Chapter 4

"You found him like this?" Bay's voice sounded foggy in George's ears, in the darkness.

"Yeah," Fred responded with the same fog, but he saw a bit of light as his eyes opened slowly, "you left, he said he was tired and went to bed, I was sure he was asleep since."

"Ah!" George yelled when the sun hit his eyes too quick and his head pumped, "bloody hell…" he covered his eyes and tried to open them slowly again, getting them used to the light.

"George?" Fred asked, kneeling in front of him, but George was seeing him upside down, "are you alright?"

"What happened?" Bay followed, lowering herself.

"I-I don't know…" George responded lifting his head.

He saw his body, just in trousers and his feet going up the stairs as he laid on them. He rested his head back again and saw Bay looking at him, worried. But he blushed, he was in his underwear, with a hangover, in front of her. He sat up quickly, almost losing his balance if it weren't for Fred helping him and stood still, blushing more.

"C-can you guys turn around, p-please?" he said, without looking at him.

"What happened?" Fred asked, wanting to know first.

"H-how about I put on some clothes and then tell you?"

"Sounds fair." Bay said, crossing her arms and looking mad.

She walked passed him, stomping and pushing him with her leg. He looked up, thinking she would look at him, but she continued. He looked passed her and saw some empty shelves and the products on the floor. That's where she was heading, to clean them up. He looked down to the first floor and it was the same, a few spilled potions and products on the floor. It wasn't a total mess, but it was still bad. Plus, they were supposed to have opened half an hour ago.

After he put on his working robes, he sat on the couch and Fred, already in his uniform since earlier, brought him a cup of coffee before sitting beside him.

"I thought you went straight to bed after you told me you were tired," Fred started to tell, "I got up, knocked on your door and asked if you wanted breakfast, you didn't answer so I ate; made you some by the way. I got ready and knocked again, you didn't answer, that's when I opened the door and didn't saw you. I went downstairs and almost tripped with your legs halfway down. I tried to wake you, but you didn't even move. I didn't know what to do so I called Bay."

George gave a light shook, "I only remember going to bed after I told you…but I woke up shortly and couldn't go back-"

"So you feast on some fire whisky to get knocked out?" Bay said with some sass in the background, and arms crossed.

"I didn't mean it, maybe I was just-"

"Stupid." Bay finished for him, even if that wasn't the word he was looking for.

"Can you please shut it?" George said, rubbing his temple, "my head hurts."

"That's what you get for drinking, git!" She yelled, louder than necessary.

"Bay, can you go and clean up, please?" Fred asked, nicely.

"Why doesn't he?"

"Bay," Fred said, looking at her.

Coldly, Bay looked at him back before leaving, slamming the door behind her, on purpose, making George's brain pump in his skull.

"Why did you?"

"I wanted to keep celebrating." George said.

"You wouldn't over do it, less alone."

"I don't know why I did it, Fred." George said, getting up and walking to the dining table.

Fred sighed and slipped his hand in the pocket of his jacket, "Maybe this will tell you…" He got up and lifted a howler. George turned and arched an eyebrow, not understanding, "I found it by you…it's directed to Bay." Fred said, re-reading the red envelope, then looking back at George, "is there something I should know?"

"N-no."

"Why would you write her a howler?"

"I don't know."

"I thought you were great friends-"

"We are!"

"Then?" Fred asked, showing him the howler again.

"I don't remember…"

"What should we do with it?" Fred asked, looking at the howler, "I'm guessing there isn't much time left of it…should I open it?"

George thought about it, he wanted to know what his drunken self had to say to Bay, but what if it was something bad? Or really good that he couldn't express it in just words? "I-I'll open it."

George walked to Fred, grabbed the howler and went to his room, closing and locking the door behind him. The howler was already vibrating in his hand, so he only had a few minutes left before it exploded. He sat by his desk and placed it in front of him. The red envelope started to vibrate stronger. He took a deep breath before grabbing it again and opening the seal.

"Dear Bay…" his own voice came out, softly, and he smiled a bit, maybe it wasn't so bad, "you are a complete idiot!" His voice yelled and his eyes opened wide and his smile dropped, "You are blinded by your stupid feelings for Fred you don't see what's standing right under your nose! Can you be anymore stupid?!" George looked back, making sure Fred hadn't barged in if he heard the name calling to Bay, "You're being such a softy that you fall for every compliment Fred says! While I'm left listening to your troubles and he gets the kisses! Best friends my arse! I'm starting to think you're not worth it! I don't know why I even gave Fred the idea of hiring you! 'That way, Fred, you'll be together and closer to her'! Rubbish! I'm the stupid one! I fall for your dumb eyes every time! Can you for once shut your mouth about Fred and look at me?! See what I can and have offered you for the past 4 bloody years! He only wants to get into your pants! He won't stay around for long, keep playing hard to get and he'll leave you! I kind off-no- I hope he does, so you can feel like I feel now- like rubbish! Then I'll be the one to dry off your tears! Fuck no! You'll be on your own! I'm tired of playing the good brother figure to you! I keep trying and you fall for the wrong one! I'm done trying! Fucking done!"

And the howler burnt and the ashes fell on the desk. He was taken aback so far he felt he would tip over. He ran out of the room and into the living room, Fred wasn't in their flat. He went down to the shop and saw him with Bay, hugging and talking sweet to her, trying to cheer her up. George relaxed, it looked like Fred hadn't stick around to hear what George had to say-because he trusted him. While George was speaking badly about his brother's girlfriend, his best friend; someone he liked a lot, more than a friend. People say that when you're drunk, you speak the truth, if he felt that way about Bay, if he was as done as he said, maybe it was time to move on. She was with Fred, and if they broke up, she wouldn't date George, they weren't meant to be.

"Bay…" he got her alone after two hours when the shop opened, "can I talk to you?"

"Not while your breath smells like alcohol." She hissed.

"Please? I'm sorry." She looked at him and he looked like a kid, she couldn't resist.

"What happened?"

"Again, I don't remember-maybe I got carried away with the celebration."

"George Weasley you are such a liar!" She scoffed, "do you really think I don't know when you're lying to me?"

He looked sideways, "Yes?"

She scoffed again, more jokingly, "you better spit out the truth or I'll take it out of you." she said and punched, lightly, his chest.

"I…I just felt…I couldn't sleep, so-"

"Yeah, try again." She crossed her arms.

He lowered his head to think, it would be easier with out looking at her, "I was getting frustrated…"

"Why?"

"Someone…" he lifted his head and it got hard again, "someone I…fancy does not fancy me…"

She looked at him in awe, "I'm so sorry…how do you know?"

"She told me she liked someone else…maybe even loves him…"

"George…" She started, but the last thing he said, made her stop, "Oh, George…I'm sorry, but…" He straightened up, was she falling for it? "Y-you know I'm with Fred…and I can't…I can't return those feelings…" He gulped, he realized the words he had chosen where similar to the ones she had said the day before. She was looking sad and guilty, "I-I really like you, but-"

"What?!" He had to stop her before he got the F word, again, "I'm not talking about you-why would you get that?" he grinned.

"Oh," she looked confused, but smiled shortly after, "you're not?"

"No-I was talking about…about Angelina, I even haven't seen her in ages…it sucks so bad she couldn't come to the opening."

"That's why you were so sad you started to drink?"

"Yes." He answered, quickly, "I really thought she would…kind of hurt a bit, you know?" he crossed his arms, trying to look sad, "I thought she cared about me-well us-and she didn't even come."

"She told you a few days ahead." Bay said, stepping closer, "she said she would try to come as soon as her trip is over, wouldn't be long now." She smiled, making him smile.

"I know…you must have felt that way about Fred, huh?"

She sighed, "when you guys left…I know I chose to stay, but…I missed him a lot during that time…I know how it is." They smiled again.

"So…are we alright?"

She nodded, "just don't drink again. Promise me?"

"I promise." He said, raising his hand and crossing his heart, making her laugh.

"Then we're alright."

"Good-al though, try to be less conceited. Me and Fred, both liking you-geez, Bay."

"Ah, okay, okay." She nodded.

"I mean, yeah, you're cute, but not that level. Did you think all the Dumbledore's Army had a crush on you too?"

"I did see Dean checking me out a few times!" She pointed out.

"Sure, he was."

"And I mean, Luna, she would follow me around the common room a lot and look at me from afar so-I'm not saying anything- but you know." She smirked, tilting her head.

"Oh, the girls too?!" He followed.

"Sure. Don't play dumb! You know Angelina asked about me a lot!"

"You were in Ravenclaw's Quidditch team."

"Aha, I'm sure she just wanted to ride my broomstick."

George scoffed, "W-what?"

"Just saying, maybe is not that she doesn't like you back." She shrugged.

"Calm yourself, fat head."

She laughed before walking away to help a costumer with a question. George finished laughing and looked at her before she disappeared, he sure got out of that one, but knowing Bay, she might ask how it was going with Angelina in a few days. Or maybe when they'll see her; according to Angelina's letter, she would be back in two weeks and visit the shop.

Next chapter: 2 weeks later...