Like a stone

What about my reputation? I cannot simply broke up the engagement and act like everything else is fine. He humiliated me, he has to pay!

It’s not about him, it’s about me! Can’t you see? I am like the most undatable woman in the society right now! I will never find another potential husband and will be doomed to be an old auntie. Don’t laugh, Miles. Im being serious!

You're lucky no one has figured out you're crazy yet. That would be bad for your reputation. And it would be even worse if they notice you are also a cheater.

What the hell? That lying bastard! I am not going to be the laughing stock of the Travers afternoon party. We need to do something about it. 

Maybe some light torture? I can maybe convince my brother… you know how he is into gore. 

Why don't you just break up with him? I mean, it would be cleaner... if you know what I mean.

I guess that is enough then. I will be your Ophelia as long as… well as long as this last. But I would be yours even after we are done. You push my buttons too, Miles. But somehow I am always back to you, funny, no?

I don’t think I can do that forever… but I can stall a bit until the wedding. Is that good enough for you?

So... we have a pattern, huh?

It’s the reality, I mean, my reality. And I am fine with that.

So if I am more than an acquaintance, what I am to you, exactly?

Come on, Miles, It’s complicated, you know that. And you know that I would rather only kiss you.

You're my... Ophelia? I do not know. I mean, I've had a few relationships, but nothing like what we have... and I am not saying this because I'm the other. But because I really like you... even when you test my patience.

I could but then I will have to deal with the consequences and I rather not. Especially when it comes to, you know,money.

I am not a control freak, I just want to have good things and no work for that. I mean, I could work as a hobby but not as a lifestyle. I am living the life here with you. We can talk, we can fuck, we can spend time together in our own little world. It is almost perfect, no?

So I am more than an acquaintance now?

You better not be kissing anyone besides me right now, Miles Parkinson. I don’t know how to share.

Isso é meio mercenário, sabia?

You're right. It's almost perfect. And, of course, you're more than an acquaintance. I do not usually sleep with acquaintances. I am old fashion, you know that.

The natural order in our reality is: your parents decide and if you are lucky you have a say. Especially if you are a woman, at least my parents let me choose a husband. I should consider myself lucky.

And you are fine like that? I mean, at least you have a job and you have a decent income, right? And then my family disown me and what? What would I do? Where would I live? You just throw ideas, Miles, but you don’t think it further. I need assurance, I need security. Can you give me that? You don’t want this burden, I know that. That is why you never wanted to get married.

Oh so you date? Have I ever meet any of these lucky ladies?

Or you can just not obey them. 

You're such a control freak, Ophelia. I do have a decent income, but if anything happens, and I can't play anymore, that's it. Just live the life, woman. And you would never be a burden for me... I mean, you used to be... but not anymore.

What? It is the natural order of things. Don’t be so shocked, Miles. C’est la vie.

No, I can’t. I was not born to be poor, I am sorry, I am not my sister, Holly. I cannot expect to have only true love in my life. Because it’s not going to give me this lifestyle. Holly is marrying a halfblood, Brent is doing Merlin knows what with the Carrows and I want to have my fair share of the family money. And those are the conditions, it’s not hard to understand.

Date? Do you think after the whole engagement fiasco my parents are going to accept that? Miles, you don’t date, never did. 

The natural order would be for you to two date, get to know each other and maybe get married, maybe have kids.

My parents have taken away any inheritance from me since I became a quidditch player. After we broke up, that's when they took away any hope of becoming an heir. And I'm fine with it all. Think about it.

Details,Miles. Only details. I know we are not exactly very traditional, but the norm says that the man gives a ring, not the woman. But fine, it was not a real engagement anyway.

You can’t accept? Come on, Miles. Let´s not do that again, because if you really wanted, things would be different. I don’t know, honestly. I think as long as it works, or until I give him a heir, something like that. So maybe years. You know how things works in our circle. 

Are you fucking kidding me, Ophelia? A heir?

Funny. Where is the ring you gave me when we were engaged, uh? And people think quidditch stars have a lo of money, what a joke. I know it was not a real engagement, but still, it would be nice to have one.

Besides, I don’t need a ring, I just need a husband in the paper,I told you that a millions of time. If I didn’t know you better, I would say you are a hopeless romantic, Miles. Who can accept that my wedding it is just a business. 

Ouch... but it was you who should have given me a ring back then. If my memory serves me right, you proposed me when you decided to tell me that we were engaged.

I think this thing about you wearing your future mother-in-law's engagement ring is pretty cheesy.

I have eyes, Miles. And ears. I can see and hear what they say about you, I can see them throwing themselves on you. Don’t pretend that things like that don’t happen, please, don’t make me the crazy one here. 

I cannot promise you that, but I will do my best to be respectful of your place and your privacy. But sometimes I just need a place to chill, away of my family.

The difference now is that I am already engaged, so no need to fake one. But maybe you will be the one asking me to stop this wedding.

I am not saying it does not happen. It does but not as often as you think. But, now it won't happen.... never... for the sake of our deal.

Why don't you ask your fiance for an apartment? You might even be able to add this in your pre-nuptial agreement.

Boundaries? Fair enough, no fiancé talk anymore. No groupies, fans or whatever. This is going to be an exclusive affair. Deal? I don’t want to hear about other girls around you too.

You will have to give me permission to aparate at your place, so no one can see me arriving. And of course, this is given, but no one can know about us. And Miles? Try not to fall in love with me, uh?

We do have a deal. However, I still do not understand why you think I have loads of groupies around me... you're crazy, Travers.

I will give you permission. But please, try not to scare me. You can be very sneaky sometimes. 

I don’t want that again either. Are you going to stay then? Stay in this new…arrangement? 

There is no pressure, there is no title, just us. Just us until us can no longer exist. And since when you care if something is right or not? Cut the crap, Miles. We are not good people, never was, never will be.

Sure. We can do it... 

Now you cares about my reputation? Now? But when I asked you, no, when I begged you to marry me it was not your business, right? You are unbelievable Miles.

And you are so dense! Or you pretend to be, because you have to be an idiot to not understand what I want right now. Soon I will be married and things will change, we are going to change, don’t you get that? We have here and now.

Deja vu? Last time we tested cakes together, we walked into this same store as an engaged couple and left as... strangers. Let's not do this again, please.

I guess so. But I agree, maybe we can have some fruits on the side with some cream. or something like that. I don’t like a cake full of things, the old chocolate and vanilla will do. See? That is exactly why I need you around, to be my cake sommelier, among other things.

Well, I could be persuaded to go… provided it would be fun. Do you have anu liquor at home? Some snacks? Something to watch or something to…do?

I do have all of these things. However, I'm not sure if going to a single man's place is something for a committed and respectful woman. People love to say bad things. Especially when the single man and the committed woman were engaged to each other.