Chapter 3:It's easier for me to be alone
Lily drove back to the diner after work to find the place unusually crowded.
"Oh good, Lily dear, the place is so busy tonight. I don't understand it, but can you help?" Her mom asked. Lily Moaned, hopeing that when she came here she would have a break, but accepted to help anyway.
An hour after she was workign the place started to die down and Lily took a break. She walked outside to get some air and noticed a parchment on the ground. Curious, she picked it up and read it.
He'll be there at 7:30 tonight. Remember my warning. Don't try anything with him. Your better off alone. You belong alone. You've always had every guy after you, now leave James alone, he's mine. Its your turn to be the outcast.
The note was in the same writing as the other two that Lily had received. She shuddered and stuffed the note in her pocket, then glanced at her watch.
It chimed 7:30 right as there was a loud crack and James walked out from the side of the building. Lily gulped then wondered Did James have a stalker? Did I have a stalker?
"Hey Lils!" James smiled. Lily waved weirily.
"You look like you've seen a ghost? Whats wrong?" he asked as he pulled Lily into a tight hug, Lily didn't hug him back, she was still a bit scared.
"Nothing…" She said quietly shaking her head.
"Well, I would buy you a coffee but don't you get those for free? I mean, your family owns the place." James grinned and rubbed her had, messing up her hair. Lily straitened it. "Maybe you can get me one." He winkd and Lily followed him inside.
"Oh James!" Lilys mother walkedover and James gave her a hug.
"Hullo Mrs Evans, so nice to see you again, your still as preety as ever, and you look younger." He grinned politley. Mrs. Evans blushed slightly.
"Oh thanks James." She smiled. "Its so nice to see you again, will you be staying a while? I miss having you around the house all break like in your 7th year. It was so nice when Lily had someone, now all it is is work for her." She rambled.
"Mother…" Lily said.
"Oh well, I better go back and work anyway…" Mrs. Evans walked away and James chuckled.
"Your mothers sweet." He smiled at Lily. Lily nodded.
The front door chimmed.
"Mother, the meal is all wrong! Who ever cooked it is TERRIBLE! I didn't ask for lemon on the fish!" Petunia came in fuming, persumably about her wedding meal. Lily rolled her eyes.
"I can see why you hate her." James smiled as they both took a seat at a table Basil mosied over and set down two coffees, as if knowing they'd need it.
"That woman…" Basil groaned. "Oh, and it was me who put the lemon on. I knew she hated it." Basil winked at Lily. Lily smiled.
"Good Job." She said, then Basil went back to dealing with Petunia.
"I'm sorry Petunia, I thought you liked lemon?" She heard Basil comment, she could hear the sarcasm in her voice. Lily took a sip of the fresh coffee.
"Is that all you drink around here?" James asked with a quarky grin.
"Its what keeps me alive." Lily explained.
"You should try firewhiskey…" James winked.
"If you don't recall, this is a muggle dinner. What else am I supposed to get here?" She asked.
"Then let me take you somewhere, you know, A first date since we've broken up." He asked. Lily stopped in the middle of drinking some of her drink. "I know you said you were busy but… you look like you could use some time off." He said.
"James… I…" Lily started
"Lillian!" Petunia came storming over. "Tell Basil I do not want lemon on the fish!" She screamed in a highpitched voice. Lily squinted her eyes and put her hands over her ears.
"I think she heard you, Petunia." She said.
"I know she heard me but will she listen? If she puts lemon on that fish I'll…I'll…"
"You'll what? Petunia?" Lily asked sweetly.
"I'll get Vernon to do something!" She screamed then stomped back off.
"Actually, maybe I could use a night off." Lily said to James after Petunia walked away. James' face lit up in a smile, he stood and grabebd Lilys hand, pulling her away from the table.
"Where are we going?" Lily asked, as they got outside.
"Just.. for a walk?" James asked. Lily nodded, and they began to walk.
"So, do you ever go out, not to be rude…" James asked after a few minutes of silence.
Lily hesitated then finnaly said: "Not really… Its just.. work… and.. you know…" She shrugged.
"Your never going to have fun in your life if you spend all your time at work." James raised an eye-brow at her.
"I… I know…" Lily admitted.
One conversation led to the next untill they found themselves outside of the Leaky Cauldren.
"So how about that Firewhiskey?" James aksed. Lily laughed.
"Sure." She smiled, she followed James inside and they sat down at the bar.
"What'll it be?" the bartender asked.
"Two firewhiskeys, please." James said, he pulled out a few sickles from his pocket and handed them to the man, who grabbed them, nodded, walked away, then returned moments later with two mugs off alchohall.
Lily took a sip then smiled. 'Its been a while since I've had one of these." She said. James smiled at her.
"You were telling the truth when you said you don't go out much." He said. Lily nodded.
An hour and a half and 2 firewhiskeys later Lily stood outside her apartment door with James, saying her goodbyes.
"I… erm.. had a really great time." She said. James smiled. "I'll um.. talk to you later."
"How about Saturday, can we do this again?" He asked. Lily bit her lip.
"James… its just… Its Easier for me to be alone." She said, then walked inside, leaving James Devestated on the other side of the door.
A small folded piece of parchment sat on the counter by where her phone was sitting and the answering machine was blinking.
Lily gulped, hoping it wasn't from the stalker. She carefully unfolded it.
You didn't listen to my threat… now you cant have him… he'll be gone