The thing about passing out drunk and high and spending the night sleeping in a yard is that the next morning, it's hard to look like anything but that. Which was a lesson that Sirius learned the next morning. Evelyn didn't learn the same because she snuck into Jessica's house with her and showered, ate, and looked like a girl who was just tired from staying up all night with her friend at an innocent sleepover. Since Sirius didn't have the same luxury, he showed up at his house smelling of alcohol and vomit with blades of grass in his hair. He had the misfortune of walking right into his mother when he opened the door. Her screaming certainly didn't help his pounding head.
"Where have you been? What has happened to you? Are you ill?"
Before Sirius could think of an excuse, his cousin and brother walked into the room, looking disgusted. He looked at Regulus and thought of Hogwarts.
"James," He said suddenly. "I was with James."
"And you thought you'd stay out all night with James and not tell us? You're a liar."
Sirius was still staring at Regulus and was pleading with his eyes. Regulus was his brother after all and yes, they disagreed but Regulus would help him if he really needed it, wouldn't he?
"He is." Regulus said. "James isn't in London." Sirius had the nerve to expect Regulus to help him? Why would he? It wasn't like Sirius ever did anything for Regulus.
"He showed up yesterday."
"Then where is he?" Bellatrix sneered. "Potter is a pureblood. He should show us respect and present himself to us."
Sirius thought the idea of his friend having to present himself to his family was ridiculous. All he wanted was for all of them to disappear so he could bathe and take a nice long nap. Instead, he had to lie:
"He will. Later today." Sirius cringed when he realized that he should have said "soon" not "today." Now what was he going to do?
He hurried off to this room and wrote an owl to James:
"I need you here. Now. It's really important that my family think you were with me last night. Drop everything and run as fast as you can."
He had been writing to James about his family miseries all summer. James constantly asked if there was anything he could do, if Sirius wanted to stay at his house. Sirius hoped that James would be there for him now.
Meanwhile, downstairs Bellatrix was asking:
"Would you like me to find out what he's been doing?"
Mrs. Black eyed her niece and the wand that she was twirling between her fingers. Her reputation proceeded her. She thought of all the horrible things the girl could do to her son.
"No," Mrs. Black said firmly. Sirius was still her son despite everything. Bellatrix's eyes narrowed. "Regulus can find out, won't you Reg?"
"Of course, mother." Regulus said. He already knew what Sirius was doing but he didn't know the whole story and finally the time was upon him to find out.
Sirius sat in his room and stared at the wall. He couldn't go downstairs and deal with his family but he couldn't leave either. He hadn't heard from James and he was beginning to panic. Maybe it was a good sign, he thought, maybe that means he was on his way.
Sirius absentmindedly stared at a poster of a girl on his wall. It reminded him of Evelyn, not that it looked anything like her, but the girl in the picture was a muggle just like Evelyn and she wasn't wearing much clothes and he had seen Evelyn...
Sirius gulped and closed his eyes but it didn't help. Instead he saw exactly what he had seen that morning when the sun first rose and woke him . Evelyn next to him, her arm draped around his waist, skin against skin since his shirt had ridden up while he was sleeping. Her bare leg was looped around his bare leg, his pants somehow halfway across the yard, how had that happened? Slightly alarmed he looked more carefully and saw Evelyn was still in her dress, which was equal parts a relief and a disappointment. It had shifted over the course of the night though and he still saw more of her then he had ever seen before. He snuck a glance but felt guilty so he looked at her face. She looked like a mess, just like him, but at the same time she looked peaceful and pretty with the rising sun on her face.
He sat up to get a better view and she instinctually reacted by tightening her grip around him. She tried to nuzzle her head further onto his chest and a small wrinkle formed between her eyebrows when she realized he wasn't there. Sirius almost wanted to laugh at how adorable it was but instead he kissed her nose lightly and laid back down beside her. She let out a little contented sigh and Sirius was sure she would be woken up by his heart pounding against the side of her head like that. He closed his eyes and despite the fact that the ground was uncomfortable, that his head felt as if it was about to split open, and that the air still smelled faintly of vomit, he was sure he had never had a better night's sleep even though it was a mere two hours from when the sun rose till Beth ran out screaming, telling them to get out since her parents were almost home.
But that felt like a lifetime ago, as Sirius opened his eyes and found himself, not snuggling next to Evelyn but instead, staring at a poster that was no where near as great as the real thing. He'd probably never see Evelyn again unless he found someway to get himself out of the mess he was in.
It had been stupid of him to spend the entire night out but his head was always foggy nowadays. Evelyn should have warned him, he thought angrily. But he couldn't really blame her. She didn't know that he had no idea how muggle parties worked or that Sirius would have been so messed up after a few muggle drinks. Evelyn was trouble. He thought fleetingly of his mother saying that muggles were more trouble then they were worth. But she was worth it, wasn't she?
If only he could tell her about what he really was. It didn't matter before. She was just a girl. A girl he could get in trouble with or snog. A girl who would annoy his parents and distract him. But something had changed and suddenly she was more then that. And every moment he didn't tell her, he felt guiltier and guiltier, like he was lying or wronging her in some way even though he knew he was protecting her. He wanted to tell her but he couldn't. Not now. Maybe one day, years from now, like if he were to marry her...
A knock at his door shook from all his thoughts. He dreaded seeing who was on the other side and walked slowly, delaying whatever horribleness was awaiting on the other side. When he did reach the door, he looked down to see Kreacher:
"Mistress sent Kreacher to tell Master Sirius that a young Mr. Potter is here,"
"James?" Said Sirius, feeling as if something had exploded in his body. He could have kissed the elf but instead he ran off towards the stairs and jumped the last three in his haste. He stumbled into the living room to see James sitting on a chair surrounded by various members of the Black family.
Sirius's mother turned to him and had a distinct look on her face, like she was sniffing a dungbomb.
"I suppose you weren't lying then," She said.
"No," Sirius's voice cracked from not being used all day and from relief, and unbeknownst to Sirius: a result of his hangover.
"I still think he's hiding something, Auntie." Bellatrix said staring at Sirius. "Let me figure out what," She continued as her hand reached for her pocket, her voice a deadly whisper.
"No! Bellatrix, we have a guest and we will all be on our best behaviour," Mrs. Black turned towards James and gave him a look of contempt. "Although, not the ideal guest. He is still a friend of Sirius's and from a noble family. So we will respect him and believe what he states."
There was a tense moment of silence in which Regulus thought of how unfair it was. Here Sirius was, caught red-handed doing something, though none knew what, and he was still forgiven. The same would never be done for Regulus. How come Sirius could get away with things that their parents didn't approve of?
James and Sirius wanted nothing more then to get far, far away from there.
Bellatrix was thinking of what a filthy liar her cousin was.
Mrs. Black was wondering if she did something wrong as a mother, if there was some explanation of why her son turned out this way. Some explanation as to why she still cared.
"Can we be excused now?" Sirius asked, his voice still a croak, so he had to stop to clear his throat before he could finish.
"Yes." Mrs. Black said only because she could not stand to look at her son for a moment longer.
James got up and gave everyone a sort of awkward bow before following Sirius out of the door. Regulus went to follow them.
"Where are you going?" His mother asked shrilly. suddenly afraid that her other son was going the same route and she would lose him too.
"You told me to follow,"
"There's no need. You should be here with your family. It is where you belong."
What she didn't say was that she wanted him there with her specifically. He was all she had. She wouldn't lose him like she lost Sirius. She refused.
Regulus was so angry, he could cry. He did everything right. He was always there for his family. He got good grades. He was a Slytherin. He would bring the family honor by joining the Dark Lord. But he still wasn't good enough because he wasn't Sirius. His family wouldn't allow him any freedom and they didn't believe what he was capable of. No one did. And Regulus was too stubborn to see that he hated his family just as much as his brother did.
James and Sirius had made it out of the house without saying a word. They had turned the corner at the end of the block before James exploded:
"WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON? I get an urgent letter from you that explains NOTHING. I come here worried to death. I walk into your ENTIRE family. I have NO idea what YOU want me to tell them and it was like they were putting me on TRIAL. I'm pretty sure your cousin was about to use the CRUCIATUS curse on me! I have to make some LIES about being with you and my parents at The Leaky YOU walk in looking like you've been run over by a herd of hippogriffs a couple hundred times and-" James stopped to catch his breath. "And what in the name of Merlin is going on?" He asked in a more relaxed tone, certain that was the only way he'd get an answer.
"I'm really sorry, mate." Sirius said his voice still shaky although for different reasons. "I shouldn't have asked you to walk in there without warning-"
"I'd say." James said as he sank to the sidewalk, his back against a building. "Your family is really scary, Sirius. I'd reckon I was more scared in there then I ever was running around with a werewolf." James gave a half-grin and Sirius returned it.
"I bet even Voldemort would seem like a sweet old gran compared to your mother."
Sirius let out his bark-like laugh even though he didn't find it very funny when he thought about it. He held is hand out to help James up.
"Come on," Sirius said. "I'll tell you all about what's going on while I show you."
"You've really outdone yourself, Padfoot," James said as he surveyed the motorbike in front of him. "So what sort of enchantments have you done to it?"
"None. Not a drop of magic. Although I'm pretty sure the old man who lives upstairs is a wizard so I might-"
"No magic? Are you having a laugh? Sirius Black, troublemaker extraordinaire, second brightest wizard at Hogwarts, behind me of course, who was able to become an Animagus by fifth year, using no magic?" James grinned. "You must be in love with this muggle girl."
"How do you figure?"
"Well, you're learning how to live like a muggle, which can only mean one thing. You want to marry her have half lots of little half-bloods."
"Think of how happy Gran Black would be," Sirius laughed before continuing: "It's been sort of fun working on it without magic though, like I'm achieving something, you know? Something my parents don't approve of too, which is always an added bonus."
"Well your achievements mean nothing to me. So, let's do something fun to it."
"My achievements mean nothing to you?" Sirius asked with an eyebrow raised.
"No, that was a lie. I'm proud of you being an Animagus, for getting out of that detention with Slughorn last year, for shagging a muggle, for coming up with that prank in our third year...Oh, one time you went two weeks without pranking Snivellus, an achievement beyond all measure I assure you. Let's see, I'm proud of you for-"
" Alright, alright I get it," Sirius interrupted with a laugh, not bothering to correct James about the assumption about Evelyn. "Back when I first started, I thought about maybe trying to make it fly."
"A flying motorcycle? Excellent," James said as he walked towards the vehicle. "But first," James discreetly took his wand out and attached the front wheel.
"Prongs," Sirius warned.
"What?" James said with feign innocence. "I want to go for a ride on it and I think you owe me at least that."
"Too right," Sirius said. "So how do you reckon we make it fly? Perhaps some variation of Wingardium Leviosa?"
"Or maybe Levicorpus."
"Levi-bikeus?" Sirius offered.
The two boys laughed as they worked on Sirius's bike using tiny spurts of magic. Sirius temporarily forgot all about his troubles. All about how he had accidently told Evelyn all about his life, and somehow she miraculously didn't realize. All about his family's suspicion and that there was a chance that soon enough it would come crashing down all around him. He was in the company of a friend and that was all that mattered, not his hangover, or even Evelyn at that moment.
So much so, that he didn't notice that Evelyn was standing there nervously looking at him. She felt awkward about being there. She was tired and unsure of what had happened the night before. She did know that Sirius had a sort of panicked expression in his eyes that morning and that they hardly said goodbye. Had she done something horrible? Had he? Who was this mysterious boy that he was laughing with now and what were they talking about?
The mysterious boy looked at Evelyn. His hair was black and messy, his glasses dangling dangerously close to the bottom of his nose. He pushed them up and cleared his throat. This caught Sirius's attention and he looked up at Evelyn and the same panicked expression entered his eyes and he dropped the wooden stick he was holding.
Evelyn stared at whatever motorcycle tool that was, afraid to look at Sirius after seeing that look in his eyes and said:
"Sorry. I wanted to call but I realized I didn't have your number. I can go if you want."
"Why would I want you to go?" Sirius said with a grin, stashing the tool in his backpocket and walking towards her.
She shrugged her shoulders before he put his arm around them. Why was she worrying about the morning after if nothing had happened? Sirius kissed her cheek softly, ever conscious of the memory of her sleeping form and of James's little taunt about him being in love.
"Evelyn, this is James. James, Evelyn."
Evelyn shook the boy's hand and he grinned at her.
"So you're the mu-"
"...Mystery girl, yes." Sirius interrupted while glaring at his friend. The boy looked back sheepishly. "James and I have been working on my bike," Sirius added quickly for a change of topic.
"I see that. It actually has both wheels now."
"Prongs, I think Eve's teasing me," Sirius said in mock indignation. Evelyn couldn't help but to still cringe a bit at "Eve." It could potentially be a cute nickname but she didn't particularly like nicknames.
"I think you're right, Padfoot. I also think she doesn't like the name Eve."
"How would you know that?" Sirius asked surprised. He knew she didn't like it which was why he only used it when he was teasing.
"I happen to be very good at reading the subtleties of women."
Sirius let out his dog-like bark. "You reckon Evans agrees with that?" Sirius turned towards Evelyn and added: "Lily is the girl James is obsessed with at school and she loathes him. It's really rather pathetic."
"Remember you said that. Remember and use it in the speech you'll give at our wedding."
"Poor girl," Evelyn commented.
"What?" James asked surprised.
"Well if I were her, I wouldn't want anyone deciding what I was going to do for the rest of my life or who I would spend it with without my consent."
"Careful, Evelyn. I could hear Lily saying that. Next thing you know, he'll be wanting to marry you next."
All three teenagers smiled having no hard feelings about what was said. In fact, they were mostly impressed by one another. They all worked together on the motorcycle, the boys forgetting about magic. After some time, Sirius said:
"I reckon this will run pretty soon. Maybe even now."
"Yeah," Evelyn agreed. "It's come a long way."
"Looks about the same to me," James said and all three laughed.
But Evelyn's laughter was short lived. Sirius's motorcycle was almost done. His little summer project was near completion. What about her little summer project? She hadn't even started. What about her? What would happen when he finished? She would see him less and here he was with a friend and she already felt like she was being pushed out of the picture. Evelyn stood suddenly and said:
"I have to go. It was really nice meeting you James."
"It was nice meeting you too, Evelyn." He said as he shook her hand. When he let go, Evelyn grabbed Sirius by the elbow and pulled him away from James's sight.
"Is something wrong?" Sirius asked. "Why are you leaving so suddenly?" Sirius had the terrible idea that she remembered what he had told her about his life the night before.
"No. No, I just have something to do," She answered distractedly.
"I'll see you soon, right?" Sirius asked worried about whether meeting James was a good idea. Was she ditching him? When she didn't answer right away, he panicked and in his panic, he leaned down and kissed her with a sort of urgency.
Evelyn was sure that he had a tiny firework hidden in his mouth and she had accidentally swallowed it. That was the only way to explain the explosions going on inside her. She reached up and put her hand in his hair, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. She wanted him impossibly closer, as close as he was this morning when she woke up entangled with him.
They broke apart to catch their breath:
"I'll see you soon, won't I?" Sirius persisted in a gasp, the thought that led him to kiss her like that.
Evelyn couldn't talk, certain she would never be able to talk again but she nodded. Then she kissed his nose softly and pulled away. She couldn't handle another kiss like that, so with the memory of it over every inch of her body, she left.
Sirius made his way over to James, still in a daze.
"Everything okay?" James asked.
Sirius nodded: "I just had the best snog of my entire life."
"Wow padfoot, you really are in love. " James said amazed. But Sirius didn't hear him, he was too busy staring at the retreating figure of Evelyn. But if he had heard him, he would of denied it. Not yet but he could potentially.
"I like her," James added. "She's fiery. I know how much my approval means to you. As shown by your insecurities earlier about your achievements. Can't say I blame you for having insecurities with your family though..."
Sirius snapped back to reality and lightly punched his friend in the arm, an acknowledgement of the teasing.
"Shut up. Let's go work on that flying charm..."
Author's Note: Have I mentioned how much I love those of you who consistently leave reviews? Because I do and I really, really appreciate it. Also, the next couple of weeks are going to be really busy for me so it may be a little while before I update again. But I will update as soon as I can and I won't abandon this. In fact, It gets pretty action-packed from here on out so get ready for it. Much love and thank you so much for reading!