It's before lunch and I'm in divination with Courtney, and extremely bored. Courtney's going on and on about last night. I wish she'd just shut up! All I can hear is the droning of her voice. I've completely tuned out. I tear a piece of parchment and start writing a note to Bertha (I know, her parents have real problems with choosing names. Her twin brother is called Martin. But they're both nice people, and not bad looking either).
Me: Hey. I'm bored.
Bertha: Yeah, me too. What's up?
Me: Not a lot.
Bertha: How was the dance?
Me: Alright I guess…
Bertha: Alright? Sirius took you! He's only reeeaaalllyyy cute!
Me: Uh huh…
Martin: I took Daniella. Score!
Bertha: Oh go away. This is girl talk.
Martin: Excuse me!
Me: Excuse ME! I'm being ignored!
Martin: Sorry.
Me: Nice robes by the way.
Martin: Shut up, I can't help it that I spilt milk all down my robes.
Bertha: Ok, back to the original conversation topic.
Me: What is there to say?
Bertha: Come on! I know Courtney didn't hook James herself.
Martin: Nice to know you have such faith in CC.
Me: Since when do you call her CC? Anyway, I asked James for her.
Bertha: Wow! To think he'd actually go to a dance with her. They seemed to get along last night though.
Martin: Thanks a lot Lils, I was planning to ask CC.
Me: Really? You should tell her that. Anyway, James was only pretending to like Courtney because I asked him and I paid him.
Bertha: Pay? You did that for Courtney?
Me: She doesn't know about that. I haven't even given him the money yet. I'll do it at lunchtime.
Bertha: I don't think James dislikes Courtney though.
Me: He only did it 'cause I asked him.
Bertha: Ooooh, being a bit protective are we?
Martin: Do you mind? Feeling rejected!
Me: Sorry.
Martin: I thought you hated James.
Me: I do!
Bertha: Hmn, I'd say you used to…
Me: Do you mind?
Martin: So do you still hate him? I mean, He's been chasing you since, well, forever. You should be a little nicer to him now that he's done you a favour.
Me: I was planning to do that.
Bertha: Courtney told me about her romantic night.
Me: So?
Bertha: You know you care.
Martin: You were lip-reading them all night!
Me: You've been spying on me?
Bertha: He secretly stalks you.
Martin: Not!
Me: Right, whatever.
Martin: Did you see them kiss?
Bertha: On the lips!
Me: Yeah. Your point is?
Bertha: Nothing. It's just that they stayed back after you left, and he went into the garden with her and…Well, you don't want to know.
Me: Yes I do!
Martin: The suspense is killing me.
Me: They what??
Bertha: Kissed a lot. I've heard that he…
Me: What??
Martin: CC's dress was nice.
Me: Um, HER dress? You mean MY dress that I lent her, which she hasn't given back yet!
Bertha: Ooooh, jealous.
Martin: This is getting nowhere.
Bertha: Yes it is. I'm trying to prove to Lils a very obvious point.
Me: And that would be-?
Bertha: You don't hate him.
Me: Who? James? I don't have a crush on him!
Bertha: I never said you did, I'm just pointing out that maybe you don't hate him that much. That doesn't mean you love him.
Me: Bah! Love? We're too young. Everyone gets distracted by 'love' so much.
Martin: 'cept you.
Bertha: Well how do you think she keeps her grades up? She's the only serious worker in out year.
Me: So what do you want me to do?
Bertha: I don't know, just talk to James or something. Say thank you for doing it for you. Remind him that he only went with Courtney because of you. You can do it at lunch.
Martin: That makes Lils sound desperate.
Me: Yeah, listen to your brother for once.
Bertha: I'm hungry…
BELL!
Great, lunch. Suddenly I'm not so hungry anymore.
"C'mon Lily, I'm hungry," Courtney whines.
"Coming," I say.
"I wonder if James will be there."
"Maybe."
"What was that note about? Can I read it?" Courtney reaches for my bag.
"No! I mean later," I'm counting on her short memory span to keep me out of hot water.
"Alright."
~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey, dude…"
"Yeah, what?" I mutter impatiently.
"How was the dance with Courtney?"
"James, James, tell me all about it!"
"Go away Remus, I'm asking him first."
"Aw, c'mon Sirius, let me hear. James, tell!"
"Guys, go away!" I say.
"She was looking pretty hot."
"Instead of really desperate like usual."
I go red in the face. Why did I ever go to the dance with Courtney? Because Lily asked me, I remind myself.
"Yeah, she's usually like total makeup disaster girl."
"Ickle Jamesie is embarrassed!"
"Guy, layoff me will you? Nothing happened. She's just a nice girl in a nice dress. Remus, Why don't you go and bug Sirius about him and Lily?"
"Ooooh, nice girl…"
"Ooooh, nice dress."
"Anyways, nothing happened with Lily and Sirius. But you and Courtney went off after the dance."
BELL!
"So… you going to tell us what happened yet?"
I ignore them. They're so annoying sometimes. They were like this when I first asked Lily out, and got rejected.
I glance over at Courtney. She's busy chatting to Lily, who looks kind of, well, depressed. Courtney lazily twirls her golden hair as she talks. I've never really realized how nice Courtney looks. Lily just kind of looks, well, weird I guess, with that wavy red hair and electric green eyes that seem to see right through me. Courtney's just, well, she accepts what I say to her, rather than challenging me like Lily does. It's nice to have someone not trying to push you off all the time. Courtney turns and catches my eye for a second. Wow, she has such nice amber eyes.
"James? Man, you're like so in la la land," Sirius says, giving me a push.
I glance back a Courtney. Lily leans over the table and murmurs something to the girl opposite her, Bertha I think. Then stands up and heads in my direction.
~*~*~*~*~*
AN: Better yet? Am I leaving you in suspense? This chapter is longer than the other ones. Review, review!