Insomniacs - Tom Riddle x reader (with pictures)

12 / see you in my dreams

Why is he staring at you like this? And what in Merlin's name does he want to ask you?

You swallow. "Sure, you can ask me anything."

Tom grins. You can tell that he loves making you flustered like this. And you hate that it's so easy for him.

"Are you aware, that Horn is hopelessly in love with you?"

Nolan? You don't even know what to respond. That's ridiculous, obviously. You have been friends since the first year and just that: friends. You're beginning to wonder why a few people seem to think so, though. Julie has always been saying the same thing. But wouldn't he have made advances in any way, if that was really the case?

"Uhh - no...? Why would you think that?" you stammer.

Tom still has the grin on his face and rolls his eyes. "I think it's incredibly obvious, to be honest. Just by the way he was looking at you in Dumbledore's class for example."

Geez, he really wasn't lying, when he said he was observing you. You wonder, if that's why looked so irritated, when you were laughing with Nolan in Transfiguration... could it be? The Tom Riddle? Jealous?

You study him for a bit. "And what was he looking at me like?"

Tom bites his lip. "Like you were the most beautiful girl in the whole school. Can't say I blame him." That's it. Your face is burning up even more. You don't know what to say. Once again, you curse yourself for being so awkward. Aren't Ravenclaws supposed to be quick-witted?

"I almost feel sorry for the poor fool."

You frown. "Why?"

"Because you're not interested in him in the slightest, am I correct?" He smiles knowingly.

You look down. He is, of course. You have never seen Nolan in this way, which might also explain why you're so oblivious to his feelings. He's more like a brother to you. You just slowly shake your head. "You're right, he's just a friend to me."

He carefully scrutinizes your face again. You feel like this is the same look he gave you in the library, like he's trying to find out if you're being truthful. Suddenly you get a slight headache and pinch the skin between your eyebrows. Where is this coming from again, now? Maybe you really are getting sick...

Tom averts his gaze. You start to feel a little better again. Weird.

"Thought so." His voice is incredibly soft. You're not really sure why, but you feel a bit uneasy in his company right now. There are some moment in which, you can't put it any other way – he slightly scares you. You can't point your finger on it, since he's perfectly charming as ever. But it's an underlying feeling you have always had about him, whenever you used to seem him around.

Like on cue, he pulls out his pocket watch and sighs. Seems like your date is going to be cut short again. And you're right, with a regretful face Tom says: "I'm so sorry. The night doesn't have enough hours. I have a few tasks that still need tending to, unfortunately."

This time, your curiosity gets the best of you and you ask: "Prefect duties?" He frowns, almost like he didn't expect you to question his statement. Then, he quickly collects himself and gives you sly smile.

"Precisely." There's a small part of you that doesn't believe him.

﹌﹌﹌

You're back in bed. But unlike last time, when you got back to your dorm after meeting Tom, you don't drift off into sleep immediately. Something was off today, you can just feel it. You would give anything to know what he is doing in this very moment. Prefect duties. Even prefects are entitled to free time and sleep. He told you today that you were an enigma to him. This seems laughable to you now, since he is probably the most mysterious person you have ever met. What is it about him that makes you question him? He is perfectly nice, polite and smart. Granted, a little bit arrogant as well. But there's no reason to not trust him so far. You blame your tendency to overthink and self-sabotage. There's probably just some part of you, that doesn't want to accept that this is going well and that you actually enjoy his company.