I swear, time has never moved slower. The clock is ticking so slowly. I swear it's going backwards. It seems ages ago that I left dinner, but it's still another hour until I meet James in the common room! An hour! But as slow as times going, I haven't made any progress on my essay… funny how that works…
I think I'll go and get ready for our da--- no. It's not a--- a date. It's a… job. A job. That we do together. Me and James. Alone. So, I think I'll go get ready for our job. Not date!
My hair has never been more tangled. I swear, it's just a big mass of tangled crap, I can't do anything with it. I'm seriously attacking it with a wet comb, but it's doing nothing. Funny, time was going by so slowly earlier, but now I only have five minutes! I swear, the world is against me today. Time is probably having a good laugh up there, out there, down there, where ever the heck time dwells, but it's laughing at me, and that's certain.
Okay. There's really nothing I can do. Literally, but still, I can't, Andra(another annoyingly curious friend) is questioning me why I'm trying so hard to look presentable, when I hate James and all. Seriously, why does everyone seem to think that I hate James? Do I really give off that impression?
As if reading my mind, Andra says, "You do hate him, don't you?" Giving me a wonderful opportunity to tell her what I really think.
"Well, no, no, not really," I say slowly. Not exactly showing my true feelings here, but popping out and saying that I've suddenly realized that I've started to fancy James Potter and can't stop thinking about him doesn't seem to be the way to go either.
Andra stares at me with her eyebrows raised. What is with my friends and these calculating looks today anyway! Is it so wrong to not completely hate James anymore? I mean, every other girl in school is positively swooning over him, with his good looks, quidditch skills, and excellent marks, he's a perfect date candidate, even Professor McGonagall couldn't argue with that. What's wrong if I finally see eye to eye with all those other girls? None of them get people looking at them like their insane! Well, some of them do, but that's beside the point.
Checking my watch, I realize that it's now 9:37 and I'm late for our dat--- job. Together. "See you later!" I tell Andra, and, removing my comb from my hair(with some difficulty I might add) I positively prance out of the room. This isn't right. I can't prance. Walking in a bit of an unusual, careful way, I make my way across the common room to James, who looks positively dashing. Yes, dashing.
"You're late!" he says in a mock reproving way.
I laugh, and he looks rather taken aback. I don't hate him! "Well, let's get going," I say, gesturing towards the portrait whole.
"Yes. Right." James seems rather distracted, staring at me with a somewhat dazed expression. I wonder if he still likes me. Probably not; I have been a little… rough… with him in past years. If I can just get him to see what I think now…
"So…" started James, clearly keen on interrupting the rather awkward silence, "where d'you reckon we should patrol?"
"Oh, I don't know," I said in an offhand voice. "I suppose we should just check the corridors, broom closets, you know."
"Ah. Broom closets." James eyes gleamed. I'm sure he's seen a lot of those. "There's one coming up here--- if we just go down the charms corridor on the left."
"All right," I say, veering left. Our hands brushed slightly as we turned, and I could feel my face burning, though I don't know why.
"Well, so, should we go together, or d'you want to---" I stutter. Again with the out-of-breath-ish voice! What is with me today! Honestly.
"Together," he says firmly. How decisive. I like that in a man.
Gesturing for him to go first, James
steps up to the door and opens it.
HOLY SH--- SHAMROCKS! IT'S---
IT'S---
"Sirius! Eliza!" says James, looking equally surprised. "What--- what are you doing here!"
"Our potions essay," says Sirius, his words dripping with sarcasm. James didn't seem to be catching on. Sirius rolled his eyes. "Snogging, you dolt!"
"Ohh," said James, comprehension dawning on
his face. "Why?"
"We're going out, obviously," says
Eliza. More eye rolling.
"Since when?" I ask, popping into the conversation. They all looked at me. What? It's not like I said anything stupid, it's a plausible question.
"Today! After dinner! Prongs, you know I've liked her forever," said Sirius, a hint of pink rising in his cheeks. "Anyway, we've got to get back to the common room anyway. Passed curfew a bit, but you don't mind, do you, Prongsie?" said Sirius, flashing James and I a smile and a wink.
Eliza gave me a small wave, and they departed down the corridor. James and I just stood there for a few moments.
"That was--- awkward," I said, finally breaking the silence.
"Yeah," said James, coming back to earth. "Yeah, that was. I never knew though… I didn't think Sirius liked anyone, he kind of dated around, you know?"
"Yeah, but so did you, didn't you?" I blurted out. Showing James my true feelings doesn't seem to be working very well.
His cheeks got a little pink, and he said rather defensively, "You wouldn't understand."
"Fair enough," I said, keen on keeping the peace.
"But you never seem to have been much of a dater, have you, Evans?" It was my turn to turn red. And Evans? When has he ever called me that? Did my comment really bother him that much? Here we were again, one of those famous James-Lily fights.
"No. No, I guess not." James seemed surprised at my response. I rather was too; since when have I ever passed up a fight with Potter?
James stared at me(calculatingly, just like everyone else today, dang it) and broke into a grin. "Fancy a stop by the kitchens, Lily?"
The kitchens? With James? At night? While we were supposed to be patrolling? Millions of thoughts went through my mind… detention… Head Girl! James… his beautiful hazel eyes.
"Yes," I say, in a mixture of a flirty and decisive voice. "That sounds marvelous."
Flashing me the famous James Potter grin, James grabs my hand(grabs my hand!) and pulls me down the corridor to the kitchens.
…
A/N: Okay, I know I said they'd be a lot longer, but this seemed like a good place to end it. I know, I do seem to like these cliff-hangers, don't I? I'll update soon, promise. REVIEW! Please!
