Everywhere he went he was always reminded of Audrey. Shell Cottage, which Percy originally thought was a safe home, now crept with unwanted thoughts. The clock on the wall reminded him of a funny story Audrey had told. The wood floors spoke to him as he crossed over them; Audrey liked the dark wood better. He sat down in a recliner opposite of his older brother who sat with a magazine in his hands. Victoire came up and plopped herself down on her uncle's leg and looked at him expectantly.
"Uncle Percy, will you read me this," She said handing him a book. He recognized the cover immediately; the sleeping princess on the front was a dead giveaway. Sleeping Beauty. Percy sucked in his breath and looked around at Bill and Fleur who seemed unconcerned.
"This is Audrey's favorite book. I told her how unrealistic it was. All fairy tales are unrealistic. But she had the nerve to point out that maybe if the princess indirectly looked at a basilisk she would be paralyzed like that. She's insane, I told her," Percy said laughing as Bill looked on in shock. He had never heard Percy talk about anyone from work, let alone a girl.
"Who ez theez Audrey?" Fleur said with an excited grin. Percy immediately realized his mistake. Speaking aloud about his relationship with Audrey would make it too real. He himself did not know what he and Audrey were doing. For the past 3 nights since their first "date", they had eaten out together almost every night. They hadn't kissed again even though Percy had wanted too. Audrey made no advances which Percy took as rejection. But for now just looking at Audrey now was enough. His mouth got dry and his heart started pumping rapidly when he spied her.
"Oh she's just someone I met at work. Though she doesn't really work there," Percy said laughing at the memory. He tried to hide the smile that he knew he got whenever he talked about Audrey but it was impossible. He wondered if Audrey did the same thing. Did she get red in the face when she talked about him? Did she even talk about him? Bill chuckled recognizing his brother's symptoms. Victoire, not used to being ignored, shoved the book towards Percy's face again.
Dinner tonight? Pick me up at 8.
Was all the note read. Percy stared at it for sometime. He knew what he had to do today although he dreaded it. He was going to ask her, the one question that changes a relationship forever.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Percy said strutting in front of the mirror. The owl that rested on his desk hooted joyfully. "Thanks Scotch, but it's not your opinion that matters," Percy said smiling through his nerves. He had it all planned out. He would arrive at 8, she would invite him in for tea, they would talk and Percy would say something witty and in the middle of a kiss he would say the fated words. She would joyfully say yes and wrap her arms around his neck deepening the kiss. The daydream even made him drool. They hadn't had any physical contact at all for the past 4 days, the only thing they did was talk. Talking was good since they were both so compatible, but sometimes all Percy wanted her lips pressed against his. A loud thump on apartment window brought him back to reality. He immediately realized the owl outside his window as Pig and let him in. After Ron was given a new owl for helping George in the store, Pig became the family owl. Whatever could Mum want?
Percy, dear, Bill tells me your engaged to be married, please tell me why you haven't told me sooner. Please send an owl quick or I'll floo over immediately.
He didn't understand. The letter didn't make any sense but judging by the large tearstains on the paper he could tell his Mum was pretty upset about it. He wrote back a quick message on the back of the same paper explaining that he didn't even have a girlfriend (yet) and he wasn't engaged in the least (yet). Of course he'd be lying if the thought hadn't crossed his mind. He sent Pig on his way and checked his clock. It was already 8:02. Shit.
Percy arrived at Audrey's door out of breath. He had run up the stairs and still managed to be five minutes late. The elevator, a usual friend, had disappointed him in his time in need, being out of order. He knocked on the door hurriedly. Audrey opened it quickly and shut it behind her quickly as she always did.
"You're not going to invite me in for tea?" Percy gasped not sounding half as suave as he sounded in his daydream.
"Um…" Audrey said refusing to meet his eyes. "It's not really clean. But I guess we could go in… If you really want to…" Her tone betrayed a tint of fright. Percy knew immediately why Audrey didn't want him to come inside as she held the door open for him. It was the spitting image of his apartment. Of course their models were different, but they were had the same decor. They both had bare walls. Nothing in sight was personal; there was no proof that a human even lived there. Audrey had placed one fold out chair in front of a screen Percy recognized as a TV. Audrey disappeared into the kitchen to get the tea.
"How long have you been living here?" Percy yelled towards the kitchen, inspecting the guest bathroom that looks like it had never been touched.
"Oh you know… Four years," Audrey said nonchalant. Percy heard the kettle whistle and he stood awkwardly next to the lone chair. She came in levitating the two cups and placing them on the now materialized coffee table. The chair magically duplicated itself and Percy unwillingly sank into the red fabric. The chair, as he suspected, lacked support. He reminded himself to set up an appointment with his chiropractor. "You wanted to see it right? Beautiful, huh?" Audrey said sarcastically. Percy grinned but those four words kept repeating in his mind. What were they again? Was it 'Will you go out with me'? No, that wasn't it. Merlin, it wasn't even four words! They stayed silent as Percy mulled over his thoughts. Audrey seemed quite contented with the silence and smiled a small and unnoticeable smile to herself.
"Maybe we should get going," Percy said, resolved that he wouldn't be able to ask her today. He'd have to do it some other time when he had more rehearsal time. When Percy stood up to leave Audrey stayed sitting down. Percy looked over at her. She seemed to be wearing the same expression he was moments earlier.
"Percy…" Audrey started. Her tone wasn't light and sarcastic like it was before, this time it seemed to take on a serious tone. Percy looked at her shocked. This was the first time she had said anything to him not dripping with sarcasm and enthusiasm. "We're dating right?" Her eyes looked up hopefully with a tinge of pride. He could see the hope rolling off of her in waves.
"I was going to ask you-" Percy started but was cut off.
"I need to know if we're dating Percy. I want to snog the daylights out of you right now and I want to know if it's official. Yes or no," Audrey said. Percy watched her face for signs of sarcasm but none appeared. Was she serious?
"Yes," Percy said softly afraid he was making a fool of himself for responding to her joke. Even before he said it, Audrey was flying out of her chair. She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. The hypothesis that Audrey was joking quickly dematerialized. Compared to the last time they kissed, this was nothing. The heat between them quickly escaladed, rivaling the humid summer temperatures outside. The tongues intertwined and all doubts were erased from Percy's mind. It didn't matter if she was using him… as long as she made him feel like this. She ran her hands through his red curls while he pressed his hand on her hips. Slowly she pulled away. Why was she pulling away? Percy thought dazedly.
"I think you should meet my fam-" Audrey started slowly.
"Sure sure," He said rushed and tried to pull her lips closer to his but she pulled away.
"I want to meet your family too," Audrey said already giving in and pressing her lips to his again.
Why was he leaving her house? Why couldn't he just stay there all night and hold her and kiss her? When he reached his home he heard stomach grumble. They had forgotten to eat dinner.
Of course putting a name on their relationship didn't do much to affect how they acted around each other. Audrey would come like usual to lunch. The only difference now was instead of eating, they spent half an hour snogging and the other half chatting. They were like excited schoolgirls when they finally began breathing normally and decided to talk. They had both decided that "Hippogriff's Beak" was the best band ever and talked furiously about them. They chatted pleasantly about everything under the sun while keeping the usual sarcastic banter. It was a usual Wednesday a week after they became official. Of course they hadn't told anyone, what would be the fun in that? Instead they liked to sneak around. Who they were sneaking from and why Merlin only knew. It could be there families there were hiding from Audrey pointed out in the supply room as Percy explored her mouth.
Audrey bounded into the room and set down her sack lunch. They were way past knocking now. She kicked the door shut with her foot and smiled.
"Hey," She said simply as she closed in on him. Their mouths met obligingly. All of the doubts Percy had had before mattered very little when the kissed. When they kissed it was just…mutual happiness. The mouths talked in a silent conversation for some minutes until Percy slowly began walking towards the wall, pulling Audrey along with him. The wall made a weird coughing sound as he slammed into in to it, bringing Audrey along for the ride. With Percy's back to the wall, Audrey was get even closer… maybe even closer than humanly possible. She hooked a leg over his and kissed him deeper still. The wall made the same noise again as Percy was thrust back by Audrey. He would have to get that checked out, he mentally reminded himself. His arms roamed up and down her back, rubbing in circular patterns. Audrey gave out a tiny sigh. There it was again! The same coughing sound! He was getting annoyed, way to ruin the moment. He broke away from Audrey and set her down fully intent on looking at the wall. He would have to call someone to look at it as soon as possible. As she was lowered to the ground, Percy got a glance over the top of her head. His face was suddenly redder than humanly possible in a burst of color. He bordered on purple.
"Percy, what's wrong?" Audrey asked concerned. He had looked like this once before when he had held his breath too long. "I told you, you can breathe out of your nose if it gets that bad," Audrey said turning around. But Percy's face was not red due to lack of oxygen, instead staring at them with a similar shade of red on his face was Arthur Weasley. He had coughed, Percy though solemnly. He thought it was the wall! How could he have been so stupid? Audrey stayed silent and she patted down her curls. She tried to nonchalantly untwist her shirt but only ended up with more attention coming her way.
"Dad… this is Audrey." Percy said, his voice cracking after a while. They shook hands politely.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Audrey said with a fake smile plastered on her face.
"I was just going to ask if Percy wanted to have lunch with me… but it looks as if he's already busy," Mr. Weasley said simply and rigidly stalked from the room. Percy stared after his father for some seconds before finally running to catch him. When finally he found his father waiting for an elevator, he was able to stop running.
"Don't tell Mum?" Percy pleaded. Though still thoroughly embarrassed, he would rather be mortified then have to deal with the wrath of his mother.
"I don't know Percy. That's a pretty big secret. Good for you though, son. Bring her to dinner soon or it might just slip." Mr. Weasley said as an empty elevator arrived. "One more thing," He said gruffly. "You're using protection right?" Both of their faces were bordering on purple now.
"Dad!" Percy said in complaint, which was a good enough answer for his dad. Protection? But that would mean… He blushed a deeper red if possible. He returned to his office to find a teary Audrey.
"Does your dad think I'm a whore?" She said with a sob. The tears that rolled down her cheeks were her first sign of weakness to show to Percy. He felt as if being able to see her cry was like breaking down one brick of many to win over her heart.
"No, why would he think that?" Percy started softly. "Because we were kissing? He could care less. Don't be upset," He said pulling her into a hug as he reached the chair. Audrey let out a few more heartbreaking sobs before she suddenly stopped.
"I feel stupid, crying over nothing," She said wiping her eyes and her nose. Percy knew there must have been a big wet spot on his shoulder but he didn't care. Just as long as Audrey was all right, that was all that mattered. He looked at her now swollen eyes, red blotches checkered her usually tan face. She was beautiful, Percy thought. He knew that being able to see her cry he had taken down a barrier. What barrier he didn't know, but still the feeling was exhilarating.
"Um… Audrey, do you want to come over to my Mum's house for dinner tomorrow night?" Percy said shyly. Audrey looked up at him with glazed eyes.
"I… that would be nice," She said finishing quietly. It took only seconds before there lips met again.