the kiss list, adrian pucey
𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓, 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟐

chapter thirty-two, GAIETY, GIFTS & GUMMIES

✧ ━━━ · ✦ · ━━━ ✧

     BREAKFAST DID NOT DISAPPOINT, AND WITH A VERY FULL STOMACH, BIANCA TRIED HER BEST TO SNEAK AWAY, WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE. Feeling slightly guilty to be leaving her very generous friends so early on in the day, Bianca promised to endure Leo's board games, so long as they played Cluedo and Chess at least once later on in the evening. That was his only request, so he didn't see anything wrong with her suspicious exit.

     "Afternoon." Adrian greeted, once Bianca was in earshot.

     The snow was falling at a gentle pace, and the air was misty with frost and festivity. The carriages for Hogsmeade left in no less than five minutes, meaning their arranged time for one o'clock was perfectly timed.

     "Good afternoon, Adrian," Bianca replied, pulling her coat tighter around her. "Merry Christmas, by the way."

     "Oh right, yes," he said, "happy easter."

     "You know, I was surprised when you agreed to come here with me today, Bianca."

     Bianca took another sip of her Butterbeer, careful for the beverage not to leave a white, fluffy stain on her bottom lip. "Why? Because none of your other friends can bear to spend time with you, and it shocked you that one person decided to do just that?" she twirled a finger around the rim of her takeaway cup, sweeping up all of the foam.

     Adrian ignored her comment, the aim of which was to insult him, suggesting his friends didn't like him, and simply shrugged, "No. Just surprised."

     Seen as it was Christmas Day, no shops or cafes in Hogsmeade were open, which leads Bianca to wonder why the carriages were scheduled to go in the first place. But there was always the opportunity to visit the little village on international holidays, and so, the pair decided just to stroll around, and take food and drinks from the Kitchens for their afternoon out.

     "Do I have foam on my face?" Adrian asked, after swallowing a large gulp of his Butterbeer.

     Bianca looked at him, and the brilliantly white layer of froth, that had settled above his top lip, "If you did, I definitely wouldn't tell you, and you should know that. But no, no you don't." she lied.

     Adrian's eyes narrowed, "That statement didn't do so well for my trust issues." he didn't take into account what she had said, and so used his sleeve to wipe his mouth.

     He stared down at the foamy remains of his Butterbeer, now stuck onto his sleeve, "Lovely." he smiled sarcastically, "Now my coat will forever smell of sugar and beer."

     Bianca hid her smirk behind the lid of her cup, taking another sip, minus the foam mustache.

     The pair followed the paths through the woods, and then out and back onto the pavements of the village. Then around the outside, and back and around, until their drinks were gone, and an hour had passed.

     Adrian took Bianca's empty cup — at least he could only assume it was empty — and threw the two away into a nearby bin, before attentively taking her arm, and leading her back out of the village and through a broad set of trees, before she had any time to protest or question his actions. "Come on. I wanna show you something."

     It turns out that Adrian knew his way around Hogsmeade a lot better than Bianca knew her's.

     "The Shrieking Shack?" Bianca asked, as the pair of them reached the edge of the tiny town, and were met with the sight of the large, creaking building, that wreaked off some god-awful scent that reached them, even from where they were standing. "Ugh, how romantic." she held a hand to her heart, comically.

     "I didn't know romance was a requirement for this afternoon out, but I shall note your opinions, and remember it for my next date," he replied.

     "I'm sure she —  whoever she may be — will be delighted with your company."

     Adrian smiled caustically, as he began trekking towards another hill. "What I actually wanted to show you, is just past this hill," he turned back around briefly, so she could see where his arm was pointing to.

     Bianca didn't move, "If it requires all my energy, and outs me to be very unfit, then I wouldn't class it as a 'Date Worthy Location'."

     Adrian's shoulder sagged, his bag slightly drooping downward, "Can you stop complaining for two minutes?" he retorted with a heaved sigh.

     Bianca stood up straighter, now staring up at him, as he was on higher ground, "I don't like this aggressive, bossy side of you."

     "I didn't think you liked any 'side' of me."

     Bianca swayed her head from left to right, "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, and say I tolerate you."

     Adrian flicked his head behind him, motioning to the hill he wanted them to climb, hoping for her to cooperate and follow him.

     Bianca eventually found the energy to let him lead her away from the scariest building in Britain, and Adrian showed her to a secluded spot, not too far away from the school or village to get them in trouble, but also not too close, for it to be noisy and lose its tranquility.

     However out of breath, the incline of the grassy hill left her, Bianca had to admit that it was worth it.

     There was a single bench that topped a tall hill, that was surrounded by towering trees, free of their leaves, creating a sort of canopy around them. The best part being the size of the hill — it gave them full access to a clear view of the large and open, Scottish landscape. Bianca could see the tallest turrets of Hogwarts Castle, and the chimneys of all the little shops of Hogsmeade. The Black Lake was at a distance, and soaring Quidditch towers surrounding the pitch were bright with the house colours.

     "How did you find this place?" Bianca asked, dazed and slightly amazed, swiveling where she stood, to get a good look at every angle possible.

     "Wandering." Adrian said, cooly, "It's what I do best."

     Bianca chuckled, "What? Walking around like you're completely useless?" she teased.

     "I would say something more on the side of: 'Exploring With a Hunger For Adventure'," he replied, and Bianca couldn't tell whether the passion was faked or not.

     "How am I friends with you?" she questioned after a moment of straight staring at him.

     Adrian looked offended, "I thought you only tolerated me?" he countered. Bianca huffed, rolling her eyes. "Look, just sit," he said, gesturing to the almost completely white bench before them. "I want to give you something."

     Bianca slumped onto a bench, not before clearing the wooden planks of fallen snow, and Adrian took a seat next to her. He reached into his bag and retrieved a pocket-sized rectangle that was wrapped in brown paper, and was light in weight.

     "This is for you," Adrian passed Bianca the gift and she smiled at the loose corners, and scuffed edges, that was no longer completely brown, but white, due to a loss of layer of paper. "I tried my best with the wrapping."

     Bianca gently tore open the gift, completely unbeknown as to what to expect. She didn't expect a present from the boy in the first place.

     Once the paper had been discarded to the empty space of the bench beside where she was sat, Bianca gazed down at the unwrapped gift, that was resting between her fingers.

     A handmade, handcrafted, personally chosen Mixtape.

     Bianca chuckled as she read it, "'Cheesy is okay sometimes'?" she said aloud the words scribbled on the front — his handwriting so distinguishable at this point in their relationship.

     Adrian didn't verbally reply, seen as she was still opening the present he gifted her, and he wanted to avoid any signs that could give the rest of it away. He shrugged, and she stared into his eyes, curious if this was going down the sentimental, way-too-cute-for-two-people-not-even-in-a-relationship route she thought it was going down.

     "This is only Volume One? Should I be scared to see what's on it?" she asked.

     All Bianca got in response was another shrug, this time it was complemented by a confident pout of the mouth.

     She finally flipped it over, to read the contents of the Mixtape.

     Bianca read every line. Every song, every sentiment, and all the tenderness and warmth that came with them. She now understood the "cheesy" aspect of it all, and just to make the moment even cheesier, Bianca really thought that it felt like someone was physically pulling at her heartstrings. She wasn't even in a romantic relationship with the kid, and he pulls out all the mushily-cute, charming stops, that makes it feel like there should be cameramen, panning their little picturesque winter scene, and edit the clips into a banal, melodramatic rom-com, that should be hated by its audience because of its cheesy-ness, but is a complete box-office hit, and causes the waterworks to stop and start.

     It was so incredibly corny that tears clouded her view.

     Adrian Pucey. You blasted sweetheart.

     "But I'm supposed to hate you?" Was all Bianca could piece together, while she tried to blink enough times for the salty drops to disappear back into her tear ducts.

     Bianca doesn't know why she was so touched by this gift. It could be how every song was so meticulously planned out, and thought about beforehand, by someone who shouldn't even have that much access to Muggle things. Or it could be how a Wizard had taken the time to create a device that defies all magic in the process. Or maybe it could be the fact that Bianca had never received such a heartfelt gift in her life.

     Adrian knew how much Bianca appreciated music. He believed that she was about the only other person in their year group that did. Hence the Mixtape.

     It took him a while to work out how to make one, but he knew Bianca owned a Cassette player, and so, he was determined to get it right. Terry Boot — Adrian's Ravenclaw, Muggle-born friend — was a great help in the Mixtape-creation process. A guide, if you will. But Terry had no input on the song choices. They were completely Adrian's own. Adrian didn't think he could be so sentimental, but here he was, gifting the girl he was in love with a Mixtape that he made, made up of songs that the two had shared memories of, and songs that reminded him of her, and on the second side, every Beatles song that George Harrison had written. That was Bianca's favourite part — how Adrian had remembered that George was her favourite Beatle by far.

     Adrian couldn't quite read her expression, as her head was locked in a trance downward, and her words were so ambivalent that it was hard to work out what she meant. "And?"

     Bianca felt as though the glimpse of the possibility that she could actually start crying had gone away, her vision now slightly clearer, and she flicked a strand of hair out of her not-quite dried eyes, and looked up. "This doesn't do so well for my 'I Hate Adrian Pucey' persona that I've created."

     Adrian knew how hard Bianca had been trying for the last month or two to pretend that she hated him as much as she had at the beginning of the year, and in all honesty, he thought it was sweet — how she couldn't admit that Adrian Pucey wasn't a dick and all accounted for: the complete opposite. "And why's that?"

     The cold was seeping through the cracks of her woolen gloves, and her hands were on the verge of shaking, but they didn't, because of what was in them: the most cordial, sincere, and the most genuine gift she had ever received. "Because this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me," she whispered, finally meeting his crystal-like eyes — mistake.

     "Are you crying?" he laughed, observing the watery bubbles forming under her lids. It wasn't the reaction he was expecting whatsoever.

     Bianca instantly pulled her eyes away, her head falling to the floor in a rapid attempt to cover up any evidence that suggested she was emotional in any way. She valiantly fought to clear her eyes. Blinking a few more times, she replied, "No. What? Please. It's just cold out." she bluffed, "You're still not my favourite person ever."

     Adrian's chuckle echoed across the vast, snow-laden grass patch, his chest rising and falling through his amusement, "Oh, so your eyes sweat?"

     Bianca shrugged, dabbing the underneath of her bottom lashes with the crook of her index finger, before returning to look at the boy, sort of confident that the remains of her almost tears had vanished. "They do that sometimes." Was her reply.

     Adrian nodded his head slowly, playing it off like he was convinced her excuse made sense, biting his bottom lip to block any further laughs that could escape if he wasn't careful.

     Bianca stared at him, mouth open wide, eyes narrowed, losing any previous feelings of admiration for him, as he shut his eyes to help with the cackle blockade. "Oh just open your present, please." she snapped, bitterly, shoving a rectangular-shaped object into his lap, with an uncalled-for force that made Adrian scowl a little.

     That scowl soon faded, when the realization that Bianca had spent money on him kicked in. It took him a second just staring down at the perfectly sheathed gift, before Bianca gave him an encouraging hand directed by her growing impatience, and decreasing body temperature, that made him finally pull at the ribbon.

     The material spread at his touch, and with a little tug on the paper, the once-hidden item underneath was revealed.

     A biography of Michael Jackson, lay on a sheet of wrapping paper, staring back at him.

     Bianca was quick to explain herself, "I know you said you wanted to get into reading and I thought this would be good for you. It's illustrated as well, so, not too difficult for your short attention span. I remember you saying you saw him in a shop window, can't recall where, but well, take this as the fuel for your obsession."

     Adrian stared down at the book that was resting in his lap, like it was not only impossible to wipe the smile off of his face, but also impossible to draw his eyes away from his gift. Bianca let him have his moment of admiration as she watched the birds dance on a faraway branch, sprinkled in snow as if they knew it was Christmas, whilst he examined every page, the matte feel of the cover, and the font of the title.

     "Oxford Street," he said plainly, breaking the peaceful slumbering sound of the singing robins and brushing of trees.

     Bianca clawed her eyes away from this one couple of birds, nuzzled together in a nest to look at the proud smile on his face. "Hm?" she hummed.

     "The shop was on Oxford Street," Adrian explained the first time he experienced what real music was like. "The one with Vinyl and stuff? Mum wouldn't let me go in — it was muggle owned. So I snuck in when she wasn't looking."

     Bianca chuckled, "Wouldn't take you as the rebellious type, Adrian. But I understand the reason for your treasonous behaviour."

     Bianca liked the idea that Adrian had gone against his family's wishes, because he saw nothing wrong with the mixing of Muggles and Wizards, to fight his curousity. If anything, she thought it was sweet.

     "Well, there you go." she gestured back to the book. "I don't know, I just saw it and-"

     Adrian saw how she distracted her eyes away from his and used the scenery as an excuse not to admit what she really wanted to say, "-you thought of me?" he finished, biting down his rising smirk.

     Her cheeks flushed red, as she chewed the inside of her mouth to prevent a stammer that was almost inevitable if she didn't try to stifle it, "No."

     Adrian twisted his body in her direction, causing him to ultimately end up a little closer to her than he was before. "You did." he almost laughed. "You thought of me when out shopping." his teeth were practically flashing at her in a big, beaming smile, telling her he had worked it out and that there was no denying it. "I see the cogs going off in your brain, Bianca. You really hate how you don't hate me, huh?"

     When it was clear that Bianca was not going to try and deny that Adrian was the first person she thought of when walking into that petit bookstore, Adrian settled back more comfortably into his previous position. "Thank you," he said. "I love you- I mean, I love it. I love it. I meant 'it'," he pointed to the book, "not you." Adrian tried his best to cover up his slip-up, that wasn't much of a slip-up in truth. He did love her, but there was no way that was something he was going to fess up at a gift exchange.

     It was his face that was now lit-up, bright pink, his knuckles turning white as he tightened his grip on the book, trying not to come off as embarrassed as he truly was.

     Bianca didn't want to make a huge deal about Adrian's 'accidental' confession, by teasing him and humiliating him further, instead, she sat on her hands, making sure her mixtape didn't fall off of her lap. "So, where do you wanna go next?" she asked after a moment.

     "Right here's fine," he replied, still not finding it in him to look her in the eyes.

     Bianca noticed how uncomfortable he looked, "You sure?"

     He nodded his head this time, taking a deep breath in before locating the courage to look at her. Her blonde locks were lightly dusted with white flakes, and her ankles locked comfortably. Adrian internally sighed, grateful for the fact that she didn't care. She didn't decide to mock him, or sneer at his patheticness because she was comfortable. Around him.

     Some red still remained in his cheeks, but that was due to the cold, and his shoulders de-tensed, and his expression softened finally. "Yeah, right here's perfect," he said.

     Bianca snorted, bringing a gloved hand over her mouth to stop any further laughs from erupting. Maybe Bianca not tantalizing him was just too good to be true.

     Eye contact wasn't broken, as Adrian's brows knitted together, a smile of his own playing at his lips just at the sight of how amused she had become and how beautiful her smile was. "What?"

     Bianca enveloped one lip with the other, almost like a barrier for future cackles. "Oh, nothing. It's just, I know that it's Christmas and all, but, no need to confess your undying love for me."

     Adrian scowled, his mouth agape, "Piss off."

     The castle had a fresh dusting of powder, and the scene was pure white, up against a heavenly-blended, rustic brown canvas, from the surrounding branches, left bare of their leaves, and content with the snow. It was like icing sugar — how it besprinkled over the landscape like the clouds were holding a sift from the sky, letting the icy sprinkles dance and flutter until they landed.

     The sky wasn't dark either. It was a perfect ombre of white to blue, where the blend was seamless, and the hues complemented each other forming a blissful Winter Wonderland.

     Adrian pulled out a small bag of bright red gummies — droobles to be exact. The same ones they had shared in the Kitchens, the night Malcolm Preece returned from the States. Bianca hated how much she had enjoyed talking to Adrian about Muggle things. But then, if they hadn't discussed modern no-maj technology, it may be that she wouldn't have received the generous gift she had done today.

     Adrian lifted the bag in her direction, and Bianca chuckled, at the sentiment, and smiled gratefully, as she picked out a few, and gathered them in the palm of her hand.

     Now with the sweet sensation in her mouth, the scenery was just that little bit more saintly.

     Yes, that's what it was. A blissful Winter Wonderland.

➼

     "CHECKMATE."

     Bianca fell back into her chair, inspecting the pieces still resting on their squares on the board, confirming to herself and him if he had actually managed to win. Or not.

     It had been a while since Bianca had started teaching Adrian how to play chess, and the two of them had revisited various openings and player's tactics. Adrian had suffered numerous defeats, but seemingly, had been picking up on details the entire time.

     Adrian's face scrunched up, anxious as to whether he had done something wrong that would then result in him feeling rather embarrassed that he thought he had won.

     Bianca's eyes were roaming the board, Adrian watching as they did.

     Everything seemed legit —unexpectantly.

     Now with her arms folded into each other, and her head bowed low, Bianca chuckled, shaking her head simultaneously, "Well done."

     Adrian leaned over the table, sticking his neck out in disbelief. "Wait, I won?" he queried, the look of uncertainty now absent, and had now been replaced with an animated smile, "I actually won?" Bianca nodded her head, slowly, but Adrian could read the little sense of pride hidden in her movements, "Holy shit. I beat you." he said, the idea of prosperity flashing in front of him, in the form of an isolated, white-painted King (Bianca's King) chess piece, trapped in a ring of Adrian's black Bishop, Queen, and Castle.

     "That you did. But fuck," she dramatically slapped her hand down on the table, her fingers brushing the edge, "now I'm scared I won't win the Wizard's Chess Championship next week. Gosh, darn it." she huffed exaggeratedly, her tone thick with sarcasm.

     Adrian began rearranging the pieces on the board, ignoring the desires of his heart not to destroy his magnificent win, but instead, leave the pieces as they are, frozen in time. He knew, however, that that wasn't possible, and so, began starting the board for another game —considering Bianca wanted one. "I don't like your sarcasm," he said. "But I didn't know that was a thing — I'm intrigued. Tell me more."

     "Always has been. Just a competition Professor Binns holds right at the end of the year. Happens every year." Bianca explained, casually, as she began sliding the pieces back to their starting positions, as well, their hands grazing each other now and then. Adrian was surprised at how relaxed he managed to stay by the physical contact.

     "Did you win last year?"

     "Not quite. Some kid in Hufflepuff did, but I never ended up playing him. Some seventh year Ravenclaw kicked me out of the semi-finals."

     Adrian smirked, "So you're not that good?"

     Bianca stopped abruptly, "Hey!" she whined offendedly, "I was fifteen, and the other guy was seventeen. You win these things through experience. It was only like my," Bianca paused, slouching further into her chair, as humiliation swept over her face, "fourth time entering . . ." she mumbled under a deep breath out.

     Adrian couldn't help but chuckle, "You've lost this sad excuse for a competition four times?" he asked incredulously, finding her failures a little too funny for Bianca's liking.

     "I'm not some child Grandmaster, over here!" she barked. "And I don't appreciate the judgment on my academic ambitions!"

     "My concern is that multiple people actually take this seriously."

     "Ah yes," she hummed, "because winning a Chess tournament would be social suicide, wouldn't it, Adrian?"

     Adrian shrugged nonchalantly, "More or less."

     They lapsed into a short silence — Adrian still curious about the Chess Championship, and Bianca simply focused on preparing for another game, just to show him that she is actually a very skilled chess player (even if that had been proven after many defeats on Adrian's part).

     "And this is a genuine competition?" he asked, a smirk tugging at his mouth.

     "Are you insinuating that any other contest besides the Quidditch Inter-House Cup where a Cup is awarded means nothing at this school?"

     Adrian thought about this for a moment, but it was clear to both of them where his opinions on Quidditch lay. "Exactly that, yes. But that being said, I will be there to support you."

     Bianca faked a look of affectionate gratitude, before sliding the last of her white Pawns back into their designated spots. "Aw, thank you, Adrian. Maybe you could learn a thing or two."

     Adrian scoffed, "I just beat you. My chess skills are at the top of their game." he could practically brush the over-confidence off of his shoulder if he wanted to. Bianca shook her head, rolling her eyes, as she waited patiently for him to finish organizing his pieces for a fresh, new game. "But hey, I learned from the best."

     "Shall we play then?" she suggested, now that the board was angled perfectly for another divine and enticing game of Chess. "I'm eager to wipe your ass with this game."

     Adrian loved how passionate Bianca was when it came to Chess. Every time they played, he could see the concentration in her eyes, and see how her face lit up in a subtle way when she won, even if the person she had beaten was pretty incompetent most of the time and had only been playing the game for a few months.

     And that was why he was rooting for her to win this tournament next week. Adrian thinks Bianca deserves at least one win before she leaves. Besides, he thinks that she's the best contestant to enter — even if he didn't know anyone else that was going to play in his competition.

     He was going to make a banner and everything.