2. Nerves
Running one hand through her blazing red hair, Lily shifted in her chair. She glanced over at the door of the men's room, waiting for James to return.
He'd been acting strangely all night. When he'd come to pick her up, he'd stumbled over his words and seemed to go pale when she'd asked him what he'd planned to do. She wondered vaguely whether he was coming down with something.
Finally, after an age, the door swung open and James came back to their table. He gestured at the empty dish set in front of her. "Are you finished with your dessert?" he asked.
Lily nodded, smiling. "Yes. I wish you'd tried some. It was delicious."
Instead of dessert, James had called for a drink slightly stronger than the wine they'd had with their main course.
"If you're ready, I think I'll pay now."
"That's fine. Now, remember to pay in Muggle notes, not-"
"Galleons, I know."
She smiled again at him and reached for his hand across the table. "Thanks for bringing me here, James. It's my favourite restaurant, and I know you're not used to these things."
James simply nodded. Now he was fidgeting about in his chair. One hand left hers and he reached into his jacket pocket. After letting out what seemed like a sigh of relief, he signalled to the closest waiter.
After leaving the restaurant, they walked along the quiet street hand in hand. James took in the Muggle surroundings. He pointed at a tall, red, rectangular box with a door and lots of windows. Inside were a thick, yellow book and a strange-looking device mounted on one of the walls.
"What's that, Lily?"
She laughed. "It's a telephone box. I told you to take Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, James! Honestly, you're hopeless!"
He frowned at her. "That isn't really fair, Lily. I mean, how much did you know about the wizarding world before you came to Hogwarts?"
"You're right. I'm sorry." Lily's face became apologetic. "James…?"
"What?"
"Are you alright?"
He seemed to become even more jumpy after she asked him. His eyes avoided hers as he answered.
"I'm fine. Why?"
"Nothing…you've just been on edge all evening. Are you sure you're not coming down with something? I mean, I had that nasty bug the other week, maybe you've caught that."
"I'm sure. Stop asking me." He evaded her hurt glance. Trying to cover his edginess up, he added, jokingly, "I reckon you just want to play nurse."
Feigning offence, Lily slapped him on the arm playfully. He felt the all-familiar tingle spread through his skin at her touch. He lowered his head and gently kissed her.
"I'll be back in a minute."
He crossed the street to where a late night flower vendor was standing at her stall. He asked the woman something, dug his hand into his pocket, and fumbled with the Muggle coins he found there. Eventually, with the amused stare of the woman following him, James strolled back across the street towards her. Lily had her back to him, gazing down the street, watching a group of teenagers emerging from an arcade. He tapped her on the shoulder.
"I couldn't find anything as beautiful as you, so I had to settle for this."