Instead of enjoying the taste of toast and hash browns, James gulped it down. He had to finish his breakfast before Jane to catch up with her. Looking at her from where she sat, she was almost done. Washing down the last piece of his toast with milk, he stood up. "I'll do it now," he announced, wiping his hands on his robes.

"It's going to be alright," assured Sirius. The boys had talked about it in the morning. And they had helped James gain the courage to talk it out with her.

Yet, every step he took towards Jane, he wanted to chicken out. His heart was hammering against his chest, but he kept reminding himself that it was going to be alright. He just had to do it.

"Jane?" his voice cracked as he reached her. His ears started getting hotter, as he waited for her to turn around and look at him.

Shock was an understatement. Everyone around her was looking at James. That included Evans. "Hello James," Jane managed to speak once she gulped in her toast.

"Are you free? I want to talk to you," James's voice came out as a whisper. He reminded himself to not look at Evans. At least not for now. It wasn't right.

"Yes," replied Jane with a nod. She started getting up from the bench, when James's eyes landed on her plate. She hadn't finished her breakfast yet.

"No, you can finish your breakfast," he replied, shaking his head. Truth be told, this was his way to chicken out of the situation. Somewhere deep down, he was hoping she would not have time later.

"Give me 2 minutes?" asked Jane hopefully. James could get his act together in two minutes.

"Sure, I'll wait," he replied, forcing a smile on his lips.

"You can sit with me." Near Evans? James knew better than that.

"It's alright."

James walked back faster than he had walked up to her. He sank back down on the bench beside Peter. His heart was still threatening to escape out of his ribcage. He had never felt this nervous before.

"Did you already do it?" asked Sirius in disbelief. He looked over at Jane.

"She was eating," replied James, pressing his head against the cool wood. His stomach was in knots and he could feel his head swimming.

"So, you didn't?" Sirius questioned once again.

"All the girls were looking at me," James shook his head, as he shut his eyes.

"Let's go over it once again," continued Sirius.

James lifted his head off the table and looked at his friends. "I'll say 'I'm sorry Jane but I think we should stop'," he whispered. His words came out harsher than he intended.

"Wow mate! Can't you be any harsher?" scoffed Sirius, narrowing his eyes at James. He knew he was screwed!

"Can you at least add some emotions to your words?" advised Peter. As if it was as easy as he said. Maybe he should chicken out. It wasn't a good idea.

"I'm nervous!" cried James, rubbing the back of his neck. He took in a deep breath, trying to calm down. Underneath the table, he couldn't stop his leg from shaking.

"You can do this!" encouraged Peter, with a smile. But even he looked scared for James. But Jane wouldn't hex him for this, right?

"Ready or not, she's done with her breakfast," remarked Remus, jerking his head in Jane's direction.

James exhaled through his mouth as he spoke, "Alright, here I go." He sprang up from his bench. 'Just do it!' he kept chanting.

"Good luck mate," whispered Peter.

Turning around, he stood face to face with Jane. He felt his resolve melt. Maybe he could take up Sirius on his idea and let him break up with Jane. Apparently, Sirius was good at it. 'No! you can do it,' James told himself.

"Let's go," breathed James, earning a nod from Jane. He let his eyes wander to where Evans was sitting. Maybe she could give him the courage he needed. But she was already gone! He wondered when she left the Great hall? 'It's not the time to think about that!' he told himself.

The two walked down the courtyard under the bright sun. The air had lost its warmth from summer, but it wasn't cold enough for winter yet. The leaves had begun to fall. Students were enjoying the stunning morning in the courtyard. Everything about the day was beautiful, but James couldn't bring himself to enjoy it.

"Is everything okay?" asked Jane when the silence stretched on for too long.

"Yeah," that was James's automatic reaction these days. Every time someone asked him this question or if he was fine, he had to say yes.

"You look nervous," noted Jane. She did have a keen eye, maybe Sirius and Peter were right and she has already seen his sulking face when they were together.

"I am," replied James, sighing heavily. There was no point in lying. It was going to happen.

"Why?" asked Jane, studying James's face under her warm gaze. James wondered what it would feel like when her gaze would turn cold.

"Because I've to say something to you," mumbled James. He looked around to see the younger students running around and the older ones walking or sitting and talking.

"Go on," encouraged Jane.

"Not here," he shook his head. The last thing he wanted was to several people witness what he was about to do.

"Uhh – where should we go?" she asked, looking around.

"Let's take a walk to the wooden bridge," replied James. It was generally empty, and far away from prying eyes and ears.

As always Jane was agreeable, "Alright."

The walk to the wooden bridge was nerve wrecking. James forgot how many times he had thought of ways to chicken out of the situation. The quiet mountains and cool breeze made James shudder.

"So, what is it?" asked Jane, as their shoes clicked against the wooden bridge.

"Jane I – I –" James couldn't help but stammer. His heart was in his mouth. He couldn't do it!

"Relax first," chuckled Jane, and then studied his flushed face.

"Give me a moment," replied James, turning around. He needed to clear his head before he started speaking. Otherwise he knew he'd mess up.

"Take all the time you need," said Jane, but James's mind was already miles away.

Evans always seemed to have an impeccable timing. She wasn't even close by; he could see her in the distance. She was sitting on a bench near the Sundial garden with her roommates. It was a relief to see her spending time with someone else other than Snivellus. The more James looked at her, the more she gave him a sense of tranquillity. It was so quiet that he could hear her laughter, and in return in made him smile.

"James?" Jane's voice interrupted his train of thoughts.

"Sorry," mumbled James, turning around to face her. It was wrong of him to do this to Jane.

"I can tell something is up," addressed Jane. Well, she was smart indeed. It wasn't that big of a deal that it didn't skip her notice.

"The thing is, I'm not sure how to say this in a way it doesn't hurt you," admitted James. She could hex him after this to her heart's content but he didn't want her to get hurt.

After a long pause, Jane looked at her feet and spoke in a low voice, "You don't like me."

James's jaw hit the floor. How did she know?! "I like you – just not that way," he replied, trying to make the situation better. But he reckoned he had made it worse.

"I figure that out," her words sent a new wave of guilt throughout James's body.

He averted his gaze to his feet too. "You did?" he couldn't help but ask. If she already knew that, why did she put up with it? When she didn't reply, James looked up to study her face.

She nodded, still not looking at James. "I don't resent it. We went on a date to figure out if we could like each other. If you didn't, it doesn't matter. I still had a good time with you."

"I am sorry," was all James could come up with in the moment. He meant it more than she could understand. He knew she deserved better than this.

"For what?" Jane chuckled. He wanted her to hex him, or at least tell him he was a horrible person. Now that she was doing the opposite of it, he felt guilt laden.

He had no appropriate response for it. So, James kept mum.

"Can I at least know what was the reason?" that was one question James wanted to avoid for as long as he could.

James was torn between the options of telling her the truth and lying to save her feelings. But he couldn't lie, it had to stop! "I like someone else, and I figured it would be wrong if I continued doing this while thinking of someone else." He paused for a moment to let his words sink in. "I'm sorry," he completed.

"Hey! It's not a crime to like someone else," assured Jane, forcing a smile.

"I had a great time with you," that wasn't a lie. He did enjoy her company. The least he could do was tell her the good part of it along with the bad.

"I'll still cheer for you during Quidditch," beamed Jane.

For a moment, it left James stunned. Had he heard her wrong? "You don't hate me?"

"Why would I?" a crease formed between Jane's eyes. "We were never exclusive. I wasn't your girlfriend," she continued with a shrug. "And Quidditch has nothing to do with dating. I still believe you're the best player in our school."

That hit James like a wrecking ball. Would it be too much if he jumped off the bridge right now? With unsure steps, Jane moved closer to him. He could see the way she was blinking back her tears. She opened her arms, and mumbled, "Can I?"

James didn't have to think twice about this. He stepped closer to her. His heart was racing, but he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He heard Jane's breath hitch, and he almost chuckled. She pressed her cheek against his shoulder and James had no idea how long they stood like that.

Once they dropped their arms, Jane took a step back. She avoided his gaze like her life depended on it. "Don't beat yourself up." James felt like she needed to hear those words more than he did. But he couldn't bring himself to say anything. "I'll see you around." Before James could respond, she dashed off towards the castle, and he stood frozen in his spot.

James needed some time to himself before returning to his room. He had to figure out what had happened. But the truth was he wasn't sure himself. So, after taking the longest route possible, he found himself back in his room.

Just like always, his friends were waiting for him. "What happened?" asked Sirius, before James had even shut the door.

"I'm not sure myself," replied James, his unfocused eyes staring blankly at the wall in front of him. They had discussed a hundred responses, but she had a completely different one.

"You didn't tell her, did you?" Sirius questioned back. He looked worried, but James didn't feel like smiling to assure his best friend that everything was alright.

James shook his head, and mumbled, "I didn't have to."

"What do you mean?" said Remus as he looked at James with a puzzled look on his face.

James's lips turned upside down in a frown as he narrated what had happened. "She already knew. She said we went on a date to figure out if we can like each other and she knew I didn't."

"Then why are you upset?" asked Sirius. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, trying to understand the problem.

"She is already having a hard time. With her Aunt's death, I already told you," replied James in a matter-of-fact voice. He sat down on his bed, his eyes studying his friends' faces.

"It's not your mistake," replied Sirius with a shrug. When the other three boys looked at him in disbelief, he continued, "Am I wrong?"

"No, but you are insensitive," scoffed Peter, rolling his eyes. Sometimes James wondered how was Sirius's brain wired? This was not a normal reaction.

Remus cleared his throat and spoke in a firm voice, "James, don't beat yourself up. It's not like she figured it out just today. If she knew she'd have known it for a while."

"But she shared something close to her heart with me," said James in a vain attempt to explain what he was thinking. "Isn't it wrong?"

Remus shook his head and continued, "It would have been wrong if you had stayed with her because she is having a hard time, despite knowing you can never like her the way she wants you to."

"She doesn't deserve pity," added Peter, pushing his lower lip out in a pout.

Sirius nodded too, agreeing with them, "They're right."

"I suppose," replied James with a loud sigh.

The room grew unusually quiet. James had a lot going on his mind. From Jane's reaction to his feelings for Evans. The fact that Remus might have already fallen for her and how it might affect their friendship. He could feel a dull ache in his head. Remus broke the silence once again, "Let's leave him be for some time."

The boys rummaged across the room, wearing their shoes and finding their belongings. They walked out of the room. Something James was thankful for. He didn't know what to do or say for the time being. And he appreciated this.

After dinner the boys went for a walk. Sirius and Peter were engaged in a conversation with Frank Longbottom. Remus purposefully fell a few steps back with James. "Are you feeling guilty?" he asked in a whisper.

"How'd you know?" James questioned back. His mother always said he was like an open book. Was it that obvious?

"It's written all over your face," replied Remus with an apologetical smile.

"I feel worse because – I like someone else," James's voice was almost inaudible. He couldn't even swallow his food with both Jane and Evans sitting so close by. It was torture!

Remus looked straight ahead. "You didn't act on it before breaking it off with Jane," he said, shoving his hands in the pockets of his trouser.

James had to tell someone what exactly bothered him. Remus already knew a lot, and James somehow felt comfortable talking about this with him. "She said she wasn't even my girlfriend."

"She wasn't," replied Remus in a matter-of-fact voice.

"She doesn't hate me."

"Should she?" asked Remus, raising his brows. When James didn't respond, he jested, "Hey, at least you didn't break her heart beyond repair."

Yes, they were right. They weren't involved to the point of no return. She'd get over him. Anyone would be a little hurt about breaking things off. It would have been weird if she wasn't. There was no need for James to feel so horrible about it. He sighed, and agreed, "You're right."

"Now, what are you going to do about the girl you like?" asked Remus after a long pause.

James chuckled, 'If only you knew who she was' he thought. "Nothing, for now," said James. It was a safe response. In reality, he was not going to do anything ever.

"Haven't you figured out who does she like?" Remus continued questioning. James scrutinized his face. He had to figure out if Remus had no clue whatsoever. He seemed to be clueless.

"Alright, listen," started James after a long pause. "There is a boy who likes her and another one who might like her, I'm not sure."

"Two boys," repeated Remus, trying to keep up.

James smiled, nodding. "I don't care about the one I'm sure about. I can handle him," said James. Snivellus was a piece of cake. James couldn't care less about him. If Evans saw how creepy he was, she would leave him herself.

"What about the other one?" questioned Remus, cocking his head to the right as he looked at James with curious eyes.

"I don't want to hurt him," replied James with a shrug. How could he hurt Remus? And he didn't mean physically – he could never even think about doing that. He meant emotionally.

"We can do it for you," replied Remus in a nonchalant voice.

James chuckled, as he shook his head. "No. He's amazing," he couldn't help but say.

"Now I'm curious," said Remus, his lips curled up in a smile. Whenever Remus was excited about something, his green eyes glistened. The way they were glistening right now.

"The problem is, I don't know which one of these two does she like for sure," said James, quickly changing the topic. It wasn't safe to venture into that conversation. He had already broken one heart today and that was enough.

"How do you not know that?" asked Remus in disbelief. His brows furrowed, and his lips were set in a straight line.

"She's friends with both of them," replied James. It was vague enough for Remus to not figure out. There were a lot of students who could fit that description. Nothing about it screamed Remus, Evans and Snivellus love triangle.

Just the thought of it had James's stomach in knots. Why was this situation so frustrating? Why did it had to be so complicated? There were several girls in Hogwarts and the one who caught her attention had to be her? The one his best friend probably likes?

"She could just be a friend too, you know," said Remus. He looked at James with a hopeful glance. A glance that said, have you thought of it from this angle?

Of course, James had thought about it. There was no conclusive evidence that could tell if they were only friends. Just like there was no conclusive evidence that they weren't just friends. James wasn't willing to take that risk. It Remus wasn't in the mix; he might have done it.

"I don't think so," replied James, shaking his head.

"You aren't going to give me a name yet?" asked Remus, raising his brows once again.

James shook his head again, and said, "Not yet." He wasn't ready.

In a distance, Sirius turned around, with a bright smile. He waved his hands, trying to catch Remus and James's attention. "Come here!" yelled Sirius on top of his lungs.

"What is it?" mumbled Remus, as he picked up pace. When he noticed James was a few steps behind, he looked over his shoulder. "Are you coming?" asked Remus.

"Yes," replied James with a smile.

In front of his eyes, he saw everything that made him happy. He saw his friends laughing and enjoying. Sirius was no longer unhappy and abused, rather he was loved. Remus was no longer alone and hurting, he had his friends. Peter was no longer bullied; the boys were there to protect him.

Pushing his feet off the ground, James quickened his pace. His face broke into a grin. Thank merlin, they all had each other.