Tension seizes all of James's muscles as he watches Lily walk away. The way the mermaid skirt of her red sequin dress swishes as she lifts a hand to wipe away the tears streaming down her face stems a longing in his heart. How did they get here? He takes a few steps toward the door, her name catching in his throat. But then she turns the corner and disappears from sight as he remains frozen in place.

Go after her. Why aren't you going after her?

He wants to, but the way she'd declined his proposal holds him back. Just when he thought they were coming to some sort of understanding, it feels as though they've been catapulted back to the first day they met. Perhaps James has been wrong about pursuing her. Maybe he'd let his attraction to Lily get the best of him. It's clear that she doesn't share the same feelings he holds for her.

But then he thinks back to what they'd shared last night, and again in the treehouse. Lily is the woman of his dreams. The one he's been waiting for. The one who has helped him believe in love.

And yet she'd all but laughed at his proposal. Well, no. Maybe that wasn't the best way to describe it. No, it wasn't 'funny ha-ha' laughter, it was nervous laughter. Because Lily seemed mortified at the very thought of becoming his wife.

Then she dared to tell him his love wasn't true and his proposal wasn't genuine. The thought sends a new wave of anger coursing through his veins. He needs to give himself space and time to cool off before he approaches her again. She probably needs the space too. If he goes after her now, they'll just fight some more and things could reach the point of no return. That's the last thing James wants.

She's made up her mind. She doesn't love you.

At some point he's returned to the island in the center of the room, sitting on the stool Lily left vacant in her departure. He pounds his fist on the countertop in anger as the reality of the situation sets in. Every thought and possible way to resolve the situation doesn't seem good enough. Not when so much is riding on her forgiving him.

"You're just going to let her walk away? I knew things weren't as serious as you let on."

Irritation radiates off his skin at the sound of the last voice he wants to hear. How did the twat even find him anyway?

"Fuck off, Regulus."

"But I came to apologize." His voice drips with feigned sympathy.

"Well, I don't want to hear it. I thought I told you to leave. I was serious. You're not welcome here anymore. Not after everything you've done."

Regulus snaps back in defense. "You needed to see the truth about her."

"Truth? What truth?" James turns on the stool and stands, facing the dark-haired man who is a replica of his best friend, though only in looks. "The truth about her past and how the man that you invited here for my birthday is trying to sue her because she refused to date him? Because I'm sure you researched the full story before you decided to humiliate her in front of everyone I care about."

"How do you know she's not lying?"

"Not lying? For fuck's sake, Regulus, how do you know that Snape man wasn't lying to you to get closer to her?"

Regulus has no immediate retort to James's rebuttal, but then James sees the light rekindle in his eyes as they sparkle with a sinister smile. "Because Severus Snape is a man of worth and she comes from nothing."

"You take that back right now," James bellows. He is not one to raise his voice often but he's had enough of Regulus's ludicrous accusations.

"Why can't you see that she's not right for you, James? I'm only looking out for you!" Regulus's voice is strong with conviction, though he slumps back as James steps forward with his challenge.

His patience is wearing thin as he says through gritted teeth, "What makes you think that's your call to make?"

"Because I know who is right for you." Regulus's voice is low and undercuts with scathing desperation.

The man in front of him is his best friend's brother but is not even remotely close to his best friend. How could Regulus possibly know what's best for him? James is tempted to leave him there and retreat to his room but curiosity wins.

"Oh? Do enlighten me then."

Regulus looks down at the floor, suddenly losing all his courage.

"Regulus, either answer me now or I will have you banished from this property forever. Do not test me."

"It's me, alright?" The response bursts from Regulus's lips with an anguished force that leaves James gobsmacked.

What?

James is speechless. Shock has him frozen, staring at Regulus with his hands in his pockets. His first instinct has him feeling sorry for the bloke and wondering if he's done anything to contribute to Regulus's hopeful delusions.

No. There's no way I've given him mixed signals. When have I ever crossed the lines of friendship?

James reassures himself that he's done nothing to falsely lead Regulus on as he processes his words. All sympathy vanishes and is replaced with a sickness churning in his stomach. Regulus's behavior has been ongoing for years, and James has done everything in his power to ignore the pining, hoping it would go away. It's been one thing to suspect it, to hear Dora and Sirius joke about it, but hearing it out loud serves as the confirmation of years of inappropriate behavior. There's no way he can ignore it any longer.

"You? Regulus, what kind of cock and bull story have you made up in your mind? Surely, you know that I'm not gay." Anger gets the best of him despite his internal pleas to stay calm.

"Stop lying, James." Regulus's tone is defensive and haughty as he crosses his arms in front of his chest.

Seriously? I'm the one who's lying?

"Lying? You think I'm lying? As if I'm not in tune with my sexuality?"

"Yes, I think you're lying! You're trying to uphold the Potter name and do the dutiful thing, which means appearing straight to the press and not accepting who you truly are!"

James opens his mouth to retort. He's not even sure Regulus is hearing the desperation and delusion in his voice and that stops him from fueling the fire. Instead, he changes his tactic, choosing to remain calm like he does when he and Dora get into a tiff.

"Regulus, can I ask you something?" James softens his voice, a trick he's learned from his mother over the years when she's trying to get to the bottom of an issue.

"Please."

"What signs have I given that led you to believe I like men?"

"You—you haven't dated a woman in years! Not since you and Sirius would go out and bring drunken women home at two in the morning during your uni days."

Red flashes before James's eyes, as if the kitchen has been doused in artificial light while his gaze hones in on the man in front of him. The absurd accusation hangs in the air, waiting for James's response.

"Has it not occurred to you that I haven't dated since uni because my father fell ill and I didn't have time to pursue any romantic interests while I scrambled to learn all the inner workings of the family business? Or while I spent all the time I could with my ailing father before he passed? Did you forget that no sooner after I'd gotten the business thriving again, Dora's parents died and I took her in so that Mum wouldn't have to and Dora wouldn't be shipped off to an orphanage?

"Please, Regulus, tell me how you think I could have managed to date whilst raising a teenager when I was only twenty-five myself? Do you think anyone—women or men—would have been genuinely interested in me and not my money while I had a thirteen-year-old at home? If that's your only reasoning then might I suggest to Sirius and Walburga to have you checked into an asylum!"

James shoves the stool he'd been sitting on back with his foot. It slams into the island with such force that a loud clang echoes through the open space.

"You always accepted me into your home for various events!"

What the hell does that have to do with anything?

"What choice did I have? It would have been rude to invite Sirius but not you. I considered you a friend, Regulus! At least I did, but your possessive behavior is even ruining that as of late."

"Possessive? When have I ever been possessive?" Regulus takes a step back, his hands nervously gripping the sides of his jacket while his eyes dart around the room.

Aware that Regulus is lying, James scoffs, continuing to point out all the flaws in his logic. "Don't lie to me, Regulus. Ever since I came back from Belfast you've been showing up much more frequently in Sunbury. And the way you treat Lily is atrocious—don't think for a second she hasn't noticed."

"She's not right for you!" Regulus's response is weak this time as he steps forward to plead with James.

"She is right for me. And you've all but ruined that by bringing that piece of scum here!"

Regulus opens and closes his mouth like a fish out of water. Puffing out his chest slightly, James basks in having rendered Regulus speechless.

"Now, if you're done with your weak reasoning of why you've been led to believe that I prefer men over women, I need to go find Lily before I make things worse." James strides across the room and is just about to cross the threshold when Regulus's voice stops him.

"So that kiss meant nothing to you?"

James turns back, not knowing what he's talking about. He grips the door jamb until his knuckles turn white as he tries to make sense of Regulus's words. "What kiss?"

"At Sirius's twenty-sixth birthday party."

James squints his eyes and rubs his temples, trying to recall a specific memory from five years ago. It was a quiet night at home, where they'd invited several of Sirius's closest friends and gotten properly drunk. They were all in denial of passing over the hump of their mid-twenties, beginning the downward slope to the dreaded thirty.

He racks his brain for any memory that doesn't involve waking up with a massive hangover the next morning. Little snippets of bottles of whiskey and sitting in a circle click through his mind. The bottle of whiskey triggers a memory of an empty bottle in the center of the room, with everyone sitting around it.

We played spin the bottle.

At the same moment when he looks up to confirm his hazy suspicions, Regulus's face falls in realization. "You don't remember, do you?"

"I was drunk. We were all drunk. Wasn't that the reason we ended up playing that bloody teenage party game to begin with?"

"Maybe? All I remember is that you spun the bottle, it landed on me, and instead of re-spinning, you chose to kiss me instead."

Guilt bubbles up as the recollection becomes clearer. Regulus was right. If the bottle landed on anyone else that was the same sex as the spinner, the player would spin again. But he vaguely remembers Sirius daring him to kiss whoever it landed on, no matter what, and choosing to be reckless, James accepted.

"It was a dare, Regulus," James admits, lifting a hand to pass through his mussed hair.

"A dare?" Sadness is etched in his voice as reality comes crashing down around him.

James feels terrible that Regulus has been holding out hope for so long over a moment that wasn't genuine. "Sirius dared me to kiss whoever the bottle landed on, regardless of who it was. I wanted to relive my teen years and took him up on it. The alcohol didn't help."

"Oh."

"Reg, I'm sorry if it sent you mixed signals. It was just a game. We were all letting loose. Please don't tell me you've been holding out after all this time?"

Regulus stares at his feet. "I refuse to respond since it will make me sound even more of a pathetic imbecile."

James lets out a deep sigh. "Regulus, I implore you to believe me when I say my feelings for you have always been that of friendship. But I cannot excuse what you've done tonight. Your actions hurt Lily, and I can't excuse that behavior. You invited a stranger into my home with the intent to hurt the woman I love without knowing the whole story. I can't forgive your actions."

"James—"

"No. Look, I'm sorry if I sent you mixed signals, but I meant what I said earlier. You need to pack your things and leave. You aren't welcome here anymore. Not after what you've done to Lily."

The two men stare at each other after James's ultimatum. James notes how Regulus's jaw tenses as he waits for confirmation that his best friend's brother will indeed respect his wishes. Finally, after what seems like ages, Regulus offers a curt nod but doesn't say anything. James accepts the nod as acceptance and turns swiftly on his heel to exit the room.

He needs to find Lily. The corridors seem to stretch on for miles as he makes his way back to her bedroom. Thoughts are running through his head as he tries to formulate the right words to say. He's not used to apologizing, but he feels that maybe he does owe her an apology. Maybe he came on too strong, but deep down he knows she is who he's meant to be with for the rest of his life. She has to understand how much he loves her. That this isn't just a fling.

After what feels like an eternity, he approaches the door to her room. It's shut, though that's not a surprise, given that all the rooms are closed off to the hallway in a similar manner. James knocks on the door and waits. He's not sure how much time passes, but his impatience gets the best of him as he knocks again.

When she still doesn't respond, he calls for her and jiggles the door handle, which is unlocked. Worried that something's happened, he opens the door. His heart sinks at the sight before him. The bed is immaculately made, the closet empty, and all the other furniture looks as untouched as any other unoccupied room in the house.

"No…" His voice is breathy as it trails off, refusing to believe his eyes.

Turning, he crosses the hall in one step, opening the door to his room, hoping that maybe she's moved her things into his room for the evening. It's wishful thinking, he knows, but James isn't ready to give up hope. His room is just as he'd left it before. Lily's things aren't there and neither is she.

Something tells him to go check Remus or Marlene's rooms, but he knows it will be for naught. He's waited too long. James collapses on his bed, the bed they'd shared not twenty-four hours ago, and holds his head in his hand.

Every part of his mind screams at him to go after her, but his pride holds him back. She's made her choice and he has to respect that. Going after her will do no good now. Not after the argument they had in the kitchen. He must accept her decision because whether he likes it or not, Lily is gone.