Loverboy

"Didn't think you'd take a fancy to him of all people, Olivia."

Ollie walked into the Great Hall, sliding into a seat at the Gryffindor table. Remus looked at her, noticing that she intentionally didn't sit by him. The tension had already been high among the boys, and usually the arrival of their other friend eased it. Today, however, it tripled in intensity. Olivia casually poured a glass of pumpkin juice and began chatting up James.

"Do you have any plans this weekend?" she asked him, leaning to her left where he was sitting.

Confused (but still relieved she wasn't mad at him), he replied, "No, I'm free. It's another Hogsmeade weekend, right?"

"Mhmm."

"Why?"

"Because," she said back, "we hardly ever hang out, just the two of us. I was thinking a nice, warm, filling lunch. And some shopping."

"Oh. Um..." James looked at Sirius, his eyes clearly reading "What the hell is even happening?"

"Oh my god, James. Not as a date. Just as two friends."

"Oh, well, yeah sure. That sounds fun."

Olivia smiled, giving her friend a kiss on the nose - non-committal, sweet, and just freaking adorable. He replied by ruffling the unfixed mess that was her hair.

Remus didn't know why, but the sight of her affection towards James - James, of all people! - made him uncomfortable in a way he could never describe. It was like a monster, small and scaly, clutching his mind, its long, green tail twisted around his spine. At the same time, however, it felt like something that should be clutching at his brain wasn't. Something tugging at his hair, something pricking at his forearms. Something was missing, but simultaneously that thing was more present than ever.

"Didn't think you'd take a fancy to James of all people, Ollie," Remus said, the comment slipping off his tongue without thinking first. The taste of the words on his tongue was vile, like acid and moldy bread mixing together to form a overall feeling of hatred for it.

Olivia's eyes met Remus's caramel ones, turning from the happiness and childlike warmth that they held when looking at James moments before, to cold and expressionless. "You know, Remus." Her eyes became slits. Everyone could sense the vitriol about to spill forth. "Maybe you ought to learn when to keep your nasty mouth shut."

Students around them became silent, and within seconds, the whole Hall was silent. Olivia stood up. Before, she had seemed to radiate anger, but now, the only emotion that anyone could see was the sad frustration, hardly noticeable tears beginning to brim at the beautiful pair of dark green eyes. "That was... Was very, um. That was quite filling," she remarked, despite having hardly had half a glass of pumpkin juice and nothing else.

She spun on her heel, and she walked out of the room. Lily, Mary, and Marlene all stood from the end of the table, far from where their friend had been sitting. Over at the Slytherin table, Josephine Coleman stood, and followed her friend quickly out of the room. The Gryffindor girls immediately followed suit.

Josephine, a moderately popular Slytherin girl, walked incredibly quickly, and she caught up to Olivia first. Her hands, soft and gentle, carefully wrapped around her friend's wrists. Josephine had an air of confidence about her, unrivaled by even the most popular fifth years (Ollie, James, Remus, Sirius, and by extension, Peter.). The way she always had a bright lipstick on (she favored a rich red, but also adored a vibrant bubblegum pink), making her lips stand apart from her dark skin, and the fact that on most days, that was the only makeup she'd wear, let anyone who saw her know that she couldn't care less about your opinion if she tried. Her black hair was often in a poofy bun on the top of her hair, which made the bleached strip seem almost comical how it didn't swirl through the updo, but simply stayed exactly how it was, like a drawing. Josephine was tall- five feet and nine inches in height - she was one of the most attractive people in the school.

All four of her female friends crowded around her, trying to soothe her. Olivia, however, told them she wanted to be alone for a bit, and went back to her dorm. She didn't show up to any of her classes that day, and every teacher asked Lily, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and James if she was alright. None could answer. 

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A/N: Ok so I basically had a burst of motivation yesterday, soo.... new chapter!! Yay!! Um I had a Very Important Test today, but I got to talk to the person I like so... it wasn't too bad. Maybe I'll update again this week, maybe not. Depends. On what, idk. Depends. Oki anyway ily guys so much, and thanks for the reads (even though it's only a couple but I mean... still. Publicity is publicity.) have a nice rest of today or a nice tomorrow, actually, both. - Cat 💜

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