Speak Now sequel: Leave Me Behind (Fred Weasley Fic)

"I think you're doing a pretty good job"

-----------------------------------------------

{edited}

-----------------------------------------------

Days in the shop passed by fast, and in no time 4 weeks had flown by. Fred and myself rarely spoke to each other, and when we did it was often venomous and our words would sting the other. I could see that George was almost going insane, and truthfully I think it tore him apart to realise the three of us would never be best friends like we'd been all our life. I wished that Fred had ruined a good thing that Christmas at The Burrow, but the damage had been done, and all we could do now was move on. Despite the three of us being changed, George and I were better than ever, and every 3 days we'd go out for lunch or dinner. At the shop it was myself and him attached at the hip and playing jokes on others. Back at The Burrow, George and I would mess with Fred's stuff and play pranks on him, as well as Mrs Weasley. Truth was, residents of the Weasley house were becoming tired of our shenanigans. Fred and George were suppose to be in the apartment above the shop, but Fred still had belongings to pack back at home, so up in his room was where he spent most of his nights. I didn't enjoy hating Fred- it was easier to avoid him instead of share unpleasant encounters. Each angry word we spoke to one another, caused my heart to twang with complete and utter pain, and with the new chapter in my life, I didn't need it.

Two lamps were burning in the back room of the shop, as I sat there packing an order that had to be sent off tomorrow morning. The last time I had checked the clock it was 11pm, but that had to be over half an hour ago, now. Dust particles were captured in the warm light of the lamps, and two large moths threw themselves at the glass casing of the lights, trying to throw themselves into the flames. The order I was packing would have been completed earlier, had George done it when I asked him to, but here I was, on the floor with tape stuck to my fingers as I filled in the shipping information in the musky room. A sudden cool shiver ran up my spine, and I turned around in attempts to find the source of the draft, and discovered one of the twins leaning against the door frame. Their features were dark due to the lack of light and I sighed, turning back to the parcel in front of me. I scribbled down the last of the address and taped up the parcel, standing up and dusting myself off. The dust I shook off me only mingled with the other dust glittering about in the air, and I turned around.

"What's up?" I asked them and Fred smiled weakly, scratching the back of his neck as he took a single step forward.

"Mum wants me to bring you home. She worries about you spending too much time at work... 'Distracting yourself'." He said, air quoting his mother as he sat on the desk. I sighed, blowing stray pieces of hair out of my face, and I found myself desiring a shower after sitting in all that filth. I jotted down 'clean the back room' as a mental note.

"Yeah well, someone had to do this order. I asked George to do it about a million times, but he's been too busy with 'Ruby'." I complained, slapping the dust off my hands and he shrugged.

"I would've done it," he said and I shook my head, brushing him off and placing the parcel on the desk beside him. I turned to leave and he grasped my upper arm firmly, making me turn to face him. "Look, Nicki, I know you don't love me anymore, but..." he began softy, pulling me between his legs, and he placed his other hand firmly on my waist, so if I were to try and escape, I couldn't. His hand that held my arm moved downward, fingers lightly trailing down my skin, giving me goosebumps.

"But what, Fred?" I sighed with an exasperated shake of my head. Despite how pleasant his hold felt to my body, my brain disagreed. "You were the one who broke my heart, remember?" I asked him, I wasn't strong enough to pull away from his big, strong build, but the least I could do was not fall into him.