Chapter 2

Sirius sat rubbing his brow in a tired manner in an armchair in front of the fireplace. "I do not believe this... I do not believe this."

"Really, Sirius, you need to get over it," said Remus, annoyed.

"Come on, Moony, you don't actually think James' little plan is actually going to work, do you?"

Moony scratched his chin with the end of his quill. "Well, you never know…"

"What's going on?" interrupted a round-faced seventeen year old, joining his friends' by the fireplace.

"Lily agreed to go on a date with James," Sirius answered gloomily to Peter.

Peter glanced between Remus' and Sirius' faces. "That's good, isn't it?" he asked tentatively. Remus quickly explained the extenuating circumstances.

"What's wrong with Prongs getting the chance to impress Lily?" asked Peter.

Sirius sighed exasperatedly. "Lily despises James, do you really think he will be able to change her mind in just one day. He'll make a fool of himself."

"What makes that different then any other day?" Remus quipped. Even though Lupin was a little antsy when it came to practical jokes, Sirius had to hand it to him, he was quick with the sarcasm.

"But seriously," added Sirius so solemnly he didn't make a 'Serious-Sirius' joke. "It'll break his heart."

Remus ran a hand through his sandy hair. "I don't think there is anything we can do about that."

-

About the same time an agitated Lily and a smug Kaila entered their dormitory.

"What's up?" asked Miranda, shorter, plum girl with tangles of blonde hair asked, seeing their faces.

"Lily's going on a date with James Potter," replied Kaila before Lily could open her mouth. Miranda nearly dropped the books she was holding.

"It's not what it sounds like," growled Lily plopping angrily onto her bed.

"What happened?" Miranda asked in a hush to Kaila who replied in whispers as Lily glared at them.

"Looks like somebody's in love," taunted Miranda drawling out the last word.

Lily graced her with a rude reply to crude to reproduce here.

"Someone's defensive," commented Kaila, sitting down next to Lily and putting an arm around her shoulders. "Don't like revealing your hidden feelings for a certain Mr. James Potter."

"I don't have hidden feelings. I don't have any feelings for Potter!" burst Lily jumping up from the bed.

"Then why all the anger?" asked Miranda with a smirk.

"Because- because he is just so- so aggravating!"

"And you feel that way, because of your feelings for him…" said Kaila with a smirk."I mean look at me," said Kaila, cutting off Lily's protest. "I don't have any feelings for Potter. Sure I laugh at a few of his jokes and cheer at the Quidditch matches, but otherwise, I don't love, I don't hate him. It's what I call apathy and my apathetic self is not going on a date with Potter while your supposedly hating-self is…" Kaila smirked.

"Well," said Lily, putting her hands on her hips, "I bet you can't say the same for Black, now can you?"

Kaila's eyes narrowed and a pillow came flying at Lily's face. She barely dodged it.

-

As the week progressed closer and closer to the fateful day of the date, Lily slowly filled with dread. Maybe she shouldn't have been so quick to accept the offer. Lily didn't know which was worse Kaila's and Miranda's knowing glances at each other whenever a topic remotely connected with Potter was brought up or the way James had taken to ogling at her at mealtimes, during class, and across the common room with a strange glazed look over his eyes. Lily was fairly sure that she didn't want to know what he was thinking about. The only good thing was that he wasn't talking to her.

Maybe the strangest thing was the Lily usually looked forward Friday night, the sweet release from the overwhelming stress of a seventh-years' homework. Having a whole two days to relax. However it always seemed that Friday would drag in forever as torture. This Friday was different, it zoomed right past, following the suit of the rest of the week. She knew it was connected to the growing dismay in the pit of her stomach connected to it being her last night of freedom before her day with …. James Potter.

She found herself staring at her open wardrobe. Half of her wondering what to wear the other half of her wondering why she cared.

"The light blue turtle neck sweater looks smashing on you," commented Kaila as she entered the dorm.

Lily threw her a nasty glare.

"I mean, it is supposed to be a bit nippy tomorrow, it'll keep you warm," retorted Kaila with a smirk.

-

James was sitting by the fireplace, starting into the dieing flames, mentally reviewing his plans for the next day.

"Prongs… are you coming to bed?" asked Sirius, in his pajamas, asked the lone habitant of the common room, coming down from the steps leading to the dormitories.

"I'll be up in a bit…"

"Whatcha' doing?" asked Sirius, sitting down next to his friend.

"Just thinking," James replied.

"About Evans?"

"Yeah, her. I just want everything to be perfect tomorrow."

Sirius nodded and said nothing.

"I really like her," continued James, staring blankly into the fireplace. "I'm not just joking around."

"I know," replied Sirius.

"I know you know, Padfoot," said James, glancing at his friend. "I don't think she does," he added worriedly.

"Did you ever really give the opportunity to know that? I mean, you harass her endlessly."

"'Cause I know she'll rise to the occasion!" said James with a smirk. "She is too much fun not to taunt."

"I don't think she sees it in the same way."

"How observant of you," commented James sarcastically.

"Look, mate, get some sleep."

"I'll be up in a bit, I promise." James sighed worriedly, "I really hope tomorrow is perfect."

Sirius wanted to say something along the lines for James not to give his hopes up, but decided it didn't sound very encouraging.

"Good luck," he muttered to James ruffling the young man's hair was he walked by on his own way to bed.

James glared at his back, he hated when Sirius did that…

Aki- First I would like to thank each and every one of my reviewers of the first chapter for their positive and encouraging feedback. Second, if you don't like Kaila or Miranda, they won't have a big part in the story for the most part, but they will pop up again. Peter won't have a big part either because he is not much fun so he is in their more for obligation that anything else.

Next chapter- the date begins…