"It's been so rough trying to see eye to eye

And it's been so tough…"

It had been three months since Katie had accepted her position on the Arrows, and within that time she'd managed to help lead her team to victory almost every time. They were quickly becoming one of the best teams in the league. It was an amazing feeling, a high that she never wanted to come down from. She'd been getting interviewed by a number of television stations, and was interviewed for more magazines and newspapers than she could even remember. She wished Angelina could have been the reporter who interviewed her for the Daily Prophet, but she knew their friendship may have influenced her writing, and Katie knew that Angelina always had to be impartial in her writing. She missed Fred desperately. He'd come to visit a week ago and they ended up getting into another fight about the distance.

It was easy at first. They were both supportive of each other and told each other how they missed each other terribly. Eventually, though, they began fighting. It was always triggered by something stupid, but the underlying feelings always surfaced. They missed each other terribly, and Katie could tell they were beginning to fall apart. It scared her, but she refused to give up. He did, too, but it seemed like it would never get any easier. Katie longed for the easy days, and the days when they were together. She knew Fred watched and read every single interview she was in. They still wrote each other constantly, but as of late things just seemed off. They fought constantly and Katie just felt so… defeated. Fred did, too. They both loved each other without end, but being without the person you love most can do strange things to a person.

Katie sighed as she brushed her hair in the hotel they were staying in in Puddlemere. This was their first game against Puddlemere all season and Katie was excited and nervous. It would be her first time playing against Oliver instead of with him, and it was at the very least slightly intimidating. Still, excitement filled her. Oliver agreed to meet her at her hotel room to hang out before the match in the morning. It had been so long since she seen him. She glanced at herself in the mirror, her tank top and sweatpants were hardly flattering, but she didn't feel bad. It was only Oliver after all. He'd seen her at her best and her worst over the years, especially when they were dating. Katie laughed a little at the thought. That was such a ridiculous idea. Still though, Ollie had always had the looks going for him.

There was a knock at the door and Katie sprang up, practically running to answer it. She pulled it open with a smile and was immediately enveloped into arms that were familiar and strange at the same time.

"Katie! It's been too long," Oliver said as he picked her up and swung her around. She felt a weird lurching in her stomach as she returned his hug. She felt her feet get firmly planted back on the ground before she really got a look at him. Merlin, professional quidditch had done wonders for his body.

"Hey Oliver," Katie grinned, trying to push those thoughts from her mind. They were inappropriate. She silently scolded herself before making her way back over to the small table and chairs that were in the corner of the hotel room.

"How have things been?" she asked as she glanced at him. He was peering at her with a questioning look, and he simply shrugged before walking over to join her.

"Things have been pretty crappy, if we're being honest, but it's nice to see a familiar face. You have no idea," Oliver said with a grin, and Katie nodded. Though she didn't say it, she was almost positive that she knew exactly how he felt. She yearned to see the familiarity of her old life weaved in among her new one. She wanted the people, the places, and the laughter. She took solace in Oliver's company in the same way that he did in hers.

"I'm sorry. Things haven't been too great on this end, either," Katie said with a sigh as her eyes traced the table.

"Oh? What's wrong?" Oliver said, concern written on his face.

"Eh… It's just Fred and me. We've been fighting a lot lately and it's stressing me out. I don't know… Things seemed so easy before, but now it's just… painful. Heart-achingly painful," Katie frowned.

"I'm sorry Kate. That does sound rough. This is probably a kind of horrible segway, but I brought a bottle of firewhiskey to celebrate our reunion if you're interested," Oliver said with a grin as he slid the bottle out of the pocket of his jacket and Katie felt a smile tug at her lips. She wasn't usually the type to drink, though when she was out with Fred and George and the gang she'd certainly done her fair share of over-indulging.

"That actually sounds like a great plan, Ollie," she smiled. Her heart ached for comfort, and since she knew she couldn't give it the comfort it so desired, numbing away the pain seemed to be her second best thing.

She went and got glasses and the alcohol began to flow. She and Oliver laughed and talked about everything and anything until eventually the bottle was gone. Katie laughed as she flopped down onto her bed facing the ceiling as Oliver hopped next to her to join her. He tilted on his side to face her, and she sat up.

"I've missed you, Katie," Oliver said with a tone that seemed different than the one he'd been using the rest of the night.

"I missed you too, Oliver," Katie said with a grin, her brain feeling fuzzy, her limbs heavy. It was like the world became a small blur around them.

"Tonight has been a lot of fun. I know you're upset about how much you've been fighting with Fred. I have an idea that might help you relieve some of that stress. I know it's not easy being on the road all the time," Oliver spoke, his words gentle, his intentions seemingly pure.

"You're totally right. It isn't easy. It hurts, and it sucks, and the whole situation is totally wank," Katie slurred as she sat up on her bed, her arms folded.

"I know," Oliver said simply before siting up and bringing up a hand to cup her cheek. Katie felt a warmth rush through her, and a small churning in her stomach. She wanted desperately to pull away, to be as far as possible from this man who she once shared everything with.

"Oliver…" she said as her sentence trailed off, trying to give him the best stern look she could.

"We can't…" She said as she moved gently away in an attempt to prove her point. He persisted, sitting up and placing a hand on her cheek once more.

"Don't you get it, Kate? I was the one who kept track of you. I was the one who watched you, made sure you weren't completely alone in the muggle world. I made sure you were still okay, and when the time came where I knew you weren't okay, I found you the fastest route back here. That was me Katie. The rest of them gave up on you, assumed you'd never come back. I never stopped worrying about you. No one has to know…" Oliver said, his temper rising only slightly before his normal, caring tone returned.

"They didn't give up on me!" Katie shouted as she felt hot tears of shame, anger, and pain began to spill.

"Fred would never give up on me!" Katie said as she stood up angrily.

"He did, Katie! And the sooner you get that through your head the better," Oliver said, his voice level normal but his tone malicious.

The tears started to fall harder as she shook her head no, not wanting to believe him when every inch of her intoxicated brain was saying he was right. She couldn't believe him, she couldn't.

Fred wouldn't give up on her.

"Fred said he wrote me…" Katie said as she hung her head low and began walking towards the bed, sadness and a deep depression beginning to build.

"Then how was it that my owl found you and his didn't, hmm?" Oliver questioned.

"No, you're wrong. You're completely wrong! Stop trying to lie to me, Oliver!" Katie shouted now becoming angry with him.

"I'm not l-"

"You are lying, Oliver! How dare you try and take advantage of me! Fred would pummel you if he knew what you were trying to pull right now! Get out! GET OUT!" Katie screamed.

"Fine!" he shouted angrily before he got up, but not before he walked straight up to her, wrapped an arm around her, and pressed his lips to hers. Katie lost herself in the embrace for a moment before forcefully pushing him away.

"GET OUT!" Katie shouted again as tears began to fall once more. She swallowed hard as Oliver slammed the door as he left. Katie's eyes found the empty bottle of firewhiskey and she grabbed it before throwing it against the wall as hard as she could. It shattered loudly as she leaped onto the bed before burying her bed in the pillow and proceeding to cry herself to sleep, guilt weighing heavy on her heart. What had she done?