~Rose~
Oliver held out a file, my mom’s name written in bold on the folder. “What’re you looking for, Ollie?”
“Ollie?” Everyone looked towards me as I blinked.
“Oops, Oliver.”
“I’m just wondering what your mom looks like. If she’s as pretty as you.”
Oliver thumbed through pictures as he glanced between me and a picture. “What is it?”
“Your mom is really skinny.” I looked towards my mom’s picture and smiled big.
“That’s my mommy!” I grabbed the picture of her and a golden platinum blonde guy, his hand around her waist, and a smile across their faces. I saw a platinum blond, her hair similar to Malvin’s hair color, in the background, her eyes a bright sapphire color. She was looking at the guy, as the guy was looking at my mother. “She looks happy.”
“You look… exactly like her…”
“Aw I wish I was as pretty my mommy.”
“I want to see.” Layla peeked over my shoulder as she looked shocked. “Dad?!”
“Who?”
“The blond guy!” Layla pointed at the guy in the picture.
“Aw, so my mommy and your dad were friends! Yay!”
“More like lovers, it seems like.” Fred glanced at the picture as he looked between me and the picture. He suddenly looks towards Layla. “Rose looks more like the blonde in the background whose looking at your dad.”
Layla looks back at the picture as she grabbed the picture from me. “That’s… my mom…” The picture was moving as Seth leaned in to kiss my mom. “That’s my mom and my dad…”
“Wait what?” I looked towards the picture as Layla turned it over. Violet Slaughter with Seth Parker, 6th year. Background: Starr Slaughter. Oliver turned back towards the file cabinet and, tried finding something else.
“Where’s…”
“Let’s get out of here.” Layla put the picture back in the folder as I grabbed it from her.
“Can I keep it? I want to know more about my mommy.” I smiled at Oliver, who didn’t seem to want to look at me. He looked past me, at Fred and George.
“Let’s go.” I bit the inside of my cheek as Oliver walked ahead of us, Layla’s mind obviously elsewhere. I looked back at Oliver, as I bit the inside of my cheek even harder, suddenly having a rush of a taste of blood. “Let’s go get something to eat.” Oliver turned to look towards Layla and avoided looking in my eyes.
“Actually, I’m not really hungry.” I smiled and looked towards them as we got out of the corridor. “I think I’m gonna go check on Misha.” I walked past them as Layla suddenly seemed to snap out of whatever trance she was in.
“Rose, do you want me to take you back?”
I glanced at her, and shook my head, tucking my mother’s folder into my bag. “No, it’s okay. I’ll find my way.” I waved back towards them quickly before jogging down several of the moving stairways. I got to a landing as I set my hand against my chest slightly, breathing out heavily.
“Is the beached whale out for a walk?” I looked up to see Malvin snickering with Krabby and Gregory. I bit the inside of my cheek again, as I turned away from them, walking away. “Where’s Twiggy?”
“It’s none of your business.” I growled out as I started running down the moving stairwells again. I could feel the tears building behind my eyes. I slowed to a stop when I saw the Hufflepuff standing in a group of friends laughing. He looked towards me and smiled happily, waving at me. I lifted my hand to wave towards him, only to start walking past him.
“Are you lost, Rose?”
“No.”
“Are you lying?”
“No.”
“I’ll take you to the Ravenclaw house.” He grabbed my wrist tightly, pulling me along.
“I told you I wasn’t lost!” I shouted as I scratched at his hand. “Let go of me!”
“I can tell you’re lost. I’m just taking you to your house.”
“I don’t want your help! Let go of me!” I shouted out as I tugged at my hand roughly. I suddenly felt pulled in the opposite direction as I was face to face with a red and gold tie, a black cloak blocking my view.
“She said she didn’t want your help. Take the hint Diggory.” I heard Fred’s voice as I turned my head to look up at whoever was holding onto me.
“Just go back to your little group.” Oliver’s voice vibrated in the chest I was against as I shoved him back.
“Leave me the hell alone!” I shouted as I started running in wild directions.
“Rose!” Layla shouted and ran after me. I could feel the tears burning behind my eyes as I only heard her footsteps. So no one else was following me. “It’s okay!” She cried out as she grabbed my hand, and hugged me. “Talk to me…” She held me tight, as the tears washed down my cheeks.
“Can we go somewhere private?” I whispered as I could feel the eyes of everyone on us, as she pat my head lightly.
“Of course.” I didn’t really see where we were going, but before long, I was surrounded by green and silver drapery, and couches. I sneered at the couches as Loki laid on one side of them.
“Ugly couches…”
“I know right?” She giggled out as she ran her hand over my hair, looking at me. “Now what’s bothering you?”
I bit the inside of my cheek as I turned to look at the chandelier. “I don’t know… It’s just… I’m bothered by Oliver…”
“Oh? What about Oliver bothers you?”
“Everything…” I sighed as I sat on the couch, Layla sitting next to me. She looked at me with those intense forest green eyes. “His voice sets me on defensive, and makes my cheeks hurt. The way he just does whatever he wants makes me so mad and makes me want to punch him. And especially the way he used to look at me. It used to make my heart race like mad rabbits. But now that he doesn’t look at me, I want to scream at him and tell him how infuriating he is…”
Layla just smiled at me as she wrapped her arms around me. “Is there anything else?”
“The way he chews his food… The way he walks, or talks… The way he’s so crazy about quidditch… It’s all super annoying. His cocky smile, and especially the way he hangs out with Granger… It’s infuriating and makes me want to throw a brick…” I looked at my hands as I twiddled my thumbs. “But most of all… I think I might like him a lot more than I should… And I hate it.”
