[Three.Bs] what we've become

[Alex Doyle]

Erys.

Remember what we discussed during the Holidays? Well, I think you’re right. We should. Meet me in the Three Broomsticks tonight at Nine. Of course if that’s not good for you, I’ll wait until ten. If you don’t show I’ll assume you bottled out. Which I don’t believe you would but I don’t know, it’s not as though I know you, is it?

Alex.

So, stood in the owlery, pleased with his letter, he sent it off with one of the school owls. He didn’t want anyone to see his owl flying to Erys’ office. At least not yet. Once that was sent, he went back to the school to see Dan. Somehow, he had known Alex was back in Hogsmeade and offered his old Muggle Studies apprentiship back. Alex had not once looked in Dan’s eye. He couldn’t, but he accepted it gracefully, well gracefully being Sure, whatever I don’t really care. And walked away. He collected all the books he needed for his apprentiship and took them to the library to sift through them. He was clock watching now, and as soon as eight rolled around he packed up his things, dropped them off and began his walk into Hogsmeade.

He pulled his coat around him, the night air was biting, nothing a nice drink wouldn’t cure. Alex felt numb, like he hadnt gotten a single care left in the world. Over the summer since he had been back at home from travelling his parents had grown tired of his Slytherin like attitude and pretty much told him to buck up. Of course, Alex didn’t. He found himself out with his family one day and low and behold who did he run into, Erys Grace.

Erys’ parents hadnt gotten a clue Alex was an ex-claw and his parents were not of the magical community. All he actually remembers when they were introduced was Alex saying he didn’t give a damn who they were, and surprisingly his attitude seemed to please her parents and before they knew what happened, Alex’s parents had left him with Erys. Both sets of parents went their separate ways and Erys and Alex were stood in the middle of a crowded street awkwardly. After a few minutes of saying nothing, Alex suggested they go grab a coffee, which they did. The two of them spoke and it seemed to him Erys delighted in how Girty made him feel. Like he wasn’t worth anything. It seemed she was glad of having someone else who couldn’t stand to hear the name. Things grew less tense as they talked and Alex found out about Ricky and both of them decided neither was worth the time of day. A sort of tense something passed between them. Maybe they both recognised each other as in the same boat.

At the three broomsticks, he took a table at the back where people wouldn’t bother him and waited for Erys. He had a fire whisky which he didn’t seem to be interested in drinking at all, no instead he seemed to like to stare at it. Nine O’Clock came and went and yet Alex stayed where he was. He was only going to wait until ten and then he was going. The question was, would Erys turn up? Or would she not?

[Erys Grace]

The owl, loud yet endearingly pudgy--one of the school's, no doubt--had arrived just in time to catch her before she was off towards the forest. Old habits really did die hard, even then, with her professional status and the paperwork to prove it. The Slytherin had stretched her arm out to provide the feathered creature a momentary perch, before retrieving the parchment and unrolling it slowly. The blue scrawl, while unfamiliar at best, was signed by someone equally as foreign. Though the name caused a slight smile to touch her lips, barely noticeable to even the most cunning eyes, and she set the bird aloft, watching as it flapped heartily back to the owlery, no message in return. Ignoring the comfort of the trees in this event only, she turned back, deciding subtlety instead of sanctity that evening.

Weathered hands that prized scars as experiance pushed open the doors to The Three Broomsticks, followed by the lithe yet muscled limbs of Erys Grace. She stepped into the pub, appearing to be there only for a simple drink on her own; her eyes betrayed nothing of whom she was looking for. Alex. She silently noted, casting a quick glance around before noticing him nearby, not that his scent wouldn't have tipped her off in the first place. Taking a seat nearby, unsure of what exactly they were planning--how long?--Erys bit her bottom lip slightly, staring up at him beneath dark lashes. "Alex." She greeted him with a small smile, though it was more calculating than friendly. This was nothing more than a business agreement anyway, something only to further themselves if not in the emotional satisfaction category. To bring about pain was always a pleasure, after all.

Ordering a firewhisky then, along with something strong as she usually did Erys let her shoulders relax, waiting for him to begin. "We arent robbing a bank, the school owl really wasn't neccessary. They feed those things too much." She smirked teasingly, her voice low but calm, nowhere near conspiratorial.[/color]

[Alex Doyle]

This was totally out of Alex's character. He was not like this, not really. He sat in the three broomsticks trying to think of something, anything, that could have made him turn out this way. He only drew one answer, Girty and Will. He scoffed, well they deserved eachother didnt they? One bad apple deserves another, but still, it hurt him, and he wanted her to hurt too. He wanted her to suffer. Hs drained half of his drink and looked out of the window, the light was fading, turning the sky to navy blue. Part of him felt guilty for what he was about to do, part of him wouldnt let himself feel too guilty, he kept telling himself she deserved this. He drained the rest of his drink as another was brought over to him. He had chosen here instead of the Hogs Head for the simple reason Warren would tell Girty that Alex had been in with Erys and it would completely wreck everything.

When Erys walked through the doors and he looked at her, all his guiltyness ebbed away. He knew she had felt just as betrayed by Ricky and Girty as he felt by Girty and Will. It was strange, among the pain and hurt, her name was always there, taunting him. Girty... Girty... He kept his head down, his brows furrowed as he shoved the Brunette Hufflepuff out of his mind, tonight he had to focus. Never, in all his time in Hogwarts, did he ever think that he'd be sat alone, in a pub with Erys Grace, the self-proclaimed Queen of Slytherin. "Erys." He answered back stiffly. The two had never liked eachother, it was odd how circumstance threw them together completely.

"I know that." He bit as he drank some more of his drink. "Girty knows what my owl looks like, I didnt want to risk her seeing it and spoiling the..." His smile suddenly turned cruel, crueler than anybody would think Alex was capable of as he had always seemed so gentle. "... surprise." His eyes glistened, all guilt had completely vanished now, it reminded him of the first time they'd discussed it, not having enough time to go into detail, but now they did. They had all the time in the world. "Well... down to business, how're we going to do this?"

[Erys Grace]

Self-proclaimed? Self-proclaimed indeed. It was a widely known, widely accepted--albeit reluctantly from a few females in her house--snippet of common knowledge, that was due to be respected. There were many people who would do well to remember that, though as of last term it seemed someone had forgotten. That someone however was going to get theirs soon enough, and this was exactly how she was going to do it. Broken from her thoughts at his question, an amused expression crossed her face. "How?" Erys echoed quietly, watching as if the answer should be obvious. She leaned forward slowly, the seconds sluggishly rolling by, time stopping. Her fingers hovered at the back of his neck, feeling goosebumps rise there at her hesitant yet conscious touch. "Like this." She whispered finally as her lips met his, eyes closing as she sighed with the relief of this feeling. Her form of revenge was so much sweeter the second time around, it seemed she could get used to this behavior, for a little while. Long enough to emotionally gut Ricky, anyway.

Breathing out gently her eyes fluttered open and she leaned away from him, resting her hand on his neck for only a brief moment after. "Like this." She echoed, her palm ebbing away as she slid it back on to the table. For a moment Ricky sat across from her then, and her eyes widened as he shook his head, eyes pained. Her breath caught quietly in her throat, and she looked away, breaking the imagined reverie as her heart thumped haphazardly in her chest. Looking back at Alex now, knowing he understood, she ignored the feeling of wrong that was beating itself against the walls of her head. No, she needed to do this, and no conscience was going to rise up just when she didn't want it to, to stop her. Why it was making its presence known now was a mystery to her, usually it did well to shut up for the majority of her life.[/color]

[Alex Doyle]

"Thats what I said. How." He felt her hand on the back of his neck. Goosebumps formed where her touch was, yet it wasnt as though he enjoyed this. Neither of them did. Her lips pressed against his. He reacted to her, his hand weaving to the back of her neck. She broke away and he slumped back down in his seat. There could be worse ways to get back at an ex who cheats and one who lies. "We dont half pick them Erys, a cheater and a liar. You know, if it were an alternate universe I'd say they were perfect for eachother." Alex looked out of the window, he knew this was wrong. Going with someone who he's never seen eye to eye with, who he's never really liked at all, who had a rather ferocious nature... just to get back at Girty for kissing will... payback was a bitch... but it was best served hot.

"I must say it is rather an effective way." Alex stated, draining his beer. So what, were they going to prance the halls together and act all couply? The thought turned his stomach. But everyone else had to believe and think it was true for Girty and Ricky to believe it. "You know for this to work we have to be convincing." It hardly needed to be said but he said it anyway. Alex still loved Girty, he would always love her. He was sure Erys felt the same about Ricky or else she would not be here. A good dose of revenge was supposed to make them feel better but right now all it was doing was making him ill. Though, as the thought of Will and Girty came back, Alex suddenly felt a new wave of inspiration for this plan.

"I think this could work."

[Erys Grace]

"This relationship if it can even be named such is one of mere conveniance, to simply get back at two people who.. Well we already know why we're doing this." Erys leaned forward conspiratorially, her eyes serious but her expression appearing to everyone else in the bar that they were only having a casual conversation. "If we want this to appear convincing and to work we have to forget why we're doing this and just do it. Forget that we really dont like each other. You have to believe we do, if only for a little while, for this to succeed. Understand?" He breathed revulsion into her mouth with every kiss, and she was starting to get nauseous from it. His eyes.. Mirrors cracked with hate and disgust for what they were doing, and despite the reasoning burning faintly in the background, they were still overtaken by his true feelings on the matter.

Emotion was such weakness sometimes.

The story: they hung out a lot during the summer and developed feelings for each other, those emotions surfacing due to their ex-counterparts betrayal, etc etc etc.. Her fingers hovered to his cheek, eyes locked with his. "Forget why we're here, know only that we are here." Erys murmured, waiting for him to understand that he could ruin this, if he wasn't careful enough with the obviousness of his expressions.[/color]

[Alex Doyle]

"Yeah I know that. Still old habits die hard." He answered taking a sip of his firewhisky. Part of him felt guilty for doing this to Girty but everytime those feelings reared their ugly heads, Alex reminded him of why he was doing this. Looking to the brunette in front of him, he couldnt help but inwardly wince. Luckily, he was managed to not show his actual feelings. He figured he had Erys to thank for that, the cold hearted woman, turning him into an equally cold hearted male... no, that wasnt true. Girty had done that, or set the wheels in motion. He'd come back here cold as anything. Meeting Erys just added onto it.

"Yeah yeah I understand." Alex spoke through his teeth. Of course he knew that, the problem was he couldnt help it. Taking a deep breath, he re-arranged his facial expression. Replacing the frown was now a small smile and his eyes glittered as though he really was happy to be here. Of course, she knew differently as did he but like she said. They had to at least forget they didnt like eachother. Alex was, or rather used to be, an easily forgiving person so, in his mind, he erased all the feelings of dislike, or rather repressed them and vowed in his mind to just get on with it. He knew he couldnt hide it, least from her. He knew he still loved the Hufflepuff who made him into the person he was, and if she was here, it suggested she still loved the Slytherin who brought her to this point.

He shivered when she touched him, to anyone else this shiver would have been a shiver of pleasure at his supposed lover touching him. But to him, and her, it was a shiver of revulsion. Amazing the lengths people went to, to give people a taste of their own medicine. Part of Alex wanted to know what Ricky did that was so bad to force her to be here with him, touching him like this... but he didnt ask. "Yes boss." He asnwered in a whisper, catching her hand as it hovered on his cheek. His eyes were locked on hers now, no trace of revulsion or anything really. Just excitement, they glinted dangerously as though he really was enjoying this. Girty knew there was supposedly someone else in his life now. She'd written to him a stupid amount over the summer and eventually he sent one back saying he didnt want her apologies, he wasnt interested, she was too late, and there was someone else in his life. This, he realised, would work like a charm. "Forgetting why we're here..." He mused with a smile, a sly, sarcastic smile. Easy. He kept hold of her hand on the table, lightly, he wasnt gripping it but he was aware of some people watching him and Erys in their small corner. "Such a cute couple, young love isnt it wonderful." He heard someone say and looked over, noticing they were being watched. "I see what you mean... looking like we hate eachother would give us away in a moment." He spoke only loud enough for her to hear.