The place where Lily had slapped him across the cheek was still stinging. James reflected upon the exchange for a moment. The kiss had lasted approximately two seconds, and Lily had kissed him back. But then she had completely ruined the moment by pushing him away into the wall and smacking him, saying, "Shove off Potter, I know what you're trying to do, and it's not working." Before promptly picking up the bag she had dropped on the ground, and stalking away.
She knew what he was trying to do? As far as he was aware, he wasn't trying to do anything. Unless she was referring to the fact that he was still trying to get her to go on a date with him after four years relentless pursuit, although that would imply that Lily had only just realized he liked her, which certainly was not the case, because she had been telling him to "shove off" for all four years he'd been trying.
"Hey, are we going to your Quidditch practice, or are you just going to stand there staring until I slap you?" Remus was trying to get his attention. Sirius was snickering loudly nearby, and Peter was smiling into his scarf.
"Right, sorry, let's go. And shut up Padfoot." Sirius failed to smother his laughter into his hand. James traced a finger along his cheek, which was tingling slightly, and then turned around toward the Quidditch pitch for practice.
He parted ways with his friends at the locker room entrance, and entered to find his team waiting, all ready to start a practice that was sure to be very cold and wet. James and his team marched onto the snow-covered field. He turned to look at his friends in the stands waiting for the practice to start. Remus had already opened his Defense Against the Dark Arts book, and was reading under the protection of a black umbrella. Sirius sat beside Remus, half under the umbrella, and half out, so that snowflakes where falling on only one side of his head, making him look like a large, lopsided frosted mini-wheat. Peter was crouched beside them, out of the cover of the umbrella; he waved enthusiastically, throwing James a thumbs-up. James nodded to them, but he was distracted, still thinking about the incident with Lily.
"Alright, get to your positions." If Lily had kissed him back… did that mean she liked him? Or was she just surprised? And her words: shove off Potter. That was normal. But what about I know what you're trying to do, and it's not going to work. That was just confusing.
"James!" The shout brought James back from his musings. He looked up just in time to dodge the bludger that had been hit at him
"Are you going to pay attention James?" That was his beater, Ashley Graham, and she was mad.
"Right, sorry." He was going to have to keep his head in the air, and away from the ground. Away from Lily.