"Because maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You're my wonderwall"

-Wonderwall by Oasis

"James Potter are you crying," Lily asked.

"N-no! Boys don't cry," James replied, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

He had been in the common room alone until Lily arrived. She was the last person he wanted to see him cry. Well no- that's a lie. Sirius was, he'd never let him live it down.

Lily sighed in annoyance and rolled her green eyes- the greenest James had ever seen. "Oh that's right, you're only twelve. You don't know that it's healthy to express your feelings".

She made a move to leave but was stopped by James's abrupt "No!"

He didn't want her to leave. He felt comforted with her there. It really had nothing to do with the fact that he secretly fancied her. She was just comforting.

Lily turned rosy pink. "Well I'm not going to hug you and tell you everything will be alright if that's what you want Potter".

"No, just sit with me please," James pleaded. He patted the spot next to him on the couch.

Lily contemplated his offer for a moment and bit her lip. "All right, but I'm not talking to you- I'm going to read".

James Potter was a prat, obviously, but he was a prat with feelings. He was visibly upset and no matter how much Lily loathed the git she wanted her fellow Gryffindor to be a happy git.

James nodded at her answer and shuffled over so she could sit. He watched her take out a book and read. Lily's long, shiny red head draped like a curtain between them.

He was happy when she tucked it behind her ear. He continued to watch her read, neither of them speaking, but both content.

Lily because she could help someone.

James because Lily's mere presence was enough for him.

I'm only sort of happy with this. I used the terms 'he' and 'she' an awful lot. I didn't want to overuse their names either though. I think normally I find a nice balance but for some reason this piece didn't particularly want to cooperate... I might need to fix it up later...

I do really like the last line in it though. I imagine that James wasn't always so open with his feelings toward Lily. For instance when he was only twelve I doubt he ran around stalking Lily and asking her out every second of every day. He was only an immature second year. I'd like to think he didn't do any of that stuff until he was an immature fourth year.

Disclaimer: Jo Rowling owns everything in this story.