A/N: Sticking it here so I can say before you read further that:

Marianne: They will kind of, but I get the feeling from the characters that any friendship they strike up now will be very uneasy and full of backstabbing. They will come unbelievably close, but obviously something will happen that will completely ruin it. I'm quite nasty like that, plus I don't like Alex.

Sam: One was Alex, none were James and one was someone else. He he, great with the clues today.

Rachael Katie: Here you go.

And I'm crying now because this isn't as much as I hoped, but I don't want to put the next bit in because I want it to end her and because I want the next bit so that the title for the next chapter makes sense. So yeah, sorry it's short. I'll do some work in the next couple of days and try to have the next chapter up by the end of the week, if not, next week. Enjoy what's here.

Rae

Lily grabbed Sirius the first available chance she got. "That wasn't part of the plan," she growled at him.

Sirius slammed against the wall and, if he didn't already know from the fierce look in Lily's eyes, the force with which she pinned him might have given an indication as to how angry she was, but this was only a small fraction as to jus how seething she was. He held his hands up defensively, but there was a smile on his face.

"Yeah, but the plan was boring," he said dismissively.

The look of laughter in his eyes and the nonchalant way he composed himself implied he wasn't overly afraid of Lily, which only served to further anger her.

"It was your plan!" She exclaimed.

"I know. That's why I was able to change."

"But you didn't tell me!"

"Would you have agreed if I did?" he questioned already knowing the answer.

"No," she said immediately.

"Exactly, you want a plan that works, and this works the best, just relax babe."

"Babe?" she asked disgusted. "I am not your babe Sirius."

"Just work with me here," he instructed as he leant in and gave her a quick kiss.

After the shock had gone Lily was pushing him off.

"You…"

"Got to make it work for the crowd," he said quietly, looking in the direction if a group who had just walked past.

Lily, too, looked and when they were gone slapped Sirius across the face.

"You ever do that again," she threatened."

"Got quite the red-headed temper haven't you?" he asked in amusement/

She growled lowly. "Just get it sorted Black." She said before storming off.

"Sure thing. See you later, Red," he called after her.

-

Remus could no longer contain his feelings and decided to talk to Sirius one-on-one.

"So, you and Lily, I didn't see that one coming," He opened suddenly, breaking the silence between the two.

Sirius didn't seem at all surprised by the question. If anyone was going to question it, it would be Remus.

"Neither did we," Sirius responded. "We were just arguing one day, you know how we can be, and I guess we both realised that all the tension was restrained feelings."

"Uh-huh," Remus said unconvinced. "And you just failed to mention it to us?"

"Yeah," Sirius said uncomfortably. "Oh look, there's Peter. Let's go talk to him."

'Quick distraction,' Remus thought. 'There's one sign he's lying. Not to mention the ridiculous story and he's willingly choosing to talk to Peter.'

"Sure, but I know you're lying." Remus said, voice void of emotion.

He smiled and led the way towards Peter calling, "Come on," over his shoulder to Sirius' stationary, shocked figure.

-

The month drew to a close and Lily and Sirius' "news" was soon replaced. If any thought it was odd that the two didn't spend much time together in public, they didn't say so. Some did express their dissatisfaction at such a pairing, mostly to Lily, but Lily ignored it and Sirius was having too much fun knowing he was annoying Lily to care. He did care that, no matter how much he tried to persuade him otherwise, Remus became more and more convinced that Sirius and Lily were lying with each passing day. What Remus couldn't understand though was why Lily was still going along with it two weeks later.

In those couple of weeks it would be fair to say that, despite the problems, things were going well for the group. And in truth, they were, it was after that things started to go bad.

"Edward finally asked me out!" Alice cried happily one evening.

Marie gasped in happiness for her best friend while Lily smiled at her.

"That's great," she commented.

"I know," Alice squealed as she dived backwards onto her bed. She gave a contented smile before continuing. "We're meeting by the lake at the weekend; he says he's got a surprise for me."

"Oh Alice, that's great," Marie supplied.

"You'll have to give us all the details," Lily told her.

"I will," Alice giggled.

All three shared a smile before Marie poked Lily in the side. "At least she'll tell us things," she said, referring to Sirius.

"Come on guys. I've told you over and over since, and I apologized for not telling you sooner. Sirius and I was just something I had to keep quiet. When are you going to forgive me for it?"

"Ah, you're forgiven," Alice said.

Marie nodded, "It's just something that we will…"

"…From time-to-time…" Alice put in.

"…Remind you of to make you feel guilty."

"I, on the other hand," a voice interrupted. "Won't be so lenient."

Lily groaned loudly, she knew that voice, Alex.

"First Jacob then Sirius. What is it with you? You can't get a guy of your own so you take mine."

Lily looked confused for a moment, "Jacob dumped you of his own free will. He saw what an evil little erumpent you are and wanted rid. But since you split up, before then even, we have never done anything reminiscent of two people going out. As for Sirius, you two broke up over a year ago and he wasn't seeing anyone else. Why shouldn't I be able to go out with him?"

"Because," Alex countered. "I wanted to get back with him."

"So other people can't have him?" Lily asked. "Get over yourself Alex; unless you're actually going out with him, he's free game."

"No, he's not. I wanted him!"

At this point Lily had had enough. Standing from her Indian-style position on Marie's bed, she headed out of the room. Before she left completely, she turned to face Alex and spoke.

"So I heard already, but guess what? I care even less than before. You're a childish brat and if you're too slow to go after what you want then you're the only one to blame if someone else gets there first. Now witness your slowness."

She disappeared down the stairs, while a seething Alex stood there for a moment before following the fiery red-head. Alice and Marie exchanged looks of nervous excitement before following suit.

Down in the Common Room, everyone watched as the following scene unfolded.

Lily, with a great smile on her face, bounded down the stairs and practically ran across to room to where the Marauders, more particularly Sirius, were sat.

With all the grace of flying wildebeest, Alex raced down after her only to see Lily jump into Sirius' lap and pull him into a very intimate and loving kiss.

A strangled cry preceded Alex's ranting and made Lily pull away.

"You dirty little tramp, what did I just tell you?" Alex started towards Lily.

Lily faked a yawn, "I don't know, I…"

As Lily spoke, Alex cut over her. "You're nothing but a common thief."

Lily continued speaking, only to lose her temper at Alex's words. "…I wasn't listening – I'm a common thief?" She suddenly switched direction of thought.

Lily finished the distance between them.

"Yes, you're a –"

There was less than a centimetres distance between Lily and Alex by now but neither lowered their voice. Lily, though, did begin laughing in Alex's face.

"Alexandra, dear, do you really want to talk about thieves? I seem to remember a certain incident on a train just three moths ago. I ended up paralysed while you and 'Cissy stole my Transa-Jewellery Box. You would have had my charm bracelet but it was broken and so worthless to you.

"So let's think about this a minute. Without my permission, you took something belonging to me and still haven't returned it. And then there's me, whose only crime is to go out with a single guy who you just happen to like. Who's the thief Alex?"

Gasps of shock and cheers at seeing Alex get ripped to shreds sounded throughout the common room. Alex's mouth opened and closed soundlessly. Knowing she was defeated, Alex stormed through the portrait but not before casting one last dirty glance at Lily.

"You remember this is meant to be a trick, right?"

Lily sighed, "I couldn't help myself and she's been asking for it for months." She turned around, a smile on her face, and kissed Sirius once more, less passion in it than before. "Anyway," she continued when she pulled away. "It needs to be believable, right?"

Sirius grinned and nodded. "Two kisses, both in public. You either really want to make this seem real or you're falling for me. I knew it was only a matter of time before the kisses got to you."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Please, it's all for show, and besides, I've had better kisses. Excuse me; I need to go clean out my mouth."

She walked away and left, for the second time in five minutes, a person speechless.