The Pain of a Muggle dating her Magical Friend
Dear Colin,
I met with a councilor today on advice about a long-distance relationship. It helped to talk to a man with a wife who lived in Berlin for a year and a half just after getting married. He says that he believes we can work out as long as we keep up constant contact, as we have been. And by constant, I don't mean once every few weeks. I mean at least once a week. Tell Houdini I'm sorry, but I think that he likes making a lot of long journeys.
Also, tell your brother and his friends I say 'hi,' will you. I have a feeling that you didn't last time I asked you to. Just imagine how upset he would get if he thought I never said hi to him. Well, I have to go now, my phone is ringing. I'll write you again soon. Write soon and tell me when you're coming home. The holidays start in a few weeks, maybe you could come home for those.
Love,
Jessica
Jessica finished her letter and folded it. Colin's owl was sitting at her windowsill, waiting for a letter to deliver back to Colin. Jessica tied the letter to Houdini's leg and the owl then jumped out of the window. She watched it fly into the night and hoped it would make it to Colin soon. Then she remembered the phone and grabbed just as her answering machine picked up.
"I'm sorry…but I'm not here right now," Jessica's voice sounded in the phone piece.
"Yes I am," Jessica yelled over her own voice. "Sorry."
"Jessica," it was her friend Mary, "are you coming over or not? Everyone else is here and we're all waiting for you to arrive."
"Sorry," Jessica said. "I forgot. I'll be there in a few minutes."
Jessica grabbed her book bag, threw on a coat, and ran out the door. The cold air hit her face, and she could almost feel her nose turning red as she ran to Mary's house. She began taking sharp breaths as she turned onto Mary's block. The cold air was stinging her throat.
"'Bout time you got here," Mary said opening the door. Jessica looked around to see three other girls and one boy. The girls were all blonde and beautiful. The boy was Fredrick Pratt, who she hadn't spoken to since the summer.
"I was just writing to Colin," Jessica explained. "I didn't want him to think I had forgotten him."
"Because that would be such a pity,"Pratt growled.
"I don't see why you don't just call him," one of the blondes said before taking a sip of tea. "At least that way you can have phone sex or something."
"Gilda," Pratt laughed, "let's be reasonable. We're speaking about Colin Creevey. If he tried to have phone sex..."
"Don't even finish that sentance," another of the blondes said. "I don't understand your obsession with sex. It's immature."
"Naomi, have you ever had sex?"Gilda asked.
"I am proud to say no," Naomi replied. "What about you? Can you claim that you haven't sinned?"
"Is it a sin to make someone else happy?" Gilda asked. Mary, Pratt, and the third blond all laughed.
"We were made through sin," the third blond said.
"At least it wasn't before marriage," Naomi claimed.
"I don't know how you can claim that," Mary said. "Weren't you just telling us before Jessie got here..."
"And now that she is here," Naomi said, "it about time we get started. Pull up a chair, Jess."
"What is our project again?" the third blond asked.
"We are presenting the Cromwell period to the class, Vega," Jessica said.
"I know nothing about that time," Mary said. "How long was Cromwell queen again?"
Jessica sighed and set to work explaining to Mary about Oliver Cromwell, pushing Colin from her mind for the mean time.
When she got home, an unfamiliar owl was perched on a branch outside her room. She knew that Colin couldn't have recieved the letter yet, but she couldn't imagine who else would send her a letter by Owl Post.
She took the letter and gave the owl a bit of bread from a sandwich she made herself. She then opened the parchment and read the letter. It was from Colin, he just used a different owl.
Dear Jessica,
I am writing you because I wanted to let you know I will be home for the hols. My mother is picking my up at King's Cross on Saturday, and it would be splendid if you could be there also. If not, I will stop by your house as soon as I am able to. Also, my two friends will be there too, so you can finally meet them. They are both half Muggle, so they are a bit different from Dennis's friends. Dennis is spending the hols at Dunhole's house. Write back with a response to my request, if you're not too tired.
Forever yours,
Colin
Jessica smiled. He hadn't even recieved her letter yet, but the same thoughts were on his mind. She grabbed a piece of paper and promised that she would be at the station to pick him up.
Early Saturday morning, Mrs. Creevey picked Jessica up and drove to the station in London. It was a long drive, and Jessica slept the first half as Mrs. Creevey suggested she ought to. They arrived to the station just as students from Colin's school began to appear. Jessica was slightly shocked as they emerged from a solid barrier, but then again, she had also been shocked when a frog made of solid chocolate had jumped into her hair.
As soon as Colin came through, Jessica ran to him and threw her arms around him. Moments later, another boy walked through the barrier and into Colin's back as he had yet moved from in front of the barrier.
"Sorry, Colin," the boy said. He was stocky and slightly familiar to Jessica. She remembered he had been in a few pictures Colin had showed her during the end of summer, though she couldn't for the life of her remember his name.
The three moved away from the barrier and just in time for a shy looking girl to emerge. It was Colin's other friend, she remembered. Colin motioned for them all to follow him as he spotted his mother. He gave his mom a quick hug, then began introductions.
"This is Theo," Colin said pointing at the boy. Theo had very short red-brown hair, thick eyebrows, and a sharp facial features. His green eyes werehidden behinda pair of glasses. He smiled and bowed slightly to Mrs. Creevey and Jessica.
Colin pointed at the girl and said, "This is Laura." Laura looked up from the ground and smiled slightly. She had green eyes, which were hidden after a second behind her blonde bangs. Laura's blonde hair was free of split ends, and aside from her bangs which just covered the top of her eyes, flowed half way down her back. Her cheeks were blushed a little. And, before her smiled disappeared, Jessica noticed Laura's perfect white teeth and pink lips. Aside from her confidence, Laura seemed to be perfect. Jessica felt a rush of jealousy as Laura took a step closer to Colin, as if it was comfortable for her to know he was around.
Jessica hardly noticed that Colin was now introducing her to his friends. He put an arm around her and said, "This is Jessica."
"The ever mentioned Jessica," Theo said taking her hand and shaking it. "I have heard so much about you over the past six and a half years, especially first year and this year. And might I say, you are more beautiful in person than I imagined."
"Nice to meet you," Jessica said as Theo released her hand. She looked at Laura, whose cheeks had turned a darker pink.
During the car ride, Jessica couldn't help but be happy as half the conversation centered around her and how she was doing in school. Theo said that if Pratt, who Colin had apparently mentioned in association with evil, bothered her while he was around, all she had to do was say the word and he would hex him half way across the Atlantic.
When they arrived at Colin's house, Mr. Creevey was waiting for them and invited them all inside for tea and biscuits. Jessica walked in to find her parents were there too, dressed as if they were expecting the Minister to enter. She felt her cheeks grow hot as her mother commented on Jessica's jeans and shirt.
Most of the conversation was around Colin until Jessica's parents left. They wanted Jessica to join them, but she had convinced them to allow her to spend another few hours with Colin.
"Your parents are the most stereotypical Muggles," Theo said as the four teenagers entered Colin's room. "They wouldn't suspect magic was happening around them if their hair was switched." Theo sat at the foot of Colin's bed.
Laura giggled, which was one of the first sounds Jessica had heard the blonde make. Laura sat at the head Colin's bed and folded her legs so that her feet were under her thighs. She bounced a little, then said, "Your bed is really nice, Colin. Much better than your bed at Hogwarts." They were the first words Jessica had heard her speak willingly. Then she realized was she had said. Why had she been on Colin's bed at school? Jessica turned to Colin, whose cheeks were flaming. He shrugged and sat between his two friends on the bed. There wasn't much room left for Jessica on the bed, so she grabbed the chair at Colin's desk and sat on that.
The conversation seemed forced after a few minutes. It only took Jessica a minute to figure out that Laura was flirting with Colin way too much for Jessica's comfort. She took slight comfort knowing that Laura would be in Dennis's room, and that Theo would at least be around Colin so chances were that Laura wouldn't try anything sketchy, but she was still worried. Laura was a lot prettier than she was, and she didn't want to lose Colin.
When it was time for Jessica to leave, Colin walked her all the way to her house. It was cold outside, and Colin wrapped his coat around her, sacrificing his comfort to keep her warm. Once at Jessica's doorstep, Colin kissed her, the first kiss since he had left in the summer. Jessica gave him back his coat, and he backed away, proclaiming his love to her until he reached the street.
Jessica didn't wake until after noon the next day.Her parents must have left the house before she woke, and with no parent to wake her, she slept to a ridiculous time, as she had done many times before. It took her a moment to realize why she woke; her phone was ringing.
"Hello?" Jessica said as she picked up the phone. Sleep was still in her voice.
"Hey," Mary's voice sounded. "Just calling to confirm that you are coming to the ice rink tonight. And to tell you to feel free to bring as many friends you would like."
"Okay," Jessica answered. "I'll be there. I'm bringing Colin, is that okay?"
"Colin is back in town?" Mary shrieked. "How is he?"
"He's fine," Jessica said. "He brought two of his friends from school with him, it it alright if they come too?"
"As long as they are cute," Mary said.
"One is a girl," Jessica said. "Another blonde. The boy, I guess you could consider him cute."
"He had better be," Mary said. "Fredrick is into Vega this week. I don't know why he likes her. She is as think as a wall."
"Right," Jessica said. She hung up her phone and began to get ready for the day. She pulled on a pair of nude tights and wore a flowy pink skirt that went down to her knees. She put on a warm white fleece sweater and picked out a pair of pink gloves and matching earmuffs. She left her hair down, knowing that the ice rink would be cold. She finished with a pair of black boots, then set out toward Colin's house.
Theo answered the door.
"Hello, Jessica," Theo said and he invited her in from the cold. "Colin just finished taking a shower and will be down in a minute. I don't know where Laura went, but she couldn't have gotten too far. How can I help you?"
"I just wanted to invite you all to an ice skating party later on," Jessica said.
"Will there be other beautiful girls there?" Theo asked. "Preferably not too many blondes?"
"Um, I think so," Jessica said. "What do you have against blondes?"
"I have four blonde sisters," Theo said. "I've grown to know them too well."
"Well," Jessica said, "I'm just going to go find Colin." She walked up the stairs and down the hall. She came to a halt when she walked into Colin's room. Colin was no where to be seen, but Laura was sitting on his bed, wrapped in nothing more than a towel.
"What are you doing?" Jessica asked.
"Waiting for Colin," Laura replied innocently. "I left my clothing in the bath after showering and I am now waiting for Colin to finish so I can retrieve my clothes."
Jessica straightened and smiled. She walked backwards until her back was against the bathroom door. She knocked several times, then said in her most surreal voice, "Oh, Colin, it has only been a few hours since I last saw you, but I am dying to see you again and I don't think I could bare another minute withouth your embrace."
The door opened and, instead of Colin, Mr. Creevey stood in the door. He smiled awkwardly and said, "I was just readying myself to leave. The shower in here broke a few weeks back, so Colin'll be in the other bath."
Laura was clutching her towel so that it wouldn't fall off as she rolled on Colin's bed laughing. Jessica, now pink, shyly walked to the other bath and knocked a few times. After a second, Colin opened the door adorned in similar attire as Laura. Jessica pushed Colin further into the room, grabbed the pile of Laura's clothing, it was all pink, and dropped it just outside the door. She then closed the door again and smiled at Colin.
"Hey, Jessica," Colin said, nervously it seemed. "How are you?"
"Much better now," Jessica said.
Jessica hugged Colin and rested her head on his shoulder. His skin was still slightly damp and his hair was dripping wet. She lightly kissed his shoulder and then pulled her head back so she could look him in the eyes. "I don't like her," Jessica said, "I think she's trying to steal you from me."
"Laura's not going to steal me from you," Colin said. He kissed her lightly. "And even if she was trying to, I wouldn't allow it to happen. Don't you understand, Jessica? I love you."
"She's sitting on your bed wearing a towel," Jessica said. "Tell me you don't think that's hot."
"Why are you holding me in here then?" Colin asked, but jokingly. Jessica scrunched up her nose and lightly hit his arm.
"We're going ice skating tonight," Jessica changed the topic.
"Thanks for the choice," Colin smiled. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to change and since I don't have any clothes in here, I might need to go to my room."
Jessica opened the door and followed Colin out of the bath. Laura had found her clothes, which were a tight, fuzzy sweater and miniskirt, both light pink. Jessica waited outside Colin's room until Colin came out.
"That's what you're skating in?" Jessica asked.
"I think he looks good," Laura smiled.
"Oh," Jessica said, "I never said he didn't look good. I'm concerned that he'll get chilled in a t-shirt."
"Are we leaving right now?" Colin asked.
"Of course not," Jessica said, "The rink doesn't even open until four, but..."
"I'll change before we leave," Colin said.
Theo had learned his way around the Creevey kitchen and had found enough food to feed the group for a good few hours. He had also found the large TV in the den and was watching a game of football. Specifically a Woman's game.
It took Colin several minutes to convince Theo to change the channel, and after a minute of channel surfing, landed on a horror film. Both boys smiled while Laura and Jessica moved onto the couch uneasily.
After an hour and a half of horror, Jessica wanted to claw Laura's eyes out. She had grabbed Colin's hands more than four times as she got scared. Jessica looked at the clock to see it was five already. "How about we go eat and then we can go to the rink."
"Sounds good to me," Theo said. "I could do with some more food."
"You already cleared out my kitchen," Colin complained.
"You let me," Theo said and barked a laugh.
Colin went up to his room and changed into rink appropriate clothes. The result, he threw on a sweatshirt over the tee-shirt.They all put on coats and walked quickly down the road to the nearest restaurant. After a quick dinner, Theo ate half of everyone else's meal and all of his own,the fourleft for the rink.
"Come on Colin," Laura shrieked once she had her skates on. "Let's skate." She grabbed Colin's wrist and pulled him onto the ice before he could respond.
"What is she doing?" Jessica asked Theo.
"Skating?" Theo guessed. "How about you and I skate too."
"Well... I..." Jessica had been wanting to skate with Colin.
"Great," Theo grabbed Jessica's wrist.
"Jessie," Mary yelled skating toward the entrance to the rink that Jessica and Theo had just come through. Gilda and Naomi were with her. "Who's that?"
"And who is with your boyfriend?" Gilda asked.
"Boyfriend?" Theo asked.
"Yeah," Mary said. "She's dating Colin Creevey. He's the..."
"I know who Colin is," Theo said. He turned to Jessica and continued, "I didn't know you two were dating."
"What?" Jessica asked. She pulled his wrist from Theo's much loosened grip. "He never said anything?"
"Not to Laura or me," Theo said. "She and Colin have been on again, off again for a few months now."
"He what?" Jessica shrieked. She turned to the rink and spotted Colin and Laura skating. She saw the smile on his face and realized that he wasn't just skating with her to be polite. "Excuse me," Jessica said, walking off the ice and running to the locker room.
"Jessie," Mary's voice called, "I know you're in here. Come out."
"No," Jessica yelled from a changing compartment.
"Fine," Mary said. A moment later, Mary was crawling in from the foot and a half under the door. "What did you expect?"
"Not to cheat," Jessica said. "To be honest with someone."
"It does seem a tad bit weird," Mary said. "Considering who he is. But he went away to a boarding school. I don't know how you expected him to not be into another girl. Especially one as pretty as..."
"Not helping," Jessica said.
"The point is, screw him. There are plenty of hot guys here. Hook up with one who Colin couldn't even compare to and when he comes crawling back, kick him with your skate."
"It's not that simple," Jessica said. "Mary, you only date guys because you think they are cute. I love Colin."
"Seriously?" Mary asked. "I didn't even know that was possible."
"It is," Jessica said. "I'm going to go home now. If Colin asks where I went, tell him he sent me to my grave."
"What!" Mary yelled. "Are you going to do anything stupid?"
"No," Jessica said. "I just want to be away from him."
"I'm not letting you alone," Mary said. "I'll walk home with you." And she did. Mary didn't let Jessica out of her sight until she got Jessica inside her house and told Jessica's parents about Colin breaking her heart.
Two days later, Jessica woke to voices near the front door of the house. Jessica looked outside and saw Theo standing, shivering in the cold.A few moments later, there was a knock on her door.
"Who is it?" Jessica yelled, prepared to hear Colin's voice.
"It's Laura. Can we speak?"
Jessica opened the door to see Laura looking quite as if she had had two sleepless nights just like Jessica had. "I didn't know," Laura said. "He never told us that you two were dating. I guess he thought it was kind of implied. Ever since the school year began and Colin seemed so much more confident in himself and talked about you so often, I thought you were a bit of a whore. If I had known that you were his girlfriend, I wouldn't have been trying to... you know. I was afraid you would break his heart, and wanted him to get over you for his protection. It is true, that I did like him, but he seemed so obsessed over you, I was afraid for him."
"Theo said you two were on again, off again this year," Jessica said, her expression didn't change.
"If by that, he means that I kissed and flirted with Colin on and off, then yes. He never flirted back."
"Why do you know what his bed at school is like?"
"That was from like two years ago when this one girl would never shut up about her boyfriend. I took shelter in the boys dormitory. I'm sorry if you thought that Colin was cheating on you. He wasn't. When Mary explained to him what happened with you, I've never seen him look so pained. He's truly afraid that you are going to hurt yourself. Please, Jessica, let him know you are okay, if nothing else."
"Get out of my room," Jessica said.
"Did you hear a thing I said?" Laura yelled.
"I heard everything," Jessica said. "But I want you out."
Laura turned and stomped her way out of the house. Jessica watched through her window as she joined Theo and explained what had happened. Theo, too grew angry. He threw up his arms as he spoke back and his face grew red.
It was another day later that Jessica asnwered the front door when the bell rang to find Dennis.
"Dennis," Jessica said, surprised, "what are you doing here?"
"Did you break up with Colin?" Dennis asked, inviting himself inside.
"Technically," Jessica said, her face suddenly grave, "not yet."
"Don't do it, Jessica," Dennis said. "Laura wrote me a tear stained letter yesterday about how she ruined your relationship with Colin. She went back toschool so she wouldn't cause and more 'damage.'"
"You came home to keep me from breaking up with your brother?" Jessica asked. "Weren't you supposed to spend your break with your own friends?"
"They're all at my house," Dennis said. "When Kevin stole and read my letter, he and the other guys insisted that we came here to make sure, quote, 'Colin's hottie girlfriend doesn't ruin the best thing in either of their lives.'"
"And Colin?" Jessica asked, a tear dripping from her eye.
"Worse than when you didn't want to be with him in the summer," Dennis said. "If it wasn't for the fact that Theo was staying in his room, we would be afraid that he would have done something really stupid by now."
"I'm just so upset," Jessica said.
"That's okay," Dennis said. "Theo, Kevin, Zachary, and Phillip will be dragging Colin here any minute. They had to make sure he looked presentable, at least."
Sure enough, from around the corner of the block, Colin could be seen, herded by the fourother boys. Jessica tried to run away, but Dennis grabbed her wrist and turned her out the door. Not thinking about the fact that it was freezing outside and that she was barefoot and in shorts, he pushed her out the door and toward Colin.
"Dennis," Jessica yelled when she got her voice back. "It's freezing out here."
"Go to your boyfriend for warmth then," Dennis said.
A few seconds later, Colin and Jessica were face to face.
"I'm so sorry, Jessica," Colin said. "I wasn't even thinking and Laura's just a friend."
"Platonic friend," Kevin said.
"No love vibes whatsoever from Colin," Zachary said.
"He's too in love with you," Phillip said.
Jessica couldn't help but smile slightly. "Just get your brother to let me go back inside again and I'll forget it ever happened," Jessica said, grabbing Colin's hand. Colin pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.
"Colin actually kissed a girl," Theo laughed. "Never thought that would actually happen."
"Theo," Colin said.
"Yeah?"
"Shut up."