(A/N: The first of 100 stories from the "If You Dare" challenge. This is Lily Evans/Mary MacDonald, prompt was A fool's hope")

A Fool's Hope

"I've always loved that hat on you."

She smiled and adjusted the brim of her cap, shading the bright sunshine from her tanned face.

"Yeah, only because you bought it for me." I laughed and laid back on the quilted blanket set out for our picnic, gazing up at her. It was a Christmas gift from the year they met in their fourth year, a black ball cap with a white "L" on it, for her name, something small that wouldn't require knowing anything about her other than her name. At the time, it was a simple gesture of appreciation of friendship. Now, the edges of the brim were worn and faded and the top half of the "L" had had to be sewn back on a few times (by me, Lily didn't yet know how to sew).

"Perhaps; or possibly because you look so dazzling in it."

"Oh, you live to boost my ego."

"It needs boosting. You're more amazing than you think." I beamed up at her. She gave hint to an expression of thanks but covered it with a bite of the sandwich she had packed.

"What?" I frowned and sat up to meet her gaze. "Your mood changed". Lily scoffed and shook her head slightly, wiping her hands on her jeans.

"Mary." I rolled my eyes. She said my name as if I was supposed to read her mind, and she wouldn't have to say another word.

"What? You totally switched up when I said that. You have to know I'm going to say stuff like that sometimes."

"But just not like, all the time, okay?" she grumbled lowly, swallowing down any regret that passed her mind about staying friends with me. "It's not just a compliment anymore. You mean more."

"What am I supposed to say? That's just how I feel. Would you rather me be all cynical about it? Oh, nice hat, you look enchanting, too bad you only see me as a friend, gee whiz, what a bummer." Lily jerked to her feet and shoved the rest of the snacks she brought into her bag.

"See, Mary, this is the shit I'm talking about. You always do this. The every time, you say you won't do it again and apologize and take me out to dinner and you have this weird hope in your head that we're going to be together but it's just not going to happen!"

"Come on Lily, I'm sorry. I didn—"

"No, Mary. I don't know how much longer I can deal with all of this! Everything was fine before you ran your mouth that night and now nothing is the same. I can't keep trying to be your friend if all you're going to do is try to be more. I made myself clear that night and you've chosen to ignore me all this time." I didn't have the desire to snap back. I just nodded and looked out over the water, accepting that this had to happen eventually.

"Alright. Okay. Just, tell James I said hello. And good luck on your transfiguration test tomorrow."

"Thank you." She hesitated a few moments. "I wish th—"

"You wish I never told you, so we could stay friends and I could keep pretending—"

"I wish things worked out better for both of us. I'm sure you'll find a lovely girl."

"I'll see you in class Lily." She walked away silently and I couldn't bear to watch. Of course, give it a week and we'll be right where we left off like usual, but this time Lily threw out everything on the table. Maybe next time will be different, I definitely have to be the one to change.