Chapter 14: Who Are You Trying to Fool?

Ginny didn't know why it effected her so much. After all it was just Malfoy. Stupid, conceited, selfish, … Malfoy… she thought as she saw him approaching him. She refused to let him see her again the way she had been that morning. Never again would she set herself up for such a fall. Who did he think he was? She knew who he thought he was. He fancied himself the Slytherin Prince for goodness' sakes! But Ginny wasn't going to let some good for nothing…BOY step all over her again. No. She was done with it all. Better yet, she could get even. As she heard his steps come closer she pulled out her book and began to read.

Draco watched her cross her legs on the window ledge and stare intently at the page. She wasn't reading however because her eyes weren't moving. He knew she was mad.

"Ginny." But she didn't answer. "Fine." Was all he said as he got down on his knees so that he could be at eye level.

Finally she cracked. "WHAT is it that you want Malfoy? Unless there's some student catching the tapestries on fire or a pair of them dueling, I don't want to hear it," She spat, eyes blazing.

"Ginny come on! Don't be thick! You know I couldn't do anything earlier! Don't be mad about something that stupid."

"Stupid? Stupid! Am I just stupid because that's exactly what that was about. It was about me. It seems like I'm not the one that is scared of people seeing us together…" Ginny said in a cold tone.

"Do you remember everything I say to use against me later?" Draco asked, looking down at his hands. He finally dared to look up at Ginny. In the dark, sitting in front of the window, she seemed to glow pure white light. He couldn't take it anymore. "Ginny please," He began as he took her wrists. She began to shake as she slouched down further into the window. He quickly got up and pulled her close to him. But Ginny used the fists her hands had formed and pushed away from him before he could see her cry. She retreated a little, half her face hidden in the darkness of the hallway. It reflected the way she felt on the inside. Half of her wanted nothing more than to run to him, the other half wanted to kick him into a bloody pulp.

"No. Don't touch me. Don't come near… me. I don't want to hear your excuses. Because I just don't care Draco Malfoy," She laughed shaking her head. As she did a few tears escaped her eyes but she didn't wipe them away or try to hide them. "Don't you get it? It doesn't bother me anymore. I realize that you're not different. You're the same guy I've known all my life. And that makes me see you're not the guy for me. I don't want to hear the excuses. 'Oh Ginny, I just don't think they'll understand what we are'. Save it for someone who'll believe it. Save it for someone who might be willing to take it. Really just don't bother explaining because I should be the one explaining. You see I don't care about you Draco. I don't like you so it really doesn't matter. Yeah it might have seemed like I liked you, but really, I liked the idea of you. Nothing more. You see, this is why you shouldn't feel sorry for me, because I don't want anyone to get close. I don't want a relationship. Maybe just a fling, but we didn't even have that."

"Ginny…" Draco began as he pulled his hand through his hair. She didn't mean any of it and he could see it. She just didn't want to show how hurt she really was. She didn't want to show that she finally let someone come close and it had backfired. How could he have done this to her. He knew how. Its because he didn't realize that she wasn't like other girls. He couldn't toy with her and expect her to bounce back. He didn't realize he should have figured out what he thought before he jumped in head first. And now, infront of him stood a girl crushed to nothing and he couldn't do anything about it.

"I'm not for you Draco Malfoy. I'm not for anyone. I'm too disconnected with my emotions to just be able to tap back into them when someone needs something. I'm sorry…"

"Ginny STOP IT! Who are you trying to fool? I know I hurt you. I know I can probably never get you back after this. I know okay! Just stop trying to act tough. You don't have to." Malfoy spoke, trying to keep his voice steady sounding unaffected. But all that went to hell when he saw her collapse to the ground.

"How could you do this to me Draco? How could you just use me like that and throw me away when you decided I wasn't good enough…" She cried into shirt as he held her. So much for holding it together in front of him.

"No. You're the one that's too good for me. I don't deserve you because of the way I acted…" He mumbled.

"Just leave me alone… Go away."

"No I'm not leaving you alone here like this."

"FINE! Then I'm leaving you alone here!" Ginny yelled as she pushed him away from her. She got up, wiped her eyes, grabbed her book and walked off, leaving Draco on his knees in the middle of the hallway.