The Wingman

Chapter Two: Sundays With Lily

****

"Check."

Lily frowned as she scanned the board, searching for some miraculous escape from the trap James had just set for her. "How--" she began, but James cut her off.

"Strategy, my dear Lily," he said, smirking as he leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head. The sunlight of the unusually warm April afternoon reflected off of the lenses of his glasses, blinding his opponent.

It was a little over a month since James and Lily had been reacquainted on Sirius and Marielle's date, and the two had kept in touch, meeting every Sunday for lunch, dinner, shopping (a one-time occurrence that Lily had begged for, and one that James vowed would never happen again) or, in today's case, chess.

"I think you're cheating," Lily declared, still looking over the board.

"I think you're losing," he replied, grinning cheekily.

Lily smiled back at him, and by doing so, she was admitting that he was right. "Fine," she said, "I'll accept my defeat if you buy me ice-cream."

"Deal." James handed Lily the pieces of hers he'd captured and cleared the rest of his pieces off of the board, and she did the same. They rose from the table in the park and began to walk toward Florean Fortescue's a noticeable foot apart from each other.

"So," Lily said conversationally, "I have a date this weekend."

James looked up from the ground, where he'd been kicking a rock as he walked. "Oh? Do tell."

"His name is John Mitchell--"

"How original," James commented wryly.

"Shut up, it's not his fault. He works at a publishing agency."

James frowned. "Is he a Muggle?" he asked curiously.

Lily shook her head. "No, I met him at Gringott's. He told me about some of the books his company's published, but I can't recall them now. Anyway, we're going out this Saturday," James held the door open to the ice-cream shop for her, "--thank you--so you can hear all about it on Sunday."

"Great," James said, glancing up at the menu. Oh, look--strawberry praline. Care to try it?"

"Sure," Lily replied.

James paid for their cones and they walked back out into the bright sunlight, causing them both to squint. "You know," he said lightly, "as your best guy friend, I do have to give you the obligatory big brother speech."

Lily looked up at him, smiling. "I guess you do," she said. "Well, fire away, big brother."

He cleared his throat importantly and began, "If he makes you cry, I will kick his arse. If he borrows money from you and never returns it, I will kick his arse. If he takes advantage of you, I will kick his arse. If he treats you like you're nothing, only you don't realize it because you're blind to his faults, I will kick his arse and slap you across the face to wake you up." He glanced up, seemingly finished. "How was that?"

"Oh, simply lovely for your first time. I entirely approve and will keep that in mind."

"Good," James said satisfactorily.

******

"So," Sirius said, knocking back the last of his rum and Coke, "Marielle and I are going for fish and chips on Saturday. You should bring Lily."

"Can't," James responded, spearing the last olive in his martini with a stirring straw and holding it up to the dim light, squinting at it. "Lily's got a date."

"Oh," Sirius said darkly. "How do you feel about that?"

James looked confused. "Fine," he said slowly, drawing the word out. "How should I feel about it?"

Sirius shrugged and ordered another drink. "Never mind," he said.

His friend wouldn't let it go, however. "You think I'm in love with Lily, don't you?" he grinned.

"Well," Sirius said briskly, "I think love is a little strong, but I do think you have more than platonic feelings for her."

James shook his head, laughing slightly to himself. "That's just typical. Well, I don't love her like that, so you can get that out of your head. Guys and girls can be friends without having pent up sexual tension between them, you know."

Sirius nearly choked on his rum and Coke. "You're quoting her!" he exclaimed.

"What?" James asked, a little bewildered.

"Lily said that!"

"Said what?"

Sirius straightened in his chair and intoned in an exaggerated falsetto, "Guys and girls can be friends without having pent up sexual tension between them, you know. Lily said that to Marielle on the way back home that night. Good God, James, you're borderline obsessive."
"Well, I only said it because she's right," James said. "How about them Wasps, eh?"

Sirius noticed the quick change of subject , but didn't press his friend any more.

******

"He's how old?!" Marielle demanded.

"Oh, calm down," Lily said irritably. "He's only thirty-five."

Marielle laughed. "You're twenty."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm aware of my own birthday, thanks. I just think that…you know, I need to date more mature men."

"Or," Marielle suggested, barely containing a snigger, "you just want to get your hands on some of those pension checks."

Lily sighed disgustedly as her friend burst into hysterical laughter. "Ha," she said dully. "I'm going out with him, Marielle, and I know I will have a wonderful time."

"Yeah," Marielle said with a straight face, "and he can get you a senior's discount on your dinner."

******

"How was your date with Mr. Mitchell last night?" James asked Lily as they strolled aimlessly through Diagon Alley--not shopping, but looking for somewhere to eat.

Lily sighed dreamily. "Wonderful. Oh, James, he told me that he's never met anyone as pretty as I am…and he brought me pink roses…" She stopped talking abruptly and blushed. "Should--should I not be talking about this with you?"

James looked puzzledly at her. "Of course you should. I asked about it."

"But--doesn't it make guys uncomfortable when girls talk about other men in front of them?"

He laughed. "Of course it does, Lily. But it's not like we ever dated or anything like that, so it's not like I'm terribly jealous or anything."

Lily looked him over, decided to believe him, and continued babbling on about John Mitchell.

James didn't really pay attention as Lily detailed what kind of house Mitchell lived in, with the six horses and two indoor pools--he had inherited a large sum from his father when he died, including his large home. Instead, he tried to hold back annoyance at her girlish giddiness.

"Anyway, he's having dinner at my house next week, and I'd like you and Sirius to come," Lily was saying, bringing James back to attention.

"What?" James said.

Lily smiled. "Thank you for tuning in, Mr. Potter," she smirked. "Can you and Sirius make it?"

"What--what day?" James asked, still a little dazed.

She bit her lip. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!"

"Well, that's the only day he can make it," Lily explained hurriedly. "John is a very busy man, you know."

"Lily, I have a job, you know," James told her. "I do have to work tomorrow. What time are you planning on having this little gathering."

"Five-ish?" Lily replied meekly.

James sighed exasperatedly. "Lily, are you trying to get me fired?"

"So you'll come?" Lily asked brightly.

James stared at his pleading friend and sighed again. "I'll see what I can do, all right?"

Lily squealed happily and threw her around his neck, catching him off guard and nearly causing him to topple over. "Oh, thank you, James!" she exclaimed. "It'll be great, I promise. You'll love him, you really will."

She pulled away from him, still beaming. James grumbled something in reply, all the while trying to fathom just how he had allowed Lily to get him into this.

****

Lily glanced down nervously at her watch again. "Where is he?" she demanded again.

Marielle, Sirius, and John all looked up from their still empty plates. "Well," Sirius said calmly, "I'd wager he's still at work. What about you, Marielle?"

"Oh, I second."

Lily sighed crossly. "He told me he'd be here," she snapped.

"And he will be," John spoke up.

"He is," a voice came from the front entryway, and suddenly, James appeared in the dining room, smiling slightly.

Lily stood and took his arm, pulling him to his seat next to Sirius. "John, this is James Potter," she said, remembering her manners as hostess. "James, this is John Mitchell."

James, still smiling, extended his hand to John over the table. "Lily's told me so much about you," he said politely.

"Oh," John replied, "all good, I hope?"

"Not all," James responded thoughtfully as he sat down. Lily's eyes met his over the table, clearly warning him not to do anything he would regret. "She says that sometimes you make her feel too special."

James winked at Lily, grinning at her.

******

A/N: I am honestly quite shocked at what a good reception this is getting. Six favorites' listers for it, and nine reviews in six hours!! Really--you guys all made me very happy.

So, since there is enough space here--this chapter is rather short, isn't it? Sorry 'bout that-- I will thank my eleven reviewers individually. Oooh….

Placid Wind: First reviewer; lovely. I'm glad you like my Lily…even though I think her character is quite inconsistent…but then, I'm my worst critic.

Kellie: Favorites' Lister!! I'm so happy that you think my writing has improved since CitM, because that's what I use this site for--to help me get better, and to have someone say that I have….it's majorly appreciated.

Excalibur: Thank you very much.

PsYcHo Me: Was this quick enough for you? J

Belandra: Well, since the characters are adults, I hoped I made it mature enough. Thank you.

Zetta: The bet is a bit much, isn't it? I'll fix that later…though it may not be in the first chapter…

Kate: Thank you.

Trinity Day: ::beams:: Nicest review I've gotten in a long time. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed James and Lily finishing each other's sentences, because it was one of my favorite parts. Even though the first-date fics for James & Lily are, to me at least, highly unrealistic, they are always fun to read and write. Thanks so much for brightening my day with your extremely encouraging review.

Amelia: ::sigh:: I was hoping someone would get the commercial connotation, because that is honestly where I got the idea for this. I adore that commercial, and tip my hat to you ('cept I don't have one…so I'm tipping an invisible, imaginary pink bucket cap at you), my fellow TV junkie. Wingmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan………:D

Jedida: It was funny? I didn't realize that…I'm thrilled to pieces that you think this is another great fic…another!

DracoFan626: I updated!

~ To Come in the Next Chapter {subject to change, considering I'm horrible at keeping to this kind of thing}~

~James gives Lily his opinions on Mr. John Mitchell…are they real, or is he just trying to please her?

~Lily meets up with an ex-boyfriend, and is a little surprised at how different he is…anyone care to guess which boyfriend this is?

That's all I'll give away…

~Catie