Just Friends?

"You little whore!" Selene laughed and threw a pillow at Lily.

Lily frowned and pulled the covers over her head. She felt the mattress sag as Selene dove onto her bed. Lily pushed her face into her pillow when Selene tore back the covers.

"You had a boy you were sleeping with and you didn't tell me, why?"

Lily shook her head. "He's not just a boy I'm sleeping with, Selene. Stephen's been my boyfriend since last December."

Selene hit her with a pillow again. "You had a boyfriend and you didn't tell me!"

Lily sat up and pushed Selene back. "Stop! It's not a big deal!"

"Not a big deal! When we were thirteen and Sirius started a huge game of Spin-the-Wand five guys had an eye on you and who refused to play?"

Lily shrugged. "So?"

"Lily!" She squealed.

Lily covered her ears and frowned at her friend. "Shut up!"

Selene leaned closer to Lily. "The whole school's talking about it. They're saying how they knew you'd land one the most gorgeous boys in school but they never thought it'd be a rebel like Stephen."

"Stephen's not that bad."

Selene shrugged. "Whatever, I think James is jealous."

Lily groaned and got up stretching her arms into the air. She made her way over to the window and sat down in the seat. "And what, dear Selene, would make you think that?"

Selene skipped over to Lily and sat down on the floor by Lily's feet. "He didn't look surprised or sad when he and Sirius found you and Stephen in the trophy closet. He just looked angry or frustrated. Like he wanted something really bad and now he knew he couldn't have it."

Lily shrugged. "I highly doubt you're right but if you are, I'm glad."

"Glad?" Selene said, her mouth dropping.

"Yes, glad." Lily nodded. "If he wanted me, now he knows he can't have me. I'm taken. Stephen McCormick has me. And nothing's going to change that."

"What's wrong?" Remus asked James.

James was lying underneath his bed. His legs were the only part of his body sticking out.

Remus sighed. "The things I do," He muttered before sliding next to James.

James was staring at the top of his mattress and not talking. Remus stared at him before flicking his ear.

"What the!" James snapped, cupping his hand over his ear.

Remus glared at James. "Get out from under the bed."

James started muttering obscenities but slid out from under the bed. Remus nodded and copied his friend.

"Tell me what's going on," Remus said simply.

James shook his dark head; his messy dark hair moved with him. "It's not a big deal."

"Prongs, if you don't feel like telling me that's cool but I will bring in alternative forces if you choose not to comply."

James shrugged. "Mooney, leave me alone."

Remus turned away and headed towards the door. "I warned you, Prongs."

James rubbed his eyes. "Mooney, I have two best friends, you and Padfoot. I have fun with Sirius and I have serious conversations with you. I trust you both, but I don't trust either of you with this."

The two friends paused and stared at each other.

"That's fine." Remus said and opened the common room door.

Outside of the door stood Lily Evans.

"He's all yours," Remus said before leaving and closing the door behind him.

"That bastard," James mumbled before walking to the window.

"James…" Lily said quietly before following him.

James wouldn't stop shaking his head as he yanked open the window. He looked back at Lily; his face bore an expression mixed with confusion and anger as he hoisted himself up onto the roof.

Lily looked to the sky as she stuck her foot out of the window. She saw all of the little ridges where James put his hands and feet to get on top of the tower. Lily copied his every move and sat next to him high above the school grounds.

"Were you jealous?" Lily said suddenly for reasons she didn't know about.

James looked away. "Would you care?"

Lily opened her mouth but quickly shut it. She paused and thought carefully before picking the words she wanted to say.

"Stephen is my boyfriend," She began slowly. "I've been with him since last December, since before last Christmas. This may seem harsh but what I do with Stephen really has nothing to do with you."

James looked Lily in the eye. He watched her gaze falter a bit but she held his stare as best she could.

"That's not what I asked. I asked if you would have cared if you knew I was jealous." He repeated.

Lily looked out onto the lake. The sun was beginning to set and night was approaching.

"I guess that the thought of you having feelings for me that went beyond friendship never really crossed my mind so I don't know how I'd feel," She said.

James thought for a moment before touching Lily's knee. She looked at him quickly and furrowed her eyebrows slightly.

James leaned into Lily's face and she breathed in slightly before backing away.

"James…" She whispered.

"If I were to kiss you, would you kiss me back?" He asked.

Lily shook her head slowly. "I couldn't, it would be…"

James looked at her more intently. "It would be what?"

"I told you. Stephen is my boyfriend. I couldn't kiss you when I'm still with him."

James leaned in a little closer to Lily's face. She closed her eyes hoping he wouldn't do exactly what she thought he was going to.

"What if I kissed you and you didn't kiss me? Would that help you decide what you care about?" He asked quietly.

"Please don't," She whispered back. "Please don't do that to me."

James went back to their normal stance. "Then no, I wasn't jealous."

Lily frowned and stared at James, who was leaning back on his elbows.

"You're lying, I can tell. I can see it in your eyes."

James smiled.

"Would it matter?"

Lily shrugged. "Maybe."

James winked at her. "When you decide if you care or if it matters, let me know. I'll be here. I'm not one to step on another guys toes. But I'm also not one to give up without a fight."

Lily's mouth dropped. "You like me James Potter."

James shrugged. "Nothing's going to change that, Lily Evans."