Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except Chloe and anything else you don't recognize.
Okay, here's chapter 18. And school has started but I'm home schooled so I can still update normally. So, enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 18:
I'm Going to Tell Him…On Second thought, Maybe not
Cedric and I walked around the outside of the school during our break. We had decided that the bubblehead charm would be the best way to breath under water for an hour. I hadn't seen Filip in a while since the Yule Ball and whenever we did, Cedric found a reason to drag me off. But Cho was free to hang around, in which case I found a reason to drag Cedric off. Emma had been hanging around a lot to but for the most part it was just us two, like it used to be before the Yule Ball.
My mind was elsewhere though. I was thinking about the night Cedric had figured the clue out. I had fallen asleep during our research and was barley aware of everything going on around me and someone had picked me up. It was obviously Cedric because I was tingly when I was lifted off the couch. I had tuned out everything else but a pair of lips on my forehead made me aware of everything, but I refused to open my eyes. And then I heard someone whisper 'I love you'. It sounded like Cedric but I think it was my mind playing tricks on me. But it seemed so real, even more real then those dreams that take turns. I shook it from my mind. It had bothered me enough as it is, every single day since that night. It was annoying really. But was it really him? Urgh, stop it Chloe! It'll just cause you more pain if it's not true. It was true and I was in too deep. It would hurt too much in the end. It hurt now, not knowing if it is or isn't true. I really had to stop thinking about this. Luckily, Cedric pulled me from my thoughts
"Chloe," he said.
"Hmm?"
"I need to go talk to Harry for a minute," no! You must stay and talk and keep me from thinking!
"Okay, I'll stay here and wait." He smiled at him-oh, how I love his smile-before running down the bridge to where Harry was. Those vile thoughts returned. I watched as he ran up to Harry and started talking to him. Gosh, this boy looked good from behind to! He had everything! Smarts, looks, personality everything I looked for in a guy. So why can't I tell him? Am I afraid? Do I feel it's my heart playing tricks on me? Is it just a crush that will pass in time? Oh no, it's much more then a crush. This is pure love! I have never loved anyone as much as I love Cedric. I've never really loved anyone before but I've had plenty of crushes before and this didn't feel like a crush, it was defiantly love. Maybe I should tell him, that is actually starting to sound more and more appealing the more I thought about it. Yes, I was going to tell him!
"You ready to go Chloe?" I looked up into his handsome face and I was suddenly afraid to tell him. Maybe it wasn't the best idea.
"Uh…yeah, let's go." Urgh! Way to go Chloe, so much for telling him. I'm such a coward. We headed to our next class, I kept my head down the whole time, regretting chickening out and not telling him. And curse Cedric for knowing me so well, he noticed something was wrong.
"Are you okay, Chloe?" He asked. I looked up at him and nodded.
"I'm fine,"
"Are you sure cause you seem a little distant,"
"I'm fine," I promised.
"If you say so," I rolled my eyes at him. I was very happy when I was with him. We had a lot of laughs and good times and that tingly sensation whenever we had physical contact-okay, stop right there! I don't need to think about that, not now anyways. Not when I failed in expressing my feelings which is what I wanted and decided to do. And then when I saw his face, I got scared. I have no idea why, I mean I talk to this guy every day why should it be so hard to say, 'Cedric, I love you,'? It shouldn't be! Just look at that boy and say it! I looked at Cedric and chickened out again. Ugh! This is driving me nuts! Why doesn't he tell me? That way when he says 'Chloe, I love you,' I can just say 'Oh, Cedric I love you to'! But then there's the issue that he might not see me as more then a friend. This is so frustrating. Luckily there was potions class to distract me from my thoughts.
After potions:
"You didn't mess the potion up this time," I joked as Cedric and I walked out of potions class.
"I've been doing that a lot lately," it was true, but mostly because I made sure he read the book.
"It's still fun to bug you about,"
"Oh yes, it's fun to bug me,"
"It is actually," Cedric and I laughed a little. I knew that silence would be quick to follow with my annoying thoughts.
"Hey Chloe, Cedric!" Thank you Emma! We turned to face her.
"Hey Em," I greeted, grateful for her presence because it always kept those thoughts from entering. She was also a great friend.
"Hi Emma,"
"What's up?" She asked, stepping between us and slinging one arm around each of our shoulders. Oh, nothing's up just fighting with my feelings, y'know, weather to tell Cedric or not.
"Nothing," Cedric answered.
"I'm just not looking forward to Defense against the Dark Arts," what was once one of my favorite classes, had become my least favorite class in a matter of days. Emma and Cedric laughed. "Flying text books aren't funny,"
"Don't worry, I'll protect you from the flying text books," Cedric said.
"Thanks," the three of use walked up to the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom and sat in the back. Cedric and I occupied one table and Emma sat in the table beside ours. Professor Moody walked in and started the lesson.
At lunch:
I survived! And I managed to keep my mouth shut the whole time, so that helped. All lunch, Cedric was talking about what the Merpeople might take. It was getting really annoying.
"Okay, Cedric," he looked at me. "First off, the Merpeople wouldn't walk into the school and just take it. One of the staff will take it and give it the Merpeople to hide. Second, it'll probably be something important to you and the Merpeople will hide it too good and the bubblehead charm will wear off and you'll never make it to the surface in time and you'll die."
"Thanks Chloe, always so cheerful,"
"Anytime, it's probably true anyways," Cedric rolled his eyes at me.
"Do you have a problem with the lake Chloe?" Emma asked.
"Maybe a little one," I wasn't about to admit my fears to her. I only told Cedric because he's my best friend and I love him, even though I didn't know it at the time. Cedric snorted. "What?"
"A little problem? Come on Chloe, you know that's not true,"
"Shut up," I hissed.
"Oh, so it's not a 'little' problem?" Emma said.
"I'm afraid of the lake, okay? But, in my defense, there's a giant squid, Merpeople and a bunch of other scary monsters living down there!"
"Oh, Chloe you're so uptight." Emma said, squeezing my shoulders.
"Am not!" I argued, shrugging her arm off. "I just don't like taking risks or anything like that,"
"C'mon Chloe," Cedric said. "What's life without a little risk?"
"Safe," I said. "You're less likely to die that way," Cedric rolled his eyes at me.
"You worry too much,"
"You don't worry enough." Emma giggled from beside me. We both don't to face her.
"What?" We both asked.
"Oh nothing, you guys are just so cute together," that caught me off guard. Had everyone noticed how we acted around each other?
"Well, we're just friends, nothing more," I said. Oh how I wanted to be something more, not just friends.
"For now, maybe, but give it time." There was suddenly an awkward atmosphere between Cedric and I, or maybe it was just awkward for me. We shook our heads and went back to eating our lunch. I think that Emma and my cousin Sara would get along very well. The awkwardness disappeared quickly after and we were soon back to our normal selves, sarcastic, happy and-according to Emma-cute. Were we really cute together? I wouldn't be able to tell, I wasn't a bystander in this case. I wonder how many people notice, I'll probably never know unless I ask around and that would be kind of…weird and obsessive. I wasn't obsessive, well not very anyways.
"You ready to go Chloe?" Cedric asked, pulling me from my thoughts. Emma had apparently already left for her class. I smiled at him and nodded. We got up from the table and headed to class.
The Night before the Second Task:
Cedric and I were in the common room. We should've been in bed but Cedric claimed he couldn't sleep and made me stay up with him. I was sitting on the couch, reading a book while Cedric paced. He was nervous, it was obvious. I put my book down and watched him pace back and forth in front of the slowly dying fire.
"You're nervous," I said.
"Are you going to bug me about it this time to?" He asked, sitting down. I crossed my legs and turned to face him.
"No," I said. "You remember what I told you before the first task?"
"You said you'd be there if it helped,"
"And did it?" Cedric gave me a small smile.
"Yeah,"
"So I'll be there tomorrow," I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Why did I feel tingly when I touched him? "Promise," he smiled at me and squeezed my hand in return. We smiled at each other but both of our smiles disappeared as we started leaning towards each other. Not again! It was only a matter of time before someone interrupted us, yet I couldn't pull away. We continued to lean toward each other till we were just inches away. I could feel his warm breath on my face. Maybe we finally wouldn't be interrupted! We were so close. We had never gotten this close before. This was it! Finally! Our lips were almost touching…
A gruff voice cleared his throat from behind us making us jump apart and look in that direction. Moody was standing there. How'd he get in here?!
"Sorry to interrupt," yeah right, your tone says 'I'm all too happy to interrupt'. "But Professor McGonagall would like to see you in her office," he was looking at me when he said this. Cedric and I shared a look.
"Alright," I sighed getting up. I looked over to Cedric. "You get some sleep," I tapped him on the nose. "I'll see you tomorrow,"
"See you tomorrow," he said, squeezing my hand-which still held his. I squeezed back and let go. I followed Moody through the halls to Professor McGonagall's office-all the while calling Moody mean things in my head for ruining what could've been the moment that changed my life. I don't remember anything after walking into Professor McGonagall's office and seeing Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley and a little blonde haired girl.
Yeah, I know, another almost kiss moment but they will kiss at some point during the story, not telling you where though. R&R!