The Friends

A/N: okay I'll make this short and sweet.  I forgot to mention something last chapter.  James won't know he's rumpling his hair, but Lily will.  That's why when it's from James's point of view it won't say anything about rumpling his hair, but when it's from Lily's point of view it will.  Make sense?  Sorry, these are the little things that I stress over.  One other thing to clear up, James did not I repeat did not really use the situation to touch Lily.  He got flustered and just as a natural reaction jumped up to help Lily.  She thinks he did, though, and it's something James would have done before he changed.  Kay?

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.  Also, the characters besides Lily and James in this chapter are based off of the characters in Friends (I love that show and I miss it so much!) and loosely based of my friends.  The scenery is, too (you'll understand) and the idea of them drinking coffee.  Basically James and his friends are the Friends.  Okay so I don't own Friends either. 

Lily's POV

            I still hate James Potter!  Oh, I can't believe what he did.  Alice and Frank were so wrong.  Potter is not nice at all.  I had given him a chance and look what he did!  I had tried very hard to be nice to him the whole dinner, but he blew it. 

When I got down to dinner, I decided to give Potter a chance, just like Frank and Alice said.  It was a struggle especially since while we were talking he kept rumpling his hair.  When he purposefully spilled the mashed potatoes on me that was it.  Then, to make matters worse, he used the situation to touch me.  Okay, well, may-be he hadn't spilled them on me on purpose, but he definitely used the situation to his advantage.  And he apologized just to make it look like e didn't mean it.  Well, I could see through that.  He had actually given in sooner than I thought he would have. 

            I went to bed last night immediately after Potter apologized.  When I woke up this morning, I took a shower, got dressed then sat around in my room until I was so bored, I just couldn't stand it anymore.  I had a choice to make.  I had to find Potter or go insane with boredom.  He was sitting in the living room reading a book.  When I went in he looked at me. 

            "Just because I came down here, doesn't mean I forgive you for last night, okay?  I'm just unbelievably bored and I need someone to remedy that," I said. 

            "That's a great to talk to someone you need," he said sarcastically.  "You're right though.  I would do something like spill mashed potatoes on you just to touch you several months ago, Lily.  Not now.  I've changed.  The fact that I apologized last night proves it.  You just haven't noticed it yet."

            Potter had changed!  He was right!  A few months ago if he had done something like that, Potter wouldn't have apologized. 

            "You're right. You wouldn't have apologized," I muttered not looking at him. 

            "You're in luck.  I was planning on hanging out with a few of my neighborhood friends today.  You can come if you want to." 

            "Thank you."

            "But, Lily, there is one condition.  I know it's too much to expect you to be civil to me, but I would like for you to at least start calling me James.  In case you haven't noticed, which actually you already have, but I'm calling you Lily.  I think you can call me James." 

            I had almost layghed at his joke about already having noticed he was calling me Lily.  Fortunately, I caught myself before I actually laughed.  Unfortunately, I think Potter or rather James had noticed because he started to grin and look very pleased with himself. 

            "Fine, but you're going to have to give me some time to get use to it," I said. 

            "Fine.  Let's go."

            "Where are we going?"

            "Brandon's house.  We'll decide what we're doing today from there.  We're actually running a little late, so everyone will probably already be there."

            We started walking towards Brandon's house wherever that was.  Pott- James and I maintained an awkward silense for about three houses.  Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. 

            "Why don't you tell me about your friends?" I said. 

            " 'Why don't you tell me about your friends,' who?" he prompted with a grin, his grin.  He had been smiling with that grin ever since I arrived.  It hadn't been his usual arrogant grin.  It had been a "you're so wonderful" grin… And I liked it! 

            You're loving this, aren't you?" I asked already knowing the answer. 

            "Yes, I am."

            "Fine.  Why don't you tell me about your friends, James?" 

            "Alright, alright.  It's only fair.  We're going to Brandon's house, so I'll start with him.  He's a muggle.  He's very funny and smart.  Brandon will kid aroud with you, but he'll still be nice.  Don't go flying of the handle if he critizizes something about you.  Just laugh and critizize him back.  I know you, Lily.  You would get upset with him for that." 

            "No, I wouldn't."  Who does he think he is?

            "Yes you would and you know it." 

            "Alright, maybe I would."

            "Next is Kristen.  She goes to Hogwarts with us.  She's a ravenclaw.  You probably don't know her.  Kristen kind of keeps to herself at school.  Most  people think she's a little weird, but that's what we all like about her." 

            "I think I know who you're talking about." 

            "Good.  Next we have John.  He's a muggle.  He's a little dim, but he has a good heart.  He's the lady's man of the neighborhood.  I'm afraid I'm destined to never be the guy who gets the girls," James said with a laugh.  He sounded a little bitter.  "Last but not least, is Sam.  She's very pretty, but a little dim, too.  Not as much as John, though.  She's a muggle, too." 

            "Okay, so that's everyone?"

            "Yeah, that's everyone, but we're here.  No more need for small talk."  He sounded bitter again. 

            We walked up to the door and James knocked.  An attractive, intelligent-looking boy about our age answered. 

            "James, mate, how are you?"  the boy said. 

            "I'm good, Brandon.  You?" James said. 

            "Can't complain.  And who's this lovely girl?" 

            "Oh, um."  All I could think was, 'Is Potter going to introduce me or am I going to have to introduce myself?' 

            "This is Lily Evans.  I told you she was staying with me this summer.  Remember?  Lily, this is Brandon." 

            "Hi," I said smiling a friendly smile. 

            "Hi," Brandon said with a sly smile.  "Come on in.  We were just waiting for James to arrive to decide what to do today."

            We walked into a living room.  It had a couch against one wall, except the wall was only partly there.  It had one of those windows that opened up into the kitchen.  In front of the couch was a coffee table, and next to it was a chair.  There was a window acroos from where I was standing.  On the remaining wall was an entertainment center.  I was surprised to see it even had a T.V.  Then, I remembered Brandon was a muggle, so, obviously, his house would have muggle things. 

            On the couch were two girls and a boy.  All three appeared to be around my age.  The girls both had blonde hair and were very pretty.  The boy had black hair and was most definitely a hunk.  I would have been attracted to him if I didn't already know he was stupid.  (A/N: Sorry, there's a reason.) Since I already knew who Brandon was this had ot be John. 

            "Everyone, this is Lily Evans, the girl who's staying with me this summer," James said.  The girls had sly looks on their Faces, similar to the one Brandon had when James told him who I was, but John still looked completely clueless. 

            "Lily, this is Sam, Kristen, and John," Pott- ugh James said pointing to each person in turn. 

            "Would you two like some coffee?" Sam asked standing up. 

            "Sure, Lily?" 

            "Well, I guess if everyone else has a cup," I said noticing James and I were the only people without one.  Sam left and James gestured I sit on the couch.  I did and he sat on a small, green ottoman. 

            "When you have the coffee, say you love it," Kristen whispered to me. 

            "Okay."  Sam soon returned carrying two cups of coffee.  She handed one to James, then one to me.  It was the worst coffee I had ever had.  I struggled not to say anything about it.  Sam sqeezed in next to meon the couch. 

            "So what do we want to do today?" asked James. 

            "It's kind of nice out.  How 'bout we go to the pool?" replied John. 

            "No, it's to hot out, today.  I'll die out there," Sam said. 

            "Me, too," I said.  I could feel the sunburn already. 

            "Yeah, I would burn out there in a heartbeat," said Brandon. 

            "Oh, oh, and my foot hurts which means I shouldn't prolong exposure to fresh air today," said Kristen. 

            "Okay, so the pools out then?" asked John. 

            "Yes," we all chorused. 

            "How about bowling?  It's insideand we can all get ot know Lily more, decide if she's right for our wittle Jamesie," Sam said changing her voice at the end to a baby voice.  Everyone else laughed, but I was embarrassed.  I expected some snide remark from James, but he actually looked embarrassed, too.  After the laughter died down everyone agreed we should go bowling and that's exactly what we did. 

A/N: okay well there you go.  I hope it's clear who's who from Friends.  I know this last chapter was pretty short, but it was eventful and now you have a longer chapter. 

Praises:

Hon Snowfire Browneyes: It's okay.  I understand, cause guess what you're school's harder than mine.  They gave me an award in foreighn language.  You know I took Spanish for three years and I can't speak a word of it.  Trust me I understand.  Ok so let me explain last chapter.  James has changed just reciently.  He is no longer a jerk, but when he was a jerk he thinks he would have spilled something on her just ot touch her.  Understand?  Thanks for your nice long review and for adding me to your author alerts luv ya. 

Kate31785: I'm glad you're not confused 'cause I am.  Thanks for your review. 

jennifer: glad you love it hope you enjoyed this chapter thanks

lilypad-7879: I didn't even realize what his parents were doing.  They probably should have checked on her, but the way I see it she just needs to let off some steam.  She's very upset now.  Think about it she's staying at the person she thinks is the most annoying in the entire world and apart from his parents he's the only person she's talked to for the better part of a day.  She's very frustrated right now.  Okay so thanks for your review luv ya

The all mighty and powerfulM: Do you realize you posted your review about ten minutes after I posted the last chapter.  I'm glad you like it enough to do that.  Thanks luv ya. 

And thanks to everyone that read this luv ya all

Next Chapter: they all go bowling

A/N: sorry one last thing.  Everything is getting very hectic in my life things just aren't going right at school, but summers coming.  I won't be updating til I'm on summer break.  Don't worry, I get out the first week of June so expect an update that second week of June. Alright. Just bear with me.