Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. His world belongs to the fabulous JK Rowling.

I watch James cross the lawn after commencement, and realize the outstanding and startling truth.
I'm in love with him.
I, Lily Evans, am deeply and passionately in love with James Potter.
I fight the sudden urge to yell this to him in front of half the school. I turn to my parents.
"I think I'm going to stay the night, instead of going home today. Is that ok?" My mum smiled.
"Of course, Lily." She hugged me. "I am so proud of you." She whispered, the tears returning.
"Thanks, Mum." I said, choking on my words. I hug my dad again, and then I rush towards the castle.
How is he going to take this, especially after last week?
I grimaced, remembering our fight. He had poured out his soul to me, and told me everything he had ever felt towards me. I had handled it fairly well, until he ended his speech with words I didn't want to hear.
"I love you. I love you more than I ever thought imaginable, and more than words can describe."
I hadn't expected love.
It was too fast and too much for me. I told him he was acting naïve, stupid, and impulsive.
I told him that I could never see him as anything but a friend.
I think that broke his heart the most.
After my rant, all he did was look at his hands and say, "If that's how you feel."
We haven't spoken since, and each day my heart breaks more.
I cried myself to sleep last night, thinking how we are graduating today, and I could never see James again.
When I watched him shake Dumbledore's hand at the end of commencement, and hug the Marauders, I realized that I couldn't live without him.
Now, I had to face my fears and open myself completely to James. Let him know that I was scared before, but now, all I was scared of was losing him.

Dear James,

Meet me outside the castle tonight, at midnight.

-Lily

That's all I was able to write, with my hands shaking as bad as they were. I gave it to Sirius, who smirked and promised me that Prongs would get it.
For the next six hours, I packed and paced in the empty girl's dormitory. The Marauders and myself were the only graduates who stayed the night after commencement. None of us are quite ready to say goodbye to Hogwarts just yet.
I didn't want to go down to the common room, in case James was down there. I tried to read, but my mind was too far away and I ended up slamming the book shut after only a page.

Finally, quarter to midnight rolled around. I climbed down the stairs, and saw that Remus was sitting in front of the fire, and he was the only one in the room.
"Did James-"
"He's waiting for you." He cut me off, looking up from the book he was reading. He smiled. "I've never seen him more nervous." I smiled weakly. Remus stood up and crossed the room.
"He's not going to turn and run, Lily. His feelings are still the same. You have no reason to be nervous." I held back tears, as we hugged.
"Thank you, Remus. For everything."
"You're welcome." I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and quickly left the common room.

I wasn't worried about getting yelled at for being out, since I was technically not a student anymore. I even walked past Professor McGonagall, who just smiled at me.
Walking outside, I noticed a thunderstorm rolling in. I looked around the entrance, but I didn't see James anywhere. I walked out, and the rain began pouring. I couldn't help but stand and let the rainfall on me. It felt relaxing and warm, and I could feel my stress melting away with each raindrop.
I was so wrapped up in the beautiful storm that I didn't even notice James walk over, until he placed a hand on my shoulder. I jumped in fright, and turned around. Right away, his beautiful hazel eyes caught and held me.
"Hi." I said shyly. He smiled back, hesitantly. His eyes weren't bursting with life like they normally did, and a fresh wave of guilt washed over me.
I took a deep breath, and looked straight into his eyes, hoping he would believe me.
"James, I want to apologize. I overreacted last week, and you didn't deserve any of the cruel things I said to you. The truth is, I was scared. I was scared of opening myself up to you. I haven't opened myself up to anyone since Severus. But then this year… something changed, between you and me. I tried to deny my feelings, but I had to eventually give up, because it was too painful. And then you told me all those beautiful things last week, and I couldn't handle it. All my fears and insecurities came rushing back, and I didn't want to confront them." At this point, tears were mixing with the raindrops running down my face. James' eyes were locked with mine, but I couldn't read them.
"But, I confronted them last night and today. I realized that if I continue to let my fears and insecurities run my life, I wouldn't have a life, because you won't be in it. And I can't bear the thought of you not in my life. I cried myself to sleep last night, because it hurt so much to think that I might never see you again after commencement today. And then today…" I broke eye contact with him as I choked back more tears. When I was able to compose myself, I looked up and was surprised to see that James' eyes had tears in them too.
"Today, I realized that I love you, and that I have loved you for a long time. I was just too scared to admit it. "
That was all James needed to hear. He took one step in order to fill the space between us. He cupped my face, and looked down into my eyes. Tears were flowing from his own eyes as he gently pressed his warm, moist lips on mine. I grabbed the front of his soaked shirt and pulled him even closer to me. As our kiss intensified, the heaven's let loose with a spectacle show of thunder and lightning. My own heart was letting off fireworks in my chest, as the pain of guilt and fear of commitment melted away.
He pulled away, resting his forehead on mine.
"I love you, Lily Evans. More than life itself." I smiled, as my hand traveled up his toned chest, and his neck until I felt his wet hair between my fingertips. I pulled his lips down to mine, as another round of lightning and thunder shook the sky.

1) Rated T for later chapters ;)

2) Reviews are greatly appreciated!

3) Oh, and this short story was inspired by "Sparks Fly" by Taylor Swift! :)