In The Next Life - Theodore Nott Fanfic

Chapter 17

"So nothing happened?" Pansy asked again for the third time, leaning across the library table. "Pansy," I huffed out, lowering my textbook. "For the last time, nothing happened between Theo and I," I explained, but she still gave me a skeptical look. "Well, something almost did," I hesitated.

"Aha!" she shouted, which earned a stern look and a shush from the librarian. "I said almost," I whisper yelled, as I got up to go and return the books we borrowed for our homework.

"I knew there was something between you two," she laughed, as she got up and followed me. "There's no way someone can look at you the way he does without being in love," she teased, but I just gave her a stern look.

"I promise you, Pansy. He doesn't love me like that. We were just in the moment of things," I tried, as I began to put away the books.

"A moment that you should be spending with Cedric?" she asked, curiously. I quickly stopped putting the books away; I knew she was right, but it still stung a little. "Can we just let it go?" I asked annoyed.

All of a sudden, a pair of arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer into them, and I quickly recognized his familiar smell of vanilla and warm cologne.

"Let what go?" he asked, as I wrapped my arms into his. I looked over at Pansy worriedly, begging her not to say anything through my eye contact. "Oh, Flo's just jealous that I made a better grade on our potions quiz," she laughed.

 I let out a breath of relief, and she offered a wink and a smile as she casually walked back over to where we were sitting. "She's been rubbing it in all day," I lied, as I let go of Cedric and faced him. 

"I'm sure you will do better next time," he smiled, as he lifted my chin up gently and planted a soft kiss upon my lips. As I pulled away, I continued to put away the books, as he leaned against the bookshelves.

"Have you figured out how to open the egg?" I questioned, looking back and forth between the books and him. "Not yet. But I feel like I'm getting close," he said, as he explained the many ways he's tried to open it.

"Florence?" I heard him ask, as I placed the last book away on the shelf. As I turned towards him, I noticed how nervous he looked. "Will you go to dance with me?"

I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. As I went to give him an answer, he quickly spoke again. "Actually, will you go to the dance with me as my girlfriend?"

"Of course I will!" I said a little too loudly, as I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss. I couldn't believe he had finally asked me to the dance, but also to be his girlfriend.

"Well, that was easier than I thought," he laughed, still shaky and nervous.

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As I went on throughout the day with Cedric and the others, I couldn't help but feel a sting of sadness and guilt. Theo and I haven't talked all day; if we saw each other in the halls or the common room, we would try not to make eye contact, which was starting to look suspicious to everyone else, since we were best friends. I tried my best to act like nothing was wrong, even though I felt like I was being eaten alive holding back the truth.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Cedric asked, as we made it to the common room door. "Hopefully. Pansy is dragging me to Hogsmeade to look for some jewelry to match her dress," I explained while rolling my eyes. He just laughed and shook his head in understandment as he pulled me closer to him. "Goodnight, beautiful" he smiled, as he placed a soft kiss on my lips. "Goodnight," I said, and watched him walk away.

Just as I turned to enter the password, the door opened. "I thought I heard talking," Draco smirked, joined by Blaise who was eating a bowl of popcorn. "Did I just miss loverboy? What a shame," he laughed, as Blaise began to make kissing noises and faces.