Chapter 24: It.
Finally! I have written something. It's been a while so I don't feel like it's up to scratch with the rest, but it'll have to do for now. Thanks for understanding when my computer was down. :)
"And then we played this game I guess you can call it, where he said something honest about himself and then I did the same…." Ginny added as she fell back on her bed with a sigh.
Bella was regarding Ginny from her bed with a stupid grin on her face as Ginny continued with her story.
"He said he wouldn't let me fall and every single word he said made me shake."
"Now that's romantic," Bella sighed, putting her chin on her knees. "I can't believe it's Malfoy though. I mean, come on. The guy does not advertise himself as the fun, romantic, honest, sweet type of guy."
"Those are on my list," Ginny stated flatly, staring at the ceiling.
"What list."
"The list. You know, what you want out of someone. I made one. And to skip the long speech, he's basically it."
Bella gawked for a moment before clearing her throat and demanding to see the The List. She looked down it and finally said, "I grant you, he is sarcastic and arguementative. And he's pretty smart. He's just proven he's spontaneous. Sense of humor… I guess if you like the twisted kind… I don't know if he's fun though."
"He took me on a broom ride. That's pretty fun. Not to mention Romantic. That counts for two," Ginny butted in, propping herself up on an elbow. Bella shook her head and continued down the list.
"How about honest. When was the last time he was honest?" Bella asked, raising an eyebrow, daring a response.
"when we here flying. He talked about himself for once. All of it was true. And whether we want to admit it or not, he is brutally honest with his insults. That's honest," Ginny replied with a silly smile on her face, beginning to twirl her hair.
"you're grossing me out. Not to mention really starting to stretch it thin. Fine I'll give it to you for now. How about sweet. How is he sweet? There is not a sweet bone in that boy's body."
"The flowers were sweet."
"You hated them."
"They were still sweet."
"Ginny you are killing me here! Neat. How is that a criteria? That's just weird. Fine, how is he neat?"
"He's freakishly organized. You know how I'm not, only when I'm mad. I want someone who'll keep things clean. And he is. Everything he does is orderly and… neat." Ginny sighed heavily again and rolled over on her back. "Face it Bella. He's it. It. It. It."
"More like you want him to be it," Bella snapped back, crossly. Ginny gave her a questioning look so Bella continued, "Face it. You are making him into what you want because he's there. Remember Harry? You thought he was it. Dean was it. Thomas was it. All of them have been IT. I don't know what's with you, but you need this weirdly secure male figure. And Malfoy is not secure. But he's right there so you're twisting everything in his favor."
Ginny sat up on her bed, a little put off. She was not some sort of clingy tart that needed a big man around to make her happy. "Well aren't you cynical. Why are you trying to make this something bad? Look, I… the two of us… it's just working out okay? And that's something good for once. And if it's going to work out more… You know what, I'm not justifying myself to you. I'm going to go walk," She finished as she snatched up her journal and pen, and flounced out the door.
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I am not trying to make Malfoy into the perfect guy. I'm not. Ginny continued to repeat as she walked around the court yard. She opened her note book and began another list. Minipulative, mean, shallow, judgemental, cocky, conceited…
"I am not shallow," Draco read over her shoulder. Ginny darted around to face him, snapping the book shut.
"Full of himself," Ginny added verbally. Draco gave her a little smile and she scowled back. "How do you even know any of that was about you? Maybe those are just words I like. Or…"
"Words you plan on slipping into regular conversation this week?" Draco offered. Ginny continued to scowl. "Fine. Those are words you like. And if that's true, I'm all of them."
"Why are you reading over my shoulder anyway?" Ginny barked at him.
"Why are you so angry all of a sudden?" Draco retorted.
"Because you invaded my privacy by reading this list before and just now again!"
"Next time don't give back a used notebook."
Ginny stomped back up to him and looked him straight in the face. "Why are you TRYING to be everything on that list? What is your deal? Why do you continue to bother me no matter what? I thought we had a deal? We would be just friends. And then you go and start taking me on romantic broom rides and saying everything right… and …." She stopped rambling for a second because she noticed she wasn't getting much of a response. All Malfoy did was stare at her. At her mouth, at her eyes… and all she wanted to do was stare back. And one more thing.
Ginny stretched up a little and put her mouth over his. And it was… It. Perfect. Right. Destiny. Fitting. Fate. Ideal. Faultless. She continued to list synonyms in her head till she finally pulled away.
Draco furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "What was that?"
"I have no idea."
"Are you bipolar?"
"Probably."
"Because normally someone doesn't yell at me and then turn around and kiss me."
"Would you have rather I smack you?"
"Why am I arguing with being kissed?" Draco asked, a little confused.
"I have no idea."
"Why are you so calm? The last time this happened, I got yelled at and you threw a hissy fit and ignored me."
Ginny smiled. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
Draco twisted his face in confusion and ran his hand through his hair. "What does that even mean?"
Ginny patted him on the face and walked back around the corner towards the other court yard. Draco watched her leave again, what seemed like for the millionth time just that year, and a wicked smirk crossed his face.