Hierarchy of Need [REWRITTEN]

Chapter Twelve

Her lips parted in an invisible sigh. Why'd he have to mention Tom? His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close as looked down at her, pale green eyes soft as he spoke. "Are you busy?" He asked.

She should nod her head. Say yes, she was busy. Tell him this wasn't going to work out. Tell him she couldn't give him what he wanted. Tell him she couldn't offer more of herself.

As much as she would hate to hurt her feelings he didn't deserve to be led on. Not to mention she was feeling emotionally drained. "Kind of. I was hoping to lay down for a little while."

"That doesn't sound like you're busy." He teased.

She forced a laugh, not knowing how to say no without him taking it the wrong way so she shrugged. "I guess not."

"Splendid, m'lady?" He offered his arm in an overzealous chivalrous manner.

Her smile as well as her chest felt tight as she took his arm.

No matter how many times she asked, Elio wouldn't tell her where they were going. He led her outside, dusk was approaching and the sky was a soft purple. It was cold, but she didn't mind. Their feet crunched through snow and eventually they reached one of the greenhouses.

Elio opened the door and stepped aside, ushering her inside with a ridiculously pleased smile on his face.

Raising a brow at the boy, Delilah walked inside and nearly tripped over her own astonishment. "Oh... oh Elio this is beautiful."

She spun around in a circle, the temperature inside was warm and comfortable. There were candles lining the middle table, casting the greenhouse in an orange glow, the frosted windows soaking in the light. Flowers of all sorts bloomed, the colors vivid and the floral scent engulfed her senses.

Something white caught her eye and she felt her heart stop but not in a romantic way. "Elio you didn't." The warmth from the greenhouse suddenly disappeared and she wished she could've held her ground to lay down. She felt drained and he was being sweet. She didn't know what to do.

He beamed at her and led her to the large blanket he laid out at the end of the greenhouse. There were simple snack foods, fruits, two sandwiches, pepper imps, and sugar quills.

Delilah smiled to the best of her ability. He really shouldn't have. Guilt was racking up. He was too good for her, she didn't deserve any of this treatment especially when she wasn't capable of returning it.

They had a nice dinner, talked about the most random things. He ranted about how infuriating Abraxas was before each Quidditch match, and Delilah talked about how amusing Slughorn was when he was mad.

Ignoring the way her heart felt like it was about to sink through the floor. The artery felt rotten in her chest, heavy with sticky sap that poisoned her veins and she wanted it gone.

Delilah smiled anyway as he joked, wishing she could cry.

"Que será, será. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Que será, será. What will be, will be."

Delilah sang the tune on repeat as she made her way to the library. It was well around two in the morning, but sleep wasn't granting her a visit anytime soon. She wished to take a sleeping potion but those weren't allowed unless given permission and she doubted it'd be granted to her.

The irony of the song was nearly painful. 'The future's not ours to see.' Neither was the past, apparently. She was adrift with nowhere to go.

"Planning to join the frog choir?" A deep, sultry voice asked.