Not About Angels (A Tom Riddle Story)

Chapter 29

It was if nothing had happened. Riddle welcomed her back into his circle on again, granting her that warm sense of relief. 

However, something seemed different. He appeared detached, impersonal. He used to have sarcastic jokes only for her, crooked smiles only for her eyes. Now, however, he now treated her like any other member of his circle: cold, precise, and commanding. 

.................. 

It was her third year at Hogwarts. She pulled into the familiar train station again, feeling relief to be back to her true home. Over this summer, many things changed. Tom Riddle did not accompany her back to the orphanage. Instead, he went with Avery, and she was not invited. There, she faced the slew of insults from a cold and bitter Penny. At Hogwarts, she was under his protection, and Penny did not dare touch her. Now, however, Penny could do as she pleased. She felt a iron wedge between herself and Tom Riddle, although she could not understand why. 

She reflected back to what had happened last summer. Was it her words that wounded him? 

But he was Tom Riddle. What could hurt him? 

What she did not understand was that she scared him away. Tom Riddle detested the power she had over him. He hated his reliance on her emotions. He became determined to break it off, and that he did. When she called him a monster, it sealed him off. It inexplicably separated them and forced him further and further down his destined path. 

He was just a monster, after all. And he must live up to the expectation, doesn't he?  

.................................... 

"Gabriel!" Abigail called out to the distant figure in the hallway. 

He was laughing with a friend. He turned his head, accidentally catching her eye. She beckoned him to come closer.  

"What do you want?" He asked impatiently. 

"Gabriel...Can I come to tryouts tomorrow? I hear you guys are looking for a seeker." She said, not looking directly at him. 

He took in her transformation. She was beginning to grow into the shape of a woman, although thin. She had grown a little taller, although still she barely reached his shoulders. The dark circles underneath her large hazel eyes persisted.  

She was like a rose. Fragile, soft, yet fragrant. She was so breakable, but still so resilient. 

He sighed. He felt so stupid when Tom Riddle punched him across the face. He had fallen like a loser in front of everyone. In front of her. A golden boy's fragile ego felt bruised at the sight of her. But still. He knew he was being childish. She was a decent seeker, after all. 

"See you at 5:30 tomorrow then." He said. 

"Thank you!" She beamed, jumping up. She felt excited that she could finally be back in the game again. 

"Leave your boyfriend at home, please. We don't need another incident." Gabriel jested. 

"He's not my boyfriend. And he won't be there." She said quietly, her excitement dying down. Of course he won't. He didn't care enough anymore, she thought. 

"Jeez. I was just joking. What's with the face? Anyways. Gotta run." He walked away, leaving her in the hallway. 

................................. 

"You're back on the team!" Cassie yelled, grabbing her friends shoulder. "Now I finally have an excuse to watch Gabriel at practice again!" 

"Merlin, Cass. If you love pretty boy that much, why don't you just tell him?" Sam winked.  

"He-he's.....I don't know. I prefer to watch form afar." Cassie replied. 

"You know whats happening later this year, right?" Sam asked. 

"Winter ball! Of course. When Headmaster Dippet announced it, I almost died! I'm so excited!" Cassie gasped. "It'll be my first ball! How exciting is that!" 

"Abi! Will Tom Riddle ask you? Imagine if he did! It'll wipe the smirk straight off of those Slytherin's faces! Imagine this, Gryffindor star seeker and Slytherin prince Tom Riddle, star crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, oh the romance! Can you imagine what people will say! Oh! You'll really be a star- 

"Oh, shut up, you. He's an ass, from what I've heard." Sam said. "Don't associate yourself with him and his thugs, Abi. You're much better than that." 

"A HOT ass." 

Would he ask her? Certainly not. But she wanted him to. She imagined the chandeliers, the music, Tom Riddle's slender, delicate finders wrapped around her waist, his soft peppermint breathe by her ear, his angelic half-smile...... She felt an odd, thrilling warmth stir in her.

What was this feeling? Abigail blushed, not wanting to think about it. 

She stopped herself. What good is this? He would never be hers. He had left her behind now. They were barely friends. 

"Cheer up, Abi! We have to think, who are we going to go with! We need to get dresses, shoes, hair, makeup, perfume! I'm so excited, Abi." Cassie gushed.

"Sweetie, it's only august." Sam reminded. "The ball is in December." 

"Only four months away! Four months and ten pounds to lose! I can do it, can't I?"  

"Why aren't you excited, Abigail? You're no fun." Cassie pouted. 

"I-No one will ask me." She muttered. 

"No one? No one? Don't be silly! Of course some one will pick you up! Now that you're back on the team, there's plenty of chances. And don't give up on Tom Riddle! You used to spend so much time with him doing-giggles-who knows what....I'm sure you have a chance with him. Unlike me....Gabriel doesn't even know my name." 

............................................................