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The Way We Used To Be - ON HOLD-

five

Spring was in the air and Maggie and Scar were in her bedroom, they were rehearsing lines for the upcoming play they were trying out for.
“What hoe are you busy?” Scar said in her best Shakespearean accent.
Maggie laughed and shoved her. “You can’t audition like that. You have to be serious.”
“I’m only doing this so you’ll go through with auditioning, you know that right?” Scar said with an innocent smile.
“Whatever, I know you secretly hope to be cast as Juliette and make me eternally jealous.” Maggie said joking.
They were fourteen now, older and wiser according to Scarlett.
“You know you’ve got this in the bag Mags, just hope Harry doesn’t get the part of Romeo.” She joked, looking down at the book in her hands.
“Why would that be bad?” Maggie asked, looking at her friend with furrowed brows.
“Because you’d have to kiss him, yuck.” Scarlett said shaking her head.
“Oh, yeah…” Maggie nodded, her best friend still didn’t know about their secret little rendezvous.
“Yeah, don’t tell me you’d be okay with that?” Scar said, looking up at Maggie.
“What, no gross. Of course not…” She certainly couldn’t tell her now.
“Speak of the devil.” Scar said, rolling her eyes as Harry poked his head into the room.
“Your mum got pizza. She asked me to come tell you lot.” He said, giving Maggie a wink and then looking at Scarlett.
“Okay, we’re coming.” Maggie said as she placed her book down and walked out of her room with Scar. Harry pinched her butt when she walked out, causing her to turn and give him a glare. They had definitely gotten a little more flirtatious now that they were older.
“So, Harry…” Jessica began as they all sat down in the kitchen to eat.
“Anne tells me you’re going to be auditioning for the x-factor, that’s very exciting.” She said and Oli and Aiden laughed teasingly. “Shut up, it’s not funny.” Harry defended, finally looking back to Jessica. “Yes, it’s true. I’m destined for stardom, just you wait.” He said with a laugh before digging in to his pizza. Maggie knew Harry could sing well, he’d joined a band and everything. She wasn’t sure he’d make it through on xfactor though, that was difficult to do.
“If they actually put you on tele, you should definitely give me a shout out.” Scar added.
“It’s in two months so I’ll have plenty of time to practice my surprised face when they tell me I’ve made it.” Harry said.
Maggie just laughed and continued eating her pizza, no need to get all riled up about it.

The parties had changed quite a bit from when they were younger. Now they usually attended actual parties.
“If you dislike her so much, why are you going to her party?” Maggie asked Scarlett as they put on their makeup, getting ready to go to the party Mel was having at her house. Her parents were away so it was a great opportunity.
“I just feel like she’s two faced, but I love a party…” She replied as she leaned forward to put on her lipstick.
Maggie shrugged and continued applying her mascara.
“Come on, if you’re riding with me we are going in like 5 minutes.” Oli said as he leaned his head in the door.
“Hold on one minute, jesus!” Maggie cried as she hurried to finish up her makeup. She slid on her dress and heels and grabbed a jacket. Scarlett was wearing jeans and a hoodie, she was still a bit tom boyish.
“You look like a slag.” Scarlett said, as endearing as possible while they walked down the stairs.
“Bitch.” Maggie said shoving her playfully.
Oliver and Aiden were already walking out the door, the girls hurried up to get a ride.
Maggie had never said a word about seeing Aiden with Mel that night, she didn’t know if they still sneaked around behind Oliver’s back or not- she just chose to keep her mouth shut. Harry was right, they didn’t want to get outted either.
Selfish? Maybe.
Mel’s house was a bit more lavish than the McCarthy- Winston house. Her parents were quite successful in the banking business. There were lights strung all around the house and music was flowing from the windows.
“How long till it gets broken up?” Maggie asked Scarlett as they walked toward the door.
“Hopefully long enough for me to get absolutely shitty.” She laughed as they linked arms and entered the house. Oliver went straight to find Mel, while Aiden went towards one of the girls he’d had his eye on. Maggie thought her name was Ashley or something of the sort. They went straight toward the kitchen to get drinks.
“Hullo ladies.” Harry said as he walked up beside them, a glass full of alcohol in his hand.
“Hey dork, what are you drinking?” Scar asked, leaning over to look in his cup.
“I’ll have you know, I have a very low level of dorkiness.” Harry replied, matter of factly. Clearly he’d already been drinking.
“You two are so annoying, just pour the drinks Scar. I want to go dance.” Maggie said, feeling impatient.
Once they had their drinks in hand they made their way to the makeshift dance floor in the middle of the main room. Furniture had been pushed out to the walls so they could all dance.
Scarlett and Maggie felt honored to be able to hang with the older crowd; Maggie having older brothers got them a lot of invites.
“Who is she?” Scarlett asked, pointing toward a blonde girl who was dancing rather provocatively with someone. Maggie looked closer, she was dancing with Harry.
Now, while they haven’t even acknowledged any feelings that might be there- she still felt a little hurt.
He hadn’t had a girlfriend since before she could remember. She couldn’t help but to wonder if he had kissed her.
“Damn, Harry has got game tonight.” Scarlett said before Maggie could respond. They looked like they were basically fucking right there on the dance floor.
“Wow, I don’t know but she looks like a bitch.” Maggie said annoyed as she turned away from them.
“Aggressive.” Scar said, looking a bit shocked to hear Maggie speak ill of someone.
“Whatever, he can be her problem.” She wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding she was jealous.
“Okay, you know I’d think you liked him.” Scarlett crossed her arms and arched a brow at her.
“No, I don’t. I don’t like him at all actually, I’m just… well it’s shark week.” She improvised.
“Oh, yeah…I understand.”
“Shots?” Maggie offered, anything for a distraction.
They made their way back into the kitchen where there were a few people already in there lining up shots.
“Maggie, hey…” said a tall dark skinned boy with shaggy brown hair.
“Hey Freddie, how are you?” Maggie replied as she went to stand beside him. He was a year older than her, but she’d had a few elective classes with him.
“Great, I should have known you’d be here.” He said with a grin.
“Oh? And why is that?” She asked, pouring vodka and tonic into her cup.
“You love trouble.” He said as if he knew her.
“How would you know?” She leaned against the counter and brought the cup to her lips while she looked at him.
“You’ve got that look, the ‘I love trouble look.’” He said with a lopsided grin.
“What does that look like exactly?” She would ask, intrigued.
“It’s something in your eyes and the way the left side of your lip curls before the right side when you smile.” He leaned in, his face close to hers as he inspected her.
She felt the left side of her lip beginning to pull into a smile when she put her hand over her mouth, smiling big behind her palm.
“See.” He said as he finished off his drink.
“Smooth, very suave Freddie.” Maggie said as she poured him another drink, sliding it back into his hand.
“A drink then? To trouble.” She said raising her glass. He tapped the rim to hers and chugged down the drink again.
“I’d love a dance; I thought you’d never ask.” Maggie said as she slammed the cup down.
“I never ask-“ His words were cut off as Maggie grabbed his hand and pulled him back toward the dance floor. Like a G6 by Far East Movement was pumping out of the speakers as she pulled him closer to her. Moving her hips against him while looking up at him, he was at least 4 inches taller than her.
He placed his hands on her hips and moved his body along with hers, less graceful of course.
She was feeling the buzz of the alcohol setting in, her hands found their way to her hair as she turned around to move her ass against his lap. She had never behaved like this, but she was not upset about it.
“That’s enough.” She heard someone say as they pulled Freddie from behind her. She turned around to see Harry, giving her a confused look.
“Why? You’re not my father.” Maggie said, crossing her arms under her chest and cocking her hip out.
“Clearly, don’t act like a slut Maggie.” Harry said, his inebriated state definitely playing a part.
Maggie clenched her jaw and pushed past both of the boys and into the kitchen. She grabbed Scarlett’s wrist and pulled her out. “We’re leaving.” She said trying to fight back tears – she wasn’t exactly upset, she was more so pissed off. How dare he act like that toward her? After all of his secrets she’d kept over the years.
“Mags, wait! I didn’t mean it like that.” He called as he rushed out of the door and reached for her arm.
Maggie turned around and shoved against his chest. “You don’t get to touch me, Harry.” She said as he took a step back. It was chilly and she wished she’d worn a jacket.
“What’s going on?” Scarlett said as she stepped between them.
“Nothing.” Maggie said, her eyes cold as they stared at Harry.
“Yeah…nothing.” He said defeated before turning and walking back to the party.
Maggie turned and began walking toward her house, her feet aching from the heels she’d worn.
“What’s going on there Maggie? Why did Harry chase you? What did he do?” She asked, catching up with her friend.
“He called me a slut…after he spent all night with the actual slut, Mandy or Tiffany or whatever the fuck her name is.” Maggie ranted.
“Okay, but why does that even matter? Why would either of you care who was…..oh, wait. No Maggie, please tell me no.” Scar had realized what she’d been missing all these years. Maybe she knew, but chose to ignore it.
“No, okay. Nothing between us….” There was that temptation to break down and tell her right then and there what had happened, but she couldn’t. She didn’t want to. She wanted that to be just hers.
She was interrupted when a car pulled up beside them; Freddie rolled the window down and offered them a smile. “Do you need a ride home?” He offered, knowing it was cold and probably too far for them to successfully walk to.
“Yeah, that would be great.” Maggie said, taking Scarlett’s hand and leading her to the car. Scarlett didn’t speak the entire drive; she was trying to wrap her head around what had happened. Maggie didn’t speak much either, just small talk.
“Thanks for the ride.” Scarlett said after Freddie came to a stop and she was out the door, walking towards Maggie’s house. Maggie was about to leave when Freddie pulled her back – his eyes looking at her with want. He pulled her forward and pressed his lips against hers.
There was that mix of anxiety in her belly again, just like her first kiss with Harry years ago.
“Sorry,” he said as he took a breath “I just didn’t want the night to end without doing that…”
Maggie sucked her bottom lip in and gave him a smile. “Don’t apologize, I’m glad you did.” She leaned forward and kissed him once more before hopping out of the car and running to Scarlett, trying to hold her excitement in.
“What was that?” Scarlett asked in disbelief, when did Maggie get all these guys?
“That….that was something.” Maggie said with a smirk.