BIRDS OF A FEATHER .. theo nott

ix.

— IVORY found her seat in the great hall for breakfast as usual.

Theodore's blank expression didn't go unnoticed by Ivory, but she didn't comment on it or question it.

Pansy and Mattheo weren't sitting in their usual spot, and she felt awkward sitting alone with Theo especially knowing that he wasn't in a good mood.

Ivory wanted to ask where they were, but didn't want to bother him. "Are you okay?" She blurted out. Almost immediately, she regretted saying anything because of how obvious it was that he wasn't.

Theo gave a mere shrug. "Well, I'm up and I'm here, aren't I?" He scoffed.

Usually, Ivory would've snapped back, but she didn't say anything since she already knew how he was feeling.

She avoided his gaze and kept quiet until then, waiting for Pansy and Mattheo who she finally found talking to Aiden across the room.

While she stared at Aiden and her friends, Theodore glanced at Ivory. He noticed her silence and was so annoyed with himself since he knew it was just pity.

"Don't pity me, Ivory." Theodore mumbled, but Ivory didn't respond. She gave a nod.

Finally, Mattheo and Pansy retreated to the table and took their seats. "What were you talking to Aiden for?" Ivory questioned.

"Just chatting." Mattheo shrugged and exchanged a chuckle with Pansy.

"You better not be up to anything stupid." Ivory huffed in a warning voice, crossing her arms.

"No, no. Just inviting him to a party we're throwing tonight in the common room." Mattheo shrugged.

"A party? A party for what?" Ivory grumbled, staring at Mattheo. While her sentence sounded completely as is, she subliminally meant "Why would you throw a party on a day that's terrible for Theo?"

"Just to have fun," Mattheo said and threw his arm around Theodore's shoulders. "And cheer him up." He then mouthed to the two girls.

"Mattheo, a word?" Ivory seethed. Mattheo sighed. The two stood up and rushed out of the great hall, following down the corridor.

Finally, they came to a stop near the courtyard. Ivory stood in front of Mattheo and looked around them to make sure no one was around. A few students were hanging near them and walking around.

"What the hell were you thinking? Throwing a party today of all days?! It's not going to cheer him up one bit!" Ivory ranted, crossing her arms stubbornly.

"Look, I know how stupid it is. But if he doesn't want to come, then he doesn't have to. He can stay moping around the castle for all I care, which I do, but that's not going to stop me from at least trying." Mattheo explained, speaking in a low but frustrated tone.

Ivory clenched her eyes shut and sighed. "Fine, whatever. But why invite Aiden?" She scowled.

"So that way you guys have the opportunity to actually get some action instead of forcing everything." Mattheo held in a snicker.

Ivory slapped his arm lightly. "Who ever said I wanted to do anything?! And who said we didn't do anything?" She scoffed in disbelief.

"Cut the damn act, you're the only virgin in our friend group and it shows." Mattheo scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Merlin, Mattheo! Could you lower your tone?" Ivory slapped his arm again, her eyes wide which emphasized her seriousness.

"You know it's true." Mattheo insisted, raising his brows and chuckling a bit. "Forget it. I'll see you tonight." Ivory scowled and barged off back into the great hall, shoulder checking Mattheo as she did so.

LATER THAT DAY.

Ivory and Pansy headed down to the common room for the party, about thirty people sitting around.

"Theo's really here? I would've thought he stayed in his dorm." Pansy commented and pointed to the boy who was sitting beside Mattheo on the couch, talking to Blaise and Draco.

Ivory shrugged. "I think I would've preferred that." She scoffed jokingly, Pansy laughing.

The girls didn't hesitate to make their way to the drinks table first rather than greeting anyone.

Grabbing some beer, they walked over to Mattheo and Theo, Pansy smacking the back of their heads to make her presence known, as she always did to them.

By now, they'd recognized it was her and let out a sarcastically dramatic sigh. "Great. The witch is here." Mattheo groaned.

"Says the guy who thinks he's so mighty and great." Pansy chuckled. She nudged him as she walked around to go and sit on the couch opposite of them.

"Thinks? Oh, you dumb thing, I know." Mattheo answered and took another sip of his beer.

Pansy rolled her eyes, as well as Ivory. "So, when's your boy-thing coming over?" Pansy questioned and smirked her dumb smirk.

Ivory rolled her eyes, again. "Not sure." She shrugged and brought her lips to the bottle, taking a long sip. "Well, Mattheo tells me you two are finally going to get some action in." Pansy's smirk grew.

Ivory nearly choked at those words. First, she nudged Pansy's arm, then gave Mattheo a kick on his shin. "Why would you say that? You know that's not true." Ivory mumbled, her face flushing red.

Just as the embarrassment arose, Aiden walked in and approaching Ivory, placing a kiss on her cheek. "Come with me to get a drink?" He whispered to her.

She mentally wanted to choke herself out as soon as she felt his presence, but put on a smile and nodded, standing from the couch and following Aiden to the drinks table, their hands interlocked.

Theodore, Mattheo, and Pansy watched the duo walked off across the common room.

"I barely heard about Theo's mom's death anniversary. How's he holding up?" Aiden questioned, grabbing a beer and popping it open.

"As if I'd know," Ivory huffed and glanced over to Theo, her stare lingering for a while before averting to Aiden. "I suppose he's unwell like any other person would be."

Aiden shrugged. "He looks terrible." He remarked. Ivory furrowed her brows at Aiden after she processed the words. "Well, yes, he's going through a lot. I doubt either of us would look any better if we were going through the same." Ivory crossed her arms, beer still in hand.

Aiden flashed her a puzzled look. "Are you defending him?" He asked.

Ivory inhaled sharply. "No." She replied.

"It certainly feels like it." Aiden admitted, taking a long sip before he went off to meet with a mutual friend across the room.

Ivory watched him walk off. Yup, definitely no action going on tonight other than a possible argument.

She walked back to Pansy and the three boys, plopping down beside her.

"Tonight's going to be a fucking shit show." Ivory mumbled. "What was that?" Pansy asked, unable to make out her words.

"Nothing." Ivory sighed heavily and glanced at Aiden, then Theo.