Magic

24: Lily Luna x Charlie ~ Easy Love

Lily walked to Charms, her throat tight. She watched as Charlie and Maxine grinned at each other, their fingers intertwined. She knew why they were so perfect for each other—it was so easy to be together. It was so easy to hold hands, so easy to kiss, so easy to play around, and smile, and hug, and be in love. Maxine and Charlie had an easy relationship. Maybe that was why he'd left Lily behind. Or maybe it was because Lily had pushed him toward her.

Lily and Charlie did not have an easy relationship. They couldn't smile, because it was wrong. They couldn't hold hands, because Lily wouldn't ever give him the chance to get close enough. They couldn't play around—not without Lucy and Hugo smirking. Nor could they kiss, because Lily was afraid. She could feel herself falling for him, and the mere idea of love frightened her. And if they hugged, Lily knew that it would just hurt her. That was why it was better for Charlie to be with Maxine—because he wouldn't have to suffer, to beg Lily to give him a chance. Those days were over. His love for Lily was over.

Maxine blew a kiss to Charlie before he walked into the Charms classroom. The smile faded from his face as he sat down next to Lily, and for the first time since she'd met him, he looked upset and tired.

"Hi, Charles." she said in a small voice.

"Hi, Lillian." he replied, but his tone wasn't cheerful like it usually was when they joked around.

"You're upset." she stated.

"Yeah."

"You weren't upset 15 seconds ago when you were with Maxine."

"I know."

"Is it because of me?"

Charlie's forest green eyes bore into her hazel ones. "Why would you think that?" He wanted her to say it, he was desperate. He wanted her to admit it; it would make everything so much easier. But of course, this was Lily Luna Potter, and with her, nothing was simple.

"Because everything is my fault." Lily said, her eyes losing their shine as she did.

"Why would you think that?" Charlie repeated. He was pushing her now, he knew it, but he couldn't help it.

"Because—because I was the one who pushed you away in the first place. I was the one who—who—"

"Say it. Please, say it."

Lily's hands balled into fists under the table. Forget Maxine. Forget Lucy. Forget Hugo. Forget everyone who would judge her. She was going to tell Charlie, then and there, and she wasn't going to back out. She was tired of running. "Charlie, I—"

But before she could get another word out, class begun, and they both turned away.

~

"We had a deal!" Maxine yelled, her eyes narrowing.

"And I have done my part." Charlie said, his voice firm.

"I don't want that git anymore. I want you!" Maxine said, trying to kiss him. Charlie pushed her away disgustedly.

"We had a deal, and I regret everything. I've done my part—Andrew wants a relationship with you. I pity him, you know. He's a good person, yet had wants to be with someone as horrible as you. I should never have listened to you. I'm done." he said, running his hands through his blonde curls frustratedly.

Maxine screamed in anger and tried to slap him, but he grabbed her arm. "You're only doing this to me because you're in love with that filthy half-blood!"

Charlie glared at her intensely, and Maxine cowered under his gaze. "You will not speak about her that way, or you will answer to me. I am not afraid, unlike you."

She scoffed and walked away, trying to hide her fear, but Charlie knew it was there. He sighed shakily once she was gone and sunk onto his knees. He couldn't believe he'd done that to her; it was quite unlike him to do such a thing.

"Charlie?"

Charlie glared, expecting to see Maxine once more, but instead he saw Lily. He rose from the ground and dusted off his robes. "Lily."

"Thank you for that." Lily said, her voice shaking slightly.

"It was a deal. If I could help her with Andrew, she'd help me. Things got out of control, though."

"Who did you want help with?"

Charlie paused for a moment, beginning to walk toward the common room. He considered the girl beside him for a moment before asking, "Why did you push me away?"