(A/N) Thank you so very much who enjoyed and left a review for the first chapter! This chapter took me a long time to finalise what the plot should be about, but regardless, I hope you guys like it!

Fair warning, ANGST. LOTS OF ANGST. And slight mature content.

Also, this chapter will be partially written in Scorpius' POV, and forgive me if his character seems heartless in the beginning, because he convinces himself that he is, but I promise there will be character growth, so stay with me!

RULE 2: Don't let him in; you have to kick him out again

A young blond wizard sat alone at the barstool of the Leaky Cauldron; stirring the much needed coffee with his wand. He had lost count of the number of days he had spent hungover… and alone.

It had gotten to a point where drinking did not help ease his pain. There was a sense of emptiness that alcohol just could not fill, no matter how hard he tried.

His heart tells him, this is what it feels like to have your heart broken, and the only way to mend it is to have her back. His mind tells him, don't be silly, you're a Malfoy, you don't have a heart, let alone for it to break. And of course, he is inclined to listen to his mind, because that's just easier.

It doesn't, however, change the fact that he feels a physical ache every night. Premature heart disease, he thinks to himself, that's all it is.

It's been one month since his last drunken conversation with Rose on the phone, and three months since their split. He thinks back to that fateful night.

Her thighs were wrapped around his back as he thrusted into her for a final time before their combined release, their moans and grunts filled his bedroom. Immense euphoria rushed over him like no other feeling in the world. He had yet to find something that came close.

He rolled off her, and they don't cuddle, because that's not what they do.

He stared at the ceiling with a rare, genuine smile on his face. She once told him she liked it when he smiled, and somehow, he found himself doing it more often around her these days. Just doing it to keep her around, he convinces himself, she's a good fuck, that's all.

"That was am-," he began.

"Scorpius, I love you," she blurted out, her eyes screwed shut, as if she was trying her best not to look at him.

"What?"

"I…," she faltered, her voice quivering, "I love you," she all but whispered. She slowly opened her eyes and turned to face him, even though he remained avoiding her gaze.

"Why?" For the first time in his life, he was speechless. His heart fluttered and a wave of unfamiliar emotions ran through him.

"Why? We've been in this whatever-it-is for nearly two years now. You can't exactly be surprised that I've actually developed some real emotions for you," Rose explains, gaining a little confidence in her tone.

"I don't know what to say, Rose," his head was pounding, his stomach was in knots and his heart was beating out of his chest.

He lied. He did know what to say. In fact, it was his first instinct to say 'I love you, too', but he couldn't. He was not capable of love, and she had gone and fallen in love with him, consequently ruining their agreement to keep things casual. The thought of losing her because of this… stupid emotion had him feeling angry, and he had no one to direct that anger towards, except for her.

She ruined it.

"Well, you could say it back?" Her voice was soft and pleading. He had never heard her so vulnerable in the years they have known each other.

Yet, he remained silent.

"Scorpius," her eyes were glistening with unshed tears, "I know you're scared, but I know you love me too"

Silence. She knows he isn't ready, so she settles for less.

"All I'm asking is that we move forward as a real couple. No more hiding, no more sneaking around. I want this to be real, is that too much to ask for?"

The resentment builds up inside of him, "And why would we want that, Rose? Everything is perfect now, just the way it is. Why do we need to put a label on it? Who do we need to prove to?"

"To me. To us. To know that we're worth it."

"I can't, Rose. I don't do relationships. You can't change me," he finally turns to look at her. His heart breaks a little as he sees her crumbling. In that moment, he wanted to be make it all better, but he knew he couldn't. He knows what relationships are like, and she deserves someone better than him.

But he can't let her go.

"Then I guess this is goodbye," she turns to leave the bed.

"Rose, please," he finds himself pleading this time, he internally shuddered at how pathetic he must have seemed, "Don't go. Can't we just continue what we've been having? We're happy like this, why ruin it?"

"I know you're not ready to fall in love, and that's okay. But I can't keep lying to myself, I need more. I deserve more, Scorpius," she was dressed before him and began to walk out, "I believe in us, Scorpius, and I know that one day you'll be ready, and I'll be waiting. But for now… Goodbye."

She was right, she deserved more, and that was precisely the reason why he let her walk out.

But she was wrong about one thing.

He had already fallen in love.

(He just wasn't ready to admit it out loud)

A noise jostles him out of his trip down memory lane. A giggle to be precise. He turns around to find the owner of such offensive sound, and finds a group of schoolgirls, home for the Christmas break, in a table behind him.

Hoping to drown out their incessant gossips, he digs out a galleon from his pocket to move to a quieter place. That was his plan, at least, until he heard her name.

"I'm just so jealous of Rose Weasley," one girl proclaims, with a magazine spread open before her, "she's only like what? Three years older than me and she's living every dream come true."

"I know right? I remember her when she was in school too, she was so nice that I can't even hate her for her perfection. She's my role model, I swear. Head girl, top of her class, healer in training, and now, she's dating one of the hottest guys out there," one of them giggles.

"He's so dreamy," another girl swoons.

"I always thought she had a thing with Malfoy, they were kind of cute together, the whole Star Crossed Lovers thing," a couple of girls hummed in agreement, "they even went to the dance together and I swear, I nearly fainted. My heart couldn't take all that cuteness and unresolved sexual tension."

"Come on, Lyra, they never even confirmed anything. Besides, as hot as Scorpius Malfoy is, I can't imagine him actually having the emotional capacity of being a boyfriend, and Rose deserves a Prince Charming."

"And it looks like she's found him! I cannot believe she's actually dating Jacob Thomas," the girl took the magazine from the centre of the table and flapped it around. The page showed a moving photo of Rose and the man in question walking out of a restaurant with his arm around her waist.

He was shocked and angry. He knew who Jacob Thomas was, the tale of the ugly duckling personified. One where he grew up with his nose in a book before becoming the former keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and now an intern in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. All in all, a goody two shoes. In other words, boring.

He all but slammed his galleon on the table and walked out of the pub, but not before glancing over at the group of girls. It seemed that he had caused quite the ruckus, as the girls were looking at him wide-eyed, as one of them smacked their hands over their mouth, knowing that he had just heard everything they said.

He smirked, and walked away, as if nothing they said had affected him.

As soon as the doors closed, he felt his façade fading. The thought of her moving on was too much to handle. She didn't wait, like she promised. Meanwhile, he was stuck in the same limbo that he had been three months ago. Without her, he was lost and alone.

He was feeling the full effects of that Premature Heart Disease.

It really fucking hurt.

He thought about contacting her numerous times, but the fear of rejection was too much for him to handle. It's been a week since the article came out, and he had been drowning his sorrows in work. His usual charming charisma was nowhere to be found, and he was only half attentive to his client's words.

Because of his lack of concentration, he decided to make up for it by staying late in the office.

The clock slowly turned and before he knew it, it was past ten. He packed up his belongings and left.

He headed towards his favourite bar for a drink before returning home.

It was as if the Universe was conspiring against him, as the person walking out of the bar was the very person he hated the most at that moment.

Jacob Thomas.

Only he wasn't alone. Clasped to his hand was a blonde girl, not too unfamiliar. He recognised her as being Clarissa Sanders from the year below him.

His blood was boiling. How dare this son of a bitch cheat on her?

His fist clenched as he stomped over, anger overtaking his rational thoughts.

As he was about to reach him, a hand on his shoulder held him back.

"Don't," the voice said, "It's not him you should be confronting. He doesn't need you, she does."

He turned around to see his best friend, his face solemn and serious. It's been a long time since he had seen Albus Potter, three months to be exact, ever since he shut himself away from anything that reminded him of her.

With a nod, the two parted ways, an unspoken promise made that they will soon speak again.

Before he knew it, he was standing outside her door. He held his breath and with a moment of courage, rang the doorbell.

Ding dong.

She jumped at the sound of the doorbell. She was so lost in thought over the events that had transpired over the last few days that she wasn't even sure if the doorbell was a figment of her own imagination.

Ding, dong.

Wearily, she looked at the clock. It was already past midnight. A list of people ran through her head, who could it possibly be?

Her mother? No, Hermione Granger would not be out of her house at this hour.

Hugo? No, he was in Scotland for Quidditch training.

Lily? No, she was visiting Dominique in France.

Al? Most likely him, he does like to come over to watch movies every once in a while, seeing as he doesn't own a TV.

Deciding that she shouldn't make her cousin wait any longer, she got off the sofa and threw open her door.

Blond hair. Grey eyes. Just as she'd remembered.

She slammed the door.

"Rose, open the door," she heard him shout before ringing the doorbell a few more times.

She couldn't do this. She was not ready to face him. Not after their last phone conversation, where she proceeded to bawl her eyes out because her heart tore thinking about their lost potential, and how things could've been if they were born in a different world.

She paced back and forth in front the door, hoping that he would leave, but in the back of her mind, hoping that he wouldn't. Hoping that he would prove to her that he cared enough to stay.

"Rose, please," he pleaded again. It was at that moment that she knew she couldn't resist him. She never was strong around him. She would always relent the second she heard his voice. He was the only person in the world that made her want to give up on everything she has believed in just to be with him.

Slowly, she took a deep breath, and turned the handle.

Seeing him for the first time in all these months brought back the memories she had tried to keep at bay. She felt tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she saw the look of sorrow on his face, one that clearly matched hers.

What a miserable pair they were.

They stared at each, both lost for words, but the look in their eyes said it all.

He stepped forward and lifted his hand to delicately wipe away the tears that had fallen on her face.

The only thought in her mind was how much she wanted to have him wrap himself around her and make it feel right again, but she made a promise to herself that she would stay away.

And away she stayed.

Gently, she pushed him away, and took a step back.

"I can't do this," she whispered, her eyes focused on the floor.

"I just want to talk, please. Let me in."

"I can't."

"I promise, I just want to talk."

"I can't let you in."

"Why not? Is there someone inside" Fear ran through him at the thought of her having another man in her flat.

She shook her head.

"I'm not leaving until we talk. We can do this inside, or we can stand here and I'm sure your neighbours aren't exactly going to want to hear our conversation," patience was never his virtue, but he still kept his tone calm.

She remained silent.

"I know about Jacob Thomas," he said, with his feet shuffling. He was nervous.

"Scorpius, it's nothing," she explained.

"It didn't seem like nothing from the pictures," he replied, "Look, we need to talk about this, Rose, and I really don't think this conversation is one that is suitable out in this corridor.

"There's nothing to talk about"

"You PROMISED me, Rose," she looked up and saw the hurt in his grey orbs, "You promised me you would wait. This little fucker doesn't deserve you."

"As opposed to you, I suppose then? I haven't heard from you in three months and all of a sudden, you're showing up at my doorsteps like a jealous ex-boyfriend. And for the record, not that you have any right to dictate my life, it is not what it looks like."

They were both hurting each other, falling back to the same pattern they always had. Throwing around mean words was easier than admitting the truth about your own feelings.

"I have every right to care about you, Rose. There are things about him that even YOU don't know about," he shouted, wanting to reveal what a scumbag Thomas was, but not wanting to hurt her at the same time.

"Don't PRETEND like you c-" she was starting to lose her temper, when all of a sudden, another door across the corridor opened.

"Excuse me, do you mind? We're trying to sleep here," the lady said with an irritated scowl, before closing her door.

"Looks like you're going to have to invite me in, Rose, because I'm not leaving until we sort this out," Scorpius says in a much quieter tone.

"I can't," she repeats.

"And why not?"

"Because…," she was scared to admit the truth, "Because you and I both know that this conversation isn't going to go well and if I let you in, I'll have to kick you out again, and I… I don't think I can watch you leave again." She feels the tears coming back again.

Scorpius looked at her, his eyes widening. He hadn't expected the confession, he hadn't expected her to care at all. He suddenly had the urge to hold her, something he never did before.

"Rose," he pulled her to him tightly and guided them inside the flat, "I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

He walked them over to the sofa, and sat her down, placing himself next to her with a respectable distance.

"Tell me, Rose. Tell me the truth," he held her hand, a simple gesture that surprised her.

"After our phone conversation, I cried in bed for days, I felt like you'd forgotten me already and you only ever called because you were drunk and alone. I was sick of feeling sad and depressed. Being in love is only great when you're loved in return."

He looked down on the floor, ashamed he had caused her so much pain.

"Then came Jacob, who was working for my mum in the Ministry. I knew I wasn't ready for a relationship with someone else, but I just wanted to be around friends to feel less alone," She continued, "So we went out a couple of times with other people, and he was a good laugh to begin with. Then, last week, he invited me to dinner and I thought why not? After we went out, he told me that he had feelings for me and he wanted to pursue a relationship, but then I told him I wasn't ready for one and I really wanted to just remain friends…"

She sniffled.

"After a few more rounds of me rejecting his advances, he lashed out, and he told me that he never wanted to be with me anyway, and that I was only a ticket to the top so he could get on my mum's good side. He told me that even in Hogwarts, the guys who asked me out only wanted me for my name, and that I was just another plain redhead in comparison to my other beautiful cousins. After that, he left."

He knew that this was an insecurity of hers. Being the daughter of famous parents meant that you had to be careful of the people you surround yourself with, and whether or not they wanted you for you, or for the fame. With him, he had the complete opposite problem, seeing as his father was on the wrong side of the war, but to an extent, he understood her completely.

But he was mad. He was mad that this pathetic excuse of a man would degrade Rose like that. His Rose.

Just as he was thinking about beating Thomas to pulp for the second time that night, he remembered what Albus had said,

"He doesn't need you, she does."

In front of him was his first priority, his first choice. The girl that made him feel things he didn't know he was capable of. He knew he would do anything for her.

He was going to make it right.

Without hesitation, he moved over and held her.

"You're perfect to me. You're not just my first choice, you're my only choice."

(A/N) and that is a wrap for Chapter 2! Please REVIEW as it would mean so so much to me, and it would really encourage me to finish the last chapter of this story. This chap is actually TWICE as long as Chapter 1!

I've got Chapter 3 planned out, so hopefully it won't take as long for me to write, and it will be a lot less angsty, and a whole lot more fluffy next chap!

I'm so glad I managed to publish this in 2017, and with that said, HAPPY NEW YEAR SCOROSE FANS, long may the ship sail.