Make it Real

Prompt: "Please pretend to be my boyfriend/girlfriend for the next 5 minutes."

Setting: Modern AU

554 Words


For once in his life, James Potter was minding his damn business, sitting alone in the corner table of the pub. He was sipping his cider and waiting for his mates to show up when the strangest thing happened.

A gorgeous redhead plopped down to the seat next to his with a huge smile on her face.

"Sorry I'm late," she chirped, confusing the hell out of James since he had never seen this girl in his life – and she didn't look pissed or barking.

Then, James stopped thinking altogether because the woman leaned in to brush a kiss on his cheek.

He was so preoccupied at such an unexpected show of intimacy from a beautiful stranger that he almost missed the words she hurriedly hissed out as she hovered there, close to his ear.

"Please pretend to be my boyfriend for the next five minutes."

She pulled back smiling at him, and for the first time, he noticed that the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Green and bright like jewels, her eyes were filled with an emotion that looked awfully close to panic.

James took the woman's hand, hoping to reassure her.

"Better late than never," he replied, flashing her a grin.

The woman's shoulders slumped in relief. She gave his hand a little squeeze.

James sipped at his cider again.

He wasn't sure what else to do – there were a dozen questions swirling in his mind but he could tell the time wasn't right to ask any of them.

Especially when he could notice the looks the woman kept darting around the pub, nervous glances which make James want to pull her closer.

Then, the woman stiffened, her fingers clamping hard around his hand.

"Sorry," she said in a hurried whisper. Then she yanked her hand free of his hold and pressed to him.

Her hands clamped on his cheeks and her lips brushed against his and James was in heaven.

He let out a strangled moan, had his hand tangled in that magnificent red hair and was kissing her back with fully authentic fervour.

He'd forgotten all about pretending, wanting nothing more than to lose himself in this moment, in her, hoping it would last forever.

She sighed into the kiss and then pulled back, although her forehead rested against his for several lingering seconds.

"Wow," she murmured after she'd pulled away from him, still a little breathless. "Wasn't expecting that."

"Sorry," James said, suddenly sheepish because only now did he remember he was only supposed to be pretending.

"Don't be," she replied quickly. "You don't need to apologise for that. Trust me."

Their gazes locked and something hummed in the air around them, an acute awareness of every single millimetre that separated them.

And before James' brain caught up with the feeling swelling inside of him, the words were already tumbling out of his mouth.

"Please let me actually be your boyfriend."

Those green eyes sparked with the smile that curved her lips. She reached out and clasped his hand much as he'd done with hers earlier, entwining her fingers with his.

"I'll take that under consideration," she replied, the tone of her voice light and teasing.

And it was at that moment that James was certain he was in love with this woman that he barely knew.