Sirius lay on his bed, his arms propped up behind his head. James sat at the end of his own bed with his arms back supporting him. Remus was on his back with one knee up. Peter, on his own bed, was sprawled on his stomach. They sat there for sometime briefly talking about the next moon, and other trivialities. James had to go and ruin it by talking about Lily, and Valentine's. "I don't what to do. Have any ideas, boys?"
Sirius shot him a dark look-V day was not his thing. Remus shrugged as well, not getting into the holiday either. Peter looked deep in thought. "How about Madame Puddifoot's. Girls seem to like that place."
James shuddered at the frilly café. "That will be a last resort. It needs to be something good. I'm out of ideas. For once."
Remus walked over to one of their windows. "Maybe something magical?"
Sirius didn't say much as they discussed the issue at hand. He had been in a slightly poor mood for a few days. Finally getting tired of it, James threw his pillow at Sirius, who was not paying attention. The pillow hit him right in the face. He bounced up immediately. "What the hell was that for?" He snapped.
"Lighten up Padfoot." James told him simply. Sirius just glared at him. "So what are you guys doing for the big day? Wormtail?"
"Angie has moved on, and that's ok." Peter smiled. "I will enjoy bachelorhood."
Remus gave an applaud agreeing that that was the life for him. Sirius was still off in his own world. Remus walked over to his friend's bed and jumped hard on it, jolting Sirius back to attention. "Spit it out already, what's your deal?"
Sirius rubbed the back of his head where he had hit it when Remus had landed on the bed. "Ava-" Peter broke in with a whistle which was met with a death glare by Sirius that quickly quieted him. "I just feel bad over what I said to her. Maybe if I had approached her differently, she wouldn't have got so upset."
"You really like her, don't you," Remus tried.
"She's my friend, of course I really like her." Sirius said, missing Remus' point.
James sat up straighter on his bed. "More than that, Padfoot?"
All three of them had their eyes on Sirius. He squirmed under their scrutinizing looks. He opened his mouth. Then closed it. He did wonder at the truth himself, but just came clean with them. "I like her, yes. But that's as far as it goes. She doesn't want more. I could really see myself falling for her if she'd let me. But she won't, so it's only ever going to be friends between us."
Ouch, James thought. He wasn't sure he believed it though. From what Remus had told him confidentially and in private, there was more than met the eye to this matter. Sirius and Ava just didn't see it. They were cute together, or at least that's what Lily had told him. He wouldn't have noticed something like that. But Lily and Remus seemed to see it. James just looked at his friend with a smile. "You never know, Lily came around."
Sirius didn't say anything. It didn't matter. The fact of the matter was that he had already fallen for Ava. Back when he first met her actually. But things weren't meant to be he reasoned. But he did want to keep her as a friend. He didn't hold much hope out for James' frame of mind that she'd come around. No point in having false hope. Although, it never did stop James.
"Have you talked to her since," Peter drifted off. He didn't want to say 'since she ripped your head off and stuffed it down your throat'. It was implied.
"Talked? A little. A real conversation, not small talk? No."
"Well, go do it and stop wasting the air in here." Remus kicked Sirius off his own bed. Sirius took the push and wandered out the door.
He made his way leisurely down the steps. However, on his way down he ran in to Raquel. She seemed very interested in talking to him, so he talked with her as they entered the common room. She pulled him over to the bulletin board to point out the Hogsmeade day on the 14th. He gave her noncommittal answers as she talked about it. Julia beckoned her over, Raquel giving her a reluctant look, looking back at Sirius regretfully, but she went to her friend. He turned back around to read the rest of the notices.
He probably read the same list about banned magical paraphernalia five or more times before a tap on the shoulders jerked him back to life. He turned, shaking himself out of his daze. It was Ava. He couldn't think how to form words, let alone what to say. She piped in though.
"Can I talk to you?" She asked him quietly. He nodded slowly, not knowing what she wanted.
She pulled him over to a corner of the room, separate from everyone else. She sighed as she chewed on her lip. She didn't know where to start. "I'm sorry." She simply blurted out.
Sirius was slightly, if not extremely, stunned. He knew Isobel said their Ava would be back in a few days. But he didn't know how things would be between them. He thought she might have a difficulty with him still. He mentally stumbled around, not knowing what to think. "Um, don't be."
She shook her head. "I didn't have to be a bitch to you, it was uncalled for. Especially after the way you have treated me." She paused. "You have been so nice to me, the best anyone ever has." She flushed slightly. He seemed to as well. "I'm not going to try to justify what I said or did. I just wanted to apologize to you. But if you-"
"Apology accepted." He cut her off, not wanting her to tell him he didn't need to accept her apology. It was up to him after all. She smiled at him.
Ava had felt guilty over what had happened. It had been gnawing away at her until she just couldn't ignore it, which she had tried. She didn't know how to approach him or what to say to him for a while until finally she just threw logic out of it and went and apologized to him. She threw her arms around him. She was glad to have one of her best friends back.
He pulled her arms off around him, but still holding on to them. "I- I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said what I did. I tried to force you to talk about what was bugging you. So I got what I deserved."
"So we both stuck our feet in our mouths." She shrugged casually. He placed her arms back around him, and gave her a hug too. She leaned her head into him. "I still need to say sorry to Remus too." She laughed sheepishly.
Sirius looked at her as he let go of her. He raised his eyebrow in question. She waved her hand in a don't-ask gesture. James and the rest had come down stairs and saw them across the room. Ava hopped up and tackled Remus. He got the 'hint'. Laughing he stood up and with one swift move picked her up and tossed her on a nearby couch. Lily threw herself down next to Ava, an arm around her.
Lily was grinning from ear to ear. She was glad to see everyone having fun again. Ava had talked to her a few days ago and apologized to her for the way she was acting. Lily had understood once she had explained it. She did feel bad for her friend though. It must be rough knowing that everything rides on your own personal success. But Lily did feel like she wasn't alone. If Ava had talked to her or others, she would see that they all felt the same way. Everyone wanted to succeed. Though granted, some more than others.
Devon came over and stole the two away to talk about her new beau. She seemed to have planned out her whole day at Hogsmeade. Lily and Ava nodded politely, feigning interest until Devon got distracted and went other to tell Becca about her plans. Then dumping her when Devon's new love interest came into the room. Lily just rolled her eyes. "Silly, Devs."
"Ugh. Valentine's." Ava groaned. James had came over and sat down next to Lily after he had seen Devon run off.
Remus walked quietly up behind Ava. "You mean the day of love isn't for you?" He leaned down to her as he talked. She jumped up in surprise. He sat down next to her as she gave him a gentle whap for having scared her. Peter sat on her other side, while Sirius sat on the floor off to the side.
"No, not for me." She shook her head. "You can keep it James, have fun spending it on Evans."
"I will," he said to her will still looking at Lily. The rest just rolled their eyes.
"You know," Remus tried, "Sirius isn't one for the day either."
Ava looked at Sirius, an eyebrow raised in surprise. "Mr. Date-for-every-day-of-the-week? Doesn't go for the brainless holiday? Well that's smart of you." She turned to him. He shrugged.
"Why are you so against V day?" Peter asked her.
"I just think if you care about someone, you should be able to show it every day. Not just the designated card-and-candy day." As soon as she had said it, her stomach did a flip. She wasn't quite sure why but she felt slightly awkward. She didn't make eye contact with any of them. "What about you Bla-Sirius? Why the negativity?"
"Something along those lines." He didn't seem too interested in explaining himself, other things on his mind. "I'm not going to cater to some sheila on the day she expects it. I do things as I prefer and see fit, and am not going be some toy to turn on for that day. No offense." He shot a look at James.
"None taken." James said, but was unamused. "Well, you might as well stay here this weekend, Altair. There will be hearts and couples and stuff all over the place. Better hole up and ride it out." He laughed.
"Sounds like good advice really." She saw a third year girl entering and revealed that she was to tutor her. She gave a polite general goodbye to all, and was off.
"So what are our plans?" Lily asked James. She didn't really expect anything, but was still interested to see what he said.
"You'll just have to see."
*(~)*(~)*
And so the big day finally did arrive. Ava lay in bed as she watched her roommates flutter around picking out outfits, checking makeup, re-applying perfume. In one big flock they flew out of the room. She sighed and dropped her head back onto her pillow. At least it was quiet now. And after today, the cursed thrice-blasted holiday would be done, over with, history. Until next year.
She waited some extra time until she was sure everyone was probably out of the house. Then she got up. She threw on her jeans and sweater and trucked down stairs to enjoy the bookshelf and silence in peace. She reveled in it. Even the first and second years were away either down in the dining hall, or out in the yards playing cupid.
Around lunchtime she stared at her watch. She should go get something to eat. But some people would be coming back after lunch, and her privacy would be gone. So she skipped it to enjoy the remainder of her time. She was surprised to hear the door open though a few minutes later. Everybody had planned on going she had thought. Oh well, at least she had had some time.
Sirius walked into the room not seeing Ava at first. He walked past her table without seeing her. As he reached the bottom of the stairs about to head up he stopped. And looked back at her. He walked over grinning. "Didn't see you there."
Ava smiled. Sirius leaned his broom up against the table. His hair was windblown out of place. If you gave him a pair of glasses he might look related to James at that instance she mused. "Out for a ride?"
He joked with her about flying with her. They talked for a little bit about random things and nothing really. Eventually, a few early scragglers came in for the day, slightly burnt from enjoying the beautiful, yet windy day. Spring was thinking of coming eventually. Sirius gave her a nod as he headed to put James broom back. He gave him permission to borrow it on the condition it must be put back and taken care of well 'or else'.
Sirius came down and fell into the seat next to Ava as he told her what James had done for Lily, but to act surprised when she told Ava. She nodded and laughed. People continued to come and go through the rooms as they talked about each couple, critiquing them to see who would likely stay together for how long, maybe after graduation, and etc. They stopped talking when James and Lily came in.
Lily grabbed Ava's arm as subtly as she could as she asked her to come with her to the bathroom before dinner. Ava stood up giving Sirius a nod and headed out with Lily. James took Ava's place as he and Sirius talked about his broom. Valentine's had finally come and, thankfully, gone.
::Ok so things are getting thick! We'll just see what happens…
The all mighty and powerful*M: Thanks for all the great reviews!!
Bebe: Thanks for reading!!
blueberry300: I hope you keep on reading too!!
LuvAsInfinity: It is fun to write. It's motivating me! Lol
whatever: I have no sympathy for you. Generally if someone doesn't like a story, they stop reading after one chapter, not 12. Self inflicted eye rolls.