Small town homecoming queen
She's the star in this scene
There's no way to deny she's lovely...
Natalie Blake gazed across the Library at Danielle Levis, the Gryffindor Prefect. Natalie herself was a Ravenclaw, which she thought was far more better than Gryffindor - even if her boyfriend, the infamous Sirius Black, was a Gryffindor.
But the past three months had been horrible. Natalie had never doubted Sirius loyalty. He had assured her plenty of times who he wanted to date - her, her only. No, it wasn't that, it was just the oh-so-perfect Danielle who annoyed her to the point where Natalie got all grumpy and a real hormone monster.
"You okay, Nat?" Sirius asked, taking her hand gently over the table.
"I'm fine," Natalie muttered, giving Danielle one last glance before smiling back at Sirius.
Danielle Levis. That bitch. Seriously! She had this innocent and perfect aura surrounding her. What Natalie's friend, Lily Evans, had told her, Danielle was from a small wizard town where everyone knew her. She was from a well-known family, Pureblood through and through, and even her own father was the Minister of Magic. She was really born with a silverspoon shoved in that annoyingly perfect mouth...
Perfect skin, perfect hair
Perfumed hearts everywhere
Tell myself that inside she's ugly
Maybe I'm just jealous
I can't help but hate her
Secretly I wonder if my boyfriend wants to date her...
"We're leaving," Natalie said, as she realized Danielle was approaching their table.
"What? Why?" Sirius asked, getting out from his trance of staring Natalie study.
"Come on, get up!" Natalie hissed, packing her things away.
"Hi!" came a bright and pleasant voice from behind her.
Oh God no, Natalie begged.
"Hi," Natalie said crossly, trying to smile.
"You're leaving so soon? Already done with the Potions essay?" Danielle asked, smiling, as she brushed a strand of her perfect blonde hair behind her ear.
Oh burn.
"Naah, I thought I would finish it later tonight," Natalie said, feeling Sirius slid his hand into hers.
"Oh," Danielle said, blushing furiously. "I already finished mine, I thought to stop by and offer some help... if you need some, that is."
Oh sure you would, Natalie thought, mentally rolling her eyes.
That bloody perfect skin, bloody perfect hair, the sugar-on-top act she had going on... Who was like that for real? It was impossible to be like Danielle Levis - so annoyingly loveable! She must have some flaws, for sure, Natalie thought, rummaging her mind for some. Maybe she was ugly on the inside, yeah, that was it.
Maybe she was just jealous. Everyone Natalie knew, liked Danielle. She was cute, such a sweetheart, and always so kind and helpful. But why, was it so hard for Natalie to like Danielle? Danielle had never exactly done anything to her - except turned Sirius down which had ended up with a date to Hogsmeade with Natalie instead. Maybe Natalie was just Sirius' safety net. Maybe Sirius didn't care about her at all? Maybe... maybe Sirius still wanted to date Danielle.
"Sirius?" Natalie said, stopping in her tracks.
"Hmm?"
"Why did you ask me out?" she asked, staring intently at Sirius.
"Because we've been best friends ever since we were five?" Sirius said, raising his brows. "Because I've always liked you, and I can be myself around you? Natalie, what is this?" he asked, frowning.
"Just wondering, that's all," she said, and Sirius chuckled, giving her a quick peck on the lips before rushing off, telling her something about 'Marauder stuff.'
But Natalie didn't hear or care. All she could think of was Danielle.
She is the Prefect I'm the Marauder's friend
She is a Quidditch player I'm sitting in the stands
She gets the top grades I'm screaming please no more
She's Miss Perfect and I'm just the girl next door...
Natalie and Danielle were indeed the perfect opposits; Danielle was a Prefect, while Natalie hung around with the Marauders, causing chaos and whatnot. Danielle was a great Quidditch player - always played fair, talented in what she did, and always managed to bring victory and glory to the team - while Natalie sat in the stands, watching the game itself.
And not to mention the top grades she got in every single class; perfect, round O's. In. All. Of. Them.
Natalie could vividly remember a day back in February, when Natalie had literally spent the entire night writing on her essay in the Library, and Danielle had been there. Danielle had declared all sugar-and-spice how she had handed the essay in long time ago, and that it only had taken about an hour for the essay itself to write.
As soon as Danielle had left the Library, Natalie had sworn endless hatred towards her.
Senior class president
She must be heaven sent
She was never the last one standing...
Natalie made her way towards the Great Hall, fully aware of how late she already was from the decorating squad's meeting. Indeed, one of the few things Natalie was proud of; she was a member in the decorating squad, which meant that she was one of the many students that decided of the decoration to the different events; Halloween Feast, the Yule Ball, Graduation Feast... everything. The Heads and Prefects had so much more important to do than decorate the Great Hall.
But of course, as soon as she opened the double doors, her eyes flashed dangerously; Who else would it be, standing there in the middle of the Great Hall, with everyone around her, and giving them orders, if not Danielle Levis!
"Ah, hello, Natalie!" she said, waving to her.
"Hi," Natalie said, not even surprised that Danielle had got there in time before her - even if Natalie had left the Library before her. Danielle was just too perfect to get late.
"I'm glad you're here!" Danielle said, smiling. "I've been asked to help you guys out, it turns out you don't have an actual plan how to make this Graduation Feast come true."
"It was all under control," Natalie retorted, flashing a sweet smile at her, filled with loathe.
"Admit it, Nat," Erica Bryn piped in. "It wasn't that much under control. Danielle here has some brilliant ideas, you should use them."
Oh go to hell, Natalie thought, mentally seeing herself slamming Danielle's face against the wall.
A backseat debutante
Everything that you want
Never to harsh or too demanding...
"Well, girls!" Danielle said, clapping her hands together. "Let's start!"
Natalie hurried off to the far corner, just in case Danielle's perfect presence became too much, and settled with lifting the boxes filled with Graduation robes aside.
"Natalie?" Danielle said, making Natalie close her eyes and slowly count to ten before slowly turn around and face Danielle. "I hope I'm not stepping on your toes here, I'm just trying to help."
"No, not at all," Natalie heard herself murmur.
"Good," Danielle laughed. "I was just thinking, that some help would do you good. I'm quite familiar with arranging things like these, we have loads of parties at home, and my mother hired this decorating expert to teach me. So please do tell me, if I demand too much from you. I don't want to sound too harsh when I ask for soemthing, you know..."
Great, Natalie thought darkly. Perfect. Danielle had this amazing ticket to the social circles and was everything anyone would ever want in a girl. How wonderful, indeed!
"No, it's fine, I understand," Natalie said quietly. "I'm just gonna... put these away now."
Maybe I'll admit it
I'm a little bitter
Everybody loves her but I just wanna hit her...
As Natalie walked briskly across the Great Hall, carrying two boxes in her arms, she couldn't help but feel tears burn her eyes. Natalie knew she had to admit it sooner or later. She was bitter. Yes, bitter. Natalie herself was just a normal girl, from a normal Muggle family. Her only friend had been Sirius when she was younger, and it had never in any point changed at all.
But ever since she had found out how Danielle had turned Sirius down, she had started to see things differently. Maybe Danielle was this everlasting annoying little thing who would always remind her of what kind of failure she was.
And would always be.
"Are you okay, Natalie?" Erica asked, putting a kind hand on her shoulder.
"I just... need some air. Now," Natalie stammered, putting the boxes quickly aside and sniffled loudly, as she sprinted for the doors.
She is the Prefect I'm the Marauder's friend
She is a Quidditch player I'm sitting in the stands
She gets the top grades I'm screaming please no more
She's Miss Perfect and I'm just the girl next door
Oh and I'm just the girl next door...
Natalie ran across the Entrance Hall, nto caring even if someone was calling her name. She slammed the door open to the grounds, and ran towards the lake.
"Natalie!" Sirius called, jogging after her. "Natalie, wait!"
"Go away!" Natalie cried over her shoulder, brushing her tears away as he was catching up.
"Natalie!" Sirius said, taking a firm grip of her arm and twirled her around. "What's wrong, love? Talk to me, babe..." he murmured, as Natalie buried her face against his chest, and let out a heart breaking sob.
I don't know why I'm feeling sorry for myself
I spend all my time wishing that I was someone else...
"You don't know what it is like to be on second place!" she cried, hitting his chest furiously with her fists. "You don't know what it is like to watch your own boyfriend look at another girl the way he should look at his girlfriend! It is unfair, Sirius!"
"Hold on, hold on," Sirius said, frowning as he pulled her away from his chest. "What are you talking about? Have I... have I done something wrong?"
Natalie looked up at him, sniffling quietly as Sirius gently brushed the tears away from her cheek. "No," she said after a while, and pouted. "I just... I'm just so pathetic, you know? You must hate me now, right?"
"I could never hate you," Sirius said, smiling. "I'm just wondering, why the hell you are like this? Where is the funny girl I knew ages ago? Huh? Where did she go?"
"She ran away," Natalie sniffled. "I wish I was someone else."
"What? Who?" Sirius asked, kissing the top of her head.
"Danielle Levis," she whispered, closing her eyes at the humiliation.
"What?" Sirius chuckled, not believing what he was hearing. "Why the hell do you wish you was her of all people?"
"She's... perfect. She's so bloody perfect, and I'm just the girl next door! She's the girl you really want to be with, isn't she? She's the one you dream about dating instead of me, isn't she? And she's the one who everyone else loves, isn't she? Isn't she, Sirius?"
She is the Prefect I'm the Marauder's friend
She is a Quidditch player I'm sitting in the stands
She gets the top grades I'm screaming please no more
She's Miss Perfect and... she's Miss Perfect...
"Babe," Sirius said, blinking. "This might sound a bit bold and all, but you got to hear this," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist, as if he was trying to protect her. "Nat, I love you, more than life itself, more than you even know."
"W-what?" Natalie choked out.
"I love you," he simply said, and Natalie smiled weakly. "I love the girl next door."
He leaned down, catching Natalie's lips in a gentle kiss, which she gladly responded to. Her arms slowly wrapped around his neck, and she pulled away only a few inches from his lips. "I love you, too"
I'm just the girl next door...
~ })i({ ~
A/N: Fluffy much? Tell me what you think :)
- Lily xxx
Printer Friendly Version
