A/N: I couldn't wait any longer to write more! I was going to wait for tomorrow but…dah! I couldn't handle it! So luckily for you, here's Chapter 2!

Chapter 2 –

LILY P.O.V.

"So, Lils, I couldn't help but notice that you were almost being civil towards Potter!" Becca said, smirking as she poured herself a cup of orange juice. We were sitting in the Great Hall eating our breakfast, excited for the first day of classes. Of course we had been doing this peacefully – until Becca brought up Potter, the one person I'd been avoiding thinking about all morning. I didn't know what the reason was, but I felt that if I did think about him, I wouldn't be as happy as I was now (or at least ten seconds ago.)

I scowled, stopping my cereal filled spoon halfway to my mouth. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"What she means," Alice butted in, knowing that if Becca said something wrong (which she was most likely to do), I would give them both the cold shoulder for the rest of the day. And I couldn't blame her for wanting to make that didn't happen – I am quite mean when I give people the silent treatment. "Is that maybe you could try to be friends this year? Friends with Potter, I mean?" she said, smiling at me hopefully.

Becca almost sprayed the mouthful of orange juice she had all over us. "What?" she choked, tears coming from her bulging eyes. "Lily – our Lily – be friends with Potter? Are you insane?!" Alice just stared at her, looking partly scared and amused at the same time. "Alice, I know you mean well, but…really? I know Lily's smart, but she doesn't have that much self-control! No offence, Lils," she added quickly.

Slightly angry and curious, I glanced back and forth between the two girls, hardly able to believe that that was really what they thought of me. Seeing their sincere faces, I gasped. "Girls, that is way untrue! I have plenty of self-control!" I insisted.

Becca rolled her eyes. "'Course you do, honey, and I'm lesbian." My mouth dropped at her harsh sarcasm. "Oh, please, Lily! You can't actually think you have enough self-control to be civil towards Potter. I know you feel a bit bummed hearing this, but there's nothing you can do to change who you are! You're just naturally repulsed by Potter, so – naturally – you can't ever be considerate towards him." She shrugged, like the fact was a small matter, and continued drinking her orange juice.

Alice continued to watch the situation at hand warily, ready to jump in any moment if it got out of hand. I just fumed, anger and disbelief just oozing from me. How dare Becca accuse me, out of all people, of having no self-control? I mean, really, she was the one that I found in a broom cupboard with a random guy every week when I went on patrol with Remus! If she thinks she has self-control, then she has lost her mind.

"I have plenty of self-control!" I repeated through my gritted teeth. "Prove that I don't!"

This time she really did spray the juice all over the table. After wiping her face and muttering a few sorry's to the people near us that had had their food showered with orange juice and her saliva, she turned back to me with amazement clear on her fair face. "Prove that…!" She looked at Alice in exasperation, who merely shrugged as if to say 'Don't drag me into this.' I continued to scowl at her, silently afraid that this frown would become permanently etched onto my face. "Lils, I love you and all, and this may come as shocker to you – trust me, it was to everyone – but over the years people have come to notice that when it comes to your and James' relationship, you can't help but be vulgar towards him. It's a fact of life; it's the way of life. It's like the one thing in this school that can't ever change."

Believe it or not, I actually glared harder. "I can to be nice to him, I just choose not to because he is such an arrogant git," I said simply. Because it was that simple – I was only horrible to him because he was a bloody git. Gits don't deserve to be respected. It was one of the most important rules in my rule book (number one being 'Gits don't deserve a girl like me.')

"In other words, you're just so worked up about something that happened six years ago, you can't bear to even try and get to know the bloke." Before she knew it, Becca had said the words that she had been silently thinking about ever since James last asked Lily out and Lily had screamed what a git he was, even though he had asked her out in the sweetest way possible. Her eyes widened as she saw the rage on my face, and she immediately began to apologize. "Lily, I didn't mean it, I-"

But I was already up and walking towards Professor McGonagall, asking for my timetable, then hurrying out of the Great Hall without so much as glance in Becca's direction.

When I reached an empty hall, I paused to catch my breath. When I made angry departures, I really used a lot of my energy for them. Closing my eyes, I rested my head in my palms, sliding down the wall and sitting on the cold stone floor.

She was wrong. Becca was way off the mark about my hatred towards Potter. I could be civil around him, and I most definitely could get to know the person that hid behind the mask of a conceited prat. He just never gave me a proper chance to do so; what with the constant pranks and bullying he did in the halls of Hogwarts and the way he asked me out ever hour. How is any girl going to think of him as a mature person, let alone the fact that each girl he went out with he treated like dirt? I was only being my sensible self by avoiding him at all costs. I had even tried to save myself by being incredibly rude to him every time he was in my presence, but not even then did he go away. But now it was out of habit and pure loathe towards him.

And how could she even bring up what happened in first year? I winced slightly at the memory - looking for apartments on the Hogwarts Express with Severus Snape then being interrupted rudely by two annoying little boys, one with shaggy dark hair and the other with messy jet black hair and glasses. They, without any reason to, had made fun of both Severus and I, calling Sev greasy (well, he was but it wasn't his fault – his home life was hard for him) and giving him the horrible nickname 'Snivellus,' and teasing me for wanting to look for compartments somewhere else with Severus. They had been absolutely cruel. It was our first year already Severus had become an outcast. That was something I would never forgive them for, even if I wasn't friends with Snape anymore.

My breath caught in my throat as I remembered the innocent days of first year when I could hang out with him. I missed them so much. Don't go there, Lily – he's a foul person and doesn't deserve your time or care. Just forget him already, the voice in the back of my head said angrily. I shook my head, agreeing, going back to the situation I was in.

Was I going to let Becca get to me, or was I going to prove her wrong? I smiled to myself thinking over the idea of actually becoming friends with James Potter. It would be a load off of my mind and would make N.E.W.T's that much easier. No doubt, Alice wouldn't feel guilty about hanging out with them anymore. The idea was becoming more and more enlivening the more I thought it over.

So that was it – I was going to be friends with James Potter. It was foreign territory, but I could manage it, so long as I was being a self-controlled person.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Walking into my first class (Transfiguration), I looked around. There were two minutes left until class started, and now there weren't any good seats left. This is why come early, I thought irritably, as I scanned the classroom for an empty seat. I found Becca and Alice already in their seats and my stomach plummeted. Today wasn't going at all as I had expected it to be (I mean, really – last year I would have let what Becca said go without a second thought, and now I was going to try and become friends with the one person I hate the most.)

Finally, my eyes found an empty chair, and I ran towards it eagerly, not checking to see who sat beside the chair. When I got there, however, I sighed inwardly. My partner was James Potter. The universe must really want me to keep to my word.

"Um, can I sit here?" I asked uncertainly. Even after all the years he's asked me out, declaring his so-called-love for me every minute of the day, I still couldn't be sure whether or not he actually liked me as a person. I mean, I wouldn't if someone humiliated me day after day every time I asked them out.

His head snapped up in surprise, as if he had been in a daydream of some sort, and shock flickered across his face. I smiled warmly at him and took a seat just as Professor McGonagall came walking through the doors.

"Good morning, class," she said, as she began to scribble notes for us to copy on the blackboard. Pulling out a few pieces of parchment paper, I copied down every word she wrote.

Halfway through the lecture, I looked to my left through the corner of my eye to look at James. He was staring at me, almost drooling, with his mouth agape. Was I really so rude to him, it was so surprising I would sit next to him? Duh! I smiled at the voice, but continued to watch James until I couldn't take it anymore. I pulled out another piece of parchment, and scribbled on it quickly before throwing it onto his half of the table.

Get your head out of your ass, Potter, and pay attention!

I watched him grin sheepishly and write something back.

Of course, Lily Bear.

I shook my head, still smiling, knowing this would be the last time I got the nerve to ask him, and began writing back.

Hey, I need to talk to you after class – meet me outside, 'kay?

Got it.

I giggled realizing what a shocker this was for him. He was probably hyperventilating. First I sit next to him, then I pass him notes, and even ask to talk to him after class all on my own free will. Maybe being friends wouldn't be as tough as I thought…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"So, Evans, you needed to talk?" James said as we stood face to face outside of the classroom.

I blushed furiously and hesitated. Was I really going to do this? What if it didn't work? What if he didn't even want to be friends? My heart missed a beat on the last question. What if he didn't even want to be friends?! I would look like an idiot that's what. Oh, come on, Lily – the boy has been chasing you for six years only to be rejected cruelly each time. Nothing he says to you can live up to that kind of humiliation that you've put him through, so just hurry up and ask!

"Well, first of all," I started, avoiding eye contact. "I wanted to say sorry."

He cocked his head to side in confusion. "Sorry…?" he asked, not quite understanding what I meant.

"Sorry for being so…you know…bitchy to you all these years," I laughed nervously, already feeling idiotic. But he just smiled.

"Decided that you've been PMSing for too long, huh?" he joked, and surprisingly enough I smiled.

"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to start over?" I searched his eyes, looking for any signs of hatred or disbelief in them. All I found was kindness and warmth. "Just forget the past, and start anew. I'm getting sick of the hateful insults – it really tires me out having to think up new ones every day. What I'm trying to say is…" I knew I was rambling, but I couldn't help it. His eyes were just so mesmerizing that it was hard to concentrate on what I was trying to say. Shaking my head to clear it, I stared back into his eyes trying to regain control of the conversation. "Do you think we could be friends?"

His jaw dropped. I knew that would happen, but seeing it in reality just made it worse. Of course he didn't want to be friends. He's been trying to be more than that for six years, why in the name of Merlin would he want to less?

I closed my eyes, feeling like a loser just standing there while he just stared at me incredulously. "I knew it," I muttered to myself before raising my voice for him to hear. "It's okay, you don't have to say yes. I've treated you horribly for so long, I don't blame you for not wanting to be friends now. Well, um, this is awkward… But… I guess, uh, I'll see you…later…" I turned swiftly and started to leave, but then his hand grabbed my shoulder.

"No, wait!" I heard him cry. Turning back slowly, a smile tickling at my lips, I faced him again. "I-I do want to be…friends with you," he said, smiling ear to ear. "Just threw me off guard for minute there. I thought you were apologizing because you were going to be committing suicide later. You suggesting that we be friends was the last thing on my brain… Wow, this is great!"

I grinned, glad I had been wrong. Of course he wanted to be friends! What had I been thinking? He's been chasing me all these years, and I practically just gave him the key to my house (if you thought the way he did.) He's not going to turn down the chance of being friends just because he wants more. My stomach lurched. Crap, now I had to set some boundaries for him…

"But just so we're clear – we are friends," I stressed the word, hoping it got through his thick head. "Just friends. And we are friends that don't ask each other out because that would just ruin the relationship, got it? Friends."

His smile tone downed after that, but he smiled none the less. "Right, Evans, friends," he said, copying my emphasis on the word.

I rolled my eyes. "You can call me Lily."

"What?"

"Lily – that's my name, you know. Not Evans." I smirked.

"Lily," he tested out the change, and smiled more. "Great, and you know I do too. It starts with a 'J' and ends with an 'S.' Any guesses on what it is?"

I stared at him in fake confusion, and doubled over laughing at his hurt expression.

"Now that was just cruel, Evans. My name is James," he added hurriedly, still unsure whether or not it had been a joke or if I really didn't know what his real name is.

"Hey, I thought we established that my name is Lily?" I elbowed him playfully as we headed to Herbology together laughing.

"Ah, but when you insult me, I still reserve the right to call you by your maiden name," he said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. A shock of electricity was sent through me at his touch, and my brain went into hyper mode. Was this friendly holding or not? Had he not gotten the message? But all my fears disappeared when I realized he wasn't walking next to me anymore. Actually he wasn't anywhere near me. I looked around wildly.

But he was farther ahead, yelling to me, "I'll see you in class!" as he ran over to a tall blonde that was waiting for him.

My hands curled into fists, and anger bubbled in my veins. I recognized the girl as a seventh year Ravenclaw – Suzie Meadowes, a.k.a. the slut of the school. She has been with half of the school's male population, maybe more, and now she was going for James? I knew deep in my heart it wasn't my right to be angry about this, but I couldn't help myself. James was my friend (new or not – technicalities don't matter), and I knew she was going to hurt him. He didn't deserve it.

But I just rushed past them, ignoring the sloppy noises of their snogging, and ignored the sting in my eyes. I didn't need to cry – why would I? It was just James bloody Potter; he could go ahead and hurt himself as much as he wanted, and I wouldn't give a damn. Never. Not once will anyone catch me, Lily Rose Evans, caring if James went off with some skank and got hurt.

Never.

JAMES P.O.V.

It was like I was floating. I was on Cloud Nine, spinning in happy circles, grinning like an idiot.

Lily Evans wants to be friends! I thought for the eighty-fifth time that day, as I gazed at the back of her red head in Potions, the last class of the day. I'd been a bit angry when she said it, I admit, but not at her – at me. Here I am chasing her daily and getting rejected heartlessly each time, and then here she comes wanting to be friends. I could've made her wait like I had, made her feel how idiotic I did when I asked her out, but I didn't. I said yes automatically. It was like Sirius had said – I was whipped.

But his face had been priceless when I told him the news. I could have sworn I saw a trace of fear when I said it, but passed it off as shock. And who wouldn't be? I was now friends with Lily Evans!

I jumped when a piece of balled up paper landed in front of me. Suspiciously, I unfolded it, and read curiously.

No matter how hard you stare, she still won't go out with you. – Padfoot

Course not – that wouldn't be winging it now would it?

Ah, just give it up, will you? You're not going to get her this year. Maybe next year but not this year.

And give you the satisfaction? Sorry, but I like having a whole head of hair. And as a matter of fact, I really do think this is the year I get Lily.

Ok, one – I promise you that you will probably look a whole lot better with a shiny head; and two – since when do you call Evans Lily???

Since she told me to.

She told you to call her Lily? Prongs, I truly believe this girl has lost her marbles. You didn't slip her a love potion did you?

Of course I didn't! I would never do that. She is doing all of this on her own free will.

Hmm… Odd.

"Potter, Black, passing notes?" Professor Slughorn approached our table, frowning down on us. "Tsk, tsk, hand them over." He held out his hand expectantly.

My face reddened. "Um, actually, sir…"

"Hand them over, Potter."

"You see, I really think-"

"Potter, give them to me or a week of detention!"

Taking a deep breath, I handed the piece of paper over unwillingly, waiting for him to read it aloud to the class.

Which horrifyingly he did.

I watched Lily carefully, wondering what would happen to our one-day old friendship now. She tensed as Slughorn got farther down the note, and I knew it was over. I had officially ruined the best thing to happen to me in more than three years.

I was an idiot and I knew it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"LILY! Wait!" I yelled, trying to catch up with the red head while trying to dodge the tiny first and second years in the process. I was just a few feet away, so close… Yes!

I snatched her shoulder and spun her around to face me. "No, please listen!" I cried desperately as she tried to get away. She paused, not looking at me, but not running either so that was good. "I'm sorry – so sorry – about the note! I didn't mean for that to be seen! No, I mean…" I racked my brain helplessly, trying to make the look of pure hatred disappear on her perfect face. "It's just out of old habit! No, that's not it…"

"Potter," she said coolly, and I stopped talking instantly. What happened to first names? "Remember what I told you this morning? We're friends, nothing more, and we never will. So, please, just get the idea out of your head. Friends – that is all that we will ever be!"

I froze because A) fortunately, she still saw me as a friend and B) unfortunately, she still saw me as a friend – nothing more. My hand dropped from her shoulder, and I nodded solemnly. "That's…good."

She stared at me, as if wanting to say more, but then turned swiftly away to head to the common room. I stayed there for awhile as the students left the hallway, and soon I was standing there alone, lost in thought. Was that all that were ever going to be? Just friends? Was this a lost battle that I was fighting? Was I really that daft to have thought that could ever be more?

Suddenly I felt a chill inside of me, starting in my chest and working its way to my fingertips and toes. Friends – that is all we will ever be! Her words replayed again and again in my head until I was numb and couldn't feel any pain from hearing them anymore. She wanted friends? Well, that's what she would get.

A/N: Long enough? Haha! Hope you liked it! Please R&R!

And thank you Lady Friday, and HPITBBE for the comments! I really appreciate it! And thanks dancingfeet329 for favoriting (I know, I know – it's not a word!) the story!