Disclaimer: I wish I owned Lily and James…however I add my own spice into their lives as well as my own plot…and

A/N: This is the last chapter you all will get before I go back to school. I have 3 projects to do in 2 days. I'll try and update during the week though, I promise. Hope you enjoy this chapter too and don't forget to review…(hey that rhymes)

sarcastic spastic: I am glad that you really like this story. ) Yes, Chris is a prick. He will get what he deserves before this story is over. Lily is trying to cope. At least she told somebody, she's scared to tell her friends because don't forget, Chris threatened her. Her friends are protective of her and she doesn't want them to get involved because she's afraid of what Chris will do. It won't be like that forever though. About her and James, they will get their chance in this story…it is a lily/james story. Thanks for your input about the balls. I'm pretty sure I have a plan where they are concerned. I'm flattered, you said my story was magnificent. ) ! It might be a little while before I update again, but I will do my best not to let it be too long. And in the first chapter where it said Melissa, I was transferring what I wrote onto this document and it got messed up. Sorry about that. I'll try and be more careful.

BrownEyedAthena: I am so glad you like this story. It means a lot. Lily's friends are very understanding, which is precisely why they are her best friends. James on the other hand feels left out and confused. He still wants Lily badly, but she is taken at the moment…Thanks for the luck with my projects, I'm going to need it.

Steelo: Don't worry about them, they'll come through. Not exactly the same thing, it wasn't physical, but he was controlling and really possessive and I cried all the time. Everything was always my fault, and I always did something wrong, never him. I couldn't get mad at him. He was kind of aggressive and didn't always respect when I said to leave or to stop or that stuff. It went on like that for awhile because after he would always make it up to me and buy me things. It was emotional abuse and it took me awhile to end it. After I did it also took me months to stop crying and awhile to find myself again and to trust guys, I haven't been in a relationship since then. I'm making Lily's physical and more dramatic, which I imagine is even harder. I can't really describe it and how bad it hurt me, but it wasn't physical or anything like that. I'm fine now though.

Story time now!

Chapter 5: Blowing up and Making up

On Friday morning Lily woke up in extreme pain. The previous night was now a blur to her. She remembered arguing with Chris though and she remembered getting beaten yet again. Their fight had been on the bad side last night and he had gotten clean shots at her eye, her cheek, and new bruises on her stomach.

She got up and looked at herself in the mirror. There was no way she could leave the dorm looking like she did. She didn't have the strength to go to classes today, but she would eventually have to get out of bed so she could go to her meeting with James and Dumbledore in the evening. She and James had cancelled any meetings they were supposed to have before this one because they hadn't spoken since their argument the day when she first got hit.

Lily sat in bed and tried to think of something to do. This was really ridiculous. How could she let Chris do this? Because I'm scared of the things he might do if I fight back. This isn't supposed to happen to me.

Suddenly Lily sat straight up. She had an idea. She needed to find Sirius, and her only hope was with the invisibility cloak. She grabbed it out of her trunk, where she had it hidden and slipped it on; making sure it completely covered her. She put her ear to the door and listened, making sure that James wasn't there. She didn't hear anything so she opened up her door and stepped into the common room. She was passing the couch when she heard a ruffle of paper. She looked down and saw James lying down on it folding up a piece of parchment. At least he can't see me, she thought. She started to move and he got up from the couch. She backed herself up against the wall next to his desk and held her breath. Please leave, James, she thought. James walked over to his desk and pulled out a book. He left it open there and looked at the wall where Lily was standing. He looked right at her and she prayed that he didn't know she was there. He shook his head, and she thought he was leaving when instead, he surprised her and turned to face her. He put his arms on the wall on both sides of her, making escape impossible.

"Lily Evans, you better have a good explanation for avoiding me these past few days and using my cloak to do it," James said in an audible whisper.

Lily took in a deep breath. He had known exactly where she was. Her stomach flipped over. She tried to make a run for it, but James closed in on her, gently pressing his body against hers to prevent her from leaving. She gasped and took in a deep breath, amazed at how that made her body tingle all over. When Lily didn't say anything else, James moved his hand and slowly and gently took the hood off of Lily's head. She shut her eyes tightly and heard James gasp.

"Bloody hell, Lily, what happened to you?" asked a shocked James.

Lily opened her eyes and let the tears pour out, "James, just please let me go."

"Look at the state you're in. Tell me what happened."

"Nothing, James. Just let me out," Lily whispered.

James looked intently into her eyes and she knew he was figuring out the truth.

"Lily, this was all Cantore wasn't it?" James asked. Lily could hear the anger rising in his voice.

Lily remained quiet and let the tears keep coming.

"This is why you've been avoiding everyone this week, everyone except Sirius," James mused to himself.

Lily couldn't find any words to say.

"Sirius found you that day, he had gone to meet with a girl, and then he probably went to find somewhere to be and instead he found you. He then sent the girl away and took care of you," James said.

Lily nodded, but still didn't say anything.

James rounded on Lily, "I can't believe you didn't tell me. I'm here in this place with you and you couldn't tell me anything. It had to be Sirius didn't it. And I suppose all your friends know too, and everyone just decided to keep me out of it. What was it Lily? You didn't think you could do me the courtesy of telling me someone was hurting you? You didn't think I could put a stop to it?"

Lily couldn't take it, "Bloody hell, James. Calm down. You always wind up making everyone else's situations about you, you always find a way to do that even when in actuality it has nothing at all to do with you. It's not your business to know at any rate. You know we don't exactly get along. And just so you know, the whole world isn't out to get you either. My friends don't know. Sirius got it out of me. I didn't want anyone knowing because I didn't want anyone going up to him. He threatened me that if anyone found out I would be bloody dead. If he finds out that Black knows and now you too he'll kill me. He's so much stronger than me, I can't fight him and I'm tired of getting hurt. I woke up this morning barely able to move. James you wouldn't understand. I don't want him to hurt the people I care about and I don't want him to hurt me anymore either. I try to comply with him, it's just so hard because I don't want to do what he says and I have a mind of my own. You don't understand how much this hurts me, and you wouldn't because once again you've managed to make this situation about you and you feeling betrayed even though I'm the one getting beaten."

Lily pulled the cloak back over her, pushed James and ran out of the entrance to their common room. James stood there feeling like the biggest git ever.

Lily ran down to the Great Hall and looked around for Sirius. She spotted him sitting next to Remus and Peter. She carefully approached him and whispered into his ear, "It's me, Lily, its really important, come outside with me and just so you know, James found out."

"Well, you all need to please excuse me, I need to go to the little boy's room and relieve myself," Sirius said getting up from the table.

Sirius marched up the stairs to the Head's room. He knocked and James answered. He let Lily in and then followed in himself. Once the door was closed Lily took off the cloak and threw it at James. She winced at the pain from the throw and walked into her room. Sirius and James both followed her into the room. She was sitting on her bed, crying softly.

Sirius sat on the bed next to her and rubbed her back, "Lily, darling, tell me what's wrong."

"My life is falling apart. Now the both of you know, and my two best friends don't even know. What kind of a friend does that make me? Honestly, I'm avoiding them. How are they going to react once they find out they were last to know? I reckon that they'll hate me forever. I'm going to have lost my two best friends in the whole world over this, Sirius. And him," Lily said pointing to James, "he can't even try and help because he has to go and make the situation all about himself and how the whole world is out to get him. It always has to be all about James. And Sirius, this is taking over my life. I can't do anything in class, I'm always hiding, I always look like a mess, and I can't do my Head duties. I needed to ask you a favor though, Alex has a lot of potions and she is really good. Could you ask her if she knows how to fix my looks and hide bruises?"
"Whoa," Sirius said, "Darling you have a lot of issues that need to be addressed.

"First, let me assure you, I'll find a way to talk to Alex and get some help without letting her know it's for you. Second of all, you aren't a bad friend. I think you need to talk to the both of them and just explain it. I don't see why they wouldn't understand. The more you let time go by on this though, the madder they'll be. I'm sure that they'll help you out more than anything. If you want, I'll tell them to meet you up here at six because you need to talk to them, ok?"

Lily nodded, "Thanks."

"No problem," Sirius assured her, "and now about this guy right here. He's my right man. James maybe did go a little far, but I'm sure it was probably out of anger that you kept it from him."

Sirius lowered his voice, "You have no idea just how much he cares about you, and it probably hurt that his best friend knew instead of him. The point is that now James knows. He was really worried about you Lily. He knows now though and that's just one more person on your side, which can't hurt. He can help you, if anything."

Lily cut in, "I'm just scared that Chris will go after all of you if he finds out that you know. I don't want James going after him or talking to him about any of this because then it only makes more problems for me, and Chris will come to me and take it all out on me, no matter what anyone says. That's the last thing I need.

"James, it's already done and you know. Just do me a favor and let me be the one to tell my friends. And just don't say anything to Chris is you really want to help, James, please."

"Padfoot, can I talk to Lily for a minute please?"

"Yessir, I have to run back down anyway. They all thought I was going to the bathroom. I'll talk to Professor White since we have her first."

"Thanks mate," James told him.

Sirius nodded and left James and Lily alone.

"Lily, I'm really sorry about to-"

Lily stopped him, "Forget it."

"No Lily, listen. I was a complete prick for saying all of that to you this morning, and you're absolutely right. I made it all about myself when it had nothing to do with me. I really do need to grow up."

Lily tried interrupting him, but James held up his hand to stop her. He walked over to the bed and sat down next to her. She lay down and pulled the cover up over her. She looked up and James and he sat back against the headboard next to her lying down.

He started stroking her hair, "I'm really sorry about this morning, Lily. I got upset that my best mate knew before me, considering that I'm the one that's been in love with you."

Lily's heart stopped beating and she froze. No one had ever said that to her. James must not have realized what he had admitted, because he kept on talking, "I care so much about you're well being. And I understand why you didn't want to tell me. Now that I know though, I promise I won't let you down, Lily. I'll do whatever it takes to help you get through this. I don't want you to think you're alone in this."

Lily longed for the comfort James was giving her right now. She desperately needed it. She felt like a little kid, lost and alone. She moved her body closer to James and lay her head on his leg. He smiled to himself, but continued stroking her hair. If it was up to him, he would stay like this forever.

"I'll help you however I can Lily Evans. That's a promise you have on my life."

Lily then closed her eyes and slept in comfort, for the first night in quite a few days. James sat there, hoping she could feel the warmth that he was longing to give to her.

This chapter is shorter compared to my other ones I know, but I wanted to give you one more before I go back to school. Sorry that it is so short. I hope you like it nonetheless. Please review. Thanks guys. You're awesome.