Chapter 4: Never on time

As October came to a close, the Masquerade Ball approached the students. Everyone had to dress up, and even though a date wasn't required, most people came with a date. Though for Bridget, she was planning on going solo. She wasn't one for dating because she was never good at long commitments, and changed her mind too frequently to settle down.

"Don't be late tonight, ok," James warned Bridget during lunch. "This is the second to last Quidditch practice before the game against Slytherin and we need as much preparation as we can get."

"I won't be late, James, so don't worry so much," she reassured him. "I'm going after classes to the library to get a jump start on my homework, and I will be on time."

James smiled and began walking out of the hall. Before he was completely out, he turned and shouted back to Bridget. "I'm counting on you, Bee."

Bridget gave him the thumbs up and then rolled her eyes as he disappeared down a corridor.

X

The minute Potions ended, Bridget raced to the library so she could get a good place to concentrate on nothing but her assignments. She wasn't an excellent student like Lily, but she was near the top of her class and normally tried hard. She had two hours before practice and her thoughts were flowing as she began her essay for Transfiguration. By the time she finished her essay she had a good 45 minutes to spare reading.

Just as she was getting out her book a boy who looked familiar began walking around the aisle where her table was. He had messy, dark blond hair and was wearing only a t-shirt on this very cold, Wednesday evening.

"You know," Bridget, said to him, though she didn't know his name. "It's cold outside for you to just be wearing that t-shirt."

The boy turned and looked at Bridget as though he'd never seen a girl in his entire life. "I spilled ink on my shirt today, so I just took it off," he said smirking at her playfully. "Hey, aren't you in my Ancient Runes class?" he asked pulling a chair over and sitting down.

'So much for reading' she thought. "I think I might have seen you once in my class, though I don't turn around much since I sit in the front," she answered.

"You're definitely in my class," he said positively.

"What makes you think that?"

"Your hair," he said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "No one I know has that color hair, it's like a golden blond."

There was now a look in the boys' eyes that made Bridget a little wary of talking to him for any longer. However, he was very cute and seemed nice even if he looked like he was trying to undress her with his eyes.

They talked for a while longer about everything under the sun until Bridget looked at her watch and swore loudly. "Shit. I have practice in ten minutes, and I can't be late," she said as she hurriedly grabbed her stuff and started running out of the library, dodging others who crossed her path.

"Slow down, would you!" Bridget froze as she realized, Matt (was the boys name) had been following her.

"I can't! I'm going to be late and­…"

She trailed off as Matt took her by the arms and pushed her up against the stonewall kissing her softly. Bridget soon deepened the kiss and let out a soft groan as his kisses traveled down her neck.

"I have to go," she whispered. "I can't be late."

He moved up to her mouth and breathed out as he kissed her one last time. "Would you like to go to the Ball with me?" he asked, a sparkle in his dark eyes.

"Yes," she answered in a barely audible voice.

"I'll see you around, Bridget," he said walking away.

Bridget looked down at her watch and felt her eyes grow wide as she saw she was supposed to be at practice right now. "Oh, shit."

X

"Has anyone seen, Bee?" James asked his team, being that he was the captain for Gryffindor.

"No," they all chorused.

James shook his head and told one of the beaters, Tommy, to go get the balls set up. As the team walked out, there was a small black dot racing towards the pitch at top speed.

"Bee," James said to himself shaking his head.

Bridget sprinted in to the pitch and skidded to a stop right in front of James. She hunched over for a second, then shot up and gave him a quirky smile and a sailor salute looking off into nowhere.

"You're late," James said simply. The other teammates were standing close, wanting to see how James would react.

"I got held up, sir," she said in a would-be-mocking-way were it not for the fact of her deadly serious face.

James looked at her then replied with a simple. "Nice hickey."

Bridget's serious face turned to one of utter mortification as her hand shot up to her neck hoping to be able to find where the hickey was located.

"Everyone take your places," James called from the center of the pitch. Bridget snapped out of her trance and the team began their practice.

X

At 9 o'clock James called the teams practice to an end saying that Slytherin didn't stand a chance on Saturday. "One more practice and we'll be flawless you guys," he said beaming at his team.

Bridget tried to put her broom away as quickly as possible so she wouldn't have to face James but as soon as she walked out of the team locker room, James caught up with her and began walking with her up to the castle in silence.

After a couple minutes he asked. "So who was the lucky guy that got to give you that?"

Bridget knew not to play dumb and ask what he was talking about so she merely replied. "Matt Parker."

"Isn't he that guy in Hufflepuff?" James pondered aloud.

"There are many guys in Hufflepuff, but yes that's his House," Bridget said.

"I didn't even know you were dating him."

"Well, technically, I'm not. He came into the library and before I knew it I was late for practice and running out of the library," she finished, not wanting to get into the part that followed it.

"So, when did you get the hickey then?" James asked trying to get the best explanation he could.

"When I got out of the library, he had followed me and told me to stop running. I stopped and before I knew it I was sort of making out with him," she finished, blushing until her face was bright red. "I'm going to the Ball with him too," she added as an afterthought.

"Well I'm happy for you, Bee. You're a really pretty girl but you never date. This guy seems, ok, just make sure to tell me if he tries anything you aren't comfortable with," James said in a brotherly tone.

Bee laughed at this and wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. He laughed with her and scooped her up off the ground and carried her the rest of the way back to the common room.

A very lovey-dovey ending, I know, but nobody reads this so who cares! I could start writing my English essay and nobody would ever notice...funny how that works out isn't it? The kids who write that disturbing slash even get tons of reviews but me, nothing.