Chapter 4

Jealous of…Himself?

The next day, as everyone ate, they happily and excitedly discussed last night's ball. Lily didn't join in; she was too busy thinking about that stranger she danced with that night.

"Lily? Lily? LILY!" Stacie suddenly shouted, exasperation sowing in her voice. "I've been trying to talk to you for the past five minutes!".

"What? Oh, sorry," said Lily absentmindedly and went back to daydreaming.

Stacie gaped at her. Alyssa smiled and said, "Stacie, chill. She's probably thinking about that guy she danced with last night, right Lis?"

Surprisingly, Lily nodded and said, "You know guys, he is so romantic. I mean-----"

"It's not fair! I've been trying to tell her that Sirius asked me out last night but she doesn't notice, but you just mention that Prince Charming of hers and she acknowledges your presence!" said Stacie in outrage and indignation.

At this, Lily's turned to face Stacie. "I said I'm sorry--- Wait a minute, did you say that Sirius Black, one of the most annoying friends that we have here, asked you out! Please tell me you said no".

Stacie looked affronted as she said, "You know Lily, just because you won't date James doesn't mean that I can't date his best friend".

"I'm sorry. It's just that, I don't want you to get hurt" Lily said, an apologetic tone in her voice. "You know how Sirius is sometimes, but anyway, it's your business".

"Thanks" Stacie said. Then, Lily went back to her daydream again. This time Alyssa and Stacie exchanged exasperated looks, although hints of a smile were seen on their faces. James's plan must be really working for Lily to act like this.

Suddenly, the Marauders arrived and sat across them, Sirius giving Stacie a peck on the cheek before he followed his friends. James winked at them and they grinned. To keep the game going, however, Remus asked with a slight frown, "Stacie, Alyssa, care to explain to us why Lily's day dreaming?".

"Oh, she's thinking about a guy she danced with last night. She told us that it was absolutely wonderful" said Stacie, playing along. She and Alyssa then proceeded to tell them what Lily had relayed to them, and James's grin got even wider when he found out that Lily liked him. His plan was going perfectly.

But, to keep his charade, he turned his smile into an angry expression and demanded in mock anger, "Evans, who, may I ask, was he? I can't believe it. I was gone for only one night, and already someone tries to steal my girl. Doesn't he know that No one, and I mean no one, steals James Potter's property?"

When he heard his voice, Lily snapped out of her reverie. "Potter, let's get a few things straight. One, I never was and never will be, 'your girl', and two, you don't own me so you don't have a right to get mad if someone else who isn't as bigheaded and arrogant as you dances with me and likes me, understood?" Lily snapped furiously then left. Her friends gaped after her.

"Whoa. One more thing I have to remember about her. Never interrupt her while she's daydreaming," remarked James as he and his friends went out of the Great Hall.

..------..

Lily was sitting under a willow tree by the lake. It was the place she usually went to when she wanted to think. Somehow, she just couldn't believe that someone could sweep her off her feet like that, as if that somebody knew her very well. She smiled pondering on who it could be. Finally, she stood up and went back to the castle.

..------..

After dinner, Lily headed to the Head's common room, hoping very much that James wasn't there; she was still mad at him. When she went in, her eyes fixated on a table near the fireplace and she gasped in surprise and delight. There, on that table, was a bouquet of the the most beautiful and exquisite flowers Lily had ever seen.

"Oh, my…." was all Lily could say as she went over and examined the bouquet. The smile tha she was wearing widened and she felt her heart fluttering when she read the card that came with it.

My dearest Lily,

You shine brighter than all the stars in the sky. Your humor, intelligence, and kind-heartedness captivates me. You have a smile and laughter that fills people with mirth as well. And lastly, I'll risk being cliché, so I will say:

Roses are red, violets are blue. Sugar is sweet, and so are you

♥II like you♥

(A./N. I know, it sounds kinda lame but, still, it works, right?)

Of course, the sender's name wasn't placed, but Lily didn't care. She was just absolutely happy that someone actually liked her a lot to do all this. Carefully clutching the bouquet, she sat down on the sofa and examined it closely. She was delighted to find that the boquet consisted of all her favorite flowers, particularly lilies and roses, her two most favorite flowers. She was so caught up in admiring the flowers and thinking about who the possible sender could be that she didn't notice James come in.

When he saw Lily smiling at the sight of the flowers that he had bought, he smiled as well, but to keep his act, he frowned, cleared his throat, and demanded, "Evans, who gave you that?", his eyes narrowed.

"None of your business, now leave me alone" Lily snapped.

"Evans, be honest. Tell me who gave you those so I can hex whoever the hell he is into oblivion for trying to take you away from me, again".

"Honestly Potter, how thick are you? Didn't you understand what I said during breakfast or did it just breeze through your overlarge head? Now, I am going to say this one last time. I hate you, I'd rather be tortured, die, and be forgotten that go out with you, and lastly, I never was and never will be your. Do something stupid one more time and I swear to God, you are going to regret it" Lily said, fury and hatred in her voice.

"Oh really? Please. Let's face it, you really do like me. You're just playing hard to get", retorted James,

"Me? Like you? Ha! It'll be a cold day in hell before that happens. You want to know why I hate you so much? Well, it's because you are an arrogant conceited prat, you strut around the school like you own it, you show off whenever possible, and most of all, you annoy, aggravate, and ask me out every cursed minute of the day! Now, I would like it very much if you would get the hell out of my sight, because I am not using all my self- control to prevent myself from slapping that stupid smirk off your face!" Lily yelled.

"More like to stop yours elf from throwing yourself at me, you mean" James interrupted.

With another frustrated scream, Lily left the room and went to her dormitory, slamming the door shut behind her.

As James went up to his own bedroom, a smirk was plastered on his face at the perfect execution of his plan.