Chapter 9
The living room was filled with laughter and the soft hum of music playing in the background. Fairy lights twinkled along the edges of the windows, giving the space a cozy, almost magical feeling. The scent of freshly baked pizza and smoke lingered in the air as Evan and I buzzed around, setting up the space for the game night we were hosting.
I tossed a handful of chips into my mouth, leaning against the counter as I watched Evan organize the games on the coffee table. I had a fond smile on my face. Things had changed so much since that fight months ago. I couldn't believe how much we had both grown, how much we had worked through our problems. Now, we were here, hosting a game night with friends, laughing, carefree, and happy.
"Alright, I think we’re ready to go," Evan said, stepping back and looking around the room. His smile was soft and content, and his eyes met mine. "What do you think, Bat?"
I grinned, shaking my head. "It’s perfect, Rosie." I loved teasing Evan with the nickname, and from the way Evan rolled his eyes playfully, I knew Evan loved it too.
"You’re impossible," Evan muttered, but the affectionate look in his eyes told me that he didn’t mind at all.
The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of our friends. My grin widened as I made my way to the door, throwing it open to reveal Sirius and Remus standing together, holding a bag of snacks.
"Ready to lose?" I teased, crossing my arms. Sirius raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"As if," Sirius replied with mock confidence, tossing his coat aside and strolling inside. Remus followed, giving me a gentle wave.
"Hey, you two. Looking good," Remus said warmly, his smile as sweet as ever.
"Same to you," I teased, ruffling Remus's hair as he passed.
Soon, more friends filtered in: Regulus and James, hand in hand, chatting animatedly about something only they could understand. Marlene and Dorcas were next, laughing together as they entered, closely followed by Mary, Lily, Pandora, and Peter. There was a sense of ease in the air now, everyone was settled, relaxed. No tension, no worries. Just friends ready for a night of games, good food.
"Alright, everyone! Gather around," I called out, clapping my hands together to get their attention. "We’ve got a night of fun ahead of us, so let’s get the games started."
I winked at Evan, who had moved over to the couch, already claiming his spot next to mine.
"Who's ready for a little competition?" I asked, a mischievous gleam in my eyes.
"Depends on the game," Sirius replied, a teasing grin forming on his lips. "If it's something like Monopoly, I’m already out."
I laughed. "Don’t worry. No one wants to get into that kind of fight. Tonight’s all about fun games." I winked at Evan again, who simply rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his face.
"Alright," Regulus said, holding up a board game, "I’ve got the first one. Who’s in for charades?"
"Charades?" James said, incredulous. "Reg, are you trying to make us look like idiots in front of everyone?"
"We already do that on a regular basis," Remus chimed in with a smile. "Why not add a game to it?"
"Good point," James said, taking a seat next to Regulus, who was already stretching out. "I’m in."
With everyone gathered around the coffee table, Evan and I exchanged a quick glance, our connection palpable even in a room full of people. I grinned, feeling the butterflies in my stomach, I never got tired of the feeling I had when Evan looked at me that way.
They started with charades, of course, and it didn’t take long for the room to erupt into laughter. Regulus tried to act out a fish underwater, but somehow, it came across as something entirely different, making everyone burst into even more laughter.
"I swear to god, I can’t keep up with you lot," Sirius said, wiping away tears of laughter from his eyes as he tried to catch his breath. "That was something else."
Marlene and Dorcas were next, and their teamwork was impeccable. Dorcas mimed a penguin, and Marlene managed to guess it within seconds. The team was on fire, and the competitive energy was building up.
But the real highlight was when Evan and I took our turn. Evan stepped forward, arms crossed, with an unreadable expression on his face. I was immediately grinning, the spark of mischief in my eyes.
"Alright," Evan said, looking over at me. "You’re going to get this right, right?"
I smirked. "Oh, you bet. Just try to keep up."
The game started, and I did my best to act out a ridiculous sequence of gestures that barely resembled anything resembling a clue. I danced like a maniac, and even pretended to be a worm, wriggling around on the floor in a way that had everyone cracking up.
Finally, it was time for the big reveal: "I’m a rockstar!" I shouted triumphantly, dropping to the ground dramatically with my arms spread out wide.
Evan burst into laughter, unable to hold back his amusement. "You’re an absolute lunatic."
"Hey, I’m a genius," I shot back, still grinning from ear to ear.
The room erupted into applause, with Regulus wiping his eyes. "How do you even come up with this stuff?"
"I’m just that good," I replied, my smile still lingering. I glanced over at Evan, catching his eye. "You think I’m hot when I’m a rockstar?"
Evan rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the soft smile that tugged at his lips. "Always, Bat."
After a few more rounds of charades, the group decided to take a break and grab some snacks. Pandora was holding a joint she’d passed around, and most of the group had taken a hit or two, including Evan, who was happily lounging with me on the couch.
I leaned my head against Evan’s shoulder, the high making everything feel light and warm.
"This is perfect," I murmured, closing my eyes for a moment. "I’m really glad we did this. I’m glad it’s us. You know?"
Evan chuckled softly. "You’re a little bit high, aren’t you?" he teased, his fingers brushing through my hair.
"Maybe," I replied, the grin on my face as wide as ever. "But I meant it."
The atmosphere was exactly what we both needed, no pressure, no tension, just the joy of spending time with friends and the relief of knowing we’d made it through the rough patches together. Our relationship felt stronger than ever, and tonight was a reminder of everything we had built together.
"Alright, alright, enough mushy stuff," Sirius interrupted, looking mock serious. "Let’s get back to the games. We’ve got a championship to win."
The room was alive with laughter and chatter, everyone buzzing from the smoke that still lingered in the air. The group was loose, relaxed, the perfect atmosphere for a night of games and mischief. Evan and I were curled up together on the couch, exchanging lazy smiles between rounds, our fingers intertwined. The tension that had once plagued our relationship had melted away, leaving us as solid as ever. The night was ours to enjoy with our friends, and it felt damn good.
Marlene was leaning forward with a devilish grin. “Alright, let’s spice things up. Regulus, truth or dare?”
Regulus looked around the room, clearly aware of what was coming. “Dare. Let’s make this interesting.”
Marlene’s smile grew wider as she leaned in, lowering her voice just a little. “I dare you to send a picture to the last person you texted, but make it something revealing. I’m talking ‘no clothes’ revealing. And don’t say no.”
Regulus raised an eyebrow but didn’t hesitate. He grabbed his phone and quickly snapped a photo of his torso, making sure it wasn’t too much, but still enough to push the dare to the limit. The group waited with bated breath as he hit send.
“What did you send?” James asked, teasing.
Regulus just smirked and passed the phone around for the group to see. “You’ll see later, Jamie”
The room erupted into laughter,“Alright, alright,” Marlene laughed, clearly pleased. “Your turn, Remus. Truth or dare?”
Remus, lounging in his chair, glanced around before choosing. “Dare. Hit me.”
Marlene, already planning, grinned. “I dare you to send Sirius a picture of your feet.
Remus leaned forward, taking a long drag from his drink before setting it down. “Okay, okay. I can do this.” He sent Sirius a very interesting photo, revealing his feet, with a message: “You’re the only one who gets to see me like this”
Sirius’s eyes widened, and he let out a shocked laugh. “You are insane, Remus!”
The group cackled as Remus sat back, clearly enjoying the chaos. “Gotta keep things interesting.”
“Alright,” Marlene smirked. “James, you’re next. Truth or dare?”
James rolled his eyes dramatically, as if he already knew what was coming. “Dare, let’s get this over with.”
“Okay, okay.” Marlene leaned forward, her voice dropping to a low, suggestive tone. “I dare you to prank call Snape and tell him you’ve been fantasizing about him, tell him exactly what you want to do when you see him next. Make it as graphic as you can without actually saying ‘I love you.’”
James didn’t even flinch as he grabbed his phone, his eyes mischievous as he dialed Snape’s number. The phone rang a couple of times before Snape picked up.
“Hello?” Snape said, sounding a little confused.
James smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Hey, Snivellus. I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately, and honestly, I can’t get you out of my head. I’ve been imagining exactly what I want to do to you next time I see you. And I’m not talking about dinner or a movie. I’m talking about the real fun stuff.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, before Snape spluttered. “Potter, what the hell?”
The room was howling with laughter, but James kept going, his voice low and teasing. “Oh, you know, Snivellus. Just think about it. We’ll talk more about it later. Can’t wait to see you.”
He hung up the phone, grinning from ear to ear as the group collapsed in laughter.
“You’re a monster, James,” Lily managed between laughs.
“I’m just following orders,” James said innocently, wiping a tear from his eye.
“Alright,” Marlene giggled, clearly enjoying the chaos. “Evan, your turn. Truth or dare?”
Evan, who had been sitting back, watching with amusement, grinned. “Dare. I think I can handle it.”
“Oh, I know you can,” Marlene smirked, clearly plotting something delicious. “I dare you to send Barty a text. Tell him exactly what you’re thinking about doing to him in the next few hours. Don’t hold back. Be explicit.”
I shot Evan a teasing look, raising an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”
Evan hesitated for a second but then picked up his phone. His fingers danced across the screen, his message written quickly: “I can’t stop thinking about your body. When we’re alone later, I’m going to take my time with you. You’re going to love it. You always do.”
He set the phone down, meeting my eyes. The room was dead silent as I read the text, my lips curling into a grin.
“Well, well,” I said, leaning toward Evan with a smirk. “Guess I’m looking forward to it.”
“God, you two are shameless,” Marlene said, shaking her head but smiling.
“Just part of the fun,” Evan said, leaning back against me, our fingers intertwining as the game continued.
My grin widened. “What can I say? I love the game.”
Everyone burst into laughter again, the playful tension still palpable, but this time, it was different. It wasn’t about pushing boundaries anymore, it was about enjoying the chaos together, making fun of each other, and feeling the warmth of shared moments. The room was filled with jokes, the atmosphere light but charged with the lingering buzz of the marijuana they’d been passing around.
The next few rounds of truth or dare were just as wild, with everyone pushing each other to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Dares got more and more creative, the stakes higher as the night wore on, but it was all in good fun. There were no hard feelings, just the kind of bond that only true friendship could create.
As the night wound down, and the games were over, Evan and I exchanged a look. We were both still high, grinning at each other like nothing else mattered.
“You know,” Evan said softly, leaning in close to me, “this was the best night we’ve had in a long time.”
I kissed the top of his head, wrapping my arm around him. “I agree. We should do it again sometime.”
“Definitely,” Evan grinned. “But maybe next time, you should dare me to do something even more outrageous.”
I laughed. “Oh, I’m sure I can come up with something.”
As the last of our friends filtered out of the door, Evan and I stood in the middle of the living room, surrounded by the remnants of a night well spent. Empty glasses, half eaten snacks, and discarded plates littered the coffee table and the couch. A few stray joints were left on the kitchen counter, and the atmosphere was still warm from the laughter that had filled the room just moments ago.
But now, it was just the two of us. The noise had quieted, the energy drained from the air. It was peaceful, almost surreal after the whirlwind of the evening. Evan let out a contented sigh as he stretched, the edges of his t-shirt riding up to expose a small sliver of his skin.
“You know, I think this might be my favorite part of the night,” Evan murmured, looking at me with a soft smile.
I was already gathering up the cups, raising an eyebrow. “Cleaning up?”
Evan nodded, grinning. “Yeah, because it means we’re alone, and I get to see you in this little moment where everything’s calm. It’s nice.”
I smirked, my eyes gleaming with affection as I tossed a few dirty napkins into the trash. “You’re a weird one, you know that?”
Evan just shrugged and walked over to the kitchen, pulling out a dish towel and wiping down the counter. “I like the quiet moments. It’s when I can really appreciate how lucky I am to have you in my life.”
My heart skipped a beat at Evan’s words, the warmth that spread through me was undeniable. I hadn’t expected Evan to say something like that, especially after everything we’d been through. I paused for a moment, watching him, my eyes softening.
“You’re cheesy as hell, Rosie,” I teased, walking up behind him and gently brushing my fingers against Evan’s side. “But you’re lucky you’re cute, or I’d call you out for being sappy.”
Evan chuckled, leaning back into my touch. “You love it. And you love me, too, don’t try to hide it.”
My hands moved to Evan’s waist, pulling him closer as I pressed a soft kiss to the back of Evan’s neck. The sensation made Evan melt, a little breathy laugh escaping his lips. “Yeah, I do,” I muttered quietly against his skin. “I love you. More than I know how to say sometimes.”
Evan turned his head to meet my eyes, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I love you, too.”
We stood there for a moment, just holding each other, the soft hum of the house around us, but nothing compared to the beat of our hearts that felt perfectly in sync. We both knew how far we had come, how much we had worked through together, and how much more we would.
I pulled away reluctantly after a beat, my arms dropping to my sides. “Okay, okay. Let’s get this place cleaned up before it gets any worse. Otherwise, we’ll be stuck in here for hours tomorrow.”
Evan nodded, his eyes still shining as he grinned. “Fine, but only if you promise to keep stealing kisses like that.”
I smirked, my hands reaching for a few empty bottles. “I can do that.” My eyes flicked over to the couch, where half a dozen cushions were strewn about. “But I’m not cleaning this mess alone. You owe me, Rosie.”
Evan grabbed a bag of chips from the coffee table and threw it into the trash. “I’ll help. But only if you stop trying to make me kiss you every two minutes.”
“Impossible.” My voice was playful, but there was an undeniable tenderness in my eyes. “Kissing you is never a chore.”
Evan laughed, shaking his head. He picked up a few more cups, glancing over at me. “Well, I guess we’ll be here for a while.”
“Worth it.” My grin was easy, and Evan felt it, that rush of warmth in his chest. He moved back into the kitchen to grab a cleaning spray, and I followed him, leaning against the doorframe, watching him with a fond expression.
Evan sprayed a little too much cleaner onto the counter, causing it to slip down onto the floor. “Shit,” he muttered, wiping it up with the towel.
I laughed, my smile full of mischief. “Maybe you should stop trying to do everything at once, love.”
Evan rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. “Shut up. You’re not helping.”
“Who said I was trying to help?” I replied teasingly. “I’m just here for the show.”
Evan tossed the towel over his shoulder dramatically, playfully swatting my arm. “Well, then you get to do the vacuuming. Fair trade, don’t you think?”
I pouted. “Vacuuming? Really? And here I thought you’d want me to do something romantic and sexy.”
“You’ve had enough romance for tonight.” Evan grinned, poking his tongue out. “Now, get to work.”
I smirked but obeyed, turning toward the vacuum. The soft buzz of the machine filled the room, and as I moved back and forth, I looked over at Evan with a playful look in his eyes. “I guess this is what it means to be in a real relationship, huh? The mundane stuff, like cleaning together.”
Evan glanced up from stacking the dishes, a warm expression taking over his face. “Yeah, I guess it is.” He paused, his gaze lingering on me. “But you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The vacuum buzzed for a few moments, filling the comfortable silence, until I finally shut it off, stepping over to Evan. I wrapped my arms around him from behind, pulling him into a tight hug. Evan leaned into me, resting his head against my chest, just enjoying the moment.
“Yeah, me neither,” I whispered softly, pressing a kiss to the top of Evan’s head. “I love you.”
Evan’s heart gave a little leap. “I love you too, Bat.”
We stood there, the room now clean and calm, just holding each other, the quiet and peace settling around us like a blanket. It was a far cry from the chaos of the night, but it was a perfect ending to an evening full of joy, laughter, and love.
And as we made our way to the couch to sit, curling up together with a blanket to watch a movie, neither of us felt the need to say anything more. Everything was just right. The night had been perfect. And we were, too.