A/N: I love you guys! And I love your reviews!! So, here's the next chapter: but beware, Chapter 11 might not be out for a while. Thanks and PLEASE review!!
Little House Girl: Haha!! Here's chapter 10 at your request! Enjoy!
:) : Thank you! I'm glad you like the story!!
ruhnas: Yea, I'm sorry it's dragging. I needed a short chapter to prepare you guys for the long chapter...haha.
PadfootOldBuddyOldPal: Haha! I'm soo pleased you still are convinced I'm british!! Shameless bribery...:) :) Double smilies!! Haha, enjoy and review!!
Hpgirl55: Here you go, Katie! Please enjoy and review!!
Templa Otmena: Thank you! Yes, there will be more chapters to go...haha. hopefully...i'm having a REALLY bad case of writer's block though..
lightsakura14: You're great!! Thanks and enjoy!
HPnLOTRrox: Haha, YES, janelle is OUT! haha! Thanks and enjoy!
Sorry if I didn't get your thank you on here...I'll be sure to include it in Chapter 9!!
~*~
James took a seat and glanced nervously at his watch. It was 9:06, already. Where was she?
Suddenly, Lily came down the girl's dormitory stairs, carrying a huge box of extravagantly wrapped presents James recognized as his.
"I believe you'll find every last one of your gifts in there," Lily said professionally.
"I trust you, Evans," James nodded.
"Potter, I think we should come to an agreement. We are not friends, but neither enemies."
"Not friends? Meaning...meaning we don't, talk to each other?" James clarified.
"Exactly. The only time we will be specified to talk will be during our professional student meetings. That means Prefects meetings, meetings with Dumbledore..."
"I know what that means," James snapped. Lily whipped out a thick pad of paper.
"Good. Now all you have you do is sign the contract," Lily said, handing James a pen.
"You made a contract? Do you hate me this much?" James asked astounded.
Lily shrugged and motioned for him to dot the t's and cross the i's. James took the pen and opened the cap. He read the first line, but found he couldn't concentrate.
"Wait, wait" James held up his arms.
"Can't read fast enough, Potter?" Lily asked, putting her hands on her hips. Her green eyes were piercing a hole into James's hazel ones.
James stood up suddenly and walked to Lily. Lily, who felt his close presence, remained still and didn't move. Leaning in, James's lips met Lily's. A second passed, then another. The kiss was gentle, and soon, it turned passionate. 3 seconds turned to a minute, before Lily realized what she was doing. She pushed James away from her, and he fell back onto the couch.
James touched his lip, where a few seconds ago it had company.
"Look me in the eye, Lily, and tell me that meant nothing to you," James whispered.
Lily realized, with great astonishment, that he was begging. He was begging her to tell him it meant something to her. Truth was, it did. It meant a great deal...
But still, Lily avoided his eyes. And though she would never admit it to James, all she could think about was the incredible kiss that had taken place a few seconds before. "I don't need to look you in the eye to tell you that it meant nothing," Lily hissed, emphasizing the last word. "Now, please...sign the contract,"
"I don't want to sign the contract," James said. He wasn't mad at her, as cold as his voice had sounded. "I want to be able to talk to you whenever I feel like it. I don't want some stupid contract..."
"It's not stupid!" Lily fumed. James sighed and Lily's eyes softened at once.
"All right, Lily. Just answer me one question, Lily. One question...and I'll sign the contract," James said quietly, instantly regretting it.
"What question?" Lily asked.
"I know you're mad at me. And I don't blame you. But I want to set the record straight; Janelle did that to you, not me. I had no clue what she was up to, and trust me, if I had known her intentions, I would've stopped her immediately."
"That's not a question," Lily told him impatiently. She wanted to get out of here. She didn't want to see James Potter's face ever again.
"Let me finish, all right?" James didn't give her a chance to respond though. "And I am truly, truly sorry that I didn't believe you about the photographs. I should've let you give your side of the story, and I should've trusted you more. And I also should've know that you would never do anything to hurt me. I know that now," James said. A small smile appeared on his lips.
"What's your question, Potter?" Lily asked, clearly annoyed.
James took in a deep breath. "Why are you so afraid of, well, us? Why can't it be me that kisses you? Why can't I be the last person you see before you go to sleep? Why can't I be the first person you see in the morning? Why can I not spend the rest of my life, with you?"
"I don't understand," Lily said, half confused. James looked at her and smiled.
"Of course you don't, my love,"
"Don't call me your love," Lily commanded him.
"Of course, darling," James continued.
"Don't call me..."
"What I mean," James said loudly, his voice topping hers, "is that..." James chose his words carefully. "Remember at your parent's house? Under the gazebo? You told me you just wanted to be friends, and that we could be nothing more. The following weeks, I tried so hard to get over you. But you were simply irresistible to my tastes. So, Lily, I want to know...why can't we be more than friends? Why can't we be lovers?"
Lily cringed at the word 'lovers'. And she didn't answer either; all she wanted was for James to stare anywhere else but at her.
James, who caught Lily's cringe, laughed softly. Hearing no response from Lily, James asked, "Have you chosen not to answer that?"
"I never said I would answer the question," Lily defended herself.
"You don't have to." James told her. "You know, a part of me wants to give up. I've been chasing you for 2 years now...and your still not mine," James continued.
"I'm not just property you can buy, Potter," Lily said harshly.
"...and the other part tells me that you're possibly the best thing that has happened to me, and maybe you like playing hard to get?" James guessed. Lily avoided his eyes once again; he had discovered her secret.
"Either way...I have no clue how you're feeling right now. And, for once, I will listen to you. I'll listen to your demands...and what you want,"
Lily looked at James, who looked back at her expectantly.
"What do you want, James? What do I have to do to make you...to make you stop," Lily asked quietly.
"What do you want from me?" James pleaded. "What do you want from me, to make you fall in love..."
"You can't force me to love you, James!" Lily cried. Instead of retorting a comeback, James remained silent and motioned for her to continue.
"You can't force me to love you," Lily repeated softer, "because I already do. I love how you never gave up on me, no matter how many times I tried to make you hate me. I love how you are always there for me, and how special you make me feel. And most of all, I love how...I love how you kept pursuing me. I love you so much James, but I'm so scared. Of loving you,"
James took Lily's hand gently and rubbed it. "Why?"
Lily's eyes were brimming with tears. For a moment, Lily thought he saw water in James's eyes; but they didn't flow down his cheeks.
"Because," Lily said speaking up. "I'm afraid, that one day...you'll be here, and the next day, you won't. I'm afraid that you'll hurt me. But most of all, I'm afraid...that I could fall in love with you forever..." The tears were pouring now, and all James's wanted to do was to make them go away.
"What's wrong with falling in love with me forever?" James asked.
"Nothing!" Lily shouted. "But...I may be in love with you forever, and you may fall out of love with me" Lily said sadly.
"Ahh, Lily," James chuckled lightly.
"It's no laughing matter, James!" Lily snapped.
"I'm sorry, my sweet. It's just, I could never fall out of love with you. No one compares...and each day, I find something more to love about you. I could never, ever fall out of love with you...you'd only make me love you more," James told her. Lily started to feel relieved and cried harder. She looked at James, and realized he was crying too. Not tears of sadness, but happy tears.
So this was what it was about...being hurt. Lily was afraid James would hurt her, and James had been afraid Lily had hurt him when he saw the photographs.
"But, James, I want some time. I don't want a relationship right now. And I don't want to get married right out of school..." Lily said, sniffing. James wondered why she brought up the subject of marriage all of the sudden. "I want to study...I want to teach, travel, everything humanly possible...before I settle down." Lily pleaded.
"Lily, I didn't ask you to marry me," James reminded her gently, his eyes glowing. Lily's eyes met his.
"I know, but...but I have a feeling you might someday," Lily said, her eyes shining. Needless to say, James couldn't help but feel pleased.
"Lily, I respect you. And I love you," James said softly. "And if you want to study, and teach, and travel...then there's no way I would stop you. And if it's time you need..." James took a breath. "Then, I'll wait."
Lily couldn't believe her ears. James respected her. James respected her wishes. And most of all, James would wait for her. And Lily knew, in her heart, that James would wait an eternity for her. He'd wait forever.
"Thank you," Lily whispered, leaning her head into his chest as they embraced in a tight hug.
"Don't thank me, Lily," James murmured into her soft, red hair, "Just love me,"
~*~
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it!! Please, please review!!!
Little House Girl: Haha!! Here's chapter 10 at your request! Enjoy!
:) : Thank you! I'm glad you like the story!!
ruhnas: Yea, I'm sorry it's dragging. I needed a short chapter to prepare you guys for the long chapter...haha.
PadfootOldBuddyOldPal: Haha! I'm soo pleased you still are convinced I'm british!! Shameless bribery...:) :) Double smilies!! Haha, enjoy and review!!
Hpgirl55: Here you go, Katie! Please enjoy and review!!
Templa Otmena: Thank you! Yes, there will be more chapters to go...haha. hopefully...i'm having a REALLY bad case of writer's block though..
lightsakura14: You're great!! Thanks and enjoy!
HPnLOTRrox: Haha, YES, janelle is OUT! haha! Thanks and enjoy!
Sorry if I didn't get your thank you on here...I'll be sure to include it in Chapter 9!!
~*~
James took a seat and glanced nervously at his watch. It was 9:06, already. Where was she?
Suddenly, Lily came down the girl's dormitory stairs, carrying a huge box of extravagantly wrapped presents James recognized as his.
"I believe you'll find every last one of your gifts in there," Lily said professionally.
"I trust you, Evans," James nodded.
"Potter, I think we should come to an agreement. We are not friends, but neither enemies."
"Not friends? Meaning...meaning we don't, talk to each other?" James clarified.
"Exactly. The only time we will be specified to talk will be during our professional student meetings. That means Prefects meetings, meetings with Dumbledore..."
"I know what that means," James snapped. Lily whipped out a thick pad of paper.
"Good. Now all you have you do is sign the contract," Lily said, handing James a pen.
"You made a contract? Do you hate me this much?" James asked astounded.
Lily shrugged and motioned for him to dot the t's and cross the i's. James took the pen and opened the cap. He read the first line, but found he couldn't concentrate.
"Wait, wait" James held up his arms.
"Can't read fast enough, Potter?" Lily asked, putting her hands on her hips. Her green eyes were piercing a hole into James's hazel ones.
James stood up suddenly and walked to Lily. Lily, who felt his close presence, remained still and didn't move. Leaning in, James's lips met Lily's. A second passed, then another. The kiss was gentle, and soon, it turned passionate. 3 seconds turned to a minute, before Lily realized what she was doing. She pushed James away from her, and he fell back onto the couch.
James touched his lip, where a few seconds ago it had company.
"Look me in the eye, Lily, and tell me that meant nothing to you," James whispered.
Lily realized, with great astonishment, that he was begging. He was begging her to tell him it meant something to her. Truth was, it did. It meant a great deal...
But still, Lily avoided his eyes. And though she would never admit it to James, all she could think about was the incredible kiss that had taken place a few seconds before. "I don't need to look you in the eye to tell you that it meant nothing," Lily hissed, emphasizing the last word. "Now, please...sign the contract,"
"I don't want to sign the contract," James said. He wasn't mad at her, as cold as his voice had sounded. "I want to be able to talk to you whenever I feel like it. I don't want some stupid contract..."
"It's not stupid!" Lily fumed. James sighed and Lily's eyes softened at once.
"All right, Lily. Just answer me one question, Lily. One question...and I'll sign the contract," James said quietly, instantly regretting it.
"What question?" Lily asked.
"I know you're mad at me. And I don't blame you. But I want to set the record straight; Janelle did that to you, not me. I had no clue what she was up to, and trust me, if I had known her intentions, I would've stopped her immediately."
"That's not a question," Lily told him impatiently. She wanted to get out of here. She didn't want to see James Potter's face ever again.
"Let me finish, all right?" James didn't give her a chance to respond though. "And I am truly, truly sorry that I didn't believe you about the photographs. I should've let you give your side of the story, and I should've trusted you more. And I also should've know that you would never do anything to hurt me. I know that now," James said. A small smile appeared on his lips.
"What's your question, Potter?" Lily asked, clearly annoyed.
James took in a deep breath. "Why are you so afraid of, well, us? Why can't it be me that kisses you? Why can't I be the last person you see before you go to sleep? Why can't I be the first person you see in the morning? Why can I not spend the rest of my life, with you?"
"I don't understand," Lily said, half confused. James looked at her and smiled.
"Of course you don't, my love,"
"Don't call me your love," Lily commanded him.
"Of course, darling," James continued.
"Don't call me..."
"What I mean," James said loudly, his voice topping hers, "is that..." James chose his words carefully. "Remember at your parent's house? Under the gazebo? You told me you just wanted to be friends, and that we could be nothing more. The following weeks, I tried so hard to get over you. But you were simply irresistible to my tastes. So, Lily, I want to know...why can't we be more than friends? Why can't we be lovers?"
Lily cringed at the word 'lovers'. And she didn't answer either; all she wanted was for James to stare anywhere else but at her.
James, who caught Lily's cringe, laughed softly. Hearing no response from Lily, James asked, "Have you chosen not to answer that?"
"I never said I would answer the question," Lily defended herself.
"You don't have to." James told her. "You know, a part of me wants to give up. I've been chasing you for 2 years now...and your still not mine," James continued.
"I'm not just property you can buy, Potter," Lily said harshly.
"...and the other part tells me that you're possibly the best thing that has happened to me, and maybe you like playing hard to get?" James guessed. Lily avoided his eyes once again; he had discovered her secret.
"Either way...I have no clue how you're feeling right now. And, for once, I will listen to you. I'll listen to your demands...and what you want,"
Lily looked at James, who looked back at her expectantly.
"What do you want, James? What do I have to do to make you...to make you stop," Lily asked quietly.
"What do you want from me?" James pleaded. "What do you want from me, to make you fall in love..."
"You can't force me to love you, James!" Lily cried. Instead of retorting a comeback, James remained silent and motioned for her to continue.
"You can't force me to love you," Lily repeated softer, "because I already do. I love how you never gave up on me, no matter how many times I tried to make you hate me. I love how you are always there for me, and how special you make me feel. And most of all, I love how...I love how you kept pursuing me. I love you so much James, but I'm so scared. Of loving you,"
James took Lily's hand gently and rubbed it. "Why?"
Lily's eyes were brimming with tears. For a moment, Lily thought he saw water in James's eyes; but they didn't flow down his cheeks.
"Because," Lily said speaking up. "I'm afraid, that one day...you'll be here, and the next day, you won't. I'm afraid that you'll hurt me. But most of all, I'm afraid...that I could fall in love with you forever..." The tears were pouring now, and all James's wanted to do was to make them go away.
"What's wrong with falling in love with me forever?" James asked.
"Nothing!" Lily shouted. "But...I may be in love with you forever, and you may fall out of love with me" Lily said sadly.
"Ahh, Lily," James chuckled lightly.
"It's no laughing matter, James!" Lily snapped.
"I'm sorry, my sweet. It's just, I could never fall out of love with you. No one compares...and each day, I find something more to love about you. I could never, ever fall out of love with you...you'd only make me love you more," James told her. Lily started to feel relieved and cried harder. She looked at James, and realized he was crying too. Not tears of sadness, but happy tears.
So this was what it was about...being hurt. Lily was afraid James would hurt her, and James had been afraid Lily had hurt him when he saw the photographs.
"But, James, I want some time. I don't want a relationship right now. And I don't want to get married right out of school..." Lily said, sniffing. James wondered why she brought up the subject of marriage all of the sudden. "I want to study...I want to teach, travel, everything humanly possible...before I settle down." Lily pleaded.
"Lily, I didn't ask you to marry me," James reminded her gently, his eyes glowing. Lily's eyes met his.
"I know, but...but I have a feeling you might someday," Lily said, her eyes shining. Needless to say, James couldn't help but feel pleased.
"Lily, I respect you. And I love you," James said softly. "And if you want to study, and teach, and travel...then there's no way I would stop you. And if it's time you need..." James took a breath. "Then, I'll wait."
Lily couldn't believe her ears. James respected her. James respected her wishes. And most of all, James would wait for her. And Lily knew, in her heart, that James would wait an eternity for her. He'd wait forever.
"Thank you," Lily whispered, leaning her head into his chest as they embraced in a tight hug.
"Don't thank me, Lily," James murmured into her soft, red hair, "Just love me,"
~*~
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it!! Please, please review!!!