Eight, eight, eight, is great! (I made a rhyme!)

I'm soooo sorry, everybody! This started off really good, but then it steadily declined. Darn.

I think the next chapter might be the last... but who knows?

Livetoeat- Honey, I barely know where this is going. ;)

GoodQueenA- She was muggleborn, so she lives in a muggle area. (That, and I didn't even want to attempt a wizard-like house.)


Dissing the claim: Don't own anything!

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"Ginevra!"

A red head popped up from behind a counter at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, covered in dust.

"I've come to save you," Alicia said to her, grinning. Behind her stood Jen, with an equally large smile.

"We're going shopping."

Ginny frowned. "Okay, here's the plan. You leave, I'll meet you outside. I'm going to run out, yell 'Bye Fred and George!' and be gone before they know it."

Alicia rolled her eyes, but she and Jen left, sneaking out of George's radar.

"BYE FRED! BYE GEORGE!" Ginny sprinted out the door. "Let's gooooo!"

She dragged them down the street. "Okay," she looked behind her to make sure no one was following them. "We're good. So where are we going?"

"Muggle somewhere, they don't have normal clothes here," Jen decided.

"The mall?"

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Ginny turned out to be surprisingly good at shopping, so soon she (even though she wasn't going to the party), Jen, and Alicia had outfits.

They ate pizza at the mall, and Alicia told them how she'd invited George to the party.

Jen cracked up, and Alicia threw salad at her.

"Everyone at work knows about the party, Leesh, so we have to go all next week without mentioning it once. Unless he's not going to be there... is he?"

"Er, yes. He's Kelly's new personal assistant so he can try to get the ad in this issue."

"Great."

"Why are you giving my brother a party?" Ginny asked.

Jen explained.

"I had to do his job all week while he flirted with about 50 different women at once, and he gets a party?"

Alicia smiled prettily. "Would you like to come?"

"NO!"

Alicia stared at her, a knowing grin on her face.

"Yes..." Ginny admitted reluctantly.

"Saturday, 6:30."

"Well... at least I've got a dress."

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Work was uneventful. Except for Alicia flipping out when she'd found out someone hadn't even started their article, things ran smoothly. Kelly had gone on hyper-speed, and George's ad was even in, and looking fabulous. The issue was ready for copying at noon on Friday.

"Congratulations, everybody!" Alicia ran through her normal speech of "great jobs" and "well dones" before bringing in the food and setting out copies.

"And let's give a huge thank you to George, for helping us out so much!"

Everyone clapped.

Today's choice of radio station was playing the Weird Sisters. This time, people sang along and danced, strewing magazines all over the floor as they copied them.

This time when everyone was gone, George was there to help address and mail them, there to attach them to all the owls, along with her and Jen, and it took them a lot less time.

"Thanks, George!" Jen said, grinning. "See you tomorrow," she mouthed at Alicia, before winking and disappearing with a crack.

"Well, we'd better go, too," Alicia said, smiling.

"Er... Alicia... do you want to make that dinner thing tomorrow a date?"

Oh, that wouldn't go over well. Maybe when the hordes of love-struck girls were out of the picture. And that wouldn't be happening until next week...

Wait. Why was she even considering this? She did not like George! They'd decided to break up in their sixth year!

But that was years ago... part of her nagged. Well... maybe she did like him a little, but just as a friend. Okay, as more than a friend, as sort of a... half-boyfriend. Wait, where did the boyfriend thing come from? That wasn't supposed to be there!

"Hi." George was saying, waving his hand in front of Alicia's face. "I was talking to you about a minute ago, I don't know if you remember."

"Oh, sorry, George!" she said, smiling. "What did you say?" She knew perfectly well what he'd said, but knew he wouldn't ask her again, and that would avoid the problem all together. How convenient!

"Um, nothing, Leesh. See you tomorrow!"

Alicia felt kind of bad as she waved and watched him disapparate, but she could ask him out anytime next week.

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Alicia hurriedly yanked on her knee-length ruffled blue skirt. She was late, as usual, and George was going to be here in ten minutes. She pulled on the lacy white camisole she'd picked to match and then ran over to her bathroom to slick on some makeup.

Next was her hair, which she straightened and shined with a quick spell, letting it fall down around her ears.

She quickly fastened a silver necklace around her neck, and found her magic earrings. They turned into thin silver hoops when she put them in.

Alicia grabbed a thin white sweater in case it got cold, and stood by the door, buckling her black sandals. She grabbed her favorite silver bag, then leaned against the door. A record! She'd been ready in just over ten minutes.

She heard the crack of someone apparating, the swearing as they untangled themselves from the bushes, then an angry knock on the door.

She pulled the door open, and there stood George in a pair of khaki shorts and a polo shirt.

"Hi! Let's go," Alicia said, smiling.

They were walking, because it was a muggle place, and the restaurant owner would be suspicious of there was a series of loud cracks outside.

"You know, Alicia, you really don't have to do this... we could run to Diagon Alley instead..." George said.

"Er... yeah, I do," Alicia replied. Did he really have to say that? Of course.

"Really! Alicia, come on, I'll still be nice to you and stuff..."

"Er, um, I already... made... reservations," Alicia said quickly. "Um, and it's the restaurant! Look at that..."

They walked inside, Alicia dragging George through the door.

"Surprise," Alicia mouthed to the host.

He nodded, and she motioned for George to follow her to the back.

"Don't we have to talk to that guy?"

"Um... no."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Why?"

"Just... come on!"

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Well, for lack of ideas, I'll leave the party to the next chapter, which will most likely be the end unless I make an epilogue, which will most likely suck.

It sucks either way.

REVIEW! (please.)