The Buddy System. *Updating In Process*

81. When the Truth First Cracked

"What do you mean?" I asked, leaning forward in my seat as though closing the distance between us might somehow make his words clearer — or less frightening.

My pulse had begun to thud in my ears, a dull, uneven rhythm that didn't match the calm, crackling fire behind us. Something about the way Wren had gone still — the way his shoulders hunched, the way his eyes wouldn't quite meet mine — made my stomach tighten.

He exhaled slowly, like someone bracing himself for a fall. "I need to tell you some things, Rae. Some... home truths." His hands flexed on his knees. "I wasn't planning on doing this yet. I wanted to wait. I thought maybe time would make it easier. But it's been eating me alive."

My confusion sharpened into unease.

"Okay," I said carefully, lifting one hand in a small gesture for him to continue. I didn't like the way Draco's grip on my hand tightened at my side, like he could feel something coming too.

Wren swallowed hard. "Before I say anything else, you need to promise me something."

I frowned. "Promise what?"

"That you'll listen," he said quietly. "To all of it. Even the parts you don't want to hear. Especially those parts."

My chest felt suddenly heavy, like the air itself had thickened. I laced my fingers through Draco's, grounding myself in the warmth of his hand, the steady presence of him.

"Well," I said slowly, "it doesn't sound like I'm going to enjoy this. But... yes. I promise. I'll listen."

Wren nodded once, sharply, as though that had taken more courage than I realised.

"Do you remember," he asked, "that party at my flat in Hogsmeade? When we were together?"

I blinked. My brow furrowed. "The costume party?"

"Yes." His mouth twitched faintly, like he almost smiled and then thought better of it. "You dressed as a—"

"A nurse," I said automatically.

"Yes. That." He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my eyes. "You snuck out of the castle that night with Azaleah, Theo... and Teeny. You came to meet some of my friends."

I nodded slowly. "I remember. We all wore the same ridiculous outfit."

A faint smile ghosted across my lips — and then vanished as his expression didn't change.

"Do you remember," he continued, voice tighter now, "that we argued?"

My stomach dipped.

"Yes," I said. "You were drinking. A lot."

He winced. "I was being an arse."

"You were talking about the Dark Arts," I said quietly, the memory rising unbidden. "About how much you'd been studying. About how Hogwarts was behind you. I thought... I thought that included me."

He nodded. "You tried to cut me off. Swapped my Firewhisky for something non-alcoholic."

"And when you realised," I said, my jaw tightening, "you were furious."

"I told you to leave," he said, shame flooding his features.

"And I did," I replied firmly. That memory was clear. Painful. Sharp.

"Yes," he said quickly. "You did."

He paused, took another breath. "Later that night... after the party had ended... you came back."

The world tilted.

"No," I said immediately. "That's not true."

"You apologised," he continued, words tumbling out now. "For trying to control me. You kissed me. And then—"