"You know, you worry too much. In fact, everybody worries too much."
-Jiminy Cricket (Fun and Fancy Free)
Scarlett hurried down the hallway as fast as she could. It was her first day of Healer training and she was already busy. She was being trained by a Healer only a few years older than her named Danielle Wilson, who was as polite and friendly as could be. She had been just about to show Scarlett the long term damage ward when Scarlett had been called down to one of the Healer stations.
"You should go," Healer Wilson said. "Meet me here when you're done."
Scarlett had nodded and hurried away.
"I'm here," she said breathlessly as she reached her destination. "I got called down here on the intercom. What is it?"
"You have a delivery," a Healer named Rebecca said, smirking and pointing to a beautiful vase of flowers on the counter.
"What? These are for me? Who are they from?"
"Turn around," Rebecca smirked.
"Why?" Scarlett looked at her, totally bemused.
"Just do it," Rebecca insisted.
Scarlett slowly turned around and her eyes widened. Justin was standing across the hallway, leaning casually against the wall.
"What are you doing here?" Scarlett asked, crossing the hallway to him and laughing in surprise as she gave Justin a hug and a quick kiss.
"You do realize I haven't seen you once since school ended, don't you? That's two whole weeks. We're just starting the second week of July, you know," Justin smirked, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I know," Scarlett sighed. "I've been so busy."
"Yeah, I'd gathered that much," Justin laughed. "But that's why I wanted to surprise you and make sure you were free this Friday."
"What are you planning?" Scarlett asked with a slight smile.
"I'll tell you on Friday," Justin replied, kissing her forehead. "Until then, it's a surprise."
"Okay," Scarlett nodded, trying to calm her nerves. There was officially a set date for her to tell Justin about her and Fred. Scarlett wondered how classless it was for her to tell him on a date, but she really did have to tell him. She didn't know if she could put it off for much longer.
"It'll be our first official date outside of Hogwarts," Justin informed her happily.
"That's right, it is," Scarlett said, forcing a smile. Now she felt even worse.
"So this Friday?" Justin said.
"Yeah," Scarlett answered. "This Friday it is."
"Okay, good. I'll come to get you at seven o'clock."
Scarlett nodded. "Thanks for the flowers," she whispered. "They're beautiful."
"Don't mention it," Justin whispered, leaning in to kiss her.
"I have to get back to work," Scarlett said quietly as she pulled away. "I'll get in trouble if they catch me slacking on my first day."
"Okay," Justin said, sighing dramatically.
"I wish I could stay and tell you all about my first day, but-,"
"Hey, you'll get to tell me on Friday," Justin said with a grin, "and I can't wait to hear all about it."
Scarlett grinned and stepped forward again, gently kissing him and wondering vaguely if this could be the last time she would get to do so.
"So, tonight's the night?" Erica asked sympathetically.
"Tonight's the night," Scarlett said. She moved a stack of fabric off of the living room couch so that she could sit down. She and Erica had been living in their new flat for a week and Scarlett loved it. The place wasn't much; it was a first floor flat that was just big enough for the two of them and it wasn't anything elaborate, but it was home.
"Are you nervous?" Erica leaned against the wall, flipping through a book. She was currently trying to figure out how to use a Muggle sewing machine and Scarlett had advised her to check out a book from a Muggle library on how to do it, which Erica had done almost at once.
"Are you kidding? I can't ever remember being this nervous." Scarlett sighed. "I'm guessing we'll be going to Hogsmeade or the Leaky Cauldron, so-,"
She was interrupted by a knock on the door. Glancing at Erica and taking a deep breath, Scarlett went to answer it.
"Hi," Justin said, smiling almost nervously. Scarlett noticed he was holding a box, but she didn't mention it. She really hoped it wasn't for her. Every time he did something nice or sweet, it made her that much harder to motivate herself to do the right thing and end their relationship.
"Hi," she answered. "Want to come in for a few minutes?"
"Sure." Justin stepped inside and looked around, waving at Erica, who was still flipping through her book. "Looks like you've been busy," he said, glancing at all of the fabrics lying around and at the Muggle sewing machine on the coffee table.
Erica nodded. "Just trying to get some of my designs made," she shrugged.
Justin nodded and turned back to Scarlett, passing the box in his hands to her. "Here, this is for you."
Scarlett looked down at the box, then back at Justin without uttering a word.
"Just open it," he urged with a laugh. "If you wait much longer, you'll make us late."
"Late? Late for what?"
"It's a surprise. At least until after you open the box."
Scarlett sighed and pulled open the box's cover. "Justin," she whispered, looking down at the contents. The box fell to the ground as she pulled out a beautiful, deep blue dress that was strapless and looked to be about knee length.
"Go put it on," Justin urged.
"Can you tell me where you're taking me first?" Scarlett asked.
"Well, my parents really want to meet you, so I'm taking you to my house for dinner."
"What?" Scarlett squeaked, nearly dropping the dress.
Justin laughed. "There's no need to be nervous. They'll love you. I promise."
"Justin," Scarlett said, shaking her head. "I can't do it. I'm not ready to meet them."
"Yes, you are," he insisted. "All you have to do is be your regular, normal, everyday self."
Scarlett fought the urge to turn and begin hitting her head against the wall. She couldn't break up with Justin during a dinner at his house with his parents there. And she couldn't do it after he brought her home, either. What kind of thanks and appreciation would that show him after he brought her home to meet his parents? She also had been hoping to avoid the whole meeting the parents stage of their relationship but now she was meeting Justin's family and couldn't avoid it.
"It's awfully brave of you to bring me to meet them," she managed to say, forcing a tiny smile, "and then urge me to be my usual self because we both know that I'm terribly crazy."
"Just go put the dress on," Justin laughed.
Scarlett headed for her bedroom, grabbing Erica's arm on the way. "You're coming with me," she hissed.
Once in her bedroom, Scarlett shut the door and leaned against it, clutching the dress to her and biting her lip.
"I'm guessing you don't want to break up with him tonight now that this came up," Erica said, sitting on the bed.
"I can't," Scarlett said, sliding to the floor. "I mean, no matter when I tell him, his parents probably won't think too highly of me, but if I tell him on the night I'm meeting them for the first time…what kind of first impression will that be? And it will be a horrible way to repay Justin after he got me this dress and took me to his house to meet his family!"
"I suppose you're right," Erica sighed, "but Scar, this is getting ridiculous! You've been dating him two months short of a year and you haven't told him."
Scarlett closed her eyes and groaned, leaning her head back on her closed door. "Okay, the next time I see him after tonight will be the break up. I promise. You know I was going to do it tonight but I had no idea what he had planned. It does explain why he looks a little too nice tonight for just the Leaky Cauldron. Honestly, that should have set off the warning bells right there."
Erica nodded and flopped back onto the bed as Scarlett stood and began changing into the dress. "You'll have to tell me what it's like," Erica said.
"What what's like?" Scarlett asked as she finished pulling the dress on. "Can you zip me up?"
"Dinner with his parents," Erica said, standing and crossing the room to pull up the zipper on the back of the dress. "And his house. Since they're rich and all."
Scarlett rolled her eyes and smoothed out the front of the dress as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. The dress fit her perfectly. Leave it to Justin to find a dress that was absolutely beautiful and totally flattered her. "So, does this meet the standards of Miss Erica the fashion designer?" she asked, smirking.
"It's a lovely dress," Erica said, examining it a bit closer.
"I think the real question is how good do I look in it?" Scarlett smiled.
"Wonderful, of course," Erica replied, rolling her eyes.
Scarlett adjusted the locket hanging around her neck and quickly fixed her hair before taking a deep breath and heading back down the hallway to the living room where Justin was waiting.
"You look beautiful," Justin whispered, smiling when he saw her.
"Thanks," she said, kissing his cheek.
"Ready to go?"
Scarlett nodded as Justin picked up her hand.
"Have fun," Erica said with a smile, collapsing onto the couch and returning to her book. "I probably won't be here when you get back, so I'll see you tomorrow sometime."
Scarlett nodded. "Okay."
"Where are you going?" Justin asked.
"I'm going to visit my cousin. I don't see her that often and we're long overdue for a visit, so I'll be there overnight," Erica explained.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Scarlett said, smiling as Justin led her from the flat.
"So," Justin said once they were outside, "how's living on your own?"
"It's great. I really like it. It's a change, but a good one." She looked around. "Just out of curiosity, how did you get here?"
"I didn't feel that it would be right using the Floo to pick you up, first of all. Call me traditional, but I'd rather knock on the door than appear in your fireplace. Also, I didn't want either of us to get dirty and lastly, it makes you sick, doesn't it? It's also too far to fly here so I used a Portkey." Justin pointed to a discarded shoe sitting on the steps.
"How? You aren't seventeen yet. You can't use magic outside of school."
"Remember how I said that Angelina lived near me?"
"You asked Angelina to create a Portkey?" Scarlett asked in disbelief.
"No," Justin said quickly. "She wasn't home, and that was how I wanted it. I'd be too embarrassed. I asked her mother."
"Yeah, because that's any better," Scarlett teased with a smile.
"Her mother and my mother are still pretty good friends," Justin replied, "so it's not as weird as you might think. Anyway, this shoe is just an old one of mine." He picked it up and dangled it in her face. "Do you want it?"
"No," Scarlett laughed, wrinkling her nose. "Gross."
Justin laughed and tossed the shoe into a nearby garbage can. "I couldn't even find the matching shoe at home. That's why I used it as a Portkey."
"How do you plan on getting us back to your house, then?" Scarlett asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well," Justin said, "I was hoping you would be kind enough to Apparate us. It's quicker and besides, I was worried about the spinning Portkey making you sick. I wasn't sure if it was just the Floo or not that caused you to feel sick."
"Thoughtful. I've actually always been uneasy when it comes to Portkeys. Ever since the first time the Floo actually made me throw up, I wasn't too keen on trying out any rapidly spinning transportation methods." She refrained from mentioning the first time the Floo made her throw up was at Fred's great aunt Muriel's house.
"I don't blame you," Justin said, "and I don't think we should take any chances. So that's why you should Apparate us." He looked at her sweetly. "I swear I won't make you do this every time. Now that I'm going to be a sixth year at school, I'll be learning to Apparate."
"I don't mind," Scarlett said, smiling slightly. She squeezed his hand tighter and glanced over at him. "Have you ever Apparated with someone before?"
"No," Justin said, shaking his head. "Why?"
Scarlett shrugged. "Just checking….Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
Scarlett squeezed his hand again and turned on the spot. They appeared on Justin's front lawn and Scarlett's mouth promptly dropped open. She had known his family had a lot of money, but his house was really nice. It was big, and lights where shining from inside, giving off a warm, welcoming glow.
"Honestly," Justin said from beside her, looking as if he was trying to catch his breath. "I don't understand how Apparating never made you sick. I heard that a lot of people vomit the first time and now I know why."
"I never vomited," Scarlett shrugged.
"Weird."
"Yeah," she agreed, still staring up at his house.
"What is it?" Justin asked, noticing her expression.
"Your house is lovely."
Justin smiled and blushed before picking up her hand again and leading her to the front door. "Thank you. My parents are really excited to meet you, by the way," he said as they reached the door. He slipped a key into the lock and pushed the door open. "Mum? Dad? We're here," he called, leading Scarlett into the house.
"It's beautiful in here," Scarlett whispered, taking in her surroundings.
"Thanks," Justin said, blushing again.
The foyer of the house had a large, curved staircase, a grandfather clock, and even a chandelier. It was brightly lit and incredibly spacious.
"Mum?" Justin called again, looking around. He finally began leading Scarlett towards a door on the right. "Maybe they're in the living room. Come on." Just as he put his hand on the doorknob, a woman's voice sounded from behind them. "Justin, dear, you're back!"
"My mother," Justin muttered, smiling at Scarlett before turning around.
Scarlett took a deep breath. She was about to meet Justin's mother for the first time. She began to feel the pressure of making a good first impression, but at the same time, she wondered if, in the end, it would even matter.
Exhaling slowly to calm her nerves, she turned around to see a woman with shoulder length, dark hair on the stairs. She was wearing a warm smile and a lovely deep purple dress that reached to the floor. Everything was looking very formal and it made Scarlet even more nervous.
"Did you make it to Scarlett's flat and back okay?" Justin's mother asked as she descended the last few steps and began dusting off Justin's shoulders.
"What does it look like?" Justin asked with a smile.
"Wonderful," his mother said, smiling wider.
"Mum," Justin said, taking Scarlett's hand and gently pulling her forward a few steps. He grinned. "I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Scarlett Callaway."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Finch-Fletchley," Scarlett said, smiling nervously.
"It's nice to meet you as well, dear," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley said. "Justin's told me quite a lot about you in his letters and when he came home for the Christmas holidays, he wouldn't keep quiet about you." She smiled. "You're every bit as pretty as Justin said you were."
"Thank you," Scarlett said quietly.
Mrs. Finch-Fletchley turned to her son. "The dress looks stunning on her, by the way."
Justin nodded. "It does." He looked at Scarlett and blushed slightly. "She had to help me pick it out."
"Yes, it was nice to be able to shop for someone other than myself. It can be a little frustrating being the only—the only female in the family." Her smile faltered for a moment before coming back full force.
"Mum," Justin said, giving her a look.
Scarlett kept quiet, but glanced back and forth between Justin and his mother.
"What about you, Scarlett dear?" Mrs. Finch-Fletchley asked, acting as if nothing had happened. "Do you like shopping?"
"Er, it's alright, I guess. I don't really go very much. It's just me and my mother and," she nervously scratched the back of her neck, "we weren't really able to go shopping all that much."
"Oh, that's right! Justin did tell me you lived with your mother. I'm dreadfully sorry about your father."
Scarlett half-smiled, but only briefly.
"I didn't tell her much," Justin whispered in Scarlett's ear. "She only knows he died." He turned back to his mother. "She doesn't like to talk about it. Even I don't know any of the specifics."
"Of course she doesn't like to talk about it," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley said, waving her hand. She turned back to Scarlett. "One of these days, I'll have to take you out shopping! You can pick out anything you want and it'll be just the two of us."
Scarlett's mouth practically dropped open. "Mrs. Finch-Fletchley, I don't think that's—I can't possibly-,"
"Oh, rubbish," Justin's mother scoffed, waving her hand. "It'll be my pleasure! I'll be in touch through Justin and we'll figure out a date that works. I hear you're very busy with your Healer duties."
Scarlett nodded. "Yeah, I haven't had a lot of free time lately."
"Oh, I know how it is. My husband and I are both doctors and the scheduling is crazy. You get used to it, though."
"Where is dad, by the way?" Justin asked.
"He should be here in a minute. Should we go wait for him in the dining room? Warren should be almost done preparing dinner." She smiled and began leading them towards a doorway off the front hall. "This way," she said cheerily.
"Warren?" Scarlett hissed to Justin as they followed her, hand in hand.
"Yeah, er, see, my mother likes to cook, but she's not very good at it. She really can only cook basic meals. Besides that, she and my dad don't really have a lot of time. Warren cooks all of our food for us." He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced sideways at her.
Scarlett gave him a wide-eyed look. "Seriously? So you have fancy dinners every night?"
Justin laughed. "No, fancy dinners are usually saved for company and important events. Like tonight." His face became serious. "Actually, when I'm home, I typically eat way before my parents do. They get home late, so Warren has to cook for me and then keep their food warm until they get back. So I'm usually eating in the kitchen while Warren finishes cooking."
Scarlett squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry. That must be lonely."
"It's not so bad," Justin shrugged. "Warren's fun to talk to."
"Honestly," Scarlett began, "your parents should have given him the night off. It sounds like he works hard and I'm hardly considered company worthy of a hired chef."
Justin shrugged. "I think you are."
Scarlett half-smiled. "That's sweet, but I'm not. I would have been happy with anything. Even if it was that basic cooking you mentioned. I'm sure whatever your mother can cook is fine."
"Macaroni and cheese from a box, salad, sandwiches and canned soup basically covers it," Justin said.
"Are you kidding? That's what I was used to for a long time. After my dad died and we were struggling, it's all we could really afford and it's all my mother had time to make. I started to learn how to cook because of that. And a lot of time we were just ordering pizza, too. So, what I'm really trying to say is that I like macaroni and cheese. A lot. I like salad, sandwiches, canned soup, and pizza."
Justin laughed. "I'll tell her for next time."
"If she likes me enough to invite me back," Scarlett muttered.
"She does," Justin assured her. "She's already decided she wants to take you shopping, didn't she? She wouldn't have offered to do that for just anyone."
"But she just met me. By the time dinner's over, she might have changed her mind."
"Just be yourself," Justin whispered as they entered the dining room.
"Sit, sit," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley said, gesturing to the beautiful, elegantly set dining room table.
Justin pulled out one of the dark wooden chairs and grinned at Scarlett. "For you."
"Thanks," she said, slowly sitting in the chair and trying to sit up straight. Every one of her surroundings made her feel as if she couldn't just be comfortable. She felt as if she had to watch every move to make sure she was on her very best behavior.
A moment later, a man who Scarlett guessed was Justin's father hurried into the room. "Am I late?" he asked, taking a seat next to his wife and kissing her cheek.
"No, you're right on time, dear. We just sat down." Mrs. Finch-Fletchley looked at Scarlett and beamed. "Robert, this is Justin's girlfriend, Scarlett."
"Ah, the girl who has won over my son's affections," Justin dad boomed. He reached across the table and shook Scarlett's hand, grinning from ear to ear. "Great to meet you."
"It's great to meet you as well," Scarlett said.
"You look nervous," Mr. Finch-Fletchley observed, leaning back in his seat and smiling kindly at her.
Scarlett hesitated. "Well, I am nervous, to be honest," she answered.
"Ah, a nice, honest girl. That's what I like to see," Mr. Finch-Fletchley said. "But don't be nervous." He waved his hand. "You have no reason to worry."
"I've already told Scarlett that one of these days, I'll take her shopping," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley said, smiling at Scarlett as a man appeared from an adjoining room and set plates of food in front of each person at the table. "Thank you, Warren," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley said, glancing up at him as he left the room.
"You really don't have to do that," Scarlett said, picking up her fork. "Take me shopping, I mean."
"Oh, but I want to! Every girl should be able to go on a shopping spree!"
"I've never felt deprived," Scarlett shrugged.
"Of course not," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley laughed. "You didn't know what you were missing!"
Not knowing what else to say, Scarlett stabbed a piece of lettuce with her fork. She felt Justin's hand on her knee and she glanced at him. He gave her a small smile that Scarlett returned.
As the four of them began to eat, the room was thrown into complete silence. The only sound was the clinking of utensils. Scarlett fidgeted uncomfortably in her chair. This was so different than the meals at Grimmauld Place and Hogwarts that Scarlett had grown to love and be accustomed to. It was even different from the meals at home with her mother. At least they talked to one another.
"This is really good," Scarlett said, trying to offer some kind of conversation.
"I'm glad you think so," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley smiled. "I'll have to let Warren know.
The room was thrown into silence once more.
"So, Scarlett," Justin's dad suddenly said, "I hear you're a doctor."
"It's called a Healer in the wizarding world," Justin said, rolling his eyes. "I've told you that."
"It's alright," Scarlett shrugged, stabbing at a tomato on her plate. "And yes, I just started training earlier this week."
"Do you like it?" Mrs. Finch-Fletchley asked, smiling.
"I love it," Scarlett replied. "It's what I've wanted to do since my father died, so-,"
"I hope that's not the only reason you chose the profession," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley interrupted with a slight laugh. She almost came off as degrading.
"I—no," Scarlett said, blinking and turning a light shade of pink. "It's something I'm interested in and I love working with the patients, but-,"
"Good," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley interrupted again, "because sometimes people go into the profession almost to avenge someone they lost. They think they can save everyone, but the truth is that you can't save everyone and you realize that quite often working in a hospital. If you're only there to save people, you're disappointed when you can't." She violently stabbed at her plate as if to emphasize her point.
Scarlett didn't know what to say. She simply blinked a few times, feeling at a loss for what to do.
"Mum," Justin said, giving his mother a look that was half-sympathy and half exasperation.
"You're right, I'm sorry," she said, shaking her head. She looked up at Scarlett and smiled wearily. "I'm sorry about that. I just got carried away."
"It's okay," Scarlett said quietly, shooting a confused look at Justin, who just shook his head.
Mr. Finch-Fletchley cleared his throat. "So, Scarlett, tell us, how did you and Justin meet? I don't believe he actually told us the specifics."
"Dad, I don't think-," Justin began, but his mother shushed him.
"I'm eager to hear the story myself! Go on, Scarlett, tell us!"
"Uh, well," Scarlett said, clearing her throat. She looked at Justin again, but he simply shrugged and looked at the ceiling. "I met Justin when I was helping Madame Pomfrey out during my fourth year. Of course, Justin was one of those people that I knew of, but had never spoken to. It wasn't until after he had been Petrified that I spoke to him. I was helping to get everyone who had been attacked to get back in order and make sure they were fit to leave the hospital wing."
"You made me laugh," Justin said, smiling at the memory. "You knew I was scared having just woken up and you said something funny….You said…."
"I said 'on the bright side, you got out of a lot of your schoolwork'," Scarlett laughed. "It wasn't that funny. I was being somewhat serious, actually."
"But it made me laugh. It made me feel better."
"Which is why I said it," Scarlett said quietly, smiling at him.
"Personally," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley sniffed, her tone strained, "I'm glad he had you around. I wanted to pull Justin out of school when I first heard about those attacks, but he was stubborn about staying. Honestly, I was about ready to complain about that Dumbledore man, but then heard that he had been kicked out. I haven't liked him very much since those attacks occurred. It didn't seem like he was running a very safe school. And now I've been hearing all about how he believes that dark wizard is back!" She laughed.
"But he is," Scarlett said tentatively. "He is back."
"Do you know for sure?" Mrs. Finch-Fletchley asked. "Have you seen him? Did he knock on your door and personally inform you that he has returned?"
"No, but there are signs, even in the Muggle world," Scarlett said.
"Such as?"
"The bridge that collapsed not too long ago? The frequent fog, especially around London? It all has to do with him."
"So you believe Dumbledore and Harry Potter, then?" Mrs. Finch-Fletchley asked.
Scarlett nodded. "With all due respect, I do."
"Look," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley said, "I've been doing some research. It seems to me that Dumbledore is only saying that Voldemort's back because Harry Potter says so and Harry Potter does not seem mentally or emotionally stable at the moment. Besides, for the longest time, this Minster of Magic that you magic folk have didn't think that dark wizard was back. He just started admitting it now! How do I know he hasn't had some kind of spell put on him?"
"Did you look through the Daily Prophet?"
"Why does it matter? I don't care if everyone else seems to all of a sudden think that this You-Know-Who person really is back. I don't think what Dumbledore is saying is true. I don't trust him after the way he was running that school during those attacks. Justin could have died! Besides, I haven't seen this dark wizard with my own eyes, and-,"
"You don't want to," Scarlett told her.
"—from what I hear nobody else has seen him either," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley plowed on.
"The Minister has seen him. It took him actually seeing him to believe he was back. And he isn't even the Minister anymore. He's been replaced."
"I don't care. I haven't seen any evidence. You said the bridge and the fog was evidence, but that doesn't sound like evidence to me. Things like that aren't unheard of. They can happen without magic."
"You know what, Mum?" Justin sighed, "I think you just worry way too much. And I also think Dumbledore knows what he's doing most of the time. He's not what he's been made out to be."
"Oh, I worry too much, do I?" Mrs. Finch-Fletchley asked shrilly. "I suppose you don't think I have any reason to?"
"Sylvia," Mr. Finch-Fletchley said. His voice was gentle, but held a warning at the same time.
"I'm tired of not being taken seriously," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley muttered. "I do have every reason to worry!"
"Yeah, but sometimes it's just too much!" Justin exclaimed. "It's almost suffocating."
"Justin-," his dad sighed.
"You know what? I've had enough!" Mrs. Finch-Fletchley stood up, tossed her napkin onto her chair and marched out of the room.
Mr. Finch-Fletchley sighed. "I'll go after her. You two stay and finish eating."
Scarlett sat frozen in her seat as he left the room. She had no idea what had just happened, but she felt terrible.
"I think I'm finished eating," Justin muttered.
Scarlett nodded. "Me, too." She didn't even want to look Justin in the eye. She felt ashamed. She had singlehandedly ruined dinner and Justin's parents probably hated her. As much as Scarlett hated to think so, she couldn't help but feel as if it had been a sign and that maybe, just maybe, they were better off hating her.
A/N: I know this chapter's longer than usual, but hopefully that's okay. Next chapter we'll find out what's wrong with Justin's mother and then Fred will be back again probably in the chapter after that. (yay!).
Thanks for reading!