𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆, regulus black

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕: 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝

"No, I want him to admit that he's lying!" she said, and when he kept looking at her with those smug eyes, she rolled her own and added on, "And yes... I suppose I do want to make him jealous."

She watched as Regulus lowered his eyebrows and could practically see his brain working in thought. 

Though he shrugged nonchalantly, she knew it was a perfectly well-thought-out response. "Fine."

"That's it?" 

Rune waited for the catch, but nothing came other than a nod from him. 

"Why?"

He lifted of the bed in one swift motion bringing himself close to her once again.

"Because I want to," he said softly. 

"Cool." 

She made to leave, but he grabbed her arm and turned her to him again. 

She looked up at him. He was tall enough that if she moved her head an inch, it would land perfectly on his chest. 

She must have physically flinched at the hideous thought because he dropped her arm and said, "Sorry." 

"What do you want?" she asked. 

"Ask me properly." 

"What?" 

He shook his head and pulled a face. "I don't like how you asked me. Ask me out nicely." 

"No." 

"Fine. Then it's off." 

She must have made a sound as he turned around because he turned back immediately and said, "Yes? I'm listening, blondie." 

"I hate you," she murmured. 

"That's not even remotely romantic—" 

"Shut up." 

"Still no." 

"Go out with me, Regulus." 

"You're not very good at this, are you?" 

"Oh," she faked a smile, "Why don't you show me how it's done then." 

"Okay, repeat after me. "Regulus..."  

She rolled her eyes, and he added, "With a smile." 

Rune plastered a smile on her face and said in a sweet voice, "Regulus." 

"You are the handsomest..." 

Rune kept her smile even as she mumbled an ew before saying, "You are the handsomest—" 

"Most intelligent..." 

She flared her nostrils and repeated, "Most intelligent—" 

"Brilliant person I have ever come across in my life..." 

"Brilliant person I have ever come across in my life," she gritted out. 

He met her eyes and said, "And I want nothing more than to go out with you." 

She looked at him for a moment before he said, "Your turn." 

She sighed. "And I want nothing more than to go out with you." 

"Hm," said Regulus thoughtfully. "Let me think about it. I'll let you know by the end of the week." 

"What?" she asked. 

Regulus flopped down onto his bed and waved his hand at her in a way that people usually did to shoo stray dogs away. "Good talk, Rune." 

"You suck!" she exclaimed and as she whacked her way through the curtains around her bed, she heard him chuckle. 

If there ever was someone she could hate more than anyone else it was Regulus Black. 

***

"What're you reading?" asked Evan as he cut his sausages into bite-sized pieces. 

"Peyton Place," said Rune, tilting her book enough for him to see the cover. 

"Is it about a town?" 

"Why would you ask that?" 

"Because it sounds like a town in the title," scoffed Evan as if it was the most obvious thing ever. 

"Oh yeah. It's about a town where people have to repress their sexual desires. I've just reached the part about having an affair with a married man." 

"Let me read that!" insisted Evan, trying to grab the book. 

"I've been trying to get you to read for years, and you're only interested now?" she hissed, tightening her hold of the book and pulling it back to her. 

"Well, you've finally recommended an interesting enough book!" 

"You disgust me!" 

Evan's mouth fell open. "You're the one reading it!" 

"Good morning," said Rabastan as he took a seat in front of them. 

"Morning—" began Evan, but all his attention turned to Rune when she abruptly stood up. "And where are you going?" 

"Away. You're welcome to join me, Evan. Alone." She made a scene of moving down the bench just far enough to have Rabastan out of her sight, but to keep her in his. 

Seconds later, she saw a bowl appear next to hers. 

She looked up to find its owner and saw Regulus making himself comfortable on the bench next to her. 

"What are you doing?" she asked. 

"Eating breakfast with you," he said casually. 

"Why?" 

"Are you emotionally challenged? How else are people meant to believe we're going out with each other?" 

"So, you're agreeing then?" she asked hopefully. 

"I don't know," he said, as he poured milk into his cereal. "This would be a courting period for normal people, so let's take it as our trial period." 

Rune watched him straighten his utensils as she wrecked her brain for something intelligible to say. 

He turned to her. "Now, won't you pass me a croissant, love?" 

She knew something must have changed on her because she felt a wave of heat run from her hairline all the way down to the toes and she saw the corner of Regulus' lips twitch slightly. 

If she looked at her reflection to find herself blushing, she would have probably run off the Astronomy Tower at an immensely high speed. 

If it was going to be like this going out with Regulus, it was going to be torturous. 

"You have hands," she huffed, flipping through her book to find her page. 

As if she could remember where she last stopped- or even how to read.  

She mumbled, "Get your own damn croissant, love."