REGULUS
The night is looking so fine on my end. Having to attend the Yule Ball as Dorcas' partner, I consider this start of the night to be acceptable. Drink in hand, sitting on the table where we are assigned and have a clear view of my boyfriend sitting a table before ours.
He must've felt me staring because his head snap on our table and he stared straight at me. I gave him a small smile and he returned it to me without hesitancy. A private smile we share so not to disrupt anybody else or to attract attention towards us. He tilts his head towards the huge oak door asking if we can meet outside. I gave him a small nod and turns to Dorcas' to tell her I'm heading out for fresh air. She didn't even question why because she knows this is not my thing. Being around people, dancing, and most especially talking.
I stood up, straighten my cloak and then heads out the door. When I am outside, I felt a hand slip through my own and laced it entwine together. I faced him and he gave me a smile before kissing the corner of my lips. I leaned away from him, wide eyes and frantically looks around to see if there are people around. When I saw no one, I look back at him and found him staring at me with brows furrowed.
"James, we've talked about this. People can't know. The moment others sniffs this, us, I'm dead. My parents will kill me." I rubbed my temples and step away from him, dislodging his hands on mine. I heard him sigh.
"Fine. Yeah. Whatever." He tried sounding nonchalant but his face, contorted in anger betrays him. He can't be subtle for the life of him even if he tries to. I reach forward and cups his face. I gave him a little smile to which he looks away and wrenches his face out of my hands.
"Jamie, don't be mad yeah? Dance with me?" I ask him and pouts. He gave me a sideway glance and sighs. He snakes his arms on my waist and settles it on the small of my back. I wrap my arms on his shoulders and rested my head on his chest. He's swaying us to the sound coming from the great hall.
I heard a movement on the side so I chance a glance and saw Lily Evans making her way out in the ground. I leaned away from James' embrace to which he tightens his arms to keep me from moving. I shook my head so he sighed and lets go. I chance a glance at Lily to which she looks ahead and spots us. Her steps staggered before she caught my eye and raising her eyebrows. I nod at her and smiled a little. She turns to head on our direction, stopping three feet away.
"Hey Lils." I said as a greeting. I saw James freeze before turning his head and looks at Lily standing before us. I felt my insides get cold when I saw James' eyes roam over Lily's body and stops on her lips longer than usual. It caught James' attention when I cleared my throat.
"Hey Reg. Who's this with you?" Lily said as a response. I wouldn't have thought anything about it but my insides twisted together when I saw Lily's cheeks tint a little. She saw how James' eyes roam over her and stays a little longer on her lips which she released a small gasp. I cleared my throat.
"Well, this is James. James Potter, my bo---” I didn't get to finish my introduction because James extends his hands and introduced himself. Interrupting me without care. My brows furrowed with how he acted because he knows I don't like it when someone interrupts me.
"Friend. I'm Reg's friend. James. And you are?" He flashes him a seductive smile to which cause for me to gape at him. Lily's eyes widen at James' flirting but her cheeks reddens.
"Lily. Lily Evans." She reaches for James' hands to shake it but James has other plans. He holds her hand and kisses the back of it without breaking eye contact. Lily's face became close to an apple for a minute before she snatches her hands off his hold.
"Well, that was uncalled for." Lily said trying to sound stern but her face gave her away. There's still a prominent redness on her cheeks.
"Anything for a fine lady, I always say." James' said without a beat and sends a wink at her to which she didn't disappoint because her lips quirked upwards.
"I was dancing with my darling to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced her to my loved one
And while they were dancing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me."
"That's nice of you." She said after deliberating what to say while staring straight at his eyes. It's like they both forgot I am here, existing beyond their bubble.
"I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darling the night they were playing
the beautiful Tennessee Waltz."
"Well, would you give me the chance to show it to you m'lady?" James' asked her and bows a little, hands extending asking her for a dance while his other hand stays behind on his back. Looking like a true gentleman.
Lily gave him a curtsey and reaches her hands to his. I saw how he squeeze her hands before straightening up and guides her towards the great hall. I'm left standing outside watching the two of them heading inside forgetting I existed.
"I was dancing with my darling to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced her to my loved one
And while they were dancing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me."
I followed them both and when I saw them dancing at the center, looking like how a couple should be, I stopped dead on my tracks. James' hands on the small of her back while the other hand clutches hers. Her other hand sitting firm on his shoulders while they sway to the beat of the music playing.
It was not how they dance or how they look like the typical heterosexual couple or how they portray a perfect couple in not only the essence but also their presence. It was the way they both look at each other. Like they couldn't see people beyond each other. Something reflects from their eyes to which that causes my breath to be caught on my throat.
No. That can't be right. That-- that look. It used to be me. It used to be how the way he looks at me. I-- he-- I can't breath. My steps staggered backwards when he catches my eyes. His eyes reflects regret and guilt on them. I understand, the moment he catches my gaze, I understand there is no more us. It ended the moment he caught sight of Lily. I nodded and turns to head out but before I completely turn away, I caught him looking back at her with Love written on his eyes.
I turned my back on them and started towards the huge oak door. I lifted my head, nose lifted high in the air, back stiff and a mask already made it's way on my face. My jaw tensing from every step that I take heading out. I felt the burning on my eye, tears forming at the corner threatening to fall the moment I close my eyelids.
I manage to remain impassive the whole walk towards the other side of the door. Fist clenched, I took a deep breath before stepping out in the corridor. I turned to the left hallway heading to the dungeons. The moment I took a step forward, my tears slowly made their way down my cheeks and unto the floor of the corridor.
"I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darling the night they were playing
the beautiful Tennessee Waltz."
~fin~