#stargrrl

It's been two months.

Two entire months of dark, overcast skies, and below freezing temperatures. The ground that Barty's car passes over is covered by a thin layer of frost, some piles of snow collected along the shoulder of the road. He’s been driving for the better part of the day, and now drums his fingers along his steering wheel as he finally enters the college town he was so eager to get out of right before the holidays. The sign greets him like an old friend, ‘Welcome!’ it reads. Barty straightens his sore back, a pit in his stomach taking place and eating the boy from the inside out in anticipation.

Music hums softly in the background as Barty turns left. Calls and texts are nice- hell, even Evan took some time to come visit him, but nothing compares to the real thing. Two months is far too long, in Barty’s opinion, to be without his usual band of hooligans. The weeks spent in the quiet corridors of his parent’s manor didn’t stand a single chance against slytherin hall’s bi-weekly parties or the campus cafe’s ambient open mic nights.

At the thought of the cafe, his heart jumps and the anticipation in Barty’s stomach seems to spread throughout his chest. His phone vibrates on the passenger seat next to him, probably a message from Regulus. The phone vibrates again and immediately Barty knows it’s you. As much as he loves his prickly comrade, Regulus has never been one to text more than once. 

You, however.

Barty finally pulls into his spot on the campus parking lot, making quick work of grabbing his phone, wallet, keys, shrugging on his thick leather coat and stepping out into the cold. The breath Barty lets out materializes in front of him while he locks his car and gives the campus a once-over. He wasn’t expecting anything to have changed in two months, and the never changing brick buildings provided a bit of solace as the trek to the cafe began.

Barty looks down at his phone while he walks.

Reg !!: Are you almost here? We got a table.

Batz : yea almost there, maybe 15 min

Dora : !!! see you soon !!!

You : bat hurry up

You : bartemius if you are not here in the next 5 minutes i’m sending a search party

Barty smiles at the message, but doesn’t respond and instead quickens his pace. He shoves his hands in his pockets and continues to glance around him. Only a few people are scattered outside, most making their way inside to escape the violent chill in the air. The sky is already getting darker, the wind is biting at Barty’s nose and cheeks more than it had been this morning when his journey began.

The campus’s cafe, Drip, comes into view and it takes every ounce of Barty’s self control to not break into a sprint. As he draws closer, Barty sees Evan standing outside, a cigarette between his lips. Barty’s face hurts when he smiles.

“There he is!” Evan snuffs out the cigarette and hugs Barty when he reaches the door.

“Good to see you Rosie.” Barty pats Evan’s back once then pulls back from the embrace.

“How was the drive?” Evan pulls his scarf tighter around his neck, the cold beginning to seep through the fabric. Barty shrugs, “Same old- long, boring. Do you want to head inside?” Barty doesn’t mean to seem short with his friend, but the pit once in the bottom of his stomach has somehow replaced his heart and then leapt into his throat when he spotted the back of Pandora’s head through the window. Evan raises a brow, a knowing look appearing on his face that Barty chooses to ignore.

“Yeah ‘course.”

The two boys make their way inside, squeezing between other tables and chairs and people until they finally reach a small booth in the corner.

“Look who I found out on the streets,” Evan reaches for his abandoned coffee cup as Pandora leaps up to pull Barty into a hug.

“It’s about time! I feel like that drive gets longer every year.” Pandora pulls back and takes Barty’s hands in hers, “This semester is going to be the best one yet.” While a hopeful sentiment, Pandora seems completely determined that it’s true.

“Where-” Barty is interrupted by a gasp. The boy turns and finds you frozen in your spot walking back from what Barty assumes to be the bathroom.

“Bartemius!” You shout, taking a running start and jumping into Barty’s arms.

Barty smiles and catches your embrace, lifting you up and spinning you around in place. Your legs are flailing and you break into laughter. Once Barty places you down, you don’t let go of your hold around his shoulders, and he makes no move to release your waist.

The last of the chill from outside escapes Barty’s bones when you finally look into his eyes. Still pressed tightly against his chest, you smile up at him. Finally you move one of your hands, but only to brush some of his wild hair–likely blown out of control by the wind–out of his face. 

“I missed you.” Your words completely take the air out of him, but somehow he still finds the strength to respond, “Me too.” It’s all he says, but to be fair it’s all he can bring himself to say.

Someone clears their throat at the table and you look away from Barty, averting your eyes to your friends.

“Did you want us to leave or-” Regulus trails off, stirring his tea. You step back from Barty, your hands dropping back down to your sides. The back of Barty’s neck grows warm and he shrugs his hands back into his pockets. A wicked grin forms on his face, replacing the tender look he had shared with you.

“Aw Reggie, if you wanted my attention you could have just said so,” Barty slides into the booth next to Regulus, pulling him into a side hug. As much as he protests, Barty knows that Regulus missed their friends just as much as he did.

You don’t immediately sit down next to Barty like he was expecting, instead having Pandora pass you your phone and heading to the counter.

“So how were your holidays?”

Pandora sparks the conversation, and Barty does his best to follow along and respond when prompted, but he keeps looking over to the counter. You were waiting at the other end to pick up whatever you had ordered and were seemingly chatting with one of your professors from last semester.

“Earth to Bartemius? Are you with us?” Evan leans across the table and waves his hand in front of Barty’s eyes. Barty turns back to the table to find Regulus examining him with a brow raised and Pandora grinning like a madman.

“Yeah, sorry. ‘S just weird being back.” Barty shrugs, and pulls off his jacket.

“Right…” Regulus trails. Before he’s able to say anything else, you come bounding back to the table, placing two mugs on the table, sliding one closer to Barty.

“You still take it the same way, right?” You ask, sitting next to the boy. Barty just nods and looks down at the ceramic mug, then to yours.

Your leg presses against Barty’s under the table, his arm is slung around the back of the bench, circling your shoulders. It’s natural, the way you two fit together. When you reach an arm out to the end of the table and can’t quite reach, Barty grabs two sweetener packets and passes them to you. When Barty laughs and places his mug down a bit too haphazardly, you’re already there with napkins for the spill.

Your friends watch the way you push and pull each other like waves, anticipating each other’s next move. Pandora looks to her brother with a knowing look in her eye when it’s your turn to laugh and all Barty can do is watch. Regulus rolls his eyes when yours and Barty’s hands brush against each other on the table and the two of you jump away from one another. It only lasts a moment though before you’ve found yourself re-settled into Barty’s side.

The January sun sets outside, and people gradually begin filing out of the cafe until it’s just your fivesome in the corner booth.

“When Dorcas gets back we have to go for a night out.” Pandora declares, pulling out her planner where she has intricately detailed her plans for the next month. You nod, your grin a seemingly permanent fixture on your face.

The conversation carries on until the closing barista shoos the five of you out the door. Evan pulls out a cigarette, offering the box to Barty who takes one. You all find yourselves walking around the campus grounds, talking about your plans for the semester.

“I think I want to join another society,” You voice, looking up at the cloudy night sky. Pandora nods beside you.

“Me too, I’m thinking about…” Pandora carries on, her chatter filling the silence. Eventually Evan and Pandora split off for the night, leaving you Barty and Regulus on your own near one of the library buildings. It doesn’t take long for Regulus to depart as well.

“I think this semester is going to be really good.” You mutter, your head leaning against Barty’s shoulder. The two of you are sitting on a bench along one of the walkways in the courtyard. The wind nips your nose, and the cold of the bench spreads through Barty’s body, but neither of you make any attempt to move.

“That’s what Pandora was saying,” Barty says, barely above a whisper. He didn’t need to be his larger than life self around you, he never felt like he had to make any extra effort for you to hear him, for you to see him. 

“Well, then it’s bound to be true if our very own prophet says so.” You laugh, looking down at your feet. You swing your legs a bit, a poor attempt to create some kind of warmth. Barty smiles next to you, then flinches when the wind decides to pick up.

“We should head inside, I’ll walk you back to your building.” Barty stands and holds a hand out to pull you up off the bench.

You tell Barty about your holiday break as you walk. How your mother made you wear the most horrid sweater for the family dinner, how you had to sleep on the couch in the living room when your cousins came to visit. Barty listens, adding one of his thoughts every now and then. Usually full of energy, on any other day Barty would probably be pushing for your group to hit the town tonight.

But tonight Barty’s bones are groaning as he walks. His back is still sore from the drive, and his hand is still holding yours as you walk. He thinks you don’t notice, that this doesn’t mean anything other than you forgot to let go. But you squeeze Barty’s hand when you reach your building, and all of the sudden Barty is wishing that the wind would pick up again to cool him down.

“I’m glad you’re back, Barty.” You stand in front of the boy, your hand gripping his like your life depends on it. Barty searches your face and smiles warmly.

“Me too. That you’re back. I mean I’m also glad that I’m back, but I’m glad you’re back too.” He stumbles over his words. You were his best friend, there was no reason for him to be this nervous.

“Two months is too long. Next time I insist you come out to visit.” You poke his chest with your free hand, then release your occupied one to pull Barty into another hug. Barty’s arms wrap around your shoulders once more, and the two of you just stand there for a while, sharing in each other’s warmth.

Eventually the wind does pick up again, and you pull away to shiver.

“Alright, I’m sending you in so you don’t freeze to death before the semester even starts.” Barty rests his hands on your shoulders, then moves one of them to cradle the bottom of your face. He wipes a thumb across your cheek and you lean into his touch, staring into his eyes.

“Goodnight.” Barty says, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss against your forehead. You close your eyes and sigh. When Barty pulls back you’re smiling.

“Goonight, Bartemius.” You wink, then head up the steps, swipe your student id, and disappear into the building.

Barty shoves his hands back into his pockets just as his phone vibrates.

Dora: [picture]

Dora: you’ve really got to do something about this bat <3

The picture is from tonight. Regulus is leaning forward against the table, his mouth open like he is arguing something with someone behind the camera. On the other side of the photo you’re laughing, your eyes squeezed shut and your smile completely taking over your face. Between you and Regulus sits Barty, watching you with eyes wide. The sharp angles of the boy’s face seem to be soft in this moment, his normally tensed shoulders completely relaxed as he stares.

Barty’s face warms, despite the chill, and despite being completely alone where he stands. Eventually Barty shuts his phone off and puts it back in his pocket, beginning to walk back to his own building.

Yeah, this semester is going to be really good.

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