noticed ⇀ fred weasley

frenemies

My heart hammered in my chest as I stared up at who I'd never dreamed would've wanted to talk to me again.

Fred Weasley.

"U-uhm, sure we can talk," I mumbled.

He nodded and grabbed my hand while dragging me to a table.

"Sit," he ordered. I obliged nervously, giving a sympathetic smile to Hermione and Ron as they chased out after Harry.

"What's going on?" I asked, staring up at Fred who was still standing over me.

He stood for a moment longer before sitting across from me. He stared into my eyes as if he was looking for what to say. My heart felt like it was going to explode - then he finally spoke, easing some of the tension.

"How have you been, Wills?"

I swallowed, thinking of a response. All that came out was: "I'm good. School's been good. You?"

"I'm alright."

There was another awkward pause, and I shifted in my seat, waiting for him to speak again.

"Well, Willow, I haven't really felt the same since we stopped talking. You know, since you're my best friend," Fred smiled.

I gave a small smile, and said, "Yeah, me too. I hate feeling like this."

"I want us to stop ignoring each other, you and I both know we can't keep doing this," he said. "Why did you get so angry that one day?"

I crossed my arms protectively, searching my mind for what to respond with.

"I guess I don't like you hanging around Angelina," I said, squeezing my arms around me to calm my nerves.

"And why's that?" Fred asked, a strange glimmer sparkling in his eyes. "You can talk to me, love. I'm here for you now." He reached out and grabbed my hand, stroking it with his thumb as he smiled softly.

My heart wrenched for a second and I pulled my hand away a bit while saying, "Because she's rude to me, and you just haven't seen it."

"She's not the nicest at times, but you just have to realize it's her personality. She's the sweetes-"

"Then why does she act like she's a stranger to me despite the fact she's around me constantly? I don't think she's sweet like you think. You're around her so much that she's rubbing off on you," I said, pursing my lips.

"I don't want you to think that, she really is nice, you just need to get a bit closer. Why not bond over quidditch?" Fred asked sweetly.

"I dunno, I've tried. She just ignores me in private," I sighed.

"I'm sorry," Fred said quietly.

"I just can't be around you when you're with each other, it just feels strange to me," I explained, my heart still beating quickly, my fingers basically having their own thumb war against each other.

He nodded coolly, and said, "Well, you might want to get used to her being around me, Wills."

I pursed my lips again and asked, "And why is that exactly?"

"Because Angelina and I are together."

My heart stopped in my chest, and I felt a strange sick feeling in my stomach.

Much to my own surprise, I stood up immediately and said, "Then you and I can't be hanging out like this. I would never be friends with someone who acts so fake around me, and I can't be friends with someone who sits around and just lets it happen."