I know we are friends, but not that kind of friends.
“I’ve known him for a while. Well, my whole life, actually. He saw me when I was a baby, when I started school, when I peed on my pants because I couldn’t stop laughing, when I cried for my toy. You name it. We are best friends and yesterday it didn’t feel like that anymore.
We were in Shell Cottage celebrating my mother's birthday and even the Delacours (I’m referring to my grandparents) were there. It’s not a secret that Apolline doesn’t like the “provincial life” that my mother chose and neither “the country house'' as she called it. Victoire was marvelous as always; with her blue dress and her long siren hair and the smile that never leaves her face. My brother was with both of my grandads talking about Quidditch and on the couch, trying to not fall asleep, was me in the middle of uncle Harry and the charming Viktor Kurm.
I don’t even remember what the hell they were discussing about.
Someone knocked and my sister opened. Molly and Teddy arrived two hours later because that was the way San Mungo wanted it to be for that meeting and the next thousands one. The freckles red-hair (I know there are a lot in the family but you know who I am talking about) went upstairs with Victoire to talk about their plans for next summer and after Teddy exchange a few words with my mom, he went just straight to me and said something like «hello, can I borrow her?» and took my hand and we left the house.
Now that I think about it, I might’ve been flushed. A lot. Like a fucking tomato. But I loved him for that.
We went out. The sun was brighter than usual but it didn't feel warm at all. I have the weird theory that it was because I was having goosebumps just by standing next to him. I know, I know, we’ve done it a lot of times and bla, bla, bla. Let me finish first and then you can judge me.
We sat on the sand. He didn’t care about his pants getting dirty and neither was I . For a few seconds all that I could hear was the wind and the ocean far away from us. All peace and calm and I felt again a nine year old kid that played there with her dad.
—Are you alright? —I asked, trying to break the silence between us.
—I wasn't going to come today. I was feeling weird but I can’t explain it, you know? The exact reason. No, wait, I know the reason, I just don’t know how to say it.
I can tell he was so nervous and words didn’t come easily. He wasn’t shaking or anything, just thinking too much. I thought it was something about his work and how much it usually affected him, but he continued talking before I could ask anything else.
—I know it’ll sound silly but it is all about love. I think I like this gorgeous red-hair woman that I’ve known my entire life. She’s funny, a little clumsy and so beautiful, you know?
I’m not gonna lie, I thought he was talking about me and I freaked out because I didn’t know neither how to answer nor why he was bringing the subject in that exact moment. Like he dreamed about me or something like that. But I looked to my house and Molly came to my mind; perhaps she was the woman he was talking about.
—Did you tell her something?
—Yup. But I’m starting to think I talked too much because it seems that she didn’t actually understand me.
—What about a kiss? You know, after a romantica date. You are such a romantic so I’m pretty sure you’re gonna kill her. Not literally.
And again silence. I didn’t realize he was staring at me until I felt his breath on my cheek. I looked at him and his eyes were like paused on my lips, like there was nothing else. I swear I was ready to kiss him and I remembered that a few weeks ago he tried to say something similar about this person he likes and he touched my hand an my hair and I felt so stupid. I told all my negative thought to fuck off and I was going to live the moment.
But it wasn’t a fairytale.
My sister called us, we came back inside and it was just like nothing happened. Like I just dreamed it.
I know we are friends, but not that kind of friends.”