long live the WEEKEND

[Gideon Prewett]

For the first time in a really long time, Gideon could say that he was actually happy. Not that he was depressed or anything, but he’d been in two failed relationships, his best friends had gotten hurt, he was doing pretty crappy in school… yeah, it just wasn’t the best of times. But things finally seemed to be turning around. This whole “studying” thing actually worked – he got an E on a Transfiguration test on Monday. An E! Even Professor McGonagall had smiled at him, and she didn’t smile at anyone. His grades were seeming to improve, and being an Auror didn’t look impossible anymore. Quidditch practice was going great, and Gabby was doing really well.

Ah, Gabby.

She was the main source for how he was feeling these days. His own accomplishments all came second to her. Sure, he still wasn’t sure how to describe what he felt for her, but he was pretty sure Gabby was in the same boat as he was. There was no rush to figure things out, which was great. Not to mention, it was kind of… thrilling, having a secret relationship. He liked subtly brushing her hand in the hallways. He liked meeting her in a darkened corner for a quick kiss. He liked that it was private, something only they knew, because it gave him a sense of security. Maybe it wouldn’t work out with Gabby, but maybe it would, and maybe it could be awesome. It was starting out that way, at any rate. Gideon still had no idea what truly made him kiss her out on the Quidditch pitch, but he didn’t care anymore. He was just glad he’d taken the shot.

It wasn’t the same as falling for Emme. That had been unexpected and fast and… and such a different sort of relationship. He and Emme had snogged and touched and done stuff to each other and it had really been… very heated. He and Gabby were different. Yeah, it was unexpected. Okay, it was a little quick. But Gideon hadn’t even tried for second base or anything, and he wasn’t going to push for it, either. He… Maybe it sounded silly, but he was waiting for Gabby’s expressed permission before he did anything like that. (Sometimes he blushed when he caught himself thinking that she might not mind, given how she licked his lip out on the pitch, but he forced himself to quit.) She didn’t have a wealth of dating experience like Emme, and sure, she read naughty books (which still made Gideon snort), but that didn’t mean she’d be okay with him doing that. And anyway, it was Gideon. As great as it was to kiss her and hold her, he did worry that she’d be uncomfortable with him moving forward.

It wasn’t like he was… itching to do it. The little problem he’d had with Emmeline in the beginning didn’t seem to exist with Gabby. His groin area seemed to be behaving itself, which was good, because he couldn’t walk into class after snogging Gabby with evidence of their secret relationship at full salute. In fact, Gideon was surprisingly patient about the whole thing. He was content to move at a steady pace this time; he held her body a little closer to his last time they’d kissed, and had used the slightest bit of tongue, but not too much so that she thought he was licking her face or something. Ha, he wasn’t a dog. But he was still respectful to not cross any boundaries, and she seemed to be on the same page, and it was good. It felt good to be with her. So good, in fact, that Gideon was confident he could produce a nearly-corporeal Patronus next time Fabian came for lessons.

Today was a big day. Weeks ago, he and Gabby and Emmeline had planned to go together to this month’s Hogsmeade trip. He and Emme were still a bit on the rough side, especially after Gideon and Jezebel broke up, but this trip together was supposed to be just like old times and totally smooth things over. Now, Gideon was a little worried. See, he really wanted to take Gabby’s hand or put his arm around her shoulders or even carry her around on his back the whole time, but they weren’t ready to tell anyone yet. Emme would be there the whole time, too, so even sneaking off for a secret kiss would be difficult. Gideon was sure he and Gabby could hold out – ha, they weren’t animals – but he wanted this Hogsmeade trip to be special for her. But, it’d be mean to abandon Emme, and he did want to spend time with her too and be proper friends again.

Ah, dilemma.

As it was, Gideon was in Hogsmeade before either of them showed up. Fabian’s birthday was coming up, and he’d wanted to give him his card before he had to go around doing his Auror duty. It was a little early, but Gideon figured if he didn’t do it now, he’d forget (like last year). He would have preferred to give him a present, but he was still short on money from Christmas (he couldn’t even buy Gabby a present this year, but hoped the [slightly misshapen] cat tree he’d built for her and Moose was good enough). Fabian understood, though, and didn’t give him a hard time about it. He teased him a little about last year’s mistake, but didn’t bug him too much. Money was the one thing they never really teased each other about.

It was nice enough out that there were tables outside the Three Broomsticks, and Gideon was sitting at one with a cold mug of Butterbeer in his hands and two set out for Gabby and Emme. The snow was almost gone from the street and the sun was shining down, warming him immensely in his thick winter cloak. He was just taking it off when he saw them approach from the direction of the school; he raised his arm to wave, but his flapping sleeve caught the edge of the table. Gideon lunged for it, pulling it toward him so that it wouldn’t topple over completely, but had underestimated his force and ended up sticky and soaked as all three Butterbeers spilled onto his clothes.

Ha, bugger.

“Whoops,” he said, looking down at himself. Well. Now what. He didn’t want to go back, but—oh, right, there was that cleaning charm he’d read about when he studied all night for that Charms quiz. “Tergeo,” he cast, feeling a swell of pride as most of the drinks disappeared. And he remembered that all by himself. Grinning sheepishly, he turned to Emme and Gabby. “Sorry, uh… I’ll get you another Butterbeer.”

TAGGED
gabby rivera
emme vance