[CHAPTER 5]

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───

TITLE: THE SHIFT

ELLIE HAD BEEN PREPARED for a lot of things when she walked into The Three Broomsticks with Mattheo.

She had braced herself for Lorenzo's reaction. She had prepped for Mattheo's over-the-top fake affection. She had even accepted that this ridiculous game might make things more complicated.

But she had not been prepared for this.

For the way her stomach dropped when she saw Lorenzo and Emma together.

For the way Mattheo tensed beside her.

For the way the air suddenly felt different—like the script she had been following had just been torn apart, leaving her completely off balance.

She didn't want to care.

This was never about Emma. Never really about Lorenzo, either.

So why did she suddenly feel so stupid?

Mattheo shifted beside her, his easy grin long gone. "You alright?"

Ellie forced a breath. "Yeah."

She expected him to tease her, to make some sarcastic remark about how the plan was working.

But he didn't.

Instead, his hand brushed against hers, so lightly she barely felt it.

And then—without a single word—he took her hand properly, lacing their fingers together.

Ellie's pulse jumped.

She knew she should pull away. She knew this was all for show.

But the warmth of his palm was grounding her in a way she desperately needed.

And maybe—just for a second—she didn't want to let go.

They left The Three Broomsticks soon after.

The walk back to Hogwarts was silent. Not the uncomfortable kind—just a quiet, thoughtful sort of silence.

Ellie kept expecting Mattheo to say something, to break the moment with a joke or a stupid quip.

But he didn't.

He just kept holding her hand.

And that was the strangest part of all.

By the time they reached the castle, Ellie's thoughts were a tangled mess.

She had never thought this through.

Not properly.

She had spent so much time trying to make Lorenzo jealous, she hadn't stopped to consider what this game might do to her.

What Mattheo might do to her.

Because something was shifting.

And she had no idea how to stop it.

The common room was mostly empty when they got back.

Ellie let go of Mattheo's hand as soon as they stepped inside, suddenly needing distance. "Well," she said, forcing a light tone. "That was fun."

Mattheo raised an eyebrow. "Was it?"

Ellie scoffed. "Oh, absolutely. Watching my long-term crush fawn over another girl? Highlight of my year."

Mattheo's expression darkened. "Eleanor—"

"I'm fine, Riddle," she said quickly, waving a hand. "This was the plan, remember?"

He studied her, something unreadable in his gaze. "Yeah," he said quietly. "The plan."

The way he said it made her stomach twist.

Before she could respond, Mattheo ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "Listen, I need to go check on some Quidditch things. I'll see you later, yeah?"

Ellie nodded, maybe a little too quickly. "Yeah. Of course."

She turned before she could see the expression on his face.

But she felt his eyes on her long after he left.

That night, Ellie lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling.

She hated this.

She hated the way her chest tightened when she thought about Mattheo's hand in hers.

She hated that she could still feel it—warm, steady, real.

And she especially hated the tiny voice in her head whispering that maybe—just maybe—this was never about Lorenzo at all.

The next morning, Ellie walked into the Great Hall and immediately regretted it.

Because Mattheo was already there.

And he wasn't alone.

He was sitting across from some Ravenclaw girl, grinning in that stupid, charming way of his.

Ellie's stomach twisted.

Which was ridiculous.

Because this was not real.

And Mattheo was not hers.

But tell that to her traitorous heart.

She was so caught up in her own thoughts, she didn't notice Draco and Blaise appear beside her.

"Well, well," Blaise mused. "Would you look at that."

"Your boyfriend seems to be enjoying himself," Draco added, smirking.

Ellie scowled. "Shut up."

"Ooooh, someone's jealous," Blaise sing-songed.

Ellie glared at them both. "I am not jealous."

Blaise grinned. "If you say so."

But she was.

And that was the real problem.

She tried to ignore it.

Tried to pretend it didn't bother her.

But when she saw Mattheo later that day, something inside her snapped.

"So," she said, crossing her arms. "Had a fun morning?"

Mattheo blinked. "What?"

Ellie nodded toward the Ravenclaw girl. "She looked nice."

Mattheo stared at her for a second—then smirked. "Ellie."

"What?" she snapped.

"You're jealous."

Ellie scoffed. "I am not—"

Mattheo stepped closer. "Oh, you so are."

She hated how smug he looked.

And she especially hated that he was right.

She shoved him. "You're insufferable."

Mattheo just laughed. "Oh, love," he teased. "You like me."

Ellie's heart stopped.

Because the worst part?

He wasn't wrong.

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───