Big thanks to emmawatsonfan1 again for reviewing. Updates may be slowed over the weekend, I have a big weekend planned. We'll see.
"Alright Colin, Mark. It's ten. I've been here since eight thirty in the morning, I don't care if this makes me look bad considering I'm on an internship, I'm out." I shrugged, violently shutting the folder I was working on.
A lot of people working on an internship in order to build a career would do anything their boss asks of them, even if it meant working unreasonable hours. Percy is one of those people. I am too, to a certain extent. I did agree to work until ten; I've been working for over thirteen hours. However, that being said, Colin and the second internship he's taken on were going to keep at it. I wasn't a suck up; I wasn't staying for an extra minute. I respected my boss, but even I had my limits, and I wasn't afraid to voice them.
Of course I knew Colin well, and I knew how he would take such a statement. If I had a different manager, I'd nicely tell them it was clock off time.
"You're definitely a Donovan." Colin grinned at me.
"Last time I checked, that was the surname I put on my application." I cheekily retorted, grabbing my bag.
"You know what I mean. That is so something your father would say." Colin said to me.
I stopped in my tracks, but turned around and proudly replied "I know" as I headed out.
When I looked outside, I couldn't see Fred. I huffed. He better not expect me to wait around. It was cold and I was drained from work, and I didn't want to look like an idiot. I'd wait five minutes, tops.
As per his request I owled him the address earlier, and he returned a note with the owl saying 'got it' so he has no excuse.
As I was looking around for him, I heard a voice in my ear say 'where is he?' I jumped, not expecting this action and being fearful about who this person was, what their intention was with me and why they were invading my personal space.
I turned around and saw Fred grinning. I smiled, but lightly whacked his arm to show him a form of punishment.
He then opened his arms, and engulfed me into a hug. I was a little surprised, and lightly hugged him back, but I was uncomfortable with this. It wasn't that I minded hugging him, but really? I can understand that his mum would hug me, because it's his mum and that's her personality, but I didn't see Fred as a hugging greeter. I certainly wasn't, I hate that hug relationship thing.
"So, I bought a broom. We technically could fly here, but we'd be breaking the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, which you'd know all about." Fred remarked.
"Oh boy, don't I. My first university subjects were at the Muggle University where we have to take some mandatory law subjects. So we're talking like, Donoghue Vs Stevenson, snail in the bottle. Then I start the magic subjects, and it's like 'oh yeah this act was bought in because thousands of muggles were brutally killed because they couldn't use charms to protect themselves," I began, but Fred gave me a look that showed that I had lost him a long time ago "But um, yeah. Long story short, the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy is a big subject in university."
"You're wearing a skirt…would you like me to take you home to get changed?" Fred asked me, cocking his eyebrows up.
"I um, yeah sure. I wore a tight fitted skirt and stockings, but getting quickly changed would be a blessing, thanks." I smiled.
"Alright. Jump on behind me, and hold on for dear life. I won't go very high up or very fast until you're comfortable with it. Alright?" Fred asked me, once we apparated to a quiet countryside.
Of course like every visitor I had, Fred remarked about how awesome my flat was. Every day the modern interior lost it's appeal and I longed for a warm family home more and more. Of course I longed for a particular warm family home I used to be able to call mine, but I knew that was never coming back.
I changed into a pair of black leggings, a light blue hoodie and changed my footwear to a pair of chucks, and Fred apparated us to a countryside he said he'd never had the chance to explore, and that we could explore it together.
"You're a prankster, why should I trust you?" I asked Fred, narrowing my eyes.
"You've put your trust in me, I wouldn't do anything to break that trust. I'm a Gryffindor, please just believe me." Fred said to me, grabbing my arm and looking into my eyes, hoping that I'd see sincerity.
I did, and I had trusted him all along. I was half joking when I asked him that question. But he was frowning, and I could see worry all over his face. He was really worried I didn't trust him.
"Promise?" I smirked.
"Promise." Fred stated, and I nodded and jumped onto the broom behind him.
"Alright. Grab onto my waist, and I'll lift us up slowly." Fred said to me.
"Y-your waist?" I stuttered, not realising I'd have to make human contact.
"Well, you can grab onto the broom, but behind me there's not much room for you to sit and grab. There's also less chance of you falling off if you're holding onto me." Fred replied, as if anticipating my reply.
I chose not to reply to his suggestion, but grabbed onto his waist tight. He kicked off, and slowly raised us up until we were a metre or two high.
"Oh wow, this is such a peculiar feeling." I remarked, feeling the wind gush me a lot more than it was a few moments ago, due to being a little higher up.
"You use pretentious words, even to describe something as petty as emotions. You really are Percy's girlfriend. Just let the feelings hit you, enjoy the moment." Fred said to me, and I felt a pang in my chest.
I wasn't offended, but the reality of the situation just hit me. I was Percy's girlfriend, but here I was late at night, in the middle of nowhere with his younger brother, arms around his waist as I tried something new and exciting, without telling Percy where I was. It wasn't cheating, but when it was looked at in that way, it was close to it.
"Alright, I'll stay at this height, but I'll begin to slowly move forward, okay?" Fred asked me.
"Okay." I replied in a simple manner.
He then began to move forward, and that's when it became a little more exciting. The only feeling I could compare this to was riding a ride at an amusement park. But then you always had a safety bar to hold you in, and usually you're enclosed. The fun of riding broomsticks seemed to be the adrenaline rush, which I still had yet to feel the full effects of.
"Look, I'm cool to go fast. Just not high. So maybe just go up another metre, and then go really fast, that would be fun." I commanded Fred.
"I-well, alright. Are you sure?" Fred asked me.
"Look, I'll be honest. Between the ages of sixteen and eighteen I rode in a lot of different cars with different people, usually boys. And most of those boys were hoons, I'm used to going really fast." I admitted to Fred, feeling a little embarrassed by my trashy past, but not going as red as I usually would. I guess it was different telling Fred than it would be telling Percy, Fred was a lot more relaxed.
"Oh, and also, I'll probably scream. But it just means that I'm having fun and to go faster, not to stop. If I do want you to stop, I'll ask you to." I added on.
"Ha, not the morals I was bought up on. But if you say so." Fred joked, and I could hear the smirk in his voice, as he began to take off, me screaming as I promised.
"Um, thanks for taking me riding tonight. I had a lot of fun." I said to Fred, as we apparated into my apartment.
Apparently it was nearly one o' clock, eek! We had just been shooting around those empty fields, barely any words were spoken and I got my adrenaline rush. It was absolutely exhilarating to be doing so many things you're not supposed to be doing. Flying high and being able to clearly see everything below you. Going at super speeds. Doing both of these things being out in the open and not enclosed, and being able to feel the wind, and smell your surroundings. It was surreal. I can't even describe how amazing it was.
"Yeah, me too. It was awesome being able to share that experience with you. Do you want to go for a spin again sometime? Next time I'll teach you how to ride and you can do the controlling?" Fred asked me.
"I'd absolutely love to! When were you thinking?" I asked him curiously.
"You know what? You're the person doing a hundred things at once. You tell me when you're free, I'll make time for you." Fred stated.
"Yeah, but you run a retail business with insane opening hours. Let's just agree to meet up when we're both free? I can even pencil you in before others…" I replied, half joking about the last comment.
"We have assistants, and I have a twin brother who's a partner of the business, I can sneak away for a while," Fred said to me "What are you up to tomorrow?"
"What am I NOT up to tomorrow? I have work all day, I'm catching up with my sister for lunch in Diagon Alley on my lunch break, sorry I'd visit your shop but I won't have time, then after work I'm going to dinner with my Muggle best friend." I answered Fred, feeling a little out of breath after that long explanation.
"Then it's set. We'll meet at your place after you're done with your friend." Fred said to me.