OMG! Hey everyone! Soooooo sorry that this chapter took so long to get out!
Britt lost her internet and we couldn't write, and she just recently got it
back! Thanks for all the patient reviews! Don't forget, we love you guys,
and at the end of this story there will be replies to ALL of the reviews!
But it's not quite here yet, so you'll just have to wait a tad bit longer.
-Jess and Britt
Chapter 6: James and His Desire
"Lil, bud, it'll be okay," Brittany said, patting her on the back. Then she turned to one of the doors behind her. "Jess, get your ass out here, now!" She sounded extremely peeved. (And she was, too.)
When Jess arrived, she looked vaguely scared, for Brittany's temper was not a thing to mess with, and Jess knew it. "What?"
"Why the Hell did you come up with that God-damn idea?" she asked slowly. Britt's talking slowly showed she was furious, for most of the time, the words competed to come into her mouth, came out fast, got tangled up, and confused her.
"I thought it would be funny. I guess I never thought I'd play with her emotions as well. And I never thought James would be this hurt," Jess said, obviously feeling as awful as Britt and Lily did.
Britt could tell she felt awful, but Britt needed to vent. "That you didn't think is evident," she said, but her voice began to waver. "I didn't make the bet, and I wasn't one of the hurters, but I feel just as awful," she admitted. She sat down next to Lily and began to cry.
"Oh, God," Jess said. She sat down too and also cried until the floor was successfully soaked.
"Okay, guys?" Britt said, sniffling.
"Y-yeah?" Jess hiccuped.
"There's gonna be a flash flood if we don't stop soon," Britt said, pointing at the floor.
"Oh, jeez, Britt," Lily said, tackling her.
"Dog pile!" Jess said, jumping on to Lily.
"Oof!" Brittany said. "You're crushing my ribs!" Then there was an audible crack. "What's that, Jess? I'm sort of squished, so I can't see."
"Evans, Aston, Jones! What on Earth are you doing!? You three look absurd!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed, voice sharp.
Lily caught a glance of them in the mirror and had to agree. Their faces were tear-streaked, but they were laughing and piled atop each other.
There was another loud crack as the wood holding up the bed broke. At this, Professor McGonagall looked livid. "Get - off - the - bed," she said. "Now. And then march yourselves to Professor Dumbledore's office and explain why the bed is broken."
"Professor McGonagall, couldn't you just let us tell you why? We feel pretty sucky as it is, and being marched to the Headmaster's won't really help much."
"All right, sure. One moment, please." With those words, she fixed the bed and also changed a bunny slipper scattered wantonly on the floor into a bench. Sitting on it, they let her in on the bet, and what had happened since then.
At the end of their jumbled explanation, McGonagall said, "First of all, you should have realized you were playing with emotions. Second, you should have asked yourself, 'Is it really worth it?' But since you did none of those, I have but one piece of advice, since it appears you are in love with him, Lily."
"What's that?" she asked, sniffling, a bit of hope rising.
"Give him your winnings, tell him it wasn't worth it, tell him why it wasn't worth it, and let him figure out the rest for himself."
"But I can't face him!" Lily protested.
"You have to, or else he'll be misguided and think you don't care."
"I'm sorry, Professor," Lily began quietly. "But it's not as easy as you think it is."
McGonagall eyed her closely, and for a moment a faraway glaze seemed cast over her eyes, sad and distant. Then she shook her head and sighed, smoothing over the wrinkles in her wool dress. "Fine. I suggest you keep yourselves out of trouble, though. I don't think it'll do to mope around and cause havoc for everyone. Just remember what I said." And with a swish of her dress skirts, she was out of the room, closing the door silently behind her.
Jessica patted Lily's shoulder sympathetically. "I understand, Lils. Don't worry."
Britt, however, was still staring after the professor. "I wonder what that was all about."
Lily sniffled again, wiping her eyes. "What was what all about?"
Britt stared after their professor for a moment, then noticed that her two best friends were giving her queer looks. Blushing slightly, clearing her throat, she explained herself. "I think McGonagall is in love with someone."
Jess gawked. "Are you bloody crazy!?"
Brittany gave her a hurt look. "No. . .But don't you think so, Lils?"
Silence.
"Lils?"
Both girls turned to find Lily sound asleep on her bed. Her breathing was calm and even and the expression on her face was one of peace. She looked as if she had no worries in the world.
Jessica reached out, stroking her hand fondly. "I feel so sorry for Lily."
Brittany nodded, then abruptly spoke what had been picking at her mind for the past few days. "Are you and Remus not talking anymore?"
Jessica looked up so suddenly, Brittany had to blink twice to make sure she wasn't seeing things. "Why?" she snapped.
"Uh. . .Well. . .You don't seem to be. And from what everyone's been telling me, you two are going to break up. . ."
"Oh, that's just like you, Britt!" Jessica suddenly exploded, catching Brittany off guard. "Always sticking your nose into other people's business! Well, you know what, I have feelings, too! Why does everyone seem to dismiss that!? Is it so wrong for me to feel confused!?"
Britt, after having let the shock settle down, realized that Jessica wasn't exactly angry at her.
Jess stood up, pulling at her hair, pacing wildly. She looked so upset and furious with herself, and it was a startling change from the usually happy-go-lucky girl. "I mean, how. . .How can he blame me!? F-For not knowing!?" She was shaking now. "I can't provide any answers! It's all too complicated!" She paused for a moment, staring at something far, far away, then slowly collapsed to her knees and buried her face in her hands. "It wasn't supposed to work this way. . ."
Britt stood up, licking her lips and swallowing, slowly walked over and put her arm around Jessica's shoulders. "Did he tell you he loves you, Jess. . .?"
Jessica sniffled and looked up, fresh tears held back by an amazing power of will. And then with one sorrowful look from Brittany, she began sobbing, the tears steadily flowing down her cheeks. "Yes," she choked, nodding. "Yes, he did."
"Oh, Jess. . ." Britt whispered, putting her arms around her best friend and holding her close.
"Brittany." Jessica's heart wrenched painfully as she remembered Remus' strong words and intense eyes and the look on his face when she just held up her hand and walked away. She sobbed even harder, and Britt cradled her, shushing her, telling her it was alright. "No, it's not. . .Britt, what am I supposed to do?"
James Potter walked down the hallway towards the room he had remembered seeing Lily lingering by from what seemed so long ago. He ran a hand through his mussed hair, readjusted his glasses. He paused before the door, bouncing on the heels of his feet, clearing his throat. He shook his head 'no', paced a bit, then came to the door again. Finally, taking a deep breath, he opened it slowly.
Darkness greeted him, come from the middle of the night—hey, he couldn't sleep, who could blame him—and dust stirred as his robe hems trailed along the floor. He hadn't changed: too lazy to, too upset.
Frowning as he saw a single mirror at the far end of the room, James walked over to it slowly, read the inscription engraved in the golden wood. Raising an eyebrow slightly, his features softening, as his thoughts seemed to stray from the pain he was feeling; he reached up and brushed his fingers against the smooth glass.
And gasped as an image of a young woman with fiery red hair appeared in it before him.
He took a step back, eyes beginning to water all over again.
There stood Lily, and he had an arm wrapped loosely around her shoulders. Within her arms was a little boy, about one year old, and he was laughing and clapping. With a slight charge of horror and excitement mixed into one, James realized that he had seen this somewhere before. . .Before all of this had happened. . .
He sat down before the mirror, entranced, watching Lily smile, stand on her tiptoes and kiss his cheek. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, and James reflexively looked down at it.
Nothing was there.
Frowning slightly in confusion, he looked back up again at the reassuring face of the one he loved the most in the entire world. He blinked back tears and swallowed the lump against his throat.
Abruptly, the image shifted, and just Lily was there.
"Oh, Lily. . ." He sighed, reaching up again, fingers trailing over her hand. Or the image of her hand. "What did I ever do. . .I trusted you. . .I believed in you. . .I poured my heart at your feet. . .And then you shoved it back in my face. . ."
He blinked, and this time the tears came, dripping slowly one by one and splattering against the stone floor. "Lily, I love you. . .So much it hurts, so much I would give anything away. . ."
He bowed his head, shaking it slowly, and buried his face in his hands. His shoulders shook once, twice, three times. . .And James Potter did something that he hadn't done since he was a little boy: he cried his heart out until he fell fast asleep.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Sirius asked, fidgeting nervously. He wasn't too prone to going along with any of his girlfriend's ideas, even if it meant dealing with other people's hearts. Just because he was a prankster didn't mean that he liked messing around with this kinda stuff.
In others words, he didn't like messing around with love.
"I'm positive, Sir," she replied solemnly. "I can't stand seeing Lil like this, and I'm sure you can't stand seeing James like this. And even Remus and Jessica have problems, too! Oooh. . .We have to do something, and I guess that my way is the only way we can do it. Will you help me?" Brittany asked.
"If you're sure it's the best for them, Britt," Sirius replied, sighing.
"Sir, I have been setting people up since I was five. Just promise me you will, okay?" She looked at him with her irresistible puppy dog eyes.
"All right," he agreed, praying that this would go down well. If it didn't, he, if not Britt, would have hell to pay from the wrath of James Potter.
"We'll tell them to meet us at 7:00 in the _______?" Brittany quizzed Sirius, raising an eyebrow, placing her hands on her hips, tapping her foot.
"Divination Tower," he said, smiling.
"Okay, then. Let's go do it! Then, after all of this mess, maybe we can help Remus and Jessica! I just hope she doesn't kill me for doing this without her," Brittany exclaimed enthusiastically, pumping the air with her fist, and winking.
As she left, she never even noticed the adoring look Sirius gave her.
"Lil, I have something really, totally important to tell you, but I can't tell you right now because of ears that might be listening. Meet me in the Divination Tower at seven, kay? Right now I've gotta get to Arithmancy," Brittany said to Lily in a whoosh of breath, holding the stitch in her side, gasping for air. She had run all the way to her friend, trying to catch her before class started.
"All right, what's up?" Lily asked, curious at her best friend's behavior. An eyebrow raised slowly, suspiciously.
"Can't tell ya," Brittany replied, scratching the back of her head. She grinned sheepishly. "But trust me: it's real important."
"Kay. I trust you." Lily nodded, smiling.
"James, I gotta tell you something, but I can't tell you right now. Wouldja meet me in the Divination Tower at seven? Right now I have an individual prank to perform," Sirius explained with an air of authority.
"Yeah, sure. What's the prank?" He was a little disappointed that Sirius wasn't letting him in on it, but only grinned wolfishly to hide up his hurt. If one of the Marauders performed an individual prank, then that meant something was seriously wrong. But he shrugged, trusting in his friend, and sighed a little.
"I'm gonna curse a couple buckets so when a professor goes by they fill up and then throw the water at the professor," he replied, practically rubbing his hands together at the prospect. "My main goal is that madwoman, McGonagall."
"Yeah, cool, man," he said. "See ya there."
On second thought, maybe an individual prank was best.
Racing up the steps, Lily pondered over what it could possibly be. Was Britt pregnant? No, Britt didn't even have a boyfriend. Heck, Britt couldn't even flirt. Maybe it was that Britt had a boyfriend! Wow, now that would be something.
She hummed to herself, walking up to the many steps to the Divination Tower, thoughts of what Brittany would have to tell her running through her mind. She had a wild imagination, and could get pretty creative ideas.
But, deep down inside, she had a feeling it was something very important.
James scowled, stomping up to the tower, lost in his own thoughts.
His day hadn't exactly gone great, as one would put it, but more like the exact and total opposite. Normally, he would be happy to get detentions, you see, and today he wasn't.
What the bloody hell was wrong with him!?
Oh, yes. He was still brooding over her.
He should just get over her, he told himself. Just get over her and her happy smile, her fiery hair, her emerald eyes. . .
He stopped, closing his own eyes tightly, and fisted his hands in his hair.
Argh! She even invaded his bloody thoughts!
And his heart ached.
Shaking his head, he started towards the tower again, deciding he was very tired and wanted Sirius to get this over with as quickly as possible.
Lily entered the tower, surprised to find that someone else was already there. It was dark, so she could only make out a lone silhouette by the winding, hands resting on the stone, Hogwarts robes hanging on broad shoulders, trailing along the ground.
Her breath caught in her throat as dozens of candles immediately lit up, once hidden in shadows, now floating around.
James Potter turned, slightly startled, and his eyes narrowed when he saw her.
"Oh, it's you. If you're here for some new boyfriend, then I suggest you find somewhere else to meet. Sirius wanted to talk to me."
Lily scowled, placing her hands on her hips. "Well, Britt wanted to talk to me. And what are you talking about? I have no boyfriend, James!"
He gestured to the candles, dark eyes flashing. "Then what are these for!?"
"Don't ask me!" she retorted, glaring. "I'm just as confused as you are!"
James shook his head, starting towards the other door of the large tower. "No, just forget this. I'm leaving. I don't have time for these petty arguments. Sirius can talk to me later."
Lily's heart immediately sank, and she rushed over to him, grabbing his wrist. "James, no! Wait!"
He whirled, then, looking down at her. "What?" he asked coolly.
"I'm. . . ." She paused, not exactly knowing what to say, just knowing she didn't want him to leave. Her eyes scanned his handsome face, and that fluttery feeling once again entered her stomach.
Many long moments passed, and James was growing impatient.
He snatched his wrist away, snapping, "What? I don't have all bloody night."
Bloody? James was super pissed at her. Bloody, instead of fuck or shit, seemed to be his favorite word when he was angry.
"I. . ." Lily sighed. "Look, James, can we just talk?"
"About what?"
"Well," she began, temper rising, "we could do this civilly, or you can act like a big baby!"
James was quiet for a few moments, then nodded for her to continue, eyes never softening once.
-Jess and Britt
Chapter 6: James and His Desire
"Lil, bud, it'll be okay," Brittany said, patting her on the back. Then she turned to one of the doors behind her. "Jess, get your ass out here, now!" She sounded extremely peeved. (And she was, too.)
When Jess arrived, she looked vaguely scared, for Brittany's temper was not a thing to mess with, and Jess knew it. "What?"
"Why the Hell did you come up with that God-damn idea?" she asked slowly. Britt's talking slowly showed she was furious, for most of the time, the words competed to come into her mouth, came out fast, got tangled up, and confused her.
"I thought it would be funny. I guess I never thought I'd play with her emotions as well. And I never thought James would be this hurt," Jess said, obviously feeling as awful as Britt and Lily did.
Britt could tell she felt awful, but Britt needed to vent. "That you didn't think is evident," she said, but her voice began to waver. "I didn't make the bet, and I wasn't one of the hurters, but I feel just as awful," she admitted. She sat down next to Lily and began to cry.
"Oh, God," Jess said. She sat down too and also cried until the floor was successfully soaked.
"Okay, guys?" Britt said, sniffling.
"Y-yeah?" Jess hiccuped.
"There's gonna be a flash flood if we don't stop soon," Britt said, pointing at the floor.
"Oh, jeez, Britt," Lily said, tackling her.
"Dog pile!" Jess said, jumping on to Lily.
"Oof!" Brittany said. "You're crushing my ribs!" Then there was an audible crack. "What's that, Jess? I'm sort of squished, so I can't see."
"Evans, Aston, Jones! What on Earth are you doing!? You three look absurd!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed, voice sharp.
Lily caught a glance of them in the mirror and had to agree. Their faces were tear-streaked, but they were laughing and piled atop each other.
There was another loud crack as the wood holding up the bed broke. At this, Professor McGonagall looked livid. "Get - off - the - bed," she said. "Now. And then march yourselves to Professor Dumbledore's office and explain why the bed is broken."
"Professor McGonagall, couldn't you just let us tell you why? We feel pretty sucky as it is, and being marched to the Headmaster's won't really help much."
"All right, sure. One moment, please." With those words, she fixed the bed and also changed a bunny slipper scattered wantonly on the floor into a bench. Sitting on it, they let her in on the bet, and what had happened since then.
At the end of their jumbled explanation, McGonagall said, "First of all, you should have realized you were playing with emotions. Second, you should have asked yourself, 'Is it really worth it?' But since you did none of those, I have but one piece of advice, since it appears you are in love with him, Lily."
"What's that?" she asked, sniffling, a bit of hope rising.
"Give him your winnings, tell him it wasn't worth it, tell him why it wasn't worth it, and let him figure out the rest for himself."
"But I can't face him!" Lily protested.
"You have to, or else he'll be misguided and think you don't care."
"I'm sorry, Professor," Lily began quietly. "But it's not as easy as you think it is."
McGonagall eyed her closely, and for a moment a faraway glaze seemed cast over her eyes, sad and distant. Then she shook her head and sighed, smoothing over the wrinkles in her wool dress. "Fine. I suggest you keep yourselves out of trouble, though. I don't think it'll do to mope around and cause havoc for everyone. Just remember what I said." And with a swish of her dress skirts, she was out of the room, closing the door silently behind her.
Jessica patted Lily's shoulder sympathetically. "I understand, Lils. Don't worry."
Britt, however, was still staring after the professor. "I wonder what that was all about."
Lily sniffled again, wiping her eyes. "What was what all about?"
Britt stared after their professor for a moment, then noticed that her two best friends were giving her queer looks. Blushing slightly, clearing her throat, she explained herself. "I think McGonagall is in love with someone."
Jess gawked. "Are you bloody crazy!?"
Brittany gave her a hurt look. "No. . .But don't you think so, Lils?"
Silence.
"Lils?"
Both girls turned to find Lily sound asleep on her bed. Her breathing was calm and even and the expression on her face was one of peace. She looked as if she had no worries in the world.
Jessica reached out, stroking her hand fondly. "I feel so sorry for Lily."
Brittany nodded, then abruptly spoke what had been picking at her mind for the past few days. "Are you and Remus not talking anymore?"
Jessica looked up so suddenly, Brittany had to blink twice to make sure she wasn't seeing things. "Why?" she snapped.
"Uh. . .Well. . .You don't seem to be. And from what everyone's been telling me, you two are going to break up. . ."
"Oh, that's just like you, Britt!" Jessica suddenly exploded, catching Brittany off guard. "Always sticking your nose into other people's business! Well, you know what, I have feelings, too! Why does everyone seem to dismiss that!? Is it so wrong for me to feel confused!?"
Britt, after having let the shock settle down, realized that Jessica wasn't exactly angry at her.
Jess stood up, pulling at her hair, pacing wildly. She looked so upset and furious with herself, and it was a startling change from the usually happy-go-lucky girl. "I mean, how. . .How can he blame me!? F-For not knowing!?" She was shaking now. "I can't provide any answers! It's all too complicated!" She paused for a moment, staring at something far, far away, then slowly collapsed to her knees and buried her face in her hands. "It wasn't supposed to work this way. . ."
Britt stood up, licking her lips and swallowing, slowly walked over and put her arm around Jessica's shoulders. "Did he tell you he loves you, Jess. . .?"
Jessica sniffled and looked up, fresh tears held back by an amazing power of will. And then with one sorrowful look from Brittany, she began sobbing, the tears steadily flowing down her cheeks. "Yes," she choked, nodding. "Yes, he did."
"Oh, Jess. . ." Britt whispered, putting her arms around her best friend and holding her close.
"Brittany." Jessica's heart wrenched painfully as she remembered Remus' strong words and intense eyes and the look on his face when she just held up her hand and walked away. She sobbed even harder, and Britt cradled her, shushing her, telling her it was alright. "No, it's not. . .Britt, what am I supposed to do?"
James Potter walked down the hallway towards the room he had remembered seeing Lily lingering by from what seemed so long ago. He ran a hand through his mussed hair, readjusted his glasses. He paused before the door, bouncing on the heels of his feet, clearing his throat. He shook his head 'no', paced a bit, then came to the door again. Finally, taking a deep breath, he opened it slowly.
Darkness greeted him, come from the middle of the night—hey, he couldn't sleep, who could blame him—and dust stirred as his robe hems trailed along the floor. He hadn't changed: too lazy to, too upset.
Frowning as he saw a single mirror at the far end of the room, James walked over to it slowly, read the inscription engraved in the golden wood. Raising an eyebrow slightly, his features softening, as his thoughts seemed to stray from the pain he was feeling; he reached up and brushed his fingers against the smooth glass.
And gasped as an image of a young woman with fiery red hair appeared in it before him.
He took a step back, eyes beginning to water all over again.
There stood Lily, and he had an arm wrapped loosely around her shoulders. Within her arms was a little boy, about one year old, and he was laughing and clapping. With a slight charge of horror and excitement mixed into one, James realized that he had seen this somewhere before. . .Before all of this had happened. . .
He sat down before the mirror, entranced, watching Lily smile, stand on her tiptoes and kiss his cheek. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, and James reflexively looked down at it.
Nothing was there.
Frowning slightly in confusion, he looked back up again at the reassuring face of the one he loved the most in the entire world. He blinked back tears and swallowed the lump against his throat.
Abruptly, the image shifted, and just Lily was there.
"Oh, Lily. . ." He sighed, reaching up again, fingers trailing over her hand. Or the image of her hand. "What did I ever do. . .I trusted you. . .I believed in you. . .I poured my heart at your feet. . .And then you shoved it back in my face. . ."
He blinked, and this time the tears came, dripping slowly one by one and splattering against the stone floor. "Lily, I love you. . .So much it hurts, so much I would give anything away. . ."
He bowed his head, shaking it slowly, and buried his face in his hands. His shoulders shook once, twice, three times. . .And James Potter did something that he hadn't done since he was a little boy: he cried his heart out until he fell fast asleep.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Sirius asked, fidgeting nervously. He wasn't too prone to going along with any of his girlfriend's ideas, even if it meant dealing with other people's hearts. Just because he was a prankster didn't mean that he liked messing around with this kinda stuff.
In others words, he didn't like messing around with love.
"I'm positive, Sir," she replied solemnly. "I can't stand seeing Lil like this, and I'm sure you can't stand seeing James like this. And even Remus and Jessica have problems, too! Oooh. . .We have to do something, and I guess that my way is the only way we can do it. Will you help me?" Brittany asked.
"If you're sure it's the best for them, Britt," Sirius replied, sighing.
"Sir, I have been setting people up since I was five. Just promise me you will, okay?" She looked at him with her irresistible puppy dog eyes.
"All right," he agreed, praying that this would go down well. If it didn't, he, if not Britt, would have hell to pay from the wrath of James Potter.
"We'll tell them to meet us at 7:00 in the _______?" Brittany quizzed Sirius, raising an eyebrow, placing her hands on her hips, tapping her foot.
"Divination Tower," he said, smiling.
"Okay, then. Let's go do it! Then, after all of this mess, maybe we can help Remus and Jessica! I just hope she doesn't kill me for doing this without her," Brittany exclaimed enthusiastically, pumping the air with her fist, and winking.
As she left, she never even noticed the adoring look Sirius gave her.
"Lil, I have something really, totally important to tell you, but I can't tell you right now because of ears that might be listening. Meet me in the Divination Tower at seven, kay? Right now I've gotta get to Arithmancy," Brittany said to Lily in a whoosh of breath, holding the stitch in her side, gasping for air. She had run all the way to her friend, trying to catch her before class started.
"All right, what's up?" Lily asked, curious at her best friend's behavior. An eyebrow raised slowly, suspiciously.
"Can't tell ya," Brittany replied, scratching the back of her head. She grinned sheepishly. "But trust me: it's real important."
"Kay. I trust you." Lily nodded, smiling.
"James, I gotta tell you something, but I can't tell you right now. Wouldja meet me in the Divination Tower at seven? Right now I have an individual prank to perform," Sirius explained with an air of authority.
"Yeah, sure. What's the prank?" He was a little disappointed that Sirius wasn't letting him in on it, but only grinned wolfishly to hide up his hurt. If one of the Marauders performed an individual prank, then that meant something was seriously wrong. But he shrugged, trusting in his friend, and sighed a little.
"I'm gonna curse a couple buckets so when a professor goes by they fill up and then throw the water at the professor," he replied, practically rubbing his hands together at the prospect. "My main goal is that madwoman, McGonagall."
"Yeah, cool, man," he said. "See ya there."
On second thought, maybe an individual prank was best.
Racing up the steps, Lily pondered over what it could possibly be. Was Britt pregnant? No, Britt didn't even have a boyfriend. Heck, Britt couldn't even flirt. Maybe it was that Britt had a boyfriend! Wow, now that would be something.
She hummed to herself, walking up to the many steps to the Divination Tower, thoughts of what Brittany would have to tell her running through her mind. She had a wild imagination, and could get pretty creative ideas.
But, deep down inside, she had a feeling it was something very important.
James scowled, stomping up to the tower, lost in his own thoughts.
His day hadn't exactly gone great, as one would put it, but more like the exact and total opposite. Normally, he would be happy to get detentions, you see, and today he wasn't.
What the bloody hell was wrong with him!?
Oh, yes. He was still brooding over her.
He should just get over her, he told himself. Just get over her and her happy smile, her fiery hair, her emerald eyes. . .
He stopped, closing his own eyes tightly, and fisted his hands in his hair.
Argh! She even invaded his bloody thoughts!
And his heart ached.
Shaking his head, he started towards the tower again, deciding he was very tired and wanted Sirius to get this over with as quickly as possible.
Lily entered the tower, surprised to find that someone else was already there. It was dark, so she could only make out a lone silhouette by the winding, hands resting on the stone, Hogwarts robes hanging on broad shoulders, trailing along the ground.
Her breath caught in her throat as dozens of candles immediately lit up, once hidden in shadows, now floating around.
James Potter turned, slightly startled, and his eyes narrowed when he saw her.
"Oh, it's you. If you're here for some new boyfriend, then I suggest you find somewhere else to meet. Sirius wanted to talk to me."
Lily scowled, placing her hands on her hips. "Well, Britt wanted to talk to me. And what are you talking about? I have no boyfriend, James!"
He gestured to the candles, dark eyes flashing. "Then what are these for!?"
"Don't ask me!" she retorted, glaring. "I'm just as confused as you are!"
James shook his head, starting towards the other door of the large tower. "No, just forget this. I'm leaving. I don't have time for these petty arguments. Sirius can talk to me later."
Lily's heart immediately sank, and she rushed over to him, grabbing his wrist. "James, no! Wait!"
He whirled, then, looking down at her. "What?" he asked coolly.
"I'm. . . ." She paused, not exactly knowing what to say, just knowing she didn't want him to leave. Her eyes scanned his handsome face, and that fluttery feeling once again entered her stomach.
Many long moments passed, and James was growing impatient.
He snatched his wrist away, snapping, "What? I don't have all bloody night."
Bloody? James was super pissed at her. Bloody, instead of fuck or shit, seemed to be his favorite word when he was angry.
"I. . ." Lily sighed. "Look, James, can we just talk?"
"About what?"
"Well," she began, temper rising, "we could do this civilly, or you can act like a big baby!"
James was quiet for a few moments, then nodded for her to continue, eyes never softening once.