Strawberry and Vanilla (Cedric Diggory AU)

Chapter Ten: Progress

"Scott, I've changed my mind. I do have quite a bit of homework," Marianne said with a very shy tone in her voice. Since when was Marianne shy? Scott and Marianne were kissing, rather roughly, when she had stopped him abruptly. She never stopped him. Scott knew not what he did wrong and he, in turn, was thoroughly perplexed. "I'm sorry, Scott, I have to go."

        She sat up on his bed, slipped off and collected her things while he sat in awe and uncertainty. "Did I do something, Mari?" He sat up as well and tried his best not to let her go just yet. "If I did, please tell me. I won't do it again."

        "Scott, it's fine, I only have homework."  Marianne picked up her book bag and carefully combed through her hair with her fingers. Scott found himself feeling guilty and had no idea what he had done. If he had made a move that offended her or hurt her he had no idea and he couldn't exactly ask as Marianne kissed him quickly on the lips, slid a soft hand over his cheek and exited. She seemed fine, but there was an underlying feeling.

        Scott collapsed on his bed again and rubbed his face. The bed was still warm and he hated it because she was off somewhere, he didn't know where. There was nothing to do in his room unless he wanted to have some fun alone and he just wasn't feeling it. He decided to visit a lonely Cedric in the library.

        He was doing his best of helping his friend, he thought as he combed his hair again and slicked some oil through it. But Cedric was completely hopeless when it came to the girl he liked. Hermione was pretty, but not exactly the best looking girl Cedric could go for. He went on to Scott for an hour the previous day about her scent and frankly, Scott thought it was adorable how his best friend would gush. It was so childish and fun to see that side of Cedric when Cedric wasn't being mature and strict. He did remember as when he carried Hermione to the infirmary she did, in fact, smell like strawberries and vanilla. It was a thing with guys to notice scents. Marianne smelled like freshly squeezed oranges.

        Cedric truly admired this girl and it wasn't clear to Scott yet whether she liked Cedric in return. Scott usually saw the things Cedric didn't and recently... it seemed like he didn't. He was focused on Marianne.

        Marianne was not the girl he supposed he would end up staying with for more than a week. They weren't dating, per se, but it was getting pretty close to where Scott planned to ask her out. Marianne was feminine. She wore her auburn hair down around her shoulders every day, she wore her uniform skirt, she had the body of a woman and Scott really liked her. The first girl ever truly didn't want to move on from. He only tried following in Cedric's footsteps and surprisingly, it got him somewhere.

        Cedric was the model friend. He helped Scott find someone, he taught him how to keep that someone interested. The impossible question asked why Cedric had no girlfriend. Sure, he was crippled, yes. But that only made him more of a magnet. Cedric never truly had a type, so it would make sense that he would reciprocate feelings for one of the women that went after him. Curvy, thin, wide, narrow, curly, straight, blue-eyed, hazel-eyed, Cedric didn't care. And he went after the girl who had no feelings to return. Again, it was admirable. It was how Scott was learning.

        He made his way to the library, slowly, contemplating how to explain his situation to Cedric. Would his best friend be disappointed and know exactly what happened? What if he messed something up and there was no fixing it? He was probably overthinking. He entered the library and there was a thin amount of students. He first spotted Harry Potter, who was sitting with his ginger friend and next to them both was Granger. Perhaps they'd know where he could find Cedric, as the library was notably vast. He sauntered over to them.

        "Granger, any idea where Ced is?"

        Harry and the ginger who's name Scott couldn't place, looked up from their books of potions ingredients. Hermione felt her cheeks flush for no apparent reason she could place, "Far corner, near the clock," she replied, pointing in the direction his friend was supposed to be. He nodded in thankfulness and rushed off that way, leaving Hermione to her studying with Harry and Ron. She hadn't forgotten to bring up the idea of Harry teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts to select students. She was going to bring it up, though she watched Scott walk away. Was Cedric okay? Scott sounded (in her mind) a bit panicked.