Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 57 - Thea Talbert

A wave of dizziness washes over me and I grip the rail of Percy's old bed so hard my hand aches.

"What do you mean by that, Fred?"

"I-" he falters.  "Never mind, forget I said anything."

"We both know that's not going to happen."  My voice shakes, betraying the turmoil going on inside of me.  George has another girlfriend?

"I was jealous.  So I made something up.  Stupid Fred."  He shoves his hands in his pockets, looking completely broken.

"Fred."  I say softly, taking a step towards him and gently place my palm against his cheek.  "You aren't betraying him by telling me."

"Maybe not by what I did.  But definitely by why I did it."  His eyes fall closed, and at this distance I can see his light eyelashes against his pale cheek.  My stomach clenches, understanding what he is implying.

"Maybe, maybe not.  But if what you said is true, the repercussions are his own fault, not yours."  I assure him, needing to put his feelings to the side for the time being.  I can't deal with all of this at once.  

"I guess."  He flops down on the bed and it squeaks loudly in protest.

"Tell me about her.  Who is she?  How long?"  I cross my arms over my chest, as if they could keep my breaking heart from falling out of my chest.

"Her name is Thea Talbert.  She was a year above us at school.  She doesn't know about you.  And, they started dating some time in late May, early June."  He drapes an arm over his eyes, his shirt pulling up a bit.

"So the entire time.  Our whole relationship.  He had a girlfriend?"  I feel like I'm going to throw up.  He had gotten so upset at me for having had past relations with Fred, while he was actively seeing someone else.  "Does anyone else know?  Have I just been a joke to everyone this whole time?"

The thought of everyone knowing that I was just his side girl, made me want to cry.  They were probably all laughing at how gullible I am.  

"Was this all just some sort of twisted payback?  Is that why he 'forgave' me?  Just for some sort of petty revenge?"  I start throwing questions at Fred, as my legs begin to pace the room.

"I don't think it is all thought through as that.  He started dating Thea because he thought that you weren't interested.  Then when you were, he couldn't resist."  Fred's voice is muffled under the arm of his shirt.

"Couldn't resist?  He should have just picked!"  I fume, as my hurt starts to change into anger.  After all the crap I got over the Fred situation, while he was an actual cheater...  

"He claimed he would break up with her once he was sure that you were serious about the relationship."  Fred sighs, sitting back up.

"So this other girl is supposed to be a safety net?  And for how long?  Six months?  A year?  After we got married?  Maybe after our third kid?"  I snap, furious at George, not only for my own sake, but for this other girl as well.

"I don't know.  I'm sorry."

"Did everyone else know about her?"  I ask quietly, needing to know how far this went.

"No.  He told everyone that they broke up months ago."  Fred replies, standing up from the bed.  "I'm really sorry.  I tried to tell him it was a bad idea."

"Thanks for telling me, Fred."  I give the boy a quick hug and duck out of the room.  I run up the steps to Ginny's room and burst in.

"I need your help."  I say, looking down at the startled girl.  She closes the book she was reading and jumps to her feet.