Little Light of Mine // George Weasley // FF

Chapter 37:What Could Go Wrong

MAISIE POV

"Maisie," Arya walked up with me with her arms folded from the cold. The wind wasn't so bad considering we were at the top of the hill. Unfortunately, that meant I had to stop pretending I couldn't hear Arya. "Remember that time you told me you were sure the mermaids would talk to you if you just swam out far enough,"

"What of it?"

"Remember how everyone said that was a horrible idea, like your worst idea ever,"

"Yes, and they were right," I shrugged. "But in my defense, I was drunk,"

"It was still a better idea than this one," Arya shot back. "George is going to be there,"

"I know-"

"I thought you were done with him,"

"Done with trying to date him," I corrected. "This is different,"

"Like I hadn't heard that one before," Arya scoffed.

"I mean it," I sighed, pushing my hair aside, "I- this is just about hanging out with friends,"

"Friends.... Right," Arya sighed. "Friends give each other long angsty flirty stares?"

"Sometimes," I paused. Trying not to give room for speculation, but Arya was way ahead.

"Did you actually say that, or are you drunk already and slurring your words,"

"We have some shit to get over," I flung my arms up in partial frustration and confusion. She was right, but I didn't want to stop my walk to the boathouse. "But how are we going to, if we never hang out,"

"So your plan is to hang out with George ... until you are friends again? Just like before..." Arya paused. "And nothing can go wrong here?"

"It's just friendship," I replied.

"I'll do you a favor and pretend to believe that until this all blows up," Arya smiled. "Then I will have 'I told you' stitched on your robes,"

"It will be fine," I tried to wave her concern, but that never worked.

"What about Cedric?" Arya abandoned this part of the conversation, clearly giving up on me.

"Cedric is out with friends; I can be out with friends," I sighed.

"And George,"

"George is a friend,"

"A friend that you are trying to condition yourself into not being attracted to," Arya said. "Also, we are just glancing over the fact that he was blackmailing you into spending time with him,"

I had come to realize that if I wanted to, I could have pushed him away, far away as possible, and saved me from going into the woods with him. However, the blackmail was the perfect opportunity to lie to myself and those around me. This way, I could say I had to be near George, and people would understand, whereas I would have earned some looks otherwise. And Arya could then see how selfish I was for keeping George close. "Look, there's no way to escape his presence when I love his entire family," I turned back to her and put my hands up. "I have to get used to him,"

"But I thought you didn't want anyone to know you are on speaking terms with him?" Arya said.

"I didn't want people to know I'm meeting George to plan a venture into the woods. Hanging out in groups will be fine," I said.

"I sure as hell hope so," Arya muttered. "And, I'm going to be there,"

"Because you miss your friends too, and we are all going to have fun, George or not," I smiled- making sure to set a happy mood.