A/N: Gah...

Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily woke to a bright stream of sunrise pouring in through the window, facing what she knew as the east. Muttering darkly to herself for falling asleep, she stood up and left the room, making sure to be silent when closing the door.

The corridors were completely empty, but a few people could be heard in the Great Hall. The common room was deserted (with a relieved sigh from Lily.) She quickly strode to the showers, immediately planning an alternative schedule that would help her avoid James.

She felt foolish, childish, and incredibly guilty with her behavior. After all, James had done nothing to hurt her. It was her own fault she was stuck in the situation she was in, her own fault that she couldn't handle a relationship.

That was a lie. She COULD handle a relationship, just not one with James. Her screaming mind had won control over her whispering heart and she wanted desperately to break it off with him. But she was doing so in the crudest possible way, being a horrible person and a heartless whore.

She had two choices (after all, the choices you make are what determine who you are.) She could keep hiding, hoping that James would take the hint; but doing so was dangerous and could destroy their ENTIRE relationship, including their friendship. Otherwise, she could face him, spill her soul out to him, express every last feeling she had about…everything.

And time was precious.

Debating with herself all throughout her morning ritual, she finally decided on a choice.

And conveniently, awaiting her at the bottom of stairs was the one person she wanted to speak with.

"I couldn't find you last night," James said, taking notice of the fact that Lily wouldn't look him in the eyes. She hadn't since that moment she had assured him that she was sure she wanted a relationship.

And before she could even open her mouth, his voice echoed those words that had been swarming her mind for days.

"Lily, I think we rushed into this," he said, making her jade eyes stare into his hazel ones. Relief reflected in them. "You're not ready, I know you're not, and whatever the reason is up to you to tell me, or not tell me. But when I told you I'd wait for you, I meant it."

Lily didn't say anything, but a smile broke out on her face. James felt as if he hadn't seen that smile for an eternity, if not longer.

"What about that date you owe me?" she asked.

"Well, that's an excuse to act as more-than-friends."

Lily sighed, feigning tragedy once again. "I guess there's no chance to get out of it."

"Oh hush you…you…you trollop!"

Lily's laugh made his heart throb through his chest, and James knew that he really DIDN'T care how long it took; he didn't care if he waited until the sun no longer shone and the Earth was no longer there. As long as he had Lily, they could create their own sun, build their own Earth.

For the infinite time in a month, James fell in love again.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So, you two broke up?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow at the smiling James who nodded in response. "And you're happy about it?"

"Well, I'm not happy that we broke up," he said. "I'm more happy because I know that she and I were meant to be."

"Then…why'd you break up?" Sirius questioned.

"Because we, well SHE, needs more time before actually getting 'involved' with me." His smile didn't falter.

The other three (with puzzled expressions on their faces) let the conversation drop.

"Isn't the Quidditch game against Hufflepuff next Saturday?" Remus asked. Without waiting for a reply, he said, "What're you going to do about detention?"

"Easy, Quidditch in the morning and possibly afternoon, detention in the evening." James's smile still hadn't faded.

"That smile's getting creepier by the moment," Sirius shuddered. James's smile grew bigger.

Remus turned to look at Sirius, snorting with surprise. Peter burst out laughing.

When Sirius looked in the mirror, seeing that his "wonderful" hair had turned a nice shade of neon blue and his face pigments a metallic green, he lunged at James, screaming death threats all throughout the attack.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What do you mean 'a mutual agreement'?" Amelia exclaimed. "You're probably the ONLY girl that's EVERhad this much of James's affection, AND the only girl that's wanted to let go of HIM while he still wants to hold on to YOU. There's no way James would've let you break up with him without a fight."

"There were a lot of emphasized words in that statement," Lily replied nonchalantly. "And yes, it was a mutual agreement to be only friends."

"At least tell me that you two are going to St. Valentines Ball together!" Alice begged.

"We never discussed it seeing as how he doesn't know about it just yet."

The two girls sighed heavily, giving up on the copper haired girl they had deemed a best friend.

"Well, Lily," Amelia smiled, "think of it this way. You are beautiful, smart, funny, and a little secluded from the male gender. If you opened up to some a little more, you could have a large trail of them at your mercy."

"AND," Alice added, "you could then find out if there's someone better out there, someone more worthy of your heart than James."

"When is the ball?" Lily asked, unsure of what to think of their suggestion.

"Less than four weeks away," Alice responded. "Saturday, February 12."

"So, I have four weeks to create an army of drooling male fourth years and up, find a dress, and constantly ask myself when I went insane?" Lily asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Less than four weeks," Amelia smiled. "Better get started."

"The problem is that I don't know HOW."

"Oh, leave that up to Alice and me," Amelia replied mischievously. "We'll make it clear to every single guy that Lily Evans is looking for a date to the ball."

"But I'm NOT!"

"They don't have to know that. Now, as for the dress, just find one the next Hogsmeade weekend."

"And what about the constantly asking myself about my insanity?"

"I'd get started right now."

"How did I end up fitting into the female stereotype?"

"You went insane?"

"And when did I go insane?"

"You're supposed to ask yourself that, not me!"

"Amelia…"

"Yes Lily?"

"I wouldn't sleep too deeply tonight."

"Wasn't planning on it."