Infatuation - Tom Riddle

Twenty

  "Good morning Tom," Merida spoke quietly as he sat down next to her at the table. Tom smirked in return. She ate her breakfast slowly, zoning out as her friends chatted about nothing and everything around her. Tom realized the night before as he went to bed that he may have been t0o harsh with her, a small feeling of guilt poked at his chest, but he managed to force it down with some food.

  "Morning lovelies," Abraxas patted Merida on the top of her head as he moved to sit across from her, joining in on the others' conversation. Tom watched Merida from the side of his eyes, he noticed her cover her neck with her hair as she looked up to talk to Malfoy.

  "Merlin, you look dead." Abraxas teased, finally getting a good look at the pale girl's face. Merida rolled her eyes.

  "Oh because we all look picture perfect in the morning, right Malfoy?"

  Abraxas put up his arms and shrugged in mock surrender, earning him a glare from Tilda as he bumped her with his elbow on the side of her head, "Not everyone can be as good-looking as me I'm sorry."

  "I never said that..." Merida rolled her eyes playfully, taking a sip of water before looking over to face Tom.

  "What do you think?"

  Tom looked at her confused. "About what?"

  "Who looks better in the morning, me or Malfoy?"

  Abraxas leaned over the table, his palms holding up his head as he waited for Tom's response, a smirk present on his face. Tom looked at Abraxas and then back to Merida for a moment. He took a good look at her, she did seem extremely tired, but he found himself adoring the small bags under her eyes. The color drained from her face made her freckles pop and her lips looked pinker than ever. What really caught his eye were the purple bruises on the sides of her neck. So that's why she kept pushing her hair up front. Perhaps he'd have to be more gentle with her next time. Tom smiled.

  "Merida you look lovely in the mornings." Her eyes widened before she stuck her tongue out teasingly at Abraxas.

  He muttered some profanities, saying it was "favoritism" before slumping back down in his seat. She was surprised by Tom's answer, but it made her more relaxed to be around him.

   Merida felt guilty sitting with them all. She knew Tom had hurt one of their best friends, and keeping it in while joking around with all of them made her feel like shit. The fact that Tom got to walk around like it was nothing didn't sit right with her. But she could get used to this budding relationship forming between him and her.

  Tom moved his hand under the table to find Merida's and gave it a light squeeze.

  He was creating a war in her mind, and it's obvious now which side is winning winning.

"So Merida," Annalise perked up from her seat beside Tom, "where do you keep sneaking off to at night?"

This grabbed the attention of the rest of their friends, Merida now having all eyes on her. It didn't help that Tom was biting back a smirk while trying not to make eye-contact with anyone at their table. Tilda looked between Tom and Merida for a moment before sending a wink Merida's way.

  "Nothing!" Merida covered her face with her hands. "Really I just like getting some fresh air."

  "Fresh air snogging Riddle right?" Tilda teased.

  "Tilda!" It didn't help Merida's case that Tom was obviously trying to hold back a laugh.

  "Oh God, guys, seriously?" Oliver groaned, pushing his plate away from him.