I avoided Tom after the argument we had.
He tried apologizing soon after the incident but I wasn't interested in listening to another poor excuse for his actions.
After that I hardly interacted with him, and tried my hardest to avoid doing so. Actively refusing to work with him, and even going as far as to walk away from him if he tried to approach me in the corridors.
Two weeks before the year ended, Bellatrix and her sisters asked me to meet them in the western courtyard.
I tried to tell them I was busy studying for the end of the year exams but Bella was having none of it.
"Please? Just come sit with us for a while. I promise it'll be worth it." She said as she tried to convince me to meet with them.
"Bella, I have a lot of studying to do, honestly. We have our potions final this Wednesday." I replied, as I moved to get out of my seat.
"It'll just be for an hour. Andi and Cissy miss seeing you." She replied with a pout.
I shook my head as I gathered my book, and began to stand, and gather my things. "We spoke earlier this morning. What could we possibly need to do for over an hour in the West Courtyard?" I asked her.
"We want to catch up. It's been weeks since we've gotten together to just sit and chat. We want to know what's been going on with your life. Please." She practically begged.
I sighed, shaking my head at her, "If I agree to go, will you stop pouting and stop with the comments?" I asked her.
She blinked at me, before nodding with an eyeroll.
"Alright. I'll go." I conceded. "But you do realize we see each other every day during class." I pointed.
"You stopped sitting with us because of Riddle. I'd say Cissy and I deserve a chance to hear what you've been up to too." She replied with a scoff.
"Andromeda is probably the only one who doesn't see me so often." I told her as we began making our way towards the Great Hall.
"Alright. Just meet us at the Western Courtyard after lunch." She replied over her shoulder, as she walked in the direction of the Slytherin table.
I stood by the doors for a moment, before shaking my head and rushing towards the Gryffindor table and sitting down next to Grisha and Torin.
"Why the long face, Annie?" Torin asked, leaning towards me to so nobody would hear.
I sighed shaking my head as I set down my book bag.
"You do realize you are wearing the same face you always have when you fight with Riddle, don't you?" She asked, smiling at me.
I frowned, "I don't make any face. Besides, I haven't spoken to Riddle since the end of March." I replied, as Lily and Alice arrived to the table.
"You do. It's sort of like this." She replied, as she jutted out her lower lip and creased her forehead.
I smiled, shaking my head at her in amusement before sighing. "It's not Riddle. Honestly, it's just Bella and her sisters wish for me to meet with them, and I need to study for the test we have this week." I replied, honestly.
"Oh, right. Well, most of the topics within the test are things we learned through out the year. You're at the top of our class, you can spare a moment to spend with your other friends." Torin replied as she turned to stick her tongue out at James and his friends.
Grisha frowned, leaning over to look at me. "Who are you going to meet with?" She asked.
"Oh, Bella and her sisters. For a while before I have to go study." I replied.
"So, you're not upset with Riddle then?" She asked.
"Riddle has nothing to do with this. Besides, we haven't spoken in months." I mumbled, as my lower lip jutted out.
"You and I both know that whenever something is wrong with you, Riddle is always involved." Grisha commented as she eyed my empty plate.
"That's not true." I argued frowning at my plate, before quickly reaching over and grabbing something food from the middle of the table.
"Of course, it is." Torin snorted as she threw a piece of steamed veggie at James. "When Riddle and you had that fall out back in November, you cried and pouted for an entire month..."she pointed out.
"Back in March you were in a faul mood for two weeks. Snapping at anyone who tried to speak to you." Grisha added.
Had I really been in a faul mood? I don't remember doing any of these things.
I thought I had done a great job avoiding everyone after our fallout.
"See?" Torin whispered amused as James and Sirius threw a handful of veggies her way.
I sighed shaking my head before causing the veggies to fly back and pelt an unexpected Lupin on the head along with James and Sirius.
"Stop it." I said to all three of them.
"She started it." James replied defensively.
"Well, I am finishing it." I replied, before turning my attention back on my plate.
The rest of the meal, they ignored each other.
When we went back to attend the afternoon classes, I distracted myself by taking detailed notes in each class, and making it a point to ignore the stares I felt boring into my back and side.
"So, Riddle isn't involved?"Lily whispered to me suddenly.
"I'm sorry, what?" I asked her, confused.
"Alice, Molly, and I heard Torin, Grisha, and you talking in the Great Hall... We wanted to input as well, but figured it was best to do so later in the privacy of our room. I just wanted to make sure you were alright. You seemed upset earlier." She quietly replied.
I sighed, as Professor Slughorn wrote more notes on the board. "I'm alright... And no, Riddle isn't involved. As far as I know he can go jump into the Black Lake." I mumbled.
She let out a small giggle before returning to write the notes down.
When the classes for the day finally finished I gathered all of my things and made my way towards the Western Courtyard.
I walked, staring ahead, and ignoring anyone who tried to speak.
Just as I was about to arrive, I saw the same thing I had seen a few months back just outside the library.
Tom and the stupid annoying pixie, standing close to each other. She clung to him as if he held all the answers to the world.
I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I continued to walk.
Without thinking twice, I flexed my fingers, and walked past them, smirking as the pair stiffened.
The smile disappeared from my face as I met Bella and her sisters sitting on the grass.
I ignored everyone else and wordlessly sat on the damp grass.
"Did you know Riddle and Jane are going together?" I asked, casually.
Bella scrunched her nose in disgust, before shaking her head from side to side. "They're not. He is simply attempting to get your attention by hanging around her." She muttered in disgust.
I stared at her in shock before letting out a laugh. "That isn't going to get my attention." I replied amused.
Narcissa and Andromeda exchanged amused glances before turning towards me.
"Who has your attention if it's not Riddle?" She asked.
I scrunched up my nose, before opening and closing my mouth. "I'm not sure... I suppose Sirius and I have been getting close but we're only friends." I lied, as I leaned back ony hands, casually.
"So, you're saying none of the guys attending this school are worth your affection?" Andromeda asked teasingly.
"I am not saying that. All I am saying is none have caught my eye yet." I replied.
All three exchanged a satisfied smirk.
"Why the sudden interest in my personal life? Has something happened in yours?" I asked, watching in satisfaction as they all stiffened, while looking away as their faces turned red.
"No particular reason, but it has been a while since we have had the chance to catch up." Andromeda pointed out.
"Yes, you and Bella have made that quiet clear, yet here we sit, not speaking about anything besides Riddle." I pointed out.
"Right. Our apologies..." She replied sheepishly.
Right as we began to enjoy our time together, we were interrupted.
"What's this I hear about you going with Black?" Tom demanded angrily.
I turned sharply to look up at him, wincing as the sun hit me directly in the eyes.
He moved to block the sun as I looked up again.
"Care to explain?" He asked.
"I don't need to explain anything. Besides since when do you care what I do or don't do? It's been months since you've spoken to me... And now you want to demand answers to rumors you've heard?" I asked, in disbelief, as I began moved to get to my feet.
He stared blankly ate, shaking his head and scoffing. "I never stopped speaking to you. You're the one who's been ignoring me. Now, please answer my question." He replied, tensely.
I sighed shaking my head before slowly getting to my feet. "So, what if I am? Are you going to stop me?" I asked him, evasively.
"You're actually entertaining the idea of going out with that dog?" He asked, his voice a mixture between disbelief and disgust.
"I don't think that is any of your concern, Riddle." I replied staring at him, blankly.
"That's where you are wrong, Annamarie. You may no longer see me as your friend, but I still consider you one of mine. And I will always watch your back." He said.
I shook my head, willing my emotions not to get the better of me as I stared at him. "You don't get to ignore me for almost five months then suddenly decide that you still want to be friends. That is not how friendship works... And for your information, yes, I am going with Black. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have studying to do." I replied as I bent down to grab my bag before pushing past him.