A/N: Hey, long time, no update. I could make excuses like I've been really, really busy—which, although true would be a lie considering I had this chapter written months ago. This was originally the last chapter before my final chapter but I scraped chapter 10 so now I'm not sure how I'm going to end this; if I have any reviewers left, you guys are the best! You always leave me the most encouraging reviews.
Chapter 10: Prelude to Happiness
The following day was a battle between lust and logic.
Angelina arrived ten minutes after George to help him finish up the inventory as promised and it took everything in him not to take her face in his hands and kiss her. He didn't know if she was trying to turn him on or if she knew the power she held over him but in her black pencil skirt, lacy white blouse that dipped where her full breasts peeked, black tights, and black stiletto shoes, he was definitely more than a little excited. Her hair was in a bun on the top of her head and she licked her lips quite often while counting galleons, leaning over papers her breasts seemed to rise and fall so wondrously.
George wanted to tell her so badly that he'd broken up with Lana, that she was out of his life for good but he couldn't. He was reveling in their easy chattering again, having her as a friend again, and he didn't want to ruin that because he was sex deprived and wanted her so badly.
At the end of the day, when it was time to do inventory again and Angelina volunteered to stay late, helping him out George quickly told her no, that it could wait until the morning. Angelina looked at him questioningly but in the end shrugged and told him to have a good night.
While doing the inventory alone (he'd lied to Angelina about waiting until morning, he just couldn't stand to be around her any longer and contain his desire) George entertained the idea of being celibate for the rest of his life. He knew it'd never work--he enjoyed sex too much and would probably be found dead in his bed with blue balls--but he didn't see any other option. Since Angelina's arrival he'd entertained the idea of what making love to her would be like over and over in his mind. It wouldn't be a mindless shag, or just fucking, or sex but making love. He was sure of that, but he was also sure that for all of the discussions and the kissing that it'd probably never happen. He didn't know if either of them were ready to do that yet--not knowing that Fred would be watching either from some utopia in the clouds or a shady corner of the bedroom. And so, he would be celibate because sex with anyone else would leave him feeling sick afterwards, as if he'd committed a sin, like when he'd made love to Lana after realizing he was in love with Angelina. Angelina. Even her name was beautiful and rolled off his tongue, came to him like a word he was born to know.
"Angelina, Angelina, Angelina" he sang as he closed up for the night, prepared to go to his lonely flat. He decided to walk home it was a humid, dry, summer night in London and he wanted to enjoy it. It was also nice to stand outside his door and then open it to silence and the only smell being the lingering soap scent from them morning. Once he'd turned the light on he saw that Lana had made good on her word and that all of her things were gone. He looked around and saw on the coffee table that there remained one thing she'd forgot. It was a disc labeled The Classics in small black print with the Police on the other side. George smiled, thinking of how lucky he was. He looked around for the flat for the stereo he'd bought and had Hermione explain to him (it'd taken two hours, but Hermione in all her patience and kindness hadn't rolled her eyes once.) He read the song listings under the print and found one that caught his eye entitled "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic."
He played it and immediately fell in love with the melody and lyrics. It seemed that they were made for him and how he felt. So maybe he'd spend the night listening to this wonderful 80's Muggle band and getting drunk. He'd wake up in the morning and laugh at his patheticness and go on to another day of work, it would become the story of his life.
Just as he'd put the song on repeat there was a quiet knock at the door and George swore, it had to be Lana remembering her cd and coming to ruin all of his fun. However, when he opened it he saw Angelina standing there looking a bit pissed.
"Why'd you lie to me about the inventory George?" She stormed in, and stood in front of him.
George shut the door, "Um, nice to see you too come on in."
"No time for jokes. You told me that we'd do inventory in the morning and when I was about to leave I saw you sit there and do it all by yourself! With a smile! You could've told me you just didn't want me around."
George found something sexy about her anger--she still had on her work clothes and he found it fierce and defiant that she'd watched him that whole time, followed him here. He laughed and she hit him. "This isn't funny, George."
"I know, I know" he said holding up his hands, "it's just you've misread the whole situation. I told you I'd do it myself because I'm so goddamn attracted to you and I didn't want to end up scaring you."
Angelina's eyes softened. "Oh. Why would you scare me?"
"Because...because I'd do something rash."
"Define rash."
George walked towards her, his feet seemed to be held down my sandbags. She was so close and although he'd kissed her twice before this seemed to be the time that really mattered. The time when he would give himself to her. "I just have to know, do you think you could ever love me? See beyond all the things that could keep us apart?"
Angelina smiled then. "I already do love you, George Weasley. Not for who you look like or because I'm trying to hold onto him, I told you that last night and I meant every word.
George closed the space between them then, and traced her lips with his index finger. They were soft and lucious and he wanted so badly to kiss her. But he didn't want to ruin the moment, he wanted to look at her for just a little bit longer. He traced the almond shape of her eyes, gently caressed her eyelids and lashes, all the way down to her nose. He brought both of his hands to her soft and warm cheeks then. "I love you" he whispered to her before his lips met hers in the sweetest kiss. She didn't pull away or stop him, but only wrapped her arms around his neck and slightly parted her lips. He was going to gain the coveted entrance into her he'd been waiting for, he was going to make her his.
