Mine

[57]

I leaned over, hands on my knees, as I closed in my eyes and took in a deep breath. I just needed a moment to center myself. But then again, I wasn't sure I could go back in there. I didn't know what my parents would say if I didn't return, but I didn't really care. I told them that I wasn't ready for this.

"Gemma!" Draco said breathlessly as he ran outside to find me.

I sighed, opening my eyes as I stood up straight. My back was to him, so I took a moment to brace myself before I turned around to face him. "What do you want Draco?" I asked with exasperation.

"To talk to you, as I've been saying!" Draco exclaimed, throwing his arms up in frustration. "Can't you at least let me do that?"

"I don't owe you shit, Draco." I hissed at him.

Draco sighed, pursing his lips together as he gathered himself. "I know you don't." He finally said, taking a step towards me. "Of course you don't owe me anything, Gemma. I just want the chance to explain myself."

"And what if I don't want to hear what you have to say?" I exclaimed, shaking my head in frustration. "I didn't want to come tonight. I have no desire to see you or speak to you. The only reason I am here is because my mother forced me to come."

"I know that." Draco sighed.

"Was this your idea? Did you put your mother up to having us come over?" I asked him.

"No, of course not. I told her it was a bad idea." Draco said quickly.

I snorted out a laugh, nodding slightly. "I guess that we agree on."

"But I am glad that you're here." Draco said slowly. "It's good to see you."

"Don't do that." I said quickly, taking a step back from him. His eyes studied me closely, taking in every inch of me. It made my stomach flutter in a way that I didn't like so I quickly looked to the side.

"You look beautiful." Draco said softly as he continued to walk towards me.

I groaned, looking back up to find that he was now standing right in front of me. "Don't." I said, holding a hand out so that he wouldn't come any closer. "I can't do this. I-I...Draco, I just can't."

"I'm sorry." He whispered, staring at me intently. "I am so sorry for leaving you like that, Gemma."

"It doesn't matter." I said quietly, looking down at my feet. "What's done is done."

"Gemma," Draco sighed exasperatedly, "You have to know that I never wanted to hurt you."

My head snapped up at his words, my eyes narrowing into a glare. "Really? I mean – really? You never wanted to hurt me? Wow, well that just fixes everything. I feel so much better now. All the pain I've felt the last year – gone! Poof! Thank you so much!" I said sarcastically.

"You think that it didn't hurt me knowing that I left you without so much as a word?" Draco asked, his words coming out strained.

"No, I think you have a concept of pain, but you don't actually realize how deep that goes. I came here every single day for nearly two weeks after you disappeared just hoping that you would be here. I wrote to you every single day for weeks!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening as I shook my head at him. "I laid in bed and cried over you for so damn long. I went through the stages of grief. I had to accept that you had simply left. That you were just gone."

"Gemma –" Draco began, but I cut him off.

"No, Draco." I snapped. "I already did this part, only you weren't there, and I did it on my own. There is nothing that you can say."