AUTHORS NOTE: And back by popular demand, chapter two of Steps! I can't believe I got twelve reviews so far!!! That's awesome, people!!! (I was actually really surprised when I got a review within twenty minutes of when I first posted the story!!!)

Ok, I titled this chapter Crying for the First Time. (It's self-explanatory.) I didn't really know what to call it! I sort-of ran out of ideas so here's this!

Anyway, I think I want to get up to twenty-five reviews total this time. That's thirteen more!!! Thank you so much, you guys! Anyway, just to refresh your memory, the italicized below is what was at the ending of last chapter. Wait! Italicized! I just remembered something I forgot to put last chapter. Every time that I have a word like this that usually is what the person is thinking.

Well, on with the show!!!

It took her over an entire summer to realize what had really happened to her. She was in love. With none other than James Potter. Her best friend - only friend.

However, it only took Lily five seconds to realize what James thought of her.

Step. Step. Creak.

Lily opened the Astronomy Tower door.

[][][][][][][][][] Flashback [][][][][][][][][]

She knew it. She hadn't missed anyone as much as she'd missed him. She couldn't wait to go back to Hogwarts to see James.

She sighed. Just thinking of him made her swoon.

Lily ran through the barrier between the muggle and wizard world. She hoped to open her eyes and find her best friend there waiting for her.

But he wasn't.

Lily just shrugged it off and continued to the scarlet steam engine. Ok, Lily, today's the day! Once you find him, you have to tell him how much he means to you. What's the worst that could happen?

He wouldn't love me in that way! she yelled back at herself.

But he would still want to be your friend.

I sure hope so…

Lily, full of courage, ran to the train and dragged her bag until she found an empty compartment.

Knock, knock. "Oh, sorry! Didn't mean to interrupt you…"

Lily continued to search. She decided to check where she had sat last year with the Marauders. However, she found something that didn't make her extremely happy.

Knock, knock. Lily slid open the door of a compartment at the back of the train. There, in her normal spot, was a blonde haired girl. "Sorry," she started to mumble, but stopped when she heard a "Lily!" from the inside of the compartment. She opened the door again and saw James sitting next to the blonde haired girl.

"Oh, hi, James."

"Hey Lily! I want you to meet Caroline." James stood to greet Lily and pulled up the girl with him. "Caroline, this is Lily." Both girls gave each other a polite hello.

There was a very long and awkward silence between the three until Sirius and Remus barged in through the door.

"Remus! Sirius!" James jumped up as he did with Lily and pulled up Caroline with him. "Guys, this is Caroline. Caroline, this is Remus and Sirius."

Caroline nudged past James and extended her hand to Sirius. "Hello," she said and gave a small giggly laugh. "I'm Caroline."

"And I'm speechless," Sirius said as he took her hand and pulled it to his mouth, giving it a kiss. Caroline gave another one of her fake laughs.

They all sat down and began to talk - well, all except for Lily. She didn't know what to think of this blonde-haired bimbo. She needed to talk to James - desperately.

Lily waited until Caroline and Sirius were engaged in a conversation before she tapped James on the shoulder. "C'mon," she muttered with a small smile on her mouth. "Let's go get some food."

James grinned and left the compartment hot on Lily's trail.

Considering that they were at the back of the train, Lily had plenty of time to talk to James.

"So," she began. "This Caroline, when did you meet her? Today? Are you old friends?"

"Oh." James got a dreamy expression on his face. "I met her over the summer. I had no idea our parents were friends! Well, it all worked out that she's in the same year as us too! Lily, I don't know what to think of her." Lily looked at this comment as him saying that he needed help getting her off of his back. Lily tried not to grin.

"What is it?" she asked eagerly.

"She just - I don't know. I mean, I've never felt this way about anyone before! This, actually, is the first time that I've liked a girl and haven't kissed her within the first week of me liking her!" Lily felt crushed.

"So, you're just saying that you don't like me - is that it?" Lily asked.

"Oh, no! That's not it at all! It's just that I like her, you know? And I don't think that's it. Lily, I think I'm in love!"

Lily stopped and raised her eyebrow at James. "James, that's impossible! You've only known her for probably no more than two months, am I right?"

"Well, yeah, but - "

"And this is probably only the third time you've talked to her face to face, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but that's not - "

"Then James, I just think you haven't been around her long enough for her to kiss you yet. You both have just been surrounded by parents the whole time!"

"Now that's not true, Lily! We had plenty of time to - "

"Not to mention, Sirius and Caroline," she spat, "are back in the compartment flirting and you're so blind that you can't even see that!"

"Lily!" James yelled, grabbing her by the shoulders to hold her from running away from him like always. She also hated it when he made her look directly in his eyes. Both of their eyes were like huge blue and green puddles that you could fall into and rarely stay out of.

"What has gotten into you?" James asked gently.

Lily took in a deep breath and let it all out. "It's just that I - I - "

"Yes, Lily?" he asked, enchanting her with his eyes. Damn his gorgeous eyes.

"Well, I, uh, I'm worried about you and Caroline."

"Worried… About what?"

"I mean, she's probably a Ravenclaw, isn't she?" Lily asked.

"Yeah…"

"So she's probably smart."

"Yes, Lily, that's usually why people are in Ravenclaw," James said.

"Yes," Lily said. "So, if she's smart, there's a definite possibility that she's tricking you."

"Tricking me? Lily what's wrong? Why are you - "

"Yes, she's tricking you. She's only using you to get at Sirius! You don't see it now, James, but you will! Oh, yes, you will! I'll make sure you will," Lily said, trying to convince her more than James at the moment.

"Lily, are you listening to yourself? You're talking silly nonsense! She wouldn't do that! Not to me!" James countered.

"James, that's just it! You think that since you're all high-and-mighty then no one would ever want to hurt you! You think you're the only person that they want! What if you're not the person that they want - they'll step all over you! That's exactly what Caroline is going to do to you! Do you understand what I'm saying, James?!?"

James looked at her shocked. "You've lost your marbles. Lily, normally you just accept this kind-of thing. That's why I like you so much! You listen to my problems and don't tell me that I'm wrong! I hate when people always tell me I'm not taking the right path, or not choosing the right choices! I hate it! Why are you now turning your back on me?" James yelled.

Lily sighed and now took James by the arms. "Look, James, I'm just doing what I think is best for you! I know you're angry with me now, but trust me! Someday you may thank me!"

"Lily, I don't want you doing what you think is best for me! Stop telling me what to do! Just don't come near me, okay?" And with that said, James turned his back on Lily and walked back to the compartment. Lily's senses finally kicked back in once she saw James entering their compartment again. She started to run towards the end of the train and straighten their problem out like they always did - but stopped running when she heard a loud thump.

Lily's trunk was sitting outside the compartment door. She tried to open James' door but it was locked shut.

Misery sinking in on her, Lily sat on her trunk, rejected. She finally heard the next door down slide open. And Peter Pettigrew's head popped out.

"Oh, hello," Peter mumbled.

"Hi," Lily said. Her and Peter had never really talked. They were only friends by acquaintance; no other special relationship.

"Um…"

"Yes?" Lily inquired.

"Do you know where the guys are?"

"The guys" Peter was referring to was obviously the Marauders. He didn't have any other people he was fond enough to call the "guys." "Um, I think they're in here," Lily said.

Peter nodded his small head and began to drag his trunk into the hallway.

"Do you mind if I take your compartment?" Lily asked.

Peter shook his head quickly. Lily gave him a small smile and walked into Peter's old compartment, pulling her trunk in behind her. And the moment Lily sat down on the chair, she began to sob violently.

It was hours later until she thought she had no more tears left in her, but was proved wrong once she heard James began to laugh at a joke Caroline had said. She sobbed for another three hours.

It wasn't until she heard the train whistle sound that she decided she should clean up so she could face the world looking unharmed.

And face the world she did.

,`.~,`.~,`.~,`.~,`.~,`.~,` End of Flashback ,`.~,`.~,`.~,`.~,`.~,`.~,`

It took over a week for Lily to decide how she would react to James' outburst on the train.

Step. Step. Climb.

Lily moved no more. She was now overlooking the Hogwarts Ground from the top of the banister.

Lily heard a soft giggle from the corner. She turned her head, looking for who would be in the Astronomy Tower during dinner.

"Hello?" she called, almost scared.

Immediately all of the noises stopped. "Hello?" she called again, stepping down from the banister. "Who's there?"

"Lily! What are you doing up here? You're supposed to be at dinner." The person stepped out from the darkness and Lily now could see who was along with Lily in the Astronomy Tower.

"James?" Lily asked, astounded. "I should be asking you the same question!"

"I asked first!" James yelled. "Why are you up here? I'm a little busy now."

"I bet you are," Lily muttered rolling her eyes.

"Lily, why are you up here? You didn't follow us - did you?"

Lily stopped rolling her eyes; in fact, she practically stopped breathing entirely. "There's - what? Two people up here? Oh god…" Realization finally dawned on Lily. James was up here with Caroline. She was only proved her suspicion when -

"James, honey. Where are you, sweetie?" Caroline came out of the darkness with her robe off and her buttoned shirt done up halfway.

"Now, Lily, this isn't what you think."

"Excuse me? This isn't what I think? Go ahead, James, try and tell me you two were just studying up here! Just try!" Lily yelled.

"Erm… human anatomy?"

"James Potter! You are hopeless!"

"Look, Lily," he said, coming closer than Lily would have preferred. He obviously didn't want Caroline overhearing what he would say. "I know what you're going to say. 'I told you so,' right? You said we'd be snogging once parents weren't around and - you're right. I'm sorry."

"Now you're sorry. Now you're sorry! James, I think you're a little bit late for that, James!" Lily exclaimed, climbing back onto the banister.

"Lily - what? Too late for 'I'm sorry'? Lily, what on earth are you doing? You're going to get yourself killed! Get down!" James yelled frantically. He didn't, after all, want Lily to die.

"That's my point, James."

"What - " but James stopped in mid-sentence as he realized what Lily came up here to do. "Caroline, could you step outside for a bit?"

"Sure, James," she cooed. "Don't take too long!"

James turned his back on her and grabbed onto Lily's arms. "You're not going to die today, Lily. Whenever I'm around, you will never die! I won't let that happen to a nice, beautiful, and smart girl like you."

Little did James know that Caroline had not done what she said she would do. Caroline was now lurking in the corner on the opposite side of the room that Lily and James were on and was listening in on every word they were saying.

Lily began to sweat. Now she didn't know what to think. Did James still like Lily as a friend, or was he still angry at Lily and not want to be responsible for her death that he could just care less about?

Caroline was still hiding in the shadows with no one noticing.

"Do you mean it?" Lily asked, almost embarrassed.

"Yes," James replied with a smile playing at his lips from Lily's shyness. "Every word of it."

Lily almost seemed satisfied with his answer now. "But how am I supposed to know whether or not you're lying?"

James shrugged his shoulders, still keeping a firm grasp on Lily so that she wouldn't suddenly jump without notice. "I guess you just have to trust me. Now come on, Lily, why don't you - "

"But what about what you said to me on the train? Do you really only see me as someone who listens to all of your problems? I thought that I was more than that, James," Lily countered.

James looked downcast. "Well, you do listen to my problems - but that's not all you do!" James said quickly before Lily did anything drastic. "I mean, you help me with school, you help me have better relationships, and you even helped me realize what big prats the guys and I were! Lily, believe it or not, but I actually learned from you that the earth revolved around the sun - not me!" James added, getting the smallest of smiles from Lily.

"I really didn't mean to hurt you that bad." James said. "I mean, sure, I felt like I had to hurt something at the time since I felt a little stressed, but that didn't give me any reason to hurt you - or to hurt anyone, in that matter. I'm sorry Lily."

"James, you have no idea how much you broke my heart that day on the train," Lily whispered quietly. "I spent the whole train ride crying! In fact, that's why I came up here in the first place! I had given up hope on everything. I had nothing left to depend on! You were the only person left and you ripped the rug right out from under my feet. I thought it would be easiest! I'd just come up here and die a quick death. I'd hit those rocks down there and splat! All of my miseries would have left me like that!" Lily exclaimed, snapping her fingers.

"Lily, I am so sorry. I didn't know I meant that much to you."

"James, you are my only friend left in the entire world! You're my best friend! I have no one else left but you. And when you slammed the door right in my face, I felt like everyone I loved had just dies all over again! I couldn't handle anymore pressure like that, James. I couldn't."

James nodded and slowly let go of Lily's arms. Lily felt almost empty now without his warm hands there to support her. "Ok, Lily. It's your decision. You can jump off the ledge and have all of your bad memories wiped away forever," James said pointing to the long fall. "Or you can come down with me and I promise you that I will never ever hurt you ever again," James finished, holding out his hand for Lily to take.

Lily gulped. She didn't want any thoughts left of her parents or any person she had ever loved. It would be so much easier to get rid of every single thought she ever had by killing herself. But then she would forget James as well…

Lily glanced at James' outstretched hand and then moved her eyes up to his face. She tried to read it, but like always, she failed to do so. He was one of those people you could almost never tell what they were thinking.

Lily swallowed again and grasped James' hand.

James grinned from ear to ear though it didn't last for long.

"Suffringere!"

The banister underneath Lily's feet cracked. She seemed to have been in shock a split second too long. The ledge broke away and Lily held to James' hand for dear life.

He lost his balance as well as Lily. James fell to the cold floor with a thud but somehow still managed to keep on hand holding Lily, trying at the same time to pull her up. It was hard trying to save someone when you were stuck lying down on your stomach.

Lily continued to dangle for what seemed like an eternity when in reality she was hanging for no more than ten seconds. She kicked her legs frantically, hoping beyond hope that she could swing herself up. A huge gust of wind whistled past Lily's ears and she felt it knock her legs into the wall painfully.

"James, I'm slipping! I don't think I can hold on for much longer!" she called desperately.

"Lily I'm not letting go! I swear that I will jump with you if I let go!"

"James, stop talking nonsense! Dying was my second choice anyway - honest! Just let go, James," Lily tried to persuade.

"That was your only second choice, Lily! I'm not letting go!" James pulled with all of the strength he had left in his body, willing for Lily to be pulled up. "Caroline!" he finally called, thinking of the obvious - asking for help.

"Yes, sweetie?" she drawled, not taking any notice whatsoever of Lily's life at stake.

"Help me pull Lily up!" James yelled.

"Ooh, I'm so sorry, James! I just had my nails done before I came. I don't want to ruin them," Caroline said as she looked over her long nails. "They're so pretty, don't you think, James?" She began to wave her nails in front of James' line of vision down towards Lily.

James couldn't believe the words he was hearing. How could someone be as selfish as Caroline was being right now? James had to hold himself back from yelling every single swear word he knew in his vocabulary. He almost didn't manage to do so until he thought of Lily's life at stake. Lily was obviously a hell of a lot more important at that time than Caroline. He would deal with Caroline later – after Lily was on solid ground alive.

He pulled as hard as he could, but only being able to pull Lily up a few inches. And James now just realized why his face was so watery – and it wasn't sweat.

James Potter was crying for the first time in his life.

"Lily, I can't let you go," he said, and used all of the adrenaline that he could to pull Lily up. He managed nearly a foot before her hands began to slip.

"Lily!" James called. And then Lily spoke. The world seemed to stop moving there and then.

"I love you, James Potter," Lily whispered and it was then that James realized Lily wasn't just any friend.

He loved her too.

Lily let her hand relax. James had no control over her action.  She had slipped from his fingers and was now hurtling towards the ground at top speed towards he sharp rocks.

James was motionless with his hand still outstretched where Lily had just been. He closed his eyes not wanting to believe what had just happened.

There was no way to save her James. This isn't Quidditch where you're always the hero. Hold it!

James shut his eyes tighter than before and focused as hard as he could.

And his broom appeared in his hands.

Without a seconds thought, James jumped off of the Astronomy Tower before he had even mounted his broom.

"James! What on earth do you think you're doing?" he heard Caroline yell faintly behind him, as he had already covered half the distance between him and Lily. He ignored her and urged his Shooting Star to go faster than he had ever gone before.

Ok, it's just another game of Quidditch. It's the final game of the year. You catch the snitch, James, and you win the Quidditch Cup. You'll be the hero. Don't mess up. Keep your focus.

He was nearing Lily.

James didn't move his eyes from the target. He was inches away. James stretched out his hand and -

Whoosh.

James pulled out of his dive with Lily clutched to his side, merely feet from hitting rock bottom.

His broom began to shake uncontrollably from the speed that it had reached. James tried to slow his broom as good as he could.

But it wouldn't budge from the speed.

James swerved around the trunk of a tree and headed towards the Hogwarts lake.

Ok, James. One. Two.

"Three!" James yelled and jumped off of his broom with Lily next to him.

James was the first to pop his head out of the water with Lily still attached to his side. The giant squid picked the two teenagers up from the middle of the lake and set them along the shore.

Lily began to cough up water while James continually patted her back. After she finished, she slowly began to pinch herself. She wasn't dead - was she?

Lily turned around and saw James grinning back at Lily.

"I told you that I wouldn't let you die," he muttered sheepishly.

And forgetting that she had almost fallen to her death and almost drowned immediately afterward, Lily threw herself at James, wrapping him in the biggest hug she had ever given anyone. James just smiled and hugged her back.

"Thank you," she finally said, reluctantly pulling away from James.

"All in a days' work, ma'am," James replied, jokingly. He looked over to see where his broom had landed. He didn't find that it had all landed in the same spot, however. "Oh well," James muttered to Lily. "I wanted a new one anyway…"

"James, I'm sorry. It's my fault that even happened to your broom. If it weren't for me…"

"Lily, I was the one who got us into this whole mess! Don't go around thinking it was you who got this whole thing messed up in the first place! You did nothing to ever deserve anything bad to happen to you, Lily."

Lily sniffed and wiped the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes.

James wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they walked back to the castle. Lily tried to forget everything that had just happened to her. But once she felt James' arm around her, Lily almost even forgot to breathe. She began to control her heart beat and had nearly forgotten everything until Lily and James turned the corner and Caroline came scampering down the steps. Lily immediately stopped walking and began to back up into James.

"Oh, James! I was so worried!" Caroline ran into James' arms and kissed him. Then she slapped him. "Don't you ever do that to me ever again!"

James was taken aback by what Caroline had just done. He was then about to give her a piece of his mind, but Lily stepped forward attempting the challenge.

"You know, Caroline, I don't think that you have a right to even be here anymore!"

"Excuse me? Who are you to talk - mudblood."

James' eyes widened as Lily didn't even flinch. That's it, James thought to himself as he set a course for Caroline; though he didn't make it. Instinctively, Lily flung out an arm to stop James and he caught it right in the stomach.

"James, this is my fight right now," Lily said.

James just backed away and let Lily continue. Damn, that girl's got a strong will.

"You know, Evans," Caroline said maliciously, "I always thought that you would be the kind-of person to cower away from everything and anyone. Maybe I was wrong."

"That wasn't all that you were wrong on," Lily spat. "You picked the wrong day." And with that said, Lily forgot about magic entirely and threw herself onto Caroline. She pulled her hair and managed a few punches here and there.

James sprung to Lily's side and pulled her off of Caroline. Lily tried to fight away from James but failed as he lifted her feet from the ground. After James had Lily under control, Caroline had managed to stand on her feet with a black eye and a small bald patch as a result of the fight. He looked into Lily's hands and saw a chunk of blonde hair clenched in her fist.

"Thanks James," Caroline started. "It's a good thing you pulled her off of me before it was too late. I was about to - "

"You know, Caroline, I think I just saved your life by the looks of it! You were the one who was about to get seriously hurt by me if not from Lily." Lily looked up at James gratefully. He saw she had a small cut on her lip. "Ooh, Lily, here." James grabbed the end of his robes and ripped off the corner. He then began to dab at her lip while Lily blushed profusely.

"James!" Caroline exclaimed. "Whose side are you on?"

"Lily's," he said without a second thought.

"Now, James, you may need to think for awhile on this. I understand. I know that it's hard to pick between your friend and the love of your life - but then again, not if I'm the love of your life. This question should be easy for you, James."

"It is," James said. "I already told you my answer. Lily."

"Sorry," Caroline said, letting out a loud laugh, "I didn't quite hear you. You said my name, right?"

"No," James said without any hesitation. "I said that I am siding with Lily. I don't think I will ever side with you again. You're not worth it. You're just a low-life piece of scum."

"James!" Lily exclaimed, mock surprised. "You took the words right from my mouth!"

"Well, I guess we just know each other too well!" James made a big show out of looking at his watch. "Whoops! You know, I think I'm gonna head down to the kitchens and grab a bite before I go to bed." Dinner had been over for a while now and his stomach was growling from lack of food. "Care to join me Lily?" James asked holding his arm out to Lily.

"Absolutely!" she exclaimed and latched onto his arm.

"Ok, James, I'll just let you cool off tonight. See you tomorrow night!" Caroline called to James' retreating back.

"You go on ahead thinking that!" he called over his shoulder and continued forward with Lily.

James and Lily turned a corner. When Lily made sure that they were out of hearing distance, she spoke. "That was a pretty good argument you had going back there. You know, you kept your style as well as told her off big time!"

James grinned. "You know, what you did back there - "

"Oh, god, don't even talk about it! I cannot believe I actually punched her!"

"Yeah, well, she had it coming."

"I feel so embarrassed right now. You won't tell anyone, will you?" Lily asked anxiously.

"Are you kidding? You're my friend! I would never do that to any of my friends!" James said.

Lily smiled to the ground.

The two walked in silence for awhile longer.

Step. Step. Step.

AUTHORS NOTE: Hello again!!! Al-rightie, we know the deal right??? Thirteen reviews, another chapter!

THANK YOUS: This is the part where I thank EVERYONE that reviewed my story!!! I will ALWAYS have a thank you section!!! (At least, I hope so!!!)

Pheobers14: Thank you SOOOOOOO much!!!

Hazelmist: Ok, I didn't exactly finish the story - YET!!! Do not fear!!! Thanks about the writing compliment!!! I'm so glad that you all liked the story! I was really nervous at first 'cause I didn't know what everyone else would think! That was one of the best comments I got on my story!!! I am SOOOOOOO happy you liked it!!! Thank you!!!

Quinn: Thank you!!! I actually have written one story before but, it was my first and THE WORST I had ever written!!! It's one of the most predictable story's I'd ever read! (I don't like predictable much!) Plus, I looked at other people's writing and found what I thought I liked or didn't like in it and sort-of used it in my own writing! And about the Sirius thing, I think I'll probably tell more about that. I sort-of thought about that in the back of my mind for awhile but now that someone actually brings it to my attention, I probably will write about it! (Although it may not be until the fourth or fifth chapter!) Thanks for reviewing!

Sirius' lover: Ahh! Now I feel so guilty for making Sirius the bad guy! It's like you're going to get a mob and attack me or something now!!! Don't hurt me! Ok, ok, I will try to make him Prince Charming but I think that would extend my writing about a few more chapters!!! Oh, the pressure… Anyway, thanks for reviewing!!!

Lucia Dreams: I'm sorry it was too overdramatic! I kept thinking to myself that the story either didn't have enough happiness or sadness or whatnot and now I find that I had too much! Actually, this chapter is the one I was most worried about. I don't think I put enough emotions in this chapter. Thanks for reviewing!!!

Sendirella: Well, I guess she didn't really hurt herself, did she… Thanks for reviewing!!!

Oldestof3: I know! I would probably be pretty sad also!!! Sheesh, a few nights ago when I was writing, I got goose bumps from the story that I already know what's going to happen!!! Anyways, thank you for reviewing!!!

Chickensoup3: So do you know why Lily's in the tower now?!? And I'm glad that you liked the whole Sirius thing. I wasn't sure how people may take that. But it is possible he could have been having a bad day!!! And thanks for reviewing!!!

Lucida Luna: I'm glad you liked the whole Sirius thing too!!! I also have been experimenting with Sirius' personality a lot too. The next story that I'll post will have Sirius with a second side to him! Thanks for reviewing!!!

Dream*Kitty: I'm glad you still like the story! But I promise to you AND to everyone else that I will have Sirius be one of the "good guys" before the story is over but there might still be one or two spots where he doesn't get along with Lily. Thanks for reviewing!!!

Green Eyed Rose: Thank you! That's one of the two best comments I've gotten on this story!!! I'm sorry it's so depressing. I can't wait until I can get my story out of the "terribly depressing" stage!!! Thanks for reviewing!!!

Kittiy: Thank you!!!

NEXT CHAPTER: Ok, James and Lily have dinner with the house elves (That's pretty interesting…) and Lily ends up in the Hospital Wing. Wonder why… I don't know. BUT if you review then you can find out WHY!!!

(Hee hee hee… ::grins like a maniac::)

Well, thank you all SO MUCH!!!

Yours truly,

Amelia Bedelia