How it Began

|41|

Fred groans against Hermione's lips as his hips snap against hers. "Fred." She sighs, happily. He smiles.

"Frederick!" His bedroom door flies open as Alice bursts in, and Fred and Hermione quickly turn and cover their bodies with the sheets.

"Alice! What the hell?" Fred shouts as he catches a glimpse of the blonde.

"Shit." She says in response to what she just walked in on. Fred rolls off of Hermione and pulls the sheets up and over them. "I'm sorry I just... never mind, you're busy just, call me later." Alice says, clearly distraught and she walks out of his bedroom, slamming the door.

"Shit." Fred groans, running a hand down his face. Hermione moves closer to him, hooking a leg over his.

"Where were we?" She purrs, leaning in to brush her lips against his neck.

"Babe, just wait." He says, his breathing steadying. Hermione frowns. "I'm sorry, but something's wrong with her."

"Somethings always wrong with Alice, she has a problem with everyone."

"Yeah but this is different, she looked upset." He says as he gets out of bed.

"Fred!" Hermione whines, watching as he slips on a pair of boxers and a t-shirt. He leans over and kisses her softly.

"I'll be right back, okay?" She just rolls her eyes and nods, laying down in his bed. He slips out of his room and downstairs, seeing her standing by the front door slipping on her shoes. "Al? You okay?" He asks. She just shakes her head. "What happened?"

"My life just fell apart that's what happened."

"What do you mean?"

She takes a deep breath, her eyes glossy with tears that she's struggling to hold back. "FP and I-" she's interrupted when a flustered Hermione comes downstairs.

"What's up?" Fred asks when she walks past him to the door.

"I'm gonna head home." She says, slipping on her heeled sandals.

"Wait you don't have to go!" Fred says. "I told you I'd be back up in a bit."

"I know but something clearly happened with Alice and I think she needs you more than I do right now." Hermione says, giving Alice a sad and sympathetic look. "I'm not mad just call me later, okay?"

"Okay." Fred says, leaning down to kiss her softly before she goes.

"Sorry for barging in and ruining your guys' day." Alice says.

"Don't be, it's fine, I think you need him more than I do right now. Hope everything's alright, Alice. See you two later." And with that, she slips out the front door, leaving Fred and Alice all alone.

"So you were just about to tell me what happened?" Fred says, encouraging her to talk.

"FP and I broke up." She blurts out.

"You what?" Fred asks in disbelief.

"We broke up."

"Shit, I thought for sure you were going to pick FP. How did he handle it?"

"I think he hates me. I feel terrible."

"It May be hard to realize it now but you did the right thing, it wasn't fair to either of them." She nods. "How are you holding up?" He asks, knowing full well she hates showing her emotions.

"I'm okay I guess." She says, quietly, he raises an eyebrow at her, not believing her one bit. She just lets her head drop and he sees her shoulders shake as she breaks into tears.

He reaches for her and pulls her to him, hugging her tight to his body as she falls apart. She's sobbing and staining his shirt with her tears but he couldn't care less, she needs him and he's always there for her no matter what.

He rubs her back and hugs her tighter when she buries her face into his chest, letting every cry and tear come out, not holding anything back. She's completely crumbling and it kills him as he holds her tight.

He thought they were forever. Thought that they were going to get married and have a boat load of kids since they can't keep their hands off each other. He pictured them having a family. He pictured them living across the street from him and whoever he ends up marrying, their kids hanging out with his and being best friends just like them. So this, this throws him for a loop.

"I don't know how to be without him, Fred." She says, her voice muffled by his chest. He doesn't know how to respond so he just hugs her together until she looks up at him. "I've been with him for three years, I don't know what it's like to not be with him."

"I know, Al but you're going to get through this because you're the strongest person I know."

"I love him."

"I know."

"I don't want to be without him, why am I such a fucking idiot?" She says angrily as she wiggles out of his embrace. "I mean Hal Cooper? He was such a dweeb to me just a few months ago and now look at me! I fucked up with the one person who loves me unconditionally, dumped me because of Hal fucking Cooper."

"Hey, I love you unconditionally." He comforts, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Maybe not in the way FP does but you're my best friend, Al, I love you to pieces. Even when you fuck up." She laughs and he smiles.

"I just don't understand how this all happened."

"Feelings change Alice."

"But in all the years I've known and loved FP I've never had eyes for anyone else."

"Maybe it's for the best?" She glares at him for the comment. "Calm down I just mean that maybe it's good to take a break, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"I really hope you're right."