"Don't tell me we spent a year making this map so you could stalk Evans easier, mate."
Remus raised an eyebrow at James, emphasizing Sirius's words. Peter had his arms crossed, a smirk playing up the corner of his mouth.
"The creation of this work of beauty has many reasons and purposes, dear Padfoot. Besides, we're not stalking—oh, hello!" The words had left James's mouth right as Lily turned the corner into the corridor. He hastily stowed the Marauder's Map (as they'd dubbed it) behind his back. Sirius rolled his eyes, taking it from the other boy slyly. He shot Pete a look which seemed to say, the things we do for this boy. Peter chuckled.
"Can I help you with something, Potter?" Lily said, her voice dull and unenthusiastic. She wore a teal jumper, making her hair look more vivid than usual. James didn't miss this—his eyes found hers. His mouth was turned up in a stupid grin.
"I was just thinking, Hogsmeade—"
"No."
James looked at a loss. "You didn't even let me finish."
"I've let you finish that question countless times before, Potter, and my answer hasn't changed. I don't want to go to Hogsmeade with you next weekend. Goodbye." She offered the last word more to Remus than James, it seemed, but before James could work that out, Lily had turned on her heel and made her way back down the corridor.
James turned back to his friends, sighing deeply.
"Tough luck, mate. Still stuck in the friend zone."
"Don't even think he's made it that far, Padfoot," Pete corrected. "Shame."
He rolled his eyes at the two of his friends before looking at Remus. "You know her the best of all of us, she actually talks to you. You don't think she hates me, does she?"
"Nah. Just think she's getting a bit exhausted with you." Remus tried to keep his voice patient. He was a bit exhausted with this constant exchange between the two of them, too. "Just cool it for a bit, yeah? Give her some space."
"I'll try," James said, though it sounded as though he didn't think the words possible. "Now what?"
.
A/N: Written for Advent Calendar Day 26: (item) Marauder's Map;
Writing Club – Disney Challenge C5: Write about someone rejecting someone; Showtime 25: (word) Creation; Amber's Attic S2: Write about being obsessed with someone; Angel's Arcade 12: (dialogue) "I've never been this close before.", (color) Teal, (emotion) Resentment; Film Festival 15: (phrase) The Friend Zone;
Writing Month and Dragons: wc 364