Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! This chapter is for y'all. –N

At last, James agreed to go on a date.

"Finally," Sirius grinned. They'd been back at Hogwarts for a week when James walked into their room and announced to Sirius and Peter that he'd be taking fifth-year Ursula Myers to Hogsmede the first weekend in October.

"I figured it was time," James said.

Peter frowned. "You're over Lily?"

James shrugged. "I mean, I can't keep pining for her forever, right?"

"Of course not," Sirius said, glaring at Peter. He threw an arm around James and said, "And now we can double date."

Remus walked into the boys' dorm then. "Who are we double dating with?"

"James and Ursula Myers," Sirius said. "Our Prongs is finally putting himself out there."

"From the Quidditch team? James –"

"I don't know that a double date is a great idea for, you know, the first time," James said, laughing.

"But look at Moony! Who wouldn't want to go out with you again if you brought Moony? Isn't he so cute?"

Remus raised an eyebrow. "I'm a fucking werewolf."

"An adorable werewolf," Sirius amended.

It seemed to take forever to Sirius, but October finally rolled around, and with it the first Hogsmede weekend of the year. James returned from his date to find Sirius and Peter waiting for him in the dorm on Sirius' bed. Remus sat on Remus' own bed, scrawling out the end of a Charm's essay due that Monday.

"Spill," Sirius said. "I was going to follow you as, y'know, a dog, but Remus said that wasn't a good idea."

"Remus is very smart," James said, sitting across from Sirius and Peter.

"How'd it go?" Peter asked.

"It was nice," James said. "We just grabbed some drinks and took a walk."

"Will you go out with her again?" Peter asked.

"Yeah," James said. "Yeah, I think I will."

XXX

Lily caught up with Sirius on his way to Muggle Studies. "Is it true that James is going out with Ursula Myers?"

Sirius laughed. "Why do you care?"

"Just answer the question, Black."

"They went to Hogsmede together," Sirius said. "He said he'd like to see her again."

"Oh," Lily said. She bit her lip.

"Jealous, Evans?"

Lily rolled her eyes and walked back the way she came.

XXX

James was alone in the Common Room when Lily burst in, her arms wrapped around herself and her lips trembling. James stood and said, "Hey, you okay?"

Lily spun around. "Oh, I'm … yeah. Sorry. I didn't mean to bother you."

"You're not," he said. "You don't have to talk about it with me. But know I'm always here, okay?"

"Uh, thanks." She turned away, paused, and then turned back. "Uh, I heard you're going out with Ursula Myers."

"Oh. I mean, yeah, I am," James said. His cheeks grew warm and he looked away.

"She … she seems nice. I just – I mean, I'm glad you have her."

"Lily?"

"No. It's not fair to you. Or her."

James hesitated. "If I tell you something, you won't tell anyone?" Lily nodded, moving closer, and James whispered, "Ursula, she's not into guys, yeah? She just, well, she's not ready to come out. So I said we could go on a few dates, since people were starting to talk, and I think Remus guessed but –"

That's when Lily leapt forward and kissed him, right there, in the middle of the common room. James gasped and held the sides of her face with both hands. They broke apart and James blinked several times, sure that he'd been dreaming because it couldn't be possible that Lily Evans had just kissed him.

"You're, uh, you're a good friend," Lily said, a flush creeping up underneath her freckles.

"You're a good kisser," James said.

Lily laughed. "Next Hogsmede weekend's for me, yeah?"

James pulled her close and whispered, "Definitely."