A/N: So! I'm really, really sorry to tell you all this, but after this chapter there will only be one more! :( I think it's sad it's nearly come to an end, but I think it's about time too. This has been going on for over a year by now. Thanks to Anita for being a great beta as always.

21 – Leave it to Fate: Tossing a Coin.

"Okay, okay." James nodded. "Heads and I'll do it. Tails, I won't."

Remus looked at him, concern showing in his face. "Don't you think it's a pretty stupid thing to leave this to fate?"

James shook his head. "I've had enough of it. First, I thought of talking to her on New Year's Eve, but it was kind of ruined… By myself. I didn't dare. I've had enough of this game."

Sirius was staring out of the window, absentmindedly. They were halfway to Hogwarts, they had pulled their usual prank on the Slytherins, which they hadn't gotten any response from yet, and now, James was going out of his mind by tossing coins on whether or not talking to Lily, and telling her he still had feelings for her.

"You're not a girl, Prongs," Sirius sighed. "Girls do that kind of stuff."

"And you risk ruining it all with her," Remus muttered.

James shook his head. "You don't get it… I… I have this feeling…"

"Never trust your feelings," Peter said.

"You'll ruin it all," Remus repeated.

Sirius cleared his throat. "I'm just sticking with you being a man. But I do believe Lily would return your words…"

"You'll get hurt," Peter said.

"Prongs," Remus said. "Would you really leave your relationship with Lily to fate? Wouldn't it be better to think about it?"

"I've been thinking enough about it," James mumbled.

Sirius cleared hit throat. "Yes, but-"

"Okay, ENOUGH!" James exclaimed. "I'm tossing this stupid coin now."

He weighted it a few times in his hand and then let it fly through the air. It landed in his palm and he flipped it onto the other hand. He waited a few seconds and then lifted his hand from the top. The other three leaned forward.

"Heads," James muttered.

"You're a girl!" Sirius grinned.

"Don't girls like it when you try to express your feelings?" James asked. He scratched his head.

"Some, I think," Remus said.

Someone knocked. James stuck the coin in his pocket as Lily and Joey opened the door. Joey was inside at once, sitting down between Sirius and Remus. Lily looked at James, raising an eyebrow.

"James, you promised me."

James frowned, leaning back. "I promise so many things... Did you have something specific in mind?"

She placed her hands on her hips. "Do you mind explaining to me why the three Slytherins down the corridor all are wearing pink ballet skirts and leotards?" Her gaze was piercing.

He took a deep breath. "Well, you see, Lily… In fact… Well, in fact, it wasn't us!"

"Yeah, sure." She smiled, looking around. "Had a nice Christmas, all of you?"

The rest of them nodded.

"Fine," Remus said. "You?"

"The same," Lily said. "New Year's was a blast. The boys really know how to party."

"Couldn't agree more," James said.

"I was talking about Jeff and Brad."

James raised an eyebrow. "I think we're pretty party-ish. Don't you think, Padfoot?"

"Don't bother," Remus sighed. "He's busy."

James eyed Joey and Sirius. "Oh, please! Get another compartment!"

Joey placed both of her hands on Sirius' chest and pushed apart. "Sorry, James."

"Yeah, honestly."

Lily chuckled. "Let them have their fun."

"Not when I'm around," James muttered. "Oi, you two!"

"What?" Sirius asked annoyed. "I didn't complain whenever you and Michaela were snogging!"

"No, because you were never around me when she was."

Sirius smirked. "Fine, I'll remember to be like that with your next girlfriend. You both won't get a second of peace, not a single one, okay?" His eyes flickered for a short second to Lily, but her eyes were on Joey and she noticed nothing.

Peter snickered. Remus pursed his lips. "Padfoot…"

"Hey, Lily?" Sirius called.

Lily looked at him. "Yes?"

"Didn't you ever think that James snogging Michaela was annoying?"

James jumped up. "Oi! Enough, Padfoot!"

Sirius looked around James. "Well?"

Lily blushed. "Errm… I really don't know… If James wants to kiss his girlfriend, let him."

"Oh, I knew you'd take his side," Sirius muttered. "Alwa-"

"Enough!" James cut him off. "Padfoot, we get it. If you want to snog Joey, go ahead."

Sirius didn't let him say it twice.

James slowly got up. He motioned for Lily to go outside and he followed right after.

"Sorry about Sirius," he muttered as he closed the door. "His feelings run a little high when you interrupt a snogging session of his. It was my fault, really."

She smiled. "It's okay."

They started walking down the corridor. James took a deep breath. He stuck his hands into his pockets as they started walking in silence. He could feel his heart hammering loud in his chest. Maybe they were right, maybe it was a stupid idea.

"So?" she asked. "Did you plan on saying something? Or are we just going to walk in silence?"

He shrugged. "Not really. I wouldn't know what to say. Besides… Silence is nice every once in a while. If you're comfortable with silence, you're comfortable with the person who's silent with you."

She looked away. "I guess."

"So I'm just letting you talk," he said. "If you're not comfortable with me."

She laughed. "Okay then." She pursed her mouth.

He smiled faintly. He looked upwards, taking another deep breath. The seconds ticked by.

"Hey," she said. She touched his arm, looking at him, "is there something wrong? You seem a little tense."

He couldn't help but admire her. They'd been walking for a very little time, and she already had seen through him. She knew him too well.

He shook his head. "Nothing special. Just the usual."

"Your crazy thoughts?"

"You got me," he said.

She smiled. "So you're not going to tell me?"

"Someday, maybe."

"You're being very cryptic, James," she said.

"Yeah, but now you'll be thinking of what it was that I might or might not have said during the whole day."

"Probably," she muttered, her cheeks going red. "Or you could just spit it out."

"Or you could stop trying to make me tell you."

She smiled, shaking her head slowly. "Will I ever figure you out, James Potter?"

"Probably not. That's the beauty of me."

"I though it was your Quidditch skills."

"That, and the fact that I'm good at making people think of me constantly."

"What would I do without you?" she grinned, rolling her eyes.

"I heard the sarcasm," he muttered.

She laughed. "Really, James."

"Oh, really?" he smirked.

"Really, really."

"Ah, okay. Then it's fine." He smiled.

Time seemed to tick by even slower now. James didn't intend to back off from his coin-toss made decision, but he had gotten cold feet. Time dragged by and one evening before dinner, it seemed to him that several days had passed even though very few actually had. Sirius seemed to find the whole situation rather funny and wouldn't let go of the 'funny' comments that he shot at every unthinkable and thinkable moment. James blushed every single time, but luckily, neither Lily nor Joey understood what was going on.

"I'm saying we go down for dinner now," James said and got up after one of Sirius's extremely lame remarks.

"Noooo," Lily groaned. "I'm too tiered."

"Prongs will carry you," Sirius smirked. James glared at him.

Lily blushed. "No," she said and waved her hand. "You don't have to James."

James cleared his throat. "I could do it, Lily… If you want me to."

Sirius jumped up, face lit up in a great smile. "Great, we'll race you!"
"What?!"

"Joey?" Sirius looked at Joey. "Jump up, we'll win over Evans and Prongs."

"Sirius!" Joey protested. "Really?"

"Are you afraid of loosing, Josie?" Lily smirked.

Joey got up. "You did not just call me Josie, did you?"

Lily got up too, her eyes locked with Joey's. "I think I just did."

Joey pulled her lips back into a snarl. "You're going down, Evans."

"Hey, do I get a word in this?" James asked.

"No!" Joey answered, looking at Lily. "Honey?"

Sirius grinned, hurrying to Joey's side. "So, you're accepting the challenge?"

She nodded, and then looked at James. "What about you?"

"Um, Lily?" James asked.

Lily rushed to James' side. "Are we doing this, James?"

"Yup."

"This is getting beyond stupid," Remus muttered.

"He's sad and lonely," Sirius smirked.

He scowled. "Wormtail and I will be the judges. See you down there." He and Peter walked out.

Sirius grabbed Joey's hand. "Potter, Evans." He nodded towards them.

Lily took hold of James upper arm. "Black, Sands."

"May the best couple win…" He sent James a smirk while saying it. James scowled back.

Sirius and Joey walked towards the portrait hole. Lily pulled James down to her level.

"We've got to beat them. They're so arrogant when together." She looked at James with raised eyebrows.

He nodded. "Sure."

Lily dragged James after her out of the portrait hole where Joey and Sirius were already standing, snogging. James cleared his throat and the couple broke apart.

"You can just continue, of course," he said, "but then you'll lose to us."

"Never!" Sirius said. "Joey, jump up, please."

Grinning widely, Joey jumped on Sirius' back. They looked at James and Lily. Shortly, James turned to Lily.

"Lily?"

She nodded, placing both of her hands on his shoulders. Then she jumped up and he held her from her legs.

"Ready?" Sirius grinned. Obviously, he found this very amusing.

James nodded. "You ready… To lose?"

"I hope you are, because all you're going to see is the dust after us."

"Ha!"

"Ready," Joey said.

"Set," Lily muttered.

"GO!" they all yelled.

Sirius and Joey got a better start, but James and Lily were right behind them. Running while carrying Lily wasn't actually as hard as James had thought. She was light and he had trained at Quidditch practice with extra weight on him. They were quickly on Sirius and Joey's side. Sirius speeded up, Joey laughing on his back. James took up the challenge and followed suit.

The presence of Lily made him extra aware of his movements, almost nervous. He knew then that he had to tell her sooner or later. He couldn't do this friendship thing anymore. It didn't matter if Lily returned his feelings or not. It could be worth a shot.

Sirius eyed the opportunity that a well placed suit of armor could bring his team. He ran past it and made Joey's knee bump softly into it. It tipped and fell right at James' feet, who was still a bit absentminded. He spun around to avoid falling. Lily laughed and he slowed down for a second.

She kept laughing. He could feel her warm breath on his neck and her arms around his shoulders. Everything about her seemed to be so clear and it was almost too much. Then, he began running again, Lily's laughter ringing in his ear. He pictured her face at the same time. Angelical as always.

And before he knew it, it'd slipped out of him.

"Lily, I'm still in love with you."

A/N: Okay, so as you know, this was the second to last chapter. The last chapter is already finished and ready to be posted. I'm dying to do so, but then I'm thinking, "Hey, why not let my readers suffer a little?" Haha, you can always try to make me post faster by leaving some awesome feedback for me. Haha.