Who I Am

Chapter 2

First

"Your parents--"

"Don't push me to talk about them."

"Bad relationship, huh?"

"Yeah."

He pulled out a black shirt with a rose rapping around a sword. "How's this?"

"Good." I smiled at what my parents would say to me coming home with that on.

"It's the homosexual thing, isn't it?"

"You bet."

He nodded. "That's why you have no boyfriends?"

I just nodded back. I wanted one, very badly.

I turned to the mirror on the wall by the foot of the bed and looked at my short hair. I wanted long hair also. Ma makes me cut it at least every month.

"You'd look good with longer hair, too."

My head snapped around to look at Ron.

"I read faces well." He shrugged.

I pulled on the jeans he gave me. We were really about the same size; I was just a bit shorter. I turned to face him. "Good?"

Ron simply nodded. "You'd look good in anything."

I arched my eyebrows and cautiously sat down on the foot of his bed, just next to the red-head. Was he hitting on me . . . ?

"That Draco guy. . . I'm sure he's noticed."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked trying to ignore the fact he had been hitting on me.

"He likes you." He said this a bit too offhandedly.

"What!" This made me nearly fall off the sheets. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. He's a total playboy who's slept with just about every girl on campus. Not to mention he hits me if I so much as look his way and--"

"He hits you so he can get a chance to touch you . . . Without raising suspicion. He's got a reputation to uphold and all. . . "

I looked away. This theory did make some since, but it was still far too hard to swallow. I guess I never though of myself as being liked by . . . Well, anyone.

"Ever notice how closely he watches you? That's why he's always looking back when you sneak a glance. Not to mention why he pounds you every time . . . So you won't think he was gazing longingly when your back's turned." Ron folded his hands under his chin while holding his elbows up, fluttering his eyelashes. "'Sigh. Harry is so damn sexy! I just want to screw him all night long!'" He said this in a falsetto, keeping in character. "Clearly, you've spoiled him for other women, Harry."

I reached over and punched his shoulder. "Shut up!"

"Okay okay!" Ron held up both hands as a signal of surrender. "But, can I just say you would look even better if you lost the glasses?" He reached across to me and took off the round spectacles that framed my eyes. "You have contacts, I presume?"

I gave a weak nod. I wasn't used to not having the glasses on. I always wanted them as a sort of barrier.

"Hmm. . . You have pretty eyes, too, Harry."

My head snapped back to Ron. "You think?"

He nodded and got up and left the room only for a moment, then came back with a towel. "Not that wet hair isn't sexy either, but. . ." He wrapped my head in the towel, drying me gently with his hands. I closed my eyes, enjoying the contact. I felt the man run his hands from my hair to my chin and stop there. His hands still moved a little bit, but that was just to keep me thinking he was still drying and that was all. I opened my eyes to see his blue eyes looking carefully at my face.

"I can do this myself, Ron." I smiled.

"You wear makeup?" Ron asked this as if he hadn't heard my last statement.

I frowned slightly. "Foundation." I said simply. How could he tell? Sure, the rain would have washed it off, but. . .

"You have a bruise right there," he tapped a spot on my cheek. "Where'd you get it? Draco?"

I forgot about the bruises. Damn rain.

"No. Vernon."

"Who's Vernon?"

"My step-father. I told you we had a bad relationship. He hates me because. . . Well, you know. . ."

Ron gave a slight smile. "Yes, Harry, I know." He rubbed his thumb on my bruise gently. I had never been handled so gently before. The truth was: I really liked it. I liked Ron. . .

His free hand pulled the towel off of my shoulders. He pointed at my jaw now. "There's another one here. . ."

"Yeah. I'm sure I must be covered with the damn things by now."

Ron did something completely unexpected just then. The free hand now wandered around my waist, two fingers gently pushed themselves under the hem of my jeans. My heart began to beat faster at the feeling of his hands on me. This was a whole new feeling. . . Then, he leaned forward and touched his lips to my jaw, just over the bruise. Then he moved his lips up to my cheek. I put my arms around his shoulders.

"How far have you gone with a guy, Harry?" Ron said this in my ear, lips scarcely gracing my lobe.

I turned a small bit to look at him, but all I could see was his soft blond hair. I wasn't sure if to answer that or not. I'd never talked about my sex life before. Whether it was to be answered or not, my mouth answered without much consent from me. "I've gone nowhere with guys."

"Ah. . . Never kissed by a guy?"

I shook my head. "Hm-mh."

I felt him turn his head so I could see him more properly. Our noses brushed. "In that case. . ."

Ron took my lips with his. My whole body seized up for a moment, I couldn't move. There was a soft tingling behind my lips, urging me to kiss back. I opened my mouth to him and began pulling him closer, running one hand through his hair. The tingling had now spread to my whole body. I wanted more than a kiss from him now. I never wanted anything, or anyone, quiet so badly before.

Ron let go and blew softly on my now wet lips. "How was that for a first kiss?"

"God. . ." I whispered. That was the only word my lips would let escape.

He chuckled softly. "I'll take it that you liked it."

I nodded and pulled forward for another. His lips were so soft and they tasted of banana flavored chapstick. . .

"No." Ron whispered, pushing me back with a single hand. "I'd prefer this didn't go any further. Not tonight, anyway. I. . . " he touched my cheek tenderly. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You just want to be friends?" I felt anger float through my veins, replacing the passion they had held just a moment ago. This was crazy. I don't want to hurt you! Too late for that.

"Yes. Just for now."