UNDER THE MOON, Remus Lupin

xx.

GOODBYES AND HELLOS

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Alice sat on Adrian's bed as he packed and rambled on about his little sister. Zephyr had finished packing days ago and was half-listening as he laid upside down with his head hanging off the bed. Alice was tempted to inform Adrian about the packing charm he seemed to have forgotten about. But it was fun listening to him talk and breathe heavily as he rushed around the room. They had to be on the train in 30 minutes, which is why Alice and Zeph found it particularly amusing that Adrian procrastinated this long.

Finally, Adrian groaned and put his hands on his knees after slamming the trunk shut. "That was torture."

Zephyr scoffed. "Yeah... Wait what? Blood's rushing to my head, I can't make sense of anything."

Adrian shook his head and turned to Alice. She smiled at him politely. He walked over to her and stood in between her legs, running his hands through her hair. "I'm going to miss you. When I come back I'm giving you the fingering of a lifetime."

"Sorry, what? Are you talking to me?" Zephyr asked.

"He said he's going to give you the fingering of a lifetime," Alice told Zeph.

"No!" Adrian exclaimed in a panic.

Zephyr shrugged, nearly sliding off the bed. "I'm down."

Adrian cupped Alice's face. "You should just come with me. Meet my family."

Alice would've considered it if it weren't the fact that this felt like a relationship thing. She couldn't have a relationship with Adrian. "Would be nice. But I can't do that."

"I know," Adrian kissed the top of her head. "Don't fuck with anyone else while I'm gone, yeah?" He somewhat joked with her.

"No promises." If she and Remus were going to be spending a significant amount of time together, there were definitely no promises implicated.

Zephyr rolled into his stomach and blinked hard. "Oh, you guys are being mushy. Disgusting."

Adrian leaned down and brought his lips to Alice's, leaving her with a quick kiss. "Have a good break, Alice." He dragged his trunk out the door.

Zephyr rose his eyebrows at Alice. "You know he's probably in love with you, right?"

It was hard to admit that she was well aware. Maybe that should've been her reason to end things with him. Before it got worse. But it was hard. Omitting that she was in love with Remus, there were loads of reasons why she and Adrian could never be in a serious relationship. She told Adrian it wouldn't happen. She told him many times. If he got hurt, then that couldn't be put on her.

Zeph and Alice said their goodbyes. She encased him in a dramatically long hug. She'd already said goodbye to Clint and whomever else was leaving that she knew. That left her to wonder whether or not it was too soon to see Remus. He was out on the last few days of classes before break. Funny enough, the same days he was out last month. And the month before. His sickness had a schedule apparently.

Alice began nervously fidgeting with her rings as she contemplated whether or not it was a good idea to bother him. They flew off her hands and scattered over the ground. Great. She picked up the nearest one and stood back up, jumping from the presence of a 6'3 ginger.

"Stop that!" She immediately shouted, then began laughing at herself. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." He handed her back her rings. It was definitely Fred.