A/N: Another chapter…probably another filler, I'm sorry…but I think it's mildly amusing…probably because I wrote it. Amazing how that works.
/You turn me down for her 'cause you say she's so pretty, she's so popular…but for all it's worth I'm looking at her right now and I've never seen anyone uglier/
-- 3
Angelina, Alicia, and I walked in our dormitory after Transfiguration, last class of the day. I took off my bag, slung it on the floor, and collapsed in a heap face down on my bed. This whole Fred thing was tiring me out. I couldn't keep up with it much longer, and not talking about it with anyone was killing me. The fact that my friends refused to say anything about it was annoying. I was bored of life and frustrated with all the day to day things that used to be so interesting. I didn't sleep much anymore, either. Basically, I was a wreck. Hence, the pile of me that was on my bed. And okay, maybe it was a little bit of a call for attention. Maybe.
My pride was gratified. "Katie, what is wrong with you lately?" Angelina asked. I could hear her walking around, probably looking for her elastic I'd stolen earlier that morning. She didn't ask it in a sympathetic way, her voice was more demanding. It didn't make me feel like talking, let alone fessing up to the mystery of the missing elastic.
"Seriously, girl," she continued, moving things around on the vanity. "You're scaring me. You've had all your homework done this week, haven't been late to a single class, and you haven't challenged McGonagoll on anything she's said. It's kind of creepy. What's up with you?"
"I don't feel like talking about it today," I told my pillow. At least not with you, I added in my head.
"Is this about Fred? Because if it is, you're being a bit of a prick. He doesn't have a clue how you feel, because you won't tell him. I keep trying to tell him that you like him, but you're not really living up to it if you know what I—is that my hair tie?"
"Yes," I said. My voice was muffled.
She growled. "Katie…anyway, that's not how you treat a boyfriend. If I ever acted that way toward Oliver—"
I was officially annoyed. This wasn't what I wanted. I wanted compassion, understanding…things I wasn't going to get from Angelina. Where was Alicia anyway?
"The point is, Kates, you're going to have to show him a little bit of notice. Dress up for him once in a while. Act a bit more lively. You're being kind of a stick in the mud, if you will…"
Enter, Alicia. Enter, Alicia. I'm begging you. I started biting my pillow.
"Not to mention a thief, did you ask if you could borrow that hair tie?"
"Okay, Ang, that's enough." Alicia! Thank Heaven. "Katie, honey, what's wrong? You haven't been acting like yourself lately, and we've all been worried. Is this about Fred?"
I nodded, and she sighed. "That's what I was afraid of," she said. Angelina had apparently been making distracted gestures toward her elastic, because Alicia started gently undoing it from my hair and I could hear Angelina walk off in the direction of the mirror. Some friend. Alicia, however, started brushing my hair softly, and asked me to tell her what the matter was. Alicia is going to make a good mom someday.
I turned over on the bed to face her. I thought about how to best phrase it for a second and then sighed. "I'm just not sure if I like him," I said. "I mean, I do, but…what if I only think I do, and I'm wrong? Besides, this whole thing feels all wrong. If I was meant to be with him, shouldn't I be happier? It all feels too fast."
"Too fast!" Angelina asked incredulously from the vanity. "What's too fast? You two only hold hands!"
"Angelina, hush up," Alicia hissed. She turned back to me. "Go on, hun."
After sticking my tongue out in Angelina's direction, I did. "I don't know," I said, distractedly. "I just wish I could have been the one to like him first. It was too easy. Nothing good ever comes easy, right? Mainly, I'm not happy. I keep thinking about it and I'm not happy. I just want things to be the way they were before."
And there it was. I finally understood myself. I didn't want a relationship right now. I just wanted Fred and me to be friends. Just like we were before. I was happy then. My friends looked at me for a moment as though considering whether I was crazy or not, and then Alicia finally said,
"Okay. If that's what you really want, then that settles it."
"Really?"
"Really. We only want you to be happy, Katie. Tell you what, I'll go owl George now. I'll tell him to talk to Fred. We can have this whole thing closed by dinner."
I sat up, staring at my friend. "Seriously?" I asked.
"Seriously. In the mean time, I think we were long overdue for a…"
"PILLOWFIGHT!" all three of us yelled at once. And we spent a good half an hour filling the air with feathers. I made sure to yank Angelina's hair out of its perfect, glossy ponytail.
At dinner, I was hesitant to take my usual spot, but I decided I wasn't going to get anywhere by being shy so I sat right down in between the twins. George was a little bit colder in his greeting to me than usual, but Fred was perfectly cheerful.
"Hey, Kate!" he said, and pulled over the basket of bread, offering it to me. "Roll?"
"Thanks," I said, happily, and placed it on my plate.
A conversation could easily be made within a group in the Great Hall, as there was so much noise and clanking of silverware, but a conversation between two people was harder to be had unheard, especially when one of those people's brother was sitting very near by and looking angrily in your direction. Fred waited until Alicia had a sufficient amount of influence over his twin before engaging me in conversation.
"I've been thinking a lot about what Alicia told George, Kate," he said right off the bat.
I could feel myself color. "Really?" I asked cautiously.
"Yeah, and I'm not gonna lie, at first I was really upset…but I got to thinking, it's probably for the best."
"Serious?" I asked brightly.
"Yep. One-hundred-percent serious. To be honest, you're not really my type anyway, and I seriously doubt I'm yours. I think we were just caught up in the moment, you know?"
"Oh…yeah…sure," I said. Not his type? What's that supposed to mean?
"Oh, don't be upset, Katie, nothing against you. You're still my best mate. I just don't think we could be anything more. You were the first to see it. I'm glad you told me before we went and made fools of ourselves."
"Yeah…well, George doesn't look happy about it at any rate."
"Yeah…but that's just George. He's kinda steamed at you at the moment, but once he realizes I'm not upset he'll probably come around. I think he was just convinced we were madly in love without realizing it, or something like that…Funny, huh?"
I forced myself to laugh. "Yeah, real funny." What was wrong with me?
I shook myself out of it. I was the one rejecting him, not the other way around. I was being stupid. Smiling, I thought of our friendship restored. I really should be elated. And really, I pretty much was. Go Katie.
"So, where are you gonna go from here, Fred-o?" I asked, taking a big bite of lasagna.
"Actually," he laughed. "You're gonna think I'm crazy, but I was thinking of asking Hermione out for tomorrow night."
My jaw dropped. "Hermione!" I asked incredulously. "Hermione Granger? That bushy haired girl that's always running around with your brother and Harry Potter?"
"That's the one. She's the complete opposite of me. In theory, it really should be perfect."
"Yeah, I guess, but…tomorrow night's our group's annual night out at Hogsmeade. You know, where we sneak out of school and run around like mad all night? We always do it after the first snow, you know that. You're my partner for our scavenger hunt! We can't go without you!"
"Oh, don't worry, I already ran it by Lee and George. We're gonna reschedule. Hope you don't mind."
I frowned. Mind? Of course I minded! Ditching me for Hermione? Who did he think he was! I felt hot white jealousy run through my veins.
"Oh, of course I don't mind, Fred, actually, come to think of it, I have a date of my own. You know, with Roger Davies. He asked me out today."
"Really? Wonderful, Kate…hey, but there's Hermione, I think I'll ask her now…catch you later."
"Or wait," I said louder, "I lied. It wasn't Roger. It was Warrington. That's right. You know, the Slytherin."
"Uh-huh, that's cool Kate. See ya."
And that infernal red-head left, chasing after the little bushy haired third year that was walking with a pile of books up to her nose to a seat down at the end of the table. My blood was boiling.
"Hermione! What does he mean by going out with Hermione!"
My question was directed at no one in particular, but all my friends looked at me. It was George who answered.
"You dumped him, Kates," he said coldly. "He's a free man now."
"You've got to be kidding! We were never together!"
"Then he's twice the free man."
"Grrrrr!" I ground the roll I was holding into small pieces. At that moment, someone came up behind me.
"Um, Katie?"
"What?" I snapped, turning around. It was Roger.
"Umm…I couldn't help but overhearing…you want to go out with me tomorrow?"
"No, I don't want to go out with you! Are you stupid? I was lying!"
"Oh…um…okay. Sorry to disturb you."
And poor dejected Roger turned around and sat back down at the Ravenclaw table, all his buddies laughing at him. The bit of a decent person that was left in me felt sorry for the poor lad. I promised myself I'd make him a card whenever I remembered, and probably buy him something to boot.
Sorry for the Hermione abuse…but come on, you and I both know it's Katie that's perfect for dear Freddy…
