Disclaimer: the plot… such as it is, is mine, characters are all JKR's (dammit)
A/N: Eeep! OMG I got so many reviews for the last chapter YAY *huge grin*, thank you for everyone's reviews especially BastsCleopatra (thank you! *grin*), and Amy (thanx! But… erm… what are wheat thins??? Is it American or summat British that I've missed out on? :D)
A/N2: Will post next chapter as soon as I can but it's with my beta now (*waves to Fran*) so it depends on when she gets it done :)
Summary: People just keep finding out stuff at the end of chapters don't they?
CHAPTER 15
"You didn't catch up with her then?" Sirius asked, as James entered their dormitory, viciously kicking open the door.
"No," James sighed heavily, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "And now she's probably going to avoid me for the rest of eternity," he added flopping onto his bed.
~*~*~*~*~
"I bet she's in the library," James said, throwing the red ball repeatedly at the wall above Sirius' head.
"Who?" Remus asked offhandedly, flipping through the pages of the book opened on his lap, he looked up and then realising that it was James who had spoken added a muttered "never mind."
"James it's been three days, go and speak to her for Christ's sake!" Sirius said, standing up and grabbing the ball out of mid-flight. "And would you stop with this?" he demanded.
"She's avoiding me and probably in the library studying for the mock-NEWTS we have coming up." James muttered miserably.
Sirius threw the ball at James' head in disgust. "One, the mocks are a month away, two, the exams aren't till next year, three, go talk to her before I do something drastic!"
"Ow!" James exclaimed, rubbing his head. "Okay, one," he said mockingly. "Remus is working," nodding to the head just visible between the piles of notes on Remus' bed.
"Remus is always working," Sirius retorted, waving his hand dismissively. Only tp have to duck three seconds later as a book came flying towards his head.
"Oookay," James drawled, shaking his head at his friend's antics. "Two, I don't want to go talk to Lily and three I think I'm over her, I mean it's Lily, what was I thinking?" He ignored the snorts of laughter from his three room mates.
~*~*~*~*~
"Are you going to avoid James forever?" Arabella asked, dropping a pile of books onto the table they were working at in the library.
"Yes," Lily said simply, flicking through a copy of 'Plant and Fungi: A magical aide'.
After waiting five minutes for any sort of extrapolation on that, Bella added, "You know I hate to say it,"
"Then don't," Lily said, cutting her off.
"Hey, I deserve to, I was right," Bella argued.
"No, you said we would make a good couple and we're not a couple,"
Bella cut her off, saying, "I told you so!"
"Were you even listening to me?" Lily demanded. "James and I are not a couple," she said, enunciating each word carefully.
"But he likes you, and you'd make a good couple," Bella retorted grinning.
"Delusional." Lily muttered returning back to her work.
~*~*~*~*~
Fee was sitting by herself at the Gryffindor table when the Marauders came in.
"There's some free seats," Peter pointed to the seats surrounding Fee, who seemed to be purveying an air of aloofness. All of them turned to look at Sirius.
"What?" he demanded. "I'd rather sit somewhere else but do you ever listen to me?" he concluded huffily.
"No," they all replied happily, and continued to walk over to Fee.
"Hello," Remus said, smiling at Fee,. "Can we sit?"
"Sure…" Fee said, with out glancing up, she turned a page of the book she was reading.
"'Pride and Prejudice'?" Sirius asked, leaning over her shoulder, as he took the only vacant seat left, next to Fee.
"What's wrong with my choice in reading material?" Fee snapped, turning to face Sirius, who held his hands up in defeat.
"Hey, I was just making conversation… where are Lily and Bella, anyway? You three have a fight?" he asked, grinning.
Slamming her book down Fee glared at him. "Lily and Bella are working in the library, I didn't feel like it, okay? Anyway," she added, "Bella has a plan… it mainly involves telling Lily 'hah, I told you so' but you know… it's still a plan." Fee grinned disarmingly at James, who banged his head against the table.
"He's over her," Remus interjected.
"What?" Fee asked, confusion marring her face.
"Yes… James no longer likes Lily." Sirus explained sarcastically.
"God!" Fee snapped. "One minute you're practically declaring you're undying love for her and the next you're ignoring her. Boys!" she exclaimed, standing up and grabbing her book off the table. Suddenly an odd look flashed across Sirius' face.
"What?" Fee demanded, as a half smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and he tilted his head to the side, with a look of comprehension. "Erm…" Fee stuttered. "I have to go," she finished, fiddling nervously with her hair. She bolted for the door as a full-blown grin spread across Sirius' face.
~*~*~*~*~
Lily, having finally escaped from Bella's questioning at the library, was snuggled under her covers, with the curtains drawn around her bed, hiding from the world. Sighing she rested her head on the pillows. Her thoughts immediately turned to James. Restlessly, she sat upright again.
How come I'm always thinking of him? she wondered. It's his fault... Stupid crystal, she thought morosely. Running her hands through her hair, she sighed again. It's not his fault, the rational part of her mind argued. It's just easier to blame him, and not think about…him… what he said, what happened in the cave…all of it! Massaging her temples, Lily swallowed back her tears. God, I've been awful to him, she thought glumly. Why does he even like me? she wondered, wallowing in confusion. We hate each other…maybe he was joking around, she reflected, dismissing the idea as quickly as it had come. She'd seen the look in his eyes, he really liked her. But, I've been horrible to him, she thought helplessly. How I mean… why on earth would he choose me, after everything I've done. A little niggling thought in the back of her head suggested that maybe he didn't choose her, maybe he just 'fell' for her. This is stupid, she contemplated. I don't believe in fate… and fate, we're in school for Christ's sake! Pulling at a loose thread on her blanket, she stared blankly down at its tartan pattern. Maybe I do like him… just a little bit. At this thought, Lily let a small smile grace her lips. Contentedly she pulled her knees up to her chest.
She was interrupted by Fee running into the room, slamming the door shut and throwing herself onto her bed before bursting into tears. Lily twitched one of the curtains aside. "Fee?" she asked uncertainly.
~*~*~*~*~
"He's over you," Fee sobbed, cradling her head in her arms.
Trying desperately to ignore the stab of pain, and the horrendous twist in her stomach at Fee's words, Lily asked, "Who? Fee, what are you talking about?"
Fee raised her red-rimmed eyes, and sniffed. "Sorry, no… I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic. I think James still loves you," she said the last bit half to herself.
Lily frowned… did Fee like James? Was that why she was so upset?
"Fee, is there something you're not telling me?" Lily asked, dreading the answer. If Fee liked James, Lily couldn't be with him; she couldn't do that to her friend.
Fee's head shot up, shock covering her features, "He kissed me! I didn't even think of him like that before, I mean, why would he do that?" She stood up, and started to pace the room in agitation.
Lily sat down on the edge of her bed in shock. "He kissed you?" she whispered, pain washing over her.
Fee blushed several shades of red, "Oh God, Lily I was going to tell you, but it was while you and James were stuck in the cave and getting you out of there was more important, and then… I just decided to pretend it didn't happen." Sitting on Bella's bed, so she was facing Lily, she sighed heavily. "Great idea that turned out to be."
"Wait…" Lily said, frowning. "How did James kiss you if he was in the cave with me?"
"James?" Fee asked, confused. "Why are we talking about James?"
"You said he kissed you," Lily said perplexed.
"James!?" Fee exclaimed. "God no! I was talking about Sirius."
A smile broke out over Lily's face. "I thought you meant James." She breathed, she couldn't stop grinning as her relief at that fact made itself known. "Hang on," Lily said suddenly. "Sirius kissed you!" she exclaimed in shock, the realisation suddenly hitting her.
~*~*~*~*~
