RP: Awkward meeting
Who: Oliver Wood and Cooper Vipond What: Oliver goes for a drink, runs into Cooper When: Monday, June 12th Where: The Leaky Cauldron Warnings: Language
Having spent the entire night before downing a few bottles of wine, Oliver had awoken the next morning on his brother's couch with a pounding headache. He had no recollection of leaving the house, let alone seeking out Logan when he was pretty sure how little brother still hated him.
Oliver, feeling mostly ashamed, quietly crept out of the house and had began to head home when the overwhelming feeling of not wanting to go there took over. Instead, he apparated close to his gym to shower and freshen up. Afterward, Oliver set off on a long run. He ran so long and so hard that after several miles his legs shook with protest and his knees buckled.
Perhaps it was enough. At the very least the burning feeling in his lungs distracted Oliver from the void in his chest threatening to expand. Laying in the grass of the park with the sun beating down, he realized the entrance to Diagon Alley wasn't too far off. But...it was populated by those who had read that article. That knew what an awful person Oliver really was.
Deciding a drink would be in order, the only option was the Leaky Cauldron, as he had forgotten his wallet and could add the promising pint to his tab. After several minutes, he pushed himself up and hurried over to the familiar pub, desperately hoping Hannah would be there. She always knew what to say.
***
Johnny was who was to be teaching Coop how to bartend. The only skills that the ex-beater turned coach had when he had applied for the position was the ability to open bottles with his belt buckle, which wasn’t nearly as impressive in this sort of atmosphere as it was when you were a young 20something hitting on the bunnies that hung around after games, so it had not gone on his resume. Thankfully though he seemed to be picking it up fast, he had already mastered making a whiskey sour before he had even arrived for his first shift Monday morning, he counted that as a win.
When things had slowed down a bit, Johnny had left Coop behind the bar alone while he went to do a few things in the back. He hadn’t seen Hannah since he got there but he knew she was around because Johnny had mentioned said so.
Coop had been just wiping down the bar after a guest had left when he heard the doors opening and he lifted his head to look towards the new person, the friendly smile that had appeared had froze in place at the sight of the blonde man standing there. “Fuck.” Slipped from his lips before he could stop himself, he did not want to see Gen’s new fucking boyfriend today. He felt his stomach drop and his eyes went back to the bar, anywhere but at her boyfriend. “What can I get for ya?” He called out, though he wasn’t looking at Oliver so if the man knew he was talking to him, it’d be a miracle.
***
At least the bar was quiet, barely anyone there at the early morning of a weekday. Oliver nodded politely to the guest leaving and headed inside. No one looked up from their morning papers or coffee. Beyond the soft shuffling behind the bar the Leaky was blissfully quiet, until the voice of the bartender rang out and Oliver stopped in his tracks.
Cooper Vipond. Fuck.
Desperately looking back and forth, as though he could dive under a table and disappear, Oliver frowned. He could simply leave the way he came, not having to interact with Cooper. But that would be cowardly. Resigning himself to he's fate, Oliver squared his shoulders and walked to the bar trying not to feel like he was on a death march.
"A London fog tea, mate, cheers." Cooper didn't need to know Oliver really wanted a drink this early in the morning.
***
If he were honest with himself, Cooper had hoped that after Oliver had seen his new girlfriend’s exboyfriend behind the bar, he would have turned and left. Cooper knew his luck just was not that good, especially when the man came up to the bar and ordered. The only luck that was on his side was the fact that the man had ordered tea, no alcohol involved and no fancy tricks involved. He could do tea, that was easy. He turned around and placed the order for tea to Jasper before he was turning back to the man in front of him.
This was awkward, there was no other word for it. That usual feeling of jealousy wasn’t anywhere to be found, instead there was just an empty feeling. He was staring at the man that was dating who Coop believed was his soulmate. He wanted to say something about it, anything. He knew he had no leg to stand on though, so instead he was trying to wrack his brain for something to say to the man and he was falling so incredibly short because he kept coming back to that one point.
“Congratulations on the win, you guys played great. How’s Terence doing?” It was a safe subject, Coop knew Terence from school, they had been in the same house and all. Technically he supposed he knew Oliver from school, though he only knew him by name and from being on the pitch with him during games.
***
Oliver didn't want to look at Cooper; he physically couldn't bring himself to look at the man that Genevieve still loved. He leaned forward with a long, almost pained sigh, mostly from the ache in his legs as well as the one in his chest.
Merlin this was absolutely miserable... Where was Hannah? Or Liesl? Or why couldn't Jasper take over?
Suddenly, Oliver managed to look at Cooper, confused. The man had been a prized Beater and winning coach, so why did he stand behind the bar? Ignoring the polite question, Oliver searched over Cooper and the bar with a puzzled look.
"Why are you here?" It came out harsher than he meant, and Oliver winced apologetically. "I mean, I didn't know you worked here." That didn't sound any better. Another sigh. "Yeah, Ter is fine. Cheers."
***
The question had caused Coop’s brows to perk in interest, what in the world? He supposed it might not be fun to have to talk to your girlfriend’s ex, imagine that.
He gave a chuckle, that ridiculous smile of his finding it’s place on his face. “Keeping my mind occupied.” He reached a hand up to knock on his temple, “I needed something to fill my time. The single life ain’ all it’s cracked up to be. Gives you too much down time to think and make fucking stupid decisions.” Like showing up in France and making Gen cry, that had been a really fucking stupid decision. He was still surprised Em hadn’t ate his face for that one.
“It’s just for the summer, never fear. You won’t have to see my ugly mug too much.” He even gave Oliver a playful smile to go along with his words. He was hoping though that the man would take into account that he was there just for the summer and maybe not bring Gen around. He didn’t think he could handle seeing them together but he knew that wasn’t something you could ask someone. You can’t ask them to stop frequenting a place they clearly liked.
***
Oliver gave a derisive snort at the comment of the single life. "You're telling me." It hadn't even been twenty four hours and already Oliver's mind felt too cramped with thoughts and scenarios he'd hoped to have extinguished by asking Genevieve questions during their break up. Apparently he'd not asked enough. It had been a stupid decision to get upset and ask hey to leave; another stupid decision to get black out drunk on wine and stand here fighting a hangover in front of Cooper.
"A shot of whiskey, too, mate." Fuck it. What was another stupid decision? "And brandy I'm the tea, cheers." He stretched. "So, just for the summer?" Oliver could find other places to visit in the meantime.
***
He didn't think his brows could climb any higher but Oliver saying he was single had them reaching for his hairline. "Oh, really?" Then he felt it, that familiar tickle of jealousy. The rage that always got him into trouble. What was it Aly had said? Don't let someone else get into his head. He couldn't afford to make a scene, he was at work. However, wouldn't Gen be pissed if her new beau threw a jealous fit and he had stayed out of it? Cooper decided to poke the bear.
Coop went about grabbing a shot glass from the shelf, then grabbing the well whiskey, he poured the shot and set it front of Oliver with a nice soft thud. "Here I had heard you were dating my ex." That smile that went with his words was all smart ass, "She told me this weekend, it seems that congratulations are in order, again. You don't have to deal with the single life anymore."
***
"Apparently a lot of things were said this weekend," Oliver glowered, the scowl tugging at the corner of his lips as he regarded Cooper. "So perhaps congratulations are in order to you." He slid the shot glass forward with a push off his index finger and looked at The movement from Jasper near the back of the bar; what the bloody hell was taking so long?
***
Cooper looked amused when Oliver said congratulations were in order for him. "Oh, why yes, thank you. Congratulations on this grand new job of mine, eh?" He had never been the best with sarcasm but he was trying now. He assumed that was what Oliver had meant when he said congratulations were in order for him. Gen had been clear, she was with Oliver. While Hype had sworn the for now had meant something, it just meant that she was stringing him along to Cooper still.
It was then he heard a noise, tea was up. "Still want the brandy in your tea, mate?" He hoped the mate part would piss Oliver off honestly, he apparently couldn't stop himself once he started poking the bear. He left then to grab the tea, appearing a moment later with a tray that held the kettle, cup, sugars, and cream.
***
Oliver shrugged and leaned against the bar stool, looking around the familiar pub and then back to Cooper. "I mean, it's not Quidditch, but it's something." Another devil-may-care shrug matching the too casual tone of Oliver's voice. Truth be told he would never look down on anyone making an honest living, not everyone could be a professional player, let alone the face of the League's top team. The opportunity, however, was too delicious to pass up.
Don't rise. Oliver squeezed his eyes shut as Cooper turned his back. Don't give him the satisfaction. His eyes popped open when the tray clattered on the bar top. "Might as well, mate, I can think of worse ways to start my morning." He pulled the tray to him and began preparing his tea.
***
"Why thanks." Coop rolled his eyes, he really hoped he could get away once he got the brandy into the tea. He picked up the bottle of brandy from behind the bar and set it next to the tray. He didn't want to stand there any longer. He didn't want to have collect his money, his tab, nothing.
To his relief that he saw Johnny walking towards them, Coop nodded his head at him. "Time for your first break." He told Coop as he clapped him on the shoulder, "I'll finish up." Coop nodded his head grateful for the out. "Good to see you again, Oliver." Coop said while ready to take an out. He was absolutely ready to get away from Gen's boyfriend.
***
Absolute relief spread through Oliver, warming every nerve and vein. Finally. At the very least he could enjoy the tea without the smirking, gloating, oh-so punchable face of Cooper Vipond. Not that Oliver had any intentions of staying in the Leaky much longer...it had been a mistake coming here. Just like it had been a mistake getting together with Gen or sleeping with Daphne. Everything was such a tangled mess lately. He'd hoped all the stress would melt away after the match, not things only seemed to get worse.
"Yeah mate, see you." Oliver didn't smile with the empty promise. He never wanted to see Cooper again.
***
Cooper gave the other man a nod and slipped away then. He headed for the back of the Leaky and out the back door. He just needed space from there for the moment. He hoped that Oliver would be gone before he got back.