Some Badgers like Snakes

Elle

We lay under the stars making the secret moments freeze in time and last forever.  My head resting on Jake's shoulder, our fingers tightly intertwined, our heartbeats synchronized. I never wanted to get up.
Jacob had said he liked me, which I already knew. I mean we were close friends, I would hope he liked me, but it was something more. The way he said it made me feel hopeful. I mean, maybe "like" meant more than just like. Maybe it meant that he "liked" me the same way I liked him. Maybe I wasn't crazy.  It was possible after all.
"I'm sure it's almost curfew." I whispered sadly.
"I'm sure it is." Jacob replied softly.
"So I guess, we should probably go." I started to sit up.
Jacobs hand flew in front of me, blocking me from sitting up.
I looked at him quizzically.
"A few minutes more." He pleaded quietly.
I lay back down with a smile and rested my head black on his shoulder.
I gazed up at the stars for a few more minutes. I was fairly sure that they were fake, but they were almost too beautiful to be witchcraft.
"Okay we really need to go now." I laughed after Jacob tried to stop me a second time.
He sat up, stretching and stopping before standing up.
"You're probably right." He sighed.
I got to my feet and waited for him to do the same.
He was kind of just sitting there, watching me, with a small smile creeping up his face.
"What're you doing?" I asked starting to feel self conscious.
"Nothing." He smirked.
"You creep." I threw the pillow at him.
He dodged it with ease and started laughing.
I grabbed him by the arms, "Come on! I'll drag you back to your dorms if I have to...but please don't make me." I complained as I started to pull.
"As much as I'd like to see you try, I won't make you." He chuckled as he finally got to his feet.
I sighed in relief, he was actually a lot heavier than he looked.
He threw his arm around my shoulder.
"We can always come back I guess, don't worry." He told me.
"I'm not." I replied softly.
We walked down the halls and the stairs, until we were almost to my dorm.
"Can I ask you something?" He whispered.
"Sure." I whispered back.
We were trying to stay quiet in the deserted halls, the last thing I wanted was for someone like Peeves or Finch to find us. Then we'd be done for!
"I know you already came to my tryouts but my first quidditch game is coming up. If you'd like to come that would be pretty great. As long as you don't break any bones this time."  He smiled hopefully.
I grinned on the inside.
"Yeah sure, sounds fun." I whispered back.
"Great! It's this Friday." He muttered as we reached my dorm.
"See you then." I whispered as I slipped inside.
I shut the door and pressed myself against it.
Sigh.
I could feel my chest heaving up and down as my shallow breaths filled the empty common room. I felt positively giddy!
It had been the perfect night!
Fine food under a blanket of stars, a little bit of adventure, and quite possibly the smallest amount of romance. I stood there for a moment grinning like a fool as my heart rate steadied.
I snuck into my room trying not to wake anyone.
Too tired to change I threw my sweater on the ground, tied my hair up, and climbed into bed in my tank top and blue jeans.
I settled in, a slight feeling of pride creeping up on me.
I, Elle Williams, had successfully stayed out past curfew with a boy and not been caught. I had snuck back into my dorm without anyone noticing and had a great time while doing it. I was practically a new person. I smiled smugly to myself as I snuggled into the warm blankets.
"Nice to see you back, Elle."
My eyes opened with a jolt just in time to see Lavender turn in her bed.
I sighed.
Okay so maybe I wasn't a whole new person.

"Do you know what today is?" I grinned as I slid into the Hufflepuff bench, wasting no time before filling my plate.
"The seventh?" Lav asked innocently.
"Ha ha. It's Friday.  Quidditch day." I corrected happily.
"I'm not playing today." Abby retorted confused.
Me and Lav shared a look.
"Uhhh...yeah I felt like going to the Gryffindor versus Slytherin game actually."
"What? Why?!" She asked, not even trying to disguise the disgust on her face.
"Just cause." I shrugged, looking at my plate as my face grew hot.
"You're blushing." Arietta giggled.
"Yeah you are...Wait a second, does this have to do with that Jack kid?! It does doesn't it!" She accused.
"No, no why would you-Why would you think that?" I stuttered feeling the blush crawl up from my neck to my hairline.
"Shut up Abs. Leave her alone." Lavender scolded.
Abby rolled her eyes.
"Whatever throw away your friendships for a boy." Abby grumbled to herself.
"Are you kidding me?! How am I throwing away our friendship? I'm going to a quidditch game not becoming a teenage bride and moving away! What is wrong with you?" I seethed.
"Excuse me?" Her eyes widened in shock.
"I can't believe you would talk to me like this!" She gasped, looking totally scandalized.
I rolled my eyes. "Oh believe it! You talk to everyone like you're so superior but you're not! All you do is judge us and call yourself a friend."
She didn't respond.
"I don't want to sound too harsh but you need to just stop! We all like you but you can just be a bit...much."
She kept gaping at me like a fish.
So was everyone else come to think of it.
I didn't want to stick around much longer, I'd made things bad.
I wolfed down what was left in my plate, stood up, and smiled.
"See you guys later." I walked through the dining hall, practically feeling the horrified eyes of my friends burning into me.
After what felt like hours and hours of  torturous classes the last bell finally rang. I ran back to my dorm and shrugged on a pale cream summer dress and daisy flower crown.
Was the crown too much?
Nah, flowers were never "too much"!
"You might get cold." Lavender's voice mumbled quietly.
I whipped around. She was standing in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest, looking disappointed.
I sighed. "I know, you're probably right."
I went back to my dresser looking for something that was more "sporty".
"Why'd you do it Elle?" Lav whispered.
"What do you mean?" I asked without bothering to look up.
"Why'd you have to flip on her?" She asked softly.
I turned to face her, "Are you kidding? She's always being rude, to me, to you, to everyone! It's time someone put her in her place." I snapped.
Lavender didn't say anything.
I rolled my eyes and turned back to my clothes.
"You're right."
I froze.
"What?" I asked in disbelief.
She locked eyes with me and spoke slowly.
"You're right, Abby...she's rude. She needs to be put in her place, she needs to understand how she effects others, she needs to learn how to stop acting like such a downright arse sometimes...but it's not your place to yell at her during lunch."
I blinked rapidly. "Come again?"
"You're supposed to be her friend Elle. Now I know from the beginning you two haven't been the closest but you need to remember the big picture. If you want her to change you have to talk to her not scream. Both of you being angry isn't going to solve anything."
I lowered my head.
I hate it when Lav is right.
"You're right." I sighed, looking up to meet her gaze. "I know what I did was wrong and I feel bad, really I do, but I just get so frustrated."
She nodded knowingly.
I took a deep breath. "Look I'll settle this tonight or tomorrow morning, I just- I just can't deal with this right now."
Lavender smiled.
"Whatever, just fix it. Now, how can we make Jacob's heart stop?" She smirked and walked over to the dressing table.
I giggled, I was glad to have a friend like Lavender.

Ten minutes later I was sitting on the crowded bleachers staring out over the school quidditch field. I felt like a single dandelion growing on a lawn, I stuck out like a sore thumb.
Here I was wearing a light pink jumper, faded blue jeans, and white sneakers in a sea of dark emerald and black. The Slytherins had practically made a ring of empty space around me like I was some kind of disease nobody wanted to get too close to. I'd heard groups of girls snicker as I sat down. I caught stray eyes looking me up and down wondering why I was possibly in their territory. Everyone looked so...viscous!
I swear I saw fangs behind the startlingly glossy pink lips of some blonde girl behind me.
I'd never felt more on edge in my life.
I almost felt like a raw steak in a room full of vampires, just waiting to be devoured at any second. You know if steaks were adorable, pretty girls and vampires were snooty, rich kids with way too much makeup and cologne.
"So much for being good finders. The idiot couldn't even find her own seat." The same blonde girl whispered to her friends behind me. I heard a chorus of giggles.
I shrunk down in my seat.
I was almost regretting coming here.
No! I held my head up high. I was here to support my friend! I would not be bullied into leaving!
"Sweet Ella, my darling!" A melodic voice sang.
I felt long fingernails dig into my arm as she sat down, their glossy red colour making me wonder wether or not she'd managed to draw blood.
"Oh uh hi. Victoria, right?" I stammered trying not to sound completely confused. She nodded cheerfully.
"Hi, and it's uh...it's Elle actually, just Elle." I corrected quietly.
She giggled. "Oh Elle, of course, how silly of me. So tell me Ellie dear, why are you here on this fine afternoon?"
I tried not to cringe at her obviously fake sweetened tone and smile.
"I came to watch the game." I beamed, trying to look as cheerful as possible.
I didn't know what she was up to, but I was going to fight fire with fire. Or rather syrupy sweetness if even sweeter syrup.
Her grin faltered but then grew bigger as if she was fighting for the title of most fake smile.
"Naturally. Forgive me but aren't you in Hufflepuff?" She asked.
"Yes I am, why?" I replied coolly,
"Oh, are you here supporting somebody special. I can't imagine sacrificing a Friday night just to watch some boring old quidditch game for a different house." She laughed.
"Yes my friend is playing actually." I tried to end the conversation there.
"Oh Really, who?" Despite the suggestion in her voice I could tell she was more than just mildly curious.
"Oh just a good friend of mine." I tried not to smirk.
I could see her growing impatient with me, longing for an answer.
"You're rather close with Ethan's friend, right? Jacob Flint is it?" She pried.
"That would be him." I said stiffly.
"Ah marvellous! Lovely to see you again, Elsa." She popped up from her seat and sashayed off.
"It's Elle." I mumbled to myself as she made her way over to a group of other Slytherins.
I really didn't like that girl.
I didn't like the feline way in which she walked around, swaying her hips and using those terrible nails to frighten you. Her stark, cold blue eyes and raven hair made her look like a shadow come to life. And even behind her so called smile you could see the wicked calculations behind her icy eyes.
I touched my arm where her hand had been. I was left with goosebumps just from sitting next to her.
"The match will be beginning soon!" A crackling speaker blasted over the arena. A boy a little older than me was sitting at the score table, his wand pressed to his throats as he amplified his voice.
I settled into my seat as both teams marched onto the field below.