Closed Four beds & a glass of milk

[Rouge Glass]

This was the absolute best holiday they'd ever had, and not just because it was Christmas! Usually, it was just the four of them always, at home, making some family traditions, but this time Rouge had butted in during the Yule Ball to ask Freddie over for the Christmas holidays. It would only be for a day or two, because while Rouge was excited to have her friend over, she wasn't sure whether mama was going to be angry at her for inviting Freddie without asking her first, so she didn't want to push it. Rouge wasn't sure she had a lot of friends outside her siblings yet, but that was okay because there was still plenty of time to make some. She was just glad that whenever she saw Freddie, he seemed really glad for the chance to listen to her stories, so thought he'd be a great guinea pig to see if they could invite friends' round to the house. Besides, mama seemed to like him too.

 

[Rose Glass]

Rose had been absolutely mortified to hear that Rouge had invited Freddie. FREDDIE, to their house over the Christmas break. She wasn't sure her sister possessed any observational abilities, otherwise she never would have done that. The Ravenclaw only found out about the boy joining them for an entire weekend when he'd shown up on their doorstep, and for a few horrified moments, Rose was starting to believe that Rouge liked Freddie more than she liked her own friends at school.

Her heart had calmed down a little after the day had progressed, however. Skating always had that effect on her. After Blanc had given Freddie his skates, Rose was relieved for the distraction opportunity and had actually enjoyed showing Freddie around the skate park. She couldn't believe just six months ago they'd been here enjoying their family picnic, so much had changed since that afternoon. Even though Freddie was terrible at skating, he'd still made her laugh on a number of occasions that afternoon. So much so, now that they were back at the house Rose was feeling a little shy again, unsure how to feel about Rouge nattering in his ear throughout their film.

 

[Blanc Glass]

Blanc was indifferent about most things, although he supposed having another boy in the house made a nice change. He was sort of like a brother. At least, in the same sense that he was a brother to Rose and Rouge. Maybe mama would adopt Freddie, too. After their busy day, Blanc was doing his best not to fall asleep as the film played on the TV in the living room. Mama had helped them set up the four sleeping bags that now lay across the carpet, various cushions tucked up near the heads, the lights dimmed. Luckily, he was on the end of the row, Freddie on one side, followed by his sisters. He was quietly glad that he had a couple of bodies between himself and Rouge, who simply would not stop talking over the movie. "Roo he's gonna miss it, this is the good bit," by good bit, it was the part where the main character was about to lose his head, but he wasn't going to spoil things and tell that to Freddie ahead of time.

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

The good bit? There was a good bit coming? That was good, thought Freddie, 'cause so far, it was just a lot of blood and shouting and stuff. He kept telling himself it wasn't real, but his stomach still didn't like looking at it. The only reason he didn't close his eyes was because he'd never actually seen a film before, and even though it was gross sometimes, it was pretty awesome. Well, he also didn't close his eyes 'cause Rose would think he was scared, and he wasn't. It wasn't scary. He liked it when stuff made him jump. It was just the blood. It was way too realistic.

"Ooohh," Freddie said. Okay - he looked away now. Hid inside his sleeping bag for a second. But he was laughing when he popped out again. "That's gross. Why do you guys watch this? You're so messed up - you're messed up in your heads." ​

 

[Rouge Glass]

"That's part of the fun of it!" Roo grinned at Freddie across her sister, who seemed to be very much fixed to the screen even though the Gryffindor thought Rose hated horror films. "If mama saw us watching this she'd probably tell us to turn it off," She informed them. "We also don't watch films that often, because blah blah blah it's better to be outside and it sort of is, because then you can explore and meet people and make new friends. It's a lot harder to make friends when you're just inside all the time, because then you never meet anyone!" She wiggled her feet in the bottom of her sleeping bag, much too excited to be sleeping any time soon. "Freddie if you had to pick one film to be the only film you ever saw for the rest of your life, what would it be?" she asked, before remembering he'd said he didn't have a television. "Even from like, all the cinema films." she quickly added for clarification.

 

[Rose Glass]

Rose did not appreciate that Freddie thought they were messed up for liking films like these. It was true though, they were. She hated that Blanc had chosen something so stupid for Freddie's film night, knowing full well he didn't watch many films, but now she was feeling even worse that she'd been scooped into the same category as the pair of them, that Freddie thought she too must be messed up. She was uncomfortable and unmoving, trying to ignore the babbling in one ear, and not turn her head in Freddie's direction either. At this point she was just stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Why wasn't Rose laughing? Freddie looked past her, at Rouge, but he couldn't help glancing a couple times. She was super quiet since they got back from skating. Maybe she was just super into the film, or something - she never took her eyes off it. Or maybe she was tired. Freddie was tired, after skating so much. He accidentally yawned as Rouge went on and on about watching films and going outside. "I don't know," he said. He'd never been to the cinema either, but he wasn't gonna say so. "Not this one. I like musicals." He'd been to the theatre a few times. That was kinda like a film, but not on a magic screen. "Why's everyone so perfect? No-one really looks like that - not really. Look at that guy. Look at his arms. They're huge. And the lady still has nice hair even though she just got mauled by a bear. I don't believe that."​

 

[Rose Glass]

Rose would never understand why she had to be the one to lie next to Freddie. It was like the universe was trying to make things as awkward as possible for her. As Freddie yawned, she couldn't help but follow suit, her eyes beginning to water as she realised she'd been awake for far too long. Honestly next time Rouge suggested a sleepover to mama, Rose was going to have to tell mama that she simply didn't like the person invited so that she wouldn't have to suffer through this sort of thing again. Rose risked a glance in Freddie's direction as he seemed fascinated by the film. Even if he had a negative opinion, he was still clearly paying enough attention. He probably appreciated it, even if it was a cr*p film. She resisted the urge to tell Freddie it was obviously fake, choosing to believe he already knew that. "How long is left?" she asked blankly, tucking her sleeping back higher to her chin as though it was the guard that was keeping her safe from the awkward situation.

 

[Blanc Glass]

"Musicals?" Blanc turned his nose up as though he'd been given a bowl of porridge with off milk. Perhaps he would never be like a proper brother to him. Besides, Freddie didn't seem the type to be into all that dancing and singing. He did have a bit of a weird dress sense, so maybe he just enjoyed the costumes. "You have to ignore that," he didn't mind that the actors looked perfect. They were nice to look at like that. "Besides no one's looking at their hair when they're covered in blood," he grinned as one of the characters was trying their best to sneak through a house as quietly as possible, covered from head to toe. At least they had their head. "I dunno, twenny minutes?" he told Rose, hoping they could watch the sequel after this one.

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie yawned again, stretching inside his sleeping bag. Yeah? What was wrong with musicals? He'd only seen a couple, but he liked the dancing. Blanc didn't get to make that face. His idea of fun was watching people get split in two pieces. "I am," he pointed out sleepily. His favourite guy, the one with the cool jacket, died already, so now he was just looking at everyone's hair. Everyone had really nice hair.

He reached for his soda, then remembered he'd already finished it. But he was still thirsty. "Can I get some water?" he asked, sitting up. Ow. Why did that hurt? He'd been skating all afternoon no problem, and now he was lying here doing nothing and it hurt? That was so dumb. He slid back down. "Actually, I'm okay."​

 

[Rose Glass]

Rose wasn't sure whether Freddie was actually friends with Blanc, or whether he just tolerated him. It was different for Rose, she had been his friend, and Rouge's, for years before they ever met mama. Mama didn't want to separate the trio so they'd all been taken on together. In a way, Rose had already been tolrating him by choice for years.

She tried not to glance at Freddie again as he shifted, although she couldn't help herself when he changed his mind. "Are you sure?" she asked, a little concern in her voice as she puzzled over why he no longer wanted another drink. Maybe he felt bad they'd miss the film. "You can have mine if you want," she offered. It wasn't like she'd touched it.

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie nodded, watching the TV screen without really watching. Yeah, he was thirsty, but he'd probably forget about it when he closed his eyes. And if he didn't, he'd just wait for everyone else to fall asleep before he got up. Easy.

But then Rose was offering him her drink, and he was looking at her, even though he'd been trying not to. Sometimes, when he looked at her, he forgot to look away again for ages. Then he realised he was staring and felt embarrassed. He couldn't help it though. She was pretty and nice. And she could skate. And she liked heavy metal. And she was smart. She was basically amazing, and that was bad, 'cause every time she said something to him and he wasn't expecting it, his mind totally went blank. Like now.

"Huh?" he said, after a couple of seconds. "You don't want it? Sure. Can you pass it?" He rolled onto his side, sticking his hand out of the sleeping bag, but the glass was still just too far to reach. ​