Blueprints
Chapter One
I was one hundred percent sure I didn't want purple on my wedding. I decided that after entering the 5th bridal shop that day and hating absolutely everything purple in it. I started looking through the yellow section for the bridesmaids when I heard someone call out my name.
I turned around and there stood Suzzanne Blight, happy as always, a huge smile on her face.
"Lillian, you haven't kept in touch." She said in very businesslike
tone. The tone didn't suit her at all since she was wearing baggy jeans, a sweatshirt with the words 'Banana Bonanza '77!', a messy ponytail and sneakers that would've been fashionable in a dumpster.
I smiled back and answered with a, 'You could've called too."
She gave me a hug and started bombarding me with questions.
"What are you doing in this place? How are you? Are you getting married? Why haven't I heard anything about it? Am I not invited?"
"Woah, there Suzzie, hold it." I said holding out my hands in self-defense. "I'm just checking the place out."
She looked at me oddly and said, "Checking the place out?"
"Yeah."
She made a motion as if checking the name of the shop and said, "A bridal shop?"
I nodded. "I guess I was just bored, and since I don't have a boyfriend-"
"-you thought you'd find one in a bridal shop?" she finished sarcastically. "I didn't know you could find one in a bridal shop!"
"Have you eaten today? I'm starving." I said instead.
She frowned. "Well, now that I think of it. I haven't."
So, I ended up inviting her for something to eat.
After silently crossing the street I asked her what she was doing in the shop.
"Oh, I thought I saw your mass of red hair and decided to say hi, since you certainly forgot about me. I thought our friendship would last longer!" She said seemingly heartbroken. Such a drama queen.
I rolled my eyes and opened the door to Luigi's a new Italian Restaurant.
Suzzanne suddenly stopped.
"Here?" she said baffled.
"Yeah, why not?"
"Will you look at what I'm wearing? No way I'm going in there. Come let's go to somewhere more, casual."
------
"Leaky Cauldron, Suzzanne? Leaky Cauldron?"
"Well." She said shrugging, "I thought it was casual enough. Besides I was heading here anyway."
Admitting temporary defeat I sat on a chair and began fiddling with my hair, something I never do unless I'm exasperated, annoyed or in the presence of my mother. Which amounts to pretty much the same thing.
We then started talking about our lives in general. Or rather, Suzzanne started talking about the disappointments of her life.
After a while I started getting bored of her endless talk about how her relationship with Brad was going nowhere, and started looking around the pub.
I spotted Tom, who looked just as energetic as the first time I saw him. A toothless grin on his wizened face, he seemed to be discussing something exciting with a short man in a deep purple cloak. The short man showed him a picture and his laughter boomed through the pub.
I adverted my eyes and saw on the table next to ours, two young girls of about 14.
I sighed remembering the time I was that age, which wasn't that long ago but seemed a million years away.
I turned my attention back to Suzzanne who seemed to have just ended a question. I search in my mind for something to say and responded with a quick 'of course.'
Suzy looked appalled at my answer and started explaining how the Chudley Canons would never have a chance at that year's World Cup.
I blinked at her and wondered when and how the conversation had changed to Quidditch from Brad, someone who had probably never left the Library to go to a Quidditch Match.
"Suzy." I interrupted. "Suzy!"
Her black eyes looked at mine and she cocked her head to one side in silent question.
"You're boring me." I said bluntly.
She gasped in mock-surprise and placed a hand on her heart, "Did you just call me boring?"
I smiled a little and said, "Yeah. But I wasn't in the mood to be here today. I was very happy just planning my wedding with-"
"-You're getting married?" a surprised someone said behind me.
This was exactly why I didn't want to come here. No privacy at all. I turned around slightly and saw – Jon.
"Er.." I managed to say frowning a bit. "..no?"
He seemed to automatically invite himself to the table and said with a huge grin on his face, "Ah, thank goodness. I never would've believed that Lily Evans would get married without inviting any friends."
"Jon, you know perfectly well that she'd never forget us." Suzzane said pointedly looking at me. "So, what I wanted to tell you was..."
Then she started to drone about some security lack in her department to Jon, who seemed to be paying rapt attention. I took that as a break and excused myself to get some fresh air. Silently I made my way to Diagon Alley.
When I entered the street memories of the last time I was there came flooding to my mind.
JoAnna was singing. I was laughing and leaning on Suzzane, who was laughing even harder than me if that was even possible. JoAnna, had been depressed for the last 3 months, ever since her break up with the ex-Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, Brandon Jims. At about noon, she had taken a sample from a joke shop and was behaving oddly.
After finishing with an off key "..in a bicycle built, for twooo.." she started skipping to an imaginary unsynchronized beat.
Suddenly, Suzzane fell over and took me down with her. As a reflex I grabbed JoAnna and we all ended in the hard street.
At that moment, Benjamin Fleet, came out of Flourish and Blotts, with a small smile on his handsome face. Kneeling down he asked very politely, in a sarcastic way, "Are you okay?"
I was about to say something back when JoAnna squealed and kissed him smack on the lips. Too surprised to move, he stayed still. After a second she pushed away and took Suzzanne's hand and mine. Giggling like school girls we stood up quickly and ran away.
After that we had apparated to my flat and spent the night watching old romantic movies.
I tuned back to the real world just in time to see the infamous joke shop, which also reminded me of James. How long had it been since we talked alone. About two years since that day, maybe more.
Taking a deep breath I looked at my watch and headed back to the pub. I had taken more time than I intended.
As I stepped in I noticed Suzzane drinking something that was creating a cloud of smoke around the table, Jon was nowhere to be seen. I sat on my chair and asked where he was.
"Work. He only came by to listen to some plans for my department."
"Oh. Shall we order?"
She nodded sipping her drink a thoughtful look on her face. It was then I started wondering about the security lack they had talked about while I was outside.
After lunch, Suzzane had to go work, so that left me back were I started. Planning my imaginary wedding with my imaginary fiancé. I sighed and realized I was being stupid, and with a considerably damper mood, headed to my flat.
--------
I never imagined that at 21 I'd be single. I also never imagined I'd be living with my mother and watching reruns on the telly. I wasn't even watching the shows, the voices were like company for me.
I was actually thinking how life always plays little games on you. Wicked little games. But on the other hand, life was somewhat fun. I tended to do that a lot. Think about the past, that is.
"What are you planning on doing today? Surely you're not going back to that horrible training?" Suzzane asked JoAnna, while chewing a mouthful of something unrecognizable she had cooked herself.
"Of course I am! Jean Pierre would be furious if I didn't show up for the afternoon practice." JoAnna answered as if it were obvious.
"Oh, Jean Pierre would be furious? Jean Pierre? Since when did you start calling him be his first name?" I asked slyly.
"Oh, come it off. I always call everyone by their first names, Evans!" she answered hotly. Her previously calm manner melting away in a matter of seconds.
I smiled a knowing smile and noticed Suzzane bore one similar. JoAnna glared at us and picked up her duffle bag. With a curt nod she left the flat to disapparate to the stadium.
I looked at Suzzane whose smile had disappeared from her face, and had been replaced with a thoughtful look. Expecting some philosophical remark I looked at her expectantly.
"Do you reckon I'd be able to make her fall off her broom from embarrassment if I showed up there?" She ended up saying.
"No, do you think she splinched on the way there?" I countered.
"Most likely." She said biting of another piece of her meal.
I was brought back to reality when the phone started ringing. Reluctantly I went to pick it up.
"Hello?"
"Lily?" a male voice said.
"Yes?"
"It's me James." Oh yeah. I rolled my eyes. Of course! James.
"James?! What- Why are you calling?"
"Oh that.. see, Sirius had this idea of making a small 'Reunion Dinner' with the old crowd, and I'm calling to tell you you've been invited."
"No fancy invitation?" I asked smiling.
"No fancy invitation." He said, and I could hear by his tone he had a smile too. The fancy invitation story had been a rather amusing one concerning Sirius' same idea. About two years ago Sirius planned the same thing. He planned it very well. Formal dressing, hired house-elfs for the occasion, a gift for each guest, and of course the 'fancy invitations'. It turned out that he planned the party but forgotten to invite the people. So he bought last minute cards at Zonco's which happened to be located nearby(and was the only place open with easy access). He didn't read the package they came in carefully and when he delivered them, the ones who opened them received an unflattering odor of dungbombs for days. The party, of course, had to be postponed.
"But it's not formal, right?" I asked, playing with the cord.
"Right."
"So, how've you been?" I asked after an awkward silence.
"Fine. I guess. You?"
"Same. How's Danielle?"
"We're, um, separated." Oops, wrong thing to say!
"Oh! Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Change the subject! Change the subject!
"When's the dinner?" Nice!
"Of course!" he said. "The dinner's on Saturday. At 8."
"See you, then."
"Bye." And he hung up.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I looked at the phone and wondered, today Saturday or the other Saturday? I picked up the phone to call and ask, when I remembered; I didn't have his number. I didn't even know how he managed to call me through muggle phone, when I knew perfectly well he didn't own one.
--------
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me, except JoAnna, Suzzane, Jon and Benjamin. Everthing else belongs to JK Rowling. And part of the plot to Jonathan Tropper.
Note: This story is partially based on the book (Plan B) by Jonathan Tropper. Some things are similar, but not everything. It's a very fun book, and I suggest you read it if you haven't.