Chapter 34
At Bobby's, Rick Corner is a mess. He sits in the corner, by himself, sipping on butterbeer. As the last person leaves, Bobby sits down with a cigarette and a fire whiskey. Both boys were in Isabelle's year because of early marriage. The Corners were married between sixth and seventh year. It had been planned down to a tee. In Bobby's case, his father Seamus was known for his drunken nights. The elder Finnegan had gotten Pansy Parkinson pregnant after an one night stand. She had just found out that Draco was to marry Astoria. She sent the boy to live with Seamus. It really was a wonder that the Slytherin bike even allowed the pregnancy to go to term.
"You were the one that sought this out, Mate. If you had not broken up with her, she would still be wrapped around your finger and blind to your dealings." Bobby pats his hand and goes to bed, via the bathroom.
Rick apperates home to sulk. What did he do? Breaking up with Izzy, he ruined his life. His parents, social leeches that they are, are pissed. He is going to flunk out of school without her help, forget the NEWTs. He'll be the laughing stock of the their year. Rachel, as Izzy predicted, cut him loose when someone richer was reported to have moved to town. Word is that Rachel's dad, Greg, is trying like mad to set his daughter up with his friend's son. As a Malfoy, Rachel will have the life she wants. The only thing holding that dream back is the Malfoys. She is planning to seek the boy out on the train.
Rick takes out some parchment and ink. He needs to get his girlfriend/free ride back.
Dear Isabelle,
I spent the whole party in the corner, nursing a butterbeer, thinking about you and us. I wish you had come. I miss you, Izzy. Please reconsider taking me back.
It broke my heart to hear from you that you had a date with another guy. I want you back in my arms, where I know you are safe from harm.
Love,
Ricky
Rick sends the letter to arrive in the morning and falls on his bed in a heap.
Isabelle wakes from a lovely dream of waking up in Scorpius' arms. It was something that she never had with Rick. Realizing what woke her, she goes to her window to retrieve the two letters. One from Scorpius and another from Rick.
Urgh
She might as well get the torture over with. Belle opens Rick's letter.
"How dare he?" She growls at the parchment. She decides to write him back as soon as she reads Scorpius'.
Isabelle,
I hope you slept well, my dear. I tossed most of the night and woke several times seeking you out. To my embarrassment, I woke just now holding my pillow as if it was you. Thank Merlin, no one else saw.
I want to thank you again for going out with me. May I be bold and ask that we do something again soon? Your choice this time.
Belle, I am very much in danger of losing my heart to you already. You are a dream come true to me. I will understand if it's too soon for you and wait as long as it takes, but will you be mine?
Want to hear something? When I got home last night, Dad and Grandpa pulled me aside to tell me that Greg Goyle was by while we were out. Even though both tried to discourage him, he left with the idea that his daughter is going to catch my eye at school. I'd rather tell you that, then we both be sideswiped by this on the train or in school.
No matter who tries to tempt me, I am yours. Try not to dwell too much on it. I'll write again tonight, if I don't hear from you before.
Yours,
Scorpius
"Merlin! Just what I need, Rachel sniffing around him too." She groans. "At least Scorpius makes more sense than Rick."
After cooling down and getting ready for the day, Belle writes both boys back; Scorpius first.
Scorp,
I did sleep well, thank you. As with you, my dreams were filled with my other half.
You are welcome for the lovely date, though as you did the asking, paying and ferrying, I feel I should thank you. I had a great time, if you pardon the overused corny phrase.
I find that I am in the same situation. I'm starting to feel content with the break up and excited about starting a new relationship with you. So yes, I will be yours, Scorpius.
I really don't know how to feel about her possibly trying to horn in on another of my relationships. I will look forward to hearing from you.
I am sending a copy of a letter I got alongside yours this morning. I am outraged. I am going to wait on your response to add anything you might want to the letter back.
Either way, I am not in the least interested anymore in him.
Your girl,
Belle.
As she figured, Belle has a response in a matter of minutes.
Belle,
You can't imagine how rapturous those few words were to read. To be able to call you mine is tremendous to me.
On to that cad's letter. Thank you for sharing it and the chance for a return. I am sure you will tell him about us. As for me, please tell him that I plan to make you so very happy, that you will never think of him again. That I know the treasure that I hold in my arms and that I will never need another if I have you.
I mean it. I will endeavourto make certainthat your children will have gray eyes and blonde hair. That's a while off, but for now, I will do everything in my power to prove to you that I'm the one for you. That when people call to you in the streets, in the years ahead, that they will be calling Mrs. Isabelle Malfoy.
I need to be over to James' in a bit, but as I said, I will respond if you write me.
Your boyfriend, -Love That! ;)
Scorp
Isabelle smiles and turns to write to Rick.
Rick,
Thank you for the thought. I must say that is the first party that you've ever done that, thought of me. Shame it was too late to count for anything.
I figure this is the best vehicle for me to tell you all of my grievances, they are numerous. I didn't want to get into it in public. It is classless to do such in public, but you were wrong. I hated going to those parties. Bob is always soused and a lech. Your friends are either elitist snobs or the equivalentto street scum. I am glad I don't have to worry about what you are usually doing at those keggers-that's what they are- or who anymore.
My name is Isabelle or Belle, not Izzy. I am not a cold blooded reptile, which is what that particular nickname makes me think of.
As to your most repeated annoyance and supposed reason for breaking my heart, I have realized that I do not have to be a slag to keep a man. If he really likes being with me, then he will wait for me to be ready. I also am getting to know my parents better. Their story is amazing and has made me decide what I want in a man.
This new list leaves no room for someone that wants to use me for my intelligence, as a placeholder until they can find something better or lets his friends talk down to and harasstheir girl. Lastly, the man needs to embrace both sides of my heritage. I could tell that you thought my mother's background was inferior. That is completely insane. You forget that it is a muggle-born Gryffindor that trounced the whole Ravenclaw house for seven years. That same muggle-borntook her NEWTs a whole six months early and still surpassed both Professor/Headmaster Snape and Lily Evans Potter, James' grandmother.
Back to the party thing for a moment. I realized that you didn't care what I did as long as I didn't bother you. For the last ten of them that we attended, I would leave and go dancing at a club that catered to the underage. I had a damn sight better time than at those parties. You never noticed me being gone.
I went on my date last night, I found out how real men treated their women, and I enjoyed the difference. He was considerate of my opinions, ideas, and feelings. We went to dinner at a new restaurant in London and to a movie, which was something that he had not done before. He was affectionate without pushing me beyond my limits. He wrote me first thing this morning, hoping that I slept well, thanking me for going out with him and to arrange another date. Lastly, he asked me to be his. I agreed right away.
I sent a copy of your letter to him with my answer. He asked me to pass on the following message; He plans to make me so happy that I'll never think of you again. He knows what a treasure he has and I will never need another, because he plans to be there for me. Also, he's friends with some of my closest friends so I don't have to worry about him disliking my friends.
Sincerely,
Isabelle Weasley
Rick waits for Izzy's letter. It finally arrives around ten. His mother smiles as she hands the parchment to him.
"I told you she'd come around." Mandy Corner tells her husband as the house elves fill the breakfast table. Rick is silent as he reads.
"She hasn't. Izzy went on a date last night. He's doing everything I should have. I've lost her. Not only do they have mutual friends, but he's planning on staying with her. The worst part is, I can't find out who it is. Not a one of the guys have a clue." He places the letter to the side and begins to eat. Soon, he places his flatware down.
"I can't eat." Rick stands, excuses himself and walks out of the room. "He's taking this harder than I thought he would, given that he broke it off." Michael sets his napkin down to head to his position in the Ministry's Records Office.