One More Cup | D.M

3, | Hyde Park

Dinner with Delilah was nice company. I didn't learn anything about Valencia other than her age which was 24, a year older than me.

Delilah asked me many questions regarding my life, I didn't give away much. I did explain that both my parents had passed — the expression on her face dropped and she placed her hand on top of mine empathically. To be clear I didn't need or want sympathy, that is why I never tell anyone about my parents, it makes others feel the need to send me their apologies and say how sorry they felt for me... as if they knew my pain. They didn't, course lots of people know what it's like to lose somebody you love but I think every single person feels an experience differently from each other, sure you're both heartbroken but you cannot feel the exact same.

I made up some lie about my parents dying in a house fire (I didn't like lying about something as horrid as that but I really didn't know what to say on the spot), then Delilah told me about her family, how she has 3 older siblings and 2 younger ones. Their money was tight growing up and she got a job as soon as she could to help out. She never went to post-secondary and instead got her job as a barista and has been there since.

I like hearing about how people grew up, she has got a tight bond with her family and sees them often. I won't lie and say I'm not jealous, I've always wanted siblings but my mother was far too sick with me and knew she wouldn't be able to bear anymore. Delilah got the big family dream that I've always craved while I have the money that her family always wanted.

Nobody in this world can have it all unfortunately, no amount of money will make up for how I feel on the inside and no amount of magic can bring people back so instead, I am living, not because it's something I love doing but because if I don't I will drown in my own despair.

The night ended with me walking Delilah home as I didn't want her to walk alone in the dark and then I bought myself a bottle of liquor and drank it all in the comfort of my home. The fuzziness of my mind was a nice feeling — at least until the morning.

-

Breaking from my routine I didn't go down to the cafe the next day, I felt the familiar depressive cloud hovering over my head and knew it wasn't going to be a good day.

I'm not going to bore you with the details of the day as I can't even remember them clearly. My phone was ringing but I couldn't find the energy to talk to the person on the other end which happened to be Blaise Zabini, he kept trying to get me to move near him but I didn't want to be any closer to the place where I spent my adolescent years.

Blaise continued to call, he was probably worried sick about my health but as I said I didn't care. He was a good friend, better than I ever was — still I didn't want him around. I got so frustrated by the sound of the phone that I broke it by throwing it to the ground... at least the ringing stopped.

After 2 days of laying in bed trying not to fall into a pit of my own self-destruction, I threw on a pair of track pants and a t-shirt. It was very hot outside today, I noticed when I opened my window to try and air out my flat after being in there for too long, and I went outside. It was late in the day when I went to Hyde Park to walk around.

I will admit it was a lovely place to waste some time, the only problem was I had nobody to waste it with. Again my own fault — like most things nowadays. I hadn't even realized who my body was walking towards until I was practically beside her... yes my Valencia.

She was standing only a few feet away from me, in my arms reach yet I didn't dare touch her (obviously). To my surprise, she was bundled up wearing a knitted cardigan and mom jeans. It was much too hot for clothing like that but maybe she didn't realize how hot it was out? How stupid of me to not be more observant before opening my mouth.

Valencia looked like she would rather be anywhere else. She was standing beside a girl who was only a few inches shorter than her with dirty blonde hair and the same piercing green eyes. They must be related giving how many similar features they shared.

The blonde saw my stare and she glared at me with a very rude expression. I saw her whisper to Valencia and she turned to face me, her cheeks matching her hair when we made eye contact.

I swallowed thickly, I must look like a creep! I raised my hand up as a greeting and turned around ready to leave this bloody park. I wasn't enjoying myself too much anymore.

"W-wait... Draco." I heard her voice call out and I turned back around, she was walking towards me and the blonde beside her stayed where they previously were.

"Hey Valencia," I said with a polite nod. All the swagger that I used to have around women in my teen years vanished with age.

"New shoes I see." She pointed out and I looked down at my feet at a random pair of runners I found in my closet.

"Not quite — I didn't expect to see you here."

"My sister dragged me here." She nodded her head to the blonde behind her. She didn't hold eye contact with me for more than 5 seconds at a time. "What are you doing here?"

I had to lie and say I had met a friend here but he left not long ago. How embarrassing would it be to say that I am wondering here because I have no plans.

"Are you boiling in that cardigan?" I asked her, a teasing smirk on my face that was quickly wiped when I saw her pull it down so her hands were covered by the sleeves.

Valencia's face again turned a deep shade of embarrassment red. I then assumed she was self-conscious over some flaw that only she would notice and I wanted to kick myself for bringing it up in the first place.

"I burn very easily... maybe it's a ginger thing." She said with a short laugh, her head tilted up slightly. I caught sight of the way dimples would appear when she did so.

"Say no more," I said before she interrupted me and then apologized quickly after.

"I just wanted to know if you'd be at the cafe tomorrow..."

I could tell she wanted to say more but the shy girl she was, she didn't know how to. "I will be, why would you like to spill more coffee on me and then speak about whatever novel you're on about?"

"Maybe skip the spilling coffee part." She said, playing with the sleeves of her top. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow then, right?"

"Yeah, coffee will be on me this time," I told her and she nodded, smiling.

"I'll come around 8:30... I should go, my sister is waiting for me."

She gave me a quick wave goodbye and she walked back awkwardly to her sister who was still glaring at me. I turned around and began leaving the park smiling like an absolute idiot.

I soon understood that no matter how stupid I sounded she was too shy to make me feel like an imbecile and on this lovely June day, I had grown somewhat of a crush. Such a childlike thing, I know. But maybe this is what I needed, something childlike back in my life.