I'm Better Off. You're Better Off.

[[ 36 ]]

Rewritten: 1/23/2021

|This prologue has been updated due to the new shifts in the plot. |

[Draco]

I leaned back against the wall, gripping my wine glass tightly as my gaze traced the entire room until my eyes landed on her. 

As expected and as usual, my eyes traced every inch of that goddess' appearance.

Her wavy brown hair glistened in the chandlers.

Her eyes darted around the room in a panic, in an attempt to politely see her guests.

She was so fucking beautiful, and simply adorable when she 'played the part.'

I shifted as the image of Potter's hickey shot through my head.

I downed my glass of wine, attempting to make the alcohol to make the pain go away. 

My heart shifted at the sight of the decorations and the Maries and Zambinis laughing in the corner. My parents stood across the room whispering among themselves.

None of them knew.

None of them knew that what Baie and I had was real. I couldn't wrap my head around how happy I'd been these last few months, given the circumstances.

One thing my mind couldn't grasp, was why Potter? Of all people to finally give yourself to...why him? 

Was there something wrong with me?

Did I do something wrong?

I found my gaze drop to the stone floor, away from what I thought was my future.

I thought she was it.

The one.

A laugh caused my head to perk up and follow the sound to my best mate, her fiancé, Blaise.

He seemed pretty content with his parents choice of bride, given the complications that I apparently put upon his efforts to get with Baie at the beginning of the year.

He asked, when I arrived, where the tie was, I just passed him a napkin with the ashes in it.

Fuck being his best mate.

Fuck being here.

I glared around the room.

I'd rather be anywhere, but here. 

Was this what it felt like?

To loose?

To have your heart broken?

I had been blindly pissed, hurt and indifferent - but this feeling that's coming over me now at the realization that this is all real, the engagement, the marriage, the missions...it was all real.

Within days, I had lost my future.

My girl.

She was sure committed to her mission.

"Hey, you..." Baie's voice startled me back to reality and out of my head. 

"H-Hey." I sighed, glaring down at my empty wine.

I hesitated when she took the empty glass from me and sat it down. She interlaced her fingers in mine, glanced around the room and began to pull me towards the exit. 

"How are you doing?" Baie, almost, whimpered as she pressed herself against the wall across the corridor as I pulled the ballroom door shut behind us.