Note: Guess what? No, you're wrong biznotch. I don't own arry-Hay otter-Pay.

Author's Note: Ahahahaha. I'm having mucho fun…cause I'm insane-oooo.

Chapter 2 – Meet James – Manhood Got the Best of this Marauder

Lily gaped at the boy…well, young man, standing less than 10 feet from her. He was wearing a tight black T-shirt and flared pants. He had hazel eyes and unruly jet-black hair. His hair was amazingly good looking though, especially since no matter what, it was a little long and it always looked like it was in need for a hair cut. What was he doing in Elm Park? What was he doing there? Suddenly, the anger rose up in her, and she burst out, "What do you think you're doing here, Potter?"

James was smiling widely. His small, yet deep and powerful hazel eyes were twinkling in delight, and the smirk on his face showed the pleasure of not only giving Lily this lovely little surprise, but also from the simple fact that she was standing there. His wide grin was worthy of a Polaroid, for at the moment, he was completely enraptured. She was standing there. She was standing there! Lily, beautiful Lily, was standing there. She was perfect in those jeans. The halter-top did such justice to her small, petite figure, not mention he saw a great deal of skin that never did quite show up in those Gryffindor robes.

How he loved everything about this girl. Before it had just been lust. Back in fourth year, all Evans was to him was a pretty girl. A girl who was completely unattainable. She wouldn't give him or his best mate Sirius a second glance, while other girls flocked at their feet. After all, James Potter and Sirius Black were the most popular boys in school. Not only was James extremely bright, but he was also had a bad habit of dating a different girl every day of the week. Commitment was a joke to him; he was just a typical teenage boy. It seemed, sometimes, that he was out to get only one thing.

Lily was that one girl who James couldn't get. At first, it was a game to try and get her to go out with him. His egotistic mind just kept pushing him to try and win her over, but Lily never gave in. She refused to be one of James Potter's adoring fans. Actually, she couldn't stand him. James also had a nasty little habit of being a bully and somewhat excessive in spells and hexes outside of class. One wouldn't want to get on his bad side, with the exception of Lily. He had been a cocky jerk in Hogwarts, if her opinion counted for anything.

Eventually, maybe even inevitably, James had slowly fallen in love with her though. This happens when you get completely obsessed with a girl. It also can be attributed to (and James was completely ashamed to admit this) a certain bet that he and Sirius had made about trying to win Lily over. Of course, James has lost the bet by the end of fourth year, but he had gained so much more. He realized he adored everything about her. Lily Evans was the most beautiful girl in the world to him, and she was the only girl. She was so kind to others and she was so giving; James had learned to respect her. She was modest, a quality James himself had always failed to possess. She was kind and caring. James even loved her short, fiery temper…he assumed it was due to her hair…that lovely hair. James was smitten.

Yet even when he changed his feelings about Lily, he hadn't changed his ways. Out of frustration and desperation he had acted the same, if not worse, with her. He remained arrogant and still acted like the ladies' man – on the outside. On the inside, he was continually wishing for her acceptance. He really wanted to change, but every time he tried, he'd always act worse. Manhood had got the best of him, but he just couldn't show these feelings the right way.

James was reaching his breaking point. Pretty soon, he was going to have two options: He was going to have to swallow his pride and confess his deep and undying love for Lily Evans or he'd be sent to St. Mungo's from going insane. Not to mention, the possibility of being rejected by Lily if she ever found out his true intentions (which did not entail her as an object) was too disastrous for James to even think about.

Inside, James was shaking as Lily yelled at him. There was definitely fire in her eyes. "Now, now Evans, you don't have to yell. I'm standing right here."

Lily responded, through gritted teeth, "What. Are. You. Doing. Here?" She hadn't moved an inch.

"Well, if you're dying to know, Evans," he replied casually, "And I know you are." Inside, his heart was screaming, STOP! But James continued to talk in this way.

Lily interrupted him. "Save it, Potter. Don't start with me. What are you doing in Elm Park?"

James sighed dramatically. "I'm staying here with Sirius and his uncle. His uncle's a muggle, and Sirius needed, shall we say, a vacation from his home. I decided to accompany him." He grinned widely and moved to the metal fence, which she was standing next to. He dropped his long arms casually on to the rail and looked into her eyes. "Who knew I'd be so lucky to be staying so close to you? Maybe you'll even go out with me soon." He winked flirtatiously.

James thought to himself: Why am I such a prat? But still, he couldn't help but do this. It was like a reflex. If Lily were near, he'd have to be an arse.

Lily could feel her temperature rising. It was one thing for this guy to be completely annoying with the whole "asking her out every day" thing back at Hogwarts. It was absolutely infuriating that he acted like he was the greatest thing in the male race. In fact, it made her blood pressure rise when he acted like he was innocent and that she was the one who idolized him. The nerve! But this? How dare he? How dare James Potter come and ruin her summer vacation. This was her time to be happy and at peace. It was her time to be away from him!

Whack! Even before she thought about it, a hard smack hard come across James' left cheek. He pulled back in shock. Lily was shaking, and there were tears in her eyes. "Just my luck for O'Ryan Black to be related to, of all people, your best friend. Just my luck!" She turned around and ran down the street to her own home and slammed the door shut.

James stood there in shock, his hand over his face. If he weren't so angry with himself, maybe he'd have found this to be completely wrong and unjustified on Lily's part. Why couldn't he just be nice? Why couldn't he get her to like him in the right way? Maybe if he wasn't such a fool…truth be told, James Potter had tears in his own eyes.