All that day, no one saw Sandra. She even missed Transfiguration, which were her favourite class.
Lily, Janie and Katherine of course knew where she was, but didn't tell anyone and didn't visit her, as she had it requested it so. They did instead tell the teachers that she was feeling sick. Not one teacher questioned this, as Sandra normally was a "wonder-student".
Katherine and Remus was going on all day, telling Sirius what a great idiot he was, if he would permit Sandra to slip through his fingers. Soon Lily and Janie followed, telling him over and over what a big slimeball he had been sleeping with Chaney just to prove his point to Sandra.
Sirius, of course, knew all this all ready and had a very guilty conscience. He had felt miserable for weeks, missing Sandra so badly. He had even lost his appetite. He didn't know what to do, so he kept hurting her intentionally, but that just made him feel even worse about himself. He knew that he had screwed up, but he had too much pride to admit it and apologize.
After dinner Sirius pulled away James, who was the only one who hadn't been nagging him all day, and asked him;
"Prongs. You got to help me, mate. What can I do about Sandra?"
James looked at his best friend and answered with an expression that was so serious that it even surprised himself;
"Sirius. You are my best friend and I would do anything for you, but..." he frowned at the black-haired boy. "But you're on your own with this. You know you screwed up, and if you don't you are an idiot. You got to fix this yourself. I can't do that for you...."
"So you won't help then?" Sirius glared at his best friend.
"I can only give you a piece of advice. I only have 4 words for you, mate." James smiled slightly at his friend. "Forget your pride. Apologize."
"Right then." Sirius said looking frustrated. "That's SO easy." Listen, can I borrow your cloak, tonight? I need to go up to the astronomy tower and think this over."
James merely nodded at his friend.
Just before midnight Sirius put on James invisibility cloak and set of for the Astronomy tower. He was nearly caught by Filch, as he was so deep in thoughts on his way up a flight of stairs that he didn't see the caretaker come out from a secret passage and nearly bumped into him.
He opened the door at the top of the tower and went out into the cool evening breeze and was just about to drop the cloak, as he saw two girls in the corner, one sitting on the floor starring at stars, the other, a red-haired girl, beside her, talking softly. He stood still by the wall, listening to the conversation between the two girls, he knew so well.
"You know, you can't stay up here forever, Sandra." The red-haired said. "Are you sure you won't come down with me?"
Her eyes still directed towards the stars, she slowly replied with a voice that was hoarse and indicated that she had been crying a lot.
"Thanks, Lils, but I like it up here, I feel free to think and I need that now. I am tired of crying like a little baby." She smiled weakly. "It's time I used my brain to find a way out of this mess with Sirius. He doesn't love me and I'll just have to accept that.... "
Lily interrupted the girl and said with a twinkle in her green eyes; "But I think he does love you. I just don't think he's ready for..."
"NO!" Sandra cut her of in a harsh voice, then sighed and continued. "I don't want to hear it Lily. Not anymore. I am tired of making excuses for both of us. I am too soft and he is too hard. He's not ready for commitment and I am too ready. Blah blah." She rolled her eyes. "I guess it's just not meant to be right now. Maybe I can stop caring and maybe I can't. I'll just have to find a way to live with it. "A tear lingered in the corner of her eye as she added. "And it's not like there isn't plenty of stars in the sky, if you know what I mean?"
Lily eyed her friend with concern, knowing that whatever Sandra said, she wouldn't stop loving Sirius. She knew her friend better than to believe that. But there was nothing she could do. She knew how stubborn Sandra could be when she set her mind to something. She sighed and said:
"Well, I don't know what to say then, so I guess I'll be heading downstairs now. I hope you feel better soon." She stood up and went to the door. "See you in the morning, Hun." She added and then left.
Sirius, his mind racing over what Sandra had just said, waited a bit after Lily had left before he silently slipped of the cloak and went over towards Sandra.
"Hey Williams." he whispered softly trying not to startle her more than necessary.
Sandra's body twitched suddenly in shock, but her head didn't move and her eyes were still glued to the sky. She had recognised the voice immediately, but his presence had caught her of guard.
"Sirius, I didn't hear you come" she said and then added with a suspicious voice "What are you doing up here at this time of the night?"
"Just came up for a bit of thinking, but I see you have already taken up the good seats" he smiled at her feeling a sudden urge to take her in his arms, but he resisted. "I haven't seen you all day. Have you been up here all the time?"
"None of your business, is it Black?" she snapped suddenly still not taking her eyes of the sky.
"Come on..." Sirius started, "Let's burry the hatchet, Williams. Let's make a truce, eh?"
"That mean you'll stop pulling those ridiculous pranks on me, then?" she said with an air of someone who really wanted to talk about something else.
"Not a chance in hell." Sirius answered with a small grin and then quickly added; "I hate the fighting and bickering all the time, though."
"Me to..." she said trembling slightly. "But you..." she stopped not wanting to tell him about her pain.
"What?" he said, "Come on, I what?"
"You hurt me" she said for the first time turning her head from sky to look in his eyes.
"You left...!" he snapped back at her, not really wishing it to turn into another fight, but still to proud to admit he had been a jerk.
"So what if I left?" her blue eyes was lit with fury now. How could he be so thick? With an icy voice she spoke on. "What did you expect me to do? You said you didn't want to be tied down. You slept with that... that cow. I know most girls wouldn't ever dream of leaving you, but do you expect me to put up with that behaviour? You made it clear to me that you weren't interested in me being anything but a fling when you let Chaney in to your bed again."
He was reluctant to admit she had struck a nerve. Girls never did leave Sirius Black he always left them when he got bored with them. When he had told Sandra that he didn't want to be tied down, he hadn't known the full extent of his feelings for her. He did like her a lot and they had been very good friends, but he hadn't thought her much more but another conquest. It was when he had had Chaney in is room that night, he realised how he felt about Sandra. But it was to late then. The damage had been done and she left him.
"Well, you never just walk away and leave Sirius Black" he spat at her, looking straight in to her ice blue eyes.
"Watch me!" she sneered and got on her feet turning her back at him heading for the door.
Quickly he to was on his feet and he grabbed her shoulder to turn her back to face him again. He couldn't stand it if she left again.
"Sandra." He said softly, his voice not angry anymore. "Don't leave..." His voice broke shortly. Remembering what James said he continued. "I'm sorry. I've been a jerk. Sandra, Please?"
"Why...?" she said gazing at him. "Why should I stay?"
"I need you to forgive me" he stated simply.
She looked sadly at him and shook her head lightly. "I can't. Not right now anyway." She wanted to be with him, but she couldn't give in this way. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it slightly. "I need some time. I am, however, willing to take you up upon that truce, you suggested before?" she smiled weakly at him. "Friends?"
Not completely satisfied but still knowing that right now this was all she could give him, Sirius smiled slightly back at her and stated; "Friends!"
A/N : I am sorry if I make to much romantic blabber, but I am a sucker for romance. I do however promise that now Sirius and Sandra is friends again, there will me a lot more humor and pranking going on. Please RR. Thanks.