Blackbird

Chapter 15

Andromeda was going to kill peeves. She'd even planned how to do it. There was this spot up in the astronomy tower that was supported only by a beam with a very thin connection. A simple spell would be able to break it, and then all she would need to do was get Peeves in the perfect spot at the perfect time and wham! It was the perfect plan.

Except that Peeves was a poltergeist, so he couldn't actually be killed. And that ruined the perfection.

She sighed, pressing her hand to her forehead as she made her way to the sixth floor. She was a little stressed out. Okay, she was extremely stressed, and distracted, which was why she hadn't been paying attention until Peeves dropped a suit of armor at her feet. She'd screamed and fallen into the vanishing step on the fourth floor, and she'd only just managed to avoid the caretaker while Peeves stood their cackling the whole time. She'd almost run back to her dorm room instead of continuing to the seventh floor, but she hadn't seen him since last night. And it was killing her.

Ted had met her at their spot by the lake last night, and she'd explained their plan. There was a knot in the tree by the lake, behind which there was a sliver of a gap, just big enough for a piece of paper. They would take turns placing a piece of paper there with the room they would meet in that night.

"That way no one can catch onto what we're doing or walk in on us," she'd explained to him, trying not to get distracted by, well, him. He leaned against the tree like it was the most normal thing in the world for him to be meeting a girl in secret, at midnight, under a tree. And who knew, maybe for him it was. It occurred to her that she still didn't know that much about him, not really.

"And we can also communicate better this way. For example if I have a lot of homework and I won't be able to meet you I don't have to tell you in person..." She trailed off, noticing his raised eyebrows, and she could tell he was fighting back a smirk.

"You think it's a rubbish idea, don't you?"

He chuckled, straightening as he took a step toward her.

"No, I just think you're way overthinking this. It's like we're, secretly plotting to take down the whole world."

We are, she wanted to say. "If you think it's not necessary then I suppose we could find another way. I just don't think..."

But Ted grabbed her arm and kissed her, cutting her off. She gasped for a moment, and then let herself melt into it.

"It's fine, Meda." He grinned. "Though actually, I really just want to snog you too much to fight you on it."

She probably should've been mad at him about that. The only problem was, she really wanted to snog him too.

It'd been sweet. Short, but sweet. Kissing Ted was like breathing after being underwater for an eternity. It was like her whole body was singing. It was living. And leaving was like dying, not because she wasn't with him anymore, although she hated that part too. The worst part was remembering everything she forgot when she was with him. Remembering the weight, the lies and secrets that were threatening to crush her, which sometimes felt so realistic she had trouble breathing. Remembering there wouldn't be a happily ever after. Being with Ted was killing her, but she couldn't bear not seeing him again. She was running in circles. And eventually it was going to break her.

Which was why when she finally reached the classroom, her nerves felt like a rope that been run over with a reduction spell.

Ted was already there.

She closed the door behind her, blinking. She always beat him places, as he was always running late. Apparently, her delay had cost her more time than she thought. He straightened immediately upon seeing her, his eyes taking in her dark, sheer night robe. She blushed, immediately feeling self-conscious. It wasn't exactly the most flattering robe, but Ted didn't seem to notice. His gaze made her feel like it always did. Hot under the skin, open, and entirely more beautiful than she deserved.