We have some sparks kindling into a blossoming relationship this chapter, just not the relationship you may have expected... I did make this chapter a bit longer than usual as an apology for my inability to post during my time at camp. Hope you enjoy the romance and drama in this update, and make sure to leave a review!
Chapter 12: Unfortunate Events
Lily stepped out of the Head Dormitory looking fresh and cleansed after Marlene stopped by with a book she found on charmed showers from Madam Pomfrey. Marlene thought it would help with her sore muscles from the attack, but left as fast as she appeared. Lily desperately wanted to confess to Marlene about how she's been left out whilst both Marlene and Alice have guys, but failed to. Maybe it's time I should find one that I get butterflies with. she contemplated the failed date with Amos and felt absolutely regretful. But I did the right thing that time, she recalled their kind-of-breakup, boosting her confidence. Lily travelled straight to the Gryffindor Common Room since she felt like letting loose someplace besides the library.
She strolled into a slightly crowded common room and took her place on the bean bag chair by the fireplace. As she scanned the room, Lily's heart felt a pang of envy when she saw many couples chatting and looking so much more comfortable than she had been in a long time. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea after all, she sighed. While staring into the fireplace deep in thought, she didn't notice Fabian Prewett staring at her from no more than what seemed to be about three feet away.
He fidgeted, and slowly walked up to her, unsure of what to say, "Um hey Lily. Er- I mean like… hi." Fabian wanted to mentally strangle himself for the embarrassing introduction, but he soon realized something that made him forget all about it.
Lily was startled as she turned to face Fabian Prewett, a single tear hanging off her chin. She faked a small smile, and quickly wiped it away after standing up, "Oh hey Fabian! Um how's it going?"
"Lily what's wrong?" he frowned when she tore her gaze from him.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about. Just stressed over our Transfiguration exam in two days," she replied nervously.
"It's not like you to cry over an exam you haven't taken yet," he took another small step toward her and cupped her cheek in his warm palm like he'd always wanted to do: it was a perfect fit. He wiped a stray tear with his thumb and continued, "Tell me what's wrong. I'll help you."
Lily's breath hitched as he took yet another step closer, aligning their figures against each other. He was really warm, almost as if he was embarrassed- No, it's probably just the fire… OH MERLIN! BEARD OF AGRIPPA NO WAY! Yet there it was- the small flutter of the faintest butterfly wings close to the pit of her stomach. Lily smiled a true smile for once in that week.
"Ok then, I guess I'll tell you, but it may sound a bit awkward at first," she tentatively said.
"Nothing's awkward with you Lily. Even if it is, it's the cutest awkward there could be." Fabian grinned at his cheesy remark and Lily struggled to stifle a giggle. He stepped away and her heart plummeted at the loss of the welcoming contact, but flew right back up when he settled into the couch and invited her over.
In the middle of while they were speaking about Lily's troubles and how she was worried about how she might never find the right guy, Fabian looked on at her completely shocked. "Oh lord Lily I never knew this was the case, I mean, I still hold my word when I said I can help you."
Lily never felt better, knowing that there was someone else who was willing to help her, but she was awed at his confidence when he spoke the next few words, "Lily, it's now or never. I need to break it to you…" he sat up and looked her straight in the eyes with such raw emotion she could barely breath, "It hasn't even been an hour since we started talking, and-and I think I'm already falling for you." She gasped in both surprise and relief when he stood up and she did too, "I'm going to take a huge leap here Lily, but I hope you understand where I'm coming from." By now, about half the common room turned to look at the two, but his next words created dead silence in their presence, "Lily Evans, will you please go out with me?"
She almost fell over but he grasped onto the small of her back, sending a warm tingle through her spine. Lily was flabbergasted because no one has ever sincerely asked her out before. "I think I might give it a shot," she smiled slyly. Her eyes widened as he sleekly bent down to kiss her fully on the lips, but everyone in the room gasped as she slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and decided to kiss him back.
"Oh pu-leeease. Get a room guys!" Elizabeth Jones strutted out from the crowd, hands on her hips.
Fabian sheepishly concentrated on the floor, but Lily was tingling with excitement, and didn't let Jones get to her this time, "Gladly!" The room burst into fits of laughter and cheers, encouraging Lily and Fabian to 'get a room', and she was about to listen to them when the door slammed and loud footsteps from the Boy's Dorm corridor could be heard by the whole of London.
James's thunderous steps thumped down the flight of stairs leading to the Common Room, but not many people were able to hear him over the fluttering commotion of rumors on Lily and Fabian becoming official that were spreading. He reached the bottom of the stairs to look for Lily and confess everything to her- he had thought it all over the night before and was prepared for anything except what had actually occurred. His piercing eyes scanned over every head until he found the one and only plush of silky red hair he wanted to himself. James's heart thumped against his rib cage so vigorously, he thought it would shatter into microscopic shards of bone. He was about to start toward the beautifully-freckled, green-eyed girl when he noticed something. That head of hers that he was about to claim as his own was leaning on someone else's broad shoulders while those nimble, maroon-polished fingers he wanted to hold all night and everyday were found playing with someone's Gryffindor robe. Fabian Prewett.
The sight shocked him so, and he was about to fall over when he heard the following words from a gossiping group of fourth-years, "I can't believe she said yes to Fabian! It's super exciting- the Head Girl in a new relationship!"
"It sure is exciting for everyone except, well, Potter… right?"
"Well he's committed in a relationship with Jones so it's not like he'd be against it."
"Are you kidding me, Melanie?! Everyone knows he's been pining after her for years. Just because he's dating some popular chick doesn't mean he's moved on!"
The conversation was too much for James, and he needed time to process the fact that Lily wasn't up for grabs at the moment. In fact, she was actually in a relationship! He had almost forgotten about his own girlfriend when Elizabeth Jones ran up to him and enveloped James in a tight hug.
"I was wondering when you'd get down here James! It takes you forever to get ready, but I'm not complaining. I'm actually digging that bed head you've got going," she giggled seductively.
At the mention of James Potter, the entire Hogwarts castle went pindrop silent, awaiting his reaction to the new relationship. James lightly shrugged off the stares he was receiving and gave his classic Potter smirk which was directed toward Fabian in almost a brotherly manner as if saying "nice job bro".
James then turned to Elizabeth who was still admiring his ruffled hair and held his arm out for her, "And I'm digging the thought of grabbing dinner."
The utter disbelief was almost immediately replaced by smug pleasure on Jones's face as she squeezed his arm and pulled James out of the Common Room like he was a dog on her leash. The Gryffindors who had seen what had just happened were attempting to compute the fact that James just… let it go. It was an entirely new concept to all of them. The silence was soon broken by Melanie, the fourth-year, surrounded by a group of gossiping Gryffindor girls, who exclaimed, "See? I told you he was over her!"
Lily was dumbfounded at James's reaction, but Fabian was too busy getting the fact he was dating Lily Evans into his head. She stared blankly into the crackling flames until the soothing voice of her boyfriend shook her back to reality. "Lily, you look tired… if you want, you can go to sleep right now and we can go on a date tomorrow. Only if you'd like… I'm still new to this whole-"
"Of course I'd like to go on a date with you tomorrow, Fabian. It's something to look forward to when I'm going to sleep," Lily smiled sweetly and he couldn't thank Merlin enough for her. Her hips swayed away from the buzzing common room, but not before she gave him a goodnight peck on the cheek.
Well that was dramatic and included more than enough tension between the couples. Let me know your opinions on what should happen next! Until next week :)