He was lying.

He was lying to himself….and he didn't know how to stop.

He was supposed to be the rock star, the big shot, the big man on campus.

The player. The ladies man.

So how on EARTH did he manage to fall for the only girl in the entire school who hated his guts?

Lily Evans.

He savored her name on his tongue.

Lily Evans.

The brilliant, beautiful, Lily Evans.

He had to stop thinking about her. Now. She was the only girl he was ever unsure of. She was the only who could leave him on the tip of his toes, begging for her attention, however negative it may be. He would do and had done everything to get her to glance over at him, to look at him, for their eyes to meet, even if it was just for a second.

The redheaded prefect seemed to be immune to his charms and his bad boy attitude. They seemed to annoy her actually.

But it's not like he would transfigure himself just to win the approval of some girl.

How could he?

He was James Potter, hooligan extraordinaire, expert at ignoring authority and breezing past the rules.

He didn't change for anybody.

But this good-two-shoes Evans had him hooked, intrigued. She was such a mystery. A closed book, not that James read much anyway.

For there she was, her red locks tucked loosely behind her ear. Sitting oh so casually in the Gryffindor Common Room, muttering over some DADA spells, looking so perfect.

This was his chance, he told himself.

He was going to go talk to Eva-Lily. A nice, civilized conversation. And he was going to call her Lily. She seemed to like that.

Here goes nothing, he thought.

He descended the stairs with effortless grace, faking every ounce of confidence and praying to the Lord that he would stop trembling and be able to speak without blubbering incoherently.

"Mind if I join you?" He asked quietly, softly. His voice came from above her shoulder. Lily turned in surprise. She recognized his voice, she had to. They met eyes. Those, gorgeous, piercing green eyes.

God, she was so beautiful.

She stared at him for a moment, studying his face. He didn't look away, no matter how badly he wanted to. Without a word, she turned around and scooted her books to the side, making room for James beside her.

He sat with a gracious smile and a "Thanks". They sat in silence for another moment.

"So." He began. "Interesting Divination class today, huh?"

"Mhmm."

"Did you see the look on Muliber's face when he got the Grim? Priceless!" James worked up a laugh. Anything to make this less awkward.

Lily rounded on him. "What do you want, Potter?"

He blinked twice, caught by surprise. "Just making friendly conversation, I suppose."

"Friendly? Potter, we've hated each other since the train first year! It's a little late for friendly conversation." Lily turned back to her book.

"Aw, come on Lily! You can't blame me for trying to make amends!"

She looked at him quizzically. "Lily?" she said, with a twitch of a smile peeking out from the corners of her perfect mouth.

James smiled. He knew she liked that. "That is your name….right?"

She laughed softly. He loved her laugh. It was typically not due to him, so this was a change he rather liked. "Yeah," she chuckled out, "It's just….."

"Just..?"

She turned away. "Never mind," the corners of her mouth turning upward in a smile.

"What?" he nudged her softly, openly grinning now.

"Nothing!" she shoved back, smiling too.

James put up his hands in defeat, still laughing. He loved this…this…this connection they were having. It was easy, and so right.

He could've asked her out, right then and there. But the possibility of rejection was too great for him to endure.

Later, he decided. Later would be best. Gave her more time to get to know him, and him her.

Lily met his eye hesitantly with the ghost of a laugh on her face. She closed her book. "I suppose I'm not getting much studying done…" she said softly, trailing off. She slowly stood up and James caught her arm as she turned to walk upstairs.

"Yes, James?" she asked, eyes wide and smile blinding.

James.

She called him James for once.

He rather liked that. It sounded so right coming from her.

He liked it much better that the 'Potter!' everyone seemed to adore.

Oh to heck with it!

He stood as well, and bowed to his lady. Lily looked at him ludicrously, let out a laugh, and curtsied. He took her soft hand in his.

"Lilian Jane Evans," he began. Lily looked at him like he was crazy, but she was secretly loving it. "Would you do the honor of accompanying me to Hogsmeade this upcoming Saturday?"

She looked at him. And looked at him. And looked at him. He couldn't read her face. She withdrew her hand from his and clutched her DADA book to her chest.

"Are you serious?"

James's mind went blank. She was rejecting him. He knew he should've waited, he knew it! But against all his better instincts, he had thrown caution to the wind….and look where that landed him.

He couldn't meet her eyes. Her lovely eyes. "Honestly, Lily, yes I am…"

"Potter…" she began, "You are an arrogant toerag and I wouldn't go out with you if we were the last two people of earth."

He dropped his hand, his eyes downcast, obviously very hurt.

Lily bit her lip and looked down with the hint of a smile of her face. "James, however, is a little bit different."

His head snapped up. She was smiling and a grin began to spread on his own face. "Brillant," he breathed. "Well, um, Honeydukes and the Three Broomsticks sound alright?"

"Of course!" Neither could stop smiling. "Til then, James Potter." With a shy smile, Lily gave James a quick peck on the check and scampered up the stairs to the girl's dormitory.

James put his hand to the exact place Lily's lips had touched. He fell back in a fake faint into the couch.

Wow, was all he could think.

Wow.