A/N: Ah! I am so sorry guys, been away wayyy too long! School just started a few weeks ago and it's been crazy. I hate my schedule so freaking much . But anyways, here's my latest chapter... I didn't edit it by the way, so sorry if it's like really bad... :)
XOXO 3
(James' POV)
It was the middle of September and Lily and I had barely spoken since I had taken her on the ride on my broomstick. Something had shifted between us though. She no longer rolled her eyes at me when the boys and I pulled pranks on the first and second years, and she didn't leave the dining table right away when Sirius and I got there. But we still never talked much when we were together- even patrolling the halls with her had an unexpected awkwardness.
"James- Jamesie!" A pillow came out of no where and hit me in the face, thus knocking me back.
I picked it up and glared at Sirius, "What?"
"I've been calling your name for ten minutes!" Sirius gestured at the books and papers scattered around him, "We've got papers to write and pages to read, remember?"
"Sorry-just a little preoccupied I guess," I shook my head and picked up a book.
A second after, Sirius grabbed it out of my hands and tossed it casually over his shoulder, "Yeah, I've noticed- I noticed the second day of classes. Mate, It's been four weeks of you acting strange. What's wrong?"
"Nothing- just trying to get back into the swing of things I suppose." I shrugged and moved so that my legs hung over the edge of my bed. We had come up to my dorm room an hour and a half ago to get started on papers, and so far I had written one line and Sirius hadn't even gotten that far. Remus was supposed to help us, but Lily asked him to study Charms with her and I told him to go with her.
"Liar- you've never cared about school before and now here we are studying!" Sirius huffed and sat down beside me.
"Yeah well maybe I care now that this is my last year and I need to seriously start getting ready to be an auror."
"Nah that's not the case. You'll become an auror no matter what; you've got the Potter name going for you. And c'mon, Prongs, I know that you've secretly always gotten good grades."
"Really Pads, I'm fine." I got up off the couch and rubbed my hand down my face.
"This hasn't got anything to do with that broomstick ride with Lily a few weeks ago, does it?" I spun around to face him, and he only arched an eyebrow at me.
"Wh- I-I don't know what-" I tried to get a complete sentence out but he cut me off.
"Don't start with me James- Marlene told me everything a week after it happened. You know, I'm actually kind of hurt that you didn't tell me," he gave me a wounded expression but I knew it didn't cut him that deep.
"Fine, ok? I took her on the Quidditch field for a ride. Nothing happened anyway," Grumbling, I started to change into pajama pants and an old t-shirt.
"Oh I'm aware that nothing happened; Mar made sure to make that clear to me. But she also said that you almost kissed Evans?!" he exclaimed wildly.
I grimaced and clasped my hand around the back of my neck, "Yeah- that mighta happened."
"Might have, or did?" he shook his head at me incredulously, "I thought you said this year would be different, James. I thought you said that you'd take things slow with her so that she'd fall for you."
"Well that plan obviously didn't happen!" I flopped back on the bed and spread my arms wide, "What should I do, Sir?"
"I dunno, mate, but I have noticed that Lily acts a little bit different around you now." he offered.
"How do you mean?"
"Well, she seems to not mind being around you as much as she once had."
"Yeah but maybe only as friends."
Just as Sirius opened his mouth to reply, we heard the portrait open and Remus' voice, "It wasn't a problem helping you, Lily."
"Thanks Remus- sorry you didn't get to spend the night with the guys." Sirius gave me a wicked grin across the room at the sound of her voice.
"Sirius don't," I warned him in a harsh whisper as I watched the gears turn in his head.
He winked and bounded across the room. Whipping open the door, he called down below, "Hey Remus- how was studying?"
I heard the creaking of the stairs and then Remus' voice was closer, "Fine- James in there?"
"Yes he is," there was a pause and then, "Lily Flower- would you mind helping us study? Remus promised he would help me study for Defense Against the Dark Arts tonight and I know James is having trouble with a paper."
"We-" Lily began and then paused before starting again, "I'm sure James is fine, it's just a paper after all."
"No- been here for an hour or so and he's only got one line down. I'm sure you could help." I heard the smirk in his voice and buried my face in the pillows.
"Um... yeah I guess I can. Just let me put my bag away."
"Wonderful," he clapped his hands together and then reentered the room, "Was that so bad Jamsie?" I could only groan into my pillow.
When I looked up, Remus was leaning against the doorway, "You're a horrible person, Sirius." He chuckled slightly and shook his head.
"Yes well, tell me that again at their wedding" he sat down next to me.
"I just forgot, Peter asked me to meet him in the Great Hall to talk about some prank that he came up with. So, if you'll excuse me" I got off the bed and made my way to the doorway. When I turned around, Sirius just had an eyebrow raised. "What?"
"You can't avoid her forever, mate."
"Well considering that I live across the hall from her, I already know that." Turning back around, I nearly bumped into Remus, "Excuse me."
He smirked at me, but left the doorway and sat next to Sirius. As I stepped out into the hallway, Lily was a few feet down and closing her door behind her.
"Oh- hey James," she gave me a shy smile and I felt my heart skip a beat.
I cleared my throat, "I was just going to meet Peter in the Great Hall, forgot that I told him I'd help him with something. Thanks for the offer to help me though."
She, just like the guys, gave me a strange look, "Really? You're going to the Great Hall? Where people are?"
I nodded cautiously, "Yeah... why?"
"James, you're in your pajamas." She gestured at my blue and grey striped pants.
"Oh... yeah well, I'm starting a trend." I forced a smile and put my hands on my hips, modeling it for her.
She chuckled quietly and then looked back up at me, "Whatever you say, Potter. Goodnight." She turned her body and was about to go back into her room when she turned her head to the side, "James... have you noticed anything weird going in Slytherin house?"
"Weird? I mean they're Slytherins Lil; you'll have to be more specific." I raised my eyebrows at her.
She turned back around and faced me full on, "There's a lot of whispering going on in their house and..." her eyes fell to the floor, "I was rounding the corner one day-because I was going to potions- and Sev was whispering harshly to Regulus and I swear I heard the word 'Darklord' in there."
I frowned, "Lily, are you sure? I mean, you could've just heard something else..."
Her head shot straight up, "I know what I heard- how can you not believe me on this? I mean even if you didn't actually it's an opportune moment for you to get 'Snivellus' in trouble!"
I was shocked- I'd never seen Lily this infuriated, and especially not over me not believing her, "Okay okay- you heard what you heard... but maybe in the wrong context? And I grew up this summer- I'm not gonna jump on Snape every chance I get."
She gnawed on her lip and then nodded slightly, "Yeah- I suppose I could'a taken it the wrong way."
I looked down at her and then sighed, "Look Lily, if you hear anything else tell me okay?"
She nodded and took a step back towards her door and her eyes seemed like they didn't know where to look. They finally meant mine and she looked as though she were fighting some kind of inner battle. Letting out a frustrated sigh, she stepped towards me and pulled my head down to hers. Her lips brushed mine harshly and I gasped at the contact. Placing my hand on her hips I pulled her closer and her hands went from my face to where my hair meant the nape of my neck.
Pulling back slightly, I looked at her questioningly, "Lily?" I whispered her name.
Her eyes were big green orbs and I had to concentrate so I wouldn't get lost in them, "I- I'm sorry, I just had to..." she gazed off and frowned like she really didn't know why she had just done that.
I grinned slightly, "If I were to ask you to the first trip to Hogsmeade... what would your response be?"
She looked back in my eyes and got this secretive smile on her face, "Guess you'll just have to ask, won't you?" Pulling back all the way out of my arms, she turned and walked into her room, shutting the door behind her.
I blew out an exasperated breath and rubbed my hand down my face; that woman would be the death of me. When I walked back into my room, I flopped onto my bed and realized that Sirius and Remus were staring at me with open mouths. Sirius was the first one to speak, "What just bloody happened?"
