(A/N) Here she be, the chapter five! She was a hard one to write, I'll have you know. I've got more thought in this chapter then the others. I kept changing the order of things, and what would happen, and when. I'm suprised I actually got it finished!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed for the last chapter! I love reading reviews! It just makes me all happy inside! To rockergurl13 - I feel so sorry for you! School is truly aristocracy! And not to mention, student teachers are just aliens trying to take over the world! ... what? I'm not crazy! And if I'm crazy, then so is Zack!
Chapter Five – Problems
"Oh! Oh Goddammit! I think I've lost it!
Oh God, Goddammit! I think I've lost you!"
Hot Hot Heat – Oh Goddammit! (A/N – Great song!)
Lily, Julie, and Alli were in the library working on transfiguration homework. Or, rather, Lily and Julie were. Alli was off in some other world, complaining very loudly about being stuck in the library with them, until Madam Pince threatened to give her a whole week's worth of detentions. Then, to her friends' relief, she was finally silent.
"Man Al, no offense, but you're killer when you're PMSing." Lily moaned.
"Oh shut yer trap!" Alli retorted, her fear of Madam Pince causing her to talk quietly.
"Hey, girls, look over there!" The two arguing friends looked up to see Julie pointing to a group of five boys over at a table across the room.
"I know that one," Alli told them, pointing to a tall dark-haired one. "He's on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. Those must be his friends."
"Well put, Miss Obvious," said Lily dryly.
"See the blonde one." Julie asked. "He's in Divination with me. He keeps looking over here. What d'you think is up?"
"Maybe he's madly in love with you," laughed Alli.
"Don't look now, but he's coming over." Lily hissed, causing Alli to promptly stop laughing. The blonde was indeed, walking towards them. He stopped right in front of Julie.
"Excuse me, Miss Marshall. I'm not sure if you know me. My name's Rick Lesher, I'm in your Divination class."
"Yes, I know you." Julie nodded.
"I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me with that homework we have to do. I know you're one of the best students in the class," At this, Julie turned bright pink and Alli raised her eyebrows at Lily. "And I could probably use the help."
"Um … well, yeah, sure. When were you thinking?"
"How about tomorrow after supper?" He said, adding quickly, "Unless you already have plans, that is."
"No, no I'm free." Julie said. "Meet here, in the library?"
"That's great! See you tomorrow!" He said, smiling at her, and walked back over to his fellow Hufflepuffs.
"Well Julie, looks like you have yourself a date." Alli said proudly, causing Julie to jump.
"Date?" She said. "He wasn't asking me out! He was just asking for help with schoolwork!"
"Oh puh-lease! He was totally head over heels for you!" Alli argued.
"Get a grip Alli!" Lily told them. At the rate she kept getting interrupted, she'd never finish this stupid transfiguration essay. "You're both right, ok?"
"Right about what?" A new voice asked, making all three girls jump. Sirius had just walked up behind them, along with James, Remus, and Peter.
"You four? Voluntarily in a library?" Alli asked.
"Contrary to popular belief, the Marauders can walk into a library without exploding, bursting into flames, or turning purple." Remus informed her.
"That always was my favorite rumor," Sirius said, grinning. "Anywho, you didn't answer me."
"This guy from Divination just came and asked Julie to help him with their homework." Lily told him, before Alli could say anything that would make the story come off wrong. Alli wasexceptionally good at making the story come across wrong. Lily didn't think there was hope for her.
"It's obvious he likes her though!" Alli added, making Julie blush for the second time in the past couple minutes. "You'll be asked for a date after this, mark my words!"
"You really think he likes me?" Julie asked, as though the idea were ludicrous.
"It's totally obvious!" Alli cried.
"And Julie should trust what you say because…?" Sirius asked.
"Because I have experience with these kinds of things." Alli said smugly.
"Great," Julie sighed. "This is the last thing I wanted to deal with. What am I gonna say?"
"Say yes," said Alli simply.
"But I don't know anything about him!"
"Besides the fact that he's in your Divination class, that he's a 7th year Hufflepuff, and that his name's Rick Lesher?" Alli prompted.
"Yeah, I suppose," Julie consented.
"It's obvious he likes you, and he's hot. Just say yes."
"You know, we did come into the library to work on transfiguration, not chat about the 'supposedly' hot Hufflepuff guy who's 'supposedly' going to ask Julie out." Lily pointed out. James, Sirius, and Peter were still standing there, just watching the progression of the argument and wondering how girls came to the conclusions they did. Remus, however, was in deep thought.
When Alli had said that this guy obviously liked Julie and was going to ask, he'd felt his throat constrict, and he suddenly had the urge to find this Rick Lesher guy and lock him in the dungeons. Why was he so angry all of a sudden? It wasn't his business whether or not guys asked Julie out. But for some reason it irked him. He didn't want this guy to ask her out. He didn't want her to say yes. But why? Was he suddenly going crazy or something?
"So!" Alli yelled. "Who cares about transfiguration? This is important!"
"News flash Alli, school work is important." Lily said.
"Yes, but right now, this is more so!" Alli told her. Lily rolled her eyes. "I know who we can talk to about this! Becca!" And she grabbed Julie's wrist with one hand a Lily's with the other, and began to drag them towards the door.
"Hold it!" Lily yelled. Alli froze, and Lily reached back, grabbed all their papers and books and stuffed them into her bag. "Okay." Alli continued to drag them until they got out the door, and the last thing the boys heard was Julie crying, "But he hasn't even asked me out yet!"
XXXXXX
The next day, Julie met Rick Lesher in the library. By the time they'd been there for two hours or so, Julie's nerves were almost entirely calm. Rick was sweet, polite, and a good student. When she explained things, he listened carefully and was always right the next time around. Julie found that she enjoyed being around him, and she had almost forgot about the possibility of being asked out until he said, "we should probably be leaving soon." Then her worries came back in full force.
She'd been asked out before, but for some reason this was bothering her more than any other time. She liked being around him, but she felt, deep inside, that she should tell him no. She didn't have a reason to think that, and her friends had all said that she should say yes. She didn't understand why she was making such a big deal out of this anyway.
"Um, Julie, can I ask you something?' He asked as they left the library.
Come on Julie. You've dealt with stuff like this before, she thought to herself, then said "Yeah, sure."
"Um, I was just wondering if, maybe you'd consider, um… going out with me?"
Why would you say no? She asked herself. He's a really nice guy, who genuinely seems to care about you, and you should at least give him a chance. You're not holding out for anyone else, are you? As if on cue, Remus flashed through her mind. Julie blinked repeatedly to clear her vision. I don't like Remus Lupin! He's just a friend! And it's not like he'd ever ask me out anyway! I should just say yes to Rick.
"Ok, sure." Julie said finally, smiling at him. "What do you want to do?" Rick beamed at her, then launched into an explanation of his plan.
XXXXXX
"So," Alli said triumphantly as Julie walked back into the common room. She, Lily, Becca, and the Marauders (excluding Peter) were sitting around on the couches, waiting for her to get back.
"So," She repeated.
"He asked you out, didn't he?" Becca, asked, finishing what Alli had been meaning to say. Alli and Becca were the ones who had the "boy knowledge" of the group.
Julie nodded. Remus choked.
"Told ya!" Alli said, pumping her fists in the air. "What did you say?''
"We're meeting on Saturday at Hogsmeade." Julie told them. Becca and Alli looked at each other significantly, and Remus tried to look calm, although his insides were boiling.James, however, looked startled.
"There's a Hogsmeade visit this weekend?" He asked. Lily rolled her eyes at him.
"Of course there is Potter." She said angrily. "And you would know if you'd been paying attention to our meeting with McGonagall on Monday. She told us that the first visit is this weekend, and we're to decide on the days for the rest of them. You really should try listening. It helps a great deal."
The truth was that James had been staring at Lily when he missed this crucial bit of info at the meeting. She had looked so beautiful, he couldn't help it. He did at least remember that they were supposed to plan the rest of the Hogsmeade visits.
"I know how to listen, my dear Lily." He told her, trying not to get angry at the insults she had thrown his way. "I just didn't remember her saying there was a visit this weekend. That's all; nothing life-threatening." Lily rolled her eyes again.
"I think I'm going upstairs." Julie said trying to get away from any kind of fight before it started. She needed to think anyway. "Goodnight."
XXXXXX
Why did I think about Remus then? Julie asked herself as she lay down in bed. He's a nice guy, who's considerate, caring, polite, and good at school, she answered herself. He always listens to whatever people have to say, and tries to respect them. Unless they're Slytherins, but I can understand that. And he may be a little troublesome, but only when he's with his friends. Everyone, even I can get a little troublesome at times. He's an all around good guy, I guess.
But just because I think that, doesn't mean I have to like him, Julie thought. I must have lost it or something. I've got a date with a nice guy, and he may even become my official boyfriend soon. I don't like Remus.
Hearing her friends coming upstairs, she closed her eyes and rolled to her side, as if she were sleeping. She didn't want them to ask her questions now, not when she was so confused about herself.
XXXXXX
Remus lay in bed, wide awake, long after everyone else in his room had fallen asleep.
Did he like Julie? He didn't know how he felt anymore. She's nice to you, and nice to other people, his conscious reasoned with him. She has good friends, is intelligent, and quite pretty. She's perfect!
That's just it though! Remus told himself. She's too good for me! Even if I were to ask her out, she wouldn't say yes. She would only go out with a good-looking, nice guy.
But you are a good-looking, nice guy! You just don't want to get involved in anything with her because you think that if she found out you were a werewolf, she would be scared of you, even hate you!
Hasn't it been proven that that's what always happens? Remus asked. Werewolves are feared by society, shunned, and no one would ever love one!
But you heard what she told Lily! She said that people should be trying to understand them, not shun them!
Well, she hasn't ever met one! What if she finds out what I am and changes her mind?
It's still worth a try! You know you like her! Tell her!
Remus sat up in bed. "Oh damn it!" He whispered. He was too late. Julie had already agreed to go out with that Lesher guy. How come he couldn't have realized how much he liked her one day sooner?
It didn't matter. He didn't want to risk a relationship anyway. He would just end up hurting her, somehow. It wasn't worth the pain. As long as she has a boyfriend she likes, I'm happy, he thought. At least, I think I am.
He lay back down, and heard Sirius mumble something about taking clothes off in his sleep. Glad he couldn't see what his girl-crazed friend was dreaming about, he closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep. It took him a while.
(A/N) NO! (multiple exclamation points) I start high school in a week! (more exclamation points) What did I do to deserve this? (multiple question marks) I need to calm down! (deep breathing) Ok, I'm fine.
I wrote this chapter while listening to Smash Mouth. Good Music! Oh, and then I edited it while listening to Dashboard Confessional! Even better! Ok, I'm just now realizing that I'm hyper! Off to find chocolate!
Please, please review! I need the extra suuport! Before I go mad with nerves! Stupid high school!