Choices

Minka caught her reflection in the mirror at work the next day and felt herself grimace. Her one eye was blood shot and was surrounded by purple bruising. She could only open it halfway from the swelling and she had been getting awkward looks from customers the entire morning.

She wore a long sleeved shrug over her dress to cover up the bruising on her arms, not that it didn't detract from her face. She worked through the morning with a constant headache behind her eyes, but she didn't dare bring in Daphne, knowing she would try to get the truth out of Minka about what really happened.

She was behind the register when George came into the store. She quickly turned to the side, staring down at some papers. Her hair fell over the side of her face so he couldn't see her eye. She was hoping he wouldn't try and come see her so soon.

"Minka." He was on the other side of the counter, staring at the wall of hair covering her face.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came here to apologize. I got angry at you for no reason. You cared, and I should have been happy about that, not pushing you away."

"No, you know. I shouldn't have poked around in your office and it wasn't any of my business."

"But-"

"You were right. It's too late now. We should just call it a failed attempt and move on with our lives." She turned her back to him, shutting her eyes tight. "Please just, leave."

"No, Minka. I want to work things out."

"We can't. We're just not ready, okay?" She heard his footsteps as he rounded the counter to face her. She quickly looked away.

"Oh my God. Minka…" He saw. She turned to look up at him slowly. His face was filled with horror. "What happened?"

"Nothing, it was just um. I fell."

"I can see the knuckle marks." He brought up his hand, making Minka flinch. He placed his hand carefully on her cheek and rubbed his thumb delicately on the bruise. "Who did this?"

She peered into his eyes and saw nothing but concern for her. She had never seen so much hurt in someone's eyes before. She felt tears sting in her eyes but she quickly blinked them back.

"It was…someone who was angry at me for opening my store here. I never got a good look at their face. It was dark." She looked away, anywhere but at his face.

"Did you report it?"

"No, it's fine. There's not much to go off of. I'll just be more careful and not go home so late."

"I can come by at night to make sure you close okay. If I'm not here, I can get someone who is working-"

"No, George." She pulled away from him, wrapping her arms around herself. "I'm sure they won't attack again. I just need you to keep away from here. I don't want you getting tangled up in this mess."

"I want to help, Mi-"

"Just stop, okay? We didn't work out so stop trying so hard. I'm…over us." There seemed to be a pause for a very long while. Minka couldn't help herself and finally looked up into his eyes. Her heart seemed to sink.

"If you need anything…you know where to find me." He brushed past her and left her standing there alone. Minka felt the tears come back and spill over before she could even comprehend them. She covered her mouth to keep from making any noise. She sat behind the counter a moment and tried her hardest to control her tears. She took several deep breathes and finally felt herself calm slightly. She wiped her face carefully on her sleeve and stood up again.

Thankfully, no one was in the store at that point to see her slight melt down. She busied herself restocking the shelves and going far into a lot of depth about her Dream Catchers with customers, attempting to rid her mind of the memory that was now George Weasley.

….Two and a half Months Later….

"Do you have a sex fantasy Dream Catcher?"

"Uhh…no." Minka felt her cheeks go crimson as the teenage boy left with disappointment. She turned to one of her displays, letting off a shudder. She was seriously concerned about the amount of people who came in to ask similar questions as that one.

"Oh my God. Minka." Daphne pointed outside and Minka followed her gaze. They watched as a slender woman came walking over to the store from across the street. She stepped in and began to wander through the store.

"You want me to take care of this?" Daphne whispered.

"Shh, no. She's a customer. Besides, there's nothing to…take care of." Minka rolled her eyes and walked over to the woman.

"May I help you?" Minka asked nicely. The woman's eyes lit up and she smiled.

"Oh, yes. You're Minka?"

"That would be me." Minka waited for some sort of catty remark, but she remained kind.

"I'm looking for a Dream Catcher for my…boyfriend. It's for Christmas."

"You're boyfriend." Minka repeated. "And you decided he'd like something from here?"

"Why wouldn't he? I was thinking maybe something beachy or underwater like. It might give a hint that I would like to go away with him for New Years."

"Wow, Holidays. Have you been together long?" Minka led her over to the display of beach Dream Catchers, a little flustered.

"Only a couple weeks, but we dated back in school. So, we're just picking up where we left off." She grinned as she looked over the display. Her skin was like milk chocolate with smooth black hair flowing down her back. Her teeth and eyes twinkled as she grinned from ear to ear. Minka couldn't help but feel envious.

"Well um, this one is good for a beach sunset. This one is for midday."

"Oh, the sunset sounds romantic. Is there any way I can have it so he's thinking of me too?"

"If you place a picture of yourself in the Dream Catcher, it will add you into the dream."

"Perfect! I'll take one. He'll love it." Minka took a hard swallow as she grabbed one from the display and took it to the cash register.

"It's for my boyfriend." She stated to Daphne as she rung her up. Daphne gave her an opened mouthed grin and looked at Minka.

"Isn't that the perfect present for him, Minka?" Minka glared at her as a warning as they continued to talk. Once the girl left, Daphne inhaled heavily and dramatically.

"She totally doesn't know what happened between you two!"

"What happened as in nothing?"

"You went on a date and snogged in front of your apartment building. I'd say that's something. Enough that she certainly wouldn't have given him one of these as a present!"

"Do you think I should have told her?"

"No! What better way to steal him back than to be what's on his mind over the Christmas holidays? You should have snuck a picture of yourself into the Dream Catcher."

"Ew! No! She's putting a picture of herself in there!"

"Threesome?"

"Daphne!"

The door chimed as someone stepped in, letting a cold breeze from the street in with them. Daphne turned and grinned.

"Hello again!" She greeted. Minka turned and felt her stomach turn.

"Hello Daphne! How's my favourite sales girl?" Killian walked over and leaned against the counter.

"I am doing fantastic."

"Daphne, why don't you go take your break." Minka said in monotone, her gaze never leaving Killian's.

"Sure thing. I'll leave you two to talk." Daphne winked at Killian who winked back. Once Daphne had left, Minka finally spoke to him.

"What do you want?"

"I came to see how you are doing. Maybe we could go get lunch once Daphne gets back."

"Stay away from Daphne. And stop filling her head with whatever lies you're making up about us." Minka said coldly. She grabbed a box from the counter and began to unpack it onto the shelves, keeping her back to him.

"Don't be jealous sweetheart. I always come here for you." She heard his footsteps move to just behind her.

"How about you don't come around at all? I've done what you asked and I don't want you here."

"You seem to be missing out on the whole point of this. I want you back, Minka. If that doesn't happen, well…"

"Well what? More empty threats?" He grabbed her wrist tightly and brought his lips close to her ear.

"Don't ever think any of my threats are empty." He squeezed her wrist harder before letting go and stepping back. She turned to look at him, both of them with anger spearing into each other's eyes.

"Why do you even want this so bad?"

"Because I love you, Minka. And I know I've made mistakes. But we're meant to be together." His face had softened and he looked nothing but remorseful. She remembered when she actually thought she loved him back. Before he revealed all that was evil about himself.

"I'm sorry, Killian. But I can't go back to this. You've already showed me that you're still the same angry, spiteful human being with nothing but fake charm to hide it all. I suggest you just leave, because our relationship already has a long time ago." She brushed past him and stood behind the cash register. He stood there for a moment and then headed for the door. He turned to look at her.

"We're not over." He slammed the door behind him and headed off into the Alley.

Minka let out a large breath, hating any conversations with him. She felt herself falling back into old memories. About when she met him and felt herself immediately drawn to him. How he had shown nothing but love for her. But then she remembered when his attitude seemed to change. He guided her towards being friends with different people, and doing whatever he wanted to do. She remembered meeting several different people that he had known. She remembered one in particular-Lacie-that she had caught him in bed with…in their house. How after that was when everything just turned for the absolute worst.

She quickly shut her mind down to that part and rubbed her face heavily.

"Minka?" She removed her hands from her face. She felt her heart flutter. She didn't even realize someone had come in.

"George. How are you?" He took a few more steps into the store. His hair was dotted with snow.

"I've been good. I just wanted you to know I'm not trying to hurt you, or make you jealous or anything like that."

"I know you're not that kind of person. I just happened to be leaving my store at the same moment she decided to suck your face off in front of yours."

George's face blushed red as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Sorry, cheap shot." Minka said with a small smile. She walked over to him, not wanting to hide behind the counter.

"It's okay. It wasn't very proper to be doing that outside my store anyway."

"Soo, what's her name?"

"Angelina. We dated back in school and she just sort of…wanted to try it again."

"She?"

"Well…I mean…she suggested it." He stuttered over his words, his face seeming to get more and more the colour of his hair.

"George, you don't have to explain your choices to me."

"I don't?" He looked at her with something behind his eyes, but Minka couldn't figure out what it was.

"No of course not. It's not like we're togeth-" She was cut off by his lips suddenly on hers. His one hand cradled the back of her head and the other pulled at her waist. She felt a fire build in her belly at his touch and she wanted nothing more than to respond. But she resisted.

She brought both her hands up and shoved him off.

"What the hell are you doing!?" She yelled. It was her turn to blush.

"You just said I didn't have to explain my choices." He said breathlessly. Minka opened her mouth to say something but then closed it. She went to do it again, but found she couldn't find words. She finally straightened herself and looked him straight in the eyes.

"You should get back to Angelina, and your store. We'll just pretend that this never happened."

"Minka-"

"NO! I will NOT be that girl! You hear me now George Weasley, I will never do anything to hurt Angelina or you. You are with her and only her. She doesn't deserve this and neither do I."

"It's not like you gave me A CHOICE!" He yelled back. Minka felt herself jump, not expecting his anger. "I got no say in this! You decided it was done! I WANTED TO BE WITH YOU! I WANTED TO MAKE IT WORK!"

"And I told you no! It won't work!"

"Why?! And how do you know that!? It could have! What is so bad that we can't be together? We've managed to be friends for the past two months with no problems, what's wrong with being more than that? What could possibly go wrong!?"

"Because you'll get hurt!" There was a pause. George let out one small sarcastic laugh and spread his arms wide.

"I'm already hurting." He lowered his arms.

"Trust me, us being together won't happen even if we tried."

"Why not?"

Minka tossed her head back, attempting to keep hold of her tears. She was tired of almost crying and actually crying. She was about to explain when a customer walked through the door. When they were at the far wall display, Minka spoke again.

"You should go, George. Just…leave me alone." She turned her back to him, not being able to look at him anymore.

"I'm sorry, Minka. I didn't mean to complicate our friendship. I'm leaving tomorrow for my parent's house for the holiday. When I get back, we can just pretend this didn't happen and be friends again."

Minka nodded without turning. She heard the door open again. She spun around quickly.

"Wait." He stopped a moment, his face eager. "Stop by tomorrow night before you leave. I got you a present."

George gave her a small smile.

"Okay. And Minka?" He paused. "Thank you." He then shut the door behind him.