Things were getting way out of hand now. It was clear that Flint's punch was for her benefit. But she honestly hadn't expected him to react in that way. When she'd left she thought that was the last she'd see of him, that they'd both just forget each other and get on with their separate lives. It wasn't like they meant anything to each other, they barely knew one another for a start. So why the punch? It wasn't like Oliver's actions affected Flint in any way. She'd have to speak to him. What was she saying? She had to speak to both of them: Flint and Wood. But Flint first.
She got dressed and apparated to Flint's street. Ayla walked along the alley, not quite sure which house was his. But she needn't have worried, Flint appeared with a crack and stood glaring at her.
"What are you doing here?" he grunted.
"I'm painting the ceiling! What do you think I'm doing here? I'm looking for you."
"Yeah, well I'm not in the mood for a chat right now."
"Tough. Why the hell did you punch Oliver?"
" 'Cos' he had it coming."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I thought I said I didn't want to talk."
"And I said tough."
"Fine come in then," he said. "Bloody stubborn women." he added muttering to himself.
"Thank you," she said smiling. "So what's the deal then/ why did he have it coming?"
" 'Cos he's golden boy Wood. He gets everything given to him on a plate. He's never worked harder than me to get what he wants. He's a fake. And he does my head in."
"So it wasn't for me then?"
"No. not entirely. Maybe a little bit. It's just the last straw you know. I've been itching to punch him since third year. You just gave me the perfect excuse."
"Oh. What happened in third year?"
"None of your business."
"Ok, well thanks anyway."
"I told you, I didn't do it for you."
"Right, yeah. I should probably learn to fight my own battles anyway."
"Probably."
"See you."
"Yeah, whatever."
Ayla left. While she hadn't really found anything out, she doubted she would now. Flint was definitely in a mood, and not one for sharing. She decided to give Oliver another try. She apparated to Puddlemere's training grounds, only to find that it was empty.
Tired of apparating, Ayla headed for the general admission floo grates. She stepped into the larger fireplace and shouted Oliver's address. She began to spin, but as fast as it had began it stopped, she bounced off the back wall and onto the floor. She tried again. The same thing happened. It could only mean one thing: Oliver had put up a ward to stop her getting into his house. She'd have to apparate after all, or try to anyway.
Surprisingly apparating worked. She landed outside Oliver's impressive home. It looked empty. She walked around the outside, trying to get up the courage to go in. She could do this. She could talk to him, calmly and rationally. She could make him see sense.
"Ayla darling, whatever are you doing here?"
She would have given anything in the world to have heard Oliver say those words. But he didn't, Kate did. Kate, her annoying cousin, was standing at the kitchen door wearing nothing but a faded blue Puddlemere jersey.
"Come in, come in. you must be freezing. And besides I have some wonderful news."
Ayla's legs moved of their own accord. She did not want to go in. She did not want to hear Kate's news, no matter how wonderful it was. She wanted to go home. Her legs apparently did not know any of this unfortunately.
"Sit down. Would you like a drink? You'll have to excuse my appearance, we've only just got up. We came back late last night and spent every minute since in bed." She grinned widely.
"That's uh, great."
Oliver walked in, completely ignoring Ayla and heading straight for Kate.
"There you are. I missed you."
Ayla noticed, with a suppressed giggle, that Oliver was wearing a kilt.
"I missed you too Olly Wally."
Ayla cringed. This was just too embarrassing. She looked to the open kitchen door and a chance of escape. The two were making disturbing slurpy noises now.
"Olly please! We have company."
Oliver turned to face Ayla, a possessive arm slung around Kate.
"What do you want"
"Darling be nice. Mind he has a point. What are you doing here Ayla?"
Ayla hesitated. She didn't want to tell Kate, not yet. She was saved from answering by a gust of wind. She could hear Kate giggling as Oliver tried, unsuccessfully, to stop his kilt from billowing up. It gave Ayla the answer to that age old question that had plagued mankind for centuries. What does a Scotsman where under his kilt? Not a lot.
"Uh maybe I should leave."
"Good idea," Oliver replied coldly. "Leave me and my wife in peace."
"Your what?"
"That's the news Ayla," Kate said wiggling her left hand at Ayla. "We got married yesterday. Isn't it wonderful?"
"Yeah, it's great. Just great."
She stumbled out the door and apparated home as fast as she could. Was this real? Surely she had been dreaming. Oliver and Kate, married? Had the world gone mad? She flopped down on the sofa with a soft thud, trying to make sense of what had just happened. She could hear voices in the kitchen, but chose to ignore them.
"There you are! Ayla you have a visitor," Kris said walking into the living room. She was closely followed by Flint.
"What are you doing here?" Ayla sad, the coldness of her tone matching the one Oliver had used earlieron her perfectly.
"I came to say sorry for earlier. I was having a bad day, I shouldn't have taken it out on you. You've got enough to deal with."
"Tell me about it."
"Oh hun what is it? What's happened?" Kris asked.
"Oliver got married to my cousin last night."
"Your cousin?"
"He did what?" blazed Kris.
"Yeah but don't worry I'm over it."
"You sure mate?"
"Yeah Kris, I've had enough. Any man that's happy to be around her is welcome to her. Especially if it keeps her away from me."
"You don't mean that. I know you."
"Yeah I do. I've really had enough now. So how come your day sucked?" she said turning to Flint.
"Oh I got rejected from the English Nationals and I'm on probation for the rest of the season. One toe out of line and I'm off the Falcons for good."
"How come?"
" 'Cos' I punched Wood," he said with a grin.
"That's awful. Look I'll tell them it was my fault," Ayla said feeling that it was partly true.
"Nah don't worry about it. Any plank of wood can get on a National team. I was getting bored anyway."
"Bored of Quidditch?" Kris stared at Flint incredulously. The man was obviously mad.
He left shortly after that, leaving both Ayla and Kris wondering what was really happening.
"Do you really think he was bored? Or maybe he really is in love with Wood and now he's just trying to distance himself from the whole thing?" Kris asked.
"You think he's gay?"
"You never know. Hey look, he's left his cloak. We'll have to take it back."
"We?"
"Yes we. You've been to two Quidditch players' houses now and it's not fair. Besides which someone needs to keep an eye on you. You just keep wandering off."
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, you guys crack me up. I've been writing loads lately, looks like I'll finish soon. But don't worry plenty of chapters to come, there'll be at least 55 in total. But you know what? I don't want it to end! As much as I feel guilty for messing about with Ayla I'm having way too much fun for this to finish. Oh well... hope you enjoyed.
