Summer in Paris // Cedric Diggory

5. The Best Grilled Cheese

"Can I ask you something?" I ask Cedric as I flip my grilled cheese in the pan.

"Sure, what's up?" he nods, staring intensely at the wizard chess board in front of him. I was already winning and he knew it, but he insisted on analyzing each and every option in an attempt to outsmart me.

"Promise me you won't be mad," I worry, sliding the sandwich onto my plate and crossing to the table where he is sitting.

"Why? What's this about?" he asks skeptically, looking up from the game.

"I've been writing with Jamie recently and-"

"Ava, please, I thought we were past this," he sighs, pushing the board aside.

"No. We're not. You know he and I have been friends since literal birth," I argue.

"That is until he tried to kiss you," Cedric raises his voice, standing in frustration and crossing into the living room.

"Look, I won't try to make excuses for that-"

"Good. There are none," he interrupts me.

"But that doesn't change the fact that it feels so wrong to not have him in my life," I refrain from raising my voice, standing up from the table.

"Do you know what it's like for me? To see you two together? After the humiliation he brought me and my father, after finding you and him together in his room that night?" he asks me.

"You don't even know what I was going to ask," I complain.

"Fine then, ask me," he sighs, sitting down on the couch.

"I don't even know why I'm asking, I know what you'll say and I know it isn't fair, but would it be alright with you if Jamie were to visit for a day?" I ask.

"I would prefer that he didn't," Cedric replies quietly after considering it a moment.

"But?" I encourage.

"But, I won't do anything to stop you. It wouldn't be fair for me to expect you to drop 16 years of friendship," he sighs, obviously wishing the situation were anything other than what it is.

"Thank you. I appreciate it," I nod, sitting down next to him and wrapping my arms around his neck as he hugs me back.

"I think your grilled cheese is getting cold," he whispers in my ear and I smile.

"Wanna share?" I ask, standing up and crossing back towards the table.

"How could I refuse?" he smiles, following me and sitting next to me as I cut the sandwich in half.

We both bite into our half, the melted cheese stretching from our mouths to the outlined bite we just took from the sandwich and I sit back in my chair, nearly moaning as it melts in my mouth.

"I will forever be crowned Best Grilled Cheese Maker," I say, the buttery bread growing slippery between my fingers.

"I can't argue with that," Cedric laughs as his family owl comes flying into the flat through the open window, landing gracefully on the table. I set my sandwich down to take the letter from his ankle, opening the wax seal to see Amos's scribbled handwriting.

Ced and Ava,

I hope Paris is treating you well and that you're enjoying your summer holidays so far. As always, let us know if there is anything Angela or I could do for you to make you happier or more comfortable.

Anyways, the point of this letter is to invite you two to dinner at our house this evening. Angela is making her famous lasagna and we would love your company. Of course if you already have plans, we could always do another night! I'd hate to interrupt your fun there.