Chapter 23
Ethan and I used to be good friends. Before he broke my heart I mean. I hate how easy I can fall back into that rhythm we had. Because he broke my heart, I look at him differently now. But sometimes I accidentally slip up and let my guard down. Today, unfortunately, has been one of those days. Maybe because today isn't a good day, or maybe it's just that I need someone right now, I've let him be someone I take comfort in. I shouldn't.
Ethan has been trying to coax me out of my room all day. While he has been unsuccessful for the most part, he has gotten me to go swimming. Which is what we are doing right now. I have been sticking close to the edge, not really wanting to swim. I only agreed because he wouldn't stop bothering me. Yet I, unfortunately, don't mind his company right now.
"What's on your mind?" Ethan asks as he swims up to me. I shrug. What would I answer anyway? There are so many things on my mind but the main thing I have on my mind is something I don't want to share.
I shake my head. I'm not going to let my voice answer. I can't or else it's going to give away things I don't want to share. Ethan has always been good at reading between the lines when it comes to me, which I hate. To him I'm basically an open book and I don't know why. I have tried to keep myself closed off to him but it never seems to work.
"You have to give me a better answer than that."
"I don't have to give you anything." I snap.
"Alright, sorry." He says while putting his hands up in defense. I let out a shaky breath, while trying to hold back tears. I don't want to start crying but at some point I know I'm going to break. I just don't want to break in front of him.
"Come here." Ethan says softly. I look up at him but don't move. He moves instead. He wraps his arms around me, hugging me. I freeze. He has hugged me before, but rarely like this. Usually our hugs consist of side hugs and small whispers, telling each other not to do anything stupid. The only time he hugged me like this, he promised me something, that I'm still not sure he plans to keep. Part of me hopes he doesn't but I also wish he would. Stupid contradicting thoughts.
I rest my head on his shoulder and close my eyes, finally relaxing against him. As a result he hugs me tighter, trying to be comforting I suppose.
"I know what today is. You don't have to hide it from me. But if you don't want to talk about it I won't force you." Ethan whispers.
"Thank you." I close my eyes tighter, trying to keep myself from crying. I can't cry in front of him. Though my voice shows that I want to.
"He's alive right now. Technically. Unless I changed something because of the script." I whisper. My voice, cracking on almost every word. He pulls away from me, still holding onto my arms though, and studies my face. Mainly my eyes.
"Don't please." I whisper.
"I'm not."
"I already know you are. Stop it." He smirks before shrugging and moving away from me.
"All I have to do is just look into your eyes. You know that right."
"I know." I mumble. "You've told me." Millions of times actually. Well more like a few. He has used that trick on me several times before so I can open up to him but it doesn't usually work. This trick isn't just from this world, he has it in our real reality as well. Basically, I don't how, he can see what people are secretly feeling. I've seen him do the trick at church before and he has been scarily accurate. Thanks to him and that trick I learned that I'm not as closed off as I hoped.
I shake my head, before pulling myself up onto the edge of the pool and sitting there.
"What do you want to do today?" Ethan asks as he sits next to me with more ease than I had.
"Go back to my room and fall asleep." I blurt out.
"I will drag you outside so we can go for a hike." I frown but shrug. I will find a way out of it.
"You're not getting out of it." He responds making me think that I was thinking out loud. Or that he might be a Legilimen.
"Tomorrow please?" He frowns but nods his head.
"At least come to dinner. Your mom isn't home tonight, so you're free to eat." I nod my head, agreeing. I stand up, then grab a towel and walk to my room, needing some time to myself.
Like promised, yesterday I did eat dinner and today we have decided to go for a hike. Ethan has been relatively quiet, which I don't mind but the quietness is driving me insane.
"Did you watch or read Harry Potter before shifting here?" The words come fumbling out of my mouth before I can stop them. The question hadn't really occurred to me but now that I think about it, I don't know if Ethan has ever really talked about Harry Potter with me.
"I've seen the movies." He shrugs. "I saw shifting somewhere and wanted to try it out. This reality was just supposed to be an experiment." I snort.
"I've realized that most people talk about reality shifting like it's Minecraft."
"True. Minecraft has been created yet, has it?" I shake my head. It hasn't been created yet. I don't think it came out till 2011. That's weird to think about.
"It won't come out till 2011. That's so weird to think about." He nods his head, then goes quiet again.
"Are you ok?" I ask, starting to get worried about why he is so quiet. "You've been quiet today."
"Yeah. Just thinking." I nod my head. Keeping quiet for the rest of the walk. This trail happens to lead to a cliff ledge, which has an amazing view. I've snuck out a couple of times before sunset, just to see the sun set. The view is absolutely breath-taking. With the way the sunsets over the trees, the sun shines through them making it glow like magic.
"Wow." Ethan says in awe. "How long have you known about this?"
I shrug. "A while."
"It's beautiful." I smile before sitting down on the grass, pulling my knees to my chest. A couple minutes later, Ethan joins me quietly. We enjoyed the quietness of the forest until my mother called us back.
Several days pass and it's finally time to go to Malfoy Manor. I've been waiting so long to go to Malfoy Manor, that I am excited to leave Lafoi Manor. I didn't like it at Lafoi Manor anyway. My mom didn't bother to come with Ethan and I so we have been stuck with each other this whole ride. We haven't really talked but I can see that Ethan is annoyed. I don't think he really likes Draco.
The car stops in front of Malfoy Manor, where Lucius, Draco and Narcissa are waiting at the front door. My heart skips a beat at the sight of Draco. He looks so handsome with his hair parting to the left and he's wearing a crisp black suit. He looks amazing. I just want to run up to him and hug him but I can't. I don't want him to get into trouble with his parents.
"Wilhite, Ethan, welcome. We'll have the house-elves bring your luggage up to your rooms, which Draco will escort you to. Narcissa and I have some things to discuss." Lucius nods his head before turning around, grabbing his wife by the arm and disappearing into the manor. Draco watches them walk out of sight and aren't around, before walking up to me and pulling me into a hug. He kisses me, pressing his mouth hard against mine. My hands cup his cheeks just as his cups mine.
"Merlin, I missed you so much." Draco says while taking a quick breath.
"A little risky here isn't it?" I laughed, not worried at all about who would see us. He shakes his head before laying his forehead against mine. His platinum blonde hair brushing against my forehead, reminding me that this is all real. I literally just kissed Draco Malfoy. It's not a dream at all. I've only been away from him for a couple of weeks.
"Ehem." Ethan clears his throat, drawing our attention to him.
"You say anything about this to my parents or my friends I will kill you." Draco says while pointing a finger at Ethan.
Ethan, in return, puts his hands up in defense. "I won't. I know you don't want to look soft in front of your friends." I laugh as I watch Ethan shrug and walk into the manor.
"I better show you guys to your rooms before my parents get suspicious." I nod my head, before letting Draco lead me into the manor. As soon as I step in, I look around. It's the same as last time but it feels smaller to me. Maybe because Lafoi Manor is definitely bigger than Malfoy Manor.
Ethan is waiting by the door with his arms crossed, giving us both the look of disapproval. Which Draco and I both ignore. Ethan follows us through the manor, up the stairs down to halls and up another flight of stairs before we make it to his room. Draco's room is all the way down the hall, far away from Ethan's. Which was probably done on purpose to keep Ethan out of our business. Kind of figured the dislike for each other is mutual between Ethan and Draco.
"This is your room Smith." Draco points down the hall to where our rooms are. "Felicity's is down there and so is mine. Dinner is usually at six." With that said Draco grabs my hand and drags me to my room. He closes the door and traps me in another hug. I relax and rest my head against his chest, my arms instinctively wrap around him. His cologne is strong today, filling my senses. Strong and familiar.
"Did you ever get my letters? I've been worried about you and you never responded." Draco says, making me pull away slightly.
"No, I didn't get any. I checked too." I frowned. "What did they say?"
He shrugs. "Just how much I miss you. And how excited I was for you to get here." He mumbles something after that but I don't hear what. His eyes grow watery for a second but he quickly clears them away.
"I love you, Felicity." He pulls me close to him, trapping me in another hug.
"I love you too, Draco."