"Rod is so lame. He stutters and acts all awkward around me so he clearly likes me and I made it easy for him by hinting that he should ask me out. But he never did anything. What is he's problem? He clearly likes me," Felicity Fraser waved the wooden spoon around in the air as they made the cupcakes, cakes, sandwiches, lemonade, and other items they wanted for a picnic outside. They had met up again but this time it was Hermione's invitation, which she got her parents to pass around. They were at her house and making foods they were going to take for a picnic outside.
"I know right. What is he's problem? You're clearly one of the prettiest girls," Charity Fraser backed up her twin-sister as she mixed some icing.
"Relationships are not about whose pretty or not," said Vienna with a little smirk around her lips, "so many girls are pretty but they don't know how to get in one. It takes skill to get in one. You have to know how to talk to boys in a cool way. Some girls can get in relationships. Others never can."
"So what's your secret?" asked Wendell Melite.
"Yours too," said Areti Umar, looking at Enid.
Amalia Aina settled some cucumber onto slices of bread. Together Vienna, Enid, Felicity, Charity, Wendell, Areti and Hermione were a group of 8 who had been with each other since the first day of elementary school. It was a constant jostling of who was the best, and even though the other girls were never quite the leaders Vienna or Enid were, they all tried to one-up each other.
"The secret," said Vienna, "is that you have to start with a guy that chooses you. And then you talk to him in a cool way. If he doesn't like you from the start, he will never like you. The feeling has to be there."
The other girls oohed and aahed over it as if it made sense. Which it sort of did. Except Hermione thought real love had to be more complicated than that. She was actually rather nervous at the prospect of real love, not this fake sort of love teenagers had.
"Yep, Marcus asked me out," said Enid.
"What if a guy likes you but doesn't ask you out? What then?" Felicity looked confused.
"Then you say bye-bye," said Vienna as she mocked a wave of her hand.
Felicity frowned, "you said to give him hints," she glared at Charity.
"Never accept advice from a girl who doesn't have a boyfriend, she doesn't know what she's talking about," said Vienna.
The girls all giggled over it. Charity frowned but didn't say anything and Felicity seemed a little happy that her sister got some form of telling of for giving her the wrong advice.
They were all so boy-crazy, Hermione thought. Which meant stealing Gregor would have catastrophic implications.
"Hey, why do you like to read at the library?" Hermione asked. She was there again and spied Gregor in an isle near the back, reading one of the classics he loved.
"My brothers make fun of me for reading at home. Mum tells me to do what I love so I continue it, but I figure it's more peaceful here," said Gregor.
"Yeah it is," said Hermione. Very few people were nerds here so the library was rather empty. It was indeed peaceful, "you and Vienna. I would've never guessed you two would be together. I mean, it's not to say you don't make a great couple. You look amazing together. But you know, she's the bubbly girly type and you're...does Vienna even know you like to read classics?"
"She never asked. I would tell her if she did but you know, she never really asked about my hobbies. It's the only one she doesn't really know of though. We're pretty similar in other aspects," Gregor said.
"What do you think makes a relationship a relationship?" asked Hermione.
"Well I've always thought it's the girl you like the most you know. If you're dating one girl but secretly wishing you were with another it doesn't really count you know. Even if it might feel real in the meantime. I dunno really though. Why do you want to know?" Gregor frowned at Hermione.
"Because I don't think your relationship is real," said Hermione and then she kissed him on the lips. Gregor's eyes widened but despite his surprise he did not fight back. Or perhaps had not been repulsed enough by Hermione to instinctively fight back. They kissed for a while and Gregor even moved his lips slightly back in response, although Hermione couldn't tell if he'd been trying to get away or not, but she kissed him back harder and Gregor responded a little. Hermione deepened it, placing her hands on his shirt and he shifted around a little so they weren't awkwardly leaning into each other.
Even though Hermione knew she didn't have true feelings for the boy a part of her felt all hot and excited at this and she knew he had to be feeling something as well.
"Wow," Gregor's eyes were wide as they broke apart.
"Your relationship isn't real," said Hermione. Tom was right, she was feeling more and more powerful by the minute, like she was some goddess of love who knew everything and was pointing out all the secrets to the little earthlings who didn't. She did feel powerful. Gregor was practically hanging on her every word. "You said so yourself. A relationship is real if it's with the girl you want. But is it really when you could so easily and happily kiss another? If you truly loved Vienna you would fight back, wouldn't even let me dare to get this close? I did you a favour. You don't really love each other. You were just blinded because you thought you two were in love. I revealed to you the truth I've always seen."
"Eurgh..." Gregor put his head in his hands. He looked up. He wasn't crying but he was upset. "Okay you know what? Vienna is cool. She's always been cool. Everyone tries to be cool. That's the ideal. I am cool. I did think that perhaps when Vienna asked me out we were both trying to be cool, but I also thought I truly loved her. Because I did. I want a nice romance alright? I really did think I did. And you know...I still don't know...if I truly love her. Or you. Or truly love anyone. But I think I don't truly love her. That's all I can say. And I don't want to date again. It's...I thought dating would be so simple..."
"Vienna asked you out? She was boasting and bragging to us that the secret to getting a boyfriend was to know how to talk to a guy that likes you and asks you out. That's not what she flaunted as her secret to us last week..." said Hermione.
"Really?" Even Gregor looked a little repulsed, "she was the one that asked me out. I said yes cause I liked her enough and then it really did feel like we were flying when we first started dating because everyone looked at us with respect and...looks like she's been telling lies."
"Yeah, to look good," said Hermione.
"I don't like that," admitted Gregor, "I'm sort of simple and nice. I don't like girls that lie."
"Then get revenge on her. Show her lying never got her anywhere. You don't truly love Vienna. I helped you see that. But you must like me in some capacity to kiss me. You don't truly love me, but you can enjoy me. My company, my everything. So let's hang out, maybe be boyfriend and girlfriend, and rub it in Vienna's face that realness of whatever we have," Hermione said.
"Yeah, let's do that. Revenge. She deserves it. At least you make it clear you're meanish from the start. You never lied to me," said Gregor.
He then leaned in and Hermione was surprised that he initiated the kiss this time but she let him.
Then a librarian came and yelled at them to get out of the library if they were going to use it as a kissing spot. The two ran out of the library laughing a little. It felt naughty and fun, exhilarating.
When they left though, Gregor caught Hermione by the waist and kissed her some more.
"Not out here," Hermione giggled as she untangled herself from him.
"I don't care if Vienna sees. It's over anyway," Gregor said as he grabbed her again.
"My heart is beating so fast right now," said Hermione.
"Mine too," said Gregor.
They walked back home together and split of a little. However, Hermione didn't find it such a warm welcome home.
"What's the matter sweetie? You look different?" said her mother.
"What," said Hermione.
"The way you walk and talk. It's like you've more serious all of a sudden. Anything happen today?"
Hermione frowned. She didn't know it reflected on her so much. A part of her was angry that she didn't have a single moment of privacy to herself. "Not really," she tried to lie.
"Oh, alright then. Maybe I'm seeing things," said her mother.
Hermione gave her a small innocent smile before heading upstairs.
What did I do Tom? She wrote in her diary.
Tell me. Tell me everything. The book was hungry for her exploits.
Hermione recounted all that happened.
You did what you always had the ability to do. You are better than Vienna at her games. You understand men more than she does. Now, Vienna will feel your own power.
Hermione couldn't help but feel a little giddy at that...for the day Vienna would find out...
Hermione organised another day together. They would hang out at the football field and Vienna, Wendell and Amalia would teach them some cheerleading tricks. They did it together although Vienna was the best, and Hermione thought the other girls were dying to be taught some. Her mother had remarked it was unusual for Hermione to want to hang out with friends so much, in the past two years it had always been the other girl's parents initiating, but Hermione just shrugged. She didn't need her mother knowing the details of all the emotional highs and lows she felt with all of these manipulations and reveals and whatnot.
"Oh, you didn't tell me the boys would be here," said Felicity, who was still not over Rod although she swore not to have anything to do with him again.
Gregor, Marcus and Rod were hanging out nearby. They were all on the football team.
"They had practice before I think," said Hermione, but it wasn't really a thought for it was something Gregor directly texted her on her phone and thus she planned this time well.
"Oh I feel so nervous. They're going to be watching us," said Areti.
"It's not that hard," snapped Vienna, "although I wish they weren't here so that you wouldn't be so distracted as we teach you stuff." Vienna glanced at Wendell and Amalia who were on the cheerleading them with her and would be teaching alongside her.
Vienna taught them a simple prep to waist-level. Hermione had said to let them get some stuff done before Gregor would come over, and soon enough, they were coming over.
"Why are you here? This is so random," said Vienna.
"We practice football by ourselves sometimes. Why, do you want us to leave?" Gregor said.
"No. Well, since you're here we might as well hang out for a bit," said Vienna. She leant up to kiss him as she had done so before.
Gregor however, stepped past her and towards Hermione. Where he twirled her around a bit and kissed her. The entire friendship group gasped. The air was thick and silence fell. Crows cried in the distance. Suddenly Hermione felt like things were super serious.
"A slut," said Rod, "a slut stole him," he pointed fingers at Hermione. Boys didn't all like sluts it seemed.
"Holy hell," said Marcus.
Gregor had stopped kissing Hermione now. She could feel his question - is this when they told? Instead Hermione pulled him a little closer to enjoy a passionate making out session. No, they would extend the torture by a little bit.
Suddenly there was a screech and Vienna had landed on top of them, trying to pull them apart.
"Wow, heck," said Marcus. He and Rod pulled Vienna of and tried to restrain her so there wouldn't be violence but in a way that didn't hurt her. Tears were streaming down Vienna's face. She was almost shaking. Hermione couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the girl. She was honestly very pretty, quite bubbly and charming, the most gregarious out of all of them. She really ought to be the queen bee, the winner, but yet...here was Hermione, stealing all her glory. But a part of Hermione felt sweet satisfaction at all of this. For taking back what felt like hers. It was a cruel feeling, to be happy over someone's joy, but Hermione had it in spades. She felt like she was truly getting in touch with some aspects of herself.
"I can't believe this. It can't be. No," Vienna was truly shaking now.
"So tell me. Who do you think Gregor loves more? Me or Vienna?" said Hermione.
An awkward pause rang out. Suddenly all fingers pointed at Hermione from the girls. They had seem them passionately kissing.
"No! This isn't true, I'll prove it-" Vienna jumped out to kiss Gregor.
Gregor however, held up an arm and sort of barred her from doing so. The girls gasped again.
"I'm sorry Vienna. I don't think I want to ask you out anymore," he said, even though he'd never truly asked her out, "I like Hermione better. I guess...she's the one who gets the boy."
"Oh! This day keeps getting better and better! I haven't been this entertained nor interested in a while!" squealed Areti.
"How did you two meet? What's your cheating story!" Amalia was thick with questions.
"Yeah! This is so interesting!" said Charity.
"Uh-huh," nodded Felicity.
"We're still a thing right?" Enid slid up to Marcus and slipped an arm through his worryingly.
"Yeah, we're still the same," said Marcus before he kissed her again.
"I like nerds," admitted Gregor, "it's something about me others didn't really know. I thought I liked Vienna, really I did, from the start. But I guess I wasn't so sure."
"Oh that's right. Hermione is nerdy," said Areti with a roll of her eyes.
"I could've seen this coming," said Wendell.
"You got cheated on! You got cheated on!" said Charity.
"Yeah! Why do we even listen to Vienna? She can't get a boy!" said Felicity.
Suddenly it seemed like the roles were reversed.
"Cheater! Cheater-" Vienna was so angry.
"You can't get a boy," Charity rubbed it in Vienna's face.
"So are you two like. A couple now? Forever?" Enid asked.
"I don't know. I have a thing for nerds but do I truly love nerds?" Gregor drawled.
"I know how to get a boy just as well as you do Vienna," said Hermione, "and I quite like this one. I think you'll be my boytoy for the summer. Stick around and all that."
"Yeah, for the summer," said Gregor.
Neither of them truly loved each other and wouldn't last after this. But it sort of became a thing.
"Actually...I...kind of like you Felicity. No really, I do. I just...wasn't so sure. But now...I think I sort of am. Do you wanna be girlfriends and boyfriends?" Rod admitted.
"Yes!" Felicity squealed.
The rest of the day passed happily. Vienna was quiet but she couldn't really say much.
However, all the girls congratulated Hermione. They thought it was amazing she managed to get a boy, they loved how she even played them - they were young enough teenagers that these sort of dynamics were of interest to them. News spread around by text messaging that night and soon the whole school knew that Hermione knew how to catch a bad boy, player, and that Vienna was not so chased after as always. The girls it seemed, flipped so hard towards Hermione and away from Vienna that Vienna was now bottom of the group. Vienna was now at risk of getting kicked out for real. So she had to shut her mouth and play nicely to still stay in. Hermione took great delight in mocking her and leading the group of girls to do so, but never enough to truly kick her out unless she wanted it.
A few weeks later Hermione was writing in the diary.
Is this what power feels like? I'm enjoying my time with Gregory. The other girls are envious of me. Vienna's now rock bottom. I feel like I've made a small name for myself in these social circles. Even if I don't really see them anymore, they'll remember me.
You made a good point to them. The diary agreed.
"Hey," Charity greeted Hermione as she was grocery shopping for her parents.
"Fancy seeing you here," said Hermione as she selected some fruits.
"Kind of hovered around. I have a good view of the street leading to the store from my place and everyone goes grocery shopping eventually. I...wanted to thank you for what you did," said Charity.
"What?" said Hermione.
"Vienna was getting kind of unbearable. She sort of always has been but her ego took of the rocker when she got a boyfriend. She picks on all of us but we're all too afraid of her to say anything and well...sometimes we almost can't stand it anymore. Thanks for taming her. We all sort of wanted her to pick on us less but couldn't really do anything about it," she admitted.
Hermione suddenly remembered that Charity was the one picked on the most besides her. Her twin sister had been slightly more outgoing, popular, bubbly, and Vienna took great delight in making fun of Charity as the 'lesser twin'. Charity had also been the one closest to Hermione of the group. The two clung to each other throughout the years a little.
"Oh. It's nothing really," said Hermione, "Gregor didn't really like Vienna. It was a crud relationship she was flaunting to you guys. The situation did most of the work for me."
"Yeah well. I guess after you're gone Vienna will still be in the lead again. But maybe a little subdued. She'll always know she has the chance to be showed up by you. But well...the rest of the group will remember you. Even if you're not around," said Charity.
"Thanks. That...means a lot to me," admitted Hermione.
The two smiled at each other.
The rest of the summer Hermione enjoyed hanging out with the group, feeling the best for once, and also Gregor. But Gregor couldn't satisfy her truly. They both knew their relationship was for fun and fake, but neither of them truly loved each other. Towards the end she was a little happy to let him go. Vienna however, got over it. Perhaps she really did feel she wasn't so great, perhaps she felt guilty, but either way, she seemed to accept Hermione had some secret hold over some boys she didn't, that Hermione could outsmart her or be even more cunning, and so Vienna...learnt her place in the pack let's say. Vienna didn't like Hermione. Never did, never will. But at least she learnt not to show it in public.
Though Vienna always had a bit of hatred against her. Hermione smiled because Vienna couldn't do anything about it.
When the holidays finished and Hermione returned to school however, Tom gave her a warning to be super careful and that things were going to be changing this year.
Hermione felt a little more confident from her escapade over the summer holidays. Like she knew how to play games more.