Waiting


Alice looked like a pixie, with short, dark hair and blue eyes that gleamed. She was a joker, too, forever having a laugh at whatever nonsense was going on around her – pranks and other mischief included.

James wasn't all that surprised to find she'd made her way into the boys' dorm. She was lying on his bed, reading a book that was propped against her knees.

"You're not supposed to be up here," James said, his voice laced with amusement.

Alice exaggerated a yawn. "Really? How dull."

James leaned against his bedpost, arms crossed. "Trouble, that's what you are."

Alice didn't glance away from her book, but she smiled. James' heart fluttered like the total sap he was. That smile was the first thing he thought of when he woke up, and the last thing he dreamed of before he fell asleep.

James ran a hand through his hair, and slid onto the bed, moving so that their sides were pressed together, two bodies warded against the cold. He risking placing an arm around Alice's waist. She stiffened, and then relaxed into his hold. She was slight where he was broad, but they fitted together nicely.

"Oh, Jamie," Alice sighed. She closed her book; 101 Magical Maladies and How to Mend Them. She was going to be a brilliant Healer once they'd graduated.

"Oh, Alice?" James echoed, a mocking lilt to his voice. He softened the sting with a kiss to her forehead, then one to her cheek.

Alice grimaced and turned her face away. "Jamie, I can't," Alice said. "You know I can't… not yet."

"I know Longbottom wasn't good enough for you," James said, hating the other boy for how he'd broken her heart. Instead of pursuing her, however, he leaned his head back against the pillow instead. He didn't want to be a cad, and despite it all, she was his closest friend. "Sorry, Ali."

Alice sighed again and rested her head on his chest. James carded a hand through her hair and stared at the ceiling.

One day, his luck would change.

Until then, he'd wait.


Word Count: 351

Auction: 92. (pairing) James/Alice

365 Prompts 287. 'Stutter' by Marianas Trench

Assignment #9 Mythology Task 7: Write about rejection

Buttons (pairings) 2. Jame/Alice