Between the Cracks // 𝓕𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓦𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓵𝓮𝔂

46. Properly...Smashed

Chapter 46: Properly...Smashed

The hours slowly ticked by, the darkness outside being the only company as Leigh laid awake. Even in her drunken state she could feel the uneasiness bubbling underneath her skin, not leaving her alone despite tonights efforts.

She didn't dare to sleep – afraid of being faced with the same nightmare which tormented her during her stay in the shop. Afraid of waking up screaming in a cold sweat, not being able to calm herself down on her own. And so she laid awake, nails digging into her palms, head fuzzy, and thankful that the alcohol coursing through her system at least lessened the effect of her destructive thoughts.

She had desperately tried to avoid thinking about her dream, but the thoughts started to crawl back to her. Evan. Fred. She rubbed her eyes. She couldn't understand how her own mind worked.

Not only that – she felt guilty that she didn't dream of only Evan – a clump of grotesque, festering guilt making her want to reach inside of her chest and physically tear it from her being. She couldn't get it out of her head.

It was reaching far into the AMs when Leigh finally decided to climb out of bed, struggling to put on her sweater in the dark. Nova slept deeply on the other side of the room, and Leigh easily slipped out of the room unseen despite her clumsy movements. Still feeling the slight effects of the alcohol in her veins, she slowly started her journey down to the great hall.

There was still some distant chatter echoing from the party, along with some music still playing faintly in the Hufflepuff common room. It slowly turned quieter as Leigh neared the great hall, until only silence surrounded her.

The faint sound of her steps upon the stone floors echoed through the huge space, and she made her way towards her usual spot, stopping abruptly in her tracks when she turned the corner and saw someone else already present on the familiar bench.

She stayed a distance away as her eyes grazed over him, not prepared for the view. His gaze finally rose to hers, watching as she tried to straighten up, pulling the sweater tighter around her body.

His hand came up in a faint wave. "Hey."

Silence ensued for the next second as Leigh shuffled slightly in place, hugging her upper body and scratching her arm uncertainly. Finally, she spoke.

"Hi."

"You alright?" he asked, observing her yet offering a small smile as she moved towards him and sat down upon the bench beside him.

She nodded, glancing at him and forcing the corner of her lips to tip upwards. "Peachy." She cleared her throat slightly. "What are you doing here."

He shrugged. "Just a nightly stroll." He glanced at her again, offering further words. "Wanted to check up on you."

"It hasn't even been a day. I saw you this morning."

He just shrugged again, thinking over their tumultuous last 24 hours. "Can you blame me?"

A second passed before Leigh suddenly started smiling by his side, the sound of a giggle threatening to make itself known in her chest. "It's kind of inappropriate isn't it? It's a school after all," she spoke, and the faint sound of a giggle was heard shortly after. "Stranger danger."

He first furrowed, then raised his brows at her giggly demeanour. His eyes scanned over her. "Have you been drinking?"

Her quiet chuckles seemed to calm down, and she nodded, mumbling out an "Mh," and Fred once more furrowed his brows in confusion. She noticed and spoke again. "Party."