Not About Angels (A Tom Riddle Story)

Chapter 30

All I ever wanted was for you to look at me. 

Really look, deep inside. 

-a.v. 

.................................. 

Abigail arrived at Three Broomsticks, sitting down next to Avery and Rosier, and Shirley Maple as they waited for Tom Riddle.   

"I heard you're going back to the team?" Avery asked, curious. 

"Yea. I am. I need some kind of purpose in life, after all." She smiled. 

"I see. I guess I'll see you out on the field then. I hope you're ready for me, Abigail. Cause while you've been sitting idle for the past year, I've been practicing. Every day." He said, pounding his fist playfully on the table.  

Rosier rolled his eyes, not really paying attention. Since Tom Riddle's attitude cooled towards Abigail, he stopped trying to make conversation with her. 

Tom Riddle walks in, arms around a pretty brunette. Shirley maple frowns, shooting the girl dagger eyes. Abigail looks away. 

"Introduce your friend, Tom." Avery asked. 

"Emilie. Everyone, this is Emilie." He said cooly, taking his arms off of her and sitting down. 

"Emilie? I've never seen you before." Shirley Maple said sharply, feeling jealous. But she was used to it by now. Tom had long rid of any entanglements with her. He regarded her coldly, without any trace of the former flirtation. She understood that Riddle only kept her around his circle because of her father's position at the ministry. The beautiful girls came and went with Tom Riddle, always. Shirley hated it, but she had no choice but to accept.   

Abigail refused to make eye contact. She fiddled with her thumbs, feeling uncomfortable. The way Tom said the name "Emilie" so nonchalantly made her feel relief. He did not care. No, he did not. But his arms around Emilie made Abigail hurt inside. Once, Riddle's intimacy was reserved only for her. Now, he barely spoke to her. Although he kept her in his circle, his coldness only drove them further and further apart. 

How ironic it was. They all fell, like little white doves falling to iron arrows, falling to Tom Riddle's feet at one look, one glance,  one half-smile. 

"How was your day, Tom?" Abigail asked. he looked at her for a brief second, flashed that dazzling smile of his, and said "fine." 

Fine. Fine. Fine. After ten years, all she could get from his was a nonchalant "fine." 

He avoided her eyes. 

"I have to leave. I just remembered my potions paper." Abigail said, standing abruptly. She felt sick. 

Avery nodded and waved goodbye. The rest barely acknowledged her. Tom Riddle was too busy whispering something in Emilie's ear. 

She ran out into the bitter wind, the September breeze brining color to her cheeks. She refused to cry again. Instead, she ran. Away from beautiful Tom Riddle, who now longer belonged to her, and away from the fickle people who did not like her.  

....................... 

"Congrats! you're back on the team!" Peter Lin, the beater said, patting her on the back. "Now we finally have a decent seeker again, don't we?"  

"I wouldn't say decent. Suitable at best, I suppose." Gabriel said. 

Abigail shot him a look. 

"Decent enough." Gabriel said, clearing his throat. 

"Thats much better." Abigail told him, smiling.  He rolled his eyes.