James' thoughts that afternoon were overlapped with Lily. He was still mad at himself about what happened on the pitch. His rib was feeling a bit better, even though he didn't go to the Hospital Wing, but that was the least of his worries. He was determined to show Lily who the real James was, not the one she thought she knew.

Since it was a sunny autumn day, the Marauders spent their lunch break outside, enjoying the last of the warm days before winter would come.

Settled underneath the shady oak tree that overlooked the lake, the four friends were enjoying the soft breeze, all of them laying on their backs and staring up at the blue, cloudless sky.

James, with his arms folded behind his head and his eyes closed, could feel the breeze wash by him and blow softly at his hair. His friends voices filled his ears, but he was only half-listening to them as a certain someone occupied his mind.

"… dumped me." Sirius was saying. He sighed softly.

"Better now than later," Peter replied.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Sirius said. He laughed softly to himself.

"Girls will tear your heart out and put it in a blender," Remus said.

Sirius looked over at him and grinned. "What would you know about girls, Remus?" he said teasingly.

Remus shrugged. "Just a saying I heard.." he murmured, going unnaturally quiet. Sirius didn't take notice and turned his head over to look at Peter who was laying beside him on his left side.

"I suppose you know the whole book on girls, too?" he smirked.

"Girls are evil," Peter said innocently. Sirius laughed out loud.

Remus chuckled. "Better to keep thinking that way, Peter."

Sirius propped himself up on his elbows and looked over at James, who was laying beside Peter. "Hey, James, you asleep?"

"What kinda dumb question is that?" James said, his lips curving into a grin as his eyes popped open and he looked up at Sirius.

Sirius grinned back. "Thinkin' about Lily, weren't you?"

"Shove off, Sirius," James said, closing his eyes again. He could hear Sirius' mirthless laughter as he settled back down onto the grass.

James was just drifting off again, when a voice errupted into his ears.

".. Lily, wait up for me!" called a girl's voice. James opened his eyes and slowly sat up.

He spotted Lily by the lakeshore, her joyful laughter pointing at her friend that was running to catch up with her.

"Now's my chance," James said to himself, getting to his feet. At that, Sirius and Peter sat up, both of them shielding their eyes from the sun with a hand as they peered up at James.

"What's up?" Sirius said.

"One minute," James said, as he took a deep breath in, and started to make his way down to the lakeshore.

Lily had spotted James just as he was nearing her. Her smile turned into a frown and her green eyes glared into his.

"What do you want?" she said annoyingly, her arms crossed. Her friend just watched.

"To talk to you," James replied. His eyes couldn't help but wander along her slim body.

"We have nothing to talk about, Potter," she said simply.

"You think you know me," James said quietly, not caring if her friend was listening. "But you don't."

"Oh, I know you well enough," Lily replied haughtily, her eyes flashing. "The great old git that struts around with his friends, acting like he controls the world and everyone in it."

"Lily-"

"That's Evans to you, Potter!" shrieked Lily. "Now what do you want?!"

"Give me a chance," James said. He couldn't believe he would ever say what he was going to say next. "Please?"

Lily let out a mirthless laugh. "Potter saying 'please?' I think that's a first." But James could have sworn he caught a glimpse of reconsideration on Lily's face.

"Listen, the fight on the pitch, I-"

"Oh, let me guess," Lily said, putting on a mocking chide. "Snape started the fight like he always does?"

"No, I can admit that we started it," James said. "But Sniv- Snape hit Sirius first."

"Right, I can believe that," Lily said sarcastically.

"You're impossible," James muttered. "Why are you so against me?"

"Because you're an ungrateful little jerk, that's why," Lily said coldly.

"And you're the most beautiful girl I've ever known," James said. Lily stood, frozen on the spot, staring at him. James didn't mean to say that, but his thoughts had overcome him this time.

"If you think flattery will work on me," Lily began coolly, "You're sadly mistaken." With that, she turned on her heel and went walking back up to the castle, her friend quickly pursuing her, leaving James to contemplate on a new set of thoughts again.