arranged / dm

015

They stayed at the first village for one night, their minds buzzing with fears of being found again. Draco thought it would be better if they traveled around more to cover their tracks. He hadn't had an angry moment since the first night. He seemed to be more focused on making sure Amara was with him at all times.
The second village they found had a much smaller inn than the first, each of them getting their own beds in one room. Every person seemed to assume they were a couple, though, and kept suggesting they went specific places and did specific things. They heard it so much that Draco considered going to one of the places, lost in the image of Amara. Every time, he snapped out of it.
"We'll stop there." He pointed to the distant shadow of rooftops on the horizon. Amara's feet ached as she stared off at the tops of houses, the distance making her body scream. "Can't we stop here?" She asked breathlessly, wanting to drop onto the ground. The walk from the last village had consisted of tall hills and tree branches lining the floor. They left their comfy beds at four in the morning and had been walking since then. They had both lost track of time. "We can't risk another attack, Amara." Draco sighed, grabbing onto her as she went to sit down. "Don't you dare make me fucking carry you, Amara Blackwood." He groaned as she leaned on him. "What are you talking about?" She smiled at him.
With a sigh, he turned around, his back facing her. "Get on." He said, failing to hide the smile that was creeping onto his lips. Amara climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I hate you for this." Draco said, grabbing the back of her legs. "Sure you do, pretty boy." She laughed. Her words sent shivers down his spine, a slight blush hitting his cheeks. "What was that?" He tilted his head as he began to walk. "Oh nothing."

✩☾✩

The village was quiet, very different than the previous one. A few people walked by them, giving them quick hellos as they passed. Their pub, made from a barn, was less full. The people that sat inside had already been to work and back, chugging down Muggle drinks as they talked to their friends. The other's had Muggle devices, square boxes that held pictures, but this one had nothing of the sort. Just a small radio that sat on the corner of the bar.
Draco put Amara down, walking inside before her. He dropped onto a seat a few feet away from the bar and looked up at Amara. "You were just complaining about walking and now you won't sit?" He leaned onto the table, eyeing her intensely as she sat in front of him. "How about I let you talk this time?" He said quietly, nodding to the man, who looked about their age, behind the counter. "Oh really?" She smirked back, leaning to her side to see the guy. She looked him up and down before looking back at Draco. "Deal." She smiled, leaning back in her chair. He had stiffened, his jaw clenched tightly. Amara's smile faded as she looked at him. His façade had gone back up and he was cold, heartless Draco Malfoy once more. She frowned at him and rose from her chair, walking toward the bar.
"Hello. Can I help you?" The boy behind the bar spoke, a nice smile on his pale face. "I was just wondering if there was a place to stay here? I mean like, for a night or two." She smiled. She wanted to look back at Draco. She could feel his eyes on her as she talked to the boy, her mind racing rapidly. "Yeah, there's actually some uh, empty houses around town. If you talk to someone they'd be able to hook you up with one." He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, looking into Amara's eyes. "Thank you." She smiled, turning to sit back down at the table.
Draco didn't speak to her. He stared at the wall behind her head with his arms crossed tightly. She opened her mouth to speak, quickly deciding against it when he gave her a look. Amara slumped back into her chair and looked around at the room. The deep red barn had been transformed into a small restaurant. About twenty tables had been set up and a game table sat in a corner. The walls were bare, though, and the lights were dim. Draco watched her out of the corner of his eyes curiously, wanting badly to give up the act he had put on so suddenly.
Soon, the boy came over to them cautiously. "I just came over here to um," he glanced over at the group of men, their smiles and thumbs up giving everything away. "I just came over here to say there's this thing tonight where.." his eyes traveled to Draco. The blond had only glanced at him but had, nonetheless, seemed to shake him. "I'm sorry are you together?" He asked awkwardly. "No." Draco said hastily, startling Amara. His voice had a tone of annoyance and anger as he answered, not giving her a glance. "Oh, well, there's a thing where everyone sits out by a fire and there's cool fireworks and music and I was wondering if you want to come?" He spoke quickly, sending Amara a small smile.
She looked to Draco, her mind screaming different answers at her. "Uh, I don't know. I'll.." her eyes found Draco again, a wave of an unfamiliar feeling washing over her. "I'll try to be there." She mumbled. The smiling boy nodded happily before walking away. Draco finally looked at her before standing and pushing his chair back.
Amara followed quickly. "He said earlier that-" "I heard everything he said." He stormed ahead of her toward a house. He hadn't even glanced back at her as he left her behind in the orange light of the sunset. "What is your deal, Malfoy?" Amara yelled out to him. He didn't stop. He didn't even pause for a moment; didn't provide an answer. Instead, he entered the house made of pale wooden planks and poorly done roof tiles. The door creaked loudly as he opened it, flinging it shut behind him. The door made a crashing noise and Amara could almost see the house quiver under the sudden force that was thrown toward it.
When she reached the door, her hand hovered over the knob in hesitation. She almost wanted to stand next to Draco and hear for herself what they would do about sleeping. But another part of her screamed to stay outside. Screamed to stay away from him. Completely. He changed moods like Pansy changed her hair color in sixth year. Suddenly and sporadically. One minute he was kind and the next he was cold and heartless. Almost like he was battling a war inside him. One side wanted Amara dead. Didn't give two shits about her. But the other... the other never wanted to leave her side.
She felt herself jolt as the door flew open. Draco stormed towards her, only to pause briefly beside her. "That house over there. Blue. Separate rooms." He muttered before continuing to walk. She followed him to the house, raindrops beginning to fall from the sky. Draco sighed to himself, running a hand through his hair. He didn't know what to do anymore. Nothing felt right. Except her.
The two split into their designated rooms instantly. Amara sat on the edge of the bed, her face in her palms as she tried to contemplate her innermost feelings. She felt on fire. Her limbs ached as the thought of Draco crossed her mind. The confusion in her increased as she ran over every small detail she had noticed in the span of two weeks. The patter of the rain on the window comforted her thoughts as her heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't figure out what it meant. What any of this meant.
Draco sat in a wooden chair facing the door. His elbows rested on his knees as he imagined Amara with that Muggle boy alone. The mere thought made his blood boil and he wished to make it stop.
   Amara Blackwood was a curse. A strange, beautiful curse that few people would ever be plagued with. She followed you; chased you in your own mind, dominating your senses and your thoughts. She was the only thing that remained. Her face lingered in your mind and her scent floated over your head like a deadly reminder.
   She hijacked your insides. Made you burn in ways unknown to man when you saw her. Made you lose control of yourself when she was near. She was to be the death of Draco. And he was okay with that.
He heard her door open after a period of time, her footsteps traveling through the dull, narrow hall that separated the rest of the house from the bedrooms. Draco rose to his feet with no hesitation, throwing his door open. "Amara." He said. His voice was calm now. So calm that Amara whipped around to face him. "Don't go out. Its raining and night is the perfect time for someone to attack." He kept his cool, looking into her fateful eyes. She shook her head, an amused but aggravated smile on her lips, as she turned on her heels and continued walking toward the door.
She wore a black shirt Draco had given her on the third night away, the long sleeves kept her warm under the coat she wore then, and the same black pants she had worn days ago. Draco followed her to the door, trying to stop her from leaving. The rain poured as she pulled the white wooden door open with a tug. "Leave me." She said sternly over her shoulder in frustration. "Its not safe." He had the sincere tone again. The one he wore hours ago before disregarding her and ignoring her. She chuckled before taking more steps toward the rain. Her eyes were set on the stars and the newly risen moon as she stepped out into the storm.
"Don't go out! Please." Draco called out, making Amara turn around to face him. The rain drenched her, the black shirt she wore sticking to her soft skin. "How much longer does this have to happen?" She asked, her voice growing louder with frustration. "One minute you're kind and I almost think you've changed, then the next you're lashing out on me and being a dick!" Tears pooled in her eyes as she stared into Draco's eyes. The moon shone on her face as the rain fell on her. "I'm keeping you...us.. I'm keeping us safe!" He retaliated, his hands running through his soaked hair. "I don't need you keeping me safe! I can't keep doing this..." she paused, looking directly at Draco as he stepped closer to her. "this rollercoaster! I can't handle it anymore!"
Tears were falling down her face now. She felt like just another girl in his life. Just another person he'd go on to forget and never think twice about. He kept walking, his hands reaching out to her in the rain. "I'm doing this for you." He mumbled as his hands met the sides of her face. "Hell, Amara, I've been so conflicted over you for months. I think I've realized.." his eyes dashed between her eyes and her lips, leaning closer to her. "I think I've realized what I want now." Butterflies filled Amara's stomach as he closed the gap between them, his lips meeting her's. Her eyes fluttered shut as their lips danced together in sync. His left hand slid from her cheek down to her waist and her's snaked around his neck, pulling him closer to her.
Time seemed to stop. The world revolved around them now and the stars seemed to dance around them happily as the rain fell down on them. Amara felt as if fireworks had been set off inside her as he kissed her under the moonlight. Nothing had felt this right. Ever. It felt as if her whole life had been leading up to this exact moment. Like the universe decided from the very beginning that this was to be. She felt warm in his embrace, the cold chills of the rain vanishing around her.
Draco was the first to pull away, his eyes locked on Amara's. "All of this has been for you." He whispered, resting his forehead against hers. "I've been determined to keep you safe. So determined that I felt I needed to keep a distance." He breathed heavily as Amara watched him intently, her head spinning. "I'm fucking in love with you Amara Blackwood."
This time, it was Amara who closed the gap. Her lips met his again as her fingers tangled into his hair. Draco held onto her as if something might take her away from this moment. Take her away from him. This kiss was shorter. More sweet. They pulled away and stared at one another, a pink tint flooding onto Amara's face. "We should sleep." She managed to force out, a smile fresh on her lips.