It was James's fault that the plan didn't work. He just had to do something to screw it up.

"Lily, I'm trying to talk to you here!" James Potter yelled down the hall as he ran after the girl who was currently walking briskly away from him.

"I fully realize that, James," Lily replied back, her voice shaking with repressed rage, "but I'm really not in the mood to talk. Which is why I'm walking away from you. And I'd appreciate it greatly if you would just leave me alone."

Lily walked on, so quickly that she was just barely running.

Impossible! Bloody impossible! James thought as he ran to catch up with her.

It wasn't his fault that she was this upset. At least in James' opinion. He had only been snogging another girl. A guy couldn't wait forever fora girl to finally go out with him. And James had waited forever. At least in his opinion.

But Taylor Mcgee, a pretty (okay, downright hot, according to James and every other guy to have ever walked the planet) sixth year, had come up to him and asked him for help with Transfiguration.

And who was he to refuse her? In his defense, it was his duty as Head Boy to help other students. And Transfiguration was his best subject. All in all, wasn't it obvious that he would gladly agree to help her?

He only spent his lunch hour with her in the Transfiguration classroom. And, truth be told, she seemed to not need any help with the subject. To James, she appeared to be doing just fine.

Before he even had time to think about the possible reasons why she might have wanted his help, she took the initiative and kissed him, full on the lips. And who was James to refuse Mcgee?

At some point she had somehow ended up in his lap. James couldn't even begin to imagine how that had happened. Not that he was complaining, of course. Every male at Hogwarts wanted to snog her. It was a known fact.

Of course, James began to rethink the snogging thing when Lily Evans walked into the classroom, presumably there a few minutes early for her next class, which James happened to be in as well.

"Look, you two had better get out before Professor…" she trailed off, realizing that it was James as he turned around to see Lily standing there, the look of shock on her face priceless.

James immediately turned a faint shade of pink as Taylor smirked at Lily.

"Sorry about that," Taylor said smoothly, standing up nonchalantly. "I have to go to class anyway."

She turned to James and pecked him on the cheek, lingering there far longer than she should have. "Perhaps we can continue this another time."

And then she left the room as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

"Look… Lily…" James started, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I'm sure she just fell on your lips. Tripped probably. Or fell off the table. Into your lap…" Lily said hurriedly, blushing.

James sighed. "No, look… I just… it wasn't, er, my fault."

Lily's awkwardness seemed to have vanished at his statement. "Not your fault? Oh yes, she probably did just fall onto your lips, then, did she? Or perhaps was she unable to resist your extraordinary charm?" she asked venomously.

James did not miss the underlying tone of hurt. Why would she be hurt by me snogging some other girl? he wondered briefly, but was cut off by Lily's next scathing remark.

"Yes. It appears that all girls absolutely adore James Potter and would do absolutely anything to be with him. And that it was in no means a fault of you own. You realize, James, that it takes two people to snog?"

He had worked hard all year to become more like the person Lily wanted to go out with – the less arrogant variety. And he had been doing so well. Up until now, of course.

James ran his hand through his hair distractedly. "I'm sor –"

"Get your hand out of your hair," Lily said irritably.

James' hand immediately fell to his side. "Lily, it was… it was…"

But whatever it was, Lily never found out. Because Professor McGonagall walked into class at that very moment followed by a mob of students.

I'm talking to her after class. Whether she likes it or not.

"Hey mate. Where were you at lunch?" Sirius said cheerfully, sitting down beside his best friend.

James sighed. "With Taylor."

Sirius' eyes widened. "Mcgee? Taylor Mcgee?"

"Yeah. I suppose so," he said dully. Truth be told, he didn't really feel like talking about his exploits with her at the very moment.

"You suppose?" Sirius cried in disbelief. "Are we talking about the same Taylor Mcgee?"

James looked up at him irritably. "Yes. I don't want to talk about it."

"What about Taylor Mcgee." Said Amy from behind Sirius.

Sirius replied calmly. "Oh, nothing Amy dearest. I was just saying how you were a much better kisser."

"That's nice to know that you kissed her." James heard Amy say as she and Sirius sat at a desk together.

James whispered to Sirius. Apparently his best friend was very thick when it came to reading his feelings. "Lily caught us."

Sirius' expression immediately changed. "Ouch. What did you tell her?"

"That… well, that it wasn't my fault, for one."

And to James' surprise, Sirius laughed. "You told her that it wasn't your fault? You couldn't have picked a worse explanation."

"Thanks mate. I appreciate your support for me," James said sarcastically.

"Point taken. But, seriously though… did you really think that would help your situation?"

James thought about it before answering, "Yeah, actually."

"And here I was thinking that you had some experience with girls," Sirius muttered.

"Oy! I have loads of experience with girls, I'll have you know." How many times could he possibly be offended in an hour?

"Yeah, well, if you knew anything about girls then you would know that they want you to own up to your mistake." Sirius replied.

"Look, you have to talk to her." Amy said.

"Was going to."

"Good."

They tuned back into the lesson for a few minutes, but then James asked, "What do I tell her, though?"

Sirius chuckled softly. "Amateur," he muttered softly.

"Oh and your such a romantic yourself, Sirius!" Amy said looking up from her notes .

"You have to tell her that it was a mistake that you're really sorry about. And that you only have eyes for her. And that you were just frustrated because you couldn't have her. But that you were thinking it was her the whole time. " Sirius whispered so Amy couldn't hear.

"Okay." James seemed to accept this.

The minutes to the end of class went by entirely too quickly for James; the sooner class ended meant the sooner he had to talk to Lily. His stomach twisted with nervousness.

Class ended and Lily seemed to be in a race to leave the room first. She gathered up her belongings and sped out of the room. James caught up with her at some point in the hallway.

Bringing us back to the situation of James trying to get her attention and Lily running away.

He finally caught up with her. Damn her quickness he thought briefly.

"Lily, stop."

Lily whirled around. "Why? Do you want to snog someone else in front of my face?"

"Lily, I didn't mean for you to see!" James protested.

"Oh, you meant to do it behind my back, then?" she replied, turning on her heel.

James caught her arm before she could go anywhere. "No. That's not what I meant."

"Yeah. Well, it's what you said," Lily retorted, wrenching her wrist out of his grasp.

"But it's not what I meant," he repeated.

"Look, I don't really want to hear your explanations for it. It doesn't concern me and –"

"You're right. It doesn't concern you," James interrupted scathingly. This wasn't how this was supposed to go…

Lily's eyes seemed oddly bright as she replied, "Right. Well, I'll just be…" She trailed off, gesturing vaguely behind her.

James eyes softened. "Let's get out of the hallway," James suggested. Hepulled her into an empty classroom a feet away and closed the door behind them with Lily still trying to pull out of his grasp

"Lily… I… I didn't mean to."

Lily seemed to have composed herself during the walk to the classroom. "I've forgotten about it. It's not a big deal," she responded, her eyes devoid of any emotion.

She really is impossible! "No Lily! It obviously is a big deal if you were so upset about it a second ago!"

"Yeah, well, I've other things to worry about. More important things."

She seemed to be trying to convince herself of that more than James. Truth be told, she was convincing neither.

"Fine. Well, I'm still going to say what I have to say."

"No thanks I don't want- ."

"Too bad. I'm… I'm sorry," James finally said, trying to remember what else it was that Sirius had told him to say. "And… and… I… it was a mistake. A, er, big mistake. And I've only, you know, got… er… eyes for you… and, er, I was just frustrated because I… couldn't… couldn't be with you. And… er… and…" James was desperately trying to remember the last part of what Sirius said. "Oh yes! And I was thinking that it was you the, er, whole time I was with her," he said in one breath.

He was very satisfied with himself.

Lily wasn't.

If anything, she was even more angry than she had been before.

In a deathly quiet voice she said, "You pretended that it was me?"

"Er… yes? But I –"

Lily cut him off. "And you were frustrated? So that's why you became her snog buddy?" Her voice was steadily rising now. "And what kind of an apology was that?"

"Well… I did say that I was sorry and –" He was going to kill Sirius.

"Yeah, you did. But it sounded like you memorized it! That was, by far, the worst apology I have ever heard."

"That's a bit harsh."

That made Lily more upset. "Yeah? Well, perhaps next time you do something wrong, you should truly apologize. It may just work for you next time."

James was getting upset now. "Why do you even care? I'm not with you, in any way. You're my peer and nothing more and that was your doing. Because I, unlike you, have actually tried to make it something more. But you refused."

Lily drew back, stung. "You're right. It shouldn't matter. I'm nothing more than someone you work with," she said emotionlessly. She turned to leave the classroom and, for the second time that day, James stopped her from leaving.

"That's not what I meant," he said again.

"Well, it's what you said."

It was like déjà vu.

"Then perhaps you heard it wrong," he said smiling slightly.

"What was I supposed to hear then?" Lily asked impatiently, continuing before James could open his mouth to reply. "Because, this is what I heard. That you don't see me as anything but a peer. And that you can't apologize if your life depended on it."

"Well," James began thoughtfully, "how would you like me to see you?"

"As a person, with feelings."

"I do see you as a person. And one with feelings, too. What I can't understand is why any of that mattered to you. Because, let's face it, I've been with plenty of girls and that never bothered you before."

"Well… well… er… this time it was different," Lily stammered.

"How?"

"You… were, er, going at it… er… right in front of me."

"Fine, so you'd be slightly annoyed. Maybe even dock some points. But get this upset?"

"I'm not upset!" she exclaimed.

James smirked. "Lily, I'd have to say that you were upset."

Lily merely glared at him.

"That's what I thought," he said, still smirking. "So, will you tell me why?"

There was a long silence. Lily looked at James resolutely and kept her mouth firmly shut.

James sighed. "Okay, fine. If you won't tell me anything, then I'll apologize. For real, this time," he added hastily.

Lily merely continued to look at him stubbornly.

"Look, it's been no… secret… that I've liked you. For a while. And, look Lily. It's hard for a bloke to wait for years for someone to come around. And, in my defense, she had only asked me for Transfiguration help. So I agreed, because I thought that she truly needed help. But, well, she didn't," he finished lamely.

"You could have stopped her." Lily had finally spoken and James breathed an internal sigh of relief. At least she was speaking again.

"You're right. But I didn't. And I was wrong. I'm sorry."

Lily scrutinized him. "Okay," she said finally. "Apology accepted."

She made to leave the room, but James stopped her,again.

"I don't think so," he said.

"What?" Lily looked utterly confused.

"You haven't told me why you were so upset."

"I don't recall agreeing to do such a thing."

"Well, I think it's only fair."

"Do you?"

"Yes, I do, actually."

"I'm glad you think so, James. But I don't feel like telling you, anything. I've accepted your apology. So, I'll just be heading back to my room."

James moved between her and the door. She likes me. That's the only reason for it. She was jealous. What else could it possibly be?

It finally clicked for him, he understood now.

He decided to take a gamble with his newfound information. "I know what it is."

"You know what what is?

"Why it bothered you so much."

"James, you're not nearly that perceptive. I highly doubt you know anything."

"You were jealous. You like me."

James held his breath, awaiting a response. All the color appeared to have drained from Lily's face as she looked at him with wide eyes.

So, I was right.

"I, what?" she whispered.

"You heard me," James replied, matching her whisper. "You like me and you were jealous."

Lily shook her head violently. "I don't," she whispered.

James took a step closer to her.

"I don't," she said louder.

"And you're afraid," James said, voicing his next realization.

"I'm not," Lily said, still shaking her head.

"You are," James replied. "You're afraid of being with me."

"That's… that's… ridiculous," Lily whispered.

"It isn't," James said softly. "You're afraid of what you feel for me. And what I feel for you."

"I – I don't even know how you feel about me," Lily replied.

James took another step forward as Lily took a step backwards so that she had her back to the wall. "Well, then, I'll tell you."

"Don't," Lily hissed.

"No. I need to tell you. It's… the way you twirl your hair on your finger when you're thinking, the way you tap your foot when you're impatient, particular liking of chocolate chip scones, the way your eyes are so green, the constant lip chewing that goes on when you can't think of what to say… It's… it's… it's…" he trailed off in search for the right term. "Your entire personality," he said finally.

He looked at Lily and saw her eyes become oddly bright again, but this time it seemed different than before. He continued on.

"We belong together, Lily."

It seemed as though Lily had finally found her voice. "We can't."

"We… can't? Why not?" James asked in disbelief.

"How will I know that you'll stay with me?"

"Because… I just… will," James answered pathetically.

"That's not much of a reason."

"Perhaps you don't understand. I've waited so long for this. For you and me," he said, gesturing between the two of them. He sighed when she looked at him skeptically. "Lily, I'd always be faithful to you. I have been for almost 6 years."

"But what about Taylor? You jumped at the chance to be with her," Lily said bitterly.

"We weren't together, so I wasn't being unfaithful, really. And I apologized for it. It was a mistake. You're just going to have to take my word. Besides,Taylor's just… a pretty face. She's not worth my time. But you… you're more than just gorgeous. I already told you… I like everything about you. I meant it when I said it the first time. We fit together, Lily."

James took a step closer to Lily, and when she didn't move to the side, he took another step. They were inches apart.

He bent down and whispered, "I want you Lily, no one else, Just you."

He looked down at her and met her eyes. "I… want to be with you, too, James. I just… don't know if it will work… in the end," she murmured.

"Give me a chance," he breathed. He bent down slowly and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, letting his hand linger there, pulling her up slightly and lightly kissed her on the lips.

R&R please.

I had the impulse to name Taylor, Tits Mcgee, but decided against it.

Winona Corinne: Thanks, I have terrible grammer, just ask my English teacher. Actually don't she's really ugly.

krazy about kac: I'm so bad at spelling.

Special thanks to,

The Insane Justin:

Hahaha. I haven't got any yet but if I do, I know who to ask. Haha.

Also thanks to my loyal readers who have reviewed a lot for me, You are the best!

SweetRomanceGirl

Crazy-Physco

NJ MacReiley the Helpless Romantic

phoenixtear19

And these people.

selene-luna589547

Sarah-K-O-M

krazy about kac

Chaotic Umbrella Of Poking

Winona Corinne

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