Isla couldn't get Draco and what had befallen them out of her head. It was as if her mind held in a complete mess from what they did in the hallway a few nights ago.

It didn't feel quite real to her that she let him do that — that she let him crawl underneath her skin and affect her in the way he did. She was usually much more strong-minded than she was that night, but there was something about that blond boy that caused her skin to flush and her heart to skip a beat.

Perhaps she felt bad for him and the utter fact that his girlfriend had left him for someone else so abruptly, or maybe she fancied him after all, but what was there to fancy? He'd been nothing but mean to her, treated her more badly than anyone else had failed to do, and now — now she had another session after class with him.

''How come you got even more detention? I thought you were going to the library?'' Ava snapped her neck towards Isla, making the girl flinch out of her thoughts, ''Was it past curfew?''

''No—'' Isla sought to lie, brushing some hair out of her eyes, ''I was just walking back, and I ran into Malfoy and we simply—''

Her mind wandered again. Her cheeks turned red without warning as she meant to shake it off, to not seem too obvious, ''We had an argument.''

''An argument?'' Ava rose a brow, her fingers fiddled with the quill placed on Isla's desk, ''Did you yell at each other? You know how the teachers get with their favorite students.''

''No, it wasn't like that. He was mad, and I was just trying to help,'' She bit down in her lower lip at the thoughts that kept on crossing her mind, causing her breaths to stress and her pulse quickened, ''That's all—''

''Is it?''

Isla froze, her fingers clenched around the book placed in front of her as her head shook. She didn't dare to turn around to face the boy she knew was standing behind her.

''Is that really all, Clarke?'' Theodore snapped again, harsher as he marched up to her seat, his hands slammed against the top of the table, ''Because I heard much differently.''

''You did, didn't you?" Draco's voice caught her off guard as she nearly choked on her own saliva. Her eyes begged Ava's, but her friend merely smirked before spinning around to seat herself at her own desk.

''She has quite the imagination if you ask me,'' Draco grinned provokingly as Isla slowly slipped further down her chair. She wished to make herself invisible, ''But enlighten me, Nott,'' Draco kept on pushing, ''I'd like to know what you heard."

Her hands around the books tightened as she did everything possible not to think about anything inappropriate — doing absolutely everything not to grant Draco more fuel.

''That you two did more—'' Theodore's eyes burnt into her side, glaring angrily, ''Than just fight.''

Draco nodded as Isla's spine still faced him, and he hunched down at the line of tables behind hers, ''Yeah, I heard that too, but let me reassure you, Nott—'' Malfoy let his tongue roll on the inside of his cheek, ''We didn't do anything else than fight. She's a real fighter, let me tell you that and the things she's saying while being so—''

Isla gulped at the low, intense words Draco was speaking and the mantle her face held, that careless look swiftly rocked into furrowed brows and even more rosy cheeks.

She couldn't hold her thoughts.

Her mind caved as she thought about his lips, sloppily finding their way down her neck, his hand as it rested in between her legs, and his raspy voice degrading her close to her ear.

Her thighs squeezed together underneath her desk, and her chest arched over the wood to hide it before she turned around in her seat, facing the blond. His smirk spoke loudly, and his large hand, scratching along his jawline, caused her to blink quickly.

''Let's just say that Clarke over here has a lively fantasy,'' He sought to suppress his chuckle, but she noticed it was coming, shooting him the most nervous of looks.

''What is that even supposed to mean?'' Theodore questioned, frowning at the both of them, ''So you were just out in that bloody hall, and you got detention?''

''Yeah,'' Draco didn't drag his stare off her. It stayed intensely locked in hers as she held in quietness, ''But I don't see how that is any of your concern, Nott?'' Draco spat, his tone unexpectedly severe, ''Don't you have that little Hufflepuff to care for?''

Isla's eyes flickered, landing on Theo as she studied his embarrassed expression. His brows still knitted, his lips pushed into a firm line, ''I don't think that's any of your—''

''Well, you're all up in my business, so why don't we make it even?'' Draco kept on going, ''It's starting to get a bit tiring to wait for you two out in the common room all night,''

Isla's eyes widened as Theo avoided her look, ''Malfoy, that's enough—''

She could feel her blood rushing, her heartbeat reaching her ears. Her hands gripped the backrest on her chair, and she could feel the flicker of rage growing inside.

''Or that night, Clarke and I got into that fight? Yeah, it's a good thing that there are couches in the common room because I couldn't possibly stay awake for all that time you both were at it—''

''If you'll excuse me. I forgot something,'' Isla mumbled quietly to herself as she — without another word, gripped her books and forced her chair back.

''Leaving so soon, Clarke? I was just getting to the interesting—''

''Shut that foul mouth of yours, would you?'' Theodore's eyes fled after her escaping figure, ''I'll be right back—''

Isla's sight grounded in shame as she stormed towards the entrance, and just as she was meant to disappear out in the hallway,

''Miss Clarke. I didn't realize that detention was over before it even began?''

Isla winced back, her books collided with the floor as her gaze met Professor McGonagall's stern one, '' May I ask you where you're going?''

''I was just—'' She stumbled on her words, nervously bending down to pick her schoolwork back up, ''I wasn't feeling very well—''

The professor's sight narrowed, her face cold, emotionless almost, ''Take a seat, Miss Clarke.''

Isla nodded, instantly turning back to the rest of the class before slipping down on her seat again. Her eyes leveled Ava's as her friend grinned at her, mouthing something that she couldn't quite catch.

''Mr. Nott, take a seat next to Miss Clarke, would you?'' She raised her voice, striding to the front of the room, ''And Mr. Malfoy, it looks to me as if you're on your own today.''

Draco groaned underneath his breath, combing a ring-clad hand through his hair.

Isla's head shook, attempting to get rid of all the clouding thoughts she held as Theodore annoyingly rolled his eyes, flopping down onto the chair next to hers, and flipped his pages open.

With a sigh escaping her lips, she mimicked the act, and her eyes fell upon the text she was meant to read.

Moments passed in complete silence before she reached the assignment they had to work together on. Her head rose, looking over his book only to realize that he was already waiting for her.

''Are you done?'' He mumbled, almost refusing to look at her, ''I can wait—''

''No,'' She breathed, her fingers gripped the quill harder, ''I'm done.''

''Fine, I'll just—'' Both of them stood up at the same time, ending up in an awkward situation where they simply stared at each other, not knowing who was supposed to get what or walk before the other.

''I'll—'' Isla took a step to the side, but the instant she did — so did Theodore, until she, without thinking clearly, placed her hands on his arms, turning them around in sync. His lips arched slightly, as did hers.

She could see, in the corner of her eyes, how Draco's sight narrowed and how his knuckles paled as he gripped his desk harder, ''There you go,'' Isla's chin tilted, looking up at the brunet.

''Smooth as always,'' Theodore grinned, his hand scratching the back of his neck as he backed away, strolling over to the cabinet to get all the supplies they'd need for their task, and just as Isla meant to do the same,

''What was that?'' Draco growled beside her, making her neck snap to look at him instead, ''Since when are you touching Nott like that?'' His tone burst in rudeness.

''Touch him like what?'' Isla questioned, her whole figure turned to face him, ''What are you talking about?''

Draco's eyes rolled, sighing so loudly that Ava's head tilted to watch them, ''Don't—''

''Here,'' Theodore dropped all items he'd been picking up, down at their table, cups, and jars along with herbs and something that to her, looked like milk in a tiny vial, ''If you start with this one, I'll start here,''

Isla smiled, totally forgetting the conversation she and Draco were in the middle of as she bent over the table to collect the material. Her act caused Malfoy's teeth to grit and his jaws to clench.

The thoughts in her head — how it echoed about Theodore, how Nott's hands caught her attention, how his scent lingered her. It all triggered Draco's tamed temper. His mind flew to the fastest way to make them stand further apart.

Hearing how they talked about the upcoming ball and the nosiness of Theodore asking her whom her date might be, fumed within.

He didn't find any pleasure in how Theo's eyes flickered over her and how their gaze met from time to time, how they quickly looked away. Both of them blushing at it.

It angered the blond more than anything at this time. He didn't quite realize it himself, but his blood boiled.

His hand shoved down into his pocket, hauling his wand out as he as silently as he could, murmured a spell underneath his breath, and the potion in front of Theodore and Isla shattered to pieces.

''What did you do?'' Isla gasped, sounding surprised by all the crushed glass, ''Did you—''

''Me?'' Theo hissed, frustrated with the girl he believed destroyed their potion, ''What did you do?''

Draco remained silent behind them, smirking to himself as they rose to bicker.

''I didn't even touch it?''

''Neither did I, but you—''

''No, you did—''

''No, you—''

''Enough,'' Professor McGonagall shouted, marching over to the two, ''It seems as if you both are incapable of brewing something as simple as this!'' Her voice shifted, her hands gestured to the mess in front of them.

''I have something else for the both of you to do that you can't possibly get wrong. The annual ball is around the corner, and the pastry in the kitchen needs to be decorated. That's your task for today,'' Her head shook, ''I don't want to see either of you until every last delicacy is decorated, now off you go before I ask you to set the tables too.''

Theodore groaned, throwing his head back while Isla did as asked. She forced herself past the boy before storming out of the classroom, cursing underneath her breath.

She walked ahead of him, down the corridor, through the basement before they reached a kitchen at the far end of the school. She didn't speak a word to him as they went, and neither did he.

It was slightly dark, not too dimmed to see, but it still caused a contrast as her eyes got used to the gloominess.

Her fingers traced along the edges of the trays that bread, pies, and tarts rested on.

''So now what?'' Theodore leaned against the doorpost, his arms folded over his chest, ''What are we supposed to do?''

Isla scoffed, shifting around, so she was staring right at him, ''Have you never decorated a cake before?'' She looked surprised.

Theo's brows furrowed, ''Why would I have decorated a cake? I have maids for that.'' He sounded sarcastic, taunting her for not reaching that realization yet.

''Well, excuse me, sir...'' She mocked him right back, biting down onto her lower lip as she smiled shyly, ''You know what? I can do this. You can go. It's fine.''

Isla turned back to the counter, letting the water of the sink flow so that she could wash her hands, ''It's probably easier if I do this by myself anyway.'' Her hands shivered by the cold water as she stretched for the soap, allowing the bubbles to cover her hands.

''Are you sure?'' He looked startled, prepared for them to fight over the assignment, ''I can stay—''

''No, it's fine.'' Isla's head shook, turning the water off as she peered around, searching for something to dry her hands with, ''It won't take long, and I'm fast with this.''

Theodore's sight snapped to the knobs with towels next to the door, and he grabbed one, ''Here,'' He mumbled, striding up to her.

He wrapped the cloth around her hands and dried them gently, not properly thinking about what he was doing until his eyes flickered, crossing her confused one.

''Oh,'' He dragged away, taking steps back, ''I didn't—''

''It's fine,'' Her eyes narrowed, and the corner of his mouth arched, ''You can stay if you want to...'' Isla sounded hesitant, ''I mean if you don't have anything better to do, which you probably do so—''

''Can you just shut up?'' He chuckled at her blurting.

She quieted, lowering her hands to her sides as he kept the grin playing on his lips, ''I'll stay if you want me to.'' He didn't come off as doubtful as she did, ''Do you want me to stay?''

Isla swallowed, feeling the wavering within, ''I mean the both of us were supposed to—''

''Just tell me if you want me to stay,'' He hewed her off as her cheeks glowed in question, ''I don't have anything better to do.''

''Then stay,'' She exhaled, smiling lightly, ''We don't want to see me mess this up, as the potion, right?''

Theodore hissed, taking steps closer to her again as his lower back leaned against the wooden counter, ''Then tell me what to do, how do you—''

''Wash your hands first,'' She was the one cutting him off now, ''And I'll get what we need.''

Theodore did as commanded, sneakily watching her mix a powdered substance together with a liquid one. She fused it together in bowls, placing spoons in each mixture before she finally, after minutes, met his gaze again.

Theo quickly peered away, nonchalantly, as she sought not to smile by the fact that she caught him staring at her.

''So,'' She spoke up, gaining his attention in a heartbeat, ''You take whichever color you like, and you just do something.''

''Just do something?'' He looked down at her, standing close now, ''What am I supposed to—''

''Here,'' She mumbled, trailing the spoon over one of the cakes. She did circles, ragged ones that created a soft pattern, ''And you do that, or something else if you—''

As she meant to turn back to him, giving him the bowl, her spoon struck against his cheek.

Isla's eyes grew wide with the fail to notice that he was standing near, ''I'm sorry—'' But before she had the possibility to apologize — he'd already gripped his own bowl, and he did the exact same thing to her.

Theodore caused a mess of frosting over her nose and lips as he burst out in laughter, ''I'm—''

''Theodore—'' She huffed, sounding annoyed, trying to fool him, but he wasn't the one to be toyed with, and as she meant to retaliate — he made an even bigger mess upon her skin.

He was laughing uncontrollably now at her face smeared with the decoration, ''I'm sorry,'' He raised his hands up in defeat, ''I didn't mean to—''

Isla frowned playfully before her whole hand reached down in the dish, and she threw a whole fist of the layer at him. Hitting his shoulder as some splashed on his features, ''Oh, sorry.'' She taunted, ''I didn't mean to,''

''You—'' Theodore growled, sprinting towards her as she squeaked at his arms wrapping around her, throwing her over his shoulder, ''You are paying for this, you know,''

Isla couldn't breathe; laughter escaped her throat in path as he settled her upon a counter, making her spine collide with the timber, ''I'm sorry, I'm sorry—'' She inhaled as he leaned over her, grabbing both of her wrists in a rough move, pinning them over her head.

''What was that?'' His face close to hers, admiring her breaking self, ''Was that an apology I heard?''

''Yes—'' She couldn't speak properly, all she did was chuckle as his heated breaths struck her lips, ''I'm sorry,''

Her chest heaved, rising and falling heavily, and so did his, ''Are you giving up?'' Theo's fingers tensed around her wrists as he grinned, ''Is Clarke finally giving up?''

''I am—'' She breathed deeply, trying to calm herself, ''I am giving up,'' Isla let her tongue roll over her bottom lips, collecting some of the frostings as Theo's eyes flickered to watch it.

A pause of silence seized them.

His entire body tensed by that, almost hissing underneath his breath, ''Don't—''He meant to warn her.

''What?'' She whispered, repeating the action.

He stared so intensely that it stung her skin, his jaws clenching and unclenching as he slowly shook his head, '' You're out on thin ice, Clarke.''

Her body shivered as he leaned closer, ''I always wondered what it tastes like...'' He mumbled.

''Me or the decor?'' Isla's eyes caught his. The tension held touchable between them.

''Both,'' Theo said, honestly, as he cherished the sweet scent of her closeness.

''Then taste,'' Isla shot back, in the complete loss of herself in the heat of the moment, and without another word shared, he bent so close that his nose brushed against hers.

He carefully let his lips stroke her bottom one before he sucked on it, tasting both her and the frosting she'd mixed together, ''Hell—'' He seethed, letting his own teeth sink into her lip.

Isla felt a rush through her body, causing her toes to curl, and before either of them knew what to do — her hands yanked out of his grip, and she crashed her lips fully against his.

Theodore kissed her back immediately as he groaned by the feeling of her fingers tugging at his hair, towering over her. His arms snaked around her back, dragging her up from her lying position without once tearing their lips apart.

Isla's legs around his waist and his hands explored her clothed back, kissing each other hungrily.

''Fuck—'' He breathed into her mouth, pushing his body so tightly against hers that she could feel him harden. She whimpered in response, locking her hold around his neck, clinging onto him.

''Theodore—'' She whispered, out of breath by the intense kissing, ''Don't—''

He pulled away, allowing them both air for a slight second, ''Don't what?'' His arms still folded around her, his muscles clenching, ''Do you want me to stop?''

Isla smiled, shyly in the light brightened kitchen, ''Don't stop—''

He let his lips search for hers again, kissing her deeply. One of his hands moved to her jaw, cupping it entirely, ''Fucking hell—'' The heat around them steamed.

She was so desperate to taste him too — to feel his hands on her body. The tension between the two had been unexplainable for weeks. Even if he claimed to be interested in someone else, she couldn't stop herself.

The locks on his head, the charming smile he possessed, and his dimples — it was something about those dimples that caused her knees to weaken.

His large hands squeezed at her hip as he slowly began to rock her against him. She moaned quietly into his parted lips as he broke the kiss in two — his eyes sealed as he, with the hold on her jaw, leaned her head back, allowing him all access to her neck.

Theodore kissed her down her throat, over her collarbones, fiercely but not as Draco had done a couple of nights prior. This wasn't rough, not hateful — this was starving, exciting almost.

She whimpered again, feeling as he sucked on her neck, leaving small marks as he went, ''So fucking pretty—''

He called her pretty again. Her breaths nearly left her. Isla grabbed his hair tighter, bringing herself the few remaining inches closer, ''Don't stop—''

''Am I interrupting something?'' An annoyed voice caught them off guard, making them both jump apart, out of breath and startled.

Isla blinked quickly, trying to make out who was standing in the doorway before her veins iced and her heart stopped.

''Malfoy?''

_____