MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING

CHAPTER 3: A Lunch

I paced around my bed before leaving for Sirius' wedding two-week extravaganza. I was nervous, and I didn't know why. I never got nervous, so the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach really scared me. Why way I nervous, in the frist place? Was it because Sirius was marrying Lily? A part of me told me it was. But I didn't know why. It was just a one night stand, nothing more. There was nothing more to worry about. There was nothing more to feel. Nothing.

I arrived at the Evans estate a tad late. What can I say? It's my trademark. Everyone had already been seated on the patio for lunch when I arrived.

"There he is!" I heard Sirius say as I entered. "Late, like always." The people at the table, those who knew me at lease, gave a small chuckle.

"Sorry, but I can't help it," I said smiling as I took the empty seat next to Remus. "Its in my make up."

"Hey Prongs," Remus said as we shook hands.

"Hey Moony," I replied.

"All right, now that everyone is here, we can begin," Sirius said standing up. A few waiters entered carrying plates of food. As they served it, I glanced around the table. I gave a small nod at Peter who I had not spoken to since graduation. I smiled at Sirius' cousin Andromeda, who, like him, had been disowned from the family. Not many of Sirius' other relatives appeared to be there. They'd probably come to the second ceremony. I sized up the other guests briefly, before I let my eyes land upon Lily, who had been staring at me.

We held each other's gaze for a moment's time before I gave her my infamous mischievous grin, which made her blush and look away. She turned toward Sirius and focused her attention on him, but I knew she was still thinking of me. I chuckled and turned to catch a better glimpse of the other girls at the table.

I caught the eye of a pointed-faced blond sitting two seats away from Lily. Her hand was encompassed by a much larger one that belonged to a man with an ugly mustache. The woman stared at me. I licked my lips at her as I cut my meat. She gave me a look I had seen many times before. It was the look I got a lot from many "taken" women. The look that they were bored in their relationship and they were in search of something new. The prefect, prime example was this blond who was feeding her beau a piece of bread. His eyes were closed and she moved her free hand down to her chest. Her fingertips lingered momentarily on a necklace that hung around her cleavage. I licked my lips again as I saw a sultry look flash through her eyes. She was snapped back to reality when the man she was feeding finished the bread and began to lick her fingertips. She gave him a disgusted look and turned away from me.

My eyes moved further around the table. I ran a hand through my hair and tried to tousle it to make it a little messier. I gave a wink to Mary Macdonald, another former classmate whom I hadn't seen since graduation. Like Lily, Mary had grown up as well. She was no longer the unattractive geek who lived in the library. I gave a flashing smile to the woman I figured was Lily's mother. She cleared her throat uncomfortably and looked to her husband. I dare not make any moves toward Andromeda for her husband, a man I had known a long while, Ted Tonks, sat next to her.

To me, the prettiest lady at the table was by far Lily. None of the other birds hardly measured up to half the beauty she had. I finally turned my attention away from the women and moved it to my friend sitting next to me.

"So how have you been, Remus?" I asked.

"Oh, I've been fine," he said. "The real question in how have you been, Prongs, and how many more STDs you've contracted.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh shut up, Moony. You don't know what you're talking about. You just need to get laid."

He laughed. "I know what I'm talking about," he said, "I saw you swoon just about every girl in this room. Don't even try to deny it."

I rolled my eyes again. "Whatever you say, Moony," I said. "But have you noticed Mary Macdonald? She sure filled out, huh?"

Remus just shook his head. "You're horrible," he said. "Mary is a nice girl. Don't go corrupting her innocence."

"Don't be so naïve, Moony. She was corrupted years ago. You can thank your dear friend, Padfoot for that."

"What?" Remus repeated. "I never knew that."

"Well, its true. So, I'll let you have the first pick, ok? Who do you want?" I said scanning my eyes once again over the women. My eyes stopped on the blond. "But that bird is mine," I added with a wink.

"Don't replace me to be your new partner in crime because the old one's getting himself hitched," Remus said. "And don't get him into his, either."

I just shook my head. "You're just not fun, Moony," I joked.

"I just play it safe," he said. "Which you should do as well."

"I don't need you to be my mother, Remus," I said. "I get enough of that at home."

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "Just don't do anything foolish, ok?"

I just rolled my eyes at him.

After lunch we all ventured outside. All the guests broke up into different groups. It reminded me a bit of childhood cliques. I stood with Remus and Peter. Sirius joined us a few moments later.

"So are you guys having fun yet?" he asked throwing his arms around Remus and Peter.

"Tons," I said sarcastically.

"Can't you tell?" Remus said blandly.

"I know, I know," he said. "All this muggle stuff is boring, but it's only for a few days, until her family leaves."

"I hate not using magic," Peter whined.

"Suck it up, Wormtail," Sirius said. "I'm getting married." We all laughed. "I know it's boring now, but we'll go out for drinks later, ok?" he promised.

"Sounds good," I agreed.