Just Friends

*25*

Calling Gladys had worked out much better than FP had originally anticipated. The girl was understandably short with him at first, but by the end of the phone call he could hear the smile in her voice. They had a date for Thursday night at the Bijou, her location choice of course, because he would always vote for the Drive-In when it comes to movie watching.

Now he sits on his front steps, a magazine balanced on his knee as he awaits Alice's arrival. He knows she's coming home today, but Hermione refused to give him an exact time so he's got no choice but to wait for the roll of tires over gravel.

The sound comes after what feels like hours, and he watches as Lance's car drives into the trailer park, looking bizarrely out of place. The car comes to a stop in front of Alice's place, and he watches as she steps out of the passenger side, immediately noticing his eyes on them.

"Hey, you're back!" He greets with a wave and a smile. But she doesn't return the favour, instead she links her fingers with Lance's, shoots an icy stare in FP's direction, and leads the boy inside.

***

"Aren't you being a little harsh?" Lance questions, following Alice into her living room.

"I'm just annoyed and don't want to deal with him right now." She sighs. "We've had such a good weekend, I don't want to spoil the mood."

Lance curls his arms around her waist and pulls her close. "We've had a great weekend, but we're home now and he's your best friend, so don't you think you'll have to talk to him eventually?"

"I'm really good at the silent treatment." Alice jokes, but Lance raises an eyebrow at her, not buying it. He knows she'll go a little crazy not having FP to talk to. "I'll talk to him, I will."

"Good because I think he's missed you." Lance chuckles, recalling FP waiting for them on his front step.

"Ya think?" She smiles and leans up on her tiptoes to kiss him. "Do I have to go talk to him now?"

"Depends," He smirks, his fingers inching just slightly under her shirt. "What are you planning to do if you don't?"

She smirks at him, that devilish, mysterious smirk of hers that makes him weak at the knees, before she gives him a gentle shove towards the couch. "I have a couple ideas." He falls down onto it and is soon graced with her straddling his lap and kissing him soundly.

***

"Two cheeseburgers, extra French fries, a chocolate shake and a root beer float. And a plate of onion rings for the table." Pop reads their order back to them as he lays the food on the table. "Can I get you two anything else?"

"I think we're set for now, Pop. Thanks!" Fred answers, his mouth salivating at the meal in front of him. "I swear this place will never get old."

"It's the best." FP agrees, looking a little solemn.

Fred notices the down mood immediately. "You okay?"

"Me?" FP raises an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, of course. I'm fine."

"You're upset about the whole Alice situation aren't you?" Fred asks him, knowing all too well that's what's weighing on his mind.

FP looks up shyly. "Is it that obvious?"

"Maybe not to others, but as someone who knows just how attached the two of you are? Yes."