Smile
"Fred, I'm moving to America!" Rose squealed with delight, running up to him and throwing her arms around his neck. How she loved the way she felt in his arms. But she knew that the feelings she felt, the safety, the warmth, were the same feelings she felt when hugging her best friend, or brother. This hug confirmed the apprehension she had felt. She was no longer in love with Fred, and she had a strong feeling, he wasn't in love with her.
Fred wasn't sure how to act. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into the hug, afraid of her reactions to what he needed to tell her. But he was confused as well. America, why was she moving to America? She seemed excited so he played along. "That's amazing love! What are you going for?"
"I received a promotion to be head healer at a hospital in the U.S.A. I leave in two weeks." She told him excitedly, hoping she had read all the signs right. Hoping she didn't hurt him with the news.
"But what about-" Fred started but Rose put her fingers to his mouth to stop him.
"Fred, honey, you aren't in love with me. So perk up, be happy for me, and go tell her how you feel." She moved her fingers from his lips to his cheek. She gently caressed his cheek, knowing it may be the last time she ever gets this close to him again.
"What are you talking about?"
"Hermione is what I am talking about. It's obvious you love her. Tell her. She's really sweet." Rose hoped that her fake smile was fooling him, but his next words crushed that hope. She really would miss him. She never planned on him or her falling out of love with each other, if they had ever been in love to begin with.
"Rose, I'm sorry." Fred had seen the hurt in her eyes, and hated that it was ending this way. He did care for her, but he didn't love her the way she deserved.
"Don't be. I'll be okay. I care a lot about you, but I don't think I am in love with you either. We'll go on and live better this way. Now what is it you were going to tell me?" Rose was being honest. She wasn't in love with him. She loved him, after all what wasn't to love. The fiery red hair, the muscular body, the shining eyes filled with childlike joy, the killer smile and a sense of humor that outshone any in the vicinity (other than George's anyway). But she wasn't in love with him.
"I was going to tell you that I don't love you like I thought I did and I thought we should call off the wedding," Fred replied with a halfhearted grin.
Rose walked over to Fred and placed an innocent kiss on his cheek and ran her hand through his hair one last time.
I
still remember the night we met
You said you loved my smile
"Fred, you will always have a place in my heart, but it's time you do what you need to in order for you to be happy. It's time you stop thinking of others and think of you. Hermione will make you happy. So go…now!" Rose playfully pushed him away.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Fred asked, placing his hand gently on her arm, and looking deep into her eyes.
"Yea, I am just going to gather some of my things from the flat and go. I'm going to miss you Fred Weasley, and know that I will always be your friend."
"Okay," and with that, Fred apparated to the shop to fill George in on what happened and ask for his help.
But
your love for me was like a summer breeze
Oh it lasted for a
while
Rose looked around the flat she had spent so much time in the past couple of years. She never officially moved in, but she might as well had. Thinking over the past Rose realized that she did love Fred, but not in the way Hermione did, and not in the way he deserved. She had thought back to when they met.
I
could hold on a little tighter I know
But when you love someone
gotta let'em go
Flashback
She had been looking for a birthday present for her brother who was a bit of a prankster. She was told about a joke shop that would have something perfect for her to get.
She walked in the door and seen the most adorable red heads arguing over who would ring customers up and who would help on the floor. The one with the shorter hair won the floor and came up to her and asked if he could help her find anything.
"I am birthday shopping for my brother. He is 13 and a bit of a jokester. He loves to pull pranks and have secrets and all in all cause a bit of harmless trouble. I was told I could find something here for him. What do you suggest?" She smiled, looking into the eyes of the adorable salesman. She had no idea at the time that he was the owner and inventor of the store and the products sold within its walls.
"Well, I suggest you watch out for him, because I was the same way at 13 and look at me now. I own a joke shop where my entire goal is to invent and sell products to prank and scare people." Fred gave a full faced grin hoping that he didn't sound stupid, he had been really nervous around girls since ending things with Hermione.
Rose couldn't hold back the smile forming on her lips. She was never all that straightforward with guys and had always been a bit shy. She wasn't exactly gorgeous, but not hard on the eyes. She was petite, so Fred stood tall over her. She was curvy, and had dark brown hair and big brown eyes. But she felt she was a bit plain and average. There wasn't anything that really separated her from the crowd.
"You have a very beautiful smile. Could I, um...could I have your name?" Fred was amazed at the smile the woman had given him, and felt a few butterflies fluttering in his stomach making him really nervous.
"Well if I give you mine, I'll need yours to replace it." Fred couldn't believe it, a pretty girl with a humorous side. He nearly smirked, but smiled instead.
"Well, I shall give you mine first then. My name is Fred Weasley and my twin brother, George, and I own this little shop here."
"My name is Rose Short. It's very nice to meet you." She stuck her hand out for Fred to shake, but he was so busy staring at her smile he didn't see it at first. It took him a minute to realize she wanted him to shake her hand, so he finally took it in his, realizing an absence in electricity in the touch. Rose had noticed also, but figured it was their nerves causing it to be that way.
"It's wonderful to meet you Miss Short. Would I be too forward to ask if I could see your smile again at around 7:30 tonight?" Hoping she would say yes to the date, Fred gave her a crooked grin and tried to smoothly lean back and prop him self on the wall, only realizing a second too late that he was a bit further from the wall than he realized. He nearly fell, but his arms were caught by Rose, who steadied him.
"I'll be sure to owl you a picture." Fred laughed out loud at her sarcastic remark that she said ever so sweet and innocently.
"How about you bring me the picture. I'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks then."
"Okay, I'll be
there." Rose replied, forgetting the entire reason she went to the
shop in the first place, she left, no present in tow.
End
Flashback
So
I'm gonna smile
Cause I wanna make you happy
Laugh So you
can't see me cry
Rose couldn't help but smile at the memory of that night. He told her about a girl he had loved and let go because of family issues with the relationship. She never pushed for more information though. He had cried that night and apologized a million times for ruining their first date. She assured him it wasn't ruined. His showing his sensitivity made him that much more appealing to her. She was very attracted to him, but restrained herself and never even kissed him that night. That came on the next date.
I'm
gonna let you go style
and even if it kills me I'm gonna smile
Flashback
Fred took Rose to see a muggle movie called 50 First Dates. They didn't even get 5 minutes into the actual movie when Fred put his arm around her with the fake yawn trick. She snuggled into the crook in his shoulder, feeling very comfortable.
During the movie
it talked about how amazing a first kiss was. This
made Fred and Rose look at each other. They each tilted their heads
and gently brushed their lips to each others. Fred didn't feel the
electricity he had with Hermione, but figured it would grow to that.
Rose never felt fireworks like she hoped she would, but dismissed it
and let all thoughts leave her as they snogged throughout the rest of
the movie.
End
Flashback
Kiss
me once for the good times, baby
Kiss me twice for good bye
Rose felt tears trying to overcome her eyes, but she wouldn't let them. She suddenly realized all the signs were there from the beginning. The lack of desire between them, the crying over Hermione on their very first date, the endless snogging that left both of them not truly satisfied. Instead of crying over the wasted time, she smiled. She thought about all of the good times they shared together, and somewhat regretted not asking for a last kiss from Fred.
You
can't help how you don't feel
And it doesn't matter why
But she would see him again before leaving. She knew he would never forgive her for leaving without saying goodbye. She had two weeks before she left for America, and plenty of time for a last kiss.
Rose sat for a moment on the couch, looking at the pictures all around the flat. She spotted one on the fireplace that was from 2 months ago when she and Fred had a huge flour fight while baking cookies together and there was another one on the table next to the couch that had them standing in their swimsuits on a beach in Australia they visited last summer together. She was going to miss him. She stood knowing she needed to hurry and gather her things.
give
me a chance to bow out gracefully
'Cause that's how I want you to
remember me
Rose
started going through the bathroom and the bedroom collecting
everything that she needed and wanted back. She also took one of
Fred's shirts she used to sleep in when she stayed the night. She
shrunk everything down and stuffed it into her pocket.
Looking around a final time, she laughed, picturing the running around the flat they used to do when chasing each other and having fun in general.
I'm
gonna smile
Cause I want to make you happy
Laugh So you cant
see me cry
Grabbing a piece of parchment and a quill from Fred's desk Rose decided to write a quick note to him thanking him for the wonderful times they shared and letting him know that if he ever needed anything that she would always be there.
She wrote how sorry she was that it didn't work out but that she was glad to know there was someone who would make Fred genuinely happy and take care of him like he deserved.
I'm
gonna let you go Style
And even if it kills me I'm gonna smile
She wrote the day and time she left and asked him to see her once more to say goodbye and that she would like him to bring Hermione. She wanted to be sure she said thank you to the girl that would take food care of the man she cared so much about. She also wanted to make sure that Fred didn't chicken out telling Hermione the way he felt.
Leaving the note on the coffee table where Fred was sure to find it, Rose made a last run through of the flat to be sure she didn't forget anything.
I'm
gonna smile so you can find the courage
Laugh, so you wont see me
hurtin'
With one last look around, Rose apparated away from her second home with a single tear running down her cheek and a smile on her lips.
I'm
gonna let you go Style
and even if it kills me I'm gonna Smile