Chapter 2:

James flopped down beside Lily, who was dishing herself out a modest portion of cauliflower cheese.

'Hiya, Lily. How are you?' said James, with a little smile. Lily, keeping her eyes on her food, chewed slowly.

'I'm good. What do you want?' she said after an eternity of chews.

'Only to be in the company of a beautiful lady, and my wish has been fulfilled, and for that, I thank you.'

'Oh, give it up, Potter. We all know what you're here for-'

'Oh, do we?'

'-And the answer is the same as it always is.'

'And that is...'

'What do you think, Potter?'

'What do I think, or what do I fantasize?'

'N-O. No. No I don't. For the last time. No. Alright?' Lily looked at James, and she saw the disappointment in his eyes again. It stunned her, that he could ask her time and time again, every single trip or chance, and he was always painstakingly obviously hurt every time. Yet he was so swaggeringly arrogant, she thought it good for him to have his bloated ego deflated as much as possible.

James gave a small smile.

'You know you want to. Come on.' he said.

For someone so supposedly clever, he was awfully slow on the uptake.

'James, I would rather swim with the squid in the lake than spend time with you! Can't you get that into your inflated head?'

She looked over at him, expecting to see him deflate with disappointment again, but instead his eyes lit up and he gave a smug smile.

'What?' questioned Lily. He wouldn't be looking like that for nothing.

'Oh, nothing.' said James, dramatically airily.

'I'm not going to play guessing games with you. Tell me.' James tilted his head and grinned.

'You're so hot when you're angry.' he said.

'James!'

'Ah, there it is again.'

'What?'

'You called me James.'

'What?'

'Just now. And before.'

'I did not...when?'

'You said "James I would rather swim with the squid in the lake than spend time with you" and you said "James!" just then.

'So?'

'You've always called me Potter. Last name, very formal, very impersonal. But now, I have a little place in your heart, so now I'm James. So now that I know how you feel about me, you don't have to pretend anymore. Come to Hogsmeade with me.'

'She couldn't, even if she wanted to.' said a voice at Lily's side. James turned and looked.

'Aye?' he said.

'Shut up, Amelia.' said Lily to her friend.

'She's already going with someone else, Potter. Looks like you'll have to go to Hogsmeade all on your lonesome.' James' smile faded.

'Oh yeah? And who's that?'

'Just leave me ALONE!' said Lily, her face reddening.

'Frank.' said Amelia, a small smile on her face.

'Longbottom?' said James, incredulous, and, by the look in his eyes, furious.

'No, the other Frank.' said Amelia, sarcastically. James turned to Lily.

'Is she kidding?' Lily didn't look at him, but her cheeks were now a crimson colour. James' face fell into an abyss with seemingly no end. 'And you'd rather go with him than me?'

'James, you are an arrogant, bullying-'

James cut her off. 'Obnoxious toerag?' Lily blinked.

'How do you-'

'-Remember stuff like that? I listen, Lily. Unlike some people I know, who-' but before he could finish, Lily had sighed, picked up her books, and, without another word, walked away.

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