[3 Broomsticks] The Truth Comes Out

[Russell Haynes]

February. The month of LOVE, the month Russell Haynes always dreaded. Valentine's Day was nearing and never in his life had he had a date he actually enjoyed spending the 'Lover's Holiday' with, at least not yet. it had been weeks since he last spoke to Jennifer and he even made sure to keep it that way. For some reason, he was afraid to be near her, to speak to her. Something about that woman changed Russell and he wasn't sure if he liked it yet, ok, he loved it but he was terrified of change.

February Fourteenth was close, only twenty-four hours away and Russell could be found in the Three Broomsticks drowning his fears in alcohol, something he wasn't too proud of but he felt it needed to be done. He didn't want to see the truth, he didn't want to realize he was falling in love with someone he barely knew. Was it even possible? Apparently it was. Russell Haynes was in love with Jennifer Queens.

The small bells above the door chimed as a young woman came in. She was beautiful and... familiar? "No way!" he exclaimed as he stood up from he barstool and headed to greet to woman. "Ashlee Van Dort. You're still a Van Dort, right?" he asked with friendly hug. "I mean, you haven't married yet, or am I wrong? Last I heard, you were with some professor? Stop me if I assume too much."

Ashlee Van Dort was an old family friend. Her father and his went way back so the two practically grew up together, although there was a gap between their ages. Still, friends were friends.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

[[since Ashlee and Russ are both my charries, I'm just gonna God Mod Russ a little]]

Ashlee had the night all to herself. Leigh was off on one of his little adventures and her shop was closed for the night. Tomorrow was Valentine's Day and she was hopeing it wouldn't be spent alone, once again. She didn't mind it anymore, she was used to it by now. Most of her holidays were spent alone anyway so it wouldn't be anything new, but a drink was definitely in need.

Walking into the Three Broomsticks, she was greeted with a surprise. Almost instantly she grinned as she returned the hug. "Russell Haynes! I haven't seen you in ages!"

Instantly, he bombarded her with questions. Go figure. Ashlee took Russ by the wrist and led him away from the door and back to the bar. She leaned against the bar, her back to the barman. "Alright, so Yes I'm still a Van Dort, haven't married at all. I guess you could say I'm seeing someone but its a little complicated. What about you, got a special girl in your life?"

Russell just laughed at Ashlee. He wasn't sure how to answer her question because Jen and him weren't exactly seeing eachother. In fact, Russ hadn't seen her since they set up his shop. He joined her against the bar, maybe a little too close for comfort but he had been drinking and Ash knew he meant no harm. "No, there's not a special girl in my life, but there is a woman. Well, we're not seeing eachother but I like her."

At this Ashlee gave a fake gasp and nudged him with her shoulder. "Aww, little Russ has a giiirlfriend," she retorted with a laugh.

Russ pulled her into a hug as he laughed along with her, "Shush, she's not my girlfriend. Nothing even close to that, just a friend."

[Jennifer Queens]

It had occured to Jennifer that it had been weeks in which she had not seen Russell. This fact, she was uncomfortable, as it seemed he had been purposely avoiding her. Maybe he had found out about Dan and her kissing? Actually, maybe not, they were just friends, so why would that matter? Maybe he just didn't want to see her? Yes, that was it. Still, her heart still twinged when she thought of him, and that feeling wasn't going to disappear any time soon, no matter what he said when they were decorating. Yup, it seemed Jen was once again setting herself up for a fall, and this would seem like the biggest one of all.

All the days seemed to grow longer, and being February, it wasn't long until that day of love. Madam Puddifoot's had been preparing for weeks, and was setting up the last of the rosebushes complete with ribbons outside of the shop when Jennifer waved and the owner as she locked up. It was beginning to get dark and she felt like drinking away her sorrows and starting a fresh tommorow. She couldn't keep doing this to herself, she just wasn't strong enough to deal with matters of the heart anymore. What better day to start a new matter of the heart than the day of love?

Pushing open the door to the three broomsticks she shouted over to madam puddifoot's in a joking way.
"Don't expect to see me tommorow" laughing. Turning back around she saw the person who she didn't yet she did want to see. Realising he was laughing at joking with a blonde woman, her face of laughter turned to a face of sorrow within a split second. Still holding the door open, she stood for a moment in shock and couldn't help but watch as Russ flirted with the blonde. So he didn't just like her, it was all a lie. He was just another bloke. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and her lip trembled slightly, letting go of the door, she saw Russ turn around as she was turning around to go back home. Storming out, she fumbled in her bag for her keys as she began to cross the road to her sanctuary...

[Russell Haynes]

Ashlee smiled, "Well if you like her so much, then why aren't you together? I don't see why you shouldn't be. You're a great guy, Russ and you deserve to be happy for once."

Russ didn't know how to respond to this. He didn't have time. He heard the door open, glanced in its direction and just stopped. Ashlee was still in his arms as he stared at Jennifer. What she must've thought of him now made him gulp in terror. He pulled away from Ashlee which automatically made her follow his gaze to the door just to watch Jen walk out.

"That her?" he heard her ask. He just nodded as an answer, a saddened expression plastered on his face. "What are you waiting for?! Go get her," Ashlee exclaimed as she pushed him away from the bar and towards the door.

Russell wasn't sure what he was going to say to her or how he was going to say it, he was only worried about catching up to her. "Jen! Jen, wait up!" he called after her. Jennifer! Please wait," he called again. He was close enough now to reach out for her so he tried and grabbed hold of her upper arm, his body language begging her to stop and listen to him.

"Jen listen, it wasn't what it looked like. Ashlee, she's a family friend. I've known her since I was a kid, we were just goofing around," he tried to explain, his eyes pleading her to look at him.

[Jennifer Queens]

A million thoughts ran through her head, none of them coming to the conclusion that she was for once going to be happy. How could she be so stupid as to believe yet another man could make her happy. She had tried so many times before, hoping that they would be the one for her, but nobody was. What she had with Russ was far better than what she had with anyone else before, and her and Russ were just friends.

Hearing his voice, unsure of whether it was crammed with all her thoughts or whether he was actually calling her, she carried on fumbling with her keys, trying to find the right one on the set to just go home and into bed. It didn’t help that her view from her bedroom window was right in front of the pub, and she knew she would be up and down all night, and would probably look out the window just as Russ came out with the blonde. Just thinking about it upset her, and tears began to fall.

Feeling a firm hand on her arm, she spun around to come face to face with Russ. Now she knew how he felt in her dream, the one where she was kissing Daniel Hubbles, but didn’t know why, and the look on Russ’s face. He wouldn’t look at her, and what made her guilty most was that he couldn’t look at her. She had felt so ashamed in the dream, and now, here it was, happening to her. She turned her head to the side, not daring to look at him, and those eyes, the ones that had melted her so many times. The ones that always looked like they were laughing. She couldn’t look at them now, and she was glad her own tears had dried.

Biting her bottom lip. She tried so hard to keep all her emotions inside. All the anger, and the hurt, and the big part of betrayal that she felt. Still, she had no reason to feel like this towards him, he was free to do as he pleased. Somehow, she just couldn’t help herself. Gritting her teeth, she took a deep breath before sighing it out and finally plucking up the courage to look at him.

Words. What to say. Where to start? She had no idea where to begin. If she was to rant, it would be never ending and she would be in no control of what happened to slip out. The odd occasion where Jennifer Queens ranted, it was like she had been slipped some Veritaserum. Raising her eyebrows as her spoke, the bubble of frustration exploded.

“Just goofing around? Really? Well, I suppose we have different opinions on ‘goofing around’ then Russ, at least that’s once difference about us” she said, voice raised, and through her clenched teeth. Anger. The more prominent emotion had come forth to her, and it was doing it’s job well. Turning away from him again, she didn’t know whether to just take those last few steps back and escape to home, or stand there and listen to his excuses. Her feet had somehow glued her, and she was unable to move due to fear. Scared of going through this situation again, yet more scared of going home alone once again, a regularity that occurred. The strength she had found to look him in the eyes had vanished, and had left her hollow, with her empty shell of a body trembling.

[Russell Haynes]

Why was he explaining himself to Jen? He wasn't doing anything wrong nor were they together to begin with. It wasn't like he had to explain why Jen walked into the pub to see Russ hugging Ashlee, a friend, just like Jen was Russ' friend. If anything, Ashlee was pushing him to ask Jen out, not pull him away. Russ couldn't say that though, then Jen would find out that he did in fact like her, but would that necessarily be a bad thing?

Why was she so mad at him? He couldn't understand it. And why did he find it hard to look at her, find it hard to stand there in front of her and explain himself when there was no need. His palms were clammy, his heart was racing, and the world around him was spinning. Why was he feeling like this? And now... now she was yelling at him as if he just cheated on her but how could that be? They were not together. He could feel his temper rising slightly.

"Jen! I wasn't doing anything wrong! Ashlee has a boyfriend and she's just my friend. Why can't you believe me? And yes, we were goofing around. She was picking on me so I pulled her into a hug, is there something wrong with that? People hug each other or am I wrong?!" Russ couldn't believe what was going on right in front of him. He looked at her, anger in his eyes along with longing.

He turned around, his back to her and ran a shaky hand through his hair before turning and confronting her again. What was he supposed to say to her? "You wanna know what I was doing in there? Trying to forget about you! Trying to stop this, this feeling you give me," he said throwing his arms up in frustration. "And Ashlee? She was trying to get me to ask you out! Why? Because she knows I like you, alright? I like you, Jennifer!" he half shouted before running a hand over his hair, stopping at his neck.

Russell sighed and dropped his hand to his side. He wasn't looking at her, he was looking at his shop remembering her in his bed, "In fact, I'm in love with you," he said softly.

[Jennifer Queens]

Jen could see Russ tensing and becoming angry by the way she was reacting towards him. She had no right to be feeling the way she did, or talking to him like she did either, but the feelings overpowered her natural instincts and common sense. Never had she felt so confused in her life. She listened to him speak but didn’t look at him, she physically couldn’t, because now, her anger had turn into shame for herself. She was ashamed of how she had reacted, and the situation she had put them both in.

Taking in a deep breath, she wanted it to be her last one. Then he reeled off a speech that made her breathe again. Again, the courage that had escaped her had returned to her once again, and she looked at him, just before he turned his back to her. The little glimmer of hope she just felt, suddenly faded, and she thought he was just going to tell her to forget it. Staring at the back of his head for a moment, she felt herself in shock and stood frozen for a minute before he turned around and declared that he liked her. Scratch that, he loved her.

Her eyes widened as he said those five precious little words that made her world complete, ‘I’m in love with you’. She blinked silently for a moment, before a grin emerged on her face and she couldn’t shift it. She tried to control it, but it somehow ignored her orders and stayed firmly planted on her face. All thoughts of the blonde and his excuses had disappeared from her mind, and she was left with only happiness, the most she had felt in a long time.

He wasn’t looking at her when he said those words. Yet she knew he meant them. Russ wasn’t all that confident in matters of love, and Jen knew that. It had taken a lot for him to say it, and her grin showed that she was greatful. Unable to contain her excitement any longer, she ran the small distance between them, and draped her arms around his neck before locking her lips with his.

"I'm in love with you too" she whispered

[Russell Haynes]

"I'm in love with you."

Did Russ really say those words and mean them? Yes, he did. For once in his life, those words had meaning and Russ couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips after the words had escaped. Maybe it was the sudden burst of joy that caused his cheeks to burn red, but Russ just couldn't get his eyes to move in Jen's direction. He wasn't embarassed, he was just worried on her reaction. Could she take his sudden burst of emotions a little forward or did she feel the same way about him?

Soon it was clear when he heard footsteps approach him quickly. He looked up to see Jen nearing him at almost a sprint and he opened his arms just as she was jumping into them. He was surprised when she kissed him but none the less, he kissed her back, his hand on the back of her head tangled in her long locks. Then came the words again, only they were directed at him this time. She did love him, and he loved her but did this mean Russell was now a one woman man? As long as that one woman was Jen, then he was perfectly fine with it.

Russ smiled cheekily down at her giving him the sensation of his first date as a teenager all over again. The rush of the moment, the mystery of what was to happen next and the thrill of the ride.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" sure, it was just something to fill in the void of silence, but at least it was something true.

(Sorry SJ if its not that long or not what you were hoping :-p)

[Jennifer Queens]

It was wild enough to feel a hundred different emotions at once, but this last one toppled Jen over the edge. Absolute happiness. The sheer exhaustion of feeling all these different sentiments had drained Jennifer of all energy, leaving her quite exhausted stood in Russ's arms. As they kissed and Russ cradled her head, she couldn't help but feel the butterflies demanding to break free from the confindments of her stomach, causing a sudden smile to avalanche onto her face, causing her features to brighten.

Getting lost in her first kiss with Russ for a moment, they broke away, and right away Jen knew she didn't want anybody else. It seemed all her failed relationships before, and her previous rebellions had fallen by the wayside and her love for Russ was blossoming. Looking up at Russ into his smiling eyes, her arms still locked around his neck, her grin continued as she looked deep into his eyes, almost trying to pry out every bit of emotion he had for her.

The air surrounding the couple, still stood in the middle of the high street in Hogsmeade in the dark, was thick and beginning to fog. The aura's surrounding both Jen and Russ were almost thick, full of tension of what they had both just put themselves through. Jen let her arms fall down his arms, brushing them lightly before rejoining her hands with his, interlocking them as he mentioned she looked beautiful.
"Well I try" she joked, reaching her hand around to the small of his back. She began to feel all old school romantic and felt like some old cheesy black and white movie music should be playing, with violins and stuff.

"Do you want to come back to mine?" she smiled sweetly, giving him a small peck on the lips once again.