messy // george weasley

ch9: Paranoid

    A few hours had passed since their time on the balcony. The game of pong had been finished by Angelina, Fred, and Lee by the time Willow and Juliet had made it back inside. Willow thought that meant she had lost her chance at hanging out with George, but that didn't seem to be the case.

The group of them had continued to chat for the remaining time spent at the party. Willow was enjoying getting to know not only George but Fred and Lee, too. The three of them had kept everyone laughing the entire time and Willow didn't want it any other way.

Juliet and Angelina had disappeared periodically to "go get a drink" only to return with smudged make-up and messy hair. Willow was so thrilled to see Juliet happy with Angelina that she didn't mind being left alone with the boys.

She had also had to continuously avoid eye contact with Dean, who seemed to be much more interested in her than she was in him. She felt herself being watched for the majority of the night but elected to ignore the feeling.

Willow had also been consistently drinking the entire night. She was now on her third "Jordan Juice," a drink that Lee insisted on making everyone. None of them were quite sure what was in it, but everyone in the group was enjoying the fizzy contents of their plastic cups.

The six of them were now sat in the bay window area laughing as Fred and George retold the several stories of Lee trying to ask Angelina out throughout their years at Hogwarts. Any previous fears were thrown out the window as she watched George animatedly describe what had happened.

She loved the way that he talked with his entire body. His whole being came alive when he was placed in front of a group of people, no matter the size. His eyes would grow wide as he included each minute detail of whatever story he and Fred elected to tell.

She would see the corner of his mouth turn upwards in a smirk as he watched his brother talk, often finishing his sentences. And the only times he seemed to miss an opportunity to make a joke was when he was too busy blushing after he would catch Willow staring.

But all of this was forgotten as Lee's next words registered in her ears.

"Well, I think it's the perfect time to introduce something a little more interesting into the atmosphere, Angie!" Lee defended.

Willow quickly tuned back into the conversation as Angelina rolled her eyes. "What are we, sixteen?" she scoffed. "This isn't the Gryffindor common room, Lee."

"Of course it isn't. There are 'puffs amongst us," Fred interjected.

Juliet responded, "Is that supposed to be an insult, Weasley?"

Fred raised an eyebrow. "Are we already close enough to call each other nicknames, Julie?"

"Both of you stop flirting," Angelina cut in, rolling her eyes.

Each of them opened their mouths to argue but quickly recoiled as Angelina challenged them with a look. As Juliet sunk back into the couch she was sharing with Angelina, Willow took the time to question what was happening.

"I must have missed it, what exactly has Lee suggested we do?" she asked.

Lee smirked. "I would like to play a game. I was over in America visiting family a few months back and my cousins introduced me to this wicked fun one."

"Do we have enough people to play?" George questioned.

Willow turned her attention to the rest of the living room. Most of the party had left, except for another small group of people chatting around the fireplace. She saw one person, in particular, sitting with his back to her, making her breath hitch in her throat.