The Challenge

Chapter 26

(Fred's pov)

        "Will you just stop!" Gem exclaims, "I don't go around criticizing your girlfriend."

        "Because she's actually nice and loyal." I tell her. 

        "And Tom isn't?" Gem questions.

        "He's a player! He cheated on you last year." I remind Gem.

        "Okay he cheated on me once, but that was a long time ago. He's been loyal and he loves me. So just stop!" Gem yells at me. 

        "Okay fine." I yell back, "but when he hurts you. Don't expect me to comfort you."

        "I wasn't going to ask you to." Gem snaps. She grabs all of her things and walks away.

   I sigh and lay back. "So stupid," I mutter to myself. I'm jut trying to look at for Sapphire! I'm tired of pretending to like Tom. She's too caught up with Tom's sweet talk to see that in reality, he's a bloody git. 

   "Why were you and Sapphire yelling at each other?" Dad looks down at me. 

   I close my eyes and rub my temple. "I don't like her boyfriend. I told her that she's going to get hurt, but she won't listen. He cheated on her once but she's blinded by all of things Tom say to see that he's a player. She knows Tom has a history." I open my eyes and groan, "why do girls have to be so difficult?" 

   Dad laughs, "trust me when I say, I ask myself that everyday. Sapphire's 17, you know how stubborn she gets. Be thankful your girlfriend isn't as stubborn."

   I roll my eyes, "Valerie is just as stubborn, Dad. Anyways, Sapphire is just... Sapphire. I don't want her getting hurt. She's a sister to me."

   "She's going through a hard time." Dad says, "you said earlier that her dad was what?"

   I sit up, "Sapphire doesn't talk about it that much. Actually, she doesn't talk about it at all. Her dad's more interested with Scorpius than her. Her mom is always trying to change who she is. She doesn't get the attention she wants from her parents. That's why she always wants to come over during holidays."

   Dad nods and scratches his head. "Going by what you say, she probably likes the attention she gets from Tom. And the attention she gets when she's doing these... Challenges."

   I nod in agreement. "I guess so. But she's still mad at me."

   "Let her cool off." Dad looks at Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione who walked in with Uncle Harry, Aunt Ginny, and mom. "I remember with Ron and Hermione. Hermione was always mad with Ron."

   Uncle Ron laughs, "it's true."

   "Anyways, just wait a little bit. And apologize saying that you're just looking out for her." Dad suggests. 

   I nod, "okay. Did you guys fight a lot?" I ask Harry, Ron, and Hermione. 

   Harry shrugs, "not really. At some points we would argue. But we're best friends."

(Sapphire's pov)

   Once I got comfortable in my bed, I pull out one of my books and started to read. I'm not mad at Fred, I'm just annoyed. I mean, he's my best friend, he's like a brother to me and I can't stay mad at him. 

   I'm annoyed because he making it a big deal. I can take care of myself. Tom loves me, I know he does. He tells me that every day. He cares about me. Sure, he cheated on me once. But that was a long time ago and he would never do that to me again. When he cheated on me, we only dated for like a month. But after, we grew stronger. I love him and that's that. Fred will just have to deal with it.