“How far will jealousy take you, Merula?”
Standing in the courtyard of Hogwarts, Piper had her face slightly turned away from Merula, hidden in shadows. She couldn’t bring herself to turn around and face her. Not after what she had done. Her fists clenched at her sides. “Is this really how you intended this to end?”
Merula’s eyes were cast downward. Guilt carved itself into the features of her face.
“For me to go running back to you once she was out of the game?”
Merula opened her mouth, glanced around panickedly, then closed it.
Piper lifted her gaze without turning her head. “I hate that I would’ve done that, though. I hate that some part of me still wants to.” A tear slips down her cheek. “I hate that you’ve left such an impact on me that I still can’t bring myself to turn you away. That all I want to do right now is run into your arms and cry.”
Merula spoke up, voice cracking. “Maybe . . . maybe we can still do that? I love you and it’s evident that you love me too. Why can’t we be together again, like before?”
Piper swerved angrily to face Merula. “Do you really believe that after what you did, I can accept you in my life again! I agreed to stay friends, was that not enough for you?!”
Piper had now taken several steps in Merula’s direction, forcing her to take a step back. “You and I both knew being friends wasn’t enough!” Merula shouted. “It never was, and it never will be.” She reached her hand out to brush Piper’s cheek.
Piper deflected her hand with a smack. “Don’t play your tricks on me again. I won’t fall for them this time. I’ve learned, time and time again, that you’ll do anything to get what you want.” There was a harsh edge in her voice. “But this time you’ve gone too far. My girlfriend”—Merula flinched—“is in the infirmary right now because of you! And they don’t even know if she’s going to wake up again.” Piper hesitated, glancing to the side.
Merula pounced on her hesitation. "But it’s not her you’re thinking of right now, is it?”
Piper glanced back at her bitterly. “If you really want to know,” she spat, “yes, it’s not her I’m thinking of right now. It’s you. You know it’s you. It’s always been you.”
The corners of Merula’s mouth perked up in a smirk. That bloody smirk. That’s what started this all, thought Piper. Merula took a step closer and placed her hands on Piper’s shoulders, and the tension drained from Piper’s body.
“You know you didn’t have to hurt Penny for me to come back to you,” Piper said softly, sinking into Merula’s embrace. Merula ran her hand over her back in a tender motion.
“There's not many things I am truly sorry for in this world, but hurting Penny hurt you, so I apologise.” The words had a hollow meaning, but they comforted Piper’s lovesick mind nonetheless.
Piper’s heaving breaths against Merula lessened gradually and they settled into a comfortable silence as they revelled in their lover’s presence.