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Something's Gotta Give
Mei Queen
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Authoress' Note: Hey y'all! Thanks for sticking with me this far; you all make the fanfiction experience so much more worthwhile! I really appreciate all of your reviews, and even if I don't get to reply, please know that I'm smiling on the other end!
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Disclaimer: Um, yeah, I'm sure you get the gist by now. Not mine.
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Chapter 4: Jitters
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Justin Finch-Fletchley sighed, mussing his chocolate locks absentmindedly with his right hand. "Come in," he called, answering the knock that he had heard on his door moments earlier. Who would possibly be visiting now?
Swivelling in his "ergonomic office chair" (Draco Malfoy had insisted on buying them for his crew, saying that he didn't want his employees skiving off work just because their chairs gave them backaches), he faced his boss with exhaustion obvious in the dark circles under his eyes. "What is it, Draco? I thought our meeting wasn't until tomorrow."
The wealthy blonde standing opposite Justin's desk exhaled nervously, his foot tapping against the plush carpeting of the office. "It isn't. I…I just didn't know who else to talk to about…"
"About what?" Justin asked with his eyebrows contorted in concern. He knew that his boss had nobody else to talk to because he knew Draco's history; after all, he himself had been tormented more than a few times by Malfoy and his cronies back in Hogwarts. Justin knew all too well that the only people Draco knew (besides himself) were ones that would only listen to Draco's problems in the hope of receiving something in return. Relaxing slightly in his chair and offering Draco a seat, Justin grabbed his wand from his desk drawer and, giving the proper incantation and wrist movement, magicked two glasses of ice-cold pumpkin juice out of thin air. "I have a feeling we'll be here awhile," the brunette said with a grin, sliding the glass closer to Draco's pale hand.
Draco flashed Justin a grateful smile, accepting the pumpkin juice and taking a small sip. "I asked Red…to meet me."
If Justin was surprised by this news, to his credit, he didn't show it. "That's great news, boss. When?"
"Tomorrow," Draco whispered, his eyes bugging slightly. It hadn't really hit him as he had gone through the past week that he would very soon be meeting the girl of his dreams…it just seemed too good to be true. But Draco was quickly realising that the impending date with Red was as real as the icy pumpkin juice sliding down his throat, the cool leather of Justin's office chair sliding underneath his fingers…and the thought of tomorrow was making Draco feel vaguely ill.
Justin lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "Tomorrow, eh? I'm amazed you're not more nervy, boss."
"Oh, you'd be surprised," Draco murmured edgily, his fingers nervously tapping against the arm of the chair. "I just wanted tips…or anything, really, to make this experience a little less…"
"Nerve-wracking?" the brunette supplied with a smirk, noticing the spastic manner in which his boss' fingers were tapping the armchair.
Draco nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
"Well, for starters," Justin began, beaming, "we could figure out who she is. She's given you enough bloody clues; it wouldn't be hard to determine, Draco. I reckon it'd take us ten minutes at the most to go through the girls of Hogwarts and be 99% sure of who she is."
"I don't want to know," Draco replied, his voice steely. "I've told you that. I know I could figure out, I wasn't Head Boy back in the day because I'm dim-witted. I just…I suppose I feel like…if I knew whom it was, I'd find a reason out of it. I can't do that to her, Justin…she's the first person to accept me for who I am."
Meeting Justin's probing expression guiltily, Draco added, "Well, besides you, obviously. But you work for me, it's not like you could be anything but nice to me. Anyway, I don't want to weasel my way out of this, Finch."
Nodding with an exasperated sigh, Justin leaned forward, meeting his boss' eyes. "Well, so much for the easy way out, then. I'm sure it'll be damn near impossible to teach a Malfoy good manners overnight, but I'll do my best, boss."
Smirking, Draco replied, "Glad to hear it. Now…what in the name of Merlin are we supposed to talk about, anyhow?"
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About twenty miles away from a plotting Draco and Justin, Hermione Granger was clapping her hands in delighted enthusiasm. "I'm so excited for you, Gin! What are you going to wear?"
The slim redhead sitting across from her sighed in exhaustion, walking over to the stove to check on the teakettle. "I've gone through my entire closet at least four times. There's nothing appropriate there."
"What about this?" a dramatic voice asked from the kitchen's doorway. Luna Lovegood had whisked on to the scene wearing a teal knit halter top, a patterned brown bohemian skirt, with a black scarf wrapped around her blonde locks and feet clad in leather sandals.
"You know," Hermione murmured thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her chin, "if that combination wasn't so utterly nutters, it might be kind of cute."
"I concur," Ginny replied with a grin. "Where did you find all that stuff, Luna?"
"Your closet, missy," the blonde answered playfully, swinging the long skirt this way and that with dramatic flair. "I must say that you seem to be channelling the seventies in the back portion of your wardrobe."
"Well, thank you," Ginny replied proudly. "I'll take that as a compliment. Tea, anyone?"
The girls nodded and Ginny got some cups down from the oak cupboards. "Sugar? Milk?"
When all the ladies were suited with their proper proportions of sugar and milk to tea, they sat down on the barstools at the kitchen counter. Hermione stirred her cup thoughtfully before she opened her mouth to speak. "Ginny…this is a good thing, you and this 'Dragon' bloke. I mean… you'll finally be getting yourself out there, right? Besides, I'll bet that this date won't even be as intimidating as most first dates, Gin…you guys already know just about everything about one another."
"That's true," the redhead acknowledged with the beginnings of an uneasy smile.
"Why don't we want to know who he is, again?" Luna asked with a yawn, one hand scratching her head in confusion. "That would take away the nerves, I think. Ginny has every right to know what she's getting into."
"I bloody understand she has a right to know, Luna, but Ginny doesn't want to know who it is, remember?" Hermione replied with an exasperated sigh, throwing up her hands in annoyance.
"That's right, 'Mione. I want to do this, and I'm afraid that if I know who it is, I'll start to think of how close we used to be at Hogwarts- I mean, Merlin forbid we were enemies or something! I'll totally panic, and I might try to find a way out of it…I don't want to let him down," she whispered, trailing off slightly as one hand went to idly rest on her saucer.
"It'll be fine, Ginny," Luna stated kindly, her hand trailing over to rest on her friend's arm. "We'll find you something utterly ravishing to wear, and you'll have the best time of your life tomorrow. I'm sure of it."
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***RavishingRed has entered WonderfulWitchChat1 at 17:42 hours***
RavishingRed, there are 16 members in this chatroom. Members of this chatroom are currently: BlondesdoitBetter, BrightonsBest, ColdplayFanatic, DrivemeWild, DyingtoDance, JigsawJunkie, JimlikeshisPimms, LovesickRomeo, LovintheLadies, Modelizer, SecretDragon, Serendipity, SEXY79, SlavetoStarbucks, SwanseaSweetie, WestHamRocksSocks
DrivemeWild- Julia Stiles to Shirley Maclaine? Please. That's so easy.
JimlikeshisPimms- It can't be easier than the genius one suggested by BlondesdoitBetter. Ben Affleck to Brad Pitt? Honestly. That's just an insult to my intelligence.
SlavetoStarbucks- What little brain cells that the Pimm's hasn't beaten stone dead yet, Jim
JimlikeshisPimms- I resent that.
SwanseaSweetie- Anyway!!! How about we hear the answer, DrivemeWild?
DrivemeWild- My pleasure, SwanseaSweetie. Okay. Julia Stiles was in "Mona Lisa Smile" with Maggie Gyllenhaal, who was in "Donnie Darko" with Drew Barrymore. Drew Barrymore was in "Charlie's Angels" with Cameron Diaz, who was in "In Her Shoes" with Shirley Maclaine.
WestHamRocksSocks- Four movies. Impressive.
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))PM from SecretDragon (17:45 hours)((
SecretDragon- Can you believe that they're still amused by that inane game?
RavishingRed- My thoughts exactly. It's not even fun. It just drives you utterly mad if you can't think of the right movie…remember when DrivemeWild wouldn't speak to anyone for weeks because she was trying to find the right link from Hulk Hogan to Verne Troyer?
SecretDragon- That was totally ridiculous.
RavishingRed- Yeah. I thought so, too. So…big day tomorrow, eh?
SecretDragon- Are you excited?
RavishingRed- lol, just a little. It is just you, after all.
SecretDragon- Oh, "just me", eh? I see how it is, Red!
RavishingRed- Oh, rubbish. You know that I'm joking. Well, what about you? Are you excited?
SecretDragon- Are you kidding, a chance to admire your famed hair in person? I'm thrilled!
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Ginny Weasley's cheeks coloured slightly and, smiling, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Maybe tomorrow won't be too bad…it will be great to finally meet him in person. I feel like we've known each other forever…
Ginny smiled, eagerly continuing her conversation with SecretDragon, one that, like all the others, lasted long in to the night.
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RavishingRed- yawn…it's getting late.
SecretDragon- oh, come on, you whiner. It's only 11:30.
RavishingRed- do you want me awake tomorrow or not?
SecretDragon- if I say 'no', will you stay on?
RavishingRed- no.
SecretDragon- well, then. I guess this is goodnight.
RavishingRed- yep, seems that way =D. So, 3 pm tomorrow, right?
SecretDragon- right. Now you have no excuse for standing me up, since you know what time we're supposed to meet. Just letting you know.
RavishingRed- like I would do something like that to you!
SecretDragon- well, if you were thinking about it…
RavishingRed- I'm not, silly. Have a good night, and I'll see you tomorrow!
SecretDragon- literally.
RavishingRed- yes, that's what I meant. I'm a clever one, eh?
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Draco tapped his foot impatiently against the tile floor of the boardroom. Inconspicuously rolling up the cuff of his sleeve, his eyes trailed down to check the time on his Rolex watch. 12:37 pm. Can we just get through this bloody meeting? Why do all of these companies have to drag the meetings out to be twice the length necessary to say what they need to? Self-righteous pricks. Like this guy…he probably doesn't even know what he's talking about…
Turning his gaze with derision to the current speaker who was commanding the attention of the room, he attempted to tune in to what was going on. He wasn't the only one struggling with paying attention, it seemed that over half of the room's occupants were currently nodding off.
"-It will revolutionise the existing market, expanding to every niche available, to suit every customer. We are certain to see a rise in the nation's GDP along with an influx of profits. As long as we donate a small amount of capital, the rewards will, I'm confident to say, merit the initial cost."
Sighing, Draco motioned for the squat man to take a seat. In his trademark drawl, the blonde summarised, "So, basically and in clear English, what you're telling me, Jim, is that the product will make us money and boost the nation's income, and it'll be worth the cost that I have to pay. But, you see, Jim…there's a problem with your argument. You are telling me neither what the product is, nor why anyone would actually want to purchase it."
Jim's cheeks reddened significantly. "I could further discuss the sales pitch this afternoon with you, Sir."
"I'm afraid I won't be in the office," Draco murmured, acknowledging the outright shock of most of his employees with obvious irritation. "Oh, come on, everyone… I leave once in awhile."
"I haven't seen you out of the office voluntarily since…well…never, really," Gemma Port, a snarky brunette from accounting that was sitting to Draco's right, piped up quietly so only her boss could hear.
Draco snorted. "Well, there's a first for everything. I could use an afternoon off."
He then clapped his hands together to get the attention of the buzzing boardroom. "Okay. Jim. Back to your proposal, and make it snappy, I want to be out of here by 2, and not a minute later."
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Ginny looked nervously in the mirror, noting the time on the clock across the room in her reflection. 1:46 pm. I feel like I'm going to be sick.
Rubbing her stomach softly in an attempt to soothe the uncontrollable nerves, she turned her attentions to trying to get her hair to behave. I just want to curl two strands in the front. Two bloody strands, and I've been working on this for over half an hour. It's times like this that I wish I were a bloke…
She anxiously checked her outfit, making sure there were no wrinkles in the skirt and that her shirt was tied correctly. It's almost time. I wonder what he looks like. What if he's ugly? Not that that will really matter, we obviously have chemistry and that's what matters. We have things in common; we love to talk to one another. Merlin, we're practically together already…well, except for the minor detail of not actually knowing the other's identity or appearance, anyhow.
The redhead nervously wrung her hands, foot tapping anxiously against the tile floor of the kitchen. I'm ready…but I've still got about half an hour or so before I should leave. What should I do?
She tried to tidy things up a bit around the house, but quickly became bored of that. Then, in a true fit of desperation, Ginny picked up the remote control and, after a few minutes of frustrated button pushing, turned on the television. Sitting gingerly down on the sofa, she turned up the volume, tuning in to the midday talk show that was blaring out of the surround sound.
"Today on Tea With Tina, we're covering 'Encounters From Online'," the effervescent host spouted in a vivacious manner, crossing one tanned leg over the other and getting comfortable in the dusty rose chintz armchair. Taking a sip from the teacup sitting next to her armchair, Tina turned towards her guest, a middle-aged woman who had just taken a seat across from her. "Good afternoon, Lucille!"
"Hello, Tina. It's a pleasure being on today," the brunette replied with a simpering smile, tucking a curly strand of frizzing hair behind her ear.
"So, Lucille, what's your story? What happened that brought you here and made you want to share your story with the viewers of 'Encounters From Online'?"
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Ginny, despite the horribly cheesy script, found that she was completely enraptured in the ghastly noonday programming. Maybe one of these women has been what I'm about to go through…perhaps this will ease my nerves a little bit.
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Lucille assumed a brave smile, turning her gaze to the camera. Opening her mouth and clearing her throat slightly, she began. "Walter and I met online about three years ago. I had just gotten out of a divorce, and was looking for something to make me feel…I guess… a little less empty."
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Ginny nodded eagerly, leaning forward a little bit on the sofa and reaching down to the remote to turn the volume up even more. The redhead was now hanging on every word of Lucille's account, eager for some insight into her date that was so swiftly approaching.
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"So, one night, when the loneliness got to be too much…I logged on to a singles chatroom. I figured that the chat would be the easiest way to flirt with men; you know, no pressure, no awkwardness. I didn't need that. So I started to chat. The first night was uneventful, hell, I very nearly convinced myself to never bother again…but a few weeks later; I didn't have anything to do, and I just couldn't face another night of Pretty Woman curled up with my cat. So I logged on one more time. That's when I met Walter."
Tina, meanwhile, was nodding her head emphatically, obviously thrilled that this guest knew how to tell their own story without too much prodding (or work) on Tina's part. When Lucille paused for a sip of her tea, Tina took the moment to introduce the commercial break. "And we'll be back in a few minutes with the anticipated meeting of Lucille and Walter!"
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Ginny sighed, sinking back in to the cushions of the sofa and checking the clock on the wall. 2:07 pm. I'll just stay to find out what happened with Lucille and Walter, and then I'll be on my way…
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"And we're back!" Tina said excitedly, flashing a dazzlingly white smile at her viewers. "Lucille here was just telling us about her terrible divorce, but hope for the future through a chance meeting in a chat! Go on, Lucille- tell us more."
Gads, this really is horrific script, Ginny thought sarcastically, but finding herself still interested in Lucille's story nonetheless. That interest is why the words Lucille was about to say would replay in Ginny's head all day, a chorus of hope to Ginny's doubting mind.
"Walter was in a wheelchair," Lucille relayed with a wry smile. "I didn't know, since all of the pictures I'd seen of him had been of the waist up."
"Did that affect your attraction to him, do you think?" Tina asked with feigned sympathy, cocking her head to the side.
"Not at all," Lucille answered breezily, waving the question away. "I think it perhaps made me fancy him even more, him actually having a weakness. The whole time we'd chatted, I was always wondering if I was really good enough for Walter. He was so ruddy perfect, honestly! But I suppose seeing him waiting at that table, sitting in that wheelchair, it really put things in to perspective. Walter puts things in to perspective."
Tina, bless her, was nodding despite the fact that her facial expression showed no understanding of Lucille's point at all. Lucille noticed Tina's expression, and immediately began to elaborate on her statement. "Well, I suppose what I mean, Tina, is that even though I'd always, in the far back of my mind, wondered whether I could date someone that was handicapped. I know that's an absolutely terrible thing to say, really…but I did wonder it. However, when I met Walter in person for the first time, I just knew that none of that superficial stuff mattered. He was the man I loved, and that was all I cared about."
Tina smiled sceptically. "Do you really think it's possible to fall in love before you've actually met a person?"
"I know it's possible," Lucille countered evenly, not mussed in the slightest by Tina's disbelief. "It happened to me."
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Lucille and Walter fell in love despite all odds, Ginny Weasley thought hopefully, putting her key in the ignition of her car and firing up the engine. They didn't even meet yet, and they were sure they were in love. I love SecretDragon, too… even if I don't even know his bloody real name.
Ginny sighed as she listened to the radio on her way over to the café. Her hands were shaking and sweating on their grip on the steering wheel. Her stomach felt like it was doing somersaults, she was feeling so nervous. There's nothing to be nervous about, Gin…you've talked to him a billion times, the only difference is that this is face-to-face! Really. No big deal.
Trying to take deep breaths, she slowly pulled in to Serenity's parking lot and set the parking brake. Here we go…
After taking one last glance in her mirror to make sure she looked her best, she stepped out on to the pavement with one ballet flat-clad foot. He said he'd have my favourite flower with him…I wonder if he got one of the sidewalk tables, it's always so ruddy difficult to coerce one of the waiters into giving those away. Unless, of course, she thought with a sarcastic amused snort, SecretDragon is actually some sort of billionaire who'll, quite naturally, tip big.
All of the thoughts vanished from her brain a moment later, hell, all thinking for Ginevra Weasley ceased the moment she saw a perfect tiger lily lying peacefully on a prime sidewalk table, right next to the hand of …Draco Malfoy.
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Authoress' Note (take two!): Please review, it'll make my day, and make you feel like you did a good deed today, lol. Anyhoo, sorry there isn't a whole lot of…y'know…plot in this chapter. It's mainly a bridge chap, but next installment will go into all the juicy date details!!! Cheers!