Bucky Katt Rocks here, formerly known as "Reality Check Bounced" (certain people shut down my damn account). My newest story, just a short little fic about, who else, Lily and James.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. The only original thing is the idea.
Under the Circumstances
"You know, under the circumstances, things could be worse," I said, looking up at my three best friends from the hospital bed.
"Sure they could," Sirius said. "The girl of your dreams could hate you. Oh, wait..."
"You know, James, people aren't usually this cheerful after suffering a near-fatal broomstick accident," Remus said. "How, exactly, could things be worse?"
"Well," I said, "I could be dead."
"That's very true," said Peter.
"May I ask why you were on your broomstick?"
"I was trying to get Lily's attention."
"What a surprise!" Sirius said.
"By flying outside her window?" Peter asked.
"Yes."
"And how did that work out?"
Sirius piped in, "Well, the 50 meter fall really did the trick!"
"But Sirius saved me."
"How?" Remus asked.
"I landed on him."
"Lucky me."
"And why was he underneath you?"
"He was spotting me."
"Oh."
"Sprained my bloody wrist, too!"
That's when the doors flew open.
"POTTER!" Lily Evans ran into the hospital wing, looking quite frantic. She saw Remus, Peter, and Sirius huddled around my bed and stormed over. They parted faster than the Red Sea when they saw her. She looked me up and down, examining my injuries, then slapped me right across the face.
"OW! What the hell was that for!"
"What is wrong with you! I thought you died, you idiot!"
"Yes, well, I didn't die. The stinging pain on my face has made that quite evident."
"We'll leave you two alone then," Sirius said, and the three of them left the hospital wing. 'Great,' I thought, 'No witnesses.'
"What is the matter with you?"
"Well, right now I've got a few bruised ribs and..."
"Of all the idiotic things you could have done, this was easily the most idiotic!" she yelled, cutting me off.
"Were you worried about me?" I asked. The way she was ranting, it seemed almost like she was concerned.
"Of course I was worried about you!"
"Really?" I said, perking up.
"You might have died, and it would have been my fault!"
"Oh."
"I just don't understand you. One minute you're the smartest person in the seventh year, and the next you're a moron who's falling off his bloody broomstick!"
As Lily was stopping to take a breath, I said, "I was only trying to get your attention. Sorry I scared you."
"Why on Earth would you try to get my attention by falling off your broomstick?"
"Well, that wasn't exactly my plan."
"Okay then," she said. "I'm glad you're not dead."
"Are you really? Or are you just saying that for my benefit."
"I suppose, if you did die, that I would miss you, just a little bit."
"Well I'm not dead."
"No," she said, "You're not." Lily looked as if she had finally run out of things to say. That had to be a first.
I knew my next move was most likely suicidal, but I really wasn't one for thinking things through. "Hey Lily?" I said as she was turning to leave. "When I get out of here, would you like go out on a date with me?"
She smiled the most beautiful smile in the world. "Maybe," she said.
"You know, under the circumstances, things could be worse," I said to her.
"Oh yeah? How?"
"You could have said no."