Fell in Love Without You

Chapter 8:

My whole day went downhill from there. Annabelle was in every class as usual, but she was also hanging off Fred's every word like it was his last. She'd laugh at his lame jokes, gasp when he told a story and was just a simpering fool around him.

It was gross and made me cranky.

Going to Quidditch training didn't improve my mood either. Annabelle came with me and sat in the stands, gushing over Fred. Even having Riley and Hermione there didn't help any.

"Oh did you see that? He's so amazing, I swear" She clutched my arm tightly.

"You know what else is amazing?" I asked. "Feeling in my arm" I pulled my arm away from her.

"Oh! Oops sorry!" she giggled. Fred flew past and winked at me. She giggled some more. "Oh he's sooo adorable!" She waved and he waved back. Then he pulled a face at me.

Annabelle of course thought it was aimed at her and laughed. I pulled one back to stop myself rolling my eyes again.

"I can't believe he asked me to the dance! It's going to be the most wonderful night I know it!"

I tuned her out and watched the training. Fred and George seemed to have abandoned it and were slogging a bludger back and forth between them.

"WHATCH OUT!" Fred yelled before a bludger flew straight at the stand we were sitting in. I ducked and Annabelle screamed.

He flew over and wacked it back toward George. "Sorry about that ladies" He grinned, winking at me.

"It's ok, you look so good out there" Annabelle recovered from her fright and battered her eyelashes at him.

"Well I am the best" He puffed himself up and tried to look impressive.

"The best at trying to kill us maybe" I rolled my eyes. He grinned.

"Still the best at something m'dearest" His eyes twinkled as he watched me. I could feel my cheeks heating up.

"You better get back before Ange has an aneurism" I nodded toward the pitch, not breaking our gaze.

"She'll be fine" He shrugged.

"WEASLEY! HERE! NOW!" Angelina screamed.

"Or not... laters love" He waved and flew away. Annabelle sighed and flopped back into her seat.

"I think he likes me" She breathed. I raised my eyebrows at her.

"What?" How in the hell had she gotten that from him flirting with moi?

"Well it's obvious with the way he flirts with me" She grinned.

I stared at her. Was she daft?

"And he asked you to the dance" Hermione nodded. "Fred hasn't liked someone in such a long time"

"You're his type as well" My sister smiled.

"What, blonde and vacant?" I muttered.

"Maybe something will happen at the dance?" Annabelle exclaimed with a gasp.

"Oh maybe! Maybe you should kiss him and see what happens?" Hermione squealed. I suppressed my 10000th eyeroll. I felt like I'd stepped into some crappy muggle movie and everyone was a squealy Mary Sue. Where the hell had my sister and Hermione gone?

"Gag me" I muttered.

Annabelle touched my arm and I froze, thinking she'd heard me.

"Avery, what do you think? I mean he is your best friend after all... you'd know better than anyone" Her eyes were big and pleading as she looked at me. I was glad she hadn't heard what I'd said because it was kind of mean. I glanced back at the pitch.

Fred was hurtling toward the ground, the wind blowing his hair off his face. He was looking pretty determined. When he was flying was the only time I ever really saw him serious. It was like he lost himself in the air.
He'd grown up a lot over the summer. I guess not being there to watch him grow makes the world of difference. He was a man now... and he was gorgeous.

He glanced up at us and smiled. I couldn't help the butterflies that attacked my stomach.

Annabelle blew him a kiss and the caught it and placed it in his pocket.

I think my heart broke right at the moment he blew one back.

"Yeah. Yeah I reckon he does like you" I forced myself to smile. I glanced at my watch. "Oh crap, look at the time. I have to go do my potions homework" I lied and stood up. Lying was becoming second nature lately. It wasn't like me.

I quickly climbed down the stands and hurried away from the pitch. "AVERY!" I heard him call my name. "AVERY WAIT!" I didn't stop.

He, however, was on a broom and caught up with me easily. He jumped off and fell into step beside me. "What's wrong? You looked like you were about to cry" His face looked so serious that I almost did cry.

"No? Maybe because I remembered I have potions homework to do" I joked. He didn't look like he believed me. "I'm fine, I promise" I lied again. "You better get back to practise champ. You are the best remember?"

He smiled and ruffled my hair. "Are you sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine Fred" I nodded and turned and walked away from him.

I made it into the Heads Commons before I cried. I curled up in front of the empty fireplace and sobbed. He had no idea, but it was probably best. It was better to have him in my life than not at all right?

"Rough day?" I heard a voice at the door. I hastily wiped my eyes and looked up. Roger was walked over to the couch I was on.

"Annabelle likes Fred" I blurted out without meaning to. "and he likes her... he's taking her to the dance and everything..." I sobbed as she sat down next to me and pulled me close to his side.

"And you like Fred" He nodded. It wasn't a question. I nodded in response and sighed.

"I've tried so hard to be nice to her... tried so hard to ignore it... I swear to god I didn't like him before now" I breathed in and out, trying to calm myself down. I really hoped I didn't snot on him or something. That would be even more embarrassing than the actual crying thing.

"It's ok A.V. I think everyone was taking bets on when it would happen for one of you anyway" He chuckled. I rolled my eyes.

"It wasn't supposed to" I mumbled.

"It never is" he said kindly. He looked sad again and I remembered the split from Eva.

"Oh Roge, I'm so sorry... listen to me babbling on about stupid little problems... how're you holding up?" I asked.

"Fine I guess. It just hurts a whole heap" He shrugged. "I like that I have places to escape from her though, I don't have to see her day in and day out"

"Yeah it's a bonus... If it's any consolation I never liked her very much" I nodded. He laughed and stroked my hair.

"Yeah... somehow I don't think anyone really did"

We sat in silence for a while just thinking things over. "Hey, why don't we go to the dance together?" I asked out of the blue before I could stop myself. "It'd look good for the Head Girl and Boy to go together and it'd only be as friends" I added hastily.

"That sounds like a great idea actually. I wasn't going to go, but now with one of the prettiest girls on my arm I think I will" He smiled.

I blushed and laughed. "Yeah don't know about that but it will be fun. I know it will"

Roger sighed and got up. "As much as I could love to stay curled up here on the couch, I have potions homework to do" He pulled a face.

I reached down to my feet and pulled out my own potions essay. "Why do you think I came here?" I smiled.

I spent the afternoon locked away with Roger. It was nice to have someone as broken hearted as me to talk to. He understood. No one else would though.

Plea's Note:

Ok here's chapter 8... Wow I can't believe it's chapter 8 already. I really hope I'm keeping this story line fresh... I've written what I call a base copy and in it holds pretty much the whole story... and it's almost finished. Never fear though, that Base Copy holds about 25,000 words so we have a fair way to go yet.

Thanks to the reviewers .lighter, bluebookbutterfly, of course, Flyingcrispi and to my new reviewers magical moonshine and pukingrainbowz. You guys are the ones keeping this story going!

Please feed me more reviews.

xo

Plea