Lemon Grass and Sleep

A LAZY STUDY DATE

Studying was always tense after that day, for me at least. I couldn't believe that Glinda was as okay with this as she seemed to be. Finally, I was able to corner her one day when Fred and George had gotten detention--something about fireworks?

"So you're really okay?" I had asked.

"Yes, Tom," she exasperatedly replied, "You know, I don't base all my worth on boys."

"Mm, I know," I mumbled. "But it's normal to have your feelings hurt when your crush doesn't like you back."

"She let out a sigh, knowing I was right, and I watched with shock as her bottom lip began to tremble. She reached up to place her palms over her eyes as I saw her back begin to shake. Some sort of instinct took me over or something, my body moved on its own to rub her back soothingly.

"Glinda," I whispered with pity.

"Don't," she sighed, collecting herself and smoothing her skirt over her knees, "Boys are stupid anyways. I don't know how you deal with being one."

"I've no idea myself."

"Merlin's beard, why can't I just be a lesbian, Hermione's cute enough" she groaned. "It seemed to work out well for you, anyways."

"Well, I'm not a lesbian, thank you very much."

"Pish posh," she mumbled.

"So what if George doesn't like you?" I stated, "You don't want to like someone who doesn't like you, anyways."

"Right on," she agreed firmly. "That's it, I'm over George Weasley."

"Yes, you are."

She was not over George Weasley.

The following days were spent with cheap excuses and meek protests to study sessions and hushed Hogsmeade trips by moonlight. Glinda had been avoiding both Fred and George expertly, like she'd done it her whole life.

"It kind of hurts my feelings, in a weird way," Fred admitted as he lounged behind me on the couch in front of the fireplace.

"Hurts your feelings? What for?"

"Well, I'd imagine it's because I look just like him."

"Ah, you know, now that you mention it I suppose you two do look fairly similar."

"You don't say?" He countered.

"One might even say you look like brothers," I retorted.

"I think you've gone off the deep end, Soot."

"Perhaps," I finished off lightly, filling in the last few answers for my potions theory assignment.

It was another one of those days where everything felt lazy. The rain outside didn't help, and it made me want to close my eyes for a nice, long rest. No rest for the wicked of course, I have mountains of homework to catch up on that I'd been procrastinating all week.

"Do you need help with anything?" Fred slid around the side of the table and sat in the chair in front of me. It felt a little odd for the other two chairs to be empty, I didn't like it.

"Mm," I hummed, looking over the questions for my D.A.D.A. assignment, "No, I think this is easy enough."

"Easy enough," Fred repeated humorously, "That took me three hours."

"Oh," I said softly, glancing up at him briefly, "Sorry."

"Nah, it's a bit attractive to see you be so confident."

I choked on air a bit, immediately averting my eyes down to the parchment and gluing them there. Fred Weasley is a conniving bastard, and I know exactly what he's doing right now. He's bored and horny, I'll bet, and he's trying to get me all hot and bothered so I'll go do the naughty with him.