MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING

CHAPTER 7: A Break-Up

We found Sirius back at the table where I had just left the game of cards. Remus' seat was absent and Sirius was playing with Peter. Lia was there as well. Way to make it not obvious, I thought.

"There you two are," Lily said as we entered. She trotted towards him a quick peck on the cheek. How she could change her composure that fast was beyond me. "I was looking for you. Where'd you get off to?"

I took my seat back at the table. Sirius shifted an uneasy glance toward me then towards Lia. "I was taking a nap," he said quickly. I shook my head at him, behind Lily's back, and grabbed the cards to deal.

"Well, I wanted to say goodbye to you before we left. I'll miss you," she said.

"I'll miss you too, babe," he said patting her arm. "Now go have fun," he said. "Both of you," he added with a quick glance at Lia. Lia shifted her weight uncomfortably in her seat before standing up.

"Ready Lily?" she asked impatiently.

"Yes," Lily smiled, giving Sirius another quick kiss. "Bye Peter," she said waving. "Bye James," she added at me with a smile.

"Where's Mary?" I head Lia ask before they were out of earshot.

"Bye!" I called after Lily, the quickly erased my face of any feeling for her as I noticed Sirius give me a curious side glance. After she left, we resumed our game of cards. Remus came back a few moments later. "Where did you get off to Moony?" I asked slyly at Remus.

"Nowhere, really," he said, trying to be nonchalant. "I just went to take a nap." I snorted. Napping must have been the excuse of the day.

"Was it a nice one?" I asked raising my eyebrows.

"Very," he replied, evaluating his cards. Just then, Petunia entered the room looking around. I figured she was looking for Lily but she smiled at when she saw me. She made her way to our table and circled around so she was standing behind me. She put a hand on my neck.

"What are you guys playing?" she asked, trying to sound interested. I could hear a hunger in her voice.

"Poker," Peter said staring at his hand. Remus and Sirius were watching me, wide-eyed.

"Sounds like fun," she said moving her hand so it was inside my shirt. She ran her long nails across my back. "Well, I should be going," she said giving me a pinch. I made a little squealing noise that even made Peter look up and raise his eyebrows. She left our table and made her way into the garden stopping to give me one last sultry look before she disappeared.

Once she was out of sight and Remus Sirius had focused back on their cards, I stood up from the table. "Where are you going?" Remus asked suddenly.

I smiled at them. "To take a nap," I winked. Sirius snorted.

"What is with everyone and naps today?" I heard Peter ask as I followed Petunia out to the garden. As soon as we were isolated, she threw herself onto me. After a few minutes of fooling around, I pulled away from her.

"We need to stop," I told her seriously. "We can't do this anymore."

"What do you mean?" she asked suddenly looking hurt.

"I mean, you're married," I said. I had made this speech many times before. I used it on all the married women who got to needy.

"Vernon?" she asked. "Oh, he's to dumb to find out."

"He may be, but I just don't feel right about this," I said trying to muster up some earnesty in my voice.

She sighed and looked away. "I know," she admitted, "I shouldn't be doing this."

I sighed too and took her hand in mine. She looked up at me. "Its better this way," I said.

She nodded sadly and I began to leave. "James," she called after me. I turned back toward her. "How about just one more…"

I leaned in towards her and brushed my lips on hers. "Goodbye, Petunia," I whispered then walked away from her without looking back.

It was one of the most bullshit moments in my life but whatever. It had to be done, right? And it got the job done, didn't it? I was a pro at breaking up with married women anyway. If this had been any week before this one, I probably would have kept at it with Petunia. I mean, she was nice to look at, nice body, wrapped around my finger. What pulled me away so far? One answer for you, and I'm probably sure you know what it is. Yes, it's Lily.

Obviously, hard-to-get had worked. She kissed me and every time I look into her eyes I see the desire in her eyes for me. And I'm not trying to be arrogant or conceited when I say that, but I really do see it. She will be with me in the end of this. And I don't mean that in a threatening way, I just mean that we're destined to be together. Kinda corny, I know, but the truth.

Anyway, back to the story. I returned to the game table with a fresh hand.

"Nice nap?" Remus asked raising his eyebrows.

I just winked at him, then said, "So, what are we going to do tonight?"

All eyes turned to Sirius who gave us his infamous smile. "Well I kinda had an idea," he began.

At 11 o' clock we arrived at Wicked Witch, a strip joint in the heart of London. Music and neon lights blared from the outside. We entered and were seated at a table near the front of the room. At the front, on the stage were girls barely dressed slinking around and men underneath them looking up with their mouths open. Sirius let out a "Whoop!" as we were seated.

"Why don't I get us some drinks," Remus said uncomfortably as he slid off his chair and made his way toward the bar.

"This is gonna be a great night," Sirius said as he fixated his eyes on a girl on the stage. "Don't you think so Prongs?"

I gave a squeamish look that he didn't notice. Like in the situation with Petunia, if this had been any week other than this one, I woulda been all over this idea. But now, it just seemed so… immature? Basically, I just felt wrong about being there. I felt like I owed it to Lily not to look at flaunting girls who craved any knut they could get. Though I sighed and gripped my eyes on a tall blond topless and in a blue thong. I could see Lily at a male strip club slapping the butt cheek of some man in a cowboy hat and chaps.

Remus returned at sat stiffly in his seat, occasionally glancing up. Peter hadn't looked anywhere else but at the stage, and I could see some drool running from his mouth.

"Hey," Sirius exclaimed finishing off his beer, "we should get one of those private rooms!"

"Too much money," Remus said quickly.

"Aw, Remus," Sirius said patting him on the back, "I'm getting married tomorrow! Why not splurge? I'll pay anyway." He flagged down a waitress, paid his dues and we were lead into a dimly lit round room with seating against the curved wall. A pole ran vertically through the middle and a platform hung around it. A few moments later a busty red head entered with a green thong bikini on.

"Hi, I'm Candy," she said in a husky voice. "What can I do you boys for?" she asked.

"You can get up on that table and dance!" Sirius yelled happily giving her a pat on the bum.

As she stood up on the table and slid around the pole, and eventually took off her top, I watched her. But I watched her face, not her body. With her red hair and green eyes (yes, they were green) I couldn't help but think of Lily as I watched her. She gave each of us a lap dance, much to Sirius and Peter's delight, but to mine and Remus' despise. Remus sat stiffly under her averting his eyes somewhere else. I pushed her away after a few moments. She eventually went back to Sirius who was the most welcoming to her.

Arriving back at the Evans' estate Sirius and Peter were plastered. Upon entering Sirius knocked over a lamp shattering it into a million pieces. It took Remus several Repairing Charms to fix it.

"That was great," Sirius slurred as he swung his arms around Remus and I.

"Mmmm," Peter said, "Carpet!" He bent toward the ground and pressed his face onto the carpet rubbing it back and forth. He finally passed out with his face against the carpet sitting, or laying maybe, in what looked like he was bowing and praying with his hands spread out over his head and everything. It was actually quite amusing and Remus and I gave a snicker.

"What's so…" Sirius began then yawned suddenly. "Let's go to bed," he said and Remus and I helped him upstairs to our room where he walked like a zombie and fell head first, spread-eagle onto our bed.