In Another Life || Cedric Diggory

17. Let Me Go

Maybe she's right. I was pulled from my thoughts when Trevor sat down beside me, offering me a cheeky grin that quickly transformed into a frown when he noticed my forlorn expression.

"What's wrong, Elle?" He asked me.

He wasn't yet aware that I had poured my heart out to Cedric.

"I, uh.. I told Cedric," I mumbled, staring down at the table.

"Told him what?"

I quirked a brow. "Take a guess."

His brows furrowed as he pursed his lips. I watched as realization hit him. "Oh."

I nodded once, my face heating up in embarrassment.

"Well, um.." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "How did it go?"

The twins narrowed their eyes at him in sync. "How do you think it bloody went, Lockhart?" Fred quipped, followed by George, "Blimey, man. Take a hint."

There was (of course) an awkward silence.

"Right," Trevor finally spoke, smiling softly at me. "I'm sorry, Elle."

"It's okay," I breathed out, willing myself to believe it.

***

I inhaled a shaky breath, trying to build up my nerves as I approached Cedric. He was sitting at a bench in the middle of the courtyard, staring off into the distance with a dull expression. When he noticed me out of the corner of his eye, his entire body stiffened.

"Cedric," I greeted him, forcing my best attempt at a smile given the circumstances. "Mind if I sit?"

He clenched his jaw before standing up and gesturing towards the bench. "Not at all."

My jaw dropped when he turned to walk away, but I wasn't letting him off the hook so easily. I jogged to catch up to him, staring up at him with a look of frustration.

"So... What? You're never going to talk to me again?" I asked, trying not to sound too bitter.

He cast me a side-eye glance but kept walking. I struggled to keep up with his long strides.

"What do you want me to say, Elliana?" He sounded... defeated.

My heart felt heavy in my chest at his deflated tone. I jumped in front of him, forcing him to pause mid-step. There we stood - in the middle of the walkway, facing off with each other it would seem.

"Ced, we've been best friends for six years. Are you really going to throw that away?"

His eyes widened. "I didn't."

I was taken aback by his tone. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at his roots with a solemn expression.

When he spoke again, there was no denying the sorrow in his voice. "Why did you have to go and complicate everything? Everything was fine how it was."

I exhaled sharply; aghast. "I can't help how I feel. Did you just want me to keep it to myself for the rest of my life? You couldn't possibly expect me to do that. That's not fair."

He frowned. "You're right. It isn't fair. None of this is fair. Why did you have to tell me now? Before the last challenge? You know the stress I'm under. Couldn't it have waited?"

Despite my best efforts, tears filled my eyes. "No, it couldn't have waited. How do you think I would feel if something were to happen to you, and I never got the chance to tell you exactly how much you mean to me? Put yourself in my shoes, Ced. Please."