Lily and Charlie had met a couple of times since their meeting at James's apartment. Mostly they talked on the phone, but sometimes they'd met up. Charlie was coming over to her place today.

He was a nice guy, but he was really talkative. He talked a lot, not really letting her talk about her life much. But she didn't care much. Everyone had some sort of confidante: She was his.

"Marissa, you're going to have to get out," Lily told her friend, who was on the couch, texting Jake. A cup of ice cream sat next to her. "In like ten minutes."

"What? Why?"

"Because. Someone's coming over."

Marissa looked up. "Really? Who?"

Lily didn't know how to answer that. She didn't want to tell Marissa who, because she'd go all crazy about Lily and a man, but she had to say something. She hadn't told Marissa about the friendship between her and James yet, because she didn't want Marissa going all nuts about him again. God knew what she would do. So, unfortunately, she couldn't use James as an alibi. But she didn't really want to say who…

Argh, fine.

"My friend. Charlie."

Her eyes widened. "A man?"

"Yeah. A man. What's your problem?"

"You have to be kidding me! Lily! And a man! Alone in her apartment!"

Lily rolled her eyes.

"Are you two… dating?"

"Of course not," grumbled Lily.

"What does he look like?" Marissa wondered, taking a spoon of her ice cream and putting it in her mouth.

Lily rolled her eyes and pulled up her phone, showing Marissa a picture from his Instagram. That reminded her that she hadn't seen James's Instagram yet. She really needed to do that.

"Woah. No way."

"Marissa, please. You can't start liking every random dude you find on the streets."

"I don't. I don't! I just… ugh, he looks good, Lily. Why aren't you with him?"

"Um…"

"Is he mean?"

"No."

"Is he awful?"

"How could he be awful if he isn't mean? No, he's not."

"Is he nice and friendly and funny?"

Lily stared at her. "Do you have a point?"

Marissa squealed. "Dude! You only get opportunities like this once. Is he with anybody?"

"No."

Her eyes widened. "How do you know that?"

"He's said it a lot, actually."

"OMG! Lily! That means he likes you!"

"How does that mean…"

Marissa rolled her eyes. "Seriously. Without me, you'd be dead. You see… He's slipping it in so you can ask him out on a date. He probably likes you, Lily, that's why he's even wanting to come over!"

Lily frowned. "I guess so… But do I like him?"

"Dude. He seems awesome. Look, I'm engaged. Your other friend… what's her name… Marlene? She's already in a relationship. You need to make a move. This guy is perfect. And if you don't like him, if it doesn't work out… you'll know. And you'll know what to do then. But he seems like a nice guy. Do you know him well enough?"

"I mean, you have a point…"

"Then don't hesitate. Go for it. Ask him out today. Okay? And if he does first, don't hesitate. Don't be mean. Just say yes."

Lily took a deep breath. "Okay."

Just then, the doorbell rang. Lily nervously ran her hands through her hair.

"If you don't do it, I'll murder you," muttered Marissa, grabbing her purse and swinging it over her shoulder as Lily opened the door. "Why, hi!"

Charlie looked surprised upon seeing her. "Oh, hey. I didn't know you'd be inviting someone else over, Lily." He looked kind of uncomfortable. Lily didn't understand why, but Marissa was beaming even more.

"I didn't invite her," Lily replied. "In fact, she was just on her way out. Scooch, Marissa."

"Okay!" Marissa waved at the two of them and left the apartment room.

"Sorry about that," Lily apologized. "She just decided to surprise visit, and I very well couldn't say no."

"Ah. That's fine," replied Charlie. "Um, can I come in?"

Lily nodded and the two of them walked inside her apartment, and sat down on her couch. Their legs were almost touching, so Lily scooted over a little bit. Not to be rude. She just wasn't… ready.

"So, how's everything?" Charlie asked.

"Great," she replied, deciding not to mention anything about her company going down. She just didn't feel like sharing it with him. "What about you?" The conversation already seemed to be taking an awkward turn.

He fidgeted nervously, which was unlike him. He was a confident guy. Similar to James, but not similar to James. They were so alike, yet so different.

Stop comparing him to James!

"I'm doing fine. Actually, um, Lily, I wanted to ask you something," he murmured.

"Yeah?" she asked, feeling she knew what he was about to ask.

And if he does first, don't hesitate. Don't be mean. Just say yes.

"Um, so, I was thinking…"

"Go on," she told him, fiddling with her hands. He wasn't making this any easier.

"Uh, well, Lily… I actually really like you. And, um, would you like to, um…" He trailed off.

"Go on a date with you?" Lily finished for him.

"Yeah. Would you?"

Lily thought about it. Without considering Marissa's advice, did she want to? Well, she really needed to start doing something. Marissa was engaged, whereas Lily hadn't even found a boy she liked.

She wasn't going to miss the chance of trying, even though Charlie wasn't necessarily her dream guy, or anything close.

"Sure," replied Lily easily.

A grin spread across his face. "I was hoping you'd say that! Okay, so, um, coffee shop? In a few days? If that's okay with you…"

"Yeah, of course," she sighed. "Um, Saturday?"

"Saturday works," he said, standing up. "I'll see you then."

"Yep," she told him. "Are you leaving already? You just came, asked me out, then left?"

"When you put it that way…"

She smiled. "Joking."

The nervousness that had come with him earlier had disappeared, and the two of them chatted for a while. He was like James except that he was just… not the same. They were both easy to talk to and funny, but James was just… different. He had that glow around him, that teasing smirk (which always got on her nerves), and always made her feel important. Something was a mystery about that man.

"So! I think I have to go now," Charlie said, standing up. "Work and all that."

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah. See you Saturday."

"Yeah," he responded. He flashed a smile at her and left, and to nobody's surprise, Marissa sped back in (had she seriously been waiting outside the whole time?)

"How'd it go?" she squealed. "Did it happen? Are you going out?"

"It's just a coffee shop on Saturday," she replied, rolling her eyes. "It's not a big deal."

"It's a start! What do you think, though, do you like him?"

Lily frowned. "I mean… he's all right. I don't know if there's a future between us."

"You have to give it a try! Only then you'll know."

She rolled her eyes. "That's why I said yes."

"Good, good!" trilled Marissa. "He seems like the man of your dreams."

"Have you ever seen my dreams?"

"Okay, fair point. He seems like the man of… any woman's dreams. Does he let you talk?"

"Marissa."

"It's a valid question. Does he know your job?"

"Of course he does," replied Lily. "Fashion designing."

"And… he's okay with that?"

"Dude, we're not getting married or anything. We're just… going for coffee. I don't think it'll grow into something. I don't… feel anything for him."

"It'll come. You'll feel that spark."

Lily rolled her eyes. "You're so dreamy. Sparks don't exist."

"Oh, sure, so we're going with that whole… love is planned thing? Like you don't fall in love at first sight?"

"You can't. Love comes with repeated meetings, learning about each other. You learn to love people. You don't start out… loving. That's gooey."

Marissa rolled her eyes. "Why are you always so, like, planned out about things?"

"Why are you watching so many romance movies?" Lily shot back.

She laughed. "Do you know what you're going to wear?"

"No one cares."

"Oh, seriously, I-" Her phone rang, cutting her off. "Hello? Oh, hey Jake! Okay. Yep. Nah, I'm over at Lily's right now. Nope, I haven't. Okay, yeah, I'm coming! Yep. Love you too. Bye!"

She hung up and looked at Lily. "I gotta go."

Lily nodded, amused. "See you."

Marissa reached forward and wrapped Lily in a hug before waving and running off. Lily shook her head, smiling, just as she realized that she'd never apologized for being so rude to Marlene the other day. When she'd been in the bad mood. Marlene hadn't called in ages, which was unlike her.

She dialed her up, and Marlene picked up.

"Lily?"

"Hi, Marlene," greeted Lily. "How're things?"

"Awesome."

"Look, I wanted to apologize for the other day. I was having some problems at my work, and I was almost being fired, and…" Lily didn't know what to say. She hadn't told anyone about her work incident yet, but she had to say something. So she talked about Charlie, and told Marlene a little bit about how her work had been going downhill and how some important deals had been lost.

"So yeah, that's why I was sorta angry that day," Lily finished up. "I hope you didn't take anything personally."

"I didn't," assured Marlene. "I'm as good as new now. Looks like you've been going through… a lot!"

Lily grimaced. "I have."

"Well, off the topic. Tell me about this guy. Charlie."

"Why does everyone ask this?" Lily laughed. "I mean, he's… he. He's nice, funny, friendly…"

"But do you like him?"

"I guess, but what if I don't? What am I expected to do then? I'll be with him for life!"

"If you don't like him, just dump him and find someone else. It's that easy."

"Uh, isn't that rude?"

Marlene laughed. "Not at all. It'll be kind of like a mutual feeling and a mutual split. He'll understand."

"But I can't go around finding boys. I have to learn to like someone. True love doesn't exist."

There was a pause. "You seriously believe that?"

"I do."

"Lily… It does exist! You'll feel it. Like, you truly will. There'll be this spark, this kind of… um… joy. When you kiss him, you'll feel it."

Lily recoiled. "Ew."

"Oh come on. You're going to kiss someone. Please be honest." Lily could practically see Marlene rolling her eyes on the other side of the phone. "You have, haven't you?"

"Well…"

"Yeah. You have. In college. Remember that dude? What was his name?"

"Scott," grumbled Lily.

"Yeah, Scott! You and him went out for like, a month, right?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "What's your point?"

"You kissed him, didn't you?"

"Well…"

"Did you feel some kind of joy? Spark? This like, tingling sensation or this warm feeling in your body?"

"No," Lily replied. "Nobody feels those kinds of things. Plus, it was winter, and we were in the snow. How could I feel warm?"

"You don't get it," sighed Marlene. "What about the other dude? You dated him for like… three months. Then he broke up with you."

"Are you like, trying to make a point here?"

"Just saying. Did you feel anything with him? His name was Benjy, right?"

"Yes, his name was Benjy, and no, I didn't feel anything. Will you stop pestering me? Tell me something interesting about your life."

"Well, um… OH! I know! I'm coming over to New York!"

"Really?"

"Yep!" cried Marlene. "I think it's in, like, a couple of weeks!"

"Why? Like, for work?"

"For work, yes, but that's a one-day thing. I've booked a hotel here for a week."

"Oh come on, Marlene," laughed Lily. "I'm your best friend. You don't need to book a hotel! You have me and my place."

"Yeah, I guess. Too late!" she chirped. "I'm going to hang out with you and bother you every day."

"Can hardly wait," Lily replied, grinning. It had been so long since she saw and spent time with her old friend. "I'll see you, Marlene. Bye."

"Bye!" Marlene cried, and she hung up.

Lily shook her head, smiling. The day was going awesome so far. She'd been asked out (and she'd said yes!), and she'd apologized and gotten her best friend back.

What could possibly ruin that?

Then she remembered that she had to go check out James on Instagram. He definitely seemed like the guy who'd have Insta.

She pulled out her phone and pulled up Instagram. She had around three-thousand followers. Random people from work, people who liked their company, people who wanted fashion ideas, and her friends.

In the search bar, she typed in 'James Potter', and a bunch of options pulled up. She looked down through the list until she found the profile picture that had his grinning face on it. He had a checkmark by his name, which meant that… He had an official account.

Did stock brokers really have an official account? Why did he have one? She clicked on it, and he had over 100 million followers.

What the heck?!

That was more followers than a lot of celebrities.

She went to read his bio, a suspicious feeling growing in her gut.

Professional soc player

Midfielder for the USA

I love all my fans and my family and I can't express my gratitude to you all enough :))))

Lily stumbled backwards, not daring to believe it.

James. Potter. Was. A. Celebrity.

A soccer player.

A famous one.

And he hadn't even told her.

All of a sudden, it all made sense. Everything flew into place. How Marissa had gaped after seeing James. How everyone had laughed after her that day at the mall. How he had soccer posters (of his own team, most probably) up in his room. Why he had such a fancy suite.

But why hadn't he told her?

Then, it clicked.

He'd been using her.

No, it was worse than that.

He'd been playing with her. He'd fooled her, kept her in the dark, making her believe that he was genuinely a stock broker. Nobody had bothered to tell her. Marissa, any of those people at the mall, James, his sidekick, nobody.

She'd just made an idiot of herself in front of the whole population.

Embarrassment and anger bubbled up inside of her.

Entertainment.

James had found it funny. He'd lied to her. She was just entertainment.

That's all she was.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she slumped to the ground. She felt humiliated. Furious. Cold, white anger was raging through her insides, slamming at every portion of her as she slowly understood everything. She'd been an idiot. It all dawned on her now.

But through all her blurry and confusing anger and thoughts, one thing stood out to her. Nice and clear.

James was the one who'd pranked her.

The two of them had never been friends.

She was just entertainment.

A/N: That went... downhill. Lily knows now! And if you thought this was drama, then you'll just have to wait and see till she meets James again ;)

charlie and Lily aren't endgame. I just needed to bring in a jealousy angle for James- oops. I'm turning into Hagrid. shouldn't'a said that!

Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed! See ya in chapter 9, in which James confronts Arnold, and in which he meets Lily, and all heck breaks loose.