For A Candy Cane A Day on the Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry Forum.
m&mwp.
Alicia and Percy
Alicia wasn't sure when it all became too much—when she stopped minding Percy writing home and saying he'd be late. At first, Percy's ambition had been one of his most attractive qualities. She'd encouraged him to work overtime, even when it meant rescheduling dates. She'd dropped by in the evenings to deliver him hot meals. She'd shrugged it off if she woke up alone and went to bed by herself.
But somewhere along the line, her patience had dwindled. Three years had gone by, and she longed for more. She had a boyfriend, but it didn't feel like it. She wanted to go to brunch on Saturdays, walk with him on Sundays, and fall asleep in his arms.
Percy didn't seem to understand that at all.
"You don't have to shout." Percy rubbed his forehead with his fingers. "You're giving me a headache."
Alicia gaped at him, hot tears pricking at her eyes.
"I'm not sho—!" She definitely was shouting, she realised. She took a deep breath and then forcefully lowered her tone. "I'm not shouting. I'm trying to have a conversation with you, but you aren't fucking listening."
Percy frowned. "You don't need to swear at me either."
At this, Alicia deflated, her head dropping to her hands and her shoulders drooping. All of her energy faded away. She knew she was being loud. She knew she shouldn't curse at him. But she had to. Nothing else she did seemed to elicit a response. And yet, here he was, not hearing her at all. Not really.
"At least I care," she said quietly. "It feels like you don't care anymore."
"You knew from the start that I wanted to put my career first. That I'd work late nights. That I'd work weekends. You knew that."
"I didn't think it would be every night. I didn't think it would be every weekend." Alicia hesitated before adding, "And I didn't think it would be forever. I thought that I—that we—would come first eventually." When he didn't respond immediately, the tears that she'd been holding back began to flow. "I guess I was wrong."
"Alicia…"
But Alicia had nothing more to say.