James yawned as he stepped out of the shower and wiped the fog off the mirror with the end of his towel. After slipping on a pair of boxers and t-shirt, he ran a comb through his hair hurriedly and raced down the stairs. He pounced onto the couch next to Sirius. "Damn! Remus already left?" James groaned, "There's no way we'll be able to finish up the map before school starts next week!"
Sirius sighed and leaned back, resting his legs on the coffee table in front of him. "He said he'd finish it up on his own at home," he assured James calmly. "Now all we have to do is figure out our Back-to-School prank on Snape for next week," he said with a chuckle. He closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his jet-black hair. They were, James thought to himself, the perfect duo. They were both pranksters and equally mischievous as well as charming. The only difference, he thought with a grimace, was the fact that Sirius Black could have any girl he wanted, but the one James wanted most was the one he couldn't have.
Just thinking of her thick red hair and emerald green eyes made him smile to himself. Lily—the name alone made him think of a thriving flower and the faint waft of vanilla that was always accompanied by her presence. James was thinking about her flawless smile when his daydream was interrupted by Sirius.
"James, get the damn door!" Sirius snapped, laughing as James hurriedly scurried up the stairs to answer the door. His mother had already gotten it and was smiling and talking to someone in the doorway when she looked behind her at James. James raised his eyebrows and got closer to see who it was.
A speechless Lily stood in the doorway, her smile from moments before faded into a disbelieving gape as she glanced at what James was wearing—or, rather, not wearing. "Oh my God!" she yelped, putting a hand over her eyes to block out the sight of James in nothing but a pair of boxers and a T-shirt.
"I'm sorry," James' mother apologized, "I did forget to mention to James that you were staying here this week. I really am sorry, Lily." She waved James away and led Lily inside, letting her take a seat on the couch downstairs next to Sirius while James put on a pair of trousers. James grinned as he sprayed himself in a flood of cologne and dashed downstairs.
Sirius was in the armchair with his feet perched on a stool while Lily was sitting on the couch looking bored. James sat down next to her abruptly and put his arm around her lazily. Scowling, she stood up quickly and crossed her arms. "If I'm staying here a week, there will be no physical contact, do you hear me James Potter!" she hissed.
James laughed, managing to muster up an innocent expression. "Physical contact from me is going to be the least of your worries," he said slyly, "'Cause by the end of the week, you're going to be begging to touch me." He stood up and put his arm around her again, this time brushing her shoulder blades.
Lily frowned as she scooted away from James. "I see you've learned a few new pickup lines over the summer," she observed with a laugh. "And I'm guessing Sirius has something to do with this?" she said, throwing an icy glance at Sirius who had opened his eyes long enough to catch it. "If you want to make this week as enjoyable as possible, I suggest you learn some manners because, until you do, you won't be seeing much of me." She raised her eyebrows with a crooked smirk and strolled over to the staircase leading upstairs. Before she disappeared completely up the stairs, she turned around and smiled. "You know where to find me."
Sirius waited until she was out of view and earshot before turning to James and laughing. "I'll have to write that one down. 'Cause by the end of the week...' what was that again?" James wasn't amused, though. He was still looking up at the staircase Lily had just disappeared on as if she was still there. Sirius rolled his eyes and stood up. "Hey, I better be getting out of here." With no response from James, Sirius sighed and left James to his daydreaming.