Tom Riddle - Downfall

Chapter 38: Gossip

I see Tom waiting outside, and he looks at me with a somewhat concerned and confused look on his face, as he sees me come out in a very agitated and upset mood. When he sees that I'm about to just walk past him without another word, he then speaks to me now in a soft voice.
Tom: "Lucia, wait!" I turn and try to pull myself together. It's not Tom's fault after all."Yes, Tom?" Tom seems a bit relieved when I turn back and look at him, as he then speaks in a gentle but concerned tone of voice.
Tom: "Are you alright? You seem... a bit upset after I gave you my reading. Is that what is bothering you right now?"
"Yes, sorry. It's just... that stupid class. Let's not talk about it anymore and just go to the common room, " I say and try to smile at him so he doesn't worry. Tom nods at me softly, and he seems to be trying to match my own slightly less upset mood now. He then speaks to me in a much more light-hearted tone of voice as he starts to lead me to the common room now.
Tom: "Sure, okay. No more divination because frankly, the whole subject feels like a waste of time anyway."
"Yes, I agree."

We go into the common room together, where Kim is already waiting for me. Kim doesn't take Divination as a subject at Hogwarts. Maybe I should have chosen a different class, too. I see Kim sitting on the couch and reading a book when I come in, and she gives me an excited look as soon as I do. She gets up from the couch now and walks over to where I'm now.
Kim: "Finally, you're back. I've been waiting for you all day. How did your Divination lesson go?"
"Don't ask," I say with rolling eyes, throw my things in the corner, and sit down next to her. Tom waves briefly at me and nods at Kim as he leaves the room, and then he disappears quickly into his own dorm where he was going to spend his evening and night. Kim then sits down next to me and puts her arms around my shoulder.
Kim: "Oh, come on, it can't be that bad. What happened?"
"Let's not talk about it," I say and start biting my nails. I usually only do that when I'm thinking about something. Maybe I should leave it alone and talk about something else. "Kim, what's going on with you and Markus now?" I see Kim raise her eyebrows in surprise as she looks at me. She is now looking even more interested, and she seems eager to tell me all about her recent date with Markus, which she has previously told me a bit about.
Kim: "You mean our date? It's kind of complicated. I don't really know how to explain what has been going on with him. It just seems a bit strange to me, to be honest, how he is acting..."
"But you two kissed, didn't you? At the party? And you were so happy about it. What happened?" I look at her worriedly now and don't understand why she hardly told me anything. Kim seems a bit startled at first when I mention the kiss, but then she smiles a bit, and her expression softens. She seems eager to tell me about it now, in detail, as she wants to get my opinion and talk this over a bit more with someone who understands her side of the story.
Kim: "We kissed, yes, but then he didn't talk to me the next day. He didn't even look at me. And now he's acting a bit strange... I just don't understand it at all..."
"What an ass. Honestly. I can't believe this guy. Why didn't you say anything?" Kim shrugs her shoulders a bit, looking at me with a resigned look now as she speaks to me again.
Kim: "It didn't seem worth it. I had hopes that maybe he was just busy or he would get around to it. The only reason why I'm so bothered is that I was very excited about the date and... the kiss... it just seemed perfect and... I really thought he liked me."
"Oh, Kim. I'm really sorry, but he's not worth it. Honestly." Kim seems a bit sad and disappointed to hear that, but then her eyes narrow in determination, as she seems to have made up her mind about one thing now. She speaks to me with a slightly annoyed yet confident voice now.
Kim: "Screw this guy! Yes, if he doesn't have the decency to talk to me, then I'm done. He had his chance. Do you think I should tell him so?"
"I just wouldn't talk to him anymore."
Kim smiles at me with a confident and almost triumphant expression now as she nods her head in an affirmative way.
"You're right. It's probably for the best to just leave him alone. He can screw off, then."
"Men are sometimes...complicated," I say and look dreamily at the ceiling while lying in the armchair. Kim seems to be nodding her head in an agreeing way, as she also lies down next to me and speaks to me in a somewhat sympathetic way.
Kim: "Yeah, I know... I really thought... he was different. I thought he was kind and sweet. Not like the others. He was supposed to be my prince charming because he treated me with respect."
"Kim, there is no Prince Charming. No one is perfect and ... don't let him treat you like that. Fuck him." Kim snorts a bit at my sudden vulgar language now, but she can't help it, as she then starts laughing out loud at this remark.
Kim: "You're right. He can just... he can go to hell for all I care, I have self-respect. I know I deserve better. A guy like him is a dime a dozen, really..."