Day Eighteen
Prompt: Truthfully
George stood alone at the perimeter of the Great Hall for few minutes, watching the other students as they danced with their dates. His heart physically hurt. He had always laughed at the notion of a broken heart but now he pressed is hand against his chest to quell the pain. Looking around, he tried to spot Capella and that ridiculous Durmstrang boy. Shaking his head, he stopped searching. He didn't want to see them dancing close, their bodies pressed together. He didn't want to see Darko wrap his hands around Capella and bend to kiss her.
George had to get out of there. 'I can't take this.' Everyone else seemed so happy. Laughter floated around him. 'I can't take this.' With his hand pressed against his chest, George slipped between the couples on the dance floor and out onto the balcony. He leaned against the railing, grasping the edge tightly. He drew in a few shaky breaths and then turned around, ready to head up to his dorm to try to sleep off the pain in his heart. His chest constricted even tighter. There, sitting on a stone bench against the castle wall, was Capella. She was sitting sideways on the bench, her bare feet up on the bench, her knees pulled up to her chest and her head on her knees. "Pell."
Capella slowly raised her head to look at him. Her eyes were red, she had been crying. She shook her head and lowered it back down to rest on her knees.
"Pell, are you okay?" George's mind raced. Thoughts of what Darko might have done to her flashed before him. "Please tell me you're okay."
She raised her head again to look into his eyes. "I'm fine," she said softly.
"Pell, you can tell me the truth." George stepped closer but didn't move to touch her. She slid her feet off the bench and pressed them flat against the floor. The moonlight caught in her hair and George had to glance away. Her beauty made his heart tighten. He steeled himself and looked back at her. "Truthfully Pell, are you okay?"
"Truthfully?" She tipped her head to the side, the sadness radiating from her. "The truth is I can't stop thinking about you. The truth is I can't sleep at night because of how much I miss you." She pressed her hands against her chest, just like he had done previously. "My heart aches. I love you George." She looked away from him. "I love you George and I'm terrified that I've ruined everything. I love you and I'm afraid that it's too late."
The pain in George's chest immediately dissipated. "Pell. Oh, Pell. I never stopped loving you." He knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. Her face brightened at his words. "I'm sorry…"
"So am I," she interrupted. "I've loved you for a long time. I should have told you."
"Pell," George whispered with a smile. He gently took her face in his hands and kissed her.