Just Friends

*7*

"Hello?" Hermione speaks into the phone, having hurried to answer it so the ringing wouldn't wake the kids she's babysitting. It had been a nightmare to get them to bed, the last thing she wants is to deal with that all over again.

"Hello." A strange sounding voice answers on the other line.

"May I ask who's calling?"

"Have you checked the children?"

"Mrs Ellison?"

"Nooo." The word is followed by a creepy laugh and it sends a shiver through Hermione. "Have you checked the children?"

"I'm sorry I think you have the wrong number." She's about to hang up when the voice speaks again.

"432 Wood Drive."

Hermione feels faint as the stranger rhymes off the exact address she's at. "N-no."

"Sarah seemed to be giving you a lot of trouble at bedtime. Would you like me to take care of it?"

"Whoever this is, you better stop or I'll call the police."

"We're just having fun. How about Toby? He tried to get you to give him another candy bar before bed didn't he?"

"That's it, I'm calling the police."

The voice changes suddenly. "Oh would you relax it's me."

"Alice?"

"Duh!" The girl laughs through the phone, finding her little bit hysterical.

"You scared me!" Hermione scolds, feeling her heart rate slow back down to normal.

"Mione' if a killer was calling I doubt they'd rip off a movie. Too much work and way too cheesy."

"Maybe they would want me to think it's a prank." Hermione suggests, settling onto the couch.

"Or they'd just break in and get you and not bother with the call."

"Oh shut up. Did you only call to scare me and ruin my night?"

"No I was calling to tell you I'm on my way over with Fred and FP."

"Woah woah woah, you can't do that. I'd have to check with Mr and Mrs Ellison first."

"Why? The kids are asleep aren't they?"

"Yes."

"Then it's not like you're neglecting them. We'll just park down the street and leave out the back door when they get home. They'll never know."

"I don't know, it's probably best if you guys just hang out without me. I'll see you tomorrow."

"I already suggested that, Fred and FP insisted." Hermione rolls her eyes. "Stop being a wuss, Mione'. It's not like we're going to defile their home or anything, we're just gonna keep you company."

"If your idea of keeping me company is anything like that phone call I think I'll pass. How did you even know about the kids being a pain? Are you hiding somewhere around here or something?"

"No I babysat for them last week and they always pull the same shit with me."

"Well that's because you feed them candy like it's broccoli."

"It keeps them happy and out of my hair."

"I really don't understand why they keep asking you back to babysit."

"Whatever, Fred and FP will be here soon,  am I telling them you're too much of a wuss to let us come over?"

Hermione sighs into the phone. "No. But if they find out and get mad you're taking the full brunt of it."

"Me? I wasn't the one who insisted we come see you, that was your boyfriend and his bonehead friend."

"That bonehead is your best friend."

"Which is exactly why I can call him a bonehead. I suggested we go to the Wyrm but noooo." Hermione hears a distant horn and then Alice is yelling to someone before speaking again. "Fred's here, we'll see you in 20." And with that the line goes dead.

***

"Look who's a rebel now." Alice teases as Hermione lets the three of them into the house.

"You better not get me in trouble." Hermione warns.

"Stop being a baby, I've had FP over here while I was watching the kids before, Mr and Mrs Ellison didn't care."

"That's because I am a stand up young man." FP interjects.

"There's a difference between one person and three."

"Oh my gosh will you shut up about it? I'm happy to leave if you want us to, I'm bored of hearing you whine."

Hermione rolls her eyes. "Just go sit, I'm going to go make sure the kids are still sleeping and shut their doors."

Fred walks ahead into the living room and Alice grabs FP's arm. "We can still make a break for it, make it to happy hour at the Wyrm."

FP smiles and curls his arm around Alice's shoulders. "Have I ever told you how sweet you are to your friends?" The comment earns him an elbow to his ribs before Alice is walking ahead of him, and he can't help but let out a chuckle. "I take that as a no?"