Chapter Six-Either you win 'em all or you lose 'em all
The next day Oliver didn't see Allyson at all, and when five o'clock came, she wasn't on the Quidditch field. He had expected as much after what had happened last night. He spent the hour that he was supposed to have been teaching Allyson trying to figure out a way to apologize. He couldn't believe what his former friends had pulled off last night, and they thought that they could win him back.
'No way!' he thought 'I can't believe what Alex was saying. How the hell can she love me now? Ah, the stupid girl! She learned her lesson indeed!'
He got up from his seat in the common room and left to go find Allyson. He searched the main halls and corridors and even asked some Ravenclaws that he passed if they had seen her. They all gave him funny looks and shook their heads until one fourth year girl told him that she'd seen her go outside about twenty minutes ago. He thanked her and ran out the main doors. He looked around the whole building finally coming to the Quidditch field. It looked empty as he quickly scanned the bleachers. He was about to go back inside when out of the corner of his eye he caught a figure slumped down in the bleachers. He went closer and saw that it was Allyson. Quickening his pace, he ran up the stairs that led to the bleachers. When he reached Allyson she looked up at him with a strange look. She wasn't crying like he thought she'd been but she had a solemn look to her.
"Allyson, er, I've been looking for you everywhere. I've come to apologize for last night. I had no idea that anyone knew where we were or what we were doing. My ex-friends say that they care about me but they really don't. Can we just forget about this whole thing and start over? Please?" inquired Oliver.
"Oh, Oliver. I'm sorry too but not for what happened last night. I've been thinking and I realized that I've been in the wrong for a long time. You see, I only asked you to give me Quidditch lessons to get closer to you and to try and make you like me because I wanted to sleep with you so bad. And I almost did. You're friends really are your friends. They did stop you from making a mistake. I wish that I had friends like that and maybe then I wouldn't feel like I have to give my body away. I'm so sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me but I'll ask you anyway. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me for what I tried to do, please do. Forgive your friends too," Allyson said softly.
Oliver was shocked. "So my friends were right about you. You're nothing but trouble! I can't believe this! Damn it! Why do things keep getting worse? Yeah, maybe I'll forgive you one day but today is not the day," he replied angrily.
Allyson got up and started down the stairs. "One more thing," she said turning around, "I didn't expect it to happen but I did fall in love with you, Oliver Wood. Don't worry, I'll get over you soon enough but I think that you do have someone else who also loves you very much. Give her another chance because if there's one thing I've learned from you it's that you need friends and someone who loves you."
She turned away and was gone. Oliver put his head in his hands. "What am I supposed to do now? I know that my friends were right but I still don't feel like forgiving them. I'll just play it cool and I bet they'll come around soon," he said aloud. Lifting his head, he nodded as if agreeing with himself and left the Quidditch field.
During the week, Oliver saw Alex, Andy, and Allyson rarely. He saw Landon every day and night because he roomed with him but he did not speak. Oliver knew he'd hurt them a lot, especially Alex. But they'd hurt him too and his pride was still suffering. One day, as he was leaving the Great Hall, he was accidentally shoved into Andy.
"Hey watch it!" she said turning around. When she saw that it was Oliver, she glared at him harshly. "Oh it's you," she sneered, "Do you still hate our guts or did you decide that maybe we are friend material after all. You know, you hurt Alex really bad, she hasn't been herself for days. I know she hurt you but can't you see past that? Put your damn pride aside, Wood!"
"Miss DelMarr, you know that I do not tolerate such language," scolded Professor McGonagall as she passed by and overheard the last bit of Andy's sentence.
"Yes, Professor," Andy waited until she was out of earshot to continue. "I suppose that you're still running around with that slut," she accused.
"No, actually I'm not. She told me the truth. You were right, Andy, she was playing me. But, she also was the one who told me to forgive you," replied Oliver softly.
"Are you? Are you going to apologize to us too? Or are you too high and mighty?" Andy questioned.
"Yes to the first two, no to the last. I'm sorry, Andy. I really am. Can we be friends again?" begged Oliver.
Andy softened a bit. "Yeah, sure. I'm sorry too. You know, if Allyson told you to forgive us then I guess that she's not half bad. You should try to make up with her too. Oh yeah, what about Landon and Alex?" she said as she gave him a hug.
"I'll get to them soon enough. I guess you're right about Allyson, maybe I should give her a second chance. I'm just glad to get one friend back!" he said happily.
"Good, me too. I've gotta go now but I'll see you around, kay?" replied Andy.
"All right," Oliver smiled as he walked away.
That night, Oliver was reading a Quidditch book in the common room when Landon came in. Oliver looked up and their eyes met. Landon turned away coldly and went upstairs. Oliver sighed and closed his book. As he got up to follow Landon, Fred Weasley called after him. "Oy, Wood! Wanna play a game of wizard's chess with me? George won't play anymore cause I keep beating him."
Oliver laughed. "I'd love too, but I've got to settle something first, kay?"
"All right then! We'll be waiting for you," replied Fred with a grin.
As Oliver entered his room, he looked around for Landon. Landon had gone over to his desk and was flipping through a textbook. He didn't look up when Oliver came in. Oliver walked over and sat down on Landon's bed.
"Hey, we need to talk," he told Landon.
"Oh really? Are you going to blow up if I ask a question?" retorted Landon harshly.
"No, nothing like that. I came to apologize. I've been an ass lately and I'm really sorry. I didn't realize that you were just trying to help me. I guess my pride blinded me. Anyway, I've already made up with Andy and I was hoping that we could be friends again too," replied Oliver.
"Oh really?" This time Landon sounded nicer. "Well, that's an improvement. Yeah, I guess I can put it in the past. I'm sorry too, Wood. I should've given you a bit of space. Oh well, we're friends again now," said Landon with a hint of a smile.
"All right!" said Oliver as he gave Landon a playful punch in the arm.
"Yeah, whatever. Oh yeah, did Andy tell you that I was the one you told them where you and Allyson were that night? Oops, maybe I shouldn't have said that…" confessed Landon.
"What? That was you? Oh man, you should so get it… for keeping me from making a mistake. Thanks, man," returned Oliver.
"Anytime. Now, I think I heard you discussing a game of chess with the Weasleys, right?" asked Landon.
Oliver grinned as he and Landon went downstairs to challenge the twins to a chess duel.
The next day, Oliver made it a point to speak to Allyson after Herbology class. As she gathered up her books and headed out the door, he put his hand on her shoulder. She turned around, surprised.
"Oh, hey. Can I help you with something?" she asked soberly.
"Yeah actually. Look, I've been doing a lot of apologizing this week and it's high time that I apologize to you too. I also have erased the deal between us, so our slate's clean. And I'm sorry too," replied Oliver.
"Really? Well, I suppose it's all right. Thanks for forgiving me as well. So, does this mean that we're friends?" she asked smiling.
"Of course! Now I can introduce you to the others that I've made up with. I haven't talked to Alex yet. I don't know what to say," he told her.
"Well, you should start by apologizing. Oh yeah, do you still love her?" questioned Allyson.
"Yes, I do still love her. I think that's why I was so hurt. I still loved her but I was trying to say that I didn't and I just made it worse. But, do you think that she'll talk to me?" confessed Oliver.
"What I think is that I should meet your friends and maybe we can come up with an idea. Sound good?" she suggested.
"Sounds great. I'll catch up with you at lunch, ok?" said Oliver.
"All right, later!" she replied as she walked away.
'Three down, one to go,' he said to himself.