Sirius sat whistling to himself and watching the streetlights change. He was ready to be entertained.

A girl walked by. He stopped to stare, then resumed his melody.

Another. He stopped again. "Clem! Hey, babe, what's up?"

She waved a few fingers and mouthed a hasty excuse. The next one turned out to be an ex-girlfriend. After that he focussed on male friends. Peter was the first to join him.

"How was your summer?"

"Good, you?"

Peter shrugged and nodded. "I ran into Clementine," he said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. Sirius closed one eye and aimed at a point half-way across the street.

"As did I. Did you – exchange words?"

"In fact we did. Are you up for a little fun later?"

"Courtesy of our China-girl," Sirius cooed. "I got some White last week."

Peter laughed nervously. "Well, you know, she just had grass."

"No worries, I might have enough for two." He clapped a hand on Peter's shoulder, and jumped as another landed on his.

"Christ!"

"I love you too." James squatted behind them. "Are you gentlemen planning a highly illicit party?"

"Yeaah…"

"I have Remus."

"That's everyone, then," Peter said. Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Did the rest of the world die today? Hang it – babe! Hey, doll, get over here!"

A pretty blonde wandered up. Sirius took her hand and started writing on it. "I want you to give this to everyone you know, alright?" He kissed her wrist and sent her away. Having repeated the process a few more times he was ready to go.

Remus was inside, at the counter behind them. When he went back out he expected to find James and maybe Sirius. It was hard for him not to be angry that his father was there, in a crowd of school-mates he barely knew.

His father spotted him right away.

"Hey, kid," he said. Remus thought about their last meeting and scowled. So much for broken hearts.

"Hi, Dad," he said brightly. He handed a coffee to James and the other to Sirius. "I guess I'll get another."

"I'll come with you!"

Remus shrugged and let his father follow him in.

"I'm sorry about the other day, Remus. I didn't mean to spring on you like that."

"It's not a problem."

"Do you want me to – get you a coffee or something? Latte? Or a…"

"Latte's fine." Remus was fairly certain that that wasn't what his father had started to say, but he didn't care enough to push it. What he wanted was for his life to return to normal, which it no doubt would without his help. He accepted the steaming plasting cup and they exited in silence.

Sirius called him over at once to ask for the loan of his stereo and to string him in to yet another night of watching his friends load up behind his own poolhouse where James couldn't see. Better than meeting the old man again, he thought, or maybe he'd plead out of each for the other.

Down the street a girl snagged her sweater on a bench and swore. She was ready to go home.