Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognise. (Does anyone know if I have to do this? Anyone?)
Will they kiss? You'll have to wait and see...

Pulling my hand down further, I slosh through another puddle and groan as water soaks through my canvas shoes. As I finally arrive at the top of the stands of the Quidditch pitch, I squint at the black figure zooming around in the pouring rain. "James POTTER!"
The figure halts in mid-air and flies over to just above me, hovering, blown slightly off-course by the wind.

"You'll get a cold if you stay out here much longer, Petal." I ignore the jibe, and try to stop my voice from shaking.
"Why have you been ignoring me?"
"Look, Lily, I'm sorry-"
"Shut up, and get down here. NOW!"
"Ok, Merlin...calm down."
"Do NOT tell me to calm down! Get down here!" I point at the soaked wooden seats in front of me, and he soars down, landing lightly in front of me. He smiles when his eyes catch my hair, and he ruffles his own. I take a deep breath, and push the wet hair escaping my pigtails behind my ears. "You kissed me last night."
"Kind of..."
"And then you apologised?"
"Of course I did! We made a deal, and then I didn't just break it, I send it soaring down in flames."
"Look, we can just forget it if you want?" Please don't want to. Please.
"Ok then." He looks upset, but lets it go. Damn.
"Do you remember that time in first year? You said that my hair looked like it was on fire."
He smirks. "Yeah, and you said you'd do a spell on me, as soon as you learnt how."

We laugh, our voices nearly inaudible amidst the pouring rain. He looks at me, with that strange look on his face again, and it's then that I realise what it is.
It's longing.
Damn.

"Did you hear how I rejected Diggory?"
"That git? What happened?"

I explain what happened, using exaggerated facial expressions, and I'm once again surprised by how intently he listens. Most boys would just nod and smile, and pretend to listen, but not James. He always gives you his full attention, something I admire in him. His face contorts with anger when he hears what the supposed "dreamboat" called me, and his face creases with laughter when I tell him how I shot the boy down.

When I've finished, I look over at him, at his wire-rimmed glasses, his beautiful hazel eyes, and his spiky, black hair, which he runs his hand through, so I'm splattered with raindrops. As we walk back up to the castle, pushing and shoving each other playfully, he bends down and picks me, so I fling my arms around his neck. Apparently that was the desired effect, because he smirks cockily, and bends down slightly to whisper in my ear, his breath hot on my neck, sending tingles running down my spine.
Why does he keep torturing me like this? Surely he knows how it feels!

"Could I be one of your 'possible plans' for Hogsmeade, Petal? As friends, of course..."
"Sure, Porcupine."
Setting me down lightly, he puts his hand between my shoulder blades, and pushes me forwards slightly, so I start to walk. Not wanting to let him annoy me like that, I punch him softly on the arm, and run through the corridor, yelling "You're it!"

I round a corner and hide quickly behind a pillar, as he comes jogging around the corner, deciding to pay him back for the other night. "Lily?" I giggle quietly and cup my hands around my mouth, so my voice echoes, and speak in a ghostly voice.

"You should have never let me see your Invisibility Cloak, James Potter."
He swears underneath his breath and continues walking down the hallway past my hiding spot. He's looking around now, broomstick abandoned on the floor, wand raised. I slip off my sodden flats, and tip-toe behind him, before blowing lightly on his neck. He shivers and raises his wand higher, like I'd hoped. I crane my neck up even higher, balancing on my tip-toes to whisper in his ear, as he's ridiculously tall.
"Boo?!"

I leap backwards as he jumps high in the air, and I collapse, laughing hysterically. He whirls around, and I'm kneeling on the floor, tears of mirth pouring down my cheeks, slipping on my ballet flats. "Your...face...Merlin, Potter..." He steps forward, his wand lying forgotten on the floor, and bends over me, his hazel eyes glittering.
He looks so handsome, I swear my heart practically stops.
No, seriously.

"It is on, Evans. It is on."
I scramble to my feet and try to run, but he grabs me around the waist and lifts me up into the air, tickling me mercilessly. I'm kicking and shrieking and laughing, but he takes no notice and just keeps on smirking.

Then, Alice comes round the corner, hand-in-hand with Frank, and screams at the sight of us. James winces, and drops me lightly to the floor, so I scurry over and hide behind Frank.
"WHAT is going on?" Alice says firmly, and I speak up, peering over her shoulder.
"Well...to make a long story short..ummm...how do we make this long story short, Potter?"
I'm smiling now, looking questioningly at James, who's looking a bit flustered, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Well...Lily scared me, so I...kind of-"
"Manhandled her?!" Alice sounds horrified, and I laugh at James' face.
"No, he didn't manhandle me. We were just...having a argument? Yep, having an argument. And...I won! So...James was...sulking!"
"I was not!" he shrieks indignantly, but I shake my head at him and wink at Alice knowingly.
"See? He's in denial."
"I am NOT in denial!" he whines, and Alice and I start to giggle.

"Hang on... I thought you guys hated each other." Frank looks confused, and I grin at James, who still looks disgruntled. "Oh, we do..." My dear friend grumbles darkly, running his hand through his hair. I step over to his side, and he pokes me in the side, so I squirm away.
"We don't hate each other, we just have a truce that we both agreed on, don't we James?"

Frank frowns. "So why do you act like you're going out?"
"We're special, Frank, you have to understand. Potter here is my...friend." I pick my words carefully, and James nods assent. "Besides, we do NOT."

Alice raises her eyebrows. "Sure."
I go to reply hotly, but James is ready for her sarcasm. "Do you need a cloth, Day?"
"Excuse me?"
"I thought that you might want a cloth, you know, to wipe off the sarcasm dripping down your chin."
Frank turns purple, and Alice gasps, mouth hanging open slightly.
James and I high-five, he picks up his wand, and we run off down the Hall, snickering and calling out to them, as we turn the corner to our rooms.
"Bye Frank, Alice!"
"Yeah, and pick up your jaw from the floor, Day!"

I smile as we skid to a stop in front of the door, and watch James double over with laughter, the rain pattering heavily on the window.

Ooooh! You really think I'd give you the kiss that soon?! Follow and favourite this story to find out what happens next, and I do like reviews (hint, hint)!
Diolch,
She-who-loves-fanfiction xx