Hey all! I'm back with another chapter. Sorry it took me a while to write, haha. I got a bit of inspiration for a few other stories. I hope you all enjoy!

Happy Reading!

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For all of her faults, Annie was a good kisser. James wasn't going to deny that. Often times he would lose himself in her, and her in him. It wasn't as if they ever did anything else, anyway, most of their time was spent making out. He currently had her sitting on a desk in an abandoned classroom as he kissed her passionately. She returned it with just as much enthusiasm, and there was nothing to distract him from her.

At least, until he caught the clock out of the corner of his eye and saw the time. He was late for patrol with Lily. 30 minutes late, exactly. He yanked his lips apart from Annie's quickly. She groaned in protest, trying to pull him back.

"James," she said. "Please stay."

"I want to, but I can't," he said, buttoning his shirt. "I've got to go meet-" he caught himself before he said Lily's name, because Merlin knows that Annie would flip out if he mentioned he was leaving to spend time with Lily. "I've got patrol," He said apologetically. "I'm sorry." Annie snorted.

"Yeah, and you patrol with Lily Evans, don't you?" James winced at the bite in her tone.

"Yeah," James said. "I do, but it's not like- we've never- it's not like we're making out with each other or anything. We just work together is all."

"You used to fancy her," Annie pointed out, folding her arms. James's heart skipped a beat. Used to is not the right term, and he knew it. He had spent the last few weeks trying his best to get over her. But he can't. Every time he looks at her, every time she smiles at him, he feels like he's in love all over again.

"That's nothing, Annie," he said carefully. "We- our relationship is purely business-like. No emotional strings attached." Annie looked at him suspiciously.

"So you don't fancy her then?"

"Not in the slightest," he lied. "We aren't even really friends."

The minute the words exited his mouth he wished he could take them back, because they were the furthest from the truth. They seemed to relax Annie though, and she nodded.

"Well, I believe you. I just think you should spend less time with her," James didn't reply to this, focusing on making himself look presentable for Lily. He didn't think it would go over well if he showed up looking as if he had just been having a very heated make-out session with his girlfriend, whom Lily apparently disliked according to Sirius. Annie kissed him one more time, and then James left the room. Thankfully, he was only a corridor away from his and Lily's usual meeting spot, and found her waiting there, folding her arms.

"You're late," she said, a little less than warmly.

"Sorry," James said apologetically. "I got distracted."

"With what?"

"I was putting together a last-minute prank," he lied. Lily raised her eyebrows.

"You mean to tell me it wasn't because you were preoccupied with Annie?" she asked doubtfully.

"No actually," he said. "I wasn't."

Lily raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Okay, fine," James said in a rush. "I started snogging her and lost track of time. Happy?"

"Not particularly," Lily said flatly, "But I'd rather not discuss, so I'll let it go. Come on." They walked down the corridor in an unusual silence. Generally they have a good time, laughing and joking about anything and everything. But something was different tonight. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't unsettled.

"What's wrong?" he questioned.

"Nothing," he said quickly.

"Doesn't seem like nothing," he pressed. "Just tell me. What's wrong?"

"I'm fine James," she said sharply. "I'm fine."

"This is about Annie, Isn't it?" Lily sighed.

"James, I could care less about your love life," she snapped. "Least of all about Annie."

"Do you?" James asked, suddenly upset, "Then why is it that you recoil every time her name is mentioned."

"I don't—"

"What's your problem with her?" James asked her angrily. "She's done nothing to you."

"Are you serious?" she retorted just as angrily. "How do you not know? She's a horrible person!" Anger flared up in him, and he stopped walking.

"She isn't a horrible person!"

"Yes she is James," Lily said, facing him. "She hates me! She's called me mudblood to my face so many times I can't even count them!"

"She would never—"

"She would!" Lily shouted. "And she has! James, she doesn't give a damn about anyone else!"

"She gives a damn about me!" James said. "She's dating me, Evans, in case you haven't noticed. Because she likes me, believe it or not."

"Oh, so you're just going to throw yourself at every girl who likes you?" Lily asked sarcastically, "Somehow I don't think that's going to work out."

"If I didn't know any better, Evans, I'd say you were jealous," James said coldly.

"Oh, back to last names, are we?" Lily snarled. "Well then Potter, For your information, I have nothing to be jealous of. Especially not from a stupid blood purist Ravenclaw."

"Hold on—"

"Maybe you ought to go on back to her," Lily continued, disregarding his interjection. "You don't want to be here, right?

"Where did you get that idea?" James asked, bemused. "All I did was wonder what your problem is. You were the one who decided to attack my girlfriend."

"Oh, I don't know," She said sarcastically, "I think I figured out when you told her we aren't even real friends." James's heart skipped a beat for the second time that night as she looked at him steadily. The anger etched all over her face had been replaced with a look of defeat and sadness. The understanding in her eyes made him feel more guilt than he had ever felt before.

"How much did you hear?" he asked her, dreading the answer with every fiber of his being.

"Every word," Lily said softly. They stood in silence for a while, and Lily looked at the ground, wiping tears from her eyes. "Why would you say that James? Why would you say something so… untrue?" James searched for words he could say, he had to tell her something, he had to explain himself.

"I- I don't know, Lily," he stammered. "I just- wasn't—"

"Wasn't what?" Lily interrupted unsympathetically. "Caring about anyone but yourself?"

"Lily, please—"

"You haven't changed at all, have you?" The words cut deep, and the way she said them was worse. Lacking any warmth or kindness, instead replaced with anger and bitter disappointment. Lily said nothing, waiting for James to speak. When he didn't say anything, she spoke again. "Maybe you're right." The words confused him, and he met her emerald green eyes.

"About what?" he asked, heart beating fast.

"Maybe we shouldn't be friends." The words make him freeze.

"What?"

"It's for the best, I think," she said in a small voice. "It's what you want isn't it?"

"Please, Lily, listen to me." The panic was rising now, because he can't lose Lily. He can't.

"We'll just be… coworkers," she says shakily. "From now on our relationship will be… formal. Business-like."

"No," he said. "I'm sorry. Please. Just listen."

"Then tell me why, Potter," Lily said fiercely, eyes flashing. "Why did you say it?" James's heart sank. He knew why. But she can't. Because that would almost certainly make it worse. And then Lily sighed. A deep sigh full of regret and anger. "That's what I thought."

"Don't," James said desperately, taking hold of her wrist as she turned away to leave. "Look, I never meant to say those words. I would take them back if I could."

"But you can't," Lily said furiously, wrenching her arm out of his grip. "Good bye Potter."

"I really didn't mean to," James pleaded. "I promise. They just slipped out." Lily froze on the spot. Slowly, she turned to face him. This time, the betrayal in her eyes is accompanied with something else. Pity.

"That's what Severus Snape told me two years ago, Potter. And look at where we are now." She whirled away from him, hurrying down the long corridor. James was too shocked to utter one more word as he watched her go. He was nothing like Snape.

Was he?

He never thought so. He hated Voldemort and his self-proclaimed death eaters. Hated the dark arts. Anyone who thought muggleborns were awful were his least favorite people. So What does she…?

And then, he felt as if a ton of bricks had been dropped on top of him. What he said, what Snape said, were indirectly exactly the same. He'd disregarded her. Thrown her away in the desire to please someone else. And so had Snape.

Suddenly, he feels sick, disgusted. How could he? He was supposed to be her friend, supposed to be someone she was able to trust. Sirius always said that was something he admired most about him, his loyalty, how he was someone trustworthy. And now he had broken Lily's trust. Somehow, he managed to find his voice and called after her.

"Lily," he said hoarsely. She stopped again, looking back at him "Please." There was a long stretch of silence as they looked at each other, and for a moment, James felt a flicker of hope as he saw her resolve falter a bit, remorse flooding her features. The look was gone as quick as it came, replaced with a look of absolute exhaustion.

"It's for the best," she said quietly. "I'm sorry." And she was gone.

She was gone.

And it was his fault.

He took a deep shuddering breath and stood there unmoving good five minutes before he made his way back to Gryffindor Tower. When he pushed open the portrait hole, Sirius was sitting on the couch folding his arms, apparently waiting for him.

"Well," he said sarcastically, "I heard your nightly patrol went just swimmingly."

"I take it Lily got here first?" James asked, wincing at the coolness in Sirius's voice.

"Yep," Sirius said. "She sure did." James looked at Sirius, and the disappointment radiating from him made James want to fall through the floor.

"I really messed up Padfoot," he said painfully. Sirius examined him carefully and sighed.

"Yeah," he said sadly. "Yeah, you did."

"Do you think I can fix it?" James asked desperately. Sirius sighed and looked away.

"I don't know." James didn't know either, but Lily Evans was too important to him. He couldn't give up.

He had to try.

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A/N: WELL

Thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated. I apologize for any typos/mistakes. And thanks to whoever is keeping up with this story.

You guys are the best!

:)