Chapter 10

Early that night, around 6:00, Lily was in her bedroom, starting to get ready for the date. She remembered that Jake was to come at around 7, and she wanted to make sure that she looked good enough.

Around thirty minutes later, she was done dressing. She was wearing a spaghetti-strap midnight blue Armani satin dress that reached a few inches below her knees. Her make-up, bag, and shoes matched her outfit also, making her look very pretty.

She opened the door and went to the main room to get her bracelet which she had accidentally left there. After retrieving it, she went back to her room, but this time, she forgot to shut the door and instead, left it wide open. A few minutes later, she was just deciding what to do with her hair when James's voice suddenly said, "So, you're really going, huh?"

Lily turned to face him, her expression one of agitation. "Don't you knock?"

"No. I mean, why would I? The door was wide open," James pointed out. Knowing how pointless it would be to argue with that piece of logic, she simply said, "Whatever Potter. What do you want anyways?"

"Nothing," James gave a shrug. "Just wanting to see if you really where going. Wait a sec, where are you two going anyway?"

"I don't know. That's why it's called a surprise, dumbass," Lily shot at him, her words impatient and annoyed.

James merely rolled his eyes. "Whatever," and under his breath, he muttered, "Temperamental prude".

"I heard that, Potter," Lily called out warningly. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. "That's him!" And with that, she tore past James and rushed to the door. Opening it, she found, sure enough, her boyfriend, Jake Thomas, there, standing with a smile that could and did make Lily melt, wearing a suit and tie and bringing a bouquet of roses.

"Jake! Wha-what are you doing here? I-I didn't expect you at all!" Lily said, feigning surprise. Jake kissed Lily on the cheek, and she was sure she could hear James making a gagging sound from behind.

Jake simply smiled. "Surprised? I didn't think you'd be, considering the fact that my sister has apparently told you about my plans for tonight, seeing as you already dressed up very nicely," he said as he came in. Upon seeing James, he said jovially, "Hey James! Good to see you again, man. You're really lucky that you get to spend a lot of time with Lily, but I know that I'm even luckier to have her as a girlfriend".

Ignoring the boiling jealousy that was growing inside him, he simply forced what he hoped to be a cool, non-committal smile into his face and replied, "Yeah. Good to see you too. I'm not so sure though about the whole Having-Li-I mean, Evans-as-my-partner-is-considered-lucky thing", and then, he said to himself, "Although the whole 'I'm really lucky to have Lily as my girlfriend' thing he spoke of was not helping. It's just making me jealous…no, wait, what? Oh crap, not again. Mental note: Have head checked upon reaching Hogwarts".

Lily smiled at Jake. "Right. So, where are you taking me?" she questioned, once she saw that James had retreated to his own bedroom. Actually, he was listening to their every word, hoping to find out where they were going, as a plan formed into his mind.

"Hmm….how does, the Ristorante Primavera sound?" Jake said, already knowing the reaction of Lily.

She gasped. She, along with everyone else, knew that the Ristorante Primavera was one of the most expensive and wonderful restaurants in wizarding world, with branches around the globe. It had a wonderful ambiance and was said to have delicious and pricey food. "Oh my, Jake, yes, that's wonderful! I can't wait to go! Come on!"

"But what about James? Aren't you at least going to tell him that we're leaving already? He might have to ask you something important for your delegation on Monday or something," Jake said.

Lily sighed. Jake was definitely too nice for his own good (Think Michael Cassidy aka Zach Stevens from the O.C). "Alright fine. Potter!" she called out. "Me and my boyfriend are leaving to go and have a great time together already, got it?"

Right on cue, James walked into the main room. "You know, Evans," he said, a slow smirk forming at his lips, "You're not the only one who's gonna have a great time tonight. I will have you know that I've got a date".

"Oh yeah, right, a date. With who?"

"Rachel," James said simply.

Lily gasped in disbelief. "You asked Rachel. Out on a date. I can't believe you! And most importantly, I can't believe that Rachel would be crazy enough to accept. Oh well. Go, have your date, and please, don't try to annoy the girl too much".

And with that, she left the room. "Bye James" Jake called out as he went out as well, closing the door behind him. Once James was sure he was definitely alone, he said, "YES! Finally. Let my plan begin". And with that, he went inside his room and changed into his suit.

A few minutes later, he went out, looking, as he said so himself, dashing in his black suit. He took a deep breath, and left the suite and headed for the room of Ryan and Rachel.

He found the both of them in the main room, talking. Short greetings were immediately exchanged.

"Rachel," James said, "Please go and change into something classy. We're going to the Ristorante Primavera. Ryan, could you bring the wizard camera? You can work undercover"

"What?" Rachel asked, looking thoroughly confused, "Why am I supposed to change? What is this all about?"

"Because we are going to spy on Evans and her date," James said simply. "Now, please go!"

"But James is it really----"

"Rachel Hathaway, NOW!" James said, growing impatient. He turned to Ryan. "So, Ryan, can you be the behind the scenes guy?"

"Sorry man," Ryan shook his head. "It seems as if I have a date with Sharon Michaels- from Salem Institute- tonight. Have fun anyway".

James only nodded his head and began waiting for Rachel. Around twenty minutes later, the girl came out wearing a floral printed dress. James nodded his head in approval as he said, "Good. Come on, let's go. We have a date to crash, you know".

"What? But…what is your plan anyway?"

"I'll tell you as soon as we get there. Now, come on. Let's get going," James said, impatiently. Rachel sighed, and the two said goodbye to Ryan and left the suite.

..------..

"A reservation under the name Ryan Thomas, you say?" the maitre d' asked Lily and Jake. He nodded, and after consulting the list, the maitre d' continued, "Ah, yes. Right this way sir". And with that, he led the couple to Table no. 6

Lily was smiling. She loved the place; the décor and interiors was perfect, the music and ambiance just right. Perfect for a romantic evening, she thought as they got seated, Jake, of course, pulling up a chair for Lily.

Around twenty minutes later, they had placed their orders and were now talking animatedly. Suddenly, they got the biggest surprise of their lives.

James Potter and Rachel Hathaway were walking towards a table near to them. Lily's eyes widened in shock, and she made a mental note to yell at James later.

"Jake? Evans? Fancy meeting you here. What a surprise!" James said, his voice displaying shock that was very unconvincing.

Immediately, Rachel understood the plan of James and, to keep herself from bursting out with laughter, satisfied herself with just thinking, "This boy is hopeless…"

She and James took a seat, obviously, in a table just next to Jake and Lily. Once they had placed their orders, James immediately began looking intently at the couple, his eyes strangely narrowed as he saw them laughing. Rachel kicked him under the table.

"OW! Rachel, what the hell was that for?" James muttered furiously, his eyes straying from the couple as they turned to look as Rachel.

"James you are such an idiot. I thought you said we were going to spy on her. Don't you know the meaning of spy? It means not being known, or stealthily and secretly observing other people. What you are doing is not spying James, since you and I are being too conspicuous!" Rachel said.

"Rachel, please, I know what I'm doing okay? Just…go ahead with me on this one". And with that, James turned again to stare at Jake and Lily.

Awhile later, their orders arrived and they began eating. James kept missing his fork with his mouth because he was too busy staring at Lily. Suddenly, he saw that that Jake and Lily were leaning nearer to each other.

He stood up and walked over to them. "Hey guys! Mind if I borrow the salt? Thanks!" he said, and took the salt and went back to his own table, Rachel casting him an amused look at Lily and Jake's weirded out expression.

A few minutes later, he saw Jake place his hand on top of Lily's. He stood up again and said, "Hey! Mind if I see the menu? Thanks," And then he took the menu and, in the process, knocked Jake's hand out from on top of Lily's and, spilled Jake's drink on his suit.

After apologizing, again, he went back to staring. Rachel took this as her opportunity.

"So," she asked him casually, "How long has it been?"

"How long has what been?"

"You know," she said, "How long have you had a crush on Lily?"

"Never"

"How long?" Rachel pressed on, entirely unconvinced.

"Never"

"How long James?" she insisted one more time.

Without warning, he blurted out, "Since third year". When he realized what he had said, he continued, "Um, I mean, uh…..I'm over her now…yeah! That's it…I'm over her, okay?"

"You expect me to believe that? Please James. I can tell, you still like her"

Those words hit James like a dart. All the strange feelings, all those thoughts, everything, now seemed to have one simple explanation. He banged his head on the table and said, "Oh my God, you're right. I do like her. I am so screwed".

"No James you're not," Rachel corrected him, "You just have to figure out what to do".

James merely buried his head in his hands. "Unbelievable. I can't believe I like Lily Evans". Then, a goofy, lopsided smile set on his lips. "I like Lily Evans," he whispered, as if realizing it for the first time.

Suddenly, Jake and Lily stood up. They must have been done eating. Before they left, Lily went to James and whispered in his ear, "Potter. I want to talk to you when you get back to the suite, got it?" And with that, she left.

At once, the goofy grin disappeared. "Oh my God. What have I gotten myself into? I like her, and she's about to kill me for ruining her date. Just great," And with that, he buried his face in his hands again, thinking the same thing over and over again.

I am so screwed.

Okay. So, James still likes Lily eh? What do you think of that? Do you think it was too quick, or what? Please review! Love lots, Mia.