:Chapter Three:

Lily lay on her bed for a while, sighing periodically.

"What?" Jade finally asked her.

"Nothing!" Lily protested.

"Something's up." Jade began imitating Lily.

"Hey- quit it." Lily said, throwing a pillow at her friend.

"Then you quit it." Jade mumbled, "What are you thinking about anyways?"

"Nothing." Lily answered quickly.

"You're thinking about James aren't you?" Jade accused her. Lily blushed.

"No! Why would you think that?" she asked defensively.

"Because of that. You're always so quick to defend yourself with him. I know you like him." Jade said.

"I do not!" Lily defended herself.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Jade rolled her eyes. "Do too." She added whispering.

Later in the day Jade and Lily were walking to the Great Hall for dinner. It was almost dark outside when Lily peered out of one of the windows. They sat down and were almost alone; it was a little early to be at dinner. Unfortunately for Lily, James and his friends were there. He smiled and waved at her. Secretly, that made her heart flip, but she just pretended she didn't see him. Even more unfortunately, Jade nudged her and whispered,

"James waved to you."

"Oh. Well, guess it's too late…" Lily excused herself from waving back.

"You know you like him." Jade said, still whispering.

"I do not!" Lily said, almost hysterically screaming. James and his friends looked at her.

"Dude, what's up with her?" Sirius asked James quietly. James shrugged and smiled at her again. Lily bit her lip. God, why did he have to be so damn cute when he smiled!

"You could at least be polite." Jade advised.

"I'm not hungry." Lily said getting up. James saw her leave and made the same excuse to his friends. He followed Lily out to her favorite place, the garden. It was raining out. She hadn't noticed James behind her.

"So, you like this place, huh?" James asked. Lily jumped.

"What'd you want, Potter?" Lily asked.

"Just asking if you liked this place." James shrugged.

"Yes I do." She answered.

"Why?" James asked her.

"Why do you care?" she asked.

"Does it matter why I care, I asked?" James reasoned.

"Fine, I like it because it's beautiful. Even in the rain- actually, especially in the rain. It's really gorgeous with all the fresh grass, and flowers, and you can see the lake and everything." She sighed as she sat on her favorite bench. James sat next to her. Lily tried to move away but James caught her hand. She tried to let it go, but he gripped it firmly. Lily was blushing like crazy. She yanked her hand free. James bit his lip but didn't say anything.

Lily thought for a moment, she had to admit her feelings sometime. She decided now was not that time. Well, maybe not, depending on how he would answer her…

"James?" she asked.

"Yes?" he answered eagerly.

"Why do you like me?" Lily asked, sighing a little.

"Because you're gorgeous, smart, sweet, funny…" James sighed, "I'm running out of words that'll do you justice. You're so perfect!" Lily smiled.

"You can keep talking you know." She giggled a little.

"Why do you like me?" James asked.

"Because… hey, wait!" Lily blushed. James smiled, he had been hoping to catch her off guard and it worked.

"Well, I'll just take that as an confession to you liking me. Now, tell me why." He laughed a little. She pouted but he wouldn't let it go.

"Fine. I like you." She admitted.

"I knew it! I also knew you couldn't hide it forever." James said.

"Just because I told you doesn't mean I'm telling anyone else." Lily protested.

"So you don't wanna go out with me then?" James asked a little hurt.

"No." Lily said, slightly exasperated.

"Why not? You already said you liked me." James protested.

"Because… because, I don't know! It'd be admitting my whole life… for everyone. I've known you for five years. I've always managed to hide the fact that I like you and now… well, I'm not about to admit myself wrong." Lily explained. She sighed.

"It's alright to be wrong you know." James told her.

"Not me! I mean, you even said you liked me because I was perfect- admitting, well admitting something that big- I couldn't possibly be that wrong! I just could-" James cut Lily off by kissing her softly. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her more and more passionately. Lily put her arms around James' neck and kissed him back. When they finally pulled apart, James smiled at her and Lily blushed.

"So…?" he asked her.

"I can't!" Lily sighed. James also sighed, slightly defeated.

"I won't give up until you say yes." James told her, getting up.

"You'll be going after me for a long time then." Lily said in reply.

"Come here." James offered, "Let's get out of the rain." He offered her his hand. She took it.

"I'm breaking you down already, aren't I?" he asked.

"I s'pose. But don't tell anyone about kissing me." She made him promise.

"I promise- I won't tell anyone except Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Well, maybe not Peter." James shrugged, grinning a rather lopsided grin. Lily giggled a little.

"Please, don't tell them." She begged.

"I have'ta they're my best friends." He told her. She sighed.

"Make sure they don't tell anyone?" she sighed. James shrugged.

"If you'll go out with me." He winked at her.

"No!" she said.

"Then I'll just have to tell the school…" he started to walk away but Lily grabbed his arm.

"No, please don't. They'll all think I'm a slut, kissing you and not going out with you. You can't do that- that'll ruin my reputation more then admitted I was wrong!" Lily was desperate.

"Kiss me again." James demanded.

"What?" Lily asked, letting him go, realizing she was still holding his arm.

"Kiss me again." He repeated. Lily bit her lip.

"And you'll make sure they don't tell anyone?" she asked. James nodded. She kissed his cheek quickly.

"No way. That doesn't count. A nice kiss," he said, "like the last one." Lily bit her lip again.

"Please don't make me." She said helplessly. James shook his head, absolutely loving her helplessness. Lily put her hands on James' shoulder and kissed him softly. James put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, kissing her back. After a few moments, Lily tried to back away but James was still holding her tightly.

"Let me go." She said softly. He shook his head smiling. Drawing his hands up her back under her arms, he put his hands on her head, kissing her again. Lily couldn't help but kiss him back. She pulled away again.

"Stop." She begged. James smiled and let her go.

"It's not over." He told her, "As long as you sit next to Sirius, it's not over. And forever after that- it will never be over." James left her then. Lily sighed, sitting back onto the bench into the rain.