It was Wednesday, which meant Quidditch try-outs. Lily had hardly practised her goal-scoring skills. She kept thinking about James, he hadn't talked to her properly since a week. The thought really upset her, she liked how he always teased her. She liked his compliments and his flirting, guess she took them for granted.
The October wind was cold, Lily hugged herself as she walked onto the Quidditch pitch, looking about.
She spotted James, who was flirting with a beautiful raven haired Gryffindor. Flirting, because she was giggling like a little girl as James flashed her his cheeky smile.
Lily averted her eyes, her jaw clenching. Why am I so jealous? She thought, "because you like him! " thevoice in her head replied.
She moved a bit closer so she could hear what they were saying.
"Oh, James. You're such a flirt." The girl hit him on the arm playfully, biting her lip.
Of course, it's not like you're flirting too, yeah? Lily thought, rolling her eyes.
"What? I'm just stating facts!" He grinned, "you are extremely beautiful."
"Oh hush." She blushed, looking down at the ground.
"Hey, I'm up here, what are you looking at?" He laughed, reaching over and tilting her head up.
She smiled up at him, "I love that you're so tall."
"Yeah?"
"Hmm." She licked her lips, "our height difference is perfect."
"Perfect for kissing?" He winked at her.
"Absolutely." She smirked. James bit his lip, about to lean down.
Lily's face was so red from anger it was almost purple. But then a call sounded, "PRONGS! ARE WE HAVING TRY OUTS TODAY OR NOT?!" Sirius yelled, glaring at his best mate from a distance.
James made a face, then instantly straightened up, "sorry. Gotta go." He shrugged, running away, leaving the girl, who groaned, cursing under her breath.
Lily smirked in triumph, she had never been so relieved upon hearing Sirius Black shouting.
"Okay, everyone! It's time for try-outs!" James then called.
It took an hour before Lily's turn came. She managed to score well, only missing one. James was grinning like a proud boyfriend when she came back down. At least, that was the way Lily liked to think of his smile.
But she was annoyed with him, so she ignored the "brilliantly done, Evans." And just slipped off the hair-tie she had tied her hair earlier with, swinging her head side to side to even out her fiery red locks, then ran a hand through it to fix it further.
James was dazed, this majestic creature... he found himself staring at her unblinkingly.
"Potter.. you there man?" Frank's voice broke his trance. James cleared his throat, blinking rapidly, "yes, yes, here." He said briskly, Sirius sniggered beside him, earning an elbow in the ribcage, "shut the fuck up."
"Ouchie." Sirius pouted. "Snuffles will eat your homework now." He muttered.
James glared at him, then turned to the students, "Right, I'll put up the names of the players selected in the common room on Friday. I'm sorry in advance to those who don't get in." He said, then dismissed everyone.
He then walked over in Lily's direction, his broom propped up over his shoulder. She glanced behind her, turning back and quickly fixing herself. "Evans?" He called.
Lily turned around, "yes?"
He stopped before her, "just wanted to say you did good. You deserve a spot."
"Thank you." She said curtly. "You did good too."
James quirked his brow at her tone, laughing slightly as his eyes travelled down to the ground. "Thanks... I guess. Well, er— see you.. around." He muttered, turning away. "Your shirt's missing a button by the way." Was the last thing he said as he resumed his walking.
Lily looked down, the part of the shirt that was supposed to be covering her cleavage was open because of the lack of a button. Lily blushed, oh my God, and James pointed it out too...
Her face then straightened, no. I am not blushing. He can go make that Laura... no Clara.. wait, that's not her name— Lena? Oh whatever— he can go make that mistress of his blush. Bloody idiot.
I hate you, Potter. And I hate that giggling mistress of yours even more.
"Too can play this game." She muttered, huffing and walking towards the castle.
Lily was walking down the hallway, when she heard her name being called, she turned around to spot Andrew Shaw, a Ravenclaw, he was in her ancient runes class. She was good friends with him. He had brown hair that fell over his crystal blue eyes, a strong jaw and was fairly built. Plus popular considering he was a Quidditch player.
"Lily, I've been meaning to ask you this... but you left the class before I could catch up.. would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend? On a date?" He asked, a grin etched upon his face.
Aha! Oh bless you Shaw for coming up with that at the perfect moment.
Friday came by, Lily found out she had made the team. Her heart couldn't help but skip a few beats as she thought of James still choosing her even though they weren't actually what you call 'close' at the moment.
She was currently seated on her bed, discussing with Marlene about what to wear on her date tomorrow.
"Just throw on something warm. It's so damn cold and Hogsmeade is even colder." Marlene shuddered.
"Not helping, Marlene."
Marlene rolled her eyes and stood up, going over to Lily's closet. She opened it and stood there, staring at the hanged clothes. She then clicked her tongue reaching for a teal, full sleeved woollen dress, showing it to Lily. "It'll look great with your hair."
Lily nodded. "That's a really good choice. Thanks, Mar'." She grinned.
"No problem. I'm not quite fond of that Shaw bloke though. He's a fuckboy."
"He's really nice." Lily said, "at least to me."
"I don't know, Lils..."
"You worry too much." Lily laughed. It would be even more wonderful
if Andrew asked her to be his girlfriend.. and her saying yes.
That'll be an amazing surprise for Potter for sure.
Sometime later, Lily, much to her dismay, found out that the Marauders weren't going to Hogsmeade, which meant James wouldn't be there to see her on a date with Andrew... but she still went, anyway.
Marlene stayed behind at school today, muttering to herself about her best friend's stupidity while laying on the red couch in the Gryffindor common room.
"Move your legs, Blondie. This couch isn't yours only you know." A voice sounded, causing her to open her eyes, seeing James looking down at her with raised eyebrows.
"Go sit somewhere else, Potter— hey!" She gasped, for he had grabbed her ankles, practically thrown her legs aside, and plopped down on the sofa, "you look worried, what happened? Talk to me." He said.
"Decided on leaving the pranking business and becoming a psychiatrist?" She raised her brows, sitting up on the sofa.
"What's a—"
"Never mind." She muttered, "I'm just pissed off at Lily."
"Really, why?" He asked curiously, "did she steal your shoes or something? I've seen her sister and her fight like animals over that once."
Marlene laughed slightly, "no. She went on a date with Andrew Shaw today. Also known as the biggest heartbreaker—"
"She did what?!" James exclaimed out loud, startling Marlene too. "What the actual fuck?!" He scowled, his fists clenching tightly.
Marlene widened her eyes at his reaction, "Blimey, James. Calm down, I'm angry too."
"You're not the one with feelings for her!" He blurted out, his face red. Marlene's eyebrows raised, but she couldn't help but smile. "You like her?" She asked.
James sighed and nodded, "don't tell this to anyone, but, I actually.. love her..."
"That's so cute!" Her eyes widened in excitement.
"Won't be so cute if she's taken. That's just downright creepy." He rolled his eyes.
"She's not taken yet, James."
"Trust me, no idiot would let her go if she was happy to associate with them. Of course, Snivelly's an exception." He winked at Marlene.
She laughed out loud.
Two days later
The Marauders sat under a tree in the school grounds, Sirius leaned against the tree and propped his feet up on the stone James was leaned against, while Remus and Peter sat talking about. James couldn't keep his eyes off of the new 'it' couple, Lily Evans and Andrew Shaw. News about them dating had spread through the school like wildfire.
"They're snogging." James muttered, biting into an apple. "What does she even see in him?"
Sirius closed his eyes crossing his arms behind his head, not bothering to answer.
"And now they're holding hands." He grumbled, "she's blushing? Oh for fucks sake, they're kissing again."
Remus face-palmed himself, "Give it a rest, Prongs."
James still kept going. "Bloody wanker's touching her arse. I'm gonna set a bludger loose around him. That'll bloody bash his head in for sure." He took another bite.
".. shag right here in front of us why don't you."
"Prongs." Remus said.
"What's so funny? Why is she giggling?" He still refused to listen.
"Will you fucking stop narrating every fucking thing they're doing and just shut the bloody fuck up?!" Sirius snapped.
James threw the apple core on Sirius' head. "You shut the bleedin' hell up, can't you see I'm having an emotional crisis here?!"
"Oi! Who the fuck do you think you are throwing bloody apples at me?! You fucking bitch!" He kicked James's shoulder.
"You bloody wanker—"
"Stop!" Peter exclaimed.
"Shut it!" Sirius and James said at the same time, snapping their heads towards him. Peter faltered under their strong glares.
Remus sighed heavily, "guys stop."
James grunted, crossing his arms over his chest and clenching his jaw. "Ugh, Kill me they're coming this way." He gritted.
The couple did come close to the Marauders, but simply walked past. James' scowling face and dark eyes following them. "Don't talk to a girl for a week and she goes and gets a damn boyfriend. Told you she won't care.. she didn't even glance at me right now!"
"And I told you that ignoring her would be a stupid idea. But you didn't bloody listen. Now, enjoy what you
could've stopped." Remus rolled
his eyes, fixing his shoelaces. "Congratulations, you're officially a fucking legend."
"Touché... we should listen to Moony often." James sighed, looking back in the direction Lily and Andrew went.
"Did you forget we have a match against Slytherin in two weeks? We should be practicing instead of narrating snogging couples." Sirius pointed.
"Bloody hell.." James said, he then laughed out loud, sitting between Sirius and Remus so he could lean against the tree.
"I'm a moron." He chuckled, "with the most tragic love life."
"No doubt." Sirius stated.
James's eyes again flickered towards the redhead beauty. She brushed some of Andrew's hair from his forehead, he smiled.
James pinched the bridge of his nose, tilting his head back against the rugged bark and sighing loudly. He then laughed dryly.
"You're acting mental, Prongs." Peter said.
"I am mental."
"That's an understatement." Sirius smirked, patting James' shoulder, who rolled his eyes.
"I agree with you." Remus said.
"Where were you?" James asked Lily, who was ready to be as silent as she could be so she wouldn't wake James up, but to her surprise he was sitting on the couch.
"Out." Lily answered, removing her coat and moving towards the bathroom.
James grabbed her wrist when she was about to walk past him, lily turned around, "what do you want, Potter?"
"Are you upset that I was avoiding you? If this is a show to grab my attention, trust me it's all yours. You don't have to endure Shaw." He stated.
"Andrew is my boyfriend. A very good one too. Not everything is about you, Potter." She rolled her eyes.
James clenched and unclenched his jaw, Lily glanced at it, mentally admiring the sight of a jealous— as she thought— James Potter. Stop it, Lily. You have a boyfriend, you can't go admiring other boys! She mentally kicked herself.
"Will you let go of my wrist?" Lily raised her brow.
James did as she said, "he's not allowed here, by the way. So don't bring him here." He said quietly, looking back at the fire.
"This is my dorm too!"
"I don't care. I'll hex you both." He muttered.
"You're just jealous that I chose him over you!" Lily exclaimed.
"Damn right I am! You know I like you. I was just confused with all those things you said, and that patronus thing. I just thought you might like me back because they reflect emotions, but when I saw your face, I— I felt pathetic, I finally realised how pathetic I've been. So I stopped flirting with you, and you know when we talk it's mostly me flirting, so it lessened to very little talk. I'm sorry. I've been ridiculous." James mumbled.
Lily kept quiet, "...goodnight, Potter." She said finally, making her way towards the stairs again.
James felt a sting in his eyes, I've lost her before I could even get her. It's my own fault.
"Prongs, you look almost as ill as Moony today." Sirius stated, sliding in the bench of the Gryffindor table opposite him.
"Whatever." He grumbled, stabbing his eggs with his fork. Remus, who was sitting beside him, groaned and put his head down, "I'm aching all over. And the full moon's still four days away!"
"Is it a bad moon?"
"Worse probably, too much pain." Remus sighed. "Enough about me though, what happened to you, James?"
"Lily Evans." He grunted, resting his cheek on his fist as he glanced towards the Ravenclaw table, where she sat next to Andrew, Marlene was there too and they were talking to a brunette girl, Mary MacDonald. Andrew kissed Lily's cheek as she smiled.
"I'm never falling in love." Peter piped up. "I won't like being in James's state."
"Peter." Sirius said, "you're not helping." Peter laughed.
"I just want to know what she sees in him. He doesn't even like her, just trying to get in her pants. I swear I saw him flirting with a Slytherin this morning. A Slytherin."
"Lily's being foolish. I bet if she doesn't give in to bang him in a month, he'll cheat on her." Remus said.
"Sooner than a month more like, and she called me a 'sex crazed hoe.'" James rolled his eyes, reaching for the pumpkin juice. "I'm angry as fuck. Let's duel somewhere after classes today."
"Fuck yeah!" Sirius pumped his fists in the air.