Chapter 15

I felt my feet slam into the ground and remained standing. I felt Ryan lurch beside me and quickly put my hand on her shoulder to help steady her. She wasn't as used to traveling by port key as I was. From what she's told me they have some sort of flu network that they use to travel to school. There are girls coming from all over the United States so I can see how this would be handy.

After getting myself steady and making sure Ryan didn't fall on her arse I quickly looked around. Gone were the bare trees, sandy soil, and sound of the ocean. Instead we were in a small ally. It must have had some magical protection around it like Diagan ally. I could hear cars and people going about their business but couldn't see them. Almost like there was a wall up separating the two worlds. Leave it to Mrs. Weasley to find the best place to appear in a foreign country. I spotted an old wooden door on the far wall. I grabbed Ryans hand and pulled her towards it, our luggage floating along behind us. I stopped when we were standing in front of it. Giving Ryans hand a squeeze I whispered,

"You'll do fine Ryan. Just remember, try not to have expectations. Everyone will love you. There's no way they couldn't."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ryan smile.

"Thanks Riley."

Taking a step forward I turned the handle and pushed the door open. In about three seconds I was wrapped in a hug being smothered by Roses thick red hair.

"It's been to damn long!" Rose yelled into my ear.

"Language." Mrs. Weasley called casually from some where in the room.

Rose pulled away rolling her eyes. For as long as I've known Rose she's had some form of mouth. It's progressively gotten worse as she's aged and it's been something her mother has tried to fix for as long as I can remember.

She then turned to Ryan, who had shuffled into the room behind me and was standing off to the side looking nervous.

"Hi I'm Rose." Rose said as she extended her hand and smiling.

Instantly I saw Ryan relax. Her face breaking into an easy smile that made her cornflower blue eyes shine.

"I'm Ryan." She replied as she shook Rose's hand.

"And you're a girl?" Rose questioned her eyebrows rising.

"My parents thought I was going to be a boy and just stuck with the name when they found out that I wasn't."

"Got it. Sorry if I seem surprised. When Riley said she was bringing her cousin named Ryan and I assumed you were a boy."

"No worries. Everyone does. I'm used to it." Ryan said with a wave of her hand.

Rose smiled back and the two of them began talking about how people assume things about them before meeting them. Looks like the conversation I had with Ryan before we left was extremely relevant.

"Hello Riley. I'm so glad you could join us for part of the holiday." Mrs. Weasley said walking up to me. Her brown hair was tied up into a loose bun and flyaway strands of hair had escaped.

"It's good to see you too Mrs. Weasley. How was your Christmas?" I asked.

"It was quite lovely. We had a quiet day at the inn just spending time with family."

"That does sound lovely. Did you get anything special?"

I know Mrs. Weasley responded but I didn't hear a word she said. At that moment Al entered the room. My heart started racing and I felt my face heat up. Merlin I was blushing.

"Hey Riley." He said as he walked over to us. His dark hair was rumpled and he was wearing an old faded pair of red sweat pants and a plain white tee shirt. Clearly he had just woken up.

"Hi" I breathed back. What the bloody hell is wrong with me?

Giving my head a small shake to clear my head of whatever the hell invaded it I smiled at him.

"How was your Christmas?" he asked.

"Good. Just spent time with my family at my Nana's. Yours?" I forced out. Since when had things become awkward between us?

He shrugged his shoulders and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

" Just hung around here with Rose and Lily."

"What about James and Hugo?" I asked beginning to feel more comfortable. Whatever had been going on before was slowly dissipating.

Al's face broke into a wide grin.

"What?" I asked.

"It appears that young Hugo has found a girl."

"Really? Hugo left his room and is not only interacting with people but he found a girl who enjoys his company as well?"

"Yep. He met her the first day here. Apparently she's from California and is staying here during her holiday to visit some family. He spends more time with her then with us."

"Wow. Way to go Hugo."

I was honestly surprised about this development. Hugo isn't unattractive, quite the opposite really. He inherited the Weasley hair and his dad's blue eyes and there's just something about him that makes the fifth year girls ogle him from afar. Afar being the key word. He's not very social. Unlike Rose, who has a very outgoing personality that has helped her cultivate a thriving social life, he prefers to spend his Friday nights alone in the library or up in his room with a book of sorts. He has friends he just doesn't get out much let alone talk to girls.

"What are his parents saying about this?" I asked.

" Aunt Hermione thinks he should spend more time with the family and Uncle Ron is just happy he's emerging from his room for a change."

"And what has James been up to?"

Al's face darkened at this. As far as I know the two of them have always had a rocky relationship. According to Rose it has always been some form of competition between the two of them. School, girls, Quidditch, you name it they've fought about it or over it. Al thinks James is an arse and James thinks Al is a goody goody. First hand experience at school has lead me to believe that their relationship may be complicated and tense but at the same time they both have one another's back.

"Al. What's up between you and James?" I asked quietly moving closer to him. I reached out and put my hand on his bare arm. Instantly warmth spread out from where I was touching him causing me to shiver slightly.

He looked up from the floor, his green eyes meeting mine causing my stomach to drop.

"It's just been an interesting week. I can tell he's getting nervous about the match tomorrow. His mood has been all over the place. It just depends on the day. I know that the rest of the holiday will either be really fun or complete shit and it all depends on the out come of the match tomorrow. Being around James when he's in a shit mood sucks."

"Well then we just wont invite him to the stuff we do."

"That will be hard considering we're staying at his place." Al mumbled.

"What?" I asked surprised.

"Rose didn't tell you?"

I shook my head.

"Starting to tomorrow we're staying at James's place. The adults want to have some adult time and have given us the boot. They're leaving the day after tomorrow to go on some romantic trip along the coast."

I nodded my head in understanding. Wondering why Rose never told me about this.

"Well if they do lose tomorrow, I'm prying to Merlin that they win, " Al smiled at this " We will come up with something to counter James foul mood. Trust me it will be a good time."

"Ahem" Someone said shattering the bubble that seamed to have formed around Al and I without me noticing. Where did Mrs. Weasley even go? Rose and Ryan were standing there. Both of them had identical smirks on their face. I saw Rose's eyes shift to my hand resting on Als arm. I quickly pulled away and stepped back creating more space between us.

"So what are the two of you whispering about over here?" Rose asked her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Why didn't you tell me we're staying at James's place?" I asked before Al could say anything. I knew that Rose was trying to get us to admit something. Seeing as there's nothing to admit I didn't even want to go down that path.

" I didn't think it was that important. I figured I would tell you when you got here but it looks like Al told you instead. Thanks cuz, now I don't have to do it."

"Don't mention it." He said jamming his hands back into his pockets. Something I realized he did when he was uncomfortable in some way.

Silence descended upon the four of us. Four of us…

"Oh my gosh I almost forgot. Al this is Ryan my cousin. Ryan this is Al." I said gesturing between the two of them.

"Nice to meet you." Al said removing his right hand from his pocket and extending it to Ryan.

"Same to you" She said as she shook his hand.

"Well I don't know about you guys, but it is to damn early to be up during holiday. I think a nap is in order." Rose said after yawning hugely.

"Yeah. A nap sounds amazing." Ryan said nodding her head enthusiastically.

The two of them have known one another for a grand total of fifteen minutes and they were already planning together. Merlin help us all.

"A nap does sound good. Catch you girls later." Al said before he walked down the hall and to where I assume his room was.

Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes bracing myself for the onslaught of questions and accusations I knew would be waiting for me when I turned to face Ryan and Rose.

"So, when did that start?" Ryan asked before I even turned around.

"Not here Ryan. To many people can hear." Rose said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me along up to our room with Ryan trailing behind.

As soon as the door was shut Rose started in.

"What are you doing Riley? You know he's still seeing Claire." she said pacing around the room as I sat down on a bed.

"I'm not doing anything." I said defending myself.

"I would like to point out that you had your hand on his arm." Ryan interjected from across the room where she was sitting on another bed.

"Good point Ryan." Rose complemented her.

"That doesn't mean anything. He was telling me the he and James haven't been getting along this trip."

"So he's telling you personal things and you're trying to comfort him by placing your hand on his arm. Riley as much as the two of you won't admit it there is something going on between you guys." Rose said turning to face me directly.

I could feel anger bubbling up inside me. Nothing was going on between the two of us. I didn't understand how no one could get it though their heads that Al and I were just friends.

"I swear to Merlin that nothing is going on between Al and I." I said staring defiantly back at Rose.

"You're one hundred percent positive?" Rose demanded.

"Yes."

"Pinky promise me."

"Oh come on Rose we haven't done that in ages."

When we were younger Rose and would make pinky promises to one another. They were completely legit. They were like our unbreakable vow, without all the death involved. Only one time did one of us break one of them and the two of us didn't talk for almost a month. Come to think of it that was the last time we pinky promised one another anything.

" If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to lose. Pinky promise me that nothing will happen between you and Al while we're on this vacation."

Taking a deep breath I extended my hand, pinky outstretched, towards Rose.

"I pinky promise that nothing will happen between myself and Al while on this vacation."

Should be easy enough.

Dear Wonderful Patient Readers,

I'm so so so so sorry that it took so long for another update. Thanks to every single person who reviewed. The last two I got were a real kick in the pants to get writing again. I know this chapter is much shorter then others but at least the plot is moving forward again! Al and Rose are back! So do you think Riley will be able to keep her promise to Rose? Let me know your thoughts. I love to hear from you guys. Again, thank you so much for sticking with me even though I've been MIA for a while.