to it. He knows well that he'll get in, being intelligent and all…"
Alicia took a deep breath.
"…He's perfect," Alicia 'dreamily' grinned. Katie and Angelina sighed at the same time. It seemed like she just memorized the whole statement. Not to mention Alicia just told them that exact, same statement just yesterday! But they didn't want to embarrass Alicia and politely nodded.
"What's wrong?" Alicia asked.
Katie coughed then answered, "Well… do you love him?"
Alicia was about to say something in reply, but she couldn't. Love, love was something she and Eric didn't have, and never will. Love, something she and somebody else have. Love, something she and George have, will always have.
"Alicia?" Angelina asked.
"I-I…" Alicia managed to sputter out. She bit her lower lip, and bowed her head down. She closed her eyes to keep the tears in. Too late, it slipped off, drop by drop. The tears left wet marks on her jeans.
"No… I can't…"
"Can't what, Lische?" Katie asked; hoping that Alicia would say was what they've wanted to hear.
Alicia looked at them, tears rolling down from her face, leaving a trail.
"I love Eric," Alicia finished. She took a deep breath, "I love Eric," she repeated, as if she read it from the blackboard. Angelina and Katie gave a look to each other. Alicia couldn't admit that she still had feelings for George. Very strong feelings for George, to make it more clear.
But there was no use for stopping Alicia. They were her friends; they have to respect her decision.
"I'll go…" Alicia said, voice cracking, "…I'll see you guys tomorrow… in the Joke shop…"
Alicia ran out of the door. Katie, fed up, ran after her, "Wait-!"
But Alicia already disappeared into thin air, she just apparated.
"Let go, Katie," Angelina said, holding on to Katie, "Let time flow…"
---
Alicia finally arrived in her hotel room. She went in and locked the door. She slid down to the floor, head against the wall, and curled up in the corner. She cried.
Why did I have to lie?, Alicia thought angrily to herself, I love George, and I only love him!
Alicia decided to get tissue, remembering leaving some inside a cabinet drawer in the desk. She got up and pulled open one. Then there was a glimmer on light that blinded her eyes. It was the pendant.
She could hear George's words pass through her ears once more.
"Promise me… not to ever leave me."
Alicia pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. She cried. She held out the star pendant. Then she looked at her engagement ring, much glamorous, much extravagant than the mere pendant. Alicia had a choice.
"But I can't make it now…" Alicia muttered to herself, "…not now… Maybe I could learn to love Eric…"
Her mind turned to Eric, but her heart was always with George. She couldn't deny, but she decided hoping through time, she'd learn to love Eric.
If I could let go of George, Alicia thought, I'd love Eric.
As much as she protested, she would never love Eric. But she will accept that fact in the future.
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