BANALITY : Draco Malfoy

26

I get home soon after. When I shut the door, I can hear Ali and Amanda giggling. There is music playing. As I hang up my coat, Ali's head flies over to me.

"You look fancy," she points out. "You'd look French if you wore a beret."

"They were a gift," I explain. I wish I had changed before I came home, although the moments seemed kind of rushed if I'm completely honest. Once my boots are off, I move to go into my bedroom.

"Come sit! Amanda made a mixtape and it's quite fun," Ali beckons me over, putting on a pouty face.

"I'm good," I walk past the living room, trying just to get in the bedroom and close the door tightly behind me.

"Oh, come off it, you never hang with us anymore," Ali's voice drops the pretense of kindness. "It's always you and that Draco. You couldn't even be bothered to spend a whole party with us."

I snap my head around, "excuse me?"

"Ali and I just miss you," Amanda says, looking from me to Ali.

My teeth grit together. Sure, they miss me. They miss me exactly enough that they didn't speak a word to me once their uni friends arrived at the party. Ali is wrapped up in boys and Amanda is wrapped up in Ali. Fucking Niamh has been kinder to me as of late. Draco might be using me to fill a space that's been hollowed out, but at least that space is almost shaped like me. Ali and Amanda don't have the same excuse. Somehow, being a replacement feels less insulting than being extra.

"Where did Draco and you go tonight?" Amanda asks. "I didn't think you two were serious."

"We're not," I am trying to keep my voice calm. It's somewhat effective. "I'm not going to see him again."

"Thank God," Ali points out. "I tried to tolerate him as best as I can, but he's kind of rude. His friend was a nice guy though."

"Yeah," all I can think was that Blaise was right about Draco. He was right and I'm an idiot.

"Well, if you want to talk, we can listen," Amanda offers, a soft smile on her face.

I nod, holding up the bag, "just let me change."

They nod and move back to their conversation when I turn and head into the bedroom. It's nice to throw these new clothes on the floor. I put back on the jumper Amanda bought me. The soft fabric makes me regret what I thought earlier. Amanda does see me, and so does Ali. It wouldn't upset them that I'm busy all the time now if they didn't want to spend time with me. The brain has an interesting way of warping thoughts.

Once I'm fully dressed and back into the living room, Amanda smiles, "I knew those colours would look lovely."

Ali pats the spot next to her on the sofa. I join and sink down a bit deep. The springs must've been broken, probably during the party. Amanda turns down Ali's boombox, and then gets up. She makes her way to the kitchen and makes us drinks.

We never chatted about the party at our place, like we usually do. It is Amanda's turn to make drinks anyway.

"Well, if it helps at all, John sent me a text an hour ago, basically trying to get me to sleep with him," Ali shakes her head. "Honestly, do men not understand girl code? It's like he's trying to start a civil war in the flat!"

"He's a maggot," Amanda agrees.

Ali grins, "well, I guess we both should be embarrassed by the people we've liked. Me and Paul, and you and John."