Chapter 36

James was shattered. Quidditch practice was getting more difficult with every week. Frank was taking all his frustration about his own situation out on the team. James had flown twenty five laps just for a warm up. Then he, Amanda and Jaclyn had spent the practice racing around trying not to get hit by the Bludgers that Frank demanded be hit at them.

He had been hit three times by powerful shots and knew he had bruises up and down his body. Standing under the showers the water stung him but he allowed the heat to wash over him. As he moved out and wrapped a towel around himself he went back into the changing rooms.

Everything was quiet in there as most of the team had finished long before him. Sirius and Ted had been in and out of the showers within seconds and had gone to met their girlfriends. Frank had been a while longer but he too had vanished now. James was always one of the last out, they joked that he was more vein than the girls when it came to being clean. So far all season he had been the last one out of the changing rooms, and he expected that tonight would be no exception.

Slowly he sat down on the bench wincing as the pain shot through his body. He could hardly move already and wondered what the pain would be like in the morning. He rubbed gently at his shoulder where more pain was spreading but he couldn't see a bruise. A small creak drew his attention to the far end of the changing room and he squinted into the darkness.

"Who's there?"

"Just me bebè"

He smiled as he watched Amanda step out of the darkness. He looked her up and down and grinned.

"How long have you been there?"

"Not long."

It was clear that she hadn't long gotten out of the showers either. Her hair was damp and falling around her face. She wore a small white summers top with spaghetti straps and a small white skirt.

"What you doing in here anyway? The girls shower room is next door"

"Forgot my broom. I thought it would be empty."

She looked at him closely.

"Obviously I was wrong."

He grinned only now realising that he was in only a towel. He was a little self-conscious and Amanda seemed to pick up on that as she turned away from him. Quickly he grabbed his trousers and ignoring the fact he was wet pulled them on. Gently as he was still in pain he walked over to the girl and draped his arms around her shoulder.

"Do you realise this is the first time we've been alone together in three months."

"Wow has it really been that long?"

He nodded as she turned in his arms and he lowered his lips to hers. The kiss was gentle and sweet to begin with and then she deepened it and he responded. Her arms moved to his neck brushing his shoulder and he winced. At once Amanda pulled back looking at him.

"Are you okay?"

He nodded but it was clear that she could tell he was lying to her. She guided him back to the bench and sat him down. He could feel her fingers across his bare skin as she touched at his shoulder.

"I don't see a bruise yet, but I think it'll be there by morning."

"Yeah me too. So you've seen my bruise do I get to see yours?"

She blushed lightly as she sat down beside him.

"I don't have any bruises."

"Wait you've used that concealment charm again haven't you?"

She shrugged and he began to tickle her, she squealed trying to hit him away. She wriggled against him and ended up lying on the bench with him leaning over her.

"James stop. Ouch."

He stopped and looked at where his hand was it was just above her ribs and gently he pulled her top up to look at it. There was a shining black bruise over her left ribcage and he winced for her.

"That looks bad."

"Yeah almost as bad as the one on your back."

"Think we should complain to our captain that if we keep getting injured we won't be able to play."

"We could try, doubt it will work."

He smiled down at her his eyes locked on hers. Slowly he lowered himself so that his lips were again on hers. He pushed himself entry into her mouth as they deepened the kiss. Her hands were in his hair making it messier than before. His hands though were tracing her body; carefully he slipped his hand over her ribcage trying not to touch the bruise. As he lifted his hand further though her hand came down to his pulling it back. She was pulling out of the kiss so he too pulled back and looked down at her.

"James don't."

He was being ignorant of something he knew it, but as he lay there practically on top of her he couldn't think of what it was. She was shuffling a little so he sat up allowing her space watching her carefully. Her arms carefully crossed over her chest and she looked uneasy. It was in that moment he realised what was going on.

"Amanda I'm sorry, I didn't mean too."

"It's alright lets just keep things slow okay."

He nodded as she smiled at him. Then she was standing and moving to the other side of the room. She held up her broom and turned to him.

"I'll see you back in the common room."

He nodded and watched her leave. As the door shut he hit himself in the forehead. How stupid could he be? Amanda was different to other girls. Things would have to be slow between them she needed that, she needed to know that she could trust him when they were alone. He made a vow then not to do anything like that again until Amanda was the one in the led.