every last word

s e v e n t e e n

archie and i are currently seated in a tiny booth at the three broomsticks, slurping down our second butterbeer.

"i love these things, they give me that- that buzz, you know?" he mumbles, stirring his straw around and around inside the cup.

i laugh, continuing to drink mine.

"okay- so, what did you want to tell me?" i ask, suddenly remembering the comment archie had made before he dragged me out of class.

he stops spinning the straw and pushes his cup aside.

"so. basically i've told- i've told some people about this. you know the close ones- like my parents and stuff. uh- i haven't exactly told you though. and it's not like im scared or anything-"

im starting to get worried- anxious i think? i push my cup aside like he did and turn my full attention to him, "you can tell me anything archie, you know that?"

he looks up- catching my eyes, "i do, i do."

he starts fidgeting. i've noticed though over the years archie tends to do this when he's nervous.

why is he nervous?

"hey," i grab his hand that is drumming his fingers on the table, "it's okay."

he exhales, meeting my eyes again. "okay- okay. so- uhm, you know the guy from ravenclaw? the guy i told you helped me with my homework in potions?"

i nod, remembering the way he explained the situation to me at lunch. archie doesn't really talk to people that often- so when he does he gets excited, i guess you could say?

"he- we, uh- we're dating." he spits out, and i see him tense up as soon as the words come out.

"im pansexual, juliet."

i squint my eyes, processing the information that has been given to me. when it finally registers a big smile forms on my face.

"oh my god- archie. that's great! im so proud of you for telling me." i praise, sliding out of my seat and running over to sit next to him.

as soon as i sit down i wrap him in a hug. "you don't ever need to hide anything from me." i whisper.

"thank you." he says, arms still wrapped around me.

i pull back, "so tell me about him, okay- you have to let me meet him." i excitedly say, resting my elbow on the table.

"his name is nate- and he's really nice. oh and he's really very smart- like genius level iq." archie tells me. i can see he's very happy about being able to share this sort of stuff with me.

i have to say though- it kinda stings. that he was so scared to tell me, that he didn't tell me sooner. but all that matters is that he told me. im really proud of him.

we spend the next twenty minutes taking about nate- how they met. all the little details.

as we were talking though i hear the door ring, meaning people have just walked in. i slightly turn my head a bit to see who's walked in and notice draco, laney, and bella all walk in. snow is seen on their coats and hats from the blizzard outside.

"hey look it's juliet!" i hear laney yell, before i know if her and bella are jogging up to me.

i smile, setting my eyes on laney who's now in front of our table.

"hey guys." i say, keeping a smile on my face.

my eyes flicker to draco for a second, expecting him to look at me but he isn't. instead he's looking at archie with a stern expression.