It's Better If You Do

Bellamy stepped into the flat and walked over to the windowsill. She balanced herself on the edge of it as she glanced down upon the bustling alley below the windows. It seemed there were more people there than yesterday, perhaps there were more people off of work on Sundays than any other day of the week. She gave a light sigh and turned to the small dittany she was going to take care of. The room deserved a bit of plant life, because apart from the blankets on the beds, there was little. Taking one of the leaves into her fingertips gently as she pulled her wand from her waistband, she made note of the color, to make sure that it had been watered enough for the day. Deciding that the peddler woman who sold her kept very good care of her plants, she put away her wand just as footsteps echoed up the staircase.

“What’s that?” George asked as he walked into the room, glancing at the plant beside Bellamy. She gave a short hum and glanced over at him.

“It’s dittany. The essence of it will help with sorting out nasty scars and the regeneration of skin tissue,” she said softly, surprising George only slightly by how much she knew about the plant. “I find it a particularly useful plant to have around.” He merely nodded, taking a seat on his bed as he watched her.

“I’d suppose so. I’m sure it’ll find it’s use here,” he said with a crooked grin. Bellamy gave him a small furtive smile before glancing back down to the plant. “So…you cleaned up here as well?” He asked as a pleasant breeze floated into the room.

“Yes…I didn’t touch or move anything of yours,” she said, giving him a rather meaningful look. “And if something is moved, it was the dusters’ fault, not mine.” George merely nodded, staring over to the desk that was still full of papers, but there were at least dust free now. Bellamy stood from the windowsill and walked over to her small bed, grabbing her worn out book, opening it to the spot where she had left off.

“Fred and I had never been able to open those windows either,” he said, glancing down at the book in her hands with a hesitant expression. He suddenly remembered what Rose had told him about it and couldn’t help but to wonder how forward Bellamy could be, reading a book like that in a room full of people, then with just himself.

“It just took a bit of persuasion, is all,” she said softly, not looking up from the pages of the book. George merely hummed in response, staring intently at the pages of the book. He weighed the consequences of asking Bellamy about the book or letting his curiosity remain unsatisfied. He gnawed on the inside of his cheek, barely blinking as he stared contemplatively at the book. “Is there something you want to ask me, George?” She asked, sending him a quick glance up from the book before turning her eyes back to it once more.

“I…um…asked the assistant at Flourish and Blotts about that book, that what-sit ma-who-zit,” he started, trying his hardest to keep the blush from rising to his face. Bellamy curled her lips in to suppress laughter, taking a few moments to reply to him.

“The Karma Sutra?”

“That’s the one,” George said, feeling the tips of his ears tingle with a blush. “It was…” He swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like the room was stifling hot, “interesting.” He tugged at the collar of his shirt, thankful that Bellamy still had her nose in her book.

“Was it now?” She asked in an interested voice, before pursing her lips together once more. She still hadn’t looked up from her book, but she was holding it closer to her face, as if she were trying to hide something from George. “Did you have any questions about it? I’m practically an expert about that book,” she managed to get out quiet seriously, despite the laughter that was twinkling in her eyes. George’s eyes widened to the size of tea saucers and he stared at the petite French woman in a mixture of shock and awe.

“Ha-have you…ever tried…anything from the book?” He asked, his voice unusually shaky and his voice nearly broke a couple of times. Bellamy placed the book completely over her face as she squeezed her eyes and mouth shut tightly, trying to keep from outright laughing until she had been satisfied with how far the joke had gone.

“Well,” she started but her voice wavered with laughter, so she stopped and cleared her throat, “I’d have to try all of it at least a few times if I were to be an expert at it, George.” George nearly fainted and he just stared at her with a gaping mouth. She slowly dropped the book from her face and he noticed that she was wearing a wide smile. Once she saw his expression, she lost it completely and began to laugh hysterically. The twin merely stared at her, regaining his wits quickly at the girl’s laughter. Despite the fact he was extremely confused, he couldn’t help but to think that he liked this side of Bellamy much more.

“What is it?” He asked finally, as he watched the girl wiped away tears of mirth. She shook her head a bit and looked over at him, biting her bottom lip hard.

“This is Pride and Prejudice, you silly boy,” she replied, motioning to the book in her hand, before collapsing back into cheerful laughter. George merely glanced between the book and the girl, suddenly realized that the entire thing had been a joke in which he was the butt of.

“So…” George still had a hard time trying to figure things out and his expression showed his confusion clearly. “You…never…”

“No!” Bellamy exclaimed through her laughter, shaking her head slowly. “I’ve never even touched that book.” George’s face suddenly curled into a broad smile as he shook his head, chuckling a bit to himself.

“You got me,” he said softly once Bellamy’s laughter had died down at bit, nodding as she glanced over at him. “You got me good.” The girl merely smirked slightly, still tittering with laughter. “But…I didn’t go to Flourish and Blott’s to get my answer. Rose flat out told me.” Bellamy scoffed dramatically before pouting a bit.

“That spoilsport,” she murmured, crossing her arms over her chest as she glowered over at the red cot that was opposite of hers. “That isn’t any fun.” George laughed a bit and shrugged, causing Bellamy to look over at him.

“Well…it did save me from an awfully awkward conversation at Flourish and Blott’s,” he said and Bellamy gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes.

“That was the whole point,” she said, shaking her head a bit at how obvious her intentions should have been. George merely gave a crooked grin and a shrug.

“It still was rather awkward having to talk to you about it,” he said softly. Bellamy looked over at him for a moment, cutting her eyes at him as if she was appraising him.

“I commend your bravery, Sir George,” she said with a nod before placing the book back onto the top of her trunk. “Now…where is that shirt I dumped water on?” George merely stared up at her, still quite sore about having to go get the shirt washed now because of the mess she had made of it.

“It’s in the bathroom still…why?” He asked, cutting her eyes at her this time, all humor gone from his expression. Bellamy gave a sigh as she looked at him, standing up from her cot as she placed her hands on her hips. George raised a brow and continued to stare at her.

“I’m going to wash it for you,” she said softly with a nod, “it’s the least I can do.” George merely stared up at her in confusion, his brow furrowed conspicuously. She was going to do something for him. There must have been a catch to it. She was going to load it with Belching or Itching Powder, he was certain. “Or…I can just let you deal with the cleaners or let you wash it yourself,” she said with a shrug as she sat back down, hiding the fact that she was a bit disappointed he wouldn’t allow her to try and do something kind for him.

“No…no, you can go ahead and wash it,” George said quickly, in the sweetest voice he knew, “I don’t mind.” Bellamy merely shook her head, picking up the book from her trunk and crossing her legs as she flipped open the pages.

"You know...I don’t feel like it anymore,” she said coolly causing George to let out a sigh and fell back onto his bed, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes in frustration. One step forward, four steps back. That’s how it was always going to be with Bellamy, he presumed.