XXIX. Choice

"You don't love me at all, do you?"

"That's not true," Blaise protested, but the speed with which he said it was enough to convince Daphne that he was lying again, trying to cover his own back.

"Yes. It is," Daphne sighed. "If you loved me, you wouldn't be such a terrible flirt."

"I'm not actually doing anythi…"

"I don't care if you're doing anything or not," she hissed. "You want to. You want to and that's bad enough."

"Merlin's beard, Daphne, will you just listen to me?" Blaise shouted. "Of all the girls out there I chose you. I chose yo…"

"You chose me because I'm the only one stupid enough to put up with you," Daphne replied. "Well I'm not going to do that anymore. I won't."

"Daphne, do you even understand what you're saying?"

"Do you love me, Blaise?"

"I've already told you. I made my choice and I chose you. You're special."

"Do you love me? It's a simple enough question."

He didn't reply for a while.

"Daphne, I…"

"Go away, Blaise. Go away before I curse you," she snarled. She wasn't going to allow herself to cry because of him, not again.