Aww you guys are all so sweet! Thank you for reviewing!

I've made myself promise that I can't update my stories until I finish my assignments... I've got SO MUCH to do...

Anyway, this is a very interesting chapter that I just LOVE! Have fun!

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"I'm sorry love, but it costs a dollar to get in."

I glared at the middle-aged balding guy standing in the booth, selling tickets to get into the pool. He was blocking my way in, and I didn't have a dollar.

"And for two dollars, you get a free pool toy!" He held up an uninflated pool ring and smiled at me encouragingly.

Arrgh.

The line of people behind me was getting restless, and a lot of people were standing on their tiptoes to see what the hold up was. The woman behind me was struggling with her two toddlers, three beach bags and five towels, and accidentally bopped me in the shins with one of her beach bags.

"Sorry," the woman said, and one of the toddlers wrenched his hand from her grip and squirmed through the entrance, running towards the kiddie pool.

"Luke!" The woman screamed after the toddler, still trying to control her other child.

"Don't worry ma'am, I'll get him," the guy in the booth said, and stepped out the back to chase after the kid.

This was my chance. I waited until the man had his back to me, and sprinted as fast as I could into the changing room.

I didn't really like the Dolphin; there was only one changing room that men, women and children had to share; luckily it was empty, so I sat down in a corner and thought about what had happened.

Dad had been seeing another woman? Behind Mum's back? And he was going to leave... leave us forever... another tear fell onto my bare knees. I had loved Dad so much, and now he was abandoning us. There had been something between Mum and Dad for so long, and now the problem had surfaced.

Where was that woman that had broken apart our family? I could feel the hatred bubbling up inside me... somehow I would find her, somehow...

And Mum! Mum would fall apart without Dad. He was like her backbone- he made all the money for our household, paid for Petunia's school, and cooked most of the meals. Now he had turned violent against Mum... and was leaving her! The bastard!

More tears spilled from my eyes, and rolled down my cheeks. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Suddenly a voice interrupted my thoughts. "Hey Cinderella... you dropped your towel."

James Potter was striding across the changing room, holding out my silly Pocahontas towel. I checked my bag, and sure enough it had disappeared.

I wiped my eyes and looked at James blearily. "James?"

"That's my name, don't wear it out," he retorted cockily, smiling.

"How- how did you know that I was here?"

"Well... your mother did tell you to go to the pool. I asked some lady directions, and paid the guy at the booth two dollars, admission for both of us." His eyes sparkled. "I think he's forgiven you for sneaking in."

"James... did you hear..."

Suddenly James moved from his standing position, and sat down next to me.

"Yea, Lily, I heard."

"Well Dad... he's not usually like that. He made it all up, I mean. He was only joking, he does this a lot."

"Lily-"

"And Mum, she always bangs into the cupboard door, haha it's funny." I was talking too fast, trying to explain myself, and I could tell by his expression that he didn't believe me. I faltered.

"Lily..." James's voice was pitying, and I couldn't stand it. "Lily, you don't have to pretend."

"I'm not!" I cried, and tried to sit down.

"Don't," James said, and pulled me back down. I was surprised to see that he didn't take his hand away from my hand as I sat down.

"Lily," James said quietly, quieter than I had ever heard him. "I understand what's happening. My dad had another woman... my parents got back together after about a month of my dad living away from home. They love each other now. It's the same as your situation... I promise, it'll be okay."

I turned my head towards him, my eyes blazing with tears. "Tell me, James," I whispered, "Did your Dad hit your Mum?"

"No..."

"Did you ever wake up at night, and hear the walls shaking from their shouting?"

"No..."

"Did they sleep on separate beds since you were nine?"

James just shook his head quietly.

"And just let me know, James," I yelled at him, my body shaking, "Was your father forced into marrying your mother, and hated her from the day he said 'I do'? Did your parents really hate other, or was your father's relationship just a little fling? A short change of frickin' scenery?"

With that last sentence, I fell off the seat and collapsed onto the wet cement, crying so hard I felt like my heart would break.

I felt James get off his chair, and heave me off the ground and back onto the seat. I felt weak. I laid my head on his lap and let the tears leak freely.

James just stroked my hair like a mother consoling a child, and whispered to me, comforting me. "It'll be okay, Lily."

I looked up into his eyes, and saw something I had never seen in his eyes before. Seriousness. And sincerity.

"I promise, Lily... as long as I'm around, I'll never let anything happen to you."

Then he leaned forward... and kissed me on the lips. It was magical, sweet and exciting- all at the same time. I closed my eyes, which were still full of tears, and took in the moment. I wanted to remember it forever.

"Ooh, look at the naughty children!"

I opened my eyes and sat up to see a fat woman bustle into the changing room, with a seven-year-old boy who was giggling.

I jumped up and sprinted out of the changing room as fast as I could, shedding my t-shirt along the way. Reaching the crowded pool area, I did the biggest cannon ball I could into the water.

The lifeguard blew his whistle and pointed at me, but I was too worried to care. Kissing James? What had I been thinking? This would ruin everything... my good reputation was stuffed. AND he was going to stay in my ROOM for over a month... what was going to happen? I closed my eyes and allowed myself to sink underwater, the cool water rushing over my head. I wished that the past few days had never happened, that James Potter had never come to stay at our house, that Dad had never revealed to Mum that he was leaving her...

Then something really strong was pulling me out of the water, and dragging me over to the side of the pool.

JAMES!

He looked hot in blue swimmers, and he grinned at me as I pushed back my wet hair self-consciously.

"Why'd you run away like that?" James said to me.

I opened my mouth but stayed silent, and James just grinned again.

"I just wanted you to know, Lily... I like you heaps."

Before I could answer, he pushed off from the side of the pool and disappeared into the crowd of swimming people. I was left totally speechless.

"Oooooo Lily, who was that?"

I turned around to find my neighbours grinning at me.

Jenny and Joanne lived down the street from me, and were eleven and thirteen years old. They swam towards me, their matching purple sequinned bikinis glittering in the strong sunlight. Even though they weren't twins, they looked alike and dressed alike.

Joanne, the oldest of the pair, winked at me. "Wow, he's hot, isn't he?"

I forgot my worries and found myself surrounded in girly gossip as more and more of my Muggle neighbourhood friends approached me. I told everyone about how he went to my Scottish "boarding school" (the school all my friends thought I went to, instead of Hogwarts), and how he was staying at my house, and how he had kissed me. I left out the part about him staying in my room- the teasing would never stop!

"Woah," My friend Lulu said, looking across the pool at James, "Look at that bod. It's even better than Leo's, you know."

"You kissed him?" Jenny exclaimed. "Lily, you should definitely go after him."

"I don't know," I said hesitantly. Getting mixed up with James could be a big mistake.

"Oh," Joanne suddenly said, looking at her waterproof watch. "We have to go, Jenny. We promised Mum that we'd be back for lunch."

"Ohmigod!" I exclaimed, and got out of the pool. I had totally forgotten about Mum. I had to go home.

"James," I called, walking over to the chair where he was working on his tan, "We have to go home! Unless you want to stay..."

"No," James said, leaping up. "I guess you want to see what's happening at home..."

"Yea," I said quietly, and moved towards the changing rooms.

Within five minutes we had our t-shirts on, towels wrapped around our waists and were heading out. The man at the entrance booth gave me a dirty look as we walked out, but I didn't care.

James and I walked back home in silence, but James's words kept echoing around in my head. "I'll never let anything happen to you, Lily", "I like you heaps, Lily"... unbelievable.

We reached the front door and I found the spare key underneath the cactus pot plant, opened the front door and stepped in. James followed me.

"Mum?" I yelled. "Mum!"

We entered the kitchen and I saw a note taped to the fridge:

Lily-

I'm sorry about what happened earlier, and I want you to understand that this was coming for a long time. I need some time to myself; can you and James manage for a little while without me? Thank you, darling, and don't worry about me. Everything will be fine.

Love from Mum

I looked up from the note and met James's eyes. "Mum'll be home soon," I said. "I'm gonna get changed."

I ran upstairs and took a quick shower, scrubbing the chlorine out of my hair. Mum had said that it would all be okay... I felt my spirits lifting slightly as I turned off the water and dried myself off, wrapping my fluffy towel around me. I realised that I hadn't brought my underwear into the bathroom, so I left the bathroom to get it.

Then I walked into my bedroom and saw James putting the home video tape into his bag.

I was so shocked I dropped my towel, revealing everything to the world.

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Arrrgh I can't believe Lily dropped her towel, in front of James! Or rather, I made her drop her towel!

This is my favourite chapter so far... what do you guys think?

Of course, I have embarrassed myself many times in front of guys... talking to stuffed dogs on the bus, trying to act cool and not succeeding... but let's leave the stories for another time. Like Lily said, I'd never live it down.

Thank you to all my reviewers, especially my very dedicated ones!

Egg-n-head- I'm a very surprising person, you know. Thank you for reviewing so much!

Jocelyn- Sorry, I don't think I'll continue until they have Harry. I'm not sure, but please stick around and see what my amazing mind comes up with!

Becky6- I would be so embarrassed if a guy stole my home movies... oh well...

Marauders-Wzrd10- Thanks!

Sunni07- Ah I wish I could... but oh well... thank you for being one of my most dedicated reviewers!