Winners, Keepers (Oliver Wood)

thirteen: doubts

January 7, 10 am

The new school term has started off well. First, Daniel and I have reconciled over the holidays and are now (sort of) friends. It was still awkward but it was nice that we both hadn't held a grudge for each other.

Second, I had a really good feeling about Oliver. I may even like him a little more than a friend. It was a weird thought but Megan has finally made me realize that I liked the idea of me and Oliver in a relationship.

I was walking to Charms when Rebecca Prujisck, a housemate, tapped me on the shoulder.

"Is it true that you and Oliver are dating?" She answered with her nose slightly turned and a slight frown.

I didn't know how to respond. "Uh...no?"

I mean, I wish we were. But we weren't. I wasn't even that sure if Oliver liked me back, although I have an inkling that he might.

"Good," her face brightened. "I mean, sure. I was only just curious."

She waved me a goodbye and skipped her way into the opposite direction. How queer.

* * * * * * * * *
It was a Tuesday so I went to the Quidditch field to watch the Gryffindor team practice with Meghan and her boyfriend. Gryffindor was in for a good semester, because we had won the last game against the Slytherins right before holiday started. It was the true Christmas gift.

"Did you hear about Rebecca taking a liking for Oliver?" Meghan asked me.

"No, but I do reckon she does because she asked me a while ago whether Oliver and I were dating." I frowned. I didn't like the idea of it at all.

"Really?" She pursed her lips. "I bet she's going to stir up some trouble. The whole school knows Oliver has a massive crush on you. He has been since the start of the school year!"

"I..." I trailed off, feeling my cheeks burn. He did?

"We better teach her a lesson!" Meghan growled, pulling her sleeves up and puffing out air.

Tom refrained Meghan from standing up to march over where Rebecca and her best friends were sitting. "Now, now, love, let's not get violent. Remember the last time you got into a fight?"

"It's not my fault Jinky has a tougher punch!"

"Exactly. That's why you can't go around punching other girls anymore. Remember what McGonagall made you do?" Tom scolded.

Meghan's face dropped and nodded her head. "Fine. You win. But I bet she's going to steal Oliver away from Avery. I have intuition on these sorts of things."

"What are you talking about? Oliver isn't mine to begin with, and Rebecca's a nice girl! She would never do such a thing." I reasoned. I was spurting things out that I didn't even know were true. Rebecca was actually a year above us, so I didn't know her too well.

"I don't know about that, Avery." Tom said. "Ever since Oliver's strong return for the Gryffindor team last year girls have been flocking over him."

"Of course I knew that! I...why hadn't I noticed this?" I scrunched my eyebrows.

"Because you were too busy with studying for the stupid NEWTS and ogling with Oliver to notice! And now Rebecca has confirmation you both aren't dating and she's going to steal him from you!" Meghan wailed.

"Shush, Meghan stop being so ridiculous! It's not going to happen. Besides, I have a good feeling about Oliver." I smiled.

"You guys better get together before the end of the school year or I'm killing myself." Meghan barked.

8 pm

"Hey, Oliver!" I called out. We were both in the common room, with a few students studying.

He smiled at me and say right across me, where we both overlooked the scenery of the night. It was snowing and it was beautiful.

"So, how'd you like your Christmas present?" I grinned.

It was the first time we've been alone together since the start of the year -we'd been surrounded by friends and hadn't really had time to talk.

"It was great!" Oliver smiled gently. "Who knew I needed a book on Quidditch supplies? And the Muggle chocolate you've sent me was absolutely amazing. I didn't know anything could top Chocolate Frogs."

"I know, everyone likes Cadburry fingers." I grinned.

"I...listen, Avery. I'm quite tired so I have to go to the dorms and study, alright?" Oliver sighed.

Study? But it's only the first week of school, I wanted to say. That was odd.

"I can help you. What subject?" I smiled wearingly. Usually he'd come to me for studying.

"For some shit one. I'll talk to you tomorrow morning, okay?" Oliver smiled and left me sitting alone, a little confused.

This was by far the shortest chat we've had. Ever.

January 14, 12 nn

"I've got a feeling Oliver's been avoiding me." I told Meghan on the way to the Grand Hall.

"See? I told you Rebecca's brewing trouble up." Meghan narrowed her eyes.

I scoffed. "Stop being so silly, Meg. Something's obviously bothering him. I wonder why he's not telling me."

"You should ask him, then. You both are close anyway." Meghan waved her hand as if to dismiss the thought.

I pursed my lips. "But I've tried. Three times now! He's even moved seats in Transfiguration, stopped walking me to classes and straight up ignored me last night in the common room when I waved at him."

"Uh..." Meghan thought hard. "Maybe he didn't see you."

"But why would he just stop? What if he doesn't like me anymore?" I furrowed my brows together.

"Well now that you basically admitted that you like him back, all you have to do is to tell him!" Meghan chirped.

"What? That doesn't even make any sense. He's been ignoring me for more than a week now."

"Trust me. Just straight up tell him. He's probably feeling confused because he's liked you for so long and has had no results so far. Maybe he like, gave up or something? I don't know, but Tom was like that after a month of us flirting and what-not."

"A month?"

"Yeah. After a month he almost gave up until I had the courage to kiss him. Then we were sailing like a dream after." Meghan smiled happily, reminiscing the memories.

"But if Oliver's liked me from the start of the school year..."

Meghan nodded her head. "So basically he's been trying to win you over for more than three months. And you're always so shy...he's probably very conflicted."

I tried to put it all in thought. "I think what you just said makes sense, as crazy as that sounds."

"I told you. I'm a love expert. Now I'm hungry, let's eat."