Remus POV
"Want to go play scare-the-crap-out-of-boys-near-our-lady-friends?" Sirius asked
"I think that Remus started without us." James teased.
I hear their voices, I know them instantly and without looking. Just as I somehow feel them drawing closer to me even without actually seeing where they are. My first friends ever – my best friends – my only friends...
...but they're outside the bubble right now. Outside the dim haze that seems to dull my awareness and heighten it all at the same time. They're on the fringes of my attention, on the periphery of my senses.
They're not a threat.
It's all the others that I'm strangely fixated on right now. The others whose hormones and emotions bleed poisonously into the air, leaving trails of stench so dense I can almost see them. They're looking at Lily – at James' Lily – with a look I can only interpret as hungry. They're looking at Maia and Lenore in much the same way...but not. They know James and Lily are together, but they also think that Maia and Lenore are unattached.
Something deep down inside me very strongly disagrees with that assumption.
So I watch, glaring down each of the others that try to approach.
They hesitate at first, I see it in their eyes, smell it from their pores. Remus, the shy one. Remus, the quiet one. Remus, the bookworm. Remus, the laid-back. Remus, about as harmful and dangerous as Peter compared to James and Sirius.
But they don't know me. None of them do. Not really. They just see what they want to see. What I want them to see. They don't know the monster that sleeps inside me. They don't know the beast that takes me over once every month.
But for just a moment, for just the faintest fraction of a second, I think they finally see it today. As their eyes meet mine, that brief hesitation gives way to a wary cautiousness as their subconscious minds get the briefest glimpse of my personal, private, very real, inner demon.
In the end they back off. Every one of them. In the end they look away, not so much away from the girls, as away from me. Best not to mess with Remus...he's a friend of James and Sirius. That's how they'll probably rationalize the sudden wariness that surges through them as they truly stare into my eyes.
"My protector."
The slight haze recedes, my senses seem to dull suddenly as they are restored to normal, the thoughts that seemed so clear and focused mere seconds ago dissolve into fine shards that I can no longer discern.
What's going on?
Maia grins up at me as her ever so bright and twinkling eyes shine brightly. She's so close to me...pressed right up against me! My tongue seems to stop working, and all I can do is grin a little goofily back down at her, my cheeks and ears burning suddenly. Actually, it's probably a good thing that I'm all tongue tied at the moment because my mind seems to have shut down completely anyway.
Sentence? Isn't that what gets people stuck in Azkaban?
Then the hairs on the back of my neck prickle, and I cast a curious glance over my shoulder...only to see some Ravenclaw boy whose name I can't remember smiling shyly at Maia. That dull haze returns, deadening the world around me – enhancing it magnificently.
I stare at this other, stare with a willful power that silently demands that it meet my gaze. The other does eventually, the quick, almost frowning flickering of its eyes indicating that it had felt my eyes boring into it. The hesitation, the recognition, the submission: the other passes visibly through each of the stages, eventually turning away with a small shiver to strike up idle conversation with a group of students standing by the refreshment table.
"You know, you're kind of cute when you do that."
I blink slowly and look down, Maia's bright, beautiful eyes are staring into mine. I'm not sure what it is about her that makes me feel all kinds of strange things, but something about her completely throws me off my center. It takes a moment for her words to sink in, but when they do, although I have no clue what she's talking about, I feel my face heating up once again, and not just from the heat of the sun. Her smile seems to only widen, and I duck my head away, embarrassed.
This not-quite-in-control feeling is really starting to scare me. "Do what?" I mumble. At least I hope that's what I mumble. My brain and mouth don't feel as connected as they should be at the moment.
"You know..." she lifts her shoulder in a small shrug, and I try to pretend not to notice the way that action lifts her chest. My blood chooses not to cooperate, and if possible, I feel as though my face has somehow gotten even hotter. "...that little 'grrrrr' thing." she says.
I swallow heavily, not immediately trusting my brain-to-mouth abilities even though a very strong sense of worry is drowning out my embarrassment. "I...growled?" I somehow manage to mumble, no small amount of concern filling me.
"Well, it could have been more of a deep rumble." she shrugs again, but this time my eyes are to busy searching her face to even think of her chest. My heart sinks and my fear soars as I reluctantly accept the fact that she's not just joking around. I can tell from the glow on her face and the smile in her eyes that this is not as alarming to her as it is to me...but then, she doesn't really understand.
...not the way James and Sirius and Peter do.
She hasn't seen what happens when the moon grows full. She's never heard the howls and the screams that the people of Hogsmead have. She's never seen the gashes and bites littering my body when I come back. She's never seen the destruction in the shack in Hogsmead despite all the magical reinforcements.
I try to force a grin, hoping it doesn't look as plastic as it feels, and look towards my friends. They're all blissfully having fun in the pool...minus the not-so-subtle warning glares Sirius keeps directing at any other male student who so much as glances in Lenore's direction. James is doing a bit of a better job reigning himself in, but then, Lily's made no secret of her feelings for him. The trust they share is more powerful than their jealously, it would appear. Even Peter seems to be genuinely enjoying himself despite his earlier complaints. He's striking up conversation with a girl I don't recognize, visibly lacking the confidence that James and Sirius would have, but obviously doing something right as he and his new friend share a private laugh.
By the time my briefly roaming gaze turns back to Maia, I feel a little more in control again. A little less off-balance. She's turned her gaze to yet another, though she's still pressed against me. She offers a small grin and wiggles her fingers in what a part of me accepts as a friendly gesture, and the other part immediately riles against as a flirting gesture.
I feel a dull haze threatening to overtake me and willfully push it back. Calm. Center. Mustn't give in to whatever strange thing seems to have come over me because of these new, dangerous emotions Maia stirs.
"Want to join the others in the pool?" she asks, turning back to me suddenly. The other boy seems to have been forgotten.
I hesitate a moment. She senses it immediately and there's a question in her eyes, don't tell me you can't swim? Isn't it cats that don't like water? a slightly paranoid corner of my mind imagines her asking. I can swim, and I love the water, actually, but...
She tentatively, almost shyly, takes my hand. The uncertainty I can sense as she does this seems to be such a contradiction to her character that a find myself smiling down at her softly. This seems to encourage her again, and that timid vulnerability disappears in a flash as she motions towards some empty chairs under the shade of one of the trees. "Actually, I wouldn't mind putting my feet up for a little while. I think I've been up and about right since people started arriving." coming from anyone else, that statement would probably sound tired. Coming from her, it sounds cheery.
She drags me along behind her, and I, the fool, follow her happily.
The painful truth of our situation isn't completely lost on me though. For the first time, it truly hits me just how different we are. She lives life to the fullest, because the alternate to her is probably unimaginable.
I live on the very dangerously narrow edge of control and restraint, because the alternate for me is horrific.
I can't be for her, what James is for Lily. I can't be for her what Sirius could be for Lenore, or what Peter could be for that girl he's found. Before Hogwarts, I never thought I would even have anything as simple or as normal as friends. Now I have the best friends anyone could ever hope to have, and still I give them up once every month to the wolf whose overpowering strength and will I can't fight or resist, no matter how hard I try.
If I haven't been able to control myself for the three people who have meant the most to me since first year...how can anyone be safe from me?
A nightmarish vision of my bestial alter ego tearing someone up, glutting hungrily on their blood, their flesh, all because of a jealous streak on my part, fills my mind as I sink into the chair.
Thoughtlessly, and somewhat foolishly, I tug on the hand I'm still holding and drag a giggling Maia onto my lap before she can free herself to sit in the chair beside mine.
Worse – what if one day it's Maia the wolf manages to attack. All it would take is one accident, one slip, one moment of forgetfulness. If that time of month comes and I'm not properly secured and restrained...
The morbid and dark thoughts depress and frighten me...but I've grown selfish over the past few years too. I don't want to hurt Maia, but I don't want to lose her any more right now than I want to lose James or Sirius or Peter.
I'm feel suddenly a lot like Hansel, wandering through the woods, searching for home – my center, my calm, my control – and Maia's the witch in the candy cottage, luring me away from safety and into danger. Possibly to her own doom.
She leans back into me, relaxing, our fingers still entwined, our conversation turning to small nothings...just an excuse to stay here, sitting together, as though by silent agreement we feel we need to rationalize our current closeness with meaningless discussions about school, about friends, about family.
It's nice. It's like a dream. It's like a forbidden fantasy, where I can just be a normal wizard, having a normal conversation – maybe even a normal relationship – with a normal witch who has completely captured his heart at some point without him realizing it.
...but dreams come with time-limits and expiries. Just like whatever moment I'm sharing right now with Maia does.
Besides, ultimately, she deserves better. Someone who can love her and be with her every day of the month. Someone she won't have to lock and chain every time a full moon rises.
But for now, for today, I want her all to myself.
Fortunately, with her back pressed against my front, she's not in a position to read anything from my eyes, which I'm sure are betraying my heart. My voice I'm very pleased to hear however, is completely back to normal now that my mind has accepted the doom that awaits my relationship with Maia given sufficient time.
I can only hope that in that time, my heart will learn to accept what my mind knows to be fact. In the meantime, I can take some small consolation from the fact that I am not a muggle Hansel, and Maia is not an evil witch. That must count for something, after all.
James' POV
The day progressed rather nicely. I thought it funny, how Remus stuck to Maia. He followed her around like a puppy. Sorry bad pun, on my account.
Lily was beautiful. I suppose that I was acting no better than Remus. I was totally doting over Lily. Possibly because I was still feeling guilty because of the shopping thing. Could have been that I had been Lily starved, since her father was pissed at me. It might have been the possessive part of my nature. Whatever it was, I hated Lily out of my sight, more so out of my arms.
After a few hours, Maia suggested that we cool off with a swim. True, I had been getting a little hot. Lily had wanted to dance most of the songs, so I danced. I didn't want to spoil Lily's fun. Truth is I was having a good time.
This was like no party that I'd ever been to. It was more fun, more relaxed. Maybe muggles did have a few good ideas. Lily went with Len and Maia to get changed. It took much convincing for Remus to let Maia go.
When they came back, Angles could not be more beautiful. Visions, the three of them. Now, they know how to make an entrance! I think that every male at the party turns to see them.
While most of us are starting to get used to Maia. Lily and Len on either side, is just . . . I can't think . . . WOW!!!
I am suddenly feeling very possessive. I know that every guy here is staring at my girl. Before I can recover from my shock, Lily walks straight up to me and give me a hug.
"I only have eyes for you." She whispers in my ear. It sounds like a purr. I return the hug, wanting to keep her close to me. "Are you going to join us in the pool?"
Lily smiles at me a moment, before pulling back out of my arms. The three of them Dive into the pool. I'm too entranced to notice the others, until Sirius grabs my shoulder. I mutely turn to him. I think that he needs support, looks like he might pass out.
"You alright?" I ask laughing. It was kind of funny to see him get this flustered over a girl. He looks at me confused.
"That's just not right." He said to me. "I mean, that's . . . just not right. Just look at how they're all drooling over them."
"You mean kind of like you did when you saw Lily?" I just couldn't resist. Sirius gave me that not-now look.
"I thought that I'd already apologized for that." He said. "That was way more of her than I thought that I'd be seeing."
"Now, you know how I feel." I reply causally.
"Want to go play scare-the-crap-out-of-boys-near-our-lady-friends?" Sirius asked mischievously. I smiled. I liked the sound of the game. I finally noticed that Remus was right beside Maia.
"I think that Remus started without us." I teased.
Truth was that Remus was actually growling at any guy who got near any of them. Maia laughs, she leans back into him, with a hand on her head. "My protector." Lily rolls her eyes. Len seems more interested in swimming than anything right now.
"James, you're not going to start again are you?" Lily challenges. I look at her as serious as I can. I position myself beside her. Then smile, leaning to her ear.
I whisper, "I'm just keeping my promise to you. I told you that if you wore that, I'd follow you around trying to keep you from all eyes but mine."
"James!" Lily sounded angry. I swoop in for a kiss.
"It's not you that I don't trust Lily. It's all these other guys. I mean, when even my friends are shocked stupid . . ." I let it hang there. I didn't want her mad. "Besides, I just want to be close to my favourite person."
"Oh, you mean I rate higher than Sirius?" She teased.
"Ohhh, Yeah! When you're in that." I smiled. She splashes me. I laugh, she's just too perfect.
Len is doing some laps in the pool. I watch as Sirius, stares down any and every guy that looks her way. Have I really been doing that to Lily? It's kind of funny, I guess. I definitely understand how Sirius feels. Lily seems annoyed by it. I don't know if Len has noticed yet. However, it looks like Maia is enjoying the same kind of attention from Remus.
Maia seems to be taking every advantage to keep Remus' attention squarely on her. It's cute, I wonder if my boy's noticed yet. It's kind of funny. The two are so obviously into each other. They should just go for it.
Sirius is still hovering around Len. I've never known him to be like this about any girl before. He nearly melts every time she smiles. I laugh, I swear Sirius is going to start a fight. He's staring every guy within 2 meters away from Len. Perhaps I should try and calm him down, but then I wouldn't be with Lily. There in lies my dilemma.
Sirius POV
As the minutes pass, people start leaving the pool in favour of the patio chairs and the refreshment table. James and I share a triumphant look. Lily rolls her eyes at us.
"Why, oh why, can't you boys just play nicely with others?" she asks rhetorically.
"We play nicely with others." I argue, "Remus and Peter like us just fine."
Raising a brow, Lily shakes her head, "Remus and Peter are usually part of the problem, they don't count." she corrects me dryly.
"Hmm, hate to interrupt, but enemy incoming at eleven o'clock." James points out with a nod in the indicated direction.
Turning to look, I watch intently as a Ravenclaw boy, Tristen, I think, tries to stroll casually by the end of the pool Lenore has just reached. He calls out to her and crouches down by the edge of the pool. Pausing from her laps, Lenore turns and smiles up at her housemate. I can't hear what they're saying, but I can see that this is turning into more than just a 'hi, how are you?'.
"If you two would excuse me, for a moment." I say over my shoulder as I slowly start edging closer to Lenore.
"You know, I don't think Lenore is going to appreciate you smothering her." Lily points out rather unhelpfully. "Either of you."
"She'll thank me one day." I grin, not really serious but unable to stop myself as I zero in on my next victim. It takes a couple seconds for Tristen to feel my glare on him, but his eyes do eventually wander over to where James, Lily, and I had been talking.
'Leave. Now!' I silently will. 'I know who you are, I know what house you're in, I know how to make your next school year the worst, most miserable one ever...' Tristen's eyes drop, and he nervously gestures over towards a group of Ravenclaws who are chatting away by the refreshments. Lenore follows his gaze, then turns suddenly to look at me, her eyes narrowing. I grin innocently as I watch with satisfaction as another victim of lust and drool quickly finds an excuse to leave the vicinity of the pool.
Wadding closer to me, still looking none to pleased, Lenore gives me a hard look. "That wasn't very nice, Sirius." she frowns, "We were in the middle of talking."
"I noticed. Or at least I noticed you talking. He was mostly looking." And drooling. And probably fantasizing. ...None of which I'm doing, of course.
"We were talking." Lenore insists, crossing her arms. "In fact he's one of the very few guys who bothered to actually come say hi to me today. Please tell me you haven't been going out of your way to intimidate everyone here."
"Well, let's define 'out of my way' and 'everyone'." I request. "If you mean 'out of my way' by my standards, then I'd have to say no. Actually, I've been restraining myself all day..."
"I mean it." Lenore interrupts, not playing along with me at all. "Can't you be serious for just one minute!"
I grin. I can't help it. "I'm Sirius all the time."
Her look only darkens. Sheesh! Talk about no sense of humor whatsoever.
Shrugging, I try to blow her suspicions and accusations off, "He just seemed to be getting a little too friendly. Besides, all I did was glance over at him..."
"Glare, over at him." Lenore corrects, "He's in my house, Sirius. I see him on a daily basis at school. In fact I've spent more time socializing with him the past few years than I have with you! What is your problem?"
Ouch. "I just don't want him – or any other guys - socializing with you today." I try to explain. Giving her 'two-piece' a significant look, and suddenly realizing that may not have been the wisest idea as I struggle not to let my gaze linger on all that exposed skin I can see.
From the look in her eyes, this was obviously the wrong thing to say. "This is a party! People are supposed to socialize! Maybe I want to socialize with people other than you. Can't you do something less immature, and more...party-ish?"
"Er, well..."
Sighing heavily, she throws her arms up in the air, "Look, just...back off." she grumbles irritably before returning to her laps. I can almost hear Lily singing 'I told you so' in my ear. Fortunately her and James are to busy trying to tread water and kiss at the same time.
For a moment I stay where I am, admiring Lenore's form and style as she swims away from me. Maybe it's just me, but she seems to be swimming with more energy now than she was a few minutes ago. I suppose I can hope that she'll burn enough of her annoyance off now that she'll still speak to me later. "Right then. This is me, backing off." I finally mutter to no one in particular as I drift gently towards the side of the pool.
"I see you're having your usual luck with Lenore." Remus' amused voice comments suddenly from behind and above. Turning around, I look up, only then realizing that I hadn't seen hide or hair of my favorite werewolf since I got in the pool. Awww, look, he's holding hands with Maia. That explains it. At least one of us has been having better luck with the ladies today.
I ignore his jibe, and look between him and Maia. "You coming in?" I ask, giving Lenore her space as she doesn't seem particularly pleased with me just now. "Water's nice." I add, lightly swatting some water in his direction.
He dodges the splash easily, "Nah...I guess I'm not really in the mood for swimming after all." His voice is light, but his eyes are troubled, bordering very closely on brooding even. Can't have that on a beautiful day like today, now can we? What kind of friend would I be to let Remus wallow in one of his self-denied bouts of self-pity?
"Just because this is a pool-party doesn't mean everyone here has to get in the pool." Maia points out, jumping rather quickly to Remus' defense. I try to hide my grin. A playfully accusing look crosses her face then, "In fact ever since you and James decided to get in the pool, everyone else has been staying as far away from the pool as they can..."
I plaster an innocent look to my face. That surely has nothing to do with James and myself protecting our women. Let's play the more well known cards shall we. "I'll have you know, not one of us has pulled a single prank all day." I point out, silently debating whether that was deliberate or not. I'd been so busy keeping an eye on Lenore, and James has been equally busy keeping Lily close... "Besides, Remus is one of us! What does he have to worry about?"
"What, indeed?" Remus returns dryly.
Ok, fine, so maybe we pull pranks on each other every now and again too. But we don't embarrass each other in front of others...just when there's no one else around to pick on!"Well, if you insist on being the party pooper..." I trail off, rolling my eyes at him as I reach out in silent request for a hand out of the pool.
"All I said was that I wasn't in the mood to swim." Remus insists stubbornly, reaching down to help me out. "It doesn't mean that the rest of you have to cut your swimming short."
"I know." I manage to keep a straight face just until it's too late for him to do anything. He catches the glint in my eyes, but just a moment too late. Without mercy, I clamp down on his outstretched hand and yank hard.
"Siriiiiaaahhh-"
Remus' protest is cut of by a large splash as he flies over my shoulder and into the pool.
"Sirius!" Maia tries to reprimand. But the scolding is ruined by the grin tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Sirius..." Remus' somewhat less amused, but playful voice growls from behind me as he surfaces. I have just enough time to turn and grin unabashedly at his sopping hair and shirt before he tackles the both of us under the water.
"Ooooh, are we trying to drown Sirius?" I manage to hear James' eager voice when Remus is kind enough to let me up for air.
"Only a little." Remus calls back, grinning evilly, "I wouldn't want to deprive him of oxygen for too long...he has precious few brain cells as it is."
"That's right." I agree, pleased to see that soaking his clothes seems to have cheered Remus up somewhat, "But James here, has plenty of brain cells to spare...top honours every year at Hogwarts..."
"You too!" James protests, pointing an accusing finger at me.
"True, but of the two of us, who has been chosen as Prefect for next year?" I argue. To that, James has no counter-argument ready. I share a grin with Remus.
"Drown the Prefect!" Remus and I both declare, sloshing sluggishly through the water towards James.
"Traitors!" James howls, retreating for refuge behind Lily.
"Oh no you don't, James Potter!" Lily shrieks between giggles and Remus and I start splashing water in their direction. Despite her protests though, James holds her firmly between us and him, leaving her to the mercy of our splashing.
A sudden spray of much colder water suddenly washes over all four of us. Gasping, I duck under the water briefly to escape this new attack. Beside me, Remus does likewise. When we surface, there is loud cheering from the rest of the guests. Remus and I share a blank look then search the area curiously.
Standing beside the pool, both grinning with amusement, are Lenore and Maia. Lenore is holding a garden hose. Those girls certainly do come up with brilliantly sneaky and underhanded ideas sometimes. Another spray is directed at us. Another cheer from the guests.
From the quick wink I get from Lenore, I think this means I'm forgiven. Hmm, public humiliation at having been gotten the better of by a non-Marauder in exchange for forgiveness...
A girl after my own heart, that one!
"You go for Maia, I'll get Len?" I quietly nudge Remus after another quick dive under the surface of the water.
"Sounds like a plan." Remus agrees as we both scramble to hoist ourselves out of the water.
Noticing this, Maia abandons Lenore in a fit of giggles and takes flight. Lenore, her moral support gone, drops the hose and takes off in the opposite direction. After a brief chase around the yard, earning more than a few amused cheers, Remus and I both manage to catch the girls and scoop them up.
"On three then?" Remus suggests gravely, as we carry our respective loads to the edge of the pool.
"On three, what?" Maia questions, eyes widening as she glances at the pool.
"On three." I agree, ignoring her. "One."
"Two." Remus counts.
"Wait, what-"
"Three!" James' voice interrupts Lenore from the opposite end of the pool.
Remus and I unload ourselves, grinning as the girls shriek and hit the water. "Hit it Lil!" James directs after the two Ravenclaw girls surface, alternating between giggles and half-hearted threats in our direction.
Lily, now in control of the garden hose, grins and shoots a spray of cold water onto the hostesses. More cheering from the guests.
Fickle crowd, aren't they?
Still, this has certainly been one of the best parties I've been to recently!
Several hours later, the party began to wrap up.
"Shanti, come on we're going." Christen practically demands. Funny how now she remembers her cousin. Now that Shanti and Peter are actually having fun, and now that the Marauders seem to have regrouped. Christen smiles sweetly at us. She pulls Shanti away. "Thanks Maia, the party was great!"
"I had a nice time." Shanti replies quietly. She sends Peter a shy smile, and a little blush. Then waves good-bye.
I shake my head. Dear me, I believe that they are both too shy to ask the other out, or even permission to write. Alright, here goes my good deed for the day, month, . . . who am I kidding, summer. "Pete, why don't we walk the ladies out?" I not so subtle give him a push. He looks nervously at me, then casts a dreamy look to Shanti. I feel like rolling me eyes. "Glad to hear that you ladies had a good time."
"It was delightful." Christen replied, batting her lashes. I feel like groaning. More so when I notice how Pete and Shanti shyly smile at each other . . . give me a break.
How to do this subtly . . . wait I'm never subtle. "So Shanti, when are you and Pete going to go to Diagon Ally for lunch?" They both looked at me shocked. "Pete you did say that she was beautiful and new in town, and that the proper thing would be to show her around a bit."
Alright, not my best work, but judging from the look on Shanti's face, she doesn't mind. Pete looks scared until he notices her smiling at him adoringly. Pete blushes deeply. "If you'd like to go, I'd be happy to show you around."
Shanti gives him a quick kiss on the check. "I love that. I'll Owl you, and we can arrange a time. If that's alright?"
Christen rolled her eyes, she look about to ruin the whole thing. I couldn't have that. So I kind of directed her away from the . . . budding couple. She smiled at me and grabbed onto my arm.
I pretend to listen as Christen goes on about . . . something. Pete brings Shanti over after a little bit, both smiling at the other . . . aaaww how cute. Pete kisses her hand and bids farewell, I do the same to Christen. So much for getting anywhere with Len.
"So, Pete you did set up a date with her right?" I ask. He blushes.
"Yeah, next week." He replies. He looks back to the party. "This wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I guess."
"It was . . . different." I agree. However I'm certain that somehow I must have stepped out of reality. Peter gets a girl, and I don't, that's just not right.
I look about when I get back to the garden. Lily and James, are all cozy, as are Maia and Remus. Go wolf-man! Where'd Len go? I start to scan for her.
"Looking for anyone?"
I whirl around to see her. She looks so beautiful. Her hair, seems to be wild, and she has her arms full of dishes. "Not really, it just seems that my friends have all abandoned me."
"Oh, well if you're not busy. Could I enlist your help with the doors? My hands seem to be full." She smiles.
"I suppose." I pause a moment and consider tickling her. Maybe next run. I get the door for her.
"Thanks." She starts to unload then dishes. "That was a really nice thing that you did for Peter." She leans up and kisses my check. Colour me shocked! She tries to get away from me, but I gently grab her arm.
"I don't get you?"
"What?" I think she's playing with me. If she was, well any other girl, I'd say that she was flirting.
"Why is it, that when I shower you with attention, you want nothing to do with me, but when I have another girl flirt with me, you get all friendly?"
"It's not that Christen was flirting with you. It's that you let her, so that Peter and Shanti could have a chance to get together. That was really very sweet of you." She smiles at me. "That and the fact that you were so obviously not into her."
"How do you know?"
"Sirius, you've spent better than half a year flirting with me. I can tell when you're faking listening and really listening." Len's eyes are sparkling. "And you were faking it."
"So, I get points for ignoring another girl, but not for . . ."
"Chasing people away from me?" Len raised a brow at me. I have the good sense to look sheepish. It's totally insincere, I think that she knows it too. "Who said anything about points?"
"So this is where you two got to." James replies entering the kitchen. Lily still in his arms. No surprise really. "Unfortunately, as the party is breaking up. We need to get going." I feel like growling. This so didn't work out. I wonder if Remus made out better. Heck, Peter made out better than I did.
"Why so early?" Len asks innocently.
"Simple, Mr. and Mrs. Lupin get very ... anxious if Remus is out to late." Lily replied. Lupin blushed furiously. Maia looked a little pouty, probably about his early departure.
"Alright, and here I was hoping for a hand with the clean up." Len teased.
"That shouldn't take too long. Sure, I'll help." Remus offers.
"So, what's the deal? You look suddenly depressed." I hear Len ask Maia. "I thought that it was going so well?"
"So did I." Maia pouts. "But he didn't ask me out. Didn't even ask me to like visit or anything. Len, was I too forward?"
"Oh, Maia. Remus likely doesn't get a lot of 'fun' time during the summer. Sounds like his folks are really protective." Len soothed.
"What's the deal Remus? Did you ask her out or what?" I ask moving to help Remus collect some glasses.
"Funny Sirius." He replies. "You know that I can't."
"Why?"
"I don't know the whole, FMW thingy." Remus huffed. "My parents they don't let me do anything, for starters. How goes your quest?"
"Since when do you listen to your folks? FMW??" James asks, he seems to have decided to join the fray.
"Full Moon Wolfout." Remus replied quietly. "True about the other. Sirius you didn't answer."
"I was hoping that you wouldn't notice. Love the acronym by the way." Sirius replied. They glared at him. "Oh right Len."
"Are you three plotting more mischief?" Len called from across the yard. Lily and Maia, both giggle.
"We're awake aren't we?" I reply. She starts to laugh.
"Just don't go wrecking the place." Maia laughs.