"Hey mate!" Tristan greeted Jake first thing Monday morning as Jake was sitting down for breakfast in the Great Hall. "First Hogsmeade visit the 20th."
"That's this weekend." Said Jake, who had always been fond of Hogsmeade visits. This one, however, seemed to faze him. It snuck up on him unexpectedly, and he had no idea who he was going to ask to go to Hogsmeade with him, and he has never gone without a date.
"Who's the lucky girl this time?" Asked Tristan as he took the seat next to Jake.
"I dunno mate. Maybe I'll go alone this time."
Tristan's mouth fell open and he dropped his half-eaten toast. "You're going stag? Are you mad?"
"What? You're acting like I've taken an oath of celibacy" laughed Jake.
"You've always gone with a date. Why miss an opportunity to have some fun?" asked Tristan.
Jake laughed some more. "I guess 'having fun' with girls just isn't a priority of mine anymore." He said as he walked out of the Great Hall. "I'll catch you later mate."
Tristan, still stunned, turned to Dieter. "Theres something off about him." He said.
"If you say so. Who are you taking?" Asked Dieter.
"I dunno, I think I'll scout the ground for potential dates today." answered Tristan. "You made plans with Sally yet?"
"Of course. You sure you dont have anyone in mind right now?"
"Well..." Said Tristan with a devilous smile. "There may be a certain girl I'd like to break out of her shell."
Dieter, catching on, said "You dont mean..."
"Perhaps..." said Tristan as he gave a slanted smile and finished his breakfast without another word.
By Thursday night, neither Jake nor Tristan had a date for the Hogsmeade visit yet. They were sitting by the fire in the common room doing Defense Against the Dark Arts homework when several 4th year girls giggled as they passed on their way to their dormatory.
"Will any of them do?" Asked Tristan.
"Tristan, drop it. I'm not going to ask anyone." Said Jake bitterly.
"Is that because you know who you'd like to take but are too afraid to ask her?"
"No..." Said Jake vehemently.
"No? Not even say...Annette Kensington?" Tristan said slyly.
Jake looked up from his homework and dropped his quill. "Now why would you even suggest that?"
"I've seen the way you look at her. And when you two were found in that trophy room. What happened in there anyways?"
"Nothing..."
"Nothing you'd care to share or..."
"Nothing happened."
"Well I'm just saying. If you don't ask her someone else will."
The thought of Annette Kensington being asked out made Jake laugh. "What makes you think someone else will?"
"Well, in case you havent noticed-which I know you have-she is one hell of a witch. She's gotten bloody fit this year, absolutely spectacular."
"If you're so keen about her, why don't you ask her?"
"I'm not about to ask out the girl my best mate is in love with."
"I'm not in love with her. End of discussion." Jake said, and he went back to his homework.
That night, Jake stayed awake through most of the night, and not because of Justin Kirkpatrick's soft snores. He was thinking about what would happen if he did ask Annette to go to Hogsmeade with him. Don't be silly Jacob, you're way out of her league. You're the Quidditch captain for goodness sakes, and shes completely unsocial. Sure, she may be pretty and smart and funny and...ok stop it, what are you thinking? Stop thinking about Annette. It's not going to happen. You'll be a joke to the entire school if Jacob Weasley were to ask out Annette Kensington. But I can't...I just can't stop thinking about her. She's always on my mind, ever since that time I saw her during the summer on St. Potter's Day. What's wrong with you? Why can't you fancy someone else, like Francesca. She's the best looking girl in the entire 5th year if not the entire school.
Jacob spent the entire night trying to make sense of his feelings. By the time sunrise had arrived, however, he still could not figure out why he still prefered the bookish Annette over the irresistable Francesca. It's because Francesca isn't irresitable. Not anymore, at least, not to me. But Annette, she is truely irresistable.
Whether its because he hasn't figured out his feelings yet or whether he did not have the guts, either way, Jacob passed many good opportunities to ask Annette to go to Hogsmeade with him. They had been alone for prefect duty, and were even forced to stay after Potions together to clean up after a nasty accident. It wasn't until that Friday, the day before Hogsmeade, that Jacob decided that he was going to take a chance, and ask her out. He found her sitting alone in the library after lunch, and sat two tables down pretending to study so he would have a chance to calm his heartrate and his nerves. Finally, she got up to leave, and he followed her out into the hallways.
"Annette! Hold up!" Yelled Jake down the hallways.
"Oh...its you...I mean...hello..." She said.
"So um...that new charm in transfiguration sure is hard isnt it?" Was his pathetic attempt at breaking the ice.
"Um...sure...if you say so." And she started to walk again.
"Wait uh...actually, I do have something I wanted to ask you." His face started getting hotter and redder every word he said.
"Yes?"
"Are you uh...are you planning on going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"
"Of course, aren't you?"
"Yes, yes I am." He paused to hesitate. "And uh...would you like to go with me, perhaps? Well, that's only if you don't already have plans." Which he suspected she didn't.
"Oh...I see...well..."
"Well...what?"
"I'm sorry...I can't."
"Oh..." He felt his heart sink a little. "I understand, I mean, if you'd rather go alone."
"No, it's not that. I thought for sure he'd have told you. I already have a date. I'm sorry, but I really have to run, I'll see you around." She said and she set off down the hall.
Jake, however, remained frozen in his place, not wanting to believe what he had just heard. You have just been rejected, for the first time in your life, and it was by Annette Kensington. She was asked out already? You stupid git, why didn't you do it earlier? What did she mean by "I thought for sure he'd have told you"? Who is he...bloody hell...it better not be
"Tristan David Riley." Said Jake angrily as he stormed into the dormatory where Tristan and Dieter sat playing cards.
"What?"
"You asked out Annette."
"What?"
"You heard me. You asked out Annette."
"Why are you so angry? I thought you didn't like her."
"Maybe I lied. You knew you knew that I liked her."
"I thought I did, but you assured me I was wrong."
"You should have known anyways. A good friend knows to stay away from another friend's girl."
"I don't see your name on her."
"That's not the point. The point is that you betrayed me by asking her out."
"Look mate, I'm your best mate, I would never betray you."
"YOU JUST DID!"
"NO...no, I didnt. I didn't ask Annette out."
Jacob looked over to Dieter.
"He didn't, I swear. He's going with a Ravenclaw fourth year named Cassidy."
"Its true..."
"Oh..." Jake was thoroughly embarassed now. "Sorry..." And he climbed into bed for a nap as to not to have to face his two friends.
That night, Jake still did not have a date, but now he needed one. He did not want Annette to think that she was the only girl he was interested in. He wanted to make her jealous, and he didn't want her to think that he was desperate to go with her. His only option now was the only safe option for him all along.
"Francesca." He found her coming out of the portrait hole before dinner.
"Yes?"
"Do you have a date to Hogsmeade yet?"
"Hogsmeade? That's tomorrow Jake." She said "But no, I don't."
"Yes, well, I was wondering if you'd like to go with me."
Francesca's face grew into a wide smile. "Of course. I knew you were going to ask me Jake, thats why I turned down 3 invitations already. But why did you have to wait until so late?" and she swung her arms around him and gave him a hug.
Great...thought Jake. I hope she really doesn't get the wrong idea from this...
"Where are you meeting Francesca?" Dieter asked Jake.
"I dunno, I think she wants to go down to that place all the chicks like. Madame Punnyfoot or something."
"Puddifoot?" Corrected Dieter.
"Sure."
"Sally and I will be in the Three Broomsticks in the afternoon, why don't we all meet up there?" Suggested Dieter.
"Sounds good, I'll see you later." And they went their separate ways down the lane.
Jake found Francesca waiting for him outside the cafe, her golden hair sparkling in the sunshine.
"There you are, I've been waiting." She hugged him.
"Sorry, I got a little lost." He said as they walked in together.
When they walked in, immediately, Jacob spotted Annette. Fantastic he thought, just when I thought my day couldn't get worse, it reaches an all time low.
But he was wrong. Seeing Annette was not be the worst part of his day. The lowest of the low came 2 seconds later, as the boy next to her turned to reveal himself as...
"I dont believe it..." Jacob said aloud.
"Jake, Francesca, over here!" said Christian, as he waved them over to him and Annette.