I wrote this story because:

A. I was bored

B. I like to write

C. Ran out of good FFs to read

D. All off the above

Empty? 'Great, just my luck…'

Knowing deep down she would have annoyed the hell out of him with questions and strange questioning looks, she considered herself somewhat lucky. It would have most definitely been uncomfortable being in there with him for the duration of the trip.

Thinking back of last year when she most recently rejected him. On the last day of term, when everyone was packing James made his way towards her in the common room and huskily whispered in her ear,

"3 months until we see each other again Lily-flower, unless you want to be together during that time in which I will have to say y-" as he stopped abruptly as Lily with all her might and hate, slapped him hard against his cheek, leaving only redness behind in her wake. Adding insult to injury, she then began confessing her never-dying loathing of him before grabbing her things and turning her back on him and walking away…

Luckily for him, only the Marauders were there, and even seconds after, he seemed to regain himself. He had been trained for the past 6 years in 'How to Handle Rejection from Lily Evans.' after all.

Looking around, Lily finally noticed a trunk and book lying on top of it that did not belong to her. In a moment, she realized it must be Potter's. Having never snooped around in other people's things, she decided it was best for both of them if she did not start now.

Staring at his trunk containing his possessions for half the trip. She kept herself occupied by reading the name that was imprinted on the top, just above the handles, "James Potter," over and over again. After awhile Lily opened her mouth and feeling stupid, but confident she was alone. She whispered his name silently,

"James…"

Mesmerized with the name but knowing she was unheard, she suddenly felt a silly. Why the hell did she just say his name to herself? Unable to hide the way his name simply rolled off her tongues and lips. The smoothness of it, to be honest with herself, it was easier and way better to call him by his first name than his last him.

If memory served her right, she never called him James before anyway. It was always his surname that she connected to her hatred of him which now seemed to be replaced with curiosity.

Reading the same two words over and over again, especially when it was none other than your self-proclaimed nemesis is not good for your health. With that thought, she tore her gaze away from the rectangular box and glanced at the book.

"Quidditch Through the Ages"

Without a doubt it is James most favorite book. It was torn, ripped and just plain worn out. The cover which contained the title faded so badly only half the words were visible and Lily had to decipher the words with guesses and after opening it.

It must have been read 100s of times. Even Lily Evans, the reading addict had not read a book as often as this one in which it would be literally falling apart.

Potter could probably recite this book word for word backwards.

Letting out a small giggle, she smiled at her own joke before flipping through the pages and reading even though she never was into sports. She didn't bother watching football (A/N soccer for us Americans lol), basketball or anything in the muggle world, let alone the wizarding world.

LJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJLJ

The carriage ride stopped and Lily carefully placed Potter's book back on top of his trunk, being sure she set it up so it was in the exact same way as she found it.

Leaving, she felt the need to find him.

With only 2 goals in her mind, getting to the feast for the sorting and at least, taking glance at James Potter to make sure he was okay; she made her way down the rows of carriages that had stopped.

After a few minutes, many questions from 2nd years who never took the carriage ride before and pointing them in the direction of the entrance towards the Great Hall, she saw him exit one of the carriages that had come to an abrupt halt long ago in the front.

Though they were far from each other, she managed to make out his appearance.

He seemed untidy; it was only hours ago that she saw him dress and he seemed perfectly clothed for the Prefect Meeting. Now, his shirt's top 3 buttons were undone, his tie's tight hold around his neck slackened and loose around him, and his glasses slightly askew.

The most amusing thing Lily managed to discover was his hair, though messy as always, it was even more off-balanced, it spiked and angled in the oddest positions, sideways and diagonally. Giving the impression that many girls took to as 'let-me-run-my-hands-through-that-hair-and-play-with-it.'

Fully expecting him to run his hands through it to make it even worse, if that was even possible.

He unsuspectingly raised both hands and stomped down on his hair, in a vain attempt to control and fix it. After 10 seconds, James gave up and began fixing his clothes to make himself more presentable when he would be greeted as Head Boy after the feast.

Lily's eyes widened in shock, what the fuck? She thought she knew him, she thought she knew how he loved his hair wild and untamable, now he was doing the exact opposite.

Thinking back of all his actions today, he did seem to be changed. No, not changed…Opposite of everything he was…

Then it came to her, James was with another girl in there? Yes, of course that made sense, that would explain his shirt being undone, hair and tie appearing wild. Suddenly, she gave a small frown, James never dated another girl, because he was too preoccupied chasing Lily Evans all these years, at least not any she knew of anyway. Turning her frown in a glare, she aimed it at the door, daring some slut to exit out. After a few minutes, it appeared empty after all…

He walked towards the front of the carriage and stared at where the thestrals that pulled the vehicles would be. He reached a hand over and patted the thin air. Stroking them for awhile, Lily watched him intently, mesmerized again by his actions. He was not being himself. Any other day, James would have ran towards the Great Hall, towards the succulent smell of food and his friends.

"Hey!" his voice rang out through other excited voices but she somehow managed to catch it in her ears which went unnoticed by others.

Lily looked at his face more intensely; he seemed to be getting closer. Perhaps he is looking for his friends and group of marauders.

She rotated her body halfway and glanced behind her. No one, there were students making their way to the hall talking but most of these were all empty carriages as they had arrived over 10 minutes ago and most students in them had left for the Great Hall hungry.

Before she could think of a response better than her usual, prepared line of "What do you want, Potter?" in that annoyed voice of hers with a side-order of a glare, but he was too quick for her.

"Ready to go?"

"Whaaaa-? Where?" she replied confused. If he was asking her out to a date, then he already knew the answer. Besides, where is there to go to? They just arrived at school for Merlin's sake!

"Sorting."

Of course! How could she forget all of a sudden? Without another thought she simply answered back,

"Yeah, let's go. I don't want to be late, again." And with that Potter gave a small chuckle. She turned her head to look at him as they continued walking.

It was a different laugh; in his eyes he revealed sadness again. Betrayed by his eyes once more. But the laugh wasn't a taunting one, not making fun of her for being late, not even slightly mad or disappointed but at the same time, not totally amused either.

She took it as a good sign. At least he was not mad at her…