"But who knows Lil, maybe he really likes you and he'll do it! Would you really go out with him if he could do this?" she asked me that day at lunch.
"Yeah, I guess. But the thing is, he WON'T be able to do it, so I have nothing to worry about." I replied confidently.
"You're probably right. But if he really liked you...that would be techno, man! I don't think he'll do it. I'm just saying...you know I am gonna shut up now, because I may just get myself smacked.." she said, causing me to burst out laughing.
The next month and a half flew by in a blur for me...but, to my surprise...no girlfriend for James Potter.
"Holy cow, man. He only has one more month to go. Do you think he can do it?" Alia asked me in the hallway on October 17th, exactly 2 weeks until the moment of truth.
"No way. He looks so lost without a girlfriend." I said, giggling, but on the inside my stomach was churning. DID he really like me?
"Sirius asked me out again. I thought that was pretty sweet." Alia said calmly
"He did!!!! When?! Why didn't you tell me?!" I squealed, excited for my friend.
"Just, like 5 minutes ago. Calm yourself girl, everyone is staring!" Alia exclaimed, laughing.
"Are you guys, like, a couple?!" I asked, softer this time.
"I don't know! All I DO know, is he seems pretty persistent." she said vaguely.
"Thats so cool." I said wistfully, wishing I had a nice guy like Sirius after me.
"Ooo James Potter is surrounded by girls and he looks...BORED!!!! He really does like you Lil!" Alia exclaimed, and I whipped around to see that she was right.
I walked over to James and I tapped him on the shoulder.
"What are you trying to pull?" I asked, meaning why was he acting so weird and careless around all of those girls.
Nothing. I'm just sick of these airheads bothering me, when I am trying to show that I am for just one girl." he said, a half smile on his face.
"Why do you like me?" I asked, incredilous because i was always such a, well, bitch to him. "Why don't you take someone else out?"
"Because then I'd have to start taking out girls who like me."
"Like you could find one." I replied.
"See that? Who needs affection when I've got blind hatred?"
(a/n those last three lines were from 10 Things I hate About You, but they fit perfect)
I laughed, amazed that he could find humor in that.
I don't HATE you." I said, giggling.
"Oh really? You do a good job of faking it." he replied evenly, eyebrows raised and eyes twinkling.
"You're not as repulsive as usual, is there something wrong with your head?" I asked, pretending to look concerned.
"Lil, we've got class, you know?" Alia called across the cafeteria.
I turned and walked toward Alia, without saying goodbye to James.
"What was up with that, girl? One minute you hate him, the next you act like he's your best friend. I don't understand you chica." Alia said, shaking her head as we walked towards Herbology Greenhouse 3.
"He's NOT my best friend. Not even my friend. I find him repulsive and I almost hope he gets a girlfriend soon." I replied
"So do I, cause then this madness is over. We can't go anywhere without people following us, trying to hear what we say. Its not like we talk about James all that much anyway. Oh jeeze, the airheads heard me say the name James, now we're in for it." Alia sighed, watching as a group of girls tried to "casually" edge their way over to us.
"This is pretty ridiculous." I murmured.
"Yah, no kidding. I think you should just walk up to him and kiss him...get them thinking that you're going out." Alia laughed, eyes dancing.
"Oh yeah thats the way to go." I said, rolling my eyes.
"I'd do it." Alia said, trying not to giggle.
"But you're Alia. Alia does anything." I replied evenly, smiling slightly.
Alia pondered this for a moment.
"True." she giggled.
The Professor said something about Mandrakes, and we all put on Ear Muffs, then we were assigned partners.
If you think I was assigned to James, you're wrong.
Severus Snape.
If there's anyone in the entire wizarding world that I hate more than James, its Snape.
"Well hello there sunshine." he said sarcastically as he ambled over, his clawlike fingers running through his greasy hair.
I tried valiantly not to gag, but it didn't work.
I gagged.
James, who was at the table next to me, grinned at me and made a face as Snape smiled with those yellow teeth.
I laughed lightly and tried not to look either Snape OR James in the face for the rest of the class period.
Our Herbology Project went well, but if I would have left it up to Snape, we would have most certainly failed.
I joined up with Alia as fast as I could when we were released.
"Urgh that guy has cooties. If you look close enough, you can see them crawling all over him." I said, shuddering.
Alia laughed and agreed.
"That kid needs to take a look in the mirror. If he ever gets stranded and has nothing to drink, he always has his hair juice." Sirius put in from behind us.
"SIRIUS!!!! Thats DISGUSTING!!!" I exclaimed, gagging just at the THOUGHT of it.
"All he needs now is a juicer." Alia put in, causing Sirius and James to double over with laughter and me to gag and glare at Alia.
"I swear, sometimes you seem more like the guys..." I said, trailing off as Alia smacked me.
"Hey, yah!!!! If Jamsie Boy can last two more weeks, that would land it right on the Halloween Ball!!! He probably wants to take you to that!!!" Alia exclaimed, using her big mouth as usual.
James happened to be right behind us, to my dismay.
I clapped my hand over her mouth and gave her a look that could have killed.
"If I can last two more weeks? Easy." he said, winking at me.
I had the strangest urge to throw up.
I felt myself turn red, and I had to excuse myself from the blob of friends and rush up to my dorm room.
Then it actually hit me.
What if he DID last the last two weeks?
I didn't even like him, so would I be forced to go out with the guy that I hate more than anyone in the whole entire universe? (Besides old Snapey of course!)
Yes.
I would.
Because I had made the damn bet.
I had never thought he could do it, but with two weeks to go, it sure as hell looked like he was going to.
Man, this guy must be hung up over me to not go out with anyone for 2 months!!!
WHAT had I gotten myself into?
My stomach churned.
I would have to go out with him. Not only go out with him, but I would eventually have to break his heart and let him know that I hated him.
But wait.
If I hated him, then I wouldn't feel bad about breaking his heart.
What the heck is going on here?
I took my soccer ball and chucked it at the door, which groaned in protest as the wood was smacked.
5 seconds later, the door opened, and in came Alia, Sirius, Remus, and James.
I saw James, and my heart sank when I saw that he was looking at me...longingly.
Oh God.
Alia gave me a knowing look and gave me a 'cheer up' smile that didn't cheer me up at all.
I decided right then that I was going to ignore James Potter for the next two weeks...maybe this way he would stop liking me.
I crossed my fingers and prayed.
When I went down to supper, I made Alia sit with me at the other end of the table.
"Alia I reeeeaaalllly don't want to go out with him. PLEASE help me. He is SO arrogant!!!!" I exclaimed pitifully, glaring at my salad.
"He hasn't been arrogant for 2 whole days, when was he arrogant?" Alia asked, sarcastically.
"Just today in herbology, he was like, defending his decision to hold out for two months, cause Sirius was saying that he probably couldn't get any girls, and James said 'I could get any girl I wanted. They all love me. You know that Sirius.' I couldn't believe that! I almost smacked him." I exclaimed, shaking my head at how pigheaded guys were, especially James Potter.
"He said that? That boy has it coming." Alia said, wagging her finger in James' direction.
"Yeah. PLLLEEEEAAAASE God let him get a girlfriend. The way he winks at me, and smiles, and acts like he's sooo cool...it makes me sick. WHY me? Why couldn't it be Keri? We all know how thrilled she would be." I grumbled, stabbing a piece of lettuce with my fork so viciously that Alia raised her eyesbrows and took away my fork.
"Killing your food is not going to help anything." she said, laughing.
"All we do is talk about him. Lets change the subject and forget that James Harold Potter even exists." I said, throwing my napkin onto the floor.
"You know his middle name? Girl, I am getting scared." Alia said, then, "but I totally agree. Its like I am just the one person support group instead of funny Alia, you know?" she said, making a face.
"I seriously don't know how to make this situation better." I grumbled.
"Go on one date with him. Decide for yourself." Alia said quietly.
"You're right." I said, surprising even myself.
I got up from the table, walked over to where James was sitting, and I tapped on his shoulder, surprising him.
"Hey." I said, sitting down next to him.
"Errr hi." he said, wondering if I was going to be a bitch to him or not.
"I decided...why wait the last two weeks?" I said, my stomach churning.
He raised his eyebrows.
"Why the sudden change of mind?" he asked.
"I decided that you're not so bad after all." I said, lying through my teeth.
"Well Gee, thanks." he said, grinning.
We both stood up and we went out into the hallways, obviously he wanted to talk.
"You know, after I got to know you a little bit, it wasn't that hard to hold off for a month and a half." he said.
I raised my eyebrows.
"You like the bitchy type?" I asked, laughing.
"I guess you could say that." he replied, laughing too.
We ended up walking outside in the garden. Don't ask how we got there because I have no idea.
We spent the rest of the day together (we ditched classes.). URRRGh I ditched classes for James Potter.
But he was really sweet and nice and not at all like I thought he would be.
When I went into the common room that night, I was floating.
I had never been happier, and CUT!!!!
Was I really thinking this about James Potter?
The jerk?
My BOYFRIEND?!
It hit me that I was officially going out with him...at first I had thought OK just one date and at the end I will break it off...but I hadn't broken it off.
What had happened to me?
Alia met me at the door.
"Where WERE you girl?! I thought he had abducted you or something!" Alia exclaimed.
"Wellllllll I was with James all day." I said softly.
"WHAT?!!!!!!!!" Alia exclaimed, eyes twinkling with laughter.
"He's really not that bad." I said, smelling the flower he had picked for me outside.
"And now you're head over heels for this guy. OI!!!!" she said, slapping her forehead.
"Noooo not head over heels. I just really like him, thats all." I replied giddily.
"And you didn't break it off did you?" Alia asked, sighing.
"No." I replied in a small voice.
"Sirius!!! I need a new best friend!" Alia shouted, making the whole common room laugh.
All I can say now is, its been 2 years and we're still a couple....who would have known?!