Chapter One
Falling Up
By A.J Turner
Chapter One: Home Sweet Home
I sat at the kitchen table staring off to space; my world was so much better then the one before me.
I'd just graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am a witch, a very good one at that, but with no idea what she wants to do in life. So I decided to take a year off learning and relax at home. Unfortunately I couldn't relax as I'd planned. My mother was having a hard time settling back into the single life.
My dad had just left her for a younger version of her, Melissa Jordan. She was just like my mother… except she wasn't. They were both nearly exactly the same. They laughed at all dads' jokes, both got along quite well with me; they had the same warm smile, kind heart and generosity. It was really strange, like this new woman was some how mums clone.
I don't think any one was adjusting well. Mum had made us move in with her sister, my Aunt Jasmine. Or as I called her Aunt Jazz.
Mum sat staring at her teacup, running her finger around the rim of it, sighing occasionally.
As much as my mother's love life sucked mine was going great. I had a steady boyfriend, for once, and I truly loved it.
James Potter… I'd met him at Hogwarts, one of those love hate things. We've been dating for about a year now and it was bliss. Yeah I'm smitten I know.
"Lily" Aunt Jazz said snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Hmm?" I looked at her.
"I said you got a letter," Aunt Jazz said. I picked the letter up from the table opened it and read.
"What is it?" Aunt Jazz asked.
"I got invited to dads wedding," I muttered.
"Are you going to go?"
I looked at mum who was staring out the window.
"It says I can bring a date, should I take her? It'd be quite fun to see her hit Melissa"
"Melissa?" Aunt Jazz asked
"Yeah 'Lachlan Evans and Melissa Jordan wish to invite you to their marriage… invitation to Lily Evans plus one'" I said over enthusiastically.
"I'll go with you, then I can punch that no good son of a bitch right in the face myself," Aunt Jazz said.
"Yeah definitely not taking you," I said.
"Take your boyfriend" Aunt Jazz said
"To a wedding? No way it's a danger zone for couples," I whispered glancing at mum.
I still hadn't actually gotten around to telling her. The only person in my family that knew was Aunt Jazz. The only reason she knew was because James had had to carry me to my room when we'd gone out partying one night.
"Afraid you might have to marry him if you catch the bouquet?" Aunt Jazz asked.
"No" I said glaring at her.
"So are you going to go?" she asked
"I don't know. Mum do you want to go?" I asked waving the invitation in front of her.
"Not really" mum muttered. I could barely hear her; it was so rare when she spoke and when she did she was quiet and withdrawn.
"You coax her out of this. I have an RSVP to do" I said getting up Aunt Jazz took my place.
I walked into the hall and went to pick up the phone but it rang before I could even grab the receiver.
I sighed and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Lily!" a voice shouted
"Ow" I said more to myself.
"Don't shout at her," another voice said.
"Sirius?" I guessed.
"Oh she's good" Sirius shouted
"Give it to Remus. You're making me deaf," I said.
"Hello Lily" Remus said
"Hey. Why are you calling?" I asked
"Busy are you?" Remus asked
"Not really…" I muttered
"Good. James wanted to take you out to dinner" Remus said
"I'm working. And why isn't he calling?" I asked.
"His mum is hurting him," Remus said
"Why?" I asked
"No reason. Any way can't you get someone to cover your shift?" Remus asked.
"I kind of need the money. Anyway if it's so important James can come down. I have to go I'll talk to you later. We should catch up soon as well" I said
"She can't come" Remus said completely ignoring me.
"What?" Sirius shouted
"That's bogus Evans. Get your fine arse down here!" Sirius cried.
"Look I have to go to work so I'm going to go. Bye guys" I said and hung up. I picked the phone up once more and dialled my dad's number.
"Evans place" dad said sleepily.
"Did I wake you?" I asked
"Lily? No dear" he said
"Calling about your wedding," I said.
"Right. You coming?"
"Why didn't you invite mum?" I asked.
"Your kidding right?" he asked
"Daddy. She loves you heaps, meaning she'll want to see you happy and if marrying Melissa makes you happy she'll want to be there"
"Well you can bring her as your date…" dad muttered.
"You don't think I have a date?" I asked
"What? I didn't hear about this. You don't have a boyfriend do you? Since when? Why haven't I met him?"
"Never mind. Are you going to send out another invite for mum?" I asked
"Lily…"
"I'm not going unless she does," I said
"Fine! I hate how stubborn you are"
"Learnt from the master," I said
"Not nice" he said
"Whatever. I have to go to work say hey to Melissa for me" I said.
"Sure thing love" he said
"Bye" I said and hung up.
I'd only met Melissa twice but she seemed really nice. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to react. She was going to be my stepmother. How does one treat such a person? I'd never had a stepparent.
I climbed upstairs and quickly got into my uniform.
I work at the fast food place near my house. It wasn't the most glamorous thing but I didn't really have any other options. I mean what do people do when taking a year off?
See the world.
But you can't see the world without cash so this was my problem.
"Going to work" I called coming down the stairs.
"Want me to pick you up afterwards?" Aunt Jazz asked from the kitchen.
"No I'll be fine" I said and left the house.
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Hello readers.
I hope you liked the first chapter.
Please leave your reviews so I know if you did or not.
Well until next time, A.J.
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