For The Love of Pranks! I Love You!

Flicker

*I love this song (and him, lol) and just thought it would fit perfectly right now!

I numbly walk out from the back room, trying to put on a fake smile for the customers around me as I try to ignore Fred's words that are swirling in my head, mixing with those of the boggart from fifth year.

I really do mess everything up.

When you feel your love's been taken

When you know there's something missing

In the dark, we're barely hangin' on..

"Hey, everything okay?" Alicia pops up next to me, asking quietly. I begin to nod my head, not wanting to talk about it, but instead I shake my head, willing the tears away.

"I really mucked it up this time Alicia. Fred won't even look in my direction." I whisper around the lump in my throat.

"Oh sweetie... What happened?"

"It was that customer. I was just angry and—"

"And jealous." I just look at her but nod anyways.

"And so we argued, and he pretty much said he can't keep doing this, but we'll talk after work. Alicia, what if he thinks the wedding was a bad idea? What if—"

Asking questions to the ceiling

Never knowing what you're thinking

I'm afraid that what we had is gone

"No what ifs. Evelyn you can't really believe that can you? Fred would go to the ends of the earth—"

"Okay, but what happens if he can't handle it anymore? I...I don't know what I would do."

And I remember the magic electricity

Then I look in my heart

There's a light in the dark

Still a flicker of hope that you first gave to me

That I wanna keep

Please don't leave

Please don't leave

I manage to find a place to sit because my knees feel like they're about to give out, and my shaking hands cover my face as the tears begin to surface. Alicia sits next to me, wrapping an arm around me as I focus on my breathing.

"Everything will turn out fine Evelyn, okay? Don't worry. I think Fred would rather die before he left you over something so silly." We sit in silence for a bit as I take in the truth of her words, and just hope she's right.

And I want this to pass

And I hope this won't last

Last too long

I make it through the rest of the day, my stomach churning at the impending conversation yet to come.

"We're going to go get some dinner alright? See you two in a bit!" George calls as he and Alicia leave before locking up behind them, and suddenly my anxiety is uncontrollable.

Finding one of the few chairs in the shop, I wait for Fred to finish up with the cash registers, knowing eventually we'll have to talk about what happened earlier. I go over all the different scenarios that can happen, all the different outcomes of what is about to be said. Placing my face in my hands...there's not much else I can do.

"Evelyn."

I cringe at Fred using my full name as I look up to him standing a bit away from me, so many emotions flirting across his face that I don't have time to recognize any of them.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can be so stubborn, a-and insecure, I don't mean to be but I can't help it. I—"

The words just tumble out, all of my rehearsed replies gone from my brain, and all I can do is apologize before he cuts me off, making me quickly shut up and hold the tears threatening to overcome me.

"Evelyn. Please, just listen." He sighs before pacing back and forth, trying to wrap his head around whatever it is he's thinking.

"You know I love you Evelyn. I have since we were children. Which is why I just can't understand why you believe that every woman that looks my direction is going to take me from you. Do you really think that little of me?"

"No! Of course not! I—"

"There's no doubt in my mind, that I won't lose you to another, but why do I feel you're so quick to doubt my intentions?"

I try to make sense of the ramblings in my mind to give him a solid answer as to why I am this way, but nothing formulates properly, and I'm left shrugging, my mouth opening and closing stupidly.

"I–I don't doubt you in my heart Fred. I never have—"

"Then why do we keep having these stupid arguments?!" I flinch at the raise in his voice and once again struggle for an answer.

"I don't know Fred! I–I cannot give you a good enough reason, why my mind does this to me. Why these doubts have been planted, when I know they aren't true, but they won't leave me alone. They plague my subconscious no matter what I tell myself..."

I trail off, not knowing what else I can possibly say, tears fulling streaming down my face, as he finally stops pacing. I watch him carefully to see what he does next, taking a deep breath he doesn't quite look into my red and swollen eyes.

"I think you should visit your father for a bit." He says with a heavy sigh, rubbing his forehead in frustration.

At his words, I try to contain the sobs raising in my chest, the ache in my chest becoming unbearable. Squeezing my eyes shut I feel the tears run down, but I don't care enough to wipe them away.

"And–And what do you want me to do there? Stay? Move back?" I say around the lump, bitterness and anger flooding into my voice.

"No Love. I just think we need time to think. To figure this all out, and I think it'd be easier—"

"To do it alone?! Yeah, cuz that's always worked before!" I say with a scoff, quickly rising from my seat. All I want to do is get out of here.

"Evelyn, please just listen—" He try's to reach for my arm, but I easily evade his grip.

"No! I'm done listening Fred. Why can't you? You're sending me away after I've done what you've asked. So I'm done listening, and maybe you should start."

I take one last hard look into my husband's eyes, wishing I could somehow fix this, somehow fix my thoughts...Seeing the tears collect in his eyes as he watches me I can't take it any more and decide to apparate to Grimmauld Place without another word.

And you feel like there ain't nothing left

I'm afraid that what we had is gone

*Woo! Two chapters in under a week! I think I've finally got it back guys! Thanks again for being so patient! Lemme know whatcha think!