I want her magic touch, yeah, cause maybe then you'd want me just as much -- Early Winter 2020

I had thought that maybe - just maybe - Rory would dump his daft broad after our moment not that long ago... until I realized who it was that he was fancying these days.  I loathed him for what he did.  No one betrayed me like that.  I was sitting in the common room just waiting for Rory.  I actually wanted to avoid him, but I wanted to be near him.  What was I going to do?  I was never this confused.  Ever.  I always knew what I wanted and I always got it, too.  But now?  I was turning into a normal girl.  This was not good.

I buried my nose in a book that I charmed the cover to mask what it was really about:  It looked like I was reading a fiction book that a wizard wrote that was a thriller novel... when in reality, I was reading Edgar Allen Poe.  It was a Christmas gift from Uncle Ayden and Aunt Lucy awhile ago -- when we still all got along slightly.  They knew it was a Muggle author, but he was an excellent writer.  Just my style, really.

As I reading The Tell-Tale Heart for the umpteenth time, someone sat down next to me.  I did not need to look up to recognize Rory.  I could smell his wooden-like cologne he wore... mixed with the soft lavender that was Marie's signature perfume.  The scents mixed together nicely, but that just made my stomach sour and made me all that more angry.  I ignored him, pretending not to have even noticed that anyone sat near me as I read.  Though I kept rereading the same line over and over again as his cologne started to overcome my senses.

I knew that things were rather cold between Marie and Mina.  I wanted to try to help her to understand how I felt towards Marie... but I did feel something for Wilhelmina.  I just wanted to talk to her about everything.  I was confused.  Really, really confused.  I found Mina sitting in the common room reading some book.  I knew that she only read books when she was stressed to the max.  I always knew the little things about Wilhelmina... I had paid attention.

Sitting down next to her was not enough, it seemed.  She continued to ignore me.  "Mina, can you just talk to me?" I inquired gently.

I sighed and set my book down carefully.  I sat up straight and I looked at Rory.  I could be professional.  Father had taught me that; the Dark Star had made sure I learned that.  I would not lose my cool with Rory.  With Marie, I would slap her int he face.  Easy.  But when it came to showing my feelings towards someone like Rory?  No.  I would be composed.

"What do you need to say?  I was in the middle of something," I explained, indicating my reading.  Granted, I was not really reading it well, but I was reading it nonetheless.  My heart was pounding in my chest much like hte heart had been pounding beneath the floorboards in the story.  Or so it seemed.

I wanted to roll my eyes at her, but I resisted.  "I just wanted to say that I was sorry," I said to her quietly.  "It doesn't need to be like this between us."  I did not want to lose Mina -- or to be on her bad side -- but what else could I do?  I was with Marie; I never knew that Mina had real feelings towards me until a few days ago.

I shrugged.  "Okay," I said to him dismissively.  "You're sorry.  Do you feel better now?  Because I'd rather not be around you or her, so..." I trailed off, giving him a pointed look.

I wished that Mina would at least listen to me.  "Look, I know I pissed you off," I said to her, "and the fact that Marie and I basically betrayed you... but come on.  Please let me try to fix."

I snapped my book shut and I looked at Rory incredulously.  "What is there to fix?" I questioned, trying to keep my voice down but not necessarily succeeding.  "Apparently there was nothing there to even ruin... so why would there be something to fix?"

I took a deep breath and ran a hand through my hair.  "Mina... it doesn't have to be this way," I said to her.  "You're being childish about the whole thing because I actually found someone who noticed me straight away."  I had not wanted an argument, but she was pushing my buttons greatly.

My eyes flashed at him.  "Oh, I'm being childish?  Well, thank you for letting me know," I said to him venomously.  "By all means, keep insulting me and I'll straighten right up."  I stood up and glared at Rory.  "I'm hurt; I'm not used to feeling this way.  So just leave me alone and I'll do the same to you and Marie."