Sunset Romance
Chapter 2:
A war of hearts and minds
"Good Morrow, Milady." James grinned as he bowed down in front of Lily who merely rolled her eyes. The Great Hall was empty apart from a few students who woke up early.
James sat down beside Lily as Sirius, Remus and Peter joined them.
"So Evans, what's up?" James grabbed a piece of toast and started nibbling on it.
Lily ignored him and put some milk on her cereal.
"Hey Lily, where did you get that necklace? It's awesome!" asked Janet who was sitting opposite her.
"Someone gave it to me." She smiled, fiddling with the emerald pendant.
"It really brings out the color of your eyes."
James stole a sidelong look at the pendant that hung around Lily's neck and veiled a small smile.
The Marauders were sitting in the bleachers, waiting for the Gryffindor team's quidditch practice to start. As James was a seeker, the Marauders made it a habit to watch the Gryffindor team practice (and make fun of James).
James stepped into the field, in his scarlet quidditch robes holding his beloved Star Rocket 21 broomstick.
As James kicked off, the wind blew in his unkempt hair. Maneuvering his broom near the stands, he saw a flash of red hair. It was Lily.
"Wotcher Evans! Came all the way here to see me?" James called out making Lily perk an eyebrow.
"Don't flatter yourself, Potter, I did not come here to see you. Jenny dragged me along." Lily crossed her arms and seems to have found her shoe much more interesting than James.
"Testy, aren't we?" He furrowed his brow. "Eh, at least you're here. Won't complain about that." James flashed another of his charming smile and zoomed off to join the rest of the team.
"Give the boy a break Lily." Said Jenny but Lily just gave her a glare.
Lily watched James swerving around the other players, in search of the snitch. James had that glint in his hazel eyes whenever he was in the air doing what he loved the most. Quidditch. Lily won't admit it but James was a great seeker. He had lightning fast reflexes and a perfectly toned body.
James suddenly broke into a dive. His body perfectly aligned with the handle of his broom, his eyes full of determination, his hair windswept and for a moment Lily was thinking to herself how handsome James was.
Handsome?!
What are you saying? That's James Potter!
The obnoxious prat, the big pain in the ass!
The hot boy who's been madly in love with you.
NO! He is not hot!
He most certainly is!
Snap out of it Lily!
Lily snapped back to reality just as James pulled up the dive, the Golden Snitch struggling between his fingers. James had caught her eye and sent an incredibly cute grin. Lily felt her face go red but chose to avert her eyes from his handsome face.
Lily sat in front of the fire, thinking. She had received yet again another gift, a box of Honeydukes caramel-filled chocolate hearts on her bed, just that afternoon. Like the necklace, it didn't have any acknowledgement of the sender. Lily was getting really curious and was deep in thought when a certain raven haired, bespectacled boy brought her back to reality.
"Hello Lily-Flower!" James appeared out of nowhere and made Lily jump.
"Potter!" She growled. "I told you not to call me that!"
"I just wanted to bask in your beauty, Lilikins." James sat on the couch in front of her. Lily threw him a glare. "Man, you're pretty" James sighed making Lily turn red.
"Sod off, Potter!" Lily's eyes burned with anger and ran off to the girls' dormitory.
James sighed. He knew Lily hated his guts but he just couldn't let her go. The two months of summer vacation was pure torture. He ached to see her, to hold her in his arms, to be with her. That's why this school year; he was determined to start anew with Lily. James leaned back into the couch and stared into the fire. It reminded him of Lily's hair making him smile. In every waking moment, Lily was always on his mind.
"Stupid Potter can't even leave me to think in peace. Argh!" Lily screamed into her pillow.
"Why don't you just go out with him?" Harriet asked as she sat down on the bed next to Lily's.
Lily rolled over and sat up. An incredulous look on her face, "Go out with him? I'd never! Not with an arrogant bully like him!"
"Oh come on Lily, we know you like him too." Jenny smiled slyly.
"No I don't!" Lily felt herself go red.
"Yeeeaaah riiiiiiight."
"If you say so, Lily"
"Honestly! I thought you guys were on my side!"
"Lily, James likes you and you like him. Admit it!" Jenny smirked and got into her four poster.
"I do not like him!" Lily said stubbornly.
"She's definitely in denial." Harriet whispered to Jenny.
"I heard that!" Lily glared at her two best friends
"Lily, we know for a fact that you've been dreaming about him. You keep saying his name in your sleep," Jenny's eyes sparkled knowingly. Lily turned the same shade as her hair. Janet and Jenny smirked.