CHERRY // marlene mckinnon

-thirteen

Over the next few days, things were very
awkward between Aurora and Marlene. They didn't talk much, unless they were in class. They also didn't know where they stood.

So, Aurora decided to end this awkwardness once and for all and finally talk to Marlene.

"You guys go to lunch without me, I'll meet you in the Great Hall. I just have to do something first." Aurora said to her friends.

"Okay, see you later."

Aurora then spotted Marlene with Alice and Lily and walked up to them.

"C-can I talk to you?" Aurora asked
Marlene. "Privately."

"Sure. I'll be right back guys." Marlene responded.

They both walked in silence for a while and Aurora decided to talk in the astronomy tower, since nobody really went there in the day time.

"So, uh, what did you want to talk about?" Marlene asked, fidgeting with her fingers as they reached the astronomy tower.

"I think you know what." Aurora said quietly.

"I don't-" Marlene began, until Aurora cut her off.

"We can't just keep ignoring the fact that we kissed!" She finally admitted.

"I know we can't. But what can we do? I don't know what to say." Marlene admitted. "But I don't regret it."

"Look, I shouldn't have kissed you. It was a mistake and if my parents ever found out, then I'm dead." Aurora's mind started to race with thoughts of her parents punishing her or even worse, disowning her.

"A mistake? That's what you're calling it now?" Marlene looked a bit taken back.

"That's not what meant. It's just that, It can't happen again, alright?" Aurora started pacing around the room. "I can't be with you. I mean, you're a girl for Merlins sake."

"What's so wrong with that? I've been with girls before. Is it so bad to kiss another girl?" Marlene questioned.

Marlene did have a point. But then again, Aurora was taught that it was wrong growing up. Her mother had even said that she was 'disgusted by those people'. And all thoughts of ever being with another girl, were shoved away. But it wasn't like she was attracted to girls, was it? She still liked boys too. So she didn't really know how to reciprocate those feelings.

"Look, I—I just can't." Aurora didn't really know what else to do, and she felt too guilty to even look at the defeated expression on Marlene's face. So she stormed out of the room. She needed to get away before she suffocated from holding back her tears.

And there she was, breaking down in the middle of the hallway. Letting out everything she felt. Anger. Sorrow. Pain. Why does everything have to be so complicated? She thought to herself over and over again.

She finally reached the doors to the Great Hall, but before she entered,  she wiped off her remaining tears from her face and tried to hide the fact that she had been crying. She entered the Great Hall and made her way to the Slytherin table. Her eyes were puffy and it was obvious that she had been crying.

Her friends saw her and didn't want to overwhelm her with questions, so they both just hugged her. Veronica and Narcissa knew Aurora well enough to know that asking her how she felt would make her feel even worse. So they always gave her time to get back to her normal self before asking her anything.

"It's ok sweetheart. We're here for you now, no matter what happened." Narcissa said, still hugging her.

Aurora couldn't hold her tears and so they fell out once again. Why did her life have to be so complicated. Evan and Regulus saw her and rushed over to her side.

But unlike her friends they bombarded her with questions, clearly not noticing the glares and signals Veronica and Narcissa were sending them. And before Aurora knew it, the four Slytherins were arguing.

"Can you all just SHUT UP!" Aurora finally shouted at them.

"Aurora, wait-"

But before Veronica could finish, Aurora yelled once again, and this time it was more louder.

"J-Just leave me alone...all of you!"

And then, all eyes were on them. The whole Great Hall was looking at them as Aurora ran out.

*****

At the Gryffindor table, Aurora could be heard shouting. And then, she ran out of the Great Hall. Marlene knew she couldn't leave her alone so she decided to go after her.

Until someone stopped her before she left the table.

"Where are you going?" Sirius said.

"What's it to you?" Marlene snapped.

"Nothing, it just seems very strange that first my sister leaves, and now you. Don't tell me there's something going on between your two." He said, rather rudely.

"Just shut up for once will you, Sirius? And you know what? How about you check on how she's doing? All you seemed to do ever since you ran away is talk about how horrible she is, because guess what? You seem to be the horrible person right now." And with that she stormed off.

*****

Marlene didn't even need to look in a lot of places to find Aurora. She was at their spot. The astronomy tower. Yet again.

"Hey." Marlene softly said.

"Hi." Aurora quietly replied.

"What happened back there?" Marlene asked, sitting next to her.

"I just had enough. And on top of that, Evan and Regulus's bickering really drove me to the edge." Aurora replied, looking straight ahead. "I don't know what to do. Everything's so fucked up. And also, I don't regret kissing you either. I mean, I tried to convince myself I do, but I can't lie to myself anymore."

Aurora turned to face Marlene and they had a gap between, but that was soon closed when Marlene's lips crashed against hers and she put one hand on her cheek.

Their tongues met once again, but this time, the kiss was more gentle and soft.

"You're an amazing person. And I'd like to get to know you better."  Aurora said after they broke apart. "And for now, nobody has to know."

"I guess that wouldn't be such a bad idea." Marlene said, smiling.

"But just one thing." Aurora added. "I don't really want to put a label on it or anything. Let's just take things slow, yeah?"

"That's fine by me." Marlene grinned, interlocking their hands.

*****

okay guys, i know it's all happening a bit quick but remember, this is only the beginning and i have big things planned for the future ;))