Déjà Vu

Chapter 13

~ Evelyn ~

She cries in the shower after Nick leaves. She lets the tears drip down her cheeks and mix with the soapy water that cascades down her body, her sniffles muted by the sound of the water hitting the porcelain floor of the shower.

She's pretty much done with the crying after that, though. She just gets through her normal post-shower routine and gets changed into her pajamas. She had gotten an early dinner for her and Nick before he had to leave, so she hadn't needed to meet up with the others at mealtime.

Even though it's barely nearing seven o'clock, she's turning in for the night. She's no longer crying, having accepted the fact that she and Nick won't get to spend much time together, but she still feels like a night to herself before she needs to enter the school week ahead of her. She pulls out all of the stops, setting up her favorite record, lighting a couple of candles,  and getting out her favorite chocolate that she'd brought from home for special occasions. She digs out her very worn copy of Little Women to reread for the tenth time, craving the comfort and familiarity of something she already knows the ending to. She considers venturing outside of her room to make herself a cup of tea, but she doesn't want to risk running into anybody. Tonight she just wants to be alone.

She's just settled against some propped-up pillows, curled up underneath her fluffy comforter when there's a knock at the door. She closes her eyes and sighs, trying to summon all of her patience.

She gets out of bed, the cold air of the room sharp against her previously warm body, and makes her way to her door with a frown on her face. Who could be at her door? Padma and Ginny never knock before they enter her room and there isn't really anyone else in Ravenclaw who would need her.

She hopes that it isn't anyone too important -- she doesn't really care for anyone seeing her while she's dressed as she is. She's got on her plaid pajama pants and a heather grey tank top with no bra underneath, and she's got her hair in a bun with her glasses on.

She crosses her arms across her chest when she opens the door in effort to hide her very visible nipples. Her mouth opens stupidly when she sees who's on the other side of the door and she blinks as if he'll be gone when she opens her eyes again.

"Fred?"

"Hi," he says with a winning smile, his eyes giving her a quick once-over before he's looking into her eyes again.

Her face morphs into something even more confused when she looks down to see that he has a bouquet of lavender stems in his hands—her favorite flower.

She clears her throat and shakes her head, telling herself that there's a reasonable explanation why Fred Weasley (who quite hates her at the moment) is standing outside of her door with flowers in his hand.

"What- um. What are you doing here?" she gets out.

"I'm wooing you," he states simply.

And. Um. What?

"What?" she repeats aloud.

His smile doesn't fade. "I'm wooing you," he repeats.

She laughs. He must be joking. "Yeah, I heard you. Is this a joke?"

Again, he is unphased. "Nope."

Her smile drops a bit. "It's not?" Fred shakes his head. "I mean, you know I- I have a-"

"Boyfriend," he finishes for her. He rolls his eyes as if it's only a minor inconvenience. "But I know for a fact that I love you more than he ever could and that I'm better for you so I'm going to fight for you."