I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my wonderful friend Kirsten, who -aside from being a terrific friend- acted as a temporary editor for me!

Thanks Kirsten!

Chapter Eleven

Could it be Love?

When I awoke there was sunshine peaking through the lines of the closed window blinds. I blinked sleepily before reaching up and pulling the cord of the window blind, letting bright, yellow sunlight into the room. I gave a brief start of surprise when I realized that I wasn't in the room I shared with Ellie, Maya, and Cassie. This must be one of the many spare rooms that Ellie's house had. It was a cozy room, painted yellow, with a bedside table beside my bed. A large window ran along the wall opposite the door, ending at the head of the bed I was currently occupying.

Piled on top of me, were five heavy comforters, packed against me were five hot water bottles (two on either side of me, and one at my feet), and there were five multiple pillows all around me. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic. Just as I was peeling away and throwing on the floor the top comforter, the door to the room opened.

"Lily! You're awake! She's awake!" Cassie yelled into the hall. Two seconds later Sirius entered the room.

"Lily! What are you doing? You're sick! You need to stay warm! Otherwise you might die of pneumonia!" Sirius hurried over and pushed me back into bed, re-piling the blankets, hot water bottles, and pillows all around and over me.

"Sirius" I struggled weakly "first, no one dies of pneumonia anymore, second, I don't have pneumonia, and third I don't think you can get pneumonia from staying out in the rain. That's an old muggle myth."

"Lily!" Sirius snapped at me. "I am doing my best to keep you from dying! So stop complaining!"

"I'm alright! I don't need any help!" I started to say.

But Sirius was already out of the room muttering, "She feels hot. I must take her temperature!"

I sighed and lay back against the pillows. Boys. They always think they know best.

"Sorry about that." Ellie edged into the room, but not before taking a furtive look behind her to see if Sirius was there. "Sirius promised James he would take care of you. He seems to have taken that promise to the extreme."

"Where is James?" I asked softly.

"He was by your side, before Cassie got fed up with him and kicked him out of the room. And then he was pacing in the living room, but Remus got fed up with him, and forced James to go on a walk with him."

"Oh."

"They'll be back soon, though. James will be overjoyed that you're awake. He's been worried about you." Ellie continued.

"Because you're sick, and I'm sure, tired, I won't badger you with too many questions. But you have to answer some of my questions. First of which is, what in the world were you doing in the middle of the woods in the middle of the night? Does it have something to do with James?" Ellie looked at me slyly from the corner of her eye. "Were you and James doing some "naughty" stuff out where no one could see you?" Ellie laughed at my outraged expression.

"I'm kidding! Gosh, where's your sense of humor? Unless that is really what happened…."

"It's none of your business what happened." I said grumpily. "If you don't stop asking questions I'll tell Sirius you're disturbing my rest."

"You're so mean!" Ellie exclaimed. "Not even telling your best friend all the dirty stuff you did out in the woods, with a certain Mr. James Potter!"

"Ellie" I sat up and growled. "Go away."

"I'm going, I'm going" Ellie laughed and stuck her tongue out at me as she left the room.

I yawned widely and, leaning back against the pillows, felt my eyelids grow heavy. Sirius would be pleased that I was taking a nap….

'Bump'. I opened my eyes. Jon was setting a tray down on the bedside table. The tray was laden with a bowl of soup, a hunk of bread, and a cup of tea.

"Sorry I woke you." Jon said. "I volunteered to stay behind and look after you while everyone one else goes to see a movie. They all needed to get out of the house. James and Maya had a heated discussion about whether or not to leave you, but as usual, Maya won."

"Of course" I smiled. "You don't have to take care of me, you know. You can go and do whatever you want to do. I'm just a little tired."

"No. I wouldn't want to risk getting our housemates all riled up. Anyway, I don't have anything better to do than feed you." Jon brought a spoonful of soup up to my lips.

I ate the spoonful but then grabbed the spoon away from him. "There is no way, that I'm going to be fed like a baby! I'll do my own feeding, thank you very much."

"Okay, okay! But I am staying here in case you need me."

"Fine." I mumbled, stuffing a piece of buttered bread into my mouth. I hadn't realized how hungry I was.

Jon sat down on the edge of the bed, near my feet. He chatted easily with me until I was finished eating, and then picked up the empty bowl and cup.

"I'll go get you some more tea. Sirius said it was important you stay hydrated."

"Okay. Thanks." I laughed slightly.

I gazed out of the window at the trees swaying in the wind, and was glad that James wasn't here. It would give me more time to think about what had happened. What would I say? Was there anything to say? What had he meant, the night before, when he had said, "I wish Lily Evans had never entered my summer?" and then, later, when he had said, "Don't ever think I don't love you"

Did he love me? Or did he hate me? He was sending mixed messages, here!

My mother had always warned me "Never date a guy who sends mixed messages". My mom had first hand experience dating a boy who sent mixed messages: in other words, my dad. Even now, after years and years of marriage, every time my dad opens his mouth he confuses my mom. But then again, they still have a great marriage.

Jon came back into the room carrying my cup of tea, and a bowl of sugar. He set both of them down on the bedside table, and said sternly "Now, what's the matter?"

"I've been around girls enough to know when something's wrong." Jon added, seeing my surprised look.

I studied my hands for a moment before looking back up at him. "It's just, well, see, this thing with… James…. I don't know…." I lapsed into silence.

"You don't know how he feels?" Jon finished the sentence for me.

"Yeah, I guess."

Jon knelt beside me so his head was level with mine. "I don't know the details of what happened last night. And all I know about your past history is that you got into spats a lot. But I do know that right now, James loves you more than anything else in the world." Jon straightened. "That said, do what you want. It's your life." And he left me alone with my thoughts, probably not knowing, how much his words had impacted me.

About an hour and a half later, I dragged myself out of bed, feeling vastly better after my nap, and changed from my comfy pajamas into a long black skirt and a clingy red shirt that had beads hanging in a fringe on the hem of the shirt. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and was just finishing pulling a brush through my hair when I heard the sound of voices from downstairs. Sounds like everyone is back

I slowly made my way downstairs, my skirt swishing as I walked. I felt confident, but a little nervous. I wasn't sure what was about to happen.

James was the first to look up at the sound of me entering the room.

"How are you?" he asked quietly.

"I'm fine." I answered.

Sirius rushed over to where I was standing. "Lily, are you alright? What are you doing out of bed! You need time to recover! Really… people these days; always on the go!" Sirius clucked.

Cassie looked from me to James, who were gazing at each other, and then to Maya, and Remus who were heading over my way.

"Um, Sirius?" Cassie tugged on his arm. "Don't you have to… um, do something? With me? Now?"

"No…?" Sirius said confusedly looking away from me.

"Yes you do! Remember? You were going to talk to me about…. Um… homework! You were going to help me with my homework!

"In fact, all of you were going to help me with my homework! Remember?" Cassie blocked the path of Maya and Remus.

Maya caught on quickly. "Oh yes. We did want to talk to you about… um, homework!"

"Sirius, come on mate, let's go" Remus steered Sirius towards the stairs; Sirius protesting the whole way. Finally, Remus hissed into Sirius' ear "You idiot! James and Lily want to be alone!". Sirius loudly answered "Then why didn't they ask me for some alone time?", "Because they don't know they want alone time! Idiot!" Remus shook his head.

And then we were alone; James and me, I mean.

James gave me a small smile. "You really are alright?" he asked.

"Yes. I really am."

"Good. I wouldn't have wanted you sick because of me-" James broke off.

"No. I'm fine."

An awkward silence hung, until James said suddenly. "I suppose you want to know what I meant, when I said those…few things… last night."

"Yeah." I met his eyes.

James raked a hand through his hair, making it more messy than usual.

"It's like this: I wished our paths hadn't crossed this summer because it was too hard. Too hard for me to spend hours with you –flirting with you, making you laugh- and then knowing, at the end of the day, that you still hated me. Or at least disliked me…

"When I wanted you so much, it was so hard to be so near you. I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry I kissed you last night. It wasn't right. You were tired, and sick and…" James spread his hands out. "I hope you can forgive me."

I now understood. Or at least, I understood a little. And I felt sorry for what pain I had caused him. But not sorry enough to give up some fun….

"I'm afraid that there is no way, I can possibly forgive you." I said coldly. I watched in amusement, as his face turned red.

"I cannot believe you! I said I was sorry!" He exclaimed angrily.

I cut him off. "There is no way I can possibly forgive you, because there is nothing to forgive!"

It took him a moment to register what I had said. "Wha—. Oh." James turned red again. "That wasn't very nice." He sulked.

"I know," I giggled. "But you're so cute when you're mad…" still giggling I started to close the gap between us, intending to kiss James on the mouth. Unfortunately it didn't work since I had gotten the giggles and couldn't stop laughing in order to properly kiss James. I pulled away and collapsed on the couch.

James bemusedly observed me rolling around with laughter. "What's so funny?"

"Everything. You. Me. You." I gasped.

"Why am I funny?"

"Because you are…"

"Does this mean you're not mad at me?" James hesitantly asked. Gosh. It could take forever for him to clue in.

"Yes, it does mean I'm not mad at you. Madly in love with you, maybe… But not mad at you" I finished, having gotten control of my laughter.

"What did you say?" James stared at me. A smile was slowly starting to creep onto his face.

I gave a deep sigh. "I said that—"

But I didn't get to finish my sentence for at that moment, he kissed me.

While normally people don't think while they're kissing, I must confess that at that moment, I was thinking a few thoughts: I'd never been in love before, so I didn't exactly know what it was like. But there wasn't any other way to explain the feelings I felt whenever I looked at James. Could it be –really and truly- Love?

Yes, I decided, as I kissed James, it was.

Wow. 57 reviews... I never dreamed so many people would read my story... Thank you all!

I'd love it if I got even more reviews!

-Rachel