The fine line...

Conflict


It had been two days since the incident in Ava’s bedroom. Two days since she found Bella waiting on her bed. Two days since Bella’s body was so close to hers she could feel the warmth. Two days since Bella had moved in to kiss her. Two days since she had almost lost all conviction and nearly kissed her back. It was at that moment that Ava had realised that she wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer and changed the password to her room, knowing full well that if Bella made it into her room again she wouldn’t say no.

She’d only told one person what happened and Arian looked at her with disbelief, not saying anything for a long time.

“Do you think I did the wrong thing? I mean, should I have let her kiss me?” Ava asked, confused.

Arian shook her head and a grin began to form on her face slowly. “No, no you shouldn’t have. I’m just astounded that you still managed to resist her. If that’d happened to anyone else she would have been fucking them all night. How the hell are you so strong?”

“I’m not too sure of that myself, actually,” Ava replied with a sort of sad smile. “It’s really hard. She’s just there. All the bloody time. With that damn seductive smirk on her face.”

“You seem to really want her.”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“True. But usually when people want her she takes them. Why are you putting up such a fight?”

“So many reasons I don’t even know where to begin. I’m sick of the way she walks all over people. I’m sick of her getting her way over everything. It’s about time someone made her work for what she wants. I hate the way she thinks she’s so superior and I hate the fact that she actually is. People do nothing but stroke her ego and give in to her every demand. She needs to be knocked down a notch.”

“Yeah, but that still doesn’t explain why you should have to miss out.”

“Because she can’t walk all over me, I decide what goes on in my life. And I hate…” Ava sighed and sat down, running her hands through her hair in an exasperated manner. “I hate the fact that she’s one of the bad guys.”

Arian looked at her questioningly. “Because you actually really like her?”

Ava didn’t reply. Arian didn’t question any further. They sat in silence for a while before heading off to breakfast and then potions class.

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“So I see things are proceeding well with your mud blood whore,” Lucius drawled while his cronies sniggered. “It’s almost been a whole two months and you still haven’t managed to bed the wench. Seems you may have lost your touch.”

Bella was fuming on the inside. She wanted nothing more than to punch the gloating bastard right in his beautiful face but showing anger would prove him right. “Oh I haven’t lost my touch, Malfoy. In case you haven’t noticed I’ve been keeping myself busy with other girls while I work on Mendez.”

“That doesn’t explain why you haven’t fucked her yet,” said Snape in a moment of arrogant bravery but fell silent and looked away when Bella glared at him murderously.

“For your information, I have her right where I want her. She’s just so perfect and headstrong that I thought it would be much more fun to toy with her a bit first. You know, build up hopes of what could be between us and then send her crashing down again.” She sounded confident enough that Malfoy and his crew fell silent. Only two people looked unconvinced. Rabastan avoided meeting her eye all together, keeping very interested in his eggs, and Narcissa who looked at her with a mix of confusion and disgust.

As they left the table, Narcissa tried to pull her sister aside but Bella shrugged her off saying “fuck off, I’m not in the mood for your shit today” and proceeded directly to potions, not stopping to talk to anyone. Narcissa tried not to look too hurt as she watched her big sister walk away.

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Potions that day was really boring, nothing but theory. No one was even the slightest bit interested in what Professor Slughorn was saying and almost half the class had dozed off. Ava was trying to pay attention and take notes but couldn’t help but drift off and was left doodling down the edge of her parchment, trying hard not to let her thoughts dwell on a certain someone sitting on the other side of the room. It was then that she noticed a note on her page that she had not written.

I see you learnt to change the password to your room… It read, in tiny, perfectly formed hand writing, not all that unlike her own. Stared confused for a moment, wondering where it could have come from when more appeared underneath it. And just when I thought you were beginning to enjoy my little visits…”

It was Bella. It had to be. Ava could practically hear the smirk in that last sentence. What she couldn’t figure out was how Bella was actually writing on her parchment. She glanced over to see what the other girl was doing but she was just staring straight ahead, slouched right down in her seat just fiddling with her quill. When she looked back down however, she found more writing again.

I wouldn’t ignore me. It only takes one tap of my wand and all this writing will appear on your actual work instead

Ava turned to look at Bella again and found her staring straight at her. Still not knowing how this worked, she shrugged and mouthed ‘how’ at her and Bella just pointed down at the parchment. Ava just raised a questioning eyebrow and looked back at her page, finding the words Just tap your parchment and say Evinero then what ever you write will appear on mine too. I thought they said you were smart…

Ava did as instructed and ignoring that last little jab at her stupidity wrote I was not ignoring you

Bullshit

Hmmm. was all Ava said, not really knowing where this was going but felt as though Bella must have something on her mind.

Aww come on, do you really hate me that much? I think I’m offended.

You can’t be offended. That would mean that you were capable of feeling some sort of emotion.

Ouch, Mendez. Ouch.

Again, implying that you can feel… Ava knew she was being a bitch, but she mostly meant it as playful banter and hoped Bella saw it that way too.

Well while we’re on the topic, why do you hate me so much?

This caught Ava by surprise. I never said that I hated you.

Oh I’m sorry, I must have mistaken all your shut downs and snide comments for genuine interest. Sorry to have troubled you.

Even just in the writing Ava could hear the sarcasm dripping from her every word. She could just imagine the look on her face as she said it too; the rolling of those blue eyes and the little smirk at the end. She sighed to herself and decided just to write what she felt. I actually rather like you, you know?

This time Ava could actually hear Bella scoff loudly on the other side of the room.

No, I really do Bella. At the end of this sentence Bella’s writing appeared adding the letters trix to finish off her name properly. Ava couldn’t help but smile to herself. It’s just your whole attitude and way of treating people that I can’t stand. You’re so self righteous and you treat everyone like shit. You think you can take what and whoever you like and I’m just not interested in that so until you pull your head out of your ass you might as well back off.

Wow… Sounds like someone’s got issues. So is that why you wouldn’t let me kiss you?

No, that’s why I changed my password.

Then why wouldn’t you let me kiss you?

Because you don’t know me, Bella. And you don’t want to. At that moment the bell sounded to signal the end of class. Ava packed all her stuff into her bag and filed out with everyone else, she didn’t even notice that Bella didn’t move at all and still sat staring at her parchment long after everyone had gone.

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Bella thought long and hard about what Ava had said all day. She knew Ava was right about her. She was raised to believe that she was superior to everyone else and she did treat them all like crap. But she didn’t care. It’s not like Bella was going to try and change who she was just so that one girl would like her enough to sleep with her. Bella was proud of who she was, she was proud to be a Black. And Ava wasn’t going to change that, no matter how hard she tried.

Ava found Bella sitting on the stairs outside her room when she went up after dinner. Trying not to appear as startled as she did last time Bella randomly appeared at her room she asked “what the hell are you doing out here?”

Bella just looked up at her, expression unreadable. “You changed your password, remember? How the hell do you expect me to get in if you change it?”

Ava smiled. “You’re not supposed to, that’s the point,” she said, taking a seat on the step next to Bella.

“So I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said in potions today.”

“And?”

“You don’t know me, so don’t even begin to think you have any idea what I think. I don’t need you telling me that I treat people like shit cause I’m perfectly aware that I do. And you know what? I don’t care! I know I’m better than them, so why should it matter?”

Ava just stayed silent as Bella got up to leave.

“Oh and Mendez, you were wrong about one thing,” Bella said, stopping half way down the stairs.

“Oh really? What’s that?” Ava asked, confused.

“You said that I wasn’t interested in actually knowing you. You were wrong.” And then she walked off leaving Ava a little stunned alone on the stairs.

The first snow fell that night and the following day everyone spent their lunch hour outside having snowball fights and such. The Slytherins were in their usual spot under the tree by the lake. Malfoy and his boys had made a huge pile of snowballs, charming them to freeze harder so when they threw them at passing first years they hurt just that little bit more.

Ava was on her way back up to the castle when she passed them, briefly making eye contact with Bella and smiling a little. Her attention was suddenly redirected when Malfoy wolf whistled at her and shouted “you look cold and lonely Mendez! Maybe you should come over here and let me warm you up a little!” He laughed loudly and his crew jeered and laughed with him.

Ava just rolled her eyes and kept walking but Bella stood up ready to pummel her housemate. When there was no response from her, Malfoy called out again. “Come on, Mendez! I hear you haven’t been scoring any off Black, come with me and I’ll show you a real good time!” The boys kept laughing and Malfoy smirked at her as she finally turned and began to make her way over to him.

“You want to show me a good time, do you Malfoy?” She asked.

He nodded and nudged Snape saying “Fuck yeah.” Bella stood back, watching what was going on and trying to figure out what Ava was doing, ready to strike of she had to.

Ava stopped in front of him, smiling sweetly. “You want to show me a real good time?” His eyes lit up with promises of things to come and quickly glanced over at Bella with a triumphant look in his eyes. She just stared straight back with a look that would have made a smaller child cry. When he looked back at Ava she had stepped even closer so that they were eye to eye, but she was no longer smiling. “The only good time you can give me is if you drop off the face of the planet, Malfoy.”

He stopped sneering and his friends stopped chuckling. “What did you say to me?”

“You heard me,” Ava said, standing tall. “I think you’re nothing more than a slimy, pretentious git and quite frankly I’d rather let Albus Dumbledore show me a good time then let you come anywhere near me.” And with that she turned and began to walk away. Smiling to herself as she heard most of the Slytherins laughing at him, Rabastan and Bella included.

Malfoy turned red with anger. “You sure you don’t want to join us Mendez?” He shouted back. “The Dark Lord always said he’d love a mud blood whore as a pet.”

Bella was fast to whip out her wand at lunge at him, but Ava was faster and had him pressed against the tree, wand at his throat before she could get there. Malfoy cowered and whimpered but none of his friends stepped in to help him, all too scared at the look in Ava’s face.

Bella put her hand on Ava’s shoulder. “Let it go, Mendez, he’s not worth getting expelled over.”

Ava just shrugged her hand off and looked at Bella. “I don’t need help, least of all from you. I can look after myself,” she said, dropping her arm and began beginning to turn back to the castle. She heard Malfoy snigger and turned, punching him square in the nose. She paused, confused as the unusual sensation of dejavu swept over her. Shaking it off she began to walk back up to the castle, ignoring the cheers and yells of excitement from the rest of the school body that had witnessed what she did.

Back down at the lake Snape was performing the necessary spells to stop the blood pouring from Malfoy’s nose. Bella stood over him, arms folded and smirking. “Sure put you in your place, didn’t she? Not bad for a mud blood whore.”

Malfoy pushed Snape away in anger and wiped the blood from his face. “Two weeks, Black. You have two weeks to nail that bitch or me and the boys will do it for you.”

Bella stopped smirking. “But the agreement, Malfoy. You can’t go back on it.”

“Oh I think you’ll find I can. So you better hurry, cause I won’t be gentle with her. No one, and I mean no one, makes a fool out of a Malfoy.”

Bella just stared at him before turning and making her way up to the castle to check Ava was doing okay. She only had two weeks to make Ava like her enough to sleep with her. It had been over two months and she hadn’t gotten anywhere, how the hell was she supposed to do it in just two weeks? She had to try though. She knew what Malfoy was capable of and if she didn’t step in he would really hurt her.

She found Ava in the library, sitting in front of the fire and reading as though nothing had just happened. It wasn’t until she got closer that she could see the tears in her eyes. Bella pulled up a chair and sat opposite her. “You doing okay?”

Ava just ignored her and kept reading, or at least staring blankly at the book.

“Ignore me all you want, Mendez. I don’t care.” Both Bella and Ava knew this was a lie. Bella didn’t even bother trying to convince herself it was. “I know Malfoy’s a bastard. Just know that I’m going to deal with him myself when we go back to the common room later.”

Ava slammed the book shut and glared at Bella, who was taken aback by the sudden outburst. “Don’t you get it? I don’t want you to ‘take care’ of Malfoy. I told you I was capable of looking after myself and I did. I don’t need you to go back and abuse your ‘power’ to teach him a lesson. You’re all the fucking same.” Then she got up to leave.

Bella jumped out of her chair and grabbed Ava’s sleeve.

Ava stopped and sighed. “Let me go Bella.” She could feel Bella’s body against hers and her breathing became heavier.

Bella didn’t let go. She sensed Ava’s momentary weakness and knew that now would be the perfect time to strike. She stepped in closer and snaked her arm around Ava’s waist, holding her from behind. She could feel Ava’s heart racing and hear her breath deepening.

Ava closed her eyes and feeling Bella’s face near the side of her neck she tilted her head, opening herself to Bella’s embrace as she began kissing along her neck. She kissed her way up to Ava’s ear and whispered “I know you want me.”

Ava nearly moaned at the feel of the breath on her ear. “Please let me go Bella.”

“No. I will have you.” Bella cursed herself for her choice of words as she felt Ava pull away and glare at her.

It took Ava all her strength to do it, but she backed away and glared at her. “You really are only interested in fucking me, aren’t you?”

Half of Bella was screaming yes while the other was screaming no. “No, Mendez, it’s not like that.”

“Yes it is. It’s what it’s always like. You really are just like them.” She shook her head and looked away. “And stupid me thought you’d actually started to change a little.”

All Bella wanted to say was that she hadn’t changed at all and that she was never going to, but that’s not what Ava needed to hear. “Just give it a chance, Mendez.”

But Ava just walked away.

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A/N: I know this one was long, but I figure if you've read this much already than a little more could only be a good thing. I want to thank everyone who's stuck with this story so far, it still has such a long way to go. I hae the next two chapters written, I wrote them before I even started the story, so I've just gotta make sure they fit in properly and they'll be up hopefully sometime in the next week.

Thanks again and don't forget to review a little :)