Candace stood at the fountain. The evening had turned cold and she was now happy she'd thrown a sweater over her shoulder before darting out the door. Here she was, thinking she was going to be late, but she'd been standing there for a good while before looking down at her watch. It was a quarter after and still no sign of Charles. She'd begun to give up hope when she heard a set of footsteps from her right. Turning, her face lit up with surprise as she saw him.
"Well, hello there, Charles. And Joshua. How...odd, the two of you showing up at the same time. Did I miss something?"
Charles smiled slickly. He was wearing a dark burgundy sweater accompanied by a deep tan jacket. His hair matched his smile, and Candace felt her eyebrows furrow in her confusion. Joshua contrasted to him, a pair of dark jeans and a light blue cable sweater made them look like night and day. "No, you didn't miss anything, my dear. Joshua and I know each other from way back. Our families...worked together, long ago. I believe you know each other?" He slid a cigarillo out of a shiny metal cigarette case, the end of it lighting brightly in the dark of the evening. The days were getting shorter on this side of the pond.
Joshua rolled his eyes and shook his head, getting a little closer to Candace before he spoke. "Yes, we do. Apparently we're rivals for your attention, Candace. Are we not?"
Candace shrugged. She refused to be drawn in to any kind of rivalry these two might have going. "Not really," she said lightly. "My attentions and intentions, are my own. Shall we?" She extended an arm to each of them, which they readily took. It was an odd sight, really, for her to be stuck between quite opposite men. "So, where are we going for dinner?"
A short while later they were standing outside of the local theater. There were two movies playing that neither of them wished to see. But Candace had it on good authority that the campus theater was hosting a Rocky Horror Picture Show revival. Grinning from ear to ear, she grabbed both of their arms again. "Come on, boys. You're mine, now."
As they ran back up the main drag to the campus, Charles felt light and free for one of the few times he could remember. He didn't care about family ties, or who was whomever's child. He smiled at Candace, knowing that had this been anyone else, he likely wouldn't have noticed.
"Oh, good lord. Rocky Horror? Merlin's beard." He'd spoken the words before thinking about it, garnering a smile from Candace and a quizzical look from Joshua. Charles shrugged. "As you wish, milady."
Candace curtsied, shook her head and rolled her eyes as she showed her student id to gain admission. Joshua and Charles followed suit. It dawned on the former that the latter was up to something, but there hadn't been a sign so far as to what it was he was up to. Joshua sighed and kept his eyes forward, not wishing to give any indication that he was scrutinizing his rival's every move.
They sat, and scarfed popcorn and soda, and found a water gun somewhere beneath the seats to shoot at people during pivotal scenes. It was the best time that Charles could remember having in a long time.
Somewhere past midnight, Joshua and Charles stopped at the fountain to drop Candace off. Before he could say a word, Candace leaned up and gave him a good night kiss. He looked at her in confusion, then nodded, and turned to go on his way. But not before he saw her do Joshua the same. He hesitated when Joshua tried to take in more of a kiss, but she firmly stopped him with one hand, shaking her head no. This made Charles smile, almost garnering a snicker from him.
As he closed his apartment door behind him, he was startled by the sight before him - the color drained from his cheeks as his blood turned cold.
"So, nephew. Someone has been a busy little bee, now hasn't he? How is the lovely Candace Malfoy this evening?"