A/N: As always, I have a tumblr account dedicated to my fanfic works! It's a place where anyone can comment about a story or even just talk to me! I often drop aesthetic work belonging to my stories too! Feel free to check it out, my URL is "saiilorstars"
In retrospect, perhaps it could have all been avoided if one or the other had just spoken earlier. It wasn't like they were silent around each other, far from it. First of all, Arlet fully believed that it was impossible for Fred Weasley to be quiet around anyone — it was impossible for him to be quiet at all.
"I take full offense of that, Arly-kins," Fred had said when she joked about it. All their other friends seemed to agree with Arlet as they laughed together.
"Do you? Do you really take offense to that?" Fred's own brother was probably laughing the hardest out of everyone.
"Shut it, George," Fred muttered and grabbed a handful of jelly beans from their shared bowl on the table. He flicked a few jelly beans at those closest to him. "You're all terrible friends," he declared.
Arlet was in a giggling state, even when one of the jellybeans hit her forehead. "C'mon Fred, you're one of the loudest people I've met." She got up from her spot on the floor and plopped down beside him on the couch.
"Am not," he insisted. Still grumbling, he offered her a jelly bean from the pool in his hand.
"Oh, are too." Arlet reached for a jelly bean and popped it into her mouth. She didn't think one simple comment would cause all this. It wasn't often she got to Fred, and even more that she made others laugh. She wasn't very good at jokes. "I'm sorry—"
But someone had called Fred at that moment. Fred looked over the couch, grinning on the spot.
It was Willow Jade, easily one of the prettiest Gryffindor girls — prettiest girl in school altogether. She was a bright redhead — go figure — and had soft hazel eyes. Her word was like law. If she called you, you went to her, no questions asked. It seemed like she could put any boy under a trance.
It was hard admitting that beyond petty jealousy, there was actually nothing wrong with Willow. She was kind, a bit of a jokester herself, and very lively, not to mention smart. But if anyone asked Arlet, she could not stand her. And she knew exactly why. She knew it when Willow called Fred away from their group each time.
"You need to say something," Arlet's younger sister, Aracely, told her later in the evening when the girls had retired to their dorm. "It does no one good when you simmer with jealousy."
Arlet was pulling her covers down, huffing and puffing, but saying absolutely nothing. Aracely rolled her eyes; this wasn't a new conversation, not by a long shot.
~0~
When Arlet and her sister Aracely transferred to Hogwarts, the sisters quickly befriended the Weasley twins. Arlet's situation, although common with the September 1st rule, brought a bit of extra attention when she started. Her birthday was past the cut off the date which meant she had to start school one year later which meant she started along with her younger sister. How could the twins not go poke at that? They were the self appointed welcoming committee of Hogwarts. Their first act was to play the welcoming pranks, only that when the fireworks went off and Arlet fell quite literally in Fred's arms, the latter felt awful for frightening her like that…and thinking she looked just a tad cute.
Arlet had bright blue eyes and plump cheeks. Those quickly became Fred's favorite things about her. When he had caught her from behind, she blinked at him with those blue eyes of hers, wide as could be. The apology tumbled out of him on the spot.
George still hadn't forgiven him for that one. They pulled pranks, they never apologized. It's how it went.
"Oh, but sure, one look from the new pretty girl and you're like fucking jello." George smacked his twin upside the head. "Absolutely pathetic. I will be holding onto this information for future usage."
Fred rolled his eyes, trying to act like nothing but he knew that his brother wasn't lying. One look from Arlet Mirabel and he was a fucking goner.
He never played a prank on her after the first one, instead choosing a different avenue when it came to her. He showed her around the school, making sure to tell her about all the secret ways she could sneak around for, say, a midnight snack.
He learned that Arlet was a very friendly girl, a dancer — she loved ballet — and an avid seeker of building relationships and networks with others. She used to participate in foreign exchange programs before settling in Hogwarts for their 6th year. Fred knew that when Arlet graduated, she would become someone very important. Professional, important Arlet Mirabel.
He didn't see himself fitting in that picture, not by a long shot. He had different ideas for his future, and almost none of them involved academics. It took him a while to settle down and realize that Arlet was just too out of his reach. The first of that reality hit him when she started dating some other highly academic boy — Alex? — for a while. They were identical in their personalities and aspirations.
Fred tried various things to help him remember this reality too. Pranks here, pranks there, joking just about everything, and maybe a little bit of flirting.
If anyone asked Arlet, she would say that Fred Weasley was an excessive flirt. He flirted with everyone. It irked her. Even when she was with her own boyfriend, she constantly found it incredibly irritating hearing all these girls giggling and batting their eyes at Fred. It was even more irritating seeing him return the favor.
When she broke up with Alex, Fred started going out with a pretty Hufflepuff girl. She was fantastic, from an unbiased perspective. Arlet was well aware that she was not an unbiased party. And she was well aware that the annoyance she felt was actually more along the lines of hurt. It hurt seeing Fred with someone else. That was the first time Arlet realized just how deep her feelings went for Fred. She didn't know what constant ache was until he started going out with that girl.
When they broke up, Arlet was guilty of feeling a tiny bit of relief. It didn't last long because from there on out, all Fred did was flirt. All. The. Time.
Enter Willow Jade.
Fred flirted with just about anyone, but more so with Willow. Perhaps it was that they were very much alike, or that Willow actually came up with her own ideas for pranks — they just seemed to gravitate towards each other. It was no secret that Willow liked him…a lot.
Arlet heard Willow giggling with a group of her friends about the latest prank she and Fred had discussed. She was a giggling mess — why did she have to giggle so much?
"Easy there," Aracely startled her sister in the hallway, "You look like you're going to self combust."
Arlet gripped the strap of her bag and stared at Willow across from them. She was still giggling — go figure — and showing her friends something on her hand. There was Fred's name on the back of her hand with a heart drawn around it.
"Well that's just pathetic," Aracely remarked once she saw the same thing. She looked at her sister, raising an eyebrow. "You know that's just from Willow, right? Not from Fred. He wouldn't do that in a million years. Not unless the medium was fireworks."
Arlet still felt pretty upset. "I don't get it, Ara. I like him. I like him so much and he doesn't even look my way. What does Willow have that I don't?"
Aracely snorted. "You're joking, right?"
Arlet met her sister's glance. "What?"
"You're such a dumbass, Arlet. Fred does like you."
"Then why is he always flirting with others? Especially with Willow over there…"
"Because that's just Fred. And besides, the only reason he started that stuff up is because you were going out with Alex!" Aracely flicked her sister on the side of the head. "I told you that was a bad idea! Other than that, Fred's just one stupid flirt! Does it all the time with you too, plus way more stuff to show he cares but you're just too dunce to see."
Arlet argued that never happened so, from that point on, Aracely was happy to point out the moments where it did.
The opportunity arose one day when Arlet found herself in an accident. One simple misshapen in Potions left her with a burned hand and many, many, (embarrassing) tears. She was rushed up to the hospital wing so Madame Pomfrey could heal her and within the hour, the rest of her friends started coming up to see her.
When Fred showed up, Arlet's hand was already bandaged up and she was just waiting out the hours of observation Madame Pomfrey requested. "Arly-kins, what happened?" He had rushed up to her bedside, practically pushing their friends out of the way to get through.
"It's no big deal, just a miscalculation in Potions," Arlet said, pursing her lips together. "An accident."
Fred gingerly held her bandaged hand, trying to see for himself how bad it was. "I've been in that position many times. I know that it hurts."
"Not right now," Arlet said in vain.
"Arlet, baby, I can see the strain in your eyes. It hurts. It definitely hurts."
Arlet's face was blushed for various reasons — from the care Fred showed her, to his words. Her eyes flickered to her sister; Aracely was smirking.
"You're not going to get over that one," Aracely laughed at her sister when it was just them. "'Baby'?"
"Shut up," Arlet promptly said.
But Aracely would gain more fuel when Fred took it upon himself to look after Arlet while her hand healed. He would open doors for her, help carry her books, even try to write for her.
"Fred," Arlet laughed, "I'm right handed. It's my left hand that's hurt, remember?"
"Doesn't matter, let me do it!" He murmured and started copying down the notes McGonagall was lecturing about. He was very focused on keeping up. His tongue poked out on the side as he wrote quicker and quicker.
He was glued to her side, basically.
Even at meal times they sat together. Arlet joked that the last thing she needed was for him to spoon feed her. He was on his way to do that when she smacked his hand away.
"Stop it, you idiot!" She laughed.
"Oh c'mon, Arly, let me. You gotta eat!" Fred said as he once again grabbed the spoon.
"Which I can perfectly do on my own," Arlet said and made a motion of her picking up her own spoon to feed herself. She ate contently beside him, meeting his eye on occasion, and sharing smiles. At the end of the meal, Fred surprised her with a soft peach wrapped in a napkin.
"Thought you might want a snack later," he said as he handed it to her.
"Oh, thanks Fred!" Arlet loved it. Peaches were her favorite fruit!
"He's been treating you better than everyone else," Aracely remarked later in the evening, "Well, that's not quite new, isn't it? Always treats you so nicely, like a lady. Didn't even know he was capable of that."
Arlet rolled her eyes at her sister. "Fred is many things, not just a jokester." She often found that many people, if not everyone, had the misconception that Fred was just a jokester and nothing else. "He's a gentleman, first of all. And he's kind, helpful, and a total sweetheart. That's why I lo—"
Aracely raised an eyebrow at her sister. A smirk started tugging at her lips.
Arlet didn't say anything else for the rest of that night.
~0~
There were rumors that Fred had asked Willow out on a date. Then, a few days later, there were rumors that they were an official couple.
Arlet wasn't that surprised. It was the kind of thing she expected to happen. It happened various times before and she supposed it would happen again sooner or later. And no she was not looking forward to that. She didn't wish any pain on Fred, none whatsoever. He didn't deserve that. He deserved only the best.
"Were that true, he wouldn't be wasting his time with Willow," Aracely had said about the matter. She and Arlet were working on homework in the common room, she on the couch and Arlet at the coffee table. "Not when he so clearly loves you."
"Aracely," Arlet hushed her sister, or at least tried to. Aracely was about twice as loud as Arlet.
"What?" Aracely shrugged. "It's true."
"No, it's not!"
"Yes, it is!"
"Aracely!"
"What? It is," Aracely said.
"Hello there ladies," one of the twins strolled to their study area and plopped down on the couch beside Aracely. "Oh, is that the Astronomy homework?" He leaned impossibly close to Aracely to take a peek at her essay.
"Move!" Aracely shoved him away.
Arlet's eyes briefly flickered up from her work on the table. It was George. Fred always had something about his smile.
"Agh, you don't have to be so rude, Aracely!" George exclaimed. "Can't you help a dear friend out?"
Aracely rolled her eyes. "How about you help me settle something with my sister instead?"
Arlet startled. She better not.
"I'm always interested in your sisterly quarrels," George said and leaned back on the couch, resting his head against his hands. He then propped up his feet on the table that Arlet was working on.
Arlet put her quill down to poke George's foot off her Potions essay.
"Is it true that Fred's going out with Willow?" asked Aracely.
"Eh, more or less. You know Freddie, it lasts for about a month."
"But does he like Willow?"
"Aracely," Arlet shot her sister a glare.
"No," George didn't hesitate to answer.
"Because who does he actually love?"
Arlet wanted to kill her sister. "Aracely."
"Why, our dear Arlet, of course," George said without missing a beat and shot a wink at Arlet who'd frozen on the spot. Her face went bright as well.
"That's not — you're not funny!"
"This is one of the rare moments where I wasn't trying to be funny," George said, smirking, "Yeah, I can have those moments."
Arlet started gathering her things together. "Neither of you are funny!"
"C'mon Arlet, it's so fucking obvious!" Aracely exclaimed.
"It really is," George nodded, remaining completely calm in the situation. He found it funny more than anything.
Arlet grew angrier by the minute. She was stuffing her things inside her back, forgetting that none of her teachers wanted wrinkled parchment turned in as assignments. "Shut it! Both of you! As far as everyone knows, Fred loves Willow! Just like he's loved plenty of girls before her!"
"Arlet," Aracely looked at her sister as the latter started storming away, "You really don't have to do this."
Arlet turned around to say that she did in fact have to be like this because they were complete idiots. However, the entrance door opened and in came the man of the hour himself.
"Hey Arly-kins!" Fred waved with his usual grin. "How are — what's wrong?" Arlet seemed like she would burst into tears. Fred didn't like it one bit. "Hey, what's going on? Are you okay?" He made a step towards her only for Arlet to shout.
"Don't come closer!" She snapped.
"But Arly—"
"Don't call me that!" Arlet stormed up the staircase to the girls' dorm.
Fred stood there for a couple minutes, so lost. Then he set his sights on his brother and Aracely. "What just happened?"
"No idea," went George and Aracely.
Fred scoffed. "What did you two do to her!?"
"Nothing," Aracely looked over the couch, "My sister is just stuck in her blind ways."
"Kind of like someone else I know," George said, leading Aracely to hum in agreement.
~0~
Fred had no idea what George and Aracely had said to Arlet but all he knew was that Arlet wouldn't speak to him beyond a few words. Every time he got near her, she had to be somewhere else. He didn't get it.
"Seriously, what did you two do?" Fred sat at the meal table opposite of George and Aracely. "Arly's not talking to me."
Aracely scoffed. "So? Why don't you go talk to your little girlfriend, Willow?"
George smirked behind his goblet.
Fred didn't appreciate the question. "That's not what I'm talking about."
"That's what I'm talking about," Aracely said, meeting Fred's eye with a grin. "According to her, you're ever so in love." She and George shared a snicker.
"You two are not helping," Fred frowned.
"Sorry Freddie, but you're not helping yourself," George said, "Willow's hot, yeah, but she's no Arlet — sorry, Arly," he dramatically held his hands to his cheek and sighed.
Fred reached for a biscuit from the platter and threw it at George's face. With that, he got up and left.
George reached for the biscuit that had fallen on his plate and ripped it in two. He offered one of the halves to Aracely.
"They're idiots, you know," Aracely said, taking the half and biting into it.
"Mhm, the biggest." George bit into his half as well.
~0~
In the following weeks, Fred saw the situation with Arlet not getting any better. She avoided him at all costs and it agitated him. He didn't know what he did, or rather what his brother and Aracely had done. With no answers from anywhere, Fred was agitated pretty much all of the time. Nothing pleased him, not even the jokes he would typically play. Willow would try to coax him into playing a little something but it never worked. She got mad at him most of the time. They got mad at each other most of the time.
Before Fred knew it, he had cut things off with Willow. It was not the easiest of break ups but it was a break up in the end. He spent most of his time being angry and he knew exactly why. He couldn't talk to Arlet, couldn't see her, be close to her. He missed her so much.
Willow did not take well to the sudden break up. Rumors started to fly around school about what she thought really happened and not one of them was nice. Fred didn't particularly care about rumors pertaining to him. He lived with them anyways but the one thing he wouldn't let slide was if they—
One rumor dragged Arlet's name through the mud.
Of course Arlet heard it. Even when she kept her head down low in books and parchments and dancing, she heard it.
"Fred broke up with Willow because Arlet got to him."
"While they were still together?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
It was impossible not to hear the same conversations happening around her. She didn't address it, she didn't even glance in anyone's direction. Her resolution was to ignore it. Ignore it and hope that it wouldn't last long.
When Fred heard it, he went ballistic.
He found Willow and told her off right in the middle of a crowded hallway. Yelled in her face, and maybe said a word here and there that he wouldn't usually say in the middle of a crowd. He earned himself detention for the commotion and a new enemy in Willow and her friends. Apparently, none of that mattered to McGonagall when she assigned him detention for two nights.
It didn't matter to Fred either. He'd do them (grumbling) if it meant clearing Ar—
The door creaked open and someone cried out: "Oh, dammit!"
Fred would recognize the voice anywhere but not the words. Arlet wasn't one to curse all that much, not even use simple words like those. He looked over the couch and saw her stumbling in with a few books in her arms, and a splatter of ink on the floor. She had dropped her ink bottle…
Arlet muttered and grumbled under her breath until she spotted Fred across the room. Even from where he sat, he could see the pink dusting her cheeks. She had not meant to say those words in front of anyone.
"Are…you okay?" Fred knew it was a stupid question. To Arlet, anything academic was sacred…including the ink bottles. She was cute like that.
"Mhm, yeah," Arlet said quickly, deciding to abandon the ink splatter and bottle on the ground to make her way straight to the staircase.
Fred expected as much and with a sigh turned back on the couch, facing the fireplace. Arlet stopped at the base of the stairs hearing that one sigh. She looked back at him, biting on her bottom lip.
You should at least say thank you. The guilt gnawed at her head since she found out. It's not his fault.
And so, with a shuffle of her books in her arms, she turned back down. "Hey, Fred?"
By that point, Fred expected her to have been gone. He was mighty surprised when she walked around the couch to see him.
"Um, I know what happened with Willow…" she said, hoisting her books on one hip. "And I know that she said some stuff about me…thanks for standing up for me. But I'm sorry it cost you your relationship. And detention."
"Oh, no, no, Arly, that wasn't — it's not your fault," Fred said immediately, shaking his head. "Nobody should be saying anything about you, not on my watch."
Arlet half smiled at him. There may have been a warmth creeping up her face too. "Still, sorry."
"Seriously, don't worry about it. It was never going to work out," Fred said, a bit too certain over the fact. "All Willow wanted to do was joke around and, yes, I know that's my style," he smiled, "but I do have other interests as well."
Arlet chuckled. "Right."
"Of course nothing like you, though," Fred motioned to the stack of books resting on Arlet's hip, "Merlin, Arly, did you leave anything for the library? The stack's bigger than you although" — he raised a finger in the air — "that's not saying much considering almost everything's bigger than you."
"Hey!"
"Here, let's unload the stack, shall we?" Fred reached over but stopped halfway to gauge Arlet's reaction. If she pulled away, or frowned, she still didn't want him near her.
Arlet was no Legilimens but she swore that she could read Fred's thoughts most of the time. It was an uncanny sync they shared, getting each other without having to say anything.
Right now she could tell he was wondering if now would be the moment she would actually want to be with him, be friends like they used to be. "I'm a lousy friend," she sighed and planted her books on the coffee table.
Fred blinked. "What? No, you're—"
"A very lousy friend," Arlet reiterated and, with another sigh, came to sit on the couch with him. "That stuff the last time we talked, it was not your fault. George and Aracely really pissed me off and, well, you look a heck of lot like George so…"
"You know, lots of people say that about us," Fred said thoughtfully, causing a chuckle between them.
Arlet touched his arm and even though he knew there were several layers on him, Fred swore he could still feel Arlet's soft fingers on his skin. They were wizards but that was real magic to him.
"I'm sorry," Arlet said again, "I don't like being away from you." Her confession brought a moment of silence between the two, one where she was sure her face grew redder and redder.
Luckily, this was Fred she was talking to. He was so easy to talk to…
"Me neither, Arly-kins," he said with his typical grin. "You know how many pranks I've had to go through on my own because I didn't have your knowledgeable input?"
Arlet chuckled. "I would've figured Willow could've helped you there. She's way better at that stuff than me."
"Two of me don't make a good combination," Fred said, "Even George is a bit different from me. No, I need my Arly-kins to pull me down every once in a while."
Arlet smiled softly. "Unfortunately, we won't be here forever, you know."
Fred lost his grin little by little when he thought about the gloomy future to come. That was very true. He was sure that as soon as Arlet graduated from Hogwarts, she would have a job waiting for her. Important duties and all that stuff.
"Just promise me that you won't forget me," he said quietly, resigning himself.
Arlet looked at him strangely. "What?"
"You know, you'll be someone important as soon as you get out of here. I, personally, don't do well in confined places like the Ministry and academics. Man, I hate academics."
"And you think I'll stop, what, talking to you or something?"
"Maybe you won't have time."
Arlet stated at him inquisitively. "Fred Weasley, I hope that you're not implying that I'll feel like I'm better than you. Because that would be so wrong."
Fred flushed on the spot and could barely meet Arlet's gaze, pretty much answering her words.
Arlet never thought they would be touching this subject. "Fred!" She jumped up from the couch, turning in front of him, with her hands on her hips. "Who do you think I am!?"
"Honestly?" Fred looked up at her.
Arlet's eyebrows rose, surprised with that kind of turn. "Uh, yeah?"
"You're Arlet Mirabel, the smartest girl in our year — smartest girl I've ever met — and you're easily the prettiest and Merlin knows the kindest and friendliest! Everyone loves you!" I love you. Fred could only hold his truth for so long and right now it felt like he was going to lose.
Arlet blushed under so many compliments, especially coming from Fred. "Uhm…thank you…" She cleared her throat, "But I don't get what that has to do with what you think is going to happen to us after we leave Hogwarts."
"Arly," Fred looked at her again, smiling sadly at her, "You're amazing. You always have been. I know that when you leave this place, you're going to turn into an important figure. I don't where or when but I know it'll happen. You're always building relationships with people, encouraging networking. You've got a bright future."
"Fred, so do you," Arlet said, very confused when he shook his head.
"I have a very different future in mind for myself," Fred said, "George and I, actually."
"Are you talking about the joke shop?" Arlet smirked at his startled reaction. "George mentioned it to me a couple days ago. I think it's great! Who else to shape the future prankster generations than the experts, right?"
Fred's smile was weak at best. "I'm happy with what I want, but it's very different from your plans. We're very different, aren't we?"
Arlet nodded. "I think so, yeah. And yet somehow we're always drawn to each other in the end. Kind of funny if you ask me. I mean, by all logic, you should get along better with my sister. She's way more like you and George. I'm pretty boring."
"Aracely is great and all but you're even better," Fred said, "And I think you should remember that."
Arlet chuckled. "Don't let her hear that. So, Fred, I hope the gist of this conversation has taught you that even though we have very different ideas in mind for our futures, it doesn't mean we won't be together." As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them for how it sounded. "Not that — of course I meant — friends! As friends!"
Fred loved her stammering reactions. She got frazzled over the littlest of things and thought she offended half the world. "Arly, I know," he assured, "Course I know that we're just friends."
"Okay, yeah, okay…" It took Arlet a moment to really take in the tone of voice Fred had used and even when she still had a doubt, all she had to do was look at his face. "No, wait, hold on," she sighed, "I've missed something else, haven't I?"
Fred chuckled. "No, Arly, you're fine. Just don't forget me, that's all I ask."
Arlet drew in a deep breath, her heart hammering in her chest, and just about every part of her brain screaming at her not to say anything. "So in this future…um, obviously you'll be working at the joke shop and I'll be working, er, I don't know—"
"It's the Ministry, I'm sure of it," Fred said without missing a beat.
"Uh, okay. Well, maybe we could plan little get togethers. Actually, maybe we could start planning then right now…"
"Right now…?" Fred looked at her for a moment, confused. Arlet was blushing red enough to match his hair. And then he got it. "Arlet, are you…talking about—"
"Going on a date together? Yes, yes, I am unless-unless you think that I'm-I'm too boring for your taste—"
Fred laughed. He grabbed her hands and yanked her down on his lap. Her eyes went wide, her blush intensified to an astronomical level.
"Oh, Arly-kins, you've no idea how much time I've spent thinking about that," Fred admitted. He passed a hand down her long hair, taking in every last feature of hers.
"You have?" Arlet swallowed hard. One of his hands held her by the waist and the other continued to stroke her hair.
Fred nodded. "All the time."
"Why didn't — why didn't you say something? I was right here!"
"Dating Alex, of course."
"You dated so much more than me!"
"And then there's the matter of our futures. You'll be important and I don't think I can fit in that picture with you. I don't want to drag you down with me."
Arlet looked at him like he was crazy, and maybe he was. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Fred dropped his other hand down on her waist. "You've got all this stuff going on always. I bet tonight you were in one of your clubs planning for the future."
"Well, yeah, but—"
"And I don't want to take any of that away from you but my reputation precedes me and I don't want that besmirching your name."
"My name is my name, and nothing can dirty it up unless I do something wrong, not you," Arlet said, "Look, this is partly my fault for not saying anything before but you always looked so happy flirting with half the world except for me."
"If I flirted with you it would be for real and I would lose control," Fred said, "I know that when I flirt with, say, Angelina, she doesn't take it seriously and I don't take it seriously either. I can be as stupid as I want. But if it was with you, I'd run my mouth until something slips out that shouldn't be said."
"Like what?" Arlet asked him, tilting her head at him. "What would you say to me?"
"Uh…well…" Fred's mouth had gone dry, something that never happened unless it was for—
"I love you." The words fell out from his mouth and there was no taking it back.
Arlet had frozen altogether, her already wide eyes looking like they would pop from her head.
"Dammit," Fred dropped his head, cursing himself under his breath. One thing. One thing he shouldn't say and there it was.
He felt warm hands sliding over his cheeks, gently raising his head. Arlet was smiling again.
"I'm no expert but that didn't sound like much flirting to me," she said, her thumbs stroking his skin. "I thought that was your expertise."
"I lose all my expertise with you," Fred said, sighing, "And I am very good at not saying things like that. Never said it to anyone, actually."
"I might feel a little special, then," Arlet said.
"Always feel special, please. Because to me, you're the best girl in the whole school. Cliche, I know."
Arlet started giggling. "I didn't know you could be a romantic. Last time I heard, that was more of George. You've got the temper."
"Me? I would never…"
"Aha," Arlet rolled her eyes, "So it wasn't you who got Zacharias Smith back for saying something about your prank for Valentine's day?"
"He had that one coming!"
Arlet dropped her head and laughed. "Oh Fred, what am I going to do with you?"
"I've got some ideas…" Fred took in a breath and inadvertently smelled the shampoo off her hair. Peaches. That was her favorite fruit, it only made sense it was in her shampoo as well.
Arlet stopped laughing suddenly and lifted her head to meet his eye. The silent sync flickered on like a switch. They knew they were in a serious moment now.
"I do love you, Arly. That wasn't a joke," Fred said, "And it's out of nowhere to you but to me it's been like this for years."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Arlet sighed. "Yes, I know I dated Alex but after that? You started going out with these girls and...I know it never lasted but it hurt that you kept choosing someone else."
"Like I said, I didn't think I was in your eyesight," Fred said, "You're so pretty, Arly. I don't want to be the one who—"
Arlet pressed a finger against his lips. "I think you're perfect," she said with absolutely no hesitancy. "I think you'd be the one to light the dark days that are sure to come. And you're funny, so funny, and so kind too. How could someone like that drag me down?"
"You'd be surprised at how quickly I wreck things…" Fred mumbled.
Arlet felt a little jolt of courage. It wasn't often that she was the bold one out of her and Fred. Actually, that had never really happened.
Arlet's hands cupped Fred's face again. She looked at him for a moment, absolutely adoring him, and kissed him.
The surprise wore off really quickly for Fred. It couldn't last long when he'd imagined it for so long. His hands went around her back, pressing her body flush against his. His lips meshed with hers, immediately taking a nip of her bottom lip. It was impossible not to smirk when he heard Arlet's little gasp. She was too adorable.
Arlet felt incredibly guilty for breaking such a slow, sensual kiss but she needed some air. It sounded like Fred was in the same position since they both panted for air.
"I love you too," Arlet said, "In case that wasn't clear."
"It's…it's clear…" Fred looked at her fondly, "Wish it would've been clear ages ago but better late than never, right?"
"Right," Arlet nodded, "So do you think we'll last then? All the way into that future you're so afraid of?"
"I'm hoping," Fred said, still clinging to that dreadful idea.
"Ah, you have no idea how much I love you," Arlet said, draping her arms over his shoulders, "All those girls before me have nothing on me. I love you more than they ever could."
Fred felt his heart do some sort of dance in his chest. He would say it was impossible but stuff like that usually happened whenever Arlet was around. "Well, you're never wrong so who am I to start arguing that now?" Arlet laughed. Fred bopped her nose and kissed her.