Chapter 5

SPOV

One morning a week later, I get up, eat, and dress for quidditch practise. It's the first practise I've been to since James has been back. I told Wes what was going on and he gave me last week off. Now I have to go back. I'm excited to go back. I'm mostly excited about getting out of the house. Somehow James convinced me to let him stay. I think he used a confundus charm. There's no way I would've let him stay otherwise… right?

I slip on the tight pants I have to wear for quidditch before yanking a pair of shorts on over them. Then I pull on a tank top before throwing my hair up and grabbing flying boots and quidditch robes. I walk quietly out into the kitchen to make breakfast and find James sitting at the table reading the prophet.

"Hey," he says through his mouthful of bagel.

" 'Morning," I say rolling my eyes. I lay my robes on the back of my chair and set my boots down by the door before grabbing a piece of bread and putting it in the toaster.

"That's not a very healthy breakfast," say James, setting down the prophet.

"Well, I'm running a little late to practise. I don't have time for anything else." I grumble, as I pick my boots back up and quickly slid them onto my feet and buckle them up. "By the way have you seen my wand? I've been looking for it all morning."

He laughs. "So that's why you're running late."

"If you must know," I sigh. "That is why I am running late."

I run over to the toaster as the toast pops out. I quickly put butter on it and shove it into my mouth. "Wurs myy wond?'

James smiles, and pulls my wand out of his pocket. "You left it on the floor in the bathroom. I found it this morning."

"Shanks," I say swallowing my toast. I take the wand and shove it into the compartment in my boot. "Aw damn," I moan running back to my room. I had forgotten to grab my broom.

I hear James laughing down the hallway. Stupid git. I should hex him. So annoying.

I run back out with my broom and pull my wand out of my pocket. I don't even bother to say goodbye as I apparate to the Puddlemere locker room.

"Nice of you to arrive," says Wes smirking.

"I had a rough morning!" I moan dropping onto the bench.

"I can see that," he says sitting down next to me. "What happened?"

"I lost my wand, I couldn't find my boots, I almost forgot my broom, James was laughing at me, and I only had a slice of toast for breakfast!"

Wes laughs. "Sounds like you had a great morning."

"Oh most definitely."

Pop!

I look up and see James. With my quidditch robes. "You left these on the chair."

I bury my face in my hands. "Wes I don't think you want me to play today. I'm a wreck."

James snorts and Wes gives a small laugh. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

I sigh. "Whatever you say!" I stand up and take the robes from James. "Thanks James," I say reluctantly.

"No problem." He grins still standing there.

"Why are you still here?" I ask, pulling them on.

Wes makes a noise, his hand covering his mouth as James stares at me, his mouth open slightly. "Well I uh.. I don't know."

"How about you get going then? Don't you have something else to do?" I put my hands on my hips and glare at him.

"You don't have to be so mean," He mumbles before apparating back to our flat.

"That was harsh," says Wes, trying not to laugh.

I shrug. "Who cares?"

"I'm sure he does," Wes looks at me. "Are you guys okay?"

"Fine. He's just annoying," I answer, straightening my robes. "Are we going to play quidditch or what?"

After practice I apparate back to the flat. I was aiming to land on my bed, but...

"Get off!" says a flailing James.

"I'm sorry!" I laugh jumping off of him. Why did I apologize? Why am I laughing? Stop that!

I may have landed on James bed instead. I have no idea how.

He falls back onto his pillows. "You scared the shit out of me. Why did you apparate onto my bed!"

I shrug, trying to recover. "I was trying to apparate onto mine."

"Well, you missed."

"Thanks for telling me."

"Anytime."

I sigh and fall backwards onto his bed, my feet dangling off the side.

"Tough practice?" he asks leaning on his elbows.

"Yeah," I sigh. "I knew I shouldn't have skipped a week of practice. I'm totally out of shape."

He snorts. "Serena, it's only been a week. You can't be that much out of shape."

I shrug. "It was tough either way." Why am I telling him this? We aren't friends. Anymore…

"I'm sure you were amazing as always."

I give him a look and stand up. "I'm going to shower," I walk quickly out of the room.

When I get out of the shower I can hear voices. I quickly pull on my pj bottoms and a t-shirt before walking into the living room.

Correction. I heard one voice. And a guitar.

Sitting on the window seat is James playing a guitar. And singing! I didn't know he could sing! I'm so surprised I don't even try to be mad at him.

I stand quietly in the doorway listening to him sing and strum the guitar. I lean against the door frame and try to figure out the song he's singing. I don't really recognize it. Maybe he wrote it?

"What were you singing?" I ask after he's done.

His head snaps up. "I thought you were in the shower?"

"I had to get out sometime," I say sitting in the armchair near him.

"Right," he mutters, setting his guitar down.

"Are you going to answer me?" I ask, inclining my head.

"Oh, er, you wouldn't know it."

"Try me!" I don't know why I bothered. It didn't matter.

He sighs. "It's just a song I wrote… It doesn't really have a name."

"Oh" I say surprised. "I didn't know you could sing...or play guitar let alone write music."

He gives a small smile. "I've always been able to sing, but I've never sung in front of anyone and the writing… I've always been able to do that too."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask hurt. For some reason that bothers me. I've known him for years and he never told me any of this.

He shrugs. "I didn't tell anyone, and as for the guitar..." he says looking down. "I actually picked it up while I was... away.

I bite my lip. We had been skirting around anything that had to do with leaving or traveling or anything like that since we visited his family. He obviously doesn't want to talk about it and I can't say I do either. I've been purposely avoiding it. Especially since he tried to mention it once or twice.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

I chew on my lip some more. The only thing I really want to know about when he left was where he went exactly. I don't want to upset him though so I change the subject.

Or try to.

"So...um...how's...things?" I wince internally. Wow that was pathetic.

He gives me a look. "We live in the same place Serena things haven't changed from the time you got in the shower until now."

I blush faintly. "Right..." Stop blushing!

He shakes his head. "You haven't changed at all."

I look up. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that you act exactly as you used to. You still can't change the subject very well and you still blush easily."

"I don't blush easily," I mutter, starting to get upset again. Yes good. Keep doing that.

"Yes you do," he says, putting a finger below under my chin to tilt my head up. He brushes his thumb over my cheek gently. "There's the blush again," he whispers, leaning his forehead against mine.

I meet his eyes. "It's like nothing has changed," he whispers.

I feel his hot breath against my face and close my eyes. "Everything has changed James..." I whisper, completely frozen. Okay this was the exact opposite of what should be happening right now.

He doesn't reply. I open my eyes and find his searching my face. "No," he whispers. "Maybe most things have... but not everything." As he leans in I close my eyes. He kisses me softly for a few moments before pulling back. I keep my eyes closed and try to keep my breathing even. I had no idea how much I missed him until just a second ago, but I shouldn't.

He sighs before pulling me tightly against his chest so we are both on the window seat. I lean my head on his chest as he wraps his arms around me.

"You're the only one that can make me do that," I say quietly, my resolve slipping.

"What?" he asks.

"Make me blush so easily."

He chuckles and pulls me closer.

I look up at him, my face still red. I can't help it now. I need to kiss him again. So I lean forward and press my lips to his again even though part of me is screaming don't. I close my eyes and kiss him anyway because for a moment, it's almost as if nothing has changed.