A/N: Well, I'm ecstatic to learn that so many of you share my sentiments about the devilishly handsome Orlando Bloom! For those of you who have doubts as to the color of James's eyes, here is my reasoning. ((Because I know you want to hear it :P)) I am also a firm believer in Ginny/Harry-ship. So, since Harry has black hair and green eyes, and Ginny has red hair and brown eyes, I think James has brown eyes. That way, G/H would be L/J all over again, just with switched eyes.

I wish I hadn't called the press in, it ruined a perfect night. But it was getting boring, so…. Yeah. I hate angst, so you won't be getting a lot of it in this fic. That would be a warning to all you angst maniacs. Hey maybe that's why I've never really enjoyed love/hate that much… Ok enough blabbing, on with the story….

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Reluctantly, James pulled away from Lily, shoving her into the car. "Let's go guys," he called to Sirius and Arabella. Everyone piled in quickly and they sped off, narrowly missing a few ambitious reporters who were under the impression that running in front of the car would make it stop.

Once they were on their way, Lily asked nervously, "What… what was the press doing James?"

"Isn't that obvious," he said, through gritted teeth. Then his expression softened, "Sorry, Lils, I didn't mean to snap at you." He sighed and explained, "Nosy reporters like that seem to find extreme pleasure in making the lives of celebrities, like myself, miserable. Particularly when there's a woman involved."

"Oh…." Lily said, "Does this mean my picture is gonna be in the paper tomorrow?"

"Oh God I hope not," James groaned. "Maybe they were only interested in those two," he said, pointing back to where Sirius and Arabella were cuddling in the back seat.

Lily laughed a bit, "Yeah… if we're lucky." The rest of the drive went in relative silence. Sirius and Arabella attempted to make conversation, but Lily was too busy worrying about tomorrow's headlines to participate. And James was preoccupied with wondering why Lily wasn't talking. When they got to Lily and Arabella's flat, James and Lily stayed in the car while the other two walked to the door. "Lily, I need to warn you…" James began. Lily looked at him, waiting for him to continue, "Right. Well, I wouldn't try to leave my house tomorrow morning if I were you."

"What?!" she exclaimed, "Why ever not?"

"At least one reporter must have followed us here, so they now know where you live. I'll bet you a hundred galleons that there'll be a mob of reporters camped outside your door tomorrow morning."

"Well what am I supposed to do? Just stay in the house all day? And what about Arabella?"

"I dunno, Lils…" James was silent for a moment. "You two could always apparate over to my place. Besides, you were supposed to come over any way to train for Quidditch. Arabella and Sirius can find something to do."

"Better lock the bedroom doors," Lily said, giggling.

"Thanks for the warning," he said, smiling. "So it's settled then?" Lily nodded her assent, and they walked up to the house. After a quick kiss goodbye, James returned to the car and Lily walked inside to find the living room dark. As she entered cautiously, a shuffling sound reached her ears. Shutting her eyes and clapping her hands over her ears, she yelled, "Sirius Black, you and Arabella had better finish what ever you're doing and be decent by the time I count to ten!"

"Geeze Lils," Arabella's voice came from the direction of the couch, "Why do you always have to expect the worst? Go ahead and turn the lights on now, I promise we're both fully clothed."

"You'd better be…" Lily said, flicking the light switch. Once the lights had flickered on, she saw Arabella standing by the couch and Sirius's legs and torso coming out from under it. "What the…?"

"He's looking for my lip gloss. It fell outta my purse and rolled under there," Arabella explained. Lily began laughing uproariously, "I heard.. I heard sounds and I thought you two were… you know…"

At this moment, Sirius popped out from underneath the couch, holding up a small plastic tube, "I got it!!" Lily and Arabella applauded and he stood up, taking a dramatic bow. "Thank you. Thank you. I would like to thank all the little people I stepped on while on my way up. And thank you to my friends, and fami-"

"All right, that's enough Sirius," Arabella cut in, snatching the lip gloss out of his hand. "Thanks, though."

"Thanks? That's all I get?" Sirius said petulantly.

"So you want me to kiss you right in front of Lily?" Arabella asked.

"Well no… I guess I'll have to take a rain check…"

"Now that I can do. But I will give you a tide over." So saying, she kissed him softly on the lips, pulling away after a moment.

"That's better…" he said, hugging her. "See you later, Ma Belle." Arabella gave him a quick squeeze then let him go. Once he was outside, on the way to the car, she turned to Lily. "So what are you gonna do about the press?"

"James said not to leave the house tomorrow. But he also said we could apparate over to Potter's Corner, since I'm supposed to go over there anyway to practice. And I'm quite confident that you and Sirius will find some way to amuse yourselves."

Arabella blushed. "Yeah. Wonder if he's any good at chess…"

"I guess you'll find out tomorrow," Lily shrugged. Then she yawned, "I'm going to bed. Something tells me we've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Good idea," Arabella said, following her into the hallway. Twenty minutes later, they were both asleep.

Lily awoke the next morning to the sounds of shouting outside her door. She stood up, rubbing her eyes groggily, and walked to the door. After one glance through the peephole, she shrieked and ran into Arabella's room, jumping on top of her snoozing friend. "Bella! Oh my God! There's twenty bazillion people outside our door." Groaning, Arabella rolled over and muttered, "Go 'way. Not ready to get…." She trailed off, pulling a pillow over her head.

Lily rolled her eyes and yanked the pillow off of Arabella's head, "Get a move on, Bella. We'd better apparate to James's fast, or we'll be mobbed with questions from those idiots out there."

With a loud, exaggerated sigh, Arabella sat up. "Just let me change. You'd better get dressed too."

"Right. We might as well pack a suitcase. I have a feeling we'll be staying over there for a while."

"Lily!" Arabella teased, "You sure do move fast…"

"Oh shut up," she said, throwing a pillow at Arabella's head. She dashed quickly out of the room. Ten minutes later, Arabella, who was lazily getting dressed, heard the thunk thunk thunk in the hallway outside her door. Throwing a shirt over her head, she opened the door, "Lily Evans! Why are you bringing an entire trunk full of stuff?"

"It's not full, Bella. I left space for you to put your stuff in," Lily said, rolling her eyes. She was not fully dressed and had brushed her hair and applied make up.

"Yes whatever," Arabella said, "Let me just pick out some stuff and I'll finish packing." Grabbing her wand off the dresser, she floated the trunk onto her bed and proceeded to throw various articles of clothing into it. "Bella! Your clothes will be all wrinkled!" Lily protested.

"So? I can always use that handy ironing spell to straighten them."

Lily merely shrugged and said, "Are you ready yet?" Nodding, Arabella waved her wand again and the trunk floated up into the air. Floating the trunk in front of her, Arabella followed Lily into the living room. "I guess someone will have to use the Floo network and bring the trunk along…" Lily said.

"I'll do that. You seem to have problems with falling out of fireplaces."

"I was hoping you'd offer…"

"I'm an excellent friend aren't I?"

"Very humble too."

"Yes, yes, that too."

"I was being sarcastic."

"Oh… yeah…"

Lily laughed, "Just get in the fireplace." Once Arabella was gone, Lily ran her fingers through her hair and apparated.

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After breakfast, Arabella was sitting on Sirius's lap, in a big gray armchair. Grinning devilishly, Sirius asked, "Waddya say we give those reporters something to write about?"

"Sirius, if you are suggesting we make up some dirt on Lily and James to feed the paparazzi…"

"Do you really believe me capable of such a despicable act, Ma Belle?" Sirius asked, looking hurt.

"Yes…"

"You wrong me, dearest. I have more scruples than that."

"If you do, I have yet to see them…" Arabella said airily, her eyes twinkling.

"But, Belle o' Mine," he protested, "You have only known me for a week. Give me some time. Besides, I was suggesting that we go out and prank the socks off those stupid reporters."

"You actually think you're capable of making them leave?"

"You are speaking to the master prankster," he asserted, with an arrogant smile, "I am quite capable of making those damned reporters wish they had never even heard of James Potter. Or Lily Evans."

"Sounds good to me, love," Arabella said, standing. "What exactly are your plans for these unsuspecting victims?"

"I prefer to improvise," he answered. Pocketing his wand and standing, he offered her his arm, "Shall we venture forth and wreak havoc, Mi'lady?"

Taking his arm, she smirked, "We shall. And woe to all who would seek to deter us."

"My sentiments exactly…" Arm in arm, they sneaked out the back door, planning in whispers.

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"Oh good, you brought a trunk," James said, as he showed Lily to the room she and Arabella would share.

"Why is that good?"

"Well uh… I was hoping you two would stay here for a while…"

"That anxious are ya?" Lily asked, flashing a teasing smile up to him.

"No. I mean yes, but… Aw c'mon, Lils. You know what I mean," said a now flustered James.

"Sorry, you're just so cute when your ears turn red like that," Lily apologized, a self-satisfied smile spreading across her face.

"Thanks. I think. Any way, my house has much better anti-intruder spells than your flat. I don't want to think what those reporters would do to you once they got inside."

"True, but I don't want to be a burden…"

"You're not," he assured her, "Believe me."

"Well in that case, I'll just plan to be here 'till Christmas."

"Um… ok," he agreed.

"Man, you must really like me," Lily commented, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah…" he said, mustering up his courage. "I do. I really do like you Lily. A lot. Yeah…" He trailed off, feeling incredibly stupid.

"Would it help if I said, 'Ditto'?" she asked, slipping her hand into his.

"It would."

"'Kay then ditto," Lily said, with a giggle.

James simply smiled, breathing an inward sigh of relief. "So… ready for some Quidditch?"

"I was hoping you'd get to that. Just let me change."

"Alright," he said. Hiding a smile, he sat down on the bed, crossing his legs nonchalantly.

"James, get out! You can't watch!" she squealed.

"Fine," he said, with an exaggerated sigh, "But you never told me to leave, so I thought…" Seeing the look of indignation on Lily's face, he grinned, "Relax, Lils, I was just teasing you."

"You still haven't left," she pointed out, crossing her arms.

"I'm getting there. I have to give you a goodbye kiss," he replied, bouncing off the bed to kiss her softly.

"James, you're going to see me again in like… two minutes."

"My point exactly. That is way too long to be out of your enchanting presence, Lily Flower."

She blushed and pushed him out the door, "Thanks, but you still have to leave."

"Fine. Fine. I'll meet you downstairs in two minutes."

"Yes sir," she said, as she shut the door.

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A/N: YES!!! I FINISHED IT!!!!!!!! Next chapter, S/A pranks and more L/J Quidditch. ((SOME of you actually LIKE reading the Quidditch parts. Oh well, there's no accounting for taste. :P))