As I was making my way down the deserted corridor to my next class, I heard a voice behind me call out, "Hey!" I knew exactly who it was.
I stopped walking and waited for him to catch up with me, shifting from foot to foot out of nervousness. As soon as he was almost level with me, I began walking again.
Although I was staring straight ahead to avoid having to make eye contact, I could tell his gaze never left me. The awkwardness was almost unbearable; he had decided to break my heart less than twenty-four hours ago, after all.
"I love you," he said after a few moments of silence.
Heck of an ice-breaker, I thought sarcastically, but said, "I didn't sleep at all last night."
He at least had the grace to look ashamed. "I don't think I did much either. I sat on the floor in front of my bed all night with a bottle of firewhisky. Dear old Sirius decided to wake me up this morning with a few choice words and a kick in the side.."
I let out a reluctant giggle and gave a weak smile. Sirius and James were the absolute best of friends, and it was sort of comforting to know that I wasn't the only one upset over James' actions.
"So," he began, shifting his gaze to the floor, "how are you?"
With a shrug, I replied, "Under the circumstances, I guess I'm alright."
Liar, I scolded myself mentally.
Unfortunately, James knew me well enough to know I was anything but okay.
"Oh," he mumbled with a vague nod.
I knew it would be pointless to try and be polite by asking the same question, but, frankly, at the moment, I didn't really care. People who are supposed to love you don't break your heart the way James did mine.
"So what lesson do you have next?" he asked.
"Arithmancy," I replied shortly.
He nodded again. "Numbers and I don't get along very well," he joked.
I gave him a weak smile but said nothing.
We the arrived at the end of the corridor. I was turning right and James made to turn left.
"I guess I'll see you later?" he asked, reaching out to take my hand.
With another feeble smile and a slight squeeze of his hand, I pulled my hand away and continued on my way to class.
It would be a very long time before James and I could ever be 'Lily and James' again, but at the moment, it was impossible for me to completely hate him, I still loved him too much.