Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JK Rowling...
A/N: Wowee! *Cringes privately at the use of lame word* that many reviews deserves applauding *applauds loudly*. Well, thank you all soooooo much, and I have to say I've never had so many reviews before! For anything! Are you getting the significance!!!! So, some points that need to be mentioned. And you all have to read this!
GriffindorGoddess28: yeah, it's a pity about the US thing. Ah well, maybe bad handwriting will look cool on a shirt? Don't worry my handwriting is awful. But my typing is worse- hence the typos! Te he he he...anyway...yeah, you'll see how Lily feels for James in this chapter!
Red Emerald: Happy birthday!! Thanx for the review
Tawny: Sirius/Sarah is interesting, yes, but I think I'd better stay on task with l/h. and why am I writing this? I can just talk to you tomorrow! *Shakes head and rolls eyes*
Raine an Frodo: that symbol thing was cute!
People who I didn't mention, it doesn't mean your any less special, but I can't be screwed trying to find all your names! So a big hug to everyone! And, nobody wrote that they read authors notes- well, that is very disappointing. Why am I writing this if no one reads it???
NOTE: ONE-WORD REVIEWS DON'T COUNT. YOU SHOULD ALL WRITE ATLEAST TWO SENTENCES OR MORE!
On with the story!
Chapter Ten (Already!!)
Reconciliation and Relationships
"You're forgiven."
James looked up, startled. Lily was standing in front of where he sat in the common room. It took a few moments to register what she had said, and when he figured it out, he was stopped once again by shock.
"I am?" he asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah," she said, a little grudgingly. "And you can have a second chance. I guess it wasn't your fault...Andrew is like that."
"Yeah...yeah he is," James agreed blankly. He frowned suddenly. This was weird. He had no idea what to say. "Anyway, what made you think I cared that much anyway?" he said nastily, for lack of anything better to say.
Lily's eyes flashed.
"Well, if that's the way you feel, I don't give a damn either," she snapped. "Do whatever you want- drown in the lake for all I care!" she turned and stormed towards the portrait hole.
"No, wait!" James cried. He was an idiot- such an idiot! "I'm sorry...again. God, I'm and idiot, Lily. You know that. Please forgive me?"
Her shoulders went up, then slumped down in defeat. For some reason, she didn't want to fight with James. She just didn't have the energy.
"Ok," she sighed. Turning she trudged back over to him and sat next to him on the couch.
"I guess I'm a little too quick to judge," she said ruefully. "It just seemed like something you would do to get back at me- you know, standing me up. But I guess it was just a mistake. And you being mean is nothing new," she added.
"I'm sorry," James repeated, shamefully.
Lily grinned. Three times in the last hour. Not bad.
"S'ok," she said. She sat back and looked around.
James looked down steadily. Neither said a word.
Normally, if they had been sitting together, they would have been arguing like anything. Everyone else in the common room would have cleared out, and Remus and Lisa would have been standing around to break up the fight. The battle would have ended with James saying something awful, and Lily not talking to him for a few weeks. But now, for some reason, James didn't want Lily to ignore him, and stranger still, Lily didn't want to ignore James. She just...didn't want to. She didn't want to not talk to him, because...well, she didn't know why. It was weird but she liked talking to James. Behind those innocent hazel eyes lurked a very intelligent human being. It just took a bit coaxing to get him out. And every once in a while, they would have a civil conversation- it was rejuvenating.
"I don't mean to be mean, you know," James said suddenly. "It just happens. I never really mean it. And I did mean everything I wrote in the letter," he added. "Don't ask me to explain it coz I honestly can't, but I think I like you a lot more than I used to. And in a different way."
"No you don't, James," Lily sighed wearily. "You just think you do. Really, I think its teenage hormones. You have dated just about everyone possible in this school, with the exception of Grace, Andrea and I. You snogged Sarah once when she was drunk, and Lisa and you went out once in first year, even though you didn't do anything. I think you just want to cross me off on your tally."
"What?" James cried. "It's nothing like that, I really do like you! Why would you think that?"
"Don't bother denying it Potter," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "If you actually did care about me, then you wouldn't have only just realized it. You would have figured it out ages ago."
"I was in denial," James argued. "I don't want to like you, but I do, and there's not much I can do about it."
Lily couldn't believe she was having this conversation with James Potter. He had just admitted to being in love with her, and she was calmly denying it for him. In the back of her mind, she was horrified to think that it could be true, but the more sensible part of her knew that it was probably a prank of some sort.
"Look James," she said, an idea coming to her. "The only time I would every believe that you're in love would be if you asked someone out and stayed with her for more than a month. And you're never going to do that. So give up already. And there's no way you could fall magically in love with a girl you've hated for more than a third of your life."
"Yes I could," he protested stubbornly. "And I do love you, so you might as well get used to it."
"Then why haven't you asked me out?' Lily countered, though she didn't know why.
"Lily, I've been asking you out almost every second day for the last six years. I didn't know that I liked you back then, but I recently asked you out even though I knew that I have certain feelings for you," James pointed out slowly and deliberately. "If you won't accept it, there's not much I can do, is there?"
"Those didn't count," she said irritably. "You didn't mean them, and the last one didn't work anyway."
James rolled his eyes and sighed. He grabbed her hand, turned to look at her in her eyes solemnly. For some reason, she was feeling slightly weak around the knees. Thank god she was sitting down.
"Lily Evans, will you marry- I mean, go out with me?' he asked, solemnly. "As a long term relationship?" he added, just in case.
"I don't know," she said slowly. She was shocked at the depth of his eyes.
"Well, you have to tell me an answer. And I don't take maybes," he said, smiling.
"Well, I'll get back to you," Lily said, trying to pull her hand back, and suddenly aware of that strange feeling in her stomach again.
"No, Evans, I want an answer now," he said, amusedly.
"Hey, Lily!" Andrea called from the staircase, not even noticing how she was sitting with James. "You coming to dinner?"
"Yes," Lily called back.
"Great," James said, kissing her hand and setting it back on her lap. "I knew you'd say yes!"
"What? I didn't mean- oh never mind," Lily said resignedly. "Whatever makes your ego happy."
James grinned. His ego was more than happy.
**
Sirius walked into the Great Hall on Monday to see James morosely stirring his cereal. As he sat down next to him, James let out a huge sigh and raised the spoon half way to his mouth. Then, he glanced at the contents and sighed again. He set the spoon down again.
"Life's tough, huh?" Sirius commented. James nodded glumly. "Cereal is disgusting. And girls are all form a different planet."
"Yeah," James said, sighing again heavily.
"What eating away at you?" Sirius asked, reaching for a sausage. "You seem kind of down."
"It's Lily," James said suddenly. Sirius got the impression that he really needed to talk. "Now we're going out, and I have no idea how to act around her, it's as if all of a sudden we're two completely different people on different planets and we have no way of communicating, and I keep insulting her because I don't know how to say what I actually want to say-"
"Which is what?" Sirius interjected.
"That I think she's the most beautiful girl in the world, and I only just realized this a few days ago, because I took some time off being an idiot to look at her properly, and I swear to god, this is not me! James Potter is not vulnerable! James Potter does not fall in love! Something is wrong with me!"
"I thought being in love was meant to utter ecstasy," Sirius remarked.
"It's not. It really is not," James said. He stirred his cereal again and sighed once more.
**
"You said yes? Again? Why, Lily, why?!" Andrea whispered furiously, eyes wild and a horrified expression on her face.
They were in their first class for the day, Transfiguration, and Lily kept glancing at the back of James head. They were whispering to avoid the attention of Professor McGonagall.
"I didn't say yes on purpose," Lily hissed back. "It was your fault for asking that question at that time!"
"It was not!" Andrea said indignantly, forgetting to whisper.
"It was not what, exactly?" Professor McGonagall said sharply.
"Uh...uh, it was not...a... uh..." Andrea stammered.
"A...Hippopotamus," lily said suddenly.
For a moment, McGonagall simply stared at them both. Then-
"Kindly remove yourselves from my classroom. Wait outside."
Lily and Andrea got to their feet amidst the snickering of their classmates and left the room, Lily's face burning much to the amusement of James potter.
"Anyway," Andrea said, once the door had slammed behind them. "It wasn't my fault that you said yes. You could have refused him after!"
"Yeah well...I didn't think of that, did I?" Lily muttered. She had, of course, but she didn't want to admit that she just hadn't been able to refuse James when he had looked at her like that.
"Lily...you don't like him, do you?' Andrea said suddenly, eyes lighting up and a grin beginning to spread across her face.
"N-no," Lily stammered. "Of course not, why would I?"
"You like him! I can tell! Oh my god, lily Evans and James Potter! Who would've thought?" Andrea squealed. "This is hilarious...and kind of ironic."
"Andrea, I do not like James Potter," Lily said firmly. "I said yes because I'm sick of fighting and ...maybe this will help us...get along better..."
"Lily likes James!" Andrea teased loudly- just as the door opened.
Inside there was a stunned silence. Then-
"She does, does she?" Said McGonagall sternly.
"Omigod," Andrea squeaked.
"My life is over," Lily muttered, hanging her head.
*** A/N; well, how was that? Long enough for your liking? I like this chapter, so I hope you guys do too! Well, make sure you tell me that in your REVIEW. Another ten, plz? Give me some motivation, I'm really unenthusiastic about everything at the moment. So make my day and I'll try and make yours!
A big hug for everyone!
Jaizar.
A/N: Wowee! *Cringes privately at the use of lame word* that many reviews deserves applauding *applauds loudly*. Well, thank you all soooooo much, and I have to say I've never had so many reviews before! For anything! Are you getting the significance!!!! So, some points that need to be mentioned. And you all have to read this!
GriffindorGoddess28: yeah, it's a pity about the US thing. Ah well, maybe bad handwriting will look cool on a shirt? Don't worry my handwriting is awful. But my typing is worse- hence the typos! Te he he he...anyway...yeah, you'll see how Lily feels for James in this chapter!
Red Emerald: Happy birthday!! Thanx for the review
Tawny: Sirius/Sarah is interesting, yes, but I think I'd better stay on task with l/h. and why am I writing this? I can just talk to you tomorrow! *Shakes head and rolls eyes*
Raine an Frodo: that symbol thing was cute!
People who I didn't mention, it doesn't mean your any less special, but I can't be screwed trying to find all your names! So a big hug to everyone! And, nobody wrote that they read authors notes- well, that is very disappointing. Why am I writing this if no one reads it???
NOTE: ONE-WORD REVIEWS DON'T COUNT. YOU SHOULD ALL WRITE ATLEAST TWO SENTENCES OR MORE!
On with the story!
Chapter Ten (Already!!)
Reconciliation and Relationships
"You're forgiven."
James looked up, startled. Lily was standing in front of where he sat in the common room. It took a few moments to register what she had said, and when he figured it out, he was stopped once again by shock.
"I am?" he asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah," she said, a little grudgingly. "And you can have a second chance. I guess it wasn't your fault...Andrew is like that."
"Yeah...yeah he is," James agreed blankly. He frowned suddenly. This was weird. He had no idea what to say. "Anyway, what made you think I cared that much anyway?" he said nastily, for lack of anything better to say.
Lily's eyes flashed.
"Well, if that's the way you feel, I don't give a damn either," she snapped. "Do whatever you want- drown in the lake for all I care!" she turned and stormed towards the portrait hole.
"No, wait!" James cried. He was an idiot- such an idiot! "I'm sorry...again. God, I'm and idiot, Lily. You know that. Please forgive me?"
Her shoulders went up, then slumped down in defeat. For some reason, she didn't want to fight with James. She just didn't have the energy.
"Ok," she sighed. Turning she trudged back over to him and sat next to him on the couch.
"I guess I'm a little too quick to judge," she said ruefully. "It just seemed like something you would do to get back at me- you know, standing me up. But I guess it was just a mistake. And you being mean is nothing new," she added.
"I'm sorry," James repeated, shamefully.
Lily grinned. Three times in the last hour. Not bad.
"S'ok," she said. She sat back and looked around.
James looked down steadily. Neither said a word.
Normally, if they had been sitting together, they would have been arguing like anything. Everyone else in the common room would have cleared out, and Remus and Lisa would have been standing around to break up the fight. The battle would have ended with James saying something awful, and Lily not talking to him for a few weeks. But now, for some reason, James didn't want Lily to ignore him, and stranger still, Lily didn't want to ignore James. She just...didn't want to. She didn't want to not talk to him, because...well, she didn't know why. It was weird but she liked talking to James. Behind those innocent hazel eyes lurked a very intelligent human being. It just took a bit coaxing to get him out. And every once in a while, they would have a civil conversation- it was rejuvenating.
"I don't mean to be mean, you know," James said suddenly. "It just happens. I never really mean it. And I did mean everything I wrote in the letter," he added. "Don't ask me to explain it coz I honestly can't, but I think I like you a lot more than I used to. And in a different way."
"No you don't, James," Lily sighed wearily. "You just think you do. Really, I think its teenage hormones. You have dated just about everyone possible in this school, with the exception of Grace, Andrea and I. You snogged Sarah once when she was drunk, and Lisa and you went out once in first year, even though you didn't do anything. I think you just want to cross me off on your tally."
"What?" James cried. "It's nothing like that, I really do like you! Why would you think that?"
"Don't bother denying it Potter," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "If you actually did care about me, then you wouldn't have only just realized it. You would have figured it out ages ago."
"I was in denial," James argued. "I don't want to like you, but I do, and there's not much I can do about it."
Lily couldn't believe she was having this conversation with James Potter. He had just admitted to being in love with her, and she was calmly denying it for him. In the back of her mind, she was horrified to think that it could be true, but the more sensible part of her knew that it was probably a prank of some sort.
"Look James," she said, an idea coming to her. "The only time I would every believe that you're in love would be if you asked someone out and stayed with her for more than a month. And you're never going to do that. So give up already. And there's no way you could fall magically in love with a girl you've hated for more than a third of your life."
"Yes I could," he protested stubbornly. "And I do love you, so you might as well get used to it."
"Then why haven't you asked me out?' Lily countered, though she didn't know why.
"Lily, I've been asking you out almost every second day for the last six years. I didn't know that I liked you back then, but I recently asked you out even though I knew that I have certain feelings for you," James pointed out slowly and deliberately. "If you won't accept it, there's not much I can do, is there?"
"Those didn't count," she said irritably. "You didn't mean them, and the last one didn't work anyway."
James rolled his eyes and sighed. He grabbed her hand, turned to look at her in her eyes solemnly. For some reason, she was feeling slightly weak around the knees. Thank god she was sitting down.
"Lily Evans, will you marry- I mean, go out with me?' he asked, solemnly. "As a long term relationship?" he added, just in case.
"I don't know," she said slowly. She was shocked at the depth of his eyes.
"Well, you have to tell me an answer. And I don't take maybes," he said, smiling.
"Well, I'll get back to you," Lily said, trying to pull her hand back, and suddenly aware of that strange feeling in her stomach again.
"No, Evans, I want an answer now," he said, amusedly.
"Hey, Lily!" Andrea called from the staircase, not even noticing how she was sitting with James. "You coming to dinner?"
"Yes," Lily called back.
"Great," James said, kissing her hand and setting it back on her lap. "I knew you'd say yes!"
"What? I didn't mean- oh never mind," Lily said resignedly. "Whatever makes your ego happy."
James grinned. His ego was more than happy.
**
Sirius walked into the Great Hall on Monday to see James morosely stirring his cereal. As he sat down next to him, James let out a huge sigh and raised the spoon half way to his mouth. Then, he glanced at the contents and sighed again. He set the spoon down again.
"Life's tough, huh?" Sirius commented. James nodded glumly. "Cereal is disgusting. And girls are all form a different planet."
"Yeah," James said, sighing again heavily.
"What eating away at you?" Sirius asked, reaching for a sausage. "You seem kind of down."
"It's Lily," James said suddenly. Sirius got the impression that he really needed to talk. "Now we're going out, and I have no idea how to act around her, it's as if all of a sudden we're two completely different people on different planets and we have no way of communicating, and I keep insulting her because I don't know how to say what I actually want to say-"
"Which is what?" Sirius interjected.
"That I think she's the most beautiful girl in the world, and I only just realized this a few days ago, because I took some time off being an idiot to look at her properly, and I swear to god, this is not me! James Potter is not vulnerable! James Potter does not fall in love! Something is wrong with me!"
"I thought being in love was meant to utter ecstasy," Sirius remarked.
"It's not. It really is not," James said. He stirred his cereal again and sighed once more.
**
"You said yes? Again? Why, Lily, why?!" Andrea whispered furiously, eyes wild and a horrified expression on her face.
They were in their first class for the day, Transfiguration, and Lily kept glancing at the back of James head. They were whispering to avoid the attention of Professor McGonagall.
"I didn't say yes on purpose," Lily hissed back. "It was your fault for asking that question at that time!"
"It was not!" Andrea said indignantly, forgetting to whisper.
"It was not what, exactly?" Professor McGonagall said sharply.
"Uh...uh, it was not...a... uh..." Andrea stammered.
"A...Hippopotamus," lily said suddenly.
For a moment, McGonagall simply stared at them both. Then-
"Kindly remove yourselves from my classroom. Wait outside."
Lily and Andrea got to their feet amidst the snickering of their classmates and left the room, Lily's face burning much to the amusement of James potter.
"Anyway," Andrea said, once the door had slammed behind them. "It wasn't my fault that you said yes. You could have refused him after!"
"Yeah well...I didn't think of that, did I?" Lily muttered. She had, of course, but she didn't want to admit that she just hadn't been able to refuse James when he had looked at her like that.
"Lily...you don't like him, do you?' Andrea said suddenly, eyes lighting up and a grin beginning to spread across her face.
"N-no," Lily stammered. "Of course not, why would I?"
"You like him! I can tell! Oh my god, lily Evans and James Potter! Who would've thought?" Andrea squealed. "This is hilarious...and kind of ironic."
"Andrea, I do not like James Potter," Lily said firmly. "I said yes because I'm sick of fighting and ...maybe this will help us...get along better..."
"Lily likes James!" Andrea teased loudly- just as the door opened.
Inside there was a stunned silence. Then-
"She does, does she?" Said McGonagall sternly.
"Omigod," Andrea squeaked.
"My life is over," Lily muttered, hanging her head.
*** A/N; well, how was that? Long enough for your liking? I like this chapter, so I hope you guys do too! Well, make sure you tell me that in your REVIEW. Another ten, plz? Give me some motivation, I'm really unenthusiastic about everything at the moment. So make my day and I'll try and make yours!
A big hug for everyone!
Jaizar.