A lot of people thought the only reason James Potter ever wanted to go out with Lily Evans was because she was the only girl in school that he basically had not dated. But could they be any more further from the truth. To him, Lily was not only smart and beautiful, strong and independent, as well as talented and many more things that he found hard to explain to others. He knew that he was in love with her.
"James!" Sirius shouted from the level below, which brought James out of his thoughts. "James, mum wants us to go outside and get some fresh air."
"Alright I'm coming." James shouted back, "You know she only wants us out of the house so she can set up for my surprise birthday party, right?"
"Yeah, I know but maybe she'll conveniently forget just to give you the surprise you'll never forget."
"Yeah right!" James said as he opened the door to the outdoors, "This is mum were talking about mate."
"True" Sirius said as he looked around the front yard "Oh my God! James isn't that Evans!" he pointed over across the street toward a girl, about their age with red hair that went all the way down to her lower back, who was walking off the porch.
"Yeah it is." He smiled and started to make his way over to her, "Hey Lily." Lily looked up at James and immediately her eyes went wide. James walked closer to her, leaving Sirius to watch him from a far. "Hey Lily what are you doing here? Are you visiting family or something?"
"No Potter, I live here. What are you doing here? Stalking me as usual?" James shook his head.
"I live here as well… well over there." He said pointing at his house.
"You're kidding me right?" she said constantly glancing back at her house.
"No I'm not." James noticed Lily's glancing, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Lily said as she glanced back once more.
"I don't know but you keep glancing back at your house, which gives me the impression you're either in trouble or going to be."
"Well that's just stupid." Lily smirked.
"Right, what was I thinking, Lily Evans never gets in trouble." James said as he rolled his eyes. "Hey before I striked up this conversation with you, I was wondering if you wanted to go to my surprise birthday party with me?"
"If it's a surprise then how do you know about it?" Lily wondered.
"Well first off, I'm a Marauder second, Today is my birthday and third, My mum is a creature of habit and always gives me a surprise birthday on my birthday." Lily mouthed 'O' "So do you want to come?"
"I'd have to ask my Dad, but first I have a request." James gestured for her to continue, "Okay you can't be an arrogant, big headed, or a prick to me even though it's your birthday."
"Deal" James reached out for Lily's hand, which she hesitantly gave for him to shake but instead he pulled it up to his lips and gently brushed his lips on her knuckles. This action caused Lily to raise her eyebrow at James as she pulled her hand from his grip and wiped it on her jeans.
"I'll be right back" Lily ran back up the porch and through the door. After what seemed like hours to James (but was actually 5 minutes) Lily came back outside and looked up at James. "Yes James I can go as long as I'm back by ten and no later."
"YES!!"
"Alright…. So are we going to…" Lily started as she slowly made her way towards Sirius but as she passed James he grabbed her hand causing her to look up at him.
"You know as arrogant as I may seem I'm still a good listener so if you ever, and I mean ever, need to talk I'm here for you." Lily gave James a small smile pulling her hand out of his and placing it on his shoulder.
"Maybe someday James, maybe someday" Lily replied as she let her hand slip off his shoulder and walked over to Sirius with James following close behind.
"No wait let me guess, as a birthday present for Prongs you're going to date him for a day?" Lily and James looked at each other and then looked at Sirius with raised eyebrows.
"No Padfoot, that only would happen in my dreams and you know it." Lily looked at James, shocked. James just shrugged at her, "What? It's true!"
"Well, what I did agree to, was to come to this birthday party of his." She said looking back at Sirius.
"Willingly?" Sirius asked. James looked at Lily with a questioning gaze who looked down at the grass with a blank expression. This caused James to place his arm around her shoulder making Lily look up at him.
"So what if it was willingly? It's because we're friends now, right Lils?" Lily smiled and nodded.
"Lils? Is that some sort of nickname you're giving her Prongs?" Sirius asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah, you have your own nickname for me, why can't I have a nickname for Lils?" Sirius shrugged at James. "Well I believe mum would allow us back inside now, don't you Padfoot?" James proclaimed.
"I think that maybe I should double check first…be right back" James nodded as Sirius ran into the Mansion and 2 minutes later Sirius appeared and beckoned them inside. James grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her gently inside.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES!!" everyone popped out of nowhere congratulating James on turning 17 years old.
As the party went on Lily showed James a true smile and laugh as he stared in awe. He was entranced as her smile lit up the room and her laugh filled the room with a beautiful melody that hypnotized him further.
"Evans?" Lily looked over to Sirius, "What time did you have to go back to your house?"
"Well I have to be back by ten, why?"
"Evans, it's ten fifteen!" Lily's head shot towards the clock and her eyes widened, fear took over her beautiful emerald green eyes as she struggled to her feet. James grabbed her arm to help her up causing Lily to look up at him.
"Lils, what's going on?"
"Nothing, I just really have to go…I'll…I'll see you tomorrow, okay" James nodded as Lily ran out of the room and to her house.
"Well, that was strange." James looked at Sirius as he sat back down.
"What was strange, Padfoot?"
"Well, when was the last time you remember Evans breaking curfew?" Sirius asked and after a slight pause they both started laughing loudly.
"BOYS!!" called Mrs. Potter from a distance.
" YES MUM?" both boys shouted in reply.
"TIME FOR BED!!... NO EXCUSES!!"
"YES MUM!" James and Sirius exchanged an eye roll as they made their way up the stairs to their separate rooms for the night.