Disclaimer: everything belongs to JK Rowling, yadiyadiyada.

A/N: hey guys! Ok, ok, I know, this is long overdue, and I'm really slack, and I hope u'll all just forgive me and review this chapter anyway :p. I promise fluff, if only a little, and humour galore (hopefully. Geez, I don't even know what I'm going to write yet!). So read on, read on, and make sure to let me know what you think!

Chapter Ten

How do you avoid someone in a crowd of pairs?

"So, movies first or the board game?" Alyssa asked, holding up first the WizardWondersWitchSite remote, and then a cardboard box that contained the muggle board game, Cluedo.

"Movies, of course," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. "As if we want to start thinking so early into the evening."

Nearby, Chloe and Remus sat huddled over a star chart, where they were debating the various cultural names of the Northern Cross, and on either side of them, Lily and James sat, steadily ignoring each other, although it was obvious to anyone watching that they were both so aware of each other that it was almost painful.

It had not taken long for the girls to fall in with the boys. They were too alike on too many levels to not get along. It was weird that they hadn't tried talking much earlier in their schooling careers.

"What movie will we watch?" Lily asked, picking up the 'TV' guide for that week from the coffee table. "I think they have a muggle movie running tonight."

"Oh, no, please, not a muggle movie," Sirius groaned. "There's no action in muggle movies!"

"Hey, chick flicks rock," Alyssa shot back, throwing him an injured glance. "And they're playing 'The Titanic' tonight anyway. You get to watch Leonardo Di Caprio drown!"

"Leo-what? And what's a 'titanic'?" Sirius asked, bewildered.

Alyssa sighed. "Watch and learn," she bade him, switching the Wizard set on.

Twenty minutes into the movie, and Lily was already feeling back to normal. Nothing like a good Leo pay-out session to get you feeling better. They were just up to the bit where the two leads finally fell in love, when she decided they needed munchies.

"I'll go get some popcorn," she said, getting to her feet. "Anything else you guys want?"

"Oh, yes," Sirius said, immediately sitting straighter. "Chocolate, and some of those weird potato chip things, and some drinks."

"Please," Remus added, shaking his head at his friend's lack of manners.

Lily smiled, and departed to the kitchen. As soon as she was gone, Sirius turned to James.

"Go on," he hissed. "Now's your chance! Get her alone!"

"What the hell? Shut up," James said hotly. 'Get her alone'? That sounded so…lewd.

"Look, you obviously want to talk," Sirius whispered, glancing over at the girls to make sure they weren't listening. "Go now." He raised his voice slightly. "Could you just go tell Lily I want some hot chocolate too, please?"

James shot him a death stare but stood up anyway.

"Yeah, sure. Anyone else?"

"Nah, we're good," Alyssa said, her eyes glued to the screen.

James caught a glimpse of Leonardo and Kate Winslet trapped in a fierce embrace before Sirius shoved him with his foot. Muttering slightly under his breath, James trudged into the kitchen.

Lily was rummaging in the pantry, no doubt searching for one of Sirius' many orders. He paused for a moment to watch her. She was wearing her pajamas: long flannel pants and a tank top, and her hair was tied up in a high ponytail.

James sighed ruefully. Desire was a treacherous beast indeed.

"Ahem," he said softly, causing her to spin around to face him. "I, uh, came to see if you wanted any help. And to, er, deliver some more orders from Sirius…"

Lily stared at him.

"Um. Right. Cool," she said, flustered. He hated that she was uncomfortable around him now. "Well, then, could you please get some drinks out of the fridge?"

"Yeah, sure," James said quickly. He yanked open the fridge door and bent to look inside. Glancing quickly over the door, he watched Lily as she tried to act normal. He had to say something.

"Look, Lily, I-"

"James, about yesterday-"

They both paused.

"Uh, go ahead," James offered gallantly.

"Thanks," Lily murmured. She sighed suddenly, and leant back against the bench top. "Look, I'm really sorry for being so cool…you know, since yesterday. I, uh, didn't mean to be rude. I was just, you know, kind of in shock…I guess."

"It's ok. Me too…I mean, I'm sorry too," James said in a rush. "For you know…not saying anything. But I don't regret it. Yesterday, I mean."

"Oh, neither do I," Lily said quickly. "Of course not."

There was a moment of silence.

"Because, you know, I was kind of thinking, maybe we should…um, you know, go out sometime? If you want to, I mean," James offered, his face growing hot.

"Oh, yes! I mean, sure. I mean, if you want to…" Lily trailed off, her face lighting up against her will.

"Yeah, I want to," James said, grinning now. She was so cute when she got all nervous like this. He stepped closer to her. "I really like you, Lily."

Lily half-smiled, looking down. She had no idea why she was being so shy.

"I like you too." She murmured.

James took another step forward. He tilted his neck. Just as their lips were about to meet, a voice called from the lounge room.

"Where's my chocolate? I want some chocolate!"

"Is that Sirius?" Lily whispered, her hands on James' shoulders.

"Just ignore him," James said.

As their lips met, Lily soon found that that wasn't so hard to do.

A/N: please review! My back is killing me from typing. Hah! I finished another chapter. Wow…never thought I'd do it :P so, review me soon, and I'll try to write another chapter soon, promise! Oh, and I've got a new story up at fictionpress, its called 'Hate Is The New Love'. Check it out for me, plz :P

Omg! Four whole pages. I've totally outdone my self!

Jaizar