stages of denial

ch 8

"i looked for you all night, where'd you go?" hermione spoke softly to isabel as the two walked to snapes class.

"just, for a walk." she felt her throat go tight as she forced out the lie.

"oh, well, you could've asked me to come with." hermione smiled at her apologetically.

"sorry." isabel spoke quickly before hustling into the class and slipping into her seat.

"hey bell." harry smiled her way.

"hey." she spoke softly back, trying to keep herself from looking around the room.

"hey, where'd you go last night?" a familiar voice spoke behind her.

instantly she felt her eyes swell as she replayed walking in on him comforting another girl.

she stayed quiet, earning a questioning look from him.

"isabel?" his hands tucked her hair gently behind her ear, gently bringing her to look at him.

"i have nothing to say to you." she spoke quietly, a few students glancing in their direction.

cedric felt his heart wrench at her words.

"isabel what's going on?" he shook his head.

"what's going on is last night you were kissing another girl less than 30 minutes after kissing me."
her voice raised, a couple tears sliding down her cheeks.

the students around them were now invested in their conversation, everyone looking shocked at her last accusation.

"isabel, let me explain." the boy pleaded, glancing around the room at everyone's eyes on them.

"there's nothing to explain, please stay the hell away from me." she stood from her seat, looking up at him with nothing but pain in her eyes.

his eyes wandered to her revealed neck, scanning over the multiple hickies that lined her neck.

"what the fuck are those?" his eyes found his way back to her.

draco had now started listening to their rambling, glancing back at the two, a smirk rolled across his lips as cedric found the marks he left on her.

her eyes panicked, quickly shoving her hair over her neck and shaking her head, "nothing." she spoke sternly.

"who was it?" his gentle voice was now taken over by an angry hurt boy.

"no one cedric, leave it." she shook her head at him, quickly picking her books up from the table.

"tell me, was it harry?" his eyes fell accusingly on harry.

harry stood from his seat, coming to her side and looking at cedric warningly.

"leave her alone." harry spoke in a harsh tone.

"no, cedric, it wasn't harry, it doesn't matter." isabel gently place her arm in front of harry before he retreated back to his seat.

"then who?!" his voice was now yelling, his fists clenching and unclenching.

"we're done." she spoke shakily, pushing past his shoulder.

quickly cedric had gripped her wrist, still insisting to know.

she winced at how tight his grip was looking at him pleadingly, "cedric you're hurting me."

"get your hands off of her." to everyone's surprise, malfoy stood speaking directly at cedric.

cedric glanced between the girl and draco before letting her wrist slip from his grip, "with him?" he looked shocked.

before isabel could deny, draco spoke again, "yeah, with me, now get out of her way." everyone gasped, isabel even looked surprised herself. he just told everyone.

"i'm going to fucking kill you." cedric pushed himself forward before reaching draco and knocking him cold on the floor with his fist.

"cedric!" isabel shouted, running over to dracos body on the group, shaking him in fear.

"what's going on here!" snapes voice sounded, making his way to draco, his eyes darting between him and cedric.

"both of you with me now." slowly draco stood up, his face already puffed, cedric followed them as they left the room.

all the students looked to isabel, in that moment all she wanted was to disappear.

—

three days and she had already made a poor reputation for herself.

she sat in the common room by herself, cuddled tightly into the couch as many thoughts raced her head.

"can we talk." a soft voice spoke from the doorway.

she jumped from the voice, startled by the boys sudden appearance, her eyes lifted to meet with cedrics.

she nodded her head slowly, watching as he made his way to the edge of the couch.

"i'm sorry," he spoke softly, his eyes locked on his lap, "i wasn't in the right mindset that night, that's no excuse, i hate that i hurt you." he sighed.

"i'm sorry too, i shouldn't have did what i did with draco, it was out of pure anger, nothing more." she played with the hem of her shirt.

"i really do like you bell." his eyes drifted to the saddened girl on the couch.

"we both messed up." she shook her head.

"maybe we can fix it?" he looked to her pleadingly.

"how do i know it won't happen again?" her hands tangled themselves,

"that's a hypocritical question." his eyebrow raised.

"i know, i'm sorry, draco meant nothing, he means nothing." she finally looked up at him.

"hi, my names cedric." he offered his hand to her, a small smile on his lips.

"what are you doing?" she tilted her head.

"restarting." he spoke softly.

"hi, my names isabel." she reached for his hand, shaking it gently.

"isabel, do you know how to ballroom dance?" he stood to his feet, helping her up from the couch.

"maybe you could teach me." she teased.

his hand fell to her waist, the other locking with her hand, slowly leading them around the room.

isabel giggled quietly as he spun her around, coming back into his chest and looking up at him.

"i missed you." he kissed her forehead softly.

"i missed you too." she tucked her head into his chest, closing her eyes shortly after.