Disclaimer: insert suitably cringe-worthy disclaimer.
Title: Effort
Summary: Lily, after finally experiencing an epiphany regarding James Potter, finds that catching his attention is not nearly as easy as it had once been.
Important Note: This is, very dangerously, written in a style where Lily is mentally addressing James, or as if she was writing him a letter.
What, I ask you, is the point of making all the effort to look pretty, when men don't even notice?
I straightened my hair, and let me tell you, it took me hours to get it to shine like it did. The "oh-so-natural" make-up I had on took a bloody unnaturally long time to apply. And don't even get me started on how I had to squeeze into that skirt.
I'm loath to admit that I spent hours titivating today, even though I was fully aware that I would only see you for about five minutes. Somewhere, in the back of that silly mind of mine, I'd thought that if I looked like an absolute goddess, you wouldn't be able to take your eyes off of me, and you'd suddenly come to the realisation that I am the woman of your dreams, as those bloody soporific fan-girls of yours like to call themselves.
It was all going very well. The girls told me that I looked lovely. To be honest, I barely noticed, as I was training all my focus on finding you and your stupid friends. When I finally caught sight of you, we were in Honeydukes, and you gentlemen were strolling past. Well, swaggering past, really. The four of you look like a pack of animals when you walk. Sirius is sort of jumpy and seems to sniff out distractions with every step; Peter scuttles along as if he's running from something, and you manage to look dignified even though you're practically galloping along on those long legs of yours. Remus, bless him, just looks tired when he walks. But I diverge. So, as you animals were swaggering past, I turned back from the counter and spotted you through the window. I won't say that I was staring at you longingly or anything, but suffice to say that you definitely noticed the eyes desperately following you as you walked past.
I almost jumped for joy when the four of you came to greet us. Remus, always the gentleman, asked about our day in Hogsmeade. To be honest, I can barely remember what was being discussed, because I was watching you. Covertly, of course. I couldn't wait for you to look up and see me, and be blown away. Except, you and Sirius were both staring down into these silly mirrors (Merlin, how vain are you?) right until the four of you departed.
What. The. Hell.
From hence forth, I shall never degrade myself and attempt to dress to appeal to the base desires of that despised species, men. Rather, I shall wear hideously outdated clothing that is at least four sizes too large for me, and I shall refrain from applying any unnatural processes to my hair or skin.
Because it doesn't bloody work.
So, my idea for this is based on a recent experience, and I thought it might translate well into a Lily & James story. I might continue it. Maybe. Depends if this stupid boy from this recent experience opens his eyes or not.
