Maybe It's All For The Best
Chapter 6: Immature
I woke the next morning and stared at the roof for a good 30 seconds, wondering where I was. Then I remembered I'd come home and it was my old bedroom roof that I was staring at. I smiled. I was home.
I swung my legs out of bed and padded down to the kitchen. Mum, Dad, Avery and Roe were seated around the table and I laughed. It was like I'd never left.
They all looked up and smiled.
"My baby is home!" Mum jumped up and hugged me tightly.
"Yeah Mum, I was home yesterday too" I chuckled and took my old seat beside Roe.
"Well you've practically been a ghost so forgive her for being surprised" Dad smiled at me. I smiled back and started buttering toast.
"So what are we doing today ladies?" I asked, looking at my sisters.
"I'm going to work but I do believe you and Roe are hanging out with Hermione and Ginny today" Avery answered, passing me a glass of juice.
"Yup" Roe answered around a mouthful of cereal. Thankfully she swallowed before she started talking again. "Probably gonna go shopping in Diagon Alley"
"I like the sound of that" I grinned and stuck the toast in my mouth.
"So, I saw you chatting with Harry last night..." Roe smiled at me from over her mug of coffee. "How'd that go?"
"Ugh horribly" I rolled my eyes and swallowed. "We got into an argument. I took a leaf out of your book and ended it with 'Just do me a favour and don't talk to me again. We're better off leaving things the way they were'" I winced as she groaned.
"What was the fight about?" Avery asked.
"It's a long story" I shook my head and dodged the question. I didn't need my parents hearing this. "Point is, we're better off not talking"
"We have plenty of time over breakfast" Dad chimed, resting his chin on his hand and batting his eyelashes at me.
"Daddy!" I laughed, shoving his face away from mine with my hand. "He was just... questioning me about things is all" I said tactfully before I took a giant bite of my toast. If I had my mouth full they couldn't expect me to answer them could they?
"Maybe you and Harry can work things out with your relationship while you're home" Mum said brightly. "And then you can move back home and live here again"
"Not happening Mum" I said choked out. I swallowed the toast that was still in my mouth "I like my life in New York and I have a perfectly good boyfriend there... Fiancé" I corrected myself and held my left hand out in front of me to smile at the ring.
Mum pouted. "But Harry's such a nice boy"
"So is Nate" I pointed out.
"Well I don't know Nate, do I?" She stuck her hands on her hips and gave me the 'mum' look. I winced and took another bite of toast.
"Harry still cares about you Riles... He's asked about you every day since you've been gone, making sure you're ok and happy and stuff" Roe said. I waved my hands in her direction.
"AH! Roe! I don't need to hear that OK!" I frowned and dropped my toast on the table. "If he had really cared he would have written... or called... or come and found me" I stood up and flipped my hair over my shoulder.
"Maybe he was scared..." Avery trailed off when I shot her a pointed look to shut up.
"I'm going in the shower" I stated and walked out.
What was it about family saying the God's honest truth? They were the only people in the world who could and it sucked because you couldn't chew them up about it. At the end of the day, if your family can't tell you the truth then who can?
My phone buzzed on my bedside table as I walked into my room. I was smiling before I'd even picked it up.
"Hey babe" I chirped into the phone.
"How's your family?" he asked, like the conversation the previous night hadn't happened.
"They're good! I can't believe how much I missed them though, it's insane!" I laughed and flopped down on my bed.
"That's good. I'm glad you're having a good time. Katy called this morning..." He said. "You have a shoot for Rolling Stone next week"
"Well it'll have to be cancelled... I'm not exactly in New York right now" I stretched my legs out straight above me and wiggled my toes.
"But it's Rolling Stone. You can't eff them around" He sighed, a hint of force in his voice. "You better come home" He sounded like he'd made my decision for me.
I sighed. "Nate. We went through this last night. I can't come back to New York because I'm spending time with my family" I let my legs fall to the bed. "I haven't seen them in three years and they need me right now"
"Riley, this isn't some B grade magazine. This is effing Rolling Stone" His voice turned cold and I sat up. "Get your ass back on a plane and come home now"
"I can't. Look I have to go. I'll talk to you later" I said to him.
"Don't you hang up on me Riley" He growled. "Don't you dare..."
"Bye. Love you" I murmured before clicking off. I took a deep breath. I'll deal with him later.
By the time I'd showered and dressed, Roe was hammering on my door impatiently. "I'm coming, I'm coming" I grumbled, grabbing a cream cardigan out of my closet and shrugged into it. "Let's go" I grabbed her arm for side along apparition because I didn't know where Hermione or Ginny lived now days.
When I opened my eyes we were standing in front of a red door with the number 20 on it. Roe pushed it open and walked in.
"We're here!"
"Finally!" Ginny yelled out from somewhere in the house. "Took your time" she appeared, her red hair falling in a curtain around her face.
"Little Miss princess was choosing her outfit" Roe rolled her eyes, dropping her bag on the couch and disappearing through the doorway Ginny's head had appeared around.
I stood in the flat and took in the living room. From the Chudley Cannons flag above the fireplace I guessed it was Hermione and Ron's flat. On the mantle over the fireplace were photos, the little people running around their frames, going about their business.
I picked one up that was of Hermione, Roe, Draco and Harry, arms around each other and laughing hysterically. It was taken in the garden at the Burrow, obviously someone's birthday that I missed. There were pictures of Christmases, holidays, birthdays, events that had happened over the last three years that I'd missed. I sighed and placed it back on the mantle.
I started to turn around, but a picture tucked behind one of Roe, Hermione, Ginny and I at school made me stop. It was a picture of me and Harry at the Halloween Dannce in his 7th year. He was holding my hands and looking shy, like he wasn't sure what to do. My figure glanced around and then pulled myself into him for a hug. The figure of myself sighed, the figure of Harry smiled and rested his head against mine and they stayed like that. The other people were a dancing blurr around us but our figures were oblivious of it all. That's how it used to be between us, so long ago.
I swallowed and put that picture back down.
"SO are you gonna tell us what you and Harry argued about last night, now that Avery, mum and dad aren't here to hear?" Roe said loudly, coming back into the room. She handed me a mug of hot chocolate and plonked herself onto a couch.
"You and Harry argued last night?" Hermione asked, sitting beside my sister.
I sighed and took a seat on the arm chair.
"We might have" I rolled my eyes and took a sip of the chocolate goodness. I glanced at my friends and saw them looking expectantly. "He was trying to tell me I'm not happy in New York with Nate" I gave in.
"Why would he think that?" Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know?" I shrugged. "When I got off the phone to Nate last night Harry was in the living room and he overheard what Nate was saying and –"
"What was Nate saying?" Roe asked.
"He doesn't want me away from New York for a month" I pouted. "He misses me, that's all" Watered down version, I know, but I got the gist of what he was saying right.
"I hate it when Draco goes away to Romania to work on the Dragon Reserve there" Roe nodded understandingly.
"Well Harry started questioning me about the engagement, wondering why I hadn't told Nate my secret and why I didn't bring him home to meet everyone... and I kinda lost my temper" I shrugged. "He was being a total asshole"
"Why don't you want to tell Nate... I don't think I understand" Ginny shook her head. I sat forward. I'd been working on this excuse all night. I don't know why I didn't think of it before...
"Because Gin, we're so in the public-eye that it's hard enough for me to keep my secret, let alone two people. There's only one other person in New York who knows I'm a witch and that's my room mate Katy" It made sense but it wasn't the total truth. "So Harry asked why I was with him and I told him it was because I loved Nate but then he tried to turn that back around by saying that if I loved Nate that much then I would tell him my secret" I threw my free hand up in the air. "So I snapped. Told him it's better off to leave things the way we left it and not try to be friends" I sighed.
"Smooth Harry" Ginny snorted. "But you don't even want to try and be friends with him?"
"No Gin, I don't. I'm happy now. I got over him. I've spent the last three years getting over him. Nate's good for me" I smiled, glancing down at the engagement ring. Today it didn't look so big and gaudy. I actually kind of liked it.
Hermione smiled. "Well that's good, and we all can't wait to meet this guy, but Harry was your friend way longer than you and Nate were even together... maybe for the sake of your friendship – "
"No Hermione. The last thing he ever said to me was he didn't love me and didn't want to see me again. Roe, you were there, it was awful. It broke me" I looked at my sister for support.
"Yeah and I broke his face the next time I saw him" She snorted. "I still feel bad about that" I rolled my eyes.
"The point is I'm over Harry. I'm engaged and I'm happy. I want to stay that way" I finished with a small shrug of my shoulders and put the cup to my lips again.
I want to stay happy. If Harry was in the picture I don't think I could. I'm not silly. I know what the feeling was when he said he still cared. It was like I was transported back three years and I was still in love with him. It was that little kick to remind me that he was still in my mind and I couldn't let it stay there. Harry broke my heart once, I wouldn't let him to do it again. He had to regret ever letting me go.
A loud knock at the door broke the silence that fell over the four of us. Hermione stood and went to her door.
"Hey Hermione, I'm sorry about this but Sarah's had an emergency and can't look after Teddy today" His voice got louder as he entered the flat. I looked down at my mug as I heard them walk into the room. "Do you mind?" I glanced up. He looked gorgeous wearing a very official looking, navy pinstripe suit. Obviously it was what he wore to the office. His hair was still effortlessly messy but it looked tamer than it had yesterday.
"No not at all Harry, as long as Teddy doesn't mind being fussed over by the four of us" She dropped her voice into that silly baby voice people use on little kids, to talk to the toddler in Harry's arms. Harry's eyes glanced over me like I wasn't there. He turned to Hermione and handed Teddy to her.
"Great. Thank you so much. I'm so glad you're off today" He smiled and clucked Teddy under the chin.
"It's not a problem Harry. All we're doing today is taking Riley shopping, so we'll meet you at the twins Joke Shop at 4:30?" She ruffled the thick, chocolate brown hair of Teddy and the boy giggling. His big, brown eyes fell on me and he blinked. I waved my fingers and he smiled, mimicking my actions.
"Sounds great. Thanks again" He ducked and kissed Teddy's cheek. "I'll see you later champ. You be good for Aunty Miney, Aunty Roe and Aunty Gin ok?"
Teddy's big eyes trained on Harry and he grinned, his hair turning bright blue. Obviously he had inherited his mothers abilities. "Bai!" Teddy chirrped happily.
Hermione walked Harry out. "Looks like I'm being ignored" I muttered and rolled my eyes.
"Can you blame him? You did tell him to never talk to you again" Roe snorted and stood up.
"Yeah I know" I shrugged. I walked through the flat and into the kitchen to put my mug in the sink. I know I told him to never talk to me again but being ignored still hurt a little. He acted like I wasn't even there... when did I say that we should do that? I didn't. That was just him being an idiot. I walked back into the lounge room.
"Well are we going to shop or what?" I grinned at the girls.
We wandered around Diagon Alley for hours. It hadn't changed one bit and it only made me miss being home even more. It was nice to be with my friends again and I was even nicer to not have to worry about paparazzi following me everywhere.
"I really liked the lemon yellow dress" I reached into my bag of tricks for a liquorish wand. Teddy looked up at me with big, expectant eyes and I gave him one too. His face cracked into a HUGE grin and he toddled along beside us happily.
"Yeah I did too... only because it looked amazing on you" Hermione agreed and pushed open the door to the twins Joke shop.
"It looked foul on me" Roe rolled her eyes. I laughed.
"Hello ladies... and Teddy" Fred greeted us as we walked into the shop. "How was your day?"
"Brilliant! Diagon Alley hasn't changed AT ALL!" I laughed happily. "It's busier than I remember it though"
"That's because that little insignificant war is over m'dear. People are safe to walk around without fear of being hexed, cursed or killed" He answered me with a wave of his hand. "So how did Teddy get to hang out with four lovely ladies all day? Lucky man, lucky man" Fred tickled him along the ribs and the toddler let out a shriek of delight.
"Sarah had to be pulled away because of a family emergency so Harry dropped him around to me" Hermione answered, readjusting Teddy on her hip. "He knew I wasn't working today"
"Who's Sarah?" I asked, curious that everyone seemed to know this girl.
The four others exchanged a look before Ginny sighed. "She's Teddy's baby sitter. She looks after Teddy during the day while Harry's at training or work but we think she likes Harry a little more than she should..."
"She's horrible really" Fred chimed. "Sad thing is, I think Harry might actually like her back"
"She can't be that bad can she?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You have no – UGH" Fred was cut off by Ginny's elbow to the gut.
"Hey Harry" She chirped. "Busy day at work?"
I turned and saw Harry walking through the joke shop door. His hair was a mess now and his had his jacket open, tie undone. Either way he looked amazing. Once again his eyes slid right over me, like I wasn't even there.
"DAD DAD DAD DAD!" Teddy shrieked when he saw Harry. He almost launched himself out of Hermione's arms to get to him.
"Hey champ!" Harry grinned, swinging the two year old around and then holding him close. "Have fun today with Aunty Miney?"
"Yus!" Teddy nodded happily. "I got lick-ish" he held up the sticky end of the liquorish wand.
"Well that's yum... who gave you that?"
"Eyeley!" He pointed at me. For the first time Harry actually looked at me. For like, two seconds. Then he looked away.
"We better get you home and in the bath then Teddy" He kissed his head lightly. "Thanks for today Mione"
"Not a problem Harry. I wish I could have him all the time" She kissed Teddy on the cheek. "Will we see you tonight at Dinner?"
"Possibly" he nodded. "Bye Roe, Fred... Gin" He nodded to everyone but me. My stomach twisted a little but I ignored it.
Instead I rolled my eyes. "Oh that was mature" I said with a snort.
"You can't blame him... you did tell him not to talk to you again" Roe reminded me.
"Am I missing something here?" Fred asked.
"I may have told him to piss off too" I bit my lip. "But that's still no reason for completely ignoring me!" I exclaimed and started walking toward the back of the shop. "That's just immaturity at it's finest!"
"You told him to PISS OFF?" Hermione squawked and followed me "RILEY!"
"Why did you tell him to piss off?' Fred asked, falling into step beside me.
"Because he was poking his damn nose into where it doesn't belong" I answered.
"Sounds like Percy"
Hermione sighed. "But Riley he's your –"
"If the next word out of your mouth is 'friend' Mione, I'll slap you" I spun around to glare at her.
"Wow hello. What did we miss?" I heard George say from the counter. I only knew it was George because Fred was standing behind Ginny.
"Nothing" I said loudly.
"Riley and Harry got into an argument last night" Roe said at the same time as me.
"Oh... lover's spat?" George and Fred grinned wickedly.
"NO!" I shrieked. "No... I don't even know what it was but it wasn't that"
"Harry thinks Riley's not happy with Nate" Roe interjected.
"Why would he think that?" Fred raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know, you'd have to ask him because I have no idea what goes on in that deluded little head of his" I rolled my eyes and waved my hands. "Trust me, it's better if we don't talk... Nate probably wouldn't like me hanging out with my ex-boyfriend anyway" I waved my hand and brushed some hair off my face.
"Why should he care you're hanging out with an old friend?" George asked.
"Exactly. Harry's just an old friend" Ginny nodded her head.
"Because Harry is my ex-boyfriend. He extinguished his right to be my friend when he broke up with me" I folded my arms and scowled.
"But Riley..."
"NO! I don't want to hear anymore on the topic ok? I'm going home. I'll see you guys later" I waved my hand at them and disapparated with a crack. I didn't want to hear any more about Harry-freakin'-Potter.
Plea's Note:
Wow. Over 3000 words just for YOU GUYS! Neat huh? Sorry about not posting at my usual time last night... I got a little bit distracted by AVPM & AVPS... I watched them ALL :D God I love Harry Potter fans. Best people in the world amiright? Till next time lovely readers.
Xo Plea