Prompt: We aren't dating but we are so not platonic right now and one of us just kissed the other in public accidentally
By the time he showed up, the party in the common room was in full swing. Slytherin had been crushed at the hands of the Gryffindor quidditch team and the whole house was out in force to celebrate. Sirius spotted him over the heads of their dancing housemates: "Our fearless leader! Our faultless flier! The one and only James Potter, ladies and gents!" he called over the din of the music and laughter; his voice carrying over the crowd as he raised his glass in James' direction. The crowd followed suit, and James gave a playful bow before walking over to where his friends crowded around a couch.
"About time you showed up, oh honorable captain!" Sirius crowed, "You can't miss your own afterparty!"
"He just likes to make a grand entrance," teased Evans with a wink from her precarious perch atop the couch.
"Sorry to deny you all the joy of my presence," he said, taking a moment to bask in the warmth of Evans' attention, "But I had a very important meeting I simply couldn't miss."
"Oh, sorry I just had such an important business meeting," mocked Remus, from where he reclined in one of the overstuffed armchairs, putting on an overly posh accent.
James gave him a playful shove and continued, "As you guys know, a few teams have been scouting me this year. And…" he trailed off for dramatic effect.
"Spit it out!" demanded Evans, fairly bouncing on her toes to hear his big announcement.
"Today the rep from Puddlemere officially offered me a place on the team!" He finished off with a flourish, looking up to meet Evans' eyes. His friends offered a chorus of congratulations and excitement, but all was drowned out as Evans launched herself at him from her perch on the back of the couch.
"Ohmygodjamesyoudidit!" her excitement bled her sentence into one word as she flung her arms around his neck, "Congratulations! I knew you could do it!" she beamed as he caught her around the waist, swinging her into a laughing embrace.
The look of pure pride and happiness in her eyes overwhelmed him, and she was still laughing when he leaned down and pressed a firm kiss against her lips.
She gasped and tightened her hold around his neck, before seemingly coming to her senses and moving her hands to his chest to give him a kind, but firm, shove away. He took a step back, but couldn't tear his eyes from hers. "What…" she whispered, looking dazed and pressing her fingers to her lips. Lips he had just kissed. In front of all their friends and housemates.
The realization was like a bucket of ice water to his euphoria of the win and quidditch scout's offer. "I…" he started, but trailed off– unsure of how to apologize.
Sirius watched the slow horror spread over James' face and leapt into action. He wrapped Mary in a quick embrace, pressing a smacking kiss to her lips. "Mazel Tov!" he called (a new muggle phrase he'd just learned), moving around the circle, pressing a smacking kiss to the lips of every single one of their friends.
Soon they were all too distracted, caught off guard by Sirius, to pay much attention to him or Evans who still stood, still staring silently.
"Ugh gross!" Peter shouted, wiping his lips.
"Hey!" came the shocked protest of Alice.
"Don't even think about it." warned Marlene.
James barely registered any of the commotion, still unable to form a full sentence to apologize or at least explain himself to Evans. "Evans, I–" he started again, but was cut off as Sirius rounded the circle, kissing Evans with a loud smack, and whisking her away to the dancefloor as she giggled in surprise. He breathed out a sigh of relief, helping himself to someone's abandoned drink. He winced at the bitter concoction, before downing the rest and helping himself to another one of his friends' forgotten drinks.
"Want to explain any of that?" Remus asked, handing him a glass of firewhiskey.
"Nothing to explain," he said, striving for nonchalance.
"Oh? Clearly that's why you're over here pounding back people's random drinks," Remus intoned, clearly not believing him for a second.
"We're just friends," James said, trying not to wince at the bitter taste the words left on his tongue.
"Clearly," said Remus, his tone droll, "Because I always kiss my friends."
James sighed, but said nothing, simply holding out his glass for another drink.