Disclaimer: JK Rowling makes the money from Harry Potter. I'm just playing with her lovely characters for a bit. Non-cannon characters belong to me, which is why they aren't as awesome.

As always, shout out to the AMAZING Avett Brothers for musical inspiration and the use of their lyrics/song titles as the Title to this fic and chapter (chapter four inspiration was Kick Drum Heart. One of my personal favorites). You've made it this far into my fic and still don't know who the Avett Brothers are? *shakes head in disappointment*

A/N: again everytime I get reviews or someone adds my story to their Favorites or add it to their alerts I get the biggest smile on my face! I can't thank you all enough! So, this chapter is for my lovely reviewers (well, all the chapters are, but that isn't the point)! Love you all!

We're going to get a bonus in this chapter... Marlene's POV for a bit. Then we're heading back to the typical Lily/James views.

Out in the Cold

September 1, 1977

Marlene had met up with James on Platform 9 ¾ while she was trying to get her trunk up onto the train.

"McKinnon, let me help you." She looked up at the familiar voice, grateful.

"Cheers, mate. I swear this bloody thing gets heavier and heavier each year." Or perhaps, she just couldn't make up her mind on which clothes she would need before going back home for Christmas and packed a bit too much. James must have guessed that this was the case.

"I'll never understand you birds. You bring every stitch of clothing you own. I don't understand why, because during the week you have to wear the school robes, how could you need this much extra clothing?" James shook his head.

Blokes. They never got it.

"Well, we have to look pretty for you all, now don't we? I'm sure the male population would tire of seeing us wear the same things on the weekends." She replied.

"Whatever. Say, have you seen Lily around?" He looked a bit nervous.

"You haven't told her that you're Head Boy yet? Merlin, James! I told you I wouldn't owl her about it, but that's only because I thought you were going to do that!" She stared at him incredulously.

"Yeah, I'm sure that letter would have been opened and not tossed into a fire." He said sarcastically. "I thought it would go better in person. After all, this is my year. I can feel it."

"What are you on about?" By this time they had chosen a compartment. "Surely you've learned by now that she doesn't want to go out with you, James."

"Of course I haven't." She rolled her eyes.

October 12, 1977

Marlene never should have made that bet with Potter. Only a few hours after making that bet, she made her bet with Lily. Of course, if she had seen the look in Lily's eyes when she was talking about him before talking to Potter, she never would have agreed to James's terms. Lily would give in, if not tonight, it would happen eventually.

Lily must have really believed that she wouldn't give in. Every time Marlene even asked for help on homework, Lily would throw a fit and refuse to help her. She would so enjoy the month off. Maybe she should dedicate the time that she won't spend doing charms work to learning how to hold her tongue. She'd be doing a lot of that during practice.

But, earlier Lily had seemed so unsure. Maybe she would turn James down. That would save Marlene a lot of embarrassment on the pitch. It seemed like all James did during practices was yell at her and tell her she was doing this or that wrong. Even though they were good mates, it drove her mad. If Lily said no, that meant that Marlene would never have a life outside of school work and Quidditch ever again. How Lily thought that two more evenings a week dedicated to study wasn't insane, she would never know. Study night THREE nights a week? On top of Quidditch and trying to have a social life? The woman was completely mental.

Marlene sat down on her bed. She had been trying to wait for James in the common room before heading to bed, but she needed to get up early and finish off her Transfiguration homework before breakfast. None of the other 7th year girls ever went to bed before curfew, not even Lily. But now that Lily was sleeping in the head dorm at the top of the stairs, she realized that she didn't have anyone to talk to while falling asleep.

"I am so boring." She said to no one in particular.

James stood up. He'd blown it!

He needed to get out of there. He couldn't look at her, not yet. It just hurt too much. He needed to be by himself. He strode out of the room quickly heading to the nearest lavatory to collect himself before having to face his mates.

"Wait!" He heard her start to follow.

"If you don't mind, Lily, I'd like to sulk in private." He was about to turn the corner, only a little further then he could let the disappointment really settle in.

"Please, just wait! Let me finish!" He turned towards her. He tried not to look as horrid as he felt inside. He didn't want her to see him that way.

"I can't do it Saturday." And that was supposed to make him feel better. Merlin, this girl drove him mad.

"Great, Lil. Twist the dagger a bit, yeah?" He turned back and started walking away again.

"James!" She had followed him, again. Was he ever going to be able to deal with this alone? Or would she follow him everywhere taunting him. It was a rare occasion that James Potter would wish Lily away, but now was one of those times. Couldn't he just be alone and accept the defeat?

She pulled on his arm, begging him to stop. She must've run to catch up to him. Finally he turned to her.

"What?" completely exasperated. Her mouth held a small smile. How could she be smiling? How could anyone in the world be happy at this moment? The girl of his dreams would never be his. These past few years, all the time spent thinking of new ways to ask her out, had been in vain.

"I can't do it Saturday."

Lily could see how flustered he was. James thought she was turning him down again. Why this time he was reacting so dramatically, she didn't know.

She smiled and let her statement sink in. She still held his arm and she would not let go until she knew that he understood.

-On the way up to the Head Office-

She took the stairs two at a time. She just couldn't contain her excitement. A whole day with James Potter. The thought should have terrified her; it did in a way. In a butterflies fluttering in her stomach way.

She turned the corner to find Professor McGonagall.

"Ah, Ms. Evans, there you are."

"Good evening, Professor!" How could she not share her good mood with everyone?

"I have a favor to ask of you and it seems I have caught you in a delightful mood."

"Sure, Professor. Whatever you need."

"Splendid. You know this weekend is a Hogsmeade trip," Of course Lily knew that. Wasn't she just fantasizing about where she and James would be going? "And I assume you recall that Professor Dumbledore asked that the Prefects do rounds that day." Oh. She had forgotten that. Her face fell a bit.

"I'm so sorry Professor, I forgot that part. I'll go ask a few people to see if they would mind." Bugger.

"That won't be necessary, Ms. Evans. I thought it might have slipped your mind. I know there is a lot going on lately. I just spoke with Mr. Cresswell and he assured me he would be available to assist in the rounds. I thought it would be wise to have a Head there as well, at least for the first one."

"Of course." She nodded. Dirk Cresswell. The 6th year Ravenclaw Prefect. Great.

"If you already had plans I can see if Mr. Potter would be available, though I doubt he would be as pleasant as you are about this." McGonagall smiled a bit.

"No, it's fine. I can do it." Bugger. Bugger. BUGGER!

"Excellent. See you tomorrow in class then, Ms. Evans."

Lily stood there for a moment. Not three minutes ago she was happy. She was going to Hogsmeade this weekend with one of the fittest guys at Hogwarts. Now, she was being forced into spending that time with Cresswell, the git that made the Prefect meetings so difficult for her. He was always chatting away, usually at the closest girl, while Lily was addressing the group.

She continued up the next stairwell, with significantly less kick in her step.

"Saturday," he said slowly. She nodded.

"You see, Professor McGonagall asked me on the way up here to do rounds with Cresswell in Hogsmeade Saturday." He was starting to smile now.

"Saturday," he repeated. She nodded again, a little concerned. Was he ok? "You can't," finally saying something else; finally looking at her, "Saturday."

"Yes, James. I think we've sufficiently covered that." His smile had turned into a full on grin now.

"So you aren't turning me down?"

"No, I'm not." She smiled up at him.

"Wait, did you say Cresswell? The Ravenclaw that never shuts up at meetings?" She sighed and nodded in response. "What if I were to tell him I'd do it instead?"

"I don't think he'd agreed to that, James." She said carefully. While Dirk had made it known that he wasn't seeing anyone, he had just Lily out a few days ago. She turned him down, of course. She wondered if he had agreed to do rounds before or after McGonagall had mentioned the Head Girl or Head Boy would be joining. "Just spend the day with your mates. We'll figure out some other time."

His mates. What was he going to tell them? A 'she said yes to sometime' wouldn't really work.

"Alright." He agreed. "But tell me, am I allowed to tell my mates? And what exactly am I allowed to tell them?"

"No. And nothing. Not until after, then we can figure that out." Lily replied.

"C'mon Lily. Be serious."

"I'm completely serious."

"So, you're not going to tell Marlene the second you get a chance?"

"That," She hadn't expected him to challenge her on this, he could tell. "That is different. She already knows that you asked me out."

James laughed. "And I suppose you think I haven't told my mates?" Of course, he hadn't; she didn't know that though.

"You wouldn't have." Lily sounded so unsure.

"I didn't." He huffed. "But, they're going to know something is up when I get back to the common room and I can't keep this smile off my face. Sirius already suspects something is up."

"You tell Sirius and it will be around the school in no time. And then, there would be no chance of that date ever happening."

"What am I supposed to say to them when they ask, then?" This was getting ridiculous. She expected him to tell no one, yet she could tell people.

"You'll think of something. You're James Potter after all." She said the last part with sarcasm.

"I suppose." He didn't want to argue with her when she had just agreed to go out with him. "So, what about Sunday?"

Lily smiled up at him. Merlin, he would never tire of seeing her smile. It lit up her whole face. "You really are anxious to get me on a date."

"You doubted that? I've only been asking you out for the last three years."

"I always assumed that you were asking to get attention or because everyone kept telling you I would never agree. You never could stand to be told you couldn't have something. You would chase after things until you had proved people wrong." She said it lightly, but James didn't want her to get the wrong idea.

"It was always about you. You're beautiful and clever and everything I could think dream up in a girl, and then some." She started to blush and shake her head. "But, you haven't answered me yet. Do you have plans Sunday?"

"You mean other than the Prefect Meeting that we have to run?"

"That's not until after dinner, Lil." He reminded her.

"I know that. I was just making sure you knew it." She rolled her eyes. "I suppose we could do Sunday."

"Brilliant! So," the smile on her face was as wide as the one on his. "Are you going to tell Marlene?"

"Of course I am." Lily stated matter-of-factly. "I won't get to talk to her until breakfast, though."

"I could tell her." Lily's eyebrows shot up. "On our run in the morning." She still looked confused. He continued, "We've gone on runs together since she joined the Quidditch team last year; she likes to run in the morning before people are awake to, errr, how does she put it?"

"See her when she looks like death?" Lily suggested.

"That's it." He smiled.

"I had no idea she ran with anyone, let alone you." She thought it over then shrugged. "I guess that would be alright."

Marlene would be furious with Lily for not telling her herself. The more Lily thought about it, the less concerned she was. At least she wouldn't have to see the smug expression the she knew Marlene would give initially.

One month of doing Marlene's Charms homework. Merlin. Well, it could be worse; it could have been Transfiguration homework, she actually likes Charms.

A/N:

Does anyone actually go listen to the songs? You totally should, because there's a line in Kick Drum Heart that says, "It's not the chase that I love, it's me following you." This line was the inspiration for using the song for this chapter. Also, I can't help but think of Lily and James when I hear it :)

Anywhooo… See? I don't want to start riots or give people heart attacks :)

Next chapter is already just about twice the length of this one, so I hope you all are prepared!

How'd you like Marlene's tidbits? Did you hate everything? Did you love it? Do you wish I would never write again? Review, Review, Review. Tell me what you think! But be nice, please! So far everyone has been super nice and for that I am most grateful!

- She