Chapter Seven
I descended the stairs and stopped to sniff appreciably at the smells wafting from the kitchen. Mmm… Chocolate chip cookies…
"Need some help?"
Maya turned from where she was stirring pasta into boiling water on the stove and smiled.
"No. I've got it."
"What're you making?"
Maya laughed. "Mac & Cheese, and cookies that were made from the cookie-dough that Sirius likes to eat raw. About the only two things that I can make."
"Where's everybody else?" the house was unusually peaceful.
"Here and there. I don't really care, as long as it's quiet. But I thought I'd make something to eat otherwise everyone will go insane from hungry. Are you thirsty?" Maya said after a pause. "I know I am. There are some leftover strawberry shakes in the fridge if you want."
"Yeah sure." I got out the shakes and poured them into two cups. "Here" I handed one to her. "Why don't you sit down?"
"That's a good idea. I've been so busy lately that I haven't really had time to think..." Maya sat down at the table and put her head in her hands. We sat a couple of minutes like that with no noise but the sound of us slurping our shakes. Then, tentatively I asked
"Maya. What happened at your house?" when she didn't answer I tried again "You don't have to tell me, but if you ever need someone to talk to you can always come to me? You know that, right?"
"Nothing really happened Lily. Mom and Dad are just fighting a lot as usual. And as usual we'll probably go home and they'll be just fine." Maya said fiercely but softly, as if trying to convince herself.
I patted her arm. "Everything will be all right."
"Thanks. I don't know. But I'm not going to let it bother me. I'm going to take a short run in the woods, and when I come back, I'll be fully revived and will have an absolutely fabulous night. And summer." She added as an afterthought.
"Okay. I'll make sure the pasta doesn't burn!"
"Great!" Maya went and fetched her running shoes before disappearing down one of the many trails around the estate.
I sighed and happily opened the latest romance novel I was reading. What can I say? They're my guilty pleasure.
I had read for about half an hour before I heard an impatient hand drum its fingers on the table.
"Yes?" I asked annoyed.
"We were just wondering if you'd like to come back from Book Land and join us?" asked James conversationally.
I looked up to find Remus, Jon, Sirius, Cassie, and Ellie –Maya apparently hadn't come back yet-, all squished in the kitchen.
"Oh, hello! Somebody help me dish out the Mac and cheese Maya made. We can eat on the porch."
Sirius took out plates and utensils while Jon and Remus arranged chairs on the back deck, and Ellie, Cassie and James went searching for candles
(Sirius having insisted on scented candles for "atmosphere". I personally thought that he just wanted an excuse to play with fire but…)
"Maya's back!" called out Ellie from the deck.
"Then are we all ready to eat?" James asked eyeing the food hungrily.
"I believe so! Bon appetite!" Sirius said merrily.
We all started eating and within minutes had finished everything on the table.
"It is absolutely gorgeous out here." Jon lazily indicated the scenery glowing in the setting sun.
"Sure is" Maya agreed. "Ellie, you are so lucky."
"Yep." Ellie agreed.
"Anyone want to play a game of cards?" Cassie suggested.
Remus conjured a couple decks of cards. "What do you all want to play?"
"How about poker?" Sirius grinned.
I eyed him. "I have a feeling there's going to be a catch."
"Maybe. What about, we "bet" dares?"
"What do you mean?" I asked cautiously.
"Well, we'd basically play poker, and let's say I won –which I will-," he added arrogantly "then I'd get to dare someone to do something. For instance run buck-naked to the neighbor's house and scream, "there's a pink leopard chasing me!" And whomever I dared to do it, has to do it! Sound good?"
After a few minutes of bartering-
Maya said there was no way in hell she'd go running buck-naked to the neighbor's house screaming "there's a pink leopard chasing me!"
And Remus added that the sight of his sister running buck-naked would surely give him nightmares for the rest of his life,
And Jon –winking at Maya- said he wouldn't mind seeing Maya naked- causing Maya to blush a beautiful shade of red. And everyone else to laugh.
-then we finally agreed to the terms. Basically dares were okay, as long as they weren't unreasonable.
"Let the fun begin!" Sirius said.
We started playing poker (a/n I have no idea how to play poker so…sorry if I make a mistake) and eventually Cassie won that round.
"Hmm." She said thoughtfully. "Jon. I dare you to…. do your weird rap version of She Will Be Loved by Maroon5."
"Yes Jon," Maya grinned "we'd all like to see that."
"Okay fine." Jon glared at Cassie. "But I just want you to know—"
"Oh go on. You know you're just dying to share you talent."
"Fine." Jon proceeded to rap She Will Be Loved, making us all dissolve into helpless tears of laughter.
"Satisfied?" Jon asked after ending.
"Very much so." replied Maya.
"Let's keep playing." said Sirius.
Ten minutes later Remus won.
"Who're you going to dare?" asked Maya.
"James. I dare you to touch Sirius' pet snake."
"Wilbur!" Sirius exclaimed "My snake has a name! Wilbur. And I'd thank you to use her name when referring to her."
"Her?" asked Ellie.
"Yes. Her. I didn't realize she was a girl when I named her. And I didn't want to change her name. I like the name Wilbur." Sirius said seeing Ellie open her mouth again.
"You are strange." Cassie commented.
"You're just realizing this?" asked Remus.
"Well. He never seemed this weird…."
"Believe me, there isn't a Marauder who isn't weird." said Jon.
"Hey!" protested all of the Marauders.
"Hay is for horses." retorted Jon.
"Getting back to the dare…" Remus conjured a large aquarium, inside of which a bright purple snake was coiled around a large rock.
"Hello Wilbur" Sirius cooed.
"Remus. Don't make me do this, man." pleaded a very white looking James.
"It's just a snake, James." I said.
"It's not just a snake! It's a slimy sneaky creepy crawly up-your-shirt viper that will climb into your bed at night and bite you." James babbled on for a few minutes.
I looked at Remus.
"When we were in second year, Sirius thought it'd be, um, amusing to put a huge python in James bed. Suffice to say, James did not find it so amusing. All you have to do is mention the word "snake" now and he breaks out in cold sweat." Remus said with a small smile.
"Ah." So. James is afraid of snakes. I can think of a whole bunch of ways to use this to my advantage.
But you're not going to. Because you're in love with him.
What!
L-O-V-E. Love. You're in love with him.
Am not! How would you know if I'm in love with him!
Because I am you! And being you, I know how you feel!
You're mistaken. You might be in love with him, but I'm not.
You and me are the same thing! So if I'm in love with him, then you're in love with him!
Traitor. I refuse to speak with you any more.
You're just saying that because I won.
Good. Bye.
I jerked myself out of my argument with myself to find a sick looking James reaching out a shaking hand to touch the snake. He did; for about two seconds, before jerking his hand away.
"There. I did it. I touched Wilbur."
"I'd actually call that more of your atoms making contact with the atoms of the snakes for about a millisecond." I commented.
"Am I asking you?" James glared at me.
"No, but everyone could always use my input." I smiled sweetly at him. He made a face at me.
Mmm. His eyes are gorgeous. So chocolaty and warm.
Did I just catch you ogling James' eyes? Sounds like a sign of love to me…
No! I did not just "ogle" James' eyes. You must have imagined that!
Must have. After all, never in a billion years will you like anything to do with James Potter. Much less his eyes.
Exactly.
I realized that I had been staring at James and I looked away quickly picking up my cards.
Another ten minutes later Ellie won.
I knew it was trouble as soon as she started glancing slyly at me. And then at James. And then back at me.
"Well, well, well. Whatever and whoever, should I pick?" Ellie tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm."
Don't dare me kiss James. Don't dare me to kiss James. Don't dare me to kiss James.
Even if you'd really like it?
Don't dare me to kiss James. Don't dare me to kiss James. Don't dare me to kiss James.
I tried to ignore that traitorous voice in my head.
"How about. Lily. Kiss James."
NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!
"Do I have to?" I asked. Begging her non-verbally to reconsider.
"Yes. You do. A dares a dare!" Ellie said happily.
"Fine." I risked a glance at James who had a small smile playing on his lips. I stood up and made my way slowly over to where he was.
"Quite stalling, Lily! Just do it!" Maya exclaimed. If looks could kill, Maya would be dead.
In far too little time I was where James was sitting. Aware of everyone's eyes on us, I leaned in hesitantly and kissed him softly on the lips. I wasn't too surprised when he started kissing me back, but what did surprise me was the heat that flooded through me as his lips caressed mine. I leaned in closer and my hand came to rest on his shoulder near his neck, just as one of his hands snaked around my waist. I pulled back afraid of what I was feeling. I looked around at my friends, who all looked back at me silently agape.
"Lily-" Maya said quietly. But I didn't wait to hear what any of them had to say, I turned heel and fled into the kitchen, up the stairs, to our bedroom where I collapsed on my bed shaking my head buried underneath my pillow.
"Can I come in?" Ellie hesitantly asked from the doorway.
"No." I whispered. "I'll talk about it later. Right now, I need to be alone."
"Okay." I heard the door shut and Ellie's footsteps fade. A few minutes later I heard Cassie's voice. Whenever one of us was upset, it was always Cassie who comforted them. She had a way of making you feel as if you could tell her anything and she wouldn't judge you.
"Lily, please talk to me." The door opened a fraction. When I didn't answer I heard the door open all the way and Cassie appeared near my head. She hugged me and then the tears started flooding in.
"I'm so confused!" I sobbed. "I thought I didn't like him, and now I think I might like him and… and…. everything's so horrid!"
"It's okay." Cassie soothed. "I know exactly how you feel."
"You do?" I asked surprised.
"Yes. There's a guy I like, that… well, I'll tell you another time."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Are you going to be okay? Ellie really wants to speak with you."
"Send her up." I sighed.
Cassie pulled back, and walked out the door, a moment later Ellie was next to me apologizing.
"I'm so sorry! I never should have dared you to do that! Please forgive me! I'll leave you alone!"
"Okay okay." I gave a broken laugh. "you're forgiven."
"Good. Now I'll leave you alone as I promised Cassie I would, but please come down soon!"
"I will."
Ellie left leaving me all alone. I picked up a book and started to get myself lost in a world without James Potter, or the Marauders, or Ellie, or all my confusing feelings.
I'd been reading for about half an hour and was by that time totally calm (although I knew as soon as I entered the real world my calmness would fade), when Ellie once again burst threw the door. This time it was her who was sobbing.
"What happened!" I asked worriedly.
"Cassie!…. Sirius!…. closet!…"
"Ellie, sweetie, come here. Sit down. Calm down. And explain to me what happened in proper sentences."
"Okay." Ellie said still sobbing.
"Start from the beginning." I said.
I hope you like it! Please review!
Rachel
P.S. I'm working on a fanfic with my friend Kirsten. It doesn't have any of the original HP characters (Harry, Ron, Hermione, etc.), but there are characters who you might reconize. It's a Romance/Angst but it's written like a Romance/Humor/Action; very lightly and with a lotof humor. Please read it! It's very good!
love,
Rachel (again)