Courtyards!

He gave her a small, slightly tense smile. "Yeah, well, like I said, I was drunk, and it was quite emotional there." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, thanks for the potion. Erm, ill be going now." With a salute to her, he ducked out of the dorm room, only to have set off the protection for the girls staircase, and handed up sliding down and landing in a heap. Quickly, he got to his feet, face burning, and leave through the portrait hole.

She frowned when he basically said that it was a mistake. She flopped on her bed and screamed into her pillow

Back in the room of requirement, Cole was still dancing with Paige. He shouted, but the music was so loud that she couldn't hear him, so he simply grabbed hand in his and pulled her to the bar. "Drinks!" He smirked, holding up to glasses.

"Where the best stories with the worst endings start." Paige said before knocking back a shot.

"Cheers," he said, following her lead. "Can I interest you in anything but shots? I ended up puking blood after a shots competition with Seb once, and it kind of turned me off from downing straight up liquor."

"Rum and coke?" She asked' grabbing two Red solo cups.

He laughed, shaking his head. Adopting his best condescending voice, he said, "Child, please. I have classy taste buds." He grabbed the cup from her and mixed up a 7&7. "This is what true gentlemen drink."

"I'm sure.." Paige laughed.

"Come on, lets go sit down, I'm exhausted." He gestured her to follow him over to a couple of tables, a few of which were occupied already. He waved to Ian and Gen, but sat at a different table. Sighing, Cole sat down. "So. Are you having a good time? Happy you decided to come?"

"Of course." Paige said.

"You seem like you're pretty experienced, though. How often do you party, Paige?" He teased.

"That's for me to know and you to dot dot dot." She laughed before downing the rest of her drink.
"Well I'm going to go dance. You are very welcome to join me." Paige said, before going on the floor, grinding on some random sixth year.

He snorted, content to stay sitting at the table, sipping his drink. "You two seem pretty cozy," a deep voice interrupted his thoughts, making Cole jump.
"Merlin, Ian, you have to stop doing that," the blonde said to his friend as the taller boy and his girlfriend sat down. "And we're just friends. I'm with Alicia after all."
Gen looked skeptical, swirling the contents of her glass. "Are you sure Paige knows that?"
"Well, I'm pretty sure since she seems to be getting along just fine with the Andy Fremont." He reined dryly, gesturing to the two of them.
Ian laughed, shrugging his shoulders. "Just warning you. Alicia is a talented dueler, and I would hate to see you get hurt."

Paige got bored and moved on to someone else.

Seb stopped when he got to the fifth floor, leaning up against the wall and running his hands down his face. Kaalee confused him so much, but he wasn't sure not only how he felt but if he wanted to deal with a relationship. Savannah's words kept replaying in his head. He but his lip then sighed. "Dammit."

*******

Ian and Gen bid Cole arewell after giving hm their warning. Cole ground his teeth when he saw the kid Paige was dancing with and had just gotten to his feet when Alicia showed up. She planted her hand on the table and grinned down at him. All thoughts of Paige forgotten, Cole grinned and pulled Alicia down onto his lap. "You look beautiful," he whispered before kissing her. She giggled, kissing him chastely before tossing back the rest of his drink and deepening the kiss.

Paige saw him kissing Alicia and pushed her way out of the dance floor. She decided to go to to Kaalee room.
"Hey sweetie." Paige said.
"I hate guys." Kaalee said.
"I know how you feel." Paige sat down. And they just kinda wallowed in sadness.

Deciding to end the night early, Seb snuck back down to his dorm room and passed out on the bed as soon as his head hit the pillow.

***

"I love you, you know," Cole said, pulling back from the kiss. Alicia just laughed, pushing him light,y on the chest.
"You're drunk, Cole."
"No, I mean it. I swear to Merlin that I love you, Alicia Nicole Spinnet." He tried to sound serious, but a few of his words slurred together. She simply rolled her eyes again and kissed him.
"Okay, sure. Well go with that. But we should probably get you back to your common room before you go around telling random girls you love them. Upsy-daisy," she said, pulling him to his feet. Alicia walked him down to the dungeons, and grinned at him. "It was very sweet that you said that, though. See you tomorrow, Cole. And I hope you have the worlds worst hangover."

The next morning as they were getting ready this is what they heard.
"Did you hear that Cole told Alicia he loved her?" Paige was about in tears and Kaalee was about to decapitate him. She went and found the Weasley boys and told them to bring Cole to the potions hallway.
"And make sure Paige stays away." She said. MeanwhilE Paige went to find Sebastion.

The next morning, Cole was staring at the ceiling in the dorm, awake before dawn with a killer migraine. He rolled over and saw Sebastian was just waking up. "Hey, Seb?" Cole began tentatively. Seb grunted in RESPONDE. "I think I may have told Alicia I loved her last night, but I'm not really sure. I was really, really wasted."
His confession woke Seb up, and he spun around so fast Cole was impressed he didn't get whiplash. "Seriously!? Mate, that's...well, do you?"
Cole stared at his hands, thinking. "I...I don't know. I really like her. I think I might, but I'm not sure. I've liked her for a long time."
"I know, Cole. Since third year, right?"
Cole nodded. "Just...bollocks, mate. She didnt believe me, I don't hunk. She laughed."

Both the twins and Paige were in the great hall waiting for the two boys. Although Paige was waiting for Seb and the twins were waiting for Cole.

Sebastian pulled a shirt over his head and then offered his hand down to his friend. "Alright, up and at em. Get dressed, and lets go get breakfast. Food cures all ills--at least temporarily."
Together they headed to the great hall.

The twins saw Cole first so they went up to him.
"Hiya Cole. Kaalee wants to see you." Fred said.
"And she didn't look none to happy." George added.

He groaned. "Can't she wait? I have way to massive of a hangover to deal with anyone right now, especially not a pissed off Kaalee."

"Sorry mate but she's pretty pissed." George said.

Cole sighed. "Alright, take me to my doom. Seb, you go on to breakfast. And if Im not back in an hour, tell Dumbledore I've been murdered."