Chapter Eleven: The Eleventh Note

Lily was seated on her bed, the curtains still around her. She can hear her friends frantically moving to get themselves ready for the day. She has been up earlier than usual and finished ahead of time. The notes were neatly laid on her bed in correct order as she repeatedly read them all together. She almost jumped off her bed when Jen swung her curtains open and pulled her up.

"Come on Lils… We're done…" Jen didn't notice the worried look on Lily's face nor did she notice the notes on her bed. Hurriedly, Lily picked the notes up and buried them in her pocket.

They slowly went their way to breakfast, the other three still unaware of Lily's mood. As they sat themselves on the table, Lily withdrew the notes from her pocket and looked for the eleventh note.

"I found this on the stairs last night. It's the eleventh…" Lily gave Jen the note and allowed her to read it to the other two.

The sea of your doubts is blocking my way to you…
Pushing me away from you… (10)

"Doubts?" Hailey asked.

"Yes… Doubts…" Katie said.

"Yes I know what doubt means, but why is he saying that Lily doubts him?"

"Oh… You're right…" Katie said, looking rather stupid more than confused. "What do you think Jen?"

"Well, it's clear enough…" She looked at Lily and said, "You've doubted several boys in the past years, haven't you Lily?"

Breathing heavily, Lily started to fill her plate with food. "Well yeah… I couldn't say yes to everyone who asks me out."

"At least how many can you remember, Lily?" Hailey asked. "We might get lucky and guess who he is."

"I don't know…" Lily replied sadly. "I don't exactly remember."

Sighing, Jen reached out to Lily and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "It's all right, Lily. I'm sure everything will turn out fine. As for him, I know he wouldn't want you wondering about him. So cheer up."

"And eat up…" Hailey added. "We wouldn't want to be late for class."

"I don't mind being late…" Katie said, biting her toast. "It's History of Magic, for crying out loud."

The three girls laughed at Katie's antics and continued to eat their breakfast. After a few minutes of small talks, the four friends headed their way to their class.

The moment they rose from their seats, the Marauders, save perhaps Peter who was seating across James, patted him reassuringly on his back. With a nod, James left his friends and hurried his way to catch up with Lily and her friends.

"Hey Lily!" James called, running his way to them.

Hearing him calling after her, she stopped and turned to face him. "James." She said.

"Hey…" he answered, facing her. He was watching Jen from the corner of his eyes and he was relieved to see her acting so innocently. "I bumped into Derek and he asked me to give this to you." Not noticing it before, Lily's heart skipped a bit as he handed her the tulip. "He was about to run after you when he felt the need to visit the loo." James gave out a nervous laugh as he informed Lily about it. He was not really lying to her. James was not aware that it was because of his friends that Derek was currently experiencing some pain. Sirius and Remus instructed Peter to hand Derek some chocolate frogs that could cause anyone's stomach to feel uncomfortable. Not knowing anyone else to do his work, his friends suggested him to hand the note himself as too lessen the chances of them suspecting him as the primary suspect. For what reason? Well, let's just say the note will explain it…

"Ah, thank you…" Lily said uncertainly, eyeing the tulip. "What happened to Derek?" she asked concerned.

"Too much chocolate frogs, I guess." James was about to ruffle his hair when he remembered Lily hated it. Instead of landing his hand to his hair, he redirected it to the nape of his neck, massaging it nervously. "So? Can I walk you to class?"

Lily and James were not aware that Jen had pulled Hailey and Katie away from them. They walked ahead of Lily and James. When Katie was sure that they were out of earshot, she tugged on Jen's elbow and asked. "Is it me or was James acting really nervous?"

"I noticed it too." Hailey confirmed, looking back at the moving figure of Lily and James behind them. "It's as if he was asking her out again."

Growing slightly worried, Jen crumpled her nose and said, "He looked normal to me."

"Well, you weren't really listening, were you?" Katie asked.

"Let's just let them be." Jen answered back. "We're going to have to move faster if we want to get good seats."

"Which is at the farthest end of the room…" Hailey laughed.

Meanwhile, James and Lily were walking incomplete silence, following the girls in front of them. When the silence was too much, Lily decided to ask. "Where are your friends?"

"Oh… They're still grabbing all the food they can manage." James replied.

Lily let out a laugh, thanking Merlin that she was releasing the tension that had mysteriously built up when she saw James handing her the tulip. "Why aren't you with them?"

"I was not entirely up to blowing my tummy today…" James explained. "And besides, it's a good opportunity for me to walk you to class."

Though she knew he was only playing around, a slight blush appeared on her cheek and she hurriedly looked down as to hide her embarrassment. Lucky enough, James didn't notice a thing.

As they entered the room, Lily smiled her goodbye as she sat with her friends. A few minutes after, the other students arrived and the class began.

James was continuously stealing glances at Lily's direction. It was clear in the line of his view that Lily was reading the note loud enough so her friends could hear her. Being the thick professor that their teacher was, he didn't notice them.

"What was the note about, Lily?" Katie asked excitedly. "Read it!"

Dreading the words she will find on the parchment, she hesitated a little. "It's all right, Lils." Jen said, comforting Lily. "Just read it."

Exhaling quietly, Lily unrolled the note and read it.

Could you leave your uncertainties behind and give me a chance? (11)

Lily couldn't describe what she felt after reading those words. She read it once or twice silently before deciding that she read it correctly. A smile slowly crept its way to her face as she couldn't hide the happiness she was feeling right that very moment.

Her other friends were happy as she was. Finally, after days of dealing with a sulking Lily, they were finally assured that the sulking-Lily would be history!

James, seeing the cutest smile on Lily's lips, couldn't help but smile himself.