Tina could hear soft footsteps approaching. She knew who it was even before she looked up. She, Newt, Jacob, and Nagini were still the only ones allowed near the Zouwu's enclosure but Jacob and Nagini rarely ever came. Tina glanced up through the Zouwu's mane. Newt was slowly coming towards her. He crouched down in front of her.
"Tina," he said softly.
She looked up and halfheartedly aimed a swipe at his leg. He blocked it with his arm.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Tina glared at him. "What's wrong?" she demanded. "What's wrong? You read the letters Achilles sends me and you ask what's wrong?"
"Tina, it was just one letter," Newt said, frowning slightly. "Just the one. I know I shouldn't have read it but it was there on your dresser and I saw the name. I couldn't help myself. I'm so sorry."
"When were you in my room?" she asked, still trying to sound annoyed.
"That morning, when you didn't come down to breakfast. I went up to find you but you were still asleep. You had been having bad dreams."
Tina buried her face back into the Zouwu's mane. "Oh, right," she mumbled.
They were silent for a moment then Newt asked, "Have you been having bad dreams lately?"
Tina looked up. "I always have bad dreams," she said without thinking. She caught the concerned look on Newt's face. "I mean, I've been having bad dreams most nights since I was in school. I'm used to them." Newt still looked concerned. "I haven't had any really bad dreams since that one," she offered, quickly burying her face again. It was a lie. The last few nights had been filled with strangely awful dreams.
"Really?" Newt said, raising his eyebrows. "Nagini said she heard you crying last night."
Tina looked up suddenly. "She did?"
Newt smiled sadly. "No, she didn't tell me anything."
Tina scowled.
"I wish I didn't have to trick you to get you to admit you're in pain. I wish you would just admit it," Newt sighed. "You're still dreaming about Queenie?"
Tina hesitated but she recovered quickly. "Uh -- yeah. I -- I'm still dreaming about Queenie."
Newt was studying her carefully. Somehow, he seemed to know she was still lying. "No, you're not."
Tina blushed slightly and hid her face. She didn't understand Newt. He was so shy and gentle but he was so persistent but he always knew when something was bothering her and, somehow, he always seemed to know exactly what was bothering her. It was slightly annoying but also very comforting.
"Tina," Newt murmured. She shook her head slightly. "Tina, please, tell me what your dream was about."
"I -- I can't."
"Please."
Tina looked up at Newt. He was looking at her, a genuinely concerned expression on his face.
"I -- It --" Tina looked down. "It was --" She dropped her voice to a mere whisper. "It was about you."
"Me?"
Tina nodded. "You -- you followed Queenie through the flames to Grindelwald."
There was silence. She glanced up to see Newt's face. He was studying her but she couldn't read his expression. His face slowly began to slip into a slightly sad expression. He raised his hand and gently rested it on her arm.
"I know how you feel. I've had similar dreams."
Tina met his eyes. "Wha-- You have?"
Newt nodded, blushing slightly. "I've had dreams about you following Grindelwald too."
Tina blushed as well and looked down. Newt's hand was still on her arm and she was oddly pleased when he didn't move it. The Zouwu shifted behind her, pushing her forward slightly. Newt chuckled and moved to sit beside her, leaning gently against the Zouwu, their shoulders barely touching.
"You're not down here because of the letter or the dreams, are you?" Newt said presently.
Tina hesitated then shook her head slowly.
"Well?" Newt prompted.
"I -- It's just . . . seeing Achilles here . . . I don't know. It's just strange. It startled me. This is just the first chance I've had away from him and I needed to . . . I don't know . . . collect my thoughts."
"Oh." Newt seemed satisfied. Tina sighed and leaned against Newt without realizing what she was doing.
"I don't know," she said again. "I mean, I love Achilles. He's so nice to me and it's so easy to talk to him. He's an Auror just like I am and it's always fun to talk about work with him but we can also talk about all sorts of other things. He's so tall and handsome and he treats me wonderfully but somehow I'm not happy to see him. I --"
"You're not?" Newt cut in, sounding surprised.
Tina froze. She had been voicing her thoughts without thinking who was talking to. This was Newt and she had been talking about Achilles. She didn't know why that was a problem but somehow it just seemed wrong. She let out a gasp and scrambled to her feet. She ran out of the enclosure without looking back, even when Newt called her name. She dashed up the stairs, slowing only when she came into the kitchen.
Nagini, Jacob, and Achilles were sitting at the table. They all looked up when she entered.
"Come take a seat," Achilles said, pulling out the chair beside his.
Tina shook her head. "I -- I'm not hungry. I think I'm going to bed. I'm really tired." She quickly ducked through another doorway leading to the stairs. When she was halfway down the hall she felt Achilles's hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, what's going on?" he asked.
She turned and offered him a smile. "Nothing, I'm just tired."
"Well, can I have a good night kiss?"
Tina laughed slightly and leaned forward, pressing her lips to his in a gentle kiss. Achilles immediately deepened the kiss, pulling her closer and turning to trap her between him and the wall. She slipped her arms around his neck, lacing the fingers of one hand through his thick hair. She pulled him closer, enjoying the feeling of him pressed against her. But something felt wrong. This wasn't her house, this wasn't Achilles's house, it was Newt's and somehow that made everything feel wrong.
She pulled away with some difficulty, both because she didn't want the kiss to end and because Achilles was holding her so tightly.
"Achilles, I want to go to bed," she said between kisses.
Achilles sighed and kissed her again. "But I don't want you to go."
Tina stepped sideways, moving out from between him and the wall. "I know but I need to go. I'm really tired," she said, slightly out of breath. She backed to the stairs then turned and ran up them. She reached her room and shoved the door opened. Then she slammed it behind her and threw herself on her bed.
How could I start talking about Achilles like that? Now Newt knows I'm not happy about Achilles and he's going to wonder why. I don't want him asking why . . . I don't even know why. I don't like seeing him here. I started dating him because I thought Newt was engaged. Now I know he's not but Achilles is still here. I don't even really know how I feel about either of them. I thought I loved Achilles but I don't feel the same way about him that I feel about Newt and I don't know which one really is love. I know Achilles loves me but I don't know how Newt feels. It's obvious he cares for me but that doesn't mean he loves me.
Tina sighed and rolled over, staring at the ceiling above her.
"Mercy Lewis," she groaned. She pushed herself up and got off her bed. She quickly changed and switched out the light. Then she climbed back into her bed and tried to go to sleep, knowing that she probably would start dreaming the moment her eyes closed and that those dreams would be about Newt. She had never dreamed about Achilles. Newt was the only man, besides her father, that had ever appeared in any of her dreams.
A/N: Yay! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's a bit shorter but that's fine. Please vote and comment.
I'm supposed to be working on some homework but at least I don't have school tomorrow. Yay!
Have a good day!
Bye!