𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC) - Full Series

[007] CHAPTER 2 - BEST

"now i bet you resent all of me, all of it."
|| gracie abrams

Louis Lupin

Makayla has returned from her father's prison that he calls a home for her. Those aren't her exact words, but that's how I interpret it every time she talks about that place.

I haven't seen her in five months. Those have been the longest five months of my life. And to think that I almost didn't get to see her today because I almost died trying to help Harry Potter. Thank God I played Quidditch, right?

I can't tell her that I almost died. It would make her worried. That's just who she is. Or was. I don't know anymore. When I hugged her, I was hugging my Makayla Malfoy, but it felt off. She felt broken. Maybe she's always been broken since those around her started dropping like flies and it only took me hugging her after a five month hiatus to notice, or maybe something new happened at that house that she hasn't told me about yet—if there even is a yet. Who is to say that she is going to tell me anything? She comes from a family of liars. It wouldn't be surprising if she has a few lies up her sleeve as well. I doubt she means any harm with them, though. That isn't who she is. She isn't evil. I know. I've known her since Pre-K. Once she was my best friend, then she was my enemy. Now she's more than that. I know her more than anybody in this room, or even the world.

The Weasleys allowed me to swap beds with Mattheo so that Makayla and I would be in the same room. That, unfortunately, means that Annelise and Mattheo would also be sleeping in the same room. I swear, I'm about to use that killing curse that father taught me.

Right now, we're getting ready for bed. Makayla is brushing her hair as I fall on my back onto my bed with a plop. She snorts at me, causing me to smile.

"You truly are an idiot, Louis Lupin," she teases as she sets the hairbrush down and sits on her bed.

I turn on my side and hold my head up with my fist as I admire her. In a serious tone, I reply with, "And you are gorgeous, Makayla Malfoy."

She rolls her eyes and tosses a pillow at me. I let out a cackle and throw it back.

After a moment of silence, I ask, "You have a plan, don't you?"

By the look on her face, I am guessing that she's been caught off guard by the question. I can only wonder why. She clears her throat and asks, "How do you mean?"

"You have a set day that you're leaving," I murmur. "I know you are. You never just go without some sort of plan. You and Mattheo are leaving soon, aren't you?"

She goes silent. For a while, I start to wonder if she is even going to answer at all. That is, until she finally speaks. "I'm going to stay for however long I can. I can promise you that," she mutters.

"That doesn't answer my question," I say, sitting up. "Are you and Mattheo leaving soon?"

"Louis—"

"Don't try and deflect it, Makayla!" I retort, rising to my feet. "I just want to know if you lied to me or not! Is it that hard for you to tell the truth to someone in your life?"

She's silent for a moment before mumbling, "Yes..."

I roll my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose as I sigh, "I need some air."

"Louis—" she starts.

"No," I say firmly. "I'm fine. I just need to take a walk."

I then walk out, the vacant weight in my chest making itself known as I make my way outside.

When I get outside, I am met with the back of Mattheo. I sigh when I see him and lean against the wall next to him. We're silent for a while as he takes a few hits from the cigarette between his index and middle fingers.

"What's up, Lupin?" Mattheo asks, smoke puffing from his mouth.

"Are you and Makayla leaving soon?" I change the subject, holding my hand out for the cigarette.

He sighs, handing it to me as he says, "Yeah. We're leaving after the wedding."

I roll my eyes as I hit the cigarette and look at the floor. Smoke blows out of my mouth as I mutter, "Why was it so hard for her to say that?"

"She ain't cooperating?" he chuckles.

I sigh, "No. She's been lying and I'm worried to find out what else there could be that I don't know. I love her, man—like, I'm in love with her—but I don't know if I can trust her..."

"Lupin," he sighs, "she loves you, a lot. She may lie a bit too habitually, but it doesn't mean that she's a horrible person. It just means that she's been around her family for a whole five months and has gotten used to it."

"That shouldn't be how it works," I mutter.

"You're right," he chuckles, "it shouldn't be, but we can't change her hardwiring, we can only learn to guide her in the right direction."

I take a puff of the cigarette and blow the smoke out of my mouth. "Why are you suddenly all defensive over her?"

"I've been forced to be around her for the past five months," he laughs, looking at me. "She's been a wreck since long before Dumbledore was killed, especially since Kai is dead."

My heart suddenly stops beating. Kai? Dead? I thought he stopped arriving at Hogwarts because he got some sort of scholarship at some Wizarding college or something. One of the Malfoy triplets is just dead now? And nobody knew about it? Makayla never even told me... Speaking of too much lying.

"Since when has Kai been freaking dead?"

"Since winter break of last year," he murmurs. "Voldemort's doing."

"Why wouldn't Makayla tell anyone about this?"

He sighs and stuffs his hands in his pockets as he says, "Well, same reason why I shouldn't be telling you this now. We could be killed."