𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖 | Draco Malfoy

EIGHT | love thorns all over this rose

Blair wakes up with Atlas pressed against her back, and knows right away that last night was a mistake. Whatever happened— whatever made her kiss him, she can't find an excuse for it now. She may have a tiny crush on him, but all that she feels from Draco is so much greater, so much stronger.

And the worst thing is that she knows Draco will find out sooner or later.

Blair moves away from Atlas and silently gets out of bed, carefully moving around the mattress on the floor so Emris doesn't wake up. Blair takes her time to pick out a set of clothes for the day, and disappears into the bathroom.

When Atlas and Emris join Blair a while later in the bathroom to brush their teeth after waking up, they look their friend up and down. "I love the outfit, B." Emris says, grinning. She knows damn well why Blair looks a little different today.

"Why are you all dressed up?" Atlas asks Blair, running a hand through his messy hair. Blair looks at herself in the mirror. Aside from wearing her usual uniform, she's put on her white lace stockings, has taken off Atlas's necklace, and is wearing a bit of a shorter skirt. "I'm not." She says.

"Shut up, Atlas. She looks gorgeous." Emris says, rinsing her mouth and wiping it dry before pressing a kiss to Blair's cheek. "I know she does," Atlas grumbles, turning back to Blair. "But why?"

"Because I'm allowed to wear clothes that I like. I don't see the problem." Blair scoffs, putting her earrings in. Atlas shakes his head. "You rarely wear anything besides your uniform on weekdays. You only wear earrings in the weekends, you're wearing more perfume than usual, and your skirt—"

"What's with my skirt?" Blair says sharply.

"Blair, this is exactly why I asked you if you're seeing someone. You've been acting odd." Atlas says, looking at Emris to seek validation, but she clears her throat and stares at the ceiling instead. "Em, do you know if she's seeing someone?"

"Why are you asking her? Atlas, you're being ridiculous.." Blair scoffs, frowning at him. Atlas ignores her protest, staring at Emris and waiting. "What? She's right, you're being ridiculous. Who would she be dating?" Emris says.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe our new professor that can't keep his eyes off Blair, and seems to want to spend a lot of time with her outside of class." Atlas says casually, crossing his arms over each other. Blair feels her heart drop into her stomach. "You've lost your mind.." She says, leaving the bathroom with her two friends following her.

"Then why do you have his number?" Atlas asks.

Blair stops and turns around, piecing the puzzle together. Now it makes sense that her phone wasn't where she left it last night. "Have you gone through my phone?" She hisses. Blair adores Atlas, but she isn't used to this behavior from him.

"No! You received some messages last night and I happened to walk past your phone, that's it! I read one, but then I got curious and tapped on the rest." Atlas says, his voice raising.

Blair opens her phone and sees all her unread messages from Draco, the ones that Atlas has been able to see.

"Why aren't you answering me?"
"I don't even want to think about all the horrible things that could go wrong, but it's all my mind is focusing on."
"What's he doing to you, Blair?"
"This is the last time he'll sleep in your room."
"I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Are you up yet?"

It's even worse than she could've imagined. This sure as hell doesn't look like a teacher-student conversation. "I've told you— he's Theo's best friend, I know him personally! Of course he cares about me, he's just protective, Atlas!" Blair says.