𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐒 | mattheo riddle

seven 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒

・・・❦・・・

VANESSA sat in the dimly lit slytherin common room, the flickering fire casting shadows on the walls. she was curled up on one of the leather sofas, pretending to read a book, but her mind was elsewhere.

the slytherin party, which was three days ago, swirled in her head, refusing to settle. the kisses with blaise, the heated words with mattheo — everything felt like a mess.

she sighed and turned a page without really seeing it. the common room was unusually quiet, with most students either in their dorms or elsewhere in the castle. only a few first years were on the other side of the room, doing god knows what. vanessa enjoyed the peace, hoping it would help her clear her thoughts.

her solitude was however interrupted when someone sat down next to her. she didn't have to look up to know who it was, she would recognize that cologne anywhere. blaise zabini. she glanced up, meeting his gaze, and braced herself for whatever he was about to say.

"i know you've been ignoring me," he said, his voice soft but tinged with frustration, "do you regret the kiss?"

for a moment, vanessa hesitated. she thought back to the party, the way she had kissed blaise more than once and made out with him passionately in front of everyone. and now, here he was, asking her if it had all been a mistake.

"i was extremely drunk that night," she said finally, her voice steady. "but no, i don't necessarily regret it."

blaise's expression softened slightly, and he moved a little closer. "you know, i always thought we were great together."

vanessa opened her mouth to interrupt him, but he held up a hand. "and i know you don't think the same," he continued, "but i really like you, vanessa. i'm sorry for everything that happened between us, but i genuinely miss you."

vanessa felt a pang of sadness. she knew blaise meant his words, but she also knew she couldn't give him what he wanted. she just didn't feel the same way. "i know, blaise. but i can't get into anything serious right now. not with anyone."

for some strange reason, as she said this, her mind flashed to mattheo. she cursed herself for it and quickly refocused on blaise, who was watching her with a mixture of hope and resignation. she kind of thought it was pathetic of him, but who could blame him? every guy vanessa ever gave a chance wanted her back after he fumbled.

blaise leaned in a little closer, his expression serious. "i know you don't want anything serious, but i miss you. and i miss us."

vanessa felt a flicker of the old connection they used to have. blaise had a way of making her feel special, and despite everything, there was a part of her that missed that. "blaise, we had our good times, but we also had a lot of problems. there's a reason why i ended things."

"i know," he said softly, reaching out to take her hand. "but i've changed. i realized how much you meant to me after we broke up."

she looked down at their joined hands, feeling a confusing mix of emotions. it felt like he wasn't listening to what she said. "blaise ... , i don't really know what to say."

"just hear me out," he interrupted, "i'm not asking for us to get back together, not right now. i just want to be close to you again."