( that girl is a goddamn problem. )

He let out a chuckle. “Yep, in the flesh. Almost didn’t recognise you but your voice- instantly made me realise it was you. So how- uh- how are you doing? Apart from having an adorable little girl, where’s life taken you?” he really wanted to ask why she was here, but he had no right and it would sound odd coming from him, but with her back, he could only think of one really selfish thing. 

She felt a surge of pride, at leaving her speechless. She wasn’t the same Glenda that Althea left 4 years ago. That Glenda had left the building years ago, left in her place an almost impassive and cold hearted statue. “And that’s my fault?! Is that what you’re saying? I’ve been here, Althea. I’ve been constant, you on the other hand left. So don’t you dare try and make it out to be my fault we haven’t spoke. You have no idea the goddamned hole you left in my chest do you? How it’s taken me years to get over the fact the best part of me was gone and now you come swanning in here demanding things off of me when for once all I want to do is just punch you in the face.” she retorted, her anger beginning to rise, half sincere and half influenced by the cocaine still travelling through her system. “I know I’m of equal blame to what happened, you don’t have to tell me, I remember the reasons every day! We owe each other nothing, I don’t want to talk this over with you, I’m done. I’ve been done for a long while.” she added, taking a deep staggering breath to try and calm herself down.

Althea couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She knew Glenda was a hot head--- years in Gryffindor guaranteed that, but this... this was different. She let it go on for too long--- and then the threat appeared. That was the final straw. Her eyes went wide and she dropped down to her now worried and confused six year old. “Tave, can you...” Her eyes glanced up, searching around them for any familiar person. She would never have done this, but it was important. Her eyes landed on her brother and nieces, quickly pointing in that direction. “Go to Uncle Eddy, alright. Mummy has to talk to Glenda, okay? I’ll be with you in a sec.” The young girl was wary, eyeing the darker-headed one with hesitant eyes before running off. And that’s when the old Althea kicked in. She stood up, fire in her eyes. “I left because we weren’t working out--- I couldn’t take one step in this town without seeing you everywhere, I was going insane, Glenda--- But that Saying that in front of my fucking daughter? You better fucking explain.”

She could understand Althea’s reasons, but she was hurting and at the present it was just stupid excuses and she scoffed. “It would of hurt less calling me Voldemort.” she spat, freezing instantly when she felt small arms wrap around her legs, it was over in seconds but she could still feel the presence from the little girl and as much as she wanted to hate the kid, she couldn’t. But Althea on the other hand- she continued to try and make her leave, but Althea’s voice and pleading filtered through her ears and ingrained themselves into her head. “Talk?” she repeated, surprised, yet voice hollow. “You want to talk? Sorry, but this old friend of yours really does not want to talk. Because you really do not want to hear what I have to say-” she said, keeping her voice low to avoid the unwanted attention. 

And her heart dropped. Just like that, Glenda had shrunken every bit of hope she had for them, squashed it, and threw it out the window. “I...” She didn’t have anything to say to that. At least, not anything to say in front of Octavia. She didn’t realize that she would go in for a hug, but she should’ve expected it. That little girl was one of the most open-minded, friendliest people she had ever met in her life. She’d hug a bear if she had the chance. But this... this was not the time. She grabbed her daughter, gently placing her by her side, as she pleaded with her ex. “Glenda, we... we haven’t seen each other in four years. I don’t care what it is, but--- we have to say what we need to, it’s been too long. I’m not the only one at fault here.” She had changed, anyone could see that--- her cold demeanor had faded, for the most part, and it was all because of that little girl. But Glenda, she seemed to have hardened further.

If she didn’t think Althea could punch her any lower, her description of just what she apparently was equalled to a kick in the balls. “Old friend. Right. Yeah. That’s just how it was.” she replied, shaking her head in disappointment. “Well she more met me than I her, she ran into me.” she added, rolling her eyes. As Althea called Octavia over, she wrinkled her nose somewhat when the little girl had greeted her. She flinched just a little, giving her a polite smile. “Uh, hey.” she said, awkwardly, taking a step back. This was just too much. Her words just echoed around her head. Friend. Daughter. Old. Daughter. She fixed Althea a questioning and hurt look. It clearly hadn’t taken Althea long to move on, although she couldn’t see any direct resemblance between her and Octavia, reasoning was far gone from her thoughts. “She’s beautiful.” she murmured, deciding right then she needed to walk away, she wasn’t prepared for this, she didn’t want to be prepared for this. “Well as fascinating as this has been, I really should be going-” she said, tone now cold and frosty. She hadn’t been aware Althea wanted children when they were together, or perhaps she just didn’t want children with her. The thought hurt. 

Althea shot the other a pleading look at her retort. “She’s only six, she doesn’t need to know...” She trailed it off, not wanting to finish it in front of her daughter. The young girl didn’t seem to notice, continuing to send a beaming smile her way, running over and giving her legs a hug before darting back towards her mother. Althea dropped down for a moment, placing a kiss to her head before returning Glenda’s look with one that said not now. But, it backfired, and before she new it, she was trying to leave. “Glenda, wait! I--- Can we... Can we talk?” Her words were pleading, begging almost. “Please?”

She was still shocked, nothing was really registering in her brain but she watched with almost sick fascination as Althea interacted with her daughter. Her daughter. Oh wow. She felt a swirling of sickness settle in her stomach, her head was beginning to hurt and her skin started to crawl, she was not high enough for this at all. She was also surprised to feel, underneath the shock and confusion, a small sense of anger and hatred towards the blonde. Everything had been going great in her life- until she left. Until they ended and everything went to shit. Once Althea had stood up to her full height, she took another look between the pair before settling her gaze on her ex. She let out one of her most sarcastic snorts at Althea’s attempt at a smile. Glenda remembered everything about her, especially her real smile and fake smile. If it was going to play like this, she could do it back. “Has it? Really haven’t been keeping track.” she replied, tone void of emotion. 

She knew how this looked, how her smile looked almost barbie-like and her stance next to her daughter might have been a bit too close, but in a moment like this, Althea didn’t care. She was barely processing the situation, let alone how to handle it. “Yeah, I guess not...” She nodded, more to clear the silence than to really knowledge her. But still, there was silence. And boy, in that silence, Althea could feel it all. The anger and confusion radiating off the both of them, the tension growing stronger each second. “So, uh, I see you’ve met my daughter, Octavia... Tave, say hello... This is uh, an old friend of mummy’s.” That fake smile was flashed once more, and the young dark headed girl toddled over, a bright smile on her lips as she waved. “Hi!”