CHAPTER TWO

"How do I look? Is my hair too puffy?" Courtney peers at herself in the mirror.

"You look wonderful." And I'm being serious. Courtney looks ready to take on any guy!

"More mascara I think," Courtney says, frowning.

"No," I push her firmly away from the mirror and down the stairs.

Courtney had no dresses, so I lent her one of mine. It's almost exactly her size. It's made of a pale silvery purpley material that changes colour with every movement.

"You think he'll like it?"

"Sure."

"I don't know Lily, maybe this isn't such a great idea after all."

"Don't be stupid." I push Courtney into the common room where James is waiting in a corner in fabulous robes.

"Oh my god, he's so cute!" Courtney squeals. "I am totally unworthy of him!"

"Uh huh, that's great," I say absent-mindedly. He IS really cute. What am I thinking, I scold myself, stop being stupid, he's Courtney's cute date.

We make our way over to James.

"Hey Lily," he grins.

"Hi," I give a stern look.

"Oh, right. Hi Courtney," he adds.

Courtney just smiles sweetly like I had her practice about a million times.

"Lily, you're not dressed up." James comments.

I raise my eyebrows at him and stare pointedly at Courtney.

He sighs. "Let's go Courtney."

I turn to head back to the dormitory when Sirius catches me.

"Hey Lily!"

"Oh, hi."

"Aren't you coming?"

"Well…"

"C'mon, come with me."

I consider it for a while, and then decide it would probably be safe to keep an eye on Courtney.

"Ok, I'll be right down," I reply before dashing up stairs to pull on a dress.

Sirius and I dance for a bit, just as friends, before taking a seat. I glance at Courtney and James. They both seem happy. A while later they find a seat in a corner of the hall and start talking. I try desperately to lip read their conversation, but Sirius catches me off guard.

"Hey, are you eaves dropping on them?"

"No!"

"Sure…"

I don't say anything.

"Why don't you like James?"

Great, another random question.

"Um… I don't know."

"So why don't you give him a chance?"

"I'm giving him a chance with Courtney," I reply.

James and Courtney get up and start dancing again.

Sirius goes off to talk with someone else, and I spend the rest of the evening watching Courtney and James. Near the end of the evening, they sit again, and I notice James is holding Courtney's hand. Wow, paying him for this was so worth the money. He's acting it really well. Suddenly he leans over and kisses her on the cheek once. Then he touches her face and kisses her on the lips once, then twice, and Courtney just takes it all in.

Lily's diary

I hate it when something hits you square in the face, and you have no idea what to do. I'm just staring at Courtney and James, and then this sudden twinge of jealousy rises in me. Jealous? No way. I hate this guy! Or maybe I don't after all. Courtney. It's all her fault. At least I know James is only doing this for the money, for me. At least I think he is…