CHAPTER 9

Say you love me, to my face
I need it more than your embrace
Just say you want me, that's all it takes
Heart's getting torn from your mistakes

'Cause I don't wanna fall in love
If you don't wanna try,
But all that I've been thinking of
Is maybe that you might
Baby it looks as though we're running out of words to say
And love's floating away

Jessie Ware - Say you love me

Draco was the one who woke up first. Turning around he was faced with Hermione who looked so peaceful in his sleep. As he stared at her he thought to himself about their arrangement. Why did she suggest that in the first place? Was it really just about sex?

He kissed her forehead and she stirred. Opening her eyes slowly she saw that Draco was already awake and he was staring at her face. She wanted to smile because it felt perfect to her. To wake up to someone that you love.

Love..

So she frowned instead.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked.

"Draco we have to talk." She sat up and her face was unreadable again. This is it, he would leave her now after what she's going to say to him.

Draco sat up too, prompting her to continue.

"I've.. I can't do this anymore Draco. I want to end our arrangement." She finally said after awhile.

"Oh.." He was surprised but sad too. He just can't put a finger as to why.

"Is this about me and Cassie getting together?"

"No.. Yes.. I don't know. I just can't do this anymore. We probably should stop being friends as well." Her voice was turning shaky, afraid of breaking her last bit of control.

"What? Why can't we be friends?" Draco was at a loss, he can't lose Hermione as a friend. He had become so much better after they've gotten close to each other.

"Because I - I - oh nothing! Oh gods why is this so hard. Would you just leave I have to go prepare for work soon." Hermione was trying to fight back her tears, she would not let him see her cry.

"What happened Hermione? Can you just tell me why?" He can't leave her he just can't. She was trying to get off the bed but he held on to her wrist.

"Let me go Draco. Just leave me alone." She's going to cry anytime now.

"Was it something I did? Something I said? Was I too rough to you I'm sorry Hermione I don't know my own strength sometimes I -"

"ITS BECAUSE IVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH YOU YOU IDIOT. HOW CAN YOU BE SO THICK DRACO MALFOY!" She broke out of his grip and apparated away.

Draco was speechless. You what? How could you have fallen in love with me Hermione. I'm the last person you should ever fall in love with.

He groaned as he brushed through his hair, he brought his face to his hands. No no no.

Hermione stared across the street where she was hiding. She saw Draco pacing around in her room before he apparated away. Letting out a sigh she went back to her house. She sat down on her bed and stared at the floor. It's all over now.

"Hermione I'm back! Where are you! I've brought back goodies from Rome. We should go there soon Herm, there's so many cute guys in Rome I almost forgot I wasn't alone. Where are you!" Ginny walked up the stairs to find Hermione sitting on her bed, her back turned to her.

"Hermione?" She turned to face her best friend and she cried. Ginny rushed to her and hugged her. "What happened my dear, okay cry it all out first. You look like you've lost someone." She started soothing down her hair.

Between sobs Hermione whispered, "l did."

It took an hour of hysterical cries, shouting, cursing and outbursts from Hermione for Ginny to get a picture of what was happening. By the end of it Hermione had cried so hard she had fallen asleep in her lap, she was just too tired from all the crying. Ginny gently laid a cushion below her head and decided to let her sleep on the couch just for awhile before she wakes her up.

Ginny knew that there was something more going on between those two but she hadn't expect Hermione to come up with the "friends with benefits" situation. And her gut feeling tells her that it's not just Hermione who is feeling this, Draco had to feel the same for this arrangement to work too. Cassie was just a delusional idea in his head, boys are so thick sometimes. She decided to help the two of them out.

Walking over to her fireplace she floocalled Draco. After a few seconds a troubled-looking Draco appeared in the fire, "Hermione?"

"No you idiot it's me Ginny. I don't know what happened to Hermione for her to fall in love with you but can you please give her some space for awhile. If I know you well you'll come looking for her at work tomorrow. She's taken a sick leave for the day so give her some time yea? She's not ready to talk to you now." Ginny watched the pale head frown and went silent. His eyes glanced past her to see Hermione asleep on the couch. He sighed before he replied "Okay, I'll leave her alone. Take care of her k Ginny. Thanks." His head then disappeared. Ginny wanted to slap the boy, why can't he see that he's sad to lose her too?

The next few days went past in a blur, Draco had followed Ginny's instructions and didn't contact Hermione. He had wanted to write to her but didn't because he didn't know what to say and even if he did he didn't have the courage to send them out. What should he do about Hermione? He can't sit around forever.

He was lost in his thoughts when a beautiful blonde appeared infront him, waving her hand. He didn't even notice her entering his office.

"Draco? Hello earth to Draco Malfoy." Cassie frowned, he had been acting weird for the past few days. Even though they've only been out for a couple of dates she was starting to like him but she just couldn't read his face most of the time.

Dracn snapped back to reality and looked at Cassie. "Oh sorry Cassie, didn't see you there. What are you doing here? Did you need anything?"

"We have a lunch date together remember?" She said quietly, feeling a little hurt that he forgot.

"Oh right right, em let me grab my cloak and we can go." He stood up and grabbed his cloak from the hanger. He didn't realise he left the office without letting Cassie leave first, so it wasn't until he stepped out of his office building did he realise Cassie wasn't next to him.

Cassiopeia Winsland is a woman with a high amount of pride, she could sense that Draco wasn't into her anymore. So she decided she would be the better person and leave this relationship of theirs before they could become an item. But having said that she would, no she need to be the one who dumped him first. Nobody dumps Cassiopeia Winsland.

Walking slowly, she appeared next to him and faked a smile. "Why the rush Draco, I couldn't catch up with you."

Draco brushed his hand through his hair and muttered a sorry before leading her to a restuarant nearby.

Lunch was quiet, and a little awkward with the awful silence. They slipped in bits and pieces of conversation but that was about it. When the lunch ended, Cassie decided to bring Draco to a small park behind the restaurant.

"Sit down Draco." She instructed.

Draco sat down slowly and stared at his feet. "I'm sorry Cassie, I know I haven't been myself lately. It's just I have a lot on my mind and it's frustrating not knowing what to do I - "

"Stop. Look at me Draco."

He turned his face up to meet her.

"Kiss me."

"What?"

"Just, kiss me. I need to prove something." She moved closer to him.

Draco paused, he didn't want to kiss her. That's when he knew.

He moved in and kissed her anyway, maybe it was clear to her too.

Both opened their eyes, electric blue was meeting his gloomy pools of grey.

"I think we both know that this will never work Draco. I admit I was beginning to like you but it was just never enough you know. Never crazy or passionate. And that's saying a lot seeing how hot you are." She smirked and Draco let out a small chuckle.

They were silent again before Draco spoke, "I'm sorry this didn't work out. We would have such beautiful children. But thanks for dumping me. Haha."

Cassie laughed before she went silent and reached out for his arm, "I know that there's someone else for you Draco. I can feel it, you're not someone who's able to share his heart with anyone so hold on to her before she leaves ok? I'm even suspecting I'm getting in the way between you two."

He didn't know how to respond, so he went with a nod.

"So I'm going to leave, again haha. Take care of yourself Draco. I'm envious truth be told, I want to feel what you're feeling too."

"What am I feeling?"

"Love, Draco. I want to feel that too." And she apparated away, leaving Draco once more on the bench, pondering over what she said over and over again.

After awhile, he sat up and removed his face from his hands, shocked at his stupidity.

I love her. How could I've been so stupid!

Thank you all for the reviews! Still surprised and happy that you guys are reading my little fic.

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colao shaymars: I can't let out much but things will get better soon! Wait for it! :)

ReadAloudToMe: The talk always ends up with someone crying right. It's like inevitable, I'm sorry I had to make Hermione cry all the time.

Chapter 10 will come soon!