CHAPTER 2

Jessica walked out into the December cold, forgetting her jacket and robe. I am an idiot, she thought as she rubbed her arms. Thankfully, Lee had not gotten very far. She recognized the bright colored Weasley's Wizard Wheezes bag first, then the dreadlocks on his head.

"LEE!" she screamed to get his attention. He turned and flashed a smile.

"Yes, gorgeous."

Gathering up her courage, Jessica dived right in. "One, my name is Jessica Baine, not gorgeous. Two, the twins talked me into going on that date."

"The twins?" he asked in shock. He seemed to stress the 's' on the end, but Jessica thought she had imagined it.

"Why wouldn't they? You're their best friend."

"Well, that is almost true. You're just as close to them as I am."

"At least you're a guy. They can't share everything with me. You know all their secrets."

"You got that right," he mumbled almost incoherently.

"What?"

"Nothing." He sighed. "Well, what do you say to Thursday, six o'clock at La Maison de Cher?"

"Sure."

"I'll pick you up from the shop, okay?"

"That's fine, Lee."

"I'll see you then!"

Jessica walked away from Lee feeling like something was wrong.

Back in the shop, Fred and George were having a debate. Their faces were inches from the others' and both wore fiery expressions.

"Fred, why'd you have to talk her into the date with Lee? She obviously doesn't like him."

"She just needed a little push."

"A little push towards what, exactly? Lee breaking her heart? Breaking Lee's heart?"

Fred sniggered. "Something tells me he's going to be fine with it."

"If he breaks her heart, you are responsible."

"Why would I be responsible? You were pushing too!"

"You are always the instigator! I was just going along with it before I realized."

"Does this go back to the five minutes between our births?"

"No, where'd you get that from?"

"Well, I don't know, maybe from the fact that, after all, I was born before you, and with that come natural characteristics."

"We are identical, Fred."

"But only in appearance. Our personalities differ in certain places. Remember that, dear brother."

"We spend every moment of our lives annoying the other. When do I have a chance to remember that?"

"Because, contrary to popular belief, we are different. Two separate people. That's what we are. You just haven't realized it yet."

Jessica entered, smiling gloomily. "Hey, Gred and Forge."

"Hey, how'd it go?"

"We're going on Thursday, six o'clock at Le Maison de Cher." She sighed. "Fred, George, I'm just not sure about this. I feel horrible, getting a guy's hopes up like this. I know I don't like him, and I'm sure he knows that too."

"If he did, why'd he ask you?" Fred asked sensibly.

"That's what I don't know. Am I weird to think there's an ulterior motive?"

Fred laughed it off. "Why would there be a hidden purpose? Lee is not the most creative person."

"I don't know; maybe I've been imagining stuff lately."

"Well, imagine us up some new products. Maybe you could sweep for us again, this time near the Skiving Snackboxes," George said.

"Ha, ha," Jessica laughed sarcastically.

"Well, you need to get to work now, you lazy girl! This is your boss speaking!" Fred said, smirking.

"Who are you calling lazy?"

"You?" George said, pointing to the line. There were five people with purchases waiting to check out.

"Oh my word!" Jess yelped before jumping behind the counter and apologizing to the first customer.

Fred and George watched as she efficiently checked out the shoppers. She tucked her straight brown hair behind her ear and reached for another bag. George's eyes followed her every movement with a tenderness that was reserved only for her. Fred turned his view from Jessica to his brother, noticing the tenderness in his eye. Jessica smiled at a small customer in Hogwarts robes asking how to use a product. Her hazel eyes sparkled with laughter as the girl made a small joke about the oblivious person the purchase was going to.

She was not beautiful to everyone, but to George, she was gorgeous. George did not see her figure or how her hips moved when she walked. He saw only her face. She had this persona about her that made any human that knew her look at her face and pay attention to what she was saying. Her smiles were always sincere; her eyes would fill with worry at the slightest implication that something was wrong. Though George did not know it, he loved her.

Fred smirked at his brother and slapped his brother on the back, breaking George from his reverie. "Well, George, my boy, looks like we've finally managed to pair her off, get her off of our hands. I bet you that she and Lee will be married before summer."

George smiled grimly. "How much?"

"What?"

"How much do you bet? You better bet high," George said, gritting his teeth.

"I say ten galleons."

"I say twenty."

"Well, George, I don't normally bet that much, but you know how I am. Reckless in the way of money. I think I'm going to win, unless you have something to tell me."

"Nothing to tell you yet, brother, save to prepare yourself to lose a bet."

"I think not." Fred walked away into the next room, smiling to himself. His evil plan was working, but man, was it ever going to cost a lot of money. No going back now.