Beneath the Mask, by Amadah
Katie - age 21
Angelina - age 22
Oliver - age 24
Alicia - age 21
Disclaimer: All the cool characters, sadly, are not mine. But I'll take the blame for any brilliance in this story. : ) Okay, on a more serious note (kind of), Jenny, Wendy and Linda are my own, and I'm sure you Harry Potter junkies know which ones are from the books.
Note: I'm so very sorry this is such a short, boring chapter.It's kind of just a filler right now, I guess you could call it. I'll be working on the next one soon, if not right away.
CHAPTER THREE: Hateful Mondays
The Bellsong, where I worked with Jenny and two other women, was merely a small, humble shop, selling coffee and an assortment of other things in addition. We weren't quite an antique shop, but close enough I supposed. We had a little section for making jewelry, so often people would come, grab some coffee and set to work on their earings and whatnot. We also sold old, curiously designed chairs and small couches, decorative items and stationary. Because the one-room-shop – well two rooms counting the kitchen – didn't have much room, it was very, very cluttered; this was part of The Bellsong's charm. At six o' clock on Monday morning, I stumbled in through the door, the little bell welcoming me gladsomely. I hated Mondays. Not only for the standard reason why everyone disliked them – they signaled the beginning of a working week – but along with that, I had to come extra early to open the shop, since Mondays just happened to be my turn. Jenny was lucky, I thought sourly as I began rearranging things with my wand. Her turn was Friday, the lucky dog. I pointed at one of the petite couches with my wand, muttered a spell under my breath and watched as the cushions straightened themselves. Satisfied, I turned the sign from "We're Closed, sorry " to "We're Open, C'mon in." I always found those lines really cheesy – I thought "Closed" and "Open" could work just fine, but not for Wendy, the owner, who insisted we keep it the way it was.
Though I hated walking here half asleep every Monday, the hour almost practically to myself was rather peaceful, as Jenny wouldn't be coming until around 7:00. There was no need to have all of us here this early in the morning, since only a couple people, if even that much, ever stopped by in the morning – and usually just to snatch up some coffee and then be on their way to work.
About a half hour later, with me almost asleep behind the counter, I heard the bell announcing visitors and almost fell off my chair. I guess "almost" was an understatement though. My chair pretty much went sliding away and I broke my fall with my hands, half of me still on the chair. Giggling at myself – I couldn't help it – I stood up to meet the customers.
"Need some help?" Came an amused voice. I looked up and my face split into a huge grin as I saw Fred standing before me.
"Oh my god!" I pushed the little cowboy-doors open that enclosed the workspace – another thing Wendy insisted on keeping, though I actually liked them -- and threw my arms around him. He laughed and returned the embrace.
"I haven't seen you in forever." Then I wished I hadn't spoken, as I quickly remembered that it was precisely my doing which had caused that. To my major relief, Fred didn't seem to care.
"I had no idea you worked here," he said, looking around at the oddities we sold, "Angelina, Oliver and I heard there was good coffee here, and we thought we could use some before our quidditch drills." That was when I saw that Angelina and Oliver were, indeed, standing behind him. I forced a smile and gave a little wave at Angelina, desperately hoping she wasn't angry with me. I was put much to ease as she returned the smile.
"Hey," she greeted me.
"Hi Katie," I was surprised to hear Oliver say. I looked at him for a moment, wondering at his total lack of uneasiness around me suddenly, while I was filled with such tension. I smiled weakly at him, for that was all I could manage.
"Hi," I said, embarrassed that it had come out as almost a squeak. The three of them seated themselves upon the high stools at the mini bar.
"So what will it be?" I asked, assuming the air of a waitress.
"Surprise me," said Angelina.
"Me too," said Fred, leaning against the bar.
"Me three," Oliver added. I laughed and after they all held steaming mugs of our unique Bellsong coffee, I pulled over a stool and sat across from them. Though seeing Fred again had sent me into high spirits, I was feeling slightly shy. There was a moment of awkward silence – awkward for me, at least, and finally Angelina said, "So where were you going yesterday, Kates?" God, I had hoped no one was going to bring up yesterday. I didn't want them to remind me how bitchy I had been.
"I was just...going to this thing..." I trailed off, knowing that I couldn't tell them about The Corrupted.
"Ah," said Angelina, but that was all she said, though I could tell my answer was a disappointing one. I glanced at Oliver, who was staring into his mug. I couldn't even begin to read the blank expression upon his face.
"Oh yeah," said Fred, "I go to 'these things' every day." Just then the little bell sounded off and Jenny stepped in.
"Wow," she said, pushing through the little cowboy-doors and slinging her purse on a hook, "three this early in the morning must be a record."
"I wouldn't be surprised," I said casually. I greatly wished she had waited a little longer to come. Then she saw Oliver and grinned at me. I knew what she was thinking – since she had pointed out to me yesterday that she found him extremely attractive. Grudgingly, I couldn't blame her. Oliver was good-looking. I saw Fred scan his watch, and then he got up and said, "we should probably be getting to practice. We need to be a little early, since it's our first time in Riverford and all." Rather regretfully, I bid them goodbye and offered to take their mugs into the tiny kitchen. When I came back out, Angelina and Fred were waiting outside, while Jenny was talking to Oliver. When she saw me come out, I noticed that she winked at him and then positioned herself behind the counter. Though I was filled with curiosity and even a little annoyance, I didn't ask what was going on.
"Bye, Katie," Oliver said rather stiffly.
"Bye." Then I pretended to be looking at an important piece of paper, when really it was just a scrap sheet full of my pointless doodles. I could feel his eyes on me as he didn't move, but I had absolutely not idea what else to say so I feigned obliviousness. A moment later, Jenny disappeared into the kitchen Oliver still hadn't taken a step to the door.
"Why do you hate me?" He wanted to know. I had dreaded him asking something like that.
"I...don't," I said slowly, looking up. And I realized that it was true. I didn't hate Oliver, not really. He sighed.
"Then what is it? Why are you so afraid of me?" Then he made a face and I thought maybe it was that of regret. But that comment had angered me.
"I am not afraid of you, Oliver Wood. Quidditch is waiting, and so are your friends," I said bitterly, looking away. But in truth, I was hurt and offended – and panicked, for it hadn't occurred to me that I was afraid of him. Puzzling over it even after he left, I realized that I just might be.
This chapter wouldn't have been written if not for your reviews. Thank you so much to the following looovelies.
Karen Walker
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