Chapter nine: The Ninth Note

Jen was eyeing James carefully, waiting for the right moment to approach him. When he was finally left alone by Sirius, she moved towards his table.

"Hi James…" She casually said. "Can I sit here?"

Growing nervous, James could only nod.

They work in silence for a while before Jen could no longer take the silence and asked James without giving him any warning.

"James, you're the one sending Lily those tulips, aren't you?"

"What are you talking about?" James said quickly. Too quickly…

"Oh don't deny it! Just admit it already!"

James stared at her for a while before releasing a sigh. "Please don't tell her…" he pleaded. "I want to tell her myself…"

Giving him a triumphant smile, she asked, "When are you planning to do that?"

"Valentine's Day…" James answered.

"What exactly are you planning?"

"I still haven't decided on it, really…"

"But you're giving it a thought, right?"

"Well, of course…" James said, sighing heavily. "I've been planning this since forever. I've been having several sleepless nights just thinking what her reactions might be once she finds out that it's only me…"

"Not only you James." Jen said. "Don't underestimate yourself. What you're doing is very romantic. Any girl would have a soft spot for you if they won't fall head straight in love with you." She chuckled. "And believe me, Lily is no exception…"

James let out a laugh of the thought of Lily falling for him. "Getting Lily to fall in love with me would take much greater effort than this."

"Yeah… but I have to tell you sending those tulips with those notes attached to them caught our attention greatly. If you didn't know, Lily was really affected by your third note…" She gave him a playful smile before asking, "Did you really cry, James?"

Embarrassed, James hid himself behind his book and mumbled, "Please, spare me that kind of questioning."

"No really, I want to know…" She teased.

James breathed a heavy sigh before asking, "Why would you want to know?"

"Because... well, because…" James had his eyebrows raised in question, asking her what she was trying to say. "Well because I'm Lily's friend…" she finally said. "And if you really did cry, I might give you my confidence…"

"Confidence?" James said unbelievingly. "What are you on about?"

"Well of course, if you have my support, that's a plus point for you. If you don't have it, well, good luck. After all, I'm closest to Lily. My opinion of you would absolutely matter."

"Fine… Fine... Fine..." James sighed. "I was walking towards the castle after quidditch practice when I saw Lily and Carter walking hand in hand by the lake. So yeah, I did cry. Happy now?"

"Why did you cry?" she asked

"What would you feel if you were me?" James asked, not quite believing she even asked that question. "Everybody knows that I've been head over heels for Lily since forever. And then finally, this year, we became friends. Just as I was thinking that I finally have a chance with her, Carter asked her out and she said yes. Worse of all—"

"He did it in front of you…" Jen said. "And don't ask me how I found out about that. I just know."

James was silent for a whole while, remembering the incident very well. "Do you think I'm wasting my time here?" He looked uncertain at her and added. "I mean, do you think she'll even consider the idea of going out with me?"

"James, you said it yourself. Lily considers you as her friend now. Two years ago, I'm certain she wouldn't give you a thought. But right now, I can say that you have a chance." The she added quickly, "Even if it's just the slightest."

"Wow… thanks for the boost of confidence…" James said sarcastically. "You really did help!"

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

James and Jen entered the great hall together. As she saw her friends at the near end, she waved James goodbye and approached her friends.

"Hey guys… Missed me?"

"Where have you been?" Katie asked, still fleeting through the pages of the magazine.. "We were looking all over for you."

"I was just at the library…" Jen explained. "I just have to return a book that I borrowed."

Lily glanced at her watched and asked, "It took you nearly thirty minutes to return a book?"

"Well, not really." She helped herself with some food and took a sip from her goblet. "I bumped into James and we had a little chat."

She didn't bother looking at Lily as she was afraid to give herself away. After all, Lily could read her like a book.

"Why, pray tell, were you with James?" Hailey asked. "I thought you were interested with Remus?"

Jen gave Hailey an annoyed look before checking if any of the other students heard them. "Could you lower your voice please?" She asked. "I was only having a friendly chat with James. He is after all my friend! You don't mind, do you Lils?" She asked innocently. "I mean, I'm not interested in him…"

Lily gave out an unbelieving laugh and rolled her eyes. "Guys, I was just considering him… You're not seriously thinking I'm interested in him, do you?"

Her friends weren't given the chance to reply as a first year girl approached Lily with a tulip. "Ammm… Hello…" She said. She was nervously glancing at the entrance hall as if waiting for someone to tell her to get on with it.

"Hello…" They said in unison.

"Is that for me?" Katie asked with a laugh.

"Oh no…" The girl quickly replied. "This is for Ms. Lily." She handed Lily the tulip and she hurriedly explained why Derek was absent. "Derek was supposed to give that to you, but he told me to do it if I want to have some chocolates for myself. He wouldn't share his, so he asked me to do his work instead." She gave them a nervous smile as she motioned to leave.

"What's your name?" Lily asked.

"Kelly…"

"Well, thank you Kelly. I hope you do get to enjoy your chocolates." Kelly smiled gratefully and waved goodbye.

"Well?" Katie asked. "Are you going to stare at Kelly the whole day or are you actually going to read his note?"

Lily smiled excitedly as she realized she had the ninth note in her hands. Hailey took out a piece of parchment from her bag and laid it on the table. "Come on. Read it!"

With the other notes written in one parchment, it was easier for them to read them all together.

The distance between us was quite far, but the figure of you and him holding hands was a clear sight. (1)

From where I was standing, both of you were having a good time… (2)
Holding hands…

Walking with comfortable silence…
Knowing nothing about a man hurting—watching with tears drowning his eyes. (3)

His longing for someone…
His love—he knows he could never have. (4)

And then, what seemed like a dream, the reality of you and him was no longer—it was finally over. (5)

Destiny may have brought you two together, but it was also fate that broke you two apart from each other. (6)


There was no longer you and him…
My heart ached for your pain—and although I was hurting for you, my heart could not deny the joy of knowing you're no longer with him. (7)

I have loved you from afar…A distance I wish I could cover—somehow, to get to you… (8)

But I couldn't reach you…
You wouldn't let me… (9)

All four was stunned. Not even Jen could find her voice to speak. They were silent for a long time, oblivious to the nervous glances James was giving them.

"Why are they looking so shocked?" Remus asked, eyeing the four girls as well. "What number are you at?"

"Nine…" James said, still looking at Lily.

"Oh… No wonder." Remus said coolly.

"What do you mean no wonder?" James asked, finally tearing his eyes away from Lily.

"If I would receive that note, I would think you were being bitter." Remus stated in a matter-of-factly manner.

"But I wasn't!" James said. "The other notes will explain it."

"Well, have they read your other notes yet?" Remus asked almost amused.

"No…"

"Well then, there's your answer."