A/N: I am pathetic. I always start a million stories and then never finish any of them. But...but...I love Lily/James! And I had to write this one! The plot bunny was racing wildly in my head. It was mad, I tell you, mad! Hope you'll forgive me! Oh, I have most of the second chappie written so, I'll post when I get five reviews! (I'm aimin' low...don't let me down!)

Disclaimer: ahem A poem...

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

I'm not JKR,

And neither are you!

(but if you really are, I am super honored. I'm a huge fan!!!)

Now...on with the story!

Chapter One

"I'd Rather Be Horsewhipped!"

Lily closed her eyes and breathed in the cool air. She was waiting on the doorstep for her mother and father to come out and take her to the train station, where she would be transported to a new year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The door finally opened as her flustered parents walked out onto the patio.

"Pictures!" Lily's mother cried. Lily sighed.

"No, Mum, please, not this year..."

"Just a few, there's a good dear," said Mrs. Evans as she pushed Lily in front of a tree. There were several clicks until she had caught every angle.

"Mum, if we don't hurry, we really are going to be late!" Lily's father had already put Lily's trunks in the car while the pictures were being taken. They rushed into the car.

"Where's Petunia?" asked Lily. Mr. and Mrs. Evans looked at each other.

"Well, darling, Petunia decided—"Mrs. Evans began before teetering off.

"She had some obligations—"continued Mr. Evans.

"She wasn't really feeling all that well—"

"She didn't want to come," Lily said. They just looked at each other.

"Sorry, dear," said Mrs. Evans.

"Oh, that's fine, we usually had to drag her along anyway..." said Lily, reassuringly. Petunia and Lily hadn't gotten along since Lily had received her Hogwarts letter. Lily was rather sad about this lost friendship; they had gotten along together pretty well as children. She tried to be gracious to Petunia, but Petunia really knew how to make Lily angry. Actually, with Lily's fierce temper, it didn't take much.

"Here we are!" said her father as they drove into the train station, "Now, follow me, Platform Nine and Three Quarters is right this way!" When they arrived at the wall between Platform Nine and Ten, her mother wiped away a tear.

"You look so beautiful, Lily," she said, hugging her closely.

"Have fun during your last year, kiddo," said her father, affectionately.

"Lily, you don't have your Head Girl badge on! Don't you want to show off your accomplishment? We are so proud!" Lily groaned as her mother searched through her school trunks for the badge.

"There..." her mother said as she fixed the badge on Lily's emerald green sweater.

"Mum, I really have to go!" Lily exclaimed, looking at her watch. "I want to be there early to set the example!"

"All right...owl us!" said her mother, waving her handkerchief.

"We love you," said her father. Lily gave him one last kiss on the cheek and ran towards the wall.

"Lily, over here!" cried a familiar voice. Lily looked around and saw her dear friend, Gwen. She walked briskly over to her and hugged her.

"I missed you!" she said.

"I missed you too," replied Gwen. Gwen had black hair that was always in tight, curly ringlets that framed her angular face. Her lips were full, and her eyes had a soulful look, but they would occasionally twinkle and glow with her playful nature. Gwen was a bookworm, like Lily, and they had met in the library in their first year. "Look who's headed this way," said Gwen, nodding her head in the direction of four boys. Lily turned and saw them. She ran towards a sandy-haired, blue-eyed boy.

"Remus!" she cried, hugging him.

"Hi, Lily," said Remus, kissing her on the cheek. Remus and Lily had dated for about two months in their second year, but they had mutually decided to end the romantic relationship. Since then, they had become good friends.

"How was your summer? You stopped owling me towards the end!"

"Sorry about that, I was over at James' house for awhile." Lily looked at James. He was wearing a tight, black shirt with lightly colored designer jeans that flared out slightly at the ends to reveal black Cons that looked as if he hadn't taken them off all summer. His jet black hair, of course, was messy and his glasses were slightly askew on his face. Lily couldn't stand him. He was arrogant, rude, egotistical and a playboy. Unfortunately, ever since she finished it with Remus, he had decided that his mission in life was to annoy her. He asked her out everyday until finally Lily had hexed him (earning her her first detention). He had stopped doing that, but he still managed to make her angry every time they conversed.

"Where's your fan-club, James?" she asked, coldly. James just grinned cockily.

"Oh, I told them to wait for me on the train," he replied. Standing next to him was one Sirius Black. He was also arrogant and James was nothing compared to him on the woman front. He literally had a new girl everyday. This time he had a blonde girl that Lily recognized from Hufflepuff permanently attached to his arm.

"Oh, Sirius, I see you can't part with your fan-club for more than a minute," said Lily.

"Not when they are this beautiful!" The girl on his arm giggled and blushed. Lily just rolled her eyes and looked back at Remus. Suddenly, Remus jumped.

"Lily, you got Head Girl?" he exclaimed, looking at her badge.

"Yep!" Lily searched his chest for a gold badge. "Where is yours, Remus?"

"He didn't get Head Boy," said James. She glanced at him.

"Who did, then?" she asked.

"Me," replied James, grinning.

"Oh, nice one, James, but try it on someone stupider next time." Sirius winced.

"Ouch, ol' boy, that was harsh," Sirius said, patting James on the back.

"Lily," said Remus, touching Lily's arm, "James really did get Head Boy." She looked at Remus.

"How in the world?!" she exclaimed. James was grinning, but Lily could see that he looked a little hurt.

"Hey, Lily, we better board the train, it's going to take off soon," said Gwen, finally stepping into the conversation. She grabbed Lily's arm and pulled her towards the train. "Are you mad? He may be a jerk, but he has feelings too."

"No he doesn't," replied Lily. Gwen just rolled her eyes. They got their trunks on the train and found an empty compartment. Just as they were sitting down, James burst in.

"Lily, my love, I was wondering if I could escort you to the prefects' meeting?"

"Oh, James," said Lily, romantically. James' eyebrows shot up. "I'd rather be horsewhipped!" James' eyebrows returned to their regular position on his face.

"Ah, my darling, you are missing out!" cried James. He turned around and walked out. Lily mumbled something about arrogance.

"So, I guess you had better be going to that meeting," said Gwen.

"Yep," said Lily. "I'll come back as soon as it's finished, I promise."

"All right," replied Gwen. She pulled out a thick book from her bag, and Lily knew that she wouldn't be bored. Gwen settled down into her seat and opened the book. Lily grinned and walked out of the compartment. Heading towards the back of the train, she finally found a congregation of students. James was in the middle, recounting a game of Quidditch he had played to them.

"...and then I saw the Snitch, flitting right above the ground. I decided I was going to take a chance. So, I shove my broom down and start to dive until—"

"That's enough of that, James, let's get this meeting started." There was a collective sigh from the group. James grinned.

"Yes, Miss Lily, ma'am," he said, piously.

"That's better," said Lily, sternly. James could see a slight smile on her face. "Now, prefects..." and the meeting begun. James basically let Lily talk, realizing that this was her domain. Besides, it gave him a great chance just to stare at her. She was wearing a tight, emerald green sweater and dark jeans that showed off her curves. She was very petite, but there was something about the way that she carried herself that gave off an air of authority. Her fiery red hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but several hairs had slipped out and were now framing her face. Lily noticed that James was staring intently at her, and she stammered.

"...p-patrolling is a...a big responsibility and..." James could tell she was struggling. "Potter, will you stop staring at me?" she said. Aloud. Realizing what she had said, she blushed almost as red as her hair.

"Why?" asked James. The prefects were leaning in excitedly.

"Because...because you're making me uncomfortable, that's why!" she replied.

"I make you...uncomfortable?"

"Yes! Now stop!"

"What if I won't?" James grinned and tipped his head to the side.

"Then...then...why...I'll...just stop, would you?" asked Lily, trying to control her anger in front of the students.

"Your wish is my command, red-headed princess," he replied. Lily just glared at him and continued what she was saying. After fifteen more minutes, Lily was starting to notice the glazed looks on the students' eyes.

"Well, I think that about covers it. Meeting adjourned." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, including Lily. It had been her first task as Head Girl, and she felt that she had done her duty.

"So," said James, sidling up to her, "now that the meeting is finished, what do you say we both...go somewhere?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Yes, Potter, we will." James looked amazed. "You will go to your compartment and think up new pranks with your friends, and I will go to my compartment, where I will brainstorm new ways to stop them." James smiled.

"As you wish," he said, and he sauntered off. Lily breathed a sigh of relief. She went to her compartment and flopped down on the seat. Gwen didn't look up from her book.

"I did it!" said Lily.

"Mmm," replied Gwen, still reading.

"That Potter is an idiot! He has some nerve! He made me falter in front of all those students...I don't want to even think about the rumors that will be circulating."

"Mmm."

"He continues to hit on me, and I don't know why! He must really enjoying aggravating me. But why me?"

"Mmm."

"Gwen, you're not listening to me!"

"Mmm."

"GWEN!!!" Lily yelled. Gwen jumped.

"Oh, hey, Lily, when did you come in?"

"Forever ago!" replied Lily. "I've been telling you my problems!"

"Oh...of course, I was listening. How did your meeting go?" asked Gwen, flustered.

"Ugh! I'm going to go find Remus!" she opened the compartment doors and was halfway down the hall before she realized that Remus was going to be with James and Sirius. Planning pranks. She was just about to turn back when a raven-haired boy came out from the compartment just ahead of her.

"Looking for me?" he asked.

"In your dreams, Potter," she replied. "I was just about to go back to my compartment."

"And what were you doing wandering around the halls?"

"Well, Gwen was ignoring me, and so I was going to find Remus, and then I realized he was going to be with you, and so I was just about to turn back." Sirius stepped out into the hall and Peter followed.

"What do we have here?" he asked, brushing his black hair out of his eyes.

"Me. Leaving," replied Lily. She turned around and began walking.

"Lily?" asked Remus. She turned back around to face him. "Won't you come in?" he indicated the compartment. By the look on his and James' faces, Lily could tell James had put him up to this.

"Fine. For you," she replied, walking back. Seating herself next to Remus, she stared straight ahead. Suddenly, the corners of her mouth lifted in a slight smile. James, who was watching her intently, noticed and questioned her. "Oh, I was just thinking about all those girls out there who would be dying to be in this compartment...I am one of the only ones who despise it, and of course, I'm here!"

"So feel privileged," said Sirius. James was still looking at Lily. Remus was watching James and smiling. Peter was just staring out the window.

"Why do you despise it, Lily?" asked James, seriously. Lily looked uncomfortable. "Are you jealous of us?" Remus just shook his head. Now he'd done it.

"Jealous? Of you lot? Potter, you should be careful. One day that big head of yours is going to pop. Frankly, I hope it's me with the pin," and with that she stomped out of the room.

"Well, James," said Sirius, putting his arm around James' shoulder. "You do a wonderful job of making her angry..." James shrugged his arm off. Remus sighed.

"James, when are you ever going to learn?" he asked.

"Learn what?"

"Lily doesn't want some popular jerk. She wants someone who is sensitive, caring and decent. If you really want her to like you, you're going to have to earn her respect."

"How???" asked James, eagerly.

"That, my friend, you're going to have to figure out by yourself."

A/N: Ooo, I have a wicked awesome idea! Let's have a Review Party! Just click on that little button right down there, and it'll lead you right into the party...I'll be there! With chips! And candy!