Wow that was faster than I had expected! Thanks to everyone who's reviewed! You have no idea how much I loving reading each and everyone one of them. Even the hostile ones ;) .

Without further ado, I bring you the final chapter of Flirting Fiascos.

Alicia was a zombie as she entered an empty compartment and attempted to heave her trunk unto the luggage rack. Her back ached with the effort, but she could do it. She had to.

She somehow managed to get the trunk onto her leg which began to throb painfully. She heaved her trunk upwards with all her might. The trunk tilted sideways and fell down to the floor, narrowly missed her foot, and fell open in the floor, her possessions tumbling out.

She quickly got down on her knees and began shoving her things back in. The train should leave soon enough. Hopefully Angelina and Katie wouldn't try to find her again. She had been avoiding them restlessly for the past twenty-four hours.

She froze as her hands still reached to grasp the sweater which lay face up on the floor. It was the sweater George had given her to wear the night she had played truth or dare. The large letter "G" stared up at her menacingly as she remembered the protective stance he had taken in front of her.

Tears welled up in her eyes. George should've have been helping her with her trunk. They should all be together, laughing as usual. She clutched at the sweater and tears began to stream more frequently down her cheeks. She'd ruined everything.

She jumped with a start as the compartment door opened.

"Oh, sorry I thought this compartment was—Alicia? Alicia, are you okay?" Brady's concerned eyes looked at Alicia's tearful face.

Alicia tried to laugh but it came out more like a sob. She was a horrible person. After everything she had put him through, Brady still cared for her wellbeing. He was looking at her patiently with a worried expression.

She wanted to tell him how sorry she was. She wanted to tell him that she was an awful person and she didn't deserve his comfort. She wanted to tell him everything, but she knew if she were to open her mouth she would start bawling and she didn't want him to see that.

Her lips trembled and her breaths came in tight gasps as she tried to hold back the sobs that were trying to break through. Brady, sensing this, quickly came and pulled her to a standing position and put his arms around her.

Alicia began crying in full force, unable to keep it in any longer. Sobs wracked her body as she nuzzled into Brady's chest.

"Alicia, its okay, its okay! Everything's going to be alright," he said frantically, rubbing her back in what he hoped was a soothing matter.

"Oh, B-Brady! You're—too nice—to m-m-me," she said through her sobs. "I—don't—even—deserve—to—talk t-to—you!"

"Don't be ridiculous Alicia, of course you do," Brady said. "Just breathe okay? Take a deep breath, everything's going to be fine."

No, it's not, Alicia thought to herself. She tried to force herself to relax and concentrated on keeping her mind blank. Trying keeping her emotions locked away seemed to be helping her calm down. She took several deep shuddering breaths trying to calm herself down. She managed to stop crying and soon only the sounds of her sharp, hiccupping intakes of breath could be heard in the compartment.

"You must think I'm mental," Alicia mumbled into Brady's shoulder.

Brady chuckled softly. "No I don't Alicia. I think you're great."

Alicia scoffed. "Yeah right."

Brady laughed and stepped back a little. She looked up at him apprehensively with watery eyes. He brushed away the stray tears that still adorned her cheeks. "Better?" he asked.

"A little bit," she sniffed, collapsing onto a seat. "I'm sorry, Brady I—"

"Don't apologize," he interrupted, sitting down next to her. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

Alicia's face darkened and she laughed humourlessly. "Do you want me to start crying again?"

Brady frowned. "Alicia, are you sure you're okay? You know you can tell me anything," he said sweetly.

Alicia smiled, tears threatening to overwhelm her again. "I know, Brady. I know."

At that moment the compartment door slid open again and Angelina clamoured inside, closely followed by Katie.

"Oh Alicia," Angelina sighed when she caught sight of her puffy red eyes.

Katie embraced Alicia the second Angelina stepped back. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"

Alicia looked at them figuring they must have found out by then what had happened. "I know, I'm sorry." She looked at Brady who was looking slightly uncomfortable. "Brady, I'll be okay now, you can go if you want."

"Are you sure?" He asked squeezing her hand, genuinely concerned.

"Yes," she said, smiling the best she could.

Brady seemed to be satisfied enough. He stood up to go. "Well at least let me help you with your trunks," he said. He swept the rest of her things into the trunk, snapped it shut, and easily heaved it into the luggage rack.

He moved towards the door and pulled in Katie and Angelina's trunks which they had dropped unceremoniously in the doorway of the compartment.

"Oh, we're fine Brady, you don't have to—" Angelina started.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Brady said, smirking and rolling his eyes as he finished putting up both of their trunks. "You take care of her okay?" He said nodding towards Alicia.

"Of course we will," Katie said moving to still next to Alicia.

Alicia stood up before Brady could leave and give him a big hug. "Thank you," she whispered into his ear.

Brady smiled. "Anytime," he whispered, giving her one last squeeze before he was out the door.

Alicia sighed and turned back to Katie and Angelina. Angelina patted the seat between her and Katie.

"Fred told us what happened," she said apprehensively as Alicia sat down. "Did you want to talk about it?"

Alicia shook her head and then stopped at it throbbed painfully. "No. I'm really tired, I really just want to go to sleep right now…I didn't sleep very well last night."

"That's okay," Angelina said quickly as the train lurched to a start, though Alicia could tell she was dying to know every detail. "You probably should sleep."

Katie grabbed Alicia's hand and held it within her own. "But we're always here for you Alicia, you know that."

Alicia smiled, feeling a little better as she leaned onto Angelina's shoulder, Katie's hand still entwined with hers. Her heart was still broken, and her stomach still felt heavy and hollow, but she wasn't alone as she thought she was. She still had her friends.

The empty seats in front of them, seemed to mock her. She knew it was over with George but she hadn't even thought of Lee and Fred yet. A whole new wave of dread fell upon her and she closed her eyes, hoping for a dreamless sleep.

Five compartments away across the hall, George Weasley looked out the window as the trees outside flew by at a rising pace, willing his mind to go blank. Fred was at his side sitting unusually close to him. Lee Jordan was sitting across from them having fallen asleep the instant he sat down.

George looked at his brothers' face, which was uncharacteristically tight as he too looked out the window.

"Fred, it's okay. I don't care that much," George said, knowing his twin would see through his lie without even trying.

"It's not okay, George. I can't even—" he clamped his jaw shut, seeming to be at a loss of words.

George sighed wishing the pain he was feeling didn't have to be shared with his brother. "I'll stop thinking about it if you do," he said.

Fred looked at him. "You can't just stop thinking about something, it doesn't work that way," he trailed off. "I can't believe she…she promised she wouldn't…I told her if she…"

George closed his eyes. "Please Fred. I can't do this if you don't help me."

Fred looked at him seriously. A look that only George had ever seen. "I hate it when you're not happy. We're never ever not happy. I hate it."

"I hate it too. Now, let's get to distracting ourselves," George said attempting at a smile.

Fred smiled finally and George's smile brightened until it matched Fred's. At that moment…

"AGGGGHHHHHHHH!" Lee woke with a start and jumped on top of his seat putting his arms in front of him in a defensive position. After a few moments he looked at Fred and George in confusion.

The twins snorted. "What­ was it this time Lee?" They asked.

Lee embarrassedly got down from his seat and tried not too look at them. "Nothing—"

"Oh come on LeeLee!"

"Don't leave us hanging—"

"—you know we're not—"

"OKAY!" Lee said holding up his hands in surrender. "Geez, you don't have to go getting all twiny on me," he murmured.

"Well go on," George pried, extremely glad for the distraction.

Lee scowled and rubbed his head sleepily. "It was Katie. She was throwing…well, she was throwing Percy's at me."

"Percy's?!" They exclaimed. They certainly weren't expecting that.

"Yeah, little Percy's. She just kept chucking them at me…and he kept giving me more and more detentions."

They burst out in laughter. "I'd love to see little Percy's flying through the air!" Fred cried, jubilantly.

With ridiculously perfect timing, Percy slid open their compartment door and looked at his brothers. "No trouble today now, I'm serious," he said officially. "Any sign of a dungbomb and I'm telling Mum the moment I get off this train. Just because it's my last day doesn't mean I can't still give you detention for next year!"

Lee, Fred and George exchanged looks before they all burst into laughter. Fred slapped down on George's knee as if it was his own. Percy tried to raise his voice over their laughter but it only made everything much funnier and they were soon dissolving into hysterics and he quickly gave up and stormed out of the compartment.

They finally managed to get a hold of their selves and soon George was rubbing his leg which was starting to sting. He gave Fred a look.

Fred shrugged. "Sorry…I was wondering why I couldn't feel that…"

George sighed and leaned against the window as Fred kicked his legs up along the seats and leaned against George and began to talk about the upcoming Quidditch World Cup. Lee began praising Viktor Krum almost instantly and soon it was all they were talking about.

George was glad that the news of the break up hadn't spread yet. Only he and Fred knew. And her of course. And most likely Angelina and Katie. But at least he didn't have to deal with any whispering and pointing. Even Lee didn't know yet. The news would probably get out sometime during the summer, but at least it will have died out by fall.

George felt himself feeling oddly optimistic. For a whole five minutes, he had completely forgotten about—her.

Sure he felt crummy. He felt a lot of things. But there was one thing he had stopped feeling in the past few hours. He had stopped feeling hopelessly un-happy. He was still un-happy when it came down to it…but he knew that so long as he had his twin, he would find happiness again. The hole and the heart would heal even if Fred had to rip out part of his own to close it.

He didn't know if he would get over Alicia. He still couldn't completely believe it was over. He longed to hold her in his arms, to kiss her lips and touch her silky hair. He longed for her. Just her, even if they were only friends. Maybe he would find someone else next year. Someone much, much better. Would there ever be someone better?

Or even worse, what if she found someone? He didn't think he'd be able to stand seeing her with somebody else. He quickly pushed that thought from his mind.

He thought of the coming summer and how he would feel once it was over. Who knows where he would be at the beginning of sixth year. Maybe he and Alicia would work things out. Maybe not. Probably not. But only time could tell. George was ready to face the future. He wasn't one to wallow in self-pity and sadness in a self-made living hell. He was practically allergic to despair.

George looked at Fred who was still talking animatedly to Lee, fully aware that George was in deep thought. The next few days were going to be hard and hellish, but he knew he wouldn't have to face them alone. God knows Fred would kill him if he were ever to become depressed. He shuddered at the thought hoping he got over Alicia real fast.

Only time could tell. And time, George decided as the train sped on, was a far cry better than hell.

(sequel:)