"I'm worried about her," Lily said, watching as Marlene threw a Hacky Sack up in the air and caught it.

"So am I, but, you know," Marlene said. "I trust Dorcas knows what's she's doing. Did she tell you what she was doing?" she asked, hopefully.

"No," Lily said, frowning. "Just that it's important and she can't talk about it."

"Hm," Marlene frowned as well. "Never knew Dorcas to be able to keep a secret. Well," she caught the Hacky Sack and sat up. "What have you been doing to keep yourself busy? Still got that Muggle job?"

"Yeah," Lily groaned. "It's going okay… be nicer if the pay was better, though."

Marlene shrugged, a grimace on her face. "And what about—"

There was a pecking noise at the window. Both girls turned and Lily saw, with a shock, that it was Chudley. "Oh…he didn't." Lily stood up, walking to the window and staring through the glass at the owl waiting patiently to be let inside. "Oh, I can't believe him."

"Isn't that James' owl?" Marlene asked. "Aren't you going to let him in?"

Lily opened the screen and let the owl inside. The owl held out his foot for her to remove the letter, and Lily took it hesitantly, wand at the ready. As Marlene set to giving Chudley a mouse and some water, which Themis looked quite put out by. Meanwhile, Lily sat down on her bed, gazing at the letter in incredulity.

"Well, are you going to open it?" Marlene asked her.

"Why should I? I told him I didn't want to write him," Lily said, still staring at the letter. "Besides, I don't want any more of his pranks. I have enough of that during school."

"I think you should open it," Marlene said, looking like she would very much like one of Potter's pranks.

"Potter can use magic now," Lily told Marlene matter-of-factly. "What kind of hexes do you think he's attached to it. Think I'll have boils on my face if I open it?"

"Potter would never do that!" Marlene said in outrage. Then, at Lily's furious look, she added, "Well, not anymore. And it was Sirius's plan, not his, if you don't remember James' blowing up at him 'cause of the whole ordeal. And you have to admit, you kind of had it coming—knocking points off your own House just because he—"

"Doesn't matter anymore," Lily said. "I don't want to read what he has to write."

"Then let me," Marlene said, snatching the letter and ripping it open. She peered down at it, her grin turning into a frown. "It's… normal," she said, looking at Lily in surprise.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked, as Marlene shoved the letter under her nose.

Hi Lily,

Hope your summer is going well.

Mine has been pretty good, though a little boring.

Actually kind of looking forward to term starting again, if you can believe it.

How have you been?

Working on some training strategies for the team this year, I think it would be great for Gryffindor to win the House Cup this year, since it's our last.

Hoping you're well,

Write back, if you'd like,

I'd love to know how you are,

James

Lily stared down at the paper with shock. "I wonder who wrote this…" she murmured. "Think Sirius might have?"

"Sirius has the emotional capacity of a Hippogriff," Marlene snorted. "But James does too," she admitted. "My bet is on Remus. Wait…" she turned to look at Lily suspiciously, "Why would you think Sirius wrote it?"

"He told me James was going to send me a letter today," Lily replied absentmindedly.

"He…he told you?" Marlene asked, mouth agape. "When?"

"Today," Lily said, before freezing, realizing what she had just said.

"You saw him?!"

"No, he…he wrote me." Lily sighed, "We've been writing to each other."

"You've been…writing…to Sirius Black?" Marlene asked, staring at Lily with what looked like a mix of horror and awe. "What about?"

"Well, we talk about Potter most of the time," Lily said. "Mostly I used to to complain about Potter. Oh Merlin, I hope he hasn't shown Potter the letters…"

"Why, 'cause then James might think you actually hate him?" Marlene asked, smirking slightly. "Why are you writing to Sirius, though?"

"Well, we've…kind of become friends," Lily said, shrugging.

"Friends?" Marlene raised a skeptical brow. "Friends, Lily? With Sirius Black?"

"Why not?" Lily asked, giving Marlene a challenging look.

"Well, the two of you have never really been…chummy with each other, have you?"

"There's always room for change," Lily said, with another shrug.

"So…are you going to write him back?" Marlene asked, still looking aghast at the news.

"Well, I'll have to ask him if he wrote this letter for Potter, won't I?" Lily asked.

"No, I mean James," Marlene said, rolling her eyes. "Are you going to write James back?"

Lily stopped, turning to look at Marlene questioningly. "Talk to Potter?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Voluntarily?"

"Well, don't you want to?" Marlene asked. "I mean… you like Potter, don't you?"

"I—don't—how—dare you—Potter?!" Lily spluttered.

"Don't do that," Marlene said, rolling her eyes again. "Potter is an idiotic dunce, yes, but he's also likes you a lot. And I know that you fancy him, even if it's just his looks," she gave a look that told Lily Marlene personally didn't see the appeal of Potter. "Maybe if you write him back, you can get over this infatuation you have with him."

"I don't have an infatuation with him," Lily retorted.

"Please," Marlene said, rolling her eyes. "Look, if not a romantic infatuation, then definitely a crush. I think you resent him—because you seem to think he doesn't really like you and is just tugging you along. While you're sitting here, liking him—attracted to him at least—and hating that fact because he's an absolute git."

Lily stared at her friend, trying to process her words.

"So," Marlene continued. "If you become friends with James too, then… maybe you can move on from your crush, and you won't have to worry about having him as a distraction when you date Nesbit."

"Speaking of," Lily said, desperate to change the subject, "My date with Nesbit is in three days and I'm entirely unprepared."

"He's a guy, what's there to prepare?" Marlene asked, waving her hand dismissively.

Lily shot her a glare. "I'm really nervous."

"Right," Marlene said, looking like she was forcing herself to be serious, and sitting down beside her.

"I could write Sirius… I mean, he's a guy," Lily said.

"A, might I remind you that Sirius is emotionally constipated," Marlene said. "And B, that James would literally—literally—kill him—kill him dead—if he knew that Sirius gave you advice for dating another guy."

"Fine," Lily said. "I don't want to bother Alice… and it'll take forever for Mary to get a letter and reply… and who knows what Dorcas is up to…" She sat down.

"Hm," Marlene sat down next to her. "This is a dilemma. If only you had a friend who could help you… a friend who…" she turned to peer Lily straight in the eye, "Was sitting exactly a foot away from you."

"Your face is too close," Lily said flatly, as Marlene's eyes widened comically, her face inching quickly towards Lily's. "Your face is—okay, now you're doing it on purpose." She looked back at her letter. Perhaps this was the chance she was looking for—to apologize to Potter for saying those horrible things to him on the train home.

"I should write him back," she said. "It might be awkward if we start term having had a fight at the end of the last one."

"Right!" Marlene said, clapping Lily on the back. "That's the spirit. So… what are you going to say?"

Lily stood up, waked over to her desk, and sat down. "I think I shall say…" she mused, before taking out a paper and pen and began writing carefully.

Dear Potter,

Thank you for writing.

I wanted to take the moment to apologize for our conversation on the train. I didn't mean them, and I

She paused. She didn't mean them? No, of course she didn't. But would it be worth it to tell Potter that? She was reminded again that she would almost rather he think she was a bitch then to encourage him and his stupid little game of 'conquest.'

She discarded the paper, which Marlene snatched up and began to read. She grabbed another piece of parchment, and began to write.

Dear Potter,

Thank you for writing.

My summer is going well, thank you.

See you this term.

Lily.

"There," Lily said, after signing her name. "Done."

Marlene peered over her shoulder. "Seems a little cold," she murmured. "He'll think you hate him."

"He already thinks I hate him," Lily said.

"What makes you say that?" Marlene asked, amused.

"Cause I told him so," Lily said quietly.

"You—what?" Marlene demanded. "You told him you hate him? Why would you do something like that, Lily?"

"Because," Lily said, defensively, "He… it was on the train, when we had our argument, and I had just run into Severus again, and… Potter was right there, and he was asking me to write him, and I thought he was going to ask me out again, and…."

She sighed, her head falling into her arms. "I just wish…" she said quietly.

"You just wish what, Lily?" Marlene prompted.

"I just wish that…" Lily let out a frustrated groan. "Never mind," she said. "You wouldn't understand."

"Why? Because I'm gay?" Marlene asked drily, sitting on on Lily's bed. "Right, of course. I can't relate to 'straight problems,'" Marlene finished her words using her fingers doing air quotes.

"That's not what I mean," Lily said, turning in her seat to glare at Marlene. "What I mean is… You know. Potter."

"You want to go out with Potter," Marlene filled in.

"No…" Lily said slowly, annoyance flaring in her, "I just… I might go out with him, if I thought there was a chance he might actually be into me."

"Why wouldn't he actually be into you?" Marlene asked. "The guy is head over heels in love with you."

Lily stared at Marlene, before bursting into laughter. "Oh, right," Lily laughed, sarcastically. "And a Dementor is going to be the groomsman at the wedding. Please, Marlene, have some sense. Anyway, I'm just going to send him this letter, and we'll be even. I think that's fair, right?"

"I don't know, Lils," Marlene said. "If you told him you hate him, when you clearly don't, I think you should apologize."

"I will, when I see him next," Lily said. "I'm sure he's not losing sleep over it."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Marlene muttered under her breath, loud enough for Lily to hear, who ignored her pointedly.

"It's probably best to do it face to face, anyway," Lily said. "Makes it more personal. And he'd prefer it that way because it'd be public and give people the impression he's made some headway with me. So, there. He'll be fine."

"You're pathological," Marlene said, standing up. "Well, my lunch break is over… gotta' get back to work."

"Jealous," Lily said.

"Yeah, well, I'm jealous of you—getting to spend time at the beach next week," Marlene said, grabbing her hat and putting it on. "I hope you get a hot lifeguard to ask you out."

"Might I remind you that I have a date with Karl soon?" Lily asked, frowning.

"Oh, right," Marlene said, frowning, "The Hufflepuff."

"What's wrong with Hufflepuffs?" Lily demanded. "He's an amazing guy."

"Right, well, he's decent at least," Marlene said, shrugging. "Well, I've really got to go, I'll see you later, Lils."

"See you," Lily said, returning her attention to the letter before her after Marlene Disapparated, before blowing on the ink to finish drying it and folding the letter. She gave it to Chudley to return to Potter.

She sighed dejectedly, sitting down on her bed, before falling backwards. It was true, she would consider James if he just didn't…have such untoward intentions. If he was genuinely interested in her, maybe she wouldn't be so disinclined towards him. Maybe she would consider him.

She would find him attractive, if his personality wasn't so lacking.

She wondered if he would send her another letter, or if the shortness of her own letter would dissuade him. She sighed, grabbing a pillow and burrowing her face in it. She let out a groan of frustration. He was infuriating, which was why this horrible, ill conceived, and irredeemably inconvenient crush she had on him was driving her insane.

Luckily she'd have the family trip to Worthing to clear her mind. The ocean always managed to give her some peace.

The only problem was, usually Marlene, Alice, and Mary, and even Dorcas, would come visit her throughout her stay there. This summer, they're all busy doing important things, and, understandably, can't make time to do their usual trek to Worthing.

Which begs to question, who could she invite?

Well, she thought, turning her head to one side slightly, a small smile on her face. There's always Sirius Black. She would have to get approval from her parents, and, of course, muster up the courage to ask him to visit (he might say no. They've only been corresponding for a few weeks now.)

But just perhaps… this might be what might make them finally cross over the threshold to friends.

TO BE CONTINUED...?

I suddenly had the urge to update this story after...what, almost three years of no updates?! Sorry haha

Anyone still interested in reading this fic? let me know and I'll try to get chapter 6 up soon!