𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙎𝙤 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 ―𝐣𝐬𝐩

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 - 𝐄𝐱 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 & 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐦

James

It's the end of the first week of November and it has started to snow, it's genuinely so pretty outside. Nate insisted he and I go for a smoke outside and watch the first snowflakes or whatever, I think he is pouty cause the Black Lake is frozen and now he really can't surf. Martha of course insisted on coming with us, because she feels like babysitting her brother so he doesn't smoke too much weed. Relax it's muggle weed this time. We're just about to head into the Great Hall when suddenly, I hear a familiar voice behind me. One I hadn't heard up close in months.

"James."

I stop in my tracks and turn around, already bracing myself. There she is—Luella Lodge. Tall, strikingly beautiful, with her long dark hair, sharp features, and that ever-present aura of confidence. Flanked, of course, by her two minions, Jennifer and Heather. Lu's wearing her signature navy-blue coat, with that sultry, cool expression on her face, like she's stepped out of a Lana Del Rey album cover. Gosh I really don't miss that. She blasted Diet Mountain Dew anytime she wanted sex.

Beside me, Nate mutters, "Oh, great."

Martha, however, stands stock-still. I can almost feel the change in her. Her blue eyes narrow, and she stiffens ever so slightly. I know she hates Luella's guts—honestly, most girls do—but she can't let it show too much. We're supposed to be a couple, so it would make sense for Martha to not love my ex. But as I glance at her, I realize she might not be pretending all that hard.

"James," Luella repeats, striding forward and holding up a box. "I've been looking for you. I thought it was time I returned some of your things."

She thrusts the box into my hands before I can even say anything. It's a mix of my stuff—hoodies, shirts, a few boxers (awkward), one of my chains, and...wait, is that the Cartier bracelet I bought her last year?

"Uh...thanks?" I say, glancing at the box. "But you didn't have to give back the bracelet. It was a gift, Lu."

She raises a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "I don't want it. I don't keep things from exes." Bitch I'm your only ex, the fuck you mean?

Before I can respond, Martha steps forward, her presence suddenly taking over the space. "Well, isn't that considerate of you," she says, voice dripping with sarcasm. She's standing so close to me now that I can feel the heat radiating off her body. Her hand casually rests on my arm, like it's a claim of ownership.

Luella's eyes flick over to Martha, her expression turning icy. "Oh, Barbie, you're still here. Thought you'd be off playing Quidditch or something."

Martha's lips twist into a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "And I thought you'd be off smoking and listening to sad girl music about how all your boyfriends leave you."

Luella's jaw tightens, but she doesn't bite. Instead, she turns her gaze back to me, like Martha's not even worth acknowledging. "You're really going through with this?" she asks me, voice quieter now. "Her?"

Jamesy it's just one injection babe.

My jaw tightens, but I keep my voice light. "Yeah, I am." I put an arm around Martha's waist, pulling her closer to me, and she leans into it like it's second nature. "We're happy, Lu."

Luella's eyes dart between the two of us, and for a second, I see something flicker there—hurt, maybe? But it's gone in an instant, replaced by that familiar indifference. She glances at the cigarette tucked behind my ear and smirks. "Still smoking, I see. Old habits die hard, huh?"

Martha stiffens beside me, her grip on my arm tightening just slightly. I know she hates that I smoke, and I know where that habit comes from—Luella. It was one of the many toxic things about our relationship. But I don't want to get into that right now.