17

Wes

"Funny seeing you here." Will smirked, bumping into me out of nowhere. I was used to him randomly appearing by now but it still set of butterflies in my stomach and I could never stop a dumb grin from gluing itself on my face. This time was no different.

"Hey." I replied, putting on my trying-to-sound-casual-but-is-really-dying-inside-voice.

"I bet all the hot guys have been asking you this lately, but would you happen to be going to the party?" Will's hand brushed mine like it always did when we walked together and for a split second I was about to lace my fingers through his but the confidence fled as usual.

"Unfortunately." I said, rolling my eyes. I had been asked a few times about the party although not by any hot guys and my answer seemed to get even more irritated. I hated parties. "Strictly for documentary purposes though."

"So, you're just going to film a little bit then leave?"

"That was the plan."

Will gave an exasperated sigh and shook his head like I was a clueless toddler which was both adorable and annoying.

"Wes, parties are for having fun." Will said, sounding almost passionate in his defense. "It's a time to forget everything and just be a normal teenager for once. No magic, no boundaries, no rules."

"More like a shit ton of obnoxious teenagers that don't get along crammed into a common room blaring bad music and dancing very inappropriately. Not to mention the drinking and the games and the-"

"Have you even been to a party?" Will laughed.

"Yes and it sucked. I just don't see the fun in something like that." The last party I went to was exactly how I had just described it and even worse because I had no one to talk to and every expectation I had went down the drain.

"You just have to look at it differently." Will said determinedly. "I've decided that I'm taking you to this party and I'm going to show you a good time if it's the last thing I do."

"That sounded grim." I joked, covering up the fact that I hated that idea. I didn't want to have fun I just wanted good footage and to go to bed.

"I'm serious." Will said, his eyes set on mine. In a moment the casual air around us morphed into something else and my thoughts immediately switched into romantic mode. The thought of so many students in the hall with us made me want it even more. I felt dizzy.

Until I caught the eyes of Maggie who was watching us from across the hall. She looked normal enough, leaning against the wall and assessing everything in front of her like she was planning every step she took. But I've known Maggie longer than anyone else and I knew from the sparks in her eyes that she was pissed and I would eventually have to explain the boy I almost started making out with and why I didn't tell her earlier.

Well shit.

Evie

I don't know how I didn't notice the huge wall that was Ian as I was making my way down the corridor but somehow he just skipped my line of vision. So crashing into his broad chest was totally unexpected and almost terrifying.

"Oh my-" I exclaimed, getting a face full of Hufflepuff tie and amazing cologne. My brain seemed to stop working and when I looked up I thought my heart would too. There was Ian freaking Valerio staring down at me like I was God's gift or something.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you." I muttered slowly, backing away so that there was an acceptable amount of space between us. "Are you OK?"

"Wait what?" Ian answered after staring at me for a second like I hadn't said anything at all. It took him a moment to register what had just happened before his cheeks tinged pink and he all but hid his face.

"Wow I'm really sorry." He said, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "I don't know what happened I sort of just blanked out."

"Yeah I noticed." I laughed, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. It was a habit I used to have when I was younger and it felt weird to do it again especially in front of Ian. He seemed to notice too because an odd look crossed over his face for only a moment before he schooled his features again. He was always good at doing that.

We were both quiet for a minute, looking away then back at each other when we thought the other wasn't looking. It was a game we hadn't played in a long time and something I didn't particularly miss. I had been through this so many times with Ian it felt pointless now. Why put emotions into something inevitable?

On that dark note I bowed my head and sidestepped Ian who nearly jumped when we he noticed me moving. I didn't allow myself to look at his face but I figured by now he would have his usual golden boy face back on. He never wasted much time on emotions.

"Evie wait." He said suddenly when I had gotten a few steps away. I stopped but didn't turn around, only listened to his heavy footsteps getting closer to me. When I looked up at him again I was surprised to see his eyebrows knit together like he was concerned or worried or something that wasn't in his normal manner.

"Are you going to the party?" He asked. He seemed out of breath even though I had only been a few feet away. The question made my stomach drop to my feet momentarily.

"I don't think so." I replied, not bothering to use the lie I had planned to use if anyone had asked me. It seemed dumb to go to a party with no one to go with and I hated that I thought that way but I couldn't help it.

"Oh." His voice dropped and he wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Are you?" Ian's eyes flickered with irritation.

"Yeah. Everyone keeps asking me who I'm going with and I never have an answer and it's actually super frustrating because everyone expects me to be some sort of player that dates a new girl every week and has no heart when really I'm just afraid that girls only like me because of who I am."He said this all in a rush, barely stopping to take a breath. I hadn't heard him confess so much to me since we fourth year.

"I don't know why I just told you all that." He said, blushing all over again. I cracked a small smile.

"I don't have anyone to go with either." The small sentence seemed to change the air around us.

"Evie, I know we haven't been really close lately but I miss having a real friend and-" He stopped. "Do you want to go to the party with me? As a friend of course."

The part of myself that had taken over the past few years yelled at me to say no and save myself from high expectations and broken hearts but the old me seemed to peek out of the corner. It dared me to and I felt like I was 13 again, laying in my backyard with my best friend wondering what the world would be like when we were all grown up. The right answer felt obvious.

"Sure." I smiled. One word. It was like seeing the world in color after a very long time.