Ellie drew a shuttering breath. "Well, after I left your room, I went back downstairs and talked with Remus a little bit, since Maya was with Jon and I didn't want to disturb them, and James also wanted to be alone, and Cassie and Sirius had disappeared." I waited patiently while Ellie got herself under control again. "And after a little while I thought it'd be good idea to have some comfort food for when you came down. So I got out the ice-cream and went to get some cookies from the pantry. I opened the pantry door and-and- I saw SiriusandCassiekissing."
"What did you see?" I asked, not having been able to understand what she had just said.
"I said, I saw Sirius and Cassie kissing." Ellie said a little louder.
"Omgd. Are you sure?"
"Lily, I think I know what kissing looks like."
"Sorry. It's just… wow. Are you okay?" I asked worriedly.
"I will be. Why didn't Cassie tell me? She let me make a fool of myself!" Ellie sobbed.
"I don't think she knew. Remember, she wasn't there when you told us you liked Sirius." I said trying to be reasonable.
"But wouldn't she have guessed?"
"Ellie. You flirt with tons of guys. I don't think she meant to hurt you."
Ellie said nothing; just sat with tears streaming down her face.
"I have an idea!" I said with fake cheerfulness "Why don't I get us some ice-cream, etc. And we can have our own pity party up here! Sounds like fun doesn't it!"
Ellie gave a small laugh. "As long as you get hot fudge to go with the ice-cream."
"Deal." I stood up and proceeded slowly down the stairs into the kitchen. I found the ice-cream still out on counter, and gathered up the hot fudge, barbecue-potato chips (I'm addicted to them!), and a few other necessities in a large paper bag. Thinking of what else we might need, I went into the living room to get some magazines. I sorted through all sports magazines that the guys had bought, until I came to People magazine, Witch Weekly, Glam Witch, and What's Happening. I had stuffed two of each magazine in my bag (I figured we'd be wallowing in our own pity for quite a while) and had straightened up to leave when I noticed that I wasn't alone in the room. Slouching on a chair was James. He nodded at the bag I was carrying.
"I heard Ellie was upset about something."
"Yes. She's upstairs crying because of your fucking best friend." I snapped.
"Sirius? What'd he do?" James asked.
"Like you don't know!" I scoffed. "I bet you were in it all along. Laughing at poor Ellie behind her back!" I felt a surge of anger at Sirius. And James. And the world in general.
"I'd never do that!" James protested. "I have no idea what you're talking about. What's going on!"
"None of your business." I turned to leave.
"Oh yes it is." James stood up and grabbed my arm. "When you fling accusations at someone –who's merely concerned about a friend-, and start picking a fight, it's most definitely my business."
"Just leave it." I said wearily.
"No." James was on a roll. "I thought we were getting somewhere tonight. I thought we were getting somewhere this summer. You looked like you were enjoying yourself down at the lake! We were getting along great! You were acting nice to me; for a change. All you've ever done is treat me like crap. Every time I think that we might become friends you push me away and scorn me. As if I'm not human. As if I don't have feelings, as if I don't feel hurt when you taunt and distain me. I'll admit I was immature and stupid when I was younger. But I've changed. And you don't even care." James stood breathing hard.
"Are you done?" I asked pushing away the hurt I felt and replacing it with anger.
"Yes."
"And would you like to hear what I have to say?"
"Sure." James said sarcastically. "Tell me all about it."
"Okay. I will. Just because I turned down your offer to go on a date because there was another guy I liked, you seemed to think that was enough permission to torture me."
"I never tortured you!"
"Yes you did. Remember the time you cut off my ponytail during Potions class? Or the time when you utterly humiliated me by, during a Quidditch match, professing you love for me? Or the time when—"
"But just a chance, Lily! Just a chance!"
"You say I should care. Why? All I've gotten from you since Third Year when you asked me on a date and I refused; is grief. And now, for some reason, you think I should care? What does it matter to me if you've changed? Do you think I'm so needy and helpless that I can't live without you? Newsflash! I…can…take…care…of…myself… I don't need you."
James opened his mouth again, but closed it when we heard the back door open and the sound of voices coming through the kitchen.
"Hello Lily! I see you've recovered!" Sirius called cheerfully from the doorframe leading to the kitchen. Behind him were Cassie, Maya, Remus, and Jon.
I glared mutely at Sirius, and then back at James before angrily turning on my heel and heading back upstairs with the bag of food and magazines in tow.
"What took you so long?" Ellie asked me.
"I got in an argument with Potter." I said tersely.
"Oh. Well aren't we quite the pair." Ellie laughed dully.
"They say chocolate cures everything." I said.
"What're we waiting for then?" I unloaded the contents of the bag onto the floor. Ellie ripped open the bag of chips and started munching as I opened the hot fudge and said a spell it heat it up.
"What're we going to do when Cassie and Maya come back?" I asked Ellie.
"There's no way I'm going to spend the night with either of them. I couldn't face Cassie and Maya is bound to be so annoying peppy!"
"I hate it when peppy people interrupt when you're sulking."
"Me too." Ellie agreed. "Why don't we just put all their stuff outside the door and they can sleep in another room. I'm sure Sirius wouldn't mind Cassie joining him for the night." she said darkly.
I reached over and grabbed my wand from my nightstand. Muttering a spell I conjured a small TV. I muttered another spell and the TV grew in size. "Anything you particularly feel like watching?" I asked.
"Um… Something either dark and angsty or a light and fluffy comedy."
"I don't think I can handle any more angst or drama right now. What if we watch the muggle tv show Friends?"
"Oh! I like that show!"
"Then we can watch Notting Hill, Sense & Sensibility, or Pirates of the Caribean."
"That should have us entertained for a while."
I conjured the complete first season DVD of Friends and we had watched five episodes and were in the middle of the theme song of the sixth when we heard a knock on the locked door.
"Who is it?" I called out.
"It's Maya. Can I come in?"
"Are you extremely depressed at the moment?" Ellie asked.
"No. But I heard you were both upset and nobody knows why and –"
"Sorry! If you're not depressed then you can't come in."
"But—"
Ellie cast a silencing charm over the room.
"There. That's better." We went back to watching Friends.
I hope you like it! Sorry it's so short...
I'd like to thank everybody who has reviewed! You're awesome!
Love,
Rachel