Admitting It
Chapter 3: At Least One Dance
As October rolled round, Lily and James were busy preparing for the Hall 'o' Ween ball. What with prefect meetings every week, the homework load the teachers were forcing upon them, and the pressure of the upcoming ball, Lily was becoming quite tensed.
"What if people don't like the bal!" she wailed
"Lily, calm down" said James placidly, "they'll love the ball. We've done a really good job on it."
On the eve of the ball, Lily sat staring at her plate.
"Lily, you've got to eat," Said Arielle, "the ball isn't going to be a fiasco. You've spent a month planning it"
"ooh, look!' said Callie suddenly, "Daryl Gray's coming over here. Wonder what he wants"
"Hey Lily, can I have a word?" he asked, coming up to their table.
"Sure" she said immediately, glad to have an excuse not to eat, "come on"
James watched them go through narrow eyes. Daryl was going to ask Daryl out, he was sure of it. He knew he should have expected it. Lily was too beautiful to not be asked out.
"Prongsie, what's wrong?" asked Sirius cheerfully.
"Its Prongs" said James curtly, " or its James"
"Touchy, touchy" commented Sirius, "you still haven't answered my question, James"
"Its Lily" James mumbled. Remus looked up from his newspaper.
"What happened now?" he asked sympathetically, "I thought you had a good start with her."
"Yeah prongs, what happened, did Lily turn you down for the thousandth time?" asked Sirius.
"Padfoot, you are not helping" snapped Remus
"But I thought he'd be over Lily by now" whined Sirius
"Well he's not, so shut up and deal with it" answered Remus.
"Quit it you two," said James angrily, getting up and walking out of the hall.
He went out of the entrance hall and outside into the grounds. Today had been a holiday, to prepare for the forthcoming ball. He walked on, and heard two people talking.
"…to go to the ball with me?" it was Daryl Gray.
James clenched his fists, hoping against hope that Lily would refuse. No such luck.
"I'd love to" she replied, "only thing is, I can't exactly go with you. Dumbledore said that the Head Boy and Girl had to come together, and dance the first dance together. We'll have to meet at the ball"
Daryl's reply was so faint, that James only heard the last part.
"…to the ball with Potter?"
"Yes" answered Lily, "is there a problem?"
"No" said Daryl, "no problem at all. Come on, let's go."
James felt like crap. She couldn't be going out with Daryl Gray. She was too good for hom she was perfect. Or as close to perfect as you can get. In his opinion anyway. James slowly moved towards the common room, where he found Lily.
"Hey James," she said absently, checking a list in front of her, "I'm just going over all the details of the ball. Aren't you nervous at all?"
"No" replied James, sitting on one of the couches, "we've done a good job on it"
"I know, but still…" Lily trailed off, checking something else on her list. James just sat and watched her.
"I suppose I'd better get to bed" she said suddenly, "I'll see you tomorrow, at, um … 6:45? To go to the ball?"
"Fine by me" said James, "see you then"
At least he'd have one dance with her.