Disclaimer: All belongs to J.K. Rowling

FYI, some time has passed since last chapter. Maybe 10-15 more chapters left until the end? We'll see! Then, if you're lucky, maybe a sequel ;) Thanks Anu14 and luzhasswag for your reviews! Thanks Ancient Glory, gredandforge34, and maraudette for you support! FYI I wrote a L/J OneShot called A Sorta Cinderella Story if anyone wants to check it out.

And any girl like you deserves a gentleman

Tell me why are we wasting time

On all your wasted crying

When you should be with me instead

I know I can treat you better

Better than he can

~ Shawn Mendes

James Potter could tell you the exact moment he realized his life was ruined. It all began when Lily Evans, the object of his affections and unrequited love, pranced into the common room looking far too happy and giggling girlishly. This was a far cry from the feisty, sassy, spiteful girl he knew and was immediately worried.

"Lils?" he called nervously, wary of her reaction. When she didn't respond he frowned, "Evans? Did you take a bang to the head, dear?" he'd asked, quite concerned.

"I can inform you I did not take a bang to the head, Potter," she said in a dreamy tone, "I just accepted Amos Diggory's Hogsmeade invite." with a contented sigh she collapsed into the armchair beside the fire, gazing off into it happily. James felt himself freeze-up. She didn't just say… did she really? His face went blank and his hazel eyes swirled with pain.

"Ah," he choked out and tried unsuccessfully to turn back to the book he was reading. When that did not work out he got up abruptly and turned to leave.

"James, where are you going?" Lily had asked, snapping out of her daze. James didn't let her see his face, she would know in an instant in the way she did with him.

"Quidditch pitch." he choked out and she nodded absently, slumping back into her armchair. As James soared around the three hoops he realized he'd lost Lily. For whenever something was off with James he went to the Quidditch pitch and Lily always knew. So, she'd give him some time to blow off steam before coming down to watch him from the stands or fly up to greet him. He did the same with her. It was their unspoken arrangement.

That day, she never showed up. Still, his heart held out hope it was just a fling like her past Hogsmeade dates. Just a fling. The second time he realized he'd lost her was when Sirius, Remus, and Peter had all avoided him for a day. He was confused as one might be when his best mates were steering clear of him for no obvious reason. He soon found out from the Gryffindor gossip, Paige Withers. Lily and Amos had been caught snogging. The hope had chipped off a bit but some still remained and he clung to it like it was his lifesaver.

The third time James realized he'd lost Lily was when Amos sauntered over to the Gryffindor table and a very red Lily had giggled. He'd nearly hexed him when he exaggeratingly grabbed her bagel, took a bite out of it, and asked her to be his girlfriend. Hope lost him when she'd squeaked out a yes at which point their audience exploded into applause. James had simply scowled down at his breakfast and promptly left the Great Hall, telling his friends he wasn't hungry anymore. Marlene, Alice, and Dorcas had watched him go with grim expressions on their faces.

The fourth time James realized he'd lost Lily now for good is when Amos tripped him in the halls with Lily on his arm. Amos had sneered and laughed cruelly as James searched for his glasses which had flown off and tried to collect his books. It was quite the pathetic sight to see the Marauder splayed out in humiliation blind and helpless. Lily had even giggled slightly before walking away with Amos. She was then spotted sitting on his lap at breakfast the next morning. James had skipped all of his classes that day for he had lost Lily Evans completely to some tosser bloke who didn't even treat her well. Damn right he was going to wallow about it.

*''*

Lily Evans knew her life was ruined when she'd found her mouth betraying her and saying yes to Amos Diggory when he asked her to Hogsmeade. He'd smiled charmingly at her and had been a perfect gentleman. He had, after all, been her longtime crush at Hogwarts and this was supposed to be a dream come true. So, she put on the act and pretended to be madly in love because she wasn't going to let the poor fool down. She'd known her life was over when she'd told James and seen his stony, hurt face when he left the common room.

When Lily didn't go down to the Quidditch pitch as she always did when James was upset Lily knew she'd lost a piece of him. Just a piece, she'd reassured herself when he returned muddy and dejected, not bothering to spare her a glance. It was the first piece but it wasn't the last.

Lily knew she'd lost another bit of James when Amos had snogged her. Lily had known it was coming she just didn't want to believe it. Of course, their witnesses were none other than Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew who were quite shocked. She'd forced them not to tell James when Amos was out of earshot and they had relented. Of course, he had found out anyway somehow or other as the news had spread rather quick. He could barely look at her let alone speak to her and that was when Lily knew she'd lost him again.

There was barely anything left of James for her when Amos had strutted over and taken a bite of her bagel quite arrogantly before asking her out. She'd obliged but caught the scowl on James' face as he left the Great Hall. She was glad he'd left when he did because then Amos had snogged her roughly in front of everyone. She'd managed to pull away before anything too serious happened but didn't miss her friends and the Marauders leaving silently.

Lily knew he'd lost James completely when Amos had tripped him, knocking off his glasses in the process, and sending him sprawling out over the floor. Lily knew James was all but blind without his glasses and seeing him pathetically crawling around, his hands splayed out wide in front of him searching, was torture for her to watch. Amos had elbowed her hard in the ribs and she'd been forced to let out a shrill giggle, kicking James' glasses to him in the process before walking away quickly. She was beginning to see Amos was not the gentleman he'd seemed to be. Lily knew then there was nothing left to save between her and James which was why she was sitting on Amos' lap at breakfast the next morning. Her eyes froze on James stiff figure as he walked into the Great Hall, seen Lily and Amos, and abruptly walked right back out. He was not at his classes that day.

So, when Lily kissed Amos goodnight one evening in an abandoned corridor and he'd taken advantage of her Lily knew James was not going to be there, comforting her, as she sobbed in the common room that night. She knew James wasn't coming around anymore.

Ergh. I hate these hot and cold L/J chapters but no relationship is perfect and theirs is definitely not. Please, please review! Love you guys- you make me happy. Ta-ta!