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Chapter 7: I Finally Realized that Love Cannot Return
Lily was tapping her quill against her parchment absently that evening. It was three days after the Honeydukes fiasco, and Lily was incapable of paying any attention in her tutoring session. Ever since James had rescued her from the brute in the Honeydukes cellar, Lily had been seeing him in a whole new light. He had become all she ever thought about...
"Hello? Lily? Earth to Lily. Evans, do you read me?"
"What?" Lily was shaken from her trance.
Remus sighed and shut the Arithmancy book. "Lily, what's the matter? Your head is so very in the clouds."
Lily shook her head. "Oh, it's nothing, go on."
Remus didn't budge. "Lils, I know there's something on your mind. Come on, talk to me. We're best friends. You can tell me anything."
Lily pondered. Should she tell him about her growing feelings for James? On one hand, Remus was James's best friend. On the other hand, Remus was James's best friend...
"Um, OK. I'll tell you. It's kinds big, though...you better stay seated while I say it."
Remus shrugged. "I'm sitting."
"Remus--I like James."
Remus toppled out of his chair. "W-what?" he gasped when he had pulled himself back up.
"I like James. Ever since he rescued me three days ago...I've been having all these--feelings for him." Lily stood and began to pace.
Remus felt as though he was being stabbed in the stomach--with the knife twisting deeper with every word Lily said.
"I have to go," Remus announced suddenly. He gathered up his stuff. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, Lily."
With that, he turned and strode briskly out of the library, leaving an open-mouthed Lily staring after him.
Remus reached his dormitory and threw himself on his bed. He drew the curtains around him and he collapsed, burying his face in his pillows. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping that this was simply a nightmare that he would wake from.
Hours later, Remus lay flat on his back. The sounds of James's, Sirius's, and Peter's breathing filled the air. Remus had not been able to sleep--all he could relive in his mind was Lily telling him--straight to his face--that she liked his best friend. Frustration screamed from every pore of his body, but he knew that the situation was helpless.
"What can you do?" he told himself. "It's done. Over. Your chance has just vamoosed. Let it go."
Lily looked up as Remus came down from his dormitory the next morning. It was quite early--everyone else was still asleep. Remus looked surprised when he spotted her, balancing a plate of breakfast she had brought up from the Great Hall for him.
"Hey, good morning. How are you feeling?"
Remus shrugged and smiled. "I feel peachy."
Lily handed him the plate. "I got this for you."
"Oh, thanks. Yum, grilled tomato, sausage, bacon...You do know my tastes well."
"Of course. You're my best friend."
Remus paused in the act of cutting his sausage.
Lily took a deep breath. "Listen, I'm sorry if what I said last night...caught you off guard."
Remus put down his fork. He had expected this. He steeled himself to stick by the decision he'd made the night before.
"Don't worry, Lils. In fact, I'd be glad to help you."
Lily blinked. "Y-you would?"
Remus plastered a smile on his face. "Of course."
AN: To:
Dei-Yeah, she is... sigh.
Miss Lady Padfoot- Thank you! :)
WotcherTonks- Oh, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. :)
Laughing Fountain- Glad you liked it! :)