A/N: I hope you guys like this chapter! I'm not sure if I like it, but please let me know what you think!

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Chapter Nine: Confessions and Stumbling Tongues

After two hours of sitting outside the hospital wing waiting for Madam Pomfrey to finish examining James, Lily was starting to get even more worried. What was taking so long? Professor Dumbledore had gone in there some time ago, telling them that he would let them know when they could go in and see James, but he still hadn't come out yet.

"What in the bloody hell is taking so long?" Sirius groaned, hitting his head on the wall behind him. Lily could see the genuine worry in his features and put a hand on his arm, trying to comfort him, as Remus had done for her.

Sirius looked down at her hand laying on his forearm, then looked up at Lily. "Why are you here Evans? Thought you and Dean had your big date today." He asked. He wasn't being rude about it, but he sounded curious.

Lily thought about it. Why was she here and not with Dean? Well, Dean's a bloody idiot! She thought honestly. She really didn't know what she had seen in him to waste all the time she had on him, but that was in the past, and all she could do was move forward. Besides, she didn't think she could be with someone who didn't like her the way she really was, without the tight clothes and stupid giggle. James, on the other hand, had helped her out when she "needed" it, without asking questions.

And then, he had kissed her, and it had been absolutely perfect. There were no words to describe it really. Admittedly, he had only done it to help Lily get Dean's attention, and only because Sirius had come up with the plan, but he had still done it. And Lily couldn't stop thinking about it, and wondering if he was thinking about it too. It had to mean something to him, she couldn't have been the only one that felt something….

Shaking her head, she answered Sirius, but what she said was far from the truth. "Well, I'm here because James helped me with Dean. I felt kind of…I dunno, obligated I guess." She grimaced a little as the lie slipped through her lips.

Sirius looked at her seriously and Lily could tell that he didn't buy the story. "Evans, you don't threaten to Adava Kedavra someone just because you feel obligated to the person they hurt. Now fess up. We won't tell, will we Remus?"

Lily looked over at Remus, who had stood up and began pacing. He paused in front of them and looked at Lily. "We won't say a word. I think I already know anyways, I'd just rather hear it from you than guess."

Lily sighed. She really didn't want to discuss this with them, after all, she didn't even know exactly how she felt anymore, but she had to talk to somebody, and she had no idea where Marlene and Alice were.

"Well, the thing is, Dean's an idiotic git. I was with him for ten minutes and I wanted to leave." She said, looking down at her hands. "And I….I keep thinking about James, and that stupid kiss that you planned." Lily said, glaring at Sirius. This was his entire fault. If he hadn't have come up with the idea of James and her kissing, she wouldn't have ever thought about it…probably.

Sirius grinned. "Ha! I knew McLaggen was a prick."

Lily looked at him. Out of her whole confession, that was all he picked up?

"Lily, you aren't the only one that's been thinking about the kiss that you two shared." Remus said, sitting back down next to her. Lily turned to him, surprised.

"What do you mean, Remus?"

"James is going to kill me for telling you this, because he hasn't even admitted it to us, but he has feelings for you Lily. After you guys kissed, well, I think he realized how much he likes you." Remus paused, as if debating on continuing. "He won't say anything because of how much you like Dean. He has too big of an ego for that."

Sirius nodded. "After he took off out of the common room, he went out to the lake. When I went out there to find him, I could tell her wanted to tell me, but seeing how guys don't have mushy confession sessions, he didn't say anything."

Lily sat there, shocked into silence. James liked her? It wasn't just her that had felt something with the kiss? Lily felt the knot in her stomach loosen a little at the news. Before she could say anything, the door opened and Professor Dumbledore walked out, turning to look at them.

"You can go see him now. He's awake at the moment." He said, smiling down at the three of them kindly, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles.

"Thank you Professor." They said simultaneously, hurrying past him and into the hospital wing. James was in the farthest bed from the door, his head propped up by three huge fluffy pillows. He turned to face them at the sound of their footsteps and when his eyes met his, James broke into a huge grin.

Lily blushed happily. Even though he was in the hospital wing, he was still happy to see her.

"Prongs! Thanks a lot for scaring the bloody hell out of us!" Sirius shouted furiously. Now that he was sure James would be okay, he could be angry instead of worried.

"Like it was my fault!" James said, wincing a bit as he shifted. Lily winced. He was obviously hurting. She sat down in the chair that was closest to the head of the bed quietly. Remus, seeing that James was still in pain, and that Lily obviously wanted a little time alone with him, grabbed Sirius's arm.

"C'mon Padfoot. We can come back and see James later, now that we know he's okay."

James smiled appreciatively. "Thanks Moony. Sirius, you know I'm not going to let that prick Avery get the glory of killing me. He doesn't deserve the honor." James chuckled, wincing again.

Sirius laughed and Lily rolled her eyes. Boys and their egos…it was ridiculous.

When Sirius and Remus were gone, James turned to Lily. "So, how'd your date go?" he asked.

"That doesn't matter right now, but seeing how you're going to ask me about it until I give you an answer, it was agonizing. I was about to jump over the side of the stands when you got hurt." Lily laughed, shaking her head at the events of the day.

James looked surprised. "I thought you were like, in love with McLaggen?"

"What? No. No way. I was never in love with him. It was just a silly crush that got out of hand. I didn't even know the guy, and now that I've sent a couple hours with him, I'm not sure I want to know him at all."

James lay there silently, looking at Lily. She blushed as his eyes roamed her face.

"Enough about me, are you okay James? That bludger must've hit you really hard." Lily said worriedly, looking at his head, trying to see where it had hit him. His head wasn't wrapped in a bandage, so it was hard to tell, especially under all his messy black hair.

"I'm fine, honestly. It was nothing." James said, grinning feebly. "I don't see why everyone is making such a big deal about it. I shouldn't have to stay here for two days, but Madam Pomfrey keeps insisting, and apparently she knows best."

"You can stop with the bravado, I can tell you're hurting." Lily said, scooting closer to James. "Show me where it hurts, please."

James looked at her for a moment, then lifted his head, pointing to a huge lump right in the middle of his skull. Lily gasped. It was huge!

"Oh it's not that bad!" James insisted, laying his head back down, but when he winced again his words lost all meaning.

Lily rolled her eyes. "You're going to make me crazy Potter." She said, resting her hands on his bed right next to him.

"Lily, can I ask you a question? Without you getting offended?" James asked, looking her straight in the eye.

She felt the knot of fear leave her stomach only to be replaced by butterflies. Merlin, James had given her butterflies a lot lately…she thought. "Sure, go ahead." She said, biting her lip.

"Why are you here?" he asked and even though she had said she wouldn't get offended, she was. Did he want her to leave? Maybe Remus was wrong, and he hadn't felt anything from the kiss.

"I…do you want me to leave?" she whispered quietly, looking down and trying to fight back the tears that were burning behind her eyes. She felt so stupid for thinking that James Potter, the James Potter, would ever even look at her in that way.

"What? No, that's not what I was saying Lily! I just, didn't think that you would be concerned about me, that's all." James said, trying to backtrack. He had obviously upset her, which he hadn't meant to do at all. He was so happy that she was there visiting him instead of being off somewhere with McLaggen. Why was he such an idiot? He thought, irritated with himself.

"Maybe I'll just go." Lily said, standing up and avoiding looking at him. "I hope you feel better James."

James stuttered, trying to get Lily to stay, but he didn't know what to say. James groaned as he watched Lily walk quickly out of the hospital wing, cursing himself mentally. He just had to go and mess things up before he even had a chance to say anything didn't he?

Maybe Remus could help him out….after all, he was really good with words and talking to people. Next time he comes to see me, James thought determinedly, I'll tell him about Lily, and ask for his help. Next time….

A/N: Sooo...please let me know what you thought about this chapter! Any changes you think I should make to the story...likes/dislikes...questions...comments...all are welcome! So, click that button and type away :)