Chapter 32

Alison flooed into Rose's flat at half past twelve in a slight panic, she was late. She was expecting to find Rose in a similar state; however, that was not what she found. It was quiet and Rose was no where in sight.

"Rose?" Alison said in search of her best friend. When there was no answer, Alison made her way to Rose's bedroom. The door was open, allowing her to see her best friend who was sitting on her bed in her own little world. As Alison stepped into the room, she observed a bundle of letters resting on the bed. Her curiosity spiked as she couldn't recall Rose ever mentioning them to her. She then turned her eyes to her best friend. Rose looked likea wave of different emotions had hit her and she was not sure how to react. Her eyes were fixed on the objects in her hand, which Alison could see were some photographs and what seemed like a old letter.

"Rose," Alison drew the red head's attention. Upon realising she was not alone, Rose quickly rose to her feet, folding up the letter in her hands and quickly picking up the bundle of letters clutching them to her chest.

"Oh Ali, I didn't realise you were here," Rose all but squeaked.

"I'm sorry I was late and I didn't mean to disturb you," Alison said warily, eyeing Rose suspiciously.

"No, it's fine," Rose swallowed nervously under the gaze of her friend.

"So…did you decide on a dress?" Alison could see how uncomfortable Rose was and decided they could talk about it later.

"Uh huh, Molly lent me one of hers," Rose replied a little shocked as to how Alison had just let it go.

"Okay, hair and make up first then?" Alison asked when Rose didn't move.

"Oh yes, right," Rose said as she stashed the letters back into her top draw. Alison headed into the bathroom with Rose in toe.

"So, I am a little surprised that your travel buddy isn't with you," Dominique inquired. "What happened there?"

"Nothing," Scorpius said, basically as a reflex, in denial. Dominique gave him a look suggesting she could see right through him. Scorpius sighed before he gave in. "She was great but…it didn't work out."

"Why?"

"I told her I was finally going home and she didn't want to come," Scorpius shrugged.

"Scorpius, I am so sorry," Dom said placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"No, it's fine," Scorpius assured her. "At the end of the day we wanted different things. It became a very easy decision."

Dominique nodded in understanding before asking, "So, you're here to stay?"

"Yeah well, I have come to realise, after seeing the whole world, it's the people in it that make your life matter more," Scorpius said sincerely. "And this is my family; this is where my people are so why would I be anywhere else."

"Aww, how sweet," Dom said in a light teasing voice. "How many times did you practice that?" she added with a giggle. Scorpius chuckled along with her. Just then a loud shriek caught their attention. Scorpius turned just in time to see Teddy faint and hit the ground with a thud.

"So, are you going to tell me who those letters are from?" Alison asked warily as she tended to Rose's up do. Rose looked at her friend's reflection in the mirror, immediately feeling nervous and flustered. Rose knew that having Alison to talk to about her situation and feelings would really be helpful, but she wasn't sure of her feelings. She hadn't seen Scorpius in three and a half years; she hadn't been opening his letters for about a year and she hadn't really heard much about him from Al or Hugo other than "Oh, Scorp's now in Africa"; "Scorp just arrived in Monte Carlo"; "He's chilling with the babes in Los Angeles." She didn't know what to feel or expect, for all she knew he could have turned gay or adopted a bunch of kids; he could even be married for all she knew. Rose quickly dismissed that thought sure he would have included Al if that was the case and he would have told her. The truth was she could feel a glimmer of hope and excitement, knowing that soon she would see him again; and it scared her. It made her on edge, like she had to constantly tell herself that she didn't feel anything for him, that she had moved on.

"Rose?" Alison's voice brought her back to the present.

"Alison, if I tell you, you have to promise that this stays between you and me," Rose muttered.

"Of course," Alison replied. Rose nodded and rose from her seat. She walked back into her bedroom and resumed her spot on her bed. As she reached into the drawer to retrieve the letters, she felt the bed dip slightly as Alison sat down beside her.

"He has been writing to me since he left," Rose said as she handed the bundle over to her best friend. They didn't need to say who, they both knew. "You know, about where he is, what he's doing, who he's met," Rose's voice quivered on the last one. "And what he wishes I could see or be apart of," she continued, as tears started to well up in her eyes. "How much he misses me." Alison wrapped an arm around her as Rose tried desperately to stop the tears in fear of ruining her make up. "I mean, how stupid is that considering we hardly saw each other anyway."

"They're not all open," Alison said simply.

"No, I stopped reading them," Rose replied stating the obvious in return.

"When?"

"Just before I went out with Ben," Rose replied. Alison nodded, now understanding the real question of why? That was about the time Scorpius had talked about being in a relationship with someone named Sherrie. That must have been why Rose had suddenly cleared her schedule for a date with Ben after refusing the first time. Alison was amazed by how they could still compete and challenge each other from different countries.

"Did you reply to any of them?" she asked. Rose just shook her head, no. "Why?" Alison knew why, but needed Rose to admit it

"Because I was afraid, just like I am afraid now," Rose answered losing the battle with her emotions as tears escaped.

"What are you afraid of, Rose?" Alison asked, still pushing Rose. Rose gave her best friend a look that said she knew what Alison was doing, which Alison returned with a stern answer the question look. Rose sighed and did just that.

"Of the way he makes me feel," Rose answered, looking down at her fiddling and shaking hands. "Of how one minute he can make me feel so angry or sad and then the next all I want to do is snog the crap out of him!" Rose exclaimed as Alison tried to hide a giggle at her friend's admission. "I am scared of how he can make me feel so on edge and tense and then all of a sudden I can feel so relaxed and carefree around him." As she finished, Rose look over at Alison to find her smiling back at her. "But most of all," Rose started with all seriousness. "I am afraid because even now, still to this day, I don't feel like this about anyone other then Scorpius."

Albus arrived at the Burrow just after midday and was surprised by the quiet that welcomed him. The Burrow was always loud, especially when they were getting ready for a party. However, he was at the front and everyone would most likely be at the back so he continued through to the kitchen only to again be welcomed by a quiet and an empty room. As he looked out into the backyard, he was shocked to find that no one was the there. All he could see were half put up decorations and half put together tables. Scratching his head, he wondered 'where is everybody?'

This is chapter 32, I hoped you liked it :) I imagine that you all have many questions and I hope to answer them in the coming chapters but feel free to ask that way i won't miss anything out :)

Who can answer Albus' question, where is everybody? :)

Please review, follow and fav :)