Cynical | Fred Weasley - REWRITE

14. Maneater

"Watch out boy, she'll chew you up"
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"Maybe," Joey said shyly. She had just become aware that it was George's twin brother she was discussing this matter with. She always thought of Fred as her friend, first and foremost, before considering him George's twin. But it was still just a little bit... awkward.

Fred knew better than to push the matter. Instead he lightly nudged Joey with his elbow. She stumbled a couple of feet and grinned at him. Joey then retaliated by charging at him with her shoulder. Fred staggered ahead and turned around. "Perhaps it's time I put our rugby training to use," he said mysteriously.

"Perhaps not," Joey replied, rolling her eyes playfully.

As if Fred would ever listen to a request not to be mischievous. Bending his knees slightly, Fred charged at Joey, and she screamed as his arms wrapped around her waist and took her to the ground with him. However, instead of just landing, they appeared to be rolling. The two of them were tumbling down a hill, getting mouthfuls of grass and Fred had a mouthful of Joey's hair as he landed on top of her, with his face smushed into the dirt. Joey was breathing heavy, fighting back the laughter to avoid that painful stab she now felt in her back. Fred began laughing too, and picked his face up off the ground. As soon as Joey laid eyes on him, she began laughing harder, and covered her eyes. Confused, Fred wiped his face, and the evidence of mud being all over his face was now all over his hands.

"How amusing," he mocked, before taking in the familiarity of their predicament. There were some differences; the grass and dandelions stuck in Joey's hair, the dirt on her nose, and the way she was looking at him. She was smiling softly, and her dimples smiled with her. Even her eyes smiled at Fred. "What's the matter?" He chuckled, attempting to hide how nervous she was making him.

"Nothing, you just make me laugh," she said with a gentle breath.

If she was going to look at him like this every time he made her laugh, Fred would make it his duty to always make her laugh. And as much as Fred would love to stay like this, he knew they shouldn't. Fred lifted himself up, the distance between him and Joey growing again, until he pushed himself to the left, and landed on his hip. Joey sat up and ran her hands through her hair, picking out needles of grass as she went. More than anything, Fred wanted to lay across her lap and watch as the sun crept beneath the earth's surface, taking all their secrets with it.

"What makes you like the stars so much, Joey?"

Joey sighed and looked down at her lap. "My mum, my brothers, and I used to lay out on the roof when I was little and she'd teach us the constellations. It really stuck with me, and I've always loved the stars. I love them even more now that I know my mum is among them."

Nobody really knew much about the Pierce's mother. They knew she was dead, that she was kind, and that she loved scones just like Joey. But none of the Pierce kids talked about her that much. It's not like anyone ever asked about her either. She was still a sensitive topic, especially for Joseph. He was a hothead, and very emotional. Josiah kept his emotions inside, but in a healthy way. He still talked about them, except it was with a therapist, which Joseph refused to get. And Joey... well she missed her mum. She still cried sometimes. But she was at peace with her mother's death because she could still feel her. Her mother was everywhere. She was in the scones Joey ate, in the music she listened to, and in the stars she watched each night.

"That's beautiful," Fred said. "You're a lovely person, Josephina. I hope you know that."

Joey nodded meekly and folded her hands thoughtfully. "How come you have so many nicknames for me?" she asked him.