A/N: Should I warn you when explicit things happen? Maybe, because I don't intend to do it that often. I guess all there is to warn you about is that James swears and there's some suggestive dancing..

Chapter Three: New Developments

Lily was curled up in her bed. She didn't feel like up today, even though it was 1:00 in the afternoon. James hadn't replied to her letters yet. It had been two days. What was he doing? Lily was beginning to think that he hated her. What did she do that was so awful?

"Oh no, what if I'm bad in bed?" Lily gasped, shocked.

"No such luck," James grinned, leaning against the doorframe watching Lily.

"Ack!" Lily whipped around to see him standing there. He looks so hot today. "How did you get up here?"

James shrugged and sat down next to her on her bed. "Your parents let me in."

"I find that highly unlikely, James Potter." Lily admonished playfully. Secretly she was pleased to see him.

"Listen, Lily, I need to talk to you about something." James almost choked out.

"I need to talk to you James." Lily said seriously as she crawled into his lap and straddled his waist. "Very important business." Lily grinned and leaned in for a kiss.

James expertly dodged her, no matter how much it killed him inside to do so. He wanted to kiss her so much. She looked so delicious in her white tank top and pajama bottoms. "Lily, that isn't what I wanted to talk about."

"No?" Lily bit her lip and dropped her head on his shoulder. "I'm so stupid, you're gonna break up with me. You think I'm a terrible lay. And the whole fiasco with the letters. You've spent the last two days trying to think of ways to break it to me gently, haven't you?" Lily was pacing her room by now. "Well, Potter, you better get it out before I hex you into oblivion."

James smiled, how could I have let such a passionate woman slip through my hands? "No, Lily. I've come to make a confession." James walked up to Lily and put his hands around her waist and pulled her into him. He kissed her forehead and looked into her eyes.

"What is it, James? Are you gay?" Lily gasped in mock indignation and stood on her tip toes to kiss him. James was much taller than she was.

Against his better judgment, James gave in to her kiss and held her closer to him. He didn't want to tell her what he had done. But she had to know if they were going to build any sort of relationship. After several long moments James pulled away. "Lily, there's something I need to tell you. I don't want you to get angry with me, but I was in a very insecure situation."

"James," Lily pushed him away, her eyes searching his, "What's going on? What did you do?"

James led Lily over to her bed and sat down next to her. He closed his eyes; he couldn't bear to look at her as he told her about Sasha. He tried to explain that he thought Lily never wanted to see him again. But Lily would have none of it.

"Please get out, James." Lily whispered. Her face had gone white, and her features were drawn from strain.

"Lily, please believe me, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was drunk, I didn't know what was going on."

"You never know what is going on, Potter. Do you know what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to tell you how you were the best thing to ever happen me. I wanted to tell you that I loved you. It's something that I realized. I love you, James, but you threw it away. Why? Because of a letter. You destroyed all chances of us getting together because of something I wrote in a fit of nervousness. I can't believe you James. Why didn't you try to talk to me about it?" Lily covered her face with her hands, she didn't want him to see her crying.

"Lily, I can't explain what was going through my mind." James hung his head. "I'll leave you alone. We can talk later, okay?"

"No, James. I don't want to see you ever again. I don't want to know anything about you. Get out of my house." Lily said defiantly.

"I love you too, Lily." James whispered as he left her.

Sirius was loafing around the Potters' living room while he waited for James to come back from Lily's house. I hope it's going okay for him. James had been moping around the house since the night at the bar.

Sirius didn't see what the problem was. Sure, Lily was a great gal, but she wasn't the only one. But Sirius knew that James had loved Lily from the first. Even after all the rejection she had thrown at him during fifth year, he still persisted. It was an amazing stroke of luck to find out that Lily returned his feelings four days ago. Who knows how she feels now. Sirius was sure that she'd throw him out into the street after the stunt James had pulled with her friend.

Poor James.

Sasha sat on her couch staring out the window. James hadn't contacted her since the night at the bar. She'd sent him thousands of letters, it seemed. Sasha was getting very ticked off. Maybe she'd have to go visit him.

Lily sprawled out on her bed. She didn't know how to process this information. She didn't want to believe it. James had cheated on her. After a day! How could he? Lily sniffed quietly to herself and tried her hardest not to cry.

I must be strong. He can't defeat me like this.

She buried her face in her pillow and let her tears come out. Nothing would make this better. She might as well end it all. Or at least she could drown her worries in a strong drink. Lily lay on her bed for a long time, letting such dark thoughts consume her.

James entered the living room where Sirius was and plopped down on an armchair. "My world has collapsed, Padfoot."

"That bad?" Sirius asked.

"She loves me. Did you know that? After all these years of fending me off, she turns around says she loves me." James stared at his hands.

"She never said she truly hated you, James." Sirius was looking at him seriously. "She was always too mature for us and our antics."

"Yeah," James smiled wistfully. "We always had good antics."

"You're telling me." Sirius laughed. "Remember the time we charmed the girls into having blue hair? Belle looked really hot with blue hair. She always had had that goth thing going for her."

"Lily got really mad at us for that. She said her hair was much better suited to not being that primary color. So I said okay, and turned her hair yellow. She looked good as a blonde, but she's amazing as a redhead." James smiled.

"See, mate, that is not good thinking. You need to put her out of your mind. We should go out."

"Alright, where do you want to go?"

"Let's go clubbing!" Sirius grinned. "I need to find a new girl."

"Can I come along?" Sasha questioned from the doorway.

James looked up, anger burning in his eyes. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Sasha looked shocked and stuttered, "I thought it was okay for me to visit my boyfriend's house!"

"I am not your boyfriend. Get out of my house." James glared.

"What are you talking about, James? You said you loved me…" Sasha cried indignantly.

"I said no such thing. My memory of that night may be fuzzy, but I would never say that to a two-timing whore. Now get out of my house!" James screamed.

"You'll be sorry, James Potter." Sasha ran out, crying.

Sirius looked at James, "Okay there, Prongs?"

"I will be. Let's go." James grabbed Sirius and pulled him out the door.

Lily stood staring in the mirror. She looked nothing like herself. She had charmed her hair black and done it up in pigtails. She was wearing a black miniskirt, and a soft pink tank top that was cut off at the stomach, exposing her smooth expanse of flesh. She had knee high black leather boots on as well. Her appearance was very strange, to say the least.

"I'm ready." She announced to no one in particular, as she finished applying her make up.

Lily left her house in the middle of the night, trying not to wake up her parents or her sister. Not that they'd care, she thought idly.

James entered the club, his gaze sweeping the place. It didn't look too bad. The club had an extensive dance floor and well packed bar with booths and tables scattered around the edges. James deftly made his way through the crowd and ordered a Muggle beer. After receiving his order he downed the drink before making his way out onto the dance floor.

James relaxed as the tension left his body while he danced with strange women. Whenever James went out dancing he always altered his appearance slightly. Essentially he looked the same, he just didn't want anyone to be able to trace him to his real identity. He was having a good time with one blonde who was grinding against him. Thoughts of Lily left James mind as he concentrated on the woman who was pressed up against him.

"Do you want a drink?" Sirius asked, sidling up to James. He glanced disdainfully at the woman who looked put off but soon found another dancing partner.

"Hey! I was dancing with her." James grunted.

"She wasn't right for you." Sirius shrugged and pulled James off the dance floor and to the bar. "Here, have a drink." Sirius hoped that he could just get James drunk so they could go home.

James chugged his drink before saying, "Padfoot, do I know her?" He pointed to a black haired beauty dancing nearby.

Sirius cringed. It was Lily. "No, mate. Leave her alone."

"No, I want to dance with her." James tried to shove Sirius off of him.

"Not if I get to her first." Sirius practically ran towards Lily and took her in his arms.

"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Lily giggled.

Sirius stared at her disapprovingly. "Are you drunk?"

"Not yet." Lily winked and pressed up against him. "Do you think I'm pretty?"

Sirius tried hard not to gaze at her revealing outfit. "Of course I do, Lily. But you know you're just my friend."

"Because you really think like that or because you're scared of James?" Lily pouted.

"You know it's not like that, Lily. You're very beautiful, but you've always been a younger sister to me."

"Is that true? Then how come I get such a response from you?" Lily teased as she rubbed up against him.

Sirius gasped, "Lily, stop. You'll be embarrassed about this tomorrow."

Lily threw him an icy glare and walked over to the bar and downed a shot. "Do you want to dance, miss?" A voice asked behind her.

"Sure." Lily replied and downed another shot before turning around. The man in front of her looked very familiar, but she couldn't place him. Her mind was becoming very fuzzy.

"Excellent," James smiled and held out his hand. The two were quite intoxicated, but they managed to dance provocatively enough. Lily let her guard down and found herself entranced by this boy. His body was so strong under her fingers. She shivered and pressed against him as they danced. James grinned and let his hands stray down her backside, gripping her rear.

"Are you getting fresh with me?" Lily questioned.

"Do you want me to?"

"Yes, please." Lily looked at him smokily.

"Mm." James dragged Lily off the dance floor and out of the club. Sirius watched them go sadly. They would be very angry in the morning.

Lily yawned and stretched out. She tensed as she felt someone next to her. She opened her eyes and looked around the room. It wasn't hers. Lily groaned and closed her eyes. She did not want to know what happened last night. However, from how sore she was and her headache, Lily could guess.

Lily slipped out of the bed and tried to find her clothes. She avoided looking at the person she had slept with. She did not want to know who it was. Having located her clothes, she put them on and checked out her appearance in the mirror. Her hair had turned red again and she looked worn out.

"Are you leaving so soon?" A deep male voice asked from behind her.

She knew that voice. "James?" she choked out.

"Lily?"

Lily turned around and faced James. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "Don't tell me that we…" Lily dropped to the floor and stared dumbly.

"Oh, Lily." James sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulder. Lily leaned into him. "I didn't mean for this. I'm so sorry."

"I know. But I can't take this. I can't keep coming back to you."

"Why not? We must be destined for one another." James stroked her hair.

"No, James. It's killing me inside. Can't you see that? I abandoned all my vows to myself and I went out last night. It was a very bad mistake of mine. I can't keep doing this. We can't be together James. I've strayed from every path I have ever set down. I need to focus."

"Focus on what? Lily, we can still be together. I won't change you. We'll make each other better people. Why can't you see it? We're happy together."

"James," Lily sniffed, trying to hold back her tears. "You've cheated on me once already. Who's to say you won't do it again?"

James pulled Lily into a tight hug. "I say it. I won't cheat on you, Lily. I promise. I'll always be yours. There will be no other girl in my life. None."

Lily looked into James eyes. "I wish it were so simple." She closed her eyes and leaned into James embrace. "I wish I could stay here."

"Why can't you?"

"I don't want to." Lily got up and ran to the door, her cheeks stained with tears. "Don't follow me James. You can't go where I'm going."

Lily ran away from James. She ran away from her whole life as she knew it.

James sat staring at the door for awhile, hoping she'd come back. But she didn't. He was lost to the world.

Sirius sighed and glanced at his friend. There was only a week left of summer, and James still walked around dazed. Sirius had hoped that he might have gotten over Lily, but no such thing happened.

"Are you okay?" Sirius asked.

"No." James replied. He was staring at the window. Sirius looked over and saw an owl waiting patiently to be let in.

"I'll get it." Sirius retrieved the letter. It was from Remus. He read aloud:

Prongs and Padfoot,

I bring ill news, I fear. I've just heard from Lily Evans.

James choked and looked up at Sirius, intent.

She has expressed great sadness to me over the summer, but I had hoped she would get over it. However, the letter I have just read saddens me to the core of my being. Lily professes that she cannot return to Hogwarts. She has decided to go to Beauxbatons, even though she has been made Head Girl at Hogwarts. I fear her decision was confirmed when I mentioned to her that you, James, were Head Boy. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I thought you should know before you heard about it from someone else.

Remus.

Sirius let the letter drop. Even he couldn't believe this. Lily was leaving Hogwarts? She loved the place. Sirius looked up at hearing a strangled gasp coming from James.

"Prongs?" James was staring into the fire place.

"She's avoiding me." James spoke. "She really does hate me now. I don't believe this. I've lost her forever, Padfoot. What's there for me now?"

"You'll find another girl, James. Don't worry about it."

"No!" James yelled. "I told her she was the only one. I promised. On my life, I swear I will love no one else."

Sirius shook his head and left James to his thoughts.

That night Sirius visited both Lily and James during their sleep.

A/N: Ack! Sirius, what are you up to? Review if you want to make me happy and inspire me to continue writing. I promise they don't hate each other forever. I mean, it's quite possible that in the morning they won't remember a thing! shifty eyes But that would be silly...