First Harry Potter fanficiton published, so I hope you enjoy! This will be the first in a series of one-shots, as I mentioned in the summary. I'm not exactly sure how long it will go on, but we'll just see. :)

Happy reading! :)

She Likes It Better That Way

"'Cause every time that I feel like I'm ridin' so high, feel like I'm on top of the world, the bitch just keeps tearin' me down - it's got nothin' to do with me, it's not even you, you see, it's part of my chemistry, this demon is killin' me, and oh Christ, it's fillin' me - it's this jealousy . . . "

- Darren Criss

Lily was having a wonderful time. Really, she was. Wallace was a perfect gentleman and they were having a lovely conversation over a table at the Three Broomsticks. He liked Potions; so did she. He liked to read; so did she. He liked winter; so did she. He liked to have long, in depth conversation; so did she.

Therefore, she was having a delightful time. Until James showed up and ruined everything. Her and James had had a love-hate sort of relationsip ever since first-year and by seventh year, it still hadn't changed. However, James had been acting rather strange lately . . . like he cared for her more than just a . . . whatever she was to him. And the thought freaked her out, so she tried not to think about it . . . but when she did, she couldn't help but to give a little smile. But it wasn't because she liked him back, of course. . . .

It started off innocent enough - or as innocent as it could be - when he popped up out of no where and pulled up a chair beside their table.

"Hey, how's it goin', guys?" he chirped contentedly, putting his forearms on the table.

Lily gaped at him and his stupid, rediculously mussed up black hair and his stupid, bright hazel eyes and his stupid, adorable glasses. Lily could tell, as she stared at him, that he was hiding something in his expression with a bitter smile. Wallace raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Er, hello, mate." he greeted him awkwardly.

"And how's the date coming?" he prodded, grinning tightly.

Wallace opened his mouth confusedly to speak, but Lily sighed, giving him an apoogetic look, then glared at James.

"We were just finished," she said wearily, then turned to Wallace. "I'm sorry, Wallace, but I have to go - this was really fun."

With one a last smile, she dragged James out of the Three Broomsticks harshly by the arm. She slammed the door shut behind them and faced him in the dim and snowy late afternoon, fuming.

"James Christopher, what gave you the audacity to barge in on my date and act like a complete nitwit?"

He seemed completely unfazed by her rant and stared at her with an impatient expression until she was finished.

"Right. You done?"

She widened her eyes. "James - "

"How's Mr. Wallace Wilson Wilderby?" he asked nonchalantly, rocking back and forth on his heels.

She sucked in a huge breath of annoyance. "He's just fine, James, unlike you. What is wrong with you?"

While Lily was thoroughly annoyed, James, on the other hand, was completely enraged. Not that Lily could tell, or so he hoped. He couldn't really pinpoint what exactly was wrong, but he just felt like cursing the Wallace bloke a good few times and then grabbing Lily and kissing the daylights out of her. He didn't really know why. All he knew was that he had to do something about it.

"Its got nothing to do with me, Lily." he said simply, avoiding her eyes and rumpling his hair.

She seemed at lost for words for a moment as she opened and closed her mouth in frustration.

"It's got everything to do with you," she finally exclaimed, "You always seem to barge into my life at the worst possible moments!"

"What was I supposed to do?" he scoffed, "He was boring."

"As opposed to . . . ?"

He grinned. "Why, me, of course."

She glared at him. "James, what did I do to deserve your unwelcome disruptance?"

He let out a chuckle, swallowing. "It's got nothing to do with you, Lily."

She raised an eyebrow. "It's Wallace?"

"What? No. God, no. . . . " he said, then frowned thoughtfully. "Well, sort of. It's more like . . . well, actually - no, it actually has everything to do with you."

She stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"I . . . " Then it clicked and he frowned to himself, thinking.

She stared at him, until finally she could take it anymore.

"For once, could you explain yourself to me?" she asked, somewhat desperately.

James looked like a lunatic, if she could describe his appearance in one word. His hair was a complete mess - almost every piece was in the exact place it wasn't supposed to be in and his eyes were huge saucers as they met hers. He swallowed loudly and she started to worry, shrinking into her coat.

"I'm . . . I think I'm jealous." he said in realization.

The next episode of her actions seemed like somewhat of an out-of-body experience. She stared at him, eyes almost as big as his, and he looked frightened as he stood there, looking like a little child.

Then, she threw her arms around him and hugged him as hard as she could. He was rigid with surprise and didn't move until, after a moment, she let go of him hastily.

"I, um, well . . . I don't really know what to say, I suppose . . . " she trailed off lamely, feeling the need to smack herself on the forehead.

She smoothed the ends of her coat in attempt to sooothe her embaressment and looked anywhere but him pointedly. She was about to open her mouth and announce she was going to leave, she suddenly felt something on her lips. It took her a while to realize it was James' lips and her eyes popped open wide. That is, before she put her hands on either side of his face and kissed him back.

The thoughts that went through her head are as follows: James liked Transfiguration; she hated it. He liked Quidditch; she was bored by it. He liked spring; she hated it because of allergies. He liked to goof around; she rolled her eyes at him when he did so.

They were very much different in many ways. But, for some bewildering reason, she liked it better that way.