juniper's pov:

I woke up the morning after the party, a pair of muscular arms wrapped around my waist. I opened my eyes, expecting to see the face of my boyfriend, but instead, nearly screamed when I found a head of messy blond curls tucked over mine. Then the events of last night came tumbling back to me.

I'd declined saying in Xavier's dorm last night, he understood. Kind of... I'd had to promise to spend the whole day today with him. I just really hated missing movie night. Especially if it was Say Anything! C'mon, who can resist the boombox scene? I know it's sort of stupid, but I sometimes wished someone would do one of those big greta romantic gestures for me. I'd probably hate it and love it at the same time.

It was nice to think about someone caring enough about another person to risk everything. There was a reason romance movies made bank.

Regardless, I was in deep shit. Sure, I knew that Teddy and I were comfortable around each other and had sleepovers all the time, but Xavier definitely wouldn't see it that way. For some reason he was super jealous of Teddy. I couldn't figure out why, and every time I asked he either denied it, or shut down completely.

No matter how many times I told him there was nothing going on, that Teddy and I were just close friends and nothing more, he just wouldn't believe it. To be honest, it was getting old, and slightly annoying. And this sleeping situation would not help my case. I prayed that Teddy would wake up soon so I could get out of here. Xavier was supposed to pick me up in the common room at 10, and I had no idea what time it was.

Teddy must've taken my glasses off for me when I fell asleep so I couldn't read the clock. I hoped it was early. Hoped that-

"Juniper?" The door swung open.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Fuck. Fuck. Had I fucking manifested something? Was the universe punishing me? Why? Why? Why? Oh fucking merlin shit balls. I screwed my eyes shut tightly, crossing my fingers that when I opened them I would not see my very angry boyfriend standing in the doorway.

No such luck.

"Hi Xavier." I smiled brightly, like nothing was amiss, extricating myself from a groggy Teddy, just starting to wake up. Seriously Teddy? Now? You picked now?! Ugh! The rest of the boys were starting wake up too, bleary eyed and confused.

"Juniper! What the fu-" He roared, murderous eyes zeroed in on Teddy.

I sprang out of bed, pushing Xavier out the door and into the hall, casting a Muffliato charm and Colloportus as a precaution. I knew where this was headed. "Morning sweetie." I attempted deflecting as a last resort, knowing it wouldn't work.

"Juniper!" He crossed his arms, nostrils flaring, "Want to explain to me what I just saw?"

"Me waking up late?" I offered hopefully, "I'll get ready and be down in a sec for our date if-"

"Juniper!"

"Okay fine." I relented, "But I don't know how to explain it to you. Teddy and I are friends."

"So basically, your whole thing yesterday about being tired and wanting to head back to your dorm was bullshit?" Xavier growled at me, "You could have just told me you wanted to cuddle with your precious Teddy instead of me." His voice was sharp like knives. This stupid Teddy thing again. He was being so whiny, I couldn't stand it.

"I have told you a thousand times Xavier!" I cried, "You know the guys and I have sleepovers. You know Teddy and I are just friends! I fell asleep watching a movie! It doesn't mean anything."

"Juniper he was all over you!"

"I don't know how else to make you understand Xavier!" I threw my hands up in frustration. "He's my best friend! Of course we're close."

"I am your boyfriend!" Xavier said. God he was like a broken record lately. "That is supposed to mean something Juniper."

"It does!" It did. I thought. I was his girlfriend. I liked being his girlfriend. Most of the time. Teddy had never even had a real girlfriend. I don't know why Xavier was so bent out of shape

Then again, there was the way Teddy had started looking at me over the summer. The weird intensity of his hazel eyes that made my mouth dry. Sometimes, I caught him staring at me in class when he didn't think I was watching. It freaked me out a little.

And then there was the way we fought with one another, heated arguments every two seconds that somehow always ended with Teddy- wait why was I thinking abut Teddy in the first place. I needed to focus on Xavier. Xavier. My boyfriend.

Did he have a point? No. He didn't. I was with Xavier. I'd been over Teddy for months, and I needed to stop questioning it just because Xavier was a little jealous. He was just blowing everything out of proportion. He had to understand that Teddy was always going to be there. He'd get it eventually. He just needed more time. Right?

"Does it?" Xavier fired back, eyes flashing, "Does it Juniper? You and Teddy need boundaries! I've said it a million times I'm not comfortable with the way he acts around you!"

"Well I'm not all too comfortable with how Lola acts around you." The words flew out of my mouth before I had a chance to think about them. I realized that it was true, I was worried about Lola and him. "But you don't see me getting bent out of shape when she monopolized your attention the whole bloody party, because I understand how best friends work!"

"Lola? Seriously?" Xavier scoffed, "You're bringing Lola into this? That is fucking rich Juniper, you-"

"What so you're allowed to be jealous but I'm not?" My temper rose, reaching its boiling point. What a hypocrite!

"I didn't-"

"But you did, didn't you?" I raised an eyebrow scathingly, disdain dripping from my words.

His face dimmed, tightly, "Lola is just a friend."

"Teddy is just a friend." I said, mimicking his flat tone.

"Fine."

"Fine."

There was a tense moment of silence, neither of us looking the other in the eye. The irritation I'd been feeling just a few seconds ago simmered, it had nowhere to go, trapped inside of me.

Xavier sighed, reaching out a hand in truce, "I don't want to fight anymore."

"I don't want to fight with you either." I took his hand, lacing our fingers together. "Lately that seems like all we've been doing. I'm sick of it."

"Me too." Xavier hugged me, kissing the top of my head, "Can we just forget about this and go on our date?"

"Okay."

"Okay." Xavier pecked me on the cheek, "Go get changed, I'll meet you in the courtyard."

The fight seemed like it had been resolved, but was it? Something still felt off. This was how most fights with Xavier went. We had harsh words and then it sort of...fizzled out, and then we pretended it never happened. And the sticky, uncomfortable stuff we fought about, just hung over our heads like a dark cloud, ready to plunge us into a downpour at any possible moment.

I almost wished that we could have it out. Lay everything on the table and get angry. That might be better than whatever this was. But I swallowed up my feelings anyway, threw on a jumper and jeans, and went on a date with Xavier.

I kept my mouth shut when he made a joking comment on my unwashed hair. So what if I didn't put as much thought into appearances as he did? And he didn't say anything when I stopped in the Three Broomsticks to talk with Leo and Henry. I smiled politely when he prattled on about something funny the had happened in his goblin banking class, and kissed his cheek when he payed for lunch. He held my hand and offered me his coat.

It was a textbook date. Very...civil.

I felt like I was playing a part in a play, going through practiced motions. I looked up at Xavier's strong jaw, dark eyes framed with long lashes. Yep he was definitely still attractive. I reached up to kiss him, and he responded in full, tongue swiping at my lower lip. Yep, that part still worked too. Very well. So what was-

"Hey Juniper., I'm sorry." Xavier murmured quietly, touching a soft thumb to my lips, "I know things have been kind of...off, lately, but I still want you to come. To my parent's party, I mean."

My heart thawed a little bit. There was that sweetness from the beginning of our relationship. He still wanted me to meet his parents. That was good. That was really good. It was a hard week, but that was ok. We were going to be ok.

"Every relationship has a rough patch right?" He chuckled, lightening the mood, "I still would really like to introduce you to my family."

"Xavier." I blushed, squeezing his hand, "Of course."

"Really?"

"Of course!" I repeated, my mood brightening considerably, "When is it?"

"Halloween." He answered with a kiss, wrapping an arm around my waist. He was so happy.

My heart sank to my stomach. "The 31st?"

"Yeah sweetie." He laughed, kissing my cheek. "Is there another Halloween I'm forgetting?"

I waited for him to realize. I waited for him to remember. How could he not know? He had to know. He had to. I couldn't possibly- damn it. This was supposed to fix us. He was being sweet again. The possessiveness was gone for the moment. He'd understand. He had to understand. But why if he didn't?

He hadn't all this other times. But surely, this, this, he could see. Then again, he didn't even remember my that date was so important for my family. And it was an anniversary. Thirty five years since my grandparents died so we could all live. We were having bigger dinner with the rest of the family after our usual traditions. Dad had even cleared the following Monday free of school, just for the occasion.

Oh shit. He looked so hopeful. He was so excited. This would crush him.

"What?" Xavier's brow furrowed, "What's wrong?"

"I just- it's- Halloween...you know...." I gestured my hands mindlessly, trying to get him to figure it out.

"What?" He was genuinely confused. Seriously? He really didn't know.

"I have a family thing that day." I decided to be as vague as possible. If he didn't know, he probably thought it didn't matter.

"And...?"

"I kind of have to go." I bit my lip nervously, gauging his reaction. "It's a tradition, non negotiable. It's a family day, I can't-"

"You can't go?" Xavier's face fell, "Are you sure? You absolutely have to go? It's that important?"

"Well..yes." I winced. Ugh. This sucked. "I'm sorry?" I offered, though if he had a really important family affair I would let him go no questions asked.

"It's ok." He muttered lowly, eyes downcast. Xavier sulked with melancholy, "If you really can't go then-" Fuck I was losing him again, he was shutting down.

"Well- well- maybe I could come late?" I said desperately, my voice high pitched.

"Yeah?!" He twirled me around, and kissed me, all smiles.

"Sure." I whispered guiltily, kissing him on the cheek.

It was fine. I'd talk to my dad. He'd understand. He would. I'd do the usual cemetery visit and everything, and just miss the dinner with everyone. That wasn't as important. Best of both worlds. Right? It was fine.

Fine.

short chap :(

meeting the parents next...what do you think's going to happen?

long chapter next as well

love you all,

coco