Chapter 4

Back at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, George sat in the dim room restocking and cleaning. It took his mind off the fact that Jessica was on a date with his best friend, or at least that was what he wished it would do. Just the thought of her out with Lee made him sick. He had skipped dinner and had chosen to stay behind at the store when Fred apparated to their flat. He sighed as he picked up another dung swamp, and again, Jessica's laughing image came into his head. She was so beautiful.

Wait a second! I'm not supposed to like my friend, that's crazy! No, she's out with Lee. Ouch, that hurt. But I'm beginning to think that I like her. Is that crazy? Should I run away? I don't want to hurt, but its worse not seeing her at all. I have to remain calm. Remain calm. Calm.

Jessica, laughing from Lee's most recent joke, opened the door of the store to see George staring at her. She had returned from her date, and her cheeks were exceptionally flushed. She was too beautiful for him and all reasoning placed in him by the hours he had been alone in the store flew out the window.

"Hey, Jess, how was it?" He was sure his ears were turning red.

"It was wonderful! Lee took me to La Maison de Cher. That place is jaw dropping amazing! He took me for a sleigh ride and then back here. Short, but sweet."

George forced a smile. "That's great."

Jessica looked around the room, now only lit by a chandelier in the middle. Her smile was fading off of her face as she thought back over the date. George turned around and noticed Jessica's slightly crestfallen face.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly. Jessica turned to him, trying to fake a smile.

"I'm fine."

"No, you aren't. Did Lee try to pull anything on you?"

"No, no! It was a wonderful date. It's just that…"

"Just what?" George prompted.

"I don't like Lee, I never have. I feel bad going out with him when I have no feelings for him."

George almost breathed a sigh of relief, but caught himself. "I'm sorry."

"I feel like I'd be leading him on if I went out with him again, but I don't want to let Fred down."

"You won't. Don't worry, everything will be fine," George said soothingly. He wanted to wrap her in an embrace, but wasn't sure how she would feel. "Well, Lee's a coconut head just like us."

Jessica laughed softly. "Not quite. He's not such an adorable coconut head as you and Fred." Did I just say that? She thought to herself.

"He's a little softer around the edges."

"I'm sure that you and Fred are much softer on the inside though, someone just has to reach beyond the jokes and pray for mercy when he or she finds the softness."

"Why would he or she pray for mercy?"

"Because you guys would throw tons of pranks so that he or she would not realize when she found the soft inside."

George laughed, putting down a dung swamp. "That's the last of it," he sighed.

"Since when do you work late?"

"Since I felt like it."

"More like since I wasn't here to do it for you guys."

"Something like that. Hey, look. I need to get some Christmas presents, but I'm not sure what to get everyone. Could you go Christmas shopping with me next Saturday night?"

It had slipped out. George wanted to hex his tongue into the beyond, but didn't think it would be wise, seeing as his tongue was already dry enough.

"Sure," she said happily. George's heart leapt. "I need your help to find Lee something."

George's heart plummeted to through the floor. "You aren't going to accept his next date offer, are you?"

"I think I should give him one more chance. I was too wrapped up in worry about what would happen if I cared for someone again to actually see the real Lee."

"Okay, well, another thing. My mum was hoping that if you aren't doing anything on Christmas, that you could come to our house for our Christmas dinner."

"Oh, George, I couldn't impose."

"Mum wants to meet you. I told her that you live alone, and she told me to invite you. What would you do anyway?"

"I'd probably be alone at my house."

"Exactly. Say you'll come?"

"Sure, I'll come. What time?"

"About noon."

"Okay."

Jessica looked around the room. All sense of what to do next had left her completely. If she had asked herself then, she wouldn't have been able to answer for the excitement that overwhelmed her when she thought about going Christmas shopping with George. Her mind wandered for a few minutes longer, then she remembered where she was and who she was with.

"Oh, I think I'll go and get my stuff."

"Yeah, I should apparate home, too."

With a crack, George was gone, and with him gone, Jessica came back to her sense and apparated home.